December SO, 1869. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 



523 



increased to meet the eager demands which are sure to be 

 made for it as soon as it shall have become known to the Orchid 

 world. — ExpERTo Crede. 



CLIMBING FERNS. 



The Lygodiums are slender but fast-growing climbers ; their 

 foliage is particularly light and graceful in appearance. Thi-y 

 so quickly make specimens, and have such a chaste and beautiful 

 appearance, that I have often wondered they are not more 

 generally grown. They are of scandent habit, admirably 

 adapted for training up the rafters, pillars, or walls of ferneries. 

 I grow some of mine a yard high, in the shape of a pyramid, and 

 they have a most charming appearance when placed here and 

 there about our fernery. Others I grow in baskets suspended 

 from the roof. I have had them quite 3 feet in length, growing 

 downwards, and as compact as when they have a pole to climb 

 up. Some I have up the rafters of the house. Grown in either 

 way they command attention. Some of them are noble climbers, 

 and as such, I think, have been too much overlooked by culti- 

 vators. With ordinary care they become very luxuriant, and 

 have a most picturesque effect. I have some which I shall shift 

 into 1 -sized pots shortly. I give them plenty of drainage; 

 I put a large piece of crock over the bottom of the pot ; I then 

 put a layer of sandstone and charcoal ; on this crocks broken 

 very finely, then the compost — peat, loam, cocoa-nut fibre, and 

 silver sand. In this they succeed extremely well, and have well 

 repaid me for the care bestowed on them. 



Lygodium scandens, a most lovely Fern from the East Indies, 

 is a very fast grower. I have, in a 12-sized pot, a specimen 

 3 feet lugh, hanging over the edge of the pot and running up to 

 a point. It would go higher if required. 



Lygodium flexuosum is a very beautiful species, also a native 

 of the East Indies. 



Lygodiimi palmatum comes from North America, and is a 

 lovely Fern ; I have a beautiful specimen of it. To-day I 

 thought, when looking at it plunged between Nothochlajna 

 aurea and Cheilanthes elegans, what lovely contrasts they 

 formed. 



Some Perns are sub-scandent in habit, and Selaginella cassia 

 arborea is one of the handsomest and most distinct creepers ever 

 introduced to the Fern house. I have grown this variety as a 

 pyramid to 6 feet high ; I have also had it growing at one end of 

 my swve, which it very soon covered. It requires to be shaded 

 from the sun. 



Selaginella lievigata is a most splendid climber, the foliage is 

 of a bright lustrous blue, especially when not exposed to too 

 strong sunlight. 



Selaginella cajsia makes a most beautiful specimen. I have 

 grown it in my Cucumber house, and I have seen it at oiir shows, 

 7 or s feet high. 



I have invariably found these gems well repay one for the 

 care bestowed on them ; they are very cheap, and I have noticed, 

 in showing anybody round, that these were the first to be 

 remarked. From their style of growth , they form a very pleasing 

 relief placed at intervals in stoves or ferneries. — F. P. L. 



Mr. William Barnes. — This well and long-known sncoess- 

 fal cultivator of plants died on the 22nd inst., aged nearly sixty- 

 one. He was at one time head gardener to Mr. Hanbury, Tbe 

 Poles, Hertfordshire, and carried off many prizes for tbe plants 

 he exhibited at the Chiswick shows. Eventually he became a 

 nurseryman and florist at Camberwell, where he died. He 

 was brother of Mr. J. Barnes, tmtil recently the head gardener 

 at Bicton. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



All nnoconpied ground should now be tnmed-up by rough 

 digging, trenching, or ridging, regulating these operations ac- 

 cording to the nature of the soil and the character of the 

 preceding and contemplated crops. This is, however, more 

 a month of preparation than of active operations, and much 

 will depend upon tbe state of the weather. All sorts of work 

 which can be done under cover should be well forwarded in 

 bad weather, and hard frost will afford opportunities fir wheel- 

 ing all sorts of manures and composts. Look sharply after 

 Cauliflower plants under hand-lights, as well as Endive, 

 Lettiicrs, and liadislus in cold frames, protecting them with 

 straw or reed covers, or spruce branches. If not already done 



seize the earliest opportunity of mild weather to sow a crop of 

 Peas and Beans, choosing established early varieties. Someo{ 

 the strongest roots of early Hliubarb might be covered with 

 pots or boxes, and sufficient leaves and litter from the stable to 

 produce a gentle warmth ; this would save injuring the roots 

 by removing them for forcing, but where there is a good stock 

 of roots this is of little importance, and is hardly worth the 

 trouble and litter which it causes. Prepare ground by heavy 

 manuring and trenching for fresh plantations of Asparagus, 

 Eliuharb, and Sea-kale, and remember that the ground: j; 

 them can hardly be made too rich. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



Pruning orchard trees will now require attention. It is a 

 matter too frequently neglected, and the result is that the 

 heads of the trees become so crowded with wood that a crop of 

 fruit, except on the extremities of the outer branches, cannot 

 be expected, and the thicket of worse than useless spray which 

 the trees have to support, is injurious both to the size and 

 quality of the fruit, as well as to the general health of the 

 trees. Where this state of things has been permitted to exist, 

 advantage should be taken of the first opportunity to give the 

 trees a careful pruning, thinning-out the inner branches 

 severely. In the case of large branches being cut off, the sur.- 

 faoe of the wound should be neatly trimmed- ofi with a sharp 

 chisel and covered with a coat of paint. Persevere while the 

 weather is mild in forwarding all necessary operations as 

 regards wall-fruit trees, such as priming, nailing, dressing, &c. 

 Continue the renovation of old borders as opportunity offers. 

 See that pyramid and bush Pear and Apple trees have the 

 necessary pruning, and dress orchard trees with quicklime to 

 destroy moss. The most efiectual cure for this, however, is 

 thorough drainage. Push forward all kinds of wheeling while 

 the ground is in a proper state. Soils of a heavy character are 

 improved by working and exposing them to frost. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



During changeable weather like the present, little can be 

 done as regards the regular work of this department, but where 

 alterations are contemplated — such as making new walks, new 

 flower beds, or renewing the soil of old ones — they should be 

 forwarded whenever the weather will permit. Holes for plant- 

 ing choice shrubs or trees may also be prepared by removing 

 the bad soil and replacing it with a compost suitable for the 

 plants, and even where trees are planted and not growing well, 

 the soil may be carefully removed from the roots and replaced 

 with better material. Should frost set in cover Auricula frames 

 with two good mats, giving air by tilting the lights whenever 

 possible. Should the plants at any time be frozen allow them 

 to thaw gradually, without being exposed to the action of the 

 sun's rays. Those who have not obtained the necessary nnm- 

 ber of Ranunculuses to make up their beds, ought to do so 

 without delay, as the period for planting will soon arrive. If 

 the beds have not been already formed, perhaps the simplest 

 and best way is to excavate the soil 2 feet deep and put in 

 6 inches of decayed cow dung, covering with maiden turfy loam 

 to the depth of 12 inches, the remaining 6 inches to be equal 

 parts of loam, leaf soil, and sand thoroughly incorporated. In 

 the reserve garden, beds containing autumn-sown annuals would 

 be the better of having a few branches of evergreens stuck into 

 them to shade the plants from bright sunshine after frost, 

 which has often a very injurious effect, and to protect them 

 from drying winds. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORV. 



Where proper means are allowed, the conservatory should 

 soon be becoming gay. Chinese Primulas, Daphnes, early- 

 flowering Heaths, and similar plants, which should be in 

 flower, make a good display. Large plants of Rhododendrons 

 or Camellias that have been some time in their pots or tubs, 

 will require more attention than is generally given to them. 

 Weak tepid liquid manure may be afforded them occasionally 

 with advantage. In addition to keeping the conservatory gay 

 with blooming plants, let the arrangement of the house be 

 occasionally changed by grouping the plants somewhat differ- 

 ently, and adding a few striking ones for effect. Hyacinths 

 should be protected by a frame ; as they begin to grow remove 

 the plunging material' down to the surface of the soil to pre- 

 vent them rooting upwards. Mignonette will require attention 

 to keep it from damping. As with the exception of forced 

 plants most other things are now in an inactive state, the 

 temperature of plant houses should fall to its minimum point 

 consistent with the safety of the various inmates ; as has often ■ 

 been insisted on, hardly anything can be worse for the de- 



