516 



JOTTENAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



[ December 29, 1868. 



and feet !" Just fancy, a mild day, and now a little before 

 ten at night a very sharp frost, the watcibiitts covered with 

 an inch of ice, and the poor foUow tearing about and up 

 half the night to make the conservatory safe, and no thanks, 

 but the reverse, for all his trouble. "The use of his eyes 

 early in the evening might have saved iiini all the night 

 work, allowed him to dream pleasa.ntly of the charming 

 heroine of the novel, and enabled him to have escaped a 

 scolding, which was a mere trifle to the want of conhdence 

 thus engendered. 



These sudden changes involve not only the exercise of 

 attention, but also a considerable amount of extra labour to 

 secure the means of safety. "We have lately had some beau- 

 tifid dry weather, with a barometer too high to expect much 

 frost or snow. On Tuesday morning the glass fell a little, 

 and we had a smart rain, too much for out'door labour, and 

 we had just made preparations for having a vinery washed 

 and cleaned when down came a heavy shower of snow, and 

 shortly aftenvards the glass moved up a little, the sky be- 

 came clear, the sun shoue brightly, and out of the sun the 

 ground was frozen the whole of the af!:ernoon. From the 

 vagaries of the thermometer we had no idea of a continued 

 frost, but still there was a chance of a sharp frost for that 

 night, and, therefore, everything tender v/as protected. We 

 were convinced by the time the sun was set that the frost 

 would not continue, from the yellowish cast of the sky, and 

 later, from a halo round the moon and the veering of the 

 wind to the west — circumstances which, if they had taken 

 place sooner, might have induced us to have used less pro- 

 tection, and more especially as the moon being aboxit the 

 full there was more chance of the au- being clearer in the 

 evening than in the morning. We were not surprised that 

 there was a considerable change in the morning, permitting 

 of everything being uncovered early. But suppose we had 

 covered none, there are many things that with mere glass 

 protection would have given us no more trouble, except 

 moving them to the rubbish-heap. The only benefit we 

 derived from noting the changes w.a3 using only a little 

 fire heat, instead of a strong fire, wiiich might have been 

 given if these changes had not been noted; and being con- 

 vinced more still if that were necessary, tliat for merely 

 keeping out frost from smaD places nothing is so economical 

 as a small stove inside the house. The v.-eather has been 

 first-rate for wheeling, and, therefore, the kitchen g.arden 

 has had a fair dressing of burnt earth, and what manxire 

 and materials could be spared from the rubbish-heap. In 

 dry weather at this season it is better to v.heel then than 

 on mornings which are frosty, as the wheel moves much 

 more easily and gets no incrustation, and even on lawns 

 there is less of marking left. We have noticed that grass 

 wheeled over when very frosty afterw.ards looks as if it had 

 been charred, and the marks remain a long time. 



We have found ovir compost-heap consisting chiefly of the 

 clearings li-om the flower garden, a few tree leaves, and a 

 little horse-litter most useful. They were tlii-own up, well 

 mixed, and the decayed flowers of Calceolarias, Verbenas, 

 &c., gave enough of moisture to cause the whole to heat 

 nicely, and yet to keep bulk well, and tliat without any 

 turning. The whole has been used for making up a bed for 

 a frame in wlueh E.arly Ash-lcaved Potatoes have been 

 planted, also, for another bed for early Carrots ; and a deep 

 earth pit has been filled and planted with Potatoes, as we 

 can lay old sashes across it. The soil emi^loyed is that v.'hich 

 has been used for Melons and Cucumbers, a little slaked 

 lime and leaf mould being added. About 5 inches of soil is 

 idaced on the bed, the started Potatoes placed in rows, and 

 5 or G inches of sod placed over them. Sometimes this is 

 left in ridge form, but, as in the frames, more generally flat, 

 in order that Radishes may bo sown between the rows. In 

 planting, unless the Potatoes have been forwarded in small 

 pots, which is a capital plan to make them tuber eax-ly, it is 

 as well for the shoots of the sets not to be sprung more 

 than 1 inch, as when larger and the roots are freely growing 

 they are apt to receive a check. Planted out also some in 

 pots, two sets in 16-sized pots, about S inches in diameter, 

 and placed them in a pit where a little di-y heat could be 

 given as well as a mild bottom heat. We have had them 

 good at Christmas by this mode, and one advantage of 

 having them in pots is, that they can be moved and placed 

 under a little protection as soon as the tubers are fidl grown. 



Placed, also, a number of sets in -IS-sized pots. When the 

 stems attam some size the pots and part of the stems will be 

 plunged in a slight hotbed or leaf mould. The confinement 

 of the roots causes tubers to form more quickly than where 

 more room is given. We find that aU these things do better 

 after the shortest day has passed than before ; and, there- 

 fore, a week or two at this season is not of so much con- 

 sequence. To have nice new Potatoes at Christmas, the 

 sets of early Potatoes should be kept, well greened in a 

 sunny spot in summer, and planted in the end of Sep- 

 tember. Then the young Potatoes will be good. Those 

 who are fond of young waxy Potatoes may have them easily 

 all the winter with much less trouble. For instance : save 

 a lot of the crop of 1803 over 1S64, pick them of all sprouts 

 in spring, and keei> the tubers as dry and cool as possible 

 over the summer. In September and onwards place these 

 old tubers iu rather dry soil, leaf mould, &.C., in a dry 

 place, put them in layers, covering all over with some 

 G inches of soil, and during the winter, though a single stem 

 never appears, very fau'-sized waxy tubers may be obtained. 

 We have frequently passed them off as early Potatoes, and 

 they have been approved of because they were new Potatoes, 

 though possessing but lew of the best qualities of early Pota- 

 toes grown in a frame or a pit, with the foUage exposed to 

 sun and air in the usual way. 



Sowed Radishes also over the Carrot-box. We know of 

 nothing jnore economical than a two-light early Carrot-bed, 

 the Carrots are so nice, and the Radishes are all gone before 

 the Carrots have grown to any size. The Radishes should 

 not be thick, and if the Carrots are thinned chiefly by 

 pidling the largest for use, there seems to be no end of 

 gathering. Gave plenty of au- in favourable weather to early 

 Radishes, Lettuces, and also to old Lettuces, Endive, &e. 

 Sowed a iew more Kidney Beans, and among ihum a few of 

 the Newington to be cooked whole if it is so desired. Packed- 

 up Artichokes, Celery, and rim a layer of burnt earth and 

 charred rubbish along the sides of Cabbages and autumn- 

 planted Savoys. Placed, also, a little of the same, and some 

 rotten dung over Asparagus for the winter rains to wash 

 through, and proceeded with digging, trenching, &c., as the 

 work could bo done. For Mushrooms, Sea-kale, &c., see last 

 and pre«ous weeks. 



FEUIX GAEDEH-. 



Looked over bunches of Grapes, as one beiTy going will 

 soon give you three or foui', and they will soon make a wreck 

 of the bunch. To prevent damp put a little fire heat on 

 every morning with air, a,nd in mild weather allowed it to go 

 out in the afternoon. Generally leave a little air at back 

 unless when frosty. Prepared for clearing and washing 

 middle vinery on a wot morning, but left it as the weather 

 became fine. Some of the Vines from excessive cropping 

 for many years have become a little weak, and we have 

 idaced lour young Vines by the side of the old ones, after 

 removing earefnlly a portion of the old sod and furnishing 

 with fresh for the young plants. This is a sort of make- 

 shift, but when the old jjlants can be better spared (and the 

 young ones, it not quite to our mind), they can be raised and 

 a fresh border given to them. These Vines are aU planted 

 outside and brought through holes in the front wall, and 

 we cannot help it without changing the whole interior 

 arrangements. Partly from the twist that must thus be 

 given" to the stems, there has been a tendency in the latter 

 to throw out lumps of cellular matter, and that we think 

 has encouraged the nibbUug of mice, and these as weU as 

 the excessive crops liave lessened the usual vigour of the 

 Vines. The pieces of fresh soil wUl also encourage the old 

 Vines, and by rearing some strong Mnes in pots, we wOl 

 make sure of doing all fresh next season if not fully satisfied 

 with the makeshift. We Watered the roots of these Vines, 

 as soon as laid out and covered, with warm vrater. Used 

 soil in a nice, friable, mellow state, and covered the gi'ound 

 with a foot of hot leaves, and a covering to keep dry over 

 all, so that the roots will be a little excited before the tops 

 x'cceive any heat, some six weeks hence. Turned over the 

 btter on the border of a first vinery, placing about 6 inches 

 of leaves, a little warm, next the soil, and the old on the top, 

 making in all about 15 inches. The heat in the border a 

 few inches from the top was about 60", and these few leaves 

 will raise it we think to nearly 70°. At a foot beneath the 



