1038 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 19, 1903. 
WORK OF THE WEEK. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Already the seed catalogues for 1904 begin, to arrive, remind¬ 
ing us that we are fast nearing the end of the present year. 
And I would strongly urge all to place their orders as soon as 
possible with the firms with whom they do business. As it is 
usual with many to despatch the orders in strict rotation a,a 
they receive them, much disappointment is caused and valuable 
time often lost by delaying this till the busy season arrives, 
and it frequently happens that new and choice stocks become 
exhausted and cannot be supplied. In making up the order, it 
requires some care and thought to ensure an, unbroken supply 
for a whole twelve months, and here I would mention that 
money is well spent in choosing the very best kinds, though tire 
cost in the first instance may be somewhat more; the same 
amount of time and trouble is necessary to produce the more 
inferior varieties as the better ones. A judicious selection of 
novelties should always be tried, but at the. same time too 
much faith should not be pinned on these at the expense of 
well-known and standard sorts, or much annoyance may 
possibly be the result. I never advocate purchasing collections 
made up and sent out. by the seedsmen.; surely a gardener 
worthy of the name of such is in a. much better position to 
make a. selection for himself, he knowing the requirements of 
the household much better than anyone else, and he is at the 
same time responsible for supplying the kitchen. I do not. for 
one moment wish to imply that the seed made up is not of full 
value, but in many cases varieties which do well in some 
localities are of little use in, others., and oftentimes it. happens 
that, only a very limited quantity of seeds of some sorts of 
vegetables which are much in request are included, and pro¬ 
bably others are sent which are not required. 
A well-managed kitchen garden can only be maintained by 
systematic forethought; the smallest details will have to he 
duly considered if the best results are to be attained, and 
especially at this season of the year should this be well thought 
out. A plan, of the kitchen; garden should be made, and each 
space definitely indicated where the various crops are intended 
to be grown, and the ground prepared accordingly. Endeavour 
to change the ground as. much as possible, except in a very few 
instances, for each kind of vegetable, especially so in that 
relating to any of the Brassica. family, annually, and .spare no 
pains to 1 cultivate and bring into a fertile state the soil to a 
good depth. Do; not hesitate to bring up the bottom to the 
surface, for, depend upon it, you will then be in, a position to 
deal with it much better than, if you attempt to do so at. the 
bottom of the trench. Knowing as I do from experience the 
value of this treatment, I may be pardoned for alluding to it. so 
frequently. 
Broccoli. —Keep a. sharp look-out for any which are now 
forming, and thoroughly protect these should severe frosts; bo 
imminent. If a. fab" 1 amount, of straw or bracken is placed over 
them, these will, if they have been properly layered, as 2 3re_ 
viously advised, develop into nice white heads, so much appre¬ 
ciated for table use. A very valuable addition to the large 
number of varieties; now grown is Sutton’s Christmas White, 
Turning in as it, does in midwinter, it. supplies a long-felt want. 
We are just about finishing late-sown plants of autumn Cauli¬ 
flowers which have been lifted and planted into cold frames;, 
and at the present time Christmas white Broccoli are turning 
in well, and after* this Snow’s; will follow, thus ensuring an 
unbroken supply. 
Turnips -—All which,have attained a, suitable 1 size should be 
pulled and stored safely against frost. The very late sowings;, 
owing to the long spell of open weather, have made rapid pro¬ 
gress, and will prove most useful for late supplies. Choose 
fine days when; the soil can be worked, and draw a, little over 
the bulbs t,o; ensure their safety; a very little lightly worked 
over them will accomplish this. 
Onions. —To excel in the culture of large specimens for 
next autumn, a start will soon have to be made, either quite 
at the end of the present month or early in the new vear. If 
sown too early, a. very large percentage will develop flower- 
spikes and be of little use. The soil should be prepared some 
time before using and turned several times and used in a 
moderately dry state. Good fibrous loam should form the 
principal, to which ought to be added a little finely-sifted leaf- 
soil, old spent Mushroom-bed manure, a little bone meal, finelv 
broken charcoal and road grit. Shallow boxes or 60 potq 
should be used for raising the seedlings, and the compost made 
very firm. Baise them in a. very gentle heat, such as a vinerv 
or Peach house just being started. A good type of Ailsa Craig 
is still the best to grow. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Notes on Hardy Plants. 
Petasites fragrans. —When a- suitable place can be found 
in the garden for this sweetly-scented winter flowering plant 
it. is undoubtedly well worth growing, and cannot fail to be 
admired, flowering as. it does in. the depth of winter, when 
there is so little else to cheer the cultivator. When planting, 
' however, one should be careful not to place it in too close 
proximity to other plants, as it spreads very quickly, and 
when once established, is difficult to get out cleanly, but for 
shady banks, and several positions where other subjects would 
not succeed it is well suited. Another good place where it 
quickly naturalises and forms a pleasing mass is in the wood¬ 
land, where it can be left to increase with impunity, the only 
preparation necessary being to fork up; the ground before 
planting. Although considered a troublesome plant hv many, 
as; it undoubtedly is when, no forethought is given as to the 
situation, it, is to be planted in,, yet the Ant has its merits, 
and the sweetly scented flowers are always appreciable at this 
season. 
The Water Garden. —Through the dull days of winter there 
is no doubt, that the part of a garden which is devoted to the 
culture of aquatics and bog-plants is by no' means the least 
interesting, especially when those subjects which grow at the 
edge oif the water, such as weeds and grasses, are; judiciously 
placed to give; the best effect. It. is not advisable or necessary 
to- cut down the stems or interfere with them in any way 
directly they have turned brown in. the autumn; they should 
be left with the full growth on till early spring, when the 
young growth appears. There is, a, particular beauty in the 
warm brown stems, that adds colour to the water-garden in 
winter, which, if cut down early, would produce a, barren and 
desolate appearance. 
A few of the most desirable subjects for planting in such a 
position are the Bullrushes., the larger one, Typha latifolia, 
with its great heads of brown fluff, being very attractive when 
grown in a. good mass. The smaller variety, Typha august i- 
foliai, is also very useful and desirable, being of value for cut¬ 
ting and placing in good-sized vases. The former grows from 
6 ft. to 7 ft. in height, and the latter about 4 ft. A very 
ornamental reed is Apera arundinacea, which grows, fully 8 ft. 
high, and the slender stems terminate vqith a. head of feathery 
flowers. 
Eulalias are among the most, ornamental of all grasses ; their 
neat habit and elegant growth recommend them for any con¬ 
spicuous positions where a shapely plant is required. These 
will succeed well in almost any soil and situation, but are most 
effective, perhaps, when, grown on the grass at the edge of a 
stream or lake. Eulalia, japonica has deep green leaves,, and 
purple panicles of flowers. Of this, variety there are two very 
handsome forms 1 , the most ornamental being E. japonica 
zebrina, which has green, foliage and broad stripes of yellow 
run across a,t intervals along each leaf, and the flower-heads, 
when fully expanded, are very handsome. The other variety 
is E. japonica foliis striatis, which has a distinct, creamy varie¬ 
gation through the centre of the leaves. Arundo Dorax, 
