5i 



JOUBNAL OF EOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



[ January 19, 1S71. 



weie tainted for tweufy-foui- hours. More than lialf the pas- 

 sengers iu crowded ordinary carriages smoked heavily the whole 

 way, without the slightest apology, whilst we noticed that the 

 smoking carriages were not half filled. Now, we will only say, 

 that be a smoker a garden labourer or a gentleman, there is 

 nothing manly or honourable in smoking in a wrong place. 

 A man worthy the name of man would scorn to realise a paltry 

 pleasure which he saw to be a cause of discomfort and often 

 of injury to others. 



FRUIT GAEDEX. 



We have done little except in the way of pruning, watering 

 a Peach house beginning to push, cleaning and pruning other 

 houses, and 'taking more Strawberry plants into a little heat. 

 Unfortunately the mice have attacked the buds again, notwith- 

 ■standing all precautions. It is very annojicg after getting 

 <Sae plants. Beginners in setting their potted plants in houses 

 would act wisely in using no saucers until the flower trusses 

 appear strongly. Stagnant water at the bottom at an early 

 stage, and saturating the buds with water, make a wreck of 

 -many a fine St^rawberry pot. In moving the plants into houses 

 all the old outside leaves may be removed, and a little fresh 

 surfacing given. The bottom of the pots should also be exa- 

 mined to see that the hole is not clogged up outside, which it 

 often will be if the pot has stood on the gravel. All forcing, 

 where very early produce is not required, should go on but 

 ■slowly in such weather. Where Peaches happened to be in full 

 bloom during the last three weeks, how great must have been 

 the disadvantage as to their setting well, with scarcely a blink 

 of sun to cheer them ! We shall be later with many things 

 than usual, owing to changes in the houses — heating, staging, 



ORXAIIEN'TAL DEPARTilEXT. 



Here, out of doors, the work has chiefly been confined to 

 sweeping walks, and pruning Laurels, Ivy hedges, &c., burning 

 4he mere rubbish, and using and storing the best for protect- 

 ing purposes. We have also collected a good store of pea sticks 

 and material for flower stakes — a matter of importance where 

 coverts are sacred grounds in summer — also a good quantity for 

 fire-lighting purposes. As we had to move a lot of cut Black 

 ■and White Thorn, we did not care to be troubled with it for 

 furnace or other fireplace purposes, so we set fire to a number 

 of loads, and turned it quickly into charred refuse, merely 

 covering it with damp rubbish to subdue the flame, and clear- 

 dng out as soon as charring was effected. In a few hours we 

 thus obtained some cartloads of charred rubbish, much not 

 better than charcoal dust, but there were many little bits 

 i^anging from | inch to 1 and li inch in diameter. For all 

 STich small wood we find we obtain the greatest quantity of 

 charred material by charring and removing it quickly. For 

 large wood the old mode of covering up with turf and earth is 

 the best, and watching it properly night and day before all the 

 heap is charred, allowing no more air to enter than will sup- 

 port slow combustion. 



We have prepared places for propagating, potting, &:e., yet 

 we were disinclined to move plants much in such weather, but 

 if the thaw continues, next week we shall do much in this way. 

 Those who are inexperienced have little idea how soon plants 

 .-sufier from great extremes of temperature, even for a short 

 time.— E. F. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



E. G. Henderson & Son, Wellin^on Eoad, St. John's Wood, London, 

 N.W. — Catalogue of Vegetable and Agrkidtural Seeds. 



W. Cutbuah & Son, Higbgate, London, N. — Catalogue of Vegetable, 

 Flower, and Farm Seeds. 



Butler, McCalloeh, & Co., Covent Garden Market, Loudon, W.C— 

 Sjpnng Catalogue of Seeds for tli€ Kitchen and Flocxr Garden, &c. 



Barr &: Sngden, 12, King Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C. — 

 Deserij)tixe S])ring Catalogue of C?ioice Seeds for Flower and Kitchen 

 Garden, &c. 



George Gibbs & Co., 25 and 26, Down Street, Piccadilly, London, 

 W. — Catalogue of Seeds for the Garden and Farm. 



B. Parker, Exotic Nursery, Tooting, Surrey, S.W. — Catalogue of 

 Agricultural^ Flov:er, arid Vegetable Seeds, d-c. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



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

 week. 



Maud.— A letter la at the post office as " A. M." 



Books (R. Atkinson).— " The Treasury of Botany" is in the alphnbetical 

 forna ; indeed, its second title is " a popular Dictionary." It is the latest. 

 The price is lOs. There are no cultural directions in it. ( W. £.).—" The 



Cottage Gardeners' DictioBflrj,'' with Appendix, including new plants to 

 the end of 18:7, is price 6s. 6(1.] or post free 7s. 2d. 



JouENAL OF HoETicDLTUEE (C. M. McCroiv}.—'J<io such reductloQ is 

 made. 



HonTicuLTUEAL DIRECTORY (A Toung Hcocl Gardener). — It ■will depend 

 upon the place you are managing. 



AucuEAs J W. £■.).— The male is similar in leaf to the female Ancuba 

 jiponica so long known, nsuallv with leaves spotted with yellow, but 

 sometimes entirely green. Vera is merely a nurseryman's addition to the 

 name. Picta has leaves with a broad yellow margin. You will find a 

 very full descriptive account in vol. xvi., pages 254, 255. 



"Waterpeoofing Calico {J. D. L.). — The only composition likely lo 

 render your calico jackets waterproof, is Indianrubber dissolved in 

 naptha and then brushed on the calico. A few yards of Mackintosh 

 cloth would have been far less trouble, far more sightly, and not much 

 more expensive. 



Paeallelogram (A Subscriber for Many Years).— To erect a perpendicu- 

 lar line, and find point c accurately, is described in fig, 31, page 447. As 

 line A E is 41 feet 4 inches long, and line eg, 62 feet long, the radii of the 

 circles referred i.? are determined. From the stake at point c, with a line 

 41 feet 4 inches long, trace an arc as in point d. From the peg at point A, 

 with a line 62 feet long trace an arc cutting the former one; where the 

 two arcs cut each other is point n. — M. O'Ddnnell. 



Cyclamens (Welshman). — We cannot recommend any florist; all the 

 principal florists can supply -what you needif tou inform them. (R.McE.). 

 —We quite agree with you in highly prizing the Cyclamen as a table 

 decoration. You will have seen notes on its general culture in onr last 

 week's number. 



Epiphyllum truncatum Flowebs Drooping (F. TF.).— We have no 

 doubt that their short continuance in flower is due to the temperature ; 

 we would move them to the cooler house whilst flowering, and for twelve 

 months after flowering keep them in the warmer house, removing them 

 only when in flower. When they begin to grow they require a rather 

 moist atmosphere, and should have copious ivaterings at the root, but 

 avoid in all stages keeping the soil in a saturated condition. When the 

 growth is over, it is sufficient if the soil be kept moist enough for the 

 stems to remain fresh. We do not recognise the plant from the part sent, 

 flowers are necessary. 



Snowdrops aftee Floweeing [Arthenice). — The plants would be better 

 of a light airy position free from frost, and should be kept in a cold 

 frame until they have been hardened off, and then they should be 

 planted out in the open ground. This is a better plan than allowing 

 the bulbs to ripen iu pots. They are of no use for flowering again in 

 pots, but are very useful for borders. 



Berberry akd Almond Planting (Idem).— Both may safely be planted 

 from the present time up to April in mild weather, but the earlier it is 

 done the better. 



Centaurea candidissiha (ragusika), Ieesine Herestlt, aivD Golden 

 Feverfew Sowing (James S.), — Sow the seeds of all early in March, in 

 pans filled with a compost of two parts turfy loam, one i)art sandy peat, 

 and one part leaf soil, with a free admixture of tand. The pans should 

 be well drained, and the surface of the soil made even and fine. Scatter 

 the seeds regularly, and just cover them with fine soil. Water gently and 

 place the pans in a hotbed of from 70" to 75", and a top heat of 55- to 75=, 

 keeping them near the glass and the soil moist, bnt not very wet. Con- 

 tinue the plants in the hotbed after they appear, keeping them near the 

 glass and aflbrding them plenty of air, so as to prevent them from draw- 

 ing up. When large enough to handle pot-off the Centaurea and Iresine 

 singly in small pots, and the Golden Feverfew in pans, placing the plants 

 about an inch apart; return them to the hotbed, shade for a few days, 

 liarden-off when established, and remove to a cold frame but protectiig 

 from frost. They will be nice plants by the beginning of June. 



Plants foe Shady Border (Wm E. H.) — Ajnga reptane rubra, 

 Glechoma hederacea foliis variegatis, Nierembergia livularis, Sedum 

 anglicum, Saxifraga umbrosa, and Vinca elegantissima, which, though it 

 grows taller than you wish, is very ornamental. 



Tea Roses for Forcing (A Lady E€ader).—lt is in our opinion better 

 to plunge the Roses in their pots if wanted for winter forcing, rather than 

 to take them out of their pots and plant them in the ground. We should 

 recommend shifting them into larger pots previous to their being plunged, 

 so as not to have to disturb the roots in repotting when they are brought 

 in for forcing. Put good drainage, and stand the pots in the ground on 

 inverted saucers or slate to keep the worms out. Place them in cold 

 frames as soon as winter frosts set in, and bring them into a light double- 

 span house when they are wanted for blooming, being careful not to force 

 too rapidly at first. They do not require bottom heat, which often causes 

 mildew. The best bottom heat they can have is to be set on open wooden 

 staging with hot-water pipes under. 



Teop,t:olum Jareatti and TRicoLOEUii Culture (Farmer), — The tubers 

 should be potted in September, or before they begin to grow, in a com- 

 post of light fibrous loam, sandy peat, and leaf soil in equal parts, with a 

 free admixture of sharp sand. 'Good drainage is necessary, and in potting 

 it is well to place the tuber on silver sand. Pot so that it shall be covered 

 with soil. Water so as to keep the soil sufficiently moist, and place the 

 pots in the greenhouse in a light airy position. The shoots wiU need a 

 trellis or other support. 



Geranium Leaves Going off (H. A. B.).— The leaves sent ns hava 

 the appearance of sufi'ering from damp accompanied ii\ith cold. Could 

 you not give them a more light and airy position with an increase of 

 temperature '.* Is there much manure in the compost used for potting, 

 and is the watering no more than sufficient to keep the foliage from 

 flagging ? 



Mushrooms in a Cellar (A Subscriber). — In our number published 

 last 6th of October there are full directions. They are too long to reprint. 

 You can have a copy if you enclose four postage stamps with your address. 



Fruit Trees Laid in (J. J. H.).— Your several hundred fruit trees 

 laid iu the ground will not be injured by the severe weather, if they have 

 not been kept in bundles so that the frost could reach the roots from 

 these being insufficiently covered with soil. We advise you to spread some 

 dry litter over them, and leave them covered-up until the ground is 

 thoroughly thawed. We think they will be quite safe. The *' Botanical 



