The Garden Magazine, February, 1921 
337 
Lilium Auratum at 4,100 Feet Elevation 
To the Editor of The Garden Magazine: 
A S A subscriber to The Garden Magazine, from which I derive 
much pleasure and many helpful hints for my garden, I am send- 
ing a photograph of Lilium auratum taken in my garden. The one 
shown in the picture was eight and one-half feet high and had fifteen 
flowers. A representative of the Agricultural Bureau at Washington 
while here was impressed with the unusually strong growth of many 
Perennials. Foxgloves are sometimes seven feet high, and Delphinium 
and Aconitum seven to nine feet high, which seems quite unusual. 
North Carolina mountains are well known for their wild flowers, but 
few know the possibility of cultivated flowers. Our elevation here is 
4,100 feet and we' grow fine Roses, Dahlias and all garden flowers. — 
Henry W. Sloan, Highlands, N. C. 
A Most Satisfactory House Plant 
To the Editor of The Garden Magazine: 
A YEAR ago last summer a friend brought me from the White 
Mountains one of the little wooden hanging baskets, and I in- 
tended to put the customary Fern in it; but one day, near a stone walk, 
1 saw a little Mullen plant — just the thing for my basket, I thought! 
1 planted it with some Kennelworth Ivy. At first people rather made 
fun of it, but as it continued to thrive and grow everyone admired it. 
The combination was exquisite — the large, soft, pale green leaves and 
beneath, the dainty Ivy with its tiny lavender blossoms. When sum- 
mer came I hung it outdoors where it grew so large it seemed as though 
it would jump out of the basket. I have brought it in the house but 
doubt if it will be as fine again for it begins to look a bit tired of grow- 
ing. I recommend it to all plant lovers as most charming and satisfac- 
tory for at least one year. It seems to me much lovelier than a stiff 
Palm. It needs plenty of water or cold tea. — Mrs. E. H. Smith, 
Redding, Conn. 
Pinus Torreyana in California 
To the Editor of The Garden Magazine: 
P INUS TORREYANA is a unique and isolated Pine growing in 
San Diego City and County on the sea coast bluffs within a very 
limited area. The northwestern corner of San Diego City contains 
Torrey Pine Park and from there to Del Mar, four miles to the north, 
these Pines are growing in scattered groups in the canons and bluffs 
that overhang or lead to the shore. Most of the specimens are wind- 
swept and artistic in appearance as they cling to the barren cliffs. 
In cultivation they make a rapid growth and are symmetrical and 
sturdy. At Coronado Park there is a specimen thirty years old. 
JAPANESE GOLD-BANDED LILY 
Lilium auratum in a North Carolina garden over 
four thousand feet above sea level. It stands eight 
and a half feet high and bears fifteen flowers 
In Balboa Park a tree twenty-eight years old is thirty inches in di- 
ameter at base and more than fifty feet high. One at La Jolla in a 
garden grew from a seed in the woodpile. 
The cones are compact, four inches by five and one-half inches, 
seeds are large and very palatable. Last year Mr. John McLaren, 
Supt. of Golden Gate Park at San Francisco sent a few pounds of the 
seed to Scotland, where some trees are growing, because he considers the 
Pine such a good one that he wished to extend its cultivation. The 
needles are in groups of five, rather coarse and have proven very excel- 
lent material for basket making, and the industry is increasing in this 
vicinity and is taught in the public schools. This Pine was described 
by Englemann and named in honor of Prof. John Torrey, one of our 
early botanists. His two daughters lived in San Diego the last ten 
years of their lives and grew beside their house a Torrey Pine twenty- 
five feet high of which they were very proud. — Kate O. Sessions, 
San Diego, Calif. 
tfKe fMont/vs Reminder 
“ Come with me, then, behind the scenes, where we are concerned only with the joys of plant increase and rejuvenation ” 
The Reminder is to "suggest” what may be done during the next few weeks Details of 
bow to do each item are given in the current or the back issues of the The Garden Magazine— it 
is manifestly impossible to give all the details of all the work in any one issue of a magazine. 
References to back numbers may be looked up in the index to each completed volume (sent 
gratis on request), and the Service Department will also be glad to cite references to any special 
topic if asked by mail 
When referring to the time for out-door work of any sort New York City at sea level in a nor- 
mal season is taken as standard; but at best dates can only be approximate Roughly, the season 
advances northward fifteen miles a day Thus Albany, which is one hundred and fifty miles from 
New York, would be about ten days later, and Philadelphia, which is ninety miles southwest, 
about a week earlier Also allow Jour days for each degree of latitude, for each five degrees of 
longitude, and for each four hundred feet of altitude. 
FEBRUARY— WELL BEGUN IS HALF DONE 
ITH outdoor vegetation in winter quarters, garden work at 
this time is confined to pruning and spraying and prepara- 
tions for the first sign of spring. Any planning yet to be done 
may well be set aside for evenings, and stormy days. A walk 
around the place, notebook in hand, making a list of the 
things to be done ahead of time is advisable. 
The new seed catalogues are now out and as soon as selections are made 
send in the seed order. There is nothing like having this detail 
out of hand early. 
Mix up soil for sowing seeds now. If it be at all heavy, use plenty of 
leaf soil and some sand to make it porous. If very dry give it 
water and then store away in large boxes or barrels ready for use 
when needed. 
Get flats ready; repair old ones; make new; wash old pots; order 
new supplies. 
Soak new pots in water before use. For sowing seeds that are impa- 
tient of transplanting paper pots are useful. 
Complete repairs and glazing of old sash as soon as possible, and give 
