PARK AND CKMKTKRY 
154 
and F. lancifolia, violet purple. There is generally a 
good deal of yellow in the herbaceous garden in au- 
tumn. which such plants as these Funkias help to 
relieve. 
There are two species of Tamarix which flower in 
autumn, Indica and Japonica. The delicate foliage of 
these shrubs is much admired, besides their sprays 
of light pink flowers. 
Andromeda Mariana is not only the prettiest of all 
native sorts, but it often flowers to some extent in 
.■September, as it did this year. While not equal to 
the spring display, it is quite pretty. 
As mentioned before, the Colorado evergreens are 
among the best for northern planters. The Silver 
Fir, Blue Spruce, Douglas. Spruce, Finns ponderosa 
and P. flexilis all do well here, while their repre- 
sentatives from the Pacific coast do not succeed sat- 
isfactorily. 
The Scotch pine, admirable as it is when young, 
is really less so than when it is older. It then takes 
on a quite red colored bark, which contrasts nicely 
with its silvery foliage, and adds to the interest of the 
grounds on which it is. 
Privet hedges set in the fall should be well mulched 
before winter sets in, and if the plants are well cut 
back, so much the better. 
Mulching of all fresh planted stock is very desira- 
ble. feeding the plants and keeping out the frost — 
both great helps toward success. 
Clematis paniculata seeds will soon be ripe. Sown 
in midwinter, in boxes, in a greenhouse, they ger- 
minate in spring. If kept in a cool place, not dry, 
and sown outdoors, they will usually come up the 
same season, though sometimes not till the next. 
Among golden-leaved plants, beautiful in late 
summer, few are as good as the golden Ptelea and 
the golden elder. They need setting in clumps to 
make the best display. When well pruned in spring, 
and in rich ground, their young growth is particu- 
larly handsome. 
Magnolia Kobus is perhaps more noticed for its 
curiously contorted seed pods than for its early white 
flowers. The contortions take on the shape of newly 
hatched birds and many other odd shapes. 
Rhus Osbeckii, one of the Chinese Sumachs, pro- 
duces its large heads of yellowish white flowers in 
August, for which reason it is much planted. If its 
foliage changed to a rich crimson, as our sumachs do, 
it would add to its value very much, but this it does 
not do. 
The three varieties of Vitex agnus-castus should be 
planted for September flowers. These shrubs die 
back partly in winter. When spring comes it is bet- 
ter to cut them down still lower, as they flower from 
the shoots of the same season. 
Althsea, the Rose of Sharon, exists now in many 
varieties, and they enliven the lawn greatly in late 
summer. They flower better when well pruned in 
Vi inter or early spring. The two sorts with varie- 
gated leaves are much used for ornamental hedges, 
being kept in shape by annual pruning. Althaeas aie 
easily raised from hard wood cuttings. 
More attention might be given to Spiraeas for au- 
tumn blooming. At this writing, the close of Sep- 
tember, there are in flower the following kinds : 
Bumalda, A. W’aterer, Regeliana, Douglasii and 
others. When thrifty plants are cut back in spring, 
the flowering is profuse now. This is the case with 
Bumalda and A. Waterer, which have more flowers 
now than at any other time this season. 
The seed-bearing Ailanthus, besides having less 
objectionable odor than the male, is quite ornamental 
when hanging full of its large clusters of seeds. It is 
propagated by root cuttings. 
When planting this fall keep in mind that the 
beautiful Cornus Mas is among the very first to 
flower in spring, and set out one or more of it. A 
foreign species, C. officinalis, resembles it a good 
deal, and flowers at the same time. 
Ziziphus vulgaris, a quite scarce tree in collections, 
and one noted for its beautiful glossy green leaves, 
can be increased by' root cuttings, as well as by seeds. 
It is sometimes erroneously called Christ thorn, a 
name properly belonging to Paliurus aculeatus. 
Aralia spinosa is greatly admired for its profuse 
display of flowers and fruit in September. Its closely 
allied genus, Dimorphanthus, helps along the display, 
as it flowers a few weeks in advance of Aralia. 
The usefulness of Aster Novae-anglia has often 
been referred to, but not too often. There is no bet- 
ter aster for September display, nor indeed a better 
flower of any kind. Its flowers are purple. Its va- 
riety, rosea, has lovely rose colored flowers, and 
should be added to all collections. These asters grow 
readily from seeds sown in spring. 
Joseph Meehan. 
WEED KILLER. 
Editor Park and Cemetery: In response to many re- 
quests for the formula for the weed killer mentioned by 
me at Pittsburg, I give the recipe as follows: 
Twenty pounds arsenic in 15 gallons cold water. Boil, 
stirring well. Add 35 gallons cold water and 40 lbs. caus- 
tic soda and boil and stir again. One part of this mixture 
is diluted for use with 4 parts of water. If the weeds 
are very large and deep rooted, r part to 3% may be 
better, while for very small weeds i part to 5 will be ef- 
fective. It is best applied a few hours after a rain. If 
the weather is very hot and dry, the roads to be treated 
should be sprinkled, say a half hour before the killer is 
applied. Care should be used not to wet the borders with 
the solution. 
It is a deadly poison and should be kept in a safe phicc. 
its nature being carefully explained to all who are to 
handle it. 
W. N. Rudd. 
