April 8, 1876. J 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



281 



Altbuiigb the locality therein referred tu had the greatest 

 rainfall in Eoglaud, it did not follow that Potato disease must 

 have ensued there, something more than excess of rainfall 

 being reijuired to produce Potato disease, which in all pro- 

 bability we may have periodically, like the somewhat analogous 

 diseases of pleuro-pneumonia — foot-and-mouth, and grouse 

 disease. — C. 



TREE MIGNONETTE. 

 There seems to be an idea among some gardeners that Tree 

 Mignonette is difficult to grow. Sijch, however, is not the case ; 

 for if it received half the attention that other things have, such 

 miserable objects as one often sees called Tree Mignonette 

 would not be met with. We have six pyramids and two 

 standards, the largest pyramid being 4 feet through and 3 feet 

 high, the standards having heads 2 feet through. We have 

 out abundance of bloom from them since the beginning of 

 October, and shall be able to continue doing so until there is 

 plenty outside. Mr. Wood's treatment is briefly as follows : — 

 Sow the seed, two or three in the centre of thumb pots, the 

 beginning of April, and as soon aa the seedlings are large 

 enough thin them out to one in each. Aa soon aa the pots 

 are filled with roots give them a small shift, and continue 

 doing so until the size of pot is reached in which you mean 

 your future specimens to remain. Pinch all the flower buds 

 out as soon as they make their appearance until the end of 

 August. When they are in flower weak manure water may be 

 given them two or three times a week. Loam, peat, and leaf 

 mould in equal proportion, with a good sprinkling of ailver 

 sandjBuits them well. — LocKHARTM'lNTOSH(in 'Tlie Gardener). 



NOTES ON VILLA and SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



G.iRDEN W.1LKS — At this time, which may be considered the 

 beginniog of a season of pleasure to be derived from a garden, 

 it would be difficult to find more important work to be done 

 than by having the walks in good order. If they are formed of 

 gravel the surface should be turned over to the depth of at least 

 li inches, which will not only destroy both weeds and moss, 

 which is very desirable at the commencement of a season, but 

 the walks will present a fresh and lively appearance, and bo 

 more agreeable to walk upon during the summer. But, like most 

 other things, the work must be done with judgment — first, 

 if the edges of the walks are of either Box or grass they should 

 be neatly trimmed, the former by clipping and filling up all 

 vacancies, and the latter by being smoothly pared with the 

 edging iron ; and if there are borders beyond these they ought 

 to be first dug and all completed before the walk is touched. 

 By first completing this heavy work of border-digging a con- 

 siderable time is afforded for the walk to settle down firm again 

 before being much used, which is important as contributing to 

 its smoothness and beauty. 



In turning gravel walks let the work be done in dry weather, 

 and as the turning goes on do not go far before you rake the 

 surface even and to its proper shape, rolling it regularly as you 

 go on, say about every 40 feet, for gravel always binds best when 

 it is first turned up, because it is then moist on the surface. It 

 may be necessary to rake the walk both lengthways and cross- 

 ways, and work the surface free from holes and make it all even 

 alike, this must be done before any rolling. For some time 

 after the walks will need frequent rollings. If the walks are of 

 turf, which is seldom seen in this part of the country, they must 

 be first swept and well cleaned, then pare the edges and keep 

 the grass well rolled and mown during the summer. 



The Lawn. — Everyone knows and appreciates clean and well- 

 kept lawns, and to have them so requires labour and good 

 management. This time of the year is the most important, for 

 what is to be done in the way of levelling should be done now. 

 The grass should be well swept when dry, and also rolled, and 

 the first time it is mown, which is not always the easiest, it 

 should be cut rather close and again rolled to compress the sur- 

 face ; after that the grass which grows is young, consequently 

 the machine or scythe works easy and well. 



Flo\\ek Beds. — Take the first opportunity to arrange the 

 plan of bedding for the season if it has not already been done, 

 particularly as the preparation of the soil for any particular or 

 choice bedding plant must be now considered. I advise that 

 the soil in the beds be once more tureed up to the original 

 depth advised for the winter digging, and all additions as to soil 

 or manure be now completed. As a rule, the most usual sorts of 

 bedding plants do well in ordinary soil, but a change is bene- 

 ficial, and I question if it would not ba an advantage in the case 

 of the amateur or occupier of a small garden situated near the 

 town who cannot, without considerable expense, obtain an 

 entirely fresh or new soil, to half empty his flower beds and 

 transfer the soil to his kitchen garden, and make up the differ- 



ence from that garden in return. I am satisfied he would find 

 this mutual exchange beneficial to his plants ; and again, 

 although it is not to be expected that an amateur can make any 

 very special preparations such as a professional gardener has 

 the chance to do, yet if he cannot do as I suggest above, he can 

 study and provide a little difference in the soil according to the 

 requirements of different plants. 



Many complain of and have discarded the Calceolaria. There 

 is no better plant for free-flowering than this, yet it needs special 

 treatment. As to soil, it enjoys a firm, rich, deep loam; but in 

 hundreds of cases it cannot have it, but instead, if the soil is 

 light, it can have a layer of rich manure placed about a foot 

 under the surface, and the surface itself pressed firm almost to 

 treading during planting. Plant out early, say by the last week 

 in April, and do not allow them to stand in close quarters till the 

 plants are drawn up and the wood become hard, and the eyes 

 which ought to produce shoots are all dead. This is not likely 

 to be satisfactory. I do not believe this plant likes to be inter- 

 rupted at the root after a cortaiu staf,e ; hence my reason for 

 advising early planting. I do not think they can ba overgrown 

 in the beds. 



Pelargoniums of the Zonal class may be overgrown in a very 

 rich, damp, heavy soil. In such soil they are pretty sure to 

 make too much leaf and erowth rather than a profusion of 

 bloom. This is rectified if the soil is less rich and lighter ; 

 whereas the variegated sorts, which are grown more for their 

 leaf-colouring, require a rich soil and to be grown vigorously, as 

 witness the benefit such a soil imparts to Flower of Spring. 



Enough has been said to illustrate what I mean by special 

 preparation for different sorts of plants, a matter which is too 

 little thought of by many who are admirers of the usuil kinds 

 of bedding plants when well grown, but who lose the chance of 

 doing the work at a time when it can be most conveniently done, 

 which is during this month. — Thomas Record. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST AND WORK FOR THE 

 PRESENT WEEK. 



HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 



Bur little work can be done in this department now, except 

 to protect the trees from frost and feathered depredators. So 

 far the weather has been exceptionally fine, clear days, with a 

 little sun, and a night temperaluru sufficiently high to dispel all 

 fear of injury from frost. Wo would rather have the days 

 cloudy than continuous sunshine, which hurries out the blos- 

 soms on wall trees too rapidly. The Apricots have not required 

 shelter so far, and the pistils pushing out prominently show 

 that the blossoms have set well. Peaches aud Nectarines will 

 soon ba in blossom on the walls. t is easy in small gardens 

 where but few trees are grown to look carefully- over the young 

 shoots before the blossoms expand, a-id with a small sponge and 

 soapy water remove any aphis or ec i' e . It is hopeless to attempt 

 this after the blossoms are open, aid before the syringe can be 

 used the aphis has attacked the young leaves and caused them 

 to curl up. 



It cannot be too much impressed upon all who would be suc- 

 cessful gardeners that all insect pests should be destroyed as 

 soon as they are observed, and a watchful eye should be kept 

 upon all trees that are likely to be attacked. If the present 

 tine weather continues the protecting material will not be re- 

 quired, but it ought to be in its place in case a sudden change 

 should occur. Not only on the walls, but in the open garden, 

 all sorts of hardy fruit trees give promise of being covered with 

 blossoms. 



We have again run the Dutch hoe through the Strawberry 

 quarters. It is just the surface that requires to be stirred. If 

 the hoe is pushed into the gi-ound too deeply a large proportion 

 of the roots will be destroyed. When the plants have grown 

 well and the crowns are fully developed the whole body of the 

 ground from the surface downwards is a mass of roots, and quite 

 close to the surface will be found a network of active hair-like 

 fibres, ready to absorb the manurial properties of the surface- 

 dressings which are appUed as soon as the flower trusses are 

 thrown-up. 



Now is a good time to put in Strawberry plants. If the run- 

 ners have been thickly placed in beds in autumn they remain 

 in the same position through the winter, and are now starting 

 into growth. Many persons have not the opportunity to plant 

 their beds at the proper time— that is as soon as the runners 

 can be obtained. The plants put out now will, if strong, throw- 

 up flower trusses, but these must be cut off, as wcjU as any 

 runners that may be formed. Those who forced Black Prince 

 or Keens' Seedling early will now have a quantity of plants 

 from which the fruit has been gathered. As these plants are 

 taken out of the forcing houses they may be removed to a cold 

 frame for a week or ten days, the frame to be kept close for 

 day or two, so that the leaves formed in a high temperature 

 may not suffer. They ought to have a large supply of water a 

 the roots, so that the ball is quite moist to the centre. If such 



