THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
19 
thus t;i\en of removing much of the top growth is a 
feasible operation. 
If, however, similar treatment is given the following 
year when the tree is fairly well established, such con- 
finement of the energies usually results in an over- 
luxuriant growth — and what not infrequently happens? 
With the approach of winter the cultivator begins sur- 
gical treatment of the roots, because on this occasion the 
tree had so oliediently responded to the laws of Nature ! 
Thus instead of helping to a fruitful condition, he really 
hinders. Especially in the case of stone fruits, guard 
against a too free use of the knife. Nothing encourages 
canker more than hard pruning. 
When the work is finished gather up all prunings and 
make a "smother" of them. This will be better than 
mere burning, as the resultant black ash is valuable as a 
fertilizer. In a too vigorous fire much of the fertilizing 
element is lost. 
S /^raving. — Equally important as pruning is the win- 
ter spraying of fruit trees. Choose a calm, mild day for 
this work, and spray thoroughly with caustic alkali so- 
lution while the trees are dormant. Even though done 
at an earlier date, it is well to repeat the operation. 
rai)i(ily increase in growth after midsummer, regardless 
of either temperature or moisture. In July or August, 
new rifts in the bark of all our common trees show how 
rapidly new wood and bark are being added to the 
trunks. — The Atncrican Botanist. 
SEDUM SPECTABILE 
13ECAUSE of being found almost the world over, 
sedums are well known jslants to all horticulturists. 
Our own country, Euro])e and Asia contain many of them, 
several of which have proved very useful to gardeners. 
In herbaceous collections they have long been known, 
their great variety in growth and flower making them 
an interesting group. Several of the creeping kinds are 
used for the covering of moimds, rocks and like objects, 
for which they prove most useful. 
Sedum spectabile has long been known as one of the 
handsomest of all, and from its use as a single plant it 
has advanced to being employed in groitps, and now even 
i.s a bedding plant, for which purpose it has no superior 
in its line. 
The plant grows to a height of two feet, has large, 
glaucous, fleshy foliage and pink colored flowers, in flat 
licads. The flowering is in late summer, the display 
lasting for about two months. 
As is the case with almost all the sedums, this one is 
quite hardy. When desired for bedding purposes a num- 
bers of large plants could be divided, and if the work be 
well done, the plants not divided too closely, they would 
flower almost or quite as well as though they had not 
been disturbed. — Florists' n.vchansie. 
PERIODICITY IN PLANTS 
O ARELY, if ever, does growth proceed continuously, 
even in the tropics. In many northern regions, the 
winter puts a stop to growth, and a drouth in summer 
may do likewise, but in the tropics where warmth and 
moisture are always plentiful the plants still have their 
resting spells and often take a vacation at what seems 
the most inopportune of times. Resting is also more 
of an individtial ])eculiarity in the tropics and one plant 
may suddenly shed its leaves when the other members of 
its species retain them. Not infrequently, a single branch 
may thus rest, or it may resume growth as other parts 
of the ])lants are preparing for a dormant period. Much 
evidence has been accumulated to show that periodicity 
in ])lants is due to internal causes, but the prevailing idea 
seems to be that it is due to external conditions which 
are determined largely by heat, moisture and oxygen. 
It would be difificult, however, to explain some cases of 
periodicity by these latter factors. For instance, trees 
CULTURE OF ALPINES WITHOUT ROCKS 
npHE amount of time and money needed for the con- 
struction of a rock garden has frequently pre- 
vented people from seriously attempting the cultivation 
of alpine plants. W'hen rocks have to be imported from 
a considerable distance, and skilled labor is used in the 
design and upbuilding of a rock garden, the cost of 
construction is by no means small, and in these times the 
size of the possible bill acts as a deterrent in many cases. 
It should be remembered, however, that many alpines, 
remarkable for their interest and beauty, may be grown 
successfully on the ground level, provided the site is well 
drained and plenty of grit is added to the soil. 
Stones of varying size — not rocks in the usual sense 
of the word — will serve as a partition between one plant 
and another, while others laid flat will serve for path- 
ways between the plants, and at the same time serve to 
keep the soil beneath them cool and moist during summer 
time. A very large proportion of the plants usually cul- 
tivated in a rock garden may be grown remarkably well 
in this way, and at a comparatively small cost for what 
may be called "establishment expenses." — Exchange. 
A 
PROPER SOIL FOR DAHLIAS 
QUESTION often asked, not only by amateurs but 
by professionals as well, is v/hat kind of soil is 
required to grow Dahlias? We would answer, writes 
R. A. Vincent, we do not know of any decent kind of soil 
that will not grow exhibition flowers, although undoubt- 
edly the best soil is a deep loam with good drainage, one 
that, while it will retain a good portion of the rain that 
falls will not hold the \\ater to the extent of drowning 
the plants. 
The soil should have a good depth so as to allow the 
roots to penetrate deep enough to reach the moist, cool 
earth. It must be borne in mind that Dahlias are sup- 
posed to make their growth during hottest part of Sum- 
mer. It is necessary that the soil should be in a good 
state of cultivation, as Dahlias grow luxuriantly and 
are necessarily heavy feeders. If the ground is over-rich 
it has a tendency to cause too much growth of foliage. 
We rather prefer having it in good condition than trying 
to enrich it at the time the crop is planted or din-ing 
the growing period. 
We should advise that the ground on which Dahlias 
are to be grown the next Summer be selected in the 
Fall, and if not in good condition, that it be worked 
up and sufficiently enriched to grow the crop. Plow it 
deeply and give a dressing of bonemeal, the amount 
depending on the condition the ground is in. Anyway, 
from 500 pounds to a ton per acre won't be too much ; 
this should be harrowed in and not allowed to lie upon 
the top. If available, stable manure will do to put on in 
the Fall in place of bone ; if the ground cannot be got 
readv in the Fall then plow it as early in the Spring as 
possiljle and give it a dressing of bonemeal, not manure. 
In preparing the ground it will need to be plowed, har- 
rowed, and rolled as often as necessary to get it in good 
order, as it will be found almost useless to try to grow 
Dahlias in rough ground. The amateur can follow out 
his plan, using spade or fork. 
