338 



THE GARDENER. 



[July i88i. 



kinds to Cos, hut it is well to plant a 

 few of each to meet all tastes. Mustard 

 and Cress of sorts must be sown often 

 on well-moistened ground ; if in the 

 shade, so much the better. Peas may 

 be sown in early sheltered positions. 

 Early kinds are most suitable, but sel- 

 dom in cold districts are Peas to be had 

 sown later than June. Dwarf kinds, 

 to be covered by frames and protectors, 

 may be sown on early borders during 

 the month. Dwarf French Beans may 

 also be treated in this way, but in 

 warm southern districts we have seen 

 them come in useful after being sown 

 in August. Plant Leeks in rich, deeply 

 dug soil. Sow Parsley for winter ; thin 

 earlier lots and plant the thinnings. 



Turnips, such as White Stone, Strap 

 Leaf, and American Ked Stone, maybe 

 sown in larger breadths — after Potatoes 

 is suitable. Si)inach may be sown 

 twice during the month in larger 

 breadths. Prickly Spinach may be 

 sown for early winter su[)ply at the 

 end of the month. Cleanliness, mulch- 

 ing, watering, hoeing, and pronging, 

 are matters of great moment at this 

 season. Gherkins, Ridge Cucumbers, 

 and Vegetable ]\Iarrows need train- 

 ing, thinning, and watering often. 

 Crowding is ruinous to them all. 

 Tomatoes require frequent attention to 

 thinning off lateral growths, and keep- 

 ing the fruit thinned. M. T. 



All business communications and all Advertisements should be addressed to 

 the Publishers, and communications for insertion in the ' Gardener ' to David 

 Thomson, Drumlanrig Gardens, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. It will further 

 oblige if all matter intended for publication, and questions to be replied to, 

 be received by the 14th of tbe month, and written on one side of the paper 

 only. It is also requested that writers forward their name and address, not 

 for publication unless they wish it, but for the sake of that mutual confidence 

 which should exist between the Editor and those who address him. We 

 decline noticing any communication which is not accompanied with name and 

 address of writer. 



A CoRRESPOXDENT writing from Chester, whose signature we cannot read. — 

 Your trees are no doubt affected with mildew. Dust the white spots with 

 flowers of sulphur, and keep your house well aired. Both a want and an excess 

 of water at the root are favourable to mildew. So keep the soil moist but 

 not sodden, and see that the drainage is good. 



Amateur. — Both soot and wood-asbes, if applied before they get wet or 

 damp, are excellent for dressing your Vine-border. The former supplies am- 

 monia, and the wood-ashes potash. Use the soot first, and in a week or two 

 the ashes, forking them into the surface of the border. 



p. -p. — Stop your Vines when they get to the top of the house, and let the 

 laterals grow till they cover the roof without becoming crowded. The cause 

 of the leaves on the main stem or growth going off as you describe, is 

 the rapid swelling of the cane or growth, which ruptures the base of the leaf- 

 stalk at its union with the cane, and it then ceases to get sap enough, and 

 consequently cannot stand the sun. It is not a disease, but purely a mechan- 

 ical occurrence. 



D. M'C. — Your Celosias are affected with an insect — a small spider: syringe 

 regularly with water in which about the size of an egg of soft-soap is dissolved 

 in 4 gallons. 



