October 10, 1866. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 



299 



the peg c, and the stake a, and two slopes instead of one- 

 one at the bottom, and another above the levelled piece of 

 ground, as shown hy the dotted line from c to a ; and whatever 

 their perpendicular height be, their base should bo equal 

 thereto (the levelled ground being less in width by half the 

 width of the slopes), or to both iftbe lower slope bo on the same 

 ground. In that case the stakes must be taken the width of 

 the slopes inwards. These slojies will look well grassed, or 

 better still if planted with Roses pegged down, the slope at 

 back, or upper one, being planted with Laurels pegged down, 

 and the ends for half their width, for there will bo slopes there 

 also. The terrace aud the sloiies must be covered with good 

 soil not less than 6 inches deep, and it need not exceed 'J inches 

 in depth, and this made level and (irni may be turfed at once, 

 allowing 3 inches in every yard of dejith for the soil settling — 

 that is, where the fresh" soil is placed ; where it is solid no 

 allowance need bo made. 



In case you wish to render the sloping piece of ground even 

 in surface, still keeping it on the slope, provide a number of 

 stakes and pegs, the stakes 4 feet, aud the pegs 1 foot in length. 

 Beginning, as in the former case, by driving a stake, a, in at 

 the base n {jiy. 2J, and at one comer, 1 foot into the ground and 



3 feet out, less the thickness of the level, and with the spirit 

 level placed upon it level, apply your eye to the upper surface 

 of the level, and you will see where the level strikes the slope. 

 Put in a peg b, 3 feet from the first stake «, measuring from the 

 top of the stake a, horizontally towards the slope, and drive 

 it so far into the ground that its top is level with the upper 

 surface of the first stake a. looking over the level. A straight 

 stake a yard long, less the thickness of the level, placed on the 

 top of the peg b, aud the spirit level set upon it will show 

 where to put in the next peg c, and so on to the top as shown 

 by the dotted lines of the stakes and pegs up the line between 

 B and'A. Level the base lengthwise, and the upper line also, 

 and up hill, in the middle, aud at the other end. Reduce the 

 first stake a yard, less the thickness of the level, or cut it off 

 level with the ground line d, and j-ou have the pegs all of a 

 sloping height throughout, as shown by the dotted line drawn 

 from A to D. Form the ground level with the pegs, and your 

 giound will be evenly slojiing towards the base. 



A DEFECT IN MOWING MACHINES. 

 Now that the above machines are so generally used, infonna- 

 tion respecting their management would doubtless be accept- 

 able to many of the readers of your JoiU'nal, myself iucluded. 

 Having had one iu use for the last three years, by noted makers, 

 I have experienced considerable inconvenience owiug to the 

 knives not being of uniform hardness, the softer ones wearing 

 so that they were prevented from being set at cutting-distance 

 to the plate by those harder, which w-ere so very hard that a 

 file would make no impression on them. No maker living near, 

 I was obUged to have them taken off and ground down upon a 

 stone ; but after replacing them they were found to be round 

 in the middle, which caused the grass to he only crushed in- 

 stead of cut. I then tried to bring them to an even face by 

 grinding them the reverse way with emery and oil against the 

 plate, but without any beneficial effect. I at last had them 

 softened enough to admit of their being filed, which proved 

 satisfactory. Perhaps some of your readers may be able to 



tell the proper method of reducing the knives when they 

 happen to become uneven as mine did. Occiurrcnccs of this 

 kind tend to prevent the use of mowing machines, especially 

 when persons are obliged to send the knives long distances to 

 have them rectified, which might be obviated were the nianufac- 

 turers to funiish more comprehensive instructions with each 

 machine. — Veuax. 



HARDINESS OF LILIUil SPECIOSUM 

 (LANCIFOLIUM). 

 It may be interesting to your correspondent and others to 

 know that Lilium lancifoliuni can be grown to great perfection 

 in the opeu border. In the autumn of 1H59 I planted a single 

 bulb in an open spot about the centre of my garden, and 

 this, without any protection whatever, stood the intense frost 

 of the following winter. I have now eleven vigorous stems, 

 which, when the topmost buds shall have all opened, \niX 

 have borne this season at least 120 flowers, with colours more 

 rich and clear than could be produced under glass. Some 

 of the stems measure about 4 feet in height, and they are as 

 thick as an ordinary walking-stick. Album is not so vigorous, 

 and it is the latest in blooming. Except in fine seasons it does 

 not do so well. It is, however, in full bloom here at present, 

 and I am sure it never was seen in finer condition. Lihum 

 auratum being of a similar constitution will, I doubt not, 

 prove as hardy, and the situation which is adapted to the one 

 will be sure to suit the other.— H. C. E., Troon, N.li. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDES. 



Every piece of gi-oimd that now becomes vacant should have 

 the requisite quantity of dung laid on, and trenching should 

 he carried ou at every favourable opportunity. It is not good 

 management to leave pieces of ground in a rough untidy state 

 until spring, when, from pressure of other work, the trench- 

 ing is frequently imperfectly performed, or the ground not 

 trenched at all," thereby neglecting one of the fundamental 

 princii)les of good gardening. To be beforehand with time is 

 a maxim which every one should endeavour to keep before his 

 eyes, aud those who look forward to haviug good crops next 

 year must now begin to make the requisite preparations. As- 

 2>aniiiu-^, when the tops are decayed cut them off close to the 

 ground, the beds to be then made clean, and afterwards covered 

 3 or 4 inches deep with rotten dung or decayed leaves, the aUeys 

 to remain as they are and not be dug out, as by so doing many 

 of the roots are injured. L'abbatw, the main spring crops to be 

 planted out as early as possible. Those which were planted in 

 August for Coleworts should be earthed-up. CtinUtiou-rrx, prick 

 them out in places convenient for covering with a frame, the 

 soil to be Ught but not too rich. Cauhllowers may also now 

 be taken up for storing away. There are various methods of 

 doing this, one of the best is to choose the most sohd heads, 

 take them up with the roots, denude them of the greater 

 portion of the leaves, and bury the roots and stems in leaf 

 mould or old tan in an airy shed. Cucumbi-rs, this month may 

 be said to be the commencement of the professed Cucumber- 

 grower's year ; the seed-bed should now be made with well- 

 worked dung over a layer of faggots, the frame to be then put 

 on, and when the heat is up the dimg inside the frame should 

 be forked up every other morning for a week or teu days, at the 

 end of which time it will be ready to receive the seed, if the 

 dung was properly worked previously to making it into a bed. 

 Duarf Kidney lieans, the first sowing in pots should now be 

 earthed-up as they require it. If they are placed over a flue 

 or hot-water pipes in a forcing-house, the pots should stand in 

 saucers when the fires are kept going, otherwise the soil at the 

 bottom of the pots will get very dry. Endive, continue to 

 blanch it. An expeditious and very good way is to invert 

 flower-pots over it when it is in a very dry state. Lettuce, 

 continue to plant the Cabbage varieties in frames for winter 

 use. The Cos varieties for spring use should also be planted 

 on a sheltered border as soon as they are of sufficient size. 

 Sea-halc, gather seed when ripe, and as soon as the leaves 

 begin to decay clear them away. It is necessary to do this as 

 early as possible, when it is required for early forcing. Tumips, 

 thin' the late sowing, but it is not necessaiy to leave them at so 

 great a distance apart as the spring and early autumn-sowinga. 

 Take every opportunity of clearing the ground from weeds. In 



