February 13, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
137 
the flowers are set off with the dark brown leaf-stalks. Many 
more of these Star Primulas might be mentioned, as, indeed, 
could be said of the other strains at Reading, but those who 
wish to see them in all their beauty should make a point of 
running down to Reading should they happen to be up London, 
way. 
New England Park Superintendents. 
(Concluded from page 76.) 
Hartford, Conn., May 29th, 1903. 
I have not the tune to add to' this a® much as I -would like 
to. My plea—want of time—is almost chronic with me. 
G. A. Parker. 
In this district California Privet is either killed or" pretty 
well cut to the ground. It is probable that the early and 
severe cold in December of last, year was. too severe for the not 
thoroughly ripened wood, or it may be that Nature, feeling 
outraged at the misuse of the plant, swept, it away with the 
besom of destruction. In any event, a. lesson has been ruth¬ 
lessly taught., and it will be well if we. profit by it. Why such 
a stiff, unnatural-looking plant should be selected for hedges it 
would be hard to say, seeing that plenty of better material is 
available, even among the Privets. Ibota and vulgaris are 
handsomer 'and hardier, and would make a, hedge of softer 
outline than ovalifoiium. Then w r e have the Thorns, Crataegus 
crus-galli, C. mollis, C. tomentosa, and C. coccinea., which make 
good hedge plants. What is prettier 1 than Japan Barberry 
(Berberis Thunbergii) for low hedges or Berberis vulgaris for 
taller work? The Buckthorn (Rhamnus oatharticusi) and 
Rhamnus Frangula make excellent hedges, as do Beeches and 
Hornbeams. California, Privet is fast growing and easy of 
propagation, and it is possible these qualities alone have been 
the reasons for its being pushed by nurserymen for hedge pur¬ 
poses; let. us hope that its day is over, and that the orthodox 
hedge of California Privet will not in future occupy the front 
of the stage, as it has done in the past. J. A. Pettigrew. 
I am not up much on, grasses. I did have a, steep, sand-bank, 
and to prevent its washing I covered it with Rosa wichuriana 
three years ago, which isi doing very well, and I think prevent® 
the bank from washing down. If you put loam on. and then 
sow the grass-vseed, how are you going to prevent, the loam from 
washing down ? 
I would like to. hear' about the Elm-leaf beetle this year. 
We have found a, very few. We did not do any spraying, only 
for one or two private parties. The reason, is that the city 
council did not appropriate any money. The trees in our city 
never looked better than they do this year. The reason I give 
is that we did good work through last year, and the cold weti 
weather wei had in June this year. But we hear that, the Maple 
trees are suffering from some kind of an insect, but, have not 
seen, them yet. I would like to hear from someone else about 
them. Chas. S. Anthony. 
Wachusett Reservation, Princeton, Mass. 
Will someone tell me the best time and the best method of 
planting "Water Lilies, and where I may obtain the seeds? 
Guy H. Chase. 
Have planted roots of Water Lilies, by attaching a, weight 
and dropping them in the ponds. Did not obtain good results, 
but attributed the failure to the large number of musk rats that 
infest the waters in this vicinity. 
Have any of the members been able to, establish Water 
Lilies in ponds frequented by musk rats? Chas. P. Price. 
Boston, Mass., August 12th, 1903. 
Red Fescue (Festuca, rubra) is not only good for putting 
greens, it is also good for holding sand banks and shifting sands 
near the sea shore. It, is also good for woodland parks, and 
deserves more general use. Various-leaved Fescue (Festuca 
heterophylla) is an excellent grass for use in densely-shaded 
situations. So also, is Kentucky Bluegras® (Poa pratensis) if 
care is. taken: in watering, and by occasional applications of lime 
to keep land from becoming sour and sodden, and with surface 
cultivation of soil by means of an iron-toothed rake. Smooth 
Bronie-grass (Bromus inermiisi) thrives well on dry, loose soil, 
and hasi unusual droughbresisting powers. It is not so, difficult 
to, eradicate as Couchgrass. As a sand-binder, Sandgrass 
(Calamovilfa, longifolia,) is probably unsurpassed. 
The revised “Bulletin No. 14,” United States Department 
of Agriculture, Division of Agrostology, on the subject 
“ Economic Grasses,” is 1 a very valuable publication on this 
subject. Descriptions! of 250 species will be found in the body 
of the work, and special lists follow, lawm grasses, grasses for 
wet lands, for embankments and for 1 holding, shifting sands, as 
well as hay and pasture grasses. An article on “ Lawn and 
Primula Star Ruby. (Seep. 136.) 
Lawn Making ” from the same office is to, the point and prac¬ 
tical. 
Every six or seven years Ligustrum ovalifoiium is killed to 
the ground. A few hot days followed by biting frost seems to 
be the cause. A fermentation of the sap is the result. By 
severe pruning and good care many hedges in this vicinity killed 
almost to the ground last winter are now 2 ft. high and very 
vigorous. As a formal hedge this: plant holds a, place, it is so 
clean and bright and trim. For natural planting Ligustrum 
Ibota, L. medium and L. vulgare are safer and are not so stiff. 
Edward P. Adams. 
Triticum repens, the common Witch Couchgrass, will grow 
anywhere, even on a rock, and will thrive where you don t 
want it to. I doubt if any other variety of grasses ever had 
so, many darn: words uttered in relation to its staying qualities 
