88 



JOUENAL OF HOBTICOLTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ AngHst i, 1878. 



Exposition de Brie, Madame Clemence Joigneaux, Horace 

 Vernet, Marie Banmann, Princess Mary of Cambridge, Victor 

 Verdier, Madame Margottin (Tea), Souvenir d'un Ami (Tea), 

 and Souvenir d'Elise (Tea). 



For an amateur making a start, the above are recommended 

 as good-all-round Roses. They are selected on their merits, 

 regardless of the names of the raisers or the time at which 

 they were introduced. 



Taking a glance at the other parts of the nursery, we find 

 Borne acres of fruit and forest trees kept well in hand, also a 

 large stock of evergreens, and Conifers good and well managed. 

 The houses are useful span-roofed structures. One is planted 

 almost entirely with Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat Grape, and is 

 bearing fine bunches. There is a splendid stock of pot Vines, 

 and a healthy stock of Azaleas and Camellias raised and grafted 

 on the spot. The general aspect of the nursery is neat and 

 well-kept, the edges being close and trim, and weeds banished. 

 The whole place gives evidence of skill, enterprise, industry, 

 and perseverance, and by a continued exercise of these qualities 

 the present rapidly acquired position will soon be left behind, 

 and Mr. Merryweather will speedily occupy the front rank as 

 a rosarian, and take a highly creditable stand as a general 

 provincial nurseryman. He is animated by the spirit of his 

 good neighbour the Bev. S. Beynolds Hole, and will in time 

 excel. By the way, my pleasant day closed with two disappoint- 

 ments. I went to see the Caunton Boses — they were out of 

 bloom ; and the king consort of the queen of flowers was " out 

 of town."— J. W. 



PELARGONIUM PRESIDENT REVEIL. 



This Pelargonium is of great merit as a bedding plant. To 

 fully realise its value it should be planted by the side of other 

 dwarf kinds ; very dwarf and compact in its habit of growth, 

 its chief superiority lies in its great abundance of compact 

 trusses of vivid scarlet flowers, borne on short stout stalks just 

 clear of the foliage. For so dwarf a plant the size of its flowers 

 is remarkable, they being almost as large and quite as well 

 shaped as those of Lord Derby. Its great utility as a front-row 

 plant for ribbon borders, for small beds, and, indeed, for any 

 position where dwarf-growing plants are required, should render 

 it a general favourite. 



In one or two former papers I have included this Pelargonium 

 in my list of select sorts, and after having grown it for three 

 years, so highly do I esteem it that I consider it fully merits 

 this special notice. — Edward Luckhurst, Egerton House Gar- 

 dens, Kent. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



This is the time for laying the foundation of a sure supply 

 of vegetables and salads for the ensuing winter. I shall sup- 

 pose that all the spring and midwinter Broccolis have been 

 planted some time, and that Turnips for October and Novem- 

 ber have also been sown ; it remains to insure a continuous suc- 

 cession of Cauliflower and autumn Broccoli, also a full supply 

 of Salads. The Cape Broccolis, although apt to sport, are 

 amongst the most useful for affording a sure supply, provided 

 the family are resident at their country seat from October to 

 Christmas. Where such is the case the last planting should 

 be immediately accomplished, and that should be a good 

 breadth. A rich border should also be highly prepared for 

 Cauliflowers ; these, planted immediately, will supply the table 

 until Christmas if kept secure from frost. Endive, also, must 

 be planted out ■ th a liberal hand, likewise autumn Lettuces. 

 Let no piece of ground remain vacant, and let a clearance be 

 made forthwith of all decaying crops, or those which are un- 

 profitable, supplying their place immediately with crops such 

 as those just mentioned. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Now that the effect of the present arrangement of the colours 

 in the beds can be fairly seen, there is an excellent opportunity 

 for noticing any mistakes, and determining upon the arrange- 

 ment for next season, and this should be done without delay. 

 When it is decided what each bed is to be occupied with next 

 season, a plan of the garden should be made, writing the 

 names of the plants on the beds according to the arrangement 

 decided upon. This will be of the greatest service in showing 

 at any time what quantity of each kind of plant has to be pro- 

 pagated, and unless some method of this sort be adopted, it is 

 not unusual to find at planting-out time that there is a scarcity 



of some plants and a superabnndance of others ; whereas those 

 who have their plan to refer to can tell at a glance the exact 

 number of everything required, and avoid mistakes in propa- 

 gating too many of one plant and too few of another, and all 

 the anxiety and confusion of working without a well-defined 

 object in view. Dahlias will require to be gone over frequently 

 to keep their side branches securely tied-in, for when left untied 

 they are readily broken off by a thunderstorm. Hollyhocks 

 must also be securely tied to their stakes. Continue to remove 

 dead flowers from Boses, and give plenty of manure water to 

 the autumn-blooming varieties. Those who can find time 

 may pick off the seed-pods from their Bhododendrons ; this 

 will add much to the strength of the blossom in the next year. 

 The Azaleas, of course, will benefit by the same process. 

 During showery weather plant out all rooted Pink pipings. 

 Should very dry weather occur they must be shaded and care- 

 fully attended to. It is advisable to pot a few pairs of the best 

 sorts, and place them in frames ; though the Pink is much 

 hardier than the Carnation. By adopting this plan they may 

 be safely removed at any time, will make more roots, and, con- 

 sequently, are more likely to form Btrong plants and to bloom 

 well. Prepare a bed for the Tulip offsets, which must be 

 planted in a few weeks, for many of the smaller ones, if kept 

 out of the ground till the usual planting time, will shrivel and 

 perish. It will, therefore, be necessary that amateurs and 

 those commencing the fancy should immediately secure offsets 

 of expensive or scarce sorts, if blooming roots cannot be 

 readily or reasonably obtained, as most growers have com- 

 menced arranging their collections. Continue the directions 

 given for Carnations and Picotees last week, and carefully 

 prevent the seed-pods from contracting damp. Early appli- 

 cation should be made for new or favourite varieties, in order 

 that they may be potted off as soon as they are well rooted. 

 Seedling Auriculas that have hitherto been kept in pans or 

 boxes may now be placed singly in small pots ; the soil used 

 may consist of equal parts of sound turfy loam and leaf mould. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Now that there is a profusion of flowers out of doors, it will 

 not be possible to maintain the interest of the conservatory 

 except by keeping it furnished with handsome specimens of 

 showing plants. Azaleas, which do not seem inclined to start 

 freely into growth, should, if possible, be placed in a moist 

 situation, and be afforded every possible attention to induce 

 them to make vigorous growth. Specimens in heat which have 

 their bloom buds well formed, should be removed to a cool 

 house or a sheltered Bhady situation out of doors, but they 

 must be protected from drenching rains. Young plants which 

 it may be desirable to increase in size as much as possible 

 should, if they are setting their bloom, be stopped regularly 

 over and encouraged to make another growth. See that the 

 whole stock, particularly of plants in heat, is free from black 

 thrips, and spare no trouble to keep the plants clear of this pest. 

 Camellias which have fairly formed their bloom buds should 

 either be placed out of doors or in a cool dry house, keeping 

 them rather dry at the roots, in order to prevent their making 

 a second growth, which young vigorous plants are apt to do if 

 kept in a close moist situation after they have formed their 

 flower buds. Any of the plants which may require more pot 

 room should be repotted at once, so that the roots may take 

 hold of the fresh soil before the blooming season, for these 

 seldom bloom finely unless the pots are moderately filled with 

 roots. If there are sickly or badly rooted specimens of other 

 plants here they must be frequently examined for red spider, 

 or they may become a nursery for that pest, and it will soon 

 spread to adjoining plants. See that the young stock is not 

 allowed to suffer from want of pot room, and attend carefully 

 to watering, giving weak liquid manure to all plants in free 

 growth that are likely to be benefited by it. Stove plants which 

 may have been removed to the conservatory while in bloom 

 should be placed in heat again as soon as their beauty is over, 

 in order to permit the young wood to ripen. Plants which 

 require repotting should be kept in-doors after shifting until 

 the roots are established in the fresh soil. Attend well to 

 young stock, which will now be growing freely. Keep the shoots 

 nicely regulated and shaped as may be necessary to secure well- 

 formed specimens, and use every care to afford these a moist 

 atmosphere, sprinkling them overhead early in the afternoons 

 of bright days, and reducing the amount of air. Chrysanthe- 

 mums should now receive their last shift. Endeavour to keep 

 them stiff in habit and to preserve their lower leaves. Any 

 necessary amount of strength may be imparted to them, when 

 the flower buds are formed, by good liquid manure. For the 



