March, 1922. 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



53 



_QUESTION tBOX 



W. E. Groves 



^! 



AsparagTis Sprengeri and Plumosus. 



Asparagus I am now growing from seed 

 has a small bulb somewhat resembling an 

 oxalis root, the fronds of which are not like 

 another variety I have. I am enclosing a 

 sample, and will be glad of the name ot 

 ach variety. — N. H., Gordon Bay, Oni. 



I The sample enclosed is Asparagus 



sprengeri, a variety with a drooping 

 habit much used for hanging pots and 

 boxes. For verandah boxes or baskets 

 it is one of the best plants to use, the 

 .graceful froijds often growing to 



ighteen inches in length during the 



(>ason. The name of the other popular 

 - ariety is Asparagus plumosus, this 



icing the kind most used in a cut state 

 i iir decoration with flowers. The habit 

 of this kind is climbing, a well estab- 

 lished plant sending up shoots many 

 feet in length. Grown in pot^ this 

 makes a really fine house plant and 

 under these conditions does not grow to 

 >uch a height. The two varieties are 



[uite different in habit and appearance, 

 plumosus being generally the most 

 popular. 



Starting Canna Seeds. 



Is there any better method for starting 

 canna seeds than boiling water? I treat 



the seeds three times by pouring boiling 

 water over them. — C. L. T., Dutton, Ont. 



Sulphuric acid could be tried, soak- 

 ing for just a few minutes. AJiother 

 method is to cut or file ofi: a bit of one 

 end of the seed, the object being to let 

 in the moisture. A thorough soaking 

 in water, however, usually softens the 

 seeds sufficiently for fairly quick 

 germination, if after sowing they are 

 kept in a warm temperature. 



Planting Violets. 



Would separating violets and planting in 

 a sehii-sunny place with ordinary rich soil 

 be the correct method to induce blooming? 

 Would the bank at the side of a ditch be a 

 good place to plant?— C. L. T., Dutton, Ont. 



A cool spot should be selected and the 

 shady side of a ditch ought to be ideal, 

 especially if the soil is good. Separate 

 or take off! the runners after blooming 

 and the plants will make good growth 

 for flowering the following year. 



data on this matter. The flower stem 

 should be left on plant for best results, 

 and there is usually no difficulty in 

 securing well-matured seed before the 

 fall. If seed is required for sowing at 

 once care is needed at this season, and 

 it is generally best to hold it over until 

 January. 



Transplanting Date Palm. 



How many years should date palm from 

 seed be given in their first pot before 

 transplanting? If left undisturbed the 

 second summer will they grow character 

 leaves?— C. L. T., Dutton, Ont. 



Presuming that the seeds were raised 

 in a bed, and the young plants potted 

 in small pots, the leaves mentioned are 

 usually formed before the plants de- 

 mand repotting. It is not easy to lay 

 down definite rules On this, but general- 

 ly the need for repotting, and the show- 

 ing of character leaves will occur at 

 about the same time. 



Gladioli Among Tulips. 



Could gladoli be planted between tulips 

 for summer bloom? The tulips are eight 

 inches apart and the ground is unusuariy 

 rich.— C. L. T., Dutton, Ont. 



The gladioli should not materially 

 damage the tulips if the latter are 

 planted fairly deep. "When gladioli 

 corms are lifted, a dressing of well-de- 

 cayed manure might be a help, lightly 

 forked in if possible. The method will- 

 have no ill effect on the ripening of the 

 tulips, though, of course, it is easy to 

 see that tkis kind of planting could 

 n6t be maintained indefinitely without 

 a renewal of the soil. 



Paeonies. 



Should paeonies planted along a west 

 wall bloom as quickly after planting as 

 those on south or east side of garden? — 

 C. L. T., Dutton, Ont. 



Given similar soil conditions both 

 positions are equally good and results 

 should be much the same. 



Moving Crimson Eambler. 



Could a three-year Crimson Rambler rose 

 be moved in spring, and would it live after 

 replanting?— C. L. T., Dutton, Ont. 



With ordinary planting precautious 

 such as saving all possible roots and 

 avoiding the drying out of roots during 

 the operation, there is no risk. 



'Mum Sevenoaks. 



Is the chrysanthemum sevenoaKS hardy 

 if grown from seed and planted on the 

 south-west side of the house? Is it as 

 hardy as the common pink and yellow 

 varieties so frequently used in hardy bor- 

 ders?— C. L. T., Dutton, Ont. 



The chief value of Sevenoaks is its 

 earliness and continuity of bloom. It 

 should be hardy in a sheltered spot in 

 the garden, and plants raised from seed 

 would be just as likely to succeed as 

 those raised from cuttings. Seed 

 should be sown quite early to secure 

 good strong plants for putting in the 

 ground in May or early June. 



A Fine Display of Bloom. 

 A plot ot improved asters grown by l{. Johnston, 

 Toronto, Ont. iMr. Johnston calls his asters 



"Johnston's New Victory." 



Paeony Seed. 



How long from bloom docs paeony seed 

 take to ripen? Is it best to let the seed 

 ripen on th^ plant or the stem placed in 

 water in the sun?— C. L. T., Dutton, Ont. 



So much depends on weather and dis- 

 trict that it is not easy to give exact 



Pollinating Iris. 



Will seeds form in an iris border without 

 artificial pollination?— C. U T., Dutton, 

 Ont. 



Y^s, in some instances, but it is best 

 to do your own pollination to be on 

 the safe side. 



Market for Flov?er Seeds. 



Is therq a market in Canada for hardy 

 flower seeds, such as canterbury bell, 

 hollyhock, etc.?— C. L. T., Dutton, Ont. 



Apply to any of the large seed 

 merchants who will readily give this 

 information. 



Cactus and Begonia. 



A white fungus is killing my cacti and 

 l,egonia. A strong soapy solution does not 

 seem to stop it.— M. B. q., DunnvUle, Ont. 



We are inclined to think that this is 

 mealy bug. If so, the best remedy is to 

 literally wash it off with soap and 

 water, for which purpose a soft brush 

 could be used. The plants may be 

 cleaned after with clear water. Write 

 again and send an infected leaf if this 

 reply does not meet the case. 



Primula Obconica Poisoning. 



What Is a good remedy for Primula ob- 

 conica poisoning?— A. T., Toronto. 



A mixture of equal parts of lime 

 water and lemon juice, and applied 

 externally, is said to be good. 



