3o6 



Garden and Forest. 



[June 26, 1889. 



rtovver than grandiflorum, with large blotched leaves flat on 

 the ground and a tall flower-stem carrying two or three large 

 white or pale-pink flowers. I believe it was introduced by 

 Mr. Ware two years ago. 



Of Fritillarias I find that the finest form of Imperialis is not 

 generally known. It is much more robust and taller than the 

 forms usually cultivated, and has flowers about three inches 

 long. The form known in Holland as Lord Derby is some- 

 thing like it, but has smaller and more copper-colored flowers. 

 The lately introduced form, Inodora, though variable in size 

 and color of flowers, which are usually much smaller than 

 those of the old Crown Imperial, is at least a fortnight earlier 

 and is now quite over. Of other uncommon Fritillarias I 

 think F. pallidiflora and F. Moggridgei sive the best ; the latter 

 is perhaps only a form of the old F. latifolia. But when seen 

 in large quantity there is no prettier Fritillary than the white 

 Meleagris, of which there are many thousands in a meadow in 

 this neighborhood, and which is easily raised from seed, 

 though a few of the seedlings come to the usual color. 



With the exception of A', cyclamineiis, N. Johnstoni, ■and a 

 small pretty form of N. iiioschahis, the Narcissi collected in 

 Spain by Mr. Barr are disappointing, and I think we have pretty 

 nearly exhausted the variety which exists in this genus, unless 

 something can be done by hybridizing with the Glenans va- 

 riety of N. triaiidrus, which is one of the most graceful and 

 best of its tribe, though not hardy enough for a border plant. 



Piischkiiiia Libanotica and Chionodoxa LiicilicE, though two 

 of the best early spring bulbs, are becoming perfect weeds 

 with me, and seed themselves on the grass and everywhere. 

 Of Muscari there is none equal for ordinary garden purposes 

 to one which I believe was brought from Rome by the late 

 Mr. Harper Crewe as M. conicum. It is not so early as several 

 others, and not so pretty in color as ligulatum, but far better 

 than most of the sorts usually grown, and a perfect weed in 

 the rapidity with which it increases. 



H. .J. Elwes, in Gardeners' Chronicle. 



Notes on Wild Flowers. 



'X'HE Showy Lady Slipper {Cypripedmin spectablle), now in 

 -'- flower, is by far the finest species we have. It grows 

 about two feet high, with numerous, large, light green leaves 

 along the stem, which terminates in one or more — rarely four 

 or five — large, white, pink and purple flowers. These remain 

 fresh several days. In the right location it is not a difficult 

 plant to grow. In sandy, gravelly, or slaty soil, plenty of peat 

 or leaf-moifld must be added. It is a lover of moisture, and 

 does best in the shade. It is often found in the open sunlight 

 growing naturally, but in very moist locations, and such plants 

 are seldom as large as those found in partial shade. Too 

 much shade, however, is worse than none. We have noticed 

 in thick Cedar-swamps plants growing year after year in a 

 weak, sickly way, without flowering, when if a few rays of the 

 sun could have reached them they would have been as strong 

 as possible. 



Habenaria viridis, var. bracteata, and H. Hookeri, two of the 

 Rein-Orchis family, are now in flower. Both are low-growing 

 (six to twelve inches), greenish-flowered species, not showy, but 

 grown in collections of hardy Orchids, to some extent, both 

 in this country and in Europe. The two large orbicular leaves 

 in the latter, lying close to the ground, from between which 

 comes the flowering stem, make it the more desirable of the 

 two. As seen growing, these plants are interesting, and re- 

 main green a good portion of the season, but the flowers are 

 too near the foliage in color to be of much value. They are 

 easily grown, and would tlirive in the shade where grass 

 would not grow. 



Saxifraga Aizoon is a rare northern species, more gener- 

 ally cultivated in Europe than in this country. The flowers 

 are white or cream-colored, and rather pretty. Its natural loca- 

 tion is on moist rocks, and when planted in ordinary soil in 

 the sun it is apt to become too dry. Placed in the shade, it 

 seems to be weak and sickly. On the whole, we do not think 

 it desirable except for moist rock-work, where it would be 

 quite valuable. 



Draba arabisans, now m flower, is as pretty a plant, per- 

 haps, as either Saxifraga Aizoon or S. Virginiensis. It grows 

 on dry rocky banks, and would thrive in localities where few 

 other plants would live. Its height is from four to twelve inches. 

 It often grows in dense tufts bearing its white flowers in great 

 profusion. We have never cultivated this plant, but believe 

 it might be valuable in some locations, and could probably be 

 obtained from seed better than from living plants. 



Lewisia rediviva is a little, low plant, three to four inches 

 high, from northern California and Oregon, where it is said 



to grow naturally in granite sand and on ledges. Its flowers 

 are large and showy, from one to two inches in diameter, with 

 thin, membranaceous, light purple sepals, and nearly pure 

 white petals. We have grown it two years in a clay loam, and 

 it has stood the winters without protection. 



The Meadovv-Rues {ThalictruDi Cornuti, now in flower, 

 M'hich is the taller, and T. dioicutn, which is much earlier, and 

 not so tall, but a prettier plant), are both more desirable for their 

 beautiful foliage than for their flowers, though the flowers of 

 the former are pretty. But their foliage, especially that of T. 

 dioicutn, is very fine, and lasts from the time it is in flower 

 until late in autumn. It will thrive on dryer ground than T. 

 Cornuti, and is a desirable plant for shaded corners where 

 other plants would not live ; while T. Cornicti would be more 

 suital)le for wet places. 



Calochortiis lilacinus, one of the many species of Butterfly 

 Tulips, is now in flower. It was sent to us from Modoc 

 Coimty, California. The plant is quite small, only three or 

 four inches high, and the flowers come from near the ground 

 on stems so short as to be worthless for cutting. They are 

 three-fourth.s of an inch in diameter, white, tinged with purple, 

 and quite handsome. The bulbs may be wintered in dry earth 

 in the cellar. We have not tested the hardiness of the plant. 

 Two Columbines from Oregon [Aquilegia forniosa and A.fla- 

 vescens) are now in flower. The former closely resembles our 

 common A. Canadense in color. It is a taller and stronger 

 growing plant, and later in flowering. A. fiavescens has pale- 

 ish-yellow flowers, in shape much like A. Canadense, but not 

 showy. Both are desirable plants and easy of culture. 



One of the prettiest wild Anemones, and a hardy one, too, 

 when once established, is the Pennsylvania Anemone, now 

 called A. dichotoma. The flowers are almost pure wliite, and 

 an inch or more wide. It likes a rich, moist soil, and con- 

 tinues in flower for a long time. „ ,^ ^ 



Charlotte, Vt, June lotli. F. H. Horsford. 



Orchid Notes. 



Calaiithe Doininii'xs an attractive and useful Orchid belong- 

 ing to the evergreen section. It is one of the earliest hybrids, 

 and is the result of crossing C. masuca with C 'furcata. The 

 broad, plicate leaves are deep green, and will remain in good 

 condition until the new growths are well advanced. The 

 scapes are erect, about two feet high and bear a profusion of 

 mauve-colored flowers, about an inch across. This may be 

 successfully grown in rich stove-plant soil in an intermediate 

 temperature, and kept moist all the year round. 



Vanda Bateinannii. This noble species is now in flower. 

 It is of immense growth, only suitable for large houses, 

 as it will grow to a great height. The stem is stout, 

 closely clasped with long, narrow, deeply channelled, .leathery 

 leaves. The racemes which spring from the axils of these are 

 erect, stout and about six feet long, bearing a great many 

 very handsome flowers. These are thick, dull, flesh-colored, 

 blotched with crimson in front, while the back is rosy-purple. 

 The racemes last nearly the whole summer, growing, and de- 

 veloping new flowers from the apex. The plant was intro- 

 duced nearly fifty years ago from the Moluccas, and requires 

 the most liberal treatment in respect to heat and water. The 

 pots should be well drained and the potting material should 

 consist of lumps of peat, chopped moss and nodules of char- 

 coal, with a few lumps of dry cow-manure. It blooms very 

 freely with us, and should it ever become " leggy" the head 

 can be cut oft' in early summer and potted, when it will 

 quickly become established. The old stem will produce a 

 number of shoots, and these may be taken off as soon as the 

 new roots appear, and will make better looking plants than 

 when left on the old plant. 



Epidendrum vitellinum is an Orchid to be commended. It 

 flowers at a somewhat dull season, and a few spikes of its gay 

 and unique colored flowers go a long way to brighten and bring 

 out the sober tints of the Odontoglossums, with which this spe- 

 cies should be grown. It is generally distributed through Mexico 

 and the adjoining states, usually found growing on rocks or 

 stumps of trees at high altitudes and under such conditions 

 as the cooler Odontoglossums need, and it requires the same 

 treatment as recommended for these. It grows freely, however, 

 on blocks or rafts of wood, and should be kept somewhat dryer 

 during the resting season. The clustered bulbs are ovate- 

 lanceolate, with two acute, oblong ligulate leaves, both leaves 

 and bulbs being of a peculiar glaucous hue. The erect 

 racemes are often branched, and bear from twenty to thirty 

 flowers about an inch across, the color being a vermilion- 

 orange. The acute lip and the column is of bright yellow, 

 while the anther-cap is red. The flowers last about two months 



