for October, 1920 



339 



the buds burst to insure them not being infested with 

 black fly. Feeding- should stop as soon as the buds show 

 color, save perhaps for an occasional dose or two of soot 

 water to improve the color. A slight shade on the house 

 when the flowers begin to expand will give better quality 

 flowers, but it must not be overdone or the flowers will 

 be too soft. A slat trellis that may be removed on dull 

 days is best for this purpose. 



This is the last chance to get Bouvardias, Stevias. and 

 other forcing plants potted up or benched. Freezing 

 weather may be experienced at any time now, and even 

 if it does not freeze, a succession of cold nights will 

 harden the wood too much. 



Bulbs for forcing should be potted up as soon as 

 received, and placed outdoors to root well before being 

 taken in to force. Tender bulbs, such as Lilies, Freezias, 

 etc., should be stored in a frame, until they have rooted. 

 Sf^inca clumps should be potted up and set out doors to 

 freeze. Just as soon as the leaves fall from the potted 

 fruits they should be stored in a cool cellar, barn or 

 garage. Not because they are not hardy, but they are 

 liable to winter kill on account of the restricted roots. 



.■\11 bedding plants that are to be propagated heavily 

 should be brought indoors without further delay. 

 C)ld plants of AUcrnanthcra, Hydrans.ca, Geraniums, 

 Fuchsias, Vinca, etc., may be lifted, and stored, to fur- 

 nish cuttings later. 



Acacia, Acalca, Canicllia, Gciiisia, and other hard- 

 wooded plants must be brought into the storage pit or cool 

 greenhouse at once. Withhold the water somewhat, but 

 don't let them get so dry that the leaves turn yellow. 



Roots intended for forcing should be ordered at once, 

 or, if you have your own grown at home, lift them any 

 time after the tops have died down. 



Roses that are growing freely will be benefitted by 

 applications of liquid cow mantire. Keep the heating 

 pipes painted with sulphur to hold mildew under control. 

 Red spider should be looked after on all fine days with 

 a good stream of water from the hose in capable hands. 



Carnations require to be watered carefully where the 

 soil has a tendency to be heavy. Light soils dry out 

 more readily. The flowering shoots require to be dis- 

 budded, and all dead leaves and growths picked oft'. Wire 

 and strings for support should be put in place as the 

 plants demand it. 



Palms and stove plants require a period of rest; there- 

 fore, as Winter approaches, do less syringing and give less 

 water at the roots. Do not allow them to stiflfer for want 

 of water, but withhold it just enough to check growth, 

 and hold it that way for some time to come. 



Seeds of Clarkias, Stocks, .Annual Lupines, Schi.zan- 

 thiis. Xicofiaiia. Rhodantlic, Mignonette, and other an- 

 nuals intended for forcing, all do well under pot culture 

 with the possible exception of Mignonette, which does 

 better planted in the bench. 



NATIVE FLOWERS FOR THE WILD GARDEN 

 VW'H'S' a wild garden? The term might be con- 

 sidered a misnomer by some people, vet it is 

 very expressive of what is intended. In our gardens 

 there is generally some spot where many of the regular 

 cultivated flowers cannot be grown with success. In such 

 .spots, plants which flourish in the wild state, particularlv 

 those which endure shade, can be utilized to produce de- 

 lightful efl'ects. For an individual who is fortunate 

 enough to have moi-e land than can be looked after as a 

 well-kept garden, a wild garden also oft'crs an oppor- 

 tunity to f)btain sonu' charming eft'ects with \-erv little 

 cxi)ense or labor. 



There is another strong reason why a wild garden can 



be made attractive in reality as well as in theory, namely, 

 that some of our best native flowers will do far better 

 as near natural conditions as you can provide for them 

 than they will under the more artificial conditions of our 

 planned gardens. Of these flowers, the Trillium, Hepat- 

 ica, lady's slipper, and cardinal flow-er are examples 



As a rule, the site of our wild garden is not difficult 

 to decide upon ; it is generally a matter of "Hobson's 

 choice" ; but the preparation of the site is of some im- 

 portance. \'ery often we can get rid of rocks, stones 

 and all kinds of rubbish by using them as foundation 

 material. It is necessary that the wild garden should 

 have good drainage and, if it is not possible to procure 

 earth from the woods, this coarse material will become 

 of great value. About six inches of soil should be placed 

 on the top of the foundation material. Such soil may 

 consist of a mixture of sand, leaves, and even such ma- 

 terial as moss, in order to provide a spongy-like soil, 

 appro.ximating the soil in which such plants grow under 

 natural conditions. 



.\ quantity of moss gathered from the woods and laid 

 over the surface, w-ith spaces at regular intervals at 

 which to place the plants, is also another way of repro- 

 ducing the natural conditions for the plants. The moss 

 keeps the soil damp, and prevents it from becoming too 

 compact. Large rocks can also be used to advantage, 

 especially if the wild garden is raised above the level of 

 the surrounding area, as they can be used to border the 

 area and to pre\ent the soil washing out ; they are valu- 

 able in providing cool crevices for roots of the plants. 



There is, perhaps, a greater delight in creating a wild 

 garden than in any other form of gardening, for the 

 simple reason that each batch of plants added to the 

 wild garden generally recalls some pleasant excursion 

 into the woods or the surrounding country for the pur- 

 pose of collecting them. Fortunately almost all wild 

 plants can be collected most of the Summer, as owing to 

 the shady nature of the spot in which they are planted, 

 they are not so liable to be killed out by the sun. Recog- 

 nition, however, must be given to the fact that they must 

 be collected with care and judgment, and planted with 

 skill. \A'ith this proviso, a plant can be added to our 

 wild garden as easily in Summer as in the more suitable 

 season of early Spring, although early Spring or late Fall 

 are the ideal periods to collect the plants. It is often 

 necessary, however, to take them when we can get them ; 

 this, with many persons, is when the plants are in bloom 

 If the plants are collected at such times, it should be 

 remembered that specimens should be taken which are 

 just past bloom, as they are more likely to recover than 

 specimens which are in full bloom. Ferns collected in 

 Spring will generally make magnificent growth during 

 the same season, provided they 'are collected just as the 

 fronds are uncurling. .A few cardboard boxes or an 

 old suit case will answer for collecting wild plants, as 

 the foliage of the plant should never be allowed to wilt. 



\\'hen planting, do not place the roots into the soil as 

 firmly as it is customary with cultivated flowers. Do not 

 make the mistake of attempting to complete your wild 

 garden in one season. It is far more enjovable to build 

 it up gradually over a period of several years, and the 

 results will be far more satisfactory. — J. E. Buck, Cana- 

 dian .li'vicxltityist. 



The man that's clean inside and outside: who neither 

 looks U]i to the rich nor down on the poor, is considerate 

 of women, children and other people : who is too brave 

 to lie. too generous to cheat and too sensible to loaf: and 

 who takes his share of the world's goods and lets other 

 people have theirs, has the characteristics of a true gen- 

 tleman. — Dohcrtv NcTvs. 



