196 



JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAT.DENEE. 



[ Febnmry 29, 1372. 



The vineries are three in number, in addition to which there 

 is a Peach house. They are all lean-to's, 30 feet long by 12 

 wide. The Vines are all planted inside, but the front walls 

 being arched the roots can pass outwards. In the early Tinery 

 Mr. .Jacli had grafted on one Vine the Golden Hamburgh, 

 Muscat of Alexandria, and Canon Hall Muscat, but he found 

 that the Muscat . of Alexandria had robbed the Golden Ham- 

 burgh. Mr. Jack states that by notching the wood of the 

 Canon Hall he finds it sets as freely as the Eoyal Muscadine. 

 The trees in the Peach house are trained on a curved trelhs in 

 front, and on the back waU as well. They looked healthy, and 

 gave promise of bearing an abundant crop. 



The other houses consist of a span-roofed Cucumber house 

 30 feet by 9, and 9 feet high, heated by two flow-pipes one 

 on each side, and two returns one under each bed. Besides 

 Cucumbers, Dwarf Kidney Beans and Asparagus are forced, 

 the former in a heated pit and in the Peach house as well, 

 though not desirable inmates for such a structure, and Mr. 

 .Tack would gladly dispense with them there. The other pits 

 are filled with bedding plants. Lettuces, Cauliflowers, &c. 

 There is a Mushroom house, heated by a 3-iuch pipe, in which 

 fine crops are obtained, especially from the beds on the floor ; 

 Sea-kale and Ehubarb are also grown here. In the fruit-room, 

 which contained more fruit than some even in larger gardens, 

 we noticed that the fruit was laid on dry Fern spread over the 

 open-slatted shelves, and in this way it keeps exceedingly weU. 



We have only to add that the out-door crops and general 

 keeping of the place were most creditable to our friend Mr. 

 .Tack, the careful and painstaking gardener, and we take this 

 opportunity to thank him for his kindness and the trouble he was 

 at in pointing out all that might interest us and our readers. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN OAUDEN. 



The preparation of the quarters intended for main crops 

 must be persevered in whenever the soil is dry enough to admit 

 of its being trodden on without being too much consolidated. 

 This is of great unportanec in the case of hea\'y soils, and 

 those who have such to deal with should take advantage of 

 every dry day to prepare them. It will also be advisable to 

 defer sowing main crops for a week, or even a fortnight. On 

 light dry soils, on the other hand, the sooner the main crops 

 are in the better, because such soils are most liable to suffer 

 from dronplil ilmnld it occur; therefore the sooner the crops 

 can be well ■ i^li; ik d the better will they resist dry weather. 

 If, on the cuiiliiiy, tlir season is wet they will be in the best 

 possible comiition to profit by it. Make a small sowing of 

 Grange's Early White Broccoli; the sowing made now wiU 

 come in iiseful by-and-by. Sow another jjatch of early Cubbarie, 

 also some Eed Cabbages for winter supply. Prick-out the 

 young. seedling plants of Couli/lou-ers and Lettuces either on a 

 warm border or a gentle hotbed, and shelter them for a time 

 with hoops and mats. The first sowing of Celenj must also 

 be prieked-otit as soon as it can well be handled. Make a 

 first sowing of the true Drumhead Savoy. Sow a good breadth 

 of the best Curled Farxlcy. On light soils lose no time in 

 getting in the main crops of Peas for summer, together with a 

 few of the later kinds. The ground on which the Peas are 

 sown comes in well for Celery, a width of C feet being allowed 

 from row to row ; but this distance might be increased with 

 great advantage, and the intervening spaces sown with S^iiiac7i, 

 early Turnips, Radislws, and Lettuces, all of which would come 

 off in time for the Celery. 



FKUIT G.4EDEN. 



Pruning should now be quite finished m every department, 

 and whatever nailing is left undone must be completed imme- 

 diately. See that new-planted fruit trees are properly staked 

 and mulched, and after high winds it is necessary to look 

 round them and press the earth gently to the base of the 

 stems. All danger of very severe frost being over, Figs may 

 have the covering completely removed, and be neatly pruned 

 and nailed. Do not crowd them with wood. 



FLOWEE GAEDEN. 



The digging of flower borders must now be commenced in 

 good earnest, in perlMiiiiiiiy viiich use the fork in preference 

 to the spade. All kiuds cf lierbaceous plants may now be 

 planted, either to fill up empty spaces, or to make new planta- 

 tions in borders which have undergone a course of preparation 

 this season. Pay particular attention to the arrangement of 

 the plants according to height, and colom- and succession of 



flower. Bear in mind that a profusion of bloom alone does 

 not make a flower border beautiful and attractive, unless 

 the plants are disposed in such a manner that harmony of 

 colouring may prevail throughout the whole. Proceed with 

 the planting of hardy Eoses. If the iilants are strong prune 

 their heads according to the classes to which the varieties 

 belong ; if weak, cut them back to two or three eyes, shorten 

 all long and straggling roots, and prune away such as may be 

 bruised or broken. If the ground has not been prepared as 

 previously du'ected I would recommend pits to be made, and 

 to two pits give a wheelbarrowful of rotted dung and good loam, 

 well mixed. By aU means avoid deep planting. Have a quantity 

 of stakes and tar-twine close at hand, and stake each plant 

 whether it is a dwarf or standard ; many losses are incmred 

 and much injury sustained when this is neglected. Continue 

 the pruning and nailing of climbers, also arranging and tying 

 such as are against treUises, verandahs, &c. Due attention 

 must be paid to the sweeping and rolling of walks and turf. 

 This should be done at least once a-fortnight at the present 

 season. Those walks which have become dirty upon the sur- 

 face and are overrun with moss should be turned to the depth 

 of 2 or 3 inches. By this means they wiU have the appear- 

 ance of having been newly made. The beds of Tuhps being 

 great favomites of the amateur will now require great atten- 

 tion, the foUage being generally well above the surface, and 

 consequently hable to the vicissitudes of our changeable springs. 

 At this season a rainy day is often succeeded by a sharp frost, 

 or hailstorms mercilessly j^elt the rising plants. Some florists 

 think it is of little use to cover, suj)posing the Tirlip to be 

 sufficiently hai'dy ; but when the leaves form a kind of cup 

 which holds a considerable quantity of water, which in a 

 Irosty night is turned into a mass of ice, enveloping the rismg 

 bud, I think it will be allowed that protection in this case at 

 least is advisable. It is desirable to stretch a thin calico over 

 the bed at night if frost is expected ; this will be found sufii- 

 ciently effective. Canker will often make its appearance on 

 the foliage ; this must be carefully removed with a sharp 

 knife, exposing the part as much as possible to the air, lait 

 keeping a shade over it for a few" days. Now is a very trying 

 period for Carnations and Picotees ; many layers that have 

 apparently withftjod the winter with impunity wUl often 

 wither and die, j,nl if exainiaed they will be foimd not to have 

 made a single fibre since they were potted last aiitumu, show- 

 ing the propriety of early potting, in order that the plants may, 

 by being thoroughly established, be enabled to stand the 

 weather. Continue to shade the rising blooms of Polyanthuses 

 on seedling beds. If pin-eyed flowers show any good property 

 in o, marked manner, cross-breed that variety and save seed 

 from it. 



GEEENHOUSE AND CONSEKVAIOET. 



We have prc\iously recommended the removal of plants 

 from various houses, to aid in embellishing the conservatory ; 

 their beauty past, they must no longer be allowed to remain, 

 but should be restored to a situation suitable to encourage a 

 healthy growth, and consequently an assured provision of 

 flower.buds for a future season. It is a great advantage to 

 possess a pit which can be approfiriated to this pm'pose. 

 When it is found that plants are much exhausted by early 

 forcing they should be suppUed with fresh and siritable soil. 

 AUow no essential variations in the temperature ; 60° should 

 be the average. The occupants of the greenhouses will re- 

 quire from time to time increased pot-room to follow the ex- 

 tension of the leaves and branches. Fuchsias, Pelargoniums, 

 and Calceolarias must receive the benefit of tills rule. 



STOVE. 



In this structure much is to be done every day. The plants 

 of Poinsettias, Euphorbias, Clcrodendi-ons, Aphelandras, 

 Gossypium, and Gesnera oblongata and longifoha that have 

 previously been cut down and are now breaking should be 

 shaken out and repotted in good, open, rather hght, fibrous, 

 turfy lo.am, coarse sand, and a good portion of charcoal, which 

 aU plants delight in. Prick off carefully into small pots, as 

 they appear in the store pots or pans, the various kinds of 

 Achimenea, and put in another batch, likewise various Glox- 

 inias. The whole of the above delight in a moderate bottom 

 heat at this season. See that the plants of Gougoras, Stan- 

 hopeas, some of the beautiful Dendrobiums that are now 

 making then' season's growth, are not suffering from want of 

 water ; it is sometimes found essential to soak them once or 

 twice in the tub of tejjid water. Syringe oarefuUy about the 

 blocks and baskets that have plants of Vandas, Sacoolabiums, 

 Saroantbus, &c., growing or adhering to them. 



