November 13, 1889.] 



Garden and Forest. 



549 



Spiraea Kamtschatika, recently described in the Gardeners' 

 Chrotticle as a new plant, has long- been known in American 

 ofardens under the provisional name of Spircea species, Japan, 

 of whicii country it is a native. It has also been called S. 

 gigantea, a name which is very appropriate, inasmuch as it is 

 the largest herbaceous species with which we are acquainted. 

 It attains a height of from eight to ten feet, the tall, erect stems 

 being clothed with large palmate foliage, somewhat resembling 

 that of a grape vine. The stem is terminated by a large branch- 

 ing panicle of creamy white flowers. It is stated in the Garden- 

 ers' Chronicle on the authority of Pallas, that the natives of Kam- 

 tschatka eat the young shoots in spring uncooked, also the 

 roots during scarcity of food in winter, while the leaves are 

 used in soup. Be this as it may, the plant is a desirable one 

 to associate with other tall growing subjects, as a background 

 to the Hower border, where its distinct appearance arrests 

 attention at once. There is one thing to be borne in mind 

 when planting it, and that is that strong sunshine is liable to 

 scorch the young growth, so that a position in which it can 

 have shade and plenty of moisture at the roots is essential to 

 the success of this gigantic Spiraea. 



Sternbergia lutea. — This plant, often called Amaryllis liitea, 

 has afforded for the past month one of the prettiest bits 

 of color in the garden. The bright yellow flowers resemble 

 the Crocus somewhat in general appearance, but they are 

 much larger and of longer duration. The most important 

 feature of the plant is its autumnal flowering. When the 

 ground is covered with fallen leaves it is a particularly pleas- 

 ing sight to see the bright green foliage and yellow flowers 

 peeping up and braving the frosts that have laid low every 

 other Hower. The Sternbergia is perfectly hardy here with us 

 when provision is made for throwing off the snow and water 

 in winter. This we do with perfect success by placing a sash 

 over the bed. The foliage dies down early in summer to rest 

 the bulb until early autumn, when growth recommences. 

 Indeed, having had occasion this sunimer to shift our stock 

 of bulbs, we allowed them to remain for some time in an open 

 , box without soil or moisture, and yet flowers were produced 

 and fully expanded before they were planted in the soil. The 

 bulbs are usually the size of those of a Narcissus and they 

 should be planted about four inches deep. A cold wet soil in 

 winter should be avoided. 



Catasetum Bungerothii. — I recently had the pleasure of see- 

 ing, in the establishment of Messrs. Siebrecht & Wadley, at 

 New Rochelle,a fine specimen, in bloom, of this finest of recent 

 introductions among Orchids. The plant under note was a 

 particularly fine form, with large cup-shaped flowers of the 

 purest white, broken only by a spot of bright orange in the 

 centre of each. Much has been written and said of this beau- 

 tiful Orchid, but judging from tlie specimen we saw it seems 

 impossible to over-praise so fine a novelty. We noticed, also, 

 a batch of Cypripediiun Spiceriamtin, which, for size and rude 

 health, left nothing to be desired. This variety and C. insignc 

 are in great demand for cut-flower work. Cattleya Warneri 

 was represented by several forms strikingly rich in color, and 

 Oncidiuin Varicosuni by a number of large branched sprays, 

 which, when grouped with other Orchids and Maidenhair 

 fern, had a charming effect. A number of Chrysanthemums 

 from Japan were just unfolding their first flowers, and among 

 them were some new varieties which will no doubt be heard of 

 later on. O. 



Passaic, N. J. 



Storing Root Crops. — Many roots, like turnips and carrots, 

 can be safely wintered in earth pits, and even apples, if 

 properly treated, can be kept, with little loss, in the same way. 

 The real danger is not from cold, for the frost can always be 

 excluded by a sufficiently thick covering. The danger from 

 heat is much more serious. On this account the roots should 

 not be lifted until the weather is cool, and fliey should not be 

 placed at once in the pit or root-cellar, but laid in small heaps 

 of four or five bushels and covered lightly with straw. If they 

 remain in this way for a week or so, covered with shutters to 

 protect them when it rains, they can, after the so-called sweat- 

 ing process, be removed to the pit. Even then they should 

 be lightly covered with straw at first and the earth shoifld be 

 applied gradually as the weather grows severe, so that they 

 will remain uniformly cool and escape heating. It is well to 

 place a drain-tile at the top of the cone for a ventilating chim- 

 ney, and if the crop is large, so that it can be placed in a long 

 windrow, the chimneys should be set about six feet apart. 

 These long piles can be five or six feet wide and from three to 

 four feet high. The trench, or bottom of the pit, need not be 

 more than eight inches below the surface. Of course, no wet, 

 soft or decayed roots should be placed in pit or cellar. Pars- 



nips and salsify are better flavored if left in the ground ; but it 

 is troublesome to lift them in winter, and, therefore, part of 

 the crop can be placed in a cellar and covered with sandy soil. 

 The tap-roots should never be cut, nor should the tops, espe- 

 cially of beets or salsify, be cut close to the crown. If a root 

 cellar is used, it should be dry, well ventilated, rather dark and 

 kept at a uniform temperature not higher than forty degrees. 



Long Island. L. G. 



Prolonging the Tomato Season. — All who are fond of the 

 peculiar flavor of the tomato should know how easily the sea- 

 son of this vegetable may be prolonged. By simply covering 

 the plants with old carpets, or any other convenient fabrics, 

 during nights that threaten frost, the plants may often be kept 

 in a growing condition for days, and even weeks, after unpro- 

 tected plants have perished. When the nights become very 

 cold, a hot bed frame may be placed over two or three vigor- 

 ous plants, and covered with sash. The sun shining through 

 the glass at midday will give sufficient heat to mature the fruit 

 quite rapidly. As the last resort, the green fruits may be 

 picked and spread out on a shelf in a chamber, or cellar, 

 where they will ripen slowly for two or three, weeks after herb- 

 age out-of-doors has been killed by frost. If they do not ripen 

 as rapidly as is desired, the maturity may be hastened by trans- 

 ferring them to a shelf in a warm part of the kitchen. 



Experiment Station, Madison, Wis. ^. o. Gojf. 



Correspondence. 



The National Flower. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sii". — The interesting communication in Garden and For- 

 est of the loth of July, from the pen of Mrs. Van Rensselaer, 

 on " The Choice of a National Flower," effectually disposes of 

 all claims to that honor of the Trailing Arbutus, so sweet and 

 shy ; the aggressive Ox-eyed Daisy of the early summer ; the 

 too sesthetic Sunflower of the dog days, and the graceful 

 Golden-rod of the fall-time. And the merits of the Kalmia, or 

 Mountain Laurel, are so attractively set forth that one is 

 almostconvincedthat.it is in all respects the niost suitable 

 floral emblem to share with the great American eagle in dec- 

 orating our flags and banners, shields and seals, and all other 

 national and official ensigns. 



Granting all that has been said in approval of the Kalmia, 

 the fact remains that it is generally known, where known at 

 all, by the common name of Laurel, which is also the botani- 

 cal or scientific name of a large genus of plants not indi- 

 genous to our country, among them the Laiiriis nobilis, the 

 Laurel of the ancients. This shrub is a native of the Medi- 

 terranean coast, and has been consecrated since time imme- 

 morial to priests and sacrifices, heroes and victors in wars 

 and games of skill, and has been celebrated accordingly. To 

 poet, painter and sculptor it still affords inspiration for realis- 

 tic and conventional emblems and designs. Our Lam-el is so 

 called on account of a resemblance of its foliage in shape and 

 evergreen color to this European Laurel, although very dis- 

 similar in flower and quite destitute of odor or beauty in fruit, 

 and very distinct in all its family relations. 



Now if our Liurel is selected for the national flower, how 

 are the two celebrated plants of the same name and simi- 

 lar in foliage ever to be distinguished ? It would seem that 

 confusion must arise. At this moment an instance is recalled 

 in which a famous American poet mentions the two in 

 the same poem as if they were identical. This is a most 

 serious objection to our Laurel as a national flower. True, it 

 is in some localities known by the undignified name of 

 "Calico-bush," on account of its spotted flowers, and in 

 others as the " Bush Ivy," on account of the similarity be- 

 tween the shining green of its foliage and that of the Hedera ; 

 again " Spoonwood," for what reason who can tell ? But no 

 one would wish to have any of these names substituted for 

 Laurel, even if it could be successfully accomplished, much 

 less the name of " Sheep-poison " or " Lamb-kill," as certain 

 varieties are sometimes called on account of the poisonous 

 qualities that lurk Ijeneath the beauty of their foliage. 



All that has been so charmingly said in its fa\or can, how- 

 ever, be as truly said of the Magnolia grandiflora, and added 

 to this are a great majesty and dignity, unexcelled by any tree 

 of the American forest. In the great Bald Eagle as a national 

 emblem we have the king of birds. Why not in flowers choose 

 the acknowledged queen ? The blossom of the Magnolia is 

 beautiful in color and form, and blessed, to a remarkable de- 

 gree, with delicious fragrance. The tree is royal in size, 

 almost too symmetrical in outline of foliage, has a handsome, 



