278 



JOURNAL OP HORTIOULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. 



[ April 22, 18B9. 



white, like those of very fine Cauliflowers, whieh, in fact, they 

 closely reeembla in appoeranee, except that the leaves are not 

 so plane as those of the Cauliflower. In constitution, however, 

 the Broccoli is different. It will stand the winter cokl and the 

 summer heat much bet*er, and for the winter the seed may be 

 sown ia August in sheltered situations, or under hand-glasses, 

 allowing plenty of air. CcUry, continue to prick-out; this 

 must always be kept well supplied with water. Cauliflowers, 

 draw up the soil to the most forward, and give plentiful ap- 

 plications of liquid manure. Prick-out the seedling plants of 

 the earliest-sown Brussels Sprouts and Savoijs, to have them 

 stocky for final planting. The young plants of Asjiaragm will 

 now be ready for planting in beds, which it is hoped have been 

 properly prepared ; let the roots be carefully lifted with a strong 

 fork, and after planting give a good supply of water to settle 

 the soil about thpm. Sow cow a full crop of Dwarf Kidney 

 Beans and Scarlet Runners ; sow aho a full crop of lied Beet, if 

 not already done. Eepeat the sowings of Lettuces of all sorts, 

 and thin-out and tranapLmt those advancing as occasion may 

 require. Sow a good breadth of Txtrnips, the ground for which 

 should be well dressed with wood ashes, or charred refuse. 

 When Potatoes are above ground, draw a little dry soil over 

 them for fear of injury from frost. 



TBDIT GAItDEN. 



See that plantations of Strawberries are free from weeds. 

 Those plants that have been forced may now be planted in 

 ground thoroughly prepared by trenching and manuring, put- 

 ting them in rows 2 feet apart, and 1 foot apart in the rows, 

 and watering occasionally should the weather prove dry. See 

 that the soil is kept well pulverised about the roots of trees, and 

 that all newly-planted trees are sufiiciently mulched. Keep a 

 good lookout for the numerous tribes of insects, and apply 

 remedies in time. Continue, moderately, the disbudding of 

 Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots. When Vines have shot 

 anfficiently to distinguish (ho fruit-bearing shoots let all super- 

 fluous ones be immediattly removed. Examine frequently 

 grafts, removing on every occasion the wild shoots. Search 

 for and destroy caterpillar?, which frequently cause serious 

 injury to the young shoots. An application of tobacco water to 

 Peach trees infested with the fly, will be found useful in re- 

 pressing them. Avoid trampling about the roots of wall trees, 

 particularly those newly planted. 



FLOWKR GAUDEN. 



The flower beds should be well dug and fully prepared 

 for the reception of the summer plants some time previous to 

 planting. Disbud Eoses. Proceed with weeding when the 

 walks are damp. Should dry weather ensue water should 

 be liberally supplied to evergreens lately removed. Select 

 tall plants of Fuchsias for bedding. Prick-out and encourage 

 the growth of seedlings of Campanula carpatica. Petunias, 

 Lobelia ramosa, and similar plants. Propagate Tagetes lucida ; 

 its bright yellow blossoms assist to give brilliancy to the par- 

 terre. At this season those who cultivate annual flowering 

 plants must be on the alert to afford a timely thinning, for iJE 

 the plants be left in the crowded state in which they spring up, 

 they will prevent each other from attaining anvthing like an 

 average degree of perfection. Pot-off seedling Dahlias as they 

 acquire strength into thumb pots, and retain them in the same 

 temperature as that in which they were raised. Harden-off 

 cuttings which have been potted prep iratory to planting-out. 

 Seedling Auriculas must; be carefully kept "from the sun, the 

 direct rays will speedily destroy them. Seed may be sown. 

 The main stock will now be coming into full bloom. In order 

 to prolong the season of these beautiful flowers, it will be ne- 

 cessary to remove them to a stage having a northern aspect, 

 over which a light awning of calico must be spread. At the 

 end oi the week seeds of Carnations and Picotees fhould be 

 sown in vegetable mould, mixed with sandy loam. It is a bad 

 plan to sow sooner, as the plants are apt to become gross in 

 habit, and, consequently, unable to t-ffectually withstand the 

 effects of frost. Examine daily the traps for wireworms (slices 

 of Potatoes) placed in pots or beds whero there is a suspicion of 

 these pests lurking. Top-dress Pinks, and strike cuttings of 

 Fansies. 



GKEENHOTJSB AKD CONSERVATORY. 



Greenhouse E']odi)deudrons flourish in light, fibrous heath 

 soil, and should he allowed plenty of it, for they am not beneflted 

 by freqnent shifting; repotting should be performed imme- 

 diately after blooming — that is to say, as soon as the flowers 

 begin to fade. While growing the plants should be kept in a 

 temperature of 55° or 60°, and receive a liberal supply of 

 water ; fresh growth usually occurs about this time or the be- 



ginning of May, Bometimeg a week or two later, according to 

 the period of flowering, and the foi'matio:^ of the new wood 

 generally occupies three or four weeks. After this follows the 

 most particular point of their management. It the watering and 

 warm temperature be continued beyond the period necessary for 

 the due completion of this first growth, another production of 

 new wood immediately follows, which is the sole cause of the 

 non-production of flowers. Water and liquid manure should 

 now be applied most abundantly to strong-growing climbers 

 and other plants that are turned out in the conservatory per- 

 manently, or growing in large tubs or pots. In the case of 

 those plants that are introduced from the stove, forcing pit, &c., 

 merely for the blooming seapoa, of course great care must be 

 taken in the application of water, otherwise disease will be the 

 result, and a host of troublesome insects will be the continual 

 after-pest. Continue to stop, prune, or pinch-back all unruly- 

 growing shoots in due time, and see that the plants done 

 flowering fiom other structures are put to rest, returned to 

 their natural positions, pruned back, repotted, and their growth 

 again encouraged in due season. 



STOVE. 



Continue to give liberal shifts to the free-growing young 

 stock, selecting healthy fibrous soils, with sharp gritty sand, 

 applying wlien necessary stimulating food in the shape of clear 

 tepid manure water, frequently syringing, giving slight shade 

 in hot weather for a few hours, taking it oft early, shutting up 

 early in the afternoon, and raising at all seasonable times a 

 kindly humidity by damping the floors, walls, and pots. Apply 

 clear soot water occasionally with tho syringe to such plants 83 

 are subject to the attacks of scale or coccus. 



PITS AND FltAMES. 



Continue to pot-o£f rooted cuttings as soon as they are in a fit 

 state for the purpose. As little dangeris now to be apprehended 

 from frost it will be well to remove all litter, fern, &c., to its 

 proper place. Make room in a cold pit for late flowering Cal- 

 ceolarias and Pelargoniums, and continue to repot in succession 

 these useful flowering plants, — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



Asparagus. — We lately mentioned slightly hoeing and salt- 

 ing the beds, and though looked for, not a shoot was seen, so 

 as to be injured ; yet so warm were some days, the thermo- 

 meter mounting up to summer heat, that we gathered a good 

 dish on the 15ih, where a few days before not a shoot was 

 visible. Now, too, the Sea kale from under pots out of doors, 

 without any artificial heat, is excellent, most shoots being 

 about as thick as an ordinary man's wrist, and such shoots 

 properly cooked when not more than 6 inches long, give one an 

 idea of what Sea-kale is, or ought to be. With all our care in 

 cutting it when short, this vegetable is apt to be a little watery 

 in winter. 



Slates for Blanching Endive — ^We notice this as a precaution. 

 The plan answers well in c .1 1 or dull weather, but not in a 

 bright sun. Wishing to have in quickly some fine heads that 

 were in the open air, slates were laid over them, but the bright 

 days in the beginning of the week destroyed the heads, burning 

 them up com|iletely. We forgot for the moment how hot a 

 dark slate may be made by the strength of the sun's rays. If 

 the slates had been whitened outside, or even a little litter 

 placed over them, the blanching would have been effected, and 

 no injury would have been done to the Endive. Fortunately 

 we had some fine heads, each merely covered with a flower pot 

 pressed firmly into the ground, and a piece of turf laid over the 

 hole in the reversed pot. We never think so much of Endive 

 as of Lettuces, but the milk-white Endive made the greener 

 Lettuce look all the better. 



The wet of the IGib, and the ceaseless rain on the 17th, pre- 

 vented our sowing, and proceeding with other operations, and 

 the work, therefore, has been merely attending to the doings of 

 previous weeks. The warm weather is bringing on the Broccoli 

 rather too fast for us, but it will aho help us with the Cauli- 

 flower. We grow the bulk of our Ehabarb on a north border, 

 and though the soil is a stiff loam, we have remirked for years 

 that we are rather earlier than in gardens with lighter soil, and 

 in warmer and more shelleied places. Ours has grown 

 very fast during the week, but we expect the north wind ac- 

 companying the heavy raiu of the 17th will keep things a 

 little back. Ooions, Lettuces, and other seeds, are coming np 

 well, and Potatoes are shoiving at the feet of walls, so as to 

 succeed those that received protection. Aahleaf Kidneys, &c., 



