Moi-ch 2d, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



277 



the top. Ill cokl weather this ib of more importauce than 

 having too much bottom heat, as the heated wood of a frame, 

 and the heated wall of a pit, keep the atmosphere inside dry 

 and warm ; iu fact, where fermenting manure is plentiful, as 

 ill many of our farmers' yards, and where there are large dung- 

 heaps, whence the heat goes off into the open air, there is no 

 better plan for growing Cucumbers after the new year than 

 a brick pit built single brick on bed laid in cement, with a 

 9-iiich pier every 4 feet. With a good wide lining of ferment- 

 ing dung against the sides and ends of such a pit, we never 

 had any ditiiculty iu getting plenty of bottom heat and plenty 

 of top heat, but then we had as much manure as we could 

 desire. The plan, however, will not answer unless the linings 

 are kept up, the wasted manure removed, and fresh added. 

 The closeness of the wall did away with all danger from steam , 

 however fresh the manure was when brought; iu fact, we used 

 to work these liuings to get sweet material for Mushroom and 

 other beds. 



Sca-kaL: — Wo omitted one thing the other day when. speak- 

 ing of covering the heads — that is, that though pots are effec- 

 tive enough for sheltering Sea-kale in ordinary weather, still 

 when the thermometer shows some 8° below freezing, a Uttle 

 litter should be placed over the pot. What we liud eiiually good, 

 and less obtrubive to the eye in small neat gardens, is a little 

 rough dry hay or short straw packed round the inside and top 

 of the pot, iu which case the heads wDl come out white aud 

 sound, even should there be a sharp frost. If there is uo frost 

 the heads even then wiU appear more regularly. 



FEUir GAKDEN. 



The Gooseberries, Currants, and Raspberries were so forward 

 that we shook a little sprinkling of dry hay over the bushes to 

 help them. This acts iu au especially beneficial manner when 

 a bright sun comes fast after such a frosty morning. The 

 wind will generiUly sweep away all such protection, when it is 

 raked off or otherwise disposed of. We have thus several 

 tunes in seasons like this secured a crop when bushes left fully 

 exposed to the frost were barren, iu eousef[uence of the young 

 fruit having all dropped. 



Apricots, Peaclu'i, djc. — We did not intend to do anything 

 with these, but as some of the buds were opening we thought 

 it advisable, iu the absence of other means, to give a light 

 protection with evergreen twigs. 



Other fruit trees out of doors are fortunately not so forward 

 as to be injured by the frosts we have had, but will be benefited 

 rather than otherwise by the check giveu to gro.i th and the 

 swelling of the buds. 



Straicbeirieg. — We placed a number of plants under glass in 

 houses in order to bring them on, and as those left had re- 

 ceived a Uttle protection iu winter, we covered them with litter 

 that the frost might not injure the buds. Such plants, when 

 not protected, are more liable to suffer thau those exposed all 

 the winter. The litter can be removed in a few minutes if the 

 weather changes. Our plants in pots are plunged, and there- 

 fore would sutler less ; but even the surface of the soil in the 

 pot was hard on the morning of the 21st, and it would be 

 better for the buds aud roots that the thawing should take 

 place in the dark, under a little litter, thau where the plants 

 would be exposed to a bright sun. We have seen excellent 

 plants that did Uttle good because the fine roots close to the 

 sides of a porous pot were killed by a sharp frost, and the ex- 

 panding bud could not for a time receive any benefit from 

 fresh-made fibres. 



Oixliaid Houses. — Here early shuttiug-up instead of leaving 

 air on at night, and the stLU atmosphere thus secured, are 

 elements of safety. Peach, and especiaUy Apricot blossom, 

 wiU withstand a considerable degree of frost if the atmosphere 

 is dry and still. 



Iu addition to what was lately advanced with regard to 

 orchard and other fruit houses, we must remark that it is im- 

 portant in the case of Figs, wliether in pots or planted out, 

 that the roots should never be allowed to become dry after 

 growth has fahly commenced, otherwise the minute fruit will 

 be apt to drop. The same thmg will happen if tlie roots are 

 iu stagnant water. Good drainage is essential, also tolerably 

 free watering. When much fruit is required, the roots should 

 have but a limited feeding gi'ound. Short stubby shoots are 

 the best security for plenty of good fruit. 



Temporanj Sli^ilit Hotbeds. — In alluding to covering the Vine 

 borders last week with warm tree leaves and maldng a waU of 

 litter, A'C, back and front, we omitted to state that w'e gene- 

 rally have these walls 15 or 18 inches higher than the border. 

 If a pole or thick flat board is laid on these litter waUs we can 



put sashes or poles across ; aud depending, as we mainly do fur 

 the flower garden, on small cuttings taken oh' late in autumu, 

 we find the plants are stronger at planting-out time when we 

 can give them a little helja in such places. Until now the bulk 

 of our bedding Geraniums are in boxes, with au area of not 

 much more than lA inch square to each. 



0HNAHEXI.iL CErAKTMENX. 



Alterations having deprived us of many rough but useful 

 conveniences, we have been obliged to clear ofi' a quantity of 

 useful vegetables in order to make temporary earth pits (which 

 will serve for Celery-beds, etc., afterwards), in order to plant 

 out Calceolarias. These were struck in a pit, and are a perfect 

 mat aud need moving, so as to form fine robust plants by 

 planting-out time. The frost put a stop to our planting, but 

 those planted are safe enough. Sticks from 1 inch iu diameter 

 were placed across the beds, aud on these were laid old hurdles 

 thinly twigged with branches just to break the force of the 

 sun's rays at first. Ou these, after the frost threatened, a 

 little di-y litter from the stable was spread to keep all secure. 

 With the cross-pieces aud mats fixed firmly to a pole, little 

 other protection wUl be needed, aud a pole at each end 

 allows of a good length being roUed up aud moved. For 

 such temporary pm-poses the best of aU protection is thiu un- 

 bleached calico generally about 5 to 5i feet iu width, aud 

 better if neaily 2 yai'ds wide. Make your earth or turf pit of 

 the right width. Such calico in from "20 to 40-feet lengths, 

 with a pole li inch in diameter at each end, can easily be rolled 

 off or on ; aud w'hen puUed tight lengthwise, aud then at the 

 sides, w'ith a cord every i feet or so back aud front, sewed to 

 the calico, and tUe other end to go round a peg driven iu the 

 ground, the cover will throw off water like au umbrella, will 

 allow enough of light for free growth at first, aud render shad- 

 ing unnecessary. Planted out under such caUco, aud watered 

 as we went along, ws have frequently taken up fine plants iu 

 May of Calceolarias aud Geraniums, and they did not need 

 watering except a few days before transplanting to the beds. 

 In fine days the calico would be rolled off. In very cold frosty 

 nights a Uttle litter was thrown all over it. For instance, iu 

 such a night as the 20th and the morning of the 21st we should 

 not have deemed the calico sufficient for plants standing thickly 

 previously, and therefore more tender than if they had more 

 room. Our Calceolarias had ou an average Itiuch to each, 

 and though the sashes were drawn off' in the late fine weather, 

 the very mildness made them rush up, but not one iu two 

 thousand cuttings have failed. 



Much of the planting in these cold earth pits, and potting 

 for such places as that referred to on the Vine borders, has 

 been arrested owing to the cold, for we w'ould rather wait a little 

 than have plants unnecessarily checked. In all ariificial gar- 

 dening, such as plant-growing iu pots, we feel certain that 

 we shall have less to contend with as respects the depredations 

 of insects, in proportion as v/e see more and 'more the im- 

 portance of guarding against sudden checks even as respects 

 temperature. 



Air (jirinij and Firing. — At all times, and especially in such 

 changeable weather, more depends ou the time of giving air 

 thau ou its quantity. AVhether in plant houses or forciug 

 houses, large openings at the \. iv.i!;'; r Irmld be avoided as 

 long as these north and east ■- i - ■ iiL-.ly to prevail. If 

 after such frosts the sun thr. il :: ; > ■ iir out strong, it is 

 better to let the heating become U'liiei cuul. Give a Uttle air 

 at the highest point early, instead of keeping a fire on and 

 giving more air to counteract it. Many a tender plant is in- 

 jured by the dry heat from the fire. 



Put Achimeues aud Gesneras in pots and pans to come for- 

 ward to be potted afterwards. Placed Justicias aud Erantho- 

 uiums where they would break slowly after pruning back 

 severely, and inserted cuttings of Euphorbia jacquiniieflura 

 and Poiusettia. Old stems of the former will strike after the 

 bleeding is over, and to hasten this result we often put the 

 ends in dry sand, or even powdered chalk. Little side shoots 

 of Euphorbias, with the leaves, often do best. The Poinsettias 

 may be reared by single buds placed firmly undtr the soil in a 

 hotbed, just like Vine eyes ; but in cutting down the old 

 steins for this purpose it is well to allov/ the roots to become 

 dry before cutting, as then there is less of bleeding, and the 

 bud, with a piece of the stem at each end, will throw a stronger 

 shoot in consequence. The bulk of our stock has been lying 

 with the pots on their sides under the stage in a cold house. 

 If we had room, and washed for some large gorgeous heads, we 

 would prune the plants back, encourage them to make free 

 growth all the summer, and give a little check iu autumu 



