188 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



f March IB, 1870 



front of the lion, with a continuous downpour of sleet and snow 

 on the 4th, and a olear sky, a rising barometer, and a north- 

 east wind on the 5th, warning as to look out for March frosts. 

 Besides preparing some ground, a task in which we were in- 

 terrupted by the snow, our gardening has chiefly been con- 

 fined to what could be assisted under protection, the weather 

 being even too cold to enable us to plant out Cucumbers by 

 carrying the plants from place to place. We considered it 

 better to leave them a few days growing in pots where they 

 were. We may here, in answer to an inquiry, add what we 

 omitted to say when alluding to the Cucumber disease — namely, 

 that curtailing the roots, or growing them in little space, had 

 no effect whatever in getting rid of the visitation. With plants 

 grown in pots and boxes, as well as when ranging over the 

 soil on a hotbed, or in the open air fully exposed, or protected 

 with hand-lights, the disease manifested itself, and in almost 

 every conceivable mixture as to compost, as well as in all kinds 

 of soil alone, without any artificial mixture along with it. 



As soon as the ground dries after this snow we shall plant 

 Potatoes, Artichokes, Ac, and sow Beans, Feas, Cabbages, and 

 other Greens for the earliest supply. The slight falls of snow 

 we have had during the winter have greatly protected all sorts 

 of winter stuff. Our most forward Cabbages will be early if 

 the March frosts and keen winds do not hurt them. We 

 planted a frame with Potatoes forwarded in pote, and sowed 

 Radishes between the rows. 



FKUIT GARDEN. 



Colour. — The weather, on the whole, has kept the buds out of 

 doors backward, and, so far as we can see, the fruit buds are 

 still safe. A little protection may be given ere long. We are 

 more concerned about keeping birds from them than even froBt. 

 Cleaned and fresh surfaced the earth floors of orchard houses, 

 and watered, where dry, after cleaning and washing the trees. 

 A light colour at this season, besides deterring birds, is an ad- 

 vantage, as it keeps the wood and the buds comparatively cool. 

 When nothing in the way of firing or forcing is attempted, the 

 later, other things being equal, that the buds swell and break, 

 the better : hence the light colour from mixed whitewashing, in 

 the case of shrubs and low fruit trees in the open ground, 

 helps to keep them late, as well as to deter the birds from 

 touching them. In lean-to houses, as orchard houses, the 

 same principle would apply to the treeB in a border ; but those 

 grown against a wall would be acted on in quite a contrary way, 

 from the reflection of the heat from the wall when thit wall 

 is of a bright white colour : hence in our houses where whit- 

 ing or limewash would be too bright, we tone it down by add- 

 ing lamp or blueblack to the wash, or in a common case a little 

 soot, previously well beaten up into a smooth paint. In the 

 open air against walls, if not put on very early, the white colour 

 mould be no detriment. 



Its direct effect would be, during sunny days, to increase the 

 temperature within 8 or 12 inches of the wall. We are only 

 in the beginning as yet of the whole question of colour in 

 reference to gardening. The common red brick is a very good 

 colour for a garden wall. The colour may be considered as a 

 medium one, bo far as absorbing, reflecting, and radiating 

 heat. A black-coloured wall will become very hot when the 

 rays of the sun beat upon it, aB it bo freely absorbs the heat ; 

 but whilBt absorbing it reflects outwards but little, and radiat- 

 ing outwards seems to be at a minimum whilst heat is so freely 

 absorbed. When the snn ceases to shine, and the air near the 

 wall becomes cooler than the wall, then, true to the laws oi 

 reciprocity, the black wall will radiate its heat until it becomes 

 colder than a red-coloured wall, as all colours that freely absorb 

 will also freely radiate. The part of the branches, &c, that 

 thus comes close to a black wall may become very hot in a 

 sunny day, and very cold when exposed to a clear sky at night. 

 To make the best of the stored-up heat by absorption, a cover- 

 ing should be hung at night in front to arrest free radiation. 

 A white or light-coloured wall will not of itself become so hot 

 during the day, nor so cold at night, as a red or a black one ; but 

 in a sunny day the air for a short distance in front of it will 

 be much warmer than in the case of the other two— a matter 

 of importance when a high temperature at some time during 

 the day is of so much importance in the case of many plants. 



Failing coloured walls, the principle may be tested with 

 plates of metal or tin of different colours, placed in front of 

 the fire, or so as to face the sun. Hence the principle of the 

 bright tin Dutch oven. It reflects the heat. If we wish to 

 keep hot water a long time hot, the vessel cannot be too light 

 or bright in colour. We have nearly boiled water in a closed 

 black earthenware vessel placed right in the sun ; we never 



aeeomplished anything of the sort in a light-coloured one ; but 

 small thermometers, suspended 4 inches from them, and the 

 bulbs facing each, the wooden backs of the thermometers being 

 towards tbe sun, did not read alike, but the indication was 

 highest in front of the white vessel. 



We have sometimes been surprised that snch matters have 

 not engaged more attention, bo as to be generally applicable to 

 the affairs of everyday life. How often do we hear such a 

 remark made, " We must take to our dark winter clothing, 

 these light-coloured dresses are so cold ?" It would take all 

 our experimental philosophers combined to convince one in 

 ten that all such ideas of warmth from dark colours have 

 nothing better to fall back upon than fashion and custom. 

 We grant at onoe that if a man in winter either kept close to a 

 roaring fire, or went abroad only when the sun shone, then 

 there might be some reason for donning dark garments foi 

 warmth. But when these circumstances are reversed, when 

 there is no fire in winter from which to absorb heat, and no 

 sun from which to obtain it out of doors, no colour can be so 

 cold as dark or black, as it will be continually radiating the 

 heat from our bodies. No colour for clothing could therefore 

 be worse than black, as out of doors it will be the coldest in 

 dull days in winter, and the very hottest in sunny days in 

 summer. Such slaves are we to fashion, however, that we put 

 on our black coat like other people. Light colours would be 

 best for all weathers in the open air — the warmest in winter, 

 and the coolest in summer. When once we bring such ideas 

 to bear on our everyday life we may expect more attention will 

 be paid to the colour of garden walls, and even to the colour of 

 glass in plant houses, a matter of which we scarcely seem to 

 know anything as far as practical details are concerned. Even 

 aB to the outside painting of glass houses and buildings, the 

 colour has become a mere matter of taste and custom. Even 

 here we think there is a principle involved. But for the blacks 

 from chimneys, we should like our glass sash roofs to be 

 painted with the best white lead, not at all toned down. We 

 have known all shades down to dark and dismal black used, 

 but in the latter case we have often noticed that the putty was 

 heated into a sort of dust that would not hold together. Black 

 in the shape of tar is often used for wood fencing, barns, &c. ; 

 but even when the wood is seasoned, it often seems to be Boon 

 deprived of its toughness when exposed to a fierce sun in July ; 

 and we have often thought that sudden conflagrations might 

 be owing to this cause, though of our own knowledge we oould 

 not be sure of a case. Light anticorrosion paint would cost 

 more than tar, the price of the latter being almost nominal, 

 but we believe it would preserve the wood of a wood barn or 

 fence better and longer. 



We cut the laBt Grapes in the late vinery. Those with 6 or 

 more inches of wood, stuck into a Beetroot and kept in a dry, 

 airy place, will keep good for some time after cutting. Pruned 

 Vines, washed glass, woodwork, and Vines, and gave the last 

 a good washing with soap water; also made preparations for 

 filling the house again with plants, but we shall try to have a 

 stage in it, as thus at times and for short periods we can have 

 double room — the stage above, and the floor beneath. The 

 stormy day of Friday gave a good opportunity for such work, 

 mending and making rough wooden boxes for cuttings and 

 plantB, and washing pots, making tallies, &c. 



ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



Those who have early bulbs, such as Hyacinths, Tulips, &c., 

 and want to make the most of them for the future, should 

 recollect that the foliage should receive no check from cold or 

 otherwise until it assumes its ripe decaying colour. Auriculas 

 want some attention after such a winter. The surface of the 

 soil will be apt to become crusted, if not green, and a little 

 should be carefully removed without injuring a root, and re- 

 placed with rich compost made rather firm. As to Calceolarias 

 and protection see last week. 



Potted-off many bedding plants, and repotted young Pelar- 

 goniums, giving them pots a size larger, and using some mellow 

 loam, lightened with a little leaf mould, drift sand, and char- 

 coal. Years ago we charred all sorts of rubbish, and used it 

 largely in pots and in the open ground. Of late we did not 

 make much charcoal, and therefore used little, but we mean to 

 go back again to its more free use, as we never found any 

 plants that did not like it in moderation, and it is always use- 

 ful for making a soil of the desired consistence. 



Here we may mention a little matter. The appearance of 

 some plants shifted or repotted some time ago did not alto- 

 gether please us, and we turned several out to see what could 

 be the reason ; but the ball kept in obstinately, and the reason 



