August 21, 1889.] 



Garden and Forest. 



405 



Aquatics in Small Gardens. 



T T AVING made an experiment in the culture of water plants 

 J^ in my small garden (part of a city lot), with very satis- 

 factory results, I should like to call the attention of other am- 

 ateurs, especially growers of hardy plants, to some of the pos- 

 sibilities of the water-garden and its surroundings — and espe- 

 cially of the surroimdings — for this feature has been somewhat 

 neglected by the numerous writers on the subject. Owners 

 of the smallest gardens, if sunny, will lind a water-garden an 

 attractive and useful feature and a very slight trouble; if there 

 are any difficulties in cultivation I have yet to find them. The 

 catalogues of dealers in these plants give full particulars as to 

 construction of tanks, etc., but, in a primitive way, barrels or 

 casks cut in two answer very well, though rather cramped 

 quarters laterally for vigorous plants. There is an lesthetic 

 objection to them, too, since their rims break up the water 

 surface and reduce its apparent "breadth." It is well to sink 

 the tubs several inches below the groimd-levei and slope the 

 ground towards them. 



A tank may be cheaply constructed of Portland cement 

 alone in heavy soil, or with cement and bricks in a light por- 

 ous one. Four to six inches of good fibrous loam with one- 

 third well-rotted manure should be firmed in the tubs and cov- 

 red with an inch of clean sand, to prevent the manure from 

 rising ; in this compost the plants are to be fixed carefully and 

 firmly and tubs are then filled with water, after which water is 

 only added as may be made necessary by evaporation, for the 

 temperature should not be reduced unnecessarily. A pair 

 of goldfish in each cask and a frog or two will keep the water 

 sweet and clear, add life to the picture and interest the young 

 members of the family. 



Rare varieties of Water Lilies, etc., are held at high prices, 

 but a visit to the nearest pond and swamp will furnish abun- 

 dance of interesting material and enable one to study closely 

 some of our attractive native plants. Our native Pond Lily may, 

 of course, be had in many sections for the gathering. But it 

 is in the surroundings of such a garden that I have been spe- 

 cially interested, as such a station is the place for many things, 

 large and small, which are niore or less unhappy in an ordi- 

 nary dry border and Hourish in moist earth and, perhaps, a 

 somewhat humid atmosphere. Every grower of alpines will 

 appreciate such a locality in his garden. It will be well to vary 

 the height of the surrounding ground so that stations more or 

 less dry may be had for various plants according to their re- 

 quirements. 



In the background may be grown bold groups of Cannas, 

 Eucalyptus, some of the Irises, Spiraeas, Caladiums, Bamboos, 

 and the large grasses. The low and intermediate places will 

 be havens for some of the Saxifrages, Primulas {P. obcoiiica is 

 a treasure there). Ferns, Lobelias and a host of little things. 

 Peat-beds should be made near the borders in which to grow 

 terrestrial Orchids and various peat-loving plants, which are 

 so interesting and so difficult to care for in the borders. The 

 clumps of peat will be sure to send up some interesting wild- 

 ings. Of course, in planting out, it will be necessary to arrange 

 that shade shall be provided over some of the shade-loving 

 plants. If tubs are used their margins may be hidden by some 

 of the vigorous creepers. My "lake" consists of four half- 

 casks, three in a row, with rims touching, and the fourth in the 

 angle between the second and third, to give some irregularity 

 of outline. Three varieties of Nymphaga are blooming here 

 with Water Poppies, Pontederias, and many more. Just now, 

 under the shadow of some Caladium leaves, Shortia and 

 Galax are both thriving in the peat and among the Ferns. 

 Any amateur who is fond of other than routine work will be 

 sure to find the water-garden and its borders, arranged as 

 hinted above, a decided and, perhaps, novel pleasure, and he 

 will be surprised, too, at the number and variety of beautifid 

 plants that can be successfully grown and effectively grouped 

 in the water and about its borders. 



Elizabeth, N. J. /. N. Gerard. 



Crotons as Bedding Plants. 



AFTER a period of comparative neglect, this very hand- 

 some class of variegated-leaved plants seems to be grad- 

 ually regaining a place in popular favor, though on a very 

 different ground from that which they once occupied. For- 

 merly they were only known and treated as stove-plants. And 

 while splendid specimens have been produced for exhibi- 

 tion in this way, the plants so grown were, nevertheless, of 

 little value for any other purpose, and in some cases the foliage 

 was so soft from high cultivation that an exposure to the at- 

 mosphere of an exhibition-hall for three or four days was 

 enough to ruin them for the remainder of the season. 



We must admit the beauty of specimens four to six feet in 

 height and almost as much in diameter, for such have fre- 

 quently been shown in the past, but the knowledge of the 

 method l)y which they were grown has, no doubt, caused a 

 feeling of distrust in the minds of amateur cultivators in re- 

 gard to the value of Crotons for their use, and the popularity 

 of these noble plants has, therefore, seemed to diminish untd 

 recent years, when it has been abundantly proved that another 

 field for usefulness and distinction lay open for tliem. That 

 is, it has been shown that they possess great decorative capa- 

 bilities when used as bedding plants out-doors. A notable in- 

 stance of this was seen in the large Croton beds near Horticul- 

 tural Hall, Fairmount Park, Philadelpiiia, where their beauty 

 excited much favorable comment from visitors last season. 



But when Crotons are used in this way it should be remem- 

 bered that strong, healthy plants only should be chosen. Dis- 

 appointment almost certainly awaits the planter who puts out 

 small, weak plants in the hope that they may be improved there- 

 by. And, again, the plants should be prepared for the change 

 by removing them from the stove in which they may have been 

 grown, and placing them in a light, airy house for some 

 weeks before planting, for it is hardly reasonable to suppose 

 that a plant grown in the close, moist atmosphere of a tropi- 

 cal house will be able to withstand the very variable condi- 

 tions of a summer in tliis latitude without a hardening proc- 

 ess in preparation for the change. 



The plants should be well established in four-inch to six- 

 inch pots, or even in larger ones, since they can be so ar- 

 ranged in the bed that the sizes will not interfere, and they 

 should also be planted moderately close together, so as to give 

 an immediate effect. The beds should be thoroughly pre- 

 pared, and, if the ground is low, should be well drained and 

 filled with a light, rich loam, or suitable mixture. As regards 

 location, they should have plenty of sunlight, as this tends to 

 bring out the rich colorings of the foliage and encourages 

 stronger growth, and it may be added that if the season be 

 dry It may be found necessary to give the bed a thorough wa- 

 tering at intervals. 



As is quite natural from the native habitat of these plants 

 (the South Sea Islands), they are quite suscepdble to cold, and 

 consequently should not l)e planted out too early in the sea- 

 son — from the loth to the 15th of June being quite early 

 enough in an ordinary season — and, since it usually is desira- 

 ble to preserve them for use another year, it will be found best 

 to lift them at the first sign of frost, so that they will need no 

 nursing to restore them to their previous vigor. 



When lifted in the fall they should be cut back quite hard, 

 potted into as small pots as possible, placed in a warm, moist 

 house, where they should have frequent light syringings to 

 induce them to break into new growth, after which they may 

 be potted on, as it becomes necessary, and treated as usual. 

 Among the multitude of fine varieties of Crotons now in cul- 

 tivation it is somewhat difficult to pick out a short list of sorts 

 to be used for bedding-out, and the taste of the individual 

 grower must be consulted in the selection of varieties, bearing 

 in mind that the better plan is to select those of strong growth, 

 distinct form and rich coloring. Almost any variety possess- 

 ing these marked characteristics is likely to give satisfaction. 



The following list may serve as a basis to work from — all 

 the varieties are easily procured, distinct and reliable : Crototi 

 Evansiaiiuni, C. inajcsticuin, C. Mortii, C. Veiichii, C. Yoiingii, 

 C. interrtiptuin, C. longifolhcin, C. Challenger, C. princeps and 

 C. picdim — these giving enough variety to experiment with. 

 Additions may easily be made to this list as required. 



Holmesburg, Pa. W. H. Taplin. 



Filling In About Trees. — It became necessary to raise the level 

 of the ground two or three feet in a small garden, last spring, 

 where a dozen young Pear-trees stood. It was not deemed 

 worth while to transplant the trees, which were some fifteen feet 

 high, and just commencing to bear, and therefore it was de- 

 cided to fill in about their trunks and let them take their 

 chances. The precaution was taken, however, of placing 

 around them broken stones for a space of about three feet in 

 diameter, a little earth ordy being spread over the top. The 

 thought was that the stones might allow the air to reach the 

 roots, and that the trees would thrive. When fall came all 

 the trees were growing as well as ever, with one exception, a 

 Bartlett, which showed a perceptible yellow color of foliage. 

 Surrounding this tree, apart from the stones near its trunk, the 

 soil was largely clay, while the others stood in loam, and this 

 was thought to cause the difference. This season all the 

 trees Howered profusely and bore immense crops of fruit. 

 Ten per cent, of all that set was cut out, leaving still a large 

 crop. The trees are doing well. The foliage is healthy, and, 



