January 7, ieC9. I 



JODRNAL OP nORTIOUIiTDRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



11 



of spade management pursued, it is an excellent plan to trench 

 all the kitchen garden successively in the course of every three 

 years. The trenching to be performed each year, should be on 

 the ground intended for tap-rooted plants, such as Carrots and 

 Parsnips, also on that for new plantations of Strawberries, 

 Raspberries, and bush fruit ; if the subsoil is stiff and sour it 

 should be well worked up, and, if wet, of course well drained. 

 A good coat of cinder aslies worked into it would serve to faci- 

 litate the passage of water and air. Every advantage must be 

 taken of mild weather to give a little attention to growing crops, 

 such as Lettuces, Cahbaaes, and CauHjhtwers. Surface-stirring, 

 whenever practicable, must be persevered in, and dressings of 

 lime and ashes may bo given to check damp and the ravages 

 of snails. Some of the strongest roots of early Uliuharb might 

 be protected with pots or boxes, and sufficient leaves and stable 

 litter to produce a gentle warmth. This would save injuring 

 the roots by removing them for forcing ; but where there is a 

 good stock of roots this is of little importance, and is hardly 

 worth the trouble and litter which it causes. Prepare ground, 

 by heavy manuring and trenching, for fresh plantations of 

 llhuharb. Sea-hale, and Asparagus, and remember that the 

 ground for these can hardly be made too rich. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



Persevere while the weather is mild with all necessary ope- 

 rations on wall-fruit trees, such as pruning, nailing, and dress- 

 ing. Continue the renovation of old borders as opportunity 

 offers. See that pyramid and bush Pears and Apples have the 

 necessary pruning, and dress orchard trees with quicklime to 

 destroy moss. The most effectual cure for this, however, is 

 thorough drainage. 



FLOWEB GARDEN. 



The winter having as yet been unusually mild, every chance 

 has been afforded of not only bringing up arrears of autumn 

 business, but of even stealing a march on the coming spring. 

 In the flower garden, little can be done now except digging 

 deeply the beds for flowers, in order to ameliorate the soil ; any 

 that are exhausted should have thn soil renewed. In open 

 weather laying turf or other pleasure-ground alterations may 

 be proceeded with. See that all half-hardy plants are secured 

 against severe weather. Pink and Pansy beds must be well 

 looked after, and those plants that are loosened in any way 

 should be carefully fastened ; the same observations will apply 

 to seedling Auriculas, Polyanthuses, Carnations, and Picotees. 

 Some, it is seid, are spindling this mild weather. It will be 

 better to allow the stem to remain on till rather later in the 

 spring. Water occasionally when the soil is very dry, but 

 avoid as much as pos.sible wetting the foliage. Those who 

 have not obtained the necessary number of Ranunculuses to 

 make up their beds ought to do so without delay, as the period 

 for planting will soon be here. If the beds have not been 

 already formed, perhaps the simplest and best way is to exca- 

 vate the soil 2 feet deep, put in C inches of decayed cow dung, 

 and cover this with maiden turfy loam to the depth of 12 inches ; 

 the remaining 6 inches to be equal parts of loam, leaf soil, and 

 sand thoroughly incorporated. Should frost set in, cover 

 Auricula frames with two good mats, giving air by tilting the 

 lights whenever possible. Should the plants by any means 

 become frozen, allow them to thaw gradually without ,being 

 exposed to the sun's rays. 



GBEENHOCSE AND CONSEBVATOHV. 



About 40° is a good temperature for the conservatory when 

 not attached to sitting-rooms, and only used for wintering large 

 specimens, without plants in blossom ; but where a supply of 

 stove plants in bloom is constantly kept up from a forcing pit, 

 which is essential in every large establishment in winter, the 

 best heat is 45°. Cinerarias, which are great ornaments in 

 winter, are thirsty plants, and should be well attended to with 

 water; they are also liable to the attacks of insects, and must 

 be well looked after. Chinese Primroses are likewise very 

 ornamental, and ought to be cultivated in quantity. In regard 

 to soil, two parts rough leaf mould and one of well-decayed 

 cow dung, with a little sand, will suit them best, and in this 

 they like plenty of moisture. As this house will now be the 

 chief resort of the family, the floors, &o., must at all times 

 be kept particularly clean and dry. Dryness of the atmosphere 

 through fire heat, however, will not keep the plants in that 

 luxuriant health which not only creates a present interest in 

 them, but also furnishes a guarantee for success in future. 

 Great moderation, therefore, in the use of fire heat is necessary 

 in this department. Camellias in bloom, if any, may be watered 

 now and then with clear tepid manure water. Let Pelargoni- 



ums now be kept at rest as much as possible, giving them but 

 little water — in fact none unless the loaves show a disposition 

 to flag. In fine weather like the present they should have ' 

 plenty of air, but not admitted in cold currents, which are apt 

 to prove injurious to the leaves. Large plants of Rhododen- 

 drons and Camellias that have been some time in their pots or 

 tubs, will require more attention than people commonly imagined 

 Weak tepid liquid manure may bo given them occasionally with 

 advantage. In addition to keeping the conservatory gay with 

 plants in flower, let the arrangement of the house be occasion- 

 ally changed by grouping the plants somewhat differently, and 

 adding a few remarkable for effect. As, with the exception of 

 forced plants, most others are now in an inactive state, the 

 temperature of plant houses should fall to the minimum point 

 consistent with the safety of their various inmates ; nothing 

 can well be worse for the development of a healthy vigorous' 

 habit in plants than subjecting them to a high temperature at' 

 the present dull season. 



STOVE. 



In the case of stove plants, keep up an abundance of atmo-- 

 spheric humidity to counteract the drying tendency of hot- water 

 pipes. In order to obviate the inconvenience of drip, leave a 

 little back air on all night whenever the weather is at all 

 favourable. A few early Gloxinias and Achimenes may now 

 be gently forced for the decoration of the conservatory. All 

 stove plants should now, and for the next six weeks, be quite 

 at rest, and in that state 5.'j° will be high enough for them in' 

 cold weather. No more water should be given at the roots than 

 will keep the leaves from flagging, but the atmosphere should 

 be more or less moist. , '^ 



FonciNo riT. " '^^ 



It should have at this period a permanent bottom heat of 80",^ 

 Atmospheric moisture, let us assume, being also secured, pre- 

 parations must be made for obtaining a due succession cff early 

 spring flowers. If not already done, introduce a few favourite 

 plants adapted for forcing, such as Moss, Provence, and Crim- 

 son Perpetual Boses, hardy Azaleas, and similar plants. Hybrid 

 Perpetual Roses will do better in a more moderate tempera- 

 ture. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OP THE LAST WEEK. 



Our. work has been just the same as that recorded in prei-" 

 vious weeks' notices, and to a great extent regulated by the 

 weather. On Thursday night and Friday morning we had a 

 sharp frost, which would have been of more use to us but for 

 the holiday time. There is nothing lost through a holiday, 

 and it ought ever to be prized in proportion to its certainty of 

 occurrence, as then men can make their arrangements before- 

 hand. To the young, especially, the looking forward to a day 

 that they can do as they like in, and given to them for that 

 purpose by their employers, does wonders in prompting to 

 activity and industry. When Christmas-day, New Year'3-day, 

 or any other day is thus given, men should be very careful not 

 to exceed the limits of the time arranged upon, as, if that is 

 done often, it is apt to sour the kindest hearted employers. 

 When we have sympathy between the employer and the em- 

 ployed, we ought to have generosity on the one hand and faith- 

 fulness on the other. 



We put a sprinkling of litter, laurel boughs, and similar 

 materials over many plants on Thursday evening and Friday 

 morning, as the wind, barometer, and thermometer seemed to 

 indicate something of the cold weather that has been experi- 

 enced in the north. Visions even of malletting good fresh ice 

 passed over our heads, for after such a summer and the free 

 use of ice, our reserves are lower than usual ; but at midday 

 the wind changed to the warm south, and a rapidly falling 

 barometer seemed to tell us that the rains were not yet oyer.*"f 



tlTCITEN GABDEN. 



The chief work was looking after crops in heat, as Rhubarb, 

 Sea-kale, i-c, sweeping the beds of Mushrooms, which we fre- 

 quently do when we use a covering of hay over the bed, as 

 otherwise the spawn would sometimes be tempted to run ovei' 

 the surface of the bed inftead of at once throwing up Mush- 

 rooms. There is less of this tendency when there is no cover- 

 ing on the beds, and when a house is well heated this ia often 

 the best plan. We find, however, that a little covering does 

 much to equalise the temperature and keep a moist atmosphere 

 over the bed. In the case of Cauliflowers, Lettuces, Endive, 

 Radishes, and other crops under protection, care was taken to 

 prevent damping by plenty of air. Successions of Dwatf 

 Kidney Beans were potted, chiefly that they might be easily 



