ii6 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



often prevails during^ March and early time, this can be removed when all dang-er 



April. of frost is over. This allows the tips of the 



A portion of the covering on beds of growth that are often peeping above the 



Dutch and other bulbs may be removed to- ground, to harden gradually, so as to be 



ward the end of the month, if the weather able to resist any light frost that may come 



is favorable. Put the lightest portion of later on. 

 the coverintr back on the bulbs for a short Hamilton. VV. Hunt. 



FLOWERS FOR ENTHUSIASTS. 



FEW flowers always awaken my en- 

 thusiasm. Among them are holly- 



^ hocks. So capable is this flower of 

 improvement and endless variety, that it 

 pays us for every eflfort at- careful culture. 

 But it is sure to run back if neglected. I 

 find it essential to select seed of the best 

 varieties, and plant them when ready in beds 

 somewhat closer than needed; then I dig 

 out the poorer sorts when they come to 

 bloom. Better yet, when you get a fine 

 strain, divide the roots and so multiply it. 

 J grow this flower along my fences, and 

 border my fields with it. It is grand at a 

 distance, running from purest white to nearly 

 black. One strain of white hangs down its 

 semi-double flowers like lilies. • Sow in 

 September or October for next year's plant- 

 ing ; but if sown late it had best be in a cold 

 frame. No flowers should be grown without 

 special attention be paid to improvement. 

 If we are slovenly enough to allow the fruits 

 or flowers to retrograde on our hands, we 

 are retrograding also. 



Another flower that I am never tired of is 

 the lily. It is a constant wonder that, cheap 

 as these bulbs now are, they are not more 

 generally in cultivation. I find hyacinths 

 everywhere, but not lilies, except coarser 

 sorts. I expect that one reason is that the 

 very soil and richness that suits a Hyacinth 

 kills a lily. Manure is death to most of 

 them. The Longiflorum or Easter sorts are 

 generally classed as hardy, but are not abso- 



lutely so. An open winter generally puts an. 

 end to them. 



It is best to cover all lilies with some 

 coarse litter, leaves or evergreen boughs. 

 The Candidum is so superb that it should be 

 grown in masses everywhere. The fragrance 

 is superb. I have had Auratums in bloom 

 for nearly three months. I think this fine 

 lily is sporting in its habit. The early flow- 

 ering have shorter stalks and smaller flowers 

 but richer colors. The Speciosm is for 

 g-eneral planting about as valuable as Can- 

 didum, being- quite hardy and noble in colors 

 and fragrance. I hope thousands will invest 

 this fall in abed of lilies. Select Candidum, 

 Speciosum, Auratum, and the little Siberian 

 lily, with a plenty of native meadow lilies. 



I heartily recommend still more attention 

 to gladioli. The flower is magnificent in 

 coloring, and of endless variation in flakes 

 and stripes and selfs. The Gandavensis 

 stock ofl^ers us thousands of truly fine varie- 

 ties, and any one can with attention raise 

 for himself choice seedlings as good as the 

 best. For five years past these have been 

 rivalled by a strain of Gladiolus Lemoinei. 

 Now we have a very fine set of crosses from 

 Purpurea, Auratus and Gandavensis. These 

 will stand a good deal of attention. So far 

 these flowers are scentless. This is a great 

 drawback. It may be in time remedied by 

 farther efforts in the w^ay of selection and, 

 crossing-. Turicensis is a new cross offered 

 this spring. — Popular Gardening. 



