66 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



March, 1912 



also do the hardy roses, as Rosa Rugosa 

 and others. 



AS SOBEENS 



As screens of all kinds a great many 

 vines can be recommended. If a vine 

 is to be grown as a screen the liest way 

 is to proceed as follows : Procure a plain 

 strong screen, the style or pattern of 

 which is a secondary consideration, and 

 a good strong, vigorous plant. Give the 

 plant good rich soil. If you want a rapid 

 and successful effect remember that it 

 can be obtained by putting an extra dol- 

 lar into the cost of the preparation of the 

 soil and the quality of the plant. Ten 

 dollars for the screen and twenty-five 

 cents for the plants is a poor combination. 

 A better one is five for the screen, one 

 for the plant, two for the soil and pre- 



paration, and two saved for eventualities. 



In some parts climbing roses can be 

 used with grand effect, especially if they 

 are grown on screens which can be laid 

 down during the winter. The Virginia 

 Creeper, several of the vines mentioned 

 above, and a number of annual vines are 

 also suitable for growing on screens. 

 Varieties of Clematis, however, should 

 not be used, as all lack foliage, which is 

 very essential in a vine used for a screen. 



The question of the annual vines is 

 too big for discussion here, but it should 

 be mentioned that the annual forms are 

 a great addition to our gardens. Among 

 them are many which may be grown with 

 success under many conditions. They 

 should not be overlooked for some of the 

 purposes mentioned .ibove. 



at the same time, but it gives a wrong 

 impression. It is not done. 



The seed catalogue is the only med- 

 ium between the grower and buyer, and 

 is here to stay. Treat it understanfling- 

 ly and your prospect of success is made 

 more certain. 



The Seed Catalogues 



A. J. Elliott, 



IN an article written by a lady in one of 

 the floral papers, she said, "The an- 

 nual seed catalogue is the best readin°: 

 I can get in January." While 'few will 

 follow this lady to that extreme, most of 

 us are heartily pleased to get the first 

 one that arrives. It is studied, new 

 things noted and discussed, and when the 

 whole budget arrives our lists are made 

 out understandingly. 



They are worthy of respect, most of 

 them. '\^'e see in each a representation 

 of some firm, that binds itself to abide 

 by the conditions therein contained, and 

 while we may smile forgivingly at the 

 exaggerations they mostly indulge in, we 

 acknowledge that they are doing their 

 best as a drawer of business. Note the 

 pretty litho-colored cover, the clean, 

 sharp impression, cuts all brought up 

 nicely, not too much ink nor too little, 

 register right, book in folio and page; 

 everything square, with no jagged edges, 

 and you are almost sure to purchase any- 

 thing you want from such a source. 



It has often been said that it is an 

 impossibility to grow flowers to the p'^r- 

 fection that these catalogues show in 

 their colored plates. While that may be 

 true mostly, I have grown beds of tulips, 

 asters, phlox drummondi and lilies that 

 would defy printer's ink to equal in color 

 and beauty. 



By the old professional or amateur in 

 floriculture a lot is taken for granted, 

 and their knowledge guides them when 

 making up their list of seeds. But they 

 are liable also to be taken in occasion- 

 ally by something new, as the writer was 

 last year with the arctolis. It was list- 

 ed as fifteen inches high, just what was 

 wanted, but when it grew up to thirty- 

 five inches, and at ten in the forenoon 

 closed up its flowers to six o'clock in the 

 evening, it made a glorious weed. 



BE ON YOUR GUARD 



I am fain to admit that to the tyro 

 the catalogue is a delusion in more ways 



Aylmer, Ont. 



than one. It is opened, and the flatter- 

 ing descriptions taken as gospel. A list 

 is made out, oblivious to the fact whether 

 the soil the seeds are to be planted in is 

 clay, loam, sand or muck, or whether 

 they are hardy or tender, annual or per- 

 ennial, and at the end of the season, be- 

 cause of the failure that must ensue, the 

 seeds, catalogue, and growers, are all 

 termed frauds, it never occurring to the 

 buyers that the fault lay with them, 

 primarily through ignorance. 



It is a fairly good theory to go easy on 

 new things. Still, everyone likes to have 

 a rarity in the garden to watch and care 

 for, and if it turns out right, that is all 

 the satisfaction required. 



LEARN THE "STANDBTS" 



To the new beginner, I would say find 

 out the old .standbys that succeed well in 

 vour section and soil for they are seldom 

 beaten by the new candidates. G've 

 them all the attention they require and 

 you will be better satisfied. Then as you 

 go along successfully, as you must, add 

 the new comers as you feel your ability 

 to cope with them. 



It has cost the old hands dollars for 

 plants, bulbs and seeds that having been 

 tried one season were found wanting and 

 withdrawn. This need not be your fa*e, 

 unless you choose. 



Better success can be gotten by buying 

 direct from the house, whether it be 

 seeds, roots or bulbs, and by so doing 

 you are kept up-to-date by receiving a 

 catalogue ^very year. Thus you hear of 

 novelties and have advantage of any 

 premiums, which are not forthcoming 

 from the retail dealer. The order comes 

 fresher, and in cases like lilium auratum 

 it is an item, as this bulb objects to be- 

 ing kept in a dry condition. 



One thing more. It may be a matter 

 of policy for the seedsman to print a col- 

 ored plate showing peonies, delphiniums, 

 perennial phlox and hollyhocks blooming 



Planning the Garden 



E. I. Mcpitcd Ottawa 



With the season of 191 1 behind us 

 we must now lay our plans for this 

 year's garden that is to be. As we can 

 do but little now except think, it be- 

 hoves us to lay out our work. The best 

 f)f success is only obtained by well 

 thought out plans. We know what 

 ground we have and now we can think 

 over the best way to utilize it. It is 

 very pleasant to plan out the crops we 

 have to grow, and the best position for 

 them, and to draw out a sketch of the 

 same. To do this we must do some read- 

 ing of horticultural books, and look over 

 some of the volumes of The Canadian 

 Horticulturist, and thus gain knowledge 

 from the experience of others. 



When we have thought out what we 

 intend to grow, the next thing is to 

 think of the varieties we should grow 

 both in seeds and plants. We can gain 

 a lot of information from catalogues of 

 good seed houses. Depend mainly on 

 good, well-tried varieties, and do a lit- 

 tle experimenting with new varieties, 

 but never depend for main crops on a 

 new introduction, for although descrip- 

 tive catalogues are most useful, yet 

 some descriptions are rather highly col- 

 oured. Lots of information can be ob- 

 tained from our successful neighbors. 

 Never be afraid to seek such informa- 

 tion. We have each and all some good 

 sensible knowledge up our sleeves. Get 

 your orders in for your wants early so 

 that you are well up on the lists of the 

 seedsmen and florists, for there is noth- 

 ing like having necessaries on the spot 

 when the time comes to use them. 



One great factor in the advance of 

 horticulture in Ontario are the horticul- 

 tural societies in the cities, towns and 

 villages. Through them we obtain hor- 

 ticultural literature, papers and lectures 

 on topics of interest, and what is the 

 most useful, the "Question Box." I 

 bring this to your attention because it 

 is the beginning of the year, and every 

 lover of horticulture, and everyone de- 

 sirous of mcreasing their knowledge 

 should join their local society. In this 

 way also you will get premiums in 

 plants, seeds and bulbs of the newest 

 varieties. 



When sowing seeds we should remem- 

 ber that flower seeds usually are very 

 small, and that they should be covered 

 very lightly. — D. W. Marden, Pilot 

 Mound, Man. 



