164 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 215, 



Hybrids having pitchers of the broad form are largely derived 

 from N. Hookeriana or from N. Rafflesiana. 



N. Rafflesiana is decidedly one of the finest species in the 

 whole genus. It is a strong grower, and produces immense 

 pitchers, which are sometimes ten to twelve inches in length. 

 The pitchers of N. Rafflesiana are dark green, with chocolate 

 markings, and they also have two broad wings down the front. 

 Like most of the members of this genus, the pitchers of N. 

 Rafflesiana are subject to variations in shape ; the most nota- 

 ble usually precedes the period of flowering, when the pitchers 

 become much elongated and have less color than when in 

 their best condition. In order to prevent this deterioration in 

 form it is advisable to cut back the plants occasionally, and 

 thus induce a short-jointed new growtli from the bottom. 



N. Morganiante is another remarkably fine hybrid, and was 

 one of those originated in the first lot of hybrids raised in this 

 country. It is of moderate growth, the leaves pale green, with 

 reddish midribs, and the pitchers flask-shaped and almost en- 

 tirely blood-red when in perfect condition. N. Sedeni is also 

 a fine hybrid, and was raised in England a number of years 

 ago. In habit and shape of the pitchers it resembles N. dis- 

 tillatoria, but the pitchers of N. Sedeni are much marked 

 with brownish crimson. Among the smaller-growing species 

 N. phyllamphora may be recommended ; it is of free growth, 

 and produces its bright green pitchers in great profusion. N. 

 rubra is of somewhat similar habit, but the pitchers are flushed 

 with dull red. 



Other fine species and varieties are N. Dominiana, N. am- 

 pullaria vittata, N. hybrida maculata, N. sanguinea, N. Rajah 

 and N. lanata. The last three are somewhat rare, and N. 

 Rajah is also notable from the fact that its pitchers are the 

 largest of any species in cultivation. In conclusion it should 

 be remembered that the Nepenthes grow naturally in swampy 

 ground, and therefore should never be permitted to become 

 very dry, while during bright dry weather in summer frequent 

 and copious syringings will be found beneficial to them. 



Holmesbuig, Pa. W. H. TapUn. 



Fi.s;. 25. — Seedling Egg-plants destroyed by a Fungus. 



" Falling " of Egg-plant Seedlings. 



T^HE growers of Egg-plants are much troubled with what 

 -'■ they call "falling," and unless they exercise great care all 

 their plants may die before passing beyond the seed-leaf stage. 

 In a recent visit to several large growers of Egg-plants I ob- 

 served that the seedling-beds were frequently spotted — that is, 

 had patches usually circular, and varying from a few inches to 

 two feet in diameter, where the seedlings were dead, while all 

 around the border new vicdms were falling. This indicates 

 that the trouble originates at certain points, and from there 

 spreads in all directions. These seedlings, when carefully re- 

 moved soon after becoming prostrate and washed of the earth 

 at the roots, show that the stem is nearly eaten away at the 



surface of the soil and the root-system is likewise destroyed. 

 Several plants thus killed are shown in the illustration. The 

 picture was secured by first cleaning the seedlings and af- 

 terward floating them in water upon a white plate. By means 

 of a vertical camera the photograph was then taken from 

 which the plate has been made. 



The cause of this "falling" of the seedlings is a fungus 

 which is quite common to the seed-bed of gardeners, and 

 about which much has been written from year to year. This 

 fungus, a species of Pythium, and probably P. De Baryanum, 

 infests the soil of the propagating-bed and thrives upon the 

 substances it contains. Like many other kinds of fungi, it at- 

 tacks its tender victim near the surface of the soil, and quickly 

 destroys the soft tissue, alter which the seedling topples over 

 and is gone. The fungus may cause the fallen top to decay 

 rapidly, while other filaments reach out to new victims not far 

 away. 



A remedy for this serious pest, it is hoped, may be found 

 during the present experimentation. The strong heat and 

 abundant moisture that are essential to the development of the 

 Egg-plant seed are the appropriate conditions for the growth 

 of the fungus. Some soil-treatment needs to be found that 

 will first destroy all the Pythium germs, then by continuing 

 with a fungicide it is hoped that control may be obtained over 

 this enemy. One of the substances now being tested is corro- 

 sive sublimate (bichloride of mercury), and'the point to be 

 demonstrated is whether this can be profitably employed. The 

 chief objection to this germicide is its poisonous action upon 

 the human system, and must therefore be used with extreme 

 caution. 



Rutgers College. Byroit D. Halsled. 



' Correspondence. 



Southern Forests and Forest-flowers. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir, — American wild-flower clubs in different localities' are 

 doing some good work, but all the useful, rare and beautiful 

 species cannot be grown in gardens half as successfully and 

 plentifully as nature grows them in their forest-homes. Since 

 for "health and for wealth" to this great American nation 

 forests must be left standing, why not try to preserve them in- 

 tact — trees, flowers and all ? Before cultivafion, travel and 

 free mountain-pasturage many beautiful wild flowers are 

 disappearing. Those plants whose medicinal qualities are 

 well known find in the herbalist a serious foe. It is not the 

 land-owner, but a shiftless population, who reap this wild har- 

 vest, and send yearly to the great herbarium at Statesville, 

 North Carolina, thousands of pounds of dried herbs and roots. 

 Here among the mountains of western North Carolina, so rich 

 in medicinal herbs, farmers leave their fields half-cultivated 

 and growing up with weeds to gather elsewhere a harvest 

 which is rent free. The large southern land-owner is too 

 careless of his interests. His acres of uncultivated land, full 

 of game of all kinds, fruits and berries, and the finest of tim- 

 ber, are really the common property of a thriftless population. 

 Even rich beds of surface mineral they plunder lawlessly, and 

 should they be forbidden free pillage by the owner they re- 

 venge themselves by damaging him in every way possible. 

 This may sound like a sensational tale, but it is true. The slack 

 system which prevails here is ruinous to the whole population, 

 and nature is robbed unsparingly of her wealth and beauty. 



Two yearly forest-fires are set, " by accident," or "nobody- 

 knows how" — one in autumn, that these semi-civilized crea- 

 tures may more easily gather the nut-crop hidden beneath 

 fallen leaves ; and one in spring, that their flocks may have 

 better pasturage. Both are disastrous to fauna and flora and. 

 fencing, for a forest-fire is not easily controlled. There are 

 protective laws for some wild plants — Ginseng, for instance. 

 Once our mountains were full of this valuable plant, but 

 every year it is becoming scarcer, and all because collectors 

 will gather it before the seeds are fully matured, notwithstand- 

 ing the law in this state prohibiting the collection of Ginseng 

 before September. The roots sell at $3.25 per pound in States- 

 ville, North Carolina, and hundreds of pounds are shipped 

 there by local dealers from this section, but not a dollar of it 

 goes into the land-owner's pocket, nor can he, without keeping 

 a strict watch upon his hundreds of forest-acres, save the plant 

 from extinction. To prevent this it is now being successfully- 

 cultivated in the edges of forests partially cleared. 



Another medicinal plant of rare beauty is the Gentian (Gentiana 

 crinita). Its root is a powerful bitter tonic, a recognized cure 

 for headache and dyspepsia, and often used as a substitute for 

 quinine ; therefore it brings a good price and is in great de- 



