JOUBIxAL OF HOETICULTOSE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Febraary 2, 1871. 



for it ; and tlie effects prodaced sliow as well ns the instniments ttat 

 tliere has been a gi-eat difference, for while Mr. Adderley describes 

 his shrabs as all bnt killed — a fact confirmed by others near here, 

 where the temperature has been as low as with him — onrs at Linton do 

 not as yet exhibit any symptoms of having been injnred. A few days 

 ago, on examining the bloom-bnds of Lanmstinns, I thonght they were 

 not sufficiently injnred to prevent them expanding at the proper time ; 

 bnt it may be too early yet to make snre of that, for at the time I write, 

 January 27th, there is as much appearance of severe weather as a 

 month ago. 



It is singular that extreme cold should exhibit itself so capriciously 

 — heat certainly never does, a difference of 2° or 3' is all that nnder 

 ordinary circumstances occurs in the same exposure, &c., and is met 

 with in places a few miles apart, while I believe differences of as much 

 as 20° have been experienced during the past cold weather. Perhaps 

 the almost entii-e absence of wind on the late cold nights had some in- 

 fluence, as a good breeze must mix one cold portion of the atmosphere 

 with another that may not be so cold, and so produce a greater unifor- 

 mity of temperature. The lowest reading of our thermometer at any 

 time during the last twenty years was 6', on March 10th, 1355, and 

 10°, on January oth, 1867, while the memorable Christmas day of 

 1860 was only 15°, yet we suffered much that season, owing, however, 

 to the unripened condition of vegetation when the frost set in, bnt not 

 so moch as in 1867. This season, with the prospect of more winter 

 before ns, it is too soon to say much, bat so far, I believe, we have 

 escaped with less damage than most of our neighbours, but when more 

 certain of this I will probably revert to the subject. Meanwhile, it 

 wul be interesting to know where the most severe* weather has been. 

 A friend wiiting me from Cornwall says the thermometer there has 

 been down to 14°, an unusual occurrence for that poi-t of the country. 

 In the midland counties, where we usually hear of the most severe 

 frosts, it does not appear to have been so intense as nearer the east 

 coast, neither does London appear to have been visited with such hard 

 weather as many places in Kent. These and kindred matters are 

 fitting subjects for inquiry, and when the time comes to reveal the 

 damage done it is to be hoped the readings of the thermometer at each 

 place reported upon wiU be given also. The fact of the ground being 

 partly covered with snow was of much service to vegetables, the most 

 damage to them being done after a partial thaw had set in about 

 January 6th. The frosts that followed, though not so severe as before, 

 certainly did more harm than those preceding that time.— J. Eobsox. ' 



COMMISSION PAID BY TRADESMEN TO 



SEEVANTS. • 

 A TsiDESJii^-" hag written to us on this subject — a veiy im- 

 portant one — but we do not see what benefit would result from a dis- 

 cussion of the practice in our pages. Such discussions have already 

 taken place, with little or no beneficial result, for though ^ome gentle- 

 men and^ tradesmen have manfully opposed it, others have tacitly or 

 openly given it their approval, and too many employers look upon 

 allowances on bills as maMng up for the deficient remuneration they 

 give to their servants. 



^ot long ago a nurseryman told us that a gentleman in giving him 

 an order said to him, that as it was near Christmas or bill-paying time, 

 ie must give a greater allowance to the gardener. " A Tp,Ai>ES3ii>r " 

 justly states, the only right plan would be for employers to give re- 

 ninnerative wages, and oppose all such gratuities, and for tradesmen 

 to join in resolving not to give them — bnt will they do so ? It is quite 

 a mistake to suppose that the gentleman gains in the long run, for if 

 the tradesman pays so much in discount, he must contrive to get that 

 extra somehow. All such allowances are very pressing in these days 

 of close-cutting contracts. The whole system has a tendency to puta 

 temptation in the way of all concerned to veer somewhat from the 

 straight line of rectitude, and it is most desirable that we mortals 

 should not have inducements to wrong-doing put in our way. 



As to a gardener making a demand as a right of 5 per cent, on the 

 cost of 'houses erected, we hope he will think twice before he persists 

 in the demand. A gardener of some years' standing tells us he has 

 had enough of self-respect to keep him from condescending to ask for 

 a penny from his employer's tradesmen. There are, however, gene- 

 rally two sides to a tale. 'We have known cases where the intellect, the 

 experience, and the extra time of servants had been fully employed by 

 a tradesman, and without these that tradesmen could not have done 

 the work at all, and yet not a hearty " thank you " was returned as 

 an equivalent. In such eases, we think it is honest and fair that for 

 Buch extra labour there should have been a tangible equivalent; 



The gardener we have referred to says, '' I can bring to my mind's eye 

 a case of a great deal of work, buUding, ikc, being done in a garden, 

 and the gardener, feeling interested in the whole matter, did very much 

 for the tradesman — what he would otherwise have been obliged to 

 employ a clerk of the works to superintend, and did all this at his 

 request. The gardener fairly thinking that he deserved something for 

 his great extra labour, spoke, and we think rightly, to hi« employer : 

 but was at once told it was no business of his, it was entu'ely a matter 

 for the tradesman. Like many more of the most respectable servants, 

 who would be glad to see the whole system of discounts and gratuities 

 swept away, he waa too proud to say a word to the wealthy tradesman 

 ■who had freely used his time and abilities, and the only thing he ever 



received was half a sovereign to give some beer to the garden men. 

 No doubt such are exceptional cases. I dislike the whole system of 

 gratuities, bnt at the same time I think that extra work with head or 

 hands should be fairly paid for." 



On the whole, until gentlemen unite to set their faces against the 

 system, until they cease to demand their o per cent, discount when 

 they pay their own biUs, until they give suitable wages, independent of 

 all such degrading gratuities, and until tradesmen cease to encourage 

 the system, and even outbid each other to obtain a job, we can only 

 regret so great an evil. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN SAEDEN. 



Ai;iEXD to the drainage of the garden, for at this season, when 

 it is frequently requisite to fork and turn over ground pre- 

 viously trenched, it is easy to perceive the great importance of 

 efficient drainage. I allude, of course, to soils which require 

 draining, because some do not. How the earth crumbles down 

 and mellows, and how much sooner it is in a fit state for 

 cropping, when the drainage has been properly attended to. If 

 the soUis nndrained, the labour is far greater to get it in any- 

 thing like condition for the reception of crops, and even then 

 the advance and produce of the crops committed to it are 

 greatly inferior. A thoroughly efficient system of drainage is 

 the basis of aU successfal crdtivation. Continue to manure, 

 trench, and fork over the ridges whenever the weather will per- 

 mit. Fill up any vacancies in the autumn plantation.of Cab- 

 bages : also make fresh plantations of the autumn sowings, if 

 necessary. Cauliflowers under hand-glasses and in frames 

 must be fully exposed in mild weather, or they will button ofi 

 in the spring. Sow seed on a south border to produce plants 

 to succeed the autumn sowing. Sow Celery seed in boxes, and 

 place them in a forcing house to produce plants for an early 

 crop. 'Where the soil is not wet and stiff, Garlic and Shallots 

 should now be planted, i! not done in the autumn ; plant ia 

 rows at 6 inches apart. Lettuces in frames should have all the 

 air possible in mitSi weather ; make a sowing on a south border 

 to succeed the autumn sowing. Potatoes, where there are no 

 frames or pits, plant on a south border for an early crop. Pots 

 may now be placed over the roots of Rhubarb, and covered with 

 dung or leaves. A small sowing of Spinach may be made 

 between the rows of early Peas. 'Where young Turnips are re- 

 quired early, a sowing should be made on a slight hotbed. 



FF.ril GABDEN. 



Examine Fig trees covered up, and see if the mice have 

 gnawed ofi the bark from the stems. Traps should be set in 

 different parts of the garden to catch them. They will now 

 more readily take the baits than they will when there is other 

 food for them. Pruning and nailing Peaches, Nectarines, and 

 Apricots, may be followed up with vigour and perseverance 

 whenever the weather is favourable. Wall fruit trees of any 

 kind that are becoming crowded with wood near the top of the 

 wall should have some of the large branches headed back, and 

 the shoots trained below. Do not crowd the centre of fan- 

 trained trees with too much wood, that part will always fill up 

 enough. 



ELO'WEE GiKDEN. 



There are few things in gardens we are more dissatisfied 

 with than the usual mode of planting shrubberies ; there is 

 generally no attempt at arrangement, and where this is neg- 

 lected at the time of planting, no after-thinning or removing, 

 short of taking up the whole of the plants, •will give them the 

 effect they should produce. In planting shrubberies, those 

 plants which are intended to remain permanently should 

 be first planted, and at such a distance apart and from the 

 walks, as not in any way to interfere with one or the other for, 

 say, ten years. This will allow many of the plants to attain a 

 large size, and to show their proper character. The inter- 

 vening spaces may be filled up with whatever plants may be at 

 hand, and as they encroach upon the permanent plants they 

 should be removed. Shrubs will not then require pruning, 

 which, with digging about their roots, is the worst practice that 

 can be followed for the production of handsome plants. Take 

 every opportunity to forward the ground operations in this de- 

 partment. Now is an excellent time for the formation of beds 

 of Bourbon, China, and Tea-scented Roses. These classes of 

 Eoses will flower throughout the summer and autumn months; 

 they give little trouble after planting, and they deserve to be 

 cultivated in preference to many annuals which we frequently 

 find in flower gardens. To have them in perfection it is 

 necessary to take the soil out of the beds to the depth of 

 12 inches, fill up with rotten dung from an old hotbed or any 



