11^ 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ February 6, 1868. 



qiving any. You may water the plants overhead after this on fine days ; 

 bat Rive air, of which we think you do not afford enouRh, and employ no 

 more fire heat than is necessary to keep out frost and dry up dump. You 

 would have done wrong to have had a vessel \\ith water upon the flue in 

 winter. The great danj^er to bedding plants in winter is damp, and you 

 may keep the atmosphere damp cnouph hysprinklingthe floors and walls 

 with water once or twice a-day, whicli, along with syringing the plants 

 once a-day, will secure sufficient moisture. 



Eap.ly and Second Early Potatoes (Ba8.^etlaw).~Youv Holburv Kid- 

 neys are no doubt worn out from the continuing to grow them on the 

 same land of soil for so long a period as a quarter of a century. We 

 should advise a change of sort. Rivers's P.oyal Ashleaf is an excellent 

 early sort, and Lapstone will suit you as a second early. Your sprouting 

 the early Potatoes is correct. If you have them with sprouts from one- 

 half to three-quarters of an inch long, plantiug may he deferred imtil the 

 middle or end of March for the earlv ones, aud the last week in March 

 or first week in April for the second early. 



FoRinNG A Quickset Hedoe (Idcm).~In order to make a good hedge, 

 close from the bottom, the quicks should be cut down— if strong, the same 

 season as pUnted ; but if planted in autumn it is well not to do so at that 

 time, but in spring. If the quicks are small they should be allowed to 

 grow one year, and then be cut down to within 3 inches of the ground. 



Peat (A Subscribtt),— The peat of which you enclosed a sample is too 

 dark and soft for Camellias and Azaleas Such peat is liable to become 

 a close muddy mass, and is not desirable on that account for plants re- 

 quiring frequent supplies of water. By adding one-fourth sandstone in 

 pieces from the size of a pea up to that of a walnut, using the fine as 

 well as the rougher particles, you may make the soil more open, which is 

 all you have to do with the compost, and then the peat will answer very 

 well. It should be thoroughly mixed with the soil, and a liberal addition 

 of silver sand ought to be used along with it. 



IcE-HousE Making (Eir).~ln No. 343 of The Journ.vl of Horticui.- 

 TCRE, published on the 28th of November, there is a sketch of and full 

 directions for forming a cheap ice house. You can have the number if 

 you enclose four postage stamps with your address. 



CHRTSANTHE3IUMS FOR A GREENHOUSE adrm].~lt is uot desirable to 

 keep Chrysanthemums from year to year without taking cuttings. They 

 make far too many shoots, and do not grow freely enough to foi-m hand- 

 some, well-flowered plants. Fresh cuttings should be put in every year, 

 and the old plants should not be kept bevond the second year v.-ithout 

 taking cuttings, or pottiug-off singly the strong suckers ; but' plants from 

 cuttings are the best. 



Plants for Baskets in a Greenhouse (Tdrm).—A. dozen goorl plants 

 for baskets in a gi-eenhouse are :— Saxifraga sarmentosa, S. Fortuni 

 variegata. Nierembergia gracilis, Lithospermuni fruticosum, Trades- 

 cantia zebrina argentea, Lysimachia nummularia. Platycenum nlcicorne, 

 Adiantum setulosum, Selagiuella dcnticulata, S. ciesia, the Gold and 

 Silver-variegated Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, and Convolvulus mauri- 

 tanicus. 



Bedding Plants in a Pit (Man of Kent).~~Yon will be doing well to 

 keep youi- plants in the pit as cool as you can, taking care to exclude 

 froot. A temperature of from 40^' to 45= at night, and of 45^ to 50^ by 

 day, with air on all favomable occasions, is quite wann enough. Be 

 careful of the watering pot, and do not water oftener than is necessary, 

 as every time you water you must make the pit more or less damp, and 

 that is objectionable at this season. Do not water so long as the plants 

 will continue without flagging; but when the soil becomes very dry give 

 them a good watering, enough to show itself at the drainage. When 

 they commence growing, water should be given more freelv. but only 

 when required ; the soil should be dry before any is given. The bed for 

 cuttings should be covered with 3 inches of sand or fine soil, and if 

 sav.dust can be had, a covering 6 inches thick will answer admirably for 

 plunging the pots in. The bed should be covered so as to keep down the 

 rank steam, whicli will not only injure, but destroy the cuttings. A 

 bottom heat of from 70- to 75-, and a top heat of 65^ to 75^ are necessarj-, 

 and the cuttmgs will bear a higher temperature. The temperature of the 

 bed for the first ten days or a fortnight will range from 70' to 75-, which 

 is not too much. In the day the temperature will, of course, be some- 

 what higher in consequence of sun heat. The cuttings should be inserted 

 in pots, and the pots plunged in the bed, taking care that it is not so hot 

 as to burn them. The bed will answer for seeds of Stocks, Asters, and 

 half-hardy annuals ; but these ought to be sown after the cuttings have 

 struck, as if sown at the same time as the cuttings are put in the frame 

 will be too close for them, and they will become drawn. AVhilst the 

 cuttings are striking a little air should be given to prevent an accumu- 

 lation of damp, otherwise the frame should be kept close and moist, also 

 Shaded from sun, imtil they have struck. The autumn-struck cuttings 

 will not need to have heat after potting. Thev should be placed in the 

 pit after potting, aud be kept close and shaded for a few days, until they 

 recover. If you can give them gentle heat they will the sooner recover 

 alter the potting. In that case thev should be well hardened-ofl'and be 

 returned to the pit. Do not keep them in heat. 



Raising Viola cornuta and Viola lctea from Seed (J/7^m).— You 

 may sow the seed of both these verv ornamental and neat edging plants 

 early in March in a hotbed, and continue the plants in heat so as to for- 

 ward them. When large enough to handle they should be pricked-ofF, 

 about an inch apart, in puns, and be retiuTied to the hotbed, keeping 

 them near the glass, and giving them a moderate amoimt of air, so sis to 

 prevent their becoming drawn. Harden them off well in Mhv. They 

 will be fit to plant out in June, and will bloom in autumn : but' for sum- 

 me -lowering, plants fr<im division or cuttings are much better than 

 seedhngs, which are not at their best uutil the second year. They will 

 succeed under the shade of the hedge, but not verv close' to it, as the soil 

 may in that case be too dry. They require moisture as well as shade- 

 indeed, where the soil is strong and moist, shade is not desirable. 



Cannas (Idem).— The tuberous roots should be potted and placed in a 

 hotbed. You may divide them before uotting. and it will he well to have 

 the plants strong and well hardened-oflT bufore planting them out, which 

 should not be done before June. 



MusA coccinea Culture (A DuhUn Snhncriher).~We vronld advise you 

 to repot it, removing most of the old soil, and placing the plant in a pot 

 just sufficiently Inrge to hold the roots without cramping them. The pot 

 should be well drained, aud for noil use tui-f 1^ to 2 inches thick, cut from 



a pasture where the soil is a good yellow loam, light rather than heavy. 



This should be torn in pieces by the hand, and ©ne-third loaf mould 

 may be mixed with it ; likewise one-fourth of drj* cow dung, and enough 

 sand to make the compost porous. Plunge the pot in a hotbed of 75' or 

 SfP, keep the atmosphere moist, and maintain a top heat of 60^ to 6o' at 

 night, and 70 to 75^ by day, with an increase of from 10'^ to 15"^ on clear 

 days. The plant should have a hght situation, and be carefully watered 

 until it is growing freely, when it should be very copiously watered. 

 Weak liquid manure may be given alternately with pure water. Do not 

 water until the soil becomes dry, then give a good supply— enough to 

 come thr.tugh at the bottom of tho pot. When the pot Ijecomes full of 

 roots shift the plant into a larger pot, and continue shifting aa the plant 

 increases in size. We would not cut ofi' the stem at the ground but 

 leave it as it is. If you cut it down, the plant would pi-obahly throw up 

 suckers ; and if the stem, now 4 feet high, has lost its centre, it will put 

 out suckers. You have been keeping tbe plant too cool. It is a stovo 

 plant, requiring all the light you can give it, and a moderate amount of 

 air. One half the Musas in tlie country are starved for want of support, 

 aud are miserable objects ; otherwise they are the most stately and hand- 

 some of omamental-foliaged plants. 



Pelargonium Seedlings Attacked by Insects {Tom T/iumb).— We 

 are not aware of any insects such as you describe that eat through the 

 leaves. We should tliink they are thrips, which will yield to fumigation 

 with tobacco on a calm evening. 



Cannas for a Small Gauden (Idevi).~Ka.\t a dozen with green 

 leaves are— Canna bicolor, C. Sellowi, C. lutea picta, C. Warscewiczii, 

 C. mncrophylla. and C. patens Esperen ; and of dark-leaved sorts— 

 C. zebrina, *C. floribunda, rubra x^erfecta, C. Van Houttei, C. rubri- 

 caulis, and C. Warscewiczii Chasei. 



Applying Soot (Cornuhia). — Soot may he applied with advantage to 

 all descriptions of plants. It may be strewn overground before digging, 

 be scattered round fruit trees and allowed to wash in, or be spread be- 

 tween the rows of all growing crops, and the stirring of the ground with 

 a hoe will be sufficient working-in. It is best applied in spring. It is 

 an excellent manure for lawns, and should be applied in sufficient 

 quantity to make the surface black. Prior to earthing-up is a good time 

 to apply it. A peck to thirty gallons of water makes a most excellent 

 liquid manure for all growing crops, giving the ground a good soaking 

 once or tivice a-week in dry weather. 



Gas Lime {Idem).— In preparing ground for fruit trees and vege- 

 tables, we should not recommend gas lime unless there was some reason 

 for its application, as the grouud being infested with wireworms, and then 

 thirty bushels will be sufficient for an acre. If more be applied the 

 g]-ound will not be fit to plant or sow for six months. We should drain 

 and trench the ground, and if the soil is strong give a dressing of lime at 

 the rate of one hundred bushels per acre, spreading it when fresh slaked 

 and hot over the ground after trenching, and pointing it in with a fork. 

 During dry weather in March is a good time. 



Manure for a Dry Soil (A Reader).— yVe have had considerable ex- 

 perience of such a soil as yours, light on a gravelly subsoil, and we find 

 tho best manure to he cow dung. It is cool and more retentive of mois- 

 ture than ordinary farmyard or stable dung. You will grow good crops 

 if you enrich the groimd well and often, and in dry weather water freely 

 with liquid manure. Do not give a heavy dressing aud seldom, but a 

 moderate manuring and with every crop. The most lasting benefit is 

 derived from a good marling, putting on ft dressing in autumn so a.'i to 

 cover the ground about an inch thick, and allowing it to become frozen ; 

 on a thaw taking place it will fall and may be spread over the ground and 

 dug in. You should plant the Shallots and Garlic during this month, and 

 the earlier the better if tho weather be favourable. 



Plants for a Vinery Waij, (J. W.).—For plantinfi oui— Luculia gra- 

 tissima, Habrothamnua elegans, Oestrum aurantiacum. Camellia fim- 

 briata, Camellia Monarch, Citrus aurantium (Orange). For 2>ots.—'H.oya. 

 carnosa, Jasminum gracile vaiiegatum, Mandevilla suavcolens, Rhjucho- 

 Bpermum jasminoides.variegatum, Sollya linearis, and Mutisia decurrens. 

 Potting Plants in Fresh Leaf Mould {A. J. ^.).— Your plants will 

 not suff"er from being potted in the fresh leaf mould. It would have been 

 better if tho leaf mould had been more decomposed. We would not dis- 

 turb the plants potted with it. We presume it was thoroughly mixed 

 with the other soil, and in that case you will not have anything to fear 

 from the soil being too open. We think the plants will grow well. Your 

 other plants should have a temperature of 50^ at night, be kept nearer the 

 glass, and have a moderate amount of air, being careful not to overwater, 

 although keeping the soil moist. We would not repot the Vine, that 

 should have been done in autumn immediately after the leaves had turned 

 yellow. Remove as much of the surface soil as you can without disturb- 

 ing the roots, and give a top-dressing of .an equal quantity of half-inch 

 bones, sheep or horse droppings not veiy old (three or four months), and 

 turf cut ii inches thick from an old pasture where the soil is a good 

 rather light loam. The turves may be placed on iron plates over a fire, 

 so as to slightly char them and so destroy the vitality of tho grass. 



Melons ( Youn>j Gnrrfc rn^r).- Three Melons of good size and flavour are 

 Beechwood (Green-fleshed), Malvern Hall (Scarlet-fleshed), and Con- 

 queror of Europe (Green-fleshed.) 



Fruit Trees Cankered (Ha{f-pcin).~y^'e should attribute the canker 

 in your fruit trees to the roots being in bad soil. If not old we would re- 

 commend their being lifted and planted on the level giound, raising the 

 soil about them in the form of a cone, so as to cover them with 3 inches 

 of soil. The draining of the ground efficiently is yom- only true remedy. 

 Coping Boards (.7. B. J3.).— The coping boards are excellent for the 

 protection of the blossoms and young fruit in spring from frost, but they 

 should be removed afterwards, or towards the close of May, as they shut 

 off the rains, and it is not necessary to replace them until the blossoms 

 are expanding. We would not now remove them, but defer it until the 

 end of May. Ammoniacal liquor from tho gas works will destroy slugs, 

 and about the trees you name it may be used now with advantage, 

 diluted with six times its bulk of water. A few dressings with fresh 

 lime in the evening after a showery day will soou free a garden of these 

 pests. The best lime to apply it is soon after dark, the ground being 

 made white each time. 



Centaurea ruousina Propagation {D. TT.).- The shelf of an early 

 vinery, or the shelf of a Cucumber house heated by hot water, we prefer 

 for cuttings put in now. 



