358 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 341. 



Kniphofias. 



SOME two years ago we were favored with two packets of 

 Herr Max Leichtlin's own hybridized seeds of these Torch 

 Lilies, and though some flowered last year, the majority are in 

 bloom for the first time this season. We have heard a good 

 deal lately of the advances recently made by this noted raiser 

 of choice hardy plants in the varieties of Kniphofia (Tritoma), 

 and those now in bloom here go far toward illustrating the fact 

 that the old introduced species are surpassed in vigor and 

 beauty by these garden hybrids. There is a species called 

 Kniphofia Leichtlinii, which comes from Abyssinia, and is 

 very different from all other kinds, being deciduous, of dwarf 

 habit, the tube of the flower shorter than usual, and the sta- 

 mens and anthers being exserted, so as to give the spike an 

 appearance quite distinct from all others. Another peculiarity 

 is that the blossoms commence to expand from the top of the 

 spike down, reversing the order of all other species that I have 

 seen, and it is an advantage, as the spike is fully developed 

 before the flowers begin to open. In the hybrids mentioned 

 a large number are the result of crossing K. Leichtlinii with 

 the older and more robust growers, and we have a distinct 

 gain in every way in larger spikes of bloom and in varied 

 colors. They still retain the deciduous habit, and this enables 

 us to lift and store them in a very small space in the cellar in 

 winter, there being no foliage to keep green. The hybrids 

 with this parentage are easily discerned in fall, for after the 

 first frost the leaves all turn yellow and mature at once, so 

 that the plants can soon be lifted and stored, for in this sec- 

 tion none of the family is hardy enough to stand the winter. 



The parentage of the other seedlings is difficult to trace, but 

 there are very few poor ones among them all, and some are 

 of great beauty ; one especially, now in bloom, has a flower- 

 spike over a foot long, with four side branches, the flowers 

 being of a clear bright yellow, with no red shading, while 

 others are of the brightest possible vermilion-red. 



Kniphofias have a distinct place in the flower-borders that 

 they are well qualified to fill. At this period there are few 

 plants in bloom among true herbaceous or hardy plants, the 

 month of August being the poorest of the summer 'months, 

 and this is when the Torch Lilies begin to come into bloom, 

 and they last until frost has killed all outdoor bloom. In very 

 favorable years we can harvest seeds, but more often they do 

 not mature satisfactorily, but seeds can easily be purchased, 

 and these germinate readily in the greenhouse in spring ; the 

 older plants may easily be divided when it is desirable to in- 

 crease any particular variety, for we have found that seed can- 

 not be relied upon to come true if saved from plants among a 

 mixed collection, the flowers being a great attraction to insects, 

 and in this way they become crossed. 



South Lancaster, Mass. E. O. Orpet. 



China Asters.— Of the many varieties of these flowers now 

 catalogued it is difficult to choose which to grow, for the list 

 is lengthened every year and becomes the more embarrass- 

 ing to the cultivator. This season we have tried for the first 

 time the strain known as Giant Comet, and it has proved to be 

 the best novelty in China Asters which has lately been of- 

 fered. The colored varieties are not as large as the white 

 ones, which are of such unusual size that they resemble a 

 good large chrysanthemum, the centre petals being narrow, 

 almost thread-like, while the outer ones are broad and of 

 good substance. The stems are long and may be cut for use 

 in large vases, and for this purpose this strain cannot be ex- 

 celled. Another variety we have tried this year is Semple's 

 strain, which is most distinct in habit, taller and more vigor- 

 ous than any I know, the plants growing nearly three feet high 

 and the stems long in proportion. The large flowers of those 

 we have are all of a pleasing shade of pink, the petals twisting 

 and somewhat incurving very like what is called a Chinese 

 chrysanthemum. These two kinds are genuine acquisitions 

 to our list of summer flowers and well worth growing in any 

 garden. 



Boston, Mass. P '. 



Dewberries. — Repeated experiments with these plants lead me 

 to discard them from any extensive culture. The only suita- 

 ble method of growing them is to tie them to stakes five feet 

 high, and cut them in repeatedly during growth. Any ap- 

 proximation to freedom not only makes them a nuisance, but 

 prevents the yield of any fruit that is worth gathering. At the 

 best, the plant tends to produce a larger proportion of knotted 

 stubs in place of perfect berries. The lower limbs are dragged 

 into the dirt by the weight of the fruit. A small plot of the 

 Dewberry Lucretia can be used to decided advantage. Mulch 

 around the plants during the bearing season, and lay them 



down for winter. The berry ripens two weeks ahead of the 

 erect-growing blackberries, and sells for a good price. The 

 average price is about fifteen cents ; of blackberries, about 

 eight. 



Clinton, N. Y. E. P P 



Correspondence. 



Prickly Lettuce and some other Weeds in Iowa. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir, — Some alarm has been felt in the west from the invasion 

 of Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca Scariola). The date of the introduc- 

 tion and distribution of many of our foreign weeds over the 

 United States will never be known, since botanists have, as a 

 rule, not recorded the time of their first appearance. In the 

 case of Prickly Lettuce, Russian Thistle, Spiny Nightshade, 

 Hawkweed, Mexican Poppy, Cone Flower and some others, 

 the local floras furnish data of the time of their introduction, 

 but in the great majority of cases we know nothing. 



The records for Prickly Lettuce and Russian Thistle are 

 very full and complete. Prickly Lettuce was recorded by Dr. 

 Gray {Manual, fifth edition, p. 281), in 1867, from Cambridge, 

 Massachusetts. Since then numerous botanists have recorded 

 its presence from the Atlantic states to Minnesota. It was a 

 common plant in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1884, and I saw it 

 abundant in the streets of north Chicago in 1885 and in St. 

 Louis in 1886. I have, therefore, been interested in watching 

 the plant in Iowa since 1889. At that time the weed occurred 

 in the streets of several Iowa cities and villages, but was not 

 abundant. Since then it has spread rapidly, and now occurs in 

 every city I have visited during the last year. It is abundant, 

 notonl/in vacant lots, in streets and along roadsides, but 

 occurs in lawns, pastures and in woods. The weed is 

 thoroughly naturalized, and many farmers and gardeners in 

 Iowa believe it to be one of the worst they have to contend 

 against. In lawns, while not as bad as Dandelions, it causes 

 great annoyance. Many annual weeds are easily destroyed 

 when cut off close to the ground, but this weed cannot be 

 killed in this way, unless the root is cut at least an inch below 

 the surface. 



Prickly Lettuce has probably been adventive in Iowa for 

 many years longer. It is recorded by Dr. Bessey {Report State 

 Ag. Coll., iv., no) as occurring at Ames in 1871. In all proba- 

 bility it was adventive in many other parts of the UnitedStates. 

 This fact indicates that it takes some time for a plant to be- 

 come naturalized, but after it is naturalized it is able to spread 

 rapidly. I have known of large patches of Ox-eye Daisy, 

 Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, in western Wisconsin that 

 have disappeared entirely without any effort. The same weed 

 has been reported at Ames at different times since 1871, but it 

 has not made much progress. Dr. Bessey, in 1871, states in 

 relation to Squirrel-tail Grass, Hordeum jubatum, that it is 

 "found along railroads; perhaps introduced." There is 

 scarcely a town or city in Iowa where it does not now occur, 

 seriously crowding Blue Grass in lawns. Sweet Vernal Grass, 

 Anthex anthum odoratum, introduced in 1871, has extended 

 but little. Spiny Nightshade, Solanum rostratum, though 

 known to occur as a troublesome weed in the south-western 

 states for many years, and during twelve or fifteen years in 

 south-western Iowa, has been reported to me from a dozen or 

 more localities in central and northern Iowa. It is not, there- 

 fore, making rapid headway. The Mexican Poppy, Argemone 

 Mexicana, has been reported to me from southern Iowa, and 

 I have seen it in Cedar Rapids. 



From these and other observations we may conclude that 

 annuals with ready means of dissemination are distributed 

 more widely and are more easily naturalized, and naturaliza- 

 tion takes place more readily in the case of European 

 than American weeds. In this I do not consider weeds like 

 Purslane (Portulaca oleracea), Plantains (Plantago major), Knot- 

 weed (Polygonum aviculare) and similar species that follow 

 man. 



Iowa Agricultural College, Ames. L. H. Pailllllel. 



The Kentucky Coffee-tree. 



To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir, — In your number of August 15th, Mr. E. P. Powell 

 recommends the Kentucky Coffee-tree for ornamental plant- 

 ing. It has all the good qualities he mentions, but probably 

 he has never observed what happens when one of these trees 

 is cut down. The ground is then filled with innumerable suck- 

 ers. These are easily disposed of by the scythe, but they seem 

 to indicate that the superficial roots spread enormously and 



