April 4, 1908. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
233 
The Flower Garden. 
The thoughts and efforts of amateurs and 
ardeners generally will now be directed 
L the flower garden particularly. The 
.ilder weather has made outdoor operations 
lore pleasant, and brought out the flowers 
f Polyanthuses and Primroses in abun- 
ance. But all the necessary work will not 
g in the flower garden only; there are so 
L any plants to provide for the filling of the 
ads, and amongst these there are 
iliums. 
More Liliums should be grown in the open 
ower borders than at- the present time, 
he bulbs are to be obtained at a reasonable 
ate, and if they are carefully treated they 
lay be lifted and replaced with success for 
tree years in succession at least; this I 
ave proved. Fig. 1 shows a Lilium bulb 
rowing in a pot, but they may be success- 
ully grown in', and then lifted from, boxes, 
prefer to grow them in pots and to plunge 
le pots containing the bulbs when the time 
omes for planting to be done. At the pre- 
ent -time the new stems will be, growing 
reely as shown in Fig. r, and where the 
nibs were planted low in the pots, as shown 
t A, there will be room .left for a top dress- 
ag,- as shown at B. This should be ap- 
lied in the form of lumpy, turfy loam, 
eat and sand before the stem roots get very 
mg. 
awns. 
Where it is intended to make new lawns 
nd sow grass seeds, the soil should be pre¬ 
pared without delay. Of course, it is 
lways a wise plan to-dig up the ground 
n the autumn and lay down drains then, if 
hese are necessary, and free the soil from 
he roots of coarse weeds, sticks and large 
tones. Where this work has been duly at- 
ended to, the preparation of the soil for the 
eception of the seeds now will consist of 
orking over the surface so as to pulverise 
ind level it. In this column next week I 
vill give some useful hints on the sowing 
if the seeds. 
loses. 
The pruning of Rose trees should be com¬ 
pleted at once; and where climbing Roses 
rave been unfastened from the walls, trel- 
ises, or pillars, no time should be lost in 
"etying the branches, so disposing the latter 
hat there will not be any danger of over- 
:rowding later on.when the new shoots are 
growing freely. Green aphis will un¬ 
doubtedly make their appearance on the 
roung tender shoots, and if they are allowed 
o remain there will seriously cripple the 
;rowth and cause many buds to be mal- 
ormed. Pinch the insects between the 
humb and forefinger, especially taking care 
hat the winged aphis are destroyed. If 
lildew infests the leaves, scatter some 
lowers of sulphur on the affected parts, and * 
>e sure that the roots of the trees of climb- 
ng varieties which are planted in dry bor¬ 
ders, or positions where the rain ■water does 
pot readily reach, do not suffer from over- 
.iryness. 
Saps in the Flower Beds. 
Closely examine these borders and put in 
fresh plants of Polyanthuses, Myosotis, 
Silenes, Wallflowers and other kinds where 
Fig. /.—Liliums for the 
flower garden. 
Fig. 2.—Cleft grafting. 
Fig. 3.—How to sow Asparagus seeds. 
any plants have died. Such gaps may not 
be very noticeable before the flowering 
period, but they will be conspicuous during 
the latter time. 
The Fruit Garden. 
Grafting; Apples and Pears. 
This is very interesting work, and many 
persons take a delight in putting in grafts 
on both young and old trees. There are now 
so many good varieties of both Apples and 
Pears that it seems a waste of time and space 
to continue to grow some of the old obsolete 
sorts. Simple modes of grafting are the 
best, most easily accomplished and most ef¬ 
fectual. Grafting means the uniting of a 
graft or scion to a stock. The latter should 
De more forward in growth than the saion. 
It is an important point that the bark of the 
scion and that .of the stock joins. Where 
both are of the same size the bark on both 
sides will fit together completely, but in the 
case of large stocks this is impossible, but 
the bark on one side of the graft must fit 
the bark of the stock. » 
In Fig. 2, 1 shows a scion as cut from a 
tree. 2 shows the scion prepared for inser¬ 
tion where cleft grafting is done. 3 shows 
the scions fitted to the stcck and after being 
fastened in position with a piece of soft 
matting the junction of stock and grafts 
must be covered and made airtight with clay 
or wax as shown in 4. 
Grafting clay is easilj' prepared by mix¬ 
ing with soft clay some chaff, or dry horse 
manure. But wax is the best material to 
use, the following being a good recipe, 
namely : yellow wax, ^ lb. ; turpentine, 
^ lb. ; Burgundy pitch, 5 oz. ; and mutton 
suet, 3 oz. These ingredients should be 
melted together, ard when cool the wax will 
be ready for use. In next week’s calendar 
I will give some more illustrations of simple 
grafting methods. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Asparagus. 
There are very few gardens in which this 
popular vegetable is not grown. But as a 
willing horse is often overworked, so are the 
beds of Asparagus overcut, or the “ grass ” 
is cut for use too late in the season, and, 
consequently, the plants suffer and deteri¬ 
orate, and it is necessary to form new beds 
Whether these new beds be stocked with 
young plants, or seeds be sown, care should 
be taken to select a position in the garden 
where the soil is naturally dry. Naturally 
moist ground should be drained beforehand. 
Three rows may be grown on a bed 5 ft. 
wide, the alleys being 15 in. wide. Fig. 3 
shows how to form shallow drills 'n which 
to sow the seeds The latter should be 
placed about 6 in. apart and then covered 
r in. deep. This will allow of resultant 
alternate plants being pulled out where the 
germination of the seeds is good. 
Forced Rhubarb. 
Roots which have been forced in sheds or 
other structures are often useless for replant¬ 
ing, but where care has been taken of them 
some of the best roots may be planted in a 
reserve garden, and then, if it be well 
treated, it will come in useful again in two 
years’ time. Other clumps, which have been 
covered in the beds with litter, should be 
uncovered .as soon as possible ard allowed 
to grow again freely during the summer. 
The litter is generally kept on too long and 
the roots are unnecessary weakened. 
Salads. 
Frequent sowings of Mustard and Cress, 
Radishes and Lettuces must be made to keep 
up a regular supply of young produce. 
Foxglove. 
