524 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 25, 1904. 
soot, and thinning is seen, to- as soon as plants can be handled, 
and preferably in damp weather. 
Thinning over, watering is commenced at once, and the 
first dose is weak soapsuds just coloured with soot. This is 
continued nightly unless during rain, when the rows, are 
dusted with diy soo-t, though water is occasionally given. The 
strength of the liquid is gradually increased, with liquid sewer¬ 
age added, and now and then, a few pounds of nitrate of soda 
dissolved in the water. I think the crux of the whole matter 
lies in, the dirty, filthy nature of the mixture used, as this, I 
think, tends to ward off the attacks of the fly, while the cold, 
wet state of the surface soil landers the hatching of any eggs 
that may be laid. Whenever I have been able to carry out 
this method in its entirety, I have been more successful than, 
under any other system that I have either tried or seen 
adopted, but I do not guarantee its infallibility, though those 
who have' failed with other modes of culture might do well to 
give it a trial. 
Slugs. 
I see there are a, great many correspondents, writing to the 
“ G.W.” as regards slugs. If they will try my plan they are 
bound to be well repaid. These gardens here are very old, 
a great many Box hedges 4 ft. high separating the plots, 
so a splendid harbour for 1 slugs. My plan is simply a good 
hurricane lamp- and a basket of air-slaked lime, and after 
darkness sets in I visit the crops infested and sprinkle the lime 
thinly, and in going around in, the morning the slugs are still 
there, but quite dead. Hoping this information will induce 
them to- give it a, trial. Madryn. 
A New Method of Staking. 
Long’s Patent Stake. 
The staking of flowers, plants, and trees is always a serious 
matter for the gardener, and takesi up much of his time. Many 
plants after being established require no staking, but are able 
to take care of themselves. On the other hand, there, are 
garden plants', but, particularly exotics which require more and 
more a secure staking in proportion, m they grow. Amongst 
these we need only mention, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias', and 
Carnations to- show that the- more vigorously and luxuriantly 
they may grow the more necessity there is for staking. 
This matter has exercised Mr. Wm. H. Long, Seapoint, 
Monkstown, co. Dublin, for some considerable time past,, and 
the outcome of it was that he ha,si devised a method of staking 
which is at once simple and -effective. Instead of the old 
method of using a separate stick for each stem, he conceived 
the idea, of using an iron rod as the centre stem, from, which -a 
set of wires might radiate and thereby obviate the necessity 
for pushing a great number of sticks into the soil in which 
pot plants are grown. 
At our request he furnished us with illustrations of this 
method of -staking to which we may refer our readers. At A 
is represented the collar of this compound stake, wilth the coven 
ing removed so as to, show how the wires are fixed in position 
and projected from the collar at either end The object of 
this latter feature is that of the six wires the operator may 
have the benefit of a dozen by simply bending the ends in any 
required direction, thereby gathering up the branches of any 
large plant, such a-si a Dahlia o-r a Chrysanthemum, grown in 
the bush form. The- collar thus fixing the wires to the main 
stem is shown at B. At C a, portion of what is- intended' for 
a, much stranger stake where that is required is shown. The 
slender stalk is flattened at the point and ha,s> one curve above 
this also flattened. The object of the flattening is to- hold 
the stake -firmly in the soil and prevent, its being shaken about 
by the wind. The stake at C has practically three legs' by 
which it may be firmly fixed in the soil, this being required 
only in the case of the larger stakes, where great strength 
and rigidity are desirable. The figure at D shows the central 
stake with the six wires still in the straight condition, and 
fixed by the collar. 
It, is intended that the single stake be fixed in, position at 
the final potting, so that further disturbance at the root is un¬ 
necessary. The solitary s-takei requires only a small space by 
comparison, with twelve, twenty, or other number of wooden 
stakes. This form of stake is not liable to break off at the 
surface of the ground. The flexibility of the lateral wires 
enables the operator to bend them about in order to meet 
fancy or other requirements in training. The original cost 
of this compound iron stake would be greater than in the 
case of wooden ones, but its greater durability enables it to be 
utilised over and over again, and for a variety of plants, so that 
ultimately they repay the original cost. The central and side 
stakes are painted green,, so that they are by no means con¬ 
spicuous. At present they are in use in the Royal Botanic 
Gardens', Glasnevin, and the Trinity College Botanic Gardens, 
Dublin. One user has found two stakes suitable for the fanning 
of an arch over a doorway for the training of plants where 
various wire structures are often employed. The central rod 
is made in three thicknesses, and other sizes can be supplied. 
Early Potato Growing. —The early Potato-growing industry 
which was started by the Department of Agriculture and Tech¬ 
nical Instruction for Ireland has met with considerable success 
in some districts. Experiments are being tried at a large 
number of places, mainly in the South-west and West, on the 
coast of Ireland. From a few small plots in 1901 the area under 
experiment has, gradually increased. Near Cion akilty this year 
there- are over 30 acres under the crop. Samples have already 
been dug in co. Clare, where the crop is about a week later than 
last year ; in other districts the crops are earlier than last year. 
In the sales of this year’s crop that have taken place so far, 
prices running up to- £50 per statute acre have been obtained, 
and if the- weather continues favourable, so that all the crops 
can be raised before the middle of June, there is a good prospect 
of the remunerative prices being maintained. 
