August 5, 1911 



HORTICULTUBE 



163 



Some Choice Conifers 



Coniferous evergreens are of rach paramount impor- 

 tance in all forma of landscape gardening in the colder 



part* of tin- United 9 that it is somewhat surpris- 



ing thai more attention is doI given to the choicer and 

 mure beautiful kind-. Although many thousands are 

 planted annually these are ei imposed of comparatively 

 few species and, though we cannot afford to dispense 

 with such standard sorts as white pine, common hemlock, 

 Austrian pine and blue spruce yet it should be bom< in 

 mind that there are many others equally well and, in 

 some respects, better adapted to ornamental planting 

 and which at the same time are equally hardy and as 

 easy to cultivate. A very conspicuous feature of the 

 National Flower Show held in Boston in March last 

 was the numerous collection of evergreens. Among the 

 more noteworthy being excellent displays from the 

 Messrs. Farquhar, the Eastern Nurseries, Messrs. Bob- 

 hink & Atkins and W. A. Manda. A very large and 

 representative coliiciinn can \\ all times be Been in the 

 Arboretum where intending planters will do well to 

 make a visit specially at this time of year. 



Ahies Veitchii is a fast-growing species from Japan 

 with dark green foliage, ven silvery on the under side. 

 It is apparently capable of making a very handsome 

 lawn specimen. So fine a tree as Abies Nordmanniana 

 is an excellent companion to the foregoing. Bomewhat 

 similar hut Less silvery beneath. Pew conifers make a 

 more symmetrica] specimen or produce s liner effect 

 than this and the intense green of the foliage is em- 

 phasized when it is planted in juxtaposition to a blue 

 Bprui e. 



One of thi mosl beautiful and interesting of all i 

 - is the Umbrella pine from Japan which is at 

 present quite rare in gardens, bul its singular beauty 

 and hardiness should ensure it being largely planted. 

 Sciadopitys verticdllata should be planted in a position 

 where the Boi] is moist during the growing season but 

 not at all waterlogged and a compost of loam and leaf 

 soil or peat will meet its requirements. 



Two very handsome conifers with glaucou- foliage are 

 Cedrus atlantiea ?lauca and I'upressus arizonica. The 

 ■• should be planted in a position where i1 is shel- 

 tered from cold wind- in spring by surrounding trees 

 which often cause more dan age than any frosts « 

 perience. It i- succeeding well in the Arboretum. 



Several forms of the con n hemlock arc deserving 



of extended cultivation especially good forms 

 Tsuga canadensis compacta, a dwarf -rowing form of 

 close habit and T. C. Sargenti a verj handsome pendu- 

 lous variety. Taxus cuspidata, the Japanese yew, is un- 

 doubtedly the best variety fo any purpose in the colder 

 parte of this country, f"r nrhatever weather we may 

 experience during the winti r or early spring it n 

 es brown or is in any way aff© 



The .Retinosporas are among the most useful and 



beautiful of smaller-growing conifers, well suited for the 



embellishment of the most i Itured part of the pleas 



grounds. R, filifera is one of the mo-t graceful with 



drooping thread-like ranches. It has two ex- 



cellcnt. \arieiie- -..lden fuliagc and 



glauca. which is quite u u, but a beat 



form. R. obtusa nana novi is also desirable and 

 R, Crippeii if a sheltered pace can be found where its 

 bright golden foliage is not ajured by cold wind-. 



Varieties of Thuja occii entalis are n and 



many are worth] of Lucius n in all garden-. A 

 the dwarf-growing forms 



Geo. Peabody and Clot! Id, both with am. 



golden foliage while Hovej , Tom Thumb, I.ittl. I 

 Globosa and Ellwangeriana re excellent green forms. 



The more uncomni n junipers are also deserving of 

 much extended oulti\ on, the most noteworthy being; 

 osis argen - green and w bite t'"liage ; 



tamarisciplia, a low growing evergreen, line for covering 

 ground, large rocks, Pfitzeriana, a very 



pleasing, graceful plant ; sabina tripartita and \ irgini- 



ana Schottii. 



One of the most desirable of all conifers is the hardy 

 form of Cedrus Labani or Cedar of Lebanon, 

 been introduced to this country through Professor Sar- 

 gent. A- Le well known the ordinary form of Lebanon 

 cedar which forms so conspicuous a feature in many 

 gardens and park- in Europe is not capable of with- 

 standing the Bevi rities of the climate here but this new 

 varietj has successfully withstood the last ten winters in 

 the Arboretum and will evidently prove a great addi- 

 tion to urn- list of ornamental evergreens. The foliage 

 is a beautiful light green and the habit especially grace- 

 ful. S|K-cimens frmn four to twelve feet in height can 

 now be seen in the Arboretum. 



Arnnlil Arboretum. 



Dahlia Rheinkonig 



This is one of the novelties of the present year of 

 the Giant Cactus type. It i- an ideal variety for flor- 

 ists' use a- a i u! flower, being pure white, with petals of 

 great substance and - long and rigid, [ts sturdy 



habit of growth and free blooming qualities make it also 



d garden favorite. It 

 for i lie tir-t time by 1 Irei 



Rose Madame Melanie Soupert 



The rose wl : ■ llus-' 

 tration this w< - of Pernet-Ducher's intri 

 Tt has i I good and satisfi 

 qualities in the garden in rntry and has un- 

 doubtedly ci 1 . How suf- 

 fused with pink and carmine. The Bowers are Bemi- 

 double ami in bud form are extremely shapely and at- 

 t raei ive. 



