Where are the Flowers? 
Probably this question has not occurred 
to you; we, of course, watch the trend con- 
tinually. This is necessary with the high 
catalog costs during these “boom times’. 
First, flower gardens have changed very 
much as the auto-age expands; many people 
spend the few hours after work, driving 
about the country; a small lawn for which 
2 out of 4 yards will have a power mower 
so that the work can be done with little ef- 
fort! Evergreens are now very popular as 
they do make a small yard tidy with pract- 
ically no work. 
Driving around Lansing (Michigan) with 
a population of close to 100,000, I dare say 
there are less than 25 real gardens — gardens 
in which the owner spends some time. 
Not only are most of the writers arm- 
chair gardeners but too big a majority of 
the catalog requesters, also arm-chairgarden- 
ers. I know of one such party who has 
2 square rods of space on a 4x10 rod lot 
on which stands a 6-apartment house with 
garage for 6 cars! The available space has 
long ago been planted but this party, who 
is well along in years and has no particular 
duties, writes for every catalog issued -— 
sometimes. he will buy a package of seed, 
but 99% is pure waste as far as the catalog 
people are concerned. Over the country as 
a whole. there is many _ well-intendioned 
people such as is this party but they mainly 
contribute to the costs, which are already 
too high. 
The main gardens are now on the farms! 
There more orders with R.F.D. addresses 
than in the cities and I notice that many of 
the city addresses indicate that they are on 
the borders or in the suburbs. 
Many catalog people are now making a 
small charge for their catalog. In our own 
case this has become necessary, especially 
because of the information that must be 
put into our catalog; we feel that for the 
25 cent charge, there is more practical in- 
formation in it than one can get in $5.00 
books; especially is this so in that the infor- 
mation is on the flower one is reading about. 
One can buy an expensive book on a part- 
icular genus and find that 90% of the 
species and varieties are unobtainable by 
the reader. Too often writers love to talk 
about something YOU DON’T HAVE and 
poe DON’T THINK YOU CAN GET 
either! 
MICHELIA CHAMPADA 
Just as we are about to print this issue, 
we are in receipt of advice that seed of 
Michelia champada has been sent to us. 
This is the sacred ‘““Champaca”’ a clear 
yellow flower of the Hindus; the pyramidal 
shape of this Magnolia-tree is the beauty of 
the plant. ; 
Araucaria brasiliensis is also being sent. 
A CUTE LETTER HEAD 
Mrs. D. R. Tolman of Santa Barbara, 
Calif., has a cute drawing for her letter 
head. It consists of a sign board fastened 
to two posts on which is her name and ad- 
dress. She has this just high enough so 
that she can lean against it with one arm 
over the top. Standing one one foot with 
her hoe held at arms length. 
This hoe, by the way, does not show much 
ware! Possibly it’s just a new one. Any 
way it will make you smile when you hear 
from her. 
GERMINATING ACACIA SEED. 
An itim from Australia advises to “pour 
boiling water over the seed — sufficient to 
cover well. Allow to stand 12-15 hours, then 
drain water off and wash the mucilageous 
coat from the seed before planting; plant 
immediately —-do not allow the seed to dry 
out. 
By the way, there has been many new 
species of Acacias or Wattle trees listed in 
the catalog; these all can be grown in the 
South. 
BAIRNSDALE, AUSTRALIA 
Mrs. Blance Stewart (trust I have the 
given name correct) sends me a _ pictoral 
folder or her home town. From the pictures 
it must be a beautiful place; beautiful build- 
ings; the Main Street with large lawns down 
the center and all beautifully landscaped. 
Australians all seem to be so friendly! 
I do business in nearly every country in the 
world and of them all, Australians are the 
most friendly. 
I wish to acknowledge here, too, papers 
and pictures from Mrs. Joan Matson and 
pictures of her family from Mrs. Martha 
Beach. Especialyy Christmas cards; they are 
much appreciated and it would be a pleasure 
to meet such friendly people. 
CRASSULACEAE. 
They are shade lovers. Sow seed thinly 
and the soil should contain good humus. 
They being shade lovers they will be found 
in rock crevices on the shady side; the seed 
pans should be shaded and in a _ moist 
atmosphere. 
The mention of germinating seeds being 
“in the dark” or ‘‘shaded’’, means that the 
seed in the pan should not be exposed to a 
bright light; where moisture is important 
a glass cover is required which in turn is 
covered with paper; or a board can be used. 
CHICKEN MANURE for DELPHINIUMS 
R. E. Harrison of New Zealand recom- 
mends chicken manure (that has been piled 
up for at least 6 months) as the best fert- 
ilizer for Delphiniums. He also recommends 
an application of lime in the fall so that the 
soil may be neutral. 
If both lime and manure are used, apply 
the lime a couple of months before spading 
in the manure. 
I might add to this that oyster shells would 
be good to use instead of regular lime; the 
hydrated lime that is usually gotten can cause 
some soils to become hard, besides with 
oyster shells, the plant will use what it re- 
quires with out the danger of an over-dose 
of soluable lime being present as is the case 
with hydrated lime. The course agricult- 
ural lime, of course, is fine but usually it 
is hard to purchase in small quantities. 
VENIDIUM 
A South African genus with some 18 
species of annuals and perennials; resembles 
Arctotis. They are half hardy, standing 
light frosts. ; / 
The main point in their culture is to avoid 
wet and heavy soils. Grow them as annuals 
in the North. 42h 
IRIS JANE KRAY, 
Mrs. Louise Krey Morris of Clinton, Md., 
mentions in a note on her order: ‘Reading 
in your magazine, I notice you list one of my 
own introductions of Fall-blooming Iris 
Jane Krey, named for a niece. It was in- 
troduced in the early 30’s. 
That’s some 25 years ago! Nice to hear 
of these things—vits really a small world. 
SEEDLING FLATS UP IN THE AIR 
In Simple Greenhouse Management there 
is a good suggestion in placing flat of seedl- 
ings up on large pots—8 or 9 inch—that 
they get a much better circulation of air all 
around them. 
Air circulation is very important in indoor 
growing and especially where there is plenty 
of moisture. During the day the harm that 
can be done by insufficient air circulation is 
not as great as at night when the air becomes 
colder; it is then that there be some move- 
ment and this little suggestion will help to 
overcome some of the trouble. 
OLD ROSES 
Mrs. William L. McLaughlin of R.F.D. 1, 
Newburgh, N. Y. wants Rosa officinalis, 
grandiflora and splendens, on their own roots. 
Any reader who can help her, please get 
in contact with her. 
se 
Eern Spores 
Being extremely minute and slow to germ- 
inate, it is necessary that the medium used 
should be sterilized. For small sowings a 
good rich loam soil is good; heat or place in 
boiling water, allow to cool, then place 
in a clean glass germinating pan having a 
close fitting cover. Dust the fern spores 
thinly over the surface of the wet loam and 
cover with its lid. Do not water again but - 
place it in a warm shady place and in 2-3 
months the surface will be covered with a 
green mass. 
Leave till tiny fronds appear, when the 
mass can be seperated into little patches 
and pressed into flats of fresh sterilized 
soil for growing on. 
We expect to offer a rather large list 
of fern spores in the future; if you are in- 
terested in them it would be nice to just 
mention the fact when ordering other seeds. 
OUR WORST WEED 
We are well supplied with species of 
weeds. Of the ones that like US the best 
is the beatiful Wild Morning Glory; at first 
it was only in one field! but of late, I notice 
it has come up into the garden, no doubt 
so that it can enjoy our company. Then 
we have Quack Grass! We have IT in the 
lawn, in the garden, in the fence rows and 
in all the fields but it is worse in some of 
the flower beds where only hand spading 
will get rid of it. In the fields, cultivating 
both ways as in corn, almost conquers it. 
But of all the weeds one can be cursed 
with comes to us direct from the Minneosota 
Experiment Station!!! This is their gift to 
the weed preblem—thier NEW PLUMS. 
When these first came out some 25 years 
ago, we got a tree of each; none ever had 
plums that even the animals would eat and 
for getting rid of the tree, its impossible. 
We have two such trees in the chicken yard 
and each year, at this time, they have to be 
cut to the ground; they have already grown 
to 8 feet this year and so close that the 
chickens cannot get between them. Unfort- 
unately both lots are in yards that are hard 
to get into with a tractor and plow. 
ORNITHOGALUM THYRSOIDES 
This is a popular South African species. 
The cut flowers are shipped by parcel post 
from the Cape to Europe, by the hundreds 
of thousands. They arrive with no damage 
from the sea journey and remain in a 
fresh condition for 2-3 weeks after arrival. 
Is there any other flower that cai duplicate 
this? 
MINT SAUCE 
When making mint sauce, it is a good 
plan to sprinkle a little sugar on the leaves 
before chopping. It helps to cut them finer. 
As a guide, chop up half a dozen sprigs and 
>ut in a basin with a similar number of 
jumps of sugar. Pour over two tablespoons- 
fuls of boiling water, stir and leave for a 
while. The boiling water helps to keep the 
bright green color. Then add %2 pint of 
vinegar. 
With Parsley, pick tender leaves and re- 
move the stalks. For soup or sauce, place 
in a strainer and plunge for a few seconds 
in boiling water with a little sugar added. 
Squeeze dry in a clean cloth and then chop. 
The Parsley will keep a lovely green. For 
garnishing, prepare as above, then screw 
in the corner of a cloth. Hold under cold 
running water and squeeze. Shake, and 
the Parsley will fall like a green powder. 
(From the Australian Garden Lover.) 
CAMPANULA FORMANEKIANA 
This is a rare species that grows well in 
pots as well as in the rockery. It forms 
a large rosette of leaves and a number of 
flowering stems, each carrying large white 
bell-shaped flowers. It is native of the 
Kaimajkalin and flowers in July. 
