THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, September 20, 1859. 303 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
Day i Day 
of of 
M’nth Week. 
SEPTEMBER 20—26, 1859. 
Weather near Loni 
Barometer. Thermom. 
>on IN 1858. 
w . . Rain in 
Wmd - Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
Rises 
and Sets 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
aftcrSun 
Day of 
Year. 
20 
Tu 
Erica concinna. 
30.174—29.616 
67—50 
N. 
_ 
44 af 5 
3 af 6 
19 10 
23 
(I 
30 
263 
21 
W 
Ember Week. St. Matthew. 
30.184—29.914 
69—57 
E. 
— 
45 
5 
1 6 
44 11 
24 
6 
51 
264 
22 
Th 
Sun’s declin. 0° 25' n. 
29.787—29.631 
1 71—47 
E. 
.26 
47 
5 
V 
morn. 
25 
7 
12 
265 
23 
F 
Fourcroya gigantea. 
29.742-30.597 
71-42 
S.E. 
— 
49 
5 
56 5 
12 1 
26 
7 
33 
266 
24 
S 
Freziera thaeoides. 
30.429—30.046 
1 66—34 
W. 
— 
50 
5 
54 5 
44 2 
27 
7 
53 
267 
25 
Sun 
14 Sunday after Trinity. 
30.508—30.400 
68—38 
W. 
— 
52 
5 
52 5 
14 4 
28 
8 
14 
268 
26 
M 
Heylockia pusilla. 
30.447—30.314 
71—52 
N.E. 
— 
53 
5 
50 5 
sets 
© 
8 
34 
269 
Meteoroiooy op the “Week. —At Chiswick, from observations during the last thirty-two years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are G4.2 0 and 44.6°, respectively. The greatest heat, 79°, occurred on the 29th, in 1832 ; and the lowest cold, 24°, 
on the 27th, in 1828. During the period 112 days were fine, and on 112 rain fell. 
IN-DOOR GARDENING OPERATIONS EOR 
THE WEEK. 
GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 
American Plants. — If a rich display of bloom is 
desired in early spring, the plants should be notv potted 
in rather small pots, to be plunged in the warmest part 
of the garden, and introduced to the forcing-house from 
November until February, as they may be required. 
The most suitable for such a purpose are the Azaleas of 
the nudijlora class with various hybrids, Andromeda 
jpulverulenta, Daphne cneorum, Kalmias, of sorts, Ledum 
latifolium and Ij. thymifolium , Polygala Chamcebuxus, 
Rhododendrons, and Khodova Canadense. 
STOVE AND ORCHID-HOUSE. 
Stove plants cannot be too cautiously watered late in 
the autumn. Nothing is now wanted but to keep the 
soil from getting quite dry. Slight fires to be made in 
the forenoons of dull and rainy days, not so much for the 
purpose of raising the temperature as for drying the 
house. Air to be given at all favourable opportunities, 
to maintain a healthy atmosphere. Several of the 
Orchids — viz., Aerides, Dendrobiums, Saccolabiums, 
Vandas, &c., may be encouraged by the application of a 
high temperature, with much moisture and less shading, 
to make further and sometimes considerable growth. 
Cattleyas. —Young plants may also be encouraged to 
grow for some time longer; but older specimens should 
be reduced to a comparatively dormant state by a gradual 
diminution in the supply of water, and a decrease in 
temperature, with less shading. 
Stanhopeas. —To be treated as advised for Cattleyas. 
FORCING-HOUSES. 
Cherries. —Whether they are in pots or in borders, 
and have arrived at, or are only approaching, a compa- 
tively dormant state when but little attention will be 
necessary, still that little will be required to keep them 
clear of insects and of the leaves as they become suf¬ 
ficiently ripe, when they come readily off with a touch. 
The old surface of the soil of those grown in pots to be 
removed, and the same quantity of fresh, in a rough state, 
put in its place. Remove them without further delay, if 
not already done, as advised in the early part of the 
month, to the north side of a wall or hedge until wanted ; 
or if not wanted until a sharp frost sets in, they should 
be protected from its icy grasp. 
Figs. — Trees in pots to be treated as advised for 
Cherries. 
Melons. —Although the weather has been favourable 
for ripening the late fruit, as the display at the Crystal 
Palace lately proved, they may in some places still re¬ 
quire the assistance of a good top and bottom heat, and 
a large portion of air in the middle of the day. 
Peaches. —Trees in pots to be pruned, and treated as 
recommended for Cherries. No time should be lost if 
fresh trees are to be planted in the place of any that may 
be worn out. The choice should be made of young trees 
that are in a bearing state, and all the better if they had 
No. 573.— Vol. XXII. No. 25. 
been moved last autumn. In pruning the trees, after 
the leaves have dropped, be sure not to leave them too 
crowded; but if the summer pruning, as frequently ad¬ 
vised, have been properly done, but very little, if any, will 
be required now. 
Pines. —Persevere in former directions as to general 
routine management as long as the present fine weather 
continues, when air may be given liberally; and to shut 
up earlier in the afternoon to secure as much sun heat as 
possible. Plants swelling their fruit to be assisted with 
a brisk temperature, both at top and bottom, from 65° to 
70° at night, allowing it to rise to 80° on sunny days with 
a steady bottom heat of about 80°. When watering is 
necessary let it be given in sufficient quantity to moisten 
the whole of the soil. 
Vines. —The early house, or the first lot of Vines in 
pots, if it is intended to start them in November or De¬ 
cember, to be pruned, that sufficient time may be allowed 
to heal up the wounds, and the buds to become more 
plump and prominent. The border of the early house to 
be thatched with straw, or covered with any other such 
material, to protect it from heavy rains. It is also ad¬ 
visable in some situations to cover the borders of the 
houses in which it is intended to keep Grapes late, to 
prevent the soil getting saturated about the roots. Con¬ 
tinue to look over ripe fruit, cutting out the mouldy or 
tainted berries ; applying gentle fires only when necessary 
to expel damps, with a free circulation of air—as a warm, 
close atmosphere is as injurious as damp. 
William Keane. 
KEW GARDENS AT THE END OF AUGUST. 
The flower gardens at Kew were the great social 
question round London all this summer; they were in 
everybody’s mouth, and Parliament at last yielded to the 
old adage, that “what everybody says must be true,” 
and granted thirty thousand pounds sterling for the 
authorities at Kew to spend in such a way as to keep 
the Gardens up to their character of “ the best gardens 
in England, or in all Europe.” 
A magnificent conservatory for half-hardy plants in 
winter, and for drawing-room plants in summer, was then 
staked out on the right-hand side as you go from the 
great Palm-house to the Chinese Pagoda, perhaps half 
way between the two. It is to be, goodness knows what, 
but the intention is to have a grand body and two wings. 
The body is to be so large that it will hold all the half- 
hardy specimens now in the Garden in want of room and 
better lodgings, and the wings will be added as occasion 
for them comes round. Ail this I had from Sir W. 
Hooker himself. I had the luck to meet him and Mr. 
Smith, the head curator, in the middle of the Garden. I 
have known both of them for the last quarter of a cen¬ 
tury, but I never knew either of them to look better than 
they did that day. As to being in good humour, why 
every gardener in the three kingdoms must be in good 
humour at the good news of the “ grant ” to Kew, to 
second and crown the exertions of these two heads for 
