April 



i88S.] 



Garden and Forest. 



103 



here given the fig-ure of one which carries its distinctive 

 characteristics obtrusively to the front, and cannot be mis- 

 taken. Not only is there no other American Rose like it, 

 but it stands alone in the genus, forming M. Crepin's sec- 

 tion, Miuutifolue. Its compact habit, its very small and 

 deeply toothed leaflets, and its small, solitary flowers al- 

 most sessile upon the short branchlets, together make it a 

 very distinct species. 



As might be expected, this Rose belongs to the flora of 

 the Pacitic coast. It has been found only on the peninsula 

 of Lower California, near All Saints (Todos Santos) Bay, 

 about 40 miles south of San Diego, where it was discov- 

 ered in 1882, forming low. dense thickets upon the dry 

 hillsides bordering the shore. It is a much-branched, com- 

 pact shrub, armed with numerous stout, straight spines, 

 the small leaves often fascicled, and with numerous pink 

 or white flowers along the branches. The globular base 

 of the calyx is covered densely with short bristles. Evi- 

 dently the flower in its wild state cannot be commended as 

 well suited to the florist's needs, but from its habit of 

 growth the plant may well prove a decided ornament to 

 the lawn and garden in our more southern States, where it 

 would doubtless be hardv. S. W. 



Cultural Department. 



A Selection of Lilies. 



T^HE selection of varieties is an individual work to lie settled 

 -'- by the grower in accordance with his personal taste and 

 the amount of space and money he has at command. 



For a garden of moderate size the twelve species and varie- 

 ties named below would well represent the whole family and 

 furnish continued bloom from June until September. 



Liliiiinauratinn, the golden-banded Lily of Japan, is one eager- 

 ly sought, because of its large, showy Howers. As a garden flower 

 it has few equals, if magnificent display is the object sought. 

 As a cut flower for house decoration it is the least desirable of 

 any of the family. It is too large to arrange with otliers, with a 

 due regard for harmony of form and color, and the fragrance 

 it e.xhales is truly sickening. Of this species there are many 

 garden varieties, differing only in the niarkings. In some the 

 golden band gives place to one of bright crimson, which for a 

 day is showy, but the crimson soon fades into a dirty brown 

 and the beauty of the flower vanishes. None of these varieties 

 equal the original type. This is usually considered a difficult 

 subject to manage. Choose the smallest bvdbs, those that are 

 heavy and firm, plant deeplv, say eight inches, in the driest 

 part of the border, in partial shade, and tlie bulbs will last a 

 number of years. 



L. clegans is sold in many forms under the name of L. Uiiibel- 

 latuni, and its varieties, ah'osangiiineuin, fulgens, etc. Orange 

 is the predominating color, with various shades ; a few are deep 

 crimson and quite showy; some are a clear citron in color; 

 some are self-colored, others deeply spotted. Alice Wilson, a 

 variety of recent introduction, is decidedly the best of its class. 

 The flower is perfect in form, with petals broad, full and grace- 

 fully curved. Its color is a clear, lemon-vellow, deepening 

 towards the centre of the flower to a rich golden yellow. The 

 class is valuable, because of earliness, hardiness, and profusion 

 of bloom. A large clump makes a magnificent display. The 

 flowers are generally too coarse for table or parlor decoration. 



L. Brownii, which is also known as L. japonicwji, a native 

 of Cliina, is remarkable for its long trumpet-shaped flowers, 

 ivory-white inside, and dark purple on the outside. This is 

 usually regarded a tender Lily, and is not much grown because 

 of its liability to perish. This opinion is quite erroneous. I 

 know a clump of more than a hundred bulbs, all of which have 

 come from six bulbs planted some ten years ago in a raised 

 bed, which has not since been disturbed. Many of the bulbs 

 furnish eight flowers each, and the display is such as onlv this 

 stateliest of flowers can make. 



L. candidum, the old and well-known white Lily of our gar- 

 dens, is the one we could least afford to lose. For graceful 

 habit, stainless purity, and delightful fragrance it has no peer. 

 It is fitted for any place, and for all occasions where cut flowers 

 are desirable. It is about the only flower we do not like to cut, 

 and that because it is too noble and pin-e to meddle with. 

 This bulb should be removed in August, and not be suftered 

 to remain longoutof ground ; it commences its autumn growth 

 the last of August, and upon this growth its next year's^bloom 



depends. A lilight has visited tlie Lily in many |)arts of this 

 country, the cause of which no one has been able to discover, 

 neither has there been found for it a remedy. 



L. excclsiim, or tcstacciiiii of many catalogues, is another 

 noble Lily closely allied to the L. candidjiin, and resembling it in 

 habit of growth. Its flowei-s are drooping, with reflexed petals 

 of a delicate nankeen color, with the minor petalscovered witli 

 darker warty spots. Its fragrance is delicate and pleasing. 



L. speciosnin, or, as it is more commonly known, L. lanci- 

 folittm, is the most useful of all the Lilies. In point of l:)eauty 

 it ranks next to L. candidum, and is far more useful when 

 cut. Of this species we should not be content with less than 

 four varieties. Van pr'cecox is a strong grower, producing when 

 well established twelve to fifteen very large, pure white flowers 

 on a single stem, with regular and much reflexed petals often 

 clasping the stem ; in the centre of the flower the petals are 

 studded with delicate little projections, like crystal points. 

 YslV. piirpuratitm has the same general habit, but is a taller and 

 stronger plant, with dark rose-crimson flower whose petals, at 

 the base, are seemingly rugged with rubies and garnets, while 

 the edges are bordered with white. \-ay. pitiictatum differs in 

 habit ofgrowth but little from those already noticed, its flowers 

 being pure white, delicately studcled with light rose-colored 

 spots. Var. rosettm, or rubrutn, is the most common and liest- 

 known of all the varieties. Much confusion exists in regari.1 to 

 its variety name. Some dealers call it roseum, others rubrum, 

 many send it CRit under both names; the result is, if you buy one 

 you have both, if you buy both you have but one, which one 

 it matters but little. Its color is between that of L. punctatum 

 and L. pnrpuratiini. There are nearly fifty varieties of this 

 species catalogued ; the four described are fairly representative, 

 and for a general display no more are required, while for a 

 good collection' neither could well be omitted. 



L. loiigijlorum, the triunpet-shaped Lily, is conspicuous 

 among Easter flowers, as it is well adapted for forcing. The 

 jiopular Bermuda Lily belongs to this species. It thrives well in 

 the open border, but it is folly to plant it unless thoroughly 

 prdtected against frost. 



L. teniiifoliuin is the earliest of all Lilies to bloom in the open 

 border and one of the most remarkable, because of its brilliant 

 scarlet flowers, borne in terminal clusters on very slender 

 stems, which are beautifully clothed with grass-like foliage. 



L. tigrinttm flo7-e plcno, although one of the much despised 

 Tiger Lilies, is, when well grown, a noble and beautiful plant. 

 I have had a single plant grow more than five feet high, with a 

 diameter of more than three feet, bearing in a single season 

 more than sixty flowers, and continuing in bloom fully six 

 weeks. The flowers are orange-scarlet and very double. 



Finally, let me say, that in making a selection one cannot 

 well go wrong, for there is not a species or variety that is 

 unworthy of a place in the garden. You will succeed if you 

 deserve success, and you will lie sure to increase the number 

 of varieties annually. You will also observe that your inx'est- 

 ment has been relatively small, as plants that are steadily and 

 rapidly increasing in number, though they may cost one dollai' 

 each when you begin, are, in the end, much cheaper than those 

 that require to be removed every year, like all the popular bed- 

 ding plants. C. L. Allen. 



Kitchen-garden Notes. 



Asparagus. — For private use, plant in rows 3 to 4 ft. apart, 

 18 to 24 inches asunder in the row, and the top of the crowns 

 5 inches below the surface of the ground, which we do not 

 raise into ridges at all. Marketmen plant 2 to 4 inches deeper, 

 and in spring plow the earth from between upon tlie top of 

 the rows in order to get white shoots. By sowing some 

 seed in spring, we can keep up a supply of plants tor new 

 plantations or for filling up gaps in. old ones. 



Beans. — In light, sandy land sow snapbeans abotit tlie 17th 

 or 20th of April, but it is not safe to sow them before the 24tli. 

 \'alentiiie is the best of green-podded varieties; it does not 

 rust orspot; Golden 'Wax is the bestof theyellow-fleshed kinds. 



Beets. — Sow Egvptian or Eclipse in rows a foot apart. 



Cabbage. — As soon as young plants of early \\'akefield 

 are well hardened off, plant theni out in rows 3 ft. apart. 



Carrots. — Sow a little Early Horn, Scarlet Stump-rooted 

 and Danvers — the first a foot apart, the others 15 or 18 inches. 



Cauliflower. — Treat like Cabbage, only be more careful in 

 having the plants well hardened off and the ground warm 

 and rich; indeed, if the plants can be well taken care of, and the 

 out-door conditions are not quite favorable, delay planting 

 till about the 2otli. Early Snowball is best. 



Celery. — Sow some Golden Heart and White Plume in a 

 cold-frame. I do not sow the main crop till the last week in 

 April, f)ut this will lie too late for less favored localities. 



