for September, 1920 



309 



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I The Month's Work in Garden and Greenhouse 



I HENRY GIBSON 



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WITH the advent of September the beginner in 

 gardening naturally thinks his garden is on the 

 home run as it were, buf as a matter of fact this 

 is the time when the most profitable work can be done. 

 Relieve the Spring rush by doing whatever can be done 

 this P'all ! One has more time to think it over and can 

 make a more permanent job of it. 



Among the first things to be planted are the pseonies. 

 This beautiful hardy perennial is becoming more popular 

 as the years go by, and rightly so, for they are to be had 

 in a wide range of colors that will suit all tastes, are not 

 in the least exacting, and increase rapidly. Iris, of course, 

 we have an even wider range of color, and greater 

 variety of type, and season, etc. 



Other perennials will soon be available for planting, 

 and with but few exceptions they all can be handled in 

 the Fall. Prepare to replenish the perennial border where 

 plants are lacking, and if you do not have such a border 

 now is a good time to start one. 



In doing so it is well to bear in mind that you are mak- 

 ing a feature of the garden that is to be permanent, and 

 it is more economical in the end to do it right. Spade 

 the ground at least 18 inches deep, and add plenty of well 

 decayed manure, and after this is dug in, rake in a liberal 

 sprinkling of bone meal. 



Then there are the bulbs to plant. Of course, you have 

 ordered them long ago. No garden can afl:ord to be with- 

 out these harbingers of Spring. Whole beds may be given 

 over to one or more varieties, or small groups of several 

 varieties may be planted throughout the flower border. 

 However, one of the most effective uses bulbs can be put 

 to is naturalization planting. Only such bulbs as keep 

 increasing from year to year should be used, and they are 

 planted in locations where they remain undisturbed for 

 years. Wild gardens, woodlands that are not too dense, 

 borders of shrubberies, etc., ofter opportunities for the 

 permanent planting of bulbs. Unquestionally the Nar- 

 cissus family ofTer the best bulbs for this purpose. It is 

 really astonishing how readily bulbs increase under fav- 

 orable conditions. Practically all the more comrnon types 

 of narcissus are available. The beautiful native Trillium 

 is invaluable for woodland planting, its frail, delicate ap- 

 pearance in early Spring always exciting admiration. 



In some places the old Tiger lily can be used and will 

 increase rapidly, and several of the Japanese species of 

 lily like L. rci^ale are quite amenable to naturalization 

 The alliums are best adapted for wild effects, for being 

 of the onion class, they have the characteristic odor of 

 that family, yet they make an effective mass when estab- 

 lished. 



In the flower garden the roses should be showing up 

 well. Roses that have been well fed will be giving a sup- 

 ply of flowers equally if not exceeding in ([uality those 

 of June. All tall flowers such as Cosmos, Dahlias, etc., 

 should be kept tied to stakes, for boisterous weather may 

 be expected any time and they are easily broken. Anem- 

 ones will be benefited considerably by an application 

 of plant food just as soon as the buds show. 



Cutting of such bedding plants as it is intended to 

 winter over should be taken at once if nut already done. 

 Taking cuttings should not in any way mar the appear- 

 ance of the beds, because the necessary pieces can be taken 



at intervals, and .should leave no holes or bad spots be- 

 hind Geraniums, Coleus, Verbenas, Heliotroj)e, and other 

 tender bedding plants can all be profitably raised from 

 cuttings. 



Remove all the dead plants from the flower beds and 

 endeavor to maintain a neat, clean appearance throughout 

 the garden. Don't get careless because the end of the 

 season is drawing nigh. Get the last possible day of 

 pleasure out of it. 



Hedges that have not had their last clipping should be 

 attended to at once. Late growth from late clipping 

 makes the whole plant tender and susceptible to Winter in- 

 jury during severe Winters like we experienced last year. 

 Get busy on the plans for the planting of deciduous trees 

 and shrubs. Don't wait until the season is right on top of 

 you. It is not necessary, either, to wait until all the leaves 

 have dropped. As soon as the leaves turn color the wood 

 is ripe and the plants may be moved. Get the storage 

 place ready for such ornamental plants as Hydrangeas, 

 Bay trees, Oleanders, etc., for you cannot tell how soon 

 you may need to use them. 



When cleaning up the gardens don't make the mistake 

 of burning up the leaves in order to have the place look 

 tidy. They contain a vast amount of plant food, and who 

 dare estimate the amount of plant food that is consumed 

 by fire every year by burning up the leaves. Leaves when 

 rotted make the finest of fertilizers, and for opening up 

 heavy soils have no superior. Store them in a pile in an 

 out of the way corner, and turn them over once in a while, 

 and you will be surprised how soon you will have collected 

 a compost heap of no small value. 



In the greenhouse tomatoes should be sown for forcing, 

 if not already done. Carter's Sunrise is a good forcer, and 

 though not large is of all round excellence. Red Currant 

 and red and yellow cherry also force well and are very 

 useful for garnishing purposes. 



Early flowering sweet peas should have been sown last 

 month, but it is not too late if started at once. Beans 

 should be sown inside the latter parts of the month, and 

 successional sowing made every three weeks or so. Cu- 

 cumbers may also be planted at this tiine, and they make 

 fine companion plants for the tomatoes. Select a position 

 at the warm end of the house, and box in the pijies under 

 the bench so as to throw the bottom heat to the cucumbers. 

 .■\nnuals may be sown to su])plement the supi^Iy of cut 

 flowers through the \\'iiUer months, and with the excep- 

 tion of mignonette, which is not a cropper, may be sown 

 at varied intervals, to maintain a regular supply. Sclii- 

 zanthus, Gypsophila, Nicotiana, Stocks, Annual Lupines, 

 and .Annual Larkspurs comprise a list of good forcers. 



Carnation plants that were benched early are now 

 showing signs of active growth, and every eflfort should 

 be made to keep them growing right along without a 

 check. Rust is apt to get started on the plants at this 

 season if one is not careful. Keep plenty of air on at 

 night, and don't ovcrwater. Remember that the benches 

 are by no means filled with roots yet, and too much water 

 would spell disaster. When syringing to dislodge red 

 spider be sure that the plants are dryed off before night, 

 for we believe that nothing is more conducive to rust than 

 having the plants wet overnight. Should you get caught 

 with the [ilants wet on a dull day go over every plant and 



