30 



JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. 



[ January 9, 1868. 



rounded at the apex, and tapering gradually to the stalk, even and 

 regular in its outline. Skin smooth, pale green at first, but 

 changing as it ripens to a pale lemon yellow, without any colour 

 next the sun, and marked with a few traces of thin pale russet. 

 Eye quite open, with short segments, and placed in a very flat 

 and shallow depression. Stalk 1 j inch long, slender and woody, 

 inserted in a small round and narrow cavity. Flesh white, 

 rather firm, not buttery, nor very juicy, sweet, and with a 

 distinct almond flavour and perfume, but with no character in 

 it to merit notice. 



An inferior Pear, ripe in the beginning of September, and 

 soon rots at the core. 



The tree bears well and regularly, and forms a handsome 

 pyramid on the Quince. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



We are happy to hear that the Crown has decided to relieve 

 Me. Ixgbam from the care of the Eoyal Gardens at Frogmore, 

 an office which he has held with great credit to himself for a 

 period of fifty-four years, and that an ample retiring pension 

 has been conferred upon him. Four years ago, when Mr. 

 Ingram had completed his fiftieth year in the service of the 

 Crown, a number of his friends presented him with a handsome 

 testimonial, as a mark of their esteem for him as a friend, and 

 of their appreciation of those qualities which enabled him to 

 fill for so many years, and during so many reigns, a position 

 of high trust not unattended with some difficulty. During his 

 active career Mr. Ingram has rendered good service to the 

 profession he so much adorned, as is testified by the many 

 varieties of fruits which bear his name and that of the Eoyal 

 garden, as well as several florists' flowers which have taken a 

 prominent place in our gardens. We congratulate Mr. Ingram 

 on this termination to bis long and active labours; and we 

 know that he will carry with him into his retirement the good 

 wishes of his friends and of all with whom he has come in 

 contact in his professional capacity. 



With the beginning of the year a new series of " The 



Florist and Pomologist" was commenced,which in all respects, 

 as regards the i)lates, typography, and literary matter, is not 

 surpassed by any other pictorial gardening periodical. The 

 plate contained in the first number is worth all the money 

 charged for the magazine itself, and illustrates two extraordinary 

 Begonias, introduced by the Messrs. Veitch & Sons, the flowers 

 of which are as large as those of the Christmas Eose, and the 

 plants themselves perfectly hardy. The moderate price of 

 one shilling, at which the magazine is published, brings it 

 within the reach of aU who wish to keep informed of the in- 

 troduction and dehneation of the best novelties. 



WORK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAKDEN. 



At this season, when there is little cropping to be done, 

 everything should be made clean and neat. All vegetable re- 

 fuse may be collected into a heap to rot for manure ; nothing 

 of this kind should be lost. Vacant ground may be turued-up 

 roughly, to be fully exposed to the action of the weather. 

 This is especially necessary in the case of strong soils, in 

 order that the frost may render them more friable. When 

 manure is applied, a little at a time, and as often as an oppor- 

 tunity and the nature of the crops will allow, will be better 

 than when the ground is overloaded with dung. Peas and 

 Beans, defend forward crops from slugs by quicklime or coal 

 ashes, or strew tender leaves of Cabbages on the ground, and 

 examine them every morning. Early Radishes, Lettuces, Ilcrhf, 

 and Small Salads may now be forwarded on slight hotbeds. 

 The earliest crop of Potatoes may be potted in 48-sized pots, 

 placed anywhere in the stove till fairly up, and then be removed 

 to a cold vinery to harden. Afterwards turn out the plants in; 

 a turf pit, covering with reeds, and placing a little hot dung- 

 Under them. 



FEUIT GARDEN. 



Continue to prune any fruit trees if not done already, taking 

 care, however, to keep the spurs short and close, otherwise 

 they soon become long, and give the trees an unsightly ap- 

 pearance. Stirwhciries, it will be well to take some into a 

 ■cold vinery or Peach house, and place them on the shelves. j 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



If the weather is mild, the planting of shrubs and trees may 



be proceeded with, as may also the pruning where pruning is 

 necessaiy. All the spare ground in the reserve garden, if not 

 already dug, should be laid-up in ridges, and where the ground 

 is heavy a good dressing of leaf mould and sand, 2 or 3 inches 

 thick, will improve it much. Take advantage of frosty weather 

 to bring in a quantity of sand, in which to plunge half-hardy 

 plants when hardening-ofi for the flower garden. Auriculas 

 require gi-eat attention just now. If healthy they will with- 

 stand intense frost with impunity. Care must be taken to 

 remove decayed leaves, stripping them downwards to avoid 

 wounding the stem. The surface soil should be kept stirred, 

 and the jjlants be allowed all the air possible, bearing in mind 

 tliat drip or too much moisture at this season is very injurious. 

 Polyanthuses must have all trusses of flowers removed as these 

 appear, if good blooms are to be expected at the proper season. 

 Tulips appearing above ground should be covered on frosty 

 nights with mats or hoops placed across the bed. If sand is 

 put on them it must be white or silver sand ; if covered with 

 pit sand impregnated with iron it will have a most deleterious 

 effect on the foliage. Carnations must have all the air possible 

 if they are well established and of a fine glaucous hue ; but 

 tbey require little attention in comparison with those that 

 have been potted late. If in frames, bricks ought to be put at 

 each coruer, raising the woodwork at least 4 inches from the 

 ground to secure good ventilation. Ranunculus beds, which 

 ought to have been prepared in the autumn, may have a dress- 

 ing of old cow manure and decayed leaves forked slightly iu 

 preparatory to planting in February. Examine Pink beds, 

 and where the pipings have been raised by the frost or worms 

 they must be carefully fastened. In bad weather labels ought 

 to be made, hand-glasses mended, leaden layer pegs straightened, 

 Carnation sticks made, and similar work carried on. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSEIIVATOET. 



A great step towards the proper management of stove plants 

 in winter was made when those in flower at this season were 

 found to do well enough in a temperature averaging 45° in the 

 conservatory. Euphorbia jacquinifeflora is the best stove plant 

 we have in winter, and the flowers are even more brilliant in 

 winter iu the conservatory than in the stove. Among the 

 forced flowers the Narcissi, Hyacinths, and early Tulips, with 

 some of the diiierent Eoses, are now the most prominent. 

 Sweetbriar is always most welcome in winter, and no place 

 should be without Mignonette in pots or boxes. Polygala 

 chamrrbuxus, a very dwarf plant, is excellent for forcing, and 

 will keep a long time in flower in any dark corner, where 

 little else would thrive. It requires abundance of water. Fre- 

 quent failures result from the careless watering of greenhouse 

 plants in winter, not by too much, but the contrary. The best 

 criterion is to have all the soil in the pot of equal dampness 

 throughout, and neither wet nor dry. Keep these and all 

 other plants free from dead leaves and insects, and neatly tied- 

 up to stakes, or trained according to the habit of the plant. 



STOVE. 



Many of the Orchids are now enjoying a comfortable repose, 

 while others, less fortunate, have to struggle on against our long 

 nights and comparatively dull days. Assist the latter class by 

 giving them as much light as you can, and do not excite them 

 to too rapid growth. Look also over the Hedychiums now 

 piled under the stages or on shelves, and start a few roots into 

 growth to prolong their season. No plants are more fragrant 

 or more suitable for the conservatory when in flower than 

 Hedychium maximum, coronarium, and Gardnerianum ; but 

 the flowering of the last is, unfortunately, of short duration. 

 All sorts of foreign stove seeds, or of any description from 

 abroad, may now be sown with safety. This is the best time 

 to sow seeds of fine Ehododendrons, Azaleas, and Kalmias. 

 If the paths, stages, plants, &c., are kept clean, and the heating 

 apparatus is m good working condition, there will be little 

 necessity for giving much air in dull weather at this seasoa 

 to stove plants at rest. 



FORCING PITS. 



These are now crowded with Eoses, Lilacs both common and 

 Persian, Sweetbriar, Cinerarias, Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissus, 

 Jonquils, Anne Boleyn Pinks, Gardenias, Rondeletia speciosa, 

 Franciscea Hopeana and latifolia. Acacias, Chinese and other 

 Azaleas, Pelargoniums, Rhododendrons, Andromedas, &c. 

 These may be syringed once a-day and smoked occasionally, 

 and a temperature of from 55° to 65° should be maintained. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



Take advantage of the first leisure hour to take stock of the 

 i plants for bedding-out in these structures ; and if you have not 



