Round the Year in the Garden 



result by applying one of the quick-acting fertilisers in 

 excess. It may be used either with or without yard 

 manure, and is mixed with the soil at a depth of 12 

 inches or so, when vacant land is being dug, or scattered 

 on the surface and forked in, when applied to beds or 

 borders containing plants. The correct quantity to use 

 is 6 or 8 oz. to 1 square yard, and the best time to apply 

 it is in autumn, so that when the roots again become 

 active the slag may be available for their nourishment. 

 It is an admirable fertiliser for Roses, fruit trees, shrubs 

 and herbaceous plants generally. It is valuable also for 

 application to old garden soil that is deficient in lime, 

 for lime is one of its constituents. Thus when basic slag 

 is used, lime is not necessary unless the soil has been 

 dressed for years with yard manure, and has in conse- 

 quence become sour. In that case an application of lime 

 is beneficial ; its action is to release plant foods that are 

 not at present available. The value of basic slag 

 depends largely upon the fineness to which it is ground ; 

 the finer it is the sooner will it be available as plant food, 

 since the roots of the plants can only take up food in 

 liquid form. Basic slag is sometimes recommended for 

 use on the lawn, but it has the disadvantage of encourag- 

 ing the growth of clover, though a corrective in the form 

 of sulphate of ammonia is available for application in 

 spring. It is a moot point whether on lawns containing 

 only a little clover, basic slag may not be used with 

 advantage in autumn. When clover is already present in 

 excess, it would of course be unwise to do this. 



In the Greenhouse 



Winter-flowering Begonias. These are among the 

 most delightful of greenhouse flowers. They are of two 

 kinds, the small-flowered class, of which the popular pink 

 Gloire de Lorraine is typical, and the large-flowered kinds, 

 of which Winter Cheer and John Heal are examples. 



