i^ 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GASDENEE. 



[ Januaiy 11, 187: 



out tli« year in propagating, and for plants difficult to strike 

 or raise from seed special means are provided. This house 

 furnishes about a million of young plants every year. 



" The ' serre de sevi-age ' is that in which the young plants 

 are placed as soon as they have recovered from their first 

 transplantation or potting,' and when they are well established 

 they are removed to then' respective houses or frames to make 

 way for new comers. A portion of this house is occupied with 

 choice specimens of new stove plants on trial, or for propa- 

 gation. 



" I may add that the other branches of this establishment, 

 such as seed-rooms, storehouses, ifec, are well organised, and 

 that the regulations are most judicious, and so, too, are those 

 with rcgai-d to the superintendence, order, and discipline of 

 the men. Lectures on the theory and practice of horticulture 

 are periodically given by the heads of departments to the 

 workmen and apprentices, and discussions held. The ex- 

 penditure for this gi'eat establishment does not exceed £8800 

 a-year." 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



laTCHEN GAUDEN. 



As has l)3en before stated, spare ground should now be dug 

 and ridged ; indeed, trenched, if time permit. Where a 

 systematic rotation of crops is carried out, it is an excellent 

 plan to trench all the kitchen garden successively in the course 

 of three years. The trenching to be performed in each year, 

 should be on the ground intended for tap-rooted plants — such 

 as Carrots and Parsnips ; and in forming new plantations of 

 Strawberries, Easpberries, and bush fruit if the subsoil be stiff, 

 sour, and wet, work it well up, and drain it. A good coat of 

 cinder ashes well worked into it, serves to facilitate the passage 

 of water and air. Thorough drainage should be performed at 

 once, as now there is more ground vacant than at any other 

 season of the year. If the ground have a gentle slope to the 

 south, the main drains should be formed against the descent at 

 the depth of 3 feet 6 inches. They are of round draiaiug tiles 

 2 inches in diameter, and at the distance of 40 yards apai't, 

 ■with a layer of broken stones 4 inches in thickness, and a thin 

 covering of heath turf to jirevent the earth mixing with the 

 draining materials above. Side drains shoiild be introduced 

 2 feet 6 inches deep, and about 16 feet apart, with tiles li inch 

 in diameter, on the same ijrinciple as the main drain. Jlanru-- 

 ing and trenching must follow aftei-wards. Ca»/(rfoiC<'r plants 

 under hand-lights will now requne surface-sth-ring and a 

 dressing of charred material. The same treatment wiU be 

 found alike beneficial to the plantations of early Cabbages, to 

 preserve them from the ravages of slugs. Any vacancies in 

 the Herb beds should in favourable weather be replenished, 

 and if new plantations are requh-ed, an accessible situation 

 should be chosen m consequence of the frequent demand for 

 them. If former directions have been carried out in making 

 sowings of Peas and Beans, second sowings might now be 

 made of the double-blossomed Early-frame Peas. This variety 

 of Pea is better in quality than many of the newer kinds, and 

 deserves a place in all gardens where choice vegetables are 

 esteemed. To grow thtm in perfection there should be allowed 

 5 feet between the rows ; a sowing of soot on the seed, and the 

 drills filled up v,-ith some fresh loam, if any can be spared; 

 and when the crops make then- appearance, a dressing of charred 

 materials wiU not only promote their- growth, but wUl check 

 the attack of slugs. 



FECIT GAKDEK. 



Fruit trees on the walls should have a good coating of half- 

 decayed manui-e over the roots as amulchuig, and where young 

 trees of Peaches and Nectarines were planted fourteen months 

 ago, if two wheelbarrows of charred ashes are now spread over 

 the surface on the roots of each tree, this will encourage it to 

 make an extraordinary growth during the following summer. 

 Pruning, training, and naUiug such fruit trees as furnish 

 walls on the north and east' aspects should not be delayed, 

 if the weather prove fine. EspaUers, where repairs are ue'ces- 

 sary, should now be attended to, and the trees pruned and 

 neatly tied with rope yarn. Easpberry plantations also might 

 be staked, tied, and pruned, according to the strength of the 

 canes. A large amount of manure appUed to the surface will 

 u-ove of great advantage to them in the bearing season. Cross 

 1- =U-directed branches which prevent a free circulation of air 

 or *._ T the bearing season should be removed, and newiy-planted 

 d'l'^^, ndd be carefully staked to prevent friction when tied, 

 trees sh^. gg require stimulating, a good dressing of half-de- 

 11 any tibv 



cayed dung should be spread over the surface as far as the 

 operator considers the roots extend. 



FLOWEK CiKDEN". 



As the weather is unusually mild, arrears of autumn busi- 

 ness can now be made up, and even a march stolen on the 

 coming spring. In the flower garden little can, however, be 

 done now except digging the borders and beds deeply to ame- 

 liorate the soil for clumpiug-out flowers. Any of these beds 

 that are exhausted should have the soil renewed ready for 

 spring work. In open weather laying turf may be proceeded 

 with. See that aU hardy plants are secured against severe 

 weather. All Pink and Pansy beds must be looked after ; those 

 plants that are loosened in any way should be carefully 

 fastened. The same observations will apply to seedling Au- 

 riculas and Polyanthuses. Cai'nations and Picotees \vill still 

 also require regular attention, as they are said to be spindling 

 in tills mild weather. It wiU be better to allow the stem to re- 

 main on tUl later in the spring, watering occasionally when the 

 soil is vei-y dry, but avoid wetting the foliage as much as pos- 

 sible. Where tm-f is at aU uneven it should be repaired before 

 the end of next month, as, if lifted later than Februan-, it 

 might require some trouble to get it to take quickly. L'ulevel 

 turf is an eyesore, and it makes mowing more tedious and 

 difficult ; hence it is worth while to spare time to make what- 

 ever Little repairs may be necessary here. Sweep lawns occa- 

 sionally to clear them of fallen bits of branches, <S.-c., and use 

 the roller frequently here and on gravel to secure a firm, 

 smooth surface. 



GKEENHOrsE AND CONSEEVJ.IOEY. 



During the present changeable weather the iirincipal object 

 should be to keep damp and mildew in check, which the 

 weather we ai'e now experiencing is likely to induce. Nothing 

 keeps off these two evils so much as a diy, healthy atmosphere. 

 To assist in promoting a free circulation of ah" through plant 

 houses, some of the inferior duplicates might now be removed 

 to spai-e vineries or other quarters, for the shghtest approach 

 to a crowded state among delicate plants will be sure to cause at 

 least a partial loss of foliage. Let all descriptions of hard- 

 wooded plants that have made sufficient growth, be kept rather 

 dry at the root, in order to check their growth and induce a 

 tendency to foim bloom, but do not let the baUs become so 

 dry as to endanger the foliage. Look sharply after iusect.5 

 especially mealy bug, and endeavour' to get the whole col- 

 lection clear of this destructive pest, for if neglected now it 

 will not fail to demand attention in spring and summer, when 

 time with the plaut-gi-ower will, doubtless, be fuUy as precious. 

 A temperature of from 40° to 45° at night, and from 50° to 55° 

 dming the daytime in the conservatory, is during this dead 

 time of the year amply sufficient. Wliere twiners for coveiing 

 the roof are grown in boxes or have but limited root room, as 

 much of the surface soil as can be taken away without seriously 

 injuring the roots should be removed annually, replacing it 

 with some good rich fresh material; this cannot be done 

 at a better season than the present. The conservatory or 

 show house should very soon be full of floral beauty. Camellias, 

 Luculias, Epaciises, Heaths, Primulas, Mignonette, tree 

 Violets, Cinerarias, Indian Daphnes, and many other showy 

 things, may easily be had in flower at this time, and with 

 proper appliances a few Eoses, and other forced plants, as 

 Oranges, bulbs, &c., should be made to come in now. Let Pe- 

 largoniums now be kept as much at rest as possible, giving 

 them but little water; in fact, none unless the leaves show a 

 disposition to flag. In fine weather hke the present they 

 should, however, have plenty of aii-, but not in the shape of 

 cold currents, which are apt to prove injurious to the leaves. 

 A temperature of 50° by day, and 40° by night, will be suffi- 

 cient for the present. Any of the stock from which many 

 cuttings are wanted should, without loss of time, be removed 

 to a hght, warm situation, first washing the pots, and cleaning 

 and adding a httle fresh soil to the surface of the ball. Some 

 kinds of Verbenas are very subject to mildew when placed in 

 heat during the winter season, but this is easily kept in theck 

 by means of sulphui', only let it be apphed the moment the 

 pest makes its appearance. 



rOKCIXG PIT. 



The pit in which flowers for the conservatoiy are forced, 

 should possess at this period a permanent bottom heat of 80° 

 with atmospheric moisture. Such being the case, preparations 

 must be made for securing a due succession of early spring 

 flowers, a sprinkling of the most favourite kinds of which may 

 be forthwith introduced, such as Moss Eoses and crimson 



