Ariui. 3 i5i95-| 



Garden and Forest. 



137 



thcin into good healthy growth, we gradually harden them for 

 exposure about the end of May. Being considered hardy 

 plants, it is natural to suppose that they will bear exposure 

 well. They do not, however, when forced in any way. The 

 young leaves are likely to be disfigured by a chill, and as these 

 leaves remain on the plant all the season, it is important to 

 preserve them. I ronember, too, when tlie thermometer fell 

 to thirty degrees, Fahrenheit, on the last night of August, 1888, 

 all the flowers and buds were destroyed. This has not hap- 

 pened since. When well established, abundance of water 

 should be given. In general, the treatment given Chrysanthe- 

 mums will answer for them. 



These Anemones make good specimens. The handsome 

 vine-shaped foliage and the white or pink saucer-shaped 

 flowers harmonize beautifully. The flowers are borne on 

 stout umbellate cymes, and are nearly two inches in diameter 

 on well-grown plants. By the use of light stakes, such as 

 Privet-canes make, a good plant in a twelve-inch pot may be 

 spread to three or four feet, and yet be well furnished. They 

 stand the wind and weather well. The variety known as 

 Honorine Joubert is the best white variety, and Anemone 

 Japonica hybrida the best pink. 



Weilesley, Mass. T. D, H, 



Snowdrops, New and Old. 



A S a compensation for the backward season which has 

 -'"*- retarded some flowers from thirty to sixty days, we have 

 a rather better show of bloom at this time than in seasons 

 when plants flower normally. The earliest Snowdrops are 

 just disappearing as the first buds of Narcissi are showing. 

 Usually we are favored with periods of open weather during 

 the winter, when the early flowers expand. There were no 

 mild intervals during the winter just ending, so that Snowdrops 

 did not open before the end of February, and until lately other 

 winter-flowering plants have had little chance to overcome the 

 obstacle of nightly frosts. The background of snow which is 

 the foil against which these early flowers are usually seen is 

 missed this year. 



Snowdrops are now in midseason. The flowers of Galanthus 

 Elwesii are about gone, but various other species and varie- 

 ties are in full flower or not yet open. It is pleasant to note the 

 fine acquisitions to Snowdrops from year to year, for while 

 the older varieties are lovely flowers and not to be discarded, 

 we have now many new kinds, with much larger flowers and 

 in some cases very distinct foliage. 



Whenever many gardeners are interested in a certain 

 plant there is a tendency to name varieties on very slight 

 variations, but there are really striking differences in the 

 Snowdrops, which would be more distinctly seen if the foliage 

 was more forward when the flowers are at their best. Galanthus 

 Cassaba, which was received from Mr. Whittall last year, has 

 much improved this season, and in respect to size and vigor 

 is among the best Snowdrops in the collection, whfle inferior 

 to none in beauty. The flowers have sepals over an inch long 

 and rather broad. The petals, marked like those of G. Elwesii 

 with green to half theirlength, havegreen lines at the apex. The 

 ovaries area yellowish green. The stems are very thick and 

 upright. The bulbs, which have a long neck, are as big as 

 those of an ordinary Narcissus. The leaves are pointed, broad, 

 somewhat SciUa-like and glaucous. I believe this is a variety 

 of G. Elwesii, and that it was collected near Aidin. A variety sent 

 me by Dammann as G. robustus is identical with G. Cassaba. 



Galanthus Imperati Atkinsi is equally as large and vigorous 

 as G. Cassaba, and as the scapes are less stiff it is rather more 

 pleasing in the border. It has the objectionable habit of try- 

 ing to double its petals, but this olijection would not deter one 

 from growing all he could secure of it. Its petals are while, 

 with the excev^tion of green markings on the sinus. This is 

 the most effective Snowdrop in the garden. 



Plants of Galanthus Elwesii Aidin did not ripen as well as in 

 their native habitat, as they are not as vigorous or prolific as the 

 collected bulbs were last season. Still they prove to be a neat, 

 distinctly marked variety. Some of them still retain their ten- 

 dency to produce twin-flowered scapes. Last year I discov- 

 ered one with a most cvirious twin-flower, which at first glance 

 seemed one of ordinary form. The ovaries of these flowers 

 were flattened at one side where they met, and from each 

 grew only tv/o sepals instead of three, as usual, so that the 

 outward appearance was quite normal. Among these was also 

 a pallid form, of color similar to G. lutescens, which is a 

 variety of G. nivalis. This has retained its form this year, and 

 as its petals are white with only the faintest suspicion of yel- 

 low dots, it is worth a name if it will increase. G. Ikaria! Mr. 

 Whittall had collected in the Island of Nicaria. It has wide 

 strap-shaped leaves, light green in color. This proves to be 



late, and it is not yet in good form. It flowered well last year 

 with medium-sized flowers, the petals of which, if I remember 

 rightly, had the markings on the sinus connected with the 

 green of the base. It is a very distinct variety. 



Galanthus Elwesii unguicularis is a form which has been 

 separated and named, I suppose, from the claw on the spathe. 

 At present it might be matched ljy some of the types of the 

 collected G. Elwesii, among which there is considerable varia- 

 tion. By the way, whoever buys G. Elwesii should give the 

 preference to collected bulbs. Cultivated bulbs may some- 

 times be larger, but the grower will probably retain the finer 

 forms for part of his toll. 



Galanthus Ochrospeilus is another of Mr. Whittall's latest 

 finds, and this season flowers for the first time in cultivation. 

 It appears to be a small-flowering kind, oddly marked with a 

 short, green, narrow line on each siiuis, and similarly marked 

 at the base. The tube is somewhat constricted at the opening. 



A variety from Samos, of last season, does not seem dis- 

 tinct, and differs little from plants from Bithynia, tjoth being 

 forms of Galanthus Elwesii. One of the Snowdrops which I 

 most value is Mr. Allen's hybrid, Charmer, a flower of fine 

 form, much substance and perfect vigor. Among flowers of 

 great purity the variety of Nivalis G. Melvellii major is in the 

 front rank ; it is a dwarf kind. Snowdrops unopened, or in the 

 bud stage, are very fascinating, and I enjoy best the long- 

 pointed forms. Of these, G. Caucasicus is one of the most 

 pleasing, a happy medium between the narrow Nivalis and the 

 broad Elwesii. There are numerous other .Snowdrops in the 

 garden which I have not had time to study, but it may be well 

 to call attention to one which isspecially curious, G. Scharlockii, 

 which might be called the horned Snowdrop, as its divided 

 spathes resemble horns in outline. Thespathes of Snowdrops 

 are interesting. If a rising Snowdrop is observed it will be 

 noticed that the flower is upright and is enveloped in the 

 spathe, which is mostly a thin transparent membrane. At the 

 proper time this splits at one side usually, and the two edges 

 roll up toward each other till it appears, on a casual glance, to 

 be merely a flat leaf-like appendage, whose top is bent over 

 the pedicel of the flower. In G. Scharlockii and a few other 

 kinds the spathe splits in two parts. This Snowdrop has green 

 markings on the outer petals, which are rather blunt. It is not 

 particularly handsome, though well worth growing. It is vig- 

 orous and increases rapidly. Most Snowdrops do well in my 

 garden, though they receive no special care or treatment. 

 There are some, however, which will not stay with me. The 

 autumnal flowering ones have disappeared. They seem of 

 too delicate a constitution for the open border, where my 

 scheme of gardening does not embrace any attempt at cod- 

 dling. G. plicatus has not survived with me, though I believe 

 it is not usually a miffy kind. G. Forsteri apparently needs a 

 moister richer soil than most kinds, for it still refuses to give 

 me flowers of size and substance. 

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



The Cherry Fruit Mold. 



T T is a good thing to grow cherries in abundance, provided 

 -'- the grower harvests his crop, but to have a score or more 

 of large Cherry-trees loaded with fruit left unpicked is a 

 menace to the whole neighborhood. It should be remembered 

 that such fruit left upon the trees, especially if the weather is 

 moist, will develop, literally by the bushel, a fruit mold which 

 is well known from its gray color and soft, powdery feel. 

 This fungus, Monilia fructigenum, is not confined to the 

 Cherry-tree, and on this account one can consciously raise 

 complaint against a neighbor who lets the fruit on his Cherry- 

 trees go to decay. The Plum and the Peach are similarly 

 attacked, and the Plum especially is often seriously injured, 

 the whole crop going off just before the time for picking. 

 Suppose the Cherry-trees full of fruit, ripe and decaying. This 

 crop comes before the plums, and the whole atmosphere is 

 chargetl with the spores of this gray mold of the Cherry. These 

 spores germinate very quickly, the winds carry them in all 

 directions, and the Plum-trees anywhere in the vicinity of 

 such Cherry-trees will receive a full sup[.)ly of them, so that 

 the fruit cannot escape decay. Spraying will do much to pre- 

 vent the loss of the plums ; but a man will need to be almost 

 constantly in his Plum orchard administering the remedy to 

 counteract the effects of the few large Cherry-trees that were 

 tlistributing spores throughout the neighborhood. 



The Peach in like manner is affected, but coming still later 

 is not quite so apt to be influenced by the crop of Alonilia on 

 the Cherry-trees as the Plum ; Init the Peacli is attacked some- 

 what earlier in its stage of development. The surface of the 

 fruit being covered with a down is better able to hold the 

 spores than the smooth surface of the plum, and in that way 



