THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



491 



spection to identify llieiii in their wonderfully elegant 

 form. These cotild be seen from some distance away. 



In the ground operation near the house, or between 

 the house and the magnificent stables, 8,000 loads of 

 soil had been used, merely to round oft part of the 

 lawns, this soil having cost an average of $1 per load. 

 Altogether there are 60 acres of lawns. 



The glass department is in a separate part of the 

 grounds, well away from the house. It is a com|)act 

 assortment of very tine, spanned-roofed houses, all 

 in tip-top condition. The output of flowers reminds 

 one more of a commercial place than of a private 

 establishment. One thousand Valley Pips are used 

 every week, and frnm 1.000 to 1.200 Inngifliiruni Lilies 

 are forced. 



Already in October .Sweet f^eas were planted — 

 Zvolanek's strain — these being 4 inches high, in 4-inch 

 pots. .\ house is devoted entirely to Gardenias, and 

 of coin"se, Chrysanthemums are in great variety, Mr. 

 Kleinheinz being president of the Chrysanthemum 

 Society of Atnerica. Three thousand plants are grown 

 as single-stem specimens, and as many as 50 to 75 

 blooms are cut daily during the flowering season. Bush 

 varieties and others grown as half standards make 

 fine material for cutting from. .\ few plants are also 

 trained in globular and fan-shaped form for decorative 

 purposes in the house and conservatory. The first 

 cut of Lilian Dot}' was made on October 6. The 

 Chrysanthemums are not grown in benches, but in 

 6-inch. 7-inch or 8-incli ])ots, as it is found that they 

 are better imder control that way. The plants are 

 shifted into 4-inch pots about the 20th of J\Ia}-, there- 

 after into 7-inch to 8-inch pots. 



The new Begonia, Mrs. Peterson, was seen here 

 with its beautiful brownish-red metallic leaves. L"n- 

 fortunately, however, its flowering is not always as 

 free as one could desire, and the color needs im])roving. 



The beautiful feathery Nephrolepis Smithii, one of 

 the plumose or lace type, is made use of most effec- 

 tively as basket plants, while Teddy Jr. and the new 

 very handsome John Wanamaker are two kinds much 

 employed for pot work. The first-named is the dwarfer 

 of the two, the latter used for bolder work. 



The Rose houses have very deep cement benches and 

 the soil is covered with a manure mulch. The plants 

 were in the pink of condition ; nothing finer could be 

 seen anywhere. The plants were absolutely spotless, 

 comprising JMy Maryland, Prince d'Arenberg, White 

 Killarney, Ophelia. Sunbtirst and others. A house is 

 devoted to American Beauty, and most of the plants 

 were put out in the benches in new soil on the 20th 

 of June, the old plants beeing thrown out entirely. 



A large collection of Cattleyas and other orchids 

 are grown, including Cvpripediums, Oncidium veri- 

 cosum Rogersi (these being in pots suspended from 

 the glass), with Calanthes and other subjects. 



Carnations are also a very strong feature, com- 

 prising all of the favorite sorts. Gorgeous, a fine 

 crimson-scarlet, was noticeably good. The cuttings 

 are taken in December, so as to give a long growing 

 period, and are potted on into 4-inch pots, then jnit 

 into the benches in the first week in July, and allowed 

 to flower from early in October onward. 



The quantity of bedding plants propagated annualh- 

 runs to 55,000, all of which represent cuttings that 

 have to be potted, housed, and grown on ; certainly 

 entailing a very vast amount of labor each year. 



These are only a few desultory notes of a finely 

 appointed place. One will travel far in order to find 

 a better range of houses, and the estate, apart from 

 the lawns and ornamental grounds, is far stretching. 



one of ii.s special features being the private horse- 

 racing track. The electrical plant, the stables and all 

 the other modern features embody the latest improve- 

 ment and each deserves special reference in them- 

 selves were there space. Over all of this Mr. Klein- 

 heinz presides, and it may safely be taken for granted 

 that he is never very idle. 



In the ne.xt number of the CiiKo.xicLii 1 will relate 

 some cjf m_\- impressions of the Lenox estates. 



Itixicu.vnt. 



SCHIZANTHUS AS A SPRING-FLOWERING 

 PLANT. 



'J he \ahie of .Schizanlhus as a s])ring-rtowering plant 

 cannot be overestimated, and a good batch of this [jopular 

 yet dainty and light flower is more appreciated at that 

 season of the year than at any other time. Not only 

 do the plants flower more profusely, but the ab- 

 sence of that scorching sun which is experienced 

 later on in the year allows them to retain their beauty 

 and freshness for a considerable period. A conservatory 

 in which the main subjects are Primulas of sorts, herba- 

 ceous Calceolarias and Schizanthus wisetonensis is a sight 

 to remember, writes Chas. Trott in The Garden. 



We generally sow the seed the last week in August, 

 and pot oft' the resultant seedlings as soon as possible in 

 23^2 -inch pots, placing them in a li,ght position, yet not in 

 the direct rays of the sun. A frame outdoors having a 

 northern aspect is excellent. As soon as growth has be- 

 come active, pinch out the growing point and repeat it 

 later, but the second time pinch all the laterals as well. 

 This will lay the foundation of a strong, well-branched 

 plant, liefore the plants get root-bound in the pots (and 

 this must never be allowed to occur, as the plants may as 

 well be thrown out as allowed to flower), a further move 

 into 5-inch or 6-inch pots must be given. The 5-inch pots 

 are jierhaps the best, as it is not wise to over-pot them. 

 They are impatient of careless watering and drought, 

 either extreme proving fatal to one's hopes. .Steadily 

 keep to the pinching and repotting, never hastening 

 the plants in an}' way, and by the middle of Oc- 

 toI)er they may he [lotted into the final or flowering pots. 

 These may be either S inches or 9 inches in diameter, ac- 

 cording to the grower's discretion or convenience. The 

 soil for this potting is very important, and should not con- 

 tain too much hunius and no artificial manure, unless it 

 is a little bone-meal. Good strong loam should comprise 

 three parts of the mixture, the other part consisting of 

 wood-ashes, lime rub1.)le and leaf-mould. Firnfly press 

 the soil around the iilants as the work proceeds, and 

 leave (|uite .3 inches for top-dressing if in a ''-inch imt, 

 and a Httle less if in an 8-inch pot. 



.Stake the plants nicely, and if the weather is still open 

 thev may be left in the frame. T have known them to ex- 

 perience 5 or 6 degrees of frost and take nut the slightest 

 harm. However, it is always the best plan when they 

 have got so far on to take no chances ; but never give 

 them more heat than is absolutely necessary to be safe. 

 As soon as they start growing again, they may be top- 

 dressed with the same mixture as advised for the final 

 potting. They may then be given a little diluted cow- 

 manure, graduallv increasing the strength of it until the 

 flijwers look readv for opening, when it is best to cease. 

 I'hev mav then be moved to the conservator} . 



ANNUAL CONVENTION 



National Association of Gardeners 



Boston, Mass., December 9-10 



If interested see page 503 



