KoTemboT 7, ISBT. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUUE AND COTTAGE GABDENEIJ. 



353 



be potted or covered with dry Band. Neapolitan Violets should 

 be thoroughly cleaned from weeds, runners, and dead leaves, 

 and have a concideruble quantity of dry Band strewed amongst 

 them. Tliis will prevent the ravages of the aliiga ; if out of 

 doors, tlio priitectiou of hoops and mats must bo afforded, 

 riant out Hollyhocks and other bionniuls. 



oiiKKNiiousr; anh consluvmohy. 

 The importance of light is universally admitted, and at this 

 time of the year it is of the utmost moment so to arrange 

 the stock in houses as to secure a duo proportion to each of the 

 tribes, rememluring especially those from brighter climes. All 

 retarded autumn flowers should have as light a situation as 

 possible near the glass, and not far from gentle ventilotion. 

 Such plants as the following well deserve much attention at 

 this period — Euphorbia jnofjuinia llora, Eranthemum pul- 

 chellnm, (leissomeria longitlora, the Heliotrope, Aphelandra 

 cristata, Gesnera zebrina and bulbosa, Scarlet Pelargoniums, 

 Centradenia rosea, Linum trigynum. Mignonette, Salvias, 

 Calceolarias, Cyclamens, Cinerarias, Verbenas, Sec. These, if 

 attended to as previously directed, will be gay for weeks, and 

 with Chrysonthemums, Roses, and Camellias, will prevent any 

 deficiency of flowers occurring between the autumn flowering 

 plants and tlioso of the spring forcing. Above all let every 

 glass sash be thoroughly washed immediately, both those of 

 the houses and those of the frames or pits. \ well-managed 

 conservatory should now look gay. The dark and glossy leaves 

 of healthy Camellias, and their lively-coloured flowers, will 

 offer a charming contrast ; and these, with delightfully perhimed 

 and gaily-tinted Bourbon, Hybrid China, and Perpetual Koses, 

 will, in addition to Chinese Chrysanthemums, produce a most 

 gorgeous effect. Jfaintain a mild and genial atmosphere, with 

 a temperature of from 50° to G0° by day, sinking to iH' at night. 

 Let the floors or some portions of the house receive a sprink- 

 ling in the afternoon, provided a little back air can be given 

 to prevent drip. Look regularly over the plants, remove all 

 decayed and decaying leaves, and keep everything sweet and 

 clean. Watering must be performed with care, particularly 

 in the case of large specimens ; they should have no more 

 moisture from the watering-pot than is sufficient to keep them 

 from flagging. No artificial heat need be applied until danger 

 from frost is actually apprehended, but take care that the 

 heating apparatus is in such order that it can be instantly 

 nsed, as the necessity for it may be nightly expected. 



UTOVE. 



In order that this department may look as little like winter as 

 possible, some previous attention to that class of plants which 

 blooms naturally at this season, will have been necessary. Ges- 

 nera zebrina, Achimenes picta, and the numerous Begonias, 

 constitute a portion of these. Before we introduce plants 

 forced out of their natural season, we should avail ourselves of 

 those which bloom in the regular course of nature, without 

 artificial inducement or stimulus. Lot such of the Orchids as 

 have completed a good summer's growth, and which are some- 

 what inclined to be deciduous, sink gradually into repose. 

 Those evergreen kinds, such as some of the Dendrobiums, the 

 AiJrides, Saccolabiums, and Vandas, on blocks, or in baskets, 

 should be lowered a little from the roof, if too near, in order 

 to escape the vicissitudes of temperature to which that situa- 

 tion would expose them in winter. 



FORCING-PIT. 



Keep np the supply of all kinds of bulbs, and the usual 

 shrubs and other plants required for winter decoration. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



Let all stock here be plunged in fresh sawdust or coal ashes, 

 and be kept near the glass. Cover up with mats at night any- 

 thing tender, and with this covering a little air may be left at a 

 light or two to harden the stock, by allowing the vapour to 

 pass away. Let all Strawberry plants in pots for forcing have 

 proper protection immediately. Many of the failures occur 

 through injured roots, unplunged they are in a most defence- 

 less state. They are best plunged in cold frames, but as every 

 one cannot command such, the next best plan is to plunge them 

 in beds of ashes elevated quite above the ground level, and 

 cover during frost with long and clean litter, giving the same 

 attention as to a crop of early Eadishes. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST ^TEF.K. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Swept all the walks to free them from fallen leaves, which 

 gave a rubbishy appearance, and having passed the roller over 



the most conspicuous, leaves are lees inclined to lie upon them, 

 After the high wind of October 27th, we had scarcely a leaf on 

 the pleasure ground, where the grass was short and the lawn 

 firm, and we were glad that some were left in those places where 

 the grass was longer, and even not cleared off where it had 

 been mown. The chief work has been taking up the remainder 

 of the Carrots, securing Endive, Ijettuce, <tc., earthing-up 

 Celery, and keeping fresh plantations of Cabbages free from all 

 the enemies that are apt to attack them. We shall as soon as 

 possible clear the stems and old leaves from Asparagus, Sea- 

 kale, and llhubarb, and make preparations for forcing these 

 requisites. When the ground which the plants occupy can be 

 trenched early, the roots may bo carefully taken up now, and 

 set thickly among soil or leaf mould, and covered with litter ; 

 they will be fit for use when wanted, and will be convenient 

 in severe frost. Banked up Cucumbers in frames, and had 

 litter and grass in readines.s to cover up a little all tender sub- 

 jects in cold frames when frost is expected. As soon as possible 

 will have a piece of Cauliflowers under protection, and as we 

 house bedding plants we shall have more room for the ueefal 

 vegetables that like a little shelter from wet and frost. 



FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 



See what was said lately on planting fruit trees. A little 

 care exercised now will have a great effect on their future well- 

 doing. Examined stored fruit, and removed all fhowing signB 

 ' of decay. Apples are tffering to keep well, but Marie Louise 

 Pears have kept badly with us. some fine specimens rotting 

 I even before they had acquired their full flavour. This might 

 , be partly owing to the damp autumn, but then the damp has 

 not affected other sorts in anything the same way, and as yet 

 the Apples look as it they would keep well. 



During a wet day or two thoroughly cleaned a vinerv, as we 

 did the Peach-house, and then filled it with flowering and bed- 

 ding plants. From the want of houses suitable for such a 

 purpose, the moving of the plants from turf pits, Arc, gives 

 an opportunity for cleaning them, and the task of moving, 

 though laborious, saves the work of covering to protect from 

 frost and damp. As recently stated, we have cleared and washed 

 our Fig trees in a low pit, and have nearly filled that in a 

 similar manner, as we find when we have Figs in November, 

 the first crop in the following summer is more or less injured. 

 We have had the last of our Figs from the open wall, and had 

 wo time we would now cut off all the young fruit, larger than a 

 small bean. We are still gathering good Figs from pot trees in 

 the orchard-house, in which there is an iron stove, and we think 

 of taking some small pots covered with fruit, nearly fully 

 swelled, into a place where they will have more heat and light. 

 White Marseilles Figs hav« as yet been very good, helped, no 

 doubt, by a few sunny days. Late kinds of Grapes, as Cala- 

 brian Baisin, are also ripening. We would reshift some of 

 these orchard trees in pots, and fresh top-dress others, if we 

 could find time. Meanwhile we have moved all the pots to 

 break any roots that might have gone through the holes in the 

 pots, a vorsimple and effectual mode of root pruning. 



We believe that amateurs with time at their disposal may 

 do much and derive a vast amount of pleasure from fruit trees 

 in pots. Our great objection to them is the time taken up in 

 watering, and the onl3' way to lessen that is to mulch several 

 times during the summer. The roots are thus nourished, and 

 the surface soil is prevented from evaporating the moisture too 

 rapidly. A dusting of guano, such as one can manage to hold 

 between the thumb and finger, a double quantity of superphoe- 

 phato of lime, and a triple quantity of good soot dusted over the 

 mulching of rotten dung on every 12-inch pot will be gratefully 

 received, and will be washed down with the waterings. One 

 thing struck us very much — first noticed, we believe, by Mr. 

 Rivers, and that was the quickness with which a mulching of 

 2 or 3 inches disappeared, as if the roots and the watering 

 together had eaten it all up. Hence the necessity for mnlching 

 several times, if labour with the water-pail is to be at all reason- 

 able in dry weather in summer. Those amateurs who grow 

 line specimens of Pelargoniums and Fuchsias in rather tmall 

 pots, and who are obliged to give them strong waters, and that 

 watering in bright weather several times diuing the day, would 

 not be annoyed if forced to water their pet fruit trees in pots 

 with equal frequency ; but in a general garden where there is 

 much to be attended to, and every half hour has to be made 

 the most of, frequent watering becomes a serious consideration. 

 The system will, however, have charms for the inquiring and 

 the enthusiastic, as every plant is so easily examined, and the 

 varied treatment given is perceptible in its effects. The wood 

 seems all firm and in good condition. We would have put some 



