1913. 
THE KURAE NEW-YORKER 
lOOl 
Ruralisms 
POPULAR PLANTS AND THEIR CARE. 
Part II. 
Clematis. —Clematis is a splendid, 
hardy vine for use upon trellises and 
lattice work. There are many varieties 
but, doubtless, the most popular is the 
Jackmannii. This is an English sort and 
is noted for its fine, large purple flowers. 
It blooms in latter June and is a great 
attraction when in full flower. Of all 
the many varieties, this one requires 
more oare in planting, as the loss of 
many a sturdy vine is directly traceable 
to lack of knowledge and judgment in 
this most important operation. Rich 
soil is necessary and the roots of the 
plant must be spread in a natural posi¬ 
tion before the soil is settled about them. 
After being careful that the plant is 
properly firmed—which is done by the 
use of the foot or tamper—the water 
should be given generously. This work 
having been performed in this pains¬ 
taking manner, provided the ground about 
the vine be kept loose until it is thor¬ 
oughly established, this beautiful Cle¬ 
matis should do well and prosper. 
Clematis paniculata is noted for a pro¬ 
fusion of little cross-shaped white flowers 
which are delicately scented. Beginning 
to blossom in July, it remains a verit¬ 
able wall of white for a long period. 
The plant is extremely hardy, and in 
the late Fall, a crop of seed from which 
the young vines are propagated, can be 
gathered. Madame Edouard Andre is a 
choice variety, having large red flowers 
of the Jackmanni type. Clematis Ilenryi 
is a choice sort with large white blooms, 
and by many is considered the best of 
FOUR-YEAR-OLD CLEMATIS 
JACKMANNI. 
its color. With the exception of the 
Jackmanni, Clematis ordinarily makes 
a vigorous growth, sending its roots 
deeply into the earth, and requires little 
care save regular watering. For screen¬ 
ing purposes and for supplying shade, 
and at the same time bearing an abund¬ 
ance of attractive flowers, the Clematis 
has no equal in the long list of hardy 
vines. 
Araucarias, Ferns and Palms.— 
Araucaria excelsa, commonly called the 
Norfolk Island pine is a very graceful 
plant, and well suited to either the win¬ 
dow or veranda. It does best when in 
the shade and likes a light, sandy soil 
with a moderate supply of water. De¬ 
lighting in a rather cool temperature, it 
can be placed outside earlier than the 
ferns, and kept there later in the Fall. 
When the plant acquires several tiers of 
leaves—being several feet in height by 
that time—it is a good plan to plunge 
the pot in the soil upon the lawn, choos¬ 
ing a slightly shaded place, thus getting 
the effect of a rare little exotic in its 
permanent place. Of all the ferns, the 
Boston is the most popular, a hundred 
of them being in use to one of any other 
kind. This form sprang from the old 
sword fern with its stiff, upright fronds, 
and it is needless to say, is much of an 
improvement. There are many fancy 
ferns upon the market which trace their 
ancestry to the Boston variety or its 
descendants, notably Piersoni, a choice 
fern; Whitmani, a very popular one, 
etc., which are selected for various pur¬ 
poses and have their hosts of admirers. 
1 hese ferns are of free and easy growth 
and yet, it is remarkable how many 
People fail with them. There are com¬ 
monly but two reasons for this: First, 
the giving of too much water, such as 
is indicated by the presence of it within 
the saucer beneath the pot, which con¬ 
dition sours the soil, rendering inopera¬ 
tive its growing properties; and second, 
permitting the plant to remain in the pot 
long after every particle of plant food 
that the limited quantity of soil in the 
vessel contained, is consumed. In this 
state the roots become potbound and 
the leaves or fronds of the fern lose 
their deep green hue and become pale 
and yellow. Sometimes when in this con¬ 
dition fertilizers are applied in hope of 
restoring the pristine vigor of the plant, 
but of no avail. In this state of health, 
the only thing to do is to knock out the 
plant, reduce the ball of earth two-thirds 
and put the plant into a larger pot in 
rich soil. By giving water only when 
the soil show's an unmistakable sign of 
dryness—never permitting it to become 
bone dry—and by protecting the fern 
from the bright sunlight it should soon 
grow into a healthy specimen again. 
No plant is more thoroughly at home 
in the living room or upon the veranda 
than the palm. A favorite for genera¬ 
tions, it still retains its important place 
among popular ornamental plants of to¬ 
day. The palm is of slow' growth and 
to get a small-sized one and watch it 
grow’ from year to year, is quite inter¬ 
esting. They love the shade and a lib¬ 
eral supply of water, especially if the 
earth in the pot or tub is porous, with 
some drainage in the bottom. A syring¬ 
ing each day keeps the leaves in health 
by preventing insects from troubling 
them. Mealy bug can be washed of in 
this manner, but to remove scale, it is 
necessary to use a sponge moistened 
with kerosene. The palm is a valuable 
plant and much care should be taken to 
keep it in as healthy condition as pos¬ 
sible, because when not in this state 
and pest-ridden besides, it is a very un¬ 
sightly object indeed. The Washington 
weeping palm is noted for its broad, 
gracefully drooping leaves w'hich suggest 
the tropics. The Phoenix class grow up¬ 
right and are very stately and orna¬ 
mental. The Iventias resemble somewhat 
the Phoenix type, having deeply notched 
leaves, mounted on long stiff stems. All 
these sorts possess splendid decorative 
qualities, and it remains much a matter 
of personal taste as to the particular 
ones to choose; the care the individual 
plants are given is of infinitely more 
importance. j. M . L. 
Treatment of Persian Walnuts. 
I have a few English w'alnut trees 
which just grow and that is all. They 
have been set out four years and are 
about four inches taller than when plant¬ 
ed. The texture of the soil is Dunkirk 
fine sand loam rich in humus. I wish 
to know what is the best w'ay to hurry 
them, if any? s . j. E. 
Fairport, N. Y. 
It is no wonder that the little trees of 
the Persian (English) walnut are com¬ 
plained of as not growing more than a 
few’ inches in a few’ years for I have 
seen many doing just so in several of the 
Northern States. Why they behave so 
I cannot understand unless the climate 
is unsuitable. As I am writing this re¬ 
ply at my Summer place in Northern 
Michigan I can see before me a tree of 
this species from a nut that I planted 
four years ago that is not over 20 inches 
high, and that has a feeble look, while 
within a few feet of it are Black walnut 
and chestnut seedlings that are from 
nuts planted at the same time that are 
more than six feet tall and growing vig¬ 
orously. And I have seen the same thing 
in New’ York, yet not in all cases. There 
are large, vigorous and fruitful Persian 
walnut trees in and about Rochester, 
Lockport and other places in that gen¬ 
eral region and I have faith in the suc¬ 
cessful culture of this tree there. In¬ 
deed, it is an accomplished fact in some 
cases, but why not in all I do not see, 
except where it is so cold as to kill back 
the trees in Winter, as I have seen done 
in Onondaga County for several years 
Past. In the lake region, where peaches 
are a success the walnut ought to flour¬ 
ish and at Fairport ought to succeed. 
The trees may not have been well rooted 
when set. The soil as described ought 
to be excellent. Try mulching with old, 
coarse, cow manure, h. e. van deman. 
i J 
“Do you assimilate your food, Mrs. 
Jones?” “No, we don’t. We pay cash 
on the spot.”—Baltimore American. 
I i 
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