106 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
THINGS AND THOUGHTS OF THE GARDEN. 
{ContiiiHcd from page 88) 
mind the minutest variation of the character of scores of 
varieties, and it is to them, their knowledge, their en- 
thusiasm and their selecting and cross-breeding activities 
that we are indebted for the steady progress in develop- 
ment and the novelties that constantly appear. Yet I 
would rather roam or browse over the entire horticultural 
field. Once I was asked to be secretary of a big national 
society devoted to — what do you think ! Potatoes. May 
make you smile ; but do you realize the extent of the 
potato industry ; do you realize the amount of money in 
it, in new varieties even ; and think you there are not 
big and serious problems as to cropping pow'ers, eating 
qualities, earliness or other period of ripening, disease, 
shipping, advertising, selling? The time I refer to was 
when a variety named Northern Star was selling as a 
novelty for a fabulous sum — many times its weight in 
solid gold. The ''boom" and speculation then might be 
likened to the Dutch Tulipomania of the seventeenth 
centurv. 
troiluce these not to have an)' demand for them. Our 
hardy borders are all too deficient in variety. Let's add 
to them. 
ARNO H. NEHRLING. 
pROFESSOR A. H. XEHRLING, head of the De- 
partment of Floriculture, suddenly has tendered his 
resignation and announces that he is to enter the field of 
Ijusiness, having taken over the McDonald Floral Com- 
pany, Crawfordsville, Ind., but intends to keep in touch 
with educational work and will devote some time to giving 
lectures throughout the Middle West. In connection with 
his business Mr. Xehrling will inaugurate a landscape 
service bmxan. Professor Xehrling came to the college 
early in the year 1914. In the three short years that he 
has been at the college he has become popular both among 
facultv and students. 
Without doubt it gives every one of us immense 
pleasure to look over the seed and nursery catalogs 
that have been arriving so freely in recent weeks. 
Dreer's, Farquhar's, Boddington's, Marshall's, Carter's, 
Totty's, Pierson's, Henderson's, Sutton's — one and all 
are good and interesting. How much we ought to 
compliment the careful and clever compilers of them. 
There is no catalog that has not points of its own. 
Don't we like to compare prices, too ! It must be in- 
teresting work, even if exacting. Some firms hold the 
record for one thing, some for another. Roehrs and 
Michel, Burpee, Bobbink and Atkins — all have some- 
thing we want or we like. It is a good plan to try a 
few more things each year. The coming season I am 
adding to my hardy plants and among the subjects 
to me most desirable are Perry's White double 
Achilles, undoubtedly one of the best outdoor flowers 
to-day. Aconitum Wilsoni, which used to be in my 
collection, will also be there again, and if the purse will 
run to a root or two of the fine white Everlasting Pea, 
White Pearl, that, too, will find a place. Both for 
the private and commercial grower it is desirable. Of 
Irises, none beats dalmatica pallida (pale blue), and 
of a different type, but equally graceful is orientalis 
(white). Its variet\- Snow (Jueen is an improved form. 
For a dwarf, early bloomer Eu])liorbia e])ithymoides 
can be tested. Nor do any of us make enough of the 
Sea Hollies — Eryngium. The variety Oliverianum is 
one of the best. Among the Oriental Poppies the 
apricot flowered Mrs. Perry is unbeatable, and in the 
line of Evening Primroses the choice falls on CEnothera 
Youngii and speciosium, yellow and white respec- 
tively. The time for planting all of these is April and 
early May — April preferably, as it allows the plants 
longer to get established before the hot weather be- 
gins. In passing May I mention a sweet little creeper 
for the rock garden — one of the Mint family, Mentha 
Requieni. Some of the newer Heucheras also deserve 
attention. The selectors have introduced some grace- 
ful if not over-brilliant kinds, varieties of H. gracil- 
lima and hybrids of sanguinea. Look them up. There 
ought to be a place likewise for that choice hardy 
flower Incarvillea Delavayi. The Pinks, the Delphini- 
ums, the Gaillardias, Day Lilies, Geums, hardy Asters 
and Campanulas have all been added too, and it is 
small encouragement to the go-ahead firms, who in- 
Anio H . Nchrling. 
Since he has been at .\mherst he has inaugurated many 
new things in the department, and has improved the de- 
partment many times. The deiiartnient is now on a sys- 
tematic business basis. From a department of four 
courses he has raised a de])artment of ten courses. I'nder 
his direction a large perennial t^arden was started at the 
college. 
One of the biggest things Professor Xehrling has done 
since he came here was to liring about a better under- 
standing and co-operation between the college and the 
gardeners and florists of the State. He has been especially 
active among the florists of the Connecticut \'alle\- and 
has succeeded in liringing about a real co-o|)eration among 
them. 
