'72 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



August, 1909 



Small Home Gardens 



By "Spectator" 



AMATEUR gardeners are often dis- 

 heartened when they see the beau- 

 tiful results obtained in flower gar- 

 dens under professional care and some- 

 times think, from photographs of others, 



where two paths meet, or in a circle of 

 sward around which they bend will form 

 a centre, permanent in character but cap- 

 able of infinite variety. One year for its 

 centre there may be the palm-like effect 



A Beautiful Garden Spot, Well Arranged and Cared For 



At "Duuniii", residence of Mr. Barlow Ciiniberlnnd, Port Hojie, Ont. 



that considerable expenditure and much of a draca;na 



space are required to produce the ef- 

 fects represented. Photographs are, of 

 course, always taken from a favorable 

 point of view, and it is the preparing of 

 these points of view for the onlooker that 

 is most requisite in the laying out of ama- 

 teur gardens. These must, necessarily, be 

 small, for amateurs can only devote a 

 small portion of their time to cultiva- 

 tion and care. Results may be obtained 

 not so much from the quantity and col- 

 orings of the shrubs and flowers, as from 

 their being so placed as to give their best 

 display. 



As a first requirement in a small gar- 

 den, the paths instead of being laid out 

 in straight rectangular lines, should be 

 laid out in easy curves. These are no 

 harder to make or to maintain, but are 

 more restful to the eye, give an enlarged 

 idea of distance and, by their projecting 

 bends, enable the flowers to be better 

 seen and fewer to be used. The plants 

 show themselves in distant contrasts in- 

 stead of in continuous close contact, to 

 be seen only when one comes opposite to 

 them along the straight pathways. Each 

 outward curve and inward hollow lends 

 itself to contrasts of coloring and foliage. 



For a distant effect, an iron vase set 

 upon a section of a tree trunk at a point 



mother year a geranium 

 or a fuchsia each combined with the 

 fronds of lobelias, nasturtiums or other 

 trailmg plants — few flowers to be attend- 

 ed to but much grace to be obtained. 



Small groups of flowers, geraniums, 

 giant poppies or peonies and a few flow- 

 ering shrubs alternating along the curves 

 give adequate results without many plants 

 or much weeding or watering. 



Another interesting centre may be 

 made by a Virginian creeper trained up a 

 cedar pole with laths nailed together 

 at the top like an open umbrella. A little 

 trimming of the hanging branchlets gives 

 waving lace-like results. 



For a boundary at one side of tlu gar- 

 den, nothing is more easy or more effec- 

 tive than a perennial, or ever-growing 

 border of plants selected from the lists 

 so often given of those which flower in 

 successive months — in its first year, a 

 hope; in its successive years, a glory ; and 

 one which, with very little attention to 

 prevent the flowerings from getting too 

 rank, takes care of itself. 



If a background is needed, a line of 

 farm wire fencing stretched on posts 

 painted green and planted at intervals 

 with Virginia creepers, will soon give a 

 permanent hedge of close rich greens in 



the summer and carrying its autumn 

 tints far into the close of the year. 



The amateur gardener who will devote 

 his or her first thoughts to the lay out 

 rather than to the quantity and variety 

 of plants, will be able to get in a small 

 garden an effect pleasurable to the eye, 

 producing wider effects and within the 

 time and expenditure they can accord to 

 its care. The home is made more of a 

 home by a small garden about its living 

 side. 



Some Dahlia Pointers 



C. M. Bezzo, Berlin, Ont. 



Dahlias succeed much better when 

 planted out in the open than in the shelter 

 of a wall or building. If a perfect individ- 

 ual specimen plant is desired plant four 

 feet apart. This allows plenty of room 

 for a free circulation of air and sufficient 

 space from which to draw sustenance. If 

 put in rows they may be planted from two 

 to three feet apart in the row. 



Do not allow more than two shoots to 

 grow up from the one root ; pull all the 

 others up or break them off as fast as 

 they appear. .Some growers leave only 

 one stalk, and this they pinch back as 

 soon as two or three set of leaves appear, 

 thus making the plant branch out instead 

 of growing tall. Stake the plants early. 

 Where a robust growth is expected, 

 inch and a quarter stakes should be used, 

 tying the plant with ratlia, strips of cot- 

 ton or anything that will not cut the 

 stalk. 



If a plant is found wilting after all the 

 cultural directions have been followed, ex- 

 amine the stalk for the stalk-borer. If 

 you find the hole take a piece of wire 

 and pull the worm out, or cut it out with 

 a sharp knife. If the stalk is not much 

 injured it will heal, otherwise there is 

 nothing to be done but cut it off and 

 burn it. A good plan would be to exam- 

 ine the plants occasionally for signs of the 

 destroyer. 



There is also an insect which blasts 

 tile buds before they open and they drop 

 i,!l by the dozen. Spray with soapsuds 

 or sprinkle with pepper. In dry hot 

 weather, if the plants are allowed to get 

 dusty the red spider will make his appear- 

 ance. Sprinkle the underside of the 

 leaves with water from the hose or with 

 soapsuds, and he will soon disappear. 



Woi;ms and Aphids 



How can 1 destroy worms in the soil 

 ,)f house xilants, and also aphids on the 

 jlants? — A. J. P., Brampton, Ont. 



For the worms use lime water. Slake 

 one pound of fresh lime and mix it with 

 two gallons of water and allow it to set- 

 tle. Two applications usually is suffic- 

 ient. For the aphids, spray the plants 

 or dip them in a solution of tobacco 

 water. 



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