December 12, 1888.] 



Garden and Forest. 



495 



The slender stems or long runners are quite free from 

 prickles, and wind around among beautiful clumps of the 

 Pitcher-plant, which are also gorgeously colored with crimson 

 and purple veins. The bright cups of "the Pitcher-plant are so 

 fiower-like, that they lure many insects into their depths, from 

 which there is no escape. Two or three species of Lycopo- 

 dium wind in and out among the moss, now hidden entirely 

 from sight and again reappearing to throw up fertile spikes 

 from a few inches to more than a foot in height. Standing a 

 little in the background is the narrow-leaved Cat-tail {Typha 

 angustifolia), which adds a special grace to the whole picture. 

 This species is more rare and delicate than the common Cat- 

 tail (7". latifolia), which grows in stagnant ponds and swamps 

 throughout the United States. There is as much difference 

 between these two Cat-tail flags as between the large Blue flag 

 {Iris versicolor) and the slender Blue flag (/. Virginica), both 

 of which grow near by. 



The Groundsel-tree {Baccharis haliinifolia) is now conspicu- 

 ous with its long, white, silky pappus. Although it belongs to 

 the largest order of flowering plants, it is the only one in this 

 vast order, in our temperate climates, that attains the dignity of 

 treehood. In the Pines it grows from ten to fifteen feet in 

 height, and in autumn is a very marked feature in the land- 

 scape. The copious pure white pappus with which the fertile 

 plants are enshrouded, at a little distance look like a mass of 

 white flowers, strangely out of season in their rich setting of 

 autumn foliage. 



Two or three species of Dodder are now brought into view 

 as the leaves of their supporters have withered or fallen. 

 Cuscuta glo)nerata is the most notable, as its knotted cords 

 strangle and sap the life of its foster plants imtil they are 

 dwarfed, prematurely fade, and finally die. This species 

 usually attacks the Compositte, and sometimes other herba- 

 ceous plants. It starts from the ground like any respectable 

 plant, and for awhile is self-supporting, and is quite attractive 

 in appearance, with its bright orange stems. But it soon 

 attaches itself close to some other herb, gives up its hold upon 

 the earth, and relies entirely upon its host for support. Another 

 species (C ienuiflora) attaches itself to the shrubs among the 

 Pines. This species has the appearance of twining more 

 loosely than the former, and climbs higher on its foster plant. 



Attractive plants are still found in the more exposed places 

 on dry sandy soil. Among them is the smaller Pinweed 

 {Lechea minor), a pretty little Heath-like plant growing in 

 masses, but each plant is worth examining by itself, as its 

 small single stem spreads out into numerous branches, giving 

 it the appearance of a miniature tree. The branches and foli- 

 age form a dense mass a foot or more across the top, and the 

 foliage has now taken on a purplish hue, making it very pretty 

 and effective. These little tree-like plants are less than a foot 

 in height, and grow in the most unpromising soil. 



Hiidsonia tomentosa is another little l)ushy Heath-like shrub 

 about a foot in height, and covered with small persistent gray- 

 ish leaves, giving the plant a hoary look. This, too, grows in 

 the sand, even when it is so loose as to drift before the wind. 

 Very often considerable patches of the plant are covered up in 

 this way, and remain so until the wind from another direction 

 blows the sand away. 



Vineland, N. J., November 17th. Mary Treat. 



The source of the superiority of good landscape gardening 

 lies in the artist's removing from the scene of his operations 

 whatever is hostile to its effect or unsuited to its character ; 

 and, by adding only such circumstances as accord with the 

 general expression of the scene, awakening emotions more 

 full, more simple and more harmonious. — Uvedale Price, 

 1796. 



To range the shrubs and small trees so that they may mu- 

 tually set off' the beauties and conceal the blemishes of each 

 other; to aim at no effects which depend on nicety for their 

 effects, and which the soil, the exposure, or the season of the 

 day may destroy ; to attend more to the groups than to the 

 individuals ; and to consider the whole as a plantation, not as 

 a collection of plants, are the best general rules which can be 

 given concerning them. — Thomas IVJiately, lyjo. 



It cannot be too strongly insisted upon that Nature is to be 

 followed, not spoilt at the expense of labor and ill-employed 

 wealth, not strangely and violenfly disfigured in the effort to 

 embellish. All gardens cannot be planned after some one 

 pleasing model. The special character of the ground must be 

 regarded. By attending to this we shall be more faithful to 

 Nature, and a greater number of gardens will be beautiful 

 without being servile copies. — IV. S. Gilpin, iSjs. 



Foreign Correspondence. 



London Letter. 



POTATO disease has been exceptionally virulent in England 

 this year. Few kinds have escaped, many have suffered 

 very severely, while in some districts the crop has been almost 

 totally destroyed. We are no nearer a disease-proof Potato 

 than we ever were, and as the wild tubers are said to be 

 affected by it, there seems little hope in that direction. But 

 the simple plan recommended by Professor Jensen, of Copen- 

 hagen, which is nothing more than high earthing in autumn, 

 appears likely to prove a palliative at least. This has been 

 shown recently by some experiments made at Chiswick, and 

 which have been watched and reported upon by Dr. M. T. 

 Masters. In August a portion of a plot of the variety School- 

 master was high moulded, and another portion treated in the 

 ordinary way. They were lifted on September 29th and care- 

 fully examined, the result being, that of those moulded in the 

 ordinary way twenty-six per cent, were diseased, and that 

 only ten percent, of those moulded high, in accordance with 

 what is known as the Jensenian treatment, were affected. 



Orchids in November are either asleep or preparing for their 

 spring display. Of course, there are Cypripediums and a few 

 odds and ends besides, but, at this time of year. Orchid- 

 houses are dull. Of new kinds, we have two forms of the 

 richly colored Cattleya aiirea, which are named C. Massaiana 

 and C. chrysotoxa. The former is a supposed natural hvbrid, 

 C. Gigas being the other parent. The sepals and petals are 

 rosv-lilac, the lips being large, crimson, with golden reticula- 

 tions and two eye-like blotches of yellow. C. chrysotoxa is a 

 very robust and large-flowered form of C. aiirea, with the 

 colors clear and rich in tint. Both kinds are Sander's introduc- 

 tions. Lcelia Perrini, \'ar. alba, is a form with flowers wholly 

 snow-white, without any purple or yellow markings on the 

 labellum. The leaves of the variety are larger and broader 

 than in the type. It was introduced by Mr. Sander, and is now 

 in the famous collection of Mr. R. H. Measures, Streatham. 



The fortnightly meetuig of the Royal Horticultural Society, 

 held on the 14th instant, was devoted almost entirely to 

 talk about the affairs and future of the society. Very few 

 plants were exhibited, and of these only the following were 

 noteworthy: (i) Malayan Rhododendrons. — The extraordinary 

 success attained by the Messrs. Veitch in hybridizing and 

 cross-breeding among plants of all kinds is very well attested 

 by the marked improvement made in the habit, colors and 

 variety of this section of Rhododendron. From two or three 

 comparatively poor flowered species, obtained from Java and 

 the Malay regions, at least a score of beautiful hybrids have been 

 raised by the famous Chelsea firm, and all in the course of half 

 a dozen years. Flowers of a dozen of the best sorts were sent 

 to the meeting last Tuesday, amongst them being white, pink, 

 crimson, nankeen, canary and salmon colors. These plants 

 are easily grown, they flower freely, and the blooms last a 

 month or more. (2) Lcelia Victoria, a hybrid raised by the 

 Messrs. Veitch from L. crispa and L. Dominiana. It resem- 

 bles the former in most points, differing chiefly in the form 

 and color of the labellum, which is oblong and spreading in 

 front, undulated, and colored rich maroon-purple. .1 have 

 seen forms of Crispa almost as good. It obtained a first-class 

 certificate. (3) Chrysanthemums Mrs. Garner and Avalanche, 

 which were certificated. They are both Japanese, the former 

 very full, five inches across, rather flat, the petals narrow, and 

 colored deep yellow, tinged with bronze ; the other is also 

 large, globose, very broad in petal, and of the purest white. 

 They were from Mr. G. Stevens, of Putney. (4) Flowers 

 of Nymphffias sent from Kew, where these plants are 

 well represented and successfully grown. Those shown 

 were all forms of the gigantic N. Lotus, the best of them be- 

 ing the seedling named Kewensis. The new tuber, Stachys 

 tiiberifera, was also certificated. At present it has little to recom- 

 mend it, but it may be developed into a useful vegetable. The 

 potato had not much to recommend it when it first came to 

 England. 



Kew has the following plants of interest in flower : (i) Kcn- 

 nedya MarryattcE. — If your readers are not acquainted with this 

 plant, permit me to recommend it strongly as a first-rate 

 green-house climber. Planted in a bed of rich loamy soil, it 

 grows very rapidly, soon covering a large space with its long, 

 graceful branches. For training over pillars and rafters 

 ft is invaluable. The younger branches are pendent, a yard 

 or more long, the leaves trifoliate, each leaflet ovate and two 

 inches long, and the whole plant is covered with soft, silky 

 hairs. The flowers are in short axillary corymbs, on stalks an 

 inch long, each bearing four flowers, something like Sweet 



