March U, 18U. ] 



JOUENAli OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



215 



WOEK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



To husband the amount of water that falls to the earth, 

 and prevent the soil from retaining more than is required 

 by the plants cultivated, is of great importance in garden- 

 ing. This is done by trenching the sound land, trenching 

 and draining tenacious soUs, and stirring the surface of 

 both as often as it becomes hardened. This continued hoeing 

 and pulverising the earth among plants has been traced 

 to Jethio Tull ; but Tull was no more its author than the 

 writer of this, for he states that he met with these practices 

 amongst cultivators in foreign parts. Arlicho'kes (Globe), pre- 

 pare a plantation if necessary, by deep trenching and manur- 

 ing, for if encouraged in this way they will by judicious thin- 

 ning remain much longer in bearing. Continue the general 

 sowing of main crops according to the state of the soil and 

 the locality. Make small sowings of Borecole, Brussels 

 Sprouts, and Green Savoy ; also, full crops of Salsafy, Scor- 

 zonera. Leeks, and Sea-kale. Advancing crops of Peas and 

 Beans should have more earth drawn to them, and some 

 branches of spruce fir or other material should be stuck in 

 on the windward side of the Peas. Herb-leds, look over 

 and prick them up, add fi-esh soil where necessary. Now 

 is also a good time to divide the roots and make fresh plan- 

 tations. Dress Mint and Tarragon-beds with light decom- 

 posed manure. Potatoes, plant the main crops. Spinach, 

 Early Horn Carrot, and Stone Turnip should be sown at 

 once on a warm rich border. Jilnibarh, protect the crowns 

 by straw placed over them. Sea-kale in the open ground 

 should be earthed-up to blanch. When the soil is sandy 

 and light it may servo, but should be broken fine before 

 placing it over the crowns, that the heads may not grow 

 crooked. On heavy soils old tan, decayed leaves, or coal 

 ashes are useful substitutes for blanching. 



FEUIT GARDEN. 



Premising all pruning, training, &c., of trees and fruit 

 bushes to be now completed, and the ground properly forked 

 over between them, attention should be directed to the Straw- 

 berry plantations which have generally suffered severely. 

 The beds should be cleared of weeds, and a dressing of rotten 

 dung spread between the rows ; it may afterwards be forked- 

 in very lightly so as not to injure the roots. In doing this 

 spread a little soil up to the crown of the plants, which will 

 assist the growth of the new surface roots. Last season's 

 mnners should be gone over, and those made firm in the soil 

 which are thrown up by the action of the frost, after which 

 mulch the surface. Destroy all insects before the trees bud. 

 Clear away all scale, &c., using a wash composed chiefly of 

 day, water, and sulphur on trees liable to the attacks of 

 insects. Prepare for grafting. Begin with Cherries and 

 Plums, and finish with Pears and Apples. Cut the roots of 

 Eed Currants if too gross. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



There are two modes pursued in the formation of grass 

 lawns, the one is by sowing a selection of grasses, choosing 

 those that are of a short and close growth, and the other is 

 by laying down turf. The sowing of grass seeds is done 

 more expeditiously and economically than by laying down 

 tnrf, and in after years there will be no annoyances in the 

 shape of Daisies, Dandelions, &c. This is a good time for 

 preparing ground for the purpose. Dig it carefully over, 

 pick out all roots of perennial weeds, rake the surface, and 

 bring it to the level required, give a good treading, and 

 then roll it with a heavy roller to bring the ground to a 

 regular and uniform consistency. Having done this, give 

 the ground a slight stir with the rake, sow the seed, and 

 finally roll. The following are the quantities necessary for 

 an acre. For light soil, Festuca tenuifolia.two pecks; Poa 

 pratensis, two pecks ; Anthoxanthum odoratum, three pecks ; 

 LoUum perenne tenue, two pecks ; Agrostis stolonifera, two 

 pecks; White Dutch Clover, one peck. For very strong 

 heavy soQ the misture should be, Poa trivialis, two pecks ; 

 Festuca duriuscula, two pecks ; F. ovina, two pecks; Authox- 

 anthum odoratum, two pecks ; Cynosurus cristatus, two 

 packs; Alopecurus pratensis, two pecks; White Dutch 

 Clover, one peck. Where turf is in a bad state and difficult 

 to mow in summer, let it be top-dressed with some light 

 soil and some Dutch Clover sown upon it. Herbaceous 

 plants should always form a principal feature in gardens 



where the family is resident the greater part of the year. 

 To those who have hitherto grown only the usual bedding- 

 out plants and annuals, and who have to wait till midsum - 

 mer for a display of llowers, we recommend that they pro- 

 cure a selection of the more showy Delphiniums, Campa- 

 nulas, Phloxes, Dianthuses, and other ornamental herbaceous 

 plants, LiUums, Sec. For planting among shrubs in borders, 

 and for mixed beds, they are valuable, while the fact of their 

 affording a succession of blooms from early spring nearly to 

 Christmas, ought to insure their more general cultivation, 

 particularly where cut flowers and a continuous show of blos- 

 soms are essential. The improvement in habit and colour 

 which IS annually taking place in the above and other her- 

 baceous plants is an additional inducement for growing 

 them. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSE3VATOKT. 



The weather having become milder fire heat may be dis- 

 pensed with for hardwooded greenhouse plants, unless the 

 night temperature falls below 40°. At this time, however, 

 and for a few weeks, let the necessai'y watering and clean- 

 ing be done sufficiently early in the day for the air of the 

 house to become dry before evening, and then there will be 

 less danger of the plants suffering from a low night tem- 

 perature, than when they are exposed to it whilst surrounded 

 with a damp atmosphere. Pelargoniums, herbaceous Cal- 

 ceolarias, and plants of similar growth, should be kept in a 

 night temperature of 45°, which may be increased a few 

 degrees, if early bloom is desired; keep them near the 

 glass, and at a sufficient distance apart to admit the light 

 freely to their lowei' leaves, which otherwise will turn sickly 

 and fall off. The Camellias intended for flowering late in 

 the autumn should now be forced into wood under a tem- 

 peratui-e of 60'^ or 65''. Shade if necessary while making 

 their young wood. Climbers beginning to push should after 

 this time be frequently examined to prevent confused growth. 

 Kennedyas, if crowded, should have their shoots thinned. 

 Ipomroas and Thunbergias, being subject to red spider, should 

 be well syringed to prevent that pest gaining ground. Where 

 a large quantity of hardy shrubs is annually forced, either 

 to decorate the drawing-room or conservatory, it is not de- 

 sirable to pot a fresh stock each season, as a number of de- 

 ciduous things, such as Soses, Lilacs, Thorns, Honeysuckles, 

 Sweet Briars, &c., may, by proper treatment, be made to 

 bloom for several successive seasons. Select, therefore, the 

 most suitable plants when removed from the house, and 

 give some kind of temporary shelter to gradually harden 

 their foliage. Those cramped for pot -room shift into pots a 

 size larger, using rich turfy loam, and towaids the middle 

 of next month plunge them in an open situation in order 

 that the wood may ripen early. 



.STOVE. 



The Hippeastrums and Amaryllids will now be flowering, 

 and will require rather liberal waterings, and will soon want 

 shifting. See that their leaves are preserved from injury. 

 Pot Cape bulbs as soon as the foliage is becoming strong ; 

 use chiefly loam, leaf soil, and sUver sand. Water must only 

 be moderately applied to recently-potted plants until they 

 become established ; their night temperature should be 

 65°, with an increase of 10* or 15" on bright days. Main- 

 tain a moist atmosphere, and give no quarter to insects of 

 any kind. Make cuttings of the various Begonias for flower- 

 ing through next November and December. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEE. 

 General operations chiefly a continuance of those of last 

 and previous weeks. In the kitchen garden turned over the 

 ground intended for Onions. Carrots, &c., but the ground is 

 not mellow enough yet for sowing. Slightly forked among 

 Lettuces that have stood the winter, and scattered some 

 lime and soot among them. Planted out also more Gai-Ue 

 and Shallots, firming them in little driUs about 1 inch deep 

 and 12 inches apart, and then throMing some light charred 

 material over them. Euu the points of the fork also among 

 young Onions. Turned up ground on banks for Potatoes. 

 Prepared for planting Jerusalem Artichokes, and as soon as 

 possible wUl clear a piece of ground to be prepared for 

 Asparagus, as we "have been forcing rather much of late. 

 Gave Kidney Beans in a pot more room. Prepared beds 



