JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Jane 16, 1870. 



to examine the state of the soil beneath it, so that the trees 

 may not suffer from being watered so much more seldom. 



In other fruit houses, exoept where the fruit was ripening, 

 too much sun heat had chiefly to be neutralised with less or no 

 fire heat, and keeping the pathways, stages, &a., rather damp, 

 so that from them, instead of syringing, the trees might have 

 the moisture they required in the atmosphere. Fig trees, 

 Peach trees, and, perhaps, more especially Vines, are very apt 

 to become too dry when planted out inside glass houses, and 

 thus rendered wholly dependant on the moisture artificially 

 given. When the drainage is so effective as to prevent stagnant 

 moisture, there is much more danger of underwatering than of 

 overwatering. We would urge on beginners to make sure 

 that the watering they do give is effective enough to reach the 

 bottom of the roots. We have no objection — quite the reverse 

 — in summer, until the fruit is ripening, to a continuous damp 

 surface ; but do not be satisfied with that, as even then the 

 roots may be very dry. and therefore unable to meet the de- 

 mands upon them. Do not be afraid with fork, or stick, or 

 dngers, frequently to examine the state of the soil beneath, 

 even if in doing so you should touch a root or two. 



Some time ago we were asked what could be the matter with 

 Vines which, obtained as good plants, refused to grow in the 

 second summer after planting. The house was good, the paths 

 moistened, the plants on shelves flourishing, the soil of the 

 Vine border seemingly moist, and still the Vines did not 

 flourish. In taking out our pocket-knife and digging down into 

 the border the mystery was soon explained. The roots at 

 4 inches from the surface might as well have been in the desert 

 of Sahara. With all the advantages of planting inside, and 

 they are many and indubitable, there is this slight drawback— 

 the soil, receiving no moisture from the heavens, must be arti- 

 ficially watered. When the roots are all outside we can easily 

 conceive that, by mulching, artificial waterings may be almost 

 unnecessary. 



We have not yet removed the covering from our Vine borders 

 outside, but on examining and finding the soil beneath a little 

 dry, we made openings and gave some water, so that it might 

 spread. _ This watering, however, was of little consequence 

 under the circumstances in comparison with watering inside 

 borders. The want of watering sufficiently, we believe, is the 

 chief reason why some dislike to plant and grow Vines inside. 

 There are many easy modes for determining whether the soil 

 is moist enough, if we are not satisfied with surface appearances. 

 In the vinery referred to above, nothing, as respects the surface, 

 could have looked more correct, and but for our digging down 

 and showing the dryness of the soil beneath, we believe the 

 proprietor would have come to the conclusion that the want of 

 free growth was owing to planting the Vines inside. 



ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



In some places the lawn is becoming brownish. It is worst 

 where kept closely cropped, and where immense numbers of 

 the seeds from large Elms have covered it repeatedly as with 

 a carpet. Is there anything in these light gossamer-like seeds 

 to arrest or prevent the free growth of grass ? Our first im- 

 pression was that they would act as a mulching, more so even 

 than the grass cut by the new American machine. However, 

 it is not so ; that part covered with Elm seeds, and which has 

 been frequently swept, is the barest and brownest part of our 

 lawn. 



Want of water has prevented us finishing our bedding-out, 

 but we are well advanced. We are satisfied with what has 

 been done, notwithstanding the scorching weather, so we think 

 we are justified in drawing attention to the modes of working 

 previously referred to— namely, to take advantage of the mois- 

 ture in the soil, rather than be altogether dependant on what 

 can he given from the surface. Of course we do not wish our 

 hints to apply to those who can flood their grounds at pleasure, 

 but to those who can give water in very limited quantity. 

 Besides, for the consolation of those who, like ourselves, can 

 give but little water, we have frequently noticed that plants 

 fairly established, and then as respects water left very much 

 to themselves, were in display not so far, if at all, behind 

 those that were watered with hose or pot nearly every day. 

 With all this heat and little or no watering, we have, so far as 

 we can see, lost one Calceolaria from dryness, and we question 

 if that would have gone if we could have mulched it so as to 

 keep moietnre more about the roots. 



In endeavouring to finish planting flower beds, our potting 

 of many things has fallen behind, also fresh arranging corri- 



iv & '"' bat th6Be mMer3 wi " be overtaken in good time. 



We often think how happy must have been our predecessors 



who had not to trouble themselves with many thousands of 

 plants to be raised and forwarded every year for the frost to 

 take them. Now, there is scarcely a breathing time in the 

 twelvemonth. We may here add, in behalf of gardeners and 

 their employers, that it is the best plan in every wav for the 

 gardener and his men to be kept to the garden. Just now 

 there are Bad conflicts going on between the claims of wall trees, 

 houses for fruit, houses for flowers, and bedding plants ; and 

 the conflict is intensified when the gardener is not only met 

 with rough obstructive points at every corner, but when now, 

 of all seasons of the year, whenever anything extra is wanted 

 about the mansion the help must come from the often in- 

 adequate labour-power of the garden. We know well, that 

 often as an employer's question the seeming saving of an extra 

 man's pay involves the loss of that of several ; and, as a gar- 

 dener's question, we know that nothing so effectually knocks 

 everything like enthusiasm out of a man as taking away his 

 assistants just when most needed. A good move will be made 

 when the garden in everything is looked upou as an indepen- 

 dent establishment. — R. P. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 

 In the Suburbs of London for the week ending Jur 



8.— Fine, cold wind ; very fine ; cloudy but fine. 



0- — Densely overcast ; cloudy but fine ; clear at night. 

 10. — Fine, cloudy ; very fine ; clear and fine. 

 11. — Cloudy, strong wind ; cloudy; overcast. 

 12. — Fine, overcast ; cloudy; overcast. 

 1:1 — Very fine ; exceedingly fine and hot ; clear and fine. 

 14.— Very fine ; exceedingly fine ; clear and fine. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



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

 week. 



Polyanthuses (M, A. T. C. D.).— We know of few named varieties 

 except Webb's Giant. Thev are usually merely described as scarlet, 

 purple, &c. Write to Mr. Ware, Hale Farm Nursery, Tottenham. He 

 cultivates them. If you enclose five postage stamps with your address, 

 ordering '* Florists' Flowers," the book will be sent to you post free from 

 our offico. It gives full details relative to Polyanthuses. 



Salt for Asparagus (E. It. P.). — Salt is very beneficial to Asparagus, 

 but we cannot say that it is essential, for we know very fine Asparagu3 

 is grown without its application. The growth, however, is improved 

 by ft dressing of salt, and we advise a dressing t<^ be given about the 

 middle of March and at the beginning of May ; 1 lb. per square yard is a 

 sufficient quantity. Of the value of sea water for Asparagus we have no 

 experience, but should not tbink it would be otherwise than beneficial. 

 It would do most good from now to the end of August, a good soaking 

 being given every week or ten days, especially in dry weather. Aspara- 

 gus is a native of the seashore. 



Herbaceous Calceolarias after Flowering (Edith).— Throw them 

 away; they never grow satisfactorily the second year. Your best plan 

 will be to get a packet of seed of a good strain, and sow it from now to 

 the second week in July, sowing in a seed-pan, and sotting it in a shady 

 place out of doors, covering with a hand-glass. By sowing you %rill have 

 plants that will flower, and grow more strongly, and be more healthy, 

 than old plants, which only disappoint. 



Ceanothus Propagation (M. O.).— The sprig you enclosed is, we think, 

 Ceanothus papillosus, but it was smashed by the post-office punches. It 

 is propagated by cuttings. The firm side shoots are beet, they being 

 taken off when ripe— i.e., the wood firm, in August, and inserted round 

 the sides of a pot well drnined, and filled to within an inch of the rim 

 with a compost of two parts peat and one part silver Band, filling to the 

 rim with silver sand. The pot may then be placed in one of a larger size, 

 and so that the rims of both may be level, filling in the interstices with 

 croc&s, and surfacing with silver sand. Cover with a bell-glass resting 

 on the sand between the pots, and stand in a cold pit or frame shaded 

 from bright sun. It will suffice if the sand be kept just moist, care being 

 taken not to over-water, and due attention given to keep from damping- 

 olT. In a month they may have the glass removed or raised, withdrawing 

 it by degrees. They will be rooted in about six weeks. 



Aphis on Standard Roses (Idem).— There is nothing better for destroy- 

 ing the green aphis out of doorB than tobacco powder, which may 

 be applied by a distributor. Yon will see it advertised in the Journal, 

 and it may be had of the principal London and proviucial nurserymen. 

 Dusting with souff will also answer. For watering Hoses and Pelargo- 

 niums we advise 1 oz. of guano to a gallon of water, to be given at every 

 alternate watering, or once or twice a-week in dry weather. 



