r 1 (■ r i.T r 1! v 



Jiinunry 1, 1916 



Rudbeckia 



Jk'lioving iu having very best flowering pliint speiif> 

 in our American gardens we select the fairest of Hit- 

 world's produce regardless of origin and nativity. Bui 

 supposing we should once be called on to draw Uie lino 

 and exclude overytliing foreign as the Japanese do in 

 their gardens. Would our gardens perceptibly huk 

 beauty in color and effect? Not necessarily. Tlic tlorii 

 of our country affords a surprisingly high number ol 

 worthy plant species. As a few I mention Coreopsis 

 lanccolata grandiflora, hardy asters, golden rod, Phlox 

 divarieata canadensis, Lilium superbum, Cypripediuiu 

 acaule and the wonderful C}'pripcdium spectabile. Last, 

 not least, 1 call attention to the suliject of this note — 

 the genus Hudberkia, as truly Ameiican. The gaiilcii 

 varieties and here particularly the well known Kudbcckiii 

 laeiniata Golden Glow rank among the showiest garden 

 tlowers of the world. Unjirctentious as to soil, ex- 

 posure and care it is a glorious perennial for mass elicits 

 and in a cut stiife a most useful material for indoor 

 deeoratioii. Its spreading root-growth, allowing fre- 

 quent divisions, is no doubt accountable for its wide 

 distribution but in the end its decorative qualities have 

 made the Golden Glow the perennial of the people, seen 

 everywhere. 



Appreciation of the single medium-high yellow varie- 

 ties, Rudbeckia Ncwmannii. nitida and subtomentosa is 

 evidenced by the liberal space they are granted on our 

 herbaceous borders. The characteristic dark center con- 

 trasting beautifully with the bright yellow petals, the 

 free-flowering habit and the fact that they continue 

 blooming for at least two months make single rudbeckias 

 well nigh indispensable. Less known appears to be the 

 tall-growing Rudbeckia maxima distinguishable by its 

 attractive glaucous foliage and large bright yellow single 

 flowers. A clump of this variety with its many long- 

 petaled blossoms borne on slender but wiry stems sway- 

 ing in a light breeze is indeed a fascinating sight. 



The more robust growing Giant Purple Cone flower — 

 Kudlieckia purpurea — is of late rapidly gaining iu popu- 



larity. Kqually valuable for garden effect as for lilliug 

 vases, producing flowers from 4 to 5 inches across, with 

 deep claret-red petals surrounding the large cone-shaped 

 dark brown center, this variety is indeed a very showy 

 midsummer perennial. Raised from seed sown in 

 spring, it flowers the second year. Our illustration 

 shows the effect of a plantation of two-year-old plants. 

 Well manured ground and open sunny exposure are 

 essentials if perfection of growth is desired. Do not 

 divide or transplant Rudbeckia purpurea late, in fall. 

 .\s a rule it does not take kindly to this treatment. 

 Spring is the better time for planting and propagating. 



Glenside, Pa. -SdUJwQJLXi <^</&UJ 



Genista (Cytisus) 



Two species of the Genista — properly Cytisus — 

 commonly grown by the florist, are C. carnariensis 

 and C. racemosus, both evergreen forms. 



They are usually propagated by seeds sown in Feb- 

 ruary or by cuttings of the green wood struck in sand 

 any time from December to February. As soon as root- 

 ed, they should be potted and thereafter shifted as neces- 

 sary. To obtain bushy plants they .should be pinched 

 back from time to time and should not be allowed to 

 become pot-bound. The young plants should be kept 

 under glass all summer and shaded a little. By winter, 

 they will be in five-inch pots. 



In the fall, the plants are placed in a cool, light, airy 

 house and watered carefully. Do not force them wnth 

 a higher temperature. About the first of January they 

 may be given 55 degrees. Red spider is an enemy of 

 this plant and syringing should be attended to regularly. 

 The plants will be in full bloom in March and will find 

 a ready Easter sale. By giving them a night tempera- 

 ture of 4o degrees they can be had in flower in April. 

 Cut the plants back when they are through flowering 

 and repot as soon as they start new growth. After re- 

 potting keep them in a closed house and well syringed 

 until all danger of wilting is over. After that give 



tliem plenty of air. A slightly shaded house will be 

 of advantage. During the summer — July and August 

 — the old i>lants may be plunged out of doors. 



Genistas may also Ijc propagated by layers or by 

 grafting. For ordinary grafting, C. nigricans is used 

 as the stock, while for standard.*, Laluinium vulgare is 

 commonly employed. For those plants grown in the 

 greenhouse, C. carnariensis is used. 



C. racemosus is tlio better commercial plant. It is 

 also known as Genista formosa. A variety — Everes- 

 tiana — has flowers of a deeper yellow shade and is very 

 free flowering. C. carnariensis is the common genista. 

 It has yellow fragrant flowers and blooms from May 

 to July. C. maderensis is not as good as the other two. 

 It has yellow flowers and has but little fragrance. C. 

 scoparius — Scotch broom — also known as Sarothamuus 

 pcoparius, is a hardy shrub growing to a height of ten 

 feet, good for naturalizing and covering unsightly and 

 exposed banks, etc. C. E. Wildon. 



&. 



Amherst, Mass. 



