450 



HOBTICULTURE 



September 26, 1914 



bushy shrub, covered in July with small spikes of white 

 flowers. 



Of the garden varieties, doubtless the best is C. Gloire 

 de Versailles, a cross between C. azureus and C amer- 

 icanus. A specimen of this plant has stood over the past 

 winter at the Arnold Arboretum and is apparently un- 

 damaged. This variety is one of the best for group- 

 intr. Its flowers arc of a rich blue color and appear from 

 July to October. When grown as a bush the old wood 

 should be cut back to the base in early spring and the 

 plant given a little manure. C. Gloire de Versailles will 

 afford a very pretty contrast planted amongst dwarf sun- 

 flowers in the herbaceous border. 



There are many other garden varieties of Ceanothus 

 such as -'Carmine Gem," "Ceres," "Charles Detriche," 

 "Indigo," and "Lustre," which would make very inter- 

 esting and beautiful greenhouse specimens but unless 

 used as tubbed plants on a terrace and kept in a storage 

 pit or greenhouse, away from the cold during the win- 



ter, I am afraid these plants would be of little use in out- 

 door work. 



The readiest way to obtain stock of the species is by 

 cuttings of the mature wood in the fall, which should be 

 inserted in sandy soil in a cold frame. The process of 

 layering, however, will yield the strongest plants most 

 readily. The garden varieties can be increased by graft- 

 ing on C. americanus. 



The Ceanothus will thrive in almost any well drained 

 soil, and in most cases prefer a position at least partially 

 sunnv. It is interesting to note that the dried leaves of 

 C. americanus were at one time used for tea, from 

 whence comes the common name. New Jersey Tea. 



-.J^a^UaA a 



Jamaica Plain, Mass. 



Two Useful Perennials for Garden and Rockery 



NiEREMBEEQIA BIVVLARIS. 



The fact that the flowering season of hardy peren- 

 nials is comparatively limited is sometimes still pointed 

 out a.s a disadvantage weighty enough to (juestion the 

 advisability for extensive use. Closer acquaintance, 

 however, removes the doubts of the skeptics as to real 

 merit. Brief flowering periods necessitate a constant 

 succession and everchanging variety in floral effects 

 which intensifies our interest perceptibly. At a more 

 intimate .study of the material offered we discover as 

 exceptions liardy herbaceous plant species bedecked with 

 an astonishing wealth of blossoms for the most part of 

 the season. Xierembergia rivularis begins unfolding 

 its handsome white cu])-shaped flowers in June and the 

 plants remain covered with flowers throughout July and 

 August. During Sejjtember they gradually vanish . 

 away. Of dwarf creeping growth nierembergias prove 

 excellent rock garden plants. Here they lend floral life 

 and color at just that part of the sea.^on when we are 

 most in need, for tlie majority of alpine plant species 

 being vernal have previously stopped blossoming. I 

 have also found Xierembergia rivularis of value for 

 edging herbaceous borders as well as for covering bare 

 spots on steep grassy slopes of the natural park. 



The other subject of today's notes, the Lead-wort., 

 Plumbago hirpentcV, distinguished by similar Cjualities, 

 inerits e(|ua!]y our attention. Of a growth not exceeding 



Plumbago laepentae. 



six inches in height this handsome hardy perennial has 

 ])roven well-nigh indis))ensabie for floral midsummer 

 and fall effects. Most valuable for the rockery, well 

 adapted for the purpose of edging, the scope of its use- 

 fulness is an extraordinarily wide one. Last summer 

 on one occasion I saw it employed on a narrow border 

 bod around a cemented formal basin filled with some 

 aquatics. The dark green of the very substantial foliage 

 and the countless blue blossoms from early July until 

 October literally covering the densely-built plants, pre- 

 sented a most fitting frame for the display of nym- 

 pha^as and water poppies. It is this intense rich deep 

 blue which so forcefully appeals to us wherever we see 

 it. Plumbago larjientiE does not need special recom- 

 mending. The practical garden designer is presumed 

 to be fully aware of its merits and employs the lead- 

 wort freely, but for the benefit of those who are not 

 familiar with it T wish to say Plumbago larpentae pre- 

 fers a rather light soil and seems to do liest in open 

 sunny exjiosure. High locations free from excessive 

 moisture will l)e found an advantage. Plantations 

 should be protected by leaf-covering during winter. The 

 aforesaid also applies in full to the cultural treatment 

 of Nierembergias. 



Glenside, Pa. 



-^dUAyOJui-Sc^thl/ 



