1.10 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTICDLTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



[ Aag:Q8t B, 1876. 



rooietnre as in the other method. But, again, ae the beet 

 Potato districts' in England or Scotland are not Boils of a 

 retentive character, why is the ridge system and earthing-up 

 60 generally followed, when on the flat with winter manuring 

 can be found to yield in garden practice much better results ? 

 Since the disease is causing much discussion in your colnmna 

 just now, differences in cultivation may also be advantage- 

 ously ventilated, as tending to reduce or mitigate this evil. — 

 Agbicola. 



CLOVE CAKNATIONS FOB TOWN GARDENS. 



Delightful old flowers are Clove Carnations. As garden 

 flowers they rank next in beauty, and sweetness, and useful- 

 ness to the Rose. We used to see them everywhere, but we 

 now only meet with them occasionally in isolated clumps in 

 mixed borders. Still, their cultivation is rapidly increasing. 

 Their inherent claims will not let them be abandoned. 



We used to be familiar with huge beds of these attractive 

 flowers, and such beds are again to be found in some of our 

 best and greatest gardens. That is the way to grow them. In 

 large masses they are most striking. 



I note them now to say that they will not only flourish in 

 the pure air of the country but will thrive in the murky atmo- 

 sphere of the town, and overpower even the smoke by their 

 penetrating fragrance. In the gardens of the Middle Temple 

 in the city of London may have been seen for the past month 

 rich masses of these flowers, and by their side the Geraniums 

 Bhow to great disadvantage, as possessing neither the richness, 

 the massiveness, nor the grace of the Gloves. Even when out 

 of bloom these beds are attractive by their neatness and the 

 pleasing hue of their foliage. 



I note them at the present time also because it is the season 

 for increasing the stock. Layering is the best and safest mode 

 of increase, but it is well to know that, as hinted by " Phil- 

 ANTHEs," they will strike readily by slips inserted in a shaded 

 place at the present time. Whichever mode of increase is 

 adopted there should be no delay, or blooming plants will not 

 be provided for next year's display. 



In striking the cuttings half an inch of sand or fine grit 

 should be spread over the surface of the ground, so that when 

 inserting them a portion will be carried down with the dibber 

 tmd be settled firmly round the cuttings. These should be 

 taken off with a heel, and have all the lower foliage trimmed 

 away and be put in deeply, or, it very long, in a slanting posi- 

 tion. If C or 8 inches of the slips are beneath the ground all 

 the better. That is the plan which is adopted in cottagers' 

 gardens where for generations the stock has been perpetuated. 



Layering is preferable, but that implies established plants to 

 begin with, and, unfortunately, not in one garden in twenty 

 is this the case. 



The plants grow best in strong soil, and in such soil they are 

 seldom injured by frost. In light soil, and especially where 

 the winter's rains are heavy, the foliage is prone to spot and 

 the plants to decay. In such places the safe plan is to winter 

 them in pots plunged in cold frames, to be planted out in 

 February or very early in March. In every garden of this 

 nature, and where means are provided, the plants are well 

 worthy of this little protective care ; but in most places no 

 protection is needed, and in every garden in town and country 

 they are worthy of a place. As garden plants they are ever 

 attractive, and as cut flowers they are rivalled only by the 

 Rose. My advice to all in town or country is to cultivate 

 these fine old flowers, and commence by layering or inserting 

 Blips at the present time. — A Town Gardener. 



CAULIFLOWERS AND WIREWORM. 

 A SHOBT time ago I planted a bed of Cauliflowers, and 

 another of Cabbages. The weather has been unusually 

 favourable for them. They made rapid progress, and I was 

 consequently anticipating early and fine maturity ; but " the 

 best laid schemes of mice and men gang oft agee," and on 

 looking at my plants one morning I was considerably 

 chagrined to find them drooping — literally dying. I was at 

 a loss to find a reason. Weather and all other accessories 

 had been in their favour, and I had omitted nothing in their 

 treatment, but there before me were the dying plants, and 

 my visions of savoury diimers and pickled Cauliflowers seemed 

 doomed to disappointment. In this dilemma I applied to a 

 friend, who straightway went with me to the garden. He 

 immediately pulled np one of the dying plants, and showed 



me that wireworms were at work. Acting on his instructions 

 I procured some lime, and gave the soil around each plant 

 a drenching with lime water. The effect was soon apparent, 

 for in a few hours both Cabbage and Cauliflowers regained 

 their vitality, and are now apparently as vigorous as ever. 



The facts as to the above case have suggested to me the 

 reflection. Would a similar treatment have a like beneficial 

 effect in the first stages of the new Potato disease ? Happily 

 we are here exempt from it, else would I myself have tried 

 the experiment. Should you think the above worth publica- 

 tion, it may possibly induce some of your numerous readers 

 to give it a trial. If successful, the next consideration would 

 be as to mixing lime with the manure used in planting 

 Potatoes. I know of many farmers who have done so with 

 the best results, but I cannot go so far as to say that it wiU 

 secure immunity or partial immunity from disease. 



The weather in north Lancashire has been very fine this 

 week, temperature 70 ' in the shade. Hot suns daily are fast 

 ripening fruits, grain, &o., and our prospects are exceptionally 

 good. — Beta. 



LORD NAPIER NECTARINE. 

 Among the many fruits raised by Mr. Rivers, one of the 

 best is the Nectarine called Lord Napier. Its great size and 

 beauty and its exquisitely delicious flavour combine to make 

 it a fruit worthy of universal cultivation. 



Fig. 14. — Lord Napier Nectarine. 



For a Nectarine its size is unusual, being from 2i inches to 

 3 inches in diameter. It is round, sometimes inclining to 

 ovate, and depressed at the crown, in the centre of which is 

 a small sharp-pointed nipple, from which issues a well-defined 

 suture, which diminishes as it approaches the base. Skin 

 greenish-yellow, but changing to cream-coloured when fully 

 ripened, mottled and streaked with deep blood red on the side 

 next the sun; when fully exposed the parts are completely 

 covered with a very dark crimson cheek. Flesh yellow and 

 translucent, mottled with white patches, remarkably tender 

 and melting, very juicy, and very richly flavoured ; it separates 

 very freely from the stone, and is perfectly without any stain 

 of colour. 



This delicious fruit was raised by Mr. Rivers from seed of 

 Early Albert Peach, and it is the earliest of all Nectarines, 

 ripening eight or ten days before Hunt's Tawny. 



OLLA PODRIDA— A CONTINENTAL TOUR. 



I AM going to try to disarm criticism by heading this paper 

 " OUa Podrida," a name borrowed from an old Spanish word 

 meaning a dish compounded of different materials, something 

 like our hodge-podge, as I fear I shall be somewhat discursive, 

 and shall be guilty of what is an unpardonable offence in a 

 parson, a deviation from my text. 



After a very cold and backward spring, or, I might almost 

 say, a prolonged winter, we went for a short trip into north 

 Italy, passing through France by way of the Mont Cenia 

 tunnel, and returning through Switzerland via Lucerne and 



