November 23, 1869. 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGK GARDENER. 



-liL 



be spared. The late crops of Celcri/ should now be earthed-up 

 rather closely, making the ridge as narrow at the top as can 

 conveniently be done, and neatly tiniehing the sides with the 

 back of the spade, so as to prevent as far as possible the soil 

 about the plants becoming saturated with wet. The soil nbout 

 the early crop, or that fit for use, should also be made to throw 

 off the wet as much as possible, pressing it firmly about the 

 tops of the plants, and making the top of the ridge narrow and 

 smooth. Of course Celery will not be earthed-up after this 

 season when the plants are wet, neither should it be done when 

 the soil is wet it this can be avoided. Mixing plenty of quick- 

 lime with the soil about the plants will be found of consider- 

 able use in preventing their rotting in winter, and it will also 

 save them from being disfigured by slugs. Caulijlou-ers in 

 head, if not wanted for use, may be pulled up and hung in a 

 shed in a cool place, where tbey will keep good for weeks, and 

 will be out of the way of injury from frost, unless this should 

 be very severe. We may now expect sharp frosts at uny time, 

 and all necessary preparations should be made at oni:e, such as 

 having a good stock of covering for the most forward Endive 

 and Lcttiici's. lihubarb and Sca-Uale may now be introduced 

 into the Mushroom house ; it is the best plan both for economy 

 and certainty, besides doing away with a considerable amount 

 of unpleasant labour in covering on the open ground with 

 leaves, manure, or other materials. The following is the pre- 

 paration necessary for entire success in producing these two 

 very useful winter vegetables : — Make a sowing of Sea-kale every 

 year on ground well trenched and manured, and, if possible, 

 give several good soakings of manure water during the summer. 

 At two years old these plants will be of good substance for 

 forcing ; they should be taken up in the autumn before severe 

 weather sets in, and laid in some place where they can be easily 

 reached when wanted. If possible force them towards spring. 

 This prepares them for the following two or three seasons. As 

 the roots are done with lay them in until the end of the season, 

 then prepare ground as above, only be sure not to spare rotten 

 dung. Cut the roots into convenient lengths for planting, and 

 set them about 2 feet apart, using only the soundest and 

 straightest roots, which may be planted with a common dibble 

 a little below the surface. Thin out the crowns during summer 

 to one or two to each stool, and, as before stated, apply manure 

 water freely. Elmhaih requires similar treatment as regards 

 sowing and the preparation of the ground, only when forcing is 

 over it is necessary to cut the roots severely, planting only the 

 crowns with a very small portion of the old root adhering. 

 These may also be planted with a dibble at 3 feet apart. This, 

 along with the free use of manure, is the preparation previous 

 to forcing. Hyatt's Victoria is the best for all purposes. 



FKUIT GARDEN. 



Let there be no lack of attention in the fruit-room at present, 

 for fruit requires more care during the first few weeks after 

 gathering than all the season afterwards. Give sufficient air 

 to carry off damp, but nothing more, as allowing dry winds to 

 blow over the fruit would only cause shrivelling. Strawberries 

 for early forcing should be placed where they can be protected 

 from drenching rains ; a cold frame or pit, where either can be 

 spared, would be the best situation for them, but the lights 

 should not be put on save in case of rain or frost, and, indeed, 

 the whole stock in pots for forcing would be benefited by being 

 placed where they would be guarded from heavy rains. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Clear off at once the stems, &c., destroyed by the recent frost, 

 and attend to the general removal of fallen leaves. In this 

 uncertain climate it is important to have a reserve of protect- 

 ing materials at hand in case of need, but it is best not to 

 apply them till there are some indications of severe weather. 

 If we protect carefully and the season prove mild, we may do 

 harm. Complete all planting, and push on alterations, par- 

 ticularly the removal of objectionable trees, which if cut down 

 now may be removed in frosty mornings without much injury 

 to the turf and walks. Those who purpose making additions 

 to their collections of Roses should do so at once, as there will 

 be a better chance of obtaining good plants now than after the 

 nursery has been repeatedly picked over. The present season 

 is also very favourable for planting all but tender sorts, which 

 had better be kept under glass until next May, but these should 

 be procured at once, and it they can be placed in a gentle heat 

 through the winter, they will grow freely and furnish cuttings 

 which will root as freely as Verbenas. In preparing ground 

 for Roses let it be trenched at least 2 feet deep, and well in- 

 corporate a very heavy dressing of manure with the soil to the 

 full depth. It is hardly possible to make the soil too rich for 



any kind of Rose, particularly the autumn-blooming kic(l«, 

 and i or 6 inches of good, rotten, farmyard dung will not ii« 

 too much where the soil is naturally rather light and p<W'. 

 Large-headed standards which have done blooming for tins 

 season should be cut back rather freely, to lessen the chance ^il 

 their being injured by heavy gales of wiud. Continue to ek-nc 

 the beds of their summer occupants as these become uusigUily, 

 and, after trenching or doing whatever will save time at n^i-tt 

 planting-out season, let them be furnished for the spring. A!s<i 

 look over the herbaceous borders aud make any projected »!- 

 terations there, taking up and dividiug any of the coarse-gju . .- 

 ing plants that may be inclined to encroach too much upon thtic 

 neighbours. The modern system of gardening is fast dririug 

 this class of plants out of cultivation, but many of theiH a.r« 

 beautiful, and if they were more largely grown our gacdenes 

 would not have that naked appearance in spring which in Ui'i 

 often seen. Sweep and roll grass trequeutly, and keep grave{ 

 walks hard and smooth by frequent rollings. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Take advantage of unfavourable weather tor out-doov VMrfc 

 to thoroughly clean the foliage of Camellias, Orange trees, &C.-, 

 for it is hardly less essential to the health of such thingg thin 

 their foliage be kept clean, and in a fit state to perform its 

 functions, than that their roots be kept in a healthy, active 

 state. It is a somewhat tedious operation to wash the leaves 

 of a large specimen singly by hand, but, fortunately, this ii 

 seldom necessary, as most plants can be cleaned at this ses£ca. 

 when the foliage is not in a tender state, by laying them ou. 

 their sides and well washing them with water at about iW or 

 even 160'. Throwing the water against them with coasiier- 

 able force will not injure the matured foliage of hardwooSei 

 plants. Any neglected specimens much infested with seals 

 may require to be gone over with a brush for the purpose u£ 

 removing the scale, as warm water Viill not be sufficient to 

 clear plants of the pest. Look over the plants in the gteet- 

 housa frequently, and examine very closely those liable ta 

 suffer from mildew and damp, as Leschenaultias, Boronias, Are., 

 for a short neglect will sometimes result in the disnguremeaC 

 of a promising plant. The Boronias, Leschenaultias, Gom- 

 pholobiums, &c., are very impatient of exposure to cold drying 

 winds, and it these must be wintered in the same house with, 

 the hardier kinds of greenhouse plants, they should oceapy « 

 part of the house where they will not be exposed to aolil 

 draughts ; but air must be admitted by the top sashes frtely 

 on fine days. Also exercise the greatest caution in the appli- 

 cation of water, especially in the case of tender-rooted plmts 

 which have not well matured their season's growth, for if ths 

 balls of these be saturated, the roots will be cheeked and the 

 specimens greatly injured. Therefore, never water until the 

 ball is so dry that water cannot safely be withheld longer, hai. 

 then give enough to moisten the whole of the ball, whether 

 large or small. Keep Cinerarias and other softwooded stocfc 

 clear of green fly, and endeavour to secure stocky plauts 'of 

 affording them sufficient pot-room, and admitting fresij air 

 freely whenever the weather permits. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



OnK work has been so much a repetition of that of preriaa't 

 weeks, such as hoeing, forking, wheeling, mulching fruit tieef, 

 washing pots, potting, protecting, and uncovering, that it ms-y 

 be as well to advert to a few matters of general iatereit, ccii 

 which are apt to be forgotten 



Healing. — We finished last week with a few words on &I« 

 subject, and that might partly be the reason why a correspon- 

 dent who not only thinks himself, but has often caused us and 

 others to think, has put to us the very searching questiac — 

 "Why dilate upon furnace management, and not do mom ta 

 inform us how we are to heat our little houses without sendiog 

 two-thirds of the heat into the atmosphere? I was peisua<le<i 

 to heat my little house with hot water ; the fuel wanted was tJ 

 be a mere nothing, but I fiud it something prodigious, mi. 

 notwithstanding the damper and every care, I could, I believe, 

 boil a tea-kettle at the top of the chimney. I have been puzzUnji 

 myself as to the heat so much fuel should give out, only u> 

 come to the conclusion that scarcely one-third of that heat is 

 taken up or absorbed by the water that circulates in my pipes- 

 I have another separate lean-to house which I wish to keeg 

 comfortable from the inroads of frost, but I dread to call in the 

 water doctors, with the enormous fuel bill as the accompani- 

 ment.' 



