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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



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The Month's Work in the Garden 



JOHN JOHNSON 



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THE busy planting season is fast approaching", and 

 it now behooves every gardener to make good at 

 thL earliest possible opportunity any arrears of 

 work. In gardening, as in all other practical operations, 

 there is nothing like method. The season's work should 

 be planned with such careful forethought and precision 

 as if strict account of every operation must be given be- 

 fore an assembly of critics. If methods are adopted 

 early in the season with this thought in mind, future 

 perplexities and disappointments which often arise as 

 the result of having too much of one thing and not 

 enough of another, may be reduced to a minimum. Abil- 

 ity to meet every demand made upon the garden is truly 

 the greatest test imposed upon a gardener's practical 

 skill. It is conceded, of course, that occasional failure 

 must inevitably overtake and rupture the most carefully 

 laid plans, yet those who learn to make failure the step- 

 ping stone to success reap the most bounteous harvest. 



We have already attempted to outline methods of pro- 

 cedure with regard to making hot beds, and the early 

 sowing O'f vegetable and flower seeds, and all that can 

 now be said in this particular is that some of these sow- 

 ings should now be repeated in order to maintain suc- 

 cession or to otherwise make good any which have failed 

 entirely. Transplant seedlings from last month's sow- 

 ings as soon as the plants can be nicely handled and keep 

 them under similar conditions of soil, and temperature 

 and shade from bright sunshine for a week or so until 

 the plants recover from the shift, after which gradually 

 inure to more light and ventilation. 



Seedlings like Larkspur, Antirrhinum. Phlox Dnim- 

 mondii, Pcntstcinon, Sweet Pea and I'crbcna in the 

 flowering grouj), and members of the Cabbage family 

 leeks, onions and lettuce among vegetables, should be 

 given cool treatment. A little assistance at the com- 

 mencement they must have, but the aim from now on 

 should be to keep them stocky by a gradual process of 

 hardening after pricking ofif. This does not imply reck- 

 less exposure to chill blasts which are to be expected dur- 

 ing the month, but merely emphasizes the necessity of 

 giving air freely whenever there may be a fair oppor- 

 tunity. 



In this month's sowings include Stock, Aster, Zinnia, 

 r.alsam and Impaticns. The middle of the month will be 

 early enough to start these. Sow thinly so that the young 

 plants may have abundant room, and when pricked off 

 even a little apparent wastefulness of space will be repaid 

 by stout and vigorous stock. 



Pleasure grounds. As the weather shows signs of 

 ■breaking up push forward the work of cleaning shrub- 

 beries. The principles of pruning shrubs are generally 

 ■well understood. The early flowering group almost in- 

 variably bloom on wood of previous season's growth, and 

 therefore require little, if any, attention in the matter of 

 pruning now. Any thinning out w^iich might be needed 

 should be done immediately after flowering, or, better 

 still, in Summer when growth is comi)leted. Late Sum- 

 mer of Fall flowering shrubs may be severely pruned now 

 unless further development of growth is sought. Clear 

 away rubbish and burn in a "smother" and use the result- 

 ant ash as fertilizer. It is a crime to commit prunings 



and the like to flames and allow the very best fertilizing 

 agency to go up in smoke. 



As soon as the work can be done, trim the grass edges 

 and loosen the ground between the shrubs with a spading 

 fork. Ornamental climbers may require attention. Train 

 them away from windows and tie in any growths which 

 might have fallen out ot position during the Winter. 

 While the average gardener is perhaps alive to the orna- 

 mental value of :hmbers, there is ample room for a 

 more general employment of this class o-f plants. For 

 screening unsightly objects, covering arbors, trellises, 

 vv'orn-out buildings and trees, and for clothing rough 

 hungry banks they are indispensable. The uses to which 

 this class of plants may be put are just as varied as the 

 habits of the plants themselves, and their judicious em- 

 ployment at once creates an atmosphere of delightful rest- 

 fulness, and gives to the home environs that suggestion 

 of age so often conspicuous only by its absence in our 

 American gardens. Now is the time to order them and 

 prepare for the planting operation. 



Toward the end of the month remove wind screens 

 and other temporary protection aft'ordcd choice shrubs, 

 and remove the winter covering from roses, flower beds 

 and herbaceous borders. Prune and tie in rambler roses 

 and commence pruning bush roses as soon as dangei of 

 hard frosts is past. 



Pansies. Bcllis and Myostis, if wintered in frames or 

 nursery rows, should be planted in permanent quarters 

 as soon as the ground can be freely worked. Do any 

 needed alteration and planting in the herbaceous border 

 at the earliest opportunity. Apply fertilizer to lawns, 

 scratch the surface, and re-seed if necessary. 



BusJi Fruits. Gooseberry bushes require annual atten- 

 tion in the matter of pruning, and there is no better time 

 for doing the work than now. Last season's growths 

 v.dl yield most berries. Cut away all superfluous shoots, 

 but cut the points only of those that will be retained. 

 Try to keep the main shoots about six inches apart and 

 the middle of the bush open so that fruit picking may 

 be more conveniently done. Red Currants must be 

 spurred back to within a couple of buds, although a few 

 shoots may be left about eight inches long for extension 

 if need be. P>lack Currants require entirely different 

 treatment. Merely cut away exhausted branches and en- 

 courage basal growths to take their place. Side shoots 

 which are too numerous should be spurred back. 



I'cgctable Garden. Remove the covering from Spin- 

 ach, strawberry plants and the asparagus plot as soon 

 as the weather breaks. Sow such kinds as peas, onwns, 

 parsley, parsnips and spinach on mellow ground in a 

 sunny position. In the colder districts it will pay to 

 start a number of these in cold frames with a view to 

 later transplanting in the open. Peas may be sown in 

 4-inch pots, parsley, lettuce and beets in flats. If room 

 is available under sash sow carrots in drills and sprinkle 

 radish seed between the rows. Transplant seedlings 

 from last month's sowings. Lettuce and cauliflower 

 planted in cold frames in a rich compost will turn in a 

 week or two in advance of those planted in the open dur- 

 ing next month. String beans may also be sown in 

 frames at this time. 



