April 25, 1867. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



29T 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



The subject of Tricolor Palargoniums has lately occupied a 

 considerable share of attention in our columns, and we are 

 glad to find that the Royal Horticultural Society invite the 

 raisers of these varieties to exhibit them at the Floral Com- 

 mittee Meeting on the 21st of May, communicating at the 

 same time as much as may bo known of their history and 

 parentage. As an inducement, a silver medal is offered for 

 the best collection, and it is hoped that the competition will 

 not only prove of service by settling the comparative merit 

 of varieties, but will also bring on a discussion, which may 

 eUcit interesting facts relative to their origin and the causes of 

 their leaf-colouring. 



We find that the " New Food," seed of which is offered 



by acme seedsmen, and which Mr. Hullett surprised the world 

 with through the pages of some of the daily papers under the 

 name of Sorghum tartaricum, is the old Sorghum cernuum, a 

 native of India, and much cultivated iu Egypt and Algeria, 

 but so tender that it ripens with difficulty in Italy, and not at 

 all in France. The name of tartaricum was given to it by a 

 seed house of Milan, for what purpose must be left to conjec- 

 ture. It differs very much from the Sorghum saccharatum, 

 the panicle of which is long, loose, spreading, and erect, while 

 that of cernuum is short, dense, and capitate, and is always 

 hanging downwards, or what botanists would call " nodding." 

 Even for ornamental purposes it wiU never be of any seiTice 

 in England. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Amongst the numerous enemies with which the gardener 

 has to contend, snails and slugs hold a most prominent posi- 

 tion. The pressure of work in April and Jlay is so great that 

 the destruction of these depredators is apt to be neglected. 

 Lime is well known to be destructive to them, but it is not 

 always at hand in a quick state, and a shower of rain soon 

 destroys its power. New sawdust and riddled cinder ashes, if 

 appUed in time, will likewise prevent their ravages. The ashes, 

 riddled to the size of Radish seeds, all dust being excluded, and 

 strewed over the young crop when just appearing above ground, 

 I find efficient. An excellent chance is also thus afforded 

 where occasion requires for a thorough mechanical division of 

 guano as a top-dressing, so that the application will serve two 

 purposes. A handful of good Peruvian guano, blended minutely 

 with these ashes, would prove a ready mode of manuring a 

 weak seed-bed. Broccoli, sow a portion of the late kinds. 

 Beet, sow ; also Cnrdoons, and the principal crops of Salsafij 

 and Scorzonera. The seeds of the Beet should be steeped a day 

 before sowing, especially if the soil is dry. Cclen/, prick-out 

 about 4 inches apart, in an open situation, on beds formed of 

 rotten dung and rich free loam laid on a hard surface. The 

 growth of these plants should never suffer any check from 

 drought. Cucumhas, prepare ridges for pickling sorts ; these 

 are best sown where they are intended to produce, and hand- 

 lights, not now required for Cauliflowers, can be placed over 

 the patches, although some even dispense with such protection. 

 In case of accident, some, however, should be sown in pots, 

 but not forced. Camomile, transplant. Sow a bed or two of 

 Herbs, such as Pot Marjoram, Winter Savory, and Thyme, for 

 next year's planting ; this should be done every second year in 

 all gardens, as the old plants are liable to wear out. Parsley, 

 secure plenty in highly manured beds at the nearest end of the 

 kitchen garden. Examine and remove the herb plantations. 

 Peas, sow successions, also of Broad Beans, and amongst the 

 former Knight's Tall Marrow should form a principal part ; also 

 plant-out Kidney Beans forwarded in pots or boxes, and sow 

 for succession. Rlmbarb, break off the flower-stems as they 

 appear, unless a few be required to run up for seed. Thin plants 

 in seed-beds, for if crowded in a young state their future success 

 is endangered. 



FRUIT GAEPEN. 



The operation of disbudding Peach and Nectarine trees 

 should be proceeded with, more or less, according to the deve- 

 lopment of vegetation, and this will now be rapid. Owing to 

 the advanced period of the season constant attention will be 

 necessary in order that the removal of shoots may be gradual. 

 Should the green fly appear, moisten the trees, and then dust 

 them over with snuff or powdered tobacco leaves. Strawberry 

 plantations will require abundance of water if dry weather 

 sets in, and a piece of grotrnd should be prepared for the re- 



ception of plants as they are turned out from the forcing- 

 house. Thin suckers of Raspberries, leaving four or five to 

 each stool. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Continue to fork up borders slightly that were dug in the 

 autumn, and to regulate any of the more advanced herbaceous 

 plants, tying them up if they require it. Clematises, or such 

 climbers, must be frequently looked over, and nailed or tied as 

 they advance in growth, at the same time removing abortive 

 wood if not wanted for another season. Hardy annuals 

 coming up too thicklj' should be thinned out and transplanted 

 if required. Sow annuals amongst rockwork, and plant out 

 any rock plants which have been kept in pots during the winter. 

 Plant out in borders Ferraria roots that have not been 

 potted, and plant also in beds Gladiolus cardinahs, Ixias, 

 Tritonia fenestrata, Sec, sticking Laurel branches thickly 

 amongst them, as a sort of protection, for a few days ; if frosts 

 should occur a few mats might be thrown over them. Auriculas 

 are now blooming ; the amateur may experiment in cross-fer- 

 tilisation to obtain new varieties. In growing for exhibition 

 the pips which are mis-shapen should be removed with sharp- 

 pointed scissors, and care must be taken that the trusses of 

 bloom are not exposed to the too powerful action of the sun. 

 If the seed gathered last season has not been previously sown 

 the present will be a good time for doing so. Sow in shallow 

 pans or boxes in light vegetable soil ; it is only requisite to 

 press the seeds on the surface and cover lightly with fresh moss. 

 They will, when placed in a cold frame, be up in a few days. 

 Put the sticks to Carnations and Picotees as soon as possible ; 

 if delayed the roots wiU be injured by their insertion. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



See that climbers and all plants of rambling habit have due 

 attention in regard to stopping, water, &c. Camellias forced 

 into wood should have a trifling cheek as soon as the young 

 leaves have attained their full size ; this is best accomplished 

 by diminishing the supply of water at the root. Continue, 

 however, to shade, and syringe morning and evening. As the 

 mixed greenhouse is everybody's structure, many plants will 

 be treated under this head which should more properly be 

 ranged under the heads Stove or Common Greenhouse. In 

 doing this it will be presumed that the house is kept somewhat 

 warmer than a cool greenhouse, or one in which artificial heat 

 is used only to exclude frost. By keeping one end of the 

 house (the end where the hot-water pipes or smoke-flue enters), 

 closer, and using more atmospheric moisture and a greater 

 amount of air at the other end, the amateur may, with such a 

 house, indulge in many of the luxuries of larger establish- 

 ments. Repot and propagate Begonias. This is one of the 

 most useful families of plants that can be grown. Keep up a 

 cleanly style of cultivation by means of sweet soils and im- 

 proved modes of potting, together with the most complete 

 drainage. Make frequent use of weak and clear liquid manure 

 during the growing season. 



STOVE. 



The increased temperature will render great vigilance neces- 

 sary to keep down the scale and bug on all kinds of exotics in 

 warm atmospheres. Nothing can be more unsightly, or betray 

 greater negligence, than plants swarming with these insects in 

 otherwise finely-kept stoves. The foliage which plants are now 

 making is, in many instances, destined to be their chief ornament 

 for months, and if this is destroyed in this early stage the plants 

 will exhibit all the evidences of careless management. See 

 that the growing Orchids have due attention in regard to shad- 

 ing and atmospheric moisture, the latter is stiU lamentably 

 deficient in many structures, or, if of sufficient amount, of too 

 fluctuating and capricious a character. 



PITS AND FRA'MES. 



Such plants as are removed to cold pits should be left un- 

 covered during mild nights, and air should be left on pits and 

 frames when the plants are sufficiently strong for turning oat. 

 Recently-struck cuttings of Verbenas might be pricked into 

 rich beds, protecting them with hoops and mats, iu a month 

 they would be fine plants for removing into the flower garden, 

 taking care to preserve balls of earth to the roots. Calceolarias, 

 Salvias, &c., might be treated in the same way. Pot off tender 

 annuals, and keep them in a mUd heat until they are well 

 rooted. If the plants or cuttings are not quite clean before 

 removing them to the pits or frames, give them a good fumi- 

 gation before they are taken out. See that there is a suffi- 

 cient stock of eyerytWng to plant the beds properly ; if not, 



