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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



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I Work for the Month in the Garden I 



I SAMUEL GOLDING I 



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THIC work in the garden during August is very similar 

 to the work of the preceding month. We have now 

 reached the tune when we are enjoying the bounte- 

 ous and varied fruits of the earth. We feast our eyes on 

 the glowing colors of the autumnal blooms as they unfold. 

 Yeti^ even while we reach the culmination of our gartlen 

 season, we must look forward and commence to make 

 plans for the coming year of 1922. Notes will be made 

 of the success or failure of varieties of vegetables, which 

 will serve as reminders when making out next year's seed 

 list, and show where improvements can be made in our 

 system of cropping and rotation. Our bulb order should 

 be placed with our dealer to insure the supply for next 

 Spring's display. The propagating bench must be made 

 ready to receive cuttings of stock for next year's bedding. 

 But much remains to be done to carry out and complete 

 the plan of cropping and successions until Jack Frost 

 makes further work' impossible. No opportunity should 

 be lost in the vegetable garden to maintain a good supply 

 until late in the Fall and to encourage the growth of those 

 planted for our Winter supply. 



Alake the last planting of string beans. Although it is 

 quite late, it may pay well to take a chance. Early frost 

 may blight the prospect of a crop, but should the weather 

 prove favorable, they will be a welcome addition to the 

 table. 



Sow more beets, horn carrots, endive, lettuce, spinach, 

 and turnips. Cultivate between the rows of late cabbages, 

 cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and late corn. Remove all 

 Ijasal grcnvths of corn and hoe up some soil around each 

 hill, which assi.sts and helps the top root action. It en- 

 ables them to withstand the heavy winds in a measure. 



Give celery abundance of water, and remove all side 

 shoots. An occasional dusting of Scotch soot is excellent 

 to deter the attack of the celeiy fly, beside being a fertilizer 

 of value, which gives the plants that rich green color, so 

 desired. When the soil is moist, add a covering of soil 

 over the roots ; then give a dressing of sheep manure or 

 some other approved fertilizer. It will soon be noticeable 

 how ciuickly the roots are working freely in this top- 

 dressing. Earth up some of the early plantings, accord- 

 ing to the demands which will probably be made later on. 

 This should be done after a good soaking, giving the 

 foliage time to dry. An occasional sjjray of Bordeaux 

 mixture will prevent rust. 



Transplant, or thin out, lettuce and endive from last 

 month's sowing. As soon as the onion tops die dovvn, 

 ])ull them up and spread to dry. turning them over daily 

 with a wooden rake, which helps the process. When per- 

 fectlv drv, set in an open or cool shed, laying them out 

 thinly, so that the air can play around them. They can 

 be cleaned and stored away in their Winter quarters at 

 convenient times. 



Their place can be taken by a crop of late spinach; the 

 variety "Prickly Seeded" is good for late work, as it is 

 very liardy. As soon as the early potato crop is dug. and 

 if the space can be spared, it is of the utmost value to 

 us next vear to sow a cover crop for digging or plowing 

 in. Where good farm yard manure is scarce or difficult 

 to secure, this is a fine sub.stitute. It has been proved 

 that cover crops aid production, are cheap, and insure a 

 good supply of organic matter and nitrogen to the soil. 



A leguminous mixture is fine ; a mi.xture of rye and 

 "hairy vetch" can be reconunended. 



The flower garden will demand constant attention, if 

 the best results are expected, from now on until October. 

 Copious waterings during dry spells with now and then 

 a dressing of fertilizer will help the plants. Keep them 

 well staked and tied. 



To obtain large blooms of dahlias, they nuist be dis- 

 budded and given every encouragement during the re- 

 mainder of the season. Look out for aphis and red spi- 

 der, spraying the plants with Aphine to prevent attacks 

 from these pests. Have them tied up securely so that 

 they will not be injured by gales and heavy rains. 



See that the late gladioli are staked, and the late asters, 

 the branching type, is a most satisfactory one to grow for 

 September blooming. The cooler nights with dewy morn- 

 ings give them the needed time for proper development. 



Give the rose beds a dressing of bone meal. Keep them 

 well hoed to conserve the moisture and keep them free 

 from weeds. 



August is the month of the gorgeous lily, and they de- 

 serve to be more widely grown and known among the 

 amateur gardeners than apparently is the case today. It 

 is seldom that one sees them to any great' extent, but their 

 beauty is well worthy of a more prominent place. Their 

 prices are moderate and they are of easy culture, provid- 

 ing they are given good drainage and plenty of leaf soil 

 in their compost. Plant them at once, as soon as they 

 are received from the dealers, about eight to ten inches 

 deep and avoid the use of fertilizers. What can compare 

 with the stately beauty of Liliiiiii auratum, the chaste 

 /.. spcciosinn albiiin and rubniin. L. Bafcmanni, L. Henry. 

 to mention a few? Any of these varieties are real gems 

 and would prove acquisitions of merit to gardens in the 

 herbaceous border, or planted in spaces in shrubberies and 

 rhododendron beds. 



Commence propagating stock for next year's bedding. 

 Cutting of coleus. alternanthas. heliotrope, fuchsias, Ian- 

 tanas, and all soft stock can now he raised. Seeds of 

 pansies. English daisies, and such stock for Spring bed- 

 ding, if not sown outside last month, should be sown at 

 once in the cold frame. Sow seeds of Delphinium or 

 other perennials in frames for next year's blooming. 



Evergreens can be moved and replanted at the end of 

 the month, or early September. The climatic conditions 

 prevailing will necessarily have some influence on this 

 operation. It is of great advantage to do this during a 

 period of dull or showery weather. 



Red spider has been very prevalent during the past 

 season and evergreens, box bushes, and rhododendrons 

 should lie watched and sprayed with \\'ilson's O. K. Plant 

 Spray. 



Should any re-seeding of the lawns be contemplated, it 

 can be carried out at this time, for good results are gen- 

 erally looked for from Fall sowing, if a thorough prepara- 

 tion has been given to the ground. Plough or dig as early 

 as possible the land to be seeded, to give all weed seeds 

 ample time to germinate ; clean and harrow well ; make 

 firm by rolling ; and rake over. This will give a fine, 

 friable surface. Choose showery weather, for then the 

 germination is very rapid. If dry, give artificial water- 

 ings to encourage a good growth before ^Vinter sets in. 



