Deoember 10, 1871 J 



JOURNAti OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



many places if pruning is done at all it has to be done in winter. 

 The present is very suitable weather for getting all such work 

 done, as after a thaw a terrible mess is made by the necessary 

 treading upon the borders. Espaliers require to be carefully 

 fastened to the wires with good tar string. Old branches fre- 

 quently become crowded with ugly spurs, which by continued 

 pinchiug and cutting-back have become overcrowded with wood 

 and but few fruit buds ; frequent thiuniug-out is necessary under 

 such circumstances. The wall border has been dug up after 

 beiug well dressed with manure as a preparation for au early 

 crop of Peas and Potatoes ; but no winter pruning or nailing 

 has yet been done to the wall trees. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Put-in a batch of pots full of Sea-kale into the forcing house, 

 plunging them overhead in cocoa-nut fibre refuse. This is an 

 excellent material for such a purpose when it can be obtained. 

 Our method of procedure is to plunge the pots (and the moat 

 suitable are those denominated S's, they are llj inches diameter 

 inside measure) to the rims, then invert another pot the same 

 size over this one, and fiU-up with the fibre refuse, so that the 

 whole are quite covered. 



We do not force Asparagus very early, if we did it would be 

 by heated pits and not hotbeds. Very often the roots of the 

 Asparagus are injured by overhot manure. When plenty of 

 fallen leaves can be obtained then the heat is more uniform, 

 does not become overheated, and is of longer continuance. 

 Three 3-inch pipes will be amply sufiicient to heat a bed 8 or 

 i) feet wide it placed about 18 inches below the surface. The 

 pipes ought to be covered over with brickbats and some rough 

 litter, straw, or freshly-cut turf over that to prevent the soil 

 from mixing with the drainage ; any sort of mould will answer 

 to plant the roots into. Except in favoured districts Lettuce 

 and Endive ready for using are best protected in glass frames. 

 The border of a light orchard house is also well adapted for 

 them ; even hand-lights keep the leaves dry, and consequently 

 better able to resist the attacks of severe frost. Mustard and 

 Cress should be sown at intervals of eight or ten days, and the 

 pans or boxes placed in any of the forcing houses. 



FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERY. 



In favourable weather any alterations may be proceeded with. 

 It has been necessary to re-arrange the shrubs in the gardens 

 here two or three times during the last ten years ; sometimes 

 the plants become too much crowded. A bed of Hollies and 

 another of Rhododendrons that were planted for early effect 

 soon became too thickly placed, but the superfluous bushes 

 came in very useful as single specimens or for mixing amongst 

 other shrubs. We do not attempt to transplant in very wet 

 weather or in a frost. The beat way to lift any tree or bush, if 

 it is too large for a man to move it, is to dig round in a circle 

 from the bole of the tree, and after working down deep enough 

 the ball is undermined with a digging-fork, and a mat or two 

 fastened firmly round and under the ball enables the plant to 

 be lifted bodily out without injuring it in the least. The diflfer- 

 ent varieties of Aucuba ought to be planted universally, espe- 

 cially in the neighbourhood of large towns. We have many 

 male and female specimens. The females are annually loaded 

 with berries without any artificial impregnation of the flowers. 

 It is almost labour in vain to plant in poor gravelly soil without 

 any previous preparation. If there is not from 2 to 3 feet of 

 good soil the gravel should be cleared out to that depth, and 

 good loam put in to place round the roots. No leaves or litter 

 of any kind should now be allowed in the dressed grounds, the 

 lawn swept and rolled weekly, and any weeds on the walks may 

 be picked up by hand in mild weather. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



We are washing glass and woodwork, cleaning and arranging 

 the plants. Very little water is required at this time for many 

 plants ; those with leaves, such as Cinerarias and Calceolarias, 

 suffer if allowed to become dry. Zonal Pelargoniums ought to 

 be quite dry before being watered. The first appearance of 

 aphis on Calceolarias is the signal for the fumigator; but no 

 such pests should be allowed on any class of plants. It is some- 

 times not necessary to fumigate the house, as only a few plants 

 may be attacked. When such is the case, a good plan is to use 

 a small brush to dislodge the insects. 



Crowea saligna is a very useful conservatory or greenhouse 

 plant for supplying cut flowers. It continues in flower for two 

 or three months, and requires the same treatment as most of the 

 New Holland plants. Statice prof usa, if the flowers are cut off 

 in the summer months, is an excellent winter-blooming variety, 

 but it is liable to be attacked with mildew. Dusting with 

 sulphur on its first appearance is an effectual remedy. Many 

 other greenhouse plants are subject to the attacks of vhis in- 

 sidious pest, and must be watched for very closely. 



Pruning Pot Bases. — These are not pruned all at the same 

 time, but at stated intervals ; but before pruning allow the soil 

 in the pots to become rather dry, to prevent bleeding. — 

 J. Douglas. 



TRADE CATALOGUE RECEIVED. 



Lawson Seed and Nursery Company (Limited), 106, Southwark 

 Street, London, S.E., and 1, George IV. Bridge, Edinburgh.— 

 List of Forest Trees, ShrubSt <&c. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



*,• AU 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 bo subjects them to un- 

 justifiable tronbla and expense. 



Correspondents should not mix np on the same sheet questions 

 relating to Gardening 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. 



Books [Pomona].— The " Frait Manual " is in an advanced state towards 

 completion, and the forthcoming edition will be a great enlargement of those 

 that have preceded it. The price at which it will be publiahed has not yet 

 been iixed. [H. A. P.).— The "Garden Manual" contains instructions upon 

 Vines and general gordening. It may be had by post from our office for \s. 8d. 



Camellia Bcds Dropping (7. R. B.j.— Read our answer to another corre- 

 spondent last week. 



Canker Appearing (Q. C).— Your Apple trees have probably rooted into 

 the gravel, which induces canter. Trenching and making the soil deep are no 

 advantage; to render fruit trees healthy and productive their roots should be 

 induced near the surface and to extend horizontally. Wo recommend you to 

 have all the descending roots cut away, and manure the surface annually to 

 tempt the roots upwards. 



Grapes Scalding (B. Q.). — The answers we have given embody the 

 opinion of first rate fruit-growers as well as our own. Tou will never be 

 answered unpleasantly. Wo believe that the application of tepid liquid 

 manure persevered iu daring the whole period of growth would prevent the 

 gangrene. However, if you will state your case again fully, and tell what has 

 been done by you without success, we will submit it to a good authority. 



Orchid Seed Sowing {H. IF.).— The seed ahould be sown in pots filled 

 with the usual Orchid compost, the pots being half filled with crocks, and 

 then filled-up with crocks, chopped sphagnum, and fibrous brown peat, raising 

 the material, well mixed, high in the centreof the pots, and pressed very firm. 

 Give a good watering, again press, and then dispose the seeds upon the sur- 

 face, and give a light dusting with silver sand. If a kind which requires a 

 block of wood, use one prepared in the usual way, and dispose the seed upon 

 it. The pots or block should be placed in a close frame in the house which is 

 moist and shady, and can be kept moist by very lit^'ht sprinklings through a 

 very fine-rosed syringe, not giving any air until the seeds have germinated, 

 and then only at night, gradually inuring them to the air of the house. It is 

 questionable whether tbe seed you save will be good, but of course you can 

 test it, and with sound seed and care you may succeed in rearing plants. 



Neglected Strawberry Plantation (East D€iu:).—The plants havinS' 

 formed masses of roots in the Fpaces between the rows, we should take out 

 the rows of old plants, leaving the runners in the spaces, they being well 

 rooted; then thin out, so as to leave about three good plants in the rows at 

 about 15 inches to 18 inches apart. Manure the spaces between the rows and 

 about the plants, leaving the manure as a top-dressing during the winter, and 

 early in March point it in with a fork, but not going deeper than Sor 4 inches. 

 The runners will give you finer fruit than the old plants, and from them you 

 may secure runntrs for new beds. Secure such runners early next summer, 

 pegging them down so as to have the plants well rooted for planting early in 

 the season ; the earlier tbe better. 



Garden Infested with Slugs (Idem).~Giv6 a dressing of quicklime in 

 mild weather, when the slugs will be near the surface, at tbe rate of a hundred 

 bushels per acre, and after laying a few days dig-in, or, if the ground is 

 already dug, point it in with a fork. It is best applied early in autumn or in 

 March. You may supplement it with a dressing of salt, at the rate of twenty 

 bushels per acre, in March, or prior to patting-in the crops. 



Seedling Calceolaria Culture {H. A. P.). — They could not be better 

 than in the frame at a foot distance from the glass, which is quite near 

 enough, and having in the frame a cooler and moister atmosphere thau in 

 the greenhouse. We should leave them there as long as you can give them 

 room and can exclude frost from the frame ; but if you cannot safely do this 

 remove them to a light, airy, and cool position in the greenhouse. Bepot 

 them if necessary; do not allow them to become pot-bound. 



Vines Mildewed (Liem). — The leaf you sent us is badly mildewed. We 

 should dust the leaves with flowers of sulphur, and keep the atmosphere cool 

 and dry, removing the leaves as they turn yellow and burn them, pruning as 

 soon as all the leaves have fallen, and burning the prunings. After pruning 

 the Vines and freeing them of the loo^e bark, dress them with a composition 

 of soft soap, 1 lb. to a gallon of tobacco juice, adding tlnwers of sulphur to 

 bring it to the consistency of paint, and with this dresa the Vines in every 

 part, brushing it well into the angles and crevices, but taking care not to rub 

 off the eyes. 



Treatment op Vines with PLiNxs (J. Bale). — Clear away the leaves as 

 they fall, and when all have fallen prune the Vines and have the house tho- 

 roughly cleaned, washing the woodwork and glass, removing from them any 

 green or dirt, and whitewashing the walls. Dress the Vines after the house 

 has been washed as described to another correspondent (H. A. P.) in to-day's 

 Journal. Keep the house cool, but not so cool as to admit frost, which would 

 injure your plants and do the Vines no good. At night a temperature of 40^ 

 from fire heat will insure the safety of the plants and do the Vines no harm, 

 as they will not be unduly excited by it, and in the day we should not exceed 

 45° from fire heat ; but it may, of course, in the daytime with sun and air 

 rise to 00" or more, the rise being from natural and not artificial beat. 



Selecting Border Flowers (A Covstant Reader). — We cannot under- 

 take to prescribe desirable planting. In a few weeks we shall publish a new 

 edition of " Garden PlanB." with, very nmuerons iUast rations, showing how 



