322 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ October 17, 1865. 



1600 native specimens are chiefly selections from the Indian 

 coUectious of WalUch, the herbaria of Lambert, Gard- 

 ner, Cunningham, and Bowie. Besides the above there is a 

 collection of Graminea?, Cyperaeea;, Juncea;, &c., amounting 

 to about 480 species ; they consist chiefly of garden speci- 

 mens, collected between the years 1826 and 1836, when 

 these orders were particularly studied, and they are believed 

 to be aU con-ectly named. The general collection contains a 

 small set of Australian teiTestrial curious Orchids, introduced 

 by Cuuningh.am, during the years 1824, 5, and 6, and which 

 flowered at Kew. There is also a special collection of garden 

 Ferns, consisting of 460 species, all fixed on the usual herba- 

 rium-sized paper ; Ukewise several small special collections. 



" Further information and particulars respecting the above 

 collections will be given on application, by letter or otherwise 

 to Mr. J. Smith, Park House, Keu\ near London." 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAKDEN. 



Now is a good time for thoroughly draining any part of the 

 garden that wants it, to replant Box and other edgings, or to 

 mend the gaps where it is not necessary to remove the whole, 

 to prepare gi-aveZ, &c., for new walks, and for repairing the old 

 ones, to make any necessary alterations, and to thoroughly 

 trench and drain ground newly taken in, and every spare piece 

 in the garden, choosing suitable weather for these operations. 

 Care should always be taken not to operate on close, retentive, 

 badly-th-aiued soils when full of water, which they will con- 

 tmue to be while heavy rains prevail. BroecoU. such as is now 

 becoming too luxuriant may be checked by laying. Cabbage, 

 those who have spare ground should stiU continue to put out 

 Coleworts and Cabbage plants, or if any strong plants of Savoys 

 or the varieties of Kale should be left in the seed-beds, by all 

 means put them out thickly — say at Colewort distances ; and 

 those that are fond of Turnip Greens at an early season, it 

 they have any overgrown Turnips left in the beds, should at 

 once collect and plant them 1 foot apart on warm borders, 

 quarters, or sloping banks. Canloonx, tie-up for blanching 

 when the leaves are quite dry. Twist haybands round so that 

 the soil may not come in contact with the leaves when earthed- 

 np. CauUjioiccrs, continue to prick out under hand-glasses 

 and in frames. Any that are now fit for use should be pre- 

 Berved in a cool place. Celcrij, advantage should be taken of 

 fine weather to earth it up. Keep the whole of the leaves 

 together. Cucumbers, those in boxes or pots should have a top- 

 dressing of rich soil occasionally. Wlien giving water at the 

 roots let it be heated to 80°. Hci-b-beds, fill up and di-ess them 

 for the winter. Horseradish, dig up a portion for winter use, 

 cleai away the leaves as soon as decayed. Hoe and stir amongst 

 aU growing crops in suitable weather, and collect all dead and 

 decaying leaves. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



_ When the wood is well ripened and root-pruning is intended, 

 either with wall trees or those in open quarters, a commence- 

 ment should be made with the earliest-ripened trees first. See 

 that the potted Strawberries are secure from the wet. Run a 

 soft broom over the Peach and Nectarine trees with great care 

 to take off just the very ripest of the leaves. Pruning may 

 now be commenced amongst Pears and Apples. Cut the dead 

 wood out of Easpberry stools, and tie the young wood to the 

 stakes to prevent injury from high winds. The preparation of 

 quarters for the reception of Gooseberry and Currant bushes 

 should be completed, as planting may shortly commence. The 

 storing of fruits as weU as their after-management, must this 

 season receive particular atteution. The Apples and Pears 

 should be carefully wiped and regulated after sweating. The 

 Medlars and Quinces should be collected in good condition. To 

 select perfect Walnuts for storing, the best plan is to immerse 

 them in water after the husks are taken off, and all that are 

 quite perfect sink at once to the bottom, whQe the imperfect 

 Walnuts will float, even those that have the least possible 

 deficiency in the kernel wiU do so. Those that have been 

 sweated should be well cleansed by being placed in a dry sack 

 and shaken by two persons from end to end, the friction will 

 clean them perfectly. Shreds should be prepared in wet days, 

 as weU as labels for naming fruit trees. See that the old wall 

 nails are cleaned and in readiness for use. 



FLOWER OAKDEN. 



Steps should now be taken to fill up the beds as they are 

 cleared, for the purpose of contributing to the enjoyment of 



spnng. A miscellaneous mixture of dwarf early-blooming 

 shrubs, perennial plants, and bulbs is most commonly planted ; 

 but, as has often been stated, in regularly laid out beds, or in 

 geometrical flower gardens, the arrangement of colours should 

 be carefully considered, as there is an abundance of spring- 

 flowenng plants and bulbs to form a rich and varied display, 

 if properly arranged. A very pleasing elfect can also be pro- 

 duced by sowing aU the spare beds with Californiau and other 

 hardy annuals. These stand the severity of oui- winters, and 

 by their gaudy colours make quite a gay appearance in the 

 months of May and June. The following are the species which 

 will answer the puqiose well :— Nemophila insignis major 

 and minor, blue; Nemophila atomaria ; Clarkia pulchella alba, 

 and Iberis coronaria, white; Silene pendula, Leptosiphon 

 densifiorus, L. audrosaceus, Collinsia bicolor, and Gilia tri- 

 color ; Clarkia pulchella and Iberis umbellata, rose ; Erysimum 

 Peroffskianum, and Eschscholtzia crocea, orange ; Godetia 

 LintUeyana and Collinsia granchflora, purple. Sphenogyne 

 speciosa sown now, and protected during winter, wiU make a 

 brilliant orange-yeUow bed. Lupinus nanus, and Convolvulus 

 minor, treated in the same manner will form splendid blue 

 beds. A good stock of new sawdust should be laid by in a dry 

 shed to put round the stems of tender Eoses or half-hardy 

 plants ; this should always be obtained as new and fresh as 

 possible. It should not, however, be applied to the plants for 

 some time, and when this is done a dry period should, if 

 possible, be chosen, as a casing of such material after heavy 

 rains would probably prove very prejudicial, for confined damp 

 IS even a greater enemy than fi-ost in many cases. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



All plants belonging to these structures should now be 

 under glass. Cleanliness and fi-ee ventilation, whenever the 

 weather will admit of it, should receive constant attention. 

 If unfavourable weather should occur, do not hesitate to use a 

 httle fire heat at times, especiaUy if the houses contain a good 

 many plants in bloom. The Chinese Primroses to be now 

 removed to a shelf in the greenhouse as near the glass as 

 possible; give plenty of air at aU favourable opportunities. 

 Herbaceous Calceolarias to be treated in the same maimer, 

 and duly attended to with water. Cinerarias to be protected 

 from the ravages of gi-een fly by fumigations of tobacco or by 

 syringing with tobacco water, if any of the beautiful tribe oJ 

 Tropieolums, particularly T. tricolorum and brachyceras, that 

 have flowered early in the season, begin to grow they should 

 not be checked, but allowed to grow slowly through the winter ; 

 but if there is no appearance of growth, which is best for their 

 future success, the roots should be kept inactive in a cool place 

 with the soil about them quite dry, and protected from mice. 

 Camellias to be carefully supplied with water, to prevent the 

 dropping of the buds, leaving not more than two flower-buds 

 on each shoot, and retaining the largest and the smallest in 

 order to have a succession of flowers. The leaves, if necessary, 

 to be washed clean. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



As the Right Hon. W. F. Cowper has Iciudly placed at the 

 disposal of the clergy, and the managers of ragged schools, 

 refuges, hospitals, and workhouses the plants in the public 

 parks, a few instructions on the subject of their preservation 

 may be acceptable. When the plants are obtained and potted, 

 they will require a little bottom heat or a close place to start 

 and establish the roots in the fresh soil. For the want of 

 bottom heat to start the plants we have seen persons put to 

 much unnecessary trouble in their fruitless endeavours to 

 preserve them through the winter. As the frost has not touched 

 them there is a greater probability of preserving them. The 

 plants that have been headed down for cuttings, and are now 

 breaking, are the best for keeping through the winter. The cut- 

 tings of Calceolarias may be now put in in a close pit or frame, 

 where they will be easily kept during the winter, with air in 

 mild weather, as they are very liable to damp off in heat. We 

 would advise those who can spare time to wash all their pit 

 and frame glass before the dark weather sets in, the gi'eat dis- 

 proportion of the light to the heat is the great di-awback to 

 forcing in Great Britain and Ireland diuing November and 

 December. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



The rains that we expected as the result of clear hot days 

 and frosty mornings, came in due course in the beginning of 



