226 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 380. 



found to be reliably hardy. It is easily and rapidly in- 

 creased by the crowns which it produces in abundance, 

 and also by seeds. Growers of seedlings have been re- 

 warded by the production of new forms differing- in tone 

 of color and size of flowers. One of the best of these forms, 

 which hasb'een extensively propagated, is known as Splen- 

 dens. In this variety the color is very intense and the 

 flowers about twice the size of the type. Nothing could be 

 prettier than the arching stems of this plant bearing a row 

 of gem-like flowers of beautiful color. To speak more ex- 

 actly, it bears along arching stems, on the ends of short 

 pedicels, clusters of three and more flowers, which are of a 

 bright red of the tint known as cerise. 



Cultural Department. 



The Russian Tree Fruits in America. 



-I. 



ONE who attempts to trace the origin of different varieties 

 of orchard fruits will find the investigation difficult and 

 wearisome. This is not surprising in the case of nativefruifs, 

 which are usually known and valued for some time in a single 

 neighborhood or town before attractmg attention elsewhere. 

 But in the case of imported kinds it would seem that tliere 

 should be less difficulty. Yet our earliest New England au- 

 thority, and it is a most excellent and painstaking worlv. Cole's 

 American Fruit Book, credits the Duchess of 01 Jenburgh Apple 

 to Russia, Red Aslrachan to Sweden, and fails to notice either 

 Tetofsky or White Astrachan. Yet it is generally supposed 

 that they were all brought to this country from England at or 

 about the same time. Mr. Cole was the editor of the New 

 England Farmer, supposed to be the oldest agricultural news- 

 paper in America ; and the importation of these Apples is 

 credited to the Mannings, of I^eading, Massachusetts. In- 

 quiry reveals the fact that tliere are in that town two families 

 of that name, yet not related, and as, by correspondence, I find 

 that one family declines the honor, I am left to the conclusion 

 that the true source of this importation is the family now rep- 

 resented by Mr. J. W. Manning, from whom I received the Tetof- 

 sky in 1872. At about the same time I received the Duchess of 

 Oldenburgh from Mr. S. L. Goodale, a prominent horticulturist 

 of Saco, Maine, while the Red Astrachan was sent to me by 

 the great nursery firm of Ellwanger & Barry, of Rochester, 

 New York, at the same time, or a little earlier. This variety, 

 notwithstanding its Russian origin, has not proved hardy 

 against the cold winters of north-eastern Vermont, which is 

 hardly surprising, when it is remembered that Astrachan is 

 the southernmost province of Russia, with a climate, judging 

 by its products, not unlike that of New Jersey. Some further 

 correspondence with Massachusetts parties leads me to the 

 conclusion that the above-named Russian Apples reached this 

 country from English growers, who, in their turn, obtained 

 them from Sweden, which was probably the reason for the 

 assignment of the Red Astrachan to that country by Mr. Cole. 



Of the above-named importations only three varieties, the 

 Oldenburgh, Tetofsky and Red Astrachan, have had a wide 

 distribution in America. It was soon discovered that the 

 Oldenburgh and Tetofsky could be grown successfully much 

 farther north than any other well-known sorts, and it was to 

 these that the title of " Iron-clads " was applied ; first, I think, 

 in Minnesota, after one of the "test winters" of that region 

 had cut off nearly every other sort of cultivated tree fruits. 



At about the same time at which I became practically ac- 

 quainted with this cold-resisting characteristic of tliese Rus- 

 sian Apples, disappointments in Wisconsin and Minnesota, 

 resulting from the widespread destruction of many young 

 orchards by severe winters, gave rise to a strong demand for 

 a more thorough and extensive trial of the tree fruits of north- 

 eastern Europe. Quite a number of Americans were at that 

 time engaged in scientific and industrial service under the 

 Russian Government, and through these a considerable im- 

 portation was made on private account. Representations were 

 also made to the national authorities ; and after the expendi- 

 ture of the usual amount of red tape, a large importation of 

 Russian Apple-trees and cions was made, which on arrival 

 were distributed from Washington. This distribution was 

 made with so little judgment that more than half, perhaps as 

 much as two-thirds, of the whole importation was lost. The 

 cions which were sent direct to farmers were generally a total 

 loss, as not one farmer in five hundred throughout the coun- 

 try has ever learned the simple art of grafting, which every 

 farmer's boy should know by the time he is ten years old. 

 But enough survived, and in time came to fruitage, to satisfy 

 intelligent fruit-growers that here was a race of Apples quite 



new to America, and capal>le of far greater resistance to cold 

 than the fruits of western Europe, which constituted our sole 

 stock at that time, with the few exceptions noted above. 

 Newport, vt. T. H. Hoskins. 



Pelargoniums. 

 AT this season of the year no class of plants compares 

 ■^^ with Fancy Pelargoniums for decorative purposes in 

 the greenhouse or conservatory. They are by far the most 

 gorgeous of the Geraniace?e, and no one having a green- 

 house should be without them. They also make admirable 

 window plants. For several years their cultivation has been 

 much neglected in America, and even now, when they appear 

 to be regaining some of their lost popularity, there is hardly 

 a florist who catalogues more than two or three varieties, and 

 these are usually not the best ones, so that the only way to secure 

 a good selection is to import the plants. For market purposes, 

 Pelargoniums have never been very popular, and it is surpris- 

 ing that they have not received more attention from florists. 

 They are easily cultivated, and can be grown almost as cheaply 

 as ordinary bedding Geraniums. Last year I persuaded a 

 neighboring florist to grow a few dozens in five and six inch 

 pots. The plants sold readily, and his customers were per- 

 fectly satisfied with their behavior as window or piazza plants. 

 In England enormous quantities of Pelargoniums are grown 

 for the large flower markets, usually in six-inch pots, and thou- 

 sands of plants are sold each day in Covent Garden alone dur- 

 ing the height of the season. Few cottagers in England or 

 Scotland who grow window plants are without a Pelargonium. 

 Owing to the cooler summer weather there, the plants do not 

 bloom until September. In this country they are usually spent 

 by July, but this gives two months of constant bloom, a much 

 longer time than a Cineraria or Calceolaria lasts. 



Cuttings inserted during September or October can be easily 

 grown into nice specimens l)y the following May and flowered 

 in six or eight inch pots. We place our cuttings in boxes of 

 sand provided with ample drainage, and treat them in the 

 same way as ordinary Geraniums. The plants should be 

 grown in an airy house and kept well up to the light. Green 

 aphis is their chief enemy, and to combat this we spread 

 some tobacco stems among our plants and give a fumigation 

 about once in ten days. "The best time to give a thorough 

 fumigation is just before the blooms start to open, as tobacco 

 smoke causes most of the petals to drop. 



Although young plants can be grown to sufficient size in one 

 season for most purposes, older ones make fine specimens for 

 a show-house. After the blooming period is over the plants 

 can be stood outdoors and kept rather dry until the mid- 

 dle or end of August, when they may be pruned back. After 

 pruning they should be watered freely at the root to encourage 

 the plants to break, and when shoots an inch or more long 

 have been made they can be shaken out and repotted into 

 pots of the same size, or a size smaller than they were in be- 

 fore. The soil should be well shaken from the roots, and the 

 roots themselves pruned back. The plants should not be 

 exposed to cold rains or early frost. For compost we use two- 

 thirds turfy loam and one-third well-dried cow-manure. Some 

 bone-dust may also be advantageously mixed in, and a shovel- 

 ful of sharp sand to each bushel of compost. If extra large 

 specimens are desired the shoots must be well staked out. In 

 England specimen plants are often three to four feet across, 

 and the shoots are tied down to a wire or wooden circular 

 frame above the top of the pot. Magnificent specimens of 

 Pelargoniums are shown yearly, especially at the York 

 and Manchester shows. Such plants, though displaying mar- 

 velous cultural skill, have a rather formal appearance, and 

 more naturally grown specimens are preferable. 



Pelargoniums are gross feeders, and liquid-manure can be 

 as freely used as with Chrysanthemums. During the bloom- 

 ing period they require plenty of water. We place a saucer 

 under each pot. If a plant gets thoroughly dry at the root a 

 loss of foliage follows, and its appearance is spoiled. While 

 flowering the portion of the house where the Pelargoniums 

 are kept should be well shaded and be as cool as possible. , 



Of late years great improvements have been made in this 

 class of plants, especially in the new hybrid semi-double sorts. 

 These usually have seven and eight petals each, and last much 

 better than the single ones. Good varieties of Pelargoniums 

 are Mrs. R. Sanditord, Volonti? nationale alba and Princess 

 Teck, among whites ; of colored ones the following are good : 

 Madame Thibaut, Kingston Beauty, Dr. Masters, Triomphede 

 St. Mande and VolonttS nationale. 



Taunton, Mass. iV. N. Craig. 



[Last year we saw some exceptionally well-grown Pelar- 

 goniums at the nurseries of Messrs. Turner, at Slough, 



