July 1, 1869. ] 



JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



li 



cut blooms, distinct (Amateurs), 15s., 10s., and 7s. 3, Six 

 Carnations, cut blooms, distinct (Amatenrs), 10s., 7s., and 5s. 

 4, Twenty-four Pieotees, cut blooms, distinct (Nurserymen), 

 £1 5s., £1, and 15s. 5, Twelve Pieotees, cut blooms, distinct 

 (Amateurs), 15s., 10s., 7s. 6, Six Pieotees, cut blooms, distinct 

 (Amateurs), 10s., 7s., and 5s. 7, Thirty-six Carnations, 

 Pieotees, and Cloves, mixed, cut blooms (Nurserymen), £1 10s. 

 and £1. 8, Twelve Carnations, Pieotees, and Cloves, mixed, 

 cut blooms (Amateurs), 15s., and 10s. 



. The floral decorations at Buckingbam Palace in honour 



of the visit of the Viceroy of Egypt, were supplied by Mr. 

 Wimsett, of the Ashburnbam Park Nursery, Chelsea. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



The frequent showers we have had of late have been most 

 favourable for the operations of this department. Every yard 

 of ground that can be spared should be planted with winter 

 vegetables. Stir the surface of the ground amongst all growing 

 crops where practicable ; doing so will enable the rain to per- 

 colate through it more equally, and will check evaporation. If 

 not already done, a good breadth of Brussels Sprouts should be 

 planted in rich deep soil, for if not planted at once the crop 

 will be poor, and it is very desirable to secure a good supply 

 of this most useful winter vegetable. Endii'c, those who desire 

 a good and constant supply of autumn and winter Endive 

 must make a fall sowing at once. Endive is generally sown 

 too thickly. Another sowing may be made about the middle j 

 of the month, after which the plants will not attain their full 

 size. As soon as they are a few inches high mow the tops of 

 the leaves off with a scythe, cutting about one-third of them 

 away. 



FliUIT GARDEN. 



Those who fully understand the importance of thoroughly 

 ripening the wood of all trees on walls and espaliers will, of 

 course, pay attention to thorough thinning and early training. 

 We cannot expect Peach trees to ripen their wood perfectly 

 when the young shoots are dangling from the wall until August. 

 Pear trees at this period should also have as much attention as 

 Peaches. The breastwood must be kept short, and in doing 

 this remove it from the upper half of the tree first. Proceed 

 with the fastening in of the young wood of wall trees, and see 

 that they are perfectly free from infects. Gross shoots that 

 ■were stopped early in the season should bo divested of all 

 laterals except one, or, if they can be spared, removed alto- 

 gether. Look to preparing Strawberry runners for forcing next 

 season. When Strawberry plants have ceased to bear for the 

 season, and have borne on the same ground for three succes- 

 sive years, they ought to be trenched down, and the succession 

 kept up by making fresh plantations of those that have been 

 forced, taking care that the soil is trenched and well manured 

 at least 2 feet in depth. Currants growing against walls or 

 other fences ought now to be matted over, to protect them for 

 ■use in autumn and winter. See that the shoots of young 

 grafts are nailed or tied up as they advance, to prevent their 

 being broken by the wind. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Late-sown annuals should be tbioned so soon as they are 

 well above ground, for if left to grow too thickly they spoil one 

 another, and never make half the display that plants do which 

 are allowed plenty of space, and which are grown strongly 

 from the first. Attend to staking such of the herbaceous 

 plants as require it before they are blown about and injured, 

 and do not huddle the stems together, as is too frequently done. 

 Early-flowering bulbs, as Tulips, Hyacinths, Turban Eanun- 

 culuses, &0., will now or very soon be ready for taking up, and 

 should not be left in the ground after the decay of the foliage, 

 as, if wet weather occurs, they will be making fresh roots, 

 which weaken them for next season. On light, dry soils 

 American plants will be greatly benefited by a good soaking of 

 water after flowering, and the finer sorts should be mulched to 

 assist in keeping the roots moist during the growing season. 

 Attend to the propagation of the better sorts of Pentetemons, 

 which are exceedingly useful plants; also see to having a good 

 stock of border Pieotees and Carnations, which are invaluable 

 for cutting, and although now discarded from the parterre, 

 should not be overlooked. Cuttings of these put in before 

 they become too hard, root as freely as Pinks. Water Dahlias 

 daring dry weather. It will be serviceable to mulch the sur- 

 face of the soil with rotten manure. Trap earwigs and other 



destructive insects. All newly-bcdded-ont plants will, during 

 hot weather, require attention in watering. Attend diligently 

 to standard Rotes ; constant disbudding is necessary at this 

 period, also keeping down suckers. Let every attention be 

 paid to propagating a reserve stock to fill gaps, and let plants 

 already rooted, or the remains of store pots, have kindly culti- 

 vation forthwith, in order to be ready for that purpose. 



GKEENHOCSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Now that the conservatory is relieved of all superfincuB 

 stock, nothing remains but to carry out a cleanly system of 

 cultivation, and to introduce fine specimens from other bouses. 

 This.hou6e should now be gay with Achimenes, Clerodendrons, 

 AUamandas, Gardenias, Stephanotis, and other showy plants 

 from the stove, for without the assistance of these it ia hardly 

 possible to produce a first-rate display at this season. If the 

 house can be kept rather close, many of our more attractive 

 stove plants will be more at home there while in bloom than 

 they would bo in the stove itself; and the length of time they 

 retain their beauty under these circumstances renders it very 

 desirable to grow them largely for this purpose. To do them 

 justice, however, the house should be cleared of Cape Heaths, 

 and plants that are soon injured by a confined atmosphere, for 

 few stove plants will succeed in a temperature that is regulated 

 for Ericas and similar plants. If the present occupants of the 

 beds and the twiners, however, are such as require a free cir- 

 culation of air, the house must not be kept so close as to 

 injure them ; but where Passifloras, Ipomasas, Mandevilla sua- 

 veolens, Tecomas, Begonias, &c., are grown for coveting the 

 roof, and Orange trees and other subjects which enjoy a fair 

 amount of warmth and moisture while making their wood 

 occupy the beds, the hardier stove plants will form the most 

 suitable decoration for the next three months. Go over the 

 twiners frequently and regulate the growth before the shoots 

 become entangled, but avoid keeping them tied too closely, for 

 they are never seen to advantage unless they are allowed to 

 hang down in a natural and graceful manner. Sickly speci- 

 mens must be frequently examined for insects, and means 

 used to destroy their enemies as soon as they are perceived, 

 otherwise they will spread to adjoining plants and be more dif- 

 ficult to eradicate than if taken in time. With respect to 

 mixed greenhouse plants pursue the directions given for the 

 conservatory. Use abundance of water morning and evering 

 with a particularly free circulation of air. Continue to make 

 cuttings of gay-flowering plants for a late autumn display. 

 Camellia stocks may now be grafted, choosing the young wood 

 which has the leaves perfectly developed, and which is of a 

 ripening trown at the base. A slight hotbed affording a bottom 

 heat of 80° from fresh fermenting material, will be found suit- 

 able for them, placing a foot of cinder ashes over it to keep 

 down worms. Amaranthus melancholicus ruber makes a fit 

 edging plant under glass, and a good supply of it should be 

 secured for that purpose. 



STOVE. 



As regards stove plants, a very free use of the syringe with 

 abundance of air night and day should be persisted in, the 

 main business being to produce sturdy plants with short-jointed 

 wood. Liquid manure composed of cow drainage, guano, and 

 soot water should be constantly in use, taking care to employ 

 it in no other way than clear and weak. Give air liberally to 

 Orchids, syringing them freely early in the morning, and shnt- 

 ting-up early in the afternoon. The stock will now be growing 

 very rapidly, and must be afforded suificient space to allow oi 

 perfect development of the foliage, and the formation of com- 

 pact handsome specimens. A slight shade will be indispensable 

 for tender plants in active growth for a few hours during the fore- 

 noons of bright days. Plants that are known to suffer from 

 the direct action of the sun's rays should be placed in a shady 

 part of the house, or kept together at one end where they can 

 be shaded without interfering with plants that require plenty 

 of light.— W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



The 25th and 26th ult. have been as yet the only fine hay 

 days in this quarter. The latter day, Saturday, was hot and 

 parching enough, after so much dull moist weather, to try 

 many crops recently planted, as Cauliflowers, Lettuces, Brus- 

 sels Sprouts, Broccoli, &c., and a little water was given to them 

 at the roots to prevent them feeling the effects of a too rapid 

 evaporation from their foliage. One great essential to rapid 



