826 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 3rd, 1903. 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Frosts may now be expected with more or less severity in all 
parts of the country, and the thoughtful and painstaking 
Kitchen gardener will have to keep a watchful eye on the glass, 
and take the necessary precautions to protect, as far as pos¬ 
sible, tire more tender subjects, and transfer many of the 
young seedling plants to- a, place of safety for the winter 
months. 
Complete the pricking out of Lettuce, both Cos and Cabbage 
varieties, Endive of sorts, tire latest sown Parsley and Cauli¬ 
flowers in cold frames, and, failing these, home-made skeleton 
frames can be made with any rough boards, or even turf pits. 
Select a, site, if possible', facing south, and by using dressed 
covers, which 1 have before mentioned, and are now made by 
many firms, these will not only ward off much frost, and, what 
is also of much importance, are waterproof, thus keeping the 
young plants warm and dry. A little trouble should be exer¬ 
cised in preparing the corn post, in which they are to, be 
planted, and the bottom should be well drained. Old potting 
soil makes excellent material for the purpose, but, failing this, 
leaf soil, light loam, and road drift, in equal proportions, well 
mixed, will make' a, most suitable mixture. 
Slugs oftentimes do much mischief unless means are taken 
to prevent them. I always find it a, capital and effective plan 
to place a good ridge of finely-sifted cinder ashes immediately 
all round inside the frames, as these troublesome pests, which 
are very numerous; this season, much dislike passing over this. 
Ciear the ground of all kinds 1 of crops which have done their 
work, such as Peas, Beans of sorts, and Cauliflowers. Burn 
everything which is of no further use, and fork over 1 and make 
the ground tidy. I am a great believer in turning over the 
surface of all kinds of soil at this season, even though it may 
have to be trenched very shortly, as by so doing it becomes 
sweetened by the weather before it, is placed in, the bottom, 
and a very great portion comes under the influence of frosts 
before the time comes round for cropping next year. 
Take advantage of fine weather, and keep the hoes well in 
use among all growing crops', such as Cabbage, Spinach, Tur¬ 
nip, and thei like. The hoes of all kinds; are invaluable tools, 
and can hardly be used too much, not only for destroying all 
weed life, but. for aerating and sweetening the surface soil. 
Rhubarb. —This will certainly be in much request during 
the coining winter and- spring, owing to the great, scarcity of 
the Apple crop in many parts, and strenuous; efforts should be 
made to have a good supply. Breadths of suitable varieties 
should always be grown on a, south' border for forcing early, as 
by so doing it matures much, quicker than if grown in a more 
shady position, and unless; a certain amount, of rest is; given, to 
the crowns these seldom, start away freely. It is a good plan 
to pull off all the foliage, and in a few days lift the roots with 
good balls of earth before placing them into heat, 
Seakale should be treated precisely in the same way, select¬ 
ing the strongest crowns; for the purpose. At, le'ast ten days 
or a fortnight, should be allowed before placing it in forcing 
quarters. 
Tomatos —Plants which are expected to yield good crops 
of fruit all through the winter ought by now to be well-estab¬ 
lished in their fruiting pots, and great care should be; exercised 
not to allow them to become over-cropped in their early stage®, 
or the plants will become exhausted, and will not continue to' 
give satisfactory results. Strictly avoid too much heat, and 
air the plants freely on all favourable; occasion,s. A strong, 
sturdy, short-fruited growth should be the chief aim ; avoid 
stimulants of any kind 1 till the plantsi are in, full bearing. The 
plants should be carefully watered; rather err on the side of 
dryness than allowing them to be over-watered. Always use 
water at the same temperaturel as the structure in which they 
are growing. Do- not syringe the foliage, and a, damp, stagnant 
atmosphere mast be guarded against, or disease will probably 
attack them. Thoroughly fumigate the house, should white 
fly infest, them, three nights in succession, and artificially 
fertilise the flowers at midday, to ensure a free set of fruit. 
Plants which are in full bearing should now be partially 
denuded of their foliage, and all surplus growth removed. 
Keep the roots moderately dry, but give a little manure water 
occasionally. Cut the fruits immediately they show signs of 
colouring, and place them in a warm, sunny position to finish; 
this will prevent cracking, and they will remain sound for a 
much longer period. 
E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Notes on Hardy Trees and Shrubs. 
The recent heavy gale, which, unfortunately, seems to have 
swept over the whole' of this country, has played s;ad havoc with 
many collections., especially where a, thorough system of sup¬ 
porting has not, been earned out, and it is of the utmost im¬ 
portance that all supports and ties be examined without delay. 
Though it is to be hoped that we may not experience a gale of 
such severity again, we may certainly expect rough winds at 
thisi season, and one cannot be too w r ell prepared for them. 
As I have before pointed out, one of the most important 
items: in the successful culture of trees' and shrubs is to give 
them a thoroughly firm support from the commencement, and 
those who have paid attention to this will have escaped with 
comparatively little; damage. Especially does this apply to 
newly planted shrubs, which have not been able in one season 
to obtain a, very firm root-hold, and are consequently more 
easily shaken than those which have become' well established. 
Any which have become loosened should therefore have the 
spil pressed firmly round the base, and time will be well spent 
in examining the stakes and replacing any which are con¬ 
sidered insecure. Where portions:'of a, tree are broken, the 
damaged parts- should be cut, cleanly a,w r a,y with a sharp knife, 
and in some case® it- may be advisable- to remove the damaged 
branches' altogether if the appearance will be rendered better 
by so doing. The ties; which are holding the tree and stake 
together should also-be watched, and those which are becoming 
to-o tight will need taking off and replacing with new ones. 
With young trees, the majority of which grow and swell o-ut 
quickly, it is important that the ties; are not. left long enough 
to injure the stems, this often being the case, especially where 
tarred or other string is; used, which does, not, rot quickly from 
the effects; of the weather, and when, allowed to- cut- into the 
bark, often causes irreparable damage. It is; advisable, when 
tying up a, leader or small tender shoot, to use bast- instead 
of string, a® this is easily broken as the bark expands, and no 
harm accrues. 
The Use of Weeping Trees, —There is no form of tree which 
has a- more pleasing effect by the side of artificially or naturally 
constructed streams or lakes than the pendulous one ; but it is 
not all who are able to have them in such a- position, and when 
this is the case, many will, if given a, suitable position, be very 
effective in the shrubbery. The site which they are to occupy 
should be well considered before planting, and a prominent posi¬ 
tion, or one- immediately on the, edge of the border, is the best, 
if they are to be seen to advantage. It, is advisable when 
selecting weeping trees to have them with a good length of 
stem, so that they a,re able to- develop perfectly, and the 
branches are not disfigured by sweeping the ground. Alsoj 
allow sufficient space between them and their neighbours fori 
the form and outline to be clearly defined. There are many 
forms of pendulous; trees, both deciduous; and evergreen, and 
the former, I think, give the best results when planted in the 
shrubbery, the latter being more generally used as- specimens 
on grass. 
A few of the; most noteworthy of the deciduous section will 
be, found among the following: The weeping form of the Tfee 
of Heaven, Ailanthus glandulosa pendula, is one of the most 
