THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



765 



A gardener who is proficient in his oalling naturally should be, 

 and is, as capable of developing landscape schemes as is the land- 

 scape architect, and has this advantage over the latter in know- 

 ing what will grow after ho plants it. He consequently does not 

 make the mistakes Mr. Caparn admits the landscape architect 

 frequently makes by planting and not knowing "what the plant 

 is going to do until he has tried." 



The breach that exists between the gardeners and many of 

 the landscapers is due, as Mr. Caparn himself points out, to the 

 fact that most landscapers have only the eye to possible scheme 

 development and color effect, planting without thought, and fre- 

 quently without knowledge, as to whether the plantings are at 

 all suitable for their surroundings. Thus when failure results, 

 the responsibility is almost invariably shifted to the gardener 

 who, it is assumed, did not properly cultivate after the land- 

 seaper planted; whereas, failure is usually actually due to the 

 unsuitable environments of the plantings made. 



I must take issue with Mr. Caparn that landscape architects 

 deserve the credit for the creation of most of the important 

 private estates and park systems in this country. The practical 

 gardener will concede Central Park to the landscaper, but most 

 all of the beautiful park systems of this country today, and the 

 magnificent estates, can readily lie traced to the development by 

 men who profess themselves to be practical gardeners. 



M. C. EBEL, 

 Secretary, National Association of Gardeners. 



Madison, N. J., December 2, 1013. 



NEWS ITEMS FROM THE BUREAU OF INFOR- 

 MATION, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF 

 AGRICULTURE. 



NATIONAL ORGANIZATION TO STUDY FOREST INSECT 

 PROBLEM. 



The enormous losses due to forest insects have led to the forma- 

 tion of a society for the advancement of forest entomology in 

 America. The members of this society hold that the work of 

 insects has not received the attention which it deserves. 



Henry S. Graves. United States forester, the newly elected 

 president of the society, says the purposes of the organization 

 are, in general, to call attention to the part which insects play in 

 forest problems. "AVe have had." he said, "widespread and spe- 

 cific interest in insect pests such as the San Jose scale and the 

 boll weevil, which affect all of us as to what we eat and what 

 we wear. Forest insects through their destruction of timber 

 increase the cost of a necessity which enters quite as much into 

 the daily life of the individual as do the products of the field 

 and orchard. If the importance of the protection of our forest 

 resources from insect depredations is generally recognized, a large 

 part can be prevented or avoided. 



"In the national forests the Bureau of Entomology and the 

 Forest Service are co-operating to stop insect ravages by discov- 

 ering their hecinnings and stamping them out. A few isolated 

 trees attacked by insects may form the nucleus of a mountainside 

 devastation quite as serious as that from a forest fire. Watchful 

 care on the part of forest officers, lumbermen and private indi- 

 viduals will make it possible to catch these infestations before 

 they get a good start. By cutting and burning the trees, or strip- 

 ping off' the bark, the insects can be killed. As in all such cases, 

 an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." 



The objects of the society are largely educational. As in all 

 questions of large public importance, the main idea is to give 

 the public an opportunity to know just how important they are. 

 The society will form a clearing house for information, and its 

 meetings will discuss the most advantageous methods of insect 

 control. 



POTATO QUARANTINE. 



The reason for considering the extension of the present potato 

 quarantine to all of Europe and to Canada is the belief that it is 

 necessary in order to prevent the introduction into the United 

 States of the powdery scab i&iinnqospnra suhterranea) and other 

 diseases which would seriously afi'ect the potato production of the 

 United States. This disease is reported to be widely prevalent in 

 Ireland and Scotland and in other sections where there is this 

 year a large crop of potatoes. 



The powdery scab disease resembles the common scab, which 

 is found widely distributed in tliis country, although the two dis- 

 eases are readily distinguished by several characteristics. Affected 

 tubers first show rounded, blister-like spots, a sixteenth to an 

 eighth of an inch in diameter. The skin over the pustules soon 

 breaks, revealing a dark brown, powdery surface composed mostly 



of spore balls which serve to propagate the disease. The spots 

 later enlarge and deepen, and frequently coalesce, forming large 

 areas of diseased tissue, which makes the tubers unsightly and 

 greatly reduces their market value. 



Powdery scab is introduced into uninfected areas through the 

 use of infected seed potatoes. Although practically unknown in 

 the United States, traces of it have been found in one or two 

 instances, and it is important to maintain a close watch to see 

 that it does not become established and further distributed. 



OLD PLANTS ADVERTISED UNDER NEW NAMES. 



There has recently been a considerable amount of advertising, 

 by the press and otherwise, of two beans for which highly ex- 

 travagant claims are made, and for the seed of which exorbitant 

 prices are being asked. One of these is being advertised under 

 tlje name of the Sliahon pea, with the absurd claim that on 3^2 

 acres tliis plan produced 70 tons of hay and 3.50 bushels of seed. 



The Shalion pea is nothing more nor less than the plant prop- 

 erly known as the Asparagus bean, or Yard-long bean. It is a 

 close relative of the cowpea — in fact, by most botanists consid- 

 ered a mere variety. In experimental tests with upwards of 

 twenty varieties of Asparagus bean, this Department reached the 

 conclusion that none of them could possibly compete with the 

 better varieties of cowpeas as a forage crop. • The stems, as a 

 rule, are much more slender and vining, and the long pods, which 

 lie on the ground, cannot be harvested by machinery. None of 

 these twenty varieties is as productive, either in herbage or in 

 pods, as the better varieties of cowpeas. 



Another plant which has been thoroughly tested, both by the 

 Department and the Exi)erinient Stations — namely, the Jack bean 

 — is also being extravagantly advertised under the name of the 

 Giant Stock Pod Bean, or the Wataka bean. This bean has been 

 fully treated of in Bureau of Plant Industry Circular No. 110, 

 which can be obtained from the Department free upon request. 

 \Miile the Jack be.an produces an enormous amount of beans per 

 acre, they are not relished by stock, and no satisfactory means 

 of utilizing tliem has yet been discovered. 



TO THE LAZY BUSINESS MAN. 



"He wlio whispers down a well 



About the goods he has to sell, 



Will never trade and make the dollars 



Like him who climbs a tree and hollers." 



— Exchange. 



Plants and Trees from florida 



f- or Southern planting outdoors and for 

 house decorations in the North 



WE have made a special study of this 

 matter for 30 years and hare 

 achieved a success in growing 

 beautiful plants and in delivering them in 

 like beautiful condition to the most dis- 

 tant purchasers. 



,_ ^ and preparation to properly pack delicate 



palmsrfcriis.'etc, to stand a trip of thousan 



it — not just once in a while, but a good 



We issue a large catalog covering all oi 



Departments, and send it free. . , ■■ v 



WE H'WE THE STOCK in immense variety, from all over the 

 tropic'-, and an- cnnst.nntly adding to our variety. 

 Royal-Palm Nurseries REASONER BROS.. Proprieiorj Oneco, Floridi 



Tn.VDH MARK 

 special 



ds of miles, but we do 

 iny times every workday, 

 stock, having 17 special 



MOONS 



l."iO acres In 'frees 

 These are grown wide 

 well formed specimens 



rubs — over 2.20O kinds to choose from, 

 part, and In consequence develop Into stnrdT, 



ami 



much desired for estate, street, and park use, 

 Send for catalog. 

 THE vnt. H. MOON CO., Morrisvillo, Pa. Philadelphia Office: 8. ISth St. 



HILL'S EVERGREENS 



Sond lor Pri e-'.i^:. Mention this maeazlne. 



D. HILL NURSERY CO. 



B,.6oo Dundee, III. 



EvorRrcen Spiciiilis:5, 

 Largest Growcra in flmorlc 



