December S, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



455 



fide, and bright green. It seems to be widely distributed through- 

 out tropical America and the West Indies, and is also found in 

 the Sandwich Islands. 



N. falciformis. — A rare species, and its rarity is much to be 

 regretted, for it is robust and handsome. The fronds are from 

 2 to 3 feet long, erect, and arching. The pinnae are broad and 

 falcate, slightly eared at the base, and dark green ; the sori are 

 nearly round, and situated in a single row close to the margin. 

 It cannot be too highly recommended for climbing over rock- 

 work, and it also makes a fine specimen as a pot plant. Native 

 of Borneo. — Experto Crede. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



During frosty weather wheel maniac on to the different 

 quarters that require it; throw it into convenient heaps, and 

 cover it with earth like a Potato pit, so as to prevent waste 

 from evaporation. It greatly facilitates spring cropping to 

 have the manure at hind, instead of having to wheel it when 

 wanted. Soil that has been ridged-up would be benefited by 

 the ridges being turned over with a fork, the more fully to 

 expose it to the action of frost. Turn compost heaps of all 

 descriptions ; one turning in frosty weather is worth three in 

 the absence of frost. The occupation of the ground by crops 

 suitable as food for a variety of insects, in the course of a series 

 of years brings a vast number of such depredators into a garden. 

 The invention of methods for their extirpation often taxes the 

 ingenuity of a gardener to a considerable extent, and caution 

 must be exercised in the choice of materials. There is. how- 

 ever, one substance not open to any objection, and which may 

 now be nsed with advantage to land whence the crop has been 

 removed — viz., lime. Ground cropped in the preceding season 

 with Carrots, Parsnips, or Potatoes, and found, as is frequently 

 the case at this time, infested with insects, should have a good 

 dressing of lime dug in ; or if that cannot be afforded, the soil 

 should be turned up in ridges for the winter. Birds are the 

 natural enemies of grubs. The services of a few rooks or sea 

 gulls, where they can be secured, would be found of no incon- 

 siderable value. Take advantage of dry days to tie advanc- 

 ing Endive to blanch. Globe Artichokes should be thought of. 

 Examine young Lettuces frequently, and dust with lime or 

 soot to check the attacks of slugs. A stock of leaves should 

 be variously distributed amongst those croos requiring pro- 

 tection. A reserve of leaves should be kept on'baud for Sea-kak 

 covering, linings, &c. ; in fact, a good heap of leaves is one of 

 the requisites of a kitchen garden. As this is the season al- 

 terations in estates are generally in progress, the opportunity 

 of collecting soil or material suitable for storing for the garden 

 should be taken advantage of. Turf, road sand, and brick 

 rubbish, are all valuable, and the chance of making a reserve 

 of such should be eagerly taken. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



Proceed with the planting of fruit trees in open weather, and 

 if the soil is old let each tree have a good portion of new soil 

 about its roots. Pruning and nailing all kinds of wall trees, 

 except Peaches and Apricots, must now be vigorously pro- 

 secuted. Leave nothing for the spring which can be done 

 now ; every day gained at this season will give greater liberty 

 for extended operations in the spring. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



A little labour will secure a valuable supply of material for 

 enriching the flower beds and borders. Leaves are everywhere 

 at hand ; they should be sedulously collected and stacked in 

 some out-of-the-way place with a mixture of road sand or light 

 soil, rotten sticks, and decaying vegetable matter, and left to 

 ferment. In a season or two a most valuable compost will be 

 the result, especially suitable for many of the shrubs and 

 plants which decorate our gardens, whose original position was 

 probably near some primeval forest, the ever-accumulating 

 leaves of which would naturally give a character to the sur- 

 rounding soil, and encourage the propagation of Rhododen- 

 drons, Azaleas, Magnolias, &c. A thorough cleaning should 

 once more take place in all pleasure grounds, as by this time 

 all the decayed leaves are dowD. Rose stocks may now be 

 procured and planted; they will transplant safely at this period, 

 provided the roots are kept damp. Fuchsias in beds or borders 

 may be cut down and mulched over ; if it is desired to preserve 

 any large specimens with their tops, a row of stakes may be 

 driven round in a circle and surrounded by a mat, the interior 

 eing stuffed loosely with clean new straw. The top of this 



may be thatched to exclude wet. Before enclosing, how6ve r > 

 it will be well to pluck off the leaves, as these encourage 

 mouldiness. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSEIWATORT. 



In frosty weather the conservatory will require very careful 

 management, for some rather difficult problems have to be 

 worked out. Atmospheric humidity cannot by any means be 

 entirely dispensed with, yet if not well managed it will produce 

 drip, whieh is very prejudicial to the delicate texture of 

 Cunellias and other gay flowers. Of course, if the exterior of 

 the roof has no covering ice will gather on the glass, and in 

 melting will drop from the laps. The best plan is to keep as 

 low a temperature as can be allowed — say, 40° to 45° at night, 

 and to give a little back air at night, also a little at front, but 

 it must be very moderate, as the atmospheric moisture, instead 

 of passing quietly away by the back apertures, will be con- 

 densed as it rises. With a good roof-covering, 40° would be 

 quite sufficient, and then there would be enough atmospheric 

 moisture at all times without the special application of water. 

 See that the young stock of Heliotropes, Soarlet Pelargoniums, 

 Persian Cyclamens, with other flowers grown especially for 

 winter, have light situations, and regular, close attention as to 

 watering. Let Ericas also have attention in watering ; if they 

 stand near flues or pipes they may become suddenly very dry. 

 Keep up a quiet ventilation in the greenhouse day and night if 

 possible ; let the air Bteal in moderately, and dispense with 

 strong fires, or, indeed, fires of aDy kind when the temperature 

 can be kept within the limits without them. Do not water the 

 Pelargoniums until they are thoroughly dry, and take oare to 

 fumigate frequently and slightly. 



FORCING PIT. 



This is a good time to introduce the following plants, pro- 

 vided, as before observed, they have received the necessary 

 treatment through the summer : — Rhododendrons, Azaleas, 

 both American and Chinese, Persian Lilacs, Sweet Briars, 

 Moss and Provence Rises, crimson and Perpetual Roses, 

 Lelums, Kiltnias, • Anue Boleyn Pinks, Wallflowers, Sweet 

 Williams, and Dutch bulbs. Unless, however, they are in 

 proper trim, it will be labour in vain, and no mode of forcing 

 nor form of pit can compensate for this. If the heat is wholly 

 produced by fermentirjg materials, keep down accumulating 

 damp and mouldiness by an almost constant ventilation, in- 

 creasing the linings in order to raise the necessary tempera- 

 ture. Those who possess tank-heated pits will pursue a some- 

 what different process ; such will scarcely need my advice. 

 If there is any prospect of a soarcity of bloom next May, a 

 portion of the Achitnenes and Gloxinias should be repotted at 

 once and placed in the forcing pit, choosing such as have been 

 the longest at rest. A few Clerodendrons, Allamandas, and 

 Echites splendens may also be started, but unless plants of 

 these with well-ripened wood are at command, and that have 

 been some time at rest, there will be nothing gained by at- 

 tempting to start them into growth at present, for in most 

 cases it is difficult at this season to maintain a sufficiently warm 

 temperature to secure anything like free growth from these 

 unless the plants have been well prepared for an early start. 

 A gentle bottom heat of about 80° or 85° will be of great service 

 to such plants, in inducing a healthy root-action. 



PITS AND FRAMES. 



If former directions have been carried out the plants in these 

 structures will present a dwarf and robust appearance, thus 

 being well fitted to bear deprivation of light for some time, if 

 severe weather should ensue. Damp has accumulated very 

 much of late, owing to the heavy rains and the dense fogs witn 

 which we have been visited. This may be removed by giving 

 air at the front and back on sunny days, but where the pits 

 are heated with flues or pipes, a dry atmosphere may be 

 obtained by putting on Blight fires, at the same time allowing 

 a free circulation of air amongst the plants. — W. Kease. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Our work was very much the same as in previous weeks' 

 notices, in the way of protection, forcing Sea-kale, &c— wheel- 

 ing during frosty mornings, preparing heaps of fermented 

 material, digging, trenching, and covering Asparagus with a 

 light layer of dung and litter, as the roots are rather near the 

 surface. 



As yet the frost has not been so severe.as to render protect- 

 ing Celery necessary, but after soch mildness of weather it will 



