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WHAT’S NEW THIS SEASON 
A REVIEW OF THE TRADE’S OFFERINGS OF NOVELTIES IN SEEDS, PLANTS, SHRUBS, ETC. 
By THE EDITORIAL STAFF 
The silvery-lavender Phlox (P. argillacea), native of the 
sand barrens of the middle west, flowers from May to 
August. (Palisades) 
The New German Iris. Mrs. Sherwin- Wright, has golden 
yellow flowers. A chance seedling. (Dreer) 
form coppery-red color. Giant Flowering 
Zinnias in distinct colors (Stumpp & Walter) 
are another instance of American industry 
in concentrating on distinct color strains. 
A New Double Morning Glory is Snow Fairy 
(Burpee). “A well-formed single white Morn- 
ing Glory in the centre, completely surrounded 
by numerous white petals.” 
It is somewhat surprising to see so few 
Sweet Pea novelties that are absolutely novel 
— perhaps the truth is that the limit of varia- 
tion along present lines is approaching. 
Floradale Fairy (Burpee) is the nearest ap- 
roach to a yellow Sweet Pea that has yet 
een obtained. It is a large flowered, rich 
Oxytropis hybrida grandiflora. a perennial with silvery 
growing foliage and pea-flowered spikes of bloom. Likes 
dry hot sites. (Dreer) 
E ACH year all branches of the trade — - 
seedsmen, plantsmen, nurserymen 
and florists exert much energy in an 
effort to lay before all plant lovers 
and garden makers a selection of new and 
interesting subjects for cultivation in the 
garden an^ greenhouse. Not a year passes 
without there being some novelties that, to 
say the least, merit attention. This year 
The Garden Magazine asked the coopera- 
tion of the introducers in gathering together 
the cream of the season’s introductions so 
that the readers of the magazine might easily 
get as it were, a “bird’s-eye view” of the 
whole. The influence of the European war 
is clearly to be seen in the comparative scarcity 
of seed novelties in both flowers and vegetables; 
which loss is, however, being met by improved 
lines of such staples as are grown in America. 
A great activity is noticeable among the 
nurserymen too in introducing the recent 
discoveries of hardy shrubs and herbaceous 
plants from China. A glimmering awakening 
of interest in alpines may be deduced from the 
prominence given in a few cases to both 
European and native mountain plants. 
“What’s New?” The fascination of 
the new, experimenting with “said to be 
superior” has always held an allure. 
With the whole world to draw from the 
offerings every year are assuming the 
proportions of a perplexing problem. 
To the layman, the novelty pages 
of a seedsman’s or nurseryman’s cat- 
alogues are the most interesting part 
of the book, also the most complex. 
Even the craftsman is not always in a 
position to judge on the strength of de- 
scriptions and illustrations offered, where 
the different kinds “belong.” The in- 
troducer’s name that stands back of a 
novelty, is, in most cases, the best 
guarantee as to its merit. Yet, what 
pleases one homegardener, does not nec- 
essarily meet an equally favorable recep- 
tion from all of us — conditions are vari- 
able, and personal requirements are indi- 
vidual. The progressive gardener studies 
the novelties. And be it remembered 
that everything which we grow as a 
“standard” to-day was at some time 
cream, and produces a large proportion of 
doubles or duplex blooms. 
A number of improved “Orchid flowered,” 
types are offered by more than one house, 
but inasmuch as they are mere color variations 
the reader can get the detailed information 
from the catalogues. 
The China Aster, an established specialty 
of the American seed trade, naturally crops 
up in selected types and pure colors — two 
pink, one red, viz., Pink Superb (Michell) 
of the Comet type and Peerless Pink (Dreer) 
of the popular Late Branching type. Sensa- 
tion (Dreer) is of the Dwarf Bedding type, 
with garnet red flowers. 
The Double-flowering Cosmos, already re- 
ferred to and illustrated in The Garden 
Magazine for January, is a popular offering 
by all the leading specialists. The type is 
not quite fixed as the flowers vary consider- 
ably in their degree of doubleness; offered in 
pink and white. 
Cosmos Midsummer Giants (Farquhar) is 
offered as an early-flowering strain, about 
four feet high and in three separate colors — 
pink, white, and apple-blossom. 
Solanum ciliatum (Dreer) an interesting 
plant from Porto Rico, is handled in the same 
way as Petunias or tomatoes, it grows 
about two feet high, with bright shiny prickly 
leaves, bearing small white flowers followed 
by scarlet fruits which remain on the plants 
after the leaves have fallen. 
Texas Bluebell (Vaughan) is a species of 
Eustoma, closely allied to the Gentians having 
the purple-blue color of the family, and 
native in the Southern States. In 
Southern California where it has been 
previously grown, it is perennial. 
Two new forms of Salvia splendens. 
Var. Elizabeth Dunbar is a white 
chance seedling, discovered by Mr. 
John Dunbar, Assistant Superinten- 
dent of the Rochester Parks. Flowers 
similar in shape and size to the old form, 
pure white corolla and light creamy 
white calyx; plant dwarf and bushy; 
in plants only, but said to come true to 
color from seed. Var. Scarlet Beauty, also 
dwarf, color more intense brilliant scarlet than 
Clara Bedman. (Vick). 
previously a novelty somewhere to someone. 
Progress is made by reaching into the un- 
known — trying out novelties. 
HARDY AND OTHER ANNUALS 
f I 'HE effects of the' European disorganiza- 
tion are clearly seen in the dearth of 
flower seed novelties. It is also to be noted 
in passing that from the same cause annuals 
in separate colors (excepting such as are the 
product of domestic growers) are practically 
unobtainable. The American seedsmen are 
meeting the situation, however, and offer, for 
example: 
Verbena Crimson King (Howard & Smith). 
Large scarlet florets and trusses. The raiser 
claims that on well grown plants individual 
flowers will cover a silver dollar. Schizanthus 
Pink Beauty (Michell). Rose pink, without 
any marking. New California Poppies 
(Dreer), in named varieties including Geisha 
with ruffled petals scarlet on the outside, rich 
golden orange inside, and Vesuvius with uni- 
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