THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
331 
artist will find no beauty in block planting, in fact the 
reverse as the latter system creates artificiality and in- 
troduces discord. 
Those who have lived for any length of time in dis- 
tricts where nothing but coniferous forest exists will 
have been impressed with the monotony of seeing noth- 
ing else, and they will no doubt have missed greatly the 
succeeding forms of beauty that unveil themselves from 
spring to fall in forests where hardwoods are growing. 
Certainly as the autumn season conies round they will 
long for a glimpse of our Eastern woods arrayed in all 
their thousand beauties which cause residence in the 
country at that season to be so desirable and enjoyable. 
In conenction with the use of decidtious species we 
should from a landscape point of view endeavor to se- 
cure a continuous and everchanging scene of beauty 
throughout the \ear. 
{Continued in Uclobcr issue.) 
FORCING DARWIN TULIPS 
nPHE lack of early appreciation of the Darwin tulips 
■'■ is partly explained by the fact that they were not 
classified as a distinct race tuitil comparatively recent 
times. Their present name was given to them only a 
little more than a quarter of a century ago, in honor 
of the great evolutionist, Charles Darwin. In view 
of their relatively modern origin, it is not surprising, 
perhaps, that their popularity as bedding plants does 
not date back more than about fifteen years. The reason 
for astonishment is that as forcing stock they were prac- 
tically an unknown quantity until two or three years 
ago. Not until the last two winters have the greenhouse 
Darwins appeared in the markets and been prominent on 
exhibition tables. There was a tremendous increase in 
the importation and forciiig of Darwins last season, but 
even now only a limited number of florists who specialize 
in bulb forcing have tried them. However, these few 
pioneers in the work have been so well rewarded that 
their example will surely be followed by many other 
growers. 
As outdoor bedding plants, the Darwins are so much 
superior to the ordinary early tulips that there is little 
room for comparison between the two classes. The 
Darwins, while a little more expensive, have the ad- 
vantage of wearing better than the early section, and. 
when left undisturbed in beds, they flower far better the 
second and third year than the first. The same statement 
holds true, also, if they are planted in clumps in the hardy 
herbaceous border. 
The Darwins are a stately race, with long, strong 
stems. The outdoor flowers have stems varying from 
twenty-four to forty inches in height, according to the 
variety of the plants and the nature of the soil. Under 
glass the -stems average eighteen to twenty-four inches 
high in February and are somewhat taller in March. 
The flowers have a wide range of colors, comprising 
rose, maroon, claret, heliotrope, red, crimson, purple and 
other deep, rich shades. However, there is no really pttre 
white in the group and there is no good yellow, unless 
the cottage tulip, Tnglescombe Yellow, sometimes called 
the "Yellow Darwin." is included in the list. Most of the 
colors are improved by the protection of glass. 
Being naturally May-flowering sorts, of course they 
cannot be forced into bloom successfully as early as such 
tulips as La Reine, Yellow Prince, White Hawk or 
Thomas Moore. (~)ne or two varieties, however, can be 
flowered in fine condition by the middle of February, 
while all can be had in crop during ]\Iarch. In the last 
two seasons pans or beds of them have been attractive 
features at the large spring exhibitions in New York, 
Boston and Philadelphia. 
For forcing purposes the bulbs should be placed in flats 
containing five inches of soil, or in pans. If pans are 
used, fairly large ones are preferable. As a compost a 
mixture of fibrous loam and old, well-decayed manure 
will be found suitable. If the loam is heavy, add some 
leaf-mold and sand. I store the bulbs, after they are 
placed in pans and flats, on the floor of a roomy cellar 
and give them several soakings of water before covering 
them with sand or coal ashes. Many beginners in bulb 
culture imagine that, if their bulbs receive a watering 
after they are placed in the soil, they can be covered and 
left to care for themselves until they are wanted for 
forcing. Where this is done there is certain to be a large 
proportion of blind bulbs, owing to an insufirciency of 
moisture in the early stages of growth. 
While nearly, all varieties of Darwins may be forced, 
some come in season much earlier than others. William 
Copeland, lavender, and Pride of Haarlem, bright rose, 
are generally considered the best two for blooming in 
h'ebruary. Directly following these we get Bartigon, car- 
mine red ; Rev. H. Ewbank, heliotrope hlac, and William 
Pitt, deep scarlet. To come along a little later a splendid 
lialf dozen are Glow, vermilion red; Loveliness, carmine 
rose ; Gretchen, pale rose : Farncombe Sanders, rose scar- 
let ; Massachusetts, vivid pink, and Baronne de la Ton- 
naye,- bright rose. 
As already stated, there is no pure white Darwin, but 
White Queen comes the nearest to that color. La Tulipe 
Noire, the black tuli]), is somewhat high-priced, but is a 
giant among its fellows, carrying larger blooms than any 
other Darwin. It cannot be forced quite so early as 
other varieties named, but has great substance and won- 
derful vigor, and is, in general estimation, the most noble 
of all the Darwins. — The Florists' Re-z'iezv. 
The Late Herbert B. Bueli. 
nerhert B Buck, -.vho AkA recently in New York City, was born in 
Ipswich, hngland. and came to this countrv some vears ago. For the past 
four years he represerted the firm of \V. t. Marshall & Co., of New York, 
on the road Mr Buck acquired many friends through the territory 
he visited, all of whom mourn his early demise. 
RAISING WINTER-FLOWERING BEGONIAS 
N order to obtain plants of the tuberous section of 
Begonia for crossing with B. socotrana, which 
flowers during autumn and winter, it is necessary to 
make preparation betimes. Good strong growing kinds 
I 
