110 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTUKIST. 



the growth of finer kinds of grasses, 

 and to help to produce a close-growing 

 turf. We should not omit to mention 

 that here, as in line garden lawns, mow- 

 ing alone will not ensure a good bottom 

 without that compression which a roller 

 alone can give. 



During the past thirty-five years we 

 have conducted a series of experiments 

 with the various grasses recommended 

 for lawns, and find the following varie- 

 ties best adapted for the Canadian 

 climate, viz. : — 



Blue Grass {Poa Pratensis). 



Creeping Bent Grass (Agrostis Sto- 

 Imifera). 



Crested Dogstail {Cynosurus Cris- 

 tatus). 



Slender Fescue (Festuca Tenuifolia). 



Not less than 40 lbs. per acre should 

 be sown, and in many instances we have 

 known 60 lbs. to be sown on an acre 

 with excellent results. We would in- 

 clude with the above grasses two to 

 thi-ee pounds of white Dutch clover, 

 which we think improves the appear- 

 ance of the sward. 



ORNAMENTAL PLANTING. 



Every one who owns a homestead 

 ■or farm ought to have a good plan of 

 it, showing the position of woodlands, 

 pasture, tillage, unproductive land, 

 buildings, roads, ornamental grounds 

 and kitchen gardens. The watercourses 

 and difierences of level should also be 

 shown. The I'oads and buildings 

 should be located for convenience, but 

 ■when the conformation of the grounds 

 or a grove or group of trees makes it 

 best to have the roads and paths devi- 

 ate from the straight line, picturesque- 

 ness is gained and no convenience 

 sacrified. It is often possible to turn 

 a road or path by planting an artificial 

 reason for doing so, and gain the pleas- 

 ing effect without any great inconveni- 

 ence resulting. 



Ornamental planting must be ad- 



apted to the conformation of the land 

 and the uses to which it is to be put, 

 so as to increase its natural beauty, 

 forming vistas which shall add to the 

 landscape effect, and scenes which no 

 human artist can reproduce. 



Trees should be planted so as to give 

 protection to both bipeds and quadru- 

 peds ; the north and north-west side of 

 the buildings should be defended and 

 kept warm by evei'green groves, which, 

 as a precaution against woodland fires, 

 should not be nearer than thirty or 

 forty feet. A gravel walk or road 

 around all buildings is an additional 

 protection. The beneficial influence 

 that the rays of sunlight contain should 

 be allowed to reach the dwelling apart- 

 ments of all living creatures in house 

 or bai-n, in summer as well as in win- 

 ter ; and trees should not be so placed 

 as to prevent this as they become lai'ge. 

 The evergreens seem best to deserve 

 the name of protective trees against 

 cold and wind, while the deciduous 

 trees defend us from heat ; but both 

 join to produce the best ornamental 

 effect. — Report Mass. Uort. Soc, '87. 



FLOWERING BEGONIAS. 



BT J. P. COCKBIRX, ORAVEXHURST, ONT. 



The most beautiful of the flowering 

 family of Begonias is Rubra. The great 

 beauty of its bright green waxy leaves, 

 and almost perpetual free flowering 

 haVnt, makes it one of the most desira- 

 ble window plants. The Begonia Ru- 

 bra is a soft wooded plant, but not so 

 succulent as most other sorts. Its 

 growth is very rapid during the spring 

 and summer months. They succeed 

 best in a soil in which there is plenty 

 of fibre, enriched with well decayed cow 

 manui'e, made light with clean sand ; 

 watered and cared for generally as an 

 ordinary geranium. Young plants 

 started in three or four inch pots, will 

 flower freely all summer and throw up 

 a strong spike or shoot from the root of 



