July  8,  18&7i 
JOtJWAL  OF  tlORTtCtiLTUttE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
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is  a  good  one,  and  the  best  that  can  be  followed  now.  If  the  ground  to 
be  devoted  to  this  crop  is  poor  dig  in  manure  freely,  making  the  soil  firm 
and  fine  at  once.  Drills  to  be  drawn  15  inches  apart,  and  watered,  il! 
dry,  prior  to  sowing  the  seed  thinly.  Eventually  thin  out  the  plants  to 
6  inches  or  even  less  apart,  and  the  result  will  be  a  heavy  supply  of  neat 
hearts  of  excellent  quality,  because  quickly  grown. 
Xioeks. — These  are  among  the  most  reliable  of  all  winter  vegetables, 
and  are  proverbially  hardy.  They  can  be  grown  cheaply  and  simply  on 
well  manured,  deeply  dag  borders.  Supposing  the  plants  were  raised  in 
the  open  they  ought  now  to  be  10  inches  or  more  high,  and  quite  large 
enough  to  put  out.  Give  the  ground  about  them  a  good  soaking  oi' 
water  to  facilitate  drawing  them  without  breaking  the  roots  unduly,  and 
after  they  are  drawn  lightly  shorten  the  tops.  Holes  8  or  9  inches  deep, 
IJ  inch  across,  and  12  inches  apart  each  way  to  be  formed  with  an 
ordin«ry  stout  dibble,  and  a  plant  dropped  in  each.  The  holes  not  to  be 
closed,  and  a  watering  will  fix  the  roots.  All  that  is  further  needed  is 
to  water  once  more  if  the  weather  keep  very  hot  and  dry,  and  to  keep 
the  surface  free  of  weeds.  No  moulding  up  to  blanch  the  stems  is 
necessary  in  this  case. 
Endive. — In  order  to  have  extra  fine,  moderately  early  Endive, 
seed  ought  to  be  sown  either  late  in  June  or  during  the  first  fortnight 
in  July.  The  plants  do  not  move  well  in  hot,  dry  weather,  and  in 
common  with  Lettuce  the  seed  may  well  be  sown  where  most  of  the 
plants  are  to  develop.  As  it  happens,  there  are  few  vacant  plots  of 
ground  in  most  gardens  at  this  time  of  year,  and  the  Endive  has  to  be 
raised  in  beds  accordingly.  If  the  seed  is  sown  thinly  in  shallow  drills 
6  inches  to  8  inches  apart,  and  a  portion  of  the  plants  resulting  are 
planted  out  when  large  euongh,  the  rest  may  be  left  where  they  are. 
Being  somewhat  thick,  they  will  press  against  each  other  and  close  up, 
an  excellent  supply  of  early,  well-blanched  hearts  resulting. 
Tomatoes.  —  Those  planted  out  against  walls  and  in  sunny 
positions  generally  have  made  good  progress,  and  most  probably  will 
continue  to  do  so,  provided  they  are  not  neglected  in  any  way. 
Unless  extra  leading  growths  are  wanted  for  furnishing  blank  spaces, 
all  but  the  most  central  shoot  should  be  early  cut  or  pinched  out,  and 
the  requisite  training  be  done  before  the  plants  becoaie  set  crooked. 
Early  Ruby  and  a  few  other  varieties  are  apt  to  form  coarse  central 
fiowers,  and  these  if  retained  are  invariably  followed  by  rough  ugly 
fruit.  Pinch  them  out  as  soon  as  this  can  be  done  safely,  and  this  will 
greatly  benefit  the  smaller  later  fiowers,  adding  considerably  to  the 
value  of  the  crop.  A  good  soaking  of  water  once  a  week  will  not  be 
wasted  on  the  plants  in_  hot,  dry  weather,  and  a  mulching  of  strawy 
manure  will  also  do  good. 
Turnips.— Early  in  July  is  a  good  time  to  sow  Turnip  seed  in 
quantity.  In  some  seasons  ani  gardens  it  not  unfrequently  happens 
that  this  sowing  results  in  the  production  of  the  most  serviceable  supply 
of  rcots  for  the  winter,  especially  where  the  value  of  the  Chirk  Castle 
Blackstone  is  realised.  A  cool  site  is  desirable,  and  the  ground  well 
prepared,  good  Turnips  seldom  being  had  from  poor  soil.  Open  drills 
16  inches  apart,  water  if  dry,  and  sow  the  seed  thinly. 
PLANT  HOUSES. 
Crotons, — Pot  all  free-growing  plants  that  are  well  furnished  at  the 
base  into  7  and  8-inch  pots,  or  even  into  larger  if  plants  in  these  sizes 
can  be  employed  for  furnishing.  Plants  that  have  become  too  tall  may 
have  their  heads  re-rooted,  so  that  well  coloured  side  shoots  will  be  pro¬ 
duced  for  rooting  later  in  the  season.  Where  quantities  of  decorative 
plants  with  ornamental  foliage  are  needed  in  rooms  during  the  winter 
months  too  many  Crotons  ih  various  sizes  cannot  well  be  produced.  We 
have  always  a  good  stock  of  highly  coloured  plants  in  2  and  3-inch  pots, 
which  are  most  useful  for  association  with  Ferns,  Mosses,  and  other 
dwarf-growing  plants.  Do  not  shade  the  plants,  but  expose  them  fully 
to  the  sun,  so  that  their  rich  colours  can  be  developed.  Syringe  them 
li Derally,  and  close  the  house  early  in  the  afternoon.  Give  a  little 
artificial  manure  to  the  surface  of  those  that  it  is  necessary  to  keep  in 
certain  sizes  when  they  are  full  of  roots, 
Dracaenas. — Where  plants  are  becoming  too  large  and  have  lost 
their  lower  leaves  the  stems  may  be  cut  and  mossed.  In  a  close  moist 
atmosphere  they  throw  out  roots  quickly,  and  may  be  taken  oil  with 
good  balls,  and  placed  at  once  in  6  and  7-inch  pots,  according  to  the 
variety.  If  placed  in  the  shade  for  a  fortnight  well-furnished  plants 
are  again  produced.  Where  narrow  leaved  kinds  are  appreciated 
for  table  decoration  superba  is  one  of  the  best.  To  have  really  good 
plants  those  raised  from  portions  of  the  stem  need  to  be  grown  strongly 
and  the  top  re-rooted  before  plants  can  be  had  in  the  r  best  condition. 
The  same  remark  applies  to  Guilfoylei,  and  when  well  grown  it  is  a  very 
handsome  table  plant.  To  colour  these  plants  highly  they  must  be 
exposed  to  plenty  of  light,  but  this  mutt  not  be  overdone,  or  their 
foliage  becomes  too  highly  coloured,  and  is  liable  to  go  bad  at  the  points. 
Young  stock  raised  from  ponions  of  stem  this  spring  and  well  established 
in  3  and  4-inch  pots  should  be  placed  into  larger  ones.  It  is  a  great 
mistake  to  allow  plants  that  it  is  intended  to  grow  on  to  become  root- 
bound  before  they  are  repotted.  Plants  checked  by  this  cause  seldom 
do  any  good  afterwards.  These  plants  need  careful  watering  for  a  time 
after  potting  until  they  are  rooting  freely  in  the  new  soil.  The  same 
treatment  should  be  given  to  green  varieties  that  can  be  grown  in  a 
lower  temperature  ;  but  if  well-developed  plants  are  needed  as  soon  as 
possible  they  may  be  grown  in  heat  during  their  early  stages,  or  until 
they  are  large  enough  for  the  purpose  for  which  they  are  required. 
Dracsenas  do  well  in  equal  parts  of  fibry  loam  and  leaf  mould,  with  one- 
seventh  of  manure  and  a  liberal  quantity  of  coarse  sand.  Peat  may  be 
substituted  for  the  leaf  mould  if  plentiful. 
Allamandas, — Plants  growing  in  pots  will  have  filled  them  with 
roots  by  this  time.  If  they  are  to  continue  producing  the  largest  size 
fiowers  a  liberal  top-dressing  of  manure  must  be  t^iven  them,  the  roots 
will  soon  take  full  possession  of  it.  Liquid  manure  may  also  be  given 
iu  a  weak  state  every  time  the  plants  need  water.  Do  not  allow  them 
to  become  dry  ;  the  object  should  be  to  keep  them  growing,  then  they 
will  continue  to  fiower.  Do  not  shade  the  plants,  but  grow  them  fully 
exposed  to  the  sun.  The  reason  these  plants  make  vigorous  growth,  and 
often  fail  to  fiower  profusely,  is  due  to  overshading. 
Stephanotls  florlbunda. — Plants  that  have  been  trained  upon 
trellises  and  have  done  fiowering  should  be  taken  ofi  and  cleaned.  If 
they  are  to  fiower  well  another  year  train  the  growths  under  the  roof  of 
a  light  house,  where  they  will  be  fully  exposed  to  the  sun,  and  where  air 
can  be  given  freely  until  September.  In  this  position  the  wood  will 
become  thoroughly  ripened,  and  the  plants  will  fiower  well  another 
year.  If  kept  closely  trained  upon  trellises  the  whole  season  the  wood 
has  but  a  poor  chance  of  being  well  ripened.  Plants  that  are  growing 
freely  may  have  weak  stimulants  every  time  water  is  needed  if  the  pots 
in  which  they  are  growing  are  full  of  roots.  If  mealy  bug  exists  upon 
the  plants  syringe  them  occasionally  with  petroleum  and  water,  3  ozs.  of 
oil  to  4  gallons  of  water.  Shade  for  a  few  days  afterwards  until  the  oil 
has  been  evaporated. 
Clerodendron  fallax. — Plants  raised  from  seed  and  well-estab¬ 
lished  in  small  pots  may  be  placed  into  6  and  6-inch.  Once  they  are 
fairly  established  in  these  pots  and  have  been  gradually  hardened  they 
will  do  in  cold  frames,  provided  they  are  kept  close  and  closed  early  in 
the  afternoon,  so  as  to  run  up  the  temperature. 
Asparagus  plumosus. — Young  plants  raised  from  cuttings  and 
well  established  in  thumbs  may  be  placed  into  4-inch  pots.  In  this  size 
they  will  make  bushy  little  plants.  Thore  in  4-iach  pots  may  be  placed 
into  6-inch.  This  variety  in  small  pots  is  very  useful  for  decoration, 
especially  for  grouping  with  other  plants  in  large  conservatories. 
Flttonlas. — A  good  stock  of  these  may  be  raised  in  small  pots. 
They  are  useful  during  the  winter.  When  once  they  are  rooted  they 
will  grow  freely  under  the  shade  of  Crotons,  Dracaenas,  and  other  plants 
where  it  is  warm  and  moist. 
Panlcum  varlegatum. — Weil  furnished  plants  in  4  and  5-inch  pots 
are  always  useful  where  furnishing  is  carried  out  on  a  large  scale.  A 
number  of  pots  should  be  made  up  at  once  by  inserting  cuttings  thickly 
into  the  sizes  required.  They  root  readily  in  any  warm,  moist,  shady 
place. 
HUM  ^  i;i  -  -'J  1  1,T>  i .  1  .  1 W  1  >  1  >  1 .  Il  1  .-m  1\  -  r.Tj  f  - 1  i  i.» u-r.  r-irri.  frr  « 
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IHE  BEE-KEEPER,iS 
Work  in  the  Apiary. 
All  will  now  be  life  and  bustle  in  the  apiary.  The  weather, 
unfortunately,  has  not  been  altogether  favourable  for  honey  pro¬ 
duction,  as  only  one  really  bright  day  has  been  chronicled  since 
my  last  notes  There  have  been  several  days  when  the  sun  shone 
out  brightly  for  an  hour  or  two,  then  it  became  cloudy  for  the 
remainder  of  the  day.  There  have  been  heavy  thunder  showers 
at  intervals,  which,  although  beneficial  to  the  growing  crops, 
prevent  the  bees  from  storing  a  large  surplus. 
It  is  interesting  to  observe  bees  on  the  first  sound  of  distant 
thunder— how  they  hurry  home ;  sometimes  the  air  is  quite 
darkened  by  masses  of  bees  anxious  to  reach  their  hives  before  the 
storm  comes.  Many  are  lost  when  heavy  showers  come  on  without 
much  warning,  being  beaten  down  and  unable  to  rise  again  with 
their  load.  If  the  storm  is  of  short  duration,  and  the  sun  shines 
brightly  afterwards,  some  will  be  able  to  dry  themselves  and  rise 
on  the  wing  again,  and  be  little  the  worse  for  their  drenching. 
It  is  surprising  the  amount  of  work  a  strong  colony  of  bees  will 
do  during  a  few  hours  of  bright  sunshine  at  this  season,  and  I  find 
that  the  stronger  the  colonies  the  harder  the  bees  appear  to  work. 
They  mix  readily  during  the  summer  months  without  sprinkling 
with  either  fiour  or  syrup.  It  will  at  once  be  seen  how  easy  it  is 
to  make  strong  colonies  when  there  are  extra  stocks  from  which 
to  obtain  frames  of  brood  and  bees.  The  present  season  shows 
the  wisdom  of  working  them  on  these  lines,  as  with  a  few  hours’ 
sunshine  a  surplus  will  be  stored  which  may  otherwise  have  been 
wasted,  as  weak  stocks  would  be  unable  to  collect  it  in  the  time. 
Removinh  Sections. 
It  is  advisable  when  working  for  comb  honey  in  sections  to 
examine  them  every  two  or  three  days.  Although  the  weather  may 
be  dull  for  a  few  days  after  a  spell  of  fine  weather,  work  will  be 
still  going  ahead  in  the  hive.  This  is  more  apparent  in  a  stock 
that  is  being  worked  for  comb  honey  than  for  extracting  purposes. 
When  the  honey  is  first  collected  from  the  flowers  it  is  not  all 
stored  at  once  in  the  supers,  but  is  placed  in  empty  cells  wherever 
found.  During  the  night  or  dull  days  it  is  removed  into  the 
supers,  and  when  properly  ripened  is  in  due  course  sealed  over. 
Directly  this  has  taken  place  the  sections  should  be  removed,  or 
the  bees  by  constantly  passing  over  them  will  cause  them  to  become 
