340 



JOUENAIi OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ May 11, 1871. 



Of Marie Lonise there will not be an average crop, and Suffolk 

 Thorn and Winter Bon Chie'ien are rather cut up both in 

 foliage and bloom by the late spring frosts. 



Here we have large Eed and White Currant trees on walls in 

 almost every aspect. These, and others in the plantations, 

 could not possibly show a more satisfactory condition for fiuit. 

 Cherries, also, promise plentifully, and Gooseberries are swell- 

 ing off an esoelleat crop, although the tops of many of the trees 

 have shed their fruit through frost. Of Black Currants there 

 is a promise of a very heavy crop. I think there is no doubt 

 that if quantity of fruit is the object there is nothing like 

 letting the Black Currant establish itself as a large tree. At 

 this place most of the trees showing fruit are from 6 to 8 feet 

 high and two-thirds as much through; I am told they always 

 have borne from top to bottom, and bushels of fruit are regu- 

 larly produced. The Black Currant no doubt likes either a 

 leteutive soil or a moist situation, and here it i^ quite at home, 

 as close by one side runs the river Lea ; a branch from it 

 is taken through the kitchen garden on the other side of the 

 Currant plantation, and the trees thrive remarkably well. Eed 

 Currants, too, are very fiourishing in such a place. I cannot 

 help thinking that where space is an object for economy, and 

 ornament a thing to be promoted, the Eed Currant should be 

 planted and trained to stakes as a hedge abfut 4 feet high, the 

 shoots crossing each other like lattice-work. They take up 

 little room, produce quite as abundantly, and are very hand- 

 some and ornamental all the summer, particularly when in 

 •fruit, and when growing by the walks there is no harbour by 

 the trees for birds ; the fruit is likewise better flavoured in 

 consequence of having an abundance of sun and air, and when 

 it is to be preserved tor tarts can be netted up easily and with- 

 out injury to the trees. — Thomas Eecokd. 



P.S. — In my notes on thinning Grapes, paee 301, in the 

 third and fourth lines from the bottom '' string" should be 

 " strig."— T. E. 



WORK FOE THE ^^■EEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Some of the most forward of the early-sown CauUflower and 

 <Jahhagt? plants wi'l now be in a fit state for final transplanting, 

 which should be done the first favourable opportunity, and in 

 ihe event of dry weather prevailing they must be kept well 

 supplied with water. Proceed with the pricking-out of Broccoli; 

 Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, &c., as they become large enough to 

 liandle, and h]mi of Celery. Sow full cropsi of Dwarf Kidney 

 Beans, and Scarlet Runners if not done. Tie-up for blanching 

 a few of the largest Bath Cos Lettuce that have stood through 

 ■the winter ; these should be ke|.t ne'l supplied with water it 

 necessary, in order to induce rapid growth, which is essential 

 tc the production of that tender crispuess so prized in this 

 variety. Transplant Leeks from the seed-bed as soon as they 

 S,'e 'arge enough, in rows 18 inches apart, and 9 inches from 

 plant to plant in the row. The soil eannnt be too rich. Keep 

 an sne^^essional sowings of Lettuces and Turnips. Continue to 

 -sarth-up and stake Peas, but previous to earttiing-up let them 

 be well thinned out, if too thick. This is a more important 

 consideration than is generally allowed. We often sow thickly 

 order to insure a crop, but if all come up and are left to 

 ] (they will grow, bloom, and produce a number of small 

 pods, but after a gathering or two they cease to yield, whereas 

 if well thinned-ont a greater weight of finer pods is produced, 

 and they will continue to grow and bloom so as to produce a 

 succession. One of the chief merits of that excellent Pea, the 

 British Queen is, that it continues to produce in succession 

 like a Kidney Bean, and this is because, being a large strong- 

 growinp Pea, cultivators are accustomed to give it so much more 

 room. The same principle is applicable to "ther varieties, and 

 ■eight Peas of the smaller kinds, and fri m four to six of the 

 larger in the space of a foot, will produce more and finer pods 

 than three times the number in the same epace. Eadishes wiU 

 now require to he sown very often in smaller quantities; birds 

 are apt to be very troublesome to these, and where a constant 

 succession of salads must he kept up, I would recommend the 

 adoption of a plan which answers well. A couple of portable 

 frames 6 inehss deep, covered over the top with wire, each 

 about 4 yards square, are placed over Eadi.-hps, L^tttuces, &c., 

 and as soon as the plants are well above ground, another sowing 

 is made and the frames moved to it. In dry weather it is ad- 

 vantageous to give Rndii^hes a good soaking of water at about 

 nine o'clock iu the morning when the sun is shining upon 

 them ; it m^ikes them tender. Encourage Canimhers for the 



ridges ; let them be kept near the glass where they can have 

 abundance of light and air to cause them to become sturdy plants 

 for turning out. The ridge should be placed in a sheltered 

 situation. The method of preparing it is as follows : — Dig a 

 trench about IJ foot deep and 3 feet wide, fill-up with well- 

 fermented materials 2J feet in height, cover the whole with 

 about a foot of light rich soil, then mark out the places for the 

 plants about 4 feet apart, on which set the hand-glasses ; turn 

 out the plants when the soil becomes warm, which will be in 

 the course of a few days if all go on well. Gis-e a little tepid 

 water around the ball to settle the earth. Let the glasses be 

 covered with single mats at night till the plants begin to grow, 

 when they may be dispensed with. 



FEUIT GAEDEN, 



Stir the surface of the earth well amongst Strawberry plants, 

 and if in a very dry state give them a liberal supply of water. 

 Have ready a well-prepared piece of ground for planting out, 

 as they are brought from the forcing structures, all the pots of 

 forced Strawberries ; plant them 1 yard apart for a supply of 

 strong runners for next year's forcing, snd the crops the next 

 year from those left in the ground are superior to those grown 

 in the usual way ; they will require several applications of water 

 after planting to give them a fair start. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



That favourable period following a weary time of wet is always 

 one more or less busj to the gardener, a day of sunshine then 

 reveals numerous faults against the fair propriety of the gar- 

 den. Weeds appear provokingly numerous, the rain has left a 

 pool of slime here, a mound of sand there, and disarrangement 

 everywhere, which must be repaired without loss of time. 

 Flower beds should now be put in a condition suitable to re- 

 ceive the fragile plants they are intended for, but unless pro- 

 tection can be afforded it would be unwise to venture on plant- 

 ing for a week or two. No rule can be laid down for regulating 

 distance in planting, a proper consideration of the hatit of the 

 plant must determine their distribution. Avoid the extremes 

 of thick or thin planting. In the distribution of colours, if the 

 garden is large the central and marginal beds should be defined 

 with positive colours. For particular information as to their 

 systematic arrangement, a work by Chevreul may be consulted 

 with advantage. 



gkeenhotjSE and conseevatoet. 



The preservation of the blossom of decorative plants for a 

 greater or less period greatly depends at this season on the 

 regulation of the atmosphere. Accustomed as our plants have 

 been lately to humidity and gloom, the glare of sunshine and 

 the dryness of the air will destroy them in a very short time. 

 To remedy this, keep the paths of the houses damped during 

 the day. and employ shading materials. Conservatory beds 

 will require water, as also all large plants in tubs; Camellias, 

 particularly, being in ac'ive growth, will require a liberal sup- 

 ply; a watering of manure would be advantageous. Oranges, 

 Oleanders, &c., usually removed out of doors, should receive a 

 top-dressing of soil, in which sheep's dung is an ingredient. 

 See that all other plants are carefully staked and tied before 

 removal. The Pelargoniums will now be showing bloom, if not 

 expanded. As soon as this occurs, unless of gross habit, a 

 little weak and clear manure water may be given. Such may 

 also be applied to the Azileas making their wood, also to the 

 Camellias. Let a reserve stock of Pelargoniums, Ciloeolarias, 

 Verbenas, Heliotropes, ifca., be potted oil in 3 inch pots, and 

 kept by themselves. Such will serve to maintain continued 

 gaiety throughout the latter part of the summer and autumn. 

 Fuchsias for late blooming must not be kept too warm ; they 

 should be placed in a moist, shady house, where they will grow 

 much more freely than in a high temperature. 



SI01"E. 



Attend to shitting specimen plants of Clerodendrons and 

 other gay and popular stove plants. Observe to fumigate fre- 

 quently in a light way ; heavy fumigations, caused, of course, 

 by delaying this necessary precaution, frequently do serious 

 mischief. Go over climbers frequently, so as to regulate their 

 growth and prevent confusion, which, without attention, soon 

 happens. Syringe and shut up early on the afternoons of bright 

 days, and be as sparing as possible in the use of artificial heat. 

 Examine the plants individually every alternate day, and water 

 such as rfqnire it, but be careful not to give too much to those 

 starting into growth. A cool atmosphere will greatly assist in 

 prolonging the beauty of such as are in bloom. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



E:moT6 all plants iitendei for bediiig-out, and let them 



