April 28, 1863. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



317 



years, and if well laid down in the first instance no further 

 trouble is required with them. Beans, earth-up the early cropB, 

 and where they were put in the ground the latter end of last 

 year, they should be dug between with a fork. Make another 

 sowing. Proccoli, all the late sorts to be sown. Cauliflower, 

 raise the hand-glasses and loosen the soil between the plants, 

 after which give them a good soaking with manure water. Some 

 of the forwardeat of the early-sown Cauliflowers and Cabbage 

 plants will now be in a fit state for final transplanting, which 

 should be done the first favourable opportunity, and in the 

 event of dry weather continuing they must be kept well sup- 

 plied with water. Celery, proceed with the pricking-out of 

 young seedlings, as also the young seedlings of Brussels Sprouts, 

 Savoys, Broccoli, &c, as they become large enough to handle. 

 Lettuce, water the early ones if necessary, and plant out some of 

 the plants raised in the frames or houses. Tie-up for blanching 

 a few of the largest Bath Cos that have stood through the 

 winter. These to be kept well supplied with water during dry 

 weather in order induce rapid growth, which is essential to the 

 production of that tender crispness so prized in this variety. 

 LeeJcs, transplant from the seed-bed as soon as they are large 

 enough, in rows 18 inches apart and 9 inches plant from plant. 

 The soil cannot be too rich. Peas, make another sowing of two 

 or three different varieties according to the consumption. Con- 

 tinue to earth-up and stake the earlier crops ; but previous to 

 earthing-up let them be well thinned-out if too thick. This is a 

 more important consideration than is generally allowed. We 

 often sow thick in order to insure a crop, but if all come up 

 and are left, they will grow certainly and bloom and pro- 

 duce a number of small pods, but after a gathering or two they 

 are gone : whereas, if well thinned out a greater weight of finer 

 Peas is produced and they will continue to grow and bloom so 

 as to produce a succession. Potatoes, hoe between the early 

 crops as soon as they are above ground. Scarlet Runners, sow 

 lull crops, and also Dwarf Kidney Beans. Spinach, make another 

 sowing the latter end of the week. Attend to the thinning of 

 the early crops. Turnips, where there are any grown in frames 

 they will require watering in dry weather, which will prevent 

 them becoming hot and hard. The present dry weather is par- 

 ticularly favourable for the destruction of weeds, and it should 

 not be lost sight of; for, be it remembered, the destruction 

 of one weed now is destroying what would shortly be the parent • 

 of many. The same may be said of insects. 

 ELOWEK GAEDEN. 

 The bright, beautiful, and varied hues of lovely green now 

 worn by trees and shrubs, the fresh verdure of the lawn, the 

 choral harmony of the feathered tribes, the bursting buds— all 

 contribute to render this a delightful and most enjoyable 

 month. To the gardener, whether amateur or professional, it is 

 full of promise ; already in his mind's eye he views his gay and 

 odoriferous parterre, his trees replete with luscious fruits ; and 

 while expressing a devout wish that Flora and Pomona may 

 reward his zealous care, he feels some misgiving as to thoso 

 blasting visitations of destructive insects vaguely denominated 

 blight. He recollects that his fairest Roses may have " tbe worm 

 i' the bud," and trembles when he remembers that the aphides 

 sometimes produce sixteen generations in one season. Let all 

 preparations be made for the busy time of bedding-out ; deter- 

 mine your plans as to height and colour; pay particular atten- 

 tion to the arrangement of the latter. A flower garden may be 

 richly furnished with plants, but be very ineffective if the colours 

 are badly arranged. For producing brilliant effects in masses 

 reject particoloured flowers ; such are never effective. Use pure 

 and decided colours— such as brilliant scarlet, pure white, deep 

 purple, bright yellow, &c. Take care not to mix plants which 

 are of doubtful duration when in bloom with those of a more 

 permanent character, remembering always that the beauty of a 

 formal flower garden depends upon its being in all its details a 

 work of art in which no blemish should occur. There must 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORS'. 

 Continue the necessary attentions to Fuchsias and other soft- 

 wooded plants, which will be required for the conservatory ; 

 also, the plants that are now making active growth should be 

 liberally supplied witli water. Those growing in prepared borders 

 to be examined to see that the roots are kept sufficiently moist. 

 Take the opportunity of an early hour in the morning to give a 

 good washing with the syringe to everything excepting the plants 

 in bloom. Kemove decayed leaves and flowers as they appear. 

 Young specimens of greenhouse hardwooded plantB to be kept as 

 moist and warm as can be done without inducing weak growth. 



STOVE. 

 Attend to the training the shoots of twiners as they advance 

 in growth, and do not allow them to get entangled before giving 

 attention. Also, attend to the stopping and training of other 

 plants, and afford free-growing subjects plenty of pot-room. 

 Persevere in keeping down insects, which, if allowed, will pro- 

 gress with great rapidity. Proceed with repotting Orchids as 

 they may require it. Do not use the syringe too freely among 

 those starting into growth, but keep the atmosphere thoroughly 

 moist. W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GABDEN. 

 Proceeded with staking Peas as opportunity offered. Some 

 of these having between them two rows of Broccoli not yet 

 finished, cut off a number of the leaves and bent the plants 

 slightly to each other to relieve the rows of Peas. Forked the 

 ground slightly before staking, and as soon as the Broccoli and 

 other Greens are wholly removed will fork the ground all over to 

 let sun and moisture freely into the soil. Watered those fit to 

 gather in orchard-house, and the earliest succession of dwarfs at 

 the foot of walls. Sowed succession of Broad Beans and Peas. 

 The ground being rather rough and poor where the latter were to 

 be sown, dug it well again, incorporating some rotten leaf mould 

 and leaving the place hollow so that rains may be retained, and 

 waterings given if necessary, whilst the deep stirring will dis- 

 pense with stagnant moisture — one fruitful source of mildew. 

 Though the Peas will thus, when covered, seem to be in a 

 shallow rounded trench, they will be covered no more than 

 usual — say 2 inches, as we have no faith in deep covering. A 

 shrewd practitioner was resolved to have early Peas, save them 

 from the frost, and get rid of all the trouble of earthing them up, 

 by sowing them from 9 to 12 inches deep ; and in the two latter 

 objects he succeeded admirably, as he was never troubled with 

 them above ground at all. 



Sowed Scarlet Runners, covering them slightly with light soil 

 mixed with burnt charred earth and lime to keep slugs and 

 worms from them. Sowed Dwarf Kidney Beans in boxes, to 

 be transplanted, as the soil is not warm enough for them 

 out of doors yet, and the weather though fine is getting 

 colder. Expected rain after the high winds of Wednesday, 

 hut little or none has come. In about a week will sow the 

 main crop of Beet, and a succession of Carrots. The ground 

 being dry on the surface, neither the first-sown Carrots, Par- 

 snips, nor Onions, are yet rowed clearly enough to admit of 

 hoeing. If rain do not come soon will slightly roll the Onion- 

 quarter to firm the earth about the young seedlingB. A slight 

 surface-hoeing afterwards will make them loose enough. Sowed 

 succession of Onions, Lettuces, &c, for salading, and find the 

 warm weather has brought Lettuces and Cucumbers into demand. 

 Pruned and regulated the latter in order that the plants bearing 

 freely should not exhaust themselves by having too many fruit 

 at a time. 



Watered Mushroom-beds in Mushroom-house. Will prepare 

 some rough stuff for beds out of doors under a thatched roof, 

 and open in front, as described last year. Planted out last 



Planted out Cauli- 



„ , lot of Potatoes on a poor piece of ground. - 



be high keeping, symmetry, judicious arrangements of colours, flowers that had previously been pricked out, lifting the nice 



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traceable to fixed principles, or it will not form a satisfactory 

 whole. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 

 Proceed with the moderate disbudding of Peaches and Apricots. 

 Plums will now require a share of attention in this way by re- 

 moving all the foreright shoots from the young wood, taking 

 care not to leave more than can be kept well nailed-in without 

 crowding. Continue to remove all superfluous wood from Vines. 

 Stir the surface of the earth well amongst Strawberry plants, 

 and if in a very dry state, give them a liberal supply of water. 



plants with balls so as not to feel the moving ; and though this 

 takes more time than using the dibber, there is no flagging and 

 welting after planting. Took pots of herbs that had been sown 

 under glass to harden-off, and beat up rows and beds of herbs 

 always in demand — as Sage, Mint, &c. The best time to make 

 a fresh bed of the latter, is when the fresh shoots are about 

 2 inches high. These, slipped off 1 inch below the ground and 

 planted in well-pulverised rather rich soil, about 4 or 5 inches 

 apart, will make a fine green bed in the autumn for late Peas. 

 In many soils Mint soon dies out, and, therefore, it is wise tc 



