618 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



tive budliood. all combine to make an ideal flower, a flower that 

 we admire and love the more perhaps because it is so fleeting. 

 Speaking of their budhood remmds us too of how fascinating it 

 is to watch the buds gradually push out from between the leaf 

 axils, carrying a drooping case, green and hairy, that daily be- 

 comes fuher and fuller, until at length it stands erect and we 

 know that, early on the morrow, the enclosing case will break 

 asunder, detach' itself from the stem at the base and the thin, 

 closely packed satiny petals slowly unfurl in the sunliglit. 



A Poppy flower is never more beautiful than when three-parts 

 expanded and while the edge still retains its marvellous crinkling 

 and crimping. Nor is the beauty entnc.y past even after the 

 petals have faded, for the clustering stamens, with their masses 

 of blue-black pollen still hang and the seed capsule looks most 

 attractive. Where the flowers are not cut, this capsule continues 

 to be an object of interest all through its development and ripen- 

 ing, until the final stage is attained, when the roof rises and the 

 tiny windows open and the winds of Autumn sw'ay the stems and 

 scatter the tiny seeds in all directions. 



Among my own favorites are the tiny Alpine Poppies, which 

 resemble the line Icelands both in growth and colors, though they 

 are but 6 inches in height and reduced throughout in proportion. 

 In little informal drifts against granite rocks they are ideal, the 

 yellow, white, orange and rose flowers appearing to special ad- 

 vantage by contrast with the gray blueness of the rock. 



Occasionally among the seedlings one comes across a variety 

 with beautifully fringed petals and these are worth special atten- 

 tion for seed-saving purposes. The Iceland varieties form one of 

 the daintiest of table decorations and. as a broad belt edging to 

 a large border, will remain flowerful from June to October, dur- 

 ing which tiiue they throw up thousands of their glorious blos- 

 soms. 1 must confess that I love the pure gold, orange yellows 

 and pure whites far and away before the newer hybrid forms, the 

 colors of many of which are too muddy and indeterminate to be 

 pleasing 



The Oriental type is the most forceful and, at tiines, aggressive 

 flower in all the June garden and truly wonderful are the glorious 

 flesh pinks, crimsons, salmons, scarlets and apricots, all of which 

 have a strikin.g black and purple blotch at the base of each petal. 

 These Oriental varities need careful placing, for while so glori- 

 ously brilliant for a short time, the foliage soon becomes very 

 shabby and draggled after flowering and one inust group thein 

 behind some quick-growing, later flowering perennial, that can 

 be tied out and staked so as to till the gaping hole they leave in 

 the border, and screen them when they are in the unsightly stage. 



A little known form very seldom met in gardens is Paparcr 

 ru/'ifrciguin, which flowers from June till September. It is a 

 slender grower, rising to Zyi feet, with unusual orange buff hued 

 flowers that, associated with light grasses, make a most attrac- 

 tive decoration, — The Garden. 



FERNS FOR ROOMS 



Many of these, most beautiful in themselves, are of but little 

 value for house decoration. To have them suitable for this pur- 

 pose the fronds must be green, yet so hardy as not to be affected 

 by the cold draughts froin open windows. How often do we see 

 during the Winter the frosty air blowing in on plants as they 

 stand on tables near the windows, and if such are at all tender 

 their foliage is soon cut down. Among Ferns there are but few 

 more useful for this work than the Ptcris family. Their fronds 

 are hardy, and at the same time many of the species are most 

 pleasing, 



P. trcmula. — It is alike useful in a young and small state as 

 well as when .grown to a goodly size. This species, particularly 

 if not too much pot-bound to need frequent watering, stands well 

 in a room, as plants in such places are apt to get dry, particularly 

 during the Summer, In small pots this plant is most useful, for 

 when well grown it can be employed for a variety of purposes, 

 and being of such free habit it makes, in a 5-inch or 6-inch pot, 

 a nice specimen well furnished with its noble fronds. Seedlings 

 are so easily raised that a good stock may be worked up in a 

 short time. It is not at all particular as to soil, but a light, rich, 

 sandy loam seems to suit it best. 



P. scrruhUa is of hardy constitution, easy cultivation, and its 

 graceful habit at once places it in the front of our decorative 

 Ferns. Either in small pots or when grown to a larger size it 

 is alike useful, as its light, graceful fronds lend theinselves to al- 

 most any place, and being of such a lasting nature do not soon 

 suffer when exposed to cold winds or allow^ed to get dry. The 

 freedom with which this variety is produced from spores, and the 

 rapidity of its growth, enable it to be used more often than could 

 otherwise be done were it more tender. It enjoys a liberal amount 

 of water, and should not be exposed to the scorching ravs of the 

 sun during Summer, otherwise the fronds are not of that fresh- 

 ness so desirnble. There arc several varieties of this, all more 

 or less beautiful. 



P. cretica is deservedly one of the most popular greenhouse 

 species for decoration, particularly the variety known as P. c. 

 albolincata, the bright line down the center making it very attrac- 

 tive, more especially when the fertile fronds are removed, 



Lomaria gibba in a young state is very attractive, and thousands 

 are used every year for table and other decorations. Grown in 

 small pots it is most useful, and may be employed for a variety 

 of purposes; the light, palm-like fronds, which grow so close to 

 the pot, enabling the plants to be used in places where it is difficult 

 to have palms. When grown in a 6-inch put the plants are very 

 useful for vases, but they must on no account be allowed to get 

 dry at the roots, or they soon suffer. 



Lygodium japonicum is usually grown in gardens under the 

 name of Lygodium scaiidciis. For decoration it is most useful, 

 as its slender climbing stems may be employed in a variety of 

 ways. When grown in small pots the growths can be trained 

 round pier glasses, etc. They are also useful for table decoration 

 and for hanging baskets. The fronds are very leathery, and stand 

 a long time in water, which is a great advantage. At one time no 

 Ferns were so much in request for decoration as Adiantums. 

 Either cut or in pots there was always a demand for them, but 

 since the greenhouse forms of Asparagus have become so popular 

 there is not the same call for Adiantums. Still, as pot plants, 

 particularly in a small state, they are much in request, and thou- 

 sands are sold daily in our markets. Being of such easy culture, 

 and accommodating themselves to all sorts of places, they are 

 sure to remain in favor as long as there is a rage for small 

 plants. When well grown they make nice subjects for rooms, 

 but they must on no account be allowed to get dry at the roots or 

 be stood in the draught, or the fronds will soon shrivel up. Fine 

 specimens may be grown in the course of a few months, partic- 

 ularly if well fed with manure^vater. As to soil, they are not 

 at all particular so long as it is of a light, sandy nature. A. ainc- 

 alum should not be grown in too much heat, neither ought the 

 plant to have a dense shade, or the foliage will be of very little 

 use for cutting, A. gracilUinum ought to be grown fully exposed 

 to the sun to make the fronds hardy if they are to be of any 

 value. — Gardening lUusI rated. 



DEPARTMENT OF BOOK REVIEWS 



DiSE.\SES OF Economic Pl.\nts, by F. L. Stevens, Ph. D.; 

 the Macmillan Co., New York, 



Wonderfully well formed, and a model of the book-maker's art, 

 this compact volume is a delightful one to handle; and the con- 

 tents are in keeping. Himself the senior co-author of the original 

 edition of eleven years ago. the author puts into this just published 

 revision all the new knowledge concerning this most important 

 subject that has been acquired in recent years. No subject 

 assuredly is more vital than that of safeguarding the feeding 

 of the world through plants consuiued directly or through meat 

 produced from them. At present the subject is of peculiar im- 

 portance because of the calainitous multiplying of pests afflicting 

 almost every kind of econoiuic, and ornamental plant. There is 

 consequent advantage then in having this work of a most careful 

 and judicious student, who, wisely beginning with all that can 

 be gained from the history of plant diseases and of the preven- 

 tion or cure of theiu, with so line discrimination in fields 

 naturally confused by bewildering theories and multifold reme- 

 dies recommended upon the basis of imperfect or unauthoritative 

 experimentation, sets forth concisely the best method of pro- 

 cedure up to date. Tree surgery and spraying are handled quite 

 discreetly. 



I-^very agriculturist, horiculturist and floriculturist would do 

 well to master the chapter on General Diseases before studying 

 in the book the topic of particular interest to him. He will find 

 a most gratifyingly clear, concise and accurate treatment of 

 diseases affecting the special crop, with sufficient illustrations, 

 and references to a bibliography for more detailed investigation 

 and the handling of the problem in varying local phases. In the 

 bibliography are placed, in 556 dift'erent groups, the titles of the 

 reliable treatises, most of which are fortunately in the form 

 of free public bulletins. The index should be used to supplement 

 the table of contents ; but both the botanical and the common 

 name, like pcconia and peony, must be looked up. In the matter 

 of Ornamental Plants alone are there deficiencies ; but they are 

 to a great extent necessary deficiencies, for "aside from a few 

 standard flowers, as, for example, Roses, Violets, Chrysanthemums, 

 Carnations, etc.. and certain nursery stock, so few individuals 

 are interested, or the financial risk in these crops is so small, that 

 large expenditures of public funds have not been made for 

 investigation or control of the diseases," 



