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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTIAGE GARDENER. [ February 3, 1863. 



were built with a greater regard to comfort than any mere 

 picturesque effect. From that elevation the whole of Wood- 

 stock, the mansion, terraces, blue-domed conservatory, glades, 

 masses, and the Bplendid backgrounds of Mount Alto, come in 

 as a charming picture. 



Farming is also carried on with great spirit under the super- 

 vision of Mr. King. We had only the opportunity of admiring 

 the neatness of the homestead; the cleanness of all carts, 

 ploughs, and utensils ; the fine appearance of cows and horses ; 

 and the extra luxuriance of a large field of Mangolds and Carrots 

 —the Mangolds being in rows about 33 inches apart, and the 

 Carrots in rows between the Mangolds. These Mangolds Mr. 

 King often keeps good till the following autumn. 



And now we must say adieu to charming Woodstock. Much 

 of its beauty must be Been to be appreciated, much we have 

 left untold, much, no doubt, we have forgotten ; but we shall 

 not easily forget the brotherly communicativeness of Mr. 

 McDonald, the kind attention of his fellow servants, and though 

 last, not least, the courtesy and generous hospitality of the 

 proprietors, which we valued all the more because, looking 

 -on them as a proof— additional, no doubt, to others of a more 

 tangible character— that they fully appreciated the services of 

 their talented superintendent. jj,, p ISH 



GEAPE-JUDGING. 



I MAKE no doubt the readers of your valuable Journal will 

 think enough has already been said respecting the question of 

 Grape-judgmg at our future exhibitions. I am not about to 

 ■criticise the views of previous correspondents on the subject 

 neither do I support them ; but must at once admit that I have 

 not yet seen the subject brought forward in a direct way, sup- 

 porting what, in my humble opinion, is the most important 

 feature in Grape-judging and Grape-growing— viz., the colour. 



We shall, no doubt, soon be made aware of the alterations to 

 be effected in this all-important question ; but for my part 

 I cannot perceive any reasonable grounds for any alteration 

 whatever. Many will ask, Why should Grapes not be tasted as 

 well as other dessert fruit ? The question appears feasible enough 

 but in my experience I have always found the best coloured 

 ■Grapes to be of the best flavour— far before those of more inferior 

 colour ; and so long has it been customary to judge Grapes by 

 then- colour, &c., that I think it will be long ere exhibitors will 

 reconcile thenselves to the system of having their Grapes tasted 



We are all aware that by far the greatest number of exhibitors 

 3>rmg their Grapes deficient in colour. This, I think, is owing 

 to the idea that when a Grape commences its colouring it 

 requires no farther care ; and not only does a Grape look well 

 when thoroughly coloured, but I think we cannot call it brought 

 to perfection unless it is so. — Habby. 



RAISING BEGONIA-LEAF AND OTHEE 

 CUTTINGS ON HOT-WATEE PIPES. 



Late last autumn I had some of the choicest kinds of 

 Begonias sent to me. Not having at the time a place I could 

 allot to them with a little bottom heat, I was rather at a loss 

 what to do with them. 



Just at the time I was about to start my winter crop of Cu- 

 cumbers, and being desirous to raise some plants from these 

 fine leaves, I took some old half-inch slates and placed pieces 

 on the hot- water pipes in the Cucumber-house. I filled some 

 60-size pots half full of potsherds, filling np the remainder with 

 leaf mould, a little fibry loam, and about half an inch of silver 

 sand on the top. 



I cut the leaves into wedge-shaped pieces, about an inch 

 an length, and inserted them in the sand as thickly as I could 

 and then placed the pots on the slate, where they obtained a 

 steady bottom heat. Some might think it was rather dry, and 

 so it would have been had I not sprinkled the slate over with 

 water two or three times daily. The cuttings wanted little or 

 no watering, the moisture of the house being ample. 



In a very short time each piece of leaf had produced a young 

 plant. As they had done so well I put in some more store 

 ■cuttings— such as of the Croton, Cissus discolor, Vincas, Clero- 

 •dendrons, Hibiscus, and many others, besides a lot of Lycopo- 

 •diums, &c., which struck in a comparatively short time. 



I potted them off when struck into 60-sized pots, and placed 



them again on the slates, where they soon made a rapid move, 

 and so did all the other plants above mentioned. 



I Boon found they wanted a shift, when I gave them a 48-pot, 

 and placed them again on the slates, where they grow very 

 luxuriantly and soon made large plants. I then removed them 

 to a rather cooler house, where they stood until Christmas. Then 

 some of them were placed in a silver vase and stood upon the 

 dining-table, and I think nothing at this season of the war- It 

 could look superior than a healthy, compact, and well-grqjgi^JV* I 

 Lycopodium. ^ ^^^"^^1 



Well, the time came for Chrysanthemums. As so°4fl^Hitt 

 shoots were 2 inches long I had them put in. I had twen^Wve 

 sorts and I filled twenty-five pots, as above stated about Begonias 

 — sticking the cuttings in as thickly as I could, and placing them 

 in the same house ; and in about fourteen days the pots were full 

 of roots. I potted them off, and placed them in another house 

 with a rather lower temperature. I then put in a batch of Ver- 

 benas, variegated Alyssum, Gazania splendens, Lobelia speciosa, 

 Tropajolum elegans, &e. I have begun in time no doubt, but 

 there is nothing like being in time when you can see a chance 

 before you. The Verbenas were put in on New Year's-day, 

 now they are all well rooted, are growing like weeds, and ready 

 for hardening-off by degrees. — J. B. C. P. 



PLANTING AND TEIMMING HOLLY AND 

 OTHEE EVEEGEEEN HEDGES. 



Ladx Geobgina Oaklet would be glad if the Editors 

 would answer the following questions:— 1, What is the best 

 time to plant a Holly hedge ? 2, What is the best time to trim 

 a Holly hedge, old and overgrown ? 3, What is the best time 

 to trim a Laurel hedge, old and overgrown ? 4, Can old Laurus- 

 tinuses be moved with safety, which have been kept low, having 

 formed a thick hedge ? — Lisbume Souse. 



[The beBt time to plant a Holly hedge in most parts of Eng- 

 land is the last week in August and the first week in September, 

 or as soon after as the first heavy rain occurs subsequently to 

 the heat of AuguBt. If the rain poured down in torrents any 

 time after the 20th of August, we would begin planting Hollies, 

 Laurustinuses, Portugal Laurels, and such difficult evergreens, 

 and we would wait for the rain till the 20th of September, but 

 no longer. The next best time to move Hollies under 10 feet in 

 height, and Laurustinuses under 5 feet high, is the laBt fortnight 

 of May, and the first fortnight of June. Any day, however, 

 from the 20th of May to the 20th of August is far better for re- 

 moving large evergreens than any day from the end of October 

 to the end of April. 



The middle of April is the best time to trim a Holly hedge, 

 but the middle of May is better for trimming a hedge of Laurus- 

 tinus. All other evergreens are better trimmed between the 

 middle of April and the middle of May, and again to have " a 

 look-over " in July. 



Old Laurustinuses are difficult to move, but you have no 

 need to fear, as you have a certainty of success if you order the 

 old plants in the old hedge to have the roots cut down on both 

 sides of the hedge any time in April — say to open a trench on 

 each side of the hedge as if for lifting the plants, and after 

 cutting all the side Bhoots straight down to fill-in the trenches. 

 A mass of fibrous new roots will take possession of the new soil 

 during the summer, and in the autumn the plants will take up 

 the same, almost as if they were out of plant-tubs and almost as 

 safely. The same treatment is applicable to Hollies. Hedges 

 of common Laurel may be made any time from September to 

 June, but not Portugal Laurel hedges. Under the above treat- 

 ment you need not entertain ihe least fears about your Holly 

 and Laurustinus.] 



PLANTING PAMPAS GEASS. 



What is the best season for transplanting Pampas Grass, and 

 can the transplanting be done safely in the spring? — M. B. 



[April is the best month in the year for transplanting large 

 plants of the Pampas Grass, and the middle of May is the best 

 time to turn Pampas Grass out of pots. Large plants of it are 

 very easy to move — almost as easy as rhubarb plants. They 

 carry very large balls, and the balls are full of roots, and almost 

 as dry in most soils as a pot ball that has received no water for 

 a long time. Removing the largest plant of Pampas Grass in 



