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HORTICULTURE 



June 15, 1907 



snowdrops. The kinds which give the best results in 

 the front row of the border are the common snowdrop 

 (Galanthus nivalis), the Crimson snowdrop (Galanthus 

 plicatus), and the giant snowdrop (Galantlaus Elwesii). 

 The flowers of the last species mentioned have a patch 

 of green at the base of tlie petals. These snowdrops, 

 the harbingers of spring, are not expensive now and 

 ought to be jjlanted in colonies large enough to make a 

 show. Very soon after the snowdrops the crocuses put 

 in their appearance, tiie ^yellow kinds coming into blos- 

 som first, followed ijuickly by the light blues. The fol- 

 lowing kinds are the best for border work: In white, 

 Caroline Chisholm, Mammoth White and Mont Blanc 

 are the most pleasing; in striped crocuses, Albioii, Cloth 

 of Silver and Sir Walter Scott are good; the best _yel- 

 lows are Golden Yellow and Cloth of Gold, and the 

 most satisfactory of the blues and purples are Baron 

 Von Brunow, King of the Blues and purpurea grandi- 

 fiora. 



The early squills are charming; their blue flowers 

 dazzle in the early spring sunlight. The Siberian 

 squill (Scilla Sibirica) and its white fonn are the best. 

 Scilla bifolia has not as large flowers as the Siberian 

 squill and they are of a different shade of blue ; although 

 the flowers are smaller they are produced very abun- 

 dantly. The ehionodoxas that do well are Sardensis, 

 LuciliK3 and Lucilia" variety gigantea. This fine variety 

 gigantea is a much stronger gi'owing plant, has much 

 larger flowers and a most pleasing shade of blue. 



Owing to the lateness of the season very few narcissi 

 blossomed until near the end of April this year. Tlie 

 established plants always come into flower first; that is 

 the bulbs that have been in the ground for several years. 

 Those that were planted late last fall came into blossom 

 much later. 'J'here is no doubt if we had our beds and 

 borders ready in August for the narcissi that they would 

 be much better in the soil at that time. When planted 

 late they make very few roots until spring. However, 

 any one who wishes to lengthen out the season of blos- 

 soming should plant some bulbs each ^-ear late , in 

 October. 



It is very unusual to have narcissi in bloom as late 

 as Memorial Day and if the weather still continues cool 

 we shall have tliem for a week or more in June. The 

 following kinds were planted late in October and are in 

 bloom' today. May olst. This list will be of interest in 

 years to come to show the lateness of this exceptional 

 season. In yellow trumpet varieties we have Arc! Eigh, 

 Golden Spur. Rugilobus Maxinius, and Emperor; bicolor 

 trumpet varieties, Empress, Grandis, Horsfieldii, and 

 Princeps; Tncomparabilis varieties Figaro, Queen Bess, 

 Frank Miles, Sir Watkin and Cynosure; Leedsi varieties, 

 Leedsii and Minnie Hume. Other varieties, Barrii 

 conspicuus, Burbidgei, and poeticus ornatus. These 

 narcissi make charming border plants and should not he 

 disturbed often. 



Of tulips the single varieties and the species are the 

 most pleasing. Doidile tulips are too stiff and formal 

 for the mixed border. Parrot tulips we do not care for 

 as border plants; their stems are too weak and they do 

 not hold up their large gorgeous flowers in pleasing 

 way-. The following are all showy and effective and 

 keep on increasing in the border: Belle Alliance, 

 Chrysolora, Duchesse de Parma, Yellow Prince, La 

 Peine, Pottebakker Scarlet. Prosperpine and Vermilion 

 Brilliant. 



The May flowering Cottage tulips are exceptionally 

 valuable as border i^lants and they contain some beau- 

 liful .srems. The kinds we have gi-own for several vears 

 and have found verv Ciitiifnctorv are Bouton i)'Or. 



Gesneriana, Gcsneriana Spathulata, Golden Crown, 



Golden Eagle, Isabella, Picotee, Jilay Blossom, White 

 Swan, Summer Beauty, Bizarres, Bybloemens and 

 Roses. 



Out of a number of Uarwin tulips we planted in the 

 border five years ago the following are in bloom now: 

 Glory, Gustavo Here, Herold, ffippolyte, Liberia, Long- 

 fellow and Olga. The extraordinary length of stem and 

 their distinct and peculiar colors are bound to make 

 them general favorites esi>ecially as border plants. 



Some of the species that are showy and effective are 

 Batalini, Clusiana, Didieri, Grcrgi, Oculis-Solis, Per- 

 sica, praecox, sylvestris and vitellina and retroflexa. 



EARLY BLOOMING HERBACEOUS PLANTS 



Very few of the herbaceous plants in the border blos- 

 somed this year in April. With the slightly advancing 

 temperature in the early part of May we had a splendid 

 show of flower. The flowering season of the early kinds 

 has been exceptionally prolonged this season ov/ing to 

 the coolness of the weather. Arabis albida. Phlox sub- 

 ulata, P. procumbens and P. Stellaria flowered most 

 profusely. A charming yellow flowered plant is Adonis 

 vernalis. This plant is rather scarce and ouaht to be 



Broail -leaved Saxifrajies. 



seen in collections more frequent than it is now. Au- 

 brietia deltoidea and polemoniums are fine for shades 

 of blue. The globe flowers are valuable on account of 

 their soft, pleasing shades of yellow. The most satis- 

 factory are Trollius Asiaticus. Europsus and Japonicus 

 variety Excelsior. 



The large broad-leaved saxifrages are bold and im- 

 posing plants. The kinds we grow are cordifolia, crassi- 

 folia and ligulata. ]^ear the front of the border Veron- 

 ica gentianoides and Orobus vernus lend shades of 

 color which are pleasing at this time. The finest 

 columliine is a natural hybrid between Aquilegia 

 cffruloa and A. vulgaris. This plant does not deteri- 

 orate like some of the columbines. We have grown it 

 five years and it seems to get stronger each year. 



Dicentra spectabilis is one of the most pleasing 

 ]ilants ; it is thoroughly hardy and reliable. Its pleas- 

 ing color, gracefulness and other good qualities make 

 it one of the most valuable plants for the border. 

 Lychnis lapponica is a new plant that prornises to be a 

 favorite. It grows only about six or eight inches in 

 height and is now completely covered ■nnth its cluster of 

 ])ink flowers. The forget-me-nots that we like the best 

 for border use are Mvnsotis svlvatica and Mvosotis 



