January 31, 1865. ] 



JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



95 



temperature considerably by the heating medium, heai-ing 

 in mind that the higher forms of vegetable life cannot 

 healthily conduct their succesive developments unless the 

 heat they receive is proportioned to the light they enjoy. 



In sunny days it is also important to shut up early in the 

 afternoon, as the heat from the sun with its electrical 

 action will be more valuable than a later Iree circulation of 

 air, which from its very coldness would pre\ ent the sun from 

 exerting its salutary power. In thus shutting np early, say 

 from two to three o'clock, two things must be guai'ded 

 against — fir-st, the not making the house too hot, even with 

 sun heat enclosed, which is all the more particularly to be 

 guarded against if the root is close-glazed; and secondly, so 

 to proportion the action of the fire heat that it would just 

 begin to act as the heat from natural causes had descended 

 to the point of safety. As to shutting up close at all, we 

 merely allude to it as a matter of economy in fuel, which 

 many of us must make a first consideration even now, after 

 all the advantages from railways. But for that, in all close- 

 glazed roofs we would rather have little openings at the 

 ridge of the house continuously night and day. It is amaz- 

 ing how effective even half-inch openings in width are in 

 preventing stagnation of air, or scalding or scorching, when 

 it gets hot. 



We recollect some years ago seeing a fine example of 

 prudent forethought in a friend whose garden we visited in 

 eai-ly spring. It had been a fine sunny day, though the 

 air was cold behind the sun, and the houses where a high 

 temperature had to be maintained, were shut up early. We 

 entered a Cucumber-house early in the afternoon, and were 

 forced at first to run out again, the heat was so exces- 

 sive. Bjoa mistake the valve connecting the Cucumber-house 

 with a powerful boiler had been opened, and the pipes were 

 near enough the boiling-point to prevent the hand touch- 

 ing them. At once the valve was reversed, the paths slushed 

 with water, the beds and the leaves of the plants syringed, 

 the latter on their under side, and small openings m^de for the 

 escape of the heated air at the ridge. The man in charge, 

 finding the mistake, was throwing open bottom and top 

 ventilators with the greatest freedom ; and we have no 

 doubt if that course had been followed even for a short time, 

 the sides of the best leaves would have been found scorched 

 next day, while from the treatment adopted there was little 

 or no damage done. In such a ease it would have been 

 quite time enough to have let the pipes get sensibly warm by 

 four o'clock, and then increased the heat gradually as the 

 sun heat lost its power. 



What has been said above as to Peaches will also refer to 

 Vines and other fruit trees. Early Vines with the bunches 

 in bloom might as well be brushed over in a sunny hour, 

 though for setting purposes nothing is better than drawing 

 a dry hand gently along the bunch, so as to scatter the 

 pollen, and relieve the top of the pistil of its cap-like hood 

 in the shape of the calyx of the flower. 



OBNAMENTAI, GAEDEN. 



We have been considerably hindered with some orna- 

 mental planting, &c., owing to the frost and snow. That is 

 of little consequence in a garden where the men can be 

 easDy changed, but it is often a very serious thing with those 

 who contract for planting. Those engaged in planting for 

 timber and cover got on pretty well except when the snow 

 ■was in the way, as the holes could be made in frosty morn- 

 ings and days, and the planting proceeded with when it was 

 dry and fine; and the gronnd being jnst moist and not wet, 

 the trees or plants were planted in first-rate condition. After 

 vei^y heavy snows or rains it would often be economy to 

 wait a day or two until the ground had become more kindly, 

 as neither a tree nor a Cabbage plant is likely to succeed 

 any better when the mud and water keep spurting about 

 the workman's shoes. 



Mahonia (Berheris) agtri/oKiim.— Allow us here to exm-ess 

 our best thanks to those friends, and especially those" per- 

 sonally unknown to us, who have given us their experience 

 with this useful sub-evergreen. Most of these friends, how- 

 ever, leave the matter as to the plant being untouched with 

 hares and rabbits somewhat in doubt. Perhaps the most 

 important communication received is from a well-known 

 gardener of great experience; but as we have not had time 

 to consult him as to our using his name publicly, we will 



here give part of his communication under the initials of 

 "J. M." Our friend says :• — 



" About six years ago we commenced planting rather ex- 

 tensively for under-cover, and amongst other things used 

 was a quantity of Mahonia aquifolium, chiefly planted at 

 short intervals by the sides of the rides, the intention being 

 to secure both utility and ornament. Contrary, however, 

 to my expectation, they have been almost totaUy destroyed, 

 and I noticed to-day, that where a single plant was to be 

 found, the leaves were much nibbled, and left on the gronnd ; 

 but, as in your case, I consider the plants were rather small 

 for thus planting in woods where rabbits abound. In 

 another part of this estate, we planted three years ago a 

 few large plants, all of which have done weD, although there 

 are plenty of rabbits to be found near them. My opinion is, 

 that when Mahonias are to be planted for cover, plants of 

 considerable size and strength should be used ; for then 

 although rabbits, &c., might nibble the outside leaves, they 

 would not be so likely to cut the plants totally down. Of 

 course, such larger plants would be higher in price, but then 

 a less number would be required, and I believe the ultimate 

 result would be more satisfactory. If this plan of larger 

 plants is not adopted the rabbits, &c., should be kept down 

 on the fresh-planted piece until the plants are established. 

 After that the rabbits will soon become numerous enough, 

 as soon as the plants are established. At any rate here, 

 where rabbits, &e., are so numerous, I find it almost useless 

 to plant any underwood when the plants are small and 

 young. Dressing large C[uantities of such plants with any 

 sort of mixture, is not only a very tedious work, but one 

 which is seldom followed with sufficiently satisfactory 

 results." 



We have no doubt there is much in what our friend says, 

 as to the size and strength of the plants ; but then, on the 

 other hand, young, stubby plants, if left alone, are apt to 

 make fresh growth better than older stunted plants. 



Flower Seeds, Vegetable Seeds, c^'c— Took the opportunity 

 of a snowy day, to get a few of these properly cleaned and 

 put away ready for use. Unless labour is very abundant, 

 or where there is a particular pleasure in attending to aU 

 these minutise, as in the case of amateurs, there is little or 

 no advantage in doing much of this sort of work in private 

 gardens, as by the division of labour the regular seed growers 

 and merchants can do it more economically and satisfa'c- 

 torily. Amongst the wonders of the age, is the price at 

 which our leading seedsmen send out their seeds, so nicely 

 done up, and the specific practical directions accompanying 

 each packet, or in the catalogue which will generally accom- 

 pany the order. " Live and let live," is not only phOan- 

 thropic and benevolent, but it insures true thorough-paced 

 economy. The saving of seeds should in general be chiefly 

 confined to scarce and rare articles, or to superior varie- 

 ties of some common plants, and for the pleasure of dis- 

 tributing them to those whose circumstances will not enable 

 them to purchase, even at the cheapest rates. The saving 

 of such seeds amongst cottagers too, leads to habits of care- 

 fulness and industry — great desirables among the children, 

 altogether independent of the money-value of the seeds. 

 " Can do is easily carried about." So it is, and a "Jack of all 

 trades " is no doubc often a very clever fellow, a man who 

 would take a first place as an emigrant in the back woods, 

 and yet who may find it difficult to eai-n his bread in this 

 land of competition and division of labour. Even the most 

 pleasant and agreeable hobby and pursuit may be ridden 

 too hard to be judged by the stem maxims of economy. We 

 have frequently known fu-st-rate mechanics, we might almost 

 say artists, so fine and cunning was their workmanship, and 

 so handsomely paid were they for their labour, who were so 

 fond of their large gardens, that they would be doing some- 

 thing in them in the early morn and in the dewy eve, and 

 thus securing the means for personal health and the gra- 

 tification of their tastes, as well as imparting advantage 

 every way to their family. All right and proper, but was it 

 equally right and proper for such men, often at much loss ta 

 their employers, to take several days in the busy season to 

 do the rough of the gardening work themselves, when even 

 with all their energy they could not manage to do quite as 

 much as the jobbing gardener, who would have been well 

 pleased with half of the money which the mechanic would 

 have earned at his usual avocation ? In such oases it is not 



