218 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 484. 



scale in Florida, but we are by no means assured that it will be 

 of any value in the north, either east or west. Since, however, 

 extensive experiments are already under way in the east and 

 west, we may look for reports from these sections in reason- 

 able time. 



The subject is of such importance that to give information 

 and prevent misconceptions I offer the following general 

 remarks : 



1. The success attained by using this fungus from cultures 

 makes it a promising remedy against the San Jose' scale. 



2. It is "nature's own remedy," and all that we do is to 

 disseminate it properly. 



3. It was discovered on a native scale (Aspidiotus obscurus, 

 Corns.) at Lake City by Mr. A. L. Ouaintance. Later finds 

 indicate that it is quite generally distributed on these scales 

 (A. obscurus) at Lake City and at De Funiak. 



4. The fact that it is native to this state insures a constant 

 source of supply and obviates the use of cultures that might 

 have become attenuated. 



5. Bread culture can be produced in large quantities at a 

 slight expense. 



6. The fungus will doubtless prove an excellent remedy in 

 California. 



7. As the scales are killed they wash from the tree, leaving 

 the bark clean and free. 



8. Most of the applications of this fungus were made by 

 orchardists, proving that it is possible for the fruit grower who 

 may not be a scientist to apply the laboratory-grown material 

 properly. 



Copies of our bulletin may be obtained upon application to 

 O. Clute, Director of Experiment Station, Lake City, Florida. 



Lake City, Fla. P- H. Rolfs. 



May Flowers in Southern Michigan. 



To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir, — The cool weather which has prevailed since frost 

 departed has prolonged the time of April flowers here well 

 into May. In a wooded situation, on the 19th, I found masses 

 of Phlox subulata spread over the sandy beach of a lake for 

 rods in extent, giving its share of sweetness to the breeze. The 

 beautiful scarlet pendent flowers of the wild Columbine were 

 swinging everywhere among the delicate greens. For grace 

 and delicacy of flower and leaf the early Meadow Rue, Tha- 

 lictrum dioicum, could scarcely be surpassed as it hung 

 fringing the edge of a shelving bank. Geranium maculatum 

 scattered brightness here and there, with Lithospermum 

 hirtum close at hand. Smilacina stellata, which grew in pro- 

 fusion and exhaled a fragrance somewhat like Lily-of-the 

 valley. An early Vetch, Viccia Americana, is a pretty climber 

 well worthy a place in the garden ; it is graceful in vases and 

 keeps well ; Lonicera parviflora, var. Douglasii, was the only 

 Honeysuckle noted in bloom at this date. The flowers are 

 dark red, tinged with yellow. Actea spicata, var. rubra, has a 

 globular cluster of flowers, white in all their parts except the 

 rather prominent scarlet stigma. The conspicuous fruit of 

 both the Acteas in this region makes them desirable for the 

 shady border of a garden. Blue Violets made mats among 

 the shrubs, and more rarely the beautiful Viola pedata was 

 seen. Climbers of many kinds are plentiful in all wild places 

 hereabout, and it is surprising that farm-houses so generally 

 lack these graceful decorations. They give to a very humble 

 dwelling a cheerful aspect not attainable by other means. 



White Pigeon, Mich. Dorcas E. CollhlS. 



Forest Preservation. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir, — It is well known that scientific forestry, while prom- 

 ising only a very small profit on forest capital, is calculated at 

 the same time to make that profit continuous. This offers 

 little inducement to individuals, unless they be rich and 

 desire the forest more than the income ; but the National 

 Government, being long-lived, can afford to wait. Towns 

 and communities are in a somewhat similar position, 

 and it would seem only natural for them to provide for a con- 

 tinuous revenue by securing suitable forest land in their 

 vicinity. This ought not to be delayed too long, for with the 

 increase in population and the decrease in forests the prices of 

 forest land will be constantly rising ; besides, .it will require 

 years to put a "natural ' forest into a "normal" state (scien- 

 tifically speaking). 



Of course there are other reasons, often much more signifi- 

 cant, for forest preservation. It would be unwise, I think, for 

 a town to acquire forest property for revenue when the same 



T I 



forest might fitly provide for a future rural park or pleasure- 

 ground. My suggestion is made in the hope that some more 

 of our woods may be saved from general destruction. 



Muenden, Germany. Lr. F. S. 



Current Literature. 



The Cultivation of Plums. 



'HE literature on the growing of Plums in this country is 

 very scanty for the reason, perhaps, that the cultivation of 

 this fruit has hardly advanced beyond the experimental stage, 

 except in a few places like western New York and on the Pacific 

 coast. Professor Bailey's notes upon Plums, which have just 

 been published as Bulletin 131 of the Cornell Experiment Sta- 

 tion, are therefore very timely. The notes begin by grouping 

 the various types, and this arrangement shows at once how 

 complicated the subject is botanically owing to the number of 

 distinct species from which the cultivated varieties have been 

 derived. The following groups are named : 



(1) Domestica or European type, Prunus domestica. Native 

 to western Asia. Comprises the common or old-time Plums, 

 such as Green Gage, Lombard, Bradshaw, Yellow Egg, Dam- 

 sons and the like. The leading Plums from Lake Michigan 

 eastward and north of the Ohio and on the Pacific slope. 



(2) The Myrobalan or Cherry-plum type, Prunus cerasifera. 

 Native to south-eastern Europe or south-western Asia. Much 

 used for stocks upon which to bud Plums, and also the parent 

 of a few named varieties, like Golden Cherry ; De Caradeuc 

 and Marianna are either offshoots of it or hybrids between it 

 and one of the native Plums. 



(3) Japanese type, Prunus triflora. Probably native to China. 

 The type seems to be generally adapted to the United States, 

 and will certainly be of great value to both the south and north. 



(4) The Apricot or Simon Plum, Prunus Simonii. Native to 

 China. Widely disseminated in this country, but little grown 

 except, perhaps, in parts of California. 



(5) The American type, Prunus Americana. The common 

 wild Plum of the north, and extending westward to the Rocky 

 Mountains and southward to the Gulf and Texas. Admirably 

 adapted to climates too severe for the Domestica Plums, as 

 the plains and the upper Mississippi Valley. 



(6) The Wild Goose or Hortulana type, Prunus hortulana. 

 A mongrel type of Plums, comprising such kinds as Wild 

 Goose, Wayland, Moreman, Miner and Golden Beauty. No 

 doubt, hybrids of the last and the next. 



(7) The Chickasaw type, Prunus angustifolia (or P. Chicasa). 

 Native to the southern states, and there cultivated (from south- 

 ern Delaware southward) in such varieties as Newman, Caddo 

 Chief and Lone Star. 



(8) The Sand Plum, Prunus Watsoni. Native to Kansas and 

 Nebraska. A bush-like species, little known in cultivation. A 

 hybrid of this and the western Sand Cherry is the Utah Hybrid 

 Cherry. 



(9) The Beach Plum, Prunus maritima. Native to the coast 

 from New Brunswick to Virginia. In cultivation represented 

 by the unimportant Bassett's American ; also as an ornamental 

 plant. 



(10) The Pacific coast Plum, Prunus subcordata. Native to 

 Oregon and California. Sparingly known in cultivation, chiefly 

 in the form known as the Sisson Plum (var. Kelloggii). 



With these ten types coming into cultivation in the rapidly 

 enlarging fruit zones of our immense country, who can 

 prophesy what the final outcome as to types and varieties 

 may be ? 



This bulletin treats chiefly of the common European type, 

 which includes (1) the Damsons, with small firm fruit, of 

 various colors, borne in clusters, and generally having small 

 leaves ; (2) the Green Gages, of which the Reine Claude is the 

 commonest representative in New York, but comprising 

 various other plums which are smallish, green or yellowish 

 green, spherical and of high quality ; (3) large yellow plums, 

 such as Coe's Golden Drop and Washington ; (4) large colored 

 plums, red, blue or purple, like the Blue Prunes, Lombard, 

 Bradshaw and Ouackenboss. These will always be the lead- 

 ing types for western New York, although the Japanese varie- 

 ties will be useful in adding variety to the list because they 

 have many early varieties, and the fruit is so firm that it carries 

 well. Besides this, the trees are vigorous, very productive and 

 less liable to black-knot and shot hole fungus than are those of 

 the Domestica type. The Americana Plums are more hardy 

 than either, but they are not to be recommended for market 

 cultivation in New York because they are inferior to the others 

 in quality, and their superior hardiness counts for little since 

 the winters are rarely so cold as to injure the Domesticas. 



