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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENED. 



[ August 1, lS7f. 



evening of the 24th were something terrific ; but for the rain 

 we can hardly conceive how more injury was not done by the 

 lightning. Amid the blinding lightning and the deafening 

 thunder, we rejoiced in the deluge of rain, as the lightning is 

 less dangerous, for it is carried along on a watery basis. 

 Some years ago we should have lost a fine Elm tree had it not 

 been that the bole of the tree was thoroughly drenched before 

 it was struck by a thunderbolt. That stroke brought down 

 iour large barrowloads of bark, and the tree is still flourish- 

 ing. Our impression then was, and still is, that that lightning 

 flash, which pretty well tumbled down all the men in a covered 

 shed, to which they had retired for safety, would have 

 shivered the noble Elm, but for the rain having previously 

 soaked the trunk, and thus given a ready passage to the 

 lightning. Even that, however desirable in a thunder storm, is 

 not always efficacious. On the Wednesday evening, indepen- 

 dently of other trees, which we see have been touched less or 

 more, we had a fine Ash tree split into many pieces, and the 

 head scattered about ; one fine Oak was also cleft from top to 

 bottom, and a deer killed at its base. We just mention the 

 latter fact to enforce the simple caution, " Never go near 

 the bole of a tree in a thunder storm." If a little shelter 

 must be had, get as near the outskirts of the branches as pos- 

 sible. The dread lightning, if it come down, will generally 

 descend by the bole. A person standing "20 to 30 feet from the 

 bole would, be comparatively safe. Of course, we are speaking 

 merely physically, and without having reference to an over- 

 ruling Providence. That Providence, however, often works in 

 perfect accordance with our acquired intelligence. It is not un- 

 usual to find that cattle which have clustered together in an 

 open glade in a thunder storm, are left unharmed, whilst 

 others that have crowded beneath large trees have suffered 

 severely. 



One more lesson these thunder storms with their deluges of 

 Tain may teach gardeners and farmers alike, and that is the 

 evil of thick sowing, unless followed by quick and proper thin- 

 ning. Whole fields of Wheat, where the seed used was very 

 abundant, are prostrated, and will never rise to thoroughly per- 

 fect the heads of corn, whilst other fields with fewer and 

 heavier ears are standing mostly erect, and that chiefly be- 

 cause a much smaller quantity of seed corn was used at first, 

 and the plants tillered so much better, and the stems were in- 

 dividually stronger. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



We have sown Cabbages, Lettuces, and Endive for the last 

 time, also Spinach for the first main winter crop. This has 

 been the very season for weeds, and but for cutting up in 

 sunny days they would soon overspread the ground. Owing to 

 weeds it has been difficult to keep walks neat without salting 

 them, and then, again, that makes them soft and moist in 

 winter unless fresh fine gravel is added. 



We gave a good sprinkling of salt to Asparagus and Sea- 

 kale, keeping it, however, off the leaves. For such seaside 

 plants salt is not only a good stimulant, but it is the easiest 

 means to keep. weeds from growing among such crops. When 

 Asparagus is grown in rows from 21 to 30 inches apart, and a 

 ■good piece is thus cultivated, it is hardly possible to get among 

 the plants when once they are permitted to grow freely. A 

 fair salting renders the hoe unnecessary. Though the row 

 system has its advantages, the bed system also has its advan- 

 tages, and one of these is, by the trench or alley between the 

 beds, easier access is afforded to the latter, whilst the alleys 

 themselves may produce good summer crops, as Cauliflowers. 



Vegetable Marrows. — Where room is limited these should 

 be stopped to get fruit near at home, as in the case of Cucum- 

 bers ; but where a wildish place can be had for them, as the 

 site of a rubbish-heap exposed to the sun, or where ground is 

 of no consequence, then it is well to allow them to spread well 

 with but little shortening, and under such circumstances the 

 produce will be plentiful. Large Marrows are wanted for pies 

 and puddings, but the delicacy of a Marrow depends very much 

 on its small size and the few days' growth it has had. 



FBUIT DEPABTMENT. 



We nipped and pruned trees out of doors as we could get at 

 them, and watered and regulated those under glass. The 

 extreme heat required additional attention in watering, sprink- 

 ling, and even slight shading. We went on preparing Straw- 

 berries for forcing. Our Strawberries are getting thin, as they 

 suffered alike from the rains and the heat. Early air-giving 

 in all glass houses would save many mischances. When it 

 has been neglected to too late an hour it is better to give just 

 a little at first, and damp the floor of the house, than to give 



a great amount of air at once. All extremes should be avoided. 

 When plants are steamed up with moist vapour until it reaches 

 scalding point, the sudden introduction of a great quantity of 

 hot dry air acts often on the leaves like the heated ah from a 

 furnace. An inch or two given at first would have allowed the 

 air loaded with hot vapour to escape, and the fresh air enter- 

 ing would have been mollified and moistened before reaching 

 the plants. By-and-by, when all was safer, more air could be 

 given prudently. We mention this all the more, because in 

 such a case of neglect it does seem so natural to pull the sashes 

 down, as if too much air could not be given at once. It is 

 much safer to give a little air at the highest point at first, and 

 to damp floors and stages, and even give for a short time a 

 slight shading. 



OENALIENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



Beds. — Calceolarias have suffered a little from the rains, 

 and the water has made the leaves of some of the Geraniums 

 far too large ; therefore, to obtain fine trusses, we shall have 

 to thin-out some of the leaves. Thanks to our brushwood 

 staking, the rains and winds have not disturbed the sym- 

 metry of the beds. We mulched all the Calceolarias with 

 rotten dung, and we mulched other beds with short grass from 

 the machine. We feared the drying effects of the hot days. 

 We did not foresee the thunder rains, but even then the grass 

 will do no harm, and, like our bush-staking, it will scarcely 

 ever be seen. 



We had several notes we wished to introduce here respect- 

 ing the management of plant houses, and especially the im- 

 portance of giving flowering plants a short rest after finishing 

 flowering ; but these and other matters have been so well 

 defined by Mr. Keane, under Greenhouse and Conservatory, 

 page S3, that we would direct particular attention to that long, 

 valuable paragraph. — R. F. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



*„* We request that no one will write privately to any of the 

 correspondents of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage 

 Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they 

 are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All 

 communications should therefore be addressed solely to 

 The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, <£c, 171, Fleet 

 Street, London, E.G. 



We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the 

 same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on 

 Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them 

 answered promptly and conveniently, but write them on 

 separate communications. Also never to send more than 

 two or three questions at once. 



N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next 

 week. 



Seedling Strawberry (W. Tlwmson). — The flavour of your seedling 

 Strawberry is very good, and the flesh so firm that the fruit came to hand in 

 excellent condition after so long a journey. It is a fine noble fruit. The 

 single fruit is more acid than the other, hut in this respect not more so than 

 Sir Charles Napier. Your seedling Pansy must he a valuable acquisition. 



Paraffin Oil Stove (E. G. G.). — We cannot inform you -whether a 

 paraffin oil stove will keep the frost out of your small house. That will 

 depend on the size of stove and the degree of frost you want to guard 

 against. Sow the Calceolaria seednow, andmake cuttingsof your Pyrethrum. 



Weedy Asparagus Beds {Preston). — Perhaps your- gardener has a pre- 

 ference for weeds. It is only on that supposition that we can account for 

 him differing from you in keeping the Asparagus beds " smothered with 

 weeds," for most assuredly all the nutriment drawn from the bed to grow a 

 crop of rank weeds would be much better applied to the production of Aspa- 

 ragus. 



Peas (E. B. L.).— The Crown Pea. 



Koses (P. T. B.). — The sport, though not common, is not unusual. The 

 Roses that will suit you are — Bed : Charles Lefebvre, Pierre dotting, Marie 

 Baumann, Duke of Edinburgh. White : Madame Rivers, Madame Alfred de 

 Bougemont, Queen "Victoria, Beine Blanche. Yellow : Gloire de Dijon, 

 Ct-line Forestier, Marechal Niel, Madame Margottin. 



Shortening Rose Shoots (An Amateur). — Yes, the shoots may be 

 shortened now, if necessary ; if allowed, however, to grow, the ends of the 

 strong shoots will flower well this autumn, and can be cut back for nest year. 

 No Bose strikes better than Gloire de Dijon. Plunge pots of cuttings in a 

 moderate hotbed. Shade from direct sun, and give sufficient air ; the cuttings 

 should be kept moist, but not damp and close. 



Bush Boses (C. A. J.). — The strong shoots of Boses on their own roots 

 ought certainly to be kept, all old and weakly ones being cut away. This 

 induces the plant to throw ont strong stems from the base. The strong 

 young wood had better not be pruned till the spring, and as you wish to grow 

 them tall, they need not be much shortened back. It is a bad plan to grow 

 Boses on their own roots in the opeu lawn with grass up to the stems. No 

 Roses on any stock can stand it, far less those on their own roots. Cut a 

 circle from 2 to 3 feet in diameter, and mulch during winter. Bemove the 

 strawy litter in the spring, and fork-in all that is short. Give liquid manure 

 in the summer if you want the Boses to grow tall. We cannot name Boses 

 from leaves. Boses move best in October. 



