July 7, 1S63. ] 



JOTIRNAX OF HOBTICTJLTUKE AND COTTAGE GAP.DENEE. 



15 



the staple soil, or in a Uquid state diiring the gro-ning 

 season ; but the benefit of such applications is greatly in- 

 creased by continual, and, as far as possible, deep sui-face- 

 stirring ; for it is the external atmospheric influences acting 

 upon, and combining with, the substances composing the 

 food of plants, which reduces them to a state fit to be taken 

 up thi-ough the roots, and assimilated by the plants. Arh- 

 choies, as" the heads are cut, the stems to be cut close to the 

 roots ; clear the stools from decayed leaves, and loosen the 

 surface of the soil about them with a hoe. Asparag^is, the 

 beds should now, in the midst of the growing season, and 

 while the soil is moist, receive good soakings of manure 

 water, with a good portion of salt added thereto, taking the 

 precaution of applying in good time stakes and lines to the 

 outside rows at least, to prevent heavy rains and high winds 

 breaking down the plants, which is very injurious to the 

 crowns." Carrots, if the aphides make their appearance c n 

 this or the Parsnip crop, di'edge them well early in the 

 moi-ning with dry wood ashes, chaiTed saw or wood dust, or 

 soot, any of which is good, but the three raised together 

 have a most beneficial eifect, not only in cleai-ing away the 

 nuisance, but also in fertiUsing the soil, and producing 

 healthy luxuriant crops. If any of the Brassica family are 

 attacked by insects, dredge them in a similar manner, and 

 if attacked" bv the root maggot, apply soot in a liquid state. 

 CaulHioii-ers. earth-up those that were phinted iu the beginning 

 of last month ; plant more for coming into use in the au- 

 tumn. Celery, the main crops to be got out without delay, 

 the plants to be well supplied with soft water, and to be 

 shaded for a few days if necessai-y, the early crops to be 

 UberaUy supplied with Uquid manure, and the soil about 

 them to be frequently stiiTed with a fork, but by no means 

 make any attempt at moulding them up until they have 

 attained the desired growth. Garlic and Shallots, as soon as 

 the tops begin to die, take up the roots ; after allowing them 

 to remain on the ground a day or two to dry, tie them in 

 bunches, and hang them in the root-cellar. Onions, make a 

 small sovdng for dramng young. The TripoU answers weU 

 for that puiijose ; the autumn-sown ones transplanted in the 

 spring are very fine this season, and will now be attaining 

 their "ftdl size. When this is perceived lay the tops down 

 for a time previous to pull in g. Sea-kale, this, like the 

 Asparagus crop, is particularly fond of manure water and 

 salt, which may now be applied to assist in forming strong 

 crowns to insure good cuttings of luxui-iant, fine-flavom-ed 

 Kale another year, the crowns to be duly thinned. Spinach, 

 sow a few rows to keep up a succession ; thin the preceding 

 crop, and keep it watered in diy weather. Tomatoes, keep 

 them well thiuned-out and constantly nailed. Turnips, keep 

 up good successional sowings, of which a good breadth may 

 now be put in ; charred refuse or dry wood ashes spi-inkled 

 over thein when they are wet is a good preventive against 

 the fly. 



FLOWEK 6AKDEN. 



If the dry and hot weather continue, much wateiing will 

 be necessary here. Even the ordinary herbaceous plants 

 should have'a thorough soaking once or twice a-week. In- 

 deed, it is more necessary with these than with mass flowers, 

 which have now, of coui-se, become well established. Cut 

 back the Dcrpetual -blooming Eoses as they go out of bloom, 

 and well water with the richest manure water to encom-age 

 a second growth and bloom. See that Hollyhocks, Dahlias, 

 and the taller-growing herbaceous plants are properly 

 secured to stakes, &c., as they grow. The budding of Eoses 

 to be proceeded with in duU weather. Give plants infested 

 with gi-een fly a liberal washing with the engine, or sp-inge 

 them with tobacco water. jSTow is the best season for ob- 

 serving the eifect of the arrangement of the colours, &c. ; 

 and if any alteration is deemed necessary, it should be care- 

 fully noted, which will greatly facilitate its execution at the 

 proper season. As yet, we cannot say that the flower garden 

 at the Eoyal Horticultural Gardens is as perfect in all its 

 parts as could be wished. There is an undue prominence of 

 some particular colour- — viz., scarlet and blue, while others 

 of equal worth are " few and far between." But it matters 

 not, though we have red, blue, and yellow colours iu abun- 

 dance ; if there is an absence of compensatory hues, it would 

 he like having the high notes in music without the low — 

 neither harmony nor variety would be apparent. 



FEUIT GAKDEN. 



The principal operations here wiU consist in keeping the 

 youno- wood of wall fruit trees constantly nailed-in, the 

 laterSs from the young wood of Peaches and Nectarines to 

 be spuiTcd down to the first joint. Some portion of the 

 young wood of Gooseberries and Cmxants to be spurred-m 

 'at this season, as doing so both increases their productive- 

 ness and the fineness of the fruit. 



STOVE. 



Encourage the progress of the young stock for winter 

 blossomino-; and maintain a comparatively moist tem- 

 perature. ° An increased circulation of air to be allowed 

 amongst the Orchids dm-ing the bright weather that gene- 

 rally succeeds a period of gloom, as the humidity constantly 

 stagnant wiU otherwise have an injm-ious effect. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



These structures should now be producing for the conser- 

 vatory or mixed greenhouse, a sirtficient number of Cocks- 

 combs, Balsams, Globe Amaranths, Thunbergias, Gloxuuas 

 Achimenes, &e. The growth of specimen Fuchsias should 

 be duly encoui-aged, also late-blooming Pelargomums. Ihe 

 Japan Lilies, Chimney Campanulas, and Guernsey Lihes, 

 should be ordered in due time, they are remarkably pretty 

 and useful autumn-floweiing plants. See that Cmerarias and 

 Calceolarias are standing in a cold, shady situation. A 

 quantity of stocky plants of the Scarlet and Variegated 

 Geraniums, Veronica Andersoni, Heliotropes, late-struck 

 Fuchsias, &c., should be duly encouraged for late autumn- 

 floweiino-. Encom-age the growth of Prknula smensis, they 

 thrive will in Ught, open, fibrous, sandy loam. The perpetual- 

 flowering Eoses should not be forgotten, they ai-e good and 

 useful plants in the gloomy months of autumn. 



^ W . E.EANE. 



DOI^'GS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAEDEN. 



Sowed last Dwarf Kidney Beans in the open an-, will 

 sow more m a fortnight, where we can protect from autumn 

 fi-ost. Sowed Dickson's Favourite, Bishop's Longpod, and 

 Early Washington Peas for the last crop unprotected. 

 Staked-up advancing crops as we could get at them and 

 could find sticks, of which we are scarce. In sowmg at this 

 season, we make the cU-iU much v/ider and deeper than usual, 

 sow the Peas wider, but not too thick ; soak the dxdls after 

 sowing, cover with an inch of soil, water more shghtly again 

 and then place half an inch of di-y soil on the surface, and 

 strew with a Uttle soot and Ume. We also put hme m the 

 water first used to start or kill slugs and worms. Drenched 

 the rows of Peas bearing heavily, and those m lull bloom, to 

 help them to set strongly. To keep in the moistui-e m 

 sonie cases, where Spinach between the rows was gettmg 

 old, out it down, and placed it on at the bottom of the Peas ; 

 in other cases, brought short grass and litter, and where 

 that could not be done, hoed the ground, so as to throw di-y 

 soil over the watered place to keep the water in by lessening 

 evaporation. Sowed succession of Turnips, Eadishes, Let- 

 tuces, and the first of Endive, watering and snading as soon 

 as sown. Eraser's Broad-leaved Endive is a most desn-able 

 kind for ^dnter work. Sowed also a httle Parsley and 

 Chervil, &c., for succession, and as we are, scarce put m 

 cuttings of Taii-agon and other herbs. Topped late Broad 

 Beans? A little Mazagan and Longpod may stiU oe sown 

 for late crops ; but with us sowing after the middle of June 

 seldom does much good. Eegidated Cucumbers, ta-ned out 

 more Gherkins, and earthed the last piece of Mushrocm-bed 

 in the shed. Those in the house ai-e almost dof -J^"^^ 

 first piece in the shed, from the rubbishy matenals we could 

 command, is coming in. In answer to several q"enes -^e 

 would say, that s5 weeks from the spawmng is a good 

 generalise to wait. If forced into growth ^-^^ .f^^H' 

 they seldom bear so long. To all who wish to b^ve the best 

 material, however, we still say nothing "f «^ ,,"? g°°^'''f 

 di-oppings of horses fed on hard food, with about a tlmd of 

 the shortest litter, and the material not aUowed to heat too 

 violently before using it. 



BIEDS. 



A lady andgentleman who called ^ere the other day, were 

 in raptures of deKght-and what with, think you? The 



