October 6, 1897.] 



Garden and Forest. 



395 



Cultural Department. 



Some Autumn Flowers. 



KNIPHOFIA NELSON I proves to be a fine addition to the 

 lengthening list of Tritomas. It is distinct in having 

 narrow foliage and small flower-spikes with most intense 

 coloring, the latter a desirable feature in a Red-hot Poker- 

 plant. This variety is the best of the smaller kinds, and 

 specially useful in the front row. Like most of the Kniphofias, 

 it probably would not survive an ordinary winter outside. If 

 it were not for this lack of hardiness these would be much 

 more desirable plants ; but in a large collection of plants and 

 bulbs there is such a continuous lifting and replanting through 

 the year that the operation seems less troublesome than when 

 only some odd plant requires this care. 



Aconitum autumnale, while an old plant, is so neat in finish, 

 both of foliage and flower, that it seems well again to say that 

 it flowers at about two feet in height, with very dark shining 

 leaves and plentiful purple-hooded flowers. It is perfectly 

 hardy, never affected by insects, and may be ranked among 

 the few best autumn-flowering plants. The best of all autumn- 

 flowering plants is the white variety of Anemone Japonica, 

 which is not only beautiful, but is in every way desirable. It 

 occasionally disappears in winter, though it is usually re- 

 liable. 



Asters are such common flowers in the fields and meadows 

 that many growers do not fully appreciate their beauty in 

 gardens at this season. They flourish under cultivation, and 

 though they do not give large flowers the plants become more 

 branched than when struggling for existence, and produce a 

 multitude of attractive blooms. The British give names to the 

 different garden forms, and these added to the numerous 

 species make an endless variety if the cultivator desires a col- 

 lection. All the plant-nurseries furnish an assortment, seldom 

 properly named, or one can pick up promising kinds in wan- 

 derings afield, ft must be said, however, that Asters are seed- 

 bearers, and have capacity for taking possession of a garden. 

 The white Boltonia asteroides is quite the prettiest of the Aster 

 family for that color, though its flowers are not the largest. Their 

 effect is Aster-like, though the botanist allies them with the 

 Stenactis. 

 Elizabeth, N.J. J.N.Gerard. 



THE mild weather is prolonging the season for autumn 

 flowers. Sedum spectabilis is just now showy with laige 

 umbels of pink flowers. This plant may be increased from 

 cuttings at almost any time, and even flower-stems placed in 

 four-inch pots take root and make nice plants for conservatory 

 decoration. The pretty purple- flowertd Plumbago Larpentaa 

 is one of the best rock-plants. It makes a healthy-looking mat 

 of foliage and blooms from June onward in a sunny position. 

 Statice latifolia is one of the best of the Sea Lavenders, and the 

 sprays of small flowers with persistent blue-colored bracts re- 

 main for a long time in pertection ; in fact, these plants are 

 scarcely ever out of bloom from midsummer until frost. 

 Silphium terebinthinaceum, the Prairie Dock, is a majestic 

 plant for the shrubbery border or wild garden. The whole 

 plant is glaucous, and the large leaves, with deeply indented 

 margins, are nearly all basal. The stems rise to eight or ten 

 feet in immense cymes with large starry yellow flowers. Tall 

 plants of Boltonia latisquama and B. asteroides held together 

 by a stout cord look like immense wheat-sheaves ; these are 

 covered with small pink and white Aster-like flowers. Aster 

 amelloides is one of the best of the dwarf kinds, with large 

 violet-blue flowers. Salvia Pitched, with long spikes of deep 

 blue, is highly effective just now. The single Helianthus mul- 

 tiflorus is worthy of more extended culture. I have always 

 doubted whether this is the type of the double Helianthus 

 commonly seen ; the single form is hardier. Geranium san- 

 guineum attracts general attention ; it is never untidy and 

 always in bloom. The white-flowered Eupatorium ageratoides 

 and E. ccelestinum both suggest the common Ageratum. 

 They are among the best of our hardy border plants. Add to 

 these Pyrethrum uliginosum, Anemone Japonica (pink and 

 white), the Kniphofias or Tritomas and Funkia subcordata, 

 and we have quite a list of flowering plants for an autumn 

 garden. 

 Wellesley, Mass. T. D. Hatfield. 



Phloxes (Decussata section). 



THE perennial varieties of these Phloxes, of which P. panic- 

 ulata appears to be the principal progenitor, are among 

 the most useful and satisfactory of our garden plants. They 

 have justly received considerable attention from hybridizers 

 of late years and rapid strides have been made in their im- 



provement, both in the size and substance of the individual 

 flowers as well as in size of truss. Several new shades have 

 been added and the flowers now range through different tints 

 of red, rose, carmine and purple, and even the white sorts are 

 more nearly pure white than the older varieties. Among the 

 white varieties selfs are most abundant. The majority of the 

 other shades have the eye of a brighter or darker shade than 

 the ground color of the flower. A few of the best white varie- 

 ties are White Queen, Jennie D'Arc, White Lady and The 

 Perle. Marie Stuart and Miss Lingard, two excellent varieties, 

 are both white, with pink eye. In the rose section, Lothair 

 and Puritan are both good. Sir E. Landseer is one of the best 

 representatives of the carmine section, while Albatross is 

 probably the best of all the purples. In the brighter or red 

 section, Aurora Boreale and J. H. Slocum are both good 

 varieties. But their variety is so great that it is needless to 

 enumerate more. 



It has been said that Phloxes are plants of the easiest cultiva- 

 tion and do well with very little care. We have always found 

 that they respond quickly to generous treatment, and if pro- 

 vided with a moderately enriched soil, plenty of water when 

 necessary and a good mulching in winter they will more than 

 repay this extra attention by the increased number and larger 

 trusses of flowers. Whether planted in the shrubbery, her- 

 baceous border or in beds by themselves, Phloxes always show 

 to good advantage. They are also useful for cutting, and some 

 of the varieties are highly scented. Sometimes it is com- 

 plained that their peculiarly sweet odor becomes oppressive 

 in a close room. 



The most convenient method of propagation is by division 

 of the crowns, and the scarcer varieties may be propagated by 

 cuttings made from the young shoots. Phloxes are readilv 

 propagated from seed, which, however, produce variable 

 results, seedlings seldom coming true to name. Seeds 

 should be sown in the greenhouse in fall, and will in most 

 cases give plants strong enough to produce flowers the 

 following season. We seldom allow them to bloom much the 

 first season, and prefer to cut the flowers off after they have 

 shown their color. They are thus encouraged to make good 

 plants for another season. 



Tarrytown, N. Y. William Scott. 



Chrysanthemums. 



CHRYSANTHEMUMS which have been growing out-of- 

 doors should be housed by the end of September. Thev 

 may, of course, remain out until frost is threatened, but noth- 

 ing is gained by the delay. From the first of October onward 

 a little tire-heat will be found beneficial, as the atmosphere is 

 thus kept dry and mildew prevented. With fire-heat a little 

 air may be left on at the top. While it is necessary to admit 

 an abundance of air, side draughts must be guarded against. 

 All dead or diseased leaves should be carefully picked off, and 

 if, as often happens, thrips attack the lower leaves, a mixture 

 of sulphur and tohacco-water maybe used ; this serves at once 

 as a fungicide and insecticide. Insects do not like soot, and I 

 have found it efficacious when used with tobacco-water. 



Disbudding must be thoroughly done as soon as the buds 

 can be handled, and larger and better-formed flowers will 

 follow. Many small shoots come up through the middle of 

 the plants which will never become tall enough to be on a 

 level with the other branches. In recent years I have pruned 

 these out, and more air and strength are thus afforded to those 

 remaining. 



The month succeeding the middle of October is a time full 

 of interest to growers of specimen plants. It is also one of 

 anxiety, for there is yet opportunity to undo a whole season's 

 work by a single blunder. Less and less water will be re- 

 quired as the buds mature, but never so little that the foliage 

 wilts. The roots may be injured by excessive watering, and a 

 serious loss of leaves follows ; no treatment will repair this 

 damage. 



If the plants are intended for exhibition the date set is too 

 late for some varieties, and these must be held in check. 

 Such plants should be moved to a cooler shady house if pos- 

 sible, otherwise they must be shaded with tissue paper, 

 especially the pink-flowered varieties. Last season I kept a 

 plant of Joseph H. White without injury an entire week in a 

 light position in a barn cellar. Chrysanthemums do not bear 

 forcing well, in the ordinary way ot increasing the amount of 

 heat. Plants housed and others placed in cold frames show 

 no difference in time of blooming. Plants of tender varieties 

 which have been grown indoors during the summer, may be 

 set out for a few days in September for the purpose of check- 

 ing the growth and to encourage formation of flower-buds. 



Wellesley, Mass. T. D. H. 



