212 



• * ' GARDENING. 



April 



be used by purchasing only of reliable 

 firms as it is not to be distinguished from 

 the single flowered form except when in 

 bloom. W. C. Egan. 



THE WHITE OflK. 



The accompanying illustration shows 

 the dead trunk and branches of a fine 

 specimen of this tree which, a few years 

 ago, stood in one of the avenues of Flush- 

 ing, N. Y. The tree was spared when the 

 street was opened, but died soon after, 

 and later it was removed altogether. 



Dr. J. W. Barstow, in writing of the 

 trees of Flushing in 1893, made the follow- 

 ing interesting statement concerning this 

 oak: "This grand old veteran was criti- 

 cally examined in 1872 by the late Prof. 

 Asa Gray, who then estimated its age to 

 be 640 years. If Dr. Gray's great experi- 

 ence in such estimates may be accepted as 

 reliable, then the acorn from which sprang 

 our venerable friend was dropped in the 

 reign of Henry III, of England, about a 

 score of years after King John met the 

 barons at Runnymede and signed the 

 Magna Charta of England's liberties." 



The dimensions of the tree were as fol- 

 lows: Girth, 3 feet from the ground, 15 

 feet 5 inches; at 1 foot from the ground, 

 19 feet 4 inches; estimated height, 70 

 feet. 



The Greenhouse. 



CYCLflMBNS. 



The authorities tell us that all the varie- 

 ties of cyclamen now in common cultiva- 

 tion have come from one species C. Persi- 

 cum. Considering the number of recog- 

 nized species and the similarity that exists 

 in them, this statement seems strange, 

 especially when we examine the great 

 range in form and color to be seen in any 

 good collection. Be that as it may, it is 

 certain that we now have several distinct 

 strains in cultivation, and very few grow- 

 ers would now be satisfied with the type 

 of C. Persicum common in our greenhouses 

 twenty years ago. 



Taking foliage and flower, form and 

 habit into consideration, probably some 

 of the white varieties, Mont Blanc, for 

 instance, are the most perfect cyclamens 

 grown at the present day. Following 

 the white very closely come the white 

 with crimson eye, the new rose colors, 

 and the purple and magenta tints. For 

 freedom of bloom none surpass the dark 

 red varieties of which Blood Red and 

 Brilliant may be taken as types. But 

 these varieties are not up to the standard 

 in size of flower, nor is the foliage as good 

 as in the lighter colored forms. The 

 color, however, is like charity. 



Cyclamen seed can now be bought in at 

 least fifteen distinct varieties, not includ- 

 ing the double, fringed and crested sorts. 



To grow good cyclamens is not a diffi- 

 cult matter. There is no secret about it. 

 One must simply do the proper thing at 

 the proper time. Cyclamens will not 

 stand checks very well at any stage of 

 their existence, and must be kept grow- 

 ing from start to finish — a plant once 

 stunted might as well be dumped. 



It is a mistake to start with anything but 

 fresh plump seed — the larger the better — 

 for the larger the seed the more food there 

 is, and the more rapid is its germination 

 and subsequent development. The plant 

 from the largest seed will maintain its 

 superiority throughout the season. All 

 varieties do not produce seedsof the same 

 size, there being a marked difference in 



this respect between different colors and 

 strains. Get the heaviest seed possible 

 and sow it in flats of carefully prepared 

 soil, placing the seeds an inch apart, and 

 covering a quarter of an inch deep. The 

 best soil for them to germinate in is one 

 composed of at least one-half leaf mold, 

 and when I say leaf mold I do not mean 

 swamp mud or Irish peat, but partly 

 rotted leaves rubbed through a sieve 

 with a quarter-inch mesh. Such a soil 

 will retain moisture without becoming 

 too wet, is not liable to get covered with 

 fungi, and will furnish excellent conditions 

 for the young roots. Remember that it 

 may be three months before your seedlings 

 will be potted off. Water carefully and 



in the seed pans, except that a little bone 

 meal may be added. Place near the glass 

 again and maintain a temperature of 

 from G5° to 70°. If they have been prop- 

 erly handled they will need no shade, in 

 this latitude, and should be syringed 

 several times a day on bright days. 



From this time on they will need a shift 

 about every two months, increasing the 

 strength of the compost every time. A 

 little bottom heat after every shift is 

 advantageous to stimulate root action. 

 Expose to full sun and keep the fjliage 

 cool by frequent syringings. 



About the middle of May, when they 

 should be in 3 or 3V:>-inch pots, place 

 them outside on a verv mild hot-bed. 



THE WHITE OAK. 



do not let the seeds get dry at any time. 

 As soon as the seeds begin to germinate 

 place your seed pans near the glass and 

 in an even temperature. About 65° is the 

 proper figure, but 70° will not hurt them 

 if they have all the light there is. 



If wanted in flower for the holidays, the 

 seed should be sown about October 1. If 

 sown at that time they will be fit to pot 

 off early in Januar3'; or if desired they may 

 be pricked off into flats. I prefer the for- 

 mer method however, using 1V-. or 2-inch 

 pots. Even in these small pots we find it 

 advantageous to use finely broken crocks 

 for drainage. Use about the same soil as 



These frames will need no sides, but some 

 arrangement should be made to carry 

 shades of plant bed cloth, which will be 

 needed at night during May, and for a 

 few hours during the hottest summer 

 days, and in case of heavv rain. 



By August j'ou can begin shifting into 

 5-inch pots and by September buds will 

 begin to show. When the dewy nights 

 come on the plants will grow very rap- 

 idly, and will need no cover either night 

 or day until there is danger of frost. 



Expose to the full sun as much as pos- 

 sible — if the foliage begins to feel hot, syr- 

 inge. The sun will do them good; it will 



