August, 1915. 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



191 



Prep 



aring Violets For Winter 



B. C. Tillett, Hamilton, Ont. 



CERTAIN delicate varieties of vio- 

 lets, such as the Neapolitan, 

 that fragrant variety with lav- 

 ender color flowers, and other choice 

 kinds, repay the grower for the little 

 extra trouble of growing them in 

 frames. This affords them just that 

 protection which they need from the 

 heavy rains or frosts experienced in 

 the fall and the severe cold of the win- 

 ter months. Plants sheltered in frames 

 or in the greenhouse for preference, 

 produce finer and more fragrant 

 flowers. 



The plants should be placed in the 

 frames in September. August, there- 

 fore, is the month when the frames 

 must be prepared. The frames should 

 be in the most sheltered position which 

 can be selected and, if possible, with 

 a south aspect. 



The finest bed on which to put the 

 frame is one made of leaves. These 

 should be well trodden down, so that 

 when firm the frame is about three feet 

 from the ground level. Having placed 

 the frame on the leaves, fill in to a 

 depth of eight or ten inches a com- 

 post of loam and leaf mould, and let 

 it be well mixed and firmly trodden 

 down. The compost should consist of 

 one part leaf mould to three of loam. 



Before taking up the plants for the 

 frames it is advisable to give them a 

 good watering. If this is done a good 

 ball of soil can be taken up with the 

 plants, so that the roots are not dis- 

 turbed. The plants must not be placed 

 too closely together in the frame and 

 not nearer than nine inches — ^twelve 

 inches is better if we want the best 

 results. Violets vary in growth, and 

 those of a more vigorous growth 

 necessarily demand more space. After 

 all the plants are set out, give a sprink- 

 ling of coarse sand, but take care not 

 to let any soil get into the crown of 

 the plant, and finish up with a good 

 watering. Shade the plants for a few 

 days. 



It is advisable, when fixing the 



frames, to give them a decided pitch 

 to the south. In this way they will 

 secure a maximum of warmth from 

 any sunshine there is. The grower's 

 chief concern during the winter months 

 will be to keep the plants in a healthy 

 condition and free from insect pests. 

 Should the plants show any signs of 

 unhealthiness, insects or mildew will 

 probably be found to be the cause, and 

 if so the plants must at once be given 

 a dusting of sulphur and plenty of air. 

 In severe weather frames will need to 

 be well banked up and covered with 

 a good la.yer of straw or litter; in fact, 

 they may be completely covered over 

 with litter, so as to afford the plants 

 still greater protection. Care mvist, 

 however, be taken that the plants do 

 not become too dry, and to avoid this 

 a good watering should be given be- 

 tween the rows if the soil appears to 

 be getting dry. The morning is the 

 best time for this. 



Summer Preparations For Winter Flowers 



H. J. Moore, Queen Victoria Park, Niagara Falls, Ont. 



T 



'HE work of preparing and of pro- 

 pagating garden plants for 

 housing during the winter should 

 now be given attention. Sometimes 

 frost suspends growth very early, 

 therefore from late August onward ad- 

 vantage should be taken of every op- 





Th..s hydra.igta, In the garden of Dr. J. M. F.>r bes. Caledonia, Ont., Is 30 to 40 years old. 

 nyuiai gea, ^^ ^^ 6^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ across, and blooms profusely every year. 



portunity to propagate all kinds of 

 bedding plants. 



If you OM'n a small greenhouse, cut- 

 tings of the following and many other 

 subjects may be taken and inserted in 

 the propagating bench — geranium, 

 fibrous bedding begonia, ageratum, 

 coleus, ire.sine, pentstemon, antir- 

 rhinum, telanthera of various kinds, 

 abutilon, shrubby veronica and 

 mesembryanthemum, trailing plants for 

 window and verandah box decoration 

 such as vinca, ivy leaved geraniums, 

 Senecio scandens, and choice lobelias. 

 A careful selection of cuttings of sub- 

 tropical bedding plants should also be 

 made, in fact this class should be pro- 

 gagated first as the plants usually take 

 longer to develop to a serviceable size. 

 Progagate shrubby evergreens, like 

 broad leaved laurel, and Acuba, gi'cen 

 and variegated euonymus, and box 

 wood of various kinds. Many of these 

 will make compact bedding plants by 

 June of the second year, and the fol- 

 lowing winter may be used for green- 

 house or for home decoration. When 

 propagating, the choicest and most 

 delicate plants should be first selected, 

 as more time will thus be afforded the 

 grower to increase his most desirable 

 stock. 



Without a greenhouse the grower is 

 at a disadvantage. There is, however, 

 nuieh that may be done to increase and 

 so carry over the stock of the hardier 

 perennial garden plants. Make a cold 

 frame at once, have it slightly higher 

 at the back than at the front,, see that 

 the sash fits snugly (double glass sash 

 is preferable for this work) select a 



