242 



• GARDENING. 



May 



deep blue and purple, and we have them 

 also in pink and reddish tints. They are 

 most desirable plants for spring garden- 

 ing, and when combined with any of the 

 dwarf phloxes, arabis, alyssum, primulas, 

 etc., can not be surpassed by any display 

 in a bed of early bulbs. These plants, 

 moreover, will retain their beauty for a 

 much longer timethan tulips or hyacinths 

 or any of the spring flowering bulb?. 



The hepaticas were out in good style a 

 month ago, yet not one of the little flow- 

 ers has dropped a single petal up to date 

 and buds are still coming up among the 

 bronzy young foliage; but this is only 

 true with the old, well established plants 

 which have not been disturbed for some 

 years. We can not reasonably expect 

 such an abundanceof flowers from plants 

 one year old, but when they are once 

 well established in a spot, few plants are 

 equal to them for supplying early bloom 

 in our gardens; and they may be planted 

 in places where most plants would reluse 

 to grow at all, on dry knolls, under the 

 shade of trees and in the poorest soil they 

 will always reward us with a profusion 

 of flowers in early spring and do not need 

 any attention for the rest of the season; 

 their long roots are capable of finding 

 enough moisture in the ground in the 

 dryest weather. 



Another beautiful little plant for early 

 spring is the charming Anemonelhi thal- 

 ictroides. The pure white flowers are 

 produced very freely on elongated stems; 

 it continues to bloom for several months, 

 and its finely cut, trilobed foliage is 

 hardly less attractive than the flowers. 

 The habit and growth is very neat and 

 and graceful, though the plant only 

 attains a height of from four to six inches 

 at best. Mertensia Virginka has opened 

 its lovely flowers of a peculiar shining 

 shade of blue; it blooms freely in almost 

 any position, but probably lasts best 

 when planted in partial shade. The pul- 

 monarias are now densely covered with 

 flowers. On first opening they are red 

 and turn to blue afterward, the cymes 

 showing both colors distinctly at all 

 times. Arabis has made a splendid show 

 since the first of the month with large 

 heads of white flowers; this is among the 

 handsomest of perennials early in the 

 season. A. rosea, with lilac pink flowers, 

 somewhat small in size but very early, 

 deserves to be grown more generally; it 

 is out as soon as the snow disappears. 

 The golden Alyssum saxatile, too, is now 

 very prominent in the borders; its re- 

 markably free blooming qualities and 

 bright cheerful color call for the admira- 

 tion of everybody. 



Phlox subulata givesus sheets of white 

 or pink wherever they mav be allowed to 

 spread; no foliage is visible so long as 

 the flowers last in perfection and the 

 plant grows only a few inches high, per- 

 fectly smooth and even, liis pumila is 

 conspicuous in many places at present; 

 it increases and spreads rapidly and pro- 

 duces a pleasing effect among the smaller 

 spring flowers. Doronicum Austriaciim 

 and D. Caucaskum are among the few- 

 early blooming plants which grow a 

 little taller than the average and are 

 most serviceable to relieve the monotony 

 of a smooth surface in an extensive patch 

 of creeping or dwarfer things; the large, 

 bright yellow daisy-like flowers are very 

 acceptable so early in the season. Pole- 

 monium reptans has been opening its 

 charming blue flowers for a week past; 

 the plant is neat and graceful in appear- 

 ance; it will not lose its floral attractions 

 for a month yet or longer, and the foliage 

 is handsome throughout the season. 

 Caltha j>altistris ft. pi, was in flower 



with us during October and November 

 and is now again in grand shape, though 

 for earliness the ordinary single variety 

 is two or three weeks ahead of it. Most 

 people have an idea that the calthas can 

 not be grown successfully in an ordinary 

 border, that a marsh} - or wet place must 

 be prepared for them. This is an error, 

 for we have grown them for years in 

 rather dry situations, exposed to the full 

 action of the sun at all times and have 

 not noticed any bad effect resulting from 

 this treatment. The sanguinarias have 

 sprung up with leaf and flower sometime 

 since and may last a great while yet if 

 the weather keeps moderately cool, but 

 a few hot, dry days would finish them. 



Saxit'raga Virginiensis is not much 

 grown, but I like it in the border, for it 

 flowers early and usually lasts into June. 

 The small white flowers are produced on 

 a branched, compact stem, eight to ten 

 inches high, and they are really pretty. 

 Tiarella cordifolia has long and erect 

 slender spikes of interesting small white 

 flowers, growing from ten to twelve 

 inches high; they spring from a dense 

 mass of pretty foliage. The plant suc- 

 ceeds in almost any place, but is espe- 

 cially adapted for rock work. The large 

 flowers of the yellow Adonis vernalis 

 appeared in the latter part of March, and 

 are still in good condition. When planted 

 in bunches or patches this is an ornament 

 in the border, but small single stools are 

 lost sight of among the surrounding 

 plants unless these are very low. In some 

 places they refuse to establish themselves 

 as readily as ordinary things, but where 

 they can have the benefit of a moist, well- 

 drained soil, success is almost certain. 

 They do not like to be disturbed at the 

 roots and should be let alone for some 

 years. The foliage is cut and lacerated 

 into narrow segements and is very orna- 

 mental during the spring months; the 

 plant attains a height of ten or twelve 

 inches. J. B. Keller. 



Rochester, X. Y. 



BEDDING PLANTS. 



The following timely paper on these 

 plants was read before the Chicago Flo- 

 rists' Club by Charles J. Strombaeh, 

 April 28: 



The subject, 1 think, is pretty well 

 thrashed out already, but as you wish 

 me to say something I will state what 

 plants we useforbeddingin Lincoln Park. 

 For early spring effect tulips, hyacinths 

 and crocuses are planted the fall previous 

 in fields of separate colors or in mixture. 

 The effect is good and pleases the general 

 public for a couple of weeks. Pansies are 

 also in bloom at the same time; I sow 

 the seed at Christmas and grow them 

 along all winter, and by doing so get 

 them to endure the heat better than the 

 fall-sown plants, which are more slender 

 and wiry and so cannot stand the hot 

 weather as well as those grown in the 

 winter. 



After the tulips are ripened off they are 

 taken up and stored away; the beds are 

 manured, dug and planted with gera- 

 niums of varieties suitable for bedding; 

 Mrs. E. G. Hill, salmon pink; La Favorite, 

 double white; Bruant, scarlet; Rev. W. 

 Atkinson, dark velvety scarlet; Invincible, 

 semi-double crimson. Ageratum, Cope's 

 Pet, blooms all summer if not given a too 

 rich soil or too much water. Begonias 

 are valuable as bedding plants; they will 

 bloom from spring till fall if fairly strong 

 at planting out time. Torem'a Fournieri 

 is also a good bedder, audit not sown too 

 early — sav middle of March — will bloom 

 till frost. Its pretty violet- purple, pansy- 

 like flowers marked with yellow in the 



throat are by some persons called 

 "Johnny-jump-ups." 



Pentstemon campanulatum varieties 

 are effective for bedding sown from 

 seed or propagated from cuttings; fairly 

 strong plants in 3-inch pots will bloom 

 early and continue till frost. The roots 

 can then be taken up, trimmed back and 

 kept in a temperature of 55° or 60° 

 through the winter, when the plants can 

 be again used for bedding. Vinca alba, 

 Y. alha-oculata and V. rosea are elegant 

 bedders, flower all summer and have 

 grand dark green glossy foliage mak- 

 ing such a fine contrast with the 

 flowers. 



Ten-week stocks are good for early 

 bedding if well grown. We sow the seed 

 in the latter part of January, prick out in 

 boxes when big enough to handle, plant 

 in 2 1 .-a-inch pots after fourth or fifth leat 

 appears, using sandy loam. When well 

 rooted in this, pot up in 3-inch pots, to 

 remain tillplantingout time. As soon as 

 flower buds appear we can select the 

 double ones to be planted out. They 

 make a grand show till the middle of 

 July when they must be replaced by 

 Celosia cristata nana, which is in -t-inch 

 pots at that time and remains in good 

 condition till fall. 



Single petunias of good varieties are 

 useful for bedding, as they give a profu 

 sion of flowers all summer. Gompbrena 

 globosa is valuable for its heads of bril- 

 liant and enduring tints. Phlox Drum- 

 mondii, if sown in April will bloom till 

 fall, but if sown earlier it will lose its 

 vitality in the latter part of August and 

 must be replaced by something else. Ver- 

 benas have been used in park bedding to 

 good advantage inyears past, but for the 

 last few years in the latter part of August 

 they became mildewed, which injured the 

 effect of the garden. 



Cannas are used to a great extent here 

 and produce a brilliant effect with both 

 flowers and foliage. I have forty varie- 

 ties, but the most prominent at pres- 

 ent are Egandale, Chicago, Florence 

 Vaughan, Stella Kanst, Madame Crozy, 

 Souvenir d' Anton Crozy and Queen Char- 

 lotte. All of these are, as you all know, 

 great acquisitions to the flower garden 

 because of their great blooming effect. 

 Carpet bedding is still retained to some 

 extent to please the general public, but 

 we draw a little away from it each year. 



A great many annuals that I used to 

 grow for bedding in the Old World are 

 not of much use in this climate, as their 

 duration is short when hot weather sets 

 in and we must try to keep our beds in 

 presentable condition all summer with- 

 out too much labor. There is no doubt 

 in my mind that our flower garden and 

 bedding will receive some of our most 

 beautiful perennials in time, but we go a 

 little slow because if we go too fast we 

 may be condemned by the public, as it 

 has become accustomed to the present 

 system or fashion. 



ORNAMENTAL BEDDING. 

 PART II. 



If the bed is not already^ outlined, put a 

 stout peg where you want the center a 

 to be, and lay out the circle with a radius 

 of four feet six inches, making an eye on 

 the twine big enough to slip around 

 easily on the peg, measure the distance on 

 the twine with the tape line, at the 

 desired point wind the twine a couple of 

 times around another peg and with this 

 make the circle, while your helper holds 

 the center peg steady. Then prepare the 

 bed as formerly directed and the work 

 can go on again; draw the circles 6 and <- 

 with radius four feet two inches and 



