116 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 16, 1907. 
The Flower Garden. 
The weather is a favourite topic of mine. 
No; I do not mean that exactly, but the 
weather causes me. so much concern owing 
to its changeability, that I cannot resist re¬ 
ferring to it. Bad or gcod, the weather is 
the Englishman’s chief topic of conversa¬ 
tion. I remember reading of a lady who 
once told a gentleman he was the most ori¬ 
ginal man she had ever met, because he 
never referred to the weather. I am not 
going to complain just now, for the elements 
are favourable for outdoor work. “ Are you 
afraid of work?” asked the rancher of a 
nigger. “ Me no ’fraid of work,” replied 
the black. “Me lays down side of it.” I 
hope readers are not laying beside the work 
that now needs doing. Look where one will, 
it’s work all the time. 
Sweet Peas. 
Sweet Peas have been giving me a deal of 
work lately. I suppose I may venture upon 
the subject again, despite all that has been 
said. An enthusiast never tires of talking 
shop, I find, and of course all readers are 
enthusiasts over gardening generally, and 
Sweet Peas in particular. Small wonder 
either, for the Editor has done his best to 
provide readers with reliable information. 
I would, however, supplement his remarks 
re sowing. C. J. Harrison has evidently 
some valuable new sorts, and I certainly 
would not risk a single seed in the open 
ground. Cheap seed can be sown thicker, 
and thinned out if it all germinates, but a 
valuable novelty is too precious for outdoor 
sowing. I have always found that insects 
and birds pay particular attention to new 
things. They seem to be able to distinguish 
them with unerring instinct. As I and 
others have intimated, novelties in Sweet 
Peas are exceedingly numerous this season, 
the list running to two score. Nearly half 
of these are of the wavy type, so we may 
revel in orchid-flowered Sweet Peas to cur 
hearts’ content. Just imagine three wavy 
whites being offered at one time, and one of 
them a pure Spencer. No time should be 
lost in sowing if blooms are wanted for 
exhibition purposes. A late sown batch can 
be entirely dispensed with I find. 
Roses. 
Roses should be got in at the earliest pos¬ 
sible moment, if gcod flowers are wanted. 
I have seen exhibition blooms cut from 
plants set out in mid March, but the bushes 
were skilfully handled. 1 am dis¬ 
posed to think a recent writer is a 
trifle severe respecting the selection of 
varieties. I cannot agree that exhibi¬ 
tion varieties for the most part are dis¬ 
appointing for garden purposes. A few are 
of course, but the general run of exhibition 
flowers are" secured by special culture. As 
I pointed out recently, the N.R.S. catalogue 
is an excellent guide for novices. 
Grass Borders. 
Where grass borders upon paths or beds, 
no time should be lost in trimming the 
edges. Use a good sharp cutting tool. In 
large places a wheeled contrivance is used, 
but there is nothing to beat the old edging 
iron for real good work. The worker, too, 
must be good. 
Hotbed Making. 
Hotbed making is a matter that calls for 
attention. Gcod fresh strawy horse manure 
'should be secured, and to keep a steady heat 
its bulk should be increased one third by 
dead leaves. Turn the heap several times be¬ 
fore making up the bed finally. 
Carnations. 
Carnations in, pots standing in frames 
must be frequently overhauled, as must other 
plants under cover. Carnations out of doors 
may well be examined. Mice, cut worms, 
cats, etc., all pay the:e plants some atten¬ 
tion. 
Border Plants. 
Border plants will do better if planted 
now, before the drying winds of March set 
in. Special named ,sorts of florists’ hardy 
flowers, such as Phloxes, etc., will, if they 
'are recent introductions, be rather small 
when purchased, and to make sure of them 
a specially treated position should be given 
them. Potting them up, and keeping in a 
cold frame until April or May, will pre¬ 
vent loss. As I have previously suggested, 
'make a point of ordering things in good 
time ; if you are not ready for the stuff, the 
nurserymen are always willing to despatch 
when desired. 
Climbing Plants. 
Climbing plants should have a little at¬ 
tention just now. The yellow Jasminum, 
after flowering, should be cut back, except 
where further space has to be filled. All 
Clematis of the Jackmannii type should be 
cut back almost to the ground, unless the 
plants are old and have been allowed to 
run. Much the best flowers are got from 
plants that are cut back hard annually. C. 
montana must not be cut back hard, as the 
flowers are borne on the previous season’s 
'wood. 
Shrubs. 
Shruhs, too, may be attended to, but care 
must be taken so that all the flowering wood 
is left intact. Shrubby Spiraeas are best 
when cut back hard. Deutzias need thinning 
slightly. Such things as flowering Cur¬ 
rants and Lilac are safer if left until flower¬ 
ing is over. One need net fear to cut out 
weakly wood of any species, however. 
The Fruit Garden. 
Planting of fruit trees may continue for 
awhile longer, but do not put off until to¬ 
morrow what can be done to-day. See that 
all established and newly planted trees are 
given a mulch of manure. 
Cordons. 
Cordons need gcod attention in this re¬ 
spect, as the trees are usually planted close. 
No-one w ! as a bit of blank wall suitably 
situated should hesitate to plant this type 
of tree. Market men are now relying upon 
cordon Apples and Pears for high-class 
fruits. These trees can be grown on tightly 
strained wires, or wooden fences. 
Get all pruning and tying done as soon as 
possible. 
Strawberries. 
If autumn-planted Strawberries have lifte ( 
through frost, press them lightly with thi 
foot. Strawberries must be firmly planted 
If a plantation is to be made, order thi 
plants but wait until March is well in befor, 
planting. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Things should be looking shipshape here 
Tomatos. 
Hotbeds for raising seed should be pre 
pared, but it is inadvisable to start sue! 
things as Tomatos just yet, unless suitabk 
quarters for growing on are available. 1 
is quite a mistake to sow outdoor Tomato 
too early. Mid March is quite soon enough 
for sturdy plants are required for outdoci 
culture, not tender, soft, greenhouse stuff 
raised early in the year. 
Seakale, etc. 
Do not delay planting Shallots, Arti 
chokes, and Seakale thongs. The lattei 
must have rich ground if gcod crowns are 
desired. 
Seed Sowing. 
Do not attempt a sowing<>of Onions,.Tur 
■nips, Parsley, or Parsnips, unless the sur 
face soil is fairly dry. On no account mu;t 
it 'be sticky. It is only in special situations 
that early sown Turnips come successfully. 
Cabbages. 
Treat Cabbage beds to a dressing cf nit:ate 
of sod'a. A small handful to the square 
yard is a good dressing. Never allow thi- 
manure to touch the foliage. 
Mint. 
New beds of Mint should now be made. 
By taking up the old roots and selecting the 
strongest suckers one may be .sure of getting 
good healthy stuff. Disease frequently at¬ 
tacks old roots, but by replanting annually 
this is generally obviated. Plant the sucker- 
one foot apart and make the soil fairly rich 
Old roots get into growth more quickly 
so retain a few until the uew batch is well 
under way. 
“ Horti.” 
The Amateur’s Greenhouse, 
Propagating Dahlias. 
Those growers of Dahlias who have « 
greenhouse should always make a point ol 
striking a few cuttings to produce fine 
flowers. Exhibitors always get their bes 
'blooms from cuttings, and even if one dee- 
not want to exhibit, a few gcod flowers are 
always acceptable to tease friends with 
Many old tubers need not be introduced foi 
this purpose, and I always get quite enougl 
cuttings from roots stood in two old con 
densed milk boxes. A layer of leaf mould 
is placed in the bottom of each box, the se 
lected stools are. put in, and th'en plenty 
of leaf mould is worked down among anc 
over them. If the tubers are at all shrivellec 
or A the leaf mould is very dryq a watering 
should be given through a rosed can. Very 
little water" is, however, needed, and the 
syringe may supply the bulk. The boxe; 
may be stood anywhere in the light, and the 
young growths will soon appear. 
Soils and Composts. 
When a few minutes can be spared frotf 
other work, a few barrow loads of loam and 
leaf mould should be got into the potting 
•shed. In wet weather these can be arranged 
in composts, of which only two of what 1 
