438 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
June 4. 1904 
jfRT 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Onions. — Seldom have we experienced a more favourable 
period for the plants which were raised in heat and put out! 
into- their permanent quarters during last month, and as a 
quick, early growth is necessary for the development of large, 
shapely bulbs, there is every reason to> believe that good results 
will be achieved diming tire coming season. Generally speak' 
ing, the Onion fly does but little damage to Onions treated in 
this way, and by taking the necessary precautions one may 
practically defy any serious mishap from this cause. Where 
surface dressing, by way of horse-droppings, etc., lias not been 
resorted to-, keep' the surface soil constantly stirred, and am 
hot, dry porous land I would certainly advise mulching imme¬ 
diately alter this date. Soot, and some form of reliable patent 
vegetable manure should bet applied in equal quantity at least 
once every ten. days. This is best distributed between the 
plants during showery weather in the evening, but in hot, 
dry weather it should be well watered in, and the crop, will be 
much benefited if the tops are well damped over with tepid 
water every fine afternoon or early evening. Keep a strict 
look-out for mildew, and immediately any traces of it are 
observed carefully remove every affected part and burn imme¬ 
diately and dust the bed with black sulphur and slacked lime, 
asi when allowed to go. unchecked it spreads with alarming 
rapidity. Sowings made in, the open should be partially 
thinned, but care should be taken not to g‘o. to the 1 extreme ini 
this in any case the first time, and especially so where both 
systems of culture are practised, as the small bulbs are equally 
serviceable, and the maggot may yet play sad havoc with them. 
Winter Onions. —These in many cases, are showing an undue 
tendency to run. to flower, not only among those that were 
sown early, but. I havei noticed many equally bad from seed 
which was sown quite at the end of August. These should be 
picked out and the plants chosen, for immediate use, as they are 
seldom, if ever, of any.use for developing into large bulbs. 
Abundance of manure Avater should be frequently given, a,si well 
a,s occasional doses of soot and artificial manure. 
Celerv. — Take every opportunity of getting out the suo- 
cesisional sowings into well-prepared trenches. Lift with a 
good ball and plant firmly. The earliest plants are now grow¬ 
ing a.Avay apace, and every encouragement should be given them 
to promote a free, succulent, unhindered growth. Soot is one 
of the best, fertilisers I know for Celery, and in addition, when 
applied in good time, does much to prevent the crop, being 
infested Avitk the Celery fly. Many are under the impression 
that it does but, little good; neither does it after the fly has 
once deposited its eggs, but there is no, doubt whatever if it, 
is applied frequently in a fresh condition from the time the 
plants are quite young till the growth is practically completed 
it does much to prevent any serious injury from this cause. 
Remove all side growths as they are made, and, a,s is generally 
known, Celery is a moisture-loving plant, and when planted 
properly in good trenches it can hardly be overwatered. 
Celeriao should also be planted on enriched and well-prepared 
ground on the flat. A serious mistake in growing this 
vegetable is often made by overcroAvding the plants. Plenty 
of room should be allowed all ways, or poor roots will bei the 
result.. As with Celery, so with this, abundance of moisture 
must be given, both at the roots and overhead during the groAV- 
ing season. 
Runner Beans. —Lose no time in thoroughly staking these, 
both which have been raised and planted out from under glass 
and those sown in the open,. I am a staunch advocate for very 
long poles or sticks, as I am perfectly convinced that much 
heavier crops are obtained and better results follow in every 
Avav when plenty of room upwards is allowed them. Make one! 
more good sowing in the open. 
Sow Endive, Chicory, Corn-Salad, Radishes, Lettuce, often 
and in small quantities. Wage war against weeds, and keep 
the hoes constantly at work when weather permits. Where 
box edging is used this should be neatly trimmed and every¬ 
thing relative to the kitchen garden made tidy. 
E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs. 
Sambucus. —Although one cannot claim for the Sambucus 
or Elders that they are of' any particular value as flowering 
shrubs, yet in a, collection of any pretensions many are of 
great beauty as foliage plants, and can be used with marked 
effect for several purposes. They are also valuable for plant¬ 
ing in very poor soils or in positions Avne re many other shrubs 
would prove a failure. Their culture is extremely simple, but 
to obtain the, best, and most pleasing results it is necessary that 
some attention be annually given to priming. If left to them¬ 
selves they assume a somewhat unsightly, neglected-looking 
appearance, and the golden-foljaged forms do not retain their 
beautiful colouring. Excepting one or two varieties, all those 
which are mentioned should be cut hard down early in the 
spring, and a pleasing growth of medium size and height is 
then maintained. 
Propagation, is readily done by cutting the pruned shoots' 
into medium lengths arid firmly inserting them in a shady 
border, Avliere they easily root, and can be lifted in the autumn. 
The Common Elder (Sambucus nigra), Avhich lias large cymes 
of yelloAvish-Avhite flowers succeeded by buncdies of black 
berries, has several excellent varieties which deserve larger 
cultivation than they at present receive. The golden variety 
(S. nigra foliis aureis) is the most, showy, and a fine shrub for 
massing, as it, retains its colour and produces a very fine effect. 
It should be planted in a good, open position, for if shaded at 
all the leaves assume a sickly green hue\ At the edge of a 
lake or any large sheet of water a, bold group isi not excelled 
by any other shrub. S. nigra argenteorvariegata. is a small 
grower, which requires but little pruning and is worthy of a 
good position on the front of a sln-ubbery. The Cut-leaved 
Elder (S. nigra laciniata) is also well adapted for massing, 
being a pleasing green, and the leaves are conspicuous by the 
manner in which they are divided. There is also' a, white- 
fruited kind named S. nigra fructo-albp, and the someAvhat neA\ 
variety, S. nigra .tenuifolia is one of the most beautiful ol 
dwarf shrubs, Avhich also needs lightly pruning. S. nigra 
pyramidalis (of which I enclose a photo) has a, remarkable 
appearance either in summer or with the stems bare. These 
grow closely together and upright, and the leaves also cling 
to' the stem, being intense deep green in colour. The shoot; 
should only be lightly shortened back. S. racemosa is ar 
ornamental species greatly resembling S. nigra, except, that 
the berries, are scarlet. There arc two excellent varieties botl 
Avith laciniated foliage, the one being green and the othei 
golden. This is named S. r. serratifolia, a,urea, and is one 
of the most beautiful shrubs in cultivation. It should be 
planted in a good loamy soil in an open position and be pruned 
hard annually. 
Exochorda (Spiraea) grandiflora. —Though sometimes called 
a Spiraea, this handsome shrub bears no' resemblance to any 
of the family, and at this season is quite one of the best of 
flowering shrubs. It is of shrubby, fairly quick growth, witli 
pure white flowers an inch or more in diameter, and in the 
shrubbery or on the lawn,, where it can fully develop, it forms' 
a magnificent specimen;. 
Choisya ternata. —This beautiful Mexican shrub is flowering! 
with great freedom this year, and is undoubtedly one of the. 
best, of evergreens. So far we have found it, perfectly hardy! 
in this locality without^any protection, though in cold districts 
it is advisable to give it a sunny wall, and in such a position, 
