THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



in time, they would be substantially re- 

 warded by returns in wood and lumber. 



A word or two about fences. The 

 cost and material and style are matters 

 to be left to the taste, and size of purse 

 of each one concerned. But, whatever 

 be the kind or expensiveness, let them 

 be neat and be kept in good repair. 

 An hour's work will save the place from 

 having a tumbled-down appearance. A 

 great mistake is made by many in fenc- 

 ing in a small enclosure in front of the 

 house called a front yard ; this is gener- 

 ally allowed to grow up with long grass 

 and lilac bushes, reminding one of many 

 of the enclosures in a church yard. If 

 cattle, and sheep and pigs were to roam 

 at will ; such fences might serve some 

 useful purpose by guarding the front 

 door from their entrance ; but surely 

 this is not now the excuse for their 

 existence. In parenthesis may I say 

 that the farmer spends far too much 

 money and labor on fences. Stock has 

 no business oi right to roam at large on 

 public highways and meadows, and orch- 

 ards should be debarred their presence. 

 Thus of what use are fences in such 

 locations ? Their only plea for exis- 

 tence is custom, or to harbor stone 

 heaps, weeds and useless underbrush. 



And now I come to speak of one of 

 the chief features of outside home adorn- 

 ment — flowers. I am met at the outset 

 by protest of the farmer that he has no 

 time or taste for such things. As to 

 time, we answer, that a few hardy flowers 

 would not demand much time, and as 

 to the taste for them, that he should 

 cultivate a taste for such God-given, 

 beautiful things. 



If he will not cultivate them for his 

 own sake, surely he will spend one hour 

 a week to please the wife and daughters. 

 You will scarcely find a woman in the 

 country who does not love flowers, and 



do a little at least in their culture. If 

 you desire, but do not know how, to 

 cultivate flowers, I would strongly advise 

 you to take our own Horticulturist, 

 and if possible form a Horticultural 

 Society. You will gain in knowledge 

 and pleasure many times the amount of 

 the subscription. Allow me then to 

 trespass on your patience for their sake. 

 Those who know but little of flower 

 culture, should commence with a few 

 hardy kinds, extending the list as experi- 

 ence is gained. Flowering shrubs are 

 easily raised and cost but a trifle, with 

 moderate care, they will continue to 

 bloom for many years. I would have 

 sweet syringa, barberry, mock orange, 

 weigela, dogwood, hydrangea and a few 

 others. The rose is the queen of flowers 

 and for it the soil needs to be very rich. 

 In summer pinch off the top of new 

 growth, to make the plant stocky and 

 wood well ripened. In spring cut back 

 to two buds. It has numerous parasitic 

 enemies. The white louse may be des- 

 troyed by fumigating with tobacco 

 smoke. The worst enemy is the red 

 spider which is best destroyed by sul- 

 phur fumes. The common cabbage 

 rose and the small white or yellow sorts, 

 if thus treated, will surprise and delight 

 you with their beauty and odor. After 

 you succeed well with these common 

 sorts, buy a few hybrid perpetuals such 

 as Jacqueminot, La France, Alfred 

 Colomb, and La Reine, etc. It is belter 

 to plant all your roses in a square or 

 round bed, so that they may be the more 

 easily smoked or sprayed. The variety 

 of the colors and foliage affords a fine 

 contrast when so planted. The amateur 

 would do well to cultivate perennials, 

 as one planting will sufifice for years. 

 Among these, the Sweet William is very 

 hardy and showy, and some kinds of 

 pinks are perpetual and are very sweet 

 and pretty. A few others are the daisy, 

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