October 27, 1863. ] 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTtTRE ANB COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



335 



WOEK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GABDEN. 



In this department proceed with such operations as drain- 

 ing where required, laying Box edgings, gravelling walks, 

 and the trenching and surface-stirring of all spai-e ground. 

 Broccoli, the laying down of this useful vegetable should be 

 attended to at tlus season, and to be eftectually done, no 

 part of the stem below the leaves should be left exposed, 

 because the green part of the stem close to the leaves is 

 much more likely to be destroyed than any other pai-t of the 

 plant. Besides this, there aa-e many other things to put in a 

 state of security ; a full supply of Endive, Cardoons, Lettuce, 

 Cauliflowers, &c., for winter use, must have protection, and 

 what has been ah-eady stored, whether roots or fruits, 

 should be defended from frosty air. Young plants in frames, 

 such as CauKflowers, Lettuce, &o., require protection, but 

 only against frost and too much humidity : if the tempera- 

 ture be never less than 32°, they should not be shut up at 

 aU by day. Celery, earth-up while the weather is favour- 

 able, if severe frost should set in some long litter should be 

 laid over the most forward crops. Where Carrots, Parsnips, 

 Salsafy, and Scorzonera, are hable to injiu-y ti-om grubs, or 

 from a low, damp situation, the sooner they are taken up 

 and stored away the better. The Beetroot to be taken up 

 without being bruised, the tops carefully twisted ofl' above 

 the crown, and to be stored away in any di-y i^lace, free 

 from frost, in sand. Onions, the autumn-sowing to be hand- 

 weeded, and the ground slightly stii'red about them. Shalluts 

 and Garlic may now be planted in light and di'y soUs, other- 

 wise they had better not be put in tiU February. 



ELOWEE GARDEN. 



The approach of winter calls for much precaution, as well 

 in defending tender things against its rigour, as in planting 

 bulbs and tubers, and dividing herbaceous plants before 

 hai-d ft-ost suspends aU out-of-door operations. The display 

 of next spring and summer depends greatly on what is 

 already done, or doing, at this season. The present is a 

 most appropriate season for observing the ditferent colours, 

 shades and tints, that the foliage of trees and shrubs assumes. 

 A pleasing picture could be produced, when planting, by 

 disposing them singly or in groups, either to harmonise or 

 contrast mth each other. Chrysanthemums against walls, 

 fences, &c., to have their shoots closely tacked in, and mats 

 to be in readiness to protect them from the first sharp fr'ost, 

 which generally lasts only for a few nights. Tree leaves to 

 be collected at every favourable opportunity, and pitted in 

 some convenient place to rot. Leaf mould is an excellent 

 substitute where peat soil is not easily procm'ed, and of 

 great service when mixed with the soU in the flower-beds, 

 and for the culture of »^ij^ats in pots. Proceed with new 

 an-angements activoiy, particularly if they involve the re- 

 moval and planting of trees. Now is the time for plant- 

 ing-out a good stock of spring flowers, especially, if a gay 

 spring gai'den is required, abundance of early Tulips, 

 and Crocus in variety. Do not forget hardy Cyclamens, 

 those planted near the edges of borders will have a fine 

 effect. Hepaticas, too, should be remembered ; the colours, 

 red, white, and blue, form a pleasing variety, and when they 

 are well established they flower most abundantly. Snow- 

 di-ops. Winter Aconites, and Dog's-tooth Violets, play im- 

 portant parts in early spring, the bloom of these comes some- 

 times through the snow, reminding us that the spring is re- 

 tm-ning. Standard Roses to be gone ovei-, and all the 

 long shoots to be shortened, reserving the general pruning 

 to the spring. The roots of Dahlias to be allowed to re- 

 main in the ground as long as they are free from danger. 

 Polyanthuses to be examined, and soil put to the roots 

 which are emitted from the collar ; seedlings to be gone 

 over and fastened, for when small the large earthworm often 

 pulls them up. Pansies to be divided and planted out for 

 next season's bloom in richly-prepared ground. The beds 

 for Kammculuses to bo ridged up. The sooner the Tulips 

 are planted the better, for it planting is deferred till the bulb 

 begins to elongate the leaf- spike the roots are injm-ed. 



FEUIT GARDEN. 



The planting of fruit trees, either in the open quarters or 

 against walls, may be commenced at once. In preparing 

 new BoU for planting fruit trees, endeavour to keep it as dry 

 as possible, and choose a dry day for planting that the soil 



may be in a favourable state to facilitate the growth of 

 fresh roots during the autumn. The present is also the 

 most favourable time for rebitiag and root-pruning such 

 trees as are too luxuriant and requfre checking to induce 

 a fruitful habit. It is preferable to lift the trees entirely, 

 unless they are very large, to cutting off the roots as they 

 stand. Most wall trees would be more fr-uitful were their 

 roots confined to borders of very limited extent, compared 

 with what is generally the case, and by which the balance 

 between the roots and branches would be admsted without 

 the trouble and expense of lifting and root-pi-uning. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



The period has now arrived in which the increasing scarcity 

 of flowers in the beds and borders should be compensated 

 for by those consei-vatory flowei-s peculiar to winter, and by 

 retarded summer things — such as Euphorbia jacquiniaiflora, 

 Gesnera zebrina, Achimenes picta, Gesnera oblongata, Linum 

 trigynum, Plumbago rosea. Begonias, ic, all of which 

 should have a temperature of 60" by day, rising to 80° in 

 sunshine, and sinking to 50' at night. The Chrysanthe- 

 mums and Veronicas, with Scai-let Geraniums, Heliotropes, 

 Salvias, &c., are now interesting and useful flowers. A little 

 gentle forcing wiU bring the different varieties of Epiphyl- 

 lum truncatum in bloom ; and with the addition of late 

 Fuchsias, Pancratiums, AmaryUis, Mignonette, Neapolitan 

 Violets, &c., a tolerably gay appearance may be maintained 

 until the time when forced plants will be more generally 

 available. Some of the most useful ijlants dm-ing winter 

 and spring when subjected to gentle forcing are the different 

 kinds of Khododendi-ons, Belgian Azaleas, Kahnias, Ac. As 

 these have now perfected their buds, plants well furnished 

 with buds can easily be selected for the piuiwse. When 

 selected, to be potted in peat in as small pots as the roots 

 can be put into ; to be then watered, and placed in a pit or 

 vinery, to be brought forward as requfred, beginning with a 

 gentle moist heat, and increasing it as they progress towards 

 blooming. W. Keane. 



DOmGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



kitchen garden. 



Laid down Broccoli, taking out a spit or two of soil on 

 the north side of the stems, pressing the stem down and 

 covering with spits of earth fr-om the south side, so as merely 

 to leave the head of the plant exposed and that facing the 

 north, which will prevent the flower-head within being acted 

 upon by a bright sun immediately after a sharp fr-ost. 

 The keeping the head all the neai-er to the ground affords 

 an opportunity for placing a little clean Utter over it, if the 

 fr-ost should be severe. Did much the same with a lot of 

 Cauliflowers, but will most likely put some under protection, 

 as after all there is scarcely any Broccoli that eats so sweet 

 in winter as Cauliflower. We have sometimes kept it very 

 well by taking up the stems of the plants when the heads 

 were a little more than half-grown— that is, we cut the jJants 

 over just above the roots, removed all the leaves except a 

 few small ones round the head, made the stems firm in 

 damp soU, as thick as the heads would let them stand, in 

 a dark shed, then put 3 or 4- inches of cfry sand over the 

 moist eai-th, and gave air except when frosty. The last-used 

 stems would often have roots protruding from the sand and 

 ground. When they had been in such a position some 

 months, the heads that were at aU advanced would be apt 

 to open and sprea<;l a little ; but this could be neutraUsed 

 by placing them in cold water for a few hours before takmg 

 them to the kitchen. Even if a Uttle open they make a 

 nice dish when cut into bits, so as to resemble Sproutmg 

 White BroccoU ; and if used before much frost has partly 

 acted on the latter, and made it sweeter and more tender, 

 the Cauliflower wUl generaUy be the better of the two. 

 Planted out some Cauliflowers under glasses. Potted a few 

 to be kept under protection. Pricked out more m readmess ; 

 also pricked out Lettuces for spring use, and wUl lift some 

 to put in a frame for winter use. Took up most ot the 

 Carrots, the weather being fine and mUd, and the sun very 

 strong for the season. 



Cleared out most of the Cucumber-beds, as we do not 

 cai-e about them now. Now is a tickUsh tuue for those 

 plants that are to bear aU the winter. In such weather as 



