August, 1909 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



171 



Some Aster Troubles 



C. M. Bezzo, Berlin, Ontario 



» 



^ I ^HE aster, owing largely to its high 



I breeding, seems to have an unusual 

 number of troubles. Time and 

 space prevent us from entering into de- 

 tails regarding all of them. Wireworms, 

 white grubs and cutworms are the larvae 

 of various kinds of bugs or beetles, and 

 are among the worst enemies of the flow- 

 er garden. No means has yet been found 

 of poisoning them and the only remedy 

 seems to be the thorough and frequent 

 tillage of the ground. The cutworm may 

 be destroyed by the use of poisoned bran. 



The "aster bug" is a name given in 

 different localities to the blister-beetle, 

 red-headed flea-beetle and garnished plant 

 bug or "brown-fly." These may be de- 

 stroyed by the use of insecticides. Paris 

 green in the proportion of one ounce to 

 eight gallons of water and used as for 

 potatoes, is very effective. If a spray is 

 used, arsenate of lead is preferable to 

 Paris green. Mix one ounce of arsenate 

 of lead paste in one gallon of water. Hel- 

 lebore, diluted with five parts of ashes or 

 air-slaked lime may be used dry with a 

 bellows or sifter. If used as a spray, mix 

 one ounce to three gallons of water. 



Root lice cause the plants to have a 

 wilted, sickly appearance. An examina- 

 tion of the roots will reveal the presence 

 of hundreds of bluish lice. These may- be 

 destroyed by freshly made tobacco water. 

 Steep one pound of stems of tobacco in 

 two gallons of water and when cool pour 

 about the roots of affected plants. Tobac- 

 co dust worked into the earth around the 

 roots is also very eiTective. But better 

 than all the remedies is a preventive. A 

 good coat of hardwood ashes dug into 

 the ground early in the spring will in- 

 sure against root lice, but it must be put 

 on early in order that the lye may be ex- 

 tracted before planting out time or it 

 will burn the plants. 



.Stem rot :s a fungous disease that en- 

 ters the oufer bark of the plant and fre- 

 f|uenlly has its inception in the seed bed, 

 although not manifesting itself until the 

 plant is ready to bloom when it is found 

 wilted and dying. The preventive is fre- 

 quent stirring and drying of the surface 

 soil about the plant at all stages of its 

 growth, good drainage and the avoidance 

 of low, damp and sour soil. Flowers of 

 sulphur, dusted freely about the base of 

 the stems is considered by some to be a 

 preventive. 



The yellow disease of the aster, the 

 cau.se of which is still in doubt, is char- 

 acterized by a yellowish, bleached ap- 

 pearance of the affected plant. If the 

 plant blooms, the flower is of the same 

 color as the leaves. Sometimes one side 

 of a branch will be normal and the other 

 diseased, the .same effect being noticeable 

 in the flower at the end. There is no 

 evidence that the disease is contagipy,<5 



among plants ; but as this point is still in 

 doubt, and as there is no known remedy, 

 we would advise the removal and de- 

 struction of all plants affected with the 

 yellows. 



Clematis Paniculata 



J. McPherton Rots, Toronto 



All varieties of clematis are desirable 

 for planting as climbing plants, but the 

 Clematis paniculata is particularly so. 

 Wherever grown, it is 

 exceedingly popular 

 and gives every satis- 

 faction from its hardi- 

 ness and freedom of 

 growth. In good situ- 

 ations it will easily 

 grow from fifteen to 

 twenty-five feet in a 

 season. Its bright 

 green glossy foliage is 

 exempt from insects, 

 while its flowers com- 

 ing in late summer 

 when other flowers 

 have passed is a valu- 

 a b 1 e characteristic. 

 The flowers are small, 

 star-like and fragrant 

 but larger and whiter 

 than the Clematis Vir- 

 giniana, which it re- 

 sembles in many other 

 respects. 



That it is just the 

 plant for growing on 

 trellises, verandahs 

 and porches goes 

 without saying, or for 

 any place where a 

 climbing plant is re- 

 quired. It makes a 

 charming lawn plant 

 when tied up to a 

 stake and treated in 

 the bush form. It 

 should be cut back to 

 the ground each 

 spring. In many ways 

 it may be termed a 

 valuable climbing per- 

 ennial plant, hardy as 

 an oak, while its mag- 

 nolia fragrance makes 

 it more attractive as a 

 plant for verandahs. 



has one or more eyes from which the 

 stems of the new plants grow. Plants 

 differ greatly in the rapidity with which 

 the roots multiply ; some varieties will 

 furnish half a dozen roots if taken up 

 after two years, but most kinds increase 

 more slowly. 



New varieties are originated from 

 seeds. The new plant does not come true 

 to the parent. In most cases it is single, 

 or otherwise inferior, but now and then 

 one finds a gem. 



Photographs of attractive entrances tt) 

 home grounds, orchards or gardens are 



Clematis panicaltta 



Cut kindly loaned by Caniidian Nursery Co.. Montreal. 



Propagating Peonies 



Rer. Andrew B. Baird, Winnipeg 



Peonies may be jiropagated by bud- 

 ding or by division of the roots. The 

 former method involves some skill and 

 trouble but anybody can multiply his 

 plants by dividing the roots. All that 

 is necessary is to see that each new root 



wanted for publication in The Canadian 

 HoRTiciLTURiST. Whether or not the en- 

 trance or gateway is made of stone, brick 

 or wood, covered with vines or other 

 plants, or not planted, it will be equally 

 interesting and acceptable. 



Let us hear oftener from amateur gar- 

 deners in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick 

 and Prince Edward Island. 



