194 



TJie Canadian Horticulturist. 



starved plants we would not plant 

 under any circumstances, and it is 

 by far the best economy to set out 

 new plants every spring, or at least 

 as often as once in two years. 



To keep roses over winter, take 

 them up after a good hard frost, and 

 heel them in, in some protected place 

 in the garden ; lay them close to- 

 gether at an angle of about forty -five 

 degrees ; pack the earth closely 

 around the roots, then cover the 

 whole with newly-fallen leaves to the 

 depth of six inches ; over the leaves 

 lay some brush or throw over them 

 sufficient earth to keep the leaves 

 from being scattered by the wind. 

 The following spring gradually un- 

 cover upon the approach of warm 

 weather, and replant as soon as the 

 seil is in proper condition, — American 

 As^riculturist. 



Summer Floweping Bulbs. 



The following hints from the 

 Gardeii and Forest will be especially 

 interesting to those of our readers 

 who have selected the summer 

 flowering bulbs : 



" An important point to remember 

 in the culture of these bulbs is that 

 their flowering season is the rainy 

 season of their native countries. This 

 is particularly true of the Tigridia 

 and the Gladiolus, which bloom in 

 cool, rainy or winter season, while 

 their period of rest is in the excess- 

 ive hot, dry weather peculiar to their 

 home. The Calla, a native of the 

 Nile, blooms when the roots are a 

 foot under water in the spring, and 

 rests at low water, when their roots 

 are as dry as it is possible to be and 

 live. The same is the case with 

 many of the so-called Cape bulbs. 



" The Gladiolus will grow under any 

 conditions, but it will not grow well. 

 A cool, moist atmosphere is the one 

 in which they delight. Climate alone 

 is what makes them succeed so well 

 in England. Last year we had rain 

 in abundance, with low temperature, 

 and never before have we had such 



perfection in Gladiolus flowers. We 

 make a mistake in planting our bulbs 

 too early. They should be kept cool 

 and dry, and in a dark room until 

 the first of July, when they will come 

 into bloom about the first of October, 

 throwing up spikes that for number 

 and size of flowers would hardly be 

 recognized as the varieties that 

 bloomed in midsummer. If planted 

 earh^ so as to flower in July and 

 August, they should be protected 

 against the heat of the sun b}- a lat- 

 tice or light canvas covering, and the 

 bed should have a light mulching of 

 newly-cut grass. This will keep the 

 roots cool and is not unsightly. The 

 capabilities of the Gladiolus are only 

 known to those who grow them in 

 this manner. The soil makes but 

 little difference with the Gladiolus. 

 Any soil that will yield good crops 

 of potatoes will be equally good for 

 these plants. If it is heav}^ plant 

 shallow, say from one to two inches 

 deep ; if light, from four to six inches 

 will be better. It is best to use 

 ground made very rich for some 

 other crop, the previous year, as 

 fresh manure does not suit them. 



" Lilies, quite as much as Gladio- 

 lus, need a good mulching to keep 

 the root cool and moist. A bed of 

 lilies that has been properly mulched 

 a few years will yield enormously ; 

 more than thrice the number of 

 flowers will be produced, and they 

 will be much larger, with better 

 defined colours and of greater sub- 

 stance. A lily-bed should be made 

 in a position where it can remain 

 undisturbed for a number of years, 

 and as long as the plants flower well. 

 An Ascension Lily (L. Candidum), 

 the handsomest of all Lilies, should 

 be planted in July or August, while 

 the bulb is resting. They will live 

 when planted at any time, but will 

 flourish only when planted at the 

 proper season. 



" Tigridiasare Mexican bulbs, and 

 do not endure our northern sun. 

 Treat them as Lilies should be 

 treated. In October the flowers 



