PARK AND CEMETERY. 
271 
SEASONABLE SUGGESTIONS. 
The English yew makes a beautiful hedge and 
it is not such a slow grower as many imagine. 
Young plants of about two feet, set out in early 
spring, rarely fail to grow. 
Sow seeds of verbenas in March, indoors, to 
have nice healthy plants for bedding out two 
months later. The colors of seedlings cannot be 
guaranteed but the plants are stronger and better 
than those from cuttings. 
Cut down Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora as 
much as you wish before it starts to grow. It is 
benefited by a hard pruning, larger flower heads 
resulting. 
Crape Myrtles are greatly admired as much be- 
cause of their midsummer blooming as for their 
lovely flowers. From Philadelphia southward 
they are hardy. These plants can be increased 
by hardwood cuttings, made and planted out in 
spring. 
English hawthorn and varieties are often at- 
tacked by borers, which must be looked after. Our 
native species are exempt so far as known. 
Tea, China, Bourbon and all ever-blooming 
monthly roses should be cut down to within six 
inches of the past season’s growth to have them do 
their best. Unlike June roses, a good pruning 
back helps them. 
Gladiolus bulbs set in beds of rhododendrons 
or other evergreens, are not out of place. Set 
wherever they may be, it is best to get them in 
early as soon as the ground is fit. A planting 
three weeks later gives a late crop. 
Those who do not possess the Verbena shrub, 
Caryopteris, should have it. Its blue flowers come 
in early fall, when hardly a tree or shrub is in 
flower. 
Plant Japanese irises early and give them a 
quiet wet place. As with our wild iris, versicolor, 
evidently they are at home in swamps. Not a 
great many such beauties as these could be set in 
such a place. 
Seeds of banana should be started indoors in 
February or March, that strong plants may be 
had by the time warm weather arrives. The same 
ofcannas. All leaf plants are greatly helped by 
greenhouse stimulating before planting out. 
When late plantings of vines are expected it 
pays to plant a lot in pots, to be ready at any 
period of the season. 
Spring is a good time to divide paeonies where 
an increase is desired, but such divided plants fail 
to flower satisfactorily until after a year’s growth. 
There is sterling value in the Crimson Rambler 
rose, but not much can be said for Yellow Ramb- 
ler. The bud is slightly yellow, but this is lost on 
opening, the flower being white then. 
In cemeteries where flower-beds are still per- 
mitted, if lot-owners would have level beds and 
level graves instead of mounded ones, there would 
be not nearly the trouble in keeping plants from 
drying out there now is. 
The Scotch heather as well as several of the 
ericas, is quite hardy in the Middle States, and 
probably even further north. As it will grow in 
barren places as well as in better ones, there seems 
room for its more extensive use. 
Just what is to be planted needs to be well 
thought out this month. Keep in mind the early 
development of the buds of willows and larch. 
Planted before growth starts there is no trouble 
with them. Left later they are very apt to die. 
Keep in mind that spring is the time and the 
only proper time, for the planting of magnolias. 
They rarely live transplanted at any other time, 
unless from pots. Add the Eraser! to your collec- 
tion if you have it not. The flowers are delicately 
scented. 
For use under trees it has to be some surface 
rooting plant which can catch the moisture from 
dews, light rains, etc., as the trees take all the 
moisture lower down. English ivy, periwinkle, 
Veronica officinalis and evergreen honeysuckle 
among evergreens, and Virginia creeper, trumpet 
vine, Ampelopsis Veitchii and the like, among 
deciduous things, are what are wanted. 
Nearly all shrubs root readily from hard wood 
cuttings. Cut the shoots of the past season into 
nine inch lengths, tie in bundles and place in a 
cool cellar till spring. Set out-doors in rows as 
early in spring as possible. Set them deep 
enough to permit of but about tw'o eyes being 
above ground. 
Though the scarlet clematis, coccinea, is but 
an herbaceous plant, it is a neat, pretty vine, and 
when rambling over brush, as sweet peas are often 
permitted to do, it forms a most attractive object. 
March is quite early enough to strike cuttings 
of coleus to have plants for bedding out. The 
young tops from a few old plants give a start and 
then later on the tops of those recently rooted. Of 
the two much used sorts, Verschaffelti and Queen 
Victoria, the former holds its foliage better when 
the cool nights of late fall come. 
In Laurel Hill cemetery, Philadelphia, English 
holly. Magnolia grandiflora. Cedar of Lebanon 
and other nice things are quite hardy, the protec- 
tion of the place by abundant other trees, monu- 
ments, etc., being just what these plants require. 
Sweet peas dislike the heat of summer, both 
