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JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTOEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ November 15, 1877 



tasted Gros Colman. Mr. Wildsmith would do good service 

 by stating how he grows this Grape so fine and colours it so 

 well. The bunch to which we refer is a masterpiece of supe- 

 rior cultivation. 



We recently noticed in Mr. Wills's Nursery at Anerley 



a very distinct new Febn which has been raised by Mr. Bause, 

 who states it as being the result of a cross between Adiantum 

 trapeziforme and A. decorum, to both of which it bears resem- 

 blance, yet it is totally unlike either. Its novelty consists in 

 the pinna being quite reflexed, as if the plant were asleep; 

 indeed, it might popularly be termed the Sleeping Adiantum. 

 It is at the same time free in growth and very elegant. Such 

 kinds as Adiantums cuneatum, decorum, scutum, and gracilli- 

 mum are raised from spores by thousands, and still the demand 

 can scarcely be met. Dracaanas too command notice, both by 

 their great numbers and excellent condition. The newer 

 varieties are in fine colour, and the older, such as terminalis, 

 are represented by thousands of handsome plants. They are 

 worthy of note and inspection. 



Messes. Caster & Co.'s Metropolitan Root Show in 



the Agricultural Hall, Islington, is the largest that haB ever 

 been held there. The gallery, which is a quarter of a mile in 

 length, surrounding the Hall is occupied with farm and garden 

 produce of exceptionally good quality. Mangold Wurtze!s 

 owing to the cold season are perhaps not quite so numerous 

 nor fine as last year; but the Swedes and Turnips exceed both 

 in numbers and quality any previous display that has been 

 arranged in the building; Kohl-rabi is very good, Cabbages 

 immense, and Potatoes, Onions, and Carrots excellent. The 

 collections of vegetables contain admirable examples of nearly 

 everything in season : especially superior are the Turnips — 

 Smart's Mousetail, Early Snowball, and 'White Stone; Autumn 

 Giant Cauliflowers, Carter's Perfection Brussels Sprouts, and 

 Leeks. There are also capital dishes of Hathaway's Excelsior 

 Tomatoes. The prizes were not awarded when we left the 

 building. 



■ No decorative plants in Covent Garden Market are now 



more attractive than Roman Hyacinths. Five bulbs are grown 

 in a 48-sized pot, and the effect of the pure white masses of 

 elegant bells is very pleasing. These miniature Hyacinths are 

 increasing in popularity yearly on account of their earliness 

 and usefulness. They are as valuable for cutting for bouquets, 

 &c, as they are acceptable for decorative purposes in pots. 



Although the present autumn has not been particu- 

 larly favourable for the opening of Chrysanthehtois, yet an 

 excellent display is provided at the Crystal Palace. Mr. Thom- 

 son has, amidst his multifarious duties, contrived to grow two 

 thousand plants, and has grown them well. They are in ex- 

 uberant health — admirable in foliage and blooms. The new 

 Tariety, Golden Empress of India, is likely to prove a real 

 acquisition. Many blooms of it are extremely fine, and the 

 colour — soft oanary yellow — is very pleasing. Jardin des 

 Plantes and its bronze variety are splendid ; as also are White 

 Globe, Lord Derby, Alfred Salter, Prince Alfred, Pink Perfec- 

 tion, and White Venus. The Beverlys have passed their best. 

 "They have been excellent. Cassandra — white, also fading — is 

 noteworthy as one of the best of its class ; and the popular trio 

 — Mrs. G. Bundle, Mrs. Dixon, and George Glenny — are re- 

 markably fine. Amongst the reflexed varieties, many of which 

 are so valuable for deoorative purposes, Hermoine and its 

 golden variety, Dr. Sharp, Julie Lagraviere, Barbara, Progne, 

 Beethoven, Sam Slick, and Marecbal Duroc are in admirable 

 condition. The Japanese varieties are represented by James 

 Salter, Elaine, very fine; Cry Eang, rosy purple, excellent; 

 and the still deeper and newer variety Gloire de Toulouse. 

 The plants are arranged at the front of the great orchestra, and 

 are an important feature of the attractions of the Palaca. 



Me. Roberts, gardener, Charleville Forest, Ireland, has 



won, according to the Irish Farmer's Gazette, the honour of 

 having grown the heaviest bunch of black Gbapes yet pro- 

 duced. The bunch alluded to was cut the other day on occa- 

 sion of the rejoicings which took place at Charleville Forest on 

 Lady Emily Bury attaining her majority. It was fine in shape, 

 berry, and finish, and weighed 23 lbs. 2 ozs. The breadth 

 aoross the shoulders measured 22 inches, the length from the 

 iootstalk to the point of the bunch a little over 2 feet. Wo 

 thought it a pity that this noble bunch was not sent to South 

 Kensington by Mr. Roberts, but the difficulty of getting it there 

 without the bloom being spoiled in transit no doubt deterred 

 iim from forwarding it. It would no doubt have caused a 

 sensation there, and been justly regarded as the most gigantic 



and best proportioned bunch of black Grapes yet produced 

 in British gardens. The Vine which produced this monster 

 bunch and the more moderate monsters of last year has been 

 about four years planted. It is growing in a lean-to house. 

 The soil of the border is sound and simple. Mr. Roberts 

 eschews complicated composts, having faith in the wholesome 

 and satisfying nourishment afforded by the loam obtained from 

 the surface of the Charleville deer park. Mr. Roberts regards 

 his famous Vine as a particular and superior variety of Gros 

 Guillaume. 



Mb. J. Muie writes to " The Gardener " that Paesley 



which has been thinned has proved a failure, while the plants 

 in rows which have not been thinned have grown luxuriantly. 

 Mr. Muir further observes that Carrots very often go off similar 

 to Parsley, and next year he will sow a few rows thinly and 

 not thin the plants ; and also try a bed or two of Onions in 

 the same way, as Mr. Pettigrew of Cardiff Castle always sows 

 his Onion seed thinly, never thins the plants, and always 

 secures splendid heavy crops. 



NOTES on VILLA and SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



Now that the leaves have mostly fallen from deciduous trees 

 no time should be lost in collecting them. The trouble that 

 leaves give while falling, and the untidiness gardens generally 

 present at that time, are more than balanced by the usefulness 

 of the leaves for mixing with manure for hotbeds. They are 

 valuable also for covering over Rhubarb and Seakale. Their 

 heating power is not so violent as stable manure and they are more 

 lasting ; if collected when dry and laid in a large heap they will 

 keep a long time. Those collected in moist weather should be 

 used first. Lawns should have a thorough sweeping and rolling 

 to render them fresh, smooth, and neat. In places where the 

 grass has grown more than is usual at this season of the year 

 owing to the mild weather, the mowing machine may be used 

 on a dry day. It will be well to set the machine a trifle higher 

 than UBual, and when the mowing is finished- give the machine 

 a good cleaning and oiling before layiDg it by for the winter. 

 Pull out or otherwise destroy weeds in walks, and frequently 

 roll the gravel with a heavy roller, which will not only make 

 the walks plea=ant at tbe present time, but will prevent the 

 wet from penetrating, and the frost from raising them up. 



In tbe kitchen garden the usual winter operations, such as 

 digging and trenching, may be proceeded with, and if early 

 Peas and Beans are much in request a sowing of each may be 

 made on a south border. If the winter is mild there will be a 

 gain of a week or two in gathering, but unless gardens possess 

 the advantage of a warm and dry soil it is almost useless to 

 attempt sowing at present. Sow the seed thicker than recom- 

 mended for spring sowing, and in shallow rows. Chopped furze 

 placed over the seed will prevent the ravages of mice, or red- 

 leading the seed is said to answer the same purpose. Some 

 cultivators lightly steep the seed in paraffin. A layer of coal 

 ashes placed over the rows on the top of the soil is also a great 

 protector during sharp frost. William I. Pea and Carter's First 

 Crop are the sorts suitable for present sowing, and of Beans the 

 Early Longpod. Cauliflowers under hand-lights and frames 

 must be constantly looked over. With us the slugs have been 

 very busy ; we have caught numbers, and have given the plants 

 a good dusting of lime and soot. Make good all vacancies and 

 expose the plants night and day unless severe frost should set 

 in, when they should be covered-up every evening. Globe 

 Artichokes should be protected around the stems with litter 

 or common bracken, and Jerusalem Artichokes should have the 

 stems cut down and a layer of a similar nature scattered over 

 them to prevent frost from penetrating the soil. Parsnips are 

 always better flavoured when left in the ground until wanted, 

 and a layer of bracken or litter placed over the bed will permit 

 the roots being dug-up during severe frost. 



Fecit Tbees. — It is often a matter of grave consideration for 

 owners of small gardens to select the best and most prolific- 

 bearing sorts from the vast number of varieties in cultivation. 

 The present is the beet time for planting, and the following 

 varieties are recommended for their hardiness, free-bearing, 

 and excellent table or culinary qualities: — Culinary Apples — 

 Keswick Codlin, one of the earliest and a sure bearer ; the fruit 

 may be used for tarts in a very young state. Lord Suflield, 

 a large-sized early sort and an immense bearer. Toung treea 

 may be seen loaded with fruit when not more than two or three 

 years old. Cellini, an excellent cooking Apple. The tree is a 

 very free bearer and hardy, its late blossoming generally secures 

 a crop; it is useful also as a desBert fruit, and is in season during 

 October. Beauty of Kent, a large Apjle of excellent quality 

 and a very free bearer. We have gathered fruit from this variety 

 weighing 18 ozs. In eeason from October till January. Haw- 

 thornden, an early and abundant bearer. Wellington, or Dume- 

 low's Seedling, a very heavy bearer and the fruit handsome, and 

 keeps well all through the winter; a very valuable variety. 



