4i6 



Garden and Forest. 



[Aug LSI' 28, 1889. 



I have seen I have discovered in such locaUtics. Last season 

 six or eight such sprouts I saw in a square foot of ground, 

 self-sown, no doubt ; and in the fence-row, wliich had been un- 

 disturbed by plow for many years and witliout manure in that 

 time, I never saw so many line sprouts grouped together. 

 These things point to the conclusion that what Asparagus 

 needs is not deep culture, salt or manure, so much as a com- 

 paratively undisturbed growth, both of sprout and root, with 

 mulching. \\'hether fertilizers will sup]ily the drain on the 

 plant by the removal of sprouts repeatedly in spring cuttings 

 is still a problem. 



In watching the results of all present methods that are prac- 

 ticed in the culture of Asparagus, this course of nature has 

 been followed imperfectly, if at all. Asparagus is found near 

 the salt water, not for the salt, but for the water and for undis- 

 turbed root-growth. Secure this in the garden and the condi- 

 tions will be perfect ; and this is what I have set out to accom- 

 plish. In my newer plantings, seed is drilled thinly in rows one 

 foot apart; tlie rows being in pair four feet apart ; these double 

 rows are co^•ered with strawy horse-manure in summer after 

 cutting is done ; this is to i-emain on the row as a mulch dur- 

 ing the winter, and in the early spring is covered up on the 

 rows with dirt thrown up from the spaces Avith a plow. After 

 cutting is over, the dirt is again brought back into the spaces 

 with a hoe, the rows are again mulched, and the rotation is 

 complete. By this method of cultivation the crowns are un- 

 disturbed, and the roots, Avhich run deep, are not injured by 

 plowing in the spaces; the plant is mulched with fertilizing 

 material eleven months in the year. In the summer months 

 the weeds are kept down by the same means, and in the 

 spring the rotted mulch is again returned to the spaces to en- 

 rich the soil after doing duty over the crowns at the time of 

 cutting. The Asparagus is thus cultivated in a compact row, 

 and the crowding of shoots does not of necessity mean small 

 ones, as has been shown by its growth in the uncultivated 

 state and in my experience. 



I have seen two beds ruined by using a plow or cultivator 

 over them to kill out grass and weeds, and these beds had 

 been planted deeply with this in view. But the crowns were 

 cut oft, and the beds become thin and cuttings small and un- 

 profitable. By the method here described, the seed is planted 

 where the plants are to grow ; there is no transplanting. The 

 spaces between rows can be cropped for the lirst two years, 

 and cutting may begin in the third year, after which the spaces 

 should not be cropped. For the location of such a bed choose 

 a spot now that is as free as possible from weeds, manure 

 heavily this fall and again in the spring, plowing no deeper 

 than usual. This is all the preparatory work needed. 



West Springfield, Mass. W. H. Bull. 



Notes on Wild Flowers. 



Pogonia pendida, now nearly out of tlower, is a delicate little 

 Orchid, growing only three to six inches high, from a small 

 bulbous root, and bearing several small white or pale pink 

 drooping flowers. The plant is not a showy one, but the flow- 

 ers are very delicate and pretty. It is one of our rarest spe- 

 cies, and, as its natural location is on high ground, it may be 

 easily grown in loamy soil in the shade. 



Zephyraiithcs longifolia, one of the Mexican Amaryllises, is 

 now in flower. The plant comes from a small bulb lialf an 

 inch or more in diameter, and usually grows from six to ten 

 inches high, bearing, on short stems, a light yellow flower. 

 The leaf is long and grass-like, and the flowers are not very 

 large. _ The bulbs are easily wintered in dry earth in the cellar. 



Allium scaposuin, a plant of the Onion faniily now in flower, 

 is about one foot high, bearing an ample uml)el of light pink 

 or white flowers, which are quite pretty. Tlie bulbs are, prob- 

 ably, tender, and should be wintered in a cellar. 



Habenaria psjcodes, one of the purple-fringed Orchids, is 

 now blooming. The usual height of this plant is about two 

 feet, but it varies much according to its location. In the shade 

 it is taller, more slender, and the flowers much paler than in 

 the open sunlight. The spike of pinkish-purple flowers is 

 often ten inches long, fragrant and very showy. It comes late 

 in the season, when most other northern Orchids are past 

 flower, and the flowers are quite durable. It likes moist soil 

 and, tliough not strictly a bog-plant, it will thrive on the bor- 

 ders of bogs, and also'on higlier ground that is moist. When 

 planting it on upland soil, unless quite wet and springy, plenty 

 of peat or leaf-mould is needed about 'its roots, and also a 

 mulch, or else it should be placed in the shade. 



The Dwarf Cornel or Bunch Berry {Cornus Canadensis) is a 

 pretty litfle plant, seldom more than six inches high, bearing 

 in June a head of small flowers. These heads are surrounded 



by a sort of involucre, which is white or slightly pinkish and 

 resembles the [jetals of a flower, so that the heads appear as 

 one flower nearly an inch wide. The plant is quite pretty in 

 flower, but much more attractive at this season, when the 

 bright red berries are ripe. These are in dense heads, and 

 are very showy. The plant sjjreads from subterranean creep- 

 ing stems, and when established in a moist but well-drained 

 loamy soil soon forms dense beds. 



One of the most conspicuous of our wild flowers at this 

 season is the Great Willow-Herb {Epilobitun angustifolitiiii), 

 which is quite common in many localities. The plant gen- 

 erally attains a height of two and a half feet, but in some places, 

 where the soil is ri(;h, it is over six feet high. The flowers are 

 in long spikes, one to several on a plant, of a pinkish-purple 

 color and very showy. In loceilities where the timber has been 

 burned off this plant often seems to take complete possession 

 of the soil, and, when in flower, displays wide spaces of color. 

 There is little ditficulty in establishing it in any ordinary soil. 



Ejipatoriiini rti/^^rt^zVi'^j (White Snakeroot) and E. purpureiim 

 (Joe-Pye weed or Trimipet-weed) are both in flower. The 

 former grows from two to foiu" feet high, bearing numerous 

 heads of pretty white flowers. Tlie plant seems to thrive in 

 any moist soil. E. purpurcum is a variable plant so far as size 

 is concerned, sometimes attaining a height of ten feet, but usu- 

 ally not more than three or four. The flowers are in dense 

 compound heads, pin-ple or flesh-colored, and quite pretty. 

 The plant is common in low, wet ground, but may be easily 

 grown in any ordinary soil. 



Of the many Golden Rods now coming into flower, Solidaga 

 Jiincea is the first, and is one of the prettiest. The stalks are 

 about three and a half feet high, bearing dense heads of bright 

 yellow flowers. The plant is one of the easiest perennials to 

 grow, and will thrive in any ordinary soil. Another Golden 

 Rod, which flowers a little later, is S. nemoralis, a smaller 

 species, usually one to two feet high, with a dense, somewhat 

 recurved panicle of rich yellow flowers. 'It grows in drv, sterile 

 soil. All things considered, we think this the most desirable 

 species for cultivation. 



Helianthus decapetalus, one of the perennial Sunflowers 

 which bloom at this season, is a very showy plant when it attains 

 its maximum size. The stems are branching, often six feet 

 high when in rich soil, and bear numerous large, showy yel- 

 low flowers two or more inches wide. H. slruinosus is a 

 smaller plant, \\\o to four feet high, tuit with flowers much 

 like the former, except that they are smaller. Both plants are 

 desirable for cultivation and may be grown in any loamy soiL 



Charlotte, Vt., August 13th. F. H. Hovsford. 



Orchid Notes. 



Dendrobiiini rhodostoma. — This is an attractive bright-flow- 

 ered hybrid, between D. Hiittonii and D. sanguinolentum, very 

 much resembling- the latter in its growth. The stems or 

 pseudo-bulbs are Vvei'y slender, from two to three feet long, 

 and from near the top of these the little bunches of flow- 

 ers are produced. The flowers, which are about two inches 

 across and well expanded, are white, with all the segments 

 heavily tipped with rosy purple. Unfortunately, these do not 

 last many days in perfection, but the plant is seldom out of 

 l)loom, for the old stems continue to produce racemes for 

 many years. This plant grows very freely with liberal treat- 

 ment, and is best suited to pot culture. 



Cycnoches vcntricosion, ]5opularly known as the Swan's-neck 

 Orchid, is now flowering freely, and, tliough nota showy kind,, 

 is the most attractive of the genus and well worth growing, 

 not only for tlie quaint form, but also for the pleasing perfume 

 of the flowers. The growth consists of stout, fleshy bullis 

 about one foot long, terminated Ijy several thin, lanceolate, 

 light green leaves. The large greertish-yellow and white flow- 

 ers are borne on drooping racemes which spring from near 

 the top of the bulbs, and last about three weeks in good order. 

 This Orchid, as well as its congeners, will give satisfaction 

 when grown in rich, open soil, ni well-drained pots, supplied 

 with abundance of water, in the warmest house ; a litde liquid 

 manure will also be beneficial. As soon as growth is finished 

 the plants should be removed to a cooler h'ouse, with plenty 

 of air and sunlight. Water should be gradually withheld until 

 all the leaves have dropped, and after this no water need be 

 given, except to prevent shriveling, until the new growths ap- 

 pear, when the plants may be shaken out and repotted in 

 new soil. 



Saccolabiuin caleste. — This is a comparatively new species 

 and proves a great acquisition, adding another to the all too 

 small list of so-called Blue Orchids. The habit of the plant 

 somewhat resembles 6". curvifolium, but is much stronger. 

 The leaves being l)roader and thicker, and of a deep green. 



