November 28, 1865. ] 



JOUKNAL OP HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEB, 



449 



somowhat of thesamo tint as Stolla Cicranium ; aiul perhaps 

 nothing more need be said in its favour, tlian that fin compar- 

 ing masses of eacli tlio palm of merit was accorded to the 

 Verhena by several very good judges, who happened to see 

 them. The latter may, perhaps, bo a triHo more dwarf than 

 Purple King, but, like it, throws its flowers well upright, and 

 there seemed to be a good succession of these coming on. 



Verhena reiinsa. — This old species was in fine condition at 

 Archortield, better than I have ever seen it elsewhere, and its 

 health was clearly proved by its foliage, which in too many 

 places is very shabby ; but hero it was healthy, and there was 

 promise of a longer succession of bloom than wo often meet 

 with in this plant. 



Oxalis.—A low-growing trailing or creeping plant, quite 

 hardy, with foliage of a deep crimson. In the young state it 

 is not inferior to any of the plants of its class. I am not ac- 

 quainted with its specific name, but it is not so much used as 

 it ought to be ; it seeds freely, and grows on the gravel walks 

 like any weed. 



Fuchnia, The Baby. — A very dwarf variety, which for some 

 purposes might be invaluable, but unfortunately the flowers of 

 Fuchsias are all of a pendant character, and unless the plant 

 can be viewed horizontally, or from beneath, the flower is not 

 much seen, otherwise this neat little plant might be of great 

 service. As it is, the compact habit and dwarf uniform char- 

 acter of the plant render it deserving of a place. 



I cannot conclude this article without acknowledging the 

 covu-tesy with which every information connected with Archer- 

 field and its gardening was furnished by Mr. Thomson ; and 

 the readers of this Journal who have benefited by the very 

 able practical articles from his pen, may rest assured that such 

 information was at all times sound. As a proof of his skill, 

 it is only necessary to refer to the prizes taken for fruit by Mr. 

 Thomson at the Edinburgh International Show, and the con- 

 dition of the flower garden was such as surprised some of the 

 most successful cultivators from England. With means far 

 from ample, he manages to prepare from .50,000 to 55,000 plants 

 each year for the flower garden display, one-half, or nearly so, 

 being wanted for the kitchen garden borders, and the other 

 for the flower-beds just described. Long may he live to impart 

 such useful information, and may his success each year eqiial 

 that of 18G5.— J. Ror.soN. 



P.S. — At page 400, the width of houses No. 4, 5. 7, and 8, is 

 14 feet instead of 11, and No. 11 had been widened to 12 feet. 

 A more important error has crept into flower-border n, at page 

 426, where a belt, .'! feet wide, of Scarlet Geranium, Little 

 David, shoiUd have been inserted between the first and second 

 rows, making the border thus : — Lobelia Paxtoniana, one row 

 as an edging ; Geranium, scarlet, mass of 3 feet wide ; Geraniimi, 

 sDver-edged, one row, then the broad mass of Verbena ve- 

 nosa of 5 feet, with circular patches of yeUow Calceolaria and 

 a Scarlet Geranium 11 feet in diameter at every 12 feet in the 

 centre of it, then another row of silver-edged Geraniums, and 

 finally the whole b.acked up with a dwarf crimson Dahlia, called 

 Prince Arthur, alternating with Tritoma uvaria. 



"WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN G.VRDEN. 



As long as the present wet weather continues we would 

 strongly advise that all digging and trenching should be de- 

 ferred until a more favourable opportunity. Bnisseh Sprouts, 

 when the head is cut the dead leaves should be removed, but 

 none of the green ones, as they protect the young side sprouts. 

 The same may be said of Scotch Kale, and other winter greens. 

 Cabbaije, when a favourable opportunity occurs take advantage 

 of it to earth np the autumn plantations, it not only invi- 

 gorates them, but prevents their being loosened by the wind. 

 Caxtlijlowers, never neglect giving air daily to those under 

 hand-glasses and in frames, except during severe frost ; if the 

 plants are now drawn by an insufficiency of air, they will be 

 very liable to button off. Cucumbers, we purjjosely say but 

 little on the winter treatment of plants growing in frames, as 

 there are but few persons who go to the trouble and expense of 

 this mode of cultivation who have the convenience of a stove 

 or Cucumber-pit, as plants may there be cultivated with much 

 greater certainty. Endive, any that may have been placed in 

 frames should have air freely admitted to them, to prevent 

 their rotting. Mushrooms, the beds out of doors to have a 

 thick covering of straw, over which should be placed mats to 

 protect them from wet and frost ; the straw when wet to be re- 



placed with dry. Parsley, as most families require a large 

 Kupiily, frames should be placed over a portion to protect it 

 from frost ; some roots should also be potted and placed in one 

 of the houses where they will bo protected from frost, and, when 

 wanted, can be placed in a house where forcing is going on. 

 Potatoes, when the weather is favourable, ground intended for 

 Potato culture should be rough-dug and exposed to the action 

 of the weather as much as possible, and manure, if employed 

 at all, should bo most sparingly applied. Hadislies, as soon as 

 they corns up in the' frames give air at every favourable oppor- 

 tunity, to prevent their drawing. 



FKDIT GARDEN. 



Do not let Pears become over-ripe before being used ; also 

 look over the whole stock as often as time can bo spared, 

 removing any fruit that exhibit symptoms of decay, and put 

 them aside for immediate use. Apples are keeping very badly 

 this year. Any of the more choice varieties of Pears that do 

 not ripen properly in the fruit-room should be removed to a 

 warm place for a few days, which will be found to greatly 

 improve them. Keep all fruit as cool and dry as possible ; if 

 frost is excluded from the house it can scarcely be too cool 

 when the object is to preserve fruit plump and sound as long 

 as possible. Where orchard trees have been for some years 

 left uupruncd, the hand- saw will be required to thin out- the 

 larger branches ; keep the middle of the trees open to admit 

 air, and to promote the formation of fruit-buds on the interior 

 branches. It is, however, a bad practice to leave any descrip- 

 tion of fruit tree to itself, as it would in all cases pay the 

 cultivator to prune once a-year at least. If hitherto delayed 

 Strawberry-beds should be dressed with short rich manure, 

 we are not partial to the practice of digging between the rows ; 

 the manure may remain on the sm-facc until the spring, when 

 it can be slightly pricked in with a fork. Piemove all unneces- 

 sary runners if they have been negligently allowed to remain. 

 Finish pruning Currants, some of the larger kinds wiU repay 

 the attention of superior culture ; trained to a wall, and spurred 

 as Vines, they approach some of the varieties of these in the 

 size and weight of their bunches. 



FLOWEU GARDEN. 



Let lawns be well rolled when sufficiently dry for the purpose, 

 every part of the turf should be frequently swept during the 

 winter. Nothing adds so much to the enjoyment of pleasure- 

 ground scenery as well-kept turf, and when connected with 

 evergreen shrubs an agreeable relief to the dreariness of the 

 season is afforded, which renders the loss of more attractive 

 plants less to be regretted. At the same time see that the 

 walks are kept di-y and firm, in order that they may be traversed 

 with comfort at all times. While the weather continues mOd 

 the planting of deciduous trees may be proceeded with, provided 

 the state of the ground wiU permit of the operation being pro- 

 fitably conducted. Deciduous trees and shrubs may be pruned 

 whenever there is time, except during severe frost. Valuable 

 plants, as variegated HoUies, Rhododendrons, &c., if not grow- 

 ing so freely as it is desirable that they should do, would be 

 benefited by a liberal allowance of rotten manure or well-de- 

 cayod leaf soil applied as a top-di-essing, covering it with a 

 little fine soil, and working it into the ground around the ball 

 towards the extremities of the roots. Ehododendrons and 

 what are generally termed American pjlants bear removal eo 

 well that these when not growing satisfactorily should be taken 

 up, the ground well prepared by a liberal addition of peat or 

 leaf soil, and replanted. 



CONSERVATORY AND GREENHOUSE. 



Attend carefuDy to specimen hard-wooded plants which it 

 may be necessary to w-inter in the conservatory ; many of these 

 are impatient of fire-heat and a confined atmosphere. Use no 

 more artificial warmth, therefore, than is absolutely necessary, 

 and endeavour to coimteract its drying effects either by means 

 of evaporating-pans or by sprinkling the borders, itc. in order 

 to prevent anything like a di'y parched state of the atmosphere. 

 It is in many cases difficult to maintain a sufficiently moist at- 

 mosphere without causing drip, as the moisture in the house 

 becomes condensed upon the glass, and unless provision is 

 made by means of inside-gutters and pipes to catch the con- 

 densed moisture and carry it off, it is nearly impossible in 

 frosty weather to preserve tho beauty of flowers for any length 

 of time, and in cases where there is no provision made against 

 this kind of moisture falling upon the plants, the temperature 

 should be kept as low as may bo consistent yiith safety, avoid- 

 ing moisture in the atmosphere as far as possible whenever the 

 glass is affected by frost. 



