April, 1915 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



III 



Growing Early Cucumbers 



J. L. Hilboni, West Sammeiland, B. C. 



We plant the seed for KTOwing- early cu- 

 cumbers and cantaloupes about April 20th 

 in bats, the same way as for tomato seed, 

 except that we use pure sand, as we find 

 we Ket better plamts by usins: sand. As 

 soon as the plants are well up, we trans- 

 plant them to other trays, usinsr ordinary 

 soil at this time, spacins: the plants about 

 two inches apart either way. They are kept 

 here tintil the tomato plants are planted in 

 the field, which s:ives us plenty of empty 

 trays, also greenhouse and cold frame space 

 in which to develop the cucumber aiid can- 

 taloupe plants. For this last plantiner we 

 srrow eight or ten plants to a tray. 



The land on which these are to be grown 

 should be prepared some time in advance of 

 time of setting. It should be fairly well 

 enriched, as these crops require much more 

 fertility tham is the case with tomatoes. 



We attempt to get the plants hardened 

 off, before they are removed to the field, 

 by giving frequent and thorough ventila- 

 tion. Even although the weather may ap- 

 pear mild and warm, the sudden change 

 from a confined atmosphere to the open 

 field will almost invariably cause a serious 

 check to the growth of these plants. We 

 usually remove them to the field the first 

 week in Jume. Much, however, depends 

 upon weather conditions. It is better to 

 wait a few days than to hurry them to the 

 field before the weather is sufficiently 

 warm. We plant in rows, about five feet 

 apart, setting the plants about three feet 

 apart in the rows, using onlv one plant in 

 a hill. 



With these crops, as well as all other 

 varieties of early vegetables of which I 

 have any knowledge, thorough and frequent 

 cultivation is necessary to secure best re- 

 sults. A soil that is kept fairly well pul- 

 verized, and stirred at least once a week, 

 is always warmer and produces better 

 growth than soil not so frequently stirred. 



If a person has no greenhouse or glass 

 cold frame in which to start the plants, 

 ordinary seasons a fair crop may be ob- 

 tained by planting in the field, if the grower 

 has fairly warm soil, warmly situated. By 

 this I mean land sloping to the south and 

 sheltered from northerly winds. The diffi- 

 culty with growing these crops im this way 

 is that, while a very good crop may be 

 produced, with proper care, it invariably 

 comes into the market too late to secure 

 satisfactory prices. 



Of the great quantities of varieties of 

 cantaloupes which I have tested, I am now 

 getting best results with Hoodoo and Ford- 

 hook. These varieties are small, with firm 

 yellow flesh of good quality. For anyone 

 wishing to grow a few for home use. the 

 Emerald Gem, while smaller and too soft 

 for distant markets, is the sweetest can- 

 taloupe that I have seen, and is considered 

 by all to be of best quality. 



Ome growing cucumbers for market 

 should always use varieties of the White 

 Spine type, which do not turn yellow when 

 held for some time before reaching the con- 

 sumer. Of these, the Arlington is gener- 

 ally conceded to be as good as any. 



Ontario Horticultural Exhibition 



A meeting of the directors of the On- 

 tario Horticultural Exhibition was held dur- 

 ing the latter part of March. Last year's 

 officers were re-elected, they being : Presi- 

 (fent, Wm. Couse, Slreetsville ; 1st Vice- 

 president, T. Manton, Eglinton ; 2nd Vice- 

 president, H. G. Sibbald, Claude; Trea- 

 surer, Hermann Simmers, Toronto ; Secre- 

 tary, P. W. Hodgetts, Toronto. 



It was decided to hold the exhibition next 

 fall during the second full week in Novem- 



Gladiolus 



Good bulbs, best varieties, lowest prices. 

 Price of majiy varieties one-half to one-tenth 

 of those of seedsmen. 100 Corms, 25 ea«h of 

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 Dahlias, our selection, lOo each 



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H.n. No. 5 - HAMILTON. Ont. 



Weighs from3o0to6o01b.s. 

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Mmiuf acta fed only by 



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A Crop-Saver and Moncy-Makcr 



That's what every 8PEAMOT0R is to Its owner. The outfit shown here Is only one ot 

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The horse does all the work and you simply direct the spray. As many as twelve nozzles 

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can be properly sprayed. We are sole 

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and have concentrated on spraying outfits onlv for the oast 20 years. 

 MOTORS from $6 up to $350, to operate by hand, horse or gasoline i)ower. 



The SPBAMOTOB won Canadian Government Sprayins Contest at Grimsby, Ont., against 

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SPRAMOTOH WORKS 



2408 King Street, LONDON, CANADA 



sow FERGUSON'S 



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Now is the time to sow seeds that will grow and you cannot do better than 

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Here are some specials sent prepaid anywhere in Canada. 



Pkt. 



BEANS: Ferguson's Sure Crop Strlnglcss 

 Wax. Pkt. 10c, Va lbs. 20c, 1 lb. 30c. 



BEET: Ferguson's Detroit Bound Beet. 

 Pkt. 5c, oz. 18c. 



CABBAGE: Ferguson's Copenhagen Mar- 

 ket. Pkt. 10c, '/a oz. 35c. 1 oz. 6O0. 



CORN: Ferguson's Early Malcolm. Pkt. 

 10c. Vi lb. 25c, 1 lb. 40o. 



CUCU.MBERS: Ferguson's Extra Long 

 White Spine. Pkt. 10c. oz. 25c. 



LETTUCE: Ferguson's Wayahead. 

 10c, oz. 30o. 



ONION: Ferguson's Excelsior. Pkt. 25c. 



PEA: Ferguson's World Record. Pkt. 

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RADISH: Ferguson's White Icicle. Pkt. 

 5c, oz. 15o. 



TOMATO: Ferguson's O.K.' Pkt. 15c. 

 % oz. 75o. 



SWEET PEAS: Ferguson's Exposition, 1915 Collection 



Eight of the best new and large varieties in the collection, 75c. 

 ELFRIDA PEARSON: Pale rose, very 

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ILLUMINATOR: New color, clear cherry 

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liant red. 



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39 Jacques Cartier Square 



