126 



JOUKNAL OF HOKTICULTUBE AKD COTTAGE GAKDENEB. 



[ February 16, 1871. 



difficulty as respects pruning ; a man can keep himself com- 

 fortable at that. But what is the use of nailing when the 

 fingers cannot hold the nail and shred comfortably ? We have 

 pretended to nail with the trees covered with snow, and the 

 enow drifting enough to smother one. What was the use of 

 £u<!h waste of labour power, with work needing to be done 

 under shelter ? "SYe are sorry to say that such ill-timed work is 

 frequently beyond the control of the gardener. Some pro- 

 prietors, if they set their mind on having certain work done, 

 have no idea of a stoppage from that work, let the weather be 

 what it may. 'Years ago we made two visits to a large place 

 within the space of two or three months. On the first occasion 

 :men with their coats buttoned to the chin as a defence against 

 tiae heavy sleet and rain, were wheeling a large heap of dung 

 oa to the quarters with the wheel of the barrow up to the 

 aiil in mud, and doing great damage to the walks. On the 

 s=eoud occasion, the same men were in some danger of sun- 

 stroke in washing and cleaning Vines in a vinery in a bright 

 sunny day. Leaving other considerations out of view, there 

 coftd be little fitness or economy in such ill-directed, ill-timed 

 labour. 



Seating. — We have just had fresh piping put into a small 

 division of a vinery. We could not at present enter on the 

 large cne-boiler system. For this compartment and other 

 places there was a small separate boiler. In the vinery part 

 we had only one pipe round underneath the stage, helped by 

 shallow zinc reservoirs which we connected afterwards with this 

 one pipe. These and the pipes had become too worn-out to be 

 •cobbled or mended. We could not help ourselves as to having 

 "ibe fresh pipes going round underneath the stage, but we car- 

 ried out one of the ideas which we have often advised others 

 to adopt, and that is to have as many flow-pipes as possible, 

 and these on a level. As the flow and return pipes were there, 

 and not far apart, there was joined to each a three-flow outlet 

 syphon, so that we had three pipes round instead of the one. 

 These three pipes are on a level with each other, and rise 

 regularly some 3 inches from the point of junction with the flow 

 to the outlet syphon at the return, and an open air pipe is 

 -ibere inserted. The three pipes round therefore act as flows. 

 They heat well and equally, and there is only a very short 

 return from whence the three pipes terminate at the highest 

 point. We are aware that in theory there are some objections 

 to this mode. These and other matters as respects heating 

 need ventilating. All we can say at present is that we are 

 satisfied, and that we have advised and adopted the plan from 

 -flnding that in stacks of pipes above each other the highest 

 pipes are always the hottest. 



OENAHENTAli DEPAP.T3IEXT, 



Our time has been chiefly employed In alterations and 

 groundworh, altering what had been done years ago. There is 

 hardly a place where much may not often be done in this way. 

 Different people have not only different tastes, but the same 

 person may change his taste as often as he pleases. At one 

 time the proprietor may rejoice in mounds, rough work, and 

 the wild and tangled picturesque appearance, and such will 

 ever present a contrast to the richest and most dressed parts of 

 ihe pleasure ground. At another time such a scene, however 

 pretty, diversified, and picturesque, may become monotonous, 

 and cease to yield the pleasure it once did, and something 

 of the gardeuesque may be more desired, where the mounds, and 

 the tangle, and the wildness, and variety may be replaced by 

 the smooth lawn, with specimen shrubs and trees that will have 

 room to grow and to show off their separate beauties. Who- 

 ever pays for such changes has a right to consider the improve- 

 ments. They therefore do good in two ways : they give satis- 

 faction to those who wish to have them made, and they often 

 give employment when that is scarce. Everybody likes change. 

 We often think if we possessed an estate, and chiefly resided 

 on it every day of the year, we should become tired of it, and 

 of seeing things day after day in the same position. We 

 Kielieve that fine gardens and noble conservatories are generally 

 more appreciated by visitors than by the resident proprietors. 

 Elegance and novelty are combined in the case of the former ; 

 the elegance is combined with an irksome sameness in the 

 case of the latter. Hence, the advantage of all changes. We 

 can easily imagine that the finest flower beds, the most elegant 

 plants growing in a bed in a conservatory, the finest tree Ferns 

 standing always in the same spot in a fernery under glass, in 

 time lose more than half their charms to the resident pro- 

 prietor, just because he sees them always in the same place 

 and under the same circumstances. 



We are apt to forget that the most pleasing objects seen day 



after day become at last irksoinf and insipid. Variety, fresh- 

 ness of combination, would often do wonders where there are 

 the labour and other means at hand for carrying them out. 

 Thus, flowers are always deUghtful in a common greenhouse. 

 To the visitor all is novel. The same arrangement day after 

 day becomes tiresome to the proprietor. Hence, in the case 

 ol a fair-sized conservatory, where beauty, elegance, and good 

 taste, combined with a continued and growing interest in it by 

 the proprietor, are to be first considerations — judging from our 

 on^n feelings, were we similarly placed, we would plant out little 

 except the climbers, but we would have beds deep enough so 

 that the pots used might be covered with moss, and a band of 

 Lyoopods round, and then by arranging the plants differently 

 every fortnight or so, the fresh combinations would in every- 

 thing essential make a fresh house. Even in a greenhouse, 

 where no attempt is made to conceal the pots, much may be 

 done to dissipate monotony by changing the forms and sizes of 

 groups and combinations. For resident proprietors a simple 

 change is often as good as a real improvement, and on this 

 account all changes that make variety are desirable. The plan 

 of a flower garden may remain the same, and yet some variety 

 may be produced by planting it dift'erently every year. Were 

 the design changed every year it would be better stUl. Few 

 can equal our coadjutor, Mr. Eobeon, in this respect, but we 

 have often thought what a source of pleasure it must be to the 

 proprietors of Linton Park to be able to look on two fresh 

 plans of the principal flower garden every year. Even that 

 might not be sufficient variety for some people who have a 

 dread of the monotonous. The subject is too large to admit of 

 our doing more than giving these passing hints. 



We shall be anxions to commence turfing before long, and 

 then it will give us no trouble in summer. 



Some main features as respects out-door work have already 

 been alluded to. The forcing of flowering plants has also 

 received notice lately. 



Bulbs. — There are complaints about these not doing well, 

 and the flower stems being so short and dumpy. After duly 

 potting, &o., the first essential to success is having the vessels 

 filled with roots, whether pots or glasses, before the flower 

 stem begins to move much ; before that takes place the bulbs 

 wUl be best in a dark place, such as a cupboard in a room, or 

 any sheltered place out of doors where they can be covered up. 

 Again, if the stems do not rise freely after the bulbs receive 

 the heat of a sitting-room, a paper funnel placed over them, or 

 even a reversed pot, will greatly assist to elongate the stem, 

 and thus give room for the flowers to expand. 



All forward bulbs out of doors would be better in such 

 weather of a little protection, such as cloths or mats over hoops, 

 or a little dry soil or ashes over the bulb, or even evergreen 

 twigs securely stuck in over the beds. The soU should be well 

 mellowed for Kanunculus and Anemone planting ; Auriculas 

 should be top-dressed with rich light compost in mild weather, 

 and the plants kept from rains ; and C urnations and Pinks de- 

 fended from cold, slugs, and mice, not to say anything of rabbits 

 and hares. 



Many of our window and small-house gardeners will now be 

 thinking ol potting and repotting their favourite plants ; nume- 

 rous young growing plants will need more room, and many, as 

 Geraniums and Fuchsias, breaking after being shortened back 

 a little, will want to have much of the old soil cleared away, 

 and to go at first into pots of the same size as before, or even 

 smaller. The following are great helps to success — 1st, See 

 that the soil and roots of a plant are moist enough before re- 

 potting. If you put a dry ball into fresh soil it is next to 

 impossible to wet it again by common watering. '2nd, See 

 that the pots used are clean and dry. If cot, besides other 

 disadvantages, the ball will not come out il an and whole, but 

 it will hang like birdhme to the sides of the pot. 3rd, Be sure 

 that the soil used is fresh, well exposed to the air, warm, and 

 not too fine. In cold weather the necessary warmth can easily 

 be obtained by placing it near a fireplace, where no other means 

 can be resorted to. It is well that the soil for all in-door plants 

 should average about CO'. Then, as to roughness, the plants 

 will thrive all the better if, for i and 6-inch pots, fully half of 

 the bulk of the soil should range from the size of peas to that 

 of field beans, mixed with the finer particles. A little of the 

 rougher should go over the drainage. There is no better drain- 

 age then a zinc cap over the hole, or a good crock with the 

 rounded side downwards, and in either case smaller pieces of 

 broken pot round it and over it, and a slight layer of green 

 moss over all, the roughest compost over the moss. Finally, 

 avoid everything that will give a check to the plant, either by 



