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THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
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ETHEL BROWNLOW ROSE. 
Brought out in 1887 by Dickson & Sons, colour rosy flesh, shuded with salmon, a type 
of the imbricated form A comparatively weak grower, but under high cultivation, 
producing some wonderfully fine blooms, 
where the buds have been left unthinned. 
A beautiful rose for di corative purposes 
A rose of good lasting and a universal 
favourite. 
The Flower Garden. 
Operations for the Month. 
The present season has been favorable 
to growth generally, and with fair 
attention to cultivation of the soil and 
suppression of insects and fungi, an 
abundant supply of flowers should be 
assured during the spring and early 
summer months. 
— Two Important Factors — 
There ure two factors in gardening 
during November that require more 
attention and consideration perhaps than 
most of the many other features of 
work, They are soil and water. This 
month really introduces us to’summer, and 
the temperature is possessed of many 
vagaries and changes. These changes 
upset the best calculations in outdoor 
= 
work, and worry most gardeners into the 
feeling that there are other occupations 
which bring fewer grey hairs than 
gardening. We have not, however, to 
deal with those elements that are beyond 
the control of human beings.. Gardeners 
have plenty to occupy their attention with 
things immediately under their control 
and if a blasting east wind comes along 
and withers up their choicest blooms for 
show and other purposes, the philosophy 
of a good temper and renewed energy is 
Whether the east 
winds come or stay away is not the first 
consideration, but preparation of soil to 
combat the heat of summer. It must be 
remembered that evaporation of water is 
very largely the canse of dryness, and is 
caused by the plants through the breathing 
pores of the leay.s, and through the sur- 
worth cultivating. 
November 1, 1909 
face of the soil. The first cause cannot, of 
course, be provided against; but a good 
deal can be done to the surface to keep: 
the moisture in. It is well after soaking 
the ground by watering or by rain not to- 
turn it up to a great depth, but keep the- 
surface in a loose condition and covered 
with a mulch of cow-yard manure, the- 
mowings of lawns, or leaf scrapings. 
Breaking the surface with a hoe or other 
means of stirring has the effect of break- 
ing or widening the capillary tubes which: 
carry the upward motion of the water, and 
as the water must be absorbed by some- 
means, it is taken up by the plants or is- 
carried down. 
— The Retention of Humus. — 
An important element to be considered 
in the making of soil, is what is known as. 
humns, the black or brown animal or 
vegetable decaying substances. To main- 
tain a good consistency of humus the 
accumulations of vegetable matter on the- 
soil, together with manure, must be 
turned in with a_ spade. 
gardeners often make fatal mistakes in. 
their gardens by raking off all the rubbish: 
so-called, instead of turning in to decay in 
the ground. The retention of humus is. 
beneficial in supplying plant food and in 
improving the texture of the soil. It acts. 
as a kind of mulch, preventing undue 
evaporation, and consequently keeping 
the soil moist, In sandy soils this is: 
especially beneficial, and it keeps them. 
warm, 
— Soils. — 
Worn-out soils are the cause of a great 
deal of disappointment and dissatisfaction. 
in gardening, and during this month, when 
the summer annuals will be planted out, it. 
is well that the gardener should have some: 
knowledge of the condition of the 
soil. If it is poor and starved no amount 
of water on a parched surface will induce 
plants to flower with any degree of satis- 
faction, 
What are the characteristics of these 
worn out soils? As arule they are light. 
in texture, possess very little cohesian, and: 
fall apart on drying, when also they get 
-agrey dusty appearance, and do not 
readily take water, as though they were 
oily in some very slight degree, ~ At 
Amateur: 
