GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



soil if obtainable. Many beginners hare no glass to raise tender seeds, and, though glass 

 is a great gain, some of the best results are secured with a little care, but with April well 

 advanced, there need be no misgivings as to the seed sown in sheltered borders and the 

 open ground. 



Many hardy annual flowers, such as Antirrhinums, Acrocliniums (Everlasting), 

 China Asters, Coreopsis in variety, Canterbury Bells, Candytufts, Annual Chrysanthe- 

 mums, Clarkias, Cornflowers in variety, Delphinums, Eschscholtzias, Gaillardias, Godetias, 

 Gypsophila elegans, beautiful, light feathery flowers for massing in vases ; Larkspur, 

 Lobelias, Amaranthus (Love Lies Bleeding), Lupines, Marigolds, Musk or Mimulus, 

 Myosotis (Forget-me-Not), Mignonette, Pansy, Pinks, Phlox, Penstemon, Rhodanthe, 

 Pyrethrum, Rudbeckia, Scabious, Silene, Stocks, Wallflowers, and Sweet Williams. 

 Sweet Peas sown now will be in bloom in July. All creepers on buildings should be 

 pruned, and new soil given where needed. Roses will now need encouragement, and 

 pruning should be no longer delayed. From this date keep a look-out for insect pests. 

 Lawns will need mowing, but previously should have been well rolled, and if a path 

 wants gravel see to this at once. 



Vegetables. With regard to the vegetable supply, this and May are the worst months 

 in the year, as the winter greens are beginning to run, and spring kinds are not in. 

 Early Cabbage may be hastened by feeding in dry weather either with liquid manure or 

 guano water ; also early Cauliflowers. It is useless to leave old worthless stalks in the 

 soil a day longer than can be helped. Potato planting should now be general. Give the 

 early kinds the most sheltered positions. There is no lack of work in this department, and 

 though what is done will make little show the return will be seen in a few months hence. 

 All kinds of early Broccoli may be sown, also Kales, Savoys, Cauliflowers, and Cabbage 

 for autumn supplies. Carrots, Turnips, Beet, and Parsnips may be sown in late soils, but 

 for keeping for winter use May sowings are advisable for Beet, Carrots, and Parsnips. 

 All ground should be dug as it becomes vacant. A small sowing of Dwarf French Beans 

 may be made towards the end of the month. Spinach should now be sown every three 

 weeks to maintain a regular supply. Vegetable Marrows may be sown on a hot-bed if the 

 latter is made up at this date. Some of the best Marrow Peas should be sown for July 

 and August supplies. Sow thinly in rich land. Lettuce and Radish should be sown as 

 needed ; the latter on a north border. 



Fruit Garden. There is less work to do in this department than in the others, as 

 pruning will be over, but Apricot and Peach trees will need attention. All sh' ots upon 

 Apricots that proceed direct from the trees should be stopped to within a couple of 

 inches of the base ; these are called foreright shoots. Those that are at the side are 

 needed for extension, and will later on be tacked or tied in. Peach and Nectarines need 

 disbudding. This is often totally neglected by beginners, and if all shoots are allowed 

 to grow, the trees are a mass of spray and give few fruits. In disbudding leave a couple 

 of good buds at the base or bottom of each shoot. These are the shoots needed for 

 next year's fruit, and stop within two inches. One good bud or young shoot should be 

 left above the fruits, and rub off weak ones. Let the work be done piecemeal, a little 

 every other day, as then the trees do not suffer. To sum up the work of disbudding 

 leave sufficient wood for next season's fruiting, as the fruit shoots that are bearing this 

 year will be cut out when the crop is cleared, and the shoots will be tied or nailed in 

 as they increase in size, not over the fruit to hide them, but alongside wherever there 

 is room. Green and black-fly are troublesome pests upon Peach trees, and must be 

 checked as soon as seen by syringing with tepid rain water mixed with one pound 

 of soft soap to three gallons of water. Well work the soap into the water, until it is 

 like milk, then wet all parts of the tree. Tobacco water may be used, or quassia, but 

 it is better to syringe several days in succession in the evening than in too strong doses. 

 Strawberries should be planted early in the month if the plants were too small to put in 

 during autumn. Raspberries will benefit by manurial mulching, and this also applies 

 to old Strawberry quarters. Gooseberry trees infested with caterpillars should receive 

 a dressing of soot and lime under the trees, even if the old soil were removed previously. 

 All newly-planted trees will benefit by a mulch or surface covering of manure, and 

 staked securely when necessary. The soil between fruit trees should be hoed over to 

 stop the growth of weeds. 



MAY 



Flower Garden. Much of the work advised last month may still remain unfinished 

 owing to weather being unsuitable, so that, as regards seed sowing, the same advice 

 holds good. The beginner should remember that the garden will be brighter if some 

 kinds of flower seed, which are of short duration, are sown every few weeks in small 

 quantities, thus giving much better cutting material. This applies to such flowers as 

 Mignonette, Gypsophila, and other quick growing plants. Seedlings sown early and 



