K'4 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



Floral Kdition. 



The Conservatory and a glimpse Into the garden of the Miss«s Thompson, Peterboro', Ont. 

 Although of modest dimensions the surroundings of this home are among the moat 



attractive in the city. 



indeed, for any other; hence one must 

 impress upon the beginner the vital im- 

 portance of space from the outset. A 

 weak seedling can never make a strong 

 plant; hence it is necessary to lay a 

 good foundation. This thin sowing 

 then, must be supplemented by a rigor- 

 ous thinning of the seedlings at the out- 

 ?iet of their existence. This is necessary 

 even when annuals are being grown 

 alone, but doubly so when in association 

 with other plants. 



It will not materially harm the bulbs 

 nr herbaceous plants if .just a few, a 



very few, of their largest leaves are re- 

 moved to give the annuals more light 

 and air during the early stages of their 

 career. To bulb enthusiasts this will, I 

 know, seem like rank heresy; but in 

 gardening as in everything else, it is 

 advisable at times to adopt a policy of 

 give-and-take. 



There are a good many hardy annuals 

 suitable for this association, such as 

 godetias, clarkias, candytuft, virginian 

 stock, leptosiphon, nigella, Miss Jekyll, 

 larkspurs, alyssum, mignonette, Shirley 

 poppies, annual chrysanthemums, and 

 pot marigolds. 



Spring Work With House Plants 



E. E. Kerrison, Calgary, Alberta 



THE spring is a good time to repot 

 our feriis. A good mixture of 

 soil comprises three parts of 

 fibrous loam, one part of sand, leaf soil 

 and well-drie'd cow manure. Rub 

 through a sieve, mix well together. Use 

 clean pots with good drainage. Water 

 once thoroughly after repotting, and 

 then water sparingly for a time until 

 the roots have started into the new soil. 

 Most people in the winter buy flower- 

 ing plants in bloom or just coming into 

 bloom, but when spring sets in they 

 begin to start propagating cuttings of 

 various kinds, or buy young plants that 

 have just started. With plenty of 

 fresh air and sunshine, they get quick 

 results, and the cuttings soon develop 

 into nice plants. 



Some of the flowering plants grown 

 here are primulas, cyclamen, begonias, 

 cinerarias, geraniums, petunias, lilies, 

 chrysanthemums, fuchsias, heliotrope, 

 impatiens. etc. Primula obeonica 

 makes a nice house plant, as they bloom ■ 

 nearlv all the year around. The new 



improved variety, Gigantea, is a very 

 strong grower and blooms much finer 

 than the old variety, and can be had in 

 several colore. The Chinese primula 

 is still a favorite. The colors are very 

 striking, especially the deep red. Cy- 

 clamen still stands one of the foremost 

 of winter flowering plants. They bloom 

 freely for several months. Some of the 

 newest varieties are very striking, es- 

 pecially the Butterfly, which is beauti- 

 fully fringed and waved. The foliage 

 is also very attractive. 



Cyclamen and Primula obeonica in 

 their young stages will grow well in a 

 sandv loam. Spray foliage often, with 

 careful watering at the root. Over- 

 watering at this stage will turn the 

 foliage yellow. When you have good 

 developed plants and ready to be re- 

 potted into five or six inch pots, use a 

 good stiff loam with a dust of bonemeal 

 or dried cow manure. After pots are 

 well filled with roots, they will take a 

 "liberal Supply of water. Chinese 

 primula require very much the same 



treatment, except overhead watering. 

 This variety is likely to damp off if 

 watei- is allowed to settle in the crown. 



Pick off all faded flowers and dead 

 leaves. They not only .spoil llie look of 

 your plants, but also help to create dis- 

 ease. Begonias, tuberous-rooted, are 

 amongst the choicest flowering plants. 

 They bloom in the summer season, 

 single and double flowers of the richesi 

 colors. They can be grown from seed, 

 but will need very careful treatment. 

 It is better for the amateur to get one 

 or two year old tubers. These can be 

 easily started. A good plan is to let 

 them sprout in damp moss before por- 

 ting, as the bottom and top of the 

 tubers are so much alike that you can 

 hardly tell the difference. Be" careful 

 with watering until they have ■ well 

 started. For potting, use one part leaf 

 soil, one part turfy loam, one part sand, 

 and one part garden loam. 



Some beautiful varieties can be had 

 in the fibrous-rooted begonias. These 

 are usually started from cuttings. The 

 Christmas varieties are much admired. 

 Glorie de Loraine have been popular 

 now for over twenty years. The Cin- 

 cinnati, a new and improved variety, 

 makes a handsome pot plant. It may 

 be a little difficult to start these in 

 their young stage, but you are well it- 

 paid later for your trouble. 

 Geraniums. 



Geraniums are the most useful plant.-^ 

 of any I know. They can be u.sed in 

 so many waj's, as a pot plant, or for 

 window boxes, flower beds, etc. A few 

 good varieties worth growing are S. A. 

 Nutt, double scarlet ; Universe, single 

 scarlet; A. Riccard, double scarlet: 

 Beaute Poitevine, double pink; Jean 

 Viaud, double pink; Mrs. E. G. Hill, 

 single pink; Wonder, single scarlet. 

 Fall-struck cuttings make the best 

 plants for summer flowering. 



Do not use soil too rich for geraniums. 

 Old plants that have been carried 

 through the winter in many cases get 

 far too much water, with the result that 

 they are now leggy and very unsightly 

 looking plants. They should have been 

 kept on the dry side in the winter time, 

 as with lack of air and sunshine they 

 make all sappy growth. The best 

 thing now is to cut them hard back and 

 let them break again. The tops can 

 easih' be rooted in a mixture of sand 

 and soil. 



. Chrysanthemums. 



Chrysanthemums can be started from 

 cuttings. Some varieties that will make 

 good pot plants for October flowering 

 are: Golden Glow, double yellow; Oc- ; 

 tober Frost, double white ; Ladysmith, ■ 

 single pink. For November and Decem- ': 

 ber flowering: Nellie Pockett, double 

 white: Cheltonic, double yellow; Kers- 

 lake, double white ; Ivory, double pink 

 and white ; Bmiline, single pink ; Ger- 



