388 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 44S. 



Lilium Wallichianum superbum (Lilium sulphureum). — I no- 

 tice that this fine hardy Lily has been widely distributed of 

 recent years, and though most of the plants seen in gardens 

 are hardly old enough to flower, the growth made is good 

 and promises to be healthy. This Lily seems even more 

 anxious to reproduce itself than the old Tiger Lily. The 

 smallest stems have young bulbs formed in the axil of nearly 

 all of the leaves. This affords a ready and sure means of prop- 

 agation, and no time should be lost now in securing them. 

 They drop to the ground at this time and are easily lost if not 

 gathered and planted in a box for the first year's growth. They 

 will be slow to start, probably not before next midsummer. It 

 is best to put them in a cool place under the benches in the 

 greenhouse, or even in a cellar. Any anxiety on the part of a 

 plant to reproduce itself is in most instances a sure indication 

 of either inherited weakness or unsuitable local conditions. 

 I am not sure yet whether this Lily is going to remain perma- 

 nently as an individual, or if this habit of producing bulblets 

 is characteristic. It appears as though it is, but there is no 

 doubt that the plants would be strengthened by the removal of 

 all the bulblets if it is not desired to propagate them. One bulb 

 would soon produce enough to plant an acre if it was desired. 

 Our original bulb was obtained three years ago, and being 

 weak died after the first season's growth ; but from its produce 

 that year we have just gathered over a thousand bulblets, and 

 we have enough now for all purposes. Next year all increase 

 in this direction will be carefully guarded against, and I think 

 the parent bulbs will be benefited thereby. 



South Lancaster, Mass. E. O. Orpet. 



Marguerite Carnations. — I consider these among the most 

 satisfactory of half-hardy flowers. To those having a demand 

 for cut flowers during the months of August, September and 

 October (or till Christmas, if potted in September and placed 

 in a cool greenhouse or frame) they are invaluable. A groitp 

 of them has been flowering in this garden for the past six 

 weeks, and to-day, September 6th, T counted on several indi- 

 vidual plants from sixty to seventy-five well-developed buds 

 and blossoms. A great improvement has been made in them 

 during the past few years, and they now almost equal the 

 greenhouse kinds both in size and fragrance. There is a wide 

 range of color among them, and I have not found one with 

 the calyx split. We sow the seeds in pans in a warm green- 

 house about the first week in February, growing them along 

 so as to make nice plants by planting-out time. After plant- 

 ing they need to be pinched once or twice to make them 

 bushy, besides a little attention in the matter of staking and 

 watering. They do best in an open sunny position and prefer 

 a light rich soil. 



Botanic Garden, Northampton, Mass. Edward J. Canning. 



Two Good Roses. — In Willow Grove Park, near Philadelphia, 

 are two beds of Roses, one of La France and one of American 

 Beauty, and it is a pleasure to see how finely they flower. 

 They certainly are among the best of Roses for bedding in this 

 section. A week ago there was not a plant in either bed that 

 did not carry one or more flowers. Many of them had half a 

 dozen each. These Roses are perfectly hardy here, so far as 

 their blooming is concerned. The La France may lose a few 

 inches from the tips of the branches, but this is only a prun- 

 ing which benefits it. The flowers of both are delightfully 

 fragrant. 



Pueraria Thunbergiana. — When allowed to climb over a tree 

 or anything which allows thick massive growth, this Kudzu 

 vine makes no floral display whatever, its flowers being hid- 

 den by the foliage. This is not the case when on a trellis or 

 some flat surface. Then its racemes of rosy crimson flowers 

 are well displayed. They commence to expand in the first week 

 of September. For rapid growth this plant has no superior 

 among climbers. 



The European Medlar. — Mespilus Germanica is a plant which 

 is not supposed to flourish in these parts, but there are small 

 specimens near Philadelphia which are quite healthy and hardy 

 and which bear medlars. The plant should be more widely 

 tested. 



Viburnum Lantana. — The beauty of this plant both in flower 

 and fruit has often been referred to. Let me say that Vibur- 

 num contimfolium, a Himalayan species, figured in Garden 

 and Forest (vol. v., p. 245), is on some accounts still better, 

 although resembling it a good deal. The flowers, foliage and 

 fruit are on a larger scale. The fruit of V. Lantana is the later 

 of the two to ripen. 



Germantown, Pa. Joseph Meehan. 



Correspondence. 



Notes from Southern California. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir, — During the month of June, Calochortus Plummerae is 

 in season, the last of the genus to flower in this region, and 

 though not as showy as some species, it is very attractive. 

 The flowers are of a rich lavender-purple of many shades, 

 with yellow hairs at the base of the petals. I once found a 

 dead stalk which was four and a half feet high and had borne 

 ten flowers. The usual height is from two to three feet. It is 

 found on high hills and ridges, where it is quite dry at the 

 time of flowering. If the stalks are cut when the buds are 

 nearly mature and placed in water in the house they expand 

 beautifully and produce larger flowers than if left on the plant. 

 In rare instances I have found plants bearing flowers of a 

 pleasing shade of salmon pink. 



During the latter part of June and early July is the season 

 for Delphinium cardinale. To come upon a large group of 

 this plant in full bloom for the first time is an event never to 

 be forgotten. I first saw a mass of these plants in the dis- 

 tance Irom the top of a hill. Descending, I came upon them 

 in such a position that the rays of the setting sun intensified 

 the brilliancy of their fiery orange-scarlet color. It has been 

 said that to some persons a red color suggests the sound of a 

 trumpet. Such a one would here have heard the blare of a 

 thousand trumpets. I gathered a large armful of stalks from 

 three to seven feet high, and on reaching home placed them 

 in a Mexican water-jar standing upon the floor. With the ad- 

 dition of some fine stalks of the lovely white Romneya, the 

 starry white flowers of the "Soap-plant" and some tall wild 

 Grasses, a floral piece was made which might please the most 

 fastidious. The Delphinium-flowers continue to expand for 

 several weeks in water. The roots endure great drought, 

 becoming brittle as pipe-stems, yet starting readily on the 

 arrival of the rainy season. It flourishes only in sandy or 

 decayed granite soil. 



It is interesting to note the variation in color of some Cali- 

 fornia plants. Mimulus viscosus in the type has flowers of a 

 rich buff-orange. In the high mountains a form is found with 

 primrose-yellow flowers, and in one instance I found a plant 

 bearing flowers of a French white, and in another locality a 

 plant bearing flowers of a brilliant rust-red, a most distinct and 

 pleasing shade. In rare instances plants of the type are seen 

 in our gardens, where they flower throughout the year. 



One of the most notable sights in southern California gar- 

 dens in summer-time is the Australian Flame-tree, Brachy- 

 chiton aceritolium, in full flower. In the garden of Mr. C. H. 

 Richardson, of Pasadena, is probably the finest specimen in 

 this region. The tree is of fine pyramidal shape and about 

 twenty-five feet high. At the time of flowering it is entirely 

 destitute of foliage, but is literally covered with bloom. Every 

 branch and twig is terminated by loose spikes of flowers about 

 half an inch in diameter, in shape somewhat resembling Lilv- 

 of-the-valley. Their color is the brightest vermilion. Such a 

 gorgeous spectacle is worth a long journey to see. At all 

 other times the tree is covered with rich green foliage and is 

 very ornamental. 



I will bring this "scarlet letter" to an end by noting that I 

 have succeeded in flowering the rare Gerbera Jamesoni, from 

 south Africa. The plant is not yet well established, but pro- 

 duced a solitary flower two and a half inches across. The rays 

 were somewhat narrow, but otherwise the flower resembled a 

 Marguerite or a field Daisy. It was of a bright orange-scarlet 

 color and very handsome. This color is very rare in the Com- 

 posite, and should the plant prove a good grower here it will 

 be a welcome addition to our gardens. 

 Los Ansreles, Calif. Edmund D. Sturtevant. 



Utilizing Choke Cherries. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir, — The Choke Cherry grows abundantly about here, along 

 fence rows and in the edges of woods. It seems to have a 

 preference for sandy soils. In certain favorable locations it 

 bears enormous crops of fruit. Certain plants seem to be 

 more prolific than others, and there is a noticeable amount of 

 variation in the size and quality of the fruit. Frequently one 

 will find clumps of bushes irom which several bushels of 

 really fine fruit might be gathered. For the most part, how- 

 ever, it entirely goes to waste. It is not even used by the 

 birds or the curculios. It seems really a pity to see so much 

 fine fruit spoiling unused. 



