December 30, 1916. 



HORTICULTURE 



871 



Polemonium 



Distinguished by a biif;hy habit 

 of growth, very attractive dark 

 greeu pinnate foliage and normally 

 blue flowers in terminal clusters or 

 spikes, we know the garden varie- 

 ties of polemonium as very desir- 

 able plants for the hardy flower 

 border. In Xew England gardens 

 the ".Tacol)'s Ladders"' — the popu- 

 lar name for polemoniums — can be 

 fre<|U(>ntly seen in full perfection 

 oeeupying conspicuous situations. 

 A richly manured rather light gar- 

 den soil and, for the north, an open 

 sunny exposure are essentials. 

 South of New York I find partial 

 shade an advantage. At least, 1 

 noticed the period of flowering is 

 shorter in the full sun and during 

 prolonged hot spells the foliage does 

 not hold out so well. The latter is 

 strikingly ornamental especially of 

 our native Rocky ^lountain 

 species Polemonium Richardsoni, 

 syn. P. huniile, the subject of our 

 illustration. The verv' handsome 

 sky blue flowers appear during 

 May and June, and tliis plant, scarcely exceeding 12 

 inches in height, proves ideal for small narrow beds re- 

 quiring low growing materials. In Maine summer 

 resorts- 1 found this species also very effective foi' edging 

 of large borders. With the only exception of Polemon- 

 ium confertum which thrives best on dry rocky sloj)es, 

 plantations should not be allowed to suffer by want of 

 irrigation during their growing season. Tlie creeping 

 variety Polemonium reptans, syn. grandiflorum. does 

 not grow except in moist situations and semi-shade. 



Of the taller growing European species, Polemonium 



POLEMOXrUM RiCHABDSONI 



coeruleum, I see a variegated leaved variety listed by 

 some firms abroad. All the Jacob's ladders mentioned 

 in this note appear in white flowering forms with the 

 specification var. album in catalogues. 



Stock may be readily raised from seed, spring 

 seedlings flowering the second year, Propagating by 

 division of old plants is preferable when colors are 

 desired separate. 



SccAxvui-^cr&uy 



Glenside, Pa. 



of splits in the short and dull days. Overworking or 

 overfeeding have the same effect. Feeding the plants 

 often and not too much at one time has always given 

 me best results, providing that all other details have 

 been duly attended to. Overfeeding is probably the 

 cause of most troubles we hear of in carnation growing, 

 especially in the fall and winter. I have found dried 

 blood a very good and economical fertilizer and am 

 using it year after year. About 40 to 50 pounds to .lOO 

 square feet will do the plants good. I give it in t'om- 

 doses. First lot mixed in the soil before or at planting 

 time, 10 to 13 pounds for -500 square feet; then tlie 

 same amount in September or October, in January and 

 in JIarch. It is well to remember always that blcwd is 

 a powerful article, l)ut the above amounts are perfectly 

 safe and give good results in my soil. 



Sheep manure is a very good fertilizer and easy to 

 apply, but the cost is too great in proportion to actual 

 value. Plants that are not growing freely should not 



receive too much of any sort of fertilizer ; half doses at 

 one time are often best. 



It Is Read Carefully 



\ "entlcnian of nation-wide prominence in commercial 

 horticulture writes to the olTice of lIouTirrLTrKE as fol- 

 lows : 



••H(.iiTicri.TrRE appeals to me, and in spite of rather 

 numerous demands I endeavor to make a study of each 

 succeeding issue. You ma.v be interested to know that 

 when I asked for an opinion on Horticultike. in connec- 

 tion with other trade journals, from one who is in a posi- 

 tion to know, who sees things squarely and tells them 

 truly the reply came in this wise, 'It is really and truly 

 edited. Its articles are high class and authoritative. U 

 is read carefully.' " 



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