A YEAR'S WORK IN THE GARDEN. 607 



protecting the seeds from birds. Spinach is an important 

 winter vegetable. Sow seeds in cold or late gardens, and 

 few kinds are superior to Carter's Long Standing and the 

 Victoria Round-leaved in the South. August will be time 

 enough to sow this vegetable; sow in good soil, as previously 

 noted. Carrots may be sown for winter use ; seed sown now 

 of such kinds as Early Gem or the Short Horn varieties will 

 provide roots that may be left in well-drained soil all the 

 winter. Sow Parsley for winter use early in the month. 

 When the weather is dry and hot, water at dusk, and dust 

 over with soot to promote growth. Previous sowings should 

 be thinned, and last year's plants not allowed to seed, 

 but given food in the shape of liquid manure. Early 

 Potatoes should be lifted and stored in a cool place. Seed of 

 these for next season should be " greened " by exposure in 

 the sun previous to storing on shelves or in boxes ; if the 

 latter, allow plenty of air to circulate round the seed. Plant 

 all winter Greens, as the season is sufficiently advanced to 

 secure a good growth before winter. Celery for first 

 supplies will need copious watering ; food, also, if large 

 heads are needed. Liquid manure is excellent for growing 

 crops. Make the last sowing of Dwarf Beans on a warm 

 border, using a dwarf variety. Sow thinly, or thin early, as 

 the seeds germinate freely. Late Peas may be sown, but 

 very early kinds must be selected, such as May Queen, 

 Daisy, Chelsea Gem, and Bountiful. 



The Fruit Garden. — Budding of fruit trees is done this 

 month, but it should be performed by specialists, as they 

 have the best stocks at command. Early Strawberry beds 

 will have ceased to bear, and hoe between the rows after the 

 mulch is removed. Mid-season and late crops in parched 

 weather may need moisture to swell up the fruit, and let this 

 be carried out when the sun is declining. Runners will soon 

 be procurable for new planting ; indeed, if the flower growths 

 were removed, as advised, they will be ready early in the 

 month. These may be layered by pegging down into good 

 soil or in small pots ; the latter is the best way, as the plants 

 do not suffer when detached from the parent stock. Peaches 

 at this date are at times infested with green fly, but more 

 frequently with red spider in light soils and with much 

 heat. Syringe freely late in the day, and in the case of trees 

 on which the fruit is not too far advanced add a little flowers 

 of sulphur to the water. In showery weather mildew is 

 troublesome. Dust the trees over with dry sulphur. Cherry 

 trees are often infested with black fly, a troublesome pest. 

 Dip the points of the shoots at once in a solution of quassia 

 or tobacco water, and when dry dust with tobacco powder. 

 Fruit borders in dry weather will need mulching with short 

 manure to retain moisture and keep the surface roots from 

 inj ury . Also 

 water freely to 

 assist the fruit to 

 swell. 



AUGUST. 



The Flower 

 and Indoor 

 Garden.— Dur- 

 ing this month 

 many shrubs may 

 be layered, and 

 cuttings taken cf 

 bedding plants to 

 create stock for 

 another year. 

 Sow seed of For- 

 get-me-nots, and 

 tufted Pansies 

 may be propa- 

 gated by taking 

 off the littlerooted 

 side pieces, not 

 the hollow stems, 

 but those tufted 

 bits which soon 

 become estab- 

 lished in a cold 

 frame. It is 



wise to have plenty of Pansies because the plants if 

 not in a very hot position flower with wonderful free- 

 dom ; the colours of the various flowers are delightfully 

 varied from white through mauve, purple, to blue. It is 

 important to get plants of quite tufted growth, as these 

 flower over a longer season and more freely. Stir up the 

 surface soil of the flower beds occasionally to let in sunshine 

 and air. A hard-caked surface is of little value to plants in 

 the flower beds. 



The Vegetable Garden.— The summer crops, such as 

 the early and midsummer Peas, will have finished bearing 

 and may be cleared away. Broccoli may still be planted, but 

 let the work be done immediately. Celery will need food 

 and moisture, and more soil placed to the roots to blanch 

 for early use, but defer blanching of the later lots for some 

 time, as by so doing moisture and food can be given and 

 there is less fear of bolting. Cut herbs for drying and dry 

 them in the shade in a cool place. Spring-sown Onions in 

 early gardens will have matured sufficiently to lift and dry 

 on boards or shelves previous to storing. Should growth 

 be late, bend over the tops of the thick-necked bulbs a 

 week or two previous to lifting, and place the roots in dry 

 weather on the soil to harden before housing ; but they soon 

 decay in damp weather, and keep badly if second growth 

 begins. Spinach sown in July should be well thinned. 

 Sow seed of winter Onions early in the month in soil made 

 firm by treading in dry weather. Such kinds as Giant 

 Rocca, White Naples, and the Leviathan Italian are excellent 

 for this purpose. Lift Garlic, and dry for winter use ; also 

 Shallots. Globe Artichokes, as the crop is cleared, should 

 be cut down, and the land 1 etween the plants well dressed 

 with decayed manure. Cardoons may now be blanched, 

 but if moisture is wanting they will run to seed badly. 

 There should be no delay in planting out salads, such as 

 Endive, for autumn supplies ; and make another sowing of 

 Lettuce to stand the winter at the end of the month, sowing 

 the Hardy Hammersmith Cabbage or Hick's, and Bath or 

 Brown Cos. So much depends upon the locality. If cold, 

 Lettuces are best sown late this month to stand the winter, 

 but in the South the middle of September is sufficiently 

 early. Cabbage sown early in July will need attention in 

 the way of moisture and thinning. Avoid a crowded seed 

 bed, and make another sowing to give a succession to the 

 earlier lot ; the same varieties are still the best for the 

 purpose. Plant out Coleworts as they are large enough. 

 They like rich soil and not much space. Twelve inches 

 apart all ways will suffice. Sow the Plardy Green Colewort 

 for use early in the year ; also Cauliflower for May and 

 June supplies. The Early London and the Walcheren are 



reliable Sow 

 thinly and in good 

 soil. Pickling 

 Cabbage may also 

 be sown ; and a 

 large sowing of 

 Turnips should 

 be made for 

 winter use, such 

 as Red Globe, 

 Golden Ball, or 

 Perfection. 



The Fruit 

 Garden. — 



August is a trying 

 month in many 

 fruit gardens, as 

 so many trees 

 need attention. 

 Fruit of early 

 Cherries will have 

 been picked, but 

 there must be no 

 lack of moisture 

 both at the roots 

 and in the way of 

 syringing of wall 

 trees to keep the 



STANDARD ROSE. foliage clean. 



