F. W. SCHUMACHER fs : ; 4 Sandwich, Mass. 
NOTES OF INTEREST 
DORMANCY IN SEEDS OF PINE, SPRUCE, OTHER CONIFERS — Failure 
to germinate promptly certain conifer seeds is often due to the fact that no 
consideration had been given to dormancy factors. Seeds most usually con- 
cerned are: — White Spruce, White Pine, other Pines of i Cembra, Flex- 
ilis and Strobus groups. 
In Fir (Abies), Hemlock (Tsuga), Donel Fir (Pseudotsuga) Sitka 
Spruce dormancy occurrence is variable with dormancy found in some lots 
and none in others. 
In Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) fifty percent of seeds are dormant, the 
other half fast germinating. 
Late spring planting of all of the before mentioned is apt to result in 
total failure or partial germination only. Fall planting for some, early spring 
planting for others or pre-treatment (stratification) of seed lots will be 
required for best results. Growers are requested: — 
A. To consult reference books for these problems. 
B. For earliest spring planting tc prepare their beds in the fall, not to 
touch bed surface at sowing time but to dress with dry peatmoss, sow 
and cover with peatmoss and shades. Boarding-in of beds will facilitate 
this procedure. 
ABIES ALBA PECTINATA — SILVER FIR —the preferred Christmas tree 
(Tannenbaum) in Central Europe. Recommended for trial in place of 
Balsam Fir over which it has the advantage of dark green needle color and 
of being more submissive to cultivation. 
ROSA PRIMULA (formerly ecae) —with pale yellow flowers preceding 
its close relative Rosa hugonis and surpassing it in these points: Ease of cul- 
tivation, faster and larger increase, healthy spotless foliage, heavier bloom 
and fruiting. 
AZALEA — Attention again is called to the Kaempferi Hybrids (A. obtusa 
kaempferi crosses with malvatica and hinodegiri) exceeding, as garden plants, 
the parent races. They are compact in habit, more amenable to exposure, 
larger of flower, extremely free blooming in bright colors, hardy to Zone 5. 
A good word should also be said in favor of the Arnoldiana Hybrids of sim- 
ilar parentage. Even hardier than the preceding they are taller in habit. 
Their true charm and flower quality is revealed only when they have 
achieved some stature. While the Hybrids are true garden subjects, requiring 
no over-head shade the parent type Azalea obtusa kaempferi is unexcelled 
for naturalizing in woodland settings, where it can be counted upon to give 
quicker results than the native Azaleas. 
COTONEASTER—C. lactea (parneyi) —vigorous semi-evergreen, large 
leaved shrub of spreading habit. In Southern New England it is at its best 
at Christmas time with clusters of bright red berries contrasting with the 
dark green foliage. 
RHODODENDRON — Rh. fortunei the hardiest of the large leaved species of 
the fortunei series wintering well in Southern Massachusetts, fairly early 
blooming and starting to bloom when young. Plants obtain considerable 
size improving in flowering display year after year, large plants making an 
impressive showing with a profusion of blush or rosy lilac flowers. Flowers 
are seven lobed and of heavy substance, lasting considerably longer than 
those of ordinary Rhododendron. Plants require side shelter but do best 
with over-head exposure in full sun in these parts. 
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