236 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 4S6. 



Gloxinias, Cannells' Begonias, Cannas, Calceolarias and 

 Gloxinias, Balchin's Boronias, Heaths, Phcenocomas and 

 other hard-wooded plants, May's Ferns, Kelway's Pyreth- 

 rums, Iris, Aquilegias, Pasonies, Dobbie's Pansies and single 

 Dahlias, Veitch's Streptocarpus and Phyllocactus, Wal- 

 lace's Lilies, Iris, Calochortus and Brodieeas, Jackman's 

 hybrid Clematis, and Smith & Co.'s giant specimens of the 

 popular large-flowered sorts, are collections which may be 

 mentioned as having contributed largely to the success of 

 the exhibition. 



New Plants. — Messrs. Veitch showed a very large- 

 flowered variety of Hydrangea hortensis, the barren flow- 

 ers over two inches across and of a rich rose color. Messrs. 

 Sander & Co. showed their new Dracaenas and Caladiums, 

 a variegated Canna, Mapania pandanifolia, two Petunias 

 and Davallia hirta. Mr. Bull showed a form of Ficus radi- 

 cans with silvery variegated leaves ; he also showed his 

 new Anemia rotundifolia, with long, narrow, pinnate, 

 arched fronds, and Crinum Moorei variegatum. Monsieur 

 Moser, of Marseilles, sent a new Clematis with large flow- 

 ers, the petals pale rose, banded with cerise. 



The number of new plants exhibited this year was excep- 

 tionally small. It is said to be due to the forthcoming 

 Ghent Quinquennial Exhibition next year, at which one of 

 the great features is always new plants, and for which the 

 nurserymen appear to be holding themselves in reserve. 



London. W. WatSOH. 



Cultural Department. 



The Asparagus Rust Again. 



THE season of 1896 was the first one in which the genuine 

 rust of the Asparagus, Puccinia asparagi, had been ob- 

 served in this country, at least in the eastern states, and in 

 quantity to make its presence alarming. During the autumn 

 months the Asparagus fields, instead of being a luxuriant 

 green, turned to a brown, which suggested the ravages of an 

 insect or the work of an untimely frost. Early in autumn the 

 surface of the infested Asparagus stems was more or less 

 covered with patches or pustules of an orange color, due to 

 the myriads of spores that had formed in minute rifts and 

 ruptures of the epidermis. Later on, in the fall, the same 

 spots upon the stems became dark-colored, a brown form of 

 spore having replaced the brighter one. In this condition the 

 story of the outbreak and life history of the fungus closed for 

 1896. 



This microscopic parasite has long been known in Europe, 

 and has three forms, at least, in which it thrives upon the 

 Asparagus. The brown pustules of late autumn, the stage in 

 which the fungus passes the winter, arc tollowed the "next 

 season by a form very different from either of the two previ- 

 ously mentioned. This is commonly known as the "cluster 

 cup " stage, and consists, so far as the eye sees, of minute cup- 

 shaped bodies which arise from the infested stem in small groups 

 or clusters, hence the common name for this form of the rust 

 fungi. This cluster cup form was to be expected as the beginning 

 of the attack of the rust for the present year, and it appeared 

 during the past week. On the third of June, samples of the 

 cluster cup fungus were sent to me from the centre of a 

 large area devoted to the cultivation of Asparagus. The 

 cutting of the crop is at its height, and the rust is confined to 

 young plants that are allowed to grow to gain strength for 

 future years. The first rust was found upon the plants that 

 grew in a vineyard that had been in Asparagus some years 

 before. These were vigorous shoots that came from roots 

 that had not been killed out. The clusters of cups are most 

 frequently found upon the main stem and a foot or so 

 above the ground, while not infrequently they appear close to 

 the soil, and even the fine branches at the top of the plant are 

 sometimes rusted. 



An examination of young beds set this spring showed that 

 these plants were bearing the fungus cups, and the beds 

 of last year's setting were in like manner infested. The steins 

 in old beds that are being cut from day to day do not stand 

 long enough for the fungus to show itself, but after cutting 

 ceases there is reasonable certainty that these beds will also 

 show the first form of the rust, and be followed by the second 

 and third stages of the fungus before the season closes. 



It is too early to know the results that will follow the treat- 

 ment recommended last autumn, namely, the cutting and 



burning of the rusted plants. One thing is already certain and 

 that is the great falling off of the yield. From reports received 

 upon this point from various growers, and those in charge 

 of shipments at the centres of Asparagus growing, it is 

 gathered that the yield is not more than half that of the 

 ordinary season. This may be due in small part to cool 

 weather, but there is sufficient ground for attributing it largely 

 to the rust, which was overwhelming in its attack last season. 

 It is also learned that there is no material difference in the 

 yield upon fields where the brush was cut and burned and 

 where it was left standing through the winter. The effect of 

 the burning upon the amount of rust later in the season will 

 be looked for with much interest. 



Growers of Asparagus are anxious to know what to do now 

 in view of the fact that the first form of the rust is in sight. 

 All Asparagus that is "growing wild" should be destroyed, 

 as it is a propagating place for the rust. Spraying should 

 be resorted to as soon as cutting is through and shoots 

 begin to form for the season's work of assimilation. The 

 Bordeaux mixture or some other standard fungicide may 

 be applied at intervals of about ten days. The fungus is 

 not in the group that has heretofore yielded promptly to this 

 treatment, but there is hope of doing some good. The value 

 of spraying with fungicides is being tested in the field of 

 Asparagus upon the ground of the Experiment Station, and 

 as soon as possible the results will be published. 



New Jersey Experiment Station. Byroil D. Halsted. 



Climbing Plants for the Greenhouse. 



T^VERY greenhouse provides some corner in which a 

 ■'—' climber can be displayed to advantage, though in a house 

 of limited area judgment must be exercised in the selection of 

 plants for this purpose. Where abundant space can be allowed 

 for such rampant growers, the Tacsonias and Passifloras are 

 especially beautiful, and quite a moderate temperature is gen- 

 erally sufficient for their needs — that is, the temperature of an 

 intermediate house, say, from fifty-five to sixty degrees. The 

 most satisfactory method of cultivating is to plant out in well- 

 drained beds and train the growth without too much formality 

 along wires attached to the roof. 



Passiflora racemosais one of the most satisfactory of the Pas- 

 sion-flowers, and from its habit of blooming from both young 

 and growing shoots and also from the old hard wood, a well- 

 established plant is seldom without flowers. Cuttings of firm 

 young wood will root at almost any time, but as plants raised 

 in this manner do not always start away freely, P. racemosa is 

 frequently grafted on P. Raddiana or some other free-growing 

 species. In grafting, the stock frequently suckers freely, and 

 this objectionable feature requires watching. 



Passiflora vitifolia, sometimes called Tacsonia Buchananii, is 

 also an admirable climber and grows rapidly. After it becomes 

 somewhat root-bound it flowers profusely, the solitary flowers 

 hanging on long pedicels below the foliage. Tacsonia Van 

 Volxemii is another favorite for conservatory decoration, and, 

 while a rapid grower, neither the foliage nor wood is so coarse 

 as that of the P. vitifolia, and it is more graceful. The flowers 

 of this Tacsonia swing on slender stems, usually more than a 

 foot in length. They are rich crimson in color and four to five 

 inches in diameter, and altogether showy and attractive. 



Tacsonia Exoniensis is a hybrid variety introduced some 

 twenty years ago and resembles in habit T. Van Volxemii, but 

 the leaves are smoother and the flowers deep pink. T. insignis 

 is another handsome species and is also free in growth. The 

 flowers are large and dark crimson, but cuttings do not root 

 quite as readily as those of the two preceding Tacsonias, and 

 I think T. insignis is less prolific in flowers, at least until the 

 plant becomes slightly starved. 



The Butterfly Vine, Stigmaphyllon ciliatum, flourishes under 

 conditions similar to those required for Tacsonia. It flowers 

 freely during the summer months, when planted out-of-doors, 

 from Washington, District of Columbia, southward. It is 

 much smaller in leaf and finer in growth than the Tacsonias, 

 and is therefore adapted for smaller houses. It requires bright 

 sunlight and a light, rich soil. 



Thunbergia Harrisii, another old favorite, is suited for 

 commodious quarters. While the individual flowers do not 

 last very long, they are produced in profusion, and their shade 

 of blue is none too common. T. Harrisii stands close pruning, 

 which is fortunate, for mealy bug often attacks the plants, and 

 the annual pruning gives a clean start, and thus saves trouble 

 later in the season. Cuttings two to three joints in length, 

 from rather light wood, will root quickly in rich loam with free 

 watering. 



The beds for these strong-growing climbers should be built 



