190 



JOTTENAIi OF HOETICTJLTUEE ASJ) COTTAGE GABDENEK. 



[ September S, 1863. 



chances of a more perfect state of ripeness ; so, obviously, 

 an excess of moistiu'e will retard and prevent ripening, in 

 consequence of the longer time required for its decomposition. 

 To gorge the system of a plant which has its roots in a soil 

 with a low temijeratui'e, must, more particularly under so dull 

 a sky as we frequently experience in these latitiides, retard 

 and prevent the ripening of so tender a fi-uit as the Muscat 

 Grape. The most carefal di-ainage, with the aid of bottom 

 heat, is the foundation for wt-U carrying out the ripening of 

 this GrajDe, and the precaution of covering the border with 

 glass should be taken, if possible, immediately the ripening 

 process commences. Not the least important agent in the 

 production of early ripeness is a circulation of dry warm 

 air about both fruit and foliage : consequently neither the 

 wood nor foliage should be allowed to become crowded. It 

 is, however, very important to have a large proportion of 

 foliage, but it is by far the best way of balancing this matter 

 to leave a good few joints beyond the bunch instead of 

 sto23ping at the first or second joint, and allowing the 

 laterals to make two or three leaves, by which means a 

 crowding of foKage is produced, the house darkened, and 

 the chances of high coloiuing and speedy ripening are 

 lessened. The foliage should just be snfiBciently thick to 

 prevent the direct rays of the sun from acting on the fruit. 



These remarks, hastily thi-own together, in answer to your 

 correspondent, ^ill, I hope, be the means of provoking some 

 discussion on the early ripening of Muscats, the noblest of 

 all our Grapes. — D. Thomson.] 



MANURE FOR FLOWER-BEDS. 



"A Suesckiber" having asked "Which is the best manure 

 for a, flower-bed on a cb-y sandy soil on a gravelly bottom ? " 

 this article is given, as the question is one deserving more 

 attention than a mere short reply, .and as it is not unlikely 

 there may be many to whom the subject may be interesting, 

 especially in seasons like that just passed, when a long 

 period of dry weather sets in during the time of the growth 

 of many of the plants that form the gayest features of the 

 flower gai'den. As a vei-y di'y season and a very dry shallow 

 soil resting on a hungi-y sand or gravel are at variance with 

 the wehare of most classes of vegetation, it need not be 

 ■wondered at if some one asks. In what way can such a 

 situation be improved ? 



Fortunately, the case is not withoiit its remedies, neither 

 are the means beyond the reach of those who are anxious 

 to try to gi'ow bedding plants of most of the best kinds now 

 in fashion. At the same time, be it remembered, there 

 are other plants wiiose well-being cannot be looked upon 

 as certain in a soil of this kind, as, for instance. Phlox 

 Drummondi, the Alonsoa, Calceol.oi'ia perhaps, and some 

 others ; while it is not unlikely that some pLants will do 

 better in a soil of this natui-e than in one of a more promis- 

 ing description, and with some judicious alteration many 

 of our flower-gardening materi.'Js will do well. A few 

 plain rules to guide the inexperienced in the management 

 of such a place wiU be here pointed out. 



In the fii'st place, it wiU be neeessaiy to consider the 

 character of the (.listrict the gai'den is situated in. 



In the west of England, .and in some other sitiiations in hilly 

 localities, the amount of rainfall is about double that of 

 similar places on the east coast. Now, as vegetation while 

 in an active state exists, in a great measui-e, on moistiu-e, 

 warmed more or less into a proper growing medium, the 

 light shallow soil of the rainy district will sviffice to support 

 vegetation there, when the same description of soO is unable 

 to do so in the long di-oughts more common in the di-yer 

 districts. Witness, for instance, the character of the gi-ass 

 lands that a traveller wiU often meet with on leaving London 

 by any of the great lines of rail passing fi-om its northern 

 or western sides, and supposing such journey to be in 

 August in a, dry season, the parched character of the grass 

 lands for the first fifty miles or so will be very apparent, 

 whQe after that a gi-adual approach to freshness will be 

 visible, so that when one hundred miles are reached the 

 aspect is quite changed, and in fifty miles more there seems 

 almost a s\jperabundance of herbage. Now, all this may be 

 on lands of a like character, the difference being due to two 

 causes — one, the less one, being the increased heat of the 



more southerly situation, and the other and more important 

 one being the less amoxint of rain by which the earth is 

 refreshed. Taking, therefore, these two examples, let us 

 see in what way the di-y place can bo made to suffer less 

 from the drying natm-e of its climate, and possibly a better 

 state of things may be brought about. 



Assuming the situation to be a di-y one, and the soil of 

 the flower-beds to be shallow, the fii-st work to be done is to 

 see if the soil can in any way be deepened. Trenching and 

 removing a part of the unkind subsoU wiU be the most; 

 effectual way of doing this, adding, of course, the required 

 quantity of better material to make up the necessaiy depth. 

 Generally speaking, from 18 to 2i inches is not too much for 

 a flower-bed that is expected to support a heavy crop of 

 flowers aU the summer. It is better to deepen the beds 

 rather than raise them above the natural surface. It is also 

 p.dvisable to make the required addition with a stiffer soil 

 than the one found on tlie smfaee, in order to retain the 

 moisture somewhat better ; for it must be remembered, that 

 a dry gravelly bottom natm-aUy sucks out what moisture the 

 beds placed above it contain. It is, therefore, better as fai- as 

 possible to prevent this, by adding some clay or other sub- 

 stance unwilling to part with its v.-ater ; but a regularly 

 puddled-hole, like one intended for a pond to hold water 

 without leakage, is not by any means to be advised, a 

 certain amount of drainage being necessary even for dry 

 substances. 



Another mode of benefiting a flower-bed on a dry soil is 

 to ;iud enriching maniu-e, so as to feed the plant by stimu- 

 lants instead of supporting it by a more steady and regular 

 food. On this principle all plants in pots are maintained, 

 and some do better in that way than when allowed more 

 freedom ; but they are the exception, and for the general 

 pui-poses of cultivation it is a sort of hand-to-mouth system 

 of cultivation, any neglect of supplying the plant iiith its 

 required food at the right time being attended with bad 

 consequences. However, maniuing a plot of dry, sandy, or 

 gravelly ground, is a more durable improvement than merely 

 pouring water upon a potted plant, and it is often done 

 with much advantage to the plant cultiviited ; and certainly 

 is so with flowers of most of the favourite kinds culti;7atecl 

 in the beds of the fashionable parteiTe, some of them only 

 requiring a sufficiency of nourishment to cany on the 

 grovrth lor a short period, and they flower all the better by 

 a check being given to their luxmiance. Such, in fact, are 

 most of the kinds of Geraniums of the Scarlet and similar 

 breeds. But as a certain amount of growth is wanted in 

 these as well as others, some stimirlating substance is 

 wanted when the ground is dry, and the depth of soil 

 limited ; and as the inquu'er above alluded to asks what kind 

 of manure is most wanted in such a soil, we may at once 

 address ourselves to this part of the question. 



Taking it for granted that the flower-beds formed on a 

 shallow sandy so2 on a gravelly bottom were planted at the 

 proper time, and that the showers which followed in June not 

 only kept the plants alive but encouraged a healthy vigorous 

 gi-owth v.-hich has continued until the setting-in of dry 

 weather, a check has been given, .and, no fiuther growth 

 taking place, the flowering of some such as Calceolarias 

 threatens soon to be at an end. Now the only way to aiTest 

 such a premature decay is to supply the ground with liquid 

 manure, not too rich at fii'st, but increasing as the require- 

 ments of the plants seem to demand. Observe, I by no 

 means advise a too liberal sui^iily of the rich substance of 

 the farmyard t.ank or a too strong infusion of guano ; but, 

 as the plant seems to occupy the space allotted to it so com- 

 pletely, some additional enriching substance maj' be given 

 to maintain it in health. Of the kinds of manure water 

 there is much difference of opinion : but the one most dis- 

 agreeable to deal with is certainly the best in many cases. 

 It must, however, be properly diluted, and its effects wiU be 

 the more .apparent ; but all kinds may be used in moderation. 

 The frequent use of clean soft water is .also beneficial ; 

 and, in fact, whenever manure water is given let this all- 

 important liquid in its pure state succeed it for several times 

 ere the other is repeated. Dahlias, Roses, and the like 

 may be treated to a few doses of this kind and be found the 

 better of them. 



With regard to solid manures applied to flower-beds much, 

 may be said. Generally speaking, these substances can only 



