September 8, 1863. ] JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



195 



and for covering over the bed, and also when to supply or 

 withhold the external covering of hay or strav/. Let it be 

 watered occasionally when the surface becomes di-y, and in 

 cold weather with tepid water. Onions, pi\ll up those that 

 have done growing, and house them in a dry state. They 

 should be sorted before being laid avfay in the root-ceUar, 

 and thick-necked ones iised first. Embrace the opportunity 

 of a wet day to string the Onions, to tie-up and arrange 

 herbs, and to beat out and clean the seeds of any favourite 

 vegetable that may have been saved. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Continue to plant-out Piaks, Clove Carnations, &<:. See 

 that the plants ah'eady established in beds are kept in a 

 state of health and vigoni- by stu-ring the sui-face of the 

 soil. Look now and then at the late-budded Roses, and 

 loosen the ligatures when necessary. Borders deficient of 

 Snowdrops, Crocus, Narcissi, and other such early spring- 

 flowering bulbs shoivld have some introduced. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



yiiiit, as the -4pple and Pear, will now be ready to gather 

 in rapid succession, having come to matui-ity earlier this 

 season than usual. Great care should be taken with them 

 to prevent their being bruised. The best and most hand- 

 some friiit only should be stowed away, the rest will do for 

 present use. When gathei-ing, take care not to break off 

 the fruit-spurs. Give Grapes on Vines against walls the 

 fall benefit of the sun by taking away a few of the leaves 

 which shade them. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



The weather has assiimed a more favoiu-able aspect, and 

 many may hesitate in the work of introducing the house 



?lauts while the promise of a late summer is before them, 

 t is dangerous, however, to tiiist anything to the weather 

 at this period of the yeaa'. Cloudless days ai-e very dehghtful, 

 and thrice welcome just now; but it sometimes happens 

 that they are succeeded by clear nights, w-hen nipping frosts 

 occur : therefore the kindly work shoiUd proceed unin- 

 terruptedly. Let a scrupulous examination be made of the 

 condition of each plant, and defects in the soil or drainage 

 of the pots at once remedied. Clear off moss, remove 

 insects, and replace stakes. The ordinai-y precautions for 

 obtaining a supply of common flowering plants throughovit 

 the winter months should be commenced and progressively 

 continued. Violets to be potted or i^lanted in a frame; 

 Mignonette thinned and sown ; Hyacinths, Tulips, and other 

 bulbs potted and plunged ; Pinks for forcing encouraged ; 

 and Cinera,rias diily attended to. Roses in pots should 

 occupy a fair share cf attention. The Chrysanthemums to 

 be taken up fr-om the open groxmd, to be potted in any good 

 soU, watered, and shaded for a few days. The system of 

 growing them in the open ground saves immense labour in 

 watering, and, after all, it is rare to see them in pots well 

 feathered with foliage to the bottom; but by the open- 

 ground system they require but the small attention of stop- 

 ping occasionally ; and when they are potted, even if left in 

 the open ground until the flowers are expanding, they will 

 not lose a leaf. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



Some cold frames shoiild now be put in readiness for the 

 teception of alpine plants in pots, especially the more delicate 

 species, to remain for the winter, or it is the destruction of 

 this humble but interestiag class of plants. Bear in mind 

 they must not be covered with the lights during fine weather, 

 but only in times of rain. Continue to get those structures 

 which may have been used for horticidtural purposes during 

 the summer months in readiness for winter stock, by whit^ 

 washing the walls, cleaning the flues, &c. W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAKDEN. 



General routine much the same as last week. Planted out 

 all spare giound with Broccoh, Scotch Kale, Brussels Sprouts, 

 Savoys, and Cauliflower to get a little protection. Took means 

 for protecting on an emergency a nice bed of Dwarf Kidney 

 Beans now coming into bloom. Sowed some in pots out of 

 doors, to be moved under glass as the weather gets too cold for 

 them. Pulled up the late Onion?, and put them under cover to 



dry, and the stringing of them will be a job for a wet day. 

 Scattered lime, and wood ashes, and soot over late sowings of 

 Lettuces, Cauliflower, &c. Pricked out Cabbages for the earliest 

 spring crops. Sowed a small pinch to stand the winter. Earthed- 

 up Celery ftdly in a dry daj', having three-parts done it a fort- 

 night ago : this will be our second lot. Reasons were lately given 

 why the bit-by-bit earthing should not be proceeded with. No 

 groimd better for the main Cabbage crop than where Onions 

 have been grown. The ground, however, to be well stirred; 

 and if fresh manure is given, that to be placed in the bottom of 

 the trench, and some of the surface rich soil left again for the 

 young Cabbages to root in. Though Cabbages thus succeed. 

 Onions wcU, the opposite rule will not hold, for Onions are almost 

 sm-e to fail if they succeed Cabbages that have stood long on the 

 ground. Pulled Cucumbers out of large pots that were doing 

 little good, though the reason why is a mj-aterj'. Younger ones 

 in a Ijed are bearing beautifully. As stated the other week, 

 this at present is our main sheet-anchor against disease and. 

 faEure. Every pot was filled with a diti'ercnt soil or combina- 

 tion of soils, and there was not a pin to choose between them.' 

 Those planted out in the pit are in rich soil, and as beautiful as 

 can be, and bearing fine fruit ; but so did all our Cucumbers 

 until about the end of June, and tince then hitherto in succes- 

 sion they have been less or more affeuted. Spawned and earthed- 

 up the first bed of Mushrooms in the Miishi'oom-house. Have 

 seen some handsome Mushroom-houses of iron and slate of late ; 

 but after aU, from what comes before us in the way of com- 

 plaint, we come to the conclusion that the want of success is 

 chiefly to be traced to throe things — bad spawn, overheating, 

 and overworking or overdrying of the dimg. Too much wetness 

 is also to be avoided; but when the matter was so wet that 

 moisture could almost be squeezed out of it, we have had fine 

 Mushrooms from wrapping each piece of spawn in a good hand- 

 ful of short diy litter before inserting it in the bed. We like 

 to see good structures for all work ; and gentlemen should show 

 the example of having nice, solid, and lasting buildings for all 

 that is needed about their estabUshments ; but at the same time 

 more humble people may do much with more humble means. 

 We know a farmer who supplied his friends and himself liberally 

 with Mushrooms from Christmas right on to Jime at any rate 

 from a bed in a stable, and a doctor has just been a httle less 

 successful from a bed in a disused stall of his stable; and, aa 

 stated the other week. Mushrooms may be had under the most 

 simple arrangements, though the greater the means the less 

 excuse for failm-e when it comes. Cut oft' the lai-ger leaves from 

 Tomatoes, that the sun might have more power to ripen the 

 fruit ; and placed the pots of Capsicums and Chilics more in the 

 sun, that the fruit might be well hardened for grinding for Chili 

 pepper, as it is said that a good portion of what is sold is made 

 up of red lead ; but perhaps it is aU a story. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



Gathered fruit as it ripened. It is better to get Peaches, Nec- 

 tarines, the finer Plmns, and even Apples before they are so 

 ripe as to drop. A Peach gathered a few days before dead ripe 

 and kept in a dry place, not too cold, will, when used, be in a 

 finer state, as to flavour and softness thi-oughout, than when 

 allowed to hang on the tree with one side rather ripe and the 

 other side nather imder-ripe. We have seen Peaches placed in 

 a cool place to keep them, but it always injured the flavour. 

 Nipped shoots of fruit trees as needed, to swell the buds near 

 home. Gathered some good Figs out of doors, never did this so 

 early before ; the house still giving a few each day. Those 

 who grow Pines must be careftd not to check them now in their 

 growth. Those showing and in bloom should have more heat 

 and air to cause them to come strong and robust. Gave more 

 firing to vineries to keep the growth in a healthy state, and 

 more air to prevent damping in these dull days and wet weather. 

 The borders outside being rather drj', have allowed the rains 

 free access. If it had not been so would have protected the 

 earhest house from hea\'y rains. Syringed all the Peach trees 

 on trellis or in pots done fruiting, with sulphur water to clear 

 away any vestige of red spider. AVent over Strawberry plants in 

 pots, taking out every weed and cutting oft' all incipient runners, 

 and placing the pots a little further apart, so as to give them 

 more room for the autumn sun to rest upon them. 



ornamental DEPARTMENT. 



Fresh dressed conservatory. Mowed and rolled lawn and 

 walks. When very wet scarcely any walk is so h;ird but it will 

 leave traces of feet behind. Some folk seem to feel a pride in 

 thus spoiling a beautiful surfaced walk. In a fine day you will 

 never see them put a foot on it ; but only let us have a few wet 



