August 11 , 1901. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
815 
one day becoming a gardener is the one we want 
more of.— J. Botley. 
WORK IN THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
By this all summer bedding plants should have 
filled their allotted space, and it will be necessary 
to trim in, more or less, many of the varieties used 
for a summer displ iy, i otably Pelargoniums, 
especially the Ivy leaf section, Mesembryanthemum 
cordifolium variegatum, Marguerites, Alyssum 
variegatum, &c. 
The prunings can be utilised for propagation, 
cutting clean up to a leaf and inserted in shallow 
boxes, pans, or boxes of light sandy soil made firm, 
and watered the day previous. Place the 
Pelargoniums in the full sun, and sprinkle with a 
rose can twice daily unless showery weather pre¬ 
vails. The others named had better be placed 
under a frame, kept close and shaded from the sun 
where they will soon form roots, if kept fairly moist, 
keeping an eye that they do not damp off or decay at 
the base with too much moisture. 
The larger dot or specimen plants such as Calceo¬ 
laria amplexicaulis, Plumbago capensis, bush or 
standard Heliotropes, Marguerites, Fuchsias, 
Nicotiana Sylvestrls, Salvia splendens, S. Pitcherii, 
and S. Bethelli must be securely staked and tied, as 
from now onwards storms and blustering winds 
often occur, and do irreparable damage through this 
little inattention. Dahlias, too, have got top- 
heavy. so should be well supported, removing all 
Spent flower heads. 
And now is the time to summer prune such plants 
fig Spiraea ariaefolia, S. bella, S. Bumalda, S. con- 
fusa, S. arguta, and a few others, if not already 
done; of course, the proper time is as soon as 
flowering is over in each case, but they are liable to 
get overlooked in the presence of other work. But 
the plants otherwise soon get a mass of wood if 
neglected only one year. 
Climbers against walls or fences claim attention 
in the same way; and where Deutzia scabra is 
grown thus, the old flowering shoots should be cut 
out, bringing in the strongest youDg growths of this 
season from the base. These will flower their full 
length next June. Spur back Cydonias, Clematis 
montana, and Chimonanthus fragans, not too 
severely with the last named, as it is mostly on the 
spurs the tiny sweet scented flowers appear. 
Roses merely require the old blooms cut off and 
nailing in any young growths from the base, as with 
the Deutzia. If most of the flowers emanate from 
about the centre of the plant, and no shoots are 
forthcoming from the bottom, it should be cut hard 
back early next March. Plants treated thus often 
break away nicely, and throw up strong shoots 
which soon cover the wall agaiD, and carry 
numerous flowers the following year. The shoot 
may require to be shortened i ft. or so to where the 
wood is ripe early in spring.—/. Mayne. 
-■«- 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
Things are still looking bright in this department, 
especially where the hose has been at work. Since 
the recent rains other things which are by no means 
desirable in the borders are growing with amazing 
rapidity, and much time is spent in hoeing and 
weeding. Hoeing may be an apparent waste of 
time, but it serves a double purpose, for, as I have 
said before, it is an efficient means of conserving the 
moisture in the soil, and therefore should be prac¬ 
tised whether weeds are plentiful or not. 
Cuttings. —There is plenty to do now with the 
numerous plants that are to be propagated, and no 
time should be lost in getting in cuttings of those 
which it is intended to increase. Most herbaceous 
plants will strike now in cold frames if the pots are 
placed under bell glasses. 
Seed Saving. —Many plants are now past 
their flowering season and an economic person will 
be on the look out for seeds. Sowing one’s own 
seeds will be found to be a very good way of keeping 
down expenses in places where much is needed for 
little money, and it is far preferable to lowering the 
wages. If a seedsman can save his own seed why 
should not a gardener do the same ? Surely it is as 
easy for one as for the other. There are several 
little things which may have big results that should 
be at tended to. Not by any means the least is that 
of marking the most desirable varieties so that an 
inferior sort be not increased. If seeds are to be 
saved it is as well to weed out any which show 
undesirable tendencies as soon as they show their 
first flower, or they may be the means of crossing 
with a better variety and thus in many instances 
entirely spoiling the progeny. There are many 
genera of plants which are prone to this cross fer¬ 
tilisation. Take the Columbines, for instance. If 
they are grown with the various varieties anywhere 
in the vicinity of each other it is impossible to keep 
them true, and with a few thoroughly good varieties 
nothing can be better for making a collection if care 
is taken to eliminate the varieties which show poor¬ 
ness of colour or constitution. Some plants are not 
so apt to get crossed as others, but it is always 
advisable to follow the method practised by seeds¬ 
men, and not allow inferior blood to contaminate 
the strain. Great care should always be taken to make 
sure, ist, that the seeds are properly ripe, and, and, 
that they are perfectly dry before being put in their 
bags or packets. On still days it is a very good plan 
to expose them to the sun and air on newspapers. 
Another precaution which must not be overlooked is 
that of protecting the seeds from mites, etc., when 
stored. For this purpose there is nothing better 
than camphor or carbolic tablets. There is yet 
another important item to be borne in mind and 
that is that there are many plants whose seeds 
require sowing as soon as they are ripe. No rule 
can be laid down as to which plants require this, 
but common sense and careful observation must be 
the guide. 
Removing faded Flowers. — Anyone 
who wishes his display of bloom to extend over as 
long a period as possible must not neglect this 
important work, as it not only adds to the neatness 
of the garden but also to the vigour of the plants. 
It is because this practice is not carefully carried 
out that annuals prove so evanescent. Left to 
themselves they produce a crop of bloom, perfect 
their seeds and then die. They cannot be blamed 
for this, as it is only Nature. Sentimental people 
say that " Nature's hand can not be turned," but in 
practice they will find it can be coaxed and guided 
a long way from its normal course. So long as the 
weather will permit and the constitution of the 
plant will stand it it will endeavour to attain its 
object of producing seed for the reproduction of its 
kind by producing more flowers as the others are 
removed. This is where the gardener scores, he 
lets the plant waste its whole energy in flower pro¬ 
duction if he does not require its seed, and even if 
it proves somewhat tedious to follow out this treat¬ 
ment where small flowered plants are concerned it 
will amply repay the trouble. 
Bulbs. —If the gardener has not already made a 
selection of what bulbs he intends to plant, it is now 
time for him to stir himself and consider how far he 
can make his allowance go. The large bulb firms 
are now issuing their catalogues, and a look through 
these is really most entertaining and makes one long 
for endless wealth, so that some of all the varieties 
illustrated could be grown. Many of the catalogues 
are filled with plates taken from phctographs of 
actual living specimens, so that there is no decep¬ 
tion as to the good qualities of the bulbs as there 
used to be in the days when wood cuts were much 
in vogue, as with this class of picture the quantity 
of bloom can be increased and the shape altered 
according to the will of the artist. Dutch bulbs 
seem to still be greatly in demand, but our English 
nurserymen are now fully awake to the fact that 
they can grow bulbs equally as good as their Dutch 
confyeres, and we now see immense bulb farms in 
various parts of our islands. In Ireland the industry 
is gaining ground, and yearly the land for their culti¬ 
vation is extended and new farms opened. This rivalry 
and competition of an international character cannot 
fail to be of good service to the gardener, as it will 
enable him to obtain the highest quality of bulbs for 
the lowest possible price. It is always best to have 
your orders placed early, and it is for this reason 
that I make this early reminder. Yet it is not too 
early for Narcissi, as they ought to be planted early 
in September, and not, as is often the case, late in 
October. 
The Lawn.— A better time than the present 
cannot be chosen tor making new lawns and renova¬ 
ting old ones. If seeds are sown now where a new 
lawn is required they will get well hold before 
winter comes on if they are kept well watered with 
a fine shower hose and rolled occasionally. Where 
old lawns have become thin it is as well to mix the 
seed with a little fine soil and then strew in about 
the bare places and see that it is kept well supplied 
with moisture. The loose soil laying on the grass 
may look untidy for a few days, but it will soon 
wash down and both improve the old turf and make 
a first hold for the young plants. Where the turf is 
weedy it will be as well to give it a severe cleaning 
now, and then thicken the turf with an application 
of good lawn seed.— P. R. 
KitcRan Garden calendar. 
With the exceptionally hot and dry weather many 
of the crops are looking in a somewhat dejected 
state, and are not up to the standard one would like 
to see them. 
Onions. —Where these have not been properly 
watered during the drought, they have ripened 
prematurely. It is time now that all were getting 
fit for pulling, and they must be given every en¬ 
couragement to ripen. If the tops refuse to die down 
they should be bent over and forced to do so. Many 
growers find that autumn-sown Onions do the best, 
and where they will succeed it is best to sow them 
now, as they are not so liable to be troubled with the 
various pests which often injure the spring-sown 
crop. If they are to be sown now no time should be 
lost, as the sooner they are in the better. Take care 
to choose a variety well adapted for autumn sowing, 
as many are not suited for this. 
Spring Cabbage. —Sowings should be made 
this month for spring supplies. They should be sown 
in two batches, the first one now and the second at 
the end of the month. See that only those varieties 
which are known to heart well are chosen. 
Red Cabbage.— There is not usually a very 
big call for these, but a few for pickling are always 
handy. The present is a good time to make a 
sowing. 
Coleworts. —Sow for summer use in a sheltered 
bed. 
Cauliflowers.— In a well prepared bed on a 
warm border a good sowing should be made without 
delay for planting out early in the spring. 
Prickly Spinach. —After the ground has been 
well manured and given a copious dressing of soot, 
a sowing of this should be made for winter use. 
Another sowing miy be made later for use in the 
spring. 
Turnips.— If a good sowing for winter use has 
not already been made, it should be done now. The 
variety known as All the Year Round will be hard to 
equal, and in my opirion impossible to beat. 
Celery. —It is time now the very latest trench 
was filled. The earliest may be in want of earthing 
up, but do not earth up earlier than what is abso¬ 
lutely necessary as if covered too early rotting o'ten 
takes place. See that it is well watered be'ore it is 
earthed up, but do not attempt to put the soil round 
it until the stems are perfectly dry.— K. 
About a Dozen Species of Anemone are known to 
gardeners, of which A. coronaria is the most 
popular. 
Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society.—At the 
last meeting of this society sixteen new members 
were elected and arrangements made for an excursion 
to Ayrshire and the Glasgow Exhibition. The 
chairman, in his report, stated that a larger number 
of exhibits had been offered for the show at Inver¬ 
ness than what had been expected, but as they had 
been promised additional space they would be able 
to accommodate them. He also mentioned that steps 
were being taken to ensure that forestry should 
occupy a prominent place in the curriculum of the 
new College of Rural Economy about to be 
established in Edinburgh. The following are the 
names of the new members :—John Richie Findlay, 
Spencer Campbell Thompson, Edward Badenach 
Nicholson, John Cunningham, Harly Marshall, 
Frederick Shaw Kennedy, David Meldrum, Alex¬ 
ander Pollocks, Thomas Ryan, Alexander Cameron, 
John C. Gifford, Donald M’Laien, William Fraser, 
John Irvine, George Innes, and Thomas Lill Clay¬ 
ton. 
