60 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ July 19, 1877. 



and with Bueh a winter and spring as we have had refrain 

 from watering entirely. Mine have not had a drop except 

 what nature haa given. About every two years I cover the 

 Rose quarter 2 or 3 inches thick with stable manure in October 

 or November, and shift all the plants by trenching the ground 

 and digging in the manure and replanting in March at the 

 time they are pruned back. Watering I have observed gives 

 a tendency to mildew, with which they have been affected in 

 previous years. I have seen none in this, and scarcely any 

 aphis or other blight. The Roses may he characterised as 

 perfectly clean, in fact pictures as to foliage. — Constant Sub- 

 scriber, South Hants. 



[Do not hesitate to communicate your experience in Pear 

 and Apple-growing, especially as, unlike many cultivators, you 

 "have a good crop of each." — Eds] 



DOINGS OF THE LAST AND WORK FOR 

 • THE PRESENT WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



We have given over trying to produce Cauliflowers as an 

 autumn crop, but those who find it necessary to make sure of 

 good examples at that time should now put out their plants. 

 To make sure of good results the plants ought not to become 

 stunted in their growth by ovardryness at the roots, which is 

 certain to produce mildew, and caterpillars ought to be de- 

 stroyed if they are observed on the plants. Hand picking is the 

 most certain way. A friend recimmended ducks to us as a sure 

 way of clearing crops of caterpillars ; but we found on turning 

 them into the garden that they cleared-off Peas, Cabbages, 

 Lettuce, and caterpillars indiscriminately. Hens, too, we were 

 told would soon clear the Rose bushes of aphis, but our hens 

 prefer to scratch the plants out by the roots in their search for 

 underground insects. It is best not to allow any sort of poultry 

 in the garden. The autumn-sown Onions are nearlyripe; a 

 few specimens have thick necks and stand upright. A good plan 

 is to bend the tops down so as to cause the bulbs to swell and 

 ripen more rapidly. Spring-sown crops have been gone over 

 and all the weeds removed. 



Brussels Sprouts and Savoys have been planted-out on good 

 ground, the Sprouts 2 feet apart, and the Savoys 2 feet be- 

 tween the rows and a foot between the plants. Cardoons 

 should now be thinned-out, leaving the plants at the distance of 

 9 inches apart in the rows. The ground should be stirred-up a 

 little amongst the plants, and all weeds be removed. As the 

 plants increase in growth they must be earthed-up a little at a 

 time when the ground is dry. We have planted some Kidney 

 Beans for a late crop. This sowing when the weather is favour- 

 able in September and October is very useful to us. The plants 

 will continue bearing into October, but it is quite ueceasary to 

 gather the pods as soon as they are fit for use. Turnips ought 

 also to be sown for, use in autumn and winter. The plan 

 pnrBued by the growers for market in this district is a very 

 simple one, and consists in merely scratching the ground after 

 it has been cleared of the early Potatoes, and sowing the seeds 

 broadcast, and then harrowing the ground to bury them. When 

 large enough the plants are thinned-out to from 6 to 9 inches 

 apart, and to prevent the attacks of the Turnip fly it is often 

 necessary to scatter a quantity of spent hops from the brewery 

 over the crop. As the ground is usually very dry at this time 

 it is a good plan to give it a thorough watering before sowing 

 the seeds. It is best to sow Lettuce seeds, Radish, and any 

 small salading under a north wall. In whatever position they 

 may be sown, watering in very dry weather is absolutely 

 necessary. See that the Celery crops are carefully attended 

 to that have been planted-out early. Want of water will cause 

 many of the plants to bolt. More trenches must be planted 

 for succession. 



vineries. 

 We have been able to clear the Vines of the early crops of 

 Grapes, and were glad to give the leaves a thorough cleansing 

 With a garden engine, applying the water with considerable 

 force, but taking care not to injure the leaves. The ground is 

 also well watered if necessary; not the outside border, but the 

 inside generally becomes too dry before tbe crops are gathered. 

 In the late houses it is easy to perceive which berries are likely 

 to be small and stoneless, and it is a good plan to remove them 

 at once. Shanked berries are also better removed as soon as 

 they are perceived. A very little attention to the small details 

 of Tine culture makes all the difference between a houseful of 

 bunches with even-Bized berries and branches regularly arranged, 

 and a house where the bunches are uneven and the branches 

 disorderly. We have recently gone over the late houses and 

 pinched back the lateral growths, taking care that each bunch 

 is securely fastenod to the" wires by means of a Btout Btrip of 

 matting. It would be well to again remark on the importance 

 of judicious ventilation, and in arid weather see that the atmo- 



sphere is kept sufficiently moist by sprinkling water on the 

 paths, borders, and walls of the house. 



CUCUMBERS AND MELONS. 



During the next six months no artificial heat is required for 

 these, whether they are cultivated in pits and the Vines trained 

 over the surface of the ground, or grown in span or half-span 

 houses. Those who have the means to do so (and we question 

 whether it would not pay better even for those who wish to 

 grow for market) should grow their plants in a house where 

 they can walk underneath them, aa so much more enjoyment 

 is derived from their culture in this way; and those who have 

 to attend to the plants find it bo convenient to water, syringe, 

 train, and regulate the growths ; and one great advantage gained 

 by training to a trellis overhead is that the under sides of the 

 leaves can be washed with the syringe, and that is where spider 

 attacks them. Excellent Cucumbers and Melons can be pro- 

 duced in ordinary garden frames, nor is it necessary to trouble 

 about the linings of fermenting material. The best frame Cu- 

 cumbers we have ever seen grown received no more attention 

 as regards watering than to have two pots of water placed inside 

 the frame, and after having been exposed to the heat of the 

 frame through the day, each light received about three gallons, 

 applied through the rose of a water-pot. This was done every 

 day through the Bummer months, and the shoots were thinned- 

 out as required, and the young growths pegged down once 

 a-week. In houses the usual routine of work is syringing and 

 damping three or fonr times a-day and closing early in the after- 

 noon. When the Melons approach the ripening stage syringing 

 must be discontinued, but we do not allow the soil in which the 

 plants are growing to become dusty dry. 



PLANT STOVE. 



In treating of our own " doings " reference must always be 

 made to the more choice" species of hardwooded plants, the 

 most select of "foliage" plants, and Orchids. Many who have 

 small stoves cannot grow such, and others may prefer Gloxinias, 

 Achimenes, Gesneraa, &c. The earliest of the two first-named 

 will now b9 approaching their resting period, and must have 

 more air admitted to them and be kept rather drier at the roots. 

 A small house, or even a garden frame, would be as suitable a 

 place aa any in which to place the plants, where they could 

 receive the right treatment. Other plants for succession must 

 be grown in a warmer, closer, moister atmosphere, but we do 

 not approve of syringing the leaves. 



Gelosias. — The pyramid-branched variety ia the most useful 

 for decorative purposes, and the cut sprays are very suitable 

 for placing in vases. The culture of these plants ia very 

 simple. They are annually raised from seeds. The plants 

 must be grown-on ripidly by potting in rich loam and a little 

 leaf soil. They muBt be kept in heat and daily syringed to pre- 

 vent the attacks of red spider. Under good management the 

 plants may be grown 3 or 4 feet high and as much across in one 

 season. Then we have the ordinary Cockscomb (Celosia cristata), 

 plants of which are highly useful for decorative purposes. These 

 are usually grown in garden frames over a bed of fermenting 

 manure. When the plants are shifted into the pots in which it 

 is intended they are to perfect their flowers bottom heat is not 

 necessary, and the frames should be well ventilated, the object 

 being to prevent the stems from becoming drawn up. Red spider 

 iB also very fond of feasting on the undersides of the leaveB, and 

 wherever this pest goes a blight follows it, and the leaves 

 speedily become yellow. The plants when well grown have a 

 bold appearance when arranged with other plants on the green- 

 house stage. 



All young plants of such subjects as Bouvardia, Thyrsacanthus, 

 Euphorbia, Eranthemum, Begonia, &c, which were raised from 

 cuttings early in the season must now be grown-on without 

 any check. They must be potted before tli9 roots are too much 

 matted to the sides of the pots, and it depends much upon the 

 size it is intended to grow the plants as to the size of the pots 

 that ought to be u8ed, aa aome of the above grow very rapidly. 

 Bouvardiaa are well known to be so useful at the dreariest sea- 

 son of the year, their delicate snow-white blush and red flowers 

 lighting up the gloom of dreary November and December, that 

 few persons would be without them. Our plants have just been 

 turned out of doors in the company of Poinsettia pulcherrima. 

 The young shoots push out vigorously, and must be regularly 

 stopped until the plants are sufficiently large and of a compact 

 habit. The plants must be regularly syringed to prevent them 

 from becoming infested with the inevitable spider. The other 

 plants named should be grown near the glass, and be shaded 

 from fierce sun. 



Climbing plants are apt to Btraggle far from the bounds allotted 

 to them at this aeason, and they must be restrained by a free 

 use of the knife. At the same time see that the leaves are 

 washed free from dirt, bog, and scale. — J. Douglas. 



TRADE CATALOGUE RECEIVED. 



W. Dobbie, 62, Preston Street, Faversham. — List of Variegated 

 and Bedding Geraniums. 



