160 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
August  13,  1903 
close  sufficiently  early  to  increase  to  90cleg  or  95cleg.  When  the 
sun  is  losing  power  afford  enough  air  to  insure  a  circulation, 
and  allow  the  temperature  to  gradually  cool,  which  prevents  the 
moisture  in  the  atmosphere  depositing  on  the  berries.  The  hot 
water  pipes  should,  if  nC'Cessary,  have  a  little  warmth  in  them 
to  prevent  the  night  temperature  falling  below  65deg,  and  this 
with  a  “  crack  ”  of  air.  Increasing  this  by,  or  before,  the  sun 
shines  powerfully  on  the  house,  especially  after  a  period  of  dull 
weather,  may  save  the  Grapes  from  “  spot  ” ;  indeed,  this  is 
more  due  to  defective  ventilation  than  to  fungoid  infection,  the 
spores  not  being  able  to  germinate  under  well  aerified  conditions. 
Therefore  we  advise  that  particular  attention  be  given  to  the 
ventilation  of  the  house. — St.  Alba’xs.  ' 
Kitchen  Garden. 
WINTER  SPINACH. — A  liberal  sowing  for  the  main  crop 
should  be  made  between  this  date  and  the  20th  of  the  month. 
Very  rich  ground  is  not  essential,  but  it  should  be  in  good 
heart.  Ground  on  which  Potatoes  liave  been  grown  is  suitable. 
Fork  over  the  surface  and  work  in  some  wood  ashes  and  a 
sprinkling  of  soot.  The  seed  may  be  sown  in  drills  drawn  an 
inch  deep  and  loin  apart.  Either  the  round  or  the  prickly- 
seeded  Spinach  will  answer.  In  the  event  of  the  soil  being  very 
dry  at  the  time  of  sowing,  the  drills  may  be  moistenecl  with 
water. 
CAULIFLOWERS. — The  present  is  a  convenient  time  to 
make  a  sowing  outdoors  to  secure  plants  for  standing  the  winter 
and  planting  early  in  spring.  Some  of  the  seedlings  when  large 
enough  may  be  pricked  out  to  strengthen  on  a  sheltered  border, 
or  in  a  frame,  which  can  be  affoi'ded  rough  protection,  as  the 
plants  must  remain  in  such  cpiarters  or  stand  thinly  on  the  seed¬ 
bed  for  the  winter.  Sow  the  seed  on  fairly  good  ground  in  an 
open  position,  drawing  the  drills  not  more  than  an  inch  deep 
and  6in  apart.  Moisten  the  drills  if  soil  is  very  drjx  and  to 
ensure  cjuick  germination  cover  soil  with  mat,  which  mmst,  how¬ 
ever,  be  removed  immediately  seed  germinates. 
TRIPOLI  ONIONS. — The  first  .sowing  may  be  made  now. 
Select  a  piece  of  rich  ground  which,  if  loose,  should  be  trodden 
firmly  or  rolled  over.  Draw  the  drills  an  inch  deep  and  9in 
apart,  previously  raking  off  stones  to  secure  a  fine  surface.  The 
Rocca  varieties  are  among  the  best. 
TURNIPS.— It  is  best  to  make  small  but  frecpient  sowings 
of  Turnips,  not  all  of  which  may  do  well.  Snowball  is  as  good 
for  present  as  for  spring  sowing.  Veitch’s  Red  Globe  and  Chirk 
Castle  Black  Stone  may  be  included.  Moisture  and  warmth  are 
essential  for  quick  germination.  Thin  out  earlier  sowings. 
FEEDING  BEANS. — Scarlet  Runner  Beans  with  their  rank 
growth  and  productive  powers  abstract  a  considerable  amount 
of  moisture  and  food  from  the  ground.  In  order  that  the  blooms 
may  continue  to  set  well  and  the  pods  to  swell  freeljq  moisture 
must  be  maintained.  In  addition,  liquid  manure  may  be 
applied,  preferably  when  the  ground  is  already  moist,  as  it  is 
then  not  wasted  by  passing  beyond  the  reach  of  the  roots. 
Another  help  in  maintaining  the  plants  in  bearing  condition  is 
to  freely  pick  the  pods,  allowing  none  to  grow  old.  A  good 
mulching  of  manure  Avill  conserve  the  moisture  and  render 
watering  le.ss  necessary. 
BROCCOLI. — Any  plot  of  ground  that  has  become  vacant 
inay  be  planted  with  the  later  varieties  of  Broccoli.  It  is  not 
necessary  to  dig  iq)  the  ground,  but  it  should  be  cleared  of 
weeds  and  rubbish.  Then  ijlant  short  sturdy  plants,  using  a 
crowbar  if  necessary  to  make  the  holes,  as  Broccoli  requires 
firm  ground,  so  that  the  growth  may  be  continued  sturdy  and 
of  a  character  suitable  to  withstand  the  wintry  weather.  If 
moisture  is  required  water  with  liquid  manure.  This  will  enrich 
the  ground  and  produce  abundance  of  rootlets.  The  necessary 
culture  with  the  hoe  to  keep  down  weeds  must  be  practised,  this 
also  encouraging  growth.  Liquid  manure  will  not  be  required 
after  the  plants  are  established. 
CABBAGE. — To  make  sure  of  having  a  stock  of  plants  not 
too  far  advanced  in  size  another  sowing  should  be  made  thinly 
in  drills  or  broadcast.  They  may  be  drawn  from  the  bed  direct 
and  planted,  or  the  smallest  may  remain  in  the  seed-bed  for 
spring  planting. 
LETTUCE. — A  good  Cos  variety  of  Lettuce  to  sow  for  stand¬ 
ing  the  winter  is  Black-seeded  Bath  Cos ;  Hardy  Hammersmith 
and  All  the  Year  Round  being  excellent  Cabbage  varieties.  Sow 
thinly  in  shallow  drills. 
ENDIVE.— A  late  sowing  may  be  made  of  Endive  and  seed¬ 
ling  plants  from  previous  sowings  planted  out.  Those  which  are 
large  enough  for  blanching  may  have  inverted  pots,  .slates,  or 
tiles  placed  over  them  when  in  a  dry  condition. — East  Kent. 
Tree  Planting  in  the  Transvaal. 
The  Transvaal  Educational  Department  has  decided  to  set 
apart  one  day  in  each  year  for  tree  planting  for  the  children 
attending  the  Government  schools. 
*  All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be  directed 
to  “The  Editor,”  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street, 
London,  E.C.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  write  privately 
to  any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking  information  on  matters 
discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  unjustifiable 
trouble  and  expense. 
PHOTOGRAPH  RECEIVED  (Robt.  Ogston).— We  received 
the  photograph  .safely,  and  regret  not  having  acknowledged  your 
kindne.ss.  We  shall  use  the  photograph  if  possible,  and  will  let 
you  know  shortly. 
APPOINTMENT  AT  THE  ROYAL  GARDENS,  KEW 
(F.  W.  C.). — Apply  by  letter  to  the  Director,  who  vitl  cause  a 
form  to  be  sent  to  you,  which  you  may  then  fill  in.  This  form 
explains  the  position  of  applicants. 
BOOKS  WANTED  (F.  L.). — The  books  you  seek  are  Lewis 
Castle’s  “Packing  of  Fruit  for  Market,”  Is.  net,  with  postage, 
from  Messrs.  Collingridge,  148,  Aldersgate  Street,  E.C.  :  and 
G.  Bunyard’s  “Fruit  Farming  for  Profit,”  also  Is.,  we  believe, 
from  the  author.  Get  Collingridge’s  “  Vegetables  for  Profit  ” 
series,  price  Is.  each. 
INDIARUBBER  PLANT  WITH  HOLES  IN  LEAVES 
(M.  J.  P.). — The  injury  would  probably  arise,  from  sun-spot  burn¬ 
ings  ;  at  least,  strong  direct  heat  causes  the  leaves  to  crack  and 
become  spotted.  Tiy  a  moderately  light  position  out  of  the 
direct  sun;  give  the  plant  abundance  of  water  (seeing  that  the 
drainage  is  free  and  perfect),  and  avoid  cold  draughts. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM, S  (W.). — You  had  better  take  the  crown 
buds  as  soon  as  they  form  by  removing  with  great  care  the 
surrounding  growths:  but  if  the  slightest  injury  is  done  to  the 
buds  it  will  show  itself  more  and  more  as  the  buds  swell,  and 
the  bloom  will  be  imperfect.  All  the  axillary  growths  should  be 
removed  from  the  stems  of  the  plants,  and  suckers  from  the  roots. 
PLAN  AND  DIMENSIONS  OF  BOXES  TO  CARRY 
GRAPES  FOR  EXHIBITION  (Q.).— You  will  find  such  informa¬ 
tion  as  you  require,  and  at  greater  length  than  we  can  afford 
space  for  here,  in  our  issues  of  January  29,  1903,  page  103;  and 
February  5,  1903,  page  129,  with  illustrations.  The  'cost  of 
copies  of  each  date  will  be  44d.  each,  post  free  from  our  pub¬ 
lisher. 
ROSES  BLOOMING  UNHEALTHILY  fj.  M.  W.).— We 
should  attribute  the  “blue  tint”  of  the  red  Roses  to  the  cold, 
unfavourable,  wet  weather,  and  especially  to  the  effect  of  the 
great  rainfalls  on  your  soil,  which  you  describe  as  “of  a  heavy 
nature.”  The  potash  and  probably  iron  salts  from  the  soil  will 
not  have  been  sufficiently  elaborated  in  the  petals  and  leaves ; 
thus  the  blue  tint. 
OLD  BOOK  :  VALUE  OF  (J.  M.).— We  should  think  5s.  to_6s. 
a  fair  price  for  a  seventh  edition  of  Bradley’s  “  Gardening,”  1739. 
We  have  not  seen  the  book,  however,  and  would  suggest  your 
inquiring  at  a  dealer  in  such  books — po.ssibly  We.sley  and  Son, 
Essex  Street,  Strand,  London.  Old  gardening  books  have 
recently  risen  much  in  price,  as  witness  Parkinson’s  “Paradise 
in  Sole,”  which  a  few  years  ago  sold  commonly  for  3s.  6d.,  and 
is  now  fetching  uj)  to  three  guineas. 
WEED  ON  LAWN  AND  ITS  EXTERMINATION  (C.  M.  H.). 
— The  weed  is  one  of  the  Lesser  Trefoils,  either  the  Yellow  Suck¬ 
ling  Clover  or  Lesser  Yellow  Trefoil  (Trifolium  minus)  or  the 
Hop  Trefoil  (T.  procumbens) ;  but  in  the  absence  of  flowers  we 
are  unable  to  say  definitely,  the  specimen  being  inucli  withered. 
It  may  be  de.stroyed  by  dressing  the  lawn  with  a  mixture  of  equal 
parts  sulphate  of  ammonia  ancl  nitrate  of  soda,  applying  11b  of 
the  mixture  per  rod  square  yards,  not  a  square  I'od,  30j 
square  yards)  several  times  during  the  summer,  or  at  monthly  or 
six  weeks  intervals  from  April  to  September  inclusive.  The 
mixture  will  gradually  destroy  the  weed  by  its  action  on  the 
leaves,  also  Daisies  and  other  broad-leaved  weeds,  it  being  better 
to  repeat  the  dressing  than  to  give  a  greater  quantity  at  one 
time  than  that  mentioned,  and  though  it  may  at  times  brown  the 
lawn  somewhat  by  destroying  the  undesirable  herbage  it  will 
soon  recover,  the  grasses  being  encouraged  by  the  dressings, 
while  the  weeds  gradually  disappear.  The  advertised  lawn  sand 
will  also  answer  the  same  purpose,  killing  the  Clovers  and  other 
similar  plants  that  grow  at  the  expense  of  the  more  desirable 
grasses,  the  latter  being  the  chief  things  to'  aim  at,  especially  in 
a  lawn  used  for  croquet,  tennis,  &c. 
