For Se/Jlember, 1922 



263 



TRITOMAS. 



WHEN tliL- warm September days give place to cooler nights; 

 when ;he Summer flowers begin to fade and fail, there are 

 to be found amongst our hardy garden plants some that bring 

 rich and intense colorings as their blooms unfold. Conspicuous in 

 this category are Tritomas, which, amid faint suffusions on 

 creeper and on tree, appear sentinel-like, giving to the borders a 

 new splendor, and an added glory in the waning of the year. 

 They are known to some as Kniphotias, or Torch Lilies. To a 

 far greater number, perhaps, they are more readily recognized 

 under the familiar name of Red Hot Poker. When the spikes 

 reveal themselves in tones of vermilion,* and in scarlet and yellow, 

 we think that Torch Lily is appropriate, as they are veritable 

 flames of color in these shortening days. Their very presence 

 is an indication that Autumn stands like a waiting guest at the 

 door ; nay, has come, indeed, and is even now upon the thresh- 

 old. It is in signs like these that Nature writes her story. And 

 yet, 'tis true, she is a kindly visitor. As yet, her presence is 

 but little felt, for some of our trees are garbed in all the loveli- 

 ness of their Summer green. There is still a soft consenting 

 atmosphere malcmg the garden a pleasant place in which to linger 

 in days that are fair. Presently, she will touch with her icy 

 lingers the trees and hedgerows, giving to the leaves another 

 beauty with her magic wand. By-and-by she will paint the 

 countryside in more enchanting colors still, that each nip of frost 

 will but intensify, until there comes a night, colder than the rest, 

 when leaves will flutter to the ground, and then there will be 

 seen 



"The wonder of the falling tongues of flame." 



But that is yet to be, as Autumn may be genial, kind and good 

 for a time ; still it has to be said we stand at the season's gate- 

 way, and pause amid the flowers that keep us company. For 

 resplendent dress, there is nop.e to surpass the richness of Tri- 

 tomas. What a time we have grown them, as we look back 

 across the years, and how seldom, if ever, they have disappointed 

 us! Their culture, too, how simple; how few their requirements, 

 and how rarely they have entailed removal ! Michaelmas Daisies, 

 albeit prodigal with their blossoms, cannot compete in brilliancy 

 with the flaming spikes of Tritomas that lighten the somberest 

 corner, and then, like a tired child, go to rest. 



It is, we think, because they are easy to grow, and so accom- 

 modating, that many folk look to them year by year, and regard 

 them as true "partners in the glory of the garden" in these 

 later days. 



Conditions of Success. — And to have Tritomas in all their 

 beauty, one is not bound down by exacting conditions ; in fact, 

 their culture is so simple that all may grow them, if they are 

 prepared to give them a good start and a sunny position, with 

 a thought to drainage. More than this they do not ask of us, 

 as they will go for years without the necessity for taking up 

 and dividing. They are amongst the few plants about which one 

 is correct in saying that "they improve with keep," as the chief 

 thing one need trouble about is to afford them some protection 

 in Winter by covering the crowns with leaves or ashes or strawy 

 manure, giving them in the Spring a dressing of rotted dung. 

 Spring is the best time also to plant them. A good sandy loam 

 suits them to perfection. 



]'arictics. — There arc many sorts amongst Tritomas that are 

 so vivid in coloring that to appreciate them fully needs an in- 

 tervening space, and if planted not far away from a shrub or 

 wall over which climbing plants run. the spikes show to the best 

 advantage. Such is T. nvaria, one of the oldest and best, met 

 with frequently in country gardens in flaming color. T. nohitis. 

 with orange red spikes, is tall and imposing, often 6 to 8 feet in 

 height. .Welsoni is comparatively dwarf, with reddish crimson 

 spikes. Egypf. tall, of a rich amber color. Lcda, blooms early, 

 of a compact habit, spikes of coral red with orange shading, a 

 very attractive sort ; hmiiiora is a late flowering sort,_ of slender 

 growth, with pure yellow spikes. Lachesis. of a rich apricot 

 color, distinct and handsome. 



This is only a short list of some of the members of this very 

 charming family of hardy plants, and though most of them are 

 just now in the prime of their beauty, very often one may have 

 glimpses of them far on into October in a mild autumn, when 

 many other plants have ceased to bloom. If you possess Tritomas, 

 you may go into the garden some dull October day and find a 

 few belated spikes amid others showing points of vermilion and 

 yellow, standing almost alone, and if you do not express it in 

 so many words, you think they share the honors with the few 



late lingering Roses on the wall, or the leaves of the \'irginia 

 Creeper, here brown and amber, there deepening into crimson 

 carmine ere they fall— a richness that is carried to the last.— yn'.s/j 

 inirdcning. 



BEAUTY IN FRUIT TREES. 



^^NE finds wide differences in the management of plants. The 

 ^^ object in view is the same, but the treatment to that end 

 accepted by one grower is often diametrically opposed by an- 

 other cultivator. It does not appear to me of the slightest mo- 

 ment wdiat the means may be, provided that the end is achieved. 

 A striking example of opposite methods is found in fruit pruning. 

 Here one finds a man who cuts every shoot hard back and there 

 one who refuses to use knife, saw or secateurs. Which of these 

 is taking the wiser course? Personally, I should favor the latter 

 system; covering my opinion by saying that both are wrong, 

 since the correct course is to find the perfect medium between the 

 two extremes. 



In regard to root-pruning, the sharp division comes between 

 the man wlio will, and the man who will not, do it. We see the 

 man who will produce a tree which is handsome in its productive- 

 ness and the man who will not produce a tree which is handsome 

 only in its straight, osier-like growths. The former goes directly to 

 the raison d'etre of the presence of a fruit tree in a garden. The 

 latter goes merely to cumber the ground. 



It is not, as is too commonly thought by the tyro, difficult to 

 decide when a fruit tree demands root pruning ; on the contrary, 

 it is very simple. When the young growths are both numerous 

 and strong — too exuberant to develop perfect blossoms — the tree 

 requires root pruning, with intimately associated, intelligent 

 branch pruning. Unfortunately, the grower frequently neglects 

 the former and directs his efforts towards the removal of every 

 shoot. Obviously the second state must be worse than the first. 

 The roots are still too luxuriant and the growths are multiplied 

 quite three-fold with no measurable loss of excessive vigor. 

 The error lies in commencing above instead of beneath the sur- 

 face. Although absence of blossoms on strong shoots is a sound 

 reason for root pruning it is not the only one. Any tree that 

 makes more than 2 feet of new growth in a season ought to be 

 considered as a subject for this operation, and it should be dealt 

 with as judgment directs. 



The process of root pruning may be divided under three heads 

 as follows : Trees which have been planted one season and which 

 have made rampant growth ; older trees, up to about ten years, 

 which grow too luxuriantly to have sufficient energy to produce 

 fruit ; and still older trees suffering from the same serious dis- 

 ability. 



To deal with the first group is the essence of simplicity. The 

 roots are dug from their beds and immediately replanted, with 

 the soil packed hard to their roots. If a strong root is seen it 

 is reduced in length, hut small importance is attached to these 

 details, the repressive action coming from the mere act of lifting 

 and extremely firm replanting. 



Trees to the age of about ten years must be handled differently, 

 since they will be much stronger in root and branch development, 

 and individual judgment must be brought to bear on the task. 

 .\ trench must be cut wholly to encircle the tree and at a dis- 

 tance of 3 feet or more from the bole, according to size and 

 age. Its width may be about 15 inches and its depth 2 feet to 3 

 feet. If a sharp spade is used the strong roots, which cause the 

 excessive luxuriance, will be easily severed, leaving, however, 

 rough cuts. These do not, of course, callus over as quickly as 

 clean wounds, and they, therefore, should be pared off smoothly, 

 preferably from underneath, upwards and outwards. In the gen- 

 erality of instances packing back the earth very firmly in the 

 trench completes the operation: in no circumstances must natural 

 or concentrated food be mixed w-ith the soil replaced. In the 

 possible event of a tap-root further trouble is involved. A cross 

 trench must be cut directly to the bole and the down-striking 

 root sawn clean through or the whole of the previous labor will 

 be w-asted. 



The third group, comprising older trees, must be root pruned 

 in two seasons — half-way" round in the first year and the re- 

 mainder in the ensuing Autumn. The details of working are on 

 all fours with those advocated in the preceding paragraph. 



The best time for root pruning is from the end of September 

 to the end of October, but it can be carried out successfully at 

 any convenient time in the Winter when the weather and the soil 

 conditions are favora'ble.^r/ic Garden. 



