1 68 



Garden and Forest. 



[May 30, iS 



Periodical Literature. 



Writing of the " Spring- Flowe:>rs of California" in tlie April 

 number of the Overland IMontlilv, Mr. Cliarles Howard Shinji 

 excites the envy of Eastern readers, Fptiruary in CaHfornia, 

 he savs, corresponds to tiie " changeful, sweet and coquet- 

 tish " April of -the English poets, and April in California means 

 " the first radiancy of the full Rose garden, the farewell of the 

 scarlet Quince and the piu'ple Lilacs." And among the wild 

 flowers it means a profusion of blossoms, many of them iden- 

 tical in name with oiu'own early summer species, but different 

 in forjii and often much more brilliant, which contrasts very 

 strongly with the humble efforts that the Eastern States make 

 in this month to adorn themselves. No one, writes Mr. Shinn, 

 who sees California for the first time now, can imagine liow 

 much more beautiful it was in the days of the pioneers, before 

 " herds of cattle and bands of sheep trampled the soil and de- 

 stroyed Nature's great wild garden," now "seas of flowers" 

 have been exterminated, "leagues of wild Oats, Mustard fields 

 in which, when in bloom, men on horseback could lose them- 

 selves, wild Lilies bedded in mass extending for rods. . . . 

 Wild flowers that forty years ago spread in broad carpets from 

 mountain to mountain across great valleys have retreated to 

 bits of rock and ravine, to sunny hill-pastures and warm OaK-- 

 openings not yet needed for vuieyard and orchard." Yet, we 

 repeat, his account of what still remains suggests deliglits 

 which may well make us envious. 



Recent Plant Portraits. 



Odontoglossum Uro-Skinneri, Lc Moiiitcur d' Horticulturf, 

 February. 



Eucalyptus UINIGERA, Gardener's ChronieU, April 14th ; 

 from a tree grown in Scotland and now more than sixtv feet 

 in height. This is lielieved to be the hardiest of the genus. It 

 is a native of the Tasmanian Mountains ; and "may become," 

 says Baron Von Mueller, " of sanitary importance to colder 

 countries in malarial regions, the foliage being much imbued 

 with antiseptic oil." This species attains a heiglit of 150 feet, 

 with a trunk circumference of eighteen. 



Anthurium Chamberlaini, "Gardener's Chronicle, April 

 14th ; " one of the noblest species in a genus already rich in 

 superb species, and handsome alike in foliage and in flower." 

 It is supposed to be a native of Venezuela ; and it has im- 

 mense cordate leaves, three feet long and two feet wide, and 

 " thick boat-shaped spathes about eight to nine inches long 

 and four wide ... of a pale, dull puce color externally, 

 shining and rich deep crimson colored internally, bordered by 

 a very narrow line of ivory-white, edged in turn by a narrow- 

 margin of yellow." The rcd-purple spadix is raised on an 

 ivory-white stalk. 



Pear, Belle Picarde, Revue Horiicole, April ist. 



Macaranga Porteana, Revue Hor/ieole, April i6th. A strik- 

 ing looking Euphorbiaceous tree, with bold, verv large, orna- 

 mental foliage, introduced into the Museum d'Histaire Natur- 

 elle, from the Philippine Islands by the French botanical 

 traveler, Marius Porte, to whom gardens are indebted also for 

 Phahenopsis Sehilleriana, Phalernopsis Luddeinanniana, Cyeas 

 Riuminiana and many other interesting plants. 



PHdNlX CanariensiS, Revue Ilorticole, April i6th. A liardv 

 an<l very graceful Palm, now very generally cultivated in the 

 gardens of southern Europe. It is one of the best house 

 plants, and may be expected to tlu'ive in any part of the United 

 States where the Orange is hardy. 



Notes. 



The interest now felt in American horticulture, and in some 

 of our large collections of plants, especially of Orchids,, in 

 England, is shown by the fact that the supplenient of a recent 

 issue of the Gardener's Chrcniele, of London, is devoted to a 

 view of Mr. W. S. Kimball's collection of flowering plants of 

 Cypripedium insigne, which contained, when this picture was 

 made, not less than two thousand blooms, and must have pre- 

 sented a marvelous spectacle. 



The entire stock of the remarkable white Chrysanthemum, 

 Mrs. Alpheus Hardy— widely known by the striking illustra- 

 tion in the first number of this journal — has been purchased 

 by W. A. Manda, of Cambridge, Mass. The price paid was 

 $1,500, the largest amount ever given for a Chrysanthemum, 

 at least in this country. The flower was exhibited for the first 

 time at the Chrysanthemum Show in Boston last December. 



Mr. Thomas H. Douglas, a son of Mr. Robert Douglas, of 

 Illinois, has been appointed by the Board of Forestry of Cali- 

 fornia, Head Forester of that State. Mr. Douglas has already 

 established extensive nurseries and trial grounds at Chico, 

 Santa Monica and Hesperia. A map of the State showing the 

 extent and character of the timber in the different counties is 

 being prepared, and active operations looking to the arrest 

 and punishment of persons setting forest fires, or illegally 

 cutting timber, have been inaugurated. 



Retail Flower Markets. 



New York, ALiy 2j/k. 



There is a fair supply of flowers, with few really choice Roses. 

 There is small demand for elaborate designs, the orders for Decoration 

 Day being mostly for plants for embellishing statues, and wreaths for 

 graves. Branches of blossoming shrubs are mixed with Roses in the 

 large baskets made up for farewell tokens sent to steamers. Annade- 

 I >iesbach Roses are the choicest of Hybrids this week, and after these, 

 liaroness Rothschild. Selected flowers with long stems cost from 

 $■7.50 to Sg a dozen. The former price is charged for the average lot 

 of Hybrids. American Beauty sells for $6 a dozen. Puritan Roses that 

 are perfect are scarce and cost $4 and $5 a dozen. General Jacque- 

 minots continue poor, and those grown in-doors are still declining; they 

 cost from $2. 50 to $4 a dozen. Moss Roses bring $4 a dozen. La 

 France Roses are abvmdant, and generally of good quality; they cost 

 $3 a dozen. Brides and Catherine Mermets cost $2 a dozen. Perles, 

 Niphetos and Souvenir d'Un And cost from 75 els. to $1 a dozen; 

 Bon Silene from 50 cts. to 75 cts. a dozen. A few lingering Tulips 

 of late flowering kinds are to be had for Si a dozen. Lilies-of-the-Val- 

 ley are 75 cts. a dozen; Callas, $2.50 a dozen ; Poet's Narcissus from 

 50 cts. to 75 cts. a dozen, and Gardenias, $3 a dozen. Idlacs are very 

 plentiful and inexpcnsi\-e, a large bunch being sold for 5 cts , on the 

 streets and in the city markets. A few Field IJaisies appear from the 

 south, bring 25 cts. a dozen. The yellow Paris Daisy costs 50 cts. a 

 dozen; fine Mignonette brings 50 cts. a dozen; it is small but well 

 tinted. A few PcEonies have appeared, which sell at fancy prices. 

 Carnations are scarce, but handsome; they cost 25 and 50 cts. a dozenj 

 the latter price being for Buttercup and Grace Wilder. 



PHiLADELrniA, May 2Jt/l. 



Cooler weather has again made flowers scarce, but it has also 

 toned up the tjuality and the demand has been greater. These con- 

 ditions hax-e caused a trade which is brisk for the month of May. 

 Many out-door flowers ha\'e passed their prime, and this has caused 

 Roses to be more in demand, although no material change in prices 

 has taken place since last quotations. Amongst wild flowers Butter- 

 cups and the nati\'e Violets are extensively used, especially for per- 

 sonal adornment, and Columbines are occasionally used for the same 

 purpose. Tree Poeonies are being cut in limited ciuantities, and sell 

 at $3 per dozen. They are decidedly coarse, but are useful in heavy 

 decorations, and in the florists' windows they make an attractive dis- 

 play. Lily-of.the-Valley is still good, being cut out-of-doors; the 

 foliage is thick and leathery in texture, and a dark rich green in color; 

 very little is sold for less than gi a dozen. The beautiful Moss Rose 

 with pink flowers is offered in limited numbers at from 25 cts. to 50 

 cts. a spray. The wonfler is why more of these exquisite flowers are 

 not to be had, for they are eagerly bought at the prices named. The 

 difference in price is due to the different number of buds on the sprays. 

 .Single Dahlias still hold firm at S3 a dozen, and Gladiolus is steady at 

 the same price. Smilax, Asparagus and Adiantum are plentiful and 

 fine in quality. 



Boston, J\f<iy s^th. 



Bright weather has brought flowers in abundance and of better 

 quality. The improvement is especially noticeable in Roses. Fine 

 Jacqueminots and Madame Gabriel Luizets are in market, and are 

 worth $4 a dozen. Mermct, La France, Bride and Perle all sell for 

 about $2 a dozen. There is a fair supply of Papa C^ontier coming in, 

 and selling readily at $1.50 per dozen. Carnations are unchanged 

 since last week. Violets have disappeared completely. Pansies are 

 growing smaller. The only Lilies-of-thc-Valley obtainable are grown 

 out-of-doors. Narcissus will last but a few days longer, and Tulips are 

 in their prime. White Stocks and Spinvn Japonica are worth Si a 

 dozen spikes. They are abundant, but probably not equal to the de- 

 mand for Decoration Day. As this occasion approaches it becomes 

 more and more evident that, owing to the backward season and the 

 scarcity of out-door flowers, there will be a short supply in general, 

 and prices will advance considerably. Among the brightest blossoms 

 in the florists' windows are the Scarlet Nasturtiums, now quite abun- 

 dant. They are sold in small bunches at 50 cts. a bunch. Cape Jes- 

 samines from the South have been sent here in small quantities this 

 spring, but they do not seem to meet with tlie same favor with which 

 they are regarded in other parts of the country. Hydrangea plants 

 are very handsome just now, and there is a large trade in them. 

 There will be an imusually large number of fashionable weddings 

 next month. Some of the leading florists have already many orders 

 in advance, and the prospects of the cut flower trade for the imme- 

 diate future are good. 



