NOW START YOUR FALL AND WINTER GARDEN
This model 12'5" by 8'5"
Here at last is the Aluminium Greenhouse you've been waiting for, offered in four popular sizes for home growers. This is not just another greenhouse all the best features in modern greenhouse design have been brought together in one design to make it the most up-to-date available. For 5 example, the attractive booklet supplied with each not only i contains a calendar of things to do in your greenhouse, but ¢ also helpful advice about plant culture.
Complete, detailed photographic instructions make assembly a simple and easy exercise; or, if you prefer, assembly services can be provided. All units come complete with Canadian Pittsburgh double strength glass.
Features available: e Shading panels e Double Glazing Panels e Electric or Propane Heaters e Automatic Vent Openers; and Eave Troughing is standard on all models.
Available at over 40 home and garden centres and other dealers throughout Ontario. See a display model soon!
For further information, or the name of your nearest dealer phone or write our head office: ENGLISH
1201 - 12 Deerford Road, Willowdale, Ontario M2J 3J3
Telephone (416) 493-7773
Display units at dealers only
Travelling north through the rolling countryside ofTennessee and Kentucky last Thanksgiving weekend was a memorable experience. The speed limit of55 miles per hour gave us a good opportunity to enjoy the fall colouring of the trees. The reds, yellows, golds and muted greens were breath-taking. A clear azure-blue sky and a slight ground haze, that seemed almost a part of autumn sunshine, enhanced the brilliance of colour.
However, one does not have to travel that far afield to enjoy exquisite autumn colour. One ofthe most beautiful scenes near at hand, in my estimation, is the north side of the Don Valley Parkway between Don Mills Road and the Bayview Extension. As a matter of fact, a walk through Edwards Gardens, High Park or any ofToronto s green belts will show an explosion of natural colour to any city dweller. Those who live outside the city can find colour all around them in the Ontario countryside.
Isn t it wonderful to examine natural colour? Every shade and hue of green grown side by side, pinks and purples, reds and oranges, all mix without question when Nature is the artist. But for a decorator to combine purple and orange for instance, or an artist to depict it on a canvas, is an offence to the eye.
Autumn is the Swan Song ofsummer. It entices us out to cool, crisp air to seek the treasures of Indian corn, long-slender Cattails, teezles to dry for winter bouquets, and milkweed pods to spray. The purchase of the biggest pumpkin we can find in order to invite the neighbourhood children to come Trick or Treating on Halloween makes a delightful excuse to travel the countryside.
One of my favourite places at
Avtumn Scenes abound in and around Toronto
Eleanor Weckman*
Thanksgiving in the Toronto area is Pioneer Village. It is a nostalgic corner of the old Ontario tucked in beside the modern living of a university campus, highrise apartments and condominiums. The Garden Club of Toronto has planned the landscaping in such a way that, as the trees grow, they will obliterate the sights and sounds of our progressive society and thus the village will remain a true image of our heritage. For the past two years, Milne House Garden Club has decorated Fisherville Church at Pioneer Village with the bounties of the Canadian harvest and a traditional Thanksgiving dinner has been served at the village s Half-way House following the church service.
I have mentioned only a few ways to enjoy the colour around us in these days ofautumn. There are many, many other ways, 00 numerous to mention, to enjoy the colour which I think is one of the greatest stimulants to our personal well-being and outlook on life.
D. QUERIPEL & SON LIMITED
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e Terrarium lamps e Hobby greenhouses
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*Mrs. Weckman is an active member of the Milne House Garden Club and regular contributor to Trellis.
trelli
This Month s Articles
Growing Plants Without Soil is now Popular Wild Teas you can Brew from Native Plants Growing Potatoes in old Leaves
Nuts to the Home Gardener
Editorial About Endangered Species and other things
Regular Features
Centre s Bookshop has all the New Books for You for Gifts, 20. The Gardening Events Calendar is not included in this issue be- cause of the uncertainty of the postal service.
Other Items of Interest This Month
Autumn Scenes abound in and around Toronto, 3.
The Front Cover
Late in September, this silver lace vine (Polygonum aubertii) '; beautifully covers a split rail fence in Toronto s Don Valley. a Photo by A. C. Drysdale. 3
Publication Committee for Trellis <
Lawrence C. Sherk (Chairman), Gilbert A. Milne, Ernie Pope, Mrs. E. Redelmeier and Mrs. J.R.M. Wilson.
Editor and Advertising Director 4 Art C. Drysdale %
General Information
Trellis is published monthly (except July and August) by the Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2. The centre is located in Edwards Gardens, at Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue East, the geographical centre of Metropolitan Toronto. It is a non-profit gardening and floral arts information organization with open membership. Subscriptions to Trellis are only available through Centre membership (85 for 12 months). Opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre. This is Volume 2, Number 8.
THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE Telephone 445-1552
What it is
o A non-profitgardening and floral arts centre for'thé dissemination of information toamateurgardeners with over3,200 keen gardeningmembers
« Home ofsix gardeningclubs orgroupswith specific gardeninginterests from balconies, through greenhouses and hydraponics, to lightgardening
« Meeting place for specialized plant societies from Bonsai to Roses
» Home ofsome of the bestflowerarrangers in North America (quoted from U.S.A. author and editor, Helen Van PeltWilson)
What it does
» Operates Canada s most complete public horticultural library
« Responds toover3,000 gardeningquestions annually
o Organizes, in both springand autumn, garden talks and demonstrations on a wide variety ofsubjects and atdifferent levels
« Teaches non-commercial flowerarrangingatvarious levelstoover300 persons annually and encourages their competition
« (arries on an extensive flowerdrying programme to extend garden beauty through into the winter months economically
o Operates a Speakers Panel Bureau which brings panels of experts on various subjects to groupsdesirous ofan informative programme
o Publishes information booklets on various subjects; e.g. Preserving Beautiful Flowers
« Stages twoflower shows each yearand hosts numerousothers
Whatyou will receive as a member($5 annual fee)
o Ten issues peryear of Trellis
o Free borrowing privileges from the 3,000-volume library
« Ten per centdiscount offall purchases of books and gardeningand floral supplies bought from the Centre
« Opportunityto join one ormore specialized membergroups orclubs
« Discounts off all courses offered atthe Centre
o Close-as-the-phone answers to gardeningquestions by recognized experts
o Free admission to Members Nights held at leasttwice peryear
177 Lawrence Ave. East(in Edwards Gardens), Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2
You are invited . .
to visit our greenhouses (80,000 square feet) and see our quality tropical and foliage plants, cactus and succulents plus African violets. Have your house plant questions answered by experts!
Open six days per week (closed Sundays) from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Just a few minutes off Highway 403 (Main St. West Exit).
BEN VELDHUIS LTD.
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GARDEN ALLYEAR
A hobby without peer - for leisure, home beauty and livability - a garden that blooms all year with only a few hours care each week. Our catalogue contains dozens of full colour photos of prefabricated greenhouses in lifetime aluminum. With it you can choose a greenhouse that is sure to harmonize with your home. Write for your copy today!
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For Indoor Growing
Browsing Daily & Sunday ARTHUR FITZSIMMONS GARDEN CENTRE
No. 6 Highway, off No. 403, Hamilton Telephone: (416) 529-1946
Based on literally decades of research work, City Green Hydroponics Ltd. has developed a complete hydroponics gardening package including growlights especially for the hobbyist, home owner or apartment dweller. Phone or write for information:
City Green Hydroponics Ltd. 6471 Northam Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L4V 1J2 Tel.: (416) 677-0824
Available at Clargreen Gardens in Mississauga; Eaton 's Queen Street store, Toronto; Sheridan Nurseries on Yonge Street; and Flora-Decor in Scar- LORD & BURNHAM CO. LIMITED
Dept. T, 325 Welland Ave., St. Catharines, Ontario borough.
6 / October 1975
THydmoponicSoilless Gardening System
Acc ve running out of growing space? Have we driven Mother Nature permanently from our cities?
In the previous issue we outlined the science of hydroponics and its use to produce thriving plant growth for human consumption in areas such as desert villages, rock islands, and exploration outposts; but even more important for city people like us, is its use to produce fresh green food on rooftops, balconies, patios and porches during summer, and in basements orright in the living room during winter.
Fresh vegetables growing in your home or apartment? Vine-ripened tomatoes, untouched by chemical sprays, growing right on your balcony? And all this regardless of season, even in winter? As information and new equipment become increasingly available, this dream is coming true for more and more city dwellers.
John and Edna McKay live on the 19th floor of an apartment building in the Willowdale area of Toronto. The south-eastern exposure of their large balcony is ideally suited for plant growing, but it had been devoid of greenery until this spring, when the McKays put four automatic hydroponic planters on it and seeded them with a variety of herbs and vegetables.
Lovage fresh from the balcony a new flavour discovery
In early August the McKay s balcony was a profusion of greenery. One planter, set against the wall, contained (in its small three square-ft. area) eight healthy staking tomato plants that reached a height of seven feet by early August. John fanned them out to almost the same width on a make-shift trellis. He pruned them mercilessly towards
Growing Plants Without Soil Grows in Popularity among Gardeners
Helmut Julinot*
the main stem by always snipping off the suckers and had achieved a yield of about eight Ib. per plant even in early August. Although this figure is good, it is less than half of the theoretically achievable maximum. John hopes to do better next year.
By mid-August, at the foot of the almost completely harvested original plants, was the next generation of tomato plants, about one foot high. When the last tomato offthe original vines was harvested, John snipped off their stems just above the hydroponic growing medium and planned for a second outdoor crop with the new plants.
A second planter was given over entirely to three varieties of lettuce: Boston , Iceberg and Romaine . The plants were seeded closer than in a conventional garden and the MacKays harvested them as leaf lettuce, snipping off a small basket ofleaves almost daily for fresh salads and leaving only an occasional plant to grow into a head. Even then, Edna did not harvest the complete head, preferring to take off as many leaves as she needed at a time, leaving the rest to grow. A third planter was filled to overflowing with six different kitchen herbs parsley, chives, tarragon, basil, oregano and lovage. Ever since Edna started using fresh herbs to spruce up the taste of simple budget dishes, or to lend a unique gourmet flavour to festive cooking, she has realized how much taste and fragrance is missing in the dried herbs she used to buy in little glass jars. Especially, lovage was completely unknown to her but has quickly become her favourite cooking herb. She likes this member ofthe parsley family because of the meaty flavour it imparts to soups and sauces and was not surprised to learn that it is used in the manufacture of Worcestershire sauce and the famous European soup spice Maggi .
Trellis / 7
*Mr. Julinot is president ofCity Green Hydroponics Ltd., in Mississauga, and is in the forefront of re-popularizing hydi ics with home gard L4
No daily watering needed
The fourth planter was almost invisible; even by early August it was covered with foliage. While in the rear a row of bell pepper plants bore fruit, a profusion of cucumber and squash vines trailed over the edge of the planter onto the floor of the balcony with fruit peeking from in between the foliage. A cornerofthe fourth planter was reserved for the McKay s four-year-old daughter, Tricia, who planted whatever she could get her hands on, including the occasional jelly bean!
This autumn the McKays have almost an extra month of growing season on their balcony, compared to groundlevel gardening, due to the heat loss of their building. Sooner or later though they will move their planters indoors against a wall of the living room and put special growlights over them. The lights are adjustably suspended from Johnny poles.
Moving the hydroponic planters indoorsand outdoors again every year is a small price to pay for the pleasure and convenience of year-round growing. In Canada s harsh climate, with the thermometer dipping below freezing on more than half of the days of the year, Mother Nature needs all the help she can get!
Otherwise, the McKay s typical hydroponic setup does not require much work. They top up the nutrient reservoirs of the planters with water about onceaweek tomake up forevaporation and plant consumption, and they change the nutrient solution every six weeks in case it goes out 'of chemical balance. The elimination of twice-daily watering is especially appreciated by the McKays who like to go away for weekends. The previous year they had a small allotment garden and found that on sunny weekends they had to spend an hour every day there, watering their soil-bound plants.
John McKay thinks that he has only just begun to learn about plants, but he recollects that people used to grow their own food for thousands ofyears with a lot less equipmentand information than isavailable to-day. Hewantsto learn all hecanaboutgrowinghisown food.The hobbyofhydroponicgrowing unites his
family in a very positive way and provides a unique conversation piece when friends drop by.
The few chemicals are continuously recycled
While the McKay's hydroponic garden consists of two Soilless Garden systems manufactured in Mississauga by our firm, he could also have made his own units. He considered briefly the design proposed by professor James Sholto Douglas in his book Beginner s Guide to Hydroponics, as shown here.
SOLUTION BUCKET IN POSITION FOR FEEDING
DRAINAGE
The operation of the unit is evident from the drawing. The trough contains acoarse aggregate which may be gravel, vermiculite or sawdust. The nutrient solution should be a balanced plant food supplemented with the required trace elements. All containers and hose connections should, ofcourse, be leakproof and the post holdingthe solution bucket should be sturdy enough to support its weight.
Although John is an accomplished hobbyist with a full set of power tools, he decided against building his own because of the work it would require in lifting the solution bucket twice or three times a day and setting it down again half an hour later. This convinced him to opt for the convenience of the fully automatic, continuous irrigation system provided by his soilless gardens.
Are chemicals used in hydroponics? John is often asked. Most people would say no, but the answer is yes.Hydroponicists use a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen, commonly called
LY v2..t SOLUTION BUCKET IN POSITION FOR
WONDERLAND OF BULBS
A perusal through our illustrated Fall bulb catalogue will prove to be a revelation. A multitude of rare and interesting bulbs now available over 700 varieties listed; exotic jewels for your Spring garden.
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NEW PLANT CARETAKER
Here's o very neat and highly efficient system of watering pot plants and one which will be welcomed especially by those who grow many plants indoors. It uses the capillary system of watering which keeps a fibre mat continuously damp. Plants placed on the mat are kept autotically d. The C ker provides the essential humidity where plonts are grown in the home in the dry winter atmosphere,
Rolls of capillory mat can be purchased for extensive layouts. Commercial growers have proved the efficiency of this matting and very large areas are covered by it to keep the vast quantities of pot plants watered with minimum labour. Available postpaid by mail for $4.60 per kit, which includes Ontario Retail Sales Tox in Ontario.
air , and lots ofdi-hydrogen-oxide, otherwise known as water , John says with a chuckle. To this we add small amounts of specially formulated mineral salts with balanced trace elements.
Seriously, the point John makes here is that all the world and everything in it is made of one chemical or another. What is avoided in hydroponics as it should be everywhere is to put the wrong chemical in the wrong place at the wrong time. There presently is a strong reaction to what the modern farmer does when he tries to boost his yield by dumping inorganic nutrients (commercial fertilizer) on top of his organic soil. For a while his plants grow faster and bigger, but his soil slowly dies. The nutrient salts inhibit the action of the micro-organisms in his soil and after a few years it is little more than something in which his plants stand around.
To make matters worse, a large part of the commercial fertilizer gets washed off the fields with the first rainfall. It enters our creeks and rivers and ends up in our lakes. It does not poison them .
In hydroponics, roots do not have to compete for nutrients, and luscious growth can be supported in a very small growing area.
that s a misconception it overfertilizes them; algae and water plants love the stuff. They grow wild and multiply on the surface of the water, blocking the sun from the lower water regions where plant and animal life then begins to die.
In hydroponics, where there is no soil, the direct feeding ofthe plants with mineral salts is therefore perfectly acceptable. On top of it, the nutrient is never wasted because it is continuously recycled.
For these and many other reasons, hydroponic culture is finding increasing favour with gardeners of varied and diverse interests. Some use it to grow those vegetables that taste best when harvested fresh, and taste worst from the supermarket mainly tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and green peppers. Others use it, especially in winter, to obtain the vitamins and minerals provided by fresh lettuce, garden cress and salad herbs. Some grow garden flowers yearround for the decorative effect of massed banks of foliage and bloom, while others again find that there is no better environment than a hydroponic planter in which to root cuttings for transplanting into pots later.
Others, who are lucky enough to have soil, use hydroponics indoors to start seedlings in early spring for transplanting outdoors in May, thus saving a considerable amount over vegetable plants and annuals bought from plant sellers. Soilless gardeners find that plants can be transplanted in and out of their hydroponic beds completely without shock and without showing any signs of wilting or drooping.
When viewing the uncertain future of mankind, with skyrocketing populations and dwindling food supplies, many scientists believe that hydroponics may present as important a food growing technique for the future as conventional agriculture is now. For the individual gardening enthusiast without access to soil, hydroponics is an opportunity to participate in this green revolution , bringing Mother Nature back into the city, saving money, and improving the flavour and nutrition of the family s diet. Hydroponics the idea is growing.
For most of us, tea comes in packages at the supermarket and originally from a camellia-like shrub native to parts of China, India and Japan. However, delicious teas can be made from the leaves, flowers or fruits of countless other plants. Canadian Indians relied on wild plants for their beverages, and early settlers and trappers found them satisfactory substitutes for the scarce or unobtainable Oriental teas. Even today, many Canadians are seeking natural drinks as fitting accompaniments to other foraged fare.
But why trek after wild teas instead of opening a convenient bag of orange pekoe? They're good tasting and they re free! Moreover, many are claimed to have medicinal values. Whether or not all the claims are true, most wild teas do furnish vitamins and minerals, sometimes in surprisingly large amounts. But, perhaps the best incentive for teagathering is that it s invigorating, simple, productive and fun.
When you gather wild teas, try to do it on dry days, and avoid plant parts that are insect-damaged or diseased. Rinse your tea ingredients in cold water to remove dirt, and blot with paper towels. Then spread the material out in one layer on newspapers or window screens 1o dry slowly indoors, at room temperature. Do not dry tea in the oven since too much heat drives off the volatile qualities you want to preserve. When the tea is completely dry, crumble and pack in tightly sealedjars. We make our wild teas at home using the same general methods as for Oriental tea warming the teapot first, then adding fresh, rapidly boiling water. Always steep tea in a covered container to retain the volatile ingredients. Wild teas often remain floating on top of the wa-
m::
made available.
Wild Teas you can Brew from our own Native Plants
Vicky McMillan*
ter and need to be strained off before drinking. As with Oriental tea, wild teas may be drunk plain or with lemon, milk, sugar or honey. Steeping time, and the amount of tea ingredients used, may be altered to suit individual tastes.
Following are some teas you can make from common Canadian plants. While all are easily recognized, it is sound practice to double-check your identifications, usinga good field guide.
Strawberry tea
Various types of wild strawberries (Fragaria spp.) occur across Canada, with characteristic white, five-petaled flowers; clusters of three-toothed leaflets; runners; and low, spreading growth. Strawberries flourish in clearings and open woodlands, along stream banks and hillsides. Their leaves are an excellent natural source of vitamin C. Gather the green, undamaged ones (preferably when the plants are in flower) and dry very thoroughly. Partially dry berry leaves are said to have poisoned livestock, but completely dry leaves lack such poisonous effects and are perfectly safe to use for tea. Use one heaping tablespoon of crumbled dry leaves for each cup, steeping about five
minutes. This makes a fragrant, mild and nutritious drink said to relieve diarrhea.
Bearberry tea
Bearberry, or kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), is an evergreen shrub that forms low mats on dry, sandy or gravelly soil. Common on seashores, it also thrives on mountaintops beyond the timber line. Its oval leaves (%4-1 inch long) are glossy green, thick and leathery. Small white to pink, urn-shaped flowers appear in spring and early summer, borne in nodding clusters. Later, bright red berries appear. These serve as food for many animals (including man) and persist on the plant throughout the winter months. Bearberry leaves, in addition to being added to tobacco or smoked alone, have long been brewed for a medicinal tea. Use one teaspoon of crumbled dry leaves per cup, and steep for five minutes. The leaves can also be soaked in whiskey or gin before
Look for bearberry growing among the rocks in Northern Ontario, or purchase plants from a local nursery. Photo by Outdoor Canada magazine.
covering with boiling water. Bearberry tea, rather bitter and astringent, reputedly soothes the stomach, cleanses the urinary tract, and invigorates the body.
Rose teas
Wild roses ofmany different (and difficult to separate) species thrive across Canada. They grow in clearings and open woods, along streams, roadsides and the sea. Their showy five-petaled flowers, prickly habits and toothed leaflets (3-11 per leaf) are familiar to vir-
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tually everyone. Another typical characteristic is the pair of long leafy wings attached to the lower part of each leafstalk. Rose fruits, or hips , with rounded bases and constricted necks, turn reddish when ripe. Hips are famous for their extra-ordinary vitamin C content. For example, about 3% ounces of hips from Rosa acicularis (Alberta s provincial flower) contain as much as 3,500 milligrams of vitamin C 70 times the amount in an equal weight of oranges. (Average human requirements ofvitamin C are estimated at only 60-80
milligrams per day, an amount easily obtainable from wild roses.) Hips are also good sources of other vitamins, plus iron, calcium and phosphorous.
For Rose Hip Tea, gather the hips preferably soon after they ripen. (They can be gathered even in the dead of winter, but the seeds develop an undesirable silkiness later on in the year.) After removing the blossom ends and washing the hips, refrigerate in a tight container and use as soon as possible. Measure about one heaping teaspoon of hips for each cup ofvitamin-packed tea, steeping for ten minutes.
For Fragrant Rose Petal Tea, use one heaping teaspoon of dried petals (or two teaspoons of fresh petals) for each cup. Let steep three to five minutes. Be sure first to discard the bitter white or green bases of the petals when preparing them for tea. Try several species of roses deep red petals produce a stronger tea than do lighter ones. Rose petals have been said to aid digestion and induce sleep.
After experimenting with these teas, you may wish to sample other wild beverages and even more challenging to devise special blends of your own.
"A NICE PLACE TO BROWSE
" Open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Mondayto Saturday; 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Sundays. Trellis /
FOUR STEPSTO A BEAUTIFUL LAWN.
O ) has gevelopea an ar v 14 low, four step pro that will guarantee you a ~A Carh 4 ~ hac { 1ULITL cach step nas heen tlined in this publication " L ou J o> PUbdiiCatil juring the past months
your weeds earlier, or if a new
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PLANT SPECIALISTS RECOMMEND
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Kerigrow contains the plant foods your houseplants need to stay healthy :Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potash plus seaweed extract an added organic nutrient. AVAILABLE NOW AT GARDEN SUPPLY OUTLETS
Whenever I talk about organic gardening, I find that there is one area where | meet with total disbelief. People just won t believe that you can grow potatoes without using soil and without any hard digging or work. I'll confess that I was an unbeliever myself until one year I discovered a bag of mushy, sprouting potatoes in the cellar.
I had another problem, too. What could I do about the creeping charlie weed which kept coming through the wire fence dividing our property from that of the neighbours? Eureka! I found use for the rotting potatoes and solved the creeping charlie problem with one unique idea. I put old leaves against the fence to a depth ofabout six inches, and then placed the potatoes on the leaves, covering them with more leaves.
To stop the leaves from blowing away, | gave them a watering and pressed them down somewhat. Then I planted marigolds in front of the leaves and sweet allysum in front of the marigolds. The depth of the leaves effectively kept out the creeping charlie and within a month, the green sprouts ofthe growing potatoes showed through.
Useful to hill roses too
The only attention I gave them was an occasional watering. I did find that as the summer progressed, and the potatoes kept on growing, I had to top up the leaves against the fence. The leaves disintegrated somewhat so I just used weeds and grass clippings to cover my original planting. I did not want the tops of my new potatoes to be exposed and thus turn green.
You will not get as great a harvest of potatoes when they are grown this way as when you dig them into the ground but on the other hand, you do get beautifully clean potatoes. And, it
*Mrs. Pierson is a freel writer who speciali ing and lecturing about organic gardening. in teach-
Growing Potatoes in old Leaves is
just One Use for the Thousands that will fall
Joan Pierson*
seems a miracle just to push away the leaves, reach in, and pick out two or three potatoes for one night s supper, leaving the rest to grow.
If you have a bigger acreage than I have, and a lot of weeds, you will find that a good way of clearing them is to cover the ground with spoiled hay or leaves; then place potatoes by covering them as I have described. After harvesting the potatoes, you may then turn the whole area over with a spade and you will find the soil to be beautifully friable.
Where do I get my leaves in which to plant my potatoes in the spring? I simply wait for other people to put out their bags of leaves in the fall, pick them up and bring them home, storing them behind our garage.
Last year I used some of the bags of leaves to hill my roses. Just leave them in the bags and place around the bushes. You can empty the bags in the spring and use the leaves for mulching your new plants or for growing potatoes. You will save yourself weeding time enrich your soil with organic matter, and help protect the environment, when you take the bags of leaves out of the garbage and put them to good use.
The fall is a good time for transplanting large trees. Too, many tree jobs can be done now with less disturbance to the garden. For appointment call us early.
1480 St. Clair Avenue West Toronto, Ont. M6E 1C7 (416) 654-7025
Early settlers to southern Ontario found the Indians using a number of nuts as an important part of their diet. Black walnuts, Juglans nigra; sweet chestnuts, Castanea dentata; and shagbark hickory, Carya ovata were particularly common in the Carolinian forest area south of a line from Toronto to Sarnia. The early settlers soon acquired a taste for these native nuts and they often formed an important part of their diet as well. The butternut, Juglans cinerea and American filbert or hazel, Corylus americana grew over a much wider area. Trees in the hedge rows or native forests formed the source of most of these nuts and with the exception of black walnuts, nut trees were very rarely planted.
Forty years before a good crop Interest in these native nuts decreased
*Mr. Sherk is chief horticulturist with Sheridan Nurseries Ltd., and co-author of the book, Ormamental Shrubs for Canada. He is a member of the board of directors of the Civic Garden Centre, and chai of this publication s committee.
ARNOTT GREENHOUSESINDUSTRIES & EQUIPMENT
TEL.: (416) 945-5693
P.0. BOX 10, GRIMSBY, ONT. L3M 4G1
PEFFERLAW PEAT COMPOSTED MANURE/ PEAT MIX
The ideal soil mix correctly balanced to fill the needs of all growing plants indoors or out.
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Cannington, Ont. Phone (Toronto) 364-6068
with the urbanization ofCanada, and as the sources for exotic nuts such as peanuts, Brazil nuts, English walnuts, pecans and almonds improved and their prices dropped. Now only rarely do we ever see the native nuts available at local farmers markets. By 1935 the native sweet chestnut trees had been almost totally wiped out by a fungus disease introduced from the Orient.
Early settlers to Ontario, particularly the Pennsylvania Dutch, were especially fond of black walnut nuts for cooking and thus trees were often planted around the farm yards. Many of these trees are still to be found today, often quite majestic with trunk girths three feet and more. Each of these contain lumber worth several thousands of dollars. By to-day s standards black walnuts are very slow growing trees, often taking 40 years to bear the first sizeable quantity of nuts. The shagbark hickory, another favourite ofthe early settlers, is even slower growing and was rarely if ever planted in any quantity.
Introduced by a church minister, to Canada
Attention turned to some ofthe faster growing exotic nut trees as they became known and available in North America. One of the more widely known is the Japanese heartnut, Juglans cordiformis ailanthifolia, hardy in zones 4b 10 9. It is a fast growing, low, wide-branched tree ideally suited for shade as well. The nuts, unfortunately, are often no larger than those ofthe native hickory, and are without the latter s distinctive flavour. Another walnut, and much more practical forthe homegardener, isthe Carpathian walnut, a cold-hardy (zones4 to 9) strain of the Persian walnut, Juglans regia. Included are those strains from the Ukraine, Russia, Czechoslovakia and Germany as well. The more tender strains are known as the Persian, English or Californian walnut and are not
Nuts to the Home Gardener
Lawrence C. Sherk*
reliably hardy in southern Ontario, although the latter is occasionally grown successfully.
An interesting story surrounded the introduction of the Carpathian walnut to Canada. The reverend Paul Crath, a native of the Carpathian Mountains, emigrated to Canada, then returned to his homeland, as a missionary. He became impressed with the hardy walnuts in the cold mountain area where the temperatures often dropped to 45°C. When he returned to Canada, he brought several nuts to show to his friends. These friends became interested and financed the purchase of several thousand more nuts by reverend Crath between 1932 and 1936. Progeny from these are now to be found bearing fruit throughout Ontario and parts of the United States. Selections from these are now listed in nursery catalogues. These trees will eventually reach a height of40 to 50 feet, so need space.
Plant hickories only for your grandchildren
The Manchurian walnut, Juglans mandshurica, is rarely encountered in Canada, however the butternut, Juglans cinerea, is one of our hardiest nut trees (zones 3 to 9) and is sold by a number of Canadian nurseries. It is relatively fast growing, producing nuts with a distinctive and pleasant flavour.
The American sweet chestnut, Castanea dentata, still struggles to survive in some woodlots in southern Ontario, but because the fungus disease is still present in these areas, most do not reach any size. Sweet chestnuts will survive outside this area, however, and reach fruiting size where hardy (zones 5 to 9), but it should be noted that individual trees are self-unfruitful so two must be planted reasonably close to insure that nuts are produced. The Chinese chestnut, Castanea mollissima (zones 6 to 9),
is very resistant to the disease and can be safely planted where hardy. Nuts are larger than those of the American species but of equal quality. This is a smaller tree with a height of 30 to 50 feet but again two trees must be planted, possibly one in your neighbour s garden.
Hickories produce extremely flavourful nuts, particularly the shagbark hickory, Carya ovata, but one should really only consider planting trees for one s grandchildren to enjoy as they are extremely slow growing often taking longer than black walnuts to come to fruiting age. Ifyou are lucky enough to encounter trees on your country property, by all means leave them, as they do produce good crops of nuts most years. The shellbark hickory, Carya laciniosa is one of Ontario s rarest native trees. It produces nuts often three to four times larger than those ofthe shagbark hickory.
Fruit of the bitternut, Carya cordiformis, and mockernut, Carya tomemtosa, are not edible. The pecan, Carya illinoinensis, is hardy in southern Ontario (zones 5 to 9) but the growing season is too short for most selections to produce ripe fruit. Some northern strains may be suitable but are difficult to locate.
The American hazel, Corylus americana is native in an area from Saskatchewan across Ontario, grows to about ten feet in height, and produces a delicious crop of nuts if you can keep the squirrels away. The European filbert, Corylus avellana, is a larger shrub growing 15 to 20 feet in height and producing a delicious crop of large nuts where hardy, zones 5 10 9.
The almond, Prunus amygdalus will survive only in the mildest parts of Ontario, zones 7 to 9. There are fruiting trees at The Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture. The almond is a small tree, growing to 20 feet, and one that would be well suited to small properties if only hardier strains could be found.
Our native beech, Fagus grandifolia, also produces delicious but small edible nuts, a favourite of wildlife especially. This is a tree to be encouraged if you find it on your property.
New Books for You for Gifts
Marilyn Waugh*
Bub planting time is here again. The beautiful blooms ofspring, which are always so eagerly awaited, are the result ofplanning and planting now. Your bookshop has the ideas to help. Hardy Bulbs, by L. Wilder, at $5.25, offers tips on selecting and cultivating bulbous plants as well as full information on the size of bulbs, season of bloom, and when to plant. Bulbsfor Summer Bloom, by John Baumgardt, at $3.98, is devoted entirely to summer flowering bulbs, plants that bring colour after the June perennials are finished. Advanced horticulturalists in particular will appreciate the descriptions covering hardiness by zone, culture, and propagation.
The Bulb Book, by F. Doerflinger, at $3.95, has contents ranging over points such as soil preparations, pests and diseases, display, naturalization, and special planting. 126 Bulbs, Corms, and Tubers in Colour, by W. Oudshoorn, $8.50, is beautifully illustrated in full colour. It provides details ofseasonal planting, plants ideal for cutting, and numerous other data. In addition, there are sections dealing with the problems ofsoil and manure, planting, damage, and propagation. In short, this book is a must for the amateur gardener. Finally, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Handbook on Bulbs, $1.75, remains a popular source of information on all aspects of bulb growing. Would you like to own a greenhouse? Two new books which offer specific details and instructions for the do-it-yourself greenhouse builder are Your Home-Made Greenhouse and how to build it, by Jack Kramer, $3.50; and Build Your Own Greenhouse, by C. Neal, at $11.50. The latter tells how to construct, equip, and maintain your new acquisition. Ifyou are thinking ofjust adding on a room or converting one to a garden room The Sun-heated Indoor/Qutdoor Roomfor People, for Plants, also by Jack Kramer, $9.95, has just been published and would give you some definite ideas. K. Mossman, in his book The Garden Room, $9.75, takes you step by step from the initial planning (or conversion) of the room to fitting it out and then on to the great numberofplants that will thrive there, including many tips on their cultivation.
In Your Greenhouse with Percy Thrower, by Mr. Thrower, $7.95, will suggest some ofthe many plants which you may enjoy in your new area and offers tips on working in your greenhouse. For those ofyou who are attempting some ofthe rare and exotic plants which can be grown under controlled conditions the Exotic House Plants, by Graf, at$9.25 or OrchidsandtheirCultivation, by D. Sander, at $8.95 should be ofinterest.
It is calendar time again and once more we have a wide range for you to choose from. It is not too early to pick up your favourite appointment book, wall calendar, ordate book. The 1976 Canadian Wildflower Calendar, $4.95, is another collection of 52 beautiful photographs ofour own wild flowers and will be enjoyed as much as last year's. Beautifully boxed for gift giving, it makes a thoughtful gift to those at home or abroad. Be sure to get your supply early.
One last item for this month which will delight teachers and parents alike is Snips and Snails and Walnut Whales, by P. Fiarotta, at $5.95. This book is a new publication of nature crafts for children. It covers over 100 projects to make from flowers, leaves, twigs, pine cones, stones, nuts, seeds, berries even spider webs. It also includes stenciling, batiking, drying flowers, beading, and much more. It is a book for parents and children who like to do things together.
*Mrs. Waugh is manager of the Civic Garden Centre s bookshop. 20 / October 1975
The Rose
Fame is the scentless sunflower, with gaudy crown of gold; But friendship is the breathing rose, with sweets in every fold.
QOliver Wendell Holmes
A Message from the Editor:
This October issue of Trellis is the last produced by me as editor and manager. Effective with the November issue, the Civic Garden Centre will appoint a new editor.
Having conceived, developed, promoted and managed Trellis, | regret not being able to gain the Centre s unanimous support so necessary if this little gardening magazine is to grow as | know it should and could.
To those of you who have been supportive of my efforts, | say sincerely thank you . At some future time, | hope.l| may count on your support for a more properly founded Canadian gardening magazine.
Art C. Drysdale
For October, a pot pourri ofitems that deserve some comment. First, as promised last month, information about the recently in effect Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora . While primarily designed to stop the commercial trade ofendangered animal species, this international convention, to which Canada is now a signing nation, also takes in a few endangered plant species.
Basically, the convention sets out a list of endangered species according to plant families and makes it illegal for commercial firms or individuals to import and/or export these from signing nations, such as Canada. There are certain exceptions, for instance, none of the convention s regulations apply to a plant specie that is the personal property ofan individual; however, ifthe individual acquires a named endangered specie while outside of his or her own country, and wants to import it back, it is now illegal to do so. Though the convention provides for permits to be issued for plants which are affected by the regulations, these are only to be issued in special cases.
Two other exceptions will have importance for some avid plant collectors. Where a country s management authority is satisfied that a specimen ofa plant species was asexually propagated, it may grant a certificate allowing export. And, the inter-exchange of specimens (including mounted specimens, which are likewise covered by the convention) between scientists or scientific institutions, is not to be curtailed.
It is interesting to look over the list of plants covered for import to, or export from, Canada by this convention. Only a few of the plant names appear at all familiar. However, the Christmas orchid (Cattleya trianaei), a native of Colombia, is included. It bears seven-inch pale pink flowers each with a deep purple mid-lobe on the lip and an orange-yellow throat. Also included on the list is the well-known (in British Co22 / October 1975
: And, may the have the Last Word this month
lumbia) Monkey-puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana), which has a distinct branching habit and unusual evergreen needles.
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A concern expressed this year by many home gardeners is that the use of fertilizerson home lawns andgardens is reducing the already limited amounts available for commercial agriculture. Not so, according to Edward Wheeler, president of the Fertilizer Institute in the U.S.A. He says that suggestions that elimination of fertilizers for lawn and garden use would gain substantial supplies for food production are cruel and misleading . He notes that only 3.5% of the total U.S.A. fertilizer consumption is for all non-farm purposes. And, the interesting part is, that these uses not only include home vegetable and flower gardens, but also such unusual uses as airport runway de-icing, public parks, playground maintenance and highway shoulder stabilization.
Mr. Wheeler goes on to say, One should never forget that not only do our green lawns and landscaping make our cities more beautiful and pleasant to live in, but in addition, growing lawns and plants remove harmful carbon dioxide and pollutants from the air and release oxygen back in return. The small amounts of fertilizer so employed contribute not just aesthetic enhancement to our environment, they make a necessary functional addition to it, as well.
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Finally, the United States Department of Agriculture reports that it may soon be possible to manufacture plastics with a built-in biodegradable starch which will allow the containers etc. to break down on contact with biological agents in outdoors. This would allow for less petroleum in the plastics as well as reducing litter pollution. The starchbased plastics could work well in thin films for mulching vegetable crops. Art C. Drysdale, Editor.
There is STILL TIME to extend your summer!
Yes, you can still have your own summer place right in your own garden. Simply erect an Eden greenhouse and you are ready to begin enjoying winter in your garden.
Start your own plants for Spring, begin to grow exotic plants all this is possible.
There are 5 popular sizes ranging up to 10 x 12 in floor area. All greenhouses can be easily extended as your hobby grows. Assembly is very easy. Our instructions are clear and simple. We can even arrange to have your greenhouse assembled for you.
Start now with the greenhouse that has won the design award!
We have the widest range of features and optional equipment to make your hobby interesting, exciting and worry-free.
Available at over 60 outlets across Canada. For more information phone or write:
Startagrowing friendship soon at a Sheridan Garden Centre
At your closest Sheridan Garden Centre you will find the most (and best) of everything to start growing friendships .
You will find the finest selection of nursery stock in Canada . . . more than 1200 types of plants and trees locally raised, fresh from the soil and Guaranteed to Grow'.
And at your Sheridan Garden Centre you will also find expert nurserymen who are pleased to assist you in every way possible. They will help you select whatever you need and will answer any questions you may have.
Let's start a growing friendship soon.