200 



JOURNAX, OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ September 2, 1879. 



March or April. It is bfst to propagats a liesh stock every 

 year. There ia a great variety amougst them, but I only noted 

 a few of the btet and most distinct flowers : — De CandoUe , 

 purple, white throat ; De SauEfcure, blight red, white throat; 

 Grand St. Bernard, bright purple, white throat ; Grand Patriot, 

 purplish crimeon. white throat, beautifully pencilled with 

 purple ; Drapeau Nationale, bright red, white throat, pencilled 

 red; Union, rose, white throat, pencilled purple; Concord, 

 reddish purple, the throat of the same colour, darkpcncillings ; 

 Michel Buchner, splendid flower with crimson purple throat, 

 beautifully pencilled ; W. E. Gumbletou, large flowers, light 

 purple, white throat ; Stanstcad Rival, scarlet, white throat ; 

 Valerie, crimson, white throat. 



In conelufion, it may be stated that the Pentstemon is better 

 adapted than the Phlox for cutting to till large vases or other 

 decorative purposes, as the plants last longer in beauty ; the 

 Phlox fades very soon after the spikes are cut, so that the 

 peculiar beauty of the flower is best admired on the growing 

 plant. — J. Douglas. 



STRUCTUEES FOR FORCING AND PROTECTION. 



No. 1. 



The inquiries of many correspondenis will be answered, and 

 those of others anticipated, by the submitting of a few of the 

 various means which are adopted for the protection of plants 

 against the inclemency of the weather. The means submitted 

 are those which have proved their utility by actual practice, 

 and are adapted for different plants and ciroamstances. 



As it occasionally, or it might bo said commonly, happens 

 that what is required is not an expensive and elegant con- 

 struction, but something plain, inexpensive, and effectual — it 

 may even be of lude material, and of primitive appearance, 

 Buch that may occupy a place in the back kitchen, the frame 

 ground of tbo garden, that we first draw attention to the 

 simplest of all protective aids, by going literally to the root of 

 the matter — i e., the earth. 



These earth pits were found of great value by the late Mr. 

 B. Fish. 

 Fig. 31 is a simple excavation where the earth is hanked 



Fig. 31. 



highest at (he north side, afi'ording a tharp slope to the cover- 

 ing to carry off the rain. 

 Fig. 32 is of the same nature but with sloped sides. The em- 



Fig. 32. 



bankments if surfaced with asphalt will exclude the wet, and 

 the pit will last for many years. 



Fig. 33 is a turf pit above the ground level, and dryness ia 

 consequently better secured. 



F g. 33. 



The pits rnay be .5 fett wide and of aoy convenient depth, say 

 2,J feet at th(» bick and 15 inches in front. The pits, especially 

 those having vertical sides, should have upright posts driven 

 in at intervals, and be lined with rough boards with cross 

 pieces wedged in to keep the sides from pressing inwards. 

 They may ba covered witla glass, shutters, straw hurdles, or 

 tarpaulin to exclude wet or frost, of which neither will find 



entrance except by the top. Such pits are useful for wintering 

 Endive, Lettuces, Cauliflowers, Calceolaria, and Gazania 

 cuttings. Lobelias, Pentstemons, Pansies, ap, indeed, all plants 

 which are not really tender, but which still require a measure of 

 protection. They are admirable for Tea and choice and tender 

 Roses, also forplunging in them hardy Azaleas, Rhododendrons, 

 Deutzias, &c., which require protection at the root, which saves 

 both pots and plants. In the spiing they are capital aids to an 

 early crop of Potatoes, also for Tomatoes, Vegetable Marrows, 

 and Cucumbers in summer. They are always ready for seed- 

 sowing, cutting-striking, and plant-nursing ; indeed they are 

 rough and ready aids to any gardener. 



A more perfected earth pit is devised by Mr. Abbey. It ia 

 thoroughly substantial, neat, and undoubtedly useful. 



For this pit a dry site should be selected, and it should be 

 well drained. The walls are built hollow on a broad foun- 

 dation of asphalt. A well-made frame or sill with lights 

 (double glazed) are affixed, the whole to be finished in a 

 workmanlike manner, and spouted to carry off the water. This 

 is unquestionably a first-rate and invaluable earth-bound 

 structure, of which Mr. Abbey says — " We have in this pit a 

 winter mean temperature of 38°, or we have that temperature 

 in the earth, and may have it in the pit providing suflicient 

 covering be given to retain it. Though sunk in the ground the 

 pit will be fairly dry, for the walls a a will keep damp from 



Fig. 84. 



the inner walls b h, and damp cannot rise up them on account 

 of the lower courses being laid in asphalt. Any water accumu- 

 lating in the area or cavity c c will descend to the bottom,, 

 and pass, as regards the back, into the drainage through the 

 pigeon-holes, whilst the front will take the water from the 

 drainage, and that in the front cavity should communicate 

 vrith a drain. Any damp rising in the cavities is to be dissi- 

 pated by removing the weod plugs that close the pipes d d; 

 which will cause a change of air in the pit at any time, and 

 that may be effected without opening the lights in dull damp 

 weather when the heat of the pit is deficient. Much may be 

 done in the way of securing more heat by keeping the lights 

 closed in sunny days and ventUating through the pipes d d ; 

 and another use of the pipe ventilators is, when the external 

 air is warmer than 38 they may be opened for a few hours in 

 the middle of the day, and a change of air thus given the 

 plants as well as the temperature increased, and this withonS 

 removing the covering. The pipes all have wood plugs, kept 

 close when the atmosphere is below 38', and open when above 

 that temperature, day and night. Without protection 10" oJ 

 frost will be kept out when not of longer continuance than an 

 evening or a night, and with a O-inch covering of dry straw or 

 litter of any kind, which must extend over the pit as far as the 

 pipes d d, the pit is proof against any frost occurring in our 

 climate ; but a 0-inch covering will in most cases be sufficient." 

 The next, which is a cheaply-erected, substantial, and very 

 useful protector, is built above the ground level. 



Fig. 85. 



This pit, both for protecting plants in winter and growing 

 them in summer, is an important adjunct to any garden. The 

 ground should be sloped up the front wall and tarred to cany 

 off the wet. 



The next is a sunken pit and adapted for the protection of tali 



