May 2, 1865. ] 



JOUEXAL OP HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE aAEDENEK. 



339 



is no catching trout without wetting one's trousers ? " After 

 plodding along for about a mile under the protecting care of 

 our umbrellas, we turned down a short road. Upon stepping 

 over the Moss and Heath by its side we found a tiny path 

 close under the hedge ; following it, there on the bank, peep- 

 ing out from theu' leafy covert, were the most gorgeous orange 

 and golden fungi ! orange when in the earlier sta<;es of de- 

 velopment, and golden as the plant became more fully grown. 

 Lower still on the ground were purple, brown, yellow, and 

 white fungi of a smaller kind. Every spray was bent with 

 fog and rain, to me it was a faii'y place, with its peai'ly drops, 

 dripping, dripping, slowly dripping, tenderly and refreshingly 

 on these grateful tenants of the soft sward beneath them. I 

 was most anxious to have preserved them, but was ignorant 

 of any satisfactory method. Tm-ning from this melancholy 

 month to bright skies and warm weather, let us review this 

 same roadside and the neighbouring moorland in the warm 

 and pleasant months of June and July. 



" Sallies the earth, and smile the waters. 

 Smile the cloudless skies above us." 



Let us be off again, basket in hand, with light footsteps, 

 and happy faces to see what plants we can add to our hortus 

 siccus. The results I must reserve for the nest page of my 

 notes. — Alice. 



MESSES. HENDERSON'S TULIP EXHIBITION 



AT THE KOYAL HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY'S GARDENS, 

 SOUTH KENSINGTON. 



To the lovers and cultivators of spring flowers this exhi- 

 bition will prove a rare treat. On Tuesday last the col- 

 lection of Tulips was hastening to its prime ; and if the 

 weather has not proved too hot and promoted their decay, 

 a visit to the gardens will gratify every person who will go 

 and see them. There is a vast variety of shades of colour — 

 brilliant, gay, and sombre. The colours have been arranged 

 with good taste. The delicacy of the white flowers is exqui- 

 site. Now is the time for the amatetu- to make notes and 

 take down names or numbers of these bulbs ; but there 

 must be no delay. The Tulips in the centre of the garden, 

 which are the property of the Society, are very beautifully 

 and tastefully arranged. They have the advantage over 

 Messrs. Henderson's coUeotion in their position among 

 the green leaves, and have also had the beneflt of more 

 sunshine. The Society must feel much indebted to the 

 firm which has so liberally supplied the barren ground of 

 their garden with such a display; and it is greatly to be 

 wished that this magnificent effect wiU encourage the 

 amateur to cultivate this most brilliant and easily managed 

 spring flower. — X. 



EMIGEATING TO NEW ZEALAND. 

 In your Journal some months since is a question from 

 " J. C," asking information respecting New Zealand, and 

 whether it is a field for emigration. 



1. He asks. Can Strawberry plants be sent out ? I reply. 

 Yes, they have been, and can be sent again. 



2. Is it advisable to take tools ? Decidedly yes, as he 

 can get the best in England and select them himself, whereas 

 in New Zealand you are obliged to put up with whatever 

 there may be in the market. Especially he should bring 

 his own spades, as most of those sent out are sent for sale 

 and not for hard work. At the same time we are fast 

 improving in the quality of tools of all kinds. 



3. Does Quick thrive in New Zealand ? Yes, exceedingly 

 well ; under proper management you have a hedge at four 

 or five years old equal to seven or eight years in England. 



■4. Should a person bring his own seed out, and what 

 sorts ? A person never does wrong in bringing seeds of 

 every kind of prime sorts except Beans, as there are plenty 

 grown around Wellington. 



5. Can settlers grow their own grass ? Yes, there is a 

 considerable quantity of Cocksfoot, Timothy Grass, and all 

 sorts of E,ye Grass saved every year. Clovers are imported 

 from England. Any person coming out with the intention 

 of farming in the country should bring with him the Poas 

 and Fescues. 



6. Is it a place for emigrating to ? Any steady persevering 

 man can get on, especially if he has a family of boys to 

 assist him in his out-door work. Girls can obtain situations 

 the moment they laud. If he is a good gardener I think 

 there will be plenty of employment now, as the seat of 

 government is removed to WeUington, which wiU necessarily 

 cause gardeners to be more in request. 



Our fruit season has been very excellent this year for all 

 kinds, especially stone fruit, and the weather has been very 

 warm ; but we have had an occasional shower in the night 

 lately. I also send you experiments made by myself to see 

 the influence of the moon on vegetation. 



Sowed Sangster's No. 1 Pea. First row sown thirty houi's 

 before new moon. Second row sown four days after new 

 moon. Third row sown, moon ten days old. Fourth row 

 sown, moon eleven days old. Fifth row sown eight hours 

 before the moon was at the full. 



No. 1, five days coming up. Flowered on the 20th of 

 November. 



No. 2, four days coming up. Flowered on the 22nd. 



No. 3 row, sown when the moon was ten days old, four 

 days coming up. Flowered on the 29th and 30th. 



No. 4 row, sown when the moon was eleven days old, four 

 days coming up. Flowered on the 30th. 



No. 5 row, sown when the moon was within eight hours 

 of being full. Flowered on the 1st of November. 



Gathered the first Peas, about equal from each row. 



The first row was 57 days before gathering; the last row 

 was 41 days. 



I consider, therefore, that the best time for sowing is just 

 before the moon is at the full ; but I write under correction, 

 and should be glad if some of your numerous experiment- 

 alists would give their opinion. 



With this you will receive our usual summary ; and you 

 will perceive the noble race that the philo-Maori party in 

 England so much eulogises have committed another brutal 

 murder. They, the Maories, instead of nobility of soul, are 

 cowardly, mean, and treacherous, and the means that have 

 been used to preserve them will cause their entire destruc- 

 tion as a race. We old colonists are sorry for it. We have 

 endeavoured to the utmost of our means to be friendly, but 

 it is of no use. — Tekonica, Wellingion, New Zealand. 



A WOED ON HOTBEDS. 



EvEBT one who has to do with hotbeds early in spring, 

 experiences more or less difficulty in procuring a supply of 

 fermenting material. Where early Cucumbers and Melons 

 are requu-ed from the hotbed, to say nothing of the vast 

 quantity of bedding and other plants needed for the floral 

 display of summer, how often does one find the supply in- 

 adequate to the demand. 



I will now briefiy describe how I have managed with a 

 very limited quantity of such material to propagate about 

 three thousand plants since the 3rd of February. I wished for 

 every particle of room afl'orded by a pair of two-light frames, 

 each measuring 7 feet wide by 6 feet 3 inches long; but 

 the greatest drawback was the dung being scarcely sufficient 

 to form one bed in the ordinary way; but to make the most 

 of what I had, and also to procure the desired space, I 

 erected a stand for each frame. The stands were formed 

 thus — four posts were let into the ground to the depth of 

 about a foot and well firmed, the height of the posts above 

 ground being 3 feet. These posts were fixed at each corner 

 of the frame, and bearers were nailed at the back and front, 

 and likewise along each side, for the frame to rest upon. 

 The side bearers were flush with the frame, while those at 

 back and front were allowed to go partially within the frame 

 in order to form a resting-place for the soil- bearers, which 

 consisted of a lot of old dry spruce fir tops. These were cut 

 to the exact length of the frame, and laid in an inch apart, 

 and on them some spray was laid crosswise; then a little 

 pared turf grass side downwards, and finally the plunging 

 material. It will be observed that there was no fermenting 

 material under the frame. 2 feet 6 inches was left between 

 each frame for the reception of dung, which when weU 

 shaken to pieces fermented freely and answered equally well 

 for both. The rest of the frame received a lining 3 feet at 

 the base tapering to 1 foot 6 inches at top. I contemplated 



