24 
PARK AND CEMETERY, 
Yellow -berried Hollies. 
I noticed recently an article recording 
the existence of a holly bearing yellow 
berries. On my annual journey to the 
Gulf Coast, I have several times noticed 
such a holly at two different points on St. 
Andrew’s Hay, Florida, and thinking per- 
haps you might be interested in seeing it, 
1 to day send you a few blanches, together 
with a few branches of the red which grew 
adjoining. I cannot see any difference in 
the habit of the trees, though the leaves 
of the yellow seem to be a little narrower,, 
and there are always a cluster of the 
shrubs, instead of the trcc-Iike character 
of the red. The yellow berries are never 
oblong, like the red growing here, liut 
are invariably round, and smaller than 
the red. G. M. ll'cs/, Escanaba, Mich, 
Mrs. Taomp->on, ot Spartanburg. S.C., 
also sends yellow berried hollies, — but 
these are larger and rounder than the or- 
dinary red form. Another correspondent 
inquires about propagating hollies. Some 
of the American species are barren. The 
berried plants should be grafted on young 
seedlings of the species. In selecting berri- 
ed jdants, it is w'ell to select isolated in- 
dividuals that can only seed through hav- 
ing perfect flowers. Some plants, wholly 
pistillate, will bear berries if in the vicinity 
of Stamm ite ones — Meehans Monthly. 
* * 
O.nimrn'ing Railway Station Grounds 
We are gl.id to notice within the last 
few years that there is an increasing ten- 
dency on the part iff a numberof our rail- 
ro id comp inies to orn mient their grounds 
with grasses, rhrubs, flowers and trees. 
We feel that the step shoi.ld be heartily 
commended by fl over loving people and 
our horticultural journals. It is more to 
be seen with the older Eastern roads than 
here in the South, but all the great rail- 
road systems are slowly growing into it. 
We noticed last summer through a whole 
division of an Illinois road every few hun- 
dred yards a group of the common Sun- 
flower, or Helianthus. They elicited words 
of praise from more than one as we passed 
through This was but a trifling cost, and 
a good show-card for the road. The Nash- 
ville. Chattanooga and St. Louis road, we 
understand, has already its propagating 
houses and uses a great many bedding 
plants every season. The Louisville and 
Nashville company has taken the initial 
step in converting its vacant grounds at 
way-stations into beautiful parks — nice 
fences, good walks, pretty sod, and in 
many places rustic seats, flowers and trees 
have been introduced. The Plant system. 
Seaboard Air Line and others are falling 
into line. True, this is not a new work, 
but was never so noticeable as now, and 
there is still room for great advancement 
in this neglected line. Geo. B. Moulder, 
in Southern Florist- 
The Pin Oak “An All-Around Tree. ’ 
It took years of effort before the fallacy 
could be dispelled, that the oak is a slow- 
growing and generally undesirable tree. 
Th it it h.isat last gained its proper station 
among shade trees is evidenced by the 
demand upon nurseries exceeding the 
supply. Oaks tran-planted from the forest 
are. most likely to brcoii e s'uiited 
and practic.iily wortli'ess in comparison 
with others; nni sery grown. transp'anted 
trees, sharply pruned, and transplanted 
to g od soil, will form most b.autiful, 
noble specimens ot ra|jid growth. 
1 dwell chii IL' on the Pi.i oak beenu-e 
of its distinct character and general adap- 
tability. By natural it is a moisture loving 
plant, and huge, vigorous specimens may 
be found along streams and in swamps; 
but it stands, also, a high and compar- 
atively dry soil, making the same beauti- 
ful growth. As most persons are aware, 
this species is particulary distinguishable 
in the pendulous character of its lower 
branches. They do not simply droop, but 
fall at an acute angle from the trunk like 
the Sour Gum. This gives a rather pleas- 
ant effect when the trees form an avenue, 
such as may be seen in the vicinity of 
Horticultural Hall, Fairmount Park, 
Philadelphia. Then, too. the growth is 
conical, rendering pruningseldom neces- 
sary. A straight, clean maintrunkis form- 
ed, seldom, if ever, diverging. 
As a sidewalk tree in cities, it can 
scarcely be excelled, withstanding ill- 
conditions remarkably well; and were it 
better known b> t he general public it 
would not surprise experienced people to 
see it largely supersede the maple. For a 
specimen on a lawn. It is equally useful, 
and is then frequently kept low-branched. 
As a rule, its leaves do not color much in 
autumn, though in considerably moist 
soils 1 have seen it a brilliant scarlet. 'I’he 
scarlet, red, black, and white oaks are 
also rapid growing and perhaps just as 
desirable in the eyes of many. 
In our neighborhood I have noticed a 
charming “cozy-corner” in a small yard, 
where a Pinhasbeen placed rather closely 
in a corner made by a privet hedge about 
four feet in height. The tree is low-branch- 
ed, and sweeps close to the hedge, making 
a shady summer retreat. 
Oaks are not inclined to make fibrous 
roots, though the Pin is less necessarily 
included, and must be severely pruned 
when transplanted. By “severely,’’ I mean 
to the fullest extent, from three or four 
inches of the upper branches to eight 
inches or a foot of the lower. — S.Mendel- 
son Meehan in The, Florists Exchange. 
X * » 
Caring for Ferns. 
A good many ferns that live in rooms 
during the winter come to grief because 
they are kept warmer than is good for 
them The atmosphere is dry and arid, 
and quite opposite to the natural condit- 
ions under which most ferns live. A very 
little thought v\ould show us how different 
are the conditions we are p.'oviding. Ferns 
greatly enjoy the slight relii f afforded by an 
hour or two in a moister atmosphere than 
we aim at in our livii g rooms, and will be 
inproved .ind fre.shencd by such a change. 
Many fern-i that are cultivated in the 
ordinary grecnliouse will grow well in 
rooms if ihey get a good share of light and 
are not too parched. They cannot be grown 
in a room tn which there is a hre daily all 
through winter and spring. Ferns are also 
much spoiled by over wateringat the roots 
Although we find them, both at home 
and abroad, "in fairlyjmoist positions, their 
roots are almost always uponja bank and 
beneath trees or hedges that would throw 
showers and absorb theigreaterlpart of the 
moisture. None of our ferns will grow in 
a sodden soil. Nor is it well to have them 
in peaty soil alone. 
If we cannot sponge over the fronds of 
our feathery growing ferns, we ran give 
them an occasional wash with the syringe 
and tepid water. Once allow them to get 
dusty and dry, their pores choked and 
kept in an arid atmosphere for a long 
time, they will soon show a ihin and un- 
healthy condition. — New Enc^land Ftorist. 
Removing Crocus. 
Among the many interesting things in 
the article by the Rev. C. Wolley-L'od 
on “Spring in January” is a reference to 
the best plan of removing crocuses. To 
remove lumps when in full flow^er and leaf 
may appear rather unsafe, but in practice 
it is not only perfectly prudent, but less 
injurious to the future well being of the 
Crocus than removing at the usual time. 
I have had occasion to remove crocuses 
at various seasons, and have frequently 
had plants of various species sent me in 
flower and leaf, and have found them 
more likely to do well if planted when in 
that stage than at any other time. In 
raising seedlings it is a great advantage 
in selection to be able to transplant a 
superior flower at this time.-rA. Arnott, in 
The Garden, London. 
