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THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



with slightly depressed center. The scales are usually 

 marl-yellow in color. The flowers are comparatively 

 short, and at first somewhat drooping. 



L. L. ExiMiuM. — The plant is of taller and more grace- 

 ful habit. The bulb has a distinctly conical inclination, 

 the scales narrow and colored a pale yellow. The flower 

 is very long and more cylindrically inclined than some. 

 It is certainly one of the very best. Under the names of 

 "Harrisi" and the "Bermuda Lily,'' this variety gained 

 considerable notoriety a quarter of a century since. In 

 forcing, it should be given a fairly long season to avoid 

 undue extension of the stems. L. I. giganteum is proba- 

 bly a fine selection of this, a plant of imposing stature 

 and great freedom of flowering. For conservatory deco- 

 ration it is one of the best. 



L. L. FoRMCSANUM. — Growers of these Lilies speak in 

 glowing terms of the value of this variety for early forc- 

 ing, and by many it is regarded as superior to the well- 

 known eximium. Originally collected in a wild state in 

 the island of Formosa, it is now cultivated on a large 

 scale in Japan. 



L. L. Takesim.\. — This distinct form is also highly 

 prized, both for forcing and retarding. It is a handsome, 

 strong-growing variety, with long tubular flowers, white 

 within and externally tinged with brown. The stems, 

 too, are also characterized by purplish-brown markings. 



L. L. WiLsoNi. — Probably the largest-flowered variety 

 of the set, and a handsome sort withal. It is said to be 

 the same as eximium, though the plants I have grown 

 more nearly resemble a giant typical form, and with the 

 same leafy, sturdy habit. The flowers are, however, 

 whiter and more refined. 



Formerly a large number of bulbs, chiefly of the typi- 

 cal kind, reached this country from Holland. Now, how- 

 ever, and for many years past, Japan has been the main 

 source of supplv. millions of bulbs being imported annu- 

 ally. Bermuda also contributes its quota. 



NUT TREES NEED RICH SOIL. 



Bv H. E. \'.-\x I)EM.\x. 



There is a widespread and growing interest in the 

 growing of nut trees all over the country. At first it was 

 confined almost entirely to the culture of the pecan in the 

 South and the chestnut in the North, but this is no 

 longer true, for the .walnut and hickory are now being 

 planted in the central regions and the hardy pecans as 

 well, although as yet very sparingly. For many years 

 past the wahiut of the old world has been planted all 

 over America to a very limited extent. 



There have been chance trees standing here and there 

 and these have often proven of uncertain value and have 

 borne nuts of various qualities. Some have been quite 

 profitable, as was quite reasonable to expect, while others 

 have borne very irregularly or almost not at all. That 

 this foreign walnut is destined to finally become a suc- 

 cess over a very wide territory in the eastern and cen- 

 tral parts of the country is the confident belief of manv 

 who are studying into its character and needs. 



We have within this territory the greatest walnut trees 

 in the world, for the black walnut and the white walnut 

 or butternut are naturally very abundant over the larger 

 part of the region east of the Rocky Mountains. For 

 many years their lumber was a very important article 

 of trade and it is so to a considerable extent yet. Their 

 nuts are relished by nearly everyone. The meat is rich 

 and of a more delicious flavor than that of the Persian 

 (linglish) walnut. There is good reason to believe that 

 the hybrids produced between our native walnuts and 

 this species will be hardy and jiroductive in tree and bear 

 nuts with thin .shells and richly flavored kernels that ma\- 

 be easilv extracted. 



There are many species of the hickory that grow from 

 New England and Minnesota to the Gult of .Mexico. Of 

 these the pecan is the best and it is of very wide distribu- 

 tion ; for it is not only native in the Gulf states, but as 

 far north in the Alississippi Valley as Southern Iowa. 

 Wherever found its kernels are of rich and pleasant 

 flavor, but many of the varieties, which are all seedlings 

 at first, have nuts that are very small, and have the bit- 

 ter internal parts of the shell so clinched into the kernels 

 as to be almost impossible to separate them. But there 

 are some excellent varieties that have been discovered 

 mostly in Southern Indiana, Illinois and jMissouri that 

 will be propagated by grafting and planted over the Cen- 

 tral states in the years to come. • 



There is at least one other species of the hickory that 

 is scarcely less valuable than the pecan, that is the Shag- 

 bark, a little shell bark that is found over the most of the 

 Central and Northeastern states. Its choice varieties are 

 being sought out and propagated in a very limited way 

 as yet, but they are so valuable and the trees so widely 

 adaptal.ile that there is no doubt that they will be generally 

 planted in due time. 



But there are certain requirements that nut trees must 

 have satisfied to grow and bear well. They are always 

 found growing in rich soil. Land that has a good growth 

 of walnut or hickory has been considered excellent for 

 farm crops from the earliest settlement of the country. 

 It is rich in the elements of plant food, such as nitrogen, 

 phosphorous and potash. Soils that are not so consti- 

 tuted naturally must be made so artificially, or they can- 

 not profitably grow anv nut trees that may be planted in 

 them. 



I have noticed walnut trees particularly that have been 

 set in locations where they were not naturally found that 

 were growing very feebly and bearing almost nothing. 

 They were starving for the fertility that is natural to 

 them. And I wish to suggest to anyone and everyone 

 who has planted or will plant nut trees, to be sure to sup- 

 ply them with abundant nourishment in the soil, if it is 

 not there naturally. They must have rich soil or they 

 only live a feeble and unprofitable life. 



The kernels of all nuts are rich in the elements already 

 mentioned, and a larger supply in the soil is absolutely 

 necessarv to produce crop after crop. This is especially 

 applicable to the Eastern and Central states and those 

 farther to the westward, where the planting of nut trees 

 is assuming considerable proportions. It is well to start 

 right and not plant in ignorance of the real need of the 

 trees. And this is equally true of orchard trees of all 

 k-inds and berries as well, for of all things that they 

 usually lack most in the soil is potash, phosphorous and 

 a reasonable proportion of nitrogen to enable them to 

 bear good crops and continue to do so. 



JANUARY. 



Jo\' resounds o'er all the earth. 



(iladness reigns in every clime, 

 .\s January again gives birth, 



.All hail the new born Son of Time. 



Men will meet in hall and hearth. 

 Near and far the bells will chime. 



Tolling long life, success and mirth 

 Under the snow, the flowers lie deep. 

 .\h ! the great gardener deemed it best 



That they too. with the child should sleep. 



Enwrapped in robes, air cleansed, and pressed. 

 Robust is he, for soon he'll leap 



From hi? mother's arms to February's breast. 

 Youth, from thi^ month you'll learn a heap. 



— D.wiD S. Mtller. 



