April 6, 1907 



HORTICULTURE 



453 



Canterbury Bells and Foxgloves 



Two of our most showy aiici use- 

 ful biennials, no herbaceous border 

 being complete without them. They 

 are of easy culture and practically 

 hardy in the northern States if 

 given light protection during winter 

 by placing pine boughs through 

 them to keep them shaded. 



Campanula Medium (Canterbury 

 Bell) single and double also Caly- 

 anthenia or cup and saucer variety, 

 are raised from seed sown in May 

 •or June in pots, boxes or beds, and 

 transplanted about nine inches apart 

 into beds before they become too 

 much drawn, being sure to keep 

 them watered until they get estab- 

 lished. In the fall, before the 

 ground becomes frozen, place the 

 pine boughs through them; in the 

 spring transplant to their perma- 

 nent place. In transplanting always 

 take up a good ball of earth with 

 them, and if possible do it when the 

 ground is moist. After flowering 

 they can be pulled up and thrown 

 away; any that do not flower can be 

 left, and tliev will make fine plants 

 and flower the following year. 



Digitalis (Foxglove) is raised 

 from seed sown in June or July, 

 outside, and transplanted when 

 large enough, about; nine inches 

 apart. Protect during winter with 

 pine boughs and transplant in 

 spring to their permanent place. 

 Foxgloves are classed as biennials, 

 but if all stalks are cut off after 

 flowering they will spread out and 

 make large clumps and last for sev- 

 eral seasons, producing taller spikes 

 and better flowers each year. 



Newbiiryport, Mass. 



Pruning 



A great many orchardists don't seem to have reasoned 

 ■out from cause and eft'ect, what is the right season of 

 year for pruning, some holding that it matters but lit- 

 tle when the operation is performed so that it is properly . 

 <lone, others preferring wnter when there is time to 

 spare from other occupations. But my experience leads 

 me to the conclusion that the season at which pruning 

 is done has as mttch to do with the success as the manner 

 of doing it. ft will be admitted that after the cuts have 

 been judiciously made, the right branches, so as to pre- 

 serve the contour of the tree as it grows, selected to 

 remain and the superfluous ones removed, no spurs being 



left to induce decay, that a rapid healing of wounds is 

 most desirable. If we prune in the early spring we 

 shall weaken the growth of our trees by the loss of their 

 sap, which is then freely flowing; if we prune in the 

 summer we cannot do so without damaging blossoms or 

 fruit on fruiting trees; if we prune in the fall the 

 wounds will not heal before the winter sets in and frost 

 will prevent their ultimate healthy healing. 



Now it remains to determine which is exactly the 

 right time to prune, and we conclude from practice and 

 observation that as soon as the leaves are developed, in 

 the early summer is the best time, for the following 



