36 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



Winter Treatment of Bulbs and Tubers 



A^m. Hunt, Guelph, Ont. 



AMATEUR flower growers frequent- 

 ly make a mistake, when winter- 

 ing their bulbs, in the care they give the 

 Amarylhs. 



These popular and gorgeous flowering 

 bulbs should be divided into two classes, 

 the herbaceous and the evergreen. The 

 mistake is often made of treating these 

 two distinct types in exactly the same 

 way during the resting period. This 

 sometimes happens because the char- 

 acteristics of these two types are not 

 understood. The herbaceous type of 

 the amaryllis is very easy to detect. As 

 soon as these have flowered and the 

 flowers drop the foliage begins to show 

 signs of decay This is natural in the 

 herbaceous type and is a sure sign of the 

 natural and severe rest required by these 

 bulbs. The proper flowering season of 

 both the evergreen and herbaceous var- 

 ieties is during the summer months. As 

 soon as the herbaceous variety is out of 

 flower and the foliage begins to decay, 

 give the bulbs less water. When the 

 foliage has died down give only sufficient 

 water to keep the soil moist around the 

 bulb. Remove them to a cool, shady 

 position out of doors, bringing them in 

 before frosts, and put them in a cool cel- 

 lar or window in a temperature of 45 de- 

 grees. They can be kept here quite dry 

 until February or March, when they can 

 be brought out into a warm window, 

 watered, and started into growth. Re- 

 pot the bulbs if necessary at this time. 

 A good top dressing of soil is, however, 

 often to be preferred to re-potting 

 them. 



With the evergreen type of these 

 plants no sign of decay will likely be 

 seen in the foliage after flowering, as 

 these do not require so decided a period 

 of rest. The evergreen varieties can be 

 kept in a cool window all winter, giving 

 them less water, however, than during 

 the summer. A temperature of 40 to 50 

 degrees will suit them in winter. The 

 Vallota purpurea or Scarborough Lily is 

 closely allied to the different varieties of 

 evergreen amaryllis, and requires much 

 the same treatment in winter. 



Gloxinia bulbs should be gradually 

 dried off after flowering as soon as the 

 leaves show signs of decay. Very little 

 water should be given them when once 

 dormant. Light waterings may be neces- 

 sary at times during the winter, so as to 

 keep the soil from getting dust dry. 

 This latter condition is too severe, and 

 results in either dry rot or shrivelling of 

 the bulb. A temperature of 45 to 50 

 degrees will suit them in winter. 



ACfflMENES 



These pretty Uttle flowering plants 

 make very desirable window plants 

 for summer flowering when properly 



managed. If the small bulb-like tubers 

 are started in April or May in pots in a 

 hot-bed or in the window they give good 

 results. They succeed best in hanging 

 pots or baskets. A light compost of 

 equal parts of potting soil, leaf soil, and 

 fine sand will suit them, with plenty of 

 drainage. Avoid giving too much water 

 in the earHer stages of growth. A sum- 

 mer temperature and partial shade suits 

 them best; sprinkle the foliage very 

 seldom. When out of flower treat as 

 recommended for the gloxinia, with the 

 exception that achimenes will endure a 

 drier condition of the soil when dormant 

 than the gloxinia will. 



Light soil, good drainage, h at and 

 partial shade, with careful watering in 

 the early stages of growth, are the essen- 

 tial points in the culture of both of these 

 plants. I have been tempted to take 

 this opportunity of giving a few cultural 

 hints on achimenes from the fact that 

 their usefulness as summer flowering 

 window plants is not generally known 

 by plant lovers, although they are fav- 

 orites with many amateurs who often 

 have great success with them. 



AMORPHOPHALLUS OR SNAKE PLANT 



Not a very attractive name, but the 

 growth of the plant is very pretty in 

 summer. Their oddly formed leaves, 

 together with the green and almost white 

 blotches on its foliage, that has given it 

 the name of the Snake Plant, and its 

 easy culture when properly treated 

 makes it a very attractive plant for an 

 east or north window in summer, or even 

 out of doors in July or August in a shady 

 position. The treatment of the bulbs 

 when dormant should be about the same 

 as for the gloxinia and achimene. The 

 cultural notes given for these last named 

 plants will also suit the Snake Plant, 

 except that the soil need not be quite as 

 light in its nature. This plant usually 

 flowers when the large bulbs are dor- 

 mant. The flower should be destroyed 

 as its odor is very disagreeable. 



TUBEROUS ROOTED BEGONIAS 



The tubers of these should be kept dry 

 during the winter when once the foliage 

 has entirely dried off. A temperature 

 of 40 to 45 degrees will suit these tubers 

 in winter time. I prefer keeping all of 

 the bulbs and tubers I have been speak- 

 ing of in the soil they have grown in, 

 and in the pots as well, without being 

 disturbed while dormant. Dry sand or 

 earth can be used to pack them in, but 

 from experience I have had the best re- 

 sults from keeping them in the pots 

 undisturbed. It is the most natural 

 method to treat them, as the pots can 

 be stood away in a cool cellar or room 

 very easily when the roots are dormant. 



Grow FloAvers for tHe 

 CHurcHes 



A. K. Goodman, Cayuga, Ont. 



IN the smaller towns it would be a 

 good thing to plant gardens, espe- 

 cially for the purpose of supplying cut 

 flowers for the decoration of the churches. 

 Set these gardens apart from the 

 formal beds and interest the children. 

 Have them make the weekly cuttings 



Gathering Flowers for the Church 



and decorate the chancel. After the 

 morning and evening services, have the 

 flowers distributed among the sick in 

 the locality. 



This would have a wholesome effect 

 in many ways, and be particularly a 

 wise training for the young. It might 

 even revive interest among the older 

 members of society in church work. 



Mr. Goodman's Garden where Flowers are Grown 

 for Church Decoration 



and check any tendency to atheism, 

 that foul, unnatural vice, foe to all the 

 dignity and consolation of mankind. 



Pleasing results for this purpose may 

 be had from asters and gladioli planted 

 in masses. If the former are tried, 

 note that asters feed near the surface 

 of the ground and require the best of 

 soil, in the open, good drainage, plenty 

 of water, with a mulch of well- rotted 

 manure just before or as the buds form. 



For those horticulturists who have 

 well-balanced minds and wish to have 

 a real garden, a combination of floral 

 effects is necessary. All are equally 

 important in the making of a garden 

 that will be interesting and useful, and 

 if properly combined they will produce 

 an effect at once striking, beautiful and 

 artistic. 



