1883. 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



293 



and of an intensely deep crimson, with large and 

 conspicuous jet black blotches at the base of each 

 petal. Those who do not know this showy hardy 

 flower should make its acquaintance, for it makes 

 the garden very cheerful just now with its masses 

 of glowing color. — The Garden. 



SCRAPS AND QUERIES. 



Large Sunflowers. — ■• W. C. B.," West Phil- 

 adelphia, says : " Enclosed you will find a clipping 

 from the Examiner of New York, describing a 

 sunflower, the dimensions of which the paper 

 seems to doubt. We have three large sunflowers, 

 the largest of which we carefully measured and 

 found it to be as follows: Height, 13 ft. 11 in.; 

 circumference of stalk at base, 12 in. Some of its 

 leaves are 18 in. across and 21 in. in length ; the 

 blossoms, large and small, number forty-two, the 

 largest of which measures 8 in. in diameter — across 

 brown center, not measuring yellow petals (?) In 

 general appearance it resembles the one described 

 in the clipping. I send you this, thinking it may 

 be of interest to you. The extract is as follows : 



"'Either a Hartford (Conn.) paper draws a 

 pretty long bow, or there is a pretty large speci- 

 men of a sunflower growing in that city. It grows, 

 the paper says, straight up, and stands about 12 

 ft. high, crowned with superb yellow blossoms, 

 which droop from their own weight. Its sturdy 

 stalk measures 9 in. in circumference. Some of 

 its leaves, which hang like elephant's ears, are 

 18 in. long and 16 in. across. The blossoms, large 

 and small, number between forty and fifty.' " 



Hydrangea paniculat.\ grandiflora. — 

 "J. M.," Philadelphia, writes: "Besides the ani- 

 mals at the Philadelphia Zoological Garden the 

 trees and shrubs are well worthy the attention of 

 visitors. It has not been the case that common 

 trees have been planted to 'fill up with,' as is so 

 often done in planting. Many rare deciduous and 

 evergreen trees are to be found therein, and all 

 are well cared for. The most attractive shrubs in 

 flower in the latter part of August were some 

 specimens of Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora. 

 They could not have been less than five feet high 

 and the same in width, and covered as they were 

 by their white blossoms, were justly admired by 

 the hundreds who saw them." 



Trees for Pleached Walks. — " S. W. N.," 

 Philadelphia, writes : " Please inform me through 

 your journal what kind of trees are most suitable 

 in this country for a pleached walk, also any 

 necessary information concerning the planting of 



one, will be acceptable, and if there is a successful 

 one in the neighborhood of Philadelphia." 



[By pleached walks we understand walks that 

 are bordered by trees which have their branches 

 plaited together, so as to present a flat green sur- 

 face. For this purpose the different willows are 

 often employed in Europe— at least for making 

 pleached fences — but few kinds under culture are 

 strong enough for an arbor. The Linden would 

 be best for this purpose. This is often employed 

 in Europe, but the Editor has noted but few in- 

 stances in America — one of these few being in the 

 grounds of the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, Ohio — ■ 

 though that tree is trained rather as a screen than 

 as an arbor. — Ed. G. M.] 



AlLANTUS glandulosus. — "J. W.," South 

 Natick, Mass., writes: "Will you please give me 

 the name of this tree ? I send you leaves and 

 fruit. The general appearance is that of Sumach. 

 It is a very handsome tree at present. " 



[This is the female form of the common Ailan- 

 tus, and, as our correspondent remarks, a particu- 

 larly handsome tree at this season when covered 

 with its large bunches of golden brown seeds. 

 The female form also has an advantage in emitting 

 no odor as the male does, and which odor is too 

 strong for some people. The female form can be 

 readily perpetuated by cuttings of the roots, which 

 usually grow freely. — Ed. G. M.] 



Preserving Roses During Winter. — " H. S. 

 W.," Cayuga, N. Y., writes : " How can I success- 

 fully care for a lot of choice tea roses during 

 winter ? Have no greenhouse to transfer them 

 to. Have had no success in protection by tying 

 up. Can I pit them ? If you will be kind enough 

 to answer through the October number of the 

 Monthly you will greatly oblige." 



[Take them up after the first frost has killed the 

 leaves, cut out or shorten back immature wood, 

 select a piece of ground where the water will not 

 lie, plant the roses thickly, sloping the branches 

 somewhat, and then scatter earth through the 

 branches, sloping the mound so that the water 

 will run off". As soon as danger from severe 

 frost is over in spring take out and replant. — 

 Ed. G. M.] 



The Elm Beetle. — An Elizabeth, N. J., cor- 

 respondent says : " I write you in a state of despair 

 as to what I am to do to save from destruction a 

 beautiful elm tree which we have in our garden. 

 Every year regularly it has two crops of leaves 

 destroyed by villainous little worms, which com- 

 mence by being quite minute and grow to be from 



