792 



Gardening for Amateurs 



chosen for the purpose, as the young unfold- 

 ing fronds of the former are most attractive. 

 The forms of the Lady Fern are especially 

 charming in spring. When repotting is 

 required, it should be done in spring, just 

 as the roots become active and before the 

 young fronds appear. An idea generally 



prevails that these, as well as other ferns, 

 need a lot of peat in the compost, but 

 this is quite a fallacy, as they thrive in 

 a mixture of loam, leaf -mould and sand. 

 They do, however, need thoroughly effective 

 drainage and copious supplies of water in 



The Gold Frame 



IF a cold frame is available it will be 

 found a valuable auxiliary to the 

 greenhouse, for it may be used in 

 spring for the accommodation of plants that 

 are past their best, and yet are too delicate 

 to be turned out of doors. Even hardy 

 plants that have flowered in the greenhouse 

 are all the better for a few weeks in the 

 frame, as if put directly out of doors they 

 are sure to suffer. Furthermore, many 

 plants that are being cultivated for the 

 greenhouse in autumn and winter, such as 

 Primulas, Cinerarias, Cyclamen, etc., may 

 be grown in a far more satisfactory manner 

 in a cold frame during the summer months 

 than in the greenhouse itself. If the plants 

 are placed on a cool ash bottom they are 

 less liable to the attacks of insect pests in 

 a frame than in the greenhouse. For the 

 plants above mentioned it is preferable to 

 place the frame in such a manner that the 

 sun does not shine upon it during the hottest 

 part of the day. At the same time a reason- 

 able amount of sunshine is necessary, as 

 if too much shaded the plants become 

 " drawn " and weak. Overhanging trees 

 must, of course, be avoided. 



The question of a sufficient supply of air 

 in the frame is an important one, though 

 frequently neglected ; the ordinary sliding 

 lights are frequently pushed down a little 

 way from the top, with the result that the 

 plants towards the bottom of the frame get 

 little air. This leads to weakened growth 

 and consequent paucity of flowers. A good 

 way of giving air is to tilt the lights alter- 

 nately from the top and bottom, thus allow- 

 ing a free circulation of air among ail the 

 plants. 



It is also beneficial to the plants if the 



lights are removed altogether during gentle 

 rains, which do so much good to vegetation 

 in general. 



During hot weather watering should, if 

 possible, be done in the evening and be 

 followed by gentle syringe! ng. Apart from 

 its value for the summer accommodation of 

 winter-flowering plants, a cold frame is 

 useful for the propagation during summer 

 of various soft-wooded plants, such as 

 Fuchsia, Heliotrope, Lantana, Abutilon. and 

 many others. Throughout the summer cut- 

 tings formed of the young shoots will strike 

 root without fire heat. The frame may also 

 be utilised for the propagation of many 

 hardy shrubs which conform to the same 

 mode of treatment. 



For striking cuttings the frame must be kept 

 close and shaded from the sun's rays until 

 they root, when air must be gradually given. 



In the autumn, too, the frame will be 

 found extremely useful for the reception of 

 plants for which it is difficult to provide 

 accommodation in the greenhouse. When 

 tender plants are first taken under cover 

 there is sure to be a shortage of room, and 

 then the frame comes in handy. When the 

 Chrysanthemums are over space may then 

 be found in the greenhouse for many plants 

 that have hitherto been sheltered in the 

 frame. A frame is equally useful for the 

 reception of bulbs in pots after their removal 

 from ashes or coco-nut refuse out of doors. 

 When the tops push through the soil the 

 pots must, of course, be removed from the 

 plunging material, and a cold frame forms 

 a very suitable stepping-stone between the 

 open ground and the greenhouse. 



The Gold Frame in Winter. When 

 the frame is used, as is often done, for the 



