60 



Ulsll liARDENlNG 



Southern and Western Counties. 



By Mr. J. Matthk.ws, Ciardener to Sir Hicliar.l 

 Musgruve, Bart., Tourin, Cappoqiiin. C'oiiiity 

 NVaterford. 



TUE KlTCHI-.N (.i.VIiliK.N. 



Asi'.vicAGUS.— EstnblislKHl beds will bo braiiiig frcily 

 uow and to encourage strong growth give light dre6>- 

 iugs of salt and liiinid numiirc alternately ; k«!ep tlu- 

 beds frt>o of weeds. 



JiEKTiJOOT. — Tile main crop may !•<> sown about 

 the middle ol the mouth. Well worked ground 

 juaiujred for a previous crop should be selected, 

 otherwise coarse and forked roots may be j)roduced 

 quit*' unfit for t:tl)le use. Sow in drills fifteen inches 

 apart, placing a few .'seeds at intervals of 8 inches; 

 thin out when large enough. 



Broccoli. — Early in the mouth sow the late 

 varieties for cutting in Aiiril, May and June next 

 year. 



A further sowing of Cabbage and iSavoy made now 

 will come in useful late iu the season. 



Caruots. — The main crop, if not sown last month, 

 should be got iu without delay ou ground as advised 

 for Beetroot. 



Celluy. — Prepare shallow trenches during the 

 mouth ready for the plants as they become fit to 

 put out. Work iu a good share of well rotted 

 n.auure, allowing about four inches of soil on top 

 for planting. Spray in the evening of i)right days 

 to encourage growth. 



Cucumbers. — Atteud to the thinning and pinch- 

 ing of plants carrying crops; top dress the mounds 

 with good loam when the roots come to the surface, 

 and keep growing in a warm, moist temperatui-e. 

 The fruits should be cut before they begin to mature 

 seeds, as this would soon exhaust the plants. 



French Beans. — j\Iake another sowi)ig about the 

 nuddle of the month, and at intervals of a fortnight, 

 to maintain an unbroken supply. 



Onions. — Those that were transplanted from 

 boxes may be assisted by spraying overhead in the 

 (:venings of bright, warm days; keep the hoe work- 

 ing along the drills. Outdoor sowings should be 

 thinned when a few inches high, and dusted with 

 soot when the leaves are damp. 



Peas. — Main and late crops should be got in at 

 intervals of ten days. If a spell of dry weather 

 sets in apply a mulch of decayed manin-e or cut 

 glass along each side of the drills after soaking 

 with weak liquid manure. Pinch the points of the 

 earUer plants to induce them to fill the pods; a week 

 or so may thus be gained in picking. 



Potatoes. — Stir the soil well between the lines, 

 di awing some up to the plants when well above 

 ground. Early varieties should have the final 

 moulding up. 



S.vLADS. — Frequent sowing of Lettuce, Eadish, 

 ^lustard and Cress is required during the summer 

 to keep up an unbroken suppl5'. In hot, dry 

 weather all these soon run to seed, and to partly 

 avoid this sow on a cool, shady border. 



Tomatoes. — Plants intended for putting outside 

 should be potted on in six inch pots and grown on 

 till the first truss of fruits is set : remove all side 

 shoots keeping to a single stem. Gradually harden 

 off, finally planting out in the warmest part of the 

 garden. 



Vegetable Marrows. — Make provision for plant- 



ing these f)ut towards the end of the month, giving 

 tli« protfclion of a frame or handlight to begin with. 

 They are useful for covering rnl)i)ish heaps or un- 

 sightly corners, provided sutlioicnt sunlight reach(>6 

 tiiem. When wt'll established pinch out the points 

 ol the shoots U) ciiusc bushy growths. 



TiiK Fruit Garden. 



.\hiiost ail truit trees and bushes present a very 

 jiromising appearance; therefore, attend to all work 

 necessary to <'nsure a bumper crop this year. In- 

 sect pests invariably multiply at a rapid rate at this 

 sea-son, and unless kept in check do much damage. 

 Cherries and Plums growing on walls soon get 

 inf(>sted with black and greenfly, and should be well 

 .syringed with a good insecticide on their first 

 a]ipearance. "Watering may be a necessity and 

 should not be neglected or results will be unsatis- 

 factory. 



Disbudding of Cherries, Peaches and Nectarines 

 should be taken in hand as soon as the fruits are 

 well set. Pinch the shoots of Pears and Plums 

 al)out the fourth leaf from the base to encourage 

 the fornuition of fruiting spurs; shoots meant for 

 extension should be allowed to grow on. 



Raspberries. — Remove all surplus suckers, re- 

 taining the strongest and well placed for tying up 

 to the wires; moi'e light and air will be allowed to 

 roach the canes, which will be of great benefit to 

 the crop. Loganberries may be treated in much 

 the same way, tying in the young vines loosely as 

 they extend, but in such a way as to expose the 

 trusses of fruit. 



Strawbehriks. — .\s soon as the first fruits are 

 formed get tiie nets placed over them as a protec- 

 tion against 'oirds. 



I have seen it suggested to place vessels of water 

 about the garden as it is moisture the birds are in 

 search of, but there seems to be more attraction in 

 a big ripe Strawberry. 



A most important operation amongst fruit trees 

 during the next few months is a regular use of the 

 lice; the Httle time spent on this work is well ro- 

 l)aid, and saves a lot of watering should dry 

 weather set in. 



liOok over trees that were grafted, and, if the ties 

 are too ti^lit loosen tliem, re-tying if necessary. 



TuK Plehsure (Grounds. 



The next few weeks will be a busy time in the 

 flower garden; all preparations for summer bedding 

 must be pushed on. Many of the spring flowering 

 plants are nearly over and should be lifted. Poly- 

 anthus and Primroses may be split up and trans- 

 planted on a shady border for the summer, to make 

 good clumps for filling the beds later. 



Bulbs that were planted through the beds can be 

 lifted and heeled in until the foliage dies down, Avhen 

 they should be lifted and ripened in the sun. If the 

 beds require manure let it be well rotted s'^able 

 litter, or failing a supply of this, decayed leaf-soil 

 and bone meal M'ill give good results. 



Bedding out of the hardier stock may safely be 

 started towards the end of the month, following on 

 with the more tender subjects, such as Begonias, 

 Geraniums and Heliotropes. Give them a good 

 v.atering in the evening if the weather is dry and 

 check evaporation: run the hoe through the beds the 

 following day. Stake and tic up any plants that 

 require it, or iu many cases work would be wasted. 



