THE HOME GROUNDS. 



189 



thing should be so arranged that none of 

 our trees, shrubs or flowers will be hidden 

 hut }et so they will blend together. The 

 disagreeable surroundings must be hidden. 

 We want a complete picture which will give 

 several different and pleasing views from 

 dift'erent standpoints. 



I am a strong believer in the massing of 

 shrubs and flowers with open spaces from 

 the front. Many a garden is spoiled by 

 dotting them here, there and everywhere, 

 so that wherever the eye rests there is noth- 

 ing but a conglomerating of plants and 

 flowers. 



LEAVE PLENTY OF SPACE). 



One great mistake often made is to have 

 the trees in front of the house and grounds 

 too close together. The reason is siniple. 

 \Vhen the young trees were first planted 

 they were planted thickly in order to get 

 shade right away. After a few years they 

 grow up, and in many cases it would be far 

 better were some of them cut out. From 

 20 to 25 feet is little enough for a well 

 grown maple, for example, and it is 'won- 

 derful how vastly improved most trees are 

 when given plenty of room. When the 

 trees in front are too close together the grass 

 on the lawn does not get sufficient light and 

 air, nor do shruhs and flowers which may 

 be near them. Leave sufficient space be- 

 tween the trees that one may see between 

 them the beauties of the grounds. The 

 best trees for street planting in Ottawa are 

 the sugar maple and elm. The soft maple 

 and the red maple are almost as good. 



There are very few good climbing vines 

 which are perfectly satisfactor}- in Ottawa. 

 The climate in winter is too severe for most 

 of those which do very well a little farther 

 south. For instance in Toronto Boston 

 Ivy does excellently, but in Ottawa it very 

 frequently kills down to the ground in win- 

 ter. This is a great drawback because 

 after killing in this way it takes the best 

 part of the summer to attain its fonr.er 

 growth and vigor. 



The common \"irginia Creeper is an ex- 

 cellent vine in many respects, but it too has 

 one drawback, and that is its liability to the 

 thrip or green fly, which often nearly de- 

 stroys the leaves in August or September 

 and makes it have a very ragged appear- 

 ance, just when it should be at its best. 

 I^rohibl}- the best clin her for Ottawa is a 

 species of Virginia Creeper which is native 

 to Ontario and is to be found growing wild 

 around Ottawa. This has all the good 

 qualities of the ordinary Virginia Creeper, 

 clings much closer to brick, wood or stone, 

 needs no training or fastening up, and above 

 all is very little subject to thrip. It is being 

 disseminated by the experimental farm. 



Other good climhers are Dutchman's 

 Pipe, Clematis Jackmanii, and Honey- 

 suckles. Several varieties of roses can also 

 be used as climbers, particularly the Crim- 

 son Rambler. Climbers can be used to 

 grow against and hide fences and sheds, 

 they can be trained up verandas and porches 

 and against the sides of the house itself. 



(To be concluded In June issue. )3 



SWEET PEAS IN THE GARDEN 



R. B. WHYTE, OTTAWA. 



SO^^' sweet peas as soon as they are re- 

 ceived and where they will get plenty 

 of sun and air. Do not plant where they 

 will be shaded by trees. They do not bear 

 many flowers if in a shady place. If you 

 can, make your rows run north and south. 

 If you have good garden soil no special 



preparation is necessary. Spread about 

 two inches of rotten stable manure over the 

 surface, if you can get it ; dig it in deep ; it 

 should be covered six inches deep so that 

 none of it can touch the seed. Stretch a 

 string the length of your row so as to make 

 it straight, then with a hoe make a trench 



