456 



JODENili OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Jane 8, 1876. 



when the autumn frosts come. The plants are sometimes left 

 too long in the seed pot, and do not receive enough pot room 

 after being potted-off, and, to make matters worse, ihey are not 

 gradually inured to exposure in the open air. Such treatment 

 of an exotic plant brings insect pests and predisposes to disease, 

 causing another great evil — late fruiting. Even in cold districts 

 a well-grown plant that haa been polted-on into a 7-inch pot, 

 and is well established about the Ist of Jane, may be planted 

 out without much fear of injury, and will bear a crop of fruit in 

 good time to ripen. The best position for the plants is against 

 a wall facing south or west. The plants also delight in rich 

 open soil. 



We have made a sowing of Peas, both late and early varie- 

 ties. For the latest sowing William I. and Alpha are very 

 desirable sorts. The only chance to obtain good salads after 

 this time is to plant Lettuces, &c., in a cool position where the 

 sun can act on the plants for a few hours in the afternoon only; 

 this can be obtained by sowing or putting out the plants behind 

 a north wall. It is now a good time to plant Leeks. This 

 vegetable is more esteemed north of the Tweed than it is in the 

 south. Every cottager's garden in Scotland contains a quarter 

 of Leeks, and in many districts there is considerable emulation 

 as to who can produce the best examples. The Leek is a gross 

 feeder, and will not do well unless the ground is very rich. 

 Those cottigers who keep a pig have an advantage over those 

 who do not, as the best of the manure is usually reserved for 

 the Leeks. Leeks are planted in deep drills, and are earthed-up 

 as they grow. 



riNES. 



The Queens started in January are very slow in ripening this 

 year, not one of them shows signs of colouring as yet. A high 

 night temperature has been kept np, but this does not compen- 

 sate for the want of sunshine, and it is certain that hurrying 

 Pines on to the ripening stage by a high ni^ht temperature in dull 

 cold weather is the cause of overgrown crowns and badly-swelled 

 pips. Nor should the plants be shaken out of the pots and the 

 greater portion of the roots be removed to accomplish the same 

 end unless under very urgent circumstances, when one or two 

 plants may be tried. At present it is not necessary to have the 

 pipes very hot to keep np the night temperature to 70' ; and 

 this ought not to be exceeded. High night temperatures are 

 never beneficial, often injurious, and always augment the coal 

 bill. The last of the imported fruit are now in the market, and 

 those who have plenty of good fruit ripening now will find it 

 rnore valuable than it is at any other season. It is now a good 

 time to start the plants into growth for the autumn and winter 

 supply. Smooth-leaved Cayenne, Black Jamaica, and Charlotte 

 Rothschild are the best for this purpose. At whatever feison 

 it is intended to start the plants they should previously have 

 had a rest. Pines may as well be rested in June as at any other 

 season. When at rest a low night temperature is required, 

 moderate watering at the roots, and a dryish atmosphere in the 

 house ; the bottom heat should not exceed 80°. When the 

 plants are started increase the bottom heat to 90% the atmo- 

 spheric temperature from 60° to 70° ; water the Pines with tepid 

 water, say 90°, and let the moisture be much increased in the 

 atmosphere. Suckers potted now in 6-inch pots will, under 

 circumstances already recommended, grow away freely and 

 make good fruiting plants before the winter seta in, to be ready 

 for starting late in the spring for fruiting in the early autumn 

 months. 



PEACH HOnSES. 



It has been nphiU work forcing Peaches this year, and gentle- 

 men ought not to be dissatisfied if their gardeners cannot place 

 fruit upon their tables quite as highly coloured or of such good 

 flavour as usual. Where fruit is ripening the leaves ought to be 

 laid aside, or cut off if they shade the fruit from the sun. If a 

 leaf lays over the fruit and is not removoil it will leave a mark 

 on the fruit. If the fruit i.s just swelling after the stoning 

 period the house may be closed at 4 p m , and the trees well 

 syringed with tepid water. It the weather should be very hot 

 it would be better not to close the honse quite so early ; and 

 much also depends upon the position of the house, whether it 

 is span-roofed or lean-to. The temperature from sun heat 

 ought not to exceed 90°, and the lowest minimum may be 65°, 

 and this may be attained now with but little help from the hot- 

 water pipes. The temperature would not fall below 70° at 10 p.m. 

 from sun heat alone, and the sun is again acting upon tbe glass 

 before 5 a.m. Of course, it is not necessary to have such high 

 temperatures, but if the fruit is required at as early a date as 

 possible the trees will bear forcing as above at the time the 

 fruit is swelling. If the fruit has been gathered from the earliest 

 house the trees should be thoroughly syrioged to cleanse the 

 leaves from red spider, and it may be necessary to give the 

 borders a good watering. See that all the young wood is tied 

 into its place; and we again say. Do not tie in more shoots than 

 Will be required for the purpose of fruit-bearing next year. All 

 groB3 growths must be removed. 



_ GBEENHOUSE AND CONSERVATOBY. 



O wing to the rapid growth of the plants there ia plenty of 



work here at this time. Climbing plants must be attended to 

 before the growths run into each other and twist round the 

 trellis to which they are trained. This should not be allowed 

 in any class of plants. All tho shoots must be trained so that 

 the plants can be speedily undone from the trellis if it is necessary 

 to do so. Amongst sofiwooded plants Cinerarias are now over, 

 and the brilliant colours of the Calceolaria have also to give 

 place to the stage Pelargoniums and Fuchsias. Many hard- 

 wooded plants are also in full beauty ; others coming on to suc- 

 ceed them mnst be trained into the proper shape before tho 

 flowers open. Others asaiu may require re-potting. If possible 

 it ia best to repot in dull weather ; a rainy day is a suitable time 

 to see to this. Where many plants are grown of course there 

 are men to attend to them who are always under glass and will 

 pot the plants when it is most convenient, but it ought not to 

 be done in the teeth of a drying east wind. Those who are 

 pushed with out-of-doors work will lake the chance of a wet 

 day for potting, and it is certainly best for the plants, as they do 

 not dry up and suffer from the roots being injured. We have 

 been potting Heaths and other New Holland plants that seemed 

 to require it. It is a saving of labour to have a set t"me for 

 potting, when all the plants of a certain class are done at one 

 time ; but it is not so good for the plants, and no one who wishes 

 to make the most of his plants would pot them until they are 

 well established in the pots. Small plants may require repotting 

 twice in a season, others that are large only once, and large 

 specimens may remain two years or more in the same pot and 

 not be repotted. When it is not inteuded to increase the size 

 of the pots, and yet it is necessary to repot the plants, they may 

 be turned out and a slice be cut from the ball all round, say from 

 1 to 2 iuches, according to the size of the plants ; another good 

 slice may be cut from the bottom of the ball. This will allow 

 the plant to go into a similar-sized pot, but the old one must 

 not be used again until it is washed clean. 



Primulas, Cinerarias, Calceolarias, and other plants that are 

 being grown to flower next year must not suffer from want of 

 pot room, but should be repotted as soon as the roots begin to 

 mat round the sides of the pot. If the above-named plants are 

 grown in a house exposed to the sun it will be necessary to 

 shade the plants for a few hours during the hottest period of 

 the day. 



Cuttings of stage or fancy Pelargoniums put in now make 

 very good flowering plants for next year. A single cutting 

 should be put in the centre of a small pot, and when well rooted 

 the plants may be repotted without any check to their growth. 

 — J. Douglas. 



TRADE CATALOGUE RECEIVED. 



J. Laing, Stanstead Park Nursery, Forest Hill, London, S.E. 

 ■ — Catalogue of Stove and Greenhouse Plants, Florists' Flawera, 

 Bases, Vines, tic. 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 

 Secbetabies will oblige ns by informing ns of the dates on 

 which exhibitions are to be held. 

 South Essex (Levton?). June 13th. Ur. G. E. Coi, Wilmot RoaJ, 



Leyton, Sec. 

 SwAFFHAM. June 14th and 15th. Mr. T. G. Smith, Hon. Sec. 

 Ipswich. — June 15th, July 6tb, and September l7th. Sec., Mr. W. B. 



Jeffries, Henley Road, Ipswich. 

 Edinboroh iSouttieh Pdnsy Society's Show). June IGth. Mr. N. M. Welah, 



1, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, Sec. 

 Crystal Palace (Roses). June 16th and 17th. 

 Coventry. June 19tb. Mr. T. Wilson, 3, Portland Tenaoe, See. 

 Maidstone (Bosesi. June 2l3t. Mr. Hubert Bensted, Boolcatow, Maid- 

 stone, Sec. 

 Fabeh AM AND South Hampshire. June 21st. Mr. H. Smith, Sec. 

 Spalding. June 2lHt and 22iid. Mr. G. Kingston, Sec. 

 Exeter (Roses). June 23rd. Mr. T. W. Gray, Hon. Sec. 

 Reigate (Roses). June 24th. Mr. J. Payne, Treasurer. 

 Bueton-upon-Trent. June 28th. Mr. 1'. S. Dunwell, Sec. 

 Colchester. . June 28th and ll9th. Mr. W. Harrison, Sec. 

 Leeds. June 28th, zUh, and 30th. Mr. Jamea Birbbeclr, Delph Lane, 



Woodhouse, Leeds, Sec. 

 Richmond. June 29th. Mr. A. Chancellor, Hon. Sec. 

 West of England (Hereford). Roses. June 2Uth. Rev. C. H. Bulmer, 



Credeubiil, See. 

 FaoME (Roses). June 29th. Mr. A. R. BaiJy, Hon. Sec. 

 WisBEACH (Roses). June 29th. Mr. C. Parker. Hon. Sec. 

 ToEBAY. June 29th and SUtk. Mr. W. i'ane Tucker, Capt., Braddon Tor, 



HoQ. Sec. 

 O.-iFoRD (Roses). June 30th. Mr. C. R. Ridley, 115, Aldate's, Hon. Sec. 

 Brockham (Roses). July 1st. Rev. A. Cheales and Mr. C. Mortimer, Sees. 

 Marsden. July 1st. Mr. J. H. Edmondsou, Hon. Sec. 

 Southport. July 5th. Mr. A. Campbell. Sec. 



Royal Caledonian Horticdltuual Society. July 6th and September 18th. 

 OUNDLE. July 5th. Mr. AKred King. Sec. 

 Westminster Aquarium. JqIj 5th and Gth. 

 Newark (Roses). July 6th. Mr. F. R. Dobney, Sec. 

 Alexandra Palace. Rises, July 7th and 8th. 

 Wellingborough. July 7lh and 8tb. Mr. W. B. Parke, Hon. Sec. 

 Ealino, Acton, and Hanwell. July 11th (at Fordhook). Mr. B. Pean, 



EahoR, Sec. 

 Enfield. July 12th. Mr. J. T. Bote, Bloomfleld Nursery, Sec. 

 Helensburgh (Roses). July 12th and 13th. Mr. J. MitoheU, Sec. 



