September 11, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
23 
Giving Air. 
At all times let the Pelargonium have as much air as 
the state of the outside atmosphere will permit, with 
the exception of when they have been newly potted, as 
nothing brings green fly sooner than a warm, close, 
humid atmosphere. I forgot to mention, when speak¬ 
ing of watering, that in using manure-water never give 
it too strong, but weak and often after the pots are full 
of roots, and discontinue as soon as the blooms begin 
to expand ; a little soot-water will give the foliage a 
dark green, healthy appearance. 
Insects. 
The green fly is the most troublesome insect which 
we have to deal with, and slight fumigations should be 
resorted to every week or fortnight, particularly in the 
spring and early summer months. Dipping overhead 
in a solution of soft soap and tobacco-water occasion¬ 
ally will, in a great measure, keep this pest down, 
laying the plants on their sides for a few hours so as to 
keep the soap from the roots, syringing afterwards with 
clean water. 
Varieties. 
There are a great number of varieties in cultivation 
now, but I will simply give a list of what I am growing 
at the present time Prince of Wales, Madame 
Thibaut, King of Purples, Zephyr, Fairy, Illumination, 
Marie Lemoine, Digby Grand, Emperor of Russia, 
Ulysses, Kingston Beauty, Huntsman, Kellie Hayes, 
Monarch, Purple Prince, Grand Duchess, Mrs. Lewis 
Lloyde, Sophia Dumaresque, Yolante Rationale, and 
Yesuve, all of which are good and distinct. 
-—- 
Hardening ffoTES from 
[Scotland. 
Vegetable Garden. —At the present time a 
special effort is made in most parts to get a good supply 
of vegetables planted, and on the way for winter and 
spring use. Cabbage, Turnips, Spinach, and Lettuce 
are among those which are in most places indispensable 
all the year round, but now, as the season is advancing, 
one is anxious to see the allotted spaces established with 
growing crops. The past season was one very full of 
complaints regarding the crops referred to, but, except 
being late, 1 think we have had about the best season of 
vegetables which we could desire ; abundance of extra 
quality has characterised the past season. The growth 
of some kinds for winter seem to be getting gross, and 
may want checking by “ healing over,” or raising up 
their roots and treading them firmly in the ground 
again. This applies to Savoys, Curled Kale, Broccoli, 
and early Brussels Sprouts—they are now forming 
sprouts which may be ready for use in the course of a 
week or two. Opinions vary much in the north respect¬ 
ing the time of planting the main crop of Cabbage for 
the following year, but as seasons have to be studied, 
whether of a growing character, or the reverse—such as 
last year, it being one of the longest winters within our 
recollection. With Cabbage it is a sound practice to 
have at least two lots planted at different periods, say 
early in September, and about the end of the month. 
Last year we made a plantation of some 600 or 700 
plants about the first of the month, and about 1000 
early in October. The latter did by far the best, and 
were as early as the first lot planted. The plants were 
planted with extra care, the use of fresh soil to the 
roots was given in process of planting, the ground being 
of a clayey texture, and as good a return has been given 
as one could desire. 
Trenching'.—If ground requires trenching it should 
have it, always remembering that if the sub-soil is 
strong and tenacious, very little should be brought to 
the surface at present, but be well turned over in the 
bottom roughly, and if there is a good store of old 
waste soil, the sharper the better, which can be turned 
into the trenches, it will be of great advantage to future 
crops. Rubbish heaps, where vegetable matter has ac¬ 
cumulated and well rotted, may be got rid of in the 
trenches, trodden down, if necessary, and immediately 
under the top spit a good coating of old manure should 
be placed. The plants will not reach this till far into 
next spring, when they will start into rapid growth. 
We believeinliberal manuring for Cabbage,but put down 
so that the roots will not reach it during their autumn 
growth. Some prefer firm soil for their autumn 
planted Cabbage, clearing off the Onions, hoeing and 
raking the soil, and planting strong plants which have 
been previously pricked out. We have often done this, 
but it is quite a different thing planting anything in soil 
which has at one time been deeply and well cultivated, 
and in that which has not; some of our non-trenching 
friends can refer to their present success, but for that it 
may be easily proved that the soil had probably for 
many years been deeply trenched, and frequently too. 
We have information from an agriculturist wdio took 
a farm where the “high rents ” did not allow a living 
for his predecessor, but a change from what he called 
“surface scratching” to “deep tilth” has worked 
wonders on the land, crops, and we may add, the farmer’s 
exchequer. We know what market men get out of un¬ 
trenched ground, but we know the amount of manure 
which has been buried in the land, which enables them 
to push a spade downwards 2 ft. or more, and such may 
be called “made ground.” Some market-men, however, 
trench, and are delighted with the result. We have 
never met any northern cultivators who objected to the 
practice of trenching, and we would be sorry to advise 
them to the contrary, but not to bury valuable manure 
so low that the plants cannot reach it in time to 
be of value to them. Turnips do not require rich soil. 
After the eariy Potato crop has been removed is very 
suitable, and now the plants should be carefully thinned, 
if not already done, kept quite free of weeds, and the 
surface kept open and healthy. Spinach does well with 
the same treatment ; crowding at this season leaves the 
crop in bad condition to stand severe frost. Lettuce 
should be placed on a sheltered border, or a ridge 
thrown up sharply (like a low Potato pit), and the 
plants placed thickly thereon. Hardy kinds, such as 
Brown Cos, Hammersmith, Brown Dutch, &c., should 
form a large percentage of them. A good coating of 
fine ashes and soot should be strewn among young 
pdants. 
Mushroom Beds. —The present time is very 
suitable for forming beds for Mushrooms in the open 
ground. A ridge of stable manure, put up from 2 ft. 
to 3 ft. high, the length of which may be according 
to requirements. A few yards long at one time gives a 
large supply of Mushrooms for a household, and a piece 
added every few 7 weeks will keep up a .regular supply. 
Much disappointment is often experienced by using old 
spawn which has exhausted itself, and the vendors of 
this article who have secured a name to themselves for 
good quality take care that their customers are not 
supplied with spawn which has long been in store and 
may have wasted itself. Exhausted manure which has 
become inert is another source from whence disappoint¬ 
ment may come. The stable manure is often dried 
and turned till it is of no more value than withered 
grass. Chopped straw and turfy soil often has pro¬ 
duced the finest crops of Mushrooms seen. A little 
turf in manure is advantageous at any time, as it gives 
a longer period of bearing ; wet manure, with offensive 
smell, is very unsuitable. Mushrooms are grown in 
smaller proportion in northern parts than in the south. 
The large tracts of ground in the latter district, used 
by market men to raise Mushrooms on, no doubt has 
been imitated by private growers ; but old sheds or any 
such buildings may often be turned to good account for 
Mushroom growing. When under cover of such the 
crop can be easily reached in all weathers, without the 
necessity of uncovering, perhaps snow first, and the 
littery mess w T hich is associated with outdoor culti¬ 
vation. Potatos in pots to be used at Christmas, in 
their young unripened state, should not be checked by 
exposing the haulms to stormy weather ; breakage of 
the tops while in active growth is most injurious to the 
crop. These grown in the open ground, where hoops 
and mats can be placed at pleasure, or frames placed 
over them to ward off frost, aids the object which is 
desired. When a few dozen pots are grown they can 
be removed under protection.— M. T. 
-- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
--i-- 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Tree and other Carnations for winter and spring 
flowering are very useful, and though to obtain early 
plants, the best plan is to layer them, or insert cuttings 
in frames much earlier in the season than this ; it is 
not too late now if a few frames are at command. Such 
varieties as Souvenir de Malmaison, a superb Carnation, 
which some think difficult to grow, can be treated in 
this way now with success, but any operation of the 
kind should not be delayed much longer, or the results 
will be less satisfactory. 
If an old plant can be obtained, either purchased or 
as a gift from some fortunate neighbour who has 
plenty, and who probably prefers young plants every 
two or three years, it should be plunged in a frame 
of light sandy soil, quite up to the collars, and then 
the branches and stems can be pegged down and 
treated in the same way as recommended a short time 
since for layers out of doors ; or cuttings can be taken 
4 ins. or 5 ins. long, but not extending into the hard 
wood—though it should be fairly matured. These can 
be inserted in light soil and placed in a frame kept 
shaded and close for a few days, and preferably placed 
in a cool shaded position while the weather continues 
so warm. 
In the after culture of this and most of the other 
Carnations in pots, it is wise to employ a very moderate 
amount of manure in the soil for the early stages ; in¬ 
deed, some prefer assisting the plants at all times by 
supplies of liquid manure rather than by having too 
much in the soil about the roots. 
Bulbs are now coming into the hands of the vendors, 
and all who intend devoting some space in their green¬ 
houses and conservatories to these useful plants should 
send their orders early, as they are more likely to get 
good bulbs than later in the season, when, perhaps, the 
stock is getting short and all the best have been 
selected. 
To have bulbous plants in their best form it is im¬ 
portant to secure sound, heavy, well-matured bulbs, 
and without that the best cultivation is of little use. 
At the same time, amateurs should never go to the 
other extreme and imagine that bulbs do not profit by 
good attention and a careful consideration of their re¬ 
quirements, for even good specimens may be spoiled. 
After the bulbs are received, those intended for earliest 
flowering should be potted at once, and plunged outside 
in ashes near a wall or in any sheltered position. The 
others must be kept in cool airy drawers or on shelves, 
but it will save some time if the majority of those for 
indoor decoration are potted at once, and it is easy to 
retard them as late as is desirable by allowing them to 
remain under their covering of ashes outside, and 
shifting them in batches under glass for forcing.— 
Scolytus. 
DON’T BUILD TOO PAST. 
The florist is almost invariably a chronic builder. 
His stock increases, and to house it he feels obliged to 
build ; to build costs heavily, and, with the exception 
of the few months after spring sales, a large proportion 
of the trade are hard up, pinched for cash, and therefore 
work at a great disadvantage in buying supplies, fuel, 
etc. 
Don’t build too fast, but when you do build, put it in 
to stay. Don’t build too many temporary houses ; 
there are too many chicken coops connected with our 
florist’s places now. They are a drawback instead 
of a benefit. Always remember that “a little well 
done is better than a great deal half done.” You 
will find by experience that a small place in first class 
shape and w'ell handled will produce more dollars than 
a large one in poor condition and only half attended to. 
Many of our smaller florists carry over stock which is 
of little value, merely because they do not wish to throw 
it away. Don’t do it. Don’t house a plant that you 
do not see a clear prospect of gaining a profit from. 
Don’t put in a plant that is not in vigorous health ; it 
will cost you more to nurse that invalid to health than 
it would to propagate and grow a new plant. Don’t 
fill your houses with a plant because it propagates 
easily. Work to grow that only for which there is the 
best demand, and discard anything not of practical 
value. 
Have a small, well-built, well-equipped place, rather 
than a large collection of shaky, poorly-equipped houses. 
When you have money to spare and your small place is 
in first class shape, if business is good and the demand 
growing, build, increase your business, have enterprise 
and be up with the times ; but when you do build, do 
it wisely and well. 
Now is the time to put your place in shape for the 
coming winter. Don’t wait until it is nearly time to 
expect frost and then be obliged to rush it through in 
any sort of shape in order to save your stock. Take it 
in hand now, take time and do it well. Have 
a little lee-way ; don’t wait for the last moment. 
These repairs always take longer than at first supposed, 
and there are enough chances of failure in our business 
without adding any unnecessaiy on.es .—American 
Florist. 
