April  14,  1904 
JGURJSAL  CF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
329 
medium-sized  and  Nectarines.  Syringe  early  on  fine  mornings, 
give  a  little  air  shortly  afteinvards,  gradually  increase  it,  and 
close  abont  3  p.m.,  but  if  the  weather  be  very  bright  later 
closing  may  be  practised. 
TREES  STARTED  IN  MARCH.— The  trees  are  out  of 
bloom,  set  the  fruit  well,  and  aphides  made  their  appearance. 
Fumigation  or  vaporisation  must  be  practised  carefully,  and 
on  two  or  three  consecutive  evenings  moderately.  Syringe  in 
the  morning  and  on  fine  afternoons,  always  early  enough  to 
allow  of  the  foliage  becoming  dry  before  night.  Disbud 
gradually,  and  rub  off  all  spiall  and  badly  situated  fruit  as  soon 
as  the  mo.st  prominent  show  signs  of  taking  the  lead.  Ventilate 
freely  on  all  favourable  occasions,  and  close  early  with  a  view 
to  husbanding  the  sun’s  heat,  but  avoid  a  close  vitiated 
atmosphere,  admitting  a  little  air  constantly  to  prevent  it. 
liATE  HOUSES. — The  trees  are  in  full  blossom.  Ventilate 
freely,  and  keep  safe  from  frost.  To  insure  a  good  set  it  is 
advisable  to  turn  on  the  heat  in  the  morning,  so  as  to  raise  the 
temperature  to  SOdeg,  and  keep  it  at  that,  with  a  gentie  cir¬ 
culation  of  air,  turning  off  the  heat  early  in  the  afternoon,  so 
as  to  allow  of  the  pipes  cooling  before  night,  and  the  tempera¬ 
ture  falling  to  its  right  minimum  of  40deg  to  4odeg,  which  is 
quite  safe,  and  ought  to  be  secured  after  the  blossoms  expand, 
with  a  little  air  to  prevent  the  deposition  of  moisture  through 
the  night  on  the  flowers.  Artificial  fertilisation  should  be 
resorted  to  as  necessary. — G.  A.,  St.  Albans,  Herts. 
The  Kitchen  Garden. 
POTATOES. — The  planting  of  Potatoes  should  now  be 
brought  to  a  close.  It  is  a  mistake  to  delay  longer  than  the 
present  date,  as  late  planted  tubers  always  suffer  badly  in 
seasons  like  the  last  from  disease,  much  more  so  than  those 
planted  at  an  earlier  date. 
ASPARAGUS  BEDS  may  receive  a  dressing  of  salt  after  all 
the  heads  have  been  cut.  The  salt  should  be  sown  at  the  rate 
of  l^oz  per  square  yard.  A  stormy  day  should  be  chosen  in 
order  that  it  may  be  washed  in  quickly.  There  will  be  then  no 
fear  of  any  harm  being  done  to  the  heads  just  coming  through 
the  surface.  The  salt  will  not  only  assist  the  production  of 
heads,  but  will  also  keep  weeds  at  bay  for  some  considerable 
time. 
SOWING  NEW  BEDS. -This  is  also  an  excellent  time  for 
preparing  new  beds  to  be  sown  down.  The  seeds  germinate 
rapidly  and  grow  away  freely.  It  is  a  mistake  to  sow  Asparagus 
seeds  too  early.  This  is  especially  the  case  this  season. 
CAITLIFLOWERS. — Plant  out  more  Cauliflowers  to  succeed 
those  planted  eai'iier.  These  should  have  good  and  well-prepared 
soil.  The  soil  should  have  been  prepared  some  months  in 
advance  by  deeply  digging,  at  the  same  time  working  in  a 
liberal  quantity  of  well-decayed  manure.  A  liberal  dusting  of 
old  soot  should  now  be  sown,  and  this  should  be  lightly  forked 
in.  This  will  not  only  prove  a  useful  fertiliser,  but  will  also 
ward  off  slugs,  which  are  so  troublesome  at  this  time  of  year 
among  the  plants.  Sow  a  little  more  seed  also. 
LETTUCES. — More  Lettuce  of  Cos  and  Cabbage  varieties 
should  be  planted  out  now  to  keep  up  a  succession.  The  soil 
.shduld  be  rich  in  order  to  give  a  quick  growtli.  Should  the 
weather  become  dry,  see  that  the  plants  do  not  flag.  Sprinkle 
frequently  on  Avarm  mornings  till  they  are  established. 
CARi>OON  AND  ivOHL  RABI. — Where  these  are  grown 
now  is  a  good  time  to  make  a  sowing.  Soav  on  good  deeply- 
worked  soil,  and  give  ample  space  for  the  latter  between  the 
rows. 
PARSLEY. — More  of  this  should  now  be  soAvn  before  the 
soil  has  lost  its  surface  moisture.  Parsley  must  have  ample 
moisture  to  promote  an  even  growth.  Sow  the  seed  on  well- 
prepared  soil,  which  is  calculated  to  retain  moisture  during  a 
long  spell  of  hot  weather. 
RUNNER  BEANS  may  also  be  sown.  It  will  be  necessary 
to  give  protection  as  they  come  through  the  soil.  They  should 
also  have  a  sheltered  position.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  "nip  the 
points  out  of  this  early  sowing  to  promote  an  early  gathering 
of  Beans,  rvliich  will  be  found  most  valuable. 
WRINKLED  PEAS  may  noAv  be  soAvn.  The  tall  varieties  are 
generally  the  most  productive,  as  Ne  Plus  Ultra,  Prodigy,  and 
such  kinds.  Sow  thinly  if  the  seed  is  reliable.  It  is  a  great 
mi.stake  to  soav  Peas  thickly.  It  is  a  Avaste  of  seed. 
MELONS  AND  CUCUMBERS  IN  FRAMES.-Now  is  a  good 
time  to  plant  Melons  in  frames.  Place  good  sound  loam  in  the 
frames  in  a  ridge  along  the  centre  of  the  frames,  Avhich  should 
be  made  firm  by  treading,  and  should  be  done  some  days  in 
advance  of  planting  in  order  to  become  warm.  A  check  to 
Melons  is  fatal. 
RADISHES.— ]\Iore  seed  of  these  .shouid  be  soAvn  frequently 
to  keep  up  a  supply  of  crisp  roots. 
TRAINING  VERGES  AND  BOX  HEDGES. -Grass  verges 
.should  be  edged  Avith  the  half  moon  or  edging  iron,  and  Box 
hedges  should  be  clipped  noAv  that  the  frost  is  not  likely  to  be 
severe  enough  to  injure  the  cut  parts. 
HOEINGS. — The  hoe  should  be  kept  at  Avork  constantly  on 
all  fine  days.  Every  available  inch  of  soil  should  be  stirred  as 
deeply  as  possible. — A.  T.,  Cirence.ster. 
The  Flower  Garden. 
PRICKING  OUT  HALF-HARDY  ANNUALS.-iMany  of 
the  seedlings  of  half-hardy  annuals  having  got  a  .sturdy  size, 
and  requiring  more  room  for  development,  should  be  forth- 
Avith  carefully  pricked  out  singly  in  beds  of  .soil  in  rough  frames 
or  in  boxes,  Avhich  can  be  sheltered  for  a  time  under  glass  until 
the  small  plants  are  established.  Prepare  a  bed  of  soil  about 
4in  deep,  seeing  that  the  material  consists  of  good,  rich  loam, 
intermixed  Avith  a  little  leaf  soil.  A  spent  hotbed  is  a  good 
foundation  for  the  bed,  but  not  necessarily  indispensable.  For 
boxes,  a  layer  of  flaky  leaf  soil  or  manure  may  be  placed  in  the 
bottom,  filling  up  Avith  soil,  making  firm  and  level.  Insert  the 
plants  3in  or  4in  apart,  making  holes  AA’ith  a  dibber  or  troAvel 
sufficiently  large  to  admit  the  roots  without  croAvding.  Give  a 
gentle  watering  afterwards,  and  keep  the  lights  over  closely 
for  a  Aveek  or  more  until  the  plants  have  become  established. 
Then  gradually  admit  air.  Asters,  Stocks,  Antirrhinums, 
Salpiglossis,  Scabiouses,  Zinnias,  Perilla,  Schizanthus,  Tagetes, 
Nicotiana,  and  Portulacas  may  all  ^e  treated  as  above. 
PLANTING  MICHAELMAS  DAISIES.— The  various 
varieties  of  perennial  Asters  or  Michaelmas  Daisies  are  found 
to  be  .so  useful  and  indispensable  in  autumn,  that  it  is  desirable 
in  order  to  have  a  display  at  that  period  for  strong  young 
plants  to  be  placed  out  noAV.  They  aauII  succeed  in  the  soil  of 
any  ordinary  well-cultivated  border.  Plant  at  intervals  of  Sft 
or  6ft  among  other  herbaceous  subjects.  In  one  season  the 
plants  groAV  to  a  good  size^  some  reaching  a  height  of  5ft. 
Aster  alpinus,  with  its  varieties  albus,  roseus,  and  speciosus,  are 
only  half  a  foot  high.  A.  Amelins  and  varieties  are  2ft  in 
height,  blue.  Novse- Anglia?  and  varieties  are  about  4ft,  and 
bear  rose-coloured  blooms,  Avith  the  exception  of  rubra,  Avhich 
is  crimson.  The  numerous  varieties  of  Novi-Belgi,  containing 
Avhite,  rose,  mauve,  imrple,  blue,  lilac,  and  violet  colours  groAA’ 
from  34ft  to  5ft.  Thompsoni  is  a  handsome  blue,  2ft  high,  and 
Amethystinus  blue,  oir  high.  E.stablished  specimens  may  bo 
divided  and  replanted  noAV  to  increase  the  number  of  any 
desirable  varieties. 
PANSIES  AND  VIOLAS. — The  planting  of  young  .stock, 
Avhich  have  been  raised  from  seed  soAvn  last  summer  or  from 
cuttings  inserted  in  autumn,  ought  to  be  completed  noAv  Avithout 
further  delay,  so  that  they  may  have  a  chance  of  becoming 
firmly  established  before  the  Aveather  is  hot  and  dry.  Should 
the  soil  be  poor  and  light,  Avork  in  some  decayed  manure,  pre¬ 
ferably  decomposed  coav  manure.  Place  the  plants  about  9in 
apart.  Old  plants  Avith  good  tufts  of  groAvth  Avill  readily 
divide  into  good  sized  divisions  with  plenty  of  roots.  They  are 
excellent  for  lines  or  beds,  planting  them  about  a  foot  apart. 
The  same  necessity  exists  for  good  rich  soil,  and  they  may  also 
be  assisted  shortly  Avith  a  mulching  of  decayed  manure  between 
the  plants. 
PYRETHRUMS. — The  double  and  single  forms  of  Pyrethriim 
roseum  are  among  the  most  beautiful  and  useful  floAvers  of  early 
summer.  Well-established  plants  should  remain  several  years 
undisturbed,  affording  them  a  liberal  mulching  of  manure  each 
season,  and  a  feAV  applications  of  liquid  manure  during  active 
groAA’th.  Division  of  the  old  clumps  ought  to  be  effected  occa¬ 
sionally,  as  by  this  means  more  vigoious  groAvth  and  finer  floAvers 
are  produced.  The  present  is  a  suitable  time  to  divide  and 
replant,  also  to  insert  young  plants  from  pots  which  have  been 
Avintered  in  a  cold  frame.  Shades  of  white,  rose,  crimson,  and 
pink  are  the  prevailing  colours. — E.  D.  S.,  Gravesend. 
In  Praise  of  the  Parks. 
It  is  the  exception  rather  than  the  rule  for  a  daily  paper 
to  furnish  “  a  leading  article  ”  in  praise  of  the  parks  of  our 
cities,  but  the  “Daily  Telegraph”  has  done  a  service  in  this 
direction.  “What  of  the  grass  of  London,”  it  a.sks,  “  over 
Avhich  you  may  AA^uder  for  mile  upon  mile  through  the  heart 
of  the  capital  from  Kensington  Palace  to  within  a  few  yards  of 
Trafalgar  Square  and  the  Strand  ?  And  Avhat,  also,  of  the 
floAvers  Avhich,  to  the  devout  eye  of  human  sympathy,  are  fair 
and  gracious  among  all  tuings  that  only  stand  and  Avait  ? 
Wherever  the  glance  rests  now  Ave  see  them  giving  magical 
touches  to  the  parks,  and  we  Avonder  again  Avhether  the  average 
Londoner’s  eyes  are  even  yet  opened  to  the  beauty  of  these 
green  spaces,  Avoodland  vi.stas,  aiid  exquisite  garden  borders  in 
Avhich  no  city  in  the  Avhole  Avorld  can  pretend  to  rival  our  own. 
Lord  Beaconsfield  and  Mr.  Meredith  have  not  disdained  to  set 
romance  in  the  airy  depths  of  Kensington  Gardens,  Avhere  there 
are  glades  and  copses  in  w'hich  you  may  spend  a  summer’s  day 
Avith  little  disturbance  or  none.  From  spring  to  autumn  the 
floAA-ers  in  the  parks  are  the  pageant  of  the  year  for  those  who 
live  their  Avhole  iives  in  the  Metropolis.  The  first  scattered 
SnoAvdrops  in  Hyde  Park  are  folloAved  by  the  gold  and  ametliystine- 
petals  of  the  Crocus  beds,  and  then  the  Daffodils  remind  us, 
even  in  London,  of  Perdita’s  lovely  lines — than  Avhich  the  music- 
of  mortal  language  can  no  further  go.” 
