212 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 219. 



Salvia arg;entea is a plant usually grown as an annual for the 

 beauty of its foliage, and in the early part of the day when 

 sparkling with dew it presents a pretty picture in the front row 

 of a border. It was a surprise to see plants set out last year 



37. — -Narcissus incompai-abilis. — See page 209. 



coming up strong and unharmed by the winter, as there are 

 no other Salvias that will live out unhurt in this locality, and 

 even the garden Sage has to be treated as an annual. Every 

 spring one is tempted to ask why Mertensia Virginica is so 

 seldom seen in gardens, since there is nothing more beautiful 

 in its season. It is very plentiful and easily obtained in some 

 sections, but rarely seen in gardens. The beautiful blue 

 flowers last well when cut. r- /n ^ 



South Lancaster, Mass. E. O. Orpet. 



Flowers in Bloom. 



AMONG the flowers now in bloom is a distinctly colored 

 Grape Hyacinth, named Muscari Scovitzianum, and a 

 valuable addition to this interesting group. The long, pros- 

 trate leaves were produced in early winter. The flowers 

 appeared in middle April. The flowers individually are rather 

 small, but are of a beautiful opaque, pure blue, with no trace 

 of purple, and with a white rim. Single bulbs have thrown 

 three spikes of flowers. This would be a fine variety to asso- 

 ciate with M. botryoides alba, whose pure white flowers are 

 now in their prime. M. Scovitzianum is an introduction of 

 Herr Leichtlin, as is also 



Fritillaria Dalmatica, an interesting but not showy plant. 

 The flowers are bell-shaped and single, on stems about six 

 inches high, and droop gracefully. The petals are green out- 

 side, stained brown, and inside a deep brown, mottled and 

 stained with green. In suitable positions, the dwarf and small- 

 growing Fritillarias are interesting garden-plants, better 

 adapted to the rockery than an open position, however. 



The charming hybrid Primroses, with their bright flowers 

 . shining over a background of tender foliage, are among the 

 choicest of the flowers of the season, and of the easiest 

 culture. With me they prove very reliable, perfectly hardy in 

 winter, and not burnt up by summer heat. I have before 

 mentioned that they do well in my garden on a raised border, 

 a few feet from the south side of the house, where it is often 

 very warm. My friends at a distance, with some experience 

 of Primulas, often express what I may perhaps call polite sur- 

 prise at this fact. But it is only another indication that in our 

 various gardens we have quite varied experiences. On my 

 part, I do not know how others establish Primroses in grass, 

 as one sees frequently noted and advised. In such cases it 

 would be interesting to know what variety of grass is found 

 suitable for the association. My garden being surrounded by 

 vacant land, we are supplied with a large assortment of 

 grasses, and apparently all of these, without exception, grow 

 vigorously enough (outside of the lawn) to strangle anything 

 but the most vigorous plants. My border of hybrid Primulas, 



seedlings three years old, is of a vigorous strain (Dean's), but 

 has been neglected'. The crowns have not been divided and 

 are much crowded. Where tlie grass had been taken out 

 they are still vigorous, but most of the plants this spring were 

 overcrowded with grass, and were rapidly becoming exter- 

 minated. Another strain of Primroses, not far removed from 

 P. veris, shows even less vigor when attacked by grass. P. 

 elatior (Polyanthus) has also largely disappeared under its 

 encroachments. Primulas should, no doubt, be divided every 

 second year at least, and given good culture, as they are gross 

 growers and increase rapidly. 



Auriculas are other members of the Primula family, now 

 gradually showing their beautiful flowers. These alpine 

 Primulas are kept under glass, to protect the meal from wet 

 and to preserve the purity of tlie blooms. Choice Auriculas 

 come under the head of precious flowers, and are well worth 

 the care which they undoubtedly require. While they are 

 hardy one does not care to plant out any but varieties dis- 

 carded from the collection as not being first-rate, the others 

 being kept always in pots or planted in a frame under shelter. 



This is one of the oldest favorites of the florists' flowers, and 

 the small but devoted band which makes them a hobby in 

 England seems to me the most interesting group of flower 

 fanciers. An Auricula fancier discusses the points of his 

 favorite with an old-time ingenuousness and such a flood of 

 reminiscences that one heartily enjoys his amenities and en- 

 thusiasm, while not caring at all whether the paste and the 

 eye of the flowers are in proper proportion. 



One of the Squills lately sent from the Taurus mountains 

 is a variety of Scilla bifolia, named Whittali in honor of its 

 collector. This variety is quite distinct, the leaves being more 

 numerous than in the type, and channeled. The flowers are 

 borne in long racemes and are upright. Individually they are 

 small, with narrow petals, and somewhat resemble Chionodoxa 

 Sardensis. The first sample of these, received in 1890, 

 flowered earlier than the lot from a later collection. 



A few lingering flowers of Anemone blanda remind me to 

 say that though this valuable plant is perfectly hardy, it 

 evidently has a choice as to suitable position. It does much 

 the best with me in a warm snug corner, protected on all sides 

 but the south, and where it is baked all summer. In this 

 position it came into bloom in January, the tubers having been 

 undisturbed for three years. Mr. E. Whittali sent me for trial 

 last fall a large lot of what was said to be a finer and more ro- 

 bust form, A. blanda robustus. The tubers of these have not 



Fig. 38. — Narcissus triandrus. — See page 209. 



been so happily placed, being in colonies in more exposed 

 positions, and though, as was to be expected of newly col- 

 lected pieces, not flowering freely, yet they seem still more 

 affected by being planted in exposed positions. Such flowers 



