THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



161 



E-ncoxirag'ing Results 



An example of what can be done in a small 

 village having only a widely scattered popula- 

 tion, is shown by the work of the Cayuga Hor- 

 ticultural Society. The members have endeav- 

 ored by public gardens in the Court House 

 Park and at the high and public schools to edu- 

 cate the public and induce them to work on in- 

 dividual lines. In this way they are paving 

 the way for flower shows and garden and lawn 

 competitions. 



"By our efforts," writes Secretary Goodman, 

 "a Sunday walk has been established in the 

 summer, by means of which the citizens make 

 a point of enjoying the floral effects in the dif- 

 ferent parks and grounds, the good result of 

 which has been very apparent on the healthier 

 tone of the town. 



"We now purpose to spend all our money 

 for a time on premiums to the members. The 

 work in connection with the public gardens, .so 

 propitiously commenced, will not languish. In 

 this way we hope to foster a greater pride in 

 the floral adornment of the individual home, 

 and interest those who, so far, have not as- 

 sisted in our work." 



A. Live Horticultviral Society 



Although comparative disappointment at- 

 tended the St. Catharines Horticultural Society 

 for a few years, the results of the last two or 

 three seasons have shown that the plans adopt- 

 ed by that society are worthy of emulation. 

 This society has been in existence for six years. 

 During the first three its membership was sta- 

 tionary — being 39.58 and 63 respectively. In 

 1903 it went down to 51, just barely sufficient 

 to keep the organization intact and be recog- 

 nized as a society. At each annual meeting it 

 would be considered desirable to hold an ex- 

 hibition in June, and a committee would usually 

 be appointed, but that would probably be the 

 last heard of it. 



During these years, however, if the society 

 had barely maintained an existence, it did not 

 squander its resources, but carefully husbanded 

 them. In 1904 there was a balance in the 

 treasury of $125 or more — sufficient to warrant 

 an aggressive movement. 



The new board of directors met practically 

 every two weeks during the spring, and some 

 had arrangements under way for two exhibi- 

 tions — one in June and one in September. 

 Aster seed was distributed among the school 

 children, and a lively interest awakened among 

 the younger people. The city council gave a 

 Krant of $50, and business men generously con- 

 'ributed toward the prize list in the way of 

 special prizes. When it was seen that the soci- 

 ety was working, it was not difficult to increase 

 the membership, and the year closed with a 

 total of 98 names on the list and $65 in the 

 treasury, with all bills paid. Being the first 

 year in which flower shows were held in the city, 

 the directors were more concerned in making 

 them an unquestioned success, because of the 

 influence on the efforts of future years, than in 

 maintaining the cash balance with which the 

 year was commenced. 



Last year, 1905, we resolved to have three 

 exhibitions, in June, July and September. The 

 first was principally for roses and other early 

 flowers and fruits; the second for sweet peas, 

 pansies, nasturtiums, and other midsummer 

 flowers and fruits; the September show for 

 asters, dahlias and other fall flowers; while the 

 fruit exhibition was looked on as being the 

 principal one of the year. At this show vege- 

 tables also were given a place. All our exhibi- 

 tions this year, as well as last, were successful. 

 An unusually warm night in September, and 

 the counter attraction of a military parade in 

 close proximity to the show, marred the at- 

 tendance at the last exhibition, but yet our 

 receipts held up well. 



The value of the awards offered at the June 

 exhibition was $73.50; in July, $78,90, and 

 September, $87.80, making a total of $240.20. 



The entries for June numbered 155, for July 

 312 and for September, 412.— W B. Bur- 

 goyne, president. 



SeafortH's Loss 



The Seaforth soc. recently sustained a great 

 loss when its esteemed secretary, Mr. Wm. 



Elliott, owing 

 to advanced age 

 retired from his 

 position as town 

 clerk and re- 

 moved from Sea- 

 forth to Owen 

 Sound, that he 

 might live with 

 many of hisfam- 

 ily lelations. Mr. 

 Elliott w'as one 

 of the first to 

 take hold of the 

 Seaforth soc, 

 and has been its 

 efficient sec, 

 with the excep- 

 tion of the first 

 year, since its 

 beginning up to 

 this year. A 

 large measure of 

 the credit due the soc. for th^ excellent work 

 it has accomplished may be given to Mr. Elliott 

 for his untiring efforts in its behalf. The soc. 

 is recognized as a power for good in the town. 



V/m. Elliott 



Horticulture in tKe W^est 



Horticultural interests in the Canadian prairie 

 country are well represented in the rejxjrt of the 

 sixth, seventh and eighth annual meetings of the 

 We.stern Horticultural Society. Important ques- 

 tions of vital interest to all horticulturists dis- 

 cussed by successful and practical men in various 

 Unes are fully dealt with. Matters of interest to 

 lovers of trees, fruits, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, 

 and bees fill 108 pages. 



Some idea of the scope and nature of the con- 

 tents may be gleaned from the following list of 

 pajjersand addresses, by such prominent horticul- 

 turists: — Fruits for Eastern Manitoba, by Alex. 

 McPherson; Apple Growing in the Red River 

 \'alley, by A. P. Stevenson; Growing Fruit for 

 Market, by W. C. Hall; Hardy Perennial Flowers, 

 by Robert Lloyd; Half-hardy Ornamental and 

 Flowering Shrubs, by Harry Brown : Tree Plant- 

 ing for Fuel, by Rev. J. Fotheringham ; Horti- 

 culture in Northern Alberta, by Donald Ross; 

 The Ideal Farmer's Garden, by S. A. Bedford; 

 Hardy Fruits for Western Manitoba, by S. A. 

 Bedford; Small Fruit Culture, by Prof. C. B. 

 Waldron; Small Fruits in Saskatchewan, by P. 

 G. Laurie; The Relation of Birds to Horticulture, 

 by George E. Atkinson; Suggestions for the 

 Improvement of our Horticultural Products by 

 Cross-fertilization or Hybridization, by Harry 

 Brown; Small Fruits in Manitoba, by D. W. 

 Buchanan; Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, by A. 

 P. Stevenson; Apples and Plums in Western 

 Canada, by H. L. Patmore; Apple Growing in 

 Manitoba, by John Caldwell; Onion Culture, by 

 Victor Mager; The Improvement of our Native 

 Fruits, by Max D. Major; Hardy Annuals, by 

 Robert Lloyd; Some Branches of Horticulture 

 that are Necessary and Profitable to Western 

 Settlers, by H. L. Patmore; The Progress of 

 Apple Culture at the Brandon Experimental 

 Farm, by Harry Brown; Roses and How to 

 Grow Them, by Robert Barclay; The Peony, the 

 Flower for Manitoba, by C. S. Harrison; The 

 Iv volution of Horticulture, by P. Middleton; 

 Apples and other Fruits Hardy in Manitoba, by 

 A. P. Stevenson. 



This report is prepared for free distribution to 

 the members of the society. It has also been 

 decided by the Executive that as long as the 

 supply lasts copies of previous reports will be 

 sent to new members coming in for menibershi]) 

 during the year 1906. There arc three of these 

 past reports still held in sufficient numbers as to 

 allow of continued distribution. The cost of 



preparing and mailing this latest report amounts 

 to about 30 cents a copy, and this, together with 

 the other three reports, makes ujj a parcel of 

 literature that is not only worth more than the 

 price of membership to the one who receives it, 

 but has actually cost the Society almost one 

 dollar to produce. Anyone, no matter where he 

 resides, may become a member. The address of 

 the secretary is George Batho, P.O. Box 1310, 

 Winnipeg. 



Ho-w to Crow Tomatoes 



The most approved method of growing toma- 

 toes was discussed by Mr. L. M. Schenk, of St. 

 Catharines, at a meeting of tomato growers at 

 Jordan Station recently. Mr. Schenk first 

 described the making and care of hotbeds. For 

 such plenty of manure should be used and cov- 

 ered, when prepared and tramped, with five 

 inches of good soil. The bed should be started 

 about March 20, and the seed sown a week later. 

 The seeds should be patted into the soil and, 

 unless the soil is very dry, left without water 

 until they are up. The temperature should be 

 about 60 degrees at night. When plants are 

 up, air often to prevent damping off. 



Mr. Schenk advised transplanting to a second 

 hotbed with less manure and more soil, instead 

 of to a cold frame, as is the usual custom. By 

 this means, he said, there is less damage of loss, 

 and stronger plants are secured for the field. 

 This transplanting should be done late in the 

 afternoon to lessen danger of wilting. Next 

 morning lift glass and allow sim and air to dry 

 up moisture; when the plants show signs of wilt- 

 ing, shade again. Plants must be stocky for 

 field culture, not long and spindly. This is 

 secured by giving them plenty of room and 

 plenty of sun and air in this hotbed. 



From hotbed number 2 transplant directly to 

 the field. Have |)lot marked off into squares, 

 four feet each way. Manure all the ground — 

 not the hills only. The latter system gives a 

 good start, but is not lasting in results. In 

 addition, a little hen manure, or phosphate, 

 thrown in with each plant is valuable. The 

 night before transplanting soak the soil in the 

 hotbed with water, and again add a little water 

 next morning. When the grower has the time 

 it is wise to retain a ball of earth about the 

 roots. For quick work plant with spade rather 

 than by plowing furrows. 



Mr. Shenck did not wish to recommend any 

 particular variety, but favored personally the 

 Matchless, as grown by Burpee. Among other 

 good ones are Success, Livingstone's Perfection, 

 Livingstone's Favorite, Stone and Ignotum, 

 when pure seed can be secured. The Earliana, 

 so largely grown in some sections, is not liked 

 by canners. "There is too much waste," said 

 Mr. Schenk. "They do not ripen evenly. All 

 the green mu.st be cut away, and as a conse- 

 quence we do not like them." They are, never- 

 theless, amongst growers the most popular early 

 tomato grown in the province. When the 

 grower decides upon the varieties he will plant 

 he should be particular to get the seed from 

 firms making specialties of those particular 

 varieties. 



Mr. J. B. Dolan, of St. Catharines, also spoke, 

 and advised beginners not to start on too small 

 an area. At least two acres should be grown 

 so as always to have a load to take to the car. 

 A smaller quantity is scarcely worth the trouble. 

 He also advised growers to strongly fortify 

 themselves with crates. — A.B.C. 



FROM THE FAR WEST— I enclose my renewal 

 subscripticm for that valuable paper ThE Horti- 

 culturist. In this district great interest is 

 shown in fruit raising, and all who have seen The 

 Horticulturist speak very highly of it and of 

 the suggestions continually in its columns, and no 

 doubt 20 subscriptions could be obtained here. 

 I note the strides The Horticulturist is mak- 

 ing in up-to-dateness. The latter improvements 

 are worthy your efforts. — L. B. Pangman,. 

 Salmon Arm, B.C. 



