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JOUBNAL OP HORTIOULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ May 16, 1867. 



Plower-bjrder PLAHTtyo (An Old SuUeriberl—An.xtxge vour plants 

 thus:— Afjeratum, if tall kind. 8tella Pelarf»oniuio, yellow Cnlceolarln, 

 Ireeine Herhstii, white Vorbuna, purple Verbena, Gazania splendens, 

 Lobelia specioi^a. If a ninth row is wanted have strong plants of Tren- 

 tham Rose Pelargonium behind the Ageratum ; but the eight ought to be 

 ample. 



Rose Leaves Blisterkd (The Cedarg\— They are blistered by cold 

 and wet. They will improve n-i the weanier becomes warmer, aiid the 

 roots establish themselves iu tlio fresh soil. Wo hope you did not place 

 the bone manure in contact with the roots, nor u^ed it excessively. 



STRA\\'BEnKY ScApEd Eaten (FragnHn). — Vfe think ants are vour 

 tronblers with the Strawberry blossoms, and if so, Ruano will drive them 

 away. If that do not succeed, use lime water on the ground, and if not 

 effectual enough, mix arsenic with su^jar and place it in sancers, covered 

 with other 'cancers, and with a piece of lath wood across between, so 

 that there will be plenty of room for the ants to enter without admitting 

 any larger living thing. 



ARCHERFrKLD Early Muscat Grape (Grape-grower).— At first Mr. D. 

 Thomson tliought this Grape a much earlier ripener of its fruit than the 

 Muscat of Alexandria, but immediately that he had proved that his 

 opinion was not coiTect he announced the fact ; and it is now clear that it 

 is only a good variety of the Muecat of Alexandria, setting and stonein-^ 

 more freely. 



Heating a Smalt, Greenhoitse (E. B. 7?.).— Were your house not so 

 small, 18 feet by 8, wo should say, Trv another Hays's stove at 60s., as 

 one is not sufficient. Ir you can obtain no mora than S'' of extra heat 

 from it, of course that would be of no use in a severe night in winter; 

 but we think you could obtain much more heat than that by burnin" the 

 fuel more rapidly— that is, giving,' a little more ventilation. vVt- have not 

 had the chance of trying Hays's stove, bat the commonest iron stove, 

 with a p:pe funnel from it, ought to give three or four times tho heat vou 

 specify. The great danger of a enmmou small iron stove arises from the 

 sides becoming too hot, and parching and buruing the air Yow would 

 see what was said lately in " Duiugs of tho Last Week," as to the impor- 

 tance of the fire-box standing 2 or 3 inches free of the sides of the stove. 

 Then the whole outside is pretty equally heated, and is never so warm as 

 to much vitiate the air. Where an outside stoke-hole is no objection, on 

 the score of cleanliness, wo know of no better plan for such a small house 

 as yours, than having a small flue below the floor, the floor tiled, and 

 the tUes forniing the top of the flno. Such au arrauiremput, with the flue 

 beneath the pathway, is very comfortable in winter, as the lover of plants 

 nee4 never have cold feet. Wo hear some complaints as to the diflicultv 

 of obtaining good fuel for Hays's stoves. Of course without the prepared 

 fuel the stoves will not answer. Try giving more air to the fuel. 



CoNSTRrcTiNO A SiiALL Greknhouse (li. B.).— You will form a very 

 flood idea what such a house, about 18 feet long, whether span-roofed or a 

 lean-to, will cost, by looking at our advertising columns ; but to finish it 

 partly as a greenhouse, partly as a hothouse and propagating-bouse. and 

 heat all properly with hot water, we fear there is little chance of doing 

 all for £10. Your cheapest plan will be to use large squares of glass, and 

 have a fixed roof without sa'^hus. but with strong rafter sash-bars, say 

 18 or 20 inches apart, on Mr. RiverK's plan. If the end of the dwelling- 

 house IS long enough, then a loan-to roof, say 13 feet wide, 10 feet high at 

 back, and tj feet in front, would be the cheapest, as vou would onlv have 

 the ends and front walls to build. With plenty of heat a span roof 'would 

 be the best, with the wall of the dwelling-house for the north end; and if 

 this were I?, or 14 feet wida you could have a platform in the centre and 

 a broad shelf or stage all round— say pathwav, 2^ feet; side platform, 

 2 feet ; centre platform, 5 feet. In the hothouse part the side phtforms 

 could be made into hotbeds, with hot water beneath them. As the 

 ground is liighest next the house, the farther end would be the best place 

 for the boiler ; and the hothouse part might as well he at that end, with 

 means of heating that part separately, and then continuing the heat to tho 

 greenhouse part as wanted. You mav heat several such bnuses rom one 

 boiler, provided the boiler is so low that the top of the boiWr is lower 

 than the lowest pipe in the houses. A small boiler would heat your pi o- 

 posed house. There will be no difficulty in heating vour dwelliug-boiiso, 

 as well as these proposed houses, from a boiler placed undergiound in 

 the wash-house. To do this, however, tho boiler will require tn be of a 

 good size. From a boiler so placed you may take hot water to the top of 

 the mansion, and distribute it in the different storejs as wanted In such 

 a case, however, it would be as well to have the'warmest end of vour 

 proposed plant-houses next the mansion, if the boiler were placed" out 

 of_ doors. We spoke of the other arrangement, merely because a person 

 might enjoy n greenhouse temperaturo when a hothouse temperature 

 would be oppressive. 



>J^^F^J^ Grass ly Arparagus-ebds (Greenmellow).— Yon will best clear 

 the beds of Couch Grass by taking the latter upmth a fork, aud if this be 

 carefully done much of the Couch mav bo removed without iniurin" the 

 Asparagus roots. By persevering for a voar or two in forking up the 

 roots whenever a blade of the Couch Grass is perceived the ground will 

 be cleared, and a dressing of salt now, equal to 2 lbs. per square yard. 

 will help to destroy the Couch. Never allow a blade of it to he seen. 



Rust on Cauellia Leaves (J. B. ?^.t.— The leaves are alTeeted with 

 rust, arising from excessive moisture and imperfect root-action Tho 

 only remedy is to prevent water dripping on tho leaves, aud to* keep the 

 soil drier, so as to encourage a more healthy root-action. The leaves 

 Should be dusted with fresh-slaked lime and flowers of suli)hur. 



Pans for Bell-glasses {A. C. a H.|.-You may procure pans with n 

 clGUble ridge or ledge for the glass shades to rest on of any of the prin- 

 cipal Eeedsmeu, and at many earthenware shops, 



Cyclasfens not Fjoweris-g (/Jrm).-As your Cyclamens gi-ow well 

 but donnt flower, perhaps you do not afford them a light and airy situa- 

 tion which is all they require. No place is so suitable for them from 

 September to the end of :\Iay as the shelf of a greenhouse, and after that 

 anopensnunysitualionout of doors, the pots being plunged to the rim in 

 coal ashes They d-. well in a compost of equal parls of turfy Ught loam 

 sandy peat, and leaf mould, good drainage being provided. 

 _ Cleaning Flower-pots [W.H. Y..— The best plan that we have tried 

 IS to place the pots requiring cleaning in a tub, cover them with water 

 and after allowing them to become well soaked, sav for a couple of davs' 

 to wash them well inside aud outside with a spoke brubh or any old'or 

 half-worn hard brush. ^ ^ " 



Twelve GaEENnousB Plants por Flowering tn July (A Snb»eriher\ 



-—The following will flower about July ; but to have plants in flower at a . 

 given time it is neuess:iry that they be grown specially for tho purpose, 

 and forwarded or retarded as occasion may require: — ,\.crophyllum veno- 

 Buni, Boronia serrulata, Crowea saligna major, Lesclienaultia formosa 

 coccinea, Pimelea Hendersoni, Polygala Dahnaislana, Phajuocoma proli- 

 fera Barnesii, Tromandra verticillata, Pleroma elegans, Dracopbyllum 

 gracile, Indigofera decora, and Gcnetyllis tulipifera. 



Twr.hYE GzoxitiiAS Idem).~'Erect-^flo\vering : Hex igneus, Guido Real, 

 Novello, Comte Uidinsky, Lilas franc, and Marquis de St. Innocent. 

 Droopinfj'jioweri nf^ : Wilsoni, Leviathan, Bird of Paradise, Lady Augusta 

 Yorke, The Gem, and Imperiale Blanche. 



Six Achimene-i fM/*m).— Parsonsii, Lonaiflora major, Carminatasplen- 

 dens, Ambroise Vorschaflelt, Magnet, and Gem. 



Planting Canna'^. Daturas, and Artemisia annua (Tyrol. — Cannaa 

 have large foliage, and attain a height of from 3 feet to 6 feet. They should 

 he planted from 2 to 2.^ feet apart if the plants are strouc, or from 1 foot^ 

 to 18 inches apart if small. Datura fastuosa Iluberiana is a tall-grow- 

 ing plant, having large trumpet-shaped flowers. Being of a strong ' 

 habit the plants should be placed 18 inches apart; but they will not 

 thrive out of doors except in warm situations, and they must ba 

 strong when planted out. They attain a height of 3 feet. Artemisia 

 annua grows 4 feet high, and shoubl be planted from 1 to 1\ foot 

 apart; but wo consider it worthless for flower-garden decoration, Worm- 

 wo )d being far more silvery in its foliage and quite as stately in habit. 



Lily Bulbs from Japan (5. C.).— The bulbs of the Lilies from Japan 

 should be put singly in well-drained pots 7 inches in diameter, some 

 of the roughest parts of tho compost being placed over the drainage. 

 The pots should ttien be filled half full with a compost of turfy loam two- 

 thirda, and one-third leaf mould, adding sharp sand if the loam is not 

 sulficieutly sandy. If you have it you may also add one-fourth fibry 

 s.indy peat. The compost should be broken rather fine, but not sifted. 

 The bulbs should be placed with their bases resting on the soil in the 

 centre of the pota, aud be covered with soil about an inch above their 

 crowns. A gentle watering having been given, the plants should b« 

 placed in a light airy situation in the greenhouse Keep the soil moist, 

 but not very wet. until the roots start ; then water more freely, and whea 

 the shoots aro a few inches higher than tho rims of the pots till np around 

 the stems with soil. Water freely until tho growth is complete ; then 

 lessen the supply, still keeping tho soil moist. Winter in a greenhoase, 

 and keep the soil rather dry. 



PoA TRiviALis argkntea ELEGANS (Idem). — This very handsome dwarf 

 Grass is hardy in well-draiued gravelly soils, but requires tho protectioa 

 of a frame or greenhouse where the soil is wet and heavy. 



Trop.t.olum tricolorum Culture (li. F. ir^iffZcr).- The plant, bo far 

 as we know, cannot be successfully raised from cuttings. It is raised 

 from seed, and by layering the wiry stems in the pot in the early stages 

 of its growth, by which process small tuberous roots are formed by 

 autumn, but not always. The most certain method is from seed, and 

 plants so raised usually flower in the third year. It is a greenhouse 

 tuberous-rooted plant, commencing to grow in autumn, flo^vering in 

 April, and dying down in sumuier. Trop.T^olum pentaphyllum is a 

 tuberous-rooted plant requiring the temperaturd of a greenhouse. It is 

 raised from seed, is a climber, and more robust than T. tricolorum. 



Sowing Pentsteiion Seed {J'iem).— The seeds should he sown now hi 

 pans well drained, and filled to the rim, or nearly so, with light turfy 

 loam. Scatter the seeds over the Bu:face after having made it smooth, 

 and cover with fine soil to tho depth of a quarter of an inch. The pan 

 may then havo a gontle watering, and be placed in a cold frame, or on 

 the front shelf of a greenhouse, shading it from suu, so as to keep the 

 surface moist until the plants appear, then discontinue shading, and 

 admit air freely. Keep moist, and when tbe i>lants are large enough to 

 handle, prick them off in a bed in the open grouud, shading for a few 

 days until established, aud finally planting out where required. 



Tall-growing Lobelias 7(/('Tn).— Some of these are very handsome 

 when planted out in summer, if kept well watered. We do not think them 

 worth a place in a greenhouse, as they do so well out of doors in summer, 



Passiklor.'.s for a Greenhouse (Idem). — The following do well in a 

 greenhouse — InipTratrif'e Eugpnio. Newmanni. Bellotti, Shepherdi, 

 (Jomte Nesselrode, and P. edulis foliis argenteu-variegatis. 



Stephanotis FLORinuNDA IN A GnEENHOusE (Idem). — It is a stove 

 plant, and is starved in a greenhouse, but does tolerably well in a heated 

 vinery. It will, liowever, flower in a greenhouse. Your other quoaUon 

 will be replied to fully in a week or two. 



SuLrnuR Fumigation of an OncHAnD-iiousE (E. S.). — For your house 

 21 feet by 14 feet, you will require two pots of lime, as described by Mr. 

 Rivers, and you may sprinkle over each 2 ozs. of flowers of sulphur. 



Destroying Slugs (Amateur). — We find nothing equal to lime which 

 has been placed under cover aud allowed to fall of itself. This sprinkled 

 over th.e whole surface of the garden once or twice aweek a little after 

 dark, proves effectual, if its application be persevered in, a dressing being 

 given prior to digging, and immediately a terwards. If you have tried 

 this and found it fail, we recommend the surface to bo pared off and 

 burned. Hedgehogs do nnt care to oat slugs, hut a few ducklings turned 

 in now would not trample anything much, and would devour a great 

 many. The ducklings, in conjunction with dusting of the soil at dusk 

 alter a wet day with lime, would soon clear tbe ground. 



LiLiUM AURATUM SEEDLINGS (Ifi-jitirfr). — Wo would pot off the Seed- 

 lings, placing two or three in a seven-inch pot; but if you cannot pot 

 them off without disturbing and injuring the roots, we would defer doing 

 so until autumn, and then pot them off singly iu October. The soil we 

 recommend for potting is one-half turfy loam, one-fourth sandy fibrous 

 peat, and one-fourth leaf mould, adding sand liberally. Tbe cross be- 

 tween L. auratum and the Scarlet Martagon will most likely produce 

 something desirable in colour. You may exhibit Trichomanes radicans 

 as a British Fern. 



DisA GRANDiFLOEA CULTURE (/licwl.- Thls Buccccds cxcelleutly in an 

 airv and shady part of an nrdinary greenhouse, it being very impatient 

 of bright sun, though it likes light and air. It requires an abundance of 

 water, so much so that when the plant is growing, winter aud summer 

 tho pot may be set in a saucerful of water. The ma^t suitable aoilis 

 sandy fibrous peat, with a few bits of charcoal intermixed. If the peat 



