The Arrangement of Beds in Astiniboine Park, Winnipeg. — A Plan for Planting on a Large Scale 



This park was designed by Mr. Todd, and its superintendent Is Mr. George Ohampion. 



magenta crimson, purple rock cress, of 

 which there are many shades, chiefly of 

 purple and lavender, soapwort {Sapon- 

 aria ocymoides) pink — all these, with 

 various stonecrops (Sedums) and house- 

 leeks (Sempervivums), and sandworts 

 (Arenarias) for very dry sunny spots, 

 will give you a carpet of lovely flowers, 

 and scarcely less lovely foliage. In ad- 

 dition to their beauty they can be relied 

 on for keeping the roots of such plants 

 as need mulching, from drying out, if 

 planted close enough to them, and bor- 

 ders so covered need but little watering. 



These same plants, if you want to 

 have a "rock garden" will clothe the 

 stones with beauty, for they are rock 

 plants by nature, and there are a host of 

 other charming dwarf plants which will 

 only thrive under such conditions. Rock 

 gardens need great care in the making 

 and before attempting one, I would ad- 

 vise reading up thoroughly on the sub- 

 ject. 



A straight wide path leading from one 

 part of the garden to another might be 

 made most attractive by building a per- 

 gola over it. In England, they are chief- 

 ly covered with roses, though occasion- 

 ally other vines are used ; here, it would 

 no doubt be wiser to have clematis or 

 other hardy vines, as well as a ro.se at 

 each pillar, if we wanted it well covered, 

 or grape vines alone would cover it well, 

 and be both ornamental and useful. 



Another fascinating adjunct to a gar- 

 den is a pond, with bullrushes, iris and 

 arrowheads growing on its farthest side 

 and rounding one end, and water lilies 

 floating about in the centre. Do not 

 make the mistake of placing your pond 

 in a conspicuous spot in the middle of 

 the lawn — rather put it down towards 

 the end of your lot and let shrubs .screen 

 it slightly, so that as you walk towards 

 it you only see a glint of the water 

 through the leaves. So situated, your 

 friends will come upon it almost as a 

 surprise — a little reserve in gardens is 

 as necessary as in people. We soon tire 

 of tho.se in which we can .see at a glance 

 all there is in them. Ponds also require 

 special care in the making, 



What Amateurs Can Do in December 



FLOWERING and ornamental plants 

 make excellent Christmas gifts. 

 Jerusalem cherries, genistas, cy- 

 clamen, potted bulbs, primulas, azaleas, 

 rubber plants, araucarias, poinsettias, 

 screw pines. Baby Rambler roses and 

 Gloire de Lorraine begonias are some of 

 the kinds, that may be selected. Place 

 your orders with the florists early this 

 month so that good specimens may be 

 reserved for you. Should you have any 

 of these plants grown by yourself, so 

 much the better as they will be more ap- 

 preciated when this fact is known by the 

 recipient. 



Books on gardening or fruit growing 

 also make acceptable gifts. There are 

 many to choose from. Send to The 

 C.\NADi.\N Horticulturist for our book 

 catalogue. Why not give to your horti- 

 cultural friends, one or two year's sub- 

 scriptions to The C.xn.adian Horticul- 

 turist? No gift would be more appre- 

 ciated, and it would serve as a monthly 

 reminder of the donor's good wishes. 



THE WINDOW GAEDEN 



Perhaps you are growing some bulbs 

 lor Christmas gifts. If so, give them 

 constant attention so that they may give 

 satisfaction. Keep them well watered, 

 and not too warm. They delight in plen- 

 ty of sunlight but the roots should be 

 kept cool. 



House plants should not be kept in an 

 atmosphere that is too dry. Moist air 

 and judicious watering at the roots are 

 necessary. Cacti, century plants, hy- 

 drangeas and oleanders do not require 

 much watering. 



Geraniums, lantanas, heliotropes and 

 all light-loving plants should be kept 

 in- the south window. Begonias and 

 other plants that do best in sunlight only 

 in the forenoon may be placed in the 

 east window. When plants are grown 

 in a western exposure, which usually gives 

 too much heat, the temperature may 

 be diminished by means of a curtain of 

 thin muslin. Ferns, palms, aspidistras, 

 rubber plants, lycopodiums, tradescantias 

 and plants of like nature, will grow sue- 

 as; 



cessfully in a north window. 



Avoid drafts of cold air on plants as 

 they check the growth and often induce 

 attacks of mildew. Ventilate on mild, 

 warm days. 



When repotting plants, place them in 

 pots only one or two sizes larger than 

 the ones in which they have been grow- 

 ing. It is a common mistake to use pots 

 that are much too large. 



Newly-potted plants should be watered 

 once and thoroughly as soon as potted. 

 Do not repeat until the soil shows signs 

 of dryness. 



SOME WORK OUTDOORS 



Cover the bulb beds if they have not 

 been mulched already. Use strawy man- 

 ure, spruce bows, leaves held in place by 

 brush, or anything that will serve to 

 hold back freezing in fall and prevent 

 alternate thawing and freezing in the 

 spring. 



Protect the tender and half hardy per- 

 ennials. Mulch the lily beds, especially 

 the Japanese varieties. 



Make a compost of the fallen leaves. 

 It will come in useful next spring. Saw 

 dead limbs from trees. Wrap and pro- 

 tect tender vines and shrubs. Lay down 

 climbing roses that are not too old and 

 mulch the hybrid perpetuals with strawy 

 manure. Mulch the strawberry bL-d. 

 Remove and burn garden rubbish. Clean 

 garden tools that will not be used again 

 this season and cover the iron work with 

 grease to keep it from rusting. Prepare 

 for winter. 



Make a plan for next year's garden. 



Enquirers who sign "subscriber," 

 "reader," and .so forth, mu.st .send name 

 and address before their questions can be 

 answered in these columns. 



If you have learned something new 

 about gardening during the past summer 

 give others the benefit of your experi- 

 ence by telling about it in a letter for 

 publication in The Canadian Horticul- 

 turist. 



