February 16, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
127 
T he “ shooting ” season, the commencement of which is in 
August, brings to many gardeners a press of work and worry. 
Work may be overcome, and in general is not harmful. Worry, on 
the other hand, is in every respect always bad, and the only means 
of escaping it lies in being well prepared for seasons of increased 
requirements. Though gardeners of lengthened experience know 
what they have to expect, and how to provide so as to meet 
with equanimity seasons of pressure, others may not be so well 
equipped. For such of the latter class as feel they need a little 
assistance I trust what follows may be helpful. There are at least 
two matters of importance which, if thoroughly taken in hand at 
the beginning of the season, will have the effect of facilitating the 
work considerably. The one is to map out what is intended to 
be done, to allocate as it were to each crop its place. It is not 
likely that the plans will be quite realised, for the material is of a 
changing nature, but they will be near to realisation. The other 
matter is very much of the same nature. It is this ; Where garden 
produce is required in bulk at a particular season the method to 
pursue is to concentrate one’s energies and labour on a few good 
things. To know what you are doing, and grow only first-rate things, 
are, I think, matters of great importance. Another thing worth noting 
is the large number of gardens which are kept simply as productive 
agencies for supplying certain fruiti, flowers, and vegetables, little 
thought being given to keeping the grounds in a proper condition. 
In all such cases abundance of a few reliable kinds is again the key 
which opens the way out of the difficulty. 
I shall refer first, and very briefly, to vegetables ; and as 
Potatoes are being discussed I need say nothing of them. Of 
equal importance with the Potato is the Pea crop. To the 
inexperienced grower Peas are, in the matter of variety, bewilder¬ 
ing. It may be said with truth in regard to both, that a large 
number of really good varieties may be selected. I know a 
gardener in a high position whose one and only Pea for early, 
midseason, and late crop alike was, for years, Yeitch’s Perfection. 
This is rather a choice selection ; but I believe few gardeners who 
have grown this Pea will ever care to pass an aucumn without its 
aid. Three sowings of this, at intervals of ten days, in May, with 
another in early June, and a good breadth of Ne Plus Ultra for a 
late supply, will yield an abundance of Peas during the autumn. 
The tips of the growth of the latter variety ought to be removed 
when they attain to a height suitable for reaching with ease. For 
ordinary purposes Dr. McLean and Omega are useful. Dwarf kidney 
Beans will be well secured if either Negro, Canadian Wonder, or 
Ne Plus Ultra is grown. The former will require to be sown 
in the first week of May, and either of the three a month after¬ 
wards. For Cauliflowers, either Early Erfurt or Magnum Bonum, 
sown out of doors in March will supply the crop after the earlier 
kinds are past. Then Suttons’ King, sown a week or two later, 
will form a succession till the time that Autumn Giant, sown 
in March, comes in. I have seen Stadtholder fairly good till 
November, but the best of any at that date was Drummond’s Late 
Frankfort. 
Lettuces are becoming plentiful, but few can out-rival the 
ancient Hick’s Hardy Cos. There are some larger in size, but not 
one which turns in better, or is of superior quality when properly 
grown. Of Cabbage Lettuces there are some very good varieties. 
No. GGO.— VoL. XXVI., Third Series. 
I do not grow many of these, as they generally lack crispness. Spinach 
is not, perhaps, so much wanted in the autumn as at other times; 
but it has to be grown. The two best varieties are, I think, Yiroflay 
and Paresseux de Catillon. Yery much depends on the care taken 
with the sowing. Plenty of water in the drills when sowing has 
a wonderfully good effect. Of Turnips, no better autumn sort than 
Snowball need be grown. A vegetable which everyone ought to 
have a couple of sowings of is the London Colewort. The time to 
sow seed of this is in May, and again in June. If the plants 
resulting from the first sowing are merely thinned out and not 
transplanted useful little heads for the dining room are produced 
early in the season. Express is a good autumn Cabbage, and the 
seed should be sown in March or April. Brussels Sprouts 
are sometimes lightly spoken of, but they are useful. The two 
varieties I prefer are Paragon and Paris Market. Guerande Carrot 
is quite first-rate, and St. Yalery, which is longer, is also good. For 
ordinary purposes Cranston’s Excelsior Onion appears to hold its 
own for autumn use. 
Flowers for cutting are most important. Yery often no real 
attempt is made to meet the demand, as is done in the case of 
vegetables. But it is wise to do so, and in addition to those grown in 
borders it is imperative that a distinct supply for cut purposes be 
also cultivated. In this case the object in view must be considered. 
The flowers of autumn are numerous ; a rigid selection is most 
likely to be best. There are some flowers which I like to have, as 
for example Gladioli, by the hundred. In the same way I like to 
have plenty of the old Cactus Dahlias, Carnations, Sweet Pea", 
Mignonette, ^d Michaelmas Daisies. 
A supply of good flowers may be secured from annuals alone. 
Mignonette sown in March or the beginning of April is most useful. 
Such esteemed varieties as Cloth of Gold, Machet, and Garaway’s 
White should be grown. Sweet Peas also ought to be well cultivated. 
Really indispensable are such varieties as Countess of Radnor, Lady 
Penzance, Mr. Eckford, Mrs. Gladstone, Her Majesty, Orange 
Prince, Mrs. Sankey, Firefly, and Captain of the Blues. The 
Godetias are very choice for cutting. Sow about the end of March, 
and give each plant a foot or 18 inches square superficies to cover. 
The white annual Mallow is fairly good and worth attention. 
Salpiglossis are really charming. They can be used for the most 
select purposes. The plants are best raised early in heat and trans¬ 
planted into boxes to develop strength. A flower I seldom see, 
but which I like very much, is the single Aster. Everybody grows 
double Asters, quilled, flat, incurved, but the much more pretty 
singles nobody appears to pay any attention to. Of other Asters the 
quilled is very suitable, and I like The Comet. Aster seeds are best 
sown in April and the plants brought on slowly. They revel in a light 
rich soil. Zinnias, especially the single form, are good. Of other 
annuals the common yellow Cornflower ought not to be overlooked, 
nor Iceland Poppies, of which I had a doable strain last year. A 
packet of mixed annual Chrysanthemums will secure useful flowers 
for cutting. 
Plants of a less short-lived nature are no doubt led by the 
Carnation. Good Carnations are plentiful, but for cutting the 
Clove-scented are indispensable, the old red Clove being most 
useful. Mrs. R. Hole, Germania, and Raby Castle must be also 
grown. Gladioli are easy to grow, and take but little space. I plant 
the bulbs about three or four to the foot, three rows close together, 
and a wider space as a path between every third and fourth row, 
and find them do admirably. Really good sorts, such as Phoenix, 
Dalila, Sultana, Meyerbeer, and many others are inexpensive. 
Yery useful also are the various Montbretias, crocosm^flora being 
the best for cutting. Etoile de Feu and Gerbe d’Or I also like. 
Hyacinthus candicans is very good for cutting. It is now cheap, 
and may be grown extensively. It is easy to raise from seeds. 
Sow in rows in spring, to remain for two years, and transplant the 
third and fourth year. Tiger Lilies and Phloxes are fairly useful, 
but ought not to be employed for any other than common purposes. 
No. 231G.— VoL. LXXXVIIL, Old Series 
