362 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 
The following are among the choicer denizens of 
bogs; they are, with one or two exceptions, natives: 
Acaena, Arethusa, Calopogon, Calla palustris, Caltha, 
Calypso, Chiogenes, Cypripedium, Darlingtonia, Dio- 
naea, Droserae, Habernia, Helonias, Iris, Lathyrus 
palustris, Lewisa. Lilium parviflorum. Lophiola, Lysi- 
machia, Medeola, Menyanthes, Narthecium, Ophio- 
glossum, Parnassia, Polygonum, Primula parryi, Py- 
rola, Rhexia, Sabbatia, Sarracinia, Saxifraga, Sparga- 
niuni, Spathyema, Trollius, Utricularia, Xerphyllum, 
Zygadenus. 
As mentioned above, there are other subjects classed 
as water plants that will do well in a bog; their use 
must be dictated by the amount of space at disposal 
and the taste of the planter. Among which are : 
Acorus, Actaea, Astilbe, Gentiana, Hemorocallis, Iris 
kaempferi, Lobelia, Myosotis, Saururus, Nesaea, Sym- 
plocarpus, Veratum. 
LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA. 
IN selecting a tree for the street or lawn, one is very 
apt to see what his neighbor has and then plant the 
same. Thus we see whole localities planted with Caro- 
lina Poplars or Silver Maples, when it would have been 
just as easy to secure and plant a much better tree. 
The nurseryman is much given to following the crowd 
in this respect, under the pretext that he must supply the 
demand when he should try just a little harder to guide 
the demand, for none know better than he the most de- 
sirable tree to plant. 
If one analyze the good qualities of ornamental shade 
trees, the Sweet Gum (Liqiiidambar styracifiua) will be 
found to stand very high. The fact that it is very com- 
mon in a natural state in the South makes it a har- 
monious figure, and does not discredit it for frequent use. 
It is exceedingly handsome, having a very symmetrical 
habit of growth, beautiful star-shaped, bright, glistening 
foliage, a glorious autumn coloring, and generally a dis- 
tinguished looking cork bark. In addition to this, the 
foliage has a delightful balsamic odor when crushed. 
To these qualities add the fact that it is comparatively 
free from insect pests and disease, is a fairly fast grower 
and a long-lived tree, and you have a list of good points 
that are hard to beat. 
Perhaps the only objection that can be brought against 
the tree is the limited area in which it will grow. Nat- 
urally, it does not grow north of Connecticut and South- 
ern Illinois, but is found growing wild very plentifully 
southward to Florida and Texas. 
What a difference it would make to the appearance of 
some of the Southern towns if their own native Sweet 
Gum were growing instead of so many of the undesirable 
Carolina Poplars. 
Although it is found chiefly in moist woods, where it 
grows to the height of 150 feet or more, it grows well in 
dryer situations, but does not attain such large propor- 
tions — possibly 40 or 50 feet. 
In the nursery it seems to thrive in either wet or dry 
situations, although preferring the latter. 
The planting of the Sweet Gum should be done care- 
fullv, and at the right time, or many failures will result. 
When lining out in the nursery rows the best results will 
be obtained by cutting back to the ground, making the 
plants throw up a new trunk. Even when transplanting 
larger sizes it is a safe rule to prune severely, but avoid 
shortening in the leader or it will spoil the symmetry of 
the tree.- — The National Nurserxman. 
THE SNAPDRAGON. 
jpEW if any of our well known garden flowers are more 
satisfactory generally than the Snapdragon. For 
filling beds or borders of any size it is useful and will 
furnish a beautiful display of bloom from July until the 
end of October. In color the flowers are so varied as to 
render possible the most beautiful schemes, and lasting 
so long, successfully bridge over the entire summer and 
autumn. For cutting the snapdragon is also useful, and 
being easily raised, flowers are at the command of young 
and old. Two very popular types of snapdragon are tall 
Antirrhinum majus, and the dwarf or Tom Thumb kind— 
A. majus manum — these latter being but varieties of the 
former, which is likewise the progenitor of most of our 
valuable garden forms. In addition to the foregoing 
there are many handsome species less known perhaps, but 
nevertheless excellent border or rock garden plants. 
Being of perennial habit the snapdragon mav be in- 
creased by cutting as well as by seeds, and while it is 
generally increased by the latter method, by cutting is the 
only certain way to increase many colors or varieties, 
September being the proper month for the operation. 
Insert the cuttings in a bed of sand in a cold frame, 
water carefully and shade from sunlight. Keep the frame 
closed, ventilating only during the day when the tempera- 
ture is high or when moisture condense; excessivelv on 
the plants and on the inner surfaces of the frame. When 
rooted, transfer the plants to boxes or pot them off singly, 
and place them in a good greenhouse until the spring. 
By propagating early in the spring, good bedding plants 
may also be obtained from cuttings — bottom heat at this 
time, of course, essential. 
Plants of named and well established varieties should 
be raised from seed, the quickest and most satisfactory 
way being to sow them indoors during March or April, 
and after transplanting into flats, thence into four-inch 
pots to place the plants into cold frames to harden off 
preparatory to bedding out. Those who have no facilities 
for raising the seedlings indoors may sow the seed out- 
side as soon as the weather and soil conditions will per- 
mit. These plants will, of course, flower somewhat later 
than the foregoing, but will nevertheless afford a pleas- 
ing display. Magnificent border effects may be created 
by planting the tall growing kinds toward the rear and 
the dwarf ones along the front of the border. For this 
purpose, when purchasing seed, the heights of the plants 
should be carefully noted and indicated on the label bear- 
ing the variety. The distance apart must be governed 
by the height of the plant, overcrowding being delete- 
rious. Fifteen to eighteen inches may be regarded as ap- 
proximately right. Seeds should be sown outdoors in 
patches very thinly, the seedlings being thinned out as 
desired. 
The Antirrhinum is not solely a garden subject, for if 
sown in the greenhouse during any of the fall months 
and potted commensurately as it grows, excellent plants 
in full flower may be had during the late winter and all 
through spring, while for cutting purposes a bench filled 
with plants will amply repay the labor. It is customary 
for many florists to lift the plants from the garden ere 
they are injured by severe frosts, and after removing the 
old flowers stems to plant them in benches for the win- 
ter's supply of flowers, a very economical practice, and 
therefore to be commended. — Canadian Florist. 
