SM 



JOtJBNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



[ May 9, 1867. 



Mr. Wills shonlil have presumed to tell Mr. MereJith that if 

 he did not add an outside bonier, " and that soon," he would 

 "spoil his magnificent Vines ;" but let ns examine what this 

 advice amounts to. He tells us the inside border is 12 feet wide 

 and 5 feet 6 inches deep, and gives it as his opinion that Mr. 

 Meredith should expend £130 to add an additional 12-feet-wide 

 border outside ; it this is also 5 feet G inches deep, which is 

 surely deep enough, it will be in all respects the same size as 

 the one inside, and if it cost £1,S0, which he says it will, I 

 think wemay fairly presume the inside border will cost the same 

 sum, or £2(10 for the pair. Again, if the second is so im- 

 peratively needed, as I gather his language means, for he says, 

 "but he will be obliged to make it, and that soon," though 

 this border has only been made six years, I conclude the se- 

 cond will be as quickly exhausted. Here, then, is an expense 

 of £2(i0 for borders each twelve years. Let me, then, ask 

 him the question he asks me : — "Which is the less expensive 

 mode of making a Vine border, to make it thoroughly in the 

 first instance, supposing it to cost £60 or £100, according to 

 size, and with a view to its lasting in good condition sixty or a 

 hundred years," or to make one costing £1.S0 every six years ? 

 Mr._ Wills mixes up his argument on Vine borders with his 

 praise of Mr. Meredith's vineries ; either subject is worthy of 

 more consideration than he gives it. Of the first— the border- 

 making, I still think the proper way of treating it is as a 

 commercial speculation, where results" in value in the shape of 

 a crop of Grapes, or the crops of a series of years, are set 

 against the cost incurred ; and if in this matter I have wrongly 

 judged Mr. Wills, and he really does desire to prove that he 

 wishes to place before ns a plan of growing Grapes economi- 

 oally, he has only to do so in the practical way I have indicated, 

 and I will retract anything I have said that will carry an im- 

 putation that he is wanting in regard for the strictest economy 

 in such outlay. — G. H. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



We noticed approvingly lately the approaching exhibition of 

 Tricolored Pelargoniums at the Royal Horticultural Society, 

 and we have since been requested by the Rev. Mr. Dix, Chair- 

 man of the Floral Committee, to publish the following : — " In 

 common with many amateurs and others much interested in 

 the variegated form of the Zonal Pelargonium, I am looking 

 forward to a grand treat on Tuesday, May 21st, when I trust 

 the invitation put forth by the Council of the Royal Horticul- 

 tural Society will be cheerfully responded to. I believe that 

 the idea of an exhibition of these plants has been most favoui-- 

 ably entertained by all the raisers of this class of Pelargoniums, 

 and that a desire prevails that a magnificent display should be 

 made on the 2l3t. It may he well, perhaps, for 'the benefit 

 both of amateurs and others, briefly to sketch out what is ex- 

 pected from exhibitors on tliis occasion. It is desirable that 

 groups or collections should be shown, including the earliest 

 form of variegation, showing its progress to that of the present 

 year, that a paper be sent with each collection, stating the ad- 

 vance or improvement gained from an original point — for in- 

 stance, from Mrs. Pollock to the seedlings of the present year. 

 It would be well it each exhibitor would state whether accurate 

 entries and notes have been made and kept of the parentage of 

 seedlings, giving the names of the male and female parents. 

 One great object in view is to prove, if possible, whether the 

 sMU of the gardener (a point at present doubted by some) has 

 any certain control over Nature in producing these variegations. 

 It will not be necessary that a tedious and lengthy paper should 

 be written ; a simple proof stating that definite results have 

 been achieved by certain proceedings in hybridising is all that 

 is required or expected. The names of the parent plants written 

 on the label bearing the name of the seedling plant, would be 

 most interesting. I cannot but think that much valuable in- 

 formation would be thus afforded to the horticultural world ; 

 also that subject matter for a conversation at the meeting to 

 be held afterwards, would be given, which, doubtless, some of 

 our botanical and horticultural friends would avail themselves 

 of. New and distinct varieties separately entered for the de- 

 cision of the Floral Committee, will receive certificates accord- 

 ing to merit, and medals will be given to such groups or col- 

 lections accompanied with the written information required, as 

 shall be considered most worthy. Let not the amateur be afraid 

 of exhibiting on this occasion. The raiser of three or four 

 seedlings of merit, after careful and thoughtful selection of 

 parents for hybridising, may have something of greater interest 



to exhibit, than seedlings collected from all parts of the king- 

 dom, of the origin of which no trace can be shown. It would 

 be well for those who intend to exhibit on the 21st, to give due 

 and early notice of the same to Mr. Eyles, also to endeavour to 

 bring their collections as soon after nine in the morning as 

 possible, as it will take some considerable time to arrange 

 them." We think Mr. Dix's hope that the exhibition will be 

 successful, will be fully realised, for we know of many who will 

 exhibit, and who will detail most interesting information re- 

 lative to the production of these varieties. 



The following, from a correspondent, merits attention : 



" Few things could have given more satisfaction than the 

 announcement of the show of Tricolor Pelargoniums. The 

 raisers and the public are alike anxious to know what is in 

 existence. This show will afford the best possible opportunity 

 of taking notes and assessing the plants at their relative worth 

 to others. The information asked from the raisers about the 

 history of these plants and the probable cause of their origin, 

 will also have a specific value. 



'■ There is one point that farther information should be given 

 upon, and that is the manner of j udging the plants. The awards 

 will carry great weight, and have a large money value, and it 

 would be wise to appoint a special jury for the occasion ; at 

 least if several extra judges were appointed to act with the 

 Floral Committee it would probably atlord more satisfaction to 

 many as well as^A Pkovisciai.." 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN Q.VRnEN. 



When- the ground is not too wet the hoe should be kept in 

 use : in some instances the appearance of weeds will sufficiently 

 indicate the necessity of this ; but even where such is not the 

 case, this implement, or small three-tined drags, should be em- 

 ployed to stir the soil frequently between the rows of young 

 crops. Anparaflu^, let those who would have it first-rate see 

 that plenty of manure or half-rotted vegetable matter is dug 

 into the alleys forthwith. Cclenj, prick-out, and a few trenches 

 for the earliest may now be prepared, using plenty of manure ; 

 for to have it fine, it must be planted almost entirely in dung. 

 Carrots, weed, and also On/o/i-beds as soon as the seedlings 

 can be taken hold of. Those who are short of hands will find 

 this the best economy. Examine the various secd-hed.", in 

 order that any defect may be made up as much as possible. 

 Lettuce, transplant from the seed-beds before the plants be- 

 come too large, and sow successions ; the Paris White Cos and 

 the Malta Cabbage Lettuce should be more especially cultivated 

 for summer use. Peas, stick them as soon as they are earthed 

 up when a little above the ground, and sow successions, with 

 Round Sjnnach between the rows, if space for the latter be not 

 found elsewhere. J7/(i/ft(irft,keep down all blossom shoots from 

 both this and Sea-kale, and the latter should now have the 

 superfluous shoots thinned away, about four or five to each 

 stool are sufficient. 



FRUIT CiUnEM. 



Proceed with the disbudding of Peach, Nectarine, and Apricot 

 trees, taking care not to wound the bark of the branches at the 

 base of the shoot ; a knife should generally be employed. The 

 blossoming being over, temporary copings may be removed, 

 and syringing commenced. The aphis must be sharply looked 

 after and destroyed as it appears by means of tobacco dust. 

 Hoe and weed Strawberry-plantations, and lay grass or other 

 substance between the rows to keep the fruit clean and the 

 ground moist. 



FLOWER GAEDEN. 



In order that half-hardy flowers may be induced to make 

 rapid progress when planted out it is absolutely necessary that 

 those taken from iu-door protection undergo a hardening pro- 

 cess for at least a week. To be well established in their pots 

 and well hardened is to insure success. Many persons, how- 

 ever, in fact the majority, cannot command frame or pit room 

 sufficient to receive a host of potted Verbenas, Calceolarias, 

 Heliotropes, Petunias, Fuchsias, and Pelargoniums, such, 

 therefore, cannot pot off stock singly. The next best plan is 

 to prepare some raised beds in the kitchen garden with old 

 vegetable mould light and sandy, and to transplant, or as gar- 

 deners term it. to prick-out the struck cuttings from the store 

 pots into these beds about 3 inches apart, in fact, so that they 

 can be taken up with a trowel with a ball of earth ; they should 

 have hoops and mats or some covering at night, and in bad 

 weather all day. In the third or last week in May they may 



