July 16, 1869. 1 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTDRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



40 



Bhododendron requires an elevated rather than a low situation, 

 although it does not suffer in the latter, and it can endure any 

 degree of cold which occurs in England. 



A gravelly soil sometimes suits Bhodcdendrons, sometimes 

 a certain kind of sand is equally beneficial, while now and 

 then ground composed almost entirely of stones, and these 

 often large ones, seems equally serviceable in supplying the 

 wants of the plant. At a short distance from where I write, 

 many hundreds of Rhododendrons are growing in a soil of the 

 latter description; stones angular, as if recently broken, being 

 mixed up with a yellowish soil by no means prepossessing in 

 appearance, and the stones forming at least two-thirds of the 

 whole. Many of them are three or four times the size of road 

 metal, and a less likely place for success could not well be 

 found, yet the plan's flourish remarkably well in it ; and 

 during the hot weather we had last summer, I did not perceive 

 indications of any flagging or injury in any of the plants at 

 that place, while at others full-grown plants in prepared beds 

 succumbed to tho heat and drought. The situation is elevated, 

 being 400 feet or more above the sea level, and the stones found 

 upon it are hard and well-adapted to road-making, although 

 widely different from flint and Kentish rag. It cannot be too 

 well known that the character of the stones found upon land 

 constitutes an important feature, and their too extensive re- 

 moval has often been attended with bad results. — J. Eoesox. 

 (To be continned.) 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



We are requested to state that plants will be received at the 

 Royal Hokticoltural Societt's Manchester Show, up to 

 9.30 A.u., on Monday, Jaly 19ih, and fruit and cut flowers up 

 to 11 A.M. This arrangement, we think, will be most satis- 

 factory to exhibitors, as it will enable a large number to leave 

 their homes on the morning of the Show, instead of on the 

 Saturday, to the great deterioration of the beauty and fresh- 

 ness of cut blooms especially. Without counting numerous 

 entries in the cottagers' classes, there are upwards of 430 entries 

 of Plants and Flowers, and 400 of Fruit and Vegetables. 



.HAMEnr.G Inteesatioxai, Exhibition. — Her Majesty 



has graciously intimated her intention of offering a silver cup 

 for the best collection of Grapes, to be competed for under 

 certain conditions at this Exhibition. The arrangements for 

 the transmission of hortieultoral specimens, both fruit and 

 flowers, we are informed, will be such that it will entail bnt 

 little expense on exbiMlors, who should at once commnnicata 

 with Mr. Eyles, Royal Horticultural Gardens, South Kensington. 



WORK FOR THE "WEEK. 



KITCHEN GASDEN. 



Let an abundant supply of Bi-tiiseU Sprouts, Kale, Savoiis, 

 and Broccoli be planted-out as speedily as ground can be ob- 

 tained for them ; and where it cannot be had at present to the 

 usual extent, see that the plants are either pricked-out or 

 sufficiently thinned to allow of their growing dwarf and strong. 

 If a good portion of old IJushroom-bed dung were mixed with 

 the soil before pricking-out, the roots would run into that, so 

 that the plants might bo removed with balls, and would hardly 

 suffer from the shift. Cabbages sown at this time will afford a 

 late and very useful supply of youog heads. Sow Cauliflower 

 and Waloheren Broccoli. Eidge-out a good portion of Celer;/, 

 and slightly earth-up the early ridges; also plant-out Leeks in 

 strong, deep, heavily-manured land. A crop of Dwarf Kidney 

 Beam should be sown under a south waU for a late supply. If 

 not akeady sown, lose no time in putting in Lettuce. In some 

 instances Potatoes are reported to be diseased ; those on soils 

 most nnfavoarable to their keeping sound should, there'oe, 

 bo taken up and used first. Prune-cff superfluous shoots from 

 Tomatoes against walls, that they may not shade the ripening 

 fruit. The leading shoots may be pinched-ont when sufiicient 

 fmit is set ; this will assist in ripening the crop. 



FKCIT OAEDEN. 



Look over espalier Pear, Apple, and Cherry trees at least 

 once a-week, and stop and shorten the shoots. The removal 

 of anperflnons wood may also be effected at this time wiih ad- 

 vantage to both the tree and the fruit ; it is always advisable 

 to afford the latter the advartage of full exposure. Lnt the 

 shoots of Peaoh, Apricot, and Plam trees be trained at once to 

 the wall. Proceed with the layering of Strawberries for forcing, 



If 



and let them be kept watered. Froit trees in general may now 

 be budded. 



rtOWEr. GARDES. 



Go over beds frequently, keeping the young shoots of Ver- 

 benas neatly regulated and pegged down until the surface of 

 the ground is well and fairly covered, after which the shoots of 

 most varieties may be allowed to ramble at liberty. Keep down 

 weeds, and if the weather should be such as to render watering 

 necessary, do not let the plants feel the want of moisture at the 

 roots. Cuttings of choice herbaceous plants, Carnations, 

 Picotees, &o., put in early, should be pricked-out or potted im- 

 mediately they are struck, in order to become established. 

 Early-struck Pansies may bo planted-out for early blooming. 

 Young seedhng Wallfiowers, Brompton Stocks, Sweet 'Williams, 

 and other biennials, should either be planted-out in reserve 

 beds, or where they are to flower. The propagation of bedding 

 plants must soon be commenced ; therefore, make notes of de- 

 sirable new kinds. The present will prove a favourable time 

 to propagate by cuttings most tender kinds of Eoses. Choose 

 the ends of the shoots for the purpose, with the bottom part 

 partly ripened. Noisette, Bourbon, China, and Hybrid Perpe- 

 tual Eoses, will strike freely in sandy soil, if selected as just 

 directed. Cover the blooms of Carnations and Picotees as they 

 expand, placing cardboard collars beneath them. Layering may 

 be commenced, beginning with the grass or shoots which are 

 most forward. A stone placed immediately over that part which 

 is pegged in the ground, will speedily insure its rooting. Look 

 to Dahlias, thin-out where required, stake, tie, mulch, &c. As 

 the pipings of Pinks root, prick them out in good ground. It 

 will be advisable to place some in small pots, to shelter during 

 the winter. We again urge on all cultivators of those beautiful 

 flowers, the Sanuncaluses^, to watch their ripening, take them 

 up as the leaves turn yellow, and allow the tubers to dry in the 

 shade. Seedlings in pans or boxes should be placed under 

 cover, and in the course of a few weeks, the tubers, v.hich are 

 often very small, should be carefully taken up. Some floristB 

 allow them to remain in a dry state until the time anives to- 

 plant them in sp ring. Cut off the seed vessels of Tulips, and 

 lay them up to dry ; trench over the bed intended for autumn 

 planting, and prepare the soil necessary to renovate it. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSEEVATOr.Y. 



If bright summer weather should set in, the beds and borders 

 of the conservatory must be liberally supplied with water, and 

 specimens or twiners, upon which red spider is likely to be 

 troublesome, should be well washed with the garden engine as 

 often as may be necessary to thoroughly clean them. Plants 

 in bloom must not, however, be dashed overhead with the 

 engine ; everything blooming in pots should, therefore, be 

 moved out of the way, and other plants spared as much as 

 possible. If former directions have been attended to, little 

 inconvenience will be experienced from red spider, except, per- 

 haps, in the case of plants in a weakly state, or in ill heith, 

 which should be placed by themselves, and receive special 

 treatment till their energies be restored. Eemove all decaying 

 leaves and flowers the moment they are peretived, and endea- 

 vour to have a good supply of specimens in full beauty, to take 

 the place of such as may be going out of bloom. Greenhouse 

 plants generally should now bo out of doors. Most hard- 

 wooded plants in frames will likewise be benefited by exposure 

 to night dews ; for that purpose, therefore, the lights should 

 be removed in the evening, replacing them in the morning, 

 and shading during bright sunshine, but giving air freely both 

 back and front, or, which is better, tilting the sashes at the 

 gides — a practice which does not subject the plants so much to 

 currents of drying air. Plants in want of more pot room 

 should be shifted as soon as possible, so as to have them well 

 established before winter ; but in shifting now, care must be 

 taken to have both balls and soil in a proper stste as regards 

 moisture, and the plants must bs carefully shaded, so as to 

 keep the atmosphere as moist as possible for a week or two 

 after shifting. Let any repairs required to be done to plant 

 houses be seen to while their occupants are out of doors. Show 

 houses should now be kept as gay as possible, especially the 

 conservatory, which must be suppUed with the finest plants 

 in bloom from the reserve houses. Carefully tie out the diffe- 

 rent varieties of Lilium lancifolium before they come into 

 flower. Two other good autumn plants should likewise have 

 similar treatment — viz., Crowea saligna and Plumbago capen- 

 sis ; these are invaluable for purposes of autumn decoration 

 as are also the different kinds of Kalosanthes. Shift Chrysan- 

 themums, and stake them securely as they advance. The 

 stock of autumn and winter-flowering plants should not be 



