<5Kg £JVlont/vs Qq mind or 
“Come with me, then, behind the scenes, where we are concerned only with the joys of plant increase and rejuvenation” 
The Reminder is to "suggest" what may be done during the next few weeks. Details of how 
to do each item are given in the current or the back issues of The Garden Magazine — it is mani- 
festly impossible to give all the details of all the work in any one issue of a magazine. References 
to back numbers may be looked up in the index to each completed volume (sent gratis on request); 
the Service Department will also be glad to cite references to any special topic if asked by mail and to 
send personal replies to specific questions; a stamped, addressed envelope being enclosed. 
When referring to the time for out-door work of any sort New York City (latitude 40) at sea 
level in a normal season is taken as standard; but at best dates can only be approximate. Roughly, 
the season advances northward fifteen miles a day. Thus Albany, which is one hundred and fifty 
miles from New York, would be about ten days later, and Philadelphia, which is ninety miles 
southwest about a week earlier. Also allow four days for each degree of latitude, for each five 
degrees of longitude, and for each four hundred feet of altitude. 
AUGUST— A MONTH OF REVIEIV AND OUTLOOK 
Copyright, 1921, Doubleday, Page 13 Co. 
j^^JUCH of the charm of gardening during these recent weeks 
will have seemed changed into the weariness of hard 
labor, and during the heated lazy days of August the 
pH gardener may consider himself entitled to a vacation; yet, 
in fact, the month brings seasonable activities no less 
important for the future than April and May. 
Routine work should be so well in hand at this time as to permit a 
little let up on such details as watering and weeding; but it should be 
borne in mind that even a few days of neglect will make things look 
ragged. And there is plenty of studying and planning to be done for 
another season. 
Time to move evergreens (and there is leisure to give attention to the 
details); also certain herbaceous plants such as Iris, Oriental 
Poppy, Madonna Lilies — even Peonies. 
Keep flower beds neat and tidy by gathering seed pods as they form. 
Window boxes, hanging baskets, vases, etc. will be benefited by top- 
dressing with good loam and commercial fertilizer. 
Red spider on the evergreens makes them look “rusty.” Standard 
spraying preparations are effective, and don’t overlook the 
effectiveness of water applied under pressure through the hose. 
Lawn Making 
Lawns may be top-dressed with bone or wood ashes, or both. Apply on 
a wet day; or just before rain, if possible. Weedy growth will be 
practically terminated for the season and this is a good time for 
any renovating or making new lawns. The one drawback to 
August sowing is drought. It is no use trying to get seed to 
germinate by watering — the weather conditions must be right. 
The Roses 
Climbing Roses and Vines to be looked over, and tied to trellis or 
trained into position; and do not allow them to suffer for want of 
water; bone meal worked around them will show results next year. 
Rose beds to be cultivated and watered to prepare for the fall bloom. 
If orange rust proves troublesome pick off affected leaves and 
burn them. Spray with a copper preparation and give general 
good care. If the disease reappears year after year, remake 
the beds with fresh plants, which may be done in November. 
Cuttings taken from firm growths and put into gritty soil in frames will 
root well. Growths that have just borne flowers are best. Cut 
into lengths six inches long, retaining the leaves on the upper half; 
insert in frames two inches apart both ways. 
Bulbs and Flower Seeds for Next Year 
Bulb orders to be placed and preparations made for planting. Early 
ordering ensures getting just what is needed. Bulbs need good 
soil in well dug beds. Poor condition gives poor results. For 
showy beds for display purposes, use Hyacinths, Tulips, and 
Narcissus; for naturalizing Narcissus, Crocus, Liiy-of-the-valley, 
Trilliums. For cut flowers, Darwin Tulips, various Narcissus, 
and all fhe hardy Lilies; and don’t forget the Regal Lily — it’s 
hardy, grows on average soils, dislikes heavy feeding, and 
flowers freely in June. 
Seeds of perennials may still be sown; and if saving your own, sow as 
soon as they are available, the earlier the better. Best to sow in 
coldframe where protection may be given during germination. 
Sow Pansies, English Daisies, Forget-me-nots, Canterbury-bells, etc. 
In the Fruit Garden 
taken up and planted with satisfactory results, and better still if 
they were pegged down into pots last month. Give good soil; 
use plenty of manure and fertilizer. There will be no visible 
immediate returns; but, next June — Ah! A mixture of dried 
blood, or guano and fine bone meal, to two to four parts humus 
may be worked into the hills. Keep the ground hoed and runners 
pinched off. 
Summer pruning of fruit trees to be continued during the early part of 
the month — thin fruit as circumstances warrant. Better less 
quantity and greater quality of Peaches, Plums, Apples, Pears, or 
Grapes. Get up your nerve, sharpen your knife, and thin half 
the set! It’s hard to do it, but it actually pays. 
Cut away old Raspberry and Blackberry canes that have fruited and 
thin out the new shoots to three or four to each hill or plant. 
Tied to stakes, and topped when four or five feet high they will 
make strong canes for fruiting next year. 
Gooseberries and Currants to be layered; or take cuttings six to eight 
inches long, planting up to the terminal bud. 
Continue to spray for brown rot on Plums and Peaches. 
In the Vegetable Garden 
Hoe all crops and keep down weeds. Herbs in flower to be cut and 
dried in shady place for winter use. 
Onions to be harvested when tops turn yellow and fall down. Best 
dried by placing them in a dry shed in thin layers or on boards in 
a coldframe with the sash elevated above them to keep off rain. 
Rutabagas sown last month to be thinned. 
Sow up to end of month the various soft varieties of Turnip, such as 
Strap Leaf, White Globe, etc. 
Last sowing of String Beans to be made by middle of month, using an 
early maturing variety. Several short rows planted close together 
may be protected from frost readily. 
Lettuce sown now will afford a salad until late in the fall if 'protected 
from early frosts. 
Spinach to be sown in succession for this year, also for wintering over 
outdoors; and Shallots. 
Celery still to be planted and early varieties to be blanched; also plant 
Cardoons. Beets and Carrots to be sown for winter use. Tom- 
atoes to be kept well tied and disbudded. Dig Potatoes as ready. 
Artichokes to be sown for next year’s supply if there is a coldframe in 
which to winter them. They do best in pots and should be in the 
six-inch size by the time it is necessary to give frames protection. 
Late Cabbage to be well watered to prevent club-root. Spray with 
arsenate of lead, (absolutely no danger, if done early before the 
head forms), to check cabbage worm. 
Chinese Petsai (Chinese Cabbage, or Chinese Lettuce) to be sown 
for fall use as salad or as greens. It is as easily grown as Lettuce 
and matures in from 80 to 90 days. 
Melons leaving the stem when thoroughly matured are over ripe at the 
flower end. Pick fruit at first sign of separation from the stem; 
place in high temperature for several hours (greenhouse or frame) 
turning once or twice. The flesh will ripen evenly to the outer 
rind giving practically no waste. Put the ripened fruit on cellar 
floor to cool, then chill with ice. 
Ground not required for late crops, to be spaded and sown with some 
cover crops; say Vetch or Rye, or a mixture of both. It adds 
fertility to the soil, prevents erosion during the winter, and 
greatly increases the moisture holding capacity. 
Greenhouse and Frames 
Strawberries, bigger and better than ever before, by getting the new See to necessary repairs in glass structures which will soon be needed 
bed planted early! Pot-grown plants give best results, though for winter crops. This is indeed the beginning of the new year in 
they do cost a little more. Runners from the old bed may be the greenhouse. (See next page) 
387 
