May 11, 1871. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



3il 



remain under the protection of cold frames for a week previous 

 to planting. This preparaiion will better enable them to with- 

 stand unfavourable weather. Do not allow them to sustain 

 any check through want of pot room or carelessness in water- 

 ing. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAKDEN. 



A EEW glorious days after the rains, and as the wet had 

 hardened the surface among most growing crops, we took the 

 opportunity of the dryness to stir the surface soil with a light 

 fork or hoe, aecarding to the size of the plants, the fork being 

 used for Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Beans, Peas, Potatoes, &o., 

 and the Dutch hoe for Onions, Carrots, Parsnips, and young 

 crops of Spinach, Ridishes, Turnips, and Lettuces. To save 

 room in limited space, we often transplant Lettuces freely. 

 Had we abundance of room, except for the earliest out-door 

 crops we would sow all the summer every ten days or so, and 

 that very thialy, and transplant none, but ihin out to the 

 requisite distance. This is the simplest and best mode of 

 obtaining fine succulent crisp Lettuces. The great secret to 

 obtain a continuous good supply in little re cm, is to sow often 

 and but little at a litue. It is of no use to talk about the 

 barrowfuls that could not be used taken to a rubbish heap, if 

 yon cannot send a dish to table as wanted. A constant un- 

 broken succession is better than great quantities at a time. 



Our planted-out winter Onions are looking very well, and if 

 we had a little guano or superphosphate by us, we would have 

 given them a little between the rows, so that the rains should 

 have washed it in. We may do so still, as it very much in- 

 creases the size of the bulbs, but too much must not be given. 

 A very little guano, if good, will go a long way. We have never 

 used much artificial manure ourselves. The safest is ground, 

 broken, or dissolved bones. We have seen some samples of 

 guano this year that lead us to think that its heyday is past, 

 they seemei so alike in texture, feel, and scent to the con- 

 centrated manure of years ago. 



We have tried in a small way most of the artificial manures 

 advertised, and sent out in little tubs and canisters, and we 

 found them all good, and we could recommend them to amateurs 

 who did not like the trouble, or had not the convenience of 

 having rotted manure, or manure water tanks ; but we would 

 urge the importance on all our readers who employ artificial 

 manures, of using them sparingly, and always under rather than 

 above the strength recommended by the vendor or maker. 

 Even the vendors can scarcely find fault with us in saying this 

 much, for our limited experience would lead to the conclusion 

 that most of the canisters of artificial manures are stronger 

 rather than weaker than they are represented to be. It would 

 not suit us to mention names, but some time ago an enthusiastic 

 amateur who had built a greenhouse, and paid handsomely for 

 a collection of the best Azaleas and Camellias, ruined them by 

 a too free application of these canister manures. He was, of 

 course, wroth at the result, he was to expose, to prosecute, and 

 all the rest of it, but he would only have exposed his own folly. 

 Because one ounce was to do so much, he argued four or six 

 ounces must do still more good, and thus he killed his 

 plants. The expeiicLce was costly, but the lesson will ntvar 

 be forgotten. Our advice then i?, use all artificial manures 

 with caution, and not too strong. Even good soot, that .valu- 

 able manure which most of ua can command, must be used 

 sparingly, either as powder or forming the strength of a liquid. 

 It is always ssfer to use four weak applications than one very 

 strong one. 



Planted-out on a rich border a number of Celery plants, to 

 be lifted with large balls when strong. Some we might have 

 transferred to the btds at once where they were to perfect 

 themselves, but the plants are now near the water tanks, and 

 will give us less trouble for a month or so. We laid hurdles 

 over them, with a few branches drawn through them, so as to 

 afford a flickering shade, and then in a cold night, if necessary, 

 we can throw a mat over the hurdles. 



Put a lot of Eidney Beans in small pots in a frame, to be 

 transplanted when of a good size, and these will come in a little 

 sooner than those sown in the open air. 



Removed the glass from a lot of our earliest Potatoes, and 

 put hurdles across instead, so that we could give a little pro- 

 tection if necessary. Moveable frames are in this respect better 

 than pits, as the frames can go on another bed, such as for 

 Cucumbers or anylhing else. When pits are used for early 

 crops, we cannot move them, but we often move the lights and 

 use them for temporary purposes. A rail at the back and front, 



and a board set on edge, soon form a box-bed for lights to be 

 placed on, and thus many things can be forwarded in cold places. 



EKUIT GAEDEN. 



We find a number of twigs on our Apricots and Peaches out of 

 doors, now that the sun is gaining power, are showing that they 

 have suffered from frost more than we expected. In these sunny 

 days we have given more air, and have kept houses damper 

 by sprinkling paths, iSic, as this sprinkling and even syringing 

 should be much regulated by the weather. We have little 

 faith in regular syringing or path-damping in very dull weather. 

 It is in every way better under such circumstances to let the 

 temperature fall a little. 



OKNAMENTAL DEPAEIMEKT. 



We have had the most of our walks fresh edged — that is, the 

 grass has been cut with our edging iron. This secures a straight 

 line all the summer, and the shears do their clipping better. 

 ' Mowing and cleaning, and preparing flower-beds have taken up 

 , much time. Some persons are planting-out in their flower 

 I beds, we prefer waiting from a week to a fortnight. In fact, our 

 I beds are not yet ready if we wished to get at them. Our place 

 ' is very exposed, and we gain nothing by early planting. Prick- 

 J ing-off, potting-off, and planting in temporary beds, have taken 

 up a good deal of our time, as well as potting what was intended 

 for corridors, conservatory, &o. Now is the best time to re- 

 gulate, trim, aud cut Box edgings ; the fresh growth comes so 

 green. If the work is done much earlier, there is a risk of 

 blackening or whitening from frost. Camellias and Azaleas 

 done flowering can scarcely be moved too soon into a somewhat; 

 close house by themselves. — R. F. 



TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 



E. G. Henderson & Son, "Wellington Eoad, St. John's Wood, Lon- 

 don, N.V,''. — Sprinr/ Catnhgtie of Beddinq and Softvioodul Plants. 



J. Carter, Dunnett, & Beale, 237 and'SSS, HijjU Holborn, London, 

 W.C. — Catalogue of Bedding and otlicr Plants, 1S71. 



F. & A. Dickson' & Sons, 106, Eastgate Street, Cheslm:—Abridc/ecl 

 List of Bedding Plants. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until nest week. 



SuE-TnopicAL {Trotty). — Plants of tlie tropics or elsewhere that require 

 protection durinfj the chief part of the year are cultivated in the open 

 ground here during such months ns are sufficiently warm, and such 

 gardening is termed sub-tropical. The booli you name is out of print, 

 and there is none other publish^ d with coloured illustrations, t'or cul- 

 tural purposes, lists of varieties, &c., our '' Garden Manual." and " In-door 

 Gardening" and " Out-door Gardening," contain much information. 



Cowslip and PriiUeose {Fox). — Your specimen is the Oxlip, Primula- 

 elatior. Exposure to light, and moderately rich soil, induce the highest- 

 colour. 



Wholesome Fungi (South Torl-shire).—" 'Ents.hle Funguses of Great 

 Britain," with coloured plates and full descriptions, is a book pnlilished 

 at our office. You can have it free by post if you enclose 7s. Sd. with 

 your address. 



Oechaed-house Peach Trees Diseased (Gravenhurst). — If your Peach- 

 trees had been out of doors we would have said that they had been killecE 

 by the frost, as a number of ours are. As it was in an orchard house we 

 are less sure, but it is likely death arose from the same Ciiuse, ns the 

 wood is rather soft and spongy. We have had wood affected in the sam& 

 way from sulphur-smoking, and from washing with too strong paints and 

 washes, and in the latter case the wood next the bud would sufler most^ 

 as in one piece yours seems to have done. Where the wood is killed 

 right through you can do nothing with the wood above. Where it aifects- 

 only cue side of the shoot above, there will be space enough left to keep- 

 up a circulation of juices. 



Plants for the Bace Wall of Cool Winery {Constant Suhsariher). — 

 Y'ou do not say whether frost is excluded or not ; conl vinery is a vague 

 term. We presume frost is kept out, is which case for winter flowering 

 nothing would suit so well as Camellias. Besides these we can only re- 

 commend Oranges for the back wall of a viiiery. Six Camellias are— 

 Bealii, Bonomiana, Monarch, Valtevaredo, Mathotiana alba, and Con- 

 spicua. 



SlEPHANOTis FLORlBtJNDA SEEDING (B. H.).— It IS not unnsual for this 

 plant to fruit and produce perfect seeds; indeed, we have seen large 

 plants which had been raised from seed in this country, and they were 

 three years old. Only last year we saw many dozens of seedling plants 

 from home-saved seed. The plant first ripened seeds in England about 

 ten years ago. 



Camellias and Azaleas after Flowering (H. H. a.).— After flower- 

 ing they should not be pot to rest, nor beleft unwatered, but should bo 

 kept moist by being sprinkled overhead, and never allowed to want for 

 water at the root ; but do not supply any until the soil becomes dry, and 

 then give plenty, and always before' the foliage flags. They should also 

 have a closer atnu sphere and slightly higher temperpture to insure 

 free growth, which efi'ected, they should have more air and a drier at- 

 mosphere to secure the ripening of the wood. After the bud^^ are set 

 they can hardly be kept too cool and airy. Being evergreen, they require 

 water at all seasons. You may procure seed of Primula cortusoides 

 amcena of any of the prmcipal nurserymen or seedsmen who advertise in 

 this Journal. 



Peaes not Setting Fruit (H. E.). — We think your trees require rich 

 top-dressings and copious waterings. Give these, and they will, no 



