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On the Lookout.—There is nothing that I enjoy more
than the exchange of experiences of other readers. It brings out many a
point that is not usually found in professional articles. For what
professional can foresee all the scrapes we amateurs get into? Thus I found
that some of my climbers do not bloom or shed their blossoms before they
open and than I see some one in the same fix and find that it is sour soil
that does it. Out with the lime and we try it. I delight in scanning the
advertisements of the nurseries being always on the lookout for something
suitable and out of the ordinary.
What shrub more beautiful than the Swamp Honeysuckle, a lose
relative of the Azalea, but hardy and growing in our Jersey woods?
How many readers spend sums of money for Rhododendrons which
sometimes fail to grow for want of care and knowledge of their requirements?
Yet right at our door is the Laurel, first cousin of the Rhododendron, hardy
and grateful if you plant it in the shade with plenty of leafmold. Just go
across the lot as I did last fall and get all the bloom in spring that you
want. Possibly others find some other shrubs in their neighborhood that are
just as accessible and handsome in appearance. I find the Holly is the
hardest thing to transplant successfully,—L.A. Malkiel, New York and
Keansburg.
Is King Humbert the Best Canna?—I have
tested fully one hundred varieties of Canna and have visited the Canna fields
of two of the largest producers of these plants for sale critically
examining the several hundred varieties while in flower with the result that
I picked out King Humbert as the most magnificent dark-foilaged,
red-flowered variety, of the whole lot. I planted a clump of it on each side
of the steps leading to my front door. As the house is built of light
cream-colored brick the contrast of big bronzy leaves and brilliant,
red-flowers (most of them more than four inches across) the plants were very
striking. They gave a strong emphasis to the front of the house visible the
moment one turned the street corner a block away. Probably the size of the
specimens was increased over the normal because I made the soil very rich
with poultry manure and rather friable with sand and leafmold.—John
Alexander, Illinois. |
THE NEIGHBORS' DUTY
THE whole
world faces a shortage in food crops this year. The resources of the grain
producing countries (of which America is one) will be taxed to the utmost to
feed millions of people. This is not a sensational scare; it is a cold,
stern fact, proved by official figures.
Every pound of food that is produced by those who have the
opportunity to utilize small pieces of land for their own supply will help
to relieve the general pressure. The Garden Neighbors are in a position of
unusual opportunity to render practical aid because they are more or less
skilled workers. They should largely raise their own vegetables, stimulate
their neighbors to do likewise, and also coöperate with all local and
national agencies to develop the home garden.
It is the patriotic duty of every reader of
The Garden Magazine to
contribute his or her quota in this national crisis.
Leonard Barron
Attractive to Humming Birds.—In the April number of The Garden
Magazine I read a contributor's list of flowers that are attractive to
humming birds. I have learned by observation that the Red-flowering
Horse-chestnut is very attractive to the ruby throat, and they will come to
it from all directions when it is in full bloom. I once counted upward of
twenty-five humming birds in one of these trees at the same time, and it was
a beautiful and impressive sight, one that I shall never forget. Those who
wish to attract the humming birds will do well to plant one or two Red
Horse-chestnut trees where they can be seen from the porch.—H. G.
Reading, Franklin, PA |
White Pippin Apple.—I think this might be considered for the home
garden because it is in season with Albemarle Pippin which it resembles, but
the tree can be grown over a much greater area; it is not so finicky in its
soil requirements and the fruit is of value for use late in the season. For
home use and those in love with the Golden Russet we believe we have one of
the finest strains of this variety which we have seen. The writer found it
at an exhibit of the Connecticut Pomological Society and could not believe
that it was a Golden Russet but became convinced that the entry was right
and was later assured by the grower that he put up a couple of hundred
barrels a year exactly like those shown and also received confirmatory
evidence from the buyer who purchased the fruit and I realized that I had
run across one of the finest things in this line and that it was worth
saving.—Samuel Fraser, N.Y. Concerning the "Best Pea".—In the
January Garden Magazine Mr. Kains, seems to be much pleased with Sutton's
Discovery Pea.
It is true that the vine is tall and rank and the pod large but
unfortunately it is not a good filler. In my test in Montana under
irrigation and with ideal conditions there were about 40 per cent. of skips,
hence only 60 per cent. of a full pod of peas. It might be satisfactory to
the pickers who want large pods but are not so much concerned about the
"peas in the pod." It may be useful in extending the picking season as it
was about a month later than the first Extra Earlies, and more than two
weeks later than Little Marvel.
Mr. Kains complains that the Little Marvel is hard to pull and hard
to shell. If "hard to pull," this fact would indicate the robust vigor that
is necessary to give a good crop under adverse weather and moisture
conditions and i f hard to shell, it proves that the pods are well filled. A
half filled pod gives up easily.—C. N. Keeney, LeRoy, N.Y.
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