February 6, 1866. ] 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



Ill 



coming into bloom, should in this mild moist -weather hare 

 rather a dryish atmosphere, and the bunches showing bloom 

 should have a dry hand gently passed over them to disperse the 

 pollen. For this purpose, so as to insure good and regular 

 setting, -we know no plan of shaking or brushing equal to the 

 gentle touch of a di-y hand — that is, doubling the hand, taking 

 the bunch in it, and gently drawing the hand over it. By this 

 means we have found that Muscats set freely, even when they 

 are not in such a high temperature. Note that during the time 

 of Vines being in bloom, it is only in the mild moist weather 

 we have had, that we would recommend the di'yish atmosphere 

 at blooming and setting-time. In weather in general, it should 

 not be too dry at such a time, as, if the atmosphere is vei-y dry, 

 the capsule clings so closely round the parts of fructification, 

 that the anthers cannot have full play on the stigma. More 

 moisture in the atmosphere gives more elasticity to the capsule 

 ring, and the anthers have more free play ; but in all early 

 forcing of Vines, we would recommend a dry hand being drawn 

 over every bunch when in bloom. This is soon done. The 

 best time is a sunny day. 



On the other hand, Peaches when in bloom should have rather 

 a di-y atmosphere imtil the friut is set. On a sunny day it is 

 well to use a board rapidly waved over the trees to disperse the 

 pollen, or in some cases to use even a feather or a fine camel- 

 hair brush. We have known Peach-houses that showed a fine 

 lot of bloom carry little fruit, because the house was kept much 

 too moist when the trees were in bloom. A drier temperature 

 would have caused them to set more freely. If trees are in 

 bloom now in such mild moist weather, the moisture in the 

 borders will sufficiently coimteract the little fire heat that wiU 

 be necessary. If the weather turned cold and frosty, the paths 

 and borders might be syringed and damped, and a few evapo- 

 rating-pans might be placed on the heating medium ; but 

 whilst Peaches are in bloom anything like steaming hot-water 

 pipes and flues should be avoided. 



Fii/s beginning to move had better be thinned as to the 

 shoots, when it is seen what can best be spared. The shoots 

 left and showing fi-uit may have the terminal bud nipped 

 through with a knife or between the thumb and finger, which 

 tends to thi-ow the organised sap back to support the young 

 fruit. When the young fruit appears, care must be taken that 

 the roots are not diy, or the fruit will drop to a certainty. If 

 from any cause the soil has become dry, and the dimness is not 

 removed before the fruit shows, then the di-y soil must be 

 moistened by degrees. Too much moisture at once will cause 

 the fruit to di-op by extra stimulus. After the fruit begins to 

 swell, the plants must be strangers alike to dry roots and stag- 

 nant moisture. As we kept in bearing our Figs iu-doors a 

 little into November, they are just now beginning to move. 

 From the 1st to the middle of October is late enough for Figs to 

 bear, if an early crop is desired from them. We covered part 

 of our trees out of doors with spruce branches, anticipating 

 a httle severe frost ; but as the thaw came before we finished, 

 we will let them alone until we see the signs of another frost. 

 Some of these trees we mean to allow to hang a little from the 

 wall in summer. We have proved that where the place is at 

 all sheltered and warm. Figs even out of doors do better when 

 thus treated than when they are pinned-in with nail and shred, 

 or string, to a wall. The remarks at pages 90 and 91 may help 

 to convince others of the same. 



titrawberrifs in pota luider a Uttle protection received plenty 

 of air ; and those imder glass, set on reversed turf, were watered 

 in hot days, and with less care, as there could be no stagnant 

 water. Plants set in saucers were watered with care ; and at 

 this season of the year, and in such mild moist weather, no 

 water was allowed to stand in the saucer. In such weather 

 care should be taken that the water is not pom'ed over the 

 crown or bud. Plants in bloom should have all the air possible, 

 and in such dull weather be shaken with a small brush or 

 feather. Wlien the blossom and the farina of the anthers are 

 dry, a large fine feather is as good as anything else for brush- 

 ing along them, and even the hand passed smoothly along 

 them will do good. In fine sunny days they will set well 

 enough without any such care ; but if they do not happen to 

 set, and we have used no means to help them, then we are apt 

 to accuse ourselves, and self-accusations are the worst of all to 

 bear. 



Potted oft Melon plants, and sowed some more to be in 

 readiness, though as yet we can see but little space we can 

 appropriate to them. If we could, we woirld always raise young 

 Melon plants iu a sweet dung hotbed. The plants generally 

 have thus a vigour and a sturdiness which they rarely have i 



when raised by another heat in the diy state, either from flues 

 or hot water, though in either of such heats they will flourish 

 very well after they have become stout plants. There are 

 many crops that thrive better in an old-fashioned dung hotbed 

 than by any other heat we can give them. We have grown 

 Cucumbers most successfully from first to last with the help 

 of the old flap, but we never had such nice young plants of 

 Melons from flue heat as from a dung hotbed. There was 

 more trouble at first with dung beds than with hot water, or 

 even with flues ; but many gardeners who now have enough of 

 hot water are beginning to feel the want of the old hotbeds 

 for keeping the kitchen garden all right. Some may well extol 

 the efficacy of Cabbage stirmps. Pea haulm, rotation of crop- 

 ping, and rotation of trenching, for that is pretty weU all the 

 manure the kitchen garden can have. The old liotbeds were 

 the grand foundation for plenty of luxuriant well-flavoured 

 vegetables. 



OENAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



EoUed the walks when dry, but not too heavily, so as to 

 make them over-smooth now. EoUed also the lawns, as the 

 worm heaps are becoming ratherprominent in this mild, moist 

 weather. Pnmed the hardier Eoses, Honeysuckles on arches, 

 &c. Gave plenty of air to prevent damping in cold pits and 

 frames. Will soon commence propagating what we are most 

 scarce of for the flower garden ; but as yet have little room or 

 heat to spare. Pricked off some Calceolarias, Lobelias, &c., 

 and sowed more Lobelias and Feathered Cockscombs. Potted 

 lots of Geraniums, Fuchsias, etc. Pruned many more of the 

 latter. Took Hyacinths to the hoiise and conservatory, with 

 other forced flowers and shrubs. Fresh regulated the conser- 

 vatory, taking in a fresh lot of Cinerarias, and likewise fresh 

 regulated the stove. Potting Mosses and Ferns. Brought Glox- 

 inias beginning to show from a dark place to one where they 

 could have more light to induce them to gi'ow before potting 

 them. Did the same as respects Achimenes, &c. Placed Ges- 

 nera zebrina where the tubers would ripen. Gave plenty of 

 air and as little damp as possible to hardwooded plants, and 

 in the worst weather proceeded with cleaning plants, washing 

 pots, and preparing straw covers for protection. Made it a 

 point to keep a look out for dry litter, rough hay, Lam-el 

 boughs, and Spruce branches, to be ready for temporary protec- 

 tion, for if a severe frost came suddenly, many tilings would 

 suffer severely from being now so tender, rmless, indeed, the 

 frost should be preceded by a good fall of snow. Managed in 

 a dry day to put some burnt earth and rubbish round Holly- 

 hock stems, which wUl preserve them in the open gi-ound to a 

 gi-eat extent ahke from wet and frost. Bare sorts may now be 

 taken up -with balls and placed in a mild heat for propagating, 

 or suckers may now be removed. Cones of the dry bui-nt 

 earth wUl be a good preservative for those left in the open 

 ground. — E. F. 



TEiVDE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



E. G. Henderson &- Son, WeUingtou Eoad, St. John's Wood. 

 — Catalorjtic of Flower, VeiietabU, and AijricnUnral Seeds. 

 ■ • F. & A. Dickson & Sons, IOC, Eastgate Street, Chester.— 

 Cnlalogue of Vegetable and Floiver Seeds, d-c. 



Eobert H. Poynter, Castle Green Nursery, Taunton, Somer- 

 set. — Retail List of English, and Foreign Seeds, rf-e. 



John McHattie, 136, Northgate Street, Chester. — Catalogue 

 of Vegetable and Fbneer Seeds, Gladioli, Seed Potatoes, dx. 



CO^TSNT GARDEN MARKET.— February 3. 



k MARKED dulness has pi-evailetl in onr market Ihis week, and all de- 

 scriptions of out-door and forced vegetables are more tlian sufficient for 

 the demand. The Potato trade is duU also, and prices are receding in 

 consequence of larpe nn-ivals, both coastwise and by rail. We have 

 received a consiffnment of Pines from ^t. Wicbael's of remarkably good 

 growth and quality, varying from 4 to 5 lbs. in weight. 



Apples i sieve 



Apricots doz. 



Cherries lb. 



Chestnuts bush, 



Cui-rants, Red \ sieve 

 Black do. 



FiKS doz. 



d. 5. d 



6to4 











16 



















Filberts lb. 



Cobs 100 lbs. 160 



Gooseberries. . ^ sieve 



Grapes, Hambro lb. ) m « 5t n 



Muscats.... lb.; 10 15 



Lemons 100 6 10 



Melons each 



s. d. 

 8 



MulbeiTies punnet 



B. d 

 5 

 

 

 10 

 



Nectarines doz. 



Oranges 100 4 



Peaches doz. 



Pears (kitchen). . doz. 4 8 



dessert doz. 4 8 



Pine Apples lb. 6 10 



Plums i sieve 



Quinces I sieve 



Raspberries lb. 



StrawbeiTies lb. 



Walnuts bnsh 14 20 



