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THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
THE 
GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 
OF AMERICA. 
Published by 
THE CHRONICLE PRESS, Inc. 
Office of Publication 
286 FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK 
MARTIN C. EBEL, Editor. 
EDITORIAL OFFICES— MADISON, N. J. 
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF 
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GARDENERS 
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PARK SUPERINTENDENTS 
Subicripdon Price, 12 Months, $1.50 
Foreign, $2.00 
Entered as second class matter Nov. 3, 1914, at the Post Office at New 
York, N. Y., under the Act of March 3, 1879. 
Published on the 15th of each month. 
Advertising forms close on the 1st preceding publication. 
For advertising rates apply to 286 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y. All edi- 
torial matter should be addressed to M. C. Ebel, Editor, Madison, N. J. 
Vol XXI. 
January, 1917. 
No. 1 
WHAT ECONOMY IS TEACHING 
r^L'RIN(i these times of forced economy in the S'ar- 
dens, especially as regards fire-heat for indoor 
plants, many gardeners are faced with increasing difficul- 
ties as to the successful wintering of stove, greenhouse, 
and other tender plants. The circumstances of the past 
and present seasons have compelled many of us to make 
somewhat drastic experiments in this direction, the re- 
sults of which have demonstrated to a remarkable de- 
gree the hardiness of many so-called tender subjects — 
plants for which our forefathers would have considered 
the stove temperature absolutely necessary. 
In my particular establishment firing has been reduced 
to the veriest minimum, and this must be fairly common 
in gardens now. Throughout the Summer, artificial 
heat, except a little necessary for propagation, has not 
been used ; and even now we have only sufficient to guard 
against the effects of frost and the occasional wet and 
foggy nights. Yet, speaking generally, the various 
batches of plants are very little below the usual standard. 
Kentias, such ferns as Nephrolepis, Adiantums, 
Pteris and Aspleniums, Crotons, Gardenias, and many 
other stove and greenhouse plants are looking perfectly 
healthy. The ferns made excellent growth during the 
Summer ; the Palms have also grown, though slowly, and 
are apparently quite happy. Many of the true stove 
plants are now practically at a standstill, but do not ap- 
pear to be suffering in any way, and insect pests have 
given very little trouble. Begonia Gloire de Lorraine 
and the winter-flowering hybrids, such as Mrs. Heal, 
Optima, and their kindred varieties, are flowering well, 
although the night temperature is often below 40 degrees. 
The plants might have been larger, perhaps, but the 
flowers are strong and free, and their colors seem extra 
bright. The variety Gloire de Sceaux looks a little 
uncomfortable, and probably needs warmth to develop 
its flowers. Gloxinias and Streptocarpuses grew and 
flowered well, though a little later than usual, and the 
former plants made excellent tubers. The Cyclamen 
tasted a degree or so of frost, and appear none the worse 
for it ; they are throwing up good flowers, though they 
have scarcely known fire-heat since last Winter. So 
with many other indoor subjects, a few have suffered, 
but, considering the saving effected, it might justly be 
called a negligible few. 
Naturally, such drastic reductions in temperature are 
not resorted to except as an emergency measure, and are 
not recommended. Such conditions can only be safe and 
successful in co-operation with special and careful treat- 
ment, particularly in regard to the use of the watering 
pot. Reduction of temperature must be accompanied by 
an equal reduction of moisture, both at the roots of 
plants and in the atmosphere. Fresh air should be 
attorded in abundance whenever possible. During the 
Winter months syringing and damping should be en- 
tirely suspended, and water applied with great care, only 
when absolutely necessary. Experiments prove that the 
majority of greenhouse plants require very little water 
indeed under Winter conditions, and if kept on the dry 
side are much better able to withstand frost and the evil 
effects of fog. 
This dry principle applies equally to many tender 
shrubs, such as the Eucalyptus, Bottlebrush and Lepto- 
spermum. These, when planted out in ordinary garden 
soil, rarel}' survive the English Winter. Yet the frost 
alone is not entirely responsible. I believe many of these 
subjects would survive several degrees of frost but for 
the continuous saturated condition of the soil. Most of 
us have seen the Bottlebrush (Metrosideros), the Aralia 
( Fatsia japonica), and even the indoor varieties of 
Fuchsia comfortably established and defying the Win- 
ter's worst when planted in an open, naturally drained 
position near a wall, and it is probable that many tender 
shrubs, if planted in a porous, rubbly soil, well drained 
below, might become equally immune from frost attacks, 
although artificial watering might be necessary during 
Summer. There certainly seems to be room for experi- 
ment here. 
Perhaps a little more fresh air and cooler treatment 
might reveal the hidden charms of many of our over- 
coddled inhabitants of the greenhouse. — The Gardeners' 
Chronicle (English). 
DELPHINIUMS BECOMING POPULAR 
T^HIS class of plants is coining into great popularity 
in the Pacific Northwest. According to W. Sa- 
ville, in Sou f hern Florist, there are in cultivation many 
species, both annual and perennial, but the most impor- 
tant are the tall hybrid perennials. They are valuable 
for their wonderful range of lovely color and great 
variety in height, from one to ten feet. The colors range 
from almost scarlet to pure white, from the palest lav- 
ender up through every shade of blue to deep indigo ; and 
for the variety and size of their individual blooms, some 
of which are single, some semi-double and some perfectly 
double, and all set on spikes ranging from one to six 
feet in height. About a dozen species have given rise to 
the cultivated forms. 
ihe combinations in which they can be placed are nu- 
merous. They may be used in the mixed border, in 
masses of groups, in one or several colors, or associated 
with flowering plants or shrubs. Planted against a mass 
of evergreens they form a beautiful picture. 
Delphiniums can be made to bloom for several months 
by continually cutting ofif the spikes after they have done 
flowering. If the central spike be removed the side 
shoots will flower and by thus cutting off the old flowers 
before they can form the base and keep up a succession 
of bloom. Another plan is to let the shoots remain in- 
tact until all have nearly done flowering, and then to 
cut the entire ]jlant to the ground, when in about three 
weeks there will be fresh bloom. In this case, however, 
to keep the plants from becoming exhausted they must 
have a heavy dressing of manure, or applications of fluid 
manure. 
