482 



JOaKNAL OF HOKTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 



[ December 24, 1968. 



cistern. We presume that your flow-pipe goes from the bottom 

 of tbe cistern. In such a ease, where much water is drawn off, 

 the pipes are apt to be cooled, and hence, if we had the chance, 

 we should liiie to have the cistern heated independently of the 

 main circulation. The water would also be purer from not 

 communicating directly with the boiler, but the jilan you have 

 adopted is well worthy of consideration.] 



MILDNESS OF THE SEASON— CAMELLIA 

 FLOWERING OUT OF DOORS. 



It is not always that an autumn of unusual mildness foUo'WB 

 a summer of more than ordinai-y heat, yet such seems to be the 

 case this year ; for although we had slight frosts earlior than 

 usual, and these were followed by sharper ones in the beginning 

 of November, it has been so much milder since that time, that 

 were it not for the shortness of the days and the damp that 

 prevails, we might be led to believe ■we were advancing far into 

 April. Mild autumns and late winters, however, have occurred 

 before, as I recollect one, about fourteen or fifteen years ago, in 

 which Pelargoniums had stood through tbe dull dark days un- 

 protected, and were fresh enough to furnish cuttings in the 

 first week in February, but sliarp frost set in at that time, and 

 destroyed them and other plants. About tw enty-fom' years ago, 

 another mild autumn occurred, m which many country news- 

 papers reported that Jlushrooms were gathered in the fields up 

 to the end of Januar-y ; but these exceptional seasons .are, per- 

 haps, not the best for garden produce, as they encourage late 

 and immature growth in some plants, although as regards others 

 they may be beneficial. Amongst the latter, Roses hare flowered 

 out of doors in greater perfection than usual, and the gaiety of 

 Jasminum nuditlorum against waUs reminds one of sjrring. 

 I have been a little surprised, however, at seeing one or two 

 trusses of bloom fairlj' out on a Yellow Banksian Itosc, gr'owing 

 against a pillar in a position not by any means well sheltered, 

 and, perhaps, a more remarkable occurrence is the blooming of 

 Camellias out of doors, several very good flowers having been 

 gathered here from plants of the old Double White, that were 

 planted out about four years ago in a fully exposed place. Some 

 of the plants at the time being in bad health have recovered, and 

 look robust and well. 



Generally speaking, out-door Camellia blooms arc injiired 

 and disoolouj'cd either by the cold or wet ; birt those above re- 

 ferred to, the first I have gathered out of doors before Christmas, 

 are not in the least affected, and I would advise those who have 

 favoirrable positions for this plant, to try it outside. I need 

 hardly say that its growth is less rapid than when sheltered by 

 glass, and growing in a weU-preparcd border; but the plants 

 grow quite as rapidly as many that are kept in pots, and as 

 evergreen shrubs vie wiih any other for appearance, when they 

 are in good order. The interest, too, aftiiched to them will al- 

 ways entitle thtm to mirch consideration, to which the chances 

 of their now and then blooming wull give them an additional 

 claim. Perhaps those who have had plants out of doors for a 

 mmiber of years will stato their experience tin, i the .matter. — 



J. KOESON. r i -:_.' ; ■. [ ''r-y ■ ' 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



We see it is announced that a Horiicultueal Congkess is 

 to be held at Manchester next July, that it will be under the 

 auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society, and that Mr. T. 

 Moore is to be the Secretary. We hope it may be well attended 

 and prove satisfactory. 



Dr. M. T. Mastees, Spring Grove, Isleworth, and Mr. 



H. J. Veitch, King's Eoad, Chelsea, have been appointed re- 

 presentatives of the Horticultural Society of Russia for making 

 arrangements in this coimtry relative to the Inierxatiosai, 

 HoBTicuLTCRiL ExHiEiiioN, to be held at St. Petersburgh 

 during May next. Any person requiring relative information 

 must apply to either of the gentlemen named. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN OAEDEN. 



See that CdiiUflou-ers in all stages. Endive, Lettuce, stored 

 roots, &o., are secured from frost. As soon as the weather will 

 permit, make another sowing of any early sort of Fea and 

 Early Mazagan Beans on the breasts of wide ridges, and lest 

 the ground should be frozen har4 afterwards, so rs to impede 

 their germination or cut them oS when above the soil, have 



plenty of long litter or spruce branches in readiness to scatter 

 along the ridges. Keep up a regular supply of Asparagus, 

 Chicory, Sea-lieile, Uliuharb, &a. Where a family is constantly 

 resident, it is in general bad policy to commence forcing earlier 

 than the stock will enable one to meet the demand until a 

 supply can be had from the open ground. Fresh beds of dung 

 and leaves will require to be put in operation for Radishes, 

 Horn Carrots, Potatoes, and early Cacumhers. Take care to 

 make your beds large enough for the latter if you wish to 

 avoid trouble and annoyance afterwards. The JIushroom beds 

 out of doors will require to be carefully covered with litter and 

 mats, etc. On those who are fond of the Mushroom (and ia 

 many families it is deemed as essential to good cookery as the 

 Onion tribe), I would urge the importance of devoting to the 

 purpose a house or back shed, to be heated by hot water. A 

 good supply will thus be easily obtained, and much pleasure 

 will be experienced in witnessing the growth of tho Mush- 

 rooms. A bed completely covered with them is a beautiful 

 sight at this season. With respect to the mode of cultivation, 

 I do not think I can add much to what has been stated by Mr. 

 Fish. 



rnCIT GAEDEJJ. 



Prune and nail-in on fine days everything except Peaches, 

 Figs, Vines, and P.aspbetries ; the nailing of these had better be 

 deferred six weeks longer. V/heel dung, turn composts, and 

 exercise judgment and forethought in regulating operations 

 according to the state of the weather. PveeoUect if yon wish 

 to see y»irr men energetic, able, and willing to push through 

 labour in any emergency, you must study their health and 

 comfort by providing suitable labour in iinpropitious weather. 



FLOWER GARDES. 



Where alterations and improvements are in contemplation, 

 such as making new walks, making new flower beds, or re- 

 instating the soil of old ones where necessary, frosty weather, 

 which we may expect after tho heavy rains, rather accelerates 

 than retards such operations. Holes for planting choice or 

 new shrubs or trees may also be prepared by removing the 

 bad soil and replacing it with a compost suitible to the plants j 

 and even where trees are planted and not growing so well es 

 could be desired, the soil may be carefully removed from the 

 outer roots and replaced by proper soil. Should the weather 

 send the men in-doors, plenty of work may be found for them 

 in cutting pegs, making brooms, cleaning old flower sticks and 

 making now ones, repairing rustic baskets, and painting wire 

 trellises, garden chairs, water pots, &c. 



GREENHOUSE AND OOK.SEEVATOKT. 



Next to Luculia gratissima, Gesnera zebrina is the best con- 

 servatory plant we have in November and December ; if the 

 terminal spikes of flowers of this plant are cut ofi when they 

 are three-parts llown, and the plant returned to the stove for 

 a short time, a host of lateral spikes will come up and last 

 some time. A regular stove is far too hot for this plant when 

 in ilower, though stove culture assists it at other times ; but 

 to flower in summer a greenhouse treatment is nectssary from 

 the beginning, as already noticed. 



HOUSE PLANTS M^GENEEAI.. 



The surface soil in pots soon becomes exhausted by repeated 

 watering, and repotting is not applicable in winter, therefore 

 surfacing from time to time ^\ith a little fresh soil is all that 

 can be done at present. After removing the soil on the surface 

 of the pots, loosen the next layer down to the roots with a 

 pointed stick, mixing a portion of fresh compost with it, and 

 the next watering will carry the more sandy parts down among 

 the roots, which will be of essential service to the plants. A 

 porous surface, whether in a pot or in the field, is a point in 

 cultivation which cannot be overrated. Little air need be given 

 now to the conservatory as the forced flowers are brought in. 



STOVE. 



In reference to tho shy-blooming kinds of Orchids, the moat 

 essential part of their management is to compel them to con- 

 fine their growing season to our summers, say from the middle 

 of May to the end of August. Stauhopeas are shy bloomers in 

 the bands of some cultivators, but with ethers they flower 

 regularly. Young plants of these are more difficult to flower 

 than those which are established, because they are more liable 

 to be influenced by changes of temperature or moisture. 

 They will endure more hardships than any other of the tribe, 

 and ere therefore fit subjects for experiments. From the end 

 of September to the beginning of May give no water at the 

 roots, and from the end of November to the middle of Feb- 

 ruary the proper temperature is 55°. The atmosphere should 



