December 22, 1863. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE aAEDENEE. 



495 



Large fissures gape as if in agony from some great internal 

 convulsion. Shelving rooks jut out in tbreitening aspects, 

 and every part of the iUusion is so well sustained as to call 

 forth aU one's admii-ation. The planting also is faithfully 

 and tastefully managed ; and we can conscientiously say 

 that we never saw a piece of artificial landscape that ail'orded 

 us gi'eater gratification, or which reflected greater credit on 

 the designer. 



GREENHOUSE BLINDS. 



As the time is now approaching when winter blinds and 

 mats will he put in requisition, the following hint may not 

 come amiss to some of your coiTespondents. 



In "Greenhouses for the Many," page 11, is a description 

 of a roller blind for a greenhouse roof, and the author re- 

 marks, " There is some little accommodation [observation ?] 

 required to learn how best to get the far end of the pole 

 to reach its destination at the same time as the near end," 

 &c. But he does not tell us how to do it, and the natural 

 tendency of the blind to wind up " slantindicular," as Ame- 

 ricans say, is very annoying, besides the risk run of the i^ole 

 smashing the glass unless there are several bearers (see 

 %. I.)- 



Fig. 1. — My fo;m3r Style. 



Having, within the last few days hit upon a very simple 

 mode of overcoming this difficulty, I beg to offer it to your 

 Journal, as it may be of sei-vice to others. I do not think 

 the author of the above could have been aware of it, or he 

 would certainly have mentioned such a simple contrivance. 



The improvement consists merely in fixing on the " far 

 end " of the roller a disk of wood, as shown in the sketch 

 (h- 2, E). 



Fig. 2.— My present Styh 



It will at once be seen that, as the roller blind revolves, 

 any tendency of the pole to get out of the right line is im- 

 mediately checked by the wheel pressing against the- bearer 

 (a), and the pole is forced to ascend properly — Voila tout. 

 " Simple com/me bonjour," as Balzac says. — Lex. 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Broccoli, the weather, up to the present time, having been 

 so favourable to its growth, it is advisable to dig it up, and 

 lay it in trenches in nearly a horizontal position, covering 

 the roots and stem up to the leaves : this has the effect of 

 checking its luxuriant growth, and of protecting the hearts 

 of the plants in severe weather. Cabhagc, eai'th-ui?, if not 

 done, the weather now being favoui'able for that purpose. 

 Carrots, if young ones are wanted very early, seed should 

 now be sown on a slight hotbed. Endive, taie advantage of 

 the present fine weather to tie-up and house a quantity. 

 Radishes, every fine mild day draw off the lights entirely 

 this will give them strength to form bottoms. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



This is a season of the year which may be turned to good 

 account by taking a retrospective glance of the labours of 

 the year that is passing away. To jsrofit by such an exami- 

 nation it ought to be done most faithfully and most strictly. 

 Where you find that anything which would have added to 

 the attractions of this department has been omitted during 

 the past season note it, and resolve that it shall be attempted 

 in due time ; recollect v/hat has been improperly performed, 

 and make up your mind that it shall not be so when another 

 opportunity shall present itself. You may have been prose- 

 cuting a plan which has proved unsuccessful ; consider if it 

 is worth trying again ; if' so, persevere during the ensuing 

 season, and your efforts may be crowned with success. 

 Where the tenderer varieties of Eoses are found to require 

 protection, this should be applied at once, if not already 

 done, otherwise it may soon be too late to save them. The 

 leaves being all thoroughly cleared and removed, the next 

 thing to be thought of is to take advantage of frosty 

 weather (when other operations are temporarily closed) in 

 running the saw, chisel, and knife through the overgrown 

 shrubs, not with the idea of destroying the picturesque 

 character of shrubs and evergreens wliich have reached 

 their full expressions, but in order to protect the more 

 delicate from the tyranny of their stronger neighbours ; to 

 remove dead branches, and to preserve a due right of pas- 

 sage through the plantation walk. The very mild season 

 has ah-eady caused early or shaDow-planted Tulips to show 

 above ground ; it is advisable as soon as obseiwed to put a 

 small quantity of heath or any other light mould over them, 

 to protect them from frost and cutting winds. Tliis may 

 not be applied regularly over the bed, but in small cones 

 over each plant as it shows itself. Carnations and Picotees 

 being now in a luxui-iant state should be carefully examined, 

 the foliage in some situations is apt to get spotted. As 

 soon as this is observed remove the diseased leaf with a 

 pair of sharp-pointed scissors, or the disease will spread 

 through the stock most readily. Examine the axils of the 

 foliage, dust and dirt are apt to lodge therein, this should 

 be carefully removed. Polyanthuses are showing flower, the 

 trusses to be removed as they appear, and the plants in pots 

 to be placed in a northern exposure. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



Some wall trees, as Peai-s, Plums, Cherries, <ic., are often 

 attacked by scale, in which case the infected trees before 

 tliey are nailed should be waslied with water of the tem- 

 perature of 160°. Cfshurst compound applied in the shape 

 of a strong lather has likewise been found to be a cm-e for 

 scale on fruit trees. 



STOVE. 



Here all should be still and quiet. Keep a moderate heat 

 of from 50' to 60°, and give plenty of an-. The Ixoras to be 

 elevated near the glass to set theu- bloom, and to have plenty 

 of ail- at all favom-able times. Keep them comparatively 

 dry. Stephanotis, Allamandas, &c., may be potted and 

 traiued preparatory to staking after Christmas, and the 

 staking of all succulent plants to be proceeded with as fast 

 as possible. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



The weather has been so highly favourable for hardwooded 

 plants that many of them are growing as fr-eely at the 

 present time as if it were September. As this young growth 

 will be found verj' tender, abundance of air must be given 

 to the plants, and great precautions taken to guard against 

 King Frost's stealing unexpectedly a march upon you, as 



