JOUENAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Julj 29, 1M8. 



tops and separate leaves had been carried to, and partly dragged 

 into the holes. Wo had tritd poisoned pellets dropped into 

 the holes, so that uothing else could get at the bread, but with- 

 out any apparent Hdvantoge. Not wishing to ba conquired wh 

 filled up tho pliinti'.tion nfrfsb, dropped a Pi>r(lon of tar u!l 

 rsnnd the bed, and let a little fall into every mouse hole in.l 

 rnn we conlJ see, nud not a plant has been touched since. Wo 

 qnastiou if the plants have thriven any tho worse Oiving to the 

 taint of tar that meets you as you go ueur the place. Re- 

 member, however, thi\t the fumes of tnr wonld kill snythinj 

 growing in a confined atmosphere. Uice, like rats, are very 

 cleanly animals ; tho smaliest speck of tar on their fur would 

 be to them most annoying. Ba the cause what it may, the tar 

 has saved our plants. Where wireworm abounds, we know 

 of no better means for driving it away than spiiukling tho 

 ground with tar by means of a brash in winter, when the land 

 is in a state of rest. Long before spring tho tar will hive be- 

 come mild enough to do no harm. lUts will soon shift their 

 quarters if tar be placed in their holes and runs. Only tar and 

 feather a mt, and the whole community in the neighbonrhood 

 will take the hint and be off. This will not, however, prevent 

 a fresh colony pacing you a visit. 



rr.CII UAEDEN. 



Our Currants have been rather injured by honeydew, and 

 attendant insects, the first the result of the excessive heat and 

 dryness. After some of our hottest dajs we have had a light 

 screen of clouds at night, which has prevented tho deposition i 

 of dew, so much so, that early in the morning thero was not 

 enough to damp a satin slipper. We are told by several con- 

 versant with tropical climates, that this rarely happens there, 

 as the cloudless sun by day is followed by tho cloudless stars 

 by night, and, consequently, by a plentiful deposition of dew, 

 which greatly refreshes vegetation, and enables it to meet the 

 exhausting effects of the fierce sun heat. We have always 

 noticed that in such weather as last week, all vegetation seemed 

 to be much exhausted when the bright day was succeeded by a 

 thinly clouded night, the clouds though thin being sufScient 

 to prevent free ra.diation. Si much was this the case, that in 

 a particular place where we wished to use the scythe, we could 

 not out with advantage on several mornings, the grass was so 

 dry, and being rather thin it would not well stand the weight 

 of the scythe ; we therefore made a compromise, and swept off 

 the heads of Daisies and Bents with tho daisy knife, leaving 

 the place green, but not so short as we wished. 



We have layered a good many Stravrtierry runners in pots 

 for forcing, but find that owing to tho dryness, good runners 

 are scarcer than usual. Oar Black Prince, from which we had 

 a good supply of fruit, is now quite flagged, and if we keep it 

 alive we must contrive to water it. We find this hard Straw- 

 berry most valuable for preserving, but it is of all others that 

 we know tho most sensitive to drought. Wo used to grow Straw- 

 berries which pleased us, when we had loss space for our 

 limited amount of water, but now there are so many crops de- 

 manding it, that the Strawberries have not had their due share, 

 and though we mulched, itc, both this season and lost, we 

 shall neither have the quantity nor the quality we used to have 

 with comparatively little trouble. 



Unfortunately we find that honeydew and green fly are be- 

 ginning on our rinms and other trees, and wo shall give them 

 a good washing with clear lime and soot water to prevent the 

 evil going farther. JIulched the pots in orchard houses to save 

 watering, thinned the Grapes there, gave more air to the late 

 vinery, and proceeded with stopping and removing shoots from 

 fruit trees. Except the Plums and Currants aUuded to, the 

 trees are remarkably free from insect attacks this season. If 

 clean water were abundant, we would wash Peach and other 

 trees against walls in tho afternoons of these hot days. Ours, 

 for the most part, must do without this washing ; for the water 

 which as yet we can obtain is too muddy for syringing purposes. 



CENAMENTAL DEPAllTMENT. 



The weather has been very trying for Roses. Without water- 

 ing and mulching, it is scarcely possible to keep up successions 

 of bloom. A little nnldcw and honeydew have appeared among 

 them, and some flowers of sulphur will be the best remedy for 

 the mildew. For the honeydew nothing is better than syring- 

 ing with clear soot water at night, drawing the fingers along 

 where the insects congregate, and following in the morning 

 with clean water. We find that such simple remedies are quite 

 as effectual as many costly mixtures. Clear soft soap water is 

 also good, but it must be clear enough to leave no mark of soap 

 on the leaves. This is easily obtained by mixing up the soap 



with warm water, and allowing it to stand some lionrs previous 

 to use, so as to leave the seiHnient untonched. We lisve lately 

 had pillarn and arches of Itoses nnd Honeysuckles generally 

 very bcuulifnl, but they are now infe'tel with honeydew anil 

 aphis, but where we cannot use the enr;ini>«r ♦''« syririe freely. 

 Those attacks w8 r.ttributo to our im ■ " - ""ik the roots, 



and to the scorching snn. With a rb Iierwe shall 



have less trouble in making t!)" ' ' "^ ■■ '■ '^ not 



like the idea of brH.=hing and wn 



On the principle of what was F ist 



let the lawn alone, except switehiny i', over with i ife 



to cut down a Bent, Daisy, or Plantain. It is sti ly 



green, but a close shaving v;ith the machine would j nu help 

 to brown it nnder such a snn. 



Pillar lioses h.ive been deprived of their fndir" '" ■"■'•■' <>nd 

 Holhhoeks, herbaceous plants. Dahlias, 4rc., rpi:-- -a- 



tered when w.iter could not bo done without. H.'; ■ i«t 



take their chance, and as yet show little signs of sui.eting. We 

 were obliged to water Calceolarias and Verl)ena8, and we slightly 

 mulched the scnrlet Pelargonium", \Ui;ch we hope for some 

 time will mnke them indf|)ondent of watering. Rearranged 

 plants in coriidors and in the conservator?, as, owing to paint- 

 ing. &c., they were a little disordered. Thinned-out Passion- 

 flowers in the conservatory, as they were becar.iiug too den«e 

 for the pbnts beneath them. Scarlet Pelargoniums of many 

 varieties, Fuchsia'?, Heliotropes, large flowered Pelargoniums, 

 Goleuses, and Ef-piotias weio what we chiufly depended on for 

 fresh plants ; and the Pelargoniums and othnr plants taken 

 out will be exposed to tho snn fir a short time, to harden 

 and ripen them before pruning Ihcra. The first and second 

 lots have been already pruued, and this brings on a general 

 succession in different stages natr.rolly, as the first lot are 

 nicely bi-oken, and may be repotted shortly. Many Pelargo- 

 niums have been repotted for autumn display, and the yonngest- 

 strnck will be potted to succeed them. Scarlet Pelargoniums 

 potted now, and intended to bloom in winter, ehould not be 

 allowed to flower at present. 



It is still time enough to sow annuals forlate-antumn-bloom- 

 ing. Such as Sweet Alyssum, Candytufts, Collineias, Nemo- 

 philas, itc, were last year useful to us for cutting up to Christ- 

 mas. Wallflowers to bloom in winter, should also be potted. 

 Almost all kinds of Pelargoniums fresh potted will do better in 

 a shady place out of doors for two mouths hence than under 

 glass. Worms, however, are apt to enter at the hole in the 

 bottom of the pot. The simplest plan to prevent this is to nse 

 a good-sized crock, with the convex side over the bole in the 

 pot, and with drainage over it. This will allow water to pass, 

 bat pr ■ . . ut the smallest worm entering. — K. V. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— July 28. 



Increasing snpplies and n falling mnT)tct, tlie jmportntione from Frnnoo 

 nnd tha Chnnnel l^liui(.Is being unusuAlly heavy. All the bti»b froit, how- 

 ever, comiiand a fair price, beiDg of excellcat fjtiality this season. 

 Strawberiiea flora tho Valley of the Thames are over, but an eseellen! 

 aupply has been fornisbed from Kent. 



Apples Vj sieve 2 



Apricots doz. 3 



Cherries lb. 



Cheatnuts. ... hnshel 



Currants % sicTe 4 



Black do. 5 



Figs doz. 6 



Filberts lb. 



Cobi lb. 1 



Gooseberrios . . qnnrt 



Orapes, Hothouse . lb. 2 



Lemons 100 10 



d. B. 

 OtoO 



a 



FRUIT, 

 d 



1 

 

 4 6 

 ti U 

 10 







1 6 

 6 



14 



B. 



Melons caeh 



Nectarines doz. 6 



Oranges 100 10 



Peaches doz. 13 



Pears tdcasert) .. doa. 2 



PiDo Apples lb. 3 



Plums Ja sieve 



Quinces dox. 



Raspberries lb. 



Strnwberries .... lb. 1 



Walnuts bushel 10 



do 100 1 



d. 9. 

 Oto 5 

 10 



Artichokes doz. 



Asparagus 100 



Beans, Kidney \ eieve 



Beet, Hod doz. 



Hroccoli bundle 



BruH. Sprouts Ja sieve 



Cbbbago doz. 



Capsicums 100 



Carrots bunch 



CauliAower doz. 



Celery bundlo 



Cucumbers .... each 



Endive doz. 



Kennel bunch 



Garlic lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish ..bnudlo 



VEG 

 d. B. 

 a Oto 6 

 6 

 5 

 S 

 

 

 2 

 



ETABLE3. 

 d 



Leeks bunch 



Lettuce scoro 



Mushrooms pottle 



5 ' MuBtd.& Cress.punnet 

 , Onions.. doz. bunches 



\ Parsley sieve 



2 Parsnips doz. 



Peas quart 



1 Potatoes bushel 



G Kidney.... ditto 



2 I Ttadiishcs doz. bunches 



1 6 Kbubarb bundlo 



Shallotd lb. 



Spinach bushel 



Touialoes doz. 



Turnips bunch 



6 Veget. Marrows, -doz. 



d. 8. li 



4to0 6 



6 

 6 



