THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
463 
Seeing that November has been so summer-like (up to 
this writing), a great deal of late planting of bulbs, hardy- 
flowers, trees and shrubs has been done. Even now, 
November 11, the conditions are ideal for all kinds of 
hardy stock and even many summer plants are still in 
bloom. Don't forget yellow, white and blue Crocuses, 
blue Squills, Darwin Tulips and some of the white as 
well as (commoner) yellow Narcissi. Where Roses have 
been or are to be transplanted and still have their leaves 
on, these should be stripped off. This prevents the bark 
from shrivelling. Evergreen trees can be planted prac- 
tically all winter, so long as they have big balls of soil 
which are kept intact. 
With reference to Foxgloves, mentioned in another 
paragraph, I find that the sturdiest and best plants are 
from self sown seedlings. Allow the old plants to sow 
their seeds just around their own base. If the soil is 
good, friable, with humic matter in it, the seedlings will 
grow apace and can remain through the winter where 
they are. Protect as suggested. In April, transplant 
them to their flowering quarters, or merely thin out if 
they are to bloom where they are. The flowering will 
be in June and July. Tobacco plants (Nicotiana) can be 
left over and will seed and come through in the same 
way. Shirley Poppies, Sweet Peas, Ncmophila and many 
other annuals and biennials give very little trouble. Are 
you trying fall sown Sweet Peas as suggested in the last 
number ? 
$ $ $ 
We are now well through the Chrysanthemum season 
again. It has been a good year, but not particularly 
eventful. That, however, is purely according to how one 
feels personally about the matter. There is but little evi- 
dence of the old "fever" that waxed mighty warm in 
November back five and twenty years ago or fewer years 
ago 'than that. Then the tremendous flowers of today, 
the Turners, Odessas, Vallis, Hopetoun, Kitchener and 
others were not known. They had big flowers then, but 
I think that the biggest of today are well ahead of the 
monsters of that time. For many years nothing ap- 
proached Mine. Carnot for size, and its snowy masses of 
gracefully falling petals were assuredly "a sight for sair 
een" (eyes). The finest of this year's stands have been 
Golden Champion, W. H. Waite, President Everitt (each 
new), William Turner, Meudon, Jas. Fraser, Odessa, F. 
S. Vallis, Rose Pockett, Lady Hopetoun, Donellan, Bob 
Pulling, Elberon, Airs. R. C. Pulling, Earl Kitchener, 
Mrs. F. Lloyd Wiggs, Mrs. Gilbert Drabble, Mrs. 
J. P. Mitchell, Pockett's Crimson and H. E. Con- 
verse. We have seen few or none of Wells Late Pink 
which was so fine last year. Totty's and Smith's novel- 
ties of the last few seasons have been very good and 
reliable. The first named certainly has a winner in 
Golden Champion, one of the finest novelties for many 
years, bar none. The same grower advances Louisa 
Pockett (white) as finer, bigger, bolder than Turner. 
We'll "wait and see," as the British premier once said. 
The advance of the singles and Anemones has been 
steady. A surprise awaits the land, generally, when 
those giant Anemones of Mr. Shaeffer's (shown at New 
York and neighborhood) get into commerce. Some 
charming varieties are obtainable in singles, friends, and 
they deserve to be taken up right away. Discard all your 
small flowered and medium ones and get the newer 
selections which are so bright, rich, handsome and long 
lasting. White Doty has proved its merits as a fine cut 
flower. It will be seen in all the shops within two years 
from now. 
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Why don't small gardeners, by which is meant the 
possessors of gardens from 30 x 100 feet and upwards, 
plant fruit trees therein. Are we in America afraid to 
plant trees — fruit trees, evergreen trees and what not. 
Travel from Philadelphia to New York and far along 
the coast eastward, count the evergreen trees and 
plantations. You will have an easy job. Yet evergreens 
have every feature of beauty, shelter, shade and hardi- 
ness. They are no more difficult to success with than 
deciduous trees. True, they are often expensive, despite 
heavy importations. The nurserymen of this country are 
behind the times, far behind their marvelous opportuni- 
ties. But as regards the planting of apple, pear, plum 
and peach trees — who does it ; who thinks of it ? Only 
those in regular charge of gardens ; certainly not the 
suburbanite. Test the matter and see. 
Feed the Trees 
THE natural tree thrives, or at least exists, under 
natural conditions. But when man steps in and 
makes what he considers an improvement on na- 
ture's handiwork, he must expect to provide the improved 
conditions necessary to the existence of his improved 
product. 
It was improved, and not natural, conditions and 
treatment that produced the first improvement, and these 
improved conditions and treatment must be continued 
if the improvement in the product is to continue. We 
are not trying to produce a natural product when we 
set out an orchard or plant a bush or fruit plant. We 
are attempting to improve upon what nature has pro- 
vided. If you want natural fruit, you can find it on 
the wild crab, or the bitter, knotty seedling apple, the 
little, thin-fleshed seedling peach, the wild grape and the 
wild plum and strawberry. 
It is because we want something better and different 
that we set improved varieties, and with those improved 
varieties we must provide improved conditions, and im- 
proved treatment of the plant or tree. Otherwise we 
get no improved product. Like produces like. If you 
neglect the tree, the tree will neglect you. It is a natural 
consequence. In its natural state, in the forest, the tree 
has its needs supplied by nature. The soil is shaded and 
the natural growth of vegetation falling each year re- 
plenishes the plant food taken up by the growth of the 
tree, and all conditions necessary to growth and repro- 
duction are provided by nature. But nature does not 
concern herself with the likes and dislikes of man. 
When man demands an improved fruit he must pro- 
vide the material and conditions. The natural tree can 
produce enough fruit to reproduce itself and support 
the birds and insects which naturally look to it for sub- 
sistence, in spite of its insect and fungous enemies, but 
it does not produce any great surplus for the use of 
civilized man. Man is endowed with the power to pro- 
vide this surplus, through his selection and treatment 
of trees and plants, and he must do it or he don't get 
the surplus. 
The natural tree has its food provided in the forest, 
but outside the forest it is in an unnatural location, and 
is in a great measure dependent upon man for its food. 
A tree is usually said to feed as far from its trunk as 
its branches reach. This is a great mistake, or at least 
only a partial truth, for a tree of ten or twelve years' 
