BUDS, BLOSSOMS, FRUITS. 



749 



what may be called an ovate-pyramidal, with a sharp 

 point — the better to prevent the lodging of snow upon it 

 in winter. The broad base of a hedge of this form af- 

 fords shade to the roots as they extend outward, as well 

 as sturdiness and strength to the entire structure ; be- 

 sides, the curved line from base to apex is the most 

 graceful that can be adopted for any kind of hedge, 

 whether it be of deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs. 

 To prevent injury from heat and drouths in summer, astrip 

 about 4 feet wide on the south side of the hedge is kept 

 constantly covered with some kind of mulch, and the 

 roses and other kinds of plants in the flower-garden are 

 not allowed to encroach upon this mulched border. The 

 road on the north side is of course kept free of weeds, so 

 that the hedge has the ground all to itself. No tree has 

 ever been permitted to grow near enough to cast its 

 shade over the hedge or have its roots enter the original 

 trench. These conditions are quite the reverse of those 

 of fully go per cent, of ornamental hedges ; for as a 

 rule they are set on a line with a row of shade trees, the 

 plants set between and even on top of their roots, and 

 then their owners wonder why the hedge dies out in 

 patches, or fails altogether. For the first few years, in 

 pruning my hedge I left about 4 inches of the previous 

 season's growth, but as it increased in size it was pruned 

 closer until about the tenth year, and since that time we 

 aim to cut as close as possible, and in no place leave more 

 than one inch, and try to keep it down to a half inch, be- 

 cause the hedge is as tall and broad as is desired for ap- 

 pearance and for convenience in pruning. It is 8 feet 

 high, and about the same in breadth at the base without 

 a spot, break or fault as large as a man's hand in the en- 

 tire length — a wall of green, straight as a line and grace- 

 ful as the feathered branchlets of a hemlock know how 

 to be when on their good behavior. Our rule is to prune 

 only once a year, and that in early spring, before the new 

 growth appears ; at all other times — hands off with 

 knife or shears. 



The New York Chrysanthemum Show. — The pre- 

 mium list for the chrysanthemum show of the New 

 York Florists' Club called for cut-flowers in vases, and 

 these in many of the classes added greatly to the beauty of 

 the exhibit. An immense quantity of cut-blooms of fine 

 quality were shown most effectively by a low staging. 

 Roses and carnations in large display, Griffin's tuberous 

 begonias, cyclamens, lilies-of-the-valley, cannas, groups 

 of palms and brilliant foliage-plants added in the 

 general effect, and increased the pleasure of the public ; 

 while object lessons in the use of the flowers exhibited, 

 as wedding decorations, florists' piece-work and dinner 

 table decorations, gave much pleasure to the sight-seers. 



Chryanthemums, of course, took first place. On the 

 first day the general exhibit was staged and judged ; on 

 Wednesday, roses; on Thursday, carnations, and the 

 entry for Young Bros.' grand prize of $200 for the best 

 two hundred blooms in forty varieties (awarded to E. 

 Asmus) ; on Friday, seedling chrysanthemums ; on 

 Saturday, dinner-table decorations, and duplicates of 

 the best earlier exhibits, in the interest of freshness. 



E. Asmus, West Hoboken, N. J., exhibited many fine 

 plants, and took firsts enough to turn any man's head. 

 Special mention should be made of his exhibits of bush- 

 chrysanthemums, on which he took first premium in a 

 half-dozen classes. As a whole, they were the most 

 even, stocky, well-grown plants ever noted ; no weak 

 shoots to fill spaces, as is too commonly the case, but 

 every bloom elbowing its neighbor, and every one on 

 a stiff, vigorous shoot, with heavy, thrifty foliage. 



Pitcher & Manda made a fine exhibit of new and rare 

 plants, and new forms of the hairy type of chrysanthe- 

 mums. Peter Henderson & Co. swept off several of the 

 best prizes with their mammoth ' 'Golden Wedding" chry- 

 santhemum ; while Siebrecht & Wadley reigned supreme 

 in the orchid field. The exhibit of orchids was notable 

 for an autumn show. Cattleya gigas, C. Bowringiatia, 

 C. Dowiana and quantities of Oncidhim 2'ai-icosiim 

 added grace to the display. The group of foliage-plants 

 shown by this firm was especially fine, containing sorts 

 not usually shown. An odd thing noted in this collection 

 was Tillandsia Lindetii I'era, in bloom. A pale pink, 

 flat, quill-like blade, strawy in texture, is thrown out 

 from the root. From either side of this projects a tri- 

 partite violet - purple bloom. First premiums were 

 awarded the Messrs. Siebrecht & Wadley for the best 

 collection of orchids, best group of palms and deco- 

 rative plants, best collection of ornamental and flowering 

 plants (other than chrysanthemums), on a new and rare 

 plant in flower, and on nepenthes. Araucarias, now 

 making a push as decorative plants, tree-ferns, dracaenas, 

 and many other fine forms of foliage stuff, were noted. 

 The well-known specialties of this firm are orchids and 

 decorative plants, and here they easily take front rank. 

 A pretty plant noted in one group was Phyllaiil hcs 

 rosea ficta. It forms quite a tall, bushy plant, and is 

 thickly set with small, oval leaves, notably spotted with 

 pale pink. No more graceful addition to a group of 

 decorative plants need be asked. 



The exhibit of new and rare foliage-plants from the 

 United States Nurseries included Maraiita Lageriana 

 (plum colored), Adianliim cuncatiim varugaliim, 

 Dracccna desmetiana, with reddish midribs and pink 

 central growth ; Agleojieuria picta, with low close- 

 lapped foliage, deep green, blotched pale silvery green, 

 and Tillandsia argentia. This last bears little resem- 

 blance to our well-known native tillandsia, the Spanish 

 moss. It grows in a grass-like tuft, and the entire plant 

 is covered with a pale, pinkish bloom. It is very pretty, 

 and the pretty price is $15. 



But the great buzz of the week among the growers 

 was when the seedling chrysanthemums appeared upon 

 the stage. The judges grumbled because the heavy 

 class, perhaps two hundred entries, was not divided. 

 And, although, in the opinion of experts, there was 

 nothing startling among the new sorts, the uneasy twos 

 and threes who hung about the table before the awards 

 were placed, showed that there was enough to be anxious 

 over, at least. The prizes for the best seedlings were 

 won by J N, May. F. S Waby (Cincinnati, O ). F. T. 



