154 



JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Febramry 15, 1873. 



of land resemUiug some of the wilds of Scotland, only of more 

 limited extent. The rich grass herbage changes by degi-ees to a 

 mixture of turf and Fern, and by-and-by the Fern usurps the 

 whole space ; while the Oak trees diminish in size, and are 

 mixed with Birches and now and then Hollies. Many naked 

 spots appear, but there is still beauty in the waging of the Fern j 

 iu the sun, the branching tops of the Oaks and other trees, and i 

 the water iu the distance. I should think there are few parks 

 exhibiting such diversity as that of Vale Eoyal, though some ; 

 have bolder features. The New Park, in which we now o4'e, ' 

 consists of gentle rising ground, and through it passes a broad 

 carriage road. The jjoor shaDow soil appears to be more of 

 the character of yellow hungi-y gravel than a black peat, sup- 

 porting the Fern without the Heath, but iu the distance I 

 could see larjje breadths of the latter. 



Emerging from the park at a place where its wild features 

 become softened a little, I found myself once more on the 

 highway leading from Northwich to Chester, and I noticed 

 that scarce a buOding in the High Street but had sunk either 

 one way or the other, and had not cracks in its walls ; the 

 window-sills and door-heads were also several inches out of 

 the level. I was told this was owing to the salt having been 

 removed from underneath them. I believe the salt now made 

 there is obtained from salt springs some distance off, the brine 

 being conveyed hi pipes to the works. — J. Eobson. 



WOEK FOB THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GABDEN. 



EvEEYTHiNG iu the kitchen gaiden is now stirring. A proper 

 rotation of crops havmg been secured, the next best advice is 

 to watch the fluctuations of the weather, and to do all plant- 

 ing and sowing whOst the ground is in a mellow state. Pre- 

 pare soil for new plantations of Aajxirapiis where required. 

 The first requisites are good fibrous loam and dung ; when the 

 soil in the garden is what is technically termed old, add a 

 third of the whole of maiden loam, and good rotten dung to 

 the depth of 6 inches over the surface. Trench the ground 

 at least 3 feet deep, and drain it if necessary, then add as 

 much more manure, and dig it hi as deeply as is commonly done 

 for general crops. Mark off beds 4 feet wide and 2 feet alleys ; 

 then mark the rows on the bed, one in the centre and one on 

 each side, at 1 foot from it. Lay a ridge of equal parts of 

 maiden loam, leaf mould, and sand in the line each row is to 

 occupy, and on those ridges place the plants. They may be 

 either one or two years old, but not more than two years, and 

 they ought to be taken up with great care, so as not to break 

 the point of a shigle root. When placed on the ridges, with 

 an equal portion of roots on each side, cover the latter to the 

 depth of 2 inches with pure sand when it can be procured ; 

 this will induce the plants to tlu-ow out a host of young roots, 

 which, passing through the sand, seize mth avidity on the more 

 nutritious materials prepared for them. Above the sand put 

 on 4 inches of loam over the crowns, and should the season 

 prove dry, mulch between the rows with Spinach which has 

 run to seed, or some similar covering, and give occasional 

 waterings of liquid manure. If early sprhig-sowu CauHfloifers 

 and Lettuces are forward enough let them be pricked out. 

 Earth-up Caljliaf/e plants. Dig and manure the quarter intended 

 for Onions. Fitint Potatoes on a, v/aim horcler. See to the due 

 preparation of ground for crops in general, but do not work it 

 when it is wet ; better be a fortnight too late with any given 

 crop. A\Tiere kitchen gardens are composed of Hght sandy 

 soil, it is better dug and trenched several weeks before it is 

 wanted for some crops. Broad Beans, for instance, like a firm 

 hold of the soil. 



rnUIT G.UGDEN. 



Eveiy care that fruit trees require in this season of inac- 

 tivity, if not already bestowed, should at once be afforded. It 

 is a good plan to place a piece of turf over the roots of trees 

 recently planted. Decide on the system of training ; the 

 height of the wall and the space horizoutaUy should be early 

 considerations. Prune Easpberries ; any Gooseberries and 

 Cm-rants not previously pruned should be forthwith attended 

 to. Gooseberry and Currant trees occupy much less space m a 

 garden if trained on stakes, and afiord as much fruit as when 

 in the bush form. 



FLOWEB CiBDEN. 



Complete aU operations retarded by the weather, and pro- 

 ceed with pruning. Turf may be cut and laid, and wood 

 ashes spread on lawns when the grass is injured by moss. 

 American plants may be removed ; it is often dangerous to 



remove Eliododendrons in the winter, as their deUoate fibrous 

 roots are liable to be injured by severe weather. Wliere the 

 natural soil is not favourable for the growth of Eliododendrons, 

 soil suitable for them may be gradually formed by sweeping 

 the fallpn leaves over the roots and covermg them with sand 

 every season. Attend well to thorough cleanUness ; hoe 

 through or otherwise dress all margins or beds where there 

 are Crocuses, Snowdrops, and other spring flowers. Plant out 

 Hollyhocks, which are well deserving of general cultivation. 

 Their bold and pointed forms stand out in fine relief in masses 

 of flat-headed shnibs. Owing to the absence of frost and the 

 late shigiilarly mUd weather, collections of TuUps and other 

 bulbs ajjpear to be but little troubled with canker. AVhen this 

 occurs, and the plants are fairly above ground, cut away the 

 parts with a sharp penknife. Shelter the beds from cutting 

 winds, which are more detrimental than slight frosts. As 

 seedhug Polyanthuses come into bloom remove all that are in- 

 ferior in shape, lacing, or colour. Amateurs have hardly been 

 able to do wrong this season with Carnations and Picotees, 

 and Stocks are looking well throughout the country. Continue 

 the directions previously given, and keep the plants free from 

 green fly ; plant out seedUngs in beds for blooming, retaining 

 all the soil possible. 



GKEENHOUSE AND CONSEBVATOEY. 



Among other important matters which belong to this early 

 season, attending to raisuig certain plants from seeds is not 

 the least important. There are many seeds of exotic herba- 

 ceous plants that should be encouraged to germinate early, 

 that the plants may receive the full benefit of our summer, and 

 attain that degree of maturity which enables them better to 

 withstand the gloom and severity of our winters. I would 

 recommend the sowing of exotic and other seeds, generally, 

 during the present and following month. As hybridisation is 

 now better understood and more generally practised than for- 

 merly, doubtless additional interest will be discovered in, and 

 attention bestowed on, the propagation of plants by seeds. It 

 is of importance to the anxious grower to bloom his plants the 

 first season, and with many subjects it is only by sowing early 

 that he is enabled to attain this result. Pelargoniums should 

 be sown immediately, and kept growing from the moment 

 they vegetate, to ensure a blossom the first year. As most 

 seeds germinate under similar circumstances, a pit might be 

 appropriated exclusively to the purpose. Beyond regulating 

 the amount of heat, and supplying the seed pans with moisture, 

 no extraordinary care is required. Eich soils ai'e not to be 

 recommended for sowing seeds. The character of the plants 

 should determine in a measure the selection of soU. The ad- 

 mission of air on all favourable opportunities will conduce to 

 the health, and keejj the various flowermg plants iu unim- 

 paired beauty for some weeks. Hyacinths, Lilacs, Kalmias, 

 Azaleas, and Ehodoras introduced will lend beauty and fra- 

 grance to the various groups. The rich yellow flowers of 

 Cytisus racemosus wUl add in no slight degree to the general 

 effect. Koriiif.hn Manyattiv is a charming greenhouse plant, 

 and lilii; (iiiiiii- ill tl:i^ siason it wUl be doubly valuable. For 

 mixed Lii I nil' II I ^ it is sunawhat difficult to give precise 

 directions, i'lants of all climates occasionally obtain a place 

 here, and no special treatment m regard to temperature can 

 long be indulged in with impunity. As a principle, therefore, 

 I would advise a rather free increase of heat on sunny days 

 early in the afternoon for a few hours, sinking the temperature 

 at night to the old point, or nearly so. In this structure there 

 wiU frequently be found Ericas, Pelargoniums, New Holland 

 plants, bulbs, &c. A division of these plants should therefore 

 be made ; let the Pelargoniums and other softwooded plants 

 occupy the warmer end, and the Ericas, Ac, the other, with a 

 free circulation of air. A Utile Cineraria and Cliinese Prun- 

 rose seed may now be sown ; this, with another sowuig in 

 April, wiU furnish a supply for the coming autumn and winter. 

 Attend to ornamental trellis plants, which should be kept neat 

 and orderly. 



STOVE. 



Exhaustffd winter-flowering plants in stoves may be cutback 

 a little and left to break afresh, when they may be disrooted 

 and placed in smaller pots ; if all go well they will make fine 

 speeinii ]is fur n. xt winter. Look over the Orchids, and see 

 that til' III iriiiiiLS of those on blocks and in baskets are 

 secure; i. ih w th.' wires where necessary. Give a Uttle fresh 

 material to those not to be shifted, but bewai'e of burying the 

 buds on the eve of their pushing. Apply baits for snails 

 and cockroaches, and attend closely to the extu-pation of 

 scale. 



