146 



HORTICULTURE 



January 29, 1910 



plant apiDears to have been in cultivation in England 

 but was lost subsequently until re-introduced by the 

 writer. 



Buddleia variabilis and its numerous varieties arc 

 mid-season shrubs flowering in August and Septem- 

 ber. The original B. variabilis was introduced from 

 China by way of France but was an indifferent thing, 

 straggling and siirawling in habit with poor colored and 

 small spikes of flowers. But as the specific name indi- 

 cates the plant is variable and the writer has been fortu- 

 nate in securing some excellent forms. 



B. variabilis var. Veitchiana and B. variabilis var. 

 magnifica are both erect-growing shrubs with pri- 

 mary and lateral branches terminating in arching, cylin- 

 drical "tails" 1 to 3 ft. long, of fragrant flowers. In 

 "Veitchiana" the flowers are bright mauve with orange- 

 yellow throat. In "magnifica" the flowers are deep rose- 

 purple with the edge of petals somewhat reflexed. 

 B. variabilis var. Wilsoni has a more loose habit, laxly 

 arching branches, and pendulus tails of flowers in colors 

 resembling Veitchiana. The individual flowers are large 

 and the inflorescence is often over 40 inches long ! It is 

 difiicult to decide which is best but opinions incline 

 toward "magnifica" on account of its deeper and richer 

 color. All three should be gi-own as they furnish a suc- 

 cession of flowers. "Veitchiana" is first to flower in end 

 of July and early August; "magnifica" follows a fort- 

 night later and "Wilsoni" some ten days after this. 



B. variabilis and its varieties are native of the dry 

 river valleys of central and western China usually grow- 

 ing side of streams and not infrequently in the shingly 

 beds and islets of summer torrents. Abundance of water 

 in the growing season is of more importance than a rich 

 soil. Under cultivation they thrive in any ordinary 

 garden soil and are just as happy in the back-garden of 

 some city workman as in the palatial grounds of the 

 country magnate. To secure the best results the one 

 thing necessary above all others is hard pruning in early 

 spring. This and abundant water is all they need. 

 Cuttings of half-ripe wood inserted in late September 

 root readily. 



In the Arnold Arboretum these plants survive the 

 winter though often killed to the ground. They are 

 partial evergreen in character and for general purposes 

 in New England and the States west where the climate 

 is more severe they should be lifted in early winter and 

 stored in cellars or under greenhouse benches. These 

 Buddleias are admirably adapted for summer and early 

 autumn bedding anywhere in this country. For sum- 

 mer resorts where a display of flowers in August and 

 September is the one tiling requisite they are ideal sub- 

 jects. In large pots or tubs they would make the most 

 decorative of plants for piazzas, etc. Anyone can grow 

 them with ease. 



These Buddleias and Jasmine were unanimously 

 awarded first-class certificates when exhibited before the 

 Eoyal Horticultural Society of London. They every 

 year become increasingly popular on the other side and 

 a great future awaits them here where the increased sun- 

 shine will afford even grander results. Wlioever takes 

 up this culture for the purposes indicated above will 

 have cause to pleasantly remember Horticulture. 



Xanthoceras sorbifolia. 



oCf-J^-v^ 



Xanthoceras sorbifolia. 



Many good flowering shrubs have come to us from 

 Northern China and some, such as Forsythia suspensa 

 and ]\Iagnolia stellata, are among the most popular of 

 our garden occupants today but the subject of this note, 

 which also comes from the same region, does not appear 

 to have been so largely planted as its merits entitle it to 

 be. In this country it is quite liardy as far 

 as the northern boundary . of Massachusetts and 

 forms a somewhat upright branching shrub with pinnate 

 leaves and terminal and axillary racemes of white flow- 

 ers which have a crimson blotch at the base of each petal. 

 The accompanying illustration gives a good idea of its 

 floriferous qualities in a young state, and if planted in a 

 good loamy soil in a sunny position it never fails to 

 produce in ray large quantities of its handsome racemes. 

 In the gardens of the Summer Palace at Pekin large 

 specimens forty feet high with trunks one foot in diam- 

 eter are to be seen and although we cannot expect it 

 will attain such large dimensions in this country yet it 

 makes a very ornamental large shrub and is apparently 

 free from any injurious diseases. Xanthoceras is a 

 member of the natural order Sapindaceas to which such 

 well-known plants as the chestnuts and maples belong. 



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