104 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



May, 1909 



Roses 



A. H. Ewing, Woodstock, Ontario 



THP; roses in the accompanying illus- 

 tion were planted three years ago 

 and came from Dickson's, of Bel- 

 fast. They are mostly budded on the 

 seedling briar but some on the Manetti 

 stock. Very few have had to be re- 

 placed. Her Majesty grew very vigor- 

 ously the first year and gave a few beau- 

 tiful blooms, but the three plants have 

 since all died. Other kinds — hybrid tea 

 and hybrid perpetual, including Frau 

 Carl Druschki — have done very well, last 

 year (1908) being the best year so far. 



The bed in which they are planted 

 was dug out to a depth of about two feet 

 and filled in with good heavy clay loam 

 with plenty of old barnyard manure and 

 some coarse bone meal. It has had 

 heavy coats of manure spread over late 



done as the weak wood is always cut 

 out and the strong wood cut down to 

 two, three or four eyes at the most. 



Whilst on the subject of roses, let me 

 recommend Rosa rugosa as a shrub for 



everybody's garden, large or small (there 

 are two or three back of the rose bed il- 

 lustrated, one only being visible). It 

 makes a beautiful well-shaped bush, is in 

 flower nearly the whole summer, and is 

 free from insect attacks. The bright red 

 haws are also very pretty in the fall and 

 early winter. 



The Gladiolus : Its Care and Usefulness 



James E. Orr, 



PLANT gladiolus bulbs or corms in 

 the warm earth the first of May, 

 placing them in a trench six inches 

 deep where they will be exposed to plen- 

 ty of sun, rain and others of nature's 

 benefactors. Ten inches apart is the 

 proper distance. Cover over firmly and 

 keep well hoed and weeded, which is not 



A Bed of Roses at " Altadore, ' ' Wondstock, Ontario 



in every fall since, which has been left 

 on the surface during the next summer. 

 By May or June, the manure is quite 

 friable and the bed can be kept quite 

 tidy and not at all unsightly or unpleas- 

 ant. My experience in this place is that 

 roses do better that way, producing 

 stronger growth and better and more 

 bloom. This bed is in the full sun and 

 fortunately close to a hydrant where it 

 can easily get frequent strong hosings. 

 Insecticides have never been used on it. 

 As a winter protection, brush — ever- 

 greens and otherwise — has been put be- 

 tween and over the bushes, bending them 

 down. In former years, when the win- 

 ters have been much colder than this 

 last one, this covering has answered the 

 purpose well, but this spring on taking 

 off the brush I noticed that the growth 

 of the roses was black much farther 

 down than usual. However, I do not an- 

 ticipate that any real harm has been 



a difficult matter to do, as they will soon 

 shoot up fast growing spikes, which are 

 easily distinguished from weeds. 



For many years I have opened two 

 furrows with the plow and here placed 

 the bulbs and, with little care, have gath- 

 ered in July, August, September and Oc- 

 tober armsful of bloom, gorgeous in col- 

 or, lasting in endurance, cleanest of all 

 flowers, treasured by the sick and ad- 

 mired by everybody. Every year I add a 

 few of the newer sorts to my collection, 

 so that new interest is added to "Gladi- 

 olus Avenue" during the blooming sea- 



The bulbs of the gladiolus increase 

 rp.pidly. On an average they will double 

 yearly, so that a new beginner soon has 

 a supply on hand. A few newer varie- 

 ties may be added as one's fancy dic- 

 tates. In November, the bulbs should be 

 harvested and left exposed to the sun 

 until somewhat dried, then stored beyond 

 frost for the winter. 



Tempo, Ontario 



Gladioli are the only things that grow 

 in the vegetable kingdom, that I know 

 of, that have not got an enemy in some 

 fly, bug or worm to destroy them, they 

 alone appearing to grow unharmed by 

 anythihg. 



The gladiolus should be extensively 

 grown. No flower as easily managed 

 will repay so abundantly in blooms. 

 Among all the flowers none is so appro- 

 priate for the sick room. Their bright 

 and cheerful colors help wonderfully to 

 refresh the wearied invalid, and as the 

 gladiolus has no perfume they never be- 

 come oppressive to the most sensitive as 

 many fragrant flowers do. 



The bloom on a spike of gladiolus 

 never becomes detached, and so does not 

 litter up the most expensive carpet, as 

 man}' other flowers when in bouquets do. 



If spikes of the gladiolus are cut when 

 the lower blooms are opening, all the 

 upper ones will come to perfection. They 

 will remain in bloom longer than any 

 other summer flowers, — three weeks or 

 more, and still they are presentable, 

 only growing a trifle lighter in color as 

 they remain longer indoors. 



In making bouquets let each spike be 

 fully -seen. Use some light growing foli- 

 age at the bottom of the bouquet, as it 

 adds to the appearance, and harmonizes 

 nicely with the brighter colors. Such a 

 bouquet will produce a smile on the most 

 careless face, and sparkle the eye of the 

 dullest observer, and bring a "thank 

 you" from the most callous soul. 



Trouble with Callas 



My calla leaves are withering at the 

 tips. The plants are potted in good soil, 

 and get plenty of moisture. They are 

 potted in six and seven-inch pots ; were 

 bulbs last fall.— B. K. R., Berlin, Ont. 



The dry atmosphere of the house or 

 gas fumes is probably the cause of the 

 calla leaves withering at the tips. The 

 best preventi\e is to sponge the leaves 

 with tepid water occasionally, about once 

 a week. Keep the roots well moistened, 

 but not soddened. If, as you say, they 

 are in good soil, the dry atmosphere of 

 the house or gas fumes is in all proba- 

 bility the cause of the trouble, and spong- 

 ing with water will prevent this to a 

 certain extent. 



Watch the weeds or they will beat you. 



