98 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



April, 1915 



A bed o£ tuberous beeonias at the side entrajice to Mr. Spencer's garden. 



also introduced here and there as a 

 "peacemaker" between strong; contrasts 

 in color. It will te seen, therefore, that 

 what is termed a perennial border is not 

 entirely so, but license must be given the 

 amateur to depart from any hard and 

 fast rule in order to secure what he con- 

 siders the most desirable effect. 



When the bed was re-pianted, the 

 spaces between the plants were filled with 

 tulips and other bulbs. The tulips con- 

 sisted largely of Darwins of the differ- 

 ent shades, but a very large number of 

 Cottage and other early blooms were 

 also put in. These are planted in groups 

 according to color. Groups of daffodils 

 here and there added brilliance to the ef- 

 fect. A year ago a large number of tril- 

 lium bulbs were secured from the woods, 

 and this spring will tell whether or not 

 these have succeeded in living through 

 the winter. 



The main portion of the garden, across 

 the border, was a mixture of flowers and 

 vegetables. Flowers bordered the walk, 

 first a row of sweet alyssum, then phlox 

 Drummondi and snapdragon. The next 

 row was carrots, with here and there a 

 poppy plant, which had the effect of 

 blending the flowers into the vegetables. 

 To avoid bare spaces, a dozen and a half 

 •^f asters were preserved in pots, and were 

 planted in the early pea ground as soon 

 as the crop was picked. 



By regular cultivation and occasional 

 watering, even the vegetables in their 

 straight rows were very attractive, more 

 especially after the abundant crop of to- 

 matoes on the stakes commenced to 

 ripen. Behind the tomatoes were the 

 roses, and covering the fence behind 

 these were sweet peas. 



As shown in the picture, there appears 

 a circular bed of cannas, and at another 

 point at the left of the garden, not seen 

 in the illustration, there is a small bed of 

 peonies and iris of the finest varieties. 

 Between these are planted lilies. This 



combination would be hard to surpass for 

 its beauty throughout the season. Along 

 the eastern fence, from end to end, is a 

 space two feet and a half wide, which last 

 year was planted with snapdragons, as- 

 ters and gladioli, in front of such vines 



as scarlet runners, sweet peas and nas- 

 turtiums. J'here were also grown in this 

 border a small number of dahlias. Close 

 to the back veranda, not seen in the pic- 

 ture, was a row of roses interspersed 

 with low bedding plants. 



One of the most beautiful beds in this 

 garden last year and the year before, was 

 one of tuberous begonias that occupied a 

 shady position between the house and 

 the neighbor's dwelling. This had a bor- 

 der of alternanthera. The ground for 

 this was richly prepared and magnificent 

 bloom was secured. At the front of the 

 house, in addition to shrubs and vines, 

 there was an oval bed of sweet alyssum, 

 pyrethrum and prince's feather. 



Being in competition this garden was 

 well looked after. The grass was cut 

 regularly about three times in two weeks, 

 the edges carefully trimmed each time. 

 The soil between the plants was stirred 

 about once a week, dead bloom was re- 

 moved as it appeared, and unsightly 

 plants were replaced, where practicable, 

 by something fresh. To enter a garden 

 competition means work ; to win a prize 

 requires persistent and earnest effort, but 

 apart from the award, one has the ut- 

 most satisfaction in possessing a beauti- 

 ful adjunct to a comfortable home. 



The Amateur's Water Garden 



THOSE who have not the advantage 

 of a lake or pond may still grow 

 several of the most charming water 

 lilies in tubs, choosing varieties which are 

 not of a too vigorous growth or large- 

 growing nature for this method of cul- 

 ture. The tubs should be fairly large, a 

 diameter of three or four feet being very 

 suitable in most cases, though ordinary 

 coal oU casks, sawn in two (with the 

 inside burned out well, of course) will do 

 for some of the smaller growing sorts. 



Put a little rough material in the bot- 

 tom of each tub, and then a moderate 

 quarjtity of good, loamy soil, with a 

 little leaf mould, rather than manure, 

 added ; then set out your plant on a 

 slight mound in the centre, and fill up 

 with water nearly to the rim of the tub. 

 This is to be done in the spring, of 

 course ; amd a hole should be bored in 

 the side of each tub, near the bottom, 

 and fitted with a plug, so that the water 

 may be drawn off occasionally and re- 

 placed by fresh. 



In the sketch at A may be seen the 

 section of such a tub as described, with 

 the soil and the plant, or root, in place, 

 but otherwise empty, while at B appears 

 the same thing, but filled with water. 



and the plant at full growth. C shows 

 a plant placed in a basket, ready to lower 

 into the water of a lake or pond, which 

 is generally accepted as the best method 

 of planting, while D gives a rough idea 

 of a fully-expanded flower on the surface 

 of the water. 



Decidedly the best kinds of water lily 

 for tub culture are two Chinese species, 

 known as Nymphaea Pygmaea Alba and 

 Helveola. The flowers of the former 

 are white and those of the latter pale 

 yellow. Both are real gems. Ellisiana 

 with flowers of the richest rose color, 

 and Laydekeri Lilaoea, with a few 

 others, may also be successfully cultivat- 

 ed. When more than one tub is used, a 

 very ornamental effect can be produced 

 by leaving a space between the tubs to 

 be lused as a miniature rock garden. 



Suitable Garden Tools 



Many a backache might be avoided, or ) 

 at least greatly lessened, and much hard 

 and unpleasant work saved, by a judi- 

 cious selection of tools for the garden 

 and adapted to the work on hand, or by 

 choosing those which are light as well 

 as strong when making purchases. 



A most handy and useful tool, which is 

 not met with in gardens nearly so often 

 as it ought to be, is the Crome. Have 

 you an old veteran of a digging fork 

 which has seen its best days, and is worn 

 down to possibly half its original length? 

 Take it to the blacksmith and let him 

 bend the prongs down so as to be at 



