September 11, 1915 



HOETICULTURE 



THE FERN GARDEN 



Tho proem season has been very 

 favorable to the ferns. Loving 



moisture and shade they liave rev- 

 eled in the overcast, weeping skies 

 of the suniiner of 1015. To the un- 

 initiated the number and beauty of 

 the ferns which are absolutely hardy 

 in any part of the United States 

 would be a great surprise. Some 

 of the many crested and feathered 

 forms of the Asplenium File.\-f(p- 

 mina for example are not excelled 

 in striking beauty and diversity by 

 any greenhouse fern in existence. 

 For 'the plant lover there can be no 

 more attractive spot than the rocky 

 grotto where these dainty gems dis- 

 play their charms. They denumd 

 but little care after they have been 

 once ensconced in congenial soil. 

 sheltered from the sun rays and 

 wind and provided with abundant 

 moisture above and below. Their 

 variety is infinite and their appal 

 to the artistic eye is irresistible. 

 Some of these hardy sorts are evergreen Init this is 

 not material as they shrink from winter exposure and 

 prefer to hug the ground under Nature's blanket of 

 fallen leaves and snow during the inclement season. 



The rtccomjianying illustration and the one which serves 

 as a frontispiece for this issue of Horticulture are 

 from photographs taken in the fern corner of the editor's 

 little suburban garden in Winchester, Mass. 



pruning the new rose Ophelia. How low may the first 

 growths be pinched? By pinching off the flower bud and 

 one leaf only, the next three eyes all start. Can these in 

 their turn be pinched back to one good leaf one at a time 

 to give a succession of blooms, or would it liave been better 

 to pinch back all strong shoots coming from low down on 

 the plant, to one, two or three eyes from the ground while 

 still soft? Plants are in raised benches and were planted 

 last of June, first buds just showing color. We want plenty 

 of cut flowers; long stems not required. An answer on 

 these points will much oblige J. E. 



Norfolk, Ct. 



The anmioniated copper solution can safely be used 

 on the same plants that have been sprayed with Funginc, 

 although the latter when u.sed regularly will go a 

 good ways to keep out blackspot. Do not apply the 

 two at the same time, l)ut use one one day and 

 the other a day or so afterward. We find Oiilielia 

 a good mildew resisting rose. Kegarding pinching this 

 rose we never pinch any buds save the short breaks, 

 after tlie plants have grown to a nice size. If the 

 three eyes that break are at all strong it will be 

 better to let thein come on rather then pinch the stnuig 

 shoots away down low. This is more .^o when you want 

 more cut tiowers and tiie stems so much. When all 

 these three shoots come up on a stem, and hear a flower, 

 more care will have to tie taken in c\itting, for if all 



the three were to be cut so as to leave two eyes, or even 

 one. and these were to break it would be too much for 

 the one .•^tem to carry. Usually the top break will bloom 

 ihst and then it should be cut away down to the next 

 break, without leaving any eyes at all. Then if the 

 slioot is strong eyes can be left on the next two, but 

 should the shoot be inclined to be weak it may be better 

 to cut the second flower down near the third break and 

 then leave two good eyes on the stem when the third 

 ro.se is cut. If the flowers are not wanted when these 

 shoots begin to show bud they can be disbudded again, 

 but this work should be done while the buds are still 

 very small, just barely visible. Taken with one leaf when 

 thev are \ery snudl the break will grow right on and 

 tliere will lie no hard joint. Siiould any of these breaJc 

 Willi three eyes it will he best to remove the top break 

 with a sharp knife right down to the .second shoot. This 

 will give the other two a better chance to form good 

 flowers. In pinching we take the buds with one good 

 leaf. If this were not done and the bud only taken the 

 growtli that the top eye would make would have a Inid 

 before it was more then two inches long which of course 

 is not desirable. Should these breaks be taken away down 

 to one "ood leaf it wmUd be wasting the |i!ant we think 

 as this method would not build up tiie jilani very nmch. 



