November 2G, 186a J 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICDLTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



407 



Cororaanilel Coast," and Sir W. Ilooker'a " Filioes Exoticw." 

 BplendiiUy bound, and tlio presentation duly recorded on the 

 binding. 



It 19 intended to hold an " Intehnational Horticdl- 



TURAL AND FLOHicuLTniUL EXHIBITION " AT HAJiiiUUG early in 

 the SHpiemlior of next year. Prizes are to be ()ivon for Culti- 

 vated Vej^etalileB, Fruits, Flowers, Garden Buildings and Ap- 

 pliances, and for Seeds and other articles. The proposed site 

 for the Exhibition is in a park on a bank of the Elbe. The 

 guarantee fund has been satisfactorily arrant^ed, ami a Com- 

 mittee formed, who promise ere Iouk to publish full details. 

 Exhibitors will bo invited from all Europe, Auierira, and 

 elsewhere. Dr. C. H. Merck has been appointed CImirman of 

 the Committee ; Senator C. De Chapeaurouge its Vice-Chair- 

 man, and Mr. E. L. Behrens, Treasurer. 



All oummuuictttions should be addressed to Dr. Donnenborg 

 and Dr. Gii.zo, Advocates, Hohe Bleichen, 16, Hamburg. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Artichokes (Globe), protect the roots for the winter. Aspara- 

 gus, examine that in frames. Cckrtj, earth-up when you can, 

 and dig, trench, or ridge all vacant ground. Caulijlinccrs, 

 Endive, Lettuce, Radislux, and small Saladiiig will be quite 

 safe where they are in pits or frames, as there is little difficulty 

 in protecting them frost under such circumstances. Although 

 we do not yet expect much severe weather, no time should be 

 lost in securing plenty of Endive, and Cauliflowers of the June 

 and July sowings, to be protected with straw or reed covers in 

 tarf pits. In making these covers, take three slips of wood, 

 from 2 to 2J inches broad, and from one-half to three-quarters 

 of an inch thick, according to the intended length and width 

 of the cover ; put two pieces for the sides of the cover at the 

 distance of from 3 to 4 feet apart, and the third in the middle, 

 between the two ; nail pieces of wood of similar thickness across 

 the two ends, and in the intervening space use lighter wood at 

 the distance of from 1 foot to 11 foot apart : turn the frame of 

 wood thus formed, and fill it neatly with reeds or straw to the 

 thickness of the three longitudinal pieces, then nail on slips of 

 wood opposite to those on the other tide, cut the ends of the 

 straw, and the cover is fit either for turf pits or glass frames. 

 The using lighter wood for the cross pieces in the middle is 

 for the purpose of causing less strain to be placed on the longi- 

 tndinal pieces when moving the covers, also for rendering these 

 lighter. Wheat straw is preferable to reeds, as being lei-s ex- 

 pensive and not so liable to break when exposed to frost and 

 wet alternately ; but the straw ought to be drawn before the 

 crop is threshed, and all the ears cut off, otherwise it will be 

 braised by the flail or machine, and the ears will not only act 

 like a sponge in retaining moisture, but will offer an induce- 

 ment to birds to pull the covers to pieces. Such covers are 

 not quite so eilectual in excluding rain as painted canvas, 

 glazed calico, &u., but they are a valuable protection from frost, 

 are inexpensive where straw is to be had, and afford employ- 

 ment to labourers in unfavourable weather, lilmbarb and 

 Seakale, the most economical method of growing the latter is 

 te sow every year and take up and force it when of sufficient 

 size. Tbose who depend on beds out of doors for the first 

 supply must examine the state of their fermenting material, to 

 see that it is not becoming overheated ; nothing is better than 

 tree leaves alme. Those who desire a tolerably early supply 

 with little trouble should cover their beds with any litter they 

 can procure, so as to prevent the escape of the heat now exist- 

 ing in the soil. You must not overlook the Sprinii Broccoli. 

 The plauts have been growing luxuriantly all along, and 

 although they seldom suffer from frost until January, they had 

 better now or very soon be inclined with their heads towards 

 the north. Whether it is from the cheek they thus receive, or 

 from being less exposed, or from both, they are much safer in 

 this way than left upright. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



Those who find that the leaves of their Peach trees are still 

 in a green adherent state, had better protect the trees slightly 

 by means of straw-ropes, netting, or sticking fern, &c., among 

 the branches, as a sudden check to growth after such mild 

 weather would be more prejudicial now than after the trees 

 had become accustomed to variations of temperature. In a 

 garden in this neighbourhood I have seen some Currant 

 .IMS trained with clean stems 4 feet high, and their tops 



looked like the heads of standard Eoses. When the bushes 

 are pruned about this time short cuttings are made of the 

 middle part of the slioots, with only two eyes at top. and are 

 planted in a rich bed in a shaded place, and watered wtU in the 

 summer. Some of them will be long enough for standards the 

 first season, and all of them in the following one. The reason 

 for discarding the bottom of the shoots is, that many latent 

 e.ves lire formed there which cannot bo seen and picked out, 

 but which would push afterwards as suckers. Two eyes are to 

 be left in case one should fail, but only the strongest shoot is 

 to be allowed to grow, and the cutting ought to be short, so 

 that the shoot may grow from the surface of the ground, and 

 thus look clean and straight all the way up, which could not be 

 the case if the cutting were far out of the ground, because 

 the young shoot would form a " knee " with the top of the 

 cutting. 



FLOWILR GARDEN. 



As the leaves are now all in a great measure off the trees, 

 the pruning of common shrubs may be proceeded with, and 

 the border put in order for the season. As the ground mast 

 be cleared of leaves, it is best, when they are not wanted for 

 other purposes, to draw them into ridges in the back part of 

 the shrubbery, and there to let them rot, to be distributed over 

 the ground about this time twelvemonth. It is not a bad plan 

 to fill holes intended for American and other choice plants 

 with wet leaves, and to place the ball level with the surface of 

 the ground ; as the leaves decay, the plant will sink to its 

 proper level and grow admirably. 



GREENHOnSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



The earliest of the Chrysanthemums will now be nearly 

 over, and when they are turned out the best way is not to cut 

 them down, as is generally done, but to store them in light 

 dry soil under a west wall, turned out of the pots ; the tops 

 being left on will keep the suckers more backward, and also 

 shelter them in some measure. The less the suckers grow 

 before March the better plants they will make next year. 

 Spring-forced Camellias now in bloom should be guarded 

 against currents of cold air and damp. Cinerarias, which are 

 great ornaments for the conservatory in winter, are thirsty 

 plants, and good subjects on which to try experiments with 

 some of the new fertilisers, mixed with the water given them; 

 they are also liable to the attacks of insects, which, unless 

 looked after, will soon establish themselves among other 

 plants. The fine large varieties of the Chinese Primrose, 

 although they grow well near the glass, do best in shaded 

 places where the sun cannot reach them. Two parts rough 

 leaf mould, and one of very old cow dung, with a little sand, 

 form the best compost for them, and in this they like plenty 

 of moisture. Besides the double white and double pink, which 

 are very showy at this season, there are sorts of all shades 

 from pure white to very dark purple, and some with fringed 

 edges, which look gay. The late mild foggy weather has been 

 a trying time for delicate young plants, and sometimes fires 

 have been in requisition for a few hours in the middle of the 

 day. The double Roman Narcissus of the shops is the first of 

 the forced bulbs to be in bloom in the conservatory ; those who 

 potted this and the Hyacinth early last August will in a few 

 days see them in bloom. Cuttings taken off the tops of Ges- 

 nera zebrina after the flower buds were formed, are also now 

 coming on to succeed the old plants, and, like cuttings of the 

 Hydrangea similarly treated, flower almost as strongly as if 

 left on the parent plant, and, as tbey stand dry heat, are ex- 

 cellent little ornaments to the sitting-room. Plants of Euphor- 

 bia jacquiniiefiora cut down last January are now coming fairly 

 into flower ; they also stand dry heat, and will do in a sitting- 

 room for two months. Moss Koses will soon be in ; the mild- 

 ness of the last two months was in their favour, as they disUke 

 strong fire heat. This is the time to test the best stock to graft 

 Roses on for forcing. Dog Eoses make slow stocks compared 

 with the old China or Boursairlt ; but, of course, to begin in 

 January or February to force Eoses, they wiU do well enough 

 on any stock and with little forcing. 



STOVE. 



The Clerodendron splendens prefers a cool shady part of the 

 stove, and is better fitted for an intermediate house, but it will 

 grow freely in a good conservatory if not allowed much light, 

 which is disagreeable to it when growing. There is little doubt 

 but that many other stove plants will prove sufficiently hardy 

 to do in the conservatory, and this is ttie best time to begin 

 the experiment. Look out duplicates, and place them by them- 

 selves to be kept drier through the winter than the rest of the 



