PARK AND CEMETERY, 
203 
Something New in Hedge Plants. 
It is very difficult for any of us to get 
out of the old rut and strike for something 
new. Yet there are possibilities outside 
that are worth seeking. Hedge plants are 
invariably chosen along a certain line of 
well-tried things, which occasionally be- 
come monotonous. In greatest popularity, 
the Osage orange has given way to the Jap- 
anese or Californian privet. Honey lo- 
cust, buckthorn, althiea, Japanese ber- 
berry, Pyrus,japonica, hemlock and Nor- 
way spruce are all pretty largely used in 
about the same quantities. Rosa rugosa, 
very popular for massing as shrubbery, is 
gradually coming into use. What a very 
small list it is! Two of the prettiest sights 
I ever beheld were long rows of the Jap- 
anese blood-leaved maple and Spiraea 
Van Houttii, the latter in full bloom. 
Both are well adapted for hedge purposes, 
although the spiraea cannot have the usual 
method of trimming. But what a relief to 
get away from the regular routine and two 
trimmings each year. Instead, there 
would be the annual thinning out of old 
shoots in the Winter and the result, a 
graceful, symmetrical hedge, its flow ering 
unexcelled for showincss. The Japanese 
maple would come expensive; but lots of 
men would put many times the necessary 
amount in a dressed stonewall and get no 
more pleasure out of it. By annual trim- 
ming it could be kept two feet high, and 
in color form a sight that will repay the 
cost. A Japanese holly. Ilex crenata, 
makes a fine, rare, evergreen hedge; but 
the plants are not to be had in great quanti- 
ties. The following would all prove de- 
sirable; Spirsea Thunbergii, Hydrangea p. 
g., flowering almond, Vib ir.ium prunf o- 
lium, Azilea amoena, Deutzia gracilis, 
cephalotaxus (eveigreen). Lawson's cy- 
press, pines, 1 etinosporas, v ew's, etc.,- J), 
Mend e Ison Meehan in Florist's Exchange. 
» ■«■ * 
Lobelia Cardinalis. 
The Lobelia cardinalis, or Cardinal 
Flower, is the most showy of our native 
plants. Its rich, cardinal- red shade is ex- 
tremely rare in flowers; in fact, we can 
recall no other wild flower of the same 
gorgeous hue. Though growing naturally 
in rather wet spots, it takes kindly to cul- 
tivation and will grow and blossom very 
satisfactorily in almost any location, par 
ticularly if it is where a dash of water can 
be given it once in a while. It begins to 
blossom in July, and the long spikes of 
brilliant flowers will continue opening to 
the very tip, lasting until the latter part 
of August. 
Numerous side shoots spring out from 
the main stalk and lengthen the time of 
flowering, and these little sprays mixed 
with some fern fronds are lovely for table 
decoration. 
The plant can be raised successfully 
from seed, but will not bloom until the 
second year. With us, while not common, 
it is sufficiently plenty that roots can al- 
ways be obtained if you know where to go 
for them. I have found that after the 
seeds have ripened the flower stalk with- 
ers and in the fall a new growth starts, 
forming a little green rosette of leaves 
and this is the best time for transplanting. 
This summer I found a plant with pure 
pink Iblossoins growing in the midst of 
hundreds of the typical colored flowers. 
1 thought jit a rare find, as I had never 
seen or heard of any such before. Later* 
I found that one of the same color was 
growing in a bed ofseedlings at Highland 
Park.— A, B. in Vick's Magazine. 
* * * 
Mulching for "Winter. 
One of the most important matters for 
consideration at this season of the tear is 
that of mulchirg trees, shrubs and other 
plants for winter. The mulch which we 
apply in autumn is to accomplish a differ- 
ent purpose than our spring mulching. 
What we do now is mainly to prevent the 
soil freezing about the plants, to some ex- 
tent at least. To newly planted trees and 
shrubs the mulching is almost essential as, 
unquestionabjy, they are very much the 
better for having their roots in unfrozen 
soil. And when there are cases of doubt 
ful hardiness, shrubs or trees which are 
known to suffer in hard winters,j ust mulch 
them and see how much better they will 
thrive. In my own experience I have been 
able to carry many such a plant throug'h' 
the winter by the aid of a good mulch. 
In the case of such things as have been 
recently transplanted many more will be 
ahve and flourishing when spring comes 
if mulched at this time. There is such a 
check from the transplanting that they 
need help and this mulch gives by provid- 
ing unfrozen ground for the roots. Ma- 
nure is perhaps the best of materials to 
use because it accomplishes two objects, 
enriching the ground as well as protecting 
the roots. Aside from this, forest leaves 
are the best of all. They are easily han- 
dled and it takes very few to keep out a 
great deal of frost. With zero temperature 
the soil w ould be open that was under five 
to six inches of leaves. But less thickness 
than this will answer, as it does not matter 
if a little freezing does occur. 
A prominent and successful landscape 
gardener whom I have in mind had a way 
of mulching large trees set in the fall, 
which answers well. His plan was to pro- 
cure a half cart-load of soil, and this much 
was mounded up about each tree. Not 
only did this keep out the frost but it kept 
the tree steadily in place, and better suc- 
cess than he had could not be wished for. 
It is the swaying about of large trees of 
this character that causes so many of them 
to fail. There is not the close contact be- 
tween root and soil that there must be to 
ensure success. When spring comes a'\ 
mulchings except that of manure are to 
be removed. Manure will usually have 
pretty well disappeared by that time. 
Referring again to partly tender shrubs, 
although the rhododendron is not so 
counted here, it is one vastly benefited 
by a mulching to keep frost from its roots. 
The great lot ( f foliage it carries calls for 
the supply of moisture by the roots to 
make good what it loses in cold, windy 
weather, and these calls can be the better 
met when no frost is about their roots. — 
Joseph Meehan in Gardening. 
* * * 
Raising New "Varieties of Roses. 
For those who desire to experiment with 
raising new varieties of roses, a variety, 
known as General Jacqueminot, is almost 
essential. 1 he pollen hasstrongtendency, 
and the pistils are also healthy and vigor- 
ous to such an extent that it frequently 
bears abundant seed vessels of its own. It 
can therefore play an important part 
either as a male or female parent in cross- 
ing for new varieties. There are some 
roses that it would be very desirable to 
improve, but, on account of lack of vitality 
in some of the organs, it is impo.ssible to 
improve. The common Crimson Bour- 
sault is one of this character. Any one 
who would take it in hand to improve, and 
really effected an improvement, would 
make his fortune. It is of the hardiest of 
our roses, and yet of a very remarkably 
vigorous character. "When in bloom with 
its multitude of bright crimson flowers, it 
is a source of genuine pleasure to the 
lover of roses. But it cannot be improved 
because its stamens are always without 
perfect pollen. The anthers are there, 
but they do not produce a single pollen 
grain. If, however, it was taken in hand 
by some enthusiastic rose grower, the pol- 
len of some strong hardy variety used to 
fertilize the flowers, it might possibly be 
improved, — indeed, the probabilities are 
all in its favor. The raising of new roses, 
at any rate, is very interesting employ- 
ment, and the American gardener would 
find it to aid materially in his gardening 
pleasures. — Meehan's Monthly. 
