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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October 23, 1866. 



towards the north ; the manner of doing it is so well known 

 that a lengthened description would be needless. Carrots, take 

 up and store ; a dry place under ground, where the tempera- 

 ture is not much affected by external circumstauces, is best for 

 this purpose. Cauliflowers, look well to, as also Lettuces ; 

 pick off decayed leaves, and dress with lime. Globe Artichokes, 

 dress with some rich manure. 



FRUIT GAKDEX. 



Now that the summer work is fairly at an end, it is time 

 to take steps to provide against an inordinate pressure of 

 business in the forthcoming spring, for any arrears of autumn 

 or winter work at that busy period will prove a great hin- 

 drance to the carrying out a properly devised system during 

 the ensuing season, and can only be justified on the ground 

 of necessity. Planting, pruning, training, trenching, Sea., are 

 matters that belong peculiarly to this dormant season, and 

 having before disposed of planting and trenching by directing 

 attention to their importance, we will now offer a few prae'ical 

 remarks on pruning. The habits of fruit trees vary, more 

 especially as to the manner of forming and exhibiting their 

 buds ; thus there is no difficulty in distinguishing the fruit- 

 bearing portions of the Apple," or of bush fruit in general, 

 whilst the Apricot and the Filbert are at this period some- 

 what obscure in regard to these points. Even in the Pear, 

 such kinds as the Passe Colmar, Seckle, Marie Louise, and 

 some others, it is difficult to prune with safety in the early 

 part of winter. For these reasons, therefore, we say, Prune 

 bush fruit the moment you can find time. Follow closely 

 with Cherries, Plums, and Apples, and towards Christmas lay by 

 the knife until the early part of February, when the Filberts 

 will be blossoming; then, after a slight thinning of the 

 crowded and inside spray, male catkins may be brought, if 

 requisite, and suspended among the branches, and the Apricots 

 will by this time give unequivocal signs by which to know the 

 true blossom-buds ; these, then, may immediately receive their 

 pruning. The Peach and Nectarine will succeed the Apricot, 

 and these may be followed by the Pear, and lastly by the Fig. 

 In pruning bush fruit thin liberally. Let no two branches 

 in the Black Currant and Gooseberry touch when finally 

 thinned. These two seldom require shortening ; an equal and 

 judicious thinning is, therefore, everything here. In pruning 

 Apples the thinning of the branches or old wood should be the 

 first step; this, however, requires cauticn. The late Mr. 

 Knight, of Downton Castle, was much opposed to cutting out 

 large limbs unless a severe necessity existed. His authority is 

 too weighty to be passed over easily, more especially as he 

 lived most of his time in an Apple-growing district. In thin- 

 ning the young wood of espaliers remember that the first point 

 is to secure a continuance of leading shoots to form a compact 

 tree, and the second to secure a free admission of light to all 

 parts of the tree. The same remarks will apply to pruning all 

 the rough espaliers or dwarf standards of the kitchen garden, 

 be they of what kind they may. Raspberries may now be 

 planted and pruned. 



FLOWER GARDEN'. 



While a remnant of the summer's gaiety retaius its verdure 

 it should be permitted to occupy its position, as anything is 

 preferable to bare beds. Due care must be taken for a future 

 season by the preservation of such tender massing plants as 

 may with advantage be employed for a second season's display ; 

 the dwarf Scarlet Geraniums and various Fuchsias repay the 

 trouble, and are especially useful for vases or large beds. 

 Roses may be transplanted towards the end of the month ; 

 preparations should be made to receive such subjects. Fresh 

 dung, rotten stable-Utter, and burnt earth form an excellent 

 compost. Hardy creepers should be examined at this season, 

 and all unnecessary spray removed, and their security from 

 the blasts of winter made sure. Examine stakes and ties gene- 

 rally, forward all preparations for planting evergreens, lay turf, 

 and prevent the accumulation of leaves on borders and walks. 

 All the offsets of Tulips and small stock roots should be put in 

 as early as convenient in the store-beds ; they may be planted 

 in rows 6 or 8 inches apart, and the strongest 3 or i inches 

 apart in the row ; the smaller ones may be closer together. The 

 principal blooming roots may be put in at the earliest oppor- 

 tunity ; but if the present dry and favourable weather continue 

 no time should be lost in planting them while the soil can be 

 worked with facility. Other spring-flowering bulbs, such as 

 Hyacinths, Narcissus, Jonquils, Fritillarias, Crown Imperials, 

 Lilies, Snowdrops, Crocus, Dog's-tooth Violets, &c.,had better 

 be planted as early as possible. The advantage of planting 

 them while the ground admits of being worked with such 



facility as at present, is too great to be overlooked. Plants of 

 Pansies, as also of Polyanthus, Auriculas, &o., whether kept 

 in pots or frames, or planted in the open ground, should be 

 carefully watched to prevent the depredations of slugs, which 

 soon work great havoc if neglected. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Hyacinths and other Dutch bulbs, if not already purchased, 

 should be procured and potted without delay. Orange trees 

 meant for forcing in winter for the decoration of the house should 

 now bo attended to. The Mandarin being a free grower, with 

 a dwarf, bushy habit and small foliage, and a most abundant 

 bloomer, is probably the best for ordinary purposes ; but any 

 of the varieties flower profusely provided the wood is thoroughly 

 ripened in autumn. These and the deliciously fragrant Daphne 

 indica are invaluable for winter-blooming, and should be largely 

 grown for this purpose wherever sweet-scented flowers are in 

 demand. Also see to having plenty of Salvia splendens, which 

 is a very gay plant, and useful for mixing among Chrysanthe- 

 mums in the show-house. Look carefully after the watering 

 of large specimens of hardwooded plants, especially Heaths 

 and other fine-rooted plants, which are soon injured by being 

 either over or under-watered. Examine the specimens often 

 and carefully, and where they are found to be dry water 

 thoroughly, so as to moisten the whole of the ball. Let 

 Azaleas be tied into form as soon as possible, in order to give 

 them a neat appearance ; also attend to the staking and tying- 

 up of other plants as leisure time can be found. Repot strong- 

 growing Pelargoniums. Plants that are fairly established after 

 repotting can hardly be too freely exposed to the air, or kept 

 too cool. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



In the case of cold pits, if not already done, prepare without 

 delay straw shutters, or whatever else it may be intended to 

 use for coverings. Expose the stock to air on every favourable 

 opportunity, so as to check growth and make the wood firm. 

 Give very little water at the roots ; but look over the plants 

 every few days, withholding water until it is absolutely neces- 

 sary, and then giving a moderate soaking, which is the only safe 

 method of watering at this season. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



The first sharpish frost of the season came on Monday 

 morning the 15th, and was sufficient to blacken a few Kidney 

 Beans which were unprotected, a few Heliotropes, and espe- 

 cially to slightly injure some Golden Chain Geraniums in the 

 flower garden. The weather has since been all that could be 

 desired for harvesting and other work, and forwarding such 

 garden operations as root-pruning, transplanting, when the 

 trees were to be moved short distances, and giving the borders 

 and summer ornaments in the flower garden about their last 

 dressing for the season. It is amazing what a change has 

 been made in Geraniums, Calceolarias, &c, with three days' 

 sunshine, very many trusses opening quite nicely. We shall 

 this week chiefly confine our remarks to making the most 

 of the plants in the flower Hardens and windows of small 

 occupiers. 



1. Many beautiful boxes of plants outside the windows will 

 long retain their beauty, if they are lifted inside in the mean- 

 time at night, and are kept inside altogether as the days be- 

 come more cold. Many a summer-box might thus be carried 

 on almost to Christmas, and require little more than picking, 

 watering, taking a decayed plant out, and placing another in. 



2. A short time ago we saw a broad verandah beneath the 

 level of the first-floor windows of a tradesman's house, very gay, 

 chiefly with Calceolarias and Scarlet Geraniums in pots. The 

 latter last week were masses of bloom, and were individually 

 in pots from 8 to 12 inches in diameter. There need be no 

 difficulty in keeping these where there is a greenhouse, what- 

 ever be the mode resorted to ; but where there is not this con- 

 venience, and large plants of Calceolarias are wanted early out 

 of doors in spring, the best plan is to prune pretty well back 

 before they are frosted, take away a little of the surface soil, 

 and add fresh, and keep the plants in a cool, rather moist 

 place, such as in a back kitchen near a window, where they 

 will have a little light, and be kept from frost. By the end of 

 March they could be fresh-potted, and set out of doors with a 

 mat or calico protection. Where this is too much trouble for 

 Calceolarias, and the grower will be satisfied with nice healthy 



j flowering plants in May, let him put cuttings in a pot as de- 

 1 tailed for beds last week, using plenty of drainage, and sandy 



