556 



Gardening for Amateurs 



cold frame. A good strain of Schizanthus 

 Wisetonensis will give very pleasing results. 



Propagating Gloxinias. Although 

 Gloxinias are, strictly speaking, hothouse 

 plants, they seldom fail when grown carefully 

 in the greenhouse. Those who can maintain 

 a temperature of 75 or thereabouts in a 

 propagating case can easily increase any 

 particularly admired varieties by means of 

 leaves. Select those that are fully grown, 

 and in the midrib on the underside of each 

 leaf make incisions immediately beneath 

 the points from which the side ribs emerge. 

 Fill flower pans with very sandy soil, water 

 well, and place a layer of sand over the surface. 

 Place the leaves on the sand, and peg down 

 firmly with small wire pegs, so that the cut 

 parts are in contact with the soil. Place in 

 the propagator, and keep the soil moist 

 until the leaves have decayed. Small bulbs 

 will then have formed at each incision, and 

 these may be kept dry until the following 

 spring, when they can be started into growth 

 as required, 



Potting Arum Lilies. Arum Lilies 

 should now be lifted and potted if they were 

 planted out in the garden in spring ; if left 

 in the pots all the summer shake them out 

 now and re-pot. Use soil consisting chiefly 

 of good loam, but as liberal supplies of water 

 are necessary, plenty of grit should be added. 

 The pots used may be from the 7-inch size 

 upward, and do not crowd the roots ; always 

 place roots of equal size together. Stand 

 outdoors for the present, and water with 

 great care until root action commences ; in 

 a fortnight or three weeks place them in a 

 cold frame. 



THE FRUIT GARDEN 

 Planting Strawberries. Strawberries 

 may be planted now in well-prepared soil. 

 It is advisable to wait for unsettled weather 

 conditions if watering is likely to be difficult 

 to carry out. Young plants transferred 

 from small pots will grow away practically 

 without check, but even those which have 

 to be lifted from the ground in which they 

 were layered soon become established if kept 

 moist at the root. Plant 18 inches apart in 

 rows 2 feet asunder, and preferably put the 

 plants alternately in the rows, thus allowing 

 them the maximum of room. 



Potting Strawberries. Plants intended 

 for forcing for early supplies should be 

 potted on into 6-inch pots. Use good loam 

 with the addition of a small quantity of old 

 hotbed material. It is essential to pot very 

 firmly, therefore the soil used should be 

 neither very dry or very wet. Stand the 

 plants in the open on a base of cinders for 

 the present, and take great care that they 

 do not suffer for want of water. 



Loganberry. This popular fruit is 

 cultivated in practically the same manner 

 as one of its parents the Raspberry, as 

 well with reference to the pruning as to 

 other details. When all the fruit has been 

 taken from the older stems they should be 

 cut out at the base, and if the younger shoots 

 are plentiful remove the weakest of these 

 also. The remainder must be tied loosely 

 to the wires ; a stout pair of gloves will be 

 found useful during the work. 



Early Apples and Pears. Some of the 

 earlier varieties of Apples and Pears are now 

 ripening, and the trees need frequent ex- 

 amination, so that the fruit may be secured 

 at the right moment. Gather them care- 

 fully when they part readily from the 

 branch, and store for a few days in a cool, 

 dry room to complete the ripening pro- 

 cess, after which they should be used 

 without delay. 



Thinning Black Currant Growths. 

 Black Currants ought not to be pruned in the 

 same manner as the Red and White sorts, 

 and perhaps this is the reason they are seldom 

 pruned at all. This, however, is a mistake, 

 as fine fruit cannot be produced on bushes 

 which are overcrowded with growths. Some 

 of the older branches should be removed 

 annually, as there are invariably sufficient 

 young shoots to replace them, and it is these 

 that produce the best fruit. This work may 

 be carried out now, thus allowing the shoots 

 retained to ripen thoroughly. 



THE KITCHEN GARDEN 

 Outdoor Tomatoes. Keep the side 

 shoots removed regularly from Tomato plants 

 growing out of doors, and if not previously 

 done cut off the top of the leading growth 

 without delay. Leaves that shade the fruit 

 may be cut off, though this practice must not 

 be carried to extremes. Frequent applica- 



