December 6, 1864. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



455 



HOT-WATEE PIPES PASSING THROUGH 

 THE OPEN GEOUND. 



I have had about 20 yards of two-inch pipes, flow and 

 return, in the open ground, to heat a vinery at some dis- 

 tance from the boiler. I have placed bricks below the pipes 

 and also along the sides, and intend covering them over 

 with semicircular tiles cemented on the brick to keep out 

 wet, the whole to be covered over with puddle. Please say 

 if you consider this fixture sufficient, and if it would be 

 desirable to fill the chamber in which the pipes are with saw- 

 dust, so as to retain the heat for a longer time. — Sawdust. 



[We think your precautions sufficient, and if you left a 

 small air opening in the culvert next the boiler, and the 

 other end next the vinery entirely open, we would do nothing 

 more, as the heat and a constant charge of air would be 

 carried from the culvert into the vinery. If there are reasons 

 why the end should not be left open into the vinery, then 

 you had better stuff the pipes round with sawdust.] 



GEAPE-GEOWLNG AT COOMBE ABBEY. 



Coombe Abbey is a new name in the lists of English gar- 

 dens of note. A short time ago a public notice of this fine 

 place appeared, in which some fine Barbarossa Grapes were 

 spoken of. Having recently seen these Grapes, I can state 

 that the notiee referred to indicated but faintly the mag- 

 nificent appearance of the Grapes, and the style of work 

 that has grown up at Coombe Abbey within a few years. 



A week ago I found ripe Strawberries being gathered, 

 and was told that they were to be had in succession onwards. 

 After seeing the ways and means to secure such a desidera- 

 tum, the first doubts were considerably modified. 



Had I seen nothing but the Barbarossa Grapes, it would 

 have been quite satisfactory as to Mr. Miller's standing as a 

 Grape-grower. In the same house are samples of that 

 splendid Grape, the Lady Downes', equally fine with the 

 Grapes I wish to speak of. 



The Barbarossa at Coombe Abbey is growing on its own 

 roots; the Vine has been planted about two and a half 

 years. On one Vine are six bunches, the least not less than 

 5 lbs. Several of the bunches will weigh close upon 8 lbs. each, 

 and these bunches are equal in shape and colour to the best 

 Black Hamburghs. When seen in this style the Barba- 

 rossa has a very noble appearance. Lately, the Barbarossa 

 has been spoken of as superior when grafted on the Ham- 

 burgh. I have seen it in this way and it looks well, but 

 appears to me something different from the Barbarossa. The 

 leaves, when so grafted, are decidedly those of the Ham- 

 burgh, shed early, and tell against the most valuable quality 

 of Barbarossa, that of hanging long. 



It is most gratifying to gardeners to see a young man of 

 such enterprise as Mr. Miller, at the head of one of the most 

 complete gardens in England. — Chas. McDonald. 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Should frost prevail, every advantage must be taken of 

 it to wheel manures and composts on to the various quarters- 

 requiring it, and if it cannot be trenched in at once, let it 

 be laid in heaps at convenient distances and covered with 

 soil. Ridged ground may be occasionally forked over and 

 knocked about, to expose fresh surfaces to the action of the 

 atmosphere. Collect as many leaves together as possible, 

 they are invaluable for mixing with green manures for fer- 

 menting purposes, as they not only correct the rank and 

 violent fermentation, but preserve a - more steady and 

 uniform heat for a greater length of time. Those of the 

 Oak are much to be preferred, as they resist decomposition 

 the longest ; Beech comes next ; after these there is little 

 choice. Caulifloivers, surface-stirring among young growing 

 crops of these and of Cabbage, Lettuce, &c, must be as dili- 

 gently followed up now as in the summer, when vegetation 

 is more rapid ; indeed, there is no season when these im- 

 portant operations can be neglected with impunity. Fre- 

 quent pulverisation of the soil acts as a great check to the 

 penetration of frost in winter, and to the evaporation of 



moisture in the summer. One indispensable condition is, 

 that the ground must never be trodden on after the opera- 

 tion is completed. Celery, if very severe frost come on pro- 

 tect this, Parsley, and late Endive for spring use. Ground 

 cropped in the preceding season with Carrots, Parsnips, or 

 Potatoes, and found, as is frequently the case at this time, 

 infested with grubs, should have a good dressing of soot or 

 lime dug in, or if they cannot be had, the soil should be 

 turned up in ridges for the winter. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



At this season of the year a little labour will secure a 

 valuable supply of material for enriching the flower-beds 

 and borders. Leaves are everywhere at hand, they should 

 be sedulously collected and stacked in some out-of-the-way 

 place, with a mixture of road sand and light soil, rotten 

 sticks, and decaying vegetable matter, and left to ferment ; 

 in a season or two the most valuable compost will be the 

 result, especially suitable for many of the shrubs and plants 

 which decorate our gardens, whose original position was 

 probably near some primeval forest, the ever-accumulating 

 leaves of which would naturally give a character to the 

 surrounding soil, and encourage the growth of Rhododen- 

 drons, Azaleas, Magnolias, &c. Examine pillar and trellis 

 Roses, and if the weather is favourable see if the soil wants 

 renewing, or the kinds changing. If. choice sorts, large 

 holes capable of containing three or four barrrowloads of 

 well-prepared soil should be mads. Turfy loam of good 

 quality is the chief thing, to this add a portion of rich rotten 

 dung, and if at hand a little sandy peat or leaf mould. Have 

 everything in the shape of protection ready for covering 

 half-hardy plants on the approach of frost. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



If any planting of young trees, or removing of others, 

 has still to be done, attend to it at once. Let Gooseberry 

 and Currant bushes be pruned on frosty mornings, or when 

 the ground is in a dry state, so that it will bear treading 

 upon without injury. After pruning give the ground among 

 the Gooseberry and Currant trees a good dressing of lime or 

 soot, which is useful as a preventive of their great enemy, 

 the caterpillar. As Cherries, Gooseberries, and Currants 

 have often their buds destroyed in severe weather by birds, 

 take the opportunity of a damp day and well dust the shoots 

 with a mixture of dry soot and quicklime using sufficient to 

 cover the buds. Two or three dustings during the winter 

 prevent in a great measure the ravages of these pests. 

 Where the Raspberry grub is troublesome give a good dress- 

 ing of gas lime before digging the ground, taking care to 

 apply it regularly about the base of the plants. 



STOVE. 



A cautious application of fire heat must still be observed 

 here. Keep the temperature rather low than otherwise for 

 fear of exciting a premature growth. Cleanliness and a 

 judicious use of the watering-pot should be strictly attended 

 to. A small portion of air may be advantageously admitted . 

 on fine days, and will greatly assist in purifying the atmo- 

 sphere of the house. Many things will be sinking into 

 repose here, and from such water must be entirely withheld. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Remove Chrysanthemums as the flowers fade to make 

 room for other things. The earliest started Camellias and 

 Epacrises will be advancing into bloom, as will the useful 

 Erica hyemalis and Wilmoreana. A little fire heat will be 

 indispensable here during cold damp foggy weather, in order 

 to allow of admitting a little fresh ah- to carry off super- 

 fluous moisture without lowering the temperature too much; 

 but this should be applied during the day, and all watering 

 should be done in the morning, so that the atmosphere' may 

 be moderately dry before night, as a damp stagnant atmo- 

 sphere is especially injurious to flowers. The winter flowers 

 will now be making a splendid display in the convervatory, 

 at least where they have received special attention through 

 the summer to this end. The Euphorbia jacquiniseflora is one 

 of the foremost of these beauties when properly cultivated. 

 Poinsettia is a bold and dashing conservatory plant, and 

 indispensable at this time of the year. Gesnera zebrina, 

 under high cultivation, is a most beautiful winter flower. 

 Some of the genus Cytisus are very showy and fragrant, 

 and as yellow flowers are somewhat scarce they become very 

 useful. 



