Januaiy, 1922. 



THE CANADIAN HOR-TICULTURIST 



i 



QUESTION BOX 



W. E. Groves 



•i 



AT the suggestion of the editor, I am 

 to liave the privilege of caring for 

 this department. The name im- 

 plies that Question Box is to be a 

 kind of problem clearing-house, and the 

 intention is to honestly try and assist 

 every reader. You will, however, have 

 to come into line ; the reply to your ques- 

 tion may help a hundred others, and for 

 that reason alone you should ask it 

 freely. Please make each question as 

 clear as possible. If you ask it at the 

 time the information is needed, this will 

 often prove the best time for reply. If it 

 is thought that any en<iuiry should have 

 a reply before the next issue of the paper 

 an effort will be made to send it by 

 mail, publishing it in the colunni, also 

 for general information. Will readers 

 generally try andunake this part of the 

 paper one of increasing interest and a 

 place where everyone is welcome. Ad- 

 dress all questions to The Canadian 

 Horticulturist, Peterboro, Ontario. — 

 W. E. Groves. 



ing the season to encourage all the 

 growth possible. Bad weed patches 

 could be cut out and seed sown on the 

 bare places. Bone meal is a good food 

 for grass, as is also sulphate of am- 

 monia, each used at the rate of one to 

 two ounces to the square yard. It is 

 well always to" remember that it is on 

 poor and uncultivated ground that the 

 weed* give most trouble. In the gar- 

 den a safe remedy is the hoe. 



Begonia Rubra. 



I have a begonia, which is four feet high, 

 ami has just two straight stalks with a few 

 leaves on top, which kept green all winter. 

 It is beginning to show signs of shootiuji 

 out. Would you advise me to cut it down, 

 and to what height, also the best time to do 

 it?— Mrs. C. C, Toronto, Ont. 



From the description given of the 

 growth of the begonia mentioned, I 

 think it must be the variety called Be- 

 gonia rubra, which often throws up 

 straight stems as mentioned. I would 

 not advise cutting these back at all, as 

 this growth usually produces lateral or 

 side shoots that will produce flowers 

 later on. 



Rust is the result of hot, dry weather, 

 rarely appearing in a rainy season. To 

 make sure of a crop it is wise to sow 

 just as soon as danger of frost is over 

 and by cultivating and feeding the plants 

 should be kept growing as fast as pos- 

 sible. 



Creeping Jenny in the Lawn. 



My garden and lawn are troubled with 

 a creeping vyeed, sometimes called Creep- 

 ing Jenny. Is there any spray that will kill 

 it, or what other method could I use? — 

 J. M., Meaford, Ont. 



To keep a lawn clean it is necessary 

 to make the grass grow strong enough 

 to smother the weeds. If the weed 

 named is not too bad, the lawn could 

 be well raiced over and a top dressing 

 of really rich soil given at once. In 

 the early spring some good grass seed 

 should be sown, care being given dur- 



English Broad Beans. 



Please print cultural directions for Eng- 

 lish 4)road beans Can they be grown free 

 from rust?— I. B. W.> Thorndale. 



The writer has to confess that in; has 

 had little success, but English broad 

 beans may be grown in this country. 

 Prom observation of the methods of good 

 growers, it is evident that a deep rich 

 soil is necessary. Seed shoidd be sown 

 about six inches apart in rows. If sown 

 in a shallow drill, the soil can be drawn 

 towards the plants as they grow. Culti- 

 vation should be followed and late in the 

 season a light mulch is sometimes used. 



Tl.ib 



The Home of a Cape Breton Reader 



..^ „,:,„„, i.ii of John Taylor, Sydney Mlno.s. N.S. Cupi" Breton has a late 



owing to the drift Ice fi-om the north. Once the Krowinff season aet.s In, 

 growth is rapid. (See letter on page 6.) 



fining 



Pruning Trees. 

 State best time for pruning trees, bush 

 fruits and grape vines.~I. B. W., Thorndale. 



Pruning is generally a matter for the 

 winter and spring seasons. It is pre- 

 sumed that enquirer referes to orna- 

 mental trees. This work can be done at 

 any time when the trees are dormant 

 and weather conditions siutable. Bush 

 fruits, such as currants and gooseberries 

 are usually pruned in spring, as also are 

 grapes, though there is apparently no 

 reason for delay in this connection if the 

 winter months are not too severe for 

 working outside. Raspberries and black- 

 berries call for attention after fruiting, 

 tlic'old canes being then removed. 



Garden Bulbs. 



Please give the names o£ garden bulbs 

 for spring planting, also name of lily simi- 

 lar to tiger lily but without spots and any 

 other general information on the planting 

 of a garden next spring.— H.A.P., Toronto. 



You should get in touch with a good 

 nurseryman, securing catologues and 

 information that any reputable firm is 

 always ready to give on the question 

 of planting. If you have not yet be- 

 gun to plant, it ^ould be well to lay 

 out a definite f scheme which need 

 neither be elaborate nor costly. Shrubs 

 in variety should be groups, a good 

 rose bed, and a perennial bed or bor- 

 der. The latter would be a good spot 

 for lilies for which you appear to have 

 a special liking. The variety about 

 which you inquire is probably Chalce- 

 donicum, but there are quite a num- 

 ber of kinds possible of successful 

 garden culture. A good seedsman's 

 catalogue would be of real help in the 

 selecticm of roots for spring planting. 



Disinfecting Pruning Tools. 



In disinfecting knives for pruning, cor- 

 rosive sublimate cannot be used as It acts 

 almost instantly on knife. Would arsenate 

 or carbolic acid in solution be just as 

 effectual? — H. B., Sydenham, Ont. 



I have used the same knives and the 

 same saw for four years in succession 

 disinfected with corrosive sublimate 

 and little injury resulted to either. 

 There is no need of your correspondent 

 being alarmed on this point or trying 

 to use some other disinfectant. The 

 corrosive sublimate does not do much 

 harm to steel in this work.— Prof. 

 L. Caesar, . A. C. 



Pruning can be done in the orchard 

 on warm days from now on. Burn all 

 trimmings as promptly as possible. 



