GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 
OF AMERICA 
THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF 
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GARDENERS 
Devoted to the Science of Floriculture and Horticulture. 
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PARK SUPERINTENDENTS. 
Devoted to Park Development and Recreational Facilities. 
Vol. XX. 
FEBRUARY, 1916 
No. 2. 
Things and Thoughts of the Garden 
By The Onlooker. 
AT this time of year many of us find a difficulty in 
yetting Sweet Pea seeds to germinate. As last 
year was wet and cool there ought not to be the 
same difficulty, yet there will assuredly be some hard- 
shelled seeds that will lie dormant unless the skins are 
chipped or filed prior to sowing. It has been found that 
to steep or immerse these seeds in pure sulphuric acid 
for a period not exceeding half an hour, allows them 
to germinate freely and regularly, and they grow away 
strongly. Try this with at least a few and mark the 
result. I would not take the most expensive varieties 
for the experiment, since this sort of test is new and 
may contain risks we have not so far experienced, 
but where tried all has been well. 
One thing in which improvement has been made is 
the Freesia. Fletcher's Improved Purity marks the 
high water mark so far attained in size, solidity, 
whiteness, and with it all fragrance has not been lost. 
There is not such distinctive scent as in the old F. 
refracta alba, but it is still the fragrant Freesia. In 
a year or two we may hope to see some of the new 
pink and yellow varieties on the market — I mean as 
cut flowers, as some of the Boston growers, I hear, 
have the idea of taking them up for that purpose. Yet 
as there have been a pink and a yellow Freesia in 
existence and known to cultivation for many years, 
it is remarkable that they have not taken a front 
place ere now. 
Those who grow the old Christmas Rose (Helle- 
borus niger) have a treasure. A cold frame over the 
plants as they stand in the border is all they call for, 
and the Christmas Rose generously supplies its chaste 
white blooms in midwinter. Following it, toward the 
spring, are the Lent Lilies, varieties of H. orientalis, 
which comprise atrorubens, punctatus and rubissimus. 
They are not gaudy or very brilliant, and unless their 
flowers are at once thrown into water on being cut 
they close up and never open properly again. But if 
this precaution is taken you have one of the most 
wonderful and beautiful cut flower exhibits possible. 
Mr. Fardell, of Great Neck, L. I., has taken up the hy- 
bridizing of these. They also were favorites of such 
good old florists as Dr. Robert Hogg and Peter Barr, 
the former best remembered as a pomologist, and as 
author of "The Fruit Manual," the latter as the 
■"Daffodil King." It may be said that the blooms of 
the hybrids are in purple, plum, pink, rose, greenish 
primrose shades, and some are prettily spotted and 
speckled. They like a cool spot in the garden in just 
a little shade, deep soil, and are best transplanted soon 
after the flowering is over. 
The Fuchsias are too much neglected. They are 
exceedingly easy to grow and are grand plants. In 
a few places one sees them used for bedding and they 
do splendidly, while for the greenhouse there is noth- 
ing we can grow that looks any better. Red spider 
won't trouble them if you do your part. Now is the 
time to start taking cuttings or to start the old plants 
into new growth. First they should be pruned, and 
this may be done hard or light. Usually it is pretty 
hard. Then a repotting or at the least top-dressing 
may be given. A temperature of 50° will do to start 
the old plants, raising this when growth has begun 
to 55° or 60°. Keeping the plants free of greenfly is 
about all that demands attention, with watering and 
a little regulating of the growth. They do not re- 
quire stopping or pinching. Cuttings of the young 
growth can be got when this is 2 inches to 3 inches 
long, taking pieces with a firm base if possible, al- 
though this is not essential. Strike these as you would 
your Chrysanthemums or Carnations, and indeed they 
can be treated almost exactly similarly to 'Mums. 
They will want pretty regular potting on and will 
flower in 5-inch or 6-inch pots in July, August and 
later. Among the best for pot work are the triphylla 
hybrids, and of the larger kinds the best are Earl" of 
Beaconsfield, Mrs. Marshall, Rose of Castille, Ballet 
Girl, Phenomenal. Why not put out a few of the 
hardy Fuchsias, too? They are as easy to winter as 
Hydrangea Japonica, which gives very little trouble 
in many sections. In the latitude of New York we 
carry these over quite well. The species are Riccar- 
toni — the hardiest, which will send up young shoots 
from the root_ stock every spring, especially if 
it is in a dryish place, for I have found it to 
fail in heavy wet soil in winter — macrostemma and 
gracilis. Each of these is a capital bedding plant and 
deserves to be grown largely for that purpose alone. 
****** 
What are the twelve best dwarf or medium growing 
hardy border flowers, taking into consideration length 
of flowering period, easy culture and brightness? Here 
is something that will raise a discussion surely! Any- 
way, here's my list : Arnebia echioides, Chrysogonum 
