306 



HORTICULTURE 



August 28, 1909 



cannot omlure our Imt and dry conditions. Fifth, ^ve 

 want a robust plant tliat will be a rapid multiplier. 

 When we get a flower like Fraulein Von Lossburg it 

 is not very satisfactory to have it grow two years and 

 show but one stem, while Zouave, for instance, would 

 give half a dozen or more. 



PEEPOTENCY IN PLANTS 



This trait is prominent .with some breeds of animals. 

 The black Galway takes all the horns off his progeny 

 and makes each one a present of a lilack overcoat. 



Some phloxes which yield plenty of seed have the 

 power to impress? themselves on their offspring. Most 

 prominent is Crepnscule, a flower with immense florets, 

 often larger than a silver dollar, and with such an im- 

 mense symmetrical head that one in a vase is enough 

 and the petals match so well that the crown seems one 

 complete flower. This is peculiar in the variableness of 

 its colors. I saw some growing in cool Colorado and 

 they were dark lavender and not especially attractive. 

 In hot Nebraska mine were snowy white with crimson 

 center, the most imposing of the whole family. But I 

 notice when the weather grows cold and nights are frosty 

 the blossoms are lavender as in Colorado. I never saw 

 a flower which so impressed itself on its neighbors. 

 Even feeble Coquelicot responded giving a stronger 

 plant with a larger flower. Crossed with Eichard Wal- 

 lace 1 have my Arete which fills all the points of excel- 

 lence. It is not as tall as Eichard Wallace for the 

 mother is dwarfish. It has a finer head and larger 

 florets and it is very robust and a rapid multiplier. I 

 often get five divisions from one plant in a year. So if 

 it is equal in beauty to F. Von Lossburg it is worth five 

 times as much. 



Unfortunately Crepnscule is a slow multiplier. This 

 troubled me. Few florists have them and they are high 

 but applying my system of propagation from roots I 

 have now five hundred at least. The process is simple. 

 Here is a strong plant with a large tuft of roots. You 

 do not need so many in planting. Too many roots are 

 in each other's way. For a vigorous plant for next 

 season it is just as well to have short roots. Set a sharp 

 spade in the ground beside the plant. Put it about 

 half way down, then turn it and cut off all the roots. 

 There will be a ma^s of jilucky little fellows left. Will 

 thev give uj) and die? Not much! Eather late in the 

 spring tliey will come up in a mass as if looking for 

 their mother. Not finding her they go on just the same. 

 There will be about a dozen in one clump. I have had 

 twenty spring up from one tuft of roots. Let them 

 grow one vear then ]ilant them out and you find you 

 are doing far better than by the usual method of cut- 

 tings. Some times I cut off the roots, put them in 

 earth in the cellar and jilant in the spring. If you put 

 one tiny root in a pot you will beat cuttings all out. 



Well, a dozen Crepuscules planted in a group of fine 

 varieties will make such an impression on them that 

 when you plant the seed in the fall you will find next 

 year von are raising miracles. I have scores of these 



seedlings on the way and when you compare them with 

 the imported ones the foreigners look ashamed. Of 

 course not all the seedlings will be worthy of a name, 

 but they go into the mixed lots and many with a better 

 chance and not so badly crowded will ultimate in choice 

 flowers. We arc finding some beautifully variegated 

 ones. Some large white with a slight tinting of pink. 

 One dark red with veinings like an iris. In fact we 

 seem to be in wonderland, surprises springing up all 

 around us, and tlie process is so simple that a child 

 can use it. ^Vhat a field for women who love^ flowers, 

 who can call out from the unknown, forms of radiant 

 beauty. We are naming our new creations from the 

 heathen goddesses. 



Alcyone, at its best, has petals larger than a dollar; 

 color of the purest white with a ring of crimson and 

 often five dots like stars in place of tlie ring in center. 

 It is very early and its blooming time is soon over. It 

 is not a rapid multiplier and we cannot increase it as 

 fast as we would like to do. We are increasing Arete so 

 rapidly we shall put some on the market soon. Crepns- 

 cule is dwarfish and rather late and continues to bloom 

 nntil frost comes. The petals do not shake off as badly 

 as some others. When possible we want to perpetuate 

 these perpetual blooming qualities. The old favorite 

 Eclaireur has a Ijeautiful red blossom with very large 

 petals. We have known it to resist the blight and bloom 

 radiantly when other kinds were forlorn and ragged 

 with the rust. 



By taking the most vigorous and grouping them you 

 arc sure of a good combination. We do not try hand 

 polenization. The bees attend to that, giving most 

 satisfactory results. Always sow the seed in the fall, 

 cover lightly. They love the slush and snow of spring 

 and do not mind the frosts. They are among the 

 hardiest of our plants. 



York, Nebraska. 



(^ ifU^yry^/hA^ 



Hybrid Calceolarias 



(See Covci- lUustratiou.) 



Calceolarias are amongst the most interesting and 

 useful plants for greenhouse and conservatoiy decora- 

 tion during the late months of spring and early sum- 

 mer, and a whole house devoted to them when in full 

 bloom, as shown in the accompanying photograph, is 

 quite a feature where the gla.ss department is kept for 

 show as well as utility. 



Their culture is com|)aratively easy when their re- 

 quirements arc tlioronghly understood. The man in 

 charge of them must be interested in his plants, and 

 he must keej) an ever watchful eye on them; a slip- 

 shod method of culture will soon result in failure. To 

 obtain large specimens we sow our seed early in July. 

 The seed should lie sown in pans filled with light, sandy 

 soil which should be thoroughly soaked before sowing. 



