The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-06-18 00:00:00

GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR
THE WEEK.
(From the Gardener's Magazine.)

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(An excellent weekly journal, rontainin much valuta*
Information for amateur and professional gardener.]

EITCHE;•I

GARDEN.

In tying up lettuces at this season of the year, a little
judgment as to the right moment for performing the opera-
tion is necessary. The plants must not be tied up when the sun
I. shining brightly upon them in the middle of the day, for
the sudden check to evaporation CRUM'S the hearts to rot.
Neither must the foliage be damp hem either dew or rain
when tying is done. Where the yourg plant' have to be
transplanted from the seed-bed, a wady border such as is on
the north side of a wall should be set apart for them. Plant
out the autumn cauliflowers as speedily as possible. The
frequency of a large proportion of this oatch buttoning can be
mainly attributed to the young plants being kept starving in
the seed-beds too long. The early spring-sown plants are
now coming on, and will receive much bonnet from a mulch
of short litter between the rows on dry soils. A cool moist
bottom is essential to the production of large well flavoured
heads. Sow a supply of Endive for the autumn. Much
better success may be expected if the seed is sown where the
plants are to remain permanently. The Moss Curled and
Green Curled are the two best for sowing now. Continue to
thin out all crops that require that attention, and let it be
finished before they are likely to receive any injury from
overcrowding.
FRUIT CARDEN.

The work to be done lu this department is much the
same as that advised for the last two week.; therefore, we
can only advise those who are behludhaud to bring up the
arrears as quickly as possible. Bear in mind here, Weise-
where, that it takes up just as much time to do the work
out of season as it does in season, though the benefit result-
ing therefrom may be little in the first case, and much in
the seccud.

FLOWNit GARDEN.
The flowering shoots of Delphiniums, Phloxes, and other
herbaceous plants of a like habit, should be thinned out if
fine spikes of Cowers are a consideration. We seldom see
the beauty of these subjects fully developed through the
flowering spikes being allowed to remain crowded together.
Half a dozen full-sized spikes are much better than two
dozen weakly little things with not • dosen perfect blooms
upon them. Where the surface of the beds recently filled
with plants hu Income hardened from successive watering.,
it should be stirred with a small hoe. The plants will soon
show the benefit they have received from that treatment by
starting away vigorously. It is equally as important to keep
the surface of the soil in which flowering plants are growing
stirred and tree from weeds as those which are occupied with
Vegetables.
This is a very good time for increasing the stock of
Polyanthuses. Considering the ease with which these lovely
spring-flowering plants can be grown and shifted about when
necessary for display, they are f oily entitled to rank amongst
the best of our spring bedders. Choose a shady border, and
give it a moderate dressing of manure or leaf-mnuld, and
then dig it up deep. Divide the plants, and put them in rows
a foot apart, and nine Inches asunder in the rows. Plant
firm, and water until they are tolerably well established. If
taken in hand at this season, they make strong crowns, which
flower freely the following season ; but when pulled to pieces
and planted in the autumn a few small trusses are all the
cultivator obtains for his labours.
POLICING.
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Pines.—The whole of the stock is now growing with tre-
mendous vigour, and must have room to develop. It is a
very good plan at this season to put a few loade of tan or
leaves in some of the pits which are otherwise occupied
through the winter, and remove the sucker, and small sue-
... Won plants to them. 1 his will give the large plants
plenty of room, and the removal of those now swelling off
and showing fruit after it is cut will make room for their re-
turn to the pine-house in the autumn. Ills not of much
consequence whether the pits are heated or not, as the heat
from the fermenting material and the sun will be quite suffi-
cient for the summer growth.
Vines.—Give air in the vinery early in the morning, so that
the foliage can become dry by the time the sun is shining
with its full force upon the house. Three parts of the scorch-
ing of the foliage which we hear so much about atisell
through insufficiency of ventilation in the early part of the

day..-
Melou.—Keep the foliage of these free from red-spider
and (trim for it is impossible to obtain finely.flavoured
rult from plants destitute of healthy foliage. Those which
are swelling off their fruit must be kept in a nice condition
with respect to moisture at the roots; if they are allowed
to get dried up at one time and drenched at another, the
fruit generally splits In all directions, and is then totally
unlit for a well-appointed table. The best plan to prevent
'•eracklag," when the plants accidentally get dry, is to give
them a thorough good syringing overhead, and then keep
close and shaded for a few hours previous to applying water
to the roots. Ventilate freely in all stages, but shut up
early in the afternoon.
PLANT-HOCSES.

Comervatory.—Any of the flowering plants that are
getting infested with green-fly should be removed altogether,
and thus prevent their spreading to other subjects. This
structure should at this moment be gay with l'elargoniumS,
which last fresh hut for a short time after they get smothered
with this pest. To smoke them now Is out of the question,
for a moierate dose would bring down two-thirds of the
flowers. Now that the weather is getting warmer, a few of
the large specimen ferns may be brought in front the stoves
to relieve the glowing colours with which the conservatory is
now decorated. .

Greenhouse. —Where this house is still occupied with New
Holland plants give an abundance of air let the ventilator.
be open night and day, for it is impossible for these plants to
have too much air now. On the other hand, if the shove
class of plants are cleared out, and their places filled with
soft-wooded stuff, which requires to be grown on freely,
the horns must be shut up early in the afternoon, sod the
occupants thereof have a good winging overhead pre-
viously ; keep rather close during the day, and abode to keep
down the temperature; at the same time give sufficient air
to keep the plants sturdy and short-jointed.
Stove. —Amtryllide that have now finiahed their growth
should have the supply of water at the roots lessened, and
complely withheld as the foliage dies down. Give all free-
growing subjects that are in need of pushing on weak manure-
water according to their requirements Growth made now
will have ample time to get matured before autumn, and it
must not he forgotten that stout well-ripened growth is
necessary to an abundance of flowers next season.
FRAMES.

The Asters intended fo.r."ll;;;Tring In the conservatory
should have their final shift at once. Three plants In a sit-
Inch pot is the best way to grow them. The herbaceous
Calceo'arias, as they go out of bloom, should have the whole
of the flower-stalks removed, mud be brought to one of the
pits, and the pot set on a bed of coal-ashes. The frame
must be kept cool and moist, which can be done by sprink-
ling the door and keeping it shaded ; Obis is better than
soaking the roots with moisture, self they have much before
the young growth starts the plants will probably go off.
Roses that have been forced most be plunged In some loose
material in the full sun to ripen the wood ; cuttings from
these will strike freely on a slight bottom heat, and may
now be put In.