262 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October 8, 18«7. 



granted, and the case was fixed to be heard next Thursday 

 week. 



[There is no substautial ground for the opinion that a Telar- 

 gonium (commonly called a Geranium), is not a shrub. It is 

 clearly within the deliuition given by all competent authori- 

 ties. Thus Professor Henslow says : — " Shrubs are woody 

 plants, which do not form a trunk like trees but have several 

 stems." 



Although a Pelargonium is a shrub, yet the Magistrates were 

 quite right in deciding that the plant in question was not a 

 shrub within the meaning of the "Malicious Injuries Act." 

 That statute (7 and K Geo. IV., c. 27), was for preventing any in- 

 jury being intentionally done to trees, shrubs, saplings, or 

 underwood, growing in a park, pleasure ground, garden, orcliard, 

 or avenue, or in any ground adjoining or belonging to a dwell- 

 ing house. In fact the provision of the Act was to protect 

 plantations from wilful damage. It has no relation to potted 

 plants. If Alfred Fisher cut off and carried away the branch 

 of the Pelargonium he was guOty of a felony. — Ens.] 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



The growth of weeds, favoured by the late rains, should be 

 forthwith checked, and the quarters should be made to exhibit 

 a neat appearance, for this cannot be so well effected should a 

 period of constantly damp weather set in. Cahbatjrs, prepare 

 a piece of ground for the main crop for next May, June, or 

 July. Let it be thoroughly manured aud trenched, as the 

 plants will have to remain perhaps eighteen mouths on the 

 same spot, for if well managed they will, after cutting, pro- 

 duce a most abundant crop of winter sprouts of the Colewort 

 character. If gi'ound and plants are to spare, we would advise 

 a large quantity of Early York being planted out in well- 

 manured beds or borders, at about (j inches apart. These will ; 

 be "in cut" before the early Cabbages come in, perhaps by 

 the end of March. Ciuilillower<, the plants sown in August ' 

 will be getting gross ; they should be removed forthwith. | 

 Some persons pot them, which we consider an excellent plan ! 

 for the earliest lot. They may be kept thus in a cold frame or 

 pit until the early part of February, when they maybe planted j 

 underhand-glasses. Those for succession crops, if becoming too i 

 strong, may be pulled up and thrown on the ground for half an \ 

 hour to check the fibres, and then pricked out where they are 

 to remain, in poor soil. Lettnci', follow up the pricking-out of i 

 winter sorts, keeping the ground much elevated. Potatoes | 

 greening for sets should be housed when perfectly dry ; after [ 

 the process has been sufficiently effected, and it room enough ! 

 can bo afforded, they should be spread out rather thinly. 

 Turnips, let the latest-sown have a thorough thinning and weed- | 

 ing forthwith. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



Most of the Peaches and Nectarines on walls will have been 

 gathered ; it will strengthen the buds on shoots intended to 

 be trained for fruiting next season if the wood which has borne 

 in the present year be cut out, provided such do not form 

 part of a branch necessary to be retained for the extension of 

 the tree. Continue to gather Apples and Pears, many of which 

 appear not disposed to hang long, although their usual degree 

 of perfection has not been attained. In storing, whenever an 

 extensive surface of fruit is exposed, air must be freely ad- 

 mitted, for at this period of the season exhalations are most 

 abundantly given out, and more especially by the early varieties 

 on their becoming fit for use. These, in fact, ought not to be 

 in the same apartment with the more valuable late-keeping 

 sorts. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Some of the more tender and choice plants in borders and 

 beds, if wanted for store plants, should now be potted and 

 placed in a close house or frame until they are rooted, when 

 they may be removed to their winter quarters. Anemone roots 

 should now be planted in beds and borders. Those that have 

 remained in the ground all summer, and that aro now coming 

 up, should be examined, and if grubs are destroying them care 

 must be taken to clear off the grubs before the roots are destroyed. 

 Plants dying off in borders should be removed, and seeds col- 

 lected on fine days and stored away in wet weather. The time 

 is at hand for alterations and the planting of choice shrubs, 

 and those who are unwilling to think of such matters whilst 

 the present tine weather continues, will have their memory 



refreshed when frost arrives. When extensive alterations are 

 contemplated, more especially in the flower way, it is requisite 

 that all possible observations be made before the flowers lose 

 their character, and the trees and shrubs are stripped of their 

 foliage. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Chrysanthemums intended for the decoration of the conser- 

 vatory should be placed under cover at once aud receive every 

 attention. Regular watering is one of the most important 

 matters, for if they are allowed to become dry, if only for an 

 hour, decay or yellowness immediately takes place in the under 

 leaves. They will from this time enjoy liquid manure con- 

 stantly, provided it is perfectly clear and weak. All suckers 

 should be pulled away as they appear. See to thorough staking 

 here and the extermination of all iusects ; there can be no 

 good gardening where insects are allowed to establish them- 

 selves. Large specimens of the following make a fine figure 

 at this time : — Buddlea Lindleyana. Gesnera hileritia. Salvia 

 patens, Begonia incarnata. Phlox Drummoudi, Ipomijja filici- 

 folia (trellis), Thunbergias, Plumbagos, Justicias, Clerodendrons, 

 &c. In the greenhouse. Stocks and Mignonette sown a few 

 weeks ago may now be transplanted, especially the Stocks. If 

 an early bloom is desired, half a dozen plants may be put in a 

 well-drained five-inch pot. The last shift should now be given 

 to forward Cmerarias intended to bloom this autumn and early 

 in spring ; use most liberal drainage, and put them under 

 cover close to the glass, with a free circulation of air. The 

 Tagetes lucida is a good late flower; although of long standing 

 it is not so generally known as it deserves, aud grown in pots 

 it makes a good display in November, the flowers being of a 

 rich yellow. Look after self-sown annuals, and transfer some 

 choice ones to jjots to decorate the house in March. 



STOVE. 



Forcing must be avoided as much as possible, still the cold 

 nights must not be permitted to affect the temperature, so as 

 to check materially the declining growth ; let winter treatment 

 be brought on as quietly and naturally as you can ; to accomplish 

 this without sensibly affecting the healthy appearance of your 

 plants is a great desideratum, and with care quite within the 

 power of the anxious cultivator. Young stock of Begonias, 

 for winter flowering, may still be shifted. Some of the bulbous 

 I tribes will now begin to start from their dormant state, and 

 ! some will speedily show blossom ; such, when fairly started, if 

 1 pot-bound, may receive a shift, using a compost o[ sandy loam 

 and vegetable matter. K little bottom heat would be of service 

 : alter this operation. Keep the atmospheric temperature mode- 

 rate at this period, encouraging a liberal ventilation. 



I FORCING-PIT. 



! This important, indeed indispensable structure now begins 

 I to claim attention. It may be termed the workshop of deco- 

 j rative horticulture, for it is out of this department that orna- 

 ment and perfume must be obtained. Greenhouses and con- 

 servatories always afford some flowering specimens, even in 

 the middle ol winter ; but aided with this auxiliary, they may 

 be stocked at all times during the winter and spring months 

 with suitable subjects in bloom. Take in an ample supply of 

 all kinds of shrubs fit for this purpose, pot them, aud plunge 

 them in old tan. This will apply more particularly to American 

 plants. All kinds of Dutch bulbs must also be immediately 

 potted and plunged in a convenient situation ready to be re- 

 moved, when wanted, to the forcing pit ; a few of them may at 

 once be excited. Lily of the Valley should be potted for the 

 same purpose, so that an uninterrupted supply of this favourite 

 flower may be had during winter. Mignonette will also be re- 

 quired for early winter-tlowering. This must always be pro- 

 tected from rain and frost, and as the plants advance they 

 should be placed in the forcing-pit to bring them into flower. 



riTS AND rR.AMES. 



Early-struck cuttings should be removed to shelves in green- 

 houses or pits for the winter. If cuttings are now taken from 

 Chrysanthemums showing bloom, put three in a 48-sized pot, 

 and, placed in a nice heat, they will soon root and bloom beauti- 

 fully for decorating the fronts of stages or clumps ; large plants 

 in pots should also be set under glass before the frost destroys 

 them. All cuttings that are now required must have more 

 heat and air to prevent damping off ; but it is to be hoped that 

 all propagation has been attended to by this time, as young 

 stock propagated late is almost sure to damp off in winter. 

 Verbenas and all early-struck cuttings should have air at night 

 ' to keep them hardy ; but the lights must not be suffered to be 



