grow--though not all of us can exterminate--those beautiful Veronicas,
the Germander Speedwell and the Field Speedwell, with their brightest
of blue flowers. Merely to name the dandelion, daisy, plantain,
convolvulus, dock, pheasant's eye, and even the groundsel, is to remind
ourselves of the great beauty which our garden weeds possess, and of
the essential place which they occupy in the mental picture of a homely
garden. Yet is there one "weed"--or "good plant in the wrong place," as
a weed has been well defined--more prevalent than all others, hardier
than most, and as beautiful as any. No garden, no road, no wall or
fence even, but grass does its best to drape and to beautify it. And
if gardening has made men blind to the beauty of the grass leaf, so
blind that they needs must roll and cut it for appearance's sake, then
is gardening to be ranked with that spirit of vestrydom, of which Mrs
Meynell says such true, sarcastic things. But gardening need have no
such tendency. Rather should it tend to make its devotees observant and
admiring where plant beauty is concerned. Still, with weeds, be they
ever so beautiful, ever so interesting, must the gardener wage eternal
war. Nature, like the artist she is, abhors bare earth as much as she
abhors a vacuum, and, where she sees a piece of ground uncovered, there
she sows her seeds or projects her roots. One of the best ways of
keeping weeds within bounds, therefore, is to have as little earth as
possible uncovered by plants, for then weeds have small chance of entry
and smaller chance of development. There is a hackneyed saying to the
effect that one year's seeding means seven years' weeding, and there
is wisdom in it; but rare indeed must be the gardens where in some odd
corner weeds do not succeed each year in ripening and scattering their
seeds. As soon as a weed is seen, it should be pulled up, or Dutch-hoed
off, and, if it have not a perennial root, straightway buried in
the garden or used as a mulch round shrubs or herbaceous plants. In
addition to its primary object, the mere pulling up of weeds, or hoeing
off their heads, is of the utmost value in loosening the surface of
the ground, and so checking evaporation and the conduction of heat.
In fighting with weeds, garden flowers will be much assisted by deep
cultivation, rich soil, and a provision of those general conditions
which conduce to their health and vigour. As a rule the annual weeds
are kept under with comparative ease, it usually being the perennials
with spreading roots which give the real trouble. In preparing a piece
of ground, every piece of such root--be it of couch grass, bindweed,
or what not--should be picked out and burnt. Then, if, through several
seasons, every shoot of perennial weed be pulled off directly it is
seen, they will eventually be subdued or even vanquished. For weedy
paths, it is no longer necessary to spend hours or days in hand-weeding
with basket and knife--historically interesting though that practice
is. All that is now required is to water the paths, when dry, with a
solution made by boiling five ounces of powdered arsenic in a gallon of
water, stirring the while, and then adding two gallons of cold water,
and half a pound of soda.
Such is the fate of the man who would be a gardener. He must wage
constant battle with flowers whose beauty he can but acknowledge. He
must be full of zeal for the murder of plants he is bound to love and
admire. It is a little like hitting a woman; and, when one sees the
weed, which has been violently hurled from bed and border, patiently
trying to live its humble life on wall or rubbish-heap, smiling as
sweetly as it may on the "owner" of the soil, one is reminded of that
pathetic--even if fictitious--story of the vivisector's dog.
INSECT AND OTHER PESTS
Vigorously growing plants are far less liable than are feeble ones to
the attacks of the various living enemies which the gardener is called
upon to combat. Therefore the most important item in the suppression
of insect or fungoid pests is careful and correct culture. But, even
in the best kept gardens, green-fly and earwig, slugs, snails and
wireworms will appear, and must be dealt with by repressive as well as
by preventive measures.
The green-fly, which is sometimes such a trouble to our roses and
fruits, should be treated with vigorous and repeated syringing or
hosing with water. If this is found to be inadequate, the affected
plants may be washed with tobacco water (made by pouring half a gallon
of boiling water on an ounce each of soft soap and shag tobacco, and
allowing the strained infusion to cool), or with an emulsion made by
stirring well together half a pint of petroleum oil, two ounces of
hard soap, and a quart of nearly boiling water, afterwards adding half
a gallon of cold water, and thoroughly mixing. This last application
should always be applied in the evening.
Wireworms, which are such a foe of the carnation grower, may usually
be destroyed by spreading gas-lime at the rate of two pounds per
square yard over the unoccupied soil in the fall, ploughing or digging
it into the ground a month or two later. If this is impracticable,
the wireworms may often be trapped by burying pieces of potato at
intervals, removing them every few days.
For destroying the fungus of mildew nothing is more effective than
sulphur mixed with soft soap and water in the proportion of one ounce
of sulphur and four ounces of soap to four gallons of hot water.
Earwigs, which so often spoil the Dahlia blooms, may be trapped by
crumpling a newspaper and placing it among the plants, or by filling
a flower-pot with moss and inverting it over a stake--in either case
examining the traps daily and destroying the victims.
Snails and slugs should be caught at night and killed by placing
them in a bucket and covering them with salt. They may be trapped
by placing cabbage or lettuce leaves at intervals about the garden,
examining beneath them each morning; or they may sometimes be destroyed
by watering the plants which they frequent with lime-water (made by
adding a gallon of water to a quarter pound of freshly burnt lime, and
straining).
Birds are sometimes harmful, but on the whole they do more good than
harm in a garden, and I am inclined to agree with an old gardener, who,
having caught a blackbird among the gooseberries, was asked by his
master what he had done with it. "Oh," he replied, "I just gave 'im a
warning and let 'im go."
POINTS
1. Grow no plant which does not strike you as either beautiful or
interesting.
2. Learn the requirements of every plant as far as possible before
ordering it, and have everything ready before its arrival.
3. Do not overcrowd, but allow every plant to develop and display its
own form of beauty. On the other hand, show as little bare earth as
possible at every season of the year.
4. Have few beds and many and wide borders. It will often, however,
be found convenient to grow in beds such flowers as Carnations, which
require to be frequently replanted, and which will not tolerate the
competition of other plants; but even with Carnations may be planted
many bulbs, such as Crocuses, Tulips, Spanish Irises and Gladioli. In
any case, aim at being a four-season gardener, and make your garden
interesting in every part the year through.
5. The borders should generally be wide--where there is ample space not
less than nine to twelve feet. They should be backed by a plant-covered
trellis or wall, or by flowering and evergreen shrubs.
6. Cultivate the soil to a depth of two or three feet in the manner
described in this book, and in dry weather supply _abundance_ of water,
and keep the surface mulched either with moss or manure, or with loose
soil.
7. In arranging mixed borders, avoid dottiness, preferring rather to
plant bold clumps or masses of individual species. Let the surface
of the soil be carpeted by low-growing, surface-rooting plants, such
as the dwarf Campanulas, Aubrietias, Arenarias, Silene acaulis, S.
alpestre, Linaria alpina, Veronica saxatilis and the like. Let the
taller growing plants be mostly towards the back of the border, and the
smaller plants mostly near the front, but avoid primness by allowing
an occasional clump of tall plants (especially those, such as Gladioli
and Lilies, which need special care) to break the front margin, and by
letting the dwarfer carpeting plants spread towards the back of the
border.
8. Keep in a shed or in a corner of the garden a compost heap composed
of two parts sand, one part fibrous loam (such as the top spit of
meadow land), one part of two-year-old leaf mould, and one part of
two-year-old stable manure. Whenever one is transplanting a herbaceous
or other plant, it will be found very helpful to cover the roots with a
few inches of this soil. Mixed with an equal quantity of sand it will
also be useful to place round bulbs when planting them.
9. When planting, always dig a hole sufficiently large and deep to
contain the roots well spread out. Place the plant in position, cover
the roots with a few inches of the compost just named, and give a
bucketful of water to settle the earth. Then fill up the hole with
ordinary soil, firmly pressing with the foot if necessary, though the
liberally watering often does away with the need. In any case the
surface should be ruffled up into a state of looseness in order to
check evaporation.
10. Keep a special garden notebook in which to note things which want
correcting or developing. If not noted when recognised, they are likely
to be forgotten when the season for making the change comes round. Also
note any good plants or good effects which you may see in the gardens
of others.
11. Buy your seeds of the best seedsmen, regardless of price. Buy your
plants from the best nurseries, even though they may be listed a little
cheaper elsewhere.
12. Do not be content merely to copy the "arrangements," "groupings"
and such which you may see suggested in books or practised by your
friends. Study books, study gardens, and study wild nature, but use
your own brains.
13. Make, or remake, one border every year. You will thus always have
sufficient surprise to afford spice or seasoning to the "settled" part
of your garden.
14. It is interesting, in addition to cultivating a large variety of
flowers, to grow one flower or one race of flowers as a specialty.
* * * * *
THE most satisfactory Plants for the Garden, and amongst THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL are the following improved varieties of
HARDY PERENNIALS
CULTIVATED BY
KELWAY & SON
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURISTS
LANGPORT, SOMERSET
KELWAY'S PÆONIES
Collection D--42s. per dozen; 50 for £7 7s.
KELWAY'S DELPHINIUMS
Collection D--42s. per dozen; 50 for £7 7s.
KELWAY'S GAILLARDIAS
Collection C--18s. per dozen; 100 for £6 6s.
KELWAY'S PYRETHRUMS
Collection C--21s. per dozen; 100 for £7 7s.
Nearly all the best new varieties of the above-mentioned important
families ORIGINATED in the Langport Nurseries.
More Certificates and Awards of Merit for improved varieties of Hardy
Plants have been awarded by the R.H.S. to KELWAY & SON than to any firm.
KELWAY'S "MANUAL OF HORTICULTURE" for 1901, by far the best
Horticultural Catalogue and Guide published, will be sent post free
for 1s. 6d. It contains interesting particulars of all the best Hardy
Herbaceous Plants, &c., and of KELWAY'S "ARTISTIC" BORDERS (registered).
133 GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS--London, Paris, Chicago, &c.
KELWAY & SON, LANGPORT, SOMERSET
Handbooks of Practical Gardening
Under the General Editorship of
HARRY ROBERTS
Crown 8vo. Illustrated. Cloth. 2s. 6d. net.
Vol. I.--THE BOOK OF ASPARAGUS. With sections also on Celery,
Salsify, Scorzonera, and Seakale. By CHARLES ILOTT, F.R.H.S.,
Lecturer on Horticulture to the Cornwall County Council. Together
with chapters on the History, Decorative Uses, and Cookery of these
Vegetables, by the Editor.
_The Pilot_--"Every point is carefully dealt with, and the book
should prove extremely useful to scientific gardeners."
_The Daily Mail_--"The admirable chapter contributed by Dr Harry
Roberts on the Cookery of Asparagus."
_The Speaker_--"The work of a specialist. Mr Ilott gives us--for a
matter of half-a-crown--the ripe experience of a life-time well
illustrated."
_The Gardeners' Chronicle_--"The author is eminently qualified for
the task he has undertaken.... In a careful, thorough manner
the cultivator is instructed in every operation involved in the
cultivation of the plant."
_Gardening Illustrated_--"The author has handled his subject in a
thoroughly practical manner, and is to be congratulated on having
compressed so much valuable matter into so small a compass."
_The Scotsman_--"Most serviceable.... The letterpress is beautifully
and usefully illustrated, while the get-up of the book generally is
very tasteful."
_The World_--"This very useful series should by no means be missed
from the library of the sincere gardener."
_The Daily Chronicle_--"THE BOOK."
_The Morning Post_--"Particularly sound advice.... The information
throughout is treated in a simple and intelligible manner."
_The Garden_--"Very plain and practical. Many useful illustrations
from photographs and sketches are dispersed throughout the book.
The best kinds of Asparagus for decorative purposes are described
by Dr Roberts, who gives also many interesting details concerning
the history and cookery of these vegetables. Altogether a very
readable book."
JOHN LANE: LONDON: VIGO STREET, W.
NEW YORK: 67 FIFTH AVENUE.
Handbooks of Practical Gardening--_Continued_.
Vol. II.--THE BOOK OF THE GREENHOUSE. With a special chapter on the
little Town Greenhouse. By J. C. TALLACK, F.R.H.S., Head Gardener
at Shipley Hall.
Vol. III.--THE BOOK OF THE GRAPE. By H. W. WARD, F.R.H.S., for 25
years Head Gardener at Longford Castle, Author of "My Gardener."
Vol. IV.--THE BOOK OF OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS. By HARRY ROBERTS, author
of "The Chronicle of a Cornish Garden."
Vol. V.--THE BOOK OF BULBS. By S. ARNOTT, of Carsethorne, near
Dumfries.
Vol. VI.--THE BOOK OF THE APPLE. By H. H. THOMAS, Assistant Editor
of "The Garden," late of the Royal Gardens, Windsor. Together with
chapters by the Editor on the History and Cooking of the Apple and
the Preparation of Cider.
Vol. VII.--THE BOOK OF CLIMBING PLANTS. By G. H. WOOLASTON, M.A.,
F.G.S.
JOHN LANE: LONDON: VIGO STREET, W.
NEW YORK: 67 FIFTH AVENUE.
AN IDEAL GARDEN BOOK
The Chronicle of a Cornish Garden
BY
HARRY ROBERTS
_With Seven Illustrations of an Ideal Garden by_
F. L. B. GRIGGS
Crown 8vo. Cloth. 5s. net
_The Outlook_--"A pleasant and instructive account of the manner in
which Mr Roberts transformed a Cornish Wilderness into a garden fair.
He is particular to give the exact names of the plants employed. This
will be found of great assistance to any one who undertakes a similarly
enchanting but difficult task.... Gossipy, instructive; prettily
illustrated."
_The Bookman_--"We have awakened to the charms of garden literature
during the last few years, and this volume, telling of the gradual
beautifying of a neglected, overgrown plot, deserves the attention of
our new enthusiasm. It is written with grace and knowledge, and will
please as well as teach."
_The Spectator_--"Mr Roberts' experiences will be found useful. Useful
or no, they are pleasantly told. A brief preface tells us where and how
he set to work, and then he takes us through the months from January,
and shows us each garlanded with her peculiar flower or flowers."
_The Gentlewoman_--"Dr Harry Roberts carries us to a particular corner
of the kingdom in 'The Chronicle of a Cornish Garden,' a book penned
with much charm by a genuine nature-lover."
_The Daily Mail_--"His book shows that he possesses not only extensive
garden lore, but also a rarer quality, considerable literary style, and
other books from his pen will be welcomed."
_The Manchester Guardian_--"Pleasantly written, and practical without
being tedious.... The illustrations by Mr Griggs of an ideal garden are
in good taste and suggest a quiet, old-world pleasance."
_The Scotsman_--"These papers are not only well founded in knowledge
and observation, but also well written, and such as gardeners will take
a pleasure in going over."
_The Pilot_--"Mr Roberts' knowledge of botany is another merit of his
work. The interest arising from learning the secrets of the plants adds
considerably to the pleasures of a garden. The book certainly should be
included in the excellent list of garden literature which Mr Roberts
gives at the end of his book."
JOHN LANE: LONDON: VIGO STREET, W.
NEW YORK: 67 FIFTH AVENUE.
BOOKS ABOUT GARDENS
Seven Gardens and a Palace. By "E. V. B.," Author of "Days and Hours
in a Garden." Illustrated by F. L. B. GRIGGS and ARTHUR GORDON.
Crown 8vo. Price 5s. net. _Third Edition._
The Chronicle of a Cornish Garden. By HARRY ROBERTS. With Seven ideal
Illustrations by F. L. B. GRIGGS. Crown 8vo. Price 5s. net.
Of Gardens: An Essay. By FRANCIS BACON. With an Introduction by HELEN
MILMAN and a Cover-design and Frontispiece by EDMUND H. NEW. Demy
16mo. Price 2s. 6d net.
A Garden in the Suburbs. By Mrs LESLIE WILLIAMS. With Eight
Illustrations. Crown 8vo. Price 5s. net.
Stray Leaves from a Border Garden. By Mrs MILNE-HOME. With Eight
Illustrations by F. L. B. GRIGGS. Crown 8vo. Price 6s. net.
My Vicarage Garden. By Canon ELLACOMBE, Author of "In a
Gloucestershire Garden," &c. With Illustrations by F. L. B. GRIGGS.
Crown 8vo. Price 5s. net. _In preparation._
JOHN LANE: LONDON: VIGO STREET, W.
NEW YORK: 67 FIFTH AVENUE.
BOOKS ABOUT GARDENS
In the Garden of Peace. By HELEN MILMAN (Mrs Caldwell Crofton). With
24 Illustrations and Cover-design by EDMUND H. NEW. Crown 8vo.
Price 5s. net. _Third Edition._
"Sincerity is the note of the whole book." (_Globe._)
Outside the Garden. By HELEN MILMAN (Mrs Caldwell Crofton). With 24
Illustrations and Cover-design by EDMUND H. NEW. Crown 8vo. Price
5s. net.
"'Outside the Garden' fully maintains Mrs Crofton's reputation as one
of Nature's keenest observers." (_Daily Chronicle._)
My Roses and How I Grew Them. By HELEN MILMAN (Mrs Caldwell Crofton).
With a Cover-design by EDMUND H. NEW. Crown 8vo. Price 1s. 6d. net.
_Third Edition._
"Pleasantly written.... The book is such that a novice might
implicitly follow, while the more experienced may find useful hints."
(_Garden._)
Flowers and Gardens. By FORBES WATSON. With Photogravure Portrait of
the Author. Edited, with a Biographical Note by Canon ELLACOMBE.
Crown 8vo. Price 5s. net. _New Edition._
Garden-Craft Old and New. By JOHN D. SEDDING. With a Memorial Notice
by the Rev. E. F. RUSSELL, and nine full-page Illustrations. Gilt
top. Demy 8vo. Price 7s. 6d. net. _New Edition._
The Birds of My Parish. By E. H. POLLARD. With Collotype
Illustrations. Crown 8vo. Price 5s. net.
"Evelyn Pollard has a very delightful style of writing, and the story
of the Birds of her Parish is charming." (_Shooting Times._)
ORDER FROM YOUR BOOKSELLER
BOOKS FOR COUNTRY HOUSES
The Natural History of Selborne. By GILBERT WHITE. Edited, with
Introduction, by GRANT ALLEN. With upwards of 200 Illustrations by
EDMUND H. NEW. Crown 8vo. Price 5s. net. _New Edition._
"The attraction lies chiefly in finding the masterpiece so admirably
illustrated by Mr Edmund H. New. In black and white line work of this
class he has no equal." (_Country Life._)
"Mr Edmund New's drawings are not merely artistic, but full of the
poetry of association." (_Speaker._)
The Compleat Angler. By IZAAK WALTON and CHARLES COTTON. Edited,
with an Introduction, by RICHARD LE GALLIENNE. With Photogravure
Portraits of Walton and Cotton, and over 250 Illustrations and
Cover-design by EDMUND H. NEW. Fcap. 4to. Price 15s. net.
"A delightful edition, charmingly illustrated." (_Punch._)
"Of Mr Edmund H. New's illustrations we cannot speak too highly. We
have never seen better." (_Spectator._)
"One of the best editions; one, we cannot help thinking, that Walton
himself would have preferred." (_Daily Chronicle._)
All About Dogs. A Book for Doggy People. By CHARLES HENRY LANE. With
85 Full-page Illustrations (including nearly 70 champions) by R. H.
MOORE. Gilt top. Demy 8vo. Price 7s. 6d. net.
"One of the most interesting contributions to the literature of the
day." (_Daily Chronicle._)
"Mr Lane's book is worthy of a place on the shelves of any sporting
library." (_Outlook._)
"A most interesting, indeed, an entirely fascinating book." (_St
James's Gazette._)
ORDER FROM YOUR BOOKSELLER
Flowers of Parnassus
_A Series of Famous Poems Illustrated_
Under the General Editorship of
F. B. MONEY-COUTTS
Demy 16mo (5¾ x 4½ inches). Gilt top
Bound in Cloth Price 1s. net
Bound in Leather Price 1s. 6d. net
Vol. I.--GRAY'S ELEGY AND ODE ON A DISTANT PROSPECT OF ETON COLLEGE.
With Twelve Illustrations by J. T. FRIEDENSON.
Vol. II.--THE STATUE AND THE BUST. By ROBERT BROWNING. With Nine
Illustrations by PHILIP CONNARD.
Vol. III.--MARPESSA. By STEPHEN PHILLIPS. With Seven Illustrations by
PHILIP CONNARD.
Vol. IV.--THE BLESSED DAMOZEL. By DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI. With Eight
Illustrations by PERCY BULCOCK.
Vol. V.--THE NUT-BROWN MAID. A New Version by F. B. MONEY-COUTTS.
With Nine Illustrations by HERBERT COLE.
Vol. VI.--A DREAM OF FAIR WOMEN. By ALFRED TENNYSON. With Nine
Illustrations by PERCY BULCOCK.
Vol. VII.--THE DAY DREAM. By ALFRED TENNYSON. With Eight
Illustrations by AMELIA BAUERLE.
Vol. VIII.--A BALLADE UPON A WEDDING. By Sir JOHN SUCKLING. With Nine
Illustrations by HERBERT COLE.
Vol. IX.--RUBÁIYÁT OF OMAR KHAYYÁM. Rendered into English Verse by
EDWARD FITZGERALD. With Nine Illustrations by HERBERT COLE.
Vol. X.--THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. By ALEXANDER POPE. With Nine
Illustrations by AUBREY BEARDSLEY.
Vol. XI.--CHRISTMAS AT THE MERMAID. By THEODORE WATTS-DUNTON. With
Nine Illustrations by HERBERT COLE.
Vol. XII.--SONGS OF INNOCENCE. By WILLIAM BLAKE. With Eight
Illustrations by GERALDINE MORRIS.
_Other Volumes in Preparation_
JOHN LANE: LONDON: VIGO STREET, W.
NEW YORK: 67 FIFTH AVENUE.
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Spelling has been made consistent with regards to ligatures. Other
inconsistencies in spelling, hyphenation, spacing and capitalisation
have been retained.
Missing and misplaced punctuation in the advertisements at the end of
the text have been silently corrected.
Page 16, "euonynus" changed to "euonymus" (pines, euonymus, privet)
Page 25, closing quote added (fond of such?")
Page 36, "augustifulium" changed to "angustifolium" (Asplenium
angustifolium.)
Page 39, "The" changed to "the" (Flower, the Dark-blue)
Page 40, removed comma (_Milla uniflora_.)
Page 46, "tribola" changed to "triloba" (H. triloba)
Page 50, "altough" changed to "although" (Iris, although he had)
Page 58, "humble-bee" changed to "bumble-bee" (its bumble-bee
visitors)
Page 59, "Oleverianum" changed to "Oliverianum" (E. Oliverianum)
Page 69, "coccineo" changed to "coccinea" (triphylla flore coccinea)
Page 95, "herbaceus" changed to "herbaceous" (hardy herbaceous plants)
Page 101, "develope" changed to "develop" (they develop to a)