356 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 445. 



Cultural Department. 



The Osage Cantaloupe. 



'"PHIS is a product of accidental hybridization between the 

 *■ Banana Cantaloupe and the Jennv Lind, or one of the 

 numerous netted Melons. Several hybrids of the Banana 

 Melon have been produced ; some like the Osage, others 

 quite different. The Osage is a green Melon, with salmon-red 

 flesh, a small cavity, a strong perfume ; is in some cases 

 markedly ribbed, in others nearly smooth, and in others 

 netted. Before it ripens it has an odor, and when it is ripe the 

 peculiar characteristic perfume, like that of the Banana Melon, 

 will fill a room. When fully ripe the flower-end becomes soft 

 and is greenish yellow, and the same color prevails at the bot- 

 tom of the grooves when decidedly ribbed. At the flower-end 

 is the peculiar discoid mark so common in several well-known 

 netted Melons. The flavor is excellent and closely resembles 

 that of the Banana Cantaloupe when grown under favorable 

 circumstances of soil, climate and season. 



The Banana Cantaloupe is not a curiosity simply when well 

 grown, but it so seldom is well-grown that it has been allowed 

 to run out. Fruits of this variety have been produced which 

 were three feet long and weighed seventeen pounds. I had 

 one two feet long that produced an ounce of seeds and had 

 no open cavity. A cross-section showed three narrow V- 

 shaped fissures running through it, united at the central ends, 

 and containing theseeds. The flavor was pronounced first-class. 

 The origin of the Osage was detected in the peculiar odor of 

 the Melon, in its yellow ground-spot, in its yellow seeds, in its 

 flavor and in its red flesh. One fruit showed its origin, as 

 it presented the Banana Melon on the lower half, and the 

 netted Melon on its upper. This hybrid is only partly settled 

 as a distinctive variety, and still has a disposition to run into 

 one or the other parent. The interior seems to be settled, but 

 the exterior varies. In form it is round or oval, and weighs 

 from four to eight pounds. Green Melons and red-fleshed 

 ones are not popular. Netted and green-fleshed fruits are 

 most so. The Jenny Lind Melon was called the "Centre 

 Melon" sixty years ago, when the great Swedish singer was a 

 little girl. It came from Asia Minor, and has been grown from 

 half a pound to four pounds in weight. The highest bouquet 

 is in the smallest fruits of a green interior. 



My attention has been particularly directed to the Osage 

 Melon of late because this is a bid Melon year, and the only 

 good ones I have had have been of the Osage variety. I think 

 the experiment of hybridization between the Osage and Jenny 

 Lind, or Netted Gem, worth trying. 



Philadelphia. Pa. P. P. Harris. 



The Chinese Hibiscus as a Lawn Plant. 



HIBISCUS ROSA-SINENSIS and its many beautiful varie- 

 ties have been utilized about the grounds of the execu- 

 tive mansion this year with fine effect. At the west end of the 

 mansion, near the State, War and Navy Buildings, there are 

 large groups of them associated with Japanese Maples and 

 Bamboos. The Hibiscus plants are kept dormant all through 

 the winter ; if kept dry in the fall they lose their leaves during 

 the winter months and they are easily carried over in a struc- 

 ture the temperature of which is just high enough to keep out 

 the frost. In the spring, it it is necessary, the plants are 

 shifted into larger tubs or pots and simply plunged in the 

 ground where it is intended they should remain during the 

 summer ; this is a much better way to treat old plants, lor 

 when they are planted out they make too much growth at the 

 expense of a rich display of flowers, but when young plants 

 are wanted to grow rapidly into specimens they make very 

 quick progress when they have unlimited root room. The 

 best time to propagate is in the fall after the new wood is ripe ; 

 take the ends of the shoots from four to six inches in length for 

 the cuttings, after they are well rooted, pot in three-inch pots, 

 shift into fives in the spring, say about the beginning of May, 

 plunge in an open frame ; by the beginning of August they will 

 be ready for a shift into eight or ten inch pots, and the growth 

 they will make before cold weather sets in will bring them to 

 a height of about three feet, with nice bushy heads. The fol- 

 lowingsummer they will make very ornamental plants for the 

 lawn or for planting in beds. 



There are numerous varieties, differing from each other 

 chiefly in the color of the flowers. The double-flowered kinds 

 are not so free-flowering, neither are they as strong-growing as 

 thesingle-flowering varieties ; the individual flowers, however, 

 last a much longer time in bloom than the single ones. The 

 variety grandiflorus has a fine bold light crimson flower, and 



is a free bloomer. The under surfaces of the petals are much 

 lighter in color ; on one side they are marbled with a creamy 

 white color. The leaves are small, sometimes deeply cut and 

 toothed. Brilliantissimus has quite large heart-shaped leaves, 

 very regularly toothed ; the flowers are of a brilliant crimson, 

 the under surfaces being very little lighter, shining near the 

 base. The petals after the first day or so are a trifle reflexed ; 

 this is the best of the single varieties. The variety rubra plena 

 has very double flowers, the outer petals reflexed to such an 

 extent as to form a ball ; in color it is intermediate between 

 grandiflorus and brilliantissimus. Lucien Linden has double 

 flowers, but they are small and badly shaped, the color yellow- 

 ish white and pale crimson, the latter color predominating. 

 Calleri has double, buff-yellow flowers, probably the easiest to 

 manage of the doubles. Luteolus plenus has light yellow 

 flowers ; the bases of the petals are deep scarlet. There are 

 numerous other forms, but those given above are the most 

 distinct. 

 Botanic Garden, Washington, D. C. G. IV. Oliver. 



Water-lilies and Extreme Heat. 



"C"LTROPEANS who have noticed the good qualities of 

 ^—* Nymphaeas that have been enhanced by the almost 

 tropical weather experienced this season, are better able to 

 judge of our superior advantages under which we can culti- 

 vate all varieties of Nymphaeas, especially the tropical varie- 

 ties, as well as the different varieties of Nelumbiums in the 

 open air. What Mr. W. Watson says of the new forms of red 

 hardy Nymphasas (page 334), that they improve under extreme 

 heat, is equally true in the United States, only more so, but 

 this does not hold good of other forms of red or pink Water- 

 lilies. During the past heated term Nymphasa Marliacea 

 rosea and N. Marliacea carnea depreciated very much in size 

 and color, the flowers ot the former not being so good as those 

 of the latter in its best form, and produced very sparingly. The 

 same remarks apply to our native pink forms of Water-lilies, 

 N. odorata rosea, and Caroliniana and exquisita, as well as N. 

 tuberosa rosea ; the flowers were smaller, lighter in color and 

 the sepals occasionally sunburnt, consequently the flowers 

 were somewhat deformed. Marliac's Cliromatella and N. 

 odorata sulphurea depreciated only in size ; the color was ex- 

 tremely rich. All varieties of hardy white Water-lilies decreased 

 in size and quantity of bloom likewise. It is cheering to note 

 the marked difference with all the above-mentioned Lilies 

 after a week of normal weather. The pink varieties have 

 improved in color, and all are improving in size and quantity 

 of flowers. An exception must be made with N. odorata 

 rosea; this may be attributed to the crop of seed just ripen- 

 ing, as it produces seed freely, and while a plant is bearing a 

 crop of fruit it can hardly be expected to continue its produc- 

 tion of choice flowers at the same time. The tropical weather 

 experienced here early in August had a marked effect on all 

 the tender Nymphasas; they grew luxuriantly and produced 

 most .charming flowers of more intense coloring than I have 

 noticed before, nor did they lack in size or numbers. Victoria 

 regia made remarkable growth, producing three leaves and 

 four flowers in seven days. Nelumbiums also made remark- 

 able growth and flowers. 



Though we do not always experience so long a heated term 

 so that the temperature of the water rises to one hundred de- 

 grees, yet, as a rule, our summers are hot, and during the 

 height of the season the hardy varieties of Water-lilies deterio- 

 rate more or less according to location. The fact is patent, 

 that the tender varieties are well adapted to our summer sea- 

 sons and are indispensable for water gardens. They are as 

 easy of culture as any of the hardy kinds, grow more luxuri- 

 antly, flower profusely, do not suffer through extreme heat and 

 continue to blossom until cut down by frost. The color of 

 the flowers is not equaled by the hardy varieties, and another 

 point in their favor is that they are within the reach of all, as 

 they can be purchased at a very low price compared with 

 some of the hardy kinds. 

 Riverton, N. J. Wm. Tricker. 



Ornamental Grasses. 



THE value of Arundos, Miscanthus (Eulalias) and Erianthus 

 *■ as decorative plants in the garden, and of their plumes 

 for cutting, is well known ; but aside from these there are a 

 number of annual and dwarfer perennial kinds whose flowers 

 are particularly graceful and useful, either in making bouquets 

 of themselves, or in giving to other flowers that lightness and 

 gracefulness so necessary to well-arranged vases of flowers. 

 We reserve one border entirely for them, and have this 



