VARIEGATION 



vigor of the plants are retluced as a result. It is further 

 evident that the initial causes of variegation may be 

 quite diverse, some of the most usual being seed of 

 low vitality; unsuitable nourishment, especially a lack 

 of elaborated nitrogen ; rapid growth in very moist 

 soil ; severe injury to the roots during a period of rapid 

 growth of the upper parts of the plant; severe cutting 

 back. etc. 



Though started at first through the influence of envi- 

 roiiraont, variegation, when of value horticulturally, 

 has in many cases been increased and fixed by selection 

 till it has become almost a specific character in some 

 groups of plants. 



Autumnal Coloration.- A word might be said in this 

 connection regarding autumnal coloration. The produc- 

 tion of color in autumn foliage is, as is well known, due 

 in part to the gradual destruction of the chlorophyll 

 when the leaves have reached maturity and approach 

 the period of death, and in part to the action of acids 

 on :iiiUHii-vaiiiii as described below. Many of the de- 

 struriiv.- ('liaiii;-^ which take place in the chlorophyll 

 arc ushlaii.in iii."-(sses, the same as occur in the 

 cells of hi-iilv c.lored variegated plants, and physio- 

 logically they'are not very different from the changes 

 occurring in Calathea, Caladium, Codireum, etc. The 

 approach of maturity in the leaf, and the coming on 

 of cool weather in autumn, stimulates the production of 

 oxidizing ferments, and the action of these and the 

 acids of the cell-sap upon the chromogen, or color con- 

 tents of the leaves, especially the chlorophyll and 

 anthocyanin, causes many of the brilliant colors of 

 autumn foliage. There is a popular belief that these 

 colors are due to cold weather or frosts; but while 

 frosts, if they are light, hasten the solution and de- 

 struction of the chlorophyll, they cannot be looked upon 

 as more than hastening changes which would occur in 

 time without them. Even in the tropics, some foliage 

 lietore it matures becomes highly colored, and on the 

 Japanese maples the writer has observed beautiful 

 autumnal colorations in July in the region of Washing- 



■ readily as a 

 much mag- 

 ! a yellowing 

 auses of this 



In pr 



all deciduo 

 iaturuig and falling o 



VASES 1903 



such cases, the disease is readily cured by either spray- 

 ing the foliage with a dilute solution of iron sulfate or 

 other iron salt, or watering the roots with the same. 

 Even within a few hours the chromoplasts will begin to 

 turn green, and the plant goes on making starch and 

 sugar from the carbon dioxid of the air in the normal 

 manner. A lack of phosphoric acid sometimes causes a- 

 similar trouble, which is cured by the addition of this 

 nutrient substance to the soil. Numerous cases are on 

 record of yellowing of foliage due to excess of soluble 

 lime in the soil. Grapes are especia" 

 excessive amount of lime, and turn 

 result of its action. Soils which cont 

 nesia in proportion to lime also often 

 of foliage of plants growing in them, 

 kind can be readily distinguished from variegation by 

 the fact that all the young leaves produced under such 

 conditions become yellowish or white and are not mot- 

 tled or marked as in variegated plants. Moreover, the 

 condition is readily corrected by furnishing the proper 

 nutrition, and usually all plants growing in such soils 

 show the same trouble. Albekt F. Woods. 



VASES. Such vases as are shown in Fig. 2642 are 

 common features of formal gardening. All matters 

 concerning their manufacture or beauty are clearly 

 outside the province of this work, but every gardener 

 who purchases such a vase is interested in certain 

 practical horticultural features of its construction. It 

 is imperative that the vase have a hole at the bottom 

 for drainage, otherwise the soil will become sour. It 

 is desirable that the rim of a vase be rounded, as a 

 sharp edge cuts the vines that trail over it and are 

 swayed by the passing 

 wind. Many of the _ 



old-fashioned stone 

 vases 4 or 5 ft. high 

 were made with a bow 1 

 too shallow for the 

 good of the plants. 



Vases are generally 

 stationed in conspic- 

 positi. 



chlorophyll granules are protected by the development 

 of anthocyanin, forming a brownish or reddish tinge in 

 the cell-sap. This is especially prominent in many 



While, as stated above, these protectu, and in s,'iiie 

 cases transitory colorations should Im ,1, u i\ ilisim- 

 guished from variegation, it is an int,'i, -tiiu ( i, t tlnit 

 they develop when the ccmditions for a,-tn , iiutntn.ii are 

 unfavorable, and may in many cases be pmduced in 

 maturing leaves by starving the plants or permitting 

 them to become sufficiently dry to check growth. 



C7i;oro.si.5.— This term is usually applied to those 

 cases of the production of yellow or white foliage caused 

 by a lack of some nutrient salt, such as iron, potash, 

 lime, phosphoric acid, etc. The most common cause of 

 chlorosis, or yellowing, is due to the lack of iron. In 



120 



2642. Stone flower vase 4 or 5 

 may be used in vases, f j^t high, used in formal ear- 



together with Rex be- dening. 



gonias and Pundunu). 

 Veifchii. 



The plants used in vases should be of a firm texture, 

 and resistant to drought, dust and occasnjnal high 

 winds. Cannai. ferns and foliage plants that are likely 

 to be cut or whipped by the winds are necessarily ex 

 eluded. The first thought should be given t,^ a center- 

 piece. This should usually be some plant of a rather 

 stiff, formal or architectural nature. Conlijtiiir iiidifisa 

 and C. auxtralis are excellent for the purpose. They 

 should stand well above the other plants. Around the 

 edges vines are used, especiallv periwinkles, green 

 and variegated, nasturtiums ami Siiia-io mikanioides. 

 Another choice plant for this purpose is Selichrysum 



