!l6 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 369. 



Lily is said to have proved hardy and strong, making stems 

 over eight feet high, and producing as many as fourteen flow- 

 ers on a stem. It increases rapidly under the same cultivation 

 given to otlier kinds, and is, no doubt, a true species, having 

 foliage resembling that of L. speciosum. This valuable acqui- 

 sition suggests that the interior of Clima holds many beautiful 

 plants desiralile for our gardens as yet unl;nown to cultivation 

 and to science. For L. Henryi we are indebted to Dr. Augustine 

 Henry, who found it growing in two places only, near Ichang, 

 on grassy slopes, at 200 to 2,000 feet elevation. The probabili- 

 ties are that it will prove hardy in this part of the United States. 



Among rare Lilies should be named Lilium speciosum Mel- 

 pomene, a very richly colored form, perhaps the richest of all 

 the varieties ot L. speciosum. While it is rare in cultivation, 

 other forms being sulistituted for it, it should not remain so, 

 for it is not much more e.xpensive than tlie others, costing 

 about one-third more, and is far more beautiful. An importa- 

 tion of this sort is now daily expected, and we hope to have a 

 fine group of this variety and the best of the white forms, L. 

 speciosum album prascox. The latter make a good contrast, 

 and flower about the same time, whether in pots or planted 

 out in the Ijorders. 



Lilies which have been protected during winter must not be 

 uncovered too early in April, and a little protection is neces- 

 sary until all likelihood of frost is past. The young growing 

 shoots are very easily injured by frost, especially if there is no 

 protective growth near tliem, such as is furnished by a Rhodo- 

 dendron-bed. If the shoots are already above ground when 

 the bed is uncovered they should be coveredover with a hand- 

 ful of leaves and left to come through naturally, r- r< n ^ I 



South Lanc.-ister, Mass. i^- O. Urpct, 



Cannas. 



THE advance of the Canna to its present position as an 

 ornamental plant is one of the marvels of modern horti- 

 culture. Unlike the Star of 1891, wliich created a sensation 

 when first introduced, Madame Crozy still remains among the 

 indispensable varieties, and a large percentage of recent in- 

 troductions are seedlings or derivations from this remarkable 

 plant. The yellow border on its petals has given the cue to 

 efforts in the direction of a pure yellow, and this seems to 

 have been the aim of nearly all raisers of new varieties. Im- 

 proved forms of Madame Crozy have been the result, but the 

 type after all is probably the best. Its moderate height, hand- 

 some foliage and short compact spike make it the ideal. Im- 

 provements, however, have not been altogether on this type. 

 In crimsons we have Charles Henderson and Alphonse Bou- 

 vier ; the former has the larger spike, finer flowers and d warfer, 

 sturdier habit. Alplionse Bouvier is an abundant bloomer, 

 but is much taller; these two hold a superior rank in their 

 color. Captain Suzzoni is the best yellow of the sorts that now 

 can be called standard. It is not, however, a pure yellow, 

 though the orange-red spots are so faint that for general effect 

 it may be classed as such. Florence Vaughan is an elegant 

 Canna as far as quality of flower and size of spike are concerned, 

 but It is hardly a yellow variety, and should be classed among 

 the spotted varieties. It has the finest yellow ground with 

 scarlet spots of any Canna yet sent out. Captain Suzzoni as a 

 winter bloomer is superior to Florence Vaughan, and in this 

 respect it is equal to Madame Crozy, Taken from the border 

 last autumn it has bloomed continuously all winter, and is now 

 the brightest and best of any. Florence Vaughan received a 

 check, indicating its relation to the older types, which needed 

 some resting. Paul Marquant is a fine satiny salmon, free, 

 and first-class in every way, especially as a winter bloomer. 

 Paul Bruant is a beautiful orange-scarlet, large in flower and 

 one of the first bloomers. This also has proved an admirable 

 greenhouse variety this winter. 



Among dark-leaved varieties, J. D. Cabos, with bronzy 

 leaves and salmon flowers ; Egandale, with crimson flowers, 

 and the first bloomer of any, and President Carnot. the hand- 

 somest in foliage, make a beautiful trio. J. D. Cabos is hardly 

 comparable with either, the glistening salmon-tinted flower 

 contrasting l>eautifully with the metallic lustre of the foliage. 

 These are the best varieties now in general cultivation. 



In novelties every one is inclined to have favorites of his 

 own. Last summer and autumn I made it a point to note the 

 coming introductions. Eldorado will prove to be one of the 

 finest yellow-flowered sorts this season. It has a large flower, 

 as fine a spike and as good in habit as Madame Crozy, and it is 

 practically yellow. It has some markings, but not enough to 

 detract from the brilliancy or effectiveness of the flower. 

 Every one who sees it is enthusiastic over it. It is very showy 

 and must become popular. F. R. Pierson will probably be the 

 best scarlet of the season. It bears an ideal ifower, brilliant 



in tone, with only a delicate penciling of pure gold at the 

 centre of the flower, which seems to intensify the scarlet. 

 The -ijetals are very large, round, overlapping each other, 

 reaching near what we must sooner or later obtain in this 

 desirable class of bedding plants — a perfectly round flower. 

 The Belle of Newport is, so far, the only pure yellow 

 Canna. It is very dwarf, and in this respect promises to 

 be of exceptional value as a bedder. It, however, lacks 

 size, l;)ut, no doubt, it will be found valuable for hybridizing 

 with the larger-flowered varieties, and may lead toward a new 

 race of dwarf yellow varieties. The flower of the new so- 

 called Butterfly Canna, Golden Wings, may be described as 

 having a deep yellow ground, heavily blotched with brownish 

 crimson. It will be a fitting companion to Oueen Charlotte, a 

 novelty of German origin — a scarlet, heavily banded with yel- 

 low. IBoth are beautiful and distinct, and especially adapted 

 for effect when used with the darker-leaved varieties in 

 masses. For bedding purposes, and especially for lines, 

 Oriole will probably surpass any of the banded yellows yet 

 introduced. Columbia is a novelty of American origin, and a 

 very distinct break in character. The heads of bloom are 

 most compact, deep cardinal-red, without any shadings; the 

 spikes branch, and the flowers remain on longer than those of 

 any other variety, a most valualile characteristic. Sunshine is 

 much in the way of Paul Marquant, an unusuallyfree bloomer, 

 and bears the largest flower of any Canna I have seen. It has 

 a soft, satiny lustre, and is not excelled by any of its color. 

 Admiral Avellan I consider an improvement on J. D. Cabos, 

 and this is saying a good deal. It is well worth a trial where 

 a handsome bronzy-leaved variety, which is also a good 

 bloomer, is required. General de Miribel is a good spotted 

 salmon of splendid habit and fine large flowers, and Gladstone 

 is a distinct and pleasing novelty with bull-colored flowers, 

 bordered with yellow. Mrs. Fairman Rogers is a variety in 

 the way of Madame Crozy, which has been honored with a sil- 

 ver medal by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. The 

 flowers are more heavily banded with yellow than those of 

 Madame Crozy, but its principal value lies in the great size of 

 its branched flower-spike. Its habit is dwarf, and promises 

 to be the best of the Crozy type yet introduced. 



Wellcsley, Mass. T. D. Hatfield. 



Cut Flowers for Summer. 



IN choosing the location for the cut-flower bed, when begin- 

 ning garden work in spring, a good water supply should be 

 considered, for during a dry season frecpient and .thorough 

 waterings will be needed to insure an abundance of flowers. 

 Among the plants readily procurable and particularly useful 

 for this purpose are Bouvardias. Old stumps of these plants 

 which have been in use in the greenhouse during the winter 

 will answer well if cut back closely and allowed to break again 

 before being planted out. Tlie most satisfactory varieties are 

 Davidsoni, The Bride and Elegans ; the single varieties, as a 

 rule, are the most floriferous. Stock plants of Heliotrope will 

 also give a regular cut of flowers during the summer, and 

 should be treated in the same way as the Bouvardias. 



Carnations are apt to be somewhat scarce in the early sum- 

 mer, unless some of the plants of the former season have been 

 kept over winter in a cold frame. Another plan is to keep the 

 old plants in the greenhouse until outdoor flowers become 

 plentiful. Successive sowings of China Asters should be made in 

 order to prolong the flowering season, tor, though these are 

 rather formal flowers, they are useful and add much to the 

 brightness of the garden. Successive plantings of Gladiolus 

 buibs will also provide good cut-flower material. For this 

 purpose some of the older and less expensive varieties are 

 useful, as, John Bull, Shakespeare, Princess of Wales and 

 Brenchleyensis. Rather deep planting is required for these 

 bulbs. From four to six inches is a good depth, but this may 

 be varied according to the nature of the soil. 



The first outdoor sowing of Sweet Peas sliould be made just 

 as soon as the condition of the ground will permit. In some 

 localities fall sowing is practiced with much success, but, 

 whatever plan is adopted, an abundant water supply is essen- 

 tial to success in our hot summers, and, as is well known, the 

 more the flowers are picked the more freely will they be pro- 

 duced, as the formation of seed-pods checks the growth of 

 Sweet Peas. 



Helianthus multiflorus and its double-flowered form are 

 both useful in the herbaceous border and for cutting. Their 

 brilliant flowers are highly decorative when tastefully ar- 

 ranged, and are not so coarse as those of many of the Sun- 

 flowers. Roses will naturally suggest themselves to every 

 flower lover, and Marie Guillot, Papa Gontier, Marie Van 

 Houtte, La France and Perle des Jardins are generally satis- 



