Small Gardens, and How to Make the Most of Them

CHAPTER XVIII. =various Hints=

=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.

"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

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.

Continue reading Small Gardens, and How to Make the Most of Them free in the Wunder reader →