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THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[April, 



will never learn that the most advertised articles 

 are not necessarily the best. Now, here comes 

 in one of the great uses of the Gardener's 

 Monthly and other similar journals. By read- 

 ing comments on these novelties, from different 

 persons in different localities, we are enabled to 

 decide on their true worth. 



It is with these thoughts that the writer de- 

 cided to speak of a few of the newer, or poorly 

 appreciated plants which are in the market at 

 the present time. Among the newer Abutilons, 

 none better deserve mention than A. Darwinii. 

 This beautiful plant is too free a bloomer to be a 

 rank grower. Planted out in the spring it will 

 be a continual mass of bloom, from planting 

 time till the severe frosts destroy it in the fall. 

 It is as hardy as a geranium, and seems to de- 

 light in dry, hot weather. It is delicate in color 

 and graceful in habit, and sells well in spring, as 

 it is sure to be in bloom at selling season. A. 

 Snowball is the best white one we have seen, and 

 is an improvement over Boule de Niege in being 

 more compact in habit and a free bloomer. 



Of the new Geraniums which Mr. Thorp sent 

 out last fall, Richard Brett has proved the best 

 with us. We also tested three varieties of Acal- 

 pha this last summer, as bedding plants, and are 

 well pleased with the result. For though Mr. 

 Henderson asserts in his "Handbook of Plants " 

 that A. tricolor is the only one worth cultivat- 

 ing, we find by test that A. marginata, A. 

 mosaica, and A. Macafeeana are not only worth 

 cultivating, but that they are real valuable ac- 

 quisitions to our list of bedding plants. A. mar- 

 ginata is the strongest grower of the three. The 

 foliage is ovate acuminate with long petioles. 

 In color the leaves vary from dark green to a 

 reddish tinge, with dark red veins ; the margin 

 is shaded with a band of light colors, varying 

 from bright crimson and pink to yellow. In 

 large specimens they measure nine inches in 

 length and five in breadth. A. Macafeeana is 

 next in rapidity of growth ; its leaves are cordate 

 and very irregular, often having deep folds in 

 them. The larger ones are often eight inches 

 long and six inches broad. Thej^ vary in color 

 from dark bronze to bright red, blotched with 

 yellow and crimson. A. Mosaica is a dwarf 

 grower, but is probably the best of all. Its leaves 

 are variegated in rectangular and irregular 

 blotches of rose, yellow, pink and bronze. The 

 yellow usually being the predominant color. 

 They also have a tendency to curl downward. 

 There was a bed of this variety planted out in 



the Allegheny parks during the last summer 

 which made quite a striking appearance. 



In the way of double Petunias, we have seen 

 nothing to beat Charm, for robust habit, good 

 shape and freedom of bloom. Two Begonia rex 

 varieties, which are new to us, promise ta 

 become valuable for cutting leaves for floral 

 work, besides making handsome plants. Their 

 leaves, when full grown, are never too large to 

 use for baskets. There is but little difference 

 between them in appearance. Both have a pe- 

 culiar gloss, such as we see in shells, and less 

 hair on their surface than we find on the old rex 

 varieties. Indeed, the probability is that they 

 are a cross between the rex and the flowering 

 varieties; they seem to be free bloomers. Their 

 names are Louise Cretine and Countess de Thell- 

 uson respectively. The former has a reddisli 

 shading in the leaf, near the centre which the 

 other does not possess. The latter is the freest 

 grower. Boiivardia A. Neuner is, we believe, alt 

 that is claimed for it. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Blood-leaved Trees.— The three best are per- 

 haps the Blood-leaved, or Schweidler's Norway 

 Maple, the Purple Beech, and Purple Birch. 



Cercidophyllum Japonicum. — This, a corres- 

 pondent of the London Garden found one of the 

 finest forest trees of Japan. 



Schizophragma hydrangeoides. — There was a 

 difference of opinion expressed in our columns 

 a few years ago, as to the ornamental merits of 

 this plant. Mr. Maries, the Japanese traveller, 

 tells the G'arrfenthat " the most beautiful climber 

 is Schizophragma hydrangeoides. This does al- 

 ways best on a living tree with a long branch- 

 less trunk, and requires to be old before it 

 produces flowers. I have seen trees perfect 

 masses of large Hydrangea-like blossoms." 



The Largest Norfolk Island Pine. — This 

 beautiful denizen of Eastern greenhouses is 

 hardy in those parts of California where there is 

 little frost. The finest one in the State was in 

 the Post Office yard of San- Francisco. It had to 

 be removed for improvements, and though only 

 thirty feet high, those who undertook it, were 

 not equal to its success. 



Improvement of Agricultural Grounds. — A 

 large number of Agricultural and similar socie- 



