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THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



The Strawberry Patch 



MRS. JOHN GILFILLAN, KIKKTON, ONT. 



ROWS of Strawberry plants are usually 

 placed about three and a half to four 

 feet apart and the plants 15 to 24 inches 

 apart in the rows, according to the thrifti- 

 ness of the variety or varieties grown. The 

 choice of varieties should only be made after 

 actual test. Begin planting as early in the 

 spring as possible, to get the benefit of early 

 rains and thus give the plants a vigorous 

 start. 



Plants should always be well trimmed, all 

 large or dead leaves removed, together 

 with the tips of the roots, which will then 

 branch out and take a firmer hold of the soil. 

 Begin cultivation immediately after plant- 

 ing and continue throughout the season, 

 thereby keeping weeds in check, conserving 

 the moisture in the soil and confining the 

 plan.ts to their alloted space in the rows. 

 Blossoms should be removed the first season, 

 as well as any runners that may appear be- 

 fore the plants are in a sufficiently vigorous 

 condition to support them. 



Chrysanthemums in May 



GEORGE HOLLIS, BRACONDALE, ONT. 



MAY is a busy month for the chrysan- 

 themum grower, especially for cut 

 flowers. Cuttings of late varieties should 

 be rooted ready to plant early in June. 

 Keep the cutting bench rather wet and shade 

 the plants from the sun. The air from the 

 ventilators should be kept ofT them by hang- 

 ing a curtain of cotton before the plants as, 

 otherwise, the air will wilt them badly. 



The early varieties such as the Bergsman 

 and Monrovia should be planted this month. 

 A good, stiff loam, which bas been stacked 

 for some time, is the best soil to use. Four 

 wheelbarrows of this and one of well rotted 

 manure (cow manure preferred), with some 

 fine ground bone, say a four-inch pot full 

 of the bone to each load, or two bushels of 

 soil, makes an excellent mixture. 



Clear the bench and s:ive it a coat of new 



lime. Put four to five inches of soil in the 

 bench, the coarse in the bottom and the fine 

 on top. Plant the early varieties about five 

 inches apart in the row ; if fine blossoms are 

 wanted leave seven inches space. The late 

 \arieties need more room. 



Pot the cuttings as soon as they are 

 rooted. Do not leave them until they be- 

 come hard and draw up thin, as if jxju do 

 you cannot obtain high class flowers from 

 such stock. See that the exhibition pot 

 plants are kept near the glass and potted as 

 needed, and grow the strongest shoots at the 

 back. Syringe the plants with tobacco 

 water for the black fly, or fumigate them. 

 A good start wath ohrysanthemums is_ a 

 great advantage. 



Planting Asters 



FOR asters dig and rake fine about a 

 square yard of rich soil in the open 

 garden. If the soil is poor, dig in some 

 well-rotted manure or cow manure, \\nien 

 the soil is fairly dry, make some shallow 

 drills about half an inch in depth. The 

 drills should be about eight inches apart. 

 Sow the seed as soon as possible, thinly, 

 about an inch apart in the drills. Rake the 

 soil over lightly, sufficient to cover the seed. 

 If the soil is dry, give it a light watering, 

 using a fine sprinkling watering can. 



When the plants are about two inches in 

 height, transplant into rows about 15 inches 

 apart. The plants should be about 10 

 inches apart in the rows. The soil should 

 be prepared in the same way as for the 

 seeds. The plants should be set in the soil 

 a very little deeper than they were when 

 Sfrowins: in the seed bed. 



One Layer of Manure to three or four 

 of sod would be a better proportion for rais- 

 ing early vegetable plants than that given on 

 page 146 of the April issue, as a compost 

 less rich in fertilizing property produces a 

 hardier and sturdier growth than when a 

 very rich compost is used. — (Correction 

 sent it! bv '\\x. Hunt.) 



