December 21, 1871. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND OOTTAGE GABDENEB. 



493 



frost, as we feared admitting the frosty air. The sudden admis- 

 sion of cold air will stop the swelling of the very young Mush- 

 rooms, and in unfavourable weather it is well to coyer a bearing 

 bed previously to opening the house. 



FEUIT GARDES. 



Preparing houses, and gently bringing on Strawberry plants 

 in pots, have been the chief objects of our attention. Before 

 much wet comes, the ground will be in good condition for 

 planting. In all forcing the temperature should be raised very 

 gradually, and the atmosphere of the house should be damper 

 than usual until the buds break freely. One ought never to go 

 to a fire or a furnace without previously noting the outside 

 temperature, and not merely noting the temperature of the 

 house, but also that of the pipe or flue. With such attention 

 there will be little necessity for opening furnace doors to keep 

 down draught and overheating. In order to avoid having sun 

 heat meeting with strong fire heat, let the furnace get low as 

 the sun promises to be bright. Tender plants are apt to be 

 scalded or burned by neglecting to attend to this, and the ad- 

 mission of more air will often add to the evil, especiilly if the 

 air is at all dry and frosty. Damping the floors and beds, and 

 reducing fire heat are the chief means of safety, or even a 

 slight shading for a short time, until the fair balance is restored. 



OKSAlIENTAi DEPAKT3IENT. 



Walks should now be kept clean. The present is a good time 

 for transplanting large trees, and also for planting in general. 

 We would have preferred the end of October or the beginning of 

 November for this, but we could not do it then. Planting too 

 deep should be avoided. The collar of the plant — that is, the 

 point whence roots descend and the stem ascends, should not 

 be deeper than it stood before. Thousands of young trees are 

 killed every year merely from sinking the stem of the plant 

 from 2 to 4 or 'more inches deeper in the ground. The plant 

 is thus made firm more easily, and so there is the temptation 

 to indulge in it. Another cause of failure, is having the plants 

 taken up and the roots exposed in dry frosty weather. 



Pruning forest, fruit, and ornamental trees can often be best 

 done in frosty weather, as then all branches can be taken away 

 with less trouble. We have never observed that tress at all 

 hardy felt pruning and cutting more in frosty weather than in 

 mild weather, if all large cuts had the wound smeared over to 

 prevent the damp penetrating. 



Plants in cold pits and frames would be better where a little 

 dry heat could be given them. Calceolarias, we think, do best 

 in a cold pit or frame without any artificial heat. Once this 

 winter our Calceolarias were covered up for about a week, and 

 they did not seem to feel it at all. The first put in are length- 

 ening a little ; the last put in during November, after being ex- 

 posed to much frost, are not yet moving. These cuttings have 

 each about 14 inch space, and therefore we do not want them 

 even to root much until the days grow longer. A good deal of 

 damp does them no harm. They had no air when shut up in 

 the frosty weather. Other plants, as Soarlet Geraniums, though 

 mostly covered up, had in the middle of the day a little air at 

 the back to let out any damp. The moist atmosphere, and 

 moist standing ground that would cause a Geranium to damp 

 and shed its leaves, are the delight of Cinerarias and Calceolarias. 

 When either of these begin to open their blooms the atmo- 

 sphere should be somewhat dry, but at all times they prefer a 

 moist cool bottom. One reason why Chrysanthemums often 

 bloom better out of doors than they do when sheltered under 

 glass, is because the air is more dry, and they ore apt to snffsr 

 from dryness at the roots. We have often remarked hov/ 

 vigorously Chrysanthemums swell and open their blooms on 

 misty mornings and evenings, and on very dewy nights. When 

 under glass, before the blooms open, a free use of the syringe 

 greatly helps them. Those who have only one glass plant house 

 will see the importance of placing their plants in family groups, 

 instead of distributing them regularly over the house. It would 

 then be possible to vary the treatment considerably. 



Florists' flowers in cold pits, as Auriculas, Carnations, Cal- 

 ceolarias, and Geraniums, had plenty of air after the change 

 of the weather. On a sunny day we were glad to pull the 

 sashes ofi ; but in these dull, drizzling days, when air is even 

 more wanted than when the sun shines, we gave a thorough 

 circulation of air, and kept the damp out by raising the sashes 

 back and front. This is a good plan in changeable weather, 

 and when the plants must be left for some hours to themselves. 

 A brisk shower of ten minutes might occasion an endless 

 amount of trouble for months afterwards. With the exception 

 of those alluded to, the majority of plants in cold pits can 

 scarcely be kept too dry, so long as they are moist enough to be i 



safe. Where no fire heat can be given to correct any excess of 

 moisture in the earth or air, all watering in winter should 

 be done with great care. In places where the intention is 

 merely to keep plants alive, no water should be spilled, and it 

 will often be wiser to allow the temperature to get lower than 

 to use much more water. 



lu watering plants where fire heat is given, so as to keep an 

 average temperature in cold weather of 45°, the water used 

 should rarely be below 60°, and be given, when needed, as early 

 in the forenoon as possible, that the plants may part with any 

 extra moisture before night. Even in such houses the less the 

 water is spilt the better, it is a very diiierent afiair in summer, 

 when watering the floors and platforms does so much to im- 

 prove the atmosphere of the house. AH the varieties of the 

 yellow-flowering Cytisus require plenty of water, and especially 

 if at all underpotted, when opening their blooms. 



Such plants in a stove house as Poinsettias, Euphorbias, 

 and Justicias, either showing for bloom or in bloom, require 

 also plenty of water, 70° in temperature. In snch a house the 

 spilling of a little water is of less consequence, as moisture will 

 be required to prevent the atmosphere becoming too dry, and 

 that which rises from the floor or pot is quite as healthy or more 

 so than that which steams from evaporating troughs. Wo 

 would sooner keep such a house ranging from 58° to 63°, than 

 ranging from 70° to 75°, as a rise from sun heat is less to be 

 regarded. With less fire heat the plants do better, less watering 

 is necessary, and less moist vapour is required in the atmo- 

 sphere. Mosses and Ferns should be kept tolerably moist, and 

 the stove varieties thrive better during cold weather in a mode- 

 rate than in a high temperature. — E. P. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



J. Carter, Dtmnett, & Beale, 237 and 23S, High Holbom, LondoD, 

 "W.C. — Gardeners^ and Farmers^ Vade-MecuvZj 1872, witJi numerous 

 iUustrations. 



K. Bradley & Sons, Halam. near Sonthwell, Notts, and Eainworth, 

 near ilansfield, Notts. — Catalogue of Xurserj Stoclc. — Trade Li$t of' 

 Kursenj Stoch. — Abridged List of Hoses. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



N'.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next 

 ■week. 



Books (Q. Q.) — The " Vine Mannal." You can liave it from our office- 

 if yoa enclose 2s. 7id. wittiyotlr address. 



Marking Labels {A Subscriber, Lanarkshirs). — The short-hand in- 

 scribing is almost as difficult as commou figures, more difficult to re- 

 mtmber, and the marks are so much alilie as to cause numerous mis- 

 talies. Earthenware labels written oa with a pointed piece of soft lead 

 are very desirable, and easily renewed, 



NuRSERYilES's Catalouges [Rev. P. D.). — We cannot recommend, much 

 less review these, for they are published in legions; but to your query^ 

 " Is ilessrs. Carter's ' flardeners' an^i Farmers' Vade-Mecum ' useful ?'* 

 we can reply safely it is very useful. 



Keeping Pears [D. F. J. E.). — The specimen sent is Passe Colraar, 

 and is just ripening. It is hardly time yet for them to be quite ripe ; but- 

 the maturity may be hastened by keeping them in a warmer, but not a 

 drier apartment. Do not espose them too much to light. The specimen 

 th^t you sent was delicious in flavour, and this was due, no doubt, to its 

 having been " for the last week ou the dining-room chimney-piece." 



Self-acting Fountain (J. K.). — We cannot tell where it can be ob- 

 tained. If advertised it would sell well. 



FCNGus (J. J. Chater). — Your Peziza is a new species, and at present 

 undescribed. Its nearest ally is P. melaloma, from which It differs, in 

 hp.viug no black fringe round the margin of the cup, and in other charac- 

 ter-. We have seen the same plant before. 



"Vine in Ground "Vinert — Pears tor West of Irelakd (Far West)., 

 — The Black Hamburgh Vine planted against a south wall will do well to- 

 train under a ground vinery placed at right angles to the wall. Shorten 

 the shoot now, but do not transplant. A Peach tree will do in a ground 

 vinery if trained as a horizontal cordon. It must be kept free from red 

 spider by syringing during summer. Pears for cordons — Madame Treyve^ 

 Beurre d'Amanlis, Beurre Hardy, Benrre Superfin, Fondante d'Automne, 

 Gansel's Bergamot, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Beurre Bosc. Marie Louise, 

 Easter Beurre, Bergamotte Esperen, and Doyenne du Cornice. Apricots 

 would do well on your west wall. 



Planting Vines &c. [A Su5scri&er).— Plant all your Vines in the front 

 of your inside \-inery border. Without artificial beat the Oranges and 

 Lemons wou'd not ripen to be of any use, especially as they would have 

 no sun after midday. Murray (medium sizel, and Victoria (large), are ex- 

 cellent Nectarines for orchard houses, and of first-rate flavour. Of the Vines 

 you name, White Frontignan, Black Hamburgh, Buckland Sweetwater, 

 and Trentham Black would do best in the early house ; Lady Downe's, 

 White Tokay, Muscat of Alesandria, and Alicante for the late house, but 

 they require in most seisons artificial heat to ripen them. We do not 

 think you will have sufficient ventilation at the top of your vinery ; yom 

 should have all the top lights made to slide. In some cheap houses short 

 top lights are made to lift-np with hinges. No dimbt fruit trees planted 

 amourist shrubs would to a large extent be protected from frosts when in 

 blossom. Either standards or pyramids might be planted, and space 

 allowed for their development. 



