September 13, 1864. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



219 



iug. We resorted to it in the conservatory, because by that 

 means, shading, and little air, much less water was required 

 than would be needed for watering the plants. Gave water 

 to Melons looking a little distressed, giving it chiefly to the 

 roots without wetting the surface soil much, as the drier 

 the surface now the better the flavour. Picked out any 

 decaying berry from Grapes, and removed all the laterals 

 from the early house, and about half from the late house, to 

 admit a little more light. Gathered Plums, the last of 

 Apricots, and a good many of the early Apples, and com- 

 menced with two parcels of Williams's Bon Chretien Pear 

 from the same tree. One tree may thus last sis weeks, by 

 taking the largest and ripest first. If all gathered together 

 the fruit would be in good condition only a few days. The 

 winds have rattled down much fruit prematurely, and if 

 possible it should be gathered up, as if left it gives an ap- 

 pearance of carelessness. Apples we suspect will be very 

 cheap this season, which will be a boon to our brethren in 

 "cities pent." The ripeness of Apples and Pears is best 

 known by the brown colour and firmness of the seeds. 



OBNA3TENTA1, DEPARTMENT. 



Our work here has chiefly been threefold. First, potting 

 stove and greenhouse plants, and Primulas and Cinerarias, 

 and taking Camellias, Azaleas, and hardwooded plants at all 

 tender, under protection, or at least where they can be de- 

 fended from heavy rains. Many ornamental plants of an an- 

 nual character, as scores of fine Balsams in full bloom, Fea- 

 thered Cockscombs, Browallias, we were forced to throw to the 

 rubbish-heap, as we could not water them, and keeping them 

 dry in houses or pits would have been no pleasing sight, and 

 would most likely have furnished us with shoals of insects. 

 Secondly, we drew the scythe over most of the pleasure 

 ground to make all level, for there was little to cut, the 

 mowing machine having enjoyed a sinecure this season, 

 then clipped the edges and dressed the sides of beds, and 

 rolled the grass, which is now becoming greenish, which 

 improves the look of the flower-beds. The skiffs of showers 

 and high winds have thrown off many of the Calceolaria 

 flowers, but the shaded side of one pyramidal bed still looks 

 massive — in fact the Calceolarias, though now far past their 

 best, have stood the dryness much better than we expected 

 they could do. Scarlet Geraniums are still very fine, though 

 beginning to seed, and the dryness will prevent much sac- 

 cession. These unwatered beds in this parching season 

 have led many people to suspect that there may be over- 

 watering. Most of our amateur brethren declare that they 

 will grow Geraniums in future, and have nothing more to 

 do with Calceolarias ; but what if next summer should be 

 a dripping one ? for then Calceolarias would be in their glory. 

 It is amazing the interest taken in flower-beds by the posses- 

 sors of small places. A manufacturer who has only had two 

 seasons of practice, surprised us by knowing as much or 

 more of the character of bedding .plants than we did. With 

 such masters gardeners must not be idle or behind the 

 times. Thirdly, though lothe to disfigure our beds, we are 

 now taking off cuttings of Geraniums, &c, in earnest, but 

 selecting pieces that will make as small a gap as possible. 

 These are mostly placed in moveable wooden boxes, 21 feet 

 long, 9 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, one end being move- 

 able. We use lumpy soil for the bottom, and finer fresh 

 soil with a little sand for the top, and plant the cuttings 

 from 1 to li inch apart. The boxes are chiefly made from 

 elm because we can obtain it easiest, made up at once from 

 the saw, and then painted with lime wash inside and out- 

 side, as a preservative chiefly against fungi and moulds. 

 It is a nice job for labourers to make them on a wet day. 

 Gardeners in these times must be pretty well Jacks of all 

 trades, and many labourers like such work rather than other- 

 wise. In these days of the division of labour, it is generally 

 best to have the right tradesman for his general work ; but 

 there are first-rate employers who would rightly object to 

 bring a mechanic from a distance to do a trifling job. The 

 men who go through the world most comfortably and often 

 •make themselves felt in it as a bettering influence, are men 

 who do not stand upon trifles, argue about their rights, and 

 descant about what they were engaged to do; but at a 

 pinch, do what is wanted, and without claiming extra merit 

 or :thanks for doing it. We once knew the greater portion 

 of a glass house unroofed in a storm because the gardener. 



add nothing to stop up the gap of a few broken squat es. 

 He had given notice that a glazier was wanted and tlat 

 was enough for him. He was not to turn glazier. No, not 

 he! When the storm came on, he should have thought of 

 the gap, though. Did his keeping strictly to his engage- 

 ment advance his intersts ? — R. F. 



COVENT GAEDEJNT MARKET.— Septesibeb 10. 



Heavy supplies both of home-grown and foreign fruit continue to arrive' 

 Grapes, Figs, Peaches, Nectarines, Apples, and Pears are very plentiful; 

 and Oranges have become more so in consequence of consignments of 

 autumn fruit from abroad. Vegetables are abundant. Turnips, however, 

 are very scarce. Of Potatoes there is a heavy supply, and the quality is 

 good ; the prices have therefore declined. 













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TEADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. 



Barr & Sugden, 12, King Street, Covent Garden, London. — 

 Compendium of Illustrated Autumnal Floral Guide to Winter 

 and Spring Gardening. 



Hooper & Co., Central Avenue, Covent Garden- — Autumn 

 Catalogue of Dutch, Cape, and other Flowering Bulbs. 



B. J. Edwards, 222, Strand, London. — Autumn Catalogue of 

 New and Choice Hyacinths and other Bulbs. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



* # * We request that no one will write privately to the de- 

 partmental writers of the " Journal of Horticulture, 

 Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so 

 doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and 

 expense. All communications should therefore be ad- 

 dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul- 

 ture, (Sec, 171, Fleet Street, London. E.C. 

 We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the 

 same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those 

 on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them 

 answered promptly and conveniently, but write them 

 on separate communications. Also never to send more 

 than two or three questions at once. 

 Melons hot Skttisg Fruit [J. J.). — The vines are probably too close, 

 and the pollen is not sufficiently aired to be fertile; the bed may lack water ; 

 the atmosphere may be moist through an insufficiency of air; and too little 

 bottom, or too much top heat, with a close stagnant atmosphere, may be the 

 cause of their turning yellow. The sort is a free setter. Without an out- 

 line of the treatment we are unable to speak definitely as to the cause. 

 ■ Flower of thk Day Geranium Cuttings Failing [J. A.).— The cuttings 

 were probably pottei in a rich compost, and were watered very freely, and 

 the soil torned into a bog. We have many now struck in such a place ; but 

 they were not shaded except for an hour or two during the hottest sun, nor 

 watered more than to keep the soil just moist. 



Mule Pine (A. JR.). — It is a curious example of morphology, and, like all 

 others, seem to afford no clue to the cause. 



Strawberries (Ignoramus). — Forone early variety, plant Keens* Seed- 

 ling ; and for one late variety, the Elton. 



