930 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 7. 1903. 
Readers' Competition—continued. 
head room ; keep close until rooting has taken place, which 
will occur in about three weeks. During that time keep them 
shaded from scorching sun, and syringe them twice daily ; the 
syringe is beneficial, and keeps down insect pests. As soon as 
they show signs of rooting, admit air, at first sparingly, and 
gradually increase it, so as to ensure a sturdy growth. In four 
or five weeks from the time of layering they will be rooted suffi¬ 
ciently for the first potting. Use 54’s, and then place them in 
span frames, and for the first few days pay attention to then 
wants regarding syringing and shading, until they again establish 
themselves. After this air them freely night and day until 
the cold weather begins. 
I recommend span frames in preference to any other, owing 
to the convenience for admitting air all round your plants and 
keeping off rain without being closed. When the plants are 
growing freely in these small pots, judgment must be used 
when watering and also as to when they are in a fit state to be 
potted on. My advice is never to allow a check to the plants 
in their early stages of growth ; therefore pay strict attention 
to their wants, and see they do not get root-bound in these 
small pots, as the want of timely potting results in many 
failures. Always get them shifted on before the roots get 
matted together. A good shift will be from 54 s to 32 s, which 
should be the flowering pots for the first year. 
After this final potting, great care must be taken regarding 
their watering, as there is so little root action during the 
autumn and winter months that it is an easy matter to get 
them overdone. I should like to deal with this all-important 
matter more extensively, if time and space would permit, as 
I believe here lies the key to success. My advice, in short, is 
to pay very strict attention to watering, and keep them decidedly 
on the dry side, and do not allow an inexperienced hand to 
perform this duty. 
Keep your plants always as near to the roof glass as possible, 
and free from insect pests by'fumigating, but, above all, free 
from the much-dreaded rust, to which Malmaisons are so 
liable. Keep a careful watch over them, and, as soon as it 
appears, cut off the affected parts and bum them ; by so doing 
it can be kept down, but if neglected, and the spores are allowed 
to be distributed among the other plants, very serious effects 
will be the result. I have dealt successfully with the Carnation 
disease with the aid of Young’s celebrated carvita, which is 
very effectual. I have used it many times with success, and 
would recommend it to all who are troubled with disease. I 
make a practice of syringing with it once a week, except, of 
course, in the dull, dark days of winter, and then only when 
the opportunity arises on a bright day, so that the plants may 
dry quickly. By this treatment it can be kept underhand. 
An ideal house to grow Malmaisons in would be a low span- 
roof, with plenty of air top and bottom, heated with a double 
row of 4-in. pipes, which will be found useful in damp weather ; 
turn a little on to dry the atmosphere, but never make a too 
free use of artificial heat, as Malmaisons will thrive in a low 
temperature with a warmth in the pipes. Air can be admitted 
until frost is registered outside, and when entirely closed it 
should never rise above 40. ■ 
The feeding of the plants is another important point in their 
culture which must be carried out with great care and judg¬ 
ment, according to the vigour of the plants. Sheep droppings 
used alternately with „soot manure, and an occasional pinth. 
of some such fertilisers as are advertised, will be beneficial, and 
help forward that rich colour and curl in the foliage which is 
so characteristic of healthy vigour. G. H. Cook. 
November Work in the Kitchen Garden. 
I have chosen perhaps what some may call a dull subject, but 
nevertheless, at the same time, it is one which commands great 
attention for the well-being of the inhabitants of the kitchen 
garden. The first thing of importance is cleanliness as regards 
falling leaves, weeds, etc. The atmosphere is now getting dull 
and heavily charged with moisture from the recent and con¬ 
tinuous autumn rains, which have been showered upon us in 
abundance; therefore falling leaves and decaying vegetable 
matter should be kept gathered up and buried in a trench or 
burnt on the rubbish heap, the ashes of which will be found 
beneficial to many garden crops if dug into the ground after 
going through the process of burning or charring. The gather¬ 
ing up of decaying refuse will assist much in allowing a free 
circulation of air to pass through and around the remaining 
growing crops. One very important item to the gardener in 
charge is to have plenty of protecting material at hand, bearing 
in mind that a few sharp frosts will partly destroy Lettuce, 
Endive, Cauliflower, and Celery. 
Globe Artichokes will require protection from the frost, which 
may appear at any moment. Cut off the stems to within a. foot 
of the ground, placing litter, consisting of straw and fresh leaves, 
along the side of the rows, taking great care not to bury the 
hearts of the plants, but to leave room for the free access of light 
and air. 
Autumn Cauliflower will now be plentiful, and these should 
be watched carefully, turning the growing leaves over the flower 
for protection. Cauliflowers may be lifted and put into dry, 
airy sheds, suspended from the roof, hanging head downwards, 
in which position they will keep fresh and fit for the kitchen 
for fully a fortnight. Cold frames should also be utilised for 
storing this delicious autumn vegetable ; by good management 
and cold frames at hand the season of the Cauliflower may be 
considerably prolonged. 
Asparagus beds should now be cleaned and put into a tidy 
condition for the winter, by cutting down, the brown grass and 
giving the beds a general clean up, finishing the whole off by 
giving a good dressing of decayed stable manure, and deaning 
up the channels between the beds, which will give a neat and 
tidy appearance. 
Sea Kale should be lifted, if not already done, and stored for 
forcing, so that the crowns can be easily got at in very sharp 
weather. This delicious vegetable may be had in succession from 
now onwards. One point of importance to be remembered is to 
select thorough strong, well-ripened crowns to obtain success, 
forcing generally being carried on in the Mushroom house, where 
a temperature of from 50deg. to 55deg. is usually maintained. 
Lily White has found much favour of late years with the cook 
on account of its whiteness, although not quite so hardy as the 
old purple. 
Celery will need attention during sharp weather in gardens 
where the chief is expected to keep up a long and continuous 
supply. Cold frames and sheds will again be found useful, for 
by careful storage the season can be greatly extended. 
Endive and late Lettuce should be lifted and stored in resting 
fruit-houses or cold frames to prolong the salad season, which 
will be found useful to send to the kitchen, with well-bleached 
Chicory, Mustard and Cress, winter T'omatos, etc. 
Spade work should be proceeded with at every available op¬ 
portunity ; all vacant land should be well manured, dug, and 
trenched if required. Land dug and left rough at this season 
exposed to the winter elements, will, when seed-time and plant¬ 
ing comes' round, only need levelling and raking over at the 
shortest notice, producing better crops-rib an if the digging is 
delayed till a day or two before the crops, or seeds are put in. 
Autumn digging will also assist in destroying insect life. 
Now is the time to look over the past season’s work, turning 
failures of tire past to good account in the future, making notes 
of tilings and subjects- which have done well, and looking out 
lines for future improvements where required while one’s memory 
is fresh. Noting things which have been found wanting and 
bringing observations to bear on our minds is work which can 
be done by the fireside during the long nights now upon us, and 
in the bothy or gardener’s cottage would be object lessons and 
time well spent. "W m. Penlox. 
Studley Castle Gardens. 
Mr. T. Davidsox, foreman at Minto Gardens, Hawick, N.B., 
has been appointed gardener to- the Dowager Duchess of Argyll, 
Macharioch, Campbeltown, Argyllshire. 
*** The prize last week in the Headers’ Competition was 
awarded to “William Good, F.R.H.S.” for his article on 
“The Fig,” page 915. 
