244 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 
and distortion of these organs is to help along the main 
purpose of the cross-fertilization of the flower. 
In the sketches here given will be seen several stamens 
and pistils of quaint and odd forms. In May you will 
find several flowers which bear their pollen on one plant 
and form their seeds on the other. Gather and examine 
some jack-in-the-pulpits and you will find minute pistil- 
late flowers on the "clapper" of one bell and staminate 
flowers upon another. The jack which makes the pollen 
fades before the season is far advanced, while the pistil- 
late flowers develop into gorgeous bunches of red berries. 
Examine the barberry flower with a strong magnifying 
glass and you will find it to be arranged like a minute sea 
anemone. Gently introduce the point of a pin into the 
cup of the flower and you will observe the spreading 
stamens curl toward the center as if alive and they will 
shed their pollen on your pin as they would do upon a 
bee's head. This barberry flower is a veritable sensitive 
plant and thus sends its charge of pollen away to another 
flower upon the furry coat of a faithful messenger. 
In May, too, we have the showy orchis whose lovely 
blossoms with purple hoods and white bibs suggest the 
head of a monk with his cowl. Here the pollen is in the 
form of two clubs, and these are found in two small 
pockets where they can attach themselves to the head of 
an insect visitor. You can "play the bee" by using the 
point of a match or a pencil and can withdraw the pollen 
masses from their pockets just as the insect does. 
THE PLEASURES OF ROCK GARDENING. 
(Continued from ['age 230.) 
and cool. Keep the crevices well filled and make provi- 
sion for any special plants if necessary, ramming the soil 
well in with a stick so that the structure will be firm 
and will not give way through settling afterwards. In 
every instance place the rocks so as to give a variety of 
choice in the matter of situation for plants requiring dif- 
ferent aspects. With plants such as Ramondia, Saxi- 
fragia longifolia, and the like, planting should be made 
almost horizontally so that the water can run out of the 
rosettes, otherwise it would surely rot and destroy them. 
Always arrange in one or two places projecting rocks 
which have a striking- appearance, and these will form 
ideal locations to plant such varieties as the encrusted 
family of Saxifrages, Silenes, and many others. They will 
not need to be disturbed for several years, as they will be 
quite at home in such places. In forming pockets, make 
them of various sizes and large enough to hold several 
plants of one kind in a mass ; by so doing one will have a 
good display and a more decided and charming effect. 
The walks in and about the garden should be as in- 
formal as possible, with a few stones placed here and 
there to walk upon. Should any rocky steps be intro- 
duced, keep to the same informality, for the more un- 
shapely they appear, the more natural will they look. In 
planting, arrange the larger growing plants on the higher 
parts of the garden, and the smaller ones, as far as possi- 
ble in the low recesses. By adopting this method the 
rock garden appears larger than it really it. Great care 
should be taken to avoid planting the early kinds all to- 
gether unless one wants to have one part of the garden 
in bloom at one time and the other part at another. Great 
care should also be taken to blend the colors when plant- 
ing, so that they do not clash at blooming time. 
After planting give a thorough watering and do not 
let the plants lack for moisture while they are making 
new growth. A spraying over during very hot days will 
give them a nice fresh appearance. As regards the time 
f'ir planting. I prefer the month of April so that the 
plants may lie well established by the following winter. 
In order that they may become well established, the main 
thing is, to not permit them to lack for water until they 
become fixed. Another thing I should like to mention is. 
in making holes for planting, remove sufficient soil to 
allow the roots to be comfortably inserted without being 
curled and twisted up in all manner of shapes. Nothing 
is more detrimental to plant growth than this. Remem- 
ber also, that the greatest number of rock plants are lost 
by not being planted firm enough. 
The rock garden makes an appeal that is undeniable 
anil it will no doubt become as popular in this country, 
as it is in England, in landscape gardening and the plan- 
ning of estate. 
Club. 
Extracts from paper read nefor; Morris County Gardeners' ft Florists* 
WORK FOR MONTH OF JUNE. 
(Continued from page 234.) 
house doors standing wide open and the wind blow- 
ing" through strong enough to blow one's hat off and not 
a sign of mildew round the plants. It is the cold, raw, 
damp draughts that harm roses, and growing them as 
hardy as possible during the summer will tend to make 
them better to handle during the winter months. 
Don't neglect the carnations, whether they are growing 
in the garden or under glass. They need pinching from 
time to time to cause to break and produce flowering 
shoots. Cultivate regularly to keep the weeds in check. 
Chrysanthemum cuttings put into the sand at this time 
will make fine stock in six-inch pots by fall. 
Crotons are now growing freely, and pinching out the 
ends of the shoots may be done to keep them in shape. 
Ferns will be benefited by a dose of liquid manure dur- 
ing the summer months. 
Palms and other decorative plants should be thorough- 
ly sponged and cleaned of all scale and other pests. As 
soon as the rush of replanting, potting of Chrvsanthe- 
mums, etc., is over, this work may be proceeded with. 
T 
THE BUD OR SINGLE ROSE VASE. 
HERE are many places such as on milady's writing 
desk or bureau, etc., where just one beautiful rose, 
with the luxurious green foliage placed in a bud vase, 
makes a very pretty ornament. In addition to the 
straight tubes there are a number of vases in quite 
a variety of form and material. The glass tubes are 
etched and some are cut while tubes of hammered cop- 
per are antique, and fit in nicely with desk furnishings. 
Artistic wooden receptacles made of mahogany 
with a glass tube center, looking something like a 
slender candlestick, have recently been introduced; 
also, some of wood with the new black and white 
striped effects. The accompanying- illustration shows 
but a few of these vases. Other patterns are offered 
of several tubes joined together, which are more elab- 
orate, but lack the exclusiveness of the individual 
vase. — American Florist. 
OVERHAULING THE FERNS. 
VY/'HERE man}- ferns are grown and a rush is antici- 
pated when annuals and bedding have to be han- 
dled in large quantities, it would be well to overhaul 
the ferns now and repot any such as need it. 
A good rich compost with plenty of flaky leaf mould 
and enough sand to make it porous is needed for ferns. 
Never over-pot. It is far better practice to shake off the 
old soil and repot into a clear, dry pot of the same size 
than to use a pot that is too large. In the latter the soil 
is likely to become stagnant and sour, and the plant will 
suffer in consequence. 
