Jannoiy 18, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



G3 



ilo well to secure some of the best varieties early in the spring, 

 iu order that he may he enabled to raise seedlings worthy of 

 his name. Dahlias may be started iu moist heat where a great 

 stock is required. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERV.iTORT. 



WhUe the weather continues mild and fine, allow the plants 

 iu these structures the full benefit of it by admitting abund- 

 ance of air, and fumigate on the first appearance of green fly, 

 to which the late mUd weather has been particularly favour- 

 able. See that the worms do not remain in quiet possession 

 of then- lodging in pots, and remedy any defects that exist 

 in the drainage of these. We are inclined to recommend au 

 increased and more general use of peat for ordinary potting. 

 The best is fouud in old woods, and is preferable to strong, 

 loamy, and rich soils, which we believe are too much employed. 

 In the majority of cases the object required is not a plant 

 grown to a large size, but a small compact specimen exhibiting 

 the best characteristics of the plant. A few of the most 

 advanced Azaleas, intended for blooming early, may now be 

 planted where they can have a temperature of from 50° to 55°. 

 Water carefully wlien necessary, and iu mOd weather ventUate 

 freely. Some of the Camellias mil now be in flower, so water 

 must be liberally supplied, and ah- given tolerably freely during 

 fine weather. Cinerarias will requii-e careful attention in the 

 way of watering.- Do not place them so close together as to 

 touch one another, and be sure to keep them secure from frost. 

 Chinese Primroses in bloom should be introduced into the 

 greenhouse or conservatory, and others brought on to suc- 

 ceed them as theu' beauty fades ; but take care not to let them 

 suffer from want of water. Jasmiuum nudiflorum — the bright 

 yellow Primrose-like blossoms of tliis hardy Jasmine have 

 such a cheerful look at this time of the year, when flowers are 

 scarce, that a few plants of it should always be kept iu pots 

 for in-door decoration with green-leaved plants. Pelargoniums 

 intended for flowering in May should be placed as near the 

 glass as possible, and have a temperature of about 50° at night, 

 though for the later-blooming plants it should not be above 40°. 

 Solauum capsicastruni, together with Solanuni pseudo-capsi- 

 cum, and other sorts bearing small, round, bright-coloured 

 fruit, are very useful at this season for purposes of decoration. 

 See, therefore, that these iu conspicuous situations do not 

 suffer from want of water, especially if unavoidably placed in 

 the neighbourhood of hot pipes. 



STOVE. 



Still be cautious iu the application of more heat, as it is far 

 better, the season being young, that plants should start some- 

 what later with a free growth, than make a premature and 

 stunted one. Take every care that a due proportion of mois- 

 ture is maintained in the atmosphere. Although the majority 

 of Orchids requne to be very dry at the root during the rest 

 season, yet they, nevertheless, enjoy and require a somewhat 

 moist atmosphere, more especially if in a state of constant 

 and lively motion. 



FOHOING PIT. 



The flowering of the Dutch bulbs, as Hyacinths, &c., is a 

 most interesting part of the gardener's art. Some prepare to 

 conunence forcing them the moment they are purchased, or 

 nearly so, but this can never answer, as it appears that in all 

 cases several weeks of root action are necessary before the 

 application of heat. When their pots or glasses are full of 

 roots, then, and then only, can forcing really take place with 

 advantage. Much care is necessary iu removing them from 

 the plunging material, as if they are suddenly exposed to 

 light a premature development will be the consequence. They 

 should be placed iu a somewhat dark part of the stove for a 

 few days, and abundance of atmospheric moisture provided. 

 Continue to introduce flowermg plants to the forcing pit. 

 The dwarf-flowering Oranges might be more generally forced, 

 as under such treatment they may be easily covered with their 

 fragrant blossoms. Keep-up successions of Azaleas, Rhodo- 

 dendrons, Kalmias, Daphnes, Epacrises, Roses, Lilies, Deut- 

 zias, etc. Let the forcing pit be supphed as the plants are 

 taken from it. Bottom heat is of great assistance iu advanc- 

 ing plants. — W. Keane. 



, DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 

 fhuit depaetment. 

 Grapes will set better without sun than Peaches. The present 

 weather is dreadful for the latter. All that can be done is to 

 maiutaiu a temperature some 5°-10° lower than iu sunny sum- 



mer weather, and give plenty of air on mild days. Straw- 

 berries should be carefully watered, so that the .soil may be 

 neither too dry nor too inoisfc. All who contemplate setting 

 vineries and Peach houses in action, should see that the 

 roots, if out of doors, are protected from cold and excessive 

 moisture. 



ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



All soU for potting should be well aerated and warmed be- 

 fore being used. The ball of any plant that is to be trans- 

 ferred to another pot should be well soaked with tepid water, 

 allowed to staud before being finally moved, and should receive 

 an additional watering after being potted. All plants taken 

 from a warm sheltered place should be returned to it as soon as 



Acacias, although generally suitable for a cool house, are 

 subject to being encrusted with a white scale insect. In such 

 thick-foUaged kinds as A. armata and grandis, where washing 

 the insects off is out of the question, the best remedies are glue 

 water, or water thickened with clay. The plant is syringed 

 with the latter, and placed aside to dry. After this the clay, 

 carrying the insects with it, can be rubbed off in flakes by 

 drawing the hand over the branches. The insect is, however, 

 difficult to eradicate completely. 



Azaleas. — On these insects, and especially thrips, must be 

 looked for. Smoke them repeatedly and moderately with to- 

 bacco, wash well with weak soft-soap water, and afterwards 

 with clear water, it being in both cases about the temperature 

 of 100°. This can only be done when the plauts are out of 

 flower. 



Camellias. — Keep these well drained, and apply a cool solu- 

 tion of water and cow dung. If the buds swell early they do 

 not requii-e forcing in spring and early summer. 



Calceolarias. — Keep moist, cool, and any if you wish to save 

 tobacco-fumigating. Large-flowering herbaceous kinds which 

 it is desirable to have in large plants, may have a little more 

 heat at the risk of inducing green fly. The benefit of a some- 

 what low temperature for keeping plants free of insects is not 

 yet thoroughly understood. 



Cinerarias. — Vtlien they are in bloom, or opening their bloom, 

 a more airy place and a sUght rise in the temperature are de- 

 sirable. Dryness at the roots is very injurious to them. 



Da2)hiies. — The common or pink Indian kinds do best budded 

 or grafted on the Spurge Daphne, and treated as Camellias. 

 They must not be diy when in bloom. 'WTiat can be more 

 splendid than their rich Violet-hke odour ? 



Ericas. — The ■n-inter-blooming lands are now truly valuable, 

 and may stand opposite the frout-au- opeumgs. Give enough 

 of water at a time to reach every fibre, and then wait until the 

 surface of the soil is becoming dry. Tap the pot to see if it 

 rings clear before you give it more water. See what was said 

 lately about keeping water from the stem and collar of the 

 plants. This more especially applies to this tribe and the 



Epacris, though it is generally apphcable. Epacrises wiU 

 stand a good deal of direct an-, but they mU flourish with less 

 than the Ericas, and are more suitable to a mixed house, as 

 they never or rarely are troubled with mildrew. 



Fuchsias, if now beginning to break, should receive what 

 little pruning they need, and ere long be repotted, so that with 

 the fresh growth there will be fresh rooting iu fresh soil. After 

 growth commences the plants must have the benefit of the 

 light ; use loamy, moderately rich soU, with surface-di-essings 

 and manure waterings. 



Ferns. — From now is a good time for dividing and potting. 

 Even the best and most tender of our hardy Ferns do aU the 

 better for the protection of a cool liouse. Even those from warm 

 tropical countries will often flourish as well in a comparatively 

 low temperature of from 55° to 60° hi winter and early spring. 

 They are less subject to the attack of thrips or other msects. 

 Ferns of aU kinds are rather impatient even of smoking, unless 

 given very mildly. Weak washings with soft-soap water, followed 

 in a day or so with clean water, both fully 100' in temperature, 

 are safer than smoking. Fresh painting of woodwork and 

 water pipes, and placing sulphur on hot-water pipes above 

 160° in temperature, will often uijure the young fronds. A 

 close atmosphere and a moderate temperatiu'e, with a fan 

 amount of vapour, will suit the most of them better than a 

 warmer and more airy atmosphere. 



Geraniums, or rather Pelargoniums, with the exception of 

 the Scarlets that are in bloom and need plenty of water, should 

 be kept dry rather than wet. Florists' Pelargoniums should 

 have a medium state of moisture, and be frequently rung to 

 judge of the state of the soU. The most forward have been 



