February ii, 1891.] 



Garden and Forest. 



69 



The Martinezias comprise another handsome genus of 

 stove Palms. M. caryotcefolia, M. erosa and M. Lindeni are 

 good examples of these moderately dwarf South American 

 plants. M. caryotcefoiia has dark green pinnate leaves, with 

 pinnas arranged along the petiole in groups of several pairs, 

 wedge-shaped, and quite broad at the apex. This is a de- 

 cidedly handsome species, and also a very thorny one, as the 

 spines are not only arranged on the stems, but also to a greater 

 or less extent on the under side of the pinnas. M. erosa has 

 also pinnate leaves, and, as its name indicates, the tips of the 

 leaflets look as though they had been bitten. This species is 

 extremely spiny, not only on the stems and under side of the 

 leaves, but also on the upper surface. M. Lindeniana is some- 

 what similar in general characteristics to M. caryotcefoiia, but 

 has larger terminal pinnas, which are lighter-colored beneath. 

 M. Lindeniana makes very handsome specimens, and should 

 be seen more generally. t 



Holmesburg, Pa. W. H. Taplm. 



Notes from a Pennsylvania Garden. 



Clematis graveolens. — This plant is not new, but it ought 

 to be more widely known. It is hardy, of such vigorous 

 growth that it rapidly covers a trellis or arbor, and yet it is ex- 

 ceedingly delicate and graceful in appearance. The flowers, it 

 is true, are not as large as they are in some other varieties, 

 and are not a perfectly clear yellow, but they are abundant, and 

 are followed by pompon-like heads of fruit, which are far 

 finer than those of any other species of Clematis. They are 

 very symmetrical, of exquisite delicacy of detail, and last in 

 good condition for several weeks. This species, moreover, is 

 practically free from the mildew which attacks so many of our 

 climbers. Clematis Virginiana ought never to be placed in 

 even partial shade on that account, for it will be ruined by mil- 

 dew before midsummer. It would be hard to say which is the 

 best Clematis, but C. graveolens claims attention for its vigor- 

 ous, graceful habit, striking fruit and freedom from fungus 

 attacks. 



Akebia quinata. — This woody climber is well known for . 

 its vigorous growth, which starts early in the spring, and its 

 close-twining habit. It will soon cover a large surface almost 

 as closely as an Ampelopsis. The quinate leaves are of a type 

 not common with us, and they keep their shape and color so 

 far into the winter that they barely escape being fully ever- 

 green. The flowers, although not conspicuous, are deliciously 

 fragrant, and become more abundant as the vine gets older. 

 In order to reach good development it should have consider- 

 able direct sunlight. The most difficult problem to deal with 

 in planting about buildings is to find plants that will thrive in 

 the shade. 



Saururus CERNUUS. — Experience here with the Lizard's Tail 

 has been curious and interesting. It is not native to this region. 

 About ten years ago a few root-stocks were planted in a small 

 artificial bog along with several other species of marsh plants. 

 The Saururus flowered that season, from buds previously de- 

 veloped, but has never flowered since. The yearly growth is 

 exceedingly strong, and it has crowded out everything else, 

 covering the whole surface of the bog. The water sometimes 

 dries away entirely in the fall, but if tnis has any effect it would 

 seem to be to diminish rather than increase the vigor of the 

 plants, and therefore to induce, rather than prevent, their 

 flowering. Pontederia cordata has not been affected unfavor- 

 ably by this drying, nor has NymphcEa odorata. 



State College, Pa. W. A. BllckllOUt. 



Seed-Sowing. 



V\ fORK among hardy plants is now entirely suspended in 

 * * the colder sections, but when the season reopens there 

 will be many other things that will need attention at the same 

 time, and, therefore, there is no better time than the present 

 to arrange for the coming year's display. There is also no 

 better time than the present to sow seeds of hardy perennials 

 if one has the convenience of a heated house or a cold frame. 

 We have found that many seeds of this class of plants are 

 greatly benefited by a steady but thorough freezing. It seems 

 to matter little whether the freezing period be long or short, 

 provided it is steadily maintained for the time being. Seeds 

 of the new Aquilegia Stuarti were sown last October in sepa- 

 rate pots, the one being kept in the greenhouse and the other 

 placed in a cold frame and frozen. The seeds in the former 

 have germinated but sparingly, while apparently every one in 

 the latter has germinated. The plant in question claims close 

 relationship with A. glandnlosa, and this is what suggested 

 the experiment, it being well known that freezing is necessary 

 to obtain the best results with that species. Aquilegia Stuarti 



is, however, said to be the finest Columbine in cultivation by 

 the most competent authority. Many of the Columbines are 

 benefited by the above treatment, while others will germinate 

 readily if placed in heat at once. The more one has to do 

 with this most fascinating part of gardening, seed-sowing, the 

 more there seems to be to learn ; and I repeat that if it is in- 

 tended to raise perennials the coming season sow the seed at 

 once, and place all in a cold frame for a week or two, and, if 

 desired, they can later on be placed in heat, and time may 

 thus be gained, or they may be left to germinate with the 

 spring sunshine in the frame. 



It is a good plan to sow the seeds, if obtainable, in the fall, 

 and this gives the opportunity to handle the young seedlings 

 during the dull winter months, for when these seedlings are 

 to be cared for later in the season, the pressure of other work 

 often leaves them neglected, and a season's flower is some- 

 times missed in this way. 



The value of frost as an agent in helping seed to germinate 

 is well known, but is capable of much wider application than 

 is generally supposed. In the fall of 1889 we had a quantity 

 of seeds of Rosa rugosa, which were sown in flats as soon as 

 ripe and these were placed in a cold frame. That winter being 

 remarkable for its mildness the seeds showed signs of activity 

 early in March, and on being placed in heat they came up so 

 evenly as to raise the covering of soil with them, and thousands 

 of fine young plants were obtained in this way, which, with 

 two years' good growth, would be very valuable young stock, 

 as this Rose is largely used by planters, and quantities are im- 

 ported annually to meet the demand. Seed of Rosa rugosa is 

 somewhat difficult to clean, and to separate the seeds they 

 must be freed from their outer covering ; the best way to do 

 this is to cover the hips with water in an open vessel and 

 allow the mass to ferment until the seeds can be easily rubbed 

 out with the hands. The seeds will then float and the refuse 

 will sink. If it is intended to sow them this should be done as 

 soon as the seed is dry enough to handle and treated as above. 

 Cleaning by fermentation is perfectly safe as long as the seed 

 has a hard outer covering. 



South Lancaster, Mass. E. 0. Orpet. 



Begonia Scharffiana. — This new Begonia is now in bloom in 

 Mr. B. P. Cheney's greenhouses at Dover, Massachusetts, and 

 the flowers are rather disappointing. The flowering stems are 

 produced sparingly and at uncertain intervals, so that never at 

 one time can it be expected to be an effective and decorative 

 plant, although its handsome foliage will always make it a 

 desirable species and a fit companion for the Rex varieties. 

 The flowering stems are coarse, extending about a foot above 

 the foliage and covered thickly with reddish hairs. The flow- 

 ers are white, but do not fully open, the larger sepals incurving, 

 so as to give them a globular appearance, and their covering 

 of reddish hairs somewhat mars their beauty. 



Wellesley, Mass. T. D. H. 



Streptocarpus Kewensis is still flowering abundantly, with no 

 sign of ceasing, and it seems worthy of the praise given to it ex- 

 cept for its color, which is alight purple and not satisfying. As 

 some of the later hybrids are said to bear flowers of white and 

 varying shades of red, perhaps these may prove more satisfac- 

 tory in that respect. The crimped leaves are very attractive, and, 

 unlike those of most Gesneraceous plants, do not seem liable 

 to damp off under careless treatment, a point which will com- 

 mend it to many. The introducers of the new varieties, ap- 

 parently, do not intend that they shall be common, as their 

 packets contain surprisingly few seed. They are about as 

 small as Begonia seed, and germinate readily under same 

 conditions. 



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



Correspondence. 



Intelligence in Plants. 

 To the Editor of Garden and Forest : 



Sir. — Ever since'reading Darwin's " Climbing Plants," I have 

 wondered why he did not suggest that plants possess some- 

 thing akin to animal intelligence. I beg to narrate an instance 

 which corroborates Mr. Ingersoll's observation in Garden 

 and Forest (vol. iii., p. 318). I once planted a root of the 

 Ampelopsis quinquefolia close to a dead Cedar-tree, which 

 stood about five feet from the corner of my house. The vine 

 climbed to the top of the tree, which had been trimmed of its 

 branches, and here its upward growth was arrested. At first 

 it threw out branches about equally in all directions, which 

 bent over symmetrically. Then, as if conscious that in one 

 direction only was anything it could reach, the branches on 

 the side nearest to the corner of the house grew longest. 



