IKlSH GARDENING 



'55 



llii- lop sluniUI hi- piiii-lieil oiil ; ihis ciimiii.'S suiiiiy, 

 bu^lly pUiiiis, whiili lull only jfivo iiiocv Howi'is, biK llie 

 stop|i'mi; iiKo nuikos tlu-in come more even. One thinjf 

 whieli niusi he sfii.irded .i^fHinst, iiiul wliieli o.iiises so 

 much r.'illiire. is the |iliiniiiii; out of yoiini; pl;iiils which 

 have not been ihoiouifhly hardened oil'. When Ihe plants 

 h.ive been in .i cold IVame about three weeks the yfround 

 where they are to be planted should be ijiven at- 

 tention if il li.is not been done before. Chrysan- 

 themums require a rich soil, although this must not be 

 lakoii that they need a lot of manure, as there is nolhiny 

 so iletrimental to the welfare of Clirysanihennims as 

 rank manure. 



To be successful the j;round shoukl be prepared in 

 winter, digging; plentv of old rotten manure into il, 

 leavinj^ the surface quite rou,t;li until planling out time, 

 which should be about the fust or second week in .\pril 

 for early sorts, ;iiul first week in May for later varieties. 

 I'lant in rows, three feet apart, .ind two and a half feet 

 between the pl.mls ; plant firmly, and pul a stroiij,-^ 

 slake to each, sprinklinjj water overhead .Viler warm 

 weather j^ive occasional waterings o^ liquiil m.mure. 

 and lightly thin the buds when about the size of a pea. 

 When buying plants buy from a firm of repute, for it is 

 better to pay a little more and get good stulTtrue to 

 11.1 nie. 



I lints to Amateurs. 



B 



H\ K. M. l\iLi.oi.i<. 



1'1.|->.S IN l'"li>KlC. — -Tliis iiiexpciisi\'c wav ^^l' 

 growing bulbs for house decoration oiiU' reiiuiix's 

 a little careful ;itlentioii to detail. " Bulbolin " 

 aiul other excellent composts are preparetl especiall}" 

 for the purpose. They ;ire cheap, simple to work, antl 

 clean to h.indle, and Ihey also remain sweet in bowls 

 without drainage. Clean the bowls to be u.sed. and fill 

 .about one-third with the compost. Oi^ this place the 

 bulbs, allowing a small space between each bulb; 

 cover and firm the mixture. It is well to gi\e a slight 

 watering before placing them in a dark room or untli'r 

 some form of covering, which will exclude the light fov 

 some weeks. The reason for covering them and keep- 

 ing them in the dark is to force the bulbs to make roots 

 before starting to grow, which they would inevitablv 

 do if left in the light. When the growth has .ippeareii 

 above the surface of the fibre and the bulbs feel firm, 

 the bowls may lie removeil lo a bright, sunny window, 

 or a shed with a window, or, of course if available, to 

 a greenhouse. They m.iy be w.itered slightly again if 

 dry, but it must be remembered tli.il any compost 

 speci.'illy prepared for bulbs in bowls is so prepared as 

 lo retain moisture, .and excessive watering' would rot 

 llie liiilb>, .is the bowls have uo drainage holes. .\s to 

 the bowls lo use, llu' sci'ilsmen's wiiuknvs at this lime 

 vif v'ear are full of bowls of .all sizes, shapes aiul colours, 

 ami it is, indeeil, dillicuU to selecl whi-rc ciuanlilv and 

 quality are so lavishly displayed 



Bilks IX the Gardf.n.— These should he ordered al 

 once, if not already done, ami planted without delav. 



Krlit. — .\pples and pears may now be gathered and 

 stored. The success with which Ihese fruils will keep 



dining llie winter months very largely depentis on the 

 care Ihey gel at picking and stoiing time. Gather 

 them carefully and by hand. It is lo be hoped that no 

 one still practices the old-fashioned method of shaking 

 the branches and gathering up ihe fallers ! When 

 picked they should be stored on slulves in a dark, airy 

 frost-proof room or shed. The shelves should be clean, 

 but there is no necessily to pul straw or hay under Ihe 

 fruit, as this practice lends lo give the fruit a musty 

 llavour. Label each variety as il is stored, ami sec 

 that only one layer of fruit is on each shelf. Be very 

 careful to only keep the good, sound fruil. Damageil 

 or blemished fruit should not be stored with the good 

 specimens, but should be used a soon as possible, as it 

 will not keep. When all the fruit is safelv stored, Ihe 

 earlier varieties, of pears especially, will want careful 

 watching, as they ripen quickly. Never gather fruit 

 for storing during wet we.ither, ,ind never store fruil 

 that is wel. 



Chrysanthemums may be brought into .1 cold house 

 as the month advances and the nights get colder. .See 

 that all plants are carefully slaked, ami ventilate the 

 house freely. 



Cinerarias, Calceolarias, I'rimulas, and Cyclamen 

 will be the better of slight heat, but care should be 

 taken nol to coddle tlu-iii. so making Uuni weak and 

 sickly. 



When weather permits lift all summer bedding and 

 prepare for spring. .\ useful and interesting article, 

 lull of reliable information on this subject, will be found 

 in this issue, and should be carefully studied. 



When frosl blackens the Dahlias they may be lifted 

 and stored. .\iiy vacant ground not immediately 

 required may be dug and left in ridges during the 

 winter months. .Store all slakes and supports, &c.. 

 that have been in use. for iiexl year. Keep ihe garden 

 as clean and tidy ;is the aul nun season allows, and 

 save all leaves for mould. 



I lardv Cicraniums. 



lil.KAMfM [■'j;i;.\Kl.\ 111. 



Tins .Hid ihe following species are valuable 

 subjects for late autumn flowering. The species 

 under notice bears freely —soft pink flowers an 

 inch or so in diameter and three cleft leaves, the seg- 

 ments also being toothed and the whole upper surface 

 covered wilh soft hairs. .\ native of W. America, im- 

 menselv valuable for the rockerv in Seplembcr. 



CiKK.WIlM W.MJ.lllll.Wl-M. 

 This is a Hiiii.ilayaii plant introduced about iSu) or 

 1.S20. It is of procumbent habit, bearing loiig-slaiked 

 loaves which are ileeply cleft into segments, each o( 

 which is also toothed and sharp-pointed. The flowers, 

 which are freely produced far into the .-tutiiinn. are 

 bright blue, the lower h.ilf of each petal being paler <•'!■ 

 nearly while and adorned wilh six lo seven very fine 

 rcildish lines. This species is sometimes described as 

 purple-flowered, and appears to vary from seed. Those 

 who may not already have this desirable plant should 

 ask for the blue-flowered form when ordering'. 



DtNDON \cnii;. 



