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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



(OF AMERICA) 

 Devoted to the Science of Floriculture and Horticulture 



I Vol. XXV 



APRIL, 1921 



Things and Thoughts of the Garden 



MONTAGUE FREE 



As a result of the phenomenal \Mnter we have just 

 passed through, only a short period elapsed be- 

 tween 1920 and 1921 without something or other 

 in bloom in the outdoor garden. There were a few scat- 

 tered flowers on one or two species of Autumn blooming 

 Crocuses as late as November 18, although it must be 

 admitted they w'ere rather bedraggled, which is not sur- 

 prising considering that the temperature had fallen as low 

 as 23 degrees on one or two occasions. After a lapse of 

 only three months we again find blossoms out-of-doors, 

 for the Japanese Witch Hazel commenced to bloom in 

 the early part of February. The Chinese Witch Hazel 

 was a close second being fully out on March 7. This in 

 some respects is to be preferred to the preceding but its 

 flowers do not remain in good condition so long. It 

 forms a more shapely bush, has flowers of a more pleas- 

 ing yellow and is delightfully fragrant. It is one of those 

 plants that are attractive to bees and they were busy, as 

 bees proverbially are. visiting its blossoms during the 

 sunny days of early March. Xot being an apiarist I 

 cannot say whether there is any special advantage in 

 providing facilities for the bees to start in business so 

 early in the season, but one would think it would be 

 worth while for bee-keepers to plant the early blooming 

 plants so as to ensure a honey gathering season of the 

 greatest possible length. 



The Witch Hazel was not the only plant that was hon- 

 ored by the bees for the Crocuses in the rockgarden were 

 equally popular. These Crocus species are a week or 

 two earlier than the ordinary bedding kinds and for this 

 reason alone are worth planting ; and those who do not 

 already have a selection of them in the garden might do 

 worse than remember to order some when the proper 

 time comes. They are so dainty and bright, and possess 

 indixidnality and character that is often lacking in their 

 more popular relatives. Crocus Susiaiitis, Crocus Tom- 

 masinianus and Crocus Sieberi were the earliest arrivals, 

 ilicir flowers being open on March 7, The first named 

 is a dark yellow species marked on the outside with lines 

 of dark purple. The other tw^o are lavender of varying 

 shades, the colors in Crocus Tonnnasinianus in general 

 being of a paler tint than those of Crocus Sichcrt. Crocus 

 versicolor stri])ed and feathered with purple on a white or 

 cream ground color was also in bloom on this date. 



Close on the heels of these precocious wildings came 

 Crocus stellaris, of a pale clear yellow ; and Crocus pul- 

 chcllns. delicate and fragile appearing, of clear lavender. 

 .Accompanying them the .Spring Meadow Saffron, Bul- 



No. 4 I 



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bocodiiiiii vcrnum, displayed its rosy purple flowers un- 

 adorned with any sign of leaf-growth. This is a native 

 of the European Alps and is an excellent rockgarden 

 plant, coming up year after year in perfect health. Rob- 

 inson states that it is earlier than Crocus Susianus, but, 

 for this season at least, it was caught napping and ar- 

 rived a week or so behind. 



Erica carnea, to my notion far the best of the hardy 

 heaths, showed a few open flowers on IMarch 7 but was 

 not fully in bloom until the following week. This is a 

 native of the Alps and produces an abundance of rose 

 colored blooms in early Spring which are very lasting. 

 There is a white flowered form which, with us, does not 

 bloom so freely as the type. These are probably the 

 easiest of all the Ericas to .grow and they seem to suc- 

 ceed in almost any kind of soil. 



The flower buds of Coritus Mas were showing color 

 earlier than usual this year and it was in full bloom by 

 the middle of the month. It Is a wonder that this charm- 

 ing little tree has not been developed with a view- to 

 using it in the fruit garden. Its handsome red fruits are 

 fully as meaty as those of the average cherry, and, to 

 most people, are palatable, especially to those w'ho pre- 

 fer snap and aciditv in their fruil. Loudon states that 

 it "bears handsome fruit, which were formerly made 

 into tarts and rob dc cornis." The wood is very hard ; 

 and Evelyn says "made into wedges, it will last like iron." 

 Rob de cornis is a sweet fluid extract, presumably used 

 in medicine. The berrie.'^ are said to be used in Turkey 

 for making a kind rf sherbet. 



In all probability it could never be made much of a 

 success as a fruit tree in the Xorth, for, by blooming so 

 early, it is exposed to late frosts which prevent the for- 

 mation of fruit. -At least that seems to be the most 

 iilausible theory to account for its non-fruiting. T have 

 had trees, here in Brooklyn, under observation for the 

 past seven years and on only one occasion, six years ago, 

 has a good crop been produced, although they have 

 flowered freely each year. However, in sections not sub- 

 ject to late frosts it seeius to possess possibilities that 

 should interest the fruit culturist. 



One of the early comers in the .Spring, that is all too 

 seldom seen in gardens, is the .Spring .\donis, Adonis 

 vcrnalis. It has beautiful fern-like foliage in w-hich the 

 bright yellow flowers nestle. These have the typical 

 buttercup structure, with numerous achenes and stamens, 

 but differ in the petals, which are numerous and shaped 

 like those of the I'"ield Daisy. It is a good plant for the 



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