Angnst 25, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



149 



is seldom exercised) have to be given as to the stowage of the 

 cases containing trees. — (Report of the Horticultural Society of 

 Victoria.) 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



International Exhibition of 1871. — We are requested by 

 Her Majesty's Commissioners to state that there is no founda- 

 tion for the rumour that the International Exhibition appointed 

 for 1871 is to be postponed by reason of the war. The first 

 of the series of Annual International Exhibitions of selected 

 works of fine and industrial art and scientific inventions will 

 take place next year, as already announced. 



Mr. W. Taylor, gardener to J. Yates, Esq., Lauderdale 



House, Highgate, informs us there is a fine specimen of the 

 Litt^a juncea now in flower at that place. The spike is 

 15 feet in height. 



■ We are requested by the Council of the Royal Hor- 

 ticultural Society to state, tbat in consequence of the works 

 now in progress for the Annual International Exhibitions of 

 next and following years, the Royal Horticultural Society's 

 Gardens at South Kensington, will not be open free to the 

 public on the 26th of August, the anniversary of the late Prince 

 Consort's birthday. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 

 kitchen garden. 

 Every attention should at this period be given to the high 

 cultivation of winter crops. Where sufficient labour is provided 

 at all times, not a weed should be allowed to show its head. 

 When, unfortunately, weeds have done so, the use of the spade 

 is recommended instead of the hoe. Besides, it is as economi- 

 cal in the first instance, excepting in very hot and dry weather 

 like the present, for, unless the hoeing be succeeded by a raking, 

 the hoeing will in general have little effect. Moreover, the 

 benefits of exposing the soil to the air are very considerable, 

 especially in effete soils, such as those of most of our kitchen 

 gardens. All the Cabbage tribe, from the Early York Cabbage 

 up to the Cauliflower, should be soiled up the stem as high as 

 possible. When such crops are on poor land a dressing of 

 guano or fowls' dung at this period would be of eminent service. 

 It might be introduced as in South America in the cultivation 

 of Tobacco, Indian Corn, &c. — viz., by hand around the stems 

 of the plants. It is advisable to mix it with four times its bulk 

 of dry old tan, sawdust, charcoal dust, or anything which will 

 duly separate its particles. This process should, of course, 

 precede the soiling. Where plants of this family are liable to 

 "club " this course will be found of much service, as they fre- 

 quently depend for their existence on a few late-made roots. 

 Let a good breadth of Coleworts be planted out in well-prepared 

 ground; as before observed, the Onion beds will be available. 

 Let the winter Cauliflowers be sown directly. Late plantings of 

 Endive must be made forthwith. The plants will be eligible to 

 move with balls of earth into frames in November. The soil 

 must be very rich. This is an excellent time to make a sowing 

 of the Brown or Bath Cos and Hammersmith Lettuces to re- 

 main where sown through the winter. The beds should be 

 elevated considerably, the higher the better, and the seed scat- 

 tered broadcast rather thinly. A rich border should now be pre- 

 pared, and planted with the Bath or Brown Cos Lettuce ; these 

 will carry on a supply from the open ground until Christmas, 

 if protected. Leeks are most useful in a variety of ways, and 

 should now be soiled up after the manner of Broccoli ; a dress- 

 ing of guano may be introduced previously, if the soil is not 

 sufficiently rich. The old Strawberry rows should now have 

 attention. The leaves of the runners will shade the principal 

 leaves of the mother plant, and therefore some gardeners mow 

 down the runners in order to throw sunlight on the leaves left. 

 Mowing down the old plants is an absurd process which some 

 still adhere to. If the Tomatoes are over-luxuriant, cut away a 

 portion of their roots. 



fruit garden. 

 _ Go over the fruit trees and stop about half the shoots, be- 

 ginning, of course, with the strongest, for a general stopping at 

 this time would probably be of little further service than to in- 

 duce the production of a mass of useless spray ; whereas stop- 

 ping the stronger shoots, or those which incline to grossness, 

 will divert the sap into the weaker ones, which will be strength- 

 ened, while the buds on the shoots that have been stopped will 

 become full and plump without starting into growth. The 

 only effectual method, however, of curing a gross habit of 



growth, when it occurs in ordinary seasons, is root-prun- 

 ing, or keeping the roots within proper limits by means of 

 shallow well-drained borders ; and should it be found that the 

 shoots after stopping incline to start into growth, it will be 

 advisable as soon as the fruit is gathered to open a trench at a 

 moderate distance from the stem of the tree, and to cut the 

 stronger roots. This will be of the greatest service in checking 

 growth, and will probably do more towards securing ripe wood 

 than anything else that could be adopted. 



flower garden. 

 In many neighbourhoods bedding plants are only just coming 

 into full beauty. Go over them frequently, and without loss of 

 time remedy any defects that may be perceptible, for the 

 flower garden this year will be enjoyed but for a comparatively 

 short season ; and now that the plants are in beauty every 

 means should be used to render them as enjoyable as possible, 

 by maintaining the most perfect order and neatness. Where 

 the stock is clean and growing vigorously this will involve con- 

 siderable labour, and it will be necessary to look over the beds 

 frequently, pegging down where necessary, removing decayed 

 flowers, and cutting back such of the shoots as may incline to 

 encroach upon the edging of the beds. Keep herbaceous plants 

 neatly tied up, and cut off the flower-stems of any that are be- 

 coming unsightly. Take advantage of every leisure hour to 

 put in cuttings, and use every possible dispatch with this work 

 until there be in a fair way for rooting a good stock of such 

 plants as are known to be difficult to winter except as well- 

 established plants. Make gravel walks perfectly clean and 

 smooth by weeding, sweeping, and rolling, as may be necessary, 

 and keep climbers on walls within due limits. Propagate 

 Hollyhocks by cuttings. Mark good seedlings, digging up all 

 single and semi-double varieties. Take off the tops of seed- 

 ling spikes, if not already done ; it throws strength into the re- 

 maining flowers, and encourages the formation and growth of 

 the seed. A few Croouses, Snowdrops, &c, may be planted 

 soon to obtain an early bloom. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Continue to look over climbers, borders, &c. Large speci- 

 mens which had been removed out of doors to give room, will 

 soon require to be replaced in these structures ; indeed, the 

 whole of September will occasionally call for business of this 

 kind. The earth worm is a greater enemy to pot plants in 

 general than low temperature. Look well after late-flowering 

 plants. The late Heliotropes, Scarlet Pelargoniums, Petunias, 

 &c, if proceeded with as recommended weeks since, will now 

 be somewhat potbound, and will in that state, with the appli- 

 cation of weak liquid manure, produce abundance of blossom 

 on a light shelf until the beginning of December. Lachenalias 

 should be instantly repotted, and the Persian Cyclamens, if 

 planted out in spring, will now be fine bushy plants full of 

 young leaves. They must be taken up forthwith with all the 

 soil possible, potted carefully, and placed in a cold frame or 

 propagating house ; a bottom heat of 75° would be an advan- 

 tage, with a very moderate atmospheric temperature. After 

 three weeks of this treatment they may be introduced to the 

 greenhouse, where they will produce their fragrant blossoms in 

 abundance from November until April. 



STOVE. 



Many of the earliest growths of Orchids showing signs of 

 ripeness in the leaf and plump pseudo-bulbs, may be removed 

 forthwith from the excitement of the growing house. Any 

 situation in the light where a temperature averaging 60° night 

 and day can be guaranteed, will suit them well. A very 

 moderate amount of atmospheric moisture will suffice. 



COLD PITS. 



Young stock in cold pits intended to flower next season, 

 should be exposed to the midday sun, in order to ripen the 

 wood, taking care not to do this so rashly as to injure the 

 foliage. This, however, will only be proper in the case of such 

 things as have already made plenty of young wood, but it is ad- 

 visable after this season to be anticipating the approach of 

 winter, and to use every means to forward the growth of valu- 

 able hardwooded plants in order to have it somewhat firm and 

 able to resist damp, and that as soon as possible. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OP THE LAST "WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Owing to the dryness most work was held over, except a free 

 hoeing of the surface, and digging and trenching all vacant 



