Jane 3, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUKB AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



43& 



soon show signs of shrivelling. This may be prevented by 

 sprinkling water on the paths and borders of the house ; it may 

 also be necessary to water the roots. It is a very great evil in- 

 deed to allow the inside border to become too dry. All the time 

 that the fruit is ripening, and hanging after it is ripe, the young 

 growths are also ripening, the wood is being consolidated, and 

 the buds from which will spring the future growths are being 

 formed and matured, and this will not be done effectually unless 

 a plentiful supply of moisture is sent up by the roots. 



We have nearly finished thinning the fruits in late houses, 

 but where little artificial heat has been applied it will now be 

 time to see to the setting of the fruit. With the free-setting 

 sorts there is no difiiculty ; but shy setters, as Royal Vineyard, 

 Lady Downe's, Snow's Muscat, &o., the bunches should^ be 

 gently shaken about 10 a.m. daily during the flowering period. 

 A globule of moisture gathers on the stigma of some of the 

 sorts, and this is removed by drawing the hand gently over the 

 bunches, and assists the setting of the berries. We do not 

 pinch off any lateral growths during the time the fruit is setting, 

 but when the Grapes are set the laterals are pinched back and 

 tied down to the wires, and the border receives a thorough soak- 

 ing with manure water. In ten days or more after the first 

 flowers open it will be time to commence thinning the fruit. 



ORCH.USD HOUSE. 



We are thinning the fruit of all the trees. Peaches, Nectarines, 

 Pears, Plums, and the finer varieties of Apples. We have from 

 four to six dozen fruits from Peach and Nectarine trees in 

 15-inch pots. The trees ought not to carry a larger number 

 than this, and if handsome exhibition specimens are required, 

 three dozen Peaches and four dozen Nectarines will be a suffi- 

 cient number. The growths are now stopped, and if too thickly 

 placed they are thinned-out. The trees, and Strawberries on 

 the shelves, are thoroughly syringed twice daily — in the morning 

 at six, and in the afternoon about five. The pots are abundantly 

 supplied with water, and about the middle of June the first 

 dressing of manure will be applied to the surface of the pots. 



GKEENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



There is now plenty of work in this department. Flowers do 

 not last long in beauty at this season, and frequent alterations 

 are necessary to keep up the display of bloom. Azaleas that 

 have not been forced are now in full beauty. The plants must 

 be shaded from the sun, and the house be kept as cool as possible 

 to prolong the beauty of the flowers. Those plants that have 

 flowered are removed to a warmer house to make their growth. 

 They would not flower freely next season if they were allowed 

 to make their growth in a closely shaded cool house. The 

 shading ought to be fixed to rollers, so that it can be rolled up 

 or let down at pleasure; it is a great mistake to fix a permanent 

 shading to the roof, as the more light the plants receive the 

 better. 



Stage Pelargoniums, including the Fancy section, are now in 

 flower. The Fancy varieties have not been so popular as usual, 

 nor have the large-flowered sorts received that attention their 

 merits deserve. Show Pelargoniums do not seem to be acknow- 

 ledged by the " Pelargonium Society," nevertheless both sec- 

 tions are invaluable at this season of the year. 



Roses are now very beautiful under glass. The decaying 

 flowers must be cut oil as soon as the petals are bleached and 

 hang about loosely. The flowers ought not to remain on the 

 plant until the petals drop off. The remarks last week by Mr. 

 Camm on scented Roses were very opportune. Shape, sub- 

 stance of petal, and quality of the flowers have all taken prece- 

 dence of the perfume. Now, with a very large number of Rose- 

 growers scent is placed first, the other qualities after, and the 

 aim of all the raisers is to obtain the best sorts for exhibition. 

 Mr. Camm should add Bessie Johnson to his list of perfumed 

 Roses, it is the sweetest in its class. As the flowers die oS the 

 plants are removed to a sheltered position out of doors. 



Aquilegias are not much grown for greenhouse decoration, but 

 some of the species are well adapted for this purpose. A. py- 

 renaica, A. leptoceras lutea, A. glandulosa, A. alpina, and A. cce- 

 rulea if well grown are very handsome, and make an excellent 

 change, as the colours are quite distinct from the everlasting 

 zonals with which we are being overdone. Go where you like, 

 in every garden large and small, in flower beds and in green- 

 house, masses of flaming scarlet dazzle the eye, and it is a great 

 relief to turn for a little to more quiet colours. The potting 

 material for the different species of Columbine should be turfy 

 loam, with a little leaf mould added. The plants must also be 

 syringed frequently to keep red spider in check. See that no 

 plants suffer for want of water. Tie and train all climbers 

 about once in a week or ten days. — J. Douglas. 



HOKTICULTUBAL EXHIBITIONS. 

 Secretaries will oblige ns by informing na of the dates on 

 which exhibitions are to be held. 

 Leeds.— .Tuno 9th, 10th, and 11th. Mr. J. Birkbeck, DelphLano, Woodhouse, 



Leeds, Sec. 

 Bttbton-dpon-Teent.— June 16th. Mr. Wm. Shave, Bond Street, Sec. 



Jersey. — Roses June 16th, Autumn October 18th, Chrysanthemnma Novem- 

 ber loth. Major Howell. Spring Grove, St. Lawrence, Hon.-Sec. 



York.— June 16th, 17th, and IKth. Mr. .fno. Wilson, 13, New Street, York, 

 Sec. 



Olasoow.— Jane 16th, September 8lh. Mr. F. O. Dougall, 107, Canning 

 Street, Sec. 



ExETEE (Rose Show).— June 18th. Mr. J. N. Gray, Queen Street Chambers, 

 Hon.-Sec. 



Faeeham.— June 23rd. Mr. H. Smith. See. 



Stowmarket.— June 24lh and 25th. Mr. 8. Prentice, Hon.-Sec. 



Reiqate (Rose).- June 26th. Buehby Britten, Esq., IIon.-Sec. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



*,* AH correspondence should be directed either to " The 

 Editors," or to " The Publisher." Letters addressed to 

 Mr. Johnson or Dr. Hogg often remain unopened unavoid- 

 ably. We request that no one will write privately to any 

 of our correspondents, as doing so subjects them to un- 

 justifiable trouble and expense. 



Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questiona 

 relating to (iardening and those on Poultry and Bee sub- 

 jects, and should never send more than two or three 

 questions at once. All articles intended for Insertion 

 should be written on one side of the paper only. We 

 cannot reply to questions through the post. 



HoTHODSE Grapes, &c. (E. LoioOwr).— Write to Measra. Webber & Co., 

 Centre Avenue, Covent Garden Market. 



Variety of Oak Gall iA. R., Bro^nleii'i. — The twig of Oak sent is attacked 

 by two kinds of Gail tlies, Cynipa quorcua pedunculi, Liiuucua, which makes 

 curranfc-like galla, and C. querciia ramuli, which makea woolly galls. They 

 are not common. — I. 0. W. 



Fly on Qoosebeery Trees (J. C.).— The fly aent is one of the Saw flies 

 Nematis ribis or ventricosua, the larv.-n of which will very abortly be hatched 

 from the CKgs laid on tbo under side of the leaf. They are very voracious, and 

 if not hand-picked and doatroyed will defoliate your trees.- 1. O. W. 



Strawberries Uofrditfcl (R. B. N.).—The plants which have not any 

 flowera, and consequently no fruit, we should not allow to cumber the ground, 

 but at once clear them away, and crop the ground with vegetables. A new 

 plantation of Strawberries ahould bo made so early in July aa you can obtain 

 rooted runners, which may he aceured earlier by pegging the runners, or they 

 may be laid into amall pots, aud when well rooted detached and planted-out. 

 Runners from fruitful plants only ought to be taken. 



Pruning Laurels (i?. Q. M.]. — Aa they were partly pruned in January yon 

 may, now they are breaUng freely, cut them in to the required form, but 

 those cut in January will take the lead, the others starting away also freely at 

 ft later period. Sweet Bays may also now be pruned, but it is better done a 

 month earlier, aa the growths being made late do not ripen well, and ar& 

 liable in a severe winter to have the ucripened wood injured. 



Fly- Seaksle Planting [E. M. P.).— The fly is not injurious. In plant- 

 ing Sea-kale for blanching by pots and litter, &c., it is usual to plant three 

 plants in ft triangle, so that they may give a good supply of heads from a pot ; 

 but though we practise this, aud ftdvise it, there can be no doubt single plants 

 will from the greater distance give larger heads, and will in time have as 

 many crowns as it ia desirable to have shooting up under one pot. It ia 

 easier, however, to thin than to produce, besides having to wait two or three 

 years for that which may by planting three planta be had from the lirat year 

 after planting — viz., a maximum of produce for the means employed. 



Grapes foe Market- Planting Vines (E. P. N.).—The most profitable 

 Grapes are those which are ripened at a time when they fetch the highest 

 prices, and this is in spring after the old Grapes are gone out, when they 

 may bring in May and early June 5s-. per pound. To have them in August, 

 September, and October or November is to compete with foreign produce and 

 home easily-cultivated products, the prices then being at a minimum, and to 



to haug until March over those grown in summer mainly by natural heat. 

 Wciveyou the Vmes that will answer the several purposes— viz., for early 

 forcmg— Black Hamburgh, Poster's Seedling, Mill Hill Hamburgh, Buck- 

 land Sweetwater, White Frontignan. Summer— Black Prince, Duke of 

 Buccleuch, Frankenthal, Black Hambnrgb, Madresfield Court, and Buckland 

 Sweetwater. These will succeed with very moderate artilicial heat. Late- 

 Muscat of Alexandria and Madrosfield Court. Those maybe useful it yoa 

 wish to have some to cut in autumn, they not being good hangers after 

 November ; and for very late— Alicante, Barbarossa, Lady Downe's Seedling, 

 and Mrs. Pince. Whatever class of Vines you have, arrange to have them 

 planted inaide, the front wall having openings 2 feet wide, and 14-inch pillars 

 between of masonry f.jr the support of the front. Your house will accorn^ 

 modate eight Vines at 45 inches apar'., and, considering its narrowness, w© 

 think you wiU succeed best by growing summer Grapes. Planting ia best 

 done in spring when the Vines are beginning to grow. 



Melons not Setting (Sudscrib.r).— Probably a very free growth, induced 

 by a close aud moist atmosphere with deficient bottom heat. The best aids 

 to setting we know are a brisk bottom heat, the shoots not overcrowded, free 

 ventilation, a moist state of the soil, but a dry surface and atmosphere, ani5 

 a little air at night ao aa to prevent moiaturo condensing up^n the fljwera. 

 Impregnate the flowera upon a fine day when a suflicient number are expanded, 

 and stop the shoot of each at the same time one joint beyond the fruit. 

 Melons hftve aet remarkably well with ua this aeason. 



Resioving the Leaves of Hyacinths (H. G. M.).— The leaves ought not 

 to have been removed until they had begun to turn yellow. By cutting them 

 off short whilst in a green atate the growth will be stayed, and the ripening 

 of the future growths impaired. 



Pruning Chimonanthes fragrans (r.fim).- Cut it in after flowering, 

 removing the old and bare wood, but preserving the young parts, or prune lo 

 as to originate them early in the season, so that the wood resulting may 

 well ripened. 



