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THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



August, 191 2 



interesting lecture the last time we were 

 together. 



Manure is Mr. McKay's slogan, all 

 that can be used, and then some more. 

 There is a tool house in the centre of the 

 garden and behind it a long box holding 

 several loads of manure. Into this is 

 put all refuse from t+ie house and gar- 

 den, leaves, grass cuttings, and similar 

 material, and thus each spring Mr. Mc- 

 Kay has a compost that he says, and 

 there is evidence to back it up, is just 

 what the garden requires. 



ROSE GARDEN 



One hundred rose trees have been pur- 

 chased for a special rose garden. This 

 will necessitate more land, but I am 

 sure that he will make a success of it. 



The illustration here shown is taken 

 from the back window of the house, and 

 gives a bird's eye view of this lovely 

 garden. 



Success with Sweet Peas 



Mri. Nichobon, St. Catheriiti, Oat. • 



Having met with some success in the 

 growing of .sweet peas, I would like to 

 tell you how it was obtained. In the 

 first place we secured all the new kinds 

 (that is Spencer's) that we could obtain 

 both in the United .States and England. 

 Some thirty varieties in all were pro- 

 cured, no two alike. .4s they were all 

 expensive, and as there were only ten 

 or fifteen seeds of some kinds, we did 

 not like to lose them. We therefore 

 bought a book on sweet peas. 



This is one of the things it taught us : 

 to bury the packets in the ground, and 

 cover them an inch deep for eight or ten 

 days. This we did, after which they 

 were ready to be planted. We did not 

 dig a trench this time. As the ground 

 was heavily manured, we took out about 

 three inches of earth, and as the seeds 

 were nearly ajl sprouted, we planted 

 them just where we wanted them to 

 stand. With those that were not 

 sprouted we took a knife and gently cut 

 them. In all I do not think that we lost 

 a dozen .seeds. Each kind was kept 

 separate and all were labelled. When 

 they were coming through the ground 

 we took ashes from the rubbish pile and 

 sprinkled it well on each side of the 

 plants, so that the grubs would not dis- 

 turb them. 



When the plants were up an an inch 

 or more we began to hill them up. As 

 soon as they began to throw out feelers 

 we began to string them. Every day 

 or two we tied another string. Where 

 there were only one or two we never let 

 a bud flower. We had any number that 

 had four flowers to a stem. We have 

 cut a bouquet eight or ten inches across 

 and every one with four flowers on, and 

 such beautiful varieties. 



A couple of days before our fall show 

 we bought cotton sheeting two yards 

 wide that covered the rows. To stand 



The Trantformation of a City. — No. 1. 



and look under the covering was a sight 

 too beautiful for description. You will 

 never know what some varieties are like 

 until you shade them from the sun, es- 

 pecially in the oranges, reds and pinks. 

 They are simply gorgeous. 



If you are wanting to exhibit them, 

 covering them with cotton will protect 

 them from the wind and rain. One Sun- 

 day we had the worst wind and rain 

 storm of the season. Had we had 

 cheese cloth instead of cotton we would 

 not have won any prizes the following 

 Tuesday, when the show was held. 

 Don't forget that sweet peas like soap 

 suds. 



Garden Notes 



Don't forget to save some seeds to 

 give to your friends. 



Don't forget to enjoy the company of 

 your flowers. The mornings and even- 

 ings are the best hours in the garden. 



Many insects can be killed on golden 

 glow, sweet peas, rose, buckthorn, 

 plums, or any plant, by applications of 

 soap solution. This is perfectly safe to 

 use, and leaves no bad odor, and a few 



applTcations apparently are sufficient to 

 rid a plant of its unpleasant parasite. 



Window boxes will be improved by an 

 application of liquid manure. See that 

 all dead flowers are picked off. Free- 

 sias, Bermuda lilies, Hyacinths, and 

 paper white Narcissi should be planted 

 this month if desired to have them bloom- 

 ing indoors for Christmas. 



If you grow gladioli you will find 

 "Mr. Grub" is very fond of them. 1 

 often remove the earth where a gladiolus 

 bulb was planted only to find a large 

 grub lying just where the growth had 

 started. These pests can be overcome 

 by keeping a careful watch for them and 

 digging around the plants in the early 

 morning. — D. W. Marden, Pilot Mound, 

 Man. 



It is best to stand foliage plants out 

 of doors during the hot summer months 

 in partial shade. Under tiie shade of 

 trees, if not too dense, or on the north 

 side of a fence or building is the best 

 place for them in summer time. A layer 

 of coal ashes or a sprinkle of air-slaked 

 lime should be placed for the pots to 

 stand on to keep earth worms out of 

 the pots. 



