418 



JOITBNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENBE. 



[ Ma7 30, 18U. 



holes, and the holes were literally swarming with the wire- 

 worms. 



In a book I have by my side, a paragi'aph gives a method 

 of extirpating the wireworm — namely, by sowing a crop of 

 White Mustard seed on the field infested by the worm. 

 Will you teU me — Fu-st. Whether you think this plan worth 

 trying. Second. The proper time for sowing the Mustard 

 seed. Third. Whether the crop can be made available for 

 any purpose ? — Wikewokm. 



[VTireworms are so tough-skinned that no amount of salt 

 or lime would kill them, less than a quantity which would 

 destroy vegetation also. Oil is the most fatal of applications 

 to these vermin, and we therefore inchne to believe those 

 who state that if seed is covered thickly with Eape dust. 

 which retains some oil, it preserves the seed, and is fatal 

 to any wireworm entering the dust. If Mustard sown in 

 a field extirpates the wii-eworm. it must be, we think, by 

 being offensive to the beetle (Elater), to which the wire- 

 worm eventually is transformed. Those who advocate the 

 use of White Miistard, drQl it on the land, and allow no 

 other crop or weed to grow there. The seed of the Mustard, 

 of course, would be saleable.] 



DATURA CHLOEANTHA CULTUEE. 



Ik answer to " Puee," I shall first observe that this 

 plant has large vine-hke foliage, and large, trumpet-shaped, 

 single or double flowers, those of the double variety being 

 in my opinion the better, of a rich yellow colour, and finely 

 scented. It is one of those half-hardy plants that do little 

 good planted out of dooi-s, though a sojourn there for a 

 limited period is of advantage to plants required for late 

 blooming. To do any good planted outside it requires a 

 sheltered border, but though it docs very well in some warm 

 situations, yet it has never fallen to my lot to find one warm 

 enough. To produce its flowers satisfactorily, the plant 

 should be placed in heat in spring, vigorous growth induced, 

 well hardened oil', and not planted out before the middle of 

 June, and then only in a warm situation. 



The seed should be sown in March, in sandy loam and 

 leaf mould, and the pot plunged in a brisk heat of from 70° 

 to 80°. In this it should be continued until the plants are 

 sufficiently large to handle, when they may be potted singly 

 in small pots, and as soon as well established removed to a 

 warm greenhouse or vinery, affording abundance of light by 

 close proximity to the glass, and fresh air, to keep them stiff 

 and short-jointed. If grown in the shade they are spare 

 and dwindling. Pot as the plants fill the pots with roots, 

 using pots a size larger each time until in 9 or 10-inch 

 pots, using at the last potting soil from rotted turves 

 chopped fine two-thirds, and leaf mould one-third, with a 

 free admixture of shai-p sand. Keep the plants liberally 

 supplied with water, but never water until the soil appears 

 dry, then give enough, and before the foliage droops. When 

 the trumpets appear liquid manure in a very diluted form 

 may be employed at every alternate watering. Avoid keep- 

 ing the soil very wet, nor is rich soil good for them whilst 

 young. They are very liable to the attacks of red spider, 

 and should be syringed to keep it in check. Plants raised 

 in spring occasionally bloom well in autumn when grown 

 in a greenhouBe. AVhilst in bloom they need the same 

 liberal watering as when growing, but after flowering the 

 supply should be diminished, and the plants wintered in 

 a dry part of the greenhouse, giving no more water than 

 enough to prevent the wood shrivelling. 1 find they flower 

 much finer the second year than the first, and with greater 

 certainty, if well exposed to light and air, and but sparingly 

 supplied with water in the autumn. Thus the wood ia 

 ripened, which is an important point. This, of course, can 

 be done voiy easily by diminishing the supply of water after 

 blooming, even if it be late, and placing near the glass, very 

 little water being given after the leaves fall. They will 

 live in a house from which frost is only just excluded, if the 

 Boil is dry, and the wood well ripened ; but they are annuals 

 if the soil is kept wet, for the wood not being well ripened 

 it shrivels, and they ore almost certain to damp off. 



In the spring of the second year the shoots may be cut in 

 to three or four eyes, and the plants shifted into pots of less 

 size, reducing the ball considerably, potting in sandy loam 



with a little well-rotted manure, and providing good drain- 

 age. If there is convenience to plunge the pots in a mild 

 hotbed that will be of service, and so, too, is bedewing the 

 shoots night and morning. When the shoots are an inch or 

 so in length the plants should be potted into their blooming 

 pots, those of 12 or 15 inches in diameter are not too large. 

 Use rich turfy, sandy loam, a little leaf mould, and sand if 

 necessary. Drain to one-third the depth of the pots, for 

 abundant and frequent watering will be requhed. They may 

 be grown on in a warm greenhouse or vinery until June, when 

 they may be transferred to a greenhouse or conservatory 

 to bloom, or they may be hai-dened off, and the pots plunged 

 in a warm situation out of doors, where they sometimes 

 bloom well. I have put a portion outside, taken them up 

 eai'ly in autumn, and found them flower finely in the green- 

 house late in the season. They were usually taken in early 

 in September. If allowed to bloom outside they should be 

 removed before frosts occur, and be kept dry in a house 

 secure from li-ost during the winter. Planted out in the 

 borders of a greenhouse they form fine objects. 



To obtain a more continuous and early bloom the seed 

 may be sown in June, the plants potted off singly in 

 smaU pots, transferred to 4J-iach pots in September, and 

 kept in these through the winter, on shelves in a warm 

 greenhouse, with little water. In spring they are succes- 

 sively potted as the pots become filled with roots until 

 in 9 or 12-inch pots, after which, when well grown, they 

 produce their golden trumpets in profusion. These are 

 close upon 9 inches in length. Slight encouragement in 

 spring when breaking, and making sure of the wood being 

 well ripened in autumn, with a dry soil in winter, are the 

 main points of their cultui-e. — G. Abbey. 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAEDEN. 



Advantage should be taken of showery weather to trans- 

 plant and earth-up all crops that require it; if done when 

 the soil about them is dry, the roots will not receive that 

 benefit from rain which they otherwise would do. In prick- 

 ing-out or transplanting care should be taken to press the 

 soil close to the roots of the plants, if it is left hollow and 

 loose about them drought will soon stop their growth, or 

 pi'obably cause them to perish. Toi>lant with a trowel is far 

 preferable to planting with a dibber, as, with the latter, the 

 roots are either left in a cavity or are crushed together and 

 rendered nearly useless. The difference between careful 

 and cai-eless planting will soon be perceptible in the plants 

 of the same sowing, if, in the one case the plants are dug 

 up with the greatest care, and are then transplanted and 

 watered, and, in the other, they ai-e pulled up, and deprived 

 of half theu' roots, and as carelessly planted. Asparagus, it 

 is advisable to discontinue cutting from weak beds or those 

 which have been only a year or two in bearing. Keep both 

 old and young beds free from weeds, and thin any other 

 crops that may be growing on them. Broccoli, prick-out 

 any that is sufficiently advanced in growth. Sow a full 

 crop of Cape and Grange's Early White. Cabbage, where 

 they wore planted in the autumn at a foot apart in the rows, 

 every alternate plant to be pulled as required for use. This 

 will give those that remain time and space to attain per- 

 fection. Cardoons, sow a late full crop. Plant-out the early 

 crop ; if they \pere sown in the soed-bods, choose a rich piece 

 of ground for planting them out. It will not bo necessary 

 to plant largely of the first crop, as it will soon run to seed. 

 Celery, prick-out some of the most forward into trenches, 

 keep it well watered in dry weather. Continue to prick-out 

 from the seed-beds for late crops. Cucumbers, where seed 

 has been sown on ridges to produce Gherkins, thin the 

 plants to three under each handglass. Keep up the heat of 

 the principal beds, if fine long fruit is required. Ihvarf 

 Kidney Beans, earth-up those that have been plantod-out, 

 and sow again. Endive, make another small sowing. The 

 Bowing for the main crop should not bo made before the 

 middle of the month. Lettuce, make a sowing of two or 

 three sorts, by this moans the season of one sowing is pro- 

 longed. The Paris Cos is a very good summer Lettuce. 

 Mushroom!, the hay with which the productive beds aie 

 covered will requu-e renewing occasionally, as it is liable to 



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