480 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Have the soil in proper condition, neither 

 too wet nor too dry. If too wet, it will bake 

 and roots will not penetrate it. If dry, like 

 dust, you cannot pot with that firmness re- 

 quired. 



Suitable compost for nearly all plants is 

 composed of three-fourths turfy loam, 

 equal parts of cow manure and leaf mould 

 with a little bone meal and sand added ; mix 

 well together, and it is ready for use, and 

 suited for roses, geraniums, fuchsias, helio- 

 tropes, verbenas, pansies, and all free-grow- 

 ing plants. Turfy loam is the top sod from 

 all pastures well rotted. Leaf mold is de- 

 cayed leaves, which you can get from the 

 woods. 



Carnations 



C'^ ARNATIONS can be grown success- 

 _/ fully in the garden by starting the 

 seed in cold frames in July or August and 

 leaving the plants there over winter. In the 

 spring set them out in beds that are well 

 raised so that water will not lie on the 

 ground. 



If the soil is rich about 75 per cent, of the 

 plants make good growth, but will not 

 bloom. During the succeeding winter they 

 should be well protected by a covering 

 which admits some air but protects them 

 from the frost. A covering of dead leaves 

 is as good as any. About June 15 or July i 

 of the following season they produce an 

 abundant and fragrant bloom which lasts 

 for three or four weeks. 



The difficulty in this country is, that if 

 they do not bloom the first season they be- 

 come winter-killed and there is practically 

 no bloom. The best varieties are Red 

 Grenadin and Early Dwarf Vienna (white 

 and variegated). Only about 60 per cent, 

 come double and some others semi-double. 

 The remainder are single and should be up- 

 rooted. The variety Marguerite will bloom 

 the first year, but it does not give nearly the 

 amount of bloom the others do. 



The English Ivy 



C. B. M. 



OF all vines for continued house growth 

 the English Ivy stands at the head 

 as a universal favorite, and yet is seldom 

 seen brought to a state of luxurious growth 

 and vigor. It is most easy to grow, and 

 when once well established makes rapid pro- 

 gress. It branches freely and gracefully, 

 will stand dust, hot and dry air, sudden 

 changes of temperature, and show no ill ef- 

 fects therefrom. One of its qualifications 

 as a house plant is its ability to grow in the 

 shade even better than in the sunsnme. 

 Frequent washings of the foliage make it as 

 " good as new," rendering the dark glossy 

 rich leaves even more attractive than ever. 



Good drainage is an especial necessity for 

 the ivy, and only enough water should be 

 given to keep the soil moist. None other 

 than ordinary soil is required for good suc- 

 cess with English ivy, applying liquid ferti- 

 lizer once a week or thereabouts. The 

 foliage must be kept clean, otherwise the 

 plant is subject to scale, requiring much 



