142 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
Hn IRursecy IRows. 
Large numbers of white birches are dying this season. Can 
you tell us what is the cause. B. B. Co. 
We would be glad to publish the opinion of anyone who 
has an explanation. Professor Bailey, of Cornell University, 
says he has received several complaints, but has not yet in¬ 
vestigated the matter. 
“Can you give me any instruction on winter budding. Is 
this method successful and profitable?” S. H. L. 
Winter budding is practiced in the South and according to 
a recent article is becoming popular in some sections. Upon 
this subject Secretary A. H. Manville of the Glen St. Mary 
Nursery Co., Glen St. Mary, Fla., says: “Winter budding is 
successful. While we do not consider it a feasible method on 
an extensive scale, we use this method frequently, particularly 
when we want to multiply a new variety rapidly. The method 
is simple. The bud is cut in the ordinary way and a corres¬ 
ponding section removed from the stock, an incision being 
made in the stock at the bottom of the cut to receive the lower 
end of the bud which is held securely in place by ligatures. 
The bud should be inserted low in the stock and covered with 
earth as soon as the operation is performed. We usually bud 
stocks in this way as they stand in the open ground, and throw 
up the earth with a plow. This earthing up we consider the 
essential point in the operation.” 
Much has been said for and something against Japanese 
plums. What is the consensus of conservative opinion in the 
light of recent tests ? M. D. L. 
The introduction of the Japanese plums in America is one 
of the notable pomological events of the present century, says 
Professor H E. Van Deman. It has opened a new field, 
because the varieties imported direct from Japan, good as they 
are, are only the stock from which to propagate numerous 
seedlings and crosses with other species of the plum family, 
and some of these are already beginning to appear. The large 
size and handsome colors of the Japanese plums make them 
very attractive, and the good quality of the most of them 
pleases the taste. The firmness of the flesh enables the fruit 
to be carried almost without injury over long distances. The 
trees are mostly of good shape and sturdy habit, and bear 
almost too well. In fact, they must be carefully watched and 
the fruit thinned, or the trees will be greatly overloaded and 
injured. The varieties range in color from almost white to 
dark purple, and some are as red to the stone as any cherry, 
The season of ripening extends from very early to very late. 
All varieties, except Kelsey, seem to be hardy as far north as 
Massachusetts, Michigan and Iowa, yet they do well along the 
Gulf of Mexico. They are practically proof against the ravages 
of the black knot and leaf-blight. On the other hand, the trees 
bloom so early in the season that in some sections they are apt 
to have the crop cut off by frost, although there are cases 
where they have bloomed and set fruit, and were practically 
out of danger before the later kinds reached their tender age, 
and were seriously hurt by late frosts. The fruit is subject to 
rot in some sections, and under certain climatic conditions. 
There is a peculiar flavor running through nearly the whole 
list of varieties, that in a few of them, and to some persons, is 
almost bitter. But considering all things, the nurseryman, 
the fruit grower, the merchant and the consumer, like the 
Japanese plums already, with but few exceptions. The 
canners are pleased with them, also, and there is likely to be a 
great future to this part of the business. I never ate any 
preserved fruit so deliciously flavored as Satsuma plums. 
How long have the orchid-flowering cannas been grown and 
do they promise to become popular? T. G. McK. 
Upon this subject a writer in The Gardener s Magazine , 
London, recently said : One of the most remarkable instances 
of what can be done by selection, crossing and hybridizing to 
improve a class of plants is shown by the present race of can¬ 
nas. It is not long since cannas were only utilized for produc¬ 
ing sub-tropical effects in the flower garden, or for the decora¬ 
tion of large conservatories where masses of foliage were 
needed. Now, however, all this has changed ; first, we had 
the tall and stately growths and bold foliage, surmounted by 
pretty flowers, but very soon it became evident to those who 
were at work on the genus that a dwarfer habit was necessary 
ere the plants would become popular. The result of much 
pains and patience was the fine varieties known comprehen¬ 
sively as the Crozy cannas, of which Madame Crozy was for a 
long time the best and most brilliant. Many growers soon saw 
that such cannas must become popular, and so numerous 
nurserymen took up the work of crossing and selection, follow¬ 
ing much the same lines that M. Grozy of Lyons, had worked 
upon. Several English firms raised a number of seedlings, 
and some of these are among the best now being grown. In 
addition to the Crozy varieties, which multiplied quickly, and 
the few English forms, there came some from the United States 
also of good form and substance, dwarf and handsome ; prob¬ 
ably Star of ’91 was the first thoroughly good American canna 
introduced to Europe. 
While we all admired these charming and useful plants, and 
thanked their raisers and introducers for such valuable addi¬ 
tions to our list of subjects suitable for conservatory decora¬ 
tion, for summer bedding, for grouping and for cut flowers, we 
came to the conclusion that progress could be made no farther. 
It became generally understood that the largest flowers, the 
most brilliant colors and the most suitable habit had been 
obtained, and that we had ended the possibilities of cannas 
though not their usefulness. In this matter, however, most 
horticulturists were mistaken, as the newer orchid-flowering 
cannas have proved. The honor of raising this new set is due 
to M. Sprenger, a partner in the firm of Messrs. Dammann and 
Co. of San Giovanni h Teduccio, near Naples, Italy. This 
gentleman saw that beyond a slight variation in coloration it 
was hopeless to expect anything new by intercrossing the best 
of the existing cannas, consequently he was led to study the 
species of cannas, and in C. flaccida he found a plant that he 
hoped would provide a new break. C. flaccida is a native of 
the southern United States, and grows about three and one half 
feet high, and has large flowers with one segment somewhat 
abnormally developed. M. Sprenger obtained some of the 
finest forms of this species, and then began to experiment. 
A number of other fine varieties have been raised, but these 
are not yet in commerce. The tendency should now be to 
reduce the height of this new section, though in some varieties 
there is little to be done in this direction. Up to the present 
but few of Messrs. Dammann and Co.’s cannas have been seen 
in England, but those that have been exhibited, especially C. 
Italia and C. Austria, have gained honors and been greatly 
admired. 
