August, 191 1 



THE CANADIA^N HORTICULTURIST 



187 



are found at this work, we first have re- 

 course to strong tobacjco water to see 

 whether we can drive them away. If they 

 still persist in eating the bark, we ad- 

 vise uncovering the crown and larger 



roots, mixing up arsenate of lead with a 

 little water, and applying it as thick 

 whitewash to these parts. Arsenate of 

 lead is a poison, which, however, applied 

 in that way, would not injure the bush. 



Everybody's Flow^cr 



By Mrs. Annie L. Jack, Chateauguay Basin, Que. 



The peony has been called "Every- 

 body's Flower," being of easy culture, 

 and able to adapt itself to any soil and 

 situation, while having the reputation of 

 being immune from insect pests that de- 

 stroy so many of our garden treasures. 

 It is par excellence the flower for the am- 

 ateur, and if selected with a view to 

 lengthening the period of blossoming, 

 will continue to give flowers from the 

 first red "Piny Rose" of our grand- 

 mother's day, full of tonic scent, and 

 opening in May, to the latest of the 

 beauties that remain sometimes after 

 Dominion Day. 



Enduring neglect wtihout repining, 

 the plant responds to good culture and 

 enjoys being nurtured in good loamy 

 soil that will show an increase in the size 

 of the flower. Some of the newer varie- 

 ties are very fragrant, which is an added 

 charm, and a peony fancier will tell you 

 that if you inhale their perfume with 

 closed eyes, it is easy to imagine that 

 it is a Glorie de Dijon rose, while a pale 

 pink beauty called "Lyde," has a more 

 powerful, yet delicate scent, similar to 

 pure rose attar, resembling the essence 

 that has its home in the gardens of 

 Persia. 



The blossoms of a new variety called 

 ".Summer Day," remind one of a mag- 

 nificent La Marque rose, with the same 

 soft yellow tint in the centre that shades 

 into white. 



There is a lovely peony called "Arc- 

 thusa," that is a revelation to those who 

 only know the red, pink and white, for it 

 has outer petals of peach color shading to 

 delicate lilac and creamy white, and one 

 of the latest flowerings is a delicate lav- 

 ender, flesh colored, named "Lady Gwen- 

 dolin Ce<-il." There is no place in the 

 garden where herbaceous peonies appear 

 to <"ich advantage as in the shrubbery 

 bordc. , planted in masses, the fine leaf- 

 age, healthy and vigorous, being very 

 satisfactory. 



There is a beauty in this plant even in 

 .^pril when the red shafts come throueh 

 the ground, and grow so fast that they 

 become budded folinge before we are 

 aware of their haste. It is very easy 

 going, and vet dislikes interference, be- 

 ing sntisfied with an annual mulching, 

 and watering in a dry time, for it is a 

 thirsty plant, in a drought, and the buds 

 may refuse to fulfil their promise through 

 lack of water. But if borders are dug 

 find planted deep this is not so likely to 

 happen, and a plantation of peonies is 

 so adaptable that in bed or (sorder 



the ground may be filled with scarlet 

 tulips or golden daffodils that will finish 

 blooming early and not intrude. 



The month of August or early Septem- 

 ber, is best for dividing and transplant- 

 ing this perennial, after the season of 

 flowering is past. However small the 

 plant, so long as it has a sprout or eye, 

 it will grow, but the smaller the plant 

 the slower to blossom. Being impatient 

 of removal they should be left in their 

 glory to come to perfection, as they re- 

 sent indis- 

 criminate 

 changes and 

 hacking 

 pieces from 

 the roots. 



There is no 

 question of 

 hardiness and 

 for this rea- 

 son it is es- 

 pecially suited 

 to our clim- 

 ate, "P." 

 officinal- 

 is" being a 

 native of the 

 Alps, and "P. 

 albiflora" of 

 .Siberia, and 

 from these two 

 the present race 

 sprung. 



The new single peonies are very un- 

 like those we know so well, but for beau- 

 ty they hold their own, displaying a tuft 

 of golden anthers set in the centre of a 

 flower that may easily be mistaken for 

 an immense single rose. 



There is nothing more eff^ective than 

 an arrangement of one variety of peony 

 in a less frequented corner of the lawn 

 and they will thrive in such a situation 

 if given a mulch of coarse manure in thie 

 autumn that will furnish nutriment in 

 the spring, and winter protection. 



This question has put more would-be 

 gardeners out of business through dis- 

 gust over the failure of their efforts, than 

 possibly any other one thing. I have 

 gathered many a good thought from the 

 columns of The ; Canadian Horticultur- 

 ist, and if I can assist through past ex- 

 periences in helping other lovers of 

 flowers, I shall be happy. 



To me a perennial border is an absolute 

 necessity for a home garden. I take the 

 most pleasure out of it, and I grow vege- 

 tables and annuals to my heart's content. 



In April my bulbs begin to appear, and 

 right welcome they are. Chionodoxia, 

 snowdrops, crocuses, jonquils, narcissus, 

 hyacinths and tulips show a riot of bloom 

 that lasts until the first of June. Then 

 follow in quick succession sweet rocket. 

 Sweet William, pansies, buttercup, col- 

 umbine, perennial poppies, irises, peonies. 



Squash Vine Growing on Fence. Garden of C. B. Hamilton, Toronto, Ont. 



of garden species ismenes, foxgloves, roses and the vari- 

 ous lilies. 



This brings us up to about the first 

 week in July. In the perennial border 

 this is the crucial time. All I have in 

 full bloom now are the hollyhocks, Shasta 

 daisies, galliardias, and platycodons. 

 Happy is the man who hath his quiver 

 full of them, for by a judicious arrange- 

 ment of these flowers distributed through 

 his border he can counteract to a meas- 

 urable extent the gloom cast over the 

 border by the passing of the grand old 

 lilies, both white and colored. With these 

 four he can bridge the short space of 

 time till the hibiscus, perennial phlox, 

 golden glow, caliopsis, the late lilies and 

 red-hot poker arrive. 



In the interstices in the border I sow 

 or plant as thickly as desired gladiolus, 

 phlox Drummondi, eschscholtzia. Rose 

 of Sharon and zinnias, which will make 



Continuity of Bloom 



A. J. Elliott, Aylmer, Ont. 

 After reading the article in the July 

 issue of The Cnnndian Horticulturist de- 

 scribing Mr. R. B. Whyte's garden at 

 Ottawa, one phrase in it caught mc, and I 

 have taken it for the caption of these few 

 thoughts. Continuity of bloom has 

 caused many a florist, amateur and oth- 

 erwise, manv serious thoughts and arriv- 

 ing at the desired end has been accom- 

 plished pnly after -many 3 brain twist. 



As long as people depend upon the 

 cheap five cent packets of mixed flower 

 seeds and bargain counter lots of bulbs 

 for their supply, their flower gardens 

 will remain extremely common. — D. W. 

 Mardep, Pilot Mound, Man. 



