Round the Year in the Garden 



prefer a compost consisting chiefly of peat, with which a 

 little loain and some sand are mixed. For ferns a good 

 general mixture is that of loam two thirds and peat 

 or leaf soil one third, with sand freely intermixed. 

 Aspidistra, Dracaena, Araucaria, Aralia and other com- 

 mon room plants are also well suited by similar compost. 

 Plants of Ficus or India-rubber, Aralia and Dracaena, 

 which have become bare of leaves at the base or " leggy " 

 may be rejuvenated by the process known as " ringing. " 

 A ring of bark is removed just beneath the lowest leaf (a 

 slit made in the stem at that point answers the same 

 purpose), moss is tied round it and kept moist by syringing. 

 In due course roots will issue, and when it is seen that 

 they are plentiful the stem is gradually cut through. 

 Finally, in the course of two weeks or so, the stem is 

 severed and the new plant is potted. Maidenhair Ferns 

 usually become shabby during the winter ; the old fronds 

 may now be cut off to make way for the fresh ones that 

 will soon replace them. All green-leaved plants that are 

 grown for the sake of their leaves, need shade and 

 moisture; on the contrary, those having brilliantly 

 coloured foliage should be exposed to the sunshine. 



In the Fruit Garden 



Planting Fruit Trees. The planting of fruit trees 

 out of doors ought to be completed without delay. It is 

 late even now for this work, and crops of any value 

 cannot be expected this year. Large holes should be 

 prepared, no manure being used, the uppermost roots 

 must be within 2 inches or so of the surface, and the 

 soil made firm. Fruit trees now in bloom on walls should 

 be protected if possible in case of frost. This is most 

 conveniently carried out by means of light canvas sup- 

 ported by poles to keep it off the trees. In large gardens, 

 canvas blinds are fixed to the wall so that they can be 

 rolled up and down as may be needed. The protection 



