iSgS. 



• • ' GARDENING. 



235 



perhaps a class of 100 in the show and 

 pompon sections. To the above, which 

 may be termed formal classes should be 

 added in liberal variety prizes for design 

 and decorative work, arrangement for 

 effect, plants in pots, general display, etc. 



Furthermore, in a special exhibition 

 every encouragement should be extended 

 to the display of practical appliances for 

 the growth, transportation, preservation 

 or exhibition of the flower in question. I 

 should be greatly pleased to see in the 

 columns of the American Florist any 

 suggestions bearing on this subject. Pro- 

 vision ought to be made whereby the 

 judges can make special award for a fea- 

 ture which is novel or of special merit. 

 Prizes for new varieties of merit are 

 always in order. Judges should be at 

 liberty to withhold prizes from undeserv- 

 ingexhibits, and this fact should be clearly 

 stated in the schedule that the disap- 

 pointed aspirant may have no ground for 

 complaint. 



Section A should appear on the premium 

 list of every agricultural or horticultural 

 society in thecountry which holds ashow 

 at the proper season. The next step 

 towards extending the schedule should 

 be to add class 1 or class 3 in each section 

 or both. Any further extension of the 

 schedule would naturally follow in the 

 same line. In classes 1, 2 and 3 of sec- 

 tions D and G not less than three blooms 

 of a kind should be required, as individ- 

 uals of the pompon and single varieties fail 

 to do themselves justice when standing 

 alone, especially in the presence of more 

 brilliant company. If desired classes 

 could be added for the cactus and Tom 

 Thumb varieties of singles, the dwarf 

 growing show dahlias, etc. In all classes 

 except A named varieties should be a 

 requirement. Several very interesting 

 classes could be formed from a given num- 

 ber of a specified color as six or twelve 

 white, yellow, scarlet, etc., and such 

 classes would be particular]}- instructive 

 by bringing similar varieties into direct 

 comparison. H. F. Burt. 



DESIGN FOR fl CEMETERY LOT. 



Ed. Gardening: — I enclose plan for 

 planting a cemetery lot 40x50 feet, with 

 trees in sites, all evergreens, namely, 

 golden English yew, erect English yew, 

 Irish yew, Sargent's weeping hemlock 

 and either Magnolia grandi flora or Swiss 

 stone pine. Can, or will you, substitute 

 anything better? Retinosporas do not suit 

 our climate. Soil sandy loan, well drained 

 and open to winds from all points. 



Charlottesville, Va. C. H. Hedges. 



In making a design for the planting of 

 trees and shrubs, it is next to impossible 

 to do the matter justice without seeing 

 what their surroundings are to be. In 

 this correspondent's plan for the planting 

 of his cemetery lot, the first suggestion 

 may be in respect to its arrangement. It 

 is supposed that a drive passes by its lower 

 side. Instead of planting the trees 

 symmetrically as he has placed them, they 

 might be grouped at the side opposite the 

 drive, forming a bay, as in the accom- 

 panying design. This would relieve the 

 formality and stiffness, and form a back- 

 ground tor the picture. 



The character of trees which he might 

 select seems also capable of improvement. 

 Those which he has chosen are very stiff 

 and formal. Evergreens of a freer char- 

 acter, such as the various pines, white, 

 Austrian, dwarf mountain and the hem 

 lock and others adapted to the region 

 would be more satisfactory. Further 

 more, evergreens alone, and especially in 



Original Plan. 



Improved Plan. 



PLANTING A CEMETERY LOT 



1 -Golden English yew. 2 — Irish yew. 3 -Sargent's weeping hemlock, 

 stone |iii r Magnolia grandiflora. 5 — Spiraeas. 



4— Erect English yew. 5— Swiss 

 r Weige 



a cemetery, are decidedly sombre. If they 

 were lightened up by a few deciduous 

 shrubs at the front, such asweigelias and 

 others, as the diagram indicates, the 

 place would be much brightened. 



Of the two trees at the center of which a 

 choice may be made, the magnolia is 

 much the better. If the tree is to serve as 

 a monument, its position at the middle of 

 the lot is appropriate. Unless this is the 

 case.it seems better to place it at the back, 

 as indicated in the plan. A tree-monument 

 is exceedingly fitting. In such a case a 

 tree like a magnolia, an oak or a maple 

 is very satisfactory. If none are to be 

 used for that purpose, such a tree near 

 the margin, say at the point X in the 

 diagram, might be good, where an addi- 

 tional tree of that character on a lot of 

 such size might be an improvement. 



The sketch is a mere hint rather than a 

 design. The whole object of the changes 

 suggested is to relieve the cemetery lot, 

 and through it the entire cemetery, of 

 that formality which seems so cold and 

 dreary to those suffering from grief. It is 

 better to substitute in its place something 

 more cheerful and attractive, surround- 

 ings which we should prefer to think of 

 in connection with departed friends. 



A. Phelps Wyman. 



i 



COWSLIPS. 



The inquiry of "Querist" under this 

 head in our last issue has resulted in a 

 surprisingly large number of replies, from 

 which we select the few following as the 

 most interesting and representative: 



Caltha palustris is commonly known 

 as cowslips here (Illinois) and makes a 

 very palatable mess of greens. The 

 leaves, flowers and flower stems are all 

 cooked together. R. 



I think "Querist" is mistaken about 

 the name cowslip being used in England 

 to designate Caltha palustris but in por- 

 tions of New England this plant is gen- 

 erally called cowslip and the leaves are 

 very frequently used as a pot herb or for 

 greens, as they are called. 



Wm. F. Bassett. 



Caltha palustris used to be known in 

 some parts of the Midland counties of 

 England as "horse-blobs." 



The young flower buds were formerly 

 pickled in the manner of capers and 

 "sturtions," and the vinegar seemed to 

 have the effect of modifying or even de- 

 stroying their acridity. 



James MacPherson. 



In response to inquiry regarding Caltha 

 palustris being known in England as a 

 cowslip, I may state that the " Diction- 

 ary of English Names" mentions only 

 the following as its common names: 

 "Boots," "Common marsh marigold," 

 "Golds." "Goldins," "Mayblobs," "Mea- 

 dow bright" or " Meadow bout," "Mea- 

 dow gowan," "Water buttercup," "Open 

 gowan" and "Yellow gowan." 



The common name, cowslip, is applied 

 to several genera, viz.: 



Pulmonaria officinalis Bedlam cowslip 



Pulmonaria angusti folia. Blue 



Primula sullrutescens California " 



Lachenalia Cape 



Dodocatheon Meadia American " 



Primula Auricula French 



Primula Auricula Mountain " 



Mertensia Virginica Virginian " 



I know of no instance where the caltha 

 is used as a pot herb. W. C. E. 



(II 



" Beneath the shelving bank's retreat, 

 The II"!--,' Blob swells its golden ball.*' 



-Claif. 



WHEN SOME TREES BLOOM IN VERMONT. 



Willows and alders come first into 

 bloom about March 25 to April 10. The 

 wild plum and cherry trees come into 

 flower about May 5 to 10. The common 

 elder (Samhucus Canadensis) flowers May 

 10 to 20. Among trees the red maple is 

 one of the first to put out, and shows its 

 blossoms about April 1 to 10. The flow- 

 ering seasons here are comparatively 

 short, and each successive species bursts 

 suddenly into bloom when its time arrives . 



Burlington, Vt. F. H. Waugh. 



Elmira Horticultural Society, El- 

 mira, N. Y. — The monthly meeting of the 

 Elmira Horticultural Society was held 

 April 11, in the V. M. C. A. parlors. 

 There was a good attendance and great 

 interest was taken in the proceedings. In 

 the absence of the president, the Rev. E.. 

 M. Mills, Vice-President Harry N. Hoff- 

 man presided. The secretary read a re- 

 port of the executive committee and the 

 list of premiums for the forthcoming floral 

 exhibition, which will be ready for distri- 

 bution in the near future. It was thought 

 advisable to offer money prizes rather 

 than articles relating to gardening, etc. 



