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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



grow and that very special conditions and cultural skill 

 were also indispensable. All that, however, is a thing 

 of the past. From being the expensive luxury of a few 

 wealthy enthusiasts, Orchids are now within the reach 

 of any one who can afford a greenhouse. The cultural 

 requirements of many of the most beautiful and useful 

 kinds are now quite well understood and call for no more 

 skill than is necessary for the successful handling of the 

 general run of greenhouse stock. Of course, in the case 

 of a big collection of Orchids wide experience and cul- 

 tural skill of the highest order is called for, but that is 

 beside the point just now. From these genera: Cattleya; 

 Laclia; Dcndrobium; Cypripedimn; Calogync and Ly- 

 castc, can be made a selection of beautiful species and 

 hybrids of simple requirements. 



There seems to be every indication that the need for 

 the continuation of War Gardens, under the name of 

 Peace Gardens if you will, is even greater than ever this 

 year. With the farmers protesting against the Day- 

 light Saving plan in the States where it is in force, on 

 the ground that it interferes with their work and so will 

 reduce their output ; the scarcity of farm labor and the 

 increased ratio of consumers against producers ; the high 

 cost of everything now, with the prospect of increased 

 transportation charges, it would seem to be a wise move 

 on the part of all who can possibly do so to grow at least 

 a part of their food supply for the coming year. With 

 potatoes selling now at four and a half dollars per bushel 

 and talk of higher, and still higher next year, a bushel 

 dug from the home garden next Fall will be worth two 

 lip in Aroostook County, Maine. Many who could grow 

 this staple food crop have hitherto found it easier to 

 buy, but this may be a year when the position will be re- 

 versed. Great anxiety is being manifested already in 

 European countries over the potato crop prospects for 

 this year, and if there is another shortage there, we may 

 be sure there will be none to be given away here. Those 

 vegetables which can be kept for Winter use are of the 

 first importance, and time and energy spent in raising 

 beans, cabbage, winter squash and the various root crops 

 promises to turn out a good investment. 



* * * 



Nothing is more conducive to real happiness than the 

 cultivation of a garden. "Every home a garden" is an 

 ideal which if it could be realized would do much to 

 sweep away the spirit of unrest and discontent so ram- 

 pant, and which expresses itself in so many inconven- 

 ient forms. The word garden implies home and family 

 life, the best safeguard of a nation, and those who take 

 up gardening either as a hobby or as a profession stand 

 a good chance of getting the very best out of life. Every- 

 one rejoices in early Spring and seems to take on a new 

 lease of life with the unfolding of the earliest buds and 

 blossoms. It is then that the gardening instinct makes 

 its strongest appeal and the sight and the feel of newly 

 turned soil is one of the finest tonics. A garden affords 

 both physical and mental recreation. As the season 

 progresses and plants develop it will prove an increasing 

 source of restful enjoyment and ever-growing interest. 

 Trees and shrubs add to the permanent value of a place 

 as well as being just ornamental, wliile the pleasure of 

 gathering fresh flowers and vegetables for the table 

 brings a sense of satisfaction that cannot be expressed 



in money values. 



* * * 



A tree of marked distinction in the landscape is the 

 picturesque Red Birch, and to see a shapely specimen 

 placed to good advantage on a lawn is to think of it ever 

 after as one of the most beautiful of trees. The wonder 



is that it is not more generally planted. As with all 



other Birches the branches are slender and graceful, 



giving it that light and pleasing form so much admired. 



In the Winter season it is specially attractive because of 



the beauty of the bark, reddish brown in color, which on 



the branches flakes and curls into thin papery layers, 



marking it as a tree of peculiar interest. In the wild it 



grows chiefly along river banks. River Birch being one 



of its common names, and it is therefore a suitable tree 



to plant in moist ground. Botanically it is known as 



Bctida nigra, but in this case the specific name was not 



well chosen as another species is known as the Black Birch. 

 ^ ^ ^ 



It is a well-known fact that there is something very 

 fascinating about a water-garden and wherever the lie 

 of the ground and other conditions permit of the in- 

 clusion of a stream or pond within the garden area it is 

 a chance which should not be allowed to go begging. A 

 combination of water-gardening and bog gardening can 

 be made a most attractive feature. Plants which grow 

 in the water possess a distinct charm of their own and 

 the moist ground surrounding a natural pond permits of 

 the use of moisture loving perennials, trees and shrubs 

 to the fullest advantage. This of course is possible only 

 on places of considerable extent, but because one has 

 only a small garden it does not follow that we cannot 

 grow aquatic plants. A hard-wood barrel will provide 

 two good tubs in which can be grown some of the smaller 

 growing water lilies, one plant to a tub, which looks 

 best if set in the ground level to the top. Water lilies 

 are very partial to rich soil and in this case the tub 

 should be at least half filled with soil and planted in a 

 sunny position. Two or three gold fish in the tub will 

 add to the interest and incidentally devour any mosquito 

 larvae in the water. 



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I OUR NEW DEPARTMENTS | 



I In keeping with its policy of always giving its readers | 



I the most needed assistance and of being as practical i 



I as possible the Gardeners' Chronicle takes pleasure | 



i in announcing two new departments which it is cer- | 



[ tain that its readers will receive with pleasure. They g 



I are departments unique among magazines devoted ex- i 



I clusivcly to the interests of gardeners and horticul- | 



I luralists and departments that there has certainly long ex- | 



I istcd the need of — the department of Foreign Exchange, i 



1 begiiniing with the June number, and the department | 



I of Book Jieviews, which appears with this issue. The | 



I object of the former will be to give concisely to Ameri- | 



I can readers the best suggestions of all kinds that can j 



I be derived from the study and the experience of the j 



I most proficient and authoritative gardeners and horti- | 



I culturalists in the more progressive countries of the j 



I old world. The object of the latter will be not only | 



I to call attention to the more desirable of the new | 



I books but also to guide in the wise obtaining of them i 



I and in wise use of them. 1 



I For the conducting of these two new departments the | 



I Chronicle counts itself fortunate in having obtained | 



j the services of a man in whom is an unusual com- i 



I bination of the requisite qualifications. He has been | 



i from boyhood an enthusiastic gardener and student | 



i of plants and has had opportunities for study and ex- | 



I perience in various parts of the country and under | 



j various conditions. In him are found, along with the | 



i advantages of study at several large American uni- j 



I versities and acquaintance with foreign languages, j 



i practical acquaintance with the workings of one of | 



i the most prominent state agricultural experiment sta- | 



I tions and of the national experimental farm, to which 1 



i is added the benefits that have come from visiting | 



i prominent nurseries in this country and from travel 1 



j in Europe. Throughout he will will keep in mind the | 



I various classes of readers whom the Chronicle desires | 



I to serve. I 

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