12 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 
One of the prettiest additions or change for a dinner 
table decoration is a little fountain. At the recent flower 
show in Cleveland the officials very thoughtfully pro- 
vided the means for having such additions to the decora- 
tions of the retail florists — water pipes, the water itself, 
and what was as important as anything else under the 
circumstances : small electric dynamos to pump up the 
water. By this means a comparatively small amount of 
water sufficed to keep the fountain alive. These dyna- 
mos or engines were situated under the tables or else- 
where out of sight; they are made by a New York firm 
with whom some readers of these notes may wish to get 
in touch. 
* * * * 
How quickly the Mrs. Peterson Begonia has sprung 
into prominence. A year ago it was one of the least 
known of all plants, only then having been exhibited a 
few times by the raiser. J. A. Peterson, of Cincinnati, 
Ohio. But some of the plant growers saw in it a subject 
of very great promise and bought by the thousand, as 
they are wont to when they think they are "on a good 
scent." Their expectations have been fully borne out by 
the results the past Christmas, when tall prices were 
asked and got for well grown stock. It has been de- 
scribed in one of the trade papers as "one of the greatest 
plant acquisitions of the last ten years." This seems 
very high praise, yet when we consider that it is an im- 
proved doire de Lorraine, at least in the rich warmth of 
its deep pink flowers and its ruddy metallic leaves, per- 
haps the verdict may prove to be justified. It has also 
proved to be a very free grower, and not in the hands 
of one person, but by many in various sections and in 
England. So here's to Mr. Peterson ! 
* * * * 
While the interest in big-bloomed Chrysanthemums 
will not be any the less because of the new interest in 
the single, pompon, and Anemone varieties, still one 
feels that fresh life and enthusiasm will be infused into 
the whole cult owing to the fine introductions of these 
latter types. They require some skill and patience in 
their cultivation, but do not bother one the same as the 
huge fellows that require timing and very liberal feed- 
ing, staking, tying, and all the rest. It is entirely satis- 
factory to see a few raisers at work on the Anemones, a 
tvpe all along, as I thought, that was unwarrantedlv 
neglected. Now the tables assuredly are turning, and 
if I might be for once a prophet, would say that the 
next few vears will bring to light a number of improved 
kinds. The firm of A. N. Pierson, Cromwell, Conn., 
growers of the small flowered true pompons, have 
also had some fine things placed in their hands. Notable 
among these are Western Beauty, Harvest Home 
Golden Harvest, Golden West and Golden Climax, while 
Chas. T. Totty has given us the singles. There are two 
kinds of "pompon," the large type, which includes Frank 
Wilcox, Lillian Doty and the new White Doty. Ought 
a ruling not to be made on this matter? But if memory 
serves me right the Chrysanthemum Society of America 
has before it a motion to consider this very point and a 
committee of judicial men to take it in hand. Just as 
it seems a pity to spoil the smaller size and characteris- 
tic form of the primulinus strain of Gladioli, it also 
seems a pity to overincrease the size of the pompons, 
although there is no objection to adding a distinct giant 
section on its own. 
^s ^e 2fc ^Je 
Some of the best new things in the seed line seem to 
be in the Calceolarias, Begonias, Petunias, Antirrhinums, 
Sweet Peas (as a matter of course in these days) ; also 
Aquilegias, the China type of Aster, Zinnias, Marigolds, 
Cosmos, new red sunflower, including the scarlet 
Tithonia speciosa, which, by the way, should be started 
in good time or sown in a warm and sunny place, as it 
comes rather late into flower otherwise. There are some 
magnificent strains of Celosias, too, while the showy 
Nasturtiums are not to be ignored. The smoke colored 
Shirley Poppies are still new and quaint. Among bien- 
nials there are excellent improvements in the Sweet 
Williams, including a scarlet, a carmine, a very fine 
pink, a large flowered white, and the distinctly marked 
Auricula-eyed varieties. Other biennials that deserve 
full attention are the Foxgloves and the Scabious. The 
latter are valuable when treated as annuals by being 
sown in January or early in February. These are for 
the outdoor garden ; but why not try some of the crested 
tuberous Begonias, which are more interesting than the 
singles? The latter are too bald to satisfy nice taste. 
The Nemesias in rich gold and in pink shades are 
worthy of cultivation in pots, just as the Clarkias are, 
and which were not treated as pot plants or grown in 
benches until a year or two ago. The tall branching 
greenhouse Calceolarias of the Clibrani type, are nota- 
ble. To these have been added the new Cotswold 
Hvbrid, Jeffery's Hybrids, the medium growing white 
flowered Veitchii, as well as choice kinds in the dwarf 
section (florists' strain). 
Those who have looked into the genus Calceolaria 
know how diverse are its species, including the Peru- 
vian one alba, very dwarf, and having snowy clusters. 
It is a "tricky" subject and tests one's skill. The pretty 
annual Mexican Calceolaria ( Mexicana ) can be sown 
toward the base of the rock garden, or in a cool, partly 
moist spot in good light, but not where it will be 
scorched to death. It is a little gem, with cut leaves 
and bright yellow flowers. The tall Burbidgei and 
amplexicaulis fill a useful place in bedding schemes of 
the bolder character. It is a question whether many of 
us, also, make as much use as we might of the scarlet 
Alonsoa Warscewicsii (A. incisifolia ), which does re- 
markably well in a partially shaded border. As a pot 
or bench plant for winter and spring it is one of the 
best of the annuals. For woodland effects why not plant 
some colonies of Polygonum lanigerum, which also does 
handsomely in the sunniest positions. Its chief charac- 
teristic is its silvery leaves ; it grows three feet tall. Poly- 
gonum orientale ( Prince's Feather ) , with red, drooping 
"panicles," or dependent, nodding spikes, is likewise de- 
sirable, and in many places has become naturalized. None 
the less it is a notable decorative plant. The same can 
be said of Impatiens Roylei at its best. But don't sow 
this where you don't want it to spread else it may turn 
out to be as bad a weed as you've got. 
% S-J ^ ^c 
This idea of carrying the garden spirit out into the 
woodland glades and into the parts surrounding the 
"kept" pleasure grounds or formal flower garden, is 
gaining headway, and incidentally adding to the work of 
the poor gardener and his generally too limited staff. 
But if you find yourself overburdened with work and 
are sure you are getting the maximum of efficiency from 
those under you and that your systematization is above 
reproach, don't begin "wild gardening." It may be 
wild gardening in name but has its own peculiar diffi- 
culties ; assuredly it takes time, money and strength to 
carry out wild gardening properly, tastefully — or accord- 
ing to what is meet and right — and in such a way as to 
ensure successional effectiveness. Given the facilities, 
it is worthy and engrossing phase of decorative out- 
door horticulture, deserving encouragement wherever 
possible. 
