164 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 374. 



affords a fine opportunity to test natural reforestation under 

 unfavorable climatic conditions. 



Tlie Bull Pine was planted in the Sand Hill experiment 

 referred to in the article on Banksian Pine, but a very poor 

 stand was secured. At Franklin, Nebraska, on the south 

 line of the state (longitude about ninety-nine degrees west), 

 the Bull Pine has been more thoroughly tested than any- 

 where else in the west. Notwithstanding the unprece- 

 dented drought of the past two years in that region, this 

 Pine is vigorous, far surpassing the Scotch and Austrian 

 Pines. I measured two trees that were nine years from the 

 seed which were over eight feet high. The growth of 

 Scotch Pine is somewhat more rapid, but less vigorous. 

 The soil at Franklin is the typical clay loam of the west, 

 and success there, coupled with the northern range of the 

 species, indicates its special fitness for forest purposes 

 throughout, at least, the northern part of the plains. 



Washington, D. C. Cliarks A. Keffcr. 



Plant Notes. 



Deutzia parviflora. — A correspondent writes that he has 

 seen this plant recommended, but that he does not find it 

 in the catalogues of some of the largest growers of 

 ornamental shrubs. There is no reason why so good 

 a plant should not be generally offered by nurserymen. 

 Deutzia parviflora was figured in Garden and Forest as 

 long ago as 1888, and at that time we stated that it had 

 been cultivated for some years in the Arnold Arboretum, 

 having been received from the St. Petersburg Garden. It 

 is one of the most hardy and altogether desirable of Asiatic 

 shrubs which will grow in this climate, and it is the most 

 beautiful of the three or four Deutzias which are grown 

 here. A glance at the picture of a flowering branch of this 

 plant in vol. i., page 365, will show that it is altogether dif- 

 ferent in appearance from the other Deutzias. It grows to 

 a height of four or five feet, making a compact bush with 

 brownish yellow bark and dark green elliptical leaves. 

 The flowers are borne in corymbs, and appear in this lati- 

 tude the last of May or the first of June. They are pure 

 white, and borne in such numbers that they quite cover the 

 upper portions of the stems. 



PuscHKiNiA sciLLomES, var. COMPACTA. — This charming 

 little plant is now flowering in sheltered places. It is best 

 described as a light blue striped Squill. The groundwork 

 of the petals is white, a pale blue stripe running down the 

 centre and sides of the segments of the perianth. The 

 flowers are borne in spikes on stalks about si.x inches high, 

 and opeii with the development of the leaves. In the type 

 the flowers are few in number, but in this variety they are 

 abundant. It is perfectly hardy, and should be planted in 

 masses with Squills and the Chionodoxas. Like these 

 plants, they should be allowed to grow in the same place 

 for several years, at least, not being lifted until they be- 

 come crowded. It is a native of eastern Europe and 

 western Asia. Puschkinia libarotica is a synonym of the 

 type, which is inferior in every way to the variety described. 



SciLLA BiFOLiA. — This is One of the early-blooming Scillas 

 or Squills, which is not so common here as S. Sibirica. It 

 is a native of southern Europe, is perfectly hardy, and. 

 although not so showy as the better-known S. Sibirica, is 

 well worthy of a place in every garden where it is desira- 

 ble to obtain variety. The flowers are of good size and 

 abundant ; they are deep blue, almost purple, and some- 

 times have a reddish tinge. The leaves appear with the 

 flowers, and are generally two in number, hence the name. 

 They should be planted in masses in well-drained soil in a 

 sunny position, and not lifted and separated until this is 

 necessary. The Dutch Yellow Crocus, now known as the 

 Large Yellow Crocus, a variety of C. aureus, opens at the 

 same time with Scilla bifolia ; the two planted together make 

 a pleasing contrast and a very bright spot in the garden in 

 the cold spring-time. 



Chionodoxa gigantea. — This Chionodoxa is of recent in- 

 troduction. It is probably a variety of C. Lucilia', and is 



sometimes offered under the name of C. Lucilise, var. 

 grandiflora. It is, nevertheless, a most distinct plant, well 

 known and recognized by gardeners and dealers in bulbs. 

 The flowers are much larger than those of C. Lucilia;, and 

 borne on short nodding scapes, two or three in number. 

 The color is a very pale delicate porcelain-blue, somewhat 

 reminding one of the Hyacinth Czar Peter. It is certainly 

 one of the best and most distinct of all the Glories of the 

 Snow, and should be more commonly planted. It is per- 

 fectly hardy, and succeeds admirably if cultivated in the 

 same way and in the same beds as ordinary Chionodoxas 

 and Squills. It is in bloom now, but is a trifle later in 

 flowering than C. LuciliEe. 



Anemone blanda. — This lovely little flower, one of the 

 earliest of its class, and much earlier than its relative, our 

 native Hepatica, is an inhabitant of mountain regions in 

 Syria, Greece and other parts of south-eastern Europe and 

 of south-western Asia. Transplanted to American soil, it 

 thrives remarkably well in suitable situations and is hardier 

 than would be supposed, considering its natural habitat. It 

 is a tuberous-rooted species, sending up slender, short stems 

 three or four or more inches high, bearing much-divided 

 leaves and solitary flowers. These blossoms, expanded, 

 measure from an inch and a half to two inches across and 

 are composed of numerous narrow petals, varying in color 

 from deep blue or a purplish tint to almost white in the 

 different varieties or forms. In mild weather these flowers 

 open in February and March, quite as early as the better- 

 known cheerful yellow-flowering Winter Aconite. The 

 plant re(juires a good light, warm, well-drained soil, one 

 composed of sand and loam being excellent ; a warm shel- 

 tered situation or southern exposure, protected from other 

 sides, is the best. A spot that is so hot and dry in summer 

 that scarcely anything will live on it seems more suitable 

 than a moist and richer one. The plants will thrive where 

 there are only three or four inches of soil on top of solid 

 rocks and which in summer often becomes dry and parched. 

 As the leaves ripen and dry off early in the season the roots 

 are dormant in the hot summer months. This species is 

 perfectly hardy without protection in a climate like that at 

 Boston, Massachusetts, where the mercury sometimes falls 

 many degrees below zero of Fahrenheit. In the warm 

 corner of a rockery, on the south side of a house close to 

 the foundation-walls and in other similar situations it will 

 thrive and take care of itself when once established and 

 kept free from encroaching weeds and other plants. The 

 tubers should be planted in the autumn a couple of inches 

 deep. Their increase is usually slow. 



HippEASTRUM viTTATA suPERBA. — A remarkable Specimen of 

 this plant was exhibited by Mr. H. H. Hunnewell in Hor- 

 ticultural Hall, Boston, two years ago, for which Mr. 

 Harris, his gardener, was awarded a silver medal. It is 

 again in splendid bloom. This variety is one of the best 

 of the older sorts, and enters into the parentage of a large 

 percentage of recent kinds. Mr. Hunnewell's plant carries 

 eighteen scapes almost two feet long, nearly all of which 

 bear four flowers from five and a half to six inches in 

 diameter. The name is due to the red and white stripes 

 running lengthwise through to segments of the perianth. 

 Hippeastrums, or Equestrian Star Lilies, have rapidly in- 

 creased in popularity during late years. For some reason, 

 until recent years, they have been very expensive and 

 scarcely within the reach of persons of moderate means. 

 There is little need to buy the high-priced varieties when 

 seedlings can be raised so easily. In three places near 

 Boston 600 seedlings were raised last year. The majority 

 of these will probably bloom next winter. Hippeastrums 

 need a resting season, though never to be thoroughly dry, 

 and they flower mostly in April. Growth commences with 

 some kinds early in the winter, and continues slowly. 

 They force easily, and, although their natural season for 

 flowering is April, they can easily be brought into bloom 

 a month earlier. 



BoRONiA MEGASTiGMA. — This jjlant, which is now rather 

 largely grown in London for house decoration, is only 



