1887. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



153 



one point is observed, as in this instance, of hav- 

 ing some of the curves possessed of great bold- 

 ness, and the others subordinate as to this. 



The fault conspicuous in the front approach 

 of figure 16, is that with the curve not being 

 very decided, there is a constant tendency of 

 vehicles, as well as of pedestrians, to follow a 

 curve like that indicated by the dotted lines, in- 

 stead of along the curve as was designed. Per- 

 haps the short distance that lies between the 

 highway and the residence was the ostensible 

 cause for the insufficient curves. But in figure 



19 is shown how the same case is susceptible of 

 treatment for having the curve bold and con- 

 tinuous, and with the effect of leading the user 

 of the drive to follow a line very nearly as 

 indicated by the dotted line. For here, unlike 

 in figure 16, the objective point — the door — 

 not being in view from the gateway, and the 

 curves being easy and natural, there would be 

 a tendency instead of steering by the shortest 

 course towards the door to have in mind keep- 

 ing only the main course. 



Figure 17, on the other hand, represents a 

 front walk some time since met by the writer, 

 in which the opposite extreme of a bend too 

 long and indirect for either beauty or utility 

 was adopted. Here, no matter how the place 

 was to be planted, there would be a natural 

 inclination, especially on the part of children, 

 delivery boys, and dogs, to cut across the lawn, 

 somewhat as shown by the dotted line. Figure 



20 shows how the curved walk sought could 

 be had simple, direct and in everyway pleasing. 



ally here. This gives me an idea of what will 

 be most likely to succeed. For instance: If I 

 flud hard wooded trees, soft or evergreens, 

 then I know at once that such kinds will succeed. 



Planning Before you Plant. 



N. ROBERTSON, SUPT. GO^T. GROUNDS. OTTAWA, CANADA. 



Laying the foundation, no doubt, is the ma- 

 terial point in garden work. Then nature, 

 aided by culture, has to do the rest, and under 

 the most favorable circumstances several years 

 must elapse before the work can be matured. 



A man may build a house, and if he finds it 

 don't suit his wants he can, in a short space of 

 time, pull it down or so alter it that no traces 

 of his mistake may be seen. But in planting 

 the mistakes made may take years to remedy, 

 and may be an eyesore for years to come. 



In the decoration of grounds how often is 

 planting done a tree here and there without 

 the slightest considera- 

 tion or idea of suitable 

 variety and harmony. 

 No work should be 

 more carefully consid- 

 ered than this, and 

 none better deserves 

 being done after a plan. 



One should never 

 plant even a flower 

 bed without fu-st ma- 

 turing a plan, diawlng 

 it to a scale to enable 

 the better alloting of 

 the space to the plants. 

 In such work I color 

 the plans to be nearly 



like the plants to be 



J T 1 1 FtOy 14. Same as Fin. 



used. I also always i;j_ f^f ivith the gnnotiis 

 aim to have some sur- grouped in a more free 

 plus bedding plants "'"^ '"''"™' "''"'«■ 

 of kinds used for fear of any accident or misses 

 after they are planted. This work should 

 be done in good season. Men have been em- 

 ployed to get out designs for beds without 

 any knowledge of what they are to be carried 

 out with. But this is the material point. Itisau 

 easy matter to design when you are not held 

 by the nature of things j'ou have to construct 

 with. But to do so is quite another thing. 



Concerning the use of novelties, I would say 

 no matter what they may be — trees, shrubs or 

 flowei-s — all should be tested in the position 

 near where they are to be grown before at- 

 tempting any permanent work with them. 

 When I speak of novelties, I mean novelties, 

 not things that are well known to every one. 



In planting I generally look about the neigh- 

 borhood to see what succeeds the most natur- 



The Cactus Dahlias. 



Within the la.st half dozen years the name 

 Cactus Dahlia has appeared in the florists' cata- 

 logues. Of this class there are two sorts de- 

 scribed, namely. 

 Dahlia Con- 

 stance or Ariel, 

 which is by no 

 means a new 

 variety but one 

 rarely cultiva- 

 ted, and having 

 elegantlyshaped 

 dead-white flow- 

 ers, and the Red 

 Cactus Dahlia 

 D. Juaresii, an 

 engraving of 

 which is here- 

 with presented. 



It is the last 

 named sort 

 which won for 

 this style the 

 appropriate 

 name of Cactus 

 Dahlia. This is 

 due to the fact 

 that the flowers 

 of D. Jaurezii, 

 aside from be- 

 ing of a brilliant 

 scarlet color, 

 suggestive o f 

 Cactus blooms, 

 are as to their 

 parts flat and 

 pointed, quite 

 unlike those of 



the ordinary garden varieties. The floral parts 

 are also never cupped and being of varying 

 lengths and overlapping each other, give to the 

 heads an irregular appearance, wholly unusual 

 to the common Dahlia, which it it be specially 

 noted for any one thing, it is that of excessive 

 monotony of form throughout. 



The kind referred to originated under culti- 

 vation in Mexico, the home of the Dahlia, 

 although as usual in such things, it reached 

 our own gardens by way of Europe. It is re- 

 markably distinct in character; whether it 

 shall finally be conceded that it is a species or 

 merely a variety has not yet, it seems, been 

 decided. The foliage and habit of the plant 

 are good; the tubers, Uke those of the older 

 sorts, are decidedly tender, requiring to be pre- 

 served through the winter like Cannas or the 

 common Potato. 



The White Constance, although somewhat 



of my handkerchief or in cheesecloth, narrow- 

 ly hemmed on purpose, which I provide ex- 

 pressly to gather seeds in, they taking up but 

 little room when carried in the pocket. 



Phlox and Pansy seeds must be covered with 

 something to admit air, yet retain the seeds, 

 else they will fly awaj' while curing. Morn- 

 ing Glory, Phlox and other kinds with heavy 

 seeds and light shells can be easily cleaned by 

 putting in a cup, shaking this and blowing into 



THE RED CACTUS DAHLIA (Dahlia Juarezii). 



it lightly or hard, according to the kind of 

 seeds. Fine seeds with coarse husks can easily 

 be separated by sifting ; and still others, like 

 Scabiosa and Calendula, require no cleaning. 



All seeds must be carefully cui-ed before 

 storing away, and even then should not be 

 closely packed into bags. Choose a bag consid- 

 erably larger than you think will be needed for 

 the amount of seeds, label it plainly with the 

 name of the flower, so there need be no guess- 

 work as to its contents. 



For seed bags take bleached muslin, tear off 

 strips from 2 to 4 inches wide. With the nar- 

 rowest hemmer on the sewing machine hem 

 them on one edge ; cut the 3 inch strips into 

 3 inch pieces, 3 into 4, and 4 into 6, sew these 

 into bags, leaving the hem outside. Cut pieces 

 of twine, such as druggists use, into 3 or 4 

 inch pieces, tie a knot in each end, sew one fast 

 by the middle to each bag near the top, and 



dissimilar from the Jaurezii, is yet, aside from 1 you are ready for the seeds as they aie cleaned. 



the pure white color, very different from the 

 ordinary double white Dahlia. Its petals are 

 singularly creased down the center, a trait en- 

 titling it to be classed as a Cactus. The flowers 

 also are of elegant shape and freely produced, 

 being very useful for bouquets and decorations. 

 These new Dahlias may now be had of the 

 leading dealers in plants and bulbs, and at 

 prices no higher than those for the best named 

 varieties of the common type. 



On the Gathering and Care of Flower 

 Seeds. 



Many persons gather seeds for the season all 

 on one day and that far along in the season. 

 I commence with the first flower of spring, 

 smd keep it up all through the season. 



I usually carry in my pocket a small ball of 

 twine, and when I see an extra fine flower from 

 which I would like seed, I tie a bit of twine 

 aroimd the stem, and when among my flowers 

 I am on the lookout for the ripened seeds of 

 such. These I gather and tie up in the corner 



To me seed gathering is one of the pleasures 

 of floriculture; quite as delightful as any 

 other part, and this is especially so to one who 

 saves more than are needed for her own use, 

 that she may be liberal to others. 



Is there not in each one's circle of acquaint- 

 ance some child, invalid or poor person who 

 would be pleased to have a pretty flower bed if 

 only they had some seeds? If so, then appor- 

 tion into little paper bags, writing the name of 

 the seeds plainly on each, and send them to 

 such. "A good deal of trouble "do you say! 

 A little pleasant recreation if one enters into 

 the spirit of it rightly. Elder's Wife. 



334. Wire-Worm in Vine Border. The wire- 

 worms were without doubt introduced into the 

 border with the turf; they can be caught bj' burjring 

 near the surface pieces of Carrot or Potato, which 

 may be run Ihrouph with a stick (to save troulile in 

 search) and examined daily. Applications of soot 

 and lime are distasteful to them, and could be given 

 over the roots after removing the upper layer of 

 soil, which should be charred to destroy the worms, 

 and replaced with clean soil, etc. Auos Pardee. 



