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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



(OF AMERICA) 

 Devoted to the Science of Floriculture and Horticulture 



I Vol. XXVI 



OCTOBER, 1922 



No. 10 1 



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Things and Thoughts of the Garden 



WILLIAM N. CRAIG 



PLEROMA ELEGANS is an old greenhouse plant 

 introduced about eighty years ago and native to 

 the Organ Mountains in Brazil. There are many 

 varieties of Plcroma, but for garden purposes elegans is the 

 one most worthy of consideration. Years ago we were 

 told that Lasiandra was the correct name and now botan- 

 ists call it Tibouchina, but amongst professional garden- 

 ers the name Plcroma will continue to cling to it, just as 

 they prefer to class Codiaeums as Crotons. P. clcgans 

 is sometimes grown into specimen plant size and being a 

 lusty grower, a number of pinchings are needed to give 

 it the necessary shape and size. Its deep violet colored 

 flowers are of particular value in the garden during Sum- 

 mer and it is really one of our most persistent bloomers, 

 the flowering season continuing for four or five months. 

 In tubs it is seen at its best and if plants have been well 

 pinched and tied in a little to make them shapely, they 

 present a splendid show for a longer period than any 

 other plant I can name. Propagation is easy and the 

 plants being rapid growers, good sized specimens are 

 soon attainable. While Pleromas will succeed in full 

 sunshine, they are even better in partial shade. 

 * * * 



Members of the National Association of Gardeners who 

 were privileged to see the beautiful rose gardens on the 

 estates of Mrs. R. T. Crane, Jr. at Castle Hill Farm, 

 Ipswich, and Mrs. Henry Hunnewell of Wellesley were 

 amazed at the wealth of bloom carried on the hybrid teas 

 in the middle of September. It is commonly supposed 

 that Massachusetts is too far north to permit of very suc- 

 cessful out-door rose culture, and the picture of these two 

 gardens with such a wealth of glorious flow-ers and fo- 

 liage, free from black spot or mildew-, caused many ex- 

 pressions of wonder. A very successful Newport, R. I., 

 grower said the plants in his garden were almost leafless. 

 Another from Pennsylvania remarked that nothing like 

 that was possible near Philadelphia and a third hailing 

 from favored Long Island, stated that his had few flowers, 

 and foliage was badly mildewed. 



These are not the only rose gardens in Alassachusetts 

 but they are good enough examples of what may be done 

 in a rigorous climate, provided suitable locations are 

 selected, beds well prepared and drained, plants frequently 

 sprayed or dusted for insect pests and diseases, decaying 

 foliage carefully removed as it falls ("this is most impor- 

 tant) and ample Winter protection afforded. This latter 

 is a big and expensive item. Plants are all tied or laid 

 down and buried with soil over which mouse proof wire 



is placed and over this again, a Winter mulch. Ramblers, 

 standards, and dwarfs are all buried in this way, the only 

 absolutely sure method of Winter protection. No roses on 

 their own roots are to be found in these New England 

 rose gardens, as they are of little value, and the one time 

 popular hybrid perpetuals are, sad to state, rarely met 



with. :S ,;: * 



In listening to an address by Ernest H. Wilson in 

 Boston on his recently completed two years' world tour, 

 I was specially interested in what he said of Todea 

 supcrba, T. hymenophyllotdcs, and T. barbara as found 

 growing in New Zealand. Mr. Wilson came across 

 many acres of them, especially the beautiful T. superba, 

 growing in the forests in semi-darkness and where there 

 was a constant drip. The ground where they luxuriated 

 was marshy and to avoid sinking down, it was necessary 

 to step from plant to plant of the Todeas. The plants 

 were wonderfully luxuriant under these conditions and it 

 seems not at all surprising that here and in Europe 

 cultivators have trouble with these beautiful ferns in 

 giving the necessary subdued light and constant sprays 

 to make them feel in some measure at home. 



■■.: * * 



Gladiolus primidmus, an African species, has given 

 us the most graceful and decorative race of this popular 

 bulbous flower. We ordinarily look upon gladioli as 

 plants which grow for several months, flower, and then 

 have a long period of rest. It came as a surprise there- 

 fore, to hear Mr. Wilson state that under the spray of 

 the great Victoria Falls of the Zambesi River, Gladiolus 

 primulinus was thriving most luxuriantly and evidently 

 proving a perpetual bloomer. There no chance exists for 

 any dry period as spray falls continually, in which 

 priinulinus w'as revelling. Perhaps in the southern tips 

 of Florida and California where it is practically frostless,- 

 this useful gladiolus under irrigation might prove to be 

 a perpetual bloomer as in its native home on the dark 

 continent. ,,. ,,, ^ 



Atiiarvllis belladonna is the only true amaryllis, all of 

 the many hybrids of varied colorings which are horti- 

 culturally called amaryllis and will no doubt continue to 

 be so named are Hippeastrums. A. belladonna proves to 

 be a useful hardy bulbous plant in many parts of Amer- 

 ica, but for many of us culture in pots or frames is neces- 

 sar}'. The finest lot I have seen in New England is 

 planted out in special frames where they can get the 

 necessary \\'inter protection and also the equally neces- 



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