July 10,1860. J 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



21 



insects down, and save much troublo and expense in fumi- 

 gating, Ac. ; for in small places the oxpense of tobacco is a 

 serious item, and if the smoking is too long delayed it is too 

 ofton expense thrown away. Where the labour power is at 

 all near the mark, a groat deal can be done in keeping down 

 insects by moans of nimblo fingers, and the free use of the 

 syringe with clear water. 



If " R. H. B.," however, has the thrips on his Vines, I 

 would advise him to pocket or bag carefully some of the worst 

 leaves ; to fumigato with shag tobacco the same evening ; to 

 keep the house shaded and as close as he can next day to be 

 safe ; to preserve a rather moist atmosphere by wetting the 

 walls, stages, paths, &c. ; and on the afternoon of the second 

 day to give a free lashing from the syringe all over the foliage. 

 For red spider wash or syringe as above stated, shut up close, 

 and on the next evening when the leaves are dry put on a fire, 

 and keep the heat specified above on the smeared pipes or 

 flue. Bear in mind this simple fact, that all smokings with 

 tobacco and other fumigations are most safe and effectual when 

 presented to a dry leaf. If damp the insects are 60 far sheltered ; 

 and how, wo know not exactly, the wetter the leaf the greater 

 the danger to vegetable vitality from such smokings. — B. F. 



CULTURE OF HERBACEOUS CALCEOLARIAS. 



In the first place, every endeavour should be made to secure 

 a packet of first-class seed from a well-proven source, as the bad 

 sorts require just the same space and attention as the good ; 

 besides, the pleasure in the end of having a superior to an in- 

 ferior quality of flowers will infinitely outbalance the extra 

 trouble and expense. 



About the beginning of July, the seeds ought to be sown in 

 pans well drained, on the following compost, after being tho- 

 roughly incorporated — two-fourths rich fibry loam, one-fourth 

 leaf mould and old mushroom-bed dung, one-fourth silver or 

 river sand, the whole put through a fine riddle. 1" ill the pans 

 about half up with crocks, putting a thin layer of the fibry 

 portions of the riddlings over the crocks, the remaining half 

 fill with the soil, when slightly press and smooth the surface, 

 then scatter over the seeds, and finish with sifting a little soil 

 over, and give a sprinkling of water through a fine rose. 



The pans may be placed in a shaded part of a pit or frame, 

 near the glass, where they can get a little bottom heat, or, better, 

 on the back shelf of a vinery, near the ventilators, where they 

 may have the advantage of both heat and air. If the Vine-rods 

 are insufficient to shade the pans with their leaves, pieces of 

 glass whitewashed above will be found necessary to cover them 

 until the plants have made some progress, and can stand ex- 

 posure. 



Bemove daily the drops that will gather on the under surface 

 of the glass, so that they do not fall among the young plants, 

 and never permit the plants or soil to get dry or crusted, but 

 keep both slightly moist with water. 



When the seedlings have made sufficient strength to be 

 handled, prick them in lines into boxes, and give a good shower 

 through a fine rose, that will lay the earth to their roots, and 

 return them to their old quarters, shading as before, until they 

 are on their feet again, when they may be removed to a cold 

 frame or pit ; place them near the glass, shading in strong sun- 

 shine, and giving sufficient air to harden them off by degrees 

 to the full exposure of air and light. 



Continue to keep their foliage damp, and never allow them 

 to flag for want of water at the root, or with the sun, through- 

 out any stage of their growth, and in a short time they will be 

 prepared for a shift into pots 3 inches in diameter ; cut out their 

 balls carefully into squares, and place them individually into 

 the pots, using soil the same as recommended for the pans, only 

 more rough. The plants will not appear to suffer from the 

 shift, but will continue growing, which growth ought not to 

 have a check up to the time the flowers make their appearance. 



If green fly pay them a visit, take advantage of them when 

 the foliage is dry, by giving a smart smoking with tobacco 

 paper, and administer a good lashing with the syringe after the 

 smoke has passed away. 



In a short time, if all prospers, the roots will be through the 

 soil, when a larger shift will be requisite, which on no considera- 

 tion ought to be neglected, or put off till to-morrow — procrasti- 

 nation, or any other cause of prevention, will be found ruinous, 

 as nothing can be worse than allowing them to get pot-bound, 

 in which case the consequence will surely be stunted plants, 

 that will send up flower-stalks weak and premature ; whereas 



a regular succession of shiftingsup to 10-inch pots, will produce 

 really good plants. About the beginning of November, prepare 

 a place in the greenhouse as near as possible to the glass 

 without endangering them to frost. Place them there for the 

 winter, after carefully washing and clearing the pots of weeds, 

 being careful not to break the leaves in the operation, and con- 

 tinue to treat, as regards watering, syringing overhead, and 

 potting, when needful, as the winter passes. As soon as the 

 plants are established in their last shift, give a good soaking of 

 liquid manuro, at the rate of 40 gallons of rain water to 1 lb. 

 gnano once a-week, up to the time the flowers begin to expand, 

 when it may be discontinued. Turn the plants every timeyeu 

 have occasion to water, that they may be well balanced with 

 the foliage, and, as soon as the flower-stalks are of sufficient 

 length, stake out, and finally stage to flower. — A. Keru (in 

 Scottish Gardener), 



EUCHARIS GRANDIFLORA. 



The large plants exhibited at the International Horticultural 

 Exhibition on the 22nd of May last are now throwing up a 

 greater number of flower-spikes than when shown, and will 

 be in full flower in the course of ten or twelve days. Their 

 having been removed from the stove to retard for the Inter- 

 national accounts for their not being in flower earlier. A 

 small plant now in full flower has never been subjected to 

 anything but stove temperature. I find one portion of the 

 bulbs rest of their own accord, while the others are growing 

 and flowering. They are supplied with a couple of large 

 watering-potsful of clear liquid manure every alternate day. — 

 W. Howard, Gardener to James Howard, Esq., Bedford Hill, 

 Balliam. 



HEAT SAVED veivsi-s HEAT USED. 



In your Journal of June 12th I read a long article on fined 

 walls, and as this and its kindred subjects have long occupied 

 my attention, I hope Mr. G. Abbey will excuse my assuming 

 that his article was not what is called an exhaustive one, and 

 will permit me to assist him in his effort to ascertain why 

 flued walls are not, as a rule, successful. To see clearly, we 

 have all first to get rid of our prejudices ; in fact, try for a 

 season to forget what we know, and I am quite sure for a gar- 

 dener of the present day, who is expected to make either a 

 south wall or a flued wall successful, this is especially needful. 

 He must be able to forget and cease to sigh after the grand 

 houses in the nobleman's garden where he went as an improver, 

 before his mind will be open to believe that without all the 

 costly appliances now considered necessary, good fruit can be 

 grown at its usual season, and bring himself to take the pains 

 required. Is it not written, " Man shall earn his bread by the 

 sweat of his brow?" which means, I believe, by labour assisted 

 by steady thoughtful care, nay, even anxious care, for who has 

 not felt the cold moisture start on his forehead as he hurried, 

 fearing his forgetfulness had ruined all his hopes ? Then why 

 should it be considered, as it undoubtedly is, beneath a gar- 

 dener to waste his time in growing fruit if his master does not 

 supply him with a house so replete with appliances, that the 

 fruit produced will cost a fabulous sum per pound ? This cost 

 of production is quite lost sight of, and the simple means that 

 enabled the last generation to produce good crops are neglected, 

 in order that the time and attention may be devoted to what i.- 

 properly out of season. I mean, that if gardeners understood 

 the capabilities of the houses under their care they would by 

 forcing have had these crops out of hand, and thus been able 

 to devote their time and attention to the walls. Gardening 

 should be looked upon as a business, and gardens worked for a 

 profit, and then they will be carried on with economy and 

 spirit, which bring with them a certain amount of anxiety, 

 without which no business is healthy. 



From whence come the fine Pears ? The answer is ready — 

 from France ; but this does not explain my meaning. To 

 what system do we owe their production ? Those who have 

 not travelled much, or resided for a time in France, have 

 very little idea of the number of gentlemen with small in- 

 comes, who think they would lose their claim to be considered 

 gentlemen if they went into trade; but, fortunately for them, 

 selling the produce of the farm and the garden is not con- 

 sidered as being in trade ; and what better way of lengthening 

 out a small income than by means of a good kitchen garden? 

 So these educated men give their minds to the subject, and 

 not only make it pay, but find in it a healthy, pleasurable occu- 



