M 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTICDLTDRE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ Jalr 9, 



18 dull or clear. Bear in mind that watering by dribblets and 

 often, out-doors or in-doors, is the most fruitful source of ruin 

 to plants. Give onongh to reach every fibre when you give 

 any. 



To be consistent when, in accordance with the above, we 

 speak of refreshing plants with the syringe, or even watering; 

 overhead with the rose of a watering-pot, we say we have no 

 objection to that being frequently done, when the object chiefly 

 aimed at is the mere refreshing of the foliage, or, as in the case 

 of newly-turned-out or newly-potted plants, it is to diminish 

 evaporation from the foliage until in their new position the 

 balance between roots, and stems and leaves be again restored. 

 Just as a good wash or a bath refreshes us when travel-stained 

 and tired, so the water, however communicated, does refresh 

 the foliage of plants, and we would use the syringe, garden 

 engine, and rose watering-pot much more in this way if we 

 oould, only we must not suppose that this surface-refreshing 

 will serve long as a substitute for a due amount of moisture at 

 the roots. In watering the roots in some cases, even out of 

 doors, it is useful to use the rose of a watering-pot, as thus 

 more air is conveyed by the water-drops into the soil, and if 

 all the roots are reached, it is of less consequence how the 

 moisture gets there, provided that the caked surface which 

 would result from such frequent rose-waterings is guarded 

 against by frequent surface-stirring. Vfe prefer for general 

 waterings the pail or the spout of the watering-pot, as thus we 

 send the water intended for the roots at once where it is wanted, 

 and with the least caking at the surface. Even in thus water- 

 ing a flower bed we generally stir the surface soon afterwards, to 

 prevent anything like a caked surface. Plants in a bed out of 

 doors, or in-doors in a pot, will thrive all the better and be more 

 benefited by the watering if the surface soil is loose instead of 

 hard or caked. The natural tendency of much rose-watering is 

 to make a hard surface. In this dry weather, though we knew 

 our flower plants in beds wanted no more water at the roots, 

 we knew they would have thriven better — that is, grown up- 

 wards faster if we could have moistened their foliage every 

 afternoon or evening, but that mere refreshing would have been 

 different from an attempted watering, which would have wet 

 the soil for one-eighth or even one-fourth of an inch deep. 

 It is such waterings we wish to guard people against, as in 

 general they are worse than useless, so far as the roots are 

 concerned. 



For merely refreshing the foliage or lessening evaporation, 

 we prefer the syringe or the engine to the rose of a watering- 

 pot, as the water can then be thrown on much more lightly, 

 but a practised workman can use the rose also lightly. When 

 it is attempted to reach the roots by rose-waterings, it is im- 

 portant to keep the rose low, as then the water, having less 

 force, will not cake the surface so much. In watering with the 

 spout of a pot, the same mode is also of importance, and if 

 not looked after common labourers will quite disregard it, as 

 they stand nearly erect, hold the pot well up, and send out the 

 jet with force enough to tear the soil from small plants. The 

 end of the spout should be close to the ground, and the water 

 b9 poured gently out, and if the surface is too dry to receive it 

 it is best to come over the ground several times instead of 

 having the water running to waste, or in rivulets to one place 

 near the edge where least wanted. One man will thus water 

 as if he thought of a gentle shower-bath for himself ; another 

 will water as if he thought, if thinking formed any item in the 

 case, that if a jet of water were to be poured on his head, the 

 more feet of descent the jet had, and, consequently, the greater 

 its momentum and force the more refreshing it would be. 

 After all such waterings stir the surface as soon as dryish, to 

 keep moisture in and to admit air. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



Much the same as last week. Gathered most of the Black 

 Onrrants, Bed and White for preserving, also Raspberries, 

 knowing that owing to the flocks of blackbirds we should soon 

 have few to gather. Netted the Currants and Gooseberries left, 

 but even that will only be a partial protection. For a few 

 weeks our winged visitors were comparatively few, and thrushes, 

 especially, we picked up dead and dying from the drought ; but 

 now blackbirds have come to us in myriads. What fruit we 

 cannot keep without protection, even though green, seems to 

 be safe enough in neighbouring villages, even when entirely 

 unprotected, but that, we believe, is partly owing to the want 

 of shrubs in which to shelter, and still more to the presence of 

 many children, from whom birds instinctively keep aloof. We 

 shaU commence directly to prick-out and layer Strawberries 

 for next season's forcing, and we have planted-out the greater 



portion of those forced last season. It is important where birds 

 are very numerous to plant Strawberries in beds or quarters so 

 as to be easily netted. 



We shall be obliged to water Peach and Apricot trees out of 

 doors to keep the fruit from falling. Apricots need more 

 moisture at the roots than the Peach, and so much is this the 

 case that in some places where the Apricots were a comparative 

 failure, they succeeded after the borders were watered in 

 summer and autumn. The moisture at the roots seems almost 

 as indispensable as dry air when in bloom. All fruit houses 

 wanted extra watering. The Peach house where the fruit is 

 now becoming thin has had plenty of air night and day. but 

 the front air-openings had all to be netted, as the blackbirds 

 had attacked the fruit, which we never knew them do before. 

 They are more shy of going in at the slid sashes at the top of 

 the house. In our orchard houses we have had such birds, 

 pheasants, and even peacocks nibbling the Cherries, getting 

 in by the front openings, but as yet none have gone in at the 

 top ventilators. The weather has been everything for securing 

 good-flavoured Melons. A little shade is serviceable to most 

 things in such weather, and it renders frequent waterings less 

 necessary. All fruit plants in pots will be benefited by rich 

 mulchings of rotten dung, &c. 



ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



Our lawn at length is becoming brown, even in our heavy 

 loamy soil, and until it turn green again the beauty of the 

 flower garden will be greatly marred. With little watering, 

 given chiefly to the roots, and the most part of the surface 

 left loose and dry, the quantity of bloom is greater than we 

 could have expected. A good watering to a long row of scarlet 

 Gladiolus acted almost like magic. As we knew the bulbs were 

 strong and rather deep we had left them to themselves, with 

 the exception of a little mulching of rotten dung. We noticed, 

 however, that the points of a number of leaves were becoming 

 brownish, and only a very few flower spikes were showing. 

 After stirring the surface we gave a good soaking of sewage, 

 and the very next morning there were hundreds of spikes peep- 

 ing from their sheaths, and every vestige of distress in the 

 foliage was gone. If this weather continue we must give 

 another watering eight days hence. Without it we are sure 

 that the spikes would have been poor. 



Twigged and otherwise secured plants in flower beds unsafe 

 in our windy place. Hollyhocks and Dahlias will require 

 more attention than they have yet received. One part of our 

 Eoses we have been obliged to leave to themselves, and they 

 have given more cut flowers than we could have expected. Our 

 best flowers have come from where the plants have several 

 times been watered with sewage, &c. For first-rate Roses 

 these things are almost essential — the best sorts, a loamy soil, 

 plenty of rotten manure incorporated with the soil, a mulching 

 in dry seasons, and plenty of manure water after the buds are 

 fairly formed. Under these conditions we can smile at Rose 

 enemies. The watering with us this season has been mostly 

 out of the question. Now is a good time to insert buds on 

 Briar or other stocks, and every young gardener, even for his 

 own advantage, ought to practise budding even in his own 

 time, that he may be expert at such pleasing work. For gentle- 

 men, however, it is generally cheapest to purchase budded 

 plants, just as a man whose sole work is to propagate young 

 Heaths, will turn them out at a price which no gentleman's 

 gardener could imitate, with hundreds of other matters demands 

 ing his daily attention. 



It is now a good time to sow thinly Brompton and Queen 

 Stocks, to receive a little protection in winter. As soon as we 

 can we shall begin putting in cuttings of Verbenas, as now 

 they are mostly free from their usual enemies, the worst of which 

 is thrips, and it will be almost sure to come if this dry weather 

 continue, and we have but little water to counteract it. As yet 

 we have not lost a 'plant, '^and even [the thirsty Calceolaria is 

 still not affected. We would like to prune a number of Laurels it 

 we could. It is best to use the knife, as thus the cutting may 

 be almost concealed. 



In plant houses the chief object has been to keep them 

 moist by syringing the stages, floors, &c., and yet waste as 

 little water as possible. Plants set out of doors have been 

 kept rather shady. When placed full in the sun the pots 

 should be protected from the fierce rays. After the plants are 

 kept a little shaded for a few days they will mostly stand the 

 sun uninjured, but the roots close to the sides of the pot, when 

 equally exposed, will be more or less injured, water how you 

 may. 

 Pticked-o2 numbers of Cinerarias and Primulas, and potted 



