424 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 21 , iyo4. 
A Hint on Carrot and Onion Growing. 
How often do we go into- a garden and see well-grown 
vegetables of all kinds, but when we ask the gardener what 
kind of Carrots or Onionsi does he grow, you will likely get 
this : “ We cannot grow them here owing to the maggot (Psila 
Ko-sae) or Carrot fly.” 
It makes a great want when these two most useful vegetables 
are a failure; so I would like to give a few bints on a simple 
way how to grow them with little or no trouble within the 
reach of all. It is so simple that one is inclined to pa.se it 
over; but let any reader give the following plan a fair trial, 
and they can be sure of success when all other remedies have 
failed. 
When the Carrots or Onions are about 1 in. or 2 in. high, 
collect as much of the new-cut grass from the lawn-mower as 
you require, and spread it between, the rows of the Carrots op 
Onions, about 2 in. thick, adding fresh grass every .week for 
about’ two months,, and the grower will be surprised to see such 
a. splendid crop 1 growing, where they have- failed, perhaps-, in 
the same ground after more expensive treatment. 
Ti;y It. 
Single Chrysanthemums. 
In the late autumn, when flowers- for table decoration have 
to- be found, there arei few that respond more freely than Chry¬ 
santhemums, and o-f these, by their gracefulness, as- well as by 
their beauty, the- single fo-rmsi appeal. It was not always so, 
for in many places the singles- were not. recognised from, their 
true standpoint, viz., that of table “ decorators,” and there 
were even, those to be found who- were not slow in drawing 
comparisons between the large Japanese and incurved types 
and the single-flowering sorts, and at one time very little en¬ 
couragement, was given, by promoters of exhibitions, to- the 
growing of these- charming varieties. But, thanks, to a growing 
taste on the part of those who- contrive- to- have blossoms on 
their tables- at all seasons- of the year, the singles- are now 
being cultivated more- than' ever, I therefore need make no 
apo-logy for drawing the .attention of readers at. this juncture 
to a type of flower about which prejudice, is- fast, dying away ; 
suffice it to- say that where- blossoms of a light- character are 
wanted late in the- year for decoration, for dress sprays-, etc., 
these will supply the need. 
I sugge-st, -therefore, to those who- have not yet grown them, 
the desirability of including a, few at least in t-he-ir collections 
fop next winter, and thee present, opportunity, should be seized 
in. procuring the necessary plants-. Anyone can grow them, 
and as one gardener remarked to mei s-o-me time ago, “ There 
is not -one quarter thei trouble with the- singles/ and no one 
can say they do- not bloom well.” This- is just the point- I 
would like to press- home to those who- have- small hous-es and 
whose roo-m is limited. It is the- numerous blossoms' they 
yield and their fragile appearance that is assuredly gaining 
for them many adherents'. I have noticed, too-, that at 
many exhibitions more inducements, are now offered in, the 
shape, of prizes, and many ladies whom 1 kno-w who take 
special pains with their floral decorations are loud in, their 
praise for the singles; indeed,,my curiosity was aroused at a 
show in November when I saw a crowd of ladies round one o-f 
the.stands devoted to baskets and epergnes, etc., o-f cut blo-oms, 
and who- evidently approved of the awards' of the judges, in 
giving the first and second prizes to- baskets containing singles. 
We lra.ve for a long time been imbued with the idea that 
size and depth of bloom were the' chief points worth consider¬ 
ing, but I think the pendulum of public opinion, has swung 
round in. favour of these dainty blossoms, many of which possess 
soft and delicate colours', and for this reason are particularly 
adapted for all kinds of decorative schemes. “ Dainty ” is, the 
true designation in, respect to them, and for supplying roo-msi 
and tables I think we should not forget their claims' now, when, 
their removal to final pots will soon, he receiving attention. 
Of course, if it is' desired to- liavei large blooms, disbudding may 
be resorted to, but for the purpose of supplying flowers for 
table decoration little disbudding will be necessary, as it is 
the quantity rather than the size' in the singles that most, 
appeals. As during the present, month many will be placing 
their Chrysanthemums in. cold frames, I would draw the atten¬ 
tion of those who have not as- yet- considered the-singles to the 
desirability of including some in their collection for next 
winter. W. F. 
Vine Culture III.: Borders. 
The right formation of a border is justly considered to be 
one -of the most important operations -in Vine culture, for when 
a- good foundation is thus laid the gardener lias the whole of 
the Vine, both the subterranean and superterrene portion under 
his absolute control, and nothing but- lack of skill can kinder 
him from producing the mo-st perfect results compatible ivith 
the season. 
Market growers endeavour to find a soil suitable in itself for 
Grape-growing, and thus obviate the expense o-f an artificial 
border ; but, the private gardener has no- such field for selec¬ 
tion, and wishing moreover t-o- prolong the life of his rods far 
beyond the limit of profitable existence fixed by the commercial 
man. he has necessarily to give his Vines a, ro-oting medium 
most conducive t-o- their healthy longevity. 
There- are at- least- three- sharply defined opinions relative 
to Vine borders. Some- gardeners prefer a border entirely 
inside; others prefer an inside border with facilities for the 
roots to pass to the outside- through arches in the walls; whilst 
in Devonshire and Cornwall I have seen good bunches from 
Vines whose borders were wholly outside the bouse; but be it 
here remembered, we do- not all enjoy the climatic graces and 
blessings bestowed so- profusely on our West-country brethren. 
In my -own opinion a, wholly inside border, if well made, is the 
best-, because we then have- entire' control over it, and the whole 
root system must be nearer the same temperature than would 
be the case in an inside and outside- border. For early ^ ineries 
and for Muscats, I say, always have a wholly inside border, 
whilst if what, I might, profanely call a double-barrelled border 
be thought desirable, let it be in. connection with late houses. 
The depth for a, permanent border should never be less than' 
3i> ft., and quite 1 ft. of this space- should consist, of drainage 
material. The width of the border inside should never he less- 
for a full-grown Vine than two-thirds -o-f the length o-f the rod. 
The ideal border should have a cemented bottom, and the 
walls of the Vinery should be able to prevent the escape of the 
roots. A slight slope will be needed to direct the exit- o-f water, 
and drain-pipes sufficient to quickly carry it- away should be’ 
suitably placed. The drainage material may consist of 
potsherds, broken tiles-,, half-bricks, etc., the-rougher ones being 
at- the bottom-. 
Now as to the making - o-f the border proper, the basis of 
which is loam. The best loam is that o-f a. nut- brown colour cut 
from an old pasture, and thereby richly endowed with fibre. 
If it- be- heavy rather than light, so- much the better. This 
should be cut, 4 in. deep, but for the first two layers I advise 
that they only he 2 in. deep, so as to- render more safe the 
drainage. Over these two layers spread some lime rubble, scot, 
and bones (|-in.). Place- then another layer, and again lime 
rubble, bone and wood ashes, thus alternating the soot and 
wco-d ashes as the work proceeds. When within 15 in. o-f the 
top use chopped turf, which has been stacked for three months 
previous, with alternate layers of cow' manure, adding to it 
lime rubble, wood ashes, charcoal, soot, bones and lime, 
and mix them thoroughly together. A border formed in this 
way will last a great length of time, and produce handsome 
Grapes with but a slight addition yearly in the shape of a 
top-dressing. 
In preparing an entirely ne-w border, the whole width need 
not be laid d-o-wn at once unless it, is intended t-o grow about 
mid-way in the house some “ riders," which will be cut out as 
the permanent Vines- demand supremacy. It is only when cul¬ 
tivating on, a good border that the grower can thoroughly 
understand what beneficial effects accrue from a sobd and 
healthy rooting medium. W. Ik 
