November 21, 1872. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 



411 



new growth is exceedingly rich, and by its darkness throws 

 into relief the lighter foliage of other trees. 



The Weeping Sophora makes a perfect arbour, not reaching a 

 height very much greater than that at which it was grafted ; 

 its branches curve gently to the ground like the ribs of an 

 umbrella, and its graceful, delicate foliage, with a locust tint, 

 fills np the vacant spaces. Few trees are so beautiful, and no 

 one so unique in its form. Being of small size, it is well fitted 

 to be near a dwelling. The Weeping Larch is another pic- 

 turesque tree, and its drooping habit entirely different from 

 that of the Sophora. It throws out several long, spreading 

 arms, sloping gently upwards from the body, like the neck of a 

 giraffe, and from these branches droop the lateral shoots. It 

 is, like the Sophora, admirably adapted to rockwork, and its 

 grotesque appearance makes it an object of note upon a lawn. 



The Kilmarnock Weeping Willow is noted for its regular 

 umbrella-like shape. Always growing down, it is well adapted 

 for a small lawn, and forms a beautiful head when grafted 

 sufficiently high. — (Horticulturist.) 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GABDEN. 



The heavy autumn rains probably retarded the progress of 

 trenching and other ground operations ; the first opportunity 

 should be taken to continue such work. The garden by this 

 time should be freed from all unnecessary and exhausted vege- 

 table matter, and put generally in a clean and orderly state. 

 Asparagus, if not already attended to, should be manured 

 and dressed for the winter, and a portion taken up for forcing. 

 Globe Artichokes must be provided with a coating of leaves ; a 

 very considerable store of the same material should be collected 

 for lining hotbeds, Sea-kale covering, &c. Sea-kale intended 

 for early forcing should be protected sufficiently to exclude frost. 

 A sowing of Peas and Beans to afford the chance of a very early 

 crop should be made at once, choosing the most sheltered piece 

 of ground at command, which should also be of a light dry 

 nature. In favoured localities it is usual to sow somewhat earlier 

 in the month, but there is seldom any advantage in sowing 

 before the 20th, and frequently those put in earlier are cut-up 

 by frost, while those planted later are uninjured. I have fre- 

 quently had first-rate crops fi'om November sowings, and they 

 certainly cause much less trouble than raising the plants under 

 glass in spring. Use an early hardy sort. The forcing of Sea-kale 

 and Rhubarb must now be attended to, and, provided there is a 

 good stock of strong roots, a supply of these will be easily kept up. 

 Where there is room to spare in the Mushroom house it forms 

 a very suitable and convenient place for forcing them. The 

 roots should be placed on a slight bed of warm dung, filling up 

 the spaces between them with old tan, or the soil and manure 

 mixed from an old Mushroom-bed, giving a good watering to 

 wash it in amongst the roots. The bottom heat should not be 

 allowed to exceed 70°, as too much heat is not conducive to 

 strong growth, and except for the first crop it may be dispensed 

 with altogether. Take advantage of wet days for making fresh 

 Mushroom-beds, and clearing out those that are spent; also 

 collect and prepare droppings for forming fresh beds by spreading 

 them in any shed, and turning them every day until they are 

 sufficiently dried to prevent excessive fermentation after putting- 

 up. Clean-up all decaying leaves, &c, and stir the surface soil 

 on dry days among growing crops of Cabbages, Spinach, &c. 

 Let the late crops of Celery be closely earthed-up the first fine 

 day, and attend to securing a late supply of Lettuce and. Endive. 



FKUIT GARDEN. 



Prune Apple and Pear trees, particularly those of. failing 

 vigour. Spring pruning in such a case sometimes causes an un- 

 necessary waste of sap otherwise valuable to the tree. In plant- 

 ing in the position occupied by other trees, remove the old earth 

 entirely, and substitute fresh soil. Proceed with fruit-tree plant- 

 ing, and carefully mulch all transplanted trees. 



PLOWEB GABDEN. 



Finer weather could not be desired for planting evergreens, 

 &c, than we have had lately. This sort of work should be in 

 active progress ; the clearance of all decaying matters from the 

 beds and borders should be unremittingly followed up. The re- 

 maining leaves will soon be down, when a final clearing may be 

 made throughout the shrubberies for the season. Alittle care may 

 preserve Chrysanthemums for some time, particularly those 

 trained against a wall. The simple protection of amat will turn 

 aside the excess of frost likely to injure them. Take up and store 

 Marvel of Peru, Dahlias, Salvia patens, if not already done, and 

 finish planting bulbs and Anemones. A few weeks ago I adverted 

 to the importance of getting the beds and borders intended for 

 Eoses into good heart, which latter point can only be arrived 

 at by thorough trenching and turning, at the same time add- 

 ing plenty of rotten dung, which should be well incorporated 

 with the soil as the work goes on. This I consider to be the 

 grand secret in Rose-growing, as without attention to this it 



would be vain to expect umbrageous-growing trees or an 

 abundance of bloom. Of all the months in the year, the present 

 is decidedly that best suited for the removal and planting of 

 hardy summer Eoses. I have had something to do with the 

 planting of the " queen of flowers " at all seasons, and the re- 

 Bult of these operations convinces me that planting in November 

 is attended with the fewest failures. In lifting the plants great 

 care should be exercised to preserve as many roots as possible ; 

 avoid wrenching or straining the roots in lifting. Prune the 

 ends of broken roots, and cut away all the suckers. Deep plant- 

 ing is to be deprecated ; this system and the docking-out practice 

 in lifting the trees should never obtain a place amongst the 

 operations of practical men. Standards should be secured to 

 stakes as soon as planted. When all this is finished, f ork-up the 

 surface as roughly as possible. Get protecting material in readi- 

 ness, such as spruce boughs, fern, furze, or moss, to be ap- 

 plied to the more tender sorts when severe weather sets in. If 

 possible, keep the material dry till required. To save time at 

 another season old-established shrubberies should now be gone 

 over and pruned. By pruning it is not meant that the shrubs 

 should undergo the wholesale removal of branches and foliage 

 we often witness when this operation is performed, but simply 

 the shortening or removal of all uncouth or straggling branches, 

 taking care to cut in such manner that the foliage will conceal 

 the incisions made in the branches. Proceed with the planting 

 of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, it is fine weather 

 for the operation. Devote any spare time or bad weather to pre- 

 pare protecting material which will be required for delicate trees 

 and shrubs that cannot fully withstand the severity of our 

 winters. Dahlias must by this time be all out of ground : the 

 best place to keep them in is under the stage in the greenhouse. 

 Where this convenience is not to be had, perhaps the next best 

 place to preserve the tubers is in a cool cellar ; at all events they 

 must be kept from damp. Carnations and Picotees will require 

 little care beyond giving those in frames a free circulation of air 

 during the winter months, and water as they need it. Ranun- 

 culus beds must be turned, and any fresh compost or soil will be 

 better added now. Aurie-ulas and Polyanthuses should by no 

 means be watered too much ; ah- and exposure is indispensable 

 to these hardy Alpine plants. Any blooms which the plants put 

 up must be carefully removed. 



GEEENHOUSE AND CONSEEVATOBY. 



The occurrence of frosty nights will render a recourse to fires 

 absolutely necessary, while the frequently recurring bright days 

 will allow the advantage of a free circulation of fresh and whole- 

 some air. Eegularly remove all dead leaves, and prevent the 

 spread of moss in any situation. Climbers should be closely 

 tied, that they may interfere as little as possible with the fall of 

 light on the house. Place Mignonette, Primulas, and tree 

 Violets in a light, warm. situation. Pot bulbs if not already done. 

 The interior bed of fermenting material in Gardenia pits should 

 be finally turned over and restored. — W. Keane. 



DOINGS OP THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GABDEN. 



The continuous rains prevented much out-door work being 

 done. Such weather should teach the lesson that it is always 

 undesirable in doing work to make work. We have seen work 

 being done in mud and filth, while it would have been true eco- 

 nomy to have paid the men for not doing anything. We would 

 not keep men out of doors in wet weather, and in-doors in fine. 

 Thoughtfulness in these matters is combined with true economy. 



PBUIT DEPARTMENT. 



Planting and Transplanting. — With so much wet, planting 

 had better be deferred. Stations and mounds may be prepared 

 whilst it is dry. For all transplanting, preparations should be 

 made, as when a few dry days come the work may be proceeded 

 with ; and there will be this great advantage, that every rootlet 

 will be filled with liquid. We have never planted with better 

 effect than when we placed the roots of trees and shrubs without 

 balls some fifteen minutes in water. That was far better than 

 deluging the soil with water after planting. People are slow to 

 comprehend this simple fact, that a deluged soil is a cold soil, 

 and therefore so far militates against fresh rootlets. In many 

 cases plants shifted from a smaller to a larger pot would do 

 better if they were well watered before shifting and had little 

 water afterwards until the roots began to occupy the fresh soil. 

 It often occurs that dipping the ball of a plant in a pail or tub 

 of water is a greater kindness than soaking and deluging a 

 fresh-potted plant. 



OBNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. 



Removing Large Trees. — In connection with this subject we 

 may state that we removed a lot of large trees, chiefly Horse 

 Chestnuts, last spring, the boles ranging up to 15 inches in 

 diameter. As the weather in summer was rather moist, ex- 

 cept in laying out the roots, packing these well, and securing 

 the trees properly, no other attention was given, and they had 

 no watering except what the rains afforded. Of the lot we are 

 only a little dubious about one, but we think even that will 



