Api-U 4, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



299 



tureil. Pruue-in Erica hyemalis aud other mnter-bloomiug 

 Heaths as they go out of flower, to brmg them mto order for 

 pottuig. The i^raetice of dwai'inug trfses and shrubs, Ac, 

 which the Chinese pm-sne with such assiduity, is diametrically 

 opposed to our method, which generally consists in developing 

 plants to their utmost power of expansion ; yet admitting the 

 absui-dity of a fashion that would strive against Nature, we 

 might, nevertheless, profit by a lesson from them when re- 

 stricted in space. We are yet compelled to retain a certain 

 number of decorative greenhouse plants, which, if permitted 

 to increase in size would occupy an unfair proportion of the 

 plant house. It becomes, then, necessai-y to adopt the China- 

 man's custom, and to avoid those conditions that conduce 

 to luxuriant growth ; and in some cases, still following his 

 practice, to use the pruning-knife to both branch and root, in 

 order to adapt the subject to the limited accommodation. 

 Continue the iiropagation of Heliotropes, Verbenas, and bed- 

 ding plants generally. Sow such plants as Balsams, Thnn- 

 bergias. Cinerarias, Chinese Primroses, and Cockscombs. — 

 W. Keaxe. 



DOIXGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN G.1BDEN. 



The frost and snow have been succeeded by weather — mild, 

 indeed, but so wet that little has been done in the open 

 ground, except removing protection and guarding young seed- 

 lings of Peas, &c., from the attacks of vennin. 'With the ex- 

 ception of our early crop of Beans, every seed of wliich was 

 grubbed out, everything that received a dressing of red lead 

 has remained untouched. 



As soon as the ground is dry enough we will sow the bulk of 

 our winter vegetable seeds. 'W'e refer our readers to previous 

 numbers regai'ding forced vegetables. It is a good plan, for 

 keeping up a regular succession of Peas and Beans, to sow, 

 until June and July, just as the former sowing appears above 

 ground. If in these suecessional sowings more than one 

 variety is used, the supply is lilvcly to be more certain. 



Froxt and Early Soiciiii). — "We tind that many of our readers 

 think they have sown rather early. The frost and the snow 

 have done injury in many places. For most crops to come to 

 perfection there are certain amounts and a certain length of a 

 requisite temperature necessary, and therefore it is that early 

 sowing is not always attended with early production. Besides, 

 on examining some of our early sowings of Onions, Car- 

 rots, ttc, though not feeling much alarmed, we do not feel 

 quite satisfied. The fall of snow greatly lessened the effects 

 of the frost, as when the seeds were fairly germinated, and the 

 little blade or plumule above ground, it would so protect them 

 that the frost would do Uttle or no injury. The period of 

 danger is just at the point of germination, when the rootlets 

 begin to appear and the seed leaves are preparing to show 

 themselves. Then sudden dryness or extra cold will often 

 totally destroy the seed, and therefore it is weU to examine and 

 sow again if the first sowing has been much injured. 



Mouse arid Sparrow Traps. — Thanks to Mr. Record for the 

 plan given at page 270, which we will certainly tiy, as it has 

 simplicity to recommend it. Like all such traps, however, the 

 success win greatly depend on the hght and peculiar hand of 

 the setter. Even though I used hght gloves I never had much 

 success in trapping moles or rats, whilst to my mortification a 

 labourer, with no seeming care whatever, had only to set the 

 traps aud the victims were secured. There seemed to be no 

 difference in the setting, except that of the two my traps 

 seemed the more carefully set. Evei-y trap after a time becomes 

 famihar and is avoided. "^Tien mice were very numerous we 

 have found nothing more fatal to them than sinking glazed 

 jai'S in the ground, or, better stiD, glass propagating glasses, 

 with 2 or 3 inches of water at the bottom, with a float in it of 

 thin wood containing meal, cheese, or roasted com. 'Whenever 

 a mouse jumped down and had its feet wet it had no chance 

 of gettmg up the glass or glazed earthenware sides. I recollect 

 once taking out ten mice from such a sunk vessel 8 inches in 

 diameter; but though successful for a time, ere long not a 

 single mouse could be trapped in this way. 



Cucinnlcrs and Front Air-giving. — The changeable weather 

 has shown to many that air-giving to houses or pits covered 

 with glass is a matter worthy of consideration. We have 

 heai'd of several cases of orchard houses, the roofs of which 

 were covered with large squai'es, that have suffered severely, 

 the blooms dropping owing to the extreme heat from the sun 

 and the want of early ah'-giving. In lean-to's this is veiy 

 essentifd. A httle air at top early in the morning is of more 



imijortance than much aftei"wards. In these clear frosty days, 

 giving even a limited amount of au- early prevented tender 

 plants suffering from a very free admission of cold di-y air 

 afterwards. Hence, where much heat is wanted, as in the 

 case of stove plants and Cucumbers, it is not advisable to 

 give much front au- in frosty weather, unless the air is heated 

 and moistened before it enters among the plants. A gi-eat pre- 

 ventive against the necessity of admitting too much cold ah", 

 and especially in small houses, is being observant, and, as 

 far as possible, preventing the heating medium becoming very 

 warm when much siui is expected. When these matters are 

 attended to we give but a small quantity of air to our Cucum- 

 ber pit, even in summer, which we do by tilting the sashes 

 behind. Our front air, which we find ample, is confined to 

 an opening, the size of half a brick, iu the front wall opposite 

 the centre of each 4-feet light, the au- that enters coming at 

 once iu contact with the front pipes for top heat. These half- 

 brick openings are furnished with wooden plugs, the one end 

 fitting the opening, and the other end tapering into a wedge 

 shape. At this season we merely pull the plug out a little, 

 and the air that thus enters heli3s to keep the plants short- 

 jointed and stubby. Even in summer it is seldom we take 

 these plugs out altogether. We are quite aware of the import- 

 I ance of the improved modes of ventilation, and would like to 

 have them, bit many keen amateurs cannot aft'ordthe expanse, 

 and do not mini a httle mora trouble with a simple cheap 

 plan. Now, for a Cucumber pit heated by hot water, we know 

 no plan simpler for front aii' than this. An opening is left in 

 the front wall, either opposite to, or, better, lower than the 

 front pipes for top heat, of 4i by 2J inches. A wooden plug, 

 tapered like a wedge, is made to fit it. A ring or a nail is 

 fixed to the end to catch by to draw it out, and during winter 

 and early spring the drawing-out of that plug merely a couple 

 of inches is generally found quite sufficient if care is taken to 

 keep the heating medium low when the sun comes strongly 

 out. In sudden extremes, from dulness to extreme bright- 

 ness of weathei-, there is often a good deal of bm-ning and 

 scorching amoug tender plants, and want of au and want of 

 shading are blamed for the result. This may, indeed, be often 

 coiTect, but we have no doubt that such results are frequently 

 produced by a strong fire heat and a natural sun heat meeting, 

 and the too free introduction of cold dry air at the back and 

 front. 



FECIT GARDEN. 



See previous numbers. This wet dull weather is very un- 

 favourable for the flavouring of StrawbeiTies. All we can do 

 is to keep the plants rather more airy, and gather the fruit 

 when the soil iu the pot is somewhat dry. Smoking must be 

 resorted to if there is any appearance of green fly, but smoking 

 with tobacco should always, if possible, be avoided as the fruit 

 approaches the ripening point. 



OESAMENIAL EEPABTMEXT. 



EoUed the walks and lawn to keep them smooth and to pre- 

 pare the latter for mowing, as the grass is growing wonder- 

 fully. As soon as the ground is dry enough all hardy ann uals 

 may be sown. Those scarce or a little tender may be covered 

 with a pot, which may be tilted up with a stone or piece of 

 wood when the seedlings have appeared, in order to harden 

 them off. These should be suitably thinned as soon as they wiU 

 bear it, as from three to six seedlings in a patch wiU make a 

 better display than double or treble the number. Sowed more 

 half-hardy and tender annuals under glass, and prepai'ed for 

 prickuig-off seedlings, often taking them at first in little patches. 

 In watering pots and pans of small plants it should not be 

 done overhead, however fine the rose, but the surface of the 

 pot should be gently sailed with water all over, by pouring the 

 water from a spout against a shell or piece of crockery held 

 against the side of the pot, so that the spout may make no hole 

 in the soil. This simple precaution will prevent fogging and 

 damping-off of htile plants, whilst watering overhead wiU be 

 very hkely to promote such a result. 



See what was lately said about shading and protecting the 

 best bulbs and roots out of doors, fastening Pansies, potting 

 Carnations, &c. The Perpetual kinds intended for winter 

 blooming generally do best when planted out in rather firm 

 rich sod, and then- carefully lifted and potted in September, 

 adopting much the same course as many follow with then- 

 Chrysanthemums, the advantage in either case beiiig that the 

 care necessai-y during the summer is reduced to a minunum. 



Calceolarias and Geraniiuns, turned out into earth trenches 

 and protected as described the other week, have stood the frost 

 and the snow weU. The difliculty this season is how to get 



