190 



THE GARDENER. 



[April 



pertains to the plants by the introduction of which he wishes to enhance the 

 beauty of wild unkept grounds, and to weed from highly-kept gardens such sub- 

 jects as he justly characterises as too coarse for such positions. The way to do 

 this he very copiously, and in his usual terse style, explains at the outset, and 

 follows up with selections of hardy exotic plants suitable for naturalisation in 

 woods and groves, pointing out the circumstances and position most suitable for 

 different plants, and giving descriptive and cultural remarks on the same, and 

 closes by descanting on the beauty capable of being created in a garden of 

 British wild-flowers. There can be little diflFerence of opinion of the desirability 

 of adding the charms of many hardy exotics to our natural grounds and woods ; 

 and to those who are desirous of making the effort we say, purchase Mr Robin- 

 son's book ; it cannot fail to be an efficient aid ; and it is, moreover, pleasantly 

 written and handsomely got up. 



Cottage Gardening. By E. W. Badger. Houlston and Sons, London. 



This is the Essay to which the Royal Horticultural Society of London awarded 

 the first prize offered by Mr Edgerton Hubbard on Cottage Gardening, and now 

 published in the form of a pamphlet of thirty-two pages. It contains very sound 

 practical instructions on all that appertains to a cottage garden. 



CTaltnaar* 



KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



The necessity of having the soil (in 

 which seeds are to be sown) in good 

 healthy condition has been so fre- 

 quently referred to, it is unnecessary 

 to say much on the subject now. How- 

 ever we would, " by way of a reminder," 

 say that, whenever weather is dry and 

 suitable for sowing the numerous kinds 

 of seeds at this season, let no oppor- 

 tunity be lost ; the season is advancing, 

 and when any one is " caught napping," 

 it is almost impossible to make up for 

 lost time. There is no economy in half- 

 doing the work, and disappointments 

 are often the fruit of neglect. How- 

 ever, there are often in the best-man- 

 aged gardens enemies which are barriers 

 to success — such as slugs, grubs, insects, 

 birds, &c. Sliced Turnips placed round 

 the plots often trap slugs in great num- 

 bers. Netting is perhaps the most ef- 

 fectual method of keeping birds at bay. 

 Dustings of lime, soot, coal-ashes, red- 

 lead, &c., are means often employed 

 with success by practical men. To keep 

 up regular supplies of vegetables, there 

 should be no glut at any season, other- 

 wise scarcity may be expected to follow. 

 Sow regular, and in quantities suitable 

 to the demand. The main sowing of 



Carrot may soon be got in. In late 

 localities, the earlier in the month the 

 better. Long Surrey and James's Scar- 

 let are two of the best for main crops. 

 Short Horn may be sown closer in the 

 rows for drawing young. The first two 

 do well in drills from 1 foot to 16 inches 

 apart. The nature of the ground alone 

 can decide distaace. When seeds of 

 any kind are well sown they should 

 come up without being matted, and be 

 free from each other. Timely thinning, 

 and doing it at different times, may be 

 necessary. Beet may be sown (for an 

 early supply) about the middle of the 

 month. The main crop need not be 

 sown till May. Moderately rich ground 

 of good depth, and neither very heavy 

 nor sandy, suits Beet well ; when grown 

 on poor dry soil it may be handsome, 

 but certainly unfit for use — stringy 

 tough roots are worthless. Sang's 

 Selected holds its own for fine flavour 

 with any we have tried. Dewar's is 

 very handsome. Osborn's is good, 

 and the best we have seen for foliage. 

 Scarlet-runners may be sown about the 

 third week in the month, on a warm 

 sheltered border, or placed in turf, 

 and grown under protection till danger 



