Seasonable Paragraphs for the Gardener 



CULTIVATION and watering are 

 the two important operations in 

 the garden during July. Thorough 

 cultivation keeps down weeds and con- 

 serves moisture. It is a fact that a crop 

 of weeds will evaporate more moisture 

 from the soil than will be lost from the 

 bare surface, provided the surface soil 

 is kept loosened. 



When watering give the ground a 

 good soaking. A little may do more 

 harm than none at all. It soaks down 

 into the soil just far enough to make 

 continuous capillary attraction, and 

 when the surface soil becomes dry from 

 evaporation the water rises from the 

 lower levels, a continuous loss resulting. 



Iris may soon be transplanted. This 

 is an easily grown plant, having many 

 delightful varieties. 



Sweet peas are at their best in July. 

 Keep the blossoms picked to prolong 

 blooming. If a few very choice flowers 

 are desired disbudding may be prac- 

 ticed and only the best buds allowed to 

 .nature. .Ml seed pods should be kept 

 picked off. 



Don't think that because the increas- 

 ed growth which the flowers are mak- 

 ing hides the weeds that weeding may 

 be discontinued. Keep the garden clean- 

 ed up ; it will look much neater. 



Plants that have been in pots out- 

 doors can be re-potted and established 

 for winter flowers. 



Some of the early planted flowers will 

 be through blooming before the end of 

 the season. There is plenty of time to 

 sow seeds for late flowers. 



Pansy and mignonette are two suit- 

 able flowers to plant just now. 



Are you getting the maximum results 

 from your garden by practicing a pro- 

 per rotation? Take the time to make a 

 good survey and plan to fill in the 

 Wanks that will soon be appearing. 



Now is the time to study color effects 

 and mass arrangements and find where 

 improvements can be made for next year. 



The pansies should be close picked for 

 best results. 



Seeds of perennials, such as holly- 

 hock, columbine, larkspur, and foxglove 

 may be sown now. As .soon as large 

 enough, transplant the seedlings to flats, 

 protect them during the winter by put- 

 ting them in a cold frame and covering 

 with straw. Cover the frame with sash 

 or shutters to keep the plants from be- 

 coming wet. They may then be planted 

 out as .soon as the garden is in condi- 

 tion in the spring. 



After the raspberries have been picked 

 prune the young, growing canes back to 

 the proper height so that they will bush 

 out well and not grow too spindly. 



Keep a sharp look out for all insects. 



Soap washes are effective for the suck- 

 ing varieties while hellebore makes a 

 suitable lunch for biting kinds. 



If you have some fruit trees that have 

 set heavily don't be afraid to thin. The 

 increased size and the quality of the 

 fruit will well repay you. 



July is usually lx>th hot and dry and 

 the lawn should receive careful attention. 

 Give plenty of water and do not cut too 

 close. 



Gladioli bulbs may be planted now for 

 fall flowering. 



When planting late annuals select a 

 cool, moist place. 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



Do not despair because you were not 

 able to get as large a garden planted 

 this spring as you intended. There is 

 still time to plant peas, radish, beans, 

 Swiss chard, beets, lettuce, carrots, in 

 fact any of the vegetables that do not 

 require the full season for growth. More 

 water will need to be applied than to 

 the spring sowings. 



Don't be tempted to lie back and take 

 things easy just because the garden is 

 all planted. The weeds never rest and 

 the drought may be long. 



Late celery may still be set out. Bos- 

 ton Market, of the green celeries, and 

 Golden Self-Blanching are good varie- 

 ties. 



If cut worms are giving trouble try 

 the poisoned bran remedy. Mix fifty 

 parts of bran with one part of Paris 

 green. Moisten just sufficient that the 

 Paris green will adhere to the bran. 

 Spread this mixture about where the 

 cutworms are doing the damage. 



Remember that potato bettles are par- 

 tial to egg plant and sometimes to t<v 

 matoes. 



.Shading the lettuce with cheese cloth, 

 newspaper or by some other means, will 

 prolong its usefulness. 



Are ants spoiling the lawn? Get some 

 carbon bisulphide from a druggist, make 

 a hole or two in the ant hill with a broom 

 stick, pour in a teaspoonful of the car- 

 bon bisulphide and cover with heiavy 

 sacking. This substance is highly in 

 flamable and should be kept away from 

 the fire. 



Place a shingle or bit of board under 

 the muskmelons to prevent them rotting. 



Tomatoes will yield better if the plants 

 are tied to stakes and some of the buds 

 pruned off. 



Frequent hoeing forms a dust mulch 

 that prevents loss of water from evapor- 

 ation. 



Vegetables, particuflarly cabbage, beans 

 and cauliflower, are subect to wilts and 

 rots which are caused by bacteria. Care 

 should be exercised when cultivating, es- 

 pecially when the plants are wet, not to 

 injure them, as the bacteria gain en- 

 trance through wounds. Insects also 

 serve as carriers. Fungi may give rise 

 to secondary diseases. 



Nitrate of soda is a splendid stimu- 

 lant to all vegetables. 



Preparations will need to be made for 

 blanching the celery. This may be done 

 by placing boards on each side of the 

 row or by heaping earth against the 

 plants. Care must be taken to keep the 

 earth out of the crown. 



For bleaching a few individual plants, 

 nothing is better than four inch drain 

 tile. Tie the leaves loosely together 

 with soft twine and slip the tile down 

 over. 



Don't leave the refuse from the vege- 

 tables already used lying about on the 

 ground. Put it in the compost heap or 

 get rid of it in some way. Refuse makes 

 a splendid breeding place for insects 

 and fungus diseases. 



Be liberal with the water during the 

 hot weather that may be expected. 



A Method for Sterilizing Greenhouse Soil with St«ain 



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