458 



JOUBNAIi OF HORTICULTURE AXD COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ June 5, 1873, 



moth on the fruit trees of a rather imperious " lord of the 

 soil," who had threatened me for a presumed trespass ; but I 

 did not know how the law would view suuh au action ! 



I refer to this species, however, as an instance of how much 

 might be done to keep down the number of the annual brood 

 of caterpillars by a careful search after the eggs of the moth 

 in the winter months. The legislative enactments for the 

 destruction of insects in Belgium fail in this respect, that while 

 providing for the killing of caterpillars, no measures are taken 

 for the extiuctiou of the germs of insect lite — undoubtedly a 

 most efficient plan. There are species of Liparis, such as 

 L. auriflua and salieis, both well known in this couutry, which 

 may be easily dealt with in winter by huntiug-up the hyber- 

 nating communities, similarly, also, the caterpillars of the 

 Black-veined White Butterfly (A. Cratiegi), of a like habit. 

 Mr. Birchall notes that a regular annual destruction of these 

 takes place in some parts of Belgium in November or February ; 

 but he noticed on a Cherry tree near Antwerp fifteen batches 

 of the eggs of L. dispar, in which lurked thousands of cater- 

 pillars, of whose existence no one took any cognisance. Doubt- 

 less a similar neglect is shown in other instances, and it is to 

 be hoped, if we ever legislate on the subject, the extirpation of 

 the eggs of insects will be made duly important. We in Eng- 

 land have done somewhat in the way of protecting birds, a 

 regulation for which is sorely needed in Belgium and other 

 parts of Europe, where the slaughter of small birds is ruthlessly 

 carried on, especially in the spring and early summer, when it 

 is highly prejudicial in its results upon the bu'ds and their 

 nestlings. — J. B. S. C. 



THE UNSUBDUABLE ANTS. 

 The greater the number of specifics for a disease, the greater 

 the probability tliat it is incurable. The continued questions 

 that you receive about ants seem to show that the great desi- 

 deratum is yet to be found. I have repeatedly tried arsenic 

 mixed with sugar, and also with treacle, but my ants are too 

 Bagacious to touch it. This spring, seeing the avidity with 

 which they devoured raisin skins, I mashed up some with 

 arsenic. They cxammed the dainty, but respectfully decUned 

 it. The oil remedy, stated on good authority to be useful, bas 

 with me proved useless. Every morning for several months 

 past a kettle of boUing water has killed numbers in an orchard 

 house, but they still swarm there. Gunpowder has been put 

 into their holes and ignited, but the entrance is so small that 

 probably it is instantaneously closed, and no smoke descends 

 into the nest. By saucers fiUed with syrup I drown many, but, 

 like the Hydra, they multiply still ; carbohc acid is disagree- 

 able to them, but will not persuade them to flit. — G. S. 



WOKK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GiBDEN. 



Continue to thin the crops that require it, while they are still 

 small, and in every case where practicable loosen the soil about 

 them, and if dry give them a good watering. This will greatly 

 benefit them after disturbing their roots, and, the soil being 

 loose, the eifect will be so much greater. Basil and Marjoram 

 that have been sown in beds should be thinned-out to'about 

 6 inches from plant to plant. Make another sowing of Broad 

 Beans in the beginning of the week ; top the forward crop if not 

 yet done. To have the Cape varieties of Broccoli fine, the seed 

 should be sown where the plants are to remain ; deep drills 

 should be drawn, and two or three seeds dropped in at the dis- 

 tance of 2i feet apart; slightly cover the seed, and keep it 

 watered if dry weather should occur. When it is up thin to 

 cue plant at the distance above named. This is a good time to 

 sow a little Cabbage seed for autumn i)roduce ; auy of the small 

 sorts should be preferred for this sowing. Plant out some 

 Cauliflowers from the first sowing in the open ground; a small 

 quantity planted from two or three several sowings will keep up 

 a better succession than the small stunted plants of very early 

 sowings. Peg-down the Cucumber plants on the ridges as they 

 advance in growth, and when the hand-glasses will no longer 

 contain them, set these on three bricks placed edgeways, or on 

 forked sticks ; when they require water give it them milkwarm 

 early in the day. After thinning the Onions loosen the soil 

 between the rows, and if the weather is dry give them a tho- 

 rough watering. The thinnings of the beds may bo planted out, 

 but must be watered every night if the weather prove dry, 

 until they take fresh roothold ; this must be particularly 

 attended to, as the roots will of necessity be very near the 

 surface. The last sowing of Knight's Dwarf Green Marrow 

 Peas should now be made, as it is longer in coming into bearing 

 than any other. Continue to earth-up and stick the advancing 

 crops. If the pods of the early crop do not fill well in conse- 



quence of drought, give them one good root-soaking, which will 

 be sutBcient for them while they last. Make another sowing of 

 Radishes of the various sorts to succeed those sown the middle 

 of last mouth. Plant out some of the early-sown Savoi/s ; the 

 dwarf sorts may be planted at li foot apart in the row, the rows 

 to be 2 feet from each other. The larger sorts should be at the 

 latter distance in the row, and the rows 2* feet apart. As 

 Tomatoes are usually planted under a south "wall, where they 

 receive little benefit from a passing shower, they should be occa- 

 sionally watered and kept mulched with short litter ; nail and 

 stop the shoots as they advance in growth. 



FRUIT GARDEN, 



Continue to pay attention to fruit trees ; naD-in the strong 

 shoots of those agaiust walls. If Cherry trees are attacked by 

 insects, dip the ends of the shoots in tobacco water. Yines on 

 walls require much attention to briug the fruit to perfection ; it- 

 deed, if proper attention is not paid to them in stopping, reg:i- 

 lating, and nailiug-in the shoots, they are not worth retaining. 

 Pinch out the poiuts of Fig-tree shoots that are rather rampant ; 

 this will cause the young fruit to swell better, and will have a 

 tendency to render the shoots more fruitful. In making a fresh 

 plantation secure a diy situation, and keep the plant growing 

 from one stem, as the sucker-like appearance which our Fig 

 trees generally present is a great drawback to their management. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Remove everything in the way of early bedding plants whose 

 beauty may be over or that is at all ineffective, and introduce good 

 things from pots in the reserve ground. A good reserve ground, 

 if properly situated and systematically planned and conducted, 

 would be one of the most useful plots about a garden. Such a 

 valuable adjunct as this would, however, require the constant 

 attention of a man possessing some knowledge of flowers, and 

 therefore could not be carried out where there is a scarcity of 

 labourers. Decayed patches of bulbs which are required to 

 stand for early spring flowering may have Verbenas and other 

 plants introduced from pots between them, so as to give gaiety 

 to the place they occupy. Cuttings of Pansies should be put 

 out in succession before the shoots are too much exhausted. All 

 boundary or other hedges should be clipped forthwith. Auricula 

 seedlings must be shaded from the glare of the mid-day sun, and 

 especially watch the attacks of aphis or green fly, which usually 

 secretes itself in the heart of the plant, and multiplies amaz- 

 ingly in hot weather. If you wish to save yourself a great deal 

 of trouble you will remove the insects as they appear. Place 

 two or three oyster shells on the surface of the soil in the large 

 pots ; it prevents evaporation, and also saves the roots from 

 being washed bare in watering them. Polyanthuses are very 

 subject to the attacks of red spider ; to keep these pests down, 

 shade your plants, and if in a bed keep the soil moist around 

 them. Break ofE the capsules of Tulips to strengthen the roots. 

 The bulbs on the offset beds will soon be ready to take up should 

 the weather be dry. The stakes ought to be put down to DahUas 

 without delay, and the plants will be the better of beiug 

 mulched with rotten manure, 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY, 



As soon as Azaleas and other plants of the kind shall have 

 been placed in summer quarters out of doors, painting aud other 

 repairs required by any of the plant houses should be com- 

 menced, as they can be more conveniently done then than at 

 any other season. As recommended, pay great attention to 

 plants for autumn and early winter decoration. Let them have 

 plenty of pot room, good rich compost to grow in, a moist atmo- 

 sphere, and plenty of space for jjerfect deTelopmeut, regulating 

 the temperature according to the nature of the plant, and they 

 will make rapid growth. Many of the New Holland plants and 

 other greenhouse subjects will soon be getting past their best, 

 and some foresight and care will be necessary to avoid being 

 short of specimens in bloom with which to supply their places. 

 Where circumstances "will admit, plants that have been grown 

 in a warm moist atmosphere should be removed to an inter- 

 mediate house about a fortnight previous to theu' being taken to 

 the conservatory, and gradually inured to a free circulation of 

 air. By attention to this and placing the plants in the warmest 

 corners of the conservatory, Clerodendrons, Allamandas, Achi- 

 menes, Arc, will continue growing slowly and bloom for some 

 three mouths, whereas if this is neglected their beauty may 

 be very short-lived. Aim at maintaining an even temperature 

 in the conservatory after removing thence plants that have 

 grown in the stove, and avoid allowing the atmosphere to be- 

 come very dry on bright warm days. Also see that every plant 

 is perfectly clean before placing it in this house, aud that 

 climbers, etc., are not infested with insects. Go over the house 

 every morning, and remove decaying flowers and leaves as they 

 make their appearance. Young stock in pits and frames will 

 now be making rapid growth, and must be carefully attended to 

 as to watering, stopping, training, A'c. New conservatories 

 where a collection of climbers has been planted this spring 

 should now be kept as hot as a stove, and as damp as water can 

 make them day and night. It is bad policy to use the common 

 routine for such a house the first season. We often hsar of 



