506 



Gardening for Amateurs 



AiLsa Craig is equally useful sown now or 

 in the spring. 



Lifting Onions. The Onions from spring 

 sowing will not grow after this time, so that 

 everything should be done to assist them in 

 ripening off. All the tops which are still 

 green should be bent over, and the bulbs 

 may be left for a short period ; the remainder 

 should be pulled and placed on a hard base 

 a path will suit admirably in full sunshine. 

 In unsettled seasons they will be best placed 

 under the lights of a frame to dry. When 

 thoroughly dried, store the bulbs in a cool, 

 dry shed for the winter. Shallots may be 

 treated similarly. 



Earthing Early Celery. Four or five 

 weeks are necessary to blanch Celery effec- 

 tually, so that the early rows should be com- 

 menced without delay. Give the plants a 

 thorough soaking of water and liquid manure 

 the day previous, for it is necessary to have 

 the heads quite dry before commencing the 

 earthing. A dusting of old soot and lime 

 will also be beneficial in deterring slugs. 



Work the soil into a fine condition, and pack 

 it closely round the stems after removing 

 any suckers. Do not allow the soil to get 

 into or cover the hearts of the plants. Stout 

 brown paper is also used successfully for 

 blanching Celery. 



Autumn Cauliflowers. Unfortunately 

 Cauliflowers are apt to " turn in " all together 

 in the autumn, and, unless means are taken 

 to keep them, many heads are wasted. If 

 those that cannot be used are lifted and 

 placed in a dark, cool spot, such as a cellar, 

 they will keep fresh for a week or ten days, 

 sometimes more. If this is not possible, 

 partially lift the plants as the heads show ; 

 this will often check them sufficiently for 

 the purpose, and prevent all being ready 

 at the same time. 



Filling Vacant Ground. Do not allow 

 any plots to lie empty if some of the early 

 maturing Winter Greens are available for 

 planting, but avoid putting those out which 

 will not come off the ground until late in the 

 spring. 



Lilium giganteum. This is the most 

 distinct and handsome member of the Lily 

 family. It is a native of the Himalayas, and 

 its most distinct features are large, handsome, 

 heart-shaped leaves which appear in tufts 

 of six or eight from each bulb, and the long, 

 erect, pole-like inflorescence, which sometimes 

 rises to a height of 8 feet. Each inflorescence 

 bears about 10 or 12 long, tubular, fragrant 

 flowers which are white outside with a 

 reddish-purple throat. As a rule the bulb has 

 to attain an age of 5 or 6 years before it is 

 strong enough to flower. It then dies, but 

 produces offsets which in time make flowering 

 specimens. It thrives best in rather moist 

 though well-drained soil composed of deep, 

 rich loam with which a little peat has been 

 mixed. It is wise to provide a little shelter 

 for the flower-spikes in spring. 



Out-door Tomatoes. Anyone who con- 

 templates growing Tomatoes out of doors 

 should take steps to obtain plants in March, 

 and grow them in a frame or greenhouse 

 until they can be placed in their summer 

 quarters late in May. Vigorous plants 

 which have already set a bunch of fruits by 



planting-out time give greatest satisfaction, 

 and the failure of this outdoor fruit may often 

 be traced to the planting of poor, miserable, 

 half-starved specimens such as are some- 

 times exposed for sale in shops. Once 

 planted and established, the cultural require- 

 ments are limited to the removal of side 

 shoots, staking, hoeing, and watering. Seed 

 sown during late February usually produces 

 fine plants to put out towards the end of 

 May. 



Care of Pea Sticks. In some districts 

 Pea sticks are scarcely obtainable, while in 

 others they are sold at such a high price that 

 the utmost care in preserving those already 

 bought for the garden is more than justified. 

 Pull them up on a fine day and let the ends 

 dry thoroughly in the sun ; after this tie 

 them in bundles and store them in a sheltered 

 corner, free of the drip from overhanging 

 trees, but always well above the ground. 

 Quite a good method of stacking them is to 

 make two stout X's of straight branches, 

 and after these are fixed firmly in the soil to 

 lay the sticks across them in the upper notches 

 of the X's. 



