406 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 346. 



riads of these little creatures. The same theory was held 

 with regard to the Myrmecodias, etc., but this was exploded 

 by the behavior of plants at Kevv, which not only grew 

 well without the assistance of ants, but ripened seeds from 

 which plants were raised which formed the fleshy galleried 

 stems, although no ant ever came near them. The appear- 

 ance of the Lecanopteris is as if the rhizome had been 

 poured on the branch in a plastic condition and thus 

 formed a thick irregular crust all round it. There is no 

 Fern with anything like the same kind of rhizome, and it 

 is of the greatest interest to botanists. The pinnate fronds 

 are of about the same size and texture as the fronds of the 



c ?™r n Poi yp° dium vul & are - w . w^sL 



the roots. Those who have tried sowing the seed as soon 

 as it ripens on plants grown here have found that it germi- 

 nates much more surely and quickly than imported seed. 



Plant Notes. 



Caryopteris Mastacanthus. — This low, late-flowering shrub 

 is not common in gardens — in American gardens, at least — 

 although it was discovered long ago by Robert Fortune in 

 China, and introduced into European gardens by Veitch & 

 Sons. In the first volume of Garden and Forest Herr Max 

 Leichtlin spoke of it as hardy with him, and in a dry sunny 

 position as far north as Boston it will survive ordinary win- 

 ters. It is a much-branched shrub, resembling somewhat 

 a Ceanothus in look, and its great value consists in its habit 

 of blooming so late and so profusely. Even where the ex- 

 tremities are winter-killed, a great part of the wood will 

 survive, and, as it flowers on the new wood, it will throw 

 up branches which will bear abundant flowers all through 

 the month of September and until heavy frosts. Its large 

 clusters of lilac-blue flowers are borne in axils of the leaves, 

 and although they are individually small, the corymbs are 

 sufficiently large and abundant to be quite conspicuous. 

 The flowers are slightly fragrant, and the green leaves, 

 hoary white on the under side, give out a strong aromatic 

 odor when bruised. Even where the winter is cold enough 

 to make it advisable to lift the plant and place it in a pit, 

 to be kept over until spring, it is sufficiently striking and 

 distinct to warrant this trouble. It is so easily grown from 

 cuttings that it ought soon to become common. 



Polygonum amplexicaule, var. oxyphyllum. — Some of the 

 Polygonums from eastern Asia, like the Japanese P. cuspi- 

 datum, and P. Sachaliense, from Saghalien, are pretty well 

 known as strong-growing perennials which can be used in 

 parks and other places where large masses of foliage are 

 needed, and there are others from northern India, with red, 

 pink and rose-colored flowers, which make interesting 

 autumn-blooming plants for rock-work. This Knotweed, 

 which was introduced into American gardens some years 

 ago under the name of the Mountain Fleece, comes from 

 the Himalayas, and is perfectly hardy. It grows four or 

 five feet high, and bears at the summit of each stalk a 

 large open raceme of small white flowers, which have a 

 delicate fragrance. The foliage of the plant suggests 

 rather unpleasantly our wild Smartweed, although it is 

 rather tropical in appearance. The general aspect of the 

 plant, however, is not coarse, especially in early autumn, 

 when it is crowned by its masses of fleecy flowers. It is 

 not at all particular as to soil or exposure, and will flourish 

 almost under any circumstances. 



Aconitum autumnale. — We have often called attention to 

 this Monkshood as one of the first-rate herbaceous peren- 

 nials that flower at this late season. It grows to a height 

 of some three feet, is well furnished with glossy foliage, 

 and bears at the summit branching spikes of very dark 

 blue flowers which last a long time. It is worth saying 

 again, that since this plant blooms at the same time with 

 the White Japanese Anemone, a very pleasing combina- 

 tion can be made of the two. This year, in spite of the 

 dry weather, plants which were not watered at all are 

 showing their beautiful hooded flowers of full size, and 

 they are not only attractive in the border, but useful for 

 cutting. Aconitum autumnale, the name under which 

 it is generally known, is easily multiplied by dividing 



Cultural Department. 



Autumn-flowering Perennial Plants. — I. 



OUR gardens and shrubberies would be much less attractive 

 in the autumn if it was not for the large number of spe- 

 cies belonging to the great family of Compositae which are 

 now in bloom. The predominant shades of color in the flowers 

 of this family are yellow, blue and purple, and at this season 

 the herbaceous border glows with these rich tints. The per- 

 ennial Sunflowers form a most important group of autumn- 

 flowering plants, and are indispensable for large borders and 

 shrubberies. Many of them are tall and graceful, blooming 

 profusely, and their flowers are especially useful for cutting. 

 They will grow in almost any soil or situation, but to have 

 them in perfection they should be taken up and replanted 

 every second or third year into good soil which is well- 

 manured, as they are gross feeders. We often hear it argued 

 in favor of herbaceous perennials that when once set they 

 need no further attention, but will flourish and bloom and 

 grow better and better for years to come. This lazy notion 

 should be dismissed at once. No flower-garden gives satisfac- 

 tion unless it is carefully attended to, and hardy perennial 

 plants furnish no exception to the general rule. 



The following species and varieties are suitable for borders 

 and planting among shrubs. Helianthus multiflorus plenus, 

 the double Sunflower, grows from four to five feet high, and 

 produces from June to ^October large double yellow flowers, 

 which are excellent for cutting. H. multiflorus maximus is a 

 tall-growing variety with very large flowers, nearly as large as 

 those of the well-known annual garden forms. H. rigidus 

 spreads quickly and requires plenty of room. It has golden- 

 yellow flowers, and grows about four feet high. H. mollis is 

 a showy species with woolly leaves and pretty yellow flowers. 

 It is a neat plant, growing from four to five leet high, and is 

 worth a place among the most select perennials. H. orgyalis 

 is a distinct species, which attains a height of eight or ten feet ; 

 it has graceful lanceolate leaves and numerous small flowers, 

 which are very showy. H. giganteus is another tall, graceful 

 plant, and H. Maximilani, one of the latest to bloom, is also 

 one of the best. Its flowers are a pure golden-yellow, and it is 

 a large handsome plant. H. strumosus, H. doronicoides, H. 

 trachelifolius, H. grosse-serratus, H. tomentosus, H. decape- 

 talus and H. laevigatus are all desirable, and each has special 

 points of merit. 



The autumn-blooming Sneezeweed, Helenium autumnale, 

 is a showy, vigorous perennial, about five feet high, and its 

 yellow flowers, often borne in corymbs, last for a long time. 

 H. autumnale pumilum is a desirable dwarf variety with com- 

 pact habit, and grows about two feet high. 



Although our fields and thickets are adorned with Golden- 

 rods at this season, yet there are several which are distinct and 

 showy, and worth a place in our gardens. Solidago rigida, 

 simple unbranched stem ; S. speciosa, crowned with its large 

 pyramidal masses of flowers ; S. petiolaris, with its wand-like 

 panicle, and S. Drummondii are especially desirable; and per- 

 haps the last, a south-western form, is excelled by none when 

 carefully grown. 



The Boltonias are tall autumn-flowering plants, resembling 

 very much our native Asters, the principal difference being in 

 the character of the appendix to the fruit or pappus. They 

 bloom profusely through August, September and October. 

 B. glastifolia, a form of B. asteroides, is the first to bloom here ; 

 both plants are grown here side by side, and they look very 

 much alike. The principal difference, from the horticultural 

 point of view, is that B. asteroides blooms about a month later. 

 B. asteroides has stout stems six to seven feet high, and cov- 

 ered with entire lanceolate leaves. The heads are over an inch 

 in diameter, and the ray-flowers are of a whitish color. B. 

 latisquama is a splendid border-plant for back rows, and when 

 planted in large clumps is very effective. A few days ago I 

 saw a bed of this plant sixty feet long by six wide at the Shady 

 Hill Nurseries, Bedford, Massachusetts. The plants were 

 completely covered with flowers, and it was a sight not soon 

 to be forgotten. This plant has stout thick stems, which ordi- 

 narily grow about four feet high, but much taller under 

 special care. The showy heads are produced very plentifully, 

 and are about two inches across, and the ray-flowers are of a 

 violet-blue color. 



The native Asters, although they are so common, at this 



