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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Novemto 28, 1S72. 



every morning and let it flush over the sides. Contiguous to 

 these beds were collections of American plants and Rhododen- 

 drons, and an exceedingly fine lot of Magnolia Lenne. Plants 

 of this fine variety were just bursting their second lot of crim- 

 son flowers with which they had previously during the summer 

 been covered, although only 3 to 4 feet high. 



In shrubs Van Geert is famous, and especially so in an ex- 

 tensive variety with variegated foliage. The collection of 

 Boxes, from the clearly laced Japanese sorts 3 inches high to 

 well-finished specimens, are especially attractive. This clais 

 of shrubs Van Geert considers are worthy of every attention. 

 Being exceptionally hardy, and removable at any season, with 

 an infinite variety of form and colour, they have claims for 

 special notice by this combination of qualities. Hollies, too, 

 are in extensive variety and carefully tended. The variety 

 of Yews is also choice, a new gold-laced weeping variety, 

 Taxas Dovastoni aurea, being distinct and fine. This variety 

 is being grafted on stocks to be trained, or it will rather grow 

 itself, umbrella fashion. It is not yet in commerce, but is one 

 of the good things to come. 



Besides the variegated forms of shrubs and Conifers, there 

 is a splendid collection of hardy deciduous trees and shrubs of 

 varied habit, form, and colour — this, perhaps, after all, is 

 Van Geert's speciality — Ashes, Oaks, Elms, Limes, Walnuts, 

 Chestnuts ; indeed everything — weeping, Fern-leaved, and 

 beautifully variegated. There is no longer any excuse that 

 shrubbery plantations shall continue to wave in a dull monoton- 

 ous green. The Japanese Oaks, especially Quercus Daimio, 

 give noble foliage. Of less noble growth are the beautiful Rhus 

 laeiniata, Castania asplenifolia, Cornus in variety ; sibiriea 

 variegata, with its silver-margined foliage, red wood, and ber- 

 ries, standing conspicuous ; the variegated Maple looking dingy 

 in comparison. 



But I must just step into the fruit-tree department, not to 

 say anything about the capital stock of trees, but to notice a 

 useful trellis. This is one of Van Geert's creations, and may 

 he useful in other places where walls are scarce. It is the 

 essence of simplicity. It is strong, cheap, and durable. The 

 original has been in use ten years, and is as strong and sound 

 as ever, but the poles had been boiled in creosote. Two rows 

 of poles are fixed in the ground about 4 feet apart ; they meet 

 at the top, 9 or 10 feet high, along which runs a strip of deal as 

 a coping nailed into the top of each pole. Struts or stays at 

 each end make a framework as firm as a rock. A covering of 

 galvanised wire netting, 6-inch mesh, furnishes the trellis. It 

 serves its purpose well. With iron uprights in stone bases it 

 would be imperishable. 



My visit to this place was an enjoyable one. The establish- 

 ment is not large, but in good order, and hardly a weed to be 

 seen. Van Geert's larger nursery is a distance from the city : 

 by what I heard of its contents and their- mode of arrangement, 

 it would have been specially worthy a visit, but time and 

 trains were inexorable, and I had to push on to Brussels. I 

 must, however, record my acknowledgments to Mr. Van Geert 

 for his cordial reception and genial instructive converse, as 

 also for the assistance he rendered in aiding a visit to the 

 museum, fine little park, and other attractions of antique 

 Antwerp. — J. Weight. 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



As has been recommended, take advantage of frosty weather 

 to get manure wheeled on spare ground, and see to getting a good 

 supply well rotted and fit for use when wanted. Trench, dig, 

 and ridge every spare inch of ground whenever the weather will 

 permit these operations to be advantageously performed. This 

 is particularly to be observed in gardens, the soil of which is of 

 a clayey nature. Look over root-stores occasionally to see that 

 nothing is going wrong, and be very careful of any Broccoli that 

 may be fit for use or tuming-in. Endeavour as far as circum- 

 stances will permit to have a good supply of Parsley under safe 

 protection, for there is generally a large demand for this, and in 

 the event of a severe winter it is difficult to save it by the ordi- 

 nary protection of hoops aud mats. Cauliflowers and Lettuces, 

 &c, in frames should be freely exposed on all favourable oc- 

 casions. See to maintaining a regular supply of Sea-hale and 

 Rhubarb, and other forced vegetables for which it is likely there 

 may be a considerable demand. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



It is always desirable to get as much of the pruning and nail- 

 ing done before the approach of spring as possible ; lose no 

 favourable opportunity, therefore, of forwarding these operations, 

 for besides the advantage of having that kind of work done 



before the busy season, the garden will present a much neater 

 appearance after the wall trees are nailed, the borders made trim, 

 the small fruit-bearing bushes pruned, and the ground among 

 them turned over. See that any of the standard trees which 

 have been recently moved or root-pruned are firmly secured 

 against injury from winds, and also get any root-pruning or 

 transplanting remaining to be done this season executed as soon 

 as possible. 



FLOWEK GARDEN. 



Tender kinds of Roses are found in some places to be injured 

 by the early frosts, protection should therefore be applied at 

 once to such plants as are yet safe. Also get the stock of Briars 

 for budding upon next year without delay, for unless they are 

 planted before spring they seldom furnish strong shoots for 

 early budding. Many object to planting shrubs or trees in 

 winter, believing that the roots if hurt at that season are liable 

 to die, and certainly early in autumn is a preferable season ; but 

 with weather like the present I would not delay such work a 

 single day, and if the soil is properly prepared by draining, &c, 

 where necessary, as should always be done before planting, there 

 will probably be fewer failures from planting now than if the 

 work were delayed until March. Where, however, the ground to 

 be planted is of a clayey nature or in an unkind state at present, 

 it will undoubtedly be better to defer planting until spring, 

 meantime using every means to improve the state of the land ; 

 soils of this nature should always be dug or trenched some 

 considerable time before planting, as neither drainage nor any- 

 thing but exposure to the action of the atmosphere will bring 

 them into a fit state for planting. While, however, I would 

 not hesitate to plant small " stuff " generally at present, things 

 which" are at all tender had better be left until the chance of 

 severe frost is over; and the transplanting of large evergreens 

 which has unfortunately been delayed until now should be put 

 off until the weather becomes mild in spring, especially things 

 which are known not to be perfectly hardy. Choice plants in 

 borders intended to be protected for the winter by slightly 

 covering the roots, &c, should be seen to at once. Moss, when 

 it can be obtained in good, thick, flakey pieces, is, perhaps, the 

 best material that can be used for that purpose, but unless it can 

 be procured in pieces of some thickness it is not so good as 

 spent tan, cual ashes, or half-decayed leaves. Also see to getting 

 Fuchsias, and such plants as are usually protected for the winter- 

 by covering, secured against frost before it is too late. Dry fern 

 is an excellent material for covering the stems, &c, of plants 

 that require a slight protection in winter, and is, doubtless, the 

 least objectionable as regards colour of anything at command, 

 but it is not easily procured in many neighbourhoods, and, pro- 

 bably, the best substitute is straw that has been exposed to the 

 weather for some time to darken its colour. Choice sorts of 

 Hollyhocks, of which there is not a sufficient stock of well- 

 established young plants in pots, should be taken up, potted, and 

 placed under glass for the winter, for these cannot with safety 

 be trusted to the mercies of a severe winter, and plants taken 

 up, potted now, and wintered in a cool house will be exceed- 

 ingly useful in furnishing cuttings, and these if got in early in 

 the spring will make splendid plants next season. Let ground 

 intended to be planted with Dahlias and Hollyhocks next season 

 be deeply trenched and ridged-up, so as to expose the soil as 

 much as possible to the weather, putting in plenty of rotten 

 manure, especially where the Hollyhocks are to stand, for these 

 require a deep rich soil. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Next to Camellias, Azaleas are, perhaps, the most showy 

 plants than can be had in bloom early in spring; and where there 

 is a good stock to select from, some of the most forward plants 

 should be placed in heat soon, moistening them overhead two 

 or three times a-day. Unless, however, plants can be had which 

 make their growth and set their buds early, they need hardly be 

 expected to flower so finely as under more natural circum- 

 stances in spring, and unless the buds are plump there will be 

 some danger of the plants starting into growth instead of flower- 

 ing. Dutch bulbs should be largely used for forcing at this 

 season, and where hardy shrubs are forced for the decoration of 

 the house these should be got into flower as soon as circum- 

 stances admit. Do not forget to introduce into gentle heat by 

 degrees a good batch of Roses, choosing the most promising 

 plants of Teas, Bourbons, and Hybrid Perpetuals, which are the 

 best kinds for winter forcing. A gentle bottom heat will be of 

 service to these in order to get them into flower early, as also Jo 

 most other plants, and a moist state of the atmosphere must be 

 secured, admitting a little air freely on eveiy favourable oppor- 

 tunity. In greenhouses damp or insects soon do irreparable 

 injury to softwooded plants at this season, and these should be 

 carefully attended to if they are to be wintered in first-rate 

 condition. Pelargoniums should be kept rather cool and dry; 

 giving whatever water may be necessary on the mornings of fine 

 days, so that the superfluous moisture may be removed before 

 evening, avoiding the use of fire heat except when necessary to 

 prevent the temperature falling below 40°, or to dispel damp 

 when this cannot be safely done by giving air. Calceolarias 



