December 7, 1892.] 



Garden and Forest. 



587 



of large flowers in varied colors, and there are many speci- 

 mens of the Lobster Cactus (Epiphyllum truncatum) completely 

 draped in soft rose-purple. The free-flowering Bouvardias 

 are grown in generous quantity, and there are few greenhouse 

 plants of such easy culture so generally useful in winter. 

 They are very graceful and effective when in full bloom, and 

 the flowers last well when cut. Specimens of good size may 

 be obtained in a few months by inserting the cuttings in sandy 

 soil and placing them in a hot-bed in early spring. The plants 

 should be grown on in pots, plunged out-of-doors in summer, 

 and removed to their final quarters in September. 



The Calla Lily (Richardia ^thiopica) spathes are numerous 

 on vigorous plants, and the gardener, Mr. Harris, called my 

 attention to a variety named Grandiflora, in which the fragrance 

 of the flowers is particularly sweet and strong. The Little Gem 

 variety is also grown, there being a number of plants in prom- 

 ising condition, though Mr. Harris is of opinion that it will in 

 usefulness prove far inferior to the well-known type. A large 

 standard bush of an Abutilon, with light yellow, bell-shaped 

 flowers, is rich in the luxuriance of its foliage and in quantity 

 of bloom. 



Solanum capsicastrum is grown on account of its ornamental 

 fruits, which are as large as the white fruits of the Snowberry 

 (Symphoricarpus racemosus), globular in form, bright red and 

 glossy. There are also some specimens of Solanum ciliatum, 

 a spiny plant with large Oak-like leaves and bright red fruits 

 about the size of walnuts. Both these plants are highly ef- 

 fective and very desirable for a cool greenhouse. 



A large plant of Pleroma macrantha in a cool conservatory 

 was a grand sight, with its rich purple blossoms, a short time 

 ago, and a few flowers still remain. Were the plant in a some- 

 what warmer house it would bloom more or less freely all 

 winter. Anthurium Scherzerianum's twisted spathes of vivid 

 crimson are very showy, and produced in fair quantity on a 

 medium-sized plant. There are still a few of the beautiful 

 pinkish bracts on Bougainvillea glabra, a summer-flowering 

 climber of rare excellence, and the large scarlet bracts of 

 Euphorbia pulcherrima make a bold mass of cheering color. 

 Bignonia venusta is grown in a warm house, the old stems 

 covering a large area of the roof, and the young branches, 

 laden with opening flowers, hang down in streamers of orange 

 and green. 



The numerous and healthful foliage-plants are being slowly 

 crowded out by the introductions of Orchids. Mr. Hunne- 

 well's collection of the latter plants gives every indication of 

 speedily becoming one of the most important in this country, 

 and they are in most competent hands, judging from the su- 

 perb growth they have made during the past season. The 

 Phalffinopsis are now showing some extra strong scapes, and 

 the plants of this group are in a condition rarely equaled. The 

 following, among the plants in flower, are especially noticeable 

 as showing the highest state of cultural development : Catase- 

 tum saccatum, Cattleya bicolor, C. Gigas, C. Harrisii, C. 

 maxima, Cypripedium callosum, C. Dominianum, C. Spiceria- 

 num (several plants of this species bearing two or three flow- 

 ers to a scape), Dendrobium Dearei, D. formosum, D. Phalse- 

 nopsis, Lselia pumila and its variety prsestans, Odontoglossum 

 Harryanum, O. grande, Vanda Kimballiana and Zygopetalum 

 Mackayi. 



Boston, Mass. Casical. 



The Use of Cultural Directions. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir, — The desire expressed by a correspondent for informa- 

 tion which is adapted particularly to American gardens is a 

 very natural one, and is probably the outcome of the idea that 

 foreign practice differs in a great degree from our own, as it 

 often does, just as garden practice in California must often 

 differ from that of Massachusetts. One who undertook to give 

 advice from the American standpoint would be confronted at 

 once with conditions as diverse as can be imagined, since the 

 United States offers about every known variety of climate, expo- 

 sure and soil. Latitude furnishes few indications, as isothermal 

 lines do not follow geographical abstractions. And tem- 

 perature is only one factor in cultivation. What is the 

 average moisture ? Is it well distributed, or does it occur 

 all in a given season .'' Then follow questions of fertility and 

 the mechanical constitution of soils at different seasons, and 

 many other problems of equal moment. In fact, anyone who 

 attempts to cultivate the smallest portion of the earth's sur- 

 face soon discovers many things not mentioned in any cul- 

 tural manual, and he finds that his operations must in many 

 cases be tentative. Cultural notes are often very useful, but 

 at best are mere relations of personal experience, and whether 



they are made in England or New Jersey they must be mod- 

 ified as the intelligence of the cultivator decides. 



The cultivator of the hardy garden, to consider a definite style 

 of garden, is ever at the mercy of the elements, and the interest 

 in the hardy plants is heightened by the never-ending struggle 

 with nature. The popular idea of a hardy garden is that it 

 is one where everything once planted goes on vigorously from 

 year to year and from strength to strength with little or no 

 attention. This is quite true of some strong-growing things, 

 as Phloxes, Psonies, Funkias, a few Sunflowers, etc., but usu- 

 ally, even with these, when unattended to, there comes a time 

 when nature has her revenges. But these plants are of moderate 

 interest beside the nunierous hardy species which will natu- 

 rally be sought for in a good hardy garden, and be a source of 

 more or less perplexed pleasure to the grower. In late winter 

 and early spring, if one watches the fields, he will discover 

 that nature is apparently engaged with frost and sun-warmth 

 in destroying all traces of vegetation. With a heave here and 

 a heave there the mighty but quiet frost lifts out of the 

 soil every root not safely anchored. It is only the great 

 abundance of plants and seed which prevents the entire ex- 

 termination of many species. If this is true among native 

 plants, how much greater would be the destruction of exotic 

 plants, which are at a further disadvantage by their small 

 numbers in comparison with the native kinds ? 



The winter care of a hardy garden may seem the further 

 end of its culture, but it is really one of the things to be con- 

 sidered in first planting. The careful, observing gardener will 

 notice that even a very small garden has considerable diver- 

 sity, if not of soil, at least, of warmth and natural drainage, 

 and will always have it mapped in his mind with situations 

 which seem suitable for plants of different constitutions. By 

 observing the disappearance of snows from the garden one 

 can gain a very good idea as to where it may be best to place 

 certain classes of plants. Where the snow lies longest is, of 

 course, the place to plant such things as are apt to start too 

 early in the year, or are easily, from their nature, thrown out 

 of the ground by frequent freezings and thawings. Where the 

 snow disappears promptly rapid changes are apt to be the 

 order of the season, and no exposed crowns or perennial 

 leaves are safe, though if sheltered well from the north such a 

 place may make a good early garden for bulbous plants. It is 

 attention to seemingly small details and careful observation 

 which makes the garden a success and a pleasure. How to 

 make plants grow is knowledge not given to man, but if we 

 will plant them carefully, attend to their wants faithfully and 

 intelligently they will often grow for us. 



Elizabeth, N. J. G. 



Horticultural Education. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir, — Your editorial expression upon horticultural education 

 is encouraging. I am glad that you appreciate the fact that a 

 farmer's boy or girl may be greatly benefited by even a short 

 one-term course of lectures, reading or practice. Our own in- 

 stitution, in common with others, now offers such a short 

 course, and we have for some time considered the feasibility 

 of instruction by correspondence, a plan which seems to me 

 to be capable of good results. As you say, these courses can- 

 not make finished gardeners, and, for myself, I do not look 

 upon the mere information or instruction which the courses 

 give as their chief value. The important result is inspiration. 

 Kindle the spirit of enthusiasm in a youth ; let him know what 

 to look for; show him that all the simple amenities and ambi- 

 tions of life are possible on the farm. When he once grasps 

 this broader horizon of life, the farm is a new sphere, and citi- 

 zenship has new hopes and responsibilities. Our people must 

 be citizens as well as good farmers and good mechanics. I 

 imagine that all the agricultural colleges which give short or 

 special courses find that these are feeders for the long or gen- 

 eral course. Our senior class is usually as large as the fresh- 

 man class ; sometimes larger. This shows that there is a con- 

 tagion about education which it is difficult to resist. We all 

 want to extend the college, university, experiment station ; in 

 short, the education spirit. Then we want all those who de- 

 sire to take definite and prolonged instruction. We cannot yet 

 hope to make every farmer a college graduate, but we hope 

 that every one in the land shall feel something of the inspira- 

 tion which comes from the newer and broader life. 



Cornell University. L. H. Bailey. 



Notes. 



Mr. W. J. Gordon, who died a fortnight ago in Cleveland, 

 provided in his wiU that his extensive and beautiful pleasure- 



