1884.] 
AMEEICA^T AGEIOULTUEIST, 
20T 
us, that the best and most %'aluable forests of the 
United States are rapidly disappearing, and the 
sooner we eommence as a nation to economize in 
the use of wood of all kinds, and preserve the for¬ 
ests now existing, as well as commence tlie plant¬ 
ing of new ones, tlie better it will be for the 
present as well as future generation. 
It is not necessary to. select the best and most 
fertile land upon which to raise trees, for any that is 
' rich enough to give the plants a good start in life 
will answer, because the annual’dressing of leaves 
that the soil receives will be sufficient to keep the 
trees growing. There are doubtless many situa¬ 
tions, where a single ti'ee would not thrive, as on a 
prairie, a bleak hillside, or other exposed positions, 
where by planting a number together, they would 
mutually protect each other, and usually take 
care of themselves. We have millions of acres of 
barren,-naked, sandy, rocky, and otherwise unpro¬ 
ductive lands, that might readily be covered with 
valuable forests. Large plantations of forest trees 
have been established in Europe, and there is no 
good reason why the same should not be done in 
America. Let us do it now. A. S. E. 
The Water TJ’intjies. 
Those who have upon their grounds a small body 
of water, no matter how small, provided it does not 
dry up in summer, can enjoy a number of beautiful 
and interesting plants, which can only be grow'n as 
aquatics. A collection of the Water Lilies, whieh; 
besides ourown, with its rich fragrance and-dazzling 
whiteness, together with its fine pink variety, 
would include exotic red, blue and other species. 
Besides the water lilies, there are a number of less 
conspicuous plants, none of which are more desir¬ 
able than the Water Uintjies. We have not been 
able to find out what “Uintjies ” means, but it is 
said to be a term applied at the Cape of Good Hope 
to the plant known to the botanists as Aponogeton 
distachyon, ah aquatic plant related to our native 
Arrowhead, so common in swamps. Aponogeton is 
said to be a mongrel name, 'between Celtic and 
Greek, and to mean “near water,” wdiiqji is not 
very descriptive of this plant, which is a thorougli 
aquatic. From a tuber about the size of a hen’s 
egg, there arise numerous leaves, upon long, slen¬ 
der leaf-stalks. The leaves float, are from a foot to 
eighteen inches long, of the shape shown in the en¬ 
graving, and of a clear green color. Tl>e flower 
stalks arise among the leaves, are divided at the top 
to form two branches, upon the surface of which 
are placed the flowers. These have neither calyx 
nor corolla; they consist of obtuse, ivory-white 
THE WATER UINTJIES {Aponogcton distachyon). 
bracts, in the axils of each of which are twelve 
stamens, with dark-purple anthers, and four to six 
pistils. The plant is odd in its general appearance, 
buk is noted for its abundant and most exquisite 
fragrance. It flowers continuously all summer, 
i Though it comes from the Cape, it is hardy in New 
i 
England, and would probably bo so in all but the 
very severe portions of our country. It is said 
that the flower-stalks and tubers arc eaten in Africa. 
Isolated Trees with Decorative Sur¬ 
roundings. 
Much of the French decorative planting is too 
elaborate to be successfully copied in our climate. 
They have, however, 
a method of surround¬ 
ing isoiated trees up¬ 
on a lawn, which may 
sometimes be adopted 
by us with good effeet. 
Mr. Edward Andre, 
one of the most judi¬ 
cious French garden 
designers, in commu¬ 
nicating the iilustra- 
tion to the “ Revue 
Horticole,” which we 
here reproduce, says 
that this is a kind of or¬ 
namentation that may 
easily be overdone,and 
advises great modera¬ 
tion in its employment. 
It is best suited to 
young specimen con¬ 
ifers, furnished with 
branches quite to the 
ground, such as a well- 
grown spruce, a Law¬ 
son’s cypress, etc. Gay 
flowers would be out 
of place, the object be¬ 
ing to make use of 
colors that will make 
a striking contrast 
with the lawn. In the 
example illustrated, a 
circular bed of some 
dark colored Coleus 
was planted next to 
the tree, and extend¬ 
ing quite up to it. This 
was surrounded by a 
many-pointed star with rounded angles planted 
with “Dusty Miller” {Cineraria maritima), kept 
low by severe cutting. At the points, or where 
the adjoining arcs unite, small circles are formed 
in the middle of each of which are plants of Ire- 
sine acuminata. We give this design as a sugges¬ 
tion, and one capable of being varied in many 
ways. Ivy, pegged down, and the Golden-netted 
Japanese Honeysuckle, the charming Hetinispora 
plumosa aurea, wliich may be kept at a hight of a few 
inches might be planted. Ivy with Dusty Miller 
makes a fine contrast. Indeed one who wishes to 
attempt this kind of ornamentation will find an 
abundance of materials suited to the purpose. 
Grapes Hera and There—The Ives. 
Some twenty years ago the Coneord was adver¬ 
tised far and wMde as “ The Grape for the Million.” 
It was indeed successful over a wide extent of 
country, and did much to popularize grape culture, 
as it would yield grapes undpr neglect. But after 
a while localities were discovered in which even 
the Concord would rot, and was worthless. It was 
generally successful—with exceptions. Then came 
the Ives grape, an Ohio seedling, probably of the 
Hartford Prolific, for which was claimed all the 
good qualities of the Concord, and a superiority 
to that variety as a wine grape. Some eighteen 
years ago we visited the first vineyard of the Ives, 
ever planted, and more healthy, fruitful, vines 
were never seen. As to quality, not much can be 
said ; there are some poorer grapes, and many bet¬ 
ter, but it seemed that one who had a vine of the 
Ives, would have an abundance of grapes, and his 
success with this indifferent kind would lead to a 
trial of better varieties. Wishing to know more 
about the Ives, we planted six vines of this variety 
in our experimental vineyard. When these came 
into bearing, they bore abundantly, but failed to 
ripen. The berries, wlien full-grown, cracked 
open, rotted, and did everything that a grape ought 
not to do. After this liad been repeated year after 
year, the number of vines of the Ives was reduced 
to two. Several years ago, Mr. Geo. A. Meissner, 
one of our most intelligent viticulturists, called on 
us; in agencral talk upon grapes, we gave him our 
experience with the Ives. This so astonished him. 
that we brought him specimens of the fruit, that at 
that time should be just ripening. After keeping 
tw’o vines of the Ives for several years, tlie number 
w’as reduced to one, which is continued as an in¬ 
structive specimen. Some weeks ago, in writing 
Mr. Meissner, among other grape gossip, wo men¬ 
tioned, in reference to a former conversation, that 
our remaining vine of the Ives, in a vineyard of 
over fifty varieties, had never given us a single per¬ 
fect berry. In reply, Mr. M. wrote the following, 
which, though in a private letter, is so full of good 
sense, that we venture to publish it. He says: 
“ What you say with reference to Ives and Elvira 
with you, proves again that we must not expect any 
variety to do well in all different sections. The 
Ives is, here, Jefferson Co., Mo., and especially in 
the country south and southeast of here, one of 
the most reliable and surest grapes, though its qual¬ 
ity is always inferior, compared with the finer and 
better varieties. The Elvira, on the other hand, 
is rapidly growing in favor, especially in the lake 
regions of Ohio, on the islands in Lake Erie, etc., 
where it is now being planted very extensively.” 
Here follow these words of wisdom from a grape- 
grower of the widest experience, wdiich we com¬ 
mend to those who arc searching for “ the grape 
for the million.” Mr. Meissner continues: “Tlius 
every section will have varieties which are specially 
adapted to its locality, soil and climate. But in 
this very question of adaptability of the varieties, 
there is yet a great deal to be learned. Experience 
is the best teacher in this matter.” Let us hear no 
more about “the grape for the million,” but let 
each cultivator endeavor to ascertain which varie¬ 
ties of grapes are best for his locality and soil. 
With the grape, as with other fruits, catalogues 
are not a sure guide. Neighborhood experience 
is much better than that ot wider districts. 
A TREE SURROUNDED BY A BORDER. 
