J une 2, 1863. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



401 



cover up a large forcing-house with protecting materials to 

 prevent the inmates from being chilled. The trouble in renewing, 

 and the limited supply of dung at command, have done much to 

 cause cultivators to look out for something more lasting, and as 

 near resembling a natural system of heating as possible. Still 

 all our aged practitioners insist on there being nothing like a 

 bed of fermenting materials to give plants a start, by promoting 

 root-action before leaf development commences. 



Dr. Haley, of Edinburgh, published a treatise on heating 

 hotbeds by the steam of hot water about 1750, which was trans- 

 lated into French and again translated into English, appearing 

 in the "London Magazine" for 1755 as a new plan for heating 

 hotbeds, with a foreign signature attached to ifc. The system 

 consisted of a boiler to generate steam, and stone pipes with 

 uncemented joints heated the bed. It would appear from this 

 that the chief aim of cultivators of that date was their desire to 

 produce an apparatus that would give the results of a hotbed in 

 perpetuity without any of the trouble and inconveniences of a 

 bed heated by fermenting materials. Steam, however, was a 

 very unmanageable agent, and though some people did very well 

 with it, yet others barely got their plants into a fair way, and 

 were just beginning to understand the system, when by some 

 oversight a valve became choked, and the plants that were in a 

 flourishing state the night before were found scalded ; the boiler 

 was rent into fragments, and the anticipations of the operator 

 frustrated. 



Eluee, the medium through which hot air is conveyed, are of 

 remote antiquity, and were introduced into this country for 

 garden structures at the period when D utch gardens were in vogue. 

 Flues were first used to keep the frost out of the greenhouses of 

 that date, and to prevent the frost destroying such plants as 

 Eerria japonica, Pceony Moutan, and Aucuba japonica. They 

 were constructed similarly to what they are now, and although 

 that mode of heating was applied to the cultivation of plants re- 

 quiring a high temperature, yet the flue remained in its almost 

 original condition, or unimproved. At no period were gardeners 

 very partial to this mode of heating, for we find them heating 

 their hotbeds for Pines, and growing them by dung heat satis- 

 factorily without a flue at all. Vines, too, were brought forward 

 by a bed of fermenting materials, the flue being only used as an 

 auxiliary to ripen off the fruit. Dung, tanner's bark, &c, were 

 more or less used to promote warmth in the first stages of early 

 forcing, for very obvious reasons — the heat was moister than 

 that of a flue, became more equally diffused through the house, and 

 was not liable to burn the plants at one end and starve those at 

 the other. Besides, flues are liable to dry the air too much, 

 and so, instead of conducing to healthy development, may prove 

 baneful by drying up the juices of the plants, and unsatisfactory 

 in their results. 



Heating by hot water was not much in vogue until it became 

 known through Loudon's' " Gardeners' Magazine." Its cost 

 was a hindrance to its general application ; hut still it gained 

 ground, and is now generally adopted. 



On these two latter modes of heating garden structures I 



propose to offer a few remarks. I shall not attempt to disguise 



my prepossession in favour of hot water, nor will I say one word 



more about either than has been confirmed by experience. — G. A. 



( To be continued.) 



GRAPES AND OTHER GARDEN PRODUCE IN 



AUSTRALIA. 



Feom correspondence received by the last mail, we find that 

 the cultivation of the Vine is likely to become a most important 

 branch of industry in the Australian colonies. The area adapted 

 for the growth of this plant is practically unlimited, and we 

 believe no pursuit can be entered upon that promises more 

 certain remuneration to an industrious and enterprising person 

 possessed of a little capital. The slopes of the ranges seem 

 almost as if designed especially by nature for the Grape, and it is 

 not surprising that the experiments that have been tried have 

 proved remarkably successful. Several parties in the colony of 

 Victoria have fenced in from 50 to 100 acres for the cultivation 

 of the Grape, and we know of parties having 80 acres in full 

 bearing. Wine-presses are being erected capable of pressing 

 10 to 15 cwt. of fruit at one time. There is one vineyard a.one, 

 the produce of which will amount to upwards of 200 hogsheads 

 this season, the entire crop of which has been sold to one wine- 

 merchant. The price of the colonial wine is 16s. per dozen. The 



sorts usually cultivated are Black Hambrurgh, Black Prince, 

 Muscat of Alexandra, Black St. Peter's, &c. Tne bunches usually 

 grow very large, somo have weighed as much as 10 to 11 lbs. each. 

 The individual berries attain considerable dimensions, many being 

 nearly as large as black Plums. With such facts before us we 

 can more readily credit the tales of eastern travellers about the 

 monstrous products of the Syrian vineyards. The mode of 

 cultivation iB very different from that pursued in England ; the 

 Vines are planted about 5 feet apart, and trained in a similar way 

 to espalier Apple trees. There are upwards of 4000 acres em- 

 ployed in growing Grapes in this colony. 



Tobacco also is being largely cultivated and with tolerable 

 success, but a great drawback is that the rainy season interferes 

 with the drying it, so that they are obliged to reBOrt to artificial 

 means, which injures the quality. 



Some of the Chinese diggers have just commenced to grow 

 ginger, and it is said by the growers to be in quantity and 

 quality equal to that grown in China, which is the native habitat 

 of the root. — W. P., Jun., Camborne. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GABDEN. 

 CoNTlNTrE to thin the crops that require it whilst they are 

 small, and in every case where practicable loosen the soil about 

 them. If dry give them a goo*d watering, when the soil being 

 loose its beneficial effects will be so much the greater. Basil 

 and also Marjoram that have been sown in beds to be thinned 

 out to about 6 inches plant from plant. Beans, make another 

 sowing. Top the most forward, if not yet done. Beet, make 

 a small Bowing of Red. When it is sown early in rich soil, it 

 sometimes becomes too large and coar.-e, and does not retain its 

 colour in boiling, nor looks so well in salad, as that which is 

 smaller of the same variety. Carrots, make a small Bowing of 

 Early Horn. Cabbage, sow a little seed for autumn produce. 

 Some of the smaller sorts should be preferred for this sowing. 

 Cauliflowers, plant out some from the first sowing in the open 

 ground. A small quantity planted from two or three sowings 

 will keep up a succession better than the small stunted plants 

 of very early sowings. Cucumber s, peg down the plants on the 

 ridges as they advance in growth, and when the hand-glasses will 

 no longer contain them, Bet these on three bricks placed edge- 

 ways or on cratch sticks. When they require water give it to 

 them milkwarm early in the day. Onions, after thinning loosen 

 the soil between the rows, and if the weather is dry give them a 

 thorough watering. The thinnings of the beds to be planted out 

 and to be watered every night if the weather is dry until they 

 take fresh roothold. This must be particularly attended to, as 

 the roots should be very near the surface. Peas, the last sowing 

 of Knight's Dwarf to be made, as it is longer in coming into 

 bearing than any other. Continue to earth-up and stick the 

 advancing crops. If the pods of the early crop do not fill well 

 in consequence of drought, give them one good root-soaking 

 which will be sufficient for them while they last. The method 

 frequently pursued ol giving plants in the open ground a " small 

 drop " of water every evening or morning cannot be too much 

 deprecated, such sprinklings cake the ground and lower the 

 temperature of the soil without any corresponding benefit to the 

 plants. Radishes, make another sowing of the various sorts. 

 Savoys, plant out some of the early sowing. The dwarf sorts 

 may be planted at 1£ foot apart in the rows, the rows to be 

 2 feet from each other. The larger sorts to he 2 feet from each 

 other in the rows, and the rows 2| feet apart. Tomatoes, as 

 they are usually planted under a south wall where they receive 

 but little benefit from a passing shower, they Bhould be oc- 

 casionally watered and kept mulched with short litter. Nail 

 and stop the shoots as they advance in growth. Hoe, rake, 

 sweep, and keep every part of the garden clean. 



ELOWER GABDEIC. 



Pay particular attention to the stirring of the soil amongst the 

 plants in beds and borders. This will be attended with the beBt 

 results ; let it be continued until the plants begin to grow and cover 

 the surface of the bed, when it should be discontinued. Be sure 

 that plants growing in vases, baskets, See., are properly attended 

 to, and thoroughly watered at the close of these hot days. A 

 full sowing to be made of Brompton Stocks and all biennials for 

 the flower garden. Make a successional sowing of some of the 

 choicest hardy annuals for autumn-flowering. Hollyhocks to be 



