82 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



light are important factors in the 

 health of plants, without which the}' 

 cannot thrive, and crowding deprives 

 them of both. Use caution in first 

 bringing out the house-plants in the 

 spring ; remember that they have 

 become accustomed to the subdued 



light and equable temperature of the 

 living-rooms and will be sensitiv^e to 

 the glare of the sun or the chill of 

 the evening. Don't try to bring them 

 out too soon, but let the change be 

 gradual by placing them for a time 

 in a sheltered, shad\' spot. 



FLORICULTURAL. 



THESE are my questions — Three Clema- 

 tis plants were sold to me by an agent 

 about three or four years ago, said to be 

 double blue, double white, and a single 

 cream white. They were good, strong plants, 

 and grow quite close to a blue single flower- 

 ing Clematis covered with bloom year after 

 year. But these three have shown no signs 

 of flowering all this time. They are laid 

 down, deeply covered, every autumn, and 

 are growing stronger every summer. They 

 were well rooted when I got them, I have 

 been told they are a kind, perhaps, that 

 don't flower. Before I throw them away 

 as useless, please tell me if there is anything 

 I can do better. I don't want them otherwise. 



Also, would it do harm to potted plants to 

 water them sometimes with weak washing 

 soda suds, or pearline suds ? or would it 

 be good for them ? 



I have never seen what should be done 

 with Honeysuckle climbers in the autumn, 

 I have one that has not bloomed since I got 

 it ; all the growth of the last year dies the 

 next summer, though it looks pretty green 

 when uncovered in the spring I do not now 

 the kind it is. I cut the most of it down, as I 

 see it not doing, but the new growth, which 

 is abundant, does not flower. — A Gardener- 

 ess, Peterborough. 



hy Hermann Simmers, Toronto. 



It is somewhatdifficult to say whether 

 the Clematis mentioned are worth- 

 less, but I imagine they are nothing 

 but the commonest kinds, such as C. 

 Flamtnula and C. Integri/olia, which 

 flower but very little, throwing any 

 amount of foliage and but an in- 

 significant flower. If the plants will suit 

 for foliage, keep them, but if for flower- 

 ing purposes they are worthless. 



Watering house plants with washing 

 soda suds is detrimental to their growth; 

 sooner water them with a solution of 

 liquid fertilizer once or twice a week, 

 which will be a benefit, whereas in the 

 other case it has no avail. Regarding 

 the Honeysuckle, you do right to cover 

 it, and the only fault may be want of 

 age. Try it again this summer, and if 

 it still refuses to bloom plant some 

 other variety. 



