Volume XXV 
Number 1 
>^:<SV6H^-OMDEm 
The Carden Magazine 
Among Our Garden Neighbors 
What I Like. — Permit me to express my dis- 
like of professionalism in 1 he Garden Maga- 
zine — or anywhere else. We want a few Wil- 
sons, and perhaps a few others; but after that 
such pages as 177-8 are worth acres of land- 
scape plots, garden lists, and the like. We 
glance at them and smile at their assurance, 
then look for something else. Who that loves 
the soil would fail to read the two pages I 
mention? I recall a garden seed list of a 
year or two ago in which the “specialist” 
runs so entirely to peas that he spends several 
dollars for seed to use in a small garden! 
So please give us the bits of experience any- 
how, whether you include the routine spreads 
or not. I have had every number of The 
Garden Magazine, except the first one, and 
I hope it will not die of professionalism, 
as Garden and Forest did. I hat died of 
orchids. — John IV. Chamberlin, New York. 
A Little Bit of Experience. — In reference to 
that popular Rambler Rose Dorothy Perkins 
I have made it a practice to lay down branches 
in the early part of June each year, by 
placing them on the ground and putting 
earth over them, letting them remain until 
the following spring, when they are rooted 
well, leaving the branches attached to the 
parent plant until removed. My idea is 
this, you get larger bushes and have at 
the same time an acclimated plant. For 
example, two years ago I planted two, so 
treated, which were 8 feet long and they 
bloomed profusely that season. In plant- 
ing them I made a hole about 2 feet deep 
and put in 8 inches of well rotted cow manure 
and it would astonish one how well they 
responded. I write this for the benefit of 
whom it may concern. — Samuel 0 . Hedges, 
Bridgehampton, N. Y. 
Alpine Primrose.— In Sweden we had a wild 
Primrose growing mostly in lowlands, peat- 
fields, or at the side of ditches. Shape of 
plant similar to Beilis perennis, but grayish 
green, flower stem 6-7 inches, a cluster of 
flowers of from 7 or 8 to 12 or 15 or more on 
top of stem; color, shape and size of individual 
flower like Primula Forbesi. Can any one 
tell me the name? I have tried for years to 
find out from greenhousemen, but so far failed. 
Also, where can I get Chorizema varium? I 
have looked in seven big catalogues but cannot 
find it. — James J. Themanson, Monmouth, III . 
[We think the plant you have in mind is 
Primula farinosa, a very variable species which 
is widely distributed throughout the alpine 
region. Not only in Europe, but in America 
at least, the form of Primula farinosa, found 
in North America, is so much like the 
European plant that it is very hard to 
separate the two. The American form is 
sometimes known as P. mystassinica, and the 
Rocky Mountain form has been called Primula 
americana. The size of the flower is very 
variable, and the height of the flower stalk 
will vary from an inch up to nearly a foot. 
The flowers are also variable in color, but 
usually in shades of pale lilac. — Ed\ 
All Parties Are Fed. — I am delighted with 
The Garden Magazine and read every word, 
including the advertisements, from cover to 
cover. It is the only practical magazine I 
know of for gardeners that isn’t mixed up 
with other matters. I do not agree with the 
party in the December number who com- 
plained of its being too professional, for, as 
a matter of fact, we have articles from 
amateurs as well, and I get gardening ex- 
perience from both sides. Professionals keep 
in touch with new methods and new plants; 
so we amateurs can follow modestly in their 
train and experiment occasionally, and not 
remain in the old beaten track. I think I 
am the first person, professional or amateur, 
in this section of the country to experiment 
with witloof chicory, and I must give my 
experience some day. — J. M. Patterson, Rich- 
mond, V a. 
Woodruff Under Shade of Trees. — There 
is a wonderful, big Sugar Maple on my 
front lawn, under which nothing would 
grow — Periwinkle will grow beautifully under 
the Elms and “shady lawn grass” will grow 
under many of the trees, but under the 
Maples with their branches almost touching 
the ground, there have always been ugly 
bare spots, to which one of my dearest friends 
gleefully calls attention, as she says; “Noth- 
ing is so comforting as the faults of one’s 
friends.” It has not been my fault for I’ve 
tried many, many things without success. 
However, I’ve at last solved the problem! 
Several years ago I got a package of Sweet 
Woodruff seed — called in the catalogues 
Asperula odorata — which came up and spread 
in a marvelous way. A year ago I took these 
13 
young plants as they came up in the spring 
(for it is perennial), and planted them thickly, 
all around the tree, making a perfect circle, 
14 feet in diameter, and it has withstood 
shade and drought and frost and has kept the 
most perfect green; and in May is a mass ot 
white bloom. 1 he German housewives dry the 
blossoms to use among their linens, but it is not 
assweetas Lavender, and smells like new mown 
hay. [It is also used for “May-wine.” — Ed.] 
I he leaf comes in little whorls, stands up 
straight, looks so neat — and doesn’t creep like 
a vine — and is always a lovely, rich, dark 
green. It is the most successful plant for 
the purpose that one could have. It is easily 
grown and needs no care, excepting that in 
the spring I trimmed it in a perfect circle 
again. The leaf is pretty to put in with small 
cut flowers such as pansies, etc. Start the 
seeds in a cold frame or in a separate bed, and 
get the plants well developed before being 
transplanted under the tree. — Camille Hart 
Inine, Penna. 
Spray Manufacturers Take Notice. — 
In the December issue, page 177, is a communi- 
cation from Laura J. Paxton, which is of value 
to the ordinary amateur, if correct. Most of 
the instructions accompanying Insecticides 
refer to large quantities, generally forty gal- 
lons. The owners of small gardens do not 
want that quantity at a time, and it is puz- 
zling to them to endeavor to figure out 
the proportions on smaller lots. In fact 
I have known parties to forego the use of scale 
washes because as they had but one or two- 
shrubs needing it they did not want to make 
up forty gallons, and were afraid to attempt 
figuring out the proportions for a gallon as 
they might get it too strong and injure their 
plants. I think it would be a good thing to 
get some mathematician to figure out the 
proper proportions of the leading insecticides 
for, say, a gallon of prepared mixture. — W. C. 
Egan, III. 
[The reader interested in reducing the stand- 
ard spraying formula to common day needs, 
can turn to The Garden Magazine for June 
1910 where there is an illustrated article 
“Spray Formulas in Terms of Kitchen Uten- 
sils,” by Prof. W. C. O’Kane, Entomologist, 
New Hampshire Experiment Station. 1 he 
standard formulas, with reduction to table- 
spoon quantities for one or two gallons, are 
given in each case. — Ed.\ 
