486 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 



[ December 13, 1865. 



stream Potato and Sliutford Seedling. So here is another five- 

 years prospect, for I never would introduce a Potato to the 

 public nnder that time from the seed-apple, otherwise dis- 

 appointment might be the result. For instance, last autumn 

 I had a private seedling show, my Potato-fancier neighbours 

 were invited, and one seedling was singled out from all the rest 

 as being the handsomest and mo.,! to be desired. I thought so 

 too ; it was perfect to look at, but it turned out very badly this 

 year, being the worst of the worst, and its tubers were no larger 

 than nuts, having every one of them super-tuberated. The 

 Onwards is the only seedling out of thii-ty-seven residting from 

 the cross between Jackson's Seedling and the Fluke, that I 

 think worthy of recommendation, although I have two more of 

 the batch, one exactly like its mother the Fluke, and another 

 intermediate in appearance between a Solanum and a Dios- 

 corea, and producing the most diminutive top of any Potato 

 that I know. I shall keep it as a cmiosity for its ugliness, and, 

 perhaps, another year may prove that it has good qualities. 



At the beginning of September I took up the Flukes, British 

 Queens, and a kind which I call the " Himtingdonshire 

 Kidney," until further notice. I think it is the same that I 

 saw at the Royal Horticultural Society's Show at South Ken- 

 sington last December. It was sent to me late this spring by 

 some unlmown friend. It is not Daiutree'a New Seedling, 

 which I took it to be at the eihibition last year ; neither can I 

 decidedly speak of its culinary properties, as it was planted too 

 late. It is a very handsome Potato of theLapstone strain, and 

 as fair to look upon when turned out of the soil as if modelled 

 in was. I mu^t f)r the future give up growing the British 

 Queen here, for the ground is too good, cau.sing it to produce 

 enormous tops. It is a first-rate sort for stone-brash or poor 

 garden soil. It has its associations for me ; so, like the Rocks, 

 Eegents, &c., I must not altogether lose sight of it. 



The mode of treatment which I adopted with the haulm was 

 certainly one chief means of securing my present season's 

 tubers from disease, although it prevented the early planting of 

 the Broccolis in the trenches. 'The plants had grown tall and 

 very strong by the time the Potatoes were oft" the ground. The 

 trenches weie then merely forked up, the jJants were brought 

 to them, and the roots and parts of the stems were laid in the 

 trenches with their heads pointing towards the north. As each 

 trench was finished, it was well soaked with sewage, and the 

 roots and parts of the stems were then covered over with soil. 

 They are now with their heads close to the ground, and, con- 

 sidering aU things, flourishing. I shall for the future adopt 

 this plan for late Potato trenches. 



We had capital Walcheren Broccoli from the trenches be- 

 tween the early Potatoes, and I have now growing there Rose- 

 berry Brussels Sprouts, very tine, but too large to suit the 

 fashion. — Ui'w.uins and Oswaeds. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Tbench, dig, and ridge every spare inch of ground whenever 

 the weather will permit of these operations being advan- 

 tageously performed. This is particularly to be observed in 

 gardens, the soil of which is of a clayey nature. If frost sets 

 in let the manure necessary for the whole of the spring 

 cropping be wheeled out, laying it in heaps eitlier on the spot 

 where it is to be used, or as near to it as possible. What is 

 not intended to be immediately dug in should be piled in 

 small mounds, and soiled over to prevent loss from evapora- 

 tion. A^paraijus, the most convenient plan of forcing it is to 

 transfer it to a light- pit, provided with a moderate bottom 

 heat, duly covering the crowns with light soil, and by allowing 

 as much sunlight and air as possible, an abundant supply of 

 excellent Asparagus may be obtained. This system of re- 

 moval may be consdered extravagant when the destruction of 

 the roots is considered, but its .".doption in many instances 

 could not fail to lie of use, as a system might be originated of 

 substituting young and healthy stock for anciently established 

 and worn-out plants, whose occupation of the land has con- 

 tinued for many years. Celcn/, take advantage of every 

 favourable oi)portiunity till frost of earthing up the late crops, 

 both for the purpose of blanching and protection. Cucumbers, 

 during the present dull dark weather water should be given 

 very sparingly; less fruit should also be allowed to swell oC 

 than in clear weather. Lettuce, those in frames for present 

 use must be kept dry, and free from dead leaves. Mtmhroom- 

 Jwii.se, where hot Axmg supplies the heat required a little air 



should occasionally be given, if the beds are found to be 

 getting too moist, but where fire heat is used pans of water 

 should stand on the flue to create a moist atmosphere. 

 Turnip.', on the iirst appearance of severe frost it is advisable 

 to bring some under cover. They may be laid in sand after 

 the tops are cut oft. Seu-J:ah\ there is no question but that 

 the best fiavom'ed and finest Sea-kale is obtained from esta- 

 blished plants, subjected to no system of forcing, but merely 

 covered with light earth or sand, and lirought forward by the 

 natural warmth of the season. Stm, Sea-kale is demanded at 

 Christmas, and thus a more active mode of proceeding is 

 necessarv-. The old plan of covering with pots, and supplying 

 a stimulating bent with a body of leaves, is still preferred by 

 many ; and wheu the additional trouble of half filling the pots 

 with wood ashes, or sand, can be afforded, good flavoured Sea- 

 kale can be secured. The more recent plan of taking up the 

 roots and forcing them in a Mushroom-house, or any dark 

 place, has its recommendations, both in regard to economy 

 and rapidity of production, only if the precaution of excluding 

 light be not effectual the flavour of the Sea-kale will be 

 deteriorated. Jihubarb, the last-mentioned plan is equally 

 advantageous for it. 



FBUIT GARDEN. 



If any transplanting or root-pruning of fruit trees has yet to 

 be done. let this be attended to without further loss of time 

 and see that those exposed to the wind are securely staked 

 before leaving them ; also prepare the ground for fresh plan- 

 tations, and plant the trees as soon as possible. Take every 

 opportunity of pushing forward pruning and nailing. The 

 roots of all newly planted trees should be secured from the 

 effects of severe weather by mulching. Fruit trees are injured 

 by the accumulation of moss and lichens on their branches ; 

 where the hand cannot reach them a dusting of lime will effect 

 their destruction. In the absence of frost old walls may be 

 pointed and hme washed. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Now that the leaves are off the trees let lawns and shrubbe- 

 ries have a thorough cleaning. Examine pillar and trellis 

 Roses, and, if the weather is favourable, see if the soU wants 

 renovating or the kinds changing. For choice sorts roomy 

 holes should be made, capable of containing three or four 

 barrowloads of well-prepared soil ; turfy loam of good quality 

 is the chief ingredient, to this add a portion of rich rotten 

 manure, and, if at hand, a little sandy peat or leaf mould. 

 Many object to planting shrubs or trees in winter, believing 

 that the roots if injured at that season are liable to rot ; and 

 certainly early in autumn is a far preferable season, but with 

 weather like the present we would not delay such work a single 

 day, and if the soil is properly prepared by drainage where 

 necessary, as should always be done before planting, there will 

 be fewer failures from planting now than if the work were 

 delayed until March. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Many of the failures in plant-growing, and the sickly and 

 drawn character of the inmates of hothouses or gi'eenhouses, 

 m.ay be fairly traced to the attempt to keep up a degree of 

 artificial warmth totally incompatible with the amount of 

 light. No axiom is of greater importance in gardening than 

 that heat, as well as atmospheric moisture, should at all times 

 be regulated by a strict reference to the amount of light. For 

 instance : a general temperature of 55' by day may be recom- 

 mended for the conservatory through December, if it is, as a 

 house of the kind ought to be, filled with blooming Camellias, 

 hybrid Roses, and a host of other gay flowers ; this recom- 

 mendation will be vei7 suitable wlule the weather continue 

 open, if, however, frost suddenly occurs, the attempt to keep 

 up even this moderate temperature will, from the construction 

 of most houses, soon produce bad effects if the frost continue, 

 more especially if accompanied by a dull and lowering sky. In 

 such cases the experienced gardener will betake himself to the 

 minimum amount of heat, and be content with an average of 

 45°. The attempt to maintain an unnatmal amount of heat 

 will, of coui'se, require the assistance of a corresponding amount 

 of atmospheric moisture, and this, under ordinary circum- 

 stances, will have a tendency to produce drip, or at least an 

 unnecessary condensation of steam on the flowers, the delicate 

 texture of which cannot, at this period especially, be trifled 

 with : hence the spotting, not to say rotting, of the dehcate 

 corollas of some of our most choice winter flowers. Above aU, 

 I would protest against much night heat, as I am of opinion 

 that this is excessive in most establishments, and even our 

 early-forced vineries wiU bear a much lower amount than is 



