i8g8. 



GARDENING. 



259 



VIEW PROM THE LAKE AT HOTEL DEL MONTE. MONTEREY. CALIFORNIA. 



or three years. When it is deemed the 

 roots are below the freezing line, or some 

 of them, at least, the mulching and pro- 

 tection are not necessary. 

 Philadelphia. Joseph Meeiian. 



SOPHORA JAPONIGA. 



I was interested in Mr. Median's note 

 on Sophora Japoniea in a recent number 

 of Gardening, especially as I had just at 

 that time observed a few specimens of 

 this somewhat rare tree on the lawns of 

 Ithacans. Here where peaches grow, but 

 are not by any means a sure crop, the 

 "pagoda tree" seems to have reached its 

 northern limit, unless specially protected. 

 One tree examined yesterday, planted in 

 1885, is now about fifteen feet high, with 

 a strikingly symmetrical vase shape and 

 top. On looking closely one sees numer- 

 ous dead twigs at terminal points, small 

 danger signals, as it were, denoting im- 

 perfect ripening of the wood. This tree 

 has never blossomed and the owner is 

 growing impatient, not being content 

 with the soft feathery mass oi light green 

 foliage with which it is clothed during 

 the summer. Sophora Japoniea is super- 

 seded in the north by another of some- 

 what the same type but very much 

 hardier, viz., Caragana arborescens, the 

 Siberian pea tree. John Craig. 



Ithaca, N. Y. 



PRUNUSMAAGIUI. 

 Among the earliest trees to leaf out 

 and bloom with me is Primus Maackii, 

 from the Amur valley in Asia. I con- 

 sider this one of the most valuable orna- 

 mental trees we have and trust that 

 before long it will be found in the cata- 

 logues of all nurserymen. It is perfectly 

 hardy, transplants easily, and is a rapid 

 grower, standing abuse and drouth. It 

 not onlv comes into leaf early, but retains 

 its foliage quite late. It is round headed, 

 dense of foliage, and usually comes into 



bloom by May 1. The blossoms are pure 

 white in long racemes and are sought 

 after by the bees. Few nurserymen at 

 present seem to have it, but they will 

 not make a mistake if thev soon add it to 

 their lists. W. C. Egan. 



MAGNOLIA SPEGlOSfl. 



Ed. Gardening: — Mr. Egan's note on 

 magnolias was quite interesting to me, 

 as I had been watching the growth of a 

 specimen of the same species for some 

 years. It was planted on the north side 

 of a house, far enough away to receive 

 full sun in summer and yet be shaded in 

 winter, and was fully protected from 

 north and west winds by buildings. For 

 four seasons it grew well and did not 

 lose a tip in winter. Three winters ago 

 it lost about one-third of its head. The 

 following summerit madeagood growth, 

 but in winter lost rather more than it 

 gained. Last winter it killed back badly 

 again. R. 



The Flower Garden. 



HARDY HERBAGEOUS PERENNIALS. 



To those of us who grow hardy herba- 

 ceous perennials, the exceptionally early 

 opening of spring has brought work 

 which is ordinarily deferred until a 111011th" 

 later. The new growth of aquilegias, 

 phloxes, poppies and many others, warns 

 us that the time has arrived for their 

 transplanting and division where neces- 

 sary. 



Judging from the testimony of florists 

 in this city and elsewhere, it seems that 

 the demand for hardy plants is steadily 

 increasing — particularly for the more 

 showy and stronger growing ones — and 

 the time is coming, I believe, when the 



public will appreciate many of the choicer 

 and more delicate ones. 



At the present timethecall in this local- 

 ity is for delphiniums, coreopsis, phlox, 

 herbaceous pa*onies and the early flower- 

 ing Dutch bulbs. Comparatively few 

 people are acquainted with the glory of 

 the many hardy lilies, theexquisitebeauty 

 of the aquilegias, both in flower and foli- 

 age; the gorgeous poppies of the oriental 

 types, or the more quiet beauty of the 

 Iceland poppies, with their everlasting 

 profusion of white, 3'ellow and orange 

 bloom, the varied forms of the iris and 

 the multiplicity of campanulas, foxgloves, 

 sunflowers, asters, gaillardias, together 

 with the host of more chaste and less 

 assertive blossoms, which can be grown 

 as easily as coleus or geraniums. 



There is probably more art required in 

 the using of perennials than in the con- 

 struction of a bed of alternanthera, still 

 they are difficult to spoil, for they have a 

 character and individuality about them 

 that asserts itself in almost any situation. 

 Yet there are places and places. On 

 grounds of any size or pretension where 

 there is room for a shrub or a tree, there 

 is room and a suitable situation for 

 at least a few hardy herbaceous plants. 

 There is always some spot by the house; 

 some line to be emphasized; something to 

 be screened or cut off; some tall group to 

 be clothed or brought down to the grass 

 line, where the taller species may be 

 appropriately used. Or there is a warm 

 slope toward the spring sun; some rocky 

 ledge or stony bank; some low spot where 

 the spongy sod oozes to the tread the 

 summer long; some natural or artificial 

 water of greater or less extent; providing 

 places for many a gem that "Comes 

 before the swallow dares;" places for the 

 brilliant natives of our moist meadows; 

 for the beautiful alpines, and for the noble 

 grasses and aquatics. To plant them 

 effectively will require some study, it is 

 true, some consultations with nature and 



