THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



1G5 



the laud so thoroughly now as to kill all 

 kinds of "varmint," forking the stuff in 

 an inch or two beneath the surfaoe, so as 

 to insure its complete admixture with the 

 soil in whieli they arc at present enjoyiug 

 life, and take the risk of killiug existing 

 crops, etc., rendering the ground barren 

 till nest spring, wiien it might be trenched, 

 80 as to bring up entirely fresh soil? 



There is generally an objection to 

 trenching among my neighbours, for this 

 reason — that the surface soil, or " mouls,"* 

 as they call it, is not more than one spit 

 deep, and tlie subsoil is silt, or, rather, 

 silty clay, which has, at some former pe- 

 riod, been tlie bed of the sea. It is con- 

 sidered to be inipregnated with salt, and 

 unfit for cultivation. Whether it is so or 

 not I cannot say from espeiience, but it 

 certainly looks very unpromising when 

 turned up. 



I think a few remarks from you on all 

 these points would bo of great interest to 

 any of your readers similarly situated with 

 myself, either geologicaUy or entomologi- 

 callji . 



King's Lynn. G. w. 



[G. W. propounds a query to which 

 no living horticulturist can give a cate- 

 gorical answer except in the negative. 

 Tliere is no specific (using the term in its 

 accepted sense) known against wire-worm. 

 After all tliat he urges against hand-pick- 

 ing and '•' tater-traps," that plan must be 

 adopted by those who determine to save 

 their crops from this pest. Take out the 

 potatoes three times a week, and you will 

 find them filled with wire-worms, of thefate 

 of which not a woi-d need be said. Bui'y 

 the potatoes again, and continue to use 

 them till they are eaten up, and then set 

 * Pronounced to rbvme ^ith okIi^ 



a fresh lot to work. Being cut, the worms 

 scent them out sooner than if they are 

 put in whole, and will leave almost every 

 other kind of food to attack them. They 

 are very fond of daisies, and a daisy edg- 

 ing will often save from injury things of 

 more vaUic; but the daisies should be taken 

 up twice in the year, and replanted, in 

 order to cleanse their roots of the enemy. 

 We have no faith in any nostrums, except 

 such as would kill the plants as well as the 

 worms, for these wretches have impene- 

 trable jackets, and a wonderful constitu- 

 tion. Soot they do not like, and, at this 

 season, it may bo most usefully applied ; 

 hid It 19 not a specific. Of the preparation 

 referred to, a quart per square yard may 

 be used with safety, but no more. As 

 sulphuric acid may be had at the rate 

 of threepence a pound, or even as low as 

 one penny a pound in some places, we 

 adviso our correspondent to clrench his 

 ground with it, diluted with six times its 

 quantity of water. It should be used only 

 on vacant plots, and where there is no fear 

 of injury to the roots of trees, etc.; and 

 the proper time is autumn and early win- 

 ter, so tliat the winter rains may wash the 

 acid out of the soil. Quick lime is consi- 

 dered to neutralize the effects of soot, by 

 setting fi-ee its ammonia. Use the mix- 

 ture during, or just previous, to a fall of 

 rain. Gas-lime will thin their numbers, 

 but, to be effectual, must be used in quan- 

 tities likely to be injurious to vegetation. 

 The value of trenching must always depend 

 on the nature of the subsoil ; and G. W.'s 

 best mode of determining will be, to turn 

 up a piece, and mix the top stratum with 

 the subsoil, and put on it an experimental 

 crop. As that answers, determine for 

 the future.] 



NOTES rOR JULY. 



KITCHEN QABDEN'. 



IToE bei;ween all growing craps, and 

 especially between potatoes. Plant tlie 

 main crop of celery in well-manured 

 trenches. Plant also, from seed-beds, cab- 

 bage of all kinds, broccoli, savoys, bore- 

 cole, etc., choosing, if possible, showery 

 weather, to reduce the labour of watering. 

 Top runners, and keep them well staked, 

 but very tall sticks are not at all necessary, 

 as they are only the more liable to be 

 blown over by gusts of wind. Sow the 

 last succession of runners and French 

 beans ; also lettuce, radish, small salads, 

 spinach, peas, and turnips. 



rntriT aARDEjr, 



Riinners of strawberries, struck in 

 pots, may now be cut off, and the plants 

 shifted into a size largei-, or turned out 

 into beds. Beds made now have the best 

 chance of becoming strong before winter, 

 to bear abundantly next year. Continue 

 to bud stone fruit-trees, for o.-chard and 

 pot-culture. Thin out weak spray on all 

 bush-fruits, and foreright shoots on wall- 

 fruits. Maiden trees intended to be 

 trained should be stopped, to make them 

 break into side-shoots, as a whole season's 

 growth is thus saved. Rub off useless 

 shoots on vines. Thin aU fruit of which 



