THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



than it could properly absorb, and prices 

 show weakness with a further decline in 

 sight. It is estimated that four-fifths of the 

 crop on the vines at the time of the frost were 

 destroyed as far as use for table purposes is 

 concerned ; but they are being shipped for- 

 ward for wine grapes, and the growers will 

 probably do equally as well as though they 

 had been shipped for table grapes. This 

 applies to the black and while varieties only. 

 Catawba were almost a complete loss in the 

 frosted district, as the berries had not ripened 



sufficiently to make wine, and were so badly 

 frozen as to cause them to drop from the 

 vines. Table grapes are not so plentiful, 

 though in sufficient supply to meet the 

 demand. Many of the larger concerns are 

 holding their stocks of table grapes for later 

 markets. The warm weather has been un- 

 favorable for the keeping of grapes, being 

 especially hard on those j in transit or in cars 

 waiting to be unloaded, and we advise lighter 

 shipments for a while, as the only remedy 

 against a glutted market and lower prices. 



THE SCILLA SIBERICA. 



Fig. 1694.— Scilla Siberica. 



&\ r^HE Scilla Siberica is one of the 

 loveliest of the small flowered 

 bulbs. Its blossoms are of the 

 purest blue, of the most exqui- 

 site shade you can imagine. They grow 

 on slender stems and are frail and deli- 

 cate in appearance. 



One fall I put a lot of these little 

 bulbs out of doors, and early in the 

 spring they began blooming, the tiny 

 bulbs seemed rather to outdo themselves 

 in sending up flower stalks and the 

 dainty, delicate blossoms were very fair 

 to look upon. 



It will pay any flower lover to invest 

 in a few (or a good many) of these bulbs ; 

 they cost but a trifle and they make an 

 ideal border for a bulb bed anywhere. 

 They are much finer if set in rows of 

 half a dozen wide or even more. The 

 bulbs may be set closely and should not 

 be covered too deeply. Set them per- 

 haps three inches apart and as many 

 inches under cover. Mulch the bed 

 after setting, or before cold weather 

 comes on too severely. Still they are 

 hardy, perfectly so, but a little protection 

 given even to the hardiest bulb, will 

 make itself shown in the size and quality 

 of the flowers. 



The scilla makes a pretty bulb for 

 forcing, as it blooms so early it may 

 easily be had in blossom for the winter 

 holidays. A dozen or more of the little 

 bulbs may be set in a six inch pot 

 After setting, put away in the dark to 

 root, for some six weeks, then bring to 

 the light and you will soon be rewarded 

 by the shooting up of slender green 

 stalks and the blossom stem almost at 

 the same time. They continue in bloom 

 for quite a length of time, and while 

 they cannot compare with some other 

 bulbs for size, their dainty exquisiteness 

 may, to some, make up for such lack. — 

 Vick's Monthly, 



466 



