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Gardening for Amateurs 



Some Helpful Reminders 



THE Use of Paraffin. All insect- 

 icidal preparations containing paraffin 

 oil or petroleum must be employed 

 when the sun is not shining directly on the 

 foliage. Indeed, the safest time to syringe 

 plants with insecticides is after the sun goes 

 down ; if they are used in the mornings, and 

 a strong sun follows, the leaves of the trees 

 or plants will be seriously disfigured or 

 " scorched." 



Aspidistra. The Aspidistra, or Parlour 

 Palm, is rightly the most popular plant for 

 house decoration, as it withstands with im- 

 punity the dust and draughts that quickly 

 upset other plants. Probably it is because 

 of a hardy constitution that the plants are 

 so often neglected, with the result that some 

 time or other they become unhealthy ; the 

 leaves split, and others turn yellow and die. 

 Watering is a frequent cause of such disorders, 

 either too much or too little is given. The 

 best method is to wait until the plant is 

 fairly dry, and then soak the roots for an 

 hour or so in a pail of tepid water. The 

 leaves should be sponged with warm, soapy 

 water once a week. Plants that are pot- 

 bound may nevertheless be kept presentable 

 for years if occasional applications of some 

 fertiliser is given, according to the directions 

 on each tin or packet. Never let the pots 

 stand in water for any length of time, but 

 see that the receptacles are emptied when the 

 pots have drained. When Aspidistras flower 

 it is by no means a sign of bad condition ; 

 the blossoms are very inconspicuous, being 

 produced at the soil level. 



Watering Rhododendrons. Rhododen- 

 drons are often planted in specially made 

 peat beds and borders, but this is quite un- 

 necessary, as good loam gives equally satis- 

 factory results, and also possesses one great 

 advantage over peat ; it does not dry out so 

 quickly in the summer. In very hot, dry 

 summers Rhododendrons are liable to suffer 

 severely when growing in peat unless regularly 

 supplied with water, and although on loam 

 water will be necessary occasionally, yet it 

 will not be required to anything like the 

 same extent. 



Everlasting Peas. Although owing to 

 their limited range of colour Everlasting 

 Peas cannot be said to compete with Sweet 

 Peas, they are not less useful for cutting or 

 for garden decoration, and a few should be 

 included in every garden. They may be 

 planted in various places ; against walls, 

 wire netting, trellis-work, or tree stumps, 

 in all of which they are equally effective. If 

 the growths are spread out instead of being 

 left in a mat, the display will be much finer. 



Lawns in Summer. In very hot weather, 

 especially on light and well-drained soil, the 

 lawn needs watering occasionally no less than 

 the flower beds and borders, or it quickly 

 becomes brown. It is a good plan at such 

 times to do any mowing that may be neces- 

 sary without the box, as in this way the roots 

 of the grass are protected to a certain extent 

 from fierce sunshine. A mistake amateurs 

 often make is that of keeping the mowing 

 machine set too close to the sward. A lawn 

 that is practically pared does not usually 

 bear so presentable an appearance as 

 another that is treated more rationally as 

 regards mowing. It is the frequency of 

 cutting rather than the shortness of the grass 

 that prevents untidiness. Rolling is just as 

 beneficial in summer after soaking rain as 

 during the winter and spring, although it is 

 a matter often overlooked at that season. 



Agapanthus. The blue-flowered Agapan- 

 thus umbellatus is very frequently seen in 

 gardens, growing either in large pots or tubs, 

 and when in bloom the plants are very attrac- 

 tive. When they have been allowed to 

 remain undisturbed for several years, the 

 large quantity of roots made makes effective 

 watering rather difficult, and it is a com- 

 mendable plan to stand them in pans of water 

 during the summer. If this is not possible 

 some means should be devised whereby 

 the roots can be well soaked at frequent 

 intervals. Late summer is the best time 

 for repotting Agapanthus, but the work is 

 often neglected for so long that the roots 

 burst the pots. Rich soil should always be 

 used. Very little shelter is needed during the 

 winter. 



