444 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 2, 1869. 



Tecoua ja^minoidbs not Flowerimo {Iffnonimut).— The want o| 

 flowers ie, perhaps, a resalt of too-vii^urous f^owth, the eoil hbiam too 

 rich, and the roots haviiiK bd unlimitLd nmoant of border. The plaotd 

 do best when the border is reBtrictcd to a epiico abont 3 feet wide and 

 deep, and twice that in length, the border bcini:,' well drnlued nnd tilled 

 With a compost of two parte fibrons loam, one part of sandy peat, and 

 one part of leaf soil, with a free admixture of sharp sand. Wht-n (frow- 

 inff, water the plants freely, and keep the shoots from becomioR too 

 crowded by tlunninfr them out as required, and trainlnR before the shoots 

 become entangled. Wheu a good ^owth Is made, tjivo no more water 

 than will keep the shoots and foliaRe frceb, otherwise keep the plants 

 dry, and give them all the air practicable, with as mnch lifiht as possible. 

 Keep the plants dry during the winter, thin the shoots in spring, and if 

 yon keep them from becoming too much crowded, we think yon will 

 hsvo flowers next year. 



Rtbbos Bordcb (H. X?.).— Your prc^posed mode of planting will tV> 

 Bomething to bring in Hyeciotbs, Van Thol Tulips, Crocuses, and Snow- 

 drops more together, but Nature will have her w.iy. To have a blaze of 

 bloom and no fading flo',Tere near, wliy not plant in beds or groups 

 separately? Do what you will, the bulbs will not bloom all together, 

 unless only one kind is used in a placp. nnd that, too, one kind of one 

 plant. For instance, a bed of mixed Hyacinths will rarelv open all on 

 the same day or in the same week. 



Slvqb in a Pit {H. I'.).— In your turf pit you find the tarf brings 

 many sings, which destroy the cuttin^-s, and you propose taking the 

 plants from the board shelves nnd sc'.tiug the pots on, or in, warm tan. 

 The tan, if not too warm, would encourage growth, but it would also 

 encourage damp, and be the very tUiun for the sluys to nestle in when- 

 ever it became the least mild. Wo would by far prefer the wooden 

 shelves. To get rid ol the sings, wo would lirst examine the pots, and 

 gee there was none lodging in the hole in the bottom. They cnn make 

 themselves almost as thin as a hair, and go in and out of the hole at the 

 bottom of a pot when set on a board. Next we would bait all the sides of 

 the pit with young cabbage or lettuce leaves that had received just a 

 taste of melted butter or dripping, nnd examine tbem in the morning. 

 Small heaps of brewers' grains would be rather more attractive. Then, 

 to make quite snre, we would run round our shelves a slight cordon of 

 dry quicklime and soot, which for a time would be as impassable to the 

 sings as the running stream to the witches. We do not think that the 

 little white worm'* near the stems of your cuttings and yonng plants are 

 the cause of their rotting away. However, thev will do no good, as tend- 

 ing to disturb the roots and the open free texture of the soil. If not 

 very bad, if the plants need watering, n«;o clear lime water, which will 

 most Hkely kill the worms. If very much infested, it will be better to 

 turn the balls out and repot in fresh earth. Common worms are verv 

 anxious to enter at the bottoms of tho pots- A cap over the hole will 

 atop them, and so will a common rounlf^d crock or piece of a broken pot, 

 it the rounded or convex s-ide is placed over the bottom of the pot so as 

 to fill the hole securely. Some small drainnge placpd over that will 

 insure the free exit of water. We suspect your little worms are larvre 

 that were in the soil used. We know of no security except destroying 

 all such living things by heat, and then exposing the soil to .-lir before 

 asing it. Even already yon find there are troubles in gardening. 



BuHNiNG Earth (Jdein). — To bum earth and weeds, nothing more is 

 required than to make a good tire with some large roots, &c., in it, and 

 as soon as the fire breaks out keep putting on more material. 



Size of Horse Chestnut Trees (7. Atuhrsoji).— In your alluvial soil 

 near Spalding their heads would, probably, be 40 feet in diameter ; but, 

 as we said before, vigour of growth and the form assumed by the trees 

 are controlling circumstances which we cannot foretell. 



Heating a Greenhouse by a Flue from a Grate (Gr^n/iOHseK— See 

 answers to correspondents at page 425, and "Doings of the Last Week," 

 page 423. Much will depend on th-.' relative position of the grate in the 

 opposite side of the wall, and of the floor of the house to be heated. If the 

 floor is considerably above the level of the grate, there woald be no diS- 

 culty as respects a flue, if the fireplace of the grate should be so shut 

 in 8S to leave air only at tbe bottom. This might be the best plau for a 

 good-sized house— taking the flue into tho chimney, but blocking up the 

 old chimney beneath to prevent a back tirangbt. If the house is middle- 

 sized, the fire might be made to draw at once into a fresh small chimney 

 built against the back wall of the greenhouse, and with a reduced open- 

 ing, say of 4 incbe?, into the old chimney. In this case the bottom of 

 the present chimney must Le stopped to prevent back draught. In such 

 a case, if the fire were used in summer, the new chimney could be 

 stopped and the old one opened. If the house is small, the fireplace 

 could be opened into a brick stove ou the other side, say 2 feet square 

 and 3^ feet in height, the opening into the old chimney being made at 

 about 9 inches from the top. This plnn might be adoited if the grate 

 and greenhouse floor were on similar levels. li the house is very small, 

 the simplest plan would he to place the curve of two Sinch pipes bent 

 like the letter U, thus— c in the fireplace, with the open ends 2 or S ft et 

 in the house. If the fire in the gr.\te were continnous and pretty elrong, 

 these pipes might be connected with a cistern, and then you would have 

 hot water. Even with short pipes ynn would obtain much heat, nnd 

 the milder it would be at the mouth of the pipes in proportion to their 

 length. Even with a short pipe, if open beneath a stage, &c., a good 

 distance from plants, tho dry heated air would be moistened enough 

 before reaching thera, or if means were taken to moisten the dry air. If 

 you give us more particulars we will do our best to assist you, though the 

 above and the references will most likely enable you to decide. 



Heatino a Phopagatino House iJ. C. L.).— You do not state the size 

 of your house for propagating and for Cucumbers, but so far as we can 

 make out, as the pipes at present at work are outside your bed and pit, 

 we would let tbcm remain where they are for top heat, and take a flow 

 and return through tho bed, previously filled with tan, for bottom beat. 

 Two S-inch pipes would do admirably for such a narrow pit, cither by 

 themselves, surrounded by stones, on the gravel, or laid in a tank: or 

 you might have no pipes further than a flow nnd return into a divided 

 tank. _ A brick and cement tank will answtr perfectly. Two brick* -on- 

 fced will answer admirably for the sides, and a brick-on-edge for the 

 centre, with a tile to moke the level right. The tank had better be 

 2-3 feet wide at least. It would be best to have the bottom heat inde- 

 pendent of the top bent. The t.ink coveted with slate would answer 

 all the purpoEes fetatud, but for Cacumhcrs it would be well to have some 

 rough miterial over tho tank, such as clinkers, Ac, before placing the 



Foil on. For propagating, sand, Ac., would bo needed for plunging the 

 puts. Tbo boUt-r would, uo doubt, do the additional work It properly 

 placed. See what was latuty btated in auHwi-rs to corruspondonts. Wita 

 we in your case, nnd usfd pipes, wo would nut trouble ourselves with thu 

 tank. If we rcsolvci on n tank, though th'' pip<-3 wuuld make it surer, 

 we would make the tunk well, and be BatlBfi(>d with it. A 8niaU wooden 

 tank, like a brewer's ctio'.tr,Homo 4 inches deep, covered with alate, woald 

 last a long time if kept full of water and not painted. 



MANAaE>rEXT or Cordon Peach Trees {J. J IT.).—" Von do not atat^ 

 if they arc under glass or in the open air. This Is important, for I havo 

 distinctly declared in the 'Modern Peach-Prunor * that I do not recom- 

 mend Peach cordons fur the opin wall, nolesa under n system analogooi 

 to that uf Dnbrcail's flrit. This pTan, I think, is now being carried oat 

 — modiBed by his own judgment — by Mr. Kadcl vfTo, and I am much inter- 

 ested in the result. Ho calls it ' herring-bone,' and it gives a gro&ter 

 lateral scope to tbi' spurs and shoots, thereby increasing the vlgoar of 

 tbo whole tree. Under glass, however, we require* a closer prnnlDg« 

 and I recommend pruning to four leaves ns soon us six fully-grown leave* 

 are formed. The two upper buds of these four may burft, but the two 

 lower ones will remain dormant, and become fruit-b«ariug. The second 

 growth, when four leaves are made, is reduced to two leavirs; the third 

 gi-owth is reduced to two leaves, or allowed to elongate, according to the 

 vigour of the tree. In forming n Peach cordon during tbc first year, 

 however, only equalise the shoots to 6 or 6 inches, r.nd at the winter 

 regulation cut back to two healthy eyes, each of which wilt next snmmer 

 send out u shoot, which two shoots are henceforward to bear alternately. 

 One shoot, left long, bears the fruit ; the otli.r. cut back, carries tho sue- 

 cession wood. This refera to diagonal cordons under glass ; pf4ted trees 

 must be more clotiely pinched back, say to three leaves instead of foor. 

 But the great point is to secure sufficient shoots on each spur to be able 

 to prane on tho 'alternate system.' This never has failed me.— T. C. 



IIRLIIACT." 



Apples on South Wall (Cfntun'onV— The Red Astmchtn being an 

 early Apple is altogether unsnited for a south wall, and having it there is 

 a great waste of space. It will be far better to move :t, and grow it in 

 tho form of an open espalier as you propose, and tho same with ibo 

 Yellow Bellefleur. We have no acqaaiutance of Monstrutnse d'Am- rique. 

 We should think, however, it would prove the mo>l suitaMe of the three. 

 If you really wish for Apples on your south wall, the best varieties yon 

 could cultivate are Calville Blanche nnd Ileiaettedu Canada. TheElrugo 

 Nectarine is the best variety for general cultivation. 



WiKTER-DBESsrwo AppLE, Cht:rrv, an-t> Phtm Tekes {J. P.)'— When 

 the trees are pruned, dress everj" part of them with a composition formed 

 of H 0Z3. soft soap, 1 lb. flowers of sulphur, with sufficient tobacco water 

 to form a thin paint. The tobacco water of the sh^jps may be used, or It 

 may be made by pouring a gallon of boiling water un 8 ozs. of ti">b.\cco, 

 letting it stand until cool, then strain. To take away the colour of tho 

 sulphur, add enough soot to the gallon of tobacco water. boRides tho 

 sulphur and soft soap, and in that way form a thin paint, with which 

 (Irtss the trees, rubbing it well into every crovice, tnking care not to 

 dislocate the buds. We liave no experience of spent logwood from a 

 (Irysalter'e, but should not think it desirable for fruit tree?. 



Lachenalia, Tritonia, and Tigritia rx Pots [A Youno Countrymnn). 

 — The Lacbenalias are greenhouse bulb^, and should be grown on j-helvea 

 near tho glass. They should be potted as soon as growth commences. 

 Continue to water tliem as long as the leaves remain green, but no 

 longer ; keep them dry until they begin to grow, which usually is at tho 

 end of summer. The winter temperature should be from 40^ to 45". The 

 soil most suitable is sandy peat two-thirds, and one-third fibrous loam, 

 with a free admixture of sharp sand. The bulbs are best eurrounded 

 with sand, especially those of tho small species. In potting, coTer 

 the bulbs to the neck, and provide good drfdnoge. Tritonias thoold be 

 potted in October, not disturbing the ball, except for the purpose of 

 division, and after potting water so as to settle the soil about the roots, 

 r.nd keep llie soil moist even in winter, and the plants secure from frost. 

 They may be grown succcspfally in a cold pit or cool greenhouse, placing 

 them out of doors iiftor May, watering them copiously, and sprinkling 

 them overhead frequently to keep dowu red spider. A compost of four 

 parts fibrous loam, two parts sandy peat, or.e part leaf soil, and one 

 part of old cow dung, with a free admixture of sharp sand, and good 

 drainage, will grow them well. Tigridian are hardy bulbs, but may bo 

 grown in pots, in a compost of two-thirds sandy fibrous loam, nnd one- 

 third leaf soil. They should be potted in March, it they have been kept over 

 the winter in soil in a cool, dry house, but safe from fro=l. They should 

 be well watered, and may be planted on* in May, taking tbcm up at the 

 end of summer, potting, and keeping thorn dry during the winter. 



Golden Feather Pyretctbum Propagation (A'. A'.).— You may tike 

 cuttings of tho plants in February or early in March, and in a gentle 

 heat they soon root. The shoots thut come from the base of the plant 

 should be slipped off; and after their base has been paiod smooth with a 

 knife, they may bo inserted in sandy soil ond placed ic a gentle hotbed. 

 The plants will'be fit to put out in April. Seed sown enriy in spring will 

 give plants ft r putting out in May, and seedlings are not so liable to form 

 so great a profusion of white starry Sowers as c'ilting*=, and on this 

 account we think seedling plants best ; bat cuttii^gs are generally the 

 best in jwint of coloar ol foliage. 



Centaurea candidissiua Propaoatiok (7<fm).— We presnme yon have 

 the pl.ints in pots. Place them in a house where there is a gentle heat 

 (5C") in February, and when the side shoota are S or 4 inches long take 

 them oCT close to the stem, pot in s:ii.dyB>il. surfacing tbo pots with 

 sand, and place them in a gentle bothed'of 70% keeping thorn close, but 

 being careful not to overwater. or the cuUings will damp ofl". They will 

 root in nbont thrca weeks or a monUi, nnd be good plants by the end of 

 Mav. There is uo diff.Tence between C. caadidissima and C. gymnocarpa. 

 -G. A. 



Passiflora QUADRANGULARia Fbdit (J. B,).— Dr. Hogg in his *^ Vege- 

 table Kingdom " says, "P. cpiadrmgularis is the common GranadilU or 

 Granadilln Vine. It is a native of Jamaica nnd South America, and pro- 

 duces a Inrge fruit of an oblong fhape, d inches in diameter, and 

 15 inches in circumference. The skin is of a greenish-yellow colour, 

 and, when ripe, soft, leathery, and vciy thick, but contains a succulent 

 pulp ol a pnrplo colonr, ^\ hicli is tho eatable part. The flavour is sweet, 

 and slightly acid, and is very pleasant to the taste, cspcrially in a hot 

 climate. It is generally eaten with wine and sugar." The blossom la 



