216 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



September, 1907 



the end of September or first of October. 

 Plant peonies, phlox, golden glow, 

 bleeding heart, and German iris. Seeds 

 of hollyhock, that grand old favorite, 

 may be sown in rows and thinned out 

 next spring, or transplanted as you 

 desire. 



Before heavy frosts come, secure a 

 few evergreen branches and lay them 

 over your pansies. On top of them 

 shake a covering of dry leaves; this 

 should be done so as not to allow the 

 plants to thaw out before spring, 

 which- they would do if left uncovered. 



WITH THE FRUITS 



When webs of the fall web-worm 

 are observed, either cut out the branches 

 to which the web is fastened and 

 burn or destroy the nest while on the 

 tree by holding a lighted torch be- 

 neath it. 



As soon as blackberries and rasp- 

 berries are harvested, the old canes 

 that bore fruit may be removed. It 

 is thought in some sections, however 

 that it is wiser to leave the old canes 

 until spring, as they serve to catch and 

 hold the snow, which protects the 

 roots. It is better not to cut back 

 the tops of this year's canes until next 

 spring. Should they be injured by 

 winter-killing, they can then be cut 

 back to new wood. • 



Black raspberries may be propa- 

 gated this month. If you have a par- 

 ticularly nice bush or number of bushes 

 from which you wish to secure young 

 plants, it may be done by tip-layering. 

 The ends of the long canes will assume 

 a snake-like appearance, bend over 

 and go wandering for a fastening place 

 on the ground. Place the tips beneath 

 the soil, fasten them there by firming 

 with the feet or by means of a clod of 

 earth. They will take root and in the 

 spring time be ready for transplanting. 

 Currants ajjd gooseberries may be 

 pruned any time in fall or winter. If 

 desired, also, new bushes may be 

 planted, but it is better to wait until 

 spring. 



THE KITCHEN GARDEN 



By sowing salsify now, it will get 

 started this fall. Then, if protected 

 through the winter, it will be ready to 

 grow as soon as the weather will per- 

 mit next spring. 



Make a sowing of spinach. Protect by 

 a frame or other means during the winter. 

 , JHave you ever grown Chinese mus- 

 tard? If sown now, it will provide a 

 salad plant for late fall use. It grows 

 rapidly. 



• Continue to bleach the celery. It 

 may be done either with boards or 

 with earth. 



Early in the month, sow winter 

 varieties of radish. Harvest them be- 

 fore frost and store in sand in a cool 

 cellar. 



Harvest your potatoes early, or as 

 soon as they are matured. By so 

 doing, you will largely prevent scab 

 and save them from white grubs and 

 mice. 



When danger of frost comes, gather 

 all the remaining fruit from the to- 

 mato and squash vines. Tomatoes will 

 ripen in a dry cellar. Store the squash 

 in a dry atmosphere and in a cool 

 temperature. If you intend to force 

 lettuce indoors, sow the seed now. 





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Hydrangea Paniculata Grandiflora 



As the plants require about tfen weeks 

 to mature, they will be ready for use 

 about the middle of November. 



PicKing' Fruit at Home 



Do you know the proper time to 

 pick fruit? It is something that can- 

 not be told by word definitely. It 

 requires practice and experience. There 

 are a few general factors, nevertheless, 

 that indicate how and when. 



Most varieties of pears for home use 

 should be left on the trees until well 

 matured, but picked before they com- 

 mence to turn yellow. No pear should 

 be picked before it will separate easily 

 from the fruit spur when gently lifted. 

 When wormy pears commence to drop, 

 the pears are ready for harvesting. 



Peaches for home use may be al- 

 lowed to ripen on the trees; for stor- 

 ing, they should be picked when fully 

 matured and grown, well colored, yet 

 firm, but by no means either over-ripe 

 or green. Peaches that are picked too 

 green will shrink rather than ripen, 

 and they never attain their proper 

 flavor. 



Pick quinces when they are well 

 matured and colored on the tree. If 

 picked before they are ripe, they will 

 not color well. 



Plums for table use should be al- 

 lowed to become fully ripened on the 

 tree to obtain the finest qualitv. For 



storing, pick when fully grown and 

 well colored. 



Early fall apples for home use or 

 near market should be allowed to 

 ripen on the tree; for shipping, pick 

 when fully grown and well colored, 

 but before they commence to soften. 

 Late fall and winter varieties may be 

 left until they ripen in the cool weather 

 of the fail, but picked before there is 

 danger of heavy windfalls. 



Protection for Perenniala 



Editor, The Canadian Horticul- j 

 TURisT, — In the August issue the ques- 

 tion of protecfion for perennials was 

 asked, and answered, but I think the 

 full information asked for was not given. 

 The cause of so much kilHng of perennials 

 and other hardy plants in winter is 

 caused by over-kindness, and from 

 want of knowing how to protect. In 

 this country most amateurs cover their 

 border plants too soon, and too heavy. 

 They naturally imagine that whenever 

 the plant has gone to, what some think, 

 rest, it should be covered and the 

 warmer it is made the better. Now, let 

 us take a closer look at this poor occu- 

 pant of the soil. How would we like 

 if our heads were put into a box and 

 asked to live ? And yet those plants are 

 placed in somewhat similar condition, 

 when covered over with manure or any 

 close covering. We should remember 

 that the work of the plant is not finished 

 when its leaves die, or is killed back 

 by the first shght frost. It still Uves 

 and breathes, and therefore should be • 

 allowed to have a chance to finish its 

 season's work before it is wrapped up 

 and smothered. 



Never cover the plants until the regu- 

 lar hard frost has taken hold upon the 

 soil, and just before the snow falls; 

 indeed, I would rather cover after the 

 first snow comes th^n before if the 

 ground is not frozen. 



In spring as soon as the snow is off the 

 ground, this covering should be lifted 

 off and shaken loose in the same place 

 over the plants to give the atmosphere 

 a chance to get in at the plants and the 

 plants a chance to breathe the new 

 breath of spring. Long before many 

 think it, the plants are beginning to 

 look upward in hope of soon seeing the 

 sun which gives Hfe. After all danger 

 from frost is over, take away clean the 

 winter covering which you shook out 

 a few days before. I am satisfied you 

 will lose less plants then in any other 

 way. — S. S. Bain, Montreal. 



The loss of a few cherries by the 

 robin is Httle more than an equivalent 

 for his friendly, cheerful spring morn- 

 ing chirp, which is worth something. 

 I will not hold up my hand for the 

 robin's destruction until he becomes more 

 numerous. — W. Armstrong, Queenston. 



