418 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICtTLTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENER. 



[ November 24, 1863. 



spring comes. It is next to useless to describe such a simple 

 operation as trenching or ridging two or three spits deep. 

 An opening should be taken out of the necessary depth, 

 and 2 feet in width. The bottom of the trench should be 

 loosened with a pick if necessary, then turn over the top 

 spit of the next 2 feet into the bottom, follow with another 

 or a double spit as deemed advisable, and make the surface 

 roughly level, or, in all grounds at all stiff, lay the last spit 

 carefully up in a ridge as steep as possible, as the shai-per the 

 angle at the top the more will the air and the frost pene- 

 trate, not only the ridge, but the furrows between down to 

 the bottom of the trench. If a sharp frost should penetrate 

 2 or 3 inches, it is a capital plan to turn these ridges over, 

 and thus the whole surface soil is frosted, and no better 

 employment could be found for a keen frosty day. It must 

 be done before the frost is so hard as to prevent a good 

 sharp spade penetrating when there is a sturdy arm and a 

 fii-m foot behind it. 



Talking of frost, however, seems somewhat out of place 

 in such fine pleasant weather as we now have, but a little of 

 it in moderation will soon be very acceptable. The well 

 of our old-fashioned ice-house, without the assistance of a 

 bit of straw or any other covering has lasted us now two 

 years, but has failed at last. A little mud has collected in 

 the bottom, but as it has become dry that shows there is no 

 stagnant water ; and, therefore, instead of making the well 

 any deeper we wUl merely place a few faggots in the bottom 

 before filling again, when we have the chance. We might 

 have had a little in November last year, but it was supposed 

 it would disturb the game before a shooting party. For a 

 similar reason our tree leaves will be pretty well gone before 

 we can take them. Ice is, no doubt, a great lusiiry, especially 

 in summer, and is most valuable as one of the chief curatives 

 in some of the worst afflictions to which humanity is subject, 

 but it becomes a troublesome and an expensive affair when 

 it has to be brought from long distances. Is it impossible 

 to bring more into common use those chemical freezing 

 nurtures of which we read so much, and which we believe 

 some of our greatest confectioners use largely? Perhaps 

 this may catch the eye of some one able to give particular 

 information, as often when new modes are discovered it may 

 be years and ages before these are brought into everyday 

 practice. 



FEUIT GAP.DEN. 



Very much the same as last week, only we put a little 

 more litter, and we would have given more if we could over 

 the border of the late vinery, and put the old sashes and 

 straw covers over that again, our object being to keep the 

 leaves green as long as possible. At one end the leaves are 

 becoming yellow, and there we have mostly cut the fruit. If 

 we could have kept the roots a little warmer the ripening of 

 the leaves might have been a little more delayed, and, con- 

 sequently, the fruit would have hung longer in a fresh plump 

 state. As soon as the leaves turn yellow they must be re- 

 moved, and after they are removed more care must be taken 

 on frosty nights, as the bunches are more easily fi-ozen 

 when there are no leaves to shelter them. We trust the 

 bulk of our leaves will be greenish for some time in this late 

 house. Of course, all laterals to speak of have been removed 

 some time ago, except some little twigs which furnish a few 

 small leaves for garnishing on particular occasions. We 

 have already stated that we put about a foot of our mixed 

 fermenting-heap on a Vine-border, to which we wUl apply 

 heat a month hence inside. We want the roots to precede 

 the tops a little. We would also have placed wooden covers 

 on the top of the litter if we could have commanded such a 

 convenience, but satisfied ourselves with a little long litter, 

 as we coiUd not do better. 



OKNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



Much the same as last week. Never had so much labour 

 in clearing the wrecks of the flower gai-den, the beds were 

 so excessively thick and strong, notwithstanding the dry 

 summer we had. However, there will be more for the fer- 

 menting-heap ; but there has been so much that the men 

 seem much more tired of it than they were of the planting 

 time. 



A stray remark about old hotbeds and frames for bedding 

 plants his brought us several inquiries ; and we will meet 

 these inquiries, first by saying if you have a good frame, or a 



number of them, have nothing to do with the old hotbed if 

 you can help it, but set the frame on a piece of high, dry 

 ground in preference. If this had been the month of July, 

 this is the plan we would have recommended : Choose your 

 position for the frames, raise the ground 6 inches above the 

 level, for a space wider by 2 feet, and longer, too, than the 

 frame, firm it well, let it slope from back to front 6 inches. 

 After firming it well run it over with tar about the thick- 

 ness of a new halfpenny, throw some gravel and sand over 

 it, and it will be as hard as adamant before you want it in 

 the end of autumn for your plants. Place your frames on 

 them, and for a lasting job it would be best to surround 

 them with a bank of earth or soil 15 inches wide at bottom, 

 and 9 inches at top, beat it firm, make it smooth, paint it 

 with tar, and for 2 feet beyond, and cover with sand, road 

 drift, or fine gravel. This will throw all rain away from the 

 frame, and no moisture will rise from the bottom inside. 

 EecoUect that moisture and damp are the worst evils in 

 winter. You cannot do the ground inside with tar now, 

 it would kUl everything, but the outsides may be so done, 

 if care is used in air-giving; the inside may be elevated 

 with dry earth, chalk, &c., or it might be done with earth 

 smoothed and coated over with pitch, which would soon dry, 

 and emit no disagreeable effluvia, and in either case dry 

 gravel or diy ashes rough would do inside. In such a case 

 the watering should be so done as not to spill a drop ; in 

 fact, the pots should be taken out to be watered, and be 

 then replaced when di-ained. In severe frost a little litter 

 might be thrown over the earth banks, and, of course, the 

 glass must be duly protected. In very damp weather a 

 piece of lime might be put inside, or a bottle or two with 

 warm water, which, with air on, woiUd cause a more rapid 

 circulation inside, and make the atmosphere drier. If earth 

 is not used, the next best would be straw neatly tied against 

 the wood, and the sashes long enough to throw the water 

 past the straw. 



The best covei-ing for the glass of such pits would be 

 wooden covers made to fit to each other ; the next best 

 would be asphalt fixed to frames ; the next best tarred 

 cloth or frigi domo fixed to poles, which two people can 

 easily manage. Good waterproof covers 6 feet by 4 are 

 also advertised. We have supposed the above frame to be 

 about 6 feet in width.— E. F. 



COVENT GARDEN MAEKET.— Nov. 21. 



The supply both of fruit and vegetables, ia consequence of the mildness 

 of the weuther, continues to be ample, much more so than is usually the 

 case at this senson. Pines are in gre;it abundance, and prices have a ten- 

 dency to decline. Of Grapes the supply is quite sufficient for the demand. 

 Melons from abroad, which are the only ones now in the market, are 

 plentiful. Apples and Pears conisist of the same sorts as mentioned in last 

 week's report. The Potato market is stiU heavy. Of Asparagus a few 

 bundles may now be had. Cut flowers priocipally consiRt of Koses, Violets, 

 Chrysanthe'uiums, Mignonette, Geraniums, and Chinese Primulas. 



FRUIT. 



Apples ^ sieve 1 



Apricots doz. 



Figs doz. 



Filberts & Nuts 11)0 lbs. 55 



Griipes, Uamburghs. lb. 1 



Hanibro'ti, Foreign 



Muacdts 3 



Lemons 100 6 



Melons each 1 



s. 



Asparagus bundle 6 



Beans, Broad bush. 



Kidney J sieve 



Beet, red doz. 1 



Brocculi bundle 



Cabbage doK. 



Capsicums 100 1 



Carrots bunch 



Caulitiower doz. 2 



Celery bundle 1 



Cucumbers doz. 6 



Endive score 1 



Fennel bunch 



Garlic and Shallots, lb. 



Gourds Jk Pumpk., each 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish ... bundle 1 



d. s. 

 6 to 4 

 



Mulberries quart 



Oranges 100 



Peaches doz. 



Pea-s bush. 



dessert ^ sieve 



Pine Apples lb. 



Plums .^ sieve 



Qmnce-s doz. 



Walnuts bush, 14 



VEGETABLES, 

 d. 8. d, 



to 10 

 



Leeks bunch 



Lettuce score 



Mushrooms pottle 



Musid. tSi Cress, punnet 



Onions Ijushel 



pickling quart 



I Parsley bunch 



I Parsnips doz. 



! Peas bush. 



' Potatoes sack 



' Kadishes doz. bunches 



, Rhubarb bundle 



I Sivoys per doz. 



Sea-kale basket 



Spinach sieve 



; Tomatoes J sieve 



[ Turnips bunch 



