354 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
serves especial mention is Phlox subulata ( moss or moun- 
tain pink). This dwarf species is suitable for low bor- 
ders and rockeries, forming a mat of pretty moss-like 
foliage over the surface of the ground. The plant is a 
very profuse bloomer, producing a great mass of pink 
or bine flowers, which hide the foliage completely. It 
blooms early in .May and is exceedingly hardy. Hard 
frosts rarely cause any injury, although it is not unusual 
for patches to die away in winter when the weather is 
mild and damp. 
Phlox may be propagated by seeds, cuttings, or di- 
vision. The hybrid phlox will not breed true from seed, 
but it is found that about forty per cent, of the seedlings 
will be as good as the parents. In order to secure the 
best results with seed, cross pollination is necessary. The 
seed should be sown in February in moderate tempera- 
ture, and as soon as the seedlings are large enough to 
handle, they should be placed singly in 2 )A -inch pots and 
grown in cold-frames or a greenhouse. The new plants 
should be set out early in the spring, allowing two to two 
and one-half feet between plants. In this manner it is 
possible to secure bloom the first season from seed. 
To perpetuate varieties of especial merit propagation 
by cuttings is resorted to. Cuttings may be taken in the 
fall from flowering stems which had been previously cut 
back immediately after flowering. Cuttings two to three 
inches long should be selected, preferably with a heel, and 
rooted in sand in a shady cold-frame. They should then 
be potted in light sandy loam and kept in the cold-frame 
over winter with a protection of sash and straw. Early 
in the spring these young plants should be set out sim- 
ilarly to seedlings, or placed in a nursery row until they 
have attained sufficient size for permanent planting. An- 
other method employed where greenhouse facilities are 
available is to take up old plants from the garden in De- 
cember, pot them, and force growth. Good strong cut- 
tings may then be obtained in March, which are rooted 
and potted in the usual manner. 
The most common and easiest method of propagation 
to be employed by amateurs consists of taking up the 
plants in the fall or spring and dividing the clumps with 
a spade or knife. Phlox increase by underground stolons 
growing outward, and it is these young vigorous shoots 
on the outside which produce best plants. The newly di- 
vided plants should be set out at once. With the dwarf 
and creeping species (P. subulata), large plants may be 
converted into numerous small ones by shaking some 
light soil among them in the summer and then dividing 
in the fall, when the trailing branches will be found to 
have rooted. 
The garden culture of phlox is very simple. As they 
are gross feeders, the soil should be worked up to a depth 
of eighteen inches to two feet and well enriched with 
well-rotted manure. The manure is especially necessary 
in light sandy soil to conserve moisture. It should be 
used sparingly in stiff heavy soil, however, in view of a 
prevalent spot disease caused by a fungus, Cercospora 
phlogina. The disease is characterized by circular brown 
spots on the foliage, which on the upper surface show a 
dark brown border. The distance of planting should vary 
from two to three feet, depending upon the effects de- 
sired. For color grouping clumps may be set two feet 
apart without being overcrowded. Phlox suffer in hot 
weather because of their tendency to form roots at the 
surface. To avoid this, mulching with well-decayed cow 
manure should be resorted to in June. Moderate shade 
is also beneficial during the hot part of the day, so that 
an eastern or western border is preferable to one facing 
south. For the best results phlox should be divided every 
three or four years. — From Missouri Botanical Garden 
Bulletin. 
ROSE NELLIE PARKER 
PHE Rose Nellie Parker, which was awarded a gold 
medal by the National Rose Society (Great Britain), 
is one of the 1916 rose novelties introduced in this coun- 
try by Charles H. Totty. It is a beautiful hybrid tea 
rose brought out by Hugh Dickson, Ltd., Belfast, Ire- 
land, and is somewhat after the style of Ophelia though 
its flowers are soft white with a little yellow coloring 
Rose Nellie Parker. Awarded Cold Medal National Rose 
Society, Great Britain. 
at the base of the broad petals. When the buds open 
the}- show a good deal of orange yellow shading but 
this fades away as the flowers expand. This rose is of 
a strong, vigorous, upright, branching growth with 
large, handsome foliage. The flowers are large, very 
full and of most perfect form. It is said to be a free 
and abundant producer. 
FLORAL NOVELTIES, 
A WELL-KNOWN architect up Westchester way, ac- 
"^ cording to the Saturday Evening Post, was stand- 
ing before one of his newly completed creations. Its 
mistress, plentifully sprinkled with diamonds at eleven in 
the morning, turned to him and said : 
"It's grand! And I've just decided not to employ a 
landscape gardener. I know just what I want myself. 
Hanked up right against the porch there I want a real 
thick border — now what is that name ? You know ; those 
bright-red flowers that look so dressy — yes ; now I have 
it — saliva !" 
The architect was staggered for a moment, but soon 
recovered and came back enthusiastically. 
"The very thing!" he agreed. "And right in front a 
nice row of spitunias !" 
