May 30, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



4-17 



ment, and secures its prey by a silken cord to the object on 

 wliicli it died. From some recent researches it appears that 

 some of the aphidii which are parasitic upon aphides, and 

 which may often be seen in summer running about, and 

 dihgently plying theu- antenute to aid them in then- selec- 

 tion, ai-e themselves frequently the prey of a still smaller 

 insect foe. 



It is important for the pomologist to remember that in the 

 spring the leaves of such trees as the Cherry, Peach, and 

 Nectai-ine need to be watched, lest they should gradually be over- 

 spread with an infesting host of aphides. From some observa- 

 tions communicated to the Entomological Society, it appears 

 that A. Rumicis and A. Persicic, which both frequent the 

 Peach and Nectarmc, are generally plentiful in a spring or 

 summer which has been preceded by a warm damp autumn 

 without winds of long prevalence. Some, on the other hand, 

 it should be stated, assert that moisture docs not favour the 

 development of aphides, and bona fide instances have been 

 given of the occurrence of some species in profusion after, 

 or during dry and windy weather. Mcintosh, for the de- 

 struetiou of aphides on out-door fruit trees, very strongly 

 advocates the combustion of coal tar or naptha on a still day. 

 This is carried from tree to tree in an iron ladle or larger vessel, 

 and he recommends a copious sji'inging the day following with 

 plain water. Others, however, wiU prefer the application of 

 tobacco in some form, or some invaluable and largely advertised 

 " compound," and there are certain of these really good, though 

 their announcements may savour of quackery.— j. R. S. G. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAKDEN. 



DuKiNG showery weather, such as we have lately expe- 

 rienced, it is difficult to keep down effectually the seedling 

 weeds; no sooner does the bright sunshine temjt one to cut 

 them up, than down poiirs a shower and starts many of the 

 tenacious living things into renewed activity. To remedy this 

 it is found an excellent plan, after hoeing through such crops 

 as Onions, Carrots, and Parsnips, to choose a fine, bright, 

 sunny morning a day or two afterwards, and go over the whole 

 with a long-toothed iron rake ; the distui'bance generally 

 effects the desired end of killing the weeds, and is, moreover, of 

 great benefit to the crops by scarifying the surface, and thi-ow- 

 ing it open to receive the full benefit of atmospheric influences. 

 Asparagus beds in their prime may have every shoot cut until 

 the middle of June. " Sprue," or very small Asparagus, may 

 be permitted to grow. This will hardly prevent the develop- 

 ment of the dormant buds. See to the sowing of Cape and 

 other autumn Broccoli. Sow plenty of Su-eet Basil, Saconi, 

 &c., on a warm border of light rich soU. Let Celery plants in 

 all stages have due attention as to pricking-out, watering, 

 stin-ing the soil, <tc. Watering, above all, is a most im- 

 portant point. It should be borne in mind that Celery will 

 grow in a ditch. Cai>.-!icuiits may be planted under the fronts 

 of vineries or in other warm situations. Trenches filled with 

 some fermenting material should be in readiness for Cucumbers ; 

 expose the plants rather freely to Ught and air to prepare them 

 for planting under the protection of the hand-glasses. Prick 

 out late Caulifioiccrs, and keep all seedling crops of this kind 

 well dusted with quickhme. Sow Du-arf Kidneij Beans for a 

 succession, and transplant those that have been forwarded, if 

 not already done. Keep up successions of Spinach. Sow 

 another good breadth of Turnips, and thin out those advanc- 

 ing. Endeavour to keep them in a healthy, quick-growbig 

 state, which is one of the best preventives against the early 

 ones ru nnin g to seed. Tomatoes, if hardened off, may now be 

 planted out; the blanks on the walls are the most suitable 

 places. Plant them on raised mounds, which will have the 

 effect of reducing their grossness. 



FEriT GAKDEN". 



Peach and Nectarine trees affected with green fly, and curled 

 or blistered leaves, should be well sjTinged with strong Hme 

 water from a gai-deu engine. Continue to naU-iu the young 

 shoots of all kinds of fruit trees as they become sufficiently 

 advanced, and keep the finger and thumb at work amongst 

 superfluous shoots. Give the Strawbeny beds a final stirring, 

 and have some material at hand for laying about them to pre- 

 vent the fruit from getting dirty. Straight wheat straw is 

 often used. Keep a number of figure-4 traps constantly set 

 about the beds, as there are no greater destroyers of Straw- 

 berries than mice. Vines on walls or buildings must be at- 



tsnded to as regards disbudding, stopping, Ac. Apricots must 

 be well examined for the grub. 



FLOWER GAEDES. 



RoU, mow, and clip the edgings of grass lawns once every 

 ten days, and use the daisy rake at intervals. Do not neglect 

 to stir the ground after the heavy battering rains. Thin out 

 annuals ; stake plants in the borders as they grow ; remove all 

 decayed leaves and flower-stems, and everything offensive to 

 the eye. Attend to minor things in the reserve garden. Con- 

 tinue to destroy insects on Roses. Should the weather con- 

 tinue dry, much care wUl be necessary in wateirug plants re- 

 cently turned out in masses. All plants intended for speci- 

 mens on highly raised beds should, when planted out, by all 

 means have a hollow basin or concave surface reserved around 

 the stem, or rather on the upper side, for a fortnight after 

 planting ; this wiU serve to retain the water and cause it to per- 

 colate through the soU in contact with the roots. If this is 

 not done the water on such raised ground runs off, and in doing 

 so produces a glazed or puddled surface, under which no plant 

 will thrive untQ the crust is broken. If not aheady done 

 Dahlias ought now to be planted out ; at the same time their 

 supports should be put in so that the roots may not be in- 

 jured, which would probably be the case if delayed to a later 

 period. Water and mulch the surface of the soil round the 

 roots. 



GEEENHOUSE AND CONSERVATOET. 



The turning-out greenhouse plants requires some fors- 

 thought. Although it may not be desirable to turn out some 

 of the tribes so early in the season on then- own accoxmt, it is 

 at least so in many establishments in the country, in order 

 to carry out without impediment the forcing of fruits and 

 other matters necessai-y for the supply of a family. In this re- 

 spect country gai'dens differ much from gardens round the 

 metropolis. In the latter, display is the piincipal point.:, 

 in the former, display, although not altogether unheeded, is- 

 sometimes obliged to give way to more substantial matters. 

 The first step is to provide a proper situation, and one scarcely 

 secondary is to secm-e a sound bottom on which to place the 

 pots. When the least suspicion of water-lodgments exists,, 

 drainage in the first place should be secured, and the pots 

 elevated above the ground level. I do not mean to assert 

 that house plants must be turned out, I merely advise on 

 the score of expediency. Plunging, we should say, should in 

 most cases be resorted to, provided the plunging material is 

 above the ground level. All plants with fine hair-roots, as 

 the Ericas and Epacrises, should certamly either be plunged 

 or double-potted — that is, inserted within an empty pcit> 

 Another great point is to classify the plants with regai'd to 

 their general habits and character. No plant-cultivator would 

 think of mixing Heaths with Pelargoniums or Cacti. After 

 the bedding-out is accompUshed a reserve stock should be im- 

 mediately taken in hand, and should receive high cultivation, 

 in order to fill-up blanks the moment they occur, either in 

 houses or in the borders. Continue to clear away exhausted 

 specimens in order to give place to Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, 

 Pioses, and other gay flowering plants now in perfection in the- 

 consei-vatory. If a canvas screen is used for shading from 

 bright sunshine, some of the Orchids in flower, especially those 

 found to stand cool treatment, may be removed to this house 

 for the sake of prolonging then- beauty. Take all possible 

 precautions to avoid insects, remembering that in this, as in 

 most cases, prevention is better than cure. Stanhopeas in 

 baskets should be well examined, or fine flower-spikes may be 

 lost tlirough coming in contact with the sides. Let the house 

 have a thorough circulation of ah' early in the morning, regu- 

 l.ating the amount by the warmth of the atmosphere. Remove 

 the plants pushed-on early for autumn or winter flowering, to 

 the cool shelves of the greenhouse, in order to harden their 

 wood and prepare them for early blooming. See that growing 

 Fuchsias have abundant watering. Look to the stock of young 

 plants being forwarded m cold pits forthwith. Achimenes for 

 late flowering may be brought on gently in such places, as 

 well as many other plants Ukely to be required for auttmin 

 and early- winter decoration. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



Very young stock of Epacrises, Ericas, and small New 

 Holland plants will be best in a pit or frame, placmg the Ughts 

 to face the north. The glass must be clean-washed and the 

 pots elevated above the ground level on ashes, or, what is better 

 still, on tiles ; those used for malt-kilns are best adapted for 

 the purpose, as they permit the water to pass freely. Expose 

 Zinnias and other tender annuals entirely night and day, by 



