420 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 16, 1893. 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Broad Beans.— The earliest planting ought now to be well 
advanced, and to encourage the pods to swell away quickly 
the points of the growths should be pinched out immediately 
sufficient dowers are visible to’ ensure a crop. As soon as the 
blooms are set, apply a good mulching of half-decayed manure 
between the plants'. On the drst signs of black aphis syringe 
the growth with strong soft soap and water, a sure remedy, 
without doing the plants any injury. Make one more good 
sowing in trenches of green Broad W indsor. 
Peas. — Plants which are now coming into full bearing in 
cool houses should be kept well supplied with manure-water 
and the foliage freely syringed early morning and afternoon. 
Successional sowings on south borders which are coming into' 
dower should be' stopped after the third or fourth truss of bloom 
has shown, which will make a, considerable difference to the 
time of picking. 
Attend to the staking of later kinds, and carefully train the 
growth of any of the larger varieties in the' drst instance', to 
give them a fair staid, as these never do so well if allowed to 
fall about and become crippled. This is a. most important date 
for sowing late varieties, and very much will depend as to the 
success' or otherwise on the selection of kinds and the way these 
are put in. In any case, the soil should be deeply worked and 
made, thoroughly rich with good half-decayed farmyard manure, 
but preference should always be given to well-prepared trenches, 
which not only ensures a, good deep roohrun, but the watering 
can be much more thoroughly done in dry weather. 
The demand will, of course, have to- regulate the supply, 
but a small sowing should in any case be made weekly up till 
the 10th of next month. Strictly avoid overcrowding, both 
by not sowing too thickly and thinning well out after the plants 
are above ground. Many late Peasi are simply starved and 
ruined through this common error. There are many varieties 
well suited for late sowings, but I know of none so good as 
Autocrat for general purposes'; it is of good quality, veiy pro¬ 
lific and robust, consequently able to withstand attacks of 
mildew much better than many, and, fortunately, it will succeed 
in almost all localities. 
Onions. — Plants which were raised in, heat and put out. in 
their permanent quarters, as previously advised, have had a 
good start. It. will be necessary to' go over them on a. fine 1 day 
and make thoroughly firm with the hands ; remove any which 
do not look like growing, and replace from the store boxes, or 
pots. Give a good dusting of fresh soot during evening or early 
in the morning. The surface should be well stirred with the 
Dutch hoe, and apply a good mulching of sifted old Mushroom- 
bed manure. Those sown in, the beds during the early days of 
March should be frequently Dutch-hoed, partially thinned when 
large enough, and apply a dusting of fresh soot weekly. Seed 
may yet be sown for producing Onions for pickling ; sow fairly 
thick dither in drills or broadcast. 
Autumn-sown Onions.—Every inducement should be given 
these to swell away freely by applying a, little good vegetable 
manure and soot in equal proportions about every eight or ten 
days, which is best done in showery weather. Hoe frequently, 
and, should diy weather set in, give good drenchings of farm¬ 
yard liquid, and damp over the tops every afternoon. However 
careful one may be, a certain number are almost sure tor throw 
up flower-spikes.; these should be picked out immediately they 
are seen, and though the bulbs will be of little use either for 
exhibition or keeping, they will make useful-sized Onions for 
kitchen use, and these should be used first. 
Brussels Sprouts.—-Make good plantations of these on land 
which has been well prepared ; plants which were raised in, heat 
and duly pricked out will now be quite ready. Allow plenty 
of room both between the plants and rows,; for the stronger 
growing varieties 3 ft. between the rows and 2 ft. 6 in- be¬ 
tween the plants will be none too, much. Plant firmly, and 
thoroughly soak in ; should the soil be addicted to 1 clubbing, 
fill up the holes with finely-sifted cinder ashes. 
Seakale cuttings, which have been planted out, ought now 
to have their growths reduced to one. A few finely-sifted cinder 
ashes should be placed round each, which will prevent them 
being damaged by slugs; and in showery weather give slight 
dressings of artificial manure and soot. Stir up the ground 
frequently to free it of Aveeds, and at the same time to 1 encourage 
a free early growth so necessary T for building up good crowns 
by early autumn. E. Beckett. 
Aidenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Hardy Fruits. 
The Peach Wall. —As the weather has turned more genial, 
the front protecting material should be removed, allowing the 
coping, if any, to, remain another week or so., Persevere with 
an approved wash to' rid the trees of aphis, which the late 
ungenial weather favoured ; and where the leaf curl or blister 
has madei its, appearance such foliage should be gradually cut 
away and burnt. Trees here are thickly set, and fruit swelling 
away nicely, and Avhere such is the case thinning may be begun 
by rubbing off the smaller ancl ill-placed fruit first, and all 
superfluous shoots not required to be laid in for next year’s 
fruiting. The recent rains will have benefited the trees im¬ 
mensely, and artificial watering can be dispensed Avith for the 
time, though a deal depends on the nature of the soil and posi¬ 
tion the trees occupy, and on no account let them get, dry at the 
root, during the next six months; in fact, peaches should never 
be allowed to get dry, even when resting. I am fully convinced 
where this is the case it, is partly, if not Avholly, the cause of 
buds dropping in the folloAving spring. 
Apricots. —These have set in clusters, and have been 
thinned; such fruit make fairly good tarts when not too' far 
advanced. The final thinning should not take place until ston¬ 
ing has gone past, as in the case of the Peach. Nail dr tie 
in leading growths, alloAving free space for development of 
branch, and keep a sharp look-out for the tiny maggot so 
destructive' to, tender fruits, as Avell as foliage. These are 
usually found enwrapped, in. the points of the shoots', and should 
be squeezed with the finger and thumb. Where nails and 
shreds are used, an. eye must be kept that such are not hinder¬ 
ing the swelling of the fruit, and should be removed before 
doing any injury. 
Figs. —The exceptionally severe frosts for the month of April , 
have played havoc with the embryo, fruits, the majority having 
turned black, and in many instances the centres of the leading 
shoots are blackened as well. I am referring to trees in the 
open; those having the protection of a, Avail appear to have 
escaped with little or no injury, but such favour cannot be ex¬ 
pected further inland, and I fear where the trees are exposed 
the crop has' been ruined for this season. Any shoots damaged 
by frost should be shortened back to firm wood, and eveiy en¬ 
couragement, given to the trees to make a, new start, and do not 
be in too great a hurry to disbud. 
Pears, etc. —This is another fruit severely damaged by the 
frost, and it, is to be feared crops, Avill be light, throughout the 
country. Those that were set are cracked all to pieces, and are 
worthless, just one here and there having escaped. Morello 
Cherries on north walls were in full blossom, and, as far as can 
be noted in these gardens 1 , little or no damage has to be re¬ 
corded. and the same may be said of sweet varieties on the same 
site. Fortunately, Apples, except in a, few instances, were- not 
advanced enough to suffer, but, the feAv that were in bloom had 
their petals, browned as though they had been scorched with 
fire. Currants, also Gooseberries, are safe with us, though I 
hear a, great, many fruit of the latter have fallen, especially 
in low-lying districts. Strawberries were on the safe side, and 
are pushing up their flower spikes, and, having had a thorough 
soaking of late, a strawy mulch should be at once laid on, pack¬ 
ing it well around each croAvn. This will answer two purposes 
—keep the fruit clean and more out of the reach of slugs, and 
help to, retain the moisture in. the ground, in case a, dry time 
sets in before the fruits are all gathered. James Matne. 
Bicton, Devonshire. 
