482 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 6, 1903. 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Mulching.—The value of applying a dressing of some kind 
of material to growing crops at this season, and for some time 
to come, can hardly be over-estimated, and it is equally im¬ 
portant on. all kinds of soils, especially so during spells of dry 
weather. Many are under the impression that stiff heavy 
land does not suffer to the: same extent as that of a lighter 
nature in summer—quite 1 an erroneous idea. Stiff soils are 
much more easily influenced by the action of the weather 
than more genial ones, and during spells of drought shrink 
and crack, and the roots suffer considerably. The smallest 
application of manure, leaves, or old hot-beds, etc., will con¬ 
serve the moisture and prevent this, arid on hot, diy soils will 
keep the roots cool, and assist them greatly. Long stable 
litter is perhaps the most useful for dressing such crops as 
Peas, French Eunner, and Broad Beans, Globe Artichokes, 
Cauliflowers and similar vegetables, and for crops that produce 
shorter growths, such as Onions, Carrots, Parsnips, and Beet¬ 
root, old hot-bed material or spent Mushroom beds are the 
most desirable. These should, if possible, be rubbed through 
a coarse mesh sieve and applied about 14 in. thick, and when 
this is carried out, except after once giving a good soaking and 
damping over the foliage in the afternoon, very little more will 
be required compared with that which has not been so treated, 
thus saving a vast amount of labour. 
Late Peas. —The latest sowings of these should be made 
about the 10th of the present month, and if these are well 
cared for by making good preparations, selecting suitable 
varieties, and paying due attention to them, there is no reason 
why they should not continue to bear, providing the weather 
remains open well into November. Time will be well spent 
in preparing trenches as before advised, except that for this 
sowing t hey .should be 8 in. or 10 in. deeper, and add so much 
extra half-decayed farmyard manure, and unless the soil is of 
the best, some good material should be given, them, such as 
the top of an old hot-bed or old soil wheeled from the potting 
shed ; and if the weather is dry, give a thorough soaking of 
water. Two of the very best Peas for late work that. I am 
acquainted with are Autocrat, probably unsurpassed by any 
other variety, and Carter’s Michaelmas, a good Pea of excellent, 
quality. Attend to the staking of any which'are above the 
ground, and see that tliei earlier crops are kept well supported. 
Some of the stronger kinds will often require tying to the 
stakes, and this is easily accomplished by running lengths of 
stout tarred string along on the sunny side of the row. Give 
copious supplies of manure water and damp overhead on fine 
afternoons. 
Broad Beans.— -Watch for black aphis, and thoroughly 
syringe the points; with soft, soap and water. Stop late sowings 
after a sufficient number of flowers are seen to ensure a crop. 
Too much water at. the roots can hardly be given, and support 
the growths by driving in stout stakes about 6 yards apart on 
each side of the rows, to which should be strained two stout 
tarred cords. 
Turnips. —Keep the hoe constantly going among all growing 
plants, and, should the Turnip fly be in evidence, thoroughly 
dust the foliage with soot, road-sand and wood ashes in equal 
proportions in early morning, while the dew is on them. Take 
advantage of showery weather to make a good sowing of 
Veitch’s Red Globe, one of the finest- summer Turnips yet 
raised ; and should the weather be dry, water the drills before 
sowing, and mulch over the whole of the surface with short 
grass from the mowing machine. 
Salsify and Scorzonera should be thinned to a. distance from 
9 in. to 1 ft. apart immediately they are large- enough, and 
the surface soil should be constantly stirred between them to 
promote a free, unchecked growth. 
Parsley. —That- which was pricked out during April should 
now be growing away quickly, but oftentimes at this season 
green fly badly infests it, and should it not be going on satis¬ 
factorily it will be no doubt owing to this, and, if so, thoroughly 
syringe with strong soft soa-p and water. Stir up the surface 
soil and apply a dressing of soot and vegetable manure, when 
it will quickly start into 1 new growth and yield abundance of 
good leaves by the autumn. Make another good sowing on 
drills 1 ft. apart on a- south or west border. Sow in a cool, 
shady aspect Radishes of sorts and small salading. 
E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Notes on Hardy Herbaceous Plants, 
No other part of the garden affords more interest now than 
the borders of hardy plants, and those interested in tins beau- 
titul class will lia-ve much to occupy their attention. As the 
different plants flower, it is a good plan to make a note oi any 
wliich are specially good, so that when the time comes for pro¬ 
pagating, one does not forget to increase the stocks, if this 
is desired, and also to note any new or rare plants which are 
exhibited or seen at the various places visited throughout tue 
season, as, wherever one may go, some plants not seen oeloie 
are sure to be noticed. 
One of the best families- now flowering is the Geunis, many 
of which are worth growing in all collections, and for the iock. 
garden or border few plants could be more beautiful. The 
following varieties are all good, and mention of them wiil, I 
think, prove serviceable to those who have not been enabled 
to see the most desirable. 
G-eum coccineum, one of the commonest, produces a quantity 
of bright crimson-scarlet flowers, and is about 15 in. in height. 
The variety of this, named plenum, has semi-double flowers, 
with a conspicuous golden centre, and, planted in batches, pro¬ 
duces a mass of line colour. 
A favourite variety for any purpose is G. Heldreichi, which 
is tine for bedding or planting in good-sized masses, being very 
free flowering and a. bright orange-red on first- opening, chang¬ 
ing to orange-yellow with age. G. Heldreichi splendens, which 
received an Award of Merit last week at the Temple Show, well 
deserved this distinction, having better-formed flowers than G. 
Heldreichi, being remarkably floriferous. The deep orange- 
red colour is- retained until the petals fall. 
G. Heldreichi luteuin lias deep yellow flowers, and these three 
varieties all grow from 9 in. to 1 ft. in height. 
A variety, lately introduced, I believe, by Messrs. Ladhams 
of Southampton, and named G. Apricot, is a, distinct addition, 
and takes its name from the colour. The- flowers are semi- 
double on stems fully 18 in. in height, and for cutting most 
useful, being veiy fretTand with large foliage. G. miniatum is 
similar in habit, with orange flowers. Three dwarf-growing 
varieties for the rockery are G. montanum, with bright yellow 
flowers ; G. m. a-urantiacum, rich orange ; and G. m. maximum 
with large deeply el low flowers. All the Geums can be easilj 
propagated by division of the roots in autumn or spring, anc 
succeed well in a good loamy soil. Plenty of water should In 
given in the growing season. 
Iberis. — The best for border cultivation are undoubtedl 
Iberis sempervivens and its several varieties, as they do no 
resent winter dampness like- many of the others. After flowei 
ing, these should be cut back fairly hard to- keep them compact 
otherwise the growth is apt to become- straggling. A very fin 
variety with large individual flowers and heads- is I. s. Snow 
Hake, which is very compact and of the purest white. Tb 
Iberis are easily propagated from cuttings taken at- the presen 
time, inserted in a light sandy compost and rooted in a colt 
frame. 
Cerastium tomentosum. —Whether used as an edging plan 
or creeping over large stones in the 1 rock garden, this alway 
seems perfectly at home, and at any season the light silver 
foliage is conspicuous. It is veiy showy at- the present tup* 
with its quantities of pure white flowers, and can be increase 
by inserting the cuttings into- some light sandy soil in autum 
and wintering in a, cold frame. This variety is far superior t 
C. Biebersteinii, which, if allowed to stay long in one positioi 
is most difficult- to get out, the roots running about very freeh 
