THE OPE^C OLUM ^L 



Readers' Interchange of Experience and Comment 



Fall Planted 

 Elms 



TWENTY Elms were set out as street 

 trees in the fall of 191 5. The trees 

 now caliper on an average 4 inches at a 

 height of three feet from the ground. 

 Thus it is apparent that the trees were of a considerable size when 

 set out. They were dug with a large ball of earth which was allowed 

 to freeze solid before the trees were moved. The hole dug for each 

 tree was just large enough to hold the ball of earth surrounding the 

 roots. The trees were out of the ground several days and when 

 planted were given no special treatment except an abundance of 

 water in spring. This, their fourth year shows a loss of two trees 

 with all th'e rest in thrifty condition. It should be stated, however, 

 that all the trees were headed back severely. — C. L. Meller, N. D. 



When Is a 

 Plant Biennial? 



IN MY garden Columbines of twelve 

 years' standing are still living, and 

 flowering every summer. Lupins set out 

 four years ago are as strong and as pro- 

 fusely blooming as ever. I have had three years' bloom from my 

 Anchusa italica. Now the plants have disappeared, but last winter 

 was a trying one for Northern gardens. It is interesting to record 

 that I have never lost a Rose bush, either Hybrid Perpetual or 

 Hybrid Tea, though I give them no more protection than the rest of 

 the garden. This year I set out a few Teas. Under the se- 

 vere conditions of our climate plants fitted to survive at all seem to 

 develop strong constitutions. — Elizabeth T. Cabot, Dublin, N. H. 



Garden Pictures 

 from Washington 

 and Texas 



season from planting. 



PLEASANT indeed it is to hear from 

 readers in places far apart! From 

 Clarkson, Washington, Mrs. W. R. Mudge 

 sends a photograph taken in the third 

 In the foreground on the right (not shown) 

 are dwarf Phlox, then fragrant Grass-pinks, Columbines, and Roses. 

 Leading from the cherry tree there are Roses and all colors of 

 double Tulips on both sides. Between the cherry tree and the bird 

 house are perennial Poppies and Goldenrod. To the left is a bed of 

 blue and white Iris backed by a clump of old-fashioned Roses. 

 Next is a Golden-glow and a bed of double Violets and between 

 the apple and pear tree are Roses and Day-lilies. Mrs. Thomas 



A THREE YEAR OLD FLOWER GARDEN 



In the congenial climate of Washington state flowers flourish and 



bloom in profusion 



ROSES IN TEXAS 



Amid the utility crops of onions and such like a ray of beauty is shed by 



Roses and other shrubs in this Texas garden 



Peyton Steger, Bonham, Texas, sends a photograph of a small cor- 

 ner in her garden where white and crimson Rambler Roses grow on 

 the arch, saying: "I send you this little picture because I've gotten 

 most of my flowers and shrubbery from catalogues which I have 

 found through The Garden Magazine. I find it to be the very 

 best magazine in its line and it is a pleasure and delight to me 

 each month." 



Good Color 

 Combinations 



IN AN article by Louise B. Wilder 

 * in the July number of The 

 Garden Magazine I notice a num- 

 ber of examples of magenta and 

 blue. May I commend also as a fine combination Mullein Pink 

 (Agrostemma Coronaria) and the blue Platycodon. While the 

 Mullein Pink is more vivid than magenta the combination in my 

 border is striking. Near them I have white Annual Larkspur, and 

 'tis often spoken of as a patriotic combination. May I say a few 

 words in praise of The Garden Magazine and the pleasure and 

 profit I derive from it? The men folks also profit by its many com- 

 monsense hints. — L. B. Munroe, Forest Glen, Md. 



Kerosene 

 Emulsion and 

 Snowballs 



TN MANY gardens the Japanese Snow- 



ball has displaced the old fashioned 

 Snowball, the Guelder-rose of our grand- 

 mothers. I always ask: "Why do you 

 give up the big, soft, ball and the round headed bush for the stiffer 

 horizontal branches of the interloper, even if its branches are closely 

 covered with beautiful balls of white?" The answer is invariably 

 the same: "The Japanese has such good leaves. The leaves of my 

 old Snowball were all twisted up and spoiled by lice, so 1 cut it 

 down." To my mind the old variety is so much better when it is 

 given the care it needs, that I am sending this plea to the readers of 

 the Garden Magazine: "Do not cut down your Guelder-roses, 

 but plant more, only give the young leaves a good spraying with 

 kerosene emulsion before they begin to curl and another spraying 

 when you see any trace of aphis." It seems to me that the reason 

 aphis ruins so many plants in our gardens is that the rules for making 

 kerosene emulsion are too complicated. The usual directions 

 require weighing out a definite amount of soap and dissolving it, 

 which is a bother when garden time is limited. For years we have 

 made kerosene emulsion with sour milk instead of soap and it is 

 quickly and easily made in this way. If you need a pail of emulsion, 



in 



