248 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Marob. 31, 1863. 



varietieB of Dahlias of whioh it is desirable to have a good 

 stock. Sow choice Ranunculus seed in shallow pans or boxes ; 

 cover the seed as lightly as possible, and place them in a cool 

 frame. This is a good time to strike cuttings of Pansies ; put 

 them in round the aides of small pots, plunge in sand on a north 

 border and cover with a hand-glass. 



MHJIT GARDEN. 



The season for disbudding fruit trees is fast approaching. 

 The importance of this operation is generally acknowledged, 

 and upon its proper performance mainly depends the produc- 

 tion of a proper quantity of clean healthy wood of the best 

 quality. J£very tree iu a good soil is capable of producing and 

 bringing to perfection that quantity of wood and number of 

 fruit which is proportionate to its age and the healthy condition 

 of its roots : consequently, if by carefully thinning the fruit, 

 and removal of superfluous shoots, the fluid is directed to all 

 parts of the tree at nearly equal distances, the result will be that 

 each shoot will have the power of drawing to itself that amount 

 of sap which is necessary for its healthy support. Employ all 

 available means of affording efficient protection to early wall 

 trees. Whatever material be employed it should be devised that 

 it may be speedily removed at will, to allow the trees the advan- 

 tage of fine weather. 



STOVE. 



Here at this time much is to be done in the way of timely 

 potting, and applying weak manure water to those plants now 

 making their growth and filling their pots with roots. Shut-up 

 a high temperature rather early in the afternoon, and use the 

 syringe liberally. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



The great proportion of greenhouse plants are now in activity, 

 and very much depends on the treatment they receive at this 

 time. The practice of dwarfing trees, shrubs, &c, which the 

 Chinese pursue with such assiduity, is diametrically opposed to 

 our method, which generally consists in developing things to 

 their utmost power of expansion ; yet, admitting the absurdity 

 of a fashion that would strive against Nature, we might, never- 

 theless, profit by a lesson from them when, restricted in space, 

 we are yet compelled to retain a certain number of decorative 

 greenhouse plants, which, if permitted to increase in size, would 

 occupy an unfair proportion of the plant-house. It becomes 

 then necessary to adopt the Chinaman's custom, and restrict 

 those circumstances that conduce to luxuriant growth ; and in 

 some cases, still following his practice, use the pruning-knife to 

 both branch and root, to adapt the unfortunate subject to the 

 limited accommodation. This is a trying period for the conser- 

 vatory inmates, at least for those of delicate habit, and a slight 

 shading may not be amiss for an hour or two on very sunny 

 days. See that twiners which are starting into growth are kept 

 free from insects, as theBe, if allowed to gain a footing upon the 

 young tender shoots, will soon do a vast amount of mischief. 

 Large plants of Brugmansia that have been kept dry and resting 

 through the winter should now be pruned back, shaken out and 

 repotted in readiness to be turned out of doors in a sheltered 

 situation, where they form beautiful objects in the late summer 

 and autumn months. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



At this period it is of much importance to have a dung-bed 

 or two of a very moderate character fitted-up for the purpose 

 of cooling-down fresh-struck cuttings, hardening annuals, and 

 receiving plants from either the stove or the greenhouse ; for, in 

 consequence of liberal shifts in these departments, and the 

 rapidly increasing size of Cinerarias, Pelargoniums, &c, some- 

 thing will of necessity have to be removed, and a cold frame is 

 insufficient for some of these tribes. Look well to the propa- 

 gation of bedding-out plants. See that such climbers as Khodo- 

 chiton, Maurandya, Lophospermum, Tropseolums, &c, are pro- 

 pagated and cultivated for blanks or trellising, &c. W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 

 And Buch a glorious week for March dust, which the old 

 proverb tells ub is more valuable than gold dust to the com- 

 munity, and more valuable even to the agriculturist than to the 

 gardener, as the farmer gets in now the greater part of his seeds 

 tor the season, whilst the gardener must sow only a little bit of 

 many things at a time, to keep up a continuous fresh supply. 

 ut course, there is a main crop of Onions to be sown, and the 



weather was so tempting that we sowed a good portion of them, 

 and a first instalment of Carrots, and just a little bit of Beet- 

 root to come in early. Where young Onions are a desideratum 

 there must, as with us, be a sowing at least every month during 

 the summer, and young Carrots are bo much sweeter and so 

 much less likely to be affected by the worm, that several sowings 

 up to June, and again a few Early Horns in September, wiil 

 enable the gardener to keep on better terms with the cook, just 

 because of the reaction of commendations of everything being " so 

 nice" from the dining-room. April is generally early enough for 

 Carrots, and the end of April quite time enough for Beetroot, 

 Salsafy, &c, but a few heads of forward Beet are use'ul, even 

 Bhould a part of it run. Threw a little lime and soot over the 

 Carrot and Onion ground, to keep worms and slugs at a dis- 

 tance. Placed spruce boughs, from which the leaves had fallen, 

 over rows of Peas, which partridges and other birds Beemed 

 resolved Bhould not get above the ground. If that does not 

 stop them, must place narrow bands of netting over them. 

 Singular enough, the kinds molested are fine Marrows ; as yet 

 the birds have let Frames and Dickson's Favourite alone, so, 

 perhaps, there may be as much difference in the foliage as in the 

 Peas. When staked, and a few bushy twigs stuck along the 

 bottom on each side of the rows, the birds generally let them 

 alone until they are fit for the table. Gave a good watering 

 with manure water to Cauliflowers under hand-lights, and gave 

 them an earthing-up. Watered those also planted out in the open 

 air. Pricked-out Cauliflowers and Lettuces that were scattered 

 on the surface of an early Carrot-bed under glass. Sowed 

 more Kidney Beans. Looked over those bearing frequently, 

 so that no pod should become too old, as that would be 

 double waste ; the pods being useless, and one such pod exhaust- 

 ing the plant more than four or half a dozen when in a nice 

 young state. Syringed in the afternoon with clear soot water, 

 to keep all trace of the thrips, &c, at a distance, this water being 

 as much disliked by the vermin as it is relished by the plants. 

 Removed Potatoes in pots under a little protection, turning 

 them carefully out of the pots, and setting the balls in leaf 

 mould, as a number will yet be produced, and the first bed will 

 soon be fit for use. Hoed and raked Asparagus and Sea-kale 

 beds, and threw a dusting of salt over them. As the latter is 

 now coming strong, put two or three dozen of pots over a part, 

 and a piece of turf over the hole in the top, and a little earth 

 round the bottom to keep out light, and a few armfuls of dry 

 litter over the pots ; for if a sharp frost come, and the pots be 

 exposed entirely, and the Sea-kale 4 inches high, and close to 

 the sides of the pot, it would be much injured, although it 

 would take no harm if fully exposed. 



Planted out the remainder of winter Onions. We never do 

 much with them when we leave them where sown in September, 

 they always bulb better for the transplanting. Also, did the 

 same with Bmall sets of Shallots and Garlic, though in most 

 grounds we prefer autumn planting, though they do well with 

 us even after this time. Cleared off a quarter of Cabbage stalks, 

 and laid out the grounds into beds 4 feet wide, with ridges 

 between, and put several inches of half-rotten leaves in the 

 trenches for want of better, which will come in ultimately for 

 Celery, and in a few days will be used in the meantime for turn- 

 ing out great numbers of bedding plants. Pricked out Celery 

 into pots and boxes, and sowed for succession in a mild heat. 

 Planted out a second lot of Cucumbers. Removed the litter and 

 earth from Globe Artichokes, and after removing some sucker- 

 roots for a fresh row, will dung and fork the ground round them. 

 This winter wo expect none will be injured by the frost ; but, 

 nevertheless, we range ourselves among the protectors. We do 

 not make muoh of a job of it, however ; merely place Borne long 

 litter round the plants somewhat tightly, and then throw some 

 spadefuls of earth from between the rows on. and among the 

 litter to keep it from blowing about, and thin fork over the 

 surface of the ground. If the frost should prove very intense, a 

 barrowload or two of litter thrown over the ground will prevent 

 the ground being much frozen. The mere forking of the ground 

 lessens the danger from damping. Sowed in shallow drills the 

 main crop of Parsley out of doors ; also, Chervil and several 

 kinds of herbs — as Borage, Burnet, Caraway ; and some others 

 sowed in boxes under protection, as Thyme, as the ground was 

 rather rough for such Bmall seeds. Sowed also in rows, 2 feet 

 apart, a good piece of Sea-kale and Asparagus on a north border 

 for want of a better. In such a place the Sea-kale will be strong 

 in two years, and the Asparagus will be transplanted. Threw 

 charred-heap-and-ashea-material over Radishes, Turnips, &c. 



