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Gardening for Amateurs 



Agaves form a striking feature when grown 

 in tubs ; the two last-named must not be 

 left out of doors during winter. 



The use of tubs in the garden is not 

 necessarily restricted to the summer months. 

 By planting bulbs in variety, Polyanthuses, 

 Wallflowers, Arabis, Myosotis, Daisies, etc., 

 in autumn, a bright show results in spring. 



From the foregoing notes it will be seen 

 that the scope in tub gardening is very wide, 

 affording ample opportunity for the display 



of taste and skill, and it remains to add that 

 only ordinary attention is necessary from 

 the time seeds are sown, or plants put out, 

 to the end of the season. Watering demands 

 great care when the plants are small, for if 

 it is overdone the soil quickly becomes sour. 

 Later on, when the roots have extended, 

 there is not so much danger ; in fact, in 

 a dry summer, the plants are more likely 

 to suffer from the want of water than other- 



Rose of Sharon. The dwarf Hypericum 

 calycinum (Rose of Sharon), so useful for 

 planting underneath trees or in other spots 

 where few things will thrive, often becomes 

 choked up with leaves and litter. In small 

 gardens this becomes noticeable, and it is a 

 difficult matter to remove the rubbish with- 

 out spoiling the appearance of the plants. 

 But in early spring the old growth may be 

 cut hard back, and it then becomes a simple 

 matter to clean out the accumulated leaves. 

 Young shoots will soon appear, and the 

 plants are really benefited by being treated 

 thus every year, as it keeps them dwarf and 

 thick, while they flower even more freely 

 than if left alone. 



Nasturtiums. Nasturtiums are invalu- 

 able in any garden on account of their bright 

 blossoms which are freely produced over a 

 long period. The climbing varieties may be 

 used in a great many different ways, while 

 the dwarf or Tom Thumb varieties are valu- 

 able as edging plants for beds or borders. 

 There are sorts in both sections having varie- 

 gated foliage. These flowers will succeed in 

 almost any position or soil. In a shaded 

 position there is a tendency to produce more 

 leaves than blossoms, perhaps, but poor soil 

 will check this to a certain extent. Rich soil 

 should always be avoided, more especially 

 for growing the dwarf sorts. 



Thinning Seedlings and Young 

 Growths. One of the greatest mistakes in 

 gardening is to allow the growths of plants 

 to be crowded. It may seem a shame to 

 pull out half or three parts of the seedlings 

 from a bed of Poppies, Clarkias, or Godetias 

 when they are crowded, but to obtain good 

 results it must be done. In a smilar way 



it is necessary in spring to thin out the 

 young shoots of Asters (Michaelmas Daisies), 

 Phlox, Helianthus, and other vigorous her- 

 baceous perennials. It is no use allowing 

 a dozen shoots to grow up when there is 

 only space for half that number. In both 

 cases adequate thinning results in better 

 and more vigorous plants, larger and brighter 

 coloured blooms, and a longer season of 

 beauty. 



Treatment of Vines during Winter. 

 The owner of a greenhouse is usually anxious 

 to possess a Vine and produce his own grapes, 

 but after a year or two it frequently happens 

 that his Vine gets out of hand, is insect-ridden, 

 and generally unsatisfactory. Much of this 

 is doubtless due to improper cultivation 

 during spring and summer, but a good deal 

 may be done towards giving the plant a fair 

 chance of success by a little attention during 

 winter. As soon as the leaves have fallen, 

 or any time during December or January, 

 the previous year's shoots must be cut back 

 to within two buds of the base. Then place a 

 flower-pot filled with hot coals on the floor of 

 the house, and cover the latter with sulphur ; 

 that will destroy all insects. The fumes are 

 dangerous and one should leave the green- 

 house immediately. The next day scrub the 

 whole house, woodwork, glass, stage, etc., tho- 

 roughly, with water containing soft soap and 

 paraffin. Afterwards remove any very loose 

 bark from the Vine and scrub it thoroughly 

 with a soft soap and paraffin solution, taking 

 care not to injure the buds. If the Vine is 

 planted inside the house, remove 2 or 3 inches 

 of the surface soil from the border, and 

 replace it by new soil and manure ; this will 

 leave everything sweet and clean for spring. 



