April 22, 160S). ] 



JOUliNiL OF HOBTIOOLTUHE AND OOTXAGE GABDENKB. 



270 



in frames, have been very good, and as yet have shown no 

 sign (if ilisoaae. Ciibbat;e8 iiro hearting well, and have been 

 greatly improved by the rains. Cucumbers in frames wo 

 bonked up »iih a liUie litter to keep off tlie north wind, and 

 as mobt i)f Iho bod is above grouud, wo ran laurel branches 

 through some old hurdles, and set thcra Uugthwise along tho 

 back of the bed and frame. It is astouissLiujj; how oven such a 

 protection teiuls to keep tho heat equal and regular, by in- 

 suring a gruduul decomposition of the fermenting material. 

 We have noticed this year what we have remarked in former 

 years, that of tbo same kind of Cucumber, and sown from the 

 same packet, and in the fir.st gatherini^s csptciuUy, fruit obtained 

 from a dung hotbed are smoolher-bkioued than those produced 

 in a pit heated by hot water, so much so, that they would bo 

 taken for different varieties. Sowed a small piece of early 

 Dutch Turnip and Suowball. It is hist to sow often, and but 

 little at a time at present, as the plants soon run to seed, and 

 are then of no use. Pricked-out Cauliflower. Planted Sweet 

 Herbs, Chives, Shallots, Garlic, &c. 



PROIT GAKDEN. 



The week of hot weather opened Cherry blossoms as if 

 by magic, so that we were too late to give some of the trees 

 the dressing with lime, &c., that wo intended for them. Many 

 of onr rows of Strawberries were shrivelled-np last season by 

 the drought, and though they became greenish in tho autumn, 

 ■we find that they will not knot for bloom quite so fully as 

 they need to do. The scarcity and tho lateness of runners 

 also rather told against our forcing plants, tho flower trusses of 

 the earliest coming smaller than usual. Later ones, having 

 more time, promise to be stronger and better. We hope some 

 time to have a small house for Strawberries. We prefer a 

 house to a pit because more light is thus obtained, and the 

 plants can be attended to in all weathers. Most of us have to 

 make shift in every open space in a house where there is heat 

 for Strawberries, and they do not thus obtain full justice, and 

 when forced to move them we are almost siu'e less or more to 

 check or injare. Our finest forced Strawberries were always 

 obtained when from the time the plants showed, bloom they 

 stood in the same place until Iho fruit was gathered. Most of us 

 have to move the plants at times, as, for a particular purpose, 

 we moved a lot last week from an average night temperature of 

 55° to one of 60° and 65°, in order to lipen the fruit sooner. 

 One essential to flavour is if you cannot givo the fruit some 

 hours' sunshine before gathering, the pots should be allowed to 

 become as dry as the plants will bear without materially suffer- 

 ing. Other matters, as thinning shoots of Peach trees, were 

 much the same as in the previous week. In the hot days 

 syringed floors and pathways several times a-day, merely 

 sprinkling them. Tiied to keep the latest vinery back with all 

 possible air to be safe ; but the Vines would break and grow 

 in spite of ns. We have, therefore, shut the house up in the 

 afternoon, but will give little or no artificial heat, unless in a 

 very cold night, for some time. 



OBNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



Much time has been taken up with rolling and mowing lawns. 

 It is best when the rolling is done two or three days before 

 mowing, so that the grass can be quite upright again. Orouud 

 fresh-turfed in autumn and winter, when relied after the rains, 

 looked like an old lawn of a do^en years' duration. Turfing, 

 like planting, should be done early if the most economical 

 success is desired. In the great space of turfing done we do 

 not anticipate that even a hot summer will make any cracks ; 

 but if a few appear we fhall fill tbem with fine soil — a better 

 method than attempting to water them. In all evergreen 

 shrubs and trees planted early in winter we see no signs, of 

 going back, and this rain will greatly help them ; but evergreens 

 planted in spring winced under the hot sunny days, and will 

 lose at least a number of their leaves. Some specimen plants 

 removed only lately, we shall keep slightly protected from sun 

 and wind by means of a few laurel boughs tied together at the 

 points, and at a distance from tbem. Tbe withered laurel 

 leaves are anything but an ornament, but tbsn they serve the 

 purpose, and will be removed when the fresh growth is pro- 

 ceeding freely. We would rather have the ugly look for six 

 weeks than a dead or dying plant at midsummer. 



Soies. — Pruned all fresh-planted Eoses, except those not yet 

 growing much. In pruning now we cut buck rather closely, 

 depending on the buds showing, as these will come strong 

 enough when the top of the shoot is removed. We were afraid 

 to cut back during the cold parching winds, as then the yonng 

 growth that would have come from the base of the shoots might 

 have been injured. We could be more independent in this 



matter as respects early Hoses, as to succeed those forced we have 

 alot against a wall that were pruned-in early and protected after- 

 wards with laurel boughs. Wo shall not quite remove these 

 until we see what the weather may be. I'rom the wall wo thus 

 obtain Hoses very early. We shoirld like much to have a glass 

 house in the orchard-house style for Hoses alone. Even without 

 artificial heat Euees could be gathered from such u house all 

 the year, with tho exception of a few of tho darkest bnd coldest 

 months. 



Florists' Fhwers. — Hyacinths and Tulips done flowering in 

 pots, should, if possible, be kept under glass until the foliage, 

 after growing vigorously, begins to decay, and then the bulbs 

 will bo useful. Tlie best Hyacinth and Tulip beds out of doors 

 should now bo protected from high winds and drenching rains, 

 as Tulips, especially, are easily injured. Where Anemones and 

 Eanunculutos require it, the ground should be firmed against 

 the plants, and then left rough on the surface. Auriculas, 

 whether under a glass house, frame, or hand-light, should be 

 carefully watered, and tho swelling pips kept separate with 

 little pellets of dry moss, or dark-coloured cotton wadding. 

 Carnationf, Picotees, &o., to bloom in pots, should now be 

 placed in them, using fresh sandy loam, enriched with rotten 

 cow dung, or hotbed manure, and after they begin to grow 

 freely in the fresh soil tl ey should be top-dressed with similar 

 rotten manure. The soil should be carefully examined for 

 wireworm and other enemies. A good plan in particular cases 

 is to heat the soil iu an oven, or by the side of a fireplaca, so as 

 to cause all intruders to scamper, and then expose it to sun and 

 air for a fortnight, watering it previously if too dry. Under 

 such treatment the soil will bo well aired and free from in- 

 truders. We have grown such plants in pots with great success, 

 but except to please a florist's refined eye, we always thought 

 the whole of the pot system had about it " much cry and little 

 wool;" and when we commence growing Carnations and 

 Picotees largely again, we shall try to have fine plants in the 

 open ground, from which we can cut handfuls if not armfuls of 

 blooms. To meet changes of taste, and we may as well confess 

 it, being beaten by rabbits and hares, we have done little lately 

 with these lovely flowers, but we have had even large beds of 

 the Perpetual section which no group of bedding plants could 

 excel for brilliancy. For a few fine florists' flowers, grow the 

 plants in pots. For lasketsful of flowers grow them in rich, 

 well-pulverised soil iu the open garden. 



Hardy Anmials. — All of these may be safely sown from the 

 middle of this mouth, and with, in many cases, better prospects 

 of success than if sown early, as the plants grow without a 

 check, and therefore, if sown thinly, or thinned early, will 

 grow vigorously. We have sown at the end of February, in the 

 middle and end of March, and the first fortnight of April, and 

 almost invariably in stiffish soil the last sowing did best and 

 bloomed earliest. When hardy annuals are wanted early they 

 should be sown in September, and a few twigs stuck among 

 them will often enable them to pass through even hard winters; 

 in fact, a frosty and snowy winter is often less injurious to 

 them than a close, mild, damp winter, like that through which 

 we have passed. V/heu their seeds are to be sown in borders 

 without any definite plan, the old plan of drawing a circle with 

 a pointed stick and sowing in the circle is as good as any. 

 When a well-formed bed of a single annual is desired, it is a 

 good plan to sow in lines, and but for the greater trouble when 

 a very regular bed is desirable it is worth while to sow in small 

 round patches, and cover each with a 5 or (i-inch pot until the 

 seeds appear, and then edge the pot up on one side for a few 

 days, and replace it in cold nights. Two points more may 

 be kept iu mind — first, beware of burying the seeds. Dust- 

 like seeds should merely have a dust-like covering. Avoid 

 sowing when the soil is cloggy and wot, or if from combined 

 wet weather you cannot have the soil dry enough, keep a little 

 fine, dry, sandy loam in reserve, whicli you can sprinkle over 

 your seeds. When you sow without this precaution in wet 

 soil, the seeds are apt to be hermetically sealed up from the 

 air, and germination is impossible. If sown when the soil is 

 somewhat dry no rains will have Ihat effect, as they merely 

 moisten the seed in passing it, and take air along with them. 

 Lists of the best hardy annuals have been frequently given by 

 ourselves and others. 



Half-!ianly Annuals.— By the time this is in print we shall 

 be sowing or preparing to sow ours, either in pots or on a 

 slight hotbed, as Stocks, Asters, Zinnias, Marigolds, Chry- 

 santhemums, ito., and some hardy annuals we may wish to 

 tise as groundwork or as edgings. We know that in most calen- 

 dars, this work is recommended to be done at least sis 



