34 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



February, 1913 



An Everlasting Flower, Acroclinium 



My Favorite Flower* 



Mrt. A. R. Mnir, Port Dalhoutie, Ont. 



It is most difficult to decide which 

 flower is the ideal of my fancy — there 

 is such an extensive range and galaxy 

 of floral beauties distinctively attractive 

 in color, form and growth ; they display 

 such artistic excellence, such superior 

 traits of loveliness and refinement of 

 expression. Every flower has its own 

 distinct character and facial expression, 

 its own questionings and contentedness 

 — or, if not suited to its environments, 

 it will show its discontent immediately : 

 Is it not so? Have you not noticed a 

 neglected plant with its expression of 

 dejection? It has given up trying to be 

 bright and cannot thrive on starvation 

 and non-support. Plants and flowers 

 tended with thoughtful care by one who 

 loves their every habit, form and hue 

 will not refuse to flaunt their beauty in 

 thankful gratitude. 



I hesitate to single out one special 

 flower, as my heart yearns to enfold them 

 all as especial favorites. However, my 

 choice is the fragrant violet, with its 

 royal hues. It is a much-loved flower 

 and a greatly-sought-after and popular 

 addition to one's toilet. It is adpated for 

 the decoration of the palace and the cot- 

 tage, the sick room and the garden-of- 

 rest. Our deferential thanks are due to 

 the "One who paints the wayside 

 flower." In sickness and health, m 

 poverty and wealth, the violet comes as 

 a peaceful and tender messenger. 



Flowers are said to be "God's smile 

 upon earth." It is said that in time our 

 expert scientists will perfect the Corolla- 

 phone, and that our garden flowers will 



*One of tile essays that competed for the apeo- 

 ial prizes recently offered by Meaere. Hermann 

 Simmers, of Toronto, and E. B. Whyte, of Ot^ 

 ^awa, for the enbjeot, "'My Favorite Flower and 

 ttow to Grow Ik" 



.sing to us their shades of color, giving 

 out various notes, each separate colored 

 petal a distinct tone. With the perfume 

 of our garden, the musical harmony will 

 be complete. "Come and hear my gar- 

 den sing" will then be our friendly in- 

 vitation. 



OtTLTOBAL HBTHOD8. 



In the spring the soil in my garden is 

 dug and pulverized and mixed with wood- 

 ashes, and ashes from the burnt garden 

 refuse, and decayed leaves. The violets 

 are planted and frequently watered until 

 established in growth, the beds kept free 

 from weeds and the soil, a sandy loam, 

 stirred occasionally. This is all that is 

 required for an abundant bloom. The bed, 

 being permanent, is left the rest of the 

 year until the autumn, when a few leaves 

 are spread over the bed. 



When spring ushers in her balmy days 

 I remove the covering and renew the 

 wood-ashes as a fertilizer. I grow many 

 varieties of the wood violet also with the 

 greatest success, treated as the English 

 kinds in every instance. The last plant 

 to bloom is a wild white perennial violet 

 flowering in August. The violet plants 

 are grown on a southern exposure. 



Treat your floral friends with thought- 

 ful attention and they will return that 

 kindness a thousandfold. 



Varieties of Paeonics 



R. B. Whyte, Ottawa, Ont. 



The following is a list of the best 

 twelve varieties of pseonies, regardless 

 of cost. In this list, P. after the name, 

 means that the variety has a sweet per- 

 fume. 



Marguerite Gerard, P. : flesh color, 

 creamy white centre. 



Marie Crousse, P, P. : globular flow- 

 er, salmon-pink. 



Festiva Maxima: white, tipped with 

 carmine. 



Asa Gray, P. : salmon-flesh and car- 

 mine-lilac. 



Theresa: flesh-shaded pink, very 

 large, flat flowers. 



Mile. Leonie Calot, P. : soft flesh col- 

 or. 



Marie Lemoine : sulphur-white shaded 

 chamois, slightly tipped with carmine. 



Martin Cahuzac ; crimson-red to mar- 

 oon, very dark. 



Mons. Jules Elie: pink, shading dark- 

 er at base of petals, very large. 



Albert Crousse : deep pink, large. 



Madame d'Hour: carmine-pink, very 

 free bloomer. 



Grandiflora Nivea Plena: white, cen- 

 tre sulphur and salmon, carmine stripes. 



The foregoing twelve varieties can be 

 laid down in Ottawa from France for 

 ten dollars. 



TWELVE FIRST-CLASS VAE.IETIES 



Festiva Maxima : white, tipped car- 

 mine. 



Mile. I.coriK- t .linl, J'.: M^t flesh 

 color. 



Madame de Galhau, P. : flesh-pink, 

 shaded salmon. 



Livingstone, P. : soft pink. 



La Tulipe, P. : flesh-pink to white, 

 carmine tips. 



Due de Nemours, P. : sulphur-white. 



Charlemagne : creamy-white, shaded 

 chamois. 



Felix Crousse : bright carmine. 



Modele de Perfection, P. : pink, shad- 

 ed rose. 



La Rosiere, P. : creamy-white, straw 

 colored centre, very sweet. 



Avalanche, P. : milk-white, creamy 

 centre. 



Couronne d'Or: creamy-white, some 

 petals bordered ermine. 



The above twelve varieties can be laid 

 down in Ottawa from France for six 

 dollars. 



Ciood varieties of Pa;onies, which can 

 Ije bought locally for twenty-five cents 

 each, include : 



Rosea Elegans : soft pink, shaded sal- 

 mon. 



Duke of Wellington : sulphur-white, 

 fragrant, free bloomer. 



Queen Victoria, P. : white, cream 

 centre. 



Festiva Maxima : white, tipped car- 

 mine. 



Oflicinalis rubra: crimson. 



Officinalis rosea : pink. 



A Night-Blooming Cereus 



The plajit here shown, grown by Mrs. W. H. Hill, 

 of Peterboro, bore several blooms which came 

 into flower one at a time several nights apart. 

 These flowers are very beautiful but transient, 

 lasting only a few hoiirs. They beein to open 

 between six and eight o'clock in the evening, are 

 fully expanded by eleven and by three or four 

 in the moiming are closed. 



