30 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



[ January 14, 1860. 



stuck round them, meeting at top, and covered with fern, are 

 very good protections. They Bometimes suffer as much, how- 

 ever, from close covering as from frost. Frosty winds are, 

 perhaps, more prejudicial than anything. 



GKEENnOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



In reference to the use of artificial heat for these structures, 

 too much stress cannot he laid on the moderation necessary. 

 As has been often well observed, the fire king is sometimes a 

 greater enemy than the ice king. Try to insure sufficient at- 

 mospheric moisture without diip. To accomplish this there 

 should be a moderate but permanent amount of moisture, sup- 

 plied either on floors or in contact with the return pipe, es- 

 pecially during the day. Watering should now be conducted 

 with great care. Keep newly-potted plants close, and when 

 the weather is favourable syringe a little, so as to maintain a 

 healthy condition ; but until the growth of the plants shall have 

 indicated that they have taken to the fresh soil, apply water 

 very sparingly at the roots. Luculias in pots should be en- 

 couraged in order to flower them before those planted in the 

 conservatory border, for it is desirable to prolong the bloom- 

 ing season. When Camellias, Epacrises, Heaths, and other 

 winter-blooming plants form the principal inmates of this 

 house, 40° will be sufficiently high, and with a dry atmosphere 

 .the temperature may safely be allowed to sink a few degrees 

 on cold nights ; but in cases where the hardier kinds of winter- 

 Howering stove plants are brought in while in bloom, 45° 

 should be considered the proper mean temperature at night. 

 Let whatever water may be required be given early in the day, 

 so as to allow advantage to be taken of sunshine whenever it 

 may occur, in order to give air for the purpose of drying the 

 foliage. Many entertain an opinion that little attention is 



subjects that have come under oar attention, and to which we 

 have not more particularly alluded lately. 



Hardy Roots, as Potatoes, where a little protection can be 

 given, Jerusalem Artichokes, Globe Artichokes, Sea-kale, Khu- 

 barb. Horseradish, &c., may all be planted now whenever the 

 ground is sufliciently dry. Globe Artuhokes should have a 

 wisp of litter fastened round them and over them. Even 

 where there is a plantation it is advisable to plant a few pieces 

 or a row every season, as the period of production is thus pro- 

 longed. In some families the demand for these rough-looking 

 things is incessant. Our main stock having suffered a little 

 from the excessive dryness of the past summer, is now as 

 green as at midsummer, and therefore will need to be well 

 protected when frost comes. This plant has proved itself 

 hardy in many places, but we have known cases where it has 

 stood well for five winters, and been completely destroyed in 

 the next winter. It is best, therefore, to err on the safe side. 

 ■ 'Jerusalem Artlchohes are also in great demand in some families. 

 We shall not have enough, and we have frequently known the 

 time when a basket would have lasted a season. Many con- 

 sider the soup made from them a great luxury. We have 

 never known them to be injured by frost, though in severe 

 weather, and when the tubers are near the surface, a little 

 litter, or even their own stems laid over the ground, would do 

 no harm. We are often surprised that this plant is not more 

 used for pheasant covers. When the birds become used to 

 them they feed on the tubers freely, digging them up for them- 

 selves. Potatoes after having been sprung may be planted at 

 the foot of walls and fences with all exposures, except the north, 

 and when up a little protection may be easily given to them. 

 They can thus be had early by those who cannot afford glass 

 sashes for them. We have had them thus almost as early as 



needed to properly supply plants with water at this season, and , , v r,i. i n j i . j -u ™ i„ r « «* 



they only look over their stock at intervals of several days. I ^'^^° ^« ^^^^ ^ =^^8^' hotbed, protected with mats, &c., at 



would, however, caution young gardeners against this mistake, 

 and advise them to examine each plant at least every alternate 

 day, deferring the application of water until it is really re- 

 quired, and then giving a liberal soaking. Attend daily to the 

 removal of dead leaves, and directly any of the flowering 

 specimens become shabby remove them to some out-of-the- 

 way place, taking care that they receive proper treatment as 

 regards temperature and other conditions, and supply their 

 places with others in full beauty. Soil, crocks, charcoal, 

 and whatever else may be necessary for potting, should be had 

 in readiness for use when wanted. If the soil in any pot 

 is sodden with water it should be turned out of the pot, the 

 drainage examined, and no more water be given until it be- 

 comes dry. If a plant droops, and the soil on the surface 

 appears damp, by turning the ball out of the pot it will be seen 

 whether the whole or only a portion of the soil is wet, as 

 sometimes, if light soil is used and plants are fresh-potted, the 

 soil when it dries shrinks from the side of the pot, and then 

 water, when supplied, runs down and moistens the outside with- 

 out penetrating the ball. 



riTS AND FRAMES. 



In mild weather like the present let as much air as possible 

 be given to all structures in which half-hardy plants are kept. 

 Too little water can hardly [be given to plants in these struc- 

 tures, and when it becomes necessary to afford any let it be 

 done in the morning of a fine day, freely admitting air after- 

 wards, in order to dry up all superfluous moisture before even- 

 ing. Auriculas must now be looked over. Pot Tuberoses, and 

 when fine give air to Mignonette and Stocks. Neapolitan 

 Violets in frames may be forwarded by shutting up early in the 

 afternoon ; those in pots, by keeping them in a temperature of 

 55°. To insure their perfect safety from frost it is necessary, 

 however flattering the appearance of the evening may be, 

 always to cover up at night, as the experience of our change- 

 able climate has taught us that the regular attention of a few 

 minutes to such matters will insure us from a woeful surprise 

 some frosty morning. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 

 Odr chief work has been a continuation of that adverted to 

 lately — viz., levelling, turfing, pruning, cleaning walls, and 

 priming orchard-house trees, not so much as yet absolutely 

 necessary, as because the washing-down walls, washing trees, 

 &c., furnished good and timely employment in wet days, of 

 which we have had several, along with a high barometer. In- 

 stead of a repetition of these matters, we shall allude to a few 



night. 



Herbaceous Plants. — The rage for the massive and the gay 

 has been making sad havoc among many of our old favourites, 

 and yet what can be more interesting than borders of the old- 

 fashioned plants, giving us something in bloom all the season ? 

 We look now in vain for the perennial Asters and Solidagos — 

 the purples, blues, whites, and yellows that gave such a charm 

 to the late autumn months. Several times, after having col- 

 lected a few, we have been forced, from want of room and the 

 demand for other plants, to allow them to nearly disappear. 

 From the Christmas Eose, early bulbs, Heartsease, Daisies, 

 &c , down to the SoUdagos, there was always something to ad- 

 mire. True, like most other plants, they are apt to degenerate 

 when left to themselves, but they amply repay the trouble of 

 taking up those inclined to spread, dividing them or cutting 

 them in, and giving some rich compost to their roots when 

 digging. When herbaceous plants are to be shown to the best 

 advantage, they must have this kind treatment every season. 

 If even lifted every season, and they thus become used to it, 

 the soil pulverised about them, and a little enriched when 

 necessary, they wiU never seem to suffer the least injury from 

 the removal, and will bloom the more freely in proportion to 

 the growth they make. Even carefully digging among them, 

 and cutting-in those inchned to overgrow their space, will be 

 attended with much benefit. As regards those which throw 

 out offshoots, or otherwise spread freely, when they are thus 

 cut in it is advisable to leave a part of the fresh growth outside 

 to bloom, and take away or destroy the older or central part. 

 There are many plants which it would be of little use to dig 

 down, unless a deep trench were kept at hand, and, as in a large 

 piece of ground the wheeling-away would be a serious item of 

 labour, it is no bad plan when such pieces are not wanted else- 

 where, to shake the soil well from the roots and make a burn- 

 ing heap' at hand, so that the burntj produce may again be 

 thrown over the ground. 



In all cases where there is a choice collection the plants 

 should be well marked, and the tally should lean over the roots 

 in a particular way, so that the workman may know where to 

 look for them. If something like this plan be not followed 

 valuable plants wUl certainly be dug down, unless the same 

 man, and he an enthusiastic lover of these plants, do the 

 digging year after year. It would be better to pay an ordinary 

 workman or labourer to keep away, than allow him to dig 

 carelessly in a choice herbaceous border. An enthusiast in 

 Musk had the finest border we ever saw. A clever jobbing 

 gardener trenched it up or dug it deeply, and the Musk is 

 looked for in vain. Let alone or top-dressed, there would have 

 been almost enough to supply the metropolitan markets with 

 pots of Musk. 



