September S6, 1667. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOUTICDLTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



ui 



of the whole, also allowing standing room for a batch of ex- 

 cellent Strawberry plauts, of which Mr. Becoril prepares up- 

 wards of a thouRaud fur forcing. 



In proximity to the glass himsoa are the rooms for the young 

 men empbiyeil in the giirJen, and, contrary to a too common 

 practice, tbeao were not bailt against tho north nail at the back 

 of hothouBes or a kitchen garden, but stood out openly by 

 themselves, and a peep in at the window showed that 

 internal comfort as well as outward appearance was com- 

 bined ; and the convenient position in which they were placed 

 for giving air and other attendance to tho glass structures, 

 showed a judicious arrangement on the part of the garden 

 architect. 



In the borders skirting the kitchen garden I noticed numbers 

 of plants being prepared for tho spring decoration of tho flower 

 garden. An early-flowering Sileno, Wallflowers in thousands, 

 Myosotis sylvatica, some Violas, several early-flowering shrubs, 

 as Deutzias, Weigelas, (tc , with bulbs of various kinds, I under- 

 stood, formed only a part of these, of which I hope Air. Itecord 

 will favour us with a more detailed account, as spring garden- 

 ing is as yet but in its infancy, and those who practise it differ 

 widely in respect to the materials employed. 



In noticing the terrace garden near the mansion, I omitted 

 to describe a nnraber of standard Laurustinuses in slate boxes 

 with ornamental rims. These standards, of which tho heads i 

 were round and conical, a plant trained in each form being 

 placed alternately, were in boxes set on square dressed stones, | 

 which I was told were placed over pits walled up, and suffi- j 

 ciently large to take in the box up to its rim in winter, when ' 

 the plants wero lowered into the pit and the roots covered with 

 cocoa-nut libre, tho top presenting the same appearance as in 

 summer, with only a shorter stem, while the roots were safo 

 from all injury from frost. I can conlidently recommend this 

 plan to all having such plants to deal with, and the healthy 

 condition of those at Jjilliesden was a proof of its success. 



In concluding my remarks, it is only just to pay a high com- 

 pliment to its spirited proprietor, whose measures in securing 

 himself and family a comfortable abode are not less noteworthy 

 than his spirit in forwarding everything that is calculated to 

 benefit his poorer neighbours. Comfortable and commodious 

 cottages attest his benevolence. The future annals of the 

 county will include the name of Lilliesdeu amongst its mansions 

 deserving that especial notice which a large and handsome 

 dwelling surrounded by twenty or more acres of dressed grounds, | 

 is viflaally entitled to. — J. lloiisos. | 



WORK I'OR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN 0\UDES. 



Broccoli, give every attention to the autumn sorts ; also to 

 autumn and winter Lettuces, as to watering with liciuid manure 

 to make them crisp, and tying in regular succession. CiUti/, let 

 the blanching of this and Endive be proceeded with. Leiliici-, 

 Brown and Hith Cos, as well as Hammersmith Cabbage, for 

 early spring work, should now be pricked out. Oniotu<, store ; 

 also Potatoes and other roots as they become ripe. Spinach, hoe 

 and thin, and dust soot lightly between tho rows in showery 

 weather, ai also among Turnip.^ and similar crops. Tomatoes, 

 cut off all superfluous shoots, and if tho plants are gross, chop 

 away a portion of their roots. 



FltCIT r.ARI)l!N. 



Put the fruit-room in proper order for the reception of its 

 winter stock. Use no straw or hay about tho fruit, as materials 

 of the kind are very liable to spoil tho flavour of tho fruit laid 

 amongst them. Keep the room always cool, dry, and airy in 

 dry weather ; handle the fruit, especially Pears, ns little and as 

 lightly as possible. Remove all decaying fruit as .'^oon as 

 noticed. Protect all fruits from wasps and other enemies. 

 Thin the leaves of early Cherry trees on walls, so as to ripen 

 the wood. Protect ripening Figs with gauze bags ; remove de- 

 caying leaves from Peaches and Nectarines to expose and ripen 

 the wood ; protect the late fruit; gather Pears as they ripen, 

 and lay them in single tiers on the fruit-shelves. Protect 

 Plums from insects, and closely net-up Impcratrice and other 

 keeping varieties. Kxposc Raspberry suckers so as to ripen 

 them thoroughly. Thin a few leaves from Vines to assist in 

 ripening the fruit and wood. 



FLOWER IJARDEN. 



Take up and pot such of the greenhouse and half hardy 

 plants from the borders and beds as miy bo desirable. Pol 

 the layers of Carnations and Picotees. Tie-up and regulate the , 



Dahlias as they bloom, removing all bad and small flowers. 

 Prepare beds for Tulips and other bulbs. The soil should be 

 well worked and exposed to the air, and about a third of the 

 old soil replaced with good fresh loam. Chinese and similar 

 Roses may bu struck from cuttings, also prune-in the straggling 

 boughs. Wtiere annuals have sown themselves on- borders, it 

 is advisable that a great portion of them be carefully retained, 

 they will bloom early and strong in the spring, especially the 

 t^llifornian kinds, and may, moreover, be transplanted in 

 February to desirable situations. Lawns sfaotild now be well 

 attended to, in regard to mowing, rolling, Arc. Heliantbuses. 

 Phloxes, &.:., should once more be examined as regards secure 

 staking before October commences. 



OliKESUOlSK AND C0N8KBVAT0IIY. 



Continue to weed out in the conservatory flowers of a tem- 

 porary character on the eve of decay, and to supply their places 

 with good specimens of other plants. The introduction, how- 

 ever, of some of the hardwooded tribes which have been set 

 out of doors (unless they can be placed in tempor<ry situations 

 for awhile), will till many of these vacancies. Every attention 

 having been paid to autumnal and winter Roses, as recom- 

 mended in former calendars, they will now be found very 

 useful both in tliis and other ornamental structures. They 

 should be at this period thoroughly established in their pots, 

 and all attempts at blossoming having been duly checked for 

 months past, they will now be compact plants, full of vigour, 

 and inclined to blossom. Much of the business pertaining to 

 the conservatory will be found to apply to the mixed green- 

 house. In housing the out-door plants be sure to place the 

 Pelargoniums and forward Cinerarias where they will enjoy 

 both light and air, and near the glass if possible. Hardwooded 

 plants may be allowed to stand further back, except the young 

 stock of Ericas, Epacrisea, and similar choice plants — these well 

 deserve a good situation. The Chinese Primroses will do in 

 partial shade, and in the dampest part of tho house. These 

 things should be well attended to, as doing so will help to econo- 

 mise room, which is a most important affair with those who 

 possess only one house. Evergreens in pots should be procured 

 to take the place of flowering window plants. 



STOVE. 



Keep a vigilant eye over all stove plants at this season, taking 

 care that they are perfectly clean before they are placed in 

 their winter quarters, for no advantage can be obtained from 

 wintering vermin. See that all plants are properly staked and 

 divested of dead leaves. Tjdiness in all gardening operations 

 is a great recommendation ; an ill-grown plant is bad enough, 

 but when insects are added to bad cultivation it becomes in- 

 tolerable. Encourage the different kinds of Begonias for 

 winter-flowering, giving them larger pots it required. Promote 

 also the growth of Achimenes picta and Gesnera zebrina, plants 

 which add much to the beauty of the stove during winter. 

 They are justly considered two very valuable acquisitions for 

 this purpose. Look, also, after Euphorbia fulgens and splen- 

 dens ; they are likewise two first-rate plants either for enliven- 

 ing the stove or bouquet when scarcely anything else can be 

 had. Proceed with the Orchids as detailed in former calendars, 

 dispensing with shading altogether if possible. Hardening 

 growths is henceforth the main business. 



PITS ANn FRAMES. 



Every week at this period will bring the business of housing 

 tender plants, the omission of which will peril the welfare of 

 valuable stock that cannot bo readily replaced, \yhere pits or 

 frames are at liberty, or can be made so, by rooting-up tho re- 

 mains of exhausted Cucumbers, Melons, ttc, there is no ab- 

 solute necessity for stationing every plant or tribe where it is 

 to remain throughout the winter. Protection of this sort for a 

 short period will cont.-ibute more than bouses to the production 

 of sturdy growth and well-ripened wood, possessing a greater 

 tendency to blossom and being more capable of enduring a severe 

 winter. In such places the plants must be secured from the 

 depredations of the earth-worms. This is easily accomplished, 

 especially when the frames are raised above the ordinary 

 ground level, by a good soaking of lime water, foUowed by a 

 good coating of cinder ashes .T inches in thickness. Nearly all 

 house plants may be kept thus, except, of course, stove plants 

 »nd Orchids, until tho early part of November, taking care to 

 mat up at night in suspicious weather, and to give abundance 

 of air in the day. The glasses or lights should, by all means, 

 be washed thoroughly. Such a course as here detailed wUl 

 prevent the hiirrying-off of late annuals, Achimenes, and a 

 variety of other gay subjects, in order to moke way for the real 



