August 2, 1864. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 



03 



tings, and use every possible dispatch -with this work until 

 there is a good stock in a fair way for rooting of such thi n gs 

 as are known to be difficult to winter, except in the shape 

 of well-established plants. The earlier kinds of Boses, done 

 flowering, should have all their decaying blossoms removed. 

 Budding this fine family should now be expedited. Where 

 the bark rises badly some manure water should be applied 

 previously, this will cause the sap to flow more readily. Now 

 that the effect of the present arrangement of the colours in 

 the beds can be fairly seen, there is an excellent oppor- 

 tunity for noticing any mistakes, and determining upon the 

 arrangement for next season, and this should be done with- 

 out delay. Take care that Carnations and Picotees do not 

 suffer from drought. Layering may be commenced with 

 those shoots sufficiently long. Plant-out Pink pipings. Give 

 Dahlias and Hollyhocks abundance of water ; tie-out the 

 branches and disbud the former where required, and shorten 

 the flowering stems of the latter. Collect annual seeds. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Now that there is a profusion of flowers out of doors, it 

 will not be possible to maintain the interest of the conser- 

 vatory except by keeping it furnished with handsome spe- 

 cimens of showy plants in first-rate condition. Nothing, 

 therefore, should be brought here at present that is not a 

 fair specimen, and well bloomed, nor should a single plant 

 be allowed to remain a day after it begins to get shabby. 

 It is not desirable to crowd the house with flowering plants, 

 but the aim should rather be to have a moderate number 

 of handsome specimens effectively arranged, which, while 

 flowers are so plentiful out of doors, will be vastly more in- 

 teresting and pleasing than a large amount of floral display 

 from plants of no individual interest or merit. Eemove the 

 flowers of Aphelexis and Helichrysums, cutting the flower- 

 stems close to the old wood, and after cleaning the plants, 

 set them in a cool, shady place when they begin to grow. 

 Such as require it may be repotted. Kalosanthes, the 

 flowers of which are getting shabby, should be cut in. Do 

 not spare the knife on the blooming shoots, but cut them 

 well in below the blooming branches of next year, and where 

 necessary remove two or three tiers of leaves at the top of 

 each branch. Eepot such plants as require it, using a 

 tolerably rich, porous soil. Attention must now be paid to 

 late-growing plants in borders, for while in active growth 

 they require a good deal of water. See that large specimens 

 of Camellias are not allowed to get too dry at the root after 

 they have set their buds, for shedding the latter is often 

 due to this cause. Cinerarias for early flowering should now 

 be growing freely, and should be shifted when necessary, for 

 if they are to form large specimens for flowering in winter, 

 they must not be permitted to sustain any check. 



STOVE. 



Such of the inmates here as are intended for the deco- 

 ration of the conservatory in autumn and early winter, 

 should be carefully looked over, shifting those which are likely 

 to want more pot room, so as to get the pots well filled with 

 roots before their flowering season. Also, keep the shoots 

 tied out rather thinly, and expose the plants to as much sun- 

 shine as they will bear without their foliage being scorched. 

 Those Ixoras which have done blooming must be cut boldly 

 in and started gently to make a new growth. Complete as 

 far as possible the shifting or replacing of Orchids. The 

 Cypripediums and the old Phaius should now be induced to 

 complete their growth, by proper assistance, especially those 

 required to bloom in the dead of winter. The young re- 

 serve stock for filling blanks in the stove should be en- 

 couraged by progressive potting, and a warni equable tem- 

 perature. Gesnera zebrina, Plumbago rosea, and Torenia 

 asiatica, will amply repay attention bestowed on their cul- 

 ture. Decayed leaves, with a mixture of sharp sand, form 

 a compost peculiarly suitable for the first-named plant. 



W. KeANE. 



DOINGS OP THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



The rain of July 17th, mentioned in our last, was soon 

 evaporated. Many an anxious eye has been directed to the 



atmosphere ; and the shifting of the wind and the move- 

 ments of the barometer have been carefully watched. We 

 have dug down lots of Strawberries that fruited early, and 

 made ground occupied by early Peas ready for winter stuff, 

 and never saw the soil so dry before. It is vain to think of 

 planting until rain come, as now we have not a drop of 

 water to give. We have just a little left for plants and 

 fruit trees in pots. The water-question has been a serious 

 one with us for these two summers and makes pot culture a 

 difficult matter. Without our sewage from the mansion 

 we could not have got along this year. As yet we have 

 managed pretty well, and if we only had a nice rain we 

 should do pretty well, for the nights becoming cooler after 

 August, we obtain a plentiful deposition of dew. 



What we said last week about choosing the site of a 

 garden, ought to have equal or still greater weight as to 

 the position of new cottages for working men as regards 

 water supply. It is sad to see the scanty wages of labourers 

 broken in upon by purchasing water at a halfpenny or a 

 penny the pail. It is still sadder to see a woman skimming 

 with a saucer the surface of an almost dried-up putrid pool, 

 and then when that settles an hour pouring off the surface 

 again either to drink or make her favourite cup of tea. No- 

 wonder that wens and thick necks prevail in some districts. 

 Many of those privileged with abundance of clean water 

 little think of the obligations they owe to the benevolent 

 landlords who make water the primary consideration when 

 building a block of cottages. We could name many ham- 

 lets and villages the inhabitants of which either have no- 

 well or tank, or no right to go to one which is private 

 property. The ditch and the pool formed by rains that 

 previously wash the highway are almost the only supply, 

 and when these fail the water-cart man must supply them 

 from a distance at so much a-pail. Need we wonder that 

 the want of physical cleanliness in such circumstances is too 

 often associated with moral impurity ? 



We could do little but lessen evaporation by keeping the 

 hoe going, moving the surface among all growing crops, and 

 mulching those farther advanced. We have shaded Celery 

 with branches until we are able to water it. But for this 

 we should have expected our earliest to have bolted. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



The chief features have been getting every little drop of 

 water we could to give a help to swelling fruit. Figs and 

 Peaches especially require it. We should have liked to have 

 syringed the latter more, but our water is scarcely clean 

 enough, what little is left of it. We have potted a good 

 portion of our Strawberries for forcing, and in the manner 

 detailed last season. Melons we have shaded a little, 

 especially when nearly ripe, and it lessened the necessity for 

 watering in the case of those growing freely ; otherwise we 

 like to dispense with all shading, except just in sudden 

 extremes from very dull to very bright. This is a matter of 

 more consequence than is generally imagined. Some people 

 shade when the sun is powerful, but the shading remains on 

 when the day has become cloudy, instead of being at once 

 removed. For all fruit when flavour is an object, sun is of 

 primary importance. It is even more essential than abund- 

 ance of air. Air-giving early does away with the necessity 

 for opening a house all over. Where heat also is required 

 there can be no question as to the economy of making the 

 sun do as much of the heating as possible. We have had 

 and have heavy crops of fine-flavoured Grapes, and the only 

 air given to them has been by small openings near the top 

 of the back wall. Not a front sash has yet been opened. In 

 some of the hottest days a little water was sprinkled on 

 the floors and stages just to prevent overdrying. The air 

 at the back has not been wholly taken away for some two- 

 months past. The house, therefore, heats gradually, and 

 any moist vapour has room enough to escape. Whenever 

 Grapes are dewed naturally in a vinery, it will be in a morn- 

 ing, and owing to air being given too late. It is not likely 

 we will give any front air until autumn, when we want to- 

 keep the Grapes cool after they are ripe. 



We have also for some time given air back and front to a 

 Fig-house, as the fruit when fully ripe, as it should be when 

 sent to table from a private establishment, is apt to get 

 mouldy in a confined atmosphere. Here, just now, we are 

 obliged to make a compromise. This body of air and cool- 



