132 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



[ AngUBt 21, 1873. 



tnd of the shoot. Perhaps some of your rea'Jers may be able 

 to suggest a remedy for this over-proJuctiveness, which has 

 been more remarkable than ever this year. 



As our gossips on these occasions are principally on "hardy 

 fruits and flowers, I can give no information to that large class 

 of your readers who delight in glass ; but on the subject 

 of Plums, it was mentioned that I3elle de Louvain is likely 

 to prore a valuable addition ; also a local Plum caUed the 

 Apricot, which is a great bearer, and possesses a most desirable 

 quality — exceeding toughness of wood. The question was 

 laised how far the Pershore Egg Plum is suitable for stocks for 

 grafting other varieties. Some thought it would prove too 

 short-hved, others considered it superior to every other, on 

 account of its great vigour of growth. The Plum crop in this 

 district is but partial, many of the finer sorts having failed 

 altogether, and the damage done by the bullfinches in the 

 winter is visible in the nakedness of the boughs ; and apparently 

 where this Charybdis has been avoided, the crop is now in 

 danger of falling into the Scylla of the blackbird's maw. 

 These voracious bu-ds, having finished the Easpbenies, Goose- 

 berries, and Mahonia berries, are now turning theu' attention to 

 the unripe Plums and Apples. The Apple crop is abundant 

 everywhere, and the cordons are very fine ; but Pears generally 

 are a failure, with the exception notably of Louise Boime and 

 a few other sorts. 



In addition to our gossip, we had a new scientific treat in a 

 vei-y powerful microscope which was brought by one of the 

 party; under its powerful glasses the mildew on the Eose 

 leaves, which is sadly prevalent this year, was resolved into 

 long cotton wool, but without any signs of life. It was the 

 same with the black bhght, with which here and there the 

 Plums leaves are covered. The black covering was resolved 

 into large pieces of slag, and one might have imagined that 

 he was looking at a heap of scoria from a volcano, or from an 

 iron furnace, but still no signs of hfe. But it was very dif- 

 ferent when a portion of American bUght from an Apple tree 

 was investigated. A formidable and most repulsive-looking 

 monster, about the size of a rat, with claws like a lobster, and 

 easel in a rusty coat of maU, was seen kicking about, evidently 

 in a very vicious temper at having his repose disturbed. — 

 William Lea, St. Peter's, Droitwich. 



CULTUEE OP KOCHEA FALCATA. 



This is a perfect gem in the class of plants to which it 

 belongs, and when a goodly-sized specimen is obtained and 

 flowered to perfection, its beauties and other qualifications to 

 which it can lay claim are not likely to be soon forgotten. It 

 is a plant, however, that does sometimes disappoint the cul- 

 tivator, when its healthy appearance leads him to look for- 

 ward to a successful blooming period, for some of its most 

 vigorous growth will suddenly rot-off at the junction of the 

 leaf with the stem, and such a misfortune will at times over- 

 take it on the stem just above the soil. Again, sometimes the 

 roots will die off suddenly and destroy all hopes of rearing a 

 good plant. These, I think, are the principal ailments to 

 which the plant is hable, and a remedy for them is, I think, 

 to be found in a very careful system of watering at all times, 

 guai'ding more especially against frequently wetting the leaves, 

 or placing the plant where it receives drip from the glass. A 

 cold and damp atmosphere is against its progress, and an un- 

 suitable soil, as well as careless watering, wiU create a tendency 

 in the plant to go off at the roots as above stated. 



Once when I was a youngster and saw the plant brought to 

 a flower show with its beautiful bloom-trusses protected with 

 wadding and tissue paper, a discussion arose among its many 

 admirers upon the best sort of soil to grow it in. At first 

 they were not very decided, for while one recommended sandy 

 loam and peat in equal proportions, another advised all sandy 

 pent ; but it was evident that this particular specimen had a 

 uiSerent mixture to either of these, and when the exhibitor 

 made his appearance, he gave as his mixture a light, sandy, but 

 moderately rich loam, adding one-thu-d of pounded potsherds, 

 and I have grown my plants in a similar mixture and can re- 

 commend it. But when I could not obtain light loam, I have 

 used a small portion of mortar rubbish. 



Being a fine-rooted plant it may be potted firmly and must 

 be well drained, but it is easily overpotted as well as over- 

 watered ; judicious treatment in these matters is one of the 

 secrets of successful culture. 



The plant enjoys a hght and airy place in the greenhouse 

 near the glass, and ought always to stand on a dry bottom, 



and where the water can di'ain freely from the pot. In winter 

 it must be kept much drier than at any other time. Its prin- 

 cipal growing time is from the beginning of the year till July, 

 at which time it flowers and lasts for a considerable time. 



After blooming it wiU throw out several shoots, some of 

 which may be taken off to raise a stock, or if no shoots appear 

 cut a plant down within 2 or 3 inches of the soil, and it will 

 produce numbers of shoots which will strike freely in any situ- 

 ation. I prefer rooting one cutting in a smaU pot, because then 

 they can be grown-on without interruption. — Thomas Eecokd. 



PEOTECTION FBAMES. 



We have these in varied materials ; those of recent intro- 

 duction differing from the old in having earthenware in place 

 of wood, and in parts so as to be easily taken to pieces, and 

 transferred from one crop to another. They may have their 

 uses, but having no experience of them, and being served so 

 well by those old-fashioned ones which we know famiharly as 

 garden frames, I see no reason for change, yet I will not make 

 any ill-natured remarks on those of recent introduction. There 

 is room in our gardens for both. Novelty may endure a time, 

 stability and utility in the end wiU win. 



Passing over garden frames, which are known to all, and 

 then' usefulness universaUy admitted, aUow me to draw atten- 

 tion to that class of protectors known as the curate's or ground 

 vineries, and to give some account of the uses to which they 

 may be put throughout the year. I do not know the exact 

 dimensions of the original ones, but ours, as made by our 

 estate joiners, are 4 feet wide. The sides are of IJ-inch red 

 deal, 11 inches deep or high ; the roof a span, formed of frames 

 or lights 2 inches thick, each G feet long, and both sides easily 

 raised, the lights being hinged to the ridge. The frame is in 

 12-feet lengths, and so arranged that they join together, and 

 so form any length required. The sashbars are about 1 foot 

 apart, and the glass used is 21-oz., puttied-in. I am no be- 

 liever in " jumped joints," nor in glazing without putty. We 

 want to retain as much heat as we can, and keep out as much 

 cold as possible in protectors. By haviug loose ends we can 

 have the protectors 12 feet, 24 feet, or more in length, as may 

 be wanted, the frames being made with two fixed ends. The 

 frames, to recapitulate, are span-roofed, 4 feet wide, 11 inches 

 high at the sides, and 2 feet 2 inches high in the centre. They 

 are strong, substantial, and are easily moved from one crop to 

 another. This is done in a short time, without liability of 

 breakage. 



It should be borne in mind that frames, whilst they protect, 

 at the same time forward the crops they enclose, and this to 

 a considerable extent. 



Presuming we have a length of, say, GO feet, let us see to 

 what purpose it may be put in protecting and forwarding in 

 the course of a season. 



In February, as soon as the soil is free of frost, we may place 

 the frame over a bed of Asparagus, with the view of having 

 heads fit to cut three weeks or more before they come-in in 

 the open ground. AU we do is to fork over the bed in the usual 

 way, and make the surface fine, then put on the frame ; but it 

 is well to give a sprinkling of salt before doing so, for slugs 

 are apt to be active when the heads are appearing, and on 

 these they prey. Tae hghts are kept close, no aii' is given 

 until the heads appear and are 2 or 3 inches long ; then we 

 tDt on the south side about 3 inches day and night when mild, 

 reducing the ventilation if cold, or closing if frosty. The 

 shoots come up strong, and are fit to cut three weeks to a 

 month before those in unprotected beds adjoining, and they 

 are kept on the bed until the cutting in the beds not covered 

 becomes general, when we admit air freely, tilting the lights 

 on both sides, and removing altogether in a few days. The 

 effect on the Asparagus, in addition to its giving heads three 

 weeks earUer, are, that the shoots come up strong, and have 

 fat swollen heads, with which none we have in the other beds 

 can compare. There is as much difference between one and 

 the other as between French and English Asparagus. It is 

 also much more deUcate in colour and eating. The fault of 

 our out-door Asparagus early in the season is that it grows, 

 from the cold and changeability of our climate, much too 

 slowly to be tender and good. With the protecting or forward- 

 ing frames we secure greater warmth, collect and husband the 

 little sun heat we have ; a more equable temperature is attained, 

 and a correspondingly earlier and better |iroduce. 



By the close of April or beginning of May, the seasons vary- 

 ing as much as a fortnight in forwardness or backwardness, 



