October 3t, 1365. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



369 



ensuiup year. Cahhaiies, vacancias in the main plantation 

 shoiilil bo lilled up iramodiatoly. Employ limo or soot about 

 youn;,' Cabbage anil Lcttueo plants. Caulijlotcern, those in the 

 frame ami under hand-RlaHses should bo divested of their dead 

 leaves, and if any vacancies occur they should bo filled up; 

 give air freely every tine day. Ci'lfrij, continue to earth up ; it 

 severe frost should sot in, some loni? litter to he laid over the 

 most forward crops. Cucumherf, a little discretion is necessary 

 to bo observed as to the quantity of fruit a jdaut is capable of 

 swelling off at oue time, winter-fruiting plants are freipiently 

 injured by overbearing, one fruit is sutlicient for a jjlaut to 

 swell oft' at this season, but there may be several fruit in 

 diifereut stages of growth. En<lii>i\ when quite dry a good 

 quantity should he tied up for blanching, a quantity of it could 

 then be laid in, in pits or frames, before severe weather set in. 

 Jfru.-<alim Aiiiclmlirx may now bo taken uj), or this may bo 

 done as they are wanted for use, but then the ground sliould 

 bo covered with litter during severe frost, to lessen the trouble 

 of digging them up. Oiiion.^, the autumn-sown to ho hand- 

 weeded, and the ground slightly hoed between them. 1'ea.i, in 

 very favourable soils and situations tlie lirst sowing may now 

 be made, but we cannot recommend it where there is the con- 

 venience of jjits and frames. SliitHoLs and Garlic may now be 

 planted in light and dry soils, otherwise they had better not be 

 planted until Februar.y. The work of storing away esculent 

 roots should now he carefully attended to, as on tliis being 

 properly performed depends the whole success of their keeping. 



rnUIT GAllDE>f. 



The planting of fruit trees, either in the open quarters or 

 against walls, may be commenced at once, supposing the 

 borders to have been sufliciently prepared for their reception. 

 In planting trees between old-established ones against walls, a 

 hole of considerable size should be made for the young trees, 

 and filled with fresh compost. In preparing new soil for 

 planting fniit trees endeavour to keep it as dry as possible, and 

 choose a dry day for planting, that the soil may be favourable 

 to the growth of fresh roots. The present time is also the 

 most favourable for lifting and root-pruning such trees as are 

 too luxm-iant, and require checking to mduce a fruitful habit. 

 We prefer lifting the trees entirely, unless they are very large, 

 to cutting oft' the roots as they stand. After shortening the 

 roots proportionably to the strength of the tree, spread them 

 out near the surface and fill in with compost, on which a 

 mulching of half-rotten dung should be spread, to prevent 

 frost from entering the ground. But while the above is often 

 necessary with existing trees planted in too ricli or too deep 

 borders, it should be borne in mind that it is only a palliative 

 measure, and, in the course of a few years, will require repeat- 

 ing, unless measures are at the same time taken to make the 

 borders shallower or poorer as the case may ho. Vie are of 

 opinion that most wall trees would he more fruitful were their 

 roots confined to borders of very hmited extent compared to 

 what is generally the case, and by which the balance between 

 the roots and branches could be adjusted without the trouble 

 and expense of lifting and root-pruning. Clear off the remain- 

 ing leaves from wall trees, to give the wood the advantage of 

 sun and air to assist its ripening. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



The frost has in many localities been sufficiently severe to 

 destroy all remains of beauty in the flower garden, 'ftlien this 

 is the case the beds should be immediately cleared of Geraniums, 

 and such other plants as are killed. Dahlias should be taken up 

 the first dry day after the tops are cut off, as they will not in the 

 slightest degi'ee be benefited by remaining in the ground any 

 longer. It is no unusual thing that in the hurry and bustle of 

 autumn operations many things are forgotten that are really 

 essential. Such being the case, we shall just mention a few 

 matters which should not be forgotten. Do not be niggardly 

 in planting out a good stock of spring flowers, especially if a 

 gay spring garden is required. Abnndanee of early Tulips and 

 Crocuses in variety should be planted now. Do not forget 

 hardy Cyclamens, these planted near the edges of borders will 

 have a fine effect. Hepaticas, too, should be remembered ; the 

 colours red. white, and blue, form a pleasing variety, and when 

 they are well established they flower most abundantly. Snow- 

 drops, 'Winter Aconites, and Dog's-tooth 'Violets play an im- 

 portant part in early spring, the bloom of these come almost 

 through the snow, reminding us that spring is returning. 

 Standard Koses should be gone over, and all the long shoots 

 shortened considerably. Ornamental climbers on trelUses, 

 arcades, &c., in blossom should have protection. Half-hardy 

 plants and shrubs will likewise require some protection on 



frosty nights. Continuous and heavy rain during the week has 

 prevented much work being done in the flower garden. Especial 

 care must be taken of the Auricula-frame to prevent drip. If 

 the glazing is not perfect it must be made so. The plants 

 should bo exposed to a south-eastern aspect, and liave very 

 little water; once a-week will be ample. Every precaution 

 must be taken against damp, a free circulation of air at this 

 season being absolutely indispensable. Tulip-bods must he 

 made up at the lirat opportunity, and as soon as tho soil is dry, 

 plant. 



ORKENnonSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



The period has now arrived when the increasing scarcity of 

 flowers outside should bo compensated for by those conser- 

 vatory plants peculiar to winter, and by retarded summer 

 flowers. These together, will lead us imperceptibly up to tho 

 products of the forcing-j)it, whicli form a distinct section, and, 

 of course, require a separate course of treatment. The Camellias 

 will form a most ])rominent object for tho next five or six 

 months. A very considerable amount of atmospheric moisture 

 should be afforded them, drip, however, must by .ill means bo 

 avoided, and the syringe is out of all question. The Chrysan- 

 tliemums must be treated with manure water constantly, and 

 all suckers and waste shoots trimmed away. Plants of inter- 

 mediate character require a little more warmth, with a perma- 

 nency of atmospheric moisture. Such are Euphorbia jaquinia;- 

 flora, Gesnera zebrina, Achimenes picta, Gesnera oblongata, 

 Linum trigynum. Plumbago rosea. Begonias, &c., all of which 

 should have a temperature of 60" secured by day, rising to 80' 

 in sunshine, and sinking to ari" by night. The above are all 

 most useful and interesting flowers for the dead of winter. 

 Keep a sharp look-out for insects in every department, espe- 

 cially for thrips and fly on Calceolarias and Cinerarias, and mil- 

 dew on Heaths, and other greenhouse plants. Do not use fires 

 in the greenhouse until you are obliged to do so, as it is of im- 

 portance to keep the plants as hardy as possible. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



Everything should be finally arranged here as soon as pos- 

 sible. See that Mignonette has a very light situation, and is 

 plunged or placed near the glass, free from drip. Store Ver- 

 benas gi-owing rapidly should have the tops pinched, as also 

 Petunias, or other ordinary mass flowers. Give aU the air 

 possible, and give water sparingly. Leave air on all night, be 

 it ever so little. If not already done, let straw shutters or what- 

 ever else it may be intended to use for covering for them, be 

 put in readiness for use without delay. Straw shutters if well 

 made are expensive in the first instance, but are considered by 

 many to be the most efficient of any kind of covering in use, 

 and taking into account the time they last, they are, perhaps, as 

 cheap as any. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



" Never allow the haulm, leaves, &o., of plants to remain 

 on the ground when the crop is gathered." So says our coad- 

 jutor Mr. Keane (page 344), and we give it our hearty con- 

 currence, though we are often unable to make in this matter 

 practice accord with precept. It is but sad uphill work when we 

 have occasion to resort to the well-known subterfuge " Don't 

 do as I do, but do as I tell you." How often do we feel as if 

 we wished we could do a dozen things at once, and thus bring 

 up our leeway. It would be well for all would-be instructors 

 to recollect, that a pound of good example will be more in- 

 fluential than a hundredweight of precept unbacked by that 

 example. It is true there is scarcely a rule without an exception, 

 as, for instance, in the late burning weather we were glad to 

 leave rows of Peas, with nothing but their haulm on them, 

 between beds of Celery, on account of the agreeable shade 

 which the haulm afforded to the Celery ; but in this wet 

 weather we never see two or three rows of spent haulm of 

 Peas, which we cannot well get at owing to the wet, and serving 

 no purpose whatever, without the above words, " Never allow 

 the haulm, d-c, to remain," coming before our mental vision to 

 anything but our personal satisfaction. The worst of it is 

 we do not believe that we are alone in the matter. Sloven- 

 liness, untidiness, carelessness, endurance of filth, and the 

 decay of organic matter are tolerated at this season of the year 

 in thousands of gardens, from those of the peer to that of the 

 peasant, but would not be endured for a moment in tho cheer- 

 ing days of spring and early summer. We can well recollect 

 that when the late Mr. Loudon was giving his descriptive out- 

 lines of his gardening toiurs, something like real alarm was felt 



