46 



The Garden Magazine, March, 1922 



The committee at large on Quarantine, appointed some time 

 ago, has not been idle, although no public notice has been made 

 of its work, and those of our readers who are interested may 

 take this assurance that the committee is definitely at work 

 and that some progress has been made which it is hoped will 

 lead ultimately to a sane and intelligent understanding and 

 interpretation of what a quarantine is really for. 



The Garden Magazine asks its readers to write at once di- 

 rectly to the Hon. Henry Wallace, Secretary of Agriculture, in 

 protest, not at a reasonable quarantine, but at the attitude of 

 horticultural censorship assumed by the Federal Horticultural 

 Board. 



Important spring flower shows to which attention is 

 turned this month are to be held in Indianapolis, New York, 

 and Boston. Indianapolis has welcomed the Fifth National 

 Flower Show, after Cleveland was abandoned on account of the 

 non-completion of the building. The original dates March 25 

 to April 1 are adhered to. The annual New York feature — the 

 so-called "International" — is fixed for March 13 to 19. The 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society announces a feature dis- 

 play of Spring Flowering Bulbous Plants at its annual spring 

 exhibition March 23 to 26. 



The American Iris Society announces its annual exhibition, 

 to take place in New York June 3-5. 



Dr. walter van fleet, universally regarded as the most 

 famous plant breeder of America, whose productions in 

 Roses and Gladiolus particularly are widely appreciated, died in 

 Florida on January 29. Recently engaged with the Department 

 of Agriculture, he was bringing to fruition the results of many 

 crossings and hybridizations with Roses at Bell Station, Md. 

 An account of this work appeared in The Garden Magazine 

 for August, 1920. 



The first fruits of his recent work are just being introduced, 

 the others yet to come will add to the account of our indebted- 

 ness to his painstaking achievements. A pioneer always, his 

 efforts in plant-raising looked ever to future possibilities, 

 and he worked not in ringing the changes of already known 

 things but by introducing new elements and new species into 

 combinations. Most familiarly known to our readers through 

 his Roses, particularly Dr. Van Fleet, Silver Moon, and Ameri- 

 can Pillar there are to his credit in addition several Gladiolus, 

 Strawberries, Raspberries, and other fruits; also his work on 

 hybridization of disease-resisting Chestnuts just coming into 

 effect. Some of his very latest productions are now being dis- 

 tributed through the American Rose Society. 



Due to his intense affection for plant material Doctor Van Fleet 

 was drawn from his original profession as a practicing physician 

 and became the devoted pioneer and servant of the gardener. 



Thirty years ago the name of James R. Pitcher was a 

 household word on the lips of every gardener and plant 

 lover in America, yet his passing away in New York recently 

 was hardly noticed outside of a small circle of old-time horti- 

 culturists. 



Always an enthusiastic plant lover and collector, he formed 

 one of the richest collections of plants, especially Orchids, 

 Palms, and Ferns at his home at Short Hills, N. J. Later, with 

 a vision of expansive popular gardening in all suburbs he es- 

 tablished the United States Nurseries, projected on a large 

 scale and, as events perhaps proved, a little in advance of the 

 times. Yet to-day we are reaping many results of Mr. Pitcher's 

 optimism and the modern gardening spirit gathered much mo- 

 mentum from his enthusiasm. One tangible evidence is the 

 fact that a dozen names of dominant firms and individuals in 

 the industry at this moment got their feet on the ladder while 

 with Pitcher & Manda at Short Hills. " He builded better than 

 he knew." 



THE OPED^ C 0LlJ MV^ 



Readers' Interchange of Experience and Comment 



The Iron Fetters of Quarantine 37 



[Editors' Note: Since the "mere adornment of private estates" is not 

 regarded by the Federal Horticultural Board as sufficient use of plants to 

 warrant permission to import them, gardeners apparently must in many 

 instances depend upon the generosity and good will of their similarly op- 

 pressed fellows to supply the desired material. The Garden Magazine 

 will gladly publish requests for such plants as are seemingly unattainable 

 through the ordinary channels.] 



To the Editor o/The Garden Magazine: 



r\ UARANTINE 37 links us all in the bond of fellowship. Your 

 V<_^ correspondent Mr. A. N. Smith, of Brooklyn, can get Helleborus 

 niger and Pulmonaria from Bobbink & Atkins, and Muscari from Henry 

 A. Dreer. [Both these dealers inform us they have no stock left. — Ed.] 

 For the rest he must look to "the snow of yesteryear," and if he 

 finds what he seeks should pass the word along. This much is true, 

 however; one of the oldest and largest seedsmen in the world is Vilmorin 

 Andrieux & Co., of France, and they undoubtedly grow Chionodoxa, 

 Galanthus, Scilla siberica, and Eranthis hyemalis. I have grown some 

 rare plants from seed supplied by them. According to their com- 

 prehensive work, "Les Fleurs de Pleine Terre," several of the bulbs 

 desired can be reproduced from seed. This is true of Chionodoxa; it 

 is the best means of propagating Eranthis hyemalis — though it is two 

 years from seed to blossom. None of these are listed, commercially, 

 but perhaps the famous old firm would heed a Macedonian cry; and 

 Obstruction 37 does not apply to seed! — Charles J. Bayne, Macon, 

 Ga. [The regular seed trade here would handle orders for import, as 

 the firm named does only a wholesale business in this country main- 

 taining an agency here. — Ed.] 



To the Editor of The Garden Magazine: 



CAN any one tell where in this country I can obtain Christmas and 

 Lenten Roses and their varieties? I am very anxious to build 

 up a collection but am finding great difficulty in doing this in view of the 

 fact that the F. H. B. does not allow them to be imported. 



A number of possible sources suggested have been tried with negative 

 results. — V. E. Harrison, Cleveland, Ohio. 



Pleas Peonies that Please 



To the Editor of The Garden Magazine: 



IN 1909 I had the pleasure of visiting Mrs. Sarah A. Pleas's Peony 

 garden near Spiceland, Indiana, and saw her famous varieties 

 of Elwood Pleas, Opal, Mad. Pleas, Queen of -Pleasance, Lady Emily, 

 Joseph Griffin, Multiflora, Mrs. Barrett, and others, which I procured 

 later. The Peony Mrs. Barrett is, I believe, owned by few — the blooms 

 hang longest of any for me; tall and stately; 5 to 7 on a stem, unevenly 

 clouded pink and lighter; stamens beautifully intermingled. Who has 

 her large sized, single Wild Rose? She sent me two. — (Mrs.) Cora 

 Jewell, Darlington, Ind. 



Why We Grow Balsam 



To the Editor of The Garden Magazine: 



DID you ever grow a long row of Touch-me-nots in your garden? 

 Wasn't it a joy? Yes, of course, 1 mean Balsam, but Touch-me- 

 not was its name when I first knew it, years and years ago, in my grand- 

 mother's garden. 



The old plants were small — about twelve inches at their very best, 

 a single stalk, straight up, and with little white, pink or purple flowers, 

 set close to the stem, almost covered by foliage, fading nearly as quickly 

 as Morning-glories, and going to seed immediately. They probably 

 took their name of Touch-me-not from the way the little yellow seed 

 pods curl up in one's hand at a touch. 



How different are the new and improved varieties! A ten-cent 

 package of Balsam seed, from a good seed house, was planted at the 

 usual time, along with the other annuals in the seed bed, for in this 

 garden all annuals are transplanted. When the seedling Balsams 

 appeared in due course they were not, however, removed to the flower 

 garden as there was already an over abundance of other more favored 

 flowers. But, after a severe drouth, many of the favored things were 

 found dead, so the Touch-me-nots were brought to the garden to fill the 



