March 4. 1905. 
THE GARDEN INQ WORLD. 
181 
drained into the same pit or tank, it may be used neat, or 
nearly so. 
For Asparagus and fruit trees, half and half, it should be 
applied before a shower, when possible. When watering fruit- 
houses with it, do not make the all too common mistake of 
putting the 1 manure on and for a couple of hours after keeping 
the border inundated with water, for the manure may as well 
be thrown down the drain to start with, as that is where it 
eventually goes. The proper time to apply it is when the 
border is moist, not sodden ; and when it has soaked in give 
a little clean water through a rosed can. 
For pot plants in greenhouses, a verygood liquid manure 
is made by putting, say, a bushel of sheep or deer droppings 
in a sack, and an equal quantity of soot in another. Place 
each in a barrel and till with water, move the sack about from 
time to time with a stick or fork. It will be found that the 
soot-bag will float at first, therefore a weight of some kind 
should be placed on it to keep it at the bottom. It is a good 
plan to have a second lot to fall back on while the exhausted 
one is being renewed. For general use put two parts water to 
one part soot and dung-water combined, but it will be found 
necessary to vary the strength to suit the construction and 
requirements of the subjects treated. 
The best time to use it is in the evening, or first thing in 
the morning, so that the houses will have time to sweeten 
before the gentry get about. Liquid manure should never be 
applied until the pots are well filled with roots, otherwise ti e 
old adage will be verified : “ Kill the plant with kindness.” 
E. T. L. 
Hardy Annuals. 
The embellishment of private gardens throughout the 
summer and autumn months is much enhanced by the un¬ 
stinted use of hardy annuals. Annuals are a source of endless 
attraction in their season to amateur and professional gardener 
alike; in fact, the whole universe. If a calculation of these 
neatly illustrated packets of annuals were made, it would 
reveal an enormous sale. These penny packets are very pro¬ 
minent in the florists’ shops at present. The largest pur¬ 
chasers of these packets are the amateur section or residents 
of thickly populated towns possessing a scanty piece of ground 
where it would seem impossible to grow anything. In smoky 
localities, such as Lanarkshire, if you are observant at all, 
when perched on an electric tramcar it would astonish you to 
see how these tiny flowers are appreciated in the summer. It 
would amuse you to observe how 7 these annuals are cultured in 
and around our cities. ' 
They peep up in almost any position where the sun scarcely 
penetrates. Not only that, but they are grown in peculiar 
receptacles. Old damaged flower pots, tea-pots, and boxes of 
every conceivable shape or form are utilised to add a display 
of flowers. Where a plot of ground is not attached to the 
dwelling, expedients are found by these old pots, etc. Some of 
them are exalted on window-sills a few storeys high, receiving 
an occasional dash of water. - A few pence will supply a selec¬ 
tion of colour and variety, and sown under such crude methods, 
blossom forth in a few weeks to cheer and brighten the homes 
of those confined in densely crowded cities. That is but an 
instance of how flowers are appreciated by those bread-winners 
who have meagre opportunities of getting even a small garden. 
Sweet Peas, Virginian Stock, Mignonette, Candytuft, are all¬ 
round examples in back yards. Their simplicity of culture, 
economy, multiplicity of varieties, and outdoor hardiness 
would secure them In the front ranks of horticulture. In large 
gardens, where good quantities are bought from some reliable 
source, we might find reason to say that the minute seeds con¬ 
tained in these illustrated packages were inferior and com¬ 
pletely worthless. Having sown quantities of both I find that 
the miniature packet is equally as reliable as that employed in 
private gardens, so that the novice need have no hesitation in 
buying them. 
Annuals for Exhibition. —To detail the cultivation of hardy 
annuals it will be as simple to treat them in an exhibition 
tone. Notwithstanding that our floral gems grow under most 
adverse conditions, yet it is requisite to apply special treat¬ 
ment to gain satisfaction. Hardy annuals do not require any 
artificial heat, sown out of doors where intended to bloom. 
When the frost plays,.its part in autumn, or the plants eventu¬ 
ally die off, they may be thrown on the rubbish heap, where 
they give us no more worry- to keep over winter. It. is 
scarcely prudent to save the seed unless a special sort; it is 
being haiwested in tons elsewhere. So we have the interest to 
raise our annuals from the seed yearly and to improve on past 
efforts. 
The best soil is a light, rich loam, and not too drying a 
Forsythia intermedia : Flowers YELLOW. (Seep. 179.) 
position. In truth, ordinary garden soil will grow almost any 
annual flower. A border which has been dug up in autumn 
and enriched with some manure will give excellent returns. 
The date for sowing is a debatable one. In favoured districts 
the first week of April is very appropriate; a few weeks later 
will be safer and ample time to produce flowers for August or 
September show fixtures. A. Y. M. 
(To be continued .) 
More Light for Windsor.— Before leaving Windsor Castle 
recently, the King, accompanied by Sir Dighton Probyn and 
the head gardener, walked round the Castle slopes, giving 
directions with regard to further improvements. The King 
dislikes the place being shut in by old and useless trees and 
shrubs, and considers that valuable trees should have more 
space and light by the cutting out of the unshapely and the 
useless. 
