390 



Garden and Forest. 



[August 14, 1889. 



blotch in the centre. The new 0. Harryaniiin seems to be 

 common now, and has proved not difficult to manage, and one 

 of tiie best forms of it was shown, wliich is far more beautiful 

 than those one usually sees of it. Those interested in Orchids 

 of botanical merit were pleased with the little PliytosipJion 

 Loddigesii, which has leaves like a Masdevallia, and tiny nan- 

 keen-yellow flowers on slender spikes. A botanical certificate 

 was luianimously voted to it. 



The General Floral Committee awarded four tirst-class cer- 

 tificates. One was to a golden-hued conifer, Retiiiosporafili- 

 fcra aurea, shown by Messrs. Veitch, and which is considered 

 a "good thing," but, as the ordinary green form of this conifer 

 is not a first-rate hardy tree, the golden form of it can scarcely 

 be e.xpected to be so, except in a few localities. An enormous 

 variety of Iris Kcpiiipferi, named White Banner, received a 

 unanimous award. The flowers measured no less than ten 

 inches across, with petals four inches wide, and the whole 

 almost pure white. In fact, it carried but a faint suggestion of 

 a lilac tint. It is the finest Iris yet seen. A first-rate plant is 

 Rhodanthe maculata flore pleno, which Messrs. Veitch sliowed. 

 The Howers are very double, and perfectly globular, like an 

 incurved Chrysanthemum in miniature. There were two 

 forms, one with pure white flowers, the other a rich rosy-pink. 

 It is said to come here from seed, and lasts much longer in 

 perfection than ordinary single flowers. Mr. Ware won a cer- 

 tificate for his new variety of Panther Lily {Lilmm pardalimim 

 luteiini), the flowers of which are a rich orange-yellow, copi- 

 ously spotted with black. It differs from the variety Warei 

 (also new), which, besides the absence of crimson in the 

 nower)- is spotless. Some awards of merit were voted to a 

 pure white Carnation, a border variety, with large, smooth- 

 petaled flowers, an improvement on Gloire de Nancy ; to 

 some exceptionally fine flowers of the Hose-in-hose Canter- 

 bury Bells \Campajiula Medium calycanthenid), Avith tints rang- 

 ing from pure white through pinks to purples ; to a neat little 

 Capsicum, named Coral Red, with an abundance of small, 

 bright-red fruits, and to a collection of Auricula-flowered Sweet 

 Williams, a beautiful class of plants that of late years seem to 

 have suffered neglect. 



Among other noteworthy exhibits were some flowering 

 shrubs from Messrs. Veitch, including the pretty Notospar- 

 tiiim Carinichaelce, a leguminous shrub from New Zealand ; 

 a variety of Cupressus Nuikaejisis, with silvery -touched 

 foliage ; and C. Goveniana, a Californian species recalling the 

 common C. viacrocarpa in general aspect. 



The Fruit Committee had a few good novelties to deal with, 

 and they certificated a new Raspberry, named Hornet, from 

 Messrs. Rivers ; a new Pea, Consummate ; a large-podded 

 Marron Melon, Countess, white, very juicy and richly-flavored ; 

 and Lettuce la Grosse Paresseuse, a late Cabbage variety, of 

 French origin, but shown by Messrs. Veitch. W. Goldriiig. 



Cultural Department. 



Planting Strawberries. 



'T'HE fall-planting of Strawberries is generally attended with 

 -*- the best results the more nearly it approaches summer- 

 planting. July is as much better than August for this work as 

 August is better than September. Those who claim that 

 planting can be done as late as October and November, with 

 success, probably mean that these plants will pass the winter 

 safely ; but the results of such late work will not compare with 

 that following work done a month or two earlier. Even then 

 all conditions should be favorable, and the plants should be 

 inerely moved from one portion of the grounds to another, 

 and with as little disturbance of the roots as possible. In case 

 of plants received from a distance, such late work, as a rule, is 

 not very satisfactory, and is not to be commended. A partial 

 crop of fruit is all the advocates of fall-planting can expect. 



Plants set now, and well cared for, should give a full crop 

 next season, a gain of a year over next spring's setting ; but to 

 insure this the plants should be handled with care, and have 

 the benefit of good soil and generous treatment. The ground 

 from which early Peas, Potatoes or Sweet Corn has been taken 

 is a good place for the new Strawberry-bed. If the ground 

 is not rich, it should be made so by well-decomposed stable- 

 manure or commercial fertilizer, well worked in, and the 

 plants carefully lifted, with sufficient soil attached to keep the 

 roots intact and cause as little check as possible. Rows twenty 

 inches apart, and plants set twelve to fifteen inches in the 

 row, are very good distances. Care should be taken to get the 

 crown of the plant even with, but never below, the surface of 

 the ground. A deviation from this rule, simple as it is, often 

 proves fatal to the plant. The advice to set trees a little deeper 



than they stood in the nursery is good in some instances, but 

 it should in no case be extended to Strawberries. 



This excessively moist weather is extremely favorable for 

 the successful establishment of new beds, and when the ele- 

 ments favor, is our opportunity. Plants that have been rooted 

 in pots while still attached to the parent plant, have of lateyears 

 become quite an important item in the trade, and for transport- 

 ing long distances, if properly managed, they help to insure 

 against losses, because when tin^ned out of the pots, and the ball 

 of earth, with every root entire, is wrapped in paper and well 

 ]3acked, they carry with |>erfect safety. But where one has 

 plants of his own growing, or when he gets his stock near by, 

 potted plants possess no advantage. If they have been potted 

 so long as to become pot-bound, they are really inferior. With 

 such plants it is best to break up the ball of earth and roots 

 when planting, to give new roots a better chance to start. If 

 plants are dry or wilted on arrival, they should be watered 

 when set, and shaded from the sun a few days till they recover. 

 The removal of one or two of the first leaves is also beneficial 

 in either case, as there is less surface for evaporation. Where 

 one can dig his plants with a lump of earth attached and the 

 roots in their natural position, one has no occasion to use 

 potted ones. 



For the amateur there is no better way than to renew his beds 

 every year, as above indicated. The ground can be kept in 

 constant use, and Strawberries invariably protluce the finest 

 and best fruit at the first crop. It is often more expensive and 

 troublesome to clean out an old bed than to plant and care for a 

 new one. These new beds should be frequently hoed, to 

 induce thegreatest growth possible, and on the approach or 

 advent of freezing weather, the entire bed should be lightly cov- 

 ered with leaves, salt hay, straw, or coarse manure. It is frequent 

 freezing and thawing that injures Strawberry-plants by lifting 

 and breaking the roots. Mulching is of more value in keep- 

 ing the frost in than keeping it out, and should not be so thick 

 as to smother the plants. In spring the crowns of the plants 

 can be uncoveretl when danger of late frosts is over. 



Among the newer sorts that seem to have made a record 

 the past season over a wide extent of country, of sufficient 

 promise to justify a general trial in a limited way, we may men- 

 tion Pearl, Jessie, Bubach, Warfield and Haverland. 

 Montciair, N.J. E. Williams. 



Transplanting Herbaceous Perennials. 



A GOOD portion of the hardy herbaceous perennials, if 

 properly cared for, can be transplanted with better results 

 in the latter part, or even the middle, of summer than late in 

 autumn. Early-flowering plants, which start into growth as 

 soon as the snow is off' in sprmg, make their preparation for 

 this the previous autumn. If we will examine closely our 

 beds of such early jjlants as the Trilliums, Claytonias, Early 

 Anemones, etc., just before winter, we will find the flower-buds 

 for the coming year well formed, ready to start into growth the 

 moment spring arrives. The middle or last of August is not 

 too early to set such plants. It is much better to set them 

 early, so that they can make their autumnal growth where they 

 will remain through the winter, flian to transplant them just be- 

 fore winter. There is always more or less loss of fibrous roots 

 in lifting such plants, and, when the transplanting is done early, 

 the plant can recover before winter. Such plants as the 

 Trilliums, Erythroniums, early-flowering Anemones, Thalic- 

 trums, Violets, etc., will do better the next season if trans- 

 planted early. Indeed, this list, so far as hardy herbaceous 

 plants are concerned, could be almost indefinitely extended. 

 We have transplanted during their flowering season, with the 

 best possible results, such kinds as the Lady Slippers, Golden 

 Rods, Asters, Senecioaureus, Pentstemon pubescetis; the Cone- 

 Flowers, etc. Such varieties should be cut back almost, if not 

 quite, to the roots. 



It frequendy happens that the driest part of the year comes 

 at this time, and, if such is the case, sufficient moisture, which 

 is very necessary, should be artificially supplied until the plants 

 become well established. 



Most of our bulbs for fall planting do better when set early. 

 A new growth of fibrous roots is formed, which enables the 

 plant to start sooner and stronger in the spring. We have had 

 better success with Lilies which were planted early. In fact, we 

 prefer wintering them in a cool cellar to late setting. Many 

 plants, especially Lilies, are greatly reduced by seed-bearing. 

 Plants of L. Canadense, taken up while in flower and the bulbs 

 then replanted, will give better blooms the following year than 

 if left to seed in their original location. The same may be said 

 of others. As soon as the seed-vessels begin to form there is 

 a great demand upon the bulb. Those who do not allow their 



