254 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



THE TUBEROUS BEGONIA. 



HE article on "Tuberous Begonia," was, no doubt, written for 

 the benefit of that flower alone ; no doubt it is a pretty flower. 

 but a good deal of care is required to get the bulbs properly 

 started. I can hardly fancy the author of that article is a true 

 lover of flowers, when he speaks of going into a dry goods store, 

 to get " material " for a foliage bed. Now, what looks better than a round bed, 

 the centre filled with scarlet geraniams, then two rows of coleus, planted so 

 that all the colors seem to blend into one, with an outside row of Tom Thumb 

 nasturtiums ; then in a mixed border protected with evergreen sand shrubs, you 

 can make a good show with a few " faded coleus." Last year I planted out in 

 such a border, several Zinnia plants, about three feet apart, and in between I 

 planted coleus in September, when the zinnias were in full bloom ; the effect of 

 the two plants growing together was very pleasing. There are many beautiful 

 plants grown, not for the flowers only ; take that grand flower, the Paeony, no 

 plant so useful in an open border, because after it has flowered you still have a 

 handsome plant, the bright clean leaves of it always afford a pleasing contrast 

 to your many colored annuals or perennials. The Columbine you sent out last 

 year has proved to be a very pretty flower, so early, and such large flowers, one 

 over four inches in diameter. I have saved the centre stems for seed, and hope 

 to raise some good plants for next year. I am pleased to see so much interest 

 taken in flowers by our little monthly. What a change since 1856, wnen I 

 might travel for. a week and hardly see a flower among our farmers, but now 

 our daughters vie with each other who shall have the best garden ; and the road 

 to a good garden is now made easy by our "Canadian" florists from whom we 

 can get, for very little money, a collection of all the beautiful hardy perennials, 

 which, with a good selection of easy growing annuals, you may be sure of a 

 wealth of bloom from April till November. In conclusion I will say, friends, if 

 you want a pretty bed, be it of flowers or foliage plants, keep away from the 

 " dry goods store;" a very poor substitute will these be found for any of nature's 

 gems. C. J. F. 



Delaware. 



SIX BEST APPLES. 



For six of the best apples I have, or grown in this section, I should take the 

 Baldwin, I have ■ then the Ribston, R. I. Greening, Canada Reinette, Ontario, 

 (not for dessert), and Golden Russet. Another choice apple is the Fallawater, 

 of fine flavor, long keeper ; but I have not had experience as to its bearing qual- 

 ities. 



The prospects for fruit is, for apples, scarce, cherries and plums full of bloom, 

 peaches not much grown but a good bit of blossom. 



Goderich. Walter Hick. 



