January 6, 1863. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



11 



these purposes, it is of course necessary that a wirework door, 

 large enough for a person to enter, should be framed into the 

 interior wirework. 



It will be seen by the design that a more decorative style of 

 rustic-work is suggested than that usually employed — a branch of 

 garden decoration on which I intend to offer some advice, accom- 

 panied by designs, on another occasion. 



Rustic-work of this character, if found impracticable by the 

 usual mode — that of unbarked branches judiciously interlaced — 

 Bhould be roughly carved in wood, and varnished with trans- 

 parent but deep brown varnish ; or might be modelled, and 

 then cast in cement, or even in iron ; and I wonder much that 

 low fences, &o., have not been cast in iron in that style. The edge 

 of the roof is surmounted by smaller rustic tracing of a similar 

 character. This alcove-aviary should be well backed-up by 

 thick-growing trees of considerable size, and the plantation 

 should be of sufficient depth to prevent it being seen through, 

 or the effect of a dark background to the structure would be 

 destroyed, and the spell of seclusion — the great charm of the 

 scene — would be broken. 



An additional interest might be imparted to this secluded 

 spot by the introduction of a large but excessively simple tazza, 

 containing gold fish ; into this a gently bubbling fountain should 

 convey a continual Bupply of fresh water. This tazza should be 

 almost of the dimensions of a miniature pond or basin, while its 

 slight elevation on a low stand, as designed, would give it a novel 

 and architectural character in keeping with the other dressings 

 of the scene. The small fountain in the centre might be made 

 to issue from an opening of miniature rocks, raised slightly 

 above the level of the water, and covered with water-loving 

 Eerns and Mosses. But the exterior of the tazza should be kept 

 freshly cleaned or painted ; for wherever animal life, in whatever 

 form, is the object to be petted and cared for, an appearance of 

 daily attention and perfect order and cleanliness are the most 

 agreeable adjuncts to all arrangements for the purpose. The 

 stand of the tazza is intended to be surrounded at some little 

 distance with a low cement coping, within which some low- 

 growing profusely-flowered plant is intended to grow (such as 

 Thrift at some seasons, double Daisies at another, or annual 

 dwarf Lobelia at another), which would partially break the 

 formality of the coping, without destroying its symmetrical effect. 



An aviary and alcove of this kind might be approached from 

 the house by a covered path if thought advisable, in which case 

 the entrance from such a path should be from the back, so as 

 not to disfigure the open approach ; and in that case a door in 

 the back of the alcove should lead to the covered path, which 

 might pass through without interference with the close shrubbery, 

 which should effectually shroud the back of the structure. — 

 H. N. Humphreys. 



On the subject of Bowers, we append the following hints and 

 sketches supplied by another correspondent : — 



It sometimes happens, when trees are cut down a few inches 

 from the ground, that they send up shoots all round the stump. 

 These shoots grow to a greater or less height, according to 

 circumstances, and in some cases even attain a size little inferior 

 to the original tree. It is difficult to prevent these shoots 

 pushing up from a tree-stump, which thus often becomes a 

 source of annoyance on a lawn or pleasure ground, while the 

 labour of uprooting it is grudged. One mode of overcoming this 

 evil, or rather of converting an object of annoyance into an 



Fig. 1 . — Tree-stump preparing for a Bower. 



object of utility and ornament, is illustrated by the following 

 Bketches. Fig. 1 shows the stump of a tree (Ash) with the young 



branches grown up round it ; and fig. 2 illustrates the fashion in 

 which these branchos may be made to form an elegant canopy 

 to one of the most natural of rustic seats — the stump of the 



Fig. '2. — The same more advanced. 



tree ; which may, however, be provided with a soft cushion if 

 required. The branches need simply to be tied together by 

 means of wire ; and if a few plants of Ivy and Brier, with one or 

 two of the more choice climbing Roses are planted around the 

 base, the whole would soon become very compact and beautiful. 

 The wires should not be tied tightly, lest they should cut the 

 branches in the course of time ; and perhaps, for this reason, 

 ordinary string-ties would be preferable. — Delta. 



MUST SEA-KALE BE OFTEN RENEWED? 



Your correspondent Sir. Kuight, in No. 89, page 716, says 

 the Globe Artichoke, like Sea-kale, should never be allowed to 

 remain in a garden after one or two years if grown for profit. 

 If that be the case I am sadly out of the rule, for I have some 

 Sea-kale that has been in the same bed for the last ten years, 

 and it still proves very profitable ; but then I do not force the 

 plants too severely, nor cut from them two or three times in a 

 season. 



Sea-kale, like an animal, if hard worked and badly fed will 

 soon be exhausted. 



My Sea-kale is just coming on. Before I cover-up the plants 

 I always let them have a drinking carouse with their friends, 

 the liquid cans, merely to wish each many happy returns of the 

 season. Also about June I allow them to show off their new 

 and blooming foliage. 



I think if the Sea-kale plants are properly treated they will 

 last much longer than our friend Mr. Knight has been led to 

 believe.— P. M. 



EARLY GRAPES. 



Is a letter from " J. E. E., Knoiosley Hall," in No. 88 of 

 this Journal, he disputes Mr. Thomson, of Dalkeith, being the 

 first person who produced early Grapes on the 1st of January. 

 In reply I beg to inform "J. E. F. " that Mr. Thomson was the 

 first ever reported to have shown early Grapes on the 1st of 

 January, which he did on the 1st of January, 1861, and on the 

 1st of January, 1862. The only early Grapes reported to have- 

 been shown were grown by myself. There were also one or two 

 other eamples exhibited about the middle of January ; and if 

 " J. E. E's." Grapes were ready by the 1st of January, why 

 did he not send them for inspection until the 10th of February, 

 1862 ? — James Fowleb, Sarewood Gardens. 



PROTECT THE GLOBE ARTICHOKE. 



About fifteen years ago we had a very severe winter. I was 

 but a lad, but well remember in the garden where I was this 

 now much-talked-of Artichoke was not protected, consequently 

 the plants were all killed. It is true we do not very often have 

 such severe winters, but there was in 1860-1. 



