Gardening for Amateurs 



217 



midalis) and its white variety (C. p. alba) 

 should be grown. 



Vines in Flower. So far a moist atmo- 

 sphere has been necessary in the vinery ; 

 I nt while the Vines are in flower it is advis- 

 able to keep the air drier to ensure a good 

 " set " of fruit. Ventilation should be free, 

 though cold draughts must be avoided. 

 Black Hamburgh is the variety usually grown 

 i>\ amateurs, and this needs no artificial 

 assistance in fertilisation. 



Planting Tomatoes. As the bedding 

 plants are removed, fill some pots or boxes 

 to half their depth with loamy soil, and next 

 day plant Tomatoes raised from seed in 

 earlv spring. Just cover the ball of soil and 

 no more, thus leaving room for top-dressings 

 later. Place a cane to each plant. 



Cucumbers. These must be grown in a 

 warm house or in frames over a hot bed 

 whore a minimum temperature of 65 is 

 maintained. They need a house to them- 

 selves to do really well, as a close, moist 

 atmosphere is necessary. Plant on mounds 

 of loam and old manure, and pinch the 

 growths frequently to promote fruitful- 

 neas. 



Arum Lilies after Blooming. These 

 should not be turned out of doors immediately 

 the blooms are over, but let them become 

 gradually inured to outside conditions, and 

 then plant out in a spare corner of the garden, 

 leaving them there until early autumn. 



Show Pelargoniums. Tie out the 

 growths of large plants in a neat manner, 

 and as the flower-buds show give assist- 

 ance with manure water regularly. These 

 plants are very subject to attacks of green 

 fly, and the best prevention is occasional 

 light fumigation. 



THE FRUIT GARDEN 

 Disbudding. This work is usually con- 

 sidered to apply to Peaches and Nectarines 

 only ; but there can be no doubt that if 

 judiciously carried out it is beneficial to 

 other wall fruits besides these. Apricots, 

 for instance, and many Plums would be 

 better if relieved of useless growths at this 

 time thus throwing the vigour of the trees 

 into developing the fruit and such shoots 

 as are necessary for the proper furnishing 

 of the trees instead of allowing them to 



remain until next winter and then cutting 

 them out. Shoots growing straight' to- 

 wards the wall are obviously useless, and 

 should be rubbed off, as also should very 

 strong growths coming straight out from 

 the front of older wood, and known as fore- 

 right shoots. Of course, the work should 

 not be performed on these trees to the extent 

 it is on Peaches by any means, as fruit is 

 bonie on spurs as well as on the younger 

 growths. 



Snails on Walls. Snails often take up 

 their abode between the trees and the walls 

 when the foliage is developed sufficiently to 

 hide them, and if the gardener is unaware of 

 their presence he may be awakened to the 

 fact rather rudely later in the season. There- 

 fore it is worth while looking round occa- 

 sionally, with a view to dislodging any of 

 these pests that may be pro-nit. 



Bush Fruit Quarters. On a bright, 

 sunny day go through the plantation of bush 

 fruits with the hoe. All weeds will thus be 

 killed while 3'oung and the bushes them- 

 >clvos will benefit. Repeat the hoeing fre- 

 quently in dry weather throughout the 

 summer, as it prevents the escape of mois- 

 ture from the soil. 



Strawberry Beds. If the beds were not 

 mulched earlier in the year with strawy 

 manure, it will be necessary to place straw 

 among them now if the fruits are to be kept 

 clean. It is a good plan to dust a little 

 soot and lime between the plants first to 

 keep away slugs, then remove weeds and 

 apply the straw, working it well around the 

 plants. 



Sparrows and Fruit Blossoms. As soon 

 as these depredators commence attacking 

 the blossoms on fruit trees, as shown by 

 the " carpet " underneath the trees, retalia- 

 tion must begin, and the only effectual 

 method of frightening them is by moans of 

 a small gun : scares they soon become 

 accustomed to. Although it cannot be 

 denied that sparrows do a certain amount 

 of good in gardens, the remedy suggested is 

 a necessity if the crop is to be saved. 



THE KITCHEN GARDEN 

 Sowing Beetroot. For the main crop 

 sow Perfection and Blood-red Beet now. 

 The drills should be not nearer than 15 



