June 27, 1894.] 



Garden and Forest. 



255 



must be admitted, ugliness itself. We want glass structures 

 that will not interfere with a pleasant natural arrangement 

 of the contents and in which the needs of the plants can be 

 supplied without the use of the stage and the flower-pot. 



London. W. WalSOfl. 



New or Little-known Plants. 



Phlox divaricata. 



THIS pretty plant, which bears on leafy stems broad 

 open clusters of lavender-colored or pale blue flowers 

 an inch in diameter, is an inhabitant of damp rich woods 

 in eastern North America, where it is found from western 

 Canada and New York to Florida, Iowa and Arkansas. It 

 is one of those beautiful North American plants which are 

 better suited than those of any other country to grace our 

 garde'ns, but, in common with many other North American 

 plants, it is almost unknown to American gardeners, 

 although a century ago it was considered in England 

 worthy of a portrait in the Botanical Magazine. 



Like the other dwarf species of Phlox, Phlox divaricata 

 is seen to its best advantage in the rock-garden or in some 

 other half-wild spot where it can obtain protection from 

 the intensity of the summer sun in the overhanging 

 branches of deciduous trees, and, like the other species, 

 it enjoys deep, rich and well-drained soil, in which it will 

 soon spread into a broad mat by the decumbent sterile 

 shoots which it produces at the base of the upright 

 flower-bearing stems. The flowers appear in very early 

 spring. 



We are indebted to Mjj=. J. H. Robbins, of Hingham, 

 Massachusetts, for the specimen from which Mr. Faxon 

 has made the drawing reproduced on page 256 of this issue. 



Plant Notes. 



Irises. — Of Irises now in flower I. ochroleuca is the most 

 striking, and is really one of the noblest and most effective 

 of the family. The leaves are some three feet tall, and above 

 them are borne the handsome white flowers with yellow 

 claws. It flowers with considerable freedom. I. cuprea 

 is one of the most distinct species, with dull brown or cop- 

 pery flowers, the falls of which are spread laterally. It is 

 most satisfactory in a somewhat moist situation. I. Anglica 

 follows the Spanish Irises, with an entirely different effect. 

 The flowers are larger, but more quiet in color, ranging 

 from white through the mauves to dark rich purple. The 

 bulbs of this Iris enjoy a somewhat moister situation than 

 the Spanish. I. spuria is one of the taller sorts, vying in 

 that respect with I. ochroleuca, but its lilac-colored flowers 

 are not nearly so effective. 



Arthropodium cirrhatum. — This Tasmanian plant is now 

 finishing its flowering. It has broad spreading leaves, and 

 bears in spring divided racemes of pure white star-shaped 

 flowers, which are about an inch in diameter, and whose 

 petals reflex. The yellow stamens are very prominent. 

 The flowers are persistent, and the plant retains a good 

 show of bloom for two months. It is increased by seeds 

 or offshoots. It is a good greenhouse-plant, though not of 

 first rank. 



Alstromeria h^mantha. — This is one of the prettiest of 

 the " Lilies of the Incas." It is hardy in this latitude in shel- 

 tered places, and at this time bears divided racemes of beau- 

 tiful salmon-pink flowers. The pointed inner segments are 

 marked handsomely with linings of blood-red. These 

 flowers, besides their beauty in the border, are very useful 

 and lasting in a cut state. 



Cultural Department. 



Current Notes for Chrysanthemum-growers. 



/CHRYSANTHEMUMS intended for specimem blooms 

 ^ should all be planted by the end of June. As sug- 

 gested in previous notes, ten inches each way is not too much 

 space for them ; but, for general decorative purposes, later 



and closer planting will do. Experience has shown that it is 

 better to rely on field-grown plants for stock for this purpose, 

 and a sufficient number, should be set in the open ground. 

 Frequent overhead syringing on bright days is beneficial, 

 since it helps to keep down insect pests. Three pounds of 

 tobacco-leaf, with an ounce of sulphide of potassium, to ten 

 gallons of water, makes an excellent insecticide and fungicide 

 as well. Some plan must be adopted for supporting the 

 plants, and that of stakes with wire for stiffening or strength- 

 ening, now generally in use by Rose-growers, is most prac- 

 ticable. 



In July many varieties will show a premature crown-bud, 

 known as the July bud ; and, excepting a few early varieties, 

 notably Mrs. E. G. Hill, Lady Playfair, Mayflower, Mademoi- 

 selle Lacroix, Yellow Queen and Lady Selborne, which may 

 be taken toward the end of the month ; all such should be dis- 

 carded, and one of the two or three terminal shoots, which 

 appear immediately below it, allowed to grow. The crown- 

 bud is an abortion, at best, and if left to itself could never 

 develop. It is only when the terminals or laterals are taken 

 away, which process is known as " taking the bud," that they 

 develop. When it appears at the right time for a perfect 

 flower, then it should be " taken." Most varieties will pro- 

 duce a perfect flower on either bud, but unless one has a 

 pretty sure knowledge of the proper time for taking the 

 crown, it is best to trust to a terminal bud. In seedlings the 

 terminal is the surest test of their true character. E. Molyneux 

 is altogether out of character on a terminal bud, and* it re- 

 quires very careful management to have the required crown 

 at the right time. English experts take into consideration 

 even the time of striking their cuttings, and this also varies 

 with locality, north or south. About the 10th of August is the 

 right time here for this variety ; and as all buds appearing be- 

 fore or after are useless, they may as well be replaced by 

 others. There are very few varieties, however, which are so 

 far out of character on a terminal ; those best on this bud be- 

 ing far more numerous. G. W. Childs, Viviand Morel, L. 

 Canning, Ivory, A. H. Fewkes, Wanlass, Joseph H. White, 

 Etoile de Lyon and W. H. Lincoln are all best on terminal 

 buds. 



Wellesley, Mass. T. D. H. 



The Calochorti. 



'"THESE plants have flowered successfully here this season, 

 A and well deserve mention. These California bulbs are 

 found in widely diverse localities in that state, but in none 

 where conditions of climate do not differ widely from those 

 prevailing here. Hence, aside from their beauty, they may 

 be classed among interesting plants — that is, from a gardening 

 point of view — somewhat difficult to cultivate successfully. 

 None of the species occur in sections where the winter tem- 

 perature sinks as low as it does in this latitude, but ex- 

 cept, possibly, Calochortus Kennedyi, they are hardy here. 

 This variety has not been tested as severely as the others, 

 but has survived some freezing in pots without injury. 

 The other kinds, including venustus roseus, venustus 

 Vesta, Weedii, splendens, pulchellus, albus, lilacinus, 

 Gunnisoni, purpurascens, amcenus, etc., were tested last 

 season under hard conditions, and have survived and 

 mostly flowered freely. Last year they were in a warmer 

 place, which proved to be too dry at flowering time, at 

 which season an ample supply of water seems to be essen- 

 tial, or they go to rest without perfecting their flowers. My 

 bulbs late in summer were planted about four inches deep in 

 the most exposed border, which is of heavy clayey soil. A 

 covering of boards was placed over the bed, and about a foot 

 above it, to throw off surplus water and to prevent the thaw- 

 ing of the ground during short spells of warm weather in 

 winter. The leaves appeared above ground in February, and 

 were not affected by subsequent freezings. The boards were 

 removed early in March and full exposure was given. The 

 "Star Tulips" seem to be the earlier, the Mariposas being no- 

 ticeably later. As these bulbs are accustomed to a perfect rest 

 in summer, the proper treatment after flowering is to elevate 

 a cold-frame sash over them or else lift them and store them 

 in sand for fall-planting. Of course, the bed containing the 

 bulbs should be elevated, so that water will not rise much 

 from below. 



The Calochorti are mostly very beautiful flowers, well worth 

 some care. If a cold frame could be devoted exclusively to 

 them it would often be more satisfactory, as there would be 

 less danger of the bulbs being lost in summer, though the 

 bulbs are cheap and easily replaced. The f/ame should be 

 elevated, and the sash opened, but tilted to shed water in win- 



