January 9, 1866. ] 



JOUENAIi OF HOKTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



29 



looking carefully over the plan, it will be seen tliat all within 

 the outside line of Box can be made one mass of beds, at the 

 discretion of the owner, and each bed complete in itself. They 

 can be filled with different plants and bulbs all the year, so that 

 the plants in one bed will not interfere with the arrangement 

 of the bulbs in the other. I I, m, n n n n, and rj g, on the plan, 

 also the naiTow alleys all round, marked x .v, are intended for 

 colouring-materials ; they are equally eligible for bulbs, Pansies, 

 or the like. In order to give an idea of how it might look, 

 I win suppose it to be planted with the following plants, 

 which are all easy to procure : — a a, white Arabis. edged with 

 bine ; b b, Alyssum saxatUe, edged with Stachys lanata ; 

 d e, d c, Ai'abis, edged with Cerastium tomentosum ; e e, SMm- 

 mia japonica ; / /, Vinca elegantissima ; / I and m, blue Pansy ; 

 h, Arabis lucida variegata ; p p, double Daisy ; o o, common 

 gravel ; in the alleys round the two centre figures broken 

 bricks ; in the alley round the outside I would put burnt flint 

 (pure white), and in the circles coals. There are many who 

 wiU not coincide with me on this subject ; they are prejudiced 

 against the use of such materials, because, perhaps, they have 

 seen it carried to excess in some places, but anything in excess 

 is distasteful to the eye. I would hke to see the objections 

 more fully explained in the columns of The Jourxal of Hor- 

 ticulture, and I should be glad if those who agree with me as 

 to the use of coloured materials, would suggest any improve- 

 ment that could be made, so that we might be able to learn 

 various opinions on the subject. — M. O'Donnell. 



PRESERVING OUT-OF-DOORS GRAPES. 



I HAVE sent you a specimen of our out-of-doors Grapes, also 

 the glass cylinder. 7 J inches high by 5 inches in diameter, in 

 which they were grown. 



I believe it is a very old plan, but out of fashion I suppose, 

 as I have never seen any notice of it in The Journal of Hor- 

 ticulture. It is a capital mode of keeping out-of-doors Grapes 

 for late use. The oiled calico protects them from rain, and 

 the perforated zinc keeps out birds and msects, but admits 

 sufficient air. The Grapes were thinned when about the size 

 of Peas; the glasses were put on immediately, and, except 

 pruning, no attention has been given since. 



The glasses have been in use here for many years with oiled 

 calico bottoms, and shaded with limewash, but the Grapes 

 became mouldy soon after they were ripe, and if holes were left 

 for ventilation the wasps and flies soon finished them. I adopted 

 the zinc bottoms two years ago, and the glasses have done very 

 well since aud require no shading. — John Jones, Gardener to 

 Col. GUiddi'lt. 



[The bunch of Grapes, Royal Muscadine, were in very ex- 

 cellent condition (January 2), but slightly shrivelled, and not 

 at all mouldy or deficient in flavour. — Eds.] 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



kitchen garden. 

 As the weather has been particularly open and mild up to 

 this time, all trenching, rough digging, gravelling walks, &c., 

 ought to be pushed on as fast as possible. Where drainage is 

 necessary, now is a good time to execute aU work of that de- 

 scription. When we see the agricultural world so alive to its 

 benefits, it is strange to hear gardeners, like fatalists, lament- 

 ing over their pining Peach and Nectarine trees and bad crops, 

 and making no effort to strike at the root of the evil. The 

 very worst soil and situation may be improved by drainage. 

 Asparagus, the beds should be soiled or manured as soon as 

 the frost makes the ground hard enough to bear wheeling. 

 Beans, sow another crop of the Mazagan, and plant out any 

 which have been hardened off after being germinated in heat. 

 Carrots, sow a moderate breadth of Early Horn, also Short Top 

 Radish ; there is no better plan than sowing them in drills 

 alternately, covering in ^\-ith sandy matter, and protecting with 

 any available material. An excellent method of fastening 

 down such material is to place long willow rods at convenient 

 distances, pegging them down at each end with a strongisb 

 hook. Cucumbers, the plants in houses must be strictly 

 attended to, to keep them in health ; refrain from removing or 

 injuring any of the leaves, if possible ; guard against over 

 watering, which is particularly injurious in dull weather. 

 Prepare dung lor the main early beds, and make a small seed- 

 bed for raising the plants. Cauliflotcers, those under hand- 

 lights require constant attention, keep the surface stirred, dust 

 with lime and charcoal dust ; an excellent plan to catch slugs 

 among these is to spUt large Carrots and lay about the plants, 

 by picking them on mild mornings an immense number may 

 be taken. See that the hardy varieties of Lettuce and Endive 

 on banks or borders are properly protected, and look over the 

 plants in favourable weather, removing decayed matter, and 

 covering up for blanching when dry. Peas, make a second 

 sowing on a warm border. Waite's Daniel O'Eourke and 

 Early Warwick answer well for this sowing. Be careful to 

 keep a good number of figure-4 traps constantly set, there 

 are none better for keeping down those destructive pests, the 

 mice. Peas coming up must have the surface soil constantly 

 stirred, and opportunities should be watched for the destruc- 

 tion of slugs by dusting with quicklime. Endeavour to keep 

 well up with all work in tliis department, the time is fast 

 approaching when we shall find the advantage of having 

 done so. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



Proceed with planting, and the necessary arrangements for 

 planting where it is not already brought to a conclusion. 

 Prime and nail wall trees ; dress those fruit trees that are in- 

 fested with moss, lichen, or scale, in suitable weather; prune, 

 train, and tie in neatly, all espalier trees, and caiTy away all 

 refuse that will not readOy decompose to the char heap, there 

 to be converted into valuable manure. Fork among all fruit 

 plantations, applying some manure, if possible, about the 

 roots of the trees. Peach, Nectarine, and Apricot trees should 

 be protected in due time with spruce boughs, or some other 

 material. If frost prevails stir up the soil well with the hoe 

 or fork close under the walls and fences, such places afford a 

 ready refuge for slugs and other vermin. It is not a bad plan 

 to shake a Uttle quicklime over the earth thus disturbed. 



FLO\(-ER GARDEN. 



During fine weather, like the present, continue to dig the 

 borders where this has not been ah-eady done ; edge and clean 

 walks, lay turf, and make edgings good where that is necessary. 

 In favourable weather keep aU hands busy out of doors, leaving- 

 in-door jobs for bad days. Plant shrubs, and regulate herba- 

 ceous plants ; reduce Phloxes, &c., when they require it, and 

 replant them after well digging the ground ; take care not to 

 plant too thickly, and leave room for planting tender plants in 

 spring and summer. See that all half-hardy plants are secured 

 against severe weather. 



GREE-NHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



As the conservatory is the chief place of resort for the family 

 in winter, it is requisite that the flowers, &c., be at all times 

 kept particulariy clean and dry, dryness of atmosphere through 

 tire heat will not, however, keep the plants in that luxuriant 

 health, which not only creates a present interest in them, but 

 also furnishes a guarantee for success in future. Great mode- 

 ration, therefore, in the use of fire heat is necessary in this de- 

 partment, more especially in the dead of winter. A tempo- 



