402 



JOUKNAL OF HOKTICULXr^E A^T) COTI'AGE aAKDEXEK. 



r Mar 53, l-i^; 



are dead. Some of last year's budding tliat were not started 

 are completely destroyed, not only the buds being gnawn 

 ont but the bark off also. — G. H. 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Asparagus, the beds will be greatly benefited by liberal 

 waterings with manure water from the stable or farmyard . 

 tank, especially where the " grass " is weak. Beans, as soon 

 as the pods begin to form at the lower part of the stem top 

 the plants, which will materially forward the podding. Earth 

 np the successional crops after a shower of rain. Bntssels 

 Sprouts, prick out the early sowing to strengthen them pre- 

 vious to finally planting them out. Cauliflowers, the early 

 crops to be liberally supplied with water ; if very large 

 heads are required manure water may be given them, but 

 for private families those of a moderate size are generally 

 preferred. Cucnmlers, as they advance in growth under the 

 hand-glasses peg them down. Water them in the morning 

 when they require it, but this should only be done when 

 • a fine day is likely to follow. In pruning away any of 

 the shoots and leaves cut close to the main stem : this we 

 are aware is a disputed point, still we believe the wound 

 heals quicker than if a piece of the stalk is allowed 1o 

 remain until it gradually rots away. Endive, let a sowing 

 be made directly. Kidney Beans, let full crops be planted 

 forthwith. Parsleij, thin out the plants of the early sowing 

 to 6 inches apart ; more seed may now be sown. Peas, con- 

 tinue to earth up and stick the successional crops. As soon 

 as the early crops begin to pod supply them with plenty of 

 water to swell the produce. At the time of sowing, during 

 dry weather, water the drills after they are drawn and before 

 the seed is sown. Radislies, sow the Long Scarlet and 

 Turnip ; water every evening dviring dry weather. Savoys, 

 prick out some of the earliest sowing, and also the seedling 

 plants of Scotch Kale ; shade for a few days until the plants 

 take fresh roothold. Sea-lale, remove the pots and also the 

 covering as soon as done with, and afterwards dig between 

 the plants. Spinach, thin the early crops, and sow again 

 for succession. Tomatoes, plant out against walls. VegetxMe 

 Marrows, plant them ont under hand-glasses. The Broccoli 

 season being now nearly over, the stumps to be all cleared 

 away and the grotmd dug, or if intended for Celery trenches, 

 these may be prepared without digging the whole of the 

 gi-ound. Keep all the salading crops well watered in dry 

 weather. As soon as the spring-sown Spinach is fit for use 

 dig in the antnmn sowing. 



FBinT GABDEK. 



This is a busy time among fruit trees, as they require 

 almost constant attention to keep them in good order. As 

 disbudding goes on and they are divested of superfluous 

 shoots, let a good washing follow ; this will destroy the 

 insects, and cleanse the fruit and trees of dead flowers, 

 cobwebs, &c. Water Strawberries in blossom, cover the rows 

 %Tith old pit-linings, cliiefly half-rotten leaves, and water 

 over this. Bemove some of the watery wood from the Cur- 

 rant bushes. Thin Kaspberry suckers. Attend to regu- 

 lating the gi-owth of trees designed to be trained in any 

 particular form, stopping useless shoots to throw more 

 strength into those that ai-e wanted. Let water be applied 

 by the engine every morning to Peach trees, and to others 

 newly planted, and let the latter be kept mulched and 

 watered at the roots. 



FLOWEP. GABDEN. 



That the proper Imeping of the garden may be as little 

 interfered with as pof^ible through the litter and confusion 

 consequent on "tummg out," use evers' despatch to bring 

 this work to a finish ; but if any portion of the stock is not 

 sufficiently prepared, allow it to remain under glass as much 

 longer as may be necessary, and plant out nothing but 

 strong plants that have been carefully inured to the sun 

 and air, for weak and ill-prepared jjlants are so murh at the 

 me V of the weather that it is folly to depend ujion their 

 covering the ground in any reasonable time. Give sufficient 

 water to settle the soil about the bulls of the plants the 

 first warm morning after planting, and give no more until 

 the son becomes dry, unless warm dry weather should set 

 in, and then a gentle sprinkling every morning will greatly 



benefit the plants. Spare hand-glasses will be useful now 

 for the propagation of favourite spring-blooming plants, as 

 Pansies, Phloxes, &c. These do best on a shady border. 

 Evergreen shrubs recently transplanted to be watered both 

 at the roots and overhead. Eoses will require attention ; it 

 is as well to remove unnecessary shoots at once. Calceo- 

 larias and Petunias are particularly selected by slugs, the 

 beds being frequently watered will induce these depredators 

 to visit them : a few cabbage leaves may be used as a trap. 

 Dahlias, too, are liable to the attacks of slugs ; a little soot 

 round the stem will be a protection. Masses of American 

 shrubs under or near large trees to receive a top-dressing 

 of some kind to keep them cool, and to compensate for the 

 exhaustion occasioned by the roots of the trees. A coating 

 of bog earth, half-rotten leaves, or old tan will be suitable. 

 Walls, trellises, or ornamental arcades to receive attention 

 at this period. 



GEEEKHOUSE AND CONSEEVATOET. 



Some of the hardier stock in the conservatory, such as 

 hybrid Khododendrons, Camellias forming buds, and Orange 

 trees in tubs or pots, may soon be set out of doors. This 

 will give more room to such plants as must remain, both on 

 account of their tenderness and the display they make. A 

 sheltered spot should be selected out of doors, but by no 

 means under the drip of trees. Let Pelargoniums have 

 weak liquid manure occasionally ; also Cinerarias and Cal- 

 ceolarias. The Chinese Azaleas, which have been some time 

 growing, should be kept in heat until they have set their 

 buds, when they may be removed to the open air. A stock 

 of common and Anne Boleyn Pinks for forcing, and the 

 flowering tree Carnations, should likewise be brought for- 

 ward ; the latter are valuable acquisitions. 



STOVE. 



Cultivate, and forward as soon as possible, the various 

 kinds of young stock intended for flowering through the 

 autumn and winter. The Euphorbia jacquinia>flora looks 

 well if planted three in a pot. The Gesnera elongata should 

 not be forgotten, nor Begonia manicata and incarnata. 

 Some of the Justicia salicina, the Geissomeria, &c., wiU be 

 useful. For Orchids keep up a large amount of moisture in 

 the air, and syringe tlie blocks frequently. Every attention 

 should now be paid to keeping down vermin ; nothing short 

 of extermination should ever satisfy the zealous cultivator. 



PITS AND FKAMES. 



Roses are, pei"haps, more generally admired than any 

 other class of plants, and bloom freely in the conservatory 

 in autumn and early winter if properly attended to at the 

 right time. Young plants of the perpetual-flowering kinds, 

 as Teas, Bourbons, Hybrid and Damask Perpetuals, if placed 

 in a cold frame and properly attended to with pot room, and 

 liberally supplied with manure water, will soon form nice- 

 sized specimens ; but in order to secure their blooming freely 

 in autumn and early winter, the flowers must be picked off as 

 they make their appearance, and strong stocky growth 

 secured by giving abundance of air, exposing the plants to 

 the night dews, and keeping the shoots stopped and tied- 

 out as may be required. — W. Keane. 



DOIXGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 

 Now in most places comes the trying period of the season, 

 in these modern times, when, in the month of May, and the 

 beginning of June, the head of the gardener must be turned 

 into a sort of almanack and annual register, whilst his 

 hands would require to be magically increased some three 

 or fourfold. Everything in-doors and out of doors is crying 

 out for attention, and happy ought they to be who can 

 attend to everything at once, as soon as it wants that at- 

 tention. " Do it at once," is a capital axiom, and should 

 ever be kept in mind by those who resolve on being orderly 

 and methodical, and without orderly arrangement there will 

 be muddle, and doing and undoing, and no little waste of 

 shoe leather ; but the difficulty is, " to do it at once," when 

 a dozen of things want this doing, and, perhaps, only 

 one pair of hands, and one pair of feet left to do it. In such 

 cases, thoughtful arrangements must be made, so tliat whilst 

 doing some things thoroughly, other things should not be 

 allowed to sufl'or. " Cannot be done," must now be pretty 

 ■ well banished from the gardener's vocabulary, if he wiah 



