July 31, 1873. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



75 



the germs of the disease have been carried m with the old 

 garden soil, which had last season home good and bad Pota- 

 toes ? Am I to expect diseased Potatoes in these borders next 

 season; and if so, why? — T. C. Bbehaut. 



SHADES AND SHELTERS.— No. 3. 



I HAVE to thank " F. T. B.'' (see page -15), for adding to my 

 list by bringing forward his flower shade, and others would do 

 a service by making known any well-tried contrivance, as it is 

 not possible for one individual to be acquainted with all that 

 are in use. 



I have yet a few illustrations to add, and a few more words 

 to say npon plant shades and shelters. 



Fig. !• is a sketch of a shade for pot and border plants, and 

 its construction may be thus described : — Take two wooden 



Fig. ?. 



hoops, one about two-thirds smaller than the other, and four 

 straight stakes or deal laths ; tack them either inside or out- 

 side of the hoops at equal distances apart, the stakes to be cut 

 off flush with the hoop at the top, but at the bottom the hoop 

 may be fastened at some distance from the ground according 

 to the size of the frame. The bottoms of the stakes should 

 be pointed so as to fasten the frame more firmly into the 

 ground. Having the skeleton thus made a covering will suggest 

 itself, which must be of some opaque material — as light thin 

 canvas, or waterproof calico ; even paper coverings are not to 

 be despised. The illustration will show that it is a very 

 simple and inexpensive contrivance, and may be easily modi- 

 fied to suit any requirement. For the admission of air the 

 top must not be closed when in use, and whatever covering is 

 used a space of several inches must be left open between it 

 and the ground. It is easy to see that this is a very effectual 

 shade, and useful also for protecting individual plants in 

 bloom from being injured, or, perhaps, destroyed by spring 

 frosts. 



I have still another one {fins. 10 and 11), made to protect 

 large plants of Rhododendrons and various other choice spring- 

 flowering plants, or even whole beds of plants. To make it, 

 select a sufficient number of stakes according to the size of 

 the plant, to stand 3 or 1 feet apart, and high enough that 

 when the top is put on it will be a foot or more clear of the 

 shmb to be protected, and the stakes are driven firmly into 

 the ground. A circular frame of wicker-work (fig. 10), made 

 of willows or any other green pliable wood, is put over the top 

 and fastened to the stakes by rope yarn, and as long as there 

 is any danger from frosts this framework is left over the plant, 

 so that when necessary a covering may be put over it, which 

 is generally garden mats or canvas. These shelters (firi. 11), 

 may be constructed of any shape, and are very light and 

 durable if taken proper care of when not in use. To make 

 them is profitable employment for the garden men in winter 

 time, and the materials are inexpensive. 



Doubtless the means of shading and sheltering might be 

 beneficially extended to a.11 tender garden crops, as well as 

 plants and flowers, by other means than those described in 

 this article ; but when once used they should be constantly 

 applied, for one night's neglect may destroy all previous or 

 even future efforts to save or restore a crop or plant to good 

 health. There is no scarcity of materials for shades and shelters 

 of a temporary kind, it only requires the ingenuity of man 

 to work them up into suitable shapes for use. There are other 

 means of protection which come into the gardener's hands 

 almost ready made, such as common garden mats or thin oiled 

 canvas, which may be cut into convenient widths. Either of 

 these should be more frequently kept in readiness to use when 

 required for protecting wall trees by being hung before them, 

 or standards and espaliers by being thrown over them, or even 

 to throw flat on the earth to protect tender plants just coming 

 above the surface, and for sheltering plants from wind, rain, 

 and sun. A common plan of mine is to tie a light pole to each 

 side of a dozen or two of the mats or canvas, and they are 

 always ready to stretch over anything requiring extra pro- 

 tection, and also for earth or turf pits that have no other 

 covering. 



Although shading and sheltering by mechanical contrivances 

 is important to the gardener, there are other means by which 

 the requisite shade and shelter may be obtained. I allude to 

 natural means by the planting of hedges, and the protection 

 afforded under the branches of trees, &e. The plant-grower, 

 in however small a way he may be, needs the cool refreshing 

 shade of trees and hedges for the subjects of his care, and in 

 places where the glass accommodation is small, it becomes 

 necessary to clear the houses of plants in order to use them 

 for some other purpose ; therefore, wherever it is practicable, a 



Pig. 10. 



Fig. 11. 



suitable-sized spot should be selected, and hedges planted at 

 different angles, backed-up by taller hedges on the north and 

 south sides, and, perhaps, also on the west side. Plants may 

 then be placed in positions to receive either the morning or 

 afternoon sun, or both, or none at all, as occasion may require. 

 The whole should have a firm bottom covered with coal ashes 

 to keep down worms. I need hardly mention, that those 

 plants standing in the sun must have their pots plunged in the 

 ashes, as no pot containing a well-rooted plant can be exposed 

 to the sun without injury. 



It may be asked. What is the best kind of plant for hedges 

 for such a purpose ? I may remark, that the common Yew 

 makes a good hedge, or even Box, but both are of very slow 

 growth. The common Privet is frequently planted, as also 

 the Hornbeam and common Laurel, as being of much quicker 

 growth; then there are Junipers and Thujas, which would le 

 more uncommon though excellent for the purpose; in fact, 

 there is ample choice of plants, and the above are mostly ever- 

 green, which I should consider an advantage. Those who 

 have such a place as I have described can fully realise the 

 benefit derived from its shade and shelter, but those who have 

 not cannot become fully aUve to its value until they possess 

 one. — Thomas Recoed. 



LITTLE HEATH MELON. 



LiTTi.E Heath Melon is spherical or round, and flattened r.t 

 the ends, slightly ribbed, and when not coarsely grown finely 

 netted ; altogether it is a fine-looking fruit. The flesh is thick 

 very melting, juicy, and well flavoured, and in colour bright 

 red. Rind thin. " The plant has a good hardy constitution, is 

 a free setter, and will succeed in a frame with a small amount 

 of bottom heat to give it a start. It is not a gross grower; on 

 the contrary, it is rather slender, but very free both in fruiting 

 and growth to support fruit. 



I sowed three seeds March 3rd, and planted out the see lUngs 



