148 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



June, 1916, 



A bed of maid«n hair ferns, 9 years old, in the 



gurden of Dr. Doug-las G. Storms, Hamilton, 



Ont. 



some advantage in leaving the clip- 

 pings as they help to conserve the mois- 

 ture, but they do not improve the ap- 

 pearance of the lawn. In very dry 

 weather the lawn .^.hould not be cut too 

 close. This can be avoided by lowering 

 the roller a little. 



It pays to roll the lawn. The best 

 time to do this is early morning when 

 the dew is fresh upon it. If there are 

 an abundance of worm hills, brush the 

 lawn over first, and spread this valuable 

 new soil over it. 



Nothing enhances the looks of a 

 well kept lawn more than well kept 

 edges. There is an art in edging. A 

 line should always be used when mak- 

 ing a new edge, especially around a 

 curve. Edging need onlv be done once 

 or twice a year. Grass that overgrows 

 the edge can be readily kent back with 

 the long handled edging shears. Neat- 

 ly trimmed edges, whether around a 

 lawn, around trees, walls or borders is 

 the artist's finishing touch, as is the 

 ribbon to the bride's bouquet. 



Where practicable, use winding 

 paths and small strips of grass dividing 

 your flower beds or vegetable garden 

 beds; these greatlv increase the "beauty 

 of a garden. Over such strips a per- 

 gola mav be arranged and a charming 

 effect given to the whole by training 

 over the pergola some climbing roses 

 .such as Crimson Eambler or Dorothy 

 Perkins. 



Transplanting Ferns 



Dr. Douglas G. Storms, Hamilton, Ont. 



The accompanying illustration shows 

 a bed of Adiantum Pedatum (Maiden 

 Hair Fern) in my garden. At the time 

 of photographing these plants were 

 seven or eight years old. The plants 

 were taken from the woods at any 

 time that I chanced upon them, some 

 in the latent state, others half grown, 

 and still more full grown. 



The plants were taken up with lots 

 of the natural mould about them and 

 planted in the bed as soon as I reached 

 home. After once being planted they 

 were never touched, but left severely 

 alone. The bed was located on the 

 north side of an out-house in the rear 

 of my garden, but was exposed a good 

 part of the day to the full heat of the 

 sun, which, by the way, does not affect 

 this particular variety of fern, harm- 

 fuilly. Anyone ^v'ishing to make a bed 

 of the Maiden Hair Fern has only this 

 ,to rememlber, plant them carefully and 

 then do not coddle them. 



ments, furrows may ho opened, seed 

 covered, and weeds killed. 



Plant a few pots or berry boxes of 

 cucumbers, melons, or other vegetables 

 for early use. Keep in cold frame or 

 hotbed until the first week of June, 

 when all danger of frost is over, and 

 then plant out. 



It Is important in establishing a lawn to 

 choose a site where the soil is deep, fer- 

 tile, and in good phy.sical condition. If 

 these conditions are not found naturally 

 they should be obtained artificially by 

 drainage, cultivation and liberal manur- 

 ing. 



June Vegetable Reminders 



Set out a strawberrj' and a raspberry 

 bed. 



Make another sowing of peas, spin- 

 ach and radishes. 



See that a bird bath is built, out of 

 reach of the cat. 



There is still time to sow grass seed 

 and establish a good lawn. 

 . Every garden should have an herb 

 border. Many of the herbs are orna- 

 mental as well as useful. 



Keep the onion field clean and well 

 cultivated. 



Make another sowing of peas, beans, 

 beets, carrots, spinach, and Swiss chard. 



Clean seed, clean soil, and good culti- 

 vation should give a good crop of 

 potatoes. 



Thorough cultivation must be given 

 vegetables, fruit and flowers, if best 

 results are to be obtained. 



Poppers and egg-plant should not be 

 planted outside until settled warm 

 weather arrives. 



Peas and beans may be planted be- 

 tween rows of newly-set raspberries to 

 advantage. 



A few radish seed scattered with 

 onion or other slow growing seed will 

 mark the rows so that cultivation may 

 begin even before the plants are up. 



It pays to prepare vegetables as well 

 as fruits neatly for market. Clean, at- 

 tractive packages do not cost much 

 more than unattractive ones and bring 

 much better prices. 



Soak celery or tomato plants thor- 

 oughly for several hours before trans- 

 planting. This will enable you to carry 

 more dirt with the plant. 



A good hand cultivator makes gar- 

 dening easier. With proper attach- 



June Floral Suggestions.- 



Roses should have been pnined be- 

 fore this, but may be gone over now. 

 All weak or injured wood should be 

 cut out. 



Don't forget to plant a few nastur- 

 tiums, California poppies, i)etunias, or 

 other annuals in the garden. 



Liver of sulphur (powdered sulphur) 

 dusted on the leaves of roses and other 

 garden plants inclined to mildew will 

 keep it in check. 



Plant a few gladioli bulbs. They pro- 

 vide excellent cut flowers in early 

 autumn. The bulbs are cheap this year 

 and should be planted in quantities. 



Set out shade trees and shrubs if it 

 has not been attended to. Spread the 

 roots well and fill in ^vith fine rich soil. 

 Always make this soil firm about the 

 roots. Leave the top soil loose. 



Flowering cannas require a warm, 

 rich soil and must be given plenty of 

 water in hot weather. Many varieties 

 flower well. The bulbs are easily stored 

 over winter if not allowed to get wet 

 or too dry. 



Mignonette is hard to transplant, but 

 the seeds may be sown where it is de- 

 sired they shall bloom. 



Ferns from the woods and swamps 

 will make attractive the shadiest spots 

 about the house. Leaf mould or decay- 

 ed chip dirt will provide a soil which 

 develops a .luxurious growth almost 

 equal to that in their native haunts. 



If you have a bare, dry spot that gets 

 the sun all day, where other flowers do 

 not thrive, seed it to portulacas. They 

 will crowd out the weeds and give you 

 an abundance of bright, cheery flowers 

 all summer long. 



Keep the lawn mowed this month if 

 a close, fine sward is wanted. Nitrate 

 of soda is a good fertilizer to apply for 

 quick efTect on the lawn. Use at the rate 

 of from 150 to 200 pounds per acre. Put 

 on just before watering or during a rain. 

 It should be applied two or three times 

 during the summer. 



The Baby Rambler rose succeeds very 

 well planted out. The flowers of the 

 Baby Rambler are often nearly single. 

 They succeed better out of doors than 

 in the window. They are not good win- 

 dow plants. Monthly roses will not 

 flower the year round successfully. A 

 month or two of partial rest is essential. 



