126 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



RHODODENDRONS IN A DRY SUMMER 



VY/E know of no hardy evergreen shrub that feels the 

 effect of a dr\' Summer more than the Rhodo- 

 dendron. An exjjerienced eye will be able to tell by a 

 glance at the foliage whether the plants re([uire water or 

 not, because no hardy shrub shows more plainly than 

 Rhododendrons that the roots are dry. If this is the case, 

 they have a distressed appearance, the leaves hang down, 

 and. in bad cases, the points of the young shoots droop 

 also, so that altogether the plants have an unliappy look. 

 Plants in this condition will not flower satisfactorily next 

 vear. and in bad cases not at all, for the reason that they 

 cannot form flower-buds, owing to their distressed con- 

 dition. 



Those who have choice varieties of Rhododendrons 

 should examine the soil round the roots to see if it is dry, 

 and if such is the case give them a thorough soaking of 

 water at once, repeating the application once a week dur- 

 ing the Autumn, for these plants suffer as much in the 

 Autumn, if the weather is dr\', as they do in the height of 

 Summer. The swelling of the flower-buds which is going 

 on through the Autumn appears to tax the resources of 

 the plants a good deal. The plants that will be likely to 

 require attention first are those which occupy positions 

 somewhat elevated, such as on sloping banks or raised 

 beds. They are also likely to suffer from the want of 

 water when the plants stand as isolated specimens on 

 grass, and more particularly when the soil has to be made 

 for them, as in such cases the roots have only a limited 

 root-run in a suitable soil. The best plan to follow in any 

 case where water is given to the roots of trees or shrubs 

 is to apply it first and then mulch the surface directly 

 afterwards. The mulching should be laid on 3 inches 

 thick, and renewed as often as it becomes wasted. Where 

 liquid manure is available, a liberal supply of it would 

 also do good, but the roots of the plants should be first 

 soaked with ordinary water, so that they may have the 

 full benefit of the stimulant. — Gardoiing Illustrated. 



AN APPEAL FOR THE WILD FLOWERS 



SIT\AXGELYen(jugh. what is called civilization has, in 

 many parts of the L'nited States, destroyed many of 

 the rugged beauties of the woods and hillsides, without 

 )Hirting anything in their place. Perhaps in Xew fingland, 

 more than elsewhere, many of the beautiful things have 

 been preserved. The farms have not encroached so relent- 

 lessly upon the woods as in the sections of the middle 

 west and south, where land is more valuable. The moun- 

 tains, too, remain a forbiflding barrier to the thing called 

 progress, and stand as sentinels over the treasures which 

 they have guarded for centuries. 



But modern invention has made it possible for the preda- 

 tory touri.st to extend his invfisions farther and ever far- 

 ther from the beaten path. Where he goes he is too often 

 inclined to destroy, to take what he desires and leave noth- 

 ing in its place. His camp site in the woods is a place of 

 desolation as he strikes his tent and moves on. To the 

 tourist family the wild flowers and the blossoming trees 

 seem to offer the opportunity for the practice of vandal- 

 ism. Nothing is safe from the hands of the greedy 

 visitors. 



In a bulletin recently issued by the University of the 

 State of Xew York, an appeal is made to save and protect 

 the wild flowers. It is shown that they are gradually dis- 

 appearing even from those sections where once they 

 were common. It is not what one person or one conii)any 

 of tourists gathers. There are still enough wild flowers 

 for the thousands who will gather them thoughtfully and 

 considerately. The menace to the wild life of the roadside 



and woods is the greed of the city dweller wlio assumes 

 that all he can find is his for the taking. 



It should be remem'bered that the wild plant is like the 

 cultivated shrub or flower in the garden. It is as easily 

 destroyed, and it responds as quickly to the considerate 

 treatment which it deserves. Those who gather flowers 

 along the way are admonished to pick them carefully, 

 just as they would select a bunch of blossoms from a 

 garden or a conservatory. The unmatured blossoms left 

 upon the stalk may flower and seed, thus renewing and in- 

 creasing the beauty of the place, whereas a plant torn up 

 from tlie ground and thrown aside is destroyed. — C. S. 

 Moiiilcr. 



AQUATIC AND WATERSIDE PLANTS 



A QUATIC and moisture-loving plants are extremely 

 •'*• fascinating. May and June is undoubtedly the best 

 time for planting or transplanting Xymphaas. I have 

 seen it stated tliat it is necessaiy to have three or four 

 feet of water for the Alarliac varieties of Walter Lilies, but 

 this is misleading; granted they will do in that depth of 

 water, biU I kno-w from experience they succeed splendidly 

 in water only one and a half feet to two feet deep. Young 

 plants obtained this time of the year (May or June) may 

 be \erv easily established. If for tanks with cement or 

 concrete bottoms, planting in shallow baskets will be found 

 the best method of establishing them in the water, placing 

 in a few pieces of sandstone around them when in position 

 to form a hasin and filling in round the basket with rich 

 turfv loam. This will keep the plants in good condition 

 for manv years after the baskets have disappeared. If 

 the plants are required for ponds with ordinary muddy 

 base, an easy and successful method of planting is to 

 secure some thick turves of loam and tie one round the 

 roots of each plant. Wire will be found better than string 

 for keeping the loam in position until the plants establish 

 themselves. Sufficient loam should be used to ensure 

 keeping the Water Lilies upright when sinking them in 

 their respective positions. 



For waterside planting the following are all very beau- 

 tiful aquatics and if submerged at various times during 

 the year they will come to no harm. The Siberian Irises 

 are charming both in flower and foliage for the leaves are 

 quite graceful, giving a glorious effect at the waterside. 



Iris Ka;mpferii, the Japanese Flag Iris, is splendidly 

 effective in pockets by the water edge. Astilbes may also 

 be used for the margins of lakes and ponds with grand 

 effect. 



Funkias in variety are noble subjects, with their mas- 

 sive foliage; Hemerocallis (Day Lilies) may also be used 

 for the same purpose, with beautiful effect; both their 

 orange and yellow s])ikes of ^blooms and graceful foliage 

 are attractive in association with water. — The Gardeners' 

 Chronielc (Ilritish). 



TO OUR READERS 



^'ou have friends who would welcome the Gakdi'.xicrs' 

 CiiKo.MCLE as a regular monthly visitor to their homes, 

 just as you do, if they were familiar with it. We shall be 

 glad to send a cojiy free to any address you may send 

 us to make known how valuable and instructive a guide 

 it is to all interested in gardening. \Ve are constantly en- 

 deavoring to make the ("i.\ri)Ilm:ks' C'iiikOnicle better and 

 better — not with the assistance of Coue — Init through our 

 own individu;d efforts and you can help, if an idea comes 

 to you that would m;d<e the Gardi'.xM'.ks' Ctiko.vici.f. even 

 more interesting, if you will send it to us. It will lie 

 ai)prcciated. — FjifroK. 



