;o4 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



-J rii u I III I 1 1 



mil I nil nil 



iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii nil I nil I I nniinin n 



I Work for the Month in the Garden | 



I SAMUEL GOLDING | 



liiiii iiiiiin I I I II I mill iiiiiiiiii 1 Ill iiiiiiii III! I iiuniiiii i mm w «'«« '"iimii mum iimiii imiimiiiimi miimiimiiiiiii^ 



WITH the middle of September our thoughts turn 

 to the harvest, for at this time some of the main 

 crops and Winter suppHes will be gathered in. 

 The past Summer has been, to say the least, somewhat 

 arid, and some subjects have completed their growth and 

 have matured at an earlier date than has been the case 

 when the seasons have been marked by a more abundant 

 rainfall. In some cases the atmospheric conditions have 

 proved unfavorable to some subjects, while others have 

 apparently revelled in it, so no doubt by the end of the 

 growing season we will probably reach an even balance. 

 The advantage of possessing a good irrigating system 

 will have been fully demonstrated this Summer. 



But while thinking of harvest, there can be no let up 

 or cessation of endeavor in the vegetable garden. Our 

 aim must be to prolong as far as possible the season of 

 production. 



Continue to cultivate between the rows of growing 

 crops; thin out spinach, and keep it clear of weeds. This 

 will soon be one of our most valued crops after a few 

 visits of Jack Frost to the garden. 



Thin turnips, late beets and lettuce, and tie large plants 

 of endive with raffia to blanch the hearts. Plant out in 

 frames more lettuce and sow radishes and small salads. 

 Make a sowing of string beans, carrots and beets in pits. 



Tie up the leaves over the hearts of cauliflowers that 

 have formed. This keeps them clean and white, so de- 

 sirable is this vegetable. Continue to earth up celery 

 at regular intervals of about two weeks : keep the side 

 shoots removed, and give a thorough watering at the 

 roots before earthing. Watch out for rust, and spray 

 with Bordeaux mixture should it appear. 



As soon as the potato vines commence to die down and 

 the tubers have finished their growth, it is often advan- 

 tageous to lift the crop as soon as it can be done, especialb' 

 so should there be any disease present, or the soil of a 

 wet, heavy nature. Choose, if possible, fine weather for 

 this operation, so that the tubers can be well dried by the 

 Sim and wind before removing to a cool shed. Should 

 disease be present it is advisable to shake a little air slaked 

 lime through them. This does much to dry the whole 

 and prevents the spread of disease. However, every pre- 

 caution should be taken to exclude diseased tubers when 

 being gathered in. 



The main crop of carrots can be carefully lifted, cut- 

 ting oft the tops, and after being reasonably dried, stored 

 away in the root cellar, or in another cool place. 



Give attention to the onions previously harvested. If 

 these are laid out thinly in a cool shed it is advisable to 

 turn them over at intervals to keep them dry, otherwise 

 disease will appear. Keep the thick and seedv stemmed 

 ones for immediate use. Pull the remaining ones from 

 the beds and after drying, remove to shed, using the 

 ground thev were in for a crop of Winter Spinach. 



Where mushrooms are wanted for the Winter, and 

 adequate provision for their culture is available, mate- 

 rials for the beds should now be collected. Enough shoidd 

 be gathered at one time to make the bed of the reciuired 

 dimensions, turning it over daily to sweeten the mass, as 

 it takes less time at this season of the year than during 

 the Winter as evaporation is more rapid, and there is 

 danger of the material becoming too dry. It is good 



practice to add a small percentage of chopped loam, as 

 this helps to retain the moisture. 



Some means of protection should be provided for string' 

 beans and other tender subjects in case of early frost. 

 This unwelcome visitor may be expected toward the end 

 of the month, and if any unpleasant results can be warded 

 oft", full production mi.ght be prolonged for a month. 



During September the flower garden is a riot of color, 

 the wealth of variety of plant life, both annual and peren- 

 nial seem to vie with each other. The varied shades of 

 yellow and brown of the Heleniums, the blue, purple, 

 pink and white of the hardy asters of the novi bclgii and 

 novcvc-aiiglifc types, Boltonias, and salvias, bith bright- 

 colored cannas and gladioli, and the myriad forms and 

 shades of the annuals, create a picture that cannot be sur- 

 passed at any other season of the year. 



At this time the dahlia enthusiast comes into his king- 

 dom, and one finds much to enthuse over when seeing the 

 beauties that are ours today. A slight dressing of nitrate 

 of soda will help force them on. This must be used 

 sparingly, especially by those who are not well versed in 

 its use. But while we are admiring the gems that are 

 here todav, it is also time to prepare for next year's dis- 

 play. 



The lovers of the peony will be busy adding to their 

 list, and making preparations for the planting, dividing, 

 and transplanting of the stock where necessary. The 

 peony loves a deep rich soil, so use good rotten manure 

 which should be forked in deeply. When planting, cover 

 the eyes about two inches below the surface. It is a good 

 plan to give them a mulch of litter during the first Winter 

 after moving, applying the mulch after the ground has 

 frozen. 



The gorgeous Oriental poppy can be moved now. 

 Most of the Spring blooming plants move well in the 

 Fall. Continue to propagate bedding stock, cuttings of 

 ageraiuiii, verbenas, pcntstcmon. and if one has these in 

 variety, especially suitable re.garding color or habit for 

 the particular use made of them, it is advisable to raise a 

 stock by taking cuttings, although these are easily raised 

 from seed if sown in Spring, but the seedlings cannot be 

 relied upon with the same confidence as the plants raised 

 from cuttings. Transplant seedlings of perennials in 

 good soil in order to have good plants to place in the 

 iDorder next month, or in the Spring. 



September is a good time for transplanting and moving 

 evergreen shrubs — conifers. Have the holes dug for their 

 reception and make any preparations necessary to avoid 

 delay when the plants are received, and to prevent pos- 

 sible injury to the roots, if exposed to wind and sun. 

 Even when the ball is well protected with burlap, a strong 

 wind soon dries the roots, and this is detrimental to their 

 welfare. 



Such kinds of apples and pears as are fit, will now be 

 harvested, that is. if the fruit comes oft' easily from the 

 stalk when gently lifted. It pays to handle all fruit with 

 care, and to grade them at the period of storing which 

 should be in a cellar or some cool room. 



See that recently seeded lawns do not suft'er from lack 

 of water. If sown late, they should have all the encour- 

 agement possible to help them to become well established 

 before the Winter is here. 



