592 



NEW AND LITTLE KNOWN GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



more, in orchard, showed actually less damage than 

 peaches, pears, Japan persimmons or oak trees, and, as 

 before stated, are now holding fruit. Of the four hun- 

 dred trees that were planted in orchard in February 

 (previous to the freezes) not five per cent, were hurt at 

 all. All those whose Satsuma oranges have come 

 through the past freezes in as good condition as mine 

 have cannot but have a good opinion of this variety. 



I do not believe that this variety will extend the orange 

 growing section into the central states, but I am sure 

 that in northern Florida, as well as in southern Georgia 

 and throughout the gulf coast region of Alabama, Mis- 

 sissippi, Louisiana and Texas, it will prove to be a very 

 valuable variety, and especially useful for its early ripen- 

 ing and hardiness. G. L. Taber. 



Glen St. Marv, Fla. 



NEW AND LITTLE KNOWN GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



'OW THAT orchids monopolize 

 practically the whole of the en- 

 ergy and resources of our pro- 

 fessional collectors, the intro- 

 duction of new plants has lat- 

 terly become more a matter of 

 chance than the result of direct 

 enterprise. The consequence 

 is that the flow of new introductions, other than or- 

 chids, into this country has not been, during the 

 past few years, nearly so extensive as it was from 

 twenty to fifty years ago. In these days, however, 

 when almost every corner of the earth has been 

 traversed or is within the ken of some plant-lover 

 or other, the expeditions of specially-equipped col- 

 lectors are scarcely needed, and from the commer- 

 cial standpoint have probably ceased to pay. 



Some of the best of our newest plants have been ob- 

 tained from seeds sent by missionaries and travelers in 

 unfrequented localities. A good deal of interest has 

 lately been aroused by the dried specimens and seeds sent 

 to Europe by the French missionary, L'Abbe Delavy, 

 who is stationed in Yunnan, China, and by Dr. Henry 

 from western China. A considerable number of these 

 are rhododendrons, some of which, besides showing 

 characters quite distinct from those of their known con- 

 geners, give evidence also of great beauty. Up to the 

 present, so far as I am aware, only one of these, R. 

 scabrifoliittii , has flowered, but numerous young plants 

 of the other species are at Kew, the Jardin des Plantes 

 at Paris, and in some of the trade establishments, where, 

 needless to say, their flowering is eagerly awaited by 

 the cultivators. 



Irrespective of orchids, it is probable that quite two- 

 thirds of the new plants that reach England make their 

 first appearance at Kew. The influence and connec- 

 tions of this establishment are world-wide, and its value 

 to horticulture is nowhere better evinced than in fur- 

 nishing a center to which the numerous plant-lovers 

 scattered through the British dominions may send their 

 discoveries. 



Some time ago one of our leading nurserymen ob- 

 served that the globe was practically played out as re- 

 gards the supply of new and horticulturally valuable 

 plants, and that it was to the hybridizer and cross- 



breeder at home more than to the envoy in foreign lands 

 that the gardener must look for new material. So far 

 as applies to new and leading types of plants the first 

 part of this remark appears to be just, for although va- 

 rieties and species nearly allied to those already in cul- 

 tivation continue to arrive, the appearance of plants 

 that are strikingly distinct is comparatively rare. It 

 seems doubtful if the days of Fortune and Douglas, the 

 great collectors of the Horticultural Society of London, 

 will ever return, when nearly every week brought forth 

 some new excitement to the horticultural world. If, 

 however, so much of the world is known as to lead us 

 to doubt that there are entirely new races of plants to 

 be discovered, three or four large areas, such as New 

 Guinea, Central Africa and Madagascar are as yet so 

 little opened up that we are justified in hoping they will 

 eventually yield many valuable plants. 



One of the most pleasing characteristics of present- 

 day gardening is the revival of the culture of many old 

 and at one time popular plants, which in the conflict 

 with changing fashion had almost or quite disappeared 

 from our gardens, and which to the present generation 

 of gardeners are virtually new. At almost every meet- 

 ing of the Horticultural Society some of these old fa- 

 vorites make their reappearance. In making a selection 

 of interesting and ornamental plants available for green- 

 house cultivation I have not limited myself to absolutely 

 new plants, but have included such as were popular 

 many years ago, and promise as well as deserve to be- 

 come so again. 



Fitclisia tripliylla. — Towards the end of the seven- 

 teenth century a missionary named Plumier, collecting 

 in the West Indian island of St. Domingo, came across 

 this plant and gave to it the name it now bears. It is a 

 remarkable fact that although it is the species on which 

 the genus is founded, and although one hundred and 

 ninety years have passed since its discovery, it is only 

 two or three years ago that it appeared under cultiva- 

 tion, and it is only this year that its beauty has come to 

 be fully appreciated. In many respects it is one of the 

 finest of fuchsias, the rich and brilliant color of its or- 

 ange-red flowers being unequalled in that genus. The 

 dark purplish-red tinge on the leaves, especially under- 

 neath, also distinguishes it among its fellows. Until 

 quite lately it appeared doubtful if this plant would 

 ever succeed in obtaining a wide footing in gardens, on 

 account of the difficulty experienced in its cultivation. 



