February, 1922. 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



2& 



QUESTION BOX 



W. E. Groves 



I 



Plants for Windy Position. 



What would you advise for a very windy 

 and sunny spot — plants to be grown in pots 

 or window boxes?— Mrs. C, Hamilton, Ont. 



Any of the stouter stemmed sum- 

 mer plants could be used, though con- 

 tinual wind is bound to affect even 

 these. Geraniums, fibrous begonias, 

 coleus, lobelia and alyssum should all 

 be satisfactory. If a box is used, two 

 or three plants of dracaena would help 

 to steady the other plants, and in this 

 case petunias could be used. There 

 are many worse things than dwarf 

 nasturtiums for the purpose. The ob- 

 ect to be kept in mind is to use plants 

 as dwarf as possible, any taller kinds 

 to be those with naturally stiff stems. 



Cactus. 



I had a plant with drooping stems and 

 sharp thorns with a red flower. Was this 

 a cactus, and if so, would it do in this 

 country? — Mrs. C, Hamilton, Ont. 



The plant was more than likely one 

 of the cactus class, though just which 

 variety is not easy to say, the number 

 being so numerous. However, there 

 should be no difficulty in making a 

 plant grow here if given a decent 

 place in winter and stood out of doors 

 during the summer. A plain gritty 

 soil suits them best, and if kept grow- 

 ing during the summer season and 

 rested a little during the winter, will 

 usually flower in spring. They are 

 not hardy here. 



Color in Apples. 



What will give color to Snow apples? Ours 

 are never as red as they should be. — Mrs. J. 

 T., Hamilton, Ont. 



Trees grown in light sand, even when 

 well cultivated and fertilized have a 

 higher color than those grown in heavy 

 land. So, too, have trees gro^vn in sod 

 as compared to cultivated land. I doubt 

 if there is any substance known that 

 will add to the color of apples. There 

 is a great difference in the individual- 

 ity of trees. Some trees of the same 

 variety have much higher color than 

 others.— Prof. L. Caesar, 0. A. C. 



Hardy Chrysanthemums. 



What are the names and colors of the 

 best hardy chrysanthemums ?—F. G., Lon- 

 don, Ont. 



The only chrysanthemums that are 

 at all fit for outside planting are the 

 Pompon varieties, which succeed if 

 planted in a sheltered place. Care 

 has to be taken in this conneption, in 

 view of the fact that the plants are 

 needed for bloom before the frost 

 comes, and a south border is really 

 the only safe place. The following 

 varieties are the most suitable: Beth 

 wine color, Carrie (yellow), Golden 

 Glow (yellow), G. S. Kalb (white), 

 Mrs. Roberts (pink), October Gold 

 (orange), Doris (red), Julia Lagra- 

 vere (red), Goachers Crimson (red), 

 Queen of Whites: 



Starting Geranium Slips. • 



A number of geranium slips in small 

 pots have been coming along well, but 

 when the new leaves are about a quarter 

 inch in size they dry off. They are In a 

 sunny window and e,ll sprouted. There is 



a heater in the room. How can I remedy 

 thia condition and bring them to 

 maturity?— Mrs. R., Toronto, Ont. 



The slips are probably not rooted, 

 and, if in a warm room, may shoot out 

 leaves before the rooting action is 

 completed, with the result stated. It 

 is likely that the plants will continue 

 growing all right, though it will be 

 wise to g^ard against over-watering 

 during the dull days of this month. 

 The room being warmed precludes 

 danger from frost, and unless the 

 reason suggested covers the trouble, 

 one will have to be found in the atmo- 

 spheric condition of the room. Is 

 there any chance of gas« doing the 

 damage? Gas from a heater will oc- 

 casionally seriously injure plants, es- 

 pecially at night when fires are check- 

 ed off 



Another View of an Attractive Dundas Garden. 

 At the left Is a sundial, and at the right Bird Bath and Lily Pond. The 



preceding page describes these. 



article on the 



Rubber Plant. 



What is the cause of my rubber plant 

 leaves going as the enclosed one? How 

 shall I treat it for this? This is the second 

 winter it has occurred, but it is only on 

 last year's growth, and not on that made 

 during the past season. — F. G. W., St. Lam- 

 bert, Que. I 



Gas, cold, a dark position, or too 

 much water may each be a reason for 

 the plant going off as stated. See 

 that a light position is provided. If 

 the plant is stood in a jardiniere guard 

 against water collecting in the bot- 

 tom. This affects the drainage and 

 sours the soil. See that drainage is 

 good and keep plant away from 

 draughts. The fact that the new 

 leaves do not fall off does not admit 

 the possiblity of too little moisture 

 and a too dark position is more than 

 likely to be the cause. 



Planting Apple Trees. 



I am told that if an apple tree dies, an- 

 other one will not grow it planted in the 

 same place. What is your opinion? — H. B., 

 Sydenham, Ont. 



I have set out apple trees under these 

 conditions, and they have grown fairly 

 well. I took the precaution, however, 

 to put good, fresh soil into the hole be- 

 fore planting. The surface soil works 

 well for this purpose, if the dead tree 

 has not been a very large one. There 

 is no reason that I can think of why a 

 new tree should not be planted in the 

 same place as the dead one. If it has 

 been an old one, it is difiScult to get 

 the roots all out and the earth sufficient- 

 ly firm. As a general practice, it is 

 better to set trees in new soil. — Prof. 

 L. Caesar, 0. A. C. 



Annual Pinks. 



A bed of annual pinks is keeping green 

 under straw manure. Will they bloom 

 next season?— Mrs. C, Hamilton, Ont. 



The plants are really biennial, and 

 if frost does not kill them, will prob- 

 ably bloom again next season. As to 

 whether they will survive the winter 

 is, however, rather problematical. 



