July, 1907 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



165 



A Variety of Fruits Grown and Packed in British Columbia 



Photograph furnished by Mr. James Grant, Victoria 



apple above the box. The top or bot- 

 tom (when properly packed, either can 

 be opened for display), pressed and then 

 nailed, gives the "belly" or flare. This 

 should never appear on the side of the 

 box, as a box of apples should always 

 be laid on the side for handling and 

 'lipping. Care in this matter pays. 



In packing peaches, the rip-rap- 

 packed box is the only proper way. All 

 British Columbia peaches are packed 

 the same as those in California ; likewise, 

 pears, plums and cherries (ten-pound 

 flat box, or with cartons). Some hurry- 

 up shippers at times use the four-basket 

 (tin top) twenty-pound crate for cher- 



ries, plums, prunes and tomatoes, put- 

 ting the fruit in roughly and jolting well 

 down ; but the greatest proportion of 

 this delicate fruit is handled on the 

 green side and quite firm, using paper 

 between all fruit, and thereby insuring 

 the best prices and no chance of loss. The 

 better the packing the greaterthe rew-ard. 



Care of Gladiolus FloAvers 



'As our whole interest in the gladiolus 

 entres in the beautiful flowers — which 

 for beauty and diversity in the whole 

 range of color have no equals in horticul- 

 ture, and their durability when cut for 

 table and other decorative purposes is 

 unexcelled in their season — it is well to 

 be fully informed as to the treatment 

 that will ensure the best results. 



Cut the spike when the first flower 

 _opens and place in water without over- 

 jwding. Remove the terminal buds 

 an, as this checks stalk development 

 id throws the strength into the larger 

 id earlier maturing flowers The end 

 ■ the stalk should be shortened and the 

 Iter renewed daily with frequt-nt 

 eansing of the vases. In shortening 

 ic stalk, cut diagonally, to insure free 

 absorption of water by the spike with- 

 out the contamination and obstruction, 

 caused by sediment, if cut at a right 

 angle. 



The fact that blooming the spikes in 

 the shade of a room or piazza modifies 

 the field colors, from bright shades and 

 tints to delicate flushes and shadings. 



H. H. Groff, Simcoe, Ontario 



and also reduces the latter types to the 

 faintest tinge of color or white, is well 

 known to experienced growers. The 

 advent of my new hybrids producing the 

 most intense and deep shades of violet, 

 purple, crimson and scarlet, hitherto un- 

 known, as well as new yellows and other 

 bright colors, makes it desirable that 

 these brilliant combinations be preserved 

 when the spikes are cut for decorative 

 purposes. 



To ensure this most desirable result, 

 place the vases of these highly colored 

 types in the early morning sun for an 

 hour or two daily, preferably after 

 renovation and renewal of the water. 

 This practice will also enable the reten- 

 tion and normal presentation of the 

 original delicate tints and shadings re- 

 ferred to in the preceding paragraph, if 

 so desired. 



As it takes about three days after 

 cutting to bring the spikes into strong 

 blooming condition, this should be al- 

 lowed for in advance of the date of 

 intended use. The spikes can be shipped 

 a thousand miles by standing them on 



end in suitable baskets or boxes. On 

 arrival, cut off the end of the stalk, and 

 remove the terminal buds before placing 

 in water: they will then revive quickly 

 and with proper care give pleasure for a 

 week or more. 



One of the causes of the popularity of 

 the gladiolus as a decorative flower, is 

 the fact that it has no perfume, as there 

 are few flowers used for this purpose that 

 are not distasteful to some one — par- 

 ticularly in closed rooms — either from 

 personal preference or painful associa- 

 tion. Where the pollen proves irritat- 

 ing to the tissues of the respiratory 

 organs, as in the case of hay fever sub- 

 jects, the anthers may be easily pinched 

 out during the daily renovation, when 

 the faded florets are also removed. This 

 removal of the anthers is desirable in the 

 highly colored types referred to, w^here 

 the shed pollen dulls the brilliancy of 

 the petals on which it may fall. 



The pink-flowered dogwood is a gem 

 among small trees. It is one of the 

 most beautiful shrubs of spring. 



