206 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



and which remains in bloom over an extended period. This is a 

 hardy perennial, varying in color from pink and purple to red, 

 reddish purple and white. There are both single and double forms, 

 the double white being grand. -All varieties, in addition to their 

 imposing appearance in the borders, arc splendid for cutting and 

 reach a liciglit of about a yard. Propagation of the single forms 

 can be eflfected without the least ditHculty by seeds sown in Spring, 

 but the most satisfactory way of increasing line forms is by divi- 

 sion. This should be done in July or August by lifting the entire 

 clump and splitting it up into single pieces, which arc tlien at once 

 replanted either in the reserve garden or their permanent jjositions. 

 Where one has a stock of established plants, these can safely be 

 transplanted cither in Spring or Autumn. To increase the splendid 

 double sorts, such as the Scotch and French varieties, the easiest 

 metliod is to strike cuttings. These can be obtained from tlie 

 parent plants al)Out the middle of June, and should be trimmed 

 clean of the larger leaves at the base and immediately inserted 

 in a bed of light gritty earth in a cold frame. Avoid ovcrwatering, 

 but keep moist at nxits and rather close for a week or two. Light 

 overhead sprinklings are a great assistance in keeping the foliage 

 fresh until roots form. Once roots are formed the frame can be 

 lifted off so as to expose the plants fully to air and sunshine. 

 Early in Autumn the plants may be placed in their permanent 

 quarters.— yVii- Garden. 



SWEKT ROCKET IX THE (iRASS.— I grow a good number 

 of the single-llowered Sweet Rocket, as it is so useful for cut 

 bloom, but until this season I was not aware that it would thrive 

 in the grass. The finest specimen I have ever had is growing 

 among quite rank grass and is self-sown. Therefore, this Rocket 

 is evidently one of those things that can easily be naturalized in 

 the wild garden and woodland. A few plants set cut in the 

 Autumn would, perhaps, be the easiest way, for my experience is 

 that if this Rocket is allowed to form and shed its seeds every 

 year young plants will spring up, and these self-sown plants in- 

 variably make strong growth and bloom profusely. A colony of 

 this Rocket is very attractive, as tlie flowers vary in color from 

 almost white through shades of pink to almost crimson. — Garden- 

 ing Illustrated. 



RAXUXCL'LUS ACOXITIFOLIUS.— Though an old plant, 

 this is not seen in gardens as often as it might Ije, for it is of the 

 easiest culture in any fairly good border soil that is not too dry, 

 and it is as beautiful in foliage as it is in flower. An herbaceous 

 species, it appears in early Spring and makes a l)old clump some 

 eighteen inches high of ruddy, angular stems and smooth, deeply 

 divided leaves. These are followed Iiy a galaxy of white blossoms 

 about one inch across of remarkable purity and elegance. There 

 is a double farm, our old friend "Fair Maids of France," or 

 Bachelor's Buttons, in which the blossoms are each congested into 

 tight little wads of white, which are not comparable to those of 

 the tyi>e where beauty of form is a consideration, though they may 

 last longer. This double variety is, nevertheless, the one more 

 commonly seen in cultivation. — The Garden. 



THE CULT OF THE ZIXXIA.— To these unaccustomed to 

 Zinnias, disapijointment sometitncs dogs their footsteps when grow- 

 ing them for the first time. To the uninitiated they are somewhat 

 of an enigma, an annual which gives one the impression that they 

 are robust, when, in reality, they arc not ; and if planted out too 

 soon are frequently retarded. They love a rich, light soil, and 

 above all a sunny position. T have found they do best when 

 plantd out on a wall border having a south aspect. In the Suminer 

 of 1921, with its weeks of drought, Zimiias held their own and 

 bloomed more freely than many other annuals, some of which 

 succumbed. Most people are anxious to complete their garden 

 arrangements before May is out, but one has to rememl)er that 

 it is a month, not infrequently, of extremes of temperature and 

 unless quarters similar to tho.se described can be selected for the 

 plants, it is better to allow them to remain in frames a week or 

 two longer. Zinnias continue in blooni longer possibly than any 

 other annual, so that it is unwise to hurry thein out of doors before 

 genial weather conditions prevail. — The Garden. 



ever, this is the cloud — no bigger than a pest hound's hand — that 

 presages the coming storm. In these three years we must stock 

 our gardens. After that the narcissus will join whiskey and be 

 forbidden these shores. Perhaps the day will come when bulb- 

 leggcrs from Holland will anchor outside the three-mile limit and 

 garden lovers in small boats will sneak out under cover of night 

 U) buy their share of Spring glory. — House & Garden. 



The Cambridge Botanic Garden, England, recently celebrated its 

 three hundredth year for it was started on July 25, 1622. A num- 

 ber of notables gathered at the garden to celebrate the tercentenary 

 of this famous institution, which while not large, has played a big 

 part in the development of horticulture. In 1637 it contained some 

 3,000 species. Morison's History of Plants was partly written 

 by Prt)f. R. Morison, an early curator, while he was in charge of 

 this garden and completed after his death by J. Bobart, who suc- 

 ceeded him. — florists' E.velian^e. 



The army of flowers is at last assaulting the unsightly places of 

 the national capital. George \V. Hess, director of the Botanic 

 (iarden, is the leader of this peaceful army and is the moving 

 spirit in the effort to get appropriations from Congress for the 

 extension and modernization of the garden. President Washington 

 liad a project for a botanical garden in 1796, but took no action in 

 the matter. The history of the Botanic Garden since Washing- 

 ton's time is a story of half-hearted support by Congress and 

 half-way successes of some non-governmental bodies and move- 

 ments to interest the citizenry. 



After Mr. Hess had aroused the enthusiasm of a number of 

 Senators and Representatives who had authority in the aft'airs of 

 the garden, legislative approval was secured. The proposal was 

 submitted in detail to the fine arts commission, where it received 

 cordial ajiprobation. On a triangular plot, south of the propagat- 

 ing gardens, a show house, 45 x 112 feet, is to be erected. Beyond 

 this triangle, a crescent-shaped strip of land, part of which is used 

 for the stora.ge of junk, discarded vehicles and similar uiidecora»ive 

 objects, will give way to Mr. Hess' plan for lieautil'ication. When 

 Congress meets again an appropriation, pnvliahly of $800,000, will 

 be asked. — Florist Rei'ieii.'. 



At Xorth Church, N. J., the Board of Freeholders is making 

 a fight to save the 300-year-old Oak, which, according to the 

 authorities, is impeding the motor traffic. It stands almost in the 

 center of the highway and orders have been given to a contractor 

 to remove it, although one property owner has offered land, so 

 that the road can be diverted. The tree shelte.red George Wash- 

 iii.gton and is said to bear visible traces of the message of victjvy 

 he carved upon it. The removal of the tree was ordered because 

 motorists declare it to be a menace. — Excliauiie. 



Comments from Our Readers 



Those to whoin the glory of the narcissus is part of Spring may 

 well remember that, unless the powers behintl Quarantine .V7 

 change their minds, this innncent bulb is to be forbidden in three 

 years. \nu can't imagine Spring without its hosts of daffodils 

 dancing in the breeze? The pest hounds at Washington can. If 

 they could, they would forbid the breeze because it carries spores 

 of plant diseases ! Perhaps they would also forbirl Spring because 

 that is a season when pests awaken to their nefarious work! How- 



On reading July's number of the Chronicl£, of which I am a 

 keen follower, both for its interesting and helpful articles, I came 

 across the section headed, "Comments from Our Readers," em- 

 phasizing the fact that cultural notes, etc., were encoura.ged and 

 specially dedicated to the young class of gardeners. Therefore, 

 I am venturing on my first attempt, hoping that my boldness will 

 stimulate others who are more adejil. I am employed as issistaut 

 gardener. Having charge of the "Kitchen Garden" and being in- 

 structed that the owner was specially fond of obtaining head 

 lettuce regardless of season or climatic conditions, I set forth to 

 try my Inst, which led me to difl'ercnt experiments. The one that 

 I am enclosing has proved a success and I am sure is worthy of 

 consideration and trial. 

 West End, New Jersey. Frederic Heutte, 



(.Mr. Heulte's remarks on heading lettuce appear on page 212. — ■ 

 Imiitmr. ) 



Mr. Craig's note in the last issue of the Ciironti-i.e, on the 

 tendency of certain Tulips to throw more than one flower to the 

 bull), reminded me of an unusually line specimen of tlie Darwin 

 variety. "I-'arncombe Sanders," which occurred in a planting I 

 made a few years ago. This bulb produced \'ive flower.s — four 

 from the center of the bulb and one, the smallest, from an otTset. 

 What would our bulb-growing friends not give to be able to pro- 

 duce anv i|uantily of bulbs having this multillorcius character well 

 fixed? The llowering stem of the variety "Philippe dc Conniiines" 

 frequently divides about half way and be;irs twin flowers, etiually 

 as good as any borne singly. Otlier unusual fciliires I have noted 

 in Tulips have been the occasional production of a bulblet on ihe 

 flower stem and flowers having eight pct.ils. eight stamons and 

 four pistils. 



Poughkecnsie, N. "S". II, ]'.. Downkk. 



