428 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March. 7, 1891. 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
SEASONABLE WORK in the GARDEN. 
Celosias, &c.—Make a sowing of the different 
varieties of Celosia pyramidalis, in mixture or separ¬ 
ately, if it is desirable to make certain of a due 
proportion of each kind when in bloom. Sow also 
Cockcombs, the dwarf Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena 
globosa compacta), Petunias, and other subjects for 
indoor culture. 
Seeds for Bedding Out.—Plants that require 
some time to attain a useful size for planting out, may 
be sown now, including Lobelias, Golden Feather to be 
afterwards planted out in a frame, and varieties of 
Tobacco plants for sub-tropical bedding, not forgetting 
the imposing Nicotiana colossea, whose huge leaves 
attain a yard in length, and half as wide. 
Propagation.—March is the month during which 
a large amount of propagation is done, both for indoor 
work and for bedding purposes. See that a sufficient 
number of such things as Bouvardia, Libonias, Serico- 
graphis, Thyrsacanthus, Ruellias and such things 
have been rooted, otherwise more must be put in. 
Continue to take cuttings of Lobelias, Ageratums, 
Verbenas, &c., where the stock is scarce. The Dahlia 
tubers may now be put into heat with the intention of 
taking cuttings if it has not been done earlier. It is 
well to have strong plants by the time they are to be 
planted out. 
Azaleas, Camellias.—Plants in pots or tubs, and 
which having been flowered early are now over, should 
receive any necessary pruning that they may require, 
and then placed in genial heat to start them into 
fresh growth, in order that they may ripen earlier, and 
therefore be ready for early forcing next autumn and 
winter. A vinery at work will prove a suitable place 
for them, provided they cannot have special accommo¬ 
dation in a warm pit. Syringe them frequently to 
induce the buds to break afresh. 
Ferns.—The bulk of these should now be gone over, 
and re-potted or top-dressed as the case may be. The 
young fronds are now on the move, so that it is 
desirable to have the work accomplished before they 
get far advanced, otherwise there will be a danger of 
breaking the young fronds. Adiantums and others of 
similar habit may be increased by division of the 
crowns. Davallias if so required may be divided into 
as many pieces as have a growing point, and it is 
desirable that each piece may have a few roots attached 
if possible. Be careful not to over-pot slow-growing 
kinds. Give good drainage to permit or ensure the 
escape of superfluous moisture. 
Fuchsias.—Old plants if placed in a gentle heat a 
short time ago, will now have started afresh. As soon as 
this is seen to be the case, turn them out of their pots, 
reduce the balls considerably, and re-pot in a light but 
rich compost. Use the same size of pot unless there 
is good reason to the contrary. Unless desired to 
flower very early, the plants should be put back in heat 
for a short time only, to induce the roots to take hold 
of the fresh soil, after which they should be placed in 
a cool and well-ventilated house. 
Tuberous Begonias—If required for early work, 
a hatch should now be placed in heat to start them. 
Re-potting can be accomplished after the crowns 
commence to show themselves pretty strongly. As soon 
as the leaves begin to expand, the pots containing the 
plants should be placed on a shelf or bench close to the 
glass in a well-ventilated house to prevent the stems 
from getting drawn and leggy. 
Cinerarias.—Plants coming into bloom must not 
be allowed to become crowded in any way, or the 
foliage will soon get spoiled. If they are of large size, 
it is often advisable to elevate the plants on pots to 
permit of a free circulation of air amongst the foliage, 
and in this way the latter is maintained in a healthy 
and vigorous condition to the advantage of the flowers. 
Water with weak liquid manure about twice a week. 
Peaches.—As soon as the sun increases in power, 
give more air early in the day to harden the tissues. 
The weather has been so bad, and fogs so prevalent for 
some time past, that little or no progress could be 
made, and in order to counter-balance this, the houses 
must be closed early, allowing the temperature to rise 
to 80° or 85° with sun heat, and at the same time 
damping down freely. This will give an impetus to 
growth, while at the same time, keeping it firm and 
sturdy by the free ventilation during the early part of 
the day. 
Melons.—The bad weather has been affecting 
Melons even to a greater degree than the Peaches, 
because their softer tissues are more susceptible to 
unfavourable conditions. The best plan to pursue in 
dull, foggy and raw weather is to maintain a steady 
temperature of 70°, and to keep the atmosphere of the 
house dry. Ventilate of course on all favourable 
occasions to keep the plants sturdy. 
Annuals.—It will soon be time to sow many kinds 
in the open air ; therefore the required stock should be 
obtained at once. Those who have not suitable houses 
or pits for raising and growing on half-hardy annuals 
in preparation for planting out, might adopt the 
following plan. Make up a compost of light rich soil, 
containing a quantity of leaf-soil. Place this on a 
warm sheltered south border, and cover it with frames 
or hand-lights. Under these a large number of annuals 
might be raised, such as Asters, Stocks, Helichrysums, 
Zinnias, Golden Feather, Antirrhinums, Indian Pinks, 
Marigolds, Sweet Sultan, and others. Sow them 
thinly, and they will require no transplanting until 
placed in the beds where they are to flower. Give 
plenty of air a f ter they come up, in order to keep them 
dwarf and sturdy. 
-- 
FRUIT GROWING IN CANADA. 
A paper recently issued by the Intelligence Depart¬ 
ment of the Board of Agriculture states that at a 
convention of Canadian fruit growers, held at Ottawa 
in February, 1890, Professor Saunders, the director 
of the experimental farms, gave an interesting account 
of the work that is being done upon them. There are 
five of these farms, one at Ottawa, which is the central 
farm, where a large portion of the preparatory work is 
done, which has its bearing on the whole Dominion, 
for it is the disturbing centre from which plants, trees, 
and shrubs are sent to the four other farms, as well as 
to other points, to test. One of the others is in Nova 
Scotia, another in Manitoba, a third in the North-west 
Territories, and the fourth in British Columbia. In 
the north-west the temperature frequently remains 
below zero for more than a month at a time in the 
winter, and upon some occasions it has been from 25° 
to 35° below zero. It requires very hardy fruit trees 
to bear such sustained cold. Small fruit bushes do not 
suffer so much as the trees, as the snow protects them. 
About fifty or sixty varieties of Russian Apple trees of 
the hardier sorts have been planted at Indian Head, in 
the North-west Territories, and after the experience of 
two summers and one winter they have been found to 
have borne the trying ordeal, and promise fairly well. 
It is not expected that the North-west Territories will 
ever do much in the way of exporting Apples, though 
British Columbia, a comparatively new fruit-producing 
district, will, it is thought, soon yield sufficient fruit 
for home consumption, and a large surplus for export. 
Professor Saunders says:—“I have never seen any¬ 
where such crops of Apples, Pears, Plums, and Cherries 
as those of British Columbia.” 
1 Nova Scotia, however, is the best Apple-growing 
province, where fruit has obtained a high reputation 
in the markets of the world. There is a famous valley 
there, the Annapolis Valley, extending for a hundred 
miles, varying in width from two to six miles, in which 
very choice Apples are produced, grand Apples, as they 
were called by a member of the convention. Nova 
Scotia Apple-growers have unsurpassed facilities for 
shipping their fruit from Halifax, the Apples being put 
on the railway trucks in the morning and on the steamer 
in the afternoon, in seaports open all the winter. The 
Nova Scotia Apples are highly appreciated in London, 
particularly a sort called Gravenstein. The other sorts 
consigned to London are Ribston Pippins, Kings, 
Blenheims, Baldwins, Golden Russets and Nonpareils. 
For these prices have ranged from 5s. 8 <7. to 6s. 8 d. per 
bushel in 1880, from 7s. 8 d. to 10s. per bushel in 1884, 
from 6s. 8 d. to 12s. 4 cl. in 1887, for Ribstons. 
Blenheims made from 5s. 8(7. to 7s. 8 7. in 1880, from 
8s. 4(7. to 9s. 8(7. in 1884, and from 5s. 8(7. to 8s. in 
1886. Golden Russets, a later Apple, brought higher 
prices, some making 13s. id. per bushel in 1888. Non¬ 
pareils, small Apples with fine flavour, ripening as late 
as May and June in some seasons, made high prices 
until the last year or so, when they have had to compete 
with fresh Apples from Australia, which begin to 
arrive in London towards the end of April. 
Nova Scotian and other Canadian Apples were 
formerly consigned to brokers, and sold by auction in 
the London markets ; but in consequence of unsatis¬ 
factory sales, this custom was altered, and Apples are 
consigned for private sale. In 1889, the export of 
Apples from Nova Scotia amounted to 302,000 bushels. 
The quantity of Apples exported to Great Britain in 
1889 was 688,816 bushels, valued at £200,949. In 
1883 only 105,113 bushels were received from Canada, 
and 270,409 bushels in 1884. Besides, in 1889, Apples 
of the value of £71,063 were exported from Canada, 
chiefly from Ontario and Nova Scotia, to the United 
States. 
It is said that in Nova Scotia alone there is plenty 
of room for double and treble the number of orchards, 
and it is believed that the quantity of fruit that will be 
produced will be double and treble the present product. 
But although the production is increasing, and the 
exports, especially to Great Britain, have greatly 
increased, the convention appeared to be hardly 
satisfied with the progress made. The chairman, in 
his opening address, stated that though there had 
been more frequent applications from England for 
Canadian Apples, it had not resulted in that enlarge¬ 
ment of the export trade which it was confidently 
hoped might follow ; and it seems that the reason for 
this is the difficulty of transportation, and the loss 
that frequently accrues to the Apple producer from the 
fruit spoiling in the transit. The prices given above 
for Apples in London, no doubt, are good and 
remunerative, so far as each single bushel is concerned, 
but nothing is said concerning the many bushels that 
are damaged, and for which there is no return. 
The transportation companies, both railway and 
steamship, are responsible for a certain portion of the 
loss consequent upon injuries received in transit. The 
growers themselves also are to blame for packing fruit 
that will not bear the journey properly, and for 
packing the fruit carelessly. Packing requires much 
care and discretion. As one of the speakers at the 
convention remarked, “The packer must be a scientific 
man ; he should understand each individual variety he 
is packing, because a variety slightly spongy will 
require a little more to tighten the barrel properly 
than a variety that is crisp. There is a certain amount 
of give to it, and will require a little more to fill the 
barrel. On the other hand a great many packers put 
too much into a barrel.” 
It was suggested that the Canadian Apple growers 
should turn their attention to the exportation of 
summer and 11 fall ” Apples to Great Britain, because 
the people there want fruit at that particular season, 
and are willing to pay for it at that time. Fine 
varieties of summer and fall fruit, it was said, are 
grown, “which would take the eye of a Britisher at 
once.” 
-• >!< ■ — 
GARDENERS’ ASSOCIATIONS 
AND THE BEST BOOKS TO READ. 
Your occasional correspondent, Mr. Alexander Wright, 
is again to the fore with his well-known views in 
respect to the advantages to be derived from co¬ 
operation, or rather amalgamation, of the various 
bodies known as gardeners’ associations. These asso¬ 
ciations are evidently on the increase, and must, in the 
natural order of events, be the means of disseminating 
much practical knowledge in the direction where, 
according to The Gardening World, it is highly 
desirable it should be distributed. The channels of 
information open to all interested in the gardening 
craft are now multitudinous. Of horticultural litera¬ 
ture there is no end ; and amongst the gardening 
fraternity, as in other departments of thought, there is 
just now much activity. Progress, intellectual progress, 
is the order of the day. Institution after institution is 
being promulgated to further this awakening ; and the 
stimulus thus given to mutual improvement would, I 
think, be greatly advanced by the adoption of some 
such course as your correspondent indicates. 
Mr. Wright has always something weighty to say 
when he addresses The Gardening World, and not 
the least important on this occasion is his suggestion 
that a selection of books from the many and valuable 
works on horticulture extant would largely assist 
young gardeners to acquire a better knowledge of their 
art. I am not quite sure but that a study of some of 
these would not greatly conduce to bring about the 
result he is anxious to secure. As an amateur cultiva¬ 
tor of the “gentle craft,” I trust I may not be con¬ 
sidered presumptuous when I say that according to my 
experience there are gardeners and gardeners. Loudon 
as far back as 1822 wrote, in respect to the education 
of gardeners, that “ the grand drawback to every kind 
of improvement is the vulgar and degrading idea that 
certain things are beyond our reach ; whereas every¬ 
thing is attainable by the employment of means, and 
nothing, not even the knowledge of a common labourer, 
