JODBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ February 3, 1B70. 



and protects the tube, and at the base forms a guard for soil in 

 which Ferns, &c, grow. 



To work it: — Unscrew the jet and fill the top reservoir, re- 

 fix the jet and place your finger on the aperture, pouring water 

 at the same time down the open top tube until the air is suffi- 



ciently compressed to resist the ingress of any more ; the water 

 will then flow to the height of IB or 20 inches for the space of 

 half-an-hour. To repeat — draw the water from the tap and per- 

 form as before. — {English Mechanic and Mirror of Science.) 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



A meeting of the supporters of the Gladiolus Show, which 

 it is proposed to hold on August 17th, is to take place at South 

 Kensington on the 16th inst., at 1 p.m., to consider the arrange- 

 ments to be made and the prizes to be offered. 



We are glad to learn that Me. Alexander McKenzie 



has been recommended by the Parks Committee of the Metro- 

 politan Board of Works to assist in preparing the plans for the 

 plots of ground on the northern Thames Embankment, in the 

 purchase of the trees, &c, and in the laying out and planting ; 

 and for this assistance he is to receive the sum of 200 guineas. 

 We may add that Mr. McKenzie has lately published a pamphlet 

 entitled " The Parks, Open Spaces, and Thoroughfares of 

 London," containing, as may be supposed from his long expe- 

 rience as a landscape gardener, many valuable hints for the 

 embellishment of the metropolis. 



work: for the week. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



January has been a fine seasonable month, with just enough 

 of froBt to check vegetation. Had we experienced the severe 

 cold that sometimes occurs after a mild November and Decem- 

 ber, the effects must hare been very serious. We must not, 

 however, be cheated into indifference respecting February, and 

 withdraw protection from tender plants in matted beds and 

 frames, or from vegetables when a regular supply is required. 

 Whilst frosty weather continues all wheeling of manures, com- 

 posts, <tc, ought to go on uninterruptedly till finished, to save 

 the walks in the spring. As the frost has not penetrated deep I 

 yet, digging and trenching all spare ground for spring crops 

 must be proceeded with. The ground for Onio/is ought to be 

 left very rough for the frost to pulverise it ; they are a crop 

 to which great attention ought to be paid, for they are in 

 general demand. Although few seeds can now be sown, yet 

 any preparations necessary should be carried out without delay. 

 Old Cabbage ground which has been under sprouts since last 

 August will now be available for other purposes. Where 

 pleniy of Coleworts have been provided, some of the latest of 

 the July sowings will supply their place and stand over for 

 early Cabbage. Old Cabbage ground should be trenched and 

 well manured, as Cabbage iB an exhausting crop. It is generally 

 followed by a Becond sowing of Peas, the Peas in their turn 



succeeded by Celery beds in the Scotch fashion, and this 

 course prepares again for any of the Cabbage tribe. Some 

 good beds of Horn Carrots may be sown directly, sprinkling a 

 little Radisii with them. CtxuUftowm may be turned out of 

 their pots fr:>m the cold frames, putting four stroDg plants 

 under each hand-glass. See that Bpring-sown Cauliflowers do 

 not draw if raised in heat. Let them be pricked out betimes. 

 Let the Peas and Beans sown in boxes be hardened by degrees 

 in the cold frames preparatory to transplanting. A good 

 breadth of Broad Beans should be planted for the main crop ; 

 the Green Longpod will be found very good. A portion of the 

 Celery may be taken up to check "running," and be laid in 

 " by the heels " very deep. Let Celery be immediately sown 

 in heat; also the Portugal or Tripoli Oniont intended to be 

 grown to unusual size. Round Spinach and a little Parsley 

 should shortly be sown on a warm border. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



The nailing of Plums, Pears, and Cherries, except on back 

 walls, ought to be forwarded at all favourable opportunities. 

 By the middle of the month Apricot, Peach, and Nectarine 

 trees may be commenced ; it is advisable to wait till the buds 

 begin to swell a little, as too early pruning only hastens that 

 event, which is not desirable in our fickle springs. By dis- 

 budding all superfluous shoots in summer the knife has very 

 little to do except in shortening the shoots ; and by putting all 

 the available hands on, the nailing is soon finished. Let the 

 trees be washed all over with a mixture of soft soap, quicklime, 

 sulphur, and soot as soon as nailed ; it may be put on with a 

 garden engine. Protect the blossoms as soon as they are in 



FLOWER C.AF.DEN. 



It is in the present day too much the fashion to attempt to 

 keep up large gardens with little means, nothing can be more 

 unsatisfactory or disappointing. With how much pleasure do 

 we view a small garden replete with floral beauty and neatness ; 

 and how different are our feelings on seeing an extensive place 

 with great capabilities but exhibiting a want of finish. Let us, 

 therefore, remember in all that relates to a flower garden, that 

 order and neatness are indispensable. The smooth and ver- 

 dant turf, the fresh and neatly-raked surfaces of beds and 

 borders, the flowing sweeps of walks displayed in well-defined 

 margins of shallow depth, the walks themselves brimful of 

 bright and warm-coloured gravel, the freshness and beauty of 

 the evergreens unencumbered by faggots of dead wood, add to 

 these thousands of Aconites, Snowdrops, and Crocuses, pro- 

 truding their tiny heads cautiously through the soil, as if fear- 

 ful of appearing prematurely — picture all this, and we have 

 what an English garden should be in February. All alterations 

 should now be determined upon and carried out without delay. 

 Prune Roses from which you wish to have an early bloom, but 

 defer pruning the more tender ones till March. Furze branches 

 are excellent shelter for tender Roses ; they do not hold wet 

 like moss, and are excellent screens from the sun's rays, which 

 do much miBchief by suddenly acting on the frozen parts. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



It will now be time to set early Fuchsias to work ; for where 

 size is required much growth should be made before the 

 tendency to flower becomes strong through increased light, 

 especially amongst the shy- wooded kinds. The old plants may 

 be disrooted, and the roots trimmed and afterwards washed in 

 tepid water to cleanse them of all impurities. The plants 

 should be repotted in free and mellow soil, containing a large 

 proportion of vegetable matter and sandy peat, and should 

 forthwith be plunged in a very moderate bottom heat — 75° will 

 be quite sufficient. Remove all plants to the conservatory or 

 show house as they come into bloom, altering the arrangement 

 frequently so as to impart a fresh appearance to the house. 

 Return all plants to the stove or greenhouse as they go out of 

 bloom ; and such plants as Euphorbia jacquinkeflora, Poin- 

 settias, and others which have done blooming, may be set 

 aside and kept comparatively dry for a time. 



STOVE. 



Stove plants in general will now require an increased amount 

 of atmospheric moisture with a slight advance in heat. All 

 such advances should be made for the most part on the after- 

 noons of bright days, when solar heat can be shut in early, 

 and with a moist and wholesome atmosphere. As the Orchids 

 show signs of excitability, pot them if necessary. Keep a sharp 

 eye on insect baits at this period. Start such plants as Ste- 

 phanotis, Dipladenias, and Clerodendrons, both young and old 

 plants, and recollect that a genial bottom heat is what they 



