262 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



( April 8, 1668. 



once ; but, as stated a week or two ago, it beoomea rather a dif- 

 ferent matter when we wish abundance of bloom instead of 

 mere luxuriance of foliage. 



In cold pits too much air cannot be given in mild days to 

 Auriculas, Carnations, Wallflowers, Stocks, and Mignonette 

 s )»ii in autumn. Fine useful Mignonette may be had by sowing 

 nos- in a mild heat, with a rather close atmosphere until the 

 plants are an inch in height. Now is a good time to sow or 

 prick-off for bush or tree Mignonette in pots. Calceolarias 

 want all the air possible. We have not yet been able to plant 

 oat, so as to thin the November-inserted cuttings, but we must 

 do so ere long. Ran the fingers and then a pointed stick 

 through the surface of Violet-beds, Neapolitan and others, to 

 let the air into the soil, and render it sweeter. Of all Violets, 

 the Neapolitan are our favourites for scent, but bunches of 

 them and bines look very nice when placed alternately. We 

 hope to have the new ones next season. The double blue is a 

 great favourite with many. It has suffered much with us this 

 year in the borders, owing to the excess of wet, and so has the 

 Lily of the Valley, which, in general, can stand a good deal of 

 moisture. 



Pelargoniums in a vinery which was becoming too hot for 

 them have been removed to the conservatory, and the cold or 

 late vinery, which is beginning to bud sooner than we want it. 

 The stage, itc, in the vinery has been filled with variegated 

 Geraniums, fresh-potted singly, to bo turned out and hardened 

 off afterwards, as there is plenty nf lij^ht still for them, and 

 the heat will bring them on a littL. Newer kinds of Fuchsias 

 have also been repotted and placed there, just to give them 

 a move before they go to a colder place afterwards. In the 

 vinerv- farther advanced, the stage is covered with some for- 

 ward variegated Geraniums, fine-leaved Begonias, just shifted, 

 and Gloxinias the same, where, as the Geraniums are re- 

 moved, the latter will find themselves at home in the heat and 

 the comparative shade, whilst the syi-inging of the shelves and 

 the floor will give enough of atmospheric moisture for them 

 and the Vines. A little sweet dried caked cowdung, made rather 

 fine, helps these Begonias and the Gloxinias very much, and 

 the former often produce the finest leaves when rather wnder- 

 potted, and in that state and size come in better for house de- ! 

 coration than when in larger pots. The leaves, also, will con- i 

 tinue a long time fresh in a room when separated from the plant. 

 In halls, &c., where there are no fires. Cinerarias will remain 

 fresh a long time in pots, or planted in vases ; but in winter 

 and spring they stand a very short time in rooms with large 

 fires that dry the air, unless the large leaves are frequently ; 

 damped or sponged. For this purpose the older small-leaved 

 kinds arc the best. However fashionable it may be to stud 

 entrance-halls, <tc., with plants in bloom, the want of light alone 

 makes them often look sadly out of place. Potted and divided 

 Ferns, and fresh-packed baskets of Stanhopeas, and other | 

 Orchids, &e. i 



Proi.riitatinri. — A good portion of the week, however, has heen 

 taken up in pricking-out and propagating. In relation to a j 

 number of inquiries we may here shortly note a few points. 



1st, Size of cuttings. Every joint of most plants may be 

 made into a plant. Where there is a shoot or bud on each side 

 of the joint, the joint may be split up the middle, and two 

 plants made from it ; but, like striking Geraniums from leaves, 

 it is a wearisome process, and much time is lost before you 

 obtain a fresh plant. We have no faith in striking Geraniums 

 by leaves, unless there is a hit of the stem at the bottom of 

 the leaf, and a bud there, either perceptible or imperceptible. 

 Many plants, as Cucumbers and Melons, as well as Geraniums, 

 will emit roots from leaves ; but it is long, it ever, before they 

 accumulate enough of organised material to throw up a fresh 

 shoot. In general it is best to have cuttings from 1 to 3 inches 

 in length. 



2ndly, In making the cuttings, cut tlu-ough at a joint with a 

 clean knife. This cutting at a joint is necessary in all hollow- 

 stemmed plants, and in all cases prevents liability to damping ; 

 remove the leaves then at that joint, and shorten those above 

 them, allowing the rest to remain to continue growth. We 

 would not remove many leaves at present, because, 



3rdly, All cuttings at this season will strike faster if they 

 receive an extra stimulus in the way of heat, but not so much 

 as to over-excite the cutting to elongate upwards. The modes 

 of obtaining this heat we will allude to next week. 



4tlily, In proportion to the leaves left on the cutting and the 

 distance it stands trom the glass, will shade or no shade be 

 required. At present we have a number of hghts in a pit 

 filled closely with cuttings striking of Verbenas, Lobelias, Ge- 



raniums, Heliotropes, and Ageratums ; only the lower leaves of 

 the cuttings were removed, a few of the larger shortened, but 

 most of the rest left on, and they have scarcely had a bit of 

 shading. They stand from 15 to 18 inches from the glass, and 

 in such a day as Tuesday they had a skiff once or twice from 

 the syringe to lessen evaporation. 



otlily. We like to see striking in water and sand and water, 

 and it is a pretty amusement ; but then the cuttings must be 

 lojked after as soon as the roots are formed, and transferred 

 to nice, warm, sandy soil. WTienmuch is done it is as well to 

 place the cuttings in material in which they will stand and 

 flourish some time after they are struck, and hence we prefer, 

 after good drainage, hght sandy loam and a Uttle leaf mould, 

 with a slight coating of sand on the surface, which, if kept 

 rather moist, will prevent air penetrating to and exhausting the 

 base of the cutting. In proportion to the additional heat used 

 in striking cuttings, so will greater care be required in harden- 

 ing off the cuttings afterwards. Those with but few conveni- 

 ences should do most of their propagating in summer and 

 autumn. The sun will then give the heat which must now 

 be supplied artificially by fire or fermenting material. — R. F. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— Mabch :31. 



The demand bas been somewhat more heavy in consequence of the 

 rojuiremeuts vi the markets in the North for early Cabbaged, out-door 

 Khubarb, Ok:c., and priceb have therefore been maintained; but lorced 

 fruit has barely kept np to our former quotations. 



.\pplo3 K sieve S 0to5 



Apricots doz. 



Cherries lb. 



Chestnuts bush. 8 16 



Currants, Red Vj sieve 



Black do. 



Fi(!9 doz. 



Filberts lb. 



Cobs lOOlbs. n IGO 



Gooseberries V^ sieve 



Grapes, Hothouse.. lb. 15 25 



Lemons 100 6 10 



FEUIT. 

 s. di 



Melons each 



Nectarines doz. 



Oranges 100 



Peaclies doz. 



Pears (kitchen) . . doz. 



dessert doz. 



Pine Apples lb. 



Plums ^j sieve 



Quinces »-,: sieve 



R.aspberries lb. 



Strawberries oz. 



Walnuts bush. 



d. 8. 

 0to5 

 



VEGETABLES. 



Artichokes each 



Asparagus .... bundle 

 Beans, Broad. . bushel 



Kidney 100 



Beet, Red doz. 



Broccoli bundle 



Brus. Sprouts \ii sieve 



Cabbage doz. 



Capsicums 100 



Carrots bunch 



Cauliflower doz. 



Celery bundle 



Cucumbers each 



pickling .... doz. 



Endive doz. 



Fennel bunch 



Garlic lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish . . bundle 



8. d. s. 

 6ta0 



































4 



2 



2 U 



9 







d. E. 



Leeks bunch 



; Lettuce per doz. 1 



I Mushrooms .... i>ottIe 2 

 > Mustd.£ Creas, punnet 



' Onions bushel S 



6 Parsley sieve 2 



i Parsnips doz. 



Peas quart 12 



Potatoes bushel 



8 Kidney do. 



I Radishes . . doz. hands 



Rhubarb bundle 



' Savoys doz. 



' Sea-kale basket 



; Shallots lb. 



Spinach bushel 



Tomatoes .... V; sieve 



Turnips bunch 



Vegetable Marrows dz. 



d. e. 

 8 too 



TRADE CAT.VLOGITES RECEI\'ED. 



Charles Turner, Royal Nursery, Slongh. — Gcncial Sjmng 

 CaUiJiifiue, 1806. 



J. A. Bruce & Co., Hamilton, Canada West. — Descriptive 

 Catahpue of Secdg for the Farm, Kitchen Garden, Flower Garden, 

 of Itnots, <t:c. 



Ambroise Verschaffelt, Rue du Ghaome, 50, Ghent. — Prir- 

 Coxirant pour Printfmps et Etc. 1866. Ho. 78 — Plantes 

 Novvelles. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



• .• We request that no one will write privately to the depart- 

 mental writers of the "Jommal of Horticulture, Cottage 

 Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they 

 are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All 

 communications should therefore be addressed folely to 

 The Editors of the Jounial of Horticulture, dc, 171, Fleet 

 Street, London, E.C. 



N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next 

 week. 



Stocks for the Apple and Pear, — We have received a communica- 

 tion from Mr. Robson in answer to " T. R.,' but too late lor InscrtioB 

 until next week. 



