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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



or with those having pt-tal.s line and pointed, resembhny 

 Japanese chrvsanthemums (cactus dahhas ) ; or gigantic, 

 with two or three rows of petals, very ornamental and of 

 a very artistic eftect ( collossal dahlias); or again with 

 small quilled petals resembling anemones or pyrethrums 

 (glona dahlias). 



But the principal aim of this article is to draw the atten- 

 tion of the lovers of gardens to certain species that are 

 not known like the preceding and which merit cultiva- 

 tion, nevertheless, in a manner to vary the effects of the 

 bedding that I have praised in the developing of parks. 



In tiie first rank I would cite the Sall>iiilossis. It is 

 supremely a plant possessing colors both rich and varied, 

 though but little known. Recently a lady in Lyons, who 

 knew how to appreciate its merits and who, after some 

 years, showed it to her astonished friends, asked me to 

 call attention to this plant. I understand her admiration, 

 but I do not know of anything more beautiful than these 

 flowers of striking tones, varying from golden yellovy to 

 crimson-red and to an intense violet, veined and striped 

 like lace, of clear tones and of soft velvety shades. There 

 too the name superbissima, given by the gardeners to this 

 strain, is not at all an exaggeration. Their culture is sun- 

 pie and easy, and there is no reason why they should not 

 take the place in gardens that they deserve. 



I pass to another plant that has been pointed out to me 

 by another citizen of Lyons, and which is as far from be- 

 ing appreciated in France as it is in California, the coun- 

 try of which it is the state flower. It is true that its barbar- 

 oris name makes one think of the flefinition given to botany 

 by a humorist, "The art of insulting plants with Greek 

 and Latin," is against it. It is the Eschscholtzia. The 

 spelling could evidently eliminate two or three useless con- 

 sonants ; but it is a matter of rendering homage to a 

 Swedish or Danish naturalist, Eschscholtz, to whom this 

 plant has been dedicated, at the risk of impeding its 

 spread. This poppy has elegant flowers of yellow colors, 

 and particularly of saffron and orange, extremely rich and 

 brilliant. One' variety, called Mandarin, has even roseate 

 tones, darker on the reverse of the petals. But besides 

 the incomparable eff'ect of its flowers, wdiich moreover 

 open and keep a long time in water, this plant has the 

 advantage of being extremely hardy. It prospers in the 

 driest and sandiest soils, like those of the country of its 

 origin, and it forms large clumps of a grand eff'ect. Its 

 flowering is of long continuance, from June to October, 

 and its culture (sowing in its jilace). does not present any 

 difficulty. 



AniDther plant, the Clarkia. merits its name "pretty,'' 

 because of its flowers with four petals at right angles, 

 of varied and pleasing colors. 



Ciip'lica miniata. which derives its name from the bright 

 red color of its laciniated petals, is of a flowering season 

 quite prolonged for an annual. 



There are few plants as beautiful as the godetias, when 

 they have succeeded well, as they form veritable clumps 

 covered with bright satiny flowers ; but under our climate 

 of Lyons, they do not always give the effect expected. 



Pentstemons, said to have gloxinia-like flowers, by rea- 

 son of the richness and variation of colors that have been 

 obtained in them, are in the number of the actually most 

 decorative of known plants. 



More use is made now of copper-s])otted iiiiiiniliis: but 

 nevertheless many people express their wonder and in- 

 quire for its name as they contemplate in the Spring the 

 beautiful masses which the gardeners of the citv of Lyons 

 plant before our monuments. 



The odorous centaureas. which some call amberboas, 

 to distinguish the bluets or other centaureas. now have 

 large flowers, of very ornamental form, in the strain called 

 Imperial. 



Win- is the Souci cultivated so little? Is it because of 

 its sad name? There are few plants, however, that pro- 

 duce a better eff'ect, and which are of a more beautiful 

 yellow. I think that my readers have not any more the 

 aversion of former times for this color, the most truly 

 decorative, and that they profess for it the love that Mar- 

 shal Berthier, chief of the staff' of Napoleon, had. He 

 loved it to such an extent that all his household servants 

 and chamberlains were dressed in that color and were 

 called, for this reason, "The canary-birds of Mons. Prince 

 de Neuchatel." 



In addition, for those who do not wish decisively to 

 rallv to yellow, there is a Marigold, Prince d'Orange, 

 which has flowers of a beautiful orange tone. It is neces- 

 sary to be sure, in the case of ]\Iarigolds, to have a good 

 strain, with very large flowers Cjuite double. 



While we are on the subject of yellow flowers let us 

 say a word concerning sunflowers of which one variety, 

 called ciiciniicrifolius (with the leaves of a gourd) is of 

 restricted habit, permitting its use in borders. A sub- 

 variety, called Orion, has twisted petals, like those of a 

 small cactus dahlia. But these yellow sunflowers have 

 been transformed also. Thev have become red, or rather 

 of a chestnut, near red. Better still, they have in the new 

 variety Excelsior taken the most diverse forms and col- 

 ors and the most varied, from cream-white to old rose 

 and to dark reddish violet. Their low habit facilitates 

 the employment of them also. 



Ahvays in the most decorative red and yellow colors, 

 mention must be made of Gaillardia dc Lorciic. with 

 laciniated tubules so numerous, when they are very select, 

 that the flowers form veritable balls of grand and lasting 

 eff'ect. 



-And the Gauras, with their large branches, long and 

 flexible, which last the entire year, resemble hovering 

 butterflies. There are many others that ought to be 

 mentioned. lUit I have wished only to draw the attention 

 of lovers of flowers to the eff'ect that can be obtained with 

 species of simple culture and least costly, and which are 

 not sufficiently employed. — Piiillipi>e Rivoire, in Revue 

 Hortiralc. 



THINGS AND THOUGHTS OF THE GARDEN 



{Continued from page 794) 



its petals. The flowers are self-colored of a beautiful 

 orange tint. 



"Ximbus," one of the varieties that w?as given an 

 .Award of Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society, is 

 very distinct, having flowers of copper and gold, with a 

 crimson ring around the base of the petals. 



There is one variety which w-e unfortunatelx missed, 

 described in Mr. Morris's catalog, which must be a won- 

 derfully fine plant. It is reported to be the tallest of the 

 Montbretias — attaining a height of four and one-half 

 feet, and. "over one hundred and thirty flowers and buds 

 of a fine, rich dark color have been counted on one 

 branching stem." 



That these Montbretias have impressed the Floral 

 Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society is evident 

 from the fact that Mr. Morris was awarded a gold medal 

 for a group of them shown in August, 1918, that eight 

 of them have received Awards of ]\Ierit, and one a First 

 Class Certificate. They should have a great future, both 

 as cut flowers and as garden plants, if they prove to be 

 of a sufficiently hardy constitution. Our impression, 

 when looking over those grown at Earlham Hall, was 

 that some of them might prove to be somewhat "mift'y." 

 We are planning to grow- a collection of some of the best 

 of the varieties at tlie Brooklyn Botanic Garden with a 

 view- to deten-nining their adaptability to our climate. 



