September 23, 1891.] 



Garden and Forest 



453 



Part of our plants were obtained from Tennessee, where it is 

 said to occur occasionally in a wild state, and is often culti- 

 vated in gardens even there. Other plants were received from 

 another source, which, I believe, was said to have been 

 originally New Mexico, and this is quite probable, as this spe- 

 cies has a wide distribution in the southern and south-western 

 states ; consequently there were doubts in my mind as to its 

 hardiness, and a plant was left out in a cold wet border last 

 winter. It came through safely, so there need be no doubt 

 about it in the future, for in the same border strong and 

 established clumps of H. orgyalis were completely killed, and 

 so was the double H. multiflorus, so often catalogued as being 

 perfectly hardy, which it certainly is not here. H. mollis grows 

 about five feet high in good soil. The flowers are large, bright 

 yellow, of good substance, and can be cut with long stems for 

 vases, and when it is offered to the public and becomes better 

 known will surely be appreciated as one of our very best 

 hardy Sunflowers. 



Helianthus grandiplenus. — This is our first season's ex- 

 perience with this new form of the common double //. multi- 

 florus as introduced by Hartland, of Cork. There are said to 

 be other forms distributed under this name, so care was taken 

 to procure the true variety direct from the introducer. The 

 difference in the individual flowers is not very apparent except 

 by comparison, when it is seen at once that in the variety 

 Grandiplenus the outer row, or guard petals, are not present, 

 as in the older variety, making it quite distinct in that respect. 

 Our plants, also, are much taller than in the older variety. One 

 clump has grown eight feet high and is much more spreading 

 in habit, the flowers also can be cut with longer stems ; but 

 these three traits may all be due to liberal treatment. It is to 

 be hoped it will prove hardier than the older variety. Judging 

 from the plant as it is, it is a question if there is any great ad- 

 vance made from the old double//", multijlorus, of which there 

 are several very good single forms which do not seem to have 

 gained popularity as they deserve, for they are as beautiful as 

 single medium-sized Sunflowers for cutting purposes. 



South Lancaster, Mass. E. 0. Or pet. 



The Water Garden. 



Nymfihcea Mexicana, of which Mr. Pringle wrote so charm- 

 ingly in Garden and Forest (vol. iii., p. 415), may be botan- 

 ically the same as N. Jlava, but it proves superior to the type 

 in its more free-flowering habit. Growers generally find N. 

 flava very slow to establish and very shy to ilower, but N. 

 Mexicana, in its second season here, grows strongly, with many 

 strong runners, which quickly bloom, and it has given a long 

 succession of its deep yellow flowers, which are attractive, 

 though small. They are much darker than those of N. chro- 

 . matella, and, unlike this variety, the stamens and petals are of 

 the same shade. 



N. chromatella, however, is far the best yellow Nymphasa, 

 a strong, compact grower, easily propagated from its numerous 

 eyes, and constantly in bloom. A strong plant, with only the 

 root-room of a small box, has been constantly in flower since 

 early May, and still has some buds unexpanded. 



Eichomia (Pontederia) azurea, the new pond-weed intro- 

 duced this year by Mr. Sturtevant, proves much superior to 

 E. crassipes major, it being not more interesting, perhaps, but 

 less weedy. The stems, produced freely, are sent out later- 

 ally, and from these flowers are produced very freely. The 

 flowers, which are clustered on a short stem, are one inch in 

 diameter, a dark purple, with a darker eye, and in every respect 

 more attractive than those of E. crassipes. Unlike the latter 

 plant, however, which is a weedy grower, whether floating or 

 planted in earth, E. azurea requires planting in shallow places. 



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



In the Vegetable Garden. 



AS the nights grow cool Celery is making its best growth. 

 Pick off the rusted leaves, keep it clean and never let it 

 thirst for water. It is too early to earth up the main crop, but 

 it is well, once a fortnight, to draw a little soil about the plants 

 needed for early use. Celery will whiten now much more 

 rapidly than it does after the middle of October. 



Lettuce can endure a light frost, but it is better to have cold 

 frames ready. Lettuce had better be planted now in frames, 

 but sashes should not be used, except as a protection against 

 beating rains, until heavy frost comes. It is a good time to 

 sow Lettuce, and if the ground is kept clean among the plants 

 they will head in November, and the rest of the half-grown 

 plants will head in the winter. 



Spinach can still be sown in sheltered beds facing the south, 

 and some of the plants will be fit to use before winter sets in. 

 At all events, it will be in good condition for early spring use. 



When the Asparagus begins to turn yellow it is well to cut 

 the beds over before the seeds fall, for the young plants will 

 prove troublesome weeds in the bed next year. If the tops 

 are burned it will lessen the attacks of the beetles next spring. 



Cabbage and Cauliflower which are still growing should be 

 kept well hoed. If Cauliflowers do not make full-sized hearts 

 before freezing weather they can be heeled thickly in cold 

 frames, and will be fit to use by Christmas. If the larger Cab- 

 bage shows a tendency to burst open it is good practice to 

 loosen their roots with a fork. 



Lima Beans that are not matured can be kept through early 

 frosts by laying down the poles so that they can be covered by 

 newspapers or muslin ; and Snap Beans can be saved for a 

 little while if protected in the same way. If you have no 

 Snap Beans this autumn make a memorandum now to plant 

 some of the prolificsorts, like the Valentine, nextyearfor autumn 

 use. 



Montclair, N. J. *->• 



Pelargonium Blight. — During the present season the varie- 

 gated Pelargoniums, or Geraniums, as they are commonly 

 called, so popular for bedding and borders, have been notice- 

 ably blighted, and in some instances so much so as to become 

 positively unsightly. As a rule, the outer or lower leaves are 

 the most susceptible, but not rarely the best of the large cen- 

 tral leaves become attacked. This blight is due to at least two 

 fungi, working singly or together, and either one of them is 

 able to do serious mischief. One of these fungi, is a Colleto- 

 trichum, akin to that causing the anthracnose of the Vine 

 and many other cultivated plants. There is little doubt 

 that this blight could be checked by spraying with some of the 

 copper mixtures. A second fungus is an Aschochyta, which 

 may be called a leaf-spot fungus. This is more inclined to 

 produce a well-defined infested area near the centre of the 

 leaf, but the two enemies may work together upon the leaf. 

 The same remedy is recommended. 



Nematodes in Zinnias. — My attention has been called a num- 

 ber of times recently to a trouble among the Zinnias, and 

 particularly Z. elegans. The lower leaves prematurely die, 

 and hang upon the stems as crumpled brown masses, giving 

 the afflicted plants anything else than a handsome appearance. 

 Above these the leaves are more or less blotched with light 

 brown, the affected areas varying in size and color, but usually 

 quite angular in outline. The whole aspect of the sick plants 

 suggested the work of eel-worms, and a microscope examina- 

 tion revealed them at work in the leaf-pulp, and in great num- 

 bers. Plants thus infested are beyond recovery, and should 

 be burned. Last season eel-worms were mentioned as occur- 

 ring in quite a number of the cultivated plants, and particularly 

 the Chrysanthemums, Coleus, Lantanas, Bouvardias, Violets 

 and Roses. 



Rutgers College. Byron D. Halsted. 



Cestrum elegans. — This is generally grown as a climber, and 

 is best seen trained over an arch, where its graceful flower- 

 stems, sometimes nearly two feet in length, hang out in all 

 directions, with clusters of tubular wax-like pink flowers. It 

 would be a most excellent plant for cut flowers but for its 

 strong potato-like odor when handled, an odor which is not 

 surprising, for it belongs to the Solanacece. Grown as a pot- 

 plant it is equally handsome, and useful .for decorative pur- 

 poses. Cuttings taken in winter, and planted out for the 

 summer, grow to a size which makes a twelve-inch pot neces- 

 sary when they are lifted in autumn. My plants are showing 

 flower-buds now in the open ground, and will bloom in the 

 greenhouse through November and December, when I take 

 a few more cuttings and throw the old plants away. Although 

 used as a climber when grown in the open air, it shows no 

 tendency to climb in the house, and makes good bushy plants 

 without any trouble. 



Peristrophe speciosa. — This handsome winter- blooming 

 greenhouse plant is of very easy culture, and should be com- 

 mon. Cuttings which have been rooted during the winter, 

 when planted out-doors make very neat plants by autumn, 

 and, unless large plants are needed, they are more satisfactory 

 in every way than old plants cut down, which are generally 

 used. To have them bushy, they need to be " topped " two 

 or three times during the season. They can be lifted with a 

 good ball of earth, and usually go into a seven-inch pot. Their 

 foliage is handsome. The flowers are labiate, crimson or 

 pink in color, and are sessile on conical heads. 



Wellesley, Mass. T. D. Hatfield. 



