July 1, 1876. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAQK GAIiDENEB. 



13 



crops by neglecting to give them the requisite quantity of water. 

 Again, it ia not these crops alone, but almost everything in the 

 garden is more or leas affected if water is not applied to counter- 

 act the effects of dry weather. The amateur's evenings may be 

 very profitably spent by attending to his crops in watering them. 

 Now, in the application of water and the time for doing it, as 

 well as the condition of the crop, are matters worth the greatest 

 study, and must be left in the hands of those to whom it most 

 concerns, aided by a few general remarks which may be suggested 

 as the most applicable to his gardeu. 



While one may have a gardeu the soil of which is light and 

 shallow, and, perhaps, so situated that little or no shade is pro- 

 vided from the suu, another position may be quite the reverse 

 — that is, on a level in a valley, with a deep, rich, holding soil 

 with a cool subsoil, where but seldom the summer's suu has an 

 effect upon the crops. This is what I should call a good sum- 

 mer garden, but not bo early as the former. The crops in the 

 former garden would require double the water to sustain them 

 to that of the latter, so that there is an opportunity of judging 

 between these two extremes, for gardens of the amateur class 

 are situated in all manner of positions or situations. 



There is not a doubt that it is wrong to allow any crop to 

 show signs of the want of water, as then the injury in a great 

 measure has been done, and such injured crops do not often 

 recover lost ground. Again, when once watering is begun it 

 ought to be continued at necessary intervals according to the 

 state of the weather and the growing condition of the crops; 

 and if a succession of showers fall, the extent of their benefit 

 and the depth the rain has entered the soil should be ascertained 

 as near as possible. The subsequent state of the weather, if hot 

 or otherwise, should be taken into consideration in order to 

 judge when the next application of water should be given. 

 "When water is applied it should be in such quantities as will 

 reach every root of the plant, and not in small dribblets, which 

 a few hours' sun will cause to evaporate out of the soil again. 



We now come to what is called mulching, which is doubtless 

 a very necessary work, and especially on light soils. This 

 prevents a too rapid evaporation from the soil, and encourages 

 surface-rooting, and also saves labour in watering by assisting 

 to retain the moisture. If the mulching is a manure the soil 

 is enriched every time the watering takes place by washing the 

 nourishing properties into the soil, and greatly benefiting the 

 crops; but manure is not always to be had, and then other and 

 poorer materials must be used. If it happens that no mulchine 

 IB used, then as soon as the soil is dry enough it should be hoed 

 or stirred after every watering, because watering has a tendency 

 to bind the soil, so that air cannot enter. 



Now, even mulching can be carried too far ; for instance, if 

 applied too thick the warmth of t.he sun does not penetrate it 

 BO as to reach the roots, and air is excluded, and the soil becomes 

 sour and sodden to the detriment of the crop it is applied to, 

 therefore judgment and moderation is necessary. 



Again, there is another use to which water can be applied — 

 that is, for cleansing the foliage of plants. In street gardens 

 this is particularly necessary, where dust from the roads is con- 

 tinually blowing over the foliage of Roses and all other plants ; 

 and how fresh and vigorous and how cheerful it makes these 

 little gardens look after being cleansed by water ! The difference 

 is easily seen by looking at a garden that is not so treated. All 

 this work should be done in the evening, or as soon as the 

 powerful rays of the sun are off the ground ; in fact, in the 

 height of summer this should be the principal work of the 

 evening for all kitchen garden crops, as well as those of the 

 flower garden. Evaporation does not then go on so rapid, and 

 there is time for the whole plant to become invigorated and 

 strengthened for the next day. — Thomas Eecobd. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST AND WORK FOR THE 

 PRESENT WEEK. 



HAEDY FRUIT GAEDEN. 



It has been a good time for Strawberries out of doors, the 

 weather has not been scorching hot, and the few showers have 

 done no injury. In very hot weather our system of supporting 

 the fruit above the leaves with sprays of elm, beech, &o., does 

 not give such good results as when the season is dull or rainy, 

 but it is seldom that the sun is so powerful as to scorch the 

 berries before they are quite ripe, although it has happened 

 once during the last ten years. It was a dry period when the 

 plants were in flower, and the beds had two or three good Boak- 

 ings with clear water, but some mulchings had been previously 

 placed between the rows. We have had two good pickings of 

 Black Prince for preserving. Notwithstanding the large number 

 of receutly-introduced varieties, this old sort still holds an im- 

 portant position ; it is preferred in the kitchen, and although 

 Bmall and wanting in flavour for dessert purposes, we grow it in 

 pots for the earUest crops. The plants will be layered imme- 

 diately. 



Apple and Pear trees have been summer- pruned, and it has 

 been positively necessary to thin-out the fruit on some of the 



free-setting sorts, especially when the trees have been young. 

 Hawthornden, and the variety called New Hawthornden, Bets so 

 freely, and the trees have not the characteristic possessed by 

 some other varieties — that is, to throw off the superfluous fruit; 

 and it happens if they are neglected they become crippled for 

 life. This is Bpecially the case if a dwarfing stock has been 

 used. The Apple maggot is now busy, aud the men who prune 

 the trees have instructions to pick off aud destroy all fruit that 

 has been attacked. The wall trees have been looked over, and 

 all superfluous shoots have been removed, and the remainder 

 laid-iu to the wall. All small fruits should be picked as soon aa 

 they become ripe, and they must be gathered when quite dry. 



VINEEIES. 



Some of our readers may tbink that enough has been said 

 about red spider, still it is the only pest in our vineries, and as 

 this season an experiment has been tried a few closing words 

 may not be out of place, b'irst, the nature of the soil in the 

 garden at Loxford is such that the Vines growing in it are pre- 

 disposed to spider attacks ; others who have had to do both with 

 light and heavy soils can testify to the same results. In one of 

 the largest and most celebrated gardens in Scotland, I once 

 noticed that the leaves were nearly destroyed by spider as soon 

 as the fruit became ripe, aud was told on makiug inquiry that ii 

 was owing to the light sandy soil. Some growers say syringe 

 the 'Vines with clear rain water ; of course, if you are going to 

 syringe, clear rain water is the best, but the purest water will 

 destroy the bloom, and with it the appearance of the fruit when 

 it is placed on the table ; and Grapes that have been syringed 

 with the clearest water would have no chance on au exhi- 

 bition table in London, or anywhere else, if the Judges know 

 what they are about. There are only two ways left to us— either 

 to sponge the leaves with soapy water {every leaf must be done, 

 and only fancy the labour in a large house, aud if it is not 

 thoroughly done it will not be a success) ; or the next, and our 

 experiment this year has again proved it to be the best, that is 

 to sulphur the pipes, and heating them enough to cause the 

 fumes to destroy the spider (see Doings, No. 7-12). 



Late houses require but little attention now. As the fruit is 

 stoning, and but very little growth is made, the roots must not 

 suffer for want of water; a good soaking of manure water is 

 beneficial, but the appUcation of that must be according to the 

 quality of the border and the quantity of roots it contains. 

 Many Vine borders are made too rich at first, and to make 

 matters worse manure water is applied before it is really needed. 

 We are of opinion that turfy loam with but little more added 

 except some crushed bones is the best border. Stimulants may 

 be applied in the form of suiface-dressings. 



OECHAED HOUSE. 



All the Strawberry pots have been removed from the shelves, 

 the fruit had been gathered, except some of the Frogmore type. 

 This is a good late sort, and does good service when Queens 

 and Dr. Hogg are over. It hinders very much the proper 

 management of the Peach and Nectarine trees when Straw- 

 berries are grown in the house, as many of the trees cannot be 

 syringed for two or three weeks, which gives insect pests a 

 chance to increase. 



GEEENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Having had much to do with exhibiting for the last few weeks 

 some of the work has fallen a little into arrears, but clearing out 

 a few plants that had finished flowering, picking Eeed pods from 

 Azaleas, and re-arranging is all that has been required. A few 

 words may not be out of place on exhibiting, as it has all been 

 in our work. A contemporary made some remarks in a recent 

 number on exhibiting stove and greenhouse plants. The paper 

 referred to remarks that something ought to be done to promote 

 a change in the variety of plants exhibited, and make some 

 suggestions. If any change is to be made the societies must do 

 it. Exhibitors will always grow and show the plants best 

 adapted to their purpose, and those that remain longest in beauty 

 are preferred. Take Pleroma elegans ; it is extremely beautiful 

 when well grown, but how seldom it can be brought in at the 

 right time ! whereas Erica Cavendishiana will remain in beauty 

 for a couple of months, and then how easily it can be moved with- 

 out injuring the flowers ! If the societies wish certain species 

 and varieties of stove and greenhouse plants to be exhibited by 

 way of a change they ought to name, say twenty-four, aud ask 

 the exhibitots to show nine or twelve out of them on a certain 

 date, and give all the same chance. 



Some small specimens of hardwooded plants have been re- 

 potted ; this is a matter that should not be delayed, as handsonue 

 specimens cannot be produced if the plants become pot-bound in 

 the early stages of thiir growth. The staple material for a vast 

 proportion of the New Holland plants is good turfy peat. Some 

 of them require a little loam mixed with it, others are better 

 with a little leaf mould, but manures in any form ought not to 

 be mixed with the potting material. Thorough drainage is also 

 very necessary. Young- beginners frequently have their plants 

 injured before they perceive that anything is wrong. Many of 

 the Heaths are subject to the attacks of mildew, and it requires 

 an experienced eye to notice it in its first attacks, but it must be 



