i8g8. 



' ' ' GARDENING. 



339 



IRIS K.EMPFERI AT DREEH S NURSERY. RIVERTON, N. J. 



THE BERRY CRABS. 



The recently published note on these 

 hanrisome ornamentals suggests some 

 interest ing experience, together with other 

 features of their usdulness. Many typesof 

 the baccata group were collected by that 

 enthusiastic Russian botanist, the late 

 Dr. E. Kegel, of St. Petersburg, who 

 generously sent large consignments of 

 this seed to various scientific institutions 

 in America, particularly to those situated 

 in the colder parts of the country. 



A large number of varieties have been 

 g own and tested by the Canadian experi- 

 ment stations at widely separated points 

 and it has been found that Pirns baccata 

 and a so-called variety, P. prunifolia are 

 perfectly hardy at Brandon, Manitoba, 

 and Indian Head, Northwest Territory. 

 Here the temperature occasionally falls 

 to 50° below zero and a temperature of 

 4-0 below is usual, yet the two forms 

 mentioned have fruited regularly at these 

 points for two or three years, while noth- 

 ing else in the apple line has succeeded in 

 even forming blossoms. 1 he trees are 

 dwart in habit, round topped, branching 

 close to the ground, strikinglj' distinct 

 from the cultivated crabs of the Trans- 

 cendent and Hyslop type. 



A remarkable feature in connection 

 with these hardy and distinct forms of 

 the crab is the readiness with which they 

 will hybridize with cultivated types of 

 Pyrus mains. I was first struck by this 

 in 1887 when I pollinated a lew blossoms 

 ot P. baccata with Duchess pollen and 

 obtained a fair proportion of fertile seed. 

 In later experiments I found as a rule 



that one was much more successful in 

 effecting hybridization between these 

 species than in securing crosses between 

 different varieties of the cultivated apple. 

 If reasonable care was exercised fruit set 

 in almost every instance. 



In the hope of securing hardy apples for 

 the northwest this work has been carried 

 on to a considerable extent in Canada and 

 many thousand seedlings have been pro- 

 duced, hybrids between these crabs and 

 the hardiest forms of the apple, and are 

 now being proved. 



In northern Canada Pyrus baccata is 

 also one of the most satisfactory of the 

 earh' spring ornamentals. 



Ithaca, N. Y. John Craig. 



The Flower Garden. 



THE JAPANESE IRIS. 



These beautiful flowers are now attract- 

 ing considerable attention and will un- 

 doubtedly be largely planted for outdoor 

 decoration. While not new the beauties 

 of the Kaempferi types are not known as 

 their very showy and exquisitely lovely 

 blossoms demand they should be. Th,ey 

 seem to require no special culture, grow- 

 ing and flowering profusely along with 

 other lawn and garden plants. For cut 

 flower decorations they are very effective 

 for a short time, but their period of use- 

 fulness closes with the day as the individ- 

 ual blossom lasts onlv till sundown. K 



HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 



The Toronto Horticultural Society 

 recently listened to an excellent paper by- 

 its president, J. McPherson Ross, upon a 

 subject which is of increasing interest to 

 all lovers of hardy herbaceous plants. 

 Following is an abstract of the gentle- 

 man's remarks: 



Herbaceous is a namecommonly applied 

 to all plants with perennial roots and 

 annual stems. As a general thing in the 

 past hardy herbaceous plants have not 

 received the attention they deserve, but 1 

 am glad to see that there is a growing 

 interest now taken in them, particularly 

 by the professional gardeners, who as a 

 class have rather despised them. Per- 

 haps this may be attributed to their easy 

 growth, calling for no special care in 

 their propagation or after cultivation. 

 Leaving the profession out of the ques- 

 tion, we might say that public indiffer- 

 ence is largely due to pure and simple 

 ignorance of their value; but the main 

 reason may be better attributed to- the 

 common practice of indiscriminate plant- 

 ing, to that hit or miss style which can 

 be seen anywhere and everywhere with 

 but very few exceptions. It is evident 

 now that this indifference is passing 

 away, for nearly every floral publication 

 issued recently contains reference of some 

 kind about the beauty and value of hardy 

 herbaceous plants. It is sometimes ure;ed 

 that there would be more of them planted 

 if their flowering season were longer, 

 that the majority of them last such a 

 short time in bloom that to have many 

 flowers would require very extensive col- 



