736 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 19. 1903. 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Preparing for Winter and Spring.— The ensuring of a 
regular supply of choice vegetables during the winter and 
early spring months can, only be accomplished when fore¬ 
thought isi exercised at this season of the year. Cold pits and 
frames are simply invaluable to the; kitchen gardener, mid 
although of necessity there must' be a small outlay in the first 
instance, this will be fully repaid in ai few seasons. Not' only 
are portable frames useful now, but they are equally SO' all 
through the summer, and for choice I prefer these to per¬ 
manently built' brick-pits, for the reason that they are' easily 
moved to any part of the garden, and in many instances 
after the plants, have been started by lifting off the frames the 
crops can be left to' perfect, themselves. Indeed, such as 
Gourds, Marrows, and ridge Cucumbers are better left unin¬ 
terrupted. Roughly made skeleton shelters, are also very use¬ 
ful, and these can be made with any rough timber by any 
handy man,. If arranged to facei south, and a suitable covering 
is provided during inclement, weather, many of the more tender 
plants; can, be safely brought through a severe- winter. There 
is nothing better that. I am acquainted with than, properly 
dressed canvas covers: specially made now by many firms for 
horticultural purposes. One great, advantage in. these: is they 
are so prepared that, the weather doe® not injure them if 
reasonable care: is taken, and they are none the worse of being 
folded up wet. and left so. for several 1 days. By adding plenty 
of bracken, long stable litter, or any other material during 
spells: of severe weather, these shelters: will be found practically 
frost-proof, no. water will penetrate them, and the plants a.re> 
kept, dry in consequence. The site for the frame yard should 
always be an open one, though sheltered, if possible, from the 
north and east winds and the frames arranged to face south. 
Old hot-beds which were made up: early last, .spring for forcing 
early crops- will now make excellent, positions: with little 
trouble: for many subjects. The soil which has been employed 
will simply need to be broken up, and in some cases a little 
more added to keep the seedlings as near the glass: a.s possible, 
a matter which should be regarded as of the utmost importance. 
Lettuce and Endive form two of the most important subjects 
for the salad bowl during winter, and in many establishments 
fresh salads have to be provided the whole year through ; and 
though it is easy enough to obtain these in plenty during 
summer and autumn, it. is not so during winter and early 
spring. Frequent, sowings must be insisted on, and no special 
dates can be given when the last should be made, so very much 
depending on the End of weather which is in store for us, hut it 
may safely be said that. the. la.st week in the- present month will 
he' none too late, or even the early part of October if sown 
under glass:. The- Batavian Endive is much the best, for late 
work, and though these mav not make, large plants, they will 
nrove to- be very useful, and fa.r better than none. Plants in 
frames should be quite small, and planted just as thick again 
as each variety ordinarily requires, so that everv other ca.n he 
used quite small if necessary, and 1 no: want of ro-om occurs. 
Lettuce should he treated in precisely the: same way. Hicks’ 
Ha.rdv White- and Brown Cos a.re the best kinds I am acquainted 
with for winter use, and Hardy Hammersmith is. the- most re¬ 
liable winter varietv I know. Go-o-d plantings: should also- be 
made at. the same time at the foot of a south or we-st wall. 
Parsle-v is generallv much in request nearlv every day in the 
-t-ear, and this can only be assured by now placing younfr seed¬ 
ling plants in. frame®. Allow a, distance: of 6 in. from plant to 
plant, and 9 In. or so between the rows. Work in plenty of 
soot where wire-worm abound. It. is also a capital plan to make 
a small sowing in frames at the end of the month. 
Cauliflowers.—Make another small sowing on a. south 
border of Walcherem. Magnum Bormm. and Autumn Giant, and 
prick out the earliest.-sowings in cold frame®. The soil should 
not be rich, and o-nlv about- 6 in. given, which should he on a 
hard bottom, or there is a great danger of the plants becoming 
too large before planting time next spring. 
Cabbage. — Continue! to plant out the main beds of these as 
they become ready precisely on the same lines as previously 
advised. 
Spinach. — Make another good sowing of this valuable 
vegetable on well-prepared land. Thin out early sowings to a 
distance of about. 6 in., apply a good dressing of soot, and keep 
the surface well stirred with a Dutch hoe. 
Turnips, — Continue to sow these all through the month and 
the first week in next.; even .should the bulbs not mature, the 
green will be useful next spring. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree, Herts. 
Hardy Fruit. 
Strawberries, — The wet season suits these plants in the 
matter of growth and formation, of runners; the latter must 
not be allowed to. make, much headway, such being detrimental 
to the building up of stout, crowns for next year’s crop. These 
strings, should be cut. off with a knife, as if pulled out the 
plants are liable to- get. damaged and even loosened at the root, 
especially those: set out this season. With such heavy rain¬ 
falls:, it has been, impossible: to. use the hoes much with any 
good effect, in destroying weeds, unless the same are gathered 
up: with the rake, and we have: found it more expeditious to 
hand-weed the quarters every few weeks, plying the flat hoe 
when, we get a. few dry days. Finish the planting of runners as 
speedily a.s: possible, so that the same may get. a. firm hold of 
the soil ere winter sets in. 
Peach and Nectarines. —As the: tree® are relieved of their 
crop, which appears very light in most places, a good' washing 
from the garden engine or hose should be given, using quassia 
extract, or Abol if black aphis are about. Unless the- wo-od is 
much crowded, T do- not advocate the removal of the present 
season’s bearing wood, as trees carrying little or no fruit are 
making far too strong a growth now, and the removal of much 
wood would only aggravate the evil. The better plan will be 
to root-prune next month, and in the case of young vigorous 
trees to lift and replant. 
Apples. —There are a. number of varieties, both dessert and 
culinary, that, can be safely stored now', such as Kerry Pippin, 
Lady Sudeley, Worcester, Pearmain, Wealthy, Eeklinville, Lord 
Suffield, Lord Grosvenor, Cellini Pippin, Potts’ Seedling, Stir¬ 
ling Castle, Golden Spire, Emperor Alexander, and a few 
others. This will allow the: nets to be placed on later kinds 
which ought, not to be harvested for a. few weeks yet.. Choose 
a dry, sunny day for such work, and line the baskets well, so 
that the fruit, dries not get. bruised in any wav, putting aside 
all fruit that, may have got. damaged, so- that it may be used 
in the kitchen, as now' that fruit is so scarce we must make the 
very best of what we have. 
Pears. —Like remarks apply to. this fruit, even more scarce 
than the Apple in most, places. Gather such varieties as 
Souvenir du Congres, Williams, Bon Chretien, Fondante 
d’Antonine, Clapp’s Favourite, TYiomphe de Vienne and Mar¬ 
guerite Manilla,t, examining these kinds almost, daily, as 
neither will keep long after once they are ripe. 
Plums. -—The majority have been gathered here, with but 
one or two, exceptions, notably Monarch, Belle de Septembre, 
Reine Claude, de Bavay, Golden Drop, Diamond, and Grand 
Duke. These should be, allowed t,o, ripen thoroughly before 
plucking from the trees ; Golden Drop will keep fresh for 
several weeks if carefully wrapped in tissue paper and kept, in 
a drawer or other fairly dry place. 
The Fruit Room. — This place should be made clean and 
sweet before storing any fruit in it, by scrubbing down the 
wood, a.nd, if need be, white-washing the walls first. We place 
all our fruit on the bare boards, leaving a small space 
between each one. It, appears: this year that, we shall be abie 
to store it in a, single, layer. The ventilators should be kept 
open for the present for the egress of moisture a® well as the 
