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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Small Gardens, by Violet Purton Biddle
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Small Gardens
+       and How to Make the Most of Them
+
+Author: Violet Purton Biddle
+
+Release Date: August 2, 2010 [EBook #33323]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SMALL GARDENS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Clarke and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Small Gardens and How to Make the Most of Them
+
+
+
+
+SPECIAL NOTICE.
+
+SEEDS
+
+IF YOU WANT REALLY GOOD BULBS & SEEDS AT MODERATE PRICES, SEND TO
+
+  Mr. ROBERT SYDENHAM,
+  44, Tenby Street, Birmingham.
+
+No One will serve you Better.
+
+
+HIS UNIQUE LISTS
+
+Are acknowledged by all to be the Best, Cheapest, and most Reliable
+ever published. They contain only the Best VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, AND
+BULBS WORTH GROWING.
+
+Being the Selections of the Largest Seed Growers, Market Gardeners, and
+the most celebrated Professional Gardeners and Amateurs in the kingdom.
+
+They also contain very useful cultural instructions.
+
+Mr. SYDENHAM'S Bulbs and Seeds were represented and gained First Prizes at
+London, Birmingham, Preston, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Shrewsbury, Edinburgh,
+etc., etc., in 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899 and 1900.
+
+
+SWEET PEAS A SPECIALITY.
+
+No Flowers give so much cut bloom at so little cost and trouble if treated
+as instructions sent with each collection.
+
+12 good varieties, 50 seeds of each, 1s. 6d.; 12 choice varieties, 50
+seeds of each, 2s.; or the Two Collections for 2s. 6d.; a Third Collection
+of the 12 best varieties for Exhibition, 3s.; or the Three Collections,
+5s., post free, with a packet each of the four best striped varieties
+added free of charge. Generally sold at twice or three times the money.
+
+  THE BEST TOMATOES, 3d. per packet of 200 Seeds.
+  THE BEST CUCUMBERS, 6d. per packet of 10 Seeds.
+  ALL OTHER SEEDS equally cheap and good.
+
+FULL LISTS POST FREE ON APPLICATION.
+
+
+
+
+=PUT IT ON TOP= of your Fowlhouse, Tool or Bicycle Shed, or anything in
+the shape of a shed that you are building. Ask your ironmonger for our
+handy booklet, which will help you considerably with useful hints on
+building all kinds of structures, and roofing them with =RED HAND ROOFING
+FELT=
+
+If your ironmonger has not got it, you can get it free, and name of
+nearest holder, from D. ANDERSON & SON, LD., LAGAN WORKS, BELFAST.
+
+
+
+
+SPECIAL NOTICE.
+
+LAXTON'S GRAND NEW LARGE-FRUITED, EARLY STRAWBERRY FOR 1901.
+
+
+The "Laxton," THE IDEAL AMATEURS' AND MARKET GROWERS' FRUIT.
+
+The Fruit that everyone must Grow!
+
+_A DARKER, FIRMER, AND IMPROVED "ROYAL SOVEREIGN."_
+
+We believe this to be by far the =finest= of our many introductions, and
+in it we claim to have combined all the good points of those two fine
+varieties from which it was raised, viz, "Royal Sovereign" and "Sir J.
+Paxton," and believe it to be the most wonderful Strawberry for earliness,
+size, firmness, quality, hardiness, and vigour of plant combined.
+
+
+=The following are some of its good points--=
+
+=Earliness.=--In earliness it is as early as "Royal Sovereign."
+
+=Size.=--In size it is as large as, if not larger than, "Sovereign," and
+certainly larger than "Sir J. Paxton."
+
+=Colour.=--But in colour it is much =darker and brighter= than
+"Sovereign," partaking of the rich colour and taking appearance of "Sir J.
+Paxton."
+
+=Flavour.=--In flavour it is quite as rich as "Royal Sovereign."
+
+=Firmness.=--It is also =much firmer= than "Sovereign," does not rot on
+the ground in damp weather, and is a far better traveller.
+
+=Cropping Qualities.=--Its cropping qualities are prodigious, heavier than
+either "Sovereign" or "Paxton," throwing its bold tresses well above the
+foliage.
+
+=Constitution.=--A very hardy and vigorous grower, retaining its foliage
+well in winter.
+
+=Fast Selling Out for 1901.=--The demand for this variety has been already
+very large, and as the stock is small and is fast selling out, we must ask
+for early orders or we shall be unable to execute until 1902. =PLANTS IN
+POTS ONLY SUPPLIED.=
+
+=PRICE 18s. per doz.; L5 per 100.=
+
+(Not less than 1/2 at the doz. and 100 rates.) As the demand is very
+great, and the stock limited, the price cannot be much lower for several
+years. A Handsome Coloured Plate, and full descriptive Catalogue published
+shortly.
+
+Free on application.
+
+
+LAXTON BROTHERS, Strawberry Plant Growers and Specialists, BEDFORD.
+
+
+
+
+SMALL GARDENS
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Green's Lawn Mowers
+
+Imitated by Many! Equalled by None! Over 270,000 Sold!
+
+[Illustration]
+
+GREEN'S GARDEN ROLLERS ARE UNSURPASSED!
+
+Known and appreciated throughout the World.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+  THOS. GREEN & SON, Ltd.,
+  Blackfriars Road, LONDON, S.E., and LEEDS.
+
+_Please write for List, S. G., 1901. May be had from Local Ironmongers and
+Seedsmen._
+
+
+
+
+  Small Gardens and How to make the most of them
+
+
+  By Violet Purton Biddle
+
+
+  London
+  C. Arthur Pearson Ltd.
+  Henrietta Street
+  W.C.
+
+
+
+
+[Sidenote: Patent Coil Stake]
+
+NOTICE.
+
+  DON'T STAKE YOUR CARNATIONS
+  TILL YOU HAVE SEEN THE
+  Patent Improved Coil Stake.
+
+No Tying required. Stakes last a Lifetime. The Greatest Boon ever
+offered to Growers. Only wants seeing.
+
+_Prices (Cash with Order)_:--
+
+  20in., = 7/6= per 100, =1/-= per doz.
+  25in., =10/6=    "     =1/6=    "
+  30in., =13/6=    "     =2/-=    "
+  36in., stouter, =17/6= per 100, =2/6= per doz.
+
+=A. PORTER=, Stone House, =MAIDSTONE=.
+
+
+[Sidenote: Fruit Trees, Shrubs, Seeds, etc.]
+
+
+THE FINEST APPLE ON EARTH IS UNDOUBTEDLY BRAMLEY'S SEEDLING, Unequalled
+for Productiveness and Quality.
+
+ALL KINDS OF FRUIT TREES ON OFFER TO SUIT EVERY PLANTER.
+
+THE ROSE (the Queen of Flowers), All new varieties stocked.
+
+FLOWERING AND ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS A SPECIALITY.
+
+My Flower and Vegetable Seeds cannot be excelled.
+
+Send for my lists which contain valuable remarks on Profitable Fruit
+Growing. Free on application to--
+
+Henry Merryweather, The Nurseries, Southwell, Notts.
+
+
+[Sidenote: Garden Netting]
+
+TANNED GARDEN NETTING.
+
+Protect your Strawberry Beds, Seeds, &c., from the ravages of birds.
+
+NETS OILED AND DRESSED; 36 SQUARE YARDS FOR 1/-.
+
+Can be sent any width or length; carriage paid on orders over 6s.
+
+HENRY ROBINSON, GARDEN NET WORKS, RYE, SUSSEX.
+
+
+[Sidenote: Plants for Small Gardens]
+
+SMALL GARDENS AND HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEM
+
+(_COUNTRY OR SUBURBAN_).
+
+=Send a small Rough Plan of your Garden=, showing points of the compass,
+and stating whether in town, country, or suburb, to Mr. WOOD, and he will
+give you a list of PLANTS sufficient and suitable for the different
+positions. Communication in regard to _Rockeries_ and _Rock Plants_ is
+specially invited. List of
+
+  ALPINES, Hardy HERBACEOUS PLANTS and AQUATICS
+  on application to
+  J. WOOD, Woodville, Kirkstall, LEEDS.
+
+
+
+
+SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+=The General Arrangement of the Garden=
+
+_What to go in for, and what to avoid--Brick walls--Trees, their
+advantages and disadvantages, etc._
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+=Lawns, Paths, Beds, and Border=
+
+_How to keep the lawns level--Paths, and how to lay them--Beds and
+bedding--The new style VERSUS the old--Flower borders and their
+backgrounds--Improvement of the soil._
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+=On the Duty of Making Experiments=
+
+_Description of a small yet lovely garden--Colour schemes--A novel way of
+growing flowers, the spring dell--Variety in the flower-garden._
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+=Some Neglected but Handsome Plants=
+
+_The sweet old columbine--BOCCONIA CORDATA at Hampton Court--CAMPANULAS
+as continuous bloomers--The heavenly larkspurs--Christmas roses--The tall
+and brilliant lobelias--Chinese-lantern plants--Tufted pansies._
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+=The Conservatory and Greenhouse=
+
+_Mistakes in staging--Some suitable climbers--Economical heating--Aspect,
+shading, etc.--The storing of plants--No waste space--Frames._
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+=The Tool Shed and Summer-House=
+
+_Spades and the Bishop--Weeding a pleasure--Trusty thermometers--
+Summer-houses and their adornment._
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+=Roses for Amateurs=
+
+_Teas--Hybrid perpetuals--Bourbons--Rose-hedges--Pillar roses--Suitable
+soil._
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+=Enemies of the Garden=
+
+_Slugs, and how to trap them--Blight or green fly--Earwigs--Wireworms--
+Snails--Mice--Friends or Foes?_
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+=The Rockery=
+
+_A few hints on its construction--Aspect and soil--A list of alpines--
+Other suitable plants._
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+=Trees, and How to Treat Them--Shrubs=
+
+_Some good plants for growing beneath trees--List of hardy shrubs--
+Climbers--Enriching the soil._
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+=The Ins and Outs of Gardening=
+
+_Planting--Watering--"Puddling"--Shelter--Youth and age, in relation to
+plants--Catalogue defects--A time for everything._
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+=The Profitable Portion=
+
+_Fruit, best kinds for small gardens--Size minus flavour--Vegetables--
+Herbs._
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+=Annuals and Biennials=
+
+_Why they fail--Table of good annuals--Table of biennials._
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+=Window-Boxes=
+
+_How to make them--Relation of box to residence they are intended to
+adorn--Suitable soil--Window-plants for different aspects._
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+=Table Decoration=
+
+_Graceful arrangement--Thick-skinned stems--Preserving and resuscitating
+flowers--Colour schemes--Table of flowers in season._
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+=The Propagation of Plants=
+
+_By division--By cuttings--By seeds--By layers._
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+=The Management of Room Plants=
+
+_Best kinds for "roughing it"--Importance of cleanliness--The proper way
+of watering them._
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+=Various Hints=
+
+_Artificial manures--Labelling--Cutting off dead flowers--Buying
+plants--Tidiness in the garden, etc._
+
+
+
+
+TERMS USED BY GARDENERS
+
+
+=Mulching=--Term used for applying manure in a thick layer round the roots
+of shrubs, as a protection from frost.
+
+=Pricking off=--Transplanting seedlings into separate pots.
+
+="Eyes"=--Incipient leaf-buds.
+
+="Heel"=--The hardened part of a cutting, formed where it is joined to the
+original plant.
+
+=Annual=--Lasting one year.
+
+=Biennial=--Lasting two years.
+
+=Perennial=--Lasting several years.
+
+=Herbaceous=--Term applied to plants which die down completely every
+winter.
+
+=Deciduous=--Not ever-green; this term is applied to trees the leaves of
+which fall off every autumn.
+
+=Suckers=--Shoots that spring up from the common stock, as distinct from
+those which belong to the engrafted portion.
+
+=Pegging down=--Bending branches down close to the ground, and securing
+them with a peg.
+
+=Runners=--Separate little plants, issuing from the parent, and ultimately
+rooting for themselves.
+
+=Spit=--A spade's depth.
+
+="Strike"=--A term applied to cuttings making roots.
+
+=Pinching out=--Rubbing off undesirable shoots.
+
+="Blind"=--A term applied to plants which turn out flowerless.
+
+=Heeling in=--The process of temporarily covering plants with soil, till
+the weather is suitable for setting them out in their permanent quarters.
+
+=Carpet-bedding=--The geometrical arrangement of plants.
+
+
+
+
+_All Seeds and Bulbs sent carriage and packing free on receipt of
+remittance._
+
+BARR'S SEEDS FOR FLOWER & KITCHEN GARDEN OF FINEST SELECTED STRAINS
+& TESTED GROWTH
+
+=The Best Seeds in the World= for securing a supply of Vegetables "the
+year round," and for keeping the Flower Garden and Greenhouse always gay,
+and with abundance of Flowers to cut for vases and bouquets.
+
+BARR'S 21/-Collection of Vegetable Seeds
+
+     Contains a liberal assortment of the following useful
+     Vegetables:--Beans (Broad and French), Beet, Borecoli, Broccoli,
+     Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery,
+     Colewort, Corn Salad, Cucumber, Cress, Endive, Herbs, Leek, Lettuce,
+     Melon, Mustard, Onions, Parsley, Parsnips, Peas, Radish, Salsify,
+     Savoy Cabbage, Scorzonera, Spinach, Tomato, Turnip, and Vegetable
+     Marrow.
+
+Other Collections of =Barr's Superior Vegetable Seeds=:--=5/6=, =7/6=,
+=12/6=, =42/-=, =63/-=, and =105/-=. Full particulars sent on application.
+
+
+BARR'S CHOICE FLOWER SEEDS
+
+=BARR'S SEED GUIDE= contains a Select List of all the most beautiful
+Annuals and Perennials. Special Collections for all purposes and many
+Sterling Novelties.
+
+  =12= Packets of the Best Hardy Annuals     =2/6=
+  =25=    "      "     "     "      "        =5/6=
+  =10=    "      "     "     "   Perennials  =2/6=
+  =25=    "      "     "     "      "        =7/6=
+
+For Collections of Half-hardy Annuals or Perennials, and Seeds of Plants
+for Rockwork, &c., see BARR'S SEED GUIDE, _free on application_.
+
+
+=BARR'S= Seed Guide, containing many useful notes on culture, which will
+be found of great value to Gardeners, Amateurs and Exhibitors, free on
+application.
+
+=BARR'S= Catalogue of Hardy Perennials and Alpines, Ready in February,
+Free.
+
+=BARR'S= Catalogue of Bulbs and Tubers for Spring Planting, Ready in
+February, Free.
+
+=BARR'S= List of Autumn-flowering Bulbs, Ready 1st July, Free.
+
+=BARR'S= Catalogue of Beautiful Daffodils, Ready in August, Free.
+
+=BARR'S= Catalogue of Bulbs for Garden and Greenhouse, Ready 1st
+September, Free.
+
+
+  BARR & SONS,
+  11, 12 & 13, KING ST.,
+  COVENT GARDEN, LONDON
+  Nurseries--Long Ditton, Near Surbiton, Surrey.
+
+
+
+
+[Sidenote: Corpulency and the Cure.]
+
+"HOW STOUT YOU ARE GETTING."
+
+There is too often a scarcely veiled reproach in that exclamation: "How
+stout you are getting!" At any rate, the corpulent one is generally
+sensitive on that point, and perhaps feels a reproach where none is
+intended. Certain it is that to lose the _svelte_ symmetry of youth, to
+broaden out, to "swell wisibly," as Sam Weller has it, and finally to
+become "fat and scant of breath," is a process at once humiliating and
+distressing, especially to those who possess that keen appreciation of
+personal appearance which is a part of what is termed good breeding. There
+is now, however, no excuse for those who have resigned themselves to carry
+to the grave the rotund proportions of a Falstaff. The perusal of a little
+book entitled "Corpulency and the Cure," by F. CECIL RUSSELL, has afforded
+us not a little interest and instruction on a subject that has hitherto
+received but superficial attention from the medical profession. Mr.
+Russell has made the cure of obesity his life's study, and judging from
+the record of his achievements--over a thousand grateful letters from his
+patients are printed in the book--he has been singularly successful. The
+author's treatment is not by "wasting." There is no "sweating"; there are
+no stringent restrictions as to eating and drinking; no drastic conditions
+of any kind. The medicine prescribed is simple and pleasant, purely
+vegetable, and perfectly harmless.
+
+Its action is two-fold; it reduces the abundant fatty tissue at a very
+rapid rate--in some cases to the extent of over 1lb. or 2lbs. in
+twenty-four hours--usually from 3lbs. to 4lbs. in a week (sometimes
+considerably more), and at the same time it acts as a refreshing and
+invigorating tonic, promoting a healthy appetite, and dispelling the
+feeling of depression and extreme _malaise_ experienced by the majority of
+corpulent people. "Does the fat return after cessation of the treatment?"
+is a question that many will ask. No, under normal conditions it does not.
+
+Mr. Russell's treatment goes to the root of the malady, and, without
+having the slightest pernicious effect even on the most delicate persons,
+eliminates the cause of the tendency to corpulence.
+
+"Corpulency and the Cure," a dainty little book of some 256 pages, is now
+in its eighteenth edition. We would cordially recommend such of our
+readers who are troubled with what we will call, for the sake of euphony,
+"exaggerated _embonpoint_," to procure a copy by sending two penny stamps
+to Mr. F. C. Russell, Woburn House, Store Street, Bedford Square, London.
+This well-known specialist can claim the unique distinction of having
+successfully treated over 10,000 cases of obesity.
+
+     A UNIQUE TREATMENT.
+
+     The "Russell" treatment is a marvellously efficacious and radical
+     cure which is not only not harmful, but extremely vitalising and
+     strengthening, promoting appetite and aiding digestion, assimilation
+     and nutrition. Meanwhile the reduction of adipose matter goes
+     steadily on until normal weight is reached.
+
+       =No Noxious Drugs.=
+       =No Stringent Dietary.=
+       =No Drastic Restrictions.=
+
+
+     AN UNFAILING TEST.
+
+     The weighing machine will prove that the reduction of fat commences
+     within 24 hours, the loss of weight varying from 1/2 to 2lb.; even
+     more than this in severe cases of obesity. The compound forming the
+     basis of the treatment is purely vegetable, & wholly free from
+     objectionable ingredients.
+
+     Whilst permanently reducing the body to normal weight and size, the
+     "Russell" treatment has a wonderfully strengthening & invigorating
+     effect upon the system.
+
+Mr. Russell will be pleased to give to all readers suffering from Obesity
+a copy of his book, "Corpulency and the Cure," 256 pages. When writing for
+the Book, enclose two penny stamps to cover its postage. The Book will be
+forwarded in a sealed plain envelope.
+
+  ADDRESS:--
+    Woburn House, 27, Store Street, Bedford Square, London, W.C.
+
+
+
+
+SMALL GARDENS
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+The General Arrangement of the Garden
+
+     _What to go in for, and what to avoid--Brick walls--Trees, their
+     advantages and disadvantages, etc._
+
+
+It is imperative that =a small garden=, such as one generally finds
+attached to suburban or small houses, should be made the very most of.
+Frequently, however, its owners seem to think that to attempt to grow
+anything in such a little plot of ground is a veritable waste of time and
+money, as nothing ever comes of it. The aim of this book is to show that
+even the tiniest piece of land can be made pretty and even profitable, if
+due attention be given it.
+
+=WELL BEGUN IS HALF DONE.= To begin with, it is well to remember that the
+tenant of a small garden should not endeavour to represent every feature
+he sees in large grounds; the poverty-stricken shrubbery and pond just
+about large enough for a nice bath, are too often seen, and only call
+forth ridicule. Some landscape gardeners have even objected to the
+presence of a lawn, where the space at disposal is very limited indeed,
+but to my mind =a little turf is always advisable=, for it not onl
+entices people into the fresh air for a game, but forms a good foil for
+flowering plants, and above all looks so well during the winter.
+
+=A long narrow garden= is always easier to deal with than a square plot of
+land, the range of vision not being "brought up short," as it were. It is
+well to take heed of this fact where there is any choice in the matter.
+=Good brick walls= are a great help in gardening, though alas! in these
+hurried days they are becoming much rarer, the wooden fence being run up
+so quickly, and at far less expense.
+
+As regards =the walks=, it is better to have one path wide enough for two
+people abreast than several unsociably narrow ones. Each path should lead
+somewhere, to the summer-house, or a gate, for instance: otherwise it
+looks inconsequent.
+
+Besides the flower-garden proper, =a nursery= for making experiments,
+sowing seeds, and striking cuttings, should find a place, if possible; a
+rubbish-heap is invaluable, too, where all decayed vegetable refuse,
+road-scraping, soapsuds, etc., should be thrown. In autumn, all the leaves
+the gardener sweeps up should be placed near by, both heaps being
+frequently turned over to allow of the noxious gas escaping, and to assist
+decomposition. The =rubbish corner= should be at the furthest extremity of
+the garden, though it need not be unsightly if a screen is placed around
+it. Privet is certainly the quickest growing shrub for that purpose, but,
+as it is so common, other shrubs, such as =pyrus japonica=, =arbutus=,
+=barberry=, and =pyracantha=, may be used.
+
+=THE JOYS OF A GREENHOUSE.= If there is no greenhouse, try to obtain one;
+it is such an infinite delight all through the dark months of the year,
+and this without any great cost for fuel. A Rippingille oil-stove, with
+one four-inch wick, will suffice to keep the frost out of a structure
+measuring 16 x 10, if a lean-to (that is, attached to a dwelling-house).
+Even this expense may be avoided where it is built against a kitchen wall,
+though, if the wall happened to face north, only ferns and just a few
+flowers would thrive. But even these would form a great interest,
+especially to invalids, who often find their greatest pleasure in
+pottering about under their "little bit of glass."
+
+=A VEXED QUESTION.= The vexed question of =lopping one's neighbours'
+trees= is sure to crop up sooner or later. However much detriment the
+trees may be doing, by preventing the free access of sun and air, tenants
+should know that the law only justifies them in cutting down those
+branches which actually overhang their own domains. This being the case,
+it is often the best "to grin and bear it," and lop the trees as little as
+possible, for we must acknowledge that the fine form of a tree is always
+spoilt when interfered with to any great extent. If the border would, in
+any case be shady, so much the better; it will only require a little more
+attention in the matter of watering, etc. After all, shade from the hot
+summer sun is absolutely necessary if we would enjoy a garden, therefore
+it is always well to hesitate over an act which takes but a few minutes to
+do, but may need years to repair. Where the trees overhang a good south or
+west wall the matter is more serious; it is then advisable to cut back as
+far as possible, for roses, peach-trees, and, indeed, most =climbers
+resent the constant drip= they are obliged to endure in wet weather. A
+list of plants which do well under trees in various aspects is given in
+another chapter.
+
+=BREAKING UP.= As the eye wearies of the straight piece of lawn with
+gravel path and border surrounding it, where practicable the ground should
+be broken up a bit. Some wide =trellis-work=, painted dark-green, with an
+arch-way on either side, helps to do this, and lends a pleasant sense of
+mystery to what might otherwise be a prosaic garden. It should be covered
+with all manner of creepers, such as clematis, jasmine, roses in variety,
+and some of the hardy annuals. Very tender plants should not be put on a
+trellis, as it does not by any means take the place of a wall, being more
+draughty than the open ground, though such things as the _ceanothus_ will
+often live through several winters, and bloom beautifully every summer in
+such a spot, till an unusually hard frost kills them outright. =Mulching=,
+however, of which more anon (see Glossary), materially aids in preserving
+them.
+
+=In gardening it is the little things that tell.= A mere trifle often
+makes the difference between failure and success. People will hardly
+believe, for instance, how important it is that certain plants should only
+receive =soft water=, and continue giving the water laid on by the company
+when all the time gallons and gallons of =precious rain= from heaven are
+running to waste. It is only a question of a tank to preserve it, which
+should be in an unobtrusive situation, though easily get-at-able. Where
+alpines are concerned, rainwater should be the only beverage, and this
+reminds me that a =rockery= on which to grow these gems of other countries
+is not such an impossibility in a town garden as might be thought by their
+scarcity.
+
+=HOW NOT TO DO IT.= The rockery, as seen in most gardens, both public and
+private, is too often an example of "how not to do it." A heterogeneous
+mass of clinkers, planted here and there with ivy, and exposed to the full
+force of sun and wind, is not to be named in the same breath with those at
+Kew, for instance. Of course, these are not made with bricks at all, but
+of soft grey stone, rather difficult to obtain by amateurs. Nevertheless,
+the shape and general characteristics may be copied; indeed, a day every
+now and then spent in the Royal Gardens at Kew or in any other well
+planned gardens, is a liberal education in such matters, and a great help
+in laying out a garden to good effect, though, naturally, everything must
+be considerably modified.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+Lawn, Paths, Beds, and Border
+
+     _How to keep a lawn level--Paths, how to lay them--Beds and
+     bedding--The new style versus the old--Flower-borders and their
+     backgrounds--Improvement of the soil._
+
+
+=THE AUTOCRAT OF THE GARDEN.= We have spoken of the general arrangement of
+the suburban garden, and must now proceed to particularize. First as to
+=the lawn=: It might often be described as a thing invented to keep the
+journeyman gardener in constant work, for where that individual only comes
+for a day or even half a day each week (on which basis this book is
+written) he generally seems to occupy his time in rolling, mowing, and
+sweeping the grass. An endeavour should a made to curtail this lengthy
+business, if it can be done without hurting his very sensitive feelings.
+When a boot-boy is kept, he can be set to roll the grass before and after
+it is mown, and also assist in the tidying up, thus giving the man leisure
+to attend to other matters. Where tennis or more especially croquet is
+played, great care should be taken to keep the turf level; =inequalities=
+can always be remedied in the winter or early spring. =Fine soil= should
+be scattered over each depression where these are only slight, and a
+little seed sown about March; but when the turf is very uneven it is a
+better plan to lift it, fill up underneath with soil, and re-lay, rolling
+well so that it may settle down properly. To keep a lawn even =constant
+rolling= is most necessary. Even when the lawn is smooth, it is as well to
+some seed in the spring of every year, for there are sure to be weeds to
+eradicate, and this is apt to leave bare patches which mar the beauty of
+any lawn. During hot, dry summers, water must be regularly applied or the
+grass will wither and perhaps die out altogether. =Grassy slopes=
+especially should be looked after, as they are the first to show signs of
+distress. Where there is no hose, a "spreader" will be found a most useful
+adjunct to a water-can, and is quite inexpensive. The knives of a
+mowing-machine should not be set too low in warm weather, as =close
+cutting= of grass is often responsible for it turning brown.
+
+The =paths= of a garden can be composed of several substances, gravel
+possibly being the best, as it is so easily renewed and kept in order. In
+cottage gardens delightful pebble walks with an edging of tiles can be
+sometimes seen, but unless plants having a mossy or cushion-like growth
+are allowed to fall over the tiles, this arrangement is rather stiff. When
+laying gravel down, see that it is of a ="binding" quality=, and laid
+fairly thick, as this method is economical in the long run, because it can
+be easily turned. The paths must be kept clear of weeds, and, except in
+the wild portion, free also of moss, a difficult thing where the growth of
+trees is very rank. Picking up the path constantly with a rake and
+=scattering common salt= over it, is one way of keeping moss down. It is
+important that the centre of a path be higher than the sides, so that it
+should =dry quickly after rain=.
+
+=BEDS AND BEDDING.= As regards the beds in the garden, these are usually
+all on the lawn, though =a long raised bed= with a path on either side
+looks extremely well if filled with flowers, and can be easily got at on
+dewy mornings without wetting the feet. Fantastic shapes are not
+advisable, unless =carpet-bedding=[1] is the style aimed at. Rose-trees
+look best in round or oblong beds, and do not lend themselves to filling
+up stars, though a crescent-shaped bed suits the low-growing kinds very
+well. As a rule only one or two different kinds of flowers should be used
+in the same bed, and if a good display of blossom is required these must
+be frequently changed. =Cuttings a year old= make the best bedding-plants
+in a general way, for, though the quantity of bloom may not be quite so
+great the habit is more bushy, the individual flower far finer, and the
+period of blossoming greatly prolonged. It has been found that many of the
+old-fashioned flowers bloom much better if they also are =divided= and
+=new soil added=. This is particularly noticeable in such flowers as
+_delphiniums_, _campanulas_, and _japonica_ anemones. Once every two or
+three years, however, is often enough for these hardy denizens of our
+gardens.
+
+     [1] See Glossary, p. 7.
+
+=MAKING THE MOST OF THE LAND.= A new style of bedding has cropped up
+lately, or rather a lesson that Nature has always been teaching us has at
+last been taken to heart, for the idea is really as old as the hills. Two
+=plants flowering at different seasons= are placed together where formerly
+each would have had a separate piece of ground; thus, a tall, autumn phlox
+will be seen rearing its panicles of flowers from a carpet of _aubrietia_,
+_alyssum_, or forget-me-not, which all flower in spring. In this way each
+foot of ground has something to interest us at all seasons of the year.
+Lilies have been planted amongst rhododendrons and azaleas for some time
+past, and now the system has been extended. When once we have made up our
+minds to have =no bare soil=, various schemes will present themselves to
+us. Bulbs can be treated so, to the great improvement of the garden, as
+when they grow out of some hardy herbaceous plant, their dying leaves
+which present such an untidy appearance are nearly hidden. This double
+system of planting is especially necessary in beds which are in full view
+of the house, as these must never look empty.
+
+=WANTED--AN EYE FOR COLOUR.= Borders are not so much trouble in this way,
+as, if the wall or fence at the back is well covered with a succession of
+flowering shrubs, this makes =a very good back-ground=, and, as every
+artist knows, that is half the battle. The colours, however, must be
+carefully chosen, so that the plants in front blend with the creepers on
+the wall. The inconsistency of people in this matter is very noticeable,
+for they will mix shades in their borders which they would not dream of
+allowing on their dinner-tables. Who has not had his teeth set on edge by
+the sight of a pinkish-mauve everlasting pea in juxtaposition with a
+flaming red geranium! it is repeated every year in scores of gardens, to
+the great offence of every artistic eye. =Colours that quarrel= so
+violently with each other should never be visible from the same point of
+view, but kept rigorously apart.
+
+It is important that =the soil of the border= be of fairly good quality;
+if the staple be poor and rocky, plenty of loam must be incorporated with
+a small proportion of manure. On the other hand, if it is heavy, cold, and
+clayey, sand must be added to make it porous, and thus improve the
+drainage. Where the soil is not improved, some trouble should be taken to
+choose only those plants which will do really well in the particular soil
+the garden possesses.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+On the Duty of Making Experiments
+
+     _Description of a small yet lovely garden--Colour schemes--The spring
+     dell--A novel way of growing flowers--Variety in flower-gardens._
+
+
+="Be original!"= is a motto that every amateur gardener should adopt. Far
+too few experiments are made by the average owner of a garden; he jogs
+along on the same old lines, without a thought of the delightful
+opportunities he misses. Each garden, however small, should possess an
+=individuality= of its own--some feature that stamps it as out of the
+common run.
+
+I remember seeing a tiny strip in a large town quite fairy-like in its
+loveliness, and it has always been a lesson to me on what enthusiasm can
+do. The old lady to whom it belonged was not rich, but an ardent lover of
+all that is beautiful in nature and art; moreover, she did nearly all the
+work herself. Though it was situated amid smoke and dirt, it almost
+invariably looked bright and pretty, reminding one somehow, from its
+quaintness, of the "days of long ago," for there were no geraniums, no
+calceolarias, no lobelias, and not a single Portugal laurel in the whole
+place. =Gardeners of the red, white, and blue school=, if any read this
+book, will open their eyes at all this, and wonder, maybe, how a proper
+garden could manage to exist without these indispensable plants. But then
+it was not a proper garden in their sense of the term; paths were winding
+instead of straight, flowers grew so well, and bloomed so abundantly that
+they even ran into the walks occasionally, and, what was yet more
+reprehensible, there was not a shadow of a box edging to =restrain= their
+mad flight! Roses and jasmine threw their long flower-laden shoots over
+the arches in wild luxuriance, and were a pretty sight, as viewed from the
+seat hidden in a bower near by.
+
+There was a small fernery, too, containing some of the choicest specimens
+that can be grown in this country. Altogether it was a most charming
+little garden, and gave infinite pleasure to the owner and her friends;
+indeed, I for one have often been much less pleased with formal ground of
+several acres in extent, though the latter might cost a mint of money to
+keep up.
+
+Experiments in the way of colour-schemes are most interesting, and should
+appeal to ladies, who may gain ideas for their costumes from the blending
+of shades in their garden, or _vice-versa_. Here a word of warning will
+not be out of place; do not rely too much on the =coloured descriptions in
+the catalogues=, for, as they are usually drawn up by men, they are
+frequently inaccurate; so many men are =partially colour-blind=, and will
+describe a crushed strawberry as a carmine! Frequently a flower will
+change its colour, however, when in different soil and position, even in
+the same district.
+
+=THE DELL AT CHERTSEY.= A novel way of growing plants is to open up a
+spring dell. I wonder if any of my readers have ever seen the one on St.
+Ann's Hill, Chertsey? I will try to picture it here. A large basin is
+scooped out of the hill, and on the slopes of this basin are grown masses
+of rhododendrons and azaleas. Round the rim at the top is some light
+rustic fencing, partially covered with climbing plants, and there was also
+a narrow bridge of the same material. This dell could not be copied in
+very small gardens, because it should be so placed as to come upon one
+rather in the way of a surprise, but where there are any corners not quite
+in view of all the windows, a little ingenuity will make a lovely thing of
+it. The shrubs used need not be identical; less expensive plants may be
+grown in just the same way. Those on the slope of the dell will do best;
+the plants for the bottom must be carefully chosen, as, of course, they
+will get =much moisture and little sun=. Wall-flowers would run to leaf in
+that position; and so, I am afraid, would forget-me-not; daisies (double
+ones) would revel there, however, particularly if the soil were made
+fairly rich; they are extremely reasonable in price, and easily obtained.
+Bluebells, wood anemones, _doronicums_, _hepaticas_, narcissus, snowdrops,
+all like such a situation, but perhaps the queen of them all is _dicentra
+spectabilis_, or "lady's locket," as it is sometimes called; it has pink
+drooping racemes and finely-cut foliage, and is generally found under
+glass, though it is never seen to such advantage as when well grown out of
+doors. This dell is the very place for it, as, when out in the open
+ground, rough winds injure its precocious blooms. The =hardy cyclamen=
+would do admirably, too, but these must be planted on the slope of the
+dell, as they need perfect drainage. In summer it should be a mass of
+filmy ferns, foxgloves, and hardy orchids; the best of the orchids is
+_cypripedium spectabile_, and it should be planted in peat and leaf-mould,
+and in such a way that it is fairly dry in winter and well watered in
+summer. Experiments in the way of growing uncommon plants are always
+interesting; in the next chapter, therefore, I will mention a few
+unreasonably neglected plants, including some novelties which I can
+personally testify to as well worth obtaining.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+Some Neglected but Handsome Plants
+
+     _The sweet old columbine--BOCCONIA CORDATA at Hampton Court--
+     CAMPANULAS as continuous bloomers--The heavenly larkspurs--Christmas
+     roses--The tall and brilliant lobelias--The Chinese-lantern
+     plants--Tufted pansies._
+
+
+We will begin alphabetically, therefore I will first say a few words
+regarding the =pink-flowered anemone japonica=. Though the white variety
+(_alba_) is to be seen in every garden, the older kind is not grown half
+enough; perhaps this is owing to the peculiar pinkish shade of the petals,
+a colour that will harmonize with few others, and might be termed
+aesthetic; it should be grown in a large clump by itself or mixed with
+white; it flowers at the same time as _A. j. alba_, and equally approves
+of a rich and rather heavy soil, and also likes a shady place. Both kinds
+spread rapidly.
+
+=Aquilegias, or columbines, are most elegant plants=, generally left to
+the cottage garden, though their delicate beauty fits them for the best
+positions; they do well on borders, and generally flower about the end of
+May; in a light soil they seed freely, and spring up all round the parent
+plant. =Asters=, the botanical name for Michaelmas daisies, are beautiful
+flowers for a small garden if the right sort are chosen; those that take
+up a great deal of room should be discarded where space is an object, and
+such kinds as _A. amellus bessaribicus_, planted instead; this is perhaps
+the finest of the genus, and is =first-rate for cutting=. It is only two
+feet high, of neat habit, and bears large, bright mauve flowers with
+golden centres very freely, from the beginning of August right into
+October. =A. ericoides= is another one of neat habit, and is only half a
+foot taller than the last; it bears long sprays, covered the whole way up
+the stem with tiny white flowers and mossy foliage. Some of the
+_novi-belgii_ asters are also very good and easy to grow. One of the most
+=effective and beautiful= plants in the summer months is _bocconia
+cordata_; it has delicate, heart-shaped foliage of a clear apple-green,
+silvered beneath, and creamy flower-spikes which measure from three to
+five feet in height; though so tall, it is eminently =fitted for the town
+garden=, for it is not a straggling plant and rarely requires staking. At
+Hampton Court Palace it is one of the most striking things in the
+herbaceous border during July.
+
+The hardy =campanulas= are good things to have, and in their own shade of
+blue are not to be beaten; of the taller varieties, the blue and white
+peach-leaved kinds are the handsomest, and come in very usefully for
+cutting. _C. carpatica_ and _C. c. alba_ are shorter, being only one foot
+high; they =flower continuously=, and look very well in a bed with the
+double _potentillas_, which are described further on.
+
+=Coreopsis grandiflora= is handsomer than the old _lanceolata_, and bears
+large bright yellow flowers, which are very handsome when cut and =bloom
+for a long period=.
+
+It is difficult to imagine what we should do without =delphiniums=
+(larkspurs) in the hardy flower-border; they are absolutely invaluable,
+and seem to have almost =every good quality=, neither are they at all
+difficult to grow; some of their blossoms are of an azure blue, a rare
+colour in nature; then they can be had of a Cambridge blue, purple, white,
+rose, and even red; the last, however, is a fickle grower and not to be
+recommended, save for the rockery. Though one may give 21s. and even more
+per dozen for them, beautiful kinds can be had for 10s.; these plants run
+from two to five feet high in good soil, but need plenty of manure to do
+them really well, as they belong to the tribe of "=gross-feeders=."
+
+The =erigerons= are useful plants to grow, very much like the
+large-flowered Michaelmas daisies, except that they come in earlier and
+are of a dwarfer habit; they may be had in orange as well as blue shades.
+
+The =funkias= are grand plants, grown chiefly for their =foliage=, which
+is sometimes green margined with white, or green mixed with gold, and in
+one kind the leaves are marbled blue and green; they =set off the flowers
+near them= to great advantage. In the early spring slugs attack them;
+these must be trapped and killed (see Chap. VIII.).
+
+Why are the old =Christmas roses= seen so little, I wonder? Grown in heavy
+soil and cold aspect they do beautifully, and bring us their pure white
+flowers =when little else is obtainable outside=. One thing against them
+in this hurry-skurry age is the fact that they increase so slowly; this
+makes them rather expensive too. Good plants of _helleborus niger maximus_
+may, however, be bought for half-a-crown; this variety has =very handsome
+leaves=, and is all the better for a little manure.
+
+=A flower that everybody admires= is the =heuchera sanguinea=, a rare and
+lovely species; it has graceful sprays of coral-red flowers, borne on
+stems from one to two feet high, which generally appear in June, and are
+first-rate for cutting. =Lobelia fulgens= is a brilliantly beautiful
+species, not to be confounded with the dwarf blue kinds; these tall
+varieties have quaintly-shaped red flowers, and narrow leaves of the
+darkest crimson; the roots are rather tender, and much dislike damp during
+the autumn and winter.
+
+=Lychnis chalcedonica= is one of the unreasonably neglected plants; it has
+=bright scarlet flowers=, a good habit, and grows from two to three feet
+high; it must have a sunny position and prefers a sandy soil.
+
+Some of the new hardy =penstemons= are lovely, and =flower during the
+whole summer=; they look very well in a round bed by themselves, and do
+not require much looking after; they are rather too tender to withstand
+our damp winters without protection, therefore the old plants should be
+mulched, after having had cuttings taken from them, to be kept secure from
+frost in a frame.
+
+The =winter cherry=, or =Cape gooseberry (physalis alkekengi)= is a most
+fascinating plant; =its fruit is the attraction=, and resembles
+Chinese-lanterns; they appear early in September, and make quite a good
+show in the garden. When bad weather comes, the stalks should be cut, hung
+up to dry for about a week, and then mixed in vases with dried grasses and
+the effect is very pretty. Care must be taken when asking for this plant
+under the English name, as there is a greenhouse plant so termed which is
+quite different, and, of course, will not stand frost. A dozen plants cost
+about 5s.; do not be persuaded to get the newer sort--_franchetti_--the
+berries are larger, but coarse and flabby, and not nearly so decorative.
+
+=Polemonium richardsoni= is a very pretty plant, its English name being
+=Jacob's ladder=. The flowers are borne in clusters, and are pale sky-blue
+in colour with a yellow eye: the foliage is fernlike in character and very
+abundant. This plant =likes a shady nook=, which must not be under trees,
+however, and if well watered after its first bloom is over in June, it
+will flower again in autumn. The double =potentillas= are glorious things
+for bedding, and are most uncommon looking. Their flowers are =like small
+double roses= in shape: generally orange, scarlet, or a mixture of both:
+the leaves, greyish-green in colour, resemble those of the strawberry.
+Unfortunately, these plants require a good deal of staking, but they are
+well worth the trouble.
+
+The large-leaved =saxifrages=, sometimes called _megaseas_, merit a good
+deal more attention than they receive. For one thing they begin flowering
+very early, holding up their close pink umbels of flowers so bravely in
+cold winds: then their foliage is quite distinct, and turns to such =a
+rich red in September= that this fact, added to their easy cultivation,
+makes it wonderful that they are not more grown. I remember, on a dreary
+day in mid-February, being perfectly charmed by the sight of a large bed
+of this _saxifraga ligulata_, completely filling up the front garden of a
+workman's cottage in one of the poorest roads of a large town. The flowers
+are particularly =clean and fresh-looking=, and having shiny leaves they
+of course resist dust and dirt well.
+
+=Tradescantias= and =trollius= are two good families of plants for growing
+on north borders; the first have curious blue or reddish-purple flowers,
+rising on stiff stalks clothed with long pointed leaves, and they continue
+in =flower from May till September=. The =trollius= has bright orange or
+lemon-yellow cup-shaped blossoms and luxuriant foliage. It flowers from
+the end of May for some weeks. Both these plants grow about two feet high.
+
+=Violas= or =tufted pansies= are very pretty, and extremely =suitable for
+the ground work of beds=, especially where these are in shade, though they
+will not do under trees. Cuttings must constantly be taken, as
+one-year-old plants flower more continuously, and have larger blooms and a
+more compact habit than older plants, besides which they are apt to die
+out altogether, if left to themselves.
+
+These are but a few of the wealth of good things to be made use of, for,
+when once real enthusiasm is awakened, the amateur who wishes to have a
+thoroughly interesting garden will only be too eager to avail himself of
+all that is best in the horticultural world.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+The Conservatory and Greenhouse
+
+     _Mistakes in staging--Some suitable climbers--Economical
+     heating--Aspect, shading, etc.--The storing of plants--No waste
+     space--Frames._
+
+
+=A well-kept conservatory= adds much to the charm of a drawing-room, but
+requires careful management. Potting and the like cannot very well go on
+in a place which must always look presentable. A conservatory, of course,
+is tiled, and therefore every dead leaf and any soil that may be spilled
+show very much; it is therefore advisable to have a greenhouse as well,
+or, failing that, some frames. A greenhouse, though it may be only just
+large enough to turn round in, is a great help towards a nice garden, and
+a boon in winter; it also allows of =a change of plants= for the
+dwelling-house and conservatory, greatly to their advantage. =Staging
+generally takes up far too much room=; the middle part of a conservatory
+should be left free, so that there is space to walk about; stands for
+plants are easily arranged, and give a more natural appearance than fixed
+staging, which always looks rather stiff. Being a good deal more liable to
+visits from guests than an ordinary greenhouse, the conservatory must be
+kept scrupulously clean and neat; the floor, walls, and woodwork must be
+washed very often, and the glass kept beautifully bright. Cobwebs must
+never be allowed to settle anywhere, and all the shelves must be kept free
+of dirt and well painted; curtains should be hung near the entrance to the
+drawing-room, so that they may be pulled across the opening at any time,
+to hide work of this sort.
+
+=Hanging plants= are great adjuncts where the structure is lofty, and
+open-work iron pillars, when draped with some graceful climbing plant, are
+a great improvement. Where there is but little fire heat, considerable
+care will be needed to choose something which will look well all the year
+round. We will suppose that the frost is merely kept out; in the summer,
+such a house can be bright with _plumbago_, _pelargoniums_, _salvias_, and
+indeed all the regular greenhouse flowering plants, as, except in
+hot-houses, no artificial heat is then necessary anywhere. In winter,
+there is more difficulty, for all the climbing plants which are in
+conspicuous positions must be nearly hardy; of these, the trumpet flower
+(_bignonia_), _swainsonia_, passion-flower, _choisya ternata_, myrtle and
+camellia, are the best; these are nearly evergreen, and consequently look
+ornamental even when out of flower.
+
+=Plants suitable for hanging baskets= are the trailing _tradescantias_,
+the white _campanula_, lobelia, pelargonium, and many ferns. For the pot
+plants there are hosts of things; _freesias_, _cyclamen_,
+marguerite-carnations, _primulas_, Christmas roses, arums, azaleas,
+_kalmias_, _spireas_, chrysanthemums, narcissus, roman hyacinths, and so
+on. Many late-flowering hardy plants, will, if potted up, continue in
+bloom long after the cold has cut them off outside.
+
+=Cactus plants=, too, ordinarily grown in a warm green-house, will even
+withstand one or two degrees of frost when kept perfectly dry, dust-dry,
+in fact. During winter in England =it is the damp that kills=, not the
+cold; bearing that in mind, we shall be able to grow many things that
+hitherto have puzzled us. All those delicate iris, half-hardy ferns, and
+tiresome plants that would put off flowering till too late, why, a cold
+conservatory or greenhouse is the very place for them!
+
+=Green-houses are altogether easier to manage than conservatories=, and
+therefore are the best for amateurs. There cuttings may be struck, plants
+repotted, fuchsias, geraniums, etc., stored, and tender annuals reared. A
+=lean-to greenhouse= should face south preferably, and the door should be
+placed at the warm end, that is, the west, so that when opened no biting
+wind rushes in. When the summer comes, a temporary shading will be
+necessary; twopennyworth of whitening and a little water mixed into a
+paste will do this. About the middle of September it should be washed off,
+if the rain has not already done so; for if it remains on too long the
+plants will grow pale and lanky.
+
+=ARTIFICIAL HEAT.= The Rippingille stove before referred to must be placed
+at the coldest end, and only sufficient warmth should emanate from it just
+to keep out the frost, unless it is intended to use it all day. It is well
+to remember that =the colder the atmosphere outside, the cooler in
+proportion must the interior be=. Even a hot-house is allowed by a good
+gardener to go down to 60 deg. or even 55 deg. on a bitterly cold night, as a
+great amount of fire-heat at such times is inimical to plant life, though
+it will stand a tremendous amount of sun-power. Several mats or lengths of
+woollen material, canvas, etc., stretched along outside will save expense,
+and be a more natural way of preserving the plants.
+
+=One great advantage that a greenhouse has= over a conservatory is this:
+that any climbers can be planted out, whereas tubs have to be used where
+the floor is tiled. =Cucumbers and tomatoes= do very well in a small
+house, and an abundance of these is sure to please the housekeeper. Seeds
+of the cucumber should be sown about the first week in March on a hot-bed;
+if in small pots all the better, as their roots suffer less when
+transferred to where they are to fruit. Do not let the shoots become
+crowded, or insects and mildew will attack them. In the summer, "damp
+down" pretty frequently and give plenty of air, avoiding anything like a
+draught, however. "=Telegraph=," though not new, is a reliable cucumber of
+good flavour and a first-rate cropper. =Tomato seed= should be sown about
+the same time and the plants treated similarly, giving plenty of water but
+no stimulant in the way of guano till they have set their fruit, which can
+be assisted by passing a camel's hair brush over the flowers, and thus
+fertilising them. Of course, out of doors the bees do this; their
+"busyness" materially aiding the gardener.
+
+As to =storing plants=, a box of sand placed in a dry corner where no drip
+can reach it, is best for this, burying the roots of dahlias, etc., fairly
+deep in it, and withholding water till the spring, when they may be taken
+out, each root examined, decayed parts removed, and every healthy plant
+repotted. The pots should be placed under the shelves till they shoot
+forth, when they can be gradually brought forward to the light. This
+reminds me that =the dark parts of a greenhouse= should never be wasted,
+as, besides their use in bringing up bulbs, ferns can be grown for
+cutting, and such things as rhubarb, may be readily forced there. =Frames=
+are very useful and fairly cheap, though it is best to get them set with
+21-oz. glass, or they will not last long. Seedlings may be brought up in
+them with greater success than if in a greenhouse, and a supply of violets
+may be kept up in them during the coldest weather. The mats they are
+covered with during the night must never be removed till the frost is well
+off the grass, say about 11 a.m., as a sudden thaw makes terrible havoc.
+
+=The great point to remember= when about to indulge in a greenhouse is
+this: unless sufficient time and trouble can be given to make it worth
+while, it is better to spend the money on the outdoor department, which to
+a certain extent takes care of itself. Where there is leisure to attend to
+a greenhouse, however, few things will give more return for the care spent
+on it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+The Tool Shed and Summer-House
+
+     _Spades and the Bishop--Weeding without back-ache--The indispensable
+     thermometer--Well-made tools a necessity--Summer-houses and their
+     adornment._
+
+
+Though it is true enough that the best workmen need little mechanical aid,
+yet =a well-stocked tool-shed= is not to be despised. Sometimes it may
+only be a portion of a bicycle-shed which can be set apart for our
+implements, or the greenhouse may have to find room for a good many of
+them, but certain it is that a few nicely-finished tools are an absolute
+necessity to the would-be gardener. Of course a good many of them can be
+hired; it is not everyone, for instance, who possesses a =lawn-mower=, but
+if the owner of a garden is ambitious enough to wish to do without a
+gardener altogether, a lawn-mower will be one of the first things he will
+wish to possess himself of. In that case he cannot do better than invest
+is one of Ransome's or Green's machines. Their work is always of a high
+standard and the firms are constantly making improvements in them. The
+newest ones are almost perfection, but it is better to get a second-hand
+one of either of these firms than a new one of an inferior make. A
+=roller= is useful too, but, as these large implements run into a good
+deal of money, it may be as well to state that, on payment of 2d. or so,
+any of them may be borrowed for an hour or two. Ladders can be had in this
+way; also shears, fret-saws--anything that is only wanted occasionally.
+
+A =spade= is a daily necessity, however. Has not one of our most learned
+divines exalted the art of digging by his commendation thereof, and who
+shall say him nay? It is expedient to wear =thick boots=, however, during
+this operation, not only on account of the earth's moisture, but also
+because otherwise it is ruinous to our soles. To preserve the latter, a
+spade with a sharp edge should never be chosen, but one which has a flat
+piece of iron welded on to the body of it. Digging is good because it
+breaks up the earth, and exposes it to the sun and also to the frost,
+which sweetens and purifies it; care must be taken however, in doing it,
+as so many things die down in the winter and are not easily seen. The
+ordinary hired gardener is very clever at =burying things so deep that
+they never come up again=!
+
+Most people abhor =weeding=, yet if done with a Dutch hoe it is rather
+=pleasant work=, as no stooping is required. After a few showers of rain
+the hoe runs along very easily, and the good it does is so patent that I
+always think it very satisfactory labour indeed. These hoes cost about 1s.
+6d. each.
+
+=Raking= is easy work, and very useful for smoothing beds or covering
+seeds over with soil. English made, with about eight or ten teeth, their
+cost is from two to three shillings. One of the most necessary implements
+is a =trowel=, in particular for a lady, as its use does not need so much
+muscle as a spade; their price is from 1s. 6d. to 2s. 6d. each.
+
+Where there are many climbers =a hammer= is wanted, not a toy one of
+German make; these are sometimes chosen by amateurs under the mistaken
+idea that the lighter the hammer the lighter the work. One of English
+make, strong and durable, is the kind of thing required, and costs about
+2s. or 2s. 6d. =Wall-nails=, one inch long (the most useful size), are 2d.
+a pound, and may be had at any ironmongers. The =shreds of cloth= may be
+bought too, but anyone who deals at a tailor's can procure a mixed bundle
+of cloth pieces for nothing, when there is the light labour of cutting
+them into shreds, work of a few minutes only.
+
+In choosing =watering-cans=, see that they are thoroughly good tin, as a
+strong can will last for years; moreover, when it begins to leak it will
+bear mending; they cost from 3s. upwards, the roses should be made to take
+off as a rule, and a special place assigned to them on the shelf of the
+tool-shed, as they readily get lost. =Syringes=, much used for washing off
+insects, are rather expensive, consequently are not to be found in many
+small gardens; a more fortunate friend will sometimes lend one, as there
+is a good deal of freemasonry amongst people who indulge in the hobby of
+gardening.
+
+A thing everyone must have is =a thermometer=, in greenhouses they are
+indispensable; the minimum kind are the most useful, telling one as they
+do exactly the degree of frost experienced during the preceding night.
+They may be bought at a chemist's for 1s. each, and must be re-set every
+day; the aforesaid chemist will show any purchaser the way to do this--it
+is quite simple.
+
+=Raffia=, or =bass=, for tying flower-sticks, and =labels= are minor
+necessities which cost little, though sticks may run into a good deal if
+bought prepared for staking. Personally, I dislike both the coloured kinds
+(never Nature's green) and the white. Both show far more than the
+=unobtrusive sticks= obtained by cutting down the stalks of Michaelmas
+daisies, for instance. =Galvanised iron stakes last practically for ever=,
+and if they are of the twisted kind, no tying is required, greatly
+lessening labour. It is a curious fact that though =arches made of iron
+set up electrical disturbance= and injure the climbers, these stakes seem
+to have no bad effect whatever. At the end of the autumn they should be
+collected, and stored in a safe place till summer comes round again. Thin
+ones suitable for carnations, etc., may be procured from A. Porter,
+Storehouse, Maidstone, for 1s. a dozen, carriage paid. The thicker ones
+can be made to order at small cost at any ironmonger's.
+
+A handy man can often make =frames= himself, especially if they are not
+required to be portable, and really these home-made ones answer almost as
+well as those that are bought. Good frames can sometimes be had at sales
+for an old song, and only require a coat of paint to make them as good as
+new.
+
+Here I will end my list, only reiterating that, however few tools you may
+have, it is foolish to get any but the best.
+
+A =summer-house= need not necessarily be bought ready-made. I have seen
+many a pretty bower put together in the spare hours of the carpenter of
+the family. There is one advantage in these =home-made summer-houses=,
+that they are generally more roomy than those which are bought, and can be
+made to suit individual requirements.
+
+=HOW TO COVER A SUMMER-HOUSE.= Of course, it is more necessary to cover
+these amateur and therefore somewhat clumsy structures with creepers, but
+that is not difficult. Even the first summer they can be made to look
+quite presentable by planting the =Japanese hop=. The leaves are
+variegated, and in shape like the Virginia creeper. Messrs. Barr, of Long
+Ditton, Surrey, told me it grew 25 feet in one season. It can be had from
+them in pots, about the first week in May, for 3s. 6d. a dozen. Then there
+are the =nasturtiums=, always so effective when =trained up lengths of
+string=, with the dark back-ground of the summer-house to show up their
+beautiful flowers. If the soil in which they grow is poor and gravelly,
+the blossoms will be more numerous. The =canary creeper= is another plant,
+which is so =airy and graceful= that one never seems to tire of it. Get
+the seeds up in good time, so that when planted out they are of a fair
+height, else so much of the summer is lost.
+
+There are so many =uncommon climbing plants= which should be tried,
+notably _eccremocarpus scaber_, _cobea scandens_, and _mina lobata_. The
+last two are annual, and the first can be grown as such, though in mild
+winters and in sunny positions it is a perennial. It =flowers whenever the
+weather will let it=, and its blossoms are orange-yellow in colour, very
+curious and invariably noticed by visitors. Reliable seeds of all three
+can be had from Messrs. Barr, at 6d. a packet. The _cobea_ bears pale
+purple bell-shaped flowers, and is a quick grower. _Mina lobata_ is
+generally admired, and though of a different family bears a slight
+resemblance to an _eccremocarpus_, both in the shape of its flowers and in
+the way they are arranged on the stem. It is only half hardy. Clematis
+_jackmanni_ and _montana_ are good for this position too. _Jackmanni_ is
+the well-known velvety purple kind, and must be cut down to the ground
+every autumn, and well mulched; that is because it flowers on the new
+growth of each year. _Montana_, however, flowers on the wood of the
+previous year, and therefore must be cut back about the end of June, if at
+all, as May is the month it blooms.
+
+The Dutchman's pipe, or _aristolochia sipho_, is not to be altogether
+recommended, as =its huge leaves always seem to make small gardens appear
+smaller still=, which is not desirable; otherwise, it is a splendid plant
+for covering summer-houses, as it is a rapid climber. It is wise to plant
+some of the =decorative ivies= as well, so that, if the flowering plants
+fail, it will not be of so much consequence. The =varieties with pointed
+leaves= are exceedingly elegant, and are much more suitable than the
+common sort for decorating churches and dwelling-house, and cost no more
+to buy.
+
+=FRAGRANT ODOURS.= At =the base of the summer-house= there should be
+quantities of sweet-scented plants, as this will make the time spent there
+all the pleasanter. There are lavender, rosemary, thyme, bay, sweet peas,
+stocks, and mignonette, besides the oak-leaved geranium, tobacco plant,
+marvel of Peru, and, of course, roses, though the latter do not give off
+scent quite so much as the other plants mentioned.
+
+The =position of the summer-house= is important. I have seen some divided,
+but where there is no partition it should generally face west. It is
+delightful on a fine evening to sit and watch the clouds change from glory
+to glory, as the sun gradually sinks to its rest, and the stars gleam out
+in the darkening sky.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+Roses for Amateurs
+
+     _Teas--Hybrid perpetuals--Some good climbing varieties--Treatment and
+     soil--Rose hedges--Pillar roses._
+
+
+The reason for the heading given to this chapter is that growing roses for
+show will not be mentioned, as it is quite a separate branch of the art
+and would require a book to itself to do it full justice. =Blooms of a
+fair size, but in abundance= during five months of the year, that is what
+most amateurs need, for, after all, the amount of disbudding that has to
+be done when growing roses for show quite goes to one's heart! We want
+fine, well-coloured, healthy flowers, and to attain that end a =good soil
+is absolutely necessary=. This is especially the case with =Hybrid
+Perpetuals=, but Teas will often do in a light soil, if manure is given
+them, and plenty of water in the dry season. The H.P.'s, as gardeners call
+them, =must have loam and clay= to do them properly; where the soil is not
+improved by adding these ingredients, it is advisable to rely chiefly on
+Tea Roses.
+
+=THE ADVANTAGES OF TEAS.= For many reasons Tea Roses are the best for
+small gardens, as they like the shelter found there. They =flower more
+continuously= and in much greater profusion, are not so troubled with
+green fly, and are far =more decorative= in habit of growth and colour of
+leafage than most of the other species. In their particular shades of
+colour they cannot be equalled, though for cherry reds and dark maroons we
+have to look to the Hybrid Perpetual, at least, if we want flowers of fine
+form, and also for that =lovely fresh pink= of the Captain Christy type
+(though this is now termed a Hybrid Tea by rosarians). The name Perpetual
+is apt to give =a false idea= to those who are not experienced. Most of
+these roses are not at all continuous, many only lasting six weeks or so
+in bloom, and some even less, if the season is hot; that is one great
+reason why they are being superseded by Teas, at least in the suburbs of
+London and the South of England. In the Midlands and North the =hardiness
+of the H.P.'s= is greatly in their favour.
+
+=Teas will stand the closeness= of a garden surrounded by houses and trees
+much better than the Perpetuals, which are very apt to become mildewed in
+such positions. Of course, many remedies are given for this, but often
+they are =worse than the disease=; flowers of sulphur, for instance, to
+take the best-known remedy, disfigures the whole plant terribly.
+
+=Teas= are much the =best for planting in beds= which are very
+conspicuous, for, as I said previously, they are always ornamental. Where
+standards are placed down each side of the lawn, it is rather a good plan
+to place all the =Hybrid Perpetuals on one side and the Teas on the
+other=, giving the greater amount of sun to the latter.
+
+=GOOD CLIMBERS FOR WARM WALLS.= When covering a very hot wall, too, it is
+best, in the South of England, to stick to the tender roses, as the others
+become almost burnt up. I will name here five of the =best climbing Tea
+roses= for a south or west wall. William Allan Richardson the beautiful
+orange variety so much admired; Bouquet d'or, a daughter of Gloire de
+Dijon, but prettier in the bud than the old variety; Madame Berard, fawny
+yellow, very floriferous; L'Ideal, and Gustave Regis. =L'Ideal is a most
+beautiful rose=, its colouring almost defying description--a peculiar
+yellow, streaked with red and gold, like a Turner sunset. Gustave Regis,
+though often classed as a bush rose, easily covers a low wall, and is one
+of the best kinds there are, as it is covered with bloom the whole of the
+season. The buds make =lovely button-holes=, and are creamy yellow, long,
+and pointed. They are just like water-lilies when fully open, and on a
+warm sunny day exhale a perfectly delicious fragrance, unlike any other
+rose with which I am acquainted.
+
+Another good climbing =tea-rose= is Duchesse d'Auerstadt. Though
+introduced as long ago as 1887, this variety is =not often heard of=,
+perhaps on account of its shy blooming qualities. This however need deter
+no one from growing it, as its =lovely foliage= makes it quite a picture
+at all times: bronze, crimson, rich metallic green, its shoots and leaves
+are a pleasure to look at. Its flowers, too, when they come how splendid
+they are! =great golden goblets= full to overflowing with the firm, rich
+petals and with a scent to match; they are indeed worth waiting for!
+Anxiously is each bud watched, for they take so long to come to perfection
+that the anxiety is not ill-founded. I have known a bud take four weeks to
+come out, but then it had to stand a lot of bad weather, and came through
+it safely after all. All these rose-trees may be had from Benjamin R. Cant
+& Sons, Colchester, at 1s. 6d. each. This firm always sends out good
+plants, with plenty of vitality in them, and as these old-established
+rose-nurseries are by no means in a sheltered spot, you may be sure of
+each tree being hardily grown and thoroughly ripened, great points in
+their future well-being.
+
+=CLIMBERS FOR COOL WALLS.= East, or better still E.S.E., is a good aspect
+for Hybrid Perpetual and Bourbon roses on walls. I have frequently noticed
+that they have a great dislike to the very hottest of the sun's rays, and
+that is the reason I have advised those places to be reserved for Teas.
+Some good climbing varieties for cool aspects are:--Mrs. John Laing, a
+satiny pink of lovely form and sweet scent. Jules Margottin, cherry-red,
+globular in shape, sweet-scented and very floriferous. Prince Camille de
+Rohan, =one= of =the best dark roses= to be had, as they are generally so
+difficult to grow--it is blackish-maroon in colour, and flowers
+abundantly. Boule-de-neige, a Bourbon, with white flowers in great
+abundance. Madame Isaac Pereire another Bourbon; it is a quick grower and
+=most abundant flowerer=, the flowers are bright rose crimson.
+Souvenir-de-la-Malmaison, one of the best Bourbons we have; does
+particularly well on cold walls, even on those facing north. Its flowers
+are very large, somewhat flat in form, and blush-white; it =blooms
+abundantly in autumn=, and is rarely subject to blight.
+
+=CLIMBERS REQUIRE VERY LITTLE PRUNING.= It is a case chiefly of cutting
+out all dead wood, and snipping the decayed ends of those that are left.
+=When planting rose-trees= of any description, choose mild and if possible
+calm weather, for it is better to keep the trees out of the ground a few
+days rather than plant them in frosty weather. =The soil should be
+friable=, so that it crumbles fairly well, and when the plant is in
+position it is advisable =to cover the roots with potting-soil= for two or
+three inches. Spread the roots out like a fan, and be sure not to plant
+the tree too deep. =Look carefully for the mark= showing the union =of
+graft and stock=, and be careful not to cover this with more than two
+inches of soil. Tread down the soil well to make it firm, and thus induce
+the rose-trees to make fresh roots. In =planting out climbers=, carefully
+tack all loose shoots to the wall or fence behind it, else the wind may do
+much harm. When all is finished give a good mulching of strawy manure,
+which should be dug in when March comes; and if there is a likelihood of
+frost, protect the branches with bracken or any light covering.
+
+=BUSH ROSES OF THE H.P. TYPE.= I will now give a few of the best Hybrid
+Perpetuals of the bush type; many of the varieties I shall name, however,
+=make very good standards= though they are more expensive. The "dwarfs,"
+as rosarians call them, only cost from 9d. to 1s. each at Messrs. Cant's,
+except in the case of =novelties=; and where these are concerned, it is
+well to wait a year or two, as they rapidly go down to the normal price.
+Duke of Teck, bright carmine scarlet, of good form, and occasionally
+blooms in the autumn. Dupuy Jamain, =one of the best H.P.'s ever
+introduced=, the flowers are almost cherry-red in colour, sweet-scented,
+and come out in succession =the whole of the summer=: it is a quick
+grower, and does well in a somewhat shady position. Heinrich Schultheis
+flowers of a true rose-pink touched with silver, very prettily shaped and
+exceedingly fragrant. Unfortunately, this variety is =subject to attacks
+of mildew=, though this does not seem to affect the beauty of the flowers
+but spoils the leaves.
+
+Baroness Rothschild, a faultless rose as regards form and colour, which is
+a beautiful pale pink, but utterly =devoid of scent=, a serious fault in
+my opinion. Comtesse de Bearn, large, dark, and very floriferous. Madame
+Gabriel Luizet, light silvery pink, quick growing, and free blooming.
+Ulrich Brunner, always given an excellent character in the catalogues, and
+indeed it is a good rose, cherry-red in colour, sweet-scented, and of fine
+form: it =rarely ails=, mildew and rust passing it by altogether. It is
+exceedingly vigorous, and makes therefore a good pillar-rose. Pride of
+Waltham, a =rose little heard-of= yet most lovely; its blossoms are of the
+brightest pink, sweetly scented, and beautifully cupped. Charles Lefevre,
+beautiful crimson with dark shading; also very good at Kew (and
+continuous). Abel Carriere, another dark maroon of fine form, and Queen of
+the bedders, producing carmine flowers so freely that it must be
+disbudded; it is subject to mildew.
+
+So many roses formerly classed as Hybrid Perpetuals are now called Hybrid
+Teas. The dear old La France is one that has undergone this change; it is
+=a rose no-one should be without=, and should be grown both as a standard
+and a bush; its silvery pink flowers have a most exquisite scent and
+perfect shape (that is, when nearly wide open; it is not a good
+button-hole variety). Another Hybrid Tea rose that has come to the fore
+lately is Bardou Job, a =splendid bedding variety=, with flaming roses
+almost single in form, but produced in prodigal profusion; it pays for
+feeding. Queen Mab is a somewhat similar rose but has apricot flowers,
+tinted pink and orange, borne in the same generous manner. It is a china
+rose; neither of these kinds attain a great height, nevertheless beds
+entirely composed of them are exceedingly effective and may be seen some
+distance off; they require very little pruning.
+
+=PILLAR ROSES.= Having mentioned pillar-roses, I will add a few more names
+especially calculated to do well in such positions; perhaps =one of the
+best= is Paul's Carmine Pillar, with its sheets; of lovely flowers
+covering the stems the whole way up, with plenty of healthy foliage to set
+them off. When better known, I should imagine it would be a rival even to
+Turner's Crimson Rambler, magnificent as that is when grown to perfection.
+At Kew recently a bed of the Carmine Pillar was quite =one of the sights
+of the garden=. A close investigation of the bed in which they were
+planted revealed the fact that every alternate rose-tree was a Gloire de
+Dijon, but each one was a sorry failure, and instead of scaling the
+heights, crouched low at the foot of its iron stake, as though unwilling
+to compete with the other blushing occupants. The "glories" were not very
+youthful either, that one could see by their thick hard stems; plenty of
+time had evidently been given them to do the work, but for some unknown
+reason they had shirked it. I have known several cases of this sort with
+the much-loved "glory de John," as the gardeners broadly term it. Madame
+Plantier is =a good white pillar-rose=, doing well in any situation, and
+Cheshunt Hybrid is also most accommodating, and blooms well even in poor
+soil, though it well repays good cultivation. Its flowers, cherry-carmine
+in colour, are large and full, and the petals are prettily veined and
+curl over at the edges. The foliage is rich, and the tree =never seems
+attacked by any disease=; it is a Hybrid Tea. Aimee Vibert, a noisette, is
+very good as a pillar-rose and extremely hardy: it also does well on
+arches; the flowers are small and white, with pink tips to the petals; it
+is very free, and flowers continuously.
+
+=ROSE HEDGES.= Hedges of roses are quite as effective as pillars, and make
+a very pretty screen for two-thirds of the year. The =ever-green roses are
+best= for this purpose, and of these Flora is by far-and-away the nicest
+rose. It has sweet flowers, small, full, and of the loveliest pink; they
+are borne in clusters, each one looking just ready for a fairy-wedding
+bouquet. They have a delightful scent, too, their =only fault being their
+short duration=; in one summer they will grow from five to ten feet, and
+are so free-flowering as almost to hide the leaves. Dundee Rambler, Ruga,
+Mirianthes, and Leopoldine d'Orleans are all equally suitable for hedges.
+
+=DWARF TEAS.= I will now name a list of the best dwarf Tea-roses; to begin
+with, Alba Rosea is a dear old rose-tree, moderate in growth, bearing
+numbers of flesh-white blossoms, good in form though small in size. These
+have a faint, sweet scent, and are very pretty for cutting. One day last
+August, I cut a whole branch off with about six open flowers upon it, and
+put it in a tall vase just as it was; they arranged themselves, and were
+much admired. The tree is decidedly dwarf and moderate in growth, and the
+leaves are very dark green, thus making a beautiful foil to the roses.
+Catherine Mermet is somewhat of the same type, but the flowers are larger
+and more deeply flushed with pink; it is =a good green-house rose=. Madame
+de Watteville resembles a tulip, having thick firm petals of a
+creamy-white colour, distinctly edged with pink. It is a strong grower and
+free in flowering. Madame Hoste is a pretty lemon-yellow colour, one of
+the easiest to grow in this particular shade; the flowers are of good
+form, and if well manured are large and full; it has a sweet scent. Madame
+Lambard is =a rose no one can do without=, it is so free-blooming and
+continuous; the colour is not constant, sometimes being mostly pink, at
+others almost a fawn, but as a rule it is a blend of those two shades.
+
+Marie van Houtte is another =indispensable variety=; the roses are lovely
+in form, of a pale lemon-yellow colour, each petal being flushed with pink
+at the edges, and the whole having a soft bloom, as it were, over it. This
+carmine-marking, however, is not constant; weather and position seem to
+have a good deal to do with it. Meteor is one of the darker Teas, being
+carmine-crimson shaded with blackish-maroon; the roses are not full though
+of good shape, consequently they =look best in bud=. This tree wants
+feeding to do well, and is not a vigorous grower. Grace Darling is =a gem=
+which everyone should have; the blossoms are large, full, perfect in shape
+and exquisite in colour, which is generally a peachy-pink, the reverse of
+the petals being a rich cream, and, as these curl over in a charming
+manner, the effect is unique and extremely beautiful. The foliage is
+abundant, of a ruddy tint, and keeps free from blight; indeed, =this
+entirely fascinating rose= has only one fault, it is altogether too
+unassuming.
+
+A bright, pink rose of fine form is the Duchess of Albany; it is often
+called =a deep coloured La France=, as it is a "sport" from that famous
+rose. The Marquis of Salisbury is another dark tea-rose; it is small but
+well-shaped though thin, and the blooms are abundant; it is strictly
+moderate in growth, being somewhat like the Chinas in habit. A fine rose
+=in a warm summer= is Kaiserin Friedrich, as it has large, very full,
+flowers, which take a good deal of building up; it appears to dislike cold
+and rainy weather.
+
+=Sunrise is a new kind= that is making a considerable stir in the
+rose-world; its flowers vary from reddish-carmine to pale fawn, and the
+tree has glorious foliage.
+
+=THE TIME TO PLANT.= October and November are the best months to plant
+rose-trees, except in very cold parts; February is then a safer time,
+especially for the tender sorts. =Their first season they require a great
+deal of looking after=; their roots have not got a proper foot-hold in the
+earth, and this means constant watering in dry weather. At blooming-time,
+an occasional application of guano does a great deal of good, making both
+flowers and leaves richer in colour. =Dead blooms, too, must be sedulously
+cut off=, as, if left on, the tree is weakened.
+
+=PRUNING.= Do a little pruning in October, though March and April are the
+chief months. In the autumn, however, the shoots of rose-trees should be
+thinned out, the branches left can then be shortened a fourth of their
+length with advantage, as the winter's howling winds are less likely to
+harm them. Standards especially require this, as when "carrying much sail"
+they are very liable to be up-rooted.
+
+When the spring comes, look the trees carefully over before commencing
+operations, remembering that =the sturdier a tree is the less it needs
+pruning=. The knife must go the deepest in the case of the poor, weak
+ones. Always prune down to an "eye," that is an incipient leaf-bud; if
+this is not done the wood rots.
+
+Evergreen roses need scarcely be touched, save to cut out dead branches
+and snip off decayed ends.
+
+For Teas and Noisettes also, little actual pruning is necessary. H.P.'s
+require the most. As a general rule for roses, if you want quality, not
+quantity, prune: hard, but to enable you to "cut and come again," only
+prune moderately.
+
+=Dis-budding= is a certain method of improving the blooms if it is done
+=in time=. It is little use to do it when the buds once begin to show
+colour; start picking off the superfluous ones when they are quite small,
+and the difference in size and shape is often amazing.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+Enemies of the Garden
+
+     _Slugs, and how to trap them--Blight or green fly--Earwigs--
+     Wireworm--Snails--Mice--Friends mistakenly called foes._
+
+
+=The best garden as a rule has the fewest insects=, indeed, no foe is
+allowed to lodge for any length of time without means being taken for its
+extermination. Some enemies are more easily got rid of than others; for
+instance, green fly, or _aphis_ (to give it the scientific name), rarely
+attacks healthy plants to any extent; it goes for the sick ones, therefore
+=good cultivation will speedily reduce their numbers=. When any is seen, a
+strong syringing of =soapy water= will generally dislodge them, or, if
+this is impracticable, a dusting of =tobacco-powder= is a very good
+substitute. Tait and Buchanan's Anti-blight, to be had of most seedsmen,
+is a reliable powder; it is also efficacious in preventing mildew in
+potatoes, chrysanthemums, etc.
+
+In some gardens, especially those inclined to be damp, =slugs are very
+troublesome=; their depredations are usually carried on by night, so that
+it is rather difficult to trap them; many things are sold for this
+purpose, but =hand-picking= is the surest method. In the evening, sink a
+saucer a little way in the border, and fill this with moist bran; =it is
+irresistible to the slugs=, and when twilight comes on they will steal out
+from their hiding-places and make a supper off it. Then comes man's
+opportunity. Armed with a pointed stick and a pail of salt and water, they
+must be picked off and popped into the =receptacle=, there =to meet a
+painless death=; one can squash them under foot, but where they are
+plentiful this is rather a messy proceeding. Snails may be trapped in
+exactly the same way; =salt or sand= should be placed in a ring round any
+plant they are specially fond of, or else in a single night they will
+graze off the whole of the juicy tops. Young growths are their greatest
+delicacy, hence they are most troublesome in the spring.
+
+=Wireworm= is another tiresome enemy well known to carnation growers, and
+more difficult to get rid of than the slug, owing to its hard and horny
+covering which resists crushing; salt again, however, is =a splendid
+cure=. It should be well mixed with the soil though not brought too close
+to the plants. =Earwigs= are horrid insects to get into a garden; they
+often come in with a load of manure, simply swarms of them imbedding
+themselves in such places. Dahlias are the plants they like best, and, if
+not kept down with a watchful eye, they will completely spoil both flowers
+and leaves. Hollow tubes, such as short straws, put round will collect
+many, or =the old plan= of filling an inverted flower-pot with moss is
+also useful, though somewhat disfiguring, if perched on the tops of the
+stakes supporting the dahlias.
+
+=Mice= are dreadfully destructive, too, especially in the country, and
+being so quick in their movements they are troublesome to catch. Traps
+must be baited with the daintiest morsels, to make them turn away from the
+succulent tops of the new vegetation. Owls and other large birds are most
+effectual in doing away with these troublesome little animals, a fact
+which should be taken into account. =Many people from ignorance= destroy
+birds or insects which may be urgently required to keep down annoying
+pests--take, for instance, =ladybirds=--the pretty creatures are
+=invaluable= where there is much green fly, yet how often are they doomed
+to death by some well-meaning gardener, and it is the same with birds. =A
+robin or sparrow will eat hundreds of aphides in one day=, so that,
+unless there are many fruit-trees in the garden, it is most unwise to
+shoot the dear little songsters; and even in the latter case, if
+protection can be afforded, by all means save the birds! A while ago some
+farmers had been so enraged by the devastation made by the sparrows and
+starlings that they determined to kill all the old birds. The consequence
+was that they were so over-run the next season by insects of every
+description, that they had to import birds at great trouble, to take the
+place of those they had killed. Foes are often mistaken for friends, but
+occasionally the reverse is the case!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+The Rockery
+
+     _A few hints on its construction--Aspect and soil--A list of
+     Alpines--Other suitable plants._
+
+
+A well-constructed rockery filled with a good selection of Alpine plants
+is a =never-failing delight= to anyone fond of a garden. Yet how rare a
+thing it is! most of the erections one sees are mere apologies for the
+real thing. The truth is not one gardener in a hundred knows how to make a
+rockery, though he does not like to say so! =An artistic mind is needed=
+to construct one that will be pleasing to the eye, besides a knowledge of
+draining, water-supply, and so forth. An educated person is not actually
+necessary, but one with common sense, who would not dream of making it
+merely another back-ground for gorgeous bedding-plants which are all very
+well in their right place, but absolutely =unsuited to a rockery=.
+
+=As regards aspect=, one that is built on each side of a narrow path
+running north and south, does very well, but as this may be impossible in
+a small garden, =a corner rockery= built high in the form of a triangle
+and facing south-east, can be made extremely pretty, as I know from
+experience. Where the rockery is in the shade, no overhanging trees must
+be near, if choice Alpines are expected to live there.
+
+=The material= may be either slabs of grey stone as at Kew, or the more
+easily obtained "clinkers." =Clinkers= are really bricks spoiled in the
+baking, having all sorts of excrescences on them which unfit them for
+ordinary building purposes; they should always be ordered from a strictly
+local contractor, as carriage adds considerably to the cost.
+
+=The soil= should be a mixture of peat, sand, and loam; no manure should
+be incorporated, the ="pockets"= for special favourites and plants that
+have individual wants can be filled in at the time of planting. =One
+advantage= pertaining to a rockery is that many plants which quite refuse
+to thrive in a border will grow and flourish there, and the attention they
+need is less troublesome to give; in fact, it is =a delightful form of
+gardening=, especially for a lady, as there is no fear of the feet getting
+dirty or wet, and a trowel, not a spade, is the chief implement used. A
+small piece of turf, just a few feet wide, at the bottom of the corner
+style of rockery, is =a great set-off=, and a vast improvement on a gravel
+path.
+
+=SUITABLE PLANTS FOR A ROCKERY.= The following are some of the best
+flowers for a rockery. The _aubrietias_ are very pretty little plants,
+having creeping rosettes of greyish-green leaves, and a perfect sheet of
+mauve or lilac bloom about April. The effect is greatly enhanced when
+=planted so as to fall over a stone= or brick; indeed, it is for those
+things which are so easily lost sight of in a border that a rockery comes
+in; they can be closely inspected there without much stooping.
+
+The _arabis_ is a pretty plant, somewhat like the _aubrietia_ in habit and
+time of flowering; hence, where only a small selection can be made, it
+might be left out, as it is =a trifle coarse=. Such a term could never be
+applied to the _androsaces_, which may be numbered among =the= _elite_ =of
+rock plants=; they are evergreens, and do not exceed six inches in height;
+they bear tiny but very bright flowers, varying from rose in some species
+to lavender in others.
+
+=APENNINE GEMS.= Some of the alpine anemones are lovely, notably _A.
+appennina_, which has sky-blue flowers that open out flat on very short
+stalks, surrounded by pale green denticulated foliage. _A. blanda_ is much
+the same, save that it flowers a month or so earlier; they are
+spring-blooming plants, and like moisture and shade, and will not do at
+all if subjected to much hot sun. These and many similar plants can often
+be planted on a =rockery facing south-east= (which aspect suits so many
+sun-loving plants), by arranging bricks, stones, or small shrubs, so as to
+shelter them from its hottest rays. _Aquilegias_, mentioned in the list of
+border plants, look quite as well on a rockery, if moisture can be given
+them, as their flowers are so delicate, and the leaves so fragile and
+prettily coloured, especially in the early spring. The blue and white _A.
+caerulea_, from the Rocky Mountains, is =a gem=, and the scarlet kinds are
+very effective.
+
+=For forming close green carpets=, _arenaria balearica_ is most useful; it
+creeps over rocks and stones, covering them completely with its moss-like
+growth, and hiding any hard, unlovely surfaces. The _campanula_ family is
+=a host in itself=, many of the smaller varieties looking better on a
+rockery than anywhere else. Some of these tiny bell-flowers have, however,
+the very longest of names! _C. portenschlagiana_, for instance, is only
+four inches high, and =a charming little plant= it is, and flowers for
+months, beginning about July. The blossoms are purple-blue in colour, and
+continue right into November, unless very hard frosts come to stop it. _C.
+cespetosa_ is another variety well suited to rock-work, as it is even
+smaller than the last.
+
+=The alpine wall-flower=, _cheiranthus alpinus_, is a very choice little
+plant; it has creamy-yellow flowers, borne on stalks a few inches high,
+and, though each individual plant is biennial, they seed so freely that
+they are practically perennial. A light, dry soil and a sunny situation
+suits them; they will even grow on old walls, and very picturesque they
+look perched up on some mossy old ruin.
+
+=An attractive rock plant=, though rarely seen, is _chrysogonum
+virginianum_; its flowers are creamy-yellow, and grow in a very quaint
+manner; this plant =blooms the whole season through=. Plants of this
+character should be noted carefully, as they help to give a rockery =a
+well-furnished appearance=, so that one always has something to show
+visitors.
+
+For warm, dry, sunny nooks =rock-roses= are the very thing; where other
+plants would be burnt up, the _cistus_ flourishes, for it requires no
+particular depth of soil. _C. florentinus_ (white) and _C. crispus_ (dark
+crimson), are two of the best.
+
+=One of the most exquisite and interesting rock-plants= I have ever seen
+is _clematis davidiana_, a plant only introduced of recent years, but
+noticeable wherever seen; it is not a climber, as its name might lead one
+to suppose, for =it only grows two feet high=, and generally trails along
+the ground; the flowers are curious in shape, and of a metallic blue-grey
+colour; the foliage is very neat and pretty; it blooms about July, and
+should be planted so that it can be examined closely.
+
+=The fumitories= are elegant plants, and nearly always in flower; the
+blossoms are small, yellow, sometimes white, and borne in profusion
+amongst the finely-cut foliage, which, =the whole summer through=, is a
+bright clear green. With one plant of _corydalis lutea_ a stock can soon
+be obtained, as this variety seeds freely. All the fumitories prefer a
+light soil and a sunny position.
+
+Dwarf evergreen shrubs greatly improve the appearance of the rockery in
+late autumn and winter, especially when they add berries to their
+attractions. The _cotoneasters_ are evergreen, and when about a foot high
+are very suitable for such a position. _C. horizontalis_ and _C.
+micicrophylla_ bear scarlet berries, and are altogether very choice; they
+must not be allowed to get too large, but taken up when little over a foot
+high, and others substituted for them.
+
+=Various bulbs=, which we generally plant in the border, find a prettier
+background in the rockery; here each bulb is made the most of, and, where
+very small, is seen to greater advantage; even if ever so insignificant,
+it cannot get buried away under a spadeful of soil, nor get splashed with
+mud. You must often have noticed how crocuses get blown over and spoilt by
+the wind, but in a cosy nook of the rock-work, planted fairly close
+together, and in a "pocket" surrounded by bricks, they find a happy home,
+and can be inspected without any difficulty. Personally, I do not care for
+=crocuses in a line=; one cannot see their pure transparency, and only get
+an idea of a broad band of colour; close at hand, their dewy chalices,
+exquisitely veined and streaked, seem far more beautiful, particularly
+where the finer sorts are selected. =All crocuses do not flower in
+spring=; some of the prettiest species bloom in autumn, though many
+people, seeing them at that time, imagine they are _colchicums_; the
+latter, though certainly very decorative when in flower, are followed by
+such coarse leaves that the crocus is decidedly preferable.
+
+The =hardy cyclamen= are very suitable for a rockery, as, being beauties
+in miniature, they are apt to get lost in a mixed border. _C.
+neapolitanum_ has marbled foliage and pretty pink flowers, and _C.
+europeum_ (maroonish crimson) is also well worth growing; they must be
+placed in a shady part, yet where the drainage is perfect; stagnant
+moisture kills them.
+
+The =hardy orchids= should be tried too, especially the _cypripedium_; it
+is not generally known how handsome some of them are; they like shade and
+moisture; indeed, through the summer the peat they are growing in should
+be a regular swamp, or they will fail to produce fine flowers.
+
+Another plant that likes peat is the little _daphne eneorum_. This is =an
+evergreen=, and produces its pink fragrant flowers every spring; it will
+not do in very smoky places, but, like the heath, must have a fairly pure
+atmosphere.
+
+=The alpine pinks are treasures for the rockery=, and do well in town
+gardens; they flower nearly all the summer, and are not particular as to
+soil and position, though they prefer plenty of sun.
+
+=The gentians= look very well on rockwork, but like a stronger soil than
+most alpines, loam suiting them best. Water should be generously given
+during spring and summer. _G. acaulis_ is the best for amateurs.
+
+The red shades found in the =geum tribe= are very uncommon, being neither
+crimson, scarlet, nor orange, but a mixture of all three, with a dash of
+brown thrown in. They =flower continuously=, and have dull green woolly
+foliage, which sets the flowers off well. They need a light, well-drained
+soil. _Geum chilense_, or _coccineum plenum_, is a good kind, and so is
+_G. miniatum_; both are about two feet high, but require no staking
+whatever. Of course, it will be understood that sticks, except of the
+lightest kind, are =quite inadmissible= on a rockery.
+
+=Helianthemums=, or =rock roses=, are charming little evergreen plants,
+with wiry prostrate stems, and small flowers, which are freely produced
+all the summer. They may be had in white, yellow, pink, scarlet, and
+crimson, and either double or single; the variety named Mrs. C. W. Earle
+is a very effective double scarlet, and quite a novelty.
+
+=Iris reticulata= is =a very fascinating little bulbous plant=, well
+adapted for a rockery; it blooms in the early spring, and very beautiful
+the flowers are, being rich violet-purple, with gold blotches on each
+petal; they are scented, too; when in blossom, the stems reach to about
+nine inches in height.
+
+One of the most lovely plants that can be imagined for a rockery is
+=lithospermum prostratum=, and yet how rarely one sees it; the glossy
+green leaves always look cheerful, and the flowers are exquisite, they
+are a bright full blue, and each petal is slightly veined with red, it is
+not difficult to grow, a dry, sunny position being all it requires; it is
+of trailing habit and an ever-green. Everyone knows =the creeping jenny=,
+but it is not to be despised for rock-work, especially for filling up odd
+corners where other things will not thrive. It blooms best where there is
+a certain amount of sun.
+
+=St. Dabeoc's Heath= is a pretty little shrub, very neat and of good
+habit; its flowers are the true pink, shading off to white, and of the
+well-known heath shape. Somewhat slow-growing, it prefers peat.
+
+=Plants that flower the whole season through= are most valuable on the
+rockery. =OEnotheras= may be depended on to present a pleasing appearance
+for several weeks, especially if all dead flowers are picked off. The
+dwarf kinds are the most suitable, such as _Oenothera marginata_,
+_missouriensis_, _linearis_, and _taraxacifolia_. The last-named, however,
+is only a biennial, but has the advantage of =opening in the morning=,
+while most of the evening primroses do not seem to think it worth while to
+make themselves attractive till calling-hours.
+
+=The most fairy-like little plant= for filling up narrow crevices in sunny
+quarters is the dear old =wood-sorrel=. It has tiny leaves like a shamrock
+in shape, but of a warm red-brown colour, and the sweetest little yellow
+flowers imaginable; they are borne on very short stalks, and only come out
+when the sunshine encourages them; the whole plant does not exceed three
+inches in height; it spreads rapidly, seeds freely, and thrives best in a
+very light soil; it will also do well on walls.
+
+The =alpine poppies= are so delicate and graceful that they seem made for
+the rockery. They only grow six inches high, and continue in flower at
+least four months; they may be had in a great range of colours, and are
+easily brought up from seed. Nice bushy plants can be had of these
+poppies for about four shillings a dozen, and it is needless to say they
+require plenty of sunshine. The word _phlox_ conveys to many people the
+idea of a tall autumn-flowering plant, with large umbels of flowers,
+individually about the size of a shilling. But these are not the only
+species; the alpine varieties are just as beautiful in a different way,
+though some are not more than a few inches high, and each flower no bigger
+than a ladies' glove-button. In spring and early summer they become
+=perfect sheets of bloom=, so that the foliage is completely hidden; when
+out of flower, they are soft green cushions of plants, and serve to cover
+bare bricks well.
+
+The =alpine potentillas= are pretty, and keep in flower for a long time.
+_P. nepalensis_ is a good one, but the merits of _p. fruticosa_ are much
+exaggerated, its dirty-looking yellow flowers are by no means
+prepossessing.
+
+=No rockery is complete= without several specimens of the family of
+_saxifrages_. One cannot do better than make a beginning with them, as
+they are so fine in form and diverse in style. _S. aizoon compactum_ is
+one of the best rosette species, and _S. hypnoides densa_ of the mossy
+tribe; other kinds well worth growing are _S. burseriana_, which has
+pretty white flowers on red hairy stems in early March; _S. cunifolia_,
+with charming fresh pink blossoms, and of course _S. umbrosa_, the sweet
+old-fashioned =London pride=. A dry sunny situation suits the _saxifrages_
+best.
+
+The =House leeks= are somewhat similar in appearance, but like drier
+situations than the last-named plants. The _sempervivums_ delight to creep
+along a piece of bare rock, and one marvels how they can derive enough
+sustenance from the small amount of poor soil in which they are often seen
+growing. The =cobweb species=, called _arachnoideum_, is most interesting,
+and invariably admired by visitors; it has greyish-green rosettes, each
+one of which is covered with a downy thread in the form of a spider's
+web. A kind more often seen is _sempervivum montanum_, and certainly it is
+a =very handsome species=, with curious flowers supported on firm
+succulent red stems. It is to be seen in broad clumps at Kew, and very
+well it looks.
+
+There are no better carpetters than the =dwarf sedums=, or =stone crops=.
+_S. glaucum_ has blue-grey foliage, and spreads rapidly; _S. lydium_ is
+the variety most in use, and can be had very cheaply. The tall, old
+variety, _sedum spectabile_, has been improved upon, and the novelty is
+called _S. s. rosea_. Another novelty is _shortia galacifolia_; it is a
+native of North America, and has white, bell-shaped flowers supported on
+elegant, hairy stems, the leaves are heart shaped, and turn almost scarlet
+in autumn; thus, the plant has =two seasons of beauty=, as it blooms in
+the spring. A peaty soil, with a little sand added, suits it well, if the
+drainage is good; and it likes a half-shady position.
+
+=Plants that are sadly neglected= are the airy-fairy Sea-lavenders or
+_Statices_, with their filmy heads like purple foam; _S. gmelini_ and _S.
+limonium_ are two of the best. When cut, they last a long time, and are
+very useful for giving a graceful appearance to =stiff bouquets=.
+
+The dwarf _thalictrums_ are =good rockery plants=; they are =grown for
+their foliage=, which bears a striking resemblance to the maidenhair fern.
+_T. adiantifolium_ and _T. minus_ are very pretty; their flower-heads
+should always be cut off, so as to promote the production of their fine
+fronds, which have the property of lasting well when cut.
+
+The =aromatic scent of thyme= is very pleasant on a rockery; not only
+should the silver and golden varieties be grown, but also those bright
+kinds which give us sheets of purple, pink, and white blossom during
+summer; to thrive they must be exposed to full sunshine, when =they will
+attract innumerable bees=. The new kind, _T. serpyllum roseus_, is
+splendid, the tiny flowers coming in such profusion as to completely hide
+the foliage. All are low-growing, having the cushion habit of growth.
+
+_Veronicas_ are not often seen, yet they are exceedingly pretty, and
+continuous bloomers. =Amateurs should not begin with the shrub tribe=, as
+these are somewhat tender, but if _V. incana_, _V. longifolia-subsessilis_,
+and _V. prostrata_ are obtained, they will be sure to please. The first
+and last are low-growing, but the other is two feet high, and has long
+racenes like soft blue tassels, which hang down in the most charming way.
+
+=A few words on some more bulbs= that look well on rockeries, besides the
+crocus and dwarf iris before-mentioned, may not be amiss: the =winter
+aconites= are most appropriate so placed, and show to greater advantage
+than in the level border. Their golden flowers, each surrounded by a frill
+of green, come forth as early as January, if the weather be propitious.
+
+The _chionodoxa_, called also =glory of the snow=, is very fresh and
+pretty, with its bright blue flowers having a conspicuous white eye. If
+left undisturbed they will spread rapidly, and come up year after year
+without any further trouble; they are =very cheap=, and will do in any
+soil.
+
+=Snowdrops= are charming on rock-work, and may be placed close to the
+_chionodoxa_, as they bloom almost together.
+
+The =grape-hyacinths= have very quaint little flowers of a bright
+dark-blue colour, on stalks about five or six inches high; they flower for
+some weeks, and must be massed together to get a good effect.
+
+=The early-flowering scillas= resemble the _chionodoxas_, but last much
+longer in bloom. They are very =easy to manage=, and rarely fail to make a
+good show. _S. siberica_ is the best-known variety, and can be obtained
+very cheaply.
+
+=The miniature narcissus= is the sweetest thing imaginable; _N. minus_, is
+only a few inches high, and when in the open border is apt to get
+splashed, but amongst stones in a sheltered position on the rockery they
+are charming. All these dwarf bulbs look so well in such positions,
+because =their purity remains unsullied=.
+
+Here I will leave the rockery, merely intimating that =early autumn is the
+best time for planting=, and that if pains are taken to construct it
+properly at first, a great amount of trouble will be saved in the end.
+Most of these plants and bulbs may be had of Messrs. Barr & Sons, 12, King
+Street, Covent Garden. Their daffodil nurseries at Long Ditton, near
+Surbiton, Surrey, are famous all the world over, but they also go in a
+great deal for hardy perennials and rock plants, of which they have a
+splendid stock; their prices are very reasonable, too, when you take into
+consideration that everything they send out is absolutely true to name.
+Their interesting catalogues will be sent post free on application.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+Trees, Shrubs, and How to Treat Them.
+
+     _Some good plants for growing beneath them--Selection of hardy
+     shrubs--Enriching the soil--Climbers._
+
+
+Forest-trees in a small garden are somewhat out of place, but as they are
+often found in such positions, I will deal with them here. It is to be
+remembered that though they give most grateful shade, not only do they rob
+everything beneath them of sunshine, but also =take so much out of the
+soil=, that, unless constant renewals are made, very little can be grown
+in their immediate vicinity; the class of plants that will do best beneath
+their branches also find the soil they are growing in best renewed by the
+leaves which fall therefrom. For the sake of tidiness, these of course are
+swept away, but they should be kept for two or three years, and then
+brought back, converted into =leaf-mould=; if this is not done, the
+quality of the soil will steadily deteriorate, instead of getting richer,
+as it does in woods; and this is one reason why so many wild plants fail
+to thrive when brought into cultivation; manure is no substitute, but
+often distasteful to them.
+
+=SOMETHING BESIDES IVY.= Trees must be divided into two broad sections,
+=deciduous and ever-green=. Very few plants will do well under the latter,
+but as regards the first, =ivy= is not by any means the only thing that
+will grow, though it is often a good plan to use it as a foundation, and
+work in plants here and there afterwards. There is no need to choose the
+large kind; those elegant varieties with long pointed leaves are =more
+ornamental and just as easy to grow=. Their roots must be restricted when
+other plants are near, or they will soon take up all the room. =Ferns=
+will do very well under trees, if they are plentifully watered during the
+dry season. Here also a few of the choicest kinds should be grown, for
+though some of them may not do so well as in a shady open spot, most of
+them will give a fairly good account of themselves. Always plant them with
+the rhizome above ground, not forgetting that when each fern has its full
+complement of fronds, it will take up a considerably larger space than it
+does at the time it is set out.
+
+If the _Osmunda regalis_ is tried--=the royal fern=--it is necessary to
+get a good established turf of it; strong clumps cost about 1s. 6d. each;
+plenty of water must be given it in the summer. I have seen it in splendid
+form under a tree in a very small garden.
+
+Perhaps the =St. John's worts= come next to ivy and ferns in their
+usefulness for planting under trees, as they are =always decorative, being
+ever-green=. In the spring, the foliage is a most lovely soft apple-green,
+and in summer when the golden cups filled with anthers issue forth from
+the axils of the leaves, the effect is beautiful. _Hypericum calycinum_ is
+the Latin term for these plants, and though they will do on the dryest
+bank and in the poorest soil, being very tough and wiry, if they are grown
+in good loam and manure is occasionally given them, they will repay with
+far finer flowers, which will be produced for a longer season.
+
+=A good breadth of woodruff= makes a very pretty picture for several
+weeks, and has a delightful scent; here and there bulbs can be planted
+amongst it, neither being harmed by this plan. The _aubrietias_ =flower
+with unfailing regularity= under trees, even when the aspect is north, and
+no gleam of sunshine reaches them; their greyish-green rosettes resist
+drought splendidly, and though these plants do not give us so much blossom
+in unfavourable positions, still they make a very pretty show.
+_Aubrietias_ can be easily propagated by division; every morsel grows.
+
+=BANKS UNDER TREES.= The white _arabis_ also does well under similar
+conditions; both are useful for draping perpendicular surfaces, such as
+the steep side of a bank or hedge. A raised border, with facing of bricks,
+is rather a nice way of growing plants under trees, and the work of
+tending them is pleasant, less stooping being required.
+
+The =mossy saxifrage= droops over the edges, and mingles well with the
+_arabis_, but it must be more carefully watered, as it is apt to die out;
+pieces should constantly be taken off, and dibbled in so as to fill up any
+gaps. The =periwinkles= meander charmingly over the roughest stones, and
+in the most dreary spots; their glossy ever-green leaves, and fresh bright
+little flowerets =always looking cheerful= whatever the weather. They
+creep quickly, rooting every few inches as they grow; on the perpendicular
+face of the rock, succulent plants like =echeverias= can sometimes be made
+to grow (those little green rosettes, having each leaf tipped with red,
+which can be bought so readily in May for about twopence each).
+
+=Many things will do for a time=, that want renewing each year, even if
+hardy. Cowslips, primroses, polyanthus, wallflowers, all will make a fair
+show if planted out just before flowering, but, unless a few hours' sun
+daily shines on them, they will not retain enough vitality to produce
+seed, and being biennial soon die out, leaving not a trace behind.
+
+=A great many bulbs do admirably under deciduous trees=, especially those
+which blossom before the new leaves on the branches above them have
+reached any appreciable size.
+
+=Scillas= bloom in the same place year after year; snowdrops also do
+fairly well, and lilies of the valley ring out a few of their dainty
+bells every spring (a rich vegetable soil suits them best). =Tulips= only
+do well when planted afresh every autumn; but, as they are so cheap, that
+is not a great matter. The _megaseas_, mentioned in another chapter, give
+forth many of their fine leaves, but they refuse to turn colour, owing to
+the want of sun. Fox-gloves, also, grow and flower, seeming to enjoy their
+position.
+
+=If the aspect of the space to be filled is a cold one=, such things as
+geraniums will only give a few poor flowers, and then succumb. Even
+pansies wilt and gradually fade away under trees, for their soft, weak
+stems and leaves soon get drawn up for want of light, though they will do
+well enough on an _open_ border, facing north.
+
+=Hard-wooded plants= will be generally found to do best; indeed, some of
+the shrub tribe succeed very well, particularly barberry, _pernettyas_,
+the early _daphnes_, whortleberries, _gaultheria shallon_ and
+_cotoneaster_.
+
+While on the subject of =shrubs=, it may be as well to mention several
+attractive kinds which may be planted in place of the =eternal box= and
+Portugal laurel; of course, these two have almost every good quality; they
+will do in any soil, are ever-green, and resist smoke, dust and dirt well;
+but, in places where poor soil and a soot-laden atmosphere are absent,
+=substitutes might occasionally be found for those shrubs=, which will
+have the added charm of novelty. One of the nicest for small gardens is
+_cotoneaster microphylla_; this is a joy to look at, all through the
+winter months, when it is at its best; the branches grow in an uncommon
+manner, and are of somewhat prostrate habit; they are thickly clothed with
+dark, small leaves the whole way up the stem, and shining amongst them are
+the pretty crimson, almost transparent berries. It is quite distinct from
+the ordinary berry-bearing shrubs, as there is =nothing stiff about its
+gracefully-curving sprays=, which look well cut and wedged in the
+Japanese fashion. Shrubs of this variety may be had as low as sixpence,
+but it is better policy to get a larger one, costing about eighteen pence,
+as they will sooner be of a presentable size; they are shrubs, too, that
+do not altogether show their capabilities when at a very youthful stage.
+
+=A GOOD ALL ROUND PLANT.= _Berberis aquifolium_ is another shrub which has
+a great deal to recommend it; it is ever-green, and will do in almost any
+position; it bears lovely yellow flowers in spring, purple powdered
+berries in August, and the foliage turns a rich red in October. Always
+ornate, it is one of the easiest shrubs to grow, and =just the thing for a
+small garden=.
+
+=The myrtle=, though liable to be killed in a very hard frost, can often
+be grown to a great size in a sheltered garden; I have seen bushes eight
+yards round, in an exposed position near the river Thames, which must have
+been braving the storms for many a year past. They should not be planted
+out till March or April, though November is the month for most other
+shrubs. The old _pyrus japonica_ =makes a good bush=, though most often
+grow on a wall; its bright flowers, carmine-scarlet in colour with yellow
+anthers in the centre, appear early in April, a week or two later than the
+climbers, which of course are protected. When grown in bush form, it =is
+sometimes pruned out of all recognition=; this is especially the case in
+public gardens, and is quite an affliction to any one who knows how lovely
+it can be! The knife should be restrained, allowing the _pyrus_ to take
+its own shape as much as possible; it is often sold under the name of
+_cydonia japonica_, as that is really its rightful title.
+
+=One or two of the _araucarias_ make very good shrubs for a small garden=;
+they should not be grown in cold, wind-swept places, as their branches
+soon turn brown if exposed to continued frost and furious blasts. There is
+a magnificent specimen in the nurseries of Messrs. Veitch, Kingston Hill,
+Surrey, planted about 1865; its ornamental appearance is greatly due to
+the number of young branches springing out from the main trunk and almost
+completely covering it; they nestle under the larger branches, and produce
+a very picturesque effect. Small plants of this variety may be had for
+three or four shillings.
+
+Messrs. Veitch have a splendid selection of shrubs, all in the best of
+health; their hollies are well grown, and include all the good sorts; a
+variety that bears fruit when quite young is _ilex glabrum_, of which they
+have a large stock; these trees are such slow growers, that it is
+advisable to get one that will look attractive almost at once.
+
+=Pernettyas are ornamental little shrubs=, not so much grown as they
+deserve; in winter, when most things look drooping and unhappy, these
+American visitors to our gardens are bright and cheerful. =The dwarf erica
+carnea=, both pink and white, show their buds as early as November, and at
+the turn of the year present a very pretty appearance; they look well as
+edgings to rhododendron beds; their price is about sixpence each.
+
+=Another charming winter shrub= is _cornus sanguinea_; its beauty lies in
+the red glow of its leafless stems, which makes it visible some distance
+off.
+
+_Spirea Anthony Waterer_ is a =fine plant in late summer=, having pink
+umbels of flowers and a habit somewhat like the valerian. =The snow-berry=
+is good in autumn and winter, having large white berries which hang on a
+long time; it is deciduous, and likes a rich soil.
+
+Messrs. Veitch have a splendid collection of conifers for all aspects and
+positions; their small junipers are most fascinating little trees, with
+flat spreading branches of the loveliest shade of green, and their
+seedling firs are well balanced. They sell a great variety of lilac trees
+too.
+
+=GRAFTED LILACS.= A note on lilacs will not be amiss; if you notice that
+any lilacs you may happen to have flower sparsely, and are poor in size
+and colour it will be as well to examine the stems close to the soil, and
+you will probably find a fine crop of suckers; all these must be cut away
+as sedulously as those on your rose-trees, for =nearly all lilacs are
+grafted=, very few kinds being sold on their own roots.
+
+The _forsythias_ are =pretty climbers or shrubs=, according to the variety
+chosen, much like the yellow jasmine, with its golden stars on leafless
+stems. Just as the latter, however, is going out of flower the
+_forsythias_ are coming on, and therefore give a succession of very pretty
+blossoms.
+
+Originally from China, =the wigelias= have now taken a place in many
+English gardens, by reason of their fresh pink and white flowers and easy
+cultivation. They bloom late in spring, and should be placed by preference
+=against a dark wall=, as their flowers, being surrounded by pale-green
+foliage, do not stand out sufficiently on a light one.
+
+=THE DELICATE CEANOTHUS.= The exquisite summer-flowering _ceanothus_ has
+been mentioned before, but I notice it here again because it is one of
+those =shrubs that should not be overlooked= on any account; its leaves
+are somewhat like those of a heliotrope, and its flowers are bluish-mauve
+in colour and borne in trusses; it blooms for many weeks and has a most
+delicious scent, and should be planted out in the spring.
+
+=A neglected but really remarkable shrub is the= _rhus cotinus_--=the
+smoke plant.= In early August it is a striking sight, with its curious
+inflorescence quite impossible to describe. At Hampton Court there are two
+or three fine species.
+
+=WINTER SHRUBBERY.= It will be observed that shrubs presenting a
+decorative appearance in winter are made much of; this is because
+soft-wooded plants always look miserable then, whereas with a few
+berry-bearing shrubs and a nice selection of bulbs, we may have a =pretty
+garden all the year round=. Once planted, however, they should not be left
+entirely to take care of themselves; the soil must be enriched
+occasionally, if we wish for good results, and great care taken to =train
+them in the way they should go=, by pinching out shoots which would tend
+to give a lop-sided effect. Such things as firs must be unobtrusively
+staked till they are able to support themselves, as =symmetrical growth=
+is part of their charm, and we must remember that "as the twig is bent,
+the tree is inclined." =Standard rhododendrons= require to be very
+carefully staked until they have a fair hold of the ground, or their big
+heads are caught by the wind, and this loosens the soil to such an extent
+that it is impossible for fresh roots to be made. Generally, some of the
+=bush rhododendrons= should be grown amongst the standards, and if these
+are dotted about with clumps of lilies the effect is very rich. _Lilium
+tigrinum splendens_ is =one of the best for this purpose=, and is most
+brilliantly beautiful during August and September; they are six feet in
+height, and the flowers are a rich orange red, with black spots on each
+petal; they can be obtained for half-a-crown the dozen.
+
+=A lily suitable for placing amongst azaleas=, as it is only three feet
+high, is _lilium speciosum album_; it has glistening pure-white flowers,
+and a graceful habit. The shade of the shrub is most beneficial to the
+lilies, as they dislike strong sunshine, and of course they are also
+protected from cold in winter. The same soil, a mixture of peat, loam and
+sand, suits both.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+=The Ins and Outs of Gardening=
+
+     _Planting--Watering--"Puddling"--Aspect--Shelter--Youth and age in
+     relation to plants--Catalogue defects--A time for everything._
+
+
+Now that we have seen what to plant, it will be advisable to learn =how to
+plant it=.
+
+Perhaps the most important point to be taken notice of is the necessity of
+=firm planting=. Watch how a clever gardener presses the earth well round
+the roots of everything he puts in, where the plants are large, treading
+the soil down with his foot. =Loose planting is ruinous= (except in a few
+isolated cases), and yet it is a favourite practice with amateurs, who
+call it treating their flowers tenderly! But, as with the human kind, =a
+judicious mixture of firmness and tenderness= is the happy medium to be
+aimed at, and which alone insures success.
+
+=A good watering= helps to make the soil settle as much as anything;
+therefore, when put into the ground the plants should be well soaked,
+after which they should be left for a few days, with the exception of
+=overhead watering=, which is most refreshing. In very hot weather, it is
+often possible to transplant with perfect safety, if the roots are put
+into "puddle."
+
+=PLANTING IN "PUDDLE."= "Puddle" is a very expressive gardening term,
+which signifies soil mixed with so much water as almost to have acquired
+the consistency of a paste. =Operation 1=--well water the plant to be
+removed; =operation 2=--dig the hole which is to receive it; =operation
+3=--fill the same with water up to the rim; =operation 4=--carefully take
+up your plant with plenty of soil round it; =operation 5=--gently place it
+in hole prepared, the walls of which will then be thoroughly soaked;
+=operation 6=--fill in with the "puddle" above referred to; =operation
+7=--tread gently but firmly down; and, lastly, scatter a little dryer soil
+on the top. Flowers planted in this fashion can be taken up even during
+June, July and August; and, if properly looked after, will scarcely flag
+at all.
+
+=EFFECTS OF ASPECT.= The influence of aspect on plants is an interesting
+study; we all know that a shrub on a south wall is practically in a
+different climate to a shrub on a north wall. One reason why tender plants
+do so well on a =south or west aspect= is because the sun does not reach
+it till some hours after it has risen and warmed the air. The =sun shining
+on half-frozen buds= often has a disastrous effect on plants climbing
+walls with an eastern aspect; consequently, a north wall is often better
+for a delicate plant, if the warmest aspect cannot be given it; camellias,
+for instance, when outside prefer it to any other. =If a succession of one
+kind of flower is desired=, a group facing each corner oL the compass will
+often accomplish this, sometimes as much difference as a month being
+noted. Certain unimpressionable plants refuse to alter their season of
+blooming, but, as a rule, it is a sure method of attaining this object.
+=Colouring is also vastly influenced by aspect=; such things as pansies,
+for example, never show such rich markings under a hot sun, but require an
+east border to bring out their true beauties. Scotland suits them
+admirably, with its cool summer nights and moist atmosphere.
+
+=THE IMPORTANCE OF SHELTER.= Shelter has a great deal to do with success
+in a garden; in the ordinary town garden, the builder has generally been
+only too obliging in this respect, but in bleak hilly spots it might
+almost be called the gardener's watchword. Few things except Scotch firs
+and the like will stand a =long-continued high wind= with impunity; not
+only does it wrench the plants out of the soil, but, if it comes from a
+cold quarter, both flowers and leaves curl up at its approach and refuse
+to thrive; they become nipped in the bud, as at the touch of frost.
+Everyone has experienced the meaning of shelter when out in a cold
+nor'-easter; how it bites one, making the blood stand still with its fury!
+then, all at once, we round the corner, and hey presto! all is changed;
+the air is quite caressing, and the blood tingles to our very finger-tips
+from the sudden reaction. With due regard to shelter, then, =climates can
+be "manufactured" without glass=. In extensive grounds, these wind-breaks
+are made by planting lines of trees, but in smaller spaces it may be done
+differently. The construction of =light fences=, not over five feet in
+height, run up inside the compound, accomplish a good deal, as may be seen
+by any visitor to the nurseries of Messrs. Barr, at Long Ditton; they are
+=not ugly if well clothed=, and make an effectual break in a much shorter
+time than would be the case if fruit-trees were planted, though there is
+nothing prettier than a row of apple or pear trees, grown espalier
+fashion, if time is no object. Many things will nestle beneath them, and
+flower beautifully for months together, for, though these fruit-trees are
+deciduous, the force of the wind is considerably lessened by them, on the
+same principle that =fishing-nets are such a protection from frost= to
+wall-climbers; and this again may be compared to the veils which ladies
+use to protect their skin. Though of wide mesh, the fishing-nets will keep
+off five or six degrees of frost, and in certain cases are better than a
+closer protection, like tiffany, which sometimes "coddles" the trees too
+much.
+
+=A few words on the respective qualities of youth and age= may not be
+amiss. Amateurs are so often disappointed in their garden purchases,
+because they will not allow the plants sufficient time to demonstrate
+their capabilities. =Catalogues are much to blame= in this respect; an
+enticing description of a shrub is given, and the confiding amateur orders
+it, believing that in a year or two it will fulfil its character. How can
+he be expected to know that that particular variety never bears any
+flowers worth speaking of till it is at least seven years old! In the long
+run, I think nurserymen will find it pay to tell the whole truth regarding
+each plant they send out, not merely in a negative way either. If an
+alpine, for example, like _linnea borealis_, is extremely difficult to
+grow and flower in this country, it is only fair to say so; to place it
+amongst a lot of easily-cultivated plants without a word of warning is
+=not straightforward dealing=, moreover is apt to make people disgusted
+with the whole thing. Some plants bloom much the best when in their first
+youth; this is the case with many of the soft-wooded plants, which soon
+give signs of exhaustion, especially in a light soil. When it is noticed
+that the outside flowering stems produce finer blossoms than those from
+the centre, it is generally =a sign that division is required=, and that
+the soil wants enriching.
+
+=THE CALENDAR.= That there is =a time for everything in gardening= is
+almost a truism; the calendar is considered one of the most important
+parts of a technical book on this subject. It is advisable for an amateur
+gardener to =have a note-book=, in which he jots down what he has to do
+several weeks or months in advance; so often some fault easily remedied is
+left over from year to year, because perhaps it is only observed in the
+summer, and cannot be mended till winter. Recently, the calendar has not
+been given quite so much prominence; gardeners find out more and more that
+the weather is not governed by it, and that though one year it may be best
+to sow a certain seed at the beginning of February, another season may be
+so cold that it will have to go in at least a fortnight later.
+Nevertheless, taken roughly, this diary of events, as the dictionary calls
+it, holds good for most years, and it is wise to stick to it as far as
+possible.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+The Profitable Portion
+
+     _Fruit--The best kinds for a small garden--Avoidance of size minus
+     flavour--Vegetables--Herbs._
+
+
+If a small garden has room for any fruit-trees, =apples are the most
+useful= kind to grow; they can be so trained as to take up little room;
+for instance, in _espalier_ fashion, down each side of a sunny walk. These
+=apple-hedges= are a lovely sight in spring and also in the autumn, when
+the ruddy fruit is waiting to drop into the outstretched hand. Though
+names can easily be given, it is generally a good plan to =make enquiries
+in the neighbourhood as to the best varieties= to grow, for so much
+depends on soil and position. Colloquial names are often given, which
+require identifying with existing varieties; this can be done by sending
+up a specimen of the fruit to the manager of a correspondence column in
+some reliable gardening magazine. These gentlemen are generally able to
+give the desired information, and no charge is made. =A surer method=
+still is to send the fruit which it is desired to identify to some
+well-known nurseries, such as those of Messrs. Rivers at Sawbridgeworth,
+Hertfordshire; they have acres upon acres of splendid fruit-trees of every
+kind, and my readers cannot do better than purchase all they require from
+them. Having such wide experience, they can recommend varieties suitable
+for all kinds of soil and all sorts of positions. For small gardens,
+apple-trees grafted on =the paradise stock= are much to be recommended, as
+they are compact in habit, taking up but little room and =begin bearing
+almost at once=. Messrs. Rivers guarantee their trees on this stock to
+continue in full-bearing for many years. "Plant pears, and you plant for
+your heirs" is the old saying, but this is all changed now that the
+=quince stock= is used so much. _Cordon_ pears on wire fencing bear
+first-rate crops, and are particularly good for small gardens; the
+diagonal cordon is perhaps the best. =Cooking pears= can be grown on north
+walls, but it is not advisable to try dessert varieties on such a cold
+aspect.
+
+=STONE FRUIT.= To grow stone fruit successfully, =the soil must contain a
+fair quantity of lime=; moreover the trees, especially if trained against
+walls, must be kept well-watered at the stoning period. After the fruit
+has been picked, less moisture is required.
+
+=Standard plants are very profitable=, as crops of currants and
+gooseberries can be grown beneath them; this double system of cropping the
+ground being a great advantage where space is a consideration. =Plums=
+require little pruning, and are also not so liable to attacks of birds as
+other fruit. When ordering, =do not get too many trees of one variety=, a
+good selection will give a long succession of fruit; this applies to all
+kinds of fruit-trees.
+
+=Currants are a very manageable fruit=, as they do well in almost any
+position; heavy crops can be secured from bushes planted on north borders,
+the =black currant= thriving though it only gets a minimum of sunshine;
+=gooseberries= are not exacting either, and will give a good return for a
+small amount of labour. Both may be propagated by cuttings, and are very
+reasonable in price, only costing about four shillings a dozen. Messrs.
+Rivers' stock of =maiden peach-trees= and =nectarines= is unsurpassed, and
+many of the best kinds obtainable have been raised by them, and are of
+worldwide fame. Regarding that oft-debated question of protecting the
+blossom in spring, they do not advise anything in the nature of bracken to
+be used, this often doing more harm than good. If possible, =a glass
+coping= should be placed along the top of the wall, from which tiffany
+can depend on cold nights; unless this be done, it is best to leave them
+alone. Fine crops are often obtained in the south and west of England
+without any protection whatever, the good seasons amply compensating for
+the bad.
+
+It occasionally happens that the amateur has an advantage over the market
+grower. This is particularly the case where one wants to curtail the
+=depredations of birds=; it pays to protect a few yards of fruit, but
+where it is a case of several acres, the trees have to take their chance.
+=Cherries= have to be watched very carefully in this respect; it is very
+desirable to keep the =Morello cherries= hanging long, as they then become
+sweeter and make good tarts. These trees do very well on north walls.
+
+=WANT OF FLAVOUR.= One great fault noticeable in fruit-growing of recent
+years is that everything is sacrificed to size and appearance, flavour
+being at a discount; the shows have had a great deal to do with this; in
+the old days, when they were fewer in number, the test of a fruit was its
+taste. =Strawberries= in particular have deteriorated in this way, the
+huge kinds now seen often being absolutely devoid of the luscious flavour
+generally associated with them. Of course we have =better keeping
+varieties=, and they can be obtained much later than was once the case. If
+the culture of the perpetual varieties is extended strawberries will be in
+season many weeks longer, and this will be extremely good news for
+invalids, who find it as a rule one of the easiest fruits to digest. =The
+cultivation of strawberries is fairly easy=, but their wants must be
+regularly attended to. Once in three years the old plants must be taken
+up, and new ones (the "runners" issuing from the old) planted instead; in
+the summer a good mulching of strawy manure should be placed between the
+rows, as this helps to keep the fruit clean, besides enriching the soil.
+Plants which are expected to bear a good crop of fruit must have all their
+runners cut off as fast as they appear, as it exhausts the plants much to
+bear both. =Strawberries are partial to rather a light soil=, but nearly
+all other fruit-trees revel in a mixture of loam and clay, with a little
+sand to keep it open. This soil does not suffer so much from drought, and,
+being firmer, the larger trees can send their roots down and get a far
+better hold of the ground than is possible in shingly, poor soils.
+
+=ORNAMENTAL AND USEFUL.= =Vegetables= take up a good deal of room in a
+garden if they are wanted all the year round, but a few things can be
+easily grown. =Scarlet runner beans=, being ornamental as well as useful,
+are some of the best vegetables to grow, as they can be made to form a
+convenient screen for a rubbish heap. These can be brought up from seed
+sown early in April, and, when a foot high, require sticks; these come
+rather expensive if new ones are used every summer, but with care they
+will last two and even three seasons, though latterly they become very
+brittle. On the rubbish heap, =marrows= can be grown with the greatest
+facility, as they revel in the rich warmth there found. They should be
+bought when a few inches high, and planted out at the end of May, as they
+are only half hardy. When the flower at the end drops off they are ready
+to cut; if allowed to get much larger they lose all their flavour. A few,
+however, should be allowed to become quite ripe, as they can be used in
+the autumn for making apple-tart, two parts apple to one part marrow, and
+they also make =a good jam= when spiced with ginger, etc.
+
+=RELATIONS OF THE SUNFLOWERS.= =Jerusalem artichokes= will flourish on a
+north border, and come in very nicely during November; they are planted in
+exactly the same manner as potatoes, that is, by means of pieces
+containing two or three "eyes," which should go in about February. Like
+potatoes, too, they can be stored; though so tall, they do not require any
+sticks; these artichokes present much the same appearance as the ordinary
+cottager's sun-flower (indeed, the botanical name is identical,
+_helianthus_), having thick, hollow stems, covered with long, pointed,
+hairy leaves.
+
+=Potatoes are rather "kittle-kattle"= for amateurs, but where the soil is
+light they should certainly be tried, especially where there is room for a
+rotation of crops, as successive planting should not be made in the same
+place. Beware of giving rank manure to them, a sure precursor of disease;
+artificial manures, such as guano are far more suitable. =No trees must be
+allowed near them=, but a sunny open piece of ground be given up to them.
+March is the month to plant and the rows should be from fifteen inches to
+two feet apart.
+
+=Carrots and turnips= also prefer a light soil and sunny situation. Seeds
+of both should be sown in March, when the soil is in a friable condition,
+several times subsequently; the seeds must be well thinned out, and the
+space between the rows constantly turned by the hoe; the latter operation
+is particularly needful in heavy land, as it not only destroys weeds, but
+prevents the soil from caking: the rows should be about a foot apart.
+Before the turnips are ready, the young green tops make a vegetable by no
+means to be despised.
+
+=Herbs=, such as mint, parsley, mustard and cress, should be grown in
+every garden, as they take up but little space and are so much dearer to
+buy. =Mint= is perennial, and will come up year after year, giving no
+trouble whatever; it spreads rapidly and will grow anywhere. To start a
+bed, roots can be bought from some market-gardener, or cuttings can be
+struck from the bunches bought in the shops.
+
+=Parsley= is a biennial, though generally grown as an annual, because the
+leaves from young plants are much the best; the seeds should be sown two
+or three times a year, beginning about February, in a sheltered nook;
+=this herb likes plenty of sun=; even the curliest varieties degenerate
+if placed in a damp shady situation. It prefers light soil, and gives a
+better winter supply than where the soil is heavy. Flower-heads must be
+cut off regularly to keep the plants in good condition, though just a few
+of the best kinds may be allowed to perfect their seed, which should be
+sown as soon as ripe. =Mustard and cress= should also be sown several
+times during the summer; the cress must be sown three or four days before
+the mustard, to obtain them ready for cutting at the same time; both must
+be cut almost directly they appear, as, if allowed to grow tall, they
+become tough, and their flavour is lost; these seeds require no thinning
+out, the exception that proves the rule.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+Annuals and Biennials
+
+     _How to grow annuals--Some good kinds--Some good biennials._
+
+
+Many amateurs look upon annuals as rubbishy things to grow, and only
+suitable for the children's gardens, but that is because they have
+generally failed to grow them properly. With the improved kinds now in
+cultivation, it is possible to make the portion of the flower-garden
+devoted to them "a thing of beauty" if not "a joy for ever." As it is more
+satisfactory to bring them up from the beginning, I have described in
+Chapter XVI. a method generally successful. =Seed-sowing out-of-doors=
+being rather precarious, I have found it advisable to =sow all the smaller
+seeds either in a green-house or frame=, however hardy the annual be. This
+not only saves endless trouble in the way of protecting the seed from
+birds, etc., but is advantageous in that one has an earlier display of
+bloom, owing to the growth being quicker under glass. Below is a table of
+the choicest kinds:--
+
+ANNUALS.
+
+  NAME.                      LENGTH.         COLOUR.
+
+  Bartonia aurea             1 to 1-1/2 ft.  Golden yellow.
+
+  Celosia plumosa            1-1/2 ft.       Red and yellow.
+    (Somewhat after the style of Prince's feather; tender.)
+
+  Coreopsis (or Calliopsis)  2 ft.           Yellow and red.
+
+  Eschscholtzia              1 ft.           Bright yellow.
+    (Very pretty grey-green foliage; select.)
+
+  Gaillardia                 1-1/2 ft.       Yellow and red.
+    (The "blanket flower"; good for cutting.)
+
+  Godetia                    9 ins.          Red to white.
+    (Cup-shaped; showy.)
+
+  Mesembryanthemum           1/2 to 1 ft.    Ice plant.
+    (Grown for its foliage, which glistens beautifully; must have sun.)
+
+  Ionopsidium acaule         2 to 3 ins.     Pale mauve.
+    (Miniature plants for filling up crevices in rockwork.)
+
+  Linum coccineum            1 ft.           New scarlet variety.
+
+  Lupinus arboreus,
+    "Snow-queen"             3 to 4 ft.      Pure white.
+    (A very stately plant; new.)
+
+  Nemophila grandiflora      1/2 ft.         Beautiful blue and white.
+    (Remind one of the eyes of a child.)
+
+  Phlox drummondi            1 ft.           All shades of red to white
+    (Half-hardy; must be massed.)
+
+  Shirley poppy              1 ft.           All shades of pink.
+    (Very graceful and free; light soil.)
+
+  Portulaca                  1/2 ft.         Mixed colours.
+    (The most effective of all annuals; half-hardy; must have plenty of
+     sun and a light soil.)
+
+  Salpiglossis               1-1/2 ft.       All shades.
+    (Very fragile flowers, veined and marked in exquisite fashion; must
+     be massed.)
+
+  Silene pendula compacta    1/2 ft.         Bright pink.
+    (Flowers shaped somewhat like a Maltese cross.)
+
+  Stocks, double, ten-week   1 ft.           Various.
+    (When thinning, only keep the weakest seedlings, as those are the
+     double ones.)
+
+
+BIENNIALS.
+
+These, if sown one spring, will not flower the following summer, but do so
+the year after.
+
+  NAME.                      LENGTH.         COLOUR.
+
+  Fox-gloves                 3 to 4 ft.      White and coloured
+  (White, most picturesque; all do well in shade; unless seed is required,
+   cut out main stem, when side shoots will flower.)
+
+  Lunaria biennis            1-1/2 to 2 ft.  The old "honesty."
+  (Much prized for its silvery seed-pods.)
+
+  Polyanthus                 1/2 ft.         Mixed colours.
+  (Admirable for shady places; water well.)
+
+  Japanese pinks             1 ft.           Deepest crimson to white.
+  (Fringed petals; a whole bed of this is lovely.)
+
+  Sweet Williams             1 ft.           Mixed shades.
+  (Auricula type, the best; there is a novelty, blackish-maroon in shade,
+   which should be placed amongst some of the crimson varieties.)
+
+  Snap-dragons               2 ft.           Varied.
+  (Flower from June to November; eschew reds of a mauve hue.)
+
+  Wallflower, "Ruby Gem"     2 ft.           Reddish violet.
+
+The seeds of all these, true to name and ripe for germination, may be
+obtained from Messrs. Barr, Long Ditton, Surrey, who sell sixpenny packets
+of all these kinds; small quantities of the well-known sorts only costing
+threepence. This is a =great advantage to owners of small gardens=, as one
+does not wish to give 1s. 6d. or 2s. 6d. for perhaps two thousand seeds of
+one variety, when only two or three dozen are required. Penny packets of
+seeds may be had from the One and All Company at most greengrocer's, and
+are really wonderful value for the money.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+Window Boxes
+
+     _How to make them--Relation of box to residence they are intended to
+     adorn--Suitable soil--Window plants for different aspects._
+
+
+Where gardens are small, one seems to need window boxes more than where
+there is land and to spare. They add to the number of one's flowers, and,
+if carefully looked after, decidedly =improve the appearance of a house=.
+That is a large "If" though, for unkempt boxes only make it look untidy.
+
+=FLOWERS FIRST, BOX SECOND.= Though the tiled sort obtain a good deal of
+patronage, nothing really looks much better than boxes covered with virgin
+cork, if constantly renewed, for it acts as =a foil to the flowers=,
+whereas patterned tiles are rather apt to take one's attention away from
+them. In summer, certainly, they have the advantage of preserving the
+earth in a moist condition, and in smoky towns they help to give a bright,
+clean look to the houses so decorated. Old-fashioned houses, however,
+should always have their window boxes made in the virgin cork style, as
+they accord better with their surroundings.
+
+When strong wooden boxes have been procured, it is quite easy to tack on
+the cork one's self, provided one has a sharp knife and a good supply of
+long nails, and it is =most fascinating work=; it is advisable to wear
+gloves during the process, as the hands may become rough otherwise. Seven
+pounds of the cork may be had for a shilling of any seedsman, and three
+lots will do two boxes of the average size. =The soil should be fairly
+light=, like that used for potting, but before the boxes are filled,
+several holes, bored with a red-hot poker, should be made in the bottom,
+and a thin layer of "crocks" spread over them; do not quite fill the box
+with soil, but leave an inch or two free to allow of watering, and even
+more if a layer of moss or =cocoa-nut fibre= is used to cover the surface
+of the soil; this is certainly an improvement till the plants get large
+enough to cover it themselves. Only =artificial manures= must be used to
+fertilize the roots, and even those must not be given too often, but only
+in the hot weather, when growth is quick, as they are stimulating to a
+great degree.
+
+=Constant renewals are necessary=, if the boxes are to look gay all the
+year round; even the best gardeners acknowledge this. If continuous
+bloomers are chosen, however, the cost is considerably modified. Perhaps
+the =winter shrubs= are the most expensive item; yet they are often chosen
+without much regard to cheerfulness; indeed, the favourite kinds present a
+most funereal appearance.
+
+=Aspect= has always a good deal to do with the selection of plants, but in
+the case of windows facing north and east, it is the cold winds more than
+the absence of sun which restricts the choice. Shelter is a great factor
+in their well-being.
+
+=SHOWY IN WINTER.= In a cosy box with a western exposure, and protected on
+the north, the golden-tipped _retinosporas_ make =a pretty show during the
+cold months= of the year, and form a welcome change from the prevailing
+dark green tones. _Cotoneasters_, _pernettyas_, and the variegated
+_euonymus_ are also very suitable. The polypody ferns, being evergreen,
+look very well too, and =will thrive facing all four points of the
+compass=. In the spring, =dwarf wall-flowers=, interspersed with different
+kinds of bulbs, make the boxes look bright, and the new _pyrus maulei_ is
+also very pretty at this season. The =perennial candytuft=, too, is a
+splendid flower for late spring, particularly _iberis correafolia_, which
+has a neat habit, and bears quantities of snow-white flowers; it likes
+sun, and not too much moisture. The =yellow jasmine=, which is so pretty
+in winter, looks extremely well when allowed to droop over the edges of a
+box, as it flowers in quite a young state. The mossy _saxifrages_ are
+suitable for the edges of the box, and are always ornamental; their
+charming white flowers, supported on red stalks, appear about May.
+
+Such =bulbs= as the Duc Van Thol tulips are very bright, and mix well with
+the shrubs; they should be put in some time in October. =Crocuses= look
+well, too, but should not be placed in the same box as the tulips, or too
+gaudy an appearance will result. A thick planting along the front of the
+box of the Starch hyacinth--_muscari_--is =uncommon=, and an exceedingly
+nice thing to have, as the moment the window is open fragrant whiffs,
+resembling new-mown hay, pour into the room, especially on a sunny
+morning. When these bulbs have to make way for the summer flowers, it is
+advisable to plant them out in the garden and use another lot next year,
+as the =constant transplantation somewhat weakens them=. Of course, one
+could leave them in the box during the summer, if it were not for the
+unsightly decaying leaves, which =must on no account be cut off=.
+
+About the middle of May for the South of England, and a fortnight later
+for the North, is the time to furnish the boxes for the summer. If the
+window is small, low-growing plants and trailers should prevail.
+
+=FOR COLD ASPECTS.= Some good flowers for north and east aspects are
+_fuschias_, _calceolarias_, _begonias_, and the lovely white _campanula
+isophylla_; the latter thrives best in such conditions, bearing finer
+flowers for a much greater length of time than where the sun scorches it.
+=These plants accord well with stucco=, which serves to show up their
+whiteness more than anything. =Marguerites=, yellow and white, also thrive
+in the cooler windows of a house, and are not so exigent in the matter of
+watering when so placed. When selecting =begonias= for boxes it is well to
+choose the single varieties with moderate-sized blossoms; the big flabby
+ones soon become spoilt by rain, and are not produced so freely, nor is
+their habit of growth so good.
+
+=For hot situations= the double geraniums are splendid, but they should
+not be mixed with lobelias, as they look infinitely better when grouped by
+themselves, the shades ranging from dark crimson to the palest
+salmon-pink.
+
+=PRETTY TRAILERS.= The quick-growing _tradescantia_ with its many-jointed
+stems and glossy bright green leaves, softens =the somewhat formal
+appearance of the geraniums=, and will cover all the bare soil in a
+marvellously short space of time, and droop over the edges in long
+streamers; it is quite distinct from the tall _tradescantias_ mentioned in
+a former chapter, and is the easiest thing in the world to propagate, as
+any little bits saved over from a bouquet will make roots in a bowl of
+water, or they can be "struck" in the ordinary way in a pot under glass.
+The variegated _tradescantia_ is =a very choice trailer=, but a little
+more tender than the other, and requires a sunny position, while the plain
+green variety will do anywhere outside in the summer, even growing well
+under trees.
+
+=For autumn= there are the =hardy chrysanthemums=, and if dwarf varieties
+with fibrous roots are chosen, a very good show can be made with these
+till the middle or end of November. The protection afforded them by the
+house keeps them in good condition longer than when they are in the open,
+especially when a thin veiling, such as tiffany, is afforded them on cold
+nights. Even newspapers will keep out several degrees of frost, and form a
+very cheap method of protection.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+Table Decoration and Flowers in Season
+
+     _Graceful arrangement--How to manage thick-skinned
+     stems--Colour-schemes--Bad colours for artificial light--Preserving
+     and resuscitating--Table of flowers in season._
+
+
+The fashion of decorating tables to the extent now done is of
+comparatively recent date. When the duties were taken off the importation
+of foreign flowers, they became so much lower in price that the great
+middle-class could afford to buy some even in mid-winter. In the British
+Isles themselves, too, the carriage of flowers is much cheaper and more
+expeditious, though there is plenty of room for improvement still in that
+respect. =The manner of arranging= them has much altered, for, instead of
+cramming a clumsy vase to its utmost limits with a dozen different flowers
+of as many shades, only one, two, or at most three, kinds are now used,
+and these are set out in as =graceful and airy= a manner as possible.
+=Plain glass vases=, as a rule, show the blossoms off best, though pale
+green or ruby occasionally looks very well. The water need not be changed
+every day in all cases; it depends on the flower; wall-flowers, for
+instance, turn the water putrid very soon, while it keeps fresh much
+longer where roses are concerned. =The vases should, however, be filled up
+once a day=, as the stems suck up moisture rapidly. Hard-wooded flower
+stalks should receive special attention, or they will droop directly.
+
+=STEM-SPLITTING.= Lilac, when cut and placed in water will absorb no more
+moisture than a lead pencil, unless the stems are split up; this can be
+done either with a hammer or a knife or both. As many leaves as possible
+should be left on the stems, for when under water they largely help to
+make the blossoms last well; it is only where the stalks are nearly
+leafless that the splitting and peeling is necessary.
+
+=Maidenhair fern may be made to last= much longer if the end of the black,
+wiry stem is hammered for about an inch up.
+
+It must not be forgotten that =cutting from a plant strengthens it=, and
+induces it to continue sending up flower-stalks. People often seem chary
+of cutting their roses with any length of stem, I suppose because it has
+leaves and shoots all the way up, but this is an error; they should be cut
+with about eight or ten inches of stalk; pansies and _violas_ also look
+much more natural when a portion of the shoot is cut along with each
+blossom.
+
+=BY PARCEL POST.= On hot summer days, when flowers are to be sent by post,
+=they should be picked early in the morning=, several hours before they
+are to be sent off, and placed in bowls of water; then, if they are packed
+close together in tin, wood, or even card-board boxes they will arrive
+quite fresh at their destination, where otherwise they would be hopelessly
+faded. When a box of flowers is received, the contents should be put =in
+luke-warm water= in a dim light for an hour or so; they can then be
+re-arranged in the vases they are intended to occupy.
+
+=BLUE--A DAYLIGHT COLOUR.= Some colours respond to artificial light much
+better than others. =Most shades of blue are not suitable for decorating
+dinner tables=, because they turn almost brown, or at best a dull mauve.
+In choosing violets, therefore, for evening wear, it will be found that
+the blossoms which have thin, rather washed-out petals of the lightest
+purple will look best, the full blue not being nearly so effective. =For
+luncheon=, an arrangement of purple clematis in vases on the palest pink
+ground is lovely, but does not look quite so well by gas-light, though
+here again if the least velvety flowers are chosen for evening, a good
+effect can be obtained.
+
+=Yellow is a splendid evening colour=, but must be bright, or it will look
+merely cream. A dining-room panelled in light oak, adorned with yellow
+marguerites alone, is very pleasing to the eye. In the spring, =laburnum
+makes a novel dressing for a dining-table=; care, however, must be
+exercised with this flower, as the pods are poisonous. Blue also looks
+well with brown in the day-time; larkspurs, forget-me-nots, _plumbago_,
+_campanulas_, _nemophilla_, etc., all look very well. We know how artistic
+blue porcelain is on oak shelves, and, if the flowers have a white eye or
+are veined with white, the effect is somewhat the same. =Scarlet is a good
+gas or electric light colour=, but it must be used judiciously, and as a
+rule only be mixed with white, just as the ladies at a regimental ball are
+generally only allowed to robe themselves in this pure shade.
+
+=SIMPLICITY.= Now-a-days the decorations are rarely made so high that one
+cannot see the other side of the table. Though this arrangement might
+occasionally be useful in hiding the face of an enemy, on the whole it was
+found inconvenient; accordingly they have climbed down; the "bazaar-stall"
+fashion is also disappearing, and flat table-centres are used instead, or
+none at all. Simplicity is the great cry now, and though of course it may
+be costly, a charming effect is obtained with fewer flowers than was
+formerly considered correct, and is moreover easily imitated by an
+artistic eye in less expensive blossoms.
+
+Some of the flowers to be had in each respective season are enumerated on
+p. 86. It will be noticed that where plenty of out-door blossoms are to be
+had, the hot-house varieties are omitted.
+
+
+TABLE OF NATURAL AND FORCED FLOWERS FOR EACH MONTH.
+
+JANUARY.
+
+_Natural._
+
+  Christmas rose.
+  Yellow jasmine.
+
+_Forced._
+
+  Carnations.
+  Eucharis.
+  Gardenias.
+  Poinsettias.
+  Tuberoses.
+  Late chrysanthemums.
+  Roman hyacinths.
+  Odontoglossum (orchid).
+  Tulips.
+  Violet, single and double.
+  Narcissus.
+
+
+FEBRUARY.
+
+_Natural._
+
+  Christmas roses.
+  Yellow jasmine.
+  Daphne.
+  Snowdrops.
+
+_Forced._
+
+  White lilac.
+  Carnation.
+  Hyacinths.
+  Tulips.
+  Geraniums.
+  Marguerites.
+  Cattleya (orchid).
+  Camellias.
+  Roses.
+  Dicentra.
+  Narcissus.
+
+
+MARCH.
+
+_Natural._
+
+  Violets.
+  Early narcissus.
+  Almond blossom.
+  Cowslips.
+  Polyanthus.
+
+_Forced._
+
+  Freesias.
+  Lily of the valley.
+  Arums.
+  Narcissus.
+  Mauve lilac.
+  Anemones.
+  Lilium Harrisii.
+     "   longiflorum.
+  Roses.
+  Azaleas.
+
+
+APRIL.
+
+_Natural._
+
+  Daffodils.
+  Wallflowers.
+  Forget-me-not.
+  Tulips.
+  Alyssum.
+  Anemones.
+  Doronicums.
+
+_Forced._
+
+  Sweet peas.
+  Roses.
+  Carnations.
+  Arums.
+  Lilies of the valley.
+  Alliums.
+  Acacia.
+  Epacris.
+
+
+MAY.
+
+_Natural._
+
+  Laburnum.
+  Poet's eye narcissus.
+  Doronicums.
+  Trollius.
+  Iris.
+  Parrot tulips.
+  Lilies of the valley.
+  Syringa.
+  Lilac.
+  Ranunculus.
+
+_Forced._
+
+  Arums.
+  Ixias.
+  Gladiolus (scarlet and white).
+
+
+JUNE.
+
+_Natural._
+
+  Sweet peas.
+  Roses.
+  Pinks.
+  Pyrethrums (single).
+  Larkspurs.
+  Canterbury bells.
+  Penstemons.
+  Lilies.
+  Columbines.
+  Flag iris and other iris.
+
+
+JULY.
+
+_Natural._
+
+  Clematis.
+  Montbretias.
+  St. John's wort.
+  Campanulas.
+  Poppies (to be picked in the bud).
+  Carnations.
+  Cornflowers.
+  Indian pinks.
+  Erigeron (like an early Michaelmas daisy).
+  Gladiolus.
+
+
+AUGUST.
+
+_Natural._
+
+  Clematis.
+  Coreopsis.
+  Gaillardias.
+  Snapdragons.
+  Sunflowers.
+  Gladiolus.
+  Dahlias.
+  Roses.
+  Carnations.
+
+
+SEPTEMBER.
+
+_Natural._
+
+  Michaelmas daisies.
+  Pinks.
+  Chrysanthemums.
+  Lilies.
+  Sunflowers.
+  Japanese anemones.
+  Roses.
+
+_Forced._
+
+  Tuberoses.
+  Cattleyas.
+  Eucharis.
+  Gardenias.
+
+
+OCTOBER.
+
+_Natural._
+
+  Michaelmas daisies.
+  Chrysanthemums.
+  Physalis (or Cape gooseberry).
+  Violets.
+  Single Marigolds.
+
+_Forced._
+
+  Salvias.
+  Marguerites.
+  Tuberoses.
+  Eucharis.
+  Odontoglossum.
+  Cattleya.
+  Bouvardia.
+  Roses.
+  Carnations.
+
+
+NOVEMBER.
+
+_Natural._
+
+  Michaelmas daisies.
+  Chrysanthemums.
+  The gladwin iris (berries).
+  Violets.
+
+_Forced._
+
+  Eucharis.
+  Geraniums.
+  Marguerites.
+  Salvias.
+  Carnations.
+  Chrysanthemums.
+  Odontoglossum.
+  Cattleya.
+  Bouvardia.
+  Camellias.
+
+
+DECEMBER.
+
+_Natural._
+
+  Yellow jasmine.
+  Christmas roses.
+
+_Forced._
+
+  Salvias.
+  Cypripediums.
+  Violets.
+  Poinsettias.
+  Geraniums.
+  Chrysanthemums.
+  Lilies of the valley.
+  Roman hyacinths.
+  Coelogyne (orchid).
+  Narcissus in variety.
+
+=The cost of a flower is always in proportion to its blooming time.= If
+lilies of the valley are wanted in August, they must be paid for heavily,
+as retarded bulbs (those which have been kept in ice) are used to produce
+them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+The Propagation of Plants
+
+     _By dividing--By cuttings--By seeds--By layers._
+
+
+=Propagation may be affected in various ways=, of which division is
+perhaps the easiest. It must be done very carefully, or decay will set in.
+Some plants lend themselves to this form of propagation very readily; in
+others, the root stock is single and obviously resents division, wherefore
+it is better to try another plan. The Michaelmas daisies are good
+instances of the first kind; their roots are fibrous, and soon take to the
+new soil; it is tap-rooted plants which dislike division so much.
+
+=CAREFUL DIVISION.= It is advisable to divide most plants in the growing
+season, which is from spring to early autumn; if it is done in the winter
+months, each piece frequently remains quite inert and eventually rots. The
+plant should be taken up, with a fork by preference, and then pulled
+carefully apart with the hand. =The smallest fragment of the old white
+anemone will grow=, but few plants will stand quite so much division. Each
+piece should be well watered as it is planted, and if the sun is hot some
+shade improvised. Such things as _delphiniums_, _phloxes_, _campanulas_,
+and quick-growing subjects in general, should not be left too long without
+being divided, or the flowers will dwindle, and the plants become
+straggling in habit.
+
+A good many plants which might be propagated by =division= of the roots
+are propagated instead by cuttings, as the flowers come finer in every
+way, and of course this method suits many plants which cannot be divided.
+Chrysanthemums present few difficulties; though the ultimate growth of
+this Japanese plant entails a vast amount of labour (if prizes are the
+object in view), yet cuttings from them are the easiest things possible to
+strike, even easier than a geranium, as there is no damping off. =Cuttings
+are generally struck under glass=, this method being the surest, even with
+hardy plants. The shoots selected should be well ripened, and the cut made
+squarely below a joint and be =taken with a "heel"= if possible, that is,
+with a piece of the old wood attached. All but the topmost leaves should
+be pinched off, and then the cuttings must be inserted round the sides of
+the pot, and the soil well pressed down,--the best cuttings in the world
+cannot make roots unless this be attended to. After that a good watering
+should be given them, and the pots set in a shady place till they have
+emitted roots, which may be known by the fact of their beginning to make
+new leaves. Some cuttings root better when the cut is allowed to form a
+"callus," which in warm weather only takes a few hours.
+
+=Rose cuttings= root very well out of doors on a north border, and trees
+produced in this manner are often very satisfactory, but they take a long
+while to come to a flowering stage, somewhat trying the patience of ardent
+amateurs.
+
+One can gradually get quite a nice collection of interesting plants, by
+striking all the likely shoots in the different bunches of flowers
+received from friends, but it is generally best to identify them as soon
+as possible, so as to give each the right treatment.
+
+=Propagation by seed= is quite a fascinating employment, and is a
+successful method, if pains are taken; though so many amateurs seem to
+fail. I have found it the safest plan, with all except the largest seeds,
+to bring them up under glass. Even the hardiest can be treated in this
+way, and one feels so much more sure of the result. For one thing, birds
+cannot get at them, therefore there is no need to make a network of black
+cotton to keep them off; neither can the cat meddle with them, and we all
+know pussy is a very bad gardener.
+
+=The pans= specially sold for the purpose are the best, but pots will do
+very well. Fill them with fine moist soil, and press firmly down; then
+scatter the seed thinly on the top, and only cover with a slight layer of
+soil, afterwards placing in a dark corner. Where the seed is very small,
+do not cover with any mould at all, but, as an extra protection, place a
+piece of cardboard over the top of the pot, so that they shall not be
+blown away. =Seeds like a still atmosphere=, moisture, warmth, and
+darkness. Seeds and seedlings must not be watered in the ordinary way, but
+the pan containing them should be placed in a saucer of water, when enough
+moisture will be drawn up by capillary attraction. Thinning is extremely
+necessary; every plant must be given room to attain its full dimensions;
+where this is not done, the result is most unsatisfactory. As regards the
+=time for sowing=, of course, spring is the most usual, but in the case of
+annuals it will often be found a good plan to sow a few in autumn, as, by
+pursuing this method, nice stocky little plants are ready for the garden
+quite early in the season, and give flowers long before spring-sown seed
+could possibly do so.
+
+=Propagation by layering= is very useful, as cuttings of some plants will
+not strike readily. Strong shoots are denuded of their leaves for a few
+inches, and their stems slit up and pressed into the ground by means of a
+peg; when firmly rooted, they can be detached from the parent plant by
+means of a penknife. Carnations are generally reproduced in this way, as
+it is the surest method of all.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+The Management of Room Plants
+
+     _Best kinds for "roughing" it--Importance of cleanliness--The proper
+     way of watering them._
+
+
+The majority of English women like to see their rooms, and specially their
+drawing-rooms, adorned with =growing plants=.
+
+Nevertheless, a great many do not cultivate them successfully, so a few
+hints will not be amiss. =Constant attention= is needed to keep plants in
+perfect health, and this is exactly what is so often denied them. A lady
+buys two or three ferns that take her fancy, and feels for a while quite
+interested in their welfare; but, after a week or so, she leaves them to
+take care of themselves, which means to dwindle, and ultimately die. Many
+shillings, therefore, are constantly being spent in renewing plants which,
+with proper care, should last for years.
+
+All room plants =must be looked after daily=, a few minutes every morning
+being far better than an hour once a week, which is all they receive in
+some homes.
+
+I will treat first of =palms=, which, though such slow-growing subjects,
+seem the favourite of all for home decoration, owing to their grace of
+form and good lasting properties. If you observe the roots of most palms,
+you will see that, attached in an odd way to the rising stem is =a sort of
+bulb=, not unlike a pigmy potato. This excrescence, which should only be
+covered by a thin layer of soil, stores up nutriment for the plant's use,
+in much the same way as a hyacinth or daffodil does. This accounts in a
+great measure for its power in enduring dryness of the soil without
+flagging, which property, however, should not be abused. Palms should be
+watered as regularly, though not so often, as more sappy plants.
+
+=THE CORRECT WAY TO WATER.= Numbers of people do not know how to give
+water in the correct way, whereby the florist prospers! =The golden rule=
+is never to water a plant until it requires it, and then to do it
+thoroughly. It is fatal merely to moisten the top of the soil, and to
+leave the deeper roots dry. First give =a sharp tap to the pot=; if it
+rings, water is required; if, on the contrary, a dull sound is given out,
+the soil is wet enough. Lifting a pot is a sure test too, as one's hand
+soon becomes accustomed to the difference in weight of a moist and dry
+pot; the former, of course, being so much heavier. Always see that the
+water runs through the hole at the bottom of the pot, then you may be sure
+that each particle of soil is wet, and not till then. If you possibly can,
+it is best to =use water of a corresponding temperature to that of the
+room they are in=; this is most important with delicate plants. Large,
+shiny, horizontal-leaved plants require a weekly sponging to remove the
+inevitable dust which settles on them. =Gloves should be worn= while this
+is being done, as contact with the skin turns the edges of the leaves
+yellow; also gloves, of course, help to keep the hands soft and white.
+Plants with large leaves should never be watered overhead, unless
+immediately wiped dry, as each drop allowed to stand on the leaf turns
+yellow, rots, and finally quite spoils the leaf, so that it has to be
+removed. Palms will stand gas fairly well, but not so well as
+_aspidistras_.
+
+=THE BEST PLANTS FOR DARK CORNERS.= An _aspidistra_ (please note spelling)
+is =the best plant there is for roughing it=. The long, thick, dark leaves
+seem to stand draughts, gas, dark corners, poor soil, and general neglect
+almost with impunity. But here again watering overhead is fatal, as
+regards the appearance of these plants.
+
+The =leaves should be washed once a week=, but I will just say here that
+where one is in a hurry, and cannot wait to get a sponge and water, a good
+polish with a duster is not at all a bad substitute.
+
+There are disputes occasionally as to whether _aspidistras_ ever flower.
+Of course, it is an undoubted fact that they do, and I can give a decided
+affirmative to any who may question it. My plants flower regularly every
+spring, but, as these blooms are a dull, greenish-purple in colour, and
+only sit, as it were, on the top of the soil, they are naturally
+overlooked.
+
+The modesty of the violet is nowhere when compared with the _aspidistra_!
+
+=Aralias are good room plants=, for they have a bold and handsome form,
+and glossy, bright green foliage, very like that of a fig. They do not
+stand gas well, however, but, as so many houses are lighted by
+electricity, this is less of a drawback than was formerly the case. If not
+regularly watered, too, they have a habit of dropping their leaves;
+otherwise they are of easy culture. As they grow taller, the lower leaves,
+even on a healthy plant, generally drop off.
+
+=LEGGY PLANTS.= It is a good way, when these and kindred plants become
+"leggy," to improve their appearance by cutting off the old root, and
+making them root higher up the stem. Where the plant is valuable, it is
+best to be sure of new roots before throwing away the old, but, as a rule,
+_aralias_ have so many joints that they may easily be induced to strike by
+just pressing the stem firmly into the soil, then putting the pot in some
+dark place, and keeping the soil rather dry, though the foliage must be
+kept moist. =To be quite sure of success=, however, it is best to treat
+them in the following manner:--Choose a handful of soil with a little loam
+in it, and, wetting the stem slightly, press the soil round two or three
+of the joints, and bind closely with some raffia or bass, being very
+careful to keep the soil always moist, or the plant will fail to make
+roots. Some people enclose this part of the stem in two halves of a small
+flower-pot, which is a good plan, if the stem will bear the weight, as it
+preserves a more even temperature.
+
+=The hare's-foot fern=--_Davallia canariensis_--with its beautiful
+blue-green fronds, much divided and elegantly arched, makes the loveliest
+room plant imaginable, and, though fairly common, is =not often seen in a
+good state of health=. I have found that, on first buying a pot of this
+fern, the leaves almost invariably turn rusty and drop off, so that, as
+the new fronds sometimes do not appear for some while, an amateur might
+really be pardoned for _imagining the plant dead_. This is not so; the
+hare's-foot merely resents the change of atmosphere (it has probably been
+in a moist green-house), and, like most of us, takes time to settle down.
+Once it has acclimatised itself, there is no better plant to be had for
+the purpose. It is so essentially decorative that no one can fail to
+admire it. Firm potting is important in growing the =davallia=, and it
+does not seem so partial to water as most of the fern tribe. It will also
+stand gas pretty well, if not shut up for the night in an atmosphere
+charged with it, and this is the case with many room plants; they
+=strongly object to being left to spend the night in the impure air=,
+though a few hours each evening will not do them much harm. The plan of
+taking them out at bed-time also prevents so much dust accumulating on
+their leaves, an inevitable drawback where a room is thoroughly swept and
+dusted.
+
+=Always endeavour to keep your plants well balanced.= In a room, it is
+impossible to do this, without constantly turning the pots round, so that
+all parts may get the light. In summer, this has to be attended to nearly
+every day, but in winter less often, as the sun is, of course, much less
+powerful.
+
+As regards =re-potting=, great care must be exercised, or more harm than
+good will result. Palms will grow for years in quite small pots, and do
+not thrive if over-potted. On the other hand, some plants require it
+annually, but, seldom or often, unless for some special reason,
+=re-potting should always be done in the spring=. From the beginning of
+February until the end of May, a plant may safely be shifted on, as it is
+called, because all these months comprise the growing season, when fresh
+roots are emitted and new leaves being produced almost daily. See that the
+pot is perfectly clean and dry, and the soil in a friable condition; it
+should be composed of peat, loam and sand in equal parts; a little leaf
+mould, where it is for a fern proper, will be beneficial. A =potting soil=
+ready prepared may be had for about a shilling a peck from any seedsman,
+which saves time and trouble in mixing. Be sure to put clean crocks in at
+the bottom, or the soil will become sour. Shake the pot every now and
+again as you fill it up, to ensure no crevices being left; =loose potting=
+has caused the death of many a fine plant. When the pot is full, press the
+mould down, leaving from half an inch to an inch (according to the size)
+bare of soil to the rim of the pot, to allow of watering. It is well to
+put a layer, about half an inch thick, of cocoa-nut fibre on the top of
+the soil, as this looks neat, and serves to show off the foliage to the
+best advantage. Enough of the fibre to cover several dozen pots may be had
+for threepence. Guano is good, if supplied to the plants during the warmer
+months of the year. The proportions of guano to water can always be seen
+on the label pasted on the outside of the tin. It is well to remember that
+=guano should never be given to a plant when the soil is dry=, but always
+just after it has been watered.
+
+=Saucers or jardinieres should be emptied= as a rule an hour after the
+plants have been watered, though where ferns seem to flourish most when
+allowed to stand in water, it is well to continue the practice. In very
+hot weather, this is undoubtedly of benefit to many plants, but in the
+winter the soil of all pot plants should err on the dry side, cold and
+damp together often proving fatal.
+
+=GOOD FOR TWO-THIRDS OF THE YEAR.= There are some first-rate plants which
+refuse to look well for the coldest part of the year (unless one is
+possessed of an hot-house), but which are really =capital for brightening
+our rooms= for at least eight months in the twelve. Of these, the
+_asparagus_ "fern" is perhaps the most useful. It is a lovely and graceful
+plant, which bears cutting, and it lasts so long, both in and out of
+water. Being, however, in reality a stove plant, amateurs who have no
+warmed green-house must not expect to keep it in thoroughly good health
+during the winter, but so soon as the spring appears, new green stems will
+shoot up in all directions, and the old fronds will soon be replaced by
+bright green feathery plumes of infinite grace.
+
+=Pteris wimsetti= is a charming room plant.
+
+=Young eucalyptus plants= are also very pretty for decorating a room, and
+are supposed to be good as a disinfectant. Their habit of growth is
+uncommon, and very charming to watch, as they quickly reach to an
+effective size, and make large handsome plants to set in the corners of
+reception rooms. It is best to bring them up by seed, which should be sown
+in February or March. =Spring is the best time to buy room-plants.=
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+Various Hints
+
+     _Artificial manures--Labelling--Cutting off dead flowers--Buying
+     plants--Tidiness in the garden, etc._
+
+
+With far the larger half of our population =the question of cost= comes
+into everything. There are so many claims on our purses, that the money
+spent on recreations can only be a small part; moreover, is always liable
+to be drawn on at any moment. Somehow, the money laid out on a garden
+always seems to be grudged, especially when it is for such things as
+manure, so that if that item can be reduced, so much the better.
+
+=A "WRINKLE."= One good way of buying it, is to get the boys who sweep the
+roads to bring the contents of their cart to your garden instead of taking
+it away. Quite a lot can be purchased for sixpence or so, and the mixture
+is even more beneficial to some plants than the loads bought from the
+contractor. When the neat little heaps are swept up at the roadside,
+anyone may take it away. Householders can employ their own errand-boys to
+do so, no charge being made whatever.
+
+=Guano and artificial manures= in general are very stimulating, and must
+only be given to plants in bud, or at all events full-growth. Sickly
+plants or those at rest must never have it. =Soapsuds= form a mild
+stimulant for rose-trees in summer, but these things do not come in place
+of the manure with which the soil must be dressed in autumn; they are only
+additions.
+
+=LABELLING.= There has been much controversy over the labelling of plants;
+it must be done very delicately, or the appearance of the garden is
+spoilt; the word label usually presupposes a name to be written thereon,
+but, in reality, =just a mark to show where a plant is=, often seems all
+that is necessary, and this is very important indeed with plants which die
+right down every winter. The most unobtrusive tallies must be used, and
+they should be of zinc, or they will inevitably get lost. The wooden ones
+are all right in the greenhouse, but no good at all outside. For
+rose-trees, names are required, and =the "acme" labels are much the best=
+ever invented for these, and have now been in use by all rosarians for
+years; they can be had at Cant's Rose Nurseries, Colchester, for about 1s.
+3d. a dozen, post paid.
+
+=If we would keep plants in good health=, all dead flowers must be cut off
+regularly; this is specially important in the case of sweet peas, pansies,
+and other free-flowering plants, which become poor, and soon leave off
+blossoming altogether, if allowed to form seed-pods. It is =a good plan=
+to go round every morning with a basket and scissors, and snip off all
+faded blooms, as, when several days elapse, the work becomes long and
+irksome.
+
+=As regards buying plants=, this comes somewhat expensive, until a little
+knowledge and experience has been gained. After a while, the different
+plants are known by sight, and one is able to see directly whether a
+flower or shrub is well grown and of good colour. Then, instead of
+ordering everything at the large nurseries, one can often pick up, in
+one's wanderings, very =good things at small cost=. Until that is the
+case, it is wiser to order from some reliable firm who is sure to send out
+everything true to name. People who go in for gardening, should always be
+ready to learn; there are so many points which cannot be acquired all at
+once. One can often gain a "wrinkle" if one keeps one's eyes open, as the
+saying is. Constant visits should be made to Kew, Hampton Court, or any
+other well-kept public garden, if at all within reach. A stroll round a
+neighbour's garden, too, will often give one new ideas, and the
+interchange of opinions does a deal of good. A magazine keeps up one's
+interest wonderfully, and there are many specially published for amateurs.
+One must not be surprised that the advice often seems contradictory. =The
+right way of growing a plant is the way that succeeds=, and experience
+shows how varied may be the means by which success is attained. I should
+like here to warn my readers that before launching out into any great
+expense, they first come to a full understanding as to what they will or
+will not be able to take away. Greenhouses can be put up as =tenants'
+fixtures=, but a very slight difference in the manner of placing them may
+result in a good deal of unpleasantness with the landlord, and it is the
+same with rose-trees, and other shrubs and plants. Where a shrub has
+attained to goodly proportions, it is really the best way to let it
+remain, even though the associations connected with it may be pleasant, as
+transplanting would probably mean death, in which case neither party would
+have gained anything. Of course, in the nature of things, a lover of
+gardening is loth to move at all, a rolling stone is not at all in his
+line.
+
+=Tidiness is most important in a small garden=, especially in the winter
+time; plants may be allowed to get rampant in summer, but in the cold
+weather, this wildness tends to make it look miserable. One sometimes sees
+the brown, mildewed stalks of sunflowers and other tall plants, left on
+right into December, even in a front garden, and it =gives such a deserted
+look= to the place, that one longs to "have at them" there and then with a
+knife. It is the same way with autumn leaves; in woods they look
+beautiful, as they flutter down and make a rich, rustling carpet for our
+feet, but, somehow, in the garden the beauty seems gone, and it is
+generally the best plan to sweep them away as soon as possible into some
+corner, where they can be left to turn into leaf mould. Of course there is
+a certain beautiful freedom which is very desirable in a garden, and
+which no one could call untidiness. What looks lovelier, for instance,
+than the jasmine, with its long sprays hanging down over the window, or
+the break made in a straight-edged path by some luxurious patch of thrift
+or forget-me-not? these are only fascinating irregularities!
+
+=Winter need not be a time for idleness=; it must be spent in getting
+ready for the spring. Tools should be overhauled thoroughly, and new
+supplies of sticks and labels prepared. Plans, too, should be made for
+filling each different bed, so that when the warm days arrive, and one
+scarcely knows what to be at first, everything may be in train.
+
+The faculty of looking ahead must needs be used, if we wish to succeed. I
+often think that =living in anticipation constitutes a great part of the
+charm of gardening=. When sowing the seed, have we not bright visions of
+the time when that self-same seed will bear most exquisite blossoms? When
+pruning our rose trees, dreams of what they will become lend added
+interest to our occupations, and, indeed, this quality of imagination
+turns arduous work into a veritable labour of love, so that its devotees
+always aver it is the most delightful recreation in the world.
+
+
+
+
+JANUARY.
+
+
+_Average Temperature 37._
+
+In frosty weather wheel manure on to ground.
+
+See that every plant which is not quite hardy is well protected from
+frost.
+
+Shake off any snow which may be lying on the branches of fir trees, etc.
+
+In mild weather digging may be done.
+
+If it has not already been done cut back all deciduous trees, such as
+chestnuts, limes and sycamores.
+
+Prune all except the tender fruit trees, cutting back weak shoots hard,
+and strong ones little.
+
+Sow early peas on a warm border.
+
+Do not transplant this month.
+
+Start covering rhubarb with pots or boxes for forcing, and surround them
+with manure.
+
+Paths may be relaid with gravel.
+
+The erection of arches, trellis work, or any alteration of this sort may
+be attended to.
+
+Keep all plants under glass clear of decaying leaves and anything likely
+to cause mouldiness.
+
+Raise temperature of greenhouses as the days become lighter.
+
+
+FEBRUARY.
+
+_Average Temperature 39._
+
+Begin sowing hardy annuals outside in a sheltered position.
+
+Refrain from pruning rose-trees, or they will suffer later on.
+
+New lawns can be made now, though Autumn is the best time.
+
+See that all trees are securely staked and shoots of wall climbers well
+nailed in before the winds of March come.
+
+Prune remaining fruit trees.
+
+Seeds of broad beans, peas, carrots, onions, beetroot, parsley, lettuce,
+etc., can now be sown, though the largest sowing should be made next
+month.
+
+Plants under glass must have more air and more water as they begin to grow
+quickly.
+
+Ventilate carefully and close all the houses before sunset.
+
+Give manure to fruit trees.
+
+Look over fuchsias, dahlias, etc.; cut back and place in gentle warmth.
+
+
+MARCH.
+
+_Average Temperature 41._
+
+Hardy perennials may be planted.
+
+Prune hardy rose trees.
+
+Sow the bulk of flowering annuals.
+
+Cut back ivy during last week.
+
+Free the lawn of plantains and sow grass-seed on bare patches.
+
+Renew or fill up box edgings.
+
+Hoe beds and borders frequently to keep down weeds.
+
+Rose trees may be planted, though Autumn is the best time.
+
+See that bedding plants in frames have plenty of water.
+
+Clear out all dead plants and give a general tidy-up to the greenhouse.
+
+Give plenty of air from top-lights to glasshouses.
+
+Plant out Jerusalem artichokes.
+
+Sow seeds of vegetables of all kinds.
+
+Pick up gravel paths, and give another layer if necessary.
+
+Protect anything newly planted from rough winds.
+
+Mulch bush fruit trees.
+
+
+APRIL.
+
+_Average Temperature 46._
+
+Make last sowing of annuals and thin out those appearing above ground.
+
+Fill up gaps in the flower border.
+
+Plant out dahlias.
+
+Prune tea-roses during first week.
+
+If rather dry weather ensues keep rockery and all Spring-flowering plants
+well-watered.
+
+Beds must be prepared for the tender plants put out next month by turning
+the soil well over and thus pulverizing it.
+
+Protect tender fruit trees from late frosts.
+
+Sow seeds of vegetables for succession.
+
+If the weather is hot, shading can be put on greenhouses.
+
+Bedding plants must be gradually hardened off by giving plenty of air.
+
+Mow and roll lawn frequently.
+
+Plant out potato tubers.
+
+Edgings can be planted or filled up.
+
+
+MAY.
+
+_Average Temperature 53._
+
+Keep a sharp look-out for insects.
+
+Commence bedding out this month and continue all through, reserving tender
+things such as coleus till the last.
+
+Hoe well between annuals and keep them well watered.
+
+Carefully train the various climbers or they will grow into an
+inextricable mass.
+
+Fill vases and baskets.
+
+Clip evergreen hedges as this makes them break out at the bottom.
+
+Put some strawy manure between the rows of strawberries and keep well
+watered.
+
+Sow vegetable seeds for succession.
+
+Plant out gourds, marrows, etc.
+
+If the weather is hot keep everything well watered.
+
+Transplant violets to their cool Summer quarters.
+
+Syringe frequently under glass.
+
+
+JUNE.
+
+_Average Temperature 59._
+
+If the garden is not altogether dependent on bedding plants it ought to be
+looking its freshest and best.
+
+See that everything has enough water.
+
+Continue to thin out flowering annuals as they increase in size.
+
+Carefully stake larkspurs, carnations, etc.
+
+If the leaves of Spring bulbs have turned quite yellow, cut them off, but
+not before.
+
+Give copious supplies of water to all wall plants as a slight shower of
+rain scarcely touches them.
+
+Give occasional doses of manure to rose trees, and pick off all faded
+flowers.
+
+Water rockeries.
+
+Stake runner beans.
+
+Sow late broccoli.
+
+Sow more lettuce.
+
+Water peaches, apricots, etc., copiously.
+
+Mulch all fruit trees.
+
+Protect cherries from birds.
+
+Draw earth up round potatoes.
+
+Water marrows well and often with liquid manure.
+
+Early this month plant out tomatoes on a south or west wall.
+
+Keep greenhouses well ventilated both day and night.
+
+Harden off azaleas before being set outside next month.
+
+Most plants under glass will want watering twice a day or they must stand
+in a saucer of water.
+
+
+JULY.
+
+_Average Temperature 62._
+
+Look out for rose suckers and cut them off.
+
+Syringe rose trees.
+
+Mulch those going out of flower to induce them to make fresh buds.
+
+Keep faded flowers picked off.
+
+Commence propagating carnations.
+
+Take note of gaps in the flower beds and fill up from the nursery garden.
+
+Place azaleas, heaths, etc., outside in a shady place to rest awhile.
+
+Pansies which are blooming well on cool borders should have weak solutions
+of guano water afforded them.
+
+Cut down faded spikes of larkspur and mulch and water well.
+
+This month bedding plants are valuable as July is not a good month for
+herbaceous perennials.
+
+Stake the later runner beans.
+
+Plant out celery.
+
+Sow more turnip seed.
+
+Syringe both wall fruit and standards.
+
+Make new plantations of strawberries.
+
+Water lawn every day if possible.
+
+Thin out the superfluous wood of fig trees and shorten gross shoots on all
+fruit trees.
+
+Keep everything well watered under glass.
+
+Give air all night to greenhouses.
+
+Tie up climbers to roof neatly and frequently syringe.
+
+Damp down several times daily.
+
+
+AUGUST.
+
+_Average Temperature 61._
+
+Take pansy cuttings.
+
+Stake dahlias, phloxes, etc.
+
+Keep soil from caking by constant hoeing.
+
+Take cuttings of geraniums, fuchsias, etc., and strike them out of doors.
+
+Give copious supplies of water to rose trees and syringe foliage often.
+
+Cuttings of rose trees may be inserted now on a cool border.
+
+Rockeries must be constantly watered.
+
+Disentangle shoots of climbing plants and tie back artistically.
+
+Water lawn daily and do not cut too low.
+
+Cuttings of most plants may be taken now and inserted in a shady border
+with every chance of success.
+
+Cut down old raspberry canes to make way for the new.
+
+Protect fruit from wasps and other insects.
+
+Pinch off the tops of runner beans.
+
+Earth up celery and put out more young plants.
+
+Remove leaves which obstruct light on wall-peaches, apricots, etc.
+
+Syringe frequently.
+
+Give air day and night to greenhouses.
+
+Give constant supplies of liquid manure to chrysanthemums.
+
+Cut back climbing plants on the roof.
+
+
+SEPTEMBER.
+
+_Average Temperature 57._
+
+Begin planting spring bulbs.
+
+Continue to take cuttings of bedding plants, but insert in frames now.
+
+Leave off giving outside plants stimulants.
+
+Sow hardy annuals to flower next Spring.
+
+Plant out rooted layers of carnations.
+
+Thin dahlia shoots and give plenty of water.
+
+Remove rose suckers.
+
+Pluck apples and pears as soon as ripe, and put on dry shelves to keep.
+The fruit should not touch.
+
+Prepare ground for new plantations.
+
+On hot days fruit trees can still be syringed to keep down insects.
+
+Plant out cabbages, sprouts, etc., from the seed bed.
+
+Earth up celery.
+
+Dig up and store potatoes.
+
+Towards the middle of the month remove greenhouse shading.
+
+Thin out climbers on roof again.
+
+Save for chrysanthemums guano is little needed now.
+
+Tender plants outside should be housed at the end of the month.
+
+Pot up freesias.
+
+Damp down less often and reduce the amount of air supplied.
+
+Ferns which were not repotted in the Spring can be done now.
+
+
+OCTOBER.
+
+_Average Temperature 50._
+
+Plant Spring bulbs and the madonna lily.
+
+Take up all bedding plants and house carefully.
+
+Fill the beds with polyanthus, wallflower, forget-me-not and other early
+flowers.
+
+This is a good month for planting most things.
+
+Begin putting in shrubs.
+
+Thin out annuals sown last month.
+
+Cut back climbing plants.
+
+Keep hardy chrysanthemums well staked.
+
+Alterations can now proceed.
+
+Continue to pick pears and apples, and go over them daily to pick out
+mouldy ones.
+
+Commence planting fruit trees.
+
+Raspberry plantations should now be made.
+
+Mulch strawberry beds after forking lightly between the rows.
+
+Sow early peas in sheltered situations.
+
+Store potatoes, carrots, parsnips, etc.
+
+Give liquid manure to chrysanthemums under glass.
+
+Ventilate carefully and do not damp down.
+
+Bring September planted bulbs to the light as soon as they appear above
+ground.
+
+
+NOVEMBER.
+
+_Average Temperature 43._
+
+Plant rose trees.
+
+Mulch every rose tree in the garden.
+
+Continue planting hardy perennials.
+
+Cut down all dead stalks of dahlias, sunflowers, phloxes, etc.
+
+Finish planting bulbs.
+
+Roll lawn frequently.
+
+New ones can now be made.
+
+Continually tidy up the garden.
+
+Finish planting shrubs.
+
+Protect fig-trees by mulching and cut back some of the over-luxuriant
+shoots.
+
+Plant fruit trees of all kinds.
+
+Trench ground not in use that the rain and frost may sweeten it.
+
+Prune currants and gooseberries.
+
+Hoe frequently between rows of cauliflower and cabbage.
+
+Celery must be earthed up higher.
+
+Any alterations that may be in hand should be completed this month.
+
+See that oil-lamp and other heating apparatus is in good order.
+
+Look over cuttings of geraniums, etc., and remove all decayed leaves,
+which should be burnt.
+
+Ventilate all glass houses much less, especially during fogs.
+
+
+DECEMBER.
+
+_Average Temperature 39._
+
+Give a final glance to tender plants to see that they are well protected.
+
+Cut down faded stalks of hardy chrysanthemums.
+
+Place hand-lights over Christmas roses.
+
+This is a good time for writing new labels, preparing stakes, and making
+plans for the following summer.
+
+Roll gravel walks, and if mossy sprinkle with salt.
+
+Planting of fruit trees may continue if the weather be mild.
+
+Thin out gross wood to allow the air to circulate.
+
+Wheel manure on to the ground in frosty weather.
+
+Prepare vegetable seeds for sowing, by separating them from the husk,
+drying, labelling and sorting them.
+
+Earth up greens of all kinds with the hoe.
+
+In glasshouses avoid too much moisture at this dead season of the year.
+
+Only ventilate in mild, calm weather.
+
+Keep everything scrupulously clean.
+
+Give as much light as possible to growing things.
+
+Plants at rest should be kept dark.
+
+
+
+
+INDEX
+
+
+  Aspect, Influence of, on plants, 67
+
+
+  Conservatory, the--
+    Cactus plants for, 26
+    Hanging plants in, 26
+    How to stage, 25
+    Plants suitable for hanging baskets, 26
+
+
+  Enemies of the garden--
+    Earwigs, to get rid of, 45
+    Mice, to get rid of, 45
+    Slugs, to get rid of, 44
+    Wireworms, to get rid of, 45
+
+
+  Flowers--
+    Annuals, 76
+    Biennials, 78
+    Colours for day and evening use, 84
+    Natural and forced procurable each month, 86
+    To pack for post, 84
+
+  Fruit, want of flavour in, 72
+
+
+  Gardens, small--
+    Be original in planting, 17
+    Beds and bedding, hints for, 14
+    Border soil for, 16
+    Breaking up the straight appearance of, 11
+    Description of a small and lovely garden, 17
+    Duty of making experiments in, 17
+    Eye for colour needed in, 15
+    Fruit for, 70
+    General arrangement of, 9
+    How not to plant, 12
+    Lawns, to keep in order, 13
+    Little things that tell in, 12
+    Making the most of land, 15
+    Ornamental and useful, 73
+    Paths of, to keep in order, 14
+    Stone fruit for, 71
+    The Dell at Chertsey, 18
+    To begin well, 9
+    Walks, the, 10
+
+  Gardening Hints--
+    Art of buying plants, the, 98
+    Cut off dead flowers, 98
+    Labelling, 97
+    Manures, 97
+    Tidiness, 99
+
+  Glossary of terms used by Gardeners, 7
+
+  Greenhouses--
+    Advantages of, over conservatories, 27
+    Artificial heat for, 27
+    Climbers in, 26
+    Houseleeks, 54
+    Storing plants in, 28
+    The joys of, 10
+    To manage, 26
+
+
+  Lopping one's neighbour's trees. A vexed question, 11
+
+
+  Monthly Hints for Gardeners--
+    January, 101
+    February, 102
+    March, 103
+    April, 104
+    May, 105
+    June, 106
+    July, 107
+    August, 108
+    September, 109
+    October, 110
+    November, 111
+    December, 112
+
+
+  Planting, the art of, 66
+
+  Plants that are neglected but handsome--
+    Asters, 20
+    Campanulas, 21
+    Cape Gooseberry, 23
+    Christmas roses, 22
+    Columbines, 20
+    Coreopsis grandiflora, 21
+    Delphiniums (larkspurs), 21
+    Erigerons, 22
+    Funkias, 22
+    Heuchera sanguinea, 22
+    Jacob's ladder, 23
+    Lobelia fulgens, 22
+    Lychnis Chalcedonica, 22
+    Penstemons, 22
+    Pink flowered anemone japonica, 20
+    Potentillas, 23
+    Saxifrages, 23
+    Tradescantias & Trollius, 24
+    Violas, 24
+
+  Propagation of plants.
+    By careful division, 88
+    By layering, 90
+    By cuttings, 89
+    By seed, 89
+
+
+  Room Plants--
+    When to buy, 96
+    Correct way of watering, 92
+    For dark corners, 92
+    Good for two-thirds of the year, 96
+    Hare's-foot ferns, 94
+    To keep them well balanced, 94
+    Leggy plants and what to do for, 93
+    Management of, 91
+    Palms, 91
+
+  Rockery, The--
+    Apennine gems for, 48
+    Bulbs for, 56
+    Hints for the construction of, 47
+    Rock roses, 50
+    Suitable plants for, 48
+
+  Roses--
+    Bush roses of H.P. type, 38
+    Climbers for cool walls, 37
+    Dwarf teas, 41
+    Good climbers for warm walls, 36
+    Hedges of, 41
+    Pillar, 40
+    Pruning, 38, 43
+    Tea, 35
+    Time to plant, 43
+
+
+  Shelter for plants, 67
+
+  Shrubs--
+    Ceanothus, The delicate, 64
+    Good all round, 62
+    Lilacs grafted, 64
+    St. John's Wort, 59
+    Winter shrubbery, 64
+
+  Summer-houses--
+    Fragrant odours for, 33
+    How to cover, 32
+    Position of, 34
+
+
+  Table, Decoration--
+    Hints on, 83
+    Maidenhair, To make it last, 84
+    Simplicity in, 85
+    Stem-splitting, 83
+
+  Time for everything in gardening, A 69
+
+  Tool-sheds, Well stocked, 29
+
+  Trees--
+    Bank under, 60
+    Good plants for growing beneath, 58
+
+
+  Vegetables for small gardens, 73
+
+
+  Window Boxes--
+    Flowers for cold aspects, 81
+    Flowers for warm aspects, 82
+    How to make, 79
+    Pretty trailers for, 82
+    Showy flowers for winter, 80
+
+
+
+
+[Sidenote: Garden Seeds and Bulbs]
+
+AMATEUR GARDENERS and others should apply for our CATALOGUE before
+ordering elsewhere.
+
+  A. C. TAYLOR, Ltd.,
+  Seedsmen and Bulb Importers,
+  28, ELECTRIC AVENUE,
+  BRIXTON, LONDON, S.W.
+
+  The Choicest BULBS AND SEEDS at moderate prices.
+  Catalogues gratis (issued in January and August).
+
+
+[Sidenote: Fencing]
+
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+  WOLVERHAMPTON.
+  LONDON SHOW ROOMS:--
+  139-141 CANNON ST E.C.
+
+  CATALOGUES FREE
+
+  MAKERS OF ALL KINDS OF IRON & WIRE FENCING, RAILING, ETC.
+
+
+GALVd. WIRE NETTING.
+
+Averages 20 per cent. Cheaper than Ordinary.
+
+Lists free.
+
+IRON BARROWS.
+
+GATES.
+
+_Low Prices._
+
+TREE GUARDS.
+
+IRON AND WIRE ESPALIER, &c.
+
+
+
+
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+
+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+
+
+DOMESTIC DITTIES
+
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+T. S. SCOTT-GATTY. Crown 4to. Price 3s. 6d. [_In the press._
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+
+THE LIFE OF LORD KITCHENER
+
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+cloth. Price 2s. 6d. [_Ready shortly._
+
+
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+
+By CLIVE HOLLAND. Crown 8vo, cloth. Price 1s. [_Ready._
+
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+     Selection of Subjects--Exposure and Development--Intensification--
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+     Final Hints.
+
+
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+
+By VIOLET BIDDLE. Crown 8vo, cloth. Price 1s. [_Ready._
+
+     This is essentially a book for amateurs, written from an amateur's
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+
+
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+
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+cloth. Price 1s. [_In the press._
+
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+
+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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+
+
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+
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+
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+
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+
+
+[Sidenote: Vegetable and Flower Seeds]
+
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+  Because they produce the finest Flowers and Vegetables.
+
+  CATALOGUE SENT GRATIS AND POST FREE.
+
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+  WINCHFIELD, HANTS.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "Ill Weeds Grow Apace." Root them out!]
+
+A PRESENT PRECAUTION MAY SAVE YOU GREAT FUTURE TROUBLE.
+
+Work in the Garden is Pleasant Work, But it is Hard Work, and every
+invention to lessen labour is an advantage!
+
+WITH THE "GNU"
+
+WEEDING FORK
+
+[Illustration]
+
+FLOWER BEDS, &c. may be kept in perfect order with a minimum of Labour.
+
+The Prongs being very close together it loosens the soil and removes weeds
+better and quicker than by hand.
+
+No Stooping or Soiled Hands.
+
+Price complete, with 3ft. handle, =1/3 each.=
+
+
+DAISY FORK
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Such unsightly WEEDS as DAISIES and PLANTAINS can be COMPLETELY REMOVED
+from LAWNS, TENNIS COURTS, &c., QUICKER and BETTER than by any other
+method.
+
+Having 3 prongs, close together, and a strong lever, the ENTIRE Root is
+removed without exertion or without disturbing the surrounding grass.
+
+Price complete with 3ft handle, =1/6 each.=
+
+Manufactured solely by J. LYTLE, 3 BARTON ROAD, WALTON, LIVERPOOL.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+Passages in italics are indicated by _italics_.
+
+Passages in bold are indicated by =bold=.
+
+Punctuation has been corrected without note.
+
+Inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been retained from the
+original.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Small Gardens, by Violet Purton Biddle
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SMALL GARDENS ***
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