6o8 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 252. 



which are still relegated to a separate genus, will probably, in 

 a garden, be always counted as Irises. An ordinary observer 

 would not see any difference, and it would embarrass the aver- 

 age grower to attempt to explain their distinctions. Counting 

 the Morasas, we have, it seems, something over two hun- 

 dred distinct species of Irises recognized at present, to which, 

 probably, we shall constantly receive accessions. These, with 

 the numerous varieties and hybrids, offer, certainly, a most ex- 

 tended and interesting field to the gardener and student. 



As was said editorially a few weeks since, the Irises have 

 ever been the favorite plants of the hardy garden. Though 

 seldom grown in large variety in the average garden, few gar- 

 dens are without one or more kinds. Next to the double yel- 

 low Narcissus, there is probably no plant more widely dis- 

 seminated in gardens through the country than the common 

 Fleur de Lis. In the older sections of our country, at least. 

 Narcissus telamonius plenus, Iris Germanica and Lilium can- 

 didum are a trio, all, or one or more of which, may be found 

 in most old gardens. Besides the Iris mentioned, there are 

 few varieties to be found in country gardens in this section. 

 At least, a flower-loving friend, with a fancy for Irises, has 

 searched this country-side very thoroughly to add to his col- 

 lection, and has discovered less than a dozen, and these mostly 

 hybrids, or the so-called German Irises. As some other sec- 

 tions of the country may possibly have the same dearth of 

 these plants, it has occurred to me that a few notes on the 

 family may be helpful and suggestive to others, for among the 

 species and varieties are many very interesting plants, 

 second to no others in beauty and garden value, and 

 plants, too, for the greenhouse, the cold-house and the 

 hardy garden. 



The species embrace a great range, and it is impossible to 

 give general directions for th€ir culture, for, while some spe- 

 cies are very difficult subjects to flower, many kinds are very 

 easily grown, increase very rapidly, and are thoroughly relia- 

 ble and satisfactory garden-plants. The bulbous kinds mostly 

 are better for an occasional replanting, though among these 

 there are a few which seemingly take a very short rest, and 

 should not be kept out of the ground many weeks. The other 

 sections resent removal, and are somewhat slow to establish 

 thoroughly. They mostly have good, strong, long roots, and 

 appreciate a good deep soil, not too heavy. It is usually a 

 gain to plant these in the early fall to give them a chance for 

 the following season. While some kinds, such as our com- 

 mon I. versicolor, are often found growing as aquatics in a 

 foot or more of water, they do equally well in a dry border. 

 While a fair amount of moisture, not stagnant, is appreciated 

 by most of these Irises, care should be especially taken to 

 plant those whose rhizomes creep at the surface, so that water 

 can freely flow from them. Apparently the only Iris whose 

 flowers are susceptible to increase in size by cultivation is I. 

 laevigata, forms of which, known as I. Ksempferi, tl>e Japanese 

 have supplied to us. Tliese, while growing vigorously in a dry 

 border, respond to liberal treatment in the way ofwater and 

 stimulants by giving increased size of flowers. Some of the 

 rhizomatous Irises are said to do well as pot-plants if the roots 

 are crowded, but the few tried by me have as yet failed to 

 flower. I. Tectorum (the Roof Iris of the Japanese), for in- 

 stance, the leaves of which are very graceful, has failed to 

 flower after two years of closely potted life. 



Elizabeth, N.J. J- N. G. 



Carnations for Market. 



THE Carnation in America has become a distinct type. In a 

 literal sense it is a product of the soil. The home-raisers 

 have the field, and the market, too. No foreign importations 

 approach the standard now attained here. A variety to hold 

 its own must be a true Perpetual, of free, low-growing habit, 

 with grassy foliage, allowing the free access of light and air. 

 It must have good stiff flowering stems, with productiveness 

 and good shipping qualities are essential. Owing to the de- 

 mands of the market, selection during recent years has been 

 in the direction of longer stems. Where a stem produces a 

 number of buds the flowers are small by comparison, unless 

 disbudding is practiced, and growers seldom have the time or 

 inclination to do this. Even with the best varieties, enough 

 short-stemmed buds are produced to meet all the demands of 

 the market for button-hole and bouquet work, and more than 

 this is a dead loss. Another important qualification of a new 

 variety should be a tendency to produce after the first crop an 

 unusually large proportion of single buds. This has always 

 been a good quality of Grace Wilder, and, perhaps, explains 

 why it has remained so long in the front rank among pink Car- 

 nations. The same is true of Mrs. Fisher among white varie- 



ties, since in this respect it is superior to Lizzie McGowan. A 

 good crimson like Anna Webb or Ferdinand Mangold, with 

 these qualifications, would be a treasure indeed. 



Carnation-growers are springing up everywhere, and when 

 it is considered that the outlay for establishing a business in 

 this direction is comparatively light, there is some fear among 

 the older growers that the market will be overstocked. One 

 certain result will be to increase the average quality of the 

 flowers. For first-class blooms there always has been a good 

 market, and the indications are there will continue to be. 



To the question. Which is the best white variety for market ? 

 growers hereabout unanimously answer Mrs. Fisher. It is a 

 true Perpetual, a heavy and continuous cropper and an excel- 

 lent shipper. It bears a good-sized, round, full double and 

 sweet-scented flower. During a recent visit to Mr. Nickolson's, 

 of Framingham, I saw part of a lot of 500 plants struck 

 last January, and planted outdoors May 20th, which yielded 

 between the 15th of July and the 20th of September an average 

 of 1,500 flowers per week. These same plants were at the time 

 of my visit (December 5th) blooming in very good form, and 

 there was no apparent difference between them and the re- 

 mainder of the lot, which were struck later and not allowed to 

 bloom, except that the plants were slightly taller. The argu- 

 ment that certain varieties have a local adaptation seems to 

 hold good in the case of this variety, which is scarcely grown 

 outside the limits of the Boston trade, and has been con- 

 temptuously dubbed by the New York and Philadelphia grow- 

 ers the Boston White. Mr. James Tuhs, grower for Mr. Homer 

 Rogers, of South Sudbury, has four large houses devoted to it 

 exclusively. The practice adopted hereof growing each variety 

 separately has much to commend it. The particular needs of 

 each can be better studied and attended to. 



Lizzie McGowan, the popular New York and Philadelphia 

 white, is finding some favor. Its constitution is good, its habit 

 perfect ; the stems are stiff, with fine grassy foliage, which ad- 

 mits light and air freely, an essential quality in a winter- 

 bloomer. Its principal defects are lack of substance, and, con- 

 sequently, poor shipping qualities, and, moreover, it is only 

 slightly fragrant. Silver Spray stands well in comparison with 

 other market varieties ; it is a fair shipper and a good keeper. 

 Puritan, a new white, sent out by Woods Brothers last year, is 

 the most promising white among recent introductions. The 

 flowers are very large, of the purest white, beautifully fringed, 

 and have a delicious clove fragrance. It is a fine healthy 

 grower, but, so far as tested, is not a heavy cropper. Tailby's 

 Grace Wilder is the ideal pink -variety, and singularly free from 

 any tinge of purple at any stage. It is erect, low-growing, with 

 fine grassy foliage, producing after the first crop an enormous 

 percentage of single buds, rendering it distinctly valuable for 

 long stems. The flowers are finely formed, though not large, 

 beautifully fringed and very fragrant, keeping well when cut. 

 It is, moreover, a true Perpetual, and in this respect is superior 

 to a large number of new varieties of this shade, which, strange 

 to say, more than any other revert to the old border type when 

 raised from seed. Ada Byron, one of Mr. Fisher's new rose- 

 colored varieties, is very promising. It is vigorous in consti- 

 tution, with good blooming qualities, although rather late. The 

 flowers are perfectly globular, on good stout stems, neatly 

 fringed and fragrant. Nickolson, another of Fisher's, prom- 

 ises well, though not quite satisfactory. It carries a good 

 round flower on stout stems, but is not, so far, a heavy crop- 

 per. The color is a lovely red-rose. Daybreak, the new and 

 popular flesh-pink, fully bears out the reputation it has every- 

 where earned. It is a good healthy grower, though not very 

 prolific. The flowers are very large and finely formed and 

 very attractive. 



There is a variety of opinions as to which is the best scarlet. 

 Some grow Portia, a really good bright scarlet, though lacking 

 size ; others like Florence, while some prefer Hector. The 

 latter variety is hard to beat where it succeeds. The flowers 

 are of the largest size, of the clearest and brightest scarlet. 

 Florence, a more reliable variety, said to be the seed parent of 

 Hector, is a good clean grower and a splendid cropper. It has 

 the defect, however, of weak stems, and produces an undue 

 proportion of shortbuds. Mr. James Tulisgrowsthreehouses 

 of it, which are carrying an immense crop of bloom. E. G. Hill, 

 a promising new scarlet, is on trial, rather a coarse grower. 



As to the best crimson now on the market, honors are di- 

 vided between Anna Webb and Ferdinand Mangold. Both 

 are strongly clove-scented and very similar in every way ; 

 the latter is said to be a seedling from Anna Webb and perhaps 

 possesses a trifle more vigor. As far as I have seen them when 

 growing together I have failed to see any difference ; Mr. Tulis, 

 however, has discarded Anna Webb. He had at the time of 

 my visit a magnificent houseful of Ferdinand Mangold. The 



