September 6, 1864. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



195 



AN ELEGANT MULCHING FOE EOSES. 



In a fall south aspect in front of my house I have several 

 choice Eoses, which are trained on wirework (galvanised). 

 Notwithstanding copious and continued waterings, they 

 have all suffered from the extreme heat of the sun, except 

 two, which had the Musk plant growing on the surfaceof 

 the soil. This appears to have acted as a most beneficial 

 mulching ; in the watering given to the Eoses the Musk 

 has luxuriated, and the Eoses have remained free from 

 the attacks of the aphis or red spider, and rewarded me 

 with rich blooms, while their companions unmusked have 

 struggled unsuccessfully with their insect enemies, and 

 have disfigured rather than ornamented the front of my 

 house.— T. S. 



[Is the smell of Musk offensive to insects ?] 



PACKING OECHIDS FOE IMPORTATION. 



Can any of your correspondents, who are in the habit of 

 importing Orchids, inform me what is the best mode of 

 packing the Aerides, Vandae, &c, from India, in closed cases. 

 A friend offers to collect for me, but glazed or Wardian 

 cases are not available. If packed in charcoal dust would 

 they not do well ? — Oechidophiltts. 



[Knowing several parties who are desirous of the same 

 information, we insert this inquiry prominently, and shall 

 be obliged by any information on the subject. — Eds. J. of H.] 



WOEE FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GABDEN. 



Such ground as is now becoming vacant should be 

 trenched-up as roughly as possible, manure being applied 

 if necessary. This should always be done as soon as the 

 crops are off, whether the ground is wanted again im- 

 mediately or not, as it is an absolute loss of fertilising pro- 

 perties to allow it to lie unturned. Gravel walks must 

 come in now and then for a share of attention in weed- 

 ing, rolling, &c. Cabbage, plant the principal crop of spring 

 Cabbage on ground well manured as previously directed. 

 The East Ham is a good variety for standing over the winter, 

 it is not so apt to run in spring as most others. Prick out 

 into beds a few inches apart, a large quantity of Cabbage 

 plants which have just expanded their first two rough leaves. 

 They will be required in spring. Cauliflowers, young seed- 

 lings must not be allowed to stand too thick in the seed- 

 bed. The thinnings may be pricked out thinly, and they 

 will make good stocky plants. The watering of Cauli- 

 flowers, Broccoli, and Celery must be diligently followed 

 up, for it was never more necessary ; near London we have 

 not had a good soaking of rain for many months. Where 

 deep trenching is practised its effect is very perceptible in 

 the luxuriant growth of these vegetables. Endive, the July 

 sowing may now be pricked out on a warm border, and as 

 the early plantation attains a proper size the plants should 

 be tied for blanching. Lettuce, make the last sowing for 

 the season of Brown Cos and Hardy Green on raised beds of 

 light soil, where they may remain till spring and be planted 

 out to succeed those that are transplanted this autumn 

 under walls and similar situations. Scarlet Runners, the 

 large pods should be picked clean. These often give over 

 bearing prematurely through the exhaustion occasioned by 

 suffering the pods t<5 go to seed. Spinach, see that it is 

 properly thinned and the surface stirred. 



FBUIT GAKDEN. 



Eig trees out of doors should be liberally supplied with 

 water, if no rain falls, to enable them to swell off the late 

 fruit. Give a final nailing to all wall trees, that there may 

 be nothing to obstruct the perfect maturation of the wood. 

 Vines out of doors should have every shoot of useless wood 

 removed, and the branches laid in close to the wall. It is a 

 somewhat nice point to know when to gather the respective 

 fruits, some being best at one stage of the ripening process, 

 and some at another. As a general rule fruits of a precocious 

 character and which ripen rather rapidly, and those also 

 possessing some aroma, should be gathered somewhat under- 

 ripe j whilst those which ripen with difficulty, which are long- 



in colouring, or which are scentless should remain much 

 longer on the trees. 



FLOWEE GABDEN. 



Neapolitan Violets which were parted and planted out in 

 spring should now be carefully taken up with good balls and 

 removed to a frame or pit for flowering during winter. The 

 soil most suitable for them is well rotted turf; but sweep- 

 ings of roads or any light soil will answer. Sweet Peas, 

 Dahlias, and other plants requiring tying up should now be 

 attended to before they are destroyed by winds. Climbers 

 on walls should again be pruned and nailed if they require it. 

 Mow, sweep, and clean grass lawns : hoe and rake borders 

 during this fine weather, and destroy all weeds before rainy 

 weather sets in. Still continue to propagate showy and 

 choice herbaceous plants by cuttings and division of the 

 roots, and seedlings of late-sown perennials may still be 

 pricked out with advantage. Pot off a goodly number of 

 the different varieties of Brompton, Giant, Queen and Inter- 

 mediate Stocks. Continue to plant out Pinks, Clove Car- 

 nations, and rooted cuttings of hardy herbaceous plants 

 into nursery-beds. See that plants already established in 

 beds are kept in a state of health and vigour by stirring the 

 surface of the soil. Look now and then at the late-budded 

 Eoses and loosen the ligatures. Chrysanthemums out of 

 doors should be carefully staked; if against a wall, where 

 they thrive better, they should be trained while the suc- 

 culent shoots will bend. Put in three or four cuttings in 

 a 48-sized pot for blooming late. 



STOVE. 



Winter-flowering things should now receive extra atten- 

 tion, as also those succession flowers which have been re- 

 tarded. Nothing but a light situation will be suitable after 

 this period. Those who are compelled to grow such stock 

 in the shade of late vineries or other forcing-houses must 

 rest contented to endure a partial failure. Let the Begonia 

 family be duly estimated in this respect. The Euphorbia 

 jacquiniaeflora, if propagated early and frequently pinched 

 back, will now be dense bushes. They look best three in 

 a pot. Of course, such plants as the winter Gesneras, 

 Achimenes, &c, will not be forgotten. 



GBEENHOtTSE AND CONSEEVATOBT. 



Although many persons may hesitate in the work of in- 

 troducing the house plants while the promise of a late sum- 

 mer is before them, nevertheless it is dangerous to trust 

 anything to the weather at this period of the year. . Cloud- 

 less days are very delightful, but it not unfrequently happens 

 that they are succeeded by clear nipping frosts at night : 

 therefore the work of taking in plants should proceed un- 

 interruptedly. Let the condition of each be examined, and 

 defects in the soil or drainage of the pots be at once re- 

 medied. Clear off moss, remove insects, and replace stakes. 

 The ordinary precautions for obtaining a supply of common 

 flowering plants throughout the winter months should be 

 progressively continued, Mignonette sown, Hyacinths, 

 Tulips, and other bulbs potted and plunged — about equal 

 portions of good loam and decayed leaf mould, with silver 

 sand, will be the best soil for these if for forcing; but well- 

 decomposed cowdung must be substituted for the leaf soil 

 when the bulbs are intended for late flowering. After pot- 

 ting them, place them on a dry bottom, and cover the pots 

 2 or 3 inches deep with old tan or ashes, preserving them at 

 the same time as much as possible from heavy rains. Under 

 this treatment they will fill their pots with roots, and be in 

 readiness for forcing when wanted. Pinks for forcing must 

 be encouraged, and Cinerarias duly attended to. Eoses in 

 pots should occupy a fair share of attention. Young plants 

 may yet receive a shift, and manure water may be applied to 

 plants in activity. Where valuable stove plants have to be 

 kept in the conservatory while in bloom, they will require 

 careful management to prevent their being injured by damp ; 

 and they must not be overwatered at the root, as stove 

 plants are soon injured in a low temperature if kept too 

 wet. Give air freely on bright days, but if the house con- 

 tains many stove plants it wil] be advisable to shut up early 

 in the afternoon, so as to retain a little warmth for the night, 

 and in the event of wet cloudy weather setting in, it will 

 probably be found necessary to use a little fire heat to dis- 

 pel damp and preserve blossoms of tender things, and this 

 should be seen to before handsome specimens are disfigured 



