April 27, 1871. ] 



JOUBNAL OP HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



307 



become stuuteS ia their pots. Finish, if not already done, the 

 pruning of those summer Eoses which were left unpruned for 

 the purpose of retarding their bloom. Insects, especially the 

 green fly and rose caterpillar, will now be making their ap- 

 pearance in the rosery ; destroy them without delay. The 

 trees are easily cleared of the former by syringing them with 

 weak tobacco water, the latter must be picked ofi and de- 

 stroyed with the hand. A vigilant eye is requisite to detect 

 them, as these pests carry on their rav-iges unseen. If the 

 amateur is not certain as to the safety of his Carnations and 

 Picotees from the attacks of wireworms, which will sometimes 

 escape the scrutiny of the most vigilant, I would advise him to 

 out a Potato into four, >.nd into each quarter a stick should be 

 inserted. These portions of Potato should then be buried just 

 beneath the soil. Should the pest be still lurking in the com- 

 post they will be found an unfailing trap. Top-dress the beds 

 of Pinks with rich, well-decomposed compost. Pansies will 

 also be the better for a similar application. 



GEEENHOnSE AND OONSEEVATOKY. 



The conservatory plants are now making active growth, and 

 should be liberally supplied with water. Those growing in 

 prepared borders must be frequently examined to see that the 

 roots are kept sufficiently moist. Take the opportunity of an 

 early hour in the morning to give a good washing with the 

 syringe or engine to everything excepting the plants in bloom. 

 The house will then become dry and enjoyable by the forenoon ; 

 frequently clean over the borders, remove decayed leaves and 

 flowers as they occur, let the paths, stone curbs, shelves, &o., 

 be washed frequently, that the house may present a fresh and 

 orderly appearance at all times. These directions should be 

 enforced as far aa possible in all plant houses. More air must 

 now be given, and directly the nights become warmer allow a 

 little air to remain. This low night temperature will no much 

 to favour the growth of short-jointed wood, which in a house of 

 this description, requiring to be frequently shaded, is dif&eult 

 to obtain, and at the same time it will prolong the period of 

 the bloom of the inmates. Hybrid Indian Ehododendrons and 

 Chinese Azaleas will now be in great beauty, and every care 

 should be taken to preserve the bloom from damp and drip, 

 which materially injare them. Siipoly the plants liberally with 

 water at the roots, as daring their blooming season they re- 

 quire large quantities. Most Heaths and hardwooded plants 

 will now either be in bloom or approaching that state. Air 

 must now be admitted in large quantities, bearing in mind 

 previous directions about currents of air. The great points in 

 flowering plants are, in addition to a profuse show of bloom, 

 clear and bright colours, and healthy foliage. The last two are 

 indicative of good health, and, consequently, of good culture, 

 and are always additional recommendations to a plant. Abund- 

 ance of air, a well-managed system of shading, sufficient to 

 bring up the colour of the flowers without drawing the foliage 

 of the plant, and proper attention to watering, ifcc, are points in 

 plant cultivation which are rarely taught either by calenders or 

 books, but in which a little practice and discrimination will be 

 necessary, to enable plants to be bloomed in the perfection we 

 see them at the great exhibitions. Plants out of bloom should 

 be placed where they can enjoy a rest for a short time before 

 the new growth commences, or they break weakly. It should 

 be remembered that when a plant flowers profusely the powers 

 of the plant are much weakened, and a lapse of time after 

 blooming, longer or shorter, according to the habit of the plant, 

 is necessary to enable it to recover its wasted energies previous 

 to forming a new growth. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



What a week, not only of April showers but of April down- 

 pours ! The changes in the pastures, gardens, and fields in 

 this district are wonderful. All seemed suffering as much 

 from dryness as we might have expected to have seen them do 

 in the dog days. It soon became too wet to proceed with some 

 work, but, then, there was plenty to be done under shelter ; 

 and how delightful it was to hear the rain pouring into tanks 

 and reservoirs ! 



The general work has been almost a repetition of that of 

 previous weeks' notices, such as putting in successions of Peas, 

 Beans, Lettuces, Eadisbes, and Turnips, and staking Peas, where, 

 owing to Celery trenches, it was not necessary to trample on 

 the ground ; deferring hoeing among Carrots, Onions, &o., 

 until the ground was drier, as the rains have brought up legions 



of tiny weeds which a scuCile with the Dutch hoe in a sunny 

 day will soon settle. 



FKUIT G.AEDEN. 



Pears are now opening their blooms, and a few hours of 

 bright sun would do wonders for them and a very free bloom 

 of Plums. We have never seen the Blackthorn so full of 

 bloom as it is this season, and the Whitethorn seems equallj^ 

 promising. We have taken most of the laurel twigs from- 

 Apricot trees, but left a portion to break the force of cold 

 winds until the fresh Apricot leaves protect the fruit that has 

 set very thickly. But for the rains we would have given a 

 watering with sewage to the Apricot border, as it seemed dry, 

 and the falling of the fruit we have often traced to too much 

 dryness of the roots. Apricot roots like a fair amount of mois- 

 ture, if it is not stagnant but passes freely. Peach trees will 

 also delight in more moisture than they often receive. The 

 extremes of dryness and wetness at the roots are the causes of 

 many drawbacks, and so are coldness and want of action at the 

 roots when the branchlets are exposed to a high temperature- 

 against a wall. No wonder when the leaves becoma thin and 

 sickly that hordes of insects assail them. One great advantage 

 of sheeting in front of Apricot and Peach trees on walls ip,. 

 that by keeping it on in bright days the opening of the bloom 

 and wood buds is retarded, whilst the soil, being exposed, is 

 gradually warmed. This warming of the soil and retarding 

 the blossom is of quite as much importance as protecting the 

 bloom from frost. Even in orchard houses where no heat is 

 given, and where many things receive protection in winter by 

 keeping the house rather close, a little retarding by shading 

 and free air-giving in spring will often be attended with ad- 

 vantage. In such a case it is safest to give an impetus to 

 growth and early ripening after the fruit is safely set and 

 swelling freely. We gave a good watering to all fruit trees in 

 pots, using weakened sewage water. It is about ten days 

 since they had a watering previously. B.jt little water will be 

 wanted in dull weather, before the swelling of the fruit and. 

 free growth demand more moisture. Some iiy has made its 

 appearance, but in the more forward house, the fruit being well 

 set, a good and repeated syringing with clear soft-soap water 

 has almost put the insects out of sight. Is is difficult to smoke 

 open orchard houses. 



We forget whether we mentioned that a great many of the 

 fruit in the Peach house dropped when quite small, leaving a 

 crop not overthick. We expected this, as all the time the 



[ trees were in bloom they scarcely had an hour of the sun al- 



I together. These young fruit, when cut open, were all black 

 at the core, showing a defect in the process of fertilisation. In 

 the first orchard house the free setting could not be thicker, 



I but will cause great trouble in thinning, and there is no sign of 



j a fruit dropping ; but then these trees had days of bright 

 sunshine when in bloom. 



I Strawberries for the last eight days have missed the bright 

 sunbeams. Even with diminished water and rather more air, 



I the flavour cannot be so good. Melons have been trained and 

 stopped in the mode detailed in previous volumes, but all such 



I beds are sadly crammed with other little things at present. 



I Our earth-pits and trenches are giving us more room under 

 glass. There is, however, much labour involved in so much 

 moving. 



OENAMENTAL DEPAETHENT. 



Besides mowing and cleaning when suitable, we have com- 

 menced making ready the flower beds, by regulating edgings, 

 where they are to be permanent, as all that expedites work at 

 planting-out time. We also had the beds that are empty 

 rough-dug again. The chief work of the week, however, has 

 been cleaning and potting Ferns and finefoliaged plants for 

 corridors, &c., the great difficulty being to get light enough for 

 them for a few weeks. Many plants succeed very well under 

 Vines, until the shade becomes too dense, and then if not 

 moved they will be unduly elongated. 



The other chief work was getting bedding plants out of boxes 

 into earth-pits, &o., preparatory to planting out in beds a 

 month hence. When hard driven we have planted out of the 

 boxes in which the plants were struck, but they seldom did so 

 well, or took root at once so freely, or made such a quick dis- 

 play as when we gave them this intermediate treatment, and. 

 lifted them with less or more ot a ball attached, the fresh roots 

 ready to go at once intj the pulverised soil of the beds. The 

 labour is thus increased, but we think the results pay well for 

 it. It is astonishing what a month of more room will do for 

 such plants, if they are protected from frost and culling east, 

 winds. 



