378 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AXD COTTAGE GARDENER. 



f May 8, 1S73. 



essential condition to its successful culture anywhere. — W. S. 

 —(The Gardener.) 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 

 The thirtieth anniversary dinner in aid of the funds of the 

 Gardeneus' Kov.vl Benevolent Institution, is appointed for 

 Wednesday, .July 2nd, and the Right Hon. Lord Henry Gordon 

 Lennox, M.P., will jjreside upon the occasion. 



The splendid collection of hardt Rhododendrons be- 

 longing to Messrs. J. 'SVaterek ct Sons, Bagshot, Surrey, which 

 for the last twenty-three years has proved so attractive at the 

 JRoyal Botanic Gardens, Regent's Park, will this year be ex- 

 hibited at the Alexandra Park, Muswell HiU, where a lai'ge 

 space is being covered for the purpose. From the appearance 

 of the plants the show promises to be one of the best ever 

 seen. We understand that Messrs. Lane, of Berkhampstead, 

 ■will furnish the show at the Regent's Park this summer. 



With a rapidity which is very unusual in the publica- 

 tion of continental reports, we have before us " Les Fetes 

 Jlorales de Gand," which is an elaborate account of the 

 recent Gbeat Hokticultdkal Exhibition at Ghent. We can- 

 not but commend the industry of the authors of this report, 

 who have set an example to the rest of our continental friends 

 as to how and when such reports ought to be prepared. We 

 have frequently referred to the tardiness with which these 

 formerly made their appearance. It seemed to be a matter of 

 indifference us to when they were published, so long as they 

 some day or other saw the light, and it was an ordinary occur- 

 rence for the report to be first circulated six or nine months 

 after the event took place. We have here, however, a very 

 full and exhaustive " Compte-Kendu " of the Great Quinquen- 

 nial Exhibition of 1873 presented to the Cercle d'Arboriculture 

 de Belgique, already in the hands of the pubUc ; and for the 

 expedition with which this appears we are indebted to a body 

 of energetic enthusiasts, well known to all lovers of hor- 

 ticulture and arboriculture — Messrs. Oswald de Kerkhove de 

 Denterghem, Fred. Burveuich, Ed. Pvnaert, Em. Rodigas, and 

 H. J. Van Hulle. 



The seventeenth edition of Mr. Rivers's " Miniature 



Fruit Garden " has been sent to us. May it and its author 

 continue to be with us for many years more. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



kitchen garden. 

 Where any main crops have failed, no time should be lost in 

 getting-in more seed; if the soil is mederately moistened by 

 rain, so much the better for putting in the seed, but it should 

 not be waited for, as if seeds are sown when the gi'ound is dry 

 and warm the first shower will be of more service than if they 

 are sown after it. Basil and Marjoram, if forwarded in pots 

 or boxes, may be transplanted on a rich border as soon as 

 there comes a shower of rain. Make another sowing of Loag- 

 pod or Green Windsor Beans, or any other approved sorts, 

 and earth-up the early crops, but if the weather continue dry 

 give them a good wateriug previous to doing so. The seed-beds 

 of Broccoli should be frequently sprinkled with soot, wood- 

 ashes, or dust of some kind to preserve the young plants from 

 what is commonly called the fly. The young seedlings sometimes 

 disappear without any apparent cause, but it they were exa- 

 mined about ten o'clock at night with a lighted candle the cause 

 would show itself iu the shape of slugs; to destroy them sprinkle 

 quicklime over them. Thin and water the Carrots required for 

 early use. If the first main crops have failed, sow seed of the 

 J3arly Horn immediately. When the linings of the beds of 

 Cucumbers are removed, care must be taken that the heat is 

 not great immediately round the sides of the frame ; as a large 

 portion of the roots of the plants wiU be found there, water 

 sliould be more frequently given at the sides than at other parts 

 of the bed. As soon as the ridges are ready for the plants these 

 may be planted out beneath the glasses ; they must be kept well 

 covered with mats during the night. Thin the early-sown 

 Parsley as soon as it is up. Select some old plants that are 

 well curled to leave for seed. Earth-up and stick the advancing 

 crops of Peas, but previous to doing so they should be watered 

 if the soil is dry. Make another sowing. Water Potatoes in 

 frames during dry weather ; hoe and stir the soil bet%veen the 

 rows of the early out-door crops. Thin the crops of Spinach 

 as early as possible after it is up. If this is neglected it runs to 

 seed in a very short time. Make a sowing of Scarlet liunncrs 

 iu the open ground to succeed those that may be forwarded in 

 boxes, and which will be ready to plant out the latter end of the 

 week. If the Tomatoes were raised in heat at the time I re- 

 commended, they wiU now be strong and fit to plant out at 



the end of the week; but one plant should be planted in a 

 place, and they must be kept well watered till they get roothold. 

 Thin the advancing crop.5 of Turnips, and make another sowing 

 of Stone to come-in in July and August. 



FRUIT GAKDEN. 



Wall trees now require especial attention ; disbudding should 

 be performed at an early stage of growth, and immediately 

 afterwards the trees should be washed with clean water if there 

 is no appearance of insects ; if there is, use tobacco water and 

 soap suds in which some tlowers of sulphur is held iu sus- 

 pension. This mixture by being timely applied will effectually 

 destroy all insects that infest wall trees, with the single ex- 

 ception of scale. It is by early neglect that wall trees are so 

 frequently injured, for if the growth of the first shoots is de- 

 stroyed the after ones scarcely ever ripen, and the following 

 winter generally destroys them. Gooseberry bushes must now 

 be narrowly watched; the caterpillar has begun to make its ap- 

 pearance and promises to be as numerous as 'last year. If the 

 soil was not removed under Gooseberry and Currant bushes in 

 the autumn, as recommended, and some lime and soot strewed 

 and covered with the back of a rake, which would destroy the 

 eggs, the only good remedy now is to gather the leaves which 

 have eggs upon them and burn them. The parents, of which 

 many will be found about the bushes, should also be destroyed. 

 Thin Apricots to about one-half the crop where the fmit have set 

 very thickly, regulate the shoots and remove those that are not 

 wanted. Attend to Vines against walls, disbud them as soon as 

 they break. Alpine Strawberries now deprived of their llowers 

 will produce fruit in August. Water Strawberries if the weather 

 is dry. Attend to the disbudding of wall trees. 



FLOWER GARDES. 



The importance of grouping plants in flower gardens accord- 

 ing to their complementary colours has been so repeatedly in- 

 sisted on in this Journal, that it would scarcely be worth while 

 to advert to it if it were not for the great accession of subscribers 

 during the present year. The leading principles of this system 

 of management are contrast and symmetry — contrast such as 

 will be produced by placing the complementary colours pretty 

 close together, as scarlet with white, purple with yellow, orange 

 with blue, and so on with the various shades of these colours 

 ad infuiitiim; and symmetry, such as will result from each bed 

 having a corresponding one iu form and disposition, and these 

 beds planted with flowers of the same colour. In borders which 

 are seen throughout in their length and breadth, the colours 

 should be repeated at regular intervals, as scarlet, white, purple, 

 yellow, blue, orange, and so on to the end ; and where beds are 

 placed on grass, and without a corresponding one near them, 

 they should be belted with the complementary colours, as blue 

 with an orange margin, purple with yellow, and scarlet with 

 white ; or, as green is the proper contrast for scarlet, beds of 

 that colour may be left without a margin, and white under such 

 circumstances used as a distinct bed. Where beds are on gravel, 

 which is a warm colour, cold colours should be the most used, 

 as blue, purple, or white, which for floricultural purposes takes 

 the place of green; or, if warm colours must be introduced, it 

 is indispensable that they be margined with cold colours. In 

 large gardens, where there is a great preponderence of green, as 

 large lawns, or trees, extensive lakes, and more especially if the 

 trees are sutEcieutlj' large to throw considerable shade upon the 

 scenery, nothing but warm colours should be used, as scarlet, 

 orange, and yellow, and these should be planted in large musses, 

 and stand out prominently in the foreground, and especially 

 near the water. Whoever has walked through the metropolitan 

 parks will have noticed how much more cheerful is the aspect 

 of the lake in St. James's Park than it is in Regent's Park or 

 Kensiugton Gardens, and this is because the water is surrounded 

 by gravel, w^hich gives warmth to the scenery. As I observed 

 last week, all blooming Auricula plants ought to be under 

 awnings in a northern aspect. Keep the pots free from weeds. 

 The green fly is often troublesome at this season, getting into 

 the hearts ; examine them daily, and remove the insects with a 

 camel-hair brush. Polyanthuses require soma attention just 

 now in shading, wateriug, &c. Watch seedhug plants as the 

 blooms pass through their various stages of development and 

 decay, and observe whether the lace or edge keeps its colour 

 (which ought to be similar to the centre) to the last. This is an 

 essential property often overlooked by beginners. Mauy persons 

 are watering Ranunculuses, a practice I would not recommend if 

 the beds are properly made, as I am persuaded it has at the pre- 

 sent time an injurious tendency. Top-dressing with very rotten 

 cow manure is far more beneficial. Some genial showe?s would 

 be most acceptable to Tulips. In addition to heavy complaints 

 of the number of bulbs which do not flower, there is a greater 

 proportion with distorted petals than usual. 



GREENHOUSE .AND CONSERVATORV. 



Where there is a general collection of plants in one house it 

 is diificuit to adopt measures suitable to all. Mauy plants now 

 require an abundance of air, while the CamelUas need extra 

 heat to assist the formation of flower-buds ; the latter should le 



