Myosotis Alpestris Ruth Fisher 



By Richard Rothe 



Plant novelties in the imagination of sanguine out- 

 siders frequently figure as gold mines. The other ex- 

 treme personified by the incorrigible sceptic from the 

 very start is habitually looking at them as swindle. True, 

 we have sometimes witnessed the launching of new 

 introductions represented as comets which, under practi- 

 cal telescope turned out to be mere fizzles. As a matter 

 of fact, however, the time has very nearly passed for both 

 illusions and bustle. Leading plant firms in carefully 

 safeguarding the interests of their patronage are going 

 that far to maintain expensive trial grounds for the pur- 

 pose of ascertaining the ascribed qualities and merits of 

 new plants before listing them. We have a rich and 

 fully up-to-date garden literature with works on all the 

 important specialties at prices well down in reach of those 

 with a moderate income at our disposal. A vigilant 

 horticultural press as medium for distributing practical 

 knowledge and scientific enlightenment is watchful to 

 thwart any attempt of preying on the unaware. It is 

 therefore safe to say that novelties on the pages of cata- 

 logues of leading firms or heralded by our jovirnals, as a 

 rule possess the qualities attributed to them. A novelty 

 easy to propagate and otherwise offering no cultural 

 conundrums to solve soon appears on the list of standard 

 varieties. Perplexities in the growing part very often 

 seals its fate on the trial grounds of the nursery. It is 

 doomed to oblivion before its existence is generally 

 known. This, apparently, has been the case with the new 

 forget-me-not Myosotis Alpestris Ruth Fisher. Favora- 

 bly commented on by the European press, I ordered a 

 number of packages of seed and received them at novelty 

 price with the customary limited contents. The growth 

 of my small stock of plants during the first summer hap- 



pened to be discouragingly slow and the reward, the fol- 

 lowing spring, consisted of a few flowers. Color and 

 size induced me to proceed in the culture of the plants, 

 which showed remarkable large and dark glossy green 

 foliage, and, on transplanting, divided admirably well. 

 At the close of the second season I had nearly ICO stocky 

 plants, which, after being over-wintered in a cold frame 

 under protection of a thin leaf-covering and broad shut- 

 ters, were used in planting a new rock garden the fol- 

 lowing April. About six week later I took the picture of 

 my stock of Myosotis Alpestris Ruth Fisher, which is re- 

 produced in our illustration. Needless to say, it fully 

 justified the description given by the introducers. The 

 uniform low and compact growth, the marvclously free- 

 flowering habit, and excellent general effect attracted 

 the attention of visitors at a glance. Orders for seeds 

 and plants were numerous, but — Ruth Fisher proved a 

 very shy seeder. It is that kind of novelty which on the 

 trial grounds of the nursery must be passed on as un- 

 profitable for commercial use. A verdict of necessity, 

 dictated by our commercial age, and this usually decides 

 the issue as to the future of the floral debutant. Alodern 

 wholesale production impossible, there remains, however, 

 the constant desire of garden owners for "something that 

 not everybody else has got." The superior floral and 

 ornamental merit of this new forget-me-not variety es- 

 tablished, other growers may succeed more easily as 

 your writer did. Well done, it is a charming bedding 

 plant, also adapted for potting and flowering under glass. 

 In making my experiences known, I unhesitatingly recom- 

 mend the cultivation of Myosotis Ruth l*"isher to pro- 

 gressive private gardeners. It is a gem among forget- 

 me-nots and will remain a variety of distinction and com- 

 parative rarity when properly cared for. 



XEW FORGET-MKNOT— MVOSOTIS ALPESTRIS RUTH FISHER. 



