Uaroh 9, 1876. 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



199 



trees and shrubB about London till the leaves are nearly gone. 

 This might do some misohieJ were it not that every season 

 a good proportion of the brood is killed by the attacks of 

 parasitic foes. 



Amongst the smooth-bodied caterpillars of the Noctaa 

 division are some that evidently delight in a London life, 

 such as that of the variable Cabbage Moth (Mamestra Brassica;), 

 more especially troublesome in the kitchen garden ; the Dot 

 (M. Persicariie), which prefers the flower beds and shrub- 

 beries ; the Garden Dart (Agrotis nigricans) ; and the Great 

 Yellow Underwing (Tryphana pronuba). The Gothic (Ncenia 

 typica) is plentiful in some years, scarce in others, the cater- 

 pillar having the peculiar habit of preferring trees or shrubs in 

 autumn, and low-growing plants after its hybernation. Add to 

 these the caterpillar of the showy Silver Y (Plusia Gamma), 

 fond of an excursion in the sunshine, and that of the sluggish 

 Angleehades (Phlogophora meticulosa), a caterpillar, however, 

 less common in gardens than formerly, and we have a pretty 

 formidable list of possible enemies from one order of insects 

 alone, which vex the soul of the suburban amateur ; and this 

 is, moreover, one in which are not specified sundry smaller 

 species of the Tortrix and Tinea sort, which are also capable of 

 much mischief.— J. E. S. C. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST AND WOEK FOK 

 THE PRESENT WEEK. 



EITCHEN GARDEN. 



The work in this department is well forward, there being but 

 little to do except the sowing and planting of successional crops. 

 When the quarters are dng or trenched during the winter all 

 that is required at the time of cropping is to fork over the 

 ground Ughtly ; and if this is done on a fine drying day the 

 seeds can be sown immediately after. 



We have again planted Windsor Beans. This is the only 

 variety used in the kitchen here ; and although it is not so pro- 

 lific as the long-podded sorts it is much better for the table. 

 Those who intend to grow for exhibition will find the Seville 

 Long Pod to be the best. We have made a sowing of this with 

 the Windsor for comparison. 



Another sowing of Peas has been made. We have already 

 named the most desirable sorts to sow, but with many .it is 

 much a matter of taste, Laxton's Fillbasket being by some pre- 

 ferred to the Wrinkled Marrows. When a blue Pea is intended 

 to be sown, not a Marrow, there is at present nothing equal to 

 Fillbasket. It is of moderate growth, and bears an enormous 

 crop of very fine pods. Standard, another of Mr. Laxton's cross- 

 breeds, is said to be qmte as prolific as Fillbasket but is a 

 Wrinkled Marrow ; this sort will be tried against the best of the 

 old Marrows this season. The earliest crop is making rapid 

 progress ; the rows will in a few days require to have sticks 

 placed to them. It is an advantage to place short sprays first 

 at this season, and when the young Peas have gained the top of 

 them to place the usual sticks. If the long sticks are put in at 

 once they shade the Peas very much and retard them. 



It is a good time to plant Globe Artichokes ; there are several 

 varieties, and it is as well to obtain a good selection at the first ; 

 the large Globe is the best. This is a vegetable which if it is 

 planted on good deeply trenched ground gives but little trouble 

 afterwards. The heads are also very useful for showing in a 

 collection of vegetables in the month of June. The plants are 

 usually surrounded with littery manure during winter ; the 

 rougher portion of it is now removed and the remainder dug-in. 

 During this operation oSsets or suckers may be obtained for 

 plantiug-out. The plants should be grown i feet apart in the rows 

 and 3 feet from plant to plant. Jerusalem Artichokes are gene- 

 rally planted in some out-of-the-way corner, but where this 

 vegetable is esteemed a plot of good ground should be chosen ; 

 it should be deeply dug and well manured. The rows should 

 be 3 feet 6 inches apart and the sets a foot apart.. 



Parsley may now be sown. A row at the back of a fruit 

 border or as an edging to some of the kitchen- garden quarters is 

 a good position for it. Spinach we generally sow between the 

 rows of Peas ; the round-seeded sort is the best for this season. 



Brussels Sprouts and Savoys are important crops. We have 

 very great difficulty to get either of them to grow through the 

 season free from the attacks of the maggot that causes club 

 roots. Some persons have recommended to replant frequently 

 when the plants are young ; but we never had the Sprouts better 

 than they have been this season, and the plants were sown 

 in drills and thinned out to the required distance without 

 having been transplanted from the seed bed. It is too early to 

 BOW Savoys yet unless they are wanted for the end of August 

 and through September. April will be early enough to sow for 

 the winter supply. 



About the end of April is early enough to sow the general crop 

 of Beet, but a sowing may be made at once if it is required early. 



The ground should be in good condition, and if possible dry at 

 the time of sowing for this crop. Leeks should be sown at once 

 if it is intended that they should grow to a large size, nor should 

 the ground on which it is intended to plant them have been 

 cropped previously. A small patch may be sown in a sheltered 

 position, yet in one pretty fully exposed to light and air. The 

 Leek is a gross feeder, and dehghts in plenty of rich moist 

 manure. Sow a little Chervil seed on a sheltered border. Basil 

 had better be sown in pots, and the pots be plunged in a', slight 

 hotbed. When the plants are large enough to prick-out, they 

 should again be planted in pots to be put out in the open ground 

 in a small bed of light soil in May. Attention must be given to 

 BOW small salads, such as Mustard, Cress, Radish, &c., almost 

 weekly if a large supply is required. Thyme, Mint, and what are 

 usually called pot-heibs that are perennial should now bo 

 planted-out. Most of them are propagated by division of the 

 roots. We have planted-out Cauhflower plants that have been 

 sheltered in a cold frame during the winter. The seeds sown on 

 a hotbed will succeed them. 



PINERIES. 



Our fruiting and succession houses are still so full of plants 

 that we have not had an opportunity to repot the suckers that 

 were put in some time in August last year. To have large 

 plants for fruiting very early in 1877 their potting should now 

 be done. The Pine is a very easily-grown plant, indeed there 

 is very little trouble to grow the plants to a large size ; but this 

 is not exactly the object cultivators have in view. Moderately 

 strong plants generally give the largest fruit. If the Icam used 

 is of a light sandy nature the plants grow to the largest size, and 

 the whole mass of mould in the pots is thoroughly matted with 

 roots before the fruit throws up, and is in such an exiausted 

 condition that the pips seldom swell to a good size. This is not 

 the case when the loam is of a heavy clayey nature. The top 

 spit cut not more than 3 inches deep from an old pasture con- 

 tains much fibre, which will keep the compost open even if it 

 does contain much clay. When the loam has been rather heavy 

 we have used a httle leaf mould with it, and one part of decayed 

 stable manure to five of the loam. Bone dust is also well adapted 

 for mixing with the soil. The compost must also be rammed-in 

 firmly. A loose potting material causes the plant to shake 

 about in the pot, and if it is loose at the neck it seldom gives 

 good fruit. At present the temperature can be kept up to 75° at 

 night if it is desirable to hurry on the fruit for a purpose, though 

 the fruit produced in a temperature of from 65" to 70° will be of 

 better flavour, and will not be likely to have overgrown crowns. 



VINES IN POTS. 



We do not grow Vines for fruiting in pots now that the 

 houses are in full bearing, but a few pot Vines are of great value 

 to those who have young Vines planted and which are not yet 

 in a bearing state. There is no difficulty whatever in growing 

 fruiting canes the first season from eyes put in from the luiddle 

 of January to the middle of February. It is best to put in the 

 eyes singly in small pots. They will soon start in a httle bottom 

 heat, and when the roots have reached the sides of the pots 

 shift them into larger pots. It is quite necessary that they be 

 grown on without any check. By August the Vines will be in 

 their fruiting pots ; the strongest in 13-inch, and those of more 

 moderate growth in 11-inch pots. 



Figs in pots are now making rapid growth. They require to 

 be freely syringed and supplied with plenty of water at the 

 roots without overdoing it. Red spider attacks the leaves, caus- 

 ing them to become yellow. The water ought to be syringed 

 on to the under sides of the leaves. 



Orchard-house trees are now rapidly approaching the bloom- 

 ing period. We are careful to keep the soil in the pots of Peach 

 and Nectarine trees sufficiently moist, but the roots must be- 

 come pretty dry before they receive water. The house has been 

 fumigated with tobacco smoke to destroy any aphis that may be 

 upon the trees. Pear and Plum trees have not yet been removed 

 into the house ; they will be taken in as soon as possible. The 

 flower buds are far advanced. 



FLO-\VER GARDEN. 



The borders are now becoming gay with spring flowers. Snow- 

 drops and Crocuses are fading, but Primroses, Cowshpa, Poly- 

 anthuses, and the more refined Auriculas will take their place. 

 Iris reticulata is also very beautiful, and the diiierent species 

 and varieties of Hepatica are now in full beauty. H. angulosa 

 is an excellent species, but the plants have evidently been raised 

 from seeds, as there is considerable variation amongst them. 

 Some are very pale blue with small flowers, others have brighter- 

 coloured flowers as large as a halfcrown. Scillas are also in 

 flower. These charming deep blue flowers are always attractive ; 

 but the brightest jewels may be spoiled by being badly set, bo 

 our lovely spring flowers show to the best advantage when the 

 borders, walks, and lawn are kept neat and clean. The wet 

 weather has caused the worms to work on the lawn. To crush 

 the casts down a heavy roller has been run over it, and in a few 

 days the lawn-moweis will also be brought out. The grass iS 

 coming uneven, as it generally does until after the first mowing. 



Auriculas in frames are thiowiug up Strong trussef . We look 



