358 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[December, 



from sliding when the frost leaves the ground in but we suppose the slipping to be no greater 



the Spring? — soil clayey." I than this Honeysuckle will prevent. — Ed. G. M.] 



[A thick planting of the Japan Creeping or New Cockscomb. — Messrs. Nanz, Neuner & 

 Evergreen Honeysuckle would be effective, un- j Co., of Louisville, send a specimen of a variety 

 less the earth came down in tons at a time, which has buff and crimson in its "comb." It 

 when stronger rooting plants may be required; [ is a very large thick head, and over a foot wide. 



Green House and House Gardening. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



There is not much requiring special care in the 

 greenhouse. The Camellia is very apt to drop 

 its buds if the atmosphere is too dry; but gener- 

 ally dropping follows any cheek to the roots by 

 which the regular flow of moisture to the bud is 

 stopped. This may be either too little or too 

 much water: if too little, of course there is not 

 enough moisture ; if too much, the fibers are lia- 

 ble to have their points injured, and thus are 

 unable to draw moisture to the bud. Usually 

 the last bad results follow from over-potting. 

 With a large mass of soil, water is apt to not 

 pass readily away, when the soil "sours " as it 

 is termed. A pot full of roots will seldom drop 

 the Camellia buds for any other cause than too 

 little water. 



A great enemy of the Camellia is the red spi- 

 der. The leaves indicate its presence generally 

 by a brown tinge, when the pocket lens which 

 everjr gardener of course carries, readily detects. 

 All plants are more or less liable to these insects, 

 as well as the green fly, mealy bug, and scale. 

 The best way to keep them down is by a free use 

 of the syringe in fine days, using water in which 

 some sulphur has been strewn. Tobacco smoke 

 is still the best cure for ai^his. Scale is a very 

 troublesome pest ; water heated to 130° is still 

 the best. This injures very tender leaves, but 

 the scale is rarely on such, it usually keeps 

 to the branches or in thick leathery leaves. 



Tree Carnations, — these are now indispensa- 

 ble winter flowering plants, want a very light 

 place to do well. They do not generally care 

 about very large pots — about five or six inches — 

 but they are very much benefited l)y rich ma- 

 nure water. 



The Calla lily is now extremely popular. 

 This also loves light. It must have a good sup- 



ply of water, and good soil to flower well. 



Towards Spring the Cineraria comes in re- 

 markably well for cutting. This is a " queer" 

 plant. It is one of the easiest to suffer from 

 frost, and yet will not do well in high tempera- 

 ture. It also requires much light, and to be 

 very near the glass. So also of the Pansy and 

 Yiolet, although some frost will not hurt these. 



If Pelargoniums are wanted to flower well 

 next Ma3' and June, they should be attended to 

 and grow well through the winter. They want 

 a rather warm house to keep them growing, 

 and should be pinched back as they grow, to 

 keep them bushy. 



A good suppl}' of 3'oung Fuchsias should be 

 coming on now ; repot as their roots fill each pot, 

 let them not want moisture or light ; do not 

 pinch off their tops, but let them grow rapidly. 

 The temperature in which they are grown should 

 not exceed 55°. A turfy loam, moderately en- 

 riched with well decaj^ed manure, and well 

 drained with charcoal, suits them admirably. 



It is too soon for Window Plants to get into 

 trouble yet. They generally look well till after 

 New Year, after being brought in during Octo- 

 ber. But soon, over-watering, or under water- 

 ing, or the effects of minute insects, or waste gas 

 from the burners, or sulphurous gas from the heat- 

 ers or stoves will begin to tell and there will be 

 trouble. As these are about all the difficulties 

 in window-plant culture one soon learns to avoid 

 them; and indeed nothing but a I'eal love of win- 

 dow-plant culture will enable any one to learn. 

 It is what the best of magazines, with the smart- 

 est of editors cannot teach. It is a good season 

 to watch for coming troubles. As soon as the 

 slightest thing seems wrong, search at once for 

 the cause of the trouble. They are often but 

 small, and easily remedied at the outset. 



