THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



317 



Pink Holtoiiia lalisc|ii;iiiia. 

 Siieezewei'd — Ili'lciiiuiii autiiiiiiKili'. 

 Jjce-balm — iloiiarila ilidynia. 



1 lardy Clii ysantlu'iiiiim-- ( 'lir\>.a]it liciiiuin liui turum. 

 .Musk .Mallijw .Malva iiioscliata. 

 Hybrid l^arkspur — JJelpliinium liyliridum. 

 Jajjaiiusi' Lily — Liliiim speeiusum. 

 halt' .MoMk-iliiiiid -Ardiiitum aiitiiiiiiiak-. 

 Vidlow Kuxglove — Digitalis graiMlillora. 

 Scarlet Beardtoiigue — I'fiitsti'iinin barkatiis Torreyi. 

 Carpathian Harebell — {'anipaniila earpatica. 

 Tufted Pansies — ^'i(lla cornnta hybrids. 

 Sea Thrift — Arnieria vulgaris. 

 Carolina Phlo.x— Pblu.\ ovata. 

 Silvery duckweed — C'erastiiiiii tonientosum. 

 Mountain Covntlower — t'entaimu innntana. 

 Gokltuft — Alyssum saxatilo. 

 Snow-in-.summer — Arabis alliida. 

 Perennial Candytuft — Iberis senipervirens. 

 Pin-cushion -flower — Scabiosa eaucasica. 

 Japanese Speedwell — Wronica longifolia subsessilis. 



SCHIZANTHUS CULTURE. 



Hv Si.wi.Kv K. C.\.\nr.i-:K, New Youk. 



Where greenhouse space is limited and a continual 

 display of flowers is expected, one must always lie on 

 the lookout for flowering plants that are cpiickly 

 raised, quickly grown and quickly brought into full 

 flower ; so one cannot overlook the Schizanthus as one 

 of the best subjects for greenhouse and conservatory 

 decoration, the cultivation of which is within the reach 

 of all who possess a cool greenhouse. 



The Schizanthus is sometimes called the "lUittcrfly 

 Flower" after the shape of the flower ; it belongs to 

 the natural order of Solanaceae. The flowers, which 

 are of the most varied and brilliant colors, are borne 

 on terminal cymes (a cyme being the botanical term 

 employed where the first axis of the inflorescence entl.s 

 in a single flower and opens first) ; the corolla or 

 throat is, as a rule, of the darkest color in each single 

 flower, thus giving a very fine effect. 



The reason this plant is of such value is that it can 

 be readily raised and it has wonderful decorative char- 

 acter, as it can be had in flower either in mid-winter 

 or in early spring, just as the cultivator requires. Its 

 usefulness does not end as a decorative plant, for a-, 

 a cut flower it can be used with wonderful results, be- 

 ing of such a light and graceful habit that it is most 

 valuable as a subject for dinner-table decorations. In 

 fact, in its season it has no rival and for gracefulness it 

 will surpass the delicate effect of the sweet peas when 

 used for the above-mentioned purpose. It is the light 

 branching habit of the Schizanthus which gives it such 

 a graceful effect. 



CuLTi\\\Tiox. — The best season to sow the seed is in 

 August. Some sow in July, but there is nothing gained 

 by early sowing; that is, if the plants are rec|uired to 

 flower in spring, which is the most ])opular season to 

 flower them. 



Seeds should he sown very thinly in pans or boxe'=. 

 taking good care that the soil is well drained; a liglv, 

 soil of poor nature is best for sowing purposes ; never 

 sow seeds in a highly-manured soil. These boxer, 

 should be placed in the coolest section of the green- 

 house or in the cold frame to allow germination to 

 take place. As soon as the seedlings are large enough 

 to handle, pick them off into boxes or pans about 2 

 inches apart and employ a very light, well-drained soil 

 in this case, placing them in a light, airy place, as light 

 and air ;ire most essential to the well being of this 

 plant. .\s soon as the plants have become established 

 and make enough growth it is advisable to pot them 

 singly in 2j/4-inch or 3-inch pots (here employ a soil 

 composed of loam and leaf soil, two parts of loam and 



one (if leaf soil, to which add a little gritj. Once they 

 begin to grow it is advisable to re-pot into larger pots 

 according to growth of roots ; l)ut do not over-pot ; 

 only give a slightly larger pot each time. Do not pot 

 to firm, as that is harmful to the young roots of this 

 plant ; also do not allow the plants to l)ecome pot- 

 bound before re-potting (pot-l)ound means when the 

 roots are formed into one hard liall within the pot). 

 Always make sure the pots are well drained by em- 

 ploying a few pieces of broken pots as drainage and 

 place a few semi-decayed leaves over this drainage ; 

 this will prevent small soil from working between the 

 broken pots and thus making good drainage impo.4- 

 sible. After each potfing, water with great care ; in 

 fact, keep the plants on the dry side till a few roots 

 have l)een made ; otherwise over-watering at this 

 stage would cause the soil to become sour. 



Should the plants be inclined to flower early or 

 make straggly growths, it is then advisable to pinch 

 out the long shoots, thus giving the plants a bushy and 

 compact habit. When the plants have been potted 

 into the final i)ots and the pots become filled with 

 roots, then they can be fed with liquid stable manure 

 or farmyard manure; also a change of soot water 

 could be given with great advantage at this season. 

 Soot water is of great value to most all plants grown 

 in pots, as it acts in two ways — first, as a stimulant j 

 second, as a cleanser of the soil, as worms do n(;it like 

 soot in any form. 



At all times give plenty of ventilation, but do this 

 with great judgment ; otherwise bad ventilation will 

 soon end in diseased stock. Avoid cross draughts and 

 C(5ld winds. It is very advisable to stalk the plants. 

 and this should he done after the first or second pot- 

 ting, according to state of plant. Enlarged stalks 

 should be placed at each potting ; that is, always keep 

 one centre stalk until the final potting and then the 

 jdants can be shaped out to the grower's require- 

 ments. Strong twine makes a very neat and safe 

 support. 



When purchasing Schizanthus seed it is always ad- 

 visable to obtain same from some reliable seed house, 

 as there are so many inferior strains on the market 

 that unless you have a good start with seed from a 

 good strong stock, you will have trouble all along 

 and results will be very disappointing. 



The Schizanthus Wisetonensis hybrids are the best 

 to grow and are most commonly employed ; these are 

 the results of continued selection and hybridization 

 on the part of the horticulturist. 



The Schizanthus are annual herbs from Chile, somi; 

 six species being kno\\n. 



PROTECT YOUR TREES. 



"Many nf the line remnants of fnrnici- forest glory or of old- 

 time jilanting which adorn the grounds of our wealthy citizens 

 and of (inr more humble luune makers, so lo pieces gradually, un- 

 observed and unnecessarily, because of neglect and carelessness; 

 a little care at the proper time would have saved the investment 

 which canuol he duiiiicaterl in the owner's lifetime." — /{. /?. Fernow. 



When trees arc dormant there is much work that may be done 

 to jiromote their growth and protect them .against injury. A 

 little attention at this jieriod in the way of pruning and the 

 destruction of fungi and the various in.sect pe.sts will prove bene- 

 ficial and save much time and labor later. In late fall or early 

 spring is the jirojier time for planting all deeidous varieties. The 

 important work of tree surgery may also be carried on success- 

 fully during the winter time except in severe cold weather. 



■'Kternal \ igilance'' is the price of thrifty trees as well as of 

 liberty and many other blessings, and the enthusiastic tree owner 

 knows neither times nor seasons in his watchful care. To him 

 it is labor of love, and one which repays a hundredfold. — Tree Talk. 



