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JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTTJKE AND COTTAGE GAJRDENEK. [ September 29, 1863. 



regular degree of heat in beds in houses, and guard against 

 aridity. Potatoes, continue to take up the crops as they 

 attain maturity. Sort them before they are housed or 

 pitted, as it will save much futiu'e trouble and waste. Sea- 

 kale, remove the leaves from this and Rhubarb if you intend 

 forcing veiy eai-ly, and keep a look-out for slugs and weeds. 

 We would advise to have two separate receptacles for garden 

 rubbish attached to everj- kitchen gai-deu (and we allude to 

 this matter at present, because the accumulation of weeds 

 and decayed vegetable matter is considerable at this season 

 of the year), one to receive the matter convertible by gi-adual 

 decomposition into manure, the other to contain every sub- 

 stance that can conveniently be burnt. A good reserve of 

 burnt eai'th and v/ood ashes should belong to every garden, 

 the last substance may be substituted for manure of a 

 stronger character in rich soils which it is desirable to relieve. 

 Spinach, thin the ^vinter crop, leaving the plants about 

 9 inches from each other. Keep it free from weeds. 



FLOWEK GARDEN. 



A sufficient quantity of good tiu-fy loam for next year's 

 operations should now be procured, stacked-up, and thatched 

 with straw, or fern, to throw off rain, likewise peat and 

 sand — both valuable adjuncts in propagating. Soils wliich 

 have been used in the forcing departments should be brought 

 here and mixed up with decayed vegetable heaps. This 

 forms an excellent and useful manure for flower-beds. Pre- 

 pare compost for Eoses by frequent tui-nings, at the same 

 time adding rich materials. The trimmings of hedges and 

 other refuse from the shi-ubberies made into a heap and 

 chaa-red, will form a valuable article for stiff clayey soils. 

 The variegated and other scarcer varieties of Geraniirms 

 should not be risked too long in beds, they had better be 

 taken up and potted as soon as the weather appears threaten- 

 ing for frost ; after potting to be placed, if possible, in a 

 gentle bottom heat in a pit or house where the atmosphere 

 caji be kept sufficiently di-y to prevent the foliage being 

 injui'ed. By such treatment they will soon become esta- 

 blished, when they may be stored awaj' for the winter in a 

 cool drj- house where they will be out of the reach of frost. 

 The present is the most eligible time in the whole year for 

 alterations, and whether planting or general groundwork, 

 they should, if possible, be carried forward with vigom- as 

 soon as possible. Such operations should not be allowed to 

 press on the ordinary business of the garden; extra work re- 

 quires extra labour, and if such is not supplied a correspond- 

 ing amount of ir.jury must oociu- in some other department, 

 which is the fruriuent cause of disagi-eements. Earth-up 

 Dahlias well above the crowii that a sudden frost may not 

 destroy them. The spare beds, if any, should now be put in 

 readiness for the reception cf Hyacinths and Tulips. Crown 

 Imperials, hardy Lilies, bulbous Irises, Nai-cissi, and other 

 bulbs should now be planted in the borders. These have a 

 pleasmg and interesting effect in spring. 



FEtriT GARDEN. 



The principal operations in this department are the 

 gathering-in of the frait as it becomes in proper condition, 

 making preparations for filling up blank spaces, and trench- 

 ing new ground for orchards and fruit -plajitations. Prepare 

 for planting all kinds of fruit trees, by getting the ground 

 in good order for the different kinds. On cold stiff soils it 

 is advisable to plant on hillocks 1 foot or IS inches hig'her 

 than the siuTounding surface. The trees wOl not gTow so 

 fast in consequence, and will require more attention in sum- 

 mer in the way of mulching, but they will form short-jointed, 

 well-ripened, fruitful wood, which is the best preventive of 

 canker, gum, &c., and will save the labour of resorting 

 much to root-pruning. Continue to keep the runners re- 

 moved from the Strawberries, and those that have been 

 some time jjotted for forcing should now be placed in a 

 comfortable situation to insiu-e their not being too much 

 soddened with wet. Strong ijricked-out plants may stiU be 

 potted with good success if placed on a kindly bottom heat. 

 Use every possible means to get the wood of Peach and 

 Nectai-ine trees well ripened. If the ti'ees are too thick of 

 young wood, every shoot that will not be wanted at nailing- 

 time should be cut out so as to expose those left to all the 

 light possible. Keep the fruit-room cool and airy, examine 

 the fruit frequently, and pick out any that are found to be 

 decaying. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



No time should be lost in housing the plants which have 

 been placed dming the summer out of doors ; but before 

 placing them in their winter quarters every pot should be 

 examined. If any of the plants are water-bound, or the 

 soil in which they are growing is too heavy and wet, they 

 nmst bo turned out and the di-ainage examined, and if neces- 

 sary made new. The drainage in winter is highly important. 

 Hyacinths and other Dutch bulbs should be procm-ed and 

 potted without delay. Look carefully after the watering of 

 large specimen hardwooded plants in jjots, especially Heaths, 

 which are soon injm-ed by being over or under-watered. 

 Let Azaleas be tied into form as soon as can be done in order 

 to give them a neat appeai'ance. Keep Cinerarias as cool 

 and moist as is consistent with safety, and attend to repot- 

 ting such as requfre it. Primulas must also be carefrdly 

 attended to, in order to encourage them to make rapid 

 growth, especially double varieties. Keep tree Violets clear 

 of their gi-eat enemy, red spider, by a liberal use of the 

 syringe. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



Presuming that all the tender stock of plants is safely 

 housed, and anxiety with regard to thefr safety in a great 

 measure diminished, proceed with the aiTanging and remov- 

 ing into spare cold pits the stocks of Pentstemons, Antfr- 

 rhinuins, Linums, Phloxes, Brompton, Intermediate, and 

 other Stocks, and all herbaceous plants in pots that requfre 

 a Httle protection. The pots to be plunged in sand or coal 

 ashes, which is not only a protection but saves much labour 

 in watering during the spring months. When all the plants 

 are arranged this department should undergo a thorough, 

 cleaning, all litter and rubbish to be removed. If the foot- 

 paths between the ranges of pits be in bad tiim, a layer of 

 gravel or coal ashes will add much to the neatness of this 

 department. Pot-off cuttings. Establish a good stock of 

 Verbenas in pots, as duplicates of the choice sorts ; harden- 

 off cuttings for bedding out next season, that they may resist 

 the gloom of the approaching winter. W. Keane. 



DOmGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Kan the Dutch hoe thi-ough many gi-owing crops, where 

 the rains had brought up a mass of weeds iast approaching 

 half an inch in height. An hour's sun would soon settle them. 

 Most of these were the never-ceasing annuals, as Chickweed 

 :md Groundsel. 'Where they all come ft-om is perfectly 

 marvellous. No wonder that would-be philosophers speat 

 of spontaneous generation. For yeai-s we have hardly ever 

 seen a Groundsel in seed, and yet every piece of trenched- 

 up ground yields its myi'iads upon myriads. Cow Thistles, 

 and other Thistles, too, have made thefr appearance, brought 

 to us, no doubt, by the wind, from the fields and hedge- 

 rows of slovenly fai-ming. One day in August, we were 

 pretty well covered with 'JThistle-down — a hedgerow next the 

 highway, with a fine field of Wheat inside, was as crammed 

 full of Thistles, sending thefr downy seeds streaming for 

 miles, as if some great prize had been offered for the best 

 specimens of Thistle-culture. The only redeeming points 

 in the scene were some beautiful goldfinches, that no doubt 

 were deeply grateful to the waywai'dens and the fanners 

 for securing them such a bountiful supply of thefr favourite 

 food. With increased premiums for the best products of 

 gai'dening and fai'ming skiU, it would be no bad move to 

 inflict a fine for all specimens of winged seeds allowed to 

 reach maturity. Once scattered over the soil, generations 

 to come will not see the last of them. Though we managed 

 to lay hold of a rabbit or two, yet feai-ing for our plantation 

 of young Cabbages, we run a single \vidth of net all round 

 the piece, supporting it on stakes, and we have not since 

 been disturbed by their ravages in that du'ection. Examined 

 the Mushroom-spawn bricks, not too wet nor too hot; put 

 straw covers over the heap to keep the wet from them. On 

 Tuesday afternoon had a hiuTicance of wind iuid hail ; but 

 it has been rather warmer since, and the barometer, very low, 

 is slightly on the rise. Cleai-ed a piece of Cauliflower-stalks, 

 and put more plants in thickly. Put old lights over a nice 

 piece of Dwarf Kidney Beans to encourage them. Peas are 

 doing better than we expected. Well watered a row of dwarf 



