126 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



June, 1908 



better planted in a border, which 

 could easily be formed at the sides or 

 back of the house. They do better thus 

 than when planted in pots. 



THE CLIMBERS ILLUSTRATED 



The illustration shows, though not 

 very clearly, the appearance of a small 

 greenhouse as seen from the door. The 

 house was fifteen feet by twenty, and 

 had a three foot bench on three sides, 

 with a four foot bed in the centre. The 

 climbers were grown in pots until tall 

 enough to come above the benches when 

 planted in the ground beneath. Thsy 

 were then trained up the rafters, until 

 the whole were covered. 



The ones used were Passiflora 

 Pfordtii and Constance Elliot, the Man- 

 ettia bicolor, Solarium jasminoides, 

 Abutilon megapotamicum and Streptos- 

 olin Jamesonii. When all were in full 

 bloom, they formed a sight never to be 

 forgotten. 



A plant which makes a fine and easily 

 managed climber is Plumbago Capen- 

 sis. Then there is the bougainvillea. 

 Some of the clematis family can be used. 

 It is necessary to train them carefully 

 ai first, giving them each their altotted 

 space, and when done flowering, cutting 

 back a little. 



If the house is small, such a plant as 

 the plumbago, with its numerous clus- 

 ters of light blue flowers, would, in a 

 short time, cover the whole house. The 



Abutilon megapotamicum is never seen 

 in catalogues now, but the variety 

 "Eclipse," has the same habit, with 



finer foliage. All of these climbers 

 are easily managed, and cannot fail to 

 give great pleasure. 



How^ to GroMT Tuberous Begonias 



E. F. Collins, Allan Gardens, Toronto 



TO grow tuberous begonias for 

 bedding, they should be started 

 about the first of April, in plots, 

 or boxes. Place some well-rotted man- 

 ure, or leaf mould,, in the box, to the 

 depth of two inches, and then slightly 

 cover the same with a mixture of chop- 

 ped sphagnum, or moss and sand. Place 

 the tubers about three inches apart each 

 way, slightly pressing them into the 

 sand. 



Be sure to place them right side up. 

 The crown can always be known by be- 

 ing slightly depressed in the centre, 

 while the bottom is rounded. 



After placing the tubers, first cover 

 the crown with the sphagnum and sand, 

 give a good watering, and place in a 

 warm greenhouse or hotbed. If they 

 are darkened by being covered with 

 paper for a couple of weeks it will has- 

 ten the rooting process. 



In about four weeks they will be 

 found to be just starting into growth, 

 and will have a good bunch of roots in 

 the moss and sand. Then is the time to 

 lift them and carefully pot them into 

 any light sandy soil. For the sizes of 

 the pots one must be guided by the 

 roots attached, placing all the sand and 



moss which will cling to the roots, into 

 the pots. Do not press them too firmly, 

 as the roots like to be free. Give a 

 good watering, and place in any bright 



A Well-grown Bed of Tuberous Begonias 



I'lanted on June 14lh, 1907, on grounds of Parliament 

 Buildings, Toronto, by Mr. F. Barl^er, gardener. They 

 coninionccd to bloom one month later and continued 

 until frost. Mr Barker said :-" Tuberous begoniaa 

 will stand all the sun they can get but they should not 

 be watered when the sun is on them." 



warm position, to harden them to the 

 sun. 



If it is intended to use them for 

 bedding, give lots of air on bright 

 warm days, and keep well watered, be- 

 ing careful not to wet the foliage, if 

 they are wilted, as that will cause them 

 to burn. To be safe, it is a good plan 

 to give them a good spraying each even- 

 ing ; then the foliage will be dry by ncxi 

 morning. 



Do not plant out too early. The first 

 week in June is soon enough in this 

 vicinity. 



After they are established and well- 

 rooted in the bed, give a good mulch of 

 well rotted manure. This will keep the 

 surface cool, and will prevent them from 

 drying out too rapidly during dry 

 weather. 



All begonias are moisture-loving jt 1 

 plants. The reason for so many failures 7- 

 in their culture, is that water is not 

 given often enough. sl 



All kinds of fruit trees and bushes 

 should be sprayed. Where the plot is 

 not large, get some of your neighbors 

 to co-operate with you in the purchase 

 of a small spraying machii 



A Rockery is a Factor in Gardening that is both Useful and Ornamental 



At the residence of Mr. W. A. Wood, Toronto. There were 8(10 plants -petunias, nasturtiums, caladiums, 

 nicotiana and others- growing last season on this rockery 200 feet long. Photograph kindly furnished by 

 Mr. Chas, Shearer, gardener. 



Have you a Rockery? What plants 

 lire lliorr , and how do you care for iliem? 

 I- mbody these points in a letter for pub- 

 lication in The Canadian Horticultur- 

 ist, and*^end a photograph, if you have 

 one. By so doing you will help many 

 amateurs, who want to make rock gar- 

 dens. 



