370 



JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ Moy 2, 1872. 



lu the kitchen gnrdeii the same skill auil spirit were brought 

 to hear, and all looked extremely well. 



It is worthy of remark, that even in Kildare, a proclaimed 

 county at the time of my visit, duiiug the whole of the time 

 alterations were hemg made at Coolayna not a lock or fasten- 

 ing was on the doors or windows of the house, not a thing 

 went wrong, and not the slightest fear was felt of any violpnce, 

 thus showing the goodly state of feeling towards Mr. Hamilton, 

 and the state of confidence existing. — B. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAEDEN. 



The continuance of cold wet weather may well excite appre- 

 hensions for the safety of several important crops in the vege- 

 table garden. Ascertain as soon as possible the extent of the 

 failure of any crop, and repair it speedily by raakuig a fresh 

 sowing. In carrying out the arrangement for the distribution of 

 vegetables secure a warm, dry, rich spot for Kidney Jj'ivih.i, a 

 position comparatively sheltered and moist for summer Peas 

 and lli'anx, and in the later sowings allow increased room be- 

 tween the rows for EroccoU and Wiiitir Grtrns. Early Peas 

 and Ilinns coming into bloom may be stopped. Early Potatoes, 

 on their appearance, must be protected. Reserve a cool shady 

 spot for summer Turnips and Lettuce. Secure plenty of good 

 Parsley in highly-manured beds at the nearest cud of the 

 kitchen garden. Employ lime, soot, and sharp eyes against 

 slugs, and keep the hoe employed in repressing weeds. 



FKniT GAEDEN. 



A sloping bank should now be prepared, and ijlantcd with 

 runners of Alpine Strawberries for fruiting in September and 

 October. Plant three in a patch at intervals of 1.5 inches ; 

 the ground between to be covered with slates when the plants 

 have become established. Take care to thoroughly clean all 

 Strawberry plantations before the runners come out. Trained 

 fruit trees, especially Peaches and Cherries, require particular 

 attention at this season in regard to stopping, disbudding, 

 &c. The injurious effects of the late frosts may reasonably be 

 feared. After the blossoms are faii-ly set advantage should be 

 taken of a fine morning to wash the trees with the engine, for 

 the purpose of removing decayed blossoms and destroying the 

 green fly. Thin suckers from Easpberries, leaving four or five 

 to each stool. 



FLOWEK GARDEN. 



The late ungenial and frosty weather renders the management 

 of beddmg stock difficult this season, for it is still dangerous 

 to risk even the hardier plants from under the protection of 

 glass. All that can safely be done until the weather changes, 

 in the way of hardening the stock preparatory to its being 

 planted out, is to give as much air as ch-cumstan'ces will permit 

 without injuring the plants, and to place Calceolarias and the 

 stronger Verbenas in turf pits where they can be securely pro- 

 tected at night, and sheltered from drying winds. Such subjects 

 should be turned out in cold pits in fine very sandy soU, which 

 will save trouble in watering and be much better for the plants 

 than keeping them confined in small pots. Tender annuals 

 that have been raised in heat should be pricked out in hght 

 soil under hand-glasses, in order to strengthen them before 

 planting-out time. If not already done, hardy annuals should 

 be sown after the first shower, 'and do not' forget plenty of 

 Mignonette and Stocks, the fragrance of which will alwavs 

 render them favourites. Look over the stock at present in 

 flower, and mark the most admired for propagation at the 

 proper season. Thoroughly dress both beds and borders. Pre- 

 pare stations on lawns for extraordinary specimens of orna- 

 mental plants, as large Fuchsias, &c. 'Rolling and mowing 

 should be proceeded with unremittingly. Newly-laid turf 

 should be levelled and rolled now the ground is damp, that 

 an even surface may be obtained. Visit shrubs lately trans- 

 planted, and see that the earth is well closed over their roots ; 

 support, if necessary, with stakes. Eoses must bo visited fie- 

 (juenlly, and the removal of superfluous buds effected. Tulips 

 must now be sedulously attended to ; the hoops which have 

 supported the nets should be moved higher up, or the stems 

 will bi! apt to be drawn. The sticks for support should be 

 insert(d,one to eveiy four stems ; to these sticks metallic wu-e 

 should be attached, one end encirchng the stem of the Tulip ; 

 this keeps them erect and prevents damage by wind, &c. The 

 sticks to which the shoots of Carnations and Picotees which 

 spmdle for bloom are to be attached should now be inserted in 



the pots. Seed must be sown in boxes or shallow pans im- 

 mediately. Attend to the top-dressing of Pinks and the pro- 

 pagation of Pansies. Seedlings of the latter which have any 

 very decided good properties should be agam seeded from, in 

 order, if possible, to combine the improvement with other 

 good qualities ; it is only by degrees that perfection is attained. 

 Harden-ofi Dahlias, and when the Pink plants are throwing up 

 too many shoots for blooming cut them back, if strong, to three 

 shoots ; if weak allow only one. Remove Auriculas to their 

 bloomuig-stage, protecting the blooms with a sUght awning. 



GKEENHOnSE AND CONSERVATOKY. 



The gaiety and interest of the floral disjjlay in the conserva- 

 tory need not at this season suffer in the slightest degree. 

 Eoses, Pinks, Cinerarias, and Pelargoniums should still be 

 afforded by the forcing pit. Prominent amongst the many 

 brillian plants that embelUsh our greenhouses stand the 

 Azaleas; then- profusion of blossom, and its rich and varied 

 shades of colour, their elegant habit and easy cultivation, 

 altogether render them indispensable in every collection. 

 Some care will be retinisite, in the event of bright warm weather 

 rapidly succeeding the ungenial time we have suffered lately, 

 in shading and watering many plants which have made an 

 increase of growth and succulent wood. Give ah' whenever it 

 can be admitted with propriety. Among the winter-blooming 

 plants we have few that are so attractive and so useful as 

 Gesnera oblongata and Euphorbia jacquiniajflora, both being 

 profuse bloomers and remaining long in beauty. These should 

 be extensively grown wherever winter flowers are valued, and 

 even at the expense of neglecting some of our more recently in- 

 troduced subjects, they should be afforded eveiy necessary 

 accommodation and attention at the present time in order to 

 secure good specimens for next winter. Attend also to afford- 

 ing Corrieas sufficient pot room and a growing temperature, so 

 as to induce free growth at the present season and to get the 

 wood well matured early in autumn, which is the secret of 

 having them in fine bloom throughout the winter. Cliinese 

 Primulas, especially the double varieties, are also deserving of 

 every attention, and should not be neglected at the present 

 time. Pot-off seedlings of the fringed varieties, and en- 

 courage them with a moist genial temperatui-e, shading them 

 slightly on bright days. Unless there is a good stock of young 

 plants of the double varieties in hand, the flowers should be 

 picked off the old plants as soon as they show any symptoms 

 of weakness, shaking the exhausted soil from the roots, and re- 

 potting in light fibrous peat well intermixed with sand, keeping 

 the plants well down in the pots, and placing them in a warm 

 shady situation. This will obviate the difficulty which many 

 growers experience in the management and propagation of 

 these showy winter flowers ; for, if the jjlants have not been too 

 much exhausted by flowering, young roots will be freely emitted 

 from every branch, and where this is the case the plants should 

 be broken up and repotted separately, affording them a rather 

 warm and thoroughly moist atmosphere until they become 

 well estabUshcd, when with ordinary care they will grow freely 

 and form fine specimens before winter. Fuchsias intendeel for 

 large specimens will require to be shaded from bright sun- 

 shine, and will be greatly benefited by a liberal supply of 

 manure water ; where free growth is exisected from these after 

 this season, the atmosphere can hardly be kept too moist. 

 Young specimens of greenhouse hardwoodcd plants should be 

 kept as moist and warm as can be done without inducing 

 weakly growth. See that these aie properly supplied witli 

 water at the roots, and do not allow them to sustain any check 

 from want of pot room. 



STOVE. 



Attend to the training of the shoots of twiners as they ad- 

 vance in growth, and do not allow them to become entangled 

 before giving them attention ; also attenel to the stopping and 

 training of other plants, and afford free-growing subjects plentj- 

 of pot room. Achimenes and Gloxinias fiUing their pots with 

 roots will enjoy an occasional watering with weak manure 

 water. Persevere in keeping down insects, which, if allowed, 

 will increase with great rapidity. Very little fire heat will 

 now be necessai-y if the practice of shutting-up early hi the 

 afternoon be adopteel. Proceed with repotting Orchids as thty 

 may require it. Do not use the syringe too freely among those 

 starting into growth, but keep the atmosphere thoroughly 

 moist. See that specimens on blocks and in baskets are not 

 alloweel to suffer from the want of water, for when the soil in 

 baskets is once allowed to become thoroughly dry the water is 

 apt to run off ; when this is found to be the case the baskets 



