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JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 



[ May 5, 1863. 



deciduous shrubs — as Roses, Maes, Honeysuckles, &e. — may by 

 proper treatment be made to bloom for several successive seasons : 

 select, therefore, the most suitable plants when removed from 

 the houses, and give them some kind of temporary shelter to 

 gradually harden their foliage. Those cramped for pok-room to 

 be shifted into pots a size larger in rich turfy loam ; towards the 

 end of the month plunge them in an open situation that the 

 wood may ripen early; those plants, from having been pre- 

 viously forced, will bloom earlier than the new Btock, of which 

 a portion each year should be potted to replace such as become 

 useless for further work. As soon as cold frames and pits are 

 clear of bedding stuff they should be occupied with young stock 

 of hardwooded plants, for the summer growth of which they are 

 better adapted than large houses. Fuchsias for late blooming 

 must not be kept too warm, they should be placed in a moist 

 shady house where they will grow much more freely than in a 

 high temperature. Conservatory-beds will require water, as 

 also all large plants in tubs— Camellias, particularly, being in 

 active growth will require a liberal supply ; a watering of manure 

 water will be advantageous. Cat down and place in a cold frame 

 the choicest Cinerarias for suckers, and put in a stock of Chry- 

 santhemum cuttings for autumn display. The different Ipomseas 

 and Thunbergias being subject to red spider Bhould be well 

 syringed, to prevent the pest gaining ground. Have an eye to 

 the propagation in due time of stock for succession or winter 

 flowering. Take care to secure cuttings of such plants as Clero- 

 dendrons, Poinsettias, Eranthemums, Erythrina, and of those 

 nseful winter-blooming plants Euphorbia jacquiniseflora and 

 Gesnera bulbosa. "Vy\ Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAEDEN. 



Still cold winds, a low barometer, and only threatening rains, 

 which now, in moderation, are much wanted. Run the Dutch 

 hoe among all advancing crops, to cut-up young weeds and pre- 

 vent cracking— such as among Cauliflowers, Cabbages, Potatoes, 

 Onions, &c. A little hail and snow and a low barometer are 

 signs that we shall get some rain ere long. Expecting it to come, 

 have had all our watercourses cleared" that we may preserve 

 what we can for watering purposes, as water is scarce with us. 

 Gave Cauliflowers a little manure water, to cause the heads to 

 come strong and dwarf. "We had set our hearts on having a 

 tank made with divisions for different kinds of manure water, 

 near to a large tank that takes the water from the roofs of certain 

 glass houses and sheds, but we did not succeed in our aim, and 

 did no better as to securing some large old casks ; those we have 

 used for the purpose being old oil-casks, and in use for the best 

 part of twenty years, but now so worn-out as to be unable to hold 

 water. 



Well, as we could not have what we wanted, we made shift with 

 what we could obtain ; for to be destitute of clear lime and soot 

 water, and manure water well fermented, appeared to us to be 

 almost as great an inconvenience as for a fish to attempt to get 

 comfortably along with a scarcity of pure water. Two modes pre- 

 sented themselves involving only a little labour, and little but the 

 expense of the labour. The first was to make a large trench or pond 

 with sloping sides, and cover the bottom and sides with stiff 

 puddled clay and tar, and some rough gravel beat into the sides of 

 the clay. This would have taken more.time than we could spare, 

 and it would have required us to have waited until the tar dried, 

 or the water might have had too much of it. The second mode 

 was to sink the old ricketty barrels, that had seen such long 

 service, in the ground, and make them waterproof there ; and 

 that was the plan resorted to. 



A deep trench was dug, deep enough for the top of the barrels 

 to be level with the surface, and wide enough to leave at 

 least 9 inches all round them. The surface soil was removed, 

 bat the clay below was saved for repacking round the barrels. 

 Each barrel in turn was handled as carefully as possible to pre- 

 vent it SOling to pieces. The bottom was then thickly painted 

 with tar outside. The place where it was to stand was pre- 

 pared with Boft clay mixed with tar, so that when set up there 

 was no chance of water getting out by the bottom. "We would 

 have tarred the inside, only we could not afford to wait for the 

 ta * ^drying. The outside of the barrel was, however, examined, 

 and all rents, fissures, and deficiencies filled up with stiff clay 

 putty, and then tarred heavily all over ; and, as the clay was being 

 rammed firmly against the barrel, at every layer of 4 inches or 



so a little tar was trickled round the barrel, so that when the 

 wood of the barrel is moro thoroughly rotten and decayed the 

 openings between the sides will still hold water. The surface of 

 the ground round the top of the barrels was of clay well beaten, 

 covered with a thin layer of tar, and then with a layer of sand, 

 which will become hard and firm. The whole looks so nice, and 

 the barrels are so much more easily filled and emptied, that we 

 are surprised we did not sink them years ago. The only disadvan- 

 tage is that we must place hurdles round them to prevent four- 

 footed or two-legged animals falling into them, if they should 

 go in a dark night where they have no business. 



Whilst on this subject we may hint that those who use liquid 

 manure made from sheep, deer, cow, or horse droppings would 

 act safely in pouring boiling water over them, and covering them 

 up with a lid some hours before filling up with common water. 

 The boiling water will scarcely leave anything alive in the drop- 

 pings. 



General routine with Cucumbers, Dwarf Kidney Beans, Peas, 

 &c, much the same as last week. Moved Tom Thumb Peas in 

 orchard-house that had done good service to the foot of a wall, 

 where they will come as often and as quick as wanted. Although 

 Peas are Peas we never think that those gathered under glass, 

 however open, and cool, and airy, are quite so good as those 

 obtained in the open air. Put small stakes to those planted out 

 in front of orchard-house now in full bloom. "Watered Dwarf 

 Kidney Beans behind them to cause them to come regularly. 

 Those in boxes will need planting-out soon. 

 EETTIT GAEDEN. 



Planted-outSfcrawberryplantsthathad been forced and the crop 

 gathered ; removed breastwood partially from Peaches, Apricots, 

 and also Pear trees ; kept houses at much the same temperature 

 as previously stated ; thinned shoots and stopped shoots on fruit 

 trees in houses ; drew a hand quite dry on sunny days over 

 bunches of Muscat Vines in bloom ; watered Eigs, and planted- 

 out more Melons as room could be had for them. 



PLANT DEPARTMENT. 



Shifted Geraniums, a few Perns, Enchsias, &c. ; moved more 

 Cinerarias and Primulas from conservatory, and replaced with 

 Euchsias and Pelargoniums ; potted Fancy Geraniums for beds ; 

 made cuttings of, and divided Dahlia roots ; planted a number 

 in a Blight hotbed, giving them about 3 inches square, and 

 leaving only one stem to each ; potted Gloxinias, Begonias, 

 especially fine-foliaged ones, also Browallias, Balsams, and pricked- 

 off numbers of Lobelias, and other small things. Turned out in 

 Celery-trenches great quantities of fresh-struck Verbenas, Gera- 

 niums, &c , putting them in sandy leaf mould and hardly 

 breaking the balls, for reasons previously given ; Watered Calceo- 

 larias and Geraniums formerly turned out, as the weather has 

 been so dry and parching. 



SLOWEE GAEDEN. 



Rolled, mowed, cut up Daisies with a long-handled double- 

 bladed daisy-knife, worth a dozen of daisy-rakes. Dug. down beds 

 in flower garden ; and as in Borne parterres that.-T.e wish to be 

 level, the ground had got considerably above the grass, took a 

 lot away, to secure the level character, and used it to dress 

 borders which are rather low, or to raise beds which we wish 

 to be in the pyramidal form. Calceolarias are now mostly 

 exposed night and day in their earth temporary beds. — R. P. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



P. & A. Smith, Dulwich. — Retail Catalogue of New and Sare 

 Plants. 



Blondeau-Dejussieu & Co., Beaune (Cote d'Or). — Notice 

 sur des Arbres, Arbrisseaux, Arbustes, Sj'c.,j>recieux ou nouvsaux. 



Henry May, Hope Nurseries, Bedale, Yorkshire. — Spring 

 Catalogue of Dahlias, Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, fyc. 



Pairhead & Son, 7, Borough Market, London. — Catalogue of 

 Dahlias for 1863. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



* # * We request that no one will write privately to tha depart- 

 mental writers of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage 

 Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they 

 are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All 

 communications should therefore be addressed solely to The 

 Editors of the "Journal of Horticulture, $c." 162, Meet 

 Street, London, H.C. 



