GARDENERS 



MAGAZINE. 



coflJ 



ion 



, vitx (Thuya occidentalism in which the foliage assumes a 

 vi This is a brilliant object for a lawn and makes a beautiful 



« ue * . - . 4t it:*.~* onnf^pr mfprPcHnff form of the same 



g£? 'The Pyramidal 



***** V*** P r^n h of fine form and habit, very harcly, ana a miriy vigorous 



t U»ielj e\ 'erg rec u, Arboretum w hi c h when planted six years ago was eighteen 

 power. A tree m , about seven f eet . The Norway or Red Pine (Pinus 

 r^p hi£h now ■ ^ ^ of softer outline than the Austrian Pine 



a handsome tree. The Mountain Pine (Pinus montana) is a very 

 - . I tf M*t for a lawn. Its low-growing, bushy habit, with branches close 



nd makes it well adapted for localities where space is limited. 



TKc Tartarian . 



1DC hlnnm in the 



Bush Honeysuckle is a free-flowering shrub and one 

 , u M rliest to Dioom in the spring, and when covered with its 

 * hire flowers, or later with its bright-coloured berries, is 



^ ° r ttv Van Houtte's Spiraea {Spirit* Van Houttei) is a lovely 

 ray P ltl y.\ a^juu, the latter part of May and early in June, is 



kbit, and is very 

 -me genus, whic 



rmnive The Weigelas are very beautitul shrubs whicn are not entirely nardy 

 It oSiw the new wood being usually killed back more or less by the severe 



in winter. In most instances, however, a sufficient quantity of the wood 

 Mfos to give a considerable amount of bloom. Seibold's Variegated Weigela 

 wnrovedone of the hardiest forms at the central farm. It blooms abundantly 

 Jtotetson, and its variegated foliage makes it at all times very attractive. The 

 Jferent species and varieties of Philadelphus (known also as Syringa and Mock 

 Ooxge) are charming objects for the flower border, and quite hardy. The 

 JUpers wy in size from one to two inches across ; some of them are single and 

 •ooe double ; most of the varieties are richly perfumed. The Snowball ( Viburnum 

 4*Atf var. stcrilis) is an old-fashioned but most desirable species for the 

 fcibbery. During the blooming season it is literally covered with masses of 

 now-white bloom. V. lantana and V. dentatum are also very valuable hardy 

 gMmental shrubs. The Siberian Cornus (Comus albavst. sibiricd) is another 

 rtn useful and hardy sort. It is a pretty shrub when covered with its flat, 

 white clusters of bloom in June, and when devoid of foliage during the winter, 

 fa brilliant red stems form a beautiful contrast with the white background of snow. 

 Tie Russian Olive, said to be a hardy form of Elaeagnus hortensis var. angusti- 

 Ukt is * small tree of very graceful habit, with foliage and branches of a 

 cbnning silvery hue, which is best brought out where it has a background of 

 jvk green growth. This is a very hardy tree and endures the severe climate of 

 the north -west plains well, and when in bloom its numerous small yellow flowers 



0 die air with their fragrance. 



Later in the season the Japanese Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata var. 

 pmdijlora) becomes a very prominent object in Ihe collection of shrubs, 

 from the large bunches of flowers so freely produced at the ends of 

 fc branches. This species has found its way into public favour very 

 npdly. Only twenty-three years have parsed since this shrub was first intro- 

 tod from Japan, and during that comparatively brief period its merits have been 

 ■iiaially recognised, and it has become one of the most widely distributed and 

 fonte shrubs in cultivation. Populus Berolinensis h a Russian Poplar, and 

 m rf the hardiest species tested. It endures the climate in all parts of Canada 

 •dl, wking a strong and rapid growth. Many thousand cuttings of this tree 

 tajfl been sent out from the experimental farms to settlers in different parts of the 

 Uttdian North-west. These strike readily, and soon form handsome trees, 



nE? • ° r dges ' A s P ecimen which was planted in the arboretum at 

 W&wi six years ago as a small tree now stands over twenty-five feet high. 

 Jtijrwciuines are made every year as to the best sorts of shrubs or trees to plant 

 w nedges To gain experience and furnish object lessons, many different sorts 

 ■Wttemg tested foi 'this purpose. Seventy-five varieties, have already been 

 .ur^ as sample hedges each fifty feet long, and a large proportion of them 

 ■WW five or six years' growth. These are proving an attractive feature in 

 «"»«aoii with the ornamental planting at the central farm. 



Experiments in Manitoba. 



cJllfc72rifc SVi 0 " 81 ^ f ° Ur hUnd u re l ^.thirty-seven miles west, by the 

 *^oi^ bnngS US t0 th , e «°unshing town of Brandon, in Mani- 



S S C AlW of h V eX ^ nmenUl f *' m , f <* that province. It is located 



of tr^es • Val1 ^'- J hlS farm haS been S reat] y improved by the 



^ th °?f nd °/ WhlCh haVe " een P ut in avenues, 



f*^*^ Most of the hedges have been planted with 



S«i Thei bSe Pilars and willows, and enclose good-sized plots of 



Kip SSe^Lf^rS talI> T as . wind -breaks during the sLmer, 

 ^^'ml^J^l^^ ° f Sn ^. ln the winter > which > on melting, leaves 

 ^MSXLfSS?^ ™~ **3S. have 



Elder (JV t 



aceroides) and 



^iacenti 

 fltalsted 



••- :• " i '"iuuuods oi tree st 



* ^ SmST^Z^hi ^ Seeds h *ve beVn hTtheno colTected"^ 



s? the s:: e v^ n r : s zi h ^ bluff r n Man,toba and the 



freTby ma„ and T ^ flVC t0nS ° f such seeds hav * been dis- 

 S*l «»«t trei Z cuSL ha D6 k the SamC P -"° d about 6 > 00 ° P acka g es of 

 *««*try. L** W a Ve t bCen S f nt ST m the ^ wa y to settlers in 

 J*J produced seedTeelv anH trees t P lanted on two western experimental 

 I ! n \«><* during th :ij more than a ton of this has been collected for 



J^H Md .here SlZ^SL^t , An , arboretum has been started at 

 **■ h it which have proved J, "' hU " dred SpeC1CS and varieti ' s of tre « a " d 

 r Of Pieties of a 0 SZ , Lt , y ' a K d man ^ more are under test - A la 'ge 

 'ke large £5 5? !1 a 't° bee " tr,ed : NearI y a » ^e annuals do 

 high« decree of l2Sfc* ^ en, ° y there brin g s man y of the 



Snd • in£ f°"' a x d rCSUltS in a g feater abundance of 



Stilus pxlZTtZ^ EaSt ' ° .P^nW", the hardy list includes 



23 BBt '- »nd iy oTher, ih Pe ? eS 0< hem ^acallis, aquilegia, aconite, 



KDOst 



Hardy Fruits at Brandon. 



the 



aT, " 5 ««t, such as aonU T T' , atiem P cs to grow the larger fruits 

 ^ hS.£* ,do «* endure rS* r a PP le £? L P««s, plums, and cherries, have 

 •532^' ^th a Kbnm"!? 6 ' • lh rV S ' howev ^one small wild 



1 ' re ' 'them Z T - he , S,ze v of a ,ar e e ^erry, wh eh has been 



Part of b.bena, that has proved perfectly ha:dy, having 



^X^^^S^^ ^ Of winter killing. This bears 

 excellent iellv and ;n tw ng f heir dlmm "ttve size these tiny apples make 



^raUt^SX 111 ^ P mirL Unimpr ° Ve ^ tate "? U,d be muCh a PPreciTted C 



^in^ 



Fhis fruiHsIoout d^STtne^^tK P h inju ^ and 



of these crn-9 hr^H I ^Jr •.? ° , ° f 1 ' baccata - rt « probable that some 

 nhil -i K , ^'"gs wt» bear fruit of larger size and improved oualitv 



Whed and «H S ^ there " TheSC treeS are boSTaU a2d 1^ 



^ country P * C COndUi ° nS preVai,ln S in the 



M^ h lo Wild / 1Um (Pn " tils Americana) is found native in different parts of 

 Manitoba, and is common in the valley of the Asiniboine river and 7n the other 

 nver valleys m the southern part of that province. The fruit TarLs much in si z / 

 colour, and Quality some trees producing red fruit and others "yellow and while 



ca'celv b r b t Ult ? ff bU r Slight y aStriDgentand ° f fair ^ ua,it y otheT'sam pie? a 

 scarcely edible. Efforts are bang made to improve the wild plum bv selection 



from seedlings grown from the best varieties. It is proposed^ also to Sow 



his up by cross-fertilising with better sorts. The Sand Cherry {PnZs fiZZ 



haf beenTund ™ rf ■ ^ ' S ^ m ° n ab ° Ut the Lake of the Woodland 

 nas been found on the prairies as far west as the io8th meridian and as 



Itates boundar 6 T^' * ^ ^ hUndred mUeS north ^ "aitS 



are about thfS; J y S ™ 6 S^L* a VCry variable fruit ; the commoner forms 

 are about the size of a large Marrowfat pea, with a disproportionately large stone 



Z ? f n M fleS , h ' W t de ° CCasi0Dal bushes are found bea ""g fnait Sarge as 

 the English Morello cherry, with a much larger proportion of pulp to stone and a 



superior quality of flesh. Fruits subject to such free variations in the wild state 



SSL* eX S-T to , lm P r ? ve sti » more . ^ size and quality, under the influences 

 attending higher cultivation and cross fertilising. It is believed that the prospects 

 n connection with the efforts which are being made to improve the fruits referred 

 to are hopeful, and that there will in time be produced such varieties as will prove 

 useful fruits to the people of the north-west country. 



Assiniboia. 



A further journey of one hundred and eighty-five miles over the plains brines 

 us to the experimental farm at Indian Head, in Assiniboia, one of the North-west 



same size as that at Brandon, viz , six 

 hundred and eighty acres. When this land was purchased it was a piece of tare 

 prairie, without tree or bush. Earing the eight years it has been occupied 

 tree planting on a rather large scale has been carried on, and there arc now grow- 

 ing on this farm, in shelter belts, blocks, avenues, wind-breaks, and hedges, 

 more than one hundred thousand trees. Difficulties were encountered at first 

 from the very strong winds, which gave the trees a stunted appearance, but these 

 obstacles were gradually overcome, and the trees have now made such a free 

 growth that they protect one another, producing a vast improvement in the appear- 

 ance of the place, and affording much shelter. Although the climate is more 

 severe here, the experiences had with fruit trees and with forest and ornamental 

 trees, as well as with flowers, are nearly the same as those which have been gained 

 at Brandon. 



National Park at Banff. 



A further railway ride of five hundred and fifty miles from Indian Head brings 

 us to the end of the one thousand miles of plains which stretch from the easterly 

 part of Manitoba to the Rocky Mountains, and now we find ourselves ascending 

 among the foot-hills, the landscape broken into bluffs and valleys with clumps of 

 wood and park-like openings between them, and after two or three hours' more 

 of journeying, Banff, where the Canadian government has established a 

 national park, is reached. It nestles among the mountains, and the efforts to im- 

 prove this beautiful spot have been mainly in the way of making roads so as to open 

 up the romantic beauties of the place, and render those points which afford the 

 most striking views easily accessible. As we approach this elegant resting-place for 

 tourists, we pass the 4< Three Sisters," a lovely group of mountains ; also the Cascade 

 mountain, whose bold rocky summit rises abruptly from near the railroad track more 

 than five thousand feet above the valley. This mountain derives its name from ;i mall 

 cascade which dashes down the mountain side, in which it has worn a distinct 

 channel. Some of the most lovely views to be had anywhere in the mountains are 

 to be seen at Banff, where there is a delightful combination of mountain, water, 

 and forest. A museum has been established here by the Government, which con- 

 tains collections of the mammals, birds, and plants found in the national park. 



There are also some beautiful lakes in this neighbourhood. Lake Louise is one 

 of the prettiest. The bright green colour of its waters contrasts strongly with 

 the pure white of the glaciers beyond, while the many-hued cliffs, with various 

 shades of brown on the one side and the deep green of the spruce-clad backs on 

 the other, all help to form a most harmonious and striking picture. Near by, but 

 about a thousand feet higher, Lake Agnes bursts upon the view, with wilder and 

 totally different surroundings. 



One more stretch of about four hundred and eighty miles, through wonderfully 

 varied mountain and valley scenery, takes us through to the valleys and delta lands 

 of the coast line. Here we have the coast climate, which, on this part of the shore 

 of the Pacific, is cool in summer and mild and moist in winter ; but returning 

 eastward towards the interior, it becomes hotter in summer and colder in winter, 

 with less rain. At Agassiz, seventy miles east of the ocean, the most westerly of 

 the experimental farms is located, in the valley of the Fraser river. Seven years 

 ago this place was a wilderness. Now there are one hundred and thirty acres of 

 land cleared and under cultivation, and about half of it has been planted to fruit, 

 and more than two thousand varieties of fruits are under test there, nearly all of 

 which are doing well. The climate is mild, and suitable for this industry, and 

 nowhere do the plum, apple, cherry, and pear bear fruit in greater profusion. 

 Every variety likely to b^ of benefit to the country is being tested, so that the 

 fullest information may be available to the settlers as to the best and most 

 profitable varieties to plant. All sorts of small fruits succeed remarkably well 

 here. A very large number of ornamental trees and shrubs are also successfully 

 grown, including some of the more tender varieties, which are not hardy at 

 Ottawa. Flowers also succeed admirably in this moist climate. The Japanase 



with their fragrance. 



luxuriantly, and dunng the flowering season 



Conclusion. 



I must not trespass turther. I have but touched here and there on the almost 

 limitless field covered by my subject. I hope, however, that I have succeeded in 

 showing that horticulture is not entirely neglected in Canada, but that individuals, 



