Gardening for Amateurs 



Odds and Ends of Interest 



EUREL Leaves as Insecticide. The 

 leaves of the common Laurel contain 

 a chemical substance known as glu- 

 coside ; when the leaves are broken up, 

 bruised, or torn asunder, fermentation takes 

 place immediately, and this glucoside is de- 

 composed while the deadly hydrocyanic acid 

 gas is evolved. A handful of leaves, then, 

 forms a fine insecticide for the fumigation 

 of a small place, say, a frame, propagator, 

 box of plants or bell- jar. Gather the leaves 

 into a bowl, and bruise them until almost 

 into a pulp by means of a spoon or pot stick ; 

 place the bowl, immediately after, in the 

 frame, close the latter tightly, and leave it 

 there all night. The amount of gas liberated 

 is not extensive, but as it is a powerful 

 fumigant it proves very effective ; I have 

 never heard of its being used in any space 

 larger than a small frame. 



Bacteria in the Soil. Experiments 

 have proved that useful bacteria are present 

 in greatest numbers, and most active, at a 

 depth of 5 or 6 inches in well-tilled soil. 

 Results also show that deep working of the 

 soil to 10 or 12 inches increases the number 

 of these bacteria in all kinds of soil. As the 

 fertility of soil depends materially on its 

 bacterial contents, it stands to reason, then, 

 that tillage to a good depth increases the 

 fertility of the ground, and, apart from the 

 physical disadvantages of badly worked 

 land, we may hope for increasing returns 

 the better the surface layer is kept. Excess 

 of moisture and the want of fresh air act 

 deleteriously on the development of the 

 bacteria, so that drainage of some sort and 

 constant working of the soil become a 

 necessity where we wish to utilise the land 

 .to its greatest extent. Most soil bacteria 

 are friends of the gardener, and he must 

 consider their demands if he wants to get 

 their help. 



The Use of Soot for Flowers. Soot 

 has long been regarded as a useful aid in 

 the cultivation of all vegetable crops, but 

 it does not seem to be generally known that 

 with ordinary care it may be used with even 

 more advantageous results by the greenhouse 



or flower gardener. When preparing beds 

 for the reception of almost any kind of 

 flowering plant a dressing of soot will 

 ensure more healthy growth, and if it 

 does not really kill ground pests it certainly 

 drives them away. A light sprinkling over 

 the herbaceous border just as the new growth 

 is appearing in early spring will cause many 

 a plant to put on an extra spurt. If a peck 

 of good soot is placed in a coarse sack and 

 suspended in twenty gallons of water, the 

 liquid forms one of the best and cheapest 

 stimulants for such popular greenhouse 

 flowers as Cinerarias, Primulas, Azaleas, 

 Genistas, Fancy Pelargoniums, and flowering 

 bulbs of all kinds. Weak soot water may 

 with advantage be used for syringing the 

 haulm of Sweet Peas and Roses, and keeps 

 them free from attacks of Green Fly. 



Indelible Inks for Metal Labels. 

 Metal labels are becoming very common in 

 the garden now, and altered methods of 

 writing on them have to be adopted. Some 

 of those made of an aluminium alloy will 

 take the marking of an ordinary lead pencil 

 quite easily, and retain it for a long time 

 permanently, it is said, if the surface be 

 afterwards covered with clear varnish ; 

 even should the writing get washed off it 

 will show plainly when the metal is breathed 

 upon. Two different kinds of indelible ink 

 may be employed for labels made of various 

 metals. A little boiling water is poured over 

 a quantity of copper sulphate, or bluestone, 

 and allowed to cool ; a saturated solution 

 will then be secured, and if any writing 

 is made on white metal with this, it will be 

 permanent. A good ink is made of verdegris 

 and sal ammoniac (ammonium chloride), 2 

 drachms each, lampblack 1 drachm, water 

 4 ounces. The three solids are mixed in a 

 bowl, while the water is added, a little at a 

 time, and worked well into the paste with a 

 rounded piece of wood. The thick liquid 

 obtained is stored in a tightly stoppered 

 bottle. Use a quill pen for both prepara- 

 tions, and always remove grease or dirt 

 from the label beforehand with a piece of 

 emery paper. 



