,270 
April 13, 1894. 
JOURNAL 
OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE 
CARDEN El 
■) 
other unpleasant subjects, hid from view. But it cannot be. It is part 
of a man’s character, and as such permeates his work. 
Spades that are bright do the best work, and the worker derives a 
pleasure from it, where others find but drudgery. To such a workman 
some protection should be given. The untidy workman is often a free 
trader, who does not scruple to appropriate each morning the tool 
cleaned by his compatriot the previous night. He does not possess nor 
understand those finer feelings tending to the dignity of labour. A 
simple system can reduce chaos to order; encourage the tidy workman, 
and by the spirit of emulation persuade the other into good habits 
benefiting all. la the tool house of a well-kept Gloucestershire garden 
we of the potting shed, off which it opened, would note one spade 
shining like silver; look at it we might, but touch it. No! “Thuck 
spaade” was old Edmund’s, who, after bell ringing, did not grudge the 
time spent in grooming it with silver sand, and rubbing it dry. 
There is a term used in Ireland, which I think is peculiar to the 
country—viz., “heart-scalding,” denoting the ultra stage of “vexation 
of the spirit.” With a large staff of workmen I was tor some time 
just “heart-scalded” in trying to inculcate a system of order in the 
tool shed. By a simple arrangement the enigma w^s solved; Nobody, 
that mysterious delinquent, who could not be caught, was banished for 
good and all. For the kitchen garden was appointed ten distinct sets 
of tools—spade, digging fork, rake, draw hoe, and two Dutch hoes, 
small and large. To the back wall of the tool house, running the 
entire length, was fixed two 4-inch laths, one near the roof, the other 
parallel to it, but midway up the wall ; these were painted black. The 
wall was then spaced off into ten compartments, conspicuously marked 
on the laths with white paint. Each division was numbered con¬ 
secutively from one to ten, with the figures boldly painted on the lower 
latlis, on which two hooks held the spade and fork ; hooks on the top 
lath held the long-handled tools. Each set of tools, besides the usual 
initial branding, was branded back and front with its number, that 
whichever way they hung “ he who ran might read,” and a bo ird with 
the workman’s name and number on his tools gave the key to the plan. 
These were, of course, the tools in general and almost daily use. For 
those not included in this category, and only occasionally required, each 
end of the shed was devoted, and to the latter, not so amenable to 
control, I gave my special protection. The pleasure ground department 
had its own house and suitable tools. 
Bearing in mind that little weakness of humanity pervading each 
and all of us—the desire for the best of this world’s goods—care was 
taken in the new departure that the men started alike. All tools 
were of the one pattern, and best quality. The handles while clean 
were given a coat of hard carriage varnish, which kept them so, and 
added not a little to the smart appearance of my model tool-house, 
though I have the misfortune to act as my own trumpeter. I was 
proud of it; the men shared the feeling, and visitors when escorted 
through the gardens by members of the family were invariably intro¬ 
duced to it. Did the system work well ? Yes, there may at first have 
been some little persuasion of the vigorous kind, but the spirit of rivalry, 
which is seldom an evil one, came into the tool-house, and all went 
happy ever after. I will not say that from the inauguration no further 
attention was needed. Wear and tear are ever going on. Wear is 
honest decay ; tear, or rather breakage, not always so ; but this was 
reduced to a minimum. I took care that any mishap to the owner of 
the small property was at once rectified, and the broken tool replaced 
from a store kept for emergencies. 
A young man who was then serving his time with me has since been 
happily placed at the head of a large gardening establishment, in which 
he has adopted this plan ; and it has given to him the satisfaction it 
then gave to me. I hope these few remarks may convey some ideas on 
the subject of an orderly tool-house to a beginner who probably finds 
in this part of his charge there is room for improvement. If so it 
will afford me the gratification received from mv old pupil that “ imita¬ 
tion is the sincerest form of flattery.”—E. K., Dublin. 
ZIONAL PELARGONIUMS FOR WINTER FLOWERING. 
Taking- into consideration the diflSculty experienced by many 
gai-deners in maintaining a supply of cut flowers throughout the 
winter, it is really astonishing how little attention is given to the 
preparation of Zonal Pelargoniums for this purpose. The method here 
advanced is the result of long practice with these plants, and success 
may confidently be reckoned on by all who adopt it. A good start is 
essential, and care should be bestowed on the selection of cuttings. No 
better time could be chosen than the present for their insertion, as this 
provides them with a long season in which to complete and perfect their 
growth. The cuttings should be taken from the strongest shoots, which 
have previously been hardened. If sufiicient space can be spared these 
cuttings should be placed singly in 3-inch pots, using a compost two 
parts loam, one leaf soil, and one sand, a coating of the latter being 
placed upon the surface of the soil, so that when the hole is made for 
the reception of the cutting the bottom will be covered with sand on 
which it may rest. If placed in a house where a temperature of 60"^ to 
G5° is maintained roots wi 1 soon be formed. 
^^hen the cuttings are rooted remove the point from each one, which 
will induce the formation of bushy plants, as Zonal Pelargoniums 
should never be stopped at a joint that has produced a flower, for in 
almost every instance this will fail to give a break, and at the same 
time leave an unsightly stump of barren growth. After the plants 
have commenced to make side growths remove them to quarters where a 
free circulation of air is obtainable, and a temnerature of 60° to 55°. 
Here they may remain until it is time to give the final potting ; but if 
during the interval a slight sprinkling of chemical manure be occasion¬ 
ally applied the plants will greatly benefit therefrom. The time of 
potting will in a great measure depend upon the weather. Should this 
be favourable the first or second week in June, the operation must not 
longer be delayed. Six-inch pots are the best, these affording ample 
space for all requirements. Drainage must be efficient, and made secure 
by a slight covering of moss, leaves, or the rougher portion of the 
compost. The soil for the final potting should consist of good fibrous 
loam, broken with the hand, and not sifted three parts, half-decayed 
horse droppings one part, a good sprinkling of rough leaf mould, and 
sufficient coarse sand to render the whole porous. 
When potting the plants do not place them too deeply in the pots or 
make the soil too firm about them. After this operation has been 
performed they should at once be placed in the quarters provided for 
their occupation during the summer. Low frames on which the lights 
can be put if the weather should be inclement provide ideal summer 
quarters for these plants. A laver of ashes in the frames and pieces 
of slate or other material on which to stand each pot will complete the 
arrangement. Throughout the summer the treatment needed is very 
simple, for besides judicious watering, stopping an occasional strong 
growth, and pinching out the flower buds as soon as they appear, there 
is nothing else needed. At intervals a slight sprinkling of chemical 
manure will be beneficial. 
As regards a selection of varieties, no difficulty need be experienced 
on this point, as any may be chosen from good catalogues. With the 
housing of these plants, which should not be delayed beyond the 
beginning of October, their preparation finishes, and the present is 
scarcely a fit time to go into the treatment required throughout the 
flowering period and after. Such advice is best left until a nearer 
approach of the time requiring it, when the writer hopes to have the 
pleasure of taking up the now dropped thread, and carrying it forward 
to complete the cycle.— Sassenach. 
BLOSSOMING TIME. 
Judged from the amount of b'ossom and buds upon the trees the 
prospect of a plentiful fruit crop during the present yearis a hopeful one. 
The only exception appears to be Apples. These are most variable ; even 
with the same variety there is a great difference in the amount of 
blossom buds which trees of one sort are carrying in different parts of 
the garden and under various conditions. For instance, large trees of 
Cox’s Orange Pippin that bore profusely last year have but a few 
blossom buds visible now, while small trees that also bore full crops of 
fruit last season are again well set with fruit buds. 
No doubt the restricted rainfall of last year had an injurious effect 
upon heavily laden trees, rendering them incapable of stoiing up 
sufficient nutriment for the formation of a full crop of bloom buds. If 
such be the case, then it only shows the necessity of thinning the fruit 
with a view to securing annual crops of good quality. Amongst the 
generally free-fruiting kinds the following sorts are remarkable for the 
thinness of flower buds:—Betty Geeson, Lane’s Prince Albert, Grenadier, 
Lady Sudeley, Annie Elizabeth, Benoni, Sandringham, Maltster, Lady 
Hmniker, Bramley’s Seedling, and young trees of Warner’s King. 
Those promising a full display of blossom are Calville Malingre, Buck¬ 
ingham, Sultan, Stirling Castle, Lord Suffield, Keswick Codlin, 
Worcester Pearmain, Golden Spire, Bismarck, Hollandbury, Cox’s 
Pomona, Northern Dumpline, Beauty of Kent, and Domino. Warner’s 
King is just the reverse of Cox’s Orange Pippin ; while small trees of the 
former are conspicuous by the absence of bloom, trees fifteen years old 
are well studded with flower buds, although both kinds of trees carried 
full crops of fruit last year. 
Pears appear to be remarkably well prepared to give a full fruit 
crop. The blossom, too, is opening freely, and is individually of large 
size, which testifies to the vigour of the trees. Such varieties as Glou 
Mor^eau, Jargonelle, Marie Guisse, Winrer Nelis, Josephine de Malines, 
Mar6chal de Cour, Duchesse d’Angouigme, and Louise Bonne de Jersey 
grown as cordons are of extra promise In the open trees of the 
following varieties are well laden with blossom—Williams’ Bon Chretien, 
Beurr6 Clairgeau, Marechal de Cour, and Thompson’s. 
Plums in the open promise remarkably well, while wall trees that 
gave extra heavy crops of fruit last year are in most cases thinly 
studded with blossom. A notable instance of this occurs in the case of 
Coe’s Golden Drop, Orleans, and Victoria, all of which are regarded as 
being sure croppers. Those that promise well are Green Gage, Jefferson, 
Washington, and Magnum Bonum. Cherries of all sorts are all that 
could be desired. 
Bush fruit of all kinds show extra well for a grand display. 
Gooreb Tries I have never seen more promising. In the absence of frost 
just at a critical moment I should say that the prospect of the fruit 
crop 01 1894 is most reassuring.—E. Molyneux. 
The fruit trees here opened their buds wonderfully early. The 
Apricots were in full bloom by February 20ih. and there is a fair set of 
fruit. We commenced to protect Peach trees with canvas on the 
28th of February. There were a few slight frosts during the time they 
were in bloom, but no harm has been done ; ihe fruits are now about 
the size of Peas. Magnum Bonum, Eivers’ Early Prolific, Kirks’ 
