532 



Gardening for Amateurs 



As a general rule light, porous soils receive 

 greatest benefit from cow manure ; on the 

 other hand, heavy or strong ground benefits 

 most from horse and pig manure. Again, 

 the contents of cesspools thoroughly mixed 

 with other soil are beneficial to Sweet Peas, 

 which fact largely accounts for the grand 

 displays frequently seen in cottage gardens 



A seven -blossomed stem of Sweet Pea Clara 

 Curtis (pale yellow). 



in many villages. On very sandy soil we 

 get the best results by using the manure 

 from a local butcher's yard. It may be 

 pointed out that the darkest looking or most 

 evil smelling manure is not always the best, 

 for long exposure may largely account for 

 this ; the aim of growers should be to get 

 manure from animals fed only on corn or 



oilcake, one load of this is of greater value 

 than three loads of that from animals fed 

 on hay only. Manure should be dug in the 

 ground early in winter, so that it may be 

 in proper condition for the roots just when 

 the plants need nourishment. The old 

 custom of putting manure at the bottom 

 of the trench is not a wise one, for in some 

 seasons the roots fail to reach it. On the 

 other hand, the opposite extreme too fre- 

 quently adopted of simply covering the 

 manure with a few inches of soil cannot be 

 too strongly condemned. The manure ought 

 to be so placed that the roots can benefit 

 from it when the flowers are developing, 

 which in most seasons is towards the, end 

 .of June. The nutriment contained in the 

 ordinary soil wilf by that time be almost 

 absorbed by the strong-growing haulm. 

 The best plan is to dig in the manure 18 to 

 24 inches deep, mixing in also a 5-inch 

 potful of bone-meal or superphosphate of 

 lime to each square yard ; then nothing 

 more, is needed. In the upper 18 inches 

 make free use of old soot, lime rubbish, or 

 bonfire ashes, and if insect pests are feared 

 add one of the soil fumigants advertised in 

 the gardening journals. 



Sowing Seeds. The time the seeds are 

 sown must be governed first by the circum- 

 stances of the grower, and next by the time 

 the earliest flowers are needed. For those 

 whose accommodation for growing plants is 

 limited, yet who desire flowers as early in 

 the summer as possible, quite the best plan 

 is to sow seeds early in September. Owing 

 to the uncertain weather of our winters it is 

 unwise, except in very favoured localities, and 

 in gardens of light soil, to place too much 

 confidence in an outdoor sowing in autumn. 

 A better plan is to sow the seeds either singly 

 or several in a 4-inch pot. These may be 

 left in the open until the middle of November, 

 after which shelter, such as that offered at 

 the foot of a warm wall, should be found 

 for the plants ; there they may remain 

 without protection in all save the most 

 severe frosts, providing the pots are plunged 

 to the rims in a bed of ashes. If an outdoor 

 sowing is risked in the open garden care 

 should be taken to afford the row some kind 

 of protection ; a little hay or straw scattered 

 over them will answer. However, the plants 



