NovemiCT 6, 1873. 1 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



357 



require renewing, and tlie same remark applies to many of 

 the Pear trees ; indeed there is considerable ■ scope for re- 

 arrangement ; and Mr. Eanson, the gardener, who has only been 

 a few months in the place, will have heavy work before him 

 in gradually effecting needful improvements, especially as, like 

 most gardeners, he is not overburdened with help. Along the 

 principal walks are espalier-trained Peai' and Apple trees from 

 which excellent fruit is obtained. 



The forcing houses consist of two pineries, four vineries, 

 two Melon houses, and a small stove. The three-quarter span 

 pineries comprise 72 feet run, and contain an unusually good 

 and Tery healthy stock of fruiting and succession plants, the 

 kinds being Queen, Smooth-leaved Cayenne, Black Jamaica, 

 and Providence ; the last-named variety is grown in consider- 

 able quantity, as it is much desired for the dessert. A slate 

 bed at the back is used for growing Melons and Cucumbers. 

 Three of the i-ineries are lean-to's 15 feet wide, and two of 

 them 20 feet long. The third house is 3 feet longer, and 

 planted with Muscats and Black Hamburghs. The Tines 

 show that in past years they have been heavily cropped, in- 

 deed too much so, and the canes are by no means strong. At 

 the end of this range there is a small stove containing Ferns 

 and fine-foliaged plants, among which are some very good 

 specimens. The late vinery is a three-quarter span 42 feet 

 long, and in this there is a very good crop of Muscats, excel- 

 lent bunches of Alicante, a Vine or two of Lady Downe's, Mrs. 

 Pince, and one or two others. The two Melon houses are at 

 present filled, one with Eucharis amazonica, EpiphyHums, 

 Pancratiums, the other with .\zaleas and an excellent strain 

 «f Chinese Primulas, of which Mr. Eanson has also a large 

 stock in pits. Although we saw the garden at one of the most 

 nnfavourable times at which a garden could well be visited — 

 the end of the gardening year, if such can be said to have an 

 •end at all, yet the cleanliness and good order of the houses 

 and kept grounds were highly creditable to Mr. Eanson. 



WOEK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN G.UtDEN. 



Mucu as there has been written on the utility of trenching 

 the ground in kitchen gardens, and bringing-np a portion of the 

 SQbsoil to mix with the surface soil when the latter is said to be 

 ■worn-out with constant cropping, some gardeners are still blind 

 to its advantages. If the subsoil be stiff loam they are fearful 

 of mixi:--g a small portion of it with the surface soil, although 

 the latter may be Like an ash heap, and as rich as dung can 

 make it. I am aware it requires some judgment as to the 

 <iuantity of the subsoil to be brought-up, for the texture of the 

 soil may be materially injured by a large quantity at one time, 

 but it can rarely so happen with a small quantity ; and as very 

 many old gardens would be greatly benefited by this operation, 

 I hope the present fine weather will be taken advantage of for 

 the purpose. Immediate steps should now be taken to protect 

 the roots of Artichokes from frost, if not already done, but it is 

 best to be on the safe side. I have known a whole plantation 

 destroyed by frost in what was considered to be a very favour- 

 able situation, and where it was thought quite unnecessary to 

 protect them. All Cabbages that are sufficiently grown to earth- 

 up should have it done before frosts set in. Eed Cabbages for 

 spring use may still be planted. Those Caulifiowers now pro- 

 ducing heads are very valuable, therefore the greatest care 

 should be taken to preserve them from frost, either by digging 

 them up and planting them in frames, or pulling them up and 

 hanging them in a very cool shed. They are sometimes pre- 

 served by being buried in peat soil after the leaves are wrapped 

 round the heads ; but if great care be not taken in doing this 

 the soil gets into the heads, and it is almost impossible wholly 

 to remove it by washing. The Cucumber plants should be kept 

 as near the hght as possible ; nothing can supply the want of it, 

 ■while heat, air, and water can bo given as required. Take-up 

 Endive and plant in a frame some of the most forward, so that 

 should severe frost occur there may be a supply. Add soil to 

 the last sowing of Dwarf Kidney Bcait-i as they grow, until the 

 pots are nearly full. Keep those in bearing well supplied with 

 water. Radishes are sometimes required all the year round. 

 If so, it will now be necessary to sow on a slight hotbed ; after 

 they are up air should be given at every favourable opportunity. 

 If they are sown immediately they will be ready to draw about 

 the end of .January. A few old roots of liliuharb may be taken 

 up and planted in boxes or pots, which may be placed in a 

 Mushroom or forcing bouse where the heat is about CO". Keep- 

 up a succession of Small Salad by sowing in boxes twice a-^n-eek. 

 No vacant ground should now remain undug. It is a common 

 practice with some gardeners to leave the whole of the digging 

 till frosty weather seta in ; by so d»ing halt the benefit the soil 

 would receive is lost, and, independently of this, it makes the 

 garden look very untidy. 



FKCIT G,\RDEN. 



Eemove all green laterals of Peaches and Apricots that tho 

 growth of the trees may be checked, and with a new birch broom 

 gently switch-off the matilred leaves, taking care not to injure 

 the buds, repeating the operation at short intervals, so that the 

 young wood may be ripened by exposure. To effect this still 

 further cut-out any small twigs that will not be wanted, and 

 as soon as convenient loosen from the wall those shoots in- 

 tended for bearing next se.aEon. Where, unfortunately, the 

 leaves are still green and adhere, no time should be lost in going 

 over the trees and cutting all the stronger leaves in two. As no 

 great nicety is required, a man will soon goover a wall by catch- 

 ing the leaves between his knife and thumb. This will tend to 

 check luxuriance and hasten the maturation of the buds with- 

 out the shoots shrivelling or the danger being incurred of gum 

 or canker, which in some cases is the result when recourse is 

 had either to indiscriminate root-pruning or a wholesale depri- 

 vation of leaves. 



FLOWEB CUIDEN. 



The business of this department is now in a great measure 

 confined to the clearing-up of leaves, wormcasts, f.ud other ex- 

 traneous matters, and making the lawns, etc., look as tidy as the 

 season ■will admit of. If the bulbs are planted — and if they are 

 not no time should be lost in getting them into the gi'ound — 

 those beds which are unoccupied may receive their winter 

 digging, and, where necessary, winter trenching, taking care if 

 the soil is strong to expose it as much as possible to the action 

 of the atmosphere. While, however, you dig the beds avoid 

 touching the shrubbery borders ; for though custom, which too 

 frequently makes us commit sad blunders, may show they look 

 better after being dug, depend upon it plants do not grow any 

 faster for being annually root-pruned, and such is the effect of 

 annual digging. Worms are now very troublesome, especially 

 in wet weather, when it is diffictilt to clear their casts away, 

 but their ranks may be materially thinned by watering the 

 ground with fresh lime water, or with ■n'ater containing corrosive 

 sublimate, though in the latter case they are merely driven out 

 of the ground and require to be gathered-up by hand and after- 

 wards destroyed. Corrosive sublimate is very quickly brought 

 into a liquid state by mixing it with spirits of salt. 



CONSERVATORY AND GREENHOUSE. 



The stock of plants to bloom at Christmas, consisting partly 

 of stove plants grown for that purpose, and partly of forced shrubs 

 and bulbs, should now receive some attention, particularly the 

 latter, which should be undergoing a slight amount of forcing to 

 get them to bloom by that time. Chinese Azaleas and Oranges 

 may be assisted by a little extra heat, being careful, however, to 

 apply it gradually. At the same time, if a forcing house is at 

 command a portion of the stock of Eoses, Lilacs, Syringas, 

 Dentzias and other hardy shrubs from the reserve pit may be 

 placed in the cool end of it, or in a light situation in the early 

 vinery or Peach house. If they can be afforded a slight bottom 

 heat all the better. A few of the more early-forced American 

 plants, including some of the earliest-flowering Ehododendrons 

 should be added; they -n-ill greatly enhance the display in 

 .January. Bring forward Hyacinths and early Tulips in a gentle 

 bottom heat. Double Eoman Narcissus, Crocuses, Neapolitan 

 Violets, Mignonette, and Cyclamens bloom early v.'ithout much 

 forcing, and answer best placed ou shelves at the back of vineries 

 to catch every ray of light, and to insure them from damp. 



COLD PITS. 



Plants in cold pits that may have been excluded from light 

 and air for a few days must not be too suddenly uncovered ; on 

 the contrary, they should be very gradually inured to exposure. 

 Take advantage, however, of fine days to give air freely, and 

 keep the plants very sparingly supplied with water at the roots, 

 so as to prevent the production of weak, sappy wood. Look 

 frequently over anything subject to the attacks of mildew ; apply 

 sulphur the moment this pest makes its appearance, and see 

 that everything is free from insects. If there is any prospect of 

 a scarcity of bloom next May, a portion of the Achimenes and 

 Gloxinias should be repotted at once and placed in the warmest 

 part of the stove, choosing such as have been the longest at rest, 

 and a few Clerodendrons, Allamaudas, and a plant or two of 

 Echitea splendens, and Dipladenia crassinoda may also be 

 started ; but unless there are plants of these with well-ripened 

 wood and that have been some time at rest, nothing will be 

 gained by starting them into growth at present. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST AVEEK. 

 We noted last week that the weather had been unfavourable 

 for out-of-doors operations. If it does not rain the ground has 

 no chance to dry. Giving to the damp, muggy atmosphere and 

 frosts at night, the thermometer occasionally falling to '22° and 

 2a° — that is, to 10° and 9" below the freezing-point. 



FRUIT ANU KITCIIKN GARDEN. 



On referring to the bush and pyramid fruit trees last week, 

 and the ineect pests by which they arc attacked, a very common 



