872 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTDRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ November 14, 1867' 



In all levelling and turfing of any extent it is best in every way 

 to settle at first on the levels, sweeps, and slopes, placing pins, 

 stakes, or other standing marks at the right height, and give 

 the workmen a tight line between to regulate their work. All 

 fresh work should also, if holes or deep gullies are to be filled 

 up, be well rammed in thin layers before turfing, or the want 

 of this care will show itself more and more every year. Even 

 this care wiU not always be effectual. We turfed over a long 

 border two years ago, and as it was particularly important that 

 a right level should be kept to sweep with the neighbouring 

 ground, we were told that we were over-particular in this ram- 

 ming ; but with all our care, though no fault would be noticed 

 by a stranger, we, whose duty it is to see and look for such 

 faults, can already perceive some irregularities, and to make 

 the surface as it ought to be the whole of the turf should be 

 taken oil in a year or two, the slight inequalities levelled, and 

 the turf put down again. This, from the little that would 

 be wanted in the way of earth and levelling, would involve 

 scarcely any labour beyond taking up the turf and laying it 

 down again. 



Forciiifi Shrubs, Ruses, dc. — For early work this should be 

 done very gradually, and a sweet gentle bottom heat greatly 

 assists. We have had inquiries, much the same as in the case 

 of orchard-houses, as to forcing shrubs and Roses taken up at 

 once from the soil ; and to them we would reply, that to force 

 at once, the plants must be established in the pots. To bloom 

 in spring Roses, Lilacs, and Rhododendrons may be potted now, 

 but the first two at least will do best if they are treated as re- 

 commended for orchard-house trees, so that fresh roots shall 

 be established in the pots before the jjlants are placed in heat 

 to expand their buds. 



Cenlaurca candicUssijiia. — As an illustration of what may be 

 done with a little bottom heat in general, and with this white- 

 leaved plant in particular, we will mention how we have treated 

 it for the benefit of those who find a dilficalty in securing a 

 sufficient quantity. Three years ago we had more than we 

 knew what to do with, and from a small beginning. These 

 plants were for the most part struck from cuttings in July, and 

 allowed a long time to root in a cold pit. That time is late 

 enough for summer cuttings. They ought to be in before the 

 middle of August. Slips strike readily in spring, and these 

 slips come freely when you nip out the terminal bud of a shoot. 

 We delayed taking cuttings that year, not wishing to interfere 

 with the symmetry of our lines, and then we took up the plants, 

 shortened the tops, and potted them as described two years ago. 

 They did not succeed at all according to our expectations, and 

 we attributed the comparative failure to the plants standing 

 about for a week or two before we could pot them, and then 

 having very little heat after potting. We have not had any 

 very abundant supply since, as, if you have no strong plants to 

 go to, you may look in vain for hundreds of nice stubby cuttings 

 to place in heat in the spring. We could not obtain so many 

 cuttings early this season as we wanted ; and therefore to make 

 sure, as mentioned about three weeks ago, we took up a good 

 number of our plants — fine plants too, and which will he 

 bristling all over with good shoots before the spring; and as 

 each plant if possible looks fresher and better than its neigh- 

 bour, we will detail the treatment. We are convinced that by 

 pursuing this mode of management we may trouble ourselves 

 little with summer propagation, and more especially because 

 the smallest rooted plant in April will be large enough for 

 general purposes in summer. 



A few of the largest leaves were disfigured and showing 

 signs of damping ; these alone were removed from the plants, 

 and thus almost the whole of the leaves were left untouched. 

 The plants were then carefully lifted with a fork, and to most 

 of them a little ball adhered. They were then taken carefully 

 to the potting-bench, preserving their leaves entire, and trans- 

 ferred singly to pots 5, 6, or 7 inches in diameter, according 

 to the size of the plants and ball. These were well watered — 

 the soil, we mean, without watering the leaves ; and when the 

 pots had stood to drain, they were moved and plunged for 

 three-fourths of their depth into such a bed as described last 

 week. The sashes were put on, but a little air was left on top 

 and bottom night and day, that the tops might be cool whilst 

 the roots were encouraged. In one or two bright days they 

 were very slightly shaded for two or three hours, but they bore 

 all the other sun without flinching. In ten days after potting 

 the soil seemed very dry, and yet the tops were looking brisk 

 and lively ; and before watering we turned out a number of 

 potSj and in every case the fine, large, healthy roots were tra- 

 versing the outside of the balls, and before this is printed the 



soil will be one network of roots. We have lifted the plants on 

 the surface of the bed to harden the roots, and henceforth the 

 plants will be safe for the winter, where they can be kept airy, 

 rather dry, and free from frost. The bottom heat will then be 

 available for other fresh-potted plants. 



As another peculiarity of this Centaurea, we may mention 

 that the roots are very brittle. When propagating in heat in 

 spring, the roots are apt to be broken when a number of cut- 

 tings are rooted in one pot or pan. Where room, therefore, 

 is not an object, it will generally be preferable to put every 

 cutting singly in a very small pot, and then transfer it to a 

 larger small one when struck, and no mutilation of the roots 

 will then take place. — R. F. 



CO\'ENT GARDEN MARKET.— November 13. 



Ocn supplies are scarcely so plentiful as they have hitherto been, and 

 prices remain about the same. Pears consist of Mario Louise, Chau- 

 montel, Beurre Diel, and Van Mens Leon Leclerc. Apples of Ribston 

 Pippin, Cox's Orange Pippin, Court of Wick, Golden Pippin, and others. 

 Good Potatoes are in fair request ; in those of inferior quality tho trade 

 is very dull. 



FRUIT. 



Apples i sieve 



Apricots doz 



Cherries lb. 



Chestnuts bush. 



Currants ^ sieve 



Black do. 



Fi!?3 doz. 



Filberts lb. 



Cobs lb. 



Gooseberries .. quart 

 Grapes, Hothouse.. lb. 

 Lemons 100 



Artichokes doz. 



Asparagus .... bundle 

 Beans, Kidney, i sieve 



ScarletRun.i sieve 



Beet, Red doz. 



Broccoli bundle 



Brus. Sprouts ^ sieve 



Cabbage doz. 



Capsicums 100 



Carrots bunch 



Cauliflower doz. 



Celery bundle 



Cucumbers each 



pickling .... doz. 



Endive doz. 



Fennel bunch 



Garlic lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish . . bundle 



Melons each 



Nectarines doz. 



Oranges 100 



Peaches doz. 



Pears (dessert) ..doz. 



Pine Apples lb. 



Plums i sieve 



Quinces doz. 



Raspberrif'S lb. 



Strawberries lb. 



Walnuts bush. 10 



do per 100 



Leeks bunch 



Lettuce.... per score 

 Mushrooms .... pottle 

 Mustd.& Cress, punnet 

 Onions.... per bushel 



Parsley per sieve 



Parsnips doz. 



Peas per quart 



Potatoes bushel 



Kidney do. 



Radishes doz. bunches 



Rhubarb bundle 



Savoys doz. 



Sea-kale basket 



Shallots lb. 



Spinach bushel 



Tomatoes. . . . per doz. 



Turnips bunch 



Vegetable Marrow8,dz. 



TRADE CATALOGUE RECEIVED. 



Messrs. F. & A. Dickson & Sons, 106, Eastgate Street, and 

 Upton Nurseries, Chester. — Catalogue of i'orest Trees, Hardy 

 Ornamental Trees, Plants, d-c. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



•»» We request that no one will write privately to the depart- 

 mental writers of the "Journal of Horticultiu-e, Cottage 

 Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they 

 are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All 

 communications should therefore be addressed solely to 

 The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, d-c, 171, Fleet 

 ^Street, London, B.C. 

 N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next 

 week. 

 Books (CJcnciis).— Thompson's " Gnrdener's Assistant." It is pnblisfaed 

 by Blaokio & Son. (A Younn Gardener).— It is published in two volumes, 

 price, Vol. I., £'2 10s. ; Vol. 11 , £1 17«. 6ti., and cannot now bo obtained 

 in montbly parts. Possibly you might pick up a copy at tho bookstalls. 



Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat Grape (S. E. H.).— It does not require 

 BO much heat as the Muscats, but may be grown in an ordinary vinery. 



Stocks for Grafting (G. .V.).— Wo do not knowwhore you can obtain 

 these in quantities. You had better advertise, stating what you require. 

 HiBisccs escdlentds (B. L. T.).— It is a tender annual, and is popu- 

 larly called "Eatable Okro." The young pods are put into soups, or 

 made into a pickle. They are fall of mucilage, and with the addition of 

 butter and spice form a very rich dish. The seeds are boiled like pearl 

 b.arley. 



Seedling Apple (O. J. A.).—Sejii ripe specimens to the Fruit Com- 

 mittee, Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington. The Pomolo- 

 gical Society died years ago. 



