March 1-2, 1874. 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



225 



where the selection is choice, may be known by referring to a 

 nnreeryman's list. 



The pottinrj of plants is an operation easily performed, though 

 the principles upon which success is founded are not so well 

 understood— a fact rendered sufficiently obvious by the miserable 

 Bpecimeus too generally met with. And why is this? Simply 

 because the cultivator, instead of examining for himself whether 

 his mauipulations are in accordance with the laws of Nature, 

 rests satisfied in following the footsteps of his predecessors with- 

 out inquiring whether their practices were right or wrong. 



It is an undoubted fact that all plants like fresh soil and leaf 

 mould, and any person who has a supply of these two, with 

 good peat and silver sand, may, without any further assistance 

 from soils, grow any plant. 



A plant in a pot is in the most artificial state in which it can 

 be placed, as its roots, instead of being soma degrees warmer 

 than the atmosphere which surrounds them, as they would be 

 if planted in the natural soil, are, from the current of air con- 

 stantly passing rouud the pot, and the consequent evaporation 

 from its surface, some degrees colder. This circumstauce alone 

 is enough to account for our precarious success ; but when, in 

 addition to this, it is recollected that the roots are constantly 

 alternating between drought and moisture, that they are 

 violently excited at one time, and actually flagging for want of 

 water at another, the wouder is that the cultivation of delicate 

 and fine-rooted plants is not attended with more disappointment 

 than has hitherto been experienced. 



The general method pursued in potting plants, till within the 

 last doiien years, was to sift the soil as fine as possible, to use little 

 or no drainage, and when thei plant required more pot-room, to 

 give it only a very small shift, and that at some stated period. 



Ladies who love gardening, and have a limited number of 

 favomites which they tend with their- own fair hands, are often 

 at fault with reference to the soil which they should employ 

 for potting. The soil that will suit plants in general I have 

 given above ; and as this is the season when the plants in the 

 pits and frames which have survived the winter require repot- 

 ting, the amateur must make himself acquainted with the best 

 method of performing the operation, that his collection may 

 have a good chance of future development. My obsei-vations 

 on this subject will principally regard those who have not a 

 greenhouse, and will refer to those classes of plants which may 

 be kept with care during our winters in frames, such as Pelar- 

 goniums, Fuchsias, Calceolarias, Verbenas, Petunias, itc. These 

 having been stored away in very small pots, must now be trans- 

 ferred to more roomy quarters, and finally potted previous to 

 blooming. 



The fumigating of j>lant houses and frames is a troublesome 

 matter, especially to amateurs, and hence the foUowiug plan 

 which I have practised lately may prove interesting to some : — 

 Provide a strong solution of nitre in water, in which soak some 

 sheets of strong brown paper, and afterwards dry it slowly and 

 cut it into lengths of c-onvenient size, the largest 18 inches 

 by 12 inches ; then get some strong tobacco and strew it thinly 

 over the paper, and with a coarse pepper-box dredge-in a good 

 coat of common cayenne pepper, w^rap the whole up loosely like 

 a cigarette, paste the end over, and when dry it is fit for use. 

 Two or three of these suspended by a wire under a greenhouse 

 stage, and lighted at each end, will quickly settle the accounts 

 of the green fly and thrips, and that with comparatively little 

 trouble ; indeed, if a quantity of these cigarettes are kept ready 

 made, a few plants may be put into a pit or small room and be 

 cleaned, at least have their insect pests destroyed, in a very short 

 time. By using cayenne much less tobacco is requu-ed, and the 

 effect of the two combiued is most deadly ; for as the cigarettes 

 will burn for a considerable time, say an hour or more, it is im- 

 possible for insects to live in an atmosphere so thoroughly suf- 

 focating. 



As the season for grafting is at hand, it may be noted that the 

 appearance of Thorn hedges may be much improved by grafting 

 the scarlet and other varieties on the top shoots. These should 

 be allowed to grow up at different distances along the hedge, 

 which should be regulated according to the size of the garden 

 and the taste of i he amateur. A few hardy Roses may also be 

 planted in the fence, and trained in it. When these are in bloom 

 the blossoms projecting a Uttle beyond the hedge only appear, 

 and render it very ornamental. Some of the Roses might also 

 be budded on tall stocks above the top of the hedge as standards. 

 Vegetables. — This is an important time for getting in crops of 

 several kinds. Ground shoidd be in readiness for Onions, 

 Carrots, tV'c, which should be sown in drills as soon as the 

 weather will permit. Of the former the Strasburg and James's 

 Keeping are good kinds. Make up deficiencies in Cabbage rows, 

 and sow a small patch for succession in a warm border. The 

 Early Battersea, which has numerous aliases, is as profitable a 

 kind as any. Of Potatoes, a few Ashleaf Kidney may bo planted 

 for an early crop. 



Fruit. — See that all standards are now pruned, and that the 

 training of wall trees is finished. This is a good time for graft- 

 ing Apples, Pears, &c. 



Flowers, — As bulbs are all above ground, flower borders may 

 now be forked-up, giving them a dressing of leaf mould or rotten 

 dung. Herbaceous plants that are spreading too much should 

 bo divided, so as to occupy less room. Everything about th's 

 villa should be trimmed-up and kept neat, as this is always a 

 mark of taste and industry. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OP THE LAST AND PRESENT WEEKS, 



FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDEN. 



The nights have been cold, the thermometer falling occaaion- 

 ally below the freezing point. This has served to retard tlr) 

 blossom on the fruit trees, yet the Pears, Plums, and other hardy 

 fruits aro in a forward state ; all are well set with blossom buds. 

 A correspondent writes for information about the Goo.^tiharri/ 

 caterpillar. Wherever the bushes were overrun last year, and 

 if no steps have been taken to destroy the larva, there is almost 

 a certainty that they will again be attacked. If spent tanner's 

 bark can be obtained readily and fresh out of the pits, this, 

 spread under the bushes to the depth of 2 or 3 inches, will 

 destroy the larva which are buried there, but it ought to be 

 done at once. When ground is being trenched during winter, 

 the surface soil to the depth of 3 inches should be removed 

 from under the bushes and buried in the bottom of the trench ; 

 fresh soil must be taken from the ground that is being trenched 

 to supply the place of the old. 



Morelio Cherry trees on the north wall are very forward, they 

 have just been nailed. Old trees of this sort are sometimes dis- 

 figured by some of the branches dying-off. These must be cut 

 out and the live wood removed to fill up the blank spaces. As 

 the Morelio does not form spurs but bears on the young wood, 

 this must be uailed-in more thickly than is usual with Elton, 

 Hay Duke, and other large-leaved varieties. Where wall trees 

 are in flower see that the protecting material is let down when- 

 ever there are evident signs of frosf. 



Planted out the old roots of Sen-lcalc that had been forced, 

 also the smaller roots left over from the plants raised from seeds 

 sown a twelvemonth ago. The ground had been previously 

 trenched and manured; and in planting, some coal ashes were 

 placed round the roots. 



Allusion was made a few weeks ago to the merits of some of 

 the new American Potatoes. Amateurs and others who may 

 wish to try some of them will find the Extra Early Vermont the 

 most valuable for small gardens. As the sets are high-priced it 

 is desirable to make the most of them. We had five Potatoes 

 to a pound of the abovenamed sort ; they were cut into fifty-four 

 sets, and these were potted separately in 60-sized pots in light 

 soil, and as soon as the sprouts show above ground they will be 

 planted out. 



Peas. — Sowed the second crop, comprising early and late sorts. 

 Alpha, William I., and Taber's Early Perfection are the best 

 early sorts; for later, use Supreme and some of the earUer 

 Marrows. A variety sent out last year named G. F. Wilson is 

 earlier than Veitch's Perfection and of sterling merit. Champion 

 of England, long a favourite variety, wiU scarcely hold its own 

 amongst the claimants for popular favour. 



Onions and Parsnips. — Ours were sown three weeks ago. 

 Those who have not yet sown their main crops should do so at 

 once. Advantage should be taken of the present favourable 

 weather to get all the crops in and to push forward the work. 



FRUIT AND FOKCINQ HOUSES. 



Pineries. — A very important matter in Pine culture is the 

 plunging material, which ought not to be one that is subject to 

 early decay, and it should also maintain an equable temperature. 

 Spent tan fresh from the yards is very good where it can be 

 obtained, but in country places Oak or Beech leaves are often 

 used to good purpose. Neither of the above can be readily 

 obtained with us, and, as previously stated, the refuse from a 

 cocoa-mat and brush factory has been tried. So far it has an- 

 swered admh-ably; the heat is about 90', and if this is main- 

 tained as long as it is with tan, it will be a great boon to us, as 

 besides its being more readily obtained, it is also cleaner to use 

 and the plants can be plunged in it with greater aciUty. Where 

 fruit had been cut of Smooth-leaved Cayenne and Charlotte 

 Rothochild there were suckers to put in ; these were potted in 

 G and 7-iuch pots. Suckers that were potted late in the autumn 

 were also shifted into larger pots, 9-inch being mostly used. 

 The plants were making fresh roots, but the old soil was not in 

 good condition, and a large proportion of it had to be removed ; 

 they were not watered for at least ten days after repotting. In 

 the fruiting houses, where fruit is swelling, the temperature 

 should now be 70° at night, with a proportionate rise by day ; 

 plenty of atmospheric moisture is necessary now. 



Placed a fresh batch of Keens' Seedling Strawberry in heat; 

 as soon as the new leaves are formed the plants are supplied 

 with weak liquid manure. We are drifting more into the prac- 

 tice of using the manure water at each watering, believing that 

 it is better to apply the water very weak and often than it is to 

 apply it double the strength and alternately with clear water. 

 Place the plants close to the glass, water and syringe freely. 



