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The Greenhouse, Month to Month 
By W. R. Fowkes 
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SUM]MER time does not yet seem to be with us owing 
to the vagaries of the weather, but the month of 
August will be here almost as soon as this article 
is published. So far we have only had samples of 
weather, but at all events we have to prepare for winter, 
and the old maxim repeats itself, "If we want flowers in 
winter we must plant bulbs in the fall," and it reminds 
one to order bulbs. 
The Freesias are the first to be procured. Freesia 
Purity is the finest type and should be in pots or boxes 
by August 10. They like a fairly light compost of loam, 
leaf mould and sand and a five-inch pot of bone meal 
to a barrow load of soil. Do not plant deeply, but just 
press into the soil and finish oflf firmly. They do not 
require covering with ashes or fiber like the usual bulbs 
do, but must be protected from strong sunlight : there- 
fore, place in a cold frame outdoors and place boards on 
top of pots. This will keep them all right until the light 
growth begins to show, and then they must be gradually 
exposed to the light, but cool treatment is the order of 
the day. Heat weakens them and the cool carnation house 
is ideal. 
Some people are growing all vegetables in their houses. 
I notice that they still entertain their friends at house 
parties, etc., but cut out flowers with a somewhat mis- 
guided idea of patriotism. Patriotism consists of helping 
along and not discarding, and we are helping our allies, 
the gallant h'rench people whose representatives we ap- 
plauded a short time ago, when we plant bulbs. The 
French women are raising bulbs behind the battle lines, 
and it is to this great republic they look to dispose of 
their crop, and it will be another bitter disappointment 
to them if they find the market is closed to them. 
Lilium Harrisii should be potted into six-inch pots in 
August in a compost of three parts loam, one rotten cow 
manure and a dash of sand. Cover the pots six inches 
with screened ashes outdoors. 
The wet season has been a favorable one for the 
spread of fungous diseases and the grower who is on his 
job will have been extra particular to keep the diseases 
at bay. It has been amusing to read of some of our 
college friends experimenting with powdered sulphur 
to discover if it will kill mildew. This is nothing new, 
but a worn out method with gardeners the world over. 
We have fungicides at home right here, and no better 
can be found anywhere, and the grower who has used 
Fungine will not sufter a great loss through stem rot on 
his carnations or be plagued with rust on his 'mums or 
black spot or mildew on his roses. There is no need of 
our college friends, for whom we all have the highest 
respect in their research, wasting time to discover what 
we already have at hand. 
Cuttings of Nelrose pink snapdragons should lie placed 
in the sand for the winter plants. 
jMignonette should be sown a few seeds in three-inch 
pots in rich, firm soil, as they will have their place soon. 
Schizanthus should be started again. This is a cool 
subject not requiring much heat, and like the two former 
subjects delights in a cool house, not costing much for 
coal. 
Cauliflower, and Carter's Mont Blanc is a fine one, 
should have a space in the benches in September. Car- 
ter's Model Cucumber is a prolific variety which should 
now be started to succeed the others when over. It can 
be grown in pots and will take the place of the old ones 
without having to wait two months. 
Chrysanthemums will now require feeding and as the 
plants have made a rather soft growth and have not re- 
quired a lot of watering they need a tried stimulant that 
will produce firm wood. Totty's fertilizer is ideal, the 
necessary parts being properly balanced. In spite of 
good care the aphis will be found in the growing points 
of the "mums damaging very quietly the coming buds. 
Fumigating will not overcome this, therefore, spray into 
all points with Aphine. 
Budleia Veitchii has a good companion with a new 
variety which Farquhar's of Boston are distributing. 
These fragrant blossoms with their long graceful sprays 
are invaluable when flowers are scarCe. 
The carnation lover who has his plants in the houses 
will have an advantage over those growing in the field, 
for he can control the inside atmosphere. Rub the 
benches over each week to stir the surface and if green 
Algae persists, as it will in some soils, and with hard 
water, sprinkle a little finely ground lime on it which will 
kill it. 
The rose house should not be kept damp or a soft 
growth will develop making sure a foundation and nursery 
for diseases later on. It is customary to throw away all 
rose buds grown on the young plants during summer, 
but the small grower can leave a few on the strong shoots 
to develop and cut down low. These small flowers are 
useful now and the plants will give good breaks from the 
low cuts in the hard wood later, while the grower has 
the additional pleasure of having rose buds when they 
are usually scarce, and they have their place in the low 
bowls on the table in the house. The long stems will 
come along later. 
The peach and kindred fruits that have had their 
crop gathered must not be neglected. This is where 
failure arises. They are often cast aside and then ex- 
pected to fruit next year, but they expect and deserve 
better treatment. The fruit having gone, the plant will 
now send its vigor to the further development of the 
wood for fruiting next year. Plunge the pots in a bed of 
coal ashes where they will have full sun and not be 
blown about by the , wind. All sublaterals must be 
pinched back to two eyes. All succulent growths at the 
base should be removed. While the trees need not now 
be syringed so as not to cause a new growth, they should 
never suffer for want of water at the roots, or be allowed 
to become infested with red spider, so spray with Aphine 
every two weeks. Keep the plants aWay from the neigh- 
borhood of any outdoor fruit trees that may be clothed 
with scale, etc., as a clean growth is imperative for next 
year's fruit. If the trees are a little pale in color, show- 
ing a lack or iron, give a watering with an ounce of sul- 
phate of iron to one gallon of water. This same remedy 
is also fine for Hydrangeas ; the latter especially like iron 
in their soil and if only a little is present it should be 
added. 
Oxalis Bowiei should be started in pots and transferred 
to baskets when nicely started. Begonia Lorraine should 
be i)laced in baskets if a few are needed and they present 
a fine appearance in the conservatory in winter. Lor- 
raine is the best for the baskets, Turn ford Hall and 
stronger growing varieties succeed better with pot cul- 
ture. 
274 
