March SO, 1S77. ) 



joosnal of hobxicultuke and cottagb gabdenkr. 



241 



little if any growth in the floral parts after nine o'clock in a 

 very large proportion of this order of plants. 



In Grasses, Cyperaoeas, and some Rashes also, the floral 

 parts were very exact in their time of opening. In the Plantains 

 (Piantago) the pistils appeared a day or more in advance of 

 the stamens ; and these last appeared at about a regular time 

 la each day. In Luzula campestris, the Wood Bnsh, he bad 

 by a series of observations timed it exactly. Before nine the 

 anthers were perfect, bat by ten the pollen has been all com- 

 mitted to the wiuda, and only dried membranous matter re- 

 mained. So far as he coald ascertain, meteorological condi- 

 tions did not influence the time in the least in this case. 



The popular impression of light and moisture as agents in 

 this behaviour bad seemed to receive a tacit scientific assent. 

 It was clear, he thought, there was a more powerful agency 

 underlying these ; and it was, perhaps, a gain to science to be 

 able to see this, though in so dim a light. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST AND WORK FOR 

 THE PRESENT WEEK. 



HARDY FRUIT GAEDEN. 



All the operations in this department have been well brought 

 forward, and we have little else to do but wait anxiously until 

 the blossoms open, and to hope that they will escape the spring 

 frosts. At present fruit prospects do not look very promising. 

 On the morning of last Thursday Fahrenheit's thermometer 

 registered S'^ of frost, on the previous morning 6', and we are 

 generally warmer here than at many places in the neighbour- 

 hood of London. 



We tried covering the pyramid trees with frigi domo when 

 tbey were much smaller than they are now by erecting a frame- 

 work over them, but it was not a successful experiment ; the 

 framework was so high that it required steps and two men to 

 remove the covciing — troublesome work, which occupied much 

 time. We tried leaving the covering on night and day in frosty 

 weather, but this was a failure ; and in all cases, either on walls 

 or on the open borders, if we could not remove the coverings 

 when they were not required as protectors from frost we would 

 not cover at all. ^Ul our trees on the open borders are left to 

 chance, but choice wall trees should certainly be protected, 

 which can be done easily and with but little expense. In 

 previous seasons we have fully detailed the way to do this — that 

 is, by fixing stout poles against the wall in a leaning position, 

 and nailing one side of the covering under the coping of the 

 wall and the other near the bottom of the poles. If the cover- 

 ing reaches within a foot or two of the ground it will be enough 

 to protect the open blossoms. As a general rule the proper time 

 to pat down the covering is a little before sunset, and between 

 nine and ten in the morning will usually be the best time to 

 roll it up. A man can go round a large extent of wall in a few 

 minutes by beginning at one end and rolling it up to the top of 

 the wall, where it ia fastened with a string at the top of each 

 pole ; of coarse, if cords and pulleys are fixed in position the 

 work can be done more readily, but it is not necessary to go 

 to this expense. We shall see that the Strawberry beds are per- 

 fectly free from weeds betare they make much growth, and all 

 other borders will be hoed very soon to check the growth of 

 we«d8. 



PINE HOCSES, 



Here nothing has bsen done except to see that the frniting 

 plants are in a suitable temperature — about 70°, or less by 5° if 

 the weather is cold ; but in britjht sunshine the temperature will 

 run up to 85' or 'JO' with advantage, and when the house is 

 closed in the afternoon about three o'clock the surface of the 

 bed, paths, and walls should be sprinkled with water; the 

 evaporating troughs should also be kept supplied with water. 

 Instructions as tD cultural treatment were given in a previous 

 number. Succession plants will now be making free growth, 

 and tbey ought not to be checked in their development. Any 

 check, such as want of water at the roots or not being potted 

 before the roots become matted to the sides of the pot, will often 

 cause the plants to throw up frait prematurely. If stove plants 

 have to be placed in the houses, as is too often the case, see that 

 no insect pests, such as white scale and mealy bug, are allowed 

 to remain on any plants, as they would very quickly spread from 

 the plants to the Pines, and would utterly ruin them. Just a 

 word on repotting. The best time to do this is when the beds 

 are renewed with fresh tan, when the increased heat in the bed 

 causes the promotion of fresh roots, whereas if the pots in 

 which the plants have become established are plunged in a new 

 bed the heat may cause them to become injured. The compost 

 ought not to bo very rich. Good turfy loam, with about ono- 

 sixth part of decayed stable manure and :i few crushed bones 

 added, ia aa good as anything in which to pot the plants. 



PLANT STOVE ASD ORCHID HOUSES, 



Cuttings of any soft wooded plants which were pat in early in 

 the year must be potted as they require it, and they are much 



benefited by a little bottom heat, especially after being repotted. 

 It will be well to carefully watch the development of the leaves, 

 and destroy any bug or scale that may appear before tbey have 

 time to increase. To grow softwooded plants well they should 

 be placed in a suitable temperature near the glass and uot over- 

 shaded with plants of larger growth. This is a matter of some 

 importance in plant culture, and it must not be lost sight of. 

 It would be much better that they did not have any bottom heat 

 rather than that they should suffer for want cf light and air. 



Many of our most showy stove plauts ought to be propagated 

 annually and the old plants he thrown away. One of these is 

 Torenia asiadca, a ScrophulariaceouB plant of trailing habit, 

 well adapted either for pot culture or for baskets. It will do in 

 loam, but the leaves are of a much darker green if the compost 

 is composed of peat and leaf soil. It flowers most profusely in 

 a young state. Pentas carnea and P. rosea are easily managed, 

 and soon grow into handsome plants which flower profusely all 

 through the winter months. Hoya bella is a lovely plant which 

 may be propagated now and grown-on into flowering plants by 

 the autumn. The flowers are borne at the axils of the leaves 

 in umbels of from six to twelve according to the strength of the 

 plants. It may also be grown into large-sized specimens, and 

 well repays all the care bestowed upon it. Euphorbia jac- 

 quiniffiflora ought always to be freely propagated for winter 

 flowering; its brilliant scarlet flowers are well adapted for 

 bouquets, and the supply may be kept up all through the winter 

 months. 'The plants thrive in sandy peat and tnrfy loam in 

 equal proportions. Centradeuia tloribunda is an old plant seldom 

 grown, but it is of the easiest culture, and is also to be recom- 

 mended for (he long period during which it continues in flower — 

 nearly all the winter and spring months. Cuttings strike very 

 freely and will produce attractive flowering specimens if grown- 

 on during the summer months. 



Of Begonias many species and varieties are well adapted for 

 winter flowering. Some of the most showy are the Chelsea 

 hybrids; many of them continue in bloom all through the winter 

 months. B. Chelsoni is a most useful free-growing variety of 

 the B. Bolivieusis type. The old B. fachsioides should be 

 grown in quantity where profusion of bloom is required for 

 decorative purposes ; also B. uitida with white flowers, and 

 B. Pearcei which produces flowers of a bright yellow colour. 

 B. Veitchii and B. Weltoniensis are both distinct plants and 

 among the most charming of the species, and should not be 

 overlooked. All the above are decorative plants of a high order 

 and are easily cultivated. Where many flowers are required for 

 cutting or room decoration Begonias are well adapted for this 

 purpose. 



Orchids require careful attention as they are now starting into 

 growth, and when the growth ia in course of formation any 

 check is very injurious. Water in the form of atmospheric 

 moisture and also applied to the roots must be steadily per- 

 severed in until the growth is complete. After that comes a 

 period of rest, when water must to a certain extent be withheld. 

 It is not possible to have a general potting time for Orchids, but 

 the best time seems to be when the new roots begin growing 

 from the base of the preceding growth. Many species succeed 

 oTjly on blocks, and these require water at least, every day in 

 fine weather, as nearly all their support ia derived either from 

 atmospheric moisture or from water applied to the roots, ana 

 daring hot weather this speedily evaporates. 



FLOWEB GABDEN. 



Bedding plants are now very much in the way, as all the 

 vineries are started and pits and other houses are not suflicient 

 to contain the plants. We have removed all the more hardy 

 into a turf pit and cover at night with frigi domo screens; these 

 have been suflioient to keep out 8' or 10° of frost. Zonal Pelar- 

 goniums, Ceutaureas, Lobelias, &c, have been placed in the 

 pit. Calceolarias do best when planted out in a bed dug out as 

 if to plant Celery. The plants are set out in fine soil, and a 

 coverino ia stretched over on the top of the ridges to protect 

 from frost. Cuttings of all plants inserted early in the season 

 are carefully managed. They are gradually removed from t.ie 

 honse where they were struck to one a httle cooler; after a 

 while they are potted oft or the plants are transferred to boxes, 

 and when well established Ihoy are placed either in a cold pit 

 or frames preparatory to being moved out of doors. Stuutea 

 plants never do well, and they will spoU the whole effect of the 

 flower garden. 



TLOEIST FLOWERS. 



Although TuUpa startied quickly into growth and made good 

 progress eariy in the year, they have lately had a rongh time of 

 it ; the leaves have been frozen when in a wet state again anO 

 again, and many of them show the effects of it. Those who 

 have canvas coverings to place over their plants can keep the 

 rain from the centres of them, and also ward off the ill eBects 

 of severe frost. See that the surface of the beds is stirred when 

 required and all weeds removed. , ., i, lu j»„» 



Auriculas have not grown fast lately, and if the weather does 

 not change what wag once thought would be an exceptionally 

 early season for these flowers may yet be a ate one. We nave 



