li>6 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Febrnaty H, iM 



7-inch pota early in the antumn ou^ht now to be repotted, but 

 this operation must be delayed until we can find room for them. 

 When the Pioes are repotted is a good chance to turn the tan in 

 the bed ; and if this ia spent, and fresh tan cannot be obtained, 

 the old material may be sifted, reserving the rougher portion 

 that remains in the sieve to mix with the fresh tan. This turn- 

 ing and mixing the tan in the bed will raise the temperature 

 very much, which ia just what is required to promote root-action. 

 When the roots are matted round the insides of the pots is the 

 time that danger is to be feared from overmuch bottom heat. 

 70"' at night with a rise of 15° by day from sun heat is a good 

 temperature for them at present. 



PLANT STOVE AND ORCHID HOUSES. 



The weather ia very mild at present, and with bnt little arti- 

 ficial heat the night temperature is sometimes up to 70°. It is 

 also necessary to use the shade on bright sunshiny days. As 

 nearly all the plants are starting into active growth an increase 

 of moisture is necessary in the atmosphere as well as a higher 

 temperature. We have been repotting Nepenthes and Sarra- 

 cenias. The last-named, being an American genus, may be 

 considered quite as much a greenhouse as a stove plant ; but 

 the plants do better in a cool Orchid house than they do in the 

 greenhouse. A rather close moist atmosphere is that best 

 adapted to them. The pots are filled to one-third of their depth 

 with clean drainage ; over this some sphagnum moss is placed 

 to keep the drainage clean, and the compost, which is composed 

 of very fibrous peat and sphagnum in equal parts ; a few bits of 

 charcop.l and some potsherds are added to it. All the genus 

 Nepenthes require similar treatment to the Sarraoenias. It is 

 very undesirable to injure the roots. The outer surface of the 

 ball when it is turned out of the pot may be full of roots. If it 

 is thought desirable to reduce the ball it must be done by care- 

 fully picking out the old compost with a pointed stick. The 

 copious supplies of water that this class of plants requires causes 

 the compost to become sour, and if this should be the case it is 

 certain that the old material must be removed. The potting 

 material must be pressed-in only moderately firmly with the 

 fingers. The plants must aUo be shaded from sunshine ; in fact 

 a hoise with a north aspect U the best in wbioh to grow Sarra- 

 oenias. Mr. Baines used to grow his magnificent specimens in 

 a cool fernery. A few of the best Sarraoenias are S. flava major, 

 S. Drummondii, S. purpurea, and S. variolaris : these are dis- 

 tinct in character. Of Nepenthes mav be named N. Rafflesiana, 

 N. phyllamphora, N. Hookeriana, X. K-evis; and last may be 

 named the rare, and beautiful as rare, N. sanguinea. 



We have also put in cuttings of some softwooded plants to 

 flower in the autumn and winter. Of these are the Bouvardias, 

 The most useful for cutting from is B. Vreelandi, B. Hogarth, 

 and B. longiflora. Eranthemum pulchellum, the blue flowers 

 of which are charmingly distinct, harmonise well with Bou- 

 vardias. Thyrsacanthus rutilans makes famous flowering spe- 

 cimens from cuttings struck now, and the lovely Monoch^etum 

 ensiferum does well with similar treatment. Ixoras, Gardenias, 

 Hoyas, Torenia asiatica. Plumbago rosea, Pentas carnea, and 

 Medinilla magnifica will strike well now in bottom heat, and 

 will supply the place of larger plants that it may be neces- 

 sary to dispose of from their growing too large for the house. 

 Ixoras and Gardenias strike best with a bell-glass over the 

 cultiDgs. This should be wiped inside daily witb a dry cloth. 



FLOWEE GABDEN. 



We continue to put in cuttings of Verbenas, Coleua Verschaf- 

 feltii, Ageratums, &c. All these rapid-growing bedding plants 

 are much better to be propagated from cuttings in the spring, 

 even if theje should be a sufiicient stock of autumn-propagated 

 plants. If the later-rooted plants may be much smaller at 

 planting-oat time than those that have been kept over the 

 winter they will grow away more freely, and by midsummer 

 will make the beat flower beds. Bedding Calceolarias are now 

 in boxes in cold frames, but if the frames are wanted for more 

 tender subjects the present occupants will be planted out in 

 trenches similar to those for Celery plants. Our Lobelia speciosa 

 was sown early in autumn, and has been pricked out into boxes 

 some time ago. Spring-sown plants do not come into flower 

 Bufficicntly early. 



Dahlia roots must be put into heat at once. The tubers may 

 be planted thickly in a box in light soil, and the label may be 

 fastened to the old stem to insure correctness. The buds will 

 soon start into growth either in a hotbed or forcing house, the 

 latter to be preferred. Hollyhocks may either be propagated 

 by cuttings or by root-grafting. They may be planted singly 

 iu small pots, and the pots plunged in a gentle bottom heat. 

 They do best in a heated propagating house, as they sometimes 

 damp-off in a cold frame. — J. Douglas. 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 

 Secretaries will oblige tia by informing us of the dates on 



Leeds (Spring Show). March ICth and 16lb. Mr. G. Forbes, 103, Hvtie 



Park Koad, l«ec. 

 Bhistol {SpriDR Show). March i;2Dd and 2ord. Mr. G. Webley, Holm 



AVood, Westburr-upou-Trym, Hon. See. 

 GLAsr.ow. March 29tb, May KHh, and September 13th and 13th. Mr. F. 



Gilb. Doughall, 16\ CanniiiG Street. Sec. 

 Royal Caledonian Hobticdltural Societt. .Shows .\pril 5th, July 5th, 



and September IStb. 

 West.minster AqnARira. April 12th and loth, May 10th and Uth, Maj 



30th and 31st. July 6th and 6th. 

 Tiverton. May 24th and a.'jth. Messrs. A. PaTun end J. Mills, Hen. SecF., 

 Manchester (Grand National). June 2nd to 9th. Mr. Bruca Findlay, 



Koyal Botanic G/irden, Sec. 

 SorTHAMPToN. Jnne oth, and August the 5th and 7th. Mr. C. S. Fuidge. 



39, York Street. Sec. 

 Maidstone (Rosea). Jnne 2l5t. Mr. Hubert Bensled, Eockstow, Maid- 

 stone, Sec. 

 Spalding. Jnne 21fit. Mr. G. Kingpton, Sec. 

 Reioate (Ropes). June 24th. Mr. J. Payne. Treasurer. 

 r.lcilMOND. June 29th. Mr. A. Chancf-llor. Hon. Sec. 

 SocTHPoRT. Jaly 6th, 7th, and Hth. Mr. E. Martin, Sec. 

 Helensbcbgh (Rises). July 12th and 13th. Mr. -T. MitcheM. Pec. 

 Wimbledon. July 12th and 13th. Mr. P. Appleby, 6, Linden Cottages 



Hon. Sec. 

 Brighodse. July 29th. Messrs. C. Jessop & E. Rawnsley, Hon. Sees. 

 Heworth (Horticultural). August 2nd. Mr. R. H. Feltoe, H"D. Sec. 

 Clay Cross. August 15th. Mr. J. Stallard, Clay Cross, near Chesterfield, Sec. 

 Preston. August 16th and 17th. Mr. W. Trouchton, Hon. Sec. 

 Shre^\shury. August 16th and 17tb. Adnite & Nauntou, Hen. Sees. 

 Seaton Burn. August 26th. Mr. R. Richardson and 3Ir. W. EUott. Sees. 

 DCNDEE (International). September 7th, 8th, and 9th. Mr. W. E. McKelrIc, 



26, Euclid Crescent, Sec. 



TRADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. 



Harrison tV Sons, 'LeicesteiT.— Catalogue of Choice See(U for 

 the Garden and Farm. 



Charles Stiarpe Sc Co , Sleaford. — Descriptive Catalogue of 

 Fartn Seeds. 



which exhibitions are to he held. 



LiVEEPOOL fPpring Show). March 5th. 

 Street) Church Street, Hon. Sec. 



Mr. E. AVilson Ker, 6, Baeiiett 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



*»• All correspondence should be directed either to " The 

 EcUtore," or to *' The Pabliaher." 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 tuix up 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. 



Back Volumes and Numbers (B. K. L.). — We have vol^:. i. and ii. bound 

 together, two numbers (13 and 15 1 missing; vol?, iii., vii . and viii., half bound 

 in calf, eecond-haud. The numbers you specify are out of print. 



Wild ITlowers (H. W.). — It is not likely that a new edition of •' Rambica 

 ia Search of Wild Flowers '" will Hoon appear. 



Fuchsias and Caladiums tor Exhihition (A. D. W.). — Fuchsias : LighU, 

 Arabella Improval, Siarlight, Lustre, Mar^inata, Couspicua, and Guiding 

 Star. Darks, Enoch Arden, Rhoderick Dhu, Avalanche, War E^cle, Senator, 

 and Father Isna'ius. Calndiums : Chantinii, BeUeymeji, Bicolor splendens, 

 Baraquinii, E. G. Henderson, and Troubetskoi. 



AoE WHEN Seeds Cease to Germinate (J. L. LuckUif).— There is a 

 long list in Johnson's *' Science and Practice of Gardening." We extract the 

 following from it; — *' One year: Peas, Beans, Kidney Beans. Carrot, Parsnip, 

 Oraches, Herb-patience, Bhubaib, Elm, Poplar, and Willow. Two years: 

 Radish. Salsafy. Scorzonera, Purslane, the Aliiumg, Carduon. lldmpion, 

 Alisander, Love Apple. Capsicum, Egg-plant. Three years : Seakale, Arti- 

 choke, Lettuce, Mirigold, hue, Rosemary. Four years: Bra^sicas, Skirret, 

 Spinach, Asparagus, Endive, Mustard. Tarragon, Borage. Five and six 

 years: Burnet, Sorrel, Parsley, Dill, Fennel, Chervil, Hyesop. Ten years: 

 Beet, Celery, Pompion, Cacamber, Melon." 



Potatoes Bitter f7J(i»i.— Old Potatoes! when they sprout form an alka- 

 loid called eolauina, which is bitter and is a virulent poison, the same aa ia 

 found in the Kightebade, Solannm dulcamara. 



Select Hardy Rhododendrons (Subscriber). — Crimson .* John Waterer, 

 Barclajanum, Blaadyanum, Caractacus, Mrs. Miloer, Sir Thomas Sebright. 

 Purple : Mrs. G. H. W. Heneage, Old Port, Nero nigret-cens, Maculatum 

 nigrnm, Othello. White: Mrs. John Clutton, Due de Brabant, Minnie. 

 Purity, Pictum, Mont Blanc. Pink : Coucessum, Stella, Roseum grandi- 

 floram. Lady Frances Ciossley, John Spencer, Bjissianum. Scarlet : Alarm, 

 Mra. W. Bovill, Titian, James Bateman, Lady Claremont, and Francis Dickson. 



Veoetables roK Exhibition (St. Edmundi. — Of Peas Superlative has 

 the longest pod, and Supplanter is better than Fillbasket. Dr. Hogg is a fine 

 Pea. They should be sown during the second week in April to be in use by the 

 first week in August, but the season has an iufluonce on the time of Peas 

 coming into use. Caulidower sown in March on a warm border would be in at 

 the time you name. King of the Cdulitlowers is a good sort, and Walcheren. 

 Autumn Giant would not be in until later. Sow the Lettuces the first week 

 in May. Snowflake is the finest-looking and best of the Potatoes you name; 

 but for beauty, Perfection Kidney (Fennl, and a round sort. Early Market 

 (Fenn), are worth notice. What you may grow fnr a ba^tket of vegetables 

 miy be, Eroad Bcaus— Seville Loug-pid. French Beans— Ctnadiin Wonder. 

 Kunners— Scarlet Champion. Beet— DaWiir'a Dwarf Red. Celery— Leicester 

 Red, Matcbleas White iWUiiams's). Carrot— James's Intermediate. Cncum- 

 ber— Tender and True. Turnip— Snowball. Vegetable Marrow— Short- 

 jointed Long \Vhite; and we presume yon will have Cabbage and autumn- 

 sown Onion, not forgetting a good dieh of Tomatoes. 



