176 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ March 3, 1863. 



eeolarias, and they nip over bo much more than they eat, that 

 it seems as if they felt a pleasure in the mischief. Ah, well ! 

 we would he apt to become careless if we had everything our 

 own way, and had no battles to fight. 



Planted out Cucumbers in a small pit which is heated 

 by hot water, as in this sunless weather we cannot obtain 

 heat enough in a frame as yet, as we have little hut leaves to 

 depend on for the heat, and must use even them with economy. 

 We gave a section of this pit some time ago, 6 feet wide inside, 

 sunk narrow path at back, and narrow pit in front, two three- 

 inch pipes below, and two in front above, but separated from 

 the bed by a narrow brick wall. The only alteration this year 

 is forming simple ventilators in front, just opposite the lowest of 

 these top-heat pipes, and if a simpler plan can be devised, we 

 should like to hear of it. The ventilator is formed by knocking 

 out a heading brick in the front wall, below the centre of each 

 light, leaving the sides smooth, and having plugs or wooden 

 bricks the size of the opening, but the plugs made in a wedge- 

 shape, so that by merely moving them a little you can admit a 

 little fresh air, which gets heated by coming against the pipes 

 and the inside walls before rising through the general atmo- 

 sphere. A little of this air from these plugs will be left on 

 almost constantly, except in very severe weather, and thus not only 

 cause the air in the house to circulate hut freshen it as well. 

 Some of our friends who advocate Polmaise heating, contend 

 that it is the only plan by which the air in a confined atmo- 

 sphere can be made to circulate. But that is all a fallacy. In 

 a house heated by whatever means, the air is constantly in 

 motion, even when all the ventilators are shut. We have proved 

 this over and over again, with light down and bits of feathers. 

 No doubt Polmaise, or the drain system connected with it, adds 

 greatly to the force of the circulation. In this pit there are 

 cross drains from the pathway communicating with the space 

 shut in for the top-heat pipes, and when a strong heat is used 

 the draught at these open drains will pretty well extinguish a 

 candle, when all external air is as much as possible kept out. 



Removed Kidney Beans bearing from Vine-pit, as it was 

 so crowded we could not move about iu it, placed them in 

 another pit in a bed of hot leaves, and planted successions in 

 pots in the same place, preferring pots just now in order to 

 move them easily afterwards. Turned over ground intended 

 for Onions and Parsnips. Planted Shallots and winter Onions. 

 Sowed Radishes and Lettuces where they could have a little pro- 

 tection, and prepared for sowing Parsley. Placed some hand- 

 lights and boxes over Rhubarb out of doors to bring it on a little. 



EEUIT GABDEH". 

 Proceeded with pruning and nailing as opportunity offered ; 

 Looked after insects in Peach-house ; potted Melon plants, 

 having as yet no place to turn them out in, and stinting when 

 young does them no good ; looked over Strawberries on shelvss, 

 in every possible position, and if a few seemed likely to do little 

 good removed them at once. This is what few young men will 

 do, they will water and water a pot, whether it is worth the 

 watering or not. In this dull weather water in saucers is very 

 prejudicial ; but we said enough on this subject lately. The few 

 plants taken out as not showing well, will be useful in autumn. 

 At present they are turned out of their pots against the north 

 side of a fence, packed closely together, and a little rough leaf 

 mould placed among them, and when we have time we will plant 

 them out, and, most likely, obtain a good gathering from them 

 in September and October. 



Some Tines in pots, rather small, have been set inside of 

 other pots of rather larger size, and the latter half filled with 

 rough loam, and have been set in the early viner(r, as they 

 will come on before those on the rafters. These, though not 

 extra fine, have shown better than we expected at this early 

 season, as they received no preparation for early forcing, and 

 were merely grown last year in an open, cool, orchard-house. If 

 left to break in that house we have no doubt the shows, which 

 are very fair, would have been better. These are the plants 

 mentioned some time ago as being set in a small frame, with a 

 little bottom heat, and a ridge of horse-droppings all round, to 

 give them a steaming. These, forced with so little preparation, 

 convince us of what some of our readers Beem to he in doubt, 

 that fine autumn Grapes may be obtained from an orchard- 

 house, without any artificial heat whatever, whether the Grapes 

 be trained under the roof, or as pillars, or as bushes, or in the 

 raspberry style, provided they have plenty of light. Of course, 

 the brighter the summer and the autumn, the better will the 



wood be ripened. If planted out as bushes of different heights, 

 it would be well to have each plant in a pit or box of its own, so 

 that changes could be made without interfering with the general 

 planting. Havejust placed some small pots of cut-down plants 

 on the floor of a Peach-house, which we intended to treat in that 

 way ; but 



" The best-laid schemes of mice and men, 

 Gang aft aglee." 



The house in which they were to be grown is at present a vision 

 of the future. In all such hardy vineries, however, a simple 

 mode of heating would be an advantage, as then the Grapes 

 could be kept much longer in good condition, from the damps 

 of autumn being dispelled. Thoroughly washed, cleansed, and 

 limewashed the walls of late vineries, brought the Tines to 

 the front of the house, and then filled it with bedding plants 

 above and below. 



OBNAMENTAIi DEPARTMENT. 

 The rough leaf mould laid on the ridged-up fiower-beds was 

 not only well sweetened, but the birds and winds were sweeping 

 it over the lawn. Had it swept, the leaves turned-in by a 

 shallow Bpit, and the lawn well rolled and walk? rough-swept, 

 and then rolled when dry. When too close and level at thi3 

 Beason, places at all in the Bhade are apt to become green. There 

 is a great expense in nice gravel walks ; but, after all, nothing 

 seems so pleasant for continuous walking .exercise. Planted out 

 Anemones, Ranunculuses, Wallflowers, Sweet Williams, &e. 

 Commenced pruning Koses, cutting Laurels, &c. Planted also 

 some edgings of Cerastiums, just dibbing little bits as cuttings 

 about 4 inches apart. If all goes well, they will root in a month 

 or six weeks, and give little trouble. We planted a bed of this 

 and Tariegated Alyssum in the autumn of 1861. and found them 

 useful ; but this season we were not able to do it. We believe, 

 however, that planting now will answer as well, and with less 

 trouble. 



COUSEBYATOBY. 



This averages from 40° to 45° at night now, with a rise from 

 sunshine when we can get it. Gave more water to Camellias, 

 Azaleas, Cinerarias, Primulas, &c. Epacris done flowering Bhould 

 be pruned back aud in a few days taken to where there is more 

 heat, taking care not to cut into the old wood. Bulbs and 

 forced shrubs should have a close warm place at first, and if 

 brought from a hotbed in which the pots are plunged, the pots 

 should stand on the surface of the bed, aud have more air a 

 fiw days before moving. Hyacinths and TulipB opening wull 

 relish a little artificial manure. The artificial ones sold at the 

 ofiice are very useful for amateurs in small places, as they save 

 much trouble in messing and making up mixtures for them- 

 selves. In no case, however, should the quantity exceed the 

 printed directions. It will be safer to give the stimulus a little 

 weaker, and repeat the dose oftener, and to vary the manure at 

 times. Guano must be used for pot plants with great care, as 

 when thoroughly good it is a most powerful stimulant. The 

 superphosphate is one of the safest, either mixed with water or 

 a little dusted on the surface of a pot, to be washed-in by re- 

 peated waterings. Shifted the earliest Pelargoniums into their 

 flowering pots, and will use a wet day for training and tying-out 

 a little. Placed the plants in the second vinery, just showing 

 signB of moving, that the Geraniums may be a little closer and 

 warmer than they would be in the greenhouse. Stopped the 

 stronger shoots of those intended for late blooming. Potted-off 

 some to come in late that were struck late in autumn. Potted 

 also some Pink and Scarlet varieties to bloom in pots. Pruned 

 more Fuchsias, and Bet them in second vinery on the floor. The 

 first lot are now breaking, and when a little more advanced 

 will get rid of a good deal of the old soil and repot in fresh. 

 Potted-off lots of variegated Geraniums, moved a good lot of 

 the first, potted into moveable boxes so as to leave small pots at 

 liberty, as, though the common Scarlets do well put out into 

 beds, to be protected before planting-out time, the variegated 

 ones do beBt when they have a little ball beforehand. 



Proceeded as opportunity offered with taking off cuttings, 

 and hardening-off those already struck, that the fresh ones may 

 go into a hot place. Note here the great difference in striking 

 in spring and autumn. In the latter season all half-hardy plants 

 do beBt when plenty of time is given to them, and little or no 

 artificial heat used. In the spring, the plants being on the 

 move, will stand, nay, rather delight in an extra stimulus of 

 heat, and, therefore, cuttings of many things may now be made 

 into plants in as many days as weeks would be required in the 

 autumn. 



