264 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 278. 



Under ledges on this shore is the habitat of the beautiful 

 malvaceoiis shrub, Malvaviscus acerifolius, which I have 

 noticed in the central plaza of Mexico. Its flowers are creamy 

 white, and are three inches long and wide. Here the plant 

 grows in large clumps fifteen feet high. The uncleared belt 

 between the shore and the hills is occupied by Pepper-trees. 

 Schinus moUe, venerable Mesquites, and, larger than either of 

 these, grotesque forms of Ehretia Mexicana, Watson. 



The friendly agent at Ouerendaro told me a curious thing 

 about Lake Cuitzeo, thatlhere are but two or three places m 

 all its extent where its depth exceeds a few feet. We see In- 

 dian fishermen wading through it at a long distance from shore 

 and drawing after them by a line their canoes, into which they 

 turn from circular nets, six feet broad, shining fishes but two 

 or three inches long. After being dried entire in the sun and 

 packed in great sacks of matting, this fish is shipped by the 

 car-load to the markets of the large cities. Another occupa- 

 tion of these Indians is the gathering of reeds and flags from the 

 water, drying them in the sun and weaving mats from them. 

 These are the mats which, spread on the bare earth or harder 

 tiles, form the only beds of one-half the Mexican population. 



From Lake Cuitzeo, winding over hill-side grades, gliding 

 through secluded valleys, among corn-fields or by slow 

 streams, in whose waters huge Cypress-trees stand, passing 

 an occasional grand hacienda, cool with its white walls and 

 shady colonnades, we come to Morelia, the capital of the state. 

 Every one is charmed with Morelia. It occupies a command- 

 ing situation, is a compactly built city and shows many impos- 

 ing structures and several magnificent parks and gardens. One 

 garden, founded by a late governor, is filled, not with ex- 

 otics, but with the most interesting plants native to the state. 

 The idea is unique, and perfect success having been attained 

 in the management of the plants, the garden presents a beau- 

 tiful appearance and offers a delightful study. 



We leave Morelia for Patzcuaro, at the end of the line, soon 

 entering a volcanic region. We pass two or three stations, 

 which are shipping-points for the lumber brought down from 

 neighboring mountains. There is both sawed lumber and 

 railroad-ties of pine and oak, which have been hewn by In- 

 dians in the forests. As we near the sharp Pine-clad peaks 

 standing around Patzcuaro there comes into view on our right 

 another lake almost as large, and even more charming than 

 Cuitzeo. Its oudine is irregular in the extreme, and island hills 

 arise from its surface. Fertilecultivated slopes, with numerous 

 villages upon them, come down to its shores. Beyond the 

 cleared fields are heavy forests of Oak and Pine reaching to 

 the mountain-summits which surround it. Lake Patzcuaro 

 lies nearly 7,000 feet above sea-level, and the mountain-tops 

 which meet the sky-line beyond it are the continental divide. 

 On the other side the descent to the hot lands is rapid ; a ride 

 of forty miles would bring us into Cane-fields, Banana-planta- 

 tions and Orange-groves. Over this southern rim of the table- 

 lands the precipitation of rain is excessive. To this fact is due 

 the fine forest-growths abounding here. Although this lake 

 has no visible outlet, its waters are fresh. This region has 

 been inhabited from prehistoric times by the Tarascan tribe of 

 Indians, whom the Aztecs never conquered. On the waters of 

 the lake still swarm their log canoes, as they fish or take to 

 market the product of their toil. They live in villages chiefly, 

 and are an industrious and thrifty people. 



By the lake is a steam saw-mill, to which the logs are 

 brought in rafts and barges from the farther end, above which 

 are the more extensive forests. There the Montezuma Pine 

 grows to large size, and Quercus reticulata, the Mexican White 

 Oak, attains the fullest development ever seen by me, a trunk 

 diameter of three feet and a height of eighty. It'is the timber 

 of this species which is most prized as being the most lasting 

 for railroad-fies and the best adapted to wheelwright work. 



The railroad ends by the lake, and Patzcuaro station is the 

 shipping-point for a broad region lying to the south. Hither 

 come daily long trains of pack-mules, laden with sugar, rice, 

 coffee and fruits. The town is situated among hills a mile or 

 more above the stafion. It is the quaintest and strangest town 

 as yet seen by me in Mexico. Great Ashes and Willows make 

 dim its squares. Grass grows between the rough stones which 

 pave its streets. Its red-tiled roofs are covered with moss and 

 hchen. Ferns root among the chiseled ornaments of house 

 and church walls. Rows of weeds stand on the top of the 

 adobe-walls enclosing garden and court. Its buildings tell of 

 age and decadence. In its streets there is seldom heard the 

 sound of a wagon-wheel. The dons ride out in silver-mounted 

 saddles, with fine trappings. My lady makes her calls on foot, 

 and goes down to the station in her saddle or her sedan-chair. 

 The Patzcuaro country is a volcanic region. Its soil shows 

 the red lava stain. In the top of every hill and mountain we 



find one or more craters, deep, sheltered preserves for plants, 

 wild animals and birds. Just back of the town a tract of lava 

 beds begins, which reaches fifty miles or more to the south, to 

 the volcano of Jorullo. It is the wildest sort of a district, 

 and is almost impassable, even on foot, rocky knobs and ridges 

 alternating with rock-bound hollows and pits in utter confu- 

 sion. Here is a field worthy of any botanist, where strange 

 plants lurk in nooks to surprise him, and where old Oaks are 

 hung with Ferns and Orchids galore. 



But how can I attempt to tell of all the plants gathered, or 

 new species brought to light in the Patzcuaro country on visits 

 made during three seasons ; or how put in words all the 

 memories that crowd upon me as I write — memories of de- 

 lights experienced in those fields through warm, golden au- 

 tumn days, after the rainy season had passed, and when the 

 mountain-sides were gay with flowers and thronged with hum- 

 ming-birds quite down to the end of the year ? 



Charlotte, Vt. C. G. PrUlgle. 



New or Little-known Plants. 



Syringa pubescens. 



A FIGURE of a flowering branch of Syringa pubescens 

 appeared in the first volume of this journal (page 

 415). This is a north China species, with remarkably long- 

 tubed flowers, and has proved such a valuable plant in our 

 northern climate that another illustration, showing the habit 

 of the shrub and its appearance when in bloom, is pub- 

 lished on page 266 of the present issue. 



Few shrubs produce such a mass of flowers as this Chi- 

 nese Lilac ; the habit of the plant is excellent ; the leaves 

 are small, of a good color, and are not injured by mildew 

 or other diseases. It flowers profusely every year ; the 

 flowers, which are rose-color on first opening, become 

 nearly white before fading and surpass those of any other 

 Lilac in the delicacy of their delightful fragrance. Of its 

 hardiness there can be no question ; and its moderate size, 

 as Syringa pubescens probably will not grow here more 

 than six or eight feet high, makes it a good plant for small 

 gardens. It flowers with the early-flowering varieties of 

 Syringa vulgaris, immediately after Syringa oblata, which 

 is another north China species, and the earliest of all Lilacs 

 to bloom. 



Syringa pubescens, which was brought into our gardens 

 through the Arnold Arboretum, where it was raised from 

 seed sent from Pekin, is certainly one of the best, if not 

 the best, hardy shrub introduced into cultivation during 

 the last twenty years. 



Our illustration is from a photograph made by Mr. James 

 M. Codman, in a garden in Brookline, Massachusetts. 



Azaleo-dendrons. 



IN a recent issue of the Gardeners' Chronicle there is a fig- 

 ure of a representative of a new race of hybrids which 

 are not only exceedingly interesting, but promise to become 

 valuable garden-plants. They have been produced by cross- 

 ing Rhododendron (Azalea) Sinensis or mollis and one of 

 the true broad-leaved evergreen garden Rhododendrons of 

 Catawbiense blood. To this new race the name of Azaleo- 

 dendron has been given. Half a dozen of these hybrids, 

 raised in Belgium by Mr. Van der Meluen, of Ghent, are 

 now in commerce. 



Azaleo-dendron Komte de Kerchove, the variety figured 

 by our contemporary, is described as " a shrub with the 

 habit of Azalea mollis, the leaves persistent, or nearly so, 

 intermediate in texture and form between those of the 

 parents ; flowers produced with the leaves, paHsh yellow, 

 flushed with rose, and arranged in a loose terminal many- 

 flowered inflorescence. The central portion of the medium 

 lobe of the corolla, and, to a slight extent, that of the lateral 

 ones, is marked with numerous densely arranged spots of 

 a reddish chocolate-color, gradually passing into olive and 

 pale green." Azalea Sinensis was used as the pollen parent 

 in producing this race with a number of Rhododendrons, 

 such as Prince Camille de Rohan and Leopard, and, per- 

 haps, John Waterer and Bylsianum. 



