THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK 



OBSERVATIONS ON FALL PLANTING 



H. E. Downer, Poughkeepsie. N. Y. 



TX /"ITH a late wet spring to contend with, such as we have ex- 

 ^ ' perienced in 1924, the advantage of doing as much planting 

 as possible in the fall is readily seen. Last October and Novem- 

 ber conditions in this locality were ideal for planting, and full use 

 was made of the opportunity to steal a march on the spring rush 

 by putting through a good planting program. The winter was 

 less severe than usual, the thermometer rarely falling below zero, 

 but the customary snow blanket was missing. A good one was 

 supplied on the first of April, but too late to be appreciated. It 

 was with unusual interest that the perennial beds especially were 

 scrutinized when the winter covering was removed. Everything 

 that had been transplanted was found to be alive and has since 

 come along splendidly. The only thing amiss was a little displace- 

 ment by the action of freezing and thawing, which was easily 

 rectified. Amongst the things moved were the following; the 

 Dropmore variety of Anchusa italica. Columbine, Larkspur, Scotch 

 Pink, Sweet William, Shasta Daisy, Monkshood, Lupin, Funkia, 

 Purple Coneflower, Phlox, Coreopsis, Gaillardia, Helenium, As- 

 ter, Linum perenne, Viola cornuta, Veronica incana, and Campan- 

 ula latifolia macrantha. 



Early in December several clumps of Anemone japonica were 

 lifted for the purpose of taking root cuttings. The plants were 

 divided and replanted and are all showing up well. In addition 

 we have a good stock of young plants from the root cuttings. 

 Early flowering Chrysanthemums, set out just before coming into 

 flower, have also survived in an open border. The year before the 

 same varieties were carefully placed in frames for the winter and 

 the mice got them all ! On the other hand. Salvia uliginosa and S. 

 farinacea, which survived the very severe winter of the year be- 

 fore, succumbed this year, year old plants as well as the veterans. 

 Evidently this was due to the absence of snow, as otherwise the 

 covering was the same. 



Good drainage, firm planting and a covering of light material 



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