12 



JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ January 1, 1867. 



PITS ANn FRAMES. 



Plants of a succulent character will require much attention 

 during damp, rainy weather. Geraniums, Calceolarias, &c., 

 are very liable to become mouldy. Eemove all leaves so 

 atJected as soon as they are discovered, or the evil will spread. 

 — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST "WEEK. 



The general worli has been very much the same as in pre- 

 vious weeks. Some time was taken up in preparing, by orna- 

 menting for Christmas festivities, which we hope will never 

 become so old-fashioned as to lose their force and influence 

 upon all ranks and ages of the community. Keenly enjoyed 

 as Christmas gatherings are by the young, we question very 

 much if they are not e%"eu more henelicial to those getting 

 up in j-ears, as in their case especially it is well that the heart 

 should be kept young even whilst the body is feeling the effects 

 of age. 



In ornamenting a room with evergreens, there is generally a 

 great objection to anything in the shape of a nail in the wall ; 

 but much may be done by having poles covered, a flat piece of 

 board fastened to the top, and that covered with layers of 

 cloth to go against the wall, and then these poles may be con- 

 nected together with strings of leaves ; and the running line 

 obtained, all sorts of festoons and wreaths may be added at 

 pleasure. For this purpose the twigs of Laurel, Laurustinus, 

 Holly, etc., should not be too large, so that they may be nicely 

 tied to the cord ; and the more neatly this is done, the more 

 nice and symmetrical will the wreaths and festoons appear. A 

 good variety may be given even by making the most of the 

 strings of common Laurel, and having prominent parts done 

 with Laurustinus in bloom, and different colours of Holly, 

 with or without flowers, natural or artificial. 



Christmas Trees. — These are events chiefly for the young, 

 and beautiful they look when well done. We mention them 

 here because we find there is a great difiiculty with some of 

 our friends — first, in obtaining a symmetrical tree, and, 

 secondly, in making it stand upright when it is of a large 

 size, and more especially if much weight is hung upon it. This 

 must be the only excuse for adverting to such a simple matter 

 here ; but the simplest matters are often the most puzzling to 

 those who have never attended to them before. Last year we 

 heard of more than one Christmas tree that came to grief, 

 falling over on its broadside just when the children were 

 clapping their hands in approbation at the brilliant light from 

 the many coloured wax candles, and the glitter of many a 

 beautiful toy. 



Of all trees the Spruce is the best for a Christmas tree, as 

 the dark foliage contrasts well with the brilliancy when the 

 candles are lighted. The tree may be of any size ; from 10 to 

 13 or more feet would be a good height from the floor for a 

 large party and a large room. We do not trouble ourselves 

 with the roots of the tree, but cut it over at the desired height. 

 The more regular the Layers of branches are the better, and if 

 the foliage on them should he rather thick, a good deal may be 

 cut away from the lower side of the branches, so that the light 

 may appear to more advantage and the different things sus- 

 pended be better seen. This will also secure the candles fixed 

 on the different tiers burning without coming in contact with 

 any of the twigs above them. The long point of a young 

 Spruce tree also forms a natural place, as it were, for fastening 

 the principal flag. to, and less flags may be fastened to stand 

 out obUquely from the base of this terminal shoot. The tree 

 will always look best when, from the wide branches at the base 

 to the terminal shoot, a somewhat equal but slightly irregular 

 cone is formed of the different layers of branches. Were you 

 to search a whole day in a wood for a fine-balanced tree, you 

 would not find one in which there would not be some breaks 

 in the conical outline, and hence, where a very tine regular 

 effect is required, not only will the branches require thinning 

 in some places, but it would be well to have a number of 

 branches in reserve from the largest to the smallest size. By 

 means of a large gimlet for the smaller branches, and an 

 auger for the larger ones, we can make each l.iyer or ring of 

 branches regular all round — that is, moderately so. so as not 

 to interfere with the natural appearance of the tree, by securely 

 fastening a branch in the bole where wanted, and of the 

 requisite length. By this means the poorest and most un- 

 Symmetrical tree may be rendered very symmetrical. This is 

 all that would be required where the articles to be suspended 

 were light ; but when they are heavy and useful, as for a 



women's club, all the main branches could be kept firmly in 

 their places, and hold a good weight without being depressed 

 out of shape, by a fine copper wire being fastened 2 feet or 

 30 inches from the top of the tree, taken round each main 

 branch from top to bottom, and then fastened by a nail to the 

 tub, in which the tree was placed. From six to a dozen of 

 such strings would keep all the main branches in their places, 

 and as the higher tier could not be unduly depressed too close 

 to the branches beneath, the candles might burn with little or 

 no attendance. AVe recommend small brass wire instead of 

 small string, because hardly to be seen, and also because string 

 would be liable to be burned, and then the weight might un- 

 duly depress the branch. For light toys no such bracing would 

 be required. 



Some of this work may be done before the tree is fixed, but 

 the most particular should be done afterwards. As a pot for 

 the tree, nothing answers better than a moderate-sized tub or 

 an old beer-barrel without one end. A four-gallon barrel will 

 do for a small cut-over tree ; a nine-gallon barrel wUl hold a 

 large one, on which almost any likely weight may be suspended. 

 In placing, the first proceeding is to saw the bottom of the 

 bole of the tree across horizontally. Then we measure the 

 bottom of the vessel, say a barrel, and if it is circular we take 

 a board cut round, and half an inch less in diameter than the 

 inside diameter of the vessel. This is nailed at the centre 

 securely to the centre of the bole of the tree. The tree is then 

 lifted, and the board and the base of the tree are placed in 

 the barrel, the board resting on the bottom of the barrel. This 

 is a better holding than even a lot of roots would be. On the 

 top of this board the barrel or tub is filled to the top with 

 bricks or stones and sand well jammed in, and no common 

 weight will cause tree or tub to swerve. The top and sides of 

 the vessel may be concealed with Ivy, &c. A Spruce tree has a 

 good weight of itself ; and when much weight has to be put on 

 it, some such precautions are necessary if the tree is to main- 

 tain a natural position, and the floor of the room is to be 

 encumbered by no bracings. No doubt there are other modes 

 of making and then securing fine symmetrical Christmas trees ; 

 and as we learn that in some parts of the country these trees 

 will be in request until at least the 12th of .January, if any 

 extra hints can be given before that time we are sure that 

 many would be obliged. We have merely treated of the tree 

 in its skeleton appearance, or in its merely gardening point of 

 view. The furnishing of the tree is a matter for the ladies, 

 who can do it with a grace that few of us can hope to equal, 

 though we can appreciate it when done. 



KITCHEN GAr.DEN. 



Mushrooms. — In our out-door open shed the Mushrooms were 

 like broad blue Scotch bonnets ; and we mention the fact fcr 

 the purpose of disclosing a great secret. As the bed had become 

 a Uttle dry from the covering, they were watered all over the 

 bed from the spout of a pot, with water in which dried cowdung 

 had been soaked. Now, for such watering of Mushroom-beds 

 we rather disapprove of manure water from any dung that is in 

 a green state ; but when previously dried and then soaked, we 

 have great faith, so far as large Mushrooms for broiling are 

 concerned, and we would prefer dried sheep and dried deer- 

 dung to cowdung. In all such watering we never like young 

 Mushrooms to be touched with the water, it is apt to make 

 them leathery, and therefore we prefer the spout of the pot to 

 the rose ; and if the bed should be at all dry whilst the surface 

 is moist enough, we prefer making holes with a stick instead of 

 soaking the surface soil. 



Fr.riT AND OEXAMEXTAL DEPAET3IEXT. 



Much the same as last week. Managed to plant out in weU- 

 prepared rich borders, lots of the single and double blue Violets, 

 which had been pricked out thickly in a temporary bed. A 

 pressure of other work prevented us striking cuttings, or divid- 

 ing the plants of Neapolitan Violets, growing, and then lifting 

 them into a frame or pit in autumn, which along with never 

 allowing a runner to appear, is the best plan for managing such 

 desirable plants. Some plants in a pit were put in late last 

 season, and being rather small, we thought they might do with 

 top-dressing for another year ; but although they will do fairly 

 they will not be so good as if they had been treated as stated 

 above. — E. F. 



TRADE CATALOGUE RECEIVED. 



James Veitch & Sous, Eoyal Exotic Nursery, King's Eoad, 

 Chelsea, S.W. — Catalogue of Garden and Flower Seeds, d!rc. — 

 List of Gladiolus. 



