56 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



March, 1908 



kept dry in the pots until next season. 



firing to the light hydrangeas, oleand- 

 ers and similar plants, and start them 

 into growth. If necessary, put them 

 into larger pots or tubs. 



Pot flowering and foliage begonias. 

 Give good drainage and water thorough- 

 ly, then withhold water until the plants 

 have well started into growth. 



Strike in sand, cuttings of fuchsias, 

 geraniums, verbenas, and so forth. 



Plan to keep a record of all the oper- 

 ations that you perform indoors or in 

 the outdoor garden during the coming- 

 season. Have some photographs taken 

 of your work and results. Then write 

 an experience letter for The Canadian 

 Horticulturist, and send the photo- 

 graphs for publication. 



ImantopHyllvims 



Annie L. Jack, Chateauguay Basin, Que. 



Living in the same pot year after 

 year for the past ten years, and never 

 failing to bloom all through the three 

 winter months, when flowers are most 

 valued, are bulbs of the above named. 

 The invariable question of those who 

 see my plant window for the first time 

 is: "What is it"? and I often answer 

 that it has too long a name for one 



Imantophylluin Nobilis 



Showing spike of flowers and seed ovaries on former 

 flower-stem. Grown at O.A.C. Guelph, by Wm. Hunt 



breath, being of thirteen letters. But 

 it'is often claimed by good authority 

 that "Clivea nobilis" is sjTionymous as 

 a title, being named after the Duchess 

 of Northumberland, who was a member 

 of the Clive family, and a plant en- 

 thusiast in her day. 



I— The imantophyllums were introduced 

 from Africa, and do well in an ordinary 

 living room, or greenhouse, with even 

 winter heating. They adapt themselves 



to any condition, and if the resting 

 season is made in summer (leaving the 

 bulbs in the pot in a warm comer) they 

 will bloom at the opposite season, when 

 watered and brought to the light. 



They have the valuable quality of 

 remaining long in bloom and are more 



Six Courses of Bloom 



A. Barber, Bowmanville, Ont. 

 The accompanying illustration shows 

 the sixth course of bloom produced last 

 season in the border shown. The little 

 tot in the foreground is busy with one of 

 Groff's Vjest gladioli, even though she 



In This hloiati 51:. Ll.i 



of Bloom were Had Last Season 



easily managed than the popular ama- 

 ryllis which requires much the same 

 treatment. A heavy, rich soil, with 

 some coarse sand, is the best mixture. 

 While growing, they require a liberal 

 supply of water. The window gardener 

 who has a fancy for plants of unusual 

 appearance and stately beauty, with 

 handsome foliage, will do well to cul- 

 tivate the imantophyllums in spite of 

 the formidable name. 



Begonia Curiosity. — A lover of flow- 

 ers recently showed The Thorold Post 

 something of a curiosity. It was a 

 begonia plant which had been resting 

 during the winter, and had a long, 

 sturdy trunk but very little foliage. 

 While set away, the trunk had curled 

 around just above the pot into a per- 

 fect circle, or loop, three inches in diam- 

 eter, about the size of and very much 

 resembling a doughnut. The loop hung 

 gracefully over the edge of the pot, and 

 the plant was healthy and promising. 

 When put away the trunk was mostly 

 straight, and was not touched while in 

 seclusion. Can some nature student 

 explain the phenomenon? 



may appear to be quite young for plant 

 study. 



In order to give flower lovers an 

 idea of what may be done with a small 

 area, it may be of interest to mention 

 briefly the results that I have secured 

 with the border illustrated. First, in 

 spring I have about 200 to 300 snow- 

 drops, which show as soon or before the 

 snow disappears. These are followed 

 quickly by about 100 crocuses, and then 

 come about 100 scillas, cheery little blue 

 flowers that should be grown in abund- 

 ance by amateurs. Next comes the 

 hyacinths, and last in the bulb line, the 

 tulips. Of the latter I have three 

 varieties. Cottage Maid, Proserpine, and 

 in the rear, Darwins. 



After the tulips are done the ground 

 is cleaned a little, and filled with stand- 

 ards for the summer. When the photo- 

 graph was taken there were alyssum in 

 the front, asters next, and geraniums 

 in the rear. Throughout the entire 

 season, therefore, the border presented 

 a pleasing display. 



Every one knows in a general way, 

 many from experience, that evergreens 

 need more care in planting than decidu- 

 ous trees. The reason is that the sap of 

 evergreens, being of a resinous nature 

 will not flow afresh if dried out; or, at 

 least, not so easily as the sap of decidu- 

 ous sorts. The roots must never be 

 allowed to dry. 



Asparagus grows readily from seed. 

 One ounce of seed is sufficient for about 

 fifty feet of drill, and should produce 

 about 400 plants. 



The columns of The Canadian Hor- 

 ticulturist are open at all times for 

 letters and articles from its readers 

 relating experiences in the management 

 of fruit trees, small fruits, vegetables, 

 flower gardens, lawns, shrubbery, and 

 so forth. 



