2 10 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
conifer. The climate of Southern California suits 
its admirably. 
At Santa Barbara the trees grow 150 feet high, 
which is the reported height of the trees in their 
native habitat. In Florida they grow only in the 
extreme southern borders. Very light frosts do 
not affect them, but even a light freeze is fatal. 
Strictly a pine, a conifer, balsamic in odor, 
dark, rich green in color, the leaf construction is 
yet more beautiful than is seen in any tree of its 
kind or kindred. Twice pinnate, each narrow di- 
vision, from the mid-rib is crinkled and creped, 
like the beautiful, dark green moss on brooksides. 
It crunches in the hand like crepe paper, but re- 
bounds with the wiry strength of a true pine. A 
singular, but fascinating combination of strength 
and delicacy is shown in the unique fern-like foli- 
age of the Norfolk Island Pine. 
At a glance, it seems as if a breath would start 
the frond like leaves to trembling, whereas the mid- 
rib is as strong and firm as iron wood, and the sub- 
divisions are each on a strong, wiry mid-rib, ex- 
ceedingly graceful, delicate, indeed ideal in appear- 
ance, it is a powerful tree when grown to full size, 
and a very sturdy, self sustaining plant when from 
medium to small. 
The Horticultural Hall, New Orleans, has them 
of varying sizes, and they are among the most at- 
tractive plants in the large collection of all kinds of 
rare plants. 
The maximum of beauty and perfection is ob- 
tained by following the formula of the New Orleans 
Horticultural Hall. They keep the plants in tubs, 
under glass, from fall to spring and decorate the 
most conspicuous points with them, out in the park 
during the spring, summer and early fall months. 
In private collections the same formula is fol- 
lowed. The beauty of the foliage is enhanced by 
exquisite cleanliness. Leaves constructed with the 
crinkled, curled, up-turned edges, like these, are 
calculated to collect dust. Frequent spraying and 
now and again submerging the plants upside down 
in water, cleanses them, and vigorous shaking 
frees the foliage of superfluous moisture and fresh- 
ens it up like a plunge in the river, and a shaking 
when out on the bank, does a Newfoundland dog. 
The florists use fir-tree oil for palms and pines, 
but at home, the soapy water made by Gold Dust 
washing powder, in a stationary bath tub, or some 
such receptacle that will hold as much as a barrel 
or enough to give a good sized plant a genuine 
turn-over and up-and-down bath, shaking the 
whorls free from the water before setting it up right 
again, might learn the florists an item of value 
about preserving the perfect beauty of this, the 
most beautiful of all the conifers. 
There are two other varieties, neither so beau- 
tiful as Excelsa, yet both of them are very attract- 
ive evergreen conifers. Araucaria Bidwelli is the 
hardiest, coarsest of them all, and A. Imbricata or 
“Monkey Tree’’ has needles or sharp pointed 
leaves, and whereas the Elcelsa is velvety, this is 
shining and varnished in appearance. 
G. T. Drcnnan. 
SEASONABLE SUGGESTIONS. 
When the ground freezes surely it is time to 
cover up for winter such roses as require it. These 
are the sorts known as everbloomers in the middle 
states. Further north the hybrid perpetuals are 
the better for protection. Everbloomers may be 
cut back to within a foot or less of the ground, and 
soil, manure, leaves, sawdust or any such material 
be placed over them. 
One of the best of ferns for dwellings in win- 
ter is the common nephrolepis tuberosa. It flour- 
ishes in an atmosphere which would be death to 
most ferns and it is the only good fern for the lawn 
in summer. Set in but partial shade it thrives 
well. 
Plants in pots or boxes become a trouble in 
winter because of the water draining from them. 
This is remedied by having a tin or zinc lined box 
placed along the window shelf in which to place 
the plants. Watering can be attended to much 
better when this is done. 
The Ladies' Home Journal advocates that beds 
of bulbs be permitted to freeze below the bulbs 
and then be covered up to prevent thawing. The 
opposite of this is a better way. Cover with ma- 
nure, leaves or like material before the freezing. 
This leaves the bulbs in position to carry on activ- 
ity of the root all winter much to their better- 
ment. 
Inside roses intended for forcing should not be 
pruned until the forcing is about to commence, 
otherwise there is a tendency to make new growth 
as soon as pruned which is undesirable. P'lorists 
often start the half of a rose house before the other 
half by pruning it. 
The palm, Areca lutescens, makes an excellent 
appearance in the dwelling house in winter. But 
few palms will do this. It needs lots of fresh 
water when in a warm room. The pots must be 
well drained, then no fear need be entertained of 
overwatering it. 
Forest leaves are the best protection that can 
be placed about plants in winter. But a few 
inches keep out frost. Placed over plants requir- 
ing protection or even such ones as hardy peren- 
nials, they are invaluable. It is well spent time to 
get together large heaps of them. 
