HORTICULTURE 



September 13, 1919 



RAMBLING OBSERVATIONS OF 

 A ROVING GARDENER 



At the Bayard Thayer estate in Lan- 

 caster not long ago I saw the most re- 

 markable specimen of the beautiful 

 and sweet scented Lonicera syringan- 

 tha which has ever come to my notice. 

 Truth to tell, this is not a very widely 

 planted shrub, although it is by no 

 means new, having been known in this 

 country, for many years. Possibly it 

 is not very easy to propagate. At any 

 rate it has never been widely distrib- 

 uted, but it is a most worthwhile 

 plant, with masses of tiny flowers in 

 the spring, flowers that fill the air 

 with their delicious, syringa like 

 fragrance. 



I am wandering, however, from 

 what I started to say. As a rule, this 

 honeysuckle makes an upright growth, 

 but the specimen at the Thayer place 

 has developed a creeping or procum- 

 bent habit, spreading out over a sur- 

 prising large area. Mr. William An- 

 derson, the superintendent, paced off 

 thirty feet while I was looking at the 

 plant, that marking the limits in one 

 direction. 



Mr. Anderson said that originally 

 three plants were set out close to- 

 gether. They came from the same 

 place and were supposed to be all 

 alike. Two of them kept to the nor- 

 mal form, but when the third began 

 to show its usual character, the others 

 were removed, so that this creeping 

 honeysuckle now has the whole spot 

 to itself. 



garden or estate where it has been 

 used, except possibly in a very small 

 way. Its merits are most obvious. It 

 makes a strung, busby growth. It is 

 practically impregnable, and it has a 

 grace and charm such as few hedge 

 plants present. This Taxus is surely 

 an aristocrat, at least in appearance, 

 and far more ornamental than most of 

 the shrubs used even on pretentious 

 and costly places. The plants in the 

 Thayer garden are about ten years old, 

 and a little higher than a man's head, 

 possibly seven feet. They were set out 

 in a row, two feet apart, and have been 

 beautiful, I am told, at all stages of 

 their growth. They are trimmed only 

 once a year, in April, and the sort, al- 

 most fluffy nature of the new growth 

 adds wonderfully to the charm of the 

 hedge. Keeping it trimmed hard 

 would be to sacrifice one of its most 

 delightful features. I think it is safe 

 to predict that in future years there 

 will be a wide planting of this Taxus 

 for hedge purposes. It will be an ex- 

 pensive undertaking in most cases, for 

 Taxus cuspidata is not likely to be- 

 come a cheap shrub at any time, but 

 those who can afford it will have a 

 hedge worth all that it costs. 



been successful in raising seven of 

 these beautiful creatures and takes 

 great pride in them. The accompany- 

 ing illustration, while only a snap 

 shot, shows Mr. Head's pets swimming 

 about in a pond on the farm. His 

 "water nymphs" attract no little at- 

 tention from visitors. Mr. Head went 

 to Lake Forest several years ago from 

 Boston, and I am sure that his eastern 

 friends will be glad to learn of what 

 he has accomplished in this for him 

 rather unusual line of work. 



One of the most interesting features 

 of the grounds around the house on 

 the Thayer estate is the hedge of 

 Taxus cuspadata. One occasionally 

 sees this plant recommended for hedge 

 purposes, but I know of no other 



No matter how careful the setting 

 of the lagoons in a public park or a 

 pond in private places, something is 

 lacking unless there is life in or on 

 the water. On many estates it is com- 

 mon to find ducks and other aquatic 

 birds, but swans are comparatively 

 rare. Yet there is no bird which does 

 so much to complete a picture. Mr. 

 Thomas W. Head, who is in charge of 

 the Mellody Farm, one of the finest 

 estates at Lake Forest, Illinois, has 



Gardeners and flower growers of 

 Xew England will find much satisfac- 

 tion in the announcement that the 

 Trustees of the Massachusetts Horti- 

 cultural Society have voted to accept 

 the offer made by Miss M. R. Case, of 

 Weston, of one thousand dollars to 

 be used for additional exhibitions dur- 

 ing the coming year. 



The interest which Miss Case has 

 taken in the Horticultural Society 

 might well be emulated by other 

 people who are concerned with horti- 

 cultural advancement. As a result of 

 what she has done there will be four 

 shows in 1920 in addition to the six 

 which had already been planned for, 

 including the big orchid show in the 

 spring. About $8,500. will be available 

 for premiums. A great amount of 

 opposition had developed to the pro- 

 posal that the number of shows be 

 cut down and the interest which has 

 been shown this season in such ex- 

 hibitions as appeal particularly to the 

 amateur has shown that it is still pos- 

 sible to keep up the standard of these 

 exhibitions. 



Undoubtedly there are many ways 

 in which progress and advancement 

 can be expressed. I know, for my part, 

 that Miss Case has a number of ex- 

 cellent ideas, some of which have al- 

 ready been put into print. There are 

 other women interested in gardening 

 who also have projects which, if car- 

 ried out, will go far towards making 

 the coming flower shows different in 

 character and of much greater value 

 to all concerned than those of the past. 

 Certainly there is much reason for en- 

 couragement in the present outlook. 



Some of Mr Head's Swans 



LORRAINE BEGONIAS. 

 With the cooler nights the Lorraine 

 begonias will make rapid growth. By 

 the end of the month in many sections 

 a little artificial heat will he needed 

 at night. A fairly warm house is best 

 for these begonias until they begin to 

 show color, after which cooler quarters 

 are better for them, although it is im- 

 perative that there be plenty of good 

 ventilation. A close, moist house will 

 cause the foliage to spot. If aphis 

 show up. and they probably will, 

 fumigate lightly, but frequently. 



