408 



JJUKNAL OF UORTICUIiTUEiIi AKD COTTAGE GAtU-ENEB. 



( Narember 2S, 1868. 



eollectioa ; they should also be placed in the coolest part of 

 the honse.— W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST VTEBK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



IdTTLE has been done here beyond securing crops that would 

 be likely to suffer, as Lettuce, Endive, Eadishes, and Cauli- 

 flowers. Banks of Coleworts, planted even more thickly than 

 we stated, are coming in most useful. Cauliflowers out of 

 doors had a bunch of sweet litter placed over the half-swelled 

 crowns, with a broad leaf interposing between the litter and the 

 head of the Canliflower, so that the colour should not be in- 

 jured. 



Jhcnrf Kidney Beans have been sown in a mild heat and in 

 small pots to occupy little room for the present, until they are 

 planted out in masses to take the place of those now bearing 

 profusely ._ We always think that Beans obtained in November 

 and the first weeks of December are a very cheap and useful 

 crop, as for their first stages they may stand out of doors with 

 only a little protection, and we always think that a Bean that 

 has been grown under glass has a richness and crispness all its 

 own if gathered and cooked whilst it is young and tender, 

 which it seldom is when the pod shows the place where the 

 joung seed is swelling. It is best to have every pod crisp, and 

 smooth and regular in outline from end to end. The little 

 Newington Wonder makes a fine dish if its pods, when from 

 3 to 2i inches long, are cooked whole, and then the gatherings 

 are very abundant. It should be remembered by all beginners 

 that one pod on a plant swelling its seeds will exhaust the 

 plant more than a dozen where there is no appeaiance of the 

 seeds swelling. 



SeaJcale and Rlnibarb are going on well in a very mild heat 

 in the Mushroom house. We have earthed-up a third piece in 

 the Mushroom house, and put in manure for a fourth piece. 

 The first piece is just showing all over, but small at present, 

 and therefore not to hurry it too much we have put more 

 covering on our bed in the open shed, and treated it much as 

 described lately in these notices. We are slightly troubled in 

 the Mushroom house with condensed moisture falling on the 

 bed we wish to bear, and if it continue we will suspend a mat 

 or a cloth over the bed to receive the drip and throw it off the 

 bed. Though the Mushroom rejoices in a moist atmosphere, 

 it does not like this drip, and if the manure is at all fresh the 

 coloured drip will disfigure the appearance of the Mushrooms. 

 We would refer beginners to a short article that lately appeared 

 on growing Mushrooms, with the help chiefly of horse droppings. 

 We have used a great variety of materials down to stubble, as 

 forming the chief portion of our beds, but we must vary the 

 practice a little in proportion to the materials to be obtained. 

 It IS of little use saying, at the present day, ■■ It can't be done." 

 Attempts must be made with very unpromising materials, and 

 they often, with a little thought, result extremely well. 



Cucumbers.— A few lights of these in a pit are bearing too 

 proinseiy, though we cut off numbers of the fruit to ease 

 the plants. We expect such bearing will finish them about 

 Christmas, and we have three lightsful of young plants, though 

 strong, put out in large pots, so as to be more under control, 

 and from these as yet we nip off every fruit as it appears, and 

 ifwe make up our mind to keep them bearing through the 

 winter, we will not allow a fruit to swell for some weeks. We 

 in the country are often circumstanced quite differently from 

 gardeners near town. Cucumbers are often useful for shooting 

 parties, and whilst they would be most valued in spring in 

 London, they are of little value to us. Our own idea is that 

 what appears at table every day in the year, ceases to be valued, 

 and a short cessation often heightens the enjoyment. 



Leaf-collecting.— 'We have collected a good quantitv of leaves, 

 but not one-half of what we wish to have, and which we will 

 only obtain if we have a few more calm days, as, if a high wind 

 come, most of ours will be off to the valleys for miles round. 

 A fortnight ago we expected to collect some loads from the 

 pleasure grounds, but the part that was thickest was as tho- 

 roughly cleaned one morning, as if it had been carefully swept 

 with a broom. We find fault with no kind of tree leaves— Ash, 

 Elm, Beech, or Oak, all are acceptable ; for though the first do 

 not last long, they soon become a valuable vegetable mould, 

 and they yield a good heat for many purposes. Beech and 

 Oak leaves, however, are our favourities, and of the two, for 

 lasting we prefer the Oak leaves. We have known Oak leaves 

 yield a fine genial heat for a twelvemonth, and then all but the 



sides, when turned over, continue to yield heat nearly as long 

 again, especially if some fresh leaves be mixed with them. 

 For present use it matters little how they are collected, and 

 they are easiest managed in dull damp days. The damp will 

 cause them to ferment and heat at once. When intended to 

 be kept for some time, they should be collected dry, and be 

 stored under cover ; though when built in a round or oblong 

 shape out of doors, and the top tapered like a stack, they will 

 throw off the rains, and thus be dry for the most of their bulk. 

 We have taken leaves from such heaps after eighteen months 

 storage so fresh, crisp, and dry, that we had to sprinkle them 

 with water when we wished them to ferment and yield a sweet 

 heat. One great recommendation of the leaves is that the 

 heat they yield is sweet and mild at once. With abundance of 

 this material we can never be at a loss for a little sweet bottom 

 heat. 



Bottom heat used in moderation is one of the best means for 

 insuring good results ; for, as a rule, it will ever hold good, that 

 it is well to excite the roots a little bo as to have them in action 

 before the buds are greatly excited. From an old rosery we 

 mean to pot a lot of plants to produce early flowers, but we 

 could not expect to succeed if we put the plants in a mild heat 

 at first, as the buds would break before the roots were acting 

 afresh to keep up the growth. If we plunge these pots in a mild 

 heat of leaves out of doors, letting all the tops be exposed, we 

 shall have fresh roots in the pots before the buds swell much, 

 and then we can force them gently in the usual way. Some 

 so treated last winter did better with us than Roses that stood 

 in pots all the summer, and were brought gradually on without 

 this bottom heat. In all such cases, forcing bulbs, exciting 

 Strawberries, &c., it is important that the heat should not be 

 too strong, ranging from 65' to 70' and 75', and rarely above 

 it. When we go to 80°, or higher, the plants should be well 

 established, and balanced as respects roots and branches, and 

 an equivalent, though a lower temperature, given to the branches. 

 All plants, especially those fresh potted and intended to be 

 brought in early, that is, less or more forced, will be the better 

 of this mild bottom heat in the open air, whilst the tops are 

 kept cool. Even when a frame is used, the coolness at the top 

 should be secured, by air at back and front, except in the coldest 

 weather. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



The work has been very much the same as in previoua 

 weeks' notices, clearing the orchard houses of decayed foliage, 

 fresh mulching Strawberries out of doors, planting, and com- 

 mencing pruning ; and we noted that the titmouse and the 

 bullfinch have begun their unwelcome visits to Cherries and 

 Gooseberries. 



ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



The frost having left more wrecks of vegetation than were 

 fair to look upon, much time has been taken up in removing 

 the thickets of growth in beds, and heavy work it has been. 

 The lawn, however, looks cheerful where the beds are cleaned, 

 and the grass fresh swept and rolled. Where a weed ap- 

 peared on the walks, it was pulled up ; and hard swept and 

 rolled, they looked clean and cheerful, as no leaves will now 

 encumber them, unless they come from long distances. Most 

 of the scarlet Pelargoniums that were taken up and left in 

 sheds, have been pruned-in and faggoted away as closely to- 

 gether as they could be placed in boxes and pots. Of Cal- 

 ceolarias we took up a few dozens with balls, potting them where 

 growing, so that the ball should not fall off, as we want these 

 for good-looking, early- flowering plants in spring. Took up 

 lots of double Stocks, double and single Wallflowers, and placed 

 them under glass in the orchard house, as these will force a 

 little if so wanted, and flowers are valuable in spring, however 

 humble they might be considered in summer. 



Took up and potted Lihj of the Valley, and boxed more, 

 merely for the flowers. When a fine pot is wanted, only the 

 large "firm buds should be selected, end be closely packed, and 

 if they receive a little bottom heat at first, with a cool atmo- 

 sphere near the surface of the pot, they will come all the finer, 

 though it will require the best of our home growth, to equal the 

 patches that come over from the Low Countries along with the 

 bulbs, which are such an advantage to us in the winter and spring. 

 We have seen this Lily of the Valley become a perfect weed, 

 almost as difficult to destroy as so much Couch Grass ; we have 

 also seen unavailing efforts made to grow it in some places, and 

 believe that in many of these cases the failure was owing to 

 mistaken kindness and attention. It seems to delight most in 

 a firm loamy soil, and when it must be grown in a sandy or 

 chalky soil, an additional proportion of sweet rotten manure 



