February 27, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
173 
contended with, it is the more easily got at and put in repair. 
Small items of this description, if seen to in time, often pre¬ 
vent oreat inconveniences at a less convenient time. 
& H. J. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
There will be much to be done in this department during the 
next month to ensure a regular and plentiful supply of 
vegetables. Unfortunately, owing to the persistent heavy 
rainfall, much of the work is sadly in arrears, and strenuous 
efforts should be put forth to bring it as much as possible up to 
date. We may reasonably look forward to a more favourable 
time, and it is surprising how a few fine days, coupled with 
the drying winds we generally experience during March, will 
alter the condition of the soil, and render it suitable for getting- 
in the various crops. There is nothing gained by being in too- 
great haste, especially so on wet, retentive land, but sow and 
nurse along under cover all that can be treated in this way. 
Onions, Winter. —Take the earliest opportunity of trans¬ 
planting these into their permanent quarters ; much more satis¬ 
factory results are obtained by treating them thus than by 
leaving them to mature where sown. The beds should have 
been deeply trenched and well enriched with good farmyard 
manure in an open position, and previous to planting the sur¬ 
face should be forked over and finely broken down. Give a 
good surface dressing of soot and wood ashes, plant in rows at 
least 1 ft. apart and 10 in. from plant to plant, make quite 
firm, and mulch between them with finely-sifted horse drop¬ 
pings, old Mushroom bed manure being well suited for the pur¬ 
pose. At the same time, plant the smallest thickly in any out- 
of-the-way place for pulling as required. White Emperor and 
White Leviathan are both splendid varieties for spring and 
summer use. Spring-sown seed which was sown in boxes early 
in the year, and has been duly pricked off, should receive 
every encouragement to make a quick, sturdy growth, strictly 
avoiding undue forcing, however. Assuming these have been 
forwarded in the greenhouse or fruit houses, the most suitable 
position after this date will be' a slightly-heated pit, elevating 
i the plants as near the glass as possible, T requent syringmgs 
during dry days will be very beneficial, and admit abundance of 
air on all favourable occasions. Bear in mind that the earlier 
the plants are put out in April the better will be' the crop, and, 
providing these are well hardened, any weather we may expect 
after that date will not injure them. Many of ours were sub¬ 
jected to 17 deg. of frost last spring, hut beyond causing them 
to look a bit yellow for a time these were none the worse. 
Sowing Seed in the Open. —Prepare the ground, and sow in 
t rows 10 in. apart as early in the month of March as circum- 
1 stances will allow, but' before doing so break down the surface 
to a fine tilth, and apply a good dressing of soot and wood 
| ashes. On light ground the soil can hardly be made too firm 
after sowing, after which rake down as neatly as possible, and 
, finish off in a pleasing and workmanlike manner. 
2 Cauliflowers. —A few of the strongest of the autumn-sown 
plants should now be carefully lifted and planted, either in 
; cold frames on an old hot-bed, or in handlights on a south 
border. These will generally prove to be of much service, just 
following those which have been forced aloug in pots, and filling- 
up the break which will in all probability occur when trusting 
to those planted in the open. Attend to the pricking- off of 
'seedlingsas they require it, and make another sowing in boxes, 
| and at the same time make a small sowing of Brussels Sprouts 
and red Cabbage. 
JCelery —The seed for the main supply should now be got 
: in. Sow in pots or pans in a gentle heat, using a light, porous 
compost. Great care should be -observed never to- allow’ the 
young seedlings to suffer for want of moisture, as the success 
of good Celery culture much depends on this. 
Cabbage. —Everyone interested in kitchen gardening prides 
himself on a good bed of spring Cabbage, and rightly so. No 
j pains should be spared to forward the earliest plantation a,s 
much as possible. Frequent hoeing® are conducive to quick 
j growth, and slight applications of some reliable patent manure 
should be applied whenever the weather is' favourable. Make 
good any failures from the nursery beds which were pricked out 
last autumn. 
Potatos.—Attend to the earthing up of the earlier plantings 
when about- 4 in. in height, when the work can be performed 
without damaging the growths. Prepare a light mixture of 
leaf-soil, old Mushroom bed manure, and loam. Mix, and 
warm to the same temperature in which the Potatos are grow¬ 
ing. Choose the warmest part of the day, and the work should 
be performed as speedily as .possible, so that no check is 
given; then sprinkle over the growths with tepid water, and 
close the lights for the remainder of the day. Continue to 
plant for succession in cold pits and frames. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. E. Beckett. 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs, 
Suitable Shrubs for Clothing Walls. —The practice of grow¬ 
ing some shrubs as wall plants has much to recommend it, as 
many prefer such a position, and bare walls, which would other¬ 
wise be unsightly, can he made beautiful and interesting 
throughout the year. In addition toi those which are well 
known as being specially adapted for this purpose, such as 
Vines, Jasininums, Wistarias, etc., there are others equally 
beautiful, though seldom taken advantage of. There are many 
shrubs, too, which will not succeed in the open in the colder 
parts of this country, while others need protection from the 
sun or cold winds, and, given a suitable position against a 
wall, one may hope to bring these to> perfection. 
The best time for planting is during the autumn or early 
spring, the latter for preference, and before doing so one will 
do well to pay a little -attention to the drainage, as few plants 
succeed if this is imperfect and the soil is .allowed to 1 become 
water-logged. Now is a good time to prepare the positions in 
which the shrubs are to be placed. The soil should be taken 
out to a good depth, a-t the least- between 1 ft. and 2 ft., and the 
drainage, if not good, can then be made so. If the soil taken 
out is poor or unsuit-ed to the requirements of the plants some 
fresh material should be inserted, and though the majority 
will succeed well in a mixture of good loam and decayed leaf- 
soil, there are a few, such as Embothrium coccineum or Crino- 
dendron Hookerii, which require different composts, and will 
amply repay the -cultivator for any special attention he may 
afford them. When once established, wall plants do- not neces¬ 
sitate a great- deal of labour being expended to cultivate them 
successfully. The growths require tying or nailing in as they 
become long enough, and some protection, such as a mat, will 
render any doubtful ones safe in severe weather. Little prun¬ 
ing is necessary with any of those mentioned, hut good soak¬ 
ing® of water should be given in very dry weather during 
the growing season, and an annual top-dressing- of good com¬ 
post will prove very beneficial. 
One of the most beautiful -classes for the puipose is Pyrus 
japonica and its several varieties. The typical form is boo 
well known to need comment, being nearly always in flower, 
but the excellent varieties are not so extensively grown as they 
deserve. P. japonica sini'ea is perhaps the best of all, tire 
flowers being produced freely in large clusters, semi-double, 
individually large, and a beautiful deep red colour. P. j. 
Ma-llardii is a pleasing creamy-white, and a desirable addition. 
P. j. Knap Hill Scarlet is a, fine flower, and distinct in colour. 
P. j. Ganfcrdii is also- very -pleasing, some petals being red 
and others white. It is also a strong grower. 
P. j. cardinalis is a good colour, and P. j. carne-a is a pretty 
flesh-coloured form. Another charming Pyrus or Cydonia is 
Maulei, with orange-red flowers, which are produced in gieat 
numbers -along the small branches. This also- fruits freely, 
these being small, bright yellow, and very sweetly scented. 
Carpenteria californica.—Quite one' of the most beautiful 
of flowering shrubs, and except in very favoured localities 
must be given the protection of a wall. It is evergreen, with 
pure' white 1 , fragrant flowers, and shonld be planted m a la.ther 
poor soil. 
