552 



Garden and Forest 



[November 12, iJ 



examination, were found to consist of numerous filaments of 

 the Rot-fungus, many of which were bearing a half dozen 

 spores, some apparently of full size. In four hours, therefore, 

 the filaments within the potato had grown from the cut sur- 

 face and "fruited," as the term is used by mycologists. This 

 experiment indicates how rapidly the Rot-fungus may spread 

 in a Potato-field. 



It is a well known fact that the Potato-rot Fungus, as a rule, 

 does not do its greatest damage until midsummer, and often 

 not until late in September, as in the present instance. It is 

 an advantage, therefore, all other things being considered, to 

 plant early and to have the crops harvested before the decay 

 becomes serious. Some of the people in southern New Jer- 

 sey planted late to escape the Potato-beetles. There may be 

 other advantages, in a good year, in having the crop late, as 

 the labor is better distributed and the yield is larger ; but in a 

 wet season it is fatal. Aside from early planting, something 

 can be done to check the Rot-fungus by spraying the vines. 

 Experiments have proved that compounds of copper, as the 

 Bordeaux mixture and others, are effective for Potato-rot. 

 The fungicide may be mixed with water containing London- 

 purple used for the beetles, and applied at the same time. A 

 few sprayings in an ordinary year may save the foliage. 



Rutgers College. Byron D. Halsted. 



Late-Flowering Asters. 



A. Shortii. — This desirable plant is from four to five feet 

 high, and it bears in great profusion flowers about an inch 

 across, with pale lilac-blue ray-florets. The blooming season 

 extends from the middle of October till the middle of Novem- 

 ber. It is found from Ohio to Georgia, westward to Illinois 

 and Kentucky. Holding its flowers undamaged later than 

 any other native Aster, the scarcity of other flowers and the 

 forlorn nature of its surroundings render its aspect and utility 

 more striking than would be the case earlier in the season. 

 Rich garden soil, a position sheltered from strong winds and 

 partially shaded from noonday sun are the conditions most 

 favorable to the development of its best qualities. In an ex- 

 posed sunny position or in light soil the growth of the plant is 

 less vigorous, and, while it blooms earlier under such cir- 

 cumstances, the fewer flowers of indifferent quality pass away 

 before those on plants in the right situation begin to unfold. 



A. Tartaricus. — This species comes from Tartary, having 

 been introduced in 1818. In general appearance it differs 

 widely from the ordinary species of this country. The thick, 

 somewhat succulent stem is boldly erect, its surface promi- 

 nently furrowed, and is generally more than six feet high. 

 This plant has three distinct series of leaves. They are 

 all oblanceolate and of a rather pale green color. Those of 

 the radical series are fully two feet in length, crenate and con- 

 verging at the base to a long petiole. The much smaller leaves 

 of the stem are sessile and conspicuously serrate, and those of 

 the branches still smaller, sessile and minutely serrate. The 

 racemose-paniculate heads are few-flowered, the flowers, how- 

 ever, being an inch in diameter, with showy rays of deep red- 

 dish lilac. The plant is valuable chiefly on account of its late- 

 flowering character, the flowers developing during the latter 

 part of October and early in November. Half of the flowers 

 still remain unopened. This plant is found useful here for 

 cutting from, but in the warmer climate of states farther south 

 it should prove still more valuable. A rather poor soil and 

 a situation well exposed to sunshine are required to induce the 

 plant to flower in this locality before severe frost renders it 

 impossible. 



A. turbinellus. — This is without doubt the best of the late- 

 flowering kinds. It is native in Illinois, Missouri and Louisiana. 

 The stems attain a height of from three to four feet, and push 

 branches from the axil of almost every leaf. The leaves are 

 comparatively small, dark green, lanceolate and sessile. The 

 flowers are about one and a half inches across, with ray 

 florets of a showy blue tint, reflexed at the tip. The in- 

 stances of more than one flower developing upon the same 

 branchlet are exceptional, though one may occasionally find 

 as many as three. The free-branching habit of the plant, how- 

 ever, ensures a bountiful supply of flowers. Strong clumps 

 make an excellent display in the herbaceous border during 

 the early part of October. The stems, of course, require 

 staking, but if all the branches are left to assume their natur- 

 ally pendulous habit the gracefulness of the mass will be 

 materially enhanced. The time at which this Aster blooms 

 renders it most useful for cutting, and space should be found 

 for a few clumps of it for that reason. It is found at its best 

 in a sheltered, sunny position in moderately rich soil. I am 

 told that A. Icevis is sometimes substituted for this species by 



dealers. A. lavis is a worthy enough subject in its place; but 

 it is a less elegant plant with much coarser leaves, and its 

 smaller blue flowers are past when those of A. turbinellus 

 commence to expand. Purchasers, therefore, should be care- 

 ful as to the reliability of the dealer with whom their orders are 

 placed. 



Cambridge Botanical Gardens. M. Barker. 



Brunfelsias. 

 "DRUNFELSIAS (Francisceas) are handsome Brazilian 

 *-* shrubs, several species of which have long been in 

 cultivation, though comparatively rare in American col- 

 lections. These plants need a warm-house, and do not 

 thrive if given too much sun. Full exposure to the light 

 and heat during the summer is not best for them, and though 

 they enjoy liberal watering and syringing when in active growth, 

 discretion should be used or the plants may become sodden 

 and thus lose their roots. When this occurs it becomes rather 

 a tedious operation to restore the plant to health. As to soil, 

 Brunfelsias prefer a light peaty mixture, rather coarse and 

 fibrous, and with good drainage ; some lumps of charcoal are 

 a useful addition. The propagation of the Brunfelsias is 

 effected by means of cuttings made of the young growth ; 

 these root readily when kept rather close and subjected to a 

 moderate bottom heat. The young plants grow quite rapidly 

 in a temperature of sixty to sixty-five degrees, and the shoots 

 should be pinched occasionally to encourage a bushy habit. 



Old established plants will bear severe cutting back to keep 

 them compact in form, as when they are allowed to take their 

 own way they are apt to become rather straggling in appear- 

 ance. 



Regarding varieties it may be stated that B. calycina and B. 

 calycina major are among the most showy. B. calycina major 

 is a garden variety of B. calycina, and is quite similar in general 

 appearance to the type, but rather stronger in growth. It bears 

 larger flowers, which are often four inches in diameter, a deep 

 purple color when first open, but fading several shades lighter 

 as the flower ages. The leaves are lanceolate, from four to 

 six inches long and bright shining green. 



B. eximia is another fine species, and produces flowers 

 about two inches in diameter and viole't in color. The foliage 

 of this species is not so large as that of the preceding, nor so 

 bright, being dull dark green. B. eximia is not difficult to 

 manage and continues in flower for a long time, and for this 

 deserves special mention. 



A much smaller variety than either of the preceding is 

 B. unijlora, which is more useful when small than the stronger 

 growers, from the fact that it makes a compact little plant and 

 is almost continuously in bloom. The flowers are compara- 

 tively small, and about the color of a Neapolitan Violet at first, 

 but gradually fade to white, the different colors of the flowers 

 on the same plant having rather an odd effect. This plant is 

 also of some repute in Brazil as a remedy for certain diseases, 

 the roots, and in some instances the leaves also, being used as 

 a medicine, and for this reason it is there known as "Vegeta- 

 ble Mercury." 



B. Lindeniana is also worthy of cultivation, and has some- 

 what similar characteristics to B. unijlora, but is larger and 

 stronger. Its flowers are bright purple, with a light centre, 

 and very showy, and the leaves are of medium size, dark 

 green and rather pubescent. 



There are several other species which produce quite showy 

 flowers, but those I have mentioned are most easily procured. 



Holmesburg, Pa. W. H. Taplhl. 



Enemies of Chrysanthemums. 



w 



HILE most of our Chrysanthemums are good, and a few 

 exceptionally so, it is evident that they would have been 

 much better, but for various diseases from which they have 

 suffered. It cannot be true that failure, so frequently reported, 

 is generally the result of carelessness. A good rich soil, when 

 pot-grown, moderately rich when planted out; plenty of water; 

 careful attention with regard to stopping growths, so as to 

 obtain bushy plants ; disbudding, to obtain good-sized flowers 

 well distributed over the specimens. These seem to be neces- 

 sities in cultivation. 



The various insects which abstract the juices by means of a 

 beak or proboscis, such as are commonly called chinch bugs, 

 have been numerous as well as various. They appear to have 

 been quite local in their ravages. As was stated by Mr. Jack 

 in a recent number of Garden and Forest, no external appli- 

 cation is of any use in overcoming them except temporarily. 



Insects common here could hardly be found in a collection 

 two miles away, where another prevailed which gave us no 



