July 6, 1892.] 



Garden and Forest. 



319 



blossom here, the first flowers on cultivated plants in the 

 Arboretum opening as early as the 29th of April, while the 

 sterile blossoms were conspicuous for some days earlier. 

 The flat cymes of flowers of this species are broader than 

 any other we know, and should a "snowball" form of this 

 ever be produced it is likely to form an enormous cluster. 

 Not the least interesting character of the Hobble-bush is 

 the very large size of its thick, rough leaves, which always 

 excite admiration, and which, when growing in the sun- 

 light, soon take on a bronzy or purplish lustre. That a 

 "snowball" form of this may be produced in the course 

 of more general cultivation seems not unreasonable when 

 it is considered that the three other species in general cul- 

 tivation, and which bear showy sterile flowers in a natural 

 state, have all given forms of the snowball character. These 

 are our native Cranberry-bush, already alluded to, a nati\-e 

 of Europe and Northern Asia as M'ell as of our own coun- 



as affect the common Snowball in almost every garden and 

 cause the leaves to become wrinkled and twisted, not only 

 to the disfigurement of the plant but to the detriment of its 

 health, to such an extent as to interfere with the perfect 

 development of its flowers. Applications of whale-oil 

 soap will destroy these Aphides, but it has to be very 

 thoroughly applied to be effective, because the distorted 

 leaves offer secure hiding-places from all ordinary shower- 

 ings or sprayings. When one of these shrubs is clean 

 and well its tlowers are carried with singular grace. 



ArnoId^Ai'boretuni. / Q^ fcich. 



Indoor Work in July. 



"\170RKING under glass is not an unalloyed pleasure during 

 * * the niidsuninier season, but many of the finest stove- 

 plants requu-e attention if they attain their best estate even 

 tliough tlie cultivator may find the temperature somewhat 



Fig- 57.— Lumbering in Bear Meadows, Centre County, Pennsylvania. — See pai;e 314. 



try ; the Japanese species, the double form of which has 

 for some time been known in our gardens as V. plicatum, 

 and the less common and less hardy Chinese species 

 which bears the name of V. macrocephalum. 



It is a curious fact that the wild-flowering type of V. 

 plicatum, bearing cymes containing both showy, sterile 

 and the small perfect flowers, has only been recognized in 

 American and European gardens within a very recent 

 time. It is known to botanists as V. tomentosum, 

 and, like the High Cranberry-bush, its flowers are much 

 more graceful and pretty than are those of the snowball 

 forms. Nevertheless, the latter have come to be a necessity 

 in all gardens. Of the two the Japanese Snowball is by 

 far the best, because, not only are its blossoms handsomer 

 and in finer clusters, but they endure twice as long in good 

 condition as those of the common Snowball of our gardens. 

 What seems to be a still greater advantage is that the clean 

 ■dark green foliage of the plant seems to enjoy a singular 

 immunity from attacks of Aphides and other insects, such 



uncomfortable. This is the season of most active growth for 

 many foliage plants, and there is, therefore, a certain amount of 

 potting to be done all through the summer, in addition to the 

 general overhauling that has been given in the spring ; and 

 while the growth of the plants is active, that of various insect 

 pests is equally so ; constant watchfulness is therefore needed 

 since it is much easier to rid the stock frequently of a few in- 

 sects at a time than to rid them of vermin after they have 

 become badly infested. Some of the tender-leaved subjects, 

 such as Cyanophyllum magnificum and Sphaerogyne latifolia, 

 are frequently attacked by mealy bugs, and in such cases very 

 careful handling is needed, for the least bruise given to the 

 young foliage when it is expanding will permanently dis- 

 figure it. 



A camel's-hair brush is the most effective weapon to use on 

 such plants for the removal of mealy bugs, and unless used 

 very roughly it will seldom injure the young leaves. The 

 plants above noted are among those requiring a rather high 

 temperature and moist atmosphere to encourage their full de- 

 velopment, but when this condition is attained, their beauty 

 fully repays for the care given. Plenty of pot-room also 

 should be given to these plants, and a light, rich compost. 



