590 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
The Flower Garden. 
As I have before remarked, I am a keen 
cyclist, and my annual mileage runs to 
several thousands of miles, the total of 
which I gather by means of a cyclometer. 
Now, I have often thought I should like a 
mileage recorder on my wheel and water 
barrows, to say nothing of a pedometer for 
the purpose of recording the miles I walk 
in the garden. I daresay a few head gar¬ 
deners would like to fit a pedometer on their 
under-hands. I have seen a few dawdlers 
myself. The only fault about the pedometer 
is that an ingenious person might take it 
into his head to sit down in some out-of- 
way corner whilst he blithely shook the in¬ 
strument to make it record the miles he 
ought to be walking. There are lots of 
things used bv gardeners which must travel 
an enormous distance during a season. The 
lawn mower does a deal of travelling, to 
sav nothing of the hoe. 
-Speaking of water barrows, some of us 
have had small reason to use it of late. I 
myself have been at a loss to know what to 
do with the water accumulating in the rain 
tanks. However, that is the way of the 
weather, either too much or too little. 
Sweet Peas. 
The heavy rains have started Sweet Peas 
into fresh growth, although a week or two 
ago they looked like finishing up quickly. 
Lack of warmth, however, does not suit 
these flowers when there is an excess of mois¬ 
ture, and in many places the blooms have 
a pinched appearance, suggesting that the 
nights are very cold. I strongly suspect 
frost has been visiting us. Nothing can be 
done, unfortunately, to make Sweet Peas 
better than the weather will allow them to 
be, and although I fear it hopeless, I, in 
common with many others, look forward for 
a soell of warm weather before winter as¬ 
sails us. Sweet Peas with me have not been 
particularly haopy, owing to the continuous 
winds and cold nights. 
A Sportive Season. 
Many plants, too, are now taking on that 
curious contorted appearance, whilst the 
flowers come streaked and quite out of 
character. It is particularly noticeable that 
dark sorts and mauves are liable to this 
trouble towards the end of the season. The 
year 1907 will always be considered a spor¬ 
tive one for Sweet Peas, and it is amazing 
how the white Spencer or Etta Dvke has 
shown itself in so many places. I myself 
have found it in three different varieties. 
The Marquis. Clara Curtis, and the King 
are three other recognised novelties that 
have shown themselves in my clumps. Helen 
lewis has been verv fickle, although I have 
three stocks. I might easily fill all avail¬ 
able space by Sweet Pea notes, but must 
leave such work to Mr. G. F. Drayson. 
Carnations. 
Carnations still continue to give plenty 
of flowers where disbudding has not been 
severe, and it may be found necessary to lay 
earwig traps about, as these pests are by 
no means averse from spoiling Carnations. 
I have been particularly pleased with the 
fine shade of yellow in Anne Hathaway; 
Richelieu, too, is a fine buff vellow, with 
dark crimson markings. I wish Robinhood 
were not so free at bursting, for it is a 
splendid thing, as are The Nizam, Gretchen, 
Henry Falkland, Red Rover, Purity, Col. 
Hope, Heir of Linne, Ella Brander, Iris, 
and the Geisha, to mention just a few. 
Layers have made some good growth of late, 
indicating that roots are well on the way, 
and the sooner they are got into winter 
quarters the better. 
Calceolarias. 
Calceolarias, as I have before pointed out, 
will not stand coddling, but it is time to 
think about getting cuttings. Use plenty 
of sand when inserting the cuttings, and 
cover with a bell-glass or frame. 
Gladioli. 
These have had a rough time generally, 
but there are still plenty of flowers to come. 
If wanted for exhibition, it is advisable to 
shade them from hot sunshine. 
Dahlias. 
Our local champion Dahlia grower was 
telling me recently that he had neglected 
his plants, owing to the Sweet Pea fever, 
but, nevertheless, his flowers when exhibited 
made all others look small. Harbour Light 
and Mrs. Jackson are two sorts that have 
done well this season about here. Pro¬ 
viding frost does not pay a hurried visit, 
there should be plenty of flowers for some 
time. The plants must on no account be 
neglected. The rank growth should be 
thinned out, and disbudding will ensure 
really good flowers. 'Catch all the earwigs 
possible, for they are generally very active 
about this time. 
Lawns. 
Where lawns are to be renovated or ’made, 
the work should 'be started right away. Seed 
sown now has a chance to make strong 
growth before severe weather comes. Turves 
may be laid at any time onward, but always 
make sure of getting clean stuff, not weed- 
riidden pasture grass that is often sold as 
turf. Weedy turf means a lot of trouble 
and expense in the future. 
Reminders for Forgetful People. 
Insert Rose cuttings, as previously de¬ 
scribed. Keep Michaelmas Daisies well tied 
to stakes; also Chrysanthemums. Clean up 
flower beds and borders. Don’t forget to 
plant Daffodils early. Start right away 
with the insertion of Pentstemon and Antir¬ 
rhinum cuttings, not forgetting Violas. 
Evergreen cuttings may also be set out like 
Rose cuttings. 
The Fruit Garden. 
The sight of a wasp’s nest under a wire 
meat cover, in a fruiterer’s shop, reminded 
me that I have seen but few of these de¬ 
structive insects this season. Nothing in 
the fruit line comes amiss to a wasp,.and 
if they are numerous it is almost useless to 
try and keep fruit on the trees after it is 
ripe. Clear everything, be it Peaches, 
Plums, or Figs. 
Preparing for Planting. 
It is time to start breaking up the ground 
if fruit trees are to be planted this autumn. 
No half measures, mind; two spits at least, 
and manure according to the quality of the 
soil. 
Strawberries. 
Strawberry beds should now be cleaned 
up, all weeds and other rubbish being re¬ 
moved, together with runners. Some never 
September 7,' 1907. 
think of cleaning their Strawberry bed un 
the spring, which is a sorry way of doi 
things. 
He will be a lucky man who can be sr 
of picking enough Apples to warrant h 
devoting a room to them. Fruit stoi 
should, however, be made ready. 
Manuring. 
Continue to supply liquid manure to es U 
lished trees. 
Raspberries. 
Raspberries should by this time 
trimmed up, retaining only the stronge 
canes. 
Order fruit trees at once to make sure <i 
getting good stuff. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Leeks. 
Leeks will take considerable supplies c 
liquid manure to enable them to becom 
prize winners. Earthing should be don 
carefully and gradually, so as to get a 
much blanched as possible. 
Celery. 
Celery, too, needs similar treatment. Th 
late batches, however, will not requir 
earthing yet awhile. 
Artichokes. 
All dead leaves and flower stems of Glob 
Artichokes should be cut away, and a libera 
dose of rich manure placed round the roots 
Thin out Lettuce and Onions if standing 
too thickly. 
Asparagus. 
The wind has played havoc with Aspara 
gus in many places. A stake given to th< 
tallest growths will yet save much damage 
Mems for Beginners. 
Start lifting Potatos that have ripened 
sufficiently. Disease is rampant in man 1 , 
places, and the blight will strike a half 
ripened Potato plant as it would a green 
one. Do not allow the tubers to lie about. 
Keep Runner Beans picked closely. Lift 
Beetroot and store under cover. Plant out 
Cabbage if large enough. Keep the hoe 
moving all the time. It can have a rest 
later on. Clear up rubbish and burn it out 
of the way. Horti. 
The Amateur’s Greenhouse 
Winter-Flowering Geraniums. 
If there is any shortage of flowering sub¬ 
jects now in the greenhouse a raid should 
be made on the winter-flowering Geraniums. 
Often some of these do badly from some 
unexplained cause, and as none but the best 
are worth house room in winter, these 
“moderates” may be taken in to flower 
now. If well fed they will be quite pre¬ 
sentable, and will certainly give an appre¬ 
ciable patch of bright colour. The ordinary 
stock of plants should be kept oh the drv 
side somewhat, to get the wood well 
rinened. For this reason it is sometimes 
wise to lay the pots on their sides during 
heavy rain, or transfer them to a temporary 
shelter. A green and sappy Geranium is 
little good for flowering when frost, rain, 
and fog .are all seeking to effect an entrance 
to the greenhouse. 
Tomatos in Pots. 
Tough skins and poor colour have been 
rather characteristic of Tomatos this year, 
and as the nights get cold these things can¬ 
not be expected to improve. Green, bard 
patches near the stalk end of the fruit .are 
not, however, always traceable to lack'of 
sunshine. They mav be, and frequently 
are, caused by lack of potassic food in the 
soil, and a good dressing of a potash manure 
will often effect wonders in regard to colour¬ 
ing. No delay should take place in mak¬ 
ing this application now if it is to be of 
