682 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



seem to like a fluid manure, rather than commercial fer- 

 tilizers, such as bone meal, which I would not advise 

 using. Much air and plenty of sun are very important. 

 In extremely hot weather the plants should be placed in 

 frames, or the houses shaded, the former being preferred. 

 Especial care should be taken to see that the green 

 fly never gets a foothold. Spraying with Aphine, or 



some good tobacco extract, is advised. The white fly 

 must also be guarded against. At its first appearance, 

 fumigate with hydrocyanie acid gas. But if you get your 

 stock of a firin that keeps their stock free from this 

 pest, you will not be troubled, unless you already have 

 it, or import it on other stock. F. H. DeWitt, 



Wooster, Ohio. 



Planting and Pruning Shrubs 



By H. J. Moore. 



Ornamental shrubs are either evergreen or deciduous, 

 but by far the greater number belong to the latter class. 

 Shrubs which lose their leaves during the Fall, with the 

 exception of the more tender kinds, may be planted at 

 any favorable time during the months of October or No- 

 vember, or in April and early May. For many kinds the 

 Fall months are the best, but as the prospective planter 

 is at present concerned with Spring planting, remarks 

 pertaining thereto will be more in keeping. 



The method of planting is as important as the time, 

 and when small areas such as beds or borders are to be 

 planted these should be thoroughly dug or trenched. It 

 is important that the soil be worked deeply, for success- 

 ful culture depends upon the formation of a healthy 

 fibrous root system. If the soil is a heavy clay loam it 

 is well to incorporate such materials as stable manure, 

 humus, in the form of decaying leaves or straw, and lime 

 rubble, as these tend to mechanically open the soil, render 

 it porous and upon decomposition to supply the necessary 

 plant food. 



Holes large and deep enough for the reception of 

 the entire root system should be dug. When placing 

 each shrub be careful to spread out the rootlets so that 

 they radiate toward the circumference of the hole in the 

 bottom of which the soil should be forked finely. Grad- 

 ually work fine soil between and around the root fibres 

 and at the same time gently move the shrub to ensure 

 even distribution of soil and separation of the rootlets. 

 After the root system is entirely covered tramp carefully 

 to firm the soil. Give water if the weather at the time 

 of planting is dry or warm and finish the operation by 

 filling the hole to the ground level and raking the surface 

 finely. When it is desired to plant shrubs in lawns it is 

 good practice to excavate much larger holes than the 

 diameter of their root systems. If the soil is not of an 

 apparently fertile nature it is well to mix with it leaf 

 mould, semi-decomposed stable manure or, if possible, 

 good loam. When planting do not err by placing the 

 roots on a hard impervious surface, but fork deeply to 

 afford drainage. Place a laver of fine soil over the entire 



bottom, upon which spread the roots carefully in the 

 manner advised for border planting. 



MULCHING. 



Newly planted shrubs should be mulched with straw 

 in a half decomposed state, or with decaying leaves to 

 conserve the moisture in the soil if planted in the spring, 

 or to prevent injury by frost if Fall or Winter planted. 

 Rich, well rotted manure should not be used as mulch 

 until the shrubs have made new fibrous roots whose root 

 hairs are capable of absorbing the food materials in solu- 

 tion which are rapidly formed in all fertile soils. 



Many shrubs are annually killed by excessive applica- 

 tions of rotted stable manure as a mulch to soils already 

 rich in essential food materials, especially those planted 

 during the Fall, whose inactive roots are incapable of 

 absorption, and must remain in an urine saturated soil 

 until growth starts in the Spring. These remarks on 

 mulching apply also to trees which, in transplanting, often 

 sufifer injury to, or reduction of, the root system. The 

 folly of applying rich manure to these will be olrvious 

 to many. 



ARR.^NGEMENT. 



The manure in which shrubs are arranged is usually 

 dependent upon the area at the disposal of the planter, 

 or is purely a matter of taste. In the herbaceous border 

 mi.xed shrubs make a splendid addition, provided they are 

 properly placed, either as a back ground, or to relieve 

 a somewhat monotonous grouping of herbaceous sub- 

 jects. When they are associated with the herbaceous 

 perennials, the aim of the planter should be to afford 

 variety, and a succession of bloom through the entire 

 season. To attain this ascertain carefully the flowering 

 period of any desirable species or variety and plant ac- 

 cordingly. 



When it is desirable to make large plantations the 

 genera are better grouped individually, for instance a 

 clump of Syringa (Lilac). Viburnum (snowball) or 

 Hydrangea Paniculata will furnish a grander effect when 

 arranged in large masses separately and flowering 



MICHELL'S DARWIN TULIPS 



Our selection of these gorgeous and stately May-flowering Tulips comprise the most beautiful shades and colors. 

 The varieties marked with an asterisk (*) are adapted for forcing. 



Per doz. 100 



1000 



•BARONNE DE LA TONNAYE— Vlrld rose. 



.50 



•CLARA BUTT— Delicate salmon pink 60 



•EUROPE— Brilllnnt r.fl with white c.-nter 60 



•M. FARNCOMBE SANDERS— BrilUaDt searlet .75 



GLOW— Scarlet, marglnert white 66 



•GRETCHEN— SalllK.ii rose 40 



•HAHRY VEITCH 50 



$3.75 $32.50 



4.00 

 4.00 

 5.00 

 3.75 

 2.75 

 2.76 



37.60 

 35.00 

 45.00 

 35.00 

 26.00 

 25.00 



KATE GEEENAWAY— Whil 

 MAY aUEEN -Sf.ft mse . . 



NORA WARE ^ilv.rv lilac 60 4.00 



•PRIDE OF HAARLEM— Rosy cannine 60 4.00 



•REV. H. EMBANK -Heliotrope 75 5.00 



SULTAN liiiik mnr.inu 46 2.76 



WHITE QUEEN— KrisT white 50 3.60 



WM. PITT- Brilliant carmine 60 4.00 



1000 

 $27.50 

 27.60 

 35.00 

 35.00 

 46.00 

 25.00 

 30.00 

 32.50 



Also all other Fall Bulbs and Plants. Send for our descriptive Autumn Catalogue. Mailed free 



HENRY F. MICHELL CO., 518 Market Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 



