Junnary 12, 1871. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUEB AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE, 



31 



gain of Mr. Minnington's, which we now describe, has proved 

 itself to be sn autumn Pear of great excelleBce. 



The fruit is above the medium size and oblong-obovate. The 

 skin is entirely covered with a crust of warm brown russet like 

 that of the Brown Beurre, and has a slight orange glow on the 

 side exposed to the sun very much like the Cbaumontel ; there 

 13 no yellow or ground colour visible. Eje open, with very 

 short segments, and set in an irregular ribbed depression. Stalk 

 an inch long and rather slender, inserted without depression. 

 Flesh yellowish white, tender and buttery, very juicy, sweet, 

 and richly flavoured. 



A dessert Pear of the first quality. In use from the end of 

 October and beginning of November till December. 



The seed was sown about sixteen years ago, and the tree has 

 borce fruit this year for the first time. — (Gardeners' Year Book, 

 1871.) 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



EITCHEN GlEDEX. 



Wheee there is a family of taste to be supplied, perhaps no 

 department requires more enerny and forethought than this, 

 because the demand is constant throughout the year. We 

 have not only to look at present wants, but must have regard 

 to the future. Now is the time to do so. Manuring and 

 trenching as fast as the crops are cleared ofi will still be the 

 principal work here; turn over compost heaps during the 

 frost, and procure a fresh supply if needful. Draining — an 

 important matter in flat damp situations — should be done 

 when opportunity offers. A well-drained garden is generally 

 a productive one. If Box edgings are used, repair them if 

 necessary in open weather. If they have grown large and un- 

 sightly, redu56 them by relaying. This is done by clearing 

 away the gravel, &c., digging the ground, picking out any 

 atones or roots of the old Box, then treading the soil firm, 

 levelling with the spade, cutting out a neat line, and placing 

 the Box (after reducing it to small plants), in the opening, leav- 

 ing an inch or two above ground. Make the soil level over the 

 roots, and level the gravel to it, keeping the rough part down- 

 wards, and making smooth and firm on the surface. Large 

 edgings are unsightly and shelter snails, &e. Every vacant 

 space should be turned up to expose the soil to the action of 

 the weather, either by trenching and laying it up in ridges, or 

 by deeply digging and Uying it up in the same way. If manure 

 cannot be dug into the ground, rather than have it wasted by 

 exposure, throw a covering of earth over the surface to prevent 

 evaporation till it can be used. If snow should be on the 

 ground, it should not be dug in, as it would keep the soil cold 

 and wet for a long time. See that previous directions are 

 carried out; if not, embrace the first opportunity when the 

 state of the soil will admit. It is bad policy to tread upon 

 trenched ground when saturated with wet, and the delay of a 

 day or two will often be found a gain. To guaid against possi- 

 bilities, sow in pots or boxes, or on strips of turf, a moderate 

 quantity of early Peas and Long-pod Beans for transplanting. 

 Place them in a vinery at work, or a house where there is a 

 gentle heat, and when about an inch high remove them to a 

 cold frame secure from frost to be hardened off. Sow Onions 

 in a warm corner for early spring use, and plant out small 

 ones of last year's growth for the same purpose, and to bulb 

 for kitchen use. Plant out Shallots and Garlic in light rich 

 soil. Draw a small drill and fill it with charcoal dust or 

 charred refuse, and lay the bulbs on it, but do not cover them ; 

 they will by-and-by require a slight pressing down. See that 

 the fermenting material round Sea-kale does not become too 

 hot ; begin in time, and give it a slow gentle heat or yon will 

 have it as weak as straws. Cover up a succession, taking care 

 to place pots or a substitute over the crowns to keep it apart 

 from the fermenting matter, for notwithstanding covering with 

 leaves and ashes without pots, nothing seems to entirely do 

 away with the earthy flavour which it thus acquires. Spinach 

 appears to have sufiered much from the frost ; let all decayed 

 leaves be carefully removed, and the ground slirred the first 

 opportunity. Keep a sueeeaeion of Small Salading sown in 

 pots or boxes, and attend to the proteeiiou of Lettuces, Endive, 

 Badishes, and Gaiilifloivers in severe weather. 



FKUH GARDEN. 



If not done in the autumn prepare and wheel in soil for fruit 

 trees which are to be removed, or which are intended for fiUing- 

 up vacancies on the walls. This, however, is far better done 

 at the fall of the leaf. See that the drainage of the border is 

 perfect. Continue pruning and nailing in favourable weather, 



and as fast as the trees on the wall are completed manure the 

 border and turn it up. The quantity and quality of the manure 

 must depend upon the crops taken from the borders ; it is never 

 advisable to plant any very exhausting crops on them, but I 

 am aware that in many gardens doing so can hardly be avoided, 

 and where this is the case, fresh soil and manure must be 

 added. A great objection to digging-in manure on fruit borders 

 where the roots can take hold of it is, that it causes unfruitful 

 luxuriance, but unless cropping the borders can be altogether 

 dispensed with, it can hardly be avoided. 



FLOWEE GAEDES. 



As soon as the frost ceases, any ornamental planting neces- 

 sary should be proceeded with. Clean, dress, and dig borders, 

 and renew soil where necessary, for the reception of gay flowers. 

 Stations on the lawn may also be prepared for tree Eoses or 

 ornamental shrubs, remembering not to carry the dotting 

 system so far as to destroy what the painter calls breadth. 



GREENHOnSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



A day temperature of 55° will be quite sufficient here at pre- 

 sent; if this cannot be maintained without strong fires, be 

 content with 45° and moderate fires, remembering that with 

 this low temperature a very small circulation or motion in the 

 air will suffice. A higher degree of heat would hurry the 

 beautiful Camellias aod other choice flowers past their bloom- 

 ing period, and create a necessity for the application of more 

 atmospheric moisture, which, unless a warm roof is secured 

 by covering, must end in drip, to the great prejudice of the 

 delicate blossoms. Those who possess only one small green- 

 house, and are desirous of a variety of early flowers, may now 

 introduce from the cold frame or pit a few of the early Dutch 

 bulbs, provided the pots are fuU of roots, without which the 

 application of heat is vain. They should be kept in the 

 darkest part of the house, or what will be more congenial to 

 their habits, covered overhead with a mound of soil. The two 

 points are easily accomplished by first piling a mound (moss 

 would do), and then inverting a pot over the whole. The Wind 

 or Poppy Anemone, established in pots, makes a pleasing 

 variety ; also the dark Wallflowers, as well as the French 

 Yellow. Let all plants of a hardy nature have a place close to 

 the front glass, with air at every opportunity. Some of the 

 plants named in the directions for the forcing pit may also be 

 introduced here it there be room, provided such are well- 

 established in their pots. 



STOVE. 



Little advance in temperature may be permitted here at pre- 

 sent; wait for an increase of light, without which the applica- 

 tion of heat and moisture will be vain. Let 60° without sun 

 be the maximum, sinking 4° or 5° in the night. Some of the 

 Lffilias and Cattleyas will commence rooting ; let them have 

 attention and encouragement. Cymbidium sinense is a most 

 useful plant for the drawing-room ; the scent is most delicious. 

 A thorough baiting for snails and vermin should take place 

 previous to potting. 



FORCING PIT. 



In the tank forcing pit the following plants may be now 

 introduced with every prospect of success, if they are in good 

 order : — Francisceas, Gardenias, Hedychiums, Gesneras, Phajus , 

 Daphnes, Chorozemas, Clerodendrons, Pultenteas, Correas, Cy- 

 tisus, Eranthemums, Honeysuckles, Sweet Briar, Roses, Lilacs, 

 Azaleas, Dutch' bulbs. Acacias, Pinks, especially Anne Boleyn, 

 Aloysia citriodora. Hydrangeas, and Heliotropes. It is not 

 meant that these are all equally eligible for forcing, but that 

 any or all of them may be attempted if well prepared for the 

 purpose in the previous summer by early growth, early rest, 

 and making a potful of healthy roots. With such a miscel- 

 laneous mixture it is evident that no extreme of atmospheric 

 management should be pursued. The amount of moisture 

 which the Gardenias, for instance, would revel in would prove 

 prejudicial to such plants as the Heliotrope. A day heat of 

 60° or 65° will sufiioe at present, sinking the temperature at 

 night to 50° or 55°. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK 

 After a severe frost on the night of the 5th the thaw com- 

 menced very suddenly during the day of the 6th, and on the 

 morning of the 7th hardly a patch of snow was to be seen, but, 

 instead, many lakelets were visible, as the ground beneath was 

 so hard that the melted snow could not at once sink in. The 

 sudden melting of the snow will help to fill many a pond, which 

 will be useful in this district, where in summer there is a 



