iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiyiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiii^ 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



(OF AMERICA) 

 Devoted to the Science of Floriculture and Horticulture 



Vol. XXVII 



SEPTEMBER, 1923 



No. 9 ■ 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^^ 



Things and Thoughts of the Garden 





WILLIAM N. CRAIG 





THE two predominant Howers in nur gardens during 

 August and September are (Jladioli and Dahlias. As 

 to which of these is the more popular flower there 

 will be a difference of opinion. Taking the country as a 

 whole, I should say that Gladioli were much in the 

 lead, as they thrive in many sections where Dahlias 

 are a failure. In New England there are a great and 

 steadily growing number of enthusiasts of each, but 

 Gladioli appear to be forging ahead faster than Dah- 

 lias. It is easily possible by making several plantings 

 to have Gladioli in flower from mid-July until frost, 

 and by using more of the smaller sized bulbs, the sea- 

 son can be greatly extended even when only one plant- 

 ing is made. Amateurs are in the main very eager to 

 get large sized bulbs for planting, which, as a matter 

 of fact, are not the best to use. For the production 

 of spikes of exhibition ciuality I much prefer those of 

 medium size. There are certain advantages which 

 Gladioli possess over Dahlias. They may be planted 

 from the time the ground is free from frost and work- 

 able until the middle of July, while for first class 

 flowers for cutting, lines in the vegetable garden are 

 to be recommended. They are a very accommodating 

 flower and in small clumps work in very well even 

 in the more pretentious formal gardens, provided the 

 colors are carefully selected ; they are often seen dot- 

 ted in shrubberies but there they look rather unhappy 

 and out of place. Both the Primulinus and Gandeven- 

 sis types have their adherents ; in the garden the latter 

 make the bolder showing, but for cutting and artistic 

 arrangements the Primulinus varieties are infinitely 

 superior, their colors also are charming, the buft'. sal- 

 mon-orange, apricot and other shades being especially 



desirable. 



* * * 



The advent of G. Primulinus gave a tremendous 

 fillip to Gladiolus culture. In this connection it is 

 interesting to remember that this species is found 

 growing in profusion near the great Zambesi falls in 

 Central Africa and is constantly drenched by spray 

 in its native habitat. According to E. H. Wilson it is 

 never dry and is a perpetual bloomer. In Florida it 

 has developed somewhat similar traits; in that balmy 

 state it can, of course, stay out all Winter and, in spite 

 of long periods of drought, it is more or less a per- 

 petual bloomer. I am referring now to the species 

 itself, but the hybrids are proving almost equally 

 persistent. The commercial florists object to the 

 Primulinus varieties as they do not ship as well as 



the older and larger t}].ie, but if properly packed they 

 travel perfectly well. They can also be arranged so 

 much more gracefully than the Gandavensis varieties. 

 As cut flowers Gladioli are immeasurably superior to 

 Dahlias (which are not good keepers, if cut with even 

 a moderate length of stem). They should be cut when 

 the first flower is open and the cut should be a slanting 

 one. Few flowers will open all blooms on their spikes 

 as do Gladioli, and with Asters they are easily our 

 most valuable outdoor flowers for cutting. 

 * ^ * 



We are getting each year a great number — far too 

 many in fact — of new Gladioli. There is an evident 

 tendency to strive after size, btit all hybridizers are not 

 obsessed with this craze. There are differences of 

 opinion as to whether the ideal spike is one carrying 

 all of its flowers on one side of the spike, or in a cork- 

 screw like formation round the spike. The latter will 

 not ship well, but they certainh- arrange better in a 

 vase or basket. The branching habit has been greatl}- 

 developed in late years, and in the not distant future 

 by the use of other species of Gladioli, I look to see 

 the advent of a race with flowers of but moderate size 

 on spikes which are much more branched, and with 

 the addition of greater fragrance. The amateur who 

 takes up Gladioli culture as a hobby is always sure of 

 a good increase in the number of bulbs, especially 

 where all of the little bulblets are saved. They winter 

 very easily in any cellar which will keep potatoes. In 

 the case of bulblets I have always found that they 

 keep much better if some soil is mixed with them and 

 they are carried over in paper bags. 



:{: ^ ^ 



For reall}- effective arrangements, we cannot beat 

 the singles and smaller sized cactus Dahlias, most of- 

 which are alsd profuse bloomers and hold their flowers 

 w here they can be seen. What we need today is a 

 type which is of rather dwarf habit and throws its 

 flowers well above the foliage, with small or medium 

 sized flowers. Such a 'race would make fine garden 

 plants. At a recent show in Manchester, Mass.. a 

 plant was exhibited in a pot of just such a type as I 

 have in mind. It was a recent importation of Scotch 

 origin and its dwarf habit and floriferousness are the 

 characteristics which our present day specialists are 

 entirely losing sight of. There will, no doubt, con- 

 tinue to be a place for big Dahlia flowers just as there 

 is still a demand for large Chrysanthemums, but the 



217 



