536 
April 25th, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Shading. —The power of the sun is such now that it 
has become necessary to shade the greenhouse, but 
the material used for the purpose should be thin, as 
all that is requisite is to break the solar rays, and if 
this is done the more light there is the better will it 
be for the plants. If a fixed shade is used, a fishing- 
net strained over the roof is as good as anything, but 
it is preferable to have blinds to let up and down, and 
only to make use of them for a few hours during the 
middle part of the day. The house where plants 
stand longest in bloom are those having a north-west 
aspect, as there the flowers are not distressed, but 
keep their colour and remain fresh a very long time. 
Those, therefore, who are about to build should choose 
that kind of position, and have no more wood in the 
structure than is absolutely necessary to make it 
strong and answer the purpose of sheltering and 
growing good plants. These dry very fast at this 
season, and will need every attention in watering, or 
they soon sutler, not only by flagging at the time, but 
they show it after in the starved look of the foliage, 
and especially is this so with Pelargoniums and the 
herbaceous Calceolarias, which should have frequent 
supplies of weak liquid manure if at all cramped for 
room in their pots. 
PITS AND FRAMES. 
Zinnias and Astees are among the most showy of 
the annuals, especially when planted in large masses, 
for which purpose both are well adapted, as they last 
long in full beauty and produce a most striking effect. 
The way to get good plants of both is to sow in boxes 
or pans at once, and stand them in a pit or frame 
where they can have gentle heat, when the seeds will 
quickly germinate, and the seedlings be large enough 
for pricking out, which should be done in light soil, 
and as soon as the plants have got well hold of this 
they will be ready for planting in their beds, which 
ought to be rich and fully exposed to the sun. 
BEDS AND BORDERS. 
Spring Flowers. —Flower beds will now be gay 
with spring flowers, the weather for which has been 
exceedingly favourable, but in cases where any of the 
beds or borders are vacant, or have available spaces 
for filling, they should be dug that the soil may be 
aerated and prepared ready for receiving plants to be 
turned out in May. Most of these bloom best if the 
ground they are planted in is poor, but there are some 
that are greatly benefited by manure, chief among 
which are the Calceolarias, Zinnias, Asters, and Stocks, 
and for these the soil cannot well be too rich, nor too 
deeply stirred, as, unless they can get their roots well 
down, the hot weather affects them and spoils their 
beauty long before the season is over. 
Herbaceous Phloxes generally send up many 
shoots, which, if left, crowd each other, and therefore 
the weakest should be taken out by pulling them 
away, or cutting them down beneath the soil, when 
the strength of the plants will be forced into the 
others, which will then produce fine heads of flowers. 
Evergreens: Planting and Pruning. —As Ever¬ 
greens are late this year in making their growth, they 
may yet be transplanted with safety, but the sooner 
the work is pushed through to completion the better, as 
the sun now begins to exercise very great power. To 
insure the fresh-lifted plants growing, the soil should 
be well washed in around them by using plenty of 
water when filling in and covering up the roots, and 
after that is done, the next important thing is to 
mulch by placing over the ground about the shrubs a 
good layer of half-rotten strawy manure, which will 
prevent evaporation and enable the plants to get 
quick hold and re-establish themselves. Pruning and 
thinning too may yet be carried out, as most Evergreens 
break again freely at this time of year; and if long 
straggling branches are removed, the plants may soon 
be brought into shape and made to furnish below. 
Lawns and Grass Verges. —The change in the 
weather has set grass growing freely, and to have a 
good bottom it will now be necessary to mow once a 
week, and to look over the lawn occasionally to see 
that there are no Daisies or other noxious weeds 
showing themselves, but, if so, they should be 
removed by digging them out, or dropping into their 
crowns vitriolic or carbolic acid, either of which will 
burn them up, and destroy them at once. To get a 
fine herbage the roller must be used freely immediately 
after rain or during early morning while the ground 
is soft and moist, when by pressing down worm-casts, 
&c., the way will be prepared for the machine, the 
blade of which should be set to just clear the turf and 
cut the grass low. 
Verges to Walks will now need trimming, which 
work may be done with a sharp edging-knife and 
a good eye to guide it, and as soon as the edgings 
are in order, attention should be directed to the gravel, 
which may be freed from small weeds and moss by 
giving a sprinkling of salt water when the weather is 
dry, but this must not be allowed near Box or it will 
make it look bad, and perhaps kill it outright. 
THE FRUIT GARDEN. 
Peaches and Nectarines are now forward enough for 
disbudding, which should be done gradually by taking 
off some of the shoots daily, so as not to check the 
trees by losing too much of their foliage at once. In 
most cases two young shoots are quite sufficient to 
leave on the old wood, the one best; situated on the 
top at the base, and the other at the end, to draw the 
sap and feed the fruit below, and enable it to swell 
and ripen off properly. Green-fly is always more or 
less troublesome, and must be watched for and checked 
or got rid of at once, or it will cripple the leaves and 
spoil the health of the plants. Tobacco-powder is a 
good remedy against the aphis, and by the aid of an 
india-rubber distributor may be put on quickly, and 
with a syringe and water washed off again, which 
should be done after it has been on a few hours. 
Strawberries and Raspberries. —The Strawberries 
ought at once to be cleared of their last year s foliage, 
and the plants hoed between and then mulched, which 
will shade the ground and keep it moist for the roots, 
a matter of the greatest importance, as then the 
blooms come up strong and bold, and the fruit 
swells off much larger and finer than it otherwise 
would. Raspberries are also benefited by the same 
kind of treatment, and any fresh-planted trees like¬ 
wise need similar protection about the roots, and 
may require water unless rain comes soon, as the 
sun and wind have dried the ground quite a foot 
down. 
The Vinery.— Vines are making rapid progress, and 
any that have been fresh planted must be looked 
closely after to have the main leaders tied and led 
up straight to form the future rods, while other side 
shoots, and all laterals, should be stopped, that the 
whole strength may be concentrated in making and 
building up good canes under each rafter. To have 
the canes short-jointed, air must be admitted freely 
into the house during the day, when the weather is 
warm and favourable, but at three o clock or so 
the lights or ventilators should be closed, and the 
Vines syringed, if sunny, with tepid water, which will 
prevent red-spider and keep the leaves clean. Vines 
that are fruiting may be treated precisely the same 
till the berries are set, after which they are best not 
wetted, but the floor of the house should be damped 
down frequently by being sprinkled, and when the 
nights are cold it will be necessary to keep a little 
heat in the pipes, or the leaves of the Vines will go 
spotted, and suffer. 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
Hoeing and Watering. —Nothing does so much 
good among growing crops as the hoe, which should 
now be plied to stir the surface of the ground, to kill 
all young seedling weeds, and let in the air, which will 
make the soil sweet for the roots and expedite the 
growth of the plants. Cauliflower and Cabbages being 
gross feeders and fond of plenty of moisture will be 
much assisted and made more succulent and tender 
by being watered with strong liquid manure, with 
which they should have a good soaking, as also any 
forward Lettuce or beds of Spinach, if the weather 
keeps dry. 
Peas and Potatos. —The great warmth has brought 
early Potatos through the ground, but as we may get 
frost any night, soil should be drawn oyer the tops to 
protect them, as they are very tender in the soft young 
state, and, if cut, the crop will be small. Peas: To 
have a constant supply of Peas during the summer a 
few must be sown regularly once a fortnight up to the 
end of June; one of the best, if not the best, being 
the Ne Plus Ultra, which is very rich in flavour and a 
capital cropper, and one that withstands mildew and 
bears the hot weather well. 
Scarlet Runners and French Beans. —It is time 
to get a sowing of both of these in, the finest of the 
first-named being Carter’s Champion, and the latter 
Canadian Wonder, both having fine long pods that are 
delicate and tender when cooked. To have Runners 
stand the dry weather and set then - flowers it is 
necessary to dig and prepare a trench and manure the 
bottom, and then fill it nearly up, when the Beans 
may be sown thinly along or planted about 6 ins. 
apart, and after they are up and staked the rows 
should be mulched and soaked with water now and 
then, and if this is done the produce from the plants 
will be great. The Canadian Wonder, being a strong 
grower, should be sown a yard apart, but as it is late 
turning in, it is as well to plant a row of the Liver- 
coloured, Wilmot’s, or Early Dun to pick first. 
Beet, Salsify, and Carrots may all be got in now, 
and small sowings made of Radishes, Turnips, 
Spinach, Lettuce, Cauliflower, and Mustard and Cress, 
to keep up a regular succession all through the season. 
Asparagus beds may be freed from small weeds by 
giving them a sprinkling of salt, which will also 
improve the quality of the Asparagus, and Seakale, 
being a marine plant, will also be benefited by a like 
dressing. 
- g_. -Tu -<>- CT- - 
A RUSTIC BRIDGE. 
If there is one thing more objectionable in a 
landscape than telegraph-posts or tall chimney- 
stacks it is an ill-designed, ugly bridge ; on the other 
hand, where water forms a component part in rural 
scenery, nothing seems to add such a finish to the 
picture as a bridge constructed on graceful and appro¬ 
priate lines, whether it be of wood, stone, or iron. 
Visitors to Battersea Park cannot fail to have seen 
and admired the rustic bridge which forms the 
subject of the illustration on the opposite page, and 
which was prepared from a photograph taken last 
summer by a clever amateur photographer living in 
the neighbourhood—Mr. F. Williams, 167, Sabine 
Road, Shaftesbury Park. In summer, of the many 
“pretty bits” which the genius of John Gibson and 
of his successor, Mr. Roger, have provided for the 
delectation of the hundreds of thousands of 
people who visit this park, there are none 
which prove more attractive than the Anew of 
this bridge and its charming surroundings, while 
some idea of the “ drawing ” character of the 
views obtained from the structure itself may be 
gleaned from the fact that on any Sunday afternoon 
or general holiday a lingering crowd may at any time 
be found upon it. We should add that it is con¬ 
structed of Oak and Scotch Fir, and is situated in that 
part of the park nearest to and in front of the new 
Albert Palace. During the past week vegetation of 
all kinds has made much progress, and as the park 
contains a rich assortment of flowering trees and 
shrubs, many of which are now in bloom, a visit just 
now is especially delightful to all lovers of the beau¬ 
tiful in nature. 
— g—■ ' 'TX «$» cr ' — 
STRAWBERRY TILES. 
In the spring of 1850, a Mr. John Roberts introduced 
a Strawberry Tile similar to that described at p. 519, 
the only difference in the design being that the Roberts’ 
tile was square and the present one is round, a differ¬ 
ence of no material importance when being used for 
the purpose intended. At the time Mr. Roberts intro¬ 
duced his tile I employed a great many of them, and 
my experience does not lead me to appreciate the 
use of the contrivance as suggested by the original 
inventor. I have no intention of going into their 
merits or demerits at this time, but simply to state 
facts in reference to priority of introduction. Mr. 
Roberts also had “ Celery Sockets,” “ Asparagus 
Tubes,” “Grape” and “Melon Tiles,” Arc., and 
although used by many at the time, they are num¬ 
bered, so far as my knowledge goes, with the things 
that were .—Man of Kent. 
