1890. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



II 



years later a wind broke one of them off, 

 and it wa3 rotten in the center. This is an un- 

 usual occurrence, for Pine generally rots first on 

 the outside. In later years 1 planted a row of 

 Hickories. These always have one main tap-root, 

 which is invariably severed when bringing them 

 up. Everybody knows it is difficult to make a 

 transplanted Hickory tree live, and this is the 

 reason. Well, most of these trees died, and some 

 that remained rotted at the center years after- 

 ward and were removed. That severing the tap- 

 roots of trees in transplanting them causes them 

 to decay at the core first, and eventually 

 throughout, has passed beyond the 

 province of mere theory and become a 

 scientific fact." 



Nursery Products at the World's Fair. 

 The fair will soon be upon us, and little 

 time remains to get ready for it. Whether 

 it is to be a World's fair worthy the name, 

 or simply a national or American exhibit, 

 horticulture ought to be well represent- 

 ed. The task of the nurserymen, if 

 they desire to do their very best, is not 

 an easy one. No planting can be done on 

 the fair grounds until the main buildings 

 have been erected. The suggestion of 

 Prairie Farmer is worthy of repetition 

 that those who design to have anything 

 In the way of trees and shrubs in a suit- 

 able condition, must so grow them in 

 their own grounds, that they can be re- 

 moved with safety. Every nurseryman, 

 or other person worthy the name of 

 horticulturist, knows that this is brought 

 about by frequent transplanting, or in 

 its absence, the growing of such stocks in 

 tubs, boxes or fiower pots, as the case 

 may be. It is pretty safe to say, that 

 most of the work Of actual planting 

 must be done, even with the hardiest 

 material, as late as the fall previous and 

 spring of the year of the fair. Tempo- 

 rary shelter, probably in the way of 

 glass structures, will have to be provided for 

 decidedly tropical productions, but all ordinary 

 trees and shrubs, even if they will not stand 

 a Chicago winter, may easily be properly pre- 

 pared to stand a Chicago summer out-doors. 



How are the Winter Fuchsias. The soil most 

 suitable for them is good fibry loam, mixed with 

 broken horse droppings or thoroughly decayed 

 cow-manure, and a little leaf-mould, together 

 with a sprinkling of sand to keep the whole open 

 and porous. Plants that have been potted in 

 this mixture should for a spell be kept close and 

 warm, where the atmosphere is moist. If 

 syringed during the afternoons of bright days, 

 the young shoots will soon lengthen, when, to 

 make them break back, and so form tou ndations 

 for good specimens, they must be stopped by 

 nipping out the points. The shifting on must be 

 done according to the amount of root growth, 

 but it may be observed as a rule in Fuchsia grow- 

 ing that directly the roots are well through the 

 ball, it is time to give more room and soil, which 

 should be of the same kind, rammed in somewhat 

 firmly, as then the plants grow sturdier, and 

 make shorter-jointed wood. LThey should have 

 full light and a fair amount of air. Too much 

 shade will cause the plants to grow weak and 

 drawn, and they will not flower with anything 

 like the freedom that they show when more fully 

 exposed. Although Fuchsias are not generally 

 supended in baskets, they are exceedingly orna- 

 mental elevated in that way The sorts most 

 suited for baskets are the loose, drooping-habited 

 ones, which, when just above head-height, show 

 off their pendant blossoms to the greatest advan- 

 tage. Excepting green fly, which assail the 

 shoots in their young state. Fuchsias are not 

 subject to insects, and all that is necessary to keep 

 them clean is an occasional fumigation with 

 Tobacco, which should be used cautiously. 



The Bosa Bugosa at Home This Rose, which 

 everywhere attracts attention by the beauty and 

 richness of its foliage, the ornamental character 

 of its flowers and truit, and not least, its entire 

 freedom from many insect pesta that trouble 

 other Koses, is not entirely Japan or a Chinese 

 species as is widely believed. Although it is com- 

 mon in Central Asia, we have it on the excellent 

 authority of Prof. Budd and the late Charles 

 Gibbs that this Rose grows, seemingly wild, on 

 the banks of a number of the rivers of Central 

 and Eastern Russia. Mr. Budd, who as is well 

 known, is associated with the Iowa Agricultural 

 (College, cites as quite positive proof that this 

 interesting Rose is not a .lapanese, the fact of its 

 succeeding well throughout the Northwestern 



States where Japanese plant would be killed 

 even in the mildest winter. It is therefore quite 

 probable that instead of coming originally from 

 Japan, it was carried to Japan from colder lati- 

 tudes. Another point that favors some place 

 other than Japan as the home of this Rose is that 

 but two varieties, the pink and the white, have 

 been brought from that country, while consid- 

 erable variety in the manner of growth, as well 

 as color and size of the flowers exists in the 

 Euroijean sorts. A double variety in Russia, 

 Rosa rugosa fl. pi., averages forty perfect petals 



various forms of the rocks, stalactites, limestone 

 etc , are all correctly represented. These " min- 

 iature rock-gardens for rooms " are so much in 

 favor in Japan, that they may be found in the 

 dwellings even of the poorest classes. 



JAPANESE GARDENING. A MOUNTAIN SCENE. FIG. 2, 



to each bloom, and is of dark pink color and fra- 

 grant. It seems to be a marked tendency in the 

 European for the stamens to turn into petals, 

 thus inclining the blossoms to doubleness. Such 

 high authority as Drs. Regal and Maximowich 

 therefore conclude that the hardiness and 

 variation of this Rose is proof that Central 

 Asia and Eastern Europe are its home. In any 

 event the many fine qualities, and the hardiness 

 of Rosa rugosa renders it one that can be recom- 

 mended to all American cultivators, even to that 

 large class who constantly deplore that they 

 have no " luck " in Rose culture. Plants of this 

 variety can now be procured of all leading Rose 

 growers at an ordinary price. 



Japanese Miniature Gardening. The accom- 

 panying engravings, reduced from Gardeners' 

 Chronicle, represent curious productions of 

 Japanese gardening art. The stunted Pine, fig. I, 

 shows one of the ways by which such growths are 

 utilized for room decoration. In some instances 

 a Pine tree is sawn across at a little distance 

 above the soil. Adventitious shoots are pro- 

 duced in consequence, and of these one is pre- 

 served, the others being cut away. The new 

 shoot is allowed to grow a little while, and 

 then nearly the whole of it is cut away and 

 replaced by a lateral shoot bent at right 

 angles; a new leader shoot is formed from 

 this, and is treated in the same manner, and so 

 on. The Japanese also cut across the main tap 

 root, as a result of which many side roots are 

 formed, only the tips of which are allowed to 

 remain in the soil, so that with the con- 

 tinued pruning and twisting of the branches 

 and the suppresion of the main roots, a stunted 

 growth is assured, and maintained by continuous 

 attention and prolonged starvation. The trees 

 made use of are mainly Coniferous ; but others 

 such as Trachelospermum jasminoides, Nandina 

 domestica, Japanese Maples, etc., are employed, 

 the latter plants being grafted. Under this 

 treatment the trunk often assumes the form of 

 a large irregular mound, which may be of a 

 very considerable age— a century or more— 

 though of small dimensions. In fig. 3, we see a 

 mountain scene. The rocks measure about 18 

 inches in height, pierced with holes, to imitate 

 caverns, and placed in water. Little ships sail 

 on the water, and various plants such as Bam- 

 boos, Palms, and the like are planted at the 

 water's edge. The rock represents a landscape 

 with houses, and little villages with little human 

 figures placed at the foot or at a certain height 

 on it, and planted with groves or single large 

 trees. The imitation is carried so far that the 



Love for Flowers in England. 

 An American visiting London, and other En- 

 glish towns is sure to note the strong admiration 

 which exists in the hearts of the people for 

 flowers. Rich and poor alike are pervaded by 

 this characteristic, some of the finest bits of 

 fiower gardening being those which sur- 

 round the cottages of the laborers. 



It is a great thing in favor of flower 

 culture that unlike all other Bne arts the 

 poor stand in many respects on an equal 

 tooting with the rich. A pot of Migno- 

 nette or a Rose bush may be just as Bne 

 —it is often more so— when grown by the 

 wife of the laborer as when raised for 

 royalty or for a millionaire. 



A recent visitor returned from Eng- 

 land, tells in the Boston Transcript of 

 the wonderful displays of flowers made 

 in the great parks and squares of Lon- 

 don, notably in Regent's Park and the 

 Thames Embankment. Among the var- 

 ieties there cultivated are all the well- 

 known Geraniums, Dahlias, Asters, Car- 

 nations, Marigolds. Nasturtiums, etc., 

 while here and there are to be seen the 

 Hollyhock and the Sunflower. Ferns are 

 also largely grown, the aiTangeraent of 

 these and of various bright-foliaged 

 plants being particularly effective. 



The flower beds in London are not 

 laid out with such regularity and prim- 

 ness as in many American public gardens, 

 but are placed in a more natural manner. 

 For instance, large shrubs are arranged in 

 the center of a mound and the plants are 

 set out in such a way as to leave the 

 shorter one near the grass. There are 

 no long, straight rows of plants, but the most 

 natural and charming effects are produced. The 

 whole results are such as can be best described 

 as those of a " wild garden," which is so often 

 seen in many sections of New England. 



But not only in the public grounds of London 

 is the ministry of Flora to be witnessed. Every 

 patch of land in front of the city mansion, the 

 suburban villa or the cottage home, is fully im- 

 proved. The Laurel bush in many cases supplies 

 a good foil to the bright hued flowers which 

 blossom in wonderful profusion. Of course, the 

 warm, humid atmosphere is largely answerable 

 for the luxuriance which distinguishes the 

 growth of the flowers. The soft atmosphere here 

 also seems to have the effect of bringing out 

 brighter and richer colors, although with the 

 exception of Roses, English flowers do not seem 

 to attain so large a size as in the United States. 



Floral parades are among the most beautiful 

 exhibitions of the summer in London, and this 

 is a feature which might well be adopted by the 

 committees having in charge the celebration of 

 the Fourth of July in America. 



At a recent "Feast of Flowers" there was a 

 parade which was remarkable for its unique and 

 charming features. It took place at the Botani- 

 cal Gardens and was witnessed by dense throngs 

 of people, who were very demonstrative in their 

 expressions of pleasure. Some of the carriages 

 and horses in the parade were almost literally 

 concealed by the flowers with which they were 

 trimmed, resembling peripatetic flower beds. 

 One vehicle was a moving mass of Gladioli, most 

 tastefully arranged. Other vehicles were per- 

 fect bowers of Roses. One dog-cart had an 

 umbrella-shaped covering decorated with straw 

 and white Marguerites. The red, white and blue 

 of the national colors were typified by Poppies, 

 Daisies and Cornflowers, while other carriages 

 displayed the Roses of York and Lancaster. 

 Among the features of the procession were 

 camels. Brahmin bulls, goats, dogs and other 

 animals, all covered with flowers of gorgeous 

 dyes. Upon one of the camels were two children 

 in a bed of Roses. Who can imagine a more pic- 

 turesque sight? 



Window gardening is carried to almost uni- 

 versal adoption, palace and humble dwelling 

 alike having boxes of sweet flowers upon the 

 window ledges. 



There are thousands of flower vendors in Lon- 

 don. A penny (two cents) will purchase a good- 

 sized nosegay, while a few shillings will suffice 

 to procure a bouquet at Covcnt Garden which 

 would cost almost as many dollars in Boston. 



