536 



JODENAL OF HOBTICULTDBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 17, 1874. 



nsnally mild antnmn almost upset all one's plans. A fine 

 large batch of Cos Lettuce, sown July 16th, were in excellent 

 condition — that is to say, they were fit to use wLeu trans- 

 planted to the frames October 5th; but the whole of them ran 

 to seed, and have been replaced with Stanstead Park Cabbage 

 Lettuce, which under ordinary circumstances would not have 

 been fit for use till spring. Some "All the Year Eound'' 

 Cabbage Lettuce put in frames at the same lime as the Cos 

 are still good, so that in future one will be inclined to depend 

 more upon Cabbage Lettuce for winter salads. Many useful 

 crops of Cabbage Lettuce were obtained in summer by sowing 

 single rows thinly between Celeiy, dwaif Peas, or upon any 

 bare narrow spaces, such stolen crops proving especially valu- 

 able for kitchen purposes ; for when BFonsicur le Chef demands 

 "much laittie" the order must be interpieted largely. The 

 general crop of Celery is this season confined to Leicester Bed, 

 which is in my opinion superior to all others. Certainly the 

 immense bulk of the solid plants place it very high for stew- 

 ing and other culinary purposes, and the delicacy and crisp 

 tenderness of the hearts is all that can be wished. 



Among Melons grown in ordinary garden boxes upon dung 

 beds Dr. Hogg was decidedly best. It was most prolific, each 

 successive crop yielding an abundant supply of handsome 

 medium-sized fruit of an average weight of 2 to 3 lbs., and of 

 excellent flavour. Little Heath Melon did not answer my 

 expectations. It certainly swells to an enormous size, but it 

 was quite second-rate in flavour. 



A few plants of the later introductions among Cucumbers, 

 such as Blue Gown and Marquis of Lome, were grown, the fruit 

 making a fine display ; but for all practical purposes the pre- 

 ference must still be given to Telegraph and Masters' Prolific. 



Tomatoes were grown entirely in pots in a pit ; they were 

 kept by pinching to the form of compact bushes, and sustained 

 in full vigour by a free use of liquid manure. 'The crops were 

 abundant and fine. Hepper's Goliath was very fine, the fruit 

 being much larger than any other kind, and remarkably hand- 

 some. Hathaway's Excelsior, too, was grown in quantity ; It 

 is a prolific sort, and the profusion of round and perfectly 

 smooth fruit which it yields renders it very desirable, espe- 

 cially for small gardens. A crop of ripe Tomatoes cannot 

 always be obtained from plants grown entirely in the open 

 air. In a cold wet summer dark blotches and specks appear 

 upon the fruit, which then soon becomes rotten ; and there- 

 fore, while some plants are ueually planted in the open garden, 

 care is taken to provide a rtgular supply from pot plants. 

 There are very few gardens where at least some pot plants 

 might not always be managed by plunging the pots in the 

 open air, and removing a few under glass occasionally — in fact, 

 lam by DO means sure that this is not the best plant for general 

 adoption, as the plants answer equally well in the open air as 

 under glass in the early summer months, and require much 

 less care and attention. 



These brief notes, be it remembered, refer to a climate about 

 fifty miles south of London, and so are not closely applicable 

 to the northern counties, from whence it would be interesting 

 to see similar communications. — Edwaed Luckhubst. 



GLADIOLUS CULTUKE. 



The following notes are by Mr. Sampson, of the Preston 

 Road Nurseries, Yeovil, whose yarieties have attained con- 

 siderable distinction : — 



When to Plant. — The best time to plant is in the month 

 of March, commencing quite early in the mouth if the weather 

 be at all favourable. In order to secure an effective display, 

 and at the same time afford the plants an opportunity of fully 

 developing the beauty of their flowers, they should be planted 

 in beds, which should be formed in rows not less than 

 16 inches apart, with a clear space of a foot between each bulb 

 in the line. Some cultivators have recommended potting the 

 bulbs and growing them on for a time before transplanting 

 them in the open ground, but concurrent testimony proves 

 that no advantage is derived from it. Some have recommended 

 planting in January and February, but it is best done in 

 March ; but if a few late flowers aro required, the planting of 

 some of the bulbs may be deferred till the middle of April. 



Tl:e Preparation of the Soil. — A deep loam best suits the 

 Gladiolus, and the bed in which the roots are to be planted 

 should be previously well trenched to the depth of 18 inches, 

 digging-in at the same time a good dressing of well-decom- 

 posed manure. Thoroughly rotten vegetable refuse and wood 

 ashes, as well as some crushed bones, greatly assist the de- 



velopment of the plants. As soon as the growth begins to 

 appear through the soil I put on the surface of the beds a 

 thin dressing of condensed night soil, increasing the quantity 

 as the plants mature their growth, and the height of summer 

 is reached. 



Summer Treatment. — This includes keeping the beds clear 

 of weeds, and occasionally stirring the surface soil. When 

 the flower stems reach a foot in height, each should be 'Jed to 

 a stake to support it and preserve it from harm through 

 winds which are apt to twist the stems off close to the bulbs. 

 In dry weather frequent sprinklings overhead and good sur- 

 face-waterings will be necessary, but the dressing of night 

 soil will do much to keep the bed moist and cool. In tjing- 

 out to the stakes be careful not to tie the stem too tightly, 

 sufficient space should be allowed to admit of a free upward 

 growth. 



Taking-up and Storinij the Bulbs. — The taking-up and 

 storing of the bulbs is a matter of considerable importance, 

 and the removal of the bulbs from the beds should not be 

 deferred till the stalks die-down completely. It is best to lift 

 them when the leaves turn yellow, and cut away the stems to 

 within 6 inches of the bulbs, and these to be placed in a cool 

 airy place to dry. They should then be put in drawers, baskets, 

 or bags in a moderately cool and dry place, each variety being 

 kept separate and distinct. Frost must be guarded against ; a 

 severe frost will cause many of the bulbs to rot. In such a 

 place the bulbs can remain till planting-time comes round 

 again. 



Raising Seedlings. — Seed saved from the best varieties may 

 be sown early in April, either in pans or shallow boxes, or in 

 nicely-prepared soil in the open ground. When the plants 

 begin to show themselves they should be encouraged with a 

 little weak manure water occasionally administered. When 

 large enough to be transplanted, they should be planted-out 

 in beds about 4 inches apart each way in some good light soil, 

 and encouraged to make all the growth possible during the 

 season. A good number of the bulbs will flower the following 

 summer. 



EKYTHRINA CEISTA-GALLI AND ERYTHRINA 

 ■ HEEBACEA. 



I AM pleased to see Mr. Giles call attention to this fine 

 old plant, Crista-galli, which, as he justly observes, is sel- 

 dom met with now-a-days, and but rarely as it used to be in 

 times long since gone by, for in the early years of the first 

 gardening periodical, " The Magazine," it was thought a great 

 feat to flower it three times in a year— i.e., the same plant, 

 and some very fast ones asserted it was possible to do more 

 than this; but assuming the ordinary cultivator to be satis- 

 fied with doing so once, and giving it a fair chance to succeed, 

 few plants repay the trouble better. Y'et, somehow, it is not 

 often met with in a good condition, and as reports of ill 

 success are often as interesting as the contrary, I confess not 

 having been at all so lucky with it as I expected ; but my object 

 has mostly been to have it do well as an outdoor plant, and 

 at various times the last twenty years have planted out a good 

 many plants with only indifferent success, and losing a good 

 many of them, owing, perhaps, to the aversion I have to see 

 anything covered-up in winter, which is the time when the 

 appearance of the grounds is of most importance ; and of 

 those who did survive, their flowering fell below what I ex- 

 pected of them. Nevertheless, treated something like Dahlias, 

 I have seen them very fine, and we all know how much better 

 the foliage looks outdoors than inside, where red spider seizes 

 them as its legitimate prey. The best plants, I think, I ever 

 remember seeing under glass were placed on stands raised 

 level with a large basin of water, in which they were placed, 

 just like what we sometimes see done with Pitcher-plants or 

 aquatics. The vapour from the water kept the red spider more 

 at bay than any other mode of treatment I have ever seen 

 them subjected to ; still it existed. But it is needless enlarg- 

 ing on this head, but I would hko to know if anyone has dis 

 covered any peculiarity in the soil in which this plant seems 

 more to delight in than others, and if so, what is it? 



Furthermore, I would af-k if any of your readers have the 

 smaller species of this genus, E. herbacea, as it used to be 

 called nearly half a century ago, a species resembling the other 

 in every respect, except being 2 feet high ? I cannot call 

 to memory having ever seen it since the time when the agi- 

 tation for the first Reform Bill was going on, when it was 

 a favourite, and deservedly so, and widely distinct from 



