September 21, 1874. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBS AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



281 



have all we want for early in William I., 3 feet ; second early 

 Fillbasket, 3 feet ; general crop Best of All and G. F. Wilson, 

 3 feet and 4 to 5 feet respectively ; late crop Omega, 3 feet. 

 Omitting Best of AU the four remaining will give us all we 

 need, and yet we may strike out Fillbasket, substituting 

 William I., and we have three kinds of moderate height, not 

 like some which require hop-pole-like sticks, with flavour un- 

 surpassed. Were Fillbasket given the flavour of Ci. F. Wilson, 

 retaining its height, 3 feet, we should have in William I., 

 Omega, and the one to come perfection in Peas. Another 

 season may upset our ideas, but present experience prompts 

 my considering the above result will be shown. 



Tall Peas I have not alluded to. They have as a rule large 

 peas and pods, but they do not give a correspondingly greater 

 yield for the ground occupied. Two rows of Fillbasket may be 

 grown on ground that will only suffice for one of Superlative, 

 and one row has this year given me six times more of Fill- 

 basket than of Superlative. Superlative has never shown 

 merit, and why it should have a first-class certificate, and be 

 in any way commendable beyond its extraordinary pod, is past 

 my limited comprehension. In tall Peas we have some good 

 kinds. Berks Challenge is a grand Pea, Emperor of the 

 Marrows also good, and Ne Plus Ultra is simply unapproaohed 

 as a late kind ; but it will be a great gain if Omega give us the 

 good qualities of Ne Plus Ultra at a height that will only 

 need stakes 3 feet above ground. We shall be able to have 

 two rows where we can at present have but one, and at once 

 get over the difficulty of procuring tree-like sticks, and save 

 much annoyance, as the 3-feet kinds are not so liable to be 

 injured by wind. I had great faith at one time in the tall 

 Peas, but later experience has convinced me that a 3 to 4-feet 

 Pea is in every way more desirable than one of 6 to 7 feet. 



The best cropping Peas that I have grown or seen are, for 

 first early, First and Best ; second early, Fillbasket, which 

 will answer for main crops as well as Best of All ; Jersey Hero 

 (Mammoth Dwarf Marrow) and James's Prolific Late, G. F. 

 Wilson, and N'e Plus Ultra. The last two produce the crop 

 successionally, but the others have it nearly all fit to gather at 

 the same time, and are all the more valuable on that account 

 for market, as the ground can be cleared and employed for 

 other crops much sooner than if long in use. — G. Abbev. 



Little Heath Melon. — I was fortunate enough to win the 

 £5 prize offered by Messrs. Carter & Co., at Bath, in the 

 company of some eleven exhibitors. My opinion of the quality 

 of Little Heath I had perhaps better keep to myself, but I must 

 inform Mr. Meacock, however much he thinks of Little Heath, 

 that his opinion is not a general one ; but my Victory of Bath 

 has solved the great problem of pleasing every body. — E. Gilbert. 



NOTES ON VILLA and SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



The Flower Garden. — The blooming season is fast passing 

 away, and most plants give signs of the approach of autumn ; 

 therefore, in order to prolong the beauty of the flowers as much 

 as possible, every decayed leaf or flower should be taken away, 

 and the beds kept dressed in the neatest manner. In beds 

 where two or more distinct colours are used keep each one to 

 its proper place, and let the outlines of each be regular and well 

 defined. The lawn, too, which adds so much to the beauty of 

 a garden, ought to be frequently rolled and regularly mown, and 

 it will look as green and tresh as it does in spring. 



Finish the propagation of all bedding plants except Calceo- 

 larias, which may with advantage be deferred, and use every 

 effort to get them established quickly. It is not well, however, 

 to treat bedding plants of the ordinary kinds too tenderly at 

 this time of the year ; if so, they are more difficult to keep 

 through the winter. If any are growing in frames let them 

 have plenty of air night and day, and while the weather is warm 

 set the frame up on something so as to be clear of the ground, 

 that a current of air may pass under as well as above the plants ; 

 this prevents the appBarance of mildew, which so frequently 

 attacks and destroys Verbenas and Cinerarias, and whenever 

 seen its progress should he arrested by the application of a 

 pinch or two of powdered sulphur. 



Carnations that have been layered in the open ground will 

 now be well rooted, and should be separated from the parent 

 plant. The best of them may be potted; the next size may be 

 at once planted-out, and the smallest or weakest plants should be 

 put into what is called a nursery bed — that is, pricked-out close 

 together in a somewhat sheltered place where they can have a 

 little protection from cold during the winter. No doubt there 

 are many suburban gardens where this pretty flower would be 

 an acquisition; I will, therefore, enter into some details of its 



cultivation. I shall assume as a matter of csurse that plants 

 have been raised from those which produce the best flowers 

 only. Those that are selected for potting will do well indeed in 

 a soil composed of two-thirds loam and one-third cow manure 

 twelve months old if possible, but if this is not to be had 

 thoroughly decomposed hotbed manure may be substituted ; 

 mis all well together in a dry state if possible. The plants will 

 not need large pots at first, probably what are called large GO's, 

 or 3 J inches over and about the same in depth, will be the sort 

 required. The plants may be firmly potted, and afterwards 

 transferred to a frame and kept a little close for a few days, 

 which wiU induce root-action. When they have become so far 

 established, gradually give more air to them, and in a week or 

 two they may have the lights thrown entirely off them night 

 and day. They do not suffer from a little frost, but they ought to 

 be protected in the most severe weather, and kept as dry during 

 winter as is consistent with health. If too damp, mildew attacks 

 and destroys them ; therefore at. every opportunity air must be 

 admitted, and if possible the foliage should be well dried during 

 the day. The plants will be much benefited by being cleaned 

 two or three times in winter of their decayed leaves, and the soil 

 on the surface of the pot stirred up with a small stick. The 

 ground on which the pots stand should also be stirred and 

 cleared of worms, some fresh coal ashes added, and the plants 

 replaced. I might here mention that all kinds of plants that are 

 wintered in frames should be at times taken out, cleaned, and 

 replaced in a similar manner. 



In spring, say about March, the plants may be planted-out 

 either in the borders or in a bed by themselves, where they will 

 not fail to create a pleasing feature. The bed should be deeply 

 dug, and if possible some fresh soil added, with good manure ; 

 plant them not less than 18 inches from plant to plant, press 

 the soil firmly around them, and water well at all times in dry 

 weather until they flower. Very little attention but that of 

 hoeing the soil frequently to keep down weeds will be needed. 

 When the flower stems show themselves they must be secured 

 to small stakes, otherwise the habit is to be rather loose, and, 

 moreover, the wind plays sad havoc with them when left to 

 themselves. When the buds show themselves prominently the 

 small and ill-formed ones should be taken out, leaving those 

 most promising and perfect. Sometimes, just as they burst into 

 bloom, the buds spUt down on one side or other, and the flower, 

 instead of being perfectly formed, is ill-shaped, and does not 

 look well ; when there is a sign of this taking place a piece of 

 matting or some soft sort of material should be tied round the 

 bud about two-thirds of the way up, which prevents the split- 

 ting complained of. 



Carnations may be, and are, often raised from seed, but at 

 first there is such a quantity of worthless flowers among them, 

 and this is only seen after much trouble has been spent on 

 raising the plants to the flowering point, that those who want 

 to make sure of a first-rate flower should purchase half a dozen 

 varieties that will be sure to please. 



At this time of the year the little shrubberies in connection 

 with the garden will need some attention in the way of cutting 

 the gross shoots away so as to keep tne plants in shape, though 

 it is not necessary ; neither do I like to see shrubs cut out of 

 their natural habit nor trimmed very closely, but if they are not 

 occasionally attended to they are apt to run up high, and leave 

 a nakedness at the bottom which is very objectionable in any 

 garden, especially in a small one where every plant is required 

 to give the best possible effect. 



Now is the time also to examine and decide upon those shrubs 

 to be moved where there is overcrowding, and also for the pur- 

 pose of determining any alteration that can be made for im- 

 provement by a re-arrangement. 



Roses may still be budded if more are required, but not after 

 the month is out; the buds will no doubt remain dormant 

 through the winter, and shoot with great vigour in the spring. 

 Those who have room may sow a few pots of Miguouette to 

 keep through the winter for early spring-flowering. This plant 

 does not like transplanting, therefore it is best to sow the seed 

 in the pots in which the plants are to flower. 



Now is a capital time to have all repairs done that are required 

 upon the greenhouse or any other structure whether large or 

 small, and all painting and glazing completed, so as to have 

 everything in readiness to protect the stock of plants when cold 

 weather comes on. — Thoimas Record. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST AND PBESENT WEEKS. 



KITCHEN GABDEN. 



There are very few gardens that can be kept tidy all the year 

 round, and the present is the time when otherwise well-managed 

 gardens are apt to assume a somewhat ragged appearance. 

 Weeds grow quickly, and not only are they unsightly, but if not 

 taken off the ground in time they will leave a supply of seeds 

 which will keep the hoes at work all next season. We have 

 been hoeing fruit-tree borders, Sea-kale quarters, Coleworta, 

 sprouting Broccoli, and wheeling the weeds off the ground. The 



