492 



JOUKNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



t June 19, 1878. 



anil water the drills ; pincli-off the tops of those that are form- 

 ing their pods. The seed beds of the late crops of Broccoli 

 must be kept watered, as must also plants that have lately been 

 pricked out. The Cucumber plants will require a good supply 

 of water two or three times a-week. Sprinkle them every after- 

 noon, which will greatly refresh them ; keep them shaded during 

 the middle of the day. Make a good sowing of Kidneij Beans 

 for the autumn ; water the drills previous to planting them. 

 Sow some of the quick-bearing kinds of Peas for autumn use. 

 Steep the seed, and water the driUs as for Beans. Continue to 

 etick the advancing crops. Make a sowing of liadishcs for suc- 

 cession; if the weather is dry water the ground immediately 

 after sowing, and lay mats over it to prevent as much as possible 

 evaporation. A sowing of Scarlet Runners may yet be made to 

 come-in late in the autumn. Stick the advancing crops. It 

 will be necessary to water the late sowings of Turnips, and 

 every time after doing so sprinkle them with dust of any kind to 

 prevent the ravages of the fly. Another sowing should now be 

 made. 



FEDIT G.UiDEN. 



The important operation of disbudding wall trees is one to 

 which particular attention must now be paid. In carrying out 

 this operation care must be taken to avoid an indiscriminate 

 application of the principle. For example. Peaches and Nec- 

 tarines when finally disbudded wiU require to have every shoot 

 removed which is not required for the following year's fruiting. 

 Apricots and Plums, on the contrary, being much disposed to 

 bear on short spurs, will only require to be deprived of their 

 foreright aud gross shoots, leaving the rest to gi-ow until they 

 become somewhat firm, when they should he shortened to about 

 an inch from the main stems, taking care, of course, to retain a 

 gufBcient number of young shoots to flU-up vacancies and in- 

 crease the size of the trees. The same rule, with very slight 

 exceptions according to the sorts, will apply to Cherries. Dis- 

 bud Figs, retaining no more wood than is requii-ed for next 

 season. Be sure to select the short jointed shoots. Pay at- 

 tention to Vines on walls. Keep the shoots regulated, as it is 

 impossible for them to produce good fruit. Water Strawberries 

 to cause them to swell-off their fruit. Keep insects in check by 

 means of heavy syringings, both with tobacco water and ordi- 

 nary water. Insects, which usually make their appearance on 

 the ends of the shoots of Cherry trees, should be destroyed by 

 dipping them in tobacco water or a thin puddle of clay and 

 water. For mildew dust with flowers of sulphur, just wetting 

 the leaves to make the sulphur adhere to them. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Cuttings of Roses, where they can be procured, may now be 

 taken, and planted in a close cold frame in a northern aspect. 

 In about a month they will have shown a disposition to strike 

 root, when they may be taken up, carefully potted, and plunged 

 in a slight bottom heat. Treated thus, they will make nice 

 plants in a short time, and if kept under shght protection during 

 winter will fill their pots with roots, and be ready for planting- 

 out next May. Pink pipings put in early will soon be ready for 

 transplanting. If the situation ultimately intended for them is 

 vacant, they may indeed be planted there at once, but if occupied 

 at present by something else, let the young Pinks be planted 

 4 inches apart on reserved beds in an open situation, the soil of 

 which should consist chiefly of light loam, to which may be 

 added some charcoal dust or charred refuse. The rotten manure 

 from an old Mushroom bed answers very well for Pinks, as it 

 encourages a mass of fibres, and produces a healthy but not 

 over-gross development of top. As regards bedding plants, 

 some memoranda respecting their arrangement next season 

 should be made as soon as they come into bloom. Of the 

 flower garden a rough plan should be made, the beds on which 

 should be numbered, so as to correspond with an accompanying 

 list of plants with which it may be intended to fill them, and 

 along with this should be the quantity required for each bed. In 

 this way accurate information is at once obtained of the number 

 of plants which must bo propagated by cuttings and seed in the 

 spring. 'Whilst half-hardy plants are in full beauty, a tasteful 

 eye will soon discover the weak and improveable points, and by 

 closely observing the more satisfactory part, will readily per- 

 ceive the most desirable future arrangement. Auricula and 

 Polyanthus seed will now bo getting ripe ; as soon as the cap- 

 sules assume a brown colour, and give indications of opening, 

 dry them well, and put them in small tin boxes. Put a glass 

 shade over the seed-vessels of Tulips which are intended to be 

 saved, to prevent the wet lodging in the apex. Those bulbs, the 

 leaves of which have suffered from canker or have sustained 

 injury from early frost, may be taken up, as they are apt to mil- 

 dew if allowed to remain in the ground too long. Carefully 

 shade those Ranunculuses intended for exhibition; semi-doubles 

 for impregnation must not be covered, as the sun and air are 

 essential in the process of frnuudation. Water the paths about 

 the beds so as to make the surrounding atmosphere as moist as 

 possible. Continue to tie Carnations with soft worsted, examine 

 those previously fastened, and mind that the tie is sufficiently 

 loose on the stick to allow the stem to elongate. Thin out the 



buds ; the crown or topmost bud usually produces the largest 

 aud liest bloom. If the plant is strong, reserve five ; on the con- 

 trary, three are sufticient if the plant is weak. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Now is the time to encourage rapid and sturdy growth in youug 

 Corrasas, Epacrises, Pimeleas, Chorozemas, Leschenaultias, 

 Polygalas, Heaths, etc. A constant stopping of gross shoots will 

 be necessary in order to equalise the distribution of sap and 

 encourage the lower jiarts of the plant to develope themselves. 

 Let shifting, if necessary, be done early, in order that the pots 

 may be well filled with roots before the approach of -n-iuter. A 

 compost consisting of three parts fibrous peat in a lumpy state, 

 one part free turfy loam, and a little silver sand, will suit most 

 kinds of half-hardy plants, with the exception of Heaths, which 

 succeed best in peat without any admixture, except that of a 

 little silver sand. In potting, take care to secure thorough 

 drainage. The crocks should be carefully placed to provide 

 various outlets for the water, these again should be protected by 

 a smaller size of pounded crocks and charcoal, and finally the 

 rough of the compost should be selected to place the ball on. 

 Attend to plants for autumn aud early winter decoration, such 

 as Scarlet Geraniums, Japan Lilies, scarlet Salvias, tree Carna- 

 tions, and Chrysanthemums. Give them plenty of pot-room, 

 good rich compost, a moist atmosphere, and plenty of space for 

 the development of their branches and leaves. 



STOVE. 



Let shading be used with caution, especially when the 

 weather is in any way dull, for, as some plants will soon be 

 ripening their young wood, they merit as much light, and even 

 moderate sunshine, as possible. In the case of Orchids this is 

 especially necessary, iu order that the young leaves and pseudo- 

 bulbs may be thoroughly matured. Plants pushed early into 

 growth should be removed forthwith to a cool house, and care 

 taken not to induce them to break again, as a fresh start would 

 interfere with their flowering next year. Dendrobium nobile 

 and others of that class sufficiently advanced should also be re- 

 moved to a house where they can have a moderate aud steady 

 temperature, abundance of air, and little water, till their stem^ 

 are ripe and their flower-buds formed. Orchids which are still 

 in a gi*owing state should be placed in the most favourable 

 positions, aud encouraged by a suitable temperature for ripening 

 and hardening any 'growths which they may yet make. Let every 

 endeavour be made to secure thorough freedom from insects, 

 which about this season are unusually active, and require con- 

 stant looking after. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



We are now experiencing something like summer ; although 

 it has not been hot weather, the thermometer only ranging 

 about a maximum of 70° in the shade, it is moderately warm 

 at night. Kitchen-garden crops are looking well, aud all sorts of 

 fruit promise to be abundant. SmaU fruit trees are loaded with 

 the weight of the crops. Pears and Plums suffered a little from 

 the frost when in flower, but there are plenty left for a crop. 

 Apples on the young pyramid trees are in many cases clustering 

 together like ropes of Onions. 



KITCHEH GARDEN. 



Here all gi-een crops would be benefited by a soaking of rain, 

 or a thorough watering artificially, but this we can seldom do 

 with our stock of fruit trees and pot plants to attend to. Having 

 had experience of the crops suffering during hot dry summers, 

 preparation is made by deep trenching in wiuter, and digging-iu 

 plenty of good manm"e. AVhen any of the crops show signs of 

 distress from drought, and an opportunity offers, we give a good 

 soaking, and mulch the ground with some decayed manure to 

 prevent evaporation. 



We are now using Myatt's Prolific Ashleaf Potatoes from the 

 open border ; they have not been protected iu any way. Veitch'a 

 Perfection is nothiug behind them, it is a very good first-early 

 round. To succeed these, Dalmahoys, second-early round, were 

 planted on a south border with a good slope to the sun; they 

 were not earthed-up, which will cause the tubers to mature 

 more rapidly. 



Of four sorts of early Feas sown together — viz., Taber's Early 

 Perfection, Laxton's Alpha and William I., and Eastes' Keutish 

 Invicta, there is but Uttle difference in the time of the pods 

 being ready to pick. Laxton's Alpha is certainly to l)e preferred, 

 as it is superior as regards flavour. William I. was sown for 

 comparison, and as we only had a small quantity it was sown 

 somewhat thinly, con.sequently there is only about half a crop; 

 the pods are long and fine-looking ; it will be valuable for those 

 who require early sorts for exhibition. 



There are now plenty of fine Cauliflowers. We have tried a 

 goodly number of different sorts, but still adhere to the Early 

 London and Walcheren. Although we have had Uttle rain, the 

 weather being cold, weeds are not easily killed. A few days 

 being hot and dry, we kept the hoe at work ; it always pays to 

 keep ground clean. 



