44 



BUDS, BLOSSOMS, FRUITS. 



Mrs, Frank Clinton and Kioto claimed the most of the 

 attention for the yellows. Lilian B. Bird is always a 

 favorite; Shasta, a white with very similar form, was 

 very striking, and E. Audigaier, a pure dark-red, tightly 

 quilled blossom, was also fine. But this enumeration 

 might continue for half of the entire list — where so 

 much is superb it is hard to make selections. J. C. 

 Vaughan, of Chicago and Western Springs, was espec- 

 ially fortunate in the matter of prizes. Out of a total of 

 19 classes for which prizes were offered, he took first 

 on 12, and second on three. O. P. Bassett, of Hins- 

 dale, came next, and had a long list of fine prizes scored 

 to his credit.— T. L. B., Cook Co., III. 



Great is the Chrysanthemum !— If any one had 

 doubts on this subject before, the last season should 

 have set all minds at rest. Such shows and blooms 

 and novelties — such chatter and enthusiasm and at- 

 tention from all classes ! And not only throughout the 

 length and breadth of this land, but almost the world 

 over. Even old England claims to have had 150 

 chrysanthemum shows recently. It is perfectly safe 

 to say that no flower, no one horticultural attraction 

 in the worlds ever before received a degree of atten- 

 tion equal to that bestowed during the past few months 

 on this great flower of the sunrise-land. And for 

 this America must be given a large share of the 

 credit, for while other nations have not lacked in en- 

 thusiasm for the chrysanthemum, it is certain that 

 American florists have been at the front in developing 

 and growing this wonderful composite. Nor have 

 amateurs been slow in coming forward as growers of the 

 plants to a high degree of perfection, as is made patent 

 by the many'premiums won at the shows by this class. 

 f;- The California Maybush. — The hills near San 

 Francisco are beautiful now with the bright red toyon, 

 or Christmas berries of Hetcroineles {^Pliot'mia) arbtiti- 

 folia, an evergreen shrub or small tree, in masses of 

 bright green foliage, the end of every branch adorned 

 with a large, heavy bunch of berries, more crimson and 

 more delicate than the mountain ash, and of a pleasant 

 spicy flavor. They are green and pear-shaped when 

 young, but swell into scarlet-crimson roundness, the 

 five-toothed calyx-cup remaining on top of the berry, 

 the crimson fruit-stems and petioles adding to the bril- 

 liant effect. At Christmas time the markets are full of 

 them and of the white manzanita flowers and mistletoe 

 berries. Every window is decorated with wreaths, but 

 oh, how soon they fade in the hot sun ! We have bad 

 no frosts here this charming winter severe enough to 

 wilt the Madeira-vine leaves, or the Australian ivy 

 which I saw yesterday, escaped from cultivation, cov- 

 ering a low oak with its tasseled yellow flowers, close by 

 a gorgeous toyon tree, against a tall gray rock ;^ which 

 same toyon I remembered admiring last June, in its 

 great white clusters of bloom. The tree has no thorns, 

 but the blossoms are similar to those of the hawthorn, 

 have ten stamens and five rounded spreading petals on 

 claws. I never saw it in cultivation. — Mrs. K. P. S. 

 Boyd, California. 



Hardy Plants in the Windows. — Sometimes we see 

 such plants as the fine old Madonna lily {L. candidn?n), 

 gladiolus, Japan anemones, etc., recommended for 

 forcing in the window for winter flowers. Such forcing 

 can be done successfully, perhaps, but at best it is up- 

 hill work, because of the long season of growth these 

 plants require before flowers appear. In selecting 

 hardy plants, bulbs and shrubs for winter-forcing, let a 

 preference be given for those that naturally bloom early 

 in the season. Thus hyacinths, tulips, crocuses, 

 violets, creeping phloxes, bleeding-hearts, lilacs, deut- 

 zias and all of their early season, say blooming in May 

 and June outdoors, are the best of flowers for window 

 culture ; while kinds that flower after July or August 

 will yield bloom only after a long season of painstaking 

 devotion ; and the chances are against making a perfect 

 success of the undertaking, even after the most intelli- 

 gent and persistent care. 



The Oleander as a Pot-Plant. —The oleander, when 

 well-grown, is a plant that pays for the trouble it re" 

 quires with abundant blossoms throughout the summer, 

 excepting very short intervals of rest. With its dark- 

 green leaves and clusters of flowers, it is pleasing to the 

 eye and an aid in beautifying many places. For cut- 

 tings take thrifty sprouts, four to six inches long, from 

 the trunk and lower parts of larger branches, making 

 the cuts close to the parent wood so that the enlarge- 

 ment of the bases of the shoots will also be separated. 

 Small branches from the ends of larger ones are not 

 as satisfactory. They contain flower-buds and are 

 more woody in construction. The lower parts of the 

 cuttings are then put into bottles containing fresh rain- 

 water, and the bottles placed in a warm and light place. 

 For home propagation a warm, sunny window will an- 

 swer all purposes. When well rooted they should be 

 potted separately. It is better to keep the potted cut- 

 tings the first winter in a frost-proof room, and not in 

 the cellar. The first years, until the plant is two or 

 three feet high, it should not be allowed to bloom, but 

 all the energy must be concentrated upon the formation 

 of a healthy, straight and strong stem, a good base for 

 the future crown. After this it will produce a terminal 

 cluster of flowers. From the buds at the base of the 

 flower-stalk will spring two or three branches (prefera- 

 bly three). These will form the groundwork for the 

 head. If they grow with equal vigor, no pruning is 

 necessary ; but if there is any irregularity, they must 

 be pruned so that the branches may become equal. 

 Plants thus treated produce thrifty and symmetrically 

 formed standards, ornaments to any garden or lawn, 

 increasing yearly in size, and flowering abundantly. If 

 a shrubby form is preferred, it may be obtained by 

 pruning, no high stem being allowed to form from the 

 start. Being a native of warm regions, the oleander 

 delights in sunlight and moisture. Its roots need an 

 abundant supply of water, which must be given daily 

 in dry weather. Watering with soap-water, not too 

 strong, dish-water and liquid manure, are all beneficial. 

 Any good fertilizer from the cow-stable may be sue- 



