■32i 



JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 



[ October 26, 1871. 



We have also to record the death of Me. Jean Van 



Geeet, the well-known and respected nurseryman of Ghent. 

 He, too, had reached a ripe age, being in his 78th year at the 

 •iime of his decease, which took place on October 14th. 



Wellingtokia gigantea. — The Nnv York Times states 



that a section cut from one of the original "big trees" of Cali- 

 fornia is in New York on its way to a European Museum. 'Five 

 men were employed twenty-five days in felling this huge tree; 

 its height is 302 feet, and its largest diameter 32 feet. The 

 specimen was cut at a distance of 20 feet from the base. The 

 ■stump is covered in, and is now used as a ball-room ! It has 

 been ascertained from counting the annular rings that the tree 

 is more than 2500 years old. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAKDEN. 



Peeseveee in hoeing, forking, and surface-stirring amongst 

 progressing crops, particularly Coleworts, Cabbage, late Savoys, 

 and Kale, as a considerable demand for vegetables of this de- 

 scription may be expected throughout this season, and more 

 •particularly in the forthcoming spring. The decayed Asjmra- 

 <)us haulm should be cut on a fine day, and taken care of for 

 thatching the Pea sticks, or tied in bundles to be placed as 

 drainage under temporary structures for sheltering Endive and 

 Xettuce in winter. In clearing the refuse from Asparagus 

 plantations, and the decayed leaves from amongst the Broccoli, 

 Kale, Savoys, &o., observe particularly if there are any fresh- 

 used mouse-holes ; if any should be discovered, at once pour 

 aome water hastily into the hole ; this will start the inhabi- 

 tants, which may then be destroyed. Collect some of the driest 

 deaves for placing about the rootstocks of Artichokes ; if leaves 

 are not procurable, place dry litter or fern for their protection. 



FRUIT GAKDEN. 



Look over all kinds of stored fruit occasionally, sort out the 

 affected fruit, wipe others, where required, with a dry cloth, and 

 where it is convenient, and where the plan is approved of, 

 pack away in boxes, drawers, or casks some of the late table 

 j'ruit in dry sand. Where there happens to be any quantity of 

 spotted, rotten, or affected Apples and Pears, collect them 

 together, pound them down, and press out the juice ; barrel it, 

 and see well to its fermentation by repeatedly racking it. A 

 pleasant and wholesome beverage may be thus obtained for 

 summer drinking. The out-door Vines should now be gone 

 over, and all the lateral shoots that have been left on the strong 

 shoots may be taken out, and two or three of the joints of all 

 the young wood at once pruned off. This will greatly con- 

 tribute to the ripening of the wood. Every means which will 

 tend to encourage the ripening of the young wood should be 

 adopted. Look over the trees in old orchards, and remove at 

 once those that are considered worthless and worn-out. Pre- 

 pare for making new plantations of Strawberries, Gooseberries, 

 -Carrants, and Baspberries. A portion of the old plantation 

 should be grubbed-up annually and renewed, if an abundance 

 of fine fruit is expected to be obtained. 



ELOWEE GAKBEN. 



Preparations for severe weather should be completed as 

 soon as possible. All tender stock intended for protection 

 under glass must be at once placed in its winter quarters, 

 plunging it as before observed in ashes or sawdust. A good 

 -supply of garden mats should be instantly provided, for al- 

 though expensive they must be had, as it is folly to permit 

 the ravages of the frost before they are procured. A good stock 

 ■of new sawdust should be laid-by in a dry shed to put round 

 the stems of tender Eoses or half-hardy plants. This should 

 always be obtained as new and fresh as possible. It should 

 not, however, be applied to the plants for some time ; when it 

 is applied a dry period should, if possible, be chosen, as a 

 casing of such material immediately after heavy rains would 

 probably prove very prejudicial, for confined air or damp is a 

 greater enemy than frost in many cases. Wooden shutters are 

 very useful things, whether to lay on as a temporary frame- 

 work to exclude wet and the keenest of the frost, or to cover 

 pits and frames instead of mats. Old worn sashes which have 

 been stripped of their glass may be brought into use by thatch- 

 ing them with a straw facing; temporary frames composed of 

 rough slabs, may be readily got up to receive them, by any or- 

 dinary carpenter. Such will prove a relief to the regular frames, 

 for in very many establishments there is no surplus of these, 

 and most of them are wanted betimes to force Asparagus or 

 Gacnmbers, or for early Melons, Sia., which purposes require 



that the frames should be at liberty by Christmas at the latest. 

 Those who can spare time should wash all their pit and frame- 

 glass before the dark weather sets in, as the disproportion of the 

 light to the heat is the great bane of forcing in Britain during 

 November and December. After the removal of summer- 

 flowering plants, which takes place about this period, no tiflie 

 should be lost in having the beds freshened-up by a light 

 digging, and fresh plants being put in so as to prevent the 

 ground having a bare and dreary aspect throughout the winter. 

 Nothing is better for this purpose than a supply of small neat 

 plants of the different dwarf, hardy, evergreen shrubs. A suffi- 

 cient number of these to fill a moderate-sized flower garden 

 could be kept in pots and placed during summer in a reserve 

 ground without much difficulty and trouble. Small plants of 

 many of the variegated shrubs, together with others of a dark 

 and light green tint, and the different modifications of conical 

 and globular-formed heads and decumbent stems, would afford 

 variety enough to render a flower garden very pleasing even in 

 winter. All the offsets and small stock-roots of Tulips should 

 be planted as early as convenient in the store beds. They 

 may be planted in rows 6 or 8 inches apart, and the strongest 

 3 or 4 inches apart in the rows ; the smaller ones may be put 

 in closer. The principal blooming roots may be put in at the 

 earliest opportunity ; but if the present dry and favourable 

 weather continue, no time should be lost in having them 

 planted while the soil can be worked with facility. After wet 

 the operation of planting will be far less satisfactorily per- 

 formed. They may be planted 6 inches apart each way. On 

 most soils the practice of placing a small portion of clean 

 sand beneath each root, and a small cone of the same around 

 and over it, is beneficial ; it tends to keep the bulbs clean and 

 healthy by preventing excess of moisture from accumulating 

 in close contact with them. Other spring hardy bulbs, such as 

 Hyacinths, Narcissus, Jonquils, Fritillarias, Crown Imperials, 

 Lilies, Snowdrops, Crocus, Dog's-tooth Violets, &c., had better 

 be planted as early as possible. The advantage of getting 

 them fairly in the ground while it admits of being worked with 

 such facility as at present, is too great to be overlooked. 

 Pansies, as also plants of Polyanthuses, Auriculas, &a., whether 

 kept in pots or frames, or planted in the open ground, should 

 be carefully watched against the depredations of slugs, which 

 soon make great havoc if neglected. When the frost has de- 

 stroyed the fiowers and foliage of Dahlias, the stems may be 

 cut down within a foot of the ground, then lay a heap, 6 or 

 8 inches thick, of dry sawdust or some protective material close 

 round the stem, extending about a foot each way. The roots 

 had better not be taken up until the tubers have become more 

 fully ripened. 



GEEENHOOSE AND OONSEEVATOKY. 



These structures will now, of course, be arranged in a sys- 

 tematic way. The inmates, or at least some of them, begin to 

 put on their winter attire. The numerous plants adapted for 

 winter and spring-flowering .will begin to afford much grati- 

 fication, which will be enhanced by the desolate appearance 

 outside. Scarlet Pelargoniums, Salvias, Camellias, Chrysan- 

 themums, Cyclamens, and Perpetual Eoses, will now require 

 careful management, and most of them a liberal supply of 

 water. Now that summer flowers are waning let a strict eye be 

 kept on those which, though of no particular botanical interest, 

 are of great importance as cheering the mind amidst the gloom 

 of winter when all out of doors appears so desolate. Let all 

 flowering plants, of whatever kind they are, be kept near the 

 glass in the lightest situation to be found, and let those from 

 warm climates enjoy bottom heat, if possible, until they com- 

 mence flowering, when they will do tolerably well without. Of 

 course, such plans cannot be carried out where Ericas, Pelar- 

 goniums, and hardwooded plants from temperate climates are 

 preserved. I merely throw out the suggestion to those who 

 have a number of structures. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAEDEN. 



The past week was almost as warm as the end of June. 

 Flower beds in many cases assumed a bright appearance. 

 Yellow Calceolarias were yellow again, and some of the Nosegay 

 scarlet Geraniums were rather fine, but we fear that the threat- 

 ened rain will deprive them of their beauty. As we wanted to 

 empty a shallow pit of the little decayed dung at its bottom, in 

 order to save two wheelings, we took it at once to part of our 

 Asparagus ground. We cut down the Asparagus stems with an 

 old scythe, knocked up the few weeds that appeared, raked the 



