204 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[July, 



Fruit and Vegetable Gardening. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



As already noted color in fruit is a criterion 

 •of good culture. So far as out-door grapes 

 are concerned, they are too often allowed 

 to bear too many bunches, when very fine 

 fruit is desired. A good strong healthy growth 

 however will bring mostly to perfection a 

 very full crop. The Western papers are say- 

 ing that the color and flavor of grapes are 

 impi'oved by enclosing the bunch iua paper 

 bag when it is about to color. By what we 

 know of the advantages of shade to glass house 

 fruit, it seems reasonable. 



People sometimes are anxious to get rare kinds 

 of strawberries to fruit early, and hence planta- 

 tions are made in the fall. For general crops 

 we think there is not much gained by fall plant- 

 ing. In the case of rare varieties, however, it is 

 •often worth a little extra trouble to do things 

 well. The best way to proceed, is to get small 

 pots with rich earth, and sinking them in the 

 ground, layer runners into it. Such plants be- 

 come very strong, and can be transplanted from 

 the pots without injuring the roots, and will 

 make strong stocks which will fruit very well 

 next year. We raised some excellent strong 

 plants this way last year; of course the re- 

 sult was not suthcient to enable one to form an 

 ■opinion of its whole character; but we may say, 

 that in spite of the excessively hot weather, it 

 has turned out remarkably well. In regard to 

 the best strawberries, it is remarkable that the 

 bulk of all the thousands of bushels which come to 

 the Philadelphia market is still of the older kinds. 

 Amongst amateurs there is no one that carries 

 universal supremacy with it, as personal taste 

 dictates the favorite. But certainly those which 

 are grown the most extensively are Boyden's 

 Mammoth, Monarch of the West, Chas. Down- 

 iug, Albany and Downer's Prolific. 



As we write the seed men are out with their 

 advertisments of turnip seed, and thus remind 

 us to say that there seems to be a dearth of new 

 varities this season not only in the turnip, but in 

 most other classes of garden vegetables. 



The variety of tomatoes is now so great that 

 in every city window* we may note distinct 



named kinds of local fame, but if there is any 

 better kind than the Trophy to be found this sea- 

 son we hope our readers will let us know of it. 



As for varieties of asparagus, we suppose 

 the world has come to the conclusion we pre- 

 dicted it would, namely, that thex'e is but one 

 kind. We have seen plants in rich soil set two 

 feet apart the first season as large and fine as 

 any ever grown in this world, with no pretentions 

 to the plants being any body's "Leviathian" or 

 the Boa Constrictor of the asparagus family. 



There are many vegetables which will come 

 in toward Fall about which some consideration 

 may be given now. 



In many amateur gardens late Peas are 

 valued. It is essential that they be planted in 

 the coolest part of the ground. The pea is a 

 cool country plant, and when it has to grow in 

 warm weather, it mildews. The Marrowfat 

 class are usually employed for late crops. Thej^ 

 need support. All peas grow better and produce 

 more when grown to stakes. 



Bush Beans may also be sown for late crops. 

 A very deep rich soil is necessary to tender, 

 crisp pods. The Lima Bean will now be grow- 

 ing rapidly. It is time well spent to tie them 

 up to poles as the}^ grow. The poles should not 

 be too high; about eight feet is enough. They 

 commence to bear freel}^ only when the top of 

 the pole is reached. 



The lettuce is another cool country plant. It 

 can only be well grown in hot weather when in 

 very rich and cool soil. 



For winter use, beets are occasionally sown 

 now, and also cucumbers for pickling purposes, 

 but not often ; and at any rate it must be at- 

 tended to early in the month. 



Tomatoes trained to stakes give the sweetest 

 fruit, and remain in bearing the longest ; but 

 many cultivators who grow for size and quantity 

 only, believe they have the best results when 

 growing them on the level ground. 



Late cabbage is often planted in gardens be- 

 tween rows of potatoes, where it is an object to 

 save space. Some fancy that the cabbage is 

 better preserved in this way from the cabbage- 

 fly, which they say prefers the potato ; but on 

 this point we are not sure. We do not think 



