276 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October i, 1864. 



Orange has bloomed very abundantly, and when planted 

 beside Flower of the Day Geranium, or any other light- 

 foliaged kind, it tells well. 



Some years ago I thought of dispensing with Petunias 

 altogether in the flower gardens. However, these few 

 seasons past I have made more use of them, and in some 

 cases .they tell well, and flower all the season. This is of 

 itself a very great advantage. "We have a bed of Scarlet 

 Nosegay Geranium, encircled by a ring 18 inches wide of a 

 small-flowered Petunia. The Petunia is kept pretty close 

 down by the use of long hooked sticks. On the outside, next 

 the grass, is a row of Sedum carneum variegatum, which 

 produces a good effect. We use a small white Petunia in 

 our panel border, white being a colour we are somewhat de- 

 ficient in. "We keep the white in this panel border pegged 

 down in the same way as I have just stated. We plant it 

 in squares of 10 or 12 feet, all the squares being divided 

 by a band of yellow Calceolaria, and each square is made 

 as much different from the others as the means will allow. 

 A bed or square of white Petunias tells well planted between 

 a panel of Tom Thumb and another of Scarlet Nosegay. 



Has any one observed the singular inclination which the 

 little Sedum carneum variegatum has, at least here in the 

 Isle of Wight, to grow in its recumbent form more or less 

 towards the sun ? We have it in three positions, all differ- 

 ing, and in all it exhibits the same tendency, that of growing 

 towards the sun. I have observed that since the rainy and 

 dull period lias come, this propensity is not manifested so 

 strongly as it. was in the very hot weather. I would be 

 glad to learn if any one else has observed the same tendency 

 exhibited by this jjlanfc. 



It is not a large variety of plants which we should aim at 

 in our flower gardens, it is not botanical collections that 

 please the eye in modern flower gardening, but a few well 

 chosen yet distinct colours, well contrasted, and each bring- 

 ing the other colour boldly out. — G. Dawson. 



CUTTING DOWN OLD PEACH TEEES. 



The Rev. Mr. Radclyffe in a recent communication to this 

 Journal says he has given his Peach trees their autumn 

 management. I have lately had some old Peach trees put 

 under my care, and as I am anxious to do my best with 

 them, I should be much obliged if Mr. Radclyffe would tell 

 me how he manages his trees. I read an account of his 

 mode of management some time back, but I had then no old 

 Peach trees, and as I send The Jouenai. of Hoeticultuee 

 away after I have read it, I cannot refer to it. — S. C. 



[Some years ago I cut the trees down as near to the 

 stump as my gardener (now dead), thought prudent, pro- 

 bably on an average to from 2 to 3 feet from the stumps. 

 Were I now to cut such trees down, I would cut them closer 

 to the stump. The perpendicular roots were all cut off, and 

 the surface roots were cut off in a radius of 30 inches round 

 the stumps. The ground round the stumps was then re- 

 newed with black dung and fresh mould. Since the period 

 of cutting down I have renewed the whole of the surface 

 soil. As the crop this year on the three trees was heavy 

 (560 Peaches), I dressed the stumps and surface soil three 

 times with the residue of beer-barrels, mixed with three 

 or four times the quantity of water. After this was put on I 

 copiously watered the whole of the ground so dressed. 



As regards the autumnal after-management referred to by 

 " S. C," on the removal of the hexagon netting, I cut off all 

 the second growth of wood close to or within an inch of the 

 wood previously pinched. The average length of the wood 

 pinched would be from 6 to 8 inches. The forewood is 

 spurred. I disbud but very little, as I am persuaded that 

 depriving the tree of foliage is not good for it ; and that in 

 the case of the base and centre of the trees, it leads to 

 bareness. The wood is ripening well, and there will be 

 plenty left after any winter demolitions that may take place. 

 — W. F. Radclyffe.] 



upon the sponge and take up their abode in the cells. It is 

 only necessary to dip the sponge in scalding water, which 

 will wash them out dead by tens of thousands. Put on 

 more sugar, and set the trap for a new haul. This process 

 will soon clear the house of every ant. 



ABABIS LUCIDA YAELEGATA, OE GOLDEN 



AEABIS. 

 I think it was in reply to some inquiries of Mr. Robson 

 that I made some remarks last autumn about this lovely 

 hardy edging plant. Another year's experience of it on a 

 much larger scale has fully confirmed my conviction that, 

 since the introduction of Cerastium tomentosum as a white 

 or grey edging plant, there has not been so really lovely 

 and easily managed an edging plant added to our parterres 

 as this Golden Arabis. What the Cerastium is as a white 

 or grey edging, this Arabis will ultimately become as a 

 golden. It is one of the most unique imaginable where a 

 straight front boundary line is required. An idea of its 

 fitness and beauty when closely planted in long lines cannot 

 be formed from seeing a few individual plants. Here it has 

 been the object of admiration to all who have seen it. I 

 need scarcely say that it is as hardy as a daisy, and easily in- 

 creased by division either in spring or autumn. It requires 

 very little labour to keep it tidy, as all that is needed in 

 this respect is to pick the flowers off immed'ately they show 

 themselves in spring. It is never so fine when planted in 

 sandy or hungry soil as when well cultivated. — D. Thomson, 

 Archerfield Gardens. 



The Ant Teap. — Procure a large sponge, wash it well and 

 press it dry, which will leave the cells quite open; then 

 sprinkle over it some fine white sugar, and place it near 

 where the ants are troublesome. They will soon collect 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Continue to destroy weeds wherever they appear. Clear 

 away the yellow leaves from Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts, 

 and any decaying vegetable matter wherever met with. To 

 prevent the attacks of slugs on young Lettuces or Cauli- 

 flower plants mix soot and lime in equal proportions, and 

 dust the plants with the mixture once or twice a-week. 

 Callages, make good the blanks that may have occurred in 

 the plantations of Cabbages or Coleworts, and keep a large 

 reserve to make plantations in spring, as well as to fill up 

 the blanks caused by the winter. We must expect frost 

 soon, and ought to prepare accordingly. Lettuces, for in- 

 stance, that are just coming into use may be lifted with balls, 

 and placed in frames. Onions, look over those that have 

 been stored, and remove any that are beginning to decay. 

 Radishes, make the last out-door sowing, which, if the winter 

 do not set in early, may prove useful. Spinach, see that it 

 is thoroughly thinned and well hoed in favourable weather, 

 and in every way encouraged. Tomatoes, in late situations 

 where they are just ripening, let them be gathered and 

 ripened off in the houses, as the least frost is fatal to them. 



FETTIT GAEDEN. 



The principal operations in this department are gather- 

 ing fruit when it is in proper condition, making prepara- 

 tions for filling up blank spaces on the walls, trenching 

 ground for orchard trees and fruit plantations, which should 

 be well done to insure success. Planting may now be done ; 

 mulch and stake safely without delay. Continue to keep 

 the runners removed from the Strawberries, and those that 

 have been some time potted for forcing should now be placed 

 in a sheltered situation to insure their not being too much 

 soddened with wet. Strong pricked-out 'plants may still be 

 potted with good success, if placed on a kindly bottom heat. 

 Keep the fruit-room cool and airy, examine the fruit fre- 

 quently, and pick out any that are found to be decaying. 



FLOWER GAEDEN. 



October is the most eligible time of the whole year for 

 alterations, planting, &c, and whether planting or general 

 eround work, operations should be carried forward with 

 vigour as soon as possible. Such matters should not be 

 allowed to press on the ordinary business of the garden, 

 extra work requires extra labour, and if such is not supplied 

 a corresponding amount of injury must occur in some other 

 department. Alterations carried out during the autumn 

 are doubly important, both on account of the season for 



