August 22, 18 



'■1 



Garden and Forest. 



31 



nearest creeks, where, by the way, it is not abundant. On the 

 other hand, it is well known that'the Indians made use of the 

 plant as food. (Vide Kalm's " Travels in North America.") 



In May, 1887, I spent a few days in May's Landing, Atlantic 

 Co., NeV Jersey, and while boating- on Great Egg Harbor 

 River, I suddenly came upon an island of about ten acres in 

 extent, that was densely covered with this plant. It was in 

 full bloom, and the tide being out, the effect was grand. At 

 high water, neither the leaves nor flower-stalks were visible. 

 The high western bank of the river, here, too, was once the 

 site of an Indian village, and I have often asked myself the 

 question, if the Orontium island of to-day is the outgrowth of 

 an Orontium plantation of two centuries ago. Our Delaware 

 Indians were to a far greater extent than is generally supposed 

 an agricultural people, and to many, I am sure, it would be 

 intei-esting to know how far there still remain traces of their 

 labors in this direction. In the former instance, I am inclined 

 to believe, we have such a trace ; but so far as the island is 

 concerned, I withhold opinion. Nothing botanically need sur- 

 prise one who ever wandered about May's Landing. The sin- 

 gle street and court-house yard of which is shaded by one 

 hundred and twenty-one magnificent white oak's. It is called 

 a " pine barren," but there are hundreds of acres near by that 

 are Nature-planted gardens. Think of it! On "Children's 

 day" the village church was decorated with fifteen hundred 

 stalks of XerophylhuTi. 



Near Trenton. New Jersey. C/iaS. C.Abboft. 



[The Orontium is a common inhabitant of the wet and 

 swampy borders of ponds, from the neighborhood of 

 Point Judith, Rhode Island, southward, generally near the 

 coast, but is by no means a tide-water plant. — Kd.] 



To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir. — The recent discussions in your columns concerning 

 the value of the Norway Spruce as an ornamental tree give 

 fresh evidence of the truth, so often repeated, that advice must 

 be suited to locaUties. I have often observed the unsatisfac- 

 tory, unsightly specimens of Norway Spruce in eastern gar- 

 dens; especially in those near the sea-coast or about large and 

 smoky cities, and I have as often seen admirable specimens of 

 the tree in Michigan and some adjoining states. It is true that 

 this tree is coarse and somewhat harsh in expression, yet it is 

 less objectionable in these features than any other large grow- 

 ing, coniferous evergreen, which is suited to our general con- 

 ditions. It is easy of culture, takes well to a variety of soils, 

 and even when left entirely to itself, makes a comely and at- 

 tractive tree. , To be sure, it loses some of its characterisfic 

 beauty with great age, but in this respect it is not inferior to 

 any other Conifer which has been tried in Michigan. Upon 

 the grounds of the Michigan Agricultural College there are 

 many handsome specimens thirty years old which show no 

 signs of failing. These trees are forty feet high, a foot and 

 one-half or more in diamater at the base, and perfect pyra- 

 mids of dark, yet soft, green, with an attractive display of light 

 and shade. 



But these trees have not been allowed to grow unchecked. 

 Every year or two the main branches have been clipped at the 

 ends with a Waters' pruner, causing the pyramid to fill in 

 and tending to preserve the richness of the lower limbs. An 

 essential operation is thus to nip four or five inches from the 

 pushing shoots of the Norway Spruce every June. It does 

 not appear to be well understood that tolerably old trees of 

 this Spruce may be rejuvenated by a vigorous heading-in. I 

 have seen an old Spruce, which, having become scraggly, 

 was severely cut back. This cutting took place some six or 

 seven years ago. Four or five feet were removed from each 

 main branch and the leader was cut off. For a couple of years 

 the tree presented an odd appearance, but there is now no 

 trace of the treatment to the ordinary observer. 



The Norway Spruce varies greatly, fully as much as does 

 the Sugar Maple or the Elm. It is particularly desirable for 

 windbreaks and for single specimens at some distance from 

 the residence. It is true that the tree has fallen in general 

 estimation, even at the West, from indiscriminate planting, 

 yet it has still a foremost place in the affections of our people. 



Michigan Agricultural College. L. H. Bailey. 



[It is, of course, possible that the climate of the interior 

 of the Continent may be better suited for the Norway 

 Spruce than that of the Atlantic seaboard. Thirty years, 

 however, do not suffice to test an exotic tree in any par- 

 ticular locality. Norway Spruces thirty years old in the 

 Eastern States are often at their very best, and handsome 



and attractive objects; it is not until they are from forty to 

 fifty years old that they begin to fail here at the top and 

 then gradually perish. 



It is a good rule that the adaptability of any foreign 

 tree to any particular climate and soil cannot be safely 

 determined until the tree has grown continually in that 

 climate and soil for a period of time equal to the average 

 period of its life in its native country. — Ed.] 



Periodical Literature. 



\x\ Blackwood' s Magazine Mr. Coutts Trotter is publishing 

 from month to month an interesting series of articles called 

 " Among the Islands of the South Pacific." His concern is 

 chiefly with the condition of the native inhabitants of the vari- 

 ous groups he lias visited ; but incidentally he gives many 

 charming pictures of their wild and cultivated flora. For ex- 

 ample, in his last published chapter, on the Tongan (Friendly) 

 and the Samoan Islands he writes : " It would hardly have 

 occurred to us to introduce cricket if there had been no turf 

 to play on, and yet the natives speak of the introduction (ac- 

 cidental) of otu' grasses as a grievance. One hardly under- 

 stands the objection, for the grass sward surrounding a Tongan 

 village gives it, for English eyes, its greatest charm ; but their 

 ideal of tidy surroundings is the bare ground with every green 

 blade grubbed up. One sees a well-kept Samoan village thus 

 treated, and no doulit, amid the tropical luxuriance of vegeta- 

 tion, it gives a soigne look, and the frequent showers prevent 

 annoyance from dust ; but it is not our idea of ' Sweet Au- 

 burn.' Other plants besides the grasses have been acciden- 

 tally introduced by ships and are a very serious nuisance, 

 spreading everywhere and taking forcible possession of other- 

 wise useful land. The worst, perhaps, are one or two malvace- 

 ous filants (Sitla sp.), growing from two to four feet high and 

 so thick that you can sometimes hardly get through them. The 

 Canna Iiulica, too, very conspicuous with its bright red flow- 

 ers and covering acres of ground, only appeared in Tonga a 

 few years ago." And, Mr. Trotter adds, two imported British 

 plants have become very common, the little yellow Oxalis and 

 the Sow-Thistle {Sonchus). Around many of the native 

 houses are " enclosed g'ardens, fenced with Bamboos or with 

 the Croton-oil plant, and always beautiful trees, mostly with 

 showy blossoms, as the Barringtonias and Inocarpus and 

 Terminalia, besides Coco-Palms and Oranges and generally 

 some fine spreading Banyans. . . . You generally find 

 pig-sties, often overgrown and shaded with the doifl^le white- 

 flowered Datura, a mass of blossom." Of the Tonga coun- 

 try Mr. Trotter says that it is delightful for riding and walking, 

 as the green roads traverse the forest in all directions and 

 "this is never quite impenetrable, much of it indeed having 

 at one time or other been under cultivation. The monotony 

 of color, a' common reproach to tropical forests, does not ex- 

 ist here. Besides the variety of foliage and of blossoms, 

 chiefly white, on the trees themselves, you have masses of 

 varied colors — Crotons and Coleus, a profusion of Convolvu- 

 lus, of Clitorias and other Peas, and Beans with stout wooden 

 stems, . . . with many other creepers. Not the least 

 beautiful among the trees are the varieties of Citrus. 



Notes. 



The Puritan Rose has not been planted very largely in 

 the neighborhood of Philadelphia for next winter's supplv. 



It is probable that a National Orchid Society will be organ- 

 ized here this week, while so many lovers of these plants are 

 in the city. 



The large panicles of white flowers now so abundant on the 

 Hydrangea paniculata grandijlora are inconsiderable demand 

 in the flower markets of this city. The flowers are cut witli 

 long stems and arranged in tall vases, with spikes of Gladiolus 

 and occasionally with the Golden Rod. 



The crop of the popular Pink Pond Lilies has been un- 

 usually small this season, owing, probably, to the continued 

 cool weather. These beautiful flowers are grown for the 

 market exclusively in small ponds on Cape Cod, where they 

 originated. The demand for them exceeds the supply. 



A farewell dinner was given to Mr. W. A. Manda, the re- 

 tiring gardener of the Harvard Botanic Garden, on August 

 nth, by his friends and associates in the gardening fraternity. 

 There were many expressions of regret at Mr. Manda's de- 

 parture, and of hearty wishes for his success in his new field. 



