April 20, 1876. ] 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



315 



a eingle establiehment tbere more flowers at one time than 

 there were in all Covent Garden Market. Some of the prin- 

 cipal were Carnations, twelve blooms, 2s. to 4.v. ; Gardenias, 

 twelve blooms, 12s. to 18s.; Eueharis, twelve blooms, 6s. to 

 18s ; Stf-phanotis, twelve sprays, 9s. to 18s. ; Taberoses, per 

 dozen, 4s. to 9s. Saoh kinds as Cyclamens, Heliotropes, 

 Mignonette, Telargoniums, Primula, Spirrea, Violets, and Roses 

 Bold a good deal cheaper.— (.4 mfrican Gardener's Monlhlij.) 



DOINGS OF THE LAST AND WOBK FOR 



THE PRESENT WEEK. 



O.N April Gth we were able to write of fine weather — warm 

 and BUnny by day, with a night tomperature ranging from 40' 

 np to 47°, and the ground in excellent condition for working— 

 but what a change ! It will be some time before the night of 

 13th of April ia efficed from the memory of the unfortunate 

 gardeners who had to pack Orchid's and other tender plants 

 after the Exhibition closed at 10 p m. at the Koyal Aquarium, 

 Westminster. A freezing temperature with blinding snow 

 falling all the time might have been seasonable at Christmas, 

 but was nob the usual concomitant of Easter, 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



We are glad that our own work in the kitchen garden is well 

 forward, but not so well pleased that the early Potatoes, which 

 were making strong healthy growth ou an east border, have been 

 subjected to 5' of frost, and also had a mantle of snow thrown 

 over them. They have received a very serious check, and the 

 crop will be much deteriorated in quality. Early Peas and 

 Beans still look promising ; their sheltered position and the 

 naturally dry soil is much in their favour. Cauliflowers that 

 were planted out from cold frames about the middle of March 

 look Very promising considering the rough treatment they have 

 received. It would have been much better to have planted 

 them out under hand-lights, so that they would have been gra- 

 dually hardened-off, but that we could not do. They were 

 planted in deepish drills, which protected the plants to a limited 

 extent. H*d the weather been fine the plants raised from seeds 

 this yi^ar would have been ready for planting out. These plants 

 have been pricked-out in boxes, and are now out of doors under 

 the shelter of a hedge. Those who require successional crops of 

 Citnliflowers through the summer should now sow seeds on a 

 warm sheltered border. We find the house sparrows are very 

 fond of the young plants, but they can easily be protected by 

 placing some close netting over the bed ; or the birds may be 

 scared for a time by placing a slender rod about 6 feet long in 

 the ground in a slanting position. A large Potato should be 

 stuck full of feathers and have a string atkaohed to it, and the 

 other end of the string fastened to the elastic rod. It the Potato 

 hangs about 6 inches from the ground it will swing to and fro 

 in the wind. The above method of soaring sparrows is an old 

 one, and should be tried if other means fail. 



It is now a good time to see to sowing, planting from cuttings, 

 or dividing the roots of herbs. Of Sage it ia as well to grow the 

 green and purple sorts. It may now be propagated by slips off 

 the roots, and succeeds best on a dry sloping border from which 

 water runs freely. Marjoram should be sown in a box and be 

 placed in a frame, to be transplanted in fine weather into rows. 

 Pot-Marjoram should be increased by division. A pot or small 

 pan of Ss'eet Basil may also be sown, and treated the same as 

 recommended for Knotted Mirjoram. Mint is increased by 

 division. A pot or two is easily lilted for forcing early in March. 

 We had it out of doors about the end of that month this year. 



Seeds of both sorts of Thyme may be either sown or the 

 roots of esiablished plants may be divided. Thyme grows freely 

 in almost any soil. Tansy increases very rapidly by division, 

 and is of the easiest culture. Summer and winter Savory may 

 also be sown in light soil under a hand-light, the seedlings to be 

 transplanted; old plants may also be divided. Tarragon should 

 be increased by division, and should be planted in the position 

 recommended for Sage. A few plants of Fennel may be put out 

 in some out-of-the-way corner, or a pinch of seeds may be sown 

 in a similar position. 



CUCnMBEE AND MELON HOUSES. 



Under ordinary management there will be abundance of 

 encumbers in houses devoted to their culture. It is only neces- 

 sary to keep the leaves free from insect pests and to thin-out 

 the shoots rather freely ; instructions fur both have been given 

 in previous numbers. Cucumber plants root very freely in soil 

 that is moderately moist, but it must not be soddened with water, 

 and too much mould is an evil ; a foot of soil is better than 

 3 feet, and the border had better be 3 than 6 feet wide. When 

 the borders are restricted, the plants are mnch benefited by the 

 border being surfaced with dressings of good loam and manure 

 in equal proportions. An occasional watering with soot water 

 causes the fruit to be of a dark green colour. 



Melons which have set their fruit ah mid also be freely watered 

 at the roots, and the leaves should be syringed twice daily in the 



morning, and again when the house is closed in the afternoon, 

 until the fruit is very nearly at the ripening stage. Melons 

 require as much water «t the roots and moisture in the atmo- 

 sphere as Cucumbers. When the fruit is ripening a drier atmo- 

 sphere with rather more ventilation is what is best suited to 

 them. Where, the above are cultivated in frames air should be 

 admitted very cautiously at present, and thick coverings be 

 placed over the glass at night to retain the heat. 



Figs in pots may also be freely syringed twice daily, and are 

 the better of a surface-dressing of rich soil, say two parts of turfy 

 loam, one of rich decayed stable manure, and a sprinkling of 

 bone dust mixed with it. This should he placed on the surface, 

 and be pressed down moderately firmly with the band. In a 

 wonderfully shert time this dressing becomes filled with healthy 

 active rootlets, which speedily improve the leaves and fruit. 



Pines.— The magnificent fruit of Smooth-leaved Cayennes now 

 to be seen in nearly all the fruit shops in London puts us out 

 of conceit with our home-grown productions. Still there are 

 those who would rather have fruit of their own growing placed 

 upon the table than that of foreign growth, even if the former 

 was not equal to the latter in appearance. Growing for market 

 is a different thing, and it is quite certain that the time for Pine 

 culture for profit has in Britain come to a close. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Hyacinths and Tulips have been cleared out to make room 

 for other plants. Primula amrena is a very useful and distinct 

 plant for greenhouse culture, and is now in full beauty. Cine- 

 rarias have been and are stiU very flue with ua. They are the 

 produce of a small packet of seeds so-mi about this time last 

 year. We have given up growing the named sorts, as they are 

 so apt to die off during the summer. The plants are the better 

 of occasional waterings with weak manure water. Cow manure 

 is as good as any. It is necessary to keep the plants close to 

 the glass to have them of good quality. If it is intended to 

 grow them for exhibition the shoots must be trained down, 

 which will have the effect of forming dwarfer plants with much 

 larger heads of flowers. We have just now sown the seeds for 

 next year's flowering plants. 



One seldom sees the common Hydrangea well grown in 

 aristocratic gardens, but it is a plant of very easy culture, and 

 even if it was more difficult it should be grown in every garden. 

 Large plants with dozens of heads of flowers are objects of ex- 

 treme beauty in large conservatories, and certainly few plants 

 are more useful and lasting for decorative purposes than the 

 fine plants with single heads of flowers grown and bloomed in 

 .5-inch pots, and sold in Covent Garden Market. Cuttings may 

 now be pat in and placed in the hotbed, where they will soon 

 form roots. They must be potted-ofl as soon as rooted, and the 

 plants be placed again in the hotbed until established; after- 

 wards they may be repotted into S and 6-inch pots and be grown- 

 on near the glass in a pit or frame. A good potting material is 

 loam, leaf mould, and a little sand. 



Camellias in pots. To keep up a succession of these beautiftil 

 flowers the period of their production must be regulated at this 

 season. The plants that finished flowering about Christmas 

 will now have completed their growth, and the flower buds will 

 be formed. As soon as this has taken place they must be again 

 removed to the greenhouse, or any house where they may be 

 shaded from the direct rays of the sun. A lean-to against a 

 north wall is a very suitable structure for them daring the sum- 

 mer months; and as the growths of later-flowering sorts are 

 completed they may be removed there also. 



Azaleas require similar treatment. They also do well in a 

 steaming atmosphere and a temperature at night of 65°. The 

 plants must be shaded from sunshine and be syringed twice daily. 



It is not possible to keep the greenhouse and conservatory 

 gay with flowering plants unless there are houses in which to 

 place the plants after the flowering period is over, and in which 

 to place young growing sp cimens. Stage and Fancy Pelar- 

 goniums must now be thoroughly cleansed from green fly, else 

 the flower trusses will be much injured; for these plants can- 

 not safely be fumigated when they commence flowering. — 

 J. Douglas. 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 

 Seceetakies will oblige us by informing us of the dates on 

 which exhibitions are to be held. 



Alexandra Palace. Flowers, M«y 5th and 6th. Roses, July 7th and 8th. 

 GL4BG0W. Mavl'ith, and September r2th and 13th. Mr. F. GUb. Dougaall, 



16 , Canniii',' Street. Sec. 

 Westminster Aqoabicm. May 10th and 11th, Maj SOlh and Slst, Joly 



5th and 6th. 

 CbtstalPal.ce. Flower, May 19th and 20th. Rose, Jane 16th and lith. 

 TlVEHTOS. May alth and -i-Sth. Messrs. A. Payne and J. Mills, Hon. Sees. 

 Undebclife. MaySlsl. Mr. T. H. CloQgh, Hon. Sec. 

 Manchester (Griud Xa'ionali. June and to 9th. Mr. Brnce Findlay, 



Hoyal Botanic G-*rileu, Sec. _ ,^ „ ., 



SocTHAMPToN. Juoe oth, ttud August the 5th and .7th. Mr. C. S. Foidge, 



89, Y.irfc Street. Sec. 

 South Essex iLeyton?). Jane 13th. Mr. G. E. Cox, 'Wilmot Road, 



Leyton, Sec. 



