Maiuu i, 186 J. J 



JOURNAL OF UOKTIUULXUUB AND OOl'TAGK (iAKUl.NEU. 



KS 



for the firat yoar, had a beneBcial effect on them, and on 

 examioiog the roota in the following winter, I found tbey 

 had taken entire possession of Iho top-dressinK ; the plants 

 assuming a raoro viyoious look than formcily, though the 

 leaders did not grow iiuite so fast as I wished. In Iho ensuing 

 spiing I gave the trees a good drensing of hiUf ilccfiyod leaves, 

 ■which in the growing season had the desired cff^'Ct, aa the 

 average length of the leaders was 18 inclieR, and splendid side 

 growths were produced. Some of the leaders were aa much as 

 ;iO inches in length. In addition to this, the mulchini^ had 

 entirely .stopped the growth of the weeds, and the trees were 

 capable of taking care of themselves, aa in the Eummer of 18(!8 

 they needed no watering, and were growing beautifully, somo of 

 them being 8 or 10 feet high with ciirrespoudiug aide growths. 

 The only care required was au occasional pinchiug-in of the 

 side growths to keep them regular. — P. Dixon. 



DESTROYING WIREWORMS. 

 In reference to destroying wireworms, " browo manure rape 

 dust" is reputed by farmers to kill them, and in this district 

 ■we are often asked for it to spread on Wheat, Turnip, and 

 Carrot land. It is generally supposed here that the wirewoims 

 feed on the rape dust until they burst, or are poisoned. — 

 Anthon? \V. Wilson. 



An old friend of mine, a practical Sussex farmer, was tor 

 years very much troubled with wireworms in a certain lield. 

 He tried lime, soot, and various other things to no purpose, 

 but at last ho was advised to apply rape cake ploughed in the 

 land, and it answered admirably. Ue crushed the cake to 

 about the size of horse bean?, and applied it as stated. It is 

 eaten by the wireworms most; greedily. My friend tella me he 

 thinks that the wireworms must have died from repletion, aa 

 in that field he has not been troubled with thom since. 



Kape cake is an excellent manure, and if good in the farm 

 why not in the vinery ? — An Ou) SaaeCRiaEB, Heigalc. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN OARDEN. 



ArticJwkfs (Globe), a crop may soon be planted for produoing 

 a late supply of heads; the young side shoots taken from the 

 old stools may be placed in lines 4 feet apart, allowing 18 inches 

 between the plants ; or trenches may be formed 18 inches wide, 

 and the same in depth, some well-rotted manure dug in, and 

 the plants put out as above. Asparagus, be sure to salt all 

 Asparagus and Woa-kale beds ; liitle and often is best. The 

 time is approaching for planting Aeparagus ; it should not be 

 put in until 6 or 8 inches high. Broccoli, a sowing of a late 

 spring sort may soon be made. Cauliflowers, seedling plants 

 of these, Ca6Jiaf/cs, &c., raised this spring, should be pricked 

 off when large enough, in order to become siocky for final 

 transplanting. As the future growth of the Cabbage tri';c de- 

 penda much on not being drawn when young, some attention 

 should be paid to this point when the plants are in a seedling 

 state, for the best after-ouUnre hardly compensates for the 

 first neglect. Carrob, see to the crop of the Early Horo, slugs 

 are reported to be devouring it, although liming and sprinkling 

 over with coarse sand have been practised. rJothing is better, 

 perhaps, than cinder ashes riddled extremely fine, and the 

 mere dust taken out; these, sown thickly over the ground, 

 present such a sharp macadamised kind of surface, that snails 

 and slugs are at the last point of starvation before they will 

 venture on them. Potato planting should now be finished as 

 soon as possible. Potatoes and Onions should on no account 

 be intermixed, or shaded by other oropa ; there are, however, 

 many, such as Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips, and all the Cabbage 

 family, which will not only bear being slightly shaded, but in 

 warm summers enjoy it. When, therefore, kitchen gardens are 

 small, mixed cropping ia a point to which eapeciul attention 

 should be paid. Tuo mixture must, however, bo arranged bo 

 as not to interfere with earthing up or gathering. 



FHDIT GARDEN. 



Attend carefully to the protection of blossoms of Apricots, 

 Peaches, and Nectarines, but remove the covering as frcfjuently 

 as may be convenient on fine days, so as to fully expose the 

 trees to sun and air. Have a supply of tobacco water in readi- 

 ness to attack aphides immediately they make their appearance. 

 See that all winter and early spring work amongst fruit trees is 

 brought to a close forthwith. 



KLOWKR OAIlilKN, 



As soon as the weather shall have become a little more 

 favourable, a good collection of annuals, both hardy and tender, 

 should be sown. Tor the latter a .iliglil liolbed is requisite. 

 The mote choice hardy kinds should bu bowu in patches, and 

 covered with a garden pot, taking care to itmove it in the day, 

 when they are coming up, and covering them at night. If 

 any rough or unimportant borders /! the thrnbbery require to 

 be made a little gay, and work presees, a mixture might be 

 made of some of the hardier sorts, such as Collinsias, Clarkias, 

 Mallows, Larkspurs, t!audytufts, ,?■?., and strewed at random 

 over the open part? of the borders after a thorough cleaning. 

 Dahlias should be increased without delay, liobelias should be 

 potted and put into a dung bed. Ue.man and Ten-week Stocks 

 should be sown in fresh soil in a cjld frame, or on a bed that 

 will soon cool down, and a few early Uermau Asters on a slight 

 heot. Look well to recently-transplanted trees and shrubs; do 

 not allow anything to suffer either from wind-waving, or, in the 

 event of dry weather setting in| from want of water at the roots. 

 In the case of large plants which require securing against wind, 

 use throe strong tarred cords for each ; fix them to the plant by 

 means of a collar made of strong raetallio wire, and thickly 

 wrapped round with canvas to prevent its icjuting the bark, and 

 then tie them to strong pieces of oak driven into the ground 

 at proper distances from the stem of the tree. l''or specimens 

 in prominent situations, strong galvanised wires should he 

 employed instead of cords, being neater in appearance ; allhongh 

 somewhat expensive in the first instance, Ihcy will last a life- 

 time. See tnat rolling, mowing, X-c, proceed in due course. 

 Now is the period to lay the foundation of a fine lawn. Let all 

 fresh turfing be completed forthwith. Early herbaceous plants 

 overgrown may now be divided ; the exterior portions of the 

 stools should be reserved, and the interior rejected. Be sure 

 in planting them again to introduce fresh soil. Cut in all 

 coarse shrubs before the buds become too much advanced ; 

 this is a good time to prune Holly beuges. The period has now 

 arrived when plants for out-door decoiation require attention. 

 Though prematurely, I'olyapthuses in Eome places are in full 

 bloom ; seedlings' should now be stvictly fcrntinised, and re- 

 ference made to the properties that constitute a good flovver. 

 Protection not only from late spring frosts, but from cutting 

 winds, will, however, still be necessary in many cases. Many 

 have potted a portion of their stock of Carnations and_ Pioo- 

 tees, and there appears this year to be a much greater disposi- 

 tion to spindle among the layers than usual. Keep seedling 

 Ranunculuses from frost, and throw mats over beds containing 

 choice Pansies, the hoops over which ought to be at least a 

 yard high in the centre. 



GEEENHOUSE AND CONJURV.ATOSV. 



A thorough revision of plants in the different houses where 

 plant-growing and forcing are carried ou in a mixed way is 

 necessary sometimes daring spring, and the present is as good 

 a time as any, as the shutting-up of late vineries or Peach 

 houses generally offers facilities for this arrangement, and, of 

 course, for relieving the other structures. Exhausted forcing 

 stock should by all means have a pit or frame fitted up espe- 

 cially for it. It should by no means be allowed to mix with 

 the general stock. The amateur may carry out this principle 

 with a small frame. A bed of fermenting material of a mild 

 character is required, covering it 6 or 8 inches deep with tan, 

 and preserving the heat by linings, aod by mats at night. A 

 bottom heat of 8ij , with frequent syringmgs, and the plants 

 plunged, will restore them to perfect health, and prepare them 

 for another campaign. Fuchsias will bo benefited by the ap- 

 plication of clear liquid manure. Very liberal shi(ts_ will be 

 necessary at this period, more especially for those intended 

 for very largo specimens. Cinerarias for late blooming should, 

 if pot-bound, bo shifted likewise. Let plants in need of water 

 have immediate attention ; nothing conduces more to the en- 

 couragement of insects than suffering plants to become checked 

 through drought. By starting Camellias into growth about 

 this time, and havlngtheir wood ripened early, thty will be in 

 full blossom in November, at which season their flowers retain 

 their beauty much longer than after the sun becomes powerful 

 in spring. Proceed as diligently as possible with the repotting 

 of such of the hardwooded greenhouse plants as require if. 

 Climbers beginning to push should aftor this time be frequently 

 examined to prevent confused growth. Kennedjas, if crowdec", 

 should have their shoots thinned. Ipouiwis and Thunbergias 

 being subject to red spider, should be well syringed, to prevent 

 that pest gaining ground. Where large numbers of hardy shrubs 

 are annually forced, either to decorate the drawing-room or the 



