592 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 11, 1903 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Endive.—This important crop', so useful for autumn and 
winter salad, will now liave to be sown frequently in small 
batches to. ensure a constant supply. There are now several 
varieties suitable, but none are more useful than, the improved 
round-leaved Batavian kind, but smaller quantities of the green 
and moss curled sorts should also be included. Endive flourishes 
best in rich but moderately firm soil, and at least 1 ft. should 
be allowed between the plants. The earlier, sowing’s should be 
blanched when in a. small state by tying them up in the same 
way as Lettuce, and keep well supplied with water at the root, 
as a quick, free growth is conducive to' crispness:, so much 
appreciated in the salad bowl. 
Radishes.— Sow in small quantities fortnightly on finely 
broken ground in the coolest part of the garden. French Break¬ 
fast Radishes are preferable when grown quickly and eaten in 
a small, young state. 
Celery.— In most parts of the country the fly has badly in¬ 
fested the plants, and hard picking must be resorted to, and 
burn the infested parts. Every means should be adopted to 
encourage the plants to 1 make a. new r , clean growth as speedily 
as. possible ; hardly too much moisture can be applied, both to 
the roots and overhead. Celery is. a moisture-loving plant, and 
if given daily during chy weather, so much the better. Sewage 
water is. one of the best, stimulants I am acquainted with, and 
also plenty of soot during early morning or late evening. If 
not already completed, plant, in trenches the latest plants, and 
encourage the same to start a-way freely. When early specimens 
are required commence to blanch with brown paper, using 
narrow bands every ten days, taking care to exclude all light, 
but. in no case must it be placed above the hearts. Draw a. 
little of the finest soil around the bottom of the 1 paper. The 
white varieties are: best, for early use, White Gem being an 
excellent kind. 
Celeriac. — Apply plenty of manure water overhead in the 
evening, and stir up the soil with the Dutch hoe. often, but 
not too deep to disturb the surface roots. 
Turnips.—July is: the most important month for sowing 
Turnips, and though the Turnip fly may cause many failures, 
sowing the seed must be persisted in, and every means taken 
to. combat it. Shading the young seedlings in some manner or 
another is the surest and safest wav to prevent them being 
ravaged, and when sewing the seed the most simple and effective 
plan I am acquainted with is to cover the soil about \ in, deep 
with fresh cut grass, and keep it well damped ; should the 
weather remain dry, renew the' same kind of material. Take 
up all matured bulbs, cut off the tops, and store under a, north 
wall. 
Parsley. — Sow a good breadth of this on a south border in 
drills 1 ft. apart about the end of the second week of the 
present month. Yeitch’s Splendid Curled is one of the best 
and most reliable varieties. Thin out earlier sowings and 
keep the surface soil well moved about it. Frequent applicar 
tions of soot is a capital stimulant during the growing season. 
Should green fly infest, it, syringe with soft soap and water. 
Clear the ground of all spent crops, immediately they are. done 
with ; dip up and prepare for others, so that no patches remain 
idle:. A good fire: should be kept going in the rubbish yard, 
and everything which is useless should be burned, including 
weeds, which will, in turn, make excellent material for taking 
back to 1 the garden. Weeds at this season should on no- account 
he allowed to seed, but taken up and consigned to the fire 
before blooming, if possible. 
The kitchen garden will now, or rather should, be full of 
interest, and every endeavour made to keep it neat and orderly. 
Well-kept walks, whatever the material employed, should 
always be the aim of the kitchen gardener, and everything be as 
trim as it can. be made. Make note® of all new or noteworthy 
vegetables, either being tried at home or seen in other localities, 
which will prove useful when making out next, season’s orders. 
It is also well to observe the dates of sowing or planting out 
the various crops and the time taken to mature for future 
guidance. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree, Herts. 
Hardy Fruit. 
Bush Fruit.—In spite of the unfavourable spring, good crop., 
are the order hereabouts, and it will be necessary to net 
where many birds abound; and, unfortunately, there are far 
too many of these depredators to please the gardener and 
fruit grower. Red and White Currants will hang on for several 
months if secured from birds, especially against north walls, 
but Black Currants must be gathered when fully ripe or they 
soon fall to the ground. Gooseberries are fairly plentiful, 
but must also be netted when colouring begins, or the black¬ 
birds will soon devour them. These are sometimes given a 
position on a north wall, and in a. hot summer the fruit may 
he used for dessert, but, as a rule., much better flavoured fruit' 
are to be had from the open. Before, placing the net on. 
shorten, back all laterals to within 4 in. of their origin, Currant.' 
and Gooseberries alike. 
Morello Cherries, which promised a: full crop some few 
weeks, hack, dropped wholesale at stoning time; consequently 
the trees have not more than half a. crop. The cold, frosty, 
mornings at the time the. trees were in, bloom must be account¬ 
able for this. Neither has growth been so free as usual. 
Laterals not required for extension or filling in should be 
shortened back similar to the Currant, and fastening back the 
shoot required with a, tie; or nail and shred, and put on the 
net in. good time, as. the birds even go for these: acid fruits 
immediately colouring begins. Sweet varieties have, been’ 
almost a. failure, in this locality, though the trees were 
smothered with flower. 
Raspberries. — Jnless the fruit, is gathered daily, a net must, 
be erected over the rows, which is best done by putting up a. 
framework of light wood, letting it come out 2 ft. beyond on 1 
either side; and 1 ft. above the tops, of the canes, or running 
a, stout wire on either side of the cross pieces, which, 
in that case; need be placed about. 12 ft. apart, the whole 
length of the row. 
The Fig. — Owing to the exceptionally severe frosts during 
April our trees away from the wall were badly injured, the 
tops, in. many instances, killed quite 3 in. back. This check 
lias caused a, thicket of young wood to push out, which has: 
made rapid progress since the longest day, -when. the. weather 
began to mend. These growths have: been freely thinned so 
that, sun and air can penetrate welj among the remaining 
branches; but no. stopping is practised. As regards thinning, 
of the fruit, this, must he done: where: it, is considered toe thickly 
placed, but we shall be deprived of that pleasure owing to the 
trees being so forward when the frost came so late in the 
season. Trees against walls should, as growth extends, be 1 
fastened back securely, so that winds cannot twist or break 
them off. 
Peaches - The tree® have improved wonderfully during the 
past three weeks, the growth being clean and healthy, and 
should there still be any signs of the “ blister,” the affected: 
leaves should be picked off and burnt, and, in the worst of 
cases, it may be necessary to> cut, back the shoot beyond the 
diseased part, and a. young shoot, encouraged to start afresh. 
Healthy growing trees will require frequent attention in the 
matter of regulating the new growths, allowing enough space 
for development; and now real summer weather is at, last 
with us, syringe or hose the trees two- or three times a week 
after 4 p.m. If this work is thoroughly done no red spidei 
should gain a footing. Soa.p-suds from the laundry is good; 
for eradicating this pest, but prevention is better than cure. 
Early-ripening varieties, such, as Alexander and Amsden June 
will soon he coming in if this weather continue®, when the 
