466 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



THINGS AND THOUGHTS OF THE GARDEN. 



{Coiiti)tucd from page 442.) 



New York is lamentably deficient in these indoor hor- 

 ticultural attractions. In visiting the garden one day 

 recently, I was amused to notice how the naming here 

 differs from what is generally current, or what one 

 will find at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, for in- 

 stance. Each of these gardens are under public con- 

 trol, and at least they are both in Greater New York — 

 in the same town, so to speak, but at different ends of 

 it. Why, then, should there not be uniformity in the 

 nomenclature? Here are some examples I made note 

 of in a very short stroll, without searching for these 

 diff'erences : 



Spiraea Lindleyana labeled Schizunotus Lindk-jana. 



Funkia subcordata grandiflora labeled Niobe plant- 

 aginea. 



Funkias all named Xiobe. 



Cuphea ignea labeled Parsonia ignea. 



Liatris species labeled Lacinaria. 



Euphorbia corollata labeled Dicrophyllum margina- 

 tum. 



Vinca roseus-oculata labeled Ammocalis roseus- 

 oculata. 



^Js ^ ^ 



Botanists are notorious for the changing of names, 

 "Just to justify their existence," as some of the laity 

 perhaps rather unkindly has said. But we of the hum- 

 ble gardening fraternity, and especially the florist and 

 nurseryman, surely deserve more consideration than 

 the systematists have so far exhibited. We use plant 

 names as much as they, and we are as a thousand to 

 one of the scientific botanists. Protests have not been 

 wanting, but so far have been in vain. One gets the 

 impression that the man of the microscope and vascu- 

 lum looks upon the horticulturist as an inferior creature 

 to himself, and has seldom or never tried to explain or 

 justify the changing of old established names, so far 

 as my observation has extended. I believe that quite 

 a number of the changes are made in accordance with 

 the international rule of priority. Under this rule, or 

 by virtue of it, if a botanist, be he ever so young or 

 indistinguished. finds in his researches that some 

 earlier botanist had given a name to a plant which, we 

 will say, is at present known as Lasiandra, and that 

 the earlier name was Tibouchina, he at once sets 

 about "correcting" the matter, and out comes Ti- 

 bouchina for us all to learn and remember. As all good 

 gardeners like to keep abreast of progress, the new 

 name is mentally noted, and if one converses with a 

 really intelligent fellow craftsman, most likely the 

 new name will be the one mentioned, usually with the 

 remark that the old name has been dropped. But 

 when, a short time later, one finds still another name 

 substituted for Tibouchina, the name this time being 

 Pleroma, our faith in the skilful research and care of 

 the botanists receives a jolt, and, to say the least, the 

 mere gardener gets a bit tired. This is an actual instance 

 of the last few years. Nothing is sacred to the re- 

 novating hand of Mr. Botanist. Even our old friend 

 the Boston Ivy or Ampelopsis Veitchii, which most of 

 us also know is called N'itis inconstans, thus classing 

 it with the Grape vine family, where one would say it 

 very reasonably belongs, has been rebaptized, and now 

 bears the euphonious title, Parthenocissus quinciue- 

 folia. In regard to all this, will the botanists deny that 

 they have made changes far too hurriedly in some in- 

 stances ; wilt they deny that they have seized on hair- 

 splitting differences many, many times ; and will they 

 deny the futility of these changes so far as the general 



adoption of them is to be considered? Had I taken 

 due note of all I have seen, heard and read of in regaid 

 to the changing of names in the last fifteen or twenty 

 years some curious things would have to be recorded, 

 not all of them flattering to the herbarium fellows. 

 But after all we're only gardeners and don't under- 

 stand. 



* * * 



The new Pelargonium Clorinda, which many might 

 simply call a Geranium, is another of those ].)lants that 

 have taken far too long to become generally known 

 and grown. Notwithstanding all the advertising that 

 both Chas. H. Totty and the Messrs. Vincent gave to 

 this fine plant some time ago, its great merits have 

 been largely overlooked. Many will also remember 

 the plants of it that were shown at New York spring 

 show by Mr. Lewis and others. These were very fine 

 indeed, yet they merely outlined, as it were, the pos- 

 sibilities. Some years ago I saw Pelargonium 

 Clorinda shown as a standard', three feet or more in 

 height, with an umbrella head. The plants were only 

 in ten-inch pots, but bearing, as they did. a perfect 

 crown of pink trusses, their beauty, combined with the 

 delightfully scented leaves, can well be imagined. It 

 is just one of the easily grown, free flowering plants 

 that we all ought to have, and when we have it we 

 should grnw it to the highest perfection. 



CULTURE OF THE EXHIBITION 

 CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



(Continued from page 4()5.) 

 their way to the drainage, which has to be avoided. 



According to the value nf ycjur compost, one must 

 be governed accordingly in the use of commercial fer- 

 tilizers, and the mistake is often made in using them 

 to e.xcess. Thus causing gross, sappy growth, result- 

 ing in the blooms damping, and in some varieties the 

 buds will not develop. Although most exhibition 

 growers are prepared to lose at least 20 per cent, of 

 their blooms through high feeding. 



In taking the buds, no hard and fast rule can be ap- 

 plied, as some varieties are apt to act differently in 

 certain localities. Experience, as I have already stated, 

 is the best teacher in this respect. In some varieties, 

 they will show bud in their 4-in. pots. This, to some 

 extent, is caused by taking stem cuttings and tops, 

 which is not practicable. Disbudding must be carried 

 out during their growing period, and should never be 

 neglected. Buds should be taken from August 1st to 

 7th day of September, according to location and va- 

 riety. I have always found that in late varieties buds 

 taken the latter i)art of August are the most satisfac- 

 tory. 



(Jne must alwavs be on the lookout for black and 

 green flies, which secrete themselves in the tips of the 

 young growth ; also numerous other pests. To combat 

 these, a spraying of Aphine weekly, getting well under 

 the foliage, and in the points, is a sure remedy, and a 

 good preventative. Red spider is one of the worst ene- 

 mies, but by keeping the house as cool as possible 

 during the summer months and a good pressure of water 

 severrd times during hot days, is the best prevention. -\ 

 weak solution of soot water sprayed through the plants 

 is beneficial. Mildew is likely to appear later on in the 

 year, when the nights get cooler, and they are subjected 

 to draughts. A spraying or two of Fungine will soon rid 

 them of this. As soon as the color shows in the bud. 

 the house must be kept dryer, spraying discontinued, 

 and such varieties which bleach with the sun. should 

 1)e shaded. 



