350 



joubnaij of horticulture and cottagk gardeneb. 



[ uaxmsm. 



";■ THE COST OF A STINK. 



M\NY cultivators have an affectionate likiuf; for a stink. They 

 imagino that a punnent stench Kiveu off by a dung-heap in a 

 sure sign of gomlness and btrengtli in the maniue, and, in fact, 

 they ehtimate its vahio very much by the scuso of smell. " Ike 

 Marvel " hits ofl' this idea very well in his well-written book, 

 "My Farm of Kdgowood," where he makes "Nathan," one 

 of his oharactere, deliver himself of the following opinions, in 

 oonverBation with a scientific gentleman. " Guess it's all right ; 

 pmells pooty good, doan't it? " " Yes, hut don't j-ou lose some- 

 thing in the smell ? " " Wall, d'n know ; kinder hard to bottle 

 miu:h of a smell, ain't it ? " " But why don't you compost it- - 

 pack up your long manure with turf and earth, so that they 

 will absorb the ammonia?" "The what?" "Ammonia; 

 Vreoisoly what makes guano act so <iuickly." " Ammony, is it ? 

 Wall, guaunm- has a pooty good smell tow ; my opinion is that 

 mauure ought to have a pooty strong smell, or 'taint good for 

 nuthiu ! " 



The stench arising from manure is occasioned by the escape 

 either of carbonate of ammonia, or sulphuretted hydrogen, or 

 both. These gases are valuable for their fertilising properties, 

 and they are at the same time injurious and poisonous to 

 jujimal health and life, especially the sulphuretted hydrogen ; 

 it not only emits a very disagreeable odour, but is most per- 

 nicious to human health. It has oven been known to cause 

 death. 



Who shall estimate the cost of the stink which at once wastes 

 valuable manure, and injures the health of the cattle and 

 human beings that are forced to inhale it ? It would, perhaps, 

 be practicable to make an approximate estimate of the money 

 value of the ammonia that escapes. An ounce of carbonate of 

 ammonia may be bought of a druggist for a few cents. Placed 

 on a plate before a fire, it will, if pure, evaporate in ten or 

 fifteen minutes. This may give some distant notion of what is 

 being lost, hour after horn-, as the sun lets down his rays on 

 the manure-heap, stables, and sheds, in the warm weather of 

 spring and summer. Even in winter the loss is very great. 



There is no excuse for this extravagance, because it is so 

 easily prevented. The free use of gypsum, earth, and other 

 absorbents, about stabling and manm-e-heaps, will prevent 

 waste, and preserve health. In view of a probable visitation of 

 cholera in the coming season, the cost of a stink may bo terrible. 

 Not only in towns and cities, where largo numbers of persons 

 are collected, but even in country places, and on every farm, 

 this nuisance ought to be abated, and every possible precaution 

 taken for the maintenance of the pubUc health.— (Cumtiia 

 Farmer.) 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHF.X GARHEX. 



As the principal summer crops are now planted, attention 

 will be necessary to keep up a proper succession of vegetables. 

 To do this reiinires some forethought, and it is scarcely possible 

 to lay down rules for guidance considering that so many circum- 

 stances are involved. The wetness, or the reverse, of particular 

 localities, and the texture and capacity of soils for resisting 

 drought, are, however, the principal causes which require con- 

 sideration in keeping np a continuous supply ; such informa- 

 tion, wo need not say, is only to be obtained on the spot by 

 actual experience. Jirocroli, this is an excellent time to make 

 n principal sowing of all the late and spring Broccolis, such 

 as Portsmouth. Sulphur, Dwarf Late White, Knight's Protect- 

 ing, and Somers's Late White. The last is one of our very 

 latest Broccolis, it succeeds all others, and forms a link be- 

 tween the late spring Broccolis and the hand-glass Cauli- 

 flowers. Proceed with the pricking out of young seedlings, 

 also yonng seedlings of Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, <tc., as they 

 become large enough to h;indle, likewise Celery." Some of the 

 most forward of the early-sown Cnulirloicers and Cahbaijf plants 

 ■will now be in a fit state for final transplanting, which should 

 be done at the first favourable opportunity, and in the event of 

 di-y weather prevailing, they must be kept well suppUed with 

 water. Leek^. transplant from the seed-bed as soon as they 

 are large enough in rows 18 inches apart, and 9 inches plant 

 from plant ; the soil cannot bo too rich. Lettuces, tie np for 

 blanching a few of the largest Bath Cos that have stood 

 through the winter ; those should be kept well suppUed with 

 water in order to induce rapid growth, which is essential to the 

 production of that tender crispness so prized in this variety ; 

 keep up sacoessional sowings. r<a», continue to earth up aud 



stake, but previous to cartliingnp let them bo well thinned out 

 if too thick. This is a more important consideration than ia 

 generally imagined ; we often sow thickly in order to insure a 

 crop, but if all that come up are left to stand they will grow, 

 certainly, and bloom, and produce a number of small pods, but 

 after a gathering or two they are done ; whereas if well thinned 

 out we get a greater weight of finer pods, and they will con- 

 tinue to grow and bloom so as to produce a succession. Ono 

 of the chief merits of that excellent Pea the British Queen is 

 that it continues to produce in succession like a Kidney Bean, 

 and why is this, but because being a largo strong-growing sort 

 cultivators are accustomed to give it so much more room ? Thft 

 same principle is applicable to other varieties. Polatoet.. 

 which are coming up should have the ground well and deeply, 

 forked between the rows. }ladish(t> will now require to bo 

 sown very often in small quantities. Scarlet Uunners, sow full 

 crops of these and of Dwarf Kidney Beam. Turnips, keep up 

 succcssional sowings. 



FBCIT OAIU>EN. 



Proceed with the moderate disbudding of Peaclies, Nec- 

 tarines, and Apricots. Plums will now require a share of 

 attention in this way by removing all the foreright shoots from 

 the young wood, taking care not to leave more than can be kept 

 well nailed in without crowding. Continue to remove all super- 

 fluous wood from Vines. Stir the surface of the earth well 

 among Strawberry plants ; have ready a well-prepared piece of 

 ground for planting out all the forced Strawberries as they are 

 brought from the forcing structures ; they will produce strong 

 runners for the next year's forcing, and the crops the next 

 year from those left in the ground will be superior to any 

 grown in tho usual way ; the plants will require several ap- 

 plications of water after planting to give them a fair start. 



FLOWER G-IKDEN. 



Tho late rains will be favourable for recently -planted shrubs, 

 and now that the soil is damp, no time should be lost in com- 

 pleting whatever in the shape of planting or bedding-out young 

 nursery stuff remains on hand. If not done previously the her- 

 baceous ground should now be well cleaned and neatly raked 

 over ; this cannot well be done sooner in consequence of many 

 species being late in vegetating. Fill up vacancies either from 

 the reserve ground or by sowing annuals in the intermediate 

 spaces. Large plants of some genera, as Phloxes, Asters, A-c, 

 generally throw up too many (lowering shoots ; where such is the 

 case thin them out at once, so as to obtain not only fine heads 

 of bloom, but incre,ised strength in the remaining shoots, to 

 enable them to need less assistance from stakes. Hollyhocks, 

 for late blooming, may still be planted, as it is better, where 

 they are grown extensively, to plant at two or three times so 

 as to insure a succession of bloom. Those showy plants are 

 admirably adapted for planting in long lines and parallel to 

 straight walks, walls, ,tc., where they produce a grand effect. 

 One of the principal points in pleasure-ground scenerT.- is the 

 beauty of the turf, which should be kept at all times closely- 

 cut if perfection is aimed at, but more particularly at this 

 season, when by frequent mowings, cutting tho grass as low as 

 possible, the foundation of a close-bottomed turf will bo laid 

 for the season. On poor, sandy, or rocky soil the verdure must 

 be maintained by occasional waterings with Uqnid manure, or 

 dressings with guano, itc. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



As soon as tho cold frames and pits become clear of bedding 

 plants they should be occupied with young stock of hardwooded 

 plants, for the summer growth of which they are better adapted 

 than large houses. Such places will also be found suitable for 

 dwarf LobeUas, Salvia splcndens, S. gesnera>flora, and many 

 other things which are generally grown for flowering in the 

 conservatory in summer and autumn, indeed most plants which 

 require only a moderate temperature will be more manageable 

 here and thrive better than in lofty houses with double the at- 

 tention. As early-flowering New Holland plants go out of 

 bloom they should be treated in the way most favourable to 

 secure compact growth, placing them in an airy part of the 

 greenhouse. When tho buils have fairly started will bo the 

 time for shifting such as requir* more pot-room, as they can 

 then be kept somewhat close for a fortnight to encourage a free 

 root-action without incurring the risk of the buds breaking 

 scantily. No tribe of plants is better adapted to keep np a con- 

 stant display in the conservatory than Azaleas. Many of the 

 Indian varieties are remarkable for brilhancy of colour, whilst 

 the hardy Belgian kinds are favourites on account of the agree- 

 able ira^ance. The treatment recommended for the Camellia 



