January 7, 1911 



HORTICULTURE 



Tritoma syn. Kniphofia 



Tritoinas, commonly called Torch Lilies or Red-hot 

 Poker plants, are natives of South Africa and Madagas- 

 car. Of strong bushy habit of growth with foliage of 

 good substance and tall flower spikes in colors of rare ' 

 intensity their ever-increasing popularity is readily un- 

 derstood. A fair-sized specimen in full flower will 

 attract attention even if placed amid the choicest col- 

 lection of summer-flowering plants. A group of them, 

 numerous enough to send up from 50 to 100 torch-like 

 racemes of bright scarlet, orange, or coral-red hue, borne 

 on strong erect stalks from 3-4 feet high is bound to 

 develop into a brilliant floral siiectacle of unique beauty. 

 Tritomas are elegant subjects for border planting and 

 are known as highly useful bedding plants when con- 

 spicuous mass-effects are desired. For the latter pur- 

 pose the most advantageous position is to place them so 

 that their radiant shades stand out in vivid contrast 

 against a dark evergreen background. 



Longest known is the old tall-growing variety Tri- 

 toma uvaria graudiflora, in bloom from September until 

 November. Its late-flowering habit, while perhaps of 

 little or no consequence in middle and southern States 

 to some extent, limits northern planting. The more 

 recent introductions of early and free-flowering varie- 

 ties have increased the ornamental value of tritomas 

 immensely. They will now without doubt win the 

 same popularity in the North that they have met South. 



Among novelties tried, nearly all leading hardy-plant 

 firms point out Tritoma hybrida "Express" as the best 

 of the early ones, flowers appearing by the beginning of 

 July. The ever-blooming torch lily Tritoma hybrida 

 Pfitzeri, not exactly new, but still one of the best in ex- 

 istence, is in flower from early in August until the 

 frost stops vegetation. Color of racemes a bright orange- 

 scarlet. The same color and other qualities are said 

 to distinguish the novelty T{. Wilson Kerr, described as 



f 



Tritoma hybrida— Pfitzeri 



one of tlie best so far introduced. Of lower growth is 

 T. corallina, a free and continuous bloomer producing 

 coral-red spikes, while the color of Obelisque is yellow. 

 Torch lilies, though generally classed among the hardy 

 perennials, do not endure severe frosts and therefore 

 require proper protection during winter. Throughout 

 the middle Atlantic States a leaf-covering held down 

 by brush is usually sufficient, while further north it is 

 safer to take the plants up late in fall and overwinter 

 them in sand, in cool but sheltered inside quarters. 



--^cMxiyujC ~Sv(/C^ 



'OC/ 



Forcing Melons 



See Cover IIlustratioD. 



His Eminencb Hero ok 



The accompanying photographs are of three fruits 

 which were used on Christmas, the pictures having been 

 taken a few days previously. They show what can be 

 done in the way of producing much prized delicacies. 



The seed was sown on August 39 and grown under 

 conditions similar to those that have been recom- 

 mended in these columns from time to time. 



"Hero of Lockinge" is regarded as the best all round 

 melon for winter work. "His Eminence" is an exeel- 



LocKiNGE Superlative 



lent fruit and does exceedingly well up to Christmas. 

 "Sutton's Superlative" is a green-flesh melon of fine 

 quality. The flesh is rich and of sugary sweetness. 



The view shown in the cover illustration of this paper 

 was taken in one of the melon houses under the .care 

 of Edward Kirk, gardener on the estate of George W. 

 Vanderbilt at Bar Harbor, Me. Two of the varieties 

 above mentioned are seen — Hero of Lockinge on left and 

 Superlative on right side of picture. 



