1 888. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



27 



not decide on the family of Pliloxworts, of 

 which the numerous beautiful Phloxes 

 proper comprise the greater number. It is a 

 noble family of plants, perennials and an- 

 nuals, and one which is as popular, perhaps 

 more so, across the ocean than it is at home. 

 Witness for example, a leading German 

 seed catalogue which offers 133 varieties of 

 Annual Phloxes, and of leading foreign 

 plant catalogues which enumerate hundreds 

 of named varieties of the Perennial group. 

 And yet the genus is distinctively American, 

 no species in cultivation being attributed to 

 any other land. Is there another equally 

 valuable and popular class of plants, of 

 which as much can be said? The Phlox is 

 indeed the National Flower. 



But the object of the present article is to 

 call attention more espec- 

 ially to the various perennial 

 species and varieties of the 

 Phlox genus. Than this 

 class we have no hardy 

 garden flowers that are more 

 desirable, none that are 

 more easily grown. And 

 it is a pleasure to add a 

 thing not often said about 

 natives that there is not a 

 weedy plant among them. 



Concerning classification, 

 some disorder prevails in the 

 catalogues. — Let us loolc at 

 this for a moment. For con- 

 venience they may readily 

 be arranged into three 

 groups, namely: The Low- 

 growing or Tufted Phloxes, 

 being spring bloomers; the 

 Sub shrubby (or Suffruti- 

 cosa) Phloxes, being sum- 

 mer bloomers; the Decus- 

 sata (also termed Maculata) 

 comprising the later flower- 

 ing, erect growing Phloxes. 

 With a proper selection 

 from these, and some reli- 

 ance on the Annual section, 

 we may have Phloxes in 

 bloom almost from April 

 until frost. 



Of the Low-growing or 

 Tufted sorts (shown in the 

 foreground of the annexed 

 illustration), the Moss Pink 

 (P. suhidata) with narrow 

 moss-like foliage, covers the 

 ground with a mass of rosy 

 flowers in April and May; 

 and a white variety when in 

 bloom is very showy; a rather rare sort, and 

 one of the finest of this group is the Starry 

 Phlox (P. stcllaria,) with smooth stems, six 

 to eight inches high, narrow leaves, and 

 flowers white with a bluish tinge, each lobe 

 being cleft. The Creeping Phlox (P. reptens) 

 is a neat grower, with purple flowers; the 

 Procumbent Phlox (P. procumhcns), a hy- 

 brid of the Moss Pink and the Lovely Phlox 

 (P. amoena) having lilac colored fiowers in 

 May, and one called The Bride (P. seUicea), 

 a dwarf compact grower, which is covered 

 with conspicuous white blooms, having a 

 red center, constitutes the early section. 



All of the foregoing are especially suitable 

 for dry exposed places, and for rockwork. 

 Although perfectly hardy, these tufted sorts 

 are liable to receive harm during warm open 

 spells in winter, hence some covering is 

 beneficial at this season. They are easily 

 propagated by cuttings taken off during 

 July, or by division of roots. 



Following on the early blooming section 

 referred to, come the fragrant Summer 

 Phloxes (P.sit#)nitJco»n),beginning to bloom 

 just after the Roses. Throughout July this 

 division, with its delicate chaste and sweet- 

 scented flowers are at their best, and worthy 

 forerunners of the late varieties. In general 



their management is identical with the sec- 

 tion next to be referred to, except that dur- 

 ing the winter a slight covering will be of 

 benefit, just as in the preceding section. 



The Late Flowering Phloxes, include many 

 species, but which are not always clearly 

 distinguishable, because of the effects of 

 much hybridizing. These flower most freely 

 during July and August, but by pinching 

 the shoots of some of the plants about the 

 first of June and again in .July, the bloom- 

 ing season may be prolonged into late 

 autumn. When the plants are two years 

 old they produce their finest trusses of 

 bloom, and the third year they should be 

 fall lifted, divided and transplanted, though 

 better results are obtained by keeping up a 

 succession of young plants from ctitlings 



and late are in the following of the Decus- 

 sata section; Andre Leroy,Trancois, Coppee, 

 Gambetta, Leclair, liOthair, Phoceon, Queen, 

 Reve d'Or. Other fine species are P. bifida, 

 P. (^arolina and P. Douglasii var. diffusa. 



^— — ■ ooMWi^cTKnasa. 



A GROUP OF HARDY PHLOXES. 



each year. There is almost an endless 

 variety of colors, tints and markings in the 

 flowers. The plants vary in height from 

 one to four feet, the foliage from narrow 

 and shining to dull and broad. 



The flowers of this section are produced 

 in pyramidal panicles, as is well shown in 

 the engraving, often six inches across. Of 

 self or one-colored sorts, there are white, 

 salmon rose, lilac purple, violet, and crim- 

 son of various shades. 



The Phloxes succeed in any good deep 

 soil, and enjoy greatly a heavy manure 

 mulch dxiriug the summer, together with 

 an occasional dose of manure water during 

 their season of growth. A winter covering 

 Is also of benefit. 



Pot culture of the early sorts is satisfac- 

 tory with using strong clumps; lift late in 

 fall and store in a cold place until brought 

 to mild heat, replanting after blooming. 



A good collection of varieties and species, 

 aside from those incidentally specified above, 

 might embrace the following distinct ones. 

 Of the dwarf section are, Compacta, Fairy, 

 Model.Vivid, Georgia, Darwin, Dr. La Croix, 

 LUliput, Rosinante. Among the fragrant 

 pure white varieties are Countess of Gallo- 

 way, Lady Napier, and Pearl. Both early 



Some Points and Pointers on Fruit 

 Crowing. 



A. P. REED, CUMBERLAND CO., ME. 



Spot Disease. By way of experiment, 

 which should never cease until at least some 

 points are gained, I would suggest a trial of 

 whale-oil soap for thoroughly washing the 

 trees; a comparatively inexpensive thing, 

 which I tliiuli would show good results in 

 the case of spot disease. 

 Mice injuring Trees. For mice gnaw- 

 ing trees, I have found that 

 trees around which two or 

 three shovelfuls of manure 

 are thrown close up to the 

 trunk, late in fall, are sel- 

 dom troubled, and while 

 this is a simple and effectual 

 preventive, it is al.so very 

 healthful for the tree; 

 strengthening t he little root- 

 ji'ts that come out near the 

 ruuk, and which are essen- 

 tial feeders. 



Mulching. Manure put 

 ,il)out a tree in this way, 

 may be drawn away from 

 the trunk during the sum- 

 mer, and after haying; a few 

 Brakes are put around the 

 t ree for two or three feet out. 

 Plum Raising. While 

 there are a good many 

 l^lums grown throughout 

 the country, yet there are 

 not nearly enough to supply 

 the people. Wherever raised, 

 no matter what the variety, 

 any surplus finds a ready 

 market at fair prices. They 

 are as saleable as any gar- 

 den product that grows as 

 easily as the Plum does, 

 and much more salable and 

 profitable than many other 

 things that are more gen- 

 erally grown. To like Plums 

 is natural for nearly every 

 one, to grow them is far from 

 being common, as yet. 



There are many kinds of 

 Plums easily grown, and no 

 fruit tree is more active in 

 reproducing itself than this; and, even 

 though the trees be almost entirely neglec- 

 ted, yet under such conditions 1 have known 

 Plum orchards that were profitable; but the 

 Plum will largely repay the best of cultiva- 

 tion, and it is a bad type of horticultiuist 

 that will let anything, so willing to do some- 

 thing, ever be so neglected. Ripe Plums 

 may be eaten of very largely, with no in- 

 jury, and no fruit is more healthful for im- 

 mediate use or putting up for winter. To 

 make a business of Plum growing, is to 

 strike one of the most paying branches of 

 horticulture in many parts of our country. 



New Jersey's Cranberry Crop. 



According to the Newark Daily Advertiser 

 early in the season the prospective Cran- 

 berry crop bade fair to be a large one. Not- 

 withstanding, vines not covered with water 

 during the last winter were badly winter- 

 killed, those which had been properly pro- 

 tected looked remarkably well, when the 

 water was drawn off in the spring. 



On many of the Cranberry bogs, fruit 

 buds were developed in great abundance 

 and gave promise of a large crop. But the 

 unusual cool weather of the season placed 



