JXTLY 13, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



539 



THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



that 



TOMATOES —Spring-raised plants 

 are now in full bearing will need every at- 

 tention to keep them in a fruitful condition 

 till the later sown batches are in, and from 

 the early sowing very fine fruits are obtained 

 when six to ten feet of growth is made. Do 

 not allow the plants to become dry or the 

 fruits will crack after watering; and avoid 

 over-feeding, but supply just sufficient nutri- 

 ent matter to maintain a steady and even 

 balance of fruit and foliage. Rather rely 

 on occasional top-dressings of loam and a 

 little burnt garden refuse added; this will 

 be found to encourage a constant root action 

 through the surface of the new soil. Toma- 

 toes are fond of ordinary liquid manure made 

 by equal parts horse and cow manure, with 

 a little soot added. Place the whole in a 

 bag and immerse in water. Dilute as re- 

 quired for watering. Pot or box later sow- 

 ings when large enough, give plenty of 

 air, and^ wherever possible, plaee the plants 

 in direct sunlight. Use a compost for these 

 consisting of turfy loam, a little mortar 

 rubble, and a slight addition of bones, par- 

 ticularly if the plants are weak from any 

 cause. 



OUTDOOR TOMATOES are growing 

 freely, and will need every care and atten- 

 tion in tying the leads and suppressing the 

 side growths as they appear. Tap the plants 

 briskly when in bloom to disperse the pollen 

 and ensure perfect fertilisation of the fruits. 

 Top-dress as required, use horse droppings 

 later for the same purpose. 



AUTUMN-SOWN ONIONS.— These have 

 grown apace, and will almost have finished 

 their growth. When it is observed this is 

 the case, gradually lift them to prevent the 

 bulbs splitting, slowly dry them off, and 

 store in a cool, dry place. Garden lights are 

 perhaps best to use to obtain perfect ripen- 

 ing. Place the bulbs on hurdles, raising the 

 light, with bricks t oallow a free paet^age of 

 air through them. In dry weather during 

 the day the lights should be removed, taking 

 advantage then by turning the onions over 

 occasionally. 



CELERY.— This is not often required till 

 late in September. Still, where a few exhibi- 

 tion heads are required in August, prepara- 

 tion should be made for their production by 

 drawing any basal growth and lesser leaves. 

 Give a top-dressing of nice loamy soil, and 

 commence blanching with brown paper bands 

 five inches in depth. Place fairly firm 

 around the base of each stick, and add simi- 

 lar bands at fortnightly periods till the de- 

 sired height is attained. Water as required, 

 and keep a sharp look-out for slugs. Dust 

 with soot as a preventive, 



CABBAGE.— It will soon be time to make 



one small sowing of cabbage for an early 

 spring supply. Here we usually make a 

 sowing about the 2oth of the present month ; 

 these are found so useful for planting on 

 warm borders, independent of the main 

 August sowing. Ofttimes we can cut nice 

 heads in January if required. Sow the seed 

 in a well prepared bed, using a little fresh 

 soil, with burnt garden refuse. Net the bed 

 securely from birds, and plant out as soon as 

 ready in the positions above-mentioned. Ex- 

 cellent varieties are Sutton's April and Har- 

 binger. — G. Ellwood, Swanmore Park Gar- 

 dens. 



Examine the ties on young and vigorous trees. 

 Much harm occurs if the ties are too tight, 

 and cutting into the young and tender bark. 

 Gumming is the usual result of shoots in- 

 jured in this manner. During sunny weather 

 thoroughly syringe the trees — daily if pos- 

 sible and late in the afternoon. A cool and 

 moist condition throughout the night is most 

 beneficial to the trees, and materially assists 

 the colouring up of the fruits. In places 

 whare the rainfall has been light, water 

 should be freely applied. Soak the borders 

 thoroughly; half and half measures do more 

 harm than good. Trees infested with red 

 spider should be sprayed with a suitable in- 

 &3cticide, and every effort should be made 

 to cleanse the trees of this pest before the 

 fiuits commence to ripen. Sulphide of potas- 

 sium, ^oz to a gallon of water, is an effective 

 remedy. I have, however, found that the 

 effect of sulphide of potassium on certain 

 varieties of peaches and nectarines does more 

 lu.rm to the foliage than red spider. Varie- 

 ties with leaves having deeply-serrated edges 

 are those chiefly affected; leaves with smooth 

 ^dges escape injury. 



FIGS ON WALLS.— In the warmer parts 

 of the country the young growths are suffi- 

 ciently advanced to lay them in, and if the 

 shoots are very strong pinchinsr out of the 

 points should be resorted to ; as the foliage of 

 the fig covers a considerable area thin train- 

 ing is mo^t essential. Very few insect pests 

 trouble fig trees. White scale is usually the 

 most troublesome pest to deal with, and this 

 calls for drastic winter treatment. Red 

 spider at times shows itself, A thorough 

 syringing will, however, keep the foliage free 

 from this pest. 



RED AND WHITE CURRANTS.— Protec- 

 tion from the attack of birds should be given, 

 as they are very partial to the ripening 

 fi uits, especially to the white varieties. If 

 ■ growth from the spurs or side growths pre- 

 vents free admission of light, such lateral 

 growths may be pinched back to three or 

 four leaves. This operation should be per- 

 formed before the nets are put over the 

 bushes. 



GOOSEBERRIES.— These fruits are ripen- 

 ing fast in this district, and no doubt in 

 other parts as well. Protection should like- 

 wise be given. Owing to the thorny nature 

 of the bushes, it is not wise to lay netting 

 on them; some form of support must be 

 erected similar to that advised for^ rasp- 

 berries in a previous calendar, the height of 

 same to be adjusted in accordance to that 

 of the bushes. Where possible, it is an ex- 

 cellent plan to make a plantation and cover 

 with galvanised wire netting; the mesh must_ 

 be small enough to exclude such small birds' 

 as tomtits and bullfinches. Having had ex- 

 perience of the value of this method of pro- 

 tection I strongly recommend it in every way. 

 W. Messenger, W^oolver&tone Park Gardens, 



Ipswich. 



minum 



This com- 



Tlio 



HARDY FRUITS. 



PEACHES AND NECTARINES. — 

 training-in of youn^ necessary shoots should 

 have timely attention, particularly in the 

 case of those varieities wnich ripen early ; if 

 ^he fruits are not fully ex])<)^e<l to th- light 

 l)efore colouring commences tiuM t' i.^ tlu' dan- 

 ger of scalding taking \Am\\ and trtiits 

 will be both lacking in colonr and Havoni*. 

 As in previous notes, I would again eni])hasiz.j 

 the necessity <jf allowing ample Npaco for 

 each shoot to develop its foliage, and 

 ensure the ripening of the wood without 

 overlapping. When the laying-in of the 

 shoots is completed any leaves which 

 may obstruct free admission of sun and 

 ^ir to the fruits shonld be removed. 



EXHIBITIONS AND 



MEETINGS. 



4- 



3 



paratively new and little-known species ot 

 jasmine from Eastern Asia is a very pretty 

 climbing plant for the roof or rafters of a 

 stove or intermediate house, where it will 

 continue to flower for months together. The 

 glossy foliage is decidedly attractive, and 

 the white, starry, fragrant blossoms are 

 borne freely. — T. 



Spring-sown Onions are now bulb- 

 ing beautifully. Every encouragement should 

 be given them during the next six weeks, 

 when practically the growth should be 

 finished. Ply the hoe regularly, and assist 

 them with dressings of artificial manure. At 

 other times apply soot, with copious water- 

 ing should dry'^weather prevail. Keep 

 sharp look-out for mildew; speedily remove 

 1he leaves having the slightest trace of the 

 IKst, and burn them. I believe that if the 

 first spores were observed in time, no more 

 would trouble us. Anyway, burn every piece, 

 and as a preventive dust with equal parts 

 sulphur and newly crushed lime when the 

 plants are damp with dew. Treat the main 

 sowing similarly as regards the dusting com- 

 pounds. — G, Ellwood, 



Newcastie-on-Tyne Horticul- 

 tural Society. 



JULY 3 to 5. 



The eighty-eighth annual show of the Dur- 

 ham, Northumberland, and Newcastle-on- 

 Tyne Botanical and Horticultural Society 

 was held in the Recreation Grounds on July 

 3, 4, and 5. The opening day being wet, and 

 the following ones anything but seasonable, 

 the society may be congratulated on so large 

 an attendance. As many of the side shows 

 were not included in the charge for admis- 

 sion the Society should be in a better finan- 

 cial position than has been the case of late 

 years. The show generally was not up to 

 the usual standard. There was little com- 

 petition in the fruit classes, and there was a 

 big falling off in the (juality of the large 

 groups, which have previously proved a great 

 attraction to the Society's summer show. 



The trade groups also were in many cases 

 below the usual standard, and only locally re- 

 presented. There can be no doubt that the 

 Royal Show at Doncaster wae one of the 

 principal causes of the absence of the trade 

 groups, but the earlier date of the show 

 materially affected local exhibitors who 

 usually competed, in the fruit classes moro 

 especially. 



In the class for a group of miscellaneous 

 plants arranged for effect, Mr. H. H. Hillier, 

 Darlingt<m. was fimt. The arrangement was 

 neatly carried out, the plants consisting 

 principally of finely-coloured crotons, varie- 

 gated acers, oaladiuma, alocasias, with roses, 

 orchids, ixoras, and other flowering plants. 

 Messrs. Carnegie and Co., Lim., Newcastle, 

 were second, and Mr. T. Wilkinson, New- 

 castle, third. 



In the class for twelve bunches of sweet 

 peas, distinct varieties, there was a very 

 strong competition, and Mr, W. H. Hardy, 

 Three-Mile-Bridge, was first. The vases of 

 Etta Dyke, Masterpiece, and Helen Lewis 

 being very fine, and the colour and flowers 

 generally were of high quality. Messrs. 

 Castle Bros., Carnforth, second; Mr. T. H. 

 Bolton, Exeter, third; and Sir George Ti-e- 

 velyan, Bart, (gardener, Mr. E. Keith), 

 fourth. In competition for the prizes for 

 three bunches Mr. F. Bell, Whitley Bay, was 

 showing very fine examples of Afterglow, 

 Prince George, and Barbara. Mr. T. H. 

 Bolton, second; and Messrs. Castle Bros., 

 third. In the open classes for roses there 

 were some very fine exhibits. For thirty-s^ 

 roses eighteen distinct varieties, Messrs. H. 

 Dixon Lim. Belfast, was first, Mrs, C. 

 Dixoni Leslie Holland, Mrs. J. Pinkerton, 

 John Cuff, and W. Cooper being particularly 

 fine. Messrs, Gibson and Co., Bedale second, 

 and Mr. T. Park, Bedale, third. For twenty- 

 four roses, twelve distinct, Messrs. Dixon 

 were first Archie Grey, The Lyon, W. Ser- 

 gent, and Leslie Holland being particularly 

 fine. Messrs. Gibson and Co., second, and 

 Mr. T. Park third. For twelve roses, eight 

 distinct, the competitors were again placed 

 in the same order. For twelve blooms of any 

 hybrid or hybrid perpetual Mr. T. Park was 

 first. 



The amateur and limited classes were well 

 filled, but the quality was not so good as in 



previous years. 



The class for eighteen bunches of flowers 

 of herbaceous plants brought the most meri- 

 torious plants exhibit in the show. Messrs. 

 Gil>son and Co. were easily first, the most 

 remarkable being delphiniums in varied 

 tints. Yerbascum Caledonia, Campanula Mrs, 

 Ixiwiviison. au 1 o-aillardiais. Messrs. llark- 

 ness and Sons^ Bedale. were second, and 

 Messrs. G. Longster and Sons, third. For 

 twelve herbaceous or hardy flowers Earl Grey 

 (gardener, Mr. W. Lambert) was first, and 

 Mr. E. Keith second. 



For the best collection of cut carnations 

 Mr. J. E. Hathaway, Baldersby Park, Thirsk. 

 obtained premier honours, and Messrs. W. 

 Lawrenson and Sons, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 

 were second. For a group of carnations in 



4 



