8 Feb., 1908.] Garden Notes. 99 



may be lightly worked into the soil between the plants and " watered " 

 in. Where the beds have been mulched with stable manure the plants 

 require little feeding. Nothing in the way of forcing manures should be 

 given or applied if the growths are extra vigorous and the foliage large and 

 succulent. 



Roses should be lightly pruned, any thin weakly growths being entirely 

 removed, and those remaining shortened to a good healthy bud. A soaking 

 with water, ^ followed by an occasional application of weak liquid manure 

 will cause the development of growths that will produce fine flowers during 

 autumn. It usually takes from six to eight weeks to bring the plants into 

 full bloom after the summer rest and pruning. 



Delphiniums will produce another crop of flowers if the old flower 

 spikes are cut away and the plants liberally watered. These plants well 

 repay any special attention in this direction. 



Seeds of hardy annual and perennial plants mav be sown now. The 

 young plants as they appear will require shelter from very hot sun and 

 wind. 



Ground should be prepared for the reception of daffodils and other 

 spring flowering bulbs — early in March is the most suitable season for 

 planting many kinds. ^lanure should not be added to the staple unless 

 the soil is very poor, when well rotted cow manure is most suitable and 

 should be worked deeply in. 



Kitchen Garden. 



To keep plants growing freely and in a healthy condition at this season 

 liberal applications of water and frequent cultivation of the surface soil 

 are necessary. A mulch of half-rotted stable manure is of the greatest 

 service during dry and hot weather. The roots are kept moist and cool 

 by its agency, and plant food is carried to the feeding roots by every shower 

 or watering. 



Celery must be blanched by earthing or some other means that 

 will exclude the light froni and destroy the green colouring in the leaf 

 stalks ; the effect is to render the stalks crisp and free from stringiness. 

 A plan adopted by many celery growers in America is to blanch by using 

 pine boards for the purpose. These boards are about one inch in thick- 

 ness and from twelve to fourteen inches in width and are placed one on 

 each side of the rows of plants. They are put in position when the 

 plants are nearly fully grown and are kept upright b\' means of stake? 

 driven into the ground close to the plants or by nailing short pieces of 

 laths across the top at intervals of about four feet. Some soil is banked 

 against the lower edges to prevent access of light owing to an uneven 

 surface. In two or three weeks the celery is blanched and fit for use, 

 and it is contended for the system that it is cleaner and more readily 

 applied than the usual earth banking. One set of boards could be used 

 several times in a season in a garden where celery was grown extensively 

 and in succession. 



Seeds of saladings, carrot, turnip, cabbage, &c., mav be sown, and 

 plantings made from former sowings in favorable weather. 



After any crop has been harvested the ground should be worked and 

 manured in preparation for a succeeding crop. 



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