THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



291 



FORCING GERMAN POTGROWN LILACS. 



Uv Joii.x T. SciiEErEus. 



In order to successfully force German potgrown Lilacs, 

 and the German should be recommended before all other, 

 it is necessary to know, that the various varieties require 

 different treatment. To a large extent failure or un- 

 satisfactory result can be traced to wrongful treatment 

 and unsatisfactory choice of varieties for a certain pur- 

 pose. 



Quite frequently the first mistake is made in packing 

 the plants ; note the buds upon arrival and how the plants 

 were packed ; if too much material was used it is probable 

 that the buds were smothered ; there is no necessity for 

 the use of great quantities of packing material, only the 

 potball has to be [protected against too severe changes 

 in temperature. 



Of all the many varieties for forcing there are only a 

 very few that can be satisfactorily forced early, unless 

 "retarded" plants are used. 



For earliest forcing the following are most satisfactory : 

 Marie Legraye, single white ; Charles X., single lilac ; 

 Hermann Filers, single, rose with lilac; and Casimir 

 Perier, double white; Marie Legrave is the best one nf 

 the lot. 



I'or earliest forcing, allow the pots to get thoroughly 

 frozen for from eight to 14 days, if necessary using the 

 cold storage for this purpose ; thereafter the plants must 

 be slowly forced, at a temperature nf abuut 77 degrees; 

 give no more water than the plant can absorb but pro- 

 duce sufficient moisture through spraying, repeatedly 

 done. .\s soon as the young sprouts are from 2 to 3 

 centimeters long (about one inch) raise the temperature 

 to from 82-86 degrees, to reduce it again li\ about nine 

 degrees by the time the plants commence to blossom. 

 In that way the buds open slower and the flowers be- 

 come larger; when in full bloom, take the plants into a 

 liouse with a temperature of from .^7 to 59 degrees, to 

 harden them off. 



The double varieties, with the exception of Madame 

 Casimir Perier, should not be used for early forcing ; for 

 later forcing all existing varieties may be used ; for such 

 forcing an average temperature of from 64 to 68 degrees 

 will be sufficient; for such forcing the plants will take 

 from five to six weeks to blossom, but they will produce 

 much more beautiful flowers. 



For late forcing a very light and air_\- house should be 

 used. 



In forcing the following points should be luost par- 

 ticularly observed ; 



1. The entire plants should have sufficient room, in 

 order that they may develop themselves evenly. 



2. The plants should not be w-atered more than the 

 plants need ; the results due to overwatering are poor 

 roots, resulting in unsatisfactory formation of flowers 

 and inferior coloring. 



3. If special fine spikes arc wanted, the blossombuds 

 on each branch should be broken off, excepting the two 

 strongest buds. 



4. In case of foliage coming too strong, the young 

 foliage should be early removed. 



.5. The colored varieties shoukl be forced slowly, cool 

 and with plentv of light, resulting in purer and more 

 pronounced -~ha(les. 



Retarded Lilacs can be forced at any time ; the first 

 eii,dit days they should be kept in half shade, later airy 

 and light ; treated in that manner it takes in summer from 

 3 to 4 weeks to bring them in full bloom ; should they 

 be wanted for Christmas flowering, they should be started 

 at the latest the first of November, proper development 

 bein"' much slower at that time of the vear. 



THE VALUE OF TREES. 



Trees being so inili-ijcnsalde to human welfare and 

 comfort, it seems incredible that they should ever be 

 allowed to suffer from neglect or that their wholesale 

 destruction should be permitted. The man who plants 

 a tree is a public benefactor, but he who protects and 

 cares for trees already planted is no less deserving of 

 liraise and gratitude. 



Every lover of trees should strive to create and foster 

 public sentnuent in the conuuunity in favor of tree plant- 

 ing and tree protection. Each town should liave an or- 

 ganization devoted to arboriculture. In some states there 

 are already such \(y«\\ organizations and the good results 

 obtained are potent arguments in favor of a general 

 adoption of the plan. 



The care of trees is not a matter of sentiment alone, 

 but of dollars and cents as well. Did you ever stop to- 

 compute the value of a single full-grown tree? If it were 

 destroyed tomorrow you could not replace it in your life- 

 time. It rejire-ents a century or more of growth. Per- 

 haps it was planted by your forefathers, or perchance it 

 was sp.ired by the original settlers when the land was 

 cleared. Rcllecl on tliese facts and let the rellection 

 prompt \ ou to tender, watchful care. 



Trees breathe the same as animals. They inhale 

 o.xygen and exhale carbonic acid gas. The oxygen is 

 taken in tlu-ough their leaves and through the minute 

 openings in the b;irk. called lenticels. This process of 

 breathing goes on in the tree day and night, but assimila- 

 tion takes place onl)- in the daylight. 



Trees growing under favorable conditions frequently 

 reach an age of several thousand years and attain enor- 

 mous size. That the majority of trees die so young is 

 in most cases due to the fact that thev are subjected to 

 unfavorable conditions. .\s examples of what trees may 

 do when soil climate and surroundings are at their best, 

 a dragon tree in the Canary Islands is said to be over 

 0,000 years old and a bald Cyprus in Mexico over 4,000 

 years. An Englisii oak ami one of the redwood "big 

 trees" in California are known to be over 2,000 years 

 old. The eucalyptus in Australia attains a height of 

 470 feet and the redwood and douglass fir in California 

 grow to a height of 300 feet or over. In the Eastern 

 States it is not unconr.iion to see a sycamore or a tulip 

 tree 150 feet high. 



Of course, the age and size of trees de]5ends mucii u])on 

 the variety. .Some kinds of trees like poplars, willows 

 and birches are comjjaratively short-lived, while oaks, 

 white pines and the sycamore are naturalh- long-lived. 

 All varieties of trees may have their lives greatly pro- 

 longed by proper care and those wdiich seem doomed to 

 death because of neglect may, in many cases, be restored 

 to health and \igor by intelligent treatment. The re- 

 moval of all dead or diseased wood, careful pruning, the 

 filling of inuik wounds wilh concrete, chaining or bolting 

 to prevent the splitting of crotches, and the destruction 

 of the insects that jirey upon the foliage or infest the 

 bark are the )uain featiu-es of the work of renovating 

 trees. — Tree Talk. 



AUTOMOBILES MAINTAIN RHODE ISLAND ROADS. 



Tliis ycai- ll)i' iiiiitiir vcliick' ICrs, est imatcil at .*l.jO.I)(IO. foiii- 

 prisc tlie n?ily fluids rpcoivi'd hy tlu' State of Kliodp Island for 

 rrr.d work. Tlie State system coniprises 2.3"). 77 miles of water 

 bound miieadain and SS.fifl miles of liitiimiiions macadam, a total 

 of .32-1.42 miles. .Ml of tie water liouiul macadaiii liave, liowevef, 

 been treated tliis year wilh asjdialtie oil applied nnder pressure. 

 The fact that Ttliode Uland is maintaining,' its state roads solely 

 by means of fees from aiif omobilists is another striUing ex- 

 ample of tlic important part wliieli this great class of road users. 

 is takinfr in the r'n.l nio\ctnent. 



