Gardening for Amateurs 



327 



not suitable in which to plant, but plots 

 having carried a crop since manuring are 

 Just right. The distances for planting iuu<t 

 be governed to a large extent by the varieties 

 grown, but Brussels Sprouts, Sprouting 

 Broccoli, and strong growing Kales require 

 plenty of room. 



Asparagus. The beds will have been in 

 full bearing for some time, and where salt 

 was not applied in spring it may be put on 

 now. Kainit is also much used in place of 

 salt, and as it supplies potash as well as salt 

 it is of considerable benefit to the plants. 

 The cutting of Asparagus should be carefully 

 performed, or several shoots invisible above 

 the soil may be cut at the same time as the 

 growth it is desired to sever. 



Sowing Parsley. It is not advisable to 

 dej>eiid on a spring sowing of Parslev \t> 

 meet a continuous demand for twelve months, 

 as it often deteriorates considerably during 

 the winter. By making a sowing now of a 

 good kind such as Perpetual or Dwarf 

 Perfection, a winter supply will lie ensured. 

 Par-ley is invariably sown too thickly and 

 left without thinning, and under such con- 

 ditions good leaves or strong plants cannot 

 be expected. 



Cauliflower. Continue to plant out 

 the various seedlings a~ they become ready, 

 and water regularly those previously planted. 

 Cauliflowers are generally acceptable during 

 the autumn, and now is the time to make 

 sure of a supply. 



Planting Leeks. The main crop of this 

 vegetable should be planted as soon as the 

 plants are large enough. The method of 

 growing plants in well-manured trenches is 

 certainly a good one, especially for exhibition 

 purposes, but for general use the plants wiD 

 grow large enough if planted 9 inches apart 

 in rows 15 inches asunder in well-manured 

 ground. 



Mulching. Many vegetable crops will 

 benefit by a mulch applied at this time, and 

 incidentally much labour in watering is 

 saved thereby. Although manure is un- 

 doubtedly the best material for this purpose, 

 it is not a necessity. Anything that will 

 prevent the rapid escape of moisture from 

 the soil about the roots of plants, without 

 actually harming them lawn mowings are a 

 good example is suitable, and should be 

 applied in a thick layer. Manure is especially 

 valuable because rain will wash its nutritious 

 contituents into the soil. 



A Winter Wash for Fruit Trees. 

 Of late years a considerable amount of 

 attention has been directed to the winter 

 \\ashing of fruit trees, and the beneficial 

 results are noticeable in the improved health 

 of the bark and in finer fruits. In addition 

 to their value in killing numbers of injurious 

 insects which hibernate in crevices and 

 under loose bark, such washes have the 

 effect of cleansing the bark from lichen, 

 moss, dirt, and loose bark, thereby leaving 

 less cover for insects during spring and 

 su miner. A very useful wash can be pre- 

 pared by dissolving 2 Ib. of caustic soda in 

 9 gals, of soft water ; then in another vessel 

 dissolve 1 Ib. of soft soap in a gallon of 

 boiling water, and while still hot add 6 

 pints of paraffin, stir until the soap and 

 paraffin are thoroughly mixed, and pour 

 them into the other vessel containing the 

 soda, stirring well. Apply with the aid of 

 a spraying machine or syringe, selecting a 



calm day for the work, and protecting the 

 hands with rubber gloves, as the soda causes 

 the skin to roughen and crack. The soda 

 must be used in a wooden, vessel owing to 

 its chemical action on various metals. 



Trees for Small Gardens. Anyone 

 who is selecting trees to plant in a small 

 garden, and more particularly a town 

 garden, should avoid the mistake made by 

 many people of choosing Conifers, such as 

 the various Cedars, Fir, Monkey Puzzle, and 

 Pine. These are out of place under such 

 conditions, and there are many fine trees of 

 modest growth which \\<mld fill the position 

 with far greater credit. Laburnums, Double- 

 flowered Thorns, the dwarf Cherries and 

 Plums, and even the Weeping Birch and the 

 Rowan, are all suitable subjects for any 

 part of the country, whilst for the south 

 there are also the ornamental flowering 

 Peaches and Almonds. Particulars of these 

 trees occur in another part of this work. 



