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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



way. So far as varieties are concerned, any of the strong 

 growing kinds seem to do equally well. 



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Under certain conditions the introduction of rockwork 

 as an edging to long straight fiower borders can be made 

 a feature well worth while and .several instances where 

 this has been done with a decidedly good eiifect are re- 

 called. Such an arrangement allows the free use of 

 many of the low growing and spreading perennials to 

 the best possible advantage, while the plants themselves 

 can be better cared for. One need not be a rock-garden 

 expert in order to make a good job of the arrangement 

 of the stones, but they should be arranged as informally 

 as possible and not used too freely. The nature, of the 

 plants themselves and their proper disposition will still 

 further .strengthen the appearance of irregularity which 

 it is most desirable to obtain. Of the numerous plants 

 available the following are all good doers and easily ob- 

 tainable. Alyssuni sa.vatilc, Arabis albida. Saxifraga 

 crassifoUa. Phlox snbiilata, P. dk'aricata, Ibcris scinf'cr- 

 virens, Daphne cneorum, Anncria niaritiiiia. Liypsophila 

 repens, Cerastium tomentosum. Aster alpimis. Dianthiis 

 deltoides^ Campanula carpatiea, Ncpcta Mussinii. Tunica 

 saxifraga, Saponaria ocymoidcs, Sedum, several species, 

 Sempervivum arachnoideiim, and Heuchcra saiiginiuui. 

 Of several of the species mentioned there are garden 

 varieties which show some point of improvement perhaps 

 in form and ctjlor. Nearly all are more or less evergreen, 

 so that they make a good appearance even when not in 

 flower. 



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Anv broad-leaved evergreen shrub which can pass 

 through our northern winters unscathed is worthy nt 

 frequent mention, and still more of wider attention from 

 those who plan and plant beds and borders designed to 

 ,give the best effects for the longest time. The subject 

 of this note, Pieris floribiiiida, sometimes called An- 

 dromeda, is already well and favorably known tn nianw 

 and we have never heard anything but good concerning 

 it. As an edging for a bed of Rhododendrons or a bor- 

 der of coniferous evergreens it is admirably adapted and 

 is also very well suited to planting in the rock garden 

 where it appears to excellent advantage amongst the 

 boulders. The small white flowers abundantly produced 

 in upright racemes open early in the Spring, one of the 

 earliest attractions of the garden. .\s a matter of fact 

 this shrub gives the impression of being in almost con- 

 tinuous bloom by reason of the flower buds being devel- 

 oped some months before opening. Another very good 

 small evergreen shrub, of first-rate habit of growth, free 

 flowering and easy to establish is Lcucothoe catcsbcei. 

 This plant grows to perfection in a moist soil and shady 

 situation, but will Malso stand sunlight and average soil 

 conditions, although here the growth is not so lu.xuriant 

 and the foliage takes on a deeper bronzy tone in the win- 

 ter. The arching sprays of shining green leaves bearing- 

 lovely white flowers in dense racemes are exceedingly 

 handsome. P)Oth these plants are well worth growing in 

 pots for Winter blooming in a cool greenhouse. Plunged 

 outside in the Summer time they give good results for 

 many years with the minimum amount of care. 



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It would be interesting to know what kind of plant 

 holds the record for continuous blooming. As far as 

 my experience goes I should award the honor to two of 

 Trickers' hybrid Water-Lilies, Nymphxa Mrs. Woodrov 

 Wilson and Panama-PaciUc. These two varieties are 

 just conijileting their fourth year of continuous blooming 

 and at the present time are going ven,- much strcmger 



than the redoubtaljle Jnhnny Walker. The plants, which 

 of course are growing in a greenhouse tank, have been 

 kept in healthy condition by ]iartlv renewing the soil 

 annually, using a mixture of e(|ual parts good turfy loam 

 and well decayed cow-manure. They have stood pretty 

 drastic cutting of the roots in this process, which was 

 always done about Midsummer, without suft'ering any 

 check in growth, but a good many of the older leaves 

 were cut off at the time. An interesting feature in both 

 varieties is that young plants are produced at the leaf 

 base. It may be a new idea to some to learn that Water 

 Lilies may be grown and flowered in an eight inch pot 

 on the greenhouse bench. Neat little miniatures can be 

 easily produced in this way by simply stopping the hole 

 in the bottom of the pot with cement, using rich compost 

 and leaving an inch or so of space at the top to keep 

 fillc<l with water. 



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In these days, when attention is directed to the merits 

 of many of the things of our grandmothers' time, we 

 might well consider the claims of the g"ood old fashioned 

 Sweet William for a wider use in our modern gardens. 

 This we find is one of the oldest of garden flowers, hav- 

 ing been introduced into English gardens from Eastern 

 Europe nearly three hundred and fifty years ago. A 

 bed of Sweet Williams in fvfll bloom is one of the de- 

 lightful features of the flower garden in early Summer, 

 and for its fragrance alone it is well worth a place. 

 Modern strains are extremely showy with individual 

 tlowers of large size as compared with the older varieties, 

 l.ike all members of the Diaiifhiis family it prefers a well 

 drained soil and best results are likely as a rule if the 

 plants are treated strictly as biennials. Right now is a 

 ;.^ood time to sow seeds to give strong flowering plants 



next vear. 



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-Steep banks in the garden are more or less of a 

 nuisance to keep looking in good condition when covered 

 w itli grass and oftentimes a more pleasing appearance 

 would result from the use of suitable vines planted thickly 

 enough to entirely cover the surface. For a sunny slope 

 the Memorial Rose Rosa IVicIinraiania, or some of its 

 hybrids are very well adapted, but before planting these 

 be sure the soil is free from witch-grass or it will be sure 

 to dominate, and while excellent in itself as a soil-binder 

 is a good deal of a pest when mi.xing with garden plants, 

 Roses especially. Clematis panieiilata makes a good 

 showing in such a position as also does Hall's Japanese 

 Honeysuckle. The Virginian Creeper, Ampelopsis quin- 

 ijiicfolia will grow anywhere, even on an ash heap. Some 

 people confuse this most useful plant with poison ivy 

 but the number of leaflets afford a simple distinction, in 

 the latter there are three only while the Virginian 

 Creeper has five. Where an evergreen ground cover 

 would be more desirable there is nothing better than 

 Pachysandra teriui)ialis, which forms a dense carpet and 

 is absolutely hardy, never showing the least trace of 

 Winter injurv as far as 1 have observed. 



We regret to have to announce that with this month's 

 issue we lose one of our interesting contributors. "The 

 Onlooker," wdiosc identity has arouserl much curiosity 

 and speculation. As he now retires from this depart- 

 ment to take up added duties which have come to him 

 as gardener and instructor at Smith College Botanic 

 Gardens, we want to assure our readers that "The On- 

 loiiker," H. Ernest Downer, w-ill from time to time con- 

 trilnite special articles to our columns. Things and 

 Thimghts of the Garden will be c<intinued by "The Ob- 

 server." 



