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May 27, 1009. 



The Weekly Florists' Review. 





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Anchusa Italica Dropmore in the Nursery Row. 



views of others. That part of his theory 

 relative to night and day temperature 

 does not, however, impress me as being 

 a remedy. Geo. S. Osborn. 



ANCHUSA ITALICA DROPMORE. 



Anchusa Italica, commonly known as 

 the Italian alkanet, has been a well- 

 known hardy herbaceous perennial for 

 many years. The new form named 

 Dropmore, in honor of a noted English 

 estate, is of a much more beautiful blue 

 color, being, in fact, one of the purest 

 blues I know of. When introduced a 

 few years ago and exhibited before the 

 Royal Horticultural Society in London 

 by a noted firm of hardy plant special- 

 ists, it at once jumped into popularity, 

 and in America, where it is now fairly 

 common, it has also become a great fa- 

 vorite. 



This anchusa is of easy culture. The 

 easiest method of propagation is from 

 seeds, which, if sown in early spring 

 and transplanted to the open ground in 

 May, will make heavy plants to set out 

 in the fall. The early flowering of this 

 plant, its great freedom and charming 

 color, are all strong points in its favor, 

 and in the herbaceous border it should 

 always find a place. Of vigorous habit, 

 this anchusa occasionally attains a 

 height of five to six feet, although more 

 commonly it is seen half this height. A 

 light winter coating of leaves when the 

 ground freezes is all the protection it re- 

 quires. W. N. Craiq. 



Benton Harbor, Mich. — C. Edinbor- 

 ough, on Rural Route No. 4, is building 

 a greenhouse. 



THE WATER GARDEN. 



[An extract from a paper by Peter Bissct, 

 read before the Boston Gardeners' and Florists' 

 aub May 18.] 



There is no more fascinating pursuit 

 connected with horticulture, certainly 

 none that gives greater pleasure and en- 

 joyment to the owner, than the cultiva- 

 tion of a water garden. This is brought 

 about from various reasons, chief among 

 which is the important part played by 

 water in all ■^ell ordered landscape ef- 

 fects; secondly, the wealth and diversity 

 of color, the great range of beauty, the 

 interesting historical associations of many 

 of the water plants employed and their 

 unique manner of flowering. 



Location of the Water Garden. 



Ii) selecting the location of a pond or 

 pool in which to grow water lilies, the 

 ground should be gone over carefully, 

 and a site chosen where a supply of 

 water, either from a natural stream or 

 from an artificial source, will be pro- 

 vided. The location should, if possible, 

 be sheltered by buildings, by a planting 

 of trees and shrubs far enough away from 

 the edge of the pond so that they will not 

 overshadow the water, or by a high bank 

 on the northwest, northeast and north, 

 but open towards the south, southwest 

 and southeast. This will insure the full 

 benefit of the sun's rays in warming the 

 water, and, at the same time, afford pro- 

 tection from high winds that soon would 

 ruin the tropical growth of the tender 

 water lilies and the subtropical plants 

 in the surrounding borders. If the pond 

 is intended for the growth of hardy kinds 

 only, it will not be necessary to protect 

 it, as these will thrive in a much lower 

 temperature than the tender ones, and 



the leaf surface of the hardy sorts is so 

 small that they are never seriously dam- 

 aged by the wind. In making a pond for 

 the cultivation of water lilies for pleas- 

 ure, it is well not to have it so wide that 

 one cannot enjoy the flowers at close 

 range. The greatest width should not ex- 

 ceed seventy-five feet. The flowers never 

 rise above the water more than fifteen 

 inches, except in the case of the nelum- 

 biums, which grow to a height of from 

 two to eight feet out of the water. But 

 with water lilies proper, one has to get 

 near them to enjoy the full beauty and 

 exquisite coloring of the flowers. 



Material for Pools. 



The best material that can be used for 

 the formation of all ponds and pools is, 

 without doubt, hydraulic cement, from 

 which an inexpensive and easily made 

 artificial stone can be had that will stand 

 the test of all climates, and be proof 

 against all boring pests. The concrete 

 wall can be carried up to within six 

 inches of the ground level, and grass be 

 grown on top of the wall, presenting a 

 natural appearance, or the wall may be 

 carried above the ground level and fin- 

 ished with a coping. In many places 

 there are natural ponds, which, at little 

 expense, can be made very beautiful and 

 a joy to their owners. 



The first consideration is the source of 

 the water supply. Is it subject from 

 any cause to a wash that would render it 

 at times unsightly, by the quantity of 

 muddy water carried into it by heavy 

 rains? Or is there a stream passing 

 through the pond from springs, which, 

 being cooler, will lower the temperature 

 of the water it contains? If so, then the 

 stream must be diverted so that it cannot 



