May 25,1882. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
433 
ment of cut flowers on tables, in bouquets, basket, &c., and for artificial 
flowers. 
Among the nurserymen, Mr. Jos6 Marques Loureiro, showed the 
finest collections, some of his Tree Ferns and Cycads being splendid 
specimens, and his Caladiums very beautiful. Count la Silva Mon- 
teiro, as usual took the first place among amateur exhibitors, but did 
not compete in any of the classes; he was, however, awarded the 
medal of honour as being the amateur exhibiting the most note¬ 
worthy collections. The exhibits of flowers arranged on tables and 
in baskets, bouquets, <fcc., being varied and showing great taste, 
attracted much attention, and were greatly admired. Only amateurs 
exhibited in this section and that for artificial flowers. The decora¬ 
tion of the Palace was confided to Mr. Jeronymo Monteiro da Costa, 
Manager of the Gardens, who earned deserved praise. 
The awards were as follows :—To nurserymen, Mr. Jose Marques 
Loureiro, eight silver and one bronze medals ; Yiuva de Zepherino de 
Mattos, two bronze medals. To amateurs—Gold medals to Baroness 
Seixo and Miss Wright. Silver medals to A. Christino, A. S. Mon¬ 
teiro, Miss Smithes, G. D. Tait, Miss Moller, Miss Tait, Miss E. 
Murat, Mrs. Ursinus, and Miss Reid. Bronze medals to A. Christino, 
M. C. Arantes, Donna Maria M. Conceicao, J. F. S. Garcez, E. Biel, 
F. Y. Corte Real, Mrs. Tait, Mrs. G. Reid, Mrs. Castro Monteiro, and 
Miss Yieira da Cruz. 
4 
1 
\ 
WOKK. F0 ^™ E WEEK.. S, 
"Jlr ^ 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
A sowing of Cauliflower should be made between now and the 24th 
to raise plants for a supply of heads in autumn and early winter, 
Walcheren being suitable. Make successional sowings of Radishes 
and Spinach at intervals of about a fortnight between the rows of 
Peas. Small salads— i.e., Mustard and Cress, should be sown fre¬ 
quently according to the demand. Hoeing and earthing up Potatoes 
must be attended to as they advance in growth ; and if the ground 
be heavy fork between the rows, especially where these spaces are 
to be occupied by Brussels Sprouts, which should be planted there as 
soon as they are fit for the purpose. Chicory seed, where the roots 
are employed for placing in Mushroom houses to afford blanched 
heads for salads, should now be sown in drills lo inches apart, and 
the plants thinned to 9 to 12 inches. A successional sowing of 
Scarlet Runner Beans may be made if necessary, and another of 
French Beans. Make preparations for the most advanced portion 
of Celery plants, which should be planted out at once if they have 
been well hardened off. Ground cleared of Broccoli will be available 
for this purpose. Beds of rich fine soil should be prepared for the 
young seedlings from the March sowing for the main crop, planting 
them about 3 inches apart, shading and watering as necessary. 
Cutting Asparagus must not be practised with plants required for 
forcing ; or if recourse must be had to cutting these now it must not 
be continued too long, or the plants will be too much weakened for 
early forcing next season. 
In the forcing department continue to liberally supply water to 
Carrots in frames, and remove at the earliest period every alternate 
one so as to afford the next every advantage. Harden Tomatoes in 
cold frames by degrees preparatory to planting them outdoors. Keep 
the laterals of those in pots under glass closely pinched or removed, 
not stopping the lead until five or six trusses of fruit have formed, 
then stop one joint above the last truss, keeping closely stopped, 
afterwards, and supply liquid manure copiously, earthing up the 
plants with lumpy loam as necessary. Prepare ridges for Vegetable 
Marrows and ridge Cucumbers, and plant these out under handglasses. 
Forward the growth of Chili and other Capsicums in pits. French 
Beans in pits should have plentiful supplies of water or liquid manure 
as needed, and be liberally ventilated upon all favourable occasions. 
As frames or pits become cleared of Potatoes they may be usefully 
occupied with Cucumbers and Melons. 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
Peaches and Nectarines .—In the earliest house the very early varie¬ 
ties will be followed by those desirable kinds, Hale’s Early and 
A Bee, which, though several days later than Early Beatrice, are 
very much larger and finer in every respect, and these again will be 
succeeded by Royal George, Grosse Mignonne, and Noblesse. The 
three most suitable Peaches for early forcing in succession are Alex¬ 
ander, Hale’s Early (both of American origin), and Royal George. 
Of Nectarines, Lord Napier and Elruge are admirable and fitting for 
association with the Peaches last named. As soon as the fruit is 
removed from the trees syringe twice in the day, and well supply the 
border with moisture, and liquid manure occasionally will help the 
trees. In addition to this the bearing wood of the current season 
should be cut away unless it be part of the extensions, and any 
superfluous shoots removed, laterals as formed being closely pinched 
to one joint. It is important that the foliage be kept clean to the 
last, and fully exposed to light and air. The temperature should 
not exceed 60° to 65° by artificial means, which will be ample also 
for trees perfecting their fruit in the same structure. 
Pines .—Attention to plants with the fruit advanced will be indis¬ 
pensable in maintaining a moderately high temperature and moist 
atmosphere, also in the ventilation. Watering must be attended to 
at least once a week in the case of plants in fermenting beds, and 
with the heat at the roots supplied by means of hot-water pipes a 
plentiful supply will be needed frequently, with liquid manure in a 
weak form—guano at the rate of 1 oz. to a gallon of water being 
suitable. Admit air at the top of the house when the temperature is 
at 80°, keeping it through the day at 80° to 90°, allowing a rise of 5° 
after closing the house at 85°, and if it be desired to enlarge the 
crowns allow a rise of 10° to 15° after closing. Artificial heat must 
be had recourse to, to prevent the temperature falling below 70° at 
night and 75° by day. Syringe the plants two or three times every 
week as circumstances require. 
Figs .—In order to ripen the fruit satisfactorily it is necessary to 
keep it free from damp. The trees should also be kept in a rather 
warm atmosphere with a free circulation of air ; to effect this it will 
be necessary to employ fire heat occasionally, or when needful to 
sustain the night temperature at 65° to 70°, and 75° in the daytime, 
ranging the temperature from 80° to 90 p from sun heat. When the 
present mulching material on the surface of the border is well filled 
with roots add another covering about 3 inches thick of well-decom¬ 
posed manure, which will materially help the trees in perfecting the 
second crop of Figs. Although a dry atmosphere is essential to 
assist the fruit when ripening in attaining the highest degree of 
perfection, the border in which the trees are growing must not be 
allowed to become excessively dry, or the crop will be affected in¬ 
juriously and a rapid spread of red spider will be the result. Trees 
with the crop advancing, also those from which the fruit is gathered, 
should be syringed daily, and be well supplied with water or liquid 
manure at the roots. Trees in pots must have a mulching of short 
manure over the roots, supplying liquid manure. Stopping, thinning, 
and regulating the shoots must be attended to whenever necessary. 
PLANT HOUSES. 
Stove .—Poinsettias that were cut back and started some weeks ago 
have now made sufficient growth to afford cuttings. These should 
be taken with a heel when about 4 inches long, and inserted singly 
in small pots and placed in a close moist frame they will root quickly. 
When rooted and growing keep them near the glass in a house with 
a temperature of 55° to 65° artificially, and when the weather becomes 
warmer they may be transferred to cold frames, in which they will 
make stouter growth than those in heat. They should be shifted 
into larger pots as necessary, but those 6 or 7 inches in diameter are 
sufficiently large. The old plants also succeed well if shaken out 
when they have grown slightly, returning them to a smaller pot for 
the present; and when they have formed fresh roots and before they 
become matted shift them into the large pots, 7 or 8 inches being 
suitable. Good turfy loam and about a sixth of sand form a suitable 
compost. 
Achimcnes .—Baskets of these add greatly to the appearance of the 
conservatory during the summer months. The baskets should be 
large or small according to the size of the house, and they should be 
lined with sphagnum to prevent the soil being washed through in the 
operation of watering. The plants having been started in pans should 
be transferred to the baskets when they have growths about 4 inches 
long, inserting them head outwards through the moss all over the 
