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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



(OF AMERICA) 

 Devoted to the Science of Floriculture and Horticulture 



■ Vol. XXV 



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FEBRUARY, 1921 



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No. 2 I 



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Things and Thoughts of the Garden 



MONTAGUE FREE 



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C()NSIUERIXG the capricious season \vc are ex- 

 periencinj^, it is (jiiite unsafe to prophesy, but, by 

 the time these notes appear in print we should be 

 in the depth of Winter, and horticultural interests traiis- 

 ferred in the main from the outdoor garden to gardens 

 under glass. That this is possible is an important factor 

 in making the horticultural profession attractive, for, in 

 most cases, the gardener is not deprived of the pleasure 

 of seeing living plants growing and blooming even 

 though all outdoors is in the grip of Winter. 



When pondering greenhouse matters, the question 

 sometimes arises as to whether we are getting the most 

 out of our greenhouses by the prevailing system of grow- 

 ing plants in pots. Those who attended the 1920 conven- 

 tion of the association at St. Louis, could not fail to 

 liave been impressed with the pleasing showing made 

 in those greenhiiuses of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 

 where benches were eliminated and the collections planted 

 directly in the soil. Even when the material used did 

 not possess any particular intrinsic beauty, such as some 

 of the plants of economic value or those of purely bo- 

 tanical interest, a pleasitig eflfect was produced. Such 

 desirable results may be attributed to several factors. 

 In the first place, planting directly in solid beds provides 

 sufficient soil for plant roots to ramble freely. This, 

 especially in the case of the stronger growing subjects, 

 enables growth to be made that more nearly approxi- 

 mates what one would expect in Nature, and is in strik- 

 ing contrast to the results obtained when the plants are 

 starved in pots. Secondly, one is spared the distrac- 

 tions occasioned by obtrusive benches and inartistic pots. 

 Thirdly, it is possible, provided those responsible have 

 sufficient strength of mind to avoid overcrowding and to 

 rigorously sacrifice when crowding does occur, to obtain 

 results on a small scale comparable to the garden pic- 

 tures to be seen in the outdoor garden when it has been 

 laid out by a landscape artist with due regard to com- 

 position. 



\\'e must admit there arc difficulties to be faced to 

 achieve this desirable result, and also disadvantages con- 

 nected with a planted out house, but it is maintained 

 that in many cases the advantages to be gained make 

 it well worth while to take the extra thought which will 

 result, partially at least, in eliminating these drawbacks. 

 There is one obstacle to a successful landscape compo- 

 sition in a greenhouse that can scarcely be eliminated, 

 and tb.at is the house itself. Wc can never hope to cn- 

 tirel\- relegate to the backgrc)iin<! tlic house structm-c. 



LIBRARY 



NEW YfeRK 

 p/)TANICAL 



llAW!>t;I> 



and Due must be reconciled to the feeling that the glass 

 is there, but much can be done by skillful planting, espe- 

 cially when the house is of a good size to make it less 

 obtrusive. 



The suitable disposition of the heating pipes is as much 

 of a problem in a plant house where the planting is de- 

 signed to be of beauty, as a whole, as it is to an interior 

 decorator who wishes to obtain best results in a dwelling 

 house. It is a problem that can be overcome, however, 

 in several ways, such as by hiding the pipes behind a re- 

 taining wall extending around the house and grading 

 the soil in which the plants are to be planted to the top 

 of this wall. Or, the pipes may be placed below the 

 general level of the house and the openings for the escape 

 of heated air masked by suitable planting. 



( hie difficulty that must be guarded against is the exu- 

 berant gr<)Wth of niany tropical plants when given liberal 

 soil conditions and ample head room. This danger can 

 be obviated by planting subjects that will do no more 

 than fill the space allotted them or those that can be kept 

 pruned in without injury. 



Probably the greatest drawback to a "planted out" 

 house is the limitation of the number of si>ecies it is 

 possible to grow, although more can be maintained in 

 health in a house of this kind than is generallv believed. 

 There are quite a number of the smaller plants that ap- 

 preciate the shade cast by the more vigorous subjects 

 and thrive in the shelter thus afforded. Many ferns, be- 

 gonias of various species, such trailing plants as Fittonia, 

 PcUionia and Sdai^iiu'lla and many other tropical and 

 subtropical ornamentals fairly revel in such conditions. 



However, when the aim is to grow as large a number 

 of species as possible, potted plants must be used. For 

 it is only by growing them in pots that we can control 

 the growth of the more vigorous kinds, induce them not 

 to take up too much room and still keep them reasonably 

 healthy. Then, too, there arc many tropical plants that 

 under northern conditions can only be grown success- 

 fully when they are kejJt in pots. Most orchids, for ex- 

 ample, are not a great success when planted out. Some 

 absolutely demand pot or basket culture, but with many 

 species novel and interesting effects can be gained and 

 natural conditions approximated, if they are attached to 

 stout branches or planted on suitable rockwork. Mate- 

 rial intended for exhibition purposes, small growing 

 flowering i)lants and bulbous stock in most ca,ses must be 

 grown in ])ots or tubs. 



The most effective and beautiful inddor "ardening is 



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