July 11, 1867. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAIIDENER. 



M 



at 4 inches apart in sandy loam and leaf mould, and when 

 tolerably well established were transferred singly to six- inch pots. 

 Altogether our plants were neither so strong nor so well ripened 

 in the end of autumn as usual, and yet we question if ever 

 they did better, as scarcely a plant missed fruitinp;, which led 

 ns several times to think that we may bo over-particular as 

 regards the strength of plants. Wo have turned out many of 

 these forced plants, and have more still to plant. We wish we 

 could have done so earlier, but the ground was not at liberty 

 — one of the disadvantages of a small garden, which can hsrdly 

 ever have a day's rest in any part. Wo regret the not having 

 more planted out, as several rows planted early are now bloom- 

 ing and setting well, and from them at least we shall obtain a 

 good crop after the general crop is over. 



We will just state how the ground was treated for the Straw- 

 berries referred to. It had carried a very heavy crop of Broccoli 

 and Winter Greens and with abundance of side shoots until 

 late in the season. The ground was thus mnch impoverished, 

 ■we could not obtain manure, but for some time we had 

 wheeled into heaps on the ground the short grass from the 

 lawn, and it fermented rather strongly. As soon as the Greens 

 were all cleared off, or rather pulled up and left a few days, 

 they and a good layer of the hot grass were placed in the 

 bottom of a trench as the ground was trenched over, and then 

 a small dressing of rotten tree leaves was placed on the surface 

 to be wrought in with the plants from pots, and to serve as a 

 slight mulching, and we feel sure that we shall have fine 

 gatherings from the plants next season, and a fair one in the 

 following season. We have several times proved that the short 

 grass thus fermented first is a valuable manure when placed 

 far enough from the surface to become mild and sweet before 

 the roots reach it. It also becomes a valuable component in a 

 rubbish-heap when frequently covered over with earth, for then 

 two objects are gained by one operation — the virtues of the 

 grass are stored up in the heap, and the air is not polluted 

 with its noxious exhalations when undergoing rapid decom- 

 position. 



The woik as regards fruit trees has been much the same as in 

 previous weeks. The weather has thrown us behind in the matter 

 of foreshortening, and much trouble has been taken in keeping 

 birds from Cherries, Raspberries, &o. Against our will we have 

 thinned the sparrows reasonably, but nothiug will entice the 

 blackbirds; still the rain has given us relief, as now they can 

 obtain soft food, without resorting so much to Strawberries and 

 Cherries. They will also come long distances. The other day 

 we watched a bird with seemingly a bunch of three Cherries in 

 his bill, flying fully half a mile, and then he seemed on the 

 wing, no doubt to his bower of love, where the young would be 

 expecting his visit. The birds will obtain their share, even it 

 netting is freely resorted to. All gardens with woods and shrub- 

 beries round them will have a fair allowance of these visitors 

 if netting be not resorted to. We had a few beautiful pyramid 

 Cherry trees, and before we could throw a net over them the 

 blackbirds were carrying off the fruit wholesale, even before 

 they were coloured. The men set up a gaudily dressed guy 

 near the trees, with a bunch of flowers in his breast, and that 

 stayed their ravages until we could net them. Anything striking. 

 even long streamers of white paper, will keep them away until 

 they become used to it, and, therefore, when such means are 

 all that can be resorted to, the deterrent, whatever it is, should 

 be frequently changed. 



Watered the inside of vineries. Peach-house, and orchard- 

 houses, with manure water from the farm dunghill, as it is yet 

 pretty good, before all the manure is carried for Turnips, &c, 

 Wo rather regretted that some of the trees in the Peach- house 

 were thinner of fruit than usunl, but wo now wish we had 

 thinned all the others as much, as the fruit on the thinnest 

 trees have been magnificent. We must have another raid on 

 the fruit in the orchard-houses befoie they are too far ad- 

 yanced. On one tree in the Peach-house the fruit would 

 average from 12 to 15 inches apart, but the weight would be 

 more than where they were 6 to 8 inches apart. .Ml our trees 

 in pots in the orchard-houses had a good mulching of de- 

 cayed Mushroom-dung over the pots, and that has saved much 

 watering. We would have preferred fresh horse-droppings 

 thrown into a heap to heat for a few days ; but then even this 

 heating will not destroy the vitality of all the Oats in the 

 droppings, and the growing of the Oats causes loss of lime in 

 pulling theiu up, whilst guarding against making labour, even 

 in this little matter, is to be considered. We made up the de- 

 ficiency in fertilising properties in the material used, by giving 

 a pinch of superphosphate or of soot to each pot, to be carried 



down with the waterings. As some correspondents wish to 

 know the safest of artificial manures, we would recommend th« 

 superphosphate of lime in the shape of ground or dissolved 

 bones, as in a 12 inch pot as much may be placed at a time 

 as can be taken between the thumb and two fingers, and if 

 double or treble of that amount is given little harm, or none 

 rather, will ensue, and this cannot be said of guano and some 

 other artificial manures. 



ORNAMENTAL UEPAIITMEST. 



The rain came most seasonably to enable us to cut some 

 grass and banks of grass a little long and rough, but which we 

 were afraid to touch in the parching weather lest we shonld 

 leave a brown track instead of a lovely green one behind us. 

 The lawns, delightfully green, will now run little risk of burn- 

 ing and browning for the season. 



We have commenced what will be rather a tedious affair — 

 taking up Plantahus from (iir/ fresh Uid last season. We ob- 

 taiued the turf from the sides of the highway, and nothing 

 could have looked better last season, as what few Plantains 

 showed themselves were taken out as the turf was laid. The 

 advantage of roadside turf is, that the grass will be fine at 

 once, and will also look well at once ; but the disadvantage is 

 that it is almost sure to be well supplied with the seeds of 

 the larger Plantain, and which are sure to thrive amazingly 

 when taken to new quarters. Nothing is more destructive of 

 the beauty of a lawn. They will throw up their seed-stalks a 

 few days after mowing, and render the use of the Daisy-knife 

 almost constantly necessary. If let alone for a season or two 

 they will almost occupy as much space as a small Cabbage, and 

 they will so squat down in the soil as to look on the lawn like 

 so many birds' nests below the general level. There is no way 

 of thoroughly extirpating them except spudding them out. 

 We have had them cut over a little below the surface, and ii6 

 long we had a mass of plants instead of one. We have done 

 the same, and put a pinch of salt in the hole, but that is by no 

 means effectual ; for, though the salt injures the top of the root 

 left, if it does not kill it, the root will send up shoots from a 

 good way beneath the surface, and the labour must be re- 

 peated. A hght spud with a handle, and a tread for the foot, and 

 from three-quarters to an inch in width at the point, is a good 

 tool for the purpose ; and the more effectually the work is done 

 the cheaper it will be, though it takes much time at first. We 

 have taken up large plants with 12 or 1,5 inches of straight 

 root, and the cutting or breaking of that root some 4 or G inches 

 from the surface would be only a very temporary benefit, re- 

 sulting in several strong heads the next season. Even with 

 I small plants, though some will only have 2 or 3 inches of root, 

 ! yet many will have a straight juicy root from 4 to 8 inches long. 

 The thorough eiBcacy of the work depends on the taking even 

 j the small point up unbroken. All other modes of taking up 

 I will only be temporary palliatives. Half an acre of smooth 

 clean lawn, free from weeds, will yield more satisfaction than a 

 5 dozen of acres crammed with Plantains, &c. Patience, perse- 

 verance, and activity must be brought into exercise, or the 

 Plantain will gain the mastery. 



Fresh-arranged plants, removing Pelargoniums, out of bloom, 

 and filled with Fuchsias, &c. Potted Pelargoniums, Gesneras, 

 Caladiums, Feathered Cockscombs, Begonias, &c., for future 

 supply, and prepared positions for striking Pinks, Carnations, 

 and double Wallflowers. — B. F. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKKT.— July 10. 



There are very few alterations to quote in tliis market, the present 

 favourable weather affording U8 ample supplies l)oth homegrown and 

 foreign. The latter comprise Melons, Peaches, Apricots, Nectarines, and 

 several varieties of Plums. Potatoes are coming in sound and good at 

 present. 



FBUIT. 



a. d. B. d r a. d. s. it 



Apples Jsleve S 0to4 | Melons each 3 0to5 



Apricots doz S 4 Kectarines doz. 6 10 



Cherries lb. 6 16 Oranges 100 8 14 



Chestnuts bush. Peaches doz. 8 15 



Currants j sieve 3 4 Pears (dessert) ..doz. 3 4 



Black do. 4 5 Pine Apples lb. 4 6 



Figs doz. 3 6 Plllms } sieve 



Filberts lb. ' Qninces doz. 



Ceba lb. 9 1 6 Uaspberri»s lb. 6 8 



Gooseberries . . quart 4 6 l Strawberries lb. 6 1 6 



Grapes, Hothouse.. lb. 2 6 6 I Walnuts bush. 10 80 



Lemons 100 8 12 j Green per lOO 16 2 



