r8 97 . 



• GARDENING. 



19 



SOUTH STREET GATE. ARNOLD ARBORETUM. BOSTON. 



gether a good kind. There is a popular 

 variety of this one called densiflorum, 

 with numerous branches and flowers, 

 which makes a good display during July 

 and August. 



Patulum is a Japanese species, which 

 with us is of a half shrubby nature. This 

 may be natural to it, or the effect of our 

 climate, at any rate, its tops are partly 

 winter-killed every year. Like the rest, it 

 blooms prettily at the midsummer sea- 

 son its flowers being of medium size. 



Calycinum has somethins of a pros- 

 trate habit of growth, but this I attrib- 

 ute to its tops getting winter-killed, as in 

 its native home. Southern Europe, it be- 

 comes a fair sized shrub. A good place 

 for it here is in a situation partially 

 shaded, and where something partly 

 spreading is required. It is very nearly 

 evergreen, and its large yellow flowers 

 are much admired. 



Moserianum is one of the showiest of 

 all, because of its very large flowers. 

 These flowers are really no larger than 

 those of calycinum, but the petals are so 

 broad that they touch one another, while 

 in the case of calycinum they are narrow, 

 not touching, and so give the impression 

 of measuring less. Moserianum behaves 

 much as patulum does in winter. Its 

 tops are a little cut at that time, or die 

 back naturally, so that it remains al- 

 ways as a half shrubby plant. It makes 

 a good display, and keeps it up for along 

 time, and among those of dwarf growth, 

 is one of the best. 



Aureum, another one with very large 

 yellow flowers, used to be in collections 

 here, but seems to have disappeared, 

 whether from lack of hardiness or not I 

 cannot say. 



A Siberian species, Ascyron, has large 

 flowers, but somehow, though hardy 

 enough, it does not seem to make as 



pretty a shrub as some others, nor does 

 it please as well. 



There are manv other sorts in cultiva- 

 tion in Europe, and no doubt many of 

 them would be useful here. One of them, 

 Androsa:mum, the common "Tutsan" of 

 England, has proved hardy in this city. 



Philadelphia. Joseph Meeiian. 



The Flower Garden. 



HERBACEOUS PLANT NOTES. 



How can I fill several beds with blue 

 and white or purple and white flowered 

 hardv plants and have them look well 

 both summer and fall? is a question asked 

 in a letter which comes from Zanesville, 

 0. Following I give a few examples: 



All varieties of Viola cornuta are con- 

 tinuous bloomers during the summer and 

 fall months. The flowers show well 

 above the dense foliage and are produced 

 very freely, but they should not be planted 

 in a very dry place nor where they are 

 exposed all day to the full sun; they will 

 do their best when slightly shaded during 

 the hottest part of the day by near-by high 

 trees or otherwise; dense shade is not ad- 

 visable, causing a lanky growth, espe- 

 cially where the ground is inclined to be 

 moist. In- the more humid climate of 

 European countries the horned violet is 

 extensively used in carpet and ribbon 

 beds. No shade is required there and fail- 

 ures are seldom heard of, but with us the 

 plants make a poor showing when ex- 

 posed to the July and August sun, 

 though early in the season and again in 

 September or later their flowering is as 

 free as anywhere. Where a suitable 

 place can be provided for them few plants 



will equal this violet for constant and 

 profuse blooming. Low and compact in 

 growth, they are admirably suited for 

 small beds and narrow borders. 



A light and rich soil, such as we would 

 provide for a pansy bed, is best for them 

 and they have a preference for a cool un- 

 derground. In dry weather frequent 

 waterings will be of great benefit to the 

 plants; this will keep them growing freely 

 and the flowers will show the extra care 

 in size and substance. They are increased 

 readily by division; a clump one year 

 old can be divided into a great many 

 pieces; each one will have sufficient roots 

 to support the new plant and they grow 

 as rapidly as young pansy plants. Ordi- 

 narily it is best to plant the bed in the fall 

 months and get them well established in 

 their permanent quarters before winter 

 sets in, but where nice young plants are 

 available transplanting may be delayed 

 until spring with equal success. Fall 

 divided plants, wintered in a pansy frame 

 and potted up in April, make fine stock 

 for spring without the aid of fireheat; 

 they can be grown cheaply along with 

 the pansies. Plenty of air must be 

 allowed at all times and the sash removed 

 on every mild day or the plants are apt 

 to draw. A very light frame, fully ex- 

 posed to the sun is required for a com- 

 pact growth. The spring sun is not 

 strong enough to hurt any of the plants, as 

 long as they are well supplied with water. 

 Under such treatment we can be sure of 

 short jointed and well bloomed plants, 

 ready to be set out as soon as the ground 

 is in the right condition. 



The varieties of Campanula carpathica 

 flower for a longer period than any of the 

 others The plants increase and spread 

 out constantly from spring until late in 

 fall and the younger growth is always 

 full of bloom as long as the weather is 



