La^vn and Garden Hints for August 



THE garden hose, or other means of 

 watering; is likely to be called into 

 frequent use this month. All ama- 

 teur gardeners do not understand just 

 how to apply water to flower beds. Do 

 not stand to one side and throw the 



A Stndjr in Black and White 



water at the plants. If you are using a 

 hose, sprinkle with care, and do not al- 

 low the water to fall with force enough 

 to wash away the soil. If you have to 

 bring water from a well or pump, use a 

 watering can and apply carefully. The 

 best time to water at this season is in 

 the evening after the sun has set. Give 

 a good soaking while you are about it. 



If you want the season of bloom of 

 your flowers prolonged, carefully nip all 

 seed pods and leaves that are drying up. 

 This is especially true of nasturtiums, 

 sweet p£as, gaillardias and larkspurs. 



Maintain some kind of mulch on the 

 soil. It may be of grass, leaves or other 

 litter, or a dust mulch made by stirring 

 the soil. Roses and the general run of 

 perennial plants are especially helped by 

 a mulch at this season. 



To secure pansies that will produce 

 flowers very early the following spring, 

 the seed should be sown about the third 

 week in August. The plants will win- 

 ter well in a cold frame. Old pan.sy beds 

 may be renewed by cutting off the young 

 shoots around the base, many of which 

 will already be supplied with roots. Plant 

 them in rather sandy soil in a shady 

 place. Keep them weU sprinkled, and 

 they will soon root and make vigorous 

 plants to put in winter quarters ready 

 for next spring. 



Plant lily bulbs for next summer. 

 Hardy lilies may be removed or trans- 

 planted if necessary. Lily of the valley 

 also can be transplanted late in August 

 or early in September. 



Buy some raffia for tying plants to 



stakes. It is worth more than string 

 and rope for tying things in a hurry, and 

 making them stay tied. 



Gladioli should be staked if they are 

 liable to be broken down by wind storms 

 or rains. Better do this ..cvv. 



Flowering asters should be well water- 

 ed. Should rust attack the plants badly, 

 spray with ammoniacal carbonate of cop- 

 per. 



To revive cut flowers, put them in 

 warm salt water to which has been added 

 a few drops of sulphate of ammonia. 



Flowers for exhibition purpo.ses should 

 be cut early in the morning on the day 

 of the show. Place them in a pail or 

 jug of water immediately and put in a 

 cool place until time of exhibiting. 



The following annuals produce their 

 flowers quickly after sowing and prob- 

 ably might give some flowers before frost 

 if sown in August, and the weather con- 

 ditions are favorable : Nasturtium, bal- 

 sam, marigold, Shirley poppy, gypso- 

 phila, mignonette, larkspur, calliopsis, 

 canc^ytuff, calendula, sweet alyssum, 

 and for climbers, scarlet runners and 

 convolvulus. 



Among the perennials that may be 

 sown this month, and transplanted to 

 the border late in the fall or early next 

 spring to furnish bloom for next season, 

 are hollyhock, delphinium, aquilegia, 

 campanula, coreopsis, gaillardia and 

 papaver. If transplanted in fall, protect 

 against severe freezing winter. 



Dahlias are heavy feeders. Fertilize 

 the soil one? a week while the buds are 

 swelling, for insect pests, there is noth- 



ing better than a .solution of Paris green, 

 sprayed upon the under side of the 

 leaves. For cut-worms use a tablespoon- 

 ful of air-slaked lime spread about the 

 stalk of each plant. 



Have you a photograph of a rose bu.sh 

 or of a rose garden? If so, please send 

 it to The Canadian Horticulturist for 

 reproduction. 



FLOWERS INDOORS 



Strike cuttings of coleus, heliotrope, 

 and geraniums if young plants are want- 

 ed to keep for winter. Pot begonias, 

 cyclamen and primroses for winter flow- 

 ering. 



For early freesias, plant a few bulbs 

 late in August. Use plenty of drainage. 

 Place six or eight bulbs in a five-inch 

 pot. Place them in a shady place, and 

 give water sparingly until growth begins 

 to show. In about four weeks they can 

 be brought to the light. 



Plant some Roman hyacinths and 

 paper-white narcissi for bloom at Christ- 

 mas. After potting the bulbs, water 

 once and put them in a frame or in the 

 cellar. Be sure that the place is dark.. 

 If in a cold frame, cover with coal ashes. 

 In about six weeks they can be brought 

 into the light. 



Cut back the outside petunias to with- 

 in a few inches of the roots so as to 

 have plants for winter bloom. Two 

 weeks later, put them into small-sized 

 pots. 



Bermuda lilies for Christmas may be 

 had by planting early this month. Put 

 If clean pots, use plenty of drainage, and 

 ; lace outside on a bed of ashes to avoid 



Sweet Rocket — Hesperii Matronalit — Growing Under and Around an Old Apple Tree 



On grounds of Mr. A. Alexander, Hainilton. Out. 

 1(H 



