May 12, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. bM 
Kitcuen Garden Calendar. 
Cucumbers— The frames used for the production of 
early vegetables will now be empty, and may, there¬ 
fore, be utilised for other purposes, amongst which 
Cucumbers may be included. The cultivation of 
tbess to some may be a simple matter, while to 
others who have had but little experience, many 
little things crop up that do Dot seem to appear with 
thoroughly practical men ; and as it is for the benefit 
of those whose experience is limited that these lines 
are penned, it may be as well to state at the outset 
that to grow Cucumbers successfully close attention 
to their requirements is necessary. Amateurs can 
be excused for making mistakes, but professional 
men are expected to be more on the alert. It is not 
a frame full of rank foliage that one wishes to see, but 
an abundance of fine healthy fruit, and a continuation 
of such through the summer. To do this, the growths 
must be kept within bounds, and so regulated as 
to have fruit of various stages to succeed each other. 
Always stop the growths at the first or second joint 
beyond the fruit, and if the plants are inclined to 
ramble the former should be chosen. If several 
fruits show at a joint pinch all off except one, that 
the plants may not soon become exhausted. Water 
carefully, for as there is plenty of root room the soil 
will not soon get dry. On fine days ventilate a 
little at the lop as soon as the temperature reaches 
65°. Close the frames early in the afternoon, damp¬ 
ing the foliage with a syringe so as to generate a 
humid atmosphere. Should the plants show signs of 
exhaustion thin out the growths and give a top¬ 
dressing of turfy loam, and peg some of the bine 
down to this so as to encourage fresh roots. 
Brussels Sprouts. —Plants from the early sow¬ 
ings will now be large enough for transplanting ; as 
thess will occupy the ground for a considerable time 
it is necessary that the soil should be of a fertile 
character. To obtain fine hard sprouts the plants 
must have ample room from the commencement, 
that the stems may be firm and robust. Where the 
soil is of a light sandy nature, it should be made firm 
previous to planting, and if in an exposed situation it 
is a good plan to plant in trenches that the plants 
may be earthed up when they have attained strength 
to prevent them being rocked about by high winds. 
Where the plants are liable to be attacked by the 
club a liberal dressing of lime should be given to ward 
off this pest. 
Borecoles or Kale.— Amongst the Brassica 
tribe these will be found most useful daring winter 
and. spring, but in order that they may be of the 
greatest service possible the stems should be 
encouraged to grow as stout as possible, as it is from 
such that the greatest bulk of food is produced. 
When the ground is in good heart, and the plants 
are got out early there should be no difficulty in 
getting them well established before the soil is too 
hot and dry ; but when allowed to stand in the seed 
bed until they become drawn it is seldom they make 
much progress till the autumn rains set in, by which 
time the season is too far advanced for them to pro¬ 
duce a great bulk of food. The finest variety we 
have ever grown is Sutton’s Favourite. This is not 
a curled variety, but is of the most delicate flavour, 
and of a beautiful green colour when properly cooked. 
Broccoli. —The late varieties of these should now 
be sown, and special care ought to be taken to ward 
off the Turnip fly, which in hot weather is very 
troublesome. There are so many good late varieties 
that it would be a difficult task to say which was 
best; May Queen, Continuity, Carter’s Summer, are 
all good. Plants of the early varieties should be 
pricked out as soon as they are large enough to 
handle to prevent them from becoming leggy for 
when this happens it is seldom they are of much 
value. 
General Work. —Weeds of all kinds will now be 
growing apace, therefore the hoe should be kept at 
work amongst growing crops to keep them under 
while they are small. Watering newly planted crops 
and seedling plants should also receive careful 
attention. Plant out Lettuce v/hile small on rich 
soil that they may get well rooted before the foliage 
gets large, as this in a great measure will prevent 
them running to seed. Prick out Celery plants as 
they become large enough that they may be sturdy. 
Sow Peas, for a succession, taking care to have the 
soil thoroughly moistened should the weather be 
dry. Broad Beans may still be sown for an autumn 
supply, as likewise both runners and dwarfs. Plant 
out Vegetable Marrows under hand lights or hot¬ 
beds, or in a sheltered position. Ridge Cucumbers 
can also be planted out if protection can be afforded 
them. Have a sharp look-out for frosty nights, and 
see that all Potatos are protected that are liable to 
be cut down. Continue to sow small salads, as 
these will now be in great demand.— F. W. J. 
-— 
THE FLOWER GARSEN. 
The present is a most active time for gardeners who 
have much bedding stock on their hands. Plans 
have to be made for the lifting and probably the re¬ 
planting of much of the stock which at present fills 
the beds in the formal flower garden. These beds 
after being cleared require to be trigged-up a little, 
to be manured probably and to be deeply dug. Then 
the summer arrangements, which I always like to 
plan a long while in advance, have to be re-considered. 
An estimate of the plants required for all purposes 
should be made in good time. It is a difficult matter 
to strike the nail fair and square in all we attempt. 
Even after great endeavours we may find ourselves 
short of a particular variety of a much desired plant, 
with no chance now of raising others to make good 
the deficiency. In such cases if much inconvenience 
would be likely to arise from the shortage, I see 
no reason why gardeners should not mutually help 
each oth'er by giving aud taking. We as a body are 
a generous and bonded craft, and rely one 
on the other. The plants in the houses, the pits and 
frames, should in no wise bs crowded together. If 
any rule in gardening is worth attention, this rule 
certainly is. A sturdily grown and compact plant is 
far safer to deal with than three or four bare and 
weak-stemmed spindly plants ; and good plants in all 
ways are preferable to any amount of decrepit ones. 
No anxious gardener will allow his bedding plants 
ever to suffer from drought. Such a remark ought 
never to be called for, yet the fact that thousands of 
plants in small pots do greatly suffer from lack of 
moisture bids me ring out a note of warning. Too 
much water can scarcely be given to Pelargoniums, 
Begonias, Calceolarias and well advanced annuals, 
well rooted in small pots. 
Descriptions of some fine summer flower beds 
were given a short while ago. Still a detail of a few 
more pleasing combinations and contrast suitable for 
summer beds here follows. For a bold massive bed 
Acalypha tricolor, Hydrangea hortensis, Plumbago 
capensis, Anthericum Liliastrum variegatum, Ligust- 
rum variegatum, Ligustrum ovalifolium aureum, 
Chlorophytum elatum variegatum, with an under¬ 
growth of Tradescantia disco'or. These plants along 
with others, which were mentioned before, viz.: tall 
Pelargoniums, Bougainvilleas, Manettia bicolor, and 
the Coral tree, give a fair selection for any southern 
gardener. There are some which we have mentioned 
which are not suitable for gardens very far north of 
London. Still, much can be done with the plants 
which have proved successful. There area number 
of graceful varieties of Bamboos quite hardy even 
in the southern parts of Scotland. These should 
be employed. A pretty combination can be got by 
using Alternanthera amcena as a grounding, and 
over this tuberous Begonias and Coreopsis atro- 
sanguineum, a bed cheap and pleasing. An edging 
of Viola Bessie Clark, a lavender blue variety, gives 
additional colouring. 
Lilium speciosum and crimson and yellow Core¬ 
opsis with Alternanthera major as a carpeting, and 
edge plant, with Solanum pyracanthum at intervals 
along the front row, makes also a sweet and effective 
bed. A bed of Lobelia Queen Victoria with an 
undergrowth of white or blue Violas forms an 
exceedingly sweet bed. Mixed beds of Cannas, 
Amaranthus, Abutilons, Araucarias, Irisines and 
other taller growing plants in their proper place 
should oftener be arranged than at present is the 
case. 
The rock garden at the moment is really pretty 
and very interesting. Primulas and Polyanthus in 
variety are everywhere ; Pulmonaria officinalis and 
its white variety and others less known, Ranun¬ 
culuses (in the shaded and moist corners of course) 
and Calthas, Scillas, a few Narcissi, Phlox amoena, 
Ericas, dwarf Irises, Aubrietias, Omphalodes, Arabis, 
and quite a host of small but attractive alpines are 
in the height of their brightness.— J.H.D. 
THE FE^HERY. 
Moisture, shade, and a steady warmth are what is 
wanted at the present time in the Fernery. Growth 
is active after the top-dressing and the potting. Some 
of the Nephrolepis and the gold and silver Ferns, of 
which there are a few plants in all gardens where 
Ferns are appreciated, will be found in the following 
notes:— 
Nephrolepis acuta. —Only for very large houses 
can we recommend this, one of the largest and 
strongest growing of all the genus. It bears fronds 
4 ft. or 5 ft. loDg, and broad in proportion Given 
plenty of head and root room, it is a handsome and 
serviceable enough species. 
N. davallioides furcans. —This is a popular 
stove Fern, and one of the most ornamental and 
easily cultivated that there is. The tips of the fronds 
are furcate or twistedly forked, and the arching 
growth of them and general compactness furnishes a 
finely decorative plant. 
N. cordifolia. —A very graceful species with 
well-arched fronds, and closely set narrow pinnae. 
It is exceedingly ornamental. 
N. pluma is slender and arching, with somewhat 
long pinnae, which are slightly crenate. 
N. exaltata Barteri.— This variety has stout, 
erect stalks, with smooth, close-set pinnae. It is a 
good variety, and adds variety. 
N. collingianum. —Beautiful broad foliage, 
pinnae long, wavy, and tapering, with well-spread 
fronds. It is altogether very graceful. 
N. rufescens tripinnatifida.— Tall, vigorous 
aad spreading in its habit of growth, this variety can 
only be given full justice where there is abundance 
of space to allow. It then forms a really handsome 
plant, with beautifully crested fronds, which are 
erect and long. It requires plenty of space and 
attention in every way, but may be excluded from 
collections in which only dwarf and compact species 
or varieties are wanted. 
The Nephrolepis can all be treated in the same 
manner, in the ordinary temperature of a stove vary- 
iog from 6o° to over 75'’, according to season, with 
the moist conditions aad shade which we accord to 
such houses. A short mention on some of the gold 
and silver Ferns might be serviceable to those who 
like this section. They must not be syringed over¬ 
head. 
Gymnogramme Veitchii.— Among stove Ferns of 
all descriptions this species of Gymnogramme is one 
of the most popular and pleasing. So refined, so 
graceful, yet withal so sturdy in its growth, that as 
an ornamental plant that, if any Gy mnogrammes are 
grown, let this one be choseB. 
G. dobroyense, as a pot plant, should be grown 
on a pedestal or suspended in the air. The bonds 
are smothered with sulphur-coloured dust, and they 
droop downward so that unless the plant is held 
high, its beauty may be changed to decrepitude, 
which repels. 
G. Matthewsii is one of the gold-powdered 
species. The fronds are broad, dwarf, and gracefully 
dissected. 
G. decomposita. —The fronds here are widely 
spread, and perhaps they arch just a little toomuch 
It is covered with silvery dust, and is exceedingly 
graceful. 
G. tomentosa can scarcely be termed a "gold ” 
or “ silver ” Fern. It is a hairy or downy variety, 
more after the Osmunda type in character of piDnae, 
&c. It is very pretty. 
Pearcei robusta is one of the strongest grow¬ 
ing varieties, being handsome, tall, of graceful 
mien, and gold-dusted. 
G. trifoliata. —This, too, looks distinct at a 
casual glance, from the proper type of gold or silver 
Fern. It is, however, a suitable decorative Gymno¬ 
gramme with long, smooth, linear leaves, without 
any powder. 
G. calomelanos chrysophylla. —Few varieties 
are better known or more deserving of inclusion in a 
Fern house. It grows nicely compact, but not 
crowded, has just the proper degree of slenderness to 
make it useful as well as graceful, is dusted with gold 
powder, which gives it brightness, and when 
matured it forms a massive and exceedingly hand¬ 
some plant. 
G. c. argentea and G. c. sulphurea are others 
whose merits are conspicuous.— J. D. 
