92 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



seedlings of the new type to this country. This was 

 in 1852. A few years later the noted firm of Dailledouze 

 and Zeller, of Flatbush, Long Island, commenced the 

 work of carnation breeding m America, which has 

 proved to be an epoch-making event in the history of this 

 wonderful flower. Other florists soon began to have a 

 hand in its development, and among them we find some 

 of the most noted names in American horticulture. Hun- 

 dreds of varieties have been raised and disseminated, 

 many of them short lived and falling short of expecta- 

 tions it is true ; but we find a number of noteworthy sorts 

 which held their own for several years before finally giv- 

 ing way in the march of progress. Undoubtedly the 

 variety which caused the most sensation was Mrs. Thos. 

 W. Lawson, or the "Lavvson," as it was popularly known. 

 This variety had the unusual distinction of a commercial 

 flower, receiving sensational write-ups in the daily papers. 

 This was twenty years ago, and for several years it was 

 the standard variety here and in Europe, and I believe is 

 still grown today. Mr. Peter Fisher, of Ellis. Mass., 

 will be forever famous had he raised but this one variety, 

 but he also gave the world the famed Enchantress und 

 such well-known sorts as Beacon and Benora among 

 others. 



The latest sensation is the variety "Laddie," from the 

 house of Dorner, a name famous in American carnation 

 history. As grown and shown by that expert carnation 

 grower, Mr. S. J. Goddard, this variety is certainly a 

 wonder, and sets a notch higher the standard for raisers 

 to aim at. After nearly three-score years and ten the 

 American carnation has achieved a leading position as a 

 commercial flower, and is the stand-by of all who have to 

 maintain a supply of cut flowers during the winter 

 months. Summing up, we see the carnation as a flower 

 which in its various forms has been held in high regard 

 for centuries past, is universally popular at the present 

 time, and undoubtedly will be held in the highest esteem 

 for a long time to come. 



* * * 



It is interesting to note the recent introduction of a 

 new race of DiaiitJiiis in England which is described as 

 half carnation and half pink. This new race is called 

 Dianthus Alkvoodii. after the raisers, Allwood Brothers, 

 well known carnation growers in England. _ It is re- 

 ported to be in big demand there, and promises to be 

 a remarkable acquisition to the list of garden plants of 

 which it is said "anyone can grow." From what we can 

 learn the habit is very similar'" to that of the garden pink, 

 and the flowers have the delightful perfunie of that old 

 garden favorite. It is said to flower continuously from 

 Spring till Autumn, and there are varieties of double and 

 single flowers in a wide range of colors. Altogether, it 

 would appear to be the most interesting flower novelty of 

 recent years, and we shall await its appearance here with 

 a good deal of interest. 



* * * 



In some greenhouses there is a certain amount of wall 

 space showmg which, if not covered, detracts from the 

 good appearance of the interior. Oftentimes there is 

 opportunity for the display of some climbing plant that 

 would be a special feature at some particular time, and 

 which otherwise could not be accommodated. If a per- 

 petual wall of living green is desired the climbing fig, 

 Fiais pninila. is a first rate plant for the purpose, and so 

 far as I have observed is never subject to insect pests. 

 One of the best walls of green I remember to have seen 

 \v'as in a cool greenhouse with a northern exposure, the 

 1 ack wall of which was covered for the entire length and 

 from floor to roof with Maidenhair Fern, Adiantinn 



CKucatum. The method of attachment was by means of 



zinc troughs a few inches deep and fastened on the wall 



a foot or so apart. Not only did it look well, but also 



served the very practical purpose of supplying plenty of 



fronds for picking from space that might easily have 



been wasted. 



* ^' * 



A pleasant pastime to enable one to forget for a while 

 the climatic capriciousness of a New England winter is 

 to read books on tropical countries. One I have lately 

 enjoyed reading is "A Naturalist in Nicaragua," by 

 Thomas Belt, who must have been one of the most ob- 

 servant of men. Among a lot of interesting happenings 

 in tropical life which he graphically describes is the story 

 of a working partnership between a plant and a species 

 of ant. The plant provides board and lodging for a cer- 

 tain season in return for services rendered. This strik- 

 ing occurrence of mutual help is recorded of several 

 tropical plants. In this particular instance the plant is 

 Acacia splia^rucephalia, a common plant in Nicaragua, 

 where it is known as Bull's-Horn plant. On the trunk 

 and branches are numerous pairs of strong, curved 

 thorns. These thorns are hollow and tenanted by ants, 

 which pass in and out through a hole at one end. These 

 ants are described as small, but very fierce and aggressive, 

 and the service they render is in repelling of leaf-eating 

 animals, for which they receive food as well as lodging. 

 Their food they obtain from the leaves, but not by eating 

 them. The leaves are bi-pinnate in form, and along the 

 mid-rib. at the base of each pair of leaflets is a gland 

 which secretes a honey-like liquid of which the ants seem 

 to be very fond. But this is not all ; a more solid food 

 is provided. When the leaflets first unfold there is on 

 the top of each leaf division a small yellow fruit-like 

 body, for all the world like a tiny golden pear. The ants 

 examine these continually until they are ripe, and inci- 

 dentally do any fighting that may be necessary for their 

 protection. 



When the fruit is ripe it is broken oft' by the ants and 

 carried home to the nest for consumption. After the 

 leaflets have fully developed the danger of their being 

 chewed up is over for that season. I have observed this 

 plant in botanical gardens and noted all these features, 

 with the exception of the fighting ants and the chewing 

 animals, their places being taken by ants of seeming 

 pacific tendencies and a sucking insect — the mealy bug. 



One of the advantages of a botanical garden is, that 

 there one may find many plants which, while not of 

 popular interest, none the less excite the curiosity at 

 least of many people who see them. One of these I recall 

 is a curious lilaceous plant from South Africa. Boiviea 

 volnbilis, a bulbous plant of twining growth, giving one 

 the impression from a casual glance that someone had 

 efifected a cross between a giant onion and an asparagus. 

 It would be an interesting plant for the amateur's green- 

 house, but probably it is not oft'ered by any of our plants- 

 men. 



Do not crowd ideas in speaking or writing. 



Before you try to convince anyone else, make sure 

 that you are convinced, and if you cannot convince 

 yourself, drop the subject. Do not try to "put over 

 anything." 



Tell the truth. — Northern. 



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I INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SHOW | 



I NEW YORK— MARCH L5-21 | 



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