August 4, 1863. ] 



JOUBNAI, OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



93 



must be taken to insuie a certain supply of water to any 

 plants which have recently been turned out of pots. Passi- 

 floras, and, indeed, the greater portion of consei-vatory 

 climbers, -(rill be growing fast, and will require fi'equent 

 training. Thin-out weak and overluxuriant shoots, and 

 reserve only sufficient to produce the bloom desired, which 

 wiU be finer, and the plants themselves more capable of 

 producing well-matured wood when these little attentions 

 are performed regularly. 



STOVE. 



Such of the inmates here as are intended for the decora- 

 tion of the conservatory in autumn and early winter should be 

 carefully looked over, shifting those which are Likely to want 

 more pot-room, so as to get the pots well filled with roots 

 before the blooming season. Maintain a moist growing 

 atmosphere, and ply the syringe vigorously upon any plant 

 at aH infested with red spider. Brugmansias, Clerodendrons, 

 and other large soft-leaved plants should be frequently 

 washed to keep down red spider, and to be well suppUed 

 with liquid mamu-e to keep them in a vigorous state of 

 health, wliieh adds so mvich to their beaiity. Various stove 

 climbers, as QuisquaUs, AUamandas, Combrettmi, &c., wiU 

 bloom for a considerable portion of the summer if the shoots 

 on which the flowers are borne are slightly cut-in when the 

 blooms decay ; as anything which prolongs the beauty of 

 these favoiuites is valuable, the above instructions should 

 be put in practice. As the growing season for Orchids is far 

 advanced, therefore encom'age any backward plants vnth. 

 plenty of heat and moistm'e while this can be safely done. 

 See that plants growing on blocks and on baskets ai-e i^ro- 

 perly supplied with moistm-e at the root. Syringe lightly 

 morning and evening, and sprinkle the floors, &c., frequently 

 so as to keep the atmosphere thoroughly moist. 



"W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN OABDEN. 



With a splendid harvest moon at night there has been 

 glorious weather during the day for bringing to perfection 

 the precious fruits of the earth ; but though we had a nice 

 shower on Satui'day week, we are still feeling the effects 

 of want of water, yet thankftil for the supply the rains 

 gave us. Moved the ground among all advancing crops 

 we could get at to let the air in, and keep the heat out. 

 Cleared away the haulm of Peas that were past being 

 useful in the kitchen ; turned part of the ground into Celery- 

 beds, as the plants would spoil if kept longer m their tem- 

 porary beds. Most of om- beds are 4 feet wide, and contain 

 three rows. Watered the earliest-planted, soaking them as 

 well as we coidd, and earthed-up a piece for early use. On 

 the other plants watered merely threw half an inch of dry 

 soil on the surface, to keep the moisture fr'om evaporating. 

 We never think of acting on the old nde, " Give the Celery a 

 little earthing-up." With the exception of a sprinkling of dry 

 sou after watering, we seldom at this season eaith-up until 

 three weeks or so before we want the plants for use, and we 

 do this all at once, having tied the plants previously. We 

 do this for reasons several times given, and based on the 

 natural habits of the plant. Of com'se, as winter approaches 

 we are obliged to earth-up all Celery, not so much to blanch 

 as to prevent the heads being injured by frost. Prepared 

 part of the ground occupied by Peas, by deep digging and 

 manuring, for winter Spinach, preferruig the Flanders or 

 Prickly-seeded, and winter Onions, part to be dra^vn for 

 salads, and the other part to be transplanted for eajly spring 

 and summer use. What are still left of such planting have 

 had all the tops laid flat with a rake, which will help the 

 swelling of the bulbs, and arrest mere top-growth. Our main 

 summer crop wiU not need this attention for a week or two, 

 as they are scarcely large enough yet. Ten days ago they 

 looked as if mildew meant to attack them, but the timely 

 rains settled that matter for us. Took-up Potatoes as we 

 could get at them ; and Greens, Brussels Sprouts, &c., having 

 been planted between the rows, watered the plants, and 

 turned the earth over to the stems. Shaded Cauliflowers, 

 Turnips, Lettuces, Radishes, &c., as we dread being out of 

 water, and the sun is as bright as ever. Oh ! for a sweet 

 prattling brook ! but then there would be something else 



we woidd want. There is less exercise of thought when there 

 are no difficulties to sirrmount. 



Looked after Cucumbers as to stopping, tliinning, and 

 watering ; shading, too, to save water. Sowed a bed of 

 Dwarf Kidney Beans, to which we can give a little protec- 

 tion. Have had them good in the same place iTp to the 

 middle and end of November. Sowed also a row of Bishop's 

 Lougpod Pea, to which we shall also be able to give a little 

 protection, and if the season is fine we wiU get some nice 

 late gatherings from them. This hot weather is bringing 

 on succession of Peas before their time. A friend very fond 

 of White and Scarlet Riinners, says he is quite in a fix 

 for want of stakes this season, and that he will have no 

 crop. Why and wherefore? We believe as many Beans 

 may be had without stakes as with them ; and we have told 

 our friend to nip the point out of his Runners, to cover the 

 ground right up to the plants with short grass or clean 

 litter to keep the pods clean, and there will be a prolonged 

 gathering. We consider the cleanl i ness of the pods to be 

 essential, as, in our opinion, aU such Runners and Ki dney 

 Beans ai-e anything but improved in flavour when washed 

 or passed through water before being placed in boiliag 

 water. In the strange fancies at the present day, such as 

 introducing Carrots and Beetroot as rows in ribbon-borders, 

 we are very much surprised that no one has tried a row of 

 Scarlet Runners, treated on the nipping system, so as to 

 keep them fr-om 12 to 18 inches high. We know of nothing 

 more striking as a mass of scarlet flowers, and even we 

 might say more appropriate if wecotdd keep at a distance 

 all visions of the kitchen and the steiypan. If we aie not 

 the creatm-es of circumstances, we are in many respects the 

 slaves of associations. 



Cleared and watered Mushroom-beds, which in our open 

 sheds are producing Muskrooms as fleshy and nice as they 

 can generally be had in January. There is nothing Hke 

 simplicity after all if minutias are looked after. If these 

 little matters are too little to be cared for, the finest mate- 

 rials may prove very unsatisfactoi-y. 



PEXJIT GABDEN. 



Gave copious waterings to Pig trees, which are yet far 

 from being exhausted of fruit. Watered Vines also. Sul- 

 phured the pipes in houses, as a little heat is put on on 

 cold nights. Finished gathering out of the early Peach- 

 house, and took the lights off by degrees for painting. The 

 house has lasted two months, the last being that excellent 

 Peach the Walburton Admirable, almost as fine as a Noblesse. 

 Have had a few Nectarines, Peaches, and Plums from orchard- 

 house. The birds thinned our Elton Strawberries before 

 we could net them; but Keens' Seedling, planted out as 

 soon as forced, are already producing some fine berries, 

 with promise of more coming, and netted them, as the 

 thrushes know all about their sweetness. Netted all the 

 Currants we think of saving for tarts and dessert. For the 

 latter pm-pose we have always noticed that they may merely 

 make a show — no one seems ever to taste them. Netted 

 Gooseberries by placing rails higher than the bushes at the 

 sides and middle of a small quai-ter, and throwing a net over 

 the whole, securely fastened at the sides. The birds dislike 

 this much more than where a net is merely thrown over the 

 bushes, and there is no difficulty in going inside and taking 

 what you want. WiU dig down a piece of Sti-awberries, and 

 wUl plant with winter vegetables that had been previously 

 pricked out. Moved all the Strawberries laid in smaU pots, 

 and began potting them as quickly as possible. We feel 

 obliged to Mr. Gross for his note at page 70. The mode he 

 recommends is a very good one ; but we rarely can command 

 the room. We have mentioned the same plan in previous 

 volumes, and also taking the runners from such early-forced 

 plants, pricking- them out under glass, and lifting with 

 balls and potting immediately, which is a veiy good plan if 

 shading and syringing are attended to at once. We have 

 also previously mentioned the plan of taking the runners, 

 as soon as formed, out of doors, pricking them out 4 inches 

 apart, on a sUght hotbed, mth glass over them, and lifting 

 with balls. In cold northern places we believe that smaU 

 hite runners of this summer, pricked out on a border, 

 to stand the winter, and raised and potted next season, 

 wUl do the best. For extraordinarj' crops we have found 

 no plan better than resting the smaUer forced plants be- 



