4o8 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Staking Peas, etc. Peas and Beans 

 should always receive support before they 

 actually need it. Very few amateurs carry 

 out this work to the best advantage. Instead 

 of bringing the tops of the sticks together, let 

 them be just as wide apart as at the bottom, 

 and if the sticks are old and not bushy, place 

 some short twiggy sticks along the rows first, 

 so that the plants may be able to take hold 

 at once. If the soil was thoroughly prepared 

 previous to sowing, it will be wise to allow the 

 sticks to be a foot higher than the stated 

 height of the Peas. As various rows pass 

 out of use, clear them off and bury or burn 

 the haulm. 



Celery. In dry weather watering is 

 necessary at short intervals, as Celery much 

 dislikes dryness at the root. Early rows may 

 be assisted with weak liquid manure and 

 suckers should be removed from the base of 

 the plants. Slugs often spoil otherwise 

 handsome sticks, but occasional dustings of 



soot round the plants will keep them away. 

 Old soot and lime dusted over the leaves are 

 also useful in keeping off the Celery fly. 



Outdoor Tomatoes. Liquid manure is 

 very helpful to Tomatoes when the fruit is 

 swelling, but it should always follow soakings 

 of clear water. Owing to our short summers 

 the Tomato crop outdoors is always pre- 

 carious, and every assistance should be given 

 the plants to enable their fruits to develop 

 quickly. To this end, pinch out the centre 

 of the leading shoot when three trusses of 

 fruit are set, and remove any leaves that 

 prevent sunshine reaching the fruits. 



Planting Green Crops. Continue the 

 planting out of various Winter Greens. It 

 is quite unnecessary to prepare the ground 

 for these crops if other vegetables have been 

 grown there the same season. Do not omit 

 to water them as planted, and pay attention 

 in this respect to those previously put out, or 

 they may suffer. 



Lifting Begonias. Tuberous Begonias 

 should on no account be left in the beds 

 after the first frost, even if they are not 

 much affected, for in all probability the 

 next visitation will be much more severe, 

 and a good many of the tubers may be 

 killed. Lift them carefully with a fork 

 without removing the top growth, and take 

 care not to mix the varieties where this is 

 important. Spread them thinly on shelves 

 or a floor in a cool, dry place where frost 

 cannot enter, and the removal of rough soil 

 and the dead growths will provide work in 

 wet weather later on. 



Winter Aconites. The Winter Aconite 

 blooms at a time when colour in the garden is 

 especially acceptable, and its bright yellow 

 blossoms are very cheering. Plant in August 

 but remember that it is worse than useless 

 to plant singly ; good-sized groups only 

 are advisable. 



Bulbs under Ashes. Do not leave bulbs 

 in pots under their covering of ashes after 

 growth has commenced. Examine them 

 frequently, and as soon as they are fit 

 remove them to a cold frame for a few 

 days, introducing them to heat as they 

 are required to come on. 



Hyacinths in Glasses. Among the 

 various methods of growing Hyacinths, 

 placing them in glasses of water is perhaps 

 the most interesting, and the blossoms are 

 just as fine as those of plants grown in pots 

 or pans. Pure soft water is preferable, and 

 a lump of charcoal placed in the bottom of 

 each glass will keep the water sweet. The 

 glasses made for the purpose should be used, 

 and at the same time a sufficient number of 

 proper supports should also be obtained. 

 Let the water come to within f inch of the 

 bases of the bulbs, and place them all in 

 a dark cupboard, or some similar place 

 which is also cool. When the roots are 

 developing freely bring the glasses by degrees 

 into full light, and leaves and flowers will 

 soon appear. As the water is taken up, more 

 should be added ; if the bulbs are growing 

 in a warm temperature, see that lukewarm 

 water is used. One recommendation of this 

 mode of culture is that the bulbs can be grown 

 by those who would otherwise be debarred 

 from this pleasure, for they may be placed 

 in windows in any room of the house, pro- 

 vided the temperature does not fluctuate to 

 any harmful extent : they should not be 

 left near the window on cold nights. 



