Borders 



Borecole or Kale 



Preparation. One Ib. sulphate of copper (blue- 

 stone) ; dissolved in a little hot water. One Ib. 

 quicklime ; dissolved in cold water. Pour together 

 when cool and add 10 gallons of water. If 1 Ib. 

 of common treacle is dissolved with the lime as it 

 slacks in the water, the mixture adheres better. 

 Stir thoroughly and apply with a spraying appa- 

 ratus, or a syringe with a spraying nozzle attached. 

 By this means a misty spray is obtained, and a 

 thin, greenish blue sediment is deposited on the 

 foliage. Bordeaux Mixture will keep for some 

 time if covered, to prevent air having free access 

 to the surface. It should be mixed and kept in a 

 wooden vessel. Being poisonous to some extent, 

 it should not be applied to edible fruits within a 

 few weeks of the time of gathering. 



BORDERS. 



The term "border" is applied to a portion of 

 land used for growing fruit, flowers, or vegetables, 

 and whose total length considerably exceeds its 

 width. The name is also sometimes given to a 

 row of plants used as an edging. 



Fruit borders are generally formed beneath high 

 walls, on which the fruit trees are trained, the 

 ground at their base being often planted with 

 vegetables. Controversy has raged fiercely as to 

 the merits and demerits of sub-cropping fruit 

 borders in this manner, but the general consensus 

 of opinion seems to be that, provided the secondary 

 crop is quick growing and shallow rooting, no harm 

 is done, but on the contrary the fruit trees benefit 

 by the frequent applications of manure which are 

 dug into the border for the assistance of the inter- 

 lopers. The practice may easily do harm, however. 

 The fruit border should be thoroughly drained, and 

 have plenty of 4" or J" bones incorporated with 

 the soil, besides which, occasional top-dressings of 

 some of the well-known fruit fertilisers should be 

 given annually. A path 1' wide, which may be 

 made of ashes, should run parallel with the wall at 

 about 18" from it, which will give ready access to 

 the trees for pruning, nailing, or gathering the fruit. 



Vine borders are of three descriptions, viz., in- 

 side, inside and out, and outside. Controversy has 

 here again been busy as to the relative merits of 

 these, some enthusiasts holding strongly by the 

 inside border, while other ardent viticulturists 

 declare in favour of outside ones. (See VINES.) 



Herbaceous borders are invaluable in a large 

 garden, and may be so planted as to furnish 

 supplies of flowers almost the whole year round. 

 Many of their occupants are very strong growers, 

 and become rank and weedy unless taken up, 

 divided, and replanted every three years. Weakly 

 plants may often be restored to health by removing 

 the flowers before these open for one season. 

 This will relieve the plant of a great strain and 

 allow it an opportunity of recuperating. {See 

 ALPINES, HERBACEOUS, etc.) 



Ribbon borders are so called when their occu- 

 pants run in lines or ribbons ; a practice often 

 followed with summer bedding plants. (See 

 BEDDING OUT.) 



BORECOLE OP KALE. 



Description. Useful green vegetables (Brassica 

 oleracea nmbriata, ord. Cruciferaa), yielding edible 

 leaves and tender shoots liberally during the 

 winter and spring. They are extremely hardy, 

 and frequently survive when other Winter Greens 

 are cut down by severe frost. Some of. the 



varieties produce coloured leaves, and are de- 

 cidedly ornamental. 



Propagation. From seeds sown in beds of light 

 soil outdoors at the end of March and early in 

 April. Prick out the seedlings, and transplant in 

 June and July, 2' apart, in rows 2^' asunder. 



Soil. A very rich soil is not advised, or the 

 plants are apt to make rank growth, which fre- 

 quently suffers in the winter. If the soil is firm 

 and holding it will be better for the plants. 



Other Cultural Points. If put out in showery 

 weather, or well watered in, growth will be strong 



; CassdL tt- Co., Ltd. 



BOKECOLE STOKKIES' ALBINO. 



and sturdy. Borecole may be planted as late as 

 any of the Winter Greens, and follow a previous 

 crop, like early Peas. Plants may also be grown 

 between rows of second early Potatoes, planted 2J' 

 apart. The Greens are useful till flowering com- 

 mences in the spring. 



Enemies. Slugs, small birds, and flea beetle 

 (Haltica nemorum) play havoc with young seed- 

 lings as soon as they appear above the ground, 

 and prompt preventive measures must be taken. 

 Dustings of lime, soot, and fine road dust, when 

 the seedlings are damp with dew, are good checks 

 on slugs and " flea." Birds, which take seeds 

 before they germinate as well as after, should be 

 prevented by placing wire hoops in the ground, 

 and stretching garden netting over the beds. 



Club root (see CABBAGE ENEMIES). 



Caterpillar (see CABBAGE CATERPILLAR). 



Gall Weevil (see CABBAGE ENEMIES). 



Varieties : 



Asparagus Kale, useful in the spring. 



Dwarf Curled Scotch, compact, hardy. 



Improved Hearting, centre leaves incurved. 



Storries' Albino (see figure). 



Variegated or Garnishing, coloured foliage, vary- 

 ing wh., grn., pk., and crim. 



