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TRTSH GARDENING. 



Hints to Novices. 



By May Crosbie, 



Summer i)rvuiing of fruit trees is too often 

 neglected, but there is no doubt that when l)ro])erly 

 done trees are greatly benefited by it. The 

 object of it is, by stopx)ing the growing shoot, to 

 make the eyes at the base of the shoot fill out 

 and form good buds for next year. The opera- 

 tion, therefore, consists in cutting a few inches off 

 the shoots, taking rather more off the side shoots 

 than off the leaders of the branches, but always 

 bearing in mind that the summ.er iiruning should 

 be only a stop|)ing and never a severe pruning, 

 as if the shoots are cut hard, and heavy rains conxe 

 in the early autumn, a second growth is the result, 

 and all the buds, instead of remaining plump 

 and well filled, will start to grow, and the pruning 

 will have done more harm than good. When 

 doing the wall trees, any shoots that may be 

 wanted ought to be tied to the wall, slightly 

 bending thenx in only, as they are very brittle 

 now and easily broken off. If there is any apple 

 mildew about, the tips of all the shoots cut off 

 ought to be burnt. The remedy for both apple 

 and rose mildew is sulphide of potassium dis- 

 solved in water (-^ oz. to 1 gallon of water) applied 

 with a sprayer or fine syringe to both the vipper 

 and under surfaces of the leaves. If the attack 

 is severe, two applications of the wash will be 

 necessary with an interval of a few days. 



The autumn bloom of Roses will be much 

 impi'oved if the bushes get a good mulch of 

 manure now. See that the surface soil of the 

 beds is loose before putting on the manure, which, 

 as well as giving extra nourishment, will help to 

 preserve the m.oisture of the recent rains in the 

 soil, and also keep the roots cool. 



An excellent plan to insure good autumn Sweet 

 Pea, and particularly for those who are away 

 from their gardens in August, is to cvit a couple of 

 feet off their Sweet Pea ])lants, fork the soil 

 lightly round them, and in September there ought 

 to be a fine second growth and second crop of 

 flowers. If either manure or liquid manure is 

 available give them some. 



Yew hedges can be clii)ped this month. As 

 soon as the fruit is gathered from loganberries and 

 raspberries the old fruiting canes ought to be cut 

 clean out, and in the case of the former, the long 

 new growths tied to whatever support they are 

 grown against, giving each shoot as much room 

 as possible, so as to get all thoroughly ripened. 



Attend to staking of Dahlias, Michaelmas 

 Daisies and Sunflowers, as we so often get high 

 winds and heavy rains at the end of the month. 

 The outdoor Chrysanthemums too require atten- 

 tion in this way, and also if some of the flower buds 

 are taken off, the buds that remain will produce 

 much liner blooms and last longer. It is quite 

 worth the trouble, and the only varieties that 

 need not be done are the tiny button ones and 

 the singles. 



f^ ^* ^w 



Late Chrysanthemums. — During August the 

 different varieties will show their flower-buds at 

 varying dates. The process described as " taking " 

 a bud really consists in leaving it. but renaoving all 

 the shoots or flower-buds that appear around it. As 

 a general rule, it should be remembered that greater 

 size is obtained from the " crown " bud and better 

 colour from the " terminal " bud. 



The Month's Work. 



The Flower Garden. 



By Wm. G. Wadge, Gardener to Lady O'Neilh 

 Shane's Castle, Antrim. 



August is the month sometimes said to be a 

 breathing time for gardeners. Methinks it is 

 often very contracted. True, we should take 

 time to make a thorough and critical survey of 

 the results of our work, now they are apparent, 

 so that we may profit thereby in the future. A 

 note-book is always a necessity, and especially so 

 at this season. Such things as the behaviour of 

 any newly tried shrub or plant should be noted ; 

 also any arrangement of the plants that has not 

 been altogether pleasing, as well as anything that 

 has been particularly successful. Then, if we are 

 fortunate enough to visit any of the public parks, 

 or flower shows, or neighbouring gardens, there 

 are certain to be some features we shall wish to 

 recall at sonxe future time, and our memory is 

 nearly sure to play us false, if we trust to it. 

 For our guidance when propagating it is well to 

 note now any larger or smaller number needed 

 of any particular subject. 



Propagation. — In gardening it is essential 

 that we take long views. Oftimes preparations 

 have to be made for work months beforehand. 

 Although the bedding plants have only now 

 attained anything like their fviU beavity, we nxust 

 begin ]U'ox>agating for next summer's display. 

 The bedding Geraniums demand fir.st attention. 

 Start with the variegated varieties, as they are 

 more tender, and leave the ivy-leaved varieties 

 till last, these rooting niuch freer than the others. 

 In taking the cuttings discretion naust be exer- 

 cised not to miake any unsiglitly ga])s in the beds. 

 Cut off a few now from the inner and thicker parts 

 of the beds : then go over them again in ten days' 

 time for another batch. It is an excellent i:)lan, 

 where practicable, to put some i)lants of each 

 variety in sonxe ])lace pux'posely for stock. Early 

 cuttings will not be pleixtifxil this season, owing 

 to the dry weather, but what is lacking in quantity 

 may be balanced by the quality, as they are not 

 likely to be over sappy. They may therefore be 

 inserted without any prelinxinary drying. Fronx 

 most points of view the best nxethod of striking 

 the cuttings is in boxes. Good di'ainage is 

 essential, then fill the boxes fii^nxly with sandy 

 soil and insert the cuttings 2 inches apart. A 

 sunny corner out of dooi's is a suitable positioix, 

 and the boxes should be placed on a thick bed of 

 ashes, or raised froixx the ground on rough boards. 

 Provision mvx.st be nxade for covering with lights 

 in case of a heavy I'ainfall. 



Pentstemons and Antii'rhinunxs are deservedly 

 popular just now. They are easily raised 

 fronx seed, but in the case of nanxed 

 varieties or any good seedling it is wished to 

 perpetuate, they should be pi'opagated as soon 

 as suitable side growths can be got. These nxay 

 be dibbled in a frame. Shade nxust be given 

 during suixshine, as any flagging is detrinxental 

 to a good strike. Pentst<^nxons raised annually 

 fi'om seed or cuttings cei'tainly produce the 

 largest s])ikes and blooms, bxit it is worth while 

 leaving some plants to remain over when they 

 are growing m a mixed border, or even a bed of 



