^ 



IRIS If GARDENING 



C'li>uii aiul i>r«>piirt» all ;.'roinui as it l.ci-onit's 

 vacaiu from wiiitor crops 



IIAK'DV KKlir GARDEN. 

 M K\^^ MKitiiiKS — Stfawhorry Ix^ds will rofiiiirc 

 a topdrrssinu of wi'll-ilffavi'd niantirc carefully 

 forkwl into tno t'rt"*""'! l>'t\veon tho rows. Givi- 

 an oooasionul dustiiit' "f soot or linio. rspfcially 

 of a warm inoniintr wIi.mi slugs aro out and Imsy 

 fettling By caroful s»l.\tion of variotifs and 

 positions. Strawhorrios may bo had for a loan 

 season Royal Sovi''r(»ign must bo picked perfectly 

 ripe to be ai>pr«<iiat<^l Vicountesse de Tlniry. 



times. Tiij' mite was quite plain and in the act 

 of laying eyjis. The hushes were cut rifjht down 

 and burnt at oner, tho ground dressed with lime, 

 and the yoj\nf-' shoots dusted with lime and 

 sulphur throti^hout the ■jrowinj: season Tliere 

 was no trace of the mite on mv leaving hospital 

 in February 1018. 



Mui.BKUUiKs.— Morns Nigra is not met witl) as 

 often as it should lie. Apart from the useful fruit 

 the tree is highly decorative. Traiiu-d as fan- 

 shaped t'/recs on south walls they make, great 

 growth and fruit niucli quicker than when grown 

 on Standards. When planting use a good strotig 



although much smaller, is highly-flavoured; Dr 

 Hogg and British Queen are also excellent, 

 trivon s Late Prolific and Laxton's Latest should 

 be grown on north borders. 



Black C'l-rrants.— Examine the Black Currant 

 bushe.s from time to time for the mitf^ (Pln/foi,- 

 tus ril>i.^). If big buds are noticed pick them off 

 *"♦! ''V"/hem at once; dress the ground well 

 with fresli lime, and .spray the trees with 

 a winter wash. During th.' time I was in the 

 ••^rd London General Hospital, Wand.sworth. re- 

 covering from wound.?, tlie officer in charge a.sked 

 mie to advise him on the state of the various trees 

 shmbs. etc., m the grounds. The Black Currant.s 

 were a mass of big bud We examined the buds 

 tUTOugh a lens in the laboratory magnifying 700 



compost, and keep the trees well down, finishing 

 off a few inche.s below the surrounding soil, 

 forming a basin-shaped hole which will hold the 

 water, during hot weather, when copious sup- 

 plies of water are necessary. 



Filberts. — Complete the pruning of all nuts as 

 quickly as possible. The trees being in flower 

 barren shoots are easily distinguished. Keep the 

 centres of the bushes well open and all cross- 

 branches cut away. Where trees have been let 

 go they will require drastic treatment to get 

 them into shape. It is much the easie.st way to 

 give them an annual pruning. In Kent acres of 

 nuts are grown and kept about 6 to 8 feet high. 

 The shoots are very thin and easily managed. 

 Should there prove a scarcity of male catkins. 



I 



