452 



JOUENAL OF HCBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ November 23, 1876. 



the manure under the surface. Should the Gooseberry bushes 

 have been infested with the caterpillar the previous season 

 remove the surface soil from under them to the depth of 4 inches, 

 a3 this portion contains the larv;e of the caterpillars, which 

 may be destroyed by being turned 9 inches or a foot below the 

 surface. 



Bos-edging that requires relaying ought to be done now; we 

 have found the edgings do better when planted at this season 

 than at any other. Edgings formed of tiles or stonework if out 

 of order should also be attended to. 



PINE HOUSES. 



We have had some good fruit from plants put out in a bed in 

 rich turfy loam. They had a depth of soil of about 15 inches, 

 and were IS inches apart, the sorts being Smooth-leaved Cayenne 

 and Charlotte Bothschild. Oar experience with the above two 

 sorts has been a very extended one, and whether as pot plants 

 or for planting out in the beds the Cayennes are the best. The 

 foreign growers seem to take to this sort more than any other, 

 and they seem to be very snccessf nl with it. Specimens have 

 been sent into Covent Garden very recently weighing 12 lbs. 

 each. It is singular that the fruit should not be of good quality, 

 at least in comparison with the same sort grown in England, as 

 the crown and appearance of the fruit cannot be distinguished 

 from home-grown fruit. "We have given the temperatures of 

 th.3 different divisions of the houses in previous numbers, and 

 those temperatures must still be maintained. Plants in the 

 fruiting house, on which there are fruit in different stages of 

 development, must have water supplied to them when it is 

 required, but that is not very often at this season. Plants at 

 rest intended to be started early next year ought not to have 

 any water at the roots, and the atmosphere should be com- 

 paratively dry. Some Piue-grower3 keep their plants in growth 

 all through the winter months, but it is better to let them rest 

 at that season. They may be started into growth with the 

 lengthening days of the new year. 



Figs in Pots. — No fruit trees do better in pots than the Fig. 

 Toe restriction to which the roots are subjected in the confined 

 space of a pot seems just what the tree requires to make it pro- 

 duce short-jcinted fruitful wood. When this object has be6n 

 gained it is easy to swell the fruit up to a large size and have it 

 of the best quality by rich surface dressings, and a little manure 

 water occasionally will be of advantage. When the dressing 

 has been applied to the surface of the pots it is interesting to 

 watch the rapid manner in which the thick fleshy roots push 

 into it, and how quickly the effect is seen in the more healthy 

 dark green hue which the leaves assume. Those who intend to 

 force a few Figs in pots early should now make the necessary 

 arrangements. A gentle bottom heat promotes root-action, and 

 is an advantage to the trees early in the year. Beds of oak or 

 beech leaves produce a mild lasting heat, and throw off suffi- 

 cient moisture to produce an atmosphere well adapted to the 

 health of the trees. The pots may be plunged two-thirds of 

 their depth in such a bed as this. No syringirig will be required 

 CX ;ept a gentle dewing overhead in warm days. The trees may 

 be started with a night temperature of 45°, gradually increasing to 

 53°, and this should not be exceeded until the leaves have grown 

 neirly their full size. The pots musb not be under-watered, but 

 on the other hand the Fig detests stagnant soil. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



With a large stock of the best sorts of Chrysanthemums these 

 structures are as gay now as it is possible to have them at any 

 season of the year. What a boon it is to have such fine flowers 

 at this season, either for cut flowers or other decorative pur- 

 poses. The flowers during damp weather suffer much from 

 mould, the petals damp, and decay rapidly spreads. The leaves 

 also suffer much from mildew, which, however, is easily de- 

 stroyed if taken in time, by dusting with dry sulphur. When 

 the leaves of any plant are much infested with mildew dry 

 sulphur does not always destroy it on the first or even second 

 application. A good plan in such a case is to lay the plant on 

 its side and syringe it regularly over the leaves with soapy water 

 in which has been mixed a handful of flowers of sulphur to the 

 gallon. The object of laying the plant on its side is to prevent 

 the water from draining to the roots, as it injures them. 



Ail plants must be kept perfectly free from insect pests. Bed 

 epider attacks hardwooded specimens in a most insidious 

 manner, and sometimes much damage is done to the plants 

 before the pest is discovered. Camellias ds not often fall a prey 

 to this parasite, but it does sometimes attack the under sides of 

 the leaves, causing them to become rusty. When the stock of 

 plants is not large and time permits, the best plan is to wash 

 the leaves and Btems, including all the branches, with soapy 

 water. This will cleanse them from scale as well as from all 

 other insects and accumulations of dirt. 



Some of the earliest Cinerarias are showing flower, and those 

 that will be at their best in March and April are growing very 

 strongly in a cool pit. The Cineraria does not endure much 

 sun, and the less artificial heat that is applied to the plants the 

 belter. In fine weather the lights and front ventilators are 

 open to their fullest extent to prevent damp from injuring the 



leaves. The side growths we tie down either by placing short 

 sticks in the pots or a wire round the rim to which the shoots 

 are tied, not too much at once, but gradually until the outer 

 flower Btems are brought down to very nearly a horizontal 

 position ; the plants when in flower will form half a ball. 



Stage and fancy Pelargoniums intended to form handsome 

 specimens require a little training at present. The weather 

 having been so warm the plants are making considerable growth, 

 and those not bushy enough have been stopped. Pelargoniums 

 and Cinerarias are very much subject to green fly, the latter 

 also suffers from the attacks of thrips. They must be destroyed 

 by fumigation, and this must be continued until not even a 

 solitary specimen is left alive. Calceolarias require very similar 

 treatment to Cinerarias, and suffer equally from the attacks of 

 green fly. Decay and mildew spreads rapidly at this season, 

 and all of it should be removed as soon as it is perceived. — 

 J. Douglas. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



Ewing & Co., Boyal Norfolk Nurseries, Eaton, Norwich. — 

 Catalogue of Fruit, Forest, and Ornamental Trees, Conifera>, 

 Evergreens, &c. 



Bichard Dean, Banelagh Eoad, Ealing, London, W., and Seed 

 Grounds, Bedfont, Hounslow, W. — Catalogue of New and Choice 

 Primroses, Polyanthus, Daisies, Hepaticas, Bedding Pamies 

 and Violas, Hardy Herbaceous and other Plants, also of Choice 

 Potatoes. 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 

 Secretaries will oblige us by informing us of the dates on 

 which exhibitions are to be held. 



LEED3. November 21th and 25th. Mr. George Hemming. Hod. Sec. 

 Isle of Thaset. August SOtb, 1877. Mr. C. D. Smith, Hon. Sec. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



%* All correspondence should be directed either to " The 

 Editors," or to "The Publisher." Letters addressed to 

 Mr. Johnson or Dr. Hogg often remain unopened unavoid- 

 ably. We request that no one will write privately to any 

 of our correspondents, as doing so subjects them to un- 

 justifiable tronblo and expense. 



Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions 

 relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee sub- 

 jects, and should never send more than two or three 

 questions at once. All articles intended for insertion 

 should be written on one side of the paper only. We 

 cannot reply to questions through the post. 



Gathering Leaves (R.\ — When leaves are very nnmerons we know of 

 no better p'an than raking them together with wooden rakes and patting 

 them into carts with large, long-curved pronged forks. In clearing lawns we 

 first use rake3, thea finish wi:h birch brooms, placing the leaves in large 

 wheelbarrows with the assistance of two pieces of board — leaf boards. 



Heating by Gas (A Five-years Subscriber). — Burning gas, unless the 

 fumss from it are entirely conveyed into the air outside, is injurious to Vines 

 and plants. 



"Wild Flowers'' (IF. D.L.). — The publication will he continued until 

 all our native flowers are portraited, otherwise the work would be imperfect. 



The Manetti Bose (B. W. S.).— Mr. W. Paul says, " The Manetti Rose 

 was raised from seed by Signor Manetti of the Botanic Garden, Manza. It 

 was introduced by Mr. Rivers .about the year 1837, who received it from 

 Siguor Crivelli of Conl~>. I never heard from what species or variety it was 

 rafsed, a-ad I have never been able to refer it to any species that I have been 

 acquainted with, and hive always set it down as a garden hybrid or cross- 

 bred." 



Hollies [lite); — We cannot name varieties that are multitudinous and 

 nearly alike. 



Acacia Kiceana (A Constant Reader).— It is an evergreen. 



Exhibited Fruit Weonglt Named (Juvenile). — Judges in disqualifying 

 fruit at an exhibition, owing to the said fruit being wrongly named, need not 

 name it properly. 



Exhibiting Carnations and Picoiees.— No more need be published. 



Notice to Leave (Peter Parley). — "A head gardener was engaged 

 several years since by word of mouth, at so much salary a-year, paid 

 quarterly, no mention being made as to notice to qnit. "What notice should 

 be given on either Bide?" It has been decided in a similar case that a 

 month'B notice must he given. 



Thorn Decaying (Surrey). — The cause is difficult to determine. * We 

 have seen similar instances where the trees were growing in hot frravelly soil. 

 The excessive heat aud drought of the past summer caused the branches of 

 many trees t:> shrivel prematurely. 



Buckland Sweetwateb Grape (Reader). — When well managed this is 

 one of the best early White Grapes ; bat the fruit is watery and flavourless 

 unless well exposed to the Bun. It is well adapted for exhibition early in the 

 year, and at that time, and when in good condition, brings as good a prioe in 

 Covent Garden a3 Black Hamburgh. Inferior fruit that has not been ex- 

 posed to the sun is of but little value. 



Mice Eating Crocus Bulbs (G. 67.). — The best plan is to trap the mice. 

 Lay a flower pot down on its side, and place the trap in it to keep it dry. 

 Pruning Vines (Idem).— Vines should be pruned as soon as the leaves 



