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THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
roses, Daffodils, Liliums. Foxgloves, Wood-Lily (Trill- 
ium,) and many another. Xo one who has seen ferns 
growing luxuriously, either in the semi-shade or fairly 
well out, bordering a path, will ever make the mistake of 
under-rating their value for garden effect. 
While not making any pretense to being a Dahlia ex- 
pert, I have taken some interest in these flowers, which 
are rightly called "queens of the early autumn." There 
is still plenty of time to plant them. From all accounts 
the sale in tubers has been uncommonly large this year. 
and many of the growers can now only supply green 
plants. Some friends have asked why it is that these 
green plants or rooted cuttings are less ready to start 
away freely, or grow vigorously, than those from roots. 
If this is so — and it may be in dry weather — the reason 
evidently lies in the lack of sufficient stored-up matter 
in the case of the green plants since they have such small 
tubers. Be that as it may, both kinds do well if they are 
planted in rich soil and are kept watered. The Dahlia is 
a thirsty fellow. He comes from high on the mountain 
regions of Mexico where his roots are always in moist, 
cool conditions, in soil consisting largely of disintegrated 
basaltic rock, and with his head well up into the sun- 
light, albeit, sunlight that is partly screened off by nearby 
trees. In our gardens the Dahlia "blasts" during the 
heat of Jul\' and August unless kept constantly watered, 
and that is not always possible. By "blasting" is meant 
that the flowering shoots go blind or fizzle up. Plants 
going this way should be cut hard back so that they will 
throw out new young growths which will bloom in Sep- 
tember and October. A heavy mulch over the roots of 
the Dahlias is desirable. It helps them. 
I think if I were confined to onlv one variety of Dahlia 
it would have to be the lovely Delice, a delightful rosy 
pink. It has a fine habit, is very free, sturdy, and in 
every way good. 
* * * 
It is not often that I touch on fruitarian matters, but 
occasionally one's attention is turned this way. A report 
was recently published by the Woburn Experimental 
Farm relating to experiments with fruit, and particularly 
the planting of young trees. These experiments have 
been carried on for the last 12 or 14 years, and one of 
them has for its object deciding whether trees that are 
rammed into a comparatively small hole without much 
care being taken of the roots, grow better or worse than 
those whose roots are carefully spread out. The experi- 
ments so far have been in favor of the rammed method 
of planting. It is argued that the soil, being compacted 
closely around and over the roots, allows the young fibres 
a better chance than when the soil is but moderately 
firmed. This kind of planting is, of course, contrary to 
all recognized teaching, and it is doubtful if gardeners 
and fruit growers will follow it, even despite the results 
obtained at the Station. 
Another point in regard to fruit culture, and one that 
is more in accord with reasoning, is that a tree in good 
bearing condition remains that way. This may be ex- 
plained on the grounds that no rank or superfluous 
growth is made, but where the strength would other- 
wise go into mere growth, it goes into the formation of 
fruit buds, and in that way the tree year by year yields 
a crop. Here again, however, those who make a study 
of fruit will tell you, and rightly, that many varieties 
fruit in alternate years only, although they may flower 
heavily every year, the reason being that the tree ex- 
hausts itself in bearing the crop one year and has to re- 
cuperate for the succeeding one. 
Should fruit trees be pruned back at planting, or ought 
they to be left unpmned? This is an old question to 
which no authoritative answer has been given. One set 
of growers favor the non-pruning, others favor pruning. 
Our own practice has always been to shorten back the 
growths correspondingly with the shortening or crip- 
pling of the roots, as this seems to us a logical thing to 
do, and certainly we have had no reason to regret the 
practice. < If course there are certain varieties in the 
whole general line of fruits that seem to crop regularly 
and to have great fertility, no matter what the cultural 
practice is. These are the ones that the amateur wants; 
he can get to the more fickle ones later. 
.Many of us must have been impressed with the fact 
that our parks, not to mention private gardens, are large- 
ly devoid of bulbous flowers in the Spring, except for 
beds of Tulips and probably Hyacinths, or lines of Cro- 
cuses. Why not make a practice of setting out the forced 
bulbs in places where they can become established and 
flower year by year? This practice, indeed, is being 
carried ov f in certain places and by parksmen known to 
the writei ith, let us hope, good results in a few years 
ahead. Rut as well as planting out these forced Daffod- 
ils, why not invest in a few thousand of the old double 
Daffodil, which comes very early and grows almost any- 
where, in sunshine or shade, and also some of the poet's 
Narcissus, which comes late and also grows well in most 
places? An admirable place for these is along the edge 
of a shrubbery or around the roots of Rhododendrons, 
of course, a little way out from the plants. The shrubs 
give the needed shelter and as the Rhododendron roots 
are, or ought to be. covered with leaf mould or leaves, 
this is also congenial to the Daffodils if not too deep. 
The fact is, we could and ought to plant out man)', many 
more of these bulbs, and they would entail no after labor, 
or very little, and give us a beautiful show at the early 
period; far better than the mere formal bedding of bulbs. 
At one garden in Xew Jersey known to me, great suc- 
cess has been attained in the naturalizing of May-flower- 
ing and Darwin Tulips the bulbs coming up in the grass 
year by year. This is all the more astounding, as I have 
always understood that Tulips only did well in the same 
position for about two vears at a time. 
We are still in the first flush of the Spring gardening 
fever. Soon, however, the warm weather, mosquitoes, 
the desire to be flying off in automobiles, going to pic- 
nics, or visiting Atlantic City or other places will call 
us, and it is then that the garden pleasures become sort 
of secondary. Do not let these other attractions tempt 
you too much. You will find abundance of interest in 
the garden, and quiet, pleasurable, restful enjoyment, 
and if you are the true gardener, you will find there also 
excitement as well. Certainly a garden affords physical 
as well as mental recreation, and it would be a thousand 
pities if, after our first earnest start in the Springtime, 
we should ahandon all our work and preparations or 
leave them to fate. Keep pegging away : resist the ex- 
traneous and more exciting recreation, then as the results 
of your labor begin to mature, you will feel so recom- 
pensed and satisfied that you will be glad to have per- 
sisted. 
