326 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 4155. 



The Annual Species of Coreopsis. 



COREOPSIS is a genus of common American plants, of 

 which no less than seventeen species are found widely 

 distributed through the Mississippi Valley and the southern 

 states. Plants of this genus are thrifty, vigorous growers, 

 generally hardy, and when cultivated do not demand the care 

 required by many delicate species. This genus does not 

 appear to have received much attention from American gar- 

 deners, and our seedsmen have heretofore offered few named 

 varieties, but in Europe, where the plant is not indigenous, it 

 is deservedly popular and many varieties have been bred and 

 offered. 



The larger number of the species are annuals, but some are 

 biennials or perennials. In this northern climate the seed 

 should be sown under glass in March, the young plants potted 

 off when about an inch high and planted out in May. They 

 begin to flower in June, and continue to bloom profusely till 

 frost-time. 



The annuals are collectively known, in distinction from the 

 perennials, as Calliopsis. Among these the best known are 

 Coreopsis tinctoria, C. cardaminefolia, C. coronata and C. 

 Drummondii. The last two are low-growing species, bearing 

 the flowers on long pedicels above the rather thick foliage. 

 They do not make as good an effect in massing as some others. 



Probably the most widely cultivated species is Coreopsis 

 tinctoria. This is a pretty, slender-growing plant, much 

 branched, and with very narrow linear leaves. The type has 

 yellow rays with a purple-brown blotch at the base, but there 

 are numerous variations, in some of which the entire flower 

 is purple-brown. Coreopsis is better adapted for massing than 

 for planting singly. C. tinctoria makes a good background for 

 an herbaceous border. Some of the dwarf varieties, differing 

 from the type, are erect and shapely and bear their flowers in 

 a close mass. These make a pretty border for a bed. Variety 

 may be added by proper selection of colors. C. tinctoria, cut 

 with long stems, makes a pretty bouquet for a mantelpiece or 

 large dining-table. I have seen a pleasing effect obtained by 

 cutting the stems long and placing them in a loose bouquet in 

 a large vase. They fall over the sides of the dish and readily 

 suggest both the lack of compactness which characterizes the 

 growing plant and its natural gracefulness and delicacy. 



University of Vermont. 



V. A. Clark. 



Correspondence. 



The Vitality of Seeds. 



To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir — Referring to Mr. Hatfield's article on the vitality of 

 seeds, I may add to the list the graceful and showy Ipomcea 

 coccinea. Fully as interesting are the unfavorable conditions 

 under which seedlings will thrive. A trellis around the stump 

 of a tree was covered last year with this Ipomcea, which, as 

 usual, self-sowed its seed. Some fell into a diminutive crack 

 in the top of the stump, and this year two small plants about a 

 foot or so high are flourishing without any soil to grow in. 

 They did not even seem to feel the need of water before the 

 last rains set in. 



A neighbor of mine picked a seed-pod of Cobasa scandens 

 late in the fall and allowed it to ripen in the house during the 

 winter. On planting the seeds the following spring the plants 

 came up with variegated foliage and retained the variegation 

 throughout the season. The ripening of the seeds in the house 

 rather than on the vine caused, perhaps, a certain diseased 

 condition of both seed and plant. 



Bergen Point, N. J. -£-• t. L. Jordan. 



Range of Pacific Coast Lilies. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir, — Since writing the series of articles on Pacific coast 

 Lilies, which have appeared in Garden and Forest, some 

 interesting facts regarding their distribution have come to my 

 notice. The range of Lilium pardalinum extends to Julian, in 

 San Diego County, California, well toward the Lower Califor- 

 nia line. This gives this species a distribution from Lower 

 California to British Columbia and to Lake Winnipeg, truly an 

 immense range. 



Hitherto I have only known Lilium Washingtonianum as 

 existing in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges. I now 

 have definite knowledge that where the Rogue and Klamath 

 rivers break through the Sierra chain, L. Washingtonianum 

 follows them to the sea. They are common in the Siskiyou 

 range. L. Washingtonianum follows the Trinity, the great 



southern tributary of the Klamath, and I have at hand speci- 

 mens of it collected only thirty miles from Eureka, in Hum- 

 boldt County, California. At this point L. Washingtonianum 

 makes a wonderful growth, being rarely less than seven feet 

 high, and the flowers are pink. Some stalks were fourteen 

 feet high. 



Lilium rubescens, its near relative, is found at points not over 

 fifteen miles south, and I think that I can safely say that I 

 have determined the northernmost extension of the one and 

 the farthest southerly extension in the Coast Range of the 

 other. 



UMah, Calif. Carl Purdy. 



The Sycamore Blight. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir, — Observing Mr. Olmsted's request in Garden and 

 Forest of July 21st concerning the blight of the Plane-tree, I 

 report from this vicinity that the native Platanus occidentalis 

 suffered badly. Many appeared in June quite dead, but some 

 are now thrusting out new sprouts which may or may not 

 mature. I know of but eight trees of P. orientalis about here. 

 Four of them are vigorous trees. These four did not suffer at 

 all. The other four are weak trees, and did suffer some in 

 June, but less than the natives did, and have now substantially 

 recovered. 



When Platanus orientalis is to be planted I think a small 

 vigorous tree should be selected, good ground chosen and 

 kept heavily top-dressed for several years. Trees treated in 

 this way flourish for a dozen years at least. What they do 

 later is beyond my experience. 



New Bedford, Mass. Thomas M. Stetson. 



The Elm-leaf Beetle. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir, — I have occasionally read in your journal of machinery 

 for spraying trees on a large scale as a remedy against insects 

 and fungi. Would you advise a borough to purchase a machine 

 or to employ some one to undertake the spraying of the trees 

 by contract ? If you advise the purchase of a machine, what 

 particular pattern would you recommend, what is its probable 

 cost, and where could it be obtained ? 



Morristown, N. J. S. 



[These questions cannot be answered categorically with- 

 out some further knowledge as to what our correspondent 

 proposes to accomplish. The best advice we can give him 

 is to get the Year Booh of the Department 0/ Agriculture for 

 1896 and study the article by Dr. L. O. Howard on The 

 Use of Steam Apparatus for Spraying. There is no doubt 

 that a steam engine can be made useful for the protection 

 of shade-trees, and that it is the most economical way to 

 treat a large number of trees, and the letter which follows 

 this reply gives an account of one fairly successful ex- 

 periment in this direction. A very excellent apparatus 

 is now used in the public parks of this city, which was 

 constructed under the supervision of Mr. E. B. Southwick, 

 the entomologist of the department. Some such apparatus 

 ought to be at the command of every city and town which 

 takes any interest in its shade-trees. Dr. Howard's article 

 goes into the details of the subject, gives the history of 

 many attempts which have already been made in this 

 direction, with the reasons for their failure when they have 

 failed, and it is full of suggestions which cannot but be use- 

 ful lo any one who takes any serious practical interest in 

 the matter. — Ed.] 



Our Street Trees and the Elm-leaf Beetle. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest: 



Sir, — The question of preserving our street trees from insect 

 tlevastation is becoming quite a serious one in some of our 

 cities, especially where the Elm-leaf beetle is most active. 

 Spraying the large trees is rather expensive, and more or less 

 difficult, but can be readily done if steam power is employed, 

 as has been demonstrated in several cities. Most city govern- 

 ments are poor, however, and many persons seem to believe 

 that in some way or other the trees will take care of them- 

 selves, or that the beetles will be kept in check by means of 

 natural enemies without man's assistance. It is only when 

 trees actually die from the effects of attack by the beetles, and 

 such object-lessons as may be found in Milford, Norwalk and 



