THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



caladiums should now be safely housed 

 in a dry, warm cellar not heated by a 

 furnace. If your cannas and caladiums 

 begin to rot during the winter, shake off 

 all the dirt, and cut and scrape away the 



decaying parts Then dust over thickly 

 with fine charcoal, which may be had 

 from any tinner or cornice maker Cover 

 with dry earth — Landscape Gardener. 



BASKET PLANTS AND VASES. 



THE times have greatly changed with 

 varieties grown for hanging plant s 

 since 1850. The cultivation of 

 many delicate kinds like Lobelia. 

 Sweet Alyssum, Mimulus, Cupid sweet 

 pea, Ivy geraniums, etc., have entirely 

 succeeded the Dusty Miller and Straw- 

 berry geranium, but the Oxalis is still 

 grown, and properly cared for is fine for 

 this purpose. Lobelias of any variety 

 are admirable for both basket and vases, 

 as are the above mentioned sorts. But 

 few are cognizant of the Lobelia Erinus 

 thriftily grown alone ; for then it be- 

 comes a mass of delicate green folage, 

 interspersed with lovely blue flowers. 

 Emperor's star has a white centre, and 

 each by itself is best. The double 

 petunia grown with asparagus tenuis- 

 simus, and Ivy geranium, Plumosus 

 nanus, Abutilon Mesopotamicum with 

 centrosema and pilogen and climbing 

 meteor rose, make the most charming 

 vase if rightly trained. 



The trailing lantana (delicatissimd) is 

 worthy of a trial for baskets. It is of 

 very compact growth, profuse bloomer 

 of pinkish lilac. This too is fine to 

 edge a vase on one side, with lobelia on 

 the other. 



Then the Japanese Fern Ball is an 

 acquisition ; it may be so neglected as 

 to entirely wither away, but water will 

 revive it. It is unlike the resurrection 

 plant in that it grows leaves. But this 



resurrection plant, so called because it 

 spreads itself when wet, is of little use 

 except to be strung up with moss and 

 mimulus or some other plant to flourish 

 in. I believe in a resurrection that is 

 more permanent. Let us cultivate good 

 roots to our plants, and expect corre- 

 sponding results. 



I am of the opinion the Memorial 

 rose will be of great ability and beauty 

 grown in a vase. Somehow the tree 

 rose gives one the impression little 

 children do when over-dressed, be- 

 frumped and befuddled with lace and 

 ribbons. If we cannot purchase a vase, 

 we can manufacture one. I found in 

 my travels one day an old cover of a 

 meat warmer, heavy Britannia ware, I 

 took it home and gave it a coating of 

 tar on the inside, sawed off a shapely 

 round post, and made a circular bottom 

 of two inch plank, nailed it together, 

 gave another coat of tar, painted the 

 outside, and have a vase that answers 

 every purpose and looks like something 

 better, when arrayed as even Solomon 

 never was. By the way, this cover came 

 from Montreal, I learned afterwards, 

 and the bottom part I obtained and 

 used for small pots, intersected with 

 moss. Doubtless, more are to be found 

 in the province of Quebec. 



M. A. Hoskins. 



Newport, Vt. 



354 



