Mar " 23, 19J2.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



185 



d 

 y^ 



cases where this is necessary to maintain accurat 

 nomenclature. If the Roses are cultivated in 

 beds for garden decoration, Violas or other low- 

 growing plants may be grown with them, the 

 conditions suiting Violas admirably. Care should 

 be taken in the selection of colours, so that they 

 do not clash. 



Teas and Hybrid Teas.— All protective ma- 

 terial should be cleared away, but the pruning of 

 these more tender Roses should be deferred till 

 quite the end of the month or the beginning of 

 April, the locality and climatic conditions being 

 the best guide to the proper time. Prune them 

 hard back, according to the variety, the best 

 shoots usually starting from the base of the plant. 



Climbing Roses.— If the directions given in 

 a former calendar were carried out, no further at- 

 tention is required. In any case, these should be 

 pruned before any others. 



Sowing Seeds of Annuals.— This is an im- 

 portant month for seed sowing, the majority of 

 annuals not already sown requiring immediate 

 attention. Nemesias, Phlox Drummondii, Stocks, 

 Asters, Verbenas, Marigolds and other kinds are 

 best sown in boxes or pans under glass, and 

 pricked out afterwards. By this method the 

 delicate seedlings may be the more readily pro- 

 tected from birds and slugs. But many showy 

 annuals thrive best if sown in their permanent 

 quarters ; for example, Godetias, Clarkias, 

 Nigella, Shirley Poppies, Lavateras, Larkspurs, 

 annual Chrysanthemums and Nasturtiums. These 

 should be sown now that the plants may have a 

 long season of growth. 





THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



By Edwin Beckett, Gardener to the Hon. Vicary Gibbs, 



Aldenham House, Hertfordshire. 



Globe Beetroot.— Where means exist make 

 a sowing of this vegetable in a cold frame, and, 

 preferably on a mild hot-bed. Sow the seeds 

 in drills, drawn at about 10 inches apart and, 

 until they germinate, keep the frame close. 

 When sufficiently large to handle thin out the 

 young plants to 8 or 9 inches apart, and 

 admit fresh air on all favourable occasions: on 

 still warm days the lights may be removed en- 



** j j The waterin B of the plants must be 

 attended to carefully. Young roots grown in this 

 manner are much to be preferred to those stored 

 irom last season. 



Broccoli. — A 



variety, such as 

 made at once to 

 sll Pply. Sow the 



sowing of Broccoli of a suitable 

 Michaelmas White, should be 

 provide plants for an autumn 

 fcl ~- - ,.. — - seed thinly in boxes, and raise 



me seedlings in a cool house, transferring them, 

 When they are large enough, to a cold frame. 



Brussels Sprouts. - Make a sowing of 

 Brussels Sprouts for supplying an early crop of 

 tnis vegetable in the same manner as recom- 

 mended for Broccoli. Dwarf Gem is an excellent 

 variety for sowing now, and especially suited for 

 small gardens. J 



Cauliflowers.— Plants of Cauliflowers that 

 are being grown in pots, as recommended in an 

 ^amer Calendar, should have rooted freely, and 

 may be transferred from the cold frames to a 

 £ouse where a night temperature of from 55° to 



<L ? ma \ ntained - Assist the plants by occa- 

 sional applications of liquid manure. A few 



££? ma ^- be put out in the °P en in sheltered, 

 EhE P° slt ions especially if cloches or hand- 

 ed are available f °r protecting them should 



form W . ea -??^ Pre ™ iL B ° U S h5 ° f Swuce Fir 



mm suitable W md breaks. It is essential 

 are tr™ r }\ "? Wel1 hard «™d before they 



SS ^^ing. the open ' and MpedaU y those 



vZ!folT AB A L r E MARROW s.-Another sowing of 

 time fnr l M f. rrows s h° uld b * made about this 

 SoSihl pIa ? tin .g <>ut m frames on mild hot-beds. 



thLt Tb5&. m s ™» P° ts * a *d germinate 



Spinach— Small sowings of Spinach should 

 be made from now onwards in the open ground 

 to maintain a regular supply. For the earliest 

 sowing select a sheltered position, such as be- 

 tween rows of early Peas. Sow the seed thinly 

 in shallow drills. The soil should be stirred on 

 the surface between the rows of plants of the 

 earlier crops raised in frames, on a mild hot-bed, 

 to promote a quick growth. Admit fresh air on 

 all iavourable occasions. 



Sorrel.— Maintain a supply of Sorrel, as this 

 herb is often required for use either as a vege- 

 table or salad. Sow seeds as soon as possible in 

 shallow drills at a foot apart, and thin the seed- 

 lings to 6 inches apart. Plant them out later in 

 the autumn m well-prepared ground. Old clumps 

 may be divided and replanted. Remove the 

 flower-spikes as they appear. 



e *n in a brisk heat. 



W 1L D J 1SK , - at - When the ^edlings ar 



ttfaleZf^ \ nt ° 5 ° r 6 " inch P<> ts befor 

 uey are planted out permanentlv. 



Seak 



WorW A . LE i' ~ An ° pen site and ground well 



^^bi: nd T rth w i d ?^ be sekcted ** this 



that will lii* I kn A d S heav « y add materials 

 5« the ^ ^ lL At ^ e earli€st opportunity 

 row ? ma de Zf^ T i* ermita plant th « Sets ^ 



b *i«S th nk L^V*"*' aUowin * 12 inches 

 °* a dibber P W the row *- Plant b ^ means 



FRUITS UNDER GLASS. 



By E. Harriss, Fruit Foreman, The Royal Gardens, 



Windsor. 



Early Fig Trees in Pots. —The trees 

 which were started into growth in December or 

 early in January will soon be ripening their 

 fruits, and from the present time until the actual 

 ripening process commences the trees must be 

 given plenty of stimulating manures. Liquid 

 manure from the farm-yard may be alternated 

 with a reliable artificial fertiliser, and soot- 

 water will also be found valuable. If roots are 

 plentiful near the surface of the soil, apply a 

 dressing of well-decomposed cow or horse manure. 

 Thoroughly syringe the foliage twice daily with 

 tepid rain water, and keep the atmosphere moist 

 by frequently damping the floors and other bare 

 surfaces in the house. If it is desired to hasten 

 the ripening of the fruit, the temperature at 

 night may be raised to 65°, unless the weather 

 is unusually cold, when 60° will be ample. The 

 Fig, in common with most other kinds of fruit 

 trees, is not the better for excessive forcing by 

 artificial means. Therefore, endeavour as much 

 as possible to do the forcing during the day, 

 especially during fine, sunny weather. Continue 

 to stop and regulate the young growths, thinning 

 the shoots freely where they are becoming so 

 thick as to prevent light and air from reaching 

 the fruits. When the fruits are actually ripen- 

 ing, syringing must be discontinued and the 

 atmosphere kept less damp. Plenty of air must 

 also be admitted at that stage, using both top 

 and bottom ventilators during warm, genial 

 weather, and leaving the ventilators open a little 

 during the night. 



Fig Trees in Borders.— Established trees 

 which have their roots confined in shallow and 

 restricted borders will need careful attention in 

 regard to watering. When water is necessary, 

 take care that sufficient is given to thoroughly 

 soak the soil. Trees carrying full crops of fruit 

 must be given plenty of stimulants, especially 

 toward the final stages of development. Such 

 trees will be greatly assisted by a good surface 

 dressing of rich, well-rotted farm-yard manure. 

 Stop the shoots regularly at the fourth or fifth 

 leaf, and liberally thin out the growths where 

 they are too numerous. Weak, unfruitful 

 branches may be removed or cut hard back, with 

 a view to getting fresh shoots from the base. If 

 the trees are heavily cropped with fruits, these 

 may be thinned, but it is wise in the case of 

 the first crop not to hasten unduly in this matter, 

 as the least check to the trees will often cau^e 

 a great many of the fruits to fall. The second 

 crop must be thinned liberally, or- the fruits 

 will be useless. The foliage must be syringed 

 during fine weather, paying particular attention 

 to the underside of the leaves, in order to keep 

 the trees free from red -spider. Should the leaves 

 become affected with this pest, they must be 

 sponged with a weak solution of soft soap and 

 sulphur. Ventilate the house freely during fav- 

 ourable weather, but prevent cold draughts by 

 every means possible. Close the houses early in 

 the afternoon after syringing the trees. 



Vine "Eyes." — When the roots of these 

 recently-propagated plants have reached the sides 

 of the pots the young plants must be shifted into 

 larger pots. Six-inch pots will be suitable for 

 most of the plants, and the compost may consist 

 chiefly of fibrous loam mixed with a little mortar- 

 rubble and crushed bones. This compost should 

 be placed in a heated structure to get thoroughly 

 warm before it is used, and the potting should 

 be done in the house where the vines are grow- 



ing. The plants must again be plunged in a 

 moderately-warm hot-bed. The minimum tem- 

 Perature of the house should not be less than 

 65 . Damp the walls and paths frequently and 

 syringe the plants twice daily. Ventilate the 

 house carefully in the forenoon, closing it again 

 after syringing early in the afternoon. Watering 

 must be done very carefully until the roots pene- 

 trate the new soil. Give the plants another shift 

 as soon as they are ready. 



THE FRENCH GARDEN. 



Hot-beds. 



By Pall Aqtatias. 



-The continued damp weather has 

 involved extra labour in keeping the crops on 

 hot-beds clean and healthy, as decayed leaves 

 have been very prevalent, especially on Lettuce 

 and Radish plants. The beds intended for the 

 sowing of Turnips are now at liberty, the Let- 

 tuces having been marketed. The soil in the 

 frames should be stirred and made level with 

 the rake. Seeds of the variety Half Long 

 White or Early Flat Red-top may be sown 10 

 rows in every light, 11 lots of 3 seeds each being 

 inserted in each row. As soon as the cotyledons 

 appear, ventilation should be given on every 

 possible occasion. Light waterings will be bene- 

 ficial during bright weather, and help to keep 

 down aphis. This crop has always been a re- 

 munerative one, especially where attention is 

 given to the ventilation and watering of the 

 plants as success is only assured when they are 

 ^rown without a check. As the frames intended 

 .or forcing Strawberries become vacant, after the 

 Lettuces are cut the Strawberry pots should be 

 plunged up to the rims, 90 plants per frame. 

 The lights should be kept closed except on very 

 bright days till the trusses appear, and no water- 

 ing is necessary beyond a spraying of the new 

 leaves on fine days, as it is essential to keep the 



plants moderately dry whilst the foliage is ex- 

 panding. 



The 

 be ready for mar- 



Crops on Beds Under Cloches. 



crop of Cabbage Lettuces will 



keting in a few days, and should be' marketed 

 without delay to afford more room to the Cos 

 Lettuces, which are now filling the cloches. 

 After the dull weather experienced recently at- 

 tention must be given to the shading of the 

 plants on sunny days, spreading mats over the 

 glasses from 11 a.m. till 2 p.m. It is too early 

 to whiten the glasses with lime. 



Unheated Frames. — These are now pro- 

 ducing the only Radishes available. The Let- 

 tuces are exceedingly fine, especially the variety 

 Little Gott, White Seed, an excellent strain for 

 this class of work. The variety Passion requires 

 ample ventilation day and night, and the lights 

 may be removed entirely in the day time, when 

 the weather is fine, and replaced at night. 



Nursery Beds.— Plants of the first batch of 

 Melons are ready for stopping by cutting the 

 main stem across the base of the petiole of the 

 third leaf. The cotyledons should also be re- 

 moved close to the stem. The last sowing of 

 Melons is now made to produce plants for fruit- 

 ing early in September. The Tomato plants are 

 ready to be pricked out on a mild hot-bed. Here, 

 the frames are filled with 4 or 5 inches of good 

 loam, and when the soil is warmed, the seedlings 

 are set 650 to 700 plants in every frame. The 

 lights must be kept closed and shaded when 

 necessary till the plants are well established. 

 Seeds of Celery Long Winter Green should 

 be inserted in boxes or sown broadcast on a 

 mild hot-bed. We prefer this variety to the 

 white or self-bleaching strains for old" manure 

 beds, as the plants are more vigorous, and not 

 so liable to disease. Further sowings will be 

 made weekly till the end of April for the yearly 

 supply. Celeriac, when grown, is sown very 

 early to provide plants for planting as early as 

 possible. 



Open-air Crops. — The first heads of Spring 

 Cabbages have been cut, though the bulk will not 

 be ready until early in April. Spinach sown in 

 the autumn is growing well, but unfortunately 

 there are many bare places in the batch, owing 

 to the damp weather. Early plants of Cos and 

 Cabbage Lettuces are well established, and 

 Cauliflowers will be set between them at inter- 

 vals of 18 inches. Further sowings of Radish 

 and Spinach may be made weekly where there is 

 a demand for this class of produce, either in 

 ground by themselves or amongst other crops. 



