376 



JOUENAL OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



I May Is, 1875. 



for not only these bnt vegetables were sent daily through 

 the post. I received in answer to my remonstrance a second 

 printed circular from the Secretary, which I will now quote 

 verbatim : — 



" If, as you allege, packets containing plants and vegetables 

 do pass safely through the post, it can only be when they are 

 accidentally overlooked ; for if the nature of their contents 

 were discovered they would at once be stopped. Your packet 

 is still detained in the returned letter office ; but it will be 

 given up to anyone you may instruct to apply there personally 

 for it." Query, Are Geraniums vegetables — or any kind of 

 flowers? — William MoRoiN, The Brewery, HUjli Street, Pem- 

 broke Dock, Soiitli Wales. 



[Geraniums and flowers certainly are included in the com- 

 prehensive term " vegatables." The reason for prohibiting 

 them must be that if succulent and crushed by the official 

 punches the sap exuded might injure other letters. If enclosed 

 in a box and sent by parcel post we think there would be no 

 objection made by the post-office officials. — Eds.] 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 

 Owing to the backwardness of the flowers this season the 

 Crystal Palace Rose Snow will be held on the 2(jth of June 

 instead of the 19th. 



The Nottingham and Midland Counties Rose Show 



AND Horticultural Exhibition will be held from the 8th to 

 the 10th of July, both days inclusive. The prizes offered are 

 liberal, and the Nottingham Arboretum in which the Show is 

 to be held is of itself worthy of a visit. 



The new winter gardens and nurseries in the Great 



Western Boad, Glasgow, laid-out by Messrs. J. & R. Thyne, 

 were opened on the 1st last., when a floral and musical gala 

 was held in the new grounds, which were crowded with several 

 thousands of ladies and gentlemen. Refreshments were pro- 

 vided by Messrs. Thyne for their visitors, and the band of the 

 Ist Royal Dragoons wore present. An address was delivered 

 by Sheriff Clark in the absence of the Lord Provost. The 

 Gardens and Nurseries are on the Kelvinside estate, and from 

 the commanding terrace on which the principal houses are 

 situated a magnificent view is had of the Campsie and Dum- 

 bartonshire hills, while in the immediate foreground is a 

 beautiful artificial loch, which, by-and-by, will be planted. The 

 general plan of the Gardens is similar to that of Messrs. 

 Veitch'd establishment in Gbelsea. The frontage is to a new 

 road leading from the Great Western to the Patrick Road, 

 and extends for 300 feet, while the space on which various glass 

 houses are erected covers also nearly 300 feet. From the 

 roadway backwards 25 feet is a terrace with a rise of 2.5 feet, 

 planted effectively with Limes, Elms, Poplars, and the choicer 

 Conifera;. A broad avenue of Coniferous trees divides the 

 Gardens into equal portions. Facing the west and parallel 

 with the roadway are two conservatories, each 60 feet in length, 

 one for stove and the other for greenhouse plants. At right 

 angles to the conservatories are the Heath and show houses, 

 each 60 feet long, with glass pits of a corresponding length 

 with the houses, and forming as it were aisles to the main 

 buildings. Parallel with the conservatories are six ranges of 

 houses for propagating and forcing purposes, while the right 

 and left of the whole establishment are occupied by a large 

 Azalea house and a cool fernery, the latter especially being 

 charmingly laid out. 



It is reported that an Italian professor has discovered 



that I'EuruiiES from flowers have a chemical effect on the 

 atmosphere, converting its oxygen into ozone, and thus in- 

 creasing its health-imparting power. As the result of his 

 researches, he states that the essences of Cherry, Laurel, 

 Lavender, Mint, Juniper, Melons, Fennel, and Bergamot are 

 among those which develope the largest quantities of ozone, 

 while Anise and Thyme develope it in a less degree. Flowers 

 destitute of perfume have no such effect. He recommends 

 that dwellers in marshy localities and near places infected with 

 animal emanations should surround their homes with a pro- 

 fusion of the most odoriferous flowers. 



The death of the well-known head of the great Ipswich 



implement manufacturers took place at Ipswich on April 29th. 

 James Allen Ransome was born at Yarmouth in July, 1806, 

 but the county of Norfolk has little claim on him beyond that 

 of mere birthright. So early as 1809 he removed with his 

 father's family to Ipswich. He was buried on the 3rd inst.. 



and not only did the civic authorities bnt fnll 15,000 of his 

 fellow townsmen attended the interment. 



NOTES ON VILLA and SUBUKBAN GARDENING. 



kitchen garden. 



This ought to be a busy time in this department, because 

 from the genial nature of the weather everything grows very 

 fast. It ought to be the aim of everyone to look well after all 

 crops by hoeing and earthing them frequently. This not only 

 benefits the crops, but it destroys the progress of weeds, which 

 come up by thousands, and if not checked would impoverish the 

 soil to the detriment of any crop for the whole season. An 

 excellent Scotch gardener from whom I received my first lessons 

 in gardening always said, "Hoe every inch of ground whether 

 you see a weed or not, for depend upon it there are generally 

 hundreds ready to spring up at the first shower, though they 

 may not be visible at the time of hoeing." Unless it is done in 

 this way we may be constantly at the work, therefore it is easy 

 to see that in a simple matter like hoeing it is necessary to do 

 it well. 



Thinning Crops. — This is also an important matter in garden, 

 ing, and should be attended to opportunely and with judgment. 

 Everything needs sufficient space to develope itself or the crop 

 is not satisfactory, therefore do not delay thinning. Onions, for 

 instance, which make an abundance of roots though the top is 

 small, should be thinned early, though it may be done at two 

 or three different times, otherwise those that are left are much 

 interfered with and checked by the operation. Carrots, Turnips, 

 Spinach, Parsnips, and many other vegetables come under this 

 rule. If time can be afforded it will pay to prick out plants of 

 the Cabbage tribe on a border of good workable soil. Such 

 plants generally become stouter and better developed by the 

 operation, though in large gardens they are frequently planted 

 out from the seed bed simply because other work presses so 

 much. 



Sow the main crop of Scarlet Runners. This vegetable is the 

 most profitable of any for a town garden, provided it is allowed 

 a rich soil and plenty of water while growing. It will thrive 

 almost anywhere. A courtyard, even if all walled-in, will afford 

 a place for this vegetable ; and even though it requires tall sticks 

 for its support when grown out in the open ground, yet as these 

 are not easy to obtain in many towns, and moreover are expen- 

 sive, the Scarlet Runner will thrive against a wall and look also 

 ornamental. The plan sometimes adopted is to drive nails at 

 equal distances, say 8 inches apart, both along the top and 

 bottom of the wall, and then connect them together with twine ; 

 this affords sufficient support to the plants which grow rapidly. 



Keep up successional sowings of Peas, Broad Beans, and 

 Turnips as well as Cauliflowers for a late crop. Another small 

 sowing of White and Purple Cape Broccoli and the main crop 

 of Purple Sprouting should now be sown. Most of the spring 

 Green j must be sown at once, such as Tall and Dwarf Green 

 Curled Kale. Scotch Cabbaging, Buda and Ragged Jack Kales 

 must also be sown, and a successional sowiug of I)rumhead and 

 Green Curled Savoy. Lettuces, too, must not be forgotten ; it 

 is as well to sow these thinly in rows where they are to stand, 

 as they do not transplant well in dry hot weather. Earth-up 

 Cauliflowers, and if the weather should set in dry they will need 

 mulching and also an abundance of water. Those who grow 

 Tomatoes may safely trust them out now if the plants are strong 

 and have been well hardened off. They, too, like a rich and 

 deep soil to grow them well. Places should be specially pre- 

 pared for them, and during growth they should be as system- 

 atically trained and stopped as a Grape Vine. 



Prepare places for Vegetable Marrows. The plants will need 

 a temporary protection at night for a short time after being put 

 out. This is a useful vegetable and generally does well in town 

 gardens, and will accommodate itself to any half-rotten heap of 

 rubbish to grow in, but they must never be allowed to suffer 

 from want of water. — Thom.as Record. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST AND WORK FOR THE 

 PRESENT WEEK. 



KITCHEN G.1RDEN. 



April, which is proverbially showery, was one of the driest 

 months we have experienced. May has also brought bright 

 weather, yet with some refreshing rains. On the first day of 

 the month, the opening day of the Alexandra Palace, about half 

 an inch fell, and Saturday last was almost a rainy day in the 

 metropolitan district; no" growing crops, therefore, suffer for 

 lack of moisture at the roots. In a few days the earliest-sown 

 Peas will be in full blossom, and they look strong and healthy. 

 A second sowiug is coming on rapidly; and the third, which 

 comprises G. F. Wilson, Fillbasket, and Veitch's Perfection for 

 succession, has had the wire guards removed, the ground 

 between the rows hoed, the rows earthed-up, and sticks placed 

 to them. Another sowing bai been made; this time Round or 



