

340 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



r»uu**r «. luat?, tiic plains sliould bts |iiac«a In » puriot the . 



greenhouse where the/ can be guarded from cold 

 drying curreote, keeping tlie atmosphere moist by 

 frequently sprinkling every available surface about them 

 and shutting up rather early in the afternoon. Give 

 a*r freely, however, on mild days, for keeping too warm 

 would cause the plants to break scantily, and this must 

 he avoided if well furnished specimens are to be obtained. 

 Look well to the stock of plants for summer and autumn 

 decoration, and do not allow them to sustain any check 

 for the want of pot room or careless watering, from 

 which under-potted plants often suffer at this season. 

 The Croweas are tirst-rate subjects for this purpose — 

 lading longer in beauty than almost any other hard- 

 wooded plant which we possess, and are deserving of 

 being more generally grown than they are. Fuchsias 

 for late blooming must not be allowed to become pot- 

 i ound, as any cheek at this season would throw them 

 into bloom ; and they should be afforded a rather cool, 

 moist, aba iy situation. Stove. — The plants here will now 

 be growing very freely, and will require frequent attention 

 in the way of stopping, training, &c, and every effort 

 should be used to properly direct the growth, for time 

 lost now will not be easily made up. Do not let anything 

 suffer for the want of pot room, and see that insects are 

 k t thoroughly under. Also attend to maintaining 

 perfect cleanliness about: the house generally, washing 

 pots, floors, &c, as often as may be necessary to secure 

 x fi b clean appearance, and this will greatly assist in 

 preventing the spread of insects, &c. Twiners, unless 

 frequently looked to at this season, soon get so entwined 

 that it is almost impossible without considerable loss of 

 time and risk of injuring the tender point?, &c, to disen- 

 tangle them, but many of this class of plants bloom much 

 >re freely when their shoots are allowed to ramble ia 

 a somewhat natural manner until the blooms are fairly 

 set, and this should be attended to in the case of such 

 tliiogs as Echite?, Stephanotis, &c, allowing them 

 considerable liberty, without letting the shoots entwine 

 a* out everything within their reach. Allamandas 

 should never be tied into form until they are fairly 

 set for blooming, for we have seen large healthy masses 

 *>f these, which, instead of being covered with flower, 

 only produced a few stray blooms in course of the 

 Benson, and from no other apparent cause than the 

 thoot* having been always kept closely tied in, and 

 tw'sted about the trellis. Have a supply of weak clear 

 manure-water at hand, and give a liberal allowance of 

 this to Clerodendrons and other fine foliaged free 

 blooming plmts, but do not apply it where there is any 

 chance of its inducing a gross habit at the expense of 

 bloom. Give air freely on mild bright days, but do not 

 admit cold dry east winds too freely, also expose the 

 plants to^ sunshine as freely as may be found consistent 

 *ith maintaining a properly moist atmosphere. Shut 

 «p early on the afternoons of bright days in order to 

 economise fire heat as much as possible, giving the 

 plants a gentle syringing and sprinkling every 

 av ■ lable surface so as to saturate the atmosphere with 

 moisture. Orchids. — Those in free growth should be 

 n!f>rded a thoroughly moist atmosphere, giving them 

 a good steaming every bright afternoon by shutting up 

 ♦ rly, syringing the plants lightly over-head, and 

 spi inkling the passages, walls, and everv available 



surface. 



allowed to get upon ttie Vines is very difficult to eradi- j leaves, or any other materials^wh^h^ 



cate, and isinost destructive to the foliage. Azaleas are 

 very subject to this pest, and if these are grown under 

 the Vines they must be closely watched, and kept clean 

 at any expense. And see that the Vines in the late 

 house are tied up in their places before the shoots get 

 too far advanced, as there is considerable danger of 

 breaking these off when they are allowed to get too Ion 

 before the rods are tied up. Look sharply after re 

 spider, and use every means to keep clear of this pest. 

 Fig-.— Attend to stopping and thinning the shoots, 

 and aim at securing short-jointed strong growth, by ex- 

 posing the young wood to all the light possible. This 

 will, of course, necessitate keeping the trees rather 

 thin, but it is useless hoping for a crop of good fruit 

 from trees that are crowded with wood. Keep the 

 atmosphere moist, and give the foliage a good washing 

 with the syringe after shutting up the house in the 

 afternoon, to prevent red spider, and also see that the 

 roots are kept properly moist. Where the fruit is 

 ripening, syringing must, of course, be dispensed with, 

 and the atmosphere kept drier, therefore be careful to 

 have the foliage perfectly clear of insects up to the time 

 the fruit begins to ripen. Melons. — Maintain a rather 

 close, moist, warm temperature to plants recently 

 planted out until they get into full growth, but avoid 

 inducing a gross habit of growth by too much moisture 

 and warmth after the roots fairly get hold of the soil, 

 for it is generally somewhat difficult to secure a crop 

 from wood of this sort. Give air as freely as the state 

 of the weather will admit, in order to secure firm short- 

 jointed wood, and where the crop is setting, as the 

 young fruit is very apt to damp off unless the atmo- 

 sphere is kept moderately dry. Endeavour to secure 

 a steady bottom-heat of about 80° or 85° for plants in 

 all stages, and also to keep the soil in a proper state 

 as to moisture ; avoid having to water while the crop 

 is setting, by well soaking the soil before the principal 

 blossoms begin to expand. Keep a careful look out 

 for insects, and use every precaution to prevent these 

 getting established upon the foliage, for there is hardly 

 any chance of a crop of fruit unless the foliage can be 

 preserved in health. 



FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES. 



So lonn as drying winds continue recently trans- 

 planted shrubs and trees must be carefully attended to 

 with water. It is frequently the case, however, on 

 heavy badly drained soils, that water is given to such 

 things to such an extent as to sour the soil and render 

 it uncongenial to the young rootlets and the after growth 

 of the plants, and this should be avoided. The soil 

 should be kept constantly moist, but not over saturated, 

 mulching the surface with the mowings of the lawn to 

 prevent too rapid evaporation, and large plants which 

 appear to be suffering should be sprinkled overhead 

 with the engine on the evenings of fine days, which will 

 be of vastly more service in repairing the loss sustained 

 by evaporation than excessive watering at the root 

 while there is a deficiency of active rootlets. If the 

 planting of any tender Roses still remains to be done 

 this should be seen to immediately, taking care 

 to have the soil made deep and very rich, 

 which is the great point towards obtaining a fine 

 _ display of blooms in autumn. Keep a sharp look 



Examine the plants individually frequently, out for the grub, and do not allow this pest to destroy 

 watering such as require it, and immersing those in \ the plants ; and if green-fly makes its appearance on 

 baskets or on blocks in tepid water, when they cannot the young shoots syringe the affected plants lightly with 

 conveniently be kept sufficiently moist by the syringe, a mixture of tobacco- water and soap-suds, and give the 

 Take care however not to let water lodge too long in the plants a good washing with the engine next morning. 

 axiU of the young tender leaves, as this would probably See that shrubbery borders, &c, are cleared of weeds, 

 induce decay. Look sharply after insects of all kinds, \ decayed leaves, &c, and rendered neat while the 

 and keep these under at any expense of time and j weather is so favourable for such work. The weather 

 at ention. Give air rather freely when the weather is is still anything but tempting for commencing bedding 

 favourable, but carefully avoid cold drying currents. ' out, for the wind is northerly, and a keen frost is a likely 

 rianto in bloom should either be removed to a colder enough occurrence any night. But as the season is so 

 and dryer house, or if they must be kept in the Orchid- | far advanced it is to be hoped that we may experience 



slowly, and afford a gentle heat to art* • 

 ing the plants; and get the plants pwpix 

 planting out by exposing them rather freel^/rT 

 and air on every favourable opportunity a? j* ! 

 putting in succession crops of Peas, Beans t2£ 

 Spinach, &c, and secure an unceafcing supply of r* 

 and other salads by sowing frequently. Whe ^** Bc * 



' » r ce, Lettuce sh, 8 *" 111 ' 

 they are to stand, ^ fc 



can be spared, and labour is scarce, Lettuce fchrSTu 

 sown at this season where thev are to ntn^a .. . * 



PK 



lines about a foot apart, and thinning out 'the 

 when strong enough, to proper distances in the' 

 This is some saving of labour, and avoids checkbTlL 

 plants by removal. Do not allow Cauliflower ^2^* 

 suffer through dryness at the root, and an -* 



soaking of manure water will be useful to these mt 

 Cabbage also. Use the hoe among growing cram Zi 

 get weeds destroyed wherever they make tbeir 

 pearance. Take advantage of the dry state of thetroS 

 to get manure wheeled upon quarters where itirS 

 soon be wanted, and see that there is a good sand 

 being prepared for the Celery crop ; for witbSm 

 plenty of old rich manure large crisp Celery cm 

 hardly be obtained. Directly the weather becone* 

 more favourable get the spring-raised Cauliflower! mk 

 Lettuce planted out, if not yet done, selecting (or 

 them a bheltered situation and light rich goi!. A fa 

 branches of evergreens stuck amongst such th?n»i l % r 



planting, so as to screen them from the sun, are iota 

 protection, and prevent their being dried up until the 

 roots get hold of the ground. 



STATE OF THE WEATHER AT CHISWlCK, NEAR L03O0*. 

 For the week endiue May 1"» 1855, a* observed at the Uorticultani 



May. 



Friday 11 

 Sntur. 1*2 

 Sunday 13 

 Mon.. 14 

 Tues. IS 

 Wed. lft 



Thura. 17 



A ¥» *» — *» f » > 



Si 



BaAOMBTB*. 



3 * 







o< 







4 



i 



Max. 



Min. 



24 



29.624 



29.366 



25 



29331 



29.7*0 



46 



S9.fi IS 



29.106 



27 



29.678 



29.615 



•:s 



29372 



29.551 



ST 



29.832 



29.696 



1 



29.990 



29.901 



Tbmpbraturi. 



Ol itm Air. 



OttbeKart 





Wal 



?<»73.5 2Q.fi! fi 



May 



II — Fine; cloudy; thunder storm in the nlternoon; cltarttijrir 

 12— Fine ; low white clouds, with clear interrali; c)antjuitm, 



clear; frosty. 

 13— Overcast ; rain ; boisterous, wit h heavy rain at rnihl 

 14— Unsettled cloudy aky ; overcast ; cloudy ; linifunalj 

 15— Cloudy ; overcast and cold. 

 16 -Cloudy aud cold ; overcast ; clear ; slight frott. 

 - 17— Fine; very fine; thunderclouds; alight shower ; cujiit 



Mean temperature of the week 9 dejr. below the average. 



RECORD OF THE WEATHER AT CH1SWKX 

 Darin* the laat 29 years, for the ensuing week, ending May tt, 1» 



PrerailiH **■* 



May. 



Ifo.of 

 Years in 

 which it 

 Rained. 



Greatest 



of Rain. 



Sunday 20 



Won. 21 



Tues. 22 



II ed. 23 



Thu. 24 



Frid. 26 



8*nir Vfi 



Unantitj ^jj. - *'*s 



is - 



til 



i fi 3 1 3 ■ - 



\ 



I 



4 I 4 l 



i 



The 

 134 



i US VI < * 



i 1» S * » 



riod occurred os tai m 



he highest temperature during the above period ^»™. 

 i— theroi. S9 deg. ; and the lowest on the iith, LSJy-t&em.. 



.9 de- 



Notices to Correspondents. 



Books- L T F. The new edition of the " Theory of Horwwn 

 is now ready, as you will see by an advertisement in 

 column + _..__' , . ' .. v ..art** 



*- 



a greet 



prove a first-rate variety, considering the quarter rrv 



derived. —J B. Your Melons are affected w^ ^ rf 



\ 

 \ 

 I 



odoratum and Saccolabium Blumei has coiue unaer ^ ^ 



it was 

 ease to 

 trouble 

 soil too light? 



which you allude, which will give you »p 

 , with little hope of combating ^ succe^fuliy. 



If so, try what effect a 



leyeer 



stiffer" loam will **T 



J W. The" affection of which you send specimen* oe A 



house, place them together at the coolest end in order to 

 j .bug their beaury, and they should be allowed to 

 remain here until their young shoots begin to make their 

 a|»[>earance. 



FORCING DEPAUTMENT. 



I'iNMRiES. — Plants swelling their fruit should be 



divested of all suckers, except as many as may be wanted 



for stock, directly they make their appearance. This 



* I throw more of the energies of the plant into the 



fruit, and will also secure stronger suckers than if too 



niany were left. Our more valuable sorts of Pines are 



nor, however, very apt to produce any excess of suckers, 



ut i-ome varieties of Queen still in cultivation produce 



lo many that the fruit never attains any size unless the 



suckers are thinned early. Guard against any decline 



of the bottom heat, and where this is obtained from 



fermenting materials, a little fresh tan should be added 



before the heat gets too low ; aud it will be much safer 



to add a few inches occasionally as it may be wanted 



than to follow the old practice of renewing the bed only 



mm or twice in the year. See to keeping the soil 



about the roots, where the plants are in pots or planted 



in the open bed m a nice healthy state as to moisture, 



and give manure ; w a ter regularly to fruiters and stock in 



free growth. Vi»eiues..-Go over the Vines in sue- 



! 



a favourable change, and be proceeding with the plant- 

 ing out of all properly prepared stock under favourable 

 auspices before the appearance of next Calendar. 

 Meantime we would recommend keeping the plants 

 under shelter until the weather becomes warmer, 

 giving them every attention to ^watering, &c, so as to 

 prevent their sustaining any serious check ; for planting 

 out the general order of bedding plants in the present 

 state of the weather would be to run a considerable risk, 

 and this without any decided advantage in prospect, for 

 in the present state of the weather no amount of atten- 

 tion will induce such things to make any progress. 



HAKDY FRUIT and KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Look keenly after insects on Peach and Nectarine 

 trees, and destroy them immediately they are perceived, 

 so as to afford the young shoots a fair chance of making 

 healthy growth early in the season, and depend upon it 

 that there is little chance of getting the wood well 

 ripened in autumn, save in very favourable localities, 

 unless this is attended to. Also look after the Goose- 

 berry caterpillar, and do not allow the foliage to be 

 injured before adopting means to eradicate it. Perhaps 

 the readiest way of destroying this pest is to give the 

 trees a good washing with a powerful engine, directing 

 the water against the under sides of the leaves as much 

 as possible, 



before. The condition of the tissues is very jran . a .. T — . 

 be Ulustrnted in the course of our series o£ P'.f.. ,41 ya * 

 table Pathology." Unfortunately we »« u "*™!£ye it«* 

 cause, and consequently to suggest any p™ 



EvEMEf eks : J C. Berberis aquifolium, G*<£ b ^ 



H v pericum calycinum, Vinca major, ^« l ""r~ duia ». 

 s/irfn ,nrf anv nf tha hardier Andromeda heou" 



f-Mrinn hni,^ n <■,.„..„ .1 " ". " "*"■" *" — v -|««» r»««»"*, which will wash off the caterpillars, and 



thTv shade !ViJ e f y ^r'" 8 Uteral9 ' &c - Mot * the >' are then «»«* dwtroyed on the ground by means 

 I _ .,* °* mt ? rferc **■ the principal foliage, of an iron rake. The little red 



,,-, , . . — — principal loiiace 



>V iiere plants must be prown under the Vines the latter 

 4 h,uld be kept sumc-etuly thin to allow of a moderate 

 share of light reaching the plants, and neither laterals 

 nor any useless wood should be allowed to obstruct the 

 lieur. See that none of the plants are iufewted with red 

 •p ier or black tbrips, especially the latter, which if 



once 





dgrub which is so destruc- 

 tive about some places to the young shoots of the Rasp- 

 berries is more difficult to eradicate, as we know no 

 means of destroying this pest save by searching care- 

 fully for it, catching and killing it, and this is tedious 

 work at this busy season. Get trenches prepared 

 for Cucumbers, aud filled with stable manure and 



hum, ua»"" "T^,* 

 • f Cotoneis«f™J^e. 



Savin, and any" of the hardier Andromedas, Uda^ 

 dendrons. The hybrids of the latter wilT in*™ 

 any amount of cold. Plant theni in S^™* 1 ^,, th , *_ 



Insects: JR. Your Pear tree is badly t»w fj^ «*• 

 scale Coccus Conchiformis. I' . tl ?e t f« d 'Lji or W*!^ 

 branches should be scrubbed with a hardnau ^ 

 or scraped with the nail. Soft soap and tobacc 

 applied when the young active mts *PP™V .. j t0 r*^ 



Names of Plants : We have been «> ^"^fftrt *• 

 decline naming heaps of dried or otbrt ■£*** ^ 

 to request our correspondents to recol ect tn . ^m 



or couH have undertaken an unll f r 1 k t f m0 rtes P eci» 1I f*^ 

 Young gardeners, to whom these remarks m fof _ 

 should bear in mind that, before app y»"8 {o% vf"£* 

 they should exhaust their other means ^ ^ ttf^J 

 We cannot save them the rouble of ex » m ^ *» 

 for themselves ; nor would it be des«* to w m Dg ly. » *1 % 

 can do is to help tbem-and tha ^"^^r pl»f S* 

 requested that, in future not mow » «*" osia .~TDj^. 

 se£t us at one time.-* B. Tecoma wpe^ ,££- 



p icta.- W C XT. Veratrum ?'8™" , 'l]' «£- &£* *J> 

 i J B. Eriobotrya japomca, the Lo q d infonB ^ 

 recollect the plant, but will examine - 



week.- J" A. Lislia V^f^t^,. We sb° uId J£ff * * 

 Thatching : A Conitan /"^f^ ' t ed tb*,P««rf» 

 that any thatcher would have ^ ,u. S^ tbe H***^* 

 underlayer of straw or reeds over «n ^ brtlB , <**r 



fastened down. If your t^JT^**. . ,*■*«■» 



do this we are afraid your case « hop ^ ,t V~" 

 Twin Conifees : P S B. We will exam ^ 



mention them next week. e xcre»re nC ^jr J 



Vine Leaves: FP. The emair &™*\ ni inn**"* 



ore induced by a damp atmosphere » ■ M ^a»* > 



They do no harm-t . H _ w »r of 1*~?zL** „ 



Misc.? J A. We know of no better ^po^^JpV* 

 of the room than by employing open^ bwB w* „*£ 

 As usual, many communi^o"* tb? „*««*£ rf t»* 



*..• 



can be made. We must 4 £° ^a of ff 



numerous correspondents, the 

 contributionBiistiUdeUyea. 



