476 



JOUENAi OF HORTICULTTTRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ Deccraber 15, 1863. 



thran, as it is a great waste of the virtues of the manure, and 

 dries it too jnueh. We prefer beating hard, which, by 

 exchiding aii-, soon checks the heating arising fi-om rapid 

 decomposition. If the manure is too wet, then adding a 

 little cut straw and throwing it in a heap would even be 

 better than riddling the bed with holes, though in such a 

 wet state the making holes or boring all over is more per- 

 missible. Were we spawning such a damp bed we would 

 wrap each piece of spawn in a good handful of diy short 

 Utter, but prefen-ing straw and rejecting hay litter as more 

 liable to damp. We hare used clean straw for such a pui-- 

 pose, but we prefei- that which is broken, such as may be 

 coUeeted near a manger, or in a shed where horses or cattle 

 congregate for food and shelter. 



FEUIT GARDEN. 



Having raised the i-oof in Fig-house as well as plant-stove, 

 made a rough trellis about 18 inches fi-om the glass to give 

 what support may be necessai-y, and keep the shoots out 

 of the way. Hitherto the plants have been trained chiefly 

 in bush fashion; but even then a little support was necessary 

 to keep the ii-uit in the best position. Protected Straw- 

 berries from one frosty morning. All not protected have 

 the pots laid on theii- sides, and can be protected by litter 

 in a few minutes. Sprinkled Vine-shoots in small narrow 

 pits, and kept the evaporating-pans filled with manure water. 

 We should not care how rank this might be for Vines, 

 but the pits are filled with plants, and, therefore, we have 

 the water more mild than there would otherwise be occasion 

 for before the buds broke. For general purposes we know 

 of nothing better for this manure water, when used for 

 evaporation, than strong clear soot water. This may be 

 made by mi.xing a bushel of soot and a spadeful of quickUme 

 in 36 gallons of water, or even .52 gallons, with a cover to 

 the barrel. The scum taken off such water -svill be bright 

 as the finest old ale, and will throw off a good portion of 

 nitrogenous matter without hurting, as far as we have found, 

 the tenderest plants. We have made a paste with the soot 

 in the evaporating-pans and then filled with water, but this 

 clogs the evaporating-receptacles in time, and when con- 

 venient we prefer the previous mixing. No insects Kke the 

 fames from such water, and we have found that few or no 

 plants dislike it. Went on pruning and naUing as the 

 weather would permit. Now is still a good time for all 

 kinds of planting, as the ground is stiU warm. Cuttings of 

 Gooseberries, Cm-rants, &c., should be made in wet days, 

 but should not remain long unplanted. Other matters 

 much the same as in previous weeks. With all our cai-e 

 the leaves must be removed from the late vinery, the Grapes 

 in which are still keeping very nicely. 



ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



We have begun regulating some of the herbaceous plants, 

 and digging and trenching-up the beds and borders for 

 bedding plants. Being scarce ot well-rotted manm'e of any 

 sort, om- practice for several years has been to dig, or rather 

 trench, pretty deeply, but leaving the bottom spit at the 

 bottom, and keeping fuUy three-pai-ts of the surface at the 

 surface stUl, in order to reap the advantage of the Uttle 

 manure that was placed near the top. This deep stir- 

 ring we believed saved us from scorched beds last summer, 

 when for two months we had not enough of water for 

 pot plants, and eveiything outside had to take its chance. 

 Many an aftei-noon the Calceclarias especially looked woe- 

 begone, but they mostly were all right again the foUowiug 

 morning. We had satisfied our.selves that this deep stimng 

 was just as effectual in preventing exti-a luxuriance in damp 

 and wet seasons. This season, in order to bring a little fr-esh 

 soil to the surface, we will stir as deeply, but wiU bring up 

 more of the under soil to the top, will let it be exposed all 

 the winter, will tiu-n it once or twice, leaving it as rough as 

 possible, and in early spring will cover the surface with 

 some leaf mould, and keep that in tm-ning not far from the 

 surface to eneoiu-age active gi-owth at fii-st. AU such chang- 

 ing of the surface should be done gradually. We recolteet 

 of a large piece of a waste being trenched for planting 

 trees, and after several failures this ground had pretty well 

 to be trenched back again before anything would gi-ow, so 

 that the expense of such trenching was worse than laboiu- 

 lost. Had the ground been deep ploughed, or if even fair- 

 sized holes had been made, or the surface spit well broken, and 

 the bottom then well picked up and left, there would have been 



no doubt that ti-ees and anything else would have done well. 

 A case came under our notice not long ago of deep trenching, 

 where some 8 inches of hungry clay and frony marl were 

 brought to the surface, to the discomfort of everything and 

 everybody. If well stirred at the bottom and an inch or 

 two brought to the sui-face, it would have been sufficient. 



As soon as we can we will plant a border with bits of 

 Cerastium, variegated Arabis, &c., for edgings, as it is as 

 well to have rooted plants to go to, and they wiU root nicely 

 before April. The hardier Eoses may now be pnxned ; the 

 more tender Perpetuals, Teas, &c., had better be imprnned 

 until the end of March or the middle of April. A little leaf 

 moidd put over the roots of the latter, and evergreen boughs 

 stuck over the bed, will much protect them against cold. 

 Such branches or fern may be tied round the heads of stan- 

 dards budded on the Dog Eose, &c. ; but for nice plants of 

 Teas and other tender kinds, and dwarfs in a bed, no plan is 

 better than taking them up carefully and planting them in 

 a bed in a, shed, or against a fence, and thatching them 

 up, taking them out and planting in the beginning of April. 

 When used to it, they will hardly seem to notice the moving 

 more than its securing for them moderate growth and 

 well-ripened wood. Bulbs may now be potted for succession 

 crops. Those coming into bloom in the forcing-pit or frame 

 should have more air, and the pots should be gradually 

 raised but of the hotbed, that the plants may receive no 

 check when taken to the greenhouse, conservatory, or window. 

 In such mild damp weather it is desk-able to put a fire on in 

 the greenhouse during the day now and then, and to give 

 extra air, letting the fu-c out before night. As little fire 

 should be used at night as possible, even when there is a 

 little frost. Camellias in full bloom will require a good 

 amount of water. Heaths and Epacrises iviU need abund- 

 ance of air, and the soil must not get di-y. The pots should 

 be rung frequently with the knuckles to ascertain the state 

 of dryness, and when nearly di-y, enough of water at about 

 50° shoxild be given to wet all the soil where there are 

 roots. Early Calceolarias and Cinerarias will be less likely 

 to be troubled with &j, if the pots stand on cool, damp 

 moss. Primulas will need plenty of ah- to keep them from 

 damping, and a little manui-e water wDl do them good; 

 but it should be kept from the collar of the plant. The 

 water should chiefly be poured round the outsides, but so 

 as to moisten the whole ball instead of di-enching the collar 

 of the plant. Now is a good time for placing hardy shrubs, 

 as Deutzias, Lilacs, and Rhododendrons into forcing-pits or 

 houses, and also Eoses. It is best to begin gradually. In 

 fact, for all these hardy things it is no bad plan to plunge 

 the pots in a mild hotbed out of doors fii-st. Damp must be 

 looked after in all pits and frames, and we have plants in 

 general kept cooler and drier than at other seasons. Of 

 course, exceptions must be made as to plants iu bloom and 

 coming into bloom. — E. F. 



Homely Hints for Married Gardeners. — If you fail in 

 raising the wind abroad, that is no reason why you should 

 kick up a breeze at home. No soil favours the cultivation 

 of spare time as well as the domestic hearth. Bewar; of 

 hiding- the family bread-basket in the pubhc-house tUl. Keep 

 yoiu- Passion-Flo were outside the walls of your homestead. 

 If cultivated within doors, they are apt to scatter seeds oS 

 dissension around the family table. 



COVENT GAEDEN MAEKET.-Deo. 12. 



The supply continues unusually heavy on-ing: to the mildness ot" thft 

 season, but prices continue much tbc aarae. In Apples and Pears there are 

 no fresh varieties to adil to those niiined in previous reports. And remark- 

 ably tine s;jmples from abvcail continue to be exhibited. Ot Potatoes, 

 htavy supplies are brought botli by rail and coastwise, and Flukes appear 

 to be the freest nom disense. Kianey Ctaus have just made ihi ir appear- 

 ance. Cut tiowera chietly cont-ist ol Kosea, Pflargoiuums, a tew Orchids, 

 Epacris, Violete, Wallflowers, and Christm.i3 Rose. 

 FRUIT. 

 8. d. s. U 



Apples ^ sieve 1 G lo 4 



Apricots doz. 



r'ij{s doj. 



Filoerts A iNutslUOlbs. 60 U 90 U 



Grapes, Haraburghs. lb. I fi 5 



Foreign 9 1 ti 



Muscats 3 6 



Lemons lOS G iO 



Melons each 3 5 



Mulberries quart 



Oranges 100 



Peais busb. 



dessL-rt -^ sieve 



Pine Apples lb. 



Plums ^ sievo 



B. d. a. d 

 to ft 

 4 10 



Pomegranates eucli 8ft 



Quincea doz. 



Waluuts bush, 14 



