502 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
•Tune 18, 1904. 
seedlings into other pans, where they may remain until they 
become large enough for potting singly into 2-in. pots. Grow 
on freely in a frame placed in a cool position and keep shaded 
and moist, and shift on into larger pots as required. As is 
well known, these plants are subject to attacks of green Aphis, 
but they can easily be kept down by frequent light fumigations. 
So partial arei these insects to the young succulent leaves, that 
if this is not persisted in. throughout their season of growth, 
disappointing results will assuredly follow. K. M. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Mulching. — I am a great advocate for this under all sorts 
and conditions of soils and localities during spells of hot 
summer weather, as it undoubtedly conserves the- moisture and 
prevents the cracking and opening of the ground, especially 
that of a stiff, retentive nature. Long stable litter is an 
excellent material for the larger-growing kinds of vegetables, 
such as Runnel" and Broad Beans, Peasi, Globe Artichokes, 
Cauliflowers, and the like. Spent liorse-droppings, such aa 
disused Mushroom beds passed through a coarse sieve, is 
capital for Onions, Beetroot, Carrots and similar crops.. During 
the past few years I have found short grass mowings from 
the lawnl extremely useful in preventing the Turnip fly doing 
any seriousl damage toi that crop if a small quantity is. fre¬ 
quently placed between the plant®, and at the time of sowing 
the seed cover the ground to the depth of about. \ in. 
Peas.- —Make the final sowing of a reliable variety on a 
south border or some other warm position, sowing the seed in 
well-prepared trenches. Attend to successional sowings, strictly 
guarding against the plants' being overcrowded; it is always 
wise to sow about a,s thick again as necessary, and when 2 in. in 
height remove the weaker plants. See that, these never suffer 
for want of water at the root; apply good drenchings, both 
clear and in liquid manure form, nothing being better than the 
drainings from the farmyard well diluted. The watering is 
best done during the evening. * Early Peas are promising well 
this year, being fully a. fortnight earlier than last year, treated 
under similar conditions. To induce any to fill quickly after 
a fair amount of pods are siet, pinch out the points of the 
growth and syringe freely about 4 o’clock on fine afternoons. 
Cauliflowers. — These will now be coming on apace in the 
open ground, and to ensure perfect heads these will have to 
be looked over daily both for slugs and caterpillars. The 
former are very fond of feeding on the crowns just as they are 
forming, which means that when it. is further developed it is 
sadly disfigured and is seldom, if ever, of any use. Should 
these be turning in too quickly, they may be pulled and hung 
head downwards, in a cool place before, too far advanced, when 
they will keep many days in good condition if syringed occa¬ 
sionally. Ply the hoe frequently betwee.nl later crops of early 
and Autumn Giant, and make several more, plantings from 
seed siown at various dates, the last, being about, the end of 
April or first week in. May, thus ensuring an uninterrupted 
supply until the earlier Broecolis are ready to take, their place. 
Coleworts. —Two or three sowings of these, should be made 
in every kitchen garden, as few vegetables are. more serviceable 
or appreciated in nearly all households'. The first should at 
once be made in a fairly cool part, of the garden; we always 
rely on two varieties—namely, Rosette and London. Hardy 
Green. Sow the seeds t.lfinly in beds broadcast, and protect 
against birds, and two. other sowings, at intervals of a. fortnight 
will ensure a succession of sweet little heads right through the 
winter. 
Brussels Sprouts. —Keep, the surface soil constantly stirred 
between those already planted, and make good any vacancies., 
and another good breadth should be put. out for later use. 
Vegetable Marrows. —If not already done, the frames which 
have been sheltering these should now be entirely removed, 
and plants which are in full bearing, and have been for some 
weeks past, should receive a good mulching of chopped turfy 
loam,, horse-droppings and leaf-soil, when they will take a new 
lease of life and continue to bear on till the autumn. 
Cucumbers in frames will need constant attention by way 
of stopping and thinning the growths, and use every endeavour 
to keep, the plants in a strong, clean:, healthy condition bv 
giving frequent mulchings, in slight quantities a,t a time, of 
fibrous loam and leaf-soil. The roots, must be kept well sup¬ 
plied with water, washing in a. small application of patent 
manure weekly. On the first approach of insect life fumigate 
two or three nights in succession; keep the fruit cut when 
of a fair size, placing their ends in water, and stand in a cool 
room ; admit air in good time in the morning, and syringe and 
shut, up early in the. afternoon. Make another sowing of seed 
in small pots. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens., Elstree. 
Hybrid Primroses. 
So much has been written about, these hardy flowers that 
little can be recorded, save that readers who do not. live in 
close towns should prepare, to sow seed of these grand spring 
bloomers. 
It will pay one to visit a garden where a good strain is 
cultivated, in order to fully grasp their value. 
Personally, I am convinced tha,i none can surpass the hybrids 
of Storrie’s, and a shilling packet will provide a stock that can 
be increased annually by division. 
I have, now in bloom about. 300 strong plants, the result of 
sowing in 1902. Each plant after flowering is. divided into 
two or three', and planted on a nursery bed of unmanured soil. 
Here they make strong roots, and lift, grandly in the autumn. 
Two beds containing 100 apiece are situated in the hottest 
part of my garden, in a. full south aspect on rather light soil 
dressed with cow dung, and, being close to the house, the deli¬ 
cious Wallflower perfume literally smites the nostrils. I have 
not seen it mentioned that Primroses have a good scent, but it 
is so.. 
The wondrous purples, carmines, crimsons, browns, whites, 
etc., are marvels of the hybridist’s art, and growers of the P. 
sinensis might well sigh for such colours. 
The majority of these hardy Primroses produce, the flowers 
on Polyanthus stems, and thisr makes them more valuable, as 
they stand well up above^the strong foliage. 
I have several whites with a yellow eye, which are now pro¬ 
ducing larger pips and trusses than. I ever saw on a greenhouse 
Primula., and such plants may be lifted and potted and stood 
in a. cool house or in a. window without injury, providing that 
they are. afterwards planted in the. nursery. To. attempt them 
in pots indoors through the winter is ruinous. They require 
absolutely no. protection. They may look woe-begone under 
the. winter’s icy breath, but. early April sees them well on the 
move. They are in full glory till the end of May, thus allow¬ 
ing the beds to be cleared for summer subjects. A few poor 
specimens naturally appear from a packet, of seed, and these 
should be discarded. Seed saving is not worth the trouble 
unless crossing is practised. Birds are troublesome, and I 
am compelled t’o shoot them, a.nd hang on sticks over the beds. 
Cotton has little, terrors for country birds, I find, the gun and 
paraffin spray being the only remedies. The latter I have 
found useful to save dormant, fruit buds, Peas, etc., but it 
cannot he. used on expanded flowers; hence the. slaughter of 
all birds that practise the destructive methods of picking buds 
and flowers to. pieces. ■ 4 . 
The Life of a Seed. —The United States Department of Agri¬ 
culture is making experiments for the purpose of determining 
the extreme vitality of seeds. Over a hundred species of plants 
have been packed in a soil consisting of dry clay enclosed in 
pots, and buried at varying .depths underground —8 seeds at 
a depth of 6 in., 12 at a depth of 20 in., and a third set of 12 
at a depth of 3 ft. 6 in. At the end of 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 
25. 30. 40, and 50 years a set from each depth will be exhumed 
and tested. 
