602 



GARDENERS' CHROMCLE 



foot when transplanted and desire a sunny spot contain- 

 ino- a rich clay soil. Seeds can also be sown in July or 

 August and the seedlings transplanted in the Fall. Dur- 

 ing an open Winter it is advisable to protect the young 

 plants from frost. 



The true carnation is the garden carnation, Diaiithiis 

 car\oph\lliis. This is a beautiful garden plant \vhose_ 

 flowers "appear in the most manifold shades and tints of 

 shiny bright colors. They also exhale an exquisite deli- 

 cate' odor. In form they' are various ; some are simple, 

 others compound, with one or with many colors ; some 

 are high, and others are dwarfed. 



These plants can be cultivated both in flower pots and 

 in the open, where they are usually found to be hardy. 

 Propagation is generally efifected through seeds which are 

 sown in April or May in boxes, pots, or in the cold bed. 

 The seedlings are transplanted, with the soil attached to 

 their roots, to reserve beds from which they are again 

 transplanted in the Spring, about three-quarters of a foot 

 apart, to beds upon which they are to flower, since the 

 principal period of flowering is its second year. ^ In the 

 third year these plants produce long stems with few 

 flowers. 



If it is desirable to keep a certain variety of these plants, 

 then cuttings must be made. For this purpose, long, 

 slender, and flowerless shoots are selected. These are 

 bent downward into the soil, hooked in place and covered 

 lightly with soil so that the tip and the upper leaves 

 project upward. At this time the soil of the carnation 

 bed is loosened, and the soil fertilized. The shoot to he 



Used for propagation is held in the left hand, and with a 

 sharp knife, a slit is made from one node to another. 

 This forms a so-called tongue. At the place where this 

 shoot is fovmd, the soil is loosened; the cut part inserted 

 in the soil, hooked in place with a tiny twig so that the 

 tongue remains horizontal, and the hole covered with soil. 



The shoot so placed in the ground is still connected 

 with the mother plant which provides it with food. At the 

 end of about six weeks it will have formed a good root 

 system at the cut place. Then the plant can be cut from 

 the mother plant, and treated as a new plant. It is advis- 

 able to plant this shoot in a flower pot, leaving it out of 

 doors as long as possible, and bringing it into some frost- 

 free room or placing in the cold bed over Winter. 



If it is impossible to propagate in this way, shoots can 

 be cut ofif and planted. For this purpose it is best to take 

 shoots which are strong and healthy and bear at least 

 two to four nodes. The lowest node is cut exactly in half. 

 The lowest internode is then split in exactly four equal 

 parts, and the pith removed with a sharp knife. The so 

 prepared shoot is either placed in the cold bed or in a 

 flower pot so that one or two nodes are covered with soil. 

 If a flower pot is used it should be covered with a glass 

 plate. W'hen placing the shoot into the soil, be careful 

 to spread the cttt parts horizontally. The soil is then 

 gently pressed into place, and the tip of the leaves are 

 cut ofl^. Until roots are formed the plant must be kept 

 well shaded and moist. In both of these methods of 

 propagation, flower buds should not be allowed to form 

 until the plant has made roots. 



June Birds 



PAUL B. RlIS 



T 



Hh2 birds are now more nearly stationary than any 

 other month in the year. After the early days of 

 June all birds are either Summer residents or per- 

 manent" residents. June is the important month of repro- 

 duction and the time is fully given over to nest building, 

 egg laying, incubation and raising of the. young. Mating 

 and nest building are the culmination of incredible long 

 flights from and to the nesting grounds which complete 

 the cycle of migration. The full development of the 

 bird's year has now been reached. 



With the leafing out of the foliage it can be observed 

 that the birds find ample security and seclusion for their 

 nests further out on the branches, the early builders all 

 seeking the protection of tree trunk and crotch. The 

 bronzed grackle has completed its only brood and the 

 liirds are forsaking their nesting grounds for the com- 

 munal roost in groves or woods. Robins and bluebirds 

 are engaged in building their second nest while the later 

 arrivals are yet to begin their household duties. Among 

 the June nest builders may be noted the night hawk, 

 whip-poor-will, scarlet tanager, Kentucky warbler, crested 

 flycatcher, wood pewee and cedar waxwing. Occasion- 

 ailv the purple martin delays its period of incubation 

 until early June. 



To him who delights in the out of doors at early dawn 

 is given the rarest entertainment in bird melody. The 

 morning chorus, prompted by the mating instinct strong 

 within, is full voiced, competitive and animated. It is 

 due to their ability to sing that the birds make their 

 strongest appeal to us. Their carefree song gives us 

 pleasure and imparts a spirit of happiness. Yet it is not 

 generally understood, that song plays a more serious and 

 important part in the bird's life than that of entertain- 



ment. ( )ur foremost authorities are agreed that it is 

 not the outpouring and overflowing of a happy heart, nor 

 an expression of ecstacy in the joy of life. Neither does 

 the repertoire appeal to the performer for art sake. Its 

 functions are believed to be of a secondarv sexual char- 

 acter, attaining its fullest expression during the nesting 

 season. Confirmatory is the fact that song ceases almost 

 entirely at the expiration of this period. The brown 

 thrasher, the mocking bird of the North, rarely sings a 

 greater period than six weeks. However, the molting 

 season closely following incubation is a period of physical 

 depression. This, others point out, is the real cause for 

 the cessation of song, which after complete convalescence 

 is again indulged in to some extent. Few have inclined 

 toward this new theory. John Burroughs expressed his 

 belief that the song of the male was intended for the ear 

 of the mate and its origin to be found in the male sexual 

 principle. Song is practically restricted to the male bird 

 with a few exceptions, notably that of the rose-breasted 

 grosbeak and cardinal, the females of both species sing- 

 ing in a limited way. 



We find further delight in the vari-colored plumage of 

 birds. The tints varying from modest .gray to the bril- 

 liant splendor of tropical hues are at this time attaining 

 their brightest nuptial color. Here it is easiest to identifv 

 our friends, correctly and conspicuouslv garbed in gala 

 attire. Dame Nature also decreed that these colors should 

 serve the male to attract a mate. Instances, such as that 

 of the egret with its nuptial plumes and the lyre bird 

 with its elaborated tail which it judiciously displays to 

 win favor w-ith the female, may indicate that the plumage 

 also takes on a secondary sexual character. 



In your patience ye are strong. — Mrs. E. 15. Browning. 



