Angnst 21, 1673. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE G.VRDENER. 



Ill 



We next enter the Green Park, and by the side of the path 

 on the east side leading towards riccadilly, although exposed 

 to the full sweep of our prevailing wind, the south-west, there 

 is a series of oblong beds margined with blue Lobelia, which 

 in most instances are extremely good. The position is so much 

 exposed that the more tender bedding plants ai-e not trusted 

 in it, but we never saw this portion of the bedding in better 

 condition. Without entering into detail respecting each par- 

 ticular bed, we shall merely signalise a few of the best. Mr. 

 Paul's Bonfire Geranium in particular deserves high and 

 honoui-able mention, and, though not so good here as else- 

 where, is the most effective of its coloiu' — a crimson scarlet. 

 It is plainly distinguishable by its bright glow from a consider- 

 able distance. Murillo, deep crimson, is also very fine. Ve- 

 Buvins, orange scarlet, though it must yield the palm in size 

 and colour to some of the newer varieties, well maintains its 

 reputation as a thoroughly reliable free-blooming kind ; and 

 as the season advances, from what we know of it, it will pro- 

 bably be found blooming freely till cut off by frost or distri- 

 buted to the poorer classes who receive the spoils of the London 

 parks — not, however, as the ill-natured might suggest, as a 

 kind of "black mail" for refraining from appropriation, but 

 to encourage their love of flowers. Here we may observe that 

 throughout the run of beds fiom Westminster to the Marble 

 Arch, and through Hyde Park to Albert Gate, about two dozen 

 plants would cover the amount of visible abstractions. No 

 doubt this small amount of damage is partly attributable to 

 the careful supervision of the officials and police, but it must 

 be due in much greater measure to the good feeling of the 

 public. A thousand watchers could not secure such a result. 

 Of other beds on this side, Waltham Seedling Geranium, and 

 Albion CUffs and Daybreak, silver variegated, are noteworthy. 



We now come to the north side of the park ; running parallel 

 with Piccadilly we find alternately two ch-cular and two oblong 

 beds. These from the east end to Palmerston House are all 

 margined with Echeveria secunda glauca, and edged with Purple 

 King Verbena. In this series, beds of Geraniums Excellent, 

 Lucius, Mrs. Laing, and Queen of Queens are the most notice- 

 able. From Palmerston House to Down Street Gate the same 

 margin and edging is continued. An oblong bed in this series 

 filled in the centre with Coleus Verschaffelti, surrounded by 

 bands of Centaurea is very effective. Among other good beds 

 may be mentioned circles of Queen of Queens, silver-leaved, and 

 Golden Chain Geraniums, and an oblong of Centaurea with a 

 centre of Coleus Verschaffelti Improved. This is much more 

 glowing in colour than the ordinary form, but we shall have 

 to notice it in still higher colour further on. 



From Down Street Gate to the west end of the park the 

 edging is of Sportsman Verbena, but this, probably owing to 

 the trees, is not a success ; but there are several good beds of 

 Geraniums, but into these we shall not enter minutely, as we 

 shall have to notice others far surpassing them in our next 

 notice, which will be of Hyde Park. 



WOBK FOR THE WEEK, 



KITCHEN GABDES. 



The operation of sowing now recommended will not admit of 

 much delay, still it will be nearly useless to sow without water- 

 ing and shading; therefore, if tms cannot be conveniently done, 

 the various sowings must remain over till a change of weather 

 take place. Continue to water all the crops that will receive 

 actnal injury without it, particularly Celery. Basil and Mar- 

 joram should be cut and dried just as they are cominginto flower. 

 Make a sowing of Carrots for early spring xiae on a light, dry 

 piece of ground that is moderately rich. If Cauliflower seed 

 was not sown last week it should now be put in, and another 

 sowing should also be made in about a week in favourable situ- 

 ations. The latter sowing will be early enough, no advantage 

 being gained by having the plants very forward before winter. 

 Plant some of the last sowing of Celery for spring use, as it will 

 not be necessary to earth it up. They may be planted at a foot 

 apart. Also plant for seed. H Cucumbtr seei was not sown 

 for plants for hoase culture through the winter, cuttings should 

 be immediately put in to produce plants for that purpose. Those 

 in frames or on ridges will now reiiuire an abundance of water. 

 Make a last sowing of Endive for spring use. Continue to 

 transplant from former sowings when the weather is favourable. 

 If a sowing of the various sorts of Lettuces to stand the winter 

 was made during the past week, another good sowing should be 

 made at the end of the present one. The former will do for 

 transplanting in the autumn, and the latter may remain in the 

 Beed-Dcd to be transplanted in the spring. Get ready the 

 materials for making-up Afushrootn beds next month, clean-out 

 the old beds, and limewhite the walls of the house to debtroy 



insects and give the whole a clean appearance. Sow seed of 

 Spanish, TripoU, or Strasburg Onion to stand the winter. The 

 Welsh may also be sown for drawing in the spring. The other 

 sorts are best transplanted iii the springfor bulbing. The winter 

 crop of Spinach should now be sown, if not yet done, ^^'e have 

 before recommended the Flanders variety, we wish we could 

 see it in more general cultivation. Sow a small (juautity of 

 Cabbage Lettuce with the Spinach. 



FRUIT G.UIDEN. 



The bunches of out-door Grapes, to ripen the fruit, might bo 

 enclosed in half-globes of glass, which may be obtained at any 

 glass-blowing establishment, and any spare lights of framing or 

 Peach houses might now be profitably fixed against favourite 

 Vines or Peach trees. Where wasps or flies are troublesome 

 the fruit may be defended with gauze or thin bunting, but 

 where much attention in ripening the wood is necessary, nothing 

 is better than covering each fruit very thinly with cotton wad- 

 ding. The garden engine must be brought into frequent use 

 during the present hot weather. Peach and Nectarine trees 

 should be washed once or twice a-week, and also have an occa- 

 sional root-watering. Protect all wall fruit from birds where 

 they are numerous. Plums should also be protected from 

 wasps; use bunting or coarse canvas for this purpose, as nets, 

 unless the meshes are considerably less than an inch in dia- 

 meter, do not afford the necessary protection. Look to the 

 ripening fruits ; gather them carefully when ready. 



FLOWER G.tRDEN. 



Chrysanthemums must now be layered, either giving them a 

 twist or making an incision up the under side before they are 

 pegged-dowu. Those intended for the greenhouse may be taken 

 off, and they will sustain no check from removal— that is, if they 

 are gradually severed from the old plants. Give them plenty of 

 liquid manure after they have formed roots. The seed pods of 

 the first blooms of Carnations must now be well watched, and 

 the calyx slit down to avoid the accumulation of wet ; it will be 

 a good plan to allow them to hang downwards. Seeds of Pinks 

 must be gathered ; half what we have this year saved will be 

 sown immediately, and the other haU next June. Shoots 

 slipped-off and dibbled in sand and leaf soil, and kept moist and 

 shaded, will root weU. The TuUp bed for next year's plant- 

 ing must be often turned to sweeten by exposure to sun and air. 

 The bulbs, also, may be examined, and any alterations made in 

 the arrangement of the roots according to memoranda made 

 at the blooming time. Discard all bad and inferior kinds, those 

 with foul cups, pointed petals, &c. Auriculas must be kept 

 free from decayed leaves, and the pots regularly supplied with 

 water. Pansy seed may still be sown. Young plants should bo 

 pricked-out in beds, as should also any self-sown seedlings 

 worth saving. Train-out the strong-growing shoots of Dahlias, 

 and pull off the deformed buds as they appear. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



" Shorten the supply of water as the night lengthens " is a 

 good old maxim, and more apphcable to the conservatory now 

 than to any other structure, as it is generally occupied at this 

 season with a mixed collection of flowering plants, many of which 

 are probably stove or half-stove sorts, which require but little 

 water in a low temperature. Cinerarias, Violets, Chinese Prim- 

 roses, Chrysanthemums, and all other plants that will flower 

 this side of Christmas, must be duly attended to, and such 

 annuals as have been proved, to bloom in pots in the spring, 

 should now be sown. Since, however, the practice of forcing 

 flowers in the spring has become general, these annuals have 

 been discarded in many places, as they occupy room where 

 better things can be wintered. 



STOVE. 



Such plants as will flower this autumn may yet be well sup- 

 plied with water, and occasionally with liquid manure, but all 

 other stove plants should be watered more sparingly after this 

 time, and it should be performed early in the day. The house 

 may be shut-up early in the afternoon, even with a strong sun 

 heat. At this season, when plants are ripening-off, a high night 

 temperature is not so injurious to them as when they are begin- 

 ning to grow in spring. In dull weather slight fires may be 

 used in the daytime, so that plenty of air may be given to the 

 plants. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



These are now fully occupied with half-hardy plants, which 

 grow freely in such places in the autumn. The lights should bo 

 drawn off at night to let in dews, but defend them particularly 

 from heavy showers or continuous rains, at the same time admit 

 large portions of air by tilting the lights at top and bottom. 

 This is a good time to pot Camellias for blooming in the spring, 

 and also to graft them in close frames without artificial heat. 

 Although this is the proper season for propagating some half- 

 hardy plants which are used for bedding-out during the summer, 

 we by no means recommend it to the extent to which it ia some- 

 times carried. Instead of having an immensity of small plants to 

 take care of through the winter, half a dozen old plants of some 

 sorts, and a few more of others, would furnish cuttings to propa- 



