1 66 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 322. 



the climate comparatively mild and labor cheap. There are 

 good reasons for believing; that Ireland could supply the 

 less favored parts of the United Kingdom with a large pro- 

 portion of the early fruits, vegetables and flowers which are 

 now imported from the countries bordering the Mediterra- 

 nean. The experiment is worth trying. I have seen some 

 of the best gardens in the county of Cork, and their contents 

 suggest a climate almost as mild as that enjoyed in the 

 south of France. What Mr. Dorien Smith has done for the 

 Scilly Isles in developing their land resources may, one 

 would think, just as easily be done for south Ireland. 



Tree-pruning. — The belief that trees when once stuck 

 into the ground will look after themselves is so firmly estab- 

 lished in this country that it will take a considerable num- 

 ber of editions of Monsieur Des Car's little book to eradi- 

 cate the belief. It is poetical to declare that nature is 

 the best gardener and forester, but practically it is utter 

 nonsense. Trees, and especially exotics, generally grow 

 awry if they are not looked after. Tree-pruning cannot, 

 however, be done properly by an ignoramus ; the character 

 of the tree and the effect of pruning upon it must be com- 

 prehended by the practitioner, otherwise he will probably 

 do much injury. I should like to show to those people 

 who curse the pruning tools and those who preach pruning, 

 a number of trees not far from Kevv, which have grown 

 into ugly cripples through neglect of the art of pruning, and, 

 on the other side, young trees which are perfect in conse- 

 quence of judicious pruning done in good time. Even 

 large once-neglected specimens are hopeful after having 

 undergone a severe course of lopping and pruning. A Lon- 

 don publisher (Rider) has lately issued an edition of A. Des 

 Car's excellent little Treatise on Pruning Fcrest and Orna- 

 mental Trees, which was translated by Professor Sargent 

 some years ago; and is now recognized by all who know 

 what a tree ought to be, as the most useful treatise on this 

 subject. It has been received with gratitude by some au- 

 thorities here and severely condemned by others. The value 

 of the book cannot be gauged by one who has never tried 

 the effect of careful pruning, but condemns all pruning be- 

 cause he has seen trees mutilated by so-called pruners. 

 Some people cannot bear to see a tree cut ; they look upon 

 it as a species of cruelty. Others appear to have started a 

 crusade against all art in the garden, except that which is 

 called nature's art. Both kinds of objectors are hopeless. 



London. IV. WalSOIl. 



Cultural Department. 



Work in Glass Houses. 



THE outdoor garden will now demand much attention, but 

 it will not do to neglect the indoor department at this time, 

 for spring is the recuperative season for most foliage-plants, 

 and is also the most suitable time for propagating, potting and 

 pruning this class of plants. For example, specimen Crotons 

 and Ixoras, grown unshapely, should be corrected by severe 

 pruning a few weeks before repotting, so as to allow the fresh 

 growth to start before the roots are disturbed. Both of these 

 plants are improved by hard pruning, provided they are treated 

 liberally afterward as to heat and moisture. Syringing two or 

 three times a day in bright weather helps the young growth. 



The Ixoras grow best in a light soil. Some peat in the com- 

 post is an advantage; they can also take up a reasonable 

 quantity of manure, in liquid form or mingled with the soil. 

 The pruning of Crotons intended for outdoor bedding this 

 summer should have been done some months ago, in order 

 to secure a firm, strong growth on the plants before the time 

 for planting out. 



A few plants of Clerodendron Balfourianum of moderate 

 size, trained on balloon-trellises, make admirable specimens 

 for conservatory decoration during the summer and autumn. 

 To secure full crops of bloom a period of rest is required after 

 their growth is made ; the plants should be in full light for 

 some weeks, and kept without water, until all the foliage has 

 dropped off. When the new growth is well ripened by this 

 treatment the plant may be started again. Any worthless wood 

 should be trimmed out and the long shoots neatly trained, be- 

 ginning at the lower part of the trellis with a long shoot, and 

 gradually training it around and upward ; dormant shoots of 



climbing plants should never be trained downward, as they do 

 not thus break away freely. To start the plants a thorough 

 soaking of water and frequent syringing is required, and a 

 temperature of sixty-five degrees. A small quantity of guano 

 or other good fertilizer proves beneficial when the shoots are 

 about two inches in length. 



Specimen Allamandas also thrive under the treatment indi- 

 cated for Clerodendron Balfourianum ; thorough ripening of 

 the wood induces a much better crop of flowers than can be 

 had if the plants are kept growing throughout the entire year. 

 Allamanda Williamsii and A. nerifolia are excellent for small 

 collections. These varieties furnish smaller plants than A. 

 Schottii and A. Hendersonii ; the flowers, also, are not as 

 large, but they are so abundant as to make up for their 

 smaller size. 



Gesneras, Gloxinias and other flowering bulbs for summer 

 decoration of the conservatory will also need attention. Most 

 plants of this character are not improved by exposure to strong 

 sunshine, and Gloxinias especially do not like water on their 

 leaves, while they enjoy a liberal supply at the root and also 

 a moist atmosphere. 



The stock of Ficus, Pandanus Veitchii, Aralias and other 

 foliage-plants should be increased now. The most shapely 

 young plants of Ficus elastica are secured from top-cuttings, 

 for while single-eye cuttings may be readily rooted at this sea- 

 son, they never produce as well-furnished plants as those from 

 top-cuttings. 



The best specimens of Pandanus Veitchii are grown from 

 short, stocky cuttings, a drawn-up cutting usually retaining 

 that characteristic in the future plant, besides taking longer to 

 root. Artocarpus Cannonii is a highly ornamental member of 

 the Breadfruit family and deserves a place among the stove 

 foliage-plants ; its dark, purplish leaves contrast well with 

 some of the lighter, variegated plants ; reasonably easy to 

 propagate from cuttings, it should become much more pop- 

 ular. 



Aphelandras will also require potting on before they are too 

 much impoverished, or the foliage is apt to suffer before the 

 flowers appear. I preter, however, to have young plants of 

 Aphelandras each season, rather than carry over old stock, for 

 this is liable to become infested with scale, and it is difficult 

 to clean them without bruising or scratching the foliage. 



W. H. Tapiin. 



Holmesburg, Pa. 



Spring Flowers. 



MORISIA HYPOGCEA, (lowering now in my cool annex, 

 is a neat little alpine plant from the mountains of Sar- 

 dinia. It forms dense tufts -of bright green, narrow leaves two 

 inches long, incised or cleft like Dandelion-leaves. The flow- 

 ers, borne freely on very short stems, are bright clear deep 

 yellow, and at this season the plant is most attractive. There 

 is probably little doubt of its hardiness and usefulness for the 

 rockery or alpine garden. 



Fritillaria Yoryi Barzali is one of Mr. Whittall's new finds, 

 which as yet has only this provisional name. This little plant 

 is only three inches high, but bears a large bell-shaped flower 

 contracted at the opening. The flower is over an inch in diam- 

 eter and deep clear yellow, brighter than that of F. aurea. It 

 is marked in dots of rich red inside and out. The dwarf Fri- 

 tillarias are interesting little plants for rockeries or choice bor- 

 ders, where the bulbs will not be likely to be disturbed and 

 lost when they are resting. Mr. Orpet has lately called atten- 

 tion to F. aurea in not too high terms. F. Meleagris, the 

 Snake's-head Fritillary, is the well-known checkered sort, and 

 a great favorite in gardens. F. tristis, the Mourning Fritillary, 

 is of the richest velvety brownish-black. It is just coming 

 into flower. F. Dalmatica, also just opening, is a grayish-green 

 flower marked with red, and is not very handsome. There 

 are several forms of F. Armena in the garden, the prettiest 

 one being of a dull wine-color, with cloudings of yellow. Our 

 native yellow Fritillaria, F. pudica, is figured in the current 

 MeeJians' Monthly with a colored plate. F. biflora is a Cali- 

 fornian species yet to flower, which appears to me a little gem. 

 Its coloring is in the greens and reds of the exotic Cypripe- 

 diums. It is, however, a very small flower. The other Cali- 

 fornia species I have not seen. It is curious that the greater 

 Fritillary, the Crown Imperial, should have been a favorite in 

 gardens so many years. 



Iris Caucasica is this week's addition to spring-blooming 

 Irises, and planted near I. orchioides it emphasizes the fact 

 that the flowers of this species are dull and washy and a mere 

 attempt at yellow. These Irises are both of the same section, 

 and seem to prosper under the same conditions of somewhat 

 heavy soil and full exposure. I. orchioides is so much supe- 



