614 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 26, 1908. 
The Flower Garden 
Caterpillars. 
During July and the early part of Au¬ 
gust there were thousands of 'white butter¬ 
flies hovering near the flowers and other 
crops in our gardens. When I see these 
beautiful butterflies I know that there will 
be a host of caterpillars later on in the 
Fig. /. Commence to -plant bulbs in the 
j Hosier garden. Snozodrops and Crocuses 
should be planted about 2 in. deep; 
Tulips 3 in.; Hyacinths and Narcissi 
5 in. deep. 
season. Well, the caterpillars are now busy 
eating up many flowering and other kinds 
of plants. In a tiny border beneath the 
dwelling room window of a villa the owner 
recently killed several hundreds of cater¬ 
pillars, and a few days afterwards I noticed 
that a lovely bed of Nasturtiums were com¬ 
pletely destroyed, all the leaves being eaten 
and only the ribs and stalks left. Now, the 
caterpillars in the northern counties are not 
as forward as they are in the southern, and 
every precaution should be taken to prevent 
them doing damage to plants. They will 
continue to eat the leaves of plants through¬ 
out the month of October. Examine Violet 
and Zonal Pelargonium leaves and pick off 
and destroy every insect found. Look well 
under the leaves and also gently shake the 
plants to dislodge the pests. 
Leaf-Mining Grubs. 
These pests are also working much havoc 
amongst the Marguerite and Chrysanthe¬ 
mum plants. The badly injured leaves 
should be removed and burned. Others 
slightly marked should be carefully exam¬ 
ined and the grubs traced. They can be 
easily located as they show at the ends of 
the irregularly-formed lines in the leaf, then 
crush them between the finger and thumb. 
Planting Bulbs. 
The first batch of bulbs should now be 
planted. Put in firm bulbs. Very large 
ones, if not firm, are not as good as those of 
medium size but very firm and heavy. 
Vacant borders should be attended to first. 
Deeply dig the ground, take out one barrow 
load of soil from each medium-sized bed 
and add an equal quantity of fresh loam; 
also some well-rotted .manure. Do the dig¬ 
ging in fine weather, and, if possible, put in 
the bulbs .before the soil gets moistened again 
with rain. 
Fig. 1 shows how to plant the bulbs. 
Snowdrops, Crocuses and similar small 
bulbs should be put in about 2 in. deep, 
Tulips 3 in., and Hyacinths and Narcissi 
about 5 inches deep. In very light soils 
there is not any need to use sand, but in 
clayey ground some coarse sand should be 
placed under and on the top of the bulbs. 
Violets. 
Plants recently placed in frames should 
be carefully examined and any yellow or 
bruised leaves pinched off; also gather odd 
flowers which are opening, so that the plants 
may be encouraged to form new roots freely. 
Those plants growing in the open border 
should be cleaned and duly prepared for 
withstanding the wintry weather. Do not 
tread on the soil between the rows more 
than is absolutely necessary, as the plants 
do not thrive in hard panned ground. 
Dahlias. 
The plants should be duly supported with 
strong stakes, else the winds are sure to 
blow some down and break off branches from 
others. Make preparations for putting ’up 
temporary coverings to protect the flowers 
from frosts. 
The Fruit Garden. 
Strawberries. 
Layers recently planted out have made 
very satisfactory growth, the showery 
weather being very favourable to healthy 
root action. No doubt many readers of The 
Gardening World have noticed small side 
crowns growing on Strawberry plants. 
Fig. 2. The small side crowns of Straw¬ 
berry plants as shown at A, A, should be 
removed. The central crown B is the only 
serviceable one to retain. 
These side crowns are useless as regards 
fruit-bearing and should be removed directly 
they are large enough to handle. 
Fig. 2 shows the side crowns at A.A. The 
main, or central crown, as denoted by the 
arrow B, is the one to take care of. It 
should be quite plump and large by the time 
the leaves commence to ripen and turn to a 
bronzy hue. All main leaves which sur¬ 
round the central crown must be carefully 
preserved, but it would be well to make an 
effort and get the side crowns removed from 
the plants this week. 
Ripe Fruit. 
The recent strong winds 'have blown off 
great quantities of fruit. This bruised fruit 
should be stored separately from sound 
fruit, and be used first. I am afraid that 
in many instances more than half of the 
crops of Apples and Pears has been blown 
off the trees. Of course it will not keep, 
and so extra care should be taken to keep the 
properly gathered specimens in good condi¬ 
tion. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Parsley. 
This crop is often much neglected in tl 
autumn and winter time, but in sprin 
after the frosts have killed or spoiled near 
all the leaves, every bit of nice fresh leaf 
eagerly sought for. But if a few plants ' 
lifted and replanted in a cool frame (or ai 
roughly-made shelter which will answer t] 
same purpose) you will have a stock . 
fresh leaves whenever you wish to gath 
them. 
Choose sturdy plants for lifting. A 
Fig. 3 shows a nice plant lifted with s<-r 
soil adhering to the Toots. B shows a bt 
of soil 1 ft. deep placed in a frame ai 
the plants put out so that the leaves v: 
not unduly overlap. Give some water 
settle the-soil around the roots and keep f 
frame closed for about a fortnight; th> 
admit air freely, and remove any bruis- 
leaves. 
Cucumbers in Frames. 
Unless you have plenty of artificial hr 
do not retain the plants in the frames a: 
longer, but clear them away and use t 
frames for other purposes. Winter Lettuc 
may be grown in them for very early m 
also Cauliflower plants; but the gk 
lights should be taken off during fi 
weather. 
Caterpillars on Winter Greens. 
Here, again, you will have trouble w:i 
these pests. Hand pick-the caterpillars fr.i 
the centre of each plant of autumn Cau- 
flowers, Broccoli, Savoys, and Brusss 
Sprouts; and give a light dusting of c 1 
lime to the outer leaves where the pests s 
numerous. Many will fall to the group 
and then you should kill them wholesale : 
raking over the surface with an iron-tootll 
rake. 
Root Crops. 
Make preparations for lifting and stor:; 
Beetroot and Carrots. 
Foxglove 
The Amateur’s Greenhouf . 
The Boons and Blessings. 
It should be the aim of every amat r 
who possesses a greenhouse to have a sup y 
of blossom throughout the entire year, ;d 
to attain this end some foresight ;J 
management are necessary, more especir) 
where one structure only is available 
means are limited, for, of course, to e 
wealthy, with plenty of money to spend .1 
every appliance ready to hand, half the 01- 
culties vanish. 
From November to March is the time't 
greatest scarcity, and what a boon at 1« 
season are the many bulbous plants, for the 
are the easiest of culture as well as i* 
Fig. 3. Plant Parsley in a cold pal 
now, for winter use; A, a plant jif f 
B, shows how to fui m the ft ants vi 
prepared bed in the frame 
