AMONGST WESTERN FLOWERS 



WM. HUNT ONT. AGRI. COLLEGE, GUELPH. 



OUR western friends are evidently not 

 so engrossed in the development of 

 their grand country along agricultural and 

 commercial lines, as not to be able to devote 

 some portion of their time in beautifying 

 the surroundings of their homes with plants 

 and flowers. This fact was amply demon- 

 strated by the splendid exhibit made by both 

 professional and amateur plant and flower 

 growers at the recent Dominion exhibition 

 held in the city of Winnipeg. 



Although the floral exhibit would not in 

 point of size . compare with similar exhibits 

 seen at a few of our large eastern fairs, still, 

 as regards quality and general excellence, it 

 was a most creditable display. In fact, in 

 a few of the classes represented I have never 

 had the pleasure of awarding prizes to plants 

 and flowers of such high class quality. One 

 pi the most noticeable exhibits was the 

 specimen fuchsia plants shown in connec- 

 tion with the amateurs' exhibit of window 

 plants. Some of these plants were simply 

 superb, several of them being of such ample 

 proportions that one plant would fill a win- 

 dow of even more than ordinary dimensions. 

 These specimens were in fine condition. 



Another feature of the amateur exhibit 

 was the large and gorgeous display of sweet 

 pea blooms. The collection that gained the 

 premier prize in this class surpassed any- 

 thing I have ever seen exhibited, both in 

 quantity and quality, as well as in the wide 

 and varied range of shades and colors 

 shown, there being upwards of 40 named 

 varieties in this exhibit. Great care had 

 also been taken in the selection and arrange- 

 ment of the different shades and colors. 

 Several other collections of sweet peas, both 

 in the professional and amateur classes, 

 were also of special merit. 



The display of cut flowers of other an- 

 nuals was also very good, the fine spikes of 

 Ten Week Stocks being particularly notice- 



able. Pansies and Phlox Drummondii were 

 of good quality, the type of flower in bQth 

 of these comparing very favorably with the 

 best strains seen at floral exhibits in On- 

 tario. 



The exhibit of cut flowers of perennial 

 border plants was not a very large one, but 

 some good specimen blooms of perennial 

 Larkspur, Gaillardia, Coreopsis, Lychnis 

 chalcedonica, Monarda, and many other 

 favorite old border plants were much in 

 evidence amongst the perennials. One 

 variety that was very prominent, not only 

 in the collections, but also in the bouquets,, 

 designs, etc., was the beautiful delicate 

 sprays of the Gypsophila paniculata. The 

 graceful panicles of the star-like flowers of 

 this pretty border perennial were used very 

 effectively in relieving the heavy appearance 

 that many border flowers present when ar- 

 ranged for decorative purposes, unless re- 

 lieved by flowers of a lighter and more deli- 

 cate texture of growth. The perennial 

 Gypsophila answers splendidly for this pur- 

 pose, the plant is quite hardy, and although 

 not a showy border plant, its light elegant 

 sprays of white starry blossoms make it in- 

 valuable for cut flower decorative pur- 

 poses. The double floAvering Achillea is 

 also very plentiful and succeeds well in the 

 west. Some fine specimens of the two last 

 mentioned perennials were in full bloom in 

 the flower borders surrounding the remains 

 of the now historic gateway of old Fort 

 Garry, on the banks of the Assiniboia river. 

 The small enclosure around this romantic 

 spot is now very nicely laid out with walks 

 and borders, the latter being very tastefully 

 planted with shrubs and perennial plants, 

 the specimens of the Gypsophila and Achil- 

 lea before mentioned being particularly 

 noticeable. 



Two collections of wild flowers common 

 to Manitoba were shown. The exhibit that 



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