November 21, 1914 



HOBTICULTURB 



721 



The name Lychnis, derived from 

 the Greek Lychnos, the lamp, refers 

 to one of the chief characteristics of 

 this hardy plant genus; that is, the 

 strong fiery red of the flowers of its 

 foremost species. Indeed the in- 

 tensity of the red of Lychnis chalce- 

 donica, L. fulgeus and L. Haageana 

 is rarely eclipsed by any other gar- 

 den flower. The prevailing ten- 

 dency among many garden owners 

 to keep red out of their color 

 schemes is no doubt in part the 

 reason for their frequent omission 

 in modem gardens. Few perennials 

 can be as easily raised and propa- 

 gated as lychnis. Early spring 

 seedlings flower profusely the first 

 season. All species are extraordi- 

 narily hardy, requiring only a mini- 

 mum of care and particularly tlie 

 lychnis of our ancestors, the well- 

 known London Pride shows a re- 

 markable longevity. 



Lychnis at present remains the 

 perennial of the beginner with a small purse undis- 

 turbed yet by color riots. It is the perennial of raral 

 housewives and it claims its undisputable space in every 

 old-fashioned garden worthy of the name. But as soon 

 as we take up the cultivation of the white-flowering 

 varieties such as L. chalcedonica alba plena, L. ves- 

 pertina, L. flos-cuculi alba plena and above all L. Vis- 

 caria alba grandiflora plena then we begin to realize the 

 existence of beautiful forms well worth their space in 

 modern gardens. The flowers of the last variety men- 

 tioned represent a fine material for filling vases. Color 

 harmony supreme or of little concern, I believe we can- 

 not afford to omit the lychnis. The rich and glowing 

 magenta red of L. viscaria splendens fl. pi. may be an 

 impossibility in many modern color schemes, neverthe- 

 less its dazzling strength w^ill always appeal to us so 

 forcefully that we can never lose sight of it. At pres- 



-Lychnis- 



DOIBLE FLOWERIXG LycHXIS VISCARIA SPLENDE.NS 



ent the rock-garden offers tlie best opportunity to use 

 it to full advantage. Within its precincts we may also 

 enjoy the low dense cushion-like growth of I^ychnis 

 alpina, covered with legions of little rosy-red blossoms 

 and the two less kn<iwn species L. pyrenaica and L. 

 yunanensis. 



My impression is that tlie genus Lychnis of late has 

 been somewhat neglected. In taking u'-v the cultivation 

 of the best species and varieties we are apt to increase 

 our cash returns and, in availing ourselves of the op- 

 portunities for effective garden use, we doubtless will 

 add to the beauty of our home grounds. I particularly 

 wish to call attention to the quick and easy way of rais- 

 ing the single-flowering species from seed. 



Glenside, Pa. 



-^CcAyQJui SScM^C/ 



Fall Treatment of Vines 



Established vines that have carried a full crop of fruit 

 should now be given every encouragement to go to rest. 

 If there are any bunches still hanging on the vines they 

 should be removed without further delay and stored in 

 a cool room with the stem of the lateral inserted in a 

 bottle of water to which a few pieces of charcoal have 

 been added to keep tlie water sweet, placing the bottles 

 at an angle on a shelf or rack to allow the fruit to hang 

 clear of the shelf or bottle. As soon as the foliage is 

 off the vines they should be properly pruned, a sharp 

 knife being the best for this purpose, secateurs being 

 liable to bruise and crush the tissue where the cut is 

 made. When pruned the vines should be thoroughly 

 washed with a good insecticide applied with a brush in 

 order to reach all cracks or crevices where red spider 

 may make their headquarters for the winter. A little 

 extra care in having this cleaning thoroughly done will 

 save lots of time and trouble in the growing season. 

 After pruning and the cut« are dry they should be all 

 well caulked with styptic, rubbing the preparation all 

 over the cut to fill every pore. If only partly done tlie 

 overlooked part will commence to bleed when started 

 into growth. 



Opinions vary as to the harmfulness of this so-called 



bleeding but it is not a natural process and would not 

 take place unless the vines were cut and for that reason 

 I should say it were better avoided if possible. Wlien 

 the vines are pruned the house itself should be well 

 washed in all parts w-ith a good strong solution of soft 

 soap to make even'thing bright and clean for a new- 

 start. After washing the house, the top dressing of the 

 borders should next be attended to, first going to work 

 and clearing out all the loose rubbish and soil from 

 the border; then the surface of the border should be 

 carefully removed un(il the roots ai-e met with, taking 

 as much as pos.sible of the soil from around them wdth- 

 out damaging them. When all soil that can safely be 

 taken has been cleared away a good mixture of sound 

 loam and manure should be applied and the roots cov- 

 ered 2 or 3 inches, ^lanures used for this top-dressing 

 should be of the slow dissolving or lasting kind. Bone, 

 woodash, and a quantity of a good fertilizer containing 

 phosphates and potash are the best for these applica- 

 tions, leaving the nitrogen to be applied in the growing 

 season when it can bo better determined what quantity 

 is needed bv the appearance of the vines. 



J. W. SMITH. 



Eidgefield, Conn. j 



