8 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



January, 1910 



evergreens interesting at all seasons of 

 the year. Room is found for annual, 

 biennial and perennial flowers along the 

 front of the shrubbery and all of these 

 are cared for with a very moderate 

 amount of labor. 



In the shrubbery may be noticed a 

 Wisconsin weeping willow. These hardy 

 willows fill a long-felt want. It will be 

 seen in the shrubbery a short distance 

 to the right of the street maple which 

 is partly shown near the sidewalk. 



This view is a rural one, and the con- 

 crete sidewalk in front is rather excep- 

 tional. It is on Lundy's Lane, quite 

 near to Niagara Falls. 



What Amateurs Can Do in January 



A Specimen Brugmansia 



S. J. JacktoD, BowmuiTiUe, Ont. 



The specimen of Brugmansia illustrat- 

 ed is about nine years old and stands 

 nine feet high. When 

 photographed it had 

 forty-seven blossoms 

 measuring about 

 twelve inches long 

 and six inches in di- 

 ameter at the bell 

 end. When in bloom 

 this plant requires an 

 abundance of water 

 and must have good 

 drainage. 



We have a num- 

 ber of these plants 

 and we give them a 

 period of rest from 

 the first of Decem- 

 ber to the first of 

 April. We, winter 

 them in a cellar with 

 dahlias, cannas, etc., 

 and give them a little 

 water occasionally to 

 keep them from dry- 

 ing out. 



The Brugmansia 

 can be grown from seed or cuttings. It 

 should be re-potted in spring. The 

 plant illustrated is in a tub about the 

 size of a candy pail. The brugmansia 

 is very highly perfumed in the evening. 



UARD the window plants against 

 frost. Keep them away from the 

 glass on cold nights. In rooms 

 where the temperature becomes very 

 low at night there is danger of plants 

 on vvindow sills being nipped. This can 

 be prevented either by moving them to 

 a warmer part of the room or by placing 

 sheets of newspapers between them and 

 the glass. For most window plants a 

 temperature of sixty-five to seventy de- 

 grees Fahrenheit diu-ing the day, and 

 fifty to fifty-five at night will give best 

 results. 



House plants kept in rooms that are 

 not ventilated occasionally will not do 

 well. Open the window or door for a 

 little while on fine sunny days, but avoid 

 direct drafts on the plants. 



The Formal Garden. — To mention the 

 formal garden to some people is as a 

 red rag to a Spanish bull. They are up 

 and at you in a moment. Yet the formal 

 garden is gaining way in England — 

 not the stiff Italian garden, which is 

 nine-tenths architecture, and one-tenth 

 flowers and plants; but the principles of 

 the formal garden, as such, are gaining 

 way. Evidence of this meets us in 

 much of the recent work that has been 

 done by the best exponents of garden de- 

 sign at the present day. — Journal of 

 Horticulture, London, Eng. 



After the bulb flowers indoors begin 

 to show, the pots may stand in a saucer 

 of water all the time. 



A Brntmasria That Prodnccd Forty Seven Bloomi 



Grown by Mr. S. .1. .lackaon, Bowman ville, Ontario 



Most window plants do best in an at- 

 mosphere that is fairly moist. Keep a 

 pan of water on the radiator or stove 

 to keep the air moist. Occasionally 

 sprinkle the foliage of the plants with 

 clean water. 



Apply fertilizers in small quantities. 

 Use liquid manure or commercial fertil- 

 izers. Further information on this point 

 and on other factors in window garden- 

 ing is given in an article on page 6. 



If aphids appear on the plants apply 

 a strong solution of tobacco water. Red 

 spiders can be kept in control by sprink- 

 ling the foliage with water. Scales on 

 the leaves may be washed off with 

 strong soap suds. Mealy bugs may be 

 brushed off with a small brush or piece 

 of stick. Keep the plants growing 

 strongly and in a healthy condition, and 

 insect pests will not be so troublesome, 

 as they are on plants that are weak and 

 sickly. 



Pot bulbs should be grown in a tem- 



perature that is as nearly uniform as pos- 

 sible. To secure uniformity, take them 

 away from the window at night. 



Try some annuals indoors in boxes 

 and plant drooping kinds about the 

 edges to hide the sides. 



Commence now growing plants for 

 Easter. Among the useful ones for the 

 purpose are hortensia, greenhouse spirea 

 and freesia. Buy the roots and bulbs at 

 once and pot them. Keep the hortensia 

 and spirea in a cool place for a few 

 weeks and then bring them into warmth. 

 It is not necessary to keep the freesia 

 in a cool and dark place. Unlike other 

 bulbs, it may be placed in the light al- 

 most as soon as potted. 



Commence planning for next sea- 

 son's outdoor garden. Send to the 

 seedsmen and nurserymen for their cata- 

 logues. Make your selections and order 

 early. Plan the garden on paper. First 

 measure the plot that is available and 

 draw a diagram to scale. You will find 

 the work interesting and it will enable 

 you to secure better results than if you 

 were to leave the planning until time for 

 planting. 



During warm days this month look for 

 eggs and cocoons of insects on the trees 

 and bushes. Destroy all that you find. 

 Large numbers of pests can be killed in 

 this way. 



During odd times make stakes for use 

 next spring. Paint them and have them 

 ready for use when wanted. 



There is still time to mulch the straw- 

 berry bed if the work has been neglected. 

 Freezing will not hurt them and the 

 snow will be a benefit, but be sure and 

 apply the covering as soon as you can. 

 It is the alternate thawing and freezing 

 in spring that does the damage. 



Pruning Moss Roses 



What is the best time and the best way 

 to prune moss roses.' They produce lots of 

 wood and few roses. The ground is a clay 

 loam.— W.N. , Chatham, Ont. 



The best time to prune moss roses, or 

 any of the hardy roses, is early in the 

 spring as soon as the growth buds show 

 signs of starting (usually about the first 

 week in April). The time of pruning de- 

 pends upon the season. Moss roses 

 should be pruned by cutting away or 

 shortening the last season's growth, 

 leaving about three or four inches of the 

 base of the growth made last year. 

 With strong growth or canes of new 

 growth starting from the bottom near 

 the root, these can be cut back to about 

 twelve or fifteen inches in length. All 

 weak growth should be removed if the 

 hi'.'hes are very dense and thick with 

 gi^owth. To secure good roses a growth 

 of good strong wood is necessary. 



The chief requirements of cacti 

 ample drainage and a sandy soil. 



