October 26, 1876. 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



371 



■which improves the size of the flowers. The plants need plenty 

 of water daily to preserve the leaves in a fresh green state. 



Trees, shrubs, and evergreens may now be transplanted, and 

 one general rule does for all. For every plant a hole Bhould be 

 dag out wide enough for the roots to be Bpread out freely, placing 

 the Boil oarefully among them and treading it in well. After- 

 wards give a copious watering sufficient to penetrate all the soil, 

 and fasten the trees to stakes to secure them against winds. — 

 Thomas Record. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST AND WORK FOR 

 THE PRESENT WEEK. 



HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 



We have now finished gathering Apples and Pears, and have 

 them all arranged on the shelves in the fruit room. Some of 

 the latest sorts would hang upon the trees until the middle of 

 November or later; but it is not desirable to allow them to do 

 so, even if there was no possibility of their beiDg injured by 

 frost. Fruit that is intended for use during the spring months 

 (and some of it may be preserved up to midsummer) Bhould first 

 be placed in an airy room, and spread out as carefully as possible. 

 Here it ought to lie for a few weeks, and by that time some will 

 have decayed, and should be removed as soon as possible to 

 prevent the decay spreading. The fruit Bhould then be re- 

 moved to a cool cellar where frost cannot gain access, or a cool 

 fruit room where the sun does not shine on it would be equally 

 well adapted for the purpose. Many persons may not have all 

 the above conveniences. It is well to note that a room with 

 windows facing south, and the walls only 9 inches thick, is very 

 well for ripening fruit off when its season is near at hand ; but 

 such a room is about the worst place for late fruit, Apples espe- 

 cially in such a room shrivelling prematurely. 



There are various methods of preserving Apples in a sound 

 plump condition for late dessert purposes. I once Baw some 

 fine wall-kept specimens exhibited by a clergyman at a pro- 

 vincial exhibition in Scotland in early summer or late Epring. 

 They were much admired, and were the objects of considerable 

 attention at the time. They had been placed in fresh moBs 

 clean and slightly damped. The late Mr. Knight, who gave 

 considerable attention to the keeping of fruit, considered the 

 following mode the most successful. Earthen vessels, each con- 

 taining about a gallon, were used. Each fruit waB surrounded 

 with paper, and the vessels were placed one over the other, the 

 space between the top of one and the base of another being filled 

 with a cement composed of two parts of the curd of Bkimmed 

 milk and one of lime to perfectly exclude air. The vessels were 

 placed in a dry cold Bituation where there was little change of 

 temperature. He also found the merits of the Pears to be 

 greatly increased by their being taken from the vessels and plac- 

 ing them in a warm room for about ten days before they were 

 wanted foruse. I have kept fruit well by placing each separately 

 in paper and packing it in boxes, filling up the interstices with 

 fine dry sand. 



Many persona keep Gooseberries and Currants by placing nets 

 or mats over them. It is necessary to remove the protectors 

 ^n fine days, to remove all decaying leaves or mouldy berries. 

 "When the bushes have become dry, mat or net them up again. 

 Birds, mice, and other depredators make strenuous efforts to 

 get at the fruit. Trap the mice, and see that the birds do not 

 find their way through the coverings. 



No time should be loBt in preparing ground for fruit trees. If 

 the soil is not in good condition it ought to be trenched at least 

 2 feet deep if the nature of the ground will admit of it. When 

 the trees were planted at Loxford Hall the ground was very 

 poor and had never been trenched. Trenching was done in No- 

 vember, and the trees were planted at once, placing some good 

 maiden loam round the roots of each tree. They made fine 

 healthy growth the next season, and in October the borders were 

 again trenched and the trees replanted. As the operation was 

 proceeded with a barrowload of loam was placed around the 

 roots of each tree. This was necessary, as the ground had been 

 planted with fruit trees for nearly, if not more than, half a 

 century. A very liberal supply of manure was also worked-in 

 with the soil, but not placed in contact with the roots, and the 

 results have been very satisfactory. 



Pruning of wall, espalier, and other trees may be proceeded 

 with, and digging and trenching should be done at once. There 

 is nothing like having all work forward when the weather 

 permits. 



PINE HOUSES. 



This is excellent weather for ripening fruit; very little arti- 

 ficial heat being required. The ventilators can be opened to a 

 considerable extent by day, and may be closed early in the 

 afternoon, leaving the top lights down about half an inch all 

 night. Some little judgment is necessary as to the proper 

 amount of water to be applied to the roots of the plants, as well 

 as to what is allowed to evaporate in the house. If a Pine plant 

 is in good oondition and sufficiently moist at the roots when the 

 fruit begins to change colour, probably no more water will be 



required until the fruit is quite ripe. During the dull cold days 

 of winter very little water is required to the rootB of fruiting 

 Pines. 



If it has not already been done, all the plants should be 

 arranged in their winter quarters. The fruiters in different 

 stages require a night temperature of 65° all through the winter 

 months, and a bottom heat of from 85° to 90°. The beBt winter 

 Pine, taking all points into consideration, is the Smooth-leaved 

 Cayenne. It must yield the palm for flavour to the Black 

 Jamaica, but this last-named variety is not to be depended upon 

 to start into fruit just when it is wanted, and the fruit is very 

 often not more than half the size of the Cayenne. Charlotte 

 Rothschild sometimes throws a noble fruit, but often disfigured 

 by having an overgrown crown. Those plants intended to start 

 early next season are now at rest ; very little water is applied to 

 the roots, and the night temperature is 55°. By far the best 

 variety for early forcing is the Queen, and it is the best sort to 

 grow for market purposes. Good Queens weighing from 3 to 

 5 lbs. will generally fetch about 6s. a pound on the average. 



Many persons keep the succession plants growing-on all 

 through the winter months, but as a rule this iB neither neces- 

 sary nor desirable. Growth made at the "dead" of winter is 

 of the palest unhealthy green. The plants will be at rest if the- 

 night temperature is kept at 55° and they do not receive much 

 water at the roots. We admit air as freely as possible. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Chrysanthemums have all been placed indoors. Most of the 

 plants had been attacked by mildew, but this was destroyed by 

 dusting the leaves with flowers of sulphur. There are many 

 specifics warranted and patented to deBtroy this pest; probably 

 most of them will answer their purpose, but nothing else is 

 necessary except Bulphur pure and simple. It may either be 

 uBed by dusting or mixing the powder with soft-soapy water. 

 The mixture may be applied with a syringe, or if the plants can 

 be dipped in the solution so much the better. When there is 

 green fly on the plants it must be destroyed by fumigating. 

 Darnp is very injurious to the large blooms intended for exhi- 

 bition, the outer petals become mouldy, and decay soon spreads 

 amongst them. The decaying petals must be promptly removed, 

 and the house should be freely aired. Care must also be taken 

 that no water is spilled when applying it to the plantB. Speci- 

 men plants are being trained into shape either for exhibition or 

 for decorative purposes. The Pompon varieties do not require 

 to have the flowers supported by sticks, but the large-flowered 

 section must have each bloom supported, and good culture is 

 recognised when there is a sufficient groundwork of healthy 

 green leaves to almost hide the Btems and sticks, and to prevent 

 one seeing into the centre of the plants. If specimens of the 

 highest merit are intended they should be placed quite near 

 the glass, have plenty of light and air, and not be crowded with 

 other plants. 



We have potted the Hyacinths and Tulips. Many of the roots 

 were making Bigns of growth, either by puBhingout from toe- 

 crowns or by emitting roots from the base. It cannot but be 

 injurious to the bulbs and to the future strength of the plants to 

 allow much growth before potting or planting them. 



Green fly made an appearance on stage Pelargoniums, tree or 

 perpetual-flowering CarnationB, and other plants in the green- 

 house. Fumigation with tobacco smoke waB resorted to at once. 

 It is very desirable to destroy ail the aphis tribe on its first 

 appearance, or even if none are seen on the plants at this seasou 

 fumigating two or three times at intervals of three days is 

 desirable. We have been training hardwooded plants as oppor- 

 tunity offered. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



We have been clearing-off the summer bedding plants in order 

 that the beds may be planted with Wallflowers and other plants 

 for spring flowering. Beds of Pelargoniums grown for their 

 foliage, and plants such as Iresine, &c, look better now than* 

 they have done at any time during the summer; but it is not 

 safe to leave out any plants of this kind after this date. It is. 

 now time that all the spring-flowering plants were in their 

 places, so that they may be established before the weather be- 

 comes colder. 



Auriculas have been removed into a sunny position. They 

 are liable to suffer from damp if the decaying leaves are not 

 removed. In watering great care is necessary to prevent the 

 leaves being wet. Carnations and Picotees have been potted 

 and also placed in frames, the pots being plunged to the rims in 

 cocoa-nut fibre refuse. Pinks planted out about a month ago are 

 now well established and growing freely. 



EDses are giving us some very fine flowers; they ara very 

 large and more highly coloured than usual. — J. Douglas. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



Charles Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough. — Catalogue of 

 Moses, Fruit Trees, Evergreens, Climbers, &c. 



D. McKenzie & Sou, The Nurseries, Cromarty and Tain, N.B. 

 — List of Transplanted Forest and Fruit Trees, Shrubs, dec. 



