180 



JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTIJRB AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Eebrnary 14, 1865. 



WHITE Zl^C PAI^'T. 



I AM pleased to be able to inform your correspondent, 

 "J. K.," No. 201, page 91, that tliree years ago I was re- 

 commended to use zinc wliitc in lieu of white lead paint. I 

 did so on some " frame work," and as I had not quite enough 

 to complete the job, I finished with white lead. I have just 

 examined each, side by side, and did I now use white paint, 

 I should for the future continue to use white zinc; it is hard 

 and smooth though dry-1. 'Uing, whereas (as I have many 

 times observed), all the oil appears dried out ot ihe white 

 lead, leaving a dry coat of lime-like substance that with 

 little trouble will rub or \vash off. This led me to ask the 

 cause of a friend, an experienced house painter, and ask for 

 a remedy. He replied, -'Use (if it must be white), zinc 

 white ; but the most durable, and I think the best, colours of 

 all other paints for out-door buildings, are stone colours." 



I fully agree with him, having by chance, thinking the 

 colour would best harmonise with its suri'oundings, bad a 

 little greenhouse painted with a tolerably light stone colour 

 foui- years ago, and it is, though equally exposed, in a much 

 better state of preservation than that where zinc white was 

 used three years since, the shiny appearance given by the 

 oil remaining to a much greater extent than in any other 

 paint I have ever noticed out of doors ; therefore, I recom- 

 mend stone-coloured paints only, and biennial painting. 

 One good coat of paint carefully laid on will then in most 

 instances be sufficient to keep horticultural buildings in 

 first-rate condition and appearance; and then, that " J. K." 

 would find the annoyance of putty more imaginary than 

 real, is the conviction of — R. H. Potntee, Taunton. 



AZALEA SHOOTS AJS'D LEA'^'ES TUENED 

 BBOW]S\ 



TViLL you please give me your opinion of the enclosed 

 pieces of Azaleas ? My employer imported a large collection 

 about founteen months ago. They all did well last season, 

 made good wood, and set well with bloom-buds. X anticipated 

 a good show next spring, but my hopes are blighted. Soon 

 after they were put into their winter quarters a few of them 

 began to turn brown at the points of the leaves, and in 

 time the whole leaf was brown. The brownness then got 

 into the bud, and next into the branch, until the whole 

 head of the plant was gone. I am puzzled to find the head 

 dead, and the roots and stock in good health. If they 

 began to go at the roots first I might then think it was 

 some mismanagement; but I do not think it is that, as it 

 is a general cry about here that most gardeners have their 

 Azaleas more or less gone, or going. A friend of mine has 

 lost a dozen specimen plants, worth £2 each, in the same 

 way as that in which mine are going. — J. M., Edgbaston. 



[We cannot make out the cause of this decay. We thought 

 we noticed a trace of thrips, but could not bo quite sure. 

 Of course they have not been frosted ? A similar case was 

 brought under our notice last season; but in that case there 

 was strong suspicion that they hatl been maliciously syringed 

 ■with a saline or acid solution. We advised, however, the 

 matter to be allowed to rest, as it would have been difficult 

 to establish the point. We hope you have no suspicions 

 pointing that way.] 



GARDENEES' DWELLINGS AXD CLOTHING. 



ToUB worthy contributor Jlr. Fish, I was glad to observe, 

 has given prominence to tlie two very important matters of 

 gardeners' dwellings and the clothing of men who are em- 

 ployed in forcing-Iiouses, and consequently exposed to violent 

 and sudden variations of temperature. 



All who have a spark of humanity about them must admit 

 that these are subjects of great importance, involving as 

 they do the health and comfort, aye, and morality too, of a 

 class who administer so largely to the most rational enjoy- 

 ment and pleasure of their enij.loycra, and whose life, before 

 they are capable of filling a bead gardener's situation, is 

 one att<jndcd with a, verj- considerable amount of privation. 

 It must, therefore, surely bt- admitted that these are sub- 

 jects well worthy of being brought under consideration in 

 the pages of such a periodical as The Jouknal Of Hobti- 



CULTUBB. 



I The improvement of the dwellings of agricultural labourei-s 

 has for some time been prominently agitated in agricultural 

 ! literature with good results ; and why should not the im- 

 I provement of gardeners' dwellings be similarly dealt with 

 j in the gardening press ? It certainly cannot be said that 

 I there is no necessity for improvement in the houses which 

 are inhabited by both head and under gardeners. True, as 

 Mr. Fish observes, there is improvement going on, and 

 I some few gardeners, such as Mr. Kobson, occupy houses 

 I which may be considered models for even first-class esta- 

 : blishments, being roomy, healthily situated, worthy of the 

 '■ intelligence and persevering energy of those by whom they 

 j are inhabited, and creditable to the employers and their 

 ' estates. But this is by no means the rule, for it is well 

 I known that too many, both head and under gardeners, 

 [ still occupy an apartment in which my lord and the squire 

 I would not trust their hunters or retrievers for ii month, and 

 I in which, in fact, these animals would not exist in health. 

 I Too often are gardeners to be found liuddled up into these 

 north lean-to's, referred to by Mr. Fish, into the windows 

 I and doors of which the health and life-giving rays of the 

 ' sun can never enter. Most especially is this applicable to 

 the young gardeners of the establishment ; they are huddled 

 i into some out-of-sight corner with a north aspect, and in 

 [ numbers of eases have only one apartment in which to 

 ' cook, live, and sleep, without the comfort-giving hand of 

 a woman either to cook or clean for them. How, then, can 

 it be otherwise than, as !Mr. Fish instances, that the seeds 

 of disease are sown and fostered in such places of abode ? 

 There they are under the necessity, after a hard day's toil, 

 of inhaling over and over again the damp stagnant air of a 

 small apartment with a chilly north aspect, which is rendered 

 more poisonous still by being turned into the abode of a 

 human being. Ventilation and aspect, which are so duly 

 and carefully studied and provided for m the case of plants, 

 are entii'ely overlooked in the housing of the human machines 

 that are required to possess the intelligence and unwearied 

 application which are necessary for the cultivation of plants. 

 This picture is a dark one, but not one shade beyond the 

 truth. I could cite numberless instances as proofs of this. 

 Doubtless great improvement could be brought about by head 

 gardeners, both in their own and in the dwellings of those 

 under them, vere they to earnestly bring the matter under 

 the consideration of theii- employers. I have no idea of heap- 

 ing all the blame and responsibility on the employer. Surely 

 there are, it is to be hoped, not many among the nobility 

 and gentry who are so callous to the well-being and comfort 

 of servants who suit them as not to take some steps to- 

 wards at least mitigating the evils under consideration; and 

 I know for a fact that many gardeners continue, and make 

 up their mind to experience, all the ills entailed upon them 

 and their offspring by small and unhealthy apartments, 

 merely because tliey do not like to incur obligations or ex- 

 pense on their account. I submit that there is no obliga- 

 tion in the matter, and that a gardener who suits his 

 employer has at least a moral right to be housed in such a 

 manner that the lives of himself and family may not be 

 placed in jeopardy. Such delicacy is a false delicacy, and 

 the moral sense of that employer must be low indeed who 

 wiU not listen to the representations of his servants in such 

 a case, and take steps accordingly. 



Speaking of gardeners' families I cannot refrain from 

 refering to those who advertise their little ones as incum- 

 brances. What a libel upon the best feelings of our nature ! 

 Surely the term has been originally coined in the shiivelled 

 heart of some old bachelor. 



I agree fully with Mr. Fish as to the rash folly of young 

 men employed in the hothouses needlessly exposing them- 

 selves suddenly . with their coats off and sleeves tucked up, 

 to chilling winds, while they are perspiring at every pore. 

 Tlie strong may, and often do, brave such cruel and foolish 

 treatment of themselves for years, but if they like to have 

 grey locks they will wish they had acted otherwise, or the 

 experience of their fathers is not woith much. The infrac- 

 tion of the laws of health in so violent a manner will sooner 

 or later be followed by punishment and suffering, as surely 

 as shadow follows substance. 



I know of few employments which wanunt more care in 

 clotliing than that of a young man who has the care of hot- 

 houses by night and by day, and in saying this I speak from 



