Octoler 12, 1871. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



283 



although, unaltered in its notes, must doubtless be meant as an 

 expression of their grief. In some parts of Scotland it is in- 

 terpreted as signifying "Deil, deil, deil take ye"— that is, the 

 cruel nesters." 



WOEJK FOR THE WEEK. 



EITCHEN GARDEN. 



Continue to plant out strong plants for Coleworis, and sno- 

 cessions of the best plants sown in the season for standing as 

 spring Cabbage. Prick out a qaantity on sloping banks, &c., 

 for a reserve for making up deficiencies which may be caused 

 through the winter, and for planting successions in the spring. 

 Continue to prick out Cauliflowers as they become fit to handle, 

 and see that enough of all previously recommended vegetables is 

 provided. Take favourable opportunities at all times oJ earth- 

 ing-up Celery. See that it is quite dry, and the earth applied 

 in a healthy pulverised state. Should Celery become affected 

 ■with the fly dredge it with soot and charcoal dust. Endive 

 should be blanched in succession, and continue to plant it on 

 banks. Take up Carrots and store them in sand. See that the 

 Onions already stored are in good condition. Those who have 

 not already potted strong plants of Parsley in order to secure 

 a reserve in rough weather, should lose no time now in per- 

 forming it. 



FEUIT GAKDEN. 



Continue to collect and store away the late varieties of Pears 

 and Apples carefully, and see that those already stored are 

 in good condition. Walnuts which have been collected and have 

 sweated should now be placed in unglazed earthen pans which 

 are quite dry ; cover them with a piece of canvas or thick 

 brown paper, and about 1 inch of dry sand over it, then store 

 them in a moderately dry place, and as required for use in suc- 

 oession ; they should be placed for eight or ten days previously 

 in a damper place, which will freshen them and cause the inner 

 skin to peel off easily. Tliis is the best and easiest method of 

 keeping Walnuts, Filberts, and other nuts. See that the potted 

 Strawberries are secure from wet. Run a soft broom over the 

 Peach and Nectarine trees with great care, to take off just the 

 very ripest of the leaves. Pruning may be commenced amongst 

 Pears and Apples. Shreds should be prepared on wet days, as 

 well as labels for naming fruit trees. See that the old wall 

 nails are cleaned and prepared in readiness for use. Use every 

 possible means to well ripen the wood of Peach and Nectarine 

 trees, and where the walls are flued a little fire heat should be 

 applied until the leaves begin to fall freely. If the trees are 

 too much crowded with young wood every shoot that will not 

 be wanted at nailing time should be cut out, so as to expose 

 those left to all the light possible. Attend to former directions 

 as regards root-pruning, and where it is required let it be done 

 at once. Eoot-pruning, however, is not of much service where 

 the roots cannot strike down into the subsoil, and where this 

 is the case it will be better to lift over-luxuriant trees and con- 

 crete the bottom of the border, as cutting the horizontal roots, 

 although it may check the gross habit for a season, would not 

 induce a fruitful habit.- 



FLOWEK GAKDEN. 



Where evergreens are to be removed let it be done as soon as 

 circumstances will admit, for the most favourable season for 

 this sort of work will soon be past. The scarcer varieties of 

 variegated Geraniums should not be risked in beds too long ; 

 they had better be taken up and potted immediately the 

 weather becomes at all threatening. After potting it will be a 

 good plan to place them on a gentle bottom heat in a pit or 

 house, where the atmosphere can be kept sufficiently dry to 

 prevent the foliage being injured. So circumstanced they will 

 soon become established, when they may be stored away for the 

 ■winter in a cool dry house, where they will be out of the reach 

 of frost. Keep grass short and frequently rolled, so as in some 

 measure to prevent the growth of moss, and keep the surface 

 firm and smooth. Also roll gravel walks frequently in damp 

 weather, so as to render them smooth and comfortable to walk 

 on. Lose no time in planting offset Tulips, and any of the 

 main bulbs which do not appear to be in a healthy state. 

 Attend to the proper arrangement of the bulbs, and improve 

 the collection by the introduction of new varieties as much as 

 possible. Some do not like the trouble of growing breeder or 

 self Tulips. Now, this appears a most interesting department 

 of the fancy, for by this means the amateur becomes possessed 

 of the finest strains or breaks possible. The same breeder may 

 become rectified, still it does not follow that it will be good, 

 and yet in the hands of another person a similar one may pro- 



duce a magnificent and first-rate flower. Give Carnation layers 

 in frames plenty of air, and those which were not rooted suf- 

 ficiently early in the season should now be removed and treated 

 in a similar manner to the first crop. Pansies, if of too long 

 and straggling habit should have the tops removed, and Pinks 

 should be occasionally examined and fastened. 



GEEENHOUSE AND CONSEKVAIOST. 



The plants in these structures will as yet require a rather 

 liberal watering, and this should be performed early in the 

 morning, when needful. Winter-flowering plants which have 

 thoroughly ripened their wood may have occasional applications 

 of weak and clear manure water. A free ventilation must be 

 permitted, leaving a little all night. Let Cyclamens, Lache- 

 nalias, Oxalis, Centradenias, and such little winter favourites be 

 kept on a warm front or end shelf, totally unshaded. Eoses in 

 pots intended for flowering through the next two months shou'd 

 be allowed a very light situation, where there is a constant cir- 

 culation of air. These are best at present, and, indeed, most of 

 the winter, without fire heat, at least while the weather is mild, 

 shutting up much solar heat early in the afternoon, and raising 

 much moisture in the air by sprinkling all surfaces, &o. This 

 valuable family is not yet sufficiently appreciated for winter- 

 purposes ; they deserve a span-roofed house to themselves, and. 

 I have little doubt the time is not distant when such will be 

 provided for them. What they want is a permanent bottom 

 heat of 65° or 70°, or about 5° in advance of the atmospherit 

 temperature. Thus situated, very little forcing would be re- 

 quired for heating the atmosphere. A night covering on the 

 roof would generally suffice. Early Chrysanthemums will now 

 be in a forward state, and such as show their buds prominently 

 should be placed under glass. If it is desirable to have them in 

 bloom as soon as possible, they may now safely be placed where 

 a little artificial warmth can be afforded them ; take care, how- 

 ever, that 'they are placed near the glass, well supplied with, 

 manure water, and air given them freely, as anything in the 

 shape of close confinement would soon ruin them. Indeed, the 

 whole stock of these should now be placed where it can be 

 covered at night in case of frost, for although they will bear 

 more of that than most things, it is not good policy to leave 

 them to the mercy of the weather much after this season, un- 

 less in favoured localities. It is better, however, to place them 

 in skeleton frames, or in a sheltered situation where they can 

 be covered in case of need, than to huddle them too thickly to- 

 gether under glass, or to put them, as is sometimes done,, 

 under the shade of Vines. See that tree Violets are perfectly 

 free from their enemy the red spider, for if the foliage is 

 allowed to get disfigured at this season, the plants will long 

 remain unsightly afterwards. See that the Epacrises and other 

 winter-blooming plants are placed in a light part of the green- 

 house where they will be fully exposed to the sun, so as to get 

 the wood well ripened, and to ensure their blooming freely. 

 Examine Heaths or anything else subject to mildew frequently, 

 and apply sulphur immediately the pest can be perceived^ 

 Water must be very carefully applied at this season, especially 

 in the case of large specimens, for there is much more danges 

 in overwatering now than when the weather is warmer and 

 the plants more active ; therefore, look over the plants fre- 

 quently, and never water until it is absolutely necessary. 



STOVE. 



A temperature of 65° to 70° by day, and 60° by night, will 

 suffice, still using a somewhat moist atmosphere in the after- 

 noon and during the night, with a free circulation of air, keep- 

 ing also a quiet ventilation all night. As some of the Orchids 

 become ripe, such as the Catasetum family, the Cycnoches, 

 Lyeastes, &o., they may be removed to a drier and somewhat 

 cooler atmosphere. Pursue a kindly course of treatment with 

 the Euphorbias, Gesnerae, and similar subjects for winter- 

 flowering, these will soon be of great service. The Phajus 

 grandiflorus with the Neottia speciosa will soon begin to blos- 

 som, also the Cypripedium insigne and vennstum. Let them 

 have plenty of heat and moisture. — W. Keake. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK 

 A FINE open week with sunny days, terminating, however, 

 with heavy rains on the 7th inst. The sun made such a 

 change in the flower beds, that we had them all picked over, 

 taking away barrowloads of washed and spent blooms. Num- 

 bers of blooms began to show fresh and well, and but for the 

 rains of to-day we calculated that by Monday we should have 

 had something Uke a second summer display. However, on the 



