26 
grown in California is the Brazilian pine (A. 
Braziliana). It has little, however, to recom- 
mend it. It demands a humid atmosphere, 
but in the part of our country where this 
condition prevails the temperature is too 
low; where it is warm for a large portion of 
the year the air is too dry, and the trees burn 
badly during the summer. The young plants 
have a loose straggling habit and few branches 
with considerable distance between the 
whorls; the older plants lose their lower 
branches and are sparsely foliaged. 
Araucaria imbricata is native to the 
western slope of the Andes Mountains 
of Chili, where it grows near the snow line 
and is subject to practically as much frost 
in the winter as in the vicinity of New York, 
where, however, it is not hardy. 
Why the plant does not thrive seems 
never to have been definitely determined. 
In Stamford, Conn., there isa specimen which 
has survived a dozen winters, but the plant 
is covered upon the approach of cold weather 
with a double boarded house, i. e., there is a 
dead air space between the inner and outer 
boarding. This house protects the tree 
from the extremely low temperatures. 
Mr. Hans, who has had charge of the tree 
from the time of planting, says it will stand 22 
degrees of frost. 
There does not seem to be any place 
East of the Rocky Mountains where this plant 
will really succeed unless it is in the moun- 
tains of North Carolina. Mr. P. J. Berck- 
mans, of Georgia, who is probably the best 
informed person as to which trees succeed in 
the South, says: “ Araucaria imbricata is 
indigenous to the Andes of Chili where the 
temperature often reaches many degrees 
Araucaria elegantissima of the trade, probably a 
variety of the Norfolk Island pine, photographed 
in the Buffalo Botanical Garden 
THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
below the freezing point, but there exist there 
peculiar local conditions which seem to allow 
the trees to withstand a very much lower 
temperature than in other countries of equal 
latitude where climatic conditions are entirely 
different. For instance, I have seen ex- 
cellent specimens in the southern part of 
Scotland where the winters are severe, but in 
this part of the South these trees cannot 
resist the summer heat, and are often 
injured by 12 degrees of frost. I believe 
that if these trees were planted in the moun- 
tains of North Carolina they would stand 
This specimen of the monkey puzzle (A. imbricata) 
has been growing at Stamford, Conn., for more 
than twelve years 
the temperature of zero as well as they do 
in Belgium and Switzerland, but they can- 
not thrive in sections of the United 
States where the range of temperature is 
roo degrees in the summer and 20 degrees 
in winter.” 
The probable reason why the monkey 
puzzle does not thrive outdoors here in the 
East is that the summers are not sufficiently 
moist. Jn the native home of the monkey 
puzzle there is a very copious rainfall and 
this probably is augmented by the con- 
densations of moisture from the clouds 
brought in by westerly winds which are the 
prevailing winds of that coast. From this 
it is easy to see why the tree cannot thrive 
here in our hot, dry summers. And it is 
probably due to this hot, dry weather that 
the plants fail to succeed, but the grower 
does not realize that the plant is unwell, 
until the following spring; then he lays the 
trouble to the winter rather than to the 
previous dry summer. In England, where 
there are many excellent specimens of 
the monkey puzzle growing in the open, 
it has been found that they demand an 
open, deep, rich soil, and an abundance 
of rainfall, the greater the precipitation 
the better. 
AuvuGustT, 1908 
Planting Flowers and Vegetables 
UGUST is the hottest month of the 
year in this part of the country and 
all flower seeds planted now must be sown 
in rich, damp soil, in a partially shaded spot. 
Hollyhocks, carnation, platycodon, per- 
ennial phlox, and peony seed should be 
planted during the first part of the month 
when it can be had fresh, and it will germi- 
nate quicker and better than if sown in the 
spring when several months old. When 
cold weather comes, spread lightly over the 
plants some old straw or leaves which may 
be held in place by a small quantity of heavy . 
brush. Just as soon as the warm weather 
comes, remove the brush and straw. 
Why not have some tulips, hyacinths and 
narcissus in flower for Christmas? If such 
be your desire the bulbs must be potted during 
the first part of August. 
For flowers in the late fall sow the seed 
of sweet alyssum, candytuft, and mignonette 
early in the month. The plants will pro- 
duce better flowers during the cool fall 
months than at any other time of the year. 
If any of the plants being grown for fall 
bloom appear to be in an unhealthy con- 
dition, give two light dressings (about two 
weeks apart) of nitrate of soda, nitrate of 
potash, or some other quickly available 
plant food. This will not only greatly im- 
prove the appearance of the plant but will 
increase the rapidity of its growth, and the 
result will be larger and better flowers 
produced earlier in the season. 
During the last week of the month, order 
peony plants for planting out in September. 
Continue to sow the seed of early bush 
squash until the 15th; it will be ready for 
use in October. 
Sow the seed of early bush beans during 
the first part of the month and they will be 
ready for the table the last of September. At 
the same time make another planting of 
early Irish potatoes for use from the first 
of October until frost. 
Asparagus seed must be planted very early 
in the month in this state in order to have 
small roots for planting out in December or 
January. As a rapid growth is absolutely 
necessary at this time of the year, plant 
in very rich, damp soil. 
It will not be necessary to cultivate the 
cotton later than the first of the month, 
unless the ground is very weedy and 
grassy. Weeds and grass must, of course, 
be cleaned out. 
Georgia THoMAS J. STEED. 
