February, 1919 
£3l)e Slower (Brower 
19 
IIIIIIIIIHIIIH 
MRS. AUSTIN’S TALKS 
i [ Written expressly for The Flower Grower. 
The Game of Growing 
Gladiolus Seedlings. 
T he growing of 
seedlings is somewhat 
of a game and a fasci- 
nating one, as well 
as something of a gam- 
ble. If one has betting pro- 
pensities in his make-up a 
handful of Gladiolus seed 
will surely bring them out, 
for if he knows the distinctive features 
of their ancestors he will feel that it is 
a safe bet that some one of those seeds 
will bring him a beautiful bloom 
whether it be anything like the ideal 
of his mind or not. This captivating 
game is one in which the study of va- 
rieties is the search for their traits and 
tendencies and the effort to direct and 
combine them by hand-hybridizing. 
One should have his ideal flower in 
mind and select for its parents, those 
which he has observed possess one or 
more of the traits he wishes to be per- 
petuated. We understand that Mr. 
Burbank’s idea of a seed is that it is 
a bundle of tendencies each of which is 
released under certain conditions favor- 
able to it. When the seedlings bloom, 
the hybridizer may be quite surprised 
to find them entirely different than 
either parent, and not a sign of any of 
the traits he had hoped for. The new 
condition had re- 
leased tendencies 
that he had not 
thought of, but 
again the new flow- 
er still has those 
inherited traits and 
tendencies, and its 
seed may produce 
blooms combining 
and surpassing the 
ideal flower of his 
mind. The ten- 
dencies are always 
there, and environ- 
ment, intense culti- 
vation, every con- 
dition of weather 
has its influence in 
bringing out some- 
thing unusual and 
beautiful when the 
combination of con- 
ditions arises. 
The seedling here 
illustrated was one 
of a number from 
a direct cross of the 
Gladioli America 
and Augusta and 
appeared in the first 
generation. It com- 
bines the size and 
form of America 
with the color of 
A u gust a. Some 
other tendency 
„ . , gave the spike a 
a direct cross of Giadi- slightly more grace- 
oii America and An- ful appearance than 
g usta. either parent, and 
the flower does not tint as 
quickly as Augusta. The 
other seedlings, from the 
same seed pod, gave beauti- 
ful flowers but showing no 
trace of traits of either par- 
ent. 
For the one who would 
like a delightful summer 
pastime, I would suggest 
that he purchase a few each 
of several of best named 
varieties obtainable and study these 
mysterious works of nature in his gar- 
den. A desire to produce new and im- 
proved seedlings may result from such 
a study. 
Mrs. A. H. Austin. 
The Aspedistra. 
[ IV ritten expressly for The Flower Grower. ] 
BY BERTHA BERBERT-HAMMOND. 
For the purpose of indoor decoration 
and of bringing into the home a pleas- 
ing suggestion of summer greenery the 
Aspedistra with its luxuriant, beauti- 
ful foliage is second only to the grace- 
ful Palm and for its ability to withstand 
the hardships peculiar to room culture, 
it is easily without a peer. It will 
thrive and look fresh and handsome 
under conditions that would surely 
cause the Palm to droop. Because of 
this capacity to endure successfully the 
effects of gas, dust, lack of direct sun- 
light, cold drafts and other adverse 
conditions, the Aspedistra has earned 
the fitting sobriquet of “The Cast-iron 
Plant.’’ It is sometimes called “ The 
Corn Leaved Palm ” because its large, 
graceful leaves resemble somewhat the 
leaves of the corn plant. 
There are two varieties of Aspedistra 
that are largely grown. Aspedistra 
lurida, with its large, glassy green 
leaves and Aspedistra lurida variegata, 
which has beautiful green and white 
striped foliage. Both varieties are 
nearly hardy though the green-leaved 
variety seems to possess more endur- 
ance than the variegated sort. It does 
well at a temperature of 50 to 60 and 
has been known to survive even a light 
“ freeze.” 
The Aspedistra is of the simplest 
culture. It will flourish in shade or 
sun and needs very little water, par- 
ticularly during the winter. When the 
plant makes its growth (usually during 
the spring and summer months) some 
of the rhizomes may be crowded above 
the surface of the soil. When this oc- 
curs, some new soil mixed with a little 
bone meal, may with good effect, be 
substituted for some of the old topsoil, 
but otherwise the plant is better left 
undisturbed. It is a mistake to repot 
until the roots actually crowd. The 
writer has a large, handsome specimen 
that has been in the same pot for over 
a dozen years. About four years ago, 
a small quantity of coal dust was 
worked into the surface soil and now 
this plant which had heretofore been 
considered Aspedistra lurida, shows 
distinct white stripes in many of its 
leaves. It may be that the plant had 
been of the variegated type and had 
reverted, as the leaves of the varie- 
gated Aspedistra sometimes do turn 
all green. When grown in a soil lack- 
ing in iron, the variegation is more 
likely to be retained. Sponging the 
leaves of the Aspedistra occasionally 
enhances their beauty and is beneficial 
to the plant. When once firmly estab- 
lished in a roomy, well drained pot the 
Aspedistra requires no special atten- 
tion for years. 
Though generally considered an 
ornamental foliage plant, the Aspe- 
distra bears a small, brownish-red 
fungus-like growth. Tbe little button- 
like buds appear close down to the sur- 
face of the soil and open into eight 
pointed tulip-shaped flowers. These 
curious specimens of flora though in- 
teresting are so very inconspicuous 
that it is not surprising that many per- 
sons who possess Aspedistra plants are 
not aware of the fact that their plants 
ever bloom. 
Flowers as Gifts. 
Ralph Waldo Emerson was thorough- 
ly appreciative of the value of flowers 
between friends and this is what he 
said : 
“Flowers are always fit presents, because 
they are a proud assertion that a ray of 
beauty outvalues all the utilities of the 
world.’’ 
The Florists’ Review offers the sug- 
gestion that the sending of flowers as 
a gift conveys a double compliment. 
Because of their beauty, but perishable 
nature, they are appropriate in prefer- 
ence to a lasting gift because of the 
implied faith in the ability of the re- 
cipient to appreciate the spiritual 
sentiment behind their fleeting loveli- 
ness. The message conveyed by flow- 
ers is appropriate on almost all oc- 
casions and for almost all purposes. 
Flowers as gifts may be universally 
utilized. 
Peony Suggestions. 
When the Peony plant first starts 
growth in the spring a little stimulant 
in the form of commercial fertilizer or 
manure is desirable. Dry blood, ground 
bone, cow manure or nitrate of soda 
can be utilized. Work as closely as 
possible around the plant with a hoe 
or cultivator. 
When the buds attain some size 
pinch off all but a central bud to pro- 
duce the earliest flowers. For late 
flowers it is best to remove the large 
central bud and allow the smaller ones 
to mature. 
When cutting the bloom leave some 
of the foliage on each stem. They 
should not be cut down to the ground 
as is often practiced as this will tend 
to weaken the plant for next season’s 
blooming. 
This is a rule which applies to any 
flowering plant from which a crop is ex- 
pected year after year. It is the foli- 
age which develops the root and the 
bulb and the bud for next year’s bloom. 
