68 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ July 21, 1873. 



should now be sown for winter use ; also sow the common kinds 

 for suceessional crops. Continue to keep up a succession of 

 Spinach ; a larger space of ground may now be devoted to it, as 

 it will not now run so soon. 



FBUIT GABDEN. 



Fine, mild, showery weather at this time offers a favourable 

 opportunity for budding the stocks of stone fruit trees, and for 

 inserting buds of esteemed kinds upon the branches of estab- 

 lished trees, the sorts of which are not approved of. Propaga- 

 tion by budding, though generally confined to stone fruit, may 

 also be resorted to with advantage in the case of scarce varieties 

 of Apples and Pears. 



FLOWER GABDEN. 



There are few persons, I believe, who are fond of iloricultural 

 pursuits that do not save seeds from some favourite flower ; they 

 raise them, and watch the opening blossoms with anxious but 

 pleasing expectations of procuring something different from 

 what they have yet seen j but how many are disappointed in 

 their expectations ! From whence arises this ? I think we 

 can point out the reason. It is that no attempt is made to arti- 

 ficially impregnate distinct species or varieties having good 

 properties, or, if it is done, it is done carelessly, and new varieties 

 are not more likely to be obtained than by the common practice 

 of saving seed indiscriminately from every plant that produces 

 it, whether having bad or good properties. This I believe to 

 be the chief reason of so much disappointment in seedlings. 

 One person, by care and attention to impregnation, will have 

 more good flowers from fifty plants than another who has saved 

 seed indiscriminately will from a thousand. As an illustration 

 of the above remarks, respecting the care with which seed 

 should be saved, I once worked under a gardener who held a 

 high situation, and who, thinking to produce some seedling 

 Dahlias superior to any in cultivation, sowed seed, raised, and 

 ' planted five hundred plants, most of which bloomed the first 

 season, and those that did not were planted a second. Out of the 

 number above named not one proved worth keeping, whilst a less 

 fortunate neighbour as regarded means raised about forty 

 plants, and out of the number obtained four or five good ones, 

 some of which were in the trade for several years, and one-half 

 were worthy of being preserved. The former sent a man round 

 to collect seed from every flower he could. Mauy of our readers 

 are probably aware that the worst flowers ripen the best seed. 

 This was, therefore, the cause of the disappointment. In the 

 latter case only a few flowers of the best varieties were saved, 

 and after being carefully impregnated were covered with a piece 

 of muslin to prevent promiscuous fertiUsation, and in wet 

 weather they were protected with a coarse canvas covering. 

 The difference in the results needs no further comments. 

 Continue to tie the buds of Carnations as they advance. 

 Waxed thread wound roiind the top part about thrice, twisting 

 the ends together with the fiuger and thumb, will be found the 

 most safe, easy, and expeditious method. An old florist in the 

 north used to get some Windsor Beans and cut them trans- 

 versely in sections of about the eighth of an inch ; when the 

 inside was removed the rest formed a small hoop or ring. He 

 would fit those lightly on his buds according to their size. The 

 exposure to the air caused them to shrink, thus fitting the calyx 

 closely, and certainly this was a very neat as well as effectual 

 means of attaining the end proposed. Continue to plant-out 

 rooted pipings of Pinks. Look well to the pods of seed, extract 

 the decayed petals, and slit the calyx down to prevent the ex- 

 tension of wet, which will invariably cause decay and the loss 

 of the seed. Dahhas must be regularly tied-up to their stakes, 

 as they are now making vigorous growth. Occasional w.aterings 

 with liquid manure will be of service. As we presume Tulips 

 are all safely stored, an occasional glance to see that everything 

 ds going on right is all that is now requisite. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



New Holland and other greenhouse plants will now be getting 

 cut of bloom, and some care will be necessary to avoid being 

 short of showy plants with which to supply their places. Many 

 plants in stoves, such as Achimenes, Gloxinias, ttc, should now 

 be in a forward state, but these must be carefully prepared for 

 removal to the drier atmosphere of the conservatory, otherwise 

 there will be some risk of injury. When circumstances will 

 admit, plants that have been grown in a warm moist atmosphere 

 should be removed to an intermediate house about a fortnight 

 previous to their being taken to the conservatory, and gradually 

 inured to a free circulation of air. By attention to this and 

 placing the plants in the warmest corners of the conservatory, 

 Clerodendrons and AUamandas wiU continue growing slowly 

 and blooming for some three months at a time, whereas if tliis 

 is neglected their beauty may be very short-lived. Aim at 

 maintaining the even temperature in the conservatory, after re- 

 moving plants thence that have been gro\\'n in the stove, and 

 avoid allowing the atmosphere to become very warm on bright 

 Bunny days. Now, when mauy will begin to cut down their 

 Pelargoniums, let me guard the inexperienced against two ex- 

 tremes. Formerly we used to cut our plants to mere stumps, 

 and now some cut them by far too long for the sake of making 



large specimens next year, but with care this may be effected ; 

 still the safest way for beginners is to cut the lower side shoots 

 of this season's growth to three or four eyes, and if the plants 

 are tall to cut-in the centre shoot to one or two eyes. Three- 

 year-old plants make the finest specimens for ordinary use, pro- 

 viding the roots are healthy. Very old plants that are to be 

 discarded had better be planted in the open groiiud, and they 

 will furnish in September good cuttings which may be kept in 

 store pots through the ■n-inter, and they will come in useful for 

 succession next summer. Examine Heaths frequently for mil- 

 dew, and apply sulphur the moment it is perceived ; some of 

 the soft-foUaged varieties are very liable to be attacked by this 

 pest. Young stock in pits will now be completing its growth, 

 and must be carefully attended to as regards watering. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



Numerous cuttings may now be put in, but particularly Ge- 

 raniums. Pot-off such as have struck root, also seedling plants 

 of Lophospermum, Maurandya, &c., for next season. — W. Ke.ine. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



FUUIT AND KITCHEN G.ARDEN. 



We have been looking over all the dwarf aud pyramid fruit 

 trees, stopping aud thinning-out the shoots. The fruit, when it 

 is so crowded as it is this year, on Apple, Pear, and Plum trees, 

 should be thinned-out, otherwise it will not be of good quality; 

 but it is not easy to find time to do everything just when it 

 ought to be done, aud when work is pressing some of the minor 

 details are often neglected. Much may be done by method and 

 forethought, and making an effort when it is required. 



Morello Cherries trained on the north wall have been washed 

 for the third time to destroy aphis on the points of the young 

 shoots. A man takes the shoot in his hand and with a mat- 

 brush applies the mixture ; it is composed of tobacco water and 

 soft soap ; we read of a gi'eat many compositions to destroy this 

 pest, but none is more effectual than this. 



At this season of the year kitchen gardens have frequently a 

 rough appearance from the crops not being cleared-ofi in a tidy 

 manner : for instance, as soon as Peas are gathered the sticks 

 and haulm should be taken away and the ground cleared of 

 weeds. The same procedure should be followed with all other 

 crops. 



Cherry trees as pyramids on the Mahaleb stock have a charm- 

 ing effect when loaded with fruit, but it is no easy matter to 

 keep the starlings from them ; they attack the fruit before it is 

 three-parts ripe, and carry off whole clusters in their bills. 

 We have been obliged to net the trees all over, and this seems 

 to be the only way to save the fruit. 



Planted-out Coleworts after Potatoes. These are put in close 

 together, and are cut when of a small size. 



FRUIT AND FORCING HOUSES. 



Vineries. — We have not much to do here except as regards 

 airing the houses. In all we have air on at night. The Grapes 

 in all the late houses are colouring, and at the same time red 

 spider is putting in an appearance. We sulphured the pipes, 

 making them as hot as we could to be safe; this, if it do not 

 destroy the enemy entirely, checks its progress. We have not 

 had any scalding yet; and we would just offer a word of warning 

 to all who may have fruit of Lady Downe's Grape beginning to 

 change colour. A close moist atmosphere will cause half the 

 berries, or more, to scald, sadly disfiguring the bunches ; while, 

 if the ventilators are opened to their full extent, with the at- 

 mosphere only moderately moist, no harm wiU accrue to them. 

 No variety is so liable to scald as this, but plenty of ventila- 

 tion sviits all sorts. We looked over the ripe bunches hanging 

 in the early houses, and cut ofl' any berries showing the least 

 signs of decay. We are not much troubled with wasps, but flies 

 are numerous, and are attracted by any berries which have the 

 skins broken. 



CONSERVATORY AND PLANT STOVE. 



If one thing grieves us more than another in connection with 

 this de])artraent it is growing plants until the house is too cir- 

 cumscribed for them, and then having to throw them away. 

 Especially is this the case in regard to some of the fine- 

 foUaged •plants, which grow rapidly, and very soon fill a lai'ge 

 space. We had to dispose of some of our largest plants, and 

 this gave us an opportunity to repot younger specimens of 

 Ferns and other stove plants. We are ratlier particular in 

 potting Ferns; it is owing to the cai-eful manner in which 

 they are potted aud the compost mixed, that success is at- 

 tained. An unhealthy specimen of a Fern, or, indeed, of any 

 ornamental-foliaged plant, is not worth house room ; it is owing 

 to the freshness and health of the foliage that they are esteemed 

 for decorative purposes. The potting must be performed in a 

 systematic manner. Clean pots of different sizes should be 

 ready to hand, the crocks ought to be clean and placed carefully 

 at the bottoms of the pots, over them drainage should be placed, 

 then some very fibrous loam or peat. The compost for most 

 sorts of Ferns should be turfy loam aud peat in about equal 



