CALENDAR OF MONTHLY WORK 501 



made a fair growth. All old flowers should be removed, and growths regulated. 

 Mignonette should be sown for late flowering, and the seed-pods of Sweet Peas re- 

 moved as soon as possible, as if these remain the plants will stop flowering. They well 

 repay liberal supplies of food, such as liquid manure. In hot weather watering will be 

 needful. If lawns are watered, this must be done regularly and late in the day. Growths 

 of Dahlias will need thinning out. Stake the plants too. This applies to other strong- 

 growing things. Roses may be cut over to regulate gross growths, the old blooms 

 removed, and food given in the shape of liquid manure or fertilisers. 



Vegetables. If by any mishap the seeds of Cabbage sown as advised last month 

 have failed, make good the loss at the earliest opportunity. In dry weather cover the 

 seed-beds with mats to assist germination, removing them as soon as the seedlings come 

 through the soil. Colewort and Celery should be planted. Give water liberally in dry 

 weather. Spring-sown Onions should be harvested, well drying the bulbs and storing 

 in a cool place. A sowing of the winter kinds, such as the Tripoli, should be made in 

 drills 18 inches apart in firm soil. Land needed for Cabbage should be prepared; 

 those quarters just cleared of spring Onions are suitable. Hoe the soil over and draw 

 drills rather than digging the land afresh. Spinach should be sown for autumn, and 

 Cauliflowers for spring cutting. Turnips and Lettuce should be sown in small quan- 

 tities, and the roots of the earlier Turnips lifted and stored in a cool place. Lift 

 mid-season potatoes and clamp them, as they must not be exposed too long as they 

 soon get discoloured. Mould up early Broccoli, Kales, and Brussels Sprouts, remove all 

 old useless matter, stack Pea stakes as the plants are cleared, and keep the surface 

 soil well stirred. 



Fruit Garden. To get the best results from early varieties of fruit, such as Apples 

 and Pears, gather a few fruits daily to extend the season. Peaches are best gathered 

 early in the day or late. The fruits bruise more easily when picked whilst warm. These 

 trees will take a lot of moisture if under dry walls in light soils. The planting of 

 Strawberries should not be delayed. Those layered last month will now be ready, and 

 each plant should be made firm and planted so that the soil is just level with the crown. 

 Water freely in dry weather after planting. The old fruiting canes may with advantage 

 be cut out of Raspberries, allowing three to five new growths for next year, cutting away 

 others. Hoe freely among the fruit trees, and protect late Cherries and other small 

 fruits that are to be kept for some time. Lay in young wood of Cherry trees, also other 

 stone fruits. Shorten growths of others, and destroy American blight, where present. 

 This especially refers to young Apple trees. 



SEPTEMBER 



Flower Garden. The flower garden will need more attention to keep it bright, as 



with shortening days leaves will fall and more tidying up be necessary. If previous 

 advice has been followed in the way of sowing annuals, these will keep bright well into 

 October. This is the best time, to purchase bulbs for a spring supply, and at the end of 

 the month plant Hyacinths, Tulips, Crocus, &c, Both Crocuses and Daffodils succeed 

 well in grass, as they make a charming feature in the garden early in the spring, and 

 reappear yearly. Now is a good time to commence new ground work and make walks, 

 as the work can be done so much easier now than in mid-winter, when the land is not 

 in workable condition. The grass must still be mown, as often after heat and drought 

 it springs up quickly. Now is a good time to strike Roses from ripened shoots. Cut 

 them about 18 inches long and trim to half the length, inserting the shoots in quite 

 firm sandy soil. 



Vegetables. Make as much as possible of the tender vegetables at this date, as we 

 may now expect frost at any moment, and this will cripple the crop. Towards the end of 

 the month cover a good lot of Dwarf Beans from the July sowing, as if covered over at 

 night and exposed in the day they may be kept good for some time. Vegetable Marrows 

 long keep good after being cut if the stalk end is placed in water in a cool shed ; the 

 same plan may with advantage be adopted with Runner Beans and Peas, but only suf- 

 ficient moisture given to cover the stalk, not the pod, and put a few lumps of charcoal in 

 the water to keep it sweet. All kinds of Brassicas that are to stand the winter should be 

 moulded up. Towards the end of the month the earliest cabbage should be planted, 

 making the seedlings firm. Coleworts, also, of the late variety, the Hardy Green, will be 

 useful from December to March if planted rather close together ; they then give a good 

 return. Turnips should be stored, others thinned. Asparagus beds should be watered 

 if the weather is dry ; it is far better to feed now than in winter, but after the early part of 

 the month food will not be needed. 



Fruit Garden. The beginner in a way will have less work and more returns, as early 



