SEPTEMBER. 
207 
become the grandest and most complete 
national botanic garden in the world, and 
the resort of distinguished men of science of 
every country—the resort, too; of multitudes 
who, without any special scientific object, 
are there content to breathe the fresh air of 
the country, and read a lesson from the book 
of Nature in the bright green lawns, the 
shadowing trees, and far-fetched riches of 
tropical lands. How much of a moral as 
well as a material influence may thus have 
been exercised we will not venture to specu¬ 
late ; but, certain it is that Kew has greatly 
assisted in bringing to light the vast and 
hidden resources of our many dependencies 
and in fostering botanical science both at home 
and abroad. The men of the generation pass¬ 
ing away have been but the pioneers of other 
generations and further progress—progressing, 
ever progressing, until the final perfection of 
which man is capable shall be attained. If, 
then, a great man has departed from amongst 
us, let us not despair that another will not 
worthily fill his place ; and, in this instance, 
the sire has left a successor scarcely less re¬ 
nowned than himself in his son Hr. Joseph 
Dalton Hooker, to whose mission in Northern 
India we owe so many valuable introductions. 
CALENDAR OF 
CONSERVATORY AND SHOW-HOUSE. 
This house should be got ready for receiving 
plants by the end of the month. Let any 
repairs which may be requisite for the roof or 
heating apparatus be completed at once, that 
every preparation may be made for arranging 
the pot plants, now standing out, when bad 
weather arrives. Attend to the creepers on the 
roof, which at this season are growing fast, 
and require frequent attention. Avoid for¬ 
mality, and do not overcrowd the roof, to 
obstruct too much light. 
GREENHOUSE. 
Azaleas and Camellias. —Plants out of doors, 
if the weather is stormy and wet, should be 
placed in the house towards the end of the 
month. See to the drainage before housing 
the plants, and let the pots be washed and the 
surface soil loosened, adding a little fresh com¬ 
post, to give a neat appearance. Where the 
buds of Camellias are set too thickly, they 
should be thinned out, having regard to the 
strength of the plants. Cinerarias. —Those 
that have been struck early will now require 
every attention. Pot off into small pots, say 
small 60’s, using a nice turfy loam, with an 
admixture of well-decomposed manure and 
leaf-mould, a little silver sand being necessary 
to drain the soil. Shift into a size larger pot 
such seedlings as are ready, and prick off the 
second crop ; as soon as established, give all 
the air possible, to preyent mildew. Select 
from the first-struck plants for specimens; 
take care that these have good strong stems, 
as they will require stopping in due season. 
Shift into larger pots as soon as they reach 
the outside of the pots. When about 3 or 
4 inches long, pinch out their centres, and as 
soon as broken sufficiently, pot deep into 
flowering-pots. Fumigate occasionally, to 
prevent the green fly, and sulphur whenever 
mildew makes its appearance. Hardwooded 
Plants. —Heaths, Epacrises. and New Holland 
plants are very impatient of too much wet, 
and therefore should heavy rains occur, some 
means of protecting them should be resorted 
to, such as by making a slight frame of wood 
OPERATIONS. 
over them, on which to throw some waterproof 
materials during heavy rains. These plants 
grow much more freely out, from July to the 
commencement of October, if protected as 
described. From this season, we should prefer 
their having the full sun, and to be placed 
sufficiently wide apart for the plants to grow 
equally on all sides. Use sulphur over parts 
infested with mildew, and see that worms do 
not gain admittance into the pots. Pelar¬ 
goniums—All will have been shaken out by 
this time; if not, it should be no longer delayed. 
Those first done for May blooming will have 
filled their pots with roots, and should receive 
their final repotting towards the end of the 
month. The following will be found a very 
valuable composition :—Two-thirds maiden 
loam, and one-third sheep or deer dung, all 
well decomposed; a little silver sand, to assist 
in keeping it porous. Let the pots be well 
drained, to allow the water to pass freely. 
The first-struck cuttings should be stopped to 
make strong bushy plants, and the young stock 
in general will require much care and atten¬ 
tion. Let all plants be well housed and kept 
warm and dry. Give plenty of air while the 
weather remains open. Geraniums, to flower 
well, should make their principal growth 
before Christmas. Seedlings should "be re¬ 
potted. 
PORCING. 
Cucumbers .—Attend to last directions. The 
best road to success in growing winter Cu¬ 
cumbers is to get the plants sown early and 
kept hardy by a cool temperature and abun¬ 
dance of light. When the plants have good 
foliage and a hardy constitution, they with¬ 
stand the attacks of mildew and other diseases 
much better than weakly overforced plants, 
and will produce fruit through the dark days 
of winter much better. Plants in dung frames, 
exhausted by long bearing, may be well cut in, 
and 6 inches of fresh compost spread over the 
roots. The renewal of the linings will also 
give a stimulus to the roots, and induce a fresh 
growth, which will keep the plants in bearing 
j for some time to come. Peach-house .—Remove 
