Xovember 18, 18C9. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



401 



tliem with a copious supply of fresb specimens, so difficult to 

 obtain in London, and without which the lectures would lose 

 so much of their instruction. We may suggest, however, 

 whether some improvements might not be introduced into the 

 so-called " herbaceous " department of the Gardens. A need- 

 less amount of space appears to be occupied by the arrange- 

 ment of Eritish plants in two different classifications, the 

 Natural and the Linn.Tan, the latter being now entirely 

 abandoned by all teachers of botany. Sufficient care also is 

 not taken that the labels should correspond to the plants really 

 growing beside them. It is confusing to the student to find 

 immediately in front of a label a plant growing in full luxuriance 

 belonging to an entirely different family, which has accidentally 

 strayed there, and has not been weeded out. At Kew this 

 department is kept in much better order. The Royal Botanic 

 Society are now aoliciting contributions in aid of the extensions 

 of their magnificent winter garden. — INaliire, a new weekly 

 jonrnal of science, published by Macmillan & Co.). 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAHDEN. 



While the weather remains favourable continue to dig and 

 trench the ground throughout this department, that the air 

 may permeate the soil and keep it in a healthy condition for 

 succeeding crops ; it is also the best known means for the 

 destruction of insects and their larvrp. Take every favourable 

 opportunity for hoeing, forking, and ridge-trenching. It is not 

 those who apply the greatest quantity of manure to the soil 

 who are always enabled to produce the most abundant crops; 

 it is the judicious application of it that will insure the greatest 

 success. Cabha(ie. earth-up those planted for Coleworts in 

 winter and early in spring, and look over the principal planta- 

 tions frequently to see if slugs attack the plants ; if such 

 depredators are numerous lay a quantity of Cabbage leaves on 

 the ground, and examine them daily. A pail of hot water or 

 some lime may be taken round at the time the plants are 

 examined, and the slugs shaken into it. Many thousands of 

 these depredators may thus be destroyed at this time of year. 

 Cauliflotccrs, lose no time in taking up those nearly fit for use; 

 lay th€m in a frame so as not to touch each other, and keep 

 them free from dead and rotten leaves. Cclcrij, as soon as the 

 soil becomes a little dry, earth-np that intended for winter use 

 to a good height ; it will be necessary to attend to this as 

 early as an opportunity offers, as the frost may set in shortly 

 and cause much injury, as the weather has prevented earthing- 

 up lately. Endive, continue to blanch it by tying up or by 

 wrapping the leaves together, and laying two flat tiles on each 

 plant, so as to form a ridge, one overlapping the other. Let- 

 tuce, pay the same attention to the autumn plantations that 

 was recommended for the Cabbages. Give air daily to the 

 young plants in frames. Cabbage Lettuces in frames for winter 

 use will not require much air. Peax and Bcaii^, a few may be 

 sown on a dry and warm border. Some gardeners cover them 

 with cinder ashes, but this is a bad practice. I have several 

 times seen them go off in the spring, and have been fully 

 satisfied the ashes were the cause of their so doing. Slialtots 

 and Garlic should be planted as early as possible. 



FRCIT GARDEN. 



The weather being now favourable, the planting of all sorts 

 of fruit trees should be proceeded with as rapidly as possible ; 

 it is of great importance to piant them as early in the month 

 as possible. Prune and nail Pears, Plums, Cherries, Apples, 

 Gooseberries, Currants, A-c; unnail the young shoots of Peach 

 and Nectarine trees ; prune and tie espalier trees as soon as 

 the leaves fall, and prepare ground for Gooseberry and Currant 

 bushes and new Kaspbtrry plantations. 



FLOWEE OAItDEN. 



The beds being now filled with spring-flowering plants, a 

 regular cleaning-up of grass and gravel walks should take place, 

 in order that the whole may have a neat appearance during 

 the winter. If the walks are much soiled a surfacing of fresh 

 gravel should be spread over the principal ones in connection 

 with the flower garden, so as to preserve a fresh and neat ap- 

 pearance. The stock of cuttings and newly-potted plants will 

 require care to prevent them from damping off ; a good plan is 

 to raise the sashes at the back and front, and to let them 

 remain in that condition. As the weather may change suddenly, 

 be prepared with plenty of covering material for use when 

 wanted. If any Hyacinths or Tulips yet remain unplanted, plant- 

 ing ehoold not be delayed. Crocuses and other hardy bulbs 



should also be planted. The removal and planting of shrnbs 

 and trees should now engage the attention of those who have 

 it to do, and all alterations should be proceeded with as fast as 

 the weather and other circumstances will permit. It is far less 

 expensive to have any alterations that are to be made done 

 quickly, than to have them done at what is called leisure time. 

 All tender or half-hardy shrubs should have some protection 

 prepared forthwith, and especially the tender kinds of Koses. 

 Standards of the latter may have a bunch of dry moss, or a 

 wisp of hay or straw, or some dried fern bound round the head, 

 and the whole well fastened to a stake. Koses in beds, accord- 

 ing to Jlr. liivers, and others, are best with a coaling of moss. 

 Any porous material which will not hold water long, and, of 

 course, permit the air to circulate, will no doubt answer. The 

 ground should be coated over 4 inches thick at least. From 

 the fine growing weather during the past autumn. Pinks have 

 become well established, and, generally speaking, are looking 

 as fine and healthy as the most enthusiastic cultivator cotild 

 desire. They will want hut little protection during the winter, 

 except from rabbits. Tulips may now be considered safe i£ 

 planted, though the careful grower, and those who have valu- 

 able collections, will make preparations, by rooting the beds, 

 and having mats sewed together, for covering in very severe 

 frost. Polyanthuses are very liable to the attacks of mice 

 during frosty weather, and they will speedily devour the hearts 

 of the plants ; their visits must be stopped by any method 

 most convenient, and phosphoric poison is, perhaps, the safest 

 and best method of destruction. Too little importance is, in 

 general, attached to mulching and top-dressing, for whether we 

 consider the utility of shutting-in, or rather arresting the de- 

 parture of the remaining ground heat of the past summer, or 

 adding nutritious principles to the soil for the ensuing year, 

 the operation is one not to be neglected. It ought to be well 

 i considered that the soil has no heat to gain between this 

 i period and the end of February, but, on the contrary, a pro- 

 j gressive loss must ensue for the next two months at least, until 

 I we resort to the practice of mulching. With all newly-planted 

 trees or shrubs intended for choice specimens, or for immediate 

 effect, this proceeding is indispensable, as connected with early 

 autumn planting, whilst for Vine borders, whether the Vines 

 are intended to be forced early, or are only to bear very late 

 Grapes, the practice is equally necessary and important. 

 gheeshouse and consektatoky. 

 The stock of plants to bloom at Christmas, consisting partly 

 of stove plants grown for the purpose, and partly of forced 

 shrubs and bulbs, should now receive some attention, par- 

 ticularly the latter, which should be undergoing a slight 

 amount of forcing to bloom them at that time. Choice Azaleas 

 and Oranges may be assisted by a little additional heat, being 

 careful, however, to apply it gradually. At the same time, 

 if there is a forcing house, a portion of the stock of Koses, 

 Lilacs, Syringas, Deutzias, and other hardy shrubs from the 

 reserve pit, may be placed in the cool end, or in a light 

 situation in an early vinery or Peach house : if they can be 

 afforded a slight bottom heat all the better. A few of the most 

 easily forced American plants, including some of the earliest- 

 flowering Khododendrons, should be added. Bring forward 

 Hyacinths, and early Tulips, in gentle bottom heat. Double 

 Koman Narcissuses, Crocuses, Neapolitan Violets, Mignonette, 

 and Cyclamens, bloom early without much forcing, and answer 

 best placed on shelves at the back of vineries, to catch every 

 ray of light, and to insure them from damp. — W. Keanb. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAKDEN. 



With two or three nights of sharp frost protection was one ot 

 the chief matters to be thought about. Dry litter is very good 

 for the purpose ; rough hay is better, it is so light and clean. 

 We have some that, but for its being well supplied with bits of 

 little sticks and hard dried leaves of Holly and Evergreen Oak, 

 would be too good for the purpose. However, we should not 

 like to exchange it except for its equivalent in value of the best 

 straw. A little stack of this hay, collected from parts of the 

 pleasure ground not seen much, and the grass allowed to grow 

 long before being cut for the first time, makes us tolerably 

 independent when a severe frost comes on us suddenly. A 

 little shaken lightly over glass or over growing crops out of 

 doors, greatly protects from the keenness of the frost, and when 

 fire heat is used a little protection over glass renders hard firing 

 and its evils unnecessary. Fern collected when light and dry 

 is also an excellent protection, but it is not quite so handy, and 



