For July, 1<)23 



171 



In the Garden and in the Greenhouse 



GEORGE F. STEWART 



Ix THE Garden 



LATE July and early Aui^ust are generally quite trying 

 times in the garden. It is probably the hottest part 

 of the whole year, and thunderstorms are frequent, 

 accompanied by torrential rains, which very often do ir- 

 rei>arab!e damage in the garden, unless staking has been 

 properly attended to. Even then, some plants will be 

 considerably damaged by the wind and rain. How often 

 the gardener will have the place in first class shape, with a 

 good display of flowers in the beds and borders, when one 

 of these sudden storms will come up, washing out walks, 

 throwing mud over the plants, and destroying the floral 

 display. My fellow gardeners all have had this experi- 

 ence, more or less frequently, and it takes a philosopher 

 indeed to keep calm on such trying occasions. 



The main task in the herbaceous borders from now on 

 will be to keep the soil around the plants cultivated, cut- 

 ting down plants that have finished flowering, and filling 

 in the gaps with suitable ones from the supply garden. 

 Quite large plants of various annuals may be moved for 

 this purpose. They are better if quite dry at the roots, 

 when they are dug up, but when they are replanted, they 

 should be given a thorough watering. If they are in a dry 

 condition when moved, it is astonishing how little they 

 mind the change. An occasional application of fertilizer 

 helps all the plants, as the manuring that has been done 

 in the Spring very soon becomes exhausted with frequent 

 waterings. 



This is a good time of the year to look over the shrulj- 

 bery. Plants may be getting overcrowded and in the Fall 

 may need transplanting. Dahlias need to be well staked 

 as they are likelv to be top heavy and unless they are well 

 tied up storms may break them flown. They also need to 

 be sprayed for insects, as their flowering qualities are 

 easily ruined if this is not attended to. As soon as they 

 set bud, applications of fertilizer may also be given. Cul- 

 tivate them lightly on the surface and water if they get 

 very dry. 



See that Campanula medium and other biennials are 

 transplanted, allowing them plenty of space between the 

 plants as they do not winter well if over crowded. 



By the end of Julv sow seeds of pansies, daisies, and 

 forget-me-nots for next Spring. 



Give the hybrid tea roses plenty of ]>lant food, and 

 waterings with manure water, if plenty of outdoor roses 

 are expected in the 'Fall. They also need frequent syring- 

 ings with Fungine to prevent mildew and black spot. To 

 have fine outdoor rose displays as was seen at our con- 

 vention last year, the plants need as much attention, as is 

 given to those grov;n on benches indoors. Look over the 

 Rambler roses and cut out a good deal of the old hard 

 wood. Give them also plenty of plant food, to build up the 

 young growths for next year. Give them a tie in occa- 

 sionally to support the )-oung growths. Pyrethnmi if 

 kept from going to seed will fiower a second time. This 

 also applies to Gaillardias and Salvia pratensis, etc. Many 

 outdoor plants are afliected by red spider and evergreens 

 especially are better if sprayed with some insecticide as 

 soon as they put in their appearance. 



Work in the formal garden will now be routine — pick- 

 ing off dead flowers and leaves, and edging around the 

 beds. Some of the geranium plants may be inclined to run 

 out on to the grass. These may be cut back and used for 

 cuttings. When weeding' stir the surface of the beds 

 lightly. 



Work in the vegetable garden will consist of hoeing, 

 cultivating and dusting for fungous and insect pests. 



Keep up sowings of beans as late as August 15. Some- 

 times the last sowing is nipped by an early frost, but it is 

 always worth taking a chance. Corn may be planted as 

 late as the last of July. Like beans, it is liable to be in- 

 jured with frost if it strikes early, especially on low 

 ground. Corn enjoys rich land and plenty of cultivation. 

 The corn borer is very troublesome around here, but I 

 am told that if the tassels are sprayed with arsenate of 

 lead it kills them. Of course, it ruins the stalks for fod- 

 der, which is a detriment. 



Late celery should be planted after the peas are past 

 bearing. Spraying with Bordeaux should be done to pre- 

 vent rust, although last year it did not seem to work out. 

 But then, it was an exceptionally wet season. A quick 

 maturing crop may be planted between the rows, lettuce, 

 radishes, etc. 



Late cabbages and cauliflower may be planted out as 

 the peas are passing out of crop. A good coating of 

 Scotch soot should be dusted on the rows before planting 

 as root maggots and such like are not happy in its vicinity. 



Spray or dust the asparagus bed for the asparagus 

 beetle has been troublesome lately. Be sure to feed this 

 crop heavily while it is growing, which determines the 

 quality next year. 



Sow Fall lettnce aliout the first week in August in a 

 good rich piece of land. Spinach for Fall use may be 

 sown about August 10. It is generally ready to use when 

 the New Zealand Spinach has been cut down bv early 

 frost and continues until hard frost. 



After the strawberries have finished bearing, plants that 

 are to be carried o-ver should be given a thorough cleaning 

 and fertilizing with bone meal and acid phosphate. Wood 

 ashes also seem to agree well with them. All runners 

 should be removed, except those which are required for 

 forcing next Winter, and planting a new plantation. The 

 runners for forcing should be pegged on the top of small 

 pots filled with loam so that they may get established 

 quickly. In fact, if one has the time, those that are to be 

 planted out are better if treated the same way, as they 

 also establish themselves much faster. A good coating of 

 hog manure is excellent for the land they are to be 

 planted on, which preferably has been broken up sod 

 land in the Spring. 



Watch out for any outbreak of the potato bug. Spray 

 for it and also spray for blight. Early planted varieties 

 should now be rerxiy to use, but too many should not 

 be dug at a time, as they will yet continue to grow, just 

 enough for daily use, unle^^s one has to ship them a dis- 

 tance. 



As soon as the raspberries have been picked, cut back ' 

 the canes close to the ground and thin out the young ones, 

 four or five to a plant is enough to leave. Of course, this 

 does not apply to the late fruiting varieties. Go over the 

 fruit trees, when time allows. Pinch back the voung 

 growths to four or five leaves except the points of the 

 branches. Take note of any tree that is going too much to 

 wood without bearing fruit, and before it freezes in the 

 Fall give it a good root pruning. Be especially careful 

 to get at any straight tap root and cut it well back. 

 I>; THE Greenhouse 



The greenhouse requires a good deal of attention this 

 month as a foundation is laid for many plants and flowers 

 that will be required next Winter. It is also an opportune 



