204 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, ,Tttt.y 12, 1859. 
IN-DOOR GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR 
THE WEEK. 
GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 
If any of the stove plants, as lately recommended, 
have been brought into the conservatory, they will re¬ 
quire a free admission of air at every favourable oppor¬ 
tunity to keep the atmosphere of the house dry. The 
plants must be kept clear of decaying leaves and flowers. 
Some judgment is also required in watering recently 
repotted plants, that they may not be injured by satura¬ 
tion in cloudy weather, nor by drought in hot sunny 
days. 
The growth of twiners should be carefully regulated, 
allowing them sufficient freedom to develope their natural 
habits as far as other considerations will permit. 
Continue to shift the hardwooded plants as they re¬ 
quire it. A turfy compost of three-parts sandy heath 
soil of a fibrous and rather lumpy character, and one-part 
loam, will suit the majority. Particular attention should 
be paid to the drainage, more especially to the crock at 
the bottom; for if that is flat, and not hollow, it matters 
but little how much depth of drainage material rests 
upon it, the soil will soon become saturated and sour. 
Remember that the final shift should be given in good 
time to those intended to flower in the autumn. 
Chrysanthemums. —Continue to top the plants that 
have been planted out in the open ground. 
Gardenias. —If any have been removed to the con¬ 
servatory while in bloom they should be returned to heat 
as soon as the bloom is over, to encourage gi’owth and to 
allow them sufficient time to mature their growth. 
Winter Flowers. — The Cinerarias, Chinese Prim¬ 
roses, Heliotropes, Perpetual, Tea, and other Roses, will 
require frequent and diligent attention as to watering, 
shifting, &c. 
STOVE and orchid-house. 
Give immediate and regular attention to the young 
stock of stove plants intended for winter blooming. Keep 
up a moist temperature at all times ; with air during the 
day. When a few days of gloom occur, the humidity 
that sometimes becomes stagnant and injurious should 
be dissipated by a free circulation of air when bright 
weather returns. Keep a free circulation of ah' amongst 
the Orchids by day ; endeavour to supply an abundance 
of atmospheric moisture during the latter part of the day ; 
and dispense with shading as much as possible by using 
it only during a few hours of the hottest part of the day. 
forcing-houses. 
Figs. —Supply with plenty of water the roots of the 
trees that are swelling their second crop ; ply the syringe ! 
frequently amongst the foliage, and sprinkle the paths, 
&c., to keep the atmosphere moist. Shut up early in the 
afternoon. As the fruit of the first crop ripens, curtail 
the supply of atmospheric moisture — otherwise before 
they reach maturity they are apt to turn mouldy. The 
roots to be regularly supplied with water, and some 
liquid manure added about once a week to assist the 
second crop. Keep down red spider by the application 
of sulphur in the manner so frequently advised of late. 
Peaches. —The fruit will be all the more delicious 
for a comparatively cool temperature while ripening. 
Examine the fruit daily, and gather before it is over- 
I’ipe and loses its flavour. 
Pines. —Maintain a good bottom heat, and encourage 
the growth of the advancing crop by kindly humidity 
and allowing them plenty of air and sufficient space from 
plant to plant. Give air, also, freely to the young stock 
in dungpits, to secure strong stocky growth; but a cir¬ 
culation should not be allowed by giving back and front 
air at the same time during hot drying winds. Attend 
to former directions to afford the plants swelling their 
fruit a moist atmosphere by frequent syringings and by 
sprinkling the paths and every other available surface I 
until the limit begins to change colour, when the atmo¬ 
sphere and soil should be kept rather dry, to improve 
the fruit’s flavour. 
Vines. — Keep up a brisk heat to the late Grapes 
during the day, as it is advisable to get them well ripened 
before the season gets too far advanced. By such means 
tl^ey will be of better quality and keep longer than if the 
ripening process be delayed to a later period. Do not 
allow plants in pots to remain in the house to cause damp, 
which, despite every care in ventilating, is apt to settle 
on the berries and spoil them. William Keane. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 
PROPOSED NEW GARDENS AT KENSINGTON. 
One of the most important meetings that has ever taken 
place since its establishment was held by the above Society, 
on Thursday, the £th inst., in the theatre of the Society of 
Arts, Adelphi, to consider a proposition which has emanated, 
we believe, from the Royal Commissioners of the Great Exhi¬ 
bition of 1851, for the construction of a grand horticultural 
garden on a plot of ground in the possession of the Commis¬ 
sioners at the above locality. It will be recollected by our 
readers, that some few months ago, in the spring of the present 
year, it was proposed to erect a building in which to hold another 
Great Exhibition in the year 1801. In consequence of the dis¬ 
ruption of European relations, and the subsequent fearful war 
between two of the great continental powers, which unsettled 
the political balance of so many friendly states, the idea was 
abandoned as being impracticable during the existing condition 
of public affairs. The sweet, heaven-born voice of the Angel of 
Peace was not likely to be heard or attended to amid the fierce 
clamours and thunder-shocks of devastating war. The ground 
upon which it was intended to have repeated the “ IVorld’s- 
Fair ” experiment of 1851 is a plotA>f about twenty acres, tying 
between the Kensington and Brompton roads, and forms a 
portion of the estate which was purchased by the Royal Com¬ 
missioners out of the surplus proceeds of the Great Exhibition, 
and upon part of which the Museum of Science and Art stands. 
As the land was idle, some fertile brain suggested the application 
of it to a grand horticultural summer and winter garden, in the 
very centre of the town residences of the nobility and gentry of 
the land ; and yet within easy access of, and upon terms that 
will admit the poorest working man and his family. It was to 
consider this project that the members of the Horticultural 
Society were assembled on Thursday last, and we regret (whether 
from the shortness of the notice or otherwise) there was such a 
small attendance—by no means commensurate with the import¬ 
ance of the subject; but, as an adjournment has taken place, 
we trust on the next occasion to see the members muster in 
much greater force. 
The walls of the theatre were tastefully decorated with very 
elegant drawings and photographs of almost every variety of 
arcade, terrace, esplanade, and entrance, existing or imaginative, 
so that the Council will have a perfect embarras de recherche 
from which to select a suitable design. But we are anticipating. 
Our readers will be better able to judge for themselves, by the 
peijisal of the lengthened interesting report of the whole pro¬ 
ceedings which we have had prepared by a gentleman specially 
engaged to represent The Cottage Gardener on the occasion. 
The chair was occupied by the Right Hon. the Earl of Ducie, 
and amongst' the noblemen and gentlemen present were his 
Grace the Duke of Leinster, Sir John Ramsden, Sir Peter Pole, 
Dr. Lindley, Mr. R. Hogg, Mr. Dilke, Mr. Cole, Mr. Wilson 
Saunders, Mr. Clmvlwood, Mr. Pownall, Mr. lleywood, Mr. 
Holmes Godson, Mr. H. G. Bohn, Mr. Wrench, Mr. Frederick 
North, Colonel Challoner, Mr. Cox, <fcc. 
In order that those present might have an opportunity of 
fully understanding the question, the Council of the Society 
issued the following report, explanatory of the whole subject, a 
copy of which was placed in the hands of each member who was 
in attendance. 
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL ON THE PROPOSED NEW GARDEN AT ■ 
KENSINGTON GORE. 
“ It is scarcely necessary to recur to the reasons which led 
the Council to the conclusion that it was inexpedient to continue 
the annual exhibitions at Chiswick. Successful and attractive 
as those exhibitions once were, it seemed evident to the Council 
that it would not only he to the pecuniary advantage of the 
