2 26 Journal of Agriculture. [8 April, 1908. 



the surface soil when preparing beds for the reception of plants. Deep 

 working is necessary, and the addition of manure or other soil to the 

 substratum is also necessary, but the surface soil turned and mixed should 

 always Ije reserved and replaced at the surface or top spit, no matter 

 what depth the trenching, digging, or other preparation is done. The 

 .soil will be settled by the rain after autumn preparation, and be fitted 

 to receive plants during winter under conditions that wdll conduce to 

 .successful cultivation. 



The benefits of autumn planting of shrubs, trees, and other plants 

 that will resist frost, have been previously referred to in these notes. 

 Briefly, the advantage of early planting is that the roots take readily to 

 the warm moist soil, and supply nutriment to the plants that enables 

 them to become fairly established before the hot summer Aveather begins. 

 It is especially important where a supply of water for the garden is limited, 

 or where the weather conditions during summer are severe. 



Chrysanthemums grown for exhibition blooms should not receive liquid 

 manure after the flowers begin to expand their petals. The application 

 after that time would not be likely to benefit the flowers, and would 

 undoubtedly have a tendency to promote " damping " of the petals. 

 Raising chrysanthemums from seeds is a favorite phase of gardening 

 with many cultivators, amateur and j^rofessional. Seeds may be pur- 

 chased at times, but generallv the results are disappointing unless some 

 special " strain " speciallv selected can be procured. It is in the power 

 of most gardeners to save seeds from fine varieties that will be likely 

 Lo produce something of value. The plants likely to produce seeds are not 

 those specially grown for exhibition, but those grown for border decoration. 

 A little thinning of the terminal bunch of buds is advisable, and cross- 

 tertilizing with other kinds can be easily accomplished. The disc or 

 " centre " should be showing in the flowers otherwise seed will not be 

 available. The usual plan adapted by growers of seedlings is to grow 

 a few plants of special varieties together for seed purposes. The petals 

 of the flowers are cut off with a scissors, and as the pollen ripens it is 

 transferred to other plants to assist in the fertilization and also to cross 

 the varieties. The seed ripens alx)ut July and should be cleaned and 

 reserved tor sowing until spring. 



Plants of hardy annuals raised earlier from seeds should be trans- 

 lerred to their flowering quarters. 



Kitchen Garden. 



Preparation of the soil for future planting, and planting perennial 

 vegetables and herbs are important operations. As in the flower garden, 

 thorough preparation is necessary in order to produce good results. As 

 a rule the working of the soils of kitchen gardens is more carefully and 

 thoroughly done than in the case of flower borders. Beds for the 

 reception of asparagus should be prepared. To grow asparagus satis- 

 factorily a rich and fairly porous soil, deeply worked, drained and 

 manured is required. Young seedling plants are preferable to divisions 

 of the old plants, and should be planted during the dormant season. 



Seeds of onion may be sown to use green in spring or for transplanting 

 in June for early bulbs. Earlv Golden Globe is one of the best early 

 varieties. Sowings may be made of early peas, broad beans, c^tbbage 

 (early varieties), and saladings. Plants raised from seeds may be set 

 out as required. 



