666 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



7 GEORGE V,A. 1917 



The majority, however, do not start to bhiom until about the first week of August, 

 while the late varieties such as the Late Branching and the Late Upright coinmcnoe 

 to bloom as late as the second week of August. The early asters are over in about 

 three weeks and for this reason are not highly recommended. The main crop of 

 asters, however, is not over until about the third week of September. 



Asters succeed in any good type of soil which is well watered and well cultivated. 



ASTER TROIBLES. 



China asters are not troubled to any extent with diseases or insects. The stem 

 rot is not uncommon. It may be prevented, however, by care in watering, so as to 

 guard against a soggy condition of the soil, especially when the asters are yoimg. 



The orange rust, which attacks the plants on the underside of the leaves when 



about 6 inches high, may be controlled by one or two sprayings with ammoniacal 



. copper carbonate. Care should be taken to see that the spray reaches the underside 



of the leaves. 



The aster beetle should be controlled by a poison spray, and the tarnished plant 

 Dug by nicotine or kerosene emulsion, 



NOVELTIES AND NEW VARIETIES OF ANNUAL FLOWERS. 



Under this heading brief notes are given each year on a number of annual flowers 

 which make their appearance for the first or second time in the test plots of annual 

 J^owers grown at the Central Farm at Ottawa. Several hundred varieties are grown 

 for trial purposes. Each year all of the large seedsmen offer "novelties" or new 

 strains and the seeds of these are obtained and the plants grown in the trial plots for 

 comparison with the ordinary varieties. This year rather fewer than usual were of 

 special note. Altogether about three dozen flowers, which were either novelties or 

 only recently offered to the Canadian public, were tested. 



Carnation: Improved Marguerite. — Plants about 18 inches high, producing an 

 abundance of fringed double flowers. Various colours. In bloom from August 19 

 till late October. Attractive in the border and most useful for table decoration. 



Carnation: Perpetual Early Flowering. — Very similar in most respects to the 

 Marguerite variety mentioned above, and as highly recommended. In bloom from 

 August 16 till late October. 



Dianthus Heddewigii (Japan Pink). — Superb single varieties. Plants 9 to 12 

 inches. Free flowering habit. Flowers large size, brilliantly coloured. In bloom 

 from August 1 till late October. Useful for bedding and the flowers suitable foi" 

 bouquets. 



Datura clilorantha flore pleno (Datura, Horn of Plenty). — Plants from 2 to 3 

 feet high with large leaves and making rather rank growth, with slightly fragrant 

 yellow double trumpet- shaped flowers. Eather attractive. In flower from August 20 

 until October 11. L^seful for the border or in a position where a strong foliage plant 

 can be used. 



Datura Wrightii.- — This variety is much larger than the former, growing from 3 

 to 4 feet high. The flowers are trumpet shaped, single and pure white. A large plant 

 with a sub-tropical appearance and can be used to advantage in the back of the border 

 or in the centre of a bed. In bloom from July 19 until October 11. 



Lohelia. — During the past few years the Farm has tested about twenty-four dif- 

 ferent varieties of bedding Lobelias. Of these the following are considered the best: 



Ottawa. 



