26o 



THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY 



[September, 



only name here a paper by B. A. Fahnestock, one 

 of Philadelphia's leading chemists, who, a quarter 

 of a century ago, published in the Proceedings of 

 the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 

 with elaborate details of his experiences.— Ed. 

 G. M.] 



THE UMBRELLA CHINA TREE. 

 BY G. W. KNOX. 



In the June number of the Gardeners' Month- 

 ly, page 164, I notice a communication from Mrs. 

 J. S. R. Thomson which mentions that " there is 

 one variety of the China called in ignorance 

 Umbrella Tree." Now the Umbrella China is a 

 separate and distinct variety of the China tree 

 family (Meha Azedarach umbraculifera) ; it as- 

 sumes the exact shape of an umbrella, in its 

 natural growth, and does not need the aid of the 

 pruning knife. 



The first Umbrella China known in the United 

 States was found growing on Galveston Island, 

 Texas, where once stood the village of Campeachy, 

 which was from 18 17 to 1 821, the rendezvous of 

 that celebrated buccaneer, Laffitte, who roamed [ 

 the seas in search of booty, and it is supposed that j 

 the seed of the Umbrella China was brought to 

 Galveston Island, by his vessels, from some island 

 or country in the tropics. | 



It is a tropical tree without a doubt. I know of 

 several experiments with it in Missouri and Illinois, 

 where it will not live through one winter, — the sap 

 freezes and bursts the tree, — and I know of no case 

 where the tree is growing in very cold climates 

 although we have sent quite a number north. 



From the tree on Galveston Island the seeds 

 were taken to Harrisburg and Lynchburg, Texas, 

 where they were grown lor sale and from there 

 sent out to all parts of Texas. 



I have been growing the tree for sale for the 

 last eight years — make a specialty of it — con- 

 sequently have watched the habits very closely 

 and every year I learn something new of it. 



In getting seed to plant, one has to be careful 

 not to select the seed of an Umbrella that is grow- 

 ing in close proximity to a common variety, for if 

 he does his labor will be in vain, for nine out of 

 ten of the trees you will raise from those seeds will 

 be common, scraggy Chinas; we have proved it 

 repeatedly, consequently know it to be a fact ; we 

 have our seed-bearing trees growing in the center 

 of our nurseries, so as to insure against cross- 

 fertilization from common Chinas growing on 

 neighboring property. 



All of the parks in our Alamo city are planted 

 in Umbrella Chinas, also the beautiful grounds in 

 and about the U. S. Depot of Texas, here ; and 

 of late years they have been planting the parks in 

 many of the cities of Mexico with it. 



There is no tree of the fine species that will 

 withstand the excessive heat and long drouths of 

 Texas and Mexico, as well as the Umbrella China. 



Although it is called the "Pride of India" it is 

 no less the pride of the Lone Star State and our 

 Alamo City in particular. San Antonio, Texas. 



[Mrs. Thomson suggested that "Umbrella tree" 

 was improper, because that name has been already 

 pre-empted for Magnolia tripetela, which is the 

 "Umbrella tree." But if the word "China" be 

 added, there will be no confusion. 



It should not be "Umbrella tree," but " Umbrella 

 China tree," as Mr. Knox puts it. — Ed. G. M.] 



SCRAPS AND QUERIES. 



Magnolia cordata. — We had reason for be- 

 lieving that the true Magnolia cordata had been 

 confused with forms of Magnolia acuminata, and 

 that the genuine which is rare even in its native 

 places, did not exist in nurseries, though there is a 

 tree in the Botanic Garden at Cambridge, Mass., 

 and the one on record as being in the Woodlands 

 near Philadelphia, is probably correct. But Mr. 

 S. B. Parsons, of Flushing, sends us a specimen 

 which indicates that they have it correctly identi- 

 fied. It is, however, certainly very rare. 



Lawn Grass. — "Meadow," West Philadelphia, 

 Pa., desires us to tell her "through the Monthly 

 the best grass for a lawn." The best kind depends 

 on many circumstances. If rather low ground and 

 somewhat stiff soil the different species of Agrostis 

 known as Fiorin, Red Top, Bent, and other 

 common names are very good. Rye grass is excel- 

 lent for limestone soils, though liable to be killed 

 in very severe winters. Under the shade of trees 

 the flat-stemmed blue grass, Poa compressa, is 

 very good, and in rather rolling ground thesheeps- 

 fesque, Festuca ovina, is excellent. For general 

 purposes there is nothing to equal Kentucky Blue 

 grass. Avoid white clover and the ordinary mix- 

 tures, if you would have a perfect lawn. 



If sown in the fall it may be well to sow Rye 

 with it, provided the Rye be mown early in spring, 

 and kept mown as if it were grass. The only ob- 

 ject of sowing Rye is to keep the young and very 

 small grass plants from being drawn out by the 

 frost. The heavy leaves of the Rye fall down 



