March 24, 1863. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



33T 



cuUuriBt, and possesses as fine a collection of out-door fruits, 

 I should think, as any gentleman in England. I said to him, 

 "Bow do you manage with the insect tribe with all your fruit?" 

 His ready answer was, " Oh, I am very much in the habit of 

 trusting to my friends the birds." " But do they not plunder 

 you of a great deal ? " " Well, of course they take their toll, 

 possibly more than some people would like ; but I am not at all 

 sure that they take more than they have a right to," was his 

 reply. 



May not the question, then, be resolved into an adaptation of 

 Loudon's advice as to Turnips and the turnip fly, " Sow enough 

 for the fly and yourself too?" I think it may, and, without 

 further argument, I have determined to try ; and at the risk of 

 heing considered Utopian or anything else, and without heeding 

 any amount of ridicule, I will give it a fair trial for at least a 

 year, and will then report to you the result. I have a small 

 garden here, containing a few dwarf standard Eigs just coming 

 into bearing (an immense temptation to birds), aB well as good 

 Jersey Pears, and other dwarf trees suitable lor a small garden, 

 and, contemplating a permanent residence here in the course of 

 the summer, I am about to complete my stock both of top and 

 bottom fruit, and I will make a point of increasing that stock 

 so as to allow my birds 25 per cent., and will sow seeds in 

 a like proportion. I will try hard to temper my fondnesB for 

 the feathered tribe wil h a firm resolve to keep the 75 per cent, for 

 myself and my friends, and I rather tbink the birds will have 

 to rise early in the morning for their share. 



I may add that I have bespoken a pair of gulls for day labourers 

 and an owl for night, and if I live the prescribed time I will 

 carefully report the result of my efforts. — H. 



I scarcely thought my experience, limited as it is to the 

 practice of allowing ducks to range in my garden, was sufficiently 

 extensive to be worth while recording in reply to your request for 

 information on the use of feathered helps in a garden. But I see 

 in your No. 101 a communication from R. Welch, Bristol, so 

 thoroughly and completely condemning duoks, along with others 

 of the feathered tribe, that I cannot refrain from saying that for 

 several year3 past I have made it a rule to allow ducks, at 

 various ages suitable to the season, to range at perfect liberty in 

 my garden. I would not be without them on any account, but 

 discrimination is required in admitting them. During the 

 winter months — say from the first severe frost up to the end of 

 February, or even into March, they may be admitted freely; 

 after that time the old ones must be rigidly excluded, and may 

 be allowed to run in the grass fields, where, during the breeding 

 season, they do an immense amount of good. 



So soon as you have ducklings they may run in the garden 

 freely instead of their parents until they are five or sis weeks 

 old, but not longer ; to be followed by others just hatched, up 

 to the same age. This will bring you probably up to the end of 

 May, or not later than the middle of June, when the flower- 

 borders with young plants, together with the several crops of 

 Strawberries and other fruits coming on, will require their 

 exclusion also. Of course, where they are indiscriminately 

 allowed to roam from one year's end to the other, they would 

 carry death and destruction before them ; but, admitted as I 

 have instanced them, I aver that they are of inestimable value. 



I first introduced ducks in consequence of the immense num- 

 ber of slugs and grubs with which I was troubled. These they 

 have completely and effectually exterminated. A duck of any 

 age will hunt out slugs and worms during the winter months. 

 As soon as ever, or even before, the breeding season commences, 

 they will consume every insect having life to be found in a 

 garden. I have seen them eat up greedily the largest worms, 

 clocks, Blugs, wireworms,, and, indeed, as I said before, every- 

 thing living — nothing comes wrong. The young ones, when 

 introduced, limit themselves to worms and slugs, of which they 

 are remarkably fond ; and it is very pleasing to watch a whole 

 brood of ducklings ranging the garden about a foot apart in 

 regular marching order, and wheeling round and back again as 

 soon as they reach the extremity. And, again, it is very amusing 

 to see an old duck in the winter mouths range up alongside 

 the Box-edgings, poking her bill wherever there is a chance of 

 a slug harbouring, and then running off to the Strawberry plants, 

 each of which will be examined in tire same minute manner. 



I introduced them originally from necessity, being a great 

 lover of my garden. Having benefited, by such introduction, I 

 have long since formed a liking for them also, and I cannot re- 



frain from thus recording the very great store I set upon them, 

 although I feel that to do them full justice would require, a. 

 much abler pen than mine. — W. P. M. 



woke: foe the week. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Cleati-off all the old stumps of Coleworts, Savoys, Brussels 

 Sprouts, Broccoli, &c, if not wanted for sprouts. This year up 

 to this time there is no lack of winter Greens, and young 

 Cabbages are forward and good. Articholtes, Globe, prepare a 

 fresh plantation if necessary, by deep trenching and highly, 

 manuring the soil. Asparagus, forking the beds should be pro- 

 ceeded with. Some soot and salt, may be sprinkled on them 

 and forked-in. They are excellent stimulants when used iu 

 small quantities. Beans, make another sowing. The Longpod 

 is a prolific sort ; hut the Green Windsor has the best appear- 

 ance when sent to table. Earth-up the early crops. Capsicums, 

 pot-off the young plants as soon as fit, and place them in a hot- 

 bed frame ; they are vert subject to the green fly, which should 

 be kept under by all means. Carrots, sow. The Early Horn 

 is a good sort both for early and late use, as it keeps equally 

 well with the long 6orts; and is much better adapted for many 

 soils than any of the others. Celery, prick out the early sown 

 in boxes or on a slight hotbed. When it has taken fresh root- 

 hold give it air at every favourable opportunity. Jerusalem 

 Artichokes, if not yet planted no time should be lost in putting 

 them in. Kidney Beans, make a sowing in pots. Lettuce, some 

 of the best plants that have been wintered in frames may now 

 be put out, some under a south wall and others in a more open 

 situation. Onions, sow the main crops. If large ones are 

 required, plant the very email bulbs of last year, or the autumn- 

 sown plants in very rich ground ; or large Onions can be had by 

 the following method. Well tread the ground, and lay 3 inches of 

 very rotten dung upon it ; on this bow the seed, and cover with a 

 little fine earth. Peas, stick the early crops as soon as they are 

 eai-thed-up. A few small hornbeam boughs with the leaves on 

 may be stuck on each side of the row. This will protect them 

 from frost and cold winds. Pot Herbs, see that fresh beds of 

 Thyme, Mint, Sage, Winter Savory, and other herbs are made. 

 They generally want renewing every year. Potatoes, plant a 

 good breadth of Elukes or any other good sorts. Protect Ash- 

 leaved Kidneys and other early varieties as soon as they appear 

 above ground. Sawdust is as good as anything, and it can be 

 raked off as soon as all danger of frost is over. Radishes, sow 

 for successional crops. The Turnip-rooted sort may now be 

 sown. Savoy, make a good sowing of the Dwarf Green, which 

 is the best for general purposes. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Complete any planting which circumstances compel you to do, 

 but otherwise do not choose this season. Remember there is no 

 time like early autumn. Prune Hoses, and, as a general rule, 

 the more severely you prune strong-growing Roses, the less they 

 are likely to flower. If not done previously, the beds, should 

 have a good dressing of rotten dung or liquid manure. The Rose 

 is a gross feeder. Complete the pruning and training of Cle- 

 matises, Jasmines, Bignonias, and other creepers on trellises. 

 Where you have gaps in Box-edgings insert pieces of Box to 

 mend them. These may be clipped in April. Complete the 

 boxing of beds and walks immediately ; let the Box be trimmed 

 neatly. Sweep and roll the lawns well, taking care that they are 

 closely cut down now, thus laying a good foundation for the 

 season. Nothing adds more to the beauty of a place than fine 

 smooth turf ; and where there is sufficient labour, it is a great 

 improvement to extirpate Daisies, whose flowers mar the effect 

 of a lawn very much. Retouch the gross edgings of the walks 

 with all care and precision, and turn old or add new gravel 

 where necessary, so that when your garden reaches the height 

 of its beauty, all its parts may be in the most perfect order. 

 Look over the beds planted with bulbs, and where necessary stir 

 the surface soil so as to keep it open and friable, and also to, 

 give it a clean, neat, fresh appearance. 



FRTXIT GARDEN. 



Einish the nailing of all wall trees. Tie down the branches 

 before the buds swell too far, of the Pear trees trained en 

 quetiouille. Protect blossoms with canvas, bunting, fir boughs,, 

 or fronds of Eerns. The covers may be taken off occasionally 

 on sunny days, and put on at night when frost is expected. 



