6o6 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



occasionall) , and transfer Primroses, Auriculas, and Daisies 

 to a shady part of the garden, but water them freely. Put 

 a stake to Hollyhocks, Dahlias, and any tall plant likely to 

 suffer in a strong wind. Dahlias have become popular 

 garden flowers, and the newer Cactus varieties are fast 

 ousting the other forms out of the garden. This is not 

 desirable, but there is no question that the Cactus Dahlias 

 are sumptuous garden (lowers, of a great variety of rich 

 colours and beautiful form. The true Cactus Dahlia flower 

 has pointed petals, slightly twisted, not broad and flabby. 



The Vegetable Garden.- Peas will be turning in freely 

 from the first sowing ; also French Beans, which should 

 be gathered whilst young, as they age quickly. Asparagus 

 should not be cut after midsummer, and no vegetable will 

 better repay feeding with a good fertiliser, such as liquid 

 manure, given every three or four weeks from July to 

 September. Young beds recently planted or from seed 

 should be mulched with some light material. Both spent 

 Mushroom manure or burnt refuse and leaf soil are 

 excellent. All Potatoes should now be earthed up before 

 top growth has advanced much. Trenches should be dug 

 f or Celery, and manure placed in them in readiness for the 

 plants. Prepare land cleared of early Potatoes or Peas for 

 winter Spinach ; this needs good cultivation, and when the 

 soil is infested 

 with wire-worms 

 or other pests 

 dress freely with 

 soot and fresh 

 lime before dig- 

 ging. Planting 

 will be an impor- 

 tant work this 

 month, as most 

 kinds of Brassicas 

 will be ready. 

 Give Brussels 

 Sprouts ample 

 room — 2ft. to 3ft. 

 apart is none too 

 much ; also allow 

 liberal space to 

 the large-growing 

 Cauliflower and 

 Broccoli. The 

 latter will suffer 

 less in severe 

 weather w h e n 

 grown in an open 

 position. Leeks 

 for early winter 

 supplies are best 

 planted this 

 month, and in 



shallow trenches 2ft. apart, with a liberal supply of 

 manure for the roots. Lift carefully, as they suffer badly 

 in dry seasons if the roots are broken. Beans and Peas 

 for autumn sown this month will need good cultivation. 

 Sow thinly and in deep drills, well manured some 

 time previously. Dwarf Beans may be sown for late 

 supplies. Such kinds as the Canadian Wonder and the 

 Climbing French Beans give good returns. Cauliflowers 

 sown now will turn in for October supplies, but these are 

 best sown thinly in rows, dropping a few seeds at intervals 

 of I Sin. apart, and thinning to the strongest plant when 

 large enough. Sow Turnips for succession crops. Endive 

 is an important salad plant for the early winter supply. 

 Both the Green Curled and Batavian should now be sown. 

 Sow Cucumber for pickling on ridges. Mushroom beds 

 made now at the foot of a north wall or ridge shaped in the 

 open will be valuable for supplies in the early autumn. 

 Thinning, transplanting, and planting out will need timely 

 attention. Make up blanks by sowing at the earliest date, 

 covering the seed with mats to conserve the moisture. 



The Fruit Garden. — There is more work daily need- 

 ing attention under glass. Wall Vines will need more 

 moisture, and disbudding is a point often overlooked in 

 the case of hardy Vines, and thin bunches before the)' flower. 



PYRETHRUM APHRODITE 



Train the best shoots of wall Figs in to take the place of 

 old wood to be cut out another season, and stop other shoots 

 not needed for extension. Shoots of Peaches, Nectarines, 

 Apricots, and other stone fruits on walls should be nailed in 

 as growth strengthens. Nail in others not needed for exten- 

 sion, and in a few cases last season's wood not bearing fruit 

 may be cut out, thus allowing more room for the new wood. 

 Summer pruning or stopping is now an important work. 

 Shorten the foreright shoot of Pears. Cordon trees also 

 should be pinched close back to form fruit spurs, of course 

 omitting the leaders needed for extension. Syringe over 

 late in the afternoon wall trees of all kinds, especially 

 Peaches and Nectarines. Apricots require much moisture 

 in light pour soils, and well repay feeding. Go over 

 Peaches and Nectarines carrying too much fruit, removing 

 badly placed fruits or those too thickly placed. 



JULY. 



The Flower and Indoor Garden. — One of the 



most important duties this month is to propagate Car- 

 nations by layering. This operation has been tully 

 explained in the article upon the flower, and one 

 therefore need not enter into details on this occasion. 

 Strike Pinks from pipings, and remove plants in the 



greenhouse, such 

 as Camellias, 

 Ericas, some 

 Palms, and similar 

 things, to a fairly 

 shady place out 

 of doors, so as 

 to give them the 

 benefit of a 

 change of air and 

 gentle showers. 

 Continue to pick 

 off seed-pods, and 

 give Dahlias 

 plenty of water 

 and a mulch of 

 manure. Remem- 

 ber that earwigs 

 are best trapped 

 by putting a little 

 moss in a small 

 pot and inverting 

 it upon a thin 

 stake. Search the 

 pots early every 

 morning when 

 earwigs are very 

 tro ublesorae. 

 Chrysanthe mums 

 will require con- 

 stant attention. Consult Mr. Beckett's article upon these 

 for advice. Less fire heat will be required in plant houses 

 now, but much water must be given if the weather is very 

 warm. 



The Vegetable Garden. — This month the weather 

 varies, sometimes excessively hot and dry, or with thunder- 

 storms and rain. During a time of heat and drought there 

 wili be much labour in keeping newdy-planted green crops 

 going ; indeed, at this time will be seen the advantage of 

 advice given early to plant in May and June, thus enabling 

 the plant to obtain roothold to stand extremes of weather. 

 This is an important month as regards seed sowing, as from 

 the 10th to the 20th is the best time to sow spring 

 Cabbage. No exact date can be given, as much depends 

 upon soils and situation. Ellam's Dwarf Early Spring and 

 Mein's No. 1 are excellent varieties; on the other hand, the 

 Early Rainham is a great market favourite, and very reliable 

 for April and May supplies if sown at the early date named. 

 In sowing spring Cabbage give an open position, not a 

 sloping dry border ; sow thinly, and make the seed bed 

 firm if the soil is light. The Coleworts belong to this family, 

 and are as useful for autumn and early winter supplies as the 

 spring Cabbage. The Rosette is the best for autumn use, 

 and the Hard)' Green for winter. Sow thinly in good soil, 



