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JOUBNAIi 0? HOUTICUJ^IUBE AND GOTIAGE GABDgNKB. 



[ jboo 19, leoe. 



them in the shape of vaponr, when there was to a considerable 

 depth a continnoas radiation of heat and on unbroken evapo- 

 xation of moistnre. 



There is jast one general exception to the above role. In 

 the coBe of newly-potted plants in the houses or otherwise, or 

 of newly planted-out sabjects, such as bedding plants now, the 

 plants will often suffer from a hot sun when there is plenty 

 of moisture at the roots, and dashing on more water could 

 he of no benefit whatever, os the roots as yet cannot absorb 

 fast enough to meet the sudden demands of sun and wind, as 

 these take moisture away from the leaves and stems. Check- 

 ing evaporation by shading until the plant has established itself 

 would be better than drenching and cooling the roots. In 

 a large way this shading would be next to impossible, and 

 syringing or sprinkling overhead is often as effectual, and the 

 ground is not cooled by the shading. In very hot weather we 

 thus often give a dewing from the syringe and the garden 

 engine, instead of pouring water from the water-pail, and the 

 little that falls on the hot ground under such circumstances 

 keeps, until it is entirely evaporated, a moist vapour about the 

 leaves and stems which prevents them from flagging. A very 

 little water will go a long way in thus damping the foliage, and 

 so long as the leaves are damp the sun will rarely absorb the 

 more valuable moisture contained in the plant. I 



We have no hesitation in thus treating our newly-planted 

 bedding plants in the brightest sun if they need it. and an 

 active man or lad will soon go over a large space. We know 

 there are many who counsel us to avoid all this, as the plants and 

 leaves would run the risk of being scorched and blanched. ■ 

 In practice, in the open air we have never found such an in- 

 jurious result. Who is there that has found the prejudicial 

 effects of what is called even a heavy sunny shower ? We have 

 never found a single burnt hole or blanched leaf after such a 

 refreshing shower, with the sun making the most beautiful 

 tainbows, as it shines brightly on the falling drops. Out of 

 doors we have never seen anything injured by our slighter arti- i 

 6cial shower, more properly called misting or dewing. Even 

 under glass there is no great danger from such syringing, even 

 in sunshine, if you are sure of clear good glass, and there is a 

 free current of air through the place. It is the confined air, 

 and the confiued vapour that accompanies it, that are the chief 

 causes of the mischief that sometimes takes place under such ; 

 circumstances. This reminds us of several inqairies as to how I 

 to give to plants and cuttings the misting or dewing to which \ 

 we sometimes allude. What we mean is, that the water shall 

 be driven from a syringe or garden engine in such a tine form 

 as more to resemble a misty dew than a common shower of 

 rain. The art of doing so must be acquired by the workman, j 

 and then nothing is more simple. 1 



There must have been few at the late International Exhibition i 

 tliat did not admire the many sorts of bends, and joints, and ' 

 nozzles, and roses that could be attached to syringes and 

 Engines for throwing water, as exhibited by Messrs. Bead and 

 ■Warner. These gentlemen, we are sure, will excuse us for 

 saying that a great portion of these mechanical conveniences j 

 are useful ohlefly to the amateur gardener, enabling him, if j 

 disposed, to perform many operations without much stooping | 

 or tending, which otherwise he would be obliged to submit to ; | 

 but for real work, the simpler the machine is tho better. A I 

 good workman with the simplest contrivance would do the work 

 whilst a more mechanical genius was taking off one nozzle and 

 fitting on another ; and just on this simple principle, that for 

 getting at the under as well as the upper side of leaves and 

 branches, no joints or bends can ever compare for efficiency 

 with the wondrous backbone and tho joints in the limbs of the 

 human operator. 



Simplicity cannot be too much studied in all mechanical 

 helps. Take for instance the garden syringe. There is 

 nothing superior to the ball-valved common straight syringe 

 of Read's, and even in that case we care nothing for the 

 two nozzles sent out with it, pierced with holes larger and 

 smaller, the finest sending out the water very slowly but in 

 larger drops than suit our idea of what we term dewing. No, 

 these rose nozzles we generally look npon as pretty ornaments, 

 and nseful for those who like to work them, and who care 

 nothing about the time the water takes to escape. The object 

 of our love in the syringe is the single jet nozzle, or rather, as it 

 generally appears, with the seemingly double jet, one for allow- 

 ing the water to fill the syringe and the other to permit of its 

 leaving it with effect. By placing the thumb on the end of 

 that jet the water, according to ths resistance given by the 

 thumb, can be sent out with great force, and in large or 



small volume, or it may be forced to leave the syringe as fine 

 as a misty dew, and on cither side of the leaf, jnst nccordiug 

 OS tlie thumb and the wrist regulate the supply and the direc- 

 tion. ^\'hcre is the mechanism that can compare with the 

 joints and bends in a gardener's hand and arm ? Do not sup- 

 pose we say a word against such nice mechanism as we find in 

 garden engines, syringes, and hydropalts, S:c. ; but we do meto 

 to say that when a man has to carry the water which he oses 

 in syringing, and has to depend on himself without any help, 

 he will find the simplest form of the garden engine or syringe 

 anytliing but the worst auxihary. On the same principle wo 

 look on all the delivering roses sent out with garden water- 

 engines as of little intrinsic value to the practical workman, as 

 the common jet can be so managed by his thumb as to secure 

 the water being sent out in any force, and almost any quantity, 

 from the regular lashing to that resembling a soft misty dew. 



KITCUES GARPEy. 



Planted out Lettuces ; sowed more for succession, also a 

 little bit of Endive, Onions for salads. Turnips, Eadishes, and 

 Peas and Beans for succession, as the last sowing has been let 

 alone by the pheasants. Have a lot of both to transplant, 

 which must be done without delay. Those turned out formerly 

 are doing well ; but, of course, all this increases the labour. 

 Would have formed slight hotbeds for Melons, Cucumbers. Ac, 

 but as yet could not get at them. Also, would have placed the 

 foundation of a Mushroom-bed in our open shed if we could, 

 but we hope to get a little straight before long. From previous 

 weeks' notices expected to have got out some forward Celery 

 into beds containing three or four rows each ; but part of these 

 beds are not yet emptied of bedding plants, and part are not 

 yet made, nor supplied with rotten dung ; but we are easier 

 on this account, as the Celery plants are doing well where they 

 are, and being close together require much less watering than 

 thoy would do in beds to attain their full size. They will also 

 lift with good balls, and never suffer from the moving, but will 

 require a little shade if the weather should be very sunny. OiiB 

 advantage of turning out large plants is, that they can be well 

 cleaned of all suckers and side growths before planting thetrl 

 out, and much more easily than when fairly planted in the soil. 

 If such suckers are allowed to grow, they rob to a certain 

 extent the main central plant, on which all the attention sbotilol 

 be bestowed. Some Celery raised and planted among a»hes, as 

 detailed some time ago, is running now ; but even the blanched 

 white stalk is as useful for soups as young green Celery. To 

 get that white for the purpose of soups and broths, we fre- 

 quently leave some rather thickly in our first-pricked-ont bed; 

 and earth up mth earth and ashes. This is no bad plan for 

 obtaining it very early for the fable, or as part in salads ; but 

 it is advisable not to have much of it, as it will not compare 

 with what has more room in a bed, or in a single row. Keep 

 pricking out young plants in sandy soil, with rotten dung anS 

 leaf mould below ; they will come in for late spring Celery. 

 On a drizzling day trenched the Broccoli quarters, as alluded 

 to last week. One word more as respects 



Celery. — Many people are afraid to plaiit out early, owing to 

 the liability to bolt or run, when it ought to be fit for use. 

 We have planted out in May and June strong plants, had good 

 heads fit for use in July, and not had a single run head. We 

 think that some years ago we let out the secret, and it may be 

 summed up in two words : First, never let the plants be 

 stunted from dryness ; and, second, dispense with all bit-by-bit 

 earthing-up, and earth up at once from three to four weeks 

 before you want the Celery for use. We have grown Celery Ot 

 astonishing size by using strong dung and artificial stimtl-_ 

 lonts ; but for profitable, nice-flavoured Celery, commend tift 

 to a moderate portion of rotten dung and leof mould well mlxeo 

 with the natural soil. Very large Celery is expensive to grow, 

 and it is ruinous to keep it long, when fit for the table, as If, 

 the rain penetrate to the heart, it cannot get out again, apij. 

 thus the most valuable part becomes a mass of rottenness. 

 We still like the little Dwarf Incomparable — we can with' it 

 obtain so much useful matter in little room. It does not 

 come in so early as some other kinds — that is, unless it is 

 planted much earlier. If it received justice, we hclieve it ini^t 

 be planted out in tho beginning of .lunc, and scarcely show a 

 bolted head until the beginning of the following April. 

 rr.ciT GAP.DBS. 

 Some of oni treea, especially Plums, that were pictures last 

 season, are showing what birds, encouraged by game, can soon 



I accomplish. Many larga branches have not a green twig on 

 them, and all over the tree strong ahoots ai<9_o<mi9i.t<», maJi* 



