Practical Gardening by Diamhus

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 72, 26 March 1921, Page 20

Practical Gardening by Diamhus

Correspondents will greatly oblige by observing the following rules in sending ' questions for publication in these columns:— . 1. Letters should be addressed (inrden Editor, "Star" Office. Auckland. "-. Write on one side of the paper, and make ;t*i communications as concise as , possible. 8. Flowers, etc., sent for naming must he sent separately, anil, if possible, pactted ln a tin or wooden boi—enrdbonrd hoses are very liable to be broken in trar-ilt anil ' the contents damaged. 4. The full uame and address of the sender must alwtijs be sent, but a norn da h plume or Initial may be given for publication. ]

*-«*-K--x-*«-K--r-*Hv***-" - ; ' * THE •WEEK'S WORK f. \ * - * i .- * :'f . * THE FLOWER GARDEc!. :it j < Sow annuals for spring flowering, such as IHyosotis, Hollyhocks, Lobelia, "si" ! ' ij< Verbenas, etc. j"" i - :fc Sow Stocks, both Ten Weak and Beauty. ii < * Sow Antirrhinums End Pontstemons, also put in cuttings ot them whore * ] A- established plants are obtainable. :'f * Plant Roso cuttings, alto cuttings of many ftoworing shrubs. * "" * Sow early and summer flowering Sweet "=033. T ' 1 "j"; Where tho ground le not yet prepared foe Sv/oot Peas got it done -t once. *j : |.- fi; Chrysanthemums must be disbuddod, tied, ana kept supplied with water "ii i.. S and liquid manure. T | . Tl! Dahlias also require plenty of attention in regard to disbudding, removing 2j ' .:- dead blooms, otc. sfc I >' 4; Tho planting of bulbs must be pushed on with all hast*. .j" 1 . $: Plant Rnomones and Ranunculus, also sow coed of them. .i" i . -t; Plant Paaonies and Forennial F'hloxos 33 3onn ao the ground Is moist. -J: | ' iji THE VEGETABLE GARDEN, it i " T ii "j" Clear oft" all spent crops and burn the rubbish. :* I "** —-ig empty ground and prepare it for Cropping. : '* j ] * Whare necessary sow a crop of oata for digging in as greon manure. * • 'Jl Spray Cabbages, etc, tc keep the blight in check. -j* I - t. Lift the Kumara tops to nre\ent rooting. :lj ' , * Earth up Ceiory as it requires it; 0 liltla soil at a time is the proper method. *', ' Prepare the gro'ind for sowing Onion seed. *** ; P :js Harvest and more Onions and Potatoes. *i" !, * , , . _ *!■•

so thai tin- crowns arc about two'im-hoa ];< below the surface: of the >oil. Three 1 1- feel at lea-; -lu.uld be allowed between! ,, Jj.'l llie clumps and four feet ii belter, l-'ull J H 111 sunshine is iic.-es-iiry and abundance | " ■r| u f u-aiei- throughout dry al.-o ; ' I oi-i-a-ioiial line's hi rnaimro water also;' '■J a mulching of well-rotted manure. Care ■ .J 1 inu-t Iμ" trtken when hoeing or digging ' ■t thai the eiowui ;.re not damaged, ill 1 - fart 1 hi' hue or any other implement! ' "j -hould never lie Used cl >-c to the clump, j'■ *. ROSE CUTTINGS. ; n ivii'al'y well <<\\ their own root- in tnc f ,','.'j»:u-:!-n ax w.ii'ii budded or grafted, Tic- ■ 1 e!imbi:i- and rambling sort-, as a rui.\, ' 'j'jdo especially well on their own root-, » ,fl aUii' nmiiy of the hybrid perprtuaU. i v le When the plants are propagated from | ',' milium llu-re U 110 fear of the stock I ~: growinjr and .iiokin- Hip -ion. i •■ I Tiuie to Insert tlie Cutting , *. -April!, , ! am! May are Ihi' usual months for i'.i-l' '..Urrtinfr .■.lUinj.'- in the open air. The 1;, a! most suitable growth* for cuttings are j " the..,, wiii.ii have prodiii'pd Mowers. I r . When the blooms divay, the slinot with *•' Ihr.-e nr l\mr leaves attached can bo i [[''•ill ofT. A i-hoot willi throe leaves at-j a' ta livd is nullieieiit: if tliejo lire four so j , 11 much the better. The top leaf near the.;-j decayed llower is of no u»e, there beiiif; ' c no bud in the a\il of tlir loaf. The '(] J| portion of the shoot above the second jt| .. leaf from the top can therefore be cut . i- ..(T close In the second leaf. Next cut v "■'l through the 4om al the bottom inimedt- j rately below the lowest leaf, taking caro o ' f ' no! to damage the bud in the axil of ii l)m- leaf. a ■'• i If the soil is fairly good, all that is j ; 1 required will be a 'little wpll-decayrd P •s leal mould ami sand to work in with >■ the cuttings. Pibble them in Ilin to -lin ' '~ { , apart, and r ivo them a pood watering: ',' .1 ■ sprinkle the rutting-t morninc and even- > v ; on bright days, whether the . [J '■ are in a frame or ill the open air. For it convenience the cutting* are sometime* , 11 , inserted in pots, three or four in a ,'Uinch pol, or more if larger-sized pot-. are . EAELY FLOVPERING GLADIOLI. <■ H The rush like leaves of the carhe-i '1 llmverins gladiolus. C.lndiolus Trial's, l 0 are just bpirinniiiK to po-h ihroujrh the s I. surface uf the soil. A liyht sprinkling '" jj. of I>one dust m among the shoots will be a help to the corn:.* at this !l t period. Keep the dumps weU weeded " now that growth ha* commenced. The (iladiulusTristi.- I.i one. that every Rar- a dencr .should have. Nut only is it. valu- s able as an early npring llower, but also, f , the npikes of bloom arc sn beautiful and sweet-scented >weet-scented that ii at onoe be- a . conies popular with all who see it. Those c ■ who wi-h to plant it this year should T ■_'et. the forms in without delay. The ■' . nexi. gladiolus to llower is tlic'"Hride." * with its dainty spikes of pure white n *" flowers. Thu gladiolus belongs to the c ; Colvellei group. The flower* of this >' ■ v |<noup are smaller than those of the ? summer and autumn flowering kinds, but ' c they are exceedingly dainty, very free- " '' llowering, and splendid "for cutting. l * (iladioli will grow well in any good gar- c 11 den soil, provided it is well d'usr and well n 11 drained, but in a light sandy soil to ' S which some well-rotted and sifted row f r manure has been ad<led they will fairly » r X ,el themselves. The early-flowerins * a gladioli need not ho lifted every year - <■■ but they should bo lifted every third' " » year, because, so quickly do they in- v V crea-e, that by that time'the clump's arc >■ n fairly crowded. The baby on™., ! l< should not he planted back with the f,iU v t a developed ones, but should be planted ° ai>art ju clumps by themselves. v 0 LEAF MOULD. j, n One -if the most valuable mixtures a ;- for seed sowing and growing secdlinca r> U. in is made up partly from leaf mould; t >f.that is. leaves that. ha\e been heaped 1 ;. together for some time and have rotted \ ». up. Before this stuff can In; usi?d for a y 1 seed sowing; purr>o*e<s it lx> passed ' j c j through ji fairly line sieve and thor- c ;-J ouglily broken up. In making up earth £ |c j for potting or seed sowing use two *• 1- ; parts of good loam, turves that have r c been stacked in a heap for some time am 5 il ■ the best to one part of leaf mould y j. and one of sand. Mix the whole lot a ■r j thoroughly together before using. The U is I mixture will be light and smooth, and c dI at the same time will have the power 5 is ,of retaining moisture to n, much '* i- 1 greater extent than ordinary earth. I d When filling pots or boxes for seeds put I" 11 some rough stuff in the bottom to let ' the surplus inowtufe away quickly, and ' then ]uit an inch or two of fine stuff on •' top. I'resa the whole lot down firmly ' with a piece of board which can be f ■> specially rua'de for the purpose and kept j [ n handy. When the seeds are sown a ' „ little more of the potting mixture can bo ■ n scattered over the top, and the whole i r lot pr«sed down again. A firm seed bed ' ,p is one of the most important things to ' 0 ensure a good germination. Watering y must be carefully done or the seeds, in ji spite of their covering, will be washed ' , c out of the soil or too much water will v drown them. A CHEAP WAY OF KILLING ' " UAKDELIONS. ir Not having any weedkiller such as j ;: lawn sand, and not wanting to dig about ! .(1 the lawn, I procured a common meat le 1 skewer, tied a small piece of wadding an is J inch from t lie point, then got some j- i petrol, dipped the skeVer in it so t'liat ir the piece of wadding was saturated, and h plunged it into the heart of the woods, d The result was successful in every case; I. y two days after the operation roots ana >s all were dead. Caution: Do not smoke ■d while using petrol. J

TO COSRESPOSDEKTS, I!. J. A. iThumesi asLs wlist is iiir br<; ilim for :> |.',hiiiliik <>r pmalii Dillons, also fo, Hi.- smUii- uf si-el lor n:i early .t.i|i i>l ordinary onions. Ham >n>tiii" onions ii .Inly or Ansn*t. .Sow uiiiiiii se.-.l m.iv f..: traiisiJautiug in sprint.'. KIIIII iKoiiiinarain.l'.—Tlii> cnilis ymi sen.l and wlilrh arc the Cupreous an- ka.mu aw lintt-wiirm*. inn) an- r.ithei dim -ult m eradicate invltiy Id I In- fiu-l Hint llir-.T art- mi wril jinitwrii. Spraylni. v.iili re.l oil one linn, water 7", itiluTil ilii ii .-i-rtiiin aiiiiuiiii i.l Ktiml. lni; i Mi.HIM iilvise ymi lo i-U;i tin- tie.Ue fall I) rinse and sillier anil Mini the . lipplni:V.,i; .-.>n!.l s .i over ufterwuniu and |.i.k ..a l>> liiiuil miy lUu! arc left. ASTKH H'likekohPl writes: -'I hove n tpliMi ilia si rain nr after* »f (he U.-irirlt riiiim variety, a new Impnrtatiuii. <'..n I e.\prei tin- s.niii- range of i-vlmins ntnl :<>nu nl hi....ni Ii I -an- -.-i-.l f..r ne:;t yeiuV I have liet-n mill that iiwliir Iti th.- ucilou •■! Ik-os ibi-.v may revert -l>u>--k In tiu- sin.-l: lurlcty."" Tli. sister s.v.l ran he *ay..d v priulilte |-.ra.||.-a'.!y the same run;;.- nl riili.ilrs. etc., hut ureal c-ar,- intisi In- luki-i that mily tlii- West bloom*, thai i~. 'In lli.wvrs which have the ili*tri\l charm-u-ristics must pronoun I. Tn ilie onll nary individual tli.-re will nppear lit ll< difference in ninny of tiu- liioo:n>. l>lll 11 ■ lose ox.uuinatk.il anil i-«iaptri>-i>li "in With the i.th.-r will show slljrhr iMCfer ences, l>ui ( >i>\ enough In i|iijllf> .-it tail, 1>1....ins :.s lu-lt.-r I bail t li.ii- IVilow It Is f n>lll snrh plant--. ainJ uul ■' 1 roil ■ hoi-, that the se.-.l hlioulU be suvv'.l. Ii ■yiiur cuse, if you inumiKi- i.. ;ji-t liulf 11 ilo/.en plants tit for si-pil purpost-K y.,n wil have iloiit- w-u. t>u not try in Uiive hulk; 11 few good eeeda is lum-li lielt<T. As soon a> viiu have deelde-.I on thi- [Hants that ar. to carry ce-.-d net ri.l nf the rest when tin tinner.-.' an- pusl their Im-si. The nluthai irrc lo lie kepi ror seed niUHI be retained and caretfill.v wut.-ln-.l uiitu tin seed I* ready to full, when it should Ik collected ami ilricil. MAKRinv (One Tree llilli sends Iravcs nt vpeetabk- marrow Ua<Uy inf.-.-t.-.l will) nii.iicr. The blitlit has nls,, appeared »v pumpkin*. Toluutois, haw- 11.so had tin lliseas,-. They were, sprayed with linn Milliliter (one In tiftyi. lint apparently will. out nIViH-l Huw pulled up tilt! teiniati>e> and marrows, and t.url.-il them rtwplj with plenty of frceu lime. 1 lie iprayiii. with lime sulphur .should have rUei-k.v the disease on the T.-.-tat.le marrows an. immnkinx also on ihe teiiualoeie. Mllnew Is always worse dnrins a lirj si»-U whet the plaiitH gpt a rhevt. Another seusor. spray earlier in the season. 1 ii> not will! till the disease is seen. In your Harden 11 i« certaiu to appear next season you spray early uud check ll before it get* ii start. PERENNIAL PHLOX. These arc very beautiful when well grown, but when done in a careless manner they are not lit all creditable to any garden. They like a sunny position, but where a half shadey position can be "riven without the encumbrance of tree roots it is certainly better about Auckland. They need a deeply-dug soil and one tluit is as rich aiul as moisture-holding a 9 possible. This i» why half shade and no tree roots to rob the soil oi moisture, makes it. the host position. During the growing season abundance of moisture is required. April is a good month to replant, and il will be found that the results arc tx>,->t when the cluflips are broken u j> aiul replanted every three rears. Kstal>liohed plants that have iinished llow-er-ing should be cut back to within a feu iiicues of the ground. A little bonedust should be carefully pricked into the soil about the plant?, and a mulch of well-rotted manure and decayed leaves spread over them. The plants will nepil only very occasional attention then until the summer, when mulching should be attended to. Once the llower buds are forming, liquid manure should be given regularly, always after a thorough soaking with clear water. Among named varieties, Jeanne d'Arc is a splendid white; Eclajreur has pretty rose-coloured flowers with a salmon centre; Mrs. Ke.rslakc is deli.-nle prink with a red eye; Coquillicot is vivid ec-arlet. CAMELLIAS. Camellias should be planted early ir the autumn to allow the roots to be come established while the soil is stil warm. Camellias grow easily out ol doors, but where heavy frosts are ex perienced they should be planted be neath the shade of trees, or where the} can be sheltered from tjie frost. Mark out a good space for each tree, and re move the top soil. Thoroughly .break Uμ* the subsoil, mining with it. wellrotted manure and decayed vegptablc rubbish. Replace the top soil am! mix with it decayed vegetable rub bisli. Spread out the roots and 00W1 them firmly with fine soil. Topdrcst the soil with well-rotted manure, and water the tree occasionally till it, iest.ablished. The young tree ia especi ally susceptible to frost, and slioulc have a piece of scrim thrown over it on very frosty nights. PAEONIES. i'iiconies have born .veil described a> the "emperors of the herbaceous border.' Forming fine bushes, often 3J feet ir height they are noble objects whe.r planted on the edge of a lawn, or ir the middle line of herbaceous border Their foliage continues fresh long aftei (lowering is over. The one drawback U I heir popularity seems to be that the} demand a little patience at first. It wil often take two and sometimes thret years before the ])lunt3 are thoroughly established, but once going they shoulc uot be moved; the bushes will go or increasing in size and beauty year aftei year, lv order to have p.ieonies at theil best the ground should -lie deeply dug: some well-decayed manure being mixec in. though the ground must, .not be madf too rich. The most suitable soil ii sandy loam, but heavy land can be im proved -by adding sand and line inortai rubble. The best time to plant is Marel and April, and once planted they shoulc not be disturbed, for the longer thej stay in one place the better the clumpbecome. The roots should be planted

MIGNONETTE IN POTS. This frag-rant flower is greatly appreciated at all times when grown in the j open borders, but il U especially liked! when grown in (lower-pots in the green-' house or conservatory. Pot phinl-f arc ' Usually had in llo.\er during the -pri'ipj months when blossoms arc scarce. To I obtain very strong plants, sow seeds in ' autumn and grow the young plant.-! on very steadily during the autumn and, ■winter months. Old libroiis loam is the i best: use two parts of si:.:-,, one part of j leaf-soil, and one part of sand, lotted j manure and old mortar rubble. ' It is very important that the compost be h-v.eet. and r>ll this account do not «ow the seeds ill their flowering pot*, bciiuisc the. soil in bulk has to remain in the pots u o long, and it often turns .-our. Sou- the seed, in pots :tU.i ill diameter, dropping four or live .-rrels : half an inch apart'un the surface of the j soil in each pot. The same kind of com- ' po>t must be used both at. the time of -■owing t .'lit seeds and at the repotting later on, r.nly wUn t li» latter work is done the compos! should be in a ] rougher condition. Cover the M-ed- wit k>, ■ tine soil, and place the pots in a cold frame with the lights well tilled above them. It it better to <lo (his than to : allow the plants to -et »:il tiratml with' rain-water occasionally. < .'raduall.v thin out the young plant* to i>.i- in each ! pot. Three, two, and one miunonette ] l-liiiiti ri-siii-i , ; i-.elv were i>r<iwii in

I -liiii •. ii ,i.n , i-.riv >v.-,,- ■;!..,. .. |"<t.F, and ail »»!■<> very line indeed, ■lit (he hitV'li' plant niiiilr the best! •pnl." It Hin :i Kiiticrb >•!><■' inn ii. branching out freclv. and "bearing lon:.' and well .formed -.pike-, of ld.w-oni-.. Tinpoint of I hi , plana inu-l l»' pinched nut ; eilhi"- when the specimen i- i|uiti' young' sn that thi' new side shoots may got strong befun- the dull day- of winter ii>mi>. or the plant mit-t not be pinched ! before the lir-1 week in -Inly, l.ai.niitumn flnp-pins re-ul'.~ in tli.- growth of weakly side -limit-. l'lac thi'l plants in IU-inch pnt- ; in Mar.-h, and j remove them ti> a shelf in a lifii,--,. . r mnw-rvatnrv in .\»ril, nr. Nt (ho hit--t. early in May. Whrn thenar.' pl.Mitv nl root, in tli.> laiLv pot* ■ ■in-.! tli- InnciT days i-niiir, :.- ,1 the p'.inti judiciously. T'ncv ri--|Uiie plenty •if lichi and air in lim> weather. M- -bet. Vi-trria. Spiral. I'eifiM-tinn. Hi tuar.-k. Mini (J olden Qui-iMi arc all beautiful varieties I" gnu , -'. AUTUMN SOWN ANNUALS. ! Those \\\w hnve never »ro>vn hardy' innunls from initiinin«ov. n wed have tint yet vealiw-d their worth. Tli. n i- 11" ; i-umparinnn ixHwvr-n plant* that have I wholly mn.!■■' their growth in late spring! and rarly Minitncr, and thox- that have been •rniwiui; throughout the winter. . Many do not su.-.-p.-d well with liuniy annuals, for the simple reason that tli.-v delay the souini,' until too \::U- a period. ' This is more imperially proiluctive ot evil coiiscnucnccs wln-re tlie soil is of v close. nioihturc-holdiiiH, and. tlicn-fore, cold nature-, the- young plants have no time , ' to obtain a t'irm hold of the ground enwinter grips them in a lirin and often fatal emhlii.-c. If they arc not killed outright, they lon-.- that fnv-dnm ami vigour which they must retain if tii--y are to yield us the full measure of tlu-ir Lieautv. The first or second week in Mar.li ir|iiite l..t<- I'liotlgh tn now, and tlli'll tilt; , position hbi.uld l>c eiinuy. . ' Take ciiii- that the young pi-nit-, nryor U-cornc i-rowdi'd. thin them out t>> tw.> inches or three inches apart as ~,,0ii as they are Well ill growth, and l.y mid- \ April they will liaM' dcvelo|M'd int.. line, sturdy little spo itn.-ns. In n p-Tn-ral way,'it is not |>r:ict inilile to sow whore-tlu-y are to Htnnd, l>ut if they an- tn be Lriinsplantcd let it. lit- done, if possible, ■|iiit<' by the second we«-k in April, so that the roots pet some hold of the \ ground by the winter. In heavy soil?----r-arly transplanting is more iie.-cs--.arv than where the natural staple is warm j and comparatively dry, though >:i soils uliii-h easily panh in hot weather it i-he.-t to get the plnnti. into plan- as early us possible, as then they do not sutler so much when coming into bloom frmn periods of bout and drought. It i< often said that soil should m>t Iμ- rich for annuals, but if you give thorn room enough you will scarcely err in this respect, us the more , luxuriance tlu> liner in quality and larger in i]uantity will bn the blooi'-is. But a word of e/uitiop is. necessary—the luxuriance must l>e iind'-r control,' there should be little cigtid of \ it before spring, aa,a too sappy autumn" errown invitee drutruction. A tnp-dre-ss-ing of borne artilieial or of decayed manure early in August will liest answer ' the purpose, us the tsprinjj , ruins will carry tlio nourishment down tn th« roots hy the time they nmsf need it. In planting, quite six inches should l.c allowed from plant to plant, and if they arc (o be grown in a mixed border three plants' together will lie tlie best arrungi-iuttnt. • Although this is a nn-re question of taste,' Hin«le well-grown specimens look well, whilst ii square yard or more of colour is most effective. Krysiinum I'erolTski- ' anum, for instance, produces an e\ trcnicly tine effect wlien mussed, tlie bright orange-tint of the Mowers being almost, unique; whilst sueli shrubhy growing. Oonipact-habited kinds of tlodetia. Lady Albemarlc, which clothe themselves abundantly with foliage, tin not «<> much need to bn massed in order to display ' their beauty. One of the linest and most useful of hardy annuals is Clarkiu pulchclla, and those who need cut llofrere ' .should grow it largely: tho (lowers last lone in water, and the whole appearance j of the plant is and elegant. It is ! also one ofc>the hardiest kinds in ctlltiva- ' tion. licinp of niuch-branched habit and i rather brittle, it, however, requires some | support, as., when the plants arc large ' and coining into bloom, rough winds are ! apt to- break off large sprays. Strong, twiggy birch inserted here and there so ; as to catch the main brunches will pre- j serve them intact; there is no need to tie,: as the shoots drop into tlie forks as they grow and there remain, t'olliiisia bicolor , also requires support in a similar manner, as do all that grow anything like a foot high, and which branch, l.arlouia auroa is an old annual, but one which has lately become rather popular; it is' showy anil distinct, both in fulingi , and' liloom. Kciiiophilas, blue and white, and Silone pondulit ate well known, but ths* pretty little Li.-i*"osi]ihona are not miu-li firown: {hey »rr cliarmip<; little, ncjit- I habited plants, with ln-auliful rosy-pink ! or golden-yellow Mowers, and jjivn' satis-1 faction only when sown in autumn. I PRESERVING ASPARAGUS AND FERN FRONDS. The following process is sai.l to pro-' 'serve the natural colour and allow the : fronds and shoots to be kept in a useful \ state for months. When the fronds and growths are mature they should be re- , moved from the plant and immersed in a vessel containing a mixture consisting of one part glycerine ami two parts water. They should fe allowed to remain in this for some time. They are then taken out and the fluid allowed to drop from them and dried in the air. After dryinjf the fronds and growths ] should be laid between tissue paper and j kept in a closed box or drawer u> pro- ! serve from dust and insects.

VEGETABLE MARKOV/. In many pardens marroiv plants are looking n-ry unhappy n- the re.-ult of the drought. The showers we have had ilmiiiil; I he pa-t week ha, helped them considerably, and if the xine.- ;ire pegged j down to the damp soil and a little soil drawn ~vcr the sterna they will root an.l take on a new lej.-e of life. <;i\e til. , plants some liquid manure, made by diohiiUitijT one ounce of intra; «i of soda ill two gallons of water. The soil must 1 l>e thoroii'.'hlv cither by rain or artificial uieiins. before this is applied. .New growth will I'onimence. and tlie reMilt will be a. crijp of voting marrows' lei.ire the comes. While mildew Ikis tiiken hold of the. vine, tpray with ' lime-sulphur solution one part, water 7"i parts; or I'.os.leaux 4-4-40- They will look .had for a time, !;iit if not gone too , far the new fjrouth v. ill soon appear, 'but the Mul must be kept moist and the plants jrrowin- if the mildew is to be kept in check. Sprayii'.j- mnM bo yiven every uc-k or ten day, till the trouble .s .-topped and clean foliage i> prmluc.-d. otherwise (he best thin- i> to -rather and burn all diseased vines an.l foliage. CLEANING UP. ! The incoming Uiontli of April is an important one in the frurdiMi, as fio much must be done uur.ru: tins month in patherin" \.< the fruit -1 of our p;ist labours, ami settin<; the garden in order tor its peri."l of re-t. which, if it can uc culled re-t lit nil. i- of very short dmliitioli in ii"- el.mate, :in<i in making prepurati-ins for m-xt Heaeon'a activity. The remnants of all .Tops .-hould be cleaned off, savins all quickly-rotted vegetable matter for returning t,> the soil, either by ilisgring it straight awiiy 01 by pilins '" !1 compost heap, with the addition of Mill and lime, and any house "slops, soot or ut;-,tc mamirial matter thai is to hand. If a si:lli -iency of earth is used mil a liberal dusting of lime fiiven. and the heap trodden down linn verj little offensive odour will be noticed, while its value for into the surlii.e soil will be L-reat- \ egvlal.le manor treated in this manner will , ije ot prettier value when it has been .sta.ked lon.ir enough to thoroughly "nrcak down to a condition tit to diir into the soil, than the separate constituents ol the l.Ciip would be if used i separately, as the fermentation whkh [will take place will cause the production of uitrofM-n, which, coming in contact with the eurboi-.ute of linio, will form nitrate of lime. Vegetable matter of a ! β-noilv nature, which does not. decay quickly 1 »uoli as rabbape sti;;nps, tops of ■herlwceoiis plants, old pea-sticks, hedge [ clippings, and in fact any waste woody .substance should be burnt, and it is »Iμ , . to in. hide fruit tree leaves also, as they are too often infested with the spores of pome fungoid pest, which they may carry over to next spring if allowed Ito ret blown away into odd corners, or exposed in heaps. The fermentation lin a compost heap will not be strong jenoujrh to destroy winter-resting spoav.s. jam! S.i the pest is carried over 'from season to season. Cleanliness should be the order of every day in the garden. but it is of special importance in the ; autumn months, wben nearly all the j pests the L'arden is troubled" with arc : preparing to carry their species over tlie inactive season. As (hey have Jived for many years through their litness for survival, it will take a ileal of ingenuity and persistency" to defeat t'lieni.