10 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ January 13, 1870. 



ing than we expected, a row of Cinerarias, close to the upright 

 glass in front of the conservatory, had their leaves crusted, 

 and some of them hard in the morning. Farther back nothing 

 was injured. These stood on an iron shelf or platform — another 

 reason why iron should not be used. The plants were lifted, set 

 down on the path where they would be shaded, wero syringed 

 twice with cold water, and on the following morning were 

 placed in their former position unhurt. In a cold frame above 

 an exhausted slight hotbed one light consisted of Cinerarias, 

 and though matted over, they were much injured — so much so 

 that they will only be of use when induced to grow afresh from 

 the bottom like young plants, and as we have plenty more 

 we may not deem it worth while. A little litter over that 

 light would have saved them, as it saved those that were safe. 

 Why it was missed is not easily accounted for. The mat 

 would have saved them in all nights but the one. 



Damp has chiefly told on some plants of Pelargoniums, &c, 

 causing a few of the leaves to rot, but not interfering with the 

 shoots or upper leaves. We want a dry day to go over all such 

 where placed close together in cold pits. We had set apart this 

 day, the 8th, but it has been such a hurricane of wind, as well 

 as rain, that we were glad to pin down all sashes, doors, &c, 

 to keep the glass safe. All glass roofs glazed with large squares 

 require extra attention. Only get a few squares out in such a 

 day, so as to let the wind fairly in, and then ere long you may 

 hold up your hands in unavailing astonishment. We dislike 

 to see bundles of hay, straw, or old clothes stuck in a hole of a 

 greenhouse almost as much as we do to see them filling gaps 

 in cottage windows; but in such a day as this Saturday, any 

 fill-gap would be better than an opening for the wind. — R. F. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 

 In the Suburbs of London for the week ending January 11th. 



5. — Rain ; overcast, very damp ; clear and fine. 



6.— Overcast ; cloudy but fine ; stormy, with rnin, 



7. — Clear and fine ; cloudy ; boisterous and stormy. 



S.— Boisterous ; exceedingly boisterous ; boisterous and stormy. 



9.— Densely overcast; cloudy but fine; densely overcast. 

 10.— Clear and frosty; very fine ; clear and very frosty. 

 11.— Sharp frost ; fine, but overcast ; clear and'fine. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

 N.B.— Many questions must remain unanswered until next 

 week. 



Meteorological Reports— We are very much obliged for many that 

 have been sent to us, but must refrain from inserting any Unless wo 

 could devote much space to them they would not bo of the service that 

 they would render if communicated to a meteorological journal. 



Books (A Barrister).— Yoa can have " The Pine Apple Manual " post 

 S. . ?£ r S ffice !' y ?? eI]close thirty-two postage stamps with your 

 address. (B. Soger,) -Jl you mean orchard-house gardening, you can 

 have Pearson "On the Orchard House" post free from our office if vou 

 enclose twenty postage stamps with your address. There has been no 

 recent edition of the other work. 



Saffron Tree (A Barrier).— We do not know it by that name. 



ooSf^fTIT 011 ,' D ° 0R < r !"-°>--The south door will be best for the 

 comfort of the drawing-room. 



received a few 



„w»$T t E » M \ (rr M ?' ,l f»>^-^ trees are grafted and trans- 

 Tf n^to'f lai ™size° much cheaper than the rate you mention 



Inarching Vines IRwticm).— Yes, you may do so • bnt in our exne- 

 nence the Barbarossa (Gros Guillaume) is not well suited [or a stock, on 

 account, we suppose, of its late-growing habit, which serves as a hin- 

 anttas well as an° Per maturation of the buds. Royal Ascot would 



Rendle's Protectors for Growing Ccccmbees and Mftons 

 (Forest Hai).-The width of 2 feet would not be very suitable for Melon 

 or Cucumber culture, though we have no doubt the protectors might be 

 profitably employed for these fruits in summer, when no artificial heat 

 would be required except a little at the commencement. For earlv frnit 

 a frame and lights would be better, as a hotbed could be made and the 

 frame placed on it 



Gesnera CcLTunE (It.).— Gesneras exoniensis, refulgens, einnabarina, 

 Donckelaari, and zebrina splendens may be had of any of the principal 

 London and provincial nurserymen, and probably Borne of the others 

 named by you. The best time to purchase stock is in March, at which 

 time thoy should be potted and placed in a gentle bottom heat of from 

 75° to 80". When they begin to grow remove them to a shelf in the stove, 

 or place them near the glass and keep them moderately moist, good 

 supplies of water being given, but avoid making the soil very wet. Slight 

 shade should be afforded from bright sun. Pot as required up to August, 

 using a compost of sandy fibrons loam one-half, peat one-fourth, and leaf 

 soil or old cow dung one-fourth, with a froo admixture of silver sand. For 

 winter-blooming the plants should not be started until May, assisting 

 them with a mild bottom heat at the commencement. They should have 

 a temperature of from 60 1 to 65- at night. 



Melon Seed Sowing (.4 1',... i . -The beginning of February 



is a good time to sow Melon seed to obtain plant 9 for culture in frames. 

 Where a bed of dung can be made it is desirable to have one, and where 

 there are flues tbey may be employed for maintaining the proper degree 

 of heat after the heat of the dung-bed is insufficient. The soil most suit- 

 able is tho top 3 or 4 itches of a strong loam with the turf. It should 

 bo made firm. Tho bed should have a bottom heat of from 75- to 80" for 

 plunging the pots in. and from 70 : to 75 : for tho plants ; top heat 65° at 

 night, and from 70° to 75 J by day, with a rise from sun heat to 80 3 or 85', 

 accompanied with air. 



MrsTLi.TOE Seed Sowing (Unicom).— The Mistletoe is propagated by 

 seed, and those from berries purchased at the shops will grow. The seeds 

 may bo placed now on the smooth bark of the side branches of the Lime, 

 Poplar, Crab, Apple, and White Thorn trees, squetzingtbe seeds from the 

 berry on the branch, to which they will adhere by the glutinous pulp. They 

 are best put on when the branches are drv, ; .em on the 



branch so that the seed may be close to the bark. Some make an incision 

 in the bark in the form of a T- as in budding, and, raising the bark, 

 squeeze the seed into it. The only advantago of the process is, that the 

 seed is more securely hidden from birds, otherwise the incision is wholly 

 useless; indeed, the seed germinates more freely on the smooth bark 

 than when placed in an incision. For safety it is well to place the seeds 

 on the under sides of the branches. 



Climbers for a Fernery (E. L. J.).— There are no flowering climbers 

 that will succeed in a damp fernery, closely shaded during the summer ; 

 but for covering such a roof, though not commonly done, strain small 

 galvanised iron wire and train Lygodium scandens over it. It is a very 

 elegant climbing Fern. The roof will also serve for the display of Ferns 

 in baskets. 



Rose Truss (An Amateur).— A truss consists of any number of blooms 

 and buds on one flower-stem. Any addition to a truss is certain to dis- 

 qualify it. Each truss must bo exhibited separately from all the others, 

 and no bud, leaf, or flower must be tied or otherwise united with it. 



Roses to Bloom in March (A Reader).— We presume the plants have 

 been pruned if not, prime thtm, cutting each shoot back to two or three 

 eyes according to their strength. The temperature from fire heat should 

 be from :V. to40 c at night at first; in a fortnight it may be raised to 40°, 

 in another fortnight to 45°, and so on until 55- be reached, and this heat 

 ought not to be exceeded ; 50- will be better. On these temperatures an 

 advance of 5' may be allowed on dull days without sun, and of 10' to 20' 

 with sun and abundance of air. Sprinkle the plants overhead in the morn- 

 ing and maintain a moist atmosphere, but admit air freely. Water as 

 required, and when the pi i nts are in free growth give weak manure water 

 two or three times a-week. The syringing must be discontinued after 

 the flower-buds are ready to open. The plants cannot have too light and 

 airy a position. 



To Flower Fuchsias in May (Idem).— Prune the plants in February, 

 and about the end of February or beginning of March place them in a 

 house where there is a temperature of from 45 : to 50 : . Before doing so, 

 however, the plants should be shaken out of the pots, the old soil being 

 removed, and placed in pots sufficiently large to hold them without 

 cramping. Water sparingly at first, increasing the quantity as the plants 

 grow. Syringe morning and evening, maintaining a moist atmosphere. 

 When the plants have shoots a few inches long, take out the points of 

 these, and early in April transfer the plants to tho blooming-pots. For 

 flowering the temperature should be from 50' to 55' at night. Admit air 

 freely, and afford a light situation. 



Scarlet Runner Roots (Amateur).— The roots left in the ground 

 will not survive unless the winter be unusually mild. Sometimes, how- 

 eve:-, they will live in sandy well-drained soil if covered with a mulching 

 of partially decayed leaves and litter, and will push in May. They are 

 best taken up in autumn aud stored in dry sand in a cellar secure from 

 planted at the end of April in the open ground, they will grow 

 and come into bearing earlier than those from seed, and are more dwarf. 

 We consider them best from seed. 



Select Pears, Apples, and Plfsis (Idem). — Mild weather during 

 this month and February is a good time to plant fruit trees, but they are 

 best planted as early in autumn as practicable after tho leaves fall. Six 

 Pears for pyramids on the Quince are :— Citron des Cannes, Williams's 

 Bon Chretien, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Comte de Lamy, Alexandre 

 Lambre, and Bergamotte E-qiereu. Three dessert Apples for standards 

 —Red Astracban, Blenheim Pippin, and Court of Wick. Three Plums as 

 standards— Green Gage, Kirke's, and Jefferson. 



Compound for Syringing Rose Trees (Idem).— Gishurst and Clarke's 

 compounds are both good, but forcible syringings and plentiful supplies 

 of water at the root are often neglected, hence blight. 



Notice to Quit Service (A. B. D.).—\, An under-gardener living in 

 a bothy, and paid weekly or monthly, is a weekly servant, and liable to 

 be dismissed at any time with a week's notice or a week's wages. Of 

 course, if there is anything wrong— a want of attention, disobedience of 

 orders, infraction of rules, &c., he can have no redress if dismissed at 

 once, and with nothing more than he has earned. 2, The under-gardener 

 who does not lodge on the place has less right to a long notice. An 

 honourable humane man would not like to part with a young man with- 

 out giving him such a lengthened notice as would enable him to look 

 about him. No fault can be found, however, if a week's notice is given 

 on either side. We regret such questions should be put, because service 

 is happier when less on both sides is thought of right, and more of duty. 

 At times young men, and well-behaved ones, too, may be hardly used; 



