476 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 8, 1882. 
chosen, and this astounded her. She had never imagined that 
Auriculas could he valued at two and three guineas a pot, and 
the orders she had given at these prices would have reached a 
respectable figure. She did not conclude the bargain, suddenly 
lost her interest in the Auriculas, and departed without having 
purchased a solitary flower. Thomas Woodhead smiled to him¬ 
self. He used to tell that story gleefully. 
In a corner of one of his conservatories was a small compart¬ 
ment where he always had a few choice flowers in bloom. It 
was the month of November, and his Chrysanthemums still 
sported their gay petals. A person was looking round and espied 
these bright gems at that dull season of the year. “ Could I ask 
you for a few flowers for my sick wife, who lies bedfast at home ?” 
said he, looking appealingly at Thomas Woodhead ; “ she is so 
fond of flowers, and they would so please her.” Thomas made no 
reply, but a tear appeared in his kindly eye. Words he had none 
for the man who pleaded in touching accents for the sick woman 
at home. The twain continued their round, and when the visitor 
was about to depart Thomas Woodhead asked him to come into 
the house. Placing a cigar box in the visitor’s hand he said, 
“ Take that to your wife.” They separated with mutual good 
wishes. When the visitor reached home he opened the cigar box 
in his wife’s sick chamber, and found it filled with the choicest 
and sweetest flowers that Thomas Woodhead could cull from his 
conservatory. Thereafter, whenever that visitor called at Shib- 
den he was doubly welcomed, and before he departed a cigar box 
was placed in his hand, and it always contained the best flowers 
of the conservatory. Thomas Woodhead needed no reminding a 
second time of “ the sick woman at home,” whom he had never 
seen, and whom he never forgot, for he sent a bunch of his very 
choicest Auriculas to place on her coffin when she was killed by 
that fearful easterly wind which also ended the days of Lord 
Beaconsfield. Another year has sped, and in the same month 
that “ the sick woman ” died, aad at the time when his darling 
Auriculas were at their best, Thomas Woodhead was gathered to 
his fathers, and his remains rest in Coley churchyard. Peace to 
his memory. He was a good soul, one of Nature’s noblemen.— 
(Leeds Times.') 
( ~f|f~ 
1? 
wokk/outheweek: ' 
W|| 
IfCCf 
is® 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Early Peas should in dry weather be well supplied with water, 
mulching so as to enable them to withstand drought. Succession 
and later crops likewise should be well watered, especially in light 
soils ; and be mulched with partially decayed manure, which will 
keep the ground cool and moist. Attend to staking in good time. 
A last sowing of late Peas should now be made, also of Broad Beans 
if such are required late. Any sowing of Peas made after this should 
be of the early varieties. Make another sowing of Dwarf or French 
Beans, and, if deemed advisable, of Runner Beans also. Celery plants 
should be placed out in trenches, single rows being preferable now, 
as the plants in that way are not so liable to become drawn. In the 
preparation of the trenches a plentiful supply of well-decomposed 
manure is essential, and should be dug in in a moist state, leaving a 
few inches of soil on the surface. As ground becomes vacant plant 
out Cauliflowers, Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, and early or winter Broc¬ 
coli. The last sowing of Cauliflower seed should be made to afford 
plants for late autumn use ; these transplanted on sheltered borders 
produce heads to a late period of the year if the weather is not severe. 
At all seasonable times keep the surface soil, when it is exposed, 
well stirred about all growing crops. Early Horn and James’ Inter¬ 
mediate Carrot may still be sown. Thin the earlier-sown root crops, 
such as Onions, Parsnips, Beet, Carrot, and Salsafy. These with 
kitchen garden crops generally have made very little progress during 
the last v weeks, but with genial weather may be expected to 
advance rapidly. A first sowing of Round-leaved Batavian and 
Picpus or other curled Endive may now be made. Continue sowing 
seed once a fortnight of Lettuce, Radishes, and Spinach, also of 
Turnip, the last being preferably sown on a north border. Mustard 
and Cress will need to be sown at least once a week, so as to have a 
supply in proper condition always on hand. The stalks of early 
Cabbage should be removed or cut, unless the ground can be spared 
to continue them growing, in which case the sprouts form a valuable 
supply for autumn. The general crops of Broccoli and other winter 
vegetables in seed beds should, if too thick, be thinned and pricked 
out on a spare border, so as to be strong in readiness for planting out 
as ground becomes vacant. 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
Pines .—Many of the strongest of the plants which were shifted 
into the fruiting pots about last September will now be showing 
signs of fruiting; or if such be not the case, means should be 
applied to effect it. Any plants, therefore, that exhibit no sign of 
fruiting, and are required to do so for early winter use, must be 
placed in a house where they can be subjected to comparative rest 
for five or six weeks. The heat at the roots should be lowered to 75°, 
allowing a free circulation of air about the plants whenever the 
weather is favourable, ventilating the house at 75°. Artificial heat 
will only bej necessary to prevent the temperature falling below 60° 
at night. "Water must not be withheld, but whenever it is needed 
afford it liberally. Smaller suckers of the same age, but not shifted 
into the fruiting pots until this spring, should be continued growing 
until the pots are well filled with roots, when, if it be necessary, they 
can be subjected to similar treatment as advised for the larger speci¬ 
mens, and these plants will then give a successional supply of fruit. 
Suckers potted last March will by this time be in their fruiting pots, 
or if not no further delay should be tolerated, as to retain them 
longer in small pots is detrimental to their after growth. Recently 
potted plants require to have a temperature of 85° to 90° at the roots, 
thoroughly watering them after repotting. All young stock will 
be growing rapidly, and should be allowed liberal space, as nothing 
is so inimical to sturdy growth as crowding them thickly together. 
Ventilate slightly at 75° or 80° early in the day, so as to withdraw 
condensed moisture from the foliage before that is affected by the 
sun. Continue affording every encouragement to plants with fruit 
swelling off. Where too many fruits are ripening at one time, and 
it is desired to retard any, they may be removed to a cooler house 
with a dry atmosphere after the colouring process has commenced. 
Peaches and Nectarines .—Ventilate freely now in the daytime to 
aid the ripening fruit, and a little at night will help to prolong the 
succession. No artificial heat will be necessary except in very dull 
wet wsather. Trees from which the fruit has been gathered should 
have plentiful supplies of water, and the foliage being kept clean by 
frequent syringing and the application of an insecticide if necessary^ 
as it is important that the foliage be healthy as long as possible. 
The bearing shoots of the current year should be cut away so as to 
give those retained for next season’s fruiting the full benefit of the 
ripening influences of sun and air. In succession houses tying in 
the shoots and syringing the trees twice a day in favourable weather 
must be attended to. As warmer weather is now commencing water¬ 
ing inside borders must have attention, as on no account must these 
be allowed'to become dry. Outside borders should have similar 
attention. In the latest houses mildew sometimes appears and must 
be subdued by using flowers of sulphur. When white specks are 
seen on the young fruit some of the sulphur must be rubbed on them 
and the foliage dusted with it. 
Figs .—Attend to former directions concerning houses in which the 
fruit is ripening, which should be continued until the present crop 
of fruit is fully perfected. When the fruit is gathered it will be 
necessary to gradually produce a more genial condition of the atmo¬ 
sphere in the house, whereby the satisfactory advancement of the 
second crop of Figs may be accelerated. Syringe the trees twice 
daily, and sprinkle the paths as advised before the colouring of 
the fruit commenced, and if not already done mulch the border 
and thoroughly water if needful. Attend to stopping, tying, and 
regulating the growths, not suffering the latter to be overcrowded. 
About this time thinning the second crop of Figs should be effected ; 
unless the trees be very robust it should not be done sparingly, 
as too heavy a crop is not only exhausting to the tree, but the 
individual fruits are inferior in size and flavour. Later crops will 
now be rapidly approaching maturity. As soon as the colouring of 
the fruit commences apply the treatment which has been already 
