2 5 0 
ItiB GARDENING WORLD. 
Annuals _ j 
and Bedding Plants. 
Raising . , 
From Seed. 
How often one hears from someone, “ I 
have had bad luck with my seeds this 
year,” and in nearly every case you see 
it is their own fault, yet the seeds gener¬ 
ally get the blame. To be successful with 
raising seeds in the greenhouse, or out 
of doors, the seeds must 'be sown at the 
proper time and under proper conditions. 
SOIL.—If the seeds are required to be 
sown in pans or boxes the soil should be 
well pulverised before using to get rid of 
worms and other pests. The soil should 
be made up of good loam, leaf mould and 
sand in equal parts. 
In sowing seeds outdoors the soil should 
be thoroughly enriched with some good 
manure. If at ail light, tread it down to 
a firm condition, make the surface fine 
and level, sow thinly, thin out while the 
seedlings are young, watch the plants left 
in case of slugs, snails and other vermin 
which will soon destroy them. 
Sowing. —Half-hardy annuais must be 
raised in pots or pans in a temperature of 
55 deg. to 65 deg. Sow thinly and evenly, 
prick off the plants while quite young into 
other pans or boxes. If allowed to be¬ 
come crowded the seedlings will damp off 
or become weak. 
The seeds of Begonias, Calceolarias, 
Musk, etc., are very fine, and will require 
careful handling after sowing. The seeds 
should be just dusted over with finely pul¬ 
verised soil. It will be wise to- place a 
piece of glass over the pans till seeds 
begin to show, then give iight and air to 
prevent the plants becoming drawn and 
weak. 
Time to Sow.— This depends on what 
kinds of annuals or other seeds are to be 
sown. Antirrhinums and early flowering 
Carnations can be sown in January, while 
for Asters, Coreopsis, Gaillardia, Salpi- 
glossis, Scabious, Stocks, etc., the begin¬ 
ning of March would be early enough. 
The beginning of April would be soon 
enough to raise Marigold and Zinnias, as 
often these get spoiled before they can be 
planted out. April to May will do for 
such seeds as Cornflowers, Clarkias, 
Godetia, Larkspurs, Malope, Mignonette, 
Poppies and Sunflowers. These can be 
sown out of doors; thin out when ready. 
April till July will suit seeds such as Can¬ 
terbury Bells, Foxgloves, Wallflowers, and 
any other biennials or perennials for 
autumn planting. All seedlings should be 
pricked off into other boxes, or in the 
open ground, as soon as they become large 
enough. 
Watering. —This should be carried out 
very carefully with young plants, as too 
much water will cause damp. Always 
water with a fine rose on the can, or gently 
plunge the pots or pans in a pail of water, 
as it is all these little careful ways of treat¬ 
ing young plants that help you to suc¬ 
cess. 
H. W. Wakely. 
- 4+4 - 
There are. according to the latest re¬ 
turns, 96,000 Potato distilleries in the Ger¬ 
man Empire. 
Damage to Fruit and Other Crops by Frost, 
The Department of Economic Zoology 
of the University of Birmingham has en¬ 
tered upon an enquiry respecting the 
damage done to fruit, garden and other 
crops by frosts. A series of questions has 
been addressed to growers, and it is hoped 
that valuable data, based on personal ob¬ 
servation will be collected for purposes of 
comparison, and that trained fruit-growers 
and gardeners in different localities will 
be induced to make systematic notes of 
their experience with a view to determin¬ 
ing the phenomena which brings about 
certain results. 
Statices for Decorative Purposes. 
These splendid aids in table and other 
floral decoration are just now being sold 
at from 2d. to 3d. per bunch, and nothing 
could be more useful in this season of 
scarcity of green and Fern. This pretty 
plant resembles somewhat the White 
Heather, and hails from Cape Colony. 
Practically everlasting, some extremely 
artistic effects are obtained by its judi¬ 
cious employment amongst the blooms. 
- CL W. - 
Prize Competitions. 
CENERAL CONDITIONS. —Competitors must 
write on one side of the paper only. Regular 
paid contributors to THE GARDENING 
WORLD or other gardening journals are de¬ 
barred from entering, but occasional con¬ 
tributors may compete. The name and ad¬ 
dress of the competitor must appear on each 
article sent for competition. The Editor’s 
decision is final, and he reserves the right 
to reproduce, in any way,I any article or photo¬ 
graph sent for competition. The conditions 
applying to each competition should be care¬ 
fully read. 
+ 4 + 
WEEKLY 
PRIZES. 
A PRIZE OFTEN SHILLINCS will be given 
for the best paragraph or short article on any 
gardening subject, such as hints of practical 
interest to gardeners, notes on the propaga¬ 
tion or cultivation of flowers, fruits or vege¬ 
tables, eradication of pests, etc. The para¬ 
graph or article must not exceed a column, but 
value rather than length will be considered in 
making Kie award. Mark envelopes “ Com¬ 
petition,” and post not later than the Monday 
folk wing date of issue. Entries received later 
thxn Tuesday (first post) will be left over until 
ie following week. 
Two prizes of 2s. 6d. will be awarded each 
week for the two best letters, not exceeding 
150 words, on any interesting gardening sub¬ 
ject. 
444 
RESULTS OF 
LAST WEEK’S 
COMPETITIONS. 
Some of the best papers in this competition 
are too long, and we desire readers to keep 
within a column. 
The prize in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to “F,A.” for his article on “Hardy 
Perennials from Seed,” pagei234 
In the Prize Letter Competition a prize was 
awarded to “H. W. Wakely ” for his article on 
“Rose Lamarque for Crowing under Class ” ; 
and another to “ W. Sherringham ” ifor his 
article on “ The Shallot,” page 236. 
April 13, 1907. 
Asparagus 
^ CULTURAL 
NOTES. . . 
Asparagus is one of the most popul 
and choicest vegetables we grow m t 
garden. It is a vegetable that young gz. 
deners get very little experience of plaij 
ing, as once it is well planted it rnsts 1 
such a long time without replanting. T 
best mode of cultivation is good de 
trenching. Asparagus likes a good de' 
loam, neither too light nor too heavy, ai 
with good drainage. If the sotf is ve 
light it is best to trench a good dept 
putting in plenty of rubbish of some sc 
jn the bottom, then putting in a got 
supply of well rotted cow or farmya 
manure, as it is more lasting and mui 
cooler than all horse manure. At tl 
same time add a little salt amongst ti 
soil, putting the cow or farmyard manti 
between the top spits. Again, if the sc 
is very heavy and the drainage bad it 
best to put plenty of brick ends in tl 
bottom of the trench, adding plenty 
rubbish on the brick ends to keep it w< 
'open, then using plenty of long hor 
manure with plenty of road scrapings 
burnt rubbish of some sort to keep ti 
soil open. 
Early in April is the best time to pla 
Asparagus, as the plants are just begi 
ning to start into growth, and will < 
straight away if well planted. If tJ 
ground is trenched in the autumn 
should have a good dressing of soot fork' 
into it about February, when it is ni 
and dry, leaving the soil as rough ai 
loose as possible to let the March win 
through it so as to get a good tilth 
planting time. 
A very good form of bed for planting 
four feet six inches wide for three row 
allowing two feet for the alleys betwec 
the beds at planting time. When the sc 
is fairly dry fork the ground well throug 
to break up all the clods ; lightly tram 
and then well rake down to a nice motif 
Then set the line up the centre of tl 
bed, cutting out a small trench abo’ 
five or six inches deep and the sarr 
width so as to allow the roots to be sprea 
out and have the crowns of the plants aboi 
three inches under the soil. Plant tl 
centre row and then the other two rov 
one from each side iotf the bed to sat 
tramping on the soil. Two year old plan 
are, I think, the best to plant as they com 
into cutting sooner than sowing seeds c 
planting one year old plants. 
After planting, if the ground is ver 
dry, give a nice watering to settle the soi 
to the roots,and during the summer month 
give a few good waterings of liquf 
manure water. The cutting can commenc 
a little the second year, but it is wise no 
to cut too much, then it, will come u] 
much stronger and better the next year 
About November, when the growth i 
quite ripe, cut off all growth, clear off al 
weeds, and then put on a nice mulch oi 
well rotted manure. Strike the line along 
the sides of the beds, and square up the 
beds with the spade, and all will bt 
straight for the winter. 
K. G. 
