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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ December 27, 1864. 



thawed gradually looked as well as if they had been shut 

 up for one night only. They were just as fresh as a lawn 

 would be that had fallen to a temperature of about 31° be- 

 fore it was covered by a foot of snow for six weeks. As soon 

 as the snow went the lawn looked more healthy and green 

 than it did before the snow came. Cauliflowers and Lettuces 

 for use were protected before they were much, if at all, 

 frosted. In their case the less they are touched the better, 

 and they should not be long covered up continuously unless 

 the temperature is very low, close on freezing. 



As to the protecting materials to be used in a hurry, mats 

 are as good as any, but then a single or a double mat is of 

 little use in a severe frost, in a cold pit. A little rough hay 

 is a grand thing for protection, as it lays open, and can also 

 be pressed a little close. Straw is also good, and the less 

 broken it is the better if you can cover with something 

 closer at the surface. Rough stubble is also a good' pro- 

 tection for many things, and chiefly because it is open, and 

 allows the air to penetrate and circulate. We protected a 

 lot of glass in a cold pit with it alone the first cold night, 

 and our superintendent of protecting told us he thought it 

 was of little use for a severe frost. That depends entirely 

 on how it is treated. Of itself it would not be sufficient 

 to keep out our most severe frost without very frequent 

 turning, as its very looseness and roughness would allow 

 lines of radiation to reach from the glass to the sky, and 

 thus the frost would enter. But supposing that 6 inches of 

 this loose rough stubble were placed over the glass, and 

 2 or 3 inches of tree leaves, as we used, or half as much of 

 soft rough hay were placed over the stubble, it would require 

 sl very severe frost to penetrate beneath the glass. The 

 very openness of the stubble, a drawback if used alone, he- 

 came a great advantage when joined with the closer mate- 

 rial at the siu-face. Not only would every straw of the 

 rough stubble serve to prevent radiation, but the closeish 

 material at the surface would make the whole body of stubble 

 beneath a non-conductor. We were not over-well provided 

 with protecting material ; but though we had a great num- 

 ber of tender plants in cold and earth pits, the stubble, 

 branches, &c, and some 1 or 2 inches of tree leaves on the 

 top of everything made all quite safe, so that we have not 

 lost a plant. 



Those who would take a lesson in protecting should, in a 

 severe frost, examine the state of the ground under long 

 grass, moss, or even a slight covering of tree leaves. We 

 have often been surprised to find how thoroughly Nature 

 accomplishes her objects with the slightest materials. Hints 

 from our pastures and woodlands are often as valuable as 

 hints from books. We have had several letters, in spite 

 of the standing protest of our conductors, about our old 

 friend who took all his bedclothing to save his Apricots 

 and Peaches. It is often important to know what to 

 do in an emergency, and therefore we will mention how 

 another friend, now gone, saved thousands of pots of Mig- 

 nonette, when almost every neighbour lost them, though 

 we have alluded to the matter previously. The frost came 

 so suddenly that much litter for protection had not been 

 procured. A mat was put over the glass, and a thin covering 

 of litter over it. The frost was so severe as soon to pene- 

 trate beyond the mat ; but its intensity was rendered harm- 

 less by a constant shaking and turning of the litter over the 

 mat. Our old friend and his man Friday worked as hard 

 as they could, one at the front and another at the back of 

 the frames and pits, in turning this litter the whole night, 

 beginning at one end, again, as soon as they reached the 

 other. Every time the litter was shaken and turned it 

 presented a fresh surface to the action of radiation and 

 conduction, and Mr. Frost had to begin his work afresh. 

 We have saved many plants by having the surface of the 

 covering broken before daylight, as just before the dawn is 

 generally the time when the frost is most intense. We 

 have had several private complaints that we did not tell 

 how to save the plants from the coming frost, and we sup- 

 pose it will be best to plead guilty of not knowing the 

 future; but sure we are that all amateurs will receive 

 a helping hand from their neighbours, and, if wise, they 

 will use the experience of being caught napping as a 

 good reason why they will never be found so unprepared 

 ^gain. 



Fruit garden very much the same as in previous weeks. 



Looked over Grapes. Gave enough of heat to keep the frost 

 from them, more especially as the most of the foliage was 

 removed. Looked after Strawberries, examined fruit stores, 

 and washed and cleaned second vinery, much as was stated 

 as respects the first. 



Vines. — We have put in a few eyes, in case we may want 

 them. Those who intend forcing Vines in pots should com- 

 mence as soon as this sees printer's ink. Young plants are 

 best for this purpose, supposing that a good crop is taken 

 from each plant, and the plants are then thrown away. 

 When the plants are kept on from year to year, a very 

 moderate crop must be taken yearly. We have had from 

 eight to sixteen and twenty good bunches from plants 

 fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen months from the bud-cutting. 

 To expect future crops from such plants would be useless. 

 On the whole, where means are at command, and a fine 

 show a feature, we prefer taking only one crop from the 

 plants. For this purpose the single buds, with three-quarters 

 of an inch at each end of the bud, should be inserted singly 

 in the smallest pots by the first week in January, be placed 

 in a moderate hotbed for a fortnight, and then in a nice 

 sweet hotbed with a temperature of 85° bottom heat, and 

 60^ or 70° top heat. Here the little pots will soon be filled 

 with roots before the bud has made much top growth, and 

 should then be shifted into a larger — say a four-inch pot, 

 using warmed soil, and never allowing the least check to 

 the plants. This plan must be followed, shifting as soon as 

 needed, and giving bottom heat until the plants are in pots 

 from 12 or 18 inches in diameter. These well ripened and 

 placed out of doors in the autumn for a month or six weeks, 

 will be in good order to start in November and Decem- 

 ber. The general routine has already several times been 

 given. When pots are intended to bear continuously, about 

 four bunches should be the medium. It is best to take 

 a good crop, bring on fresh plants, and throw away the old 

 ones. 



Ice. — We went round and looked at the usual pools for 

 supply, and, though there was but little water in the most 

 of them to freeze, we had everything ready to take that 

 little on the following day ; but the thaw at night came 

 more suddenly than the frost, and, instead of being helped 

 by rolling snow, the snow had all disappeared before the 

 morning. What ice we could have secured was very hollow, 

 but still it would have been ice ; and if we had not still a 

 pretty good supply we certainly should have taken the first 

 chance to obtain a little, even if we had put it in an ice- 

 heap for present use. Most likely we will yet have a more 

 continuous frost ere long ; but, as the weather may be un- 

 certain, it will be well not to lose another chance. 



We find, on inquiry, that some of our confectioners in 

 neighbouring towns procure the ice they want from London 

 in summer, as the demand for ices, and cooled drinks, is 

 growing even in our out-of-the-way places ; and they con- 

 sider that as yet this mode suits them better than having 

 an ice-heap of their own, though they complain sadly of the 

 necessary expense for carriage, &c, making sad work of what 

 otherwise would be their profits. A larger demand for iced 

 articles would, no doubt, lead to a more general supply. 

 Many large hotels in the country thus obtain their ice from 

 London, or the nearest seaport, and the blocks from Wenham 

 Lake are most valued. In the case of some large hotels 

 this practice is followed even after going to the expense of 

 forming ice-houses, in which the ice will not keep ; so that, 

 simple though the matter seems to be, there must be some 

 of the simplicities overlooked, where such failures take place. 

 We have proved over and over again that snow, rolled into 

 large heaps, and well consolidated in the ice-house or heap, 

 is only a little inferior to ice for keeping. If too fluffy to 

 beat well, a little water will remedy that defect. It is best 

 rolled when soft. It is no use trying it when the surface is 

 hard and frost-crusted ; and collecting it without rolling it 

 into huge balls is but poor work.— R. F. 



TKADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. 



Sutton & Sons, Reading. — Sutton's Amateur's Guide and 

 Spring Catalogue for 1865. 



James Veitch, Royal Exotic Nursery, King's Road, Chelsea. 

 — Catalogue of Garden and Flower Seeds for 1865. 



