THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



199 



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watered put a little sand round the 

 collar of the plant. We have been 

 most successful by not giving any sur- 

 face water; but, instead, setting the 

 pots in a pan of water, and thus supply- 

 ing moisture to the root. As soon as 

 the stem of the plant becomes woody, 

 which it quickly does, no further care 

 is needed. 



If one can get Clianthus safely 

 through the first few weeks of their 

 growth, they are as easily grown as any 

 plant. Set the plants out in a dry, 

 warm, sunny spot in the garden, about 

 the fii-st of June. They will make 

 bushes two to three feet in height, and 

 be covered with splendid flowers until 

 killed by the frost. In the greenhouse 

 they do not tlirive, as they are more 

 aubject to the attacks of red spiders 

 than any plant, and do not like the sy- 

 ringing necessary to destroy that pest. 



The oldest species is 0. puniceus, 

 which is a very showy plant; but the 

 newer, C. Dampieri, far surpasses it, 

 having larger flowers of a richer scar- 

 let, which have a large, shining, intense 

 black mark at the base of the petals. 

 Of til is latter species there is a variety 

 with white flowers, somewhat varied 

 with pink, and with the same black 

 marking, which is very pretty, although 

 less showy. 



Let no one be deterred from planting 

 Clianthus because it is " hard to grow." 

 The only cai-e is to avoid over- watering 

 in the early stages of growth ; other- 

 wise the j)lant is of as easy culture as 

 any other of the Bean family. — R. S. E. 

 lit American Garden. 



Ru.ssiAN Mulberry. — The Russian 

 Mulberry has recently taken a prominent 

 place, and owing to its hardiness and 

 rapid growth, i.s in active demand for the 

 Northern and Western States. It pro- 

 duces an abundance of excellent fruit, 

 which would fully pay for all labor ex- 

 pended in its cultivation, — Am, Silk and 

 Fruit Culturist. 



LARGE STRAWBERRIES AND THEIR 

 FLAVOR. 

 We have had some huge Strawberries 

 from Mr. Gilbert (Paxtons) which were 

 remai-kably well grown and perfectly 

 colored. Better grown they could not 

 be, in fact; and yet the flavour, in our 

 opinion, left something to be desired. 

 The Strawberry is one of those things 

 as regards which flavour is to some ex- 

 tent sacrificed to appearance. All who 

 grow fruit for their own tables would 

 do well to ask if we cannot get better 

 flavoured fruits than those grown for 

 the markets. Qualities which eniible a 

 market grower to carry his fruit to a 

 place of sale are of no consequence what- 

 ever to the private grower, who should 

 above all grow fruit for its flavour. 

 The wholesomeness and pleasure of eat; 

 ing a Strawberry have very much di- 

 minished by the poor quality of many 

 kinds. We should raise and raise fruits 

 till we get really good ones. This plant 

 is so easily raised from seed, and comes 

 into bearing so quickly, that there 

 should be no trouble in the smallest 

 garden in trying a few experiments un- 

 til the owner found a kind that suited 

 him in flavour. It is quite common to 

 find fruits most unwholesome by the 

 acid they contain. There should be a 

 revolt carried on by all owners of gar- 

 dens against the ever-growing practice 

 of sending out new kinds because they 

 are bigger than older ones. It gene- 

 rally means that they are coai*ser; it 

 sometimes means that they are useless. 

 Imagine anyone growing a Kidney Bean 

 because it was large, seeking the very 

 quality that all avoid who have to cook 

 or eat it. It is a delusion that those 

 who grow their own fruits and vege- 

 tables necessarily pay more for them 

 than they do in the maiket. The plea- 

 sure of having them qiiite fresh and of a 

 proper age would, however, be worth 

 paying more for were it needed. This 

 great advantage, which all who are 



