The Canadian HorticiiUiifisi. 



.Si 



portions in which light, heat and 

 moisture contribute to the heahh and 

 vigor of different plants will always 

 afford an interesting subject for ob- 

 servation to those who take pleasure 

 in cultivating them. As the increas- 

 ing heat of the season will produce 

 an increased growth, it is well to 

 consider how this should be met. 



TRIMMING AND PRUNING. 



And first comes, I think, the 

 thorough cleansing and trimming of 

 the plant. Remove all dead and 

 decaying leaves and wood. Freely 

 prune back all such hard-wooded 

 plants as Roses, Fuschias, Helio- 

 tropes, etc. Take the plants out 

 where they can be thoroughly doused 

 with water and wash and cleanse 

 them of all insects. If much troubled 

 with the latter, it is often well to 

 remove the surface soil from the pot 

 and replace it with other, so as to 

 get rid of any eggs or larva; deposit- 

 ed there. The fir tree oil insecticide 

 is commended as a wash by many, 

 but the writer's experience is, that 

 the safest and most effective way to 

 get rid of insects, is to remove them 

 by hand, and that no better wash is 

 wanted than soap and warm water. 



REPOTTING. 



While nothing is gained by placing 

 plants in unnecessarily large pots, 

 nothing is more important than giv- 

 ing them root room enough to main- 

 tain a continuous growth. Better 

 far a vigorous, growing, healthy 

 plant than an aged, decrepit plant, 

 so pot-bound that growth is impos- 

 sible and disease inevitable. The 

 former is a pleasure to the eye, 

 w ill resist disease and insects better, 

 and bloom freer ; the latter is only a 



nuisance and an eyesore. So soon 

 as the roots lining the pot show signs 

 of hardening, put them into a slightly 

 larger pot. Keep pots clean, that 

 the plants may breathe the easier 

 through them and keep the surface 

 soil in the pot loose. 



WATERING. 



When in active growth or bloom 

 plants want plenty of water. Water 

 thoroughly, when you do water, so as 

 to keep the soil moist without soak- 

 ing it. As water often injures the 

 flowers, it is better, when plants are 

 in bloom, to water direct into the 

 pot and not upon the flowers. 



MANURING. 



Most plants are greatly improved 

 by the application of a little manure, 

 especially when approaching bloom. 

 This is most efiectively applied 

 mixed with water. Anv kind of 

 manure will do, the prepared plant - 

 foods being specially easy of applica- 

 tion in this way. Care must be 

 taken not to apply too much ; there 

 is more danger of overdoing it than 

 not giving enough. Desist on the 

 least sign of wilt or ill-health. The 

 mixing of a little superphosphate or 

 other ground manure with moss and 

 placing on the soil about the plant is 

 highly recommended. The moss 

 serves as a mulch to keep the soil 

 moist and each watering carries a 

 little of the plant food down to the 

 roots. 



In conclusion, allow me to suggest 

 that no commoner mistake is made 

 than the attempt to grow more plants 

 than there is room to handle proper- 

 ly. A lesser munber, given more 

 room and attention, will give much 

 more satisfactory results. Air and 



