Examiner in Practical Horticulture—Mr. Berry, East of Scotland College of Agriculture.
CLASSES TAKEN AT THE EDINBURGH AND EAST OF SCOTLAND COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
Horticulture, Mr. G. P. Berry. Agricultural Chemistry, A. Lauder, D.Sc. Agricultural Natural History, R. S. MacDougall, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S.E.
CLASS TAKEN AT THE HERIOT-WATT COLLEGE
Botany (Advanced and Elementary), R. S. MacDougall, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S.E.
The Year’s Work
The following sketch calendar of the actual work shared in by the students month by month may be of service to those who have little practical acquaintance with gardening. No sketch of this kind can show all the details of daily work, and the separation into months is merely for convenience, as in almost every case the work of one month overlaps with that of another. Certain operations, such as hoeing and weeding, extend throughout the greater part of the year; plants under glass require daily attention, and, in addition, there is the specialised culture required by special classes of plants—vines, peaches, tomatoes, etc.—which is not indicated in this calendar:—
January.—In this month there is much important work to be done under glass and in the forcing-houses. Seeds are sown almost daily—flower seeds, such as annual carnations, petunias, antirrhinums, etc.; and vegetables, such as lettuce, leeks, onions, cauliflowers, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc. There are also the gathering and packing of forced flowers and rhubarb, and the forcing of these and other plants. When possible, seed-beds are prepared in the open.
February.—Much of January’s work is continued this month. Seed-sowing goes on, some of it in the open. Plants sown in January have to be potted and pricked out in pans and boxes. Watering, heating, and ventilation in the various glass-houses require great attention. The taking of chrysanthemum cuttings is continued from last month.
March.—This is perhaps the busiest month of the garden year. The preparation of seed-beds and the cleaning of the ground must be completed, as well as the sowing of almost every vegetable that is in the garden, of hardy annual flowers in the open, and of half-hardy annuals in frames. Strawberries are planted, young tomatoes potted on, cucumbers attended to, and more seed sown for late crops. Rooted chrysanthemum cuttings have to be potted on.