10 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



January, 1908 



TKe Creeping Evergreen 

 Euonymvis 



For covering smooih stone walls, the 

 creeping Euony'Uus radicans is an ex- 

 cellent vine. Low walls of any kind 

 have a nice appearance when clothed 

 with this vine, its dark, small, evergreen 

 leaves contrasting well usually with the 

 color of such walls. When walls are 

 high, some vine with heavier leaves looks 

 better, the euonymus appearing too 

 frail in such cases. 



The euonymus clings closely and 

 makes no unattached shoots, just what 

 is wanted usually for furnishing a low 

 wall. As a rule, the plain leaved one is 

 the better sort for the purpose, but 

 should the fence to be covered be of a 

 very dark color the variegated leaved one 

 may sometimes be used to advantage. 

 The variegated leaved one is sometimes 

 planted in positions it does not suit, 

 such as on plastered walls, where it has 

 been noticed; and very much out of 

 place it was, too! 



An opinion is sometimes expressed 

 that this euonymus is slow growing. 

 This is a mistake. It is because of its 

 small leaves that the impression of slow- 

 ness prevails, a;nd there is not much side 

 growth to it for a while, but in upward 

 growth, it should not be considered a 

 slow grower at all ; given good soil it will 

 ascend a wall in a satisfactorv inanner. 



"Wistarias 



Is there more than one kind of wistaria, and 

 which is best? Does it occupy much space, and 

 •does it like sun or shade? Is the Jackmanni a 

 good climber to plant? — T.H., Thetis Island, B.C. 



There are three or four species of 

 wistaria, and a number of varieties in 

 each species. The most common and 

 best hardy species is the Wistaria Chin- 

 ensis. In favorable locations and soils, 

 it attains great size. It easily will cover 

 300 square feet, and oftentimes more. 

 Unless it is desired to train it for special 

 purposes, little or no pruning is neces- 

 sary. The freedom of blooming can be 

 enhanced, however, by cutting back the 

 branches when dormant. It prefers a 

 deep, rich soil, but if such is not avail- 

 able it will do fairly well in a drier soil. 

 It prefers sun to shade. A variety of 

 wistaria often cultivated as W. Chinen- 

 sis is W. Multijuqa. It is a Japanese 

 type. The flower clusters are twice as 

 long as the former and much looser. 

 The writer does not know a variety of 

 Wistaria called Jackmanni. Clematis 

 J ackmanni is an excellent hardy climber 

 and will thrive in most localities if given 

 reasonable care. 



StocK Not StacK 



Will you kindly inform me what the term 

 "stack" means in the process of graftage? I 

 saw it mentioned three or four times in the Dec- 

 cember issue? — M.A., Sherbrooke, Que. 



The appearance of the word " stack" 

 in the article referred to was a typo- 



graphical error. It should have been 

 "stock." In graftage, the "stock" is a 

 plant or part of a plant upon which a 

 scion or bud is inserted. In addition to 

 this use of the word in connection with 

 graftage, the term "free stock" is some- 

 times used with reference to seedlings. 



easily be duplicated on the lawn of 

 most readers of The Canadian Horti- 

 culturist. 



A. Rustic Summer House 



An essential feature of well-planned 

 grounds is a summer-house. It can be 

 made a comfortable, useful and oma- 

 rnental retreat amidst the flowers and 

 shrubbery. When selecting a place for 

 it, do not stand it by itself in the centre 

 of the lawn. Locate it in a retired 

 corner of the grounds or well amongst 

 the flowers at the side, so that you may 

 sit and hear the hum of the bees, or see 

 the flowers looking in upon you, and 

 catch, perhaps, the fragrance of a clump 

 of mignonette. The summer-house is a 



A Cheap Summer House 



fitting place for communion with nature 

 — a place to sit and think. 



The summer-house should be unpre- 

 tentious in design and free from trump- 

 ery embellishments. It must be water- 

 proof, and constructed of materials that 

 will endure. Native woods, undressed 

 and unadorned, are useful for the pur- 

 pose. The illustration on this page 

 represents a cheap and well-made sum- 

 mer-house on the home grounds of Mr. 

 W. C. Morris, Brown's Nurseries, Ont. 

 The floor was built of second-hand 

 matched flooring, on two by eight-inch 

 joists and sills. The roof was made of 

 material similar to the flooring. The 

 diameter is twelve feet, octagon in shape. 

 There are eight posts, four inches in 

 diameter and seven feet high. The rails 

 were made from the tops and branches 

 of the young trees out of which the posts 

 were gotten. The cash outlay was less 

 than six dollars and two days of one 

 man's time. This summer-house is 

 strong, cheap and effective. It could 



Hydrangeas for Early Bloom 



What is the proper way to treat a house hy- 

 drangea so that it will bloom early in spring? — 

 M.M., Toronto. 



To secure early flowers from a tender 

 or house hydrangea, the wood or 

 growth of the plant should have been 

 well ripened the previous autumn, and 

 the plant kept cool and dormant until 

 January, when it should be brought 

 out into the window or into a tempera- 

 ture of about 65 degrees and started into 

 growth. Syringe or spray the branches 

 with clear water every day to induce 

 growth. Keep the soil moist but not 

 soddened with water. If necessary, the 

 plant should be re-potted into a pot two 

 or three sizes larger before top growth 

 has started much. The roots should not 

 be disturbed very much in re-potting. 

 Hydrangeas like a rich, loamy compost, 

 good drainage, and to be kept well 

 watered when in full growth. — Answered 

 by Wm. Hunt, O.A.C., Guelph. 



Floral Notes 



Testing novelties in seeds and plants 

 should be done cautiously. 



The manure for a hotbed should 

 come from the horse stable. Never 

 use cow manure, indess mixed with 

 straw. 



Do not allow potted bulbs to become 

 dry at the roots. Keep them supplied 

 plentifullv with water. If you are 

 growing bulbs for early spring, watch 

 them closelv. 



When repotting plants, do not use 

 pots more than one or two sizes larger 

 than the one in which the plant has 

 been growing. Water once as soon 

 as the plant is potted and repeat only 

 when necessary. 



In watering plants, one must use 

 common sense. A sprinkling that pene- 

 trates the soil only half an inch or so 

 is of little use even if applied every 

 day. It is best always to give the plants 

 a good soaking, and then leave them 

 alone until they again need similar 

 treatment. 



Stockesia — Stocke's Aster. — Stockesia- 

 cynas is a comparatively new plant of ster- 

 ling merit. I find it to be p^^rfectly hardy 

 without any protection. It is one of our 

 choicest autumn flowering perennials, 

 growing to a height of three feet, and bear- 

 ing a profusion of lavender blue flower, 

 three inches across, closely resembling 

 asters. There is no better flower in 

 the border for cutting. Grow it in 

 damp, porous soil to have it do well. — ■ 

 Roderick Cameron, Queen V^ictoria Park, 

 Niagara Falls, Ont. 



