238 



JOURNAL 0? HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ September 10 1S72. 



most advantageously "where the soil is in fine working con- 

 dition. Prick-out an adequate supply of young Cabbage plants. 

 Attend to the earthing-up of Celery likely soon to he wanted 

 for use, keeping it closely soiled so as to blanch it well. If 

 Globe Artichokes are desired at an early period of the year some 

 strong suckers should now be selected, potted, and protected 

 by being placed in a cold pit throughout the winter ; planted- 

 out early in the spring they will precede in bearing the old 

 plants by at least a fortnight. It is advisable to adopt pre- 

 cautions at this moment to avert the effects of early frosts 

 from the last crop of Kidney Beam and other tender vege- 

 tables. A good store of Lettuces should be planted in a position 

 where they can be protected from heavy rains. The general 

 crop of Onions will be fit for housing by this time. The quarter 

 they have occupied should be dug on their removal. Cabbages 

 would be a good suecessional crop. Lights from the Melon- 

 pits sloped against the wall will protect the Tomatoes and 

 hasten the progress of the fruit. There seems to be a general 

 desire amongst Potato-growers to ascertain without further 

 delay the state of their crops, and, apprehensive of the con- 

 tinued progress of the disease, to rid themselves of the sur- 

 plus supply without loss of time. In regard to the propriety 

 of this proceeding I may offer an opinion. By this time, I 

 imagine, the Potato haulm is pretty generally decayed ; con- 

 nection, therefore, no longer exists between it and the tubers. 

 I suppose that infection would be distributed while vitality 

 existed in the stem, affecting the Potato in proportion to the 

 power of the disease, and as sufficient time has elapsed for its 

 action, we may conclude that its full force has been expended 

 and a determinate portion destroyed. Assuming the correct- 

 ness of this opinion, apprehensions in regard to a further loss 

 of Potatoes at present ripe and sound are unfounded, and 

 nothing will be gained by raising them from the ground, 

 unless, indeed, the situation be particularly unfavourable from 

 excessive humidity, or the number of the other enemies of the 

 Potato, when, of course, the sooner they are taken up and 

 housed the better. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



Remove rubbish of all descriptions from fruit-tree borders. 

 No obstacles should prevent the roots participating in the ad- 

 vantages of favourable weather. Gather carefully and pro- 

 gressively the various Pears and Apples as they arrive at their 

 full growth. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



As cold nights may now soon be expected, scarce plants which 

 it may be desirable to secure before they are injured should be 

 taken up and potted at once, or carefully covered when there 

 is the least cause to expect injury. That, cuttings taken from 

 plants in the open ground are liable to damp in a moist warm 

 place is well known, and the variegated Geraniums are, 

 perhaps, more so than most others ; but persons who can com- 

 mand a gentle bottom heat without keeping the atmosphere 

 warm and moist, will experience no difficulty in striking them 

 now. The old plants of these are, however, well worth winter- 

 ing wherever room can be found for them, for these go much 

 further at planting-out time and cover the beds sooner with 

 foliage and flowers than either autumn or spring-rooted cut- 

 tings ; hence they should be carefully guarded from frost until 

 the beauty of the garden is destroyed, when they should be 

 taken up, potted, and stored for the winter in a cool dry house. 

 Continue to put in cuttings of Hollyhocks, as these can be 

 obtained, until there is an ample stock of rooted plants, and do 

 not allow those that were rooted early in the season to suffer 

 from the want of pot room. Cut off the flower-stems of herb- 

 aceous plants as soon as they become shabby, and endeavour 

 to prolong the beauty of Phloxes, &c, by keeping them well 

 supplied with water at the roots. Keep the beds and every- 

 thing about the flower garden and grounds trim and orderly. 

 Should Verbenas and other mass flowers show signs of ex- 

 haustion, manure water will be found a useful stimulant. See 

 that the faded blossoms and seeds are regularly removed from 

 beds, other blossoms wUl be thus encouraged ; much of the 

 .energy of a plant is expended in the perfection of its seeds. 

 As soon as the beds can be spared they should be prepared for 

 the reception of bulbs. When many cut flowers are required, 

 it is a great advantage to possess a flower border that is 

 near to any large building ; the heat thrown off at night is 

 sufficient to prevent injury from early frost, and a little cover- 

 ing at night insures their safety. In other cases certain beds 

 should be selected and regularly matted at night. Use the 

 present opportunity of effecting a complete clearance of weeds 

 from walks and borders. Roll and mow grass, trim edgings, 



and prepare evergreens for removal. Prick-out young plants 

 of Berberries, Rhododendrons, &c, that they may become 

 established before the winter. Tear-old Pinuses and Cedars 

 are better kept in small pots in a protected situation than 

 planted out. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATOR'S. 



The most desirable object in the management of the ma- 

 jority of plants in these structures, and one which must be 

 constantly kept in view, is that of procuring a robust and 

 hardy growth, and of lessening their vital energy that they 

 may gradually accommodate themselves to the changing cir- 

 cumstances of the season. The influence of the fl.nt. nnrn 

 weather should be permitted to exert in a degree its legitimate 

 influence. Ventilation, judiciously managed, will assist to ac- 

 complish the result recommended. Water will be required in 

 less quantities both to the roots and foliage. Keep New 

 Holland plants which have been placed under glass cool and 

 airy, and avoid crowding, especially in the case of subjects which 

 are in a growing state ; but everything must be allowed suffi- 

 cient space, so that the foliage may be fairly exposed to light 

 and air, and rather than be under the necessity of huddling 

 specimens too thickly together, some of the least valuable 

 should be thrown away. Look sharply after mildew upon 

 Heaths, as this pest is sometimes very troublesome upon plants 

 that have been growing very freely in a shady situation in the 

 open air and are in rather a soft state when taken in-doors, 

 and apply sulphur freely on the first appearance of the enemy. 

 Also see that everything is clear of insects. Take advantage 

 of leisure hours to get Azaleas which have made their season's 

 growth nicely tied, and also anything else requiring training, 

 and endeavour to keep everything trim and neat in order to 

 compensate as far as possible for the paucity of flowers among 

 hardwooded plants this season. 



COLD PITS. 



Plants which have made their season's growth should be 

 freely exposed to sun and air on every f avourable opportunity 

 in order that the wood may be well ripened, but those still in 

 free growth should be encouraged by every possible means 

 while fine weather continues, keeping them rather close, guard- 

 ing them carefully from cold winds, and giving a liberal supply 

 oi water at the roots. If any plant requires more pot room, 

 get such shifted as early as convenient, keeping the atmo- 

 sphere rather close, and watering very cautiously for some 

 time afterwards until the roots get hold of the fresh soil. Con- 

 tinue to pot-off cuttings from the first batch of bedding plants. 

 It is important to get scarlet Pelargoniums established and 

 hardened before winter. Pot Neapolitan Violets, and let them 

 be plunged in a frame. Lily of the Valley for forcing should 

 now be potted, and Mignonette placed on an exposed and warm 

 shelf in the greenhouse. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN garden. 

 Celery. — This, though not so strong as usual at the present 

 season, has made wonderful progress after the nights became 

 longer and cooler. It has also received a good watering of 

 sewage just before the arrival of rain, which would clear off 

 from the leaves all sewage that had rested thereon, and this, 

 although beneficial to the roots, is rather too strong for 

 the foliage. We allude to this watering because it was rather 

 more than necessary. We were depending too much on the 

 sharp and frequent showers, and were surprised to find the 

 soil in our Celery beds so dry; so dry, indeed, that if not 

 watered we should have expected some of the plants to throw 

 up a seed-stem. In dry days we cleaned and tied-up loosely 

 the most forward beds in succession. Just now we do not 

 care to earth-up much more than a month before it is likely 

 to be wanted. The plants will grow all the better with an 

 inch of soil once or twice placed over the roots. In earthing- 

 up we have no doubt the paper sockets, advertised at such 

 a cheap rate, answer admirably. Not having tried them as 

 yet, we would remind our readers that we have found semi- 

 circular tins, such as those made from old spouting, answer 

 very well, placing the tins side by side so as to enclose the 

 plant, filling round the plant with dry ashes, and placing well- 

 broken earth between in the usual way. We press the earth 

 up to the tins before drawing them up and using them for 

 other plants. To give ease in moving, these semicircular pieces 

 of tin should not be less than 15 to 18 inches in height, and 

 the diameter of two when placed together should not be less 

 ' than 4 inches. 



