88 



THE GARDENERS MONTHLY 



[March, 



the sulphurous fumes of his cursing became en- 

 crusted on the flowers so deeply and indelibly, 

 that their color was changed and their progeny 

 has retained it to this day. I doubt if one 

 could conscientiously remain long a deacon in 

 the church and be a collector of Fremontia seed 

 at the same time. 



Perhaps you think if it is such a vile stinging 

 thing, " I won't try to grow any." For your 

 consolation be it known, that it is very likely 

 not to seed with you, and as the capsule alone is 

 the annoyance to be found, this need be no 

 detriment, as it is a shy seeder in its native 

 habitat, and in a new home might not seed at 

 all. Even should it do so, you are under no ob- 

 ligations to go clawing around among them as a 

 seed collector is compelled to do. 



I would be sorry to deter any one from the 

 cultivation of this beautiful shrub. When cov- 

 ered in the spring with its spreading wealth of 

 yellow flowers, few can equal it in beauty. 



As regards hardiness, I think it could be 

 raised anywhere in the Eastern States ; but it 

 would be in its prime at, and especially south of, 

 Philadelphia. The seeds are hard to germinate, 

 and the plant is not a rapid grower, but, like 

 many good things, requires time to mature. I 

 would recommend the thorough soaking of the 

 seed until swollen, and not too sandy soil to grow 

 them in, as it loves best a red soil with considera- 

 ble clay in its composition, but not stiflTwith it. 



This is not apt ever to become a fashionaWe 

 flower, as it is harder to start, and not as easily 

 raised as a florist likes to have plants; besides, it 

 did not come from Japan, which just now seems to 

 be the criterion of the East. Perhaps if it was ex- 

 tensively advertised as the Fremontia Califor- 

 nica"from Japan," more might be induced to 

 try its culture ; but simply an American plant, 

 "why, it must be common." In Europe, the 

 thing is reversed. "From California? why, it 

 must be good," and they buy it. 



The time may come when Americans will 

 raise American plants, as well as wear American 

 silks and American watches. Does not the 

 broad sweep of hills and prairies and plains, 

 from ocean to ocean, from the twin gulfs of the 

 South to the land of blue noses and snow of 

 Cousin Johnnie, possess plants enough worthy 

 of a place in our gardens, that we must play 

 second violin to European flower merchants, 

 who furnish us with most or nearly all of our 

 novelties ? 



Who knows ; perhaps my coUectoral grapes 



may be sour. I never expected them to contain 

 over ten percentum of saccharine matter ; but it 

 is provoking after having gathered seeds of some 

 handsome flowers, and written, trying to induce 

 some one to try a few, to receive for answer^ 

 " but this, but that, but the other thing." All 

 meaning that they are afraid to risk a few dol- 

 lars or cents on a new American thing, because 

 people will not buy it. I don't know how they 

 found out; they never seem to try, but go on in 

 their catalogues, up one page and down another, 

 Callirhoe, Calandrina, Candy- tuft, Catch -fly, 

 Clarkia, Collinsia, the same old weary grind of 

 common trash, scarcely worth weeding. Why, 

 there are going to waste on American lands and 

 pastures, or hill-top and mountain valley, and 

 the hot sands of California deserts infinitely 

 handsomer plants and often as easily raised. 

 Yet they drone over and over the same old 

 stereotyped list year in and year out, both 

 wheels in the rut, and no wish to get out of it. 



" Yes, but because it is new is not saying it is 

 good." True for you most sapient florist; but 

 perhaps the collar will fit the off" horse. All that 

 is old may not be good ; you know everything 

 that is, is not alwaj's right. 



I fancy the fault is as much with the people as 

 with the florists. They have not the true love 

 for flowers that causes them to hunt for new 

 ones ; they desire more a show of bright colors to 

 please the eye, secured with as little labor as 

 possible. Some cheap showy annuals fill the 

 bill for them, and the florists pander to their 

 wishes. 



Give us a larger list. Oh ye brothers of the pot 

 and package ! Increase your borders and enlarge 

 your catalogues, whistle the star spangled banner, 

 tell the printer to buy a new electrotype with an 

 addenda on it, where a few, ever so few native 

 plants may appear. 



Think what a catastrophe a war with Europe 

 would be for seedsmen, so dependent are they on 

 foreign dealers. I wonder how many of them 

 could keep on for six months. I do not wish to be 

 understood as begging custom as a collector, as 

 my bread and butter is secured from another 

 source; but I plead as an American for as com- 

 plete an independence as we can achieve, as a 

 lover of plants, for the diff'usion of desirable 

 species ; but chiefly because I love to watch a new 

 plant develop its leaves, see the new growth 

 start, observe the expanding buds and wonder at 

 the shape of the flowers. And, Mr. Seedsman, 

 there are hundreds just like me, simple male and 



