298 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AM) COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[April 21, 1863. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAEDEX. 

 Whebe Broccoli and Winter Greens are coming off, the 

 ground should be deeply trenched, the stems heing laid at the 

 bottom and quicklime strewed over them ; also, if the ground is 

 intended to be again planted with any of the Brassica tribe, it 

 should have some manure incorporated with it, but it is best 

 at all times to change the crops as far as practicable. Capsicums, 

 repot the plants of the larger varieties intended for turning out 

 next month. Harden them off when they have taken fresh root- 

 hold. The small sort generally called Chilies, should also be 

 potted in rich soil as they require, and to be kept in a stove or 

 warm house. Carrots, the frames may be removed from the 

 early-sowing if required for other purposes ; thin and water 

 them when necessary. Cauliflowers, keep the ground well moved 

 about them, and also about the Cabbages, and lose no oppor- 

 tunity of destroying slugs. Celery, some of the earliest-sowing 

 that has been pricked into boxes may now be planted in a frame. 

 No artificial heat is required ; but the lights should remain on in 

 cold wet weather. Prick out the successional sowings. Ilwarf 

 Kidney Beans, sow on a warm sheltered border; also, a few 

 Scarlet Runners and Haricot Beans, but these succeed so well 

 transplanted that it is best to provide for contingencies by sowing 

 them in pots or boxes, and germinating them under gloss. When 

 well up remove them to the open air, and cover at night, and 

 transplant them about the beginning of the second week in May. 

 They will come into bearing more than a week before those sown 

 in the open ground, and will continue to bear quite as long; 

 add to this the certainty of a crop, and the facility of protecting 

 them in the earlier stages when they are so apt to be nipped by 

 the spring frosts. Lettuce, forward the spring-sown plants where 

 there is a scarcity of autumn-sown ones. Water them in dry 

 weather and keep the soil loose about them. Sow seed of the 

 Black-seeded, Bath, and Paris Cos. Onions, thin out the autumn- 

 sowing. The plants drawn out may be replanted into beds. 

 After they are thinned-out to regular distances loosen the soil 

 between them. Peas, earth-up and stick the advancing crops. 

 Before earthing use soot for the purposes we have before re- 

 commended. Radishes, make a sowiDg of Turnip-rooted kinds ; 

 water those in frames when dry, to preserve their tender and 

 mild qualities. Bed Beet, sow a full crop towards the end of 

 the week. 2?eiv Zealand Spinach may be sown in heat for trans- 

 planting in May; and Vegetable Marrows and the Ice Plant 

 where the latter is required for garnishing. 



XXOWEB GABDEN'. 

 Attend to the pruning of evergreen shrubs. Remove all dead 

 branches. Hoe, rake, and stir the surface of flower-borders, and 

 remove all decayed leaves and stalks of plants which have done 

 flowering. Thin out early-60wn annuals in open borders to from 

 four to six plants in each patch. Give standard and dwarf Roses 

 a good soaking with manure water, which will excite vigorous 

 growth and insure an abundant bloom. Autumnal-flowering 

 Roses, especially, delight in such treatment. Put out alpine plants 

 on rockwork. Shade Auriculas coming into bloom. Pot Carnations 

 and Picotees for blooming, and protect from heavy rains. Plant 

 out Pinks if not done. Make new beds of Pansies, and propagate 

 from side suckers under hand-glasses, shading them until rooted. 

 Plant out beds of Stocks, and sow German and other sorts for 

 autumn-blooming. Continue to propagate Dahlias, and shift 

 those previously struck, giving air freely to prevent drawing. 

 Divide and pot Lobelias, and Etart them in heat. 



PEUIT GABDEN. 

 All trees on walls should now be looked oter, and have their 

 wood thinned while in the bud, taking-off with the finger and 

 thumb all foreright buds, ar_d others that are not properly 

 situated for layingin. Thin also the young canes of Raspberries 

 to the number necessary for next year's crop. By this means 

 the canes will he stronger and ripen better. Also remove all the 

 foreright shoots from Apricot trees, and a portion of the side 

 shoots ; but endeavour to distinguish those which are likely to 

 form short fruit-bearing spurs, which must always be left. 



GBEENHOUSE AND CONSEBTATOBT. 

 Repot growing plants as may be necessary. Regularly shift 

 tender annuals, stake them, and give water in large quantities 

 as they advance, using liquid manure to the strong-growing 

 kinds. Forward Calceolarias and Cinerarias, and keep them 

 clear of insects. Water Camellias freely with weak manure water, 

 but do not let the water hang about their roots ; keep the shifted 



ones close and warm. Heaths and New Holland plants to have 

 abundance of air, and to be watered very carefully. Shift Pelar- 

 goniums wanted to flower in autumn, and propagate desirable 

 sorts. Eeep all climbers, whether in pot3 or otherwise, regularly 

 trained. Keep the conservatory as cool by day as is consistent 

 with the health of the inmates. This will keep the plants longer 

 in bloom, and be more enjoyable for parties inspecting them. 

 Shading must be resorted to in this bright weather. 



STOVE. 



Give a final shift to the early-flowering Achimenes, Cleroden- 

 drons, Gloriosas, Gesneras, BegoniaB, &c, and keep them close 

 for awhile, and water free-growing plants generally with weak 

 manure water. The last succession of Achimenes, to flower late 

 in the season, should now be placed in heat. Employ pans or 

 broad shallow pots for their general cultivation, and as they 

 require an abundant supply of moisture when they are in flower, 

 let the drainage be as efficient as possible in order that they may he 

 freely watered without stagnating and souring the soil. Orchids 

 are now progressing fast, and will require attention in shading 

 daily and gradually increasing the humidity of the house, so as to 

 keep pace with the increase of solar light and heat. ~l£ the roof is 

 covered with the creepers a little management in training them, 

 to effect a judicious shading of the plants beneath, will save 

 much trouble with external shading, which will only be needed 

 on very bright days, and add much to the appearance of the 

 house. 



PITS AND EBAMES. 



Clear out some of the hardier bedding-out plants which have 

 been under glass during winter, place them in some sheltered 

 situation, and where they can be readily protected in case of 

 frost or cold cutting winds. This will make room for some of 

 the young stuff potted-off some weeks ago. W. Exake. 



DOINGS OE THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GABDEN. 



Staking Peas, manure- watering Broccoli, Cabbage, &c, turn- 

 ing and banking-up linings of Cucumber-beds, liming Radishes, 

 Turnips, &c, and taking lots of the Greens tribe to the rubbieh- 

 heap, as we do not want to make a disagreeable smoke with 

 charring just now, and when covered over with rough earth 

 the stalks and tops will be good compost before the middle of 

 the winter. Threw dung, leaves, &c, together for a small fer- 

 menting-heap, and after this begin to be more independent of dung 

 for artificial heat, as the mowings from the lawn come in, as these 

 can be made to give a good heat for temporary purposes. General 

 work much the same as the last and previous weeks, 

 jr.uix gabden. 



Turned out all the Strawberry plants done fruiting, and planted 

 them for autumn and next year. Thinned Grapes. Average 

 temperature 60° at night, and 75° to 85° during the day when 

 the sun shines. Second vinery coming strong at a lower tem- 

 perature ; will regulate it as soon as possible, as all the rods are 

 not yet in their plaeas, as we were obliged to bend some to cause 

 them to break regularly. Late vinery has all the wood close to 

 the front of the house, and is kept as airy and cool as possible ; 

 but we have not been able to keep it from breaking, so that 

 we shall have to tie up to prevent rubbing off young shoots 

 and fruit, though to all appearance there will be plenty of the 

 latter to 6pare. We should like to keep them quiet as much as 

 possible for some time yet, so that the flowering would come on 

 in the hot weather, as after that time there should be less of any- 

 thing like a check ; and if this simple principle is kept in view, 

 amateurs may have pretty early Grapes in autumn with the 

 smallest expenditure from the coalheap. The shutting-in the 

 sun's rays is the best of all heat ; and the economist's motto, with 

 a combination of safety, should be, " Give air early in the morn- 

 ing, and take it away early in the afternoon." If coal is no object 

 leave air on constantly, but a rather close atmosphere at night is 

 less dangerous if air is given early in the morning ; and small 

 openings soon change the atmosphere of a house. Nipped the 

 shoots of Pigs when necessary, making sure of some stumpy 

 pieces to stand over the autumn, and watered them at the roots, 

 the crops being extra heavy. Thinned out any shoots to spare 

 in the Peach-house, and must thin the Strawberry-pots on 

 shelves ere long, as they tend to darken the house too much. 

 Laid out Melon-runners on the plan described last season. 

 Sowed a few more for late crops, having plenty in good-sized 

 pots to turn out as soon as room can be obtained, and had 



