THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



11 



Mr. Williams' next call was on Mr. 

 Lucas, one of the most careful and 

 painstaking cultivators in the vicinity, 

 whom he found in the vineyard gather- 

 ing the luscious Delawares, and they 

 were very fine ; clusters large and per- 

 fect. He was then getting 15c. per 

 pound for them and 1 2c. for Marthas, 

 both of which lie grows largely. His 

 Hartfords and Concords were also fine ; 

 but the long rows and well cropped 

 Delawares attracted the most attention, 

 as none of the party had ever seeii the 

 like before. Mr. Lucas tries to avoid 

 over-cropping his vines and prefers a 

 good crop of first-class fruit to a large 

 one of second quality. 



BEGONIA REX. 



Nothing can be haudsomer than a 

 good plant of this, and it is an easy 



BhooNiA Rex. 



matter to have fine specimens if only one 

 particular is remembered, and that is, 

 not to wet the leaves or expose them to 

 the strong rays of the sun. They do not 

 requii-e any sjxicial culture, all tliat is 

 required is to keep them in a light, but 

 sunless i)lace ; keep them moist without 

 wetting stems or leaves, and not repot- 

 ting them often, for some very nice 

 l)lants have Ix^en killed by this operation. 

 A very interesting feature in connection 

 with these plants is their pro[)agation, 

 which is ordinarily done by taking off a 

 well-matured and healtliy leaf, and cut- 

 ting through the fleshy vein on the 

 under side of the leaf, laying thes^ leaves 

 with the under aide down on pans of 



very sandy soil, mixed with finely cut 

 moss, and putting a couple of small 

 stones on the loaf to kee}) it down close 

 to the sand. Keep the latter moist, and 

 in a little while the veins will strike 

 root whore they have been cut, and 

 young ])lants will subsequently appear; 

 let these grow until well established, and 

 then pot off singly in peaty, sandy soil, 

 keeping close and well shaded for a few 

 days ; for this purpose a starch box, 

 covered with a pane of glass, is a cheap 

 convenience and will hold a good many 

 ix)ts. — Farm and Garden. 



THE SQUASH. 



As the Squash is of tropical origin, 

 it is altogether useless to sow the seed 

 until the ground becomes warnj, and 

 all danger of frost is over, which in this 

 latitude is about the middle of May 

 Lideed, there is nothing to be gained 

 by planting earlier, for when once es- 

 tablished they grow with extreme 

 rapidity and great luxuriance. 



The Squash is highly ])rized by many, 

 and with a little care and attention 

 to the proper selection of varieties and 

 the preservation of their fruit, they can 

 be had in perfection for at least nine 

 montlis in the year. It is also a vege- 

 table that i-equires but little skill and 

 care in its cultivation, and although 

 they will grow readily in almost any 

 soil, yet they will more than repay a 

 lil)eral and generous treatment, and as 

 they delight in a warm, rich soil, it is 

 best to manure in the hill, care being 

 taken to break the manuie up well, 

 and also to thoroughly and deeply 

 incorporate it with the soil. At least 

 a dozen seeds should be placed in each 

 hill, and when the j)lants become strong 

 and well established, all should be 

 removed with the exception of three of 

 the most projnising. When young, the 

 plants should be spiinkled occasionally 

 with air-slaked lime, ashes, or soot, in 



