oOG 



JOXniNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 23, 1869. 



the glass and free from insects, jrc, for softwooded plants in 

 heat at this seasoD are very subject to the attacks of insects. — 

 W. Keahe. 



DOINGS OF THE LASTjW'EEK. 



EITCHEX GABDEN. 



As dorine the finest days we were engaged on some extra 

 ground work, very little has been done oat of doors, as the 

 heary rains were cnsnitable for digging and trenching ; and, 

 in truth, from the crops in the ground, until we get Celery, *c., 

 oS, we have but little unoccupied space to go to. As slated 

 last week, however, such work may be proceeded with where 

 work of other kinds is at all scarce. For wet days we have 

 plenty of work in washing, cleaning, glazing, stake and stick- 

 making, tally-cuttinp. kc. We do not complain much of 

 slugs, grubs, snails, Arc, mild though the weather now is, but 

 alike to exposed and protected plants mice have been very 

 troublesome. They seem to eat out the centres of joung Cauli- 

 flowers, ricks nnd Carnationp, Strawberry plants in pots, Ac, 

 as much for the pleasure of being mischievous as anything 

 else, as on examiuing the debris, almost the whole is left 

 behind. 



Stirred the ground amongst young Cauliflowers, Lettuces, 

 and Cabbages when dry enough to do so, and placed cones of 

 burnt earth and ashes over Artichokes, Sea-kale, &o. This 

 protects the exposed heads of Sea- kale, not so much from frost, 

 tor .t is lardy enough, as from b ids ; nl mice, as without pro- 

 tection we have had the large plump buds picked oat by black- 

 birds and thrushes, and lats and mice. None of them care 

 about putting their bills or noses freely in such material, and 

 for this purpose the burnt earth and rubbish seem to be more 

 effective as deterrents in proportion to the alkaline matter 

 from bnrnt weeds, burnt remains of vegetables, &e., contained 

 in the heap. In proportion to the amount of saline matter, 

 also, do sings, &c., keep aloof from it. The very fact of the 

 combustion makes all such earth unpleasant to them. 



FEUIT GABDEK. 



This week we must merely refer to previous numbers and 

 the excellent remarks of Mr. Keane. We moved a lot of plants 

 to one side of one of our orchard houses, and were thus enabled 

 to give the trees and walls a good syringing with water nearly 

 at the boiling point, using a thick clcth for the hand resting 

 on the middle of the syringe. Of course such water becomes 

 considerably cooled before reaching the twigs of the tree, but 

 still it is hot enough to kill the eggs of most insects, and any 

 live insects themselves. This springing will be repeated 

 Beveral times. We never knew an instance in which this liot- 

 uater syrimjing did any harm to deciduous trees when in a 

 dormant state. Washing, scrubbing, and even painting with 

 compositions with brushes, often injure the buds, even by un- 

 settling them or unfixing them a little, making them liable to 

 drop afterwards, and some of the mixtures for painting twigs, 

 (fee., require themstlses to be used with care, as when very 

 strong they are dangerous. In many gardens it is difficult to 

 obtain hot water, as we have ourselves experienced. We have 

 been obliged to borrow often from hot-water pipes — a mode of 

 proceeding which is attended by several arawbacks. Hot water 

 is so valuable for watering and cleaning, that were we to have 

 a general garden as a commercial undertaking, we would make 

 sure of having a little boiler to yield pure hot water at will. 

 We could then easily add soap or whatever was necessary to it. 

 With plenty of this at command we should have less trouble 

 from insect enemies, and less occasion to use smokings, 

 powders, and mixtures. Hot water on all deciduous plants in 

 a state of rest is the safest and best insect-preventive. Warm 

 water may well be used at times even on a growing plant ; but 

 in such ca^es a caution must be taken that the water is not too 

 hot. We have often used it as high as 120° or 130°, and 

 a little more, and with none but beneficial results. We would 

 not thiiik of doing so to a plant completely free from insects, 

 but for soft-skinned insects a forcible syringing with such warm 

 water was as effectual as washing with some nasty mixture, or 

 smoking with tobacco in any of its forms. 



OENiMrSTAL DEPAHTMENT. 



Besides potting, encouraging bulbs, helping on Roses, as 

 alluded to lately, we have begun giving a general clear-up, 

 sweeping and rolling the pleasure grounds. Tree leaves, like 

 other refuse, arc most valuable in their own place, but they 

 cause melancholy feelings as they drift dead and decaying on 

 the green lawns. There will be enough of the saddening, and, 

 we trust, of the truly heartfelt practical sympathising with sor- 



row and trouble in these days, without decaying leaves obtrod- 

 ing too near the cheerfulness of Christmas times. The weather 

 on the whole has been so mild, that the grass in many places 

 had grown go much as to need a slight sweep with the scythe 

 before being followed by the broom and the roller. The sweep- 

 ing was done much more easily and better in consequence. 

 Lawns should never be mown now or in spring if there is the 

 slightest crust of frost on them. It injures them greatly, often 

 kills the best grass cntriglit, and at other times takes them 

 months to put on their full green livery. A chop-over thus 

 late with the scythe or machine, if done in mild days or morn- 

 ings, often answers better than doing it early in spring, as 

 the lawns do not suffer from the parching east winds of March, 

 but a continuous rich green is maintained oil the winter and 

 spring, until it becomes necessary to give the first general 

 cutting or mowing. 



Let me conclude by observing the pleasure which it would 

 give me to see, if not shake hands with our older readers, with 

 whom I have been privileged to hold an nnbroken weekly com- 

 munication for so many years, and at least be permitted to ex- 

 press my earnest hope, that all connected with " our Journal," 

 in whatever way, may experience in this hallowed period of 

 the year, that the source of their happiness is moie lasting 

 than even our evergreens. —R. F. 



COVENT GARDEN JLUIKET.— Dixbmber 22. 



We are not able to obtaio any advance in prires on lormer qaotatiooit, 

 the market beinc heavily sapplicd. The chief dtinaud Ulor rough goods 

 and Christmas evorgrtena. 



FRUIT. 



ApplcF" y^ sieve 



Apricots doz. 



Cherries lb. 



Chestnuts.... bushel 

 Currants .... V sieve 



Black do. 



FiBS doz. 



Filberts lb. 



Cobs lb. 



Gooseberries . . quart 

 Grapes, Hothonae . lb. 



Lemons 100 



Melons each 



Artichokes doz. 



AEparatnis 100 



Bcane.RuDner \*i Biere 



Broad bushel 



Beet, Hsd doz. 



Broccoli bundle 



Brns. Sprouts J^ sieve 



Cabbaf^e doz. 



CapsicutUB 100 



Carrots bnnch 



Cauliflower doz. 



Celery bundle 



Colcworts . .doz.bchs. 

 ' Cucumbers .... each 

 ' pickling .... doz. 



Endive doz. 



i Fennel bunch 



Garlic IK 



Herbs banch 



Horseradish ..bundle 



d. 8. 

 to 6 

 



Mulberries .... qutrt 



Koctirines doz. 



Orancres 100 



Peaclies doc. 



Pears, kitchen .. doz. 

 dessert .... doz. 



Piae Apples lb. 



Plums ^J BJeve 



Quinoes doz. 



Haspberries lb. 



Strawberries .... lb. 

 Walnuts bushel 10 



do. 



100 



VEGETABLES, 

 fl. d 

 



d. 



to 6 



1 



3 

 1 





 

 3 

 1 

 2 

 





 3 

 8 

 8 

 8 

 3 



liooka banch 



Lettuce score 



MnshrooraB.... pottle 

 Mustd.Jt Cress.puDtict 

 Onions bushel 



pickling .. quart 



P.irsley sieve 



Parsnips doz. 



Poas quart 



Potatoes busiiel 



Kidney ditto 



Radiefaes doz.bunches 



Rhnbaib bundle 



Savoys doz. 



Sea-kale basket 



ShaUots lb. 



Spinach bushel 



Tomatoes do«. 



Turnips bunch 



VogetMaTroTS< ..doz. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECE^'ED. 



Weeks & Co.'s " Gardeners' Pocket-Book" is given to gar- 

 deners. Although the object chiefly aimed at by the firm is to 

 draw attention to their hotwalcr apparatus, yet the pocket- 

 book deserves much commendalion, for it contains tables 

 useful to gardeners, an almanaolt, and a diary. 



Satton & Sons, Beading. — Suttons' Amateur's Guide 

 Sprini; Catalome for 1870. 



cmA 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

 X.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next 

 week. 



Books iCordon).— "Cordon Training" by T. C. Br.'-h«ut,ifl pnbliilied 

 bv Messrs. Longman. (H'. .S.l.— TLc Rev. S. KfvnoUs Holes Tolume 

 is" culled " A Book .-ibont K..sos." Tlio price is 7>. M., any bookseller wiU 

 obtain it for Ton. {O. r,..);nl.,.l.— V.'c do not know whcro yon can obtain 

 numbers of P.ixton'8 •' Magazine ot Botany." It censed to bo published 

 twenty vears since. Yi>u will find -The Flori»t and Pomologist ' an 

 elegant .ind obtap pictorial monthly, with beantitol colonred plates ol aU 

 the new plants. 



Florist's Bcsikesb (T. Z.).— Jodginp from yonr letter, we conclnde 

 that yon have no acqnaintance with snch a business, and. if so, you baa 

 better let the seven houses and land. We cannot advise you, not know- 



