240 



Garden and Forest. 



[May 14, 1890. 



.Roses under Glass. 



THE in-door Rose season being now practically over, a few 

 brief notes on the successes and disappointments of the 

 past winter may be of interest. From a Rose-grower's point 

 of view the winter was a trying one, although the temperature 

 was not low ; nevertheless, long-continued dull weather and 

 an atmosphere saturated with moisture made careful watching 

 necessary. Some growers attained success, but many others 

 were unable to prevent the gradual depreciation of their stock 

 and were forced to admit that the problem was too deep for 

 them. The disease known among growers as " yellows " was 

 a frequent cause of failure, and, as usual, various opinions 

 were expressed as to its cause and prevention ; but it still 

 appears the most reasonable view that the disease is caused 

 by an excess of moisture, either at the root or in the atmo- 

 sphere, and it is aggravated by too high a temperature at 

 night. It is only fair to state, however, that this opinion is not 

 universally held. 



The maintenance of a regular and proper temperature in 

 the Rose-houses has been a matter of considerable difficulty, 

 because the changes of weather have been so frequent that, 

 without the presence of a reliable night-watchman, it was al- 

 most impossible to predict the condition of a house over night. 

 This extremely variable weather has, perhaps, been less trying 

 in those establishments where the heating is done by steam, 

 as it is, doubtless, much easier to increase or to reduce the 

 temperature of a house thus heated (provided the house is 

 properly piped) than in one heated by hot water. It may be 

 added, however, that all the good Roses sent to market during 

 the season were not grown by steam heat. 



Fashions in roses are changeable. Red roses, for exam- 

 ple, were in great demand for several seasons preceding the 

 last, and this was true in New York during the last season ; 

 while in Philadelphia red roses were seldom called for, and 

 even so uniformly popular a flower as General Jacqueminot 

 was not sought for with much eagerness. Some good flowers 

 of W. F. Bennett were occasionally seen, but this rose, like 

 American Beauty, does not give entire satisfaction, and 

 appears to require some peculiarities in soil and treatment 

 that are not generally understood. 



The Duchess of Albany when first offered took the popular 

 fancy, and found a ready sale, though it is claimed that this 

 rose does not retain the brightness of its coloring after being 

 cut for a time, and if this be proved true it is very doubtful if 

 it will be able to usurp the place of La France. But as the 

 Duchess of Albany has proved a profitable flower during the 

 past winter, it undoubtedly will be largely planted next season, 

 and a thorough comparative test will be given to it. Madame 

 Hoste is established in popular favor, and seems destined to 

 become a standard sort for forcing. Its large buds are of 

 beautiful form, though not very distinct in color, and while it 

 does not make an extra strong growth, it is free flowering, and 

 appears to have a good constitution. 



Souvenir of Wootton has created some disappointment, due 

 in a measure to the fact that it was over-rated at the outset, 

 and therefore aroused too high expectations. It is a good 

 grower and a continuous bloomer, and the color is bright and 

 pleasing. It is claimed that some flowers of this variety were 

 produced as large as those of American Beauty, but it was not 

 my good fortune to see them. 



Ernest Metz is a Tea Rose, much commended by some 

 growers, and it produces large and handsome pink flowers of 

 good form. It has not been grown largely as yet, but as there 

 are already so many good pink Tea Roses for winter flower- 

 ing, a new-comer must develop many good qualities to secure 

 a place on the list. 



Among Hybrid Perpetuals for forcing there have been few 

 innovations. For early work Anna Alexieff, Anna de Dies- 

 bach, Magna Charta and Mrs. John Laingare most prominent. 

 Ulrich Brunner has proved its qualities of color and form, 

 but whether it is sufficiently free-blooming for commercial 

 work remains to be seen. 



Captain Christy, when well-grown, is a magnificent rose, 

 but it is seldom seen in quantity, being considered rather shy 

 in blooming. Baroness Rothschild, Merveille de Lyons and 

 Madame Gabriel Luizet especially have all been seen in good 

 condition. Mdlle. Marie Cointet has been tested as a forcing 

 Rose, but did not prove a success, the flowers failing to open 

 properly. Emperor of Morocco, an old Rose, has been forced 

 on a small scale this winter, but while it is a handsome flower 

 it is too dark in color to become very popular, as there is but 

 little demand for very dark roses at any time. 



Holmesburg, Pa. W. H. Taplin. 



Notes on American Plants. 



THE Calendine Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) is now in 

 full bloom. Its dense masses of foliage are of a light 

 green shade, a foot or more high, among which the numerous 

 bright yellow flowers, often two inches wide, are displayed in 

 fine contrast. It is a plant one would notice from a distance, 

 and especially at this season, for its abundance of foliage. A 

 fine and rich soil in open sunlight is what it likes. 



Cardamine rhomboidea, var. purpurea (Spring Cress), is a 

 charming little plant, about six inches high, which flowers 

 about the same time as the Spring Beauties, and somewhat 

 resembles them in the color of its flowers. They are borne 

 in a cyme and are rose-purple, lasting a week or more. Its 

 natural home is said to be in rich soil along streams from 

 western New York and Pennsylvania to Wisconsin. It cer- 

 tainly deserves a place in every collection of American plants. 



It is interesting to note the difference in the flowers of the 

 white variety of the purple Trillium (T. erectum, var. album) 

 from different localities. We get from Pennsylvania the true 

 var. Album, with, pure white flowers, as white as those of T. 

 grandiflorum. Indeed, a casual observer would take them for 

 the flowers of that plant. From Connecticut we get another 

 form of this variety, which is intermediate between the pure 

 white and the typical T. erectum. In the Connecticut form the 

 petals are of a yellowish shade, with a sprinkling of purple. 

 Both forms of the variety and the true purple type all flower- 

 ing together make an interesting display of this species. 



Heuchera Americana (common Alum-root), when stimulated 

 by cultivation, is a valuable plant for its foliage. The root- 

 leaves, which endure through the winter, are often over two 

 inches wide, of a velvety appearance above, and somewhat 

 variegated. This variegation is not so intense, of course, as in 

 many greenhouse plants grown for this reason, but is suffi- 

 ciently strong to make the leaf very beautiful, and at no sea- 

 son more conspicuous than in early spring as soon as the 

 snow disappears, precisely the time when they would be most 

 appreciated. Later in June, when the long scape has devel- 

 oped its loose panicle of pretty greenish purple flowers, and 

 at a time when it has its greatest number of rivals, it is even 

 then an attractive plant, and its flowers are useful for cutting. 

 Its natural home is in rocky woodlands, and it is, no doubt, a 

 valuable plant for rockeries. Yet it can be grown in any light 

 rich soil in shade or sun. It is, however, probable that a 

 partly shaded situation suits it best. 



Jeffersonia diphylla (Twin-leaf, also called Rheumatism- 

 root) is now in flower. Its height is only six or eight inches, 

 and the single white flower, about an inch wide, is of short 

 life and endures about as long as that of a Tigridia. The leaves 

 are on long stems from the root and are curiously separated 

 into two parts. It is an interesting plant for collections. It 

 needs a rich soil and prefers shade. 



Southwick, Mass. ■? • -H- Horsford. 



Hardy Plants for Cut Flowers. — IV. 



'THE flowers of herbaceous plants often need some addi- 

 -*- tional foliage as a setting to display them to the best 

 advantage. Ferula communis is a noble plant, both for the 

 back row of the border and for cutting purposes ; the leaves 

 are beautifully divided, of a bright, shining green color, 

 and when the plants get well established are twelve to 

 eighteen inches wide, and are invaluable for arranging 

 with cut flowers. Gypsophila paniculata is another plant 

 that is also most useful. The individual flowers are small 

 and inconspicuous, but they are produced on many-branched 

 panicles, which gives them the appearance of fine mist, and 

 when mingled with other flowers in a vase make a charming 

 effect. The Gillenias are pretty native plants that blend 

 well with flowers when cut. Their pretty white flowers are 

 not large, but are borne on a much-branched stein and last 

 a long time. There are two species, G. trifoliata and G. 

 stipulacea, the one flowering just after the other has done, so 

 that their flowers may be had for several weeks in summer. 

 They should be grown by all who wish useful plants to cut 

 from. 



The herbaceous Pasonies are general favorites, the newer 

 varieties many of them are very fragrant, the colors are 

 beautifully blended and are very showy where large effects 

 are needed. It has recently been stated that Paeonies take 

 three years to flower after being moved, but this statement is 

 misleading. Our plants, which include some eighty varieties, 

 were all moved and divided last year in April, and most of 

 them flowered in May and June. It is sometimes said to be 

 best to move Pasonies in fall. This is also open to question, 

 for when shifted at that time they are very liable to be lifted 



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