1879.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



99 



to suit the taste. I would have A. coronaria 

 grown by every amateur in America. 



A. fulgens, a native of Southern Europe, where 

 it is said to dazzle the eyes with its brilliancy, 

 is a most grand flower, being, when in bloom, a 

 marvelous glow of intense crimson. 



A. Japonica alba, known also as A. Honorine 

 Jobert, is one of the grandest plants known to 

 cultivators for full blooming, from late Summer 

 until after heavy frost it is one grand perpetual 

 mass of snowy bloom. There are other varieties 

 of Avhich I would speak, but space and time 

 forbid. 



A. coronaria can be set out and planted at 

 nearly any season in the year. A. hortensis and 

 nearly all other varieties can only be moved 

 with safety in the Fall. If any of the Monthly 

 readers wish further directions I will give them 

 through the Monthly, or by mail if they will 

 address me, enclosing a stamp for reply. 



SKILL AS DISPLAYED IN GARDENING. 



BY GEO. WOLF HOLSTEIN, BELVIDERE, N. J. 



Although not a member I have had the 

 pleasure of attending several of the meetings 

 of the Germantown Horticultural Society. I 

 was very much interested at a late meeting in 

 the discussion which took place on the grow- 

 ing of so-called half hardy evergreens, and also 

 in regard to the skill displayed by gardeners in 

 this country and in England. I think the idea 

 intended to be conveyed by Mr. Morris and con- 

 curred in by you, is certainly correct. 



However much we are prone to judge of the skill 

 of a workman simply by the result of his labors, 

 we must confess that this is not strictly just ; that 

 we should take into account not only the result 

 but the difficulties that may have been overcome 

 in attaining that result as well. Certainly, other 

 things being equal, the difficulties overcome are 

 the measure of the skill displayed. 



In September, 1877, daylight one bright morning 

 found us off Cape Race, Newfoundland. Steaming 

 I'apidly along in full view of that terribly rugged 

 coast, I gazed fascinated on those perpendicular 

 clifts, against which so many noble ships have 

 beaten out their lives, leaving nothing but a few 

 scattered planks to carry home the tale of disaster. 

 As we neared the entrance to the harbor of St. 

 Johns I noticed a break nearly half way down 

 the clift' upon which the signal station stands, 

 and on turrjing the glass towards it I discovered 

 a narrow plateau, perhaps two hundred feet 



wide, accessable only by a ladder from the top 

 of the rock above, and laid out in little patches 

 separated by low stone walls. Upon a nearer 

 approach these proved to be terraced gardens, 

 neatly laid out and cultivated. Certainly this 

 was gardening under difficulties, and yet per- 

 fectly protected as it was to the north-west, it 

 was probably quite successful. 



Just beyond the old town of St. Johns bursts 

 into view through the narrow ^opening in the 

 mountains, which terminated on either side in 

 perpendicular cliffs rising to the height of four 

 hundred feet. Sailing into the narrow land- 

 locked harbor our vessel was soon secured to the 

 wharf, Avhilst we were busy admiring a species 

 of zoophyte, called by the natives squid squallis, 

 which swarmed in the water around the pier. 

 They were as beautiful as a flower. From an 

 almost transparent disk hung long hair-like fili- 

 ments of the most brilliant colors, crimson, pink, 

 carmine and almost purple. As they were 

 swaj'ed back and forth by the swell, the effect 

 was very beautiful. 



After dinner, which we took on board the 

 steamer, we landed, and taking a vehicle called 

 by courtesy a carriage, of the usual John Bull 

 type, with wheels heavy enough for a cart, we 

 drove up " River Head " into the country. I 

 was fearful when we started that the poor little 

 pony would give out under his load, but he 

 proved himself equal to the task, and took us 

 at a rapid rate over the finest country roads I 

 ever saw. All the roads in the neighborhood of 

 St. Johns are covered with a sort of gravel, ap- 

 parently formed by the disintegration of the 

 highly silicious sandstone, with which this part 

 of the island abounds. 



Along both sides of the St. Johns River — which 

 by the way we would call a brook — are country 

 seats of the wealthy merchants of the city — their 

 Summer homes— for in the Winter, I was told, 

 they moved into town and lived over their shops. 

 The grounds were so shut in by thick plantations 

 of trees, or rather saplings, as they never at- 

 tained the proportion of trees, that we could not 

 have much idea of them. In the country agri- 

 culture seemed to be just then confined to the 

 cutting and curing of oats for fodder, as the 

 grains did not ripen. The trees, principally 

 evergreens, rarelj' attained the height of fifteen 

 feet unless in some sheltered ravine, and all 

 had a decided leaning towards the south-east. 

 The farm houses whilst two stories high in front, 

 to the south, were but a few feet high behind, the 



