December 19, 1867. 1 



JOUBNAIi OF HORTICDLTOBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



463 



deviating patron and admirer of the study of natural science, a 

 warm advocate of the new studies of the University in that 

 direction, which his care, attention, and zeal, coupled with ex- 

 tensive liberality in the liotanical Gardens, over which he pre- 

 sided 80 long, eminently substantiate. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCnEN GAKDEN. 



It may appear somewhat early to offer advice as to the pre- 

 parations for spring ; but such is the pressure of work soon 

 after Christmas has passed, that no amount of precaution can 

 be considered too great where general gardening has to be 

 carried out according to the high practice of the present day. 

 The first advice I would offer is to let no alterations, planting, 

 or other work, interfere with the routine work of the garden. 

 It is, undoubtedly, proper to plant all that can be planted in 

 the autumn ; but it is equally urgent to carry on the work in 

 the kitchen garden and orchard. When such is delayed until 

 spring there is sure to bo a sacrifice of some importance. All 

 the pruning, except that of Fig and Apricot trees, and most of 

 the nailing of wall trees, as well as the training of espaliers, 

 should be finished if possible by New Year's-day, and the same 

 may be said of bush fruit. The making of borders or stations 

 for fruit trees should be performed in autumn — indeed, where 

 new soil has to be introduced, September or October is the 

 most fitting time, as the best of soils may be seriously in- 

 jured by moving them in a wet state. No time should now be 

 lost, when the weather is unfit for out-door operations, in 

 going on with in-door work. ^Ul matting or bast required for 

 the ensuing year should be cut, sorted, and hung up ready for 

 use. Besoms and baskets should also be prepared. The tool- 

 house should be examined and put in order, and, in fact, every- 

 thing of this kind that it is possible to do should be done. 

 The Mushroom-house, when sufficiently roomy, is one of the 

 most useful of garden structures. Seakale may be forced 

 here in constant succession, with as little trouble as raising a 

 crop of small salads. The old plan of raising a bed of fer- 

 menting materials over the crowns out of doors, is much more 

 uncertain and troublesome. Ehubarb can also be forced with- 

 out difficulty in the Mushroom-house. Nothing is wanted but 

 a long narrow pit along the bottom of the house on one or 

 both sides, the top of the pit being level with the floor. It 

 should be 4 feet deep, and filled in portions, as wanted, with 

 any hot, fermenting material to within half a yard of the top, 

 which should be covered with a lid. The Sea-kale or Rhu- 

 barb should be placed on the fermenting matters as thickly as 

 it can stand, and then fill in lightly with fine old tan. If 

 this become too hot, say exceeding 83°, reduce the heat fre- 

 quently with water, putting a handful of salt in about six 

 gallons. Chicory roots may be placed in a circle round roomy 

 pots, and set on the flues of this house. The Lily of the 

 Valley, too, may be plunged overhead in a fermenting mate- 

 rial with a temperature of 70° until the blossom-spikes appear, 

 when it must be inured to the light, but in a most gradual and 

 cautious way. Early-potted Hyacinths and Narcissus may be 

 served precisely the same as the Lilies, taking care not to with- 

 draw them until the pots arc nearly full of roots. 



FRUIT OARDEN. 



Examine old fruit trees in order that such as are either un- 

 productive, or bear fruit of indifferent or bad quality, may 

 now be -cut back preparatory to their being grafted with better 

 varieties in spring. Deferring to cut large limbs of fruit trees 

 till the sap is flowing is always injurious. The portions left 

 die back much farther from the sections than will be the case 

 if the operation is performed before winter, and canker is also 

 apt to ensue, so that the grafts are left with an unsound foot- 

 ing. In heading back large trees, imagine one or two branches, 

 the result of grafting, to proceed from each stump, and then 

 cut the limbs so that the new branches may not originate too 

 near each other. In some cases hedges form the outer fence 

 of gardens. Quick, more especially, should now bo trimmed ; 

 dead wood and unhealthy shoots liable to be halt killed by in- 

 sects in the summer are the consequences of cutting these 

 hedges late in the spring, and nakedness at the bottom is occa- 

 sioned by allowing the top to overhang. The sides of a hedge 

 should slope regularly, like those of a pyramid ; the top can- 

 not be too sharp. If so managed the barbarous mode of 

 plashing will be rendered unnecessary. 



FLOWER QABDEX. 



In this very changeable weather walks requiring turning, or 



a coating of fresh gravel in the spring, might now have the 

 sides or edges adjusted ; gravel might also be had in readiness 

 for use when wanted. Plants that have been protected during 

 the frost should again be exposed if the weather continues 

 mild. Bipe fruit or seeds of shrubs should be collected. Cones 

 of Cedars, Pinuses, &c., may also now be gathered. Boll walks 

 that have been loosened by the late frosts, and protect shrubs 

 from hares and rabbits. After frost examine Polyanthus and 

 Pink-beds, removing all weeds as soon as they appear. Now 

 is a good time to collect leaves, which form invaluable compost. 

 Attend to newly-formed Pansy-beds ; if the worms are trouble- 

 some pour a little lime water down their holes ; this will speedily 

 relieve you of their presence. Eemove Polyanthus blooms, 

 and caiefuUy observe, during a shower, whether any pots are 

 exposed to drip ; it is equally injurious to the Carnation and 

 Picotee in frames as to the Auricula. 



GREESIIOnSE AND CONSEKVATORY. 



The introduction of the Chinese Chrysanthemums having 

 necessarily caused a disarrangemefat of part of the stock, it 

 becomes a matter of importance at this time to re-arrange it, 

 so that groups or tribes may occupy situations according to 

 their habits. Placing plants for effect should, if possible, be 

 subordinate to this point in some degree, for what is the nse 

 of placing plants where they will not thrive ? The Chrysan 

 thcmums decaying should be cut down, suffered to become 

 somewhat dry, and removed to cold frames. Those who can- 

 not afford frame room may secure them in some shed or out- 

 house for a few weeks, covering them overhead with clean straw 

 whilst the frost lasts. If they are slightly frozen here it will 

 not signify, only take care that they do not thaw too suddenly. 

 All plants should be carefully gone over, removing the dead 

 leaves and tying-in straggling branches. The surface soil 

 ought to be stirred a little, and some fresh mould added. 

 These little points when attended to give a tidiness of appear- 

 ance, and contribute to the enjoyment of such places during 

 the dreary season of winter. Be careful not to be caught by 

 frost. Keep out as much of it as possible by mats or other 

 coverings, and have recourse to fires only when positive danger 

 is to be apprehended. 



STOVE. 



The decoration of this house will depend in a great measure 

 upon Begonias, Euphorbias, and Lucuha gratissima, although 

 the latter will bloom in a colder house. These should be care- 

 fully tied up and placed in the most conspicuous situation. It 

 is always a good plan, where accommodation can be afforded, 

 to keep some of them in a colder house, so as to prolong their 

 season of blooming. Continue to keep up the temperature by 

 artificial heat to 00°. Beware of exciting the buds of Orchids 

 before their time, and keep a somewhat drier atmosphere until 

 the middle of January. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



Keep Roses in pots moderately dry until they are started for 

 forcing. Every fine day the lights should be taken off Ver- 

 benas, Petunias, Calceolarias, and Pelargoniums, and stop 

 such as are growing freely, or appear to be drawing. — W. Kkane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 

 Ice-i-oUecti7'(i. — As expected last week, the frost continued 

 for several days, and afforded an opportunity for collecting ice, 

 though we did not begin on the Monday, as we ought to have 

 done, and what we had on the Wednesday did not much please 

 us, as it was impossible to procure it free from mud— a matter of 

 importance as regards the future keeping, and also the appear- 

 ance and sweetness of the ice, when taken out for use in cellar 

 or larder. For cooling wine and for freezing liquid mixtures, the 

 quality of the ice is of less importance, but ice cannot be taken 

 from too clean water, and free from every taint, when it is to 

 be used merely for keeping things cool that are set upon it, but 

 which are exposed to the same atmosphere as surrounds the 

 ice. We have several times, when hard driven, been forced to 

 take ice from very questionable places, where the water was 

 such that we would have been very thirsty indeed before we 

 would have partaken of it, and ice from such water, when it 

 had been shut np in a box near the kitchen, and begun to melt 

 again a twelvemonth after it was collected, would be as tainted 

 as the day on which it began to freeze. It is of importance, 

 then, that ice should be obtained from the clear water of a pond 

 or lake, and more especially when it is used for so many delicate 

 purposes in cookery and confectionary. A lump of clear Wen- 



