488 



JOURNAL OF HORTICHLTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



r December 12, 1863. 



steam by putting on a little fire heat aloDg -with the air ; and 

 prevented the extra air affecting the bed, or the drops of mois- 

 ture falling on it, or the Mushrooms being tinged by the vapour 

 rising from the unsweetened manure, by fastening some sticks 

 across the bed, about inclies from it, and throwing mats 

 neatly along on the sticks. Though we threw some dry turfy 

 soil oTer the heap of the fermenting material, and used these 

 means to dissipate the steam, the u))per surface of the mat on 

 the first morning after it was ]iut on was quite wet, but none 

 went to the bed beneath it, and the Mushrooms came all the 

 cleaner and nicer in consequence. In bright weather the steam 

 and vapour from the manure would have done no harm — 

 nay, often it would have done good in maintaining a warm 

 moist atmosphere. But for scarcity of shed-room at the time 

 we would not have put in the manure in so rank a state in a 

 house where beds were in a bearing condition. In general it 

 is as well to get rid of the rank steam before bringing the 

 material to the house, and we have a heap in a shed now 

 undergoing its preparation. We never recollect using a mat 

 in the same way before, but it served the purpose admirably in 

 preventing large white Mushrooms being discoloured by drops 

 of condensed moisture not quite so pellucid as dew. The mat 

 thus suspended over the bed also jiermitted of a more free 

 admission of air than otherwise would have been desirable to 

 dispel the rank steam ; as when Mushroom-beds have been 

 kept for some time in a still moist atmosphere, a keen drauglit 

 of air over them is very much felt. This shows the importance 

 of not exposing bearing beds too mucli when making fresh 

 ones. In the present case we attribute the extra steam to the 

 wetness of the dung and the closeness and wetness of the 

 weather. In our lean-to shed-like house we have openings for 

 air in the front or north wall of the house ; but as for top air, 

 there is only a brick ventilator at eacli end at the apex, and 

 generally these have been sufficient ; but in all cases where 

 manure is iised at all fresh there should be several openings at 

 the apex of the roof, say 9 inches square, so as to allow all 

 steam that is not wanted to escape. A little dry soil thrown 

 over a fermenting bed will also do much to keep down extra 

 steam. 



PRtJIT OAEDEN. 



Very much the same as in previous weeks. Birds have com- 

 menced in earnest with Cherry and Plum trees. As the weather 

 is BO mild it must be more for amusement than from any 

 necessity or the pinchings of hunger. We have run several 

 strings among the trees, and tied on it pieces of white paper, 

 white rags, ifcc, anything white, doing the same among Cur- 

 rants, among which the devastators had also been busy, and it 

 seems to keep them away for the present. We were threatened 

 with a complete clearing of ripe and ripening Raspberries last 

 summer, but after liberally adorning the tops of the rows with 

 pieces of whitish newspapers, the fruit was allowed to hang and 

 ripen. How long such a means will act as a preventive re- 

 mains to be proved, for our experience teaches us that nothing 

 will deter them long. We have coated the buds with as nasty 

 stuff as we could think of, and have had the satisfaction of 

 seeing sparrows, tomtits, and bullfinches carefully nipping off 

 the nasty stuff with the points of their bills and dropping it, 

 and then digging their beaks into the hearts of the fruit-buds. 

 It quite surprises us to see and hear of j)laces where the birds 

 give little or no trouble from January to December. 



OnXA.MENT.\L DEP.IRTMEST. 



Wet as the weather was, felt under the necessity, when at all 

 fine, of priming plants, Roses, ttc, in front of the verandah, 

 and sweeping up the lawn, as scattered withered leaves on the 

 green grass give a very neglected appearance when the decidu- 

 ous leaves liave all fallen from the trees. Worm heaps are 

 more plentiful than ever we saw them, and may easily be got rid 

 of in a small place by clear lime water, applied as lately de- 

 tailed; but in a large la\ra it is hardly worth attempting, ex- 

 cept near the mansion. The unsi;jhtliness of the heaps may 

 be kept down, unless when very wet, by means of a light roller. 

 In cold pits the great point has been to give plenty of air with- 

 out any wet finding its way in, and in all plant-houses to spiU 

 as little water as possible. .lusticias, Euphorbias, itc, taken 

 from the stove to the conservatory, should have the greatest care 

 and the warmest places, and Heaths the airiest and the most 

 exposed to light. Other hardwooded plants should stand in a 

 medium position between airiness and stillness. Evei-ything 

 like damp should be avoided, and as houses can scarcely be 

 secure now when open at night, the nir should be given freely 

 during the day, and fire heat given then to increase the cir- 



culation. Damped flowers and damped leaves now will soon 

 taint the atmosphere; even washing and keeping the pots clean 

 adds to the sweetness and healthiness of a house. In wet 

 hours the surface of the soil in boxes and pots was stirred up 

 with a pointed stick, and every fading leaf removed. More 

 care of everything will be required untU we pass the shortest 

 day. After the day turns everything begins to prick up, and 

 hence those who study economy do little in the way of forcing 

 until that time. This does not apply to plants that naturally 

 bloom at this time ; all that is required further is to keep them 

 in a healthy growing condition. 



Bulbs that have filled their pots with roots may now be placed 

 in more heat to force. Such things as Snowdrops, Crocus, 

 and even Tulips bear no great amount of heat ; but Hyacinths 

 wOl stand almost as much as a Cucumber, but must be 

 gradually hardened oft' before taking to the conservatory or the 

 sitting-room. All hardy plants forcing will be better of a mild 

 bottom heat, and to be brought on gradually at first. 



All watering now should take place early in the day, that the 

 surface of the soil may become a little dry before night. In 

 the height of sunmier, the evening is the best time to water, 

 so that the roots may thoroughly appropriate it before the next 

 day's sun comes with its evaporating influences. — II. F. 



COVENT GARDEN MAPJCET.— DECEMnun i). 



Quotations remain unchaiijietl. The best dessert Pears comprisa 

 Chfiumontel, Glou Morceau, and Jean de Witte. Good Applca nr*) scarce. 

 Hothouse Grapes and Pines continue plentiful. In the vefjetable market 

 the supply is ample. Potatoes continue to anive in large quantities. 



Apples i sieve 



Apricots doz. 



Cherries lb. 



Chestnuts bush. 



CuiTants, Ked \ sieve 



Bhick do, 



FiRs do/,. 



Filberts lb. 



Cobs .... 100 lbs. 

 Gooseberries. . i sieve 

 Grapes, Hambro..,lb. 



Muscats lb. 



Lemons 100 



s. d. s. d 

 1 0to2 

 







8 16 

 

 







9 









 



1 



140 







G 



8 



10 



Melons each 



Mulberries .... punnet 



Nectarines doz. 



Oranges 100 



Peaches doz. 



Pears (kitchen)., doz. 



dessert doz. 



Pine Apples lb. 



Plums i sieve 



Quinces A sieve 



Raspberries lb. 



Strawberries lb. 



Walnuts bush 



VEGETABLES. 



Artichokca each 



Asparnii^us bundle 10 



Beans Broad., bushel 



Kidney h sieve 



Beet. Bed .". doz. 2 



Broccoli bundle 1 



Briis. Sprouts. -i sieve 2 



Cabbage doz. 



Capsicums 100 1 



Carrots bunch 



Cauliflower doz. 3 



Oelcr>* bundle 1 



Cucumbers ench 



piclding doz. 



Endive score 1 



Fennel bunch 



Garlic and Shallots, lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish . . bundle 2 



d. s. 

 OtoO 



3 

 1 6 

 

 8 

 

 

 6 

 

 

 





 



Leeks bunch 



Lettuce per score 



Mushrooms pottlo 



Mustd. & Crcss.punuet 

 Onions per bushel 



pickling quart 



Parsley ^ sieve 



Parsnips doz. 



Peas qiaart 



Potatoes bushel 



Kidney do. 



Radishes doz. bunches 



Rhubarb bundle 



Savoys doz. 



Sea-kale basket 



Spinach bushel 



Tomatoes ^ sieve 



Turnips bunch 



Vegetable Marrows dz. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECERT^D. 



Messrs. F. & A. Dickson & Sons, IOC, Eastgate Street, 

 Chester. — Catalogue of Stove and Greenliotise Plants, dx. — 

 Catalogue of Forest Trees, dec. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



*,• 'We request that no one will write privately to the depart- 

 mental writers of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage 

 Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they 

 are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All 

 communications should therefore be addi-essed solelij to 

 The Editiirs of the Journal of Horticulture, dc., 171, Fket 

 Street, Lomkin, E.G. 

 Forcing Fruit. &c. (Grfenhorn). — There is no vfnrk devoted to the 



subject, but if you consult " The Garden Manual " and " In-door Gardcu- 



ing," each of -n'hicb you can have free by post from our office for twenty 



stamps, you will probably find sufficient information. 

 Hogg's " Fruit Manoai," (iteo. C. C. £.).— It is now printing. The 



direction to our office is where the law directs us to put it— last on tho 



last page. 



