114 



JOUKNAL OF HOKTICULTUBE AiTO COTTAGE GASDENEE. 



[ August 11, 18S3. 



not deform Nature. Cuttings of choice herbaceous plants 

 put in eaa'ly should be pricked-out or potted immediately 

 they ai-e struck to get well established. Early-struck Pinks 

 and Pansies may be planted-out for autumn blooming. 

 Young seedling AVaUflowers, Brompton Stocks, Sweet Wil- 

 liams, and otlier biennials to be either planted out into 

 reserve-beds or where they are to flower. Divide and repot 

 Auriculas and Polyiinthuses, so that the young and old plants 

 may be established before ^-iater. Gravel walks to be fre- 

 quently roUed during heavy rains to keep them firm. 



PKUTT OABDEN. 



The preservation of wall fi-uit from birds and insects should 

 occupy attention. The bean-stalk earwig traps to be fre- 

 quently examined. Worsted or other small mesh netting 

 may be employed. Look carefully over Peach, Nectarine, 

 and other fruit trees, and remove nails or shi-eds that in- 

 terfere with the swelling fruit. In stopping and an-anging 

 the wood let only as much as can conveniently be laid-in be 

 allowed to remain, and that convenience qualified by due 

 considerations for the perfection of the fi-uit and the proper 

 ripening of the wood, which only the influences of sun and 

 air can accomplish. Pear shoots which have been left or 

 only partially shortened to be now pruned back to three or 

 four eyes. The value of the Strawberry as a summer fruit 

 renders its successful cultivation a matter of some impor- 

 tance, the more especially as it comes within the rea<;h of 

 the humblest possessors of a garden. The present is the 

 best season for making new beds. Strawben-ies thrive best 

 in a deep rich loam and open situation; the hmd should 

 have been previously trenched 2 feet deep, and well manured, 

 for Strawberry roots penetrate to a great depth. Select 

 runners which have either been hiid into small pots for the 

 pm-pose, or the strongest which have taken root from the 

 older beds. Water them diu-ing dry weather until they are 

 well established. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSEKVATOKT. 



Early provision should now be made for can-ying out a 

 late display by means of young stock in succession of those 

 flowers which wiU withstand the gloom of autumn. Late 

 Fuchsias, Achimenes, Scai-let and other Pelargoniums, Phloz 

 Drummondi, Verbenas, Ageratums, Salvias, &c., in pots wiU, 

 although not rai-e, greatly assist in keeping up gaiety to a 

 late period. Carefully tie-out the diiferent varieties of Lilium 

 lancifoUum l>efore they come into flower. Finish the pot- 

 ting of Chi-ysanthemuius, and stake them securely as they 

 advance. 



PITS AND EKAJIES. 



Make all necessai-y preparations here for prooagating 

 plants for next year's decoration of the flower' garden. 

 Make a fuU sowing of Schizanthus Hookeri and S. pinnatus 

 lOr flowermg next spring ; also sow Ten-week and Interme- 

 diate Stocks for the same pui-pose. See that all structures 

 are in good repaii- ; aU lights that require it to be glazed and 

 painted, and the interior of the pits smartened-up by ap- 

 plying the whitewash-brush. W. Keans. 



doi:ngs of the last week. 



KITCHEN GAKDEN. 



Dua down a qua.rter of Strawberries, trenching it two 

 spits deep, stin-ing the bottom ^rith a pickaxe, and turning in 

 all the StrawbeiTy plant.s, Utter, &c., into the bottom of the 

 trench. Never before tm-ned up garden ground in such a 

 dry hard state. The Strawberry plants had stood three 

 years, and borne immensely, but so tky and hard had the 

 ground become, even though the surface was well Httered to 

 ^eep the fi-uit clean, that a pick had to be used to help the 

 spade. The weather being didl and diizzlv, planted the 

 ground as finished with Cauliflower, Broccoli, &c.. lifting 

 with balls the plants that had previously been pricked out, 

 a^d planting them in trenches with the spade, and watering 

 them as we planted them, turning the dry earth on the 

 surface. As our last resource, broke into a deep well of 

 house sewage, which though too strong for many things, 

 has just been the thing for Cauliflowers and Peas. Lost 

 some scores of heads of CaidiSower, the heads coming too 

 soon and loose for want of water. Some of our finest rows 

 of Conqueror Peas gave up flowering and bearing pre- 

 maturely fi-om the same cause. We were in a complete 



fix: if we obtained water for vegetables and flower-beds, 

 there was the more than likelihood that cattle would die from 

 thirst, and you may .judge of the pleasure experienced in the 

 showers of Wednesday, windy though it was. Some splendid 

 long rows of Calceolarias had been watered the day before 

 from the sewage-weU, as they would have died if left longer 

 without moistm-e, and one good thing is, we shall have a 

 pump to this sewago-weU, and as we are so short of solid 

 man-are we wiU make it the means of producing iine vege- 

 tables. The scent is not suited for the flower garden, though 

 we gave a good soaking to splendid Hollyhocks that were 

 losing their large lower leaves from di-ought. The scent 

 without any fixing soon goes off in a kitchen garden, and if 

 people are squeamish, a little dry earth thrown over makes 

 aU as sweet as a nut. With the exception of a small reserve 

 of clear rain water in a tank for plants in pots, and sj-ringing, 

 but for this old sewage-well that had not been looked at for 

 twenty years we were entirely without liquid. What we 

 had was drawn up in pails with ropes, but once we have the 

 pump we shall feel more independent, having fr-equently 

 proved the value of such watering for kitchen-garden 

 purposes. 



In all vegetable matters proceeded much the same as 

 previous weeks ; find that next to Cauliflower, Lettuces of a 

 large size stood worst, but there are plenty of successions. 

 Planted out more, and a nice stock of Endive of the first, 

 and a little of the second sowing. Eai-thed-up Mushroom- 

 bed, having previously cased it with some baiTowloads of 

 sheep-dung picked ofiT the roads in the park. We believe 

 that a shallow bed cased with dried sheep-dung would pro- 

 duce abundance of Mushrooms without any spawning at all, 

 though, of course, it is best to be sure. So far as our ex- 

 perience goes, the best plan for making all right with the 

 superintendent of the kitchen, is never to be without plenty 

 of Mushrooms, Onions, and Parsley. As respects other 

 vegetables, there is nothing like having plenty ibr an easy 

 life ; but one great secret we will let out for the benefit of 

 our young brethren — and that is. If you are scarce of any- 

 thing, never let it be known. AVe do not mean to insinuate 

 that irhere is anything of mere contra.rincss about it. We 

 base our advice on the simple principle, that we generally 

 value most and think most about what is scai'ce. When we 

 are at all short of Caidiflower, Peas, Beans, &c., it is best 

 every way to say nothing at all about it, if you can help it. 

 If you do, you may depend upon it that that identical article 

 wiU be most in demand. The work in general has been of a 

 routine character. 



FKUIT GAKDEN. 



In cold nights put a little fire in the vineries, and fresh- 

 surfaced the pipes with sulphur. Gave a little water also 

 to the borders outside. Exposed the wood of the earliest 

 small Tine-pit of three lights — the next five ai-e not quite 

 finished. In very hot days sprinkled the shelves and floor 

 of the vineries to prevent the air being too parching. Leave 

 on air stUl at night at the top of the house. To avoid drying 

 have given little front aii- this season, and we do not see 

 that the Vines seem to care about it. In fact, in all lean-td 

 houses we look on top air as the gi'eat source of safety. In 

 hot days these houses were frequently above 90", at night 

 they would generally fall to about 55° or G0°. Engined with 

 water Peach-house fi-om which the lights had been removed 

 to be painted, as red spider had made its appearance. Find 

 some of the fruit of orchard-house marked by the brown beetle 

 before we succeeded in getting rid of it; but on the whole 

 we have some excellent fruit and plenty coming, tliough we 

 must part with some very old trees that were in a bad stat* 

 before the house was made over them. They produced very 

 heavily last year, and the fly was difficult to dislodge this 

 season, though even now they have a fair crop ; still we 

 should hardly like to trust them, though making fair- wood. 

 This black beetle seems to have less power to injure Necta- 

 rines. These are now fine, wliilst some Peaches beside 

 them seem to have little wai-ts, as if the epidermis had been 

 bitten. However, they wiU come in well for tarts, cream, 

 and iced dishes for dessert. Went over Peaches and Apricots 

 on waUs, moving leaves that shaded the fruit, and giving 

 the r'nal thinning to Nectarines, &c.. that were too thick. 

 Watered Figs and netted Gooseberries, Morello Cherries, 

 and late Strawberries, and as soon as possible wOl th in 

 Pears on dwarfs, which are very thick — too tliick to ripen 



