32 



Garden and Forest. 



[January 15, 1890. 



and not " traditionally," as seems to be the case with Mr. 

 Gerard's plants. I have grown Hellebores both in England 

 and Ireland, and the growth made by .plants here equals in 

 every way that made in the British Islands, and there is no 

 reason to' doubt that if Hellebores are so planted that they 

 may be covered with a cold frame in the event of cold 

 weather, these beautiful Mowers may be had in perfection in 

 America, even in severe seasons, as fipst has no injurious 

 effect on the flower buds, and the sunshine of bright days 

 would be sufficient to fully expand the flowers. As to expos- 

 ure to the sun in summer, it must be taken into consideration 

 that M. Correvon's cultural directions, when applied to this 

 country, should be adopted with some modifications. Wehav.e 

 found that in light soil, during protracted dry weather, the 

 large, leathery leaves become veritable signals of distress 

 unless water be applied ; hence the advisability of planting in 



known as it should be, taking into consideration the fact that 

 no other flowers are to be had out-of-doors, even in a mild 

 season like the present. • 



Passaic. N. J. - -&• O. Urpet. 



Propagating Chrysanthemums. 



IN the last issue of Garden and Forest a Japanese authority 

 is quoted as saying that Chrysanthemums are sometimes 

 propagated in his country from a single leaf with the bud at 

 its base. Permit me to add that at the November Chrysanthe- 

 mum Conference, in London, Mr. R. Beale exhibited some 

 small Chrysanthemum plants, said to have been grown from 

 leaves only, and they were naturally objects of considerable 

 interest. In a note to the Gardeners' Magazine, in the same 

 month, Mr. Beale explains that these plants were not strictly 

 obtained from the leaves only, but that the axillary bud was 



The Forest Pavilion at the French Exhibition 



-See page 26. 



soil of a retentive nature, when the preference is to be had. 

 An examination of the roots of Hellebores will show that the 

 young growing parts are covered with minute root-hairs or 

 feeders, and these must, of necessity, suffer severely in the 

 event of drought. As to the proper time for division, while 

 it may be possible to divide the plants after the foliage is 

 matured in June, we would not risk advising any one to per- 

 form the operation at this season, unless he had time to nurse 

 his plants afterward, while it may be done safely and easily in 

 early spring before growth commences, or in September, 

 when strong sunshine is past. It is rather difficult to under- 

 stand how a " warm cold frame " differs from " a cold house 

 from which frost is excluded," as in either case the plants 

 must be lifted again in spring. The placing a cold frame over 

 Hellebores in their permanent quarters would hardly chill the 

 enthusiasm of any lover of flowers. Recent visitors here have 

 expressed surprise that these plants could be grown in eastern 

 gardens, and there is no doubt that this is not so generally 



used with it, a V-shaped cut being made in the stem, and the 

 bud with the leaf attached being used without any wood and 

 struck in fertilizing moss. Mr. Beale claims that such cut- 

 tings almost invariably strike, and also that he can get rooted 

 plants from leaves without the bud, though the growth is 

 much slower. The Chrysanthemums can no doubt be in- 

 creased readily in the first way suggested, and perhaps with 

 leaves only, though the cultural skill and care re"quired in this 

 latter case would be considerable, and the growth would be so 

 weak and slow as not to be of much utility. Mr. Beale believes 

 that this method of propagation will be valuable where a large 

 stock of a new variety is required, but it is difficult to see 

 wherein it is an improvement on layering the flowering stems 

 .when stock is scarce and large increase is wanted. The Chry- 

 santhemum is a very accommodating plant, ready to throw 

 out roots from all parts except the flower, and hence it is 

 rapidly multiplied. Detached flowering stems of this plant, 

 if laid in a cold frame and slightly covered with soil, will throw 



