726 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 29, 1903. 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Tomatos. —On© can, liardly imagine, a, more disappointing] 
season than the present for the cultivation of these in open 
quarters. Only during fine warm summers and autumns can 
these be brought to perfection, except in, ,a, few favoured parts 
in this country, without the aid of glass, as not only do the 
fruits fail to ripen properly, but the growths are generally 
attacked with fungusi, and when such is the case they are 
seldom of little worth. All surplus: growths .should be re¬ 
moved, the plants: and the leaves: shortened back, and the fruits 
exposed to ! the light and sun as much as possible. When these 
show signs of colouring, cut them, and place in, a sunny posi¬ 
tion under glass to, finish. Plants in full bearing in houses, or 
pits: should receive every assistance by way of manure water. 
Take off the fruits when about half ripe to- finish, or they will 
probably crack and spoil the appearance. Should the present 
dull wet weather continue a little fire heat, will be very bene¬ 
ficial, but preserve a buoyant atmosphere by admitting air to 
prevent disease. Where means are at command there is no: 
reason why Tbmates should not, be had all through the year. 
Plants which are intended for giving a supply through thel 
winter, and sown as previously advised, should be potted on 
now int'O their fruiting pots ; use a good porous mixture, and 
drain thoroughly. Every care should be taken to induce them 
to make a good sturdy growth, for when allowed to become 
drawn and weakly they seldom give good results. I know of 
no variety better than Sutton’s Winter Beauty for the purpose, 
it being a very free setter even during the shortest days, of fine 
appearance and good quality. Some of the small-fruited kinds 
are also good for winter use, such as Dessert (red) and Golden 
Nugget (yellow). Though small, the flavour of each is first-rate. 
Cucumbers growing in, pits should be well thinned. Air 
judiciously, and shut up, early in the afternoon, conserving as 
much sun heat as possible. Do not allow the plants to become 
distressed by over-bearing ; far better to, allow a moderate crop 
as the days shorten, when, with care: as to: airing and keeping 
them thoroughly clean, these will go on for some time to come. 
Those intended for winter use ought now to be strong and 
sturdy, and should be planted out in their permanent quarters. 
Before doing so' thoroughly cleanse the glass and woodwork. 
Give a thorough drainage, and a good bed of one part stable 
litter and three parts leaves, which should be mixed and turned 
two or three times beforehand. The compost for planting them 
in at this season should be light and porous, two parts light, 
turfy loam and two parts good leaf soil, to which should be 
added a fair quantity of road grit and finely-broken charcoal; 
all should be nicely warmed before planting. One more sowing 
of a short, free-fruiting variety may be made in a strong 'heat,. 
The old Sion House is still a capital kind for sowing now, and, 
where a constant supply has to be kept up, is invaluable. 
Cauliflowers.- —Though very many now depend on early 
spring sowings, I strongly advise sowing small quantities 
during autumn, such as Walcheren and Early London. In the 
northern parts of the country the first sowing should now be 
made, and another in a fortnight’s: time, and a week later in 
the South. 
Endive. —Continue to plant out the later sowing on a south 
border, both Curled and Batavian. Tie up small quantities on 
fine days of the earlier sown plants, and make another small 
sowing in a warm position, asi this often proves- to' be of much 
service if planted in frames for spring use. 
Lettuce should be treated in a like manner, suitable varieties 
for sowing now being Hick’s: Hardy White, Brown Cos, and 
Hardy Hammersmith, the latter being the hardiest of all the 
Cabbage kinds. 
Radishes. —Sow at intervals of every ten days small quan¬ 
tities of French Breakfa-st in skeleton frames, and thin out 
Black Spanish to a distance of 4 in. to 6 in. 
Coleworts. —Plant out, good breadths of these on any vacant 
ground, and keep the hoe constantly plied among earlier plant¬ 
ings and all other crops of winter Greens. Weeds are much in 
evidence this summer, but no pains: should be spared to keep 
them down. Hoe and rake them off, and consign them to tbe 
smother fire to prevent them seeding. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Cardens, Elstree, Herts. 
Notes on Hardy Plants. 
Carnations. —Hie layering of these, if not already done, 
should be completed without delay, so that the plants, when 
rooted, can be taken up and potted early in the autumn. It is 
the practiced of some to let the plants remain where they are 
layered through the winter, and flower them ini the same posi¬ 
tion, but the results are not so good as when the plants are 
taken up in autumn and planted in: the spring. Road sand is 
as good as anything for layering, and wire pegs, or wooden 
ones cut from old brooms, answer the purpose well. Remove 
the old spike® which have done flowering, and clear all rubbish 
away, leaving the bed in a neat and tidy condition. 
The heavy gales and rains we have been experiencing of late 
have been, anything hut favourable to the hardy flower borders, 
and no doubt considerable damage lias been done. It will, 
therefore, be necessary to loop up any which have been broken 
down in a, neat, manner, and not bunched up together in a 
confused mas®. Especially doe® this apply to late summer and 
autumn flowering plants, which, if we are so fortunate as to 
have a fine autumn, give: promise of being very fine this year. 
One should keep a, sharp look-out, for weeds during this month 
and next, and keep the Dutch hoe at work, so as to root them 
up before they have had a chance to seed, or they will prove 
very troublesome. Any seedling herbaceous plants which are 
large enough for removal can now be planted out in their per¬ 
manent quarters, and the seed saved as it ripens of any others 
that it is: desired to increase. Besides being a most interesting 
practice:, one is often, enabled by this method to increase the 
stock of a new or rare plant when division of the roots would 
be impossible. 
Gladiolus. —It, will be necessary with the autumn flowerinj 
kinds- to give the spikes a neat but firm support now. Tkt 
top of the stake should net, come above the first bloom on tbe 
spike, and one tie, fairly tight, will be sufficient, bass being 
the best material to use, as there is no fear of it injuring tin 
stem. 
The Aster Border. —I have never seen the Michaelma 
Daisies: in. better condition, than they are this year, the we 
weather having caused them to make a, healthy, luxurian 
growth, and the advantage of staking out the: growths wit! 
several sticks toga, plant, instead of bunching up to one i 
clearly demonstrated. The method T have several tunes ad 
vised ha,s one great advantage in rough weather, for out o 
several hundred plants, grown in this way not one is one iot; 
the Avorse for the, rough wind, etc.; but where a, single stale 
is used, which is far too often, seen, the plant when, it ha, 
attained its full height, begins to swing round the stick, an 
has anything but, a, neat appearance. It frequently happen: 
too, that many of 'the shoots are broken,, it being almost- a 
impossibility to support the whole of the plant, especially if 
be a, large: one, such as the Novi-Belgii or Novae-Angliae typi 
Keep the point and side growths neatly tied, and a dose c 
artificial manure wall prove advantageous. Should mild© 
make its appearance, which is highly probable, give both sidi 
of the foliage a dusting of sulphur, so, as to' prevent it 
spreading. Several Starwort-s are already in flower, hut it 
advisable to 1 have these in, the shrubberies, so that, when tli 
hulk of varieties commence to flower in the border no> ugll 
gaps are to be seen. 
Hyacintlms or Galtonia candicans. —This distinct, hard 
Cape bulb, with its tall spikes of waxy white, bell-shape 
flowers, is well worth growing in quantity on account of th 
pleasing way in which it associates with other plants. Wh 0 
planted close to the scarlet Gladiolus brenchleyensis, or in 
bed of red Fuchsias, the effect is: striking, and one of the clue- 
