102 



Garden and Forest. 



[February 26, 1890. 



color, but the intensification of color in Primus Pissardi was 

 not due to such cause, as the grafts were more vigorous 

 upon P. Americana. 



1 1. Grafting may influence the flavor of fruit. There can be 

 no question but that apples often derive acridity from the 

 stock when worked upon the Wild Crab or upon the Siberian 

 Crab. It is commonly supposed that the Angouleme and 

 some other pears are improved in flavor when grown upon 

 the Quince. Downing asserts that some varieties "are con- 

 siderably improved in flavor" by working upon Quince. 



A favorite illustration in support of the reciprocal influences 

 of stock and cion is the fact of transfer of color or variegation 

 by grafting. Darwin called attention to this phenomenon, 

 and used the term "graft-hybrid" to designate the mongrel off- 

 spring of certain unions. But this class of phenomena seems 

 to follow inoculation rather than grafting per se. The trans- 

 ferable nature of variegation is well known in certain species, 

 but it is entirely inexplicable in the present state of our knowl- 

 edge ; it seems certain, however, that it does not merit atten- 

 tion under a discussion of grafting. So long ago as 1727* 

 variegation was designated a "distemper," which "may be 

 communicated to every plant of the same tribe by inoculating 

 , only a single bud." In our own day Morren has called it the 

 " contagion of variegation." 



The above outline illustrates the fact that the results of graft- 

 ing are profoundly modified by conditions. Adverse condi- 

 tions must give unsatisfactory results, and may lead to a pre- 

 mature denunciation of the whole system of propagation upon 

 the roots of other plants. But, on the other hand, proper 

 conditions and good execution afford abundant and positive 

 proof that grafting — using the word in its broad sense to in- 

 clude budding — is essential to best success in many depart- 

 ments of horticulture. 



Cornell University. ■£-• -"• Bailey. 



Garden Flowers and Fruits in Midwinter. 



THE mildness of the present winter and the evidences of it 

 as shown by the condition of vegetation in consequence, 

 have been a subject of frequent comment in the horticultural 

 papers of the country. Such winters as this has so far proved 

 in the region about Boston, although not common, are by no 

 means unknown. The winter of 1888-89, although generally 

 considered very mild, was much colder than this. It is not 

 often that, even in a southern exposure in New England, Snow- 

 drops may be gathered in abundance in January and Febru- 

 ary, as has been the case this year, or that the sweet-scented 

 single Violets can be found in any number. In a well known 

 garden near Boston a clump of Christmas Roses (Helleborus), 

 growing on the south side of some shrubbery, began bloom- 

 ing in November, and in the second week of February still 

 continued to bear in perfection handsome white blossoms. 

 The only protection given was that of a small box with a glass 

 top during the coldest days and nights. 



The herbaceous plants, however, play but a very small part 

 in giving interest and ornament to the New England garden 

 in midwinter. It is naturally from the trees and shrubs that 

 the greatest pleasure is to be derived, and the shrubbery that 

 is planted with a judicious selection of those species which 

 retain their foliage or fruits, or which are distinguished by 

 bright colored stems and branches, is certain to lend much 

 brightness to otherwise wintry aspects. 



A few shrubs are deservedly valued for their persistent 

 bright fruits, and this winter one or two at the Arboretum are 

 conspicuous by their flowers. The Japanese. Witch Hazel 

 {Hamamelis Japonica), which is still rare in cultivation, was, 

 on February 5th, almost in full bloom, many of the anthers of 

 the open flowers having shed their pollen; and a week later 

 the plants were in their best and handsomest condition, the 

 small branches bearing a profusion of pretty pale yellow blos- 

 soms. Of all early flowering shrubs this may be counted the 

 most valuable, as it will add a new and cheerful feature to our 

 gardens in late winter. The beauty of the flowers does not 

 appear to be at all affected by alternate slight freezings and 

 thawings, and they remain conspicuous for several weeks. 

 This plant is said to become a small tree twenty feet or more 

 in height inits native country, andasitis perfectly hardy here, it 

 may also be expected to attain large size. It may be added 

 that the plants in the Arboretum collection are grafted upon 

 stock of our native Witch Hazel {H. Virginica), and appear to 

 thrive well although they grow rather slowly. The Hamamelis 

 arbor ea of European catalogues is a synonym or but a garden 

 form of this Japanese species. 



The common European Hazel {Corylus Avellana) was found 



* Bradley, "Ten Practical Discourses Concerning the Four Elements, etc.," 71. 



freely shedding its pollen on February 5th, and, although not 

 a very striking plant at this season, the pollen-bearing catkins 

 are interesting and graceful. A week later the European 

 Alder {Alnus glutinosa) was in flower, growing in a sheltered 

 situation beside a running brook. Two closely allied Asiatic 

 Honeysuckles {Lonicera fragrantissima and L. Standisliii) 

 opened a few of their fragrant flowers and ripened anthers 

 early in February. The buds are among the easiest and 

 quickest to develop and expand into blossoms when cutoff and 

 taken into the house in winter, and they well repay the trouble, 

 for the fragrance is as sweet as that of violets. Erica carnea 

 does best when slightly protected in winter, and if the cover- 

 ing is removed it will be found in a good state of bloom. This 

 is nothing new, as a part of the rosy colored blossoms open in 

 the autumn and the rest in spring. In the same way a few 

 open flowers may be detected on the racemes of Andromeda 

 ftoribunda, and also on Andromeda Japonica, in warm situa- 

 tions. 



Chief among showy winter fruits would rank the bright 

 red or scarlet of the Mountain Ashes {Pyrus Americana and 

 the European P. aucuparia), if, in this latitude, the birds did 

 not almost invariably eat them early in the season. As be- 

 ing less liable to be devoured, the next best large-growing 

 plant is the Cranberry-bush ( Viburnum Opulus), the fruit of 

 which, although very soft and somewhat shriveled, and not 

 in a state to handle, is still quite conspicuous in large pendu- 

 lous clusters. The scarlet fruit of the Black Alder [Ilex verti- 

 cillatd) remains firm and fresh-looking, as does that of the 

 more sparsely fruited I. Icevigata, but it often appears faded 

 on the side much exposed to the sun. 



A number of species of native and foreign wild Roses retain 

 firm-looking and sometimes bright-colored hips throughout 

 the winter, and among them all our native Swamp Rose 

 (P. Carolina) is most pleasing and showy, with large corymbs 

 of somewhat bristly dark scarlet fruit. Among Cotoneasters 

 the species known as C. Simonsii is the most pleasing winter- 

 fruited one in the Arboretum. The fruit is large, smooth, 

 and bright scarlet in color. The Evergreen Thorn (Cratcegus 

 Pyracanthd) is not as hardy as could be desired in New Eng- 

 land, but in some situations gives satisfaction by its evergreen 

 habit and especially by its bright fruit. The Washington 

 Thorn {Cratcegus cordata)\s the only other species here which 

 retains fruit with much color. Much has already been said of 

 the permanent beauty of the fruit of Berberis Thunbergii, and 

 its praise is well deserved. Although it is possible that its 

 value as a winter food-providing plant for game birds may be 

 overestimated by some, there is no question of its ornamental 

 character. ' Its fruit is still the brightest of all the shrubs, and 

 that of no other Barberry approaches it in beauty at this 

 season. The upper berries of the bunches of Coral-berries or 

 Indian Currants {Symphoricarpos vulgaris) become sunburned, 

 but most of them retain a bluish red or crimson color ; and 

 the conical panicles of fruit of the Sumachs {Rhus typhina 

 and R. glabra) are red, in some cases having a brownish 

 tinge. 



Of black-fruited plants there are several which keep their 

 fruit in a full and unfaded condition. Few of the berries of these 

 remain so bright as that of the common Privet {Ligustrum 

 vulgare). There is a yellow-fruited variety of this (var. xan- 

 thocarpa) which, although not rare, is not often seen. 

 L. Ibota, an Asiatic species, bears fruit in greater abundance 

 than the common Privet, and it is also smaller and more 

 loosely set on the panicles. It is black, with a heavy, persist- 

 ent bluish bloom, and may be considered more interesting 

 than strictly ornamental. ' 



Arnold Arboretum. J • G. jUCk. 



Fern Notes. — II. 



IN considering Ferns suitable for cool-house culture there is 

 an embarrassment of choice. So many excellent species 

 and varieties are adapted to this treatment that it is impossible 

 to mention more than a very small proportion of them here. 

 Some hints were given last week about a few of the strong- 

 growing sorts, and attention is now called to a limited list of more 

 dwarf species, many of which are quite distinct in character. 

 In establishing a cool-house collection of Ferns a few Gleiche- 

 nias must be chosen, because they are undoubtedly among 

 the handsomest plants of their class; and while they will attain 

 quite a large size, yet they may be kept within reasonable 

 bounds for a number of years, and when well grown always 

 excite the liveliest admiration. Among the species of this ge- 

 nus most suitable for small collections are Gleichenia dicarpa, 

 G. Spelunca, G. semi-vestita, the latter being much like G. 

 dicarpa in general appearance, and G. dichotoma, G. rupestris 

 and G. Mendelii are also good ; G. flabellata, though a 



