1" < ^-^iWF .— '. ♦-" UMASS/AMHERST 312066 0333 3107 4 1^4 * *^ **'♦ k.*-* '':?Ki "■i**^ * 'J • '^L^J ■ngtegr« It Mfe'Etif^ai ■ r ^ IBK,- ■ F ^1^ .M V^'^Vb^ f .: ¥ 'v*^ %A ^Sr J .4fc-. - ■- «■- - - - " ^.-^i-- 'wrj^ 4. r* :.-^' ■i/h"^'^ LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE No._jb_(ais_Q DATE..(:^-r_L^J5JI_ SOURCE.:) -.Ili-Vy^T-reB.cb.-.. J6£65 This book may be kept out TWO WEEKS only, and is subject to a fine of TWO CENTS a day thereafter. It will be due on the day indicated below. • • I 11/ ■■' ^-i- v^c>-U THE JOURNAL OF HORTIOLILTUUE. # COTTAGE GAEDENEE, AXD COUNTRY aENTLEM^N^. A MAGAZINE OF GATiDENING, RURAL AND DOMl'lSTTC ECONOMY, BOTANY AND NATURAL HISTORY. CONDUCTED EY GEORGE W. JOHNSON, E.R.H.S., and PtOBERT HOGG, LL.D. TV ii ■.. ;...,. KITCHEN GARDENS, by Mr. J. Kjbson, Gardener to Viscount Holmesdale, M.P., Linton Park; and Mr. T, Weaver, Gardener to th,e Warden of Winchester College. THE FLOWER GARDEN, by Mr. D. Thomson, Archerfield Gardens; and Mr. G. Abbey, Stansty Hall. STOVE, GREENHOUSE, AND WINDOW GARDEN, by Mr. R. Fish, Gardener to Colonel Sowerby, Putteridge Bury, near Luton. J i iU t'LORISTS' FLOWJiKS AND FLOKICULTUUE, by the llev. H. H. Dombrain. GARDENING CALENDAR, by Mr. William Koane. POULTRY-KEEPING, I y Mr. J. Baity, Kev. W. W. Wing- field, E.Hewitt, Esq., and ether well-linown contributors. BEE-KEEPING, by H. Tivlor, Esq. ; T. \V. Woodbury, Esq. ; " B. & \V. ; " and Mr. S. Bevan Fox. HOUSEHOLD .\RTS, by the .Uithorcss of " My Flowcrsi," and others. .u..'. -■^' \ ■■■' - VOXiIJSlE 'viCTirE-W SER,IES. VOL. XXXI., OLD SERIES. LONDON: PUBLISHED POR THE PROPRIETORS, 171, FLEET STREET. 18 64. ■ c JaZ65 LONDON: FEINTED AT THE JOURNAL OF HOETICTJLTUEE OFFICE, 171, Fleet Stkeet. JJBRARY U DIVERSITY OF j MASMJSETTS L '^MHERSUMSS. ^AS^ ^^C '^l •^<;,' TO OUR READERS. "You are repotted. Take care you doii"t get overpotted!" This was the address, not of our old friend Miss Penelope Pomeuoy, but of an old spades- man who thinks he has known us long- enough to venture to Ije impertinent. We kace been "repotted;" but, to continue the simile, it has not been a large shift — it is only from a No. 162 to a No. 171 ; and the shift was not made until our increased growth had rendered it absolutely necessary. As to being "overpotted" — which our old curmudgeon friend meant as a professionally- expressed warning not to occupy larger offices than Ave need — ^we have a just pride, and a hearty gratitude, whilst we record again that you, our Readers, do not permit that fear to restrain us. " Overpotting," to resume the simile, results in the production of an excess of leaves ; but our conservatory — for such we may call our warehouse — reveals no such excess. We go on increasing oitr Numbers printed, but our Numbers remaining — our excess of leaves — is nowhere apparent. We fear that Miss Pomeroy would be down upon us if we said that we are exactly potted as we ought to Ije, and that this is shown by our Ijeing very fruitful — extraordinarily fruitful indeed — inasmuch as that you, our Readers, as well a-s ourselves, are quite contented with the produce. To maintain that fruitfulness will be our continued effort ; and we promise that, as in times past, so in times to come, no fear of cost, no fear of authority, will render us recreant from our motto — "For Gardening and Gardeners." INDEX. Abkrdeenshike Poultry Show, 45 Accrington Poultry Show, 305 Achimenea, Purpurea elegans, Leo- pard, 57 Acorns for planting, 21 Acrocomia sc.erocarpa, 201 Ada aurnntiaca, 235 Adunanthera pavonina, 202 ^^chmea disticbantha, 455 Alexandra Park Horticultural Show, 469 Alocasia metallica deficient in leaves, 235 Alstroemeria CaUlasii, 397 Alyssum seedlings, 423 Am;iranthus melancholicus ruber, 208 ; culiure, 355 Amaryllis— culture, 49, 72; list of, 74; formosissima, 337 Amateurs, a word to, 401 American domestic fowls, 203 American blight, 462 Anemones in pots failing, 321 Annuals — with Saponaiia calabrlca, 82; for bedding, 113, 210; lialf- hardv, 166, 192; hardy, culture, 225; 'list of, 226; growing tender, 270 Ants in hothouse, 271 Aphis destroying, 355, 452 Apples cracking, 133 Apricot blossoms falling, 256 Apricots failing, 337 Arabis, varieties of, 245 Aristolocbia leuconeura, 56 Arnott's stove — instance of inefB- ciency, 155 ; and hot water, 172 Art, bazaar in aid of female school of, 349 Asparagus — culture and forcing, 20; beds, managing old, 117 ; planting, 335 Asphalt walks, 81, 482 Atherton Poultry Show, 289 Athvriura Fills: - fcemina variety, 47"9 Aubrietia sowing, 3^8 Aueuba, the female, 211 Auatraliiin Poultry Show, 322 Azalea Forget-me-not, 397 Azaleas — in heat alter blooming, 200; after blooming, 222; grow- ing prematurely, 321 Balm, variegated, 6 Balsams, compost for, 371 Bantam roupy, 46S Bantams— breeding Game, 68 ; prizes for, 87 ; size of, 124; eggs of Se- bright, 144 ; breeding duckwingeJ, 206 ; for exhibition, 258; Buff-co- loured, 324 Barkeria s^kinneri superba, 235 Basket plant, 235 Baskets—tlowering plants for, lij2 ; hanging, 195 ; plants for veraniah, 483 Bath and "West of England Poultry Show, 462, 484 Beans v. Gooseberry caterpillar,^ 379 Bedding plants — propagating, 80 ; turning out, 240; shilting, 270; witbout artificial heat, 418, 477 ; and mixed borders, 476 Bee-keeping — practical, 184 ; in Devon, 205 Bees-foul brood, 25, 47, 67,87, 105, 124, 141, 163, 186, 241, 273, 323, 374, 445; Australian, 46 ; keeping inthe olden style, 27 ; as regicides. Q7 ; flowers for, 68 ; first load of pollen; do mice eat bees? 100; BeeR — £6 ison commenced iiiScotland, 124; acclimatisation, 142, 164; mice eat them ; travelling by i*ail ; early pollen-gathering; swarming extraordinary ; premature drone production, 143; Mignonette for, 144; supering stocks; autumnal feeding, 161 ; Woodbury -hives, 164; removing; symptoms of dy- sentery ; East Indian, 134 ; in L;»- narkshire, 205 ; chilled brood, 224, 242; last season in Salop, 224; drone-breeding queens, 242 ; stock- ing an observalory-hive, 257, 274 ; water for, 257; raid^, 25S ; induc- ing to work in supers, in Oxford- shire, honey - dew, 274 ; early breeding, 290, 308 ; Dahlia flowers for, 290 ; foal brood, and what has been written about it, 306 ; unit- ing weak stocks, 307 ; ariificial swarms, 308, 322. 339. 357, 373, 425, 484 ; uniting, 308 ; in roof, 308; why they work in the dark, 324 ; artificial combs ; chilled brood and wax-moth larva) ex- pelled, swarm in place of stock, transferring, 340, 358, 445 ; swarm without drones, mode of driving, 372 ; fixing combs in box-hives, accepting a foreign queen, S73, 403; early swarms, 589, 390; artificial swarms; death of Ligu- rian, premature drone expulsion, cloves tor apiarians, 390; driv- ing and preventing swarming, 407, 408 ; conversion of bar-hives into frame-hives, Ligurian in Aus- I traiia, gloves, 408 ; artificial combs, early honey, in Yorkshire, 426 ; artificial fwarm deserting hive, 443 ; artificials warming, 444 ; do young queens breed drones ? 444, 486; fed on unboiled syrup, 446; after hiving, 446; do tbey prey on fruit? 455; f-upering swarms, 466 ; parasite, 466; young queens, in Suffolk, 485 ; extraor- dinary Liguvian swarms, second swarms, 486 Beet, Red, for bedding. 208 Beetles, destroying in orchard-house, 101 Begonia — leaves cracking, 221 ; Mannii, 235 Beverley Poultry Show, 424 Birmingham Poultry Show, irregular admissions, Capt. Ileaton, Mr. Hindson, &s., 23; irregul;iritics, 44; Mr. Williams's Game fowls ai, 63; difficulties, 160, 161 Birmingham Rose Show, 330 Blackberries, Lawton & Dorchester, 139 Blossom thinning, 254 Boiler— wrongly fixed, 193; heating a cylindric, 222; setting tubular, 255 ; for small fernery, 337 Boilers— lor garden structures, 5G ; saddle, setting, 96; propo:?ed, 103, 139; requirmg no setting, 139; consumption of fuel, 287 Bomarea rauUiflora, 393 Books for a gardener's library, 355 Border planting, 178 Botanic (Roval) Society's Shows, 229, 280, 295, 327, 376, 393, 429. 451 ; florists' flowers at, 295, 344 Botanical specimens, drying, 271 Bottom heit, 21 ; from hot-water pipes, 53 ; deficient, 201, 222, .305 Bougainvillsea speciosa culture, 138 "Bouquet, the Illustrated," 236 Bonouets, 467 Bouvardia— triphylla culture, 138 ; longiflora culture, 431 Brahma Pootra prizes at Birming- ham, 442 Bridge Hill, Belper, 40 Brisbane— gardening at, 435; Bo- tanic Garden. 478 Biosimum Auhletii, 201 Brussels Horticultural Exhibition, 310 ; Congress, 383 Buckingham, gardens worth seeing, 19 Buds — falling prematurely, 107 ; preserving from birds, 157 Buff Cochins, Captain Heaton's, 48 Bulbs— in pots, 235 ; and bedders together, 255 Bull's Nursery, Chelsea, 262 Butter not forming, 48 Buyers and sellers. 44 Cabbage, how to cut, 491 Cabbageworts, their merit, 253 Cactaceae culture, 69, 94 Caladium roots decaying, S2 Calampelis scabra, 370 Calceolarias— bedding, 75, 132 ; win- tering bedding, 171 ; shrubby, cul- ture, 96, 174 ; wintering and pro- pagating bedding. 194 ; white bed- ding, 21G ; in cold pit, 271 ; for pot culture, 304; shrubby, 424 Calla ffithiopica culture, 304 Camellias— cutting back, 21, 102; Sarah Frost, 57; bloom not ex- panding, 62, 120; buds falling, 82, 107, 138; leaves discoloured, 82; leaves falling, 102; potting, 182; Conte de Gomer, 397 Canary wheezing, 308 Canaries, teaching, 340 Cannas, some handaome-foliaged, 423 Canscora Parishii, 155 Caper bush, 196 Cape Gooseberry, 287 Carnation seedlings, protecting from sparrows, 303 Cairots, keeping. 182 Cattleya Lindleyana, 455 Cauliflower culture, 386 Cedar seeds sowing, 440 Celery— in winter, 60 ; leafstalk rooting, 255; culture, 480 Celosia culture, 25G, 342 Centaurea candidissima from seed, 321 Cerastiura tomentosum and Bieber- steini culture, 355 Chain border, 304 Chamber slops, 138 Charcoal for manure, 255 Chelranthus sowing, 388 Cherries under glass, 449 Chickens — management of early, 222; lice on, 242; pecking their feet, 274; dead in the shell, 374; destroyed by crows and rats, 46G Chitteprats, 466 Christ's Thorn, 160 Chrysanthemum cuttings and plants, 271 Chrysanthemums— twelve show, 21 ; Lord Clyde and St. Margaret, 155 ; stopping, 200; (Pompon) Firefly, Viola, and Lizzie Holmes, 235 ; (larpe) Prince Alfred, and Princess of Wales, 236 ; of last season, 246 ; dwarf, 321 Cinerarias— not blooming, 74; blind, 103; leaves injured, 241; sowing, 287 ; for seecl, 304 ; Flower of the Day, Rembrandt, Eliza, 455 Circassian Beans, 202 Clematis Fortune!, 450 Clerodendron seedlings, 222 Clianthus— Dampieri seedlings, 121 ; seed sowing, 287 Climate affected by trees, 455 Cliveden, 416 Clover sterna, 103 Coccosypsilon discolor, 235 Cochin-Chinas— extra prizes for Par- tridge. 66 ; combs black, 106 ; food for, 144; Partridge cock's tail, 144 ; breeding, 164 ; white powder on legs, 164 ; eggs not hatching, 186; extra prize for Buff, 372; cock leg weak, 374 ; corns in, 408 Cockscombs- culture, 342 ; compost for, 371 Cocoa-nut fibre refuse, 13 ; for Ferns, 354 Coleus Verschaffelti, 208 Colour, harmony of applied to flower gardening, 395 Colours, harmonising and contrast- ing, 71 Colletia bictoniensis, 477 Composts, materials for, 12 Concrete, materials for, 284 Conservatory — construction, 120; on north aspect, 441 Cookery for the working classes, 206 Copper for garden structures, 112 Cordon training, 381 Cork Poultry Show, 66 Coronilla glauca culture, 103 Cotton Plant in England, 363 Covent Garden Market, 21, 43, 62, 81, 102. 119, 137, 158, 182, 200. 221, 239, 255, 270, 286, 303, 321, 336, 354, 370, 387, 404, 423, 440, 461, 482 Cow-house vinery, 222 Cow, produce from an Aldemey, 242 Cr^ve Coeurs, derivation of name, 124 Crickets on Vine shoots, 101 Crocus not flowering, lOJ Crocuses, taking up, 388 Crowing an annovance, 46G Crystal Palace, 366 ; Flower Show, 393; Bird Show, 162; florists" flowers at, 414; bclding out at, 420 ; Rose Show, 472 Conifer seeds, sowing Japanese, 159 Cucumber and Melon-house con- structing, 139; heating, 160 Cucumbers — useful sorts, 43 ; in winter, 60 ; early, 63 ; in pots, 72 ; culiure in pots, 91 ; and Melons in pots without bottom-heat, 133 ; with Vines, 138; training, 222; the longest, 288 ; gum-diseased, 321; for winter, 3S8; culture of, 441; withering when young, 442 j E-hrivelling, 461 Currant from Malta. 43 Custard Apple, 193 Cutting?, management when rooted, 145 ; of bfdding-out plants, 181 Cyanophyllum magniBcum— propa- gating, 159; culture, 201 Cyclamen— seedlines, 62 ; persicum in pot^ failing, 321; seedling cul- ture, 441 Cypripediums, North American, cul- ture, 355 Dahlia — Princess Alexandra. 317; flowers varying in colour, 420 Dahlias— starting, 43; list of pom- pon, 139 ; propagating, 239 Dairy produce and management, 185 Daicies failing, 256 Daiigstein. 9 Daphne odora diseased, 200 Darlington Poultry Show, entries at, 24 n DendroMum — Farmerii, 96; cilia- turn, 155; Linawianum, 256; lu- teolQiii, 317 ; macropbyllum, 321 ; harbatulum, intun'iibulum, 397 ; Farmeri rar. auieoflava, 455 Desmoiluioi Sk.inneii var. albo-line- ata, 455 Deutzia — saDg-uinea, double, 75 ; gracilis not tie wiring, 139 Dielytni— speetabilis si-edling's, 287 ; cucullaria culture, 355 Dinner-table decoration prizes, 227 Disas, various, 222 Dog, giddiness in, 206 Dorliin^— CO k's comb frosted, 63; ■with a tu(t, GS ; chickens, rearing early, 164 ; cock, diarrhoea in, 290 ; chickens dvmg, 462, 483 Dorkings, 206 Dormice, 143 Doves — Australian Bronze- winged, 274 ; small, 353 Dracaena anstralis, 63 ; culture, 256 Dropmore, 456 Dublin, Royal, Society's Show, 272 Ducks — breeding profitably, 88 ; dis- ordered, 358 Dung, heating by, -162 East Isdian drake's bill, 242 Echinocactus scopa, 397 Edinburgh Botanic Garden, 392 Edinburgh Botanical s-ociety, 473 Egg — producers in winter, 398; within egg. 339 Eggs, 356 ; hens not laying in win- ter, 88; musty-Havoured, 164, 258 ; two laid daily, 258 ; ascertaining tbeir fertility, 274; addled yet not putrid. 374 ; a little more about, 38S'; liatched after being chilled, 443; chilled, 465 Endive culture, 256 Entomnlogicil Snciety's Meeting, 77, 155, 265, 368, 435 Enti-ies, relative, 24, 140; compara- tive, 372 Epaciis not flowering, 222 Eranthemuni — tuberculatum, 155 ; crenalatum, v. grandiflorum, 317 Erythrina cafiVa culture, 304 Espalier rods, wood v. iron, 271 Espaliers, wire for, 22 Eucalyptus obliqua, 63 Eurybia corymbusa. 63 Evergreens-by sides of railways, 4; under Chestnut trees, 43 ; pre- paring ground for, 240 EverlastinK-KIowers, yellow, 201 Exhibition— fowls, rule a-* to owner- ship, 103 ; prizes and entries, rela- tive, 257 Exhibiting fowls not the exhibitor's, 183, 134 Fairlaws, 432, 453 Fairy rings on a lawn, 41D Fancier, recollections of an old, 204, 272 Feathers of white fowls, cleaning, 124 Fem— spores, sowinsr, 241; houses and green glass, 297 Fernery— construction of hardy, 31 ; manage;iient, 370 ; Hiand for, 371 Fetns— cultivation of, 10 ; for sunny aspect, 92; for baslcets, 187 ; how to raise them, 243; in cocoa-nut shells. 483 Fig trees— repotting, 81 ; in pots, management. 153 ; in pots, cul- ture. 222 ; culture, oS'i, 3t>7, 369 Fires, how to manage, 199, 309, 326 Floor of propigaring-hou^e, 96 " Floral Illusi^rations," 19 Floral critiiiism, 328 " Flower Oardenmg, Spring and Winter," 33 Flower — forcing, 61; garden, its arrangements, 70 Flower-garden — management, 89 ; spring propagation, 1(J9 ; plan, 154,316, 348, 349,354; geometri- cal, 266, 271 ; wmter decoration, 331 ; planting at Luton. 404 'Flowers — inlluence of, 366; mis- called forced, 395 ; misapplication of, 467 Flue tiles, 15 Flues, joints cracking, 256 Flying, preveniing noultry, 106 Food for poultry, 288 Forcing flowers, 199 Forrestia hippida, 155 "Fowls," 67 Fowls— price of, 242 ; cannibalism in, 258; polls pecked* 274 Frames, covering for, 132 Friends, i allure of some old, 153 Frosted plants, 137 Fruit— walls, aspect for, 14; room, 63; trees failing on gravel. 121; trees dressing, 181; ia pots, 233, 254; trees, summer pruning, 399 ; flavour of under gl'tss, 437 ; trees, importation of, 461 Fuchsia culture, 231, 239 ; breaking weakly, 240 Fuchsias-list of, 103; potting, 133; in a cellar, 159 Fumigating, 138, 386; bellows, 318 Fungus on tan-plunged pots, 62 Furze obnoxious to caterpillars, 366 Furze v. Gooseberry caterpillars, 395 Game— FOWL, private mahicings at Exhibitions, 84; Mr. Williams's disqualified at Birmingham, 86 ; cock case, the, 104 ; fowls dis- qualified at Birmingham, 121, 139, 141; fowls for exhibition, 124; fowls, trimming, 161, 203, 223, 256, 338; mating, 164; condition of, 223, 241; hens and pullets, classes for, 283 Gapes, 340 ; remedies for, 2fiS Garden plans, picture>que, 393 Gardens worth seeing, 40, 52, 57 Gardens, villa, decorating, 219 Gardeners' Friendly Society, 255 Gardeners' Union, 21 Gardeners, overworked, 422 Gardening in England one hundred years since, 16 Garibaldi and the gardeners, 316, 347 Gas -lime as a manure, 57 ; heating a greenhouse, 159 ; heating bv, 388, 419, 476 Gate— a cheap, 299 ; posts, to fix, 430 Geranium — leaves spotte^, 63 ; Chrisrine spotted, 200 ; cuttings, striking in spring, 350 ; cuttings, 483 Geraniums— cuttings, pottin?, 102; cuttings in spring, 103; Madame Vaucher, and Cluistine. 120 ; ra- riegated, cuttings of, 139; in a cellar, 159 ; for the .lower-ffarden and culture, 172; new, 179; for bedding, 201; Mr. Beaton's seed- ling, 265 ; in cold pit, 271 ; spring treatmenc of scarlet, 278 ; plunging and propagating, 405; from eves, 441 Gishur^t compound, 200,420,434 Gladioli, planting, 239 Gladiolus — sericeo-villnsus, 155 ; Handle Jackson, 155 ; culture, 300 Glass-sase — heating, 160; plants for, 271 Glass structure, a useful, 366 Gloxinias — Lady E. Villiera, Lady V. Harcourt, and MademoiseUe S. de la Eou7illerie, 57; double, 102 Godetia rosea alba v, Tom Thumb, 317 Gold fish changing colour, 390 Goodyera pubescens culture, 264 Gooseberry — trees on walls, 73 ; bush buds protecting, 93; buds, preserving, H8 ; '-atcrpillars de- stroying, 246, 284, 314; cater- pillars, preventing, 214, 218, 232 ; caterpillars, Furze as a pre"entive for, 395, 421, 423. 430, 455; cater- pillar V. Beans, Furze, and Alum, 479 Goose, how to roust. 258 Grafting mastic. 434 Grape— Duchet-s of Buecleuch, 250, 2S1 ; bunches becoming tendrils, 305 Grapes— dcrirable varictloa of, 30; the Tokay, 43 ; Early Uumburghs, 57; in Camellia-house. 201; rusted, 201, 423 ; shanking, 337 ; spotted, 387; setting, 387; mus- cat-flavoured for out-doors, 423 ; >;ew Frontignan, 453; choice of, 454; mildewed, 482 GrasM, sowing and liming, 159 Gi'asses— list of ornamental, 103; ornamental, 201 Gravel walks, weeds on, 337 Green fly an wall trees, 424 Greenhouse— heating, 82, 461 ; beat- ing small, 138; blinds, 159; paint- ing, 16J ; use of cold. 201 ; stage for, 2'9 ; ceepers for, 2S7 ; cliuib- ers for, 305 ; heating from sitting- room, 370; plants, list of, 441 Greenliouses, iron-framed, 271 Grotto, roofing for, 255 Grugrn nut'*. 201 Guano as a Vine manure, 287 Gymnogramma—pulchclla variation, 120 ; chryeophylla culture, 233 Gynerium argenteura in a pot, 82 HaMBORGHS — BaEEDIN'G SlLVER- SPANGLED, 68 ; tails of Silver- spangled, 124; Golden - spangled, plumage, 224 ; single-combed pen- cilled. 390 Hants {North) Poultry Show, 442, 433 Hardening-off plants, 181 Hatching- artificial, 164, 186 ; tem- i perature, 274 I Heating, 63, 220 ; horticultural build- ings, 15 ; a plant-house, 222 ; economic, 234, 267 ; by atove or hot water, 281 Heckmondwike Poultry Show, 24 Hedge— by a wall, 440 ; quick-grow- ing, 483 Hedychium— Gardnerianum, hardi- ness of, 34; in a greenhouse, 424 Ilelichryf-um Mannii, 235 Hon^incubating on her back. 339 ; with cock's plumage, 446, 483 Hens- laying whilst perched, 258 ; with swelled heads, 290 ; eating eggs, 290 ; feather-eaters, 303 Hive, observatory, 324, 374 Hives, 206 Hollies — decaying, 192 ; removing large, 221 Hollv hedge, cutting down, 255 Hollyh'Jiik culture, 369 Hollyhocks— not blooming, 82 ; of last season, 293 Honey, obtaining from the comb, 224 Horseradish, planting, 198 Horticulture, honour to, 273 Horticultural structures, wood rer5HS metal for, 91 Horticultural fRoyal) Society, 29. 189. 230, 247, 230, 375, 463 ; ex- hibitions and prizes in 1864, 33; Schedule for 1864, 90, 110, 151; Fruit Committee meeting, 98 ; illegal proceedings, 125; mistakes, 130 ; report of annual meeting, 126 ; comments on, 130 ; Dr. Hogg's resignation. 147 ; Report of Council, 151 ; adjourned mept- inp, 165, 167; Floral Committee, 212. 261, 313, 350. 377, 413, 451 ; Show, 211. 260, 312, 411; en- couraging fish-culture, 265 ; ob- jections tothe two-dayaShow, 231, 296, 314; flowers miscalled forced ;it, 296; Exhibition on Queen's birtbdav, 347; Floral Fete. 393 Horticultural Congress at Brussels, 383 Hotbed— making, 120; inflammable gas in, 196, 217 Hotbeds, a gnssip about, 329 Hothouse buildmg, 363 Hot-water apparatus- safety cock for, 196 ; an amateur's, 216 Hoya— carnosa decaying, 43; jmpe- rialis cnUnre, 355 Huinea elegans culture, 431 Hyacinth-bulbs failing, 133; Show, Cutbusb's, 249; Mr. W. Paul's lecture on. 230 Hyacinths, 2U ; not blioming, 74; bloomed in glasses, 221 ; done blooming, 240 ; after forcing, 3S8 ; Robert Fortune, 397 Hydrangeas— blue without artificial applications, 135 ; blue, 197 Ice STOniNR, 42 Indian Corn, 338; for fowls, 340 Injects, destroying, 238 Ipomtca fiiicaulis, 155 Iron— for garden structures 92, 112 ; fountain corroding, 159 Ivy failing, 63 Japan, letter from, 74 Japanese — work on gardening, 266 ; plants, sale of, 293 Jedburgh Poultry Show, 85 JefFersonia diphylla culture, 264 John o'Groat's, a note from beyond, 18 Juniper seeds sowing, 410 Kale, ScoTcn, 370 Kales, various, 319 Kendal Ponltry Show, 64 Kerguelen's-land Cabbage, 301 Kew — some things to be seen at, 131 ; gardens, curatorsliipof, 314; Royal Botanic Gardens at, 345 ; re- tirement of Mr. J. Smiih from cu- riitorship, 342 Kidney Bean— the longest, 237 ; cul- ture, 438 Kirke, death of Mr. J., 277 Kirkcaldy Ornithological Show, 65 Kitchen-garden seeds for an acre, 120 Labels, 43 Lapageria— rosea, planting oat, 120; rosea culture. 2S7 ; albi, 455 Lardizabala biternata culture, 461 Lawn — grass seeds for, 201 ; weedy, treatment of, 461 Leaves — do they absorb moisture? 33 ; and flowers shrivelled in a new greenhouse, 72; browned and spotted, 120 ; browned, 304 Lemna minor. 240 Leroy N'urseries, 382 Lettcrwood, 201 Lilacs not flowering, 102 Lily of the Valley forcing, 304 Lilies, Japanese, 75 Lime-kilns, heating by, 15 Lincolnshire, gardens' worth seeing in, 57 Liparis Loeselii, hibitat of, 400 Liquid manure, 337 ; applying, 322; how to save, 439 Lobelia— speciosa for present vesr, 138: failures, 153. 191, 246, "282 ; specio^a culture, 231 Loiu.st tree, the red. 401 Lycaste Skinnen variety, 317 Lychnis Senno. 317 Lycopod cultivation, 409; list of, 411 Macaw"— BLUE and telt.ow, 124; Palm, 201; disordered, 206 Magnolia Lenn^, 155 ^lalay cock, lioiirseness in, 106 Manchester Poultry Show, Game ptizes at, 25 Mauufacturine- towns, trees and shrubs in, 433 Maranta and other leaves turned brown, 441 Marks, private, on exhibited fowls, 103 Mcintosh, :\lr. C, death of, 54 Me;dy bug, destroying, 160 Melon- training, 222; culture, 320, 371, 405 ; home, 356 ; euUuro, seed- ling bed ; sowing, 474 ; sjeiilings, maintaining hi>at, repotting, fruit- ing bed, 475, 482 Melons — late desirable, 63; in a vinery, 210; Watei-, 271; elevat- ing above the soil, 461 Menispcrinum planifolium, 63 Meteorology of 1863 — and eff'ects of its autumn, 34 ; Ireland, 55; Sligo, 72 ; Weston-super-mare, 95; Manehe?ter, 99 ; Lancashire, 135 Metrosideros tlcribunda culture, 103 Mice, traps for, 176; pieserving Peas from, 182 Midland Counties Canary Show, 78 Mildew on Peaches and Nectarines, 388 ; on Roses, 383 Jlilton House, 52 lliltonia Regnelli, 317 Mimulus- repens, 57 ; cupreus and maculosus, 120 ; maculosas cul- ture, 266 Mistletoe propagation, 240 Moss on grass land, 201 Moulting, change of colour in, 28 Mushroom — si>awn, raising, 135 ; bed management, 157 ; beds, 198 ; covering, 265 Mu-;hroomfl, grnwing, 447 Muasett's hot- water apparatus, 221, 37 9 Nantwich Poultry Show, 122 Narcissus, extraordinary, 193 INDEX. TU Natal Horticultural Show, 478 Natural-liiitory speoiraeBs, collecting and pres^ervine;, 22 JNeatnee'8 even in niiiiden*i, 51 Nectarine-buds frtllinfj, 21 New Year's-eve Dream, 1 Nierembeigia gracilia from seed, 13o NightinEale, imitators oF, 426 Nortliamptonsliiie, gardens worth seeing, 19, 40 Oak-stumps, plants foii, 371 Oleander treatment, 201 OnionB— lailiiip. 221 ; sowing, 237 Oracli, Purple, 208 Orange — trees, repotting, 200 ; (Mandarin) seedlingn, 304 Orchard-house, controversy, 93, 143, 190; management, 158; my, 359, 415, 450; in the north, 34G, 420, 441 Orchard-honses, 213, 246, 261, 269, 294, 315, 381, 472; definition, 150; pathway in, 219; at Sawbridge- ■worth, '248; in the Channel Islands, 325 Orchids — N. American Te"restrial, 263, 292 ; Mr. Warner's, 399, 420 '* Our House and Garden," 400 Paint, plants suffering from, 283 Paisley Poultry Show, 44 Paliurus aculeatus, 160 Pampas grasn pUinting, 43 Paniix dendroides, 63 Pansy soil, 287 Pansies, growing superior, 437 Parif, notes from, 473 Parrot — plucking cut its fenthers, 88 ; tail diseased, 164 ; having fits, 206 Parsnips, sowing, 238 Pasture improvement, 305 Pea— the largest, 287 ; culture, 335, 386 Peach -buds falling, 21, 108; trees, pruning and managing olrt, 116 ; house heating, 121 ; trees, pruning pyramidal, 233 ; culture, , 236 ; trees, insect on, 270; tree blos- soms, thinning, 278; ripening wood, 285 ; house building, 355 ; tree lateral?;, 371 Peaches — under glass v. on open walls, 37 ; trees in pots, and in wet districts, 52 ; failures in culture. 55; bloom-buds falling, 62 ; in pots out of doors, 02 ; American, 325 ; on open wall failing, 337 ; mildewed, 441 ; in orchard-house, 450 ; number a trep can bear, 461 Pea fowl, rearing, 4fj6 pears—on quince stocks, 81; crack- ing, 1S3 ; grafting, 138; good late, 139; Easter Beurre ripening, 182 ; trees aC Trentham, 201 ; trees blooming profusely, 304; diseased, 321 ; leaves blighted, 3S3 ; cause of falling, 429 Peas— culture of early, 4; early, on clayey soil, 113, 117 ; raising early, 157,268; sowing, 253 ; early, 422; crops of late. 4^7; culture, 438; selection of, 442 Pelargonium — Bowkeri, 57; Diadem, 455 Pelargoniums- of the season, 50; list of Fancy, 103; management, 119; spot in, 119; stopping, 139; frosted, 159 ; from seed, 370 ; blooming iiidifFerently, 383; in a window, 441 Perilla nankinensi?, 201 ; manage- ment, 405 Petunia, striking cuttings of double, 441 Pheasant, hen assuming male plu- mage, 425 Philodendron fruit, 424 Phlox — frondosa culture, 160 ; Drummondi culture, 441 Phloxes— culture of perennial, 111 ; list of dwarf, 139 Pierce's system of heating, 59 Pigeon— why docs it tumble? 104; retching, 308; disease, 374 Pigeons— breeding Barb, 68; new varieties, 161, 272 ; Satinette, Ice- lander, and Blue Brunswick, 204 ; Archangel, 241; Nuns, 425; dis- eased, 466 ; Carriers not feeding their young, 46G; diarrhoea in, 483 Pimeleas done flowering, 371 Pine for candy soil, 54 Pme Apples-culture, 259, 291, 341, 360, 428, 46S ; succession plants, 360; abortive, 4^3 Pines and Melons in same house, 304 Pinks (hybrid), Striatiflonis, Mmie Par6, and Rosette, 236 Pipps— for hot water descending, 139 ; position of flow and return, 279 Pit, the cold. 298 Pits — of earth and turf, 134 ; formed of concrete, 232 ; turf and con- crete, 254 Plant— case, plant for centre, 102; shrubs for, 120 ; distrioution, mysteries of, 300 ; exchanges, 420 Plants— with dark foliage, 207 ; dis- tribution of, 391. 430 Planting, 36 ; in March, 121 Plum tree on south-east wall, 102 Plums- dried, from Spain, 21 : dry- ing, 54 ; in greenhouse, 336 Poinsettia — pulcherrima, propagat- ing, 62 ; pulcherrima culture, 111 ; management, 146 ; alba, 139 ; pul- cherrima, stopping, 221 Poisonous garden plants, 116 Polish cock's crest discoloured, 308 Pork, how much a bushel of corn makes, 390 Potato seedlings, 252 ; planting, 253 Potatoes — early, 43; and Greens, growing conj'^intly, 351,364; cut and uncut, 434 Pots, London sizes of, 405 Potted plants, soil for, 288 Potting, 320 Poultry — plumage mutilated at shows, 24 ; market at Christmas, 25 ; fattening, 2S ; and refinement, 82; judging, 84; not injurious to pastures, 106 ; for farm, 124 ; show schedules, 122 ; breeds unsepar- ated, 144 ; profitable layers, 144 ; fanciers, caution to, 162; food re- quired by, 164; show improve- ments, 161 ; shows, frauds at, 202 ; schedules of, 202; relative en- tries, 223, 338; straying, 224; shows, long continuance of, 305 ; relative merits, prizes, and entries, 305; and the poor, 306; average day's food for, 324; keeping dis- appointments, 338 ; shows, judges, and exhibitors, 371 ; judging, rules for, 406 ; yard troubles, 465 ; in cellars, 466 ; poisoned by paint, 466 ; Club's Show, 484 ; exchanges, 486 Primroses, Japanese, 74 Primula— seed sowing, 240 ; sinensis sowing, 287 Primulas — management, 336 ; cul- ture of Chinese, 361; alpine, 391 ; alpine, culture, 430 Propagation of flowers in spring, 1 09 Fropaiiating- shelf for, 201 ; pit, with flue, 62 ; pit, heating, 82 Property, what is bona fide ? 389 Prostanthera lasianthos, 63 Protection— in winter, 42, 61 ; for fruit blossom, 303 Prunus triloba, 420 Pullets strippinff-off feathers, 124 Puttr;dgebury,~^113, 176. 2t)0 Putty and paint, solvent for old, 324 Pyrethrums— and their culture, 130 : Salter's double. 417 Pyrus japonica Iruit, 442 QUAHOCLIT Nationis, 235 Quassia water v. aphides, 481 Quick hedges, making, 244 Rabbits— LENGTH of ears, 164; ejected, SOS Raspberry training, 61 Red spider— does sulphur kill? 150, 194 ; destroying, 379 Reidia glaucescens, 317 Rochea falcata culture, 133 Rhododendron— Princess of Wales. 57; ponticum poisonous, 186; ja- vanicum culture, 201 ; Nuttalli, 299 ; flowers spotted, 370 Rhododendrons— rabbits eating, 224 ; Sikkims and ludian, 402 ; at Fair- lawn, 432 Rhubarb culture, 319 Khyncospermum jasminoides cul- ture, 461 Ribbon-border, 19, 222, 271, 337 Kivina humilis culture, 221 Rooks, 372 Root-pruning, 7 Roots and leave?", 7, 36 Roses— catalogues for 1803-4. 33 ; protecting budded, 43 ; Baron do Rothschild, 57 ; forcing, 138 ; trees on their own roots, 193, 228 ; in the suburbs, 210 ; cuttings and grafting, 287; on the briar, 296; Beauty of Waltham, 314, 344. 362, 379, 399 ; flowering but not grow- ing, 316; critiques on new, 378; beetles on, 388 ; in pots, pruning, 388; notes on a few, 418j first seed of Banksian, 419 ; leaves falling, 440 ; with green centre, 441 ; Madame Victor Verdier, 455 ; in France, 473; mildew on, 482 Roup, 442; in Bantams, Zl-t Rust.c arbours, &;c,, 57 Saccolabium Harrisonianum, 235 Salt and guano, 77 Sanri, sea, for cuttings, 201 Sandringham Gardens, 455 Sanvitalia procumbens as an edging, 304 Scarborough Lily, 356 Sciirlet Runners, 302 Schizostylis coccinea, 57, 155 Sciara pyri, 429 Screen— plants for a wall, 103 ; trees fur a high, 182 Scutellaria Costaricana, 317 Sea-kale— on sandy soil, 139; blanch- ing, 238; tough, 233; culture, 254, 302, 319 Season— flowers in bloom, 8 ; in Devon, 33 ; Northumberland, 41 Seeds, tropical, sowing, 241 Sewage of house, 462 Shading, simple mode. 320 Shallots, planting, 238 Sheepdung from butchers, 221 Skeletonising leaves, 475 Skins— how to dress? 106; preserv- ing hare and rabbit, 124 Slugs— trapping, 6 ; in Mnshroom- beds, 100 Smith, Mr. John, retirement of, 342 Soapsuds and their utility, 113 Solanum anthropophagorum, 57 Solomon's Seal forcing, 271 Spanish fowls, breeding, 390 Statice profusa culture, 228 Stokesia cyanea culture, 43 Stove- heating a forcing-house, 97 ; heating by iron, 269; plantti, list of, 441 St-^vee for small stractures. 43 Strawberries — mowing off leaves, 9 ; every month, 29; forcing, 61 ; Carolina superba, culture, 82 ; in New Zealand, 267 ; forced, failing, 337 ; packing, 405 ; unfruitful, 440 ; protecting fruit, 460 ; for forcing, 461 Strawberry— forcing, 303, 386; forc- ing-house, 315 ; torcing, pit for, 35it; insects, 355; culture, 368; unfruitful, 388 ; plants failing. 399, 405; house, temporary, 40;'.; Princess of Wales, 473; Jcun Powell, 479 ; failures, 4S0 Sulphur and rtd spider, 233, 23S Summer-house, plants to cover under trees, 22 Super-phosphate of lime, making, 340 Supple-jacks, 212 Swans, rood for young. 374 Table decorations, 461 Tacscnia not blooming, 271 Temperatures for forcing, 153 Testacellus haliotideus, 418 Thibaudia sarcantha, 455 Thorne Poultry Show, 464 Thorns— useful and ornamental, 243, 276 ; hst of, 277 Tobacco fumigalors, 136, 138 Todmord'en Botanical Society, 135, 299, 473 Tools, repairing, 250 Transplanting, 8, 36 Trellis for fruit trees, 303 Trentham, the small garden at, 63 Tricantha minor, 155 Trichinium Manglesii, 455 Triteleia uniflora culture, 222 Trltonia aurea frostetl, 388 Tropeeolum— canariense for beds, 139; not blooming, 222; elegans sowing, 24ii ; azureum culture, 388; tricolor ai;d Jarratti, sow- ing, 441 Tuberose— notes on the, 76 ; double, culture, 139 Tulips— in flower-beds, 370; early, Proserpine, Kelzerkoon, Roi Pepin, 455 Turf for composts, 12 Turkey sit'.ing without laying, 358 Turkey^n— crops enlarged, 124 ; nest- ing witliout laying, 324 Turnip— tops, blanched, 219; cul- ture, 439 Turtle Dove's eggs unproductive, 466 Ulverston PouLTiiv Show, 141 Utricularia, propagation of, 401 Vaccinium erythrium coltdrk, 256 Vallota purpurea. 337 ; culture, 43 Verbena and Calceolaria leaves in- jured, 482 Vei'benas- planted out, 62 ; list of, 103; damping off, 121; new, 138; for pots and cut flower;*, 182 ; green fly on, 287 ; Conspieua, Mrs. Nichols, and Gen. Bazaine, 317 ; New Italian, 397 Veronica speciosa, hardiness of, 34 Victoria regia, growth of, 346 Vieui-sieuxia fugax, 317 Villa front gardens, evergieens for, 275 Vine-borders, 6 ; canion added to, 103; manure for, 120; tempera- ture] of, 209; deepening, 271; covering, 336 Vineries— heat'.ng, 21, 63; starting, 22; large v. small, 188, 215; on east aspect, 159; roof, glass for, 255 ; wide without pillars, 282 ; construction of, 283 ; planting, 287 ; borders for late, 405; glass and ■wires, 354; glass for, 357; con- struction of, 457, 462 ; ground, 469 Vines — causes of their exhaustion, 2 ; culture at Berkhampstead Nursery, 6 ; for greenhouse, 21 ; lifting and inarching, 52; breaking, 62; in- arching, 81 ; planting in a green- house, 82 ; in pots in greenhouse, 103 ; inarching, 120 ; cutting down young, 120 ; in pots, 1 38 ; and Cucumbers together, 138; leaves rusted, 222, 266; failing, 240; stock for grafting, 240 ; diseased, 271; artificial impregnation, 294; in pots, planting out, 3C4 ; leaves spotted, 304 ; not starting regu- larly, 304; blistered leaves, 304; flower-stalks falling, 317 ; border, 321 ; mildewed, 370 ; forced, 370 ; injured by guano water, 371 ; leaves spotted, 383; beetles on, 388; trellis, 436; leaves scorched, 441; leaves injured, 461 ; Peaches and plants under, 482 Violet, the blue wild 305 Violets — culture of double, and Neapolitan, 221 Waitzia corymbosa, 397 Wallis— keeping of, 353; weeds on, 371, 3S8 Wardian case, plants for, 305 Water Cress culture, 221 Water-fowl management, 160, 182 Watering — in gloomy weather, 76; how to regulate, 459 Weather— the, 400 ; in June. 414 Weed volunteers, 218 Week, work for, 19, 41, 59, 78, 99, 117, 136, 156, 180, 197, 218, 237, 263, 284, 301, 318, 334, 352, 385, 402, 421, 437, 458, 479; Doings of last, 20, 42, 60, 79, 100, 118, 136, 157, 180, 198, 212, 237, 253, 268, 285, 302, 319, 335, 353, 368, 386, 403, 421, 438, 458, 480 " We must draw a line somewhere," 406 Wellingtonia giganlea, 195 ; plant- ing, 43 ; largest, 380 Wellingtonias, large, 434 Wharfdale Poultry Show, 322 Wigton Poultry Show, 289 Till Wild plants, plea for, -iU Williams's Nursery, 370 •'Window gardens for the people," 367 Winsford Poultry Show, 2S Wood— far garden structures, 92; and iron for garden structures, 112 WoodbridRe Poultry Show, 406 Woodlice ia frames, 201 Worms— habits of, 6; ammoniacal liquor for dcstroyins, 82 ; ia hot- bed, 159 ; in walks, 321 Ykae, Review op, 22 Yew — trees, making hedge of old, 22 ; poisonous to deer, &c., 28 ; are they poisonous J fiS ; green, not poisonous to deer, 8S ; donkey killed :ind sheep uninjured by e;itlng, 106; not poisonous to deer, 100 • herbivorous animals among. U4; propagating and grafting the Golden, 159; green, fatal to oxen, 206 ; Irish and common, pruning, &c., 271 Ynccai, removing, 287 Zinc for oAauES strutures, 112 WOODCUTS. PAGE. Apple-tree Training 383 ,, Grafting by Approach 383 Ai-nott*s Stove for Heating Greenhouse 172 Bees, Driving 373 Bulb Planting in Pots 235 ,, Garden at Dropmore 456 Bunsen's Burner 476 Caper-bush 196 Cliveden Flower Gardens 39, 416, 417 CoUetia bictoniensis 477 Cordon Training 382, 383 Dendrobium Farmerii 96 Dropmore Bulb Garden 456 Embroidery, Garden 332 Flower-beds, Planting 348, 349 Flower-garden Plans, 39, 114, 115, 154, 176, 177, 251, 266, 316, 416, 417, 456 Flue-tile 15 Fruit-tree Training 14 Garden, Flan for Laying Out 398 Garden Seats 58 r^GE. Gas-heating 470 Gate, a Cheap 299 Geometrical Flower Garden 266 Glass Structure, a Useful 366 Gloxinia becoming Double 102 Gooseberry Tree, Training 78 Grafting by Approach 38S Heating, Economic 234, 267 ,, by Lime Kilns 15 Hot-water Apparatus 217 Linton Park Winter Garden 332 North Walls, Fruit Tree Training for 14 Peach Tree Cordon Training 383 Pierce's System of Heating , 59 Pits, Enrth andTuif 134 Puttcridge Bury Flower Gardens 114, 115, 176, 177, 251 Vineries, Construction of 282, 283, 457 Vine Trellis and Training 436 Winter Garden at Linton Park 322 Janunry 5, 1864. ] JOTJBNAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAllDENEK. WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day of of M'nth Week. 1 5 Tn 6 W 7 Th • 8 F 9 S 10 Sun 11 M JANUARY 5-n, 1S61. Gronndsel flowers. KpiniAN-Y. Twell'tli Day. Rinlbieast. sing.-;. Grey Wagtail seen, l.iiinets cuiigregate. 1 Sl'SDAY AFTER EPIPHiNY. Plough Monday. Average Temperature near Loudon. Day. 41.7 41.1 41.4 40.(1 40 i) 41. G 41.4 Night. 30.1! 29. .'i 28.7 80.0 311. S 30.3 30.9 Mean. 85.9 3,'i.3 as.o 35.3 35.S 36.0 80.1 Rain in last 37 years. Days. 13 l:i 14 11 14 16 19 San Rises. m. h. Saf 8 Sun Sets. m. h. 3af4 4 4 Moon Rises. Moon bets. m. b. 41 0 27 1 •^i 2 34 8 54 4 17 6 41 7 ir« „.„ I Clock «""/ Uefure ^l^"- Sun. 20 27 Day of Year. 10 11 From observatiuns taken near London during the last thirty-seven year.?, the average day temperature of tlie week i,i 41.2°, ami it« niglit temperature 30.0°. The greatest beat was 54', on tlie 5th, 1844; and tue lowest cold, 6°, on tbe 9:h, 1841. The greatest fall of rain was 0.77 inch. A NEW YEAE'S-EVE DEEAM. Hilltop Rectory, AVilts. New Tear's-evc, 1863. ALF-PAST ten o'cloct. Let me see ! Tlie wkole of tlie evcuing's duties and social pleasures are fulfilled and over. New Year's-eve — Little ones in their order sent olF to bed, witli a few words, according to their ages, about the past year said to each one wtUe sit- ting on my knee ; little flaws, naughty tempers and passions whis- peredabout, and promises of amend- ment from each little listener for the future year — promises sealed with a very loving kiss. Then the reading aloud of my eldest boy ; my dear school-girl, now home for the holidays, practising my favourite piece, " Chime Again, Beautiful BcUs !" upon her piano. Prayers over, and all off to bed except my reverend self. Ah ! there is mamma's step in the nursery for a farewell peep at the little birds there fast asleep. Pat! pat! — now she is in the boys' room. Back again : there, now, the footsteps pause near the little cot in her own room. Oh, happy home ! Thank God for it ! and amid a'l its trials, still say I, blessed life of a married country parson. Well, now, how forgiving I am ! Good reader, I will tell you why I say this. Just as MaterfamUias looked in at my study on her way upstairs, she caught me getting out of my closet — " my sacred place," — the last year's pile of Joubnals of HoETicuLTnEE, and she said very decisively, " Do put those things away, there's a good husband. Once get them out, and you wiU be sitting up ever so late. What pleasure ca?i you find in reading over and over again what those queer-named people write — ' D., of Deal's,' ' B. & W.'s,' ' Upwards and Onwards,' ' Once Bit Twice Shy,' ' Egomets,' and ' Meipsums ?' Besides, dear, you may fidget ; but your eyes are not so good for candlelight reading as they used to be. How red your eyelids looked in the pulpit on Sunday after you had sat up late the night before, preparing old Joshua's funeral sermon." I heard, and was silent. But when the door was closed, " JS^ow," said I, " for my turn. I'll peach, as we used to say at school, and tell all about you, good kind wife, my caretaker for these many years. Don't 2/0" like me to read to you all the tit bits in our Journal ■ (we always call it ours in this house) every week ? and were you not saying, while looking at the Trentham views, ' How pretty the engravings are now !' " ISow I feel satisfied, for I have said my say; but I don't feel inclined to go to bed yet. Dear me ! how we feel the wind on the hUl ! why, the park trees are sonorous with it ! Yes, the gale is rising ; and but that I know I am inland, and, better stiU, at home, I should feel sure that it was the sound of the sea. But it is only the wind swaying this way and that way the branches No. 145.— Yoi, Vl., New Semes. of those fine " Wiltshire weeds," as John Evelyn called them — our beautiful Elms. Flip-flap against the window — there's a branclt of one of my Cloth of Gold Eoscs got loose ! Is it possible that can be a shy -blooming Eose ? Why, here on my south front I have had a hundred and fifty blooms out at once ; and on the east side, even, some few blossoms of a colour far surpassing those in the south, because uninjured by a scorching sun. But then this is Wiltshire air and soil, good reader, not terrible east of England— how that word " east " grates through one ! *' of a' ihe airts the tviiid can blaw, 1 dearly lo'e the west." Well, I will sit up and keep awake ; it is a master's duty to do so this stormy night. Who can teU what accidents may happen ? Now my conscience is easy — yes, it is a duty. Down, Mettle ; lie down, old dog. What, not like tlie wind ! Poor, faithful fellow, lying ]Daws stretched out and head on them, eyeing master for the word, " Go to bed. Mettle," and then ofi" to your bos in the kitchen. It's New Year's-eve, old boy, and we will sit up awhile yet, and keep awake too. How much better you are ! you're a real black and tan terrier — just like the one figured in "Bell's British Quadru- peds"— than one of those mongrel Italian Greyhounds called toy terriers. How the wind is blowing! I open the study-door, cross the hall, tap the barometer — it goes down like a shot — it is nearly as low as it was when the " Eoyal Charter " was lost. Now for " our Journal." What a pile of them ! How . soon a man gets interested in a periodical I Just, and only just, two years ago I saw a Number for the first time in a gardener's cottage (fit place for a Cottage Gaedenee) ; and now I look forward to Wednesday's post, and cut the Journal open quickly, and know the difi'erent styles of the writers, and read my own articles. Dear me, how cosy this fireside is ! My feet are so comfortable, I think I'U indulge in a sit in my easy chair, for there is no fear — I never sleep out of bed. January's first Number lies on my knee. Very pler.sant is the warmth to my legs. Wind is very lulling, they say — Mettle — wind — Eose — Cloth of Gold — my eyes are' surely getting very dim: I can't see the title. How ve7y easy this chair is ! . What nest ? Good reader, I fell asleep, and " I dreamed a dream." Methought I stood in a large hall decorated with, evergreens. I was standing, and everybody else was sitting. I stood at an open desk, and what strange, canonicals I had on ! My surplice was bright green, with flowers in every part. My scarf was soft ani featherHke to feel, formed, in fact, of gold and silver- spangled, gold and silver-laced, and gold and silver- pencilled feathers. I turned to my hood : it was of finer feathers still — far softer ; it resembled nothing so much as a huge jacobin pigeon's chain and hood, and I felt inclined to put it on, monk fashion, to keep off the cold. And I felt my bands, and they were embossed with golden bees. On the desk before me lay a piece of No. 797.— Vol. XXXI., Old Seeies, JOUENAL OF HOETICULTtJKE AND COTTAGH GAEDENER. [ January 5, 18&4. parchinent on which was written, " You, Wiltshire Eeetor, are our chaplain for the coming year." Signed, "Editors of JoTjKNAL OF HoETicuLTHRE." " N.B. — Address all present from the words 'Good will to all.' " Before me sat in seats of honour the whole staff of the Jom-nal, behind them occasional contributors, and then such a multitude ! These were " our readers." The hall seemed boundless. I could see far away heads growing less and less, but I could not, so it seemed, see all, there were so very many. I recognised shrewd Scotch faces ; plenty, too, of young English gardeners. I saw old experienced gardeners ; country squires not a few ; clergymen, dear me ! what a numlier ! and many honest-looking faces whom I felt sure were lovers of poultry, some of them having a pin in their lx)soms with a head shaped like a game cock. There were boys and girls, too, who looked very interested and whispered something about "our pets;" but crinoline in point of number, beat all to nothing. Some ladies had on beehive- shaped hats, others chicken-coop-like bonnets, many mth dove-coloured mantles, and a very great number, lar the most, wore flowers by no means artificial. I began to address the company, and I thought, nay, felt sure, that my voice reached every one. My text has been fixed for me, my friends ; it is, " Good will to all." I shall speak on these words briefly, but I trust to the point. Fii-st, I shall address all the writers of oui- Jom-nal ; secondly, all the readers of the same. But, like oui- Jom-nal, my address must have another division ; to the writers and readers of the floral dejiartment, and to the writers and readers of the poultry department. Before anything special, let me say to my fi-iends all of you, AVhat advantages are ours ! No differences of politics affect us ; it is nothing to us what ministry is in or is out ; wars matter not to us ; quiet pursuits, quiet pleasures are ours — pleasures that never tii-e, for we have to do with Nature, and " Nature never did betray the heart that loved her." How genuine ovu- pleasures are ! Everything in oui- Journal aids pure wholesome employment or recreation. The pursuits we love tend also to friendliness. I have begun acquaint- ances by admii-ing a flower in a garden, which acquaintances so made have ripened into friendships. I have introduced myself to the Misses — (Oh ! dear me, no names), as a lover of poultry, and I now spend long summer days with them. Tie subjects upon which our Joui-nal treats are calculated to cause good feeling, to soothe tired minds, to make men love hobbies which have given them pleasures for life still more. But (I began to feel nervous, for sundry faces showed a keener interest when I had pronounced that little word, "but "), brother contributors to the flower department, oui- subjects forbid ought but kindliness. The bee has its sting, the cock will peck sharply at an adversary, the very hen wUl scratch; but flowers only speak of gentleness and kindness. So pray, dm-ing this coming yeai-, employ no words that sound hard, perhaps only in sound. Kind, gentle criticism should be ours, full allowance being ever made for dif- ferences of opinion, and for different temperaments. Write kindly, then. There are differently constituted minds ; let none despise another ; " We are all of us human, and all of | us erring." Brother contributors to the poultry department — for I am one of you too — let us, if exhibitors, avoid the least approach to dishonesty, evei-ything in the least degree opposed to right principle — no ingenious sickle-feather-and-sealing- wax-like tricks. And 'vvriters, though cocks and hens may peck, and some on coming to the scratch prove themselves game, yet, remember, oui- best game is the game of kindness. If we sell or exchange let all be done in perfect fairness, doing to others as we woidd others should do to us. And, then (feeling my bands), you wi-iters in the bee comer — a very large coi-ner sometimes — your fiivourites make honey, how sweet-tempered then you should be ; how gentle yom- buzzings ! And now, lastly, readers of all classes, we work for you, we laboui- for you, and we do not work (your numbers show it), in vain. Professional reader or amateur, are we not benefactors to you both ? Good will, good ivishes to you aH, may you all be our readers for many years yet. A Happt New Year to You All. And here the silence seemed broken at once, by the many " Happy New Year's to you. Chaplain." Amidst the noise I awoke. There was Mettle watching me still. " Go to bed old boy !" and so will I, this was added in a lower tone. I rattled the fii-e out of the grate and upstaii-s I went. " My dear ! I did not get fai-ther than the title page of the fii-st January Number of ' our Journal.' " " That was very good of you ! " Of my dream I said nothing, that shall be read. — Wiltshire Kectok. A FEW OF THE CAUSES BY WHICH TINES AEE EXHAUSTED. For the accomplishment of any specified object upon which the inexperienced have set their mind, it is well to have a directory which shall trace out the proper means and appli- cations by which the object is most sui-ely to be attained. Without some guide there must be many haphazard and unsuccessful attempts which nothing but the experience and close observation of almost a lifetime can prevent. Whether it be a passage across the deep, or an excursion along some unknown path, it is not only most desirable and necessary to have a guiding chart to point out the right and safe way, but it is also most important to have the hidden rocks and shoals charted out, the precipices ;md deceiving quagmh-es carefully noted, so that the dangers that beset us may be guarded against and avoided. Success, even to the most efficient, is not the work of a day, it is realised and buUt up little by little like human character itself. True, the most gigantic objects and puzzling problems are triumphed over by time and perseverance ; but it is well when we can shape our course and calculate our ends by the facts and as- certained results of those who have gone before us. The deductions of experience, and the results of reflection and careiiil inference, cannot fail to be valuable to those who are seeking the attainment of any given object. This is appli- cable alike to the moral and physical world, and in no small degree to the operations of the gai-dener. ■The gardener has to deal with the most exquisitely or- ganised bodies, possessed of a certain kind and degree of life, which are as capable of being affected by every variation of temperature and chemical change of atmosphere from without, and by imbibing fi-om the earth and aii- ai-ound them extraneous matter into their systems, as is the fear- fully and wonderfully formed human frame itself. Indeed, S0D"ie of the functions of the two forms of creation ai-e so marvellously alike that it cannot be otherwise. The laws by which the vitality of plants is governed ai-e so easily deranged, and plants themselves so subject and sensitive to all deteriorating influences, that it is most desh-able to be thoroughly awiu-e of at least the most prominent of those causes which produce iniurious influences that so greatly aft'ect theu- health and longevity. The attempts which are now so numerously and laudably made to grow Grapes under glass by those who are entirely without experience, and, to a large extent, ignorant of the physiology and functions of plants, renders it the more likely that any remarks which may be made in reference to the heading of this article, may be of some slight service in helping the inexperienced to gain the pleasing and wished- for object of sitting under their own fruitful Vine : therefore it is that I have to offer a few remarks on some of the dangers and mistakes into which the youthful Grape-grower is most likely to fall. The excellent publications on the Vine which have from time to time appeared, but especially of late, are all that could be desii-ed. They were never in- tended, however, to deal with every case which might possibly arise, nor to supersecle the more desultory province of the journalist. The two proviuces are so entu-ely distinct that the one can never supply the place of the other. The Vine is not naturally a short-lived plant. The con- trary is just one of its chief characteristics, whether it gi-ow on the slopes of a salubrious continent, or in the vineries of our own island. To give proof of this would be mere waste of words, 80 many instances being known of old Vines, which are still bearing heavy crops of good Grapes .yearly. Never- theless, the well-being and longevity of the Vino is so largely affected by errors in management, combined with local circumstances, that it is perfectly astonishing what a number of Vines year by year pass off the stage in their January 5, 1864. ] JOUENAIi OP HOKTICUIiTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. very infancy. Indeed, if it were not bo, and all the Vines grown in the kingdom were to take up new gi'ound, the face of the country would soon be dotted over with vineries at a rate which it would be naost desirable to see. The causes which I purpose to enumerate are only a few of the most destructive, and likely to be overlooked by amateurs and others of the most limited knowledge and experience of Grape-growing'. 1st, Too Rich Borders. — Gross feeding has too often been supposed, and said to be, a chief feature in the nature and requirements of the Vine. There never was a greater mistake. If large and spongy wood instead of fruitfulness and good Grapes were the object, then the border might safely consist of large proportions of gross manures, such as animal ex- crement and offal. But even with this object in view, such a border would only answer while the organic part of the mixture was decomposing, and tUl it had become effete and, I had almost said, poisonous. True, we hear of sonic who loot for an El Dorado of Grapes from one fat border, and who boast of canes, at two or three years old, of such and such a diameter, as if the chances of fine fruit wore in the same instead of an inverse ratio. There never was a greater day-dream. The fact is. Vines in such oii'cumstances are very much like a man long accustomed to plain and whole- some food, who is, under the mistaken notion of imj)roving his health and prolonging his life, obliged to take to the strongest food and noxious potions, by which the functions of his body are overcharged and obstructed, and who at last becomes the subject of speedy decline and certain dissolu- tion, unless by some curative means his system can be cleansed from such matters. I know of Vines which have made great growths for several years in such borders, the evil of which is now being pointed out, but from which not a presentable bunch of Grapes has been produced. This error, disastrous under any circum- stances, is the more to be dreaded in localities where, from damp sou and the greater prevalence of clouds, and vapours, and heavy rains, the consequent evils are aggravated in- stead of mitigated. To ripen such growths in the colder and wetter localities a wasteful amount of iii'e heat must be resorted to ; and even by such means the solidity and ripened fr-uitfulness of Vines cannot be accomplished in the course of our short summers. But this is not all. There is no guarantee that such a strong growth will be upheld. The consequences are the very reverse, because the assimilation is unnatural ; and something like the premature development of the youth who is growing into the grave at the expense of a well-compacted frame, the Vine feasts on the over-rich border, and makes an unnatural development of growth tUl the border arrives at that stage of decomposition at which it is reduced to a solidified mass of soU, efi'ete and pulpy, in which the roots of the Vine can neither ripen nor live ; and what else but the most und esirable results can follow such a state of things ? Nothing can produce satisfactory results but the entire removal of such soil from any contact with the Vines, and if this pioceeding is not resorted to in time their existence wUl soon be brought to an end. The inexperienced cannot, therefore, be too urgently ad- vised to avoid such border-making as one of the greatest evUs, and one which cannot be weU counteracted by any other points of management. Large bunches are the " wUl o' the wisp" object of such borders; but a scanty crop of long straggling, shanking bunches is the unavoidable reality. But why this itching after large bunches of Grapes ? GeneraUy they are the worst finished, and, when to be dished in a neat and presentable manner for table, the least desirable. A medium-sized bunch generaUy swells finer berries as to size and flavour, and is much more useful. When large bunches are craved after simply for their size, a Vine or two of some of the several large-bunching sorts might be planted, which would be a much more likely way of gaining the end in view than by planting the smaUer and more useful Grapes in the rich borders. There can be no greater delusion in connec- tion with Grape-growing, than to suppose because Vines have made enormously strong growths, that they will there- fore produce enormous bunches. Beyond a certain point, the reverse is the rule. This idea is especiaUy to be avoided by those who have only a greenhouse vinery, from which Grapes are expected without the least application of artificial heat. In their case success is impossible fr-om borders which produce that grossness of growth which cannot be made fruitful by proper ripening. 2nd, Too Heavy Cropping.— This, if practised for a few years, especially in the earlier stages of the Vine's existence, is as certain to cause a break -down as is the overworking of a young and undeveloped frame to be attended with deformity and premature old age. To avoid this evU it re- quires a deal of what may be termed moral courage to apply the knife or scissors to the bunches tiU they be reduced to that number which Vines can carry with impunity. A heavier crop than is judicious may be and often is matured to a wonderful degree of perfection, but not without taxing the Vine to a degree which it cannot bear many years m succession without suffering severely, and refusing to bear even moderate crops. It is no uncommon case to meet with Vines having the fruit-bearing spui-s much too closely set on the main stem, with a bunch, and sometimes two, on each shoot. This is the most cruel and suicidal treatment that can possibly be attempted. A moderate bunch to every foot of main stem is quite sufficient, and should not be exceeded by any who wish to keep their plants in a vigorous and fruitful condition. This is a rule which the inexperienced can easUy apply and modify according as the bunches are larger or smaller, and the Vines in good condition or otherwise, and it wiU in the end be found much more profit- able than the leave-all system so often met with. 3rd, Crowded Training and Close Stopping.— It is not required to enter into any argument to show that vegetables or fruits when crowded together, not only cesse to develope them- selves properly and bear their respective crops in a satisfac- tory manner, but that such a state of things proves, in many cases, the utter ruin of aU that are placed under such cir- cumstances. It is only necessary to sow a row of almost any vegetable, and leave it unthinned, or not to thin it sufS- ciently, or to allow a Gooseberry bush or many other plants to become overcrowded with wood, to see the evU effects of such a state prominently exemplified. This applies with great force to the cultivation of Grapes. Failure from this cause is not unfrequently met with in its very worst forms ; and I cannot help thinking that the great majority of our Vines would do vei-y much better if they were aUowed more room. At least the main stems or rods of Vines should not be closer together than 2J feet from rod to rod as the closest that is compatible with successful management ; while li foot more is a great advantage when the object is to obtain the best possible development of fcoth foliage and fruit. With the greater amount of room there would be no risk in exceeding the weight of crop that has been named above for a minimum or moderate space aUowed to each Vine. The fru't-bearing powers of a Vine must be measured by the amount of foliage and root-action which it is encouraged and allowed to make more than by any amount of stimulants which can be appUed when the action of the leaves and roots is checked by overcrowding and close stopping. The latter practice is one which generaUy and necessarUy ac- companies thick training, which, in conjunction with heavy cropping, will work the destruction of Vines as quickly as anything that can be named, and all the more so, as other evUs foUow in their wake. Train Vines 3 or 4 feet apart from stem to stem, with fruit-bearing spurs not closer than 20 inches or, better stiU, 2 feet, and leave three or four leaves beyond the bunch instead of only one, or, as I have seen practised, stop at the bunch itself, and there is encouraged the machinery that wUl soon estabHsh a Vine of a strength that wiU throw far finer crops than when crowded and pinched as I have referred to. Under such cu-cumstances there is a scale of action going on which can make good use of stimulants when they may be thought advisable. There is as much difference in results between these two rules as there is between the delicate seamstress who sits blanched and pale at her needle, deprived of light, air, and exercise, and the active out-door Amazon who is accustomed to the muscular work and fresh air of the field. To establish strong Vines there is nothing like room, light, and air. 4th, The Premature JOestrudion of Foliage. — As the pulmo- nary arteries convey the blood to the lungs there to be exposed to the air we breathe, and undergo changes, and be diffused through the system for its nom-ishment, so is the sap sent up to the leaves by the roots to undergo changes necessary for the weU-being of the plant. Premature de- JOTTEIirAL OF HOUTICULTtnBE AJfD COTTAGE GAItDESTEE. [ January 5, 1804. struction or injm-y to the lungs does not more certainly lead to iatal and injurious results to the animal bo^y than does the destruction of leaves before their proper time lead to like results in a plant. This, in the case of Vines, cannot be too carefully borne in mind, for it is impossible that Tines should be subject to having their leaves destroyed prematurely for years in succession by the ravages of red spider, without being cox-respoudingly weakened and ren- dered less ii-mtful. Tlds evU more generally arises fi:om the ravages of the red spider than from any other cause. True, soorehiug through negligent ventilation does sometimes occur. The crowding of ^'ines and the tender foliage which follovv-3 as a consequence, is a cause which predisposes to red spider ; and, probably, too much fire heat, and too little fresh air are the most likely to unite and bring it into activity. I am not, however, forgetful of the fact that dry, light soils in times of drought have to do with the presence of red spider, and so have other collateral causes ia a minor degi'ee — such as sudden checks, inattention to scrupulous clean- liness, and a few more that might be named ; but those especially pointed out may be regarded as the principal causes of the appeai'ance of this insect, which often does so much mischief by destroying the foliage. 5th, Very Early Forciny with the Boots in a Cold Border. — Very early forcing — that is, forcing in the winter months to ripen Grapes in March, April, and May, without attention to the temperatui'C of the soil, is sure to weaken and destroy very quickly the constitution of Vines. Even under the most efficient and favourable means tliis is a trying process, as the gi'owth has to be made in the absence to a very great extent of light. And hence the reason v/hy Vines started in August and September to ripen Grapes in January, do not suffer so much as those started in November. This is, howevei', an evil which comes less within the range con- templated in these remarks, and applies more to men of experience who are supposed to be able to meet or avoid as much as possible the evils dei^endaat on it. Comparatively few amateurs, and others almost whoUy inexperienced, attempt forcing Grapes at so early a season, and I there- fore dismiss the subject by simply remarking that Viues forced under such circumstances, unless the sod be heated, and the vineries made so as to catch and admit as much sunshine as possible, must not be expected to do any- thing else than succumb to a fate which cannot be long delayed. 6th, Too Limited an Extent of Border. — To make a narrow border however v/ell of so many feet in width when the Vines are planted, and to lep.ve them unheeded or uncared for in this respect, is a matter attended with no smaU mis- chief. More particulai-ly does this apply to localities where the surrounding natui'al soil is not suited to the natui-e and requirements of the Vine. Vine roots travel farther and quicker than many imagine, and theh- inclination if left to themselves is always outwards and onwai-ds, yes, and dovmwards, too ; and X think I am correct in saying that it is upon the farthest-off roots from the stems of the Vines that their produce and condition depend more than on those nearer home, however good may be the medium. The nearer you get to the stem the fewer of those gTeedy, active rootlets or iibres are to be found. They are to be met with in greatest abundance at the extremity of the border, and any one who has lifted old Vines to preserve their roots need not be reminded how strikingly this is the case. This, then, is the iilace whore nourishing matter ought to be most applied to the roots. The jjlan of making a yearly or biennial addition in v.-idth to a Vine-border is the surest way of maintaining health and vigour. Hence it is strongly to 1)6 recommended that borders should be made by degi-ees, and to a greater width than is general ; and when circum- stances render it imperative to cii'cumscribc the field, and the sun'oundiug soil is bad, tlio border should be surrounded with brick and cement, through which the roots cannot escape. After this every encouragement shoidd be giveu to make the roots multiply near the surface of tiie space to which they are ultimately confined. In cases where there was nothing more formidable than a path or wallf in the way of the roots getting throu,f;h to a good wholesome soU, where they could ramble without injury, I would say, Up with the waUc at once, if its position cannot be altered, and re- construct it by filling up with rough stones, good loam. and bones, and let them feed under your feet for a while and then pass on. 7th, Fungi. — These ai-e not only injurious to the Vines, but are certain death to a great many. They are produced in numberless instances by the liberal use of leaf mould, -vvith bits 01 v.-ood, Beech-nuts, ic, intermixed with it, which in a certain condition of sod, as to dryness, very soon fills the border, particularly inside and under the ai-ches of fruit walls, with fungi. These seize on the roots of the Vines, a.nd work sometimes up the stem, rupturing the tissues, and literally killing the Vines ; and when they do not prove so fatal, it is considered that they so permeate the soU that they exhaust it and render it less healthful and available for the Vine. Everytliing in the shape of pieces of wood or imperfectly decayed leaves should, therefore, be avoided in any soil which is intended for Vines. Such are what I conceive to be the most prominent dangers which beset beginners and others of little practice and experience, and who have not studied this subject to any extent, and I trust these remarks will be found useful. T>. THOiisoN. GEOWIIS-G EAELT PEAS IX THE OPEN CtEOIT:N'D. The frequent failures in the early sowings of this much- esteemed vegetable ;ire, in a great measui'e. owing to the ground not having been properly prepared for the reception of the seed. The ground in which Peas are to be sown shoiild be trenched fully two sjjades deep, shovelling up the bottom of the trench as the work goes on, and dug over twice with a five-pronged digging-fork one month at least before the Peas ai-e sown. I will detail my own successful method of sowing. I choose a fine day, and having at hand the following mrxtnre : — One bushel of newly-slaked lime, half a peck of fresh soot, and two bushels of hotbed manure almost in a state of dust, the whole well mixed up together. — I stretch the line where the Peas are to be sown, and spread this mixture at the rate of three bushels and a half to every 20 yards, and about li foot wide along the side of the Hne. I then fork it in about 15 inches deep, mixing it thoroughly with thej soU. I again stretch the line down the centre of what I have dug, and di'aw a di'ill 2 inches deep and rather wide, and sow the Peas at the rate of 11 jjint to every 20 yards of drill. I draw tie soil over the Peas with the rake, and then sprinkle over the drill some sifted coal ashes, or some river or drift sand having a little soot mixed with it. Last of aU, I stretch a line of cotton along the drill about 2 inches above the ground, not forgetting to apply a few mouse-traps baited mth p)eas. — David Pratt, Gardener, Ashleagh, Ireland. EVEJRGREEjyS AS OENAMENTAL OBJECTS BY THE SIDES OP EAILWAYS. Thanks to railway travelling, the superior cultivation or management of one district is not likely to be confined to that locality alone ; for the inquiring gaze of some professional traveller or of the pleasure-seeking tourist will be sure to pounce upon it, and straightway it goes into print. If by accident the writer's views ai'e en'oueous, he is quickly put right by some one better versed in the matter, and the public at large are in the main benefited by the publicity given; and rapid .as ai'C the movements of these public conveyances, the careftd looker-on has yet time at places to note down some of the most interesting featiu-es of cultivation to be met with in his way. In the rich vaUcy of the Thames, for a few miles both east and west of London, he will have time to see the great ac- curacy with which vegetable crops are put in, and the good quality of the produce. Celery, Aspar-agus, and Khubiu-b, as well as the smaller crops of Lettuce, early Cabbage, and the like are all good. Farther irom town fruits liecome more tlie objects of cultivation, and mixed plantations of Currants and Gooseberries, with Apple, Plum, or Peiu- trees overhanging them, are succeeded in turn by acres of Peas for market, or it may be Potatoes, for idl arc wanted; wliilo longer journeys reveal other crops required for the supply of January 5, 1SG4. JOURNAL OP HORTICTTLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. the great metropolis. If we take a journey on the Great Northern line in the early part of Aug-ust, an home's travelling wOl bring us in sight of some of the largest and loveliest flower-beds in the kingdom — riclily scented, too, for several acres of Lavender may be seen in bloom, presenting a mass of flower which we vainly attempt to excel in the parterre. Less gay, certainly, but not less useful, are the acres of Onions grown in the same neighbourhood, and seed is ripened also. A field of Cucumbers is not so interesting to look on ; but if the day be hot a disposition to relish an article so cool and agreeable is conjured up. Carrots and some other pro- ducts are also extensively met with in the same neighboui'- hood ; but the rapid movement of the ii'on horse leaves the spectator little time to recognise them, and still less to notice the nice little fronts some of the railway stations i^reseut if he is borne along by express train. Considerable advance has been made of late years in the decoration of the waste plots of ground around railway stations, and as tliis movement is stdl going on it ought to receive every encouragement. Taking another line of rail, the South- Western ; if the train is a slow one there will be plenty of stoppages to see many features in villa gardening, some elegant, othei'S less so ; but the general fertility of the first dozen miles or so has much in it to admire. Farther on a less promising country is met with, but all parts have their beauties ; and although the enterprising improver sees much on which he thinks a judicious outlay would be sure to bring its reward, we wiU dismiss that subject. Retracing our steps once more to the great centre of attraction, we wOl take a short journey by the South -Eastern, and there see jf within a very short distance of the starting-point there are not extensive plots of waste ground by the side of the rail- way itself requiring some one to take them in hand. Neat, orderly, and even tastefally-planted and kept as are some of the station fronts as well as the gardens which are attached to the stations, especially a few m£es away from town, there is, nevertheless, a large tract of waste land on the slopes themselves, near London, that might assuredly be made more productive, and in suitable hands remunerative. This, however, is the alfair of the Company, not that of the station-masters, whose efforts to make then' premises so at- tractive deserve all praise. In tMs age of pirogTess, especially in the decorative art, something move might be done by the great raUv/ay companies in patronising gardening along then- lines. Notvrithstanding the gay appearance of the creepers and other flowers on the station fronts (not forgetting the careful and intelligible way in which the names of many stations are written down on the banks in large letters of flint, a plan which I believe first originated at one of the stations on this line), there is still ample room for some further improvement, which it is obviously the duty of the proprietors of such places to go into — I mean the planting of shi-ubs as permanent features. Before discussing this matter, however, I may say that many private occupiers worthily emulate each other in their endeavours to present a nice appearance to the railway front, and they may be sure the thousands of passengers passing by applaud them for it. The outskirts of most large towns present some good examples of this. I remember once noticing some very creditable garden fronts by the side of the Great Western Railway, at more places than one ; and by the side of the Midland Railway, at Leicester, were some tastefully cultivated plots, which at the time I saw them were all the more interesting by their being in more cases than one evidently tended by ladies, who were seen thus engaged. Certain localities, however, offer insuperable barriers to much being done in this way. The black country, as it is called, between Wolverhampton and Birmingham, gives little hope of any success ; and the cold, bleak districts of stiU more northern counties admit of but little chance of a luxuriant vegetation, more espe- cially when the atmosphere is tainted with factory smoke or other nuisances. Retm-ning, however, to the subject of planting evergreen shrubs by the sides of railways, we think much might be done by this means to enliven the monotonous lines of naked cuttings and embankments. Evergreen shrubs are now to be had in great varietj' and at a cheap rate, and they give a clothed appearance to a place, which deciduous shrubs or trees fail to do; in fact, as objects of decoration they are more important than flowers, as they are per- manent in their usefulness. Considerable variety in out- ward form and appearance can always be had amongst them, while some of them are second to no bedding plant what- ever for the richness of colouring and abundance of their flowers. No Calceolaria that I am acquainted with excels the double-blossomed Gorse or Whin in brilliancy, wliUe the Broom is scarcely less so. The Rhododendron also affords many other tints, and in winter we have the Laurustinus, which no introduction of late years has approached for general usefubiess. Shrubs having fine, bright, and shining leaves are too numerous and too well known to requii'e men- tion. Ask any one having the management a,nd decoration of private grounds, Wiiat could be done without evergreens ? and the answer would be, that we should be very badly off indeed for seven months in the year without tliese highly necessaiy adjuncts ; for a pleasure ground without ever- greens v/ould be like a house without furniture — very well as far as it went, but deficient in the main essentials for comfort. I believe some will argue against my recommending the more extensive planting of evergreens by the sides of railways, that they might increase the danger of fires from the passing engines. This, I think, vi'ill not be the ease. The outer foliage is always green and fresh ; and the old leaves dropping in summer would not be in much danger of receiving the sparlcs when the plants became old, for they would then be covered by a living foliage, and while the plants were young, the presence of grass or weeds would prevent any serious conflagration. It would, however, be prudent to inquire whether any accidents have occurred from fii'e. We all know that herbage when dead and per- fectly dry often enough does ignite and burn to a certain extent in very dry weather ; but whether this woidd be the case with the old cast-off leaves of Laurels, Holly, and other shrubs is uncertain. Judging from the rarity of such occur- rences amongst shrabberies kept by private individuals, there is reason to believe that fii'e will not be likely to occur ; or if there were any danger, it would be easy to avoid coming near dwelling-houses, or other valuable property of a com- bustible kind with such plantations. At the same time the examples of such companies as have ornamented a portion of their line, or at least the environs of their stations in this manner, may be consulted ; and if the shrubs are not liable to take fii'e, then let their example be copied if practicable. That such examples exist need not be told, but they are less numerous than they ought to be. The best that I have seen are on the line of railvvay from Bu'kenhea,d to Chester and some other places around the latter city, and the clothed appearance which the evergreens gave the sloping banks and outsku'ts of the station eerta,inly struck me as well worth copying. The time I saw them being summer, there was no lack of foliage elsewhere, but they looked well, and doubtless appeared to still greater advantage when summer flowers were gone and deciduous tree.^- were devoid of verdure In the long winter months they must exhibit that lively appearance which enhances their value so much in the dressed grounds smToimding a private residence; and if patches of them were more plentifully scattered along the line of some of the important railway arteries, an impetus would be given in a du'ection both useful and oi-namental. Before closing these notes, I ■wi'il observe that some rail- way citttings and embankments exhibit of themselves several interesting specimens of indigenous plants. Some of those through chalk present Wallflowers, Antirrhinums, and Va- lerian in great abundance, the last-named very showy in- deed. Heath and wild Thyme are also beautiful; while some sandy districts are crimson with Poppies. The native Heaths are also found in abundance in the proper localities and ever and anon the Ox-eye Daisy jjresents its starry front. But as there will still be ample space left for these after the evergreens noticed above are aU planted, it would bo only multiplying the objects of attraction to sow such. And if the time should ever arrive when the good-keeping of our railway embankments, cuttings, or waste lands equalled that of our public or private gardens, and their products though less numerous were likewise interesting, those who were pioneers in such an ornamental work would deserve the grateful acknowledgeuf ents of their neighbom-s. It is, there- fore, to be hoped tliose railway companies having the means wiU set apart a sum for this purpose, and at the 6 JOUENAL OP HOKTICTJLTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ January 5, 1864. end of two years they will find that whatever sum they may have appropriated to this purpose wUl have borne better fruit than double the same amount that may have been expended in law matters, waged against some rival com- pany for an object of little importance to any concerned excepting, perhaps, to those learned gentlemen of the long robe, whose actions, unlike those of the planter, become the worse by being fully carried out, and in the end realise but little of any importance excepting misfortune to those con- cerned, and certainly nothing whatever to the outside public. J. EOBSON. VAEIEGATED BALM— TEAPPIKG SLUGS- HABITS OF WOEMS. I NOTICED a short time since in your Journal, that a com- plaint was made that some Golden Variegated Balm had become green, and I beg to say that I purchased a plant from Messrs. Carter & Co., in September last, and the new growth since then is more brilliant than the old. I have tried iodine and starch for trapping slugs, as re- commended in your Journal, and find that they are attracted, but not more so than by slices of Swedish tm-nips. The pieces must be examined in the evening between the hours of eight and ten. I lately found twenty slugs of different sizes on a piece of turnip which 1 had placed near a plant of Stachys lanata which they were completely destroying. The best plan is to throw the turnip with the slugs into a vessel of water, which can be brought into the house. The turnip should be then taken out and some lime thrown into the water. The pieces of turnip will last a long time. No other kind of turnip than the Swedish will answer. Why do the large worms draw stems, pieces of stick, and anything of the kind they can move into then- holes, and gather all the small stones within theii- reach and pile them in a heap over the entrance ? — J. L. [We have always considered that worms draw vegetable substances into their burrows to feed upon them whilst decaying ; and the heaps of pebbles they collect over the entrances of theii- biu-ro>vs we have similarly concluded were to preserve a temperature agreeable to the tenants.] VINE-GEOWING AT THE BEEKHAMPSTEAD NUESEEY. Will you inform me whether we are to understand Mr. Fish as saying, in No. 142, page 472, when explaining the manner in which Messrs. Lane plant Vines, that nine-tenths of the trouble and expense of making Vine-borders is un- necessary, and that by procuring a quantity of tan and loam, just sufBcient for the roots to run in, success is as certain as if the Vines were planted in a border thoroughly prepared ? Are we also to understand that the natural loam of the common wherein Roses, Rhododendrons, Portugal Laurels, Deodars, &c., grow most luxuriantly, and where Araucaria imbricata grows so compactly and beautifully " as to be worthy of being photographed and engraved," is only to be obtained in very few places in England ? If so, I think Mr. Fish is not sufficiently plain in his article on that subject. I also feel inclined to think that unless the above ques- tions are answered, many gentlemen will feel disposed to consider that they have been put to useless expense in the preparation of theu- Vine-borders, although the situation, soil, ic, may have been altogether very different. I do not ask for these explanations in a captious spirit, but because I think Mr. Fish is not so lucid in the state- ment referred to as I generally find him. — F. D. [We beg to assure " F D." and all other friends, that we have a strong impression that the man w)io cannot beat- even unfriendly criticism and make the best of it is tho- roughly unfit to write for any periodical, and the best thing he can do for his own comfort is to keep his opinions and facts to himself; and this, too, will generally be best for the community, as it is seldom that thin-skinned people have much of value to communicate. Friendly criticism, on the other hand, must ever be very agreeable, as it shows that attention has been paid, and affords an opportunity of giving explanations of matters that othei-wise might seem obscui'e. Whilst pleased, therefore, with the approbation as to our lucidity in general, we are sorry that the article at page 472 is not sufficiently plain to oui' correspondent ; and we regret this all the more, since, by looking over it, we fear it is not in our power to make it plainer or more lucid. However, we will try, and thus at least show that we are willing to oblige. The only error that we see worth noting is that made by our own carelessness or a slight slip of the engi'aver, by which the border, as shown on the south side of fig. 2, is higher than it really is. As far as we recollect, it will scarcely be two-thirds of the height there shown, and we mention this just to show that the border made above the natural soil was even more shallow than is there represented. Now, before answering the two chief questions, our cor- respondent will allow us to remind him, fii'st, that a critic should be sure to quote correctly the opinions which he chooses to criticise; and, secondly, that what is said of these Vines is less a reference to opinions and recom- mendations of peculiar systems than it is a mere statement of the facts of the case. In answer to the question if the loam of the common is to be matched in few places in England, we should say decidedly, Tes, in abundance of places, especially where a gardener could get liberty to take the surface from upland pastures, or even to skim the surface turf from the sides of some old high- way in a loamy district. The loam on the common is very good brown stuff; but there is plenty as good at no great dis- tance from most gardens, provided the gardener can obtain it. But in many places you might as well cut down some old tree as obtain leave to move a sod of turf. In the descrip- tion of the things that are grown at the common, a good way off from the Vine-house, our correspondent speaks of "Ai'aucarias growing so compactly and beautifully as to be worthy of being photographed and engraved." Our words are, "Among the large quarters of fine Araucarias, there are two or three so compact and beautiful," &c. We think we should have added " plants" after the word "three," as it was these two or three specimens, and not the fine Araucarias in general, that we deemed worthy of being photographed, as being out of the common way. To the second question, " Is the preparation of Vine- borders unnecessary ?" we unhesitatingly reply. By no means. Nor do we see that we have said a word to lead gentlemen to grumble at the expense of a Vine-border, providing good Grapes are produced from it. The making or not making a border had nothing to do with our statement of the facts of the case. As a rule, when we have said an3'thing on the subject, we have recommended such borders to be elevated and drained. We had just been describing how such borders were carefully made at Keele Hall and Trentham, and had we tlie chance it is such modes we would like to foUow, and especially for Vines that were wanted to ripen fruit at all early. But that had little to do with the propriety of chronicling the fact of very successful Grape-growing with but little of this careful preparation. No mere opinion, no advocacj' of systems, will neutralise a fact. Of course, the roots would not be confined to the narrow border. Measures are even spoken of as in contemplation to secure continued fertility to the Vines by making the inside border. There can be no question, however, that there ai'e many positions in which the Vine will flourish as well or better in the natural soil than in any soil that can be given to it, unless a pasture could be thinly jiared on purpose and all stagnant moisture gu.arded against. The late Mr. Wilmot, of Isle- worth, grew first-rate Grapes from Vines that were planted in a path amongst clinkers and boulders. The late Mr. Glendinning, at Chiswick, had fine Grapes that, as far aa we recollect, seemed to have little better to grow in than a rough gravel walk. No doubt mauy other instances may be given. No doubt there is something in the natural soil at Berkhampstead that suits the A''ine besides the little fresh loam that was given to them. That can only be known on trial. One thing such a fact as our statement proves abundantly, and that is the impropriety of going down from 2 to 6 ieet and clearing all out to form a border, which will be no higher, or perhaps below, the surrounding level, instead of making the border much more easily by placing it chiefly above the surface level. The Vines at Berkhampstead may at least give us a lesson in the simple modes of treatment. January o, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. We should also bear in mind that having fii'st-rate Grapes in May and in September requires rather different conditions for insuring success. — E. F.] EOOTS AND LEAVES. (Continued from page 371.) TiBKES are formed in proportion to the wants of the stems and leaves; are increased by transplantation and a poor sou ; and destroyed by transplantation, improper and too rich soU, and stagnant water. There are many minor causes of the increase or decrease of fibres, some of which will, no doubt, be brought to light in the course of inquiry. Transplantation has %'arious effects, and is resorted to, first, to increase the formation of the fibres or mouths of a plant ; second, to check vigorous and rampant growth ; third, it is simply the removing of a plant from a place where it is not wanted to one where it is desired. Transplantation with the first-named object in view is chiefly practised on Lettuce, Celery, and the Cabbage tribe. Pricking-out breaks the radicle or perpendicular root, and from it fibres are abundantly emitted close to the stem. This enables the cultivator to transplant with a ball one mass of fibres, the operation itself causing the emission of more owiag to their extremities being cut oS; but there are sufficient spongioles in the ball to absorb the copious water- ings that follow transplantation, and to prevent the leaves flagging, which would take place if the plant had nothing but its leaves and the naked root-stem to absorb moisture. The prioking-out of anything is simply robbing it of a few roots to give it more, and to bring them nearer the stem, so as to enable the plants to bear removal better. Trans- plantation not only increases the number of mouths, but induces sturdy growth, small stems, and lai-ge leaves. It also enables the cultivator to place food in close contact with the feeders, whilst if not practised it would be of little use placing food near the stems, for the radicles would soon ran through it, having the fibrils at their extremities : there- fore, rich soil near the stem would yield no nutriment to the plant. The aim of transplantation in this case is to limit the radicle root-action to a minimum, and promote fibry root-action to a maximum. It is the fibres that are wanted, for they, give sturdy growth and large leaves with but little atem, and the larger the leaves the more useful are vege- tables. Transplantation, however, in certain cases is not bene- ficial. Tap, fleshy, or otherwise fusiform-rooted plants, as Carrots, Parsnips, and nearly all toberous I'oots, are de- teriorated by transplantation. Eoots, nevertheless, that emit a quantity of fibres, and have the root for the most part or wholly above ground, stand transplantation better than those with the root underground ; but the efi'ect pro- duced is not uniform in varieties of one species. For instance : White Turnips will not do well after transplantation, but Swede Turnips transplant as freely as Cabbages ; Eed Beet does not transplant well, for it is apt to become stringy and woolly after transplantation ; but Mangold Wurtzel is equally fine transplanted as when allowed to grow where sown. Transplanting Potatoes, or any root crop, is not neoes- saiy, except to fill up gaps in the main crops. Potatoes and Jerusalem Artichokes transplant freely when the top is but a few inches in height. In a cottager's garden last year I saw a bed of Potatoes with the sets about 3 inches apart every way, and was struck with the novelty of the system. He had taken a plot of garden ground, and did not come into possession until the 12th of May, and by transplanting the Potatoes he was likely to obtain a prodigious crop, whereas had he kept the sets out of the ground until he took pos- session of the garden, he would not have had a crop worth mentioning. The gardener does nearly the same with h.Vf his crops. He raises his plants in small beds, and then transfers them to their final quai-ters, very often ground in which a few days before some other crop was growing. If the seed had been sown when the previous crop came off much time would have been lost. Transplantation should be practised with everything that vrill bear it. It saves space, insures a quicker and more certain rotation of crops, and increases the vigour and pro- ductiveness of plants. It also enables them to stand changes of temperature better, increases their supply of nutriment, for many mouths requne more than few, and enables the plant so treated to derive the greatest possible ainount > : benefit from the food supplied. Transplantation is identical with repotting a plant. We do not plant a cutting in a No. 1 pot at once, but we put it in the smallest size possible, and when its roots have run through the soil in the small pot, we shift it into one a size larger, and not into the pot which it vrill require as a specimen. We are not long before we repot again, and so on. But what is all this repotting and trouble for ? Why not put the plant into a large pot at once ? Some will tell you that cuttings always strike more freely when placed round the sides of a pot ; but what can burnt clay have to do with the striking of a cutting ? Eeally nothing. We are aware that if we at once place a small plant in a No. 1 pot, it never makes so fine a specimen as a plant which is shifted fi-om a 60 into a 48, 32, 24, 16, 8, and 1. There may be no difference in the compost, either in quan- tity or quality ; nevertheless, the once-shifted plant wastes more than it collects, but the other uses every particle of nutriment the soil contains. The roots of one are not con- fined, those of the other are. Their case is the same as that of two farmers, of whom one turned his cattle into his field when the grass was grown a little, whilst the other would not allow his to be turned out until the grass was fit for cutting and making into hay. The first knew that there was enough grass for his cattle to eat at once, and that by the time they had eaten it more, would be grown or growing but the other calculated that the more food there was the more the cattle would eat ; and he, like many advocates of the " one-shift system," forgot that they would eat their fill and then waste the rest. The parallel between the case of the farmers and then- cattle, and shifting a plant often and but once, is exact. The one plant is supplied with food to meet its wants for a certain period, and by the time that is exhausted more is given as its necessities require. The other is supplied with the food it is to have dui-ing its ex- istence ; but, instead of husbanding its means, it lavishes it away in gross growths, and very soon has run through its allotted space from which there is no returning, the fibres matting round the sides of the pot, and leaving the pon- derous ball for the most part unexplored. Eoots naturally never return to collect food once neglected or not wanted, but theu- business is extension outwards from the stem ; and much as some people talk about roots being attracted by food to grow in a particular direct'on, they never yet have told of one instance in which they knew it occur. We always find roots most plentiful round the sides of a pot, and this has led many to conclude that the pot attracted the roots. If we dig round a plant and put in an edging or division of stone we find them matted there as in a pot. The sides of a pot simply prevent root-extension, cause the multiplication of fibres, and act in the same way as trans- plantation. They limit the roots to a given space, and the food is given in a more concentrated form than when the roots have unlimited space to run through and collect nutriment from. The second reason for transplantation— to check over- vigorous growth — is of great importance to aU cultivators, and is resorted to in order to induce fruitfulness. The operation requii-es skill, and should only be done when other remedies have failed. I have seen root-pruning practised where there was no necessity for it. It is well to see that a plant is not too highly fed, and what judiciously stopping the branches, and exposure to more light and air will do towards removing barrenness and promoting fertility, before such an extreme measure as root-pruning is adopted. Simply draining the land in many instances increases productiveness by freeing the soil of the superfluous moisture which rendered it cold, and induced late growths in autumn instead of the ripening of the wood. Stopping gross shoots to a certain extent limits root-action, and in many instances promotes fruitfulness, but may also create a multiplication of rank growths. When, however, any of the above means have been adopted and fail to induce fruitfulness, root-pruning and lifting may be suc- cessfully resorted to. SmaU trees may be lifted without checking gi-owth too much. The operator will be careful to retain all the fibres that are near the stem of the plant, pruning only the thick roots most distant from it, with the object of causing fibres to be emitted nearer the stem than 8 JOURNAL OP HOETICTJLTXJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Janunry 5, 1864. hitherto, tiie aim in a case of this description being to pro- mote the action of the fibrous roots, and thus cause food to be collected slowly instead of rapidly as before lilting took place. The operator must discriminate between a plant with an umbrageous head and one which is of erect growth. The fibres of the former ai'e situated at a greater distance from the stem than those of the latter ; a greater root is, therefore, necessary to be allowed the former than the latter. The head of an umbrageous tree keeps oil the wet, and so destroys the fibres near the stem, so that the fibres are situated at the outside of the space sheltered by the head. In lifting any plant to induce fruitfulncss too many fibres cannot be preserved on the roots, nor can the roots that strike perpendicularly into the soil or travel a great distance without emitting fibres, bo brought by pruning too neai' the stem. In the ahnost total absence of fibres root-pruning should be limited to removing the thickest and oldest roots, for these rarely emit fibres of any consequence, whilst the young and small roots should be scrupulously preserved. Very vigorous trees may be deprived of half their roots, but weak growers and such as have naturally many fibres cannot have too much root left on removal. The roots in all cases should be spread out upon the surface, and be above rather than below the adjoining gi'ound level. They will emit more fibres by being near the surface, derive more benefit Irom rains, and be inore under the influence of the sun than when planted at a greater depth. Any one at all acquainted with meteorology knows that the temperature of the surface of the earth changes with that of the sm-rounding air ; and it is only common sense to conclude that the more the roots of a plant experience the changes to which the head is subjected, the more uniformly will they be able to work. Eoots at a great depth are not so suddenly influenced by the atmosphere as those situated near the surface, and so continue to act irrespective of the head : hence deep-rooted plants do not suffer so much fi'ora drought as those with roots near the surface. But this advantage is more than counterbalanced by another circumstance — they axe continually transmitting sap to the stems and leaves, and so force the half-ripened buds into growth by a superabundance of food which the leaves cannot fuUy elaborate, and so growth progresses; whereas the whole vital enei-gies of the leaves are, when the roots are near the surface, concentrated on the ripening of the wood and the maturation of the buds at their axils. Trees that are old and Large may be partially cured of barrenness by digging round them at about half their height from the stem, and cutting all roots that travel beyond that distance. If the roots, however, are deep it is necessary to lift them in order to promote fiaiitfulness ; but this opera- tion, in many cases, cannot be performed. In such a case ringing the stem, although a barbarous system, is often very successful ; but caution is necessary, for an old tree is sooner killed than a young one. Eingmg is simply taking a portion of bark from the stem at its junction with or a little above the roots. If about an inch be thus taken from the stem halfway round it, leaving the other half unmolested for the elaborated sap to return by, and a ligature of moss is bound round the ringed part, it is not improbable that a callosity will be formed there ; and if so. the moss should be kept moist, so as to fiu'ther the profusion of roots. On their appeai-ance soil must be placed for the roots to extend in, and when these attain any dimensions the other half of the stem may also be ringed, by which means many trees might be provided with a new set of roots, and measures taken to prevent these penetrating too deeply into the soil. Peach, Plum, and Apple trees very often Ibrm large knots or excrescences just above the surface soil; but this is not a case of vigorous root-action, but the reverse. It is an effort of vegetable life to provide new parts necessary to the existence of the subject. If soil be placed around these pro- trusions and kejit moist, in time roots wOl be put forth, and the vigour and healthfulness of the tree will, as a necessary consequence, bo increased. Many trees now prolonging a miserable existence by growing in an improper soil or other- wise lacking support, might thus become resuscitated without the expense of making new borders and waiting for the pro- duction of fruit. Although these excrescences are mostly formed between the roots and the origin of the branches, yet there are instances m which they occur along the stem at some dis- tance from the root, and not unfrequently along the branches. They ai'e always more or less indicative of imperfect root- action, and ai-e more common on the Apple and Plum than any other fruit tree. If boxes be made to hold earth near those piarts and the soil be kept moist, roots wUl be emitted from the excrescence, and, if iifterwards duly attended to with water and root-action encouraged, the box will soon become full of fibres. The stem may then be cut below the box ; the pai't above unnailed from the waU if ti'ained to one, and lowered to the earth, when it may be planted, and if watered in spring it will start into growth and make a fi'uitftil tree in half the time that a young one would, and have in addition the advantage of being on its own roots. I cannot think any plant improved by gi'owing on other roots than its own, though in this way wo are enabled to grow many plants unsuitcd to the soU of the locality where we happen to be situated. Lifting is piractised on miniature or dwarf fruit trees l^retty extensively, and has for its object the limitation of root-action in propiortion to the demands of the head. It causes the production of fibres, gives a plant many mouths, but of an annual character : hence, the plant is fed slowly, the growths are small, and the leaves and fruit lai-ge in pro- portion to the size of the tree, and the wood short, close- jointed, and well matured. The roots never travel far, but are kept near the stem : therefore, an addition of rich soil mostly accompanies the operation. It is seldom that trees so treated need lifting oftener than biennially, and not always then ; but whenever the trees shov/ a disposition to make wood which does not by stopping yield fruit-buds, it is an indication that they need lifting. A certain amount of root-pruning is practised in such cases, but it should be limited to thinniug and shortening the fibreless roots. — G. Abbey. (To be continued.) PLA^s^TS m FLOWEE AT CHRISTMAS I!N" THE. ISLE OF WIGHT. The climate of Great Britain is proverbial for its change- ableness, yet in few countries is the popidation more healthy. My present object, however, is not to speak of the inhabi- tants but to make a few remarks upon the weather which we had here last autumn, and to give the names of the principal plants which are now in flower out of doors without having received any protection. I do not remember any Christmas-day so much like that which is just past as the Christmas of 1837, wliich more resembled a beautiful day in September than the time of Christmas logs, cheerful blazing fires, and merry games iipon the ice. 1S37 was my first year in England, and having come fi-oni a good way north, where the frost generally comes on much earlier and with more intensity, I was then much surprised, having seldom seen the grass fields so green in the end of Seiitember. We mowed all the short grass in the pleasure grounds during last December, and some of it is now too long, and we must be at it again with the scythe, unless frost visit us soon and check its growth. I may remai'k, that it is far- from desirable to mow short grass in December, for it wUl not stand well against the scythe in many places from the thinness of its growth, and the mowing machine is out of the question while everything keeps so damp. To return from this digression. In front of the greenhouses are several sorts of Fuchsias, which remain in the border all winter, being merely cut down to within a few inches ef the soil, and then protected with old mat several times doubled, so as to be some inches thick, with a few pegs rcund the sides to hold it down. These Fuchsias are not now generally grow n, but were considered good eight or ten y>' irs ago. They grow up quite vigorous in summer, and wiien neatly staked they present a very gay api>oaranee, rising above the lower flowering plants. In the same border are now in flower Tom Thumb and Christina Geraniums, Virginian Stocks (very gay). Mignonette, several sorts of Eoses, and the common Miirigold ; more in the open ground there are blue Ageratums, Cujihea platycentra, Virginian Stocks, Mignonette; Calceolarias Amplexicaulis, Eugosa. Prince of Orange, Aurea floribunda, Latitolia ; several sorts of Nosegay Geraniums; Veronica speeiosa, Lindloyana. January 6, ISCl. ] JOUBNAl OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 9 and the variegated-foliagod one ; several sorts of common Euclisias, such as the old and low-growing Globosa, and Coocinea. No doubt many others would have been in flower had we not destroyed them in order to dig the borders and beds, those enumerated growing in a few of the mixed borders. Of more hardy plants now in flower, there are a good many Koses, Wallflowers, and several splendid bushes of Laui-ustinus— a siu-ub which tells well at this dull season. A bush of Laurustinus of from 6 to 8 feet high, and fully as much in diameter, having its whole surface about equally divided between its open bunches of flower and the green leaves, is a beautiful object, and the property which the plant has of flowering in winter is to my mind a great re- commendation. CoroniUa glauca is now nicely in flower, its yellow blossoms contrasting very pleasingly with the beautiful green foliage ; also many of the common yellow hedgeside Primrose. Of Leycesteria formosa the flowers are nearly over; they are never very pretty, but the racemes of fruit clustering and hanging down from the ends ot the slender curved branches always render the plant an object of interest in the shrubbery, and the graceful curving of the branches affords a pleasing contrast with the more stifi' out- line of most other shrubs. Chinese Privet is another shrub, ■which is much to be recommended from its flowering at the dullest part of the year. Several plants of this have been in flower for six weeks. The common Furze, from its telling effect when in flower at this season, is well worthy of a place in a shrubbery, especially if in a neighbourhood Tvhere it is not to be seen growing natvu-ally in the hedge- rows. Chrysanthemums have given a very good display this autumn, some are very gay yet. Of Violets we have had the single blue Eussian in flower for six weeks or more, and now the light blue Neapolitans are in flower. The <;ommon Daisy is plentiful. I saw it stated in the newspapers, some time ago, that green Peas were gathered, not far fi-om here, in the middle of last month; and with reference to this, I will just remark that these were ti'om old Peas which had stood over from the month of August, when they had been sown to give a late autumn crop, and that the dull, cloudy, and rainy weather which followed prevented their yielding a fuU crop ; at least such was the case at this place, where our late-sown Peas were much torn about by the wind, otherwise they would have yielded green Peas quite as late. We pulled them up three weeks ago, and then they had many flowers upon them, and about a teaoupful of Peas. I give this little account of having green Peas in the middle of December partly to rectify a popular error, many supposing these Peas had not been sown any length of time. Many winged songsters have been insjiiiiting ns all through December with then- cheerful voices, reininding us more of April than dark and dull December. — G. Dawson. [Besides the foregoiug we have received the following : — "As a proof of the wonderful mildness of the season, I send yon three flowers which I have just picked (Christmas-day) in my open garden, and which I think will interest you. They are Acacia (longiflora ?), Lardizabala biternata, and Euryops punctata. The Lardizabala is nailed against an east wall; the other two are in the open border, but in rather sheltered places. The Euryops is a mass of blossom. — H. N. Ellacomee, Bitton, BHstol."} THE STEAWBEEEY CONTEOVEESY. A TOED IN CONCLUSION. The strawberry controversy is terminated, and it is •quite obvious that Mr. Eeid has fuUy made up his mind to pursue his own course, and he is perfectly right in so doing since the result is satisfactory to him. So. on the other hand, I shall adhere to the system that has proved very profitable here, and which system I have seen adopted in other places, and always with success. In the year 1860 I happened to be in Edinburgh, where I saw the seythe in operation mowing off all the Strawberry leaves, and in the following season the result was a very good crop of fine fruit. AVhether it was the annual practice there, or whether it was done merely as an experiment, I am not prepared to say; but at aU events it was in the Expei-imental Garden, Inverleith Eow. A friend, the other day, wrote to me as follows :— " I have read with much interest the Strawberry discussion between you and Mr. Eeid. I must certainly coincide with your statement, for it is the same system as I adopt, and it leads to good success, so far as a good crop of tine fr-uit, strong plants, and tidiness are concerned, and that is all we can possibly wish for in that department. When at Thorndon HaU we used the scythe for that purpose, after clearing all the leaves off, and likewise the fern that was laid down for the protection of the fruit against dirt, &c. The beds were then manured and forked directly, and I am sru'e no one could wish for finer fruit or stronger and better-looking plants than those were. I never before heard of Straw- berries requiring protection in winter." I should be most happy if Mr. Eeid could make it con- venient to pay me a visit in due season — say in the begin- ning of June. I should feel a pleasure in pointing out to him every plant that has been subjected to this treatment in order that he might see and judge for himse'f : therefore I give my name and address. — Jas. Beckett, T/ie Gardens, Granbrooke Parle, near Ilford, Essex. VISITS TO GAUDENS PUBLIC AND PEIVATE. DANGSTEIN. What lover of horticulture has not heard of the Lady Dorothy Nevill ? — of her ardent love for and liberal encou- ragement of all that pertains to a garden, and how she has made Dangstein a household -word amongst the lovers of flowers ? Could it be otherwise, then, when ministerial work called me within eleven miles of her residence, that I should desire to see both it and its fafr and noble owner ? But how to get there was the difficulty. It does not lie in the way of railways; omnibuses don't run there; and to walk it was rather beyond my powers on a dull November day. But a friend in need came to my mind, and, mounted on one of Lord Leconfield's horses, and armed with a letter of introduction from his lordship, I set forth ; and in truth it was a ride full of many memories. The road lay through Midhurst, where thfrty-three years ago I had been a school- boy. And as I rode through Cowdray Park, then the resi- dence of the Poyntz family, and now of Lord Egmont, how many a spot came back to my recollection ! There, on the hill, stood the grove which had been the scene of many a storming party; here the avenue of noble trees under which Easebourne Fafr used to be held ; and there, long before Aunt Sally was invented, with a gusto, equal to that of noble dukes and earls engaged in its modern rival, did we undertake to knock over Jack-in-the-boxes, and other valu- able and important treasures. There, before my eyes is a clasp-knife, which, I remember at the time I considered equal to the finest production of Toledo or Damascus, fell to the prowess of my aim — alas ! to find out that it was only a bit of soft ii'on. And then, as I passed the old school, with what a melancholy feeling did I see its windows broken, tOes off, "its garland fled, and all its halls deserted" — all the more sad because, owing to the obstructiveness of one trustee, who, worse than the dog in the manger, will not consent to its passing into the hands of the Charity Com- missioners ; but one feeling above all others predominated — thirty-three years had passed since I had been there. Of my schoolfellows many, indeed the greater number, had passed away from my memory. But one I had met last year — a clergyman, with, of course, a flourishing family; another is a major-general in the army; another holds high rank in a highland regiment; and so on. But I myself? Why, I had passed through many a varied scene since then, not one of which I then cared to know; but I could say that "goodne-:.= a-nd mercy had followed me;" and that, however exaltea :.-.ight be the position in life of those who started with me, I had that for wliich I would not exchange mine, humble though it was. WeU, I must not sermonise, but hasten on to Dangstein. Let me, however, say a word about the gardens at Petworth Plouse. I endeavoured to give some idea of them diuring the summer, and when in their fulness of fruitfulness ; but I lite to see what a gardener is doing dming the winter 10 JOUENAL OF HOETICUXrUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Jinnarj- s, 1854. months, and what preparations he is making for a future campaign. Here it was just as I expected. An abundant crop of Mushrooms testified to the excellence of the plan adopted here. The houses were all in good order. Some had been improved since my last visit. In the pits Aspa- ragus was being cut, and Beans were being gathered. Cu- cumbers were abundant, while some fine Grapes were hang- ing in one house, fuU and juicy as in August ; and altogether there was just that order and care which one might have expected from Mr. Jones's well-known practical and scientific gardening. I found that he m.ade the same complaints with regard to Apples and Pears that have appeared in your columns already, and which " M. J. B." has descanted upon in a contemporary. Specks appear- " without rhyme or reason," and then away goes the Apple or Pear, while many of the latter ripen months earlier than they ought to do ; so that, notwithstanding an abundant crop and an admirable fruit-house, he expected soon to run short of his supply. Amongst Apples there was not one that tasted or kept better than the Cockle or Nutmeg Pippin. Some places celebrated in the horticultural world have attained celebrity by the beauty of their situation, or the picturesque character of their grounds, or by the extensive character of the gardens. The fame of Dangstein rests on none of these, it is situated on an eminence which, indeed, commands a very extensive and beautiful view. Before it are the South Down hills ; while on one side the valley of the Eother on towards Midhurst and Petworth, on the other the Hampshire downs, give great diversity and beauty to the view. But there are no grand avenues of trees, no noble specimens of the forest, no umbrageous valleys or " bushy glens ;" the whole place looks new, and the most interesting portion of it is so. To make it what it is has been a work and labour indeed, but it has been one of love ; and under the excellent taste and openhanded liberality of its owner, and the scientific management of Mr. Vair, Dang- stein has become a famous place — famous for a collection of plants of such rarity and beauty as are seldom to be met with save in public institutions. It would be useless and uninteresting to transcribe the names of the various pro- ductions that the numerous houses contained, for it would be simply to copy out the most noticeable plants in a modern catalogue, and to add to them some which never find their way there. I shall, therefore, simply notice a few things that struck me as exceedingly interesting either for their raiity or excellent cultivation. To me the glory of the houses, as far as the latter point is concerned, were the AnoBctochUus and the Lattice-Plant (Ouvirandrafenestralis). One generally sees the former in small collections, half of which are in a moribund state — " fogging off," as the tech- nical and significant term is. Not so the Dangstein col- lection under Mr. Vair's management : all were in good health. Healthy and well-foliaged plants of A. setaceus, petola, BuUeni, Veitchi, Lowii, Lowii virescens, xantho- phyllus, and many others amply testified to the excellent and skilful management which had led to such results; and certainly nothing can well be more beautiful than the rich and varied markings of then- beautiful foliage, but these were exceeded even by the wonderful growth of the Ouviraudra. Mr. Vair told me that when first received the greatest difficulty had been experienced with it, that various " artful dodges " had been tried, but all had failed until it was determined to let it " gang its ain gait ;" and the result was that, like most wilful things, it did well when it had its own way. One plant had two hundred of its beau- tiful and curious leaves on it, while a number of its progeny were flourishing in small pots round it. Another plant seemed to be equally vigorous, and, in fact, there was no more trouble in growing it than a Water Lily. In the same house were some fine Pitcher-plants : amongst them Nepenthes Dominiana, the pitcher of which holds nearly three-quarters of a pint of water ; Sarraceniaflava, pm-pm-ea, and variolaris ; and some rare and beautiful Filmy-Ferns. Amongst the plants remarkable for fine or curious foliage were Ai'alia papyrifera, Cheirostcmon platanoides, Monstera deliciosa(Philodendron pertusum), Sauro"us Gardneri flower- ing from the axils underacath, Draca?:ia draco, a shoot of the famous tree at Oratava in TenerifFe, supposed to be the oldest tree in the world, presented to Lady Dorothy NevUl by Mr. Skinner; Ananassa sativa vai-iegata, Ficus fen-u- ginea and elastica, Ehopalas, and the plant which produce* the vegetable ivory. In the fernery were some remarkably fine specimens, as well as many rare and curious varieties. A noble plant of Cibotium Schiedei is in the centre of the house ; then there were Cyathea medullaris, AlsophUas, Davallias, Lastreas, Todeas. The silky-looking material which envelopes the opening fronds of this fine Fern are extensively used as a styptic, and much of it finds its way from here to London for that purpose. Here, too, was a case of HymenophyUum tunbridgense most beautifully managed. A sort of loose wall was built up in a glass case in a dark part of the house, and the Fern was planted amongst the stones, and had thriven most admirably ; in fact we have never seen it in such thoroughly good condition. Most interesting, too, is the tropical fruit-house. Here Passifiora quadrangularis, with six or seven dozen of large and ripening fruit ran over the house ; while in it were planted Loquats, Mango, Guavas, &c. The Loquats were bearing abundantly, as do the Guavas. The Mangosteen has proved to be a wrong kind, greatly to the disappoint- ment of both the owner and the gardener ; for this is the fruit of which it is said it is worth a voyage to Singapore to eat it. There were, besides, the Nutmeg and Pimento, Eose Apple (Eugenia jambos), and various other rare and seldom-met-with fruits. Of course there was no lack of the more ordinary things to be found in evei-y good garden ; and a new vegetable garden has just been formed with immense labour, but promises to repay the trouble and cost, for everything looked in a most flourishing condition. Nothing could exceed the readiness and zeal with which Mr. Vair entered into the various subjects on which our conversation turned — amongst others, orchard-houses, about which I should like to say a few words; but I must re- serve that for another opportunity. It is well known that Lady Dorothy NevOl has been one of the enthusiastic pro- moters of the Ailanthus silkworm culture, and has given us the most readable book on the subject to be met with in our language. She is still carrying it on ; and in her lady- ship's museum in the Fern-house may be seen specimens of the silk, and the perfect insects and other subjects connected with its cultui'e. Such is a hasty and most imperfect sketch of Dangstein. I should have entered more into particulars about it, but that a very lengthened and able description of its treasures appeared in The Journal of Hokticultuee for December, 1861 ; and I hope that I have said enough to induce any travellers in that neighbourhood to turn a little out of their way to see it. It is now to be reached from Petersfield (where the dii-ect Portsmouth line now runs), from which it is distant five miles. The gardens and houses are open to view every day except Sunday ; and visitors may rely on having every coiu'tesy shown to them ; and it will be weU for them to see how much the cause of English horticultui'e owes to such liberal and discriminating patrons as Mr. and Lady Dorothy NeviU. — D., Deal. CULTIVATION OF FEENS. There is no doubt that whatever is worth knowing in horticulture is pretty sure to spread about among the wholb gardening fraternity, and those amongst its numbers who pretend to have any secrets by which they are able to com- mand a greater amount of success than their neighbours, may be stigmatised as either self-deceived, or willing de- ceivers. From being accidentally possessed of some pecu- liarly favourable condition of soU, climate, water, position, or some other advantage, they either mislead themselves, or would deceive others into the belief that their success is owing to some particular process which they have been clever enough to discover. That such has been the case I have observed instances ; and these kno\ving individuals, when asked how they manage such and such a thing, give a very wise and complacent shake of the head, and say, " they would not have known how to have done it if they had not studied the matter," and would make believe that they could teU a great deal if they had a mind. Such are jusl the persons who could tell nothing worth hearing, and generally they lu-e extremely January 5, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 11 ignorant of the principles on which the most ordinary gar- dening operations are performed, and, more than that, they are not only ignorant of their own ignorance, but ignorant of others detecting it. In the various handicrafts of the mechanic and the artizan there may be secrets profitable to conceal. Among those classes there ai-e some who have amassed fortunes through working out processes known only to themselves ; but this is scarcely possible in a calling where Nature is not only the motive, but the ruling power, and must be obeyed implicitly or she wUl refuse her co-operation. Possibly nothing is more simple than this obedience to the laws of Nature, so essen- tial to successful gardening ; and still more probable is it that their very simplicity is the cause of so many straying from them, we being so apt to overlook the fact, that all the operations of Nature are performed in a plain and simple manner, with the strictest regard to economy, and that however Art may assist, it cannot improve Nature. Nature, it is well known, has many secrets, but she never hides them fi-om observers, and they are only secrets to those who do not iuquu-e after them. Those who do inquire find her as wiUiug to teach as they are to learn. In no place is this more evident than in the garden, for there Nature specially presides. But there are many people, particularly amateur gar- deners, who give the professed gardener credit for a large amount of knowledge he never jjossessed, and for keeping secrets which never existed. That severe discipline and perfect submission to certain natural laws are necessary to the successful cultivation of plants never enters the head of the inquirer. He attributes success to some artificial process or peculiar handling. The latter may have had something to do with the result, yet such art is but a secondary con- sideration ; and those who fall into such mistakes would do well to consider that aU plants and trees that the gardener has to deal with, being possessed of vitality, wiU not bear to be tampered with — that any deviation from the laws which govern vegetable growth will soon show its unwished-for results — and that whatever is implied by those laws can be no secret, and belongs to every one, whether gardener or not. It is some years since I was asked the secret of growing Ferns. The questioner said both herself and others had tried to grow hardy Perns without success. What could be the reason of it ? There must be some secret in the matter, otherwise how had I been so successful ? I replied that I did not know that there was any secret in the matter ; I planted the Ferns as I would any other kind of plants ; probably the soil suited them, and certainly the shady spot they were in was an advantage ; if anything more than that, and the abundant waterings they received, contributed to their well-doing, it was purely accidental, and I could claim no credit for anything beyond what I had done. Bat, then, I was told by my questioners, that " they had planted their Ferns in loam and leaf mould, and both in shady and open places, and all fared alike. None did any good. What did I think was the cause?" Now, this was a question I could not answer; first, because I had not seen the Ferns or ferneries in question ; and, secondly, because I had not given the matter a moment's thought, and so I told my anxious inquirer, who went away as wise as ever. I cannot say that I have given the matter much con- sideration since ; but I have seen many valuable coUectious of hardy Ferns in a dwindling, unhealthy state that must give their owners anything but satisfaction, and certainly there must be one or more causes for the failure. It is my object now to point out, if possible, what appears to me to be the cause of the frequent failure in the culture of hardy Ferns. By "failure," I mean where they do not make a free, healthy growth, for I consider that a plant merely existing and making no progress is not worth its room, and is no credit to the cultivator. To look well Ferns ought to grow freely; and as their beauty consists in the delicate outline of the fronds, both individually and in the mass, their growth ought to be free and perfect, otherwise their beauty is lost, for the season at least. In order' to understand the reason why Ferns do not flourish, it is necessary to be acquainted with the require- ments of this particular class of plants; and from what I know I am enabled to state that they differ in no very great degree from ordinary herbaceous plants, and that they are not so nice as is sometimes supposed, for the more common sorts take readily to any kindly garden soil, and will stand almost any rough treatment. I have found that equal poi'tions of loamy soil and leaf mould, or loam and peat, make a suitable soil for almost every variety of Fern, more particularly hardy Ferns, and if certain essential points are attended to they wUl thrive as well in such a soil as in any combination of ingredients that could be brought together. What those points are I will endeavour to explain to the best of my ability. Cocoa-nut fibre refuse has been recommended by those who have had opportunities of testing its value as a useful material in the oultui-e of Ferns. Having used it myself in a small way, I can confidently assert that it makes a sweet and wholesome addition to Fern soil, and may be used with safety, and it probably affords a gentle stimulus that repays its appli- cation. But beyond this I believe it is a mistake to expect any extraordinary results from it, since Ferns may be gi-own to perfection without it, and this by simply bearing in mind that they are often seen in a wUd state in the most flourish- ing condition, and noting the particular soil and situation in which they are found. It wUl be noticed that a Fern in a flourishing state has a great quantity of roots, and these are generally very thickly matted about the surface : consequently if we wish to establish a Fern we must give it ample space, and a soil free and open, yet retentive of moisture. It should never be cramped for room, as the roots extend much farther than the leaves. By this it will be seen that the common practice of inserting little bits of Ferns in small crevices, among stones or burrs, is not the way to insure their well-doing. In such places a mere handful of soU is thought to be sufficient, because it is supposed that the Perns will establish themselves there as they do in crevices of the natural rock. This is a mistake, because the cases are very dissimilar. In the natural state the Fern springs from seed, and although the quantity of soil may be small, and formed of the crumb- ling stone, it is to a certain extent incorporated with that stone. In lifting the roots of the Pern it will be seen that they have taken a firm hold of the stone, and very likely extract a great deal of moisture, if they do not draw other nourishment from it. To illustrate my meaning still further, let my readers imagine — if they have not the fact actually before their eyes, for such sights are common enough around Loudon — an ordinary brick wall covered with Antu'rhinums. I have seen waUs so covered, the plants growing out of the old mortar between the bricks looking as fresh and healthy as could be, seeming to thoroughly enjoy then- elevated posi- tion, and presenting a gay appearance when in bloom, and a variety of colour. It may be that the remark that I heard years ago has been often made. Whence do these plants derive sufficient moisture to keep them in their flourishing- condition P The most reasonable explanation I could give then, or can give now, is that the wall absorbs moisture from the air, and the plants extract it from the wall. Now, it may be that some person, following a very com- mon practice, after seeing and admiring such a sight as I have described on the garden wall of a neighbour, may have- conceived the idea of decorating his own wall in a similar manner, and ordered a lot of young plants, and engaged some one who is supposed to understand such matters to- plant them. He goes to work in the most approved method ^ he makes holes in the mortar, inserts the plants, tills up with good soU, gives a good watering, and leaves orders that this is to be repeated daily ; but it is doubtful if any of tlie plants ever take root in the wall, at least I never knew this to happen. If he wants to grow Autu-rhinums on his gai-den wall he must wait some time. The seed must be scattered over the wall; it will lodge in little holes and crannies, and if the weather prove dry it will not hurt ; but should moist weather set in, here and there a seed will germinate, the young- plants will bind themselves tightly to the waU, pushing their spongioles and rootlets into every available cranny, although the top grows slowly, until the plant becomes, as it were, part of the wall itself. Those who examine this natural process may form some idea of the manner iu which plants in a wild state establish themselves among rocks. Nor will ib be difficult to the observer to understand why it 12 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTITEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ January 5, 18C4. is that the Fern refuses to establish itself in the handful of loose soil tlu-own into the small crevice. It would take two or three weeks to do so under the most favourable circiim- stacces, and what is to sustain the plant dm-ing that time ? It can scarcely e3dst, and cannot grow, and very often it dies in a day c r two. If it is desu-ed to grow Ferns on the steep side of a fernery or rookery, it wOl be necessai-y to have the stones or bui-rs firmly liedded together in a co.xrse kind of mortar, and places left so as to hold soil without the chance of its being washed out by the rain. If these holes go right through all the better, as the plants must be provided with some kind of tirainage. The soil should be added whQe in a wet state, or be ji'at in rather moist, and then washed into the small crannies \rith water. If some fronds oi Fern with the seed ripe be shaken over the soU whUe wet, and the soil be afterwards kept moist, the seeds will in due time ger- minate, and then if kept moist there need be no fear of the Ferns not dclng well. This, however, wOl be a slow process ; but if plfints are inserted they should be very young, the smaller they are the better, and they wiU want to he kept moist and shaded, for they very soon dry up past any hope of recovery. Where Ferns grow and flourish, the air in the autumn is full of theu' .seed, and this is carried about by the currents until it settles, I Lave known Ferns come up in the hollows of trees, on walls that happened to be damp through the leakage of a water-trough or other cause, on the waUs of a cellar, or on the floor of a greenhouse, and where they once make a start in that way they thrive according to the amount of noiu-ishment they receive. In some instances where this has been very limited, they live on for years ■(vithout increasing in size. But this is not exactly what the cultivator wants, for they are grown for ornament, and that consists in the full development of the fronds. The position and climate have an influence in a certain degree on the well-doing of the Perns, as they do better in some parts of the country than in others ; but, generally speaking, there are sorts adapted for almost every part, and there are few- places where a fernery might not be established and the Ferns made to flourish. As far- as I have seen, the cause of theii' failrng to do so may be traced more to the management than to anything else. The cultivation of Ferns on an extensive scale is of comparatively recent in- troduction into gardens, and, like most novelties, is taken up by many who have not studied the necessary treatment in aU its bearings. They are seen to flom-ish on rookeries and rooteries, and beginners take up the idea that they must be so grown, and in working out this project rather over-do the matter. Very often their only reason for putting Ferns in a particular place is because they would like to have them there, without consulting the requirements of the Ferns themselves. This very often leads to disappointment ; and though I have known many instances of the same kind with regard to' other plants besides Ferns, yet the establishment of a fernery is supposed to have something peculiar in it, and receives a more than common amount of attention. Unless on a small scale, it is not advisable to attempt to gi-ow Ferns alone, but to associate them with American, trailing, and alpine plants ; and, although the Ferns may form the principal feature, yet, the addition of other plants will give the fernery a more interesting character. Where it is desired to make a small fernery, it would be as well to exclude the lai-ger and coarser varieties, as the Male Pern (Lastrea FUix-mas), the Lady Fern (Athyrium Filix-fcemina), although there are more diminutive varieties of both that may be introduced advantageously. Lastrea cristata and dilatata, and Polystichum aculeatum, it would be as AveU to leave out, although the latter forms a noble-looking plant; but Polystichum angulare and lobatum, with their varieties, look as well and do not grow so large. Any of the varieties of Hart's-tonguo (Scolopendrium), may be well introduced, also several varieties of Poljijodium, as dryopteris, phego- pteris, calcareum, cambricum, and vidgaris, the two latter being evergreen, the others dying down in the autumn. The VScaly Hart's-tongue, Ceteraeh officinarum, makes a very pretty Peru when it does well, which it will do if it is not intei-fered with by other plants and is planted in sandy peat and has plentj' of room. Asplenium trichomanes, vu-idis, vuta-m\ir.aria. septentrionale, alternifolium, and fontanuni. are all of vei-y diminutive habit, but make pretty little tnfts when they thrive, which is not always the case, as I have known them fail to do so very frequently. They should have a good depth of sandy peat and loam, be well drained, and have plenty of room, so as not to be overgrovm by other plants. They ought to be in a rather shady spot, but not under the di'ip of trees, and, if a bell-glass be put over them in the winter they wUl be all the better. Asplenim marinum and lanceolatum grow rather larger and sometimes do well, they may be more elevated but sheltered. AUosorus crispus, the Parsley-Fem, makes a beautiful little tult, but it is sometimes apt to die off most unaccountably, and will be better of a little shelter in winter to protect the crown from excessive wet. Blechnum spicant and varieties are very hardy and will stand any rough weather, and they sometimes make fine patches. They requu-e a good depth of soil and may be planted low down. The Maiden-hau- Fern, Adiantum capillus-Veneris, is hardy in some parts of England, but I have never seen it do well out of doors, although I believe in the warmer parts of the country it succeeds tolerably well. Adiantum pedatum is also hardy to a certain extent, and is a beautiful Fern, but it dies down in winter. Asple- nium adiantum-nigrum makes a very pretty plant, always retaining a certain freshness, and is very hardy. Woodsia hyperborea is a pretty little Fern, but requii'es a little pro- tection from rain in winter. All these Ferns, and several others of similar character which I cannot call to mind just now, may be gi'own successfuDy in a small out-door fernery, but let there be no stint of good porous soU ; let each plant have plenty of room, be shaded but not covered, and have plenty of moisture in spring and summer, but good drainage. The crowns of most of them, as the smaller ones, will be the better if a little elevated, but not too much, as some persons are in the habit of carrying this point to the extreme. There are several hardy Perns which ai-e well worth a pla<;e if room can be spared. What I have named may be growTi in a very small space ; but on a rather larger scale such as the foEowing may be introduced, being lar-ger in habit than most of the above, but less so than the Slale or Female Ferns. The Ostrich Fern, Struthiopteris germanica, and j^ennsylvanica, are handsome species, coming up rather earlier than more strictly native Perns, and dying down earlier. Onoclea sen- sibilis has creeping roots, which render it difficult to keep it in its proijer place, but it may be sui'rounded with slates which will have that effect ; the same may be said of Lastrea thelyi^teris : these both require extra moisture, and may be planted near the ground line. Lastrea rigida makes a very handsome Fern, but if it grows too fr-eely it becomes too large for a small fernery. The same may be said of Osmunda regalis, although the roots may be kept within certain limits, which wfll prevent the plant growing too large. They require plenty of moisture. Cystopteris alpiua, fragilis, montana, &c., are suitable for a smaU fernery, and sliould have been mentioned in connection with Polypodiums, ic. Hymeno- phyUum timbridgeuse and WOsoni may sometimes be seen doing very weU out of doors when protected with a bell- glass, but I cannot say that I ever saw them in such a satisfactory state as I should like : however, I once saw a mass of the former in splendid condition in a small green- house, where no fire heat was ever applied, it having stood all the fr'ost that ever entered there. I have gi'own both these and the Filmy-Fern, Trichomanes brevisetum, very fine under a bell-glass in a greenhouse. The bell-glass seems necessary for the latter, and for both when grown out of doors. They grow well in silver sand and peat, equal por- tions, with plenty of pieces of sandstone broken up and intermixed. I hope to retvu-u to this subject and say a word or two on the consti-uction and ai-rangement of ferneries. — F. Chitty. (To he contiwaed.) MATEEIALS USED IN FOEMING COMPOSTS. {Concluded from fage 511.) TuFTS OF. Grass and otheb Herbage. — Like moss, this substance is one that has taken years to mature before it has become fit for use. Decaying turf or vegetable matter having long been thought to possess the qualities necessary to support a growing plant, turfy mould has l.)ccn invai'iably January 5, 1864. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENES. 13 stated to be one of tlie indispensable requii'ements of the potting-bench ; and in many cases the qxiality of the ground was to indicate the kind of tui'f advised, that from a rich pasture being preferred. Doubtless, this article is one of the best that can possibly be employed for many purposes, and it is not my intention to detract from the merits of one of the most valuable materials which we possess ; but the tufty sod from an ordmai-y pasture field of good land, and regularly grazed, is not the only thing of its kind that is valuable, a very inferior soil sometimes produces what is of equal, if not of greater worth to the plant or fruit grower. The tops of comparatively barren mountains furnish small tufty pieces of herbage, with a little of the scanty soU attached, which is not of less vakie in many respects than the more enriched tillage ground of the plain below. The herbage itself being of slow growth is more wiry or fibrous, and contains less water than the more luxuriant growth of the land below. It does not decay so soon, and, therefore, aflFords a longer-continued storehouse of food to the plants it is intended to support ; and attached to the little tiirfy bits of herbage is often a soil consisting of the decomposed rock or other strata of the place the plant occupied, a soil which has taJien centui-ies to bi-ing to the condition it exists in. Now, there are many plants which delight in an open, porous soil possessing less density than that of the drifted sandy composts of the valley or river side. Such plants relish the open and slow-decaying material here spoken of, and with very little admixture of foreign matters ; in fact, some of our best growers of plants and fruits mix a very small amoixnt of these with this and similar matters, and they are qiute right, as it is often to be feared our mixtui-es of materials opposed to each other lead to the neutralisation of theii- peculiar properties. Thus, lime destroys all vegetation, and the rooty or fibry portions of peat fall a prey to it when the two substances are unadvisedly mixed together ; and I have on more than one occasion seen sand mixed with lime for mortal-, that evidently contained some mineral ingredient diametrically opposed to the lime, as the latter almost dis- appeared in the compound, and, of course, the mortal-, if we might call it such, was worthless. Now, though turfy peat and lime are rarely if ever used by the gardener, there is no doubt that very often mixtures are compounded of siibstances much opposed to each other, and, of com-se, a loss is the consequence. They will not always be as bad as the mortar mentioned above ; but as mixtures they will be unsuitable. As, this, however, may be treated of hereafter, we will retui-n to the subject of small turfy or benty tufts, with the little scraps of sandy materials attached to them, and see in what way they can be applied to the purposes of plant or fruit culture. In the first place we will consider them as an agent in the growth of fruits, and of the Pine Apple in par- ticular. It is many years since Mr. Barnes, of Bicton, astonished the Pine-growing world with some exceedingly weU-grown Queens, fruited by a process at once simple, and, as the sequel proved, highly successful. Mr. Barnes, instead of skimming the best part of the park or pasture field for rich, fine,, mellow earth to grow his plants in, betook himself to a waste common of very indifferent land, and collected the turff pieces of coarse grass, with now and then small, stunted growths of shrubby or woody matter intermixed, and with no more of the surface movild than was sufficient to make the other hang together. A heap of this used some six months afterwards formed the principal part of his Pine compost, which was aided afterwards by jiidicious appli- cations of liquid manures. Here, then, was the secret of using a material which did not so speedily decay : the wiry nature of the hard grass or bent, resisted the perishing in- fluences which a more watery herbage would have fallen a prey to, and receiving and satisfactorily giving forth the repeated draught of liquid manure without becoming sod- dened, it proved the best possible medium to maintain a healthy vegetation. Now, this mode of using the small, tufty bits of turfy mould is by no means new or uncommon. A friend of mine, and an excellent Pine-grower in the west of England, collects all his materials for that purpose from the rocky cliffs of the south-west coast, and he thinks the saline matter such herbage must imbibe from the atmo- sphere, when the whole surface is covered with spray, tends to the well-doing: of the Pines. Be this as it may, his plants and fruit are invariably good; and as the small, knotty lumps of coarse herbage rooting into the fissiu-es of rocks necessarily partake of the diibris of that rock, then- residue, when decay has reduced all their fiVjry matter, is free from the compactness of a simOar matter taken from the clayey land of other districts ; and as I have attempted to show that substances running quickly into decay do not in themselves contain so many of the requisites necessary to promote a healthy and vigorous vegetation, such materials as moss, and the coarse but wii-y turf oibove alluded to, cannot be too highly prized. Though I have only alluded to its usefulness for the growth of the Pine, it may, doubt- less, be employed with equal advantage for growing many other plants, and I am far from certain but that the Vine may be coaxed into attaining as high a degree of perfection in this substance as in a richer compound. Enough, how- ever, having been said on this head to call the attention of the general cultivator to its claims on his notice, I wiU. now pass on to another substance, the utOity of which as an agent in cultivation is based on the same principle as that just treated of. Cocoa-nut Eibee. — I confess mentioning this -without any personal expei-ience of its value as a material to grow plants in ; but our late valued coadjutor, Mr. Beaton, spoke highly of it, and his opinion seemed confirmed by that of others who had tried it, arid a year or more ago it was much spoken of. Very satisfactory results followed its use. Orchids being said to grow well in it, and many other plants requiring an open soil were said to succeed in a mixture in which cocoa fibre formed an important item, and I am not sure if some plants did not do well in it alone; but not having tried it myself I cannot vouch for its good qualities fru-ther than that the credibility of those who have spoken well of it is undeniable. Its merits no doubt consist in its being capable of absorbing a large quantity of liquid, which it can part with to the plant whose roots interlace it in various directions, and its powers of resisting decay enable it to continue those functions longer than other substances which so quickly turn into the mould of the neighbourhood, and when they do so no longer retain that qiiality of sup- plying the plants with any liquid that may be poured upon them, but supply that liquid altered by its chemical action upon the soiT itself. In other words, the soU, if it is an ordinary garden one, to a certain extent filters the manure water -that is poured upon it, siipplying the roots of the plant with a liquid differing widely from that which was poiu-ed on at top, and if this process is often repeated, the soil becomes soured and unfit for healthy vegetation ; whereas if the same thing were done on a bed of moss or cocoa-nut fibre, these substances being more inert, part with the liquid they are charged with in much the same condition as they received it. To gross-feeding .plants this is a boon, as the roots having ample scope to ramify, are, nevertheless, excluded from air, and are so circumstanced as to benefit by the artificial treatment they receive. Cocoa-nut fibre I therefore presume to be of this kind, and as such is un- cfuestionably a useful agent in the growth of many plants. Ha-ving extended these papers to a greater length than originally intended, I need add no more to the list of articles the cultivator of potted plants requires to have at hand. SoOs of vai-ioiis kinds are every one's wants, and leaf mould and dung need not be mentioned further than that they, too, are indispensable. My object has been more especially to call attention to the articles less known, and sometimes less used, and even this list might, perhaps, be extended, by naming crushed bones, and similar substances, not by any means forgetting stones, which, playing an im- portant iiart on the surface of the earth, are also useful to the potted plant. The amount of drainage given to a plant necessarily obviates in a great measui-e the use of stones among the compost ; but their utility as a necessary ingre- dient in many soils is not sufficiently recognised, and we every day see the evil effects of removing too many from tniage lands. Even in places -where there seems a super- abundance, removing too many impoverishes the ground ; but as this is foreign to the present subject, it is only necessary to again urge the claims of a spare piece of poor grovmd, as affording a substance of great use in the cultivation of some of the most delicate plants which the hothouse contaiBS. Though other svibstancea may be added tottiose above given^ 14 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAPDENEE. [ Janiiary 5, 1S64. sufficient has been said to call attention to the matter, and hereafter it is possible the rich meadow land, so much coui-ted Iny the ardent plant-grower, to sui:iply him with mixtures tor his pets, may be less run upon when the value of an enduring vegetable substance as a medium for roots to occupy is more fuUy known and appreciated, and I expect the day is not far distant when such will be the case. — J. ROBSON. OBSEEVATIONS ON THE ASPECTS OF FEUIT WALLS. The most eligible aspects for garden fi'uit-tree walls is a subject which, I think, may be with some advantage made the basis of a few useful considerations, which, although probably most applicable to the future, may yet on some points call up fi-esh ideas at the present time. It has long been my opinion — and as further experience has made me more acquainted with the C|uantity and continued supply requii-ed by most families of taste in the present day I am confu-med in that opinion — that, for the general purposes of early and late supply, the walls ought to consist almost wholly of north and south aspects. On one or the other of these may be brought to perfection every hardy fruit cul- tivated in this country ; and what is of more consequence, the season of most of them may be greatly extended. Indeed, in cases where families are not accustomed to retire to then- country-seats until the breaking-up of Parliament, or the ap- proach of the shooting season, it is quite indispensable to have a good stretch of north walls, in order to be able to retard the ripening of some of the kinds ; and it will efi'ect this to a greater extent than many would suppose. I have observed that the difference in the time of ripening the same kinds on south and north aspects is often as much as three weeks ; and the length of time which fruit will hang on, and keep fresh and plump, is greatly in favour of the latter. To enter more into practical detaO, let us take Chen-ies as an example, and I have no hesitation in stating that every kind of Cherry may be brought to great perfection on a north wall. They wiU crop there with more certainty, because the expansion of the bloom is retarded, and ripen as well, with as good a flavour as ever came from the sunny south ; and, therefore, bearing in mind the utility of a late supply, I would only plant — say three, or at most four trees, on a south aspect, and all the rest on the north. I should thus have a certainty of prolonging the general season of these 1 fruits greatly beyond the usual period. Again : the ad- vantage of a north aspect for Red and White Cun-ants is well known ; but it may not be so generally known that the | old Warrington Gooseberry may be had in perfection fi-om a north wall long after those in the open quarters are all gone. And this leads me to a still more practical illustra- tion. I would recommend the adoption of the following plan for furnishing some portion of the north walls : — Plant Cherries with a clear stem of at least 6 feet, at the dis- tance of 16 feet apart; these are to iill the top part of a wall 14 feet high (and no garden walls should ever be less). Next, at a distance of 4 feet from each Cheny (and on each side of it), plant GoosebeiTy or Currant trees. The CheiTies should be ti-ained in the horizontal manner, under which system they will flourish and crop as well as any other, and it affords the readiest means of quite filling the wall. Th e first year after planting, the Gooseben-ies should be devoted to obtaining shoots, diverging each way horizontally along the bottom, at 1 foot from the ground ; afterwards, train up from these a number of branches perpendicidarly, at 6 or 8 inches apart — a reference to the accompanying figure ivill show my meaning better than I can describe it. The Goose- beiTies will be found to fill their aUotted space sooner than the Currants, because the latter wiU require closer pruning and heading back to get a good stock of fi-uit-spui-s. The breastwood should be kept well shortened in the summer, as leaving it on until the winter pruning would soon ruin the trees. As the wood gets old and unfruitful, cut it out and train up young wood. Let me observe that this is not a new plan. From a wall so anranged my father and I, twenty years ago, gathered Morello Chen-ies and Red and White Currants, on the 25th December. I mention this to show what may be done under favourable circumstances ; but of course it is longer than such fruits need be kept, because it is done at the sacrifice of flavour. But to retui'n to the subject of aspects. Who that knows the wants of a large establishment can have too much south wall or south borders for early crops ? or north wall and north borders for summer crops ? And let me add, that the other two aspects are of little comparative advantage with regard to the summer consumption, because they fill up no gap in the season which will not be filled to greater advan- tage by those which I recommend to predominate. Their proper tenants, therefore, will be Pears, which being prin- cipally autumn and winter fruits, do not affect the general consumption, and these aspects suit them well. These considerations would seem to point to the great ad- vantage to be derived from laying out our kitchen gardens in paraUelogTams rather than square shapes, so that, if a given space is to be enclosed, it will be better to have it in two or three long compartments i-unning fi-om east to west, so as to give nearly aU north and south walls. I think I could show how the spaces between these walls woxild be easier worked, and to much greater profit than large open squares ; but that ought to have a plan to elucidate it, and deserves more consideration than I can now bestow upon it. I have said that the flavour of fruit fr-om a north aspect is equal to that from the south; and, as many will be disposed to doubt this, I will just state why I think so ; not, however, that I can here enter into the merits and demerits of all that bears upon the subject, for it is one that will beai- an extensive examination, and involves more than would at first glance strike a casual observer or thinker. The influence of dii-ect sunlight is held to be of paramount importance to the perfect maturation of both fruit and wood ; and in the case of the tenderer kinds, as Peaches and Vines, it is un- doubtedly so. But it is not so to the hardier sorts ; nor would it be to the others, if we had higher and more equal tempera- ture in spring and autumn. To me, the perfect maturation of wood appeal's to depend more on a fine warm autumn than ever so hot a summer; and on a long- continued equal temperature, rather than a great amount of direct sun heat. The temperature of a north aspect is, on the year's average, far more equal than any other, and less liable to the exti-emes of heat and cold ; this, then, is one reason why fruit trees may be supposed to crop and flom-ish well in the absence of the direct rays of the sun. And as for the flavoirr, provided the trees are not over-cropped, it is quite as good without the sun as with — nay, it is sometimes prefer- able ; for I have often seen Apricots and Green Gage Plums on south aspects quite ripe on the side exposed to the sun, and green and hard on the opposite side, whereas, at the same time, I have found many fi-uits covered with leaves, and on which the sun's rays have never shone directly, perfectly and equally ripe— with a rather paler colour, it is time, but flavour quite equal to the tit-bits of the sunny ones. Does not even this show that direct sunlight is not absolutely necessary to ripening and flavour ? In the case of Chen-ies January 5, 1864. ] JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 15 from tlie May Duke to the most exquisite-flavoured Bigar- reau, tlie flavom' is perfectly on an equality witli any other aspect, if they are allowed to hang long- enough on the trees. —J. Cox, Gardener to William Wells, Esq., Eedleaf.— (Gar- deners' Magazine of Botany.) THE HEATING OP HOETICULTUEAL BUILDINGS. As regai'ds economy, and the complete abstraction of heat from the fuel, the common flue, when properly constructed, is the most effective instrument ; and we think that if the same amount of philosophy and hard cash had been expended in improving the common flue as was wasted in Polmaise experiments, a much more profitable and creditable end would have been attained. Every-day experience proves to us that much of the best fruit, and many of the forced flowers and vegetables in Covent Garden and other markets, are produced by the common flue, and that likewise in structures so rude and apparently unsuitable, that, but for the fact of the productions being before them, some of our philosophical brethren would say it would be impossible to grow them to such perfection in such places ; and it must be confessed that the improvement in the quality of the fruit has not been at all commensurate with the improvement in the construction and character of the erections in which it is produced. What have we gained by sheet glass and its supposed and theoretically-established superiority ? The large Pines at Gunnersbury — the magnificent Grapes at Bishop Stortford — the immense Peaches of Buileigh and Currahmore — aU originated beneath common glass. Has hot water achieved any decided superiorities ? Speak, ye market gardeners, whose early Grapes are celebrated for splendid colour-, thinness of skin, and exquisite flavour, and possibly we shall find that neither construction, nor glass, nor hot water, nor superior acquirements, have attained amy superior advantages ; but that common, plodding, and ignorant men, in unfavourable situations with ordinary means, have produced, and continue to produce, fruit as good, and flowers as sweet, as those who have houses upon which expenditure was never more lavish, or situations better calculated to produce perfection. Thus do extremes meet ; and thus do we see that persons of limited means, with a small outlay, hiacked by good broad common sense, may have fruit and flowers as fine as the man who spends thousands in the formation of a garden, and hundreds annually in the maintenance of the same. In Germany, and also in other parts of the Continent, the common flues are used in preference to hot-water pipes ; indeed, with their intensely severe weather, vmless an immense surface of pipe is used it is found impossible to exclude the frost ; and we believe it is no unusual occurrence to see these flues heated to a red heat, and that for weeks together, without any material injury being done. It may be urged as an argument against the flues that plants and fruits are not so well grown on the Continent as at home. This we grant; but at the same time we may state that both plants and fi-uits are as well grown in this country by the common flue as by the best-constructed hot-water apparatus ; and it is not many years since Mr. S. Barnes, one of the best forcing gardeners in England, stated that he would rather have a good flue than a badly-constructed hot-water apparatus, and we doubt not almost every intelli- gent gardener in the country would say the same. Mr. Orawshay — than whom no person ever produced finer Grapes — always preferred flues for heating his vineries, facetiously remarking in relation to the waste by hot-water heating, " That he could not afford to cook a leg of mutton at the top of the chimney," meaning that the heat wasted by hot water was sufficient for that purpose. He was not far wrong, for whoever will take the trouble to examine a properly-constructed flue will find the fui-ther extremity nearly cold ; but test the chimney of a hot-water appai-atus, and you will in many cases find it exceedingly hot, and we believe it will be found impossible so to construct or fix a boiler as to enable it to appropriate and cai-ry off all the heat or caloric generated by the fuel. Boilers differ in this respect ; but we have never yet met with one so con- structed as to be free from loss, or which could, imder the best management, absorb aU the heat generated for its use. It is not our wish to underrate hot water — its safety, neat- ness, adaptability, and, when properly constructed and managed, certainty of action, will always insure its use with those who can afford it ; but it is the million for whom V'W?\ The foroing-kiln. we.wTite, and -it is right that they should know that flues when properly constructed, wiU do aU that can be attained by the best-constructed hot-water apparatus. Subjoined IS a plan of heating flues by a very economical process— viz., the- burning of limestone, so that where fuel is scarce and Flue tiles. limestone plentiful a twofold object may be attained — viz., forcing-houses heated and lime for the use of the garden manufactured.* For this plan we are indebted to Mr. M. * Some Interesting details respecting a similar mode of heating, in operation at Lyon!, tlie seat of Lord Cloncurry, will be found in Vol. IV., p. 278. 16 JOURXAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. [ January 5, lS6i. Kelly, gardener to T. Conolly, Esq., JI.P., of Castletown, Ireland ; and when we say that, without any other means of heating, Mr. Kelly has for more than twenty years cat Grapes, and good Grapes too, in April, we need say no more as to the value of the plan. The following is Mr. Kelly's description of the kiln ; — " The preceding is a section and elevation of the lime- kilns at Castletown, the seat of Thomas Conolly, Esq., M.P., for heating the hothouses. One kiln is used to each house, which is 30 feet long by 11 wide, and the kilns are close to the back wall, and covered over by sheds. The exterior ■walls of the kiln are built of stone 2 feet thick, and the interior is lined with hard or fire bricks, and round the mouth at the bottom there must be a fire-stove. The bottom of the kOn is 10 inches square for a height of 10 inches, one side being left open for drawing off the Ume. There is no grating or fire-bars, but about 3 feet from the bottom in the front side of the wall, a round hole about 3 inches in diameter is left to admit air to assist or promote combustion. These kUns only differ ii-om ordinary lime- kilns in being smaller, and they require about two bushels of broken stones and half a bushel of small coal in alternate layers each time they are dressed or charged ; but the quantity varies much as the kUns work well or iU, and, of course, much of their working depends upon theu' being managed by a person who thoroughly understands them. The flue, which is of the usual form, must start immediately under the cover of the kiln, and must rise towards and into the house — that is, the mouth of the flue must be from 6 to 12 inches above the top of the kiln, and a damper must be placed near the entrance of the flue to cheek the di-aught in case of need. The kilns are drawn and dressed twice in twenty-four hours, taking care to clear the mouth of the flue each time they are di'essed, or the flues are likely to get choked. In lighting a kiln a quantity of fii'ewood is placed in the bottom and nearly halfway up the kUn, and the fire is put to it at the bottom." Flues are liable to accidents, but these more frequently arise from imperfect construction and the bad management of those who attend the 'fire than from any other cause. A flue to be effective and certain should at the starting-point or mouth be at least 18 inches above the fireplace, and should rise gradually from the mouth to the chimney ; the turnings of the flues shoidd be as obtuse as possible, and wherever there is a turn it should, to insure a good draught, rise considerably at that point. As regards size, that is immaterial ; but a rather deep and narrow flue will, other things being equal, generally have a better di-aught than a broad shallow one. Some of the market gardeners about London make it a rule to build new flues every fourth or fifth year, using the old bricks for other purposes, and this, where common bricks are used, is, no doubt, a good plan, more especially where liard-forcing is practised ; but if flues are properly constructed they ought to stand from ten to fifteen years, and indeed we know some that have stood longer. A few years back it was customary to use Gowen's flue-bricks, figures of which may be seen in the " Ency- clopaBdia of Gardening." The object of the inventor of these bricks was to insiue the quick transmission of heat, forgetting that they would be cooled as quickly as heated, and, consequently, what was gained at one time would be lost at another. Pew bricklayers know how to build a flue properly ; generally thej' use mortar in much too great a quantity, and not in a sufficiently fine state. Flue mortar should always be well ground — should be of the best kind, and used in the least possible quantity. In building the mason's practice of consolidating his work by striking the brick with a mallet should be observed, as it is impossible to use too little mortal', so long as there is sufficient between the bricks to hold them together. The brickwork of flues is liable to be deranged from the accumulation of explosive gases, and from external injuries ; but to prevent these we have contrived a flue, represented by the annexed diagram. The bottom and cover tiles are made with grooves or chasings, into which fit corresponding projections on the side tiles, and hence the flue becomes almost a solid body, secure fi'om everything but wilful injuiy externally, and from being so strong at the joints, much less liable to be deranged by internal explosions. In inanufactmingthor,o tUos the under and cover tQes, in addition to the grooves represented, have a groove at one end and corresponding projection at the other, and the side tiles have one grooved and three pro.- jecting sides, and thus fitting all together it is almost impossible to disturb them, and the flue is consequently not only very strong, but very safe. Flues constructed as here directed would answer every purpose for horticultural heat- ing ; and after the first construction would be found very j economical, as they would consume any kind of fuel, and give off a great amount of heat. — (A., in Gardeners' Maga- I zine of Botany.) I I GAEDENING IN ENGLAND A CENTURY j SINCE. ' The regular symmetry introduced into this science is at I present totally neglected by the Enghsh, and no longer to be seen, even at the royal palaces, except at that of Hampton I Court, where the Stuarts resided. The kings of the Hanover family have come nearer to London : George II. lived at [ Kensington ; the present king, who was brought up at Edch- mond, chooses to reside near that village, in a lodge situated in the midst of a fine gai-den which formerly belonged to the Duke of Ormond, and is only sun-ounded with i^alisades. Charles II. had planted the gardens of Hampton Coui-t, and King William those of Kensington, according to the plans of the famous Le Wotre. The last of these princes had added a grass plot planted all over with Tews and Cypress trees, and sruTounded with arbom-s of the same sort, the whole cut with the utmost regularity, but dismal as a chui-ch- yard. This gi-ass plot is still to be seen under the very windows of the palace, and is called King William's citaxlel. This taste is no longer fashionable in England. In all the gardens that I have seen I observed but one walk with rows of trees on each side, cut and laid out in the French manner. It is preserved only as a specimen of the ill taste which now prevails in France. The English taste is no less averse to our modern rows of Lime trees, whose tops, cut exactly level with shears, form one long portico, which, to the eye, appeal's like joiner's work painted green. It is from vrild and uncultivated woods — that is, from pure nature, that the present English have borrowed their models in gardening. The great avenues of theii' parks kept in the best order, are roads cut through forests of trees of all sorts and sizes. The footways imitate the little paths of woods by theu' sinuosities, and theii' manner of in- tersecting and communicating %\'ith each other. Art scarce displays itself .at all in the different plantations which separate and conceal these walks. It hes in the choice of the trees and shrubs. Daisies and Violets, irre- gularly scattered, form the borders of them. These flowers are succeeded by dwarf trees — such as Eosc-bixds, Myrtle, Spanish Broom, &c. The next rows are filled by Cedars, Pines from different parts of America, and other trees which rise only to a certain height, or whose growth is very slow. The last stage consists of trees capable of forming the highest and best-furnished stems. By means of thisai'range- ment these plantations exhibit the trees in thefr several ages, in the pyramidal form — that is to say, the form most pleasing to the eye. The paths which they separate, and by which they ai'e bordered, ai'e little mnding alleys, that never run the space of two fathoms upon the same line, or the same i)lan. In laying out these giii'dens, the object of the first labour is the inequality of the ground, wliich is g;uned even on the levelest surface by digging into and removing the earth. In this manner the gai'dens belonging to Lord Bm'- hngton's house at Chiswick are laid out. A gi-ound very flat by natiu'e turned up by the spade, has produced ten-aces and hills, each of which is crowned by a little temple in the antique taste. Finally, a river of an exti-aordinai-y breadth, whose winding cc.urse, either cutting or skirting the sides of the principal parts of the garden, nudtiplies the prospects fr'om the house. The L.'raud walk wliich forms the fii'st point of \'iew lieing planted with Cj-prcss trees,, intermixed with urns and fimeral monuments in the antique taste, has the appeRranoe ril9 the cjunlry it waters a con.'*tant and most deliglitful view ot burtfes, wherries, and little boats. The prospect is not silent, littie vessels adorned with uleKance and taste have rre*(uently musicians aboard them. It is a received cii'tom upon the water to a'ttiiclc eacli other wltli scoffs and scurrilous language, and he that is obliged to five over is looked upon as vanquished. January 5, 1864. ] JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 19 A EIBBON-BORDER. Should I do right in planting next season a bed 20 feet long by 6 or 8 feet wide, first row with Variegated Balm ; second row, Tom Thumb Nastxirtium ; third row, yellow Calceolarias ; fourth row, Atriplex hortensis ; fifth row. Gera- niums (vai'iegated or Scarlet?); sixth row, Perilla nanki- nensis ; and when should I sow them ? — A Young Gardener. [You will require strong-growing Geraniums for No. 5, such as Punch or Trentham Rose. We should rather have Perilla for 4 instead of 6, but it wiU not much matter. Sow the Perilla in a slight hotbed dui-ing March. You might sow the Atriplex at the same time out of doors.] SOME GARDENS WORTH SEEING. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE . Name. Fawsley Park BrockhaU !Floore House Althorp JPark Courteen Hall ... Wakefield Lawn, Ovetstone Park.. Castle Asliby Easton Neston ... Welton Place Delapre Abbey .. TyringhamPark, ■WhaddonHall... — S. KOGERS. Proprietor. Sir C. Knightley.Bart... T. R. Thornton, Esq General Cartwright Earl Spencer SirC. Wake , Duke of Grafton Lcrd Overstone Mai'quia of Northampton Earl of Pomfret Major It. Trevor Clarke. General Boaverie Gai-dcner. Mr. J. Hrown... Mr. Kerridge... Unknown Mr. Smith Mr. Gardiner... Mr. Mcpherson Mr. Thomas .... Mr. Beech Mr. Booth Unknown Ml*. Mackie Station. Weed on Wee don Weed on Noithampton Northampton Northampton Northampton Castle Ashby Northampton Crick Northampton BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. , W. B. Tyringham, Etq. Mr. Mohbs Wolverton W. S. Lowndea, Esq. ... Mr. Newman ... Wolverton CAHTEE'S "FLOEAL ILLUSTEATIONS." A TBtTLT beautiful group is this No. 14, of " Floral Illus- trations." There is Godetiaroseo-alba, in the centre like a blushing bride; with Tropsolum majus purpureum like an Ethiopian guard of the zenana on one side, and Mimulus tigridioides, like bright attendant damsels around ; Clarkia pulcherrima integripetala, as a brilliant and brave bride- groom as her supjjort; the blue GUia laeiniata, and Kaul- fussia atroviolacea as emblems of constancy ; surmounted by the standards of Lupinus albo-coccineus, and Swainsonia splendens as ensigns of prosperity. The whole is brilliant, excellently balanced, and artistically arranged, creditable alike to Mr. Andrews, the artist, and to the proprietors, Messrs. Carter & Co., the florists. WOEK FOE THE WEEE. KITCHEN GARDEN. It is hoped that, in accordance with repeated instructions to that eft'ect, the operations of wheeling manure and trenching- up vacant quarters in this department have been regularly and systematically followed up in all favourable weather ; let this be continued as often as opportunity offers. All green refuse and decaying matter when trenched in to be strewed over with lime to hasten decomposition and to destroy insects ; choose, also, dry frosty mornings to fork-up ground previously trenched, so as to get the suriace in good workiag order. Beans, embrace the first favourable opjjor- tunity for sowing in well-prepared ground the second crop of these, and also the second crop of Peas ; a few of the latter should also be sown in boxes, pans, or flower-pots, to be in readiness in case of any failure from such causes as frost or vermin. Be careful to keep a good supply of figure- 4-traps constantly set, as there are none better for keeping down mice. Peas and Beans appearing above ground to be watched for the destruction of slugs by dusting with quick- lime. Carrots, a warm border to be chosen for sowing Early Horn, with Short-top Radishes in neat drills alternately, to be covered with light sandy soil and protected with mats, straw, or fern. Cauliflowers, the plants under hand-lights require frequent attention, keep the surface stirred, dust with lime or charcoal-dust. A good plan to catch slugs among these is to split large Carrots, and to lay them be- tween the plants. By picking them off on mild mornings the number may be considerably reduced. Endive, see that the hardy varieties of this and of Lettuce on sloping banks or borders are properly protected and looked over in favour- able weather, removing decayed matter, and covering up for blanching when dry. FiU-up all vacancies in Cabbage and Colewort plantations, and keep the surface about them con- stantly hoed or stirred with the fork. FLOWER GARDEN. The absence of frost from the ground has permitted, and possibly will continue to permit, a variety of works inci- dental to this department. Borders not cleaned and dressed should at once be finished. Fuchsias and recently moved plants should be protected. In the pinetum a little pro- tection may be afforded to Pinuses of doubtfril hardihood. We repeat these instructions, assuming that the weather has beguiled some of us into forgetfulness of winter, the approach of which is unusually delayed. Dahlia roots to be occasionally examined in order to counteract the effects of damp. FBUIT GARDEN. Continue the operations of pruning and nailing the hardier kinds of fruit trees at every available opportunity. Prune espalier Apples and Pears, and fork-up the ground about them in frosty weather to destroy insects. In the orchard thin-out cross and crowded branches from Apples, Pears, and Quinces ; scrape off moss and lichen from the stems, and dress both these and the espalier trees with a mixture of quicklime and clay brought to the consistence of thick paint. If frost prevail stir up also the soil well with the hoe or fork close under the walls and fences ; such places afford a ready refuge for slugs and other vermin to hide in in security. It is not a bad plan to shake a little quicklime over the earth thus disturbed. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORT. The nature of the weather at this season of the year demands particular caution to avoid the iU effects of the excess of artificial heat and the cold of the external atmo- sphere, and to preserve in this department that happy medium of heat suited to the habits of the plants. The continuance of weather which may be termed mild still allows the admission of abundance of air. The plants, when the opportunities afforded by the late and present fa,vourable weather have been and are freely used, will exhibit in the deep healthy green of the leaves and their frequent demand for water the favourable effects of such treatment. Keep the conservatory at a temperatru-e of about 45° by night, raising it to 55° in the day, with plenty of air at every favourable opportunity, and the house may have 60° or 65° by sun heat without injury. Keep the atmosphere mode- rately moist, as much for the preservation of the flowers as for the comfort of the visitors. Stove plants wiU take no injury for a few days in this temperature ; but hardwooded greenhouse plants, such as Heaths, should not be allowed to remain for more than a few days at a time in such a tem- perature. The greenhouse in the generality of places is a mixed affau-, where hardwooded and softwooded plants are obliged to be together. In such places a compromise must be made in the treatment by keeping them a few degrees warmer than Heaths and other Cape plants require, and yet suffi- ciently warm for Pelargoniums, herbaceous Calceolai'ias, &c. Arrange the plants in groups, so that air may be admitted to the Heaths and other hardwooded plants at times when it would be injurious to the softwooded plants. STOVE. The season is not yet advanced sufficiently to allow an increase of temperature. A steady heat, ranging between 60° and 65°, may be sustained if the weather continues open. The occurrence of frost will demand a reduction of tempera- tm-e, and if it falls to 50° in severe weather no harm wiU be done. Recollect always that stove plants as well as others require fresh air in favourable weather. Some few Orchids wiU now be in active growth, these must be fed with mois- ture supplied as opportunities allow. PITS AND FRAMES. ' These must be well protected in severe weather, and abundance of air to be given to Intermediate Stocks, Migno- nette, and Violets when the weather is favourable. Early- potted Tulips and Hyacinths under ashes, tan, or leaf mould will begin to draw, therefore remove them to the cold pit. ° W. Keane. JOUE^rAI; OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ January S, ISfit. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEE. KITCHEK GAEDEN. Wheeled, trenched, and dug as opportunity offered, and saved prunings for charring and biu'ning lots of weeds, rubbish, and soil too old to be of farther use. Trenched up in ridges the ground from which Asparagus had been taken for forcing, and are sorry to say that we took up too much, as we expected more company to use it than we have had. No doubt the Asparagus will be useful, and be used, but in small gardens and establishments it is something like waste to have Asjiaragus too often, and this is one instance among many, that for a house to be well and regularly supplied from tlie garden, and extras at the right time, the gardener should have intelligence of what is contemplated, as soon, if not sooner, than either the managers of the farm, or the kitchen. Much unpleasantness is often the result of the gardener being obliged to guess in these matters, and often thus judging wi'ong. For want of this information we have known scores of eases in which there has been abundance of forced vegetables in the garden a week or a fortnight earlier or later than was desirable. This would make no difference in estabhshments where little change is made in the requii'ements, company or no company ; but it is un- pleasant in all cases, and those seem to be the naturally right ones, in which we would testify our attention to oiu- friends, by placing before them things not in season. AsPAKAGUS is not only one of the best winter-forced ve- getables, but it is also one of the most expensive, when it is raised from the ground, and forced in pits and frames, as the roots are then useless when done with, except as forming part of the compost or chai-ring-heap. These roots requii-o to be three or four yeai's old before forcing, we mean from the time of sowing or planting-out one-year seedlings. Y/^e have had it pretty fair the second year, but that is not general. The only consolation for such waste is the benefit arising from rotation of crops, as we have tried no crop that did not rejoice to come alter an Asparagus-bed when the ground was weU trenched-up and mellowed. To escape this waste, however, and in cases where much Asparagus is required, it is better to have permanent beds to be forced by dung or hot water, the tops being encouraged to grow eai'ly, so as to ripen early in the autvimn. Had we a great supply to produce we would take up a piece of an old bed to force on the top of a mild hotbed in the usual way, so as to have it in use about the beginning of November, and for future crops would depend principally on permanent beds, if we could have them, and could induce an employer to go to the expense of making them. Then, to heat such permanent beds with dung and tree leaves, we wovdd clear out a space for a single bed — say 30 feet long, S feet wide, and 3 feet deep — saving the best surface sod, and removing the under soil. We would build a four-inch wall round this opening, or at least on the sides, maJiing this wall not perpendicxdar but sloping a little to the ground. We would then make a pit in the centre, also with four-inch work, so as to have IS inches for linings ; the walls of the pit would be 3 feet in height, and the lower half should be pigeon-holed. Then inside the pit to the height of the pigeon- holes we would fill in boulders, clinkers, brickbats, &c., placed as openly as possible, and finish with rough gravel, and then a thin layer of fine gravel to prevent the earth going down. We would then fill up witli 15 inches of fine, rich, hght soil, plant all over ^^ith nice young plants about 7 inches apart, cover 3 inches, and encoui'age vigorous growth. The linings to be fiUed with hot dung and 'leaves when the plants are to be excited, filling only the lower part of the lining at fii-st. The top of the pit to be covered with a flat span roof, made of glass, or even one of boards or asphalt. In the latter case the Asparagus would require to stand in the sun before it is used several days after being cut. If the one wall be a little higher than the other, common sashes of the requisite width may be laid on from back to front. For a bed to be so heated by linings the width should not be more than from 3 feet H inches to 4 feet. We have supposed that the pit should not be above the surface of t!ie ground ; but if such a pit were 1 foot or 18 inches above the surface the plants would thrive equally well, and all tlie ■ laboiu- of movhig the subsoU be avoided or nearlv so. The rough stones in the bottom of such a pit permits the heat to excite the roots gently before it is necessary to bank up the linings to the top of the bed. For succession early crops in the open ground, where manure is plentiful, it is a good plan to have a raised bed or two, with a pathway of from 2 feet in width, and sunk 2 feet at the sicles ; the sides supported by stakes and any rough slabs left cqjen, and an edging-board or raU along each side some 8 inches higher than the bed. These trenches may also be filled with fermenting material, and be cleared out cai'ly in summer, to prevent the roots running into it, as they must be confined to the bed. As soon as the shoots begin to move the earth above them, some spare sashes may be laid across the beds, or a temporary rail or pole may be placed down the middle, and a piece of calico stretched over it, to keep out the frost. Additional covering can be given in severe weather. We have not such a bed at jjresent, as we are so short of fermenting material, but we have found such beds most useful and economical. Sea-kale and Khubarb may be forwarded out of doors by either of these modes. When early Asparagus, &c., is grown in permanent beds and pits, with the assistance of hot water, the beds need not be so deep, and they may be of any width up to 6 feet, so as to be managed by two pipes for bottom heat. Glass would be the best covering, and the same sashes would do for other things in summer. Linings, of course, would be unnecessary, 2i feet would be quite deep enough, and half of that might be above the sm-face level, if straw were tied on the exposed outside wall. On the bottom we would place 2 inches of concrete, so slojicd as to secure di-ainage ; on this two four- inch pijies, so as to divide the space equally, and between them, and over them for 4 inches, pack loosely with clinkers, stones, &e., and over these 1 inch of clean jjebbled gravel, and then the soil. Every 10 feet or so along the sides we would have a narrow round diain-jupe of the smallest size standing up, so that we could send ail- and moisture into this chamber of stones at pleasiu'e, and stop the holes when we liked, and by this means also regulate the atmospheric heat. To meet some other inqufries, w-e will advert to two modes of managing Asparagus out of doors. Ffrst, in stiff clay soils where the sui-face soil is very thin, the following plan has answered very well. A space is marked ofi' — say, 5 feet in width, during the winter, all the good surface soil is laid aside in a ridge, a foot of the clay or nearly so is also taken out and laid in a ridge, a lot of grass, prunings of hedges, trees, &c., is placed in the trench, set fu-e to, and covered with the clay, and when that is well shattered at least, if not thoroughly bin-ned, it is thrown out as a ridge on the other side, and then until the sjiring all the prunings and rubbish are thrown into this trench, making a sort of rubbish- heap for everything that has a little hardness in it. Then about April this is covered over with long litter and some dung, and the two ridges with a little leaf mould mixed together, are then thrown over the litter, making a first-rate bed for ridge Cucumbers and Vegetable Marrows. In winter the bed is ridged-up, the sticks .and prunings below keeping it light and securing drainage. The Asparagus is planted when from 1 to 2 inches in height, watered, and covered with rich leaf mould and dung, and thus a bed or two are made every yeai- to sujiply the place of the plants taken up for forcing. The other mode is more applicable wliere cii'cum stances are more f.ivourable. Trench moderately deep in winter, adding a fair portion of manure, loosening the subsoil and allowing it to remain level. Mark out into two-feet ridges m spring, sjjread the roots of the plants out on the ridges, cover with rich light soil, and mulch and watei' when con- venient in summer. We rather prefer these two or two-aud- .1-half-feet ridges to beds. Plant one row on each. They soon spread. In planting after the plants are growing, do not let the roots get dry. From what cause we know not, but in planting Asparagus the plantation succeeds better when the plants are grown 2 inches or so, than when they are not started. Some prefer sowing, but the seedlings must be tliinued considerably, or the plants will be so close together as to injure each other. On the whole wo prefer sowing in nursery-beds aud then transjilanting. One-yeai'- old seedlings are rather the best, though two or more years January 5, 1864. ] JOtJENAL OF HOETICULTTJKE AND COTTAGE GARDEWEE. 21 old do very well if extra care is given to them. Had a lot of seed washed out and dried to be ready for sowing-. Some mice are very fond of it, and so they are of Sea-kale seed ; and fly and slugs will soon make inquiries after the seed- leaves. BOTTOM HEAT. "We £ad we have little room, and, perhaps, as little oc- casion to mention particulars in other departments, as last week's work was so similar to this. A word or two on bottom heat by hot water, as suggested by the above subject, and the interesting article by "W. W.," at page 314, may be quite as much in place, though we draw rather on our general experience instead of the practice of the week. "W e quite agree with "W. W.," that it is very easy to have tbe heating-pipes too fai' from the material to be heated. When we called at Crewe HaU, the very intelligent gardener. Mi: Whittaker, was having- the pipes beneath his Pine-bed elevated so that only a few inches of rough stone should intervene between them and the plunging medium, or the eaa;th in which the Pines were planted. In other respects ■we do not agree with " W. W." Of the plans given, we prefer A and c, and c will be most economical. In A, there is no reason why the pipes should not be nearer the top of the chamber. We Uke his plan d worst, not merely for the reasons he hints at about the roots, but chiefly because the earth round the pipes, just as it becomes dry and more porous, will cease to be a good conductor. It will then act much the same as dry litter, dry moss, or dry cocoa-nut refuse round a warm pipe. It might seem out of place to enter at length iuto this subject, and we hope that others will meet " W. W.'s " views. We will just aUude to two ideas, the first, instanced above, that moist heat will rise more easily than dry heat ; a,nd secondly, confined air is a bad conductor of the heat given off. A slight modification of the chambers of Mr. Lane would prevent the confine- ment of air in chamber A, and by means of a few small open pipes between the earth and wall to be stopped at pleasure, we could prevent stagnation of air and extreme dryness round the pipes in c. That to us seems the best of the four modes represented, but there is no necessity for having the pit more than half the depth. All the brickwork and the mass of rubble below the pipes are so much work and expense for nothing. We would place the pipes nearer the sides, so as to equahse the distances, fix them half an inch above a smooth bed of concrete, fill the space between with rough rubble, and cover with four or five inches of the same, finisiug with small pebbles of gravel. Heat will be absorbed in such circumstances according to the density of the material. The stones and cUnkers are dense and good conductors, aii- is light, and when confined and dry a bad conductor ; make it movable and moist and it will carry heat through every opening. Any simpler mode of doing so than is referred to above we consider to be of importance. We have known many cases in which by such a simple mode failures have been made successes. — E. F. COVENT GAEDEW MAEKET.-Jan. 2. The market is still well supplied with vegetables ; but if ;he frost ■which haa just set in continue, a frilling off may be lookifd for, more eypecially as the less hardy kinds of vegetables are, fioin the unusual mildnesN of the season, in a growing- state, full of juices, and consequently iLOve liable to injury from frost. Pines are sufficient for the demand; hutoouse Grapes may siill be hud iu good condiiion ; and Apples and Pcurs are of the same kinds as named in previous reports, the latter growing daily UKjre scarce, particularly the finer samples. Cobt; iu-e now bringing from 9U^. to iOOs. per 100 lbs., and for those of very superior quality pi ices rule still higher. Fresh importations have come in of French Saluda, Endive, uwi Lettuce ; and some ^reen Peas troin Algeria are also to be_ haa. Cut flowers prineipally contist of Orchids, Camellias, Ericas, Roses, Acacias, Pelargoniums, a few Azaleas, Christmas Hoses, "Violet,-, Early Tulips, and NurclsBUs. FRUIT. • s. d. Apples J sieve 1 G t Apricots doz. 0 0 Figs duz. 0 e Filberts .fe Nuts 100 ibe. 60 0 Grapes, Hothouse...^lb. 5 0 Foreign 1 0 MusclUS 6 0 Lemons 103 6 0 Melons.. each 3 0 s. n d 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mulberrieo ...quart p. 0 0 4 0 3 2 3 0 U d. 3. 0 to 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 12 6 (i tJ D S 0 ti 20 d 0 » 0 Oranges.... 100 II 90 n S 2 10 10 0 ilessert Fine Apples.... Pomegnmutes . Walnuts .i sieve ..7.. ..lb. ....liUCll ...bush. II 0 0 0 VEGETABLES. Asparagus bundle Ueans, llroad bush. Kidney 100 Beet, Ked doz. liroecuU bundle Brussels Sprouts^ sieve Cabb.iKC doz. Capbicuras 100 Carrots bunch B. G 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 d. 8. 0 to 10 0 0 U S 0 1 t) 2 6 2 9 1 0 0 6 0 0 6 6 2 0 3 3 2 3 0 8 0 3 0 C i d 0 0 0 6 0 6 3 0 8 0 0 0 G 0 0 0 0 Leeks .. bunch 8< 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 d. 3. 3 to 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 4 6 0 3 0 6 0 0 0 0 8 6 2 0 0 9 1 G 2 6 4 0 0 4 0 d 0 ivluhhroonis ., iMuald. ic Cres Unions pickliiii? .. Parsley Parsnips Peas ... pottle , punnet ,. hushel .... quart ... bunch doz. a u 0 s 4 9 0 Polalnes ...... Kaiiishes do/.. Ithubarb Savoys Sea-kale Spinach Tomatoes Turnips .. .. rack bunches .. bundle .per doz. .. basket sieve ....^ sieve ....bunch 0 Celery ..bundle 0 sftoie 6 Fennel bunch Garlic and Shallots, lb. Herbs .- bunch 6 0 0 Horseradish .. bundle e TO CORRESPONDENTS. PniMULAs— Geranidji [Consumt Reader^ F. JF".)-— The Primula flowers are evidently very large, but we can say nu morr, (or ihey were ilattened and bruised by the postage punches. The Geranium with Uio leuves rayed witiA yellow and green would be useful as a border plant if of dwarf habit. Hot-water App.^ratus. — A. S. S. wishes in know where *^ Bishop's hot-water apparatus," described in our Vol XXV., p. 13i, can be obtained, GAttDKNERs' Unio.v ( TT. B. G. ^.). — Coiubinaiions, whether among employers or tbo?e they employ, are erroneous in principle and always have for tlieir result more misery than benefit. The reason for this is obviou!-— wages, like all other prices, a e regulated by the relative amounts of the supply and the demand. If there ^re more gurdcners than em- ployers, wages will bs low in defiance of any union among the gardeners. If gurdL-ncrs were few and employers m.iny, wages would be high in defiance of any union among the employers. Vines for a Greenhouse {Suhscri'>er).—^^\^n Vines in a house only 2-i teet long are too manj'. We should plant two Black Hamburghs, two black Cliampions, and one' Royal aiu.-cadine, which is a \Yhite Grape. Pears {G. A'.).— The gentleman whose name you mention is no authority on such subjects. liis information is all obtained KCC!o:id hand, and is not juLlieiously selected or apphed. We shnll next week give an article on all Mr. Huy>he's Pears, in which you will get every information respecting then. The two Pears you mention are not varieties of any merit, and they have never been tried in this country. BoTANiCAn Terms ( ).— Henslow's "Dictionary of Botanical Terms *' a-.d Louaou's " Hortns Britannicus " togeth'jr will lurnish you with all the explauaiiuns and translations you requii-e. Dried Plums from Hpain {Frnuicnla).—'V\ivY are most probably either tr e St. Catherine or the D'Agen, both well-known varieties as good for preserving and drying. Wa doubt very much whether the kernels will germinate, and if they do it is still more doubtful whether the seedlings wduld at all resemble the parents. You may tow the stones now about an inch below the surface in pois, ami keep them plunged in a greenliouae. Work on Carukning {T. It. D.).— For twenty pofibige stamps you can havt: "The Garden Manual" Jrom our ofa.ce fr.?-^ by post. You will find an answer to your question in that. Tli« Walcheren Broccoli may be obtained for table throughout the year. Sand for Cuttings (T.).— The sand, of which you enclosed a sample, will do very well for the purpose. TwELVK Show Chrysanthemums (Jas. Whitehcnd). — Jardin desPlantes, yelluw ; Beverley, «hite; Her M^ijesty, blush ; Antonelli, salmon orange; hucbess of Buciiingh;:im, white, with sulpnur centre; Sparkler, bright orange; Cleopatra, Olush, with rosy shiide ; Aiifiea Fevril5re, beautifully lipped; Liitle Harry, ojange ; Lord Pauneraton, ruse amaranth; Queen of Kngland, blush; and General ilade, Indian led. Heating a Vinery (jI/. Z?. J.).— We would advise the sinking of the furnace low enough and have a back flue of bricks for 6 or 8 feet, and then use eartlienwrtre pipes, but not less than 9 inches in diameter. If you go round the ends as well as the front, ti.ure should be a squire cesspool-Uke place at ench turning for the pipes to end on, and that being covered with a tile, you can take it off and send a brush tlirou'jh ihe pipes at any time. We think a small flue of bricks would be as cheap unles.s you can obtain pipes h mdy. For merely keeping frost out a brick Amott's stove would be the simplest. Peach and Ne:tarine Buds Falling [A Constant Reader). — Your" v'ood is Very werdc and a little green, and if the soil was at all dry the buds would be apt to fall independently of the wasbing with Gishurst compound. The wiishuig IS always apt to unsettle the buiis. However, we would syiinge the trees with clear water, anil give a littl.? w;>ter at the roots. We cut through most of the fruit-buds which you sent, and foimrl them all perfect. You ahoukl have tried the wat-liing ul half the strength if you had any (luubt. However, we think you will have more good buds than you iiuagi.ie. Acorns for Plaktino ( W. H. 5.).— In some cases that we know of the children of loresters or others who have the privilege or picking up acorns ill woods, &-., sell them at f-o ranch per bushel to neighbouring nurserymen or others who either want them themt;r:Jves or tii.-'puse of them to those who do uat.t them. We have known them path<'red and stored away for the Use 01 game in winter, and in rural disiricis where tisey wtre plentiful have bad .scores of bushels picked up lor a f-hilliiig a-bui-hel. It is now too late to obtain any except from collectors, whom probably some nurseryman will put yuu in the way of finding out. Cdtiing Back Camellias {A. C.).— Camellias bear cutting back as well as any plant that c^uld be named, provided they are hCLiltby. The best time to dii it is imnif diately after they hav-^ d.me flowering. If cut back to the ol.i wood you cannot hope for many flowers next year. If you can place them in a gentle bottom heat, ami syringe them frequently, it will greatly laciiitate their bursting iuto gruwth. 22 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. January 5, 1861. Creepers to Cover a Summer-hocsb tuat is Shaded and Sur- RODNDED WITH Trees ( W. E. 5.).— In your c;i«c there ia nothinc lo equal Ivy, as it can be trained to any shape, and its appearance is always good. You might try some Clematis, asC. vitalhaorC. monlanfi. or a Honeysuckle or hardy Jasmine; but these plants would only endeiivour to reach the boughs of the neighbouring trees, and from them push on to the light. By planting some of the Variegated Ivy along with the green, so as to make stripes or panels where there was space, a very good ett'ect would be pro- duced. Yuu might, however, try a Rose or two, an evergreen Honey- suckle, or a Cotoneaster ; but, with the exception of the last-named, we have little hope of their succeeding well. Cotoneaster microphylla is, however, a useful plant, and may, perhaps, work in. Making a Hedge our of Naked Yew Trees {A Snhscrihey).~V^Q fear it is hopeless to make a good compact hedge out of trees 12 feet high that are naked at the bottom ; but if the trees have never been pruned at all, it is possible that some of thp upper boughs may be bent down and secured to their place firmly, and a tolerable face obtained with a Utile .good management and patience. If, however, the tops have been cut into form and the bottoms are naked for 5 or G feet, the above plan will hardly do ; and it would be as well to remove much of the earth near the collar of the present plants and replnce it with fresh soil, which, if possible, ought also to be raised something like a ridge, so us to increase the quantity, and on this plant some mere dwarf Yew trees. A careful attention to "mulching and watering in early su nmer will enable them to start, though their pro- gress will be slow, and it will be belter than depending on the old plants breaking out at bottom. We are always uawilling to recommend the destruction of a Yew hedge, otherwise it.-s removal and the replanting of young plants in fresh soil would accomplish the formation of a nice hedge of some 4 feet high or so m the least time, and appearance would be all in favour of the latter mo le. Y'ew trees may be most successfully p' anted in September, but any lime from that month till May will do. They may also be cut almost at any time ; but it is often done in Augu.«t, as the growth is finished then. Starting a Vinert, &c. [A Young Giirdnier).—lo hove your Grapes by the first week in June you must shut up your vinery and bpj^in forcing the first week of January. Both the Vines and Peaches should be syringed till the former burst into leaf, and the latter are opening their blooms. Alter that you should discontinue the use of the syringe altogether, unless red spider makes its appearance. While the Peaches arc in bloom you must see that the atmosphere is dry till the pollen takes effect. We do not approve of syringing Vines after they have formed leaves ; but keep up the moisture by sprinklings of the floor, and gentle evaporation from tlia pipes or flues, to ripen Black Hamburghs in SeptenH)er in your greenhouse very little fire heat is necessary. The Vines should be allowed to start of their own accord in a greenhouse temperature; and presuming that you can clear out the plants by the end of May, and the summer be a fine one, you need not use fire except when the Vines are in bloom, and in dull cold weather, and as soon as the Grapes begin to change colour, when fire heat is necessary to prevent a cold stagnant atmosuhere, which is not favourable to the Vine in any stage of growth, but particularly when in bloom and colouring. To enter fully into all that your questions embrace wonld require a lengthened treatise, and we would recommend you to get a work on the Vine. Figs require protection from severe frost, and it may be effected in many ways by mats, or fern or straw, either of which materials will do. Seedling Apple [T. ff. J?.).— Your seedling Apple is most excellent- Let us know all about it, and tell us what is to be the name of it. ■Wire for Espaliers (D. M. P.).-Yts, wire will suit admirably, and look much neater than wood, and, of course, last much longer. But why have stone pillars? Iron uprights and strainers, the same as for a wire fence, would be much lighter in appearance, and be less in the way than stone pillars. We should have the wires li) inches apart. There is nothing gamed by hav;ng the shoots of the fruit trees any closer together. _W0RK ON Collecting, &c.. Natural History Specimens ( TT'. C. C.).— There IS no work known to us embracing the preservation of all kinds of zoological and botaniciil specimens. Mr. Swainson's volume, in Lardner's Cyciopa'dia includes the preserving of birds, insects, &c. The fourth volume of Kirby and Spence's " Untomology " gives very full directions for collecting, rcanng, and preserving specimens of insects. The paper vou enclosed will do for drying plants, but we prefer a much thicker kind of bibulous paper. Nothing is required for pre."erving pkns but 'o arrange the specimens in a natural position, without one part overlapping anotber part, to give them gentle pressure, and lo dry them quickly. The quicker they are dried the better ate ihe colours preserved. Na.iies op Fruits I,A Constant Subscriber. Baii:trn).—Yom Pear is the Passe Colmar. ( r. O. II. ).-] , American fall Pippin ; 2, Toker's Incom- parable; o, Gloria Mundi; 4, Beauty of Kent. Names of Plants (P«ic/ope).-l, Polystichum angulare ; 3, Asplenium adlantum nigrum ; 3, Lastrea Filix-mas. POglTEY. BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. EEVIEW OF 1863. The unwearied foot has again performed its joiu-ney. Days, weeks, and months have fulfilled their appointed time, and our yearly task is hefore us. We would begin, as is our custom, by expressing our gratitude that we have been spared. We are always thanlvful that our task is comparatively trifling, that no weighty interests can euffcr by a weak advocacy at our bands, and that our readers and contributors are all friends. We can ^ort with Bueh terms as the " Holy Alliance," wo can dilate on the entente cordiale, and "Unhappy Poland" suggests to us only a top-knotted fowl. Wc have nothing we can compare to the " Congress" except the " Poultry Club," which seems to be a sort of " Poultry Trinity House," laying down rules and granting certificates of competency to the pilots of poultry shows. May It prosper according to its desserts. We wish well to any- thing that can forward a favourite pursuit. There never was time when less steeling was required. The whole pui-suit has sailed peaceably during the year ; it has bom a halcyon time, and when now and then a piratical craft — generally sailing from Manchester or th r'abouts — has pounced on some good sleek and prosperous exhibitor, cheating him of two or three valuable pens of poultry, although we have been unable to get the birds back, we have mostly given such publicity to ths proceedings, and so described the ports from which the pirate hailed, that his occupation was soon gone. If the victim has ever read " Little Pedlington" — if he has not we advise him to do so — he will recollect, at the soiree given by Eumniins, the antiquarian, that Miss Enaj Sbburcs (to the initiated, Jane Scriibbs) let fall the cup and saucer on the entrance of the stranger, and exclaimed, "'Tis gone, 'tis lost; the fairy spell is broken!" " So are my cup and saucer," said the indignant antiquarian, and " So are my pens," will the victim say. Our revicsv of the different classes will be a laudatory one. Many have improved greatly. The least favoured have held their own as compared with last year. Certain breeds would appear always to be in favour, like some useful colours in dress, as black, some shades of brotvn, and slate ; while others reign for a time and then suffer eclipse, like mauve, magenta, cuir, iScc. Dorkings are always looking up. They increase in size, entries, and popularity. They contribute more than any other breed to the amounts at the sale office. They are, more than any others, an epitome of poultry shows. The bird that won easily ten years ago, and was unquestionably roupy at the end of two days, his disappeared to make room for the hardier, handsomer, and heaver bird that now wins with difficulty. Some breeds are intimately associated with names, and when their support is withdrawn the classes suttlr. Spanish first leant on Capt. il omby. They attained their apogee at the hands of Mr. Davies ; they maintained it with 5[r. Puake, but since he has given up they have not been so good. We look for their revival. The good old Cochins " keep on the even tenor of their way." Through good and bad repute they have held their own, and good birds make good prices. They are still favourites, and they deserve to be so. The Bufi and "the Partridge are decidedly better than the White. Brahma Pootras are established, and maintain their right as a distinct and very valuable breed. They fill good classes, and are attractive. Our own opinion remains unchanged — they are among the best fowls ever introduced. Malays were never better than they are now; but their entries hardly justify the amount given to them in a prize list. We have been everywhere disappointed in the entries of Creve Coeurs. There is no doubt they are a valuable import- ation ; but the Various class must be their home until they can show in greater numbers. Among the Pencilled Hamburghs the (xolden are far in advance of the Silver. The latter want the care and knowledge of Mr. Archer. The Spangled have been very good, and the Black a great success at Birmingham. All tlie Polands have exhibited pens of undeniable merit during the year. Mr. Adkins' Silvers are perfect, Jlrs. Pcttat's Golden and Mr. Edwards' Black desjrve the same praise ; but they are not sufficiently numerous. It is only necessary to say of the Game that they are perfect. Bantams are still great favourites, especially the Game. Their numbers throw the Sebrights into the shade. All that can be said of Ayk-sbury Ducks is, they have held their i.wn. The year shows no progress. liouens have bcaton them in nuraliors, and they tread on their heels in weight. The Black Ducks have throughout the year been numerous, excellent, and attractive. The average of Geese and Turkeys has been about the same as former years ; but individual pens have not been so heavy as they are sometimes. Wc ha^'e far more pleasure in chronicling a large average than a few very heavy exceptions. Poultrj' shows have remained popular through the year. Some die annually, some start afrcf h, and others spring from the ashes of their predecessors ; but it is become a pursuit. ]*oultry sales have much increased all over the kingdom. There is every- where a steady and good demand for average pcultiy. On one point wc are stationary : tho quality of the poultry at country markets ha,s increased, but the quantity is still small— not suffi- cient for the demand in many places. We believe some of the millions of eggs that are every year imported might be produced at home by keeping the proper breeds, and we anticipate good from the introduction of tho Crive Ctcur and La FleoV* We havetc ied both, and they are January 5, 18G4. ] JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 23 ■wonderful layers of large eggs. Since the beginning of that which -was called a mania, fowls have increased lilb., Ducks 2 lbs., Geese 4 lbs. each. If the numbers that have been con-umed were multiplied by these figures, the result would be startling. iVe have thus to he the historians of a year of peace, and we hope to be the harbingers of another. We hare no disposition to be partisans of those who like broils. We are not averse to open our colimme to a friendly joust with blunted weapons, but when the shield is touched with the shai-p end of the lance we aie sorry. For these reasons year after year we congratulate ourselves on the reflection that an address to "Our Friends" includes all our readers. It is a satisfaction to all on our staff to reflect that when this Journal is on the Tuesday morning-'s breakfast table, 't has the smile and reception due to an old friend. Its advent is looked for and wished for. Our position in this Number is peculiar. Like birthdays, it " comes only once a-year." Then, as now, we seem to be face to face with our subscribers. Closing our eyes and giving the reins to imagination, our oifice becomes filled with figures all pressing forward to us, many well-known faces, tried friends, but all full of kindliness, all anxious for our welfare. We thank them for their kindness. We do not hesitate to tell them that things have gone smoothly with us, and that our circulation increases. We tiy to go farther into explanation, but it involves too much. We try to shake each and every one by the hand, but it would take too long. We, therefore, leaning on the ex- perience of the past, gratefully and warmly thank our friends ; and, looking with confirmed hope to the future, -nish them heartily, and will strive faithfully to render it, A Happt and Peospeeous New Teab. rREEGULAE. ADMISSION TO THE BIRMINGHAM POULTEY SHOW, 1863. With reference to a paragraph which appeared in our Journal of la>t week, we are requested by the Secretary to state that, in consequence of the reporters having to prepare for Monday's papers, it was necessary to open the poultrj' bay for a short time after the Judges had completed their awards, and that any person who had paid 10s. to view the cattle-judging was at liberty to enter, and that Captain Heaton did not enjoy any special privilege. Not any of the prize cards were put up on the Saturday evening. THE BIEMINGHAM DIFFICULTY. Captain Heaton's explanation in j'our last paper is quite satisfactory; and whilst it frees him from any suspicion of un- fairness, it closes the correspondence as it regards himself. Captain Heaton must, however, pardon me for quoting the following words from his explanation, and dealing with them as they regard the Birmingham Show. He says, ''I was one of those who paid 10s. to see the cattle judged. About six o'clock — the Judges having completed their awards — whilst I was talking to one of the Committee, I heard him give an order to the policeman in charge of the entrance to the poultry depart- ment to admit all who wished to look at the fowls." What right had any Committeeman to give an order of this kind ? If he had the authority of the Committee generally, or a majority of them, what right had they to give a privilege to those who had the 10s. admission to the cattle show, when in the programme of the meeting it is di.=!tinctly stated that this admission was not. to apply to the poultry show ? According to the statement made by you on the authority of the Birmingham Committee, persons were not admitted to the poultry bay " until some time after the Judges had given in their awards in the Cochin classes." Is this a vagueness of expression, or is it true that persons were admitted during the award of the prizes to the poultry before all the awards were finished, but after those of the Cochin classes had been given in .' This requires an explanation. I am sorry the communication signed "Game Cock" is anonymous, but it is nevertheless deserving of notice. Taken with Mr. Hindson's own statement, it must not be overlooked. In that gentleman'^ first communication on this subject of the last Birmingham Show he says, "I discovered from peculiar Timrlcs, but not until after the prizes had been awarded, that the birds in question exhibited by Mr. Williams were my own property." The italics are my own. If the marks on the nostrils, in all the three pons mentioned by " Game Cock," and observed, I will say, by very many others, were by a like accident to be found in any other pens in the Exhibition, then I will ask. Were these the peculiar marks mentioned by Mr. Hindsou ? If so, surely bis critical observation of these pons, and his familiarity with the peculiar marks of his own birds, must have struck him before he awarded the prizes. Mr. Smith, Mr. Hindson's colleague, sends you a generous defence of his fellow Judge, but his assertions are general and not particular. He speaks throughout of what he believes and not of what he knows. Mr. Smith, however, arrives at the gist of the question as regards Mr. Hindson in these words, " Were these fowls sent to Bu-mingham with Mr. Hindson's knowledge or consent ? " That they were there, that they had peculiar marks, yet that Mr. Hindson had awarded prizes to them, is admitted by Mr. Hindson himself. It, therefore, rests with him to show that the birds in question were not there with his know- ledge and consent, and he must show how these peculiar murks, by which he knew his own birds, escaped his notice until after the awards had been given in and the prizes publicly declared. I do not wish to doubt Mr. Hindson's word, I will not attempt to pres-i even a suspicion of dishonesty upon him; but as I have taken this matter out of the hands of anonj-mous accusers, I am entitled to require an explanation. Mr. Lythall, the Secretary to the Birmingham Cattle and Poultry Show, tells us that Mr. J. H. Williams, in whose name Mr. Hindson's Game fowls were exhibited, is ihe Mayor of Welshpool. This last gentleman has not yet afforded us any explanation. He must, therefore, accept aU the disgrace to which he may or may not be entitled. I shall await the answers to these remarks with some interest. I am sorry that they are needed ; but as they are, I do not flinch from them. I do not wish to do anything more than to secure care and fairness both in shows and exhibitors. — George Manning. CAPTAIN HEATON'S CUP COCHINS, MB. hindson's slip BETWIXT THE CUP AND THE LIP, AND MS. FREDERICK HAKDY's COCK o' "WAS. I FOEETOLD a diificulty concerning the Birmingham Show. I said that probably you would hear from me again on the matter. I withheld this communication that I might see how the abuses which occurred there would be received by others. I was not wrong in the prediction. I am, to a certain extent, satisfied with the way in which the fulfilment has already been attacked. The Bu-mingham ten-shilling day has borne the fruit that was to be expected. The golden key has been used. Con- cessions have been made to the wishes of the few, and ad- vantages have, of course, been taken to the prejudice of the many. Suspicions have been aroused, and confidence shaken. A war of words has arisen which necessarily weakens that friendly feeling which should exist between rivals in a fair field. One act of u-regularity and unfairness — the Birming- ham ten-shilling day — a pandering to the wishes of a few, has caused all the annoyance. The principle on which it was founded was unsound and the application of it has been necessarily mischievous. Mr. Hindson, endorsed by Mr. Smith, shifts the charge against himself to the shoulders of J. H. Williams, Esq., of Spring Bank, near Welshpool. Then arises the question. Who is this J. H. Williams, Esq. ? This is a query which must be answered. Is he another " Josh. Goddard," or a man of straw ? At present he keeps out of sight. This will not do. It is only fair that a chance should be given for setting this right. If it is not done soon by himself or the persons most interested in his existence, some one else may be found to do it. Who is J. H. WlUiams, Esq., of Spring Bank, near Welshpool ? is a question which must not be put aside. With regard to that pitiful "cock o' wax," to use a vulgar, but, in this case, singularly applicable expression, Mr. Frederick Hardy, of Quan-y Gap, Bradford (who by the way had nothing to do with the Birmingham Show), were it not that the principle of honesty and fair dealing must be upheld by the exposure of offenders, he would be passed over with a sneer. I am glad my suggestion that exhibitors should ventilate all cases of dishonesty and unfairness seems to be well taken up. I shall never fail to contribute my mite in the cause of honesty. 24 JOTJENAIi OF HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Januaiy 5, 18G1. I am, as I have said before, an exhibitor in a small way. It is my intention to exhibit largely if I can, in the coui'se of time. I mean to spai-e neither pains nor expense in the production of first-rate birds, the qualities and descriptions of which shall be above suspicion. Of course, with some of your correspondents I shall be deten-ed from entering at exhibitions where unfairness is practised, but I am deter- mined to do battle for the right. Neither CouncU, nor Judges, nor exhibitors, will smother iny determination ; and if Shows and exhibitors ai-e not straightforward they may find that they can be made so, or branded with a mark which all honest men will avoid. I am willing to expend time and trouble in the attempt. — Egojiet. EELATI^'E ENTEIES. DAELIKGTON SHOW. Those who have at all examined the schedule of this Show must have observed a peculiarity in its construction. The entries vary according to the prizes oS'ered. This I have on a former occasion noticed in your pages as a desirable plan. At least, it is but fail- that where a small prize is offered there shoi.dd be a smaller entrance fee required. I am not at all prepared to say that the Dai-lington schedule is perfection, it wiU bear much improvement, but chiefly in the way of increasing the value of the prizes. Look at the value of the prizes offered for Bantams; for a show of the Darlington calibre, 30s. and 15s. are not of sufficient value to induce breeders to send birds a long distance. We find this even where larger sums are offered. Where are the Bristol Spanish-breeders ? Mr. Eodbard exhibits one sohtai-y pen, but Messrs. Lane and Parsley are absent. In White Dorkings we miss well-known names. In Brahmas I notice the absence of Messrs. Priest, Wright, &c. I do not mean to say positively that with larger prizes this would have been otherwise, but it is worth tlie trial; and the entries this year at Darlington — more than 800 pens, give, I should imagine, a liberal margin to the compilers of future schedules. The analysis of this Show as to relative entries, brings out some cuiious results. In the first place, the nortli- country breeders fancy certain breeds — to wit, Game and Hamburghs. Both these classes enter well, especially the former ; but I was not prepared to find that the diminutive Bantam would be by far the most profitable to the Dar- lington Committee. The prizes offered were piteously small, but the eaiTiage of these pigmies is so light, that it com- pensates for small prizes. As to certain classes where silver cups were offered, I have in my calculations added the cup in lieu of the prize that would have been obtained. It is very probable that these additions, which every exhibitor, of course, hopes he may be fortunate enough to obtain, have influenced in the right direction the entries at this Show. Let us turn to the figures, which are as loUows : — Frizes lieturni as per ojftred. JEniries. £ s. i. £ s. (I. 8 0 0 ... li 9 0 28 0 0 ... 32 la (I 20 0 0 ... 17 C 0 22 5 0 ... IS S 0 9 10 0 ... i; 13 0 (i 0 0 ... 4 4 0 la 1.5 0 ... 12 17 II 3 0 0 ... 1 10 0 Order of Merit. Breed. No. of Entries. Bantams 83 Game 140 Hamburghs J 71 Dorkings (80 Spanibh \'n Brabmas V-^ Cotliins 01 Polish li Plainly, then, at Darlington, the little Bantam had not justice ; Dorkings and Hambm-ghs run very close for thh-d place — indeed, they for all practical purposes may be con- sidered equal ; and as much may be said for the Spanish and Brahmas for fifth place, the latter, however, having prizes of less value. Cochins are not so numerous as we might have anticipated. Taking the adult classes geueralty, the entries are scanty, the Brahmas treading closely on the Spanish, and out- stripping Buff Cochins, Any other variety of Cochins, White Dorkings, Pencilled Hamburghs, and the Polish and ■ Laced Bantams, even when " any age " was allowed. Although, then, the analysis of Darlington entries does not tm-n out so good a case for the Brahma as tiie other notes I have laid before yoxu- readers, yet it distinctly proves that no show, arrogating to itself the title of " grand/' ought to ignore them; yet, I have lately seen the prize schedule of the Kendal "Grand" Sho..'. I looked In vain for the Brahma classes. I presume the printer or some of the officials have made a mistake. There is one very ciu-ious point at Darlington. Although the Show was so laige — nearly 600 pens of poultry, exclusive of the " selling class," there was no class for Malays. This splendid, long-estabUshed breed was absolutely unrepre- sented !— Y. B. A. Z. HECKJIOXDWIKE POULTRY SHOW. The second annual Exhibition of Single Cocks took place on December 2Gth in a large new warehouse kindly lent for the occasion by Mr. Joshua Walker. The building is very well adapted for the pui'pose, and was well Ughted and warmed by means of lamps and fires placed in different parts of the room. The Show was a decided improvement on that of last year, both as regai-ds the quantity and quality of the birds exhibited, and the attendance of visitors was veiy good ; the proceedings of the afternoon being enlivened by the excel- lent music performed by the far-famed Heckmondwifce old brass band. A large number of sales were effected during the day. We saw £o received for a Black Bantam cock, and five guineas refused for a Japanese SUky cock, a good specimen, to which the Judges awaj-ded the second piize. The Game classes were well filled, and some really excel- lent birds were shown, as the names of the different exhi- bitors will testify. The Spanish, Hamburgh, and Brahmas were equally meritorious, and the Bantams tirst-rate. Game Cocks (Black-breasted Hecll. — Fir.-t, W. Whiteley, Liversedge. Sccoriii. J. ^ T. SuQtleiland, Coley Hall, near Halilax. CJuiuniLntled, B. Na\loi'. (5ame (Brown Red). — First, H. C. Mason. Second, A. Hodgson, IlUng- worth. Coiiiniended, J & T Sunderland. Coley flail. Game (Duck\vinp:fi and Greys and li ues).— Fiist. A. Hodgson, Illing- worth. Second, \Y. Whiteley, Liversedge. Commended, J. Alderson, Halifax. Gamk (White and Piles).— First, W. VVhite'ey. Liversedi;e. Second, H. C. Masiin, Driijliligliton. Commended. S. Lnjhtowli-r, Koriliowram. GA3IK (Black and Bras-y-winged^. — l-'irst, J. Biook, Gomersal. Second, G. liobevtsliaw, Hartshead. Ga.me Ba.stams (Red;.— First, Beaumont & Ineson, Heckmondwikc. Seciiiid, W. Gretison, Dewsbuiy Monr. Game Bantms iDuckwingj.-First, C. Lister, Mirficld. Second, Wallls and tddroyd, Dewsbury. Ba.vtams (Blackl.— First, T. P. Preston, Ueckmondwike. Second, S. ScUofield, Ueckmondwike. Bantams ( iV bite).— First, S. Scliofield, Hcckmondwike. Second, J. Brook, Gomersal. Spanish ( Black).— Fii-st, T. Greenwood, Dewsbury. Second, W^dlis and Oldroyd, Dawsbury. Poland (.\ny variety).— First, W. Giegson, Dewsbury Moor. Second, J. V.'ilson, Dewsbury Moor. Hambukgh (Si'ancled). — Prize, H. Hemingway, He:-kmondwjke. Ha.mouruu (Pencilled). — First, J. Inesun, iieckmuudwikc. Second, C. Lister. Jlirf.eld. IlAMUURGn (Black).— Prize, C. Lister, Miriield. Brahma Pootha.— First, C. Listar, Ahrlield. Second, J. T. Jackson, Bolton. Any other Disti.vct Variety.— First. C. H. Wilson, Kendal (Japanese Silk). Second, C. Lister, Mirfield (Japanese Silk). Mr. Wm. Marriott, of Dewsbury, and Mr. J. W. Thompson, of Southowram, officiated as Judges. PLUMAGE OF EXHIBITIOjN^ POULTRY MUTILATED. I EEC.KET to have to complain of a practice which I feai- is being adopted by some person or persons frequenters of poultry shows. I allude to the mutilation of the plumage of birds sent to exhibitions. I am induced to write in consequence of. my cockerel in the second-prize jjen of Silver-iJenciUed Hamburghs at the last Newport Show, being deijrived of his streamers, and thus eft'ectuaUy prevented from being exliibited again this season. I am also informed by a friend, that one of the streamers of his cockerel in the Silver-pencilled Hamburgh chicken class, at the last Islington Show, was nearly severed in two, apparently by scissors. If these practices ai'e allowed to continue there will soon be an end to poultry shows, as no exhibitor who cannot afford to send his feeder with his bhxls will expose them to January 5, 18G1. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE G-AEDENEE. 25 the rist of the injury now complained of. I trust that your giving ijublicity to this fact, may he the means of prevent- ing a repetition of such dishonourable proceedings. — John Holland, Worcester. [We insert this as suggesting to the Committees of poultry shows to be on the alert, but, at the same time, v/o must express our conviction that such injuries are rarely caused whilst the birds .are in the custody of the Committees. The form and structure of the bastets the birds travel in, and want of care by railway officials, are the usual sources of injury. We have seen the sickle feathers of a Dorking cock, projecting and broken through an opening in the canvas which enveloped the basket the bird was journeying in.] THE CHRISTMAS POULTEY MAEKET. Thebe was this year the usual supply of poultry, but hardly equal in quality to the ordinary provision for Christ- mas. There was a good but vacillating trade, and the railways do not appear to have had sttfficient strength to carry on the increased trade. Tons of goods were delivered too late for any but the fag end of the market, and the senders will suffer in consequence. Prime goods sold readily at large prices, but ordinary qualities met a hanging market. It is impossible to give any quotation of Turkeys. Assuming- all to be the same quality the heaviest are worth most ; but one pound over nineteen is more valuable than four under sixteen. They sold for all prices, from 6s. to ^£2 each. It is impossible to give any detailed quotations of such a market. GAME FOWL PEIZES AT MA^N'CHESTEE. I SEE from the prize list of the Manchester Poultry Show; that one of the Judges of the Game classes was Mr. ChaUoner, of Chesterfield. I observe also that a Mr. Chal- loner, of Steetly Farm, WhitweU, Chesterfield, takes the iirst prizes in Classes 82 and 86 at that Show. I hope these gentlemen are not identical or related. — P. [We believe that the prizetaker and the Judge alluded to are brothers. This had better be avoided, bat we have the assurance of a very competent and perfectly unbiassed judge that the best birds won. Such communications as this, others which we Ixave re- cently published, and some we shall not publish unless needed, are warnings to all concerned with poultry exhibi- tions, that more than one "chiel's amang them takin notes," and that they must not have even a thin place in "a' theu- coats."] FOITL BEOOD. In every discussion it is of the titmost importance, nay, an essential requisite, that we should not only know what the subject really is regarding which we are to give our opinions, but also that the terms employed to deiine its nature or character be unambiguous and clearly understood. This is the more necessary in regard to the question before us, inasmuch as there is an evident want of concord betwixt my opponents and myself as to what foul brood actually is. Hence, if I were to argue the subject without clearly defin- ing my position, I might in the end be accused, as I have elsewhere been, of raising up a mere man of straw in order to provide myself with the exquisite pleasure of knocking him down again — in other words, my premises being con- sidered false, my conclusions would necessarily follow as worthless. The primary question, then, in this controversy is — What is foul brood ? Foul brood I define to be brood which has become de- composed and putrescent in the cells. It originates by the young larvse and other embryos being in the fii-st instance exposed to chill and neglect or other adverse extraneous influences, whereby they become abortive and die, and ulti- mately thi-ough the operation of natural laws, decay and degenerate into ijutrescent, decomposed matter called foul brood. These corrupt embryos assume a variety of appear- ances according to age and condition. Those in the larvte state exhibit during the first stages of decomposition a pale, pulpy appearance, which gradually changes afeerwards into a dai-k brown slimy matter emitting a most oflensive odour, whilst those in the pupa; condition exhibit various appear- ances acoordmg to age, the nearly matured embryo by reason of its greater soUdity being least affected; and interspersed throughout are a number of cells, which, though sealed over, are found on examination to contain nothing but a little dried up particle which apparently had once been an egg or newly hatched grub. This is my definition of foul brood, which I have pretty fully stated in order to render it as intelligible as possible to all. , . Now let us see what is the definition of foul brood given by my opponents, of whom I reckon Mr. Woodbury the chief. "Foul brood (he says. No. 124, page 118) is, as its name im- plies, a disease which attacks the young larvae in their various stages of development. At first only a few die, but as these putrefy in their cells the infection spreads,^ untd very few bees arrive at maturity, and the stock dwindles and ultimately perishes." Now so far as these definitions are concerned, it does not appear that there is much difference of opinion as to the thing described, indeed we seem to be at one on this pomt. The want of concord consists chiefly in the different views assigned for its origin. In the former definition I have assigned the origin of foul brood simply to the absence of those conditions which Nature has provided as necessary for the development and maturation of the embryo insect ; whereas in the latter the origin is assigned by Mr. Wood- bury to a disease which attacks the young lai-va3 m therr various stages of development. But here let me observe that it will not do for Mr. Woodbury to interpose at the very outset of the argument and say—" This foul brood which you describe is not the same as I have written about. It may simulate some of the evils and not a little of the appearance of actual foul brood," but it is not the "true disease"— and hint as he did at page 343, that I have not yet had the misfortune to meet with it in my apiary. For, if I can put into his hands a piece of comb full of foul brood originating in the way I have stated, and which he could not distinguish from that which he found in his own apiary, but which he asserts to be the result of disease, then, surely, it rests upon his shoulders to show wherein the difference consists. Assuming, therefore, as I am entitled to do, that we ai-e at one as to the thing described— as to the identity of foul brood— om- concord I admit here ceases, and we immediately diverge into separate paths when we seek a solution of its origin. It would appeal-, however, that certain revelations have recently been communicated to Mr. Woodbury from some valued correspondent in the north, so as to shake somewhat his former convictions on this point — revelations, "which (as he says ) countenance the suspicion that an overwhelm- ing quantity of chilled brood may, under exceptional cir- cumstances, degenerate into actual foul brood, just as an ordinary cold in the human subject may occasionally, although rarely, be developed into malignant fever." _ This I take so far as a concession, notwithstanding the subjoined caveat that it may be a " mere coincidence ; " and I have no doubt whatever that still fai-ther inquh-ies and renewed personal researches on his part, will show that not only exceptionally, but always, the like results may be traced to like causes. But there is one impediment to my opponents accepting the views which I have propounded as to the origin of foul brood, which, unless removed, I shall have little hope of enth-ely convincing them by any process of reasoning what- ever. This has reference to what I designated in my last paper the subsidiary question raised in this controversy-— viz., " Do bees remove decayed and abortive brood in all stages from a hive in which it finds a place ?" To this question, therefore, I shall now apply myself, for if I can show that they do not, be the cause what it may, it matters little, then I am hopeful that others ivill come to "see things as I see them," and believe that foul brood is origi- nated in the way I have stated. On referring to one of my articles entitled " Weak and Unhealthy Hives," No. 125, and at page 99, when pointing 26 JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Jannarr 5, 186(. out the great evils sure to be entailed upon a hive of which the brood-combs are allowed to get chilled and lifeless by too long exposure to the cold air, I say, " Then is laid the foundation of future evils, which it is scarcely possible to overestimate. The unhatched larvae get corrupted in their ceOs—the bees do not remove them if they can — the eggs laid in contiguous cells are affected by coming into contact with these cold putrid bodies, aad remain also unhatched. The evils increase, and eventually, if these are not timely recti- fied, the hive will become a complete wreck." Again in my paper " An Experimental Apiary," No. 134, and at page 323, I have repeated th^' substance of the words which I have quoted above in italics, and to which particular exception has been taken, when, in referring to the light manner in which the presence of chilled or dead larvffi in a hive is viewed by some parties, and the assertion that such are always removed by the bees, I say " No! Decayed and abor- tive brood in all stages are not removed by the bees, and consequently must remain a permanent evU in whichever hive they are unfortunately found." Now no experienced apiarian, I should imagine, could fail to understand the meaning and import of these words, and accept them as true. Nevertheless, these averments are met by Mr. Woodbury, " B. & W.," and Mr. Edwards by a direct contradiction. That I am " mistaken with regard to the general indisposition of bees to remove chilled, and therefore abortive brood," in Mr. AVoodbury's paper, p. 342, " my dictum," as he calls it, on this j)oint is classed among many other " singularly erroneous assertions " which he says he has refuted. Mr. Edwai'ds also meets my assertion with a direct negative. He says in No. 137, page 380, " Mr. Lowe charges us not to repeat that bees will carrj' out of then- hives chilled and abortive brood. Nevertheless I must and do repeat it." So likewise "B. & W." in No. 136, page 3G4, meets my assertion in language of immistakeable significance. In suggesting to me the neces- sity of reflecting on the " eiTor of my ways," he says — " A notable instance will be found in this very question of foul brood. Very positively he asserts that ' decayed and abor- tive brood in all stages are not removed by the bees.' " As positively I assert, " from my own experience that they are removed by bees." Now as my views of the origin and natiu'e of foul brood are based upon the facts contained in this question, it is of the utmost importance to examine into it minutely, and see how matters really stand. The question now to be con- sidered then is, " Whether bees do remove decayed and abortive brood in all stages from a hive in which it has found a place ? " My assertion is that they do not, and I will now endeavour to vindicate that statement by proofs from my own experience and observation. This, no doubt, is a question of experience, and I court the fallest examina- tion. The Eev. W. C. Ellis said, in his article on foul brood, No. 12G, page 158, that Mr. Woodbury's experimental system gave him a great advantage over me in discovering facts. He will be sui'prised, perhaps, now to know that it was this very experimental system which at fii-st unfolded to me the evil eifects of allowing decayed and abortive brood to find a place in any hive, and thus to discover the natm'e and origin of what is called foul brood. Dm'ing several years I was in the practice of preventing as much as possible natural swarming in my apiary, by having recourse, among other experiments, to the process of artificialising. This practice was in a manner forced upon me from considerations of convenience, if not of necessity, and may be reckoned as one of the penalties imposed upon those who, like myself, keep bees in town localities. In my etforts to discover the best mode of accompli. ;hing this object, I was consequently led into a little experimenting. Two im- portant facts were disclosed in these expei'iments to which I have referred elsewhere — but both, strange to say, have been equally unfortunate in securing in the pages of this Journal a favom-able reception. The first and most im- portant fact is, that foul brood is frequently introduced into hives so operated upon unless due care and precaution be taken to prevent it. And second, that artificial swarm- making, unless performed in strict accordance with the natural instincts and habits of the bee, and a due regard to time, circumstances, and condition, the results will always bo unsatisfactory and frequently productive of much evil. And here, by the way, I would direct Mi-. Edwards's particular attention to this last statement, inasmuch as I was pleased to think that he appreciated its soundness, as he apparently did in his remarks on "Experimental Bee Management," in No. 125, page 137 ; but I was disappointed afterwards in observing, by a subsequent remark made by him on "Forced Swarms," No. 137, page 381, that he had not after all realised its full meaniug and significance. In my remarks on inexperienced operators in one of my papers, I said, " Keady or not ready he drives his swarm." With reference to this Mr. Edwards exclaims, "Who, in the name of common sense, wovild ever think of driving his bees ready or not ready ? When the honey season has fairly set in, when the population is overflowing, and drones have been reared, they are always ready." From this it is evident that the idea never crossed Mr. Edwards's mind that a hive though full to overflowing with bees and manifesting all the exterior symptoms of general readiness, may, nevertheless, not only be unprepared to swarm naturally, iDut also unfit, and not in a condition to be operated upon ai-tilicially ; and this latter unfitness, not simply because it may not have any royal cells formed or in course of formation, but because of the absence of other essential conditions well known to the scientific apiarian who is conversant with the mode in which the queen conducts the 'ousiness of oviposition. Herein lies one of the great secrets of success in artificial-swarm-making, a want of the knowledge of which is productive of so many failures in the hands of the novitiate. But to return. In conducting the experiments before referred to, aad in working out the various detaUs neoessaiy as to driving, apportioning the number and kind of bees requisite for each colony, and above all as to the arrange- ment of sites, I noticed that when the old hive was removed a short distance to a new site with a much-reduced popula- tion, and when eveiy comb was literally filled with young brood in all stages, and when the new swarm was placed in the old hive's stance, that the former would fr-equently lose a considerable number of its bees, more or less according to circumstances, by what I would call involuntary desertion — that too few bees would remain, in these circumstances, to preserve the necessary degree of heat in the hive for hatching and maturing, and also for nursing and attending to the immense quantity of brood in all stages in such a hive. The consequence of all this was that portions of the brood- combs were left uncovered and neglected by the bees, the uncared-for tender larvce died, and not being removed by the bees they decayed and corrupted in their cells, and thus gave rise to those evUs which no future action on the part of the bees was sufficient to remedy. Now the plain questions to be put here are. What else could we look for or expect in the case of a hive in such cir- cumstances ? and what are these decayed and abortive forms in all stages to turn to ? — What but decomposed and putrescent matter, which we call foul brood ? But why did the bees not prevent this state of matters by immediately setting to work and extruding every chilled larva and affected pupa ? Mr. Woodbury would answer the question by saying that the " energies of the bees are hereby entu'ely crushed under an overpowering mass of chUled brood, and they sink despairingly under the incubus." But while Mr. Woodbury replies in this way, let me recall to his mind that according to the definition he has given of foul brood, when the disease commences a few only of the young larvai die at first. Now suppose (and I wish this to be particularly noted), we are here dealing with a healthy populous hive attacked for the first time by this so-called disease, how happens it, let me ask, that the bees do not themselves arrest its progress at the very outset by pulling out from their cells every dead and diseased larva ? Why is it, I ask ? Because if it is only when " these putrefy in theh- cells " that the " infection spreads," why do not the bees remove the dying and dead bi-ood before the infection spreads, as they ai-e said to remove " decayed and abortive brood" in other circumstances, and thus ai-rest the evil at once? No plea can here be lu-ged that the bees are crashed under an overwhelming quantity of dead brood. They have here only to deal with a few, for " a few at first only die." Then why do the bees not remove them ? But to return to the consideration of the operations above January 5, 1S64. ] JOUKNAL OP HORTICTJLTtJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 27 referred to, wMcli gave rise often to such evil results, but to whicli Mr. Woodbm-y would probably urge the objections before stated. Well, by-and-by the hive in question becomes pretty populous. The bees are numerous enough to hatch a goodly number of the young brood, and these now spread themselves over the combs and fill, it may be, every opening. Do the bees now remove the decayed and abortive brood in all stages fi-om the combs formerly neglected? No, cer- tainly noc. But this hive might still be reckoned a weak hive; and it is but fair that I should here state that " B. & W." admits at page 364,, No. 136, that with respect to weak hives, decayed and abortive brood " must remain a permanent evil if not removed by the bee-master's hand." This I think, however, seems irreconcilable with his former assertion that decayed and abortive brood in all stages " are removed by the bees," and certainly requires an explanation ; for if it is contended that in this case bees do not remove such by reason of the weak condition of the population, then it follows that if those unfavourable conditions were altered, and the weak hive were converted into a strong one, then it is to be presumed that according to " B. & W.'s " tlieory the decayed and abortive brood would, as a matter of course, be speedily removed by the bees. Now is this the case ? Let us see. Suppose I were to add to this not-very- populous hive a whole swarm of bees, as I have done, what now are the results as regards the decayed and abortive brood wliieh have become putrescent in the cells ? Do the bees remove them from the hive ? The answer must still be the same — No. They still remain, and will continue to remain a permanent evil in this hive, which nothing that I know of can eradicate but a complete excision and removal of the whole of the affected parts. Now if experience shows, as I have again and again found it does in such circumstances, that decayed and abortive brood in all stages are not removed from a hive in which it has found a place, even though that hive's population be afterwards doubled or quadrupled, then it follows that " B. & W.'s " admission is not only applicable to the case of weak hives, but also to very strong ones ; and consequently nullifies the strong disclaimer he made to my statement that " bees do not remove decayed aad abortive brood in all stages from the hive." But suppose " B. & W." takes exception to these cases, and falls back on another statement he made in that article — viz., " But in strong hives the bees are fuUy up to the requirements of the case, and remove all impurities as they occur." Suppose he does this — what then ? If bees do really remove all impurities as they occur, then I say it is impossible that such a thing as foul brood, as understood by "B. & W.," could find a place in a hive at all, for the manifest reason that the very first symptoms of it would be checked, as I have before said, by the removal of the diseased and dead larvae by the bees as they occurred before the infection spreads, and which only takes place, it is said, when these become putrescent in their cells. I wUl now give an instance of a recent case in which foul brood has been generated in my apiary. In a very populous octagon frame-hive I reared a young queen which emerged from her cell on the 30th of July last. On August 28th she stiU remained in a sterile condition, and with the view of improving the declining strength of this hive, I put the brood-combs of a hive which I had broken up for another purpose into a suitable-sized top, and placed them above the octagon. These combs were full of brood in all stages. Though the bees were not very numer- ous, yet considering that they had no brood of their own to attend to, I anticipated that they would have taken posses- sion of these immediately. I was not disappointed in this expectation, though on examining the hive in a day or two afterwards, I was surprised to find that the gi-eat majority of the bees had again descended. From this it was evident that the queen had remained below. Such a state of matters informed me what the result would probably be. The more matured pnpEe would most likely hatch, but I had but little hopes of the neglected larvse. I was glad to observe, how- ever, after examining the brood-combs about a week after- wards, that a considerable number of young bees appeared, while my attention was drawn to the fact that many of the beea escaped from their cells were somewhat deformed and imperfect. On the 1 1th of September I removed the top with the intention of dislodging all the bees from it, and I now found it, strange to say, well filled. On examining the comba before doing so, I found fresh eggs and grubs interspersed throughout, clearly indicating that the queen had now taken possession and had, moreover, at last become fertile. I also observed that the greater portion of the former brood had become abortive in their cells. I allowed these combs, therefore, to remain in this state as an experiment till the 25th September, when again examining them the peculiarly disagreeable effluvium which was emitted from these but too plainly informed me that foul brood in its worst form had manifested itself. I drove out, therefore, all the bees and replaced them in the hive below, the queen among the rest, who appeared much swollen, and she had now apparently become very prolific. On examining the combs a most singular spectacle presented itself. Evei-y unsealed ceU was occupied either with eggs, with fresh grubs, or with foul, the greater portion, however, were sealed over. Of these, I found a few containing live pupse, but the great majority were dead. The putrescent larvae, also, were mostly sealed over, also a number of seemingly empty cells as in most cases of foul brood. Here, again, we are enabled to trace like results following Hke causes — namely, chilled and neglected larv^ degenerated into actual foul brood. I need scarcely here repeat the question already so often put as to the facts here elicited — ^Why was this state of things not prevented by the bees by the removal of the decayed and abortive brood from the hive, if such be their practice ? I will relate two other instances of foul brood originating from chilled and neglected brood, which though not occurring in my own apiary I was partly an eye-witness of. In the autumn of this year I sojourned for a 'short time with a near relative in Perthshire, whose knowledge of the bee dates with my own — fi-om boyhood. During my residence with him I assisted in uniting the population of a weak hive to a young swarm of this year, domiciled in a Huber- hive of pretty large dimensions, two leaves of which were yet unfilled with combs. The brood of the broken-up hive we fixed in these leaves. The Huber-hive being large and its population not particularly numerous, we found on ex- amination afterwards that the bees had but very sparsely covered the combs, the outer one indeed was left nearly neglected. They were nevertheless allowed to remain in this position as an experiment, and what has been the result ? Exactly simOar in character to the case last described by me — the manifestation of foul brood. A specimen of the combs was afterwards sent me which corresponded exactly with that produced in my own apiary. I have had both sub- jected to microscopical examination, to which I will after- wards allude. The other case also occurred in the same apiary. In July last I sent to the gentleman above referred to one of the most proMc queens in my possession for his use. In his apiary stood a most powerful hive, weighing upwards of 50 lbs., full to overflowing with bees. This hive he deter- mined to artifioialise, and accordingly drove an enormous swarm from it along with the old queen. The young swarm he removed to the distance of about a mile and a half, and to the bees retained in the old hive he introduced the queen I had sent him. In consequence of the large capacity of the domicile, and the enormous quantity of sealed and other brood, he discovered that he should have retained a larger number of bees than are necessary in ordinary cir- cumstances; and though this was rectified a day or two afterwards by a fresh accession of bees, yet, as will be seen from what follows, that accession was too late to prevent the evil influences of chill and neglect. He writes to me with reference to this operation : — " I find on looting narrowly into the glass hive which I had driven this season there is a mass of foul brood in the centre comb. Now though a strong hive, it has not been attempted to clear it out." — J. LowB. (To be continued.) BEE-EEEPING IK THE OLDEN STYLE. It is now several months since I ventured into print in your impartial Journal, and felt proud of the honour of being thought worthy to be a contributor. I had a desire 28 JOTTBNii OP HOBTICULTUEE AITO COTTAGE GARDENER [ January o, 1S64. to put on record my hiunble ideas on tlie subject of bee- keeping, and cannot say I was muchi surprised that my boraely statements did not meet with approbation from scientific apiarians, who look down upon plain people having- the old-fashioned notion that the use of bees is to gather honey. It is true that in our cottage stvavi liive they often work the combs rams' -horn fashion; but we care little to pull these about to see whether they are sta-aight or crooked, so long as they are well filled with the needful in season. Notwithstanding the censures passed on me as an enemy to improvement by one correspondent, and the fears lest I should have no honey by another, I am happy to assure them both that they are ^vrong, for my harvest was good, and my prospects for the future are encouraging. I must give my peace-loving wife credit for the gentle Mnts she threw out that I would get myself into trouble, for, said she, "Those experimental gentlemen are never particular about calling one another ugly names, and think one side of an ai'gument is aU that should be heard." " Moreover," she continued, " what if we should spend more money and time, and be rewarded by nothing better than a sight of those queer-looking microscopic tadpoles lately exhibited, I suppose as a warning, in The Journal of Hob- TicnLTUEB?" Further, I was told to remember that the difference between two shillings and two guineas for a hive left a balance of two sovereigns — needful for new frocks and boots for the baii-ns at Christmas. Keally there seems to us plain folks to be a kind of con- nection betiveen science, as intermeddling is called, and stinting combs, the more suspicious when, as we are informed in your pages, the great German model apiarian loses hun- dreds of hives by disease, and the contagion seems to be spreading in our own country amongst his followers. Let us hope it wiU not extend north of the Thames, where we are not indisposed to such inexpensive methods as conduce to the health of the bees, and increased store of honey to their owners. — An Old-fashioned Bee-keepee, Finchley. their way to some 7»'ew trees in a cultivated condition. In the latter case the love of mischief, doubtless, induces them to eat more than they would do if they had access to it con- tinually, and the consequent fatal result. I am, however, not sorry to see the subject introduced to your pages, as the matter is fai' from being well understood, even amongst practical men ; for I have heard it aifirmed that the yew is only poisonous when its boughs have been partaken of after being cut and pai-tly withered. This I hardly agi'ee with, but I should like to hear all sides of the question, both as to the yew and rhododentb-on, the latter being as dangerous as the former. — A Hill-side Man. YEW POISONOUS TO DEEE. We have had much correspondence lately on the question whether yew be injurious to cattle or not. I consider it my duty to state the following fact: — An old yew tree was blown down in my garden; misled by Nicoll's statament in his " Planter's Kalendai-," I had its branches thrown into my deer park immediately after being cut from the tree. The next day seven does were found dead. — N. [We have now two unimpeachable witnesses that yew is poisonous to deer. We shall be greatly obliged by com- munications stating fi'oin actual observation the results to animals from browsing on this tree.] CATTLE AMONGST YEW TREES. If your correspondent " P.," at page 491, has not had his views confirmed by others having experience in like manner to himself, I beg leave to say, that on the bare hdly districts of Kent, where herbage of all kinds is very scant, sheep and cattle, more especially the former, have unlimited access to the yew and juniper, which the chalky liill is often dotted over with, and they do not appear to take any harm, wliUe there is evident token of both having been nibbled at. On fu'st being made acquainted with this, I confess feeling surprise, but the facts of the case led me to reflect on the different conditions the animals are sometimes jilaced in. Nature, ever kind and attentive to the wants of all her creatures, never sends a poison without its antidote, and it is quite possible the scanty picking the sheep and cattle obtain on these bare pastures, contains some antidote to the ill effects of the yew, or, which amounts to the same, the acquired taste the animals possess by living on such herbage, may induce them to reject any more of the yew than is useful to them ; or, perhaps, the term instinct may be applied to their knowledge of discerning good and evil. Be this as it may, certainly cattle and sheep gi-aze amongst yew trees without harm in such situations, while, on the other hand, I have known lamentable cases of pioisoning, when cattle grazing on richer pastui'os accidentally found WINSFOED POULTRY AND PIGEON SHOW. This annual Show was held in the spacious Market Hall on Friday, the 18th ult., and some beautiful specimens of each class were exhibited in both poultry and Pigeons. The following is the list of awai'ds : — SPAtTlsii.— First and Second, W. AVooHcy, Bunburr, CheHhire. Third, R. Iliilse, Over. Highly Commended, G. Dean, Over. Conimenilcd, J. Uil>- son, over. Cochin. Chika. — First, G. AVilliamson, Kantwich. Second, J. Dodd, BlinshuU Vernon. Highly Commended. J. Sheen, Tilston. DoKKiNGS (Grey)— Prize, W. K. Court, Newton M^nor. HighlyCom- mentiefl, — Wall ice, I^'ewtou. DoiLKiNG (While).— Prize, — rlatt, Darnhalc. Hambukgh (Gold or Silver-spangled).— First and Third, T. Dale, Mid- dlewieh. Second, J. Sliecn, Tilslon. HAMBunon (Gold or Silver-pencilled). — Prize, T. Dale, Middlowich. Highly Commended, G. Williamson, Nantwicli. I'ot'akd. — First, T. Sproson, .vluldlewich. Second, — Piatt, Damhale. Ba>'Tajis (Game). — Prize, — Groucote, Wim-lord. Eaktajis (Any variety}.— Prize, T. Butler, Jliddlewicli. Bantam Cocks.— first, T. Butler, Middlewich. Second, W. Griffiths, Nantwieb. Gamf, 1 Black -breasted Fved).— Prize, A. Heath, Winsford. Chickens. — First, W. Hodkins'in. Second, J. Willet, Nantwich. Third, J. Iloilinsliead, jun. tourth, — Piatt, Ijarnhale. Highly Commended, Mrs. Perrin, Oak- lands, Wharboronyh. Gamj; (Any colour). — Prize, A. Heath, Winsford. Cluckens, — Prize, J. Crimes. Any VARir.TY NOT before Named. — First, J. Forster, Hartford. Second, llrs. Cootc, Nonhwich. Game Cock (Any colour). — First. G. Beavan, Marton, Second. C. Hope, Nantwich. Tliird, T. .lohnson, Winslord. Commended, A. Phillips, Wins- ford; E. Warburton, Winsford. Game Cockerel (.^ny colour). — First, J. Willet, Nantwich. Second, — Piatt, Damhale. Thud, J. L^-mb, Winsford. Cockerel (Any breed).— First, T. Groucote, Winsford. Second, — Flatt, Darnhale. DvCK (Aylesbury).— Prize, — Piatt, Darnhale. Ducks (Any breed).— Prize, S. F. Hicnett, Ouston. PIGEONS. Carriers.- First, Second, Third, and Highly Commended, W. Woolley, Bunbury. Tumblers (Any variety).— Prize, T. Barrett, Winsford. DRAG0NS.~First and Stcond, W. Woolley, Bunbury. Third, S. .4sthury, Over. Fourth, J. W. Wilding, Nantwich, Owl s.— First, J. Hoole, Crewe. Second and Third, J. W. Wilding-, Nanlwich. Fourth, J. Withensliaw, Nantwich. TuKBiTS.— First, J. Hoole, Crewe. Second, J. Withenshaw, Nantwich. Jacoelns.— Prize, W. B. Lea, Sproston. Fantails.— First, E. Bur«ton, Over. Second, C. B. Davies, Eirdswioli H.ill. Babbs.— Prize, J. Hoole, Crewe. Any variety.— First and Second, J. J. Sumner, Lea Green. OUE LETTER BOX. Supervision of Pon.TiiT at tiik Birmingham Show.— Mr. J, Douglas informs lis tUut Mr. l'o'.vkc never was steward and bailiff to the Uon. W. Vernon. The error is not ours ; but it does not dimini^h the credit due to Mr. Fottkc for the groit care he had bestoweil upon the poultry. Ch.vwge op CoLOt'R IS Moulting [Country Poult rtf-Fancier).— It is not uuconimou for a Sputiish cock to turn partially white ; nor need it cause uiuch wonder, as the chickens arc ]iied when hatched. We do not advise you to breed from !im if you have another. If you have not, w<* think you run little ri^U in usinj^ him. We Iiave had Ihem throw many white tealhers, and moult quite bluck. again, l-'ATTF-NiNO I'ouLTiiv {Subscriber in Connnught). — If you wish to make your fowls very fat while younp, it can only b'e done by sl.uttlni? them up. The coop ehould he made entirely of bars, allowing merely room for the b.rds to stand up, none for exercise, hut just enough to move from front to b.ick. There is a drn-wiu-; of such a coop in the new eilition of Baily's " Book on Fowls," and full instruction for feeding. The best food is ground oata. Bantams at Darlington {A Constant Subscriber).— V{e cannot under- take to siiy more thnn our reportor wrote, and wo have published — "The Uantams were mostly.'* Of course, those which took the prizes may be considered the best. JvuGiKo AT Birmingham {77". iJrifcAO.— Wo ditfer so much from tho opinions you express, and considering' that the declbioiis of the Jiid^fa wore not only lor the far greater part perfectly *;atiBfnctory at Birnitngliam. but that no set of Jud:;;cH should be thus aBsailcd, wu must decltne publishing your communication. January 12, 1864. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 29 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day of ot ITnthWeek.l 12 Td 13 W 1* Th .15 F 16 S 17 Sun 18 M JANUARY 12-18, 1864. Blackbird ^ingrs. Mezeveon flowers. Furze flowers. Ciocu'* flowers. ThaiRea froi^en, 1S14, 2 Sunday after EriPHANY. Hedse Accentor siogs. Averag-e Temperature near London. Day. 42.3 42.G 42.0 41.4 41.7 42.4 41.1 Night. Mean. 30.G SG.i 32,0 37.3 32.2 37.1 29.0 35.1 31). G 3C 2 30.4 30.4 31.1 36.1 Rain in last 37 years. Days. 15 17 16 12 19 12 15 Sun liises. m. h. 5af 8 ■4 8 3 8 2 8 1 8 1 8 0 8 Sun Seta. m. h. 12af4 Moon Rises. 37 10 4 11 35 11 after. Moon Sets. in. h. 4 9 24 10 42 11 morn . 58 0 9 2 14 3 Moon's Age. Clock before Sun. ( m. ; 6 i 8 9 9 9 27 50 12 34 55 10 16 10 35 Day ©f Year. 12 13 14 15 10 17 18 From observati"ns taken near London during tlie la«t thirty-seven years, the ,iverag:e day temperature of the "week is 41.9°, and its night temperature 3t).S''. The greatest heat was 56^, on the 11th, 1849; and isih, 1S34 and lb52 ; and the lowest cold, 4**, on the 14th, 1838. The greatest fail of rain was 0,80 inch. EOYAL HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. been announced that Mr. Henry Cole has been chosen on the Council of the Eoyal Horticul- tural Society in the room of .Earl Ducie, resigned. Without ques- „-iiing the policy of Eoyal Comniis- sionerSj who are the landlords of the Society at Kensington, sitting on the Society's Council, and taking jiart in discussions that must arise between the interests of the Commissioners and those of the Society, ■we are of opinion that there has been some irregularity in the appointment of Mr. Cole. It is expressly stated in the Charter that in the event of death or incapacity of any^of the office-bearers '•' the Council shall and may nominate or appoint some other discreet person or persons, being a Fellow or Fellows of the Society, to supply the place or places of the member or members of Council, &o., imtil the annual meeting next follotoincf such no7nination or appoint- ment." But in the case oi resignations there is a special clause to the effect that they are to be accepted and filled by the annual meeting of the Fellows, and not by the Council: "And it is Our will and pleasure that any such annual meeting as aforesaid may accept the resig- nation of, or for incapacity remove, any one or more of the members of the Council for the time being, and elect in manner aforesaid any person or persons from among the Fellows in the place or places of the members so retiring or being removed, in addition to the member or members which the Fellows present at such meeting are hereinbefore authorised to elect." So it is quite plain that, although Lord Ducie may have given notice of his resignation to the Council, the Council had no power to accept it, and his lordship was bound to remain (nominally at least), on the Council till the annual meet- ing in February, when the Fellows might or might not accept his resignation. There is not a doubt, therefore, that Mr. Cole has not been legally appointed, It is well known that Mr. Veitch sent in his resignation last July :_Mr. Veitch has very properly remained on the Council, and doubtless will remain, till the annual meet- ing, when his resignation will be submitted to the meeting, and another will be elected in his stead if it should be accepted. So that, in addition to the three members who go out by rotation at the nest general meeting on the 9th of February, there wiU be these two resignations to fill up. STEAIVBEERIES EVEEY MONTH. That the first dish of forced Strawberries is hailed with delight by the aristocracy no one can deny ; and the gardener who can produce a dish of this luscious No. 146.— Vol. VI., New Semes. fruit before Ids neighbours (means, &c., being equal), is looked upon as one that has accomplished a great feat. Friendly rivalry has caused efforts to be made to go beyond what we have already attained. The forcing of Asparagus, Sea-kale, Mushrooms, Ehu- barb. Salads, &c., is carried on extensively in many gardens from September to April ; indeed, in the absence of such forced supplies the chief of the kitchen would give dark looks to the purveyor of vegetables. New Potatoes are perhaps the least cared for in the autumn months. I remember my late friend and neighbour, Mr. Beaton, speaking about sending some young Potatoes to his employer's table at Shrubland in the autumn, when Sir William Middleton remarked that they were ex- cellent late Potatoes. Mr. Beaton drily replied that he would be more early in future with his Potatoes by keeping them until Kew Ycar's-day. JN'ow, I would venture to say that no one would despise a dish of Strawberries in the autumn be they " ever so late ;" and I think that this fruit has not had the atten- tion bestowed upon it which it deserves. How many there are that have been confined to a sick-room, who have been revived at the sight of even a few Straw- berries sent to them by some kind friend. If only for the above purpose, then, it behoves us to have this de- licious fruit in readiness at any time of the year. Strawberries may be had with tolerable ease from March until August ; but to secure them from Septem- ber and onward through the winter has, I think, as yet been but httle thought of. In order, then, to have Strawberries in the autumn and winter months we must fall back upon a very much neglected variety — the Al- pine. If plants of this kind are potted in March, April, May, and June, if the usual attention is given them which the large kinds receive when in pots, they wiU amply reward us with both pretty fruit and flowers. Pots well filled with roots, a light situation near the glass, plenty of air, and a temperature ranging between 50° ancl 70°, are the chief requirements in order to have Alpines in fruit in winter. I have long thought that the Black Prince (Cuthill's), would conform to our wishes by fruiting more in winter if runners could be secured sufficiently early for potting. For instance : If runners are taken from plants that are being forced in March, they wiU make nice plants for forcing in the following autumn if the usual attention is given them which Strawberry plants receive in the summer months in pots. Some runners were potted here rather early during the past season, and they are now in full bloom ; indeed, fruit has been picked from some of them ah-eady. All honour to the raiser of this most useful kind, which is with us very early, the best cropper, fine in colour, and many housekeepers can testify- as to its good properties for preserving purposes. The leaves, too, of this variety are better than all the others for packing Strawberries, being very soft and of a suit- able size. Small pots of theAlpine Strawberry when well grown are pretty objects for the breakfast-table ; the ripe and green No. 798.— Vol. XXXI., Old Seehsl 30 JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUKE M(D COTTAGH GAEDENEK. ( January 13, 1861. fruit intermixed with the flowers, which stand well up above the foliage, offer a natural and Tery graceful appearance. A few pots of this kind in fruit placed amongst flowering plants in the conservatory will give a spring-like perfume, and add much to the enjoyment of visitors to that structure. The kind grown here was kindly sent some years ago to my employer by the Duchess of St. Alban's, and is much prized both as a good cropper and interesting vaa-iety. — J. Perkins, Thomhttin, Suffolk. THE DESIRABLE VAEIETIES OF GEAPES. As a supplement to what has recently been advanced on the question of Grape-growing in answer to several corre- spondents, I have thought that a few remarks regarding the most desii-able varieties of Grapes for planting might be useful and interesting to the inexperienced who may be about to plant Vines in this coming spring. In doing as is proposed I have no intention of attempting to mystify my readers with a long array of names, nor to deal with Grapes of questionable meiit, but I will confine myself to those only which may safely come within the province of the amateur and others who may be o^vners of one or at most two Vines. Of late years there has been such an unprecedented amount of interest manifested in the different varieties of Grapes, and such a scrutinising and sifting of them, as has never been the case in the memory of the present generation of gardeners, and many new varieties have been raised from seed and otherwise introduced, giving rise to an amount of criticism and controversy which neither the raisers nor any- body else could have possibly looked forward to. The un- deserving and worthless varieties will soon be consigned to that position which they deserve, and nothing that has been said in their favour can save them from a true verdict. The good varieties, on the other hand, will creep into extensive growth without any exaggerated recommendations. As an instance of the rapidity with which a Grape of desirable qualities comes into extensive cultivation, the Lady Downes' is a very strilving one. TiU about six years ago it was a Grape comparatively little known, and in that short time it has worked its way and holds its place in almost every col- lection, however limited. In what are known as the old vai-ieties. a first place among Blacks must be assigned to the Black Hambm-gh. Taking- it altogether, and as an everybody's Grape, there is nothing yet that can approach, far less supersede it, more particularly as an amateur's Grape. It is of vigorous growth, a free fruiter, and the most free of all in setting, and is large in both bunch and berry. When presented at table it is very handsome, fine in flavour, and more jjalatable to some epi- cures than even the Muscat, on account of its being more juicy and vinous. For a supply the whole year round, if put in competition against any one variety, it is probably the best. It can be forced to produce ripe fruit in January, and late crops of it wQl hang till far on in Febi-uary. It is, moreover, a Grape which can be ripened in England in the orchard-house without fire heat, and it will bear the heat of the tropics. As a Vine for fruiting in pots it is not sur- passed, if equalled. All these points considered, the ama- teur should always plant half his vinery or greenhouse vinery with the good old Hamburgh. 'There are several forms of it, aU are good. We have found the Champion Hamburgh inferior in flavour, though very showy. The MiU Hill variety is undoubtedly the best keeper after being ripe, and, though not so large in b\uich, makes very large berries. Doubtless a few of the more recently-introduced varieties of Black Grapes are worthy of cultivation, but it is no dis- paragement to theu- character to say that in point of general usefulness they rank only second to the Black Hambiu-gh. The Muscat Hamburgh is unquestionably a Grape of supe- rior flavour, and when so well grown as it has been at Castle Keimedy and Dalkeith Park, it is a very showy Grape. But whatever position it may yet take, the uncertainty that has hitherto attached to it has not been suiHciently dispelled to make it of such importance to gardeners or amateur's with one or two vineries as to warrant their planting more than one Vine of it. Barbarossa has nothing but size to recommend it. Certainly it hangs well, but in this latter r^uality it is surpassed by Lady Downes', which is larger in beny, more certain in colouring, and superior in flavour; and berry and flavour in a Grape give a worth to it which no other qualities, without these two, can make up for. Lady Downes' is a vigorous grower, and ranks amongst the most free fruiters. It is not so free a setter as the Hamburghs, but sufficiently safe in this respect, with ordinary care, to make sure of a crop. In bunch and berry it is all that could be wished in both size and appearance, and it is one of the best, if not the very best, of all known Grapes for keeping after it is ripe : therefore, wherever a long season of Grapes is required from one or two vineries. Lady Downes' should be planted. But wherever Grapes are not wished for any later than the end of the year, or even on through January, there is no Black Grape without Muscat flavour that can up to that time touch the Black Hamburgh for flavour, although there is less difficulty in keeping Lady Downes' with the least possible loss from damp than is attached to the Hamburgh. A great desideratum among Grapes is a late-keeping variety with a flavom- superior to any of the late Blacks yet in cultivation. We have almost every other point that could be desfred — such as size of bunch and ben-y ; but both the Barbarossa and Lady Downes' are coarse as compared with what could be desfred after finishing the different varieties of Hamburghs. The same objection applies to the Alicante, and the extra heat which it requfres does not bring it within the range of the amateur with one cool vineiy. The Black Hamburgh is what we recommend to be the most extensively planted by those for whom these remarks are intended. And where a long succession is requii'ed from the same house, a Vine or two of Lady Downes' we consider the most desfrable of the late Blacks. Turning to White Grapes, and looking among those which are suitable for a cool vinery, there is the old Chasselas Musque, a very fruitful and early Grape of the most exquisite flavour, which forces well, and ripens before the Black Ham- bui'gh. It has, however, one drawback — namely, its tendency to crack just as it takes its ripening swelling. 'This, however, can be overcome by having the roots confined to the inside of the house, and keeping the border di-y. This fault can also be counteracted by cutting the stalk of the bunch half thi'ough when it begins to take the last swelling. This is just one of those Grapes which make one halt be- tween recommending and not recommending a Vine to be planted. In a cool vinery there is no White Grape that can be ripened with anything like so good a flavour ; but, on the other hand, the tendency to crack when its roots are in an outside border and not under control is against it. The safest course will probably be to say to those who can have it with its roots inside. Plant a Vine of it, it is so well worthy of a trial. The Early Saumur Muscat I believe to be an excellent White Grape for a cool house, although I cannot speak from experience. Mr. HUl, of Keele Hall, who is no doubtful authority, recommends it as a good early Grape, and for planting in outside borders it may take the place of Chasselas Musque. Buckland Sweetwater is a new variety of sterling merit for cool vineries. It is lai'ge in bunch and berry, moderate in flavour, but fuUy better than the old Sweetwater. Eoyal Muscadine is a Grape that we are very partial to for cool work. It is a remarkably free ft'uiter, moderate in bunch and berry, and hangs better than any of the Sweetwaters after being ripe; and when just at the shrivelling point is very rich in flavom-. In ordinai-y cases, the Eai-ly Saumm- Muscat, Buckland Sweetwater, and Koyal Muscadine are the best for cool houses ; and where the Chasselas Musque can have its roots under control it should not be omitted. For a late White there is no Grape likely to succeed so well as Calabrian Raisin. It ripens well with Black Hamburghs and Lady Downes', is a very free fruiter, very large in bunch, and medium in berry. In flavour it is equal, if not superior, to Trebbiano, which latter requii-es Muscat heat to ripen it. One Vine of Calabrian Kaisin should be planted to match Lady Downes' as a AVhito for late- hanging. We understand thei-e is something very line in the hands of one of the large London fii-ms, as a White Lady Downes' in point of hanging, but much larger in berry, and better in flavoiu-, of a golden colour, and that will ripen iu a cool house. Then there is the splendid Muscat Champion, which was raised by Mr. Melville, Dalmeny Pai-k, which, it is to be hoped, will ripen at any rate in the January 12, I8G4. ] JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 31 •warmest comer of the cool vinery ; and from its parentage there is every reason to think that it wUl so ripen. The Canon Hall, one of its parents, does well in Hamburgh tem- perature with its roots inside ; and the other parent being Champion Hamburgh, there is nothing in its parentage that could hinder it from ripening along with Hamburghs. In flavour, bunch, and berry it is a noble Grape, and any little dinginess attaching to its colour may well be passed over with such good qualities to make up for it. Among the other new ones also raised north of the Tweed, there is the Duchess of Buocleuch, a cross between Muscat of Alex- andria and Chasselas Musque. What good qualities would be too much to hope for from such a parentage, both of Muscat flavour? This is a variety which fruits with wonderful freedom, always showing three bunches, and sometimes foxir to a shoot, a free setter, never cracks, and is of the richest Muscat flavour. It took the prize offered specially for flavour at the great Kelso Show against all comers, Muscat and Chasselas Musque included. It ripens from a month to six weeks earlier than the Muscat, and it is to be hoped it will do well in a cool house. This will be proved, no doubt, before it is let out. It is to be hoped that Scotland will have reason to be proud of these two coming Grapes. To enumerate the Vines that are most suitable for cool vineries, and that are at present available, we would recom- mend where there is room for twelve Vines — six Black Hambiu'ghs, two Lady Downes', one Calabrian Raisin, one Buckland Sweetwater, one Royal Muscadine, one Early Saumur Muscat. With the exception of Lady Downes', these are all adapted for early forcing where such is desired. While speaking of eai-ly forcing, it may prove interesting and encouraging to relate what has been done by an amateur close by here in the way of early-forced Grapes. A few years ago he put up a small place with the view of growing Melons, and succeeding so well with them, he swelled his little place into a good-sized vinery, made a very ordinary border, and heated the inside part of it by a flue, which he carried thi'ough from the boUer under the path, and from the flue ran drains under the border, which gave a good supply of bottom heat. The atmosphere was heated by hot water. The Vines he planted were Black Ham- burghs principally, and a few Chasselas Musque. Since 1858 I had the pleasure of frequently looking in upon these Vines, and in 1859 the crop was ripe early in April. In 1860 they were fit for sale in February, and realised high prices, and, I believe, graced the tables of the Tuileries and Buck- ingham Palace. The next crop was ripened in December of the same year, 1860, and another crop was quite ripe in October, 1861. Now this was not eflected by any premature breaking of the Vines, but was accomplished on the ordinary system, and with the regular routine of pruning and forcing. The last crop referred to was the best of the four. The house was 36 feet long, with 15 feet of a rafter. In this space there were 380 bunches, some of which, as near^s I could judge, would weigh about 2 lbs., and, taking the average, they would weigh 1 lb. each, some more and some less. This was accomplished by an amateur who never had the care of Vines before, and these he planted, pruned, thinned, and fired with his own hands. Such an example of success may be considered an encouragement to beginners to persevere, and proves that by close attention and obser- vation much can be accomplished in the way of Grape- growing by any one who can afford the time. In the case of those who may have a warm as well as a cool vinery, it may be safely affirmed that, taking all points into consideration, there is no White Grape equal to the Muscat of Alexandi-ia; and after growing a good many of its varieties in the same house, I unhesitatingly recommend those varieties known as the Bowood and Tynninghame Muscats as the most desirable. These two set much better than the old Muscat, and are larger in berry, and quite equal to it in flavour. True, some affirm that these three are identical. Here, however, the Tynninghame Muscat from the Tynninghame stock, and the Bowood from the Bowood stock, are not only quite distinct ft'om each other, but also quite distinct ft'om the old Muscat when grown in the same house and soil. So distinct are the two sorts from the old Muscat, that any one on entering the house can pick them out. The Tynninghame and Bowood Muscats are very much alike when ripe ; but in some of their stages they are very distinct, and all who have watched them here side by side are well aware of this. This, however, does not matter much. They are Doth excellent, and far less pre- carious in the hands of beginners than the old Muscat, which variety has been largely sold for Bowood Muscat at least, and hence the reason why some say that the two are not distinct. Every berry of the Bowood and Tynninghame sets like a Hamburgh. In a moderate temperature they make compact bunches and very large berries, and seldom fail to colour exceedingly well j and, therefore, as a White Grape for a hot vinery, these two Muscats we consider the most desirable. For Blacks there are Burchardt's Prince and Alicante, both excellent Grapes for hanging to match the Muscats for a Black dish. Where a large bunch is es>teemed, a Vine of Barbarossa might be planted. Trebbiano has been omitted among the Whites because it is not now presumed that Grapes are required to hang after February, and till then no Grape has a chance with Muscats ; and if size of bunch should be a fancy with some, why then plant the Syrian at once. It is a monstrous bunoher, and when well ripened superior to Trebbiano in flavour; but it requires extra- ordinary heat to ripen and colour it, and without this its flavour is not good. For late Grapes requiring heat, a good arrangement is to plant six Muscats, two Btirchardt's Prince, two Alicantes, and presuming that a fancy exists for large bunches, one Syrian, and one Barbarossa. D. Thomson. CULTIVATION OF FEENS. CONSTEUCTION OF A HABDT FERNEET. (Contiivued from page 12.) The arrangement of a fernery differs from that of a flower garden, inasmuch as in the latter order and neatness ought to prevail, and the outline of beds and borders should be clearly marked and defined. In a fernery, however, we naturally look for a certain amount of irregularity and a pleasant air of negligence, combined mth a tasteful dispo- sition of the parts. Looking at Ferns generally, we find that some are admired for the symmetry of the fr-onds taken individually, others for the elegance of the plants them- selves, others again for the dense masses of foliage they exhibit when growing thickly together, while not a few unite these points of attraction. For instance : the Lady Fern (Athyrium Frhx-foemuia) makes a splendid mass when grown thickly, and a most elegant plant when young, while each fi-ond is in itself a most gracefril object. Polystichum an- gulare, lobatum, and aouleatum are beautiful both in the frond and in the plant, although they do not mass well ; pro- bably this is the character of by far the larger portion of hardy Ferns, and this circumstance should have its fttU weight in determining their arrangement, those which are adapted for the purpose being permitted to run together into compact masses, the rest being only allowed sufficient room to be distinctly observed. Although in arrangement a fernery differs widely in many points from a flower garden, still I do not think that a fernery need be, or, indeed, ought to be, devoid of flowering plants. Where Ferns grow naturally on shady banks, &c., we find many wild flowers growing with them, so that when cultivated in the gai-den it adds to instead of detracting from the character of a fernery to intermix various herba- ceous, trailing, or alpine plants and hardy bulbs, especially such as flower eai-ly in the spring before the Ferns send up their new fr-onds ; and as this does not generally take place before May, some bright masses of Snowdrops, SeiUas, Ane- mones, &o., enliven the appearance of a fernery in the spring, and I have had these doing remarkably well in a fernery. In constructing a fernery the chief point is, I believe, to give it sufficient area. In most instances where I have known Ferns fail to do well it has been found that the ferneries have been cramped into very limited spaces. The endea- vour being to compensate in height what was wanted in breadth, stones and burrs are built up nearly and sometimes quite perpendicular, the smallest possible niches being left here and there into which the Ferns are squeezed, and in which they starve and die. However tliis rustic fancy work 32 JOUKNAL OP HOKTICITLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. [ January 12, 1SC4. may answer to the designation of rockery or grotto work it will never be a fernery, since it seldom happens that any Terns thriva there. What is mainly wanted is length and breadth, height I consider of but secondary importance. Certainly Tai'ious pieces of rustic workmanship may some- times be advantageously introduced — as the imitation of a mined tower, mountain peak, or rustic ai-ches, projecting or lofty cHli's, sxipposing any such imitations may be introduced without being at variance with good taste. These may be connected witli but cannot form part of a fernery. The same may be said of au out-door aquarium, which, in my opinion, forms a most useful adjunct to a fernery, and would be in keeping with it. Such adjuncts, however, may be dis- pensed with, and the fernery may consist of a number of beds at various elevations — some may be sunk below the ground level, although it would be better to have the greater part above it ; but much will depend on the nature of the sod and situation. In many cases where the soil is light and the situation is exposed, it would be as well, both for the sake of moisture and shelter, to have the Fern-beds below or on the ground level. If it is desired to ha,ve rocks and ruins of any considerable height, and these are covered ■vvith Ivy, thej' wOl foim a very effective background, or become a good addition ; but they should not be attempted unless sufficient space is given. However interesting any such fancy work may ax^pear when crowded into an out-of- the-way corner, which may be considered useless for anything better, it is worth while to remember that it will not stand the test of good judgment. Let it be observed that a small fernery may be constructed in any shady corner where flowering jjlants would not succeed. If neatly done it may be in every way consistent with good taste and judgment. WhatI should object to is to endeavour to crowd imitations of rains or natui'al scenery into insirfficient spaces ; and as few suburban gardens can command a suitable site or position for such, it would be as weU to confine au artificial rockery or ferneiy to its true character, which may be apparent and yet be in keeping mth good gai-dening, and, more than that, with good taste. Merely constructing a rockery or rootery in which to grow Ferns is a very simple matter, especially where the space is very iunited. A mass of good loamy soil to which a goodly proportion of peat or leaf mould has been added is put into the desired form ; the stones, roots, or buiTS are fii-mly bedded into it in such positions as the taste or skill of the designer may dictate, leaving proper spaces in which to plant the Ferns, not the small niches formed by two or thi'ee stones or blocks of wood meeting at angles with each other, but good open spaces in which the Ferns will find room to develope themselves. In arranging the Ferns it is generally advisable to plant those which make large com- pact masses in tiie most elevated and exposed parts, the smaUer-growing sorts in the most sheltered spot, and such as Osmunda regalis, Onoclea sensibdis, and Struthiopteris germanica in the dampest position. This last should have the collar standing up considerably above the sod. In other respects I consider that the operator ought to di'aw upon his own judgment; for I do not think that any rides can be laid dovra for the v/ork, so much depending upon the aspect or whatever may be in connection with it, let it be buUdings or trees. Those who undertake work of this description and do not take into accoimt such matters are entu-ely un- fitted for its execution. If a pool of water is contiguous to the spot it may be advantageously worked in \7ith tlie rest, and may be used to grow hardy aquatic plants, or marsh plants may be planted round it, and if well managed it will make a great addition to the place. V/here a small rdl of water can be taken advantage of, in addition to the pool, it will afford facilities for making a musical waterfall or foun- tain on which the taste of the owner may be exercised. I have known instances in whicli tliis taste has exliibited itself in causing a stream of water to gush out of a shell over stones, flints, bui-rs, or broken pieces of sculpture placed promiscuously together, showing, in my opinion, a want of anything like sound judgment in aiTanging such an adjunct to a fernery. Where it is designed to make a fernery on a larger scale, the situation and its sun-oundings being suitable, the fu'st thing is to form a plan: if a model so much the better, since it is of as much importance to know the various eleva- tions as it is to understand the gi'ound plan. Having weU conned the matter over, procure sufficient soil of a good loamy nature, and if to this were added a thud of peat or leaf mould it would be better ; but if either of these should be scai'ce, a small quantity may be mixed with the surface where it will come into immediate contact with the roots of the Ferns, ox', at least, of such of them as do better in a mixtui'e of the above materifJs than without it. I make this observation because I have often planted some sorts in nothing but a stiff loamy sod, and they have grown vigor- ously; and as I have had them growing equally well in light sod, I consider that sod is only a secondary considera- tion with most of the stronger-growing Ferns. The next proceeding should be to jirocure a quantity of stones, burrs, or scoria, the refuse from the ii'on and glass works. In my opinion nothing comes in better than rough gnarled roots and blocks of ancient trees. I have myself used rough logs of willow, and found that moss gxows fi-ecly on them, be- sides a peculiar sort of fungus of a tough leather}- nature, something of the form of various kinds of seaweed, and which, in my opinion, is far from unsightly. Whatever material is used the plan of operation must in some measm-e be in- fluenced by it ; where sandstone or any kind of stratified I'ock is used, it should be an-anged in the manner in which it is foimd in a natural state ; while if bun-s or scoria become tlie material they have to be formed into UTegular masses after the manner of unstratified rocks. Eoots and logs maj- be laid more formally together, for the only instance in which a natiu'al accumulation of these can be conceived is where they have been washed together by the stream or flood, and it will scarcely be advisable to attempt to form a counter- pai't of what appearance they might present. I have seen more than one ferneiy in which roots and logs have been fi'eely used, and the Ferns have thriven admu'ably, but the area has been extensive and pilanted rather lai'gely with American shiiibs and couii'erous trees. Some of these grew most admirably, particulaily several Deodai-s, which seemed to like their elevated site. In such a spot any one might spend hours most agreeably, admii'ing at intervals laxge patches of Ceterach officinarum, Allosorus crisjius, Poly- podium dryopteris, or phegopteris, or a fine plant of the Kegal Fern — anon a group of wdd plants, as Woodroof, Enchanter's Nightshade, or Fumitory — here a coUeetion of Saxifrages, there masses of such dwai-f plants as Campanula pumda, blue Arabis, or scai'let and yeUow Helianthus ; and it would be but necessary to lift the eyes to see and admire the fine specimens of Conifers, masses of Ehododendi'ons, &.c. The arrangement or planting of a fernery must be a matter of judgment, and beyond taking a few useful hints the ope- rator had better depend uijon his own good sense rather than be guided by others. As a matter of com-se, where American shrubs and plants, such as Khododendi'ons, Azaleas, Ledums, Heaths, Knlmias, &c., ai-e used, it will be necessary to plant them in peat. Coniferous and other trees will require good sound loam. Ferns generally do well in loam, but most of them do better if they have a httle peat or leaf mould ; and many of those of very dwarf habit are improved by having a little broken sandstone incorporated with the above. Most kinds may be planted level with the collar- or crown of the plant. Some few may be planted so that the collar stands a little above the soU, but not so much as to prevent them throwing out new roots, which they mostly do fi'om the crown, while deep planting should be avoided. Elevating them above the soil applies chiefly to Ferns whicli ai'e planted in moist places, as the Royal Fern, the Crested Fern, and the Ostrich Fern. Some re- commend ijlanting smaller sorts, as Asplcnium fontanum, A. trichomanes, A. vuidis, and others that ought to grow in rather dry situations in like manner; but I think it ad- visable to make a little mound of soil for each, as that would keep them up, and at the same tuuc induce them to thi'ow out fresh roots, which some sorts ai'e very toi'dy in doing. It is only in favourable situations that some of the so-called hai-dy Ferns can lie made to do weU unless some kind of shelter is afforded them. The best way of doing this is to cover with bell-glasses from October till May. Adiantum capillus-Vencris, Asplenium fontanum, A. ruta-muraria, Al- losorus crispuK. Asplcnium mariniuu, Cystopteris iragUis, C. mojitana, ii\id a few others, ought to be so i^rotected durini/ the wiuter. li, January 12, 1864. ] JOURNAL OP HOKTICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 33 The best time for making and planting a fernery is in September, as then the Ferns are likely to root into the soil and prepare to start freely in the following season. If they make roots the same season and no fronds they will grow strong, but if they make fronds as well they become weakened ; so that it is as well not to plant till towards the end of the month. Where any of the strong-growing kinds can be planted in large masses planting may be done at any period of the year, taking care to water freely if the weather prove dry. With regard to watering, I consider it a matter of the first importance to a fernery; for to maintain that fresh and verdant appearance which Ferns ought to exhibit it is necessary to nave a copious supply of water, which can be abundantly applied in dry weather. If a cistern were elevated to a considerable height, and the water conducted to different parts of the fernery through pipes, so that a stiong jet could be used when and where it is desii-ed, the operation of watering would be both easy and agreeable. The next best plan is, I consider, to have a good garden engine. If watering is done with watering- pots the labour will be considerable ; for it should be known that Ferns make a great deal of roots, and absorb moisture very freely and rapidly; and if the supply is not maintained, the effect is seen, first in the drooping- of the foliage, then in the spotted rusted appearance they acquire, and also in the abundance of thrips that attack them. But in applying water overhead it often happens, from the nature of the soU or the sloping position, that sufficient moisture does not reach the roots, so that the plants derive no real benefit from it. To remedy this it is a good plan to sink ten-inch pots into the soil in convenient places; these pots, being inverted and filled occasionally with water, will keep the roots moist as they ought to be. — F. Chitty. EOSE CATALOGUES FOE 1S63-64. Thebe are few things that more strikingly illustrate the progress of floriculture and the taste for its pursuit than the elaborate and well-got-up catalogues annually issued by the great nursery firms. Many of them are not merely trade lists, but display a great amount of scientific arrange- ment and knowledge and a considerable degree of literary merit, leaving little information to be desired upon the specific subjects on which they treat. In this i^aper, however, I purpose merely to notice those relating to the Eose, and to point out such of them as in my humble opinion present the most distinctive features of interest and information. I shaU take them in the order they came to hand, beginning with the catalogue of Messrs. Wood & Son, Maresfield, which is usually the pioneer of Bose-information for the season, being published in Septem- ber, and immediately distributed to customers and others. One important feature in this list is that the number of the nursery tally is prefixed to the description of each variety. Others are that the best kinds for exhibition or for pillars are indicated ; and this season the Messrs. Wood have added, for the use of amateurs, the letter T to such as are best suited for cultivation in the neighbourhood of towns. It may here be remarked that to all the catalogues noticed there are valuable introductory observations, and cultural directions afiixed to every section. As might be expected from so accomplished a proficient in Eose lore, Mr. W. Paul's catalogue is a valuable and interesting work. He has adopted an improved system of classification by the introduction of a section characterised as Bourbon Perpetuals, and another for the kinds partaking of the characteristics of Gloire de Eosemene. The collec- tion is extensive and rich in the best old varieties as well as the latest introductions, including Mr. W. Paul's own seedlings, which are likely to take a high place among the favourites of the day. Here also are found pointed out those sorts most suitable for specimens, pillars, pot-culti- vation, and for gi'owing in town localities. Mr. J. Cranston has a most excellent catalogue, printed in a fine type. The Hybrid Perpetuals are divided into two sections according to merit, as also are the Bourbons. The collection is very numerous, the descriptions copious and accurate, leaving nothing to be desired on that point; and the names of the raisers are specified, in which it is alone, and recent introductions are marked as not proved where they have not been grown and bloomed under Mr. Cranston's own observation. The kinds, however, adapted for suburban cultivation are not indicated, v/hich is a pity, Mr. Cranston's list of such in his own capital little work on Rose-culture not being brought up to the knowledge of the day. Messrs. Fraser's (Lea Bridge Eoad), list of Eoses is in- cluded in the general catalogue, though of sufficient extent and importance to form of itself a separate list. This ar- rangement, however, affoi-ds amateurs an opportu.nity of becoming acquainted with other objects of interest as well as with the Eose. For instance : There is a choice collection of Phloxes, with a new introductory ai'ticle upon their cul- tivation, and a list of orchard-house trees, besides copious selections of the best subjects for garden, stove, and green- house decoration. The Messrs. Praser have improved their Eose list this year by indicating certain beautiful kinds likely to succeed in the vicinity of towns. The selection, consists only of the best, and space is so valuable near the metropoUs that only the most choice varieties are grown in these grounds. Such, however, are cultivated in large numbers ; and from the fine soil, joined with every apijliance that skill and entei-prise can command, none but superior plants are sent out. Few other improvements, perhaps, could be suggested upon the various featxu'es displayed in these catalogues, unless an accomplished rosarian like Mr. William Paul or Mr. Elvers were to divide the list of varieties really worth cultivating into sections, placing at the head of each the parent or type of the group, furnishing by that means a key to peculiarities and characteristics which would indicate adaptability to special circumstances and conditions. It would require, however, an M.A. in Fiose-learning to do this. Few amateurs could command sufficiently remote experience or a wide-enough field for observation to execute the task exliaustively. With the assistance given by these valuable works, what amateur with a few yards of garden at his disposal ought to be deterred from becoming a rosarian ? There is a further encouragement for all who desire to become culti- vators or to replenish their stocks — viz., that a considerable reduction in the prices of most kinds has taken place this season. — W. D. Prick, Homerton. THE SEASON!" IK DEYO]S'SHIEE. The following were in blossom in the open ground of my garden at Marychm-ch, Devon, on. Nev/ Tear's day, 1864:— Laurustinus Viilcriana rubra Kalvia Grahami Oxalis floribunda fQlgens Tus^ilago fragran-s Violet Gazania splordt-na Kcseda UUeola Jaaiiiinuiu nudiflorum (tdorata Act-nlh us mollis Lobelia erinus Alyssum saxatile rrimrose, yellow white double lilac Verheua Defiance hose-in-hoBe Aubrietia deltuidea Polyanthus Eecallonia .macrantha (ieniiana acaulis Hei^aliea (double pinlt) I'entstemon Pampas Gtat-s Coronilla emeriis Stalice macroc^phala Helleborus viiidis , Spii tea filipenaula Fudir^iacorallma ' Papaver braeteaiurii clegans CEnothera lonsifolia another variety Lamarckiaiia Rote Gloire oc Dijon .'Snowdrop (in bud) 'i G(?aiit des Batailles Veronica Andersoni otber varieties Anchusa itdlica Campanula rotundifolia (?) Berberis Darwinii jtyramidalis titoetc, double Intermediate peisieifolia Corchorus j ipunicus Vinca major Lmaria cymba.aria "Wallflowers (several varieties) Hydrangea fi>llis variegatis Scarlet Geraniums (many) Godelia rubieimda Double Daisy Corydalis lutca Sedam cocruleum Iberis (purple) Cbrjsantbemutn, Pompoues (several Strawberry May Queen varieties) Carolina (?> PotentiUa (sp. yellow) Ijlaclc Prince. ^P. H. GOSSE. EOTAL HOKTICULTUEAL SOCIETY'S EXHIBITIONS IN 1864. — It is proijosed to have a Hyacinth Show on the 9th of March ; a Camellia Show on the SOtli of March ; an Azalea 34 JOTJKNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDEKEE. [ January 12, 1S61. and Early Rose Show on the 20th of April ; the first Cheat Shmi) on the 1st and 2nd of June ; a G-reai Rose Show on the 29th and 30th of June ; a second Great Shoiu on the 6th and 7th of July ; a Strawberry fete on the 13th of July ; an Inter- national Fruit and Vegetable Show during the third week of October. The following extra prizes are also offered : — By the Duke of Buccleuch, the President, a prize of iE25 for the best collection of twelve fine-foliaged and flowering plants in equal proportions, the Council giving ^15 among the unsuccessful competitors. By Mr. Bateman, a gold challenge medal, or, at the option of the winner, its value, ^20, in money, for the largest number of marks obtained for Orchids durmg two consecutive years at the Floral Com- mittee meetings. By Lady Dorothy Ne\'ill, iilO for Sar- racenias and other Pitcher-plants. By Sir 0. Wentworth Dilke, three prizes for dinner-table decorations, consisting of natural flowers, fruit, and foliage. By J. J. Blandy, Esq., a prize of ,£10 for Strawberries. By W. Wilson Saunders, Esq., £13 for Tea-scented and Noisette Eoses, and for hanging-baskets. By J. W. Kelk, Esq., £o for an Azalea, and £o for a Eose, grown in a small-enough pot for dinner- table decoration. By the Society, one silver and two bronze medals for the three best collections of wDd plants from each sepai'ate county in the United Kingdom. Also three gold medals for the three best collections of the sepai-ate county collections ; and further, a gold medal to every exhi- bitor of a new species of plant growing wild in the United Kingdom. An exliibition of ancient and modern bouquet- holders is to take place on July 13th, at which the Society will award a gold, a silver, and a bronze medal for the most eifective and artistic bouquet-holder made since June 1861. For the various conditions imder which the above prizes are to be competed for, we must refer intending exhibitors to the Society's schedule. A show of Messrs. Waterer and Godfrey's gorgeous American plants wUl commence on a day hereafter to be fixed, in the end of May or in June; and it is to be hoped that it will be more securely protected fi'om weather than the last. HARDINESS OP GEEENHOUSE PLANTS. HEDTCHIUJI GAKDNEEIANUM — VEKONICA SPECIOSA. It may not be uninteresting to note, that two plants of the Hedychium Gardnerianum, each of which stood out the whole of last winter in this cold damp situation without any shelter, made during the last summer some strong and vigorous growths, and continued to grow the whole of the summer, pushing up fresh shoots in succession, and giving ample proof that no injury had befallen them. They were, however, cut down to the ground by the first frost of last autumn; but the roots, or crowns, are perfectly firm and sound. We shall, therefore, give them a similar trial during the present winter to see if they wOl stand a stiD more severe frost. The test of the past summer shows liow much better these plants, even when at rest, are able to withstand cold and damp combined, than cold alone. The Hedychium should at all times when in its season of activity be treated as a semi- aquatic, though even thus it is only with excessive heat that you can obtaui fi-om it massive garlands of flowers. It flowers moderately, however, upon the latest shoots of a summer's growth, when kept fully exposed to the sun, with abundance of air, and the roots cramped for want of space. At times, also, the lateral shoots of a season's growth will flower if the plant be turned out in a sunny situation in a conservatory, though both gTowth and flower in this case also give a very faint idea of the real size and beauty these flowers attain. Veronica speeiosa is a plant which is now generally dis- carded, at least so far as our greenhouses are concerned. It does exceedingly well when planted out of doors against a wall in a sheltered situation, with occasional protection in very severe weather. Wherever it does succeed in such situations, it certainly is not to be surpassed, I think, by any other plant in use for this pui-pose. Whether its many beautiful and by no means common colom-ed spikes, or the decided and constant green of its foliage be considered, it is really a beautiful wall plant. We have against a wall in a not very favourable situation as regards waa-mth or full sun, a plant of this Veronica about 5 feet high and 4 wide. It has stood there about two years, and has been from long before midsummer until late in autumn beautifully in flower. At this late season of the year, or even in ordinary seasons it would be useful, as being the best of all plants or flowers to assist in enlivening a vase or bouquet of Chry- santhemums— say, an admixture of Aimee Ferricre, Julie Lagravcre, Jardin des Plantes, and Hermine, with a truss of Scarlet Geranium for the centre, the Veronica being used as an edging, and the whole edged again with Pteris tremula and Adiantum formosum, the best of aU Adiantums to stand. I say by all means try this plant in a sheltered comer. It is one of the most lively of our teUing-foliaged plants, and the combination of its flowers is beautiful.— William Eablbt. METEOEOLOGICAL NOTES ON THE YEAE 1863, A5D ITS EFFECT ON CEBTAIN PLANTS IN THE PAST AUTUMN. Month. Rain. Thermometer. Inches. No. of rainy days. Highest. Lowest. Froat. No. of days. 2.12 .92 .77 .72 I.G2 4 Jt .73 2.42 3.23 2.10 l.dS 1.C2 26 15 11 10 10 19 3 H 13 30 15 13 55 68 68 72 80 84 85 87 74 68 59 54 Date. 31 28 25 20 29 3 15 9 19 8 25 16 2°7 26 25 28 31 41 39 44 32 32 27 27 Date. 28 21 18 2 1 2 19 21 29 37 10 23 12 March 11 April 8 Jlav 1 July.. . OcLoher 1 December 8 Total for 1863 22.66 169 ... 64 Total in 1862 26.91 i4.01 33.66 29 55 16.33 21.33 195 158 216 151 116 137 67 „ IsGI 85 „ 1860 „ 1S59 „ 1S5S 93 93 93 ,, 18.37 By the above table it will be seen that February, March, April, July, and December have been dry months, the first four especially being much drier than usual. May and November have also had less than the average rainfall for these months. October is likewise a little under the average, while Jauuaiy and August are a little above it. Jime and September, especially the former, ar-e much above the average. Taken as a whole, the rainfall of the year is about 3 inches below the average of the last ten yeai-s ; but the fall has been so well spread over the season in which it was most required, that the effects of drought have been little felt. The greatest rainfall in any one day has only on one occasion exceeded three-quarters of an inch, and that fell in August when the thirsty ground was ready to absorb any reasonable quantity. We have never had anything like a high flood in our rivers ; and only once, and that in the beginning of the past month, a moderate one fiUed our streams for a short time. With regard to temperature, the past year may be re- garded as more remarkable for a mild winter than a warm summer, the frosty days being both fewer and less severe in intensity — in fact, 7° of firost is all that was registered here, and at places in the neighbourhood it was much the same, perhaps 1° more in certain positions. The dry condition of the ground in the months of MiU'ch and April rendered the frosts of these months less hurtful to vegetation than they otherwise would have been. It ought, however, to be remarked, that the thermometer on the night between the lt'ING. Containing the System of Floral Decoration as Practised at CliveiUn, the Seat of Her Grace Harriet Duchess of Siither- la-nd. By .John Flemino, Gardener to Her Grace. London : Journal of Horticulture and Cottage Gardener Office, 162, Fleet Street. One great element of success for any book is its timely issue. Without this advantage the ablest compositions may remain to weigh down the shelves of the publisher. Jannary 13, ]8(i4. ] JOURNAL OP HOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 39 With merit and appropriateness as to time, there must be a rapid sale, and on both accounts we feel confident this will be the case with the present treatise of Mr. Fleming. There are two growing feelings as respects flower gar- dening of the present day : — Fu-st, that the throwing the whole strength of ornament into the summer and autumn months has been robbing the other months of their due attention; and, secondly, a yearning desire to see more made of the old herbaceous plants that were huddled out of sight to make way for their, perhaps, gayer but not more beautiful rivals. This book tells how the simplest of these old plants can be made to render the garden as gay in March and April as any lady can have her parterre in July and August. The fine coloured print of the large garden at Cliveden, given in July, 1862, must have been regarded in wondering pleasure by thousands. The frontispiece of Mr. Fleming's book we here republish. It is a view of this garden and surrounding scenery. There are eight large beds on each side, each surrounded with evergreen edgings 8 inches high and 9 broad. Each bed is over 80 yards round. The centre of each is filled with early Rhododendrons or Azaleas, then 3 yards of grass, and then next the outside 3 yards for flowers. These out- side nine-feet borders, as it were, make the cream of the beautiful picture ; and yet how simply was the fine eifect accomplished ! We use the word " simply" in no depre- ciatory, but in the highest commendatory,' form possible. Genius is generally severe in its simplicity. Everything that is either great and grand is simple. For these sixteen huge beds we find after Anemones, Jonquils, YeUow Tulip, Tournesol ditto, Kex Rubrorum ditto. La Candeur ditto, Rose ditto, and mixed Tulips, the whole efi'ect was pro- duced by a happy combination and contrast of such plants as Silene pendula, white and pink Sdene, blue and white Forget-me-not, and Limnanthes Douglasii — plants that will thrive by the side of every cottage home, as well as in the domain of a noble duchess. 3 > The Tulips in general are used thinly, the ground being carpeted beneath with some appropriate bright-flowering annual or herbaceous plant, which conceals so far the stems of the Tulips, and thus takes away all stiffness. Simplicity, elegance of style, and the using chiefly of easily obtainable plants, that are easily increased, and may be had by any one, are the great characteristics of the winter and spring gardening at Cliveden. As an example to our readers, we pi-esent them with the parterre. No. 10, copied fi-om Mr. Fleming's book. Mr. Fleming gives three modes of planting it. The follow- ing is the third : — No. 1, beginning at grass edging : — One row of Crocus. One row of white Daiwy. One row of Cliveden Blue Pansy. One row of yellow Alyasum Hrgenteum or saxatile, pegged. One row of white Silene, and the remainder sinffle yellow Wallflower, with three p'ants of Honesty, pink or white, in the centre, 2 and 3, Anemone, mixed single, and biiigle Jonquil. 4, pink Silene pendula, and a few crimson and white Tulips ; edging, yellow Pantry and Crocus. 5, Iberis sempervirens ; edging, Sciia arvensis ti, mixed single coloured Primulas; edging, Erantliis liyemalis and red Daisy. 7, Alyssuru argenteumor saxatile; edging, Pansy M:igpie and blue Crocus. 8, white Silene and a few Imperator Tulips ; edging. Dog's-tooth Violet and light blue Crocus or Scilla bifolia. 9, blue Myosotis and a Few white La Candeur Tulips : edging, white Crocus and Bulbocodiuin vernum. 10, white Iberis sempervirens ; and edging, blue Pansy. 11, mixed Oxlip or double Primula : edging. Aubiietia purpurea. 12, red Anem.me horiensis: edging, mixed Fancy Pjinsiea, IJ, white Myosoiis aKd a few GIohh Soils Tulipi-: with edging, Clireden Dark Pansy and yellow Crocus. Besides several plans for winter gardens, lists of fine- foliaged or fine-berried shrubs suitable for ornamenting them, there are full directions given for all the plants so used, moving them from the beds when these beds are wanted for summer ornament, the summer treatment neces- sary, propagation, culture, time to sow annuals for spring- blooming, &e., for which the little woi'k must be consulted; and we will only observe that aU these details are marked by great clearness and brevity. No doubt the moving and double planting and preparation of the soil will involve a great amount of labour, but in cases where labour power cannot be increased, it becomes a very proper question whether a much greater amount of gratification would not be yielded 40 JOTJENAL OF HOKTICITLTTJEE AXD COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ January 12, 186J. by a smaller garden and rendered presentable at all times with the labour which the larger garden now receives, and which is next to a blank until June, except what may be done m the way of edgings. We hope we shall be gratified at some futm-e time by having a fii-st look of Cliveden in April, and a second one in July. We might then be more confident that the extreme of beauty could be attained on the same beds in spring and summer ; and a look along Mr. Fleming's back borders would give us a good idea of the labour. The manner is sufficiently detailed in the book. SOME GAEDEiS^S WOETH SEEmG-. In the list of gardens worth seeing in A'orthamptonshii-e, which appears in your publication of the 5th inst., I am surprised to see no mention of a place, which for refinement of taste and originality of design, is, although not on an extensive scale, one of the prettiest gardens in England. I mean Monlton Grange, the home of H. 0. Nethercote, Escj. Sfor should your correspondent have omitted the gardens of Sir Charles Isham, at Lamport Hall, which contain among other attractions, a complete collect-ion of alpine jjlauts, admh-ably placed on a most picturesque rockery by tlie baronet.— S. K. H. [We are much obliged by this communication, and the more so because it enables us once more to explain that we do not, and cannot, enumerate all the gardens worth seeing in any county. We pubhsh the lists sent to us by corre- spondents of the gardens they know to be worthy of a visit; but they cannot know all the gardens deserving inspection, and we shall be obliged by any one supplying the omissions. But if " S. E. H." will refer to pages 293 and 33.3 of our last volume he wdl find that the places which he mentions have not been omitted.] BEIDGE HILL, SELPER. This magnificent residence of George H. Strutt, Esq., is on the slope of a lofty hill, and commands a pleasing view of the beautifi.ll town and neighbouihood of Belper. Hap- pening to be in the vicinity on the 16th of November, liavmg about an horn- to spare before leaving the town by an early train, and being aware of the good keeping of these gai-dens, I thought a hasty run thi-ough the grounds would be the most profitable way of spending the time. On approaching the grounds from the town we pass over a neat and pretty bridge, which spans the river Derwent, and the water scenery from the bridge, on a fine and sunny day, IS truly beautiful; indeed I do not know of any cascades among the romantic hills of Derbyshu-e, or in any other county, which can compete with the water scenery at this particular place. I entered from the Ashbourne Eoad, about 200 yards from the foot of the bridge ; and no sooner is the visitor within the precincts of the place than he is at once struck with its sublimity. In the ornamental grounds, as I walked along the footroad which leads to the kitchen gardens, I could not help admiring the beauty and luxuriance of many of the trees and shrubs. The fii'st object wliich meets the eye, after passing through the entrance gate, is a lofty Cedar of Lebanon, which no doubt has maintained its position for generations past, and undoubtedly will remain there for generations yet to come. Here, also, there ai'e some remarkably large Tews and Portugal Laurels. We pm-sued this narrow walk, leaving the mansion a little to the left; while to the right, at the extremity of the dressed grounds, was the park, well studded witli representatives of the various families of forest trees, venerable in their old age. The mansion stands on the slope of the hiU, nearly a quarter of a mile from the entrance into the grounds ; and the kitchen gardens are about a quarter of a mile higher up. The mansion is a large, massive, square building, with a very pleasing exterior, partially covered with Ivy, nestled amidst masses of luxuriant green foliage ; wldle the inside possesses all the advantages of domestic comfort. The principal entrance is on the south front, through a large conservatory, with solid marble floor and steps, among vases of flowers and sculpture. The carriage drive enters the park from the Winksworth Eoad, by a commodious lodge, in an easterly direction ; and another di-ive fi-oni the west end of the grounds also tei-minates at the same place. On the west side of the mansion is another, and the in-incipal conservatory, always kept gay with flowers. On the east side are large and convenient offices, stables, and coach- houses, the latter well shut out by large trees. Behind the stables are the fai'in buildings and all the necessary appendages to so large an establishment. The pi-inoiijal road for pedestrians is by the east side of the mansion ; and, as I continued my pleasant walk through the upper pai't of the grounds, I came to the kitchen gardens. These gardens cover a space of about five acres, and the ornamental grounds about seventeen acres. On entering the enclosure I found myself in what is called the Melon ground, amidst ranges of pits and frames, devoted during early spring and summer to the growth of Melons, Cucum- bers, eaiiy Potatoes, &c., but at the time of my visit they were filled with bedding plants, Eoses in pots, &c. On the east side they are well sheltered ii-oni the cold winds by a high Tew hedge, and from the west by a stone wall covered with Ivy. In addition to the above ranges of pits is a large span-roofed house, with a partition in the centre, dividing it into two compartments. The first was used for gi-owing greenhouse plants, and the second for stove plants, to supply the conservatories. It was here I met with iilr. Bui-ton, the respected head gardener, and from whom I received a friendly greeting. We at once entered this span-roofed house ; and ' iu the greenhouse depaa-tment I found the various tribes of hardwooded plants well represented ia good and weU- grown specimens of Ericas, Ejjacrises, Pimeleas, Chorozemas, Aphelexis, PhEeiioconia prolifera Barnesii, iVzaleas, &c. On the shelves near the glass were immense quantities of herbaceous Calceolarias in fine healthy plants. The col- lection of Azaleas was large, and the plants handsomely grown, many of them qnite equal to what we generally see at exhibitions, the pyramidal or conical shape being chiefly adopted. Some of the more choice varieties were Advancer, Duchesse Adelaide of Nassau, Flower of the Day, Gem, Louise, Marie, Perfection, Eosy Cu-cle, Sir Charles Napier, Sir- H. Havelock, Sir James Outram, Perfecta elegans. The Bride, Stauleyana, Optima, Louis Napoleon, Gloiy of Sunning- hill. Due de Brabant, Admu'ation, and Criterion. Any one wishing to possess a coUectiou of good Azaleas would find it difficult to improve on the above first-class varieties. In the stove I noticed some good Begonias, Marantas, and Gesneras. Cissus discolor was very fine. There were also a fine healthy plant of the fine-foliaged Cyanophyllum magnificum ; for decorative purposes Colons Verschatfelti, Ardisia cremdata, covered with red berries, and Dracaena terminalis. I also observed some well-grONvn Ferns ; but what I considered the chief attraction of the stove was a collection of SelagineUas. Leaving- these places, and passing out of the Melon gTound, we found oui' way to two large vineries, full to overflowing with late Grapes. The houses are about SO feet long, and 20 wide, and are heated by hot water. The borders are all on the outside, and the floors are paved with large flagstones. The crops of Grapes are all that could be desired, and certainly reflect great credit on the skill and ability of Mr. Biu-ton. The Muscat of Alexandria, and the Canon Hall Muscat, were each in good condition, lUcewise the Black Hamburgh and the old White Tokay, which is one of the best latd Grapes grown; and I have no doubt these wUl hang until the end of Pebruai-y or the beginning of March. On the back part of the house was a stone stage, running the whole length of the range ; and this was filled with large Orange trees in tubs, Indiai-ubber- plants (Fious elastica), Da.phnes, Camellias of various sizes, &c. Some of the Camellias were extremely fine, and among others were Camellia Marchioness of Exeter, General Drouot, Colvilli, Chandleri, The Bride, Princess Frederick William of Prussia, Lady Mary Labouchero, and others. On the wall at the west end of the houses there ai'O some excellent trees of Peaches and Pe.ars, which, during the last season, have carried heavy crops. As we left these houses, at the east end I saw on the walls some largo old Apricot trees, M-hicli, notwithstanding their advanced age, Mr. Burton informed rae still did well. AVe now pass out of this garden and enter another range of houses, about 300 feet long. The fii'st house we entered was a late Peach-house, 100 feet long, the trees all trained to the back wall, which is 11 or 12 feet high. Every brick January 12, 1864. ] JOUENAL OP HORTICULTURE XSB COTTAGE GARDENER. 41 from bottom to top was covered with well-riiiened short- jointed wood; the buds, well swelled, covered the trees like small Peas. The front benches were filled with Chrysan- themums and Cinerarias of the best named sorts,'in count- less numbers. Primulas, &o. The second house was a plant- house, the hardwooded plants being chiefly such as before enumerated. The back wall was covered with Cobosa soan- dens. We then came into a lobby, through which there is a passage into what is called the fruit garden — a large square surrounded by walls, and devoted principally to the growth of the smaller fruits, such as Gooseberries, Currants, Rasp- berries, Strawberries, &c. The wall with a north aspect is covered with Cherries of the Morello section, and the east and west aspect principally with Pears and Plums. Re- suming our journey through this range of houses, the thu-d is an early vinery, the Vines trained up both back and front. The fruit had long been gathered, and the wood was firm and short-jointed, nearly as hard as mahogany. Here, again, every available spot was filled with greenhouse plants. The last house in the range was the early Peach-house, 100 feet long. This has been recently planted with young trees, dwarfs and riders alternately. About fifty dozen of fruit had been taken from it during the last season; and Mr. Bm-ton believed that 100 dozen might have been taken without iujm-y to the trees. They are in excellent condition, with stiff short-joiuted wood, the buds heir.g very prominent. The front of this house is also filled with plants to supply the conservatories. Passing out of these houses we came along the western boundary, the walls being covered with Plums and Pears. Turning round to the left we reached the south front of the garden. The wall here, 300 feet long, was covered with young Apricot trees, all coming to a good bearing condition. The walls with an east aspect were covered with young Pear trees, of such varieties as Beurre Diel, Beurre de Ranoe, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Easter Beurre, Beurre d'Aremberg, Ne Plus Meuris, 0 li 0 9 1 0 0 0 8 6 2 0 0 G 3 8 2 0 e 0 a 4 0 d 0 0 Kidney..,. Beet, Red Broccoli Brussels Sproi Cabbage Capsicums Carrots Mush room a .. Mu.itd. & Cress Unions pickling .. Parsley Parsnips ....... Peas ... pottle , punnet .. bushel ...quart ..bunch doz. c 0 0 8 3 6 fl Cauliaower ... Celery Cucumbers . Potatoes Radishes doz. Rhubarb : Savoys Sea-kale Spinach Tomatoes Turnips . .. sack bunches . bundle per doz. . basket ....sieve ..A bieve 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 Fennel Giirlic and Sha Herbs Horseradisb . .. bunch Uots, lb. .. bunch . bundle TEADE CATALOGUE DECEIVED. London Seed Company, 68, "Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square, W. — General Price Current of Kitchen Garden^ Flow&i', «/hd Farm Seeds, 1864. * TO CORRESPONDENTS, HOYA CAKNOBA DkCATINO — MOVINQ WkLLINOTONIA OIQANTBA (i>«OT- hartomhire], — We thiuK the plant died from the dei:ay of the roots, and the msects now upon them are only feeding on the decaying vegetablo matter. We are not quite Bure what insect it in ; but, from y.mr description, we think they are young woodlice. They are of a reddluh colour whilst young, and as lively as red spider. The roots of the plant hare beea de.itroyed by a sour soil, inperfect drainage, or too much water with too low a temperature; but this we cannot determine without lurther par- ticulars. If the ground be very heavy and wet, it is advisable to plant the Wellingtonia on a mound, but on the level if It be light and dry. The Pampas Grass is best planted on the level, and it likes a strong soil. It does well on light soil with a good dressing of manure, and copious water- ings with liquid manure whilst growing. Vallota pchpurea Culture (TT. T. C),— This beautiful free-flowering bulb is an evergreen, and should be kept in the light at all seasons. Little water is needed in winter to keep the leaves tresh, and only enough should be given at that season to prevent them from flagging. Keep the plants dry in a well-ventilated greenhouse, and near the glass, until Tegetation commences in spring, when abundance of water must be given until growth is completed. Alter the growth is made, gradually harden or ripen the bulbs by withholding water, which it is necessary to do to iusuie bloom. Water moderately whilst in bloom, abundantly when growing, and give no more water when at rest than is necessary to keep the leaves from flagging. It should be kepi in the pot at all seasons, and at no lime can it or any of the family have too much light. It is best to pot it wlien the strongest growth is attained, and nothing is better lor the purpose than rather strong flbry loam, with a little sharp sand intermixed. The heat ot an ordinary vinery from March until October is admirably suited to its requirements, and it will take no harm there in winter if the temperature does not fall below 35". We have had bulbs exposed to 8° of frost (24% and they were none the worse. They were very dry. We should like to know if this bulb has been found hardy in any part of the British Isles. Protecting Buuded Roses (Q. Q.). — Should severe weather ensue- say between January and March— it is probable that the buds which are breaking may be injured. A little long coarse hay wrapped loosely over the buds in severe weather wiU protect them sufficiently. It should be re- moved in mild weather, but replaced wht-n mere is a likelihood of severe frost. Charles Lawsou and Conite de Nanteuil are the reverse of shy bloomers. The plants are probably loo vigorous, or have been made gross by a rich soil or manure. We advise you to prune moderately, each shoot to, say, four ejes ; and if the plants do nut bloi'm profusely in the lollowing season, take them up in November and plant them again. Taking up would check their vigour, and it generally causes vigorous plants to bloom. Starting Dahlias (Jrfeni).— The beginning of March is a good time to place the roots in heat to propagate stock. The cuttings should be tdkea when the shoots are about '6 inches in length, taking a little of the crown, along with them. Stoki-sia c^anea Culture (idem).— It is a flae composite flower of the most lovely blue colour, something in the way of the English Bluebottle {Centaurea cyanus), but more reseiublin;; that ot Chicory (Cichorium, intybus). It is an evergreen perennial, growing 2 feet high, and is from Carolina. Loam, with a little leaf mould and sand, will grow it to per- fection. Its usual lime of flowering is August. We are unable to account lor your plant not blooming. The cause might be want of water, and too much heat and dryness when the flower-heads appeared. We advise yoii to plant it out next June in the open border, whcie, if it flowers, and it should do to in August, not one of the vaunted beauties of the flower garden is more ornamental in its season. It should be taken up in October and wintered like any oiher half-hardy bedding plant. It is increased by seed sown in M^rch and division of the rout, which is best done in spring. We can conQdeutly recommend this plant as being worthy of more general cultivation. Evergreens dndee Chestnut Trees (ff. B.).—li it were possible to dig the holes for ihe shrubs amongst or between the Chestnuts, weshould prefer that to putting 1 foot of soil upon the border in which to plant the shrubs, and then placing a few inches of fresh soil on the border after the trees are planted. A foot of soil laid on the border would not materially affect the welibeing of the Chestnuts nor Thorn hedge, and you may salely follow that plan if it be impossible to adopt the former, it is not, however, an ad- visable method. We have seen Berberis aquifolium. Holly, and tree Box undtr Chestnuts, but the shrubs most likely to thrive areeuch as Fly Honey- suckle, Viburnums, Syringa( Lilacs] Cornelian Cherry, and Kibes. C.Titstnuts have Buch umbrageous heads that few shrubs can live under them in summer on account of the drought. This may be obviated to a great extent ' ' by taking ofl" the lowest branches of the Chestnuts, thus admitting light, air, and rain to the shrubs beneath. Labels [Ash field). —it is too much a matter of taste for us to say which are "the best labels lor plants.*' In conservaturies and similar structures for plants we have teen white porcelain labels used eft'eciively, but in general the labels had better be less observable. We always employ strips of zinc about three-fourths of an inch wide, writing upon them with the ink which is purposely prepared and indelible. Grapes and Cucumbers [jr.).— The Flame-coloured Tokay is usually called the Lombardy, and is quite different iroui the White Tokay. The skin of the Iruit is pale red, the bunches very large, but it requires for ripening a high temperature. We do not know where Cure's and Hort's Cucumbers can now be obtained, Cuthill's Black Spine and Siou House are the varieties which will suit you. They are of the useful size, about 9 inches long. Dublin {JE, A, P.).— This Journal can be had at Dublin, either at the railway stations or of Mr. Bobertson, bookseller, 32, Sackville Street. Early Potatoes [Mrs. C, jStVmou/A).- There is no better variety for the earliest crop than the Walnut-leaved Kidney. You may plant during the end of the present month if open weather. Currant prom Malta ( IV. S.).—Vfe have little doubt that the Currant sent to you Irom Malta is really the Black Corlnlh or Zante Grape, the fruit of which, when dried, are the currants of the grocers' ahopa. If so, the bunches will not be more than about half the length you mention. That Vine may be grown either in a greenhouse or against a south wall. It has been cultivated in this country many years, but is of little worth aa a dessert fruit. 44 JOUIlNAIi OP HOKTICULTtlEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ January 12, iec4. Pampas and Eiephant Geafs [A Suhscrihcr).— Any London seedsman advertijing in our columns cin supply you with Pampas Grass seed, and, TVe think, could obtain fur you the Elephunt Grass seed. Seedhno CiNERAniA U. P.)-— The colour is very bright, hut there are many varieties superior in the points rcquiriid by tlorists. Names of Fkuits (Marquis).— Tom Apple is a very fine specimen of Gloria JIundi. ( SubscrUicr).— Yon have put no numbers on the fruit, and we therefore cannot distinijuish one from the other. Names of Plasts (J", P., EeersfiM P?«cc).— Abutilon striatum. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE- rREEGULAH ADMISSIOISr to the BIRMINGHAM POULTEY SHOW. 1863. XJndek this heading- and at the request of the Secretary of the Birmingham Show, you puLlished, last Tuesday, a statement which is not satisfactory. If it were, as it is stated there, necessary to admit the reporters for the press on Saturday eTening, it was not necessaxy and it was in every way -BTong to admit others. A special ticket would have served this purpose, as it did in the case of the Judges. The programme of the Meeting distinctly states that the ten-shiUing tickets were iiot to admit to the poultry Sliow during the judging, and the same programme also states that the private view would be on Monday. Saturday even- ing after the Judges had completed their awards was neither the one time nor the other. It is against consistency and common sense to attempt a justification of what was done. It would be better that the Committee, through their Secretai-y, should at once acknowledge an act of unfau-ness, if the order for admission came from themselves ; or if it. was the act of an officious committeeman in his individual capacity, they should let the censure fall where it is due. If it was not an intended accommodation to those who, having had their private view, did not care to remain in Birmingham until Monday, I wish this to be noted — it was a slipshod method of carrying out rules unworthy of any body of men assembled for business. Either an act of dishonesty on the part of a Judge, or an act of dishonesty on the part of an exhibitor easting sus- picion on the Judge, coupled with, to say the least of it, a slipshod act on the part of officials, or an official, involving another exhibitor in a suspicion from which he has been cleared, wUl make the Birmrngham Show of 1S63 remem- bered. In my last communication I find a sentence in the second and third lines of the second eokimn, where for " were by a like accident to be found," read " were not to be found." — George Manning. BFYER AND SELLER. This matter, I think, can be easily settled. Let the buyer turn to the back of a, post-office order, and a space will be seen for his name, which, when written, tlie money cannot be paid for ten days. During the interval the seller sends his goods, and the buyer examines ; if not found to his mind, let him return the goods before the order is duo, and at the same time protest payment of the order, when the money will be refunded at any oIBce the buyer wishes, less the usual charges. — Thos. Shop.t, Glasgov^ THE BIRMINGHAM DISQUALIFICATIONS AND MAI^EING POITLTEY. On the discussion wliich has been taking place since the Birmingham Show in the poultry press I had not intended to enter, but several little points have occurred which appeal- to me absolutely recjuu-ing notice. I cannot presume to determine who Mr. Williams, of Welshpool, may be, nor do I know Mr. Hindson ; but if these birds ai-e Mr. Hindson's, how comes it that Mr. Williams advertises them for sale as the "disqualified Game bii-ds at Birmingham." Ai-e they his or Mr. Hindson's ? It appears from your last week's paper that these fowls had a mark in the nostril, -visible even to per-sons who were strangers to them, and, as "Game Cock" remai-ks, Mi-. Hindson ought to explain how it is that he did not notice it when judging the birds, especially as I always fancied the headof a Game bu-d is a noticeable point in awarding prizes. Neither were these bu-ds in a single class, and, therefore, somewhat more likely to escape notice. The question, however, I wish prominently to bring before my brother amateurs is this — JVhethcr birds tnarked in this or any ot/ici- way ought not at once to have been disqualified, oecatise niarJced ? Birds marked with string or tape on the legs have fre- quently been diiqualified, although it might have been acci- dental. Now, it appeai-s to me that a small mark, as this must have been, is a very dangerous, and, to say the least, very disagreeable matter. One of our poulti-y Judges may visit a fi-iend's yai-d, and may notice certain artificial mai-ks on the inhabitants. He recognises these marks at the nerfc show where he judges, and, consequently, he knows their owner. True, it is quite possible they may have changed hands. I have in previous notes on shows expressed my belief that judges, as a rule, judge honestly ; but I consider that this system of private marking is open to serious ob- jections and ought to be discountenanced by all honest exhibitors. It has no advantages that I can see ; for all of us who care for our pets learn to recognise them : why, then, these marks ? This Birmingham E-xhibition has, I trust, sounded the knell of all private mai-ks. — Y. B. A. Z. PAISLEY COMPETITION OF POULTRY, PIGEONS, CANARY BIRDS, ETC. The tenth annual exhibition and competition of the Paisley Ornithological Association was held on the 8th, in a large and commodious building to the west of the town at Wood- side. The following are the awards : — Spakish.— First and Third, J. C. Wakefield, Eastwood P.irk. Second, .1. Crawlord, Eeith. Commended, W. M'Inlyre, Ayr.-'hire. Chickens, — First, J. B. Keimarde, Helen^bur^^U. Second, li. Beldon, Yor'.ishire. Third, W. JPIntyre, Ayrshire. Highly Commended, J. Elscworth, Campsie Junction. Dorking (Coloured). — First and Third, R. Logan, Netherton, Renfrew. Second, J. B. Waketield. Tbe whole ot thi^ class Hifthly Commended. C/;ir/.t?/is.— First, J. Linnin;;, Glasgow. Second, J. Elsewtirth, Campsie Junction. Third, A. Cunningham, Craicends. HiKhly Commended, T, Barrowman, Cumnock. Comuiended, H. Heys, Barrhi-al. DouKi.vGs (Whitel. — Fir.-t, A. Kussell, Paisley. Second, J. -Walker, Paisley. Third, H. Youup, Bisliopton. Chinese, or Brahji.\ Puotra.— First, J. C. Wakefield, Eastwood Park. Second, A. Mitchell, l\iisley. Third, T. Barrowman, Cumnock. Old Scotch Beeed.— First, S. Young, Neilston. Second, J, Paul, Glasgow. Third, J. Horner, Paisley. Hamburghs iGolden-spangied).— First, J. Green, Cross Arthurlie, Barr- head. Second, J. Reid, juii.," Kilwinning. Third and Highly Commended, K. Cunningham, Stewauon. HA:Muunons rGolden-pencilied).— First, J. M'Inues, Paisley. Second, J. Lindsay, Stewarton. Highly Commended, J. M'Inues. Commended, T. Neiison, Stewarton. Hamboroiis (Silver-spangled).— First, A. Reunie, Paisley. Second, J, M-luucs, Paisley. Third, H. Hi-ys, Springfield, Ki.rrhead. Highly Com- mended, A. YuiU, Airdric. Commended, A. Glen, Er.skuie. Hamburghs (Silver-pencilled). — First, K. Cunningham, Stewarton, Second, A. YuiU, Airdrie. Third, H. Beldon, Yoik.-hire. Topi'KD PoLANUs (Any colour).— First, A. YuiU, Airdrie. Second, R, Murdoch, Ivilsyth. Game (Black-bre;iftcd, and other Reds). — First, T. Clark, Glasgow. Second, W. Martin, Banliead. Highly Commended, J. H. M'Nub, Barr- head. Commended, H. Beidun, Yorkshire. Game (Any other colour).— l-'irst, T. Clark, Glasgow. Second, J. Iving, Paisley. Third, J. 11. M'Xab, Barrhead. Highly Commended, J. Green, Barrliead. Commended, J. Duiilop, Ayr. Game Baxtams lAny colour). — First, J. Green, Cross Arthurlie, Barr- head. Second, W. Mtiriin, Barrhead. Third, J. Green, Barrhead. Bantams [Gulden or Silver). — First, J. Taylor, Barrhead. Second, J, Green, Burhoad. Third, J. Held, Paisley. Bantams (Any other kind.) — First, A. Grant, Kilbarchiin. Second, P. Allan, Killburnic. ThirJ, A. Andersou, Paisley. Comiaendcd, J. Gilmour, Fulbiir ; J. Green. Cross Breed (Or any other not included in the above). —First, W. "NYhite, Paisley. Second, J. Lindsay, Stewarton. Third, J. C. Wakefield. Ducks (Aylesbury). — Fii t,I, J. C. Wakefield, Second and Third, H. Keys, SpriUKfield, Barrhtad. lliitlily Commended, J. Stevenson. Docks (Any other kind).— First, A. Cuuninghaui, Craigeuds. Second, and Commenoed, -A, Grant, Craigeuds. SINGLE COCKS. Spanish.' — Silver Medal and Pii/.e, J. B. Uennards, Helensburgh. Highly Commended, H. BeMoii, Yorkshire. Dorking.— Silver .Med,il and Prize, J. Linuirig, Glasgow. Highly Commended, W. Bowley, Gloucestershire. Hamburgh tSpanKled). —Silver Medal and First, A. Ucnnie, Paisley. Second, J. Green, Cross .\rthurlie, Barrhead. Scotch Grf.y. — Silver .Medal itfii Flr^l, S. Young, Neilston, Second, W. Thompson, Glasgow. January 12, 1804, ] JOUENAI; OF HOETICULTTJEB ASW COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 45 Hambdmh (Penollledl.— Silver Medal and Prize, J. M'lnnes, Paisley. Highly Commended, J. Lindsay, Stew;irton. Gamk (Any colour).— Silver Medal and Prize, W. Martin, Barrhead. Highly Commended, T. Clark, Glasgow. PIGEONS. PowTEKS (Any colour).— First, Second, and Third, J. Miller, Glasgow. Caeriebs (Any colour).— First and Stcoud, J. Miller. Third, J. Sharp, Johnstone. Fantails (Any colour).— First, J. JliUer. Second, J. Taylor, Johnstone. Third, J. Grey, K.lbarchan. Buffs (Any coloui-).— first, J. B. Rennards, Helensburgh. Second, A. Mitchell, Paisley. Third, \V. Neilson, Johnstone. TuMBLEES (Short-r.ced). — First and Second, M. Stewart, Glasgow. Third, H. Beldou, Yorkshire. Tdmblees (Auy other kmd).— Fil'st, J. B. Kctmards. Second and Third, J. Sharp, Johnstone. Any oiHEit DisriNCT Brekd.— First, J. Miller. Second, J. Sharp. Third, "W. Iseilson, Johnstone CoMMo.N PiGEO.Ns— First, B. Slirrat, Paisley. Second, J. Wilson, Paisley. Third, M. M'Donald, Juhnsione. Silver Medal given for the best three pairs of Fancy Pigeons, the first five classes excluded. —Prize, J. Miller, Glasgow. Commended, H. Beldon, Yorkshire. CANAUIES. Yeilow Coo':.— First, T. Buchanan, Glasgow. Second, W. Paterson, Glasgow. Tliivd, U. S. VVylie, Paisley. Fourth, J. Sievewright. Hen.— First, J. Adam, Paisley. Secoud, ij. M'Millan, Slevenstou. Third, P. Hsrsburgh, Kilmarnotrk. Fourth, G. M'Alpino, Kenlrew. Buff Cock.— First, A. Mitchell, Paisley. Sccood, J. Kelly, Johnstone. Third, A. M'Gilvray. Fourth, A. Brown, Stcwarton. fie. i.— First, J. Taylor, Glasgow. Second, T. Buchanan, Glasgow. Third, K. S. Wylie, Paisley. Fourth, J. Wilson, Galston. Piecald Yellow t- ock.— First, J. Watson. Paisley. Second, H. Fisher, Glasgow. Third, II. S. Wylie, Paisley. Fourth, A Keid, Paisley, Sen.— First, P. Allan, Kilbiruie. Second, J. Fultou, Beilh. Fourth, J. Kirklaud, Beith. PiEGALD Buff Cock.— First, J. Slater, Paisley. Second, G. Hamilton, Beith. Third, J. Brown, Paisley. Fourth, H. Webster, Kilbarchan. Hen.— First, R. White, -Paisley. Second, P. Allan, Kilbirnie. Three, P. Horse- burgh, Kilmarnock. Fourth, J. Kirkland, Beith. Yellow Goldfinch Mule Cock.— Prize, K. Cunningham, Stcwarton. Gold finch.— .\. Hunter, Paisley. BuUfiach.—S. Mason. A Silver Medal, for the Best Pair of Canary Birds, the same to be Yellow Cock and Bufl' Htu, or Buff Cock and Yellow Heu.— First, J. Tailor, Glasgow. Second, R. S. Wjlie, Paisley. A Fancy Cage, for ihe Best Pair of Piebald Canaries, the same to be Yellow Cock and Buff Hen, or Buff Cock and Yellow Hen.— First, IS™ S. Wylie, Paisley. Second, J. Fulton, Beith. EXHIBITION OP THE ABEEDEENSHIEE ASSOCIATIOIN' FOR IMPEOVEMBNT OF DOMESTIC POULTRY. This Association's tliird Annual Show was lield on the 31st of December and following day. Tested hy either numbers or quality, it is a very excellent one. The entries of poultry are 250, which is an advance of 100 upon tlie entries in the same department for last year. And if we compare the merits of the birds shown with those brought forward three years ago at the first show, the advance made by the Association is seen to be very marked indeed. Then in many of the classes, birds that had little to recommend them but mere bulk of carcase, were thought worthy of being brought into competition. Such matters as matching of pairs, and the " points " that reaUy decide a fowl's position in the judgment of the connoisseur, were but little attended to. Now Ul-matohed birds are the exception. We do not by any means say, however, that the amateiu- breeders in this locality have reached the point even yet at which they ought to aim ; a glance at the prize list will show that southern exliibitors have proved rather heavy opponents , for them. Of com-se the disadvantages in climate are greater here, but we have no doxibt that such breeders as Messrs. Taylor, Hay, Pope, and others, will, as they have done hitherto, in futui-e years talce equally prominent places against all comers. With respect to the different classes. Darlings were con- sidered the best show ; this useiiil variety mating really a capital appearance. Spanisli were a very good show, and the silver cup was taken by Mr. Seldon, Yorkshh-e, with a very fine pen — the broad white face of the cock, and his strong, erect, and sen-ated comb giving a good sample of what should be aimed at ; the only local exhibitor successftd in this class was Mr. Taylor, who stood thu-d with a very good pen. The Cochins were a decided improvement upon former shows ; the defect in the show to critical eyes was the prevalence of twisted combs upon the male birds ; the comb in this variety should be small and perfectly straight. Game birds , were a good show comparatively ; as were also the Sam- hurghs ; and Polands were veiy good. The Brahma Pootras were a fair show. Geese were capital, especially the three prize pens ; and the Aylesbury Ihidcs were fii-st-class— up even to the York- shire standai-d, which is perhaps the highest in the kingdom. The prize Turkeys were also magnificent birds. The collection of Pigeons and Canaries is a very fine one — considerably in advance of last year-, and includes some valuable birds, if we may speak by the catalogue, where we find the modest price of ^100 attached to each pair shown by Mr. Jobling. The arrangements of Mr. S. Pope, the courteous and active Secretary, and the other gentlemen of the Com- mittee, were every way excellent. Spanish.— First, Miss B. Redpath, Edinburgh. Second, W. Bruce, Perth. Third, G. Taylor, Inverury. Highly Commended, Mrs. L. Carnegie, Red- hall. CTiJctnis.— Fir-tand silver cup, U. Beldon, Bradford. Second, W. Meff, Aberdeen. Tliiid, Miss B. Redv-ath. Very Highly Commended, W. Hay. Highly Comaiended, Mrs. Blair, Kepplestone ; Mrs. J. Wallace; G. DoBKiNos.— First, and winner of case of birds as the best pen of Fowls in the Exhibition, Lord Kinnuird, Inchlure. Second, J. Gordon, Ruthneston. Third, Mrs. L. CaiTiegie, Fordoun. Very Highly Commended, L. Chalmers, Fraserburcrh. Highly Commended, A. F. Williamson, Blackburn; J.An- derson, Meigle. CAicfoHS— First, .1. Ander.son, Meigle. Second, A. F. Williamson. Third. Mrs. Black. Very Highly Cum.oen ed. J Anderson. Highly Commenrter!, G. Taylor; E. Walker. Commended, Lord Kinnaird, lochture; J. Wilson, M.D , Oldmeldrum; Mrs. Ironside, Keith Hall. Cochin-China.— First, G. Murray, Aberdeen. Second and Ihird, Mrs. Pyper, Belhelvie Village, t/tic/cfjjs.— First, Third, and Highly Commended, G. Murray, Aberdeen. Second, S. Pope. , „ „ , - u i Game.— First and Third, J. Anderson, Meigle. Second, H. Belaon, Brad- ford. Very Highly Commended, W. Hay, Aberdeen. Highly Commended, W. Hay; J. Mjrrison,iun., Perth. C/i ictniS.-First, J. Anderson Meigle. Second; H. Beldon, Bradford. Third, W. T. Hay, jun High y Com- mended, Mrs. Rennet, Aberdeen : W. Cruickshauk, Woodslde. Com mended, Hamborghs (Silver or Goldcn-pencilled).-First, W MefT Aberdeen. Second, Miss E. E. WaUace. Third, Miss E. Wallace. Highly Commended, Miss E. E. Walbtce. t. ,r ., ^ ^ itt Hajiedeghs (Gold-spanglea).-First, H. Beldon, Bradford. Second, W. Hay, Aberdeen. Third, J. Thorn, Culsh. Commended, A. smitn, Belhavie. Hawburghs (Silver-spangled).-First, H. Beldon. Second, J. Milne, Port- Eljihinstone. Third, W. Meff. , „, . , „ t, , , u- i,i„ Polands (Any variety).-First, Second, and Thu-d, H. Beldon. Highly Commended, Mrs. W. Pyper. .. ■, c .j ii Baktahs {Any variety).-First, W. J. Eoutledge, Aberdeen. Second, H. Beldon, Bradford. Third, Mrs. Forbes, Strathdon. Highly Commended, J. Anderson, Meigle ; J. M. Hay, Aberdeen. Brahma Pootras —First, Lord Ross, Inchtare. Second, Mrs. J. H. Barclay, Kinross. Third, Mrs. L. Carnegie, Fordoun. Highly Commended, Mrs. Forbes, Strathdon. Commended, Mrs. J. H. Barclaj. , „, . , Amy Otbes Breed.— First, H. Beldon, Bradford. Second and Third, Mrs. L. Carnegie. Highly Commended, Mrs L.Camegi^. o,f„.„^ GEESE.-First and Second, lord Kinuaird, Inchture. Third, A. Paterson. Ducks (Aylesbui-y).-First and Third, Lord Kinnaird, Inchture. Second, W. Forbes, Piicaple. Highly Commended, Mrs, L. Carnegie: Mrs. J. Wag- starf, Huntly: Miss J. W. Ogilvy, Meigle : F. W. Gray, Aberdeen. Com- mended, Mrs. J. Wagstaff. „ „ ,, „ ,, J o„„„„.l T Ducks (Any other variety). -First, H. Beldon. Bradford. Second, J. Anderson, Meigle. Third, G. D. Crab. Highly C-jminended, J. Anderson. Turkeys (Any varietyJ.-First, Lord Kinnairo, lachture. Second, Mrs. M. Stronach, Sun-oybank. Third, Mrs. L. Carnegie. Highly Commended. Mrs. L. Carnegie : lilrs. J. Wagstaff. ■ . , „ -j i.,„:„ Spanish Cock -First, A. Smith, Belhavie. Second, J. Reid, FjTie Third, G.Tavlor, Inverury. , ct -d „i»„ Dorking CocK.-First, W. Meff, Aberdeen. Second, Mrs. J. H. Barclay, Kinross. Third, A. F. Williamson, Blackburn. Highly Commended, K. Walker, Poitlethen: J. Gordon, Rulhrieston Game CocK.-First and Third, Mrs. Rennet, Aberdeen. Second, M. ''Bp?iiijiA"^i>ooTRA Cock.— First, L. Chalmers, Frasersburgh. Second, A. B. Milne. 'Ihird, W. Forbes, Pitcaple. , , r,-v o i.i, Hamburgh Cock.— First, W. Meff, Aberdeen. Second, J. Thorn, Culsi. Third, Mrs. Rennet .„ ,. c. i it« Selling Class (Any breed).-First, W. Bruce, Perth. Second, Mrs. Barclav Third, J. Kiach. Commeiideil, Mrs. Kennet : J. Anderson; W. Meff, Aberdeen. PIGEONS. . TuSBLERS.-First, H. Beldon, Bradford. Second, M. E. Joblin, New- castle. Third, J. Tocher, jun. Very Highly Commended, J. Gibb, WiUow- ''fantails.— First and Second, M. E. Jobling, Newcastle. Third, J. Simp- son, Durris. Very Highly Commended, J. Simpson. t,,.t,™.ij PowTERS.-Flrst and Second, J, Hay, Guestrow. Third J. M'Donald, Aberdeen. Very Highly Commended, J. Hay. Commended, F. MCrae. CAREiERS.-First and Second, F. M'Crae. Third, J. M Donald, Aberdeea. Very Highlv Commended, J. Tocher, jun. ,r „„o.«. KuFFs^-First, J. Hav, Guestrow. Second, M. E. Jobling, ^ewcastIe Third, J. M'Donald, Aberdeen. Commended, J. Blacklaw. Any other variety.— First and Commended, W. Rezm. CANARIES. „ ^ .^ Yellow Belgian Cock. -First. T. M'Tavish, Aberdeen. Second, W. Donald, MannoHeld. Third, A. Donald, Mannoheld. Very Highly Com- mended, S. Wilson, Aberdeen. Highly Commended J. Hunter, Bellevne, Hardgate. Commended, G. Clark. J?«..-Hrst and Second, W. Donald M^nnofield. Third, A. Donald, Mannogate. Very High y Commended W. J. Kentledge. Aberdeen. Highly Commended, W. WUson, Aberdeen Commended, J. M'Andrew, Aberdeen. Yei«,ow Cock (Bird of IS63).-First and Wmner of Silver Medal as 46 JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ Jonuaiy 12, 1664. the best Yellow Canary in the Exhibition, "W. Garden, Aberdeen. Second, J. J. GafSen, Aberdeen. Third, W. Jamieson, Aberdeen. Very Highly Commended, W. Wilson, Aberdeen. Highly Commended, W. Donald, Mannofield. Commended, J, Hunter, Hardgate. ^e».— First, S. Wilson, Short Loanings. Second, W. Ogilvie, Cato Square. Third, J. Hunter, Hardgiite. Very Highly Commended, J. M'Donuld, Lodge Walk. Highly Commended, J. M'Andrew, College Street. Commended, W. Wilson, Causewayend. BOFF Belqiak Cock. — First, W. Donald, Mancofield. Second. K. Campbell, Chapel Street. Third, W. J. Houtledgc, Gallowgate. Very Highly Commended, W. Garden, John Street. Highly Commended, J. M'Andrew, College Street. Commended, A. M. Mackie, City Hotel. Hen. — First, T. M'Tavish, Gilcomston. Second, W. Jamieson, Catto Square. Third, W. Wilson, Causewayend. Very Highly Commended, K. Campbell, Chapel Street. Buff Belgian Cock (Bird of 1863). — First and Winner of the Silver Medal as ihe best Butf Canary in the Exhibition, Second, and Third, J. J. Garden, John Street. Very Highly Commended, W. Donald, Mannotield. Highly Commended, W. Roulledge, Gallowgate. Com- mended, W. J. Koutledge. Eeit. — First, S. Wilcon, Short Loaiiings. Second. A. Wilson, Crooked Lane, Third, W. Wilson, Causewayend. Very Highly Commended, A. Donald, Mannofield. Highly Commended, A. Donald. Fleckf.d Belgian Cock.— First, M. Skinner, Canal Road. Second, J. Falconer, North Broadlord. Third, J, Eawards. Union Place. Very Highly Commended, J. Milne, Aberdeen. Highly Commended, J. Guthrie, Canal Road ; J. Leeds, Rosemount Place. Hen — Veiy Highly Commended, A. Middleton, Causewayend. Highly Commended, A. Wilson, Crooked Lane. Flfcked Belgian Cock (Bird of 1863). — Vei-y Highly Commended, J. Falconer, North Broadford. Highly Commended, M. Skinner, Canal Road ; A. Wilson, Crooked Lane. Ben.—Yu^.t and Winner of Silver Medal as the best Flecked Canary in the Exhibition, A. Middleton, Causewayend. Second, R. Buist, Albion Street. Third, K. Campbell, Chapel Street. Very Hignly Commended, A. Wilson, Crooked Lane. Mule.— First, A. M. Mackie, Aberdeen. Second, W. Garden, John Street. Third, J. Hunter, Hardgate. Very Highly Commended, VV. Birell, Hanover Street. Hii^hly Commended, A. Middleton, Causewayend. Commended, J. J. Garden, John Street. FOEEIGN Binns.— Prize, D. Baillic, Chapel Street. The sole Judge /oi- the poultry was Eichard Teebay, Esq., Ftdwood, Preston, Lancashii-e. Mr. Teebay's awards, so far as we have heard, have given general satisfaction ; and we have based our remarks on his expressed opinion of the Show. The Judges for Pigeons and Canaries were Messrs. A. Gloag, Dundee; E. Sim, sen., Woodside; and A. Barnett, Aberdeen. — (Alerdeen Free Press.) THE NATIVE HONEY BEE OF AUSTEALIA. I AM indebted to Mr. F. Smith, President of the Ento- mological Society, for the following description of the native Australian honey bee, a nest of which reached me through the kind offices of Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea. Although the bees were alive when shipped from Brisbane, in Queens- land, but had evidently perished long before the termination of their voyage. This fatal result is the less to be regretted, since it is perfectly evident that their powers of honej'- gathering are perfectly infinitesimal as compared ■with those of either the English or Italian races.— A Devonshike Bee-keepek. " notes on the economy op tbigona carbonakia, a stingless honey bee of austkalia, with a desckiption of the insect and also of its nest. "The beautiful example of insect architecture received from Brisbane, in Queensland, Eastern Australia, is specially interesting. Judging from its structure, it apparently indi- cates the economy of a genus of bees intermediate between the hive bee and the well-known humble bees. " Hitherto we have possessed very little information re- specting the economy of the genus Trigona. The females are unknown ; the other sexes — male and worker — have been received from Brazil. The closely-allied genus Melipona includes, in the opinion of some authors, the species that I separate and retain in the genus Trigona. Of the former genus we possess a knowledge of all the sexes, and have aBCertained that each community contains a number of females, in which part of their economy they agree with the humble bee. We may, therefore, expect to find the economy of Trigona similar m that respect ; such, I have little doubt, wUl prove to be the case. On examining the nest from Brisbane we observe another particular in which the economy of the species agrees with the genus Bombus. Numbers of semiglobular receptacles for honey are found, some placed side by side, others over each other, and some suspended in the ramifications of the coral-like-shaped branchings con- structed over and above the proper nest, that which contains the combs of the hive. These receptacles may appropriately be caDed honey-pots, and serve, I have little doubt, to con- tain aU the honey collected for the requirements of the hive, no honey, as far as I can ascertain, being stored in the cells of the combs, these being apparently appropriated solely to the rearing of brood. " On making an opening at the back of the box that con- tained the nest, and against which it was built, a sight of the combs was obtained. They proved to lie arranged hori- zontally, with the mouth of the cells downwai-ds, as in the combs of wasps. The aiTangement of the combs, however, cannot be compared in regularity and beauty with that of the wasp, some being oblique, and the spaces between the combs are u-regular in width. In fact, the nest is a rude and imperfect imitation of the symmetrical beauty of the nest of the wasp. " No sign of honey in, or of there having been any in, the cells could be traced. AU appeared to be appropriated to the rearing of brood. Such I also found to be the case in a large mass of comb from Panama. Much still remains to be learnt respecting the economy of these bees. The nest from Brisbane has thrown much additional light upon the subject, and will, I trust, stimulate entomologists who visit countries where the genus Trigona is found to investigate thoroughly the economy of these bees. All that is at present known amounts to little that is satislactory, being prin- cipally founded upon conjectui'e. " The nest of the Trigona from Brisbane cannot be looked upon as a perfect example of the structure usually bnilt by that species. It was constructed in a situation forced upon the bees ; consequently, they had to contend with the difficulties of the situation. " The form of that part of the nest which contains the combs is that of half a fir-cone, the flat side being placed against the back of the box. The external surface is veiy irregular, and consists of a multitude of flat overlapping layers, some of the larger ones being upheld in their position by upright supports or columns. Branching oif in various directions from the external plates is an intricate ramifi- cation closely resembling the roots of shrubs or plants ; or perhaps most like the beautiftd branching of some corals. As the nest is increased in bulk in the process of building, the flat layers described serve as the foundation whereupon to construct cells. Some of the honey-pots previously men- tioned ai-e suspended on the branches above the nest, but the majority are constructed in heaps, frequently over each other, at the base and outside of the proper nest; others in more regulai' order side by side. An orifice is always to be found on one side, enabling the bees to obtain the honey stored in each. The general colour of the nest is a reddish- brown. A portion of the old nest, taken with the bees and placed in the box, is nearly blaek. " The Trigona carbonaria is a smaU bee, smaller than the house fly. It is coal-black and shining ; it has on its face, on the thorax beneath and at its sides, a covering of very fine short down or pQe. The tips of its jaws are obscurely reddish, the wings are clear and transparent, and the abdomen is glossy black. — F. Smith." FOUL BROOD. (Concluded from page 27.) As it is very desirable to have the opinions of apiarians so experienced as the gentleman before referred to, I hope I shall be excused for the following quotation I make from a communication lately received from him on the foul-brood controversy. He "wi-ites me, " I know quite well the meaning you attach to foul brood, and I am at one with you in almost all the doctrines you hold on the subject. I should like to know in what way, or on what ground, Mr. Woodbury cha- racterises this as a disease among bees. When it begins to manifest itself are the bees so paralysed as to do nothing to aiTCst its progress ? It is said bees can remove foul brood, how then does it spread so as to destroy the hive ? Foul brood, in my opinion, is caused veiy often in hives that have little or no honey in this way : — There is a favourable spring, the queen is a prolific one, the bees aa'c numerous. The combs begin to be well fiDed ivith brood in all stages. A change of weather takes place, — rain, damp, and cold. The bees are confined, it ma,y be for a month. They have no January 12, 18G4. ] JOITENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 47 honey, and no food can they get for the young, and besides they give up all attention to them. The young larvae die for want of food, and the sealed maggots die fi'om the re- duced temperature of the hive. In this way a hive perishes." I have alluded to weather influences of this kind in a variety of instances, in No. 125, page 139. I make one more quota- tion "Foul brood," he writes "is often produced by driving. I can speak authoritatively on this point, and I believe, or rather I know from experience, you may give such a hive a change of queen or supplement them in any way you choose, the bees will never prosper nor clear out the abortive brood d-eated in such a case. Some of my hives that died abounded in masses of foul brood, and I am decidedly of opinion that this was the cause of their ruin." I have dwelt thus particularly on those oases in which foul brood is originated from experirnenting, because it was in reference to such cu-cumstances that I at first alluded to it ; but that it arises from kindred influences being brought to bear upon the young brood from purely natural causes I have also pointed out, as I said before, at page 139 ; but inasmuch as my own experience and observations go to warrant the expression which I used, that " after all foul brood will be found to manifest itself generally in the hands of the experimentalist," which expression is being considered by some to mean more than was intended, or the words tmder the circumstances warrant, I am, nevertheless, still inclined to believe that this great evil will be apt to manifest itself more fi-equently, other cu-cumstances being alike, in such hands than in others. Mr. Woodbm-y at the conclusion of his article,. No. 141, page 464, taxes me with the habit of carefoUy ignoring all evidence and facts which militate against my own theories and opinions, and he recalls a few of my fallacies, and the evidence by which they have " been demolished." The in- dictment preferred against me is composed of thi^e counts, and I have to deal with some half dozen witnesses who have given adverse evidence on each. I have ah-eady explained the meaning I attach to the three statements alluded to, but I must not allow the form in which I used them to be in the least degree altered. No. 3 coiint, " Chilled brood is not removed by bees," is incorrect. I said that "decayed and abortive brood in all stages are not removed by the bees." Perhaps Mr. Woodbury does not mean what may be implied in this curtailment of the expression ; at all events I must insist that it remain intact to prevent any doubt as to my meaning. "Chilled brood" is susceptible of more than one interpretation, " decayed and abortive brood " is not. Even " decayed and abortive brood " when not connected with the important adjunct " in all stages " would fail to indicate the views I meant to convey in the statement made. I have already been represented by some as treating foul brood as a disease, notwithstanding the plainest language, and now I am called upon to alter the terms of my proposi- tion as to the removal of brood. We must not now either alter the terms or change the meaning of words regarding which we have had a common understanding. My state- ment is, " Decayed and abortive brood in all stages are not removed by the bees." Now, with regard to some of the gentlemen named as evidence against me, we have only their simple assertion to the contrary, supported by no evidence and based upon no facts. I should like much to have " B. & W.'s" opinion, and the results of his experience fuUy stated on this matter. The two instances brought forward by Mr. Woodbury and Mr._ Edwards ai-e not exactly the kind of evidence I shoiild desiderate, the whole circumstances attending these ai-e dififereiit from the cases in reference to which I made the statement. Besides, it wOl be seen by referring to No. 125, page 139, that I, at the outset, admitted that " the more advanced piipse can remain for a considerable time iininjured in such circumstances," but took exception to the tender larvEe and the newly scaled grubs. I know well what bees can do sometimes in the way of removing haJf-chiUed or simply injured brood of a certain kind, as well as the comb altogether when necessai-y. Indeed, in the former case, they are assisted by a wonderful instinct on the part of the in- jured or neglected pupa impelling it in such ch-cumstances to its utmost exertions to quit the cell and make towards the outlet of the hive. I speak of the nearly-matm-ed piipa which outs through the cover of its cell and escapes in such circumstances. AU this is in strict accordance with that wise arrangement in nature which provides that deformed, injured, or physically imperfect bees, being of no use in a hive, are by universal custom expelled from the colony. In the removal of drone brood also the same principle is gene- rally observed. At the very time when advtlt drones are being starved and massacred, I have observed the young grubs liberally fed; but when they reached the advanced pupa8 state and were ready to emerge from the cells, then the bees by the simple process of withholding nutriment as the cells were opened, induced the bees to voluntarily escape. It is only when very unfavourable outward circumstances of scarcity press haa-d upon the bees that any of the younger pupss even are disturbed. Certainly they prefer to have the assist- ance of natural instinct to force. But the circumstances under which these and similar ejectments are made, are totally different from the circumstances of a hive in which decayed and abortive brood in all stages find a place as explained by me. The removal of decayed and abortive brood is quite another thing from that of live or fresh brood. If I am asked to account for other gentlemen's experiments because they appear to be different in results from my own, I must beg to be excused. ' All I can do is to give my own experience in the matter and leave others to judge according to their knowledge. As I said before, this is a cxuestion of experience alone, and I wish it to be tested by experience ; but inasmuch as a universal negative is always more diffi- cult to prove than a particular afSi-mative, the various proofs I have given of my assertion that bees do not remove de- cayed and abortive brood in all stages in the circumstances detailed, must not be set aside by one or two opposing and isolated cases of an abnormal and different character. But let us examine the cases cited by Mr. Woodbury and Mr. Edwards at pages 342 and 382, to show that bees do remove decayed and abortive brood. Though these are somewhat similar to each other in respect that the brood- combs are represented as being all chUled, yet they show a great dissimOarity in results. This circumstance throws some little doubt upon the accuracy of the observations. In Mr. Woodbury's case, the comb inserted in one of his hives was "crammed" with "chilled and abortive brood in all stages (principally sealed)." From this comb, he says, the bees "dragged out every defunct embryo," and then adds, "A few of the younger ones, were, I believe, even hatched after all this neglect." Hatched ! after the larvsa had become chilled and abortive ? Can this be ? In Mr. Edwards's case, also, it was " a whole hive of chilled brood," and yet the reverse of all this took place, " only the most advanced of the brood came to maturity, as did also the eggs. The rest, by far the greater part, perished and were carried out by the bees very gradually. Some remained in the cells till shi-ivelled up to a mere skin, but were ultimately removed when the colony got stronger." Now, in answer to all this, I must simply refer to the results of my own ex- perience in the eases already detailed by me, and court the opinions and judgment of all practical apiarians who may have tested this matter themselves, and say how fai' they coincide with me in the general accuracy and truth of my statement that " decayed and abortive brood in all stages are not removed by the bees." We all know the instinctive disposition which impels bees to remove everything of an obstructive or noxious character from the hive when they possibly can, and when not able to extrude any decayed putrescent body — as in the well- known case of the dead snaU — they have recourse to the only alternative left them — to lessen as much as possible all evil results, which also they adopt in the case of foul brood of a certain kind, they cover up or seal over what they cannot remove. But I have to deal with other evidence in this controversy, which Mr. Woodbury has again and again reminded me of having ignored, and I am necessarily constrained to advert ■ to it. Foremost among the witnesses arraigned against me who have spoken out is Mr. Shearer, whom Mr. Woodbui'y looks upon as his strongest ally, as he has produced him as a witness in every count of the Mbel ah-eady referred to in page 464, to which my particular attention is accordingly directed. Now, as Mr. Shearer, I find, has actually written his article (No. 127, page 182) in some measure for the especial benefit and " information of Jonas Jackson and Mr. 48 JOTJENAIi OF HOETICULTHRE AND COTTAGE GAEDEXEE. January 13, 1864. Lowe," it is but very natviral that I, as a party interested, and as Mr. Woodbury suggests, should see what this witness has got to say. When I read that article, I must confess I could not help feeling that it looked altogether very much like a romance, written in the light of certain erperimeuts made by Mr. Woodbui-y as to foul brood; while Jonas Jackson himself is almost eclipsed by the wonders nan-ated iu it. Mr. Shearer says — " I had a bar-comb of brood lately, in all stages, which fell out whUe handling it. I put the ccmb into a vinery on a shelf, where the temperature would be as low as 50° at night, vnth full air on night and day." Eegax-d- ing this comb he tells us that, " I used to amuse myself by feeding the young grub with a little honey and bee bread mixed, putting it into the cells on the point of a piece of straw. These grubs lived for two weeks, and at last came out of the cells altogether, crawling about on the shelf till . they died*; and numbers of the young bees which were newly sealed-up when put into the vinery, eighteen days afterwards, ate themselves out of the cells." Now, there must be a mistake here ; Mr. Shearer must, I think, have been mis- understood by the printers. Then as to the " five cases " which are given as " undoubted fects " and as tending to show that foul brood is a disease, I do not consider that, if rightly imderstood, they would prove anything of the kind. It will be observed that the whole details occurred not in his own apiaiy but in that of his neighbour, who was dubbed the "Professor," on accotmt of "his knowledge of bees and their habits." " I am compelled, therefore (says Mr. Shearer), to give his experience (the Professor's) on foul brood, as it bears 'much against Mr. Lowe and his theoi-y, and may be useful' to bee-keepers." This being premised, Mr. Shearer, apparently as the Professor's amanuensis, proceeds to narrate the five cases above referred to, all tending, " along with Mr. Woodbury's experience," to prove that foul brood is a disease. Now, I have little faith in observations of this kind which come to me at second hand. I would infiuitely prefer five minutes conversation with the Professor himself as to his views and doings, than the most lengthened exposition of these by the hands of another. I should like to know what this said Professor's coiu-se of proceeding really was with respect to his bees. He was an experimentalist too in his own way. He adopted various processes of driving, cutting combs, uniting swarms, lodging his bees in old hives, some- times full of comb, sometimes not. I should desiderate more particulars as to all this. Moreover, I should like to know the Professor's own candid opinion during these ten long years, as to what he attributed these evils which so afflicted his bees. No doubt he had his own views, though " he read few if any books on the subject." The only glimpse we have of the Professor's views fi'om Mr. Shearer in detailing the five cases (with the exception of a remark made in case 4th as to "robbing"), oocvu's at page 181, in these words, " I believed it to be caused by chiU (says Mr. Shearer) to the young brood. My neighbour, however, would never admit it, having tried plan after plan to get clear of it, and all had faUed." We ai-e told the Professor " would not admit it," then why not tell us what he did admit ? Towards the close of his article Mi-. Shearer proceeds to say, "I had a bar- comb of brood lately in all stages, which fell out whilst handling it. I might have fixed it again, but my neighbour (the Professor) being with me at the time, urged me not to do so (why ?) as the brood might get chilled, and so propo- gate the disease among mine." And so, Mr. Shearer, in deference to the Professor's views, put the said comb con- taining brood in all stages on the vinery-shelf instead. Is this the evidence Mr. Woodbury accuses me of " ignoring ? " Why, this witness has evidently been put in the ," wrong box!" He is most assru'cdly mine. It is clear he renounces Mr. Woodbury's theory. He says to Mr. Shearer, nay, he urges him, showing the intensity of his convictions, not to put the bar-comb in question into his hive, "as the brood might get chilled and so propagate the disease." Well done the Professor ! I must claim this witness. Mr. Shearer must not feel offended because I have thus dealt with evidence which Mr. Woodbury has taxed me with ignoring. The value of an experiment must always depend "upon the accuracy of the observations and the knowledge of the operator. All second-hand information of this kind, * Surely Mr. Stiearer does not mean to 8ay that the larvaa actually undcr- ■went ihe metamorphosiB into pup® without being sealed ? therefore, must be received according to what it is worth. If Mr. Shearer would confine himself, as he promises in his last paper. No. 143, p)age 303, to his own experience, which he has now an opportunity of doing in regard to foul brood (it having at last appeai-ed in his own apiai-y), his evidence would be usefid and satisfactory. Another instance is furnished by Mr. Shearer in the paper above alluded to, of the evil of receiving second-hand infor- mation of this kind. I refer to the hive which had been supplied ivith the bees of thi'ee separate stocks, and with 23 lbs. of honey and sugar dm-ing some ten days about the beginning of October, and which had, after two or three weeks interval as I read it, " increased 7 lbs. more thaE the weight of honey and sugar he (his neighbour) gave them, owing to the young brood which she is now rearing." It is evident fi-om the simple perusal of this narrative, that an error has crept in somehow or other. An increase of 7 lbs. of young brood (which in the cu'cumstances may be safely laid down at 10 lljs.), produced in October by a queen which had ceased laying seven weeks before, is certainly most mar- vellous. I repeat, there must be an error somewhere. At a future time, perhaps, Mr. Shearer wOl enlighten us on this matter, and explain it more satisfactorily. I fear little benefit can be derived from microscopic ex- amination of foul brood. No additional Hght, as it appears to me, has been thrown upon the subject by Mr. Edward Parfitt's ref)ort, inserted in No. 138, page 403. The results are such as might be predicted in the circumstances — namely, the discovery of animalculas in the decomposed animal matter called foul brood. The discovery of these animalcules iu the honey submitted to him might also be accounted foi', though I am inclined to think this may have been a mere accidental circumstance ; but in either case I do not see that any light has been thrown upon the general question by these revelations. I have also had several portions of foul brood in all stages of decomposition subjected to microscopic examination, as also a portion of the honey by which these were surrounded ; but the results were different fi-om those of Mr. Parfitt's, showing that animalcules may or may not be found in de- composed young brood. An eminent professional gentleman did me the favour of undertaking this examination at my request ; and after a patient investigation of upwards of an hour-, during which we tried and tested a variety of specimens of the decomposed larvEe and other brood from several combs, not the vestige of an animalcule could be discovered in any. The honey and farina also were tried with the same results ; but observ- ing some honey in the combs in a state of fermentation, we discovered, on submitting a portion of it to the microscope, innumerable fungi, usually found in all fermented liquors — even the beer we use at table — beautifully dispersed tlu'ough- ont. These dotted the whole ai-ea of vision with numberless little globular-looking particles, but the professional gentle- man above referred to, did not think that the fungus could have anything to do with foul brood, which, so far as he could understand, was simply decomposed animal matter. — J. Lowe. Captaik Beaton's BtrFF Cochins. — Admirers of this valuable and fashionable breed of fowls will have an excel- lent opportunity of acquiring birds li'om this celebrated yard, as we observe from an advertisement that Captain Heatou has decided to send a selection of sixty for sale by auction atBingley Hall, Bh-mingham, on Tuesday next. We understand that Mr. E. Adams's entu-e stock of Partridge Cochins will also be disposed of on the same day. OTIR LETTER BOX. Cream {A Suhscribei-).— Your cream needs no test. It is either an artifi- cial compound or the cows from wbence it is derived are diseased. The first supposition is prubiibly the truth. Butter not Tomnsr. (J. Simmons).— We cannot tell what causes your failure. We should cliurn at from 65' to 70» during this cold weailicr, keep the dairy at little below 60°, and we should cut the hay and oat-straw into chafl', mixing it with mangold wurtzcl sliced. TovLousE Ceese (C .4.).— State fully in an advertisement what you require ; or write to somo of tho owners of this variety who are prlzo- talicrs, and asli if they can supply you. JanuaiylD, 1864. J JOTJENAI; OP HOETICtJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 49 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day Day 1 of of M'nth Week. 19 Td 20 W 21 Th 22 F 23 S 24 1 Sun I 25 M JANUARY 19-25, 3861. Skylark finps. Robert Sweet died, 1835. Sun's declin. 20° 0' S. Honeysuckle in leaf. Hazel c itkins iippear. Septvacksima Sunday. PitiNCKSS KoYAL Mar., 1858. Con- vuraiDn of St. P.iul. Average Temperature Rain in last 37 years. Sun Sun Moon Moon Moon's Clocl; before Sun. Day o' Bear Loudon. Rises. Sets. Rises. Seta. Age. Year. Day. Night. Mean. DavB. m. h. m. h. m. li. m. h. m. .s. 427 30.1 36.4 10 58af 7 23af4 52 0 15 4 10 10 54 19 42.3 31.9 37.1 14 58 7 25 4 42 1 9 5 11 11 12 20 43.6 32.3 37.9 16 67 7 27 4 36 2 56 5 12 11 30 21 43.S 32.7 38.1 16 55 7 28 4 35 3 34 6 13 11 40 22 445 32.9 38.7 16 54 7 30 4 40 4 7 7 o 12 2 23 44.1 32.0 38.4 18 53 7 32 4 43 5 33 7 15 IS 17 24 44.4 32.3 38.4 20 52 7 33 4 46 6 57 7 16 12 32 25 From obacrvfttions taken near London during the last thirty-seven years, the average day temperature of the week is 43.6°, and its night temperature 32.1°. The greatest heat was UO^, oa the 19th, 1825; and ttie lowest cold, 4^° below zero, on the 19th, 1838. The greatest fall of rain was O.Ot) inch. AMAEYLLIS CULTUEE. NDEE a gardener of the old school who had grown very many of this beauti- ful family for ten years of the past, and more than fifty years of the present century, and who had the benefit of the advice of the Hon. and Eev. "W. Plerbert, I obtained a pretty fair knowledge of this beautiful family of bulbous plants, and I hope to transmit it in an iatelhgible manner to the many inquirers on the subject in this Journal. My object is not so much to direct attention to the extreme beauty and usefulness for decorative purposes of these plants, for their merits in these respects will be found far more ably treated on in past volumes by the late Mr. Beaton and Mr. J. Anderson, but to give an account of their cultivation. In the first place, however, I will offer a few hints to in- tending hybridisers. The first thing to be done is to throw away aU of the " Staghorn " Hippeastrum aulicuin hybrids, which no- body dare name for fear of being laughed at by a now- almost-past generation of gardeners, and consign the in-and-in lop-eared breed from H. equestre to the rubbish- heap. JSTone of these are equal to the species, either in form, substance, or colouring, and the sooner they are dis- carded the better. The next point is to procure the species, and thus commencing at the right end, we may raise seedhngs from the first cross that would beat any seed- ling at present in cultivation. The Eoyal Horticultural Society's collector has lately sent home several species from the Brazils, which, aided by private enterprise, cannot fail to call attention to these charming plants, and be the means of their occupying once more the place they formerly held in our stoves and greenhouses, and which they still so justly merit. Hippeasters are, with a few exceptions, natives of the tropics, but owing to the different elevations at which they are found, some are greenhouse and others stove plants. In their native habitats they are inured to a period of almost continual wet, and undergo a correspond- ing period of dryness. The heat is most intense when the plants are ripening their bulbs or at rest, and least when making their growth or developing. TJnder cul- tivation, they require abundant moisture and nourish- ment when growing, but after the foliage has attained ts fuU size they require no more water than just suffi- No. 147.— YoL. VI„ New Sehieb. cient to prevent the leaves flagging. Perfect drainage must be secured. Strong hazel or yeUow loam free from iron, with a little shai-p sand, is all they need in the way of soil. Leaf mould and other vegetable matter, because it slowly decomposes, is to be avoided. Too much heat when growing is injuriou.s. as it creates drawn foliage and weakens the bulbs. They require as much if not more heat when at rest as when growing ; and though this may seem the reverse of good management, it is only what they receive in their native habitats. The roots remain on the bulbs thi'oughout the year ; taking them out of the pots when at rest, therefore, robs the bulbs of that which Nature has provided to collect food for the support of the scape of flowers. A practice has lately come into vogue of taking the bulbs ou.t of the pots and storing them away under shelves when at rest, and near to flues, in order to ripen them and economise space. This system renders it necessary to plunge the bulbs in spring, after they have been potted, into bottom heat, so that newroots may quicktybe formed to support the bloom-stem, otherwise the scape just peeps from the bulb and causes great disappointment by the number of " blind." Deep, narrow pots, 8 inches in depth, and double the diameter of the bulb, are the best description to grow them in. Frequent potting and plenty of pot room is their bane, and potting a plant of this kind be- cause the pot is fuU of roots will ])revent its flowering The pot never can be too full of roots, as the bulbs flower all the better for being cramped ; and so long as the drainage is perfect and the soil sweet it is imma- terial how long the plants are kept in the same soil and pots, if only the onsets are removed and potted, thus preventing their sucking the parent to death. Having made these general observations, with a view to be better understood, I wUl now apply them ; but to have a starting-point, I will take the bulbs as they now are, at rest, and presume that they have been on a diy shelf in the stove, or in a warm vinery where Grapes are _ kept until this time, and that they have been kept very dry for the last three months. In Januaiy examine the pots and see that the drainage is all right. Having made it perfect replace the ball in the pot, adding a little soil upon the drainage if the plant or bulb be too low, and gently stir the surface of the soil around the bulb, and if any fresh soil be added it should be diy, and the bulb will be none the worse if it be covered to the neck. Some of the tender kinds rot unless the bulb be covered to the neck, as it happens that when the base of the bulb just rests on the soil that very part is at times very wet, and then dry, which alternate wetness and dryness rots_ the base of the bulb, just in the same way as a stake driven into the earth decays more quickly at the surface than at any other part. In looking to the drainage and stirring the surface care should be taken not to injure a single root nor break the ball, for that is robbing the plant of so much absorbent surface, and is a direct way of weaken- ing the bulbs. The next step is to place the pots on a shelf about 1 foot or from tliat to 18 inches from the glass, and if the No. 799.— Yoi. XXXI. Old Sekies 50 JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. [ January 19, 1864. temperature range from 55° to 60° it could not be "better. The situation should be light and free from drip. No water must be given until the leaves appear, for the concen- trated juices of the bulb ai'e sufficient without the aid of water, when they must be slightly watered, gradually in- creasing the quantity as the leaves and scapes elongate. When the scape has risen 6 inches give a plentiful supply of water, and let every alternate watering be weak liquid manure, or, what is safer for an amateur, 1 oz. of Peruvian guano dissolved in a gallon of rain water, and with this water the plant every other day, and the intervening day with pure water. All waterings to be applied a few degrees over rather than a few below the temperature of the house ; enough to be given to run through the pot, and if it does not do this without having to stand on the surface, or is a long time in doing so, the soil is either dust dry or sodden, or the drainage is choked. Examination being made, the defect, whatever it be, must be remedied at once. The leaves should not under any cu'cumstances be suffered to flag at this stage, and the atmosphere must be kept moist by syringing night and morning every available evaporating stu'face with water of the same temperature as the house. Ail' should be given on all favoui'able opportunities, but cold currents must be studiously avoided. When tlie plants come into flower we have another point to consider. Is the plant wanted for conservatory deco- ration, or to produce seed ? If the first no matter, but if seed be the object it must not move an inch. Kemove the anthers of the parent, and keep insects from its stigma. As soon as the stigma becomes viscid choose pollen that has been well afred and from a species or variety likely to give a desu'able result, and on a line sunny morning touch the stigma with the pollen, and something good or bad will be the consequence. The air of the house should be kept rather drier than usual for a few days prior to ;u-tificial fe- cundation, as doing so is very conducive to its success. The plants must be duly and copiously supplied with water in whatever situation they may be in, and the tem- perature should never be allowed to fall below 50°, or the check win be such as to injure the growths now making, on which depends the future flowering. Defective seed-pods are often the result of sudden changes of temperatui'e. By Jime the leaves wiU have attained thefr full size, but that depends on circumstances, and cannot be determined with certainty without actual observation. I mean no set time can be given, for the bulbs do not all start into growth at one time, nor do they all groweqvially — some are late, others early in making tlieh- growth ; but when the leaves cease to grow or elongate, everything being conducive to their development, nothing is more certain than that the growth has been made. Having settled this point the next con- sideration is. Do the plants need potting ? If the drainage be perfect and the soil anything but sodden, the best plan is to let well alone. Never mind how full the pot may be with roots, the plants flower all the better, and the bulbs ripen more perfectly. If, however, the sod be sodden they must be potted, and the following precautions must be at- tended to : — Break the ball as little as can be helped ; taking away about 2 inches of the surface sod, clear the principal roots carefully and adjust them, and place a layer of soil at the bottom of the pot. The pots best suited for the plants now under consideration are bulb-pots, S inches in depth and 5 inches in width inside measurement. Not less than 1 inch of the depth should be broken pots, a large piece over the hole, and some smaller upon it, and 1 inch of the rougher part of the compost over it. The soil should be composed of hazel loam, and if it be turfy and not less than three yeai-s old so much the better. It should not be silted but chopped with the spade, for the roots run more readily through it when it is porous, and a more ready passage for water is thus prepared, and this is a point of great import- ance. Abont one-sixtli of sharp sand should be thoroughly incorporated with the soU, and in this mixtm'e pot the Ijulbs, and if it be done well not a single root need be injured by the »peration. The neck of the bulls should be level with the top of the pot, and the soU carefully put roimd the sides and pressed gently down, leaving a hollow of half an inch for watering pm-poses at the top of the pot, the bulb being covered to the neck with soil. Finish with a copious water- ing, and gently syringe the leaves. It is not advisable to repot plants producing seed, but they should remain in the quartera which they previously occupied, and receive only sufficient water after the leaves attain their full size to prevent their flagging. The pro- duction of seed never injures the bulbs if the foregoing directions are attended to. After potting, presuming that has been done when they attain their strongest growth, and whether or not the leaves are at their strongest, it will be advisable to keep the plants in a shady place for a few days imtil the cheek likely to result fr'om the potting is got over, and which the plants will experience if placed in the position previously occupied. When the danger of a check is over they may be removed to a shelf in the full sun and near to the glass, and the supply of water shoidd be gradually diminished, but fre- quent syringing overhead must be given daily for a month longer, and the supply of water but little diminished for that period. A month after the strongest growth or full development no more or but few syringings are needed, and not a drop more water than enough to prevent the leaves flagging. Take no notice of yellow leaves, only be careful that whilst green the foliage does not flag from want of water. Continue this treatment until October when most of the leaves will have turned yellow ; but if they he gi-een do not become uneasy about it if the soil in the pots is dry. The plants at this time, October, should be placed on a shelf in the stove, and not a drop of water given them until the scape and leaves appear in the January or February follow- ing. Any bulbs that appear disposed to remain evergreen should not be forced to rest by witldiolding water so that the leaves flag, but a little (and it is astonishing how little wUl do it), should be given in winter to prevent theu' flagging. The temperature trom January to June should range from 55' to C0°, and it may rise to 75° or 80° with sun and abund- ance of air. From June to October from (30° to 65°, and 80° to 90° with sun, will do them no harm. From October to February a dry atmosphere never below 50°, nor exceeding 60° with fli'e heat, suits them. It not unft-equently happens when the gi'owth is made early— say, by Slay, and water gradually withheld after that time, that the plants will rest at midsummer, lose a number of thefr leaves, and give a fine bloom in autumn in addition to flowering in spring. This the old gardeners termed good management, but not all theh- bulbs even did this. It was only the strongest, for weak bulbs are late in making thefr growth, and conse- quently do not ripen rapidly. Should any gi'ower, therefore, have bulbs that seem disposed to rest at midsummer, encourage them to do so by withholding water instead of promoting a second growth bj' giving more water than is really necessary to prevent the leaves flagging just because a leaf or two turns yellow. Plants flowering twice ■noU make a second growth, which must be well supported by liquid maniu'e and copious watering until the growth is made, when they are to be dried off as after the tii-st flo^ver- iug. — G. Abbey. (To he continued.) FLOWEKS OP THE PAST SEASON. PELAEGONIUJIS. Who is there that takes any interest in this beautiful summer flower, aud who assists at those gorgeous displays and banks of bloom that gladden the eyes and excite the enthusiasm even of those " outer barbarians " who ai'e not initiated into the mysteries of shajje, size, substance, margin, blotches, spots, textirre, &c., on which the genuine florist delights to descant H Who does not recollect that wonder- ful banlc of seedlings, which, in June, 1862, puzzled the brains and dazzled the eyes of the Judges who then had the light and easy task ('f) of, in little more than an hour, deciding on a century of seedlings, and to do so according to the usual happy arrangements of the Kensington folks, with the Fellows, thefr wives, and daughters, pressing round them, and freely commenting on everything on which they were called to decide ? It would not be wonderful, then, that mis- takes were made, and that the showers of first and second- class certificates which descended then in no sparing manner upon the subjects brought iorward were in some instances undeserved. It seems, I must own to it^ a cruel thing to January 19, 18M. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTTIRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 51 have these poor innocents brought up for trial after having been so highly praised, coaxed, and flattered; but still justice must be done ; and although the hangman's ofRce is not a very pleasant one, and one feels rather like those wretches, Forrest and Dighton, when they murdered the little princes in the Tower, yet the thing must be done, and none the less so because the stamp of authority has been placed upon them ; for thus the evil is increased, and that which people wUl hardly buy on the mere recommendation of the raisers themselves, they are more willing to do when it comes winged with a first or second-class certificate. It is then of these, sent out in the autumn of 1862 and spring of 18fi3, that I intend to speak. Through the kind- ness of those who sent them out I have been enabled to grow them under my own eye, and as I have watched them from day to day, have formed my opinions concerning them. These mny be wrong, and in some instances may prove to be so, but they are none the less conscientious. 1. Aedens (Beck's). — This flower seems to me to have been overrated ; for although showy and brilliant in colour, it has not that size and substance which is necessaiy for a first-class flower. 2. Agamemnon (Beck's). — A showy purple variety, some- what too long in the flower. Its habit is good. 3. Beacon (Hoyle's). — This cannot lay any claim to being a show flower. Its shape is indifferent ; but it is very valu- able for effect, being' quite as fine as many of the French varieties. 4. Bellatbix (Beck's). — A very bright flower, but I am not quite satisfied with its performance this year ; it may possibly improve. 5. Censor (Foster's). — A fine bold flower, excellent for the stage, but questionable as to its claim to being a first-class flower, which I do not think it is likely to be. 6. Colossus (Hoyle's). — A very fine, fuU, rich rose- coloured fiower, of large size, with light centre. Very striking. 7. EsPEKANCE (Beck's). — A very pretty light flower, the white not pure, but still of very nice substance, and alto- gether pleasing. 8. Illuminator (Poster's). — A very brilliant flower, open- ing well, very smooth in substance, shape good, ground scarlet, with intense deep blotch. Altogether an excellent flower. 9. Improvement (Foster's). — A very fine purple fljwer of good substance, the top jietals deep maroon. An excellent flower. 10. Inez (Hoyle's). — A sort of painted orange flower, with white centre. There is something very novel in its ap- pearance. 11. Lord Palmbeston (Hoj'le's). — I am somewhat dis- appointed in this flower. Its appearance universally excited admiration from the novelty of its colom-ing, and for that it must be retained ; but the substance and shape do not seem to be what they ought, and these are just the points in which mistakes may be made. A flower is shown oft' to its best advantage ; just as an anxious mamma will see to the appearance of her daughter when she first " comes out," so do these anxious raisers " titivate " their flowers very often, so that they are sometimes thought to be better than they really are. 12. Meeeimac (Foster's).— a fine large flower, opening well, and displaying a white centre. The truss is large, and the plant altogether showy. 13. Oeiana (Beck's).— a large and fine flower. The form is excellent, and the colouring very bold. It is altogether remarkably fine. 14. Ottavia (Hoyle's). — Light flowers, white not pure, but pleasing as a greenhouse flower. 15. Pericles (Hoyle's). — White flowers, but not superior to many out. IG. EoTALTT (Foster's).— One of the best flowers of the season. Good form, colour, and substance ; lower petals painted purple, top petals nearly black ; white centre. Altogether a very excellent flower. 17. EoYAL Albert (Hoyle's). — A very fine large flower. Apt to crimple, I fancy, on the top petals ; but its size will make it coveted by all growers. 18. Kegina Formosa (Beck's). — A very good flower, flne form, dark maroon spot. A very fine plant for exhibition, and I fully expect to see it largely used for that purpose. 19. EoSY Bloomer. — A showy flower for the stage, and somewhat novel in colour, but not an exhibition plant. t 20. Souvenir (Poster's). — A painted flower of large size, and very attractive. 21. Tycoon (Hoyle's). — Dark rich-looking flowers, and very good shape. One of the best dark flowers out. - —-• — ; 22. Vesuvius. — A bright scarlet flower, but not very first- rate in character. 23. Queen of Whites (Dobson's). — The best light flower of the season. Ground colour the purest white, with a beau- tiful spot. An excellent flower. 24. Butterfly (Beck's). — An effective flower, though somewhat inclined to be loose and open. Spots on the three lower petals ; top petals nearly covered with black blotch. 25. Caliban (Beck's). — Very free-blooming, with fine spots. A very striking flower. 2G. Edith (Hoyle's).— White flowers, with lake spots. Curious. 27^ Feu de Joie (Turner' r,). — Orange scarlet flowers, with spots on all the petals, which some people call quiquevul- neroviB ! save the mark ! 28. Landseee (Foster's). — A very flne rich flower. Spots on the lower petals, top petals neai-ly black. Very Iree- blooming. 29. Monitor (Foster's).— Fine dark variety. Spots on all the petals ; free-blooming and large. Excellent. Of Fancy Pelargoniums I can say nothing, having had no opportunity of proving them ; but of the above I sliould be inclined to select as the best Colossus, Illuminator, Im- provement, Royalty, Eoyal Albert, Eegina Formosa, Queen of Whites, Caliban, Landseer, and Monitor. And if some of our correspondents, who veiy frequently ask for the names of the best new varieties, would bear them in mind, they might save themselves the trouble of writing-. Again do the raisers of seedUngs, Messrs. Hoyle, Foster, and Beck, come forth to claim our attention. The flowers of the two former are in the hands of Mr. Charles Turner, of Slough ; and Mr. Beck's in those of Mr. Williams, of Paradise Nursery, HoUoway. I have not seen many of them, but think I am not far wi'ong in saying that two of the finest flowers ever seen are in Mr. Hoyle's lot this year — I mean Artist and Achilles. The interest which attaches to this flower is by no means diminished, its readiness of cultivation, freedom of flower- ing, and hardiness of constitution making it a favourite everywhere. Wherever the labourer's wife can put a flower in the window it is pretty sure to be a Geranium ; and I think that those who cultivate them could not do better than dis- tribute cuttings of good sorts, which they would otherwise throw away, amongst their neighbours, for it is desirable that they, too, should have their eye formed to see what is truly beautiful and good. I think, that aS with children so with others — it is even well to accustom their eyes to good forms and colouring. It seems to me to have no slight bearing on the proverbial good taste of the Parisians, that their eye is from earliest childhood educated to these things, especially in the ready and free access that they have to works of art of all kinds. T have not entered on the subject of Zonale or bedding Pelargoniums, but reserve them for a separate notice, and here, as in Verbenas, a good deal of execution must be done. — D., Deal. NEATNESS EVEN IN MIDDENS. " They manage these things better abroad," is a phi-ase one hears frequently from travelled people, and in some instances they are right. I have noticed that the manure- heaps on the Continent are almost invariably more neatly kept than those in EngUsh farmyards and gardens. Passing along the Taunus range one is struck with the peculiar tidiness of these somewhat ofl'ensive adjuncts to the garden; the servants seeui to take a pride in making the heaps as ornamental as possible. A sketch would, perhaps, be the simplest plan to give your readers a con-ect idea of the way in which it is done, but faiUng that, I will try to make it as comprehensible as I can. The men fii-st throw all the short stuff in a heap, and then mark a line all round in which to place the long litter ; this latter, having brought the ends some way over the proposed 52 JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. t January 19, 1864. edofe of the heap, they double back neatly over the fork- hsnd'e, in the same manner as om- gi'ooms do when they niaki up the horses' beds. The straw, being folded back, must be kept in its place by some weight, either a plank or a few bricks, until the next layer is placed upon it. The whole may be made more or less artistic according to the fancy and capabilities of the jjerson who aiTanges it. In the summer a little earth is thro^^Ti on the top, and Melons, Gourds, or Pumpkins planted, which look well, and are besides veiy usetil. Without at all Mashing to "put down" our English gar- deners, I must say I never yet saw a compost or manure- heap that was either ornamental or even neat here at home, and I see no reason why they should be otherwise. — Patelin. LIFTING AND INAECHING VINES. PEACH TEEES IN POTS AND IN KAINT BISTltlCTf. A COBP.ESPONDENT (" "W. E. M., Lancashire"), will find the first question discussed in the Journal of November 10th, 1863, page 365, to which he is referred, in preference to going fully into the matter again. With regard to the instructions given in the two works to which " W. E. M." refers, he must bear in mind that there is a great difl'erenco between simply shifting a Vine, or any other fruit-bearing i plant fi-om one pot to another, or in planting a young Vine t with the object of getting the finest possible growth the ' same season, fi'om lifting old Vines and renewing the border ' with the double object of both improving the Vines and not 1 losing a year's crop. To simply shift any blossom or fruit- beai'ing plant late in autumn v.'ith the view of tavoui'ing its fraitfulness, or to get it to set its fruit either more certainly or strongly would be opposed to the experience of pot-cul- ture in general, as well as to sound principles ; and it is, no doubt, because JVIr. Elvers has found this out that he re- commends the discontinuance of autumn potting, and in the case of growing fi-uit trees in pots he is well entitled to a hearing. To obtnin a. fine, healthy growth fi-om a j'oung Vine the same year it is jilanted, there is no better time than May to plant, pai-ticulaiiy if the roots are to be all outside. To plant and force on sooner would not be pro- ductive of so fine a Vine that same year, and can only be recommended in cases where it is desirable to work the Vines quickly round into early forcing, and then the roots should he paitially, at least, inside. Hence it is, that, in a general way. May is to be recommended in jireferenoe to March or April, because by waiting there is more natui-al warmth in the soil, and a greater disposition in the Vine to growth without being forced by a greater amount of arti- ficial heat. But where the object is to make Vines bear fruit the summer after they are lifted, the case is very different. To take the case of young Vines, even if they are entirely shaken out, ten chances to one but every bunch wiU " wii-e,'' or run to claspers instead of coming into bloom. The same Vines, on the other hand, if planted the previous autumn, woirld establish themselves and bear fruit to a certainty the next summer. Therefore, it is, that when the securing of a crop is an object we have recom- mended earlj' autumn, before the leaves and roots cease their functions, as the best time for lifting old Vines and renewing the border. If left tdl spring there are ten chances to one against a crop, as compared to autumn-lifting. Moreover, v,'heu lifted in autumn the Vines will be in mucli finer condition in the autumn of the following year, than if the operation were delayed till spring. Of course, there are cases where autumn-lifting cannot be carried out, and then spring is the next best time, so that now our correspondent must be guided by his desires as to the loss of a crop. In the spring the chances are against a crop. In autumn he may succeed in obtaining a lair crop the following season, as many have done before now. The top eye of your pot Vine mil, xmdoubtedly, give you the finest shoot for inarching ; but if the fruit of the pot Vine is considered of importance, wo would rather let one of the lower eyes grow away without stopping it, and taJke it for the inarch. The top eye, if allowed to grow away vigorously, will considerably rob the fruit-beai'ing growths below. To do the inarch the greatest justice the top eye would be best; to do the crop on the pot Vine the lilce justice, it would be best to take a shoot from an eye lower down, and stop the top bud after it has gro^vn three or four joints. There is no reason why you should not succeed in getting a good inarch and a good crop fi'om the same Vine, and we would recommend you, with that object in \'iew, not to inarch the top shoot, but to keep it stopped close in to a few joints. To force your Peaches and Nectarines successfully, re- member that you ai'e more likely to succeed in setting a crop by forcing gently than by a high temi)erature. Do not exceed 4-0° to 45° till the buds ai'e showing the colour of the flower ; then if the weather is not very cold raise to 50° at night, with from 5° to 8° more by day. Do not use the syringe so fr-eely as you propose, rather sprinkle the path than apply much water to your trees, and when opening into bloom they must have a cu'Oidation of dry air about them, without any application of moisture, till they have set and are swelling thefr fi'uit. It is difScult to give definite rules as to how often they should be watered. Give it just often enough to prevent the soil from becoming dry on the one hand, and not to keep it too wet on the other. Either extreme must be carefully avoided. For the production of early crops of Peaches and Nectarines we consider the pot system a precarious one, and no gardener who has an eai-ly and continuous large supply of the finest fruit to furnish with the least possible expense, and the gTCatest certainty, ever attempts to do so from trees in pots. Pot fruit trees are well enough in their own niche, but they have been far too much made of. We would advise you, if you Avish for good early Peaches with the greatest certainty and least expense, to plant your trees out, and train them near- the light or glass. With regard to the culture of the Peach in rainy districts, it is our opinion that well-ripened wood will cai-ry a crop through more severe spring frosts than wood that is badly ripened. We have had striking proofs of this several times. In the autumn of 1858, we transplanted a lai-ge tree from one of our Peach-houses on to the open walls. It had well- ripened wood and fine prominent buds, and it was the only tree on the same wall that carried through a crop the follow- ing spring. Finely-ripened trees Irom the neighbourhood of London have frequently set then- fi-uit with greater fr'eedom the spring after they were planted than others that made their wood in a colder climate. To a certain extent, if this be correct, the gardeners are right, inasmuch as your trees are not in so good a contlition to bear with spring frosts as others are in localities where the wood ripens better, and where they have equal visitations of spring frosts. The frost does its work aU the easier on account of yoiu: blooms being weaker, and more likely to be cut off. To remedy the evil you shoidd avoid rich borders, as being productive of strong wood, which is less lilcely to be ripened in autumn. Well-drained, shallow borders would give less vigorous wood, which requh'es less sun to ripen it. 'This in such localities, in conjunction with protection at night in spring, would be the condition most likely to insure success. AVe are, however, of opinion that there ai'e but few localities in Britain where coverings of glass would not in the coui'se of j'ears be the cheapest in the end, and there can be no doubt such are the most effectual remedy that can be applied to the evil. Unless when subject to the grossest mismanagement. Peaches are sure to bear well and regularly under glass, and from our own experience and observation it matters very little about the soil they are then planted in, provided it is not grossly enriched. The finest crops of Peaches that we have ever seen have been from trees under a glass screen, growing in a poor, hungry, gravelly soil, occasionally watered with liquid manure, if our best panacea for Laucashu-e, and all other cold, dull, wet districts — is glass, glass. — D. Thomson. MILTON HOUSE. Among gai-dens worth seeing in Northamptonshire, it would be unjust to omit that at i\lilton House, near Peter- borough, the seat of the late Earl Pitzwilliam and now of the Hon. George Fitzwilliam. The visitor will find the gardener, Mr. W. Worraker, a most obliging cicerone and ^ a true lover of his profession. There is a grand old-fashioned January 19, 1861. ] JOTJENAL OP HOKTICTTLTUKE AJSfD COTTAGE GARDENER. 63 stove with a coUectiou of Ovoluds and Ferns in the highest cultivation ; Dendrobiiim nobile covering a piece of wall at least 6 feet square, and Ltclia anoeps in so large a pot that the next shift will take it into a tub. Alocasia metallica has grown and flowered well here dui-ing the last sanimer. Perhaps the most striking object is an immense and per- fectly symmetrical specimen of Dicksonia antarctica, the size of which may be gathered fi-om the fact that it takes ■ six men to lift it. Though one or two of the tree Perns at Kew slightly exceed this in size, they wiU bear no compai-ison with it in regularity of form ; a drawing alone could do justice to it. There is also a good collection of hai-dyl'erns : among which are prominent large quantities of Adiantum pedatum, Onoolea sensibilis, and Struthiopteris germauica. Milton was one of the fii-st places at which Orchids were grown in England, and it is not now in the background, although its means and appliances ai'e not in any degree modernised. — W. T. Gates, Peterborough. LATE MELOA^S. We have our early and late-keeping Grapes, the same of Peaches, Apples, Pears, and many other fruits, why not our early and late-keeping Melons ? A good-flavoured Melon at Christmas would not be other- wise than appreciated, and it is a subject worthy of the attention of raisers and importers of new varieties to secure one of good keeping properties. That the Melon season can be considerably prolonged I had ample proof last year. We have three span-roofed pits at tliis place of good-sized dimensions, from which pits I suc- ceeded in furnishing my employer's table more or less for seven months, commencing cutting in June, late in com- parison to some growers, and sending up the last fruit on January 12th, 1864. I think it quite possible to have Melons nine months out of the twelve with properly constructed pits, well heated for the earliest crops. I find a great difference in the good keeping properties of Melons. Gem, a scarlet flesh, proved the worst keeper I grew, splitting- open, and speedily decaying. The G;-een- fleshed section were far the best keepers grown by me. Some argue that a Melon is comparatively flavourless except in summer and early autumn. In contradiction of such an opinion I can state that the fruits furnished by me in November and December were of good flavour, as my employer did not fail to acknowledge. He who succeeds in raising a really good-fla,voured Melon possessing the desideratum of hanging plump until Christ- mas would justly be entitled to as much praise as he who gave us Lady Downes' Grape. — John Edlikstok, Crom Castle. "WHICH IS THE BEST WAY OE HEATING BEDS BY HOT-WATEE PIPES? The above is the title given to some remarks at page 514 by " W. W." Having had some experience in heating beds, &c., I may at once state that it has been the reverse of what " W. W." anticipates, and with your permission I will give it in as few words as possible. Thirteen years ago there were built here four pits, each 33 feet long and 4 wide, for growing Asparagus, Sea-kale, and Rhubarb. They were situated two on each side of a stove, and, together with other pits, they are heated fi-om the boiler which heats the stove. There are two-inch flow and return pipes in each on the same plan as " W. Tv''.'s" section A (which he condemns), with the addition of wooden shutters 4 feet high, hinged at the bottom, and opening back from the top. The pits are partly sunk below the level of the surrounding gi'ouud. The chamber where the pipes are is 15 inches deep, being formed of Caithness pavement 2 inches thick, and supported along the centre with brick piers. On the top of the pavement are placed broken bricks to the thickness of 3 inches for drainage, and above this, soil to the depth of 2 feet 8 inches. The Asparagus plants which were, perhaps, twenty years old, I Kfted when in full foliage in the end of June, taking care to preserve good balls, and I planted them in the pits. giving a good watering and carefully tying up the stems to a stake. These plants did so well that, whenever I had occasion to make new plantations of Asparagus in the gar- den, I have always lifted the plants when in full foliage, and I have never failed ; but whenever I lifted plants in winter or spring I never was successful, almost every plant dying. I would strongly recommend this plan to any one who finds a difRoulty ni renewing beds of Asparagus. The Asparagus was forced to come in during the first week in March in the fu-st year, and at the same time every year since. From each stool we cut five shoots, strong, and of fine flavour and colour, as they are exposed to the air on all favoiu'able occasions, by folding back the shutters. The water is only allowed to ou'culate in the pipes for two weeks, and this is all the heat which is requu'ed to bring the Asparagus in at that season. There would be no difficulty in forcing it earlier, but it would be at the sacrifice of the plants every year. The shoots, which are left to grow to form roots and stems for the following year, have been on two or three occasions iniured by frost in May, when they were IS inches high, notwithstanding that the shutters were on. The Ehubarb and Sea-kale were planted in the pits in the autumn, and both did well ; but the Asparagus far exceed- ing our expectations, the Khubarb was taken up and the pit filled with Asparagus, and I found I could grow more Sea- kale in the same space by taking up the roots from the garden, and forcing them in the jiit, placing them so closely together as to allow just enough room for the blanched stem to come to maturity. When Sea-kale forcing is finished the pit is filled with bedding stuii; and when this is planted out the pit is used for growing Mushrooms during the summer, and a better place for doing so I could not desire, as we have complete command over the Mushrooms ; for if the heat caused by the natural decomposition of the dung should fail before the spawn has fully run, the hot w£,ter if alloi^'ed to circulate for a short time soon puts all right. Altliough the jjipes in these pits ai-e placed within 2 inches of each other along the centre of the pit, there is no per- ceptible dillerence in the earliness of the Asparagus in the centre of the pit, right above the pipes, as compared with that at the sides, and I imagine that it is only at times that the Sea-kale and Mushrooms are affected by the pipes below them, and the reason is that the pipes are not in con- tact with the pavement. In the chamber the temperature is the same in every part, except in elose proximity to the pipes. I have no doubt whatever that these two-inch pipes would heat a space double the size with ease. On this plan, then, of having the pipes in a chamber, and in no way in contact with the material to be heated, the whol? width of the beds can be heated to the same tempe- rature, with the exception of about 2 inches at each side of the bed, where the soil comes in contact with the side walls ; while the plan represented by "W. W.'s" section E would only heat the soil right above the chamber, but would be better than either section c or d, as I have proved by ex- perience. Wherever the soil, clinkers, gravel, or any other material comes in contact with the pipes, the heat is carried upwards, and only extends horizontally to a very short dis- tance on each side of the pipe. I have a border inside a span-roofed house planted with Vines, which was at fii'st chambered for the purpose of growing Vines in pots ; but as the Vines were to be planted out, and not having depth enough for soU above the pipes, I removed the pavement, and covered the pipes with drain- tUes to prevent the roots from being burned, making the drainage with broken drain-tiles in the same way as shown in " W. W.'s " section c. I find that the heat does not extend more than 6 inches on each side of the pipes ; while the roots in the centre would be burned if I were to attempt to heat all the soil to the sides. And I can assiire " W. W." from experience that the roots of the Vines do get into danger, and are destroyed, while when chambered they are in no danger whatever. As to section D. numbers of gardeners will have experienced that when a hot pi^oe passes through soil and a thermometer is placed a foot away Itoui the pipe, it will not indicate that it dei'ives much heat from the pipe. If " W. W." turns to Tee Journal op Horticultuee, Vol. III., page 216, he will there find a section showing how 54 JOUKNIIj of HOETICULTtTEE AKD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ January 1», 1864. the vinery-borders are lieated at this place. The piping passes from the boiler 32 feet out to the front wall of the chamber, passing along within 2 feet of it to the further end, and along the front of the outside wall of the vinery, 16 feet fi-om the back wall, and then to the boiler, heating a chamber with upwards of 1000 square feet of surface. Over the whole of that surface there is not one degree of difference in the temperature even if it is tried just above where the pipe enters from the boiler, because the pipes are not in contact with the pavement, and the wliole air is heated alike, and parts with its heat equally under all the soil ; while, if on any of the plans of " W. W.," with the exception of A, a space extending, perhaps a foot on each side of the pipe would only be heated, and all the rest of the soil would not be affected in the least by the pipes. I might enlai-ge on this subject at considerable length were I disposed to enter into the theory, but I think I have said enough to convince any one of the impropriety of at- tempting to heat large surfaces of soil by any other means than chambering. I am not surprised at the views held by "W. W." and Mr. Fish, as I had the same myself at one time, and many more equally erroneous. When those cham- bers were made I had pipes inserted down through the soU where I could pour water down and so wet the pavement, especially above the pipes ; but I find this unnecessary, the pavement being at all times kept moist enough from the moistui'e within the chamber. — Alex. Sheakek, Y ester Gardens. DEYING PLUMS. Theke are some species of Plums appropriate for this process, and a correspondent in Tasmania has selected the best, and planted three hundred of them. He has in his orchard Quetsche d'ltalie, Quetsche de St. Martin, Knight's Late Green Drying, Coe's Golden Drop, Ang-elina Burdett, French Prune, Black German Prune, Bed German Prune, and Prune d'Agen. Our coiTCspondeut's family can make fancy boxes ; and he thinks, and we agree in so think- ing, that he can carry on a trade in dried Plums if he can succeed in the process of drying them. The following is all the information we can give on the subject : — "The Plums, gathered when ready to drop from the tree, are laid separately on frames, or sieves made of wickerwork or laths, and exposed for several days to the sun, till they become as soft as ripe Medlars. When this is the case, they ai-e put into a spent oven, shut up quite close, and left there for twenty-four hours ; they are then taken out, and, the oven having been slightly reheated, are again put in when it is slightly warmer than it was before. The next day they are again taken out, and turned by slightly shaking the sieves. The oven is heated again ; they are put in a tlm-d time, the oven being considerably hotter than it was the second time. After remaining twenty-four hours, they are taken out, and left till they get quite cold. They are then rounded, an operation which is performed by turnin"- the stone, without breaking the skin, and pressing the two ends together between the thumb and finger. They are next put upon sieves, wliish are then placed in an oven from which the bread has just been drawn, and the door havinn- been closed, the crevices are cemented round with clay. An hour afterwards, the Plums are taken out, and the oven is shut up with a cup of water in it for about two hours. When the water is so warm as just to bear the finger in it, the Prunes are again placed in the oven, and left there for twenty-four hours, when the operation is finished ; and they are put loosely into small, long, and rather deep boxes for sale."- — (Thompson' s Gardener's Assistant.) In addition to the above, we translate the following from M. P. Tourrcs' " Notice sur Prune d'Agen :" " The fruit begins to ripen in the end of July ; that which is first ready being generally the most imperfect. Keed or lath hurdles are prepared beforehand, and placed beneath the trees at 2 or 3 feet above the ground, those made of laths being covered with straw. As the fruits fall from the trees they are carried away, and allowed to sweat for two or tlu-ee days, after which they are placed in an oven, the heat of wliich is only one-fourth of that which is required in baking bread. This baking having been repeated thi-ee separate times, the Prunes wiU be di'ied sufficiently for sale. Those for home consumption should be stored in a rather dry and weU-ventilated place ; and those intended for sale are placed in cardboard boxes lined with tissue-paper. A few laurel leaves put in the boxes wiU give the fi-uit an agreeable perfume." THE WHITE PINE (Pinus steobus), FOE SANDY OS POOE SOILS. We clip the following from the Massachusetts PJmvman, and think it deserves a wide circulation. That the tree does splendidly as an ornamental tree in the poor sandy soil on the shores of Lake Michigan, there is abundant evidence. When it is young and has plenty of room to expand its lower branches, it also fonus a handsome tree, and will grow finely where the Norway Spruce will scarcely exist. The true way to obtain good thrifty trees on poor soils is to plant them quite small. Especially is this true of those taken from the wood, or >Yhere they have not been recently transplanted. — E. S. " In a recent journey through some parts of Plymouth county, in this State, we observed numerous lots of thi-ifty White Pines, of recent growth, which have ' come ' in upon pastures that were old and worn out by neglect and over- stocking twenty or thirty years ago. 'i'oo poor to pay for keeping the fences in repair as a range for cattle, their owners have ceased to use them for that purpose, and Nature has resumed her primeval sway to good purpose. In a few years these lands ^vill be of great value for the wood and timber which can be taken from them, and they are paying now, by the rapid growth which they make annually, a profit to the farmer, if not as great as his best lands, at least one that is far greater than when he half starved his cattle by pasturing them, or wasted his manure by attempts to raise corn. Eye, and Potatoes. " Nature is a good schoobuaster, and if those whose life brings them into daily communion with her would pay more heed to her suggestions and teachings, there would be many a baiTen spot made beautifid and productive, which now yields nothing of any value, and is only a blemish to the landscape. The lesson taught by these growing Pines upon the sandy plains of the old colony is full of instruction, and contains a hint by which all the possessors of such lands may realise rich returns of pleasure and profit. Occasional bare spots indicate, that though able and willing to work. Nature is sometimes, like other good husbandmen, short of seed, and it becomes those who can appreciate the ad- vantages of a growing plantation of good timber, upon lands that ai'e now utterly useless for ordinary farming purposes, to furnish a supply. The present is a suitable time for planting the seeds of all the coniferous family of the forest trees ; but as the White Pine ripens in August, they can only be obtained now at the seed-stores. A very slight pre- pai'ation of the soil with the plough, or even with the haiTOw alone, will reward the husbandman most abundantly for his labour. " Some of the enterprising farmers in that vicinity have afready tried the experiment of giving Nature a lift, by sowing plantations of Pines, and have met with most grati- fying' success ; and we hope there are more who will be en- couraged by their example, to co-operate with her in clothing the waste places of the earth with beauty and abundance." — (Prairie Farmer.) Death of Me. Chakles McIntosh.— We regret having to announce the loss of another distinguished gardener. IVIi'. Mcintosh died at his residence near Edinburgh, on the 9th instant. He was born in 1794, at Abercairney, in Perthshire. After serving as head gardener to the Marquis of Breadalbane, Sir T. Baring, Prince Leopold, and finally the Duke of Buccleuch, Mi-. Mcintosh became a professional landscape gardener. He has been long and favomably known as a writer on horticultural subjects, his iii'st work, " The Practical Gardener and Modern Horticulturist," being pub- lished in 1828, and his last and longest work, " The Book of the Garden," in 18G3 ; but as far back as 1825 he communi- cated to the " Gardeners' Magazine," drawings and descrip- tions of a new verge-cutter, and a tub suitable for the growth of Oranges or other large shrubs. January 19, 18C1, ] JOUKNAL OP HORTICULTURE AJJD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 55 ABSTRACT OF METEOEOLOGICAL OBSEEVATIONS FOE THE YEAE 1803, TAKEN AP WAEINQSTOWN, CO. DOWN, IKSLAND. Lat. 54° 25' 52" North. Long. 6° 17' 56" West. Height above sea level, 190 feet. - - - * "• - " re 1 August September,,. October November.. December ... Totals... •1 ill 1? CO •M O O CD O « H^NlccoboKicicc-Jascoo- > O j col? ''oG. * =: S) o « i =3 w" ^ 0*5 eolo^^^o^o►-^^ot-^^^K^^^^C OCDOOCOCOCOCOCOCOOCO i-l'eD~.ioo~^^icoc7icb--icJi:o4- — to4»cntocn-^OOCii>*^co ■a Ob i s : P - :5 -2 a. f ?l o s c- C 5' S- re V! n 1-? *-4 »-j>--tpeocn-t COCCI— uo 4-0 OJ^^ — tOC^ Highest of Month. ^T3 O H PI n H « O 3 Lowest of Month. ■r w -1 rU. CO »_.(^'I^»th>tkh;h4^09 C5tOOC»CpOJ-i — «P co-*oOcsi-*»'«*c:'=5 t>3 0i--i0--iccic;i — Ci !J: ;^ » OS ci -^ CO w o 7^ -^ ^.' Mean minimum. coco o 1 D 010 on Uet, 830 on Oct = on July 11 ' on Jan. C a d^ .£>. CM 03 toco Mean. CT ci Ti -» 00 CO CO ^ -1 : : : -.i^-&oooooabi"-iO- . . Maximum in Sun. H &p taiotococococoiototoi-SKo *.bOCOh-OC3WCO-J.*- — w Minimum on tiraes. -cn ^fl e rf. rf^ C-1 O. O C3 0> en l(^^ OCObi. W CDm~; . ; ; er- en CO Crt *. to O >— • ' • * COO&3C3^J--iOO Mean of Dry ISulb. c e vt..£.rfiO'OiCjiOilfa to Oi -I O CO -J »** CO ; : ; ; oacJ-coODCOH-tico- - • ■ O'CJicrsW^coCnco Mean of Wet Bulb. rfiit-oiinCJOs'cj'O' tn— IOCj as" s .W O 3-1= ^^ 00 CO CO Amount. *.mCO-^T-i«— t^CTC0»O— -to Snco-J^^cooic«:oooc;i-| Great in 24 Date great est amount hours. 5=1 of such est fall. I£ ta: : : cooni^w^ — : : j ^ 51 i o o * 5'S ■ ~i. c 5' * S* =3 o B CD 3! O :: ! ■ ■ - • i ?< ^§1 M : : to: I : (-c^i: coi-''- a W 1 . . 1 .='' _i^c,-t: rfkwi-*: Moita— p3 t.1 wcotoMMwenh-sph-Nj': j^ O 0- 1 1 ^ to CO o -J to ta CO ■-< 00 M oc oo -j CO ^-jCOl.T05rf-00tjiiyiCiO=i ■< CO « - 1 ^ 1 s cotar ta-H-: h-: ic^toto B 0 3 tOCli— taOCDI-'CT — (♦-OC 1 gg"^ . = ;-?• 5 s! 00O.CiOCSWQ0^ — f-Ci-J FAILURES IN PEACH CULTITEE. I HAVE for years been convinced that nearly all our failures in Peach tree management have been owing to atmospheric causes ; and the question arises in my mind. In what manner does the atmosphere affect the Peach tree, and does it produce any irregularity in the stock ? I have recently seen an important article in another periodical, making some inquiries and suggestions respecting the beneficial results which arise from having exotics grafted upon stocks which are hardier than the plant itself. I admit that there is much in this ; and it is well known to every cultivator of the Peach tree, that if it is grafted on a stock which is more hardy than itself, any failure from the unsuitableness of the stock is very rare. I have sometimes seen the tree at a little above the graft swell to an unnatural thickness as compared with the stock, but I do not recollect of any instance in which this cu-cumstance had a decidedly in- jurious tendency. Peach and orchard houses are advocated for various reasons, one of which is that the operator can have the roots more under control, particularly as regards moisture, at all seasons. The Peach (though gi-owing on a stock of a hardier nature than itself), the Nectarine, Apricot, and some of the better class of Pears, are much better of having the cold autumn rains and winter snows kept en- tirely off their roots ; but, at the same time, I do not wish it to be understood that I consider all the evil is not having proper control over the temperature and moisture of the soil in which the roots are growing, although I freely admit that there is much in this part of the subject ivhich urgently demands more extended and closer investigation. The points which I wish to bring forwai-d, and from which I have drawn some of my reasons for considering the general failures of late years in growing Peach trees upon the open walls to arise from atmospheric influences, are these:— I have lived in different parts of the country widely apart, and have had very different soils to operate upon. I have had a veiy stiff brick loam, which became liable to bind and crack during the hot weather in summer; and I have had a rich free loam which never became cracked as the former did, and this soil was resting upon an open and rather slaty kind of stone which at all seasons secured good drainage, and the crops seldom if ever suffered from dry weather in summer— at least not nearly so much as they will do in either gravelly, chalky, or clay soils. During the past twelve or fourteen years, in all the different soils in which I have seen the Peach culti- vated against the open walls, the trees have more or less presented a very unsatisfactory appearance. I have seen them where much trouble was bestowed upon them in covering at night and uncovering in the morning, and where sonietimes the protection would be allowed to remain down during the daytime when there were heavy cold showers. I have also seen used a wide board fastened upon the top of the waU and projecting 12 or 14 inches over the trees, and fi-om this a double fold of netting was hung down almost perpen- dicularly, and when the leaves were well formed one of the nets was then removed. I have likewise seen employed a shading of roughly-spun straw ropes. A projecting board was made fii-m to something at about a foot from the top of the wall, and at 4 feet from the bottom of the wall stakes were driven into the ground so as to stand 3 feet high. Along the tops of these uprights was nailed a piece of wood for a fe-sv slight poles to rest upon. A nail was driven into each oi these to prevent their slipping down. A few very slight pieces were tied across these poles, then roughly-made straw ropes reaching from the top of the wall down to near the top of the upright stakes. Now, however well the above contrivances may have answered for partially protecting the trees when in blossom and setting their fruit, and however economical some of them may be considered, yet I may afSi-m that most practical men have found their Peach trees exhibiting signs of suffering at a much later period of the season ; yes, perhaps six weeks or even two months after all the coverings are laid aside for the season. Who has not observed in July or August some young and healthy Peach trees suddenly lose many of then- leaves, this loss beino- accompanied in some cases with a quantity of reddish or rusty brown blotches on the younger wood, and in a short time the latter wUl exude more or less of a gummy substance, thus evidently showing the vital energies of the 56 JOtJENAL OF HORTICULTURE AOT) COTTAGE GAUDENEE. [ Jauuory 19, 1864. tree have been very seriously aifeeted ? Another evil which Peach trees sometimes suffer from about the same period of the season, is that the young wood, though it has grown well and is to all appearance healthy, will suddenly become covered, mere or less, with a white woolly substance which adheres fiimly to the bark. Often, as in the former case, this mildewed appearance will be accompanied by a partial falling-off of the leaves. How do such evils arise 'i Are they due to imperfect root-action, or to atmospheric causes ? TTpon these questions I have no doubt a great variety of opinions are held ; and without attempting to anticipate •what others may bring fonvai'd, I will state that my ob- servations and experience lead me to the conviction, that in the successful cultivation of the Peach we have to con- tend with more evils arising from atmospheric influences than from imperfect root-action. In all the Peach trees which have with me become unproductive and unsightly, I invariably found the roots iu very fail' condition, so vigorous in many cases that they could not well be kept from throw- ing up shoots from the collar of the stock. For the reasons which I have stated, I am an advocate for Peach-houses, not upon any makeshift principle, but with ample room, where the trees can be attended to satisfactorily. — G. Davison. BOILEES FOR GAEDEX STEITTUEES. At the risk of appearing to contradict so good an authority as " W. W." on the question of boilers, I beg to make a few remarks on the subject. The boiler figured at page 410 of last volume may, for aught I know, be the most efficient as Tvell as economical one extant; but judging from its appear- ance, and as far as I can understand the description given, I should be very far from accepting- it as such. Besides, there is no statement made of the amount of fuel consiimed, or the length of piping, or quantity of water which such a boiler would maintain at a given temperature. Too much is left for mere conjecture for any satisfactory conclusion to be arrived at. I have no doubt that as regards the ease with w^hich the soot may be scraped off it has an advantage, but then the surface i^resented to the fire is small, and the less surface to clean the less to heat. Tubular boilers piresent a comparatively large surface of water to the action of the fire; and if from the construction or arrangement of the boiler facilities are presented for readily cleaning off the accumulated soot, they must naturally heat more rapicUj- and keep up a more active circulation than boders present- ing merely a jilain surface. If by any means a wu-e brush — that is, a bmsh made of iron wii'e, not the handle merely, but the brush itself^ — can be made to work freely on every part of the heating surface, so as to scratch off the soot, a daily application of it for two or three minutes would keep the boiler clean and in good working order, nor would this be by any means a very foi'midable task. Although the saddle boiler may possess qualities which induce many intelligent gardeners, even now when boilers are pointed out to them as being vastly superior both in efficiency and economy, to give it the preference; it is certain that something possessing all its good qualities and many others added to them, is expected to turn up some day. and it cannot for a moment be svipposed that it is to lay claim to the title of best iu every sense, and drive all others out of the field. In the ordinary form it has the very serious defect of only intercepting a moderate part of the heat, and allowing the main body of it to pass off; and this defect, I should think, is shared by the one figm'ed at page 410, judg- ing from its api^earance. That some great improvement is to be made in some modification of the saddle boiler I have no doubt — that of Mr. Messenger is one ; but this leaves the impression of something being wanting, and so do aU that I have seen ; so do the cannon, the conical, and the cylindrical boiler. Yet these are all good in their way; each has many advocates, but tliese are chiefly men who have used them in a small way, and who take little note of the quantity or value of the fuel consumed. This, however, is not what thoroughly practical men want, especially those to whom the consumption of fuel, amounting in cost to, perhaps, a little fortune in the course of a few years, is an object of consideration in relation to the results obtained. With the practical man it is a matter of profit and loss, and he it is who looks for and is able to give an impai'tial judgmeat, but in order to do so he must enter into the minor details and think nothing too insignificant to be noticed. "W.W." says, that tubular boilers when new perform their task in a most gratifying manner, but after a time, when coated with soot, the consumption of fuel is increased, and the result is less satisfactory ; but this is a property shared in common by all boilers of whatever make, only the effect is slower and becomes less apparent on those present- ing a plain surface to the fri-e. A boiler, to be perfect, ought to unite simplicity and efficiency with economy iu the con- sumption of fuel. In tubular boilers simplicity is wanting, but if this want is more than C'junterbaJanced by the two latter qualities, they will yet hold their ground. This, how- ever, will admit of some doubt ; and I have no hesitation in asserting as I have asserted before, that a thoroughly good boiler has yet to be i^roduced, and that it will eventually appear in the form of a conical water-jacket, containing within itself some means of breaking and dispersing, for the purpose of intercepting, the heat that would otherwise pass ofl' into the flue. A plain water-jacket is in itself in- capable of doing tliis, although it naturaUy receives all the heat that is given out laterally, and it is a gi-eat advantage to let no direct heat from the iii-e come in contact with brickwork. An apt iUnstration of my meaning is seen in the flame of a lighted candle. When bui'ning steadily its form is somewhat conical ; surround this with a jjiece of tin or sheet iron tui-ned to the same shape, and it will give an idea of a conical boiler ; if the top is open or a tube leads from it to carry off the smoke, it will be seen that by far the strongest heat escapes the same way. Now, to appro- priate this heat it miist be broken and dispersed. In the suggestions given some time ago by Mr. Abbey, this is to be done by means of horizontal coils of pipes ; in those given by myself, by means of perforated hollow plates, or it might be done by means of horizontal hollow bars ; but whatever means are employed in accomplishing this pui-pose, and perhaps the more simple the better, it must be re- membered that a sufficient draught for the fu-e should be left, and that a ready means of clearing off the soot should exist. The kind of fuel emjiloyed must in a meas\u-e depend on the locality. Where coke is cheaper than coal it would be best in every case to use the former, since it makes little smoke, and wiU not allow even tubular boilers to become clogged with soot if a good fire is kept going ; but coke, although better, is seldom cheaper than coal in the long run, as it burns away more quickly. I have used foiu- bushels of coke per diem, simjily to keep the frost out of a house of about 300 superficial feet : this, at 6d. per bushel, woidd be 14s. per week ; a yeai-'s consumption at the same rate wovdd amount to something like j£36, a considerable outlay for so small a place. I have also used coal, which, at ^£1 5s. per ton, I find on calculating the rate of consumption would amount to about the same value ; this was by means of a saddle boiler, which most probably for heating a small place is as economical as a tubidar one, and perhaps much better from its simplicity. In coal districts, where good coal can be bought for less than half the price that it costs about London, coal is generally used ; but even in such places the cost of fuel is no trifle, and this test of a good boiler is as much an object of interest there as anywhere else. To the amateui- who cultivates fruits, flowers, Ac, under glass, the exact quantity of fuel which is required to heat a given space may be of small moment, but with nui serymen and others it is of considerable importance. I feel assured that a few statistics with regard to these various points would be highly in- structive, for although glass structures are now cheap, the culture of the Pine and most tropical fruits and plants still involves considerable outlay, and whatever may tend to reduce that outlay is well worth inquiring into. — F. Chittt. PORTEAITS OF PL^mTS, PLO^^'ERS, AJSTD FRUITS. Aristolochia leuconeuka (Pale-veined Tree-Aristo- lochia). — A'ai. i»-rf., Aiistolochiacea;. iimi., Gynandria Hex- andi'ia. Native of New Grenada. The flowers ai'e produced January 19, 1861. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 57 in clusters on the lower part of the trunk ; limb of the flower pm-ple, beautifully netted with yellow lines. Blooms in the stove diu-ing September. — (Bot. Mag., t. 5420.) Pelargonium Bowkebi (Mr. Bowker's Pelargonium). — Nat. ord., Geraniacese. Linn., Monadelphia Decandiia. Native of the Trans-Kei country in South Africa. Graceful in foliage and flowers, but the latter are devoid of striking colour; they are tinted partially flesh-colour and partly yellowish green. — {Ibid., t. 5421.) ScHizosTYLis cocciNEA (Crimson Schizostylis). — Nat. ord., Iridaceae. Linn., Triandria Monogynia. Native of watery places in British Caffraria. Flowers crimson, blooming late in autumn. — {Ibid., t. 5422.) MiMULUs KEPENS (Creeping Monkey-Flower).— ffa<. ord., Scrophulariacete. Limii., DidynamiaGymnospermia. Native of extra-ti'opical Australia, and as far as Victoria, and then in Tasmania. It is also common " in saline situations, and muddy banks of rivers in New Zealand." It will probably require the protection of a cold frame iu winter. Its flowers are hlac, partially dotted with yellow. — {Ibid., t. 5428.) SoLANUir ANTHKOPOPHAGOStJM (Cannibals' Solaniim). — This is one of the condiments eaten with human flesh by the cannibals of the Fejee Islands. Such flesh they all acknowledge is most indigestible; and the fruit of this plant, called by them Boro dina, somewhat resembles the Tomato, but having an aromatic smell, is employed to assist diges- tion, and its leaves are wrapped round the flesh previously to its being baked. — {Ibid., t. 5424.) Rhododendeon, Princess of Wales. Prevailing colour, dark mauve, shading off to a white throat. Its truss is large, and altogether the variety is superior. Rais«d by Mr. Young, MOford Nurseries, near Godalming. — {Floral Mag., pi. 177.) Rose, Baron de RoiTischild. Brilliant crimson, very large, and very double. — {Ibid., pi. 178.) Gloxinias. — Lady Emily Villiers, pink ground, darker towards the throat, wliich is -white ; centre of lower seg- ments have a band of white spots. Lady VictoHa Howard, mauve, towards the throat brownish crimson, throat white ; centre of lower segments have an in-egular band of white lines. Mademoiselle Suzanne de la Bouvillerie, segments of corolla dark lUac, throat white. They were raised by Mr. Breeze, and are now in the possession of Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son. — {Ibid., pi. 179.) AcHniENEs. — Purpurea elegans, claret colour, throat orange. Leopard, pale crimson, throat orange, spotted with crimson. Raised by Mr. Parsons, of Welwyn, and now possessed by Mr. B. S. WiUiams, Paradise Nursery, HoUoway. — (Ibid., pi. ISO.) Camellia, Sarah Frost. Said to be of American origin, but now in the possession of Mr. Standish, of Ascot Nur- series. Remarkable for the perfect regularity of the arrange- ments of the petals, and the accurate circularity of its entire form. Cillour pale carmine, substance good, and retaining both form and colour for a long time. — (PloHst and Pomologist, iii., 1.) SOME GAEDENS WOETH SEEING. LINCOLNSHIRE. Belton Hall SystonHall StokeRochfordHall Easton Hall Denton Hall Harlaxton Hall €aythorpe Hall Honingion House.. Amoldfield House.. StoneybridgeHouse ■Willoughby Hall... J^ewton Uoase BoothbyHall proprietor. Earl Brownlow Sir John Thorold, Bart. Christopher Turner. Esq. Six M. Cholineley, Bart. Sir G. 1". Welby.Sregory Sherwen Gregory, Esq. Colonel Packe, M.P. Miss Southwell William Ostler, Esq John Hardy, Esq Chiirles Allen, Esq Brook Turner, Esq Whitley Bowman, Esq. Gardener. Station. Mr. InKram. Grantham 3 miles Mr. Burr .... Grantham 4 Mr. Dell Gt.eonton3 Mr.M'DonaldGt.Ponton 3 Mr. Brown.. Grautham 3^ Mr. Wade ... Grantham 3~ Mr. Brown .. Hougham 4 Ml. North... Hoiiingtonl Unknown ... Grantham 1 Mr. Bowman GianthamOj Unknown ... Ancaster 2 Unknown ... Grantham 7 Unknown ... Gi-autiiain 5 New Hambukoh Grapes. — It will be seen from our advertising columns that an opportunity will be offered to competitors this season to show what they can do in the way of producing early Black Hamburghs, by an Exhibition "which wiU be held at the meeting of the Fruit Committee on the 29th inst. It will be remembered that a similar Exhibition last year excited a considerable amount of in- terest ; but as the competition was confined to two exhibiters only, disappointment was felt by several who had come with the prospect of competing. On this occasion, however, the competition wOl be open to all comers. GAEDEN AEBOUES, SEATS, AND EUSTIC VASES. A CORRESPONDENT, some time since, made some inquiries about rustic seats and vases for a garden ; and as no one has given him the desned information, I will make a few remarks on the subject, and also send you a photographic view or two kindly furnished to me by my friend, Mr. Middlebrook, manager of the Public Park at Macclesfield. He is an artist in such subjects, and has designed and put up with his own hand the arboiurs and vases from which the photo- graphs were taken. I trust the views and my observations will be acceptable and useful to many of yoiu- readers as well as to your correspondent. I shall divide my subject under four heads — viz. : 1st, Garden seats : then' object or use. 2nd, The position they ought to occupy. 3rd, Their form. 4th, Rustic vases : their use, position, and form. 1st, Garden Seats : their Object or Use. — They should answer two requirements — namely, a place to rest and a place to find shelter in. In walking around and in a large garden or pleasure ground the pedestrian may become weary, or wish to prolong the pleasure of being in the open air amongst the beautiful objects with which such a place abounds : how pleasant, then, it is to find a seat placed conveniently on which the pedestrian may sit down either to rest or to view more leisurely the scenery. If the seat takes the form of an arbour it is delightful in fine weather there to entertain a friend or two. Then, again, in our variable climate, the wanderer out of doors may often gladly find in a covered arboiu' a doubly- welcome shelter from the shower or storm much to be pre- ferred to the Oak or Elm, because it is not only a sure shelter from the rain, but also not so liable to be struck by lightning as these trees. For myself I say I would rather be thoroughly drenched in a thunder shower on a wide moor than seek shelter under even a Beech tree, which some say is not liable to be struck. 2nd, Their Position. — Such a place of rest or shelter should not be too near the dwelling. It should be placed at a moderate distance from it even in small gardens, and if of a rustic character should be in a retired corner, rather concealed than full in view from the windows of the house or from the pubHo road. Quietness and seclusion should characterise its position. More elaborate structures of the temple or alcove character may be more exposed, but should not be near the house. The garden arbour should not look to the south, unless it is used as a seat in winter ; then on a sunny day the seat will be enjoyed. It may, indeed, have the floor of a solid piece, and be made to turn on a pivot; it would then be useful for every season of the year, as it could be turned to face any desired aspect. In a large place the positions for seats will be more numerous: one at the head of a piece of water, with the boathouse un- derneath, another placed where there is an American garden, another where there is a ruin, whether real or arti- ficial, a fourth in a place commanding a fine view of the surrounding country, and so on. On the side of a rocky hiU a place might be excavated; and a cool seat, formed in the gi-otto style, would be in a good position and in perfectly good taste. The landscape gardener wotdd find it an easy task to select positions for seats of various kinds for repose and shelter, if the owner of sijch a place were disposed to have seats so placed. 3rd, Tlie Fonns and Material of Garden Seats. — These are very numerous. The most primitive, perhaps, is the mossy bank or raised turf seat, useful, however, only in very diy weather; next, trunks of trees, laid in convenient resting- places ; also the stumps of trees sawn off level ; next, rustic stools, chairs, and long benches with backs made of crooked Oak branches. Then come chairs and seats made of cast S3 JOUENAL OP HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENER. t January is, 186« iron, most of wliich are clever imitations of rustic seats made of wood, and have the advantage of being more lasting than are many ornamental forms of seats made of wood, particularly some which I have noticed with backs cast in imi- tatiou of large Fern fronds. Folding seats are made of planed deal with the backs hinged, which fold down upon the seat in rainy wea- ther, and lift up in fair weather when required. Lastly, there is the Chinese barrel seat, made of earthenware, polished, and painted with Chinese figures and scenes. All these moveable seats, when cold weather sets in, may be placed in a dry shed or room to pre- serve them, and whilst there they may, if thej' reqiTire it, be repainted or varnished. The next garden seats I notice are of a threefold character — namely, the alcove, the ornamental, and the rustic. These are co- vered seats, and gene- rally permanent. The alcove is now seldom seen. By the term " alcove " I mean a half-circular recess in a waO, the roof slated and under-di-awn, and the floor paved either with smooth flags or glazed tiles. In mj' younger days I have, in old-fashioned places, met with many ex- amples of this kind of seat. In some in- stances it was placed at one end of a walled- in Dutch geometrical garden, and in others in the centre of the fruit walls of a kitchen gar- den, where a view could be obtained of the weU- ordered garden. Ornamental seats are formed of stout timbers and lattice-work sides, the roof being made of shingles, or even slates, the lattice-work cover- ed with creepers, and the seats made of po- lished deal, rounded at the edges, and painted. These seats are very handsome, and should be placed in highly- kept grounds. The workers in wire make seats now of a highly ornamental cha- racter, and I shall have I think, more valued and mean rustic covered seats. '^■^A-'Jf.'-)' "I'^V/' 1 r-~>' /r-"" . — '7r. liU. 2. more used than any other, I The making of them is quite a business, employing throughout Great Bri- tain a considerable number of men. I have often been inquired of who make these seats, but not knowing theii- address I could not give the desired in- formation. I have no doubt theii' business would be increased if they would advertise in gardening publica- tions. It was seeing rustic covered seats of this kind in the People's Park at Macclesfield that reminded me of the inquiries about them ; and, as ah-eady stated, it was the Su- perintendent of this highly interesting and well-managedpark-gar- den who presented me with the photographic views. N"o. 1 is the more ela- borate of the two. It is eight-sided, 10 feet, in diameter and 10 feet high in the centre. The seat is foimed of boards fii'st, and upon them peeled larch shoots of uniform thickness ai'e fastened. The walls are of boards also : and upon the boards, cover- ing them entirely, aa'e nailed panels of fir branches with the bark on, divided by lines of the cones of the Stone Pine. The roof is form- ed by rafters meeting in the centre and rest- ing upon each support- ing pillai', is in the ridge-and-furrow style, and is also covered mth Stone Pine cones. The outside is tliatchedwith LiugorwUdHeath. The floor is made of deal, cross-barred diamond- fashion. AH the panels^ scats, and cones are highly varnished, giv- ing them a clean and tidy appearance, as well. as preserving theni from decay. When the sun shines inside on a summer's eve the effect is very fine. The seat is placed at ono corner of the bowling-green, and is backed by a young rising planta- tion. No. 2 is a much larger seat, open on five sides. It is 15 feet occasion to notice them more fully shortly. I have now come to the kind' of garden seat wliich is. in diameter, and 15 feet high in the centre, and is, con- sequently, capable of holding a large party. It is placed January 19, 3864. ] JOTTRNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 59 on a platform on the side of the bowKng-green, and is evi- dently meant for the company to sit and -watch the bowlers when at play. I need not describe it minutely, for the pho- tograph shows its form and character sufficiently. I may, however, state that the roof was first boarded with shingles, and then covered with Heath shoots fastened on with laths and nails to the board, the laths being hid by the overhang- ing Heath. T. Appleet. (To be contimted.) PIEECE'S SYSTEM OF HEATING. Amono the many diiferent modes of heating garden struc- tures and buildings, the system which has just been in- troduced by Mr. G. H. Pierce, of Taunton Castle, is one which commends itself both for its originality and its effi- ciency. The object Mi-. Pierce had mainly in view in con- triving this method was to economise to a much greater extent than had ever been attempted the heat which in all other systems to a greater or less extent passes off by the flue and is thereby wasted. We conceive that in this respect he has been eminently successful, and that by his system aU the heat that can be serviceable in keeping up the tempera^ ture of the water is economised. The plan may be seen in fuU operation in the nurseries of Mr. Edward Pierce, of Yeovil, Somersetshire, where there is a propagating-house 40 feet long and 12 feet wide, heated on this principle, and another of larger dimensions is now in the course of erection. Fig. 1. The principle wiU be understood by a reference to our en- gravings. A, is a conical boiler placed inside the house, and left quite exposed, so that all the heat radiating from it is distributed in the house. It is fed from the outside at d, and the door, e, is in the form of a damper which is raised or lowered at pleasure. The clearing by the ash-pit, m, is also done fr-om the outside ; so that while the entire surface of the boiler is inside the house there is no possibility of dust or sulphurous vapour entering to affect the health of the plants. The furnace-bars are represented at l. Issuing fr'om the apex of the boiler, which is in the form of a huge retort, is a combination apparatus of flue and hot-water pipe; B, being the flue or core communicating with the furnace in the centre of the boiler, and c being the hot- water pipe surrounding the flue and communicating with the boiler surrounding the furnace. It is evident, therefore, that the heat which must necessarily pass through the flue. B, during the whole of its length must be absorbed by the hot water, and given off in its turn from the surface of the hot-water pipe into the house. Fig, 2. It will be seen by reference to fig. 2, that the flue, B, is not continued round the whole length of the house but is con- fined merely to one side, when it reaches the end of which it penetrates the waU and is then carried up an ordinary chimney-pipe, h, wMch is furnished with a damper, G, to regulate the draught, f, represents the return-pipe which flows in the ordinary way to the lower part of the boUer. We have seen this system in operation, and we can state that it is most effective ; the heat generated in the house is such as to make the water boil v/ith violence, and that from fuel of the most common waste — such as refrise from the fires of the household, cinders, and dust. When we saw it the fire was then quite bright at nine o'clock in the morn- ing, and had not been supplied since six o'clock the previous evening. The flue, b, is cleaned out by an opening at o, where a brush attached to a set of rods joined together is introduced and passed fr-om one end to the other. Any fru'ther information as to the original cost can, we have no doubt, be furnished by Mr. Pierce, of the Nuj-series, Yeovil ; but as regards its efficiency and economy of fuel we have ourselves been eye-witnesses. WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN GAEDEN. The manuring and trenching of vacant ground to be pro- ceeded with in favourable weather, at which time the forma- tion of new borders should be attended to, and all descrip- tions of work requiring the removal of earth. Scans (Broad)^ where the soil is dry enough to admit of it, make a second sowing of these, and also of Peas. The Eai-ly Mazagan and Marshall's Early Prolific Beans are good early sorts. Prince Albert Pea, although an early sort, is more susceptible of" injury from fr-ost than the other early kinds, but it does well when grown in pots and turned out early in March. CavM- flmoer, sow seed of this, as also of Lettuce and of Cabbage, in boxes, to be forwarded in a gentle heat and pricked out in a protected situation. They will succeed winter plants better than those sown in the open ground, and should the severe weather have destroyed those sown in the autumn, they will prove valuable as substitutes. Stir the soil amongst all growing crops, and earth-xip young Cabbage to prevent injury fr-om wind. Horseradish, make plantations in deeply- trenched and well-manured soil if you wovild have it fine- Onions, select for planting the small ones of last year's growth, placing them a few inches apart on the surface of the soil and covering them with earth ; they will be found useful to draw early in a green state, while others wfll bulb early for kitchen use. Now is a good time to sow a patch of the Two-bladed Onion in a warm sheltered situation. Sow very thickly, and protect with a mat or long litter only in very severe weather. Shallots, a well-prepared situation 60 JOUENAL OF HORTICTTLTTTRE AKTD COTTAGE GAUDENEE. [ Jannaty 19, 1864. to be chosen for these, some charred refuse applied, and the roots placed on the surface of the soD. By such treatment this useful bulb will increase most abundantly, no frost ivill injure them, and if worms ai-e found troublesome at first, by displacinor them, nothing more is required than a slight sprmtling of slaked lime ; the roots soon push into the soil and become fii-mly fixed. I would again advise' every one to try to cai-ry on all his gai-den operations in a regular systematic manner, by correctly naming till his crops and keeping a memorandum of the time of sowing, planting, coming into bloom, and when fit for use. FLOWEE GAKDEX. Make the most of favourable weather, to push forward, while it lasts, new work and all out-door operations. Where the turf is at all unlevel, time should be spared in the course of this or next month to repau- it, as if left later than February it might require some attention to make it take quickly. Unlevel turf is an eyesore all the season, and it makes mowing more tedious and difficult : hence it is worth an effort to make whatever little repairs may be necessary. Sweep lawns occasionally to clear them ol fallen bits of branches, &c., and frequently use the roller here and on gravel to secure a firm smooth surface. FRUIT GAP.DEN. Cut the dead w-ood out of Easpben-ies. Prune Currants, and, where the birds are not destractive to the buds. Goose- berries also. If any fruit trees remain to be planted they should be looked after very soon. If it is worth while to occupy the ground with fruit trees and incur the expense of plantiiig them, it certainly is worthy of serious considera- tion w-hether the gi-ound is in the best state of preparation for being planted with fruit trees, and to incur any expense and trouble which may be requisite in order to render the groimd as suitable as can be made for the kind of tree with which it is to be planted. To do this is seldom a work involving much du-eet outlay, for if the ground is well drained there is little else required except labour, rough materials — such as brickbats, rubbish, &c., for the bottom, and a supply of good loamy soU, all of which can generally be obtained about most places. It will prove a gi-eat disap- pointment to plant trees when there is not a fail- prospect of then: doing well ; and the necessary preparations for secur- ing then- weU-doing can be more conveniently, cheaply, and efficaciously made before planting than afterwards. 6KEENH0USE AND CONSERVATOKT. As the present weather is not imating for out-door ope- rations, advantage should be taken of it to regulate the greenhouse and frame plants previouslv to their commencing their spring gi-owth. That the health of plants is materially influenced by cleanliness, is evident from the difterence between the growth of the same species in the counti-y and in the smoky atmosphere of cities and large towns. There IS no doubt that the want of light and the dirty state of the foliage are the principal reasons why plants do not thrive in cities, &c. ; but the success that has attended theii- culti- vation in Ward's and other cases, proves that they can be grown in such situations provided they are kept clean, have all the light that can he procured, and are not parched up by an arid atmosphere, for it is to keeping plants free from dirt, and to supplying them with an atmosphere containing moistm-e proportionate with the temperature of their habi- tations, that we may attribute their successful cultivation m glazed cases. From the above observations, the amateur gajrdener who possesses a frame or a greenhouse, will per- ceive the necessity of keeping the plants clean, and washing the glass frequently, especially in dull weather. In regulat- uig the plants it will be well to wash the foUage of Oranges, Camellias, and other smooth-leaved plants with a sponge and cleaji water, and the dust may be removed from Pelar- goniums and other wooUy-leaved plants by brushing them lightly with a soft brush. After the plants are cleaned the pots should be washed and the sm-face in each replaced with fresh soil, and, if they requii-e it, the shoots should be tied to fresh stakes. A stick as thick as a man's finger is some- times to be seen supporting the delicate stem of an her- baceous Calceolaria, or forming part of a treUis for a Tro- pseolum tricolormn, or some other fr-agUe and elegant climber. This is bad taste, and it should be recoUected that the more sleader the sticks are the better, jirovided they are strong enough to sustain the plant. Stout green thread and painted twine are good substitutes for matting. Plants in rooms should only receive water when in actual need of it — that is, when they begin to flag, and then only in sutdcient quantity to recruit their strength, but they must be kept as neai- the glass as possible. Pelargoniums that are not so bushy as may be desired must have the point of each shoot pinched out, and the same may be done with other plants of loose habit. PITS AND FRAMES. Give air at all times when the exterior temperature is a few degrees above the freezing-point, and remove the sashes entirely on mild dry days. W. Keanb, DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Here little was done except in the way of gradually removing protection, and gi\Tng a little more to such plants as Globe Artichokes and Celery. As respects the latter, the mild weather will call for its removal as soon as the leaves and the ground are sufficiently thawed. The same as respects CauliHowere under glasses. The litter has been removed from the top and packed close to the side ready for another emergencj-. The ground inside was stiiTed-up a little with a pointed stick as soon as sufficiently thawed. In such frosts as we have had we like the leaves of Cauliflowers and Lettuce to be slightly frozen, and the ground just crusted a little, before covering them up ; and then if the frost lasted six weeks instead of six days, the covering might remain on all the time, and for a day or two aiter the commence- ment of the thaw, and the plants would look as well as if they had been shut up for a night only. Where the tem- perature is low and the atmosphere cfry, plants suffer little or nothing from continued dai-kness. This continued dai-k ness will not do where artificial heat is used. The plants wiU then lengthen ; but there wiU be no appropriation of carbon to give them strength. We do not perceive that we have suffered in anything, except as respects some Eadishes that were sown over Carrots on a sUght hotbed. They have become much drawn, and, if we let them stand, will be sure to have long necks, which the gardener so much dislikes to see. The bed ought to have been uncovered or air given, so as to bring the atmosphere close on the freezing-point. A fine bed of Asparagus is also just a shade too white, but is fast turning gi'een. A little less covering might have done for it, but then there was an anxiety to make all seciu'e. We had thrown a nice heap of dung together to ferment for beds, but every bit of it, and all comeatable material was used ; and with the wind still full north and a rising barometer, we must allow it to remain in heaps, in case it should be wanted again. Even as respects this litter there is a little matter worth attending to, and which most men want a little looking after to make them to do it : and that is to keep all such litter as dry as possible, as the cfrier it is the greater its nonconducting power. Ten to one the person who uncovers %viLl bring it all down from frames and pits, and leave it in a ridge in front of them as close as well can be. Every drop of rain not only wets it, but all that runs from the glass will soak into it and rise through it by capillai-y attraction, and very likely when you want it you have nothing to go to but litter frozen into hai'd unwieldy masses. The remedy is to move it from the frost, and clap it together in little cocks ready for use at any time. Of coiu'se where there is notliing more required than to go to a fai'myard for a load or two of litter as needed, such nicety is not required, as the more wet the litter receives the easier will it be to convert it into a good fermenting heap ; but where litter must bo husbanded ixnd made the most of this simple hint may be of use. For all such things as early Cucumbers and Melons in fi'ames and pits, where the heat has chiefly to be sustained by fermenting material, the mode of covering in severe weather must ever be a matter of importance. We have found nothing better than a clean mat or cloth next the glass, some clean dry hay or straw over it, and then a, January 19, 1884.] JOTJENAl OF HOBTICtTLTTTRB AND COTTAaE GABDENEE. 61 wooden cover or a waterproof cloth to keep all dry. Care must be taken that no pai-t of the covering extend beyond the glass frame if linings are used for giving heat, as, by mats or other material hanging- over, the steam from the linings is apt to be drawn inside, to the injmy or destruction of the plants. Such heated places must be exposed to hght every day, unless indeed there were a dense fog or a heavy snowfall. lu all such forcing, and if dull weather sets in, dryness inside is best maintained by banking up the sides of the frame or pit with fermenting material, as the greater the heat fi'om it the more will the boards of the fr-ame or the walls of the pit be dried. This plan wiU also insure a sweet suitable atmospheric temperature without the risk of having too much bottom heat, which is often more ruinous than is generally imagined. Pound plenty of stumpy Sea-kale, Asparagus, and Mush- rooms, very useful in such weather. Swept over the Mush- room-beds, and covered them afresh. A fresh piece with a good many droppings in it, now forming, helps to keep the house warm enough, and a slight covering of hay and straw prevents any dripping, condensed from the moist dung, from falling upon and distigming the Mushrooms. Kept some Horseradish in sand, in case the li-ost should again get severe, and as soon as the ridged-up ground is sufficiently thawed will turn it over, and leave it in ridges again, as frost is one of our best amehorators of soil. "VV e never saw so much agricultural ground ploughed up early as this season, and, no doubt, the frost would shatter it weU. FKUIT GAEDEN. Kept bringing on Vines in pots slowly. Moved a lot in pots into a narrow pit, where they can have bottom and top heat. Potted-off Cucumbers. Gave all the air possible to a Peach-house stuifed with bedding plants, as the little heat given to keep out the frost is swelhng the buds sooner than we want them. The air wiU keep them back, and also Iceep the bedding plants from damping, which had begun to show itself in a few placed on the floor of the house. IVtoved a lot of Strawberry plants from frame into first vinery, which is also fiUed with plants, temperature about 50°. When it rises towards 60"^ other plants wUi be introduced. Took the opportunity in the dripping weather to fill another two- light box with Strawberries, chiefly Keens', with a few leaves below them, sufficient to yield a gentle heat. Went over aE the rest of the Strawberry-pots now under cover, and ex- amined them all, turning out plants that shov/ed signs of worms, picking the worms out and placing them in a pot of lime, replacing the ball, after seeing that the drainage was aU right, removing a few withered leaves, scratching off a little of the surlace soil, and I'eplacing with a little fresh loam and cowdung firmly pressed. If such pots had been out of doors we would have moved no withered leaves as yet. Stuck a few short evergreen twigs among tender Strawberries in the open ground. We notice a discussion that has been going on as to the merits of mowing and not touching the leaves of Strawberry plants after the fruit is gathered. There seems, however, to be no principle left to guide us. Some years ago that principle was cleai-ly and fuUy alluded to in this work. In strong, heavy sods, so suitable to the Strawberry, we should never think of cutting off leaves. In light soils where the fr'uit comes early to maturity, and the foliage comes long and slender, independently of manuring and firm pressure of the ground, as recommended in such cir- cumstances the other week, the cutting-over is often attended with beneficial results. The man of general intelligence, though he advocates one system for general use, wUl be the first to acknowledge that circumstances so alter cases, that quite a diflerent system may at times be advisable. Por instance : the Strawberry will stand a great amount of manure, and look for more ; but we think we detailed an instance of a barren plantation last year, the plants in the highest health and vigour, but no flowers — the result of heavy maniuing and rich manure-waterings until late in autumn. As the weather permitted went on with pruning the hardier fruit trees, and especially Easpberries. The modes of training Easpberries are endless — so many stems to a stake a yard apart, these stems brought to meet in the form of an arch, or the plants placed equally along rows 4 feet apart, and the stems laid 3 or 4 inches apart to a rough fence of slight bars of wood, or to an elegant fence of strained wire. On the whole, we rather prefer the last mode but it is of Uttle consequence how the jjlants are trained if the stems are not left too thick. It is as well not to shorten the canes until the weather is more settled, especially if the canes stand upright, as the wet is apt to get into the centre of the cane when shortened, and the irost will then frequently split the cane. When the points are arched over the cutting now is of less consequence. The Kaspberry dearly likes cool manure, and applied chiefly as top-dressings, as digging to any depth is sm-e to destroy great numbers of the best fibres. OKNAMENTAL DEPAETMENT. After seeing that houses were warm enough to be safe, our chief care has been securing comparatively hardy and half-hardy plants from damp and frost. Our Calceolarias were covered up for a week, and look as nice as the after- noon they were first shut up. They have had air back and front in these mild days, but we have not yet taken away the protecting material from the neighbourhood of the pit. Many plants in frames we have managed to remove to empty vineries. Some Golden Chain Geraniums had lost a number of their leaves from damp ; though in a drier atmosphere, we have no doubt, the plants will break well again. A lot of Chinese Primulas in small pots must have a larger size to succeed those now in bloom ; and the same may be said of Cinerarias. Had soil nicely aired ready for repotting the earliest Pelargoniums, and also for starting Gloxinias, Achimenes, &c., and made preparations for com- mencing propagating- for the flower garden what we are scarce of, and of which -;, e want a large supply. Auriculas, Polyanthus, Carnations, and Pinks in cold frames, if much frosted, should have been allowed to thaw very gradually. A mat on the glass after the thaw commences is often of as much importance as in the time of frost, and no sunlight should beat at all strong upon them until all trace of the fr-eezing- has gone. A sudden exposure to light even of bedding plants, il' fr-ost has at aU penetrated, will do more harm than even the frost has done. When plants have, therefore, been shut up for several days, it is bad policy to uncover them wholly on a very sunny day. If that must be done a little shade should be given during the brightest hours. Even bulbs and low shrubs coming on in hotbeds without fii-e heat must have similar care. They must not be left long uncovered after the tojis are growing, or they will become sickly a-nd drawn; and in moving bulbs, such as Hyacinths, from a frame to a house with abundance of light, a little shade should be afforded at first,, that no check may be given from the extra abundance of light. At this season, when Hyacinths well rooted are moved to a light warm place irom one more shady, the flower-stems will be benefited by having placed over each a paper funnel some S inches long, with a small hole at the upper small end. The funnel wiU sufficiently shade the bulb ; and the stem rising freely to the light through the hole in the top, there win be room given for the little bells to expand themselves. Neapolitan "Violets must be kept from ft-ost by covering; but in all favourable weather there must be plenty of air, or damp on the one hand, and red spider on the other, wiU be apt to show themselves. All such plants as Stocks, double Wallflowers, &c., will want plenty of air in this muggy weather. The best way to give it is to elevate the sashes back and front, and that wiU prevent any rain reaching the plants. One word more as to protection. One correspondent says, " I cannot make out how the fr-ost could be kept out by merely turning and knocking about a limited quantity of litter. Would it not be better to pitch on the litter a foot or two thick at once 't" That depends much on whether the litter is to be had. Some yeai-s ago we endeavoui-ed to explain the whole theory of protection from the phenomena of dew, and the striking fact that dew is never seen until the material on which it appears is rendered colder than the surrounding an-. The shade or protection that would prevent a body being covered with dew would also to a certain extent prevent the entrance of frost, or in other words arrest the fi-ee radiation of heat in straight lines. Thus a mere covering of glass will save the plants beneath it fr-om irost until, fi-oni continued radiation from the glass, the afr within becomes assimilated to that without. Place a mat over the glass, and the mat must be frozen before 62 JOUilNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ January 19, last the glass is affected ; but if the frost is intense the whole heat enclosed will soon be radiated through the glass and the mat. Place some dry litter over the mat; and the drier and the more porous the material — the more air shut in, in fact, with it — the more difficult will it be for heat to pass off or radiate in straight lines. We have often been siu-prised to see what a keen frost would be thoroughly excluded by a thin covering of dry hay. Of course the fi-ost would pene- trate in time. In every case that penetration of frost, or, more jiroperly speaking, the radiation of heat in straight lines, will commence at the smface. Break and turn the surface often, and the frost must just begin its work afresh ; so that actually that fresh tm'ning of the outside litter is the next best thing to throwing on a layer of fresh litter. In both cases radiation must commence anew in order to cool the interior. — R. F. COVENT GAEDEN MAEKET.-Jan. 16. The fruit market remains in nearly the same condition us in last week. Hothouse Grapes and Feats are becuiiiiiiK' more sciirce. The principal out- door vegetables now to he ohtained are Savoys aud Brussels riprouts, which are tolerably plentilul. Lurge quautiiies ol' Corni>h Broccoli packed in crates are now coming in. Excellent Undive and Lettuce are also brought Irom abroad. Cut liuwers principally consist of Camellias, Pelargoniums Acacias, Early Tulips, Hyacinth i, Violets, Koses, and Miguoue.te. Apples ^ sieve Apricots doz. Figs doz. i'Uoerts Ji ^ut^^HJ01bs. Grapes, Hothouse. ...lb. Foreign iluscais Lemons lOo Melons each. Asparagus bundle Deans, broad bush. Kidney luo Beet, Ucd do/,. Broccoli bundle Brussels SproutS;^ sieve Cabbage doz. Capsicums 100 ■Carrots buncii Ottulitiuwer doz. Celery bundle Cucumbers each Endive score JFeuael bunch Garlic and Shallots, lb. Serbs bunch Horseradish ... bundle s. d. s. d 1 2 0 to 4 u \ 0 0 0 U 0 • U 0 0 0 0 0 a u 10 0 1 0 2 0 i> 0 10 0 6 0 10 U ■i 0 5 U a. d. 8. d, li 0 to 10 u U 0 0 0 3 e 5 0 1 u 1 6 0 9 2 0 1 6 2 6 u 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 U U 8 3 0 6 U 1 6 2 0 1 0 3 0 1 3 2 0 0 3 U 0 0 N 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 6 4 0 Mulberries quart i^'ucLariues 0 Orauges 100 Peaches Peitrs bU6li. dessert ^ sieve Pine Apples ~..,.lb. Poiiiegrunattjs kucIi Walnuts bush. 14 Leeks bunch Lettuce score MushrooiBs puttie Mustd. & Cress, punnet Onions i.ushel pickling quart Parsley bunch i Parsnips doz. Peas bush. Potatoes sack Kailishes doz. bunches Rhubarb bundle Savoys per doz. Sea-kale basket- Spinach sieve Tomatoes A sieve Turnipd Tbunch s. d. s. d u u too 0 0 0 0 « 4 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 s 0 12 0 (i 0 10 0 6 0 8 0 0 3 0 fi 1 (J 20 0 s- d. s. d 0 4 to 0 0 1 0 2 (1 1 0 1 (1 0 2 0 0 2 0 4 0 0 6 0 8 0 4 0 3 0 6 2 (> 0 6 c; 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 TEADE CATALOGUES EECEIYED. Lucombe, Pince, & Co., Exeter ^N-axsevy. —Select Catalogue of Vegetable, Agricultural^ and Flower Seeds, ^-c. lS6tt. B. S. Williams, Paradise and Victoria Nurseries, Holloway —Descriptive Catalogue of Floiver and Vegetable Seeds for 1864, ■wdth Supplementary List of Bulbous and other Roots. * W. Cutbush & Son, B,ighgiite.~Catalogue of Select Vege- table, Flower, and Farm Seeds for ISGi. ^ Charles Turner, Royal Nm-series, Slough.— Catalogue of Heeds tor the Kitchen Garden, Flower Garden, and Farm, 1864. William Paul, Paul's Nurseries and Seed Warehouse, VValtham Cvoss.—Select List of Vegetable, Floiver, and Agricul- tural Seeds ; and Descriptive List of StraivberHes and Grape Vines. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Cactus Cultdee {An Admirer of the Cactus Tribe).-yVe will publish some very full notes upon this subject next week. Vines Breaking (G.y,)~Yes, it is a good plan to let the Vine branches hang down till the buds are bioken-ihat is, expanding into lc:ives. Thu Mnes will under such circumstances not be so likuly to burst their buds at the top, from rhe fact that the top. bt;ing let down to a lower level thiin tne bottom. IB m a lower temperature than if tied ujj in their permanent iioiiiion. We think that this is more the cause than the check which the tlow (il Slip receives. Work on Collkcting, Ac, Natural History Specimkns.— A correapon- rtent, E. M. J.." obligingly writes-" Tlie Taxidermist's Manual, by Capt. T. Brown will possibly give 'W. C. C the information he nc-ods. It enters inore lully into the subject of collecting specimens and pry&erviug ihcin ihan uoes eiiher^Swainson, or Kirby and Spance." Fkach Bloom-buds Falling {A Kew Beginner), — AVe are not Cftrtain about the dryness of the soil causing tho buds to drop. If the soil was excessively dry thac certainly would cause the buds to lose their vitality, and when the sap rises the buds are thrown off. Peaches cast their buds more generally through defective buds being formed, either from lack of Nupp'iit whilst maturing when the leaves are on tho trees, or from a deficiency of light caused by the shade of trees in front, consequently trees on the back wall of Peach-houtes form defeutive buds which are thrown oft' with the flow of the sap into them. Keeping the roots very dry whilst the fruit is ripening, and allowing red bpidcr to suck out the juices ot the leaves prevent the thorough maturation of the bud*, and they fall in the spring. The soil In wiiich the trees are growing should be kept moderately moist in winter, and a moderate watering after the leaver fall will mostly serve to keep the Bicms fresh through the winter until the buds begin loawell in spring. If one watering is not sutllcient two or more must be given to keep the soil moderately moist. As you are a three-years subscriber you wiil find many general hints on their cultivation, for the subject was never better discussed than it h;i8 been latel> in our columns. If you will reduce your general hints lo specific queries we shall be ready to answer them, but we are requested to enter too wide a held when general hints are asked for. pROPAGATiNG-PiT WITH Flue {J. H. G., A Constant Itender).—!^ you were to divide your pit and niakeafour-k-eL bed with the flue niuuingup the centre of it, and cover it with tanner's bark, as you propose, it would for propagating purposes be equal to (and certainly handier thau) a three- light-irame, hea'.ed by fermenting niiKeriuls wa presume. It would be necessary to cover the bed with gUss «. lew inches above the cuttings. This is necessary to insure uniform temperature, and humidity or moisture. We do not think a fiue would heat a bed C^ feel wide sutticiently for propa- gating, and how the heat of the house is to he kept np we do not see ciearly, nor how the air is to be kept humid. Such a pit, however, would do well enough for propagating the ordinary descripuou of bedoing-oui jdants, but they would be longer in rooting than where there is less ap.ice above the plants. If you could maintain a bottom heat of 75", and an atmospheric temperature ot 7(J° to 75", we thiuk your pit would answer very well, but we fear it would not secure thut. Vkrbknas Planted Out {Idem). — We should letive the Verbenas in the frame and transplant them in March, planting agiun in the frauje, unless i: be wanted for other purposes, which transplanting will bring the roots nearer the stems, and enable )ou to more them to their final quarters in May with good balls. If the rrame be wanted you will pot liiem. The hook you name cannot be hi.d in is'uinbers. The bits of plants enclosed were too small for identificaiiou, and smashed in coming through the iiost. Cyclamkn Sekdlings, &c. (.4 Subscriber since ISuG). — The seedling are lo remain in the seeu-pans the first season. They should he duly sup- plied with water until the Iciives turn yellow, when water must be gradu- ally withheld. It is advisable to keep them in a Irame the first teasun, and not plant them out like established plants. I^ext August they should be potted t-ingly into pots dnuble the uiameter ot the corms, and .ilterwarJs treated like old plants. The best time lor shilling large plants is when taking them up for the winter. Cyclan ens are occasionally illCI■ea^'ed by offsets. They are to be remuved noin the parent when taken up lor the winter, and potted like old plants. Camellia Blooms not Expa.ndino {Idem). — We know of nothing that could poss.bly hinder the buds expauding except a deficiency of moisture at the root and loo low a temperature. Try placing the plant in a tem- perature of 50^, and keep the soil healthfully moist about the roots. We are of opinion that the buds are too highly developed early in the season, and that the buds wre kept tuo long in a dormant state, so that thu new growths take what should be spent on the tiowerfi. When the buds are too fully formed, appenring lurge for a long tmie before expanding, they very olten fall when half expanded, and if the tiower be examiueu it will be found to be dead where il joined the stem. Back Ncmukks of 1S63 {J. F. Daivounj.—\\e have & few remaining of each of the yeai's buck Numbers. Exotic Fer.ns {M. /^.].— "The Fern llanual" can be had free by post from our office, for as. 2d. in pu.siage stamps. It contains a description of the best exotic terns, wiih direi;lioiis for their cultivation. PaACU Trues IN Pots Out of Doors [J/, i-'. J/.).— Whilst your orchard- house is repairing, you had btticr move the pots to a colder place than the sunny border, ami protect the trees either with brunchea or canvas, as, if the trees are exposed to severe frost, being so lorward, the wood might be injured as well us the blossom-buds, and m thut c^ae the trees would suffer in the following }ear, NVu think that by keeping the trees back you need not lose u season. Propagating Poinsettia FULCnEitRiMA (^1 Subscriber). — You cannot succeed with this Poinsettia in a cool con.tervatory. In a warm one, kept at from 50"^ to 65°, you will succeed in blooming it. We presume you mean to raise plants from cuttings. Well, «btn ihe plant has done llowering, set it in a place where it can be kept r.iilicr dry, and in a mediuiu tempera- ture of 5U'*. This will cause the haves to lall and the jukes to thicken. When the stems are dried a little then cut them down, and make ihem into cuttings of 3 or G inches long in the usual way, iiiucti as you would do u Currant cutting. Stick the lower end into diy sahd for u tew days, then lasten each firmly in a small pot in sandy soil, ami place them where they can have a heat of irom *>0" to 7d", and give liitle water until the buds are broken. Keep shifting them on during the season, yiviug the plants all the light possible, and all the heat up to 80° or so. Cirow in peat, lojin, and a little lime rubbish and cowdung. About September give all ihe ligut pos- sible, and begin to curtail watering. Alter June there must be no stopping of the plants, or rather after May, as the Howcrs and fioral leaves are pru- ducfd at the points of strong well-ripened shoots. Joints ok Iuon Pipes Lkakino (Jdem).— You do not give us any data from which to judge whether your tanK will do what juu want or not. iSce "Doings of the Last Week" a" fortnight ago. If you give more particulars, we will be glad to oblige. Fungus on Tan-plumgki> Pots {M. A. M.).—lf you do not shift the tan and give fresh pots, dash freshly blneked lime over the lunnus, »nd stir it through the tan. \Vc never found anything of the fungus tribe thit would withstand quicklime. We suspect It is a Lycopodlum, and if left alone would soon render a house hideous, but the specUueu you sent was completely smashed. January 19, 1864. ] JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 63 Eakly Cvcuubebs {An Amateur Oardener) .—There are no better Cucum- bers for early forciuff than Lord Kenyon's, or Sioa House, and for a large alee the Volunteer. These are amooLh-skinned, and white-spinud if they Jmve any. We have heard Ward's Great Western spoken of, but have not grown It. For a Black cipine, few will equal CuthiU'a Early Black Spine. We have seen the Snake Cucumber some yards long. It is very poisonous, and is grown merely for ornament. Wo do not understand about the leak- ing, but it strikes us that ilie leakage is not from the pipes but from the tank. We Iiave never found concrete, or red or white lead fail. We think 4 inches of water is deep enough in the tank. Heatxno (C. J. Langley).—Vfe have carefully read^over your letter; and though our impression is that you could carry out any of the plans you propose, either by a boiler at c, or an Arnott's stove and a boiler nt u, still we think all theeo plans are a departure from the simplicity of healing your two houses separately, by juiit placing another furnace by the side of a for heating the laiger house; and the extra expense of that furnace, nnd a flue in the large house across to e, would be trifling in comparison to the tronble of pulling your present furnace to pieces to iix a boiler, or the building of an Arnott's stove inside, close to the chimney b. By that aeparaie furnace you would heat each house independently of the other. and more especially as in either case you will require a chimney at f. If disposed, the flue in the large house, after reaching e, might be formed of strong drain-pipes, S or 9 inches in dlaueter. On the principle of simplicity, and letting well alone, the above is the plan we would recommend. Most likely, however, you will prefer your own idea ; and people generally make that plan succeed the best on which their minds are niost favourably set. We will therefore add a few remarks which may be useful. 1. A small fire- place will scarcely be sufficient to heat, by means of a flue, two houses •56 feet by 14, and 34 feet by 14. To accomplish it at all, there must be a careful management of slides and dampers at i> and e, so as to give the desired heat to any of the two houses. A little carelessness as respects these slides might be productive of serious results, which would not be so likely to happen if each house had its own furnace. 2. The mere placing a boiler over a furnace, so as to form as it were the top of the flue, will not give the best position for a boiler absorbing heat, as the most of the heat from the luel will pass along the fiuu. If the boiler la fiKed over and in the flreplice in the usual way, so as to obtain the greatest iuoount of heat, then, in proportion to the heat thus absorbed, the leas will be left to pass along the flue. 3. If there is an absolute necessity for having only one fireplace, then a small saddle-back, placed well in the furnace— not; on the top of it — or a Rivers* small saddle-back suspended in it, which you may procure from Mr. Hughes, of Bishop Stortford, for from SOs. to 40a-., would enable you to heat the smaller house by tank or pipes, provided you could draw the slide at », and get the fine heat also, in cold weather, for the benefit of your Muscats. It will generally be found that a little regulating of the Jilides will be necessary when both flues are to be worked at once. We think Mr. Rivers' boiler would suityou best, as, being so shallow, you would ■need to elevate your tank very little. Three or four incbes of water would be enough in your tank. Recollect that if securely covered with slate the Leat from it will be almost as dry as from a flue ; but it will be sweet and free from unwholesome vapours, &i;. The above would be the simplest, and you would need no move furnaces ; and your proposed plan of a stove close to the chimney at n would necessitate the lighting the fire in the house, and the stove would require to be sunk a little, or else your tank might be inconveniently high ; but so far as the heating by hot water merely, without thinking of ihe heat trom a flue, that mode, as respects luel, would be the most economical, as the heat from ibe stove would strike ■at once on the boiler, and the block against the smoke-pipe would prevent much conduction of heat into the chimney, though what went there would be chiefly lost to the house. On the whole, then, according t'j your own plan, we would fix such a boiler over your present fuinace, and still rtlain tbe «se of the flue when necessary ; but as, according to your uwn showing, the present heating answers well in the siualler house, wewould advise another furnace and a separate flue lor the larger house. Were it not for the ■expense, we would advise a 30-inch saddle-back boiler, take the flue as DOW, and heat the large house by hoc water, with a couple of pipes in the smaller one. If, with your contemplated arrangements, you wibh to have moist heat from the tank, you must leave moveable spaces In the covering to let out the vapour. In your late house, if you wish the Feaches to con- tiaMe fruitful, the Vine-stems should not be nearer than 5 feet to eacli other. The Small Garden at Trentham {F. E. M.). — You will obtain no satisfaction from such a figure in 5i feet on grass, which you are to sow. ^iravel would be much better. With grass you could only succeed by re- ducing the size 01 the beds, and increasing the width oi tbe paths, so as to have none under vinp piven me some intimation ot I\Ir. Hindson's claim before announcing that the birds were disqualified. As a larRc breeder of Game fowls and a subscriber to the .Show, and having a " position " equal at all events to Mr. Hindson's, and one which I would not "jeopardise" by an act BO disreputable as that ot eshibi Iok any birds without the consent of the owner, tlie dotnjf so to me would not have been considered as an excess ot courtesy to mysell or aali^ihttoMr. Hindson. The Committee are anxious that I should coRtcst my rijiht to the prizes with Mr. Hindson, and the public win doubtless expect him to relieve the Committoe of rtsjji nsibility ; and if he will cstablieh his claims to the fowls 1 will clieerfully exonerate the Conimiitee from any claims I mayhaye against them. — J. H. >Villiams, Sprlny Bunk, Welshpool, Brc. 23." simply on account of the very peculiar circumstances under which it was oll'cred. It will be remembered that the de- ceased gentleman fir many years was one of the most notable, and at that time the most successful of Cochin- exhibitors, and, as he stated to oiu'selves, when at the meri- dian of his success, " he had travelled again and again many a long day's railway journey in the hope to obtaia better fowls than his own, but always hitherto unsuccessfully; still he would try again if he heai'd of any likely to be so." From declining health, for some years past Mr. Geldard ceased to exhibit ; yet the love of Cochins never wore out, and so great was it, that even after death v.-e find a silver cup as the reward ottered for the improvement of this favoured breed. It wiU not be a matter of sui'iirise to om- readers to tlnd that this cuj] will now belong to Capt. Heaton, of Manchester. This gentleman's best pen of adult Bulls obtained their triumph without difficulty. Such long- oont'lnued success wUl doubt- less add much to the interest of the disposal of Capt. Heaton's surplus stock of Cochins, which auction takes place at Birmingham next week. The White Cochins were few in number but good, and so were the White Dorkings. In Game fowls the Kendal Show stood well. 3Ii-. Kobinson, of Dlverston, exhibited a pan- of Brown Eeds that left little to wish for as improvement, and to them the Game silver cup was awarded. Their condition was unexceptionable. Mr. Fletcher, of Manchester, showed some closely-competing Black-breasted Eeds, and Mr. Chune, of Coalbrookdale, some very capital Duckwings. Although we are now advanced to about the middle of the first month of 1864, we confess the two hens shown by the latter gentlemtm looked imcommonly hke puUets of lSti3, and we think the time woidd have been lost to look for them either as chickens or even eggs iu 1862. Be that as it may, they were, either as adults or chickens, a most capital pen, and such as are only rarely to be m.et with — the only impression being the two old ladies looked very much younger than their reputed age justified, i'or length of days certainly had left no footprints behind. The Eed Pile Game fowls were better than common. It is e\'ident of late this breed of Game fov.is is greatly improving. Mi-. Billings, of Gravelly Eill, near Bii'mingham, showed some remarkably good Game fowls. As before hinted, on account of the intense fog, the Hamlurghs showed to the worst advantage, for they proved almost indistinguishable, still, on very close inspec- tion so good a collection was rarely to be seen. Perhaps the Golden-spangled were the best variety as a class, though the Silver-spangled pen won the Hamburgh cup. In the Game Bantams there was not so high an amount of condition as is indispensable for their successful exhibition, Ijut the Se- brights were far better than in general, whether Gold or Silver-laced. They seem to be stay-at-home pots in this quarter, as thej' were entered at very high prices — even so high as ^600 a-pen of three. Black and also ^Vhite Bantams were in force, and very good throughout, but separate classes should be appointed for them. It is quite an " old song," to say Mrs. Seamons won the prize for Aylesbury Duclcs ; but Mr. llem'y Worrall, of Liver- pool, took the Duck cup with such a pen of Kouens as are only very rarely to be seen. The Single Cock classes were well filled. In Pigeons the Show was excellent : but the pens that were allotted to them v,-ere sadly too small, and must be enlarged before another meeting — an alteration, we believe, which will be joyfully acceded to on the part of the Committee. We cannot allow a practice of late gaining groimd to go unmentioned — the c.itting away of Almond Tuinljlers' bills, with the view to make them shorter and more perfect. It is a most cruel practice, and entails an amount of tortiu'e that few would credit ; the bill of a bu'd when bereft of a portion of its horny covering is of the most sensitive cha- racter, closely resembhng a toe or finger naU cut into the quick ; the agonj- of even a touch when thus cruelly operated on, makes the birds wholly or even at best ptatially in- capable of feeding, and annually many exctllent bii-ds ai'e lost by absolute stan'ation from tliis unnecessary practice. It is impossible to reprehend such cruelties beyond their deserts, and if those in power will withhold theu' sanction, it will no doubt be speedily abandoned. The Carriers, whether Black or Duns, were the best ever yet exhibited at Kendal. The Fantails were also very good. The Powtei'S were prevented from showing favourably by the undue January 19. 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 65 smallness of the pens. White ones were numerous and very good. The Barbs were good, more paa-ticularly the Yellows. The Any variety of Pigeon class was well tilled, Satinettes, Icelanders, Brunswicks, Swallows, Magpies, Nuns, and several others being well shown. The Committee were very attentive to every requirement of the birds under their cai-e. Spanish (Black).— First, J. K. Rodbard, WriDgton, Bristol. Second, R. Xeebay, Fulwood, Presiun. Third, S. Robson, riiotherton, auutli Milford, Yorkshire. Higbly Commended, K. Teebay ; J. Shorthose, Shield- field Green, Neweustle-on-Tyne. C'/mAwJS.— First tmd Cup, W. dnnun, Bradford. Swcond, H. Ln^', lirialol. Tiiird, K Xeebay. Highly Coui- mended, R. W. Boyle, Dmidrum, Dublin; J. K. Jrowler, Aylesbury, Comnocndtd, S. Robson, Biotheitou, Yorkshire. DoHKiNGS iColouiedj.— Firsc and Cup, \V. Evans, Prescot. Second, J. Robins^on, Garstaut'. Ihiid, K. Sergencson, Livtrpool. iiighly Com- mendeo, J. White, Wtnlaby, Northallerton; Kif^ht H^n. Viscount Temple- town, Milnthorpe; J. Roiinson ; J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Chickens.^ First, W. EvuLtJ. Second, R. Seigencson. Tund, J. K. Fowler, iiighly Commended, Right Hon. Viscount Xempletowu ; D. Parsuns, Cuerdeu, Pre^ton. Dorkings (White).— First and Second, J. Robinson, Gftrstang, Third, D. Parsons, Preston, Cochin-China (Cinnamon and Buff, or Brown and Partridge-feathered). — First and Cup, Captain Heatun, Lower Broughtcn, Mancliesier, s-icond, R. "White, Brouuihall Park, Sheffield. Third, Mibs F;. A. Agliuuby, Gra&- mere, VVe.-ti norland, Higlily Commended, T. rfirttch, Oruisuiik; captain Heaton ; Miss F. A. Agiiouby. Commended, F. M. Hindle, liaslmgden, Lancashire. Chickens. — First, R. White, becoud, t'apiaiu Heaton. Third, C. T. bishop, Lenton, CocuiN-Cflir-A (White).— First, S. Taylor, Ibbotbhulme, "Windermere. Second, G. C. vVtii- welt, Ivendal. Chickens, — Flrac, Rev. F. Taylor, Xirkby Lonsdale. Second, F, W. Zurhorst, iiellville, Ounnybrook, Highly Com- mended, G. C. Whicwell. Game t\Vliite aiid Piles).— First, T. "West, St. Ann's, Eccleston, Lanca- shire. Second, J. Fletcher, Stoneclougb, AianchL^oter. 'I'nirO, K. Wilson, Straiuongate, Kendal. Chickcns.—ia'ivtty F. C. Ellison, Kendal. Secund, J. Clark, Levens, Milnthurpe. Gaue (BldCk-breubted aud other Reds). — First and Cup, T, Robinson, Ulverstone. Sicond, W. Whiiwell, SLOctton. Thud, Al. JiUliug, jun.. Gravelly liill, Birmingham. Highly Ccmuieuded, J. Fietclier, stoneulougli, Mancbestpr; 11. M. Julian, Beverley, "iurkshue ; T. Weat, Kcclesiun, Lancabhire. Commended, J. Fletcher. Chicken.^. — First, J. Fletcher. Secund, ii. Billing, jun. Third, W. Whitwcil, StuLkton. Game (Any other variety).— Fir^t, J. B. Chune, Coalbrookdale, Salop. Second, H. iJeldon, Bingley. Third, H. Worrali, West Deruy, Liverpool. C'AicAeHS.-First, J. Fletcher, Stoneciobgh. Third, J. Hodgson, Bradlurd. £^e»s.— First, J. Fletcher. Second, G. C, Wluiwell, Kemmi. Tnird, J. Gelderd, Kendal. Highly Commended, G. W. Bmns, Darlington. HAMnuRGns (Goldeu-peneilledJ.— Firat, a., Beldou, Binglej, Yorkshire. Second, S. SmitL, ^ortuo^^ram. Tnhd, J. Roomson, Garatung. Highly ConimenOed, J. B. Chune, Salop. Cummeudcd, J. oarrs, iimaiord. Hamburgiis (Golden-spangled;.— First, L Davids, Harborne, near Bir- minghum. secona, T. Burch, Shettield. Third, J. Newton, csilsden, near Leeds. Hijihly Comiuenoed, G. Whitraker, Hurv.ich, near Bolton; R.. Farrer, BoIiun-le-Aloors ; !N. ilarlur, HcnLun, near Mancne^ier. Hamuukohs (Silver-pencilled). — tirst, J. Kobiii:;on, Gurstang. Second, W. Clayton, Keighley. Thiid, C. Moore, Poulion-le-Fyldc. Highly Coiu- mendeu, H. Beldon, Bingley. CoiumenUed, T. K. Beetham, Keuual, HAiiEUKGHs(bilver-spivngled). — Fust and Silver cup, H. Beidon, Bingley. Second, T. Bavies, Newpuit, Mou. Tiiird, J. ;^e\vtun, Silsdcu. Highly Commended, G. B. Hardman, l:awiensiall, near Muneoesier ; J. Robin^un, Garetiiug ; j. B. Chune, Coaloruokdale, Salop. Commended, R. Ttebay, Fulwoou ; J. Fielding, isewchurch, near Alancuester; J. RoOinsuu. Hamuuilghs (Any variety).— First, T. Stuart, biaveley, near Kendal, Second, T. H, AishtoiT, Tamworth. Third, R, 11. ^Nicholas, A'ewport, Mun. Any iNEW OR Distinct Vaiuett.— rir^t, R, Teeoay, Fuiwoou. second, H. Beldon, Bingley. Third, R. H, I^iehula&, Newport, Mon. Highly Com- mended, VV. A. G. James, Kirkby Lonsdale; R. Ihompson, Keimal ; H. Lacy, Hebdon Bridge, Yorkshire ; H. li: G.Newton, Gaiiorth. Commended, R. Jl. Nicholas ; C. W. Wilaou, Kentla.. SINGLE COCKS. Spanish.— Fire t, J. R. Rodt)ard, Wringtou. Second, H. Lane, Bristol. Highly Commeudeo, J. Siddal, Halifax j B. Smiiu, Aliddieton, near Man- chester; J. K. Fowier, Aylesbury. Dorking- — First, J. Robiiiaun, Garstang. Second, J. Rowlandson, Win- dermere. Highly Commeiideu, W. ^» . Rutihuge, Kejidal; R. D. Holi, AVindermere. Cochin-China. — First, E. Smith, Middleton, near Manchester. Second, J. Shonhose, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Hignly Commended, Miss B. Aglionby, Grasmere, Weutuiuiiaud. Game.— First, M. Billing, jun., Binningham. Second, G. C. "Whitwell, Kendal, Third, J. Flttchei, Stoneclough. Fourth, J. Hodgson, "Whiitiug- ton, near Burton. Highly Commenaed, T. Siaiter, WUitetieid, ne.ir Manchester; A. B. Djas, Maoeley, Shropshire; R. Partinaon, Pouiton-le- Fylde. Commended, T. Siatter ; W. Bojes, Beverley. Game Cockekkl, — Firs&, G. W. Binus, Datlingtoii. Second, SI. Billing, un., Birmiitghaui. Third, K. Bowners, Nancwich, Highly Commeiidea, W. J. Cope, Bamsley. Game Baktau.— First, J. Shorthose, New cast e-on-Tyne. Second, J. W. Morris, Rochdale. Third, T. Wiison, Kendal. Commended, J. Munn, Newchurch, near Manchester ; Miss E. A. Crawford, Southwell, Notts. Bantams (Game).— First, R. M. Stark, Hull. Second, G. Maples, jun. - Wavertree. Third, K Hawkesley, jun., Suuthweh. Highly Commentlcd, Capt, "Wetherell, Loddington; J. Croslaud, jun., Wakelieid; J. Munn, Newchurch, Manchester j J. P. Gardner, Rugeley; Miss E. A. Crftwiurd, Southwell, Notts, Commended, C. Martin, Fairfield ; M. Leno, jua, Dun- stable Baktams (Any other -variety).— First and Cup, M. Leno, jun., Dunstable. Second, F. L. Roy, juu., Berwickshire. Thud, W. J. Cope, Burnsley. ' Hixhly Commended, Capt. Wetherall, Loddington; W. T. Addison, Sunder* land; R. hi. stark, Hull ; J. P. Gardner, Rugeley; G. Maples, jun., Waver, tree; W. F. Eiitwistie, Ollcy, Yorkshire; T. Davles, Newport, Mon. ; M. Leno, jun. Commended, J. W. Morris, Rochdale; O. E. Crtsawell, Han- wonh, Middlcr'tx. Ducks (Aylesbury).— First, Mrs. M. Seamons, Aylesbury. Second and Third, withheld. Ducks (l^ouen).— First and Cup, II. Worrall, Liverpool. Second, T. Robinson, Ulverstone. Third, T. Statter, Whitetield, Manchester. Highly- Commended, R. Sergencson, Liverpool; S. Shaw, Staiuland, Commended, J. Munn, Sliawclough. DucK.s (Any other variety).— First, D. Parsons, Cuerden. Second, J. R. Jessop, Hull. Third, R. M. SUirk, HulL Highly Commended, W. Bowley, Cirencester; F. W. Barle, Edenhurst; S. Shaw, Stainlalid; C. W. "Wilson, Kendul. Ducklings (Aylesbury or Rouen).— First and Third, Mrs. M. Seamons, Aylesbury. Second, J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Highly Commended, R. M. Stark, Huil; F. M. Hiudie, Hasiingden; P. Longiou, Liverpool; T. Shaw, Kivkkum. PIGEONS. Caeriees. — First, W. Towersun, Egremont. Second, J. Thompson, Binyley. Highly Commended, K. Thompson, Kendal; J. Reeder, Preston; H. Yardley, Birmingham; J. W. Edge, Birinuigham ; E. Horner, Leeds, Commended, T. Bateson, Kendal; J, K. liubinsou, Sunderland; J. Filth, Dewsoury ; H. Yardley. ALMOND Tumbleks,— First, F. Key, Beverley. Second, G. R. FottB, Sunderland. Highly Commended, F. Else, Bayswater, London ; J. Reeder, Preston. Tdmblers. — First, H. Beldon, Bingley. Second, R. Thompson, Kendal. Highly Commended, "W. Towerson, Egremont; F.Else, Bayswater, London; J. W. Edge, Biruiingham. Commended, H. Yardley, Birmingham. Owls.— First, H. Yardley, Birmingham. Second, F. Else, Bayswater, Londoji. Higbly Commended, K. Pickering-, Carlisle ; W. Towerson, Egre- mont; H. Siiowden, Horion, Bradford. Commended, R.Thompson, Kendal; M. E. Jobling, N(iWcastle-»n-Tyne; J. Reeder, Preston. PowTEua A.Nn CRuPrEKS.— I'irst, G. R. Potts, Sunderland. Second, H, Eeldon. Highly Commended, S. Robson, South Millord, Y'orkshire ; E. Brown, Shettield; J. W, Edge, Birmingham; £. Horner, Leeds, Com- mended, F. Else, Bayswater, London. Barbs.— First, H. Yardley, Birmingham. Second, R. Thompson, KeadaL Highly Commended, J. Reeder, Preston, Fantails.— First, H. Beldon, Bingley. Second, H. Yardley, Birming- ham. Highly Commended, F. Else, Bayswater, London. Lommended, J. It. Jessop, Hulk TuiLEiTs.— First, 3. Shaw, Staiuland. Second, W. Jackson, Bolten-le- Sands. Highly Commended, J. Robinson, Sunderland; F. Key, Beverley; W. Towerson, Egremont; J. R. Jessop, Hull; J. W. Edfje, Bamingham. Commended, M. E. Jobling, Newcustle-o-u-Tyne ; F. Eiae, Bayswater, London. TuuiiPETERa.— First, S. Shaw, Staiuland. Second, F. Key, Beverley. Highly Commended, F'. El^e, Bayswater, London; H. Y^'ardley, Birming- ham; J. J. Wilson, Darlington. Commended, F, Key; K, Thompson, Ktnual ; J. R. Jessop, Hull; H. Beldon, Bingley. JAC0BI^s.— First, R. Piciiering, Carlisle. Second, F. Else, Bayswater, London. Highly Commended, R. Thompson, Kendal; H. Beldon, Bingley ; H. Y'ardley, Birmingham. Any other. Variety. — First and Second, H. Yardley, Birmingham (Icelanders and Satinettes). Highly Commended, M. Irwiu, Whitehaven ; H. Beldun, Bingley (Swallows). Commended, K. Thompson, Kendal (Nuns); M. E. Jobling, Newcastle-on-Tyne (Swallows aud BrunswicksJ; J. \S . Edge, Birmingham. The Judges were Edward Hewitt, Esq., of Eden Cottage, Sparkbrook, Biruiingham ; and J. H. Smith, Esq., of Skelton Grange, York. XIEKCALDY OEi^ITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S SHOW. This was held on the 4th aud 5th inst. The foUowing were the awards : — DoBKiKGS.— First, J. Stocks, West Bridge. Second, T. Y. Craig, Galla- town. Third, G. Spalding, Druaisturdie, Chickens.— 'EivBl and Third, J. Stocks. Second, Countess Flahault, Tullyallan Castle. Spanish. — First, Miss ii. Ridpath, Euiuburgh. Second, P.. Dixon. Third, G. Spalding, Drumsturdie. Chickens.— t'iTS% Miss B. Ridpath, Kdinburgh. Second, W. Hay, Aberdeen. Third, J. Ste»vart, Berth. llAiinuitGHB (Gold or Silver-spangled).— First and Second, W. Kiddie, Cowdenbeath. Third, G. Spalding, Drumsturdie. Highly Commended, S. Young, Abbotshall. Hambukghs (Gold and Silver-pencilled). — First, G. Paul, Kirkcaldy Second, A. Bratt. Tiiird, J. Ness, Pathhead. Cochin-Chi.na.- First, Lord Loughborough. Second, R. B. Heggie, Kirkcaldy. Third, C. A. Locbhart, West Bridge Ckirkens.—Yitst and Third, Lord Loughborough, Second, C. A.Lockhart. Highly Commended, Mrs. Oswald, Dunnikier. GAME.—First, J. L. Anderson, Chapel House. Second, G. Spalding, Drumsturdie. Third, W. Bouthron, jun., Kirkcaldy. Chic?cens.— First, J. Anderson, Links. Second, A. Chalmers, Woodside. Third, T. WUliam- son, Kirkcaldy. Highly Commended, A. Spalding, Kirkcaldy. Bantams (Any variety).— First, Second, and Third, G. apalding {Golden Sebright, Silver Sebright, GameJ. Ducks (White Aylesbury).— First and Third, Col. Ferguson, M.P., Raittl. Second. Mrs. ?Jormand, DysarL Ducks (Any other breed).— First and Second, Countess de Flahault, Third, Mrs. Oswald, Dunnikier. . ^ t ^ Tde.':eys.— First, T. A.Konald, Kirkcaldy. Second and Third, J. L. Guw, Southerton. Geese.— First, Col. Ferguson, M.P., Raith. Second and Third, D. Miln, Bankhead. SINGLE COCKS. Game (Any variety).— First, W. Hay, Aberdeen. Second, W. Bonthron, jun., Kirkcaldy, Third, J. L. Anderson, Chapel House. 66 JOUKNAL OF HORTICTJLTTOE AND COTTAGEGAEDENEE^ [ January 19, 1864. DoRKlso.-First, J. Mensira, Kincardine-on-Forth. Second and Third, '■i^^^iZ"lTms. B. Ridpath, Edinburgh. Second and Third, P.. SomerTille, Edinburgh. CANARIES. „ a . ,,- , , Yellow Cock (Scotch).-First, J. Fdvrest.EdinburBh. Second. A. A\elsh, Edinhurqh l^h rd, J Robertson, Kirkcaldy. Highly Commended J J TTilson, Kkkcaldr. Bens.-fmt. D. Duncan, C.vron. Second, G. G>cis, ^B"'rScK™cot'chi S-h'l.^r'Hope. Kivkcaidr. Second, .1. MUcbeli, Penh ThUd.'j ?Cerr, P^r.h, ' H^s.-Firrt, D. Duncan, Carron. Second, I Kerr Third. W. Povett, Edinburgh. o„„„„j w ■'y^low Cocks (Belgian).-First, W. Fore.t, Ert-nbnrgh Second ^^ M'Inlay, Lochee. Third, G. Spence, Dysart, T/fJis.-FirBt and inira, A. Hope Kirkcaldy. Secon.1, J. Robertson, Kirkcaldy. AI'Tnlav RnvF Cocks (Belcian).-Fir>t, D. Talbert, Dnndee. Second, W.M Inlay, LocSee TWrd A. Hope, Kirkcildy. /7™«.-F,rst, W. Forest, Edmburgh, ifcond W. Bonthron, Kivkcakly. Third, P. ^l'-^™,-'^'''^'';*""' ■,„„„. . Yeuow Cocks I Flecked). -Firs,, O Greig, E-lmhurgh. Second A. Hooe Kirkcaldy. Third, J. Millar, Dundee. TTfiis.— First, J. bmitn, Dundee Second V. Duncan. Lochee. Third, R. Hunter, Oakley. Blff Cocks (Flecked Speckled).-Fir't and Third. J. Henisnian, Mrk- cafdySeco^ud J Clark, Kirkcaldy. ir.«».-Fir.t, J M'Lennan, Perth. Second S. Carnithers. Dundee. Third. J. Smith, Dundee. o,„„„j Gom,'f..;-ch Mo,.r. (Flecked Male-.-Firs., .T. Swunson, Wemys.. Second, J Roberson, AberJour. Tliird, W. Bonthron, Kirkcaldy. JUDGES.-Po«ttn/, Mr. W. Handle, Caii^n; Sir. D. Stratton, Midcalder. CanaHes, Jlr. D. Stewart, Perth; Mr. M. Bell, Glasgow. PEOPOSED EXTKA PEIZES FOR PAETEIDGE- COLOUEED COCHIN-CHINAS. Allow me, as an amateur breeder of Partridge CocMns, to make a suggestion respecting the proposed subscription ot oae guineSeach, subject to trifling reductions, necessary to raise a sum to award to subscribers' birds who shall exhibit at the next Birmingham Show-namely, one prize only m a cup or in money, for the best pen of Partridge Cochm-China cMckens. I think a great number of breeders of this variety will subscribe, and thus a large fund will be raised. It so, i would suggest that there be more than one pi-fe, still having the first "a handsome one, which I have no doubt the trs.- prize birds wiU well deserve, but let there be a second and thii-d prize if the funds will allow; if not, then have only """l S' that a second and thii-d prize ^iU l^elp to stimu- late amateurs in trying their best; but should there be only one prize, I think many amateurs will not and dare not show Seii^bir-ds agahist first-rate breeders. This naatter touched my own feelings, and from my making it pubhc there may be many others who may fall in with my remarks, and it so, I should be glad to hear a better suggestion from them.- J. Wright, Woodbridqe, Suffolk. DouKlNGS (Silver Grey).-Firs,, A. E. lasher. Second, K. P. WUliams-. CTictens.— First and Second, T. O'Grady. „ „ DouKi.sGs (Whito.-Firs:, J. C. Perry. Second, Hon. Mrs. u- ^ DoKKtNos (Coloured or White).-Flr,t. F. Hodder. Second. MUs Dc '^°CocLs:Cb;sa (Buff or Lemon). -First, R. P. WilUatns. Second. Dr. P. "^Coris-CB,... (Partridge or Grouse).-Fir,t, Mrs. Bring. Second. G. Gamk (Black and Brown P.eds).-First,G.Langtry Second, J. C. Perry. ^'^■(^^J:. - -;!-:-^?r ^S^ -ond. H. Creech. Second, Mrs. Dims. -First. R. P. WilUaras (Spanfiled Hamburgus (Ruse Lomo, ou^e^,. xhol, Phea-iant). Second. F. Hoader. , * r- n- vs«^ B^NTA> s (Sebrightl.-First, w. Corbett. Second A. E U»shcr. '^^^^-:i^S'"k \S^i^ca^"Seiond. A. E. Ussher. Po,-»..-First, ""■^i^-Yf^Tt'E^V^er (Toulouse,. Second, J. Brnce (^•hite Embdeni. GoM.gs.-Si.^t, G. Langtiy (Toulouse). Second. A. E. T.»»her 'Tu'c°Ks",'Xyle.bury).-Prize, J. C. Perry. D„cW»,,..-First, Hon. Mrs. ''i^cKf;u;uenK-?^'br:'S^r. Second, T. Richardson. i),.c.. "':f:rS^5.rtr"^'S MtSi'r-c..ss...-Fir. and second, P. Duerow. Mas. rssHEu-s Cn*T.t,ENaE Mi^iiAL.-For best Silver-Grey Dorking ^°£s"-Lvo1s's 'co"°- For best pair of Silver-Grey Dorking PuUe.s. ""m.^'fUTc:; Hon«BK-s MEO.L.-For best Buff or Partridge Cochin ''">tH "s'"b 't^^IIxJifVf.u's^G^b MP.n....-For be,t pair of Game Bantams, "iSGo^^^sii^orTin^rtV:;;cc^^^^^kr-S^. ^i:;SF:"!:S'r SolL^r^t^l-FSr^-C. perry. Second. F. Hodder. COEK POULTEY, PIGEON, AND CAGE-BIED SOCIETY. The foiu-th annual Show of this Society took place in the Athenceum on the 13th, and was, both m point of numbei and cpaMy of the bii-ds exhibited, by far the best that has 'In thfl^^ultf department DorHn.s were by far the most numerous'^ and of eitraordinary merit. ^'^ »'-' t^°"S^^ °° so numerous as the Dorkings, were very good. In Ho.nbmgh^ a >T ^;:;'\-^-^'uX.'''s«nn?, Dr^HaTvV. (Blac^ or Che- ^u^^^l neJir-Fi7:t,-and^Secoud. J. Perrot. (Whtte, or o,hers,.-F.i.t. "'."""''/• ,l':,';:'k",''-Fir"o'\. Wherland. Second,!. A. Hare. (Dun) -ni^flE' U-sher. ^Second. G. A. Wherland. (Blue, or other colour) . -Flrst'and^cc.md, G. A.WherlaudjBlue). j_ TCMU.KBS (Sbort-laced Aluiouds .-rir.< Dr. Harrey. ^^_ ^^, Perrot. (Slioit-laoed ^^'fe^ --Jf"!^' /• ^'J^'.^a, L. M. E»aru (.shott- (Short-faced 5l»""-^l--'^'I,"''/„?f%nd Dl Hirvey (Blue and Yellow |:^;^!nhi;?c;;.ou„.-Pri.e, ^^^f ^^/'Vh^: ne more of the slate covering tree, and then, to prevent vapour, it would be as well if the top were waler and vapour proof. If you still wanted more top heat you could increase the B ze of your tank. We think that a small line brought irom the other end a ong the front, and as now into the chimney, would have been ample S^ 1,1 . ."'■"Pv^'* • *"" "' ""= '"'"'='• is "'«". ■' will be best to use it. We think that by the means referred to, you will have abundance of top heat; i^L„ IT Tk "«'"' ", '='"'" '''^■'' *""^™' ahering the size of the tank, yoil might take the due along the back of the hou-e and return it to the chim- liey, and dram-tiles 6 or 8 inches in diameter would do for it. Let us know How you get on and if there is anything we can advise you on. Back Number (J F. W.).-tlo. 90 of our now series can be had by any 7^^\.l ? . ^'""l '°",'' PMtage stiimps direct to our office, for which you can have it postage free ? ^ =„^t""^';"* L'=*\=» Discoloured (Juillee Cnmcllia).— The leaves enclosed appear to US to have been destroyed by an unhealthy atmosphere. The tJL^"^ f- ''^'^^"^ ^^ ?■ ^■"5' ""'"P- '^ol'i. ^"rt close atmosphere, or by ^ater standing on the leaves, or the same dripping from the roof upon ih! .;„ "'"^P- °' '""' ""^ '™" 'i'" lie^'inB appai atus would also produce itctir^ .J'"," ■' """^ * *"""' oudilion of the soil will, more or less, show deMdenv „^ ff^ Without further particulars we are unable to speak °he«niiL,S 1 ^ ■""*' ''"" ""lys"?. see that the drainage is perfect, ^nh^ri ■„ ^1, '"u^'i ''°'' '<'" '^'•S'' ■"" thoroughly moist, and the atmo: rf^S /, .r ^ abundant ventilation in mild weather. Keep the fo'iage dry at this season, and let the temperature range from 40° to la". vo^r'^H^olw?"^,,''"'' ^'•°°'"™ U. O. fl-.).-From the height to which I,n ™'!"'»<^''8 Krojv It 18 evident that they are planted in a very rich t.!.!,/ c^ °"'^,^"° '"' "'"PP'^'i '""B ''efove they reach 12 and 15 feet in ^M ■, SP ?''?"' "' ' ''^'"- The soil best suited for them is a deep, dry, ncn soil. Their being left in the ground all wmter should not preventf.em ™Zn'r',r^'T. T'' P'""'". e^iiiently do not require any guano or liquid manure. Try how stopping them will succeed in making the flowers open. •nl^lrjr^p ^'"'i'"'^~°*° ""^ °' ™'' readera supply a few fine and healthy plants or Primula farinoaa, scotica, nivalis, and marginata ? If they can, tet them communicate with B. Uarpur Crewe, En-, Miekleoner, Derby. Heating a Propaoatino-pit {J. IV. V.). — We presume you have satisfied yourself as to the heating of the water. We would advise your being satisfied with 3 or 4 inches of water instead of G. Y'ou will heat it moro efficiently if an inch pipe from the gas-burner is carried through it. Your simplest plan, after your proposed wooden supports for the top, would be to place aacurely on them a plate or covering of galvanised iron, and on that put 4 or 5 inches of sand for placing the pots in, or plnnging them shallow or deep, according as you want or obtain much or little bottom heat. Perhaps the best thing, alter all, would be small charcoal, cither by itself or mixed with the sand. The dry or moist state ol the plunging medium would give you dry or moist hcit as wanted, and you might divide your frame into separate jiieces to secure that object. No doubt you will find a frame out of doors very nsefnl for the purpose contemplated ; but such a box, if of a suitable size, placed near a window in a room not nittch occupied, and with a good aspect, would be found more useful still and yield a greater amount of pleasure, as you could examine your cuttings, &c., at all times. Various {Dart/ord Reader).— Tho Sph£erostema will do well ia peat and loam in equal proportions, with a little sand, and we'1-drained pota It requires stove heat. We cannot make out which Puya you mean. Payas are chiefly from South Americi, and therefore require a waroi stove. Ton may introduce British Queen Strawberries now, but do not force Ihem much. If you have any more easily forcing sort, leave out the Queens for a month yet. Gtnerium akgenteum in a Pot (A Constant Render) — It will flower very well in a large pot or tubs, well fed as you propose. Pot it in March. Large plants in full flower can be lifted in autumn, and are very pieturesque objects in a conservatory, where it lasts in flower all winder. Planting Vines in a Greknuousb {Alpha).— It is not too late to plant the Vines— quite the reverse: April or early in May will be time enough. Your arrangement will answer perfectly well, and the inside border, though narrow, is sufficient lo grow strong Vines thi;, year ; and by letting them out through the brickwork next year to fresb soil they will do well. Keep the outsiae border lower than the inside one; roots have, especially in so small a space, always a tendency downwards ; ano it insures the roots against growing out too deep when the outside border is lower than the inside one. Keep it a foot lower. For the warm corner plant a Vine of Tynningliame Muscat; but be sure you get tbat sort true. You could easily have Grapes this year by getting strong fruiting Vines, .ind planting them without shaking the roots out of the soil; but, looking at the Vines as permanent objects, we strongly advise you against fruiting them this year. Shake them entirely out at planting time, and they will grow much better than if planted with a matted ball ; and, in such an arrangement, you need not buy expensive fruiting plants. Your arrangement will do very well. Annuals with Saponaria caladrica {Iffnoramus). — There is hardly any plant of tho same habit as S. calabric i, and you say nothing about how you wish to arrange them. The following we consider suitable :— Saponaria calabrica alba, Lobelia speciosa or faxtoniana, Saiivitalia procumbens, Silene p;ndula, Fenzlia diaiithirtoia, Myosotis palustris or azorica, AMjioNiACAL Water for Killing Worms on Lawns (X Subscriber). — One gallon of the water as it generally comes from the gasworks to three gallons of water will be as strong as your grass will sland it. There is nothing that we know of so safe and effective for the destruction of green fly as tobacco-smoking, in the way in which it is usually done. For such a purpose wo caunot advise you to resort to ammonia instead of tobacco. The latter, if repeatedly applied, keeps thtips in check and destroys it too. That ammonia is not only U\ curable to vegetation and destructive to insect life is certain ; but its application requires great care, especially when the foliage and shoots of plants are tender. Ammonia is so exceedingly volatile that it is not necessary to be at much trouble to disengage it. The diffi- culty is all the other way— to fix it. You have only to apply heat to it. or strew a little guano on the border or floor of a hothou-e and you will soom discover ammonia in the air. No doubt corrosive sublimate will kill worms or anything else; but we would never recommend its use while so much safer and certain an applicalion as clear lime waler will equally eflTect tke same end. In all cases wc would advise against the use of strong poisons while the end can be gained by simpler means. Con-osive sublimate is too violent a poison to bring much into use among tender plants where lime answers the same end without the slightest danger. Carolina supkrba Strawberry Culture (J. jr. J'. A'.}. — The clayey soil you name is very suitable for the growth of the Strawberry, but the Carolina superba is lather a delicate v,iriety, and requires caieful culti- vation to have it in jiertection. Kei^arding the imperfect ripening of the fruit, that is not uncommon in this variety, for, under ordinary circum- stances, the fruit generally comes green at the point. We should advise a deeply-trenched piece of rich soil that had been well manured the previous season. Plant in beds 4 feet wide, and allow the runners to fill the beds moderately thick. Do not disturb the beds alterwards while they remain in a good contlition, hut merely clean the plants in the spring, and top- dress them with cow-manure. Tie-up the fruit-stems to small sticks as soon as the fruit is set, which will greatly promote the colouring and ripening of the fruit. Names of Fruits (T. O. S.).— 1, Reinctte du Canada; 2, Winter Green- ing or Flench Crab ; 11, Norfolk Bccting ; 4, Cox's Orange Pippin. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. POLTLTEY AND REFINEMENT; OB, A VISIT TO A LADY POULTEY-FANCIBR. Poultry and refinement ! I fancy I hear somo stray reader of this part of the Journal (perhaps one who takes it in for tho flower intelligence only) exclaim — " What possible connection can these two words, ' Poultry and Eefinement,' have with each other P Flowers and refinement I can under- stand, but jjoiiWry and refinement ! Well, indeed, I wonder what next !" January 26, WM. ] JOUENAL OF HOBTICULTUEK AND COTTAaE GAKDENEE. 83 Or, suppose a mere chance eye (eye to be caught and held, good friend), glances at these pages, and sees the two words at the head of this article, the eye of one who knows nothing of the love of poultry — one of the uninitiated, who only re- gards fowls as mere cooks and hens, or, perhaps, an absolute hater of poultry — such a one, not very good in his ortho- graphy, I heard exclaim, " Ah ! fowl, a nasty bird that will eat any dirt. I believe the word ' fowl ' was given because it is such a foul creature." Now, such persons would, doubt- less, laugh the laugh of incredulity at the words " Poultry and Refinement." Wait awhile, please, until I have proved my case. But, first, I am free to confess that a very great number of per- sons in the world (so much the worse for them and it) do consider poultry a mere affair of cocks and hens, with some comfortable palatable thoughts of poached eggs and roast chickens. As to the beepers of poultry, such people imagine to themselves stout farmers' wives, themselves stout, shout- ing with provincial accent to equally stout maids-of-all- work, " Now, gals, have you sarved they troop of chickens ? " and, then they see, in thought, a motley lot of long-legged fowls running and flying to the words " Chick, chick, chick," or here, in Wiltshire, " Coop, coop, coop." These, I am aware, are barbarous ideas, which may well send a quiver of horror through the Bingley Hall enthusiasts; and, indeed, I apologise most humbly to my poultry peers for unnerving them, but I believe they are true nevertheless. However, let us hasten to something better. One glorious day last summer I found myself, by special invitation, on the road to a lady poultry-fancier's residence a few miles from " the Queen of the West " — the fair city of Bath. Every one who has once been in Bath can never for- get its beauties ; no city or town in England, I venture to say, can be compared to it. But it has another advantage, in my eyes at least — viz., that the villages around it are for the most part thoroughly primitive villages, not, as is too often the case with villages lying near a large town, mere inferior imitators of their great neighbour, abound- ing often with shabby terraces, and, like humble people irho ape their betters, only succeeding in making them- selves look ridiculous. Give me the thorough English village vmtownised (to coin a word), and, if possible, owned by large proprietors, who are not so hard-up or destitute of taste as to cut off all the lower branches, aye ! and sometimes the higher- up branches, too, of the trees, leaving mere long poles with a wisp of leaves at the top. These wretched trees look like nothing so much as huge besoms stuck on end for the first giant that passes by to take in hand and march off witli on his shoulder. Indeed, I would venture, by the appeai-ance of the trees, to decide at a glance in passing through it whether a country belongs to large ijroprietors, or small and poor ones. I was led to these thoughts by the pleasure it gave me to see as I neared this village just t'ae contrary to all this. A noble park stretched to the right, another to the left, while elder and oak branches crossed the road I was travelling by, forming Nature's gothic arches. A tug up this hill, a quick trot on, and I am in the village, with its true village (not town) street, with cottages here and there lying farther back still and peeping at us through their " nooks of leaves." There, before me, stood a true ivy- mantled church tower ; there, to the left of me, the village school — yes, and a troop of noisy girls and boys (G-od bless them every one), just burst out of school (it was twelve o'clock), for a good game of play. The house I sought, itself rose-and-evergreen-covered, lay near. I knew it was the right house ; lor, as the carriage entered the great gates, I caught a glimpse of a large pigeon-dwelUng occupying half the courtyard, wood-roofed, andgalvanised-iron-wired at the sides, and I beheld a Dorking cock and his ladies heavily walking about, as prize Dorkings are wont, an exhibition in themselves. But now, before you enter the house with me, good, I also hope, in many cases, fair reader, let me tell the especial reason which formed the attraction in my visit. The lady owner, a well-known poultry-fancier and successful exhibitor, had, I understood, been many years an invalid. One chief cause of this was a want of constant employment — of a daily object in life. "Every one needs an occupation," said Sir Charles Napier, the conqueror of Soinde ; "a garden will do, but better still if it has a hayfield next to it. I was never , so happy, no, not when a great man in India, as I was that summer in England when getting in my hay." Man, aye, and woman too, does needs an occupation. As a shrewd doctor said to an idle man, full of imaginary complaints, " Go home, sir, and earn a shilling a-day, and live on it." And here was a lady, who, lacking constant occupation, was an invalid; but twelve years ago she became a poultry- fancier, and, of course, became also absorbed in the pursuit, making a business of it, and she has now perfectly recovered her health. Let no cynic say, "Were there no poor to visit? no children to take an interest in?" There were, and they were visited, and more, entertained summer and winter at pretty out-door and in-door fHes according to the season. But an active lady, let her be ever so active among the poor, if living in a small village, cannot have her time fuUy occupied. But a truce to argument, let us enter the hos- pitable door. On the drawing-room table lay, amidst photo- graphic albums and pretty books, the last Number of The Journal of Hokticdltuke. A talk on its contents broke the ice of strangership ; then, " Had I seen such and such a work on poultry?" "No." Then "Would I like to have a look at it?" "Certainly." A little time alone, and the cooing in the coui'tyard was too attractive to let an old Pigeon-fancier sit still, so I followed the sound, and was busy deciding, to my own satisfaction at least, the respective merits of a group of Fantails, when the dinner-bell rang. The welcome meal dispatched, and then a stroU through the garden, on a wide long lawn sloping away firom the house and village, with a view of the well-wooded park on the opposite hiU, whUe a river and railway ran along the dividing valley. "What! Dorking chicks in a flower garden! My dear friend, how do you manage?" "But, 'Wiltshire Eectok,' do you not see that my beds are few and large ? and see the galvanised wire surrounding them." "True, and you have similarly fenced-in your borders too." " Yes, and so no harm to my flowers ; and the standard roses are high, so that the flowers may be gathered readily." I must say the garden looked little the worse for its live stock or its wii-e-enclosing. " Oh ! so you have Black Ducks in the garden too ! " " Yes, and I was so vexed lately ; for, having parted with my regular poultry woman, I left those Ducks, which I wished to be very small, in charge of a new woman, and I told her not to overfeed them. She, mistaking my order, fed them constantly ; and when I returned home met me with a smQing face and ' Please, ma'am, I have fed the Ducks up well, and they are grown uncommon, and will be just fit for the peas.' Fancy my vexation ! " A turn to the left brought us into the afore-twioe-mentioned courtyard and to the Pigeons. The building containing these birds was divided into compartments each with its door, and afar, near the wall, its warm nest-boxes ; then a space in each for exercise, with perches, round centre stone table, and bath. One department contained Turbits, another Nuns, another some of the best Fantails in Somersetshire, thriving little Dorsetshire into the bargain; another Jaco- bins, and so on. In a vacant space in the courtyard stood a glazed little building, or rather a large-sized chicken-coop, for rearing very early chickens on, I believe, Mrs. Fergusson Blair's plan. Then, it being now late in the afternoon, some Cochins were parading for then- half-day's exercise, the Dorkings having been shut up. We next crossed a road, came to- another garden, poultry-yard, and paddock. Here we found a large flock of prize Turkeys, monstrous fellows ; I should not like to be the servant to carry such to table. Here, also, were some Game Bantams. I had not seen all, but was conducted up the village, then down a little lane, which brought us to a pet of an old cottage, with its garden in front and backyard, half-yard half-pasture. This was the walk for the Dorking and Cochin pullets. By-the-by, was not this a nice way of putting a little money into the hands of a thrifty, careful, trusty cottage wife ? Surely it wae. Back again thi-ough the village, taking a peep into the church, recently and handsomely restored ; then a stroU round the churchyard, in which were the monuments of the deceased members of the family who had owned the manor for many generations, and whose present head sits in Parliament, and back again to the house of my hostess. On our way we met the tidy little maiden, who is on the trot all day with food for the different birds--these fed (for Miss breeds for S4 JOUENAL OP HORTICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ January 28, 18M, weight rather than feather) at one time, those at another, and so on. Here was an occupation for a deserving girl out of a large and poor family. The evening came on, a cup of tea, aad then, as the best pleasures are seemingly most shortlived, away Bath-wards. But not away until wai-m thanks for kind hospitality received, and another invitation were given; then, indeed, farewell to my good entertainer and her pets, and her pretty village. And I said to myself, " Is there no other lady in England, now an invaUd, who might not profit in body and mind by becoming a poultry-fancier?" and on I went, repeating the words of Rogers — " This day Shall heDce be called a 2chitc day in ay life.'* Now, stray reader, chance peruser, I ask in triumph after reading this true narrative. Can you not understand the connection between Poultkt and Kefinement P — ^Wilt- shire Kectok. JUDGING POULTEY. There has been much said and written of late on judging in private or public. Of covu-se, we are interested in that as on aU poultry matters. Placed in whatever light it may be, we object to the presence of any of the public, or of any one not necessarilj' present in discharging duty whUe the Judges are performing theu-s. It was said years ago, that the halcyon time for Judges would be when every man was capable of filling that office, and of necessity would, when aiU exhibitor, acquiesce in decisions that were plain to him. But reasonable as that may seem, it is expecting too much of human natiure. The spectator and the defeated exhibi- tor standing side by side and looking at the same pen are very diiferent men. One views it calmly, and looking at the class approves the decision, qualifying his opinion by saying he is not a judge. The other says, "He is a judge," and pro- ceeds to canvass and impugn the decision that has been un- fe,vourable to him. It is unquestionable that disappointment is at the bottom of the dissatisfaction. Ownership is as blind as love. It sees faults thu-ty leagues off, it views merits through a microscope. " If you are weak in evidence, abuse the plaintiff," were the instructions given to the de- fendant's counsel. " If my birds are not perfect," says an ex- hibitor, "all the others are worse." Judges are not perfect. We never impugn their honesty ; and unless proof can be brought to justify an open accusation, an inuendo is an unmanly slander. Nothing that is criminal or dishonest should be concealed or sheltered for any reason or under any pretence. But the best-intentioned Judges are not always competent, and the most competent will sometimes make a mistake. Both these occasion much iinkind comment. The birds that were so highly spoken of, and won so easily at Eudley-cum-Pipes, were not even commended at Eatanswill ; yet the same Judge, or Judges, officiated at both. The competition is not, however, spoken of. Very often the previous triumph has much to do with the subsequent defeat. The freshness and bright condition are strong points in favour of the new antagonists. 3Iany of our readers will be familiar with a quotation, *' Here lies Bombastes, stout of heart and limb. "Who conquered all but Fusbos ; Fuabos him." And so even with the best bu'ds. There wUl be a time when they must succumb to younger ones; and there will be periods of fatigue in their career when they wiU be beaten from sheer exhaustion. Judging is not easy under the cii-- cumstances, nor is the office sought after or coveted by those most competent to exercise it. How much, however, would its difficulties be increased if its duties were to be dis- charged in the presence of the public ! If now at places where every possible precaution is taken, some exhibitors spare neither time nor trouble to find a peg to hang a charge upon, what would be done when the presence of the public in the immediate neighboui-hood of the Judges enabled people to say they saw the successful exhibitor speaking to or making signs to one of the Judges ? We agree with Puff, it is a feature where a man like Lord Burleigh comes forward and shakes his head, and it is impossible to estimate the importance of a nod or a wink to a Judge at the critical moment. It may mean " How d'ye do ? " or it may be an answer to a look of inquiry as to the ownership of a pen. The long discussion there has been as to the admittance of the public at Birmingham has led us to make inquiry of the strictest nature into the fact. We are enabled to state positively : — There was no admission to the poultry while the Judges were on the premiseSy and they did not leave till all theit duties ivere over. This does not alter our opinion that the admission of the public under any circumstances is a mistake. PEIVATE MAEKLSGS OP EXHIBITION GAME FOWLS. Whex public attention has recently been so strongly di- rected to the markings of Game fowls, kept expressly for exhibition, a few observations on the subject may not, at least by a portion of your poultry readers, be deemed ill- timed. I am fully aware, by my own experience, that to object at all to this practice causes very irksome feelings to those persons who make it an invariable rule to mark all their Game fowls, and that this objection, from one who like my- self has so frequently officiated as a poultry Judge, only makes any such remonstrances even the more unpalatable. When, several years back, I publicly advised the discon- tinuance of this practice, as laying the foundation of con- tinuous disputes so far as poultry exhibitions alone were concerned, I at once received a large number of letters from various breeders, stating their private marks on Game cocks it was impossible to dispense with, and assigning as the reason, "when Game cocks' feathers had been trimmed for fighting, if two such birds, after a long battle, happened to be both of the same variety, the " cockers " who fought them, would — if the slightest possibility of such a chance arose — each lay claim to the living cook, and deny the identity and consequently the ownership of " the dead one." I do not dispute the cogency of this argument, or want of honour as to the "pit;" but I withhold any concun-ence whatever of my own, when applied exclusively to the exhibition of Game cocks. In the latter case, "private" marks, as they are sometimes called, soon become sufficiently public to arrest attention ; and to invoke the strongest after-remarks in too many cases, among those exhibitors whose misfortune it then is to be disappointed of obtaining prizes. It certainly is not my desire to inveigh at all against marking Game cocks for the cock-pit ; but I cannot, therefore, concede that the more peaceable recreation of simply exhibiting such fowls, is to be laid open to the most unjust suspicions in support of praotioes the law itself declares illegal and punishable, and which, however fondly looked for, is not, as yet, nearly suppressed. Again : if marked only, as some say, to prevent theft, or to aid the recovei-y of such birds if stolen ; surely it will not be denied, as out-of-the-way, in fairness to all amateurs, that Dorkings, Spanish, in fact, every variety, should possess a similar advantage. I weU know the public feeling of our poultry exhibitors is, almost invariably, strongly opposed to such an interference as to marking other breeds of fowls, so as to render them recognisable when in the show-pen. Why, then, this exclusive privOege to the Game cock ? By a timely provision, just now, it could be easily so ar- ranged, that Game cocks at a future fixed time sliould not be available for compeiition as show birds, when openly marked, as we so frequently see them at exhibitions. This ■would be no infi'actiou of the rules of those persons whose tastes incline to cock-fighting ; and I am assured it would render om- poultry shows, in reference to the Game classes, of an infinitely more satisfactory character than now appears to be the order of the day. My own opinions thus openly expressed, with all due deference to those of others, have been more forcibly than ever urged upon me by a paragrajA in yom- valued Journal of the 10th inst., from the pen of an entire stranger to myself, a Mr. Williams ; and although determined not to enter into the disagreements of the Messrs. Hindson and Williams, I feel I cannot let it justly pass unnoticed. Mr. Wil- liams -wiites, "The private mark so much spoken of is not Mr. Hiudson's." The matter to be regretted, both for the sake of the best interests of the Birmingham Show and also the parties themselves, appears to me rather that these Januury 2G, 1864. ] jnnP.-NTATi OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 85 fowls were marked at all. Mr. Williams proceeds to say, " There were other fowls at Birmingham similarly " marked, and one a winner." This is a mistake, if the rather vague expression " similarly marked " really is intended to convey the meaning commonly supposed. At the request of a large number of exhibitors long prior to the cards of "disquali- catiou " being put up, I rigidly examined every Game cock throughout the Exhibition, and a second time by gaslight. The fact was this : Many, very many, were " similarly marked," so far as marking the nostril only, but none with the same formed outs as those in the three disqualified pens ; fcut those three cocks were marked all alike. No amateur regrets more sincerely than myself that any break of good feeling to the injury of poultry shows should arise ; and it is quite foreign to my purpose to enter into any discussion of whose marks those alluded to might be. I only maintain what I feel to be the error — that such marks should have been in a show-pen at all ; and I trust the day is not far distant when visibly marked Game cooks will be discarded from competition altogether. — Edwabd Hewitt, Ee, Darlington. Highly Com- mcnde'l, J. Jardine. Commended, T. L. Jackson, Bush of Ewes, Dumfries- shire ; Miss Milne (Coloured). CocHiN-CaiNA— First, J. Bhorthose, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Second, C. A. Loclihart, West Bridge, Kirkcalily. Third. E. Smith, Middltton, Manchester. Highly Commended and Commended, Miss E. A. Aglionby, Grasmere. Chiikcnu.—Vn-sX, J. Shorthose. Second, F. W. Earle, Edenhurst, Prescot. Tiiirrt, Mrs. Kemp, Midcalder, Edinburgh. Highly Commended, E. Smith ; Commanded, Mrs. Kemp. Brahjia Pootka.— First, Misi Purves, Castlegate, Jedburgh. Second, R. Story, Jedburgh. Third, Mrs. H. Barclav, Kinross. Highly Com- mended, Mrs. H. Barclay; W. M. Painter, Jedburgh; J. Grey, Jan., Greenlaw, Berwickshire. Commended, W. Murdoch, Bonnyrigg; Mrs. Purriom, Ewster Wooden, Roxbnrgiisliire. Game (Black' or Brorpn Reds).— First and Cup, J. Smith, Breeder Hills, Gr.intham. Second, H. Adams. Beverley, Yorkshire. Third, J. Fletcher, Stoneclough, near Manchester. Highly Commended, H. M. Julian, Beverley, Yorkshire ; A. Perkins, Darlington ; H. Adams ; M. Billine. jun.. Gravelly Hill, Birmingha'-n. Commended, J. Brougb, Carlisle ; J. Wood, Moat House, near Wigan ; Miss J. A. Akroyd, Bradford; Lord Binning, Mellerstain; W. Boyes, Beverley, Yorkshire. Game (Duckwing) —First, M. Billing, jun.. Gravelly Hill, Birmmgham. Second, T. J. Charlton, Manningham, Bradford. Third, H. Snowden, Great Horton, Bradford. Game (Anv other varie)y\— First, M. Billing, jun., Birmingham. Second, n. Adams, Beverlev (Pled). Third, J. Brougb, Carlisle (Black). Chickens. First, M ss J. A. Akrojd, Bradford. Stcond. H. Adams (Bed). Third, J. Ander.on, Meisle. Highly Commended, J. Cleminsc n. Darlington (Brown Red). Commended, H. Wilsb, EJinljurgh (Black Bed); J.Wood, Moat 86 JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTXJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ January 2G , 1854. Hoase, near Wigan ; H. Snowdeo, Great Horton, Bradford; H.M.Julian, Beverley (Ked) ; A. Perkint, Darlinpton (Browu Red) ; M. Billing, jun. Hamburgu (Silver-Bpangled).— Silver Cup, H. Belion, Gilstead, Bmgley, Yorkshire. Second, F. L. Roy, Nenthom. Third, Mrs. hraser, Hartrigge, Jedburgh. Commended, Mi^s Purvee, Caetlegatc, Jedburgh. Hambuhoh (Silver-pencilled).— First, H. Beldun, Gilateiid, Biogley, Se- COndf MisB E. A. Aglionby, Grosoiere. Third, Miss II. Scott, Ancrum House. Hambuhoh (Golden-spangled).— Firtl, W. Cheyne, Selkirk. Second. H. BeHon, Gilstead, Bingley. Third, C. Anderson, Nenthom, Keleo. Hamburgh (Golden-pencilled). — First, W. Mvff, New JI;irket, Aberdeen. Second, S. Sniitli, Northowram, Halifiix. Third, Miss E. E. Wallace, Aberdeen. Commended, J. M'Innes, Paisley. Bantams (Game).— first, K. M. Stark, Hull. Second, Messrs. G. T. Allan and J. Johnston, Dcptford, Sundeiland. Third, W. J. Routledge, Aber- deen. Highly Commended, E. Brown, Sheffield. Commended, J. Stainsby, Sunderland ; J. Anderson, Meigle ; W. Mabun, jun., Castlegate, Jedburgh; C. W. Brlerley, Middleton, Manchester. Bantams (Any variety).— Fh'st, K. M. Stark, Hull (Black). Second, J. Anderson, Meigle (Silver-laced). Third, F. L. Roy, Nenthorn, Keleo (Silver-laced). Highly Commended, K. M. Stark (Silver-laced); C. A. Lockhart, Kirkcaldy (Sebriglits). Commended, F. L. Roy (Gold-laced). Geese (Grey and Mottled or Wjiite).— First, Lord Binning, Mollerstain. Second, T. E. Boog, Tythehouse, Roxburghshire. Third, Mrs. Bell. Mareh- cleugh, Roxburghshire. Highly Commended, S. Swan, Bush, Roxburgh- shire; C. Pe-ise, Darlington. Ducks (White Aylesbury). — First, MisR W. Oj^ilvv, Meigle. Second, R. M. Stark, Hull Third, S. Swan, Bush. Hiyhly Commended, Miss H. Scott, Ancrum House ; J. A. S. E. Fair, Gilliestongues ; Lord Binning, Mellerstain. Commended, A. 0. Swan, Bush ; J. James, Samieston. Ducks (Rouen). — First and Third, Mia. Elliot, Hyndhope. Second, Mi.'s Purves, Jedburgh. Highly Commended, J. Andert^oii, Meigle; J. S. Dudgeon, Spylaw. Commended, T. E. Boog, Tythehuuse ; G. Douglas, Hyndhope ; C. Pease, Darlington. DccKS (Any other variety).— First, W. Sime, Orchard, Cambus. Second, Miss Purves, Jedburgh (Mallards). Third, K. M. Stark, HuU. Commended, F. W. Earle, Prescoi (Black East Indian) ; J. K. Jessop, HuU (East Indian.) TusKE'ss.— First and Second, J. Smith, Breeder HiUt, Grantham. Third, J. James, Samiestou. Poults.— Fiistj J. Smith. Third, C. Pease, Darling- ton. Second withheld. Any otuer Variety of Poultry.— First and Third, J. A. S. E. Fair, GiUiestongue (White Dorking). Second, R. M. Stars, HulUBlack Polands). Commended, H. Beldon, Gilstead, Bingley (Polands). SINGLE COCKS. ■" Spanish. — First, H. Beldon, Gilstead, Bingley. Second, T. Ogilvie, Jedburgh. Third, S. Corner, Fulwell, Monkwearmouih. Commended, J. Shorthose, Newcastle-on-Tyuc. Dorking. —First, Countess deFlahauU, TuUyallan Castle. Second. Mrs. Elliot, Hyndhope. 't'hird, Mins II. Scott, Ancrum House. Highly Com- mended, J. A. S. E. Fair, GiUiestongue. Cochin-China. — First, J. Shorthose, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Second, Miss Milne, Otterburn, Kelso. Tnird, li. Charters, Kalemoutb. Highly Com- mended, Mrs. DickeoB, Kelso; J. Shorthose, Comnienned, E. Smith. Game.— First, H. Adams, Beverley. Second, W. Boyes, Beverley. Third, J.Anderson, Meigte. Highly C-mimended, W. Eiistun, Jedburgli; G. W. Einns, Darlington; G. C. Whitwell, Kendal; H. Adams. Commended, "W. Easton ; A. Perkins, Darlington; M. Billing, jun., Gravelly Hill, Bir- mingham ; J. A S. E. Fair, Gilliestongues. HAHBuRGn.— First, Miss Purves, Jedburgh. Secoud,H. Beldon, Gilstead, Bingley. Third, J. U. Somner, Jedburgh. Tdrkey. — Fii^t, C. Pease, Darlington. Second, J. James, Samieston. Third, Lord Binning, Mellerstain. Sweepstakes for Banta:m8.— First. J. Shorthose, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Second, C. W. Brierley, Middleton. Third, J. Anderson, Meigle. Highly Commended, W. Oliver, Jedburgh; F. L. Roy, Nenthorn. Commended, A. Hunter, Burnwynd, Jedburgh ; II. Cleaver, Melrose. SELLING CLASS. Ant Age OR Variety.— First, J. Shorthose, Newcastle-on-Tyne (Spanish), Second, J. Barton, jun., Jedburgh (Black Red Game). Third, F. L. Roy, Nenthorn, Kelao iSilver-epangled). Highly Commended, J. A. S. E. Fair, Gilliestonyues, lioxbuighshire (Aylesbury Duck) ; H. M. Julliun, Beverley, Yorkshire (Game); Mrs. H. Barclay, Kinross (Dorkings) ; J. S. Dudgeon, Spylaw, Kelso (Dorkings); W. Gray, Darlington (Partridge Cochin-China) ; E. Smith, Middleton (Cochin-Cbina) ; J. Henry. Mounteviot, Jedburgh (Spanish J. Commended, G. J. Har\ey, Jedburgh (Black Red Game Bantams) ; Miss J. A. Aykrokd, Bradford, Yorkshire (Game) ; G. RitcNie, Selkirk (Silver-spangled Hamburghs) ; li. R. Tulip, MonkwearnioutU (Golden-pencilled Hamburghs). COTTAGERS' PRIZES. Any Class,— First, R. Charters, Kalemouih (Cochin-Uhinaj. Second, J. Scott, Ancrum (Manorkles). Third, D. Young, Canongate, Jedburgh (Brown Red). Highly Commended, A. Henderson, Dunion, Jedburgli (Dorkioes). Commended, W. Laidluw, Sharplaw, Jedburgh (Black Red Game Bantams) ; J. Bell, WiUiescrook, Jedburgh (Spanish). PIGEON'S. Tubiblers (Almond).— Highly Commended, H. Yardley, Market Place, Birmintihaiii. Tumblers (Any other variety). —First, J. Bell, Newcastle -on-Tync (Kites). Second, J. R. .Jcssop, Hull. Third, H. Yardley, Birmingham. Highly Commended, R. Pickering, Carlisle. Commended, H. Beldon, Gilstead, Bingley, Yorkshire. Fantails.— First, Lord Binning, Mellerstain (White). Second, T. C. Taylor, Middletburouah, Yorkshire. Third, H. Beldon, Yorkshi.'e. Highly Commenaed. T. C. Taylor. Commended, J. R. Jesssop ; M. E. Jobling, Barras Bridge, Newcastle-on-Tyne. PowTERS.— First and Third, M. Sanderson, Edinburgh (Blue and White). Second, E. Brown, Sheffield. Highly Commended, J. Luis, Edinburgh (Blue). Commended, H. Beldon, Ndnb. — Fust, F. Key, Beverley. Second, H. Beldon. Third, Lord Binning, Highly Commended, J. U. Somner, Jedburgh. Commended, A. Goodfelbw, jun., Wildcatgate. Owls.- First, M. E. Jobling. Second, II. Yardloy, Birmingham. Third, J, Bell, Nfewcabtle-OD-Tyne. Commended, M. E. Jobling. TORBiTa. — First aud becond, W. Veiich, jun., Jedburgh (Red and Blue) Third, T. C. Taylor (Blue). Highly Commended, F. Key. Beverley. Com- mended, H. Beldon ; J. Luis, Edinburgh (Red). (A splendid class). Jacobins.— First and Third, T. Ellrington, Woodmansev, Beverley. Second, W. Veitch, jun. Highly Commended, Lord Binning (White). Com. mended, J. R. Jesaup, Hull. Any other Variety.- First, R. Pickering, Carlisle (Carriers). Second, Misrt Purves, 48, Castle^ate (Black Barbs). Third, W. Veitch, jun., Jed- burgh (Trumpeters). Highly Commended, Lord Binning (Blue Priests). Commended, H. Beldon; M. E. Jooling (Swallows and MagpiesJ. (Extra fine cla^s). SELLING CLASS FOR PIGEONS. Any Variety.— FiiKt, F. Key, Beverley (Turbits). Second, J. Riddell, Keleo (Barbs). Third, J. R. Robinson, Sunderland{ YellowTurbits). Highly Commended, M. E. Jobling (Helmits). Commended, J. R. Jessop, Hall; Mies Collier, Jedburgh (Vellow Owla); J. Gray, jun., Greenlaw, Ber- wickshire (.White Dragons). CANARIES. Scotch Fancy.— re^/oiw Cock. — First and Second, R. Ballantine, Ha- wick. Highly Commended, T. Hope, Jedaurgh. Commended, M. Gray, Jedburgh. i/('?i.— First, W. Lewis, S.rlkirk. Second. J. Kemp, Gahishiels, High y Commended, R. Swan*ton, Jedburgh. Buff' Cock.— FiT:od has to be bought Much that a Duck, eats, and that helps in the formation of flesh, is absolute refuse, and lound in the neighbourhood pf ponds, ditehes, &c., which do not exist in an amateur's poultry-yard. The Aylesbury Ducks are fed on very stimulaiing food, and in tlieir early days tbose intended for 'great size are largely supplied with horseflesh, kept in-door.?, and out o( water. He.-s kot Laying in AVinteh (A Constant Subscriber). — The reason why your hens do not lay in the winter is because they are hcjis. Only pnllfcts lay in the winter, and those only on condition that ihey attain a certain age during that season. Unless they arr very old they should lay before April. We have never seen white Br.ihina Pootras, and with all deference we do not wish to. AVe should be sorry to lose the p'easine con- trast of the black hackle, flight, and tail on the white plumage. When these markings are correct they are, we think, among^t the prettiest fowls we have. Turkeys, &c. (Miss ion^&ourwc).— Write to Mr. J. K. Fowler, Prebendal Farm, Aylesbury, for the information. Have a male biid from one yard and the hens from another yard. You will never have fine birds of any kind by breeding from closely-related birds. Johnson's Modern Dairy and Cow-kf.epino (G. D., of ff). — The publisher is Ridgway, Piccadilly. We do not know whether it is out of print. Parrot Plucking out its Feathf.rs (A Three-years Subscriber).— Do not give it meat or bones, or hempseed. Bread and milk, nuts, and other fruits are less infiummatory food, and do not cause that irritation which induces the bird to pluck out its feathers. Let it every day have a bath of tepid water— a soup plate makes a cood one. If the bird will not go into it voluntarily, pour the water over the bird through the fine rose of a watering-pot. LONDON MAEKETS.— Januaey 25 POULTRY. Unfavourable weather is not Tvitlumt its effect on tlie market trade dull, as buyers only purchase from hand to mouth. d. Largre Fowls 3 0 to 3 Smaller do 2 3 „ 2 Chicliens 1 (> „ 1 Geese 6 0 ,, 6 Pheasants 3 0 „ 3 Partridges 1 Hares 2 Rabbits 1 Wild do 0 G I Pigeons 1 It makes d. s. ■ 6 .. s 0 4 .. 1 b 8 „ 0 !) U ,. 1 1 Fetruaiy 2, 1864. ] JOtTKNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. 8d WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day 1 Day of 1 of ITntliWeek. FEBRUARY 2-8, 1864. Average Temperature near London. Rain in last 37 years. Sun Rises. Sun Sets. Moon Rises. Moon Sets, Moon's Age. Clock before Sun. Day of Year. Day. Night. Mean. Days. m. h. m. h. m. h. m. h. m. a. 2 Tu Purification. Candlemas Day, 43.5 30.0 37.1 12 41af7 48af4 33 2 18 11 24 13 67 33 3 w 44.2 31.0 37.1 16 39 7 49 4 40 3 after. 25 14 4 34 4 Th Field Speedwell flowers. 44.7 32.0 38.8 17 37 7 51 4 40 4 9 1 26 14 10 35 5 F Spurge Laurel flowers. 45.7 33.6 39.6 17 36 7 53 4 31 5 22 2 27 14 16 36 6 S Butcher's Broom flowers. 46,2 32.5 39.3 19 34 7 55 4 15 6 43 3 28 14 21 37 7 Sun Shrove Sumdat. 46.5 32.8 39.7 19 32 T 57 4 52 6 7 5 • 14 21 38 8 M Water Elt seen. 45.4 32.9 39.1 20 30 7 59 4 22 7 33 6 1 14 28 39 From ( bservations taken near London during the last thirty-seven years, the average day temperature of the week is 45.2 % and its night temperatur 3 32.1". The greatest heat was 67 , on the 3rd, J860; and the lowest cold, 8°, on the 5th, 1817. The greatest fall of ram was 0.75 inch. -1 THE FLOWER GAEDEJST. AST week a few liints were offered on the arrangement of colours, chiefly with the object of directing attention to the sub- ject on the part of those who have not hitherto made the prin- ciples which ought to guide the combination of colours their study, and for want of which many glaring errors are com- mitted. The object of this paper is to call attention to one of the most prominent and prevailing causes of many miserable abortions in the way of flower-beds. If any one had the power of wandering like a fairy from garden to garden all over the country in early autumn, and could plants but speak, he would have, in by far too many cases, to listen to the mournful complaint of many a bedful of weary and forlorn-looking plants. " Oh ! sir, we are in a sad plight. Once we were fresh-looking and comfortable, we were raised on liberal fare ; the fat of the compost-yard, loam, and rotten dung, were our daily fare. We were watered, and tended, and sheltered with unceasing care till we became quite fat and hand- some ; but, at last, a ruthless master, or a mistress that does not seem to understand our wants, has stuck us out into this miserable bed, where we are starved for want of food, and battered about by those horrid winds, from which there is no hope of shelter. Our bed is so sour, cold, and badly drained, that we are chiUed and almost caked to death. Oh ! we are burned up in this miser- ably hungry soil, which has not been manured for years. And, oh ! sir, it is so hard just beneath our roots, that we do believe it has never been dug over a few inches deep since ever it has been denominated a flower-bed. We are parched up so in dry weather that it is as much as we can do to exist, far less grow or bloom. To attempt to send our roots down to escape harm from droughts is impossible, for that jobbing gardener merely pointed the bed over and made it look fresh in spring. We have so little hold of the soil, that we do think the next storm will blow us all to we do not know where ; and yet we are expected to grow and cover all the soil, and bloom for a long time. How can we, sir ? We are starved and most cruelly used, and worse than all, abused by those who don't seem to know what is the matter with us. Oh, that wc could get into the squire's garden over the way, where the beds are trenched, and manured, and drained, and surface-stirred; we would then shine like the stars, and show that it is not our fault that we have looked so miserable and bloomed so scantily." We want a Jethro Tull among our flower-beds. De- pend upon it he was not so far off the mark after all, when he propounded that deep draining and deep cul- tivation were nearly all that was needed for good cul- tivation. Certainly such conditions lie at the foundation of aU good cultivation, and are nowhere more particu- No. 149 —Vol. VI., New Seiiuis. larly applicable than in the flower garden. An accumu- lation of water about a bed of flowers is productive of evils that wiU thwart the efforts of good management in all other respects. It will keep down the temperature of the soil, prevent the natural action of the atmosphere, and lessen the chances of getting the soil thoroughly pulverised and sweetened. At the present day it may seem almost superfluous to press the necessity for thorough drainage; but like most important matters connected with the social and moral well-being of man- kind, it is, and wiU be for a long time, it is to be feared, necessary to keep its importance ever and anon before the mind of those whom it concerns. The same may be said of deep cultivation. The benefits derivable from deep trenching are so many, that it would be difficult to enumerate them all, or teR their importance. It gives a greater degree of open- ness to the soil, so that roots can penetrate it more easily, and in dry seasons go down where the soU is more moist, and escape to a greater extent the evils of drought ; the more perfect access of the air is secured, by which the soil imbibes ammonia and carbonic acid ; and a greater supply of soluble matter becomes available for the use of plants. These are points strongly applicable to successful flower gardening, according to the fashion of the present time. However frequently they are neglected in the cultivation of vegetables, it is to be feared that they are still less attended to in. the cultivation of flowers; and this is undoubtedly one of the chief reasons why so many failures are met with in the shape of miserably starved- looking beds of Verbenas, Calceolarias, &c. Often has wonder been expressed to me why such have not grown, better, or why they have ceased so suddenly to yield bloom, although at the same time the beds are either cold, wet, and soured, or the soil has neither been properly worked nor manured for years. It is a settled point with the experienced gardener, that the majority of the plants now used for flower garden de- coration are as exhausting to the soU, and require to have as good a foundation laid for their culture, as many, or most of our vegetables. If this fact were more ap- preciated as lying at the very foundation of a brilliant and lasting array of bloom, the nurserymen and the plants they supply would not be so often made the scape- goat for the failures of many a disappointed lover of flowers. There arc good reasons for fearing that the miserable appearance of many a viUa and cottage flower- plot owes its origin to the idea that our present flower- garden plants do not require liberal treatment and care- ful cultivation, such as would be expected to produce good crops of vegetables; consequently my present object is to press home the fact, that in order to produce a fine bed of Verbenas, Calceolarias, variegated Gera- niums, and, in fact, the great majority of such plants it is indispensably necessary that the beds be free from stagnant water, deeply worked, and well manured. To this rule there are, of course, exceptions, such as in the case of the stronger-growing Geraniums, which are ' No. SOI.— Vol. XXXI. Old Seeim. JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTA&E GAKDBNER. [ February 2, 1884. at all times prone to run to leaf instead of flowers, Tro- paeolums, and a few other things, which only bloom profusely in poor soil ; but to the great majority of flower-garden plants the rule applies, and there are comparatively few ■which do not fulfil the end requu'ed of them in rich and deeply-worked soU. Few crops can be more exliausting to ground than the tangled masses of Verbenas, Heliotropes, Petunias, Calceolarias, &e., and the shabby appearance which these often present in beds arises from the want of more liberal treatment. Much of the abuse which has been heaped on Gazania splendens has, in my opinion, arisen from its not being more liberally treated in this respect. There is no comparison between the appearance of this plant in well-worked and manured ground, and on poor soil that has merely had its surface scratched. The same may be said of some of our very best Verbenas. They ai-e fii-st starved, and then abused; but in spite of that they are splendid when cultivated, and, instead of yielding a puff of bloom as when not cultivated, they are the most continuous bloomers. Let any one loot at Golden Chain Geranium pro- perly treated in this respect, and compare it with the same variety in a wretched bed of soil which may not have seen the light of day to the depth of a foot for years. "Why, it has often to my knowledge been declared to be a different variety altogether. But it would be endless to multiply instances of this sort. The experienced flower gardener knows that he must trench his beds biennially at the least, and that he must thoroughly pulverise and manure them, if he has to produce a bold and lasting display of bloom. Where this operation has not ah-eady been attended to, no time should now be lost in having it done. The top of the beds should be left rough, so that a greater surface may be exposed to the action of the weather. This is more especially desirable if these beds have not been trenched for years. Where the soil is of a light sandy nature, it would be greatly improved by having a quantity of stronger soU mixed in. The best manure for hot soils is cowdung which has been in a heap for twelve months, and has lost its rankness ; the next best is old hotbed manure— that is, stable-dimg and leaves well decayed — and for heavy soils I prefer well- decayed leaf mould. Where the staple is shallow it would be most desirable to deepen it by entii-ely removing some of the subsoil and replacing it with fresh soil ; care must, however, be taken in doing this on subsoils of clay that a drain runs from the bottom of the bed, or it will become a mere receptacle for water to an injurious extent. Where fresh soil cannot be had the next best 2>lan is to throw up an inch or two of the bad subsoil to the surface every time the bed is trenched. The action of the weather will pul- verise it, and by mixing it with the surface soil and manure the soil will be much improved as to depth in a few yeai-s. The flower gardener, who has a fine, deeij, loamy, and dry soil that he can trench two and three spits deep, has a great advantage over others who have either a hungry, gravelly, or a wet tenacious soil to deal with. I have had to do with all three, and it is scarcely credible how gorgeously most things do in a deep, dry, loamy soil, such as the Vine would be expected to succeed well in. Owners of small gardens have a great disadvantage to contend with where their soil is naturally bad. Generally they have great difficulty in getting their few beds either entu-ely remade or ameliorated. I am satisfied that their pleasure would be much greater if they were to restrict their operations to a less extent, and make an eflbrt to form half a dozen good beds of soil instead of having double or treble that number in a bad state. This is, of course, pre- suming that they cannot overcome the difficulties of having all they would desh-e properly supjalied with soU. Clay soil is, perhaps, more efiectually improved bj' burning than by any other means. Eoad grit, or any light sandy 3oU added to the beds, is also a good way of imj^roving them ; and, as has already been remarked, poor gravelly soU can lie improved by the addition of a heavier staple, such as the parings and scourings of ditches, or even clay spread over the surface of the beds in winter. The rains break it up and work it into the light soil, where it wUl be of great benefit. I hope these hasty remarks will prove useful by tiu-ning the attention of some to one of the most important points connected with flower gardening, and that they will see that their beds are well worked, and that, at planting time, the plants are not carelessly put into them. When beds axe hard, and hungi-y, and poor, bedding plants cannot be expected to grow and flower well ; but there is no class of plants more grateful for liberal culture, and few more cal- culated to give a larger share of enjoyment and pleasm-e. D. Thomson. THE ROYAL HOETICULTTJEAL SOCIETY'S SCHEDULE FOE 1864. Has the Society a motto ? for if not, might I suggest for it " Vavium et niutahile semper ?" for, though onginally ap- plied to the gentle sex, I think no fickle dame, not even Dame Fortune herself, ever deserved the charge of ehange- ableness as this most shifty Society does. We all know what this would imply in commercial life if we saw Popkins, the great tea merchant, or Stiggins, the sugar-boUer, not onlj' altering but curtailing their arrangements. If we saw the shelves, which were to be filled with the finest assortment of Cathay, still unfilled, that several of the assistants were dismissed, that the fine new brougham with which Popkins used to astonish the weak minds of the natives of Eus-in-m-be Ten-ace when he drove out of an evening to liis country house was put down, and that he was to be seen mounted on a threepenny 'bus, the inevitable feeling would be, "Popkins is going down in the world. Depend upon it, there'U be a smash there before long. I always told you what would come of his lavish expenditure ; and when a man opens his shop with borrowing money to pay off his debts, rely on it he is in a bad way." What other inference can we draw fi-om the proceedings of a society? The arcades, which were to be filled with the treasures of ai't, both foreign and domestic, still remain unfinished, and in aU then' dreariness suggestive of rheumatism and other little matters of a simUai' nature. The finest ojiportunity that ever a society had has been thrown away, and now the cui'taUment of the schedrde but too plainly shows that the brougham is being put down. When that nice little plan, of which we heard something last year, of ciu'tailing the amount to be given for the prizes, into which the endeavour was made to entrap the Koyal Botanic Society and the Crystal Palace Company, fell through, owing to the -n-ise and firm position of Mi-. Marnock, I suppose the " ruling power" felt that something must be done in the way of economical housekeeping, as the " coals were burning too fast." And this is the result : No less than three Exhibitions are abandoned this }-ear. And mark the msdom that has actuated this movement : The first might, indeed, very well be done away with ; for an Exhibi- tion in February was a ridiculous notion at the very outset, so one has nothing to say on that score. But no great Exhi- bition takes place untU the 1st of June : consequently the Botanic Society and the Crystal Palace folk wUl come in with their Shows, and so take the keen edge off the appetite off the flower-loving public before the Eoyal Horticultural Society commence. The Kose Show (and in this instance the reasonings of some of the contributors to this Joiu-nal have been thought worthj' of being listened to), is placed by itsell'as it deserves to be ; bvit, then, imagine with what pleasvu'e this will be haUed bj' country exhibitors. It is to be a two-days affair ! ■ — a rule which seems to run through the arrangements this year, and than which nothing can be worse as a rule, especially in the hot months of June and July ; and what in- justice, too. to the flower itself! We know what Eoses are at the end of one day's exhibition ; what they wUl be after two days can be easily divined. But, then, there is to be a Strawberry feast ! Is this to be a two-days afl'air like the others ? If so, how very nice the fi'uit will be when the time comes for eating it; for among the attractions whereby to allure the public to be- come Fellows is that at the end they may be able to eat the fruit ! WUl a notice be put up, I wonder, as at the Zoolo- gical Gardens — "Feeding time at six o'clock?" And how wiU it be decided ? Is the Dowager Duchess of Dumbletou to have twice as many as Mrs. Tomkins, the stockbroker's wife ? Are the members of the CouncU to be in attendance to " wait on the ladies," and take away the dii'ty plates ? \ February 2, 1864. ] JOTJENAl OF HORTICTJLTTTKE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 91 Will cream and sugar be served witli them ? KeaUy the Exhibition Committee ought not to leave the matter un- certain. Who knows how many new Fellows they may have lost by this tantalising feast not being declared one of its inviting features ? Then the autumn Show is entirely done away with. This I conceive to be a great blunder. It is true it may not pay ; but when a Eose Show pays so well, sui-ely a Society esta- blished for the encouragement of horticulture ought to be willing to lose a little at another exhibition. Why it should not pay I know not. If ever the gardens are to look well they ought to do so at the early pai-t of September; and if a shilling were charged instead of half-a-crown, the public might be induced to come. The Crystal Palace autumn Show pays well — and so used the Surrey Gardens. There is one thing which, I am sure, is against the "shilling public" going there; and that is the inhospitable character of those regions. One might as well be on tlie borders of Lake Victoria Nyanza, as far as the matter of supplying the inner man is concerned. It was only last summer that, with a few other exhibitors, I wanted to get something more wholesome than ices and Bath buns ; and, after considerable hunting about, managed to get into a smoky coffee-room, where, after half-an-hour's waiting, we were supplied with a scorched mutton chop. Another notable scheme is, I see, set afloat. Nurserymen are invited to see what they can do to save the Society the expense of keeping up the gardens ; for, however it may be smoothed ovei-, this is really the meaning of the last ad- vertisement— " serve the cause of horticulture ! " Save the pockets of the Eoyal Horticultui'al Society ! Why not be honest, and give the true reason ? Now, let all nurserymen, before they venture to put in a tender, ask the Society to furnish them with a statement of the number of persons who visited the gardens last year in July and Aiigust, when the bedding plants look their best, and they will then determine whether it be worth their while to act on this suggestion, so amiably woi'ded. But stranger than aU, we read in the morning papers that " A scheme is in contemplation by the Council of this Society, for a series of competitions among volunteer bands. It is proposed that prizes be offered during the ensuing season for the best performances by bands numbering not fewer than twenty-four players each. Five pieces are specified as a part of the required test — namely, Kossini's Overture to ' Tancredi,' Meyerbeer's March in the 'Prophete,' Selections from Gounod's 'Faust,' Mendelssohn's 'Wedding March,' and ' God Save the Queen.' In addition to these, any five pieces of quadriUe or waltz music will be at the clioice of every baud. The fii-st prize v/iU be a sUver-hoaded band staff, of the value of ^820, with .£20 in money ; the second prize will be ^£20 and a certificate of honour ; the third prize, £15 and a certificate of honour ; the fourth prize, ^10 and a certificate of honour ; the fifth prize, £7 10s. and a certificate of honour ; and the sixth prize, .£5 and a certificate of honoiu-. Besides the above-mentioned prizes, one of £5, and another of ^2, vriU be awarded among- the unsuccessful competitors for the two best performances of each of the above pieces." A grosser perversion of a society's funds never was attempted. What has a horticultural society to do with nursing volun- teer bands ? O horticulture ! horticulture ! In conclusion, are not all these shifts and contrivances unworthy of a Society which ought to be the foremost one of its kind in the v/orld ? There is one other question that exhibitors would be very glad to have an answer to — viz.. Where are the Exhibitions . to be held ? Are all the wretched contrivances of last year to be repeated, and gusty arcades and dirty dining-rooms to be the receptacles of the noble productions of our best gardeners ? I have thus briefly touched upon some of the most salient objections to the general aspect of the schedule. I shaU next week point out some of the absurd details, which evidence a sad ignorance of the state of matters in the hor- ticultural world. — iVEGtrs. CULTIVATION OF THE CUCUMBEE IN POTS. Having in a former note given the produce by the above mode of cultivation, and thinking that of little use without describing the means employed, I now proceed to do so. Two years since, the small house in which our Cucumbers were grown was erected for quite a different purpose, but not having at that time a convenient place for growing Cucumbers in, pots wei'e plunged in the front bed close to the pipes (two four-inch pipes, one above the other for top heat), the bed having also two four-inch pipes for bottom heat. The pots are about IG inches above the pipes, and the temperature is generally about 80'^ to SS''. The pots are plunged side by side, the rims touching each other, and occupy a space of about 9 feet in length by 14 inches in width, or little more than a square yard. They are 14. inches below the top of the pipes, but the plants do not appear to suffer from the heat. The pots are well drained, at least one-fiith being filled v.dth drainage, and then filled about one-half or rather more, and allowed to get warm before planting. The plants being small, I use Ught soil at fii-st, adding, as they increase in size, more sou of a dilferent kind — about equal proportions of horse- droppings and fibi-y loam — till the pots are heaped up. The plants are trained up without stopping till about half up the roof, they are then stopped, and I consider one of the means of success is not to stop much afterwards. The T^ay I proceeded last year was to let the shoots gxo\r pretty much as they liked, till they v?ere 3 or 4 feet long. I then tied them in and stopped them, cutting out other shoots that had done bearing. Tlie result was, 1 cut exactly one hundred more Cuenmbers than the year before, when the plants were stopped in the usual way a joint or two beyond the fruit. The next point is, as often as the top soil is matted with, roots, to dig it out with a trowel to the depth' of 4 or 5 inches, and to add fresh soO, perhaps four or five times during the season. In a very few days the fresh soil is fiUed with a new batch of roots. The plants now want something stronger than plain water ; for this purpose I use nothing biit sheep's-dung, and give it in pretty strong doses, always warm, each pot having at least half a gallon per day when the plants are in full growth. I syringe fi-eely of an afternoon, and shut up closely for an hoiu- or two, to keep red spider at a distance, leaving air on at night, the temperature then rarely being more than 65°. The plants never required smoking but once during last summer, although the house was full of various plants. The foliage of the Cucumber plant is never large, and i never shade in any way, but give air freely. The house has a fixed roof, with a wall hollow at the top, and slides for ventilation. The front lights oi^en outwards in the usual way, and are 3 feet 1 inch high, including frame. — J. T. Ckeed, Gardener to F. Swaniviclc, Esq. EELATIVE MEBITS OF WOOD AND METALS FOE HOETICLTLTUEAL STEUCTITEES. By the removal of the duty upon glass, and the admission of foreign glass into general use, its increased consumption, consequent on the reduction in pi-ice, is in no way more manifest than in the multiplied number of glass houses devoted to horticultural purposes. Cheap glass no doubt has — in addition to the increased wealth of the country, coupled with the growing taste for gardening — produced this change; so that it is, perhaps, not too much to afiirm that the number of glass structures in gardens is fourfold what it was twenty years ago. Besides, glass has been used in a variety of ways never before con- templated, and its adaptability to other purposes for which it has not yet been tried is unquestionable, but time will , demonstrate its utility in these respects. It has also been used for purposes for which novelty, rather than utility, seem to be its only merit; and oljjects in glass seem to vie with those in metals as regards then- colossal proportions, while in the decorative arts it plays an important part. My object, however, is not to call attention to its value in the latter point of riew, nor even to the question of which description of glass is the best for general horticultural purposes (a subject which is well worthy of being further discussed, and which may with advantage be gone into on another occasion), but to inquire which is the best way to use the glass so plenti- fully supplied by our manufacturers, so as to combine beaiity in design with economy and utihty ; oi', in other words, to 92 JOTJENAL OF HOETICTJLTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ February 2, I8G4. endeaTOur to ascertain what substance in addition to glass it is most prudent to employ to insure the result here sought for. Important as the subject is, I am far from certain that it has received the attention it deserves from the general public. Every one has, or is suspected to have, a bias more or less strong in favour of the substance he advises to be used in addition to glass, and it is only when the comparative merits of opposing elements are duly weighed that a just view of the matter can be arrived at ; for, like the shoe- maker of old who declared " there was nothing in the world lite leather," we may all of us be more or less prejudiced in favoui' of one or the other of the matei-ials made use of to give the glass structure the desu-ed form and consistency. I, therefore, invite all interested in the matter to come forward and record their views on the subject ; and if their opinions be backed by facts bearing on the question, of so much the more value wUl these be. I must confess that my own opinion on the matter is far from being a settled one, for I do not think that the material best suited for producing an ornamental efl'ect has yet been sufBciently tried to allov.r i,of a fair conclusion being arrived at ; but what I have seen and observed of the eifects of the svtbstances used to give form to glass structures, I will endeavour to state impartially. Taking, therefore, the matter in its more confined sense, all ■we want to know is, What is the best material to fix glass to, so as to form a useful, good structure, adapted to horticul- tural pui'poses ? and our inquiries wOl be met by those who urge the various claims of timber, u'on (plain and galvanised), zinc, and copper, with probably an occasional claim from some one advocating the superiority of something else. TijiEEE. — Commencing with this, I believe it is not too much to say, that at least nine-tenths of the glass houses now in use are framed of wood, and glazed in the same material; besides which, all the oldest structures of the kind are of wood, and I believe almost aU of the cheaper class of iouses are so constructed : some of course are of indifferent quality, and evidently not destined to last long, whUe others iave done service for several generations. It is difficult to say how long a well-constructed wooden house ought to last, as so much depends on other cii'cumstances than the mere ■build thereof. The oldest glass house that I ever recollect seeing was an ordinary lean-to vinery, differing but Uttle in outline and in other respects from the generality of those erected at the present day, excepting, perhaps, in a greater liberality in the use of timber, and an almost total dis- regard of paint; yet this house was doing duty tolerably vrell at the time I saw it, and was said to have done so for a hundred and twelve years. The timbers appeared to be all oak, and promised to last for fifty years more, excepting, perhaps, at some of the mortices and other places where the water lodged instead of running off. This was the oldest house having a glass roof that I ever remember to have seen or had an authentic account of; but I have known older houses having only glass fr-onts. This, however, is not bearing on the subject any ftirther than, as they also were glazed in wooden frames, the durability of timber for the purpose, when the work is properly done, is beyond doubt ; but whether timber is reaUy more durable than iron, zinc, or copper, remains to be seen. It will, however, be advisable in the first place to record some ot the other merits of glazed timber houses, as well as some of their defects, more especiaUy when placed in juxtaposition with iron, or houses of that class. Taking, therefore, the qualifications of the best deal as a substance in which to fix glass for horticultural purposes, not the least of its merits is that such a house is cooler in summer and warmer in winter. The nonconducting proper- ties of the timber, as well as its greater bulk, give it this advantage over metallic houses ; besides which, there is cer- tainly less breakage of glass from natui'al causes, and the necessity for annual painting is not so great as in the case of a wrought-iron structure. On the other hand, it may, perhaps, be said that a wooden house is never so ornamental as an iron one, the latter being more light and capable of assuming many shapes incompatible with wooden houses. But in this view I by no means entirely coincide, as straight lines in mechanical works seem to me as legitimate as curved ones, and a gre;'' -ariety in form and feature may be secured without departi;-;- from straight lines — witness the many changes that may be effected by plain ordinary bricks ; and a timber-glazed house may be so contrived in shape and other features, as to produce an object as beautiful as ever was formed of metallic substances. Although these have certain claims on om- notice to be detailed hereafter, I must not dismiss wooden houses without pointing out the great advantages that timber possesses over metals in the way of afi'ording easy and convenient ventilating contrivances, and the facdity with which creepers and other plants can be fastened to it, while it wiU endure with less harm the neglect of paint which we often meet vnth, and which is certainly attended with much worse consequences to an iron house than to a wooden one. Wkought Ikon. — As a material to form the framework of a glass structm-e, this has certainly failed in giving the satisfaction it was expected to do. I mean wrought iron not galvanised. I cannot precisely state how long it is since it was first employed to any extent in hothouse-building, but it certainly was in higher repute from 1830 to 1835 than it has ever been since. In the curvilinear shape thei'e was much to admu-e in its light appearance, but the tendency which it had to throw otf the putty, and the consequeijt necessity for fr-equent painting, soon caused it to lose many of its best friends ; and it fell into still greater disfavour when it became known that an ordinai-y wear of some fifteen years had completely destroyed, beyond the possibility of repafr, a couple of the best-built houses of the kind in the neighbovn'hood. Those houses were at one time looked on as models in their way, being composed entfrely of fron bars of moderate thickness, bent to the curve of a segment of a cfrcle 60 or more feet in diameter, and presenting, I believe, a curved face of about 24 feet. There were no i-afters, the bars being kept at proper distances apart by ordinaa-y fence wfre passing through them longitudinally, and at distances of 2 or 3 feet apart. The extreme lightness of this class of houses gained them many friends at the time, but, as above stated, the liability of the iron to corrode and throw off' both putty and paint rendered it anything but an easy matter to keep all in good repaii', and neglect for a time led to the total destruction of the houses in question. This rapid destruction of houses expected to last several gene- rations, coupled with some other disadvantages attending fron hothouses, led in a great measiu'e to thefr abandonment, untU the process of galvanising that metal in greater quantity than before again brought iron hothouses before the public. Very great improvements in the construction of such build- ings have taken place, and it is not too much to assert that still further improvement may be made. However, as the past and present rather than the future is the subject, let us inqufre how far iron hovisas have superseded those made of wood, and in what particular points the one article has claims on om- notice greater than the other. As stated in the early part of this article, u-on is seldom used except in curves, domes, arches, and other forms to which timber cannot well be worked ; and, in fact, there are several ornamental forms in which this metal can be used when the more common material would not answer ; but it is occasionally employed straight, and sometimes even moveable lights are made of galvanised u'on, but more generally the roofs of such houses ai-e fixed and the ventilat- ing contrivances adapted elsewhere. For sliding lights there are some advantages attending galvanised iron — it does not swell and contract with the changes of weather ; but these advantages, are, perhaps, more than counterbalanced by the greater extremes of heat and cold which it presents in the summer and winter periods, and the difficulty which exists in repafring any part that may be accidentally broken is another drawback. I once knew a fine range of Grape and other forcing-houses fonned of galvanised iron lights with wooden rafters, and in which the whole of the fi-amcwork of the lights was iron galvanised before it was fitted together ; the consequence was that the ends of each bar' when cut presented the plain iron, which after being soldered to the head or end piece corroded, and in those lights which were made to slide up and down some of the heads were actually pulled off. Such a misfortune could not have happened to a wooden light except when in the last stage of decay, and even then the difficvdty in finding a person to repafr it v.'ould not be so great as in the other case. I believe, however, that a better class of lights are occasionally formed and subjected February 2, 18M. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICTJLTUEE ANT) COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 93 to the galvanising process after having been made : this secures them from corrosion if the process has been well done. There are some very good examples of houses made in this way, and in appearance they are certainly lighter than those made of wood. J. Eobson. (^To he continued.) THE OECHAED-HOUSE CONTEOVEESY. The onward progress of every controversy (such is human nature), inevitably draws with it some little bitterness and hard words ; the friendly games of the " Heelanders " often resulted in hard blows, and the conjugal questioning of Mr. and Mrs. Naggleton resulted in open and undisguised warfaxe. So it has been in this matter of orchard-houses ; and yet ought not each side to have better thoughts of their opponents than they seem to have ? Surely I may question whether my neighbour Brown, who has run up a "gagabo" on the top of his house, which looks like an overgrown mustai'd-pot, is really the fii-st architect in Europe ; or whether Tomkins, who has sent to the Exhibition a pre- Eaphaelite drawing of a mouse-whisker, is equal to Millais or Holman Hunt, without being myself considered a fool, or without my considering the said Brown or Tomkins as knaves. Therefore I hope that one may throw in a word or two on the subject without exposing oneself to being con- sidered such a character, or without laying any imputation on those who differ from my views. In all points of controversy it is ever desirable to fix the meaning of terms. The old story of the two shields is often enacted ; and after days and months of dispute it is found that we are disputing about totally different things. What, then, is meant by an orchard-house ? It seems strange that we should have need to come to so simple a question as this ; but that there is a necessity for it I am qviite sure. If I reooUect aright, when they were first started the idea was that hedges were to form the back or sides, or both ; and indeed I have seen them so constructed. This was afterwards modified, and rough boarding or brickwork sub- stituted ; but the idea was never, I think, entertained that heating was to be used ; and I mention this the rather because I have seen that where the greatest praise has been given and the greatest success obtained has been where heating is used. Thus I saw a paper the other day by Mr. Quintin Eead, and I at once concluded we should hear something upon the subject that might perhaps overthrow one's opinion ; but when I came to the directions as to the amount of heat, of course one saw that it was not an orchard- house at all about which he was writing. Finding the garden of a brother clergyman all at sixes and sevens some months ago: "Ah, C ! are you building there ?" "Oh, an orchard-house." " Well, you have got it tolerably high, and I should think that it would hold a good deal of cold air, and your blossoms will catch an early frost perhaps." " Ah, but I am going to have some sort of heat in it." " And so you caE that an orchard-house ? " And so I generally find it. Then, I think, the original notion was that the trees were to be grown in pots; but this I find to be frequently abandoned and the trees planted out. So it was at Lady Dorothy NeviU's. There the orchard-house was originally filled with plants in pots ; but they were not found to answer, and so Mr. Vair has altered it, and planted the trees out. "And now," was my question to him, " what is your opinion concerning it ? Would you obtain better fruit if your trees were trained, and it were made more like a Peach-house ?" " Unquestionably." When, then, the success of orchard-houses is so much spoken of, I think it weU that the question should be asked. What do you mean by that term ? Is it one pwr et simple ? or is it a make-believe ? Do you put heat into it or not ? Because if you do, I venture to submit it does not merit the term; and if this be so, then a great many instances of their success may be quietly shelved. Then comes the question, " Do they pay ?" This, I think, ha,s been very- satisfactorily disposed of in your columns. We have to recollect that there is not only the first cost (no inconsiderable matter where so large a number of trees is' required), but the continued care, the watering, the pinching, the mulching, &c., that must take place, and the fumigating, I presume, for the trees are very subject to the attacks of aphides and other " monsters." Where it forms no inconsiderable portion of one's business to seU trees, of course the orchard-house will well repay any amount of trouble that you may bestow; but where the amateur undertakes its care, he must regard it, I think, as a toy, and a very expensive toy too. We have seen during the past summer orchard-house trees brought to our various exhibitions, and I do not think that their appearance was likely to make one single convert to the system of culture. The fruit was small, and looked stony, skinny, and uninviting ; and after all, " the proof of the pudding is in the eating." I was the other day at a nurseryman's, one of the best fruit-growers in England — one who has enriched our gardens with many new varieties of fi-uits ; and I said to him, " What think you about these orchard-houses ?" " I will teU you," he replied ; " I have had no less than three collections of trees grown by amateurs of large means to dispose of, because the thing is a complete failure." I know myself two other cases in which the "notion" has been abandoned. " At one time," was Mr. 's observation, " I was strongly tempted to go into their growth, and am veiy glad now that I did not : but the thing is dying out. You may be sure that at Chiswick was right when he said in the beginning of the attempt, ' It won't do ! it won't do !' I was amused," he said, " on saying to F at C , re- garding some Apricots in one of these houses, ' Why, mine on the waU are all over!' 'Oh!' was the reply, 'it is so much colder under glass, and ours are later.' This may be an advantage, but it does not seem to me to be one." When I say orchard-houses are dying out, I dare say I may be met by the reply, " Oh ! but how many persons are building them ?" Yes, doubtless, especially my very dear brother, to whom the notion is a tempting one ; but how long will these new ones last in their present condition? for how many years will the same persons continue their orchard- house-growing ? or wiU they not find it neoessai-y to abandon them one by one ? I tliink this is the point, and no strong assertions, no hard names, will mend the matter. I have never ventured to give an opinion from personal experience, for I cannot afford an orchard-house ; but having an oppor- tunity from time to time of seeing various gardens, and of hearing the comments of practical men upon the subject, one is surely serving the cause of horticiUture by letting these opinions be known, and perhaps by so doing wiU save the pocket of many an ardent amateur to whom the idea is very tempting, but who wiU find the reality very disap- pointing. A great authority has recently gone off into raptures on Orange-culture and prophecies of the days "when the Gardens of the Hesperides will be revived in England." Being somewhat more practical and less imagi- native, I venture to doubt the success of even less difficult matters than Oranges, and am borne out in my view of the case by many who have large experience in most matters connected with horticulture. — D., Deal. [Our correspondent is right in his definition of an orchard- house, and we always have defined it as "an unheated glazed structure for the growth of fniit trees as standards," whether in pots or planted ovit is immaterial. We entirely differ from him in considering such structures mere toys. We can refer him to amateurs who grow Grapes, and Peaches, and Nectarines in large quantities unfailingly, whilst on the open waUs the two last-named fruits are too uncertain to be cared about. We have ourselves grown Grapes and Apricots in a similar house unfailingly, whereas on the open walls the Apricots rarely escaped the spring frosts. — Eds.] PEESEEVING- THE BUDS OF GOOSEBEEEY BUSHES. As some of your readers may wish to preserve their crop of Gooseberries in the coming season, I send you a few hints which may enable them to do so. To preserve Gooseberry bushes from the attacks of Bull- finches, scatter slacked lime on them freely during a drizzling rain, and should a heavy shower foUow and wash off some of the Hme, repeat the process. 94, JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. [ Febraary 2, ISM. I have tried cotton and threads of all sorts and colours, pieces of paper, and feathers, &c., all to no piu'pose, but always foxmd the lime effectual, and I have never missed having a good crop of Gooseberries on about seven hundred bushes, except when they have suffered from late frosts. Peas ajid Beans may be preserved from mice, and Radish and all kinds of Cabbage seed from birds, by being dipped in moist red lead before they are sown. Bullfinches live on the buds of CuiTant and Gooseberry bushes, all kinds of Plums and Black Thorn buds, and on Larch buds during the autumn and winter. What do they live on in summer? — J. S. Kenway, Mo.rl:et Gardener, Baiheaston. CACTACE^ CULTUEE. (Concluded from page 70.) If it be inconvenient to place the plants in July in a greenhouse they may be removed out-doors to a situation not exposed to wind, and perfectly open to the south, so that they may receive the sun's rays. They are best placed about a foot from a south wall. It is desirable to stand the pots on a bottom imiaervious to worms, and one may easily be made by placing an inch of lime-riddlings on the soU and beating them tir-m with a wooden rammer, and another layer of the same made firm wOl prevent worms effecting an entrance through the bottoms of the pots. If worms get in, the di'ainage is soon choked, the soil becomes sodden, the roots graciuaUy disappeai-, the wood never ripens, iiowers cannot be looked for, and often the plant dies. Any pot, therefore, in which the soU remains very wet for weeks with- out being watered must have the drainage examined, the soU, if som-, removed, and the plant carefully set in a fan- way of recovery. The pots may be plunged in coal ashes, or a little moss may be put between them, for the sun not imfrequently heats them and destroys the roots. Whilst out of doors it is only necessary to keep the soil about the plants moderately moist, and if they are plunged they will not need much water, in fact none if the weather be at aU showery. They must not be exposed to heavy dashing rains, otherwise they are sure to suffer : therefore they ought to be protected from these, for which purpose a boarded or felt roof will be found useful. In September remove them into a greenhouse, and place in a light airy situation. They tnxist not be huddled toge- ther in a corner, nor kept in the darkest and vei-y worst situation the structm-e affords. Such positions can be more advantageously occupied with Begonias, and such plants as need but little light in winter ; at aU events, it is the worst place for Cacti conceivable. During winter they will not need watering more than once a-week, and not at all if they be on a moist floor. An ordinary greenhouse temperat\u-e suits them in wintei-, or 40° as a minimum and 50° as a maximvim from fii-e heat. After New Year's-day the plants may be introduced, a few at intervals, into the forcing- house, or any house ranging from 50° to G0° with fire heat. Water must be given regularly twice a-week after the plants show for flower, and an occasional watering with Ucfuid manure will materially increase the size of the flowers. When in bloom they may be removed to the sitting or dra-n-ing-room, where the grandem- of the flowers is highly appreciated, and more than compensates for the little trouble bestowed in their cultivation. Unfortunately the majority of the Cacti are not fragrant ; but I know not whether that is not an advantage, for plants having strong scents are very un- pleasant in rooms where the inmates are not of a strong con- stitution. Judging from their effects on myself, I am per- suaded that powerfully-scented flowers are prejudicial to health when then- odour is long inhaled. After flowering, the plants should be placed in heat as be- fore, and gi'own on until July, when they are to be removed to the greenhouse or out of doors, as circumstances may render advisable. Prior to placing them in heat they should be potted ; but it is not necessary to repot them eveiy year, unless large plants are desu-ed, when an annual potting and copious waterings with manure water during the pei-iod of growth vnU insure fine annual growths. If, on the con- trary, the object is to keep them small, prune after flower- ing, cutting out most of the old shoots, so that there may be an annual supply of young shoots for flowering in the fol- lowing season. Plants not placed in the forcing-house will flower in the greenhouse in April or May. They will require to be kept in a vinery at work for a month or six weeks to complete their growth, after which they are to be put outside or transfeiTcd to a light airy situation in the gi-eenhouse. This mode of ti-eatment is only suited for the tail Cacti — i. c, the flat.stemmed and the triangular, and of which the flowers vary in colour from crimson to rose, pink, creamy white, iSc. These may be had in bloom at various periods. Plants which are requu-ed to flower in September are placed in a, forcing-house, ranging from 55° to 60°, in the first week in December, and receive very little ^fater the first fortnight, the quantity being gradually increased as they advance in growth. All the young shoots are stopped in the middle of February, and these soon become matiire; for after stopping, the supply of water is gradually decreased until they become quite dry, which is done in order to bring the plants into a state of rest. In March they are placed in a cool but not shaded situation in the gi'eenhouse, keeping them dry at the roots ; and in the first week in August they are replaced in the stove, and duly watered as they come mto fiower. For flowering in August the plants are placed in the stove in the first week in January, treating them the same as those for September bloom, only they ai-e put a fortnight later in the greenhouse to rest, and again removed to the stove in the last week in July. Those flowering in August have the shoots perfectly ripened, and are put to rest in the greenhouse in October. These flower again in the spring. Those flowering in September will also flower in spring, and may be had in bloom a month later by placing them in heat a month after the first batch, which, if introduced into the stove in the last week in January, will flower in Mai-ch ; the others, consequently, would flower in the end of April. If plants with well-ripened shoots be placed in a house having the temperatui'e above named in the middle of January they wUl come into bloom in the beginning of March. If these plants are removed to the sitting or draw- ing-room to bloom, they must be kept in heat for a month after flowering in order to ripen the youxg wood and dry up the moisture, the watering being gradually diminished until they are brought into a state of rest. They are then placed in the greenhouse, and will flower again in October if placed in heat flve weeks prior to that period. If more plants be introduced in the middle of February they will flower in the end of April, and if then prvxned, dried, and put to rest they may be seen blooming again in November. Plants thus ta-eated are potted at all seasons just as they rec[uire it, always taking care to di'ain well, so that the manure water may pass rapidly off, for they shoidd be sup- plied vnth weak manure water at every alternate watei-ing' after the flower-buds appear until the process of drying-otf commences, when water only is employed. The above mode of cultivation may by some be considered troublesome ; but superior growth and abimdance of bloom never yet were had without extra cai'e, and plants are superior or indifferent flowering just as they receive good or bad treatment. I have had plants of EpiphyUmn speciosum and E. Jenlvinsoni producing one hrmtfred blossoms each at two years old, and at three years they produced between two and three hundred. In 1852 I saw a plant of E. Rus- seUiauum on a Pereskia stem, three years fr-om the graft, and it measured 2 feet 6 inches through, and had no less than three hiindred blooms upon it, and a finer specimen for dinner-table decoration could not be wished for, not, indeed, for any decorative purpose whatever. The plant, however, had been inarched and was a good plant to begin with. It received the ordinary heat of a vinery after flower- ing until the Grapes were ripe, when it was removed to the greenhouse and kept there near the glass and dry until March, when it was placed in the vinery and came into bloom in .4.pril. It was potted in sandy loam with pieces of charcoal intei-mixed. This mode of treatment must not, however, be iiractised with the smaller-growing kinds, being, as already stated, only suited for the vigorous and free-blooming sorts. The smaller species of Mammillarias, Echinocactus, &c., require a freer soil, and, to do them iiill justice, more liberal treat- Febraary 2, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOETIOtrLTtrBB AND OOTTA&B GAEDBNBR. &5 ment even than the others ; but as it is no 'more than is given to plants in general, no one need cavil at the trouble. They shoiild be potted in April in the following compost : — Sandy peat, light turfy loam, and Ume rubbish from old buildings in equal parts, with a liberal admixture of sharp sand. Perfect drainage ia provided for, and the soil used in a moderately dry state, so that it will not bind with the hand in potting. The pots used should not be larger than are sufficient to contain the roots comfortably. After potting the plants should be placed in a hotbed, plunging them in tan, the heat being 85°. The temperature of the air should range from 65° with fire heat to 85° by day with sun heat. Little water should bo given until they commence growing, and then copious suppUes may be afforded and gentle syringings overhead every sunny afternoon. The atmo- sphere should at all times be kept moist. Air must be given early, and the house closed by 3 p.m. They should be shaded fr'om bright sun, for strong sun at this stage tends to cause maturation, instead of which the object now sought for is growth. Continue this treatment until the middle of July; then gradually harden them so as to be dried off by the end of August, when they should be placed in a light airy situation in a warm greenhouse, where they must be 0 0 0 0 0 6 3 0 1 6 2 0 3 1 0 3 0 8 0 3 1 6 0 0 5 0 1 6 2 0 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 S G 0 2 0 5 0 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 Leeks bunch Lettuce scure Mushrooms puttie Mu.itd. taking care, however, that this is first done in dry weather. February 2, 1864. ] JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTTIEE AJTD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 103 Oehamental GR4S3B3C.4. i'O.-Tlie following twenty are about 2 fee WkU and loss. Wo have not named any of the taller species. Agilops cylindrlca; Agrostis dulcls, nebuloaa.pluiuoaa ; Briza major; Bromus bruce- (ormis ; Cbrvsurus aureus ; Coix laohryma ; Kleusme oligostaohya , Elymus caput-Medusee ; Eragrostis elegans (Love Grass); Hordeum jubatum; Lagurus ovatus: Panicum concinuum ; I'aspalum elegans ; Penniaetum longistylum; Setaria maoroch-ojta ; Stipa capUlata, pennata (Feather Grass); TripsacuQi dactyloide s. Ceocus not Floweking {rr!/c5i*0.-There are so many aorta of Crocus that we really cannot guess which it is that yon refer to. The Crocus Ultes aUght, rich, deep soil, and from the data given by you it would be diiflcuU to surmise why it has ceased to bloom. Do not cut the foliage off it tiU it decays naturally, for if you do the bulbs will become weak and leas likely to flower. Try what a little rich top-dressing will do for it De4d Pigs Boried in Vine-boedf.k {A. B. (7.).-The reading of your letter has made us quite qaalmy. Twenty-mne pigs trom 6 to 10 stone weight buried in a Vine-border within 3 feet of where Vines were planted lastspring!!! Done wrong? Yes, most decidedly. Out with them all at once, or your Vines will suffer for it. Nothing can be more opposed to .he nature and requirements of the Vine than carrion of any sort. We do not envy the person who is to be resurrectionist. Let the stinkmg mass be entirely removed and the place filled up with proper T, ine-border compost and never listen to any one who recommends dead animals to be put into a Vine-border. How any one can suppose that the roots of Vines can make use of such tilth is a mystery to us. Fuchsias - PELAaaoNioils - Verhesas [A Novice, Mlddksbormgli-on - Tee3).-Six Fuchsias : Guidmg Star, Prince of Orange, auem of Hanovcl , SouvenU- de Chiswick, Minnie Banks, Comet, Six Fancj Pelargonmms Acme Arabella Goddard, Cloth of Silver, Madame S-iinton Dolby, Sarah Turner, Celestial, nix- Terlenaa: Geant des Batailles, L'Avenir de Salient, General Simpson, Fairest of the Fair, II Trovatore, Madame Maltras, ^ FaniTiNO ViKES in Pots i.-j a Gkeenhohse (ffyesiiJc). — We do no think you will obtain a double quantity of Grapes, or anything like if, by the arrangement you describe. Tou would obtain better Grapes and more of them by making a border to your greenhouse and planting out the V ines for a permanenev. Moreover, you would do this with far less trouble than with two sets, or eveu one set, in pots. The arrangement we have recom- mended is quite compatible with making the house a wintering place lOr bedding plants. There is plenty of time to ripen the Grapes you name a.ter May. The best time to apply fire heat to assist them is when the weather is cold and dull, and when the Grapes are colouring and ripenmg. rjie Vines would winter behind a wall as you propose, and you could easily pro- tect them from frost with but little covering. The principal danger will lie in spring, when the sap begins to flow, and Vines are then most susceptible of injury from frost Vines in the Crimea and on the shores of the Caspian are ripened under a hotter sun than here, and consequently are better able to withstand frost than those ripened in a cool vinery. We do not UmK you will be able to ripen your resting set of Vines well by the method you propose. You might do so against a hot wall or in your orchard-house ; but we do not recommend the arrangement you propose, and are certain you would get better fruit, and more of it at less cost, by making a border to your house and planting the Vines out. ^ Boiler [A Constant Header).— No advice was asked in your last Bote —you only praised, in no measured terms, your newly-invented boUer. We do not want a model ; but if a drawing of the boiler reaches us, we flUaU give our opinion, favourable or unfavourable, without any reserve. Weeping Walnut Trees ((?. Alhop).-Yoix had better write to some leading nurseryman. The book you mention is not a safe guide. METKOSIDEEOS FLCIRIBUNDA AND COEONILLA GLAUC4 (CTflKrfiP).— They are very hardy greenhouse plants, and ought to hare done well in a tem- perature not under 10=. The losing of the leaves and ftowers is a mystery to US Perhaps an unhealthy atmosphere from something on the heating- pipes, an escape from a flue, stagnant moisture, or too great a degree of dryness is the cause. A little eitra heat may cause the piants to break afresh ; but we would not hurry them, but give the increase gradually, um the frost get at them in the severe weather? The Marie Louise Pear will do in the greenhouse against the wall provided you place no plants in front to shade it. Give plenty of air, and no more artificial heat m winter than will just keep out frost. Why not try the Peach ? CiNERiRlAS Blind (P. Di.i:o«).— Unless the plants have met with some great misfortune, we should say that you will have flowers if you wait lor them. Perhaps you have given them too large pots. For winter and spring- flowering it is as well that the plants are not above 6 or 7 inches m diameter. We except from this nile those plants that were grown strong in autumn, shifted into large pots by the beginning of September, and had the pots like a cheesecake with roots before the first ten days in October. These would throw up strong and large heads, but for younger plants small pots are best in winter. Proposed Boiler (i?. 2).).— Even with your present upright cylindrical boiler you will obtain most of the heat trom the fuel by carrying the flue through or round the house, and, if the heat be too dry, use evapo- rating-pans of water in the mode you most approve of yourself. Even in that case it would be advisable to have a damper in the flue near the boiler, in order by that and the ash-pit door to regulate the draught in the flue, and concentrate the heat more about the boiler. We have known such up- right boilers to do very well ; but we prefer them of the sugar-loaf conical form, something similar to what you have shown by your inner lines, but ■then we would have the outside to resemble the inside in shape. By your proposed plan, with perpendicular outsides and conical-shaped inside, you obtain what we consider two great drawbacks— a great body of water at the top of the wedge-shape just opposite the flow-pipe, and no water at all at the sharo end of the wedge-shape, where the boiler would rest on the fire- bars. This with strong fii'es would soon cause the bottom to be bnrned out. We have known boilers requu-e ever so many fresh sets of grate-bars, and the boiler would burn out as well as the bars but for the water inside. You should have given us the reference to Mr. Pierce's plan. Stems of Seed Clovee (B. B. TT.).- We never but once knew these use d for any other purpose than littering cattle. The exception was when fod der was very scarce, and the stems were then cut up in making chaff. Melbooene Heeo Potato (G. .4.).— We do not know where this can be ■Obtained. Spring Cdttinos op Geeaniohs (Agnes). — 11 your young GeranlamB are so leggy and you wish to increase them, the sooner you top them and put the cuttings in the better. This will cause the plants cut down to come stocky, and enable the shoots to be strong before planlinu out. The larger the cutting, other things being equal, the lar,;er will the young plant be, and therelore the more show will it make oui of doors when planted out. The larger the cutting the less nursing and growing will the plants need after being struck. Six inches is a good si'.!e for a spring cutting. We often make them of li inch when we want to increase the stock ; in fact, every joint with a bud at the base of the leaf may be made into a cutting. But these require more nursing to got them of a good size, and ({reat care to prevent them damping. We have made spring cuttings of Golden Chain very small indeed ; but if you have not had much experience you had better not' have the cuttings less than from 2 to 3 inches long. As to the heat, that must be as you can get it. All these now will strike quickest if placed in bottom heat and the top of the cuttings exposed, with no covering except the glass sas'h, and if the cuttings are 18 inches from the glass they will need little shading. With plenty of light these Scarlet Geraniums will stand any amount of heat, when striking and when growing too— say 80° bottom heat and from 60' to 75° top heat. They will not draw and become lanky from mere beat, like the Pelargonium tribe, provided they have plenty of light and air. Of course, when your variegated Geramums are striking, you will need scarcely any air during the day, and if a skllr from the syringe in a very bright day will prevent flagging, that is better than shading. A little air should be given at night, however, unless when very frosty. When struck, pot off and grow on in heat, for if you wish those spring-itruck to be equal to the autumn-struck, you must get them a good size and then harden them off before planting them out, and be sure they are well watered before planting. The plants cut back will break all the sooner and make fine plants sooner if they have a temperature of from 60" at night to 70° and more during the day. The stragghug iom Thumb will make fine plants for the greenhouse so treated. For cuttmgs see last week's " Doings of the Week." Back Number ( W., Cardiff).— \l you send four postage stamps with your address yon can have No. 52 free by post. Plants to Screen a Low Wall U Subscriber).— ks you only want about thirty plants, and desire as much variety as possible, you might have in your back row one common and one Portugul Laurel, and the same ol Laurustinus, Green Holly, Common Yew, Ligustrum sinense. Arbutus, Alaternus, and Phillyrea, with purple and white Lilacs, Ribes sangmneum, a Laburnum, and one or two pillar Roses. In the front platit Cotoueaster microphylla, Berberis japonica and B, aquifolia, Aucuba japonica, Gold and SUvcr-edged HoUv, the Fan Yew, two or three kinds ot Rhododendrons, common and Majorca Box, and Griselinialittoralls as evergreens; and Deutzia scabra, Forsythia viridissima, and Weigela rosea as deciduous, -with a few Koses If the roots of your shrubs find their way into the vegetable border they may be stooped by cutting a narrow ditch or drain as deep as they descend, and fllliug this up with a sort of rough concrete well rammed m. We have shut out the roots of large trees from flower-beds by this plan, and recommeud it to you. Names of Plants (ff. Dicier). -It is Physalis alkekengi, or common Winter Cherry. ____^_^ POULTEY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. PKIVATE MAEKS ON POWLS, AND THE KULE AS TO OWNEESHIP. The question of disqualifying fowls exhibited with private marks, which Mr. HevTitt has suggested in your Journal, is certaiitly deserving of consideration. As far as the Judges are concerned I have no doubt these marks are a positive nuisance ; for, although in the great majority ofmstances they hare not the slightest influence on the decisions, yet in some cases they afford a pretest for complamt, which disappointment is only too willing to lay hold of. The real obstlole to their aboUtion wiB be the reluctance of exhi- bitors to give up the means of identifying their birds; and most of us must have heard of cases where, by the aid ot private marks, fowls misplaced or stolen at exhibitions have been recovered by the owners. There are various modes of marking fowls. Perhaps the most fi-equent, especiaUy in the Game classes is a slit or „„+ i„ +i,o „ns+,ril. So common is this method that it can cut in the nostril. So common is hardly be considered a distinctive mark. There may be subtle distinctions in the outline of the cut, as Mr. Hewitt asserts, although I cannot remember that I ever noticed such to be the case. u r, „ •„ To disqualify for visible marks alone would be an in- adequate measure, for on the assumption that a Judge is base enough to act from coUusion or a corrupt motive, a secret ma?k concealed by the feathers would be mfimtely more dangerous than a visible one. If, therefore, a /-ule ^s introduced on this point, let it be both comprehensive and sti-ingent, extending to aU private mai-ks wherever they can be detected. It il true they might often exist without being discovered, but the knowledge that discovery would inevftably lead to disqualification, might at last mduce exhibitors to abandon them altogether. Should the committees of poultry shows be disposed to adopt such a rule as Mr. Hewitt suggests, there axe several 104 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTtTRE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEK. [ February 2, 18C4. diiEculties whicli they will have to encounter. In the first place, it is not so easy as at first sight it may appear, to define a private mark, as it might easUy be made so as to present the appeai-anoe of accident rather than design. Secondly, the practice of mai-ting fowls has become so exceedingly common, that the sudden adoption of a dis- qualifying rule would, at least in the Game classes, almost amount to a degree of confiscation ; and committees, if at all tender-hearted, will not forget the advice of old Izaak Walton, who, instructing a disciple in the " gentle craft " how best to impale a living frog on the hook, expressed a wish that the operation should be performed " as mercifully as may be." Assuming, however, that all difficulties can be surmounted, I think it will be generally acknowledged that Mr. Hewitt's suggestion is a valuable one. As I have my pen in my hand, perhaps your coitc- spondent who writes under thenominis unilri-aot "Egomet" win excuse me if I take the liberty of pointing out, what appears to me, a misconception in his reply to Mr. WiUiams. He seems to assume that the exhibition of fowls is unjustifi- able, unless they are the absolute and bona fide property of the person by whom they are exhibited. If I am not greatly mistaken, the rule as to ownership has been rescinded long ago, on the ground that practically it was found to handicap the scrupulous for the benefit of the unscrupulous exhibitor. At any rate the practice of hiring or borrowing birds for exhibition is, 1 believe, quite notorious ; and if " Egomet " stigmatises as unscrupulous all exhibitors who ai-e not the absolute owners of the birds which ai-e shown in their names, he is casting Ms net very wide, and would, I imagine, be astonished at the magnitude of some of the fishes included in his haul. I am reluctant to revert to the exhausted subject of the Birmingham disqualified pens, but the allusion to the letter of Mr. Williams tempts me to a short reference to its bear- ings on the original charges or insinuations against Mr. Hindson. These insinuations were rather destitute of meaning, or they amounted to this — that the birds exhibited by Mr. Williams had been sent to Birmingham with Mr. Hindson's knowledge and consent, and that they had been exhibited in the name of a person under Mr. Hindson's con- trol. To these chai-ges, I replied that Mr. Hindson's conduct was entu-ely inconsistent with the imputation they conveyed. With me this conviction has never been shaken, and if there are any who still have a doubt on the subject, I would ask them to read the letter of Mr. WUliams published in your Journal last week. Whatever opinion may be formed on the question of ownership, the strong assertions by Mr. Williams that the birds are his own, and the tone of hostility to Mr. Hindson which pervades his letter, must strengthen the con- clusion, that whether it was justifiable or not in Mr. Wniiams to send these birds to Birmingham, Mr. Hindson had no knowledge, infiuence, or control in the matter. In fact, this charge, deficient in vitality from the first, has now, I think, totally collapsed ; and as I was, unfortunately, present at its birth, allow me to assist at its funeral obsequies, and gfflv by way of epitaph on its coffin, " Partunimt monies, nascitur ridicidus mus." — J. H. Smith. WHY DOES A PIGEON TUMBLE .p In a former notice of new varieties of Pigeons, I adverted to the propensity of some breeds to tumble or turn somer- saults, and asked if any one of my readers could give any description of the Lowtan or Ground Tumblers of India. I then proposed to offer a few remarks on what I believe to be the cause of a Pigeon's tumbling, and I shall now endeavour to fulfil that engagement. It may have been noticed by many, that Pigeons when sporting in the aii' often beat their wings together in a ioyous or excited manner, and rock themselves, as it were, up and down by the force of their strokes. This seems to be done in playfulness, in the exuberance of their happy life, and in course of time those being selected and bred from that moved their bodies most, a bi-eed was established that turned quite over, or Tumbling Pigeons. This was my first opinion, and I believed that Tumbler Pigeons threw somersaiilts for their own satisfaction ; however, since I have become possessed of a breed of extraordinary Tumblers, I have seen reasons for thinking that they at least do not do so for the fun of the thing, but rather because they cannot help it. For instance : I have many birds that tumble so often, and sometimes so consecutively, making from ten to thii-ty somersaults a-minute, that they quite tu-e themselves, and are obliged to settle from exhaustion, and when the fit comes on they seem quite unable to stop. These are called Air Tumblers, because they tumble in the air, and are valued according to the regularity of their tumbling, each back spring being separate and distinct. The highest number I have had a Pigeon perform was forty-five clear somersaults in a minute ; he was a large white cock with dark eyes. Some Pigeons tumble within doors — that is, in flying from one part of the loft to another, or in attempting to rise from the ground : these are called House Tumblers, and I fancy the Indian Lowtan or Ground Tiimbler must be something of this kind. If any one stUl supposes that a Pigeon can help tumbling, let him watch one of these birds attempting to fly up from the ground or floor when suddenly frightened ; how it tumbles in the attempt within a few inches of the ground, and again tries two or three times, only to turn over each time when it attempts to foUow its companions. When they have been on the gi-ound, out of doors, and desirous of flying to the roof, I have frequently seen one rise about 2 feet, then throw a somersault, rise a little higher, and, perhaps, again go over, all the time trying its best to reach the loof; and often in the struggle between the endeavour to fly on and the propensity to tumble, its movement becomes retrogade, when at one time the pro- pensity to tumble gains the ascendancy, and the sti-uggling Pigeon is obliged to come down ; while at another, the bird by a sudden exertion of will, overcomes the involuntary turning, and the Pigeon rather out of breath reaches the roof There is a third manner of tumbling called rolling ; in this, the Pigeon throws several somersaults, or back si>rings, in succession and conjointly, thus falling considerably whilst flying, sometimes rolling tDl they touch the earth, and not unfr-equently killing themselves. I had two young cocks which killed themselves on the spot in the past summer from this cause, and I have one that cannot come down from his perch except in a roll, and thi-ough this he often raps his head, the remembrance of which causes him to hesitate in coming down to feed. Of coui'se he would not be sale to let out. He is a Kite, heavily feather-footed, and a large bird. From these observations, I think it may reasonably be infeiTcd that tumbling is not under the control of the Pigeon, that it is an involuntary act, and that excitement increases it — thus they tumble most during the pairing and breeding time, and if suddenly startled, are often unable to rise at once fi-om the ground. It is probably owing to a want of proper balance between the pai'ts of the brain, the involuntary getting the mastery of the voluntary, and thus, like a giddy person, they fall back, the movements being similar to the action of a bird that has its neck broken, which, in its death struggles, turns heels over head. These curious Tumbling Pigeons are evidently the effect of careful breeding and selecting for a long com-se of years, as a Pigeon in a wild state would soon come to grief if it tumbled much. — B. P. Bkent, Dallington, near Robertsbridge, Sussex. THE GAME-COCK CASE. On looking over the different papers, letters, justifications, and explanations that have appeared in yoiu: columns now for some weeks past, I am utterly at a loss to discover one single loophole that will throw a gleam of light on this very questionable transaction. All is mysteiy and obscurity ; and you may rest assured, that were you to -write tUl doomsday you woidd never anive at the bottom of it, each succeeding attempted explanation rendering it more entangled and un- intelligible. I think, therefore, you may well let the matter die and be decently buried out of sight, enough having been written and published to make all parties concerned heartily ashamed of themselves ; and although no one has been con- victed, it may yet have the good ell'ect of deterring others from trying on the same dodge (to use a homely phrase) with impimity. No further good can be gained by keeping the February 3, 1864. ] JOUENAX OF HOETICULTITRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 105 matter open ; and harm is likely to arise by rendering ex- hibitors suspicious and dissatisfied, injuring the coming shows, and bringing into unnecessai-y and undeserved dis- repute the poultry fancy generally. — Tom Tit. FOUL BEOOD. During the heat of the foul-brood controversy, ere yet the "Calumet of Peace" had been puffed over it, I carefully abstained from expressing an opinion on either side, feeling convinced that such must necessarily be based more on theory than fact. Subsequent events, however, summoned me to come forward and take my place in the "witness- box," which occupation with other matters alone prevented me entering till now. Without further prelude I will pro- ceed to give my evidence, or, in other words, detail some- thing of foul brood as I have found it. My long-looked-for Ligurian stock arrived at last in the middle of AprU, but 1 was sorely disappointed to find on examination, that instead of being, as I had fondly hoped, from the earlier and salubrious chmate from which it came, at least a month in advance of my own, and fuU of bees ■with a good sprinkling of drones, it was by far the weakest, having not a tithe of the inmates of even my poorest hive, and what appeared to me — both novel and unaccountable — a vast amount of sealed brood quite in advance of the population. I of coui-se duly remonstrated with " A Devonshire Bee-keepee" as to my bad bargain, but he told me it was as good as he could send, and advised me to strengthen forthwith with brood-frames from my strong black colonies. To work I went, weakening the blacks by robbing them of their best-filled brood-frames, only to find on next examination that the yellows had receded into yet smaller proportions. Finding my attempts to strengthen with brood useless, I next bethought me of introducing in abundance the adult element ; but any strengthening from my own apiary could avail nothing, as the bees would only return to their old stance. Most opportunely a fi-iend sought my advice as to how he could remove two hives from his old to his new residence, only about a gun-shot apart, without weakening his hives by losing the bees. This was an enigma which at that season he could not well solve, but which I arranged to our mutual satisfaction by proposing to ex- change a Stewarton and a square-frame hive of mine for his two straw hives. As his residence was between two and three miles distant fr-om mine, the exchange was effected without loss of bees to either. His best hive, well stored with brood, worker as well as drones, I at once broke up, setting the combs into a frame-hive, and I subsequently removed the queen, and then by a mode of union I had never before attempted, although recommended in this Journal, and to which I may again possibly advert in some notes on the season, I added all to the Ligurian stock. The sequel was the massacre of every unfortunate yeUow-jacket and very rough handling to their queen, from which I saved her again and again, finding her always equally obnoxious to the blacks, till at last she expired in my hand. A report of this sad catastrophe was duly transmitted to Devonshire, when Mr. "Woodbury kindly proposed my sending Mm a black stock to be Ligurianised. This was accordingly done. The dwindling process meantime went on steadily, till the beginning of June found me at the miserable zero of one stock, and that but a sugar-fed "beat-out" of the end of last season. How I nursed this my sole survivor into seven may also be adverted to again. My next communica- tion from Devonshfre was, that my unfortunate black stock was on its way back not Ligurianised, but foulbroodised,* my friend having at last discovered the clue to all his misfortunes, as subsequently detailed in these pages. I was to burn bees, combs, frames, and slides, and coat the box with chloride of lime. Here was certainly rather a rough remedy ; it struck me at the time if doomed, why not * The stock in question was "foulbroodised" before it reached me, owiner, doubtless, to its containing some combs taken from the unfortunate LiguriaUB. It was also queenless ; and the royal cells it contained beinfi all abortive trom foul brood, I supplied it with a blacli queen and returned it, not liltinfij to perform the unthankful office of ezecutioner on my friend's bees, and fancying also, what turned out to be the case, that he might feel inclined to gire them a chance of recovery, if such a thing had be?n possible. — A DeYONSHIUK 13EE-KEErKR. light the fatal match in Devon ? "Was my good friend going to add the refined torture to my misfortunes, of compelling me, as it were, who had never tolerated the hated brimstone fumes near my apiary, or ever wilfully deprived a bee of its life, to thus become the executioner of a wbole colony of my favourites ? Oh no ! while there's life there's hope, thought I ; so stopping the hive in transitu, I had it dispatched as a gift to a party, at a safe distance from my own apiary, who had no bees but ample knowledge of their management. Its receipt afforded him much pleasure, and he had a firm determination to work out their thorough cure, for which purpose I svipplied him with as many frames and empty combs as he required, and he was only too proud to find ample supplies of the finest sugar. Honey, too, abounded at the time ; and he told me ivith no small exultation, that his stock carried in more poUen and seemed to prosper in advance of aU hives in his neighbourhood. Thanks to the capital season, and a large supply of empty comb, the 1st of August found my apiary all 1 could desfre. In addition to the product of my " beat-out," as above men- tioned, I had procured two hives, making in all nine most promising stocks. The evening of that day brought the climax of my prosperity— the receipt of a good strong Ligu- rian stock from Devonshire, accompanied by the opinion that I might yet propagate Ligurian s. Nothing loth, to work I went at once on two very strong black stocks, hoping yet to make up for my many disappointments. The Ligu- rian stock wrought amazingly, the queen squaring off large masses of brood to my great delight. My two black hives, meantime, raised lots of royal cells ; but to my no small disappointment no young queens emerged, and at last I cut them up, finding aU abortive. Better luck next time ! fresh Ligurian frames, then a period of anxious suspense with the like result. It was now too late for further efforts, and my black queens were safely reinstated. The yellow- jackets were ever active ; but I need not now wait to detail thefr proceedings, as that may form matter for another paper; suffice it to say that those masses of sealed brood which were the delight of admiring friends — " so late in the season too " — were ever to me a source of fear and trembling. I consulted my Devon oracle. " Are the cell-covers flattened, with smaU perforations ?" " Do they on examination con- tain thick brownish slimy stuff?" were queries I could only answer in the affirmative. In short my prized Ligurian colony was but a mass of putrifying corruption. The sequel of the story is, my beautiful Ligurian queen "winters in Devonshire," the monarch of a strong black stock, which, I am given to understand, pays her due homage ; and for her old subjects — shall I own it ? — my rusting fumigator was looked out and charged, not with the contents of Messrs. Neighbours' neat little packet as in days gone by, but with the deadly brimstone, and they had hardly time to miss their queen tiU they received their quietus. Would that my misfortunes had here terminated. A sub- sequent examination revealed that not only my two strongest stocks, which I had attempted to Ligurianise, but every hive, with the exception of a " beat-out " of stranger bees, and even a virgin hive standing next the Ligurian, was in the same sad plight. What was now to be done ? To deli- berately brimstone all my poor favourites was not to be thought of, my unfortunate yellow-jackets having already been duly treated after the orthodox Devon fashion; why not adopt the more humane mode of cure extoUed by the Edinburgh school? I therefore examined comb after comb in each hive, and carefully cut out every vestige of brood, pure as weU as impure, then administered copious libations of food — the finest " Greenock Crush." Late bind- weeds, and skUlocks* abounded, from which lots of pollen were carried in. After a time my anxious scrutiny was rewarded by finding the large gaps in the frames duly filled up with the most beautiful glistening white combs, and in the central ones no mean display of sealed brood, with fine swelling ceU-oovers all right. So satisfactory a result, coupled with the last good report of the returned condemned stock from Devon, induced the hope that however destruc- tive this vile scourge might be to the half-acclimatised Italians, still the good old black aborigines might after all have stamina enough to overcome it. Weeks passed on, when who called after a time but the • Or " bee nettle," often so called hereabout. loe JOURNAL OF HOKTICUlt'TORE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ February 2, 1864. proprietor of the above returned stock to inform me that, noticing several bees on the board he had raised the hive, and fonnd its sole occupants 120 dead bees and their defunct monarch, abundance of sealed honey, and still the unmis- takeable proofs of the fearful malady to which they had succumbed. We, rightfully I think, agreed that the tei-rible dwindling vas ascribable to the adult population gradually dropping oif at full age as the cold weather set in, and a lack from foul brood of the youthful element to take their place. My confident hopes having been a little shaken by this Tisit, it was with no small apprehension I once again pro- ceeded to make another overhaul of my entire stock ; and the reader who has followed my narrative so far may judge of my mortification at finding, although the brood in part no doubt hatched, still in every instance my pure comb largely centred by impure foul brood. Such, then, is my melancholy experience of the bee plague. Twice in one season, either directly or indirectly, has my apiai-y been reduced to a single " beat-out ;" in the fii-st instance from six, and in the second from nine most promising stocks, and all my previous store of beautifully-combed frames, which I had hoped to have turned to good account for -Ligurian propagation, from having been in contact, as nadirs or otherwise, with these stocks, I cannot now be certain of the purity of a single fi-ame, and consequently they axe only fit to be broken up and consigned to the melting- pot. — A Eenfeewshire Bee-keepee. (To he continued.) THE FIRST LOAD OF POLLEN. The first load of pollen that I have seen for the year v/as brought home yesterday, Sunday the 24th. After morning service I was taking a casual look at my hives, when I was surprised at witnessing the return of a pollen-laden bee. The forenoon had been warm and sunny, after a frosty night, and doubtless numbers of bees had been disporting them- selves, although, when I looked at them, aU were pretty quiet ; but amongst the stragglers that dropped in was one with a full load of dingy-coloured pollen, the produce, doubtless, of the laurustinus, now in full bloom in our gardens. — A Devonshiee Bee-keepee. DO MICE EAT BEES? Having three hives under my care, I found it necessary, through the severity of the weather, to cover two of them. The frost disappearing, I felt anxious to know how the bees had fared; and removing the oat straw which I used for covering them, I was surprised by finding a cxuantity of bees at the back of one of the hives all lacerated. I thought mice had paid them a visit inside, but found the remaining bees with their combs all right. — T. E. [A closer scrutiny would probably have revealed one or more large spiders sheltered under the straw covering of your hive. We think we recognise their handiwork in the quantity of lacerated bees which you describe. The mouse is probably quite innocent in this case. Remove the straw covering more frequently in future, and destroy all spiders and other vermin which you may find harboui-ing there.] A DOWKEY KILLED, BUT SHEEP UNIN.JTJEED, BY EATING YEW. Having read in your Number for January 5th some re- marks showing the yew to be poisonous to deer, and observing you ask for communications as to its effects on animals browsing on it, I give you cases in jioint. This morning (January 26th), a fine and valuable donkey, the property of my employer, was found dead in a small pad- dock. From the suddenness of this loss, the animal being in perfect health the evening previous, I was led to suspect that it had partaken of something poisonous ; and knowing a yew tree to be growing in the hedge, on a close exami- nation of it I found the points of three or fom- small branches had been recently bitten off; and further, on examining the animal's mouth, there were found several small pieces of the yew foliage unchewed, leaving not the slightest doubt in my mind that eating yew had proved fatal to this animal. On the other hand, a flock of ewe sheep grazing by day in the park have been browsing lai-gely, as far as in their reach, on yew trees recently exposed to them by the removal of a fence, and so far without the slightest iU effect having been produced. — S. C. GEEEN YEW NOT POISONOUS TO DEEE. Your correspondent, "A Hill-side Man," corroborates a fact of which we had evidence in this neighbourhood many years ago, before the waste lands were enclosed, for I weU remember many yews scattered over them, and the open fields were depastured by every class of cattle. During the forty years through which I have been a practical farmer, I never had any accident from the cattle eating yew. For your information, I wiU mention that on the Monday following the day I sent my letter to you, I turned fifteen stirks, or two years old, into a three-acre field in which there are five yews, and as there was plenty of grass I let them remain until New Year's-day ; as the wea- ther was then beginning to be cold they were taken away. I have heard of horses and cattle being made very ill from eating box and laurel; probably they were famished, as no doubt was the case in the instance which I mentioned in my former letter. AU animals seem from instinct to avoid poisons, but the cravings of hunger wiU force them to eat what may prove dangerous. A general prejudice exists against the yew tree, and to some degree justly, from the well-authenticated accidents that have occurred from its being eaten ; but the cause of the cattle eating it has most probably been a positive waiit of any other food. — P. OUE LETTEE BOX. *'Haiie Skins and Rabbit Skins '."—May 1 ask any of the readers of The JoimNAL of HoRTicuLTunE for a receipt for the curing or preparation of email skins for domestic use? Hare skins and rabbit skins are now, during winter, in a good state, and there are few countrj' houses where they may not be had, as also an occasional cat, polecat, stoat, or sqnirrel skin, which, if a simple and effective mode of preparation were known, might bo turned to useful account These skins, if nicely dressed, are very comfortable to wear as socks or on the chest, and for the lining of waist- coats, &c. They alao make warm tippet?, muffs, or gloves for children. The receipt to be useful should he simple and free from deadly poisons; yet it should be so effectual as to prevent disagreeable sm- lis if tlie skin gel slightly damp. I find by sending a skin now and then to the country tanners that they do not care to do such small articles, and often tear them very much, not, however, forgetting to charge. I should, tlierefore, feel obliged if any reader can supply the requisite information.— B. P. Brent. Game Bantam Cocks at Kendal (A. T. BX — We have inquired, and find that the card must have been put into your hamper accidentally. Your birds were considered good, but out of condition. Almond Tumblers (A Subscriber), — We cannot givo you any information relative to Mr. Eaton's book. Cochin-China's Combs Black (Cof/(/n-CAma).— Your cock's combs are frozen at the points. It is a very common occurrence, and fur more so with Dorkings arid Spanish than with Cochins. Strong camphor ointment is the remedy. Some fowls suffer more than others, just as in tbe ward oJ a hospital, out of twenty patients six die and fourteen recover when attacked by the same disease. Pkevbntihg Poultry Flying (5. J. T.). — There is no way of preventing a fowl from flying without more or lees tof damage to the feathers. The simplest plan is that adopted in Holland. A narrow htrip of parchment is taken and twisted in and out of the flight-feathers of the wing and then titd at the end. This being carried from the tip to the bottom, not a feather is injured and flight is inipost^ible. Or they may be braced. Take a piece of list and tie back wing when folded ; let the list paps over the back from one wing to the other. This is the way Peacocks are tied to keep them from gardens. They cannot fly over a wall 2 feet high. Poi!LTF,Y HOT iNJOTtiouj^ TO pASTeRE (J. 7^.).— Poultry may do soTOC damagtj in a corn htid by pulling down ears, or m a jrfiihs field when it is laid up for hay, by trampling ; but we believe they nuke a jiood return by the insects they uevour. They also kill mice. Any imimal will feed after poultry. He was a wag who first siiid nothing would eat after a Goose. The truth is, a Goose's bill cuts off the grass as closely as a pair of scissors, and leaves nothing for any other animal to bite. HoARSENTiss OF Malay Cock ((?. Jf. F. P.).— "Wc hiivo ccnornlly fonn the crow of a cock returned with ihc warm weather, and ii will probably be so in this instance. We know no treatment but coolinjj lood. JIalays are subject to a chronic hoarseness, but it leads to no other result than extinction of voice. Williams v. IIindson (Diickiiitiff).~Vfe understand that Jlr. Williarrs is now pressing his claim for the awards to his Gan^e iuwls at BiruuneliaBi TJic Committee ought to publish the result foi the satistaction of the public, ap well ae in justice to the right claimant. February 9, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 107 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day 1 Day of ' of M.'ntl> Week. FEBRUARY 9-15, 1864. Average Temperature near London. Rain in last 37 years, Sun Rises. Sun Sets. Moon Rises. Moon Sets. Moon's Age. Clock before Sun. Day of Year. Day. Night. Mean. Days. m. h. m. h. m. h. m. h. m. s. 9 Td Shrove Tuesday. [MAHRlrn, 1840. 45.1 31.7 38.4 15 29af7 Oafs 49 7 60 7 2 14 30 40 10 W Ash Weiinksuay. QueenVictoria 44.5 29.4 36.9 14 27 7 2 5 15 8 18 9 3 14 31 41 11 Th 44.1 29.7 30.9 15 25 7 4 5 40 8 30 10 4 14 32 42 13 F Gold-crested Wren singE. 44.6 29.9 37.2 15 23 7 6 S 0 9 52 11 5 14 32 43 13 S Elder foliatea. [Day. 43.9 29.0 36.8 14 21 7 8 5 37 9 morn. 6 14 31 44 U SOH 1 Sunday in Lent. Vale.-itine's 46.2 31.3 38.3 14 19 7 1" 5 12 10 3 1 J 14 29 45 15 M Ked Dead Nettle flowers. 40.5 31.4 39.0 13 17 7 12 5 53 10 8 2 8 14 27 46 From observations taken near London during the last Ihirtv-scven y ears, the average day temperature of the week is 44.8 °, and its night teraperatur 3 30.4°. The greatest heat was 6? , on the 10th, 1831 ; and the lowest cold, 0° , on the 13lh, 1855. The greatest fall of rain was | 0.52 inch. 1 BLOOM-BUDS FALLipfG PEEMATUEELY. ECAUSE certain essentials for their proper formation and development are not provided, ilower-buds fall prematurely. Foremost among plants notorious for throwing off' their flower-buds stands the Camellia, and next to it we have the Peach. On the causes of these cast- ing their buds premature- ly I purpose to offer a few remarks, and will begin with Camellias ; and as this is about the time that they are placed in heat to make their growth, an exposition of the subject is sea- sonable. Camellias, as is well known, are exceedingly tender- rooted, and yet little apt to show the deficiency of their root-action by the foliage. Extra efficient drainage and particularly sweet compost are of paramount importance in their successful management. They cast their buds more frequently through an imperfect root-action than any other cause. But I must have a point to start from. I will presume that the plants are placed in heat in .March to make their growth and set their buds. This is mostly accomplished under the shade of climbers in a greenhouse, or under Vines in vineries. Whilst making their growth they receive copious waterings and syringings overhead. The buds are set by June or July, and the plants are placed outside. They sometimes are judi- ciously prepared for a change of temperature, for expo- sure to a stronger light, and a free current of air from all points ; but too often the opposite course is adopted, and when the buds are set and about the size of peas the plants are put outside, without any care being taken previously to harden them off". Their system conse- quently receives a check, owing to the sudden change from a higher to a lower temperature, from a diffused light to a strong direct light, from a saturated to, it may be, a dry atmosphere, or at least a fluctuating moist or dry state of the air. The plants, however, show no traces of suffering immediately. Their leaves become deeper green, and people say, How much better they look after a few weeks' sojourn out of their confined quarters ! But let us pause ere we get too far. Did you ever dream of disappointment ? If not, you will have no forebodings of that dark bright green foliage deceiving you. I had to experience this state of things more than once before I could convince myself of the absurdity of thus exposing Camellias in summer. Everything was more likely to cause the buds to fall than the check resulting from placing the plants outside after the buds were set. On dissecting the fallen buds I found that the flowers had never been perfectly formed in embryo, and must consequently have become defective at an early stage of No. 150.— Vol. VI., New Sekies. their development. In the following year the plants were put out again, and I cut several buds open and found them perfect. Every ten days from this time I cut open half a dozen buds of each plant, and at the first ten days I found some buds were then defective, but others not so. I marked the plants with defective buds, and found that all the buds dropped off these when they were taken into the greenhouse. The others retained their buds, and these were marked with green worsted. They had been placed in a cool greenhouse after the buds were set, and the wood was consequently hardened and ripened, and the buds fully formed. The others were placed outside at once without any ripening process ; and the wood being unripe, the buds not fully formed were chilled, the system of the plant stagnated, and the result was that the buds fell. No one can teU when the buds are formed from gene- ral appearances ; and to place the plants outside before they are, and when the wood also is not well ripened, is sure to result in disappointment. I know placing them outside is a common practice, but I do not like it, and I will tell of more mishaps that come through adopting this plan. It is not uncommon to stand Camellias on a concrete floor, but no one thinks of placing some mulching round the pots so as to prevent them becoming dry. Should the pots become dry farewell to the delicate roots there ; and it very often happens that, the sun and air acting on the pot, the water is evaporated from it, and a vacancy between the pot and the ball of earth takes place. AU waterings after this pass through without wetting the centre of the ball at all, and the roots are dried up. The leaves, and even the buds, show no marks of injury, and the cultivator hopes all will be well. Then again the weather changes. It is as wet now as it was dry, and deluging shower after shower falls on the foliage, and the soil in the pots becomes sodden. Further, it may be, gentle showers fall, or what we may term a good syringing twice or thrice daily, doing nothing more than wet the foliage and damp the surface sod ; and the cultivator, taking advantage of these showers, but in reality abusing them, fails to water the plants, and the soil becomes dust dry or nearly so, and it is farewell roots again. All of the foregoing is melancholy certainly, but not the worst. Camellias are often placed on ashes on walks and other places not impervious to worms. These natural drainers are very good out of a plant-pot, but they seem to have a natural instinct to get into places where they are not wanted, and they choke the drainage, and the soil becomes sodden or sour, completely destroying every root that has been left. In this condition the plants are housed, and from the moist atmosphere of our climate in autumn they are brought into a dry conservatory at- mosphere. The leaves begin to evaporate, owing to the dryness of the air ; but there being no roots, or next to none, to feed them, the buds do not swell, or the flower just shows its colour and then drops, being dead at the core. Who can wonder at this ? I could point to several plants that have been ruined No. 802.— "Vol. XXXI., Old Series, 106 JOUia^AL OF HOETICULTUEE AKD COTTAGE GAP.DENEE. [ February 9, 1864. by the injudicious system of placing them outside, but forbear, for I have enough of my own that have been so injm-ed. The practice may do well enough in the south, but north of the Hvmiber I am persuaded it does more harm than good. The causes Hkely to occasion Camellias to cast their buds, then, are in order as foUow : — 1, The check given the plants at placing out, which may hinder the ripening of the wood, or the proper matui-ation of the buds should they not be fully foi-med; 2, Dryness of the soil; 3, Wetness of the soil; 4, A sodden and sour soU thi-ough worms entering the pots ; 5, The change from an out-door to an in-door atmosphere. Any of these wUl cause the Camellia to cast its buds. To avoid the first cause, the plants, after the wood is made and the buds set, should be gradually hardened by admitting more air and giving them more light for about a fortnight prior to placing them outside. They should be placed on a hard and level floor imjjervious to worms, and the situation should be shielded from winds, and not receive the sun's rays after ten o'clock in the morning up to four in the afternoon. They are to be placed so that light can reach them on all sides, and the pots should be protected from the sun and ah' by moss, cocoa-nut fibre from the brashmakers, or some such material. They should be daily examined to see that the soU is moist, and they should be watered before it becomes dry ; but it should feel rather di-y before any water is given, then enough must be applied to thorouglily moisten the ball. In dry weather a syringing overhead is advantageous, as it reli-eshes the leaves and assists in keeping them cool. When heavy rains oocui- the pots should be laid on one side, so that the soil may not become sodden. They ai-e to be housed by the middle of September, and all the air possible should be given, and occasional sprinklings of the paths, so as to make the at- mosphere as nearly like that from which they came as can be until the plants become accustomed to their new quai-ters. In the greenhouse they should have air daily, and be care- fully watered, taking care not to make the soil sodden by "regular" waterings, nor dry by failing to water them when necessary. The soil in which a Camellia grows should at all times be kept healthfully moist. The plants in winter cannot have too much light. The further they are kept from the heating apparatus the better. It is very common for Camellias to cast their buds after severe weather. This is only what we might expect ; for the dry heat generated causes the leaves to evaporate at night more than is good for them, and this continued night after night results in their casting their buds. A few degrees of frost will do the CameUia less harm than an hour's confinement in a dry hot atmosphere. Where there is convenience Camellias are liable to mishaps enough without being piit outside, aiid rmder glass they occasionally cast their buds. Some- times this is occasioned by di-yness at the root, or thi-ough a deficiency of light, bad soQ, and defective drainage. This applies equally to those planted out as to those in pots. ■With a plant always under the eye it is difficult to say how it does become 'fry at the root. Amateurs, however, are always afraid of overdoing anything ; and they, seeing a plant di-y, or because it has not had any water for a long time, think it would be none the worse of a little. It is little they give, and it does no more than wet the svu-face : consequently, the boO. lower down becomes dry, and it is there that the roots are situated, and they ai-e, therefore, dried up and perish. When a plant needs water it should have enough to run through the soil and show itself at the di'ainage. If planted out tlie constant attendance requk-ed by plants in pots is not necessary, but the soil is more liable to become sodden than when in pots. In whatever position a plant be, whether in a pot or planted-out, perfect drainage must be provided, for stagnant water lodging at the roots is certain death, and the buds fall as a necessary consequence. There ai-e no roots to supply them with food, and the buds fell from want of support. When a plant remains for a long time with the soil wet the drainage should be examined, and be made secure ; l>ut should the soil still remain wet it would be well to remove as much of the old soil as can conveniently be done without injuring the roots, and replace it with fresh. At all times the soil about a Caraellii should bo swuet, the pot or border provided with perfect drainage, and be kept moderately moist continuously. The Peach. — This, unlike the CameUia, is a deciduous tree ; but in nowise much better on the score of casting its buds. Dryness of soU wiU cause this, so wUl immaturity of wood, and the same may be said of wetness of soU. The main cause of Peaches casting thefr buds is due to imma- tui'ity of wood. This may be occasioned by insects sucking out the juices of the leaves, or from a deficiency of light. The red spider is very fond of the juices of the Peach, and commences its attacks on the under side of the leaf. For a time it is content to remain there, but when the leaf be- comes enfeebled so that it does not perform its functions proi^erly, then the red spider extends its operations to the upper surface of the leaf, and takes an equal pleasure in sucking out the crude sap as in feasting on the elaborated juice at the under surface. Now, a Peach leaf infested with red spider at the under surface is robbed of its elaborated juice, and it is this elaborated juice that forms the fruit-bud at the axU of the leaf. The buds cannot, therefore, be per- fectly formed when red spider infests the leaves. I have some trees in pots, and these were placed in a vinery last season to force. During summer some of them became in- fested with red spider through the impracticabUity of syring- ing them where they were. There were others that had no red spider on them, and they are now in flower, whUst those attacked in the preceding year have cast thefr buds. To ftu'ther prove that red spider is the cause of Peach-buds faUing, I may observe that in a vinery where some Peach trees are planted, one of them was attacked by red spider, and a more desperate attack I never knew. Sulphuring the hot-water pipes did not rid us of the pest, and it held its own more or less thi'ough the summer. Its neighbour iinder the same treatment was clear of the spider, and the buds are now sweUing, and are everything that could be desfred, but the other tree has lost fuUy nine-tenths of its buds. More trees lose thefr buds through attacks of red spider than any other cause, as it is next to impossible for the buds to be properly constituted with red spider inter- cepting the elaborated juice in its passage from the leaf to the bud at its axil, and so destroying thefr future fruitful- ness and vigour'. Deficiency of light is another cause of Peach trees forming defective fruit-buds. It is chiefly in vineries, under the shade of the Vines that the buds are not properly formed. Trees on the back waUs of Peach-houses also form defective buds owing to the trees in front shading them too much. The leaves do not properly perform thefr functions, the crude sap is not acted upon by Ught sufficiently in the leaves to enable these to duly digest or elaborate the food, and the buds are not properly fed. The food is spent in the for- mation of new parts : therefore, trees in the dark grow more than they flower, and are more gTOss than fruitful. There is no remedy for this but more Ught, and a Peach cannot have too much. If the buds of a Peach are dissected when falUng from insect attacks, or through a deficiency of Ught, the anthers will be found short, and of a brown colour, and when the buds faU the inside of these wUl be found brown and dead. Another cause of Peach-buds faUing is dryness whUst the leaves ai-e on the tree. AUowing the leaves to flag from want of moistm-e, or keeping the soil dry so that they turn yellow and faU, is inimical to the thorough riiiening of the wood, and the buds I'aU. The soU in which a Peach grows should never become dry, not even when the fruit is ripening; for though too much water may make the fruit flavourless, yet dryness oftoner makes it mealy, and nothing is so de- testable as a Peach without juice. It is very doubtiiil whether watering a tree whilst it is ripening has any effect on the fruit in making it high or poor flavom-od ; but trees are often kept so dry at that season as to place in jeopai-dy the future bloom-buds. The leaves cannot form the buds without moistiu-e, and if they bo badly fed they must fall in the winter foUowing, for Nature casts oil' leaves and buds when they are no longer wanted for the increase of the head, or the propagation of the kind. Again : Peach trees are often aUowcd to Ijecome so dry at the root after the fruit is gathered, in order to ripen the wood, that the roots are almost diied up by the practice. The leaves feel this, and the immature buds too, and they become "deaf" tlu-ough want of suppoi't. The soU in which. a Peach g-rows should never become dry; and although trees February 9, 1864. ] JOUEKAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. 109 in pots are recommended to be kept dry in winter, I am certain, if I may judge by some I had in an orchari-house, tliat a worse plan cannot be adopted. All through the winter the roots of a Peach are more or less active, and dtyness cannot either preserve the roots there are, or allow fresh to form. The roots should be kept moist, but not wet, and when water is applied it should be given in sufficient quantity to wet the mass. Dribbling waterings do no plant any good, but they very often cause the roots to become too dry owing to the surface being merely wetted. Extreme wetness is equally destructive to the roots as dryness, and does a great deal of harm when the trees are at rest. If the soil where the trees are planted out be watered when the leaves are falling, the trees wOl need no more until the buds begin to swell ; nor will trees in pots need any if the pots be plunged in the soil, which saves the roots from frost, and ia, to my thinking, a better practice than covering the pots with hay. Lastly : the Peach casts its buds when they are formed too soon, and in too high a temperature. Last season I had a tree that flowered from buds of the same year, and as these buds set, no one can say they were not perfect. The fruit became as large as beans, and then the leaves began to fall. The fruit, however, did not fall then, but remained on the tree until the middle of January. It then withered and fell, and the greater part of the buds have followed its ex- ample. The reason of buds being too liighly developed is owing to keeping them in a temperature and atmosphere conducive to their fiu-ther growth. After the fruit is ripe the buds are then developed, and no good comes of keeping the atmosphere hotter after that ; but air, and a lower night temperature, and less atmospheric moisture, will do all that is requisite towards inducing rest. — Geokge Abeet. THE FLOWEE G-AEDEN. SPEING PaOPAGATION. The present generation of gardeners have annually to get through an amount of propagation, which would have sounded more like fiction than Uke fact to om- forefathers. Plenty of gardeners, now in their prime, can remember very well when the principal preparation for the decoration of the flower garden consisted in putting up a bed for a one or two- light box, in which to sow Stocks and Asters, and a few other tender annuals, which, with a few Dahlias, made up the major part of the tender plants that helped to beautify the mixed beds and borders of hardy things. This, with the sowing of a few annuals in patches in the open borders after they were rafced the &st time for the season, completed a gardener's labours in this respect. He knew nothing of the potting and manufacturing, and otherwise caring for the tens of thousands of tender plants which are the order of the day now. If we could go back to what some call the good old times, many of us could "take the play" more frequently than we can afford to do now. Little did Mr. Caie think, when at Oampden HUl he inaugurated the massing of tender plants, of the amount of bustle, labour, and emu- lation that he was entailing on a gardener's life — to say nothing of the wakeful scheming and makeshifts which many have had to encounter in order to be able to follow the fashion. Let us fancy for a moment a return to the system of olden times — that some knight-errant should make a clean sweep of the massing system, and reinstate ns in the ways of thirty years ago, and some gardening conservatives pro- fess that it would delight them to see this, I should get rid of fifteen thousand Geraniums, as many "Verbenas, and a similar proportion of the other plants which form the ranlc and file of flower gardens. And I fancy I hear Mr. Pish saying, "Why, dear me, we should be gentlemen — if free- dom from bustle and thought to a large extent has much to do with that denomination — we should scarcely know what to do with ourselves for the next three months." I fancy, however, that we would not like so sudden a change as a return to the old speckled borders, with Geums, and hardy Asters, Veronicas, and PotentiUas, lashed tightly in bundles to stakes lite faggots. I expect we should as soon be found in Eegent Street with swallow-tailed blue coats and gilt buttons, thick enough for the sides of a steam ram, with nether garments of "hodden grey " If we are to have such a retrogression, let it be by degrees, step by step, or we shall certainly be mobbed by the ladies for taking away what may be termed the cosmetics of the garden. Into the ladies' hands we commit the conservation of the massing system to its proper place, and we have no anxiety as to its fate, nor do we grudge the labour and forethought which it demands, especially for the next few months. It is now a well-established rule, that the majority of bedding plants answer the purpose for which they are in- tended much better when propagated in spring instead of autumn. To this rule a few, such as Geraniums and Cal- ceolarias, form aa exception, and are much better propa- gated in autumn, although most seasons it is found de- sii'able and necessary to increase some varieties by spring propagation; and good plants can be so produced with proper convenience ; but autumn-struck plants make far the finest plants, and come earlier into bloom. For a good many years I have made it a study how t& compress spring propagation into as short a space of time as possible, and have so far accomplished the object as to greatly reduce the time occupied %vith that work, and at the same time improve the quality of the plant. In the case of Verbenas, for instance, whic'n form a large proportion of spring-struok stock, it was a common practice to pot these in autumn into thi'ee or four-inch pots, putting a few plants into a pot. About the beginning of February, these were shifted into larger pots and forced for cuttings. By this means I have kept them in good condition, and obtained very large numbers of plants, but not without much more labour and attention than I can now winter a greater number in much better condition, to enable short work to be made of spring propagation. The plan now adopted is the best that I have tried, and it is to strike a larger number in autumn, and when rooted to prick them out into pans about 13 inches in diameter, and 7 inches deep, filled with rich soil. These are struck and otherwise managed without any artificial heat. Prom eighty to a hundred of these pans occupy but a comparatively small space, require little atten- tion in the way of watering, and in spring are found in splendid health, yielding fine strong cuttings by the thou- sand at a time. At the present moment we have some twenty pans of Purple King — considered difficult to manage well — that might be sheared with a hook, of a fine dark green, without a spot of mildew. Reference to a note-book of 1863 shows that on February 2nd the first batch of this sort was put in, numbering two thousand five hundred, a pro- jjagation that I could never accomplish with so little labour on the small-pot system. In a few weeks, by this means we propagate from, eighteen to twenty thousand Verbenas. The rule is, never to winter Verbenas in anything less than an eight-inch pot. A given number of plants require less room in these larger vessels, and are in far finer condition than when put into little pots. Although plenty of fine fresh cuttings could be taken before they are put into heat, they strike much more readily after being in a nice, growing, moist atmosphere of 60° to 65° for a while. They are therefore introduced into a vinery, or any convenient place, where they can have a good share of light to keep them healthy. A very few "clips " soon give the desired number, and the contents of the store-pans, though never planted out by ourselves, come in handy for giving to cottagers who look to us for a few plants for their gardens ; and, I am happy to say, the Scotch are now fast wiping off the stigma of not caring for beautifying their cottage fronts with flowers. These remarks are also applicable to the rapid production of strong healthy cuttings of nearly all the other bedding plants that are propagated in spring, such as Heliotropes, Ageratums, Salvias, Petunias, &c. ; and having found gi-eat advantage fr'om wintering a somewhat larger store stock in larger pans and pots than are generally used, I would re- commend a trial of the method to those who stiU adopt the smaU-pot system. It has saved me time and labour, and afforded a far healthier supply of cuttings than I have been able to produce by any other means ; and the production of fine cuttings quickly in spring, is the most important part in the whole process of preparing the reqmsite number of plants ; for if cuttings cannot be had in large quantities at a time, the propagation is of necessity extended over a 110 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTtJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Febr^iary 9, 18G4. longer period, and much valuable time is lost in nibbling over smaller numbers at many dift'erent times. To strike cuttings of the plant now under consideration, I am not certain that any appliance for the supply of heat is better thaji a good old hotbed properly made up with stable- manure and leaves of hard-wood trees. There is, however, much less laboui' connected with striking in a more modern propagating-house or jjit, where top and bottom heat can be nicely maintained by means of hot w ater, and I would never adopt the hotbed when hot water could be made available. A regular propagating-house is one of the most useful and necessary structures connected with a garden establishment, and all gardeners who have much flower gardening to do should be supplied with one. I cannot avail myself of such a convenience, nor yet of an old-fashioned hotbed, and am consequently obliged to make use of a succession Pine-pit when it can be most spared from its legitimate purpose. The extra bottom heat is obtained by putting in a gi-eater depth of fresh tan than would be safe tor the roots of Pines, and top heat is supplied by a flow and return four-inch pipe, and in order to produce the top heat that is necessary to strike with rapidity, coverings of mats are used at night except when very mild. Circumstances will, therefore, in many cases no doubt determine how the heat necessary for spring striking is secured, when the operator unfortunately has not a proper propagating-house always in readiness; but those who cannot by some means command a smart top and bottom heat need not attempt spring propagation. To do it in cold pits or frames is out of the question. Those who are so situated should not be expected to have a fine healthy stock of bedding plants, and must depend on autumn-struck plants, or have recourse to the nurseries in May. At the same time, any amateur' or gardener who can make up a hotbed large enough for a one-light box, and put a hot Uuing to it when the heat declines, is in a position to turn out many thousands of plants in the course of March and April. Sawdust, cinder ashes, or sand to plunge the pots or pans in, some nice sQver sand to put the cuttings in, and a little Kght rich soil, are the principal materials wanted; and there are few operations within the whole range of garden- ing calculated to prove a more pleasing recreation than the propagating and rearing of young plants ; and the fact that the gay garden is the result of one's own handiwork must enhance by many degrees the pleasure and enjoyment derivable from such a source. There are many ways of propagating so far as heat is concerned, of wliich the possessor of an early vinery or forcing-pit alone can take advantage. Take, for instance, such a structure heated with a common flue. Let a box 15 or 16 inches deep be placed on the flue. FiU it up half way with fibry soil, and follow with an inch or two of fine light soU, and over all place an inch or two of pure pro- pagating sand, leaving 2 or 3 inches of the box not fiUed up. Cuttings inserted in the sand and covered over with a few large panes of glass will enjoy a nice bottom heat ascending from the flue, and the glass over the mouth of the box will prevent evaporation, and the cuttings wOl root freely. Care must, however, be taken that the box is not placed on a part of the flue that is too hot ; 90" of bottom heat should not be exceeded under such cu'cumstances. A space of two or three square feet may m this way be made to produce as many plants as wiU fill a good many beds. It may not matter much so far as successful striking is concerned into what sort of vessels— whether pots, pans, boxes, or drain-tiles, &c.— the cuttings are put. In all of these they will root perfectly well. But looking at the work in the light of time, attention, and labour, I would give the preference to large shallow boxes about 2 feet by l.J foot. These are what, after trying all sorts of things, I have found the best for dispatch. The crocking and niljbliug connected with smaU pots and some of the makeshift receptacles is dispensed with. In the case of these boxes all that is neces- sary is to strew a layer of rough stuff (the fibry part of loam) over the bottom of the box, blind this over with a little finer mould, and then lay on a sufficient depth of sand for the insertion of the cuttings. From 500 to 700 Verbena cuttings according to theh' size are put into these boxes. After beino- ■well watered they are placed on the surface of the tan, firmly bedded into it, and they root without any attention in the w:iy of watering, and in this way the work of the pro- pagating-pit is simplified, no plunging or anything of that sort being required. In this way a very few boxes and little space are required to raise a large stock of plants. Probably the most expeditious way of striking Verbenas, in particular when a strong bottom heat can be applied and steadily maintained by means of hot water, is to insert the cuttings into water-tight saucers filled with sand, and just so much water as to enable the operator to stick the cuttings into the sand without a dibber. In this manner with a sufficiency of heat they root in a few days. In my own case the appli- ances are not of such a nature as to enable me to adopt this method ; but all who have a propagating-house well heated will find it an expeditious and excellent mode. Although every joint of some bedding plants, and of Ver- benas in particular, will root and make a plant, I have a decided preference for good strong cuttings. They require a shorter period of tender nursing, and that is no small cou- sideration at a season when there is such a host of can- didates for warm quarters. It is much preferable to have to pinch theii' tops off than to be obliged to coddle them for weeks in heat to make respectable plants of them. No matter how strong may be my store stock from which cuttings are furnished, I like the cuttings that are produced in heat the best : consequently, propagation is not com- menced till after the store-pans have been in heat for a time. Such things as Heliotropes, Petunias, Gazanias, and a few others that do not emit roots without some time to callus, are best struck in a lower temperature than is desirable for Verbenas. The plants refen-ed to if plunged in strong heat become drawn and debilitated before they are ready to pinch-out or pot-oft'. I seldom plunge them at all, and I place them in the coldest part of the pit. There is, however, no necessity for propagating the Ga- zania in spring, for it does splendidly treated in the same way as Calceolarias and put in late in the season, just at the same time and in the same place as Calceolarias ; and the Gazania well cultivated is one of the most gorgeous of our bedding plants. D. Thomson. EOYAL HORTICULTUEAIi SOCIETY'S SCHEDULE. Having given a general survey of the wisdom that has aiTanged the schedule for this year, I, according to promise, now enter a little more into detail. I cannot, however, but admire the refreshing innocence of those who question whether offering a prize for British botani- cal collections be not exceeding the limits of the Society when not a word is said about prizes for volunteer bands (it must hefiowej'y music, I presume), or of another equally legitimate object of expenditure, which The Times assured its readers with much pleasure the Council had determined upon — viz., appointing an instructor to teach the lady Fellows skating ! Was it a joke or not ? for it was never contradicted, and was asserted with great gravity. Again have the Orchid-lovers in the Council carried theii' way, no less thani£92 being offered in piizes for them at the fii'st gi'eat Show, and £7^ at the second. The very question- able plan of dividing them into families has been adopted also. What possible end can be gained by this I know not. It must tend to great sameness in these collections and shut out small growers, for few would devote their houses to a few genera, but would r:ither seek to have variety ; and it is only from a la'ge coUectiou that a sufficient number could be obtained for such a competition. Why not, as so much is said in favour of the cool treatment of Orchids now (and justly so, as it will put Orchid-growing within the reach of so many), oft'er prizes for plants so treated? Prizes are oifered for Hyacinths in windows, would it not be as legi- timate to offer them for Orchids gTown in greenhouses ? With regard to the prizes for Azaleas, the Council have very wisely taken the hint given them last year, and instead of waiting until Azaleas were out of bloom to ofl'er prizes for the novelties, have offered them at the fii-st Show. But now mark the wisdom : They offer a prize for three Azaleas of 1862 and 1863, and a prize for Pelargoniums, three, of 1863. Now we very well know that, with three or four exceptions, the Pelargoniums of 1863 were all sent out by Mr. 0. Tui-ner, of Slough; and it is in effect putting the Pebruary 9, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAaE GARDENER. Ill prize into his hands, because, as he holds all the old plants, he must he in a superior position to any other grower. Had they made it six of 1862 and 1863, then there might have been some reason in it ; but as it is it is utterly mean- ingless. Then, again, look at the wisdom displayed about Ver- benas. Prizes are offered for twelve kinds in pots on the 1st of June, and prizes for twenty-four cut single trusses on the 6th of July — i. e., a prize is offered when a Verbena in a pot can hardly be obtained without an amount of forcing that would destroy its character ; while if reversed one might get something really worth looking at. And single trusses of Verbenas in July ! What will they be before two or three hours of a July day pass over their innocent heads? In the Rose Show more wisdom has been displayed. The hints of those acquainted with the subject have been regarded, although I notice that the fact of its being the National Rose Show inaugurated by the Rev. S. Reynolds Hole is quietly ignored. But those very absurd classes are still retained which have been so often criticised in The Jouknal of Hobticul- TUEE under the head of Fancy classes, while prizes are also offered for six kinds of Moss Roses. What a charming box this will make ! Or are they to be shown in bud, in a bouquet, or how ? for how can one ever set up six Moss Roses ? What a delightful knowledge of florists' flowers seems to be possessed by the Council ! On the 6th of July prizes are offered for Carnations and Picotees. Well ! And also for Pinks ! If the former are in bloom, which doubtless they ivill be, the latter will be out of bloom — at least as far as metropolitan or southern growers are concerned; and I presume it is for them that the exhibition is intended. And let it not be forgotten that aU these things which I have selected are by no means the only blemishes. The points of all others at which exhibitors have a right to grumble are — 1, The continual changes that the Society makes; and 2nd, The two-days Exhibition — at one time fixing the sizes of pots, at another doing away with them ; making classes one year, and doing away with them another ; selecting special kinds as in the fruits, and thereby stamp- ing them with their seal as if they were the best, and another year altering that again, so as to leave people to fancy that blunders had been made. And I, moreover, think that the growers of florists' flowers — of such, at least, as are shown in a cut state, have much to complain of. Although many prizes are offered for early Tulips, not one is given for late-flowering kinds. The Ranunculus and Anemone are also entirely left out ; while others, as in the case of Verbenas, are entirely misplaced. Meanwhile, the other great exhibi- tions hold on their even way ; and while all is dissatisfaction, and grumbling, and annoyance at Kensington, aU is agreeable and pleasant at the Regent's Park and the Crystal Palace — and so must it ever be until the whole affair topples. Strawberry feasts, and volunteer bands, and all the other contrivances to make an aristocratic tea garden of that at Kensington will not be able to keep it up, and it wiU be another instance of what " clique " and red tape can do to destroy the flnest prospects. — Aegus. I HAVE read the admirable article in last week's JotrENAL OF HoRTiciTLTUEE ; and as there is an intimation of going further into details, I hope you will have a word or two to say of the most interesting feature of aU horticultural shows — viz., new plants and the way their exhibition is encouraged (or rather discouraged), by tiie Royal Horticultural Society. There can be no doubt about their being the most at- tractive feature of our metropolitan shows, and yet the prizes awarded to them are of the most insignificant de- scription. I have always been at a loss to know why a given sum should not be fixed on the schedules as awards for them, instead of the indefinite phraseology now employed, which in the end proves itself to be a mere nothing. Last year at the Great Exhibitions of the Royal Horticul- tural Society, I received as follows t — ■ May 27. — Silver Knightian, Banksian, and Bronze Medals. June 17. — Bronze Medal. July 1. — Silver Banksian and Bronze Medals, besides no end of honorary awards. For all this at the end of the year I was sent the magnificent sum of £S> 6s. ! The Horticultural Society is thus discouraging what should be its legitimate object, that in_ which the public take an immense interest ; and to do what in its place ? Offer valuable medals for wild plants, which is scarcely justifiable —certainly not what horticulturists or the public in general would take much interest in. — William Bull, King's Road, Chelsea. CULTUEE OF PEEENNIAL PHLOXES. Theee are few herbaceous plants superior to the many beautiful varieties of Phlox decussata, combining as they do fragrance, beauty, and size of flower, with rich variety of colour. They are well known also as being late autumn- flowering plants, gifted with a hardihood that enables the most delicate of the newer varieties, with very slight assist- ance, to withstand the assaults of frost with impunity. They are, almost without an exception, readily propagated by the young growths of spring, which growths are already discernible above ground. These should be taken off when with two or three joints, and struck like Calceolarias. Plants are also readily multiplied by division of the old stool of a . year or more old, though I have a preference for pro- perly-treated cuttings, which make very handsome plants the second season. Phloxes delight in a light loamy soil, especially if with a slight sprinkling of good decomposed leaf mould intermixed. I would observe, more especially, one marked feature in their successful treatment, attention to which increases materially not only their large heads of flower, but also the well-being of the plants generally. They should at aU times be in a place shaded from the midsummer sun between the hours of 10 and 3, as from the very delicate testui-e of the florets these become very readily scorched. In such a partially-shaded border I would plant out a few of the more showy and better varieties, having the shortest, some of which barely reach 12 inches high, in front. What a beautiful little plant as an edging, or for the front row, would be the Phlox frondosa. Before planting it, it would be advisable to form (slightly covered with the soil, and slightly mound-shaped), a ridge with moderate-sized stones, say four or five thick, upon which to plant them firmly. This little frondosa I seldom meet with grown successfully j its neat little branches are 3 or 4 inches high, and covered. Heath-like, with pointed leaves ; and it bears, for its size, a large and lively flower, in colour somewhat of a dark rose. I add a few of the most showy sorts of Phlox decussata — a collection of twenty-four. WHITES, VAKIOUS-COLOITEED EYES. Comte dc Chambord. Dwarf. I Julie Roussel. Bright eye. Madame Duldeuiluok. Cnmson eye. Dwarf. IMadame Le Cerf. Purple eye. Flies OEIMSON AND EEDS. Morel. Dark , Doux Beveil. Rose. He'b«. Lilac peach, dark cherry eye. Madame Girardeau. Blush striped. Dwarf TriomphedeTwickle. Kose striped. James Veitch. Pink. Madame Andry. Blush. Dwarf. Madame Lebouchere. Rose violet, dark eye. Indispensable. Good. Novelty. Singular. Evening Star. Peculiar and pretty. Souvenir de purple, Madame RivSre. Deep red. Orientalis. Dark red. Dwarf. Ji-em-Jee. Red. Dwarf. Dr. Bois Duval. Eed, approaching crimson. Madame Lierval. Carmine violet. Jacques Duval. Pink. Madam e Durdan. Lilac carmine eye. Alexandre Roussel. Dark rose. Dwarf. Alice AUain. White with pink eye. The greater part of the above are show fiowers, or such as might be used for that puiTpose.— William Baelet, IHgswell. POmSETTIA PULCHEEKIMA. In answer to " A Stjesckibee " at page 62, No. 147, you say concerning this plant, " About September give all the light possible, and begin to cm-tail watering. After June there must be no stopping of the plants, or, rather, after May, as the flowers and floral leaves are produced at the points ot strong well-ripened shoots." This, I beg to say, is in direct opposition to my practice, as we never think of curtailing water till the floral leaves begin to fade, and we take the points off as late as Septeni- ber. We also make a flowering plant the same year of each 112 JOtTRNAL OP HOETICULTIXBE A^J) COTTAGE GAKDENEK. [ February 9, 1864. shoot so taken off. "We have had hundreds in 60's and 48'e flowering in November and December, at which time they are no mean objects ; for bright colours during these two dull months are generally more pleasing to the eye than at any other time. I never remember seeing a healthy shoot refuse to flower at its proper time, although we have some plants in a border of rich soil, where they make growths 5 or 6 feet long in a season, if not stopped ; in fact, if the flowers are cut off early, the plants will attempt to furnish fresh ones, showing plainly that they wUl bear stopping later still. The object of stopping so often is plain enough, as it multiplies the number of blooms every time by two or three, whOe the floral leaves are neai-ly as large as on plants not stopped at aU. A vai-iety called alba is mentioned in some boots, does any one know the plant ? — K. T. W. [The object in the instance to which we replied was to have a profusion of bloom in summer ; your object is to have autumn and winter-flowering plants.] EELATIYE MEEITS OF WOOD AND METALS FOE HORTTCULTUEAL STEUCTUEES. {Concluded from page 93.) Cast Iron for Hothouses. — Some of the first houses made of metal were of this material, the substitution of cast iron for leaden framing for windows having led to its application in lights for fi-ames and structures of larger size. In my early days I had much experience with oast- iron lights, but they were not favourites with me. One quality they had — I never knew one blown off its place ; but they possessed no other advantage over the wooden sashes in use even at that time. I believe that they have now fallen into disuse in all cases, excepting where fittings of an extraordinary size are required ; pOlars, girders, and such like being of cast iron, and, where very large curves are wanted, portions of cast iron bolted together are occa- sionally used. This, however, is a subject lying more within the province of the engineer than that of the gardener ; and as the utility of cast iron for small work is far exceeded by that of wrought iron I will dismiss the subject, merely re- marking that cast iron can only be regarded as an auxiliary to wrought iron, and that as such it often does good service. Zinc. — I cannot remember ever seeing this metal used except as glazing-bars secured to a wooden frame, its want of rigidity preventing it being employed alone ; but in com- bination with wood it has many advantages, and some practical men of liigh standing prefer it to any other metal. One advantage which zinc seems to have over all other metals is the affinity it appears to have for oil paints, as paint and putty adhere to it better than to anything else. I have seen some veiy simple and easily-made glazing- bars of this metal that were merely formed by bending portions of ordinary plate zinc into the requu-ed shape. They presented a great degree of rigidity, and I believe would be durable, but the fixing of metallic substances into •wooden frames is more destructive to the latter than when all wood is used. This, however, is not a serious objection. In the form above zinc is often useful to the forcing gar- dener, as the expense is not serious ; but highly ornamental and costly structures are more commonly formed of u-on. Copper. — The great expense of this metal precludes its adoption in glass structures, excepting those of the most highly finished character, and it is generally only found in connection with plate glass and other expensive features. Por glazing-bars it is certainly superior to any of the metals above mentioned, but its costing lorn- or five times as much is a serious drawback to its general adoi.ition ; in fact, it is rarely found except in the more highly finished portions of a grand conservatory or some such structures, or perhaps in the framework of some decorated front; and I am not certain that I have not seen more than one house in which it was used for the roof, but that house was said to have cost several thousands of pounds. Copper, therefore, must be regarded as too costly for the general public; neither need they regret the circumstance, for its superior quali- fications are in no way equivalent to its extra cost — on the contrary, its superiority, if any, is only over that of other metals. As compai-ed with wood for houses it simply pos- sesses the same advantages and disadvantages as other metals, with the serious di-awback of being so very much dearer than any of them. Combinations of Wood and Iron are not uncommon, and in many cases there is much to admu'e in them ; in fact, there are comparatively few glass houses without more or less of timber in their construction, and it must be admitted, the latter is the more indispensable of the two. A house composed of timber rafters, wall plates, and front lights may have the glazing-bai-s of the roof of iron and be found to answer well, and some houses are made to appear without rafters, a stout purlin either of wood or iron, with sup- porting pillars at intervals, being made to carry the roof, and there ai-e some advantages in this class of house ; even wooden-built houses are sometimes of this construction. My object, however, being to place the merits of timber and metal before the reader, the different forms which each is capable of assuming need not be gone into here. Suffice it, therefore, to say that by the combination of the two some of the best-constructed housee are formed, and most assuredly such a combination is better than a metallic house alone, bat whether better than a \rooden one is a question requir- ing a qualified answer. As to the comparative cost of the wooden and metallic framed houses, notwithstanding the gi-eat improvement in the machinery used in the working of ii'on for many pur- poses to which at one time people never dreamt of applying it, there is no question that at the present day timber is still cheaper ; and all the cheap class of houses are of wood, excepting perhaps in the case of those who deal in the other material, and who, having a staff of workmen skOled in iron work, may be able to put one up for themselves as cheaply as it could be made in wood by a less skUled body of men ; but this is not a fail- example. The best test of the relative estimation in which the two classes of houses are held by the public in general is shown in their patronage of each kind, and certainly nine-tenths ai'e of wood. The greater cost of iron has something to do with this ; but there also- lurks an idea amongst the many that iron is not so durable as wood. Be this, however, as it may, it is certainly much dearer; and notwithstanding the advantage it possesses of being capable of assuming any fantastic shape that may be desu-ed, it is comparatively little used excepting for these forms. As a hothouse-building material it has not kept pace with wood dm-ing the last fifteen or twenty years, the proportion of iron houses relatively to those of wood at that date back being quite equal to what it is at the present day. On the relative merits of wood and iron houses for horti- cultural piu'poses, much information would be elicited if the subject were freely discussed, each writer giving his opinion on the matter. My own views of the case are certainly in fevoiu' of wood, but I am by no means opposed in any pre- judiced way to iron. I certainly think that wooden houses have approached much nearer to perfection than those made of iron; but that the latter may make great advances I have no doubt, for it is only by degrees that such progress is reaUy made ; and we are told that this is the age of iron, and if we look at the many great objects attained by the use of that metal, the justness of the observation is beyond a question. Perhaps the advocates of u-on for hothouses received a great repulse by the universal condemnation that was passed on the large domes at the lutei-national Exhi- bition in 1862; but on the other hand, they have the Crystal Pal.ace as an example of a structure in which iron may be used to advantage to a certain extent, but in that case very little is used as glazing-bai-s. Some railway stations also afford examples of the same kind, but on the whole the art of building metallic houses for horticultural pui-poses is yet far from being perfect. Perhaps some of your readers will be kind enough to record their observations on the matter ; and if backed by examples that tend to prove h-ou to be better than wood I confess I am not so wedded to the latter as not to be likely in the end to become a convert to the same opinion, but the superiority ought to be shown, not alleged. Even if it can be proved that ii-on houses can be built as cheaply and as well as wooden ones a gi'eat point will be gained, and assm'cdly this may be done. Iron is at the present time competing successfully with stone and February 9, 1864. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. 113 brickwork for bridges, and witb timber for ships and fences ; why should it not do the same with timber also for horti- cultural buildings ? — J. Kobson. SOAPSUDS AND THEIR UTILITY. Is it true that soapsuds when thrown down into di'ains •cause the most dangerous sort of miasma ? and if so, what is to be done with them ? Is there nothing for which they would serve as manure ? There has lately been a fearful outbreak of scarlet fever turning to typ^hus in the house of a woman living at the lodge of a healthy park, and it has been attributed to her taking in a considerable quantity of washing, and naturally aUowing the soapsuds to run away in the drains. The father and thi-ee children have died; and although the di-ains are not allowed to be discharged any longer into the Thames, but into cesspools, yet the blame is not laid upon this but upon the soapsuds. It is also hinted that one of the neighbom-s, mshing to utilise the sewage of his cesspool, spread it upon his field, and that this poisoned the air. In short, there is a panic, which is as likely to spread the epidemic as any bad smeUs. There was a small pamphlet published a year or two ago on the use of domestic sewage by mixing it with earth, but the writer cannot remember the title, nor where it was published. Surely there should be some inexpensive means of using it without risk made known to the ignorant public. — A. A. Y. [It is a total fallacy that soapsuds emit any dangerous miasma. Mixed with the other drainage from a house, and kept stagnant for a lengthened time, the mixture would become putrescent, and emit offensive gases, but not more so than if the soapsuds were excluded. The contents of a cesspool spread over a field would not poison the au- ; and within a few hours after being so spread there would be no smeU perceptible, so effective a deodoriser is earth. Soapsuds might be beneficially poured upon any vacant quarter of the kitchen garden, and over Asparagus, Ehubarb, and Sea-kale beds when the plants are growing. The suds may also be povured between the rows of any of the Cabbage- worts dui'ing their growing season. The pamphlet alluded to is published at our office. The second edition is called "Manures for the Many."] ANNUALS TO SUPPLY THE PLACE OF LOST BEDDING- PLAjSfTS. HAViNa lost aU my bedding plants with the exception of Calceolarias, through neglect after covering from frost, I shall be much obliged if you wiU inform me what plants can without much difficulty be raised from seed, so as to form distinct and separate beds. Would the Mimulus do for this pm-pose ? Please also state when and how the seeds should be sown. I can easily make a hotbed for raising them, and have a very good cool greenhouse for growing the plants in. — A Loteb of Plowees. £As Hkely to come in with your Petunias we would instance the following: — Prince' s-Feather ; Love-lies-bleeding; Cal- liopsis marmorata, Drummondi, rich orange, and seven or eight varieties ; Chrysanthemum tricolor, aui'eum, Burridge- anum ; blue Branching Larkspiu: ; Eschscholtzia californica and others ; Tropsolum majus in varieties, as Tom Thumb Scarlet, Yellow, Pearl, and others ; and Phlox Drummondi. For foliage — Purple Spinach, PerOla nankinensis, and Ama- ranthus melancholicus. All these may be sown out of doors in March, with the exception of the Phlox, Amaranthus, and PeriUa, which had better be sown in pots in a mUd hotbed in the beginning of March, and be potted-off and hardened- off before planting out. To make good beds of the others we would make a slight hotbed about the third week of March — say 1 foot of dung, place on it 3 or 4 inches of rough leaf mould or rotten dung, then 3 or 3 inches of rough- isU loam and 2 inches of fine, draw drills about 4 inches apart, sow thickly, and plant out in the end of AprU or beginning of May in small patches with the earth and dung adhering to them. This is the best plan to insure regular bedsj and we would also do the same with the following low-growing things, suitable either for beds or edgings : — Alyssum maritimum, Oollinsia grandiflora. Convolvulus minor, Kaulfussia amelloides, Lopezia racemosa, SanvitaUa procumbens, Saponaria calabrica and varieties, SUene pen- dula, S. Schafta, &c., Venus's Looking-glass (three colours), Clintonia elegans. Lobelia speciosa, and Nycterinia selagin- oides. The last three should be sown in pots, and pricked- off and hardened-off before planting. Then there are Mari- golds, Stocks, Asters, &c., that may be reared in a slight hotbed or in a greenhouse, which will be very useful and beautiful. Such annuals as Virginian Stock and NemophHas may also be kept on by sowing in March, May, and August. Not to enlarge at present, you will find much to suit you in the first volume for 1863, Vol. IV., New Series ; and you will find a paper just to svdt you in No. 110, page 321. EAELY PEAS ON CLAYEY SOIL. • How to grow early Peas without the trouble of sowing them under glass, transplanting, and coddling afterwards is a problem, I think, many of your readers woiUd be glad to solve. Even if they have plenty of room it could be well used for other purposes, such as bedding plants. But the few remarks I intend making are more for persons not having the above-named conveniences, the saving of labour being the principal object. Many, I know, will dispute the utility of steeping seeds, I differ in that respect. Not only steeping Peas, but many other seeds, such as those of Spinach, Eadish, Turnip, and Onion, is advantageous. For the last three years I have adopted the following plan with Peas. I steep them in warm water for twelve or four- teen hours, drain-off the water, and mix sand or light soil with them, and put them by for a day or two tiU. nicely sprouted. I have sown them with sprouts an inch long. 1 then sow them in drills in the usual way, covering with light dry soil or ashes. I have tried this plan against Peas sown in pots and turned out when 6 inches high, and I find little difference in their earUness, the pot Peas having the most sheltered situation, care in watering, &c., bestowed on them. I usually sow during the fu-st fortnight in Februai-y, and find after trying many kinds that the following three sorts sown at one time form a good succession : Sangster's No. 1, Auvergne, and Ne Plus Ultra. The ground is well manured and thrown up into ridges 2 feet wide dvuring winter. The soil is very heavy and cold, the subsoil, a stiff clay, having been brought to the top, which is much against early sowing. — J. T. Ceeed. PUTTEEIDGE BUEY, The residence of Colonel Sowerby, three miles and a half from Luton, has been several times described in our pages ; and as we had heard much of the general gardening, and, perhaps, more especially of the fiower gardening on the bedding system there, we went down in the month of August expecting to find everything burnt up, as Mr. Fish had been writing most doloroiTsly on the want of water. "We endured a good pelting from a thunder shower in going from Luton, which put our coadjutor in the best possible spirits, as he ex- pected to get an inch or two of water in his tanks, and little cared he for our having the bloom taken off our costume. Though we had evidences of the great drought in that part of that country, we were surprised to find so little ap- pearance of it in the garden, and, perhaps, least of aU in the flower department. That was, no doubt, much owing to the means adopted, as frequently described in our pages. We were certainly surprised at the massive and effective combination and contrast of flowers and foliage, and the great variety produced by the stiU greater simpficity in the an-angements. We did not notice a single bed or border in which there was a blank : scarcely an inch of soil could be seen anywhere for masses of bloom ; and such attention had been paid to the natural heights and modes of growth of the plants, that though the colom-s were distinct when meani; to be so, there was scarcely a particle of training of any kind at all perceptible, though no doubt that training had been given, and hence in a great measure the economy witli lU JOURNAL OF HORTICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ February 9, 1864. •wMcli such a garden can be kept in comparison with one ■where much pegging and training are resorted to. This was all the more pleasing, as we were informed that, owing to the force of the wind in such an exposed place, there was scarcely a plant that was not secured, but the means of doing so could not be seen without close inspection. The entrance to the mansion is on the north side. West- ward from it extend the offices, stable-yard, and then the kitchen garden. On the east side are a terrace, beds, &c. On the south side a verandah 370 feet long, going on to the kitchen garden and stable-yard. Part of this verandah near the •west end is formed into a large conservatoi-y. In front of this verandah is part of the flower garden. In front of the south wall of the kitchen gaa-den are placed the chief ribbon- borders with a walk between them. The following is a rough sketch ofpartof the ground:— Olio CRASS • / o /„o o // / / / / / / / / / / y / / / We wm glance at the east side of the house fii'st. Section 1 will give an idea of the eurface-outline. 1, Wall of mansion. 2, Stone pavement, 18 feet \^ide, as far as tbe mansion goes. 3, Walk 12 feet wide. 4, Grass 20 feetTTide. Section 1. 15, Border 5^ feet wide, with broad verce of prass. 6, Slope of turf. This ground below the terrace, besides these beds, is planted with Thorns and evergreens. Length of terrace nearly 400 feet, most of it extending south of the mansion. The stone pavement, 2, on section, is divided into three parts, one in the middle, in front of a glass case or small conservatory, communicating with an ante-room. The other two spaces on each side have each 15 beds in front of dining-room and drawing-room windows respectively. Both sides were planted alike and in the low pincushion style, so that all could be seen at once from the windows. Two feet of stone separate the beds from the house, gravel, and grass at north and south ends, and 1 foot separates the beds from each other. The beds are 4.i feet square. There IS nothing artistic in the arrangement, but the beds look Ibeautiful when planted. , Gronnd on which there are two- groups of beds. Walk. They are ai'ranged in the following order : — 9 6 3 6 9 8 5 2 5 « 7 4 14 7 The following is the planting of one side : — 1. Geraniums Stella and Cloth of Gold. 2. Madame Vancher Geranium and Verbena Purple King. 3. Geraniums Stella and Golden Chain. 4, 4. Calceolaria Aurca flmibunda and Lobelia speciosa. 5,5. Geraniums Scarlet, Garibaldi and Bijou. 6, 6. Calceolaria Auraiiti t mulliflora. edged with dark Heliotrope. 7, 7. Geranium Brilliant, Varicpaled Alysaum, and Charlwoodii Verbena. 5, 8. Geranium Cliristinc and Tropiroluin elegans. 9, 0. Geranium Boule dc Feu, and Verbena Mrs. Holford, edged with Christine. ' The border, 5, on section 1, is more than 500 feet long, as i it goes round the end of terrace. The circular dots along' February 9, 1864. ] JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUKE AJSTD COTTAGE GARDENER. 115 the centre, about 8 feet apart, were planted alternately with Chenopodium atriplicis, Lupinus Cruiekshanki, and Salvia fulgens, and were grown into massive blunt pyramids of 5 feet in height and from 2i to 3 feet in diameter. The body of the border was planted in straight rows, the centre being a fine row of Aurantia multiflora Calceolai-ia, the next dark Victory Calceolaria, with a broad band next the grass of Cerastium tomentosum. The other side the same. The tall plants along the centre were intended somewhat to break the views of the ground below the terrace. The groups, one of which is represented beneath, in front of about the middle of the terrace, with steps and a walk 1. China Daisy Wliite, Lady Coiville I 2, 3, 2, 2. Bijou Geraninin, Tom Geranium, Wtiite Ivy-leaf Gera- Thumb Geranium, edging Alys- ninm, Crimson Ivy-leaf. 1 sum and Lobelia speciosa mixed. between them, and the beds all surrounded with grass, there being 5 feet between the walk and the beds, had a very fine effect from the terrace, and also from the higher windows of the mansion. The plants first named formed the centre of the beds. Both sides were aUke. 3, 3. Aurea flnribund", witll Verbena Purple King edging. 4, 4, Prince of Orange Calceolaria, Willi Verbena pulchella edging. "Whilst examining these from the terrace we have also longed to look at more narrowly a sunk garden on the south front of the mansion, with the terrace as the boundary on the east and south sides of it. For the position see the accompanying section : — Section '. 1, House. 2, Verandah, 10 feet. 3, Grass, 10 feet. 4, Walk, 8 feet. - " 5, Grass, 8 feet 6, Sloping grass. 7, Ditto. 8, Grass, This is so planted as to be seen all across from the walks round the garden ; and though there was little difference in the height of the plants, the tallest were placed next the fountain, and the lowest at the four corner square beds. This is the garden that our worthy coadjutor, Mr. Robson, finds so much fault with, so far as the tameness of the figure is concerned, as hardly anything can be more simple. But 11, Slope to ground beyond, which pees on to park. 12 Is a fountam in cenire of sunk garden, which is 100 feet square. 9, Walk. 10, Grass, on which are raised Ivy- beds 10 feet in diameter, with iron rods across. the mere figure is little thought about, amid such a gorgeous display in summer ! We heard an eminent connoisseur say that he thought there might have been an improvement if the four corner beds had been brighter. We may just add that each bed was a mass of bloom, and pretty well level all over. {To is continued.') 116 JOUKNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAE.DENEE. [ February 9, 1864. POISONOUS GAEDEN PLANTS. Have any of the readers of this Journal had experience in. the evU effects of Rhododendrons, Lam-els, or any other shrubs, on the animals which have j)artaken of them ? I know for a certainty, that in very severe winters hai'es and rabbits are not paa-ticularly nice as to what they eat; and I have seen scores of Hollies, Broom, Hazel, and even quickset hedges, bai-ked as high up as the animals could reach ; but at the place this was done there were no Laurels or Rhododendrons. My purpose, however, is to ask more particularly after poisonous plants or shiiibs, and whether they are obnoxious or otherwise to cattle. The common Laurel is certainly not a rank poison, although I by no means affirm it to be harmless ; and I have known a rather serious case of poisoning attributed to the Rhododendron. Can your readers confirm this ?— J. Eoeson. PEUNING AND MANAGING OLD PEACH TEEES. Othees besides "Ekin" may possibly have some old Peach trees,_ and a few hints may not be unseasonable. Age in trees, as in man, is characterised by decrease of vigour ; but for all that the trees maybe possessed of vitality enough to produce fruit. In fact, old trees are more fruitful than those which are free-grovring, and are apt to produce fruit to an extent that threatens their existence. Year after year do those old trees continue to produce a plentiful crop of finiit with but little pruning and attention. The difficulty seems to be rather to induce them to gi-ow than produce fruit ; and beyond the dying away of an old branch and but small annual growths in proportion to the quantity of fr-uit pro- duced, they present no sign of their- approaching end. Our correspondent does not fm-nish us with any particulars; we are, therefore, left a -svide field for surmise. Old trees, as said before, are mostly weak in growth, and a,nything tending to increase their vigour must necessarily be of great service to them. No manui-e is so beneficial to the Peach as that of a cold nature, such as cowdung and rich compost. I have found stable, pigeon, hen, and other hot manures too highly stimulating for old plants, and liquid manure, especiaUy that containing a large proportion of urine, destroys rather than renovates trees in health, though weak and old. Hot manures decompose too rapidly, and the matters they contain are washed down by watering in too powerful doses to the roots, and these are consequently destroyed by an excessive supply of strong food. Strong food IS only suited for strong constitutions, it completely deranges old trees, and those not strong by nature ; the roots cannot absorb nor the leaves digest it, and the trees consequently perish. The same food in a less concentrated form is more suitable for them. The business of the root is to collect the food in a diluted state, to transmit it upwards to the leaves, where a quantity— au immense proportion —is given off again ; but all that is necessary or requu-ed for the constitution of new parts and the repair of the waste m the old is retained, and becomes part and parcel of the trees. Old trees do not i-equii-e thefr food so strong as young trees. To improve Peach trees I have found nothing better than placing cowdung in its fresh state, about an inch thick, over the surface of the border, doing a foot at a time, and then pointing the manure in with a fork, takmg care not to go so deep as to injure the roots, and a neat finish is given the whole by covermg the sm-face with an inch of ft-esh compost. Strong but friable loam is the best for covering the surface. This surface-dressing is best given either in autumn, for then the manm-e is in a great measure decomposed before spring, or in spring after the fruit is set. If aj^plied when the trees are on the point of expanding their flowers, and the soil is then watered, too much food is likely to be thrown into the flowers, and they fall without setting. Maum-e should not be given any plant unless there be leaves to enable the plant to mjke use of it. The manm-e if applied in autumn wiU have parted with a great deal of its vfrtue by spring, and have passed into the soil above and below it, and when watoi-ed in spring it is in a form cplcidated to afford du-ect food to the trees, and, consequently, to in- vigorate them. The same may be said when the manure is applied after growth takes place. Water washes the fertilising principles down to the roots, and the trees, there- fore, obtain immediate support, and subsequent applications of water mix the manure with the soil and can-y some part of it to the roots, or these extend and reach it. Old trees thus maniu-ed are not long ere they show a marked im- provement in their foliage; in fact, they seem to become reinvigorated. In some cases where the trees are very old, and the soil much exhausted, taking away a quantity of surface soil and replacing it ivith fresh compost is of great sei-vice to the trees. Good strong loam with about one-thfrd of cowdung one year- old, and thoroughly mixed, is the best for this pur- pose. The roots should not be covered more than 6 inches with the fresh compost, and the operation is best performed in the autumn, and it should be done without injm-ing the roots. If these ai-e near the surface a top-dressing of rich compost, of which frilly one-half should be cool manure, as cow or sheep dung, should be neatly forked into the border, so that its fertilising agents may not be evaporated in the atmosphere before water is applied, and they are washed into the soil and pass down to the roots. The next best plan, presuming the above manures cannot be had, or are inconvenient to apply, is to water the borders with weak liquid manure during the summer — say at every alternate watering, until the fruit changes for ripening, when it must be discontinued. The manui-e water should be heated to a few degrees higher than the temperature of the border, and be much diluted with water, soft being the best for the pur- pose. If it be as thick as mud it should be brought by dilution to the appearance of pale ale, and that is strong enough for anything. One ounce of Peruvian guano dissolved in a gallon of rain water, and applied to the trees at every alternate watering, will much improve theii- appearance. In pruning old trees the cultivator should have in view the supiilying of the tree with young wood, and the removal of old useless parts, more than trying to form a handsome tree. The small, twiggy shoots fr-om weak main stems, especially if they are old, are to be removed, and a young shoot brought up or down into its place. The main branches should be distributed fan-fashion, and at such distances that from 9 inches to a foot wUl be left clear between them. A proper number of the shoots of the last year should be re- tained at a certain distance fi-om each other along the main branches to produce fi-uit, and not neai-er than 9 inches fi-om each other, nor farther apart than 1 foot. The first should be left as near the bottom of the branch as possible, and the others 9 inches apart fi-om it along the branch, leaving the last 9 inches from the extremity of the branch. It is best to leave these fruit-producing shoots on the upper side of the branch only, as when they are left on the lower side the tree becomes too full of wood, and light and air cannot reach to the leaves. The shoots should be trained straight, and at an angle of 45° from the centre of the tree, and tlie fi-uit-producing shoots at an angle of 4.5° from the shoots they spring fi-om. If on a trellis they are to be neatly tied with matting or Cuba bast. If they are not more than 9 inches in length they should not be shortened ; or if there be nothing but fruit-buds on them, but only the short branches with a wood- bud situated at the extremity of the branch, they must not be pruned, but tied-in their full length. On the other hand, if the shoots have two fruit-buds and a growing bud between them, they may, if more than 9 inches long, be pruned to one of these, always taking cai-e to leave sufficient buds below the pruning to provide for a crop. It is neces- sary to leave a wood-bud at the extremity of the shoot to draw the sap into the fruits that are presumed to be situated below it. This pruning and training is best done when the trees commence swelling thefr buds, for the uninitiated are then better able to distinguish wood fi-om fruit-buds. All shortening ot the shoots should be to a wood-bud either by itself, or situated between two fruit-buds. When the fruit is sot and the shoots growing, the process of disbudding should commence. Tliis is removing all shoots not wanted cither to draw the sap into the young fruit or to form shoots for next year's bearing. The latter should be left as near the old branch, or tho jilace fi-om which the previous year's bearing shoot proceeded, as February 9, 1864. ] JOITENAL OP HORTICULTTJKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 117 possible, and this shoot is to he trained to the trellis to supply the jilace of the shoot now producing fruit. At the extremity of the shoot producing fruit a shoot should be retained, and when it has made three leaves it is to he stopped to that number, or it may be allowed to grow if it Toe wanted to fUl-up vacant space. Shoots with fruit at their base are to be stopped to three leaves, and so on tlu'ough the tree. No shoots are to be left but those wanted either to extend the area of the tree, to draw the sap into the fruit, or to form fruit-bearing shoots for another year. Shoots not wanted are to be rubbed-off closely. It is better to go over the tree twice or thrice at intervals, and disbud a portion of the shoots each time. The fruit should be thinned, leaving one to each shoot ; but to make sure of a crop it is best to leave two or three to each shoot, but not more than three, for that is as many as any tree can bring to perfection. One fruit in every square foot is a good crop, and quite as many as can be had consistently with size, quality, and flavour. After this the trees wUl only need an adjusting of the shoots occasionally. Any shoots not pro- ducing fruit should be removed at once, and that springing from the base of the bearing shoot should be trained in its place to supply bearing wood for another year. The leaders are to be shortened at the spring pruning to half their length if weak, and two-thirds if very weak, and shoots left along them in summer to supply fruiting shoots 9 inches apart. If the leaders be very strong they should be pruned back about one-thii-d of the'ir length. All pruning when the leaves are off the trees must be to a wood-bud. No stop- ping of the shoots is necessary, except in the case of those left to draw sap towards the fruit, as doing so causes the production of a quantity of useless spray. In autumn the shoot that has produced fruit is to be cut clean out — i. e., to the shoot destined or provided to supply its place, unless it be a leader, or furnished with a shoot at its extremity to fill vacant space, when it must, of course, be retained. The short spur-like shoots left to draw the sap into the fruit are to be removed soon after the fruit is gathered ; for although these short spurs might yield fruit the following season, yet they do not improve the appear- ance of the tree, nor give fruit nearly so fine as that from Tegular shoots. All the air possible should be given from the time the buds begin to swell, and the atmosphere must be kept moist by frequently sprinkling the paths, &c. The air should be kept rather dry when the flowers expand, to assist in airing the poUen and distributing it. An occasional shaking of the trellis when the trees are in full bloom also helps to disperse it. The best plan, however, is to set the blooms with a camel-hair pencil, and it is a good sign if the bees are busy at the flowers. The trees having set their flowers are to be syringed twice daily, morning and evening, forcing the water against the under side of the leaves, and this is the best of aU preventives to the attacks of the red spider. A current of fresh air should blow upon the trees con- tinually, lessening the quantity by night, but leaving a little on even then if the heating apparatus be sufficient to provide for their safety. When the trees are in bloom the temperatm-e should be 45° at night, with a rise of 15° by day with sun and abundance of ventilation. After the fruit is set let it be 50' by night, and this should be gradu- ally raised so as to have it 55° at night by the time the fruits commence stoning. A rise of 5° on dull days, 10° to 15° on cloudy with clear intervals, and 15° to 20? with bright sun should be allowed the trees by day. The tempe- rature may be increased to 60° at night after stoning has been completedj and this is high enough for the Peach at any time afterwards. The syringings are to be discontinued after the fruit changes for ripening ; and beyond a syringing after it has been gathered, to free the leaves of dust, no more syringings are required. The soil of the border should at all times be kept healthfully moist. Copious waterings must be given whilst the trees are in bloom, and afterwards until the fruit begins to ripen, when they must be gradually diminished, so that they may be discontinued altogether by the time the leaves begin to fall. After the fruit has been gathered, air and every encouragement should be given to promote the hardening and ripening of the wood, on which depend the prospects of the ensuing season. In- sects must be kept under, as these suck out the juices of the leaves, and hinder the formation of perfect buds and sound well-ripened growths. At all times shoots springing from the base of the tree or main stem are to be encouraged, and as these advance in growth old branches may be cut away, and in this way old trees may be resupplied with young healthy shoots. Such are a few hints hastily strung together, but which I hope may be of service to our correspondent and others. — G. Aeeet. WOEE FOB, THE WEEK. KITCHEN GAKDEN. The continuance of fair weather will permit the operations that peculiarly belong to this month to be proceeded with. Asparagus, prepare soil for new plantations when required. This is an operation worthy of the greatest care, for if pro- perly done the plantation wiU last for many years. The principal requisites are good fibrous loam and dung. Where the soil in the garden is what is technically termed " old," add a thu-d of the whole of maiden loam, and put 6 inches of good rotten dung over the whole surface ; trench at least 2§ feet deep, and drain if necessary; then add as much more dung, and dig it in as deep as is generally done for general crops. Mark off the beds 4 feet wide and 2 feet for the alley ; then mark the rows in the bed, one in the centre and one at each side ; lay a ridge of maiden loam, leaf mould, and sand in equal parts along where each row is to be planted, and on these ridges place the plants. They may be either one or two years old, but not more than two, and should be taken up with great care, so as not to break the points of the roots. When placed on the ridges with an equal por- tion of roots on each side, cover them to the depth _ of 2 inches with pure sand when it can be procured, which, win induce the plants to throw out a number of young roots, which, passing through the sand, wiU seize with avidity on. the more nutritious food prepared for them. Above the sand add 4 inches of loam over the crowns ; and should the season prove dry, mulch between the rows, and give ooca^- sional waterings with liquid manure. Give plenty of aji- to these and all other crops in frames. Cauliflowers, plant-out from the seed-pans aU the young plants before they become too much crowded, and, if needful, make fresh sowings. Carrots, sow in frames, and thin those already up; also sow a crop in the open ground. Lettuce, sow a crop of Cos in frames and in the open ground. Peas, to provide against failures in vegetable crops ali-eady sown, or where the cKmate or soU is too cold to trust to seeds for the present in the open ground, we advise sowing these and Broad Beans, &c., either in small pots for their more easy transfer to the open ground, or when the quantity is considerable cut fresh pieces of turf 1 foot long and about 4 or 5 inches wide, turn the grassy side downwards, and form a channel along the centre of the upper part, in which sow the crop as you would in the open ground. Managed in this way they wiU sustain but little check, and wiU root thi-ough the turf into the soil, and grow away freely. Potatoes, plant for the first crop in a warm sheltered situation, if not already done. FLOWER GAKDEN. Give lawns a good rolling after wet, and, as was stated lately, if it be necessary to take up any of the turf for the purpose of levelling the groixnd, the sooner it is done the better. Proceed with cutting the edgings of walks, and keep them clean, and roll frequently to make them firm, and also to prevent the growth of weeds. See to even small plants being secvu-ed against wind, for these are often greatly injured by being blown about, especially if recently transplanted : small stakes and a few minutes' work would prevent the mischief. As before observed, see that all planting is completed forthwith. Improve as much. as possible all outlines. Plant fresh masses or gi-oups where necessary, and introduce specimen plants where fittmg opportunities offer. Do not plant single specimens in re- cesses ; these as a general rule should be carefldly preserved to give deep shadows, and to throw the prominent features into bold relief. Finish pruning Eoses; in doing so thin out the weak shoots, and shorten the strong and weU- ripened to four or six buds, according to then- strength. Strong-growing kinds, such as Brennus, Pulgens, Triomphe 118 JO¥ENAL OF HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. [ February 9, 1864. d' Angers, and others of similar habit, with most of the Noisettes when budded on tall stems, make beautiful ob- jects, if, instead of being shortened, the shoots are turned down and tied to the lower part of the stem, so as to form a balloon-shaped plant. In the borders sow Sweet Peas and Larkspurs, and prepare for the general sowing of annuals next month. FKUIT GAEDEN. Prune Easpberries. Any Gooseberries and Cm-rants not previously pruned should forthwith be attended to. Make aii-angements to procure a sufficient supply of pea-sticks, and collect fir boughs to protect the blossoms of Peach and Apricot trees. Gooseberry and Currant bushes occupy much less space in a garden trained to stakes across rods, as practised by Mr. Tombs, gardener to Major-General Pox, Addison Eoad, Kensington, and afford a gTeater amount of fruit. GKEENHOTJSE AND CONSEEVATOKT. As a general rule, when specimen plants require shift- ing, the best time to perform the operation is from the beginning of February to the middle of March. The advan- tage of spring-shifting is, that you provide a good store of roots for the summer growth, and hence you are almost sui-e of the plants setting their bloom lor the following season ; but if you shift them in the summer and autumn after they have bloomed there is a great probability of their making a late growth, and not setting bloom at aU. Hov/ever, it must not be inferred that all plants are to be potted at the same time, as, under favourable circumstances, it may be neces- sary to shift certain plants more than once, twice, or thrice, within twelve months. In potting, for all delicate-rooted plants, such as the finest kinds of Heaths, Epacris, &c., use turfy fibrous peat, with a liberal admixture of sand. STOVE. Some little increase of temperature may take place here, and that chiefly in the afternoon, by shutting up early, at the same time using a sufficiency of moisture. Look over the fastenings of Orchids on blocks or in baskets, and re- move the wu'es where necessary. Examine and shift aU plants that require such attention, and cut back after flowering such kinds as it may be desirable to increase by cuttings, or to make more shapely. rOECING-PIT. This useful structure will now supply Hyacinths, Tulips, Lilacs, Sweet Briar, Azaleas, Kalmias, &c., to give beauty and fragrance to the conservatory. The rich yellow flowers of Cytisus racemosus will add to the general effect. Take care to keep up a regular succession, and fumigate occasionally to keep all clean. Temperature 65° to 75^ by day, 55':' to 60" by night. PITS AND FEAMES. Alpines and other rare plants in pots to be looked over, all decaying matter to be removed, and the surface of the soil stu-red up. Sow seed of Salvia patens, and of Lobelia speciosa, to be started in heat. Put in cuttings of Petunias, Verbenas, &c., for bedding-out. Keep up a good growing heat in the cutting-frame. The thermometer to be from 65° to 70". W. Keane. DOINGS OP THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Dug and trenched ground. Sowed Peas and Beans, planted some ea,rly Potatoes, gave plenty of air to those in beds, also to Eadishes, Lettuces, Carrots, &c. Cleared dead leaves from vegetables outside, watered Asparagus -in frames, and washed the glass to give a,U the light possible that the tops may be nice and green. Took up a little more Rhubarb and Sea-kale. Swept the beds bearing Mushrooms slightly with a hair-broom, and as no covering is on them, we have pi-etty well conquered the snails and slugs. Potted-off more Dwarf Kidney Beans, sowed some early Basil, &c., and per- formed other work of routine. FEUIT GARDEN. PuU-pruued Currants, and more sparingly pruned Goose- berries, so that something may be left for the birds, and syrmged them all with a rather thick mixture of clay, cow- dung, soot, and lime. We have used frequently in pre- paring the above wash strong laurel water, made by chop- ping laurel leaves and young stems with a bill-hook, or bruising them with a mallet, placing them in a barrel and covering them with boiling water, and putting an old sack over the top. Such water may be used strong for this pur- pose, and some sulphur lime water will also be good for making the pecking of buds unpleasant. Ah'sady we have had to net some Plums, on which the birds had commenced in earnest. A few boys with bat-folding nets took twenty dozen the other night from a piece of Laurels, and we candidly own that we were so wanting in feeling as never to ask the boys what they meant to do with them. NaOed and pruned as weather permitted and opj^ortunity ofi'ered, our chief strength just now being directed to rake leaves before they aU blow away. We believe we could collect more if we raked before the leaves were much more than half down, as after the trees are bare the wind takes off a good share before we can rake, as that might interfere with the game for shooting parties. Where game is highly preserved and no birds' nests are taken, and the garden is near the pre- serves, it will, ere long, be found that the garden wiU yield little unless everything is well protected by netting. When that is done there will be a chance that the birds wiU only get their proper share, instead of leading the gardener scarcely the gleanings. This would satisfy alike the humani- tarians and the utilitarians, as but for the destruction bii'ds make few would wish to hurt or even curtail imreasonably the numbers of the sweet little creatures, as there can be no doubt that they do us good as well as evU. But say and argue as we will, it is not pleasant to have the most of our fruit-buds gnawed through, our Peas grubbed up, and the best CheiTies and Strawberries holed or carried off. Nets are of no use for the CheiTies, &c., unless they are kept some 15 inches from the wall, tree, or plant, and well secured and no hole left. Even when small hooked sticks keep the net from the wall, we have seen blackbirds fly at that part of the net between the sticks, and the momentum thus given would bring the net close to the wall, and enable the bird to take a Cherry or a part of one thi'ough the net. The very sight of a net is often an inducement for them to pry and investigate what is underneath it. Difficulties, just as in the case of a higher intelligence, seem only to whet the desire to overcome them. Could the birds only keep cool when disturbed and fly quietly to the hole by which they entered, few would be caught by men or boys more fluiTied than themselves. Smoked an orchard-house again before pruning, washing to make all safe. Gave a little water to Strawberries, potted- off Melon plants, temperature about 60" at night, and a rise from sunshine when it could be commanded. Peaches, Vines, &o., much as in previous weeks. ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. Proceeded with pruning Laurels, making turf edgings right, wheeling a little half-rotten leaves on some flower-beds on a fi'osty morning; the beds being previously ridged up, the manure will be spread over the ridges for a short time to be sweetened and fi'ozen if possible, and then the ridges wUl be turned over to be still further exposed to the air. Swept and rolled walks, as on most gravel a greenish sUme is apt to come on the surface after such dripping weather. In some fi-osty mornings scrubbed the walks well with an old hard birch broom, which removed a good deal of the gi-een matter, and any small weeds that might be present, without moving the smooth surface of the gravel in the least. This often makes a walk more solid and firm in spring and summer, and quite as bright as digging it over, treading, levelling, rolling frequently, and all the rest of it. The walks here which have been admfred by connoisseurs, arc too shallow for digging, and the sui-face has been unbroken for many years, except in shady places where they would become greenish, and such parts were either scraped or hoed slightly, and raked when di-y and sunny. Looked over Hollyhocks and herbaceous plants : find the fh-st in the little mounds of dry burnt clay and rubbish all right, at least mostly so, and few things aie more effective in fi-ont of a bank of Laurels. All such plants as Am'iculas, Poly- anthus, the better Primroses, Cai-nations, Pinks, double Wall- flowers, Stocks, &c., in pots, should still be kept rather dry, which will be a great preservative against severe frost if it should come. All the aii- possible should be given in mild February 9, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 119 weather. If dripping, elevate the glass or other covering back and front that there may be plenty of air, and yet the wet be kept out. The same rule ivill apply to all half-hardy things in cold frames, turf, earth, and other pits, but even they must foe treated according- to their natm-e. For instance : old Scai-let Geraniums packed away in faggot-style beginning to break, should now receive a little water at the roots if the soil is very dry, but the tops cannot well be kept too di-y. There is a bed of young Calceolarias as thick as they can stand, and we do not want to move them into an earth pit just yet ; they Uke moistiu-e, but were we to water much at the root they would injure each other, and very likely get yellow leaves, and insects too, of which they, owing to the hardy cool treatment, are as yet free. A slight skiff with the syringe is better, therefore, for them under the circumstances than much watering, and even a slight dewy drizzle in a mild foggy day so as to wet all the foliage and just the sur- face of the soU, is also better in theii' present condition than watering. The less water plants have at this season as a general rule, provided they are not allowed to flag, the better they will succeed afterwards. Of course an exception must be made in the case of plants in bloom, and standing in a high temperatiu'e. The temperature must regulate the water-pot in a great degree. With the exception of the AmplexicauUs Calceolaria, all other Calceolarias used for the flower garden will thrive better afterwards if they never have fii-e heat in any shape, and they are more easily kept in cool places out of doors than most other bedding plants, as they are not inclined to damping, but rather relish a moist cool atmosphere when young, though they like a warm bright atmosphere and coolness for their roots in order to bloom well out of doors. We may just mention that we have pruned a lot of Fuchsias that have been kept rather di-y all the winter, and placed them in an average heat of 45° to start them before repotting. Thinned boxes of Scarlet Geranium cuttings in- serted in the autumn, and which were becoming as thick as Mustard-and-Cress-boxes, though where we are to find room for the half of them before we turn them into earth and turf pits seems a mystery, with all our knowledge of cramming. We find that the cuttings we inserted in old spouting- troughs, and placed in a pit a yard from the glass, are doing well, and not drawing, owing to their needing no shade by day, and no cover by night. We would have hked better if they had only been 2 feet from the glass. To our window- gardening ft-iends we would say. Keep aU plants clean, free from dust, and except for bulbs, Violets, and other things in bloom, water moderately. If Hyacinths do not rise freely try the paper funnel over them, and keep them on the chimneypiece for a few days. We must give them a whole paper presently. PBLAEGONIUMS. We have just been giving a small shift to a number of Pelargoniums of a rather large size, and becoming quite pot-bound, and yet the pots are hardly large enough to support large heads of bloom, without extra attention being given. These plants had been potted in the autumn in light sandy loam, with a little peat and leaf mould. Similar soO, with a little more loam was again used, and after placing a little moss over the drainage, sprinkled with soot, a hand- ful of nodules of old dried cowdung was placed over the soot, then a portion of soil, and then the fr'esh soil a,dded in the usual way, with a few bits of the cowdung worked in as the work proceeded. Some pieces of charcoal would have been added, but we did not happen to have any. Of course, the plants at aU dry had been watered a few days before repotting. The cowdung had been collected in dry cakes in hot weather nearly a twelvemonth ago, and was stored loosely, so that the cakes were hard and as sweet as a nut, and might be broken in bits by the hands of a lady without soiling her fingers. We are thus minute because we have several notes wishing for moi-e particular du-ections, and stating that we ought to describe all operations as if to persons who had never seen these operations performed. The keeping plants comparatively dry in winter, has brought to our recollection some half a dozen of inquiries how to cure and how to prevent the spot in Pelargoniums, and in a few words we will give the results of oiu' practice on this subject. 1. When the brownish spots appear on the leaves of a Pelargonium, we know of no means by which these spots which disfigure the plant can be removed. 2. We hardly think the spot is infectious farther than this, that other plants placed in similar circumstances wiH come to be affected in the same way. 3. Though it is unadvisable to keep a tainted stock of any plant, we do not think there is anything hereditary in this disease ; as plants very much affected with the spot, when set out of doors, well hardened in their wood, and kept rather dry in summer, pruned in early autumn, potted in fresh soil when broken, and differently treated, showed no spotted leaves afterwards. Now for the preventives of this spot, which appear to us' to be as certain to keep it away as the opposite treatment will be sure to bring it on. 1. Keeping the soil dryish instead of moist in winter and spring, and, if possible, choosing a bright sunny day to give what little water would be necessary, and spilling as little as possible. 2. Setting the plants on a dry, solid substance, be it wood, slate, or stone, with air beneath as well as above the shelves, platform, &c., instead of standing the plants on beds of earth, ashes, &o. For extra fine plants it is a good plan to set the pot on the bottom of another pot reversed. 3. Keeping the atmosphere sweet, airy, and rather dry, instead of moist, close, and stagnant. 4. Giving air so early that all the foliage should be dry before the sun shines much upon it. "In the multitude of counsellors there is safety," al- though at times attended with a little distraction; and, therefore, any friend who from his own practice can simplify or improve on these modes of prevention, will confer a boon on many Pelargonium-growers, and, more especially on amateurs. — R. P. COVENT GAEDEN MAEKET.— Feb. 6. The market ia still well supplied with vegetables, Savoys, Brussels Sprouts, and other winter greens being plentiful. These are rendered much more tender if soaited in cold spring water for three or four hours previous to cooking— a fact winch is not sufficiently known to the majority of cooks. Of French Lettuce, Endive, and sirall salads there is a good supply ; and in Apples large importations have come in from Belgium, which is a great lioon to the poorer classes, home-grown fruit being scarce aud dear. A few Spanish Melons may still be had, and some excellent samples of new Black HamburgUs have this day made their appearance. Cut flowers are the same as last week. FEUIT. Apples J sieve Apricots doz. Figs dos. Filberts iS Nuts 100 lbs. Grapes, aothouse....lb. Foreign Muscats Lemons 10a s. 2 0 0 0 10 1 10 6 3 d. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 s. 04 0 0 0 15 2 15 10 d 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mulberries.... ....quart 8. 0 0 4 0 8 G 5 0 14 i. 3. Otoo 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 12 0 10 0 8 0 0 6 20 d 0 • . ...100 0 n Pears dessert... Pine Apples... Pomegranates .... bush. ...^ sieve ...'....lb. each 0 0 0 0 0 7EQET ABLES. Asparagus bundle Beans, Broad bush. Kidney 100 Beet, Red doz. Broccoli bundle Brussels Sprouts^ sieve Cabbage doz. Capsicums 100 Carrots bunch Cauliflower doz. Celery bundle s. 8 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 1 d. s. d 0 to 12 0 0 0 0 6 S 0 0 '1 6 9 2 0 6 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 8 0 6 0 6 2 0 0 5 0 3 2 6 3 0 0 8 0 0 3 0 0 6 4 0 Leeks .. bunch 8. 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 d. s. 4 too 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 4 6 0 4 0 9 1 0 0 0 8 6 2 0 0 6 2 6 2 6 4 0 0 4 0 d 0 0 Mushrooms ,. Musid. &Cres Onions pickling .. Parsley Parsnips ...pottle , punnet .. bushel ....quart ...bunch doz. 6 0 0 8 6 6 n Potatoes Radishes doz. lihubarb Savoys Sea-kale .. .. sack bunches . bundle .per doz. , basket sieve ...2 sieve u 0 0 0 Fennel bunch Garlic and Shallots, lb. Herbs bunch Horseradish ... bundle 0 Spinach Tomatoes 0 0 0 TEADE CATAIOG-UES EECEIVED. Hooper & Co, Covent Garden. S:pring Catalogue of Flower, Shrub, and Kitchen Garden 8eeds. W. B. Jeffries, Arboretum Nurseries, lyswich.— Descriptive Catalogue of Plants, Seeds, Bulbs, Sfc. J. W. Mackey, 40, Westmoreland Street, Dublin. Descrip- tive Seed Catalogue and Cultural Guide. 1864. 120 JOTONAL OF HOETICTTLTITRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ February 9, ISW. TO CORRESPONDENTS. *^* "We request that no one will write privately to the de- partmental writers of the " Journal of Horticultui-e, Cottage Gai-dener, and Country Gentleman.'* By so doing they are subjected to unjustiliable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be ad- dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul- ture, t^-c, 162, Fleet Street, London, E.C. We also request that correspondents will not mis up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once. Leaves Browned and Spotted {Mose, Gucr}isey).^Tiie Azalea leaf is much infested with thrips. The house should be smoked with tobacco, filling it with the smoke. You will find the pest on tke under side of the leaf. The Camellia leaf is spotted by keeping the air too moist and close. Give more air, and in future omit the liquid manure in watering'- the Azaleas and Camellias. Liquid manure, however, would not spot the leaves, but it as not suited for Axaleas and Camellias. We fear the pent you employ is not suitable for your plants ; but if it is sandy, and crumbles freely when rubbed with the hands, without becominc a soap-like lump, it is all right. See to the drainage of the Camellias, and be sure it is perfect. Wh;itever you do, get rid of the thrips on the leaves, and whenever you see them again smoke the house immediately. The foliage should be dry when the house is smoked. Flower-garden Plan (A. ^.).— With the materials you mention we would hil the centre bed with Calceolarias, either mixed or bro:ul.edged hv the Amaranthus, and the two side beds with Tom Thumb, and an edging of variegated Aiyssum. The border we would phint with the Minmlns in dots m the centre, and then with Lobelia edged with Cerastium. The lean-to house would do best. The Verbenas were taken off too late, unless placed in a close warm place. Conservatory Alterations ( O. 5r/-7.'75).-No doubt it would be desiraMe to have some of the sashes to open ; but as the house is lofty in proportion to Its length and width, we would like to give it a f^iir trial before making the alterations spoken of. If we understand the gable ends rightly, a great body of heated air will pour out at these ends, and if opened to the full there will be a great draught through the sixteen five-inch openings in iront. Such lofty upright houses are less influenced bv the sun heat than smaller lean-to houses. In the meantime we would have a ventilator at back opposite the doorway, and then, if necessarv, increase the size of the ventjlators in the gable ; but one more ventilator at back we should like to try first. In such a house the door could be half open from April to June, and again m autumn, and might be open all the summer months, and all the ventilators also. If these ventilators are opened early in sprin"-, autumn, and wmter, we have a strong opinion that the house will not become so hot as you imagine. In the heat of summer the sun will strike ohhauely on the upright glass. However, there can be no objection to the iront glass being made moveable. Camellia Flower-buds not Expandimg (A Suhscriher since 18561.— You will see a detailed conpideration of the subject in our Journal to-dav. The failure almost certainly arises from defective root-action ; but you must judge for yourself after reading those details, what induces the defective root-action in your Camellias. Manure on Vine-border— Inarching Vines {An Amnteur). —Yoxiv Vines will do very well without manure at this season; the roots being inside the house, the soil temperature will he sufficient for ordinary forcing. The best way of inarching Vines is to unite green wood to green. After the Vines have grown 2 or 3 feet take a slice (about 3 inches Ion", and deep enough to reach the centres of the growths) from the sides of both the stock and Vine to be united to it, fit them nicely together, and tie with a piece of soft matting. Stop the stock when this operation is performed. In about a fortnight or three weeks the union will be sulficientlv formed to allow of the inarch being nearly severed from its roots, and in a" week more 3t may be cut entirely away. Then the tie should be undone and tied more loosely, and left on for a short time. The operation is so simple that you cannot but succeed with ordinary care. Supplement to Cottage Gardeners' Dictiokart ((?. Broic7i]. —It wiW contain various corrections and additions, and bring down the details of gardenmg to the present time. It will not be able to give directions as to pronunciation. Peach Cl-ltuke ( Westmoreland). —Out " Fruit -Gardening for the Many " contams what you need. It can be had free by post if you enclose five penny postage stamps, Lapaqkiua rosea Planting out (Ignorafnu3).-~lf the surface of the border is some distance from the glas^ it would be better to plant it in the "border after the shoots have grown considerably. On the other hand, if the border has plenty of light, we thould prefer putting in the plant now, There would be le^^s likelihood of giving the plant a check by planting now than there would be when the shoots are considerably advanced. Madame Vauchkr and Christine Geraniums (B. If.}.— These Gera- niums are not more tender than many others, Thev are rather strong growers, and bloom more freely when plunged in the beds or borders in pots. In a cold exposed situation in Yorkshire they did moderately well last season, and Lancashire is not colder than there. Seeds for an Acre op KixmEN Garden {W. R. J/".).— A supply of genuine seeds for one year is not dear at four guineas. A collection at that price would contain everything needed all the year round, exccnt Potatoes, Jerusalem Arti<:hokes, culinai-y roots, &c. Why not trust nucli matters to your gardener 1 He would make out a list better than any seedamau can do it, and although the seeds might cost a trifle more, you would ^ain by the utility of the itrticles. Some seeds usually included in collections are not wanted, and these yourgaidener would leave out, and he would substitute others better adapted to the soil and your requirements. Shrobs for Plant Case {Dubfin). — Desfontania splnosa would lire in your plant cise, but you must; not expect it to flower. The small and broad-Ieaved Myrtle, and -^'kimiuia japonica. would also keep green. There are no plants so suitable as Fern?, and these we should advice you to employ eselusively. Ho flowering pUnts will do any good in a plant case with a north aspect, and the tame holds true of cliniburs. We know of none. All plants want light to do any good, and that they uiust have. Pyreturums— Pansie?, &c. {E. F.).—Yom will find Pyrethrums noticed fully in our nest issue. The '* Garden Manual " published at our office, price Is. Gd.^ contains particulars of Pansy culture. Pansies do well in a shady situation, but not under trees. Camellia Casting its Bubs {£ri>i)- — It may have been occasioned by dryness at the root, wetness of the snil, sour soil, imperfect drainage, and sundry other causes, which are considered in to-day's Journal. Yoar other question is treated of elsewhere. Regnee's Ivy. — An Old Subscriber would be obliged by being Informed from whence, and bow long since, this Ivy was introduced. Variation of Gymnogramma patcHELLA (G. Edwards) .—The golden colour is not common, but has occurred belorc with G. calomelanos, which in the Oxford iiotaiiic Garden has produced but gold and silver portions. The other appears to be a sulphurcscent tartarea, or some tport coming between tartarea and Martensii. CuTTi.vtt-DOw:^ Young Vi.ses {/. D., If ford). —Plant them in your house, rub-otf all the upper buds except the lowest three, and when the lowest shoot from these has become about 6 inches long, then cut the stem away just above it. Veree:jas {J. Sorton),—kny of the principal florists who advertise in our Journal could supply Midame Jensow, Paul Tircas, Faust, and Made- moiseLe de la Nalline. Wc cannot specially recommend any florist. MiJiDLUs cuPBEUs AND MACDLOsus {A Subscriber, Cirencester). — There is little doubD but plants of these raised from seed sown in February will flfiwer during the summer, as they are fast-giowing plants and quickly come into flower. The hybrids of the maculosus stamp like a rather damp or sbady position, esijecially in the hot summer months; and plautad out^ the north sidtj of a wall exactly suits them. Hotbed Making {E. A. P.).— Taking for granted that horsedunj forms the principal substince on which to rely tor heating purposes, we may, in the first place, observe than it is better when it can be had without being heated much, or rather before it ha3 heated itself into what may be termed tlie scalding process— i. c, when it has heated and become ol a while musty colour. Il is not spoiled entirely when in this condition, but is certainly injured. It may, however, be used ; and mixed with other dung it comes round again wonderfully. Procuring a quautity of this dung, with as large a proportion of litter in it as may be, let it bs thrown into a heap, and on the fourth or filth day it will require turning, and perhaps even butore that time if it appear very hot. Turning four oi live days afterwards will also be necessary ; and, if time will allow, a third or fourth luniing will like- wise be of benefit; but as it often happens that a hotbed is wanted before this can be accomplished, we may state that when the dung has a tendency to overheat it would be better not to build the hotbed too high, and to tread it well; not, however, too firmly, as we have known when this was done that it would not heat at Ai. When, however, the time and circum- stances will allow, it is better to well sweeten the dung by repeated turnings before making up the bed, and a more lasting heat will be the result. Bear in mind at the same time, that it the bed be wanted in the first instance to raise seedlings, the time of prt paring the dung need nut be lost to them ;, for by bome simple contrivance, which will readily occur to the operator, a small box, if even without lights, but covered in, may be plactd on the side of the heating material, and pots, pans, or boxes placed on it. The seeds will be progressing towards germination during the few days In which the dung is being prepared for iJie bed for their reception. Of course it is necessary to take care that rank steam or heat above S-J'^ does not come in contact cither with the pots or the germiniiting plants. This, however, is easily guarded again-t ; and when once a hotbed is prepared of materials pruperly sweetened, it is much better than when puttou hurriedly together. Sometimes the a;linixtuve or a less active material than dung is of great service in checking and prolonging the heat; such substances ought to contain fibrous matter enough to resist decay for a time. For this object leaves of certain kmds answer very well, especially the harder aud firmer description, as Oak, Sweet Chestnut, Beech, and some others ; while soft leaves, which in themselves contaui more water than fibre, heat quickly aud as rapidly decay. Of this class Lime, Elm, and Sycamore are perhaps the wort-t ; and mure rapid ^till in its haste to destruction is short fi'e-ih, graRs. There are other substances to be had which have a useful heating property, as tan, which, next to dung and leives, is perhaps the most com- monly used ; but it certainly does not answer so well in that way as it used to do belore so many improvements in the tjiining process were introduced. Nevertheless it is a useful agent still, but most so when worked alone. Certain kinds of factory refu.-.e liUewis^e ferment, and produce a heat more or less lusting in proportion to the slowness or rapidity with which they decay ; but a» most of these things have only a local position, hot dung in villa and suburban places, and dung and lea/es in more rural ones, may be regarded sis the most important heating substances we have at commsind. For a brisk heat a mixture of dung aud leaves is to be preferred to either alone ; while for a loug-contiuued heit— say to last one year or more— good Oak or Bteeh leaves require no mixture, the heat they give oft" being gentle and agreeable to everytning. If the ground be dry we mny say it might he sunk a foot or more with advantage, us it would give tho manager moro comm iiid of the inside. If, however, the place be wet, and an excavation for the hotbed likely lo collect water, then by all means let the bed bo above the surface. Hotbeds put up early iu tho season arc, however, not unusually hcited by limngs of dung applied to their sides when part of the bed bus subsided; and it may be observed that when hot dung has to be applied against another substance of a like kind to augment ii.s warmth, it may be as hot aud rank as convenient, taking care, however, that none of the impure steam pas.s into the frame. We may also observe that some hotbeds are worked entirely by linings, the frame itself standing over a hollow chamber, or its foundation in tsome way being aceessible to the heated vapour of the lernieutmg matcri il. One of the best founditions which we ever had was a pile ul billet wood of the size and shape of the box frame, to be placed upon ^t ; aud the inside being covered over with turty litter, and soil put on, the box was set on tkat, and frequent applications of hot dung around all its sides kept up the required heat. February 9, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 121 Pine Api'le (S. Wilson),— ^ye have published no separate work on the culture of ilie Pine Apple. Cliantiids Dampieri Seedlings {A I'oung Amateur).— This capricious plant is vevy difficult to manage, and we would advise you to treat your two plants differently— say, let one of them be potted into au open mixture of rough half-deoaved turf with most of the soil shaken out of i:, aad mix some old moss and bits of charcoal with it. Let another plant be potted in sandy peat in the ordinary way, and report your success. We have tried plants in both ways, and for a time both went on well, but eventually died. lu yov.r case, however, the plants evidently want repotting: ; this done, we hope to hear of your successfully flowering this most handsome plant. Planting Forest and Fruit Trees in March {A Young Amateur).— You may do this in the early part of the month, but It would have been better if done in the autumn. They may, however, succeed pretty well if the ground has been in tillage, or is in a ffood condition. Much depends on this. If it be all right we would mtlier plant now than lose a season; but if it has been occupied by buildings, or otherwise denied access to the sweetening influence of air, let it have a season's fallow before planting, and you will gain by the delay. Verbenas Daxping-off {Q. R.y a Lover of Verb e?ias) .—It -would be better to remove some of the plants at once to a hotbed, where the increased heat will perhaps create fresh growth and arrest decay; and cuttings taken off afier th;s have plenty of time to become plants. A pit is not the best place for Verbenas, still less so for Geraniums in the dull damp months ; but as they are now receiving sun you will save what are left. Fruit Trees Failing on Geavellt Soil {Idem}.— Some gravels are very pernicious, containing so much mineral poison that trees often do badiy in them. Neither will manuring prove a complete remed}'- with fruit trees, although for vegetables it has much effect. The only remedy we know of (and that is an expensive one), is to add considerably to the existing thin surface soil by large importations of soil of a more suitable kind for the growth of fruit trees. Perhaps, however, your situation is a bleak esposed one : if so, we fear great success can hardly be expected. How- ever, tiy u fevr trees by removing a cartload or two of the subsoil, and replacing it with fresh loam from a rather stiff pasture, and in thi?, mixed ■with some of that already in tillage, plant healthy young trees. Tapeworm (G.). — If no one was troubled with this parasite until it was introduced into his system by Strawbenies manured with horse-droppings, we think that the tapeworm in the human intestines would be very rare — almost as rare as the unicorn and phtenix. It is a topic not suited to our columns. Heating a Peach-house (Barton).— Fot very early forcing, say to commence about the end of October, it would be an advantage to have the heating-plpts close to the front wall, so as to heat the front air as it was admitted. This would not be neces.sai-y for forcing after January or Feb- ruary, and, therefore, we would further propose having the pipes on a level on the floor of the house, which will not at all interfere with the trees. It would be as well to have a ventilator under every light in the front wall. "Were you to force early you would require four four-inch pipes the length of the house ; moderately early, three ; and to help on and keep out the frost, two pipes. We would place the pipes on ^he same level. In the first case, three flows and one return ; in the second, two and one ; and in the third, one of each. In any case we would raise the pipes to the extreme end, so as to be 3 or 4 inches above the level, insert a small open pipe there, and of course the return would have a similar fall to the boiler. Train .as you say. Names of Plants {G. C, A. C].— It is Justicia speciosa. {Amateur). — Your " gum " leaf is probably from Eucalyptus piperita, but we cannot be ■certain. {R. ^.).— Daviesia mimosoides. ( fV. IT. ^.)-—^Ve cannot identify plants from such seeds. {B. 5. ).— Apparently a very bad specimen of Asplenium bulbiierum. If so, it is a freely-growing evergreen greenhouse fern. {A Yuung (Jar^Zewer).— 1, Justicia calytricha; 4, Pilea serpylUfoUa. The leaves we do not recognise. poultry, bee, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. ME. WILLIAMS AND THE DISQUALIFIED PENS AT BIEMINGHAM. Hating aent you last week an epitapli for tlie Birmingham controversy, I am afraid you will think me unreasonable ia now asking you to exhume it for a post-mortem examination. I unwillingly make the request ; but I have received to-day a letter from Mr. Williams, and it appears to me the inform- ation he gives, in conjunction with what is already known, may explain this " Comedy of Errors" in a manner which leaves no stain either on jMr. Williams or Mr. Hindson. Mr. WUliams, of coui-se, considers the disqualifieation Jinjust, and claims the absolute right to exhibit the birds where and when he pleases. He says that he obtained them •of Mr. Evan Pugh, who seems to be a breeder of Game fowls in the neighboiu'hood of Welshpool, that Pugh was once in the habit of supplying Mr. Hindson with birds for exhibition, but that when he bought the birds in question he was satis- fled fi-om Pugh's explanation that all connection between iim and Mr. Hindson had ceased. He adds that the marks on Ms bii-ds and Mr. Hindson's are probably the same, as he thinks they have aU been marked by Evan Pugh. Of Mr. Hindson he says he knows absolutely nothing except by name, and that he never had any communication with him. I will ask you first to allow me, by the light derived fr-om Mr. Williams's letter, to review a few of those singularly groundless insinuations which, fi-om some motive I cannot understand, have been so persistently repeated. The firsfc insinuation was that of collusion between Mr. Hindson and the exhibitor. My argument, that this charge was utterly inconsistent with the fact that Mr. Hindson himself insisted on the disqualification before any complaint could possibly have been made, apparently had little effect. May I, there- fore, confirm it by the declaration of Mr. Williams, that he never in his life had any communication with Mr. Hindson ? As a sort of corollary to tliis insinuation, it was next sug- gested that Mr. Williams was a kind of humble dependant of Mr. Hindson's. When this remark was made I could only express my disbelief. I now reply that Mr. WiUiams fills the honourable position of Mayor of Welshpool. There is another insinuation which I should not notice if it had not apparently received the sanction of Mr. Hewitt, of whom I hoped better things. After a rather elaborate account of the examination of the nostrils of all the Game cocks at Birmingham, with the result of which I am perfectly satis- fied, he states the investigation was made " long prior to the disqualifying cards being put up." Now, the marks were the same whether the discovery were made before or after. I am afraid, therefore, the words I have quoted were introduced to suggest the groundless inference that the dis- qualification was the result of the discovery, about which he seems to have taken such great pains. How the delay occurred might be shown in a perfectly satisfactory way if it were necessary ; but this point is not now of the slightest importance, as the present aspect of the case by no means implies that there was any hesitation on the part of Mr. Hindson, but rather that the step was taken with too great precipitation, and without time being allowed for sufficient inquiry. But I return to Mr. Williams's letter, which really has an important bearing on the matter. It is written apparently with perfect frankness, and it is only just to say that he has shaken the opinion I once had as to his right to exhibit these birds. At the same time, I am not yet convinced that the disqualification was wrong. As this may appear incon- sistent, let me explain it. I accept implicitly his statement that he bought the birds of Pugh, believing that Pugh had a right to dispose of them. This, of course, would justify Mr. Williams in sending them where , he chose ; but he admits there had been some connection between Pugh and Mr. Hindson. Now, if Mr. Hindson was the owner or had an interest in the birds, and Mr. Pugh, suppressing that fact, improperly disposed of them, Mr. Hindson was justified in disqualifying them, although Mr. WiUiams was not to blame. It is true Mr. Williams asserts positively the birds never were Mr. Hindson's ; but, in making this assertion, he is probably relying on the statement of Pugh, whose interest it is to establish the validity of the sale to Mr. Williams. Assuming that Pugh had a perfect right to dispose of the birds, then the disqualification was a mistake; and as the marks on Mr. Williams's and Mr. Hindson's birds appear to be the same, it is just possible that those very marks, the existence of which has been established with so much care, and apparently for a totally different purpose, may tend to show how the mistake was made. All that seems necessary to make the question quite clear is sa,tis- faotory evidence as to the ownership at the time the birds passed into the hands of Mr. Williams. If Mr. Hindson had an interest in them at that time, although the fact was sup- pressed by Pugh, the disqualification was right ; but if Mr. Hindson had no such interest the disqualification was a mistake. I think this is presenting the facts quite fairly, and in no light in which I can view them do they imply anything dishonom-able either in Mr. Williams or in Mr. Hindson. One fact stands out clear and distinct, and beyond all possibility of further doubt— viz., that between Mi-. Wfllisuns and Mr. Hindson there never was, not only any connection, but not even the most trivial acquaintance. AH the in- sinuations, therefore, once indulged in on the hypothesis of collusion are literally baseless. Let it come to the worst it cannot amount to more than this, that three pens of Game fowls were disqualified on gTOunds which were subsequently discovered to be insufficient. If I have succeeded in showing that there is no necessity to cast aspersions either on Mr. WiUiams or Mi-. Hindson, I am repaid for the trouble I have taken.— J. H. Smith. 122 JOUENAIi OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAItDENER. [ February 9, 18M. GAME-FOWL PBIZES AT BIRMINGHAM. Can you inform me what has become of the question raised in connection with the disqualified pens at the late Birmingham Show ? What with Mr. Hindson's furious on- set and Mr. Williams's spirited rejoinder, it bid fair to become as "pretty a quai-rel" as one could desire; and now that it should have been allowed to subside and evapo- rate is not only very disappointing, but wears an air of suspicion. Having felt a more than ordinary interest in having this matter cleared up either one way or the other, I naturally waited in expectation of at least seeing a reply from Mr. Hindson to the rejoinder of Mr. Williams; and none having appeared, the matter, I repeat, remains in a very unsatisfactory, if not highly suspicious, condition. Now, sir, the facts appear to be that the birds in question belonged to neither Mr. Hindson nor Mr. Williams, but were the property of Mr. Evan Pugh, Welshpool ; and when Mr. Hindson exhibited them he, of course, had to borrow them. I have in my possession a letter from the owner of the birds (Mr. Pugh), in which he states that he sold and de- livered them the Monday after the Bii'mingham Show ; so that they never were Mr. Hindson's property. This being the case, and Mr. Hindson having exhibited thsm at shows where it is comijulsory for the birds to be the honrl fide pro- perty of the exhibitor, it behoves him to refund to the secretaries of the respective shows the prizes he has taken under these circumstances. Another point which I also expected would have been noticed, and which requires to be cleared up, is the commu- nication of Mr. Smith in your impression of December 22nd, 1863. It behoves him to explain where he oljtained his in- formation on the subject on which he there speaks so posi- tively. Where, for instance, did he obtain the information that " it was perfectly true that some of the Game fowls to which prizes were awarded belonged to Sir. Hindson," when, as I have shown, Mr. Hindson had no proj^erty in them ? Or where did he learn, as he stated to some of the by- standers, that these fowls had been stolen fi-om Mr. Hindson, to whom they did not belong, and that Mr. Hindson intended to prosecute the delinquent ? By the way, Mr. Smith states that Mr. Hindson was the first to call his attention to the birds; whereas no notice wag taken of the matter till public attention had been drawn to it. But let that pass. It is, nevertheless, assuredly in- cumbent on Mr. Smith to explain to your readers these anomalies in order to set himself straight with that part of the public wliich feel an interest in the question of poultry. Under all these circumstances Mr. Hindson, if he value the opinion of others, wUl feel it to be incumbent on him to reply to the letter of Mr. Williams in your impression of the 19th ult., to say nothing of the facts in this communication. I have been given to understand that he has visited Mr. Evan Pugh, of Welshpool, and, therefore, ought to be in a position to defend himself The portion of the public who exhibit poultry are most deeply interested in receiving an explana- tion of the reasons on which Mr. Hindson disqualified bii-ds as being his own, when at the same time he had not, nor every had, any claim to them as his property. — F. THE SCHEDULES OF POULTRY SHOWS. Having been considerably interested in the concise and very interesting paragraphs which have appeared in your columns signed " Y. B. A. Z.," I venture to make a few comments and remarks both on prize schedules in general and that of Darlington in particular. In the article written by that correspondent in your Number for the 5th of January, I notice his approval of the system adopted of varying the entrance-money according to the prizes. This system is one that seems so very fair in its scheme, and so very advantageous both to the Society and the exiubitor, that I am astonished that it has not been more generally adopted. In looking over the prize lists of our principal shows we cannot fail to be struck by the unequal arrangement of certain prizes. Thus, in the Duck classes at the Crystal Palace, only two prizes, .£1 and 10s., are oiiered in each class, with an entrance-fee of 6s. ; whilst for the same fee fowls can compete for d65-prizes. If we suppose an exhibitor living at a distance even winning the fii-st prize, the expenses of can-iage in going and returning, together with the aforesaid lee, would pro- bably leave only a couple of shillings. If in arranging our schedules we wish to secure the largest number of entries for the money we have to oflFer, we must not only adopt the varying state of entrance-fees, which of itself is highly profitable, but we must take into account the expenses that would be incm-red by exhibitors. Thus, it is of but little use for many of our shows to offer a d£l-first prize for Turkeys and Geese; and as a result how seldom do we see good classes in either numbers or quality? For Turkeys and Geese the prizes should be high, if a good show is desired, as their weight involves heavy raOv.'ay dues ; Cochins, Doi-kings, and Brahmas should be also well cared for in the prize list because they demand it, both on account of their weight and numerous admii'ers ; whOst a good show of Bantams generally can be had for a JEl-prize. I would not, of course, say that the heaviest birds should necessarily be those that ought to be most encouraged ; I simply v.-ish to remind those connected with the an-ange- ment of prize lists that they should not forget travelling fares if thej' wish for a good amount of entries. Again : we are aware that our shows are formed for the encouragement of domestic poultry, and that those varieties which possess the highest qualities both for use and orna- ment generally receive the most prize money. Thus, if the Cochin is proved to be almost the most useful and economical fowl in existence, and that the Bantam is simply kept for fancy, let the Cochin have the lion's share of the prize. And yet both "Y. B. A. Z." and "Fair Play" are crying out against the jirizes offered to Bantams at Darlington Show. The answer I give the former is simply this : If we can have a show of Bantams from every part of the kingdom of great excellence for £1, why should the prize be increased ? Eather let us encourage other heavier vai'ieties which involve more expense in carriage. To "Faik Plat" I would say that I am afraid that his interest in these " pigmies " hardly renders him an impartial judge. The last two or three sentences of the article of the 5th of January did certainly a little surprise me. I was astonished that any one should think of offering separate prizes to a breed which brought in such " pitiful returns "' at Bumingham, and of which not even one pen appeared in the class for " Any other variety." Surely Black Hamburghs or Creve Coeurs ai'e more deserving than Malays. In conclusion, I think that it is an unfortunate circum- stance that there is so very indistinct an understanding as to the comparative merits of various breeds, and such great differences in the proportions of prize money allotted to each variety. I think that if the question were properly dis- cussed some improvement might be effected. — A Compiler OF THE DaKLINGTON SCHEDULE. NAIifTWICH POULTRY AND PIGEON EXHIBITION. The fifth annual meeting of this Society has just con- cluded, and the resiUt has been that a better show has taken place this year than in any one ot those preceding. So wel- come a result arises, without doubt, from the earnest and harmonious working together of the general Committee, each member of which body evidently fulfilled his duties as though the absolute success of the whole undertaking rested exclusively with himself. At Nantwich aU the Com- mittee " pull together ;" and certainly if any one cause leads to success more than another, it is the cairying out of this principle. From the very institution of the Show such has been the happy state of matters at N.antwich ; and we feel assured we cannot too strongly suggest its general imi- tation, for memory easily recalls to us various instances where little jealousies arising in Committees have ruined a local poultry show beyond power of redemption. It is a feature that speaks much for the immediate locality, that though entries ai'e inadmissible except from witliin a circle of tliii-teen miles of the place of exhibition, the Nantwich Show quite holds its own among the best of our local poultry shows, even where no such restriction prevails. The Nant- f wich Town HaU is a really excellent and very convenient February 9, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTIOULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. 123 building for the holding of a poultry show, and the author- ities very kindly allow its use to the Committee at these annual riSunions. The pens used ai-e both light, airy, and convenient, and, what is most important, any particular fowl can be readilv taken out for a more searching examination without the slightest trouble. It would be well for_ com- mittees generally to give attention to this item in their ar- rangements. Spanish fowls headed the prize list. Among them were many very first-rate birds, but as usual of late, the sharp fi-osts of some six weeks back left evidences of how much this beautiful variety of fowls suffer from such hardship. This remark scarcely has a stronger application than in the case of the second-prize Spanish cockerel; a better bird need scarcely be, but the loss of a considerable portion of its comb is now inevitable. The pullets shown with him were marvellously good, and seemed not in any way to be injured by being fi-ostbitten. Our readers who value Spanish fowls, would do well not to turn out the Spanish cocks at all during sharp cutting weather, their susceptibility of injury being greater than with any other breed. We next come to Aylesbury Duchs, following the prize list. The first prize (three birds) weighed 23 lbs., and the second prize 21o lbs. They were very good, as were also the Eouens, so far as the prize birds were concerned. The weight of the first-prize Eouens was, however, only 20i lbs. In the Variety Duck class, were shown some capital Muscovies, and a pen of Wild Ducks in a very fii-st-rate condition. Two White Geese weighing 40i lbs., took precedence, the second being Grey ones of 35 lbs. vreight. The Turkeys (shown also in pairs), weighed respectively 34 J- lbs., and 33A lbs. An extra prize of well-deserved merit was here given to a pen of very first-class White ones. The White Dorkings were far beyond what we generally and exhibited even at our largest shows, every pen shown being most praiseworthy. In the Grey Dorkings want of condition was evidently more than usually apparent through- out, and, strangely enough, the best birds otherwise con- sidered, were in this respect the most faulty. We must vrarn amateurs from exhibiting wry-legged birds, as it is a fatal shortcoming for prizetaking. We have very rarely seen so good a display of White and also Partridge-coloured Cochins, as took place this year at Nantwich ; but the Buffs were de- cidedly indifferent. The selling class was not well filled. In the Game classes, the Brown Eeds, for which breed Nantwich has always been so famous, kept up theh' high standing with faultless specimens ; the cup cockerel of this colour being claimed within a fev.' minutes of the opening of the Show by au amateur Aiho largely exhibits this variety, and who travelled more than fifty mOes for this express purpose. Some of the Black-breasted Eeds were also very good, but not comparable to the variety first named. It was a singular coincidence, that in the Game Bantams the same observation as to Brown Eeds holds good ; and not alone to a solitary pen or so, for more than a dozen lots of this colour, all good, were exhibited. In Folands, Mr. Heath's Silver-spangled placed all the rival pens quite out of the reach of anything approaching competition. They wei-e earefuUy bred, and very meritoriously shown. The Ham- hurghs failed to hold so good a position as on some former occasions. Imperfect combs were very general, and in con- sequence, some of the prizes were withheld. The Nantwich Show always deserves high credit as to its Pigeons. The Carriers were capital, as were especially the Barbs, and the Turbits also. We noticed some excellent specimens of Black Magpies, Black Spots, Yellow Eough- legged Tumblers, White Doves, and Black Balds. The show of Caimries and Singing Birds, was quite a feature of the Meeting; and a large portion of the jarize biL'ds soon changed hands, for although very high-class specimens, they were entered at very reasonable prizes. We cannot speak too highly of the care and attention of the Committee to the birds of all kinds ; and are happy to state the Meeting was decidedly successful. Spanish.— First, II. Ilulse. Winsfnrd. Second, W. W'ooUev, BnnlDury, Chicl;en.i.- First, W. H. Etches, Whitckuicli. Second, \V, WooUey. Commended, Miss Hill, Wistaston. DoEKiNos I White). — First, J. Piatt. Sn'anloiv. Second. Mrs. Tolle:iiache, Dorfold liiil!. Highly Commended, Mrs. ToUemache, Commenced, C. B. Btvies, Eardswnrk Uitll. DoBKiNGS (Any other colour).— First, T. Green, Stapelcy. Sctend, T. Burgess, Biirleydam. Highly Commended and Commended, E. Tudman, Whitchurch. Chickens.— First and Second, Mrs. Tollemache, Dorfold Hall. Swtfijstahes. — Frize, Ker. E. Duncombe, Barthoraley. Cochin-China (Cinnamon, Buff, or i*artridge). — First and Second, E. Tudman, Wliitchurch. Chickens. — First and Second, E. Tudman. CocniN-CHlNA (Any other colour).— First, J. Dutton, Bur.bury. Second. J. Dodd, Minshull Vernon. Iliglily Commended, J. Dutton ; G. William- aon, Nantwich. Chicken^.— First, G. Williams^on, Nantwich. Second, J. Dodd, Mm^jhull Vernon. Commended, J Dutton. Sweepstnke.—B.. Slock' Ion, Nantwich. Sklltnq Class.— First, Second, Highly Commended, and Commended, J. Heath, Nantwich. Game [Black Reds). — First, J. Pedley, Nantwich. Second, J, Heath, Nantwich. Third, K. Ashley. Highly Cummended, P. Falkner, ftlacelen; J. Grocott, Nantwich. Chickens.— Fivat, J. K. Court. Second, "VV. Hodg- kisson, Over. Third, J. Piatt, Swanlow. Commended, G. Williams, Acton ; "W. Riiscoe, Rease Heath. Game (Brown Reds).— First, H, Holland, Nantwich. Second, R. Ashley, Nantwich. Third, J. Heath, Nant\vich. Highly Commended, T. Whitting- ham ; J. Grocott ; J. Heath. Commended, S. i^dwards, Nantwich. Chickens. — First, E. Bowers, Nantwich. Second, W. Furuival, Norton. Third, T. Whittingham. Gamk (Any other variety).— First, Miss Sadler, Whitchurch, Second, J. Pediey, Nantwich. Third, 'i'. Burgess. Comraended, G. Grocott. Chickens, — Prize, J. Pedley, Nantwich. Gamk SwEEPsiAKE (Auycolour). — Prize, R. Ashley. (Any other colour than Black or Brown Red).— Second, J. Grocott, Nantwich. Gaue Hens (Any variety). — First, \V. Galley, Nantwich. Second, V/. Fisher, Kavensmoor, Highly Curamended, T. Eaton, Audlem. Commended, J. Sheen, Tilston. Docks (Aylcahury). —First, J. Pljtt, Swanlow. Second, J. Grocott. Nantwich. Duoas (Rouen).— First and Third, T. Burgess, Burleydara. Second, J. Piatt, Swanlow. Ducks (Any other -variety). — First, Miss Hill, "Wistaston (Muscovy), Second, E. Bowers, Nantwich (Wild). Highly Conimended, J. Bateman, Choriey (Muscovy)'. Commended, .1. Dutton, Bunbury [East indian). Geese (Any colour}.— First, J. Thursiield, Lightwood Green. Second, T. Whittingham, Batherton. Turkeys (Any colour).- First, W. Furnival, Norton (Brown). Second, T. Burgess, Burleydam (Grey). Third, W. H. Hornby, M.P. (Brown). SINGLE COCKS. Game (Ijlack Reds).— First, J, l^edley, Nantwich. Second, T. Stanyer. Third, J. Wilkinson, Korhury. Highly Commended, G. Hariock, Nantwich-. Commended, J. Heath, Nantwich, Ga.me (Brown Reds). — I irst, R.Ashley, N.intwich. Second, W. Drury, Hurlestou. Third, J. Wilkinson, Norbury. Highly Commended, D. Bevin, Marton ; W. Galley, Nantwich ; J. Grocotl, Nantwich. Commended, J. Heath, Nantwich. PoLANDs. — First and Second, J. Heath, Nantwich. Commended, G. Williamson. Chickens. — First and Second, J. Heatli. Commended, T. Sproston, Middlewich. Hameorghs (Golden-pencilled). — First, G. 'Wihiamson, Nantwich. Second prize withheld. Hamblrghs (Silver-pencilled).— First, G. Williamson, Nantwich. Second, J. Wainwright, Norton. Hameurghs (Golden-spangled).— Second, T. Burgess, Burleydam. First prize withheld, Hambuughs (Silver-spaugled).— First, J. Kenyon, Maoefen. Second, T. Dale, Middlewich. Sweepstake —Prize, J. Wainwright, Norton. Victuallers Pri,-!e for Game Cockerels (Any colour).— Silver Cap, P. Judsoii, Nantwich. Second, G. Williams, Acton. Third and Fourth, W. Galley, Nantwich. Highly Commended, E. H. Martin; T. Burgess, Barleydaiii; It. Ashley. Comn.ended, H. Vickers, Wybunbury ; E. Bowers; R. Ashlev ; T. Eaton, Audlem ; J. Heath. Bantams (Game;.— Firot. T. Stanyer (Brown Red). Second, T. Hassell (Black Red). Third, — Wilson. 1-lighly Commended, T. Stanyer (Brown Red); J. Walker, Crewe (Black Red) ; J. Grccou, Nantwich (Black and Brown Reds). Commended, J. W. Haslem, Drayton (Black and Btowu Reds). Bantams (Other than Black or Brown Reds).— First, G. Williamson, Nantwich (Gold-laced). Second, T. Butler, Middlewich (White). Com- mended, G. Williamson (Gold-laced). Sweepstakes.— Vxize, G. Williamson (Gold-laced). Bantams (Game).— First and Third, T. Stanyer, Nantwich (White, and Brown Red). Second, — Wilson. Commended, J. Walter, Crewe (Saddle- back Grey). PIGEONS. Caerieks.— First, Second, Third, and Highly Commended, W. Woolley, Bunbury. Dragoons.— Fiist, W. Woolley, jun. Second, G. Nixon, Acton. Thud, W. Hesketh, Nantwich. Fourth, W. Cliff, Nantwich. Jacobins. —First and Second, J. Hockenhuli, Nantwich (Yellow). Third and Fourth, W. B. Lea, Middlewich (Yellow). PowTEES.— Prize, W. Crawlord, Nantwich (Buff). Highly Commended, J. Wlthinsliaw, jun. Barbs.- First, W. Woolley. Second and Third, J. Hockenhuli (Bli.ck). Fourth, J. Wilding, Nantwich. , NONS.— First, J. Dutton, Bunbury. Second and Highly Commendeu, J. Hockenhuli. Fantails.— First, J. Withinsha-w, jnn. (Black). Second and Highly Com- mended, C. B. Da-vies. Eardswick (While). Beaeijs.— Prize, S. Cawley, Priestland. TRUJiPtTEEs. —First, C. B. Davies, Eard.swick. Second, A. Garnetf, Nantwich (White). . Owls.— First, J. Hoolc, Crewe. Second, J. Breaton, Eavensmoor. Ihirtl, J. Wildin-, Nantwich. Fourth, J. Within^naw, jun. Highly Commended, W. Venable.'*, Whitchurch. Commended, A, Garnett, Nantwich. Doves. — First, J. Hughes, Audlem. Second and Tnird, J. Cooper. Balus. Prize. W. Crawtord. Nantwich. Highly Con. mended, T. Barralt. TuMBLEiis.— Prize, F. Cawley, Pnestland. Highly Commended, T. Barralt, Winsford. 124 JOtJENAL OF HOETICULTTJBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ February 9, 1S64. TCRBiTS.— First, J. Withinshaw, jun. Second and Third, J. C, Within- sha-w, Nantwich. Fourth, J. Hockenhull, Nantwich. Highly CoMraended, "W. Crawford, Nantwich. Ant other Tariett.— First, J. "Withinshaw, jun. Second, J, Hocken- hull, Nantwich. Third, W, Crawford. SINGING BIRDS. Canaries (Yellow). — First, H. Prince. Second, S. Williamson, Canaries (Buff).— First and Second, S. Williamson, Nantwich. Canaries (various). — First, J. Lewis, Crewe. Second. S. Williamson. Brown Linnets. — First, D. Robinson. Second, S. Williamson. Ked Linnets (Goldfinches).— First, R. Williamson. Second, S. Wil- liamson. Sktlares. — First and Second, J. Willett, Nantwich. BuiXFiscHES. — First, S. Williamson, Second, D, Poole. Judges. — Poultry. — Mi-. Edward Hewitt, of Sparkbrook, Birmmgham. Pigeons. — Mr. Bowles, of Chester, and Mr. Cotten, of Crewe. Canaries and Singing Birds. — Mr. Jolm Grace. FOUL BEOOD. Mk. Lowe has altogether failed in his attempt to establish the identity of chilled and foul brood. The malady he de- scribes, though similar in appearance, is not infectious, and ■would, if left to itself, terminate at the worst with the de- struction of the colony in which it had originated. Foul brood, on the other hand, is highly infectious, and would generally be conveyed to many of the neighbouring liives without any interference on the part of the bee-keeper, as has been amply proved by " G. F. B.," and others to whom Mr. Woodbiuy unfortunately sent infected hives before he was aware of the existence of the malady iu his own apiary. At the same time, even the minor evils described by Mr. Xowe can only exceptionally arise, as they have never appeared in my own apiary where the management has been such as is exactly calculated to develope the mischief on Mr. Lowe's hypothesis. The history of one hive (one out of several), will sufEciently illustrate this. June 27th, 1860. I formed a swarm by di-iving an old worn-out hive, and putting the swarm ui a new empty straw hive on the old stand. June 20th, 1861. I drove this hive and made a swarm as before, and on the 4th of July again formed a second swarm from the same stock. May 29th, 1862. I made a good swarm by driving, and placed the swarm on the site of the old hive. June 19th, 1862. Drove all the bees with their young queen out of the old hive, and put it on one side in hopes of obtaining a late Italian swarm with which to people it. July 10th, 1862. Italian swarm of May 19th sent out a swarm, which was located in this old hive the same evening. May 9th, 1863. This hive was removed from its stand, and a swarm put on its old site. May 27th, 186-3. Drove the bees and put them into a unicomb-hive, which was put on the site from which the stock had just been removed. After this series of operations this self-same hive containing the combs made in 1860, was again driven about the 6th of June, and three royal cells removed to introduce into other hives, and, finally, was di-iven after piping had commenced, and a young queen captured, to prevent another swarm from issuing forth. This hive stiU exists, and contains a very numerous and flourishing family of well-marked Ligiu-ians, and I do not believe that a single cell is prematurely encumbered with either a dead larva or pupa. — J. E. B. Commencement or Bee Season in Scotland. — It may interest your apiarian readers to hear that bees have been seen working and caiTying pollen from flowers of snowdrops, Pyrus japonica, and Jasminum nudiflonini, on Ssitnrday last, January 30th, in the gardens, Gordon Castle, Morayshire. These flowers are all in the open air in front of my house. Garrya elliptiea, which was in flower early in December, and a flower of Magnolia grandiflora, are still fresh, apparently but little injured by the fi'ost, which was rather severe for about eight days, the lowest point of the mercury being 14°, or 18° of frost. Hoses and most other tender plants being well ripened and well prepared last autumn, seem to have stood the frost weU. The past fortnight having been very mild, buds are making rapid progress. — J. Whbstee. PEESEEVING HAEE AND BABBIT SKIKS. In your last week's Journal, Mr. B. P. Brent wishes to know how hare and rabbit skins may be so thoroughly tanned as not to smeU if they get damp. I have often tanned them with success by the following receipt. " Put nine ounces of alum into a saucepan ^■ith a pint of hot water, and let it boil gently untU the alum is dissolved, then add a quart of cold water. "When the solution is quite cold, put in the skins. It is necessaiy to wait till it is cold, because if they are put in while it is hot the haii- would come off. A rabbit skin may be kept in for about three days, the solution being stin-ed and the skin ttu-ned every day. The skin should then be stretched on a boai-d, or it wiU shrink." — A Boy Natukalist. Take your skin quite fr-esh, and with laoe-pius or short needles pin the skins fur downwards on a strong mill- board, stretching them as much as they will bear ; then with a knife tenderly take off any remaining flesh or fatty substance, and rub on chalk, flour, and black pepper weU pounded together ; place the board in a sunny window or a short distance from a slow Are. After twenty-four hours remove this, and keep renewing the application until the skins are quite di-y. They will remain soft. I have tried this, and find it answers very well. — Fkedeeick G. Phillips. OUR LETTEE BOX, Prize for Eggs.— In the schedule of prizes of the West Cumberland Poultry Show ie the following:—" Class 4. — A silver jug forthebe?t dish of one dozen egfrs of one distinct kind, and the kind to be specified. Entrance 2.S. each." Should you consider cross-bred eggs between Gitme and Black Spanish qualifled to compete or take prize 1 — J. C. [We think eggs from such a cross would not come ■within the definition of "one distinct kind."] Dorkings (A Subscriber, IreJajid). — The direction you ask for i? Mr. Robaon, Gardener, Linton Park, Staplehurst, Kent. The vendor is not bound to make up any failures in the eggs sold. If you wish to breed for exhibition, buy two sittings of eggs from two distinct first-rate yards, and mate the cocks from one brood with the hens from the other. CRKVE-C(EDit (A7i Old Subscrihe^'). — There is a town so called near Cam- bray, and the French breed of fowls so called originated in that neighbour- hood. Pullets Plucking Cock's Feathers (Subscriber, F. W. ^>.— Renove the two pullets immediately. Fowl-, like children, soon lenrn bad b;ioits, and all the others will acquire thi;*. It is unquestionable it arises from a disordered state of the stomach, generally a heated one. If they are very highly fed, lessen the quantity of food, and avoid everything of a stimu- lating nature, especially meat. Kub aU the bare places with compound sulphur ointment. Farm Poultry (B. ^.).— As you wish for good layers have puUets of any of the Cochin-China breeds. If you have a Dorking cock with them you will have good chickens for table al&o. In our No. 143 wa gave recipes for dying moss green and blue. Preparing Game Fowls for Exhibiting (C. C). — The bright face and eye of the Game cock are due to judicious and careful feeding. Scraps of raw beef, an occasional meal of pens, and frequent yolks of eggs, have much to do with it. Cleanliness is also interetfted in it. The remov tl of every feather and hair from the crown and face is very desirable. The head should lofik hard and snake-like. Su'h is prevented if two rows of upright bristly feathers are seen marking the comb's plac", or if feathery down covers all the skin of the throat. This is considered legitimMte training in Game classes, and every hair and feather should therefore be removed. The head and face may be washed wiih cold water and vinegar. A Game ■ cock should have a sharp snake heai, strong-curved beak, rouud hard body, narrow towards the tail, short thii;h, stout teg, low spur, feet not too much webbed, hard plumage, rather drooping tail and not too much of i% breast perfectly straight. These are the principal points, and we repeat it is perfectly admissible that the head bu trimmed. A good specimen will require nothing more. Incubator— Size of Bantams (i7'('r5crM).— "We do not know of any in- cubator at work in London. They have not been niucli in use for a long time. Hatchiiii is easy, but a valid substitute is wanted for the hen us a mother. It is ditficult to do without hev care and her warmth. liaatams cannot he too small, provided symmetry is preserved. It will be plainer, perhaps, to say they should be as small as possible. Cleaning White Fowlb' Feah hfrs (A. P. Q.). — Wash the feather^! of your bird with warm watLV and soup, and it very dirty a liitK> soila. M'ash with a soft sponge or a fliinnel, and be very careful to wet unly ilie outside of the feather, und to wipe downwards, not to rub. The inside is ne\t'r dirty. "When clean put the bird in an open basket with clean solt straw, and place it before a fire till dry. Tails op Silver-spahgled HAMBcrcns [Old Sitbscriher), ~ By "clear tail," we mean a white feather wiih a black tip or moou at its extremity. A white feaiher withont this mark would be a capital fault The part under the tail is, and should he always, dark. TuEKETS (/. J/.l.— Give tlicse with enlarged crops a table-spoonful of gin, and n'pe;it the dose each morning until ihe symiJioms abatr. Bbue and Yellow !Macaw ( Tf '. Kinfj).—V/c arc not awnve of flny Instance of the Blue iind Yellow Macaw, or any other Hpccios. having bre« in this country. It is not uncommon for that chiss of bird occa-ionally to dro]) iggci, but we never before heard of one laving nine eggs within ten weeks. FebVuary 16, 18M. ] JOURNAL or HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 125 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day 1 Day of of M'ntli Week. 16 To 17 Vf 18 Th 19 F 20 S 21 Sum 22 M FEBRUARY 16-22, 1864. Yellow-hammer sings, Embeu "Wkrk. Dandelion flowers. Greenfinch sinps. Spring: Crocus flowers. 2 Sunday in Lent, Sun's declination 10° 21' Average Temperature near London. Day. 46.5 46,5 44,9 45.0 46,6 46.6 46,4 Night. 31.0 31.5 31.0 Sl.l 30.7 32.3 32.4 Mean. 3S.7 39.0 38.0 38.1 38.1 39.3 39.4 Rain In last 37 years. Days. 8 14 15 13 20 17 17 Sun Rises. m. h. 15af 7 Bun Sets. h. 13af5 Moon Rises. m. h. 40 11 after. Moon Sets. Moon's Age. Clock before Sun. 9 10 11 12 13 14 O m. s. 14 23 14 20 14 15 14 10 14 3 13 57 13 49 Day of Year. 47 48 49 SO 51 52 53 From observations taken near London durmg the last thirty-seven yriirs, the average day temperature of the week is 45,9°, and its night temperature 31.4°. The Breateat heat was 58°, on the ICth, 1869 ; 2l6t, 1S46, and 21st, 1859 ; and the lowest cold, 2°, on the 17th, 1855. The greatest fall of rain was 0.51 inch. THE EOYAL HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. F tkere were fears in the minds of any one that the horticul- tural element of the Eoyal Horti- cultural Society had become dor- mant or lost in the ci'owd of plea- sure-seekingFel- lows who have recently joined it, the result of the annual Meeting on the 9th inst. will tend to dispel any such "-"'^^"^ "~""'"" illusion. It was evident from the large concourse of the true representatives of Horticulture who assembled on that occasion, that it only requires a fitting occasion to be afforded Tor a firm expression of opinion to be exhibited on their part. It has long been evident that a party has crept into the Council of this Society, whose object is not the ad- vancement of horticulture, for they have no horticul- tural associations, tastes, or pursuits ; and they have shown by the way in which the affairs of the Society have been so shamefully mismanaged, and the funds squandered and frittered away, that they either have not the judgment necessary for the successful carrying out of the operations of the Society, or that they are bent on another course than that which the Society was in- stituted to prosecute. By degrees this state of things lias become more and more apparent, until a decided conviction has entered the minds of all who may be called the Horticultural Fellows of the Society, that it is not the encouragement or advance- ment of horticulture that is meant, but the subserviency of the Society to a purpose altogether foreign to its objects. From the time that the connection betsveen the Koyal Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851 and the Society was first formed, and the project for uniting the Society in the South Kensington speculation was first pro- pounded, it was the opinion of a great portion of the Fellows that this would be the step either to a complete breaking up of the Society as a purely horticultural body, or to its ultimate amalgamation with the South Eensing- ton Museum. Those who have watched the current of events since then must have observed how silently, yet how perceptibly, this process has been going on. The first step was the partnership between the Society and the Commissioners, which covenanted, among other things, that each of the parties was to expend in the formation of a garden the sum of £50,000. The Society raised and spent their part of the money without being able by a long way to complete their works, and the Commissioners were in the same condition with regard to their part of the contract. The Society was compelled to spend £23,000 in addition in order to make the garden what it even now is ; but the Commissioners refused to complete their works, assigning as the reason that their money was No. 151,— Vol. VI., New Seeies. all spent. Here, then, was the Society, after spending £73,000, left in the lurch with an unfinished garden, which was to have been " the gilded coach to draw the crowds," as we heard one of the late Vice-presidents express it, the reproach of its friends, the ridicule of its enemies, and the laughingstock of the wliole garden- ing community. Dragged up from Chiswick with a debt of something about, or a little under, £4-000, the Society was launched on a wild speculation, which with all the patronage, influence, excitement, and attractions that have been brought to bear upon it, leaves the Society at this present moment with a debt of £53,000, after an ex- penditure of £76,000. And what is there to show for it ? Now, how came all this about ? Be it remembered that there sat on the Council of the Society a member of the Eoyal Commission of 1851 — Sir Wentworth Dilke, Bart. He was not long there before the proposition was made to transfer the Horticultural Society from Chiswick to Kensington. The Society did not seek out the Eoyal Commissioners, but the Koyal Commissioners the Society; and the object of their doing so was apparent. A grand building scheme with an architectural garden to form " an ornamental centre to the main square of the estate " were to be carried out at South Kensington, and what body so convenient to make use of for the formation of this garden as the Horticultural Society ? It was constantly dinned into their ears that the Society was in debt, and in- solvent, and no power on earth could save it except this partnership with the Royal Commissioners. How the change has benefited it we now see ; and a Society of up- wards of half a century standing, supported by the wealth and influence of the country, with one of the best gardens in Europe, and a paltry debt of £4000, which this year's sale of produce from Chiswick Garden would have paid the interest of twice over, was taken under the patronage of the Royal Commissioners to make their property valuable, and to become involved in the sum of upwards of £50,000 debt. And now here is the Council without the shadow of an idea how to be extricated from such a position, except the usual delusion of the bankrupt, by getting deeper in debt. When it was known, then, that at this annual Meeting it was intended to bind the bonds of union with the South Kensington or Kensington Museum party more closely, need it be wondered at that the Horticidtural part of the Societj'' should put in an appearance to protest against it ? We do not recollect seeing so large a gathering of the Fellows at any previous annual meeting, and it could only be a movement of some extraordinary description that could induce them to muster in such force. It had been arranged by the Horticultural party to oppose any farther infusion of the South Kensington element into the Council; and when it was known that the keeper of the South Kensington Museum, Mr. Henry Cole, was to be put on the Council they became perfectly exasperated. Some members of Council resigned, and everybody, ex- cept those of the Commissioners' party, dreaded the result of the step that was to be taken. It was ascertained that five members of Council had No. S03.— Vol. XXXI., Old Series. 126 JOUEIfAL OF HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ February 16. 1864. resigned. According to the charter these resignations are to be accepted by the ttnnual Meeting, and five others balloted in in their stead. In addition to these there were the three retiring members, it being provided by the charter that one-fifth of the Council sliall retu-e annually. This gave eight removals fi-om the Council, and the Horticultural party thought this a good opportunity of voting-iu a good pro- portion of Horticultural members. This was an opportunity, however, which the Council were not willing to allow ; and instead of acting up to the requu-ements of the charter, they had recourse to the unworthy expedient of treating only two of these as resignations, and reckoning the other three as the three retiring members to be " recommended " to the annual Meeting. Now, instead of the five resignations being accepted by the annual Meeting, the Meeting was only permitted to have two of them, the letters read being those of Dr. Lindley and Earl Ducie. "What came of the letters of resignations sent by Mr. Yeitch, Mr. Cooper, and Mr. Fleming ? A strong party of the Horticultural Fellows were not to be out-mano9uvi'ed in that way, and they came prepai-ed with their own two schedules — one containing five names for the five resignations, and one with those of the three retir- ing members, according to the form prescribed in the bye- laws. It will be seen, therefore, that the Horticultural party conformed to the charter, while the Coiincil and the Museum pai'ty violated it. A day or two before the Meeting it became known that the Horticultural party were at work, and were determined to save the Society from merging into the hands of the Museum party if possible. This set the whole of South Kensington in a state of agitation, and it was amusing when the Horticultural body entered the room a quarter of an hour- before the proceedings commenced to see all the front rows of seats occupied and densely packed. It was quite evident it was to be a trial of strength ; and the Horticultural party would have been the stronger, were it not that the others seeing the force that was arrayed against them, sent out scouts in all directions. It was amusing, too, to see the clerks of some members of the Council, and a few aides from South Kensington Museum, who had been sent for, rushing in as the ballot was proceed- ing, with all the jollity beaming in then- countenances which young men of buoyant spirits usually exhibit when they think there is going to be "a jolly row." Lady relatives of members of Council were also pressed into the service, and came dropping in just in time to save the ballot, and with all this exertion the Council's list was carried. But, now, the question of the legality of this election is to be opened up. The Council's list was unquestionably illegal, and the lists of the Horticultural party were strictly in accordance with the conditions of the charter. The Horti- cultural party, we are informed, do not intend to let the matter pass so lightly by ; and we learn that ere long protests against their sitting on the Council will be placed in the hands of all the members who were illegally elected, and of those who were legaDy removed ii'om the Council. The list submitted by the Council was — Major Trevor Clarke Mr. Henry Cole, Earl Grosvenor Lord W. Lennox ■Tames Bateman, Esq. of whom two only are horticulturists. The lists of the Horticultural party were — Eetiring members supplied by Eael Gkosvenoe Sir Joseph Paxton Majoe Tkevok Claeke, in place of Sir Weutworth DDke, Bart. , Mr. John Clutton Mr. John Lee. The resignations to be supplied by — ' Ml'. James Bateman Mr. William Paul ""' Mr. Thomas Kivers Mr. Charles Edmonds '^" Mr. Eobert Fortune in place of the following, who voluntarily sent in their re- signation— Major Trevor Clarke, and Mr. Bateman are the only members legally elected. Now, seeing Major Trevor Clarke and Mr. Bateman were both in the Horticidtural party's list, taking these names out of the Council's, we ask all true horticiiltiu'ists. What comparison is there between the Museum party's Council and that put forward by the Horticultural party ? This is, indeed, a parallel case to Punch's "Shakspere and the Pyg- mies" HOETICULTUEE AND THE PtGMIES. Dr. Lindley Mr. John Fleming. Earl Ducie Mr. James Teitch Mr. Eobert Cooper The result is, that out of the Council's list. Earl Grosvenor, ajs^]N"UAL meeten'g of the eoyal hoeticlt^tueal society. The annual meeting of the members of this Society was held on Tuesday, the 9th inst., at South Kensington, Sir Daniel Cooper in the chair. Mr. MuKKAT, the Assistant Secretar-y, having read the notice convening the meeting, it was proposed that the Hon. Judge Des Bai-res and Mr. J. Bateman should act as scru- tineers of the ballot for members of the Council and officers for the year ensuing. It was stated, however, that Mr. Bateman was one of the candidates for the vacancies in the Council, and, therefore, Mr. George Godwin, F.E.S., was ap- pointed in his stead. Mr. Murray then read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were approved and confirmed. Mr. Murray then proceeded to read the Eeport of the Council, which we shall publish in our next. The Chairman said that before formally moving the ap- proval and adoption of the report, he thought it might be more convenient for Fellows who had any remarks to make that the ballot for members of Council and officers for the year ensuing- should be opened, and it could proceed while the meeting was being addressed. (The ballot was then opened.) The Chau-man said that two of the Vice-Presidents of the Society had sent in their resignations, which the Secretai-y would read to the meeting. The Seceetaey said that Lord Ducie in his letter said he regi'etted that he could not attend the Council. The death of his father-in-law had added to his business appointments, and he trusted that he might be permitted to resign. Dr. Lindley in his letter asked that he might be permitted to place his resignation in the hands of the Council. His health was so broken that he could no longer take part in any pubUc matters, and, therefore, he suggested they should elect some more active Fellow to fill the office. Mr. A. F. Godson said that on the lists which had been distributed there were five names down — the two Vice-Pre- sidents who retu-ed, and Messrs. J. Veitch, Eobert Cooper, and John Fleming. According to the bye-laws there ought only to be three. The Chaieman said the meeting could take the names sepai'ately, and could write in the names of other Fellows than those in the list if it was thought desu'able. Mr. Hakex Chestee said that it was neeessai-y that they should conduct their proceedings properly. If it was as stated by Mr. Godson, then the ballot was not being properly conducted. Mr. A. F. Godson said the most serious consequences might arise, as they weie not acting according to the 29th clause of their charter of incorporation. The Chaieman said if they were going to discuss legal points they should frame them properly, and take them into some court of law and have them decided. He w:is there as Chairman of the meeting, but it was not his duty to hear legal arguments and give decisions upon them. Mr. A. F. Godson asked if the three names he had men- tioned were resignations or removals. The Chairman : I do not think that you ought to ask that question. Ml-. A. F. Godson : I do not think I am wrong in asking it. The Chairman : As it comes before this meeting they are removals. Mr. A. F. Godson : I do not cai-e how it comes before the meeting. The Chaieman : They are removals— at least, they are recommended for removal. A Memeek thought that it w-as to the interests of all that they should get good working men on the Council. It was, he considered, a great pity that these questions should February IG, 1884. ] JOTTRNAL OF HORTICULTUilB AND OOTTAaB GARDKNEE. 127 arise, when their great object should be to see to getting the gardens improved, as they had pledged themselves to the public to do. Mr. Chestek said his only object was that the proceed- ings should be valid ; but he did not think the qviestions raised by Mr. Godson were of sufficient importance to detain the meeting. There were five names proposed to fill the vacancies ; but members could fill in any other names. They did not have the reasons why the three gentlemen retired brought before the meeting. The Chaikman said there was no disunion whatever in the Council leading to the resignations. They all alleged press of business rendering their attendance at the Council impossible. If members had any technical objections to make they could be taken down, and the charter of incorpo- ration altered accordingly if it was worth while [Ko, no]. Mr. A. P. Godson asked if he vrished to propose any names in addition to those on the lists, could he do so publicly before the meeting ? The Chaieman said that any names must be written, otherwise it would not be a ballot. It was then decided that the ballot should proceed in the usual manner. The Chaieman said he would not detain the meeting with any lengthened remarks on the Eeport in moving the approval and adoj^tion of that document. It went very fully into what the Council had done in the past twelve months, and also as to what they hoped to do in the future. He thought that any observations of his would weaken rather than strengthen that Eeport. He would therefore formally move the approval and adoption of it. JMr. W. "VV. Saunders seconded the motion, and the Chair- man invited discussion. A Memekb asked whether the extra admissions to be given to the Fellows would be in the shape of printed orders as at the Botanical Gardens. The Chairman : Those details have not been finally adopted. The Member suggested that the Gardens at Chiswiok should be opened on Sundays. He regretted to see those Gardens kept in such a bad state. The grass had not been removed, and the palings required repairing. In one place an old horse was grazing, and that was not one oi the objects of the Eoyal Horticultui-al Society. He merely threw out the suggestion, and without any disagreeable spirit towards the Council. The Chairman in answer said that the Council regretted that they could not do more in improving the Chiswick Gardens. They had only a limited sum of money at then- command ; and, in fact, they had expended more than was placed at their disposal, and if they spent more it would have to come out of their own pockets. The Member : It could be done for ^810 a-year. The Chairman : We have not d£10 to spend. _ Mr. Bateman said he had heard with regret the sugges- tion for opening the gardens at Chiswick on Sundays. Many of them might regret that their gardens at South Kensing- ton had been opened on Sundays. If they ojiened Chiswick Gardens on Sunday they must have a large number of men employed to take care of the gardens. When speaking of that he saw breakers ahead, which gave him grave doubts as to whether the most injm-ious eilects would not result to the Society. He should like to see the real objects of the Society carried out ; but as to the suggestion which had been made, he must enter a sort of caveat against it. The Member said he was sure that it would add materially to the position of the Society if they could have a series of lectures given on the Science of Horticulture as were for- merly given. Sir Wentworth Dilke said that the subject was under the consideration of the Council. They had remembered the old Eegent Street meetings, and it was under consideration to renew them by having a good Horticultural Show, and an able lectm-er, like Professor Lindley, to explain the science. It was in the minds of the Council to have a series of papers read on the' subject. Mr. Wrench vras afraid that the gardens at Chiswick would be much interfered with, as there were schemes for two railways to pass through them. Mr. Chester said that there were so many things in the report which either directly or indirectly affected the posi- tion of the Society, as to lead him to believe that this was the time when they should either go forward to prosperity, or in a retrogade way to destruction. He had hoped that some gentleman of sufBcient ability and skill would have taken the Eeport of the Council and reviewed their active proceedings, blaming them if blame were necessary, which, on the whole, he thought they were not to be. He should, in the absence of anj' person more competent than himself, offer a few remarks. As to the Chiswick Gardens he agreed with some previous speakers that they were in a most scandalous and odious state. In fact, in connection with any Horticul- tural Society, he had never seen anything so disgraceful. In fact, it would bring disgrace upon them from aU foreigners who had visited their gardens. He hoped that the feelings which had been expressed at the meeting would have then- full weight with the Council, and that they would take the matter up and not allow so scandalous a condition of the gardens to be continued. As to the opening of the gardens on Sundays, the Parks were opened on Sundays and vast numbers of people attended them; but there was never , any such conduct as might lead to the imagination that a large body of men would be requu-ed to preserve order in case of the gardens at Chiswick being opened. As the gardens at South Kensington had been opened, he thought the Council should decide on opening those at Chiswick. The state of tlie gardens at Kensington reminded him of an iU-planned and ill-kept cemetery, whereas if the original plan had been properly carried out, the gardens would have been most beautiful, but the fact was they were not half-finished. He thought that they should substitute gravel walks for grass. Every one must admu-e the beauty of the glorious turf; but at the same time there were many periods in the year when the ladies complained very much of the damage done to their dresses by the gravel [laughter]. What they wanted to do was to get rid of the " cemetery " appearance of the gardens — to remove the many stone ornaments, and plinths, and long lines of stone string-work, and then place the flowers on the banks, the effect of which would be most picturesque. He did not object to statuary, but the floral aspect of the gardens should be made complete before those additions were made. Horticultural gardens ought to be gardens of horticulture, and the flowers should have the precedence of the statuary. He could not help thinking that the application of the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851 of the annexes of the recent Exhibi- tion was a mistake. By opening up those arcades the visitors would be subject to the most horrible draughts; and, therefore, for the sake of the public the plan should be carried cut as originally intended. He was very glad to hear from Sir W. Dilke that it was intended to have a series of lectures for the study of horticulture. It was the duty of this Society, as a scientific body, to promote the lectures and give prizes for the best papers on the subject. Let them not forget that they were originally a scientific body. He had heard objections made to the use of the gardens, but he thought they were most conducive for the growth of choice plants, many rare specimens of which would never be known or recorded but for the Society. His opinion was that the gardens and large conservatory might be made more attractive. He had heard with pleasure that it was the intention of the Council to light up the large conser- vatory dm-ing the dark evenings ; and he saw no reason why there should not be a band there for the ladies to dance, and tea and so on might be supplied [laughter]. He was not quite sure that the fruit grown at Chiswick might not be made profitable by sale at South Kensington. The very fact of the assemblage of a number of ladies would be conducive to the consumption of a quantity of Straw- berries and cream [laughter]. There was no doubt that many gentlemen were present who had subjects of more grave import in their minds, but at the same time he felt that there was much room for the consideration of the topics to which he had called attention. He would not make any amendment to the motion for the adoption of the Eeport; in fact, he supported that document, believing that the Council had worked well, considering the many difficulties with which they were beset [hear, hear]. Mr. BoHN objected to some of the observations which had been made by Mr. Chester. He thought that they had. 128 JOTTRNAL OF HORTICXJLTUKE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ February lo, 1861. too much casino already, and therefore they shordd not have anything like dancing in the gai-dens. They should not be conducted on the same principle as Cremonie Gardens, else they would want croquetting-, bov.'ls, and skittles superin- tended by Miss Skittles herself [loud laughter]. Ho then proceeded to say that he had been very early in the Council with the late Prince Consort, and he had had many oppor- tunities of judging of the opinion of His Eoyal Highness with regard to the manner in which horticultural gardens should be conducted. He still advocated the amendment of the gardens at Chiswiek, which new an-angement he hoped to see carried out before long. He must say that there had been some very shameful neglect. As to the suggestion for tea and cotlee, he felt sure that if they were once intro- duced that brandy and water would follow, with many other delectables of a similar chai-acter, and the result would be that that which was intended to be the medium of a gi-eat science would be turned into a casino, and worse than toy shop. With regard to the ^£13,000 offered to be advanced by the Commissioners of 1851, he wished to make a few observations. Mr. Harwood Hakwood said the question was whether there would be any interest on the d£1.3,000. Mr. S. H. Godson said he was glad to see Sir W. DiLke and Mr. Edgar Bowring present, as they could give explanations on many most important points. He must say that from having the ,£200 disallowed them by the Com- missioners, and other things, he thought the Society might have been more charitably treated. With regard to the ob- servations which had been made during the discussion, there was this to be said in favour- of opening the gardens at South Kensington as against the proposition for opening those at Chiswiek on Sundays, that the gardens at Chiswiek were suxi-ounded with palings, and people made themselves moat obnoxious to the visitors at those gardens, and it they were open on Sundays the inconvenience would be still gi'eater. In addition to this there would be great expense from the number of police required. He would refer to the letter from the Commissioners of 1851, in answer to that of the Council of the Society. The matter stood thus : The Society applied to the Commissioners for a sum of money, but they did not say, " Let us have it free of interest," although tlie Commissioners had di-opped them down considerably. He had a great respect for the Commissioners individually, but they all knew what Commissioners were as a cor- porate body. Some gentlemen had spoken about the in- terest on the ^13,000, but that was a matter which would, perhaps, bo explained ; at all events the matter was in the hands of the meeting. It would be for the meetinn- to say what the Government— at least what the Commis° sioners of 1S51 — should do. There was also the question of the Society having to give up certain privileges. It v.-as said that it was a question which should have been brought before the Council, and not before the members at a genei-al meeting [hear hear]. But he had always been told that he stood alone in the Council, and he told the meeting that he should contmue to do so. He was determined to put the matter before the members ; for he had no doubt that the present meeting was quite powerful enough to come to a decision as to what the Society was entitled from the Government. The acceptance of the ^£13,000 would entail additional expense by way of interest, and there would be no advancement made in the cause of horticultural science. The money would not be spent in advancing or promoting the advancement of the science. He trusted that steps would be taken that would secui'e for the Society fan- and honourable treatment. Mr. H. Harwood : The question is. Whether this .£13,000 is a loan or a gift 'i Mr. Chester : There is nothing about it in the Report, whether it has been asked for as a gift or not. It seems we asked for a gift and we have got it. Mr. H. Harwood : I believe that it is a gift. Sir W. DiLKE said that as he had been pointedly alluded to by previous speakers, he was desirous of giving any explanation that laid in his power. He must, in the first place, ask the meeting to bear in mind that the letter from the Commissioners of 1851 in reply to that from the Council of the Society was only agreed to on the previous Saturday, and the letter itself was not received until much later. The details had not yet been settled ; but, so far as he knew, what had transpired at the meeting of the Commissioners, and without any breach of confidence, he would state to the members of the Society for their information. It was, therefore, impossible for the Council to state what had been the exact terms decided upon ; but he might say this — that of the ^£13,000 there would be the two sums of i6000 and .£3000, upon which no interest would be charged by the Commissioners, and the remaining dElOOO would rank as landlords' assistance, and consequently bear a small rate of interest. But he must say that on the whole the Commissioners had behaved most liberally to the Society. The fact was that the Commissioners had been short of funds, and they had in consequence to cut the coat according to the cloth. Under all the circumstances he contended that the Commissioners had behaved most liberally to the Council of the Society in their respective positions of laud- lord and tenant. He then went on at some length to explain ivhy the gardens at Chiswiek were in the condition at present complained of by members of the Society. With regard to the grass land at Chiswiek, there had been no attempt to preserve it, and no visitors ever went upon it. It was most surprising to find that there was so small a number of visitors at the Chiswiek Gardens; but it would be still more extraordinai-y if the residents of Hammersmith were taken out of the calculation. For some years the average had been below 200 per day. The attention of the Society had been directed to the growth of Grapes in addition to the many other most im- portant matters, and the result was, that the attend- ance at the gai-dens had increased. In reference to the remarks of Mr. Chester as to the gravel paths, he thought that if the ladies were poUsd, they would be found to complain in greater number of the injm-y to then- di-esses and feet by the gi-ass than the gravel. He objected to open- ing the gardens at Chiswicl: on Sundays, as it had already been found that notwithstanding the number of men em- ployed, even some of the Fellows of the Society had been found to be picking the Strawberries. Mr. II. Harwood thought that the explanation was very satisfactory, especially with regard to the fact that the money to be advanced would not bear interest with the exception of j£4000, and in that respect the landlord must, as in all other cases, expect some interest on the money he laid out. Mr. J. Clutton said that while, as the late Treasurer, he was on the Expenses Committee, he had had ample opportunities of judging the conduct of the Commissioners of 1851. He had always found that on the part of that body of gentlemen there had been every disposition to assist the Council of the Society. The Commissioners had been without means, but when they got them they had assisted the Society. As to the success of the gardens, that very much depended on their attractiveness, and they could onlj' be made attractive by the money which had been offered to the Council bj' the Commissioners of 1851. He believed that the gardens might be made remunerative, and that they would be remuuei-a- tive if they were made attractive. In addition to the gar- dens being made remunerative, they would have a tendency to promote the advancement of the Science of Horticulture. With respect to the keeping of the gai-dens at Chiswiek, there were no reasons why they should be maintained. 'J'he first was the promotion and advancement of the science ; and the second was that Chiswiek could be made available in supporting the South Kensington Gardens. Had it not been for the gardens at South Kensington, the Society could not Jiave kept those gardens at Chiswiek [no, no]. They must bear in mind that there were m.any sti-ong opponents to the South Kensington Gardens of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, and, therefore, they should impress upon the Council the necessity of making them as attractive as possible. They had a most formidable opponent in the Botanical Society, also they had the Crystal P.alaco and the Agricultural Hall, and, therefore they ought to meet the requirements of the public, and make the gardens as attrac- tive as possible. To do that they must have ample resom-ces, and, therefore, they should at once accept the offer which had been made by the Commissioners of 1851. His opinion was, that the Fellows of the Society should exert themselves to promote its advancement, and that the gardens at Chis- Februaiy 1(> 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE Q\RDBNES. 129 wick should be used for their original purposes. The pro- posed outlay, if properly expended by the Expenses Com- mittee, would make the Society prosperous ; but they would never have prosperity if they fouled their own nest, and cried stinking fish. He, therefore, thought that they should not object to the terms of the letter of the Commis- sioners of the Gth inst., but rather that they should accept the offer in the same graceful manner in which it had been proposed by the Commissioners. Mi: H. Chester said he should be desirous of proposing an amendment to the carrying of the Report, not out of disrespect to the Council, but on the question of the .£13,000 offered by the Commissioners of 1851. He thought it would be premature to adopt a Report of which the letter of the Commissioners was a portion, without the members being acquainted with some of the circumstances under which the .£13,000 was offered to the Society. The Chairman : I must repeat what has ah-eady been said at the meeting, that the letter containing the proposal of advancing the ^£13,000 was onlj' agreed to on the previous Saturday, and the whole of the rest of the terms will have to be settled. None of these negociations have yet been made. Mr. H. Chester said it appeared to him to be quite pre- matui-e to adopt the Report in the present stage of the negociations with the Commissioners of 1851 ; and he should therefore, without the slightest feeling of hostility to the Council of tlie Society, wish to move as an amendment — •' That this meeting do adjourn to this day month, in order that the Council may have an opportunity of obtaining from the Commissioners of 1851 the terms on which the .£13,000 is offered to the Society — whether it is in all or in part a loan." He thought that a great advantage would result to the Society from having another meeting, and he trusted that the Council Vifould receive from him the most profound assiu-ance of his confidence in the Council, and he hoped that that expression would prove the bona fides with which he acted. It was with the best possible intentions tliat he moved his amendment. Mr. A. F. Godson seconded the amendment. A Member said he thought the matter ought to be left in tbe hands of the Council. Would any good result from an adjournment ? Would the Council be able to give any information in the course of a month as to the matter of the advance of .£13,000 offered by the Commissioners of IBol? The Chairman : No, I do not think so. _^Mi\ Chester : I am willing to make it a fortnight instead ■ of a month, if the delay is considered too great. Mr. Haewood: I am perfectly satisfied with the ex- planation which has been given, and therefore I think we ■ought to adopt the resolution for the approval of the Report. A Member : Do you think you can give us any more in- formation in the course of a fortnight ? The Chairman: No, I do not. The Commissioners wiU have to settle the details of the offer which they have made in answer to our letter. The adjournment might affect the bargain as it at present stands — perhaps against us ; and thei-efore it wiU only bo giving members a large amount of additional trouble in coming here again. Mr. Chester: We had better come two or three times than have things in this state [hear hear]. Ml-. H. Cole, C.B., said that the meeting ought well to consider the position of the Council with the Commis- sioners of 1851. It had been said that the gardens were like a cemetery, and, therefore, it was necessary to alter that appearance to go to the Commissioners, who were the landlords, and ask for assistance. They said they would advance ^613,000, and they did not ask the Society for any security or rent, but left that all to be settled hereafter, merely saying, "You want money, we advance you .£13,000." He advised them to accept the advance as it was made, because he believed that if they objected it was very likely that the Commissioners would not give them any money at all, or, at least-, diive a very hard bargain. "Under the present circumstances he asked them what they would do, if they did not get the money which was now offered to them by the Commissioners? It was very impoUtio to haxter about how they should do it. Sir Wentworth Duk^ shoiM like to bear from Mr. Edgar Bowring, the Secretary to the Commissioners of 1851, whether there had been any mis-statements. Mr. Edqar BowRiNO said he had not intended to have made any remarks, but he willingly responded to the appeal which had been made to him. He had been much surprised to hear remarks which had been made by some gentlemen as to the "treatment" the Society had received at the hands of the Commissioners. The very statements of the gentleman next the Chairman (Mr. S. H. Godson), that he had always stood alone in the Council, was an ample answer to that part of the question as to the " treatment " of the Commissioners [laughter, and hear hear]. The ^£200 spoken of by Mr. Godson as having been disallowed by the Com- missioners, was actually disallowed by the Expenses Com- mittee of the Society themselves. It had been asked what was meant by the word " advance ? " It was said that that was the word of the Commissioners, but it was the veiy word used by the Council of the Society themselves in their letter to the Commissioners. It was true that the Commissioners afterwards said, " That the terms are to be agreed upon." He could say the Commissioners referred the matter to the Finance Committee of the Commission, and their whole instructions were to consider it in the most liberal manner. He assured the Fellows that the manner in which the Commissioners had acted towards the Society in the relative positions of landlord and tenant had been most liberal — in fact the liberality of the Com- missionera was most unprecedented, for they had advanced money which they had had to go into the market for, with- out asking the Council of the Society for any security what- ever. The Commissioners had also been most liberal in their agreement with regard to the rent, for they gave the Council five years without asking for rent, and another five years would elapse before the rent would be enforced — ; payments being made according to the position of the Society, and an average being struck at the end of the ten years. The Commissioners never looked upon the Horti- cultural Gardens in a commercial aspect, but to make it the centre of a great and important estate, and to aid the pro- motion of science. Mr. Chester said that to suit the convenience of members of the Society he would alter his amendment, so that the adjournment should be for a fortnight instead of a month. Mr. Cole repeated that the Commissioners )iad behaved most handsomely to the Council of the Society, and he therefore strongly advised the meeting to accept the letter as it was, and not drive a hard bargain with the Commis- sioners, because if that course was persisted in the Society would be found to be the sufferers eventually. Mr. Kelk said that the Chairman had already told the meeting that the letter had only been decided on by the Commissioners on the previous Saturday, and they were discussing the question on the Tuesday. It was most necessary that they should have the money to carry out the objects of the Society, and he should advise them to accept the advance, as in the case of any opposition on the part of the Society, it might be found that the Commissioners would not be so willing to make the advance, but that they would be found to hold a very tight hand on the bargain. Mr. Chester, however, persisted in having his amend- ment put tQ the meeting, A show of hands was then taken, and the Chau'man de- clared that the numbers were about 40 for the amendment (for the adjournment for a fortnight), and 21. per contra. Mr. Godwin asked for a division, but it was not per- sisted in. The result of the ballot was then reported. The following members of the Council were declared to be elected : The Earl Grosvenor, M.P., 28, Prince's Gate ; Lord Henry Gordon Lennox, M.P., 51, Portland Place; Henry Cole, C.B., South Kensington Museum ; James Bateman, Biddulph Grange, Congleton ; Major Trevor Clarke, Welton Place, Daventry. The following gentlemen were declared to be elected as officers for the yeai' ensuing : — President, The Duke of Buccleuch. Treasurer, Su' Daniel Cooper, Bart. Secretary, William Wilson Saunders, F.R.S. Expenses Committee- men, The Treasurer, The Secretary, Henry Cole, C.B. Auditors, Jonathan Clark, Charles Edmonds, James Nichol- son. Ml'. A, F, Gop50N gaid that as there had been some other 130 7'>TJIINAL OF HOETICULTiniE AND COTTAGE GAEDEKEE. [ Fcbroary IG, 1864. names proposed, would it not be as well to announce tlie numbers ? The Chairman said that this w«s against the principles of the ballot, and therefore the report of the scmtineers must be talcen as the result [u-onical cheers]. A vote of thants was then passed to the Chaii'man, and the meeting was adjoiu'ned until the 23rd inst. EOYAL HOETICTJLTUEAL SOCIETY. I HEREWITH send you an extract from a letter written by one of the first practical gardeners in tlie kingdom upon the subject of the annual Meeting held last Tuesday, which must be interesting to all the Fellows of the Eoyal Horti- cultm-al Society who wish well to horticulture. — F. E. H. S. " They [the gardens] are approaching that point when they must be designated tea gardens. As we commence at the bottom entr.ance, we find the only redeeming feature in the way of grand effect in the garden cut up into fortifi- cations or Dutch dykes, with old spent Khododendrons ijut upon the top, excluding the fine outline of the shrubs behind and increasing the labour of watering to an immense extent. And pray what shade will they ever give ? AH this is simply money wasted, and will have to be undone again. Go a little further up, and you will find skittle-alleys introduced without the least meaning ; and what is more, at most two years will spoil all the grass near them fi'om the wind blow- ing the drip upon it. On each side are signs of hedges to make more expenditure and to be undone again. If Mr. Cole, who, I understand, is now Jardinier-en-chef, knows but little of that profession, he evidently knows less of taste, or he would not have placed Her Most Gracious Majesty with her back to the centre of the garden and its visitors, and as a block to the view of the statue of H.E.H. the late Prince Consort, which is the most redeeming feature in the whole garden. There is a great deal more of this sort of muddle. See the broad walk to the music temples. If this had been too broad, siu'ely no one with any notion of the rules of taste would have done more than reduce it to the width of the steps. AU this will have to be undone again ; and as far as the arcades are concerned, they will never be of any earthly use to Horticulture, unless some very different plan be adopted. " There is one consolation : if we come to divide the Fellows as they have divided the gardens (Kensington has all now), Chiswick and Horticulture would take the better half; this is what we are coming to, and the sooner the better. The sooner it is known that Horticultvrre is dis- gusted with the one-half who are dragging her down to bankruptcy, the better will she stand with the world for another independent combination. The Society will find all this to their sorrow some day, when they wish that more representatives of what the Society profess to foster and encoui'age had been put upon the Council instead of s\ich men as have been elected." [They are not elected.] I WAS present at the annual meeting of our Society on Tuesday last, and I was not surprised that the discontent at the proceedings of the Council at length broke out. I was not surprised that the financial statements were con- sidered unsatisfactory. I was not surprised that the in- fluence of the Commissioners of 1851 was regarded with distnist. That body, to use the words of one bold-speaking member of the Council, " have borne the Society down to the ground ;" they have made it a means of improving the value of the property which they hold in trust for national objects ; they have made it a source of profit. And now they agree to advance ^13,000 to the Society, but on what terms that large sum is to be handed over we were not in- formed, further than that these terms would be most liberal — in fact, that the money would be almost a gift. " Timeo Daiuiios et dona ferentes " say I, and this was the general feeling ; for it was on this very point that the meeting was adjoui'ued. What the Commissioners' ideas of Hljerality may be I know not ; hitherto these seem to have been limited enough. The Commissioners of 1851 are too much alive to the interests with which they are entrusted to lend money without security and without interest. " Nothing for nothing" has been their guiding principle all along, and it wiU be strange indeed if at last they are going to blaze forth in a fit of liberality. They either know that the security will be ample and the interest sufEcient, or else they ai-e betraying then- trust. The present condition of Chiswick Gai-dens was another subject on which considerable feeling was manifested, the general sentiment being that they should be kept in a more creditable manner than they at present are ; but I do not conceive that the speakers took a sufficiently comprehensive view of the matter. It is true that according to the revenue account thej' cost in the last year .£20(i4 Is. Sd., but then the return which they made was by no means inconsider- able ; it was i£549 8s. Sd., wliich reduces the expenditure to .£1514 12s. 7d. But against this sum we have a set-off. They are, it was admitted by some of the CouncU, the storehouse and the manufactorj' of the materials lor Kensington; and what merchant having a warehouse would seek to dispense with his warehouse because it would not of itself pay its o\m expenses ? He would know that a warehouse was indis- pensable to his business, and he would charge its cost among the general expenses of that business. That some store- house and place where horticultural experiments can be carried on is necessary we have the express declaration of Sir Wentworth Dilke, who stated that the late Prince Con- sort knew as well as any one that trees, &c., could no more be grown at Kensington than in Berkeley Square, but that he considered that the gardens at Kensington would be a means of collecting money for the benefit of horticulture. Prom all this I conclude that a garden as a feeder to Ken- sington and for experimental purposes is necessai'y — whether at Chiswick or elsewhere; but that it should receive credit in the financial statement for what it supplies ; and, there- fore, that the sum of J!;1514 12s. 7d. does not fairly represent the cost of Chiswick per se. I cannot close these remarks without adverting to a proposition wliich was made by a Fellow of the Society — that tea and bread and butter should be sold in the gardens. At fii'st I thought he was not in earnest, but I was deceived. Why, this would be turning the grounds into tea-gardens, which they are too much like already : and I suppose we should see put up, as at subui'ban vOlages, " Tea at 9d. a-head," and in the aicades that " parties bringing their own tea will be supplied with boiling water." What a fine field, too, would be opened, if such a proposition were adopted, for the Council to invite Messrs. Sloe & Pluckweed, Messrs. Hyson i Pekoe, and other great tea-dealers to enter into a " gra,nd " competition (of course supplying tea gi-atis) ; and how deUghtful and instructive it would be for our wives and daughters to decide on the merits of the rival productions of those eminent firms ! The Society has had too much of such miserable shifts already — shifts discreditable to the Society, to science, and to the age. — Eta. PYEETHEUMS. Double Pevehfew and the new continental varieties of this genus are rather handsome, and make a fine display in the border in summer. Double Feverfew has latterly been employed in ribbon-borders, its pure white flowers, stiif haljit, and profusion and continuance of bloom seem to fit it for a place amongst the denizens of the flower garden. The single and semi-double varieties are easily propagated or raised from seed, whilst the double kinds are increased by cuttings and division of the root. They are hardy perennials (except some few, which ai'c greenhouse plants, coming from the Cajiary Islands), and grow readily in any description of soil ; but that which is of a light sandy nature and di-y is most suitable for them. In strong rich soil they grow more strongly and bloom less than on poor stony ground. Some of the new varieties ai'o very handsome when gTown in pots for the decoration of the conservatory, and all are highly decorative for mixed flower-borders. The double Feverfew (Pyrethrum piu-thenium flore pleno), is very suitable for planting iu clumps, or in straight lines along with other plants "that continue a long time in bloom. Pyi'ethi-ums usually flower in June and onwards through the season. Their greatest show of bloom is iu July, and they remain a long time in flower — from six weeks to two months. The February 16, 1864. ] JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTUEB AND COTTAGE GAKDENEB. 131 double Feverfew, as everybody knows, commences flower- ing in Juno and continues to bloom untU the end of September. All the varieties strike readily by cuttings of the young shoots. These when about 3 inches long are cut transversely below a joint, and the leaves from the lower half of the cutting are cut off. The cutting is then inserted up to the leaves in a compost of sandy loam one-half and leaf soil one- half, with which a sixth of sUver sand has been incorporated. A shady place, as a north aspect, is best ; and after the cuttings are put in as neai- each other as possible without touching, a bell or hand-glass should be placed over them, a gentle watering being given to settle the compost about them. Keep the glass on for a fortnight, when it should be tilted a little on one side, and the plants (for they will be rooted), are to be gradually hardened-off. After the cuttings are well rooted they may be transferred to the flower-borders, and if the cuttings were strong they may afford a late bloom — that is, if the cuttings were taken in May. In the ordi- nary course, however, the plants are usually transplanted into nursery-beds on an east or west border, putting them in lines 6 inches asunder, and the plants 6 inches apart in the row. In October or the April following they are planted in the quarters where they are to flower. All transplanting is done with a ball, as this materially facilitates their rooting afresh and doing well. Cuttings made in August make handsome and strong plants for blooming in the following year. I have taken slips in September — a moderate-sized plant to begin with — in the same way as is done with Sage, planting them in lines 6 inches asunder on four-feet beds with one-foot alleys between the beds, and the slips 6 inches apart in the lines. Before putting in the slips a little leaf mould was worked into the soil, and some sharp sand if the SOU was in the least heavy. The beds were duly watered and shaded by mats thrown over hoops, and in this way the plants became well rooted before winter. They needed- nothing more than transplanting to their final quarters in the following Apnl or May. These sHps, which are cuttings with a small portion of root to them or simply a small un- rooted branch, may be made at any time ; but I find they are more certain to succeed if put in in the spring. May is a good time. The new double-flowering varieties of Pyrethrum are readily increased by division of the root, which is best done in autumn after blooming, or in spring when the plants are commencing growing. Cuttings of the young shoots strike freely in a compost of light loam, leaf mould, and sand in equal pai-ts ; inserting them in small pots and placing them in a cold frame, shading, and keeping duly supplied with water untU they are well rooted. It is better to winter the new varieties in cold frames, for they are not exactly hardy in cold wet soils and exposed situations. The roots divided in spring flower well the same season, and a few potted then in loam and leaf mould, with a sprinkling of sand intermixed, make rather pretty pot plants, and are very useful. They should be placed in a cool but not shaded situation until July, when removing them to a sunny position wiU cause them to flower well in August, and far into the dull months of winter in a cool greenhouse or conservatory. If hali the plants are stopped when the shoots are 6 inches long they will flower about a month later than those not stopped, and continue long in bloom. I have had fine bushy plants , inl8-sized, and some handsome specimens in nine-inch pots, and they were most profuse and lasting in their flowering, duttings of the double Feverfew struck in spring and grown on through the siimmer are very useful for blooming in a ■cool greenhovase in autumn. In any way all of them are fine border plants deserving of more extended cultivation. Seed is best sown in any light soil in pans, and placed in heat until fau-ly up, when the young plants are hardened- off, and pricked-oft' into beds, and finally transplanted into the flower-borders in autumn, or in spring, and they come into fine bloom in the second year. They grow from a foot to 18 inches high in light soils, but rather taller in rich soil. Some of them, as Pyrethrum carneum, a flesh-coloured -species from Barbary, grow fi:om 2 to 3 feet high, and P. roseum, the double variety of which is really beautiful, attains about the same height ; P. atro-sanguineum, a dark ■variety, does not grow more than 9 inches high ; but 3rilliant, Delhayi, and Duchesse de Brabant, grow to a height of nearly 3 feet. There is a list of eight new varieties in Dr. Hogg's " Gardener's Year Book," but these I have not yet seen. There are none of the new varieties which I know that beat the old double Feverfew for general useful- ness; and although the new double varieties, with their crimson, rose-striped, red, purple, and lilac flowers, are very fine when viewed individually, I very much doubt whether their colours are bright enough to be employed extensively in ribbon-borders or flower-garden decoration in the highest style of the art. They certainly are worth a trial ; but it would be wise to try them on a small scale in the first in- stance. If we coidd employ moi-e of these plants for the parterre, or others, lUce them, hardy, and so diminish the labour of taking up and preserving through the winter plants that make our houses more like nurseries than private gardens, I am persuaded that it would te a boon to the employed, and a saving to employers. I saw a border last season in which a large-flowering variety of the double Feverfew was employed, but I could not learn the name of it. The border which abutted on an asphalted walk made white with spar had an edging of Lobelia speciosa, then Cerastium tomentosum, a foot wide, and kept about 6 inches high ; a foot of Sapo- naria calabrica next, then Kayi Calceolaria, Tom Thumb Geranium next, then a row of double Feverfew, behind it Zelinda Dahlia pegged, then a row of i-ose-flowered Holly- hocks, and a hedge of Laurel at the back of all. The whole was materially improved, I think, by some fine plants of Hnmea elegans placed 12 feet apart in the row occupied by Scarlet Geraniums, their graceful plumes taking off a good deal of the monotony, besides relieving the gaudiness of the scene. In the same way beds of Cannas, specimen Pampas Grass, and some of the Cupressus tribe, might advantage- ously be employed in masses of brilliant colours, which are too dazzling to look upon without the colours running one into the other, fatiguing and distracting the eye. Such plants would at once remove the flatness and monotony, and act as rests for the eye, and make the study of the arrange- ment a pleasureable instead of a fatiguing employment. SOME OF THE THINGS NOW TO BE SEEN AT KEW. The principal features in stove No. 1 are the Aralias, of which the collection probably stands unrivalled. Perhaps the majority of these plants are not destined to be petted by the gardening million, yet many of them are. well worthy of notice. There is the Dumbcane (Dieffenbaohia seguina), with its pretty spotted variety picta, which is not only very ornamental when judiciously mixed with other plants, but is highly interesting when its remarkable properties are considered. When chewed it is said to swell the tongue and destroy, for a considerable time, the power of speech. It also is said to impart an indelible stain to linen, and to be sometimes used in the refining of sugar. There are some remarkably fine specimens here of the genus Philodendron. The South Americans use the numerous species of these for a great number of purposes. Some are said to be used for cleansing sores or ulcers. Most of the order have a strong acrid quality. Some Colocasias, Alooasias, &c., pro- duce a violent burning sensation, accompanied by salivation, as any one may prove by chewing a portion of the root of Alocasia macrorhiza to cure the toothache. Many of this order are of the utmost service to mankind, independently of their beauty. For instance : a kind of sago is manufactured from the corms of Arum maculatum, by being crushed, steeped, and dried, when the remaining powder is used for a variety of pru-poses. Amorphophallus oampanulatus is said to supply the place of the Potato in some parts of the East Indies, and is reckoned highly whole- some and nutritious. The flowers (spadix) of these plants have mostly a faint, unpleasant smell, as those may have found who have flowered Alocasia macrorhiza, or, perhaps, as a better known example I may mention Arum dracunculus which is not faintly but very highly iinpleasant. Indeed, I have seen flies deposit their eggs upon it, more especially during bright sunshine, at which time its smeU more resembles 133 JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ Fcbraary 10, 1851, putrid flesh than anything I am acquainted with. Its odour will produce headache, dizziness, and even vomiting. There are some few Pandanuses here, the most beautiful in a small state undoubtedly being P. javanicus vai-iegatus, its beautifully vai-iegated arching leaves giving it a grace peculiarly its own, and it might parade with advantage on a dining-table. In the Palm-house there is Monstera deliciosa, well inown, undoubtedly, but not seen so fi-equently as its handsome foliage wovdd render advisable. Here are Anthu- riums by the dozen, of more or less merit. The pretty spadix of A. Scherzerianum might remind one of a coral tea- spoon stuct blade upwards in a tuft of small Ivy leaves. Scindapsus pictus, of which there is a good plant, is useful for certain purposes. Indeed, there are hosts of these plants which are admissible in the collections of private growers for their foliage alone. As a relief to the monotony which might otherwise exist, Pabns, Musas, and other stove plants are introduced. I may especially mention the two magnificent specimens of Angiopteris, the one eveeta, the other Brogniartiana. It is somewhat diiEcult to believe that these gigantic specimens Lave any connection vrith the delicate little Trichomanes, or Hymenophyllum, but I suppose they hold the same relation as the Patagonians do to the Esqviimaux in the human family. The fronds of these monsters are about 20 feet long, supported by a thick stem (rachis), radiating from a large soUd crown, and having two thick fleshy appendages at the base of each. The fronds are twice-divided (bipinnate), the ultimate di%'isions being linear-lanceolate, and 5 or 6 inches long. They are inhabitants of the Indian Archi- pelago, consequently requiring a stove and plenty of water. They, unfortunately, cannot be grown in a Cucumber-frame ; but where there is room certainly a specimen of these mag- nificent spreading fellows is worthy a place. We wlU now pass on to No. 2. This is the old orangery, now thoroughly established as a museum for specimens of wood, polished and otherwise. Of these there are fine col- lections from the Australian colonies. New Zealand, Natal, Tasmania, the East Indies, Trinidad, British Columbia, and Canada. There are two splendid planks of the Indian Cedar (Cedrus deodai-a). I believe these to be 4 feet broad, and 20 long. On a table in the centre is a splendid batch of specimens of Welwitschia mii-abilis, and curious tliey are. There are also cases containing wax models of fruit. One of Pears contains a specimen called XJvedale's St. Germain, weighing 2 lbs. 11 ozs. Here on a table is a specimen of Heme's Oak, presented by Her Majesty. On the same table is a beautiful vase of artificial flowers, composed of the red seeds of the Abrus prccatorius, and the brown ones of Desmanthiis virgatus. Indeed, it would seem that the old orangery could not be appropriated to a better vise than the present, as it is not a first-rate plant-structure. In the Palm-stove improvement seems to be the motto. Four of the larger Palms occupying the centre have been successfully stubbed, and as they lie on the floor prove what conquests glass and iron make. Two are Caryota urens, which measure i-espectively 57 and 59 feet long. Their places have been filled by Bambusa gigantea, Acrocomia selerocarpa, Astrocaryum lostratum, and Caryota urens. In making these improvements, it must bo regretted that such splendid specimens as the before-named Caryotas must be sacrificed from want of space. In the south end of the house are two specimens of Musa ensete. which are probably un- rivaUed in Europe. Musa vittata has ripened fruit during the autumn, but I understand it is not cf good quality. Sea- forthia elegaus has ripened seed during the autumn, as have Areca Baueri, and Cocos plumosa. In the "Botanical Magazine" for January, 1857, it is said of Seaforthia elegans, " Plants have been raised fi-om seed transmitted by Allan Cunningham, and one of these having attained a height of 21 feet fi-om the ground, pro- duced its racemes of flowers, of a pale dull lilac colour, irom the side of the dark green, graceful trunk in the autumn of 1850. These flowers wore none of them succeeded by fruit." But in the autumn of 1863 it has produced fruit in right earnest, and this is abundantly testified by the splendid batch of young plants in the propagating-house her,?. There are also thriving specimens of Corypha australis, Arenga eaccharifera, Phcenix, Urania speciosa, Dractena draco, and many others. Indeed, considering the ill-adapted house, the collection has made considerable improvement. The Orchid-houses are tolei-ably attractive in the way of bloom, but the aim seems to be to produce improved speci- mens ; and it must be a som-ce of congratulation to the grower to find that his cfi'ortB are at last being crowned with success. It perhaps may not be out of place to append a list of those which are in bloom, beginning with such as are under cool treatment. Bletia acutipetala, B. gracilis, Dendrobium osmulum, D. speciosum. Epiphora pubescens, Leptotes bicolor, Lycaste cnienta, L. Skinneri, llaxillaria densa, Monacauthus fimbriatus and species, Pleurothallis racemi- flora, Polystachya luteola, Ponera sti-icta, and Sophi'onitis grandiflora. Those under warm treatment are : — Ansellia africana and varieties, Cymbidium sinense, Dendrobium Pierardi, Epidendrum fuscatum, E. fragrans, E. Stamford'- ianum, PhaJajnopsis grandiflora, P. SchiUeriana, Oncidium bicaUosum, O. CeboUeta, and O. sphacelatum. The Ferns continue to flourish. The new house built some while ago, will soon be too small for then- require- ments, as the tree Ferns not only get larger in size, but are frequently receiving additions to their number. The greenhouses are gay for the season with forced bulb?. Primulas, Cinerarias, &o. The Heath-house is very gay with Epacris. — J. Mo. P. BEDDING OALCEOLAEIAS. Thanks to Mr. Eobson for his paper on " Bedding Calceo- larias," but I fear it may mislead many whose climate is not so genial as that of Kent. I, taking the advice of a fi'iend, struck in August last in a common Cucumber-frame, cuttings of the fallowing kinds of Calceolarias ; Aurea floribunda. Prince of Orange, Am- plexicaulis. Superb, Gem, and Canariensis. They were struck without heat, and dui'ing the frost of last month- tlie frame was well covered with litter, but they were all killed with the exception of Gem, which was not a leaf the worse.. I live in the centre of Ireland in a very damp county, and I find the winters extremely fatal. I therefore put my expe- rience on record, as I doubt whether Calceolarias will keep safely in a frame, except through a very favourable winter. I should mention that some cuttings of Calceolaria Beauty of Montreal, under a cup glass, piit in also in August, in the open border, have lived ; and likewise that although the tops of Amplexicaulis in the fi-ame have been killed, I find that several of the plants are shooting from the bottom. I am sorry that Mr. Eobson does not take any notice of Canai'iensis. I had only two plants of it last year, but as far as I can judge of them, it is in every way better than Aurea floribunda — certainly it did not seem to lose its power of flowering so early. I find Beauty of Montreal, which is a very handsome variety, exceedingly difficult to strike in a pot, but it strikes with great fi'eedom in the open border under a cup glass. — Q. Q., Ireland. COVERINGS FOE FEAMES. I SEE that "An Amateur" has been complaining of the troulile of shifting litter off and on his frames for protection. The following is a plan I adNnsed an amateur to adopt, and by its means he kept his plants in a frame safe through the hard winter of 1860-1. I do not say that it is more efficient than litter, but it is nuicli cleaner. His frame was boarded about 1 foot wide all round, i'.nd the space filled with saw- dust. For top covering ho had a bag made so much larger than the frame as to cover the sawdust also. This bag was fiUed with oat chaff, about 1 foot thick. The bottom of the bag or mattress was of canvas, as being more pliable, and the top and sides, or parts exposed to the weather, were of that cheap glazed cloth they make tablecovers of, which kept all dry, .and has lasted him now fovu- yeara. When the canvas became a little wet, which was seldom, a short time in the sun or at the fire jjut all right. It was so light as to be easily shifted about, made no mess, and always looked well. — J. NORVAL. February 16, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEK. 138 EOCHEA FALCATA CULTUEE. This, tliougli comparatiFely an old introduction, is one of the loveliest of the many succulents added to our lists fcom the Cape : therefore it does seem strange that it is not more frequently to be met with in our collections of stove plants, esjjeciaUy when we take into consideration the brightness of its flowers (bright scarlet and yeUow), contrasting admirably with its semi-frosted foliage. From the plant having a habit of growing with but a single stem from the pot up%vards, it has the demerit of soon becoming very lanky, which proves a great drawback to it, though it win yield to a system of training and become a specimen plant of moderate size. With this object in view I have practised a plan of flower- ing it from cuttings in small pots, thus iusiu'ing a show of its flowers without encroaching materially upon space. The cuttings should be taken from the heads of the plants in eai'ly spring, and have three joints at least, taking care not to make the wound too close to the joint. When they are made every vestige of leaf fr'om around the lowest joint should be removed, as when any of this very fleshy sub- stance is left attached it has a great tendency to cause rotting in the cutting. The cuttings made thus should be placed two or three around a 60-sized pot in an ordinary cutting-compost ; abxindauce of sand, however, must be used with the cut- tings when dibbling them in, which should be done firmly. If placed in a position where they will receive abundance of light and even a little suu they will root readily, espe- cially if with a nice moist atmosphere. When rooted pot them off into a mixtvu'e of good yellow loam and sand, adding a portion of weU-broken potsherds, thoroughly decomposed leaf mould, and peat. Pot them into small pots firmly; place them upon the back or top shelf of the stove, in the full light of the sun if possible, and keep them well supplied with water, not forgetting their comer of the house when the syringe is brought into requi- sition in the afternoon, for a good overhead-sousing will be very beneficial to them. Wien potting, is required again, shift the strongest into 48' s, the lesser cuttings into large 60' s, iising the same com- post as before, with the exception of the leaf mould, which should be omitted, and again potting firmly. Afterwards replace them in the corner originally selected for them, with a repetition of the treatment, until, as the days become shorter, the temperature is reduced ; then all moisture should be gradually witliheld fr-om them untU the spring, when, with the returning warmth of the sun, each plant should produce a good strong spike of flowers. As cuttings in any considerable quantity are difiicult to obtain except when a correspondingly laxge number of old plants are grown, the following means may be adopted in order to obtain a supply for propagating from — viz., keeping the beheaded old plant dry, or moderately so, until it breaks, and then treating it as above directed for the cuttings, and it will produce one or two pairs for the follow- ing spring, with, perhaps, an occasional spike or two of blossom also, though these will be small comparatively. — W. Eaelet, Digswell. CUCUMBEES AND MELONS IN POTS WITHOUT BOTTOM HEAT. In addition to the contribution to your Journal of the 2nd, aEow me space to detail my experience. I wUl begin with a description of the pit. In January of last year, I superintended the erection of a pit, according to my own plans. It was made 40 feet long by 10 feet wide (inside measure), 7 feet high at the back, and 3 feet high in front, of nine-inch brickwork, divided into two compart- ments, each heated separately, and having a path 3 feet wide along the back. It was fitted up with a small cylin- drical boiler, with two four-inch pipes around the front and ends, and with one retxirn-pipe along the inner side of the path, the front pipe being placed as near the glass as cir- cumstances wotdd allow, and supplied with one trough- pipe in each house for evaporation. I then built up an inner pit of 4-^-inch brickwork (the pipes completely en- closing it), 3 feet high in fi-ont, and 4 feet high at the back part, near the path. I laid a drain throiigh the centre of this inner pit sloping the ground on each side to the drain, upon this I made a perfect di-ainage to the depth of about 2 feet, composed of such materials as logs of wood, &c. I placed a layer of stable-litter over the ch'ainage to prevent the soil going down into it, and I then put on my soil, composed of equal parts of good rich loam and leaf mould, to the depth of 18 inches at the back, and 1 foot towards the front. On this I placed my pots. No. 2's well drained, 2 feet apart along the front and back. The fr'ont pots were for Melons, and were filled with a rather heavj' loam, but not clayey, and the back pots were for Cucumbers, and filled with a mixture of one jiart well-rotted leaf mould, two parts good turfy loam, and one part good rotten dung. Into these pots I irat good strong plants of Turner's Gem and Wilde's Orion Melons, and Lord Keuyon's Favourite and Stanley's Winter Prolific Cucumbers ; and they were well watered, and shaded when necessary, until well established. I find them succeed well in a temperature of 70° by night, increasing that to 80° by sun heat in the day, well syring- ing them morning, afternoon at shutting-up time, and again at 9 o'clock at night ; and at intervals during the day I sprinkle the floor with a watering-pot. The plants were trained to a wire trellis: 8 inches from the roof, and divested of aU their strongest shoots to thirow them into a fi-uiting state and to set a crop as soon as pos- sible, when they were again pinched-in to form a new growth for a second crop, and the result was that from the second week in April to the first week in July I cut a hundred and fifty' Cucumbei-s, and nineteen good Melons, at whixjh time I followed my employer to another place, otherwise I feel confident I could have cut Cucumbers until November. I think growing Cucumbers and Melons under such a mode of treatment with success gi-eatly depends upon hav- ing strong plants before putting them into their large pots, and, after the first batch of fruit is out, top-dressing with rotten dung and a Uttle loam, taking care not to injure the fleshy roots, and supplying manure water twice a-week. The lights of the roof were made to run past each other, therefore the frame is comfortably ventilated and of easy access, either at the top or bottom. — Thomas Eegobd, Gar- dener to T. Cave, Esq., Belmont Souse, Hendon. CEACKING OF THE APPLE AND PEAE. The cracking of the Apple and the blotches and soariflca- tions frequently observed on its surface have been referred to the attack of fangoid growths or mildew. Various ex- amples have been cited ■ where orchards, sheltered from prevailing winds, have shown a decided exemption from these attacks. In opposition to this supposed cause of immunity it has been asked. Are our orchaards more exposed now than they formerly were ? As a general rule, we think it ciuite likely that they are, seeing that in all sections as cultivation increases the forests are gradually thinned and cleared. The effects of destroying the forests of a country have already been noted ; and we have a partial recognition of the importance of shelter in the precept of many intelli- gent orchardists who advocate the planting of fruit trees much closer than has formerly been the rule, and also in the practice of encouraging the trees to branch quite to the surface, instead of training to a clear stem 5 or 6 feet from the root. Both these expedients have a tendency to prevent rapid circulation of air through the orchard, and conse- quently are so far a preventive against evaporation from the soil as well as fr-om the surface of the trees. Examples are not yet sufficiently numerous to warrant a decided opinion ; but so far as they have been noted, the prospect of gi-eater immunity by this mode of treatment is encouraging. The cracking of this fr-uit has given rise to much specula- tion, and various theories have been advanced with reference to the cause. For a long period the opinion prevaDed that it was owing to a deficiency of certain mineral ingredients in the soU, and various remedies based on this assumption were freely dispensed and tried, but with indifferent success. It is not now doubted that it is the result of mildew, and that the atmosphere, and not the soil, is at fault. In sup- port of the opinion that it is governed by atmospheric in- fluences, the fact may be quoted that the White Doyenne 134 JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. [ Februaij 16, 1804. one of the finest Pears when perfect, rarely succeeds in ex- posed localities ; yet, when gi-own in positions thoroughly protected, it is still jjroduced in all its pristine beauty and excellence. Keferring to cases with which we are familiar, we have seen annual exhibitions of this fruit grown in the bviilt-up portions of the cities of Philadelphia and Baltimore, moat perfect of its kind, without spot or blemish, when those from trees gi-owing in the more exposed suburbs invariably proved defective. Again, it has been lately shown that, fruited in the quiet atmosphere of a friiit-house, they attain great perfection ; and fm-ther, we have seen a tree, one of a row that produced worthless fi-uit, enclosed on all sides by a small box, open at top and elevated a few inches above the soil, produce perfect fruit, while the productions of the ad- joining trees were, as usual, cracked and worthless. What- ever may be allowed for protection in the above cases, it is very evident that they were not influenced by the nature of the soil. — Report of the Department of Agnculture {Ainenca). EAETH PITS AND TUEF PITS. In answer to " J. C. L." and other correspondents, I have some large pits wide and deep, but they ar-e rather more than earth pits. For instance : I have one some 3 feet below the ground level, 1 foot above it in front, and some 3i feet above it at back, to allow of some old wide sashes being laid across from back to front. This pit does almost for any- thing from Potatoes to late Cucumbers, c- tions for scroll and volute di'awiug, but I heartily commend the subject to my coadjutor, Mr. Itobson, who is pecuhaily at home iu such matters. Perhaps, also, some other friends wiU be glad to oblige. E. Fish. Feliruary 16, 1864. ] JOUKNAL OF HOKTIUULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 135 HOW TO HAVE GOOD MUSHEOOM SPAWN WITHOUT BUYHSTCt IT. In the spring, in a four-light frame, I make up a bed for Cucumbers, consisting of leaves, and dung fresh from the stable. To eight wheelbarrowsful of good turfy loam I add foul- of soil and di'oppings from my old Mushroom-beds, in which is some spawn ; I well mix the whole together, put it on the top, and plant my Cucumbers in it. The heat from the dung and leaves causes the spawn to ir.n, and in five or si.x weeks the bed is full and Muslu-ooms appear. I never found that it injured the Cucumbers, ahvays having a good crop. When they have done bearing, which will be in Sep- tember, I throw them away, and fiU the frame with bedding plants, which remain there till I want to spawn my &st bed ; I then remove them, get a fork, push it into the bed, and turn up a forkful of Mushroom spawn, such as you do not see every day. With this I spawn my beds, and never fail in having a good crop of Mushrooms. — Ignoeamus. HYDEANGEAS PALE BLUE WITHOUT AETIFICIAL APPLICATIONS. I HAVE read in The Journal of Hokticultuke some remarks about Hydrangeas, and amongst others those of my friend Mr. Shearer, of Tester Gai-dens, who very kindly offers to analyse small portions of soil should any person send some to him for that pru-pose. Chemistry is of valuable assistance to gardeners in many respects ; and should it only settle this long-pending and much-vexed question as to the cause of Hydrangea flowers turning blue, it will certainly have rendered a very great service. I have for years, every now and then, heard of first one person and then another who had succeeded in making Hydrangeas produce blue or pale blue flowers for one year, but could not do so the next. About fifteen years ago I went to live in Cornwall, and close to its south coast, where in general the seasons are much milder than in almost any other part of the south of England. In the shrubberies and home plantations there a good many Hydrangeas were planted. I was agreeably surprised to see so many planted about, having gone from London where they cannot live out of doors over winter, and likewise at the size which many of these plants had attained. The Hydi'angeas generally prodiiced that most- coveted colour blue, about which so much has been written from time to time. One portion of the grounds produced these pale blue flowers in greater perfection than any other part. This part was under very large trees, principally Silver Firs, and some of these were indeed noble specimens of theii- kind, being, at about 18 inches above the ground, from 14 to 16 feet round the trunk, and as straight as they could be grown. The Hydrangeas seemed quite at home. Some of them had attained 4 or 5 feet in height, and were from G to 8 feet in diameter, forming quite a Vjush. The soil was for the most part a rich loam, somewhat inclining in places to a bri^-k earth. The subsoil was generally composed of a small friable sort of slaty stone, having in it a kind of material approaching a clay, always commanding plenty of drainage, and never suffering much from very di'y weather. As I have ah'eady stated, under these high trees and weU-sheltered amongst shrubs, the Hydrangeas grew in the greatest luxuriance. I have often seen a plant pro- duce from twenty to thirty large heads of bloom, quite a ball shape over the top, and from 8 inches up to 1 foot in diameter. Some of the larger bushes would produce fifty or sixty heads of bloom, but it took an old plant which had not been injured for years to yield so large a number. I always observed they came of the prettiest and most de- sii-able colour where they enjoyed the most shade under the trees and shrubs. On the south side, and otherwise where exposed to the full influence of the sun, they sometimes yielded heads of bloom of a creamy dirty white, anything but pleasing to see; and of course their foliage, instead of being of a light green as it was where well shaded, was very nearly the same colour as that of the flowers. The length of time which these kept in flower was a matter of gi'eat consideration, and especially so when their bloom- ing pei-iod included some of the dullest months in the year. Some would show flower by the end of July ; but from the middle of August all through the autumn, as there is seldom frost there to hurt anything tender until after Christmas, those under trees would, in many instances, keep in toler- ably good condition up to Christmas. I often made use of the heads of bloom to mix amongst evergreens in decorations at Christmas and on other occa- sions. Visitors in the autumn generally admired them very much, remarking that they seldom saw any of so decided and pleasing a colour, and certainly never so many at one time. I never knew frost there severe enough to injure the Hydrangeas in the plantations dming winter, as the plants wOi vrithstand a few degrees of frost without receiving any injury. — G. Dawson. ToDMOKDEN BOTANICAL SOCIETY. — Meeting, February 1st, the President in the chair. The following were noticable among Ferns exhibited : — The beautiful Adiantum capillus- Veneris rotundatum, and an admirably crested variety of Polystichum acideatum, both Ferns having been recently gathered in Devonshu-e by a correspondent of the Secretary — Mr. J. Dadds. The Vice-President announced that he had within the last fortnight the good fortune to discover, near Todmorden, a Moss which previously he had not pre- sumed to inhabit our valley; the Moss in question is Dicranum Schreberianum. Mr. Nowell thought he had at least " sought up " this neighbourhood ; but the Vice-President was mis- taken. METEOEOLOGY OF 1863.— HAEEOCK HALL, WIGAN, LANCASHIEE 16C3. TUEBMOMETEK. EASOMETER. FROST. KAIN. Prevailing Winds. No. of days each month. Max. Min. Mean. 1 Max. Min. Mean. No. nf nights. No. Of (lays. Amount N. N.E. E. S.E. S. s.w. W. N.W. January..... .. SS.O" 62.0 62.1 62.0 66.1 70.0 76.0 72.0 62.0 58.0 65.0 5U.0 27.0° 29.1 27.0 32.0 40.0 40 1 50.1 49.0 38.0 32.0 32.1 28.0 38.0'' 45.6 44.2 49.1 52.7 61.4 60.7 59.8 50.2 47.7 45 6 89.4 30.101 i 28 500 30.250 1 29.250 30 100 23.600 29.950 29.100 29.901 i 29.101 29.850 29.050 30 151 29 150 29.800 29.300 29.950 28.370 29.851 28 500 30 171 28 301 36.050 28.401 29.230 29.871 29.000 29.580 29.561 29.435 29.731 29.496 29.300 29 3- 29 530 29.642 12 7 8 1 "3 5 4 14 6 6 7 14 7 13 17 21 11 5 6.02 .78 1.71 .67 1.80 4 10 1 2S 2.91 4.33 6.82 3.16 1.22 "2 1 "2 1 1 "2 ■3 3 1 4 "i 3 8 7 ■ 4 6 1 3 2 ! 3 4 : 3 5 5 ... 1 4 2 2 , 5 10 1 4 4 1 ... 5 6 1 1 "2 1 1 2 1 ... 7 6 3 8 4 7 4 2 6 i'2 4 5 8 10 16 11 12 15 24 11 11 12 139 3 "e 5 1 0 5 3 2 3 3 2 35 February March . May .. July AuKUtt September October December Totalf .' 40 128 32,80 6 15 38 ' 46 20 1 65 The highest reading of the barometer during the year was 30.250 inches, on February 13th, at 9 a.m.; wind E. The lowest ditto, 28.301 inches, on November 2nd, at 10 p.m.; wind W. The highest temperature of the year was 76.0°, on July 6th. The lowest ditto, 27.0°, on January lOth and March 14th. The greatest rainfall in twenty- fovir hours was 2.62 inches, on Januai-y 1st, and the time occupied in falling was 7 hours and 30 minutes. — J. Dunn. 136 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AOT) COTTAGE GABDENEE, [ February 16, ISCi WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN GAEDEN. The severe frost whicli set in last week in a great mea- sare suspended gardening operations, and the perform- ance of wliat is now directed to be done ■will depend on tlie weather which may follow the thaw. Cahbaijes, a bed of Early York may be sown on a warm border. Broad Beans, this is a good time to plant a good breadth of them, they will pi'oduce a greater weight if planted now than at a later period. Dwarf Kidney Beans, sow a few Fulmer's, Negi'o, or Eai-ly White Dwarf in boxes for planting oiit. Peas, earth- up early sowings, and sow for principal crops. See that the land for Carrots, Onions, and other keeping root-crops is well wi-ought, and, if possible, trenched. Parsnips, this is also an excellent time to put in a good breadth of these in ground deeply trenched with the manui-e at the bottom ; it is a very useful vegetable, and none pays better for extra cai-e in cultivation. Potatoes, a few early sorts may now be planted on a warm south border. SpiiMcli, run the hoe thi'ough the Winter Spinach as soon as the gTOund is mellow, and pick away all decayed leaves and weeds. As soon as the ground becomes mellow let all the coming-on crops have a thorough hoeing or sm'face-stirring. This is of the utmost importance at this period. Let it, however, not be done until the ground is somewhat dry. FLOWER GARDEN. When planting biennials and perennials the object should be to have as much variety of colour and succession in the borders throughout the season as possible, arranging the plants for a striking effect by contrasting the colour's, those plants which are smallest being in front or neai-est the eye, and the others rising in height and niassiveness as they recede from it. Flowers to be chosen which will be beauti- ful when in bloom, however common, and which will bloom at the particular seasons required. A pleasing effect may also be produced by mixing the best annuals and sowing them thinly, towards the end of the month, on the borders. A selection of each sort most suitable as to colour and height for the situation can be made, but a discrimi- nating eye is necessai-y when hoeing or weeding amongst them. A little rockwork made to hide unsightly, or to hai-monise with sui-rounding, objects may be introduced in many places, and planted now. Simple outUnes, and sur- faces not too much broken, are j)referable to the imitations of hills with high narrow peaks and fantastic forms that are seen in some parts of the country where stones abound. Many of the common hardy plants, such as Wallflowers, Indian Pinks, Alyssum, Aubrietia, Cerastium, Ferns, Fra- garia, Geum, &c., are suitable, some to be disposed in the recesses and others in the more prominent parts, according to their natvu-al habits of growing in the sunshine or shade. As soon as an opportunity occurs of planting Eauunculuses get them in, as it is probable, now that the frost has gone, we may have some heavy rains, and after the last week in this month they will be better in the ground than out of it. Complete all new work and improvements which have been retarded by the severity of the weather. FRUIT GARDEN. Proceed with pruning and nailing when not too cold for these operations. If any planting stiU remains to be done let it be performed as soon as the ground is in a fit state for that purpose. It is a great mistake to induce by rich manui'e the production of gross, long-jointed wood iu any stage of the existence of a fi-uit tree. Wood of that descrip- tion never becomes thoroughly ripened, and with Peaches, Apricots, and other stone fi-uits gum, canker, and prematxu-e death are frequently the results. Gi'ound intended for fi-uit trees should be effioiently di-ained and then trenched to the depth of 2 feet, and if the natural soil is found to be too poor a sufficient quantity of fresh turfy loam should be added. STOVE. Increase atmospheric moistvu-e in proportion to heat and light. Look shai-p after insects, the snails are fond of the young buds of Orchids, &o., at this time. Some early Achi- menes. Gloxinias, &c., to be set to work. The Gloxinias to have the earth shaken from the bulbs, and to be repotted in a mixture of half-decayed vegetable mould, and hali' good rich loam, with the addition of a little eand or charcoal. In planting press the roots gently on the surface of tho soil, and give no water for some time. When potted place where the temperature is about 60°, and give them a little water when they begin to grow, the supply to be gradually in- creased as they advance in growth. In May, when in flower they should be removed to the conservatory. They are readily increased by seeds and cutting?. Begonias being of free gi'owth and delighting in fi-esh soil, equal portions of sandy loam and leaf mould, it is necessary to repot them twice ia the com-se of a year — viz., Februai-y and August, as a general rule ; but exceptions must be made according to the growth of the plants, as when the roots become cramped or matted in the pot an injury is inflicted on the whole system of the plant. The knife to be used cautiously except with the taU-gi-owing sorts. Plenty of water to be given during the gi-owing season. GREENHOUSE A2liag tobacco as will fill the frame with smoke, but ouiit the sulphur; for no plant will withstand sulphur fumes, which are certain death lo vegetabla and animal life. Brown paper dipped in a solution of saltpetre, and ihtn dned, may he used, the tobacco being laid thinly on one side; then roll the paper up loosely like a piece of parcliment, tying it with string in the middle tu keu|i it in its place. One, two, or three of these rolls, according to thi ir sizi^ and the size of the frame, lighted at one end and put in, would till the frame wuh smoke and kill aphis and ihrips, but not red spidt-r. Sulphur placed in basins w:lh a little water over it, and put in the frame so that the sun could act upon it. Is useful in pievcniing attaclts both of mildew and rod spider. Vekuenas {J. 7/o?7o»}.— The ftdlowing arc the correct names:— Madame Jcnsour, Paul Tiscns, 31adcnmiseile de la Valllere, and F.iust, The three fo'iner you will hnvo no diflioulty in obtaining. Not so Faust, for we do not know any c it:ilogue in which it is ; and yet wc consider it one of the very tiuest in growth. Certainly in its colour there Is nothing to beat it. It was introduced some years ago fiom France. February 16, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE XNJ) COTTAGE GAUBENER. 139 Good Late Pkah (J. NichoUs).— Yon are'tolerably correct in sayinpr that moat late Pears •*have the texture of a Pear with the flavour of a Turnip ;" but we think you will find Bcunu Sterckmanns an exception. Phloxes [G. M.).-~Vfe find it only a disappointment to name dwarf varieties of Phlox, for they are all pretty sure after they are established to run up. The foUowinjr are some of the best. Those marked * are dwarf : — Punch, La Comtesse de Bresson, *Liervali, Souvenir de M. Fries Morel, Triomphe de Twickle, Madame, de Wendel, Madlle. Anais Aubert, Boule de Niege, Madame Lierval, *Dr. Bois Uuval, Madame Fontaine. Mrs. Standish, Mr. Rollison, Souvenir d'uu Ami, ApolUm, Madame Vilniorin, ^Victor Hugo, •Madame Aubin, *Madame de Cliambry, *Madame Lucroix, Madame Louise IngelreUt. Double Toberose Culture (Q. Q.).—Pot the bulbs as soon as received iu a compost of turfy loam three-fourths, well decomposed manure or leaf mould one-fourth, with a free admixture of sharp sand. Water moderately, and place in a hotbed until the pots become full of roots, which is best pro- moted by keeping the atmospliere cooler than tbe heat of the hotbed. When this is accomplished, remove the pots to the vinery, taking care to lift them out of the hotbed by degrees, so as not to give the plants a check. Water more freely as growth advances, and keep as near the glass as practicable. When the plants flower they may be removed to a greenhouse or warm room, ■where they remain a long time in bloom. Pompon or Bouquet Dahlias f7(7c»0-— Meteor, fine yellow ; Pet of the Village, buff; Star, orange, tipped with scarlet ; Goldlight, yellow, changing to creamy white ; Dr. Webb, scarlet ; Crimson Beauty, maronn criinaon ; Fireball, orange scarlet ; Bride of Saxony, blush, tinted and mottled with violet purple ; Jeauette, crimson red, tipped with white; Little Darling, rose; Little i?>ed, blush salmon; Pretty Polly, lilac; Snowrose, white; Pearl of Liliputs, puce, tinted purple crimson ; Silver Pheas:int, sulphur, tinted white; Master Dick, violet or puce cnmsou ; Peasant Girl, blush •white, belted with rosy crimson; and Little Gem, buff or lich drab, the beat shaped flower in the lot. Lawton and Dorchester Blackberhi>:s (Idem).— The Lawton we have grown, and can vouch for its producing line fruii, which makes excellent preserves. It requires to be planted against a wooden fence or palings, to which the shoots should be tied or fastened with nails and list. We have it nailed to an east wall, and had some qunits of tine fruit from a few srattll plants. It likes a rich Iriable soil, but will do weU in almost all soils. It requires no care beyond cutting oui old shoots done beaiing, and supplyiijg their place with young t^hoots ; this should be done in the autumu. The fruit is produced on wood of the current ye;ir; but these shoots spring from last year's wood, as with Raspberries. The Dorchester, as far as we know, is only a larger variety ot the common Blackberry ; hut we have not grown it, and cannot, therefore, speak decidedly. Tkop^olum carariesse for Beds {A Novice). — We do not happen to hit upon the place where the above plant is noted as a bedder. We have never employed it as a bedding plant, but have had it in rustic baskets to cover the handles, supports, &c,, and then, of course, its climl>ing habit was called in requisiiion. In a bed a wire trellis should be provided for it to run over ; and over this the shoots are to be trained so as to produce an even or flat surface. Whenleft to trail over the ground and pegs are used to distribute the shoots evenly over the surface, the heavy dashing rains spoil it fearfully, and in some cases destroy it; but in all cases it is a sorry plant for surface covering;. Coboea scandens makes an indifl"erent climber ouc of doors in a pot, in -iuramer, in the north. Lophoirpermums do better; but | even they require a warm situation to grow and flower fineiy in Yorkshire. Most climbers as Tropa>olums for beds are pegged down Uke a Verbena, so as to keep the shoots m their proper position. We will treat of the culti- vation of annuals in an early Number. Hot-water Pipes Descending (Jf. D. and an Old Suhscribef).— It is awkward having pipes for hot-water Iieating to descend. It will not do if you take the pipes below the boiler. If you would give us a section showing us the position of the boiler, pipes, cfcc., we should be better able to advise you. You may rise from close pipes as mueh as you like. You may also take a flow-pipe from the boiler to a cistern, and from that cistern you may descend several leet, provided all is abo/e the top of the boiler. We have taken pipes down under dof)r\vays, &c., but always attended to these condi- tions, and had an upright air-pipe at the bend. Proposed Boiler {F. D.).— Once more might we trouble our friends not to refer to anything in our pages without giving us volume and page ? "Will they allow us to tell them the reason? It is shortly this: When a letter reaches us we give it the utmost consideration in our power, and if we cannot answer it satisfactorily we at once say so ; but having done our best, and kaving many other cares, we at once dismiss it from our consi- deration, and pretty well (roni our raemory. It may be the subject of subjects in our correspondent's estimation ; but then we have to deal with hundreds of such pets, and scores of matters besides. Oar friends will much oblige us, and serve themselves, by co-operating with us in this matter. We perfectly recollected *' F. D.'s " communication, but so forgot the time, that we had to look over five Numbers before we found the reference to it at page 103. On reading over carefully his second communication, our opinion as there expressed remains unchanged. Of course we do not for a moment wish to set up our judgment a:id practice as superior to his own experience, but we may agree to differ through our doing so. We say that we see no improvement in the plans he suggests, except in his dis- posiuR now of one objection we made, by bringing the water of the boilei down to the bars. PoiNSETTiA ALBA.— In The JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE of February 9th, "_K. T. W." asks (page 112) if any one knows the Poinsettia alba. I cul- tivated it largely tor a number of years, and nothing could be more beauti- ful than a basket tilled with the red and white Pomsetiia. I lost my stock of alba through the negligence of a man who had the charge ot the plants, and have never been able to obtain it again,— G. Smith, the Jlirsel, Cold- stream. Agrichltdral Chemistry {A Constant JReadei'). — "Johnston's Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry," pi ice 2-15., is the best work on the subject. Stopping the Shoots of Pelargoniums (i^. K,). — By stopping the shoots at the present time, the blooming period will be later, but it will not be in any way inferior, and the plants if becoming tall, will be improved in shape "by stopping. Generally speaking, small young plants rising up with only one or two stems are stopped now, while older specimens that have formed suitable heads are left to grow on and flower at the proper time. Yarieqateb Gkraniums [L. S. i?.).— The loaves of the white variegated Geranium were too much faded at the sides to enable us to determ.ine what they were— whether Brilliant, Alma, Bijou, Mountain of Light, or a score of others. In fact, it is next to impossible to say what kind they belong to by a small leaf or two. The one with the yellow edge is, or like, one called Golden-edged. If so, it is rather strong-growing, and though showy, yet inferior to Golden Chain and Cloth of Gold. It would be well to lay the cuttings you have received in a shady place, and sprinkle them with water of about 60°. This is much better thun putting ihcm in water. Then to get them to strike fast, you can make them in the usual way, and insert round the aides of pots in sandy soil ; and us you have a tank, give them a bottom heat of from Gj° to 8(t°, and a top temperature of 60" ; and though the soil must not be dry, the plants should have little water before they begin to grow. Much moisture alter a journey is apt to destroy them, Deutzia gracilis not Flowering {Yorkshire).~\i is difficult to account for your plants not flowering from any other cause than that they may have been neglected after going out of bloom the preceding year, as we have sometimes seen such plants thrown aside with very little attention; and, perhaps, in very cold weather in early spring, taken from the plant-house and put out-doors. If such has been the cause, their not flowering is easily accounted for, as of all plants ttiis seems the best and surest bloomer we know of. Ripen the plants well in the sun the previous year, and we have no djubt but you will succeed in blooming it profusely. It; never gets very large. The old wood seems to give place to the young something in thesame way as the Raspberry. Boiler Rkouiring no Setting (i^em).— We have seen one of the kind you mention doing duty in a greenhouse in Kent, bat we did not notice the name of the maker. It was a double cylinder, the water forming a sort ot jacket, being between the two cylinders in a body about 2 or 1^ inches tliicli, the inner or chimney part being about 8 inches in diameter. As near as we can remember it stood uprl;iht in a back shed. A short iron pipe connected it with a chimney the same as ordinary Arnott's stoves. We understand it did its work pretty well. Certainly it heated the shed also. Whether this might be so much heat wasted or usefuhy employed must be left to the opinion of those who propose to erect such things. Sea-kale dm Sandy Roil {An Old Suhscriber).--Yxom your description your soil seems better adapted to the growth of Rhododendrons than Sea- kiile, as the prevalence of iroa in the sandy subsoil is not by any means favourable lo the latter. Nevertheless, if you have a depth ot lo or 18 ina. of good working garden sail. Sea-kale may be made to grow tolerably well, if a liberal allowance of good dung is afforded, as well as now and then a dressing with salt, the latter being scattered on at various times during the summer. If your soil had not been sandy we should not have advised much salt, but being open and porous, frequent saltings during the growing treason will be of service. Generally speaking, &ea-kale sufl'ers much from, the careless treatment it receives after beiug forced. The plants are often suddenly exposed to the cold frosty air of February or March, after being confined amongst hot dung and leaves, and such sudden changes are suffi- cient to account (or the deatk of now and then a root or two ; but we have rarely found Sea-kale fail under any oidinary cultivation, while it is need- less to say It relishes the good things of the manure-yards in tolerable abundance, and that all the better when combined with salt. Tree Onions.— We should be very pleased to supply a " Young Subscri- ber" or any other lover of the curious witti a bulb or two. They can be had by addressing— W. Earley, Diffswell, Welwijjt. Ground Vinery [F. H. ^.).— You will find a drawing and description in No. 28 of the New Series of this Journal. Names of Plants [A Constant Reader).— VroyisColy Epacris nivalis aud impressa ; but quite as likely to be some of the many garden varieties, with white or pink flowers, and which it is impossible to name from fresh {let alone faded) specimens, wuhout a collection at hand for comparison. ( Wm. Ii.).—\-, Damaged, apparently aTydtea; 2, Kranthemum nervosum; 3, Cyanotis vittata; 4, an iicheveria, but insufficient; 5, Cacalia articulata; ti, Pilea seipy Hi folia. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. THE DISQUALIFIED GAME FOWL PENS AT BIEMmGHAM. Weee I to remain silent my motives for so doing might be open to misconstruction, after the really imexpected and equally vmdeserved imputation spontaneously cast upon my good name by Mr. Smith, in his letter inserted in your last week's publication. I distinctly stated a simple fact, the truth of which Mr. Smith is unable to controvert — viz., that the Ga,me cocks in the Bu-miugham disqualified pens bore distinctive marks — that is, marks different in formation to those of their com- petitors. I should have supposed my statement palpable enough to bear no occult construction. It certainly was my sole intention when writing, that it should be open to none other than the expression of the one single fact con- veyed. The suggestion in your last week's paper I repudiate altogether ; it emanates exclusively li-om Mr. Smith himself, it is none of mine. I am not aware that my examination of the Game fowls m question at Birmingham (both on the Monday morning, several hours before the prize cards were taken down, and a second time later in the week by gas- light, long after such prizes were removed), at the earnest request of many amateurs then present, and whom I know to move in positions in society equally respectable as Mr. Smith or myself, had anything whatever to do with the "dis- 140 JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEB AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. [ February 16, 1864. qualifications " that eventually ensued. I must, therefore, leave Mr. Siuitli to the fuU enjoyment of his own sm-mise, if he really holds it to be the correct one ; for with these so-called " Game fowl disputes," in which Mr. Smith seems to take so active a part, I will personaDy have no connection whatever, as it is no business of mine: consequently, it is useless of Mr. Smith thus seeking to involve me in these proceedings. Edwaed Hewitt, Eden. Cottage, Sparhhrool:, Birmingham. EELATIVE ENTEIES. MANCHESTEE POULTEY SHOW. " 'Tis a long lane that has no turning." Some of your readers, perhaps, think my yarns are like the long lane ; but having promised an analysis of the Manchester entries, I can only make it, post it, and leave you to commit it to the tender mercies of the waste-paper basket if you think the subject has been mooted usque ad iiauseam. Manchester has had its fling— the prize-list liberal and grand beyond the height of poultry grandeur. Has the result equaUed the anticipations ? Not^being there to see I cannot possibly say. I can only judge from the catalogue and the remarks m the poultry papers. From the catalo^'ue , ^. ? "i . '^"S"' ^^^^' excepting certain classes, it wal a decided failui-e. Fii-stly, in 129 classes we have oiilv thirty- eight ooutaimng commended or liighly commended pens excluding those obtaining prizes. From this I gather either that the Judges were exacting, or that birds of inferior quality competed. In several classes the bu-ds exhibited had " no merit." In nineteen classes there was absolutely no entry at all, and m the same number only one entryl wliilst iu eleven others only two entries were made. Forty-nine classes, in which tlie highest entry was two, would seem to speak volumes. To me it says that there is something either m the promoters, the situation, the season, or the prmciple of the Show, which renders it distasteful to the mass of exhibitors. The first two may be dismissed, as from aU reports they are eminently satisfactory. The season has been urged by some of your correspondents as a reason for not entering at Manchester— the fact that Christmas day occui-red m the middle of the Show. It may be the cause ot paucity of entries, but i cannot think it is ; for my own part I would much sooner my fowls had a day's quiet in the middle of the Show, as would happen on Christmas day or Sundays, than I w^ould have bii'ds started from a distant show late on Friday evening or on Saturday morninc^ their owners vainly looking for them on Saturday. seudin°o- some miles, perhaps, once or oftener, as I have done my^self to avoid, if possible, that work on the Sunday; and %Y'heu the birds do arrive, and you fetch them from the station on tlie Jiitter day, some kind friend wonders that you should so desecrate the Sabbath. This point has been noticed in your columns before, and I go hand-in-hand with all those who urge on framers of rules, &c., the necessity of so arranging the days that the sanctity of the Sabbath should not be unnecessaii.y interfered with. The principle of this Show is the last point, and, as I ^t «u «'^,'''^f^ 1'°'"* ^^^^''1 l^'^-^ '"'ff'^cted the entries, ihe Sheffield Sliow, which was a failure in many ways, especiaUy to "successful" exhibitors, and the Manchester bhow, have these two points in common— a redundancy of classes, and prizes dependant on entries. I am disposed to tumk success is incompatible with the junction of these two principles. An abundant class list may be tolerably failed when an exhibitor sees there arc prizes to be obtained ; out It the " prizes according to entries " are to succeed, it strikes me the classes must be as few as possible. At this time ot year young birds can often beat then- seniors, and iu many ot the classes they might very advantageously to the prizetakers have competed together. Few of us like to send our birds long distances to find that tJiey are awarded fii-st prizes which only amount to thek- owTi enti-y money. Moreover, prizes thus obtained place a tictitious value on the bkds that win, yet it must be aUowed tnat the principle is fan- and just. To make it, however, Mally palatable to the great mass of the exhibitors some alterations appear necessary. I would suggest two plans— tu-st, to give a prize of small value, say £i, and to add to It a share of the entries untU that is repaid; if there are stiU more entries, the whole then to go to the prizes, but not to limit the prizes to the number three as at Manchester — much better have five or six. The other plan I would suggest is to give a certain prize for any number of entries under five, to increase the prize or prizes for any number under ten, fifteen, twenty, &c. By the adoption of either plan an exhibitor would feel that if these birds had merit, and he was the only exhibitor, that his prize would pay expenses. I know not how others feel, I answer for myself. I like my hobby to be self-supporting. This it could not have been to the sole exhibitor in Classes 48 and 49, who had liis entry money returned, and all his carriage expenses on his hands, yet your reporter says, these birds were very good. While on the matter of carriage expenses I may add my testimony to that of one of your contributors lately, that the expenses of carriage by rail iorm a serious item in the expenses of "Exhibitors in a Small Way," and one deserving the careful attention of secretaries of shows. But to return to Manchester. By the peculiai-ity of the entries and prizes I must conduct my analysis in another form. I propose to take the average number of entries in a class as the order of merit. The various breeds then come in the following order : — Oilier. 1 ... '7 Breed. .. Spanish ... Game ClnsKes. a .. 21 Entries. 54 140 93 61 11". 55 42 3 0 Average in Class 9 6} 3 ... 4 ... 5 ... .. Hiimburghs .. Cochins ... Brallmas 20 .. l.i .. 4 :::::: 4 i+ 4 B ... 7 ... ... Borliinff .. Biintam.s 14 .. 13 4 — 8 ... ^ V 9 ... lu ... ... Pol^nds ... Mslay.i 14 .. 4 .. It wouid almost appear that the Spanish-breeders had sent each other challenges to "meet at Philippi." This is the only Show, whose entries I have analysed, Ih which this aristocratic breed has made any sort of approach to the head of the list ; but here they head the poll by a very long figure, no other breed coming anyw.ay near them. This curious anomaly is difficult to account for. The Game with tlieu- multiplicity of classes follow at a very respectful distance ; Hamburghs, equally favoured as to classes, come next, but far behind the Game ; indeed, the former with the Cochins, Brahmas, and Dorking all come close together. In no other show that I have particularly noticed has the Dorking figured so low on the scale — positively the sixth ! Bantams a long way off from these ; Creve Creurs next ; then Polands, with fourteen classes mustering only three pens ! ! Malays with four classes — absolutely none 1 ! ! It is specially in breeds which muster indifl'erently that this method of awarding prizes wUl have a vevy bad effect, and tend to the positive cutting off of certain fowls which every one would regret to miss, simply because A reasons — "B and C are the only other fanciers, if they do not send I cannot pay my expenses if I win," and so A stops at homo. Considered thus, these shows on this principle would deteriorate certain breeds. I trust, therefore, that if this principle is to be generally adopted it may be in a diiferent form. As a Brahma-breeder I am delighted to find that, examined by this peculiar prize list, my favourites are fax from last ; indeed I could look towards the futui-e for my pets without fear, but for rumours tliat one hears that they are to be made " birds of feather," aud that they are to be mapped out with a distinctness that would be becoming to a Laced Bantam or Hamburgh, but is wholly unsuited to a breed which should be noticeable for size and form rather than colour. Experience has abundantly proved with lai-ge breeds that a forced attention to colour has been mischievous in effect. Who that is interested in the Cochin can forget its bad effect on that breed, and the sacrifice of nobler pro- perties for the sake of colour ? Indeed it may be truly said that they are only now recovering. I cannot but fancy some enemy has suggested the idea. Why should the dark or black portions of the light strains be restricted to hackle, tail, and flight featliers ? My eai'liest light birds were from the choicest strains, and I was wont to look coldly on birds, the fluff of which was not grey, if not darker. But enough. I only desire to raise a voice of warning, feeble it may be, but sincere and impartial as I no longer keep the light Februavy 16, 1864. ] JOXJKNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 141 birds, against the folly of making colour the most important point. I have now an-ived at the end of my tether or my promise as regards these large shows. The result of this scrutiny may be briefly summed up thus: — Firstly, that certain breeds are treated too well — viz., the Spanish, Polands, and Malays, the two latter breeds especially so. At the larger shows it appears imperative that some alteration in amount of premiums should be made. Secondly, that Cochins, Game, and Hambtu:ghs, by the number of classes and the prizes generally offered, have sufficient justice. Black Hamburghs have earned and well support a class of tlieir own. They appeal' a useful breed, but of theii- purity I say nothing. Lastly, the Dorking, although receiving large prizes in competition, does not obtain its fair share. Neither does the Brahma, fast becoming a very popular fowl. At the larger Shows, as Birmingham, the Agricultural Hall, and the Crystal Palace, they deserve more classes and more prizes. The two varieties might be separated in the " cock and two hens " classes, whilst fresh classes of " two hens or pullets," or "cock and one hen" might be added, and I feel confident the addition would be to the benefit of the show. At any rate, the most impartial person must allow that I have sufficiently proved that every " grand " poultry show ought to have separate classes for this most valuable breed.— Y. B. A. Z. P.S. — Since writing the above it has struck me that a simpler plan of prizes on the Manchester principle might be adopted — that is, to let the prizes begin with £1, adding each entry. The visitors at a show ought surely to pay for something more than the feeding and attendants, and a liberal return to the promoters — they ought to pay a little to the prize money. — Y. B. A. Z. ULTEESTOJ^ POULTRY SHOW. This Show was held in the Victoria Concert Hall on Wednesday and Thursday, February 10th and 11th. The following is the list of awards : — Spanish (Black).— First, Buich & Boulter, Sliefiield. Second. J. Gailick Liverpool, liifihly Commended, T. Hannay, Ulveraton. Dorkings (Coloured). — Fii'st, Capt. W. Hornby, K.N., Tvnowsley. Second J. Robinson, Garstang. Highly Commended, J. F. Newton ; Captain W Hornby. tjAjiE (Black-breasted and other Reds).— Tirst, J. Eoulton, TJlverston. Second, T. EastUain, Preston. Iliehly Commended, J Fletcher, ilan- chester ; J. Boulton, Ulverston. Commended, it. Gelderd, Ulverston ; M. Billing, jun„ Birmingh.am. Gaue (Duckwings and other Greys and Blues).— First, W. Myers, Ulver- ston. Second, H. Worrall. West Derby. Highly Conimended, J.Fletcher; il. Billing, jun., Birmingham; W. J. (jopc, B^.rnsley. Game (Any other variety).— First, J. Fletcher, Stoneclough. Second, T. West, Eccleston. Highly Commended, Jl. Adams, Beverley ; S. Matthew, titowmarket. Commended, F. A. Bretherton, Itainhill. Cochins (Any colour).— First and tjecond, Miss F. A. Aglionby, Gras- mere. Highly Conimended, T. Stretch. Ormskirk. Haimboiighs (Golden-pencilled). — First, J. E. Powers, Biggleswade. Second, J. Dixon, Clayton. Hijihly Commended, '1'. H. Ashton. Xannvorth. Commended, N. Barter, Plymouth; T. Robinson, Ulverston. Hamburghs (Silver-pencilled).— First, 0. Moor, Poulton-lt-Fylde. Second, S. Hagyas, Keighley. Highly Commended, W. Harvey, ShefEield. Com- mended, J. Robinson, Garstang ; J. Dixon, Clayton. Hamhurghs (Golden-spangled). — First, Burch and Boulter, Sheffield, Second, N. Marlow, Denton. Commenceii, J. Dlson, Clayton. HAjinuiiGHS (Silver-spangled). — First, J. Robinson, Garstang. Second, J. Dixon, Cluyton, Bradford. ANY OTHEit n.siiNCT BREED. — First, J. Dlsoh, BradTotd. Second. Mrs. M. Seamons. Aylesbury. Hiybly Commended, W. A. G. James, Kirkby Lonsdale; W. Hargreaves, Bacup ; G. Linguard, jun., Birmingham; H. Lacy, Hebden Bridge ; J. Dixon, Bradford ; W. Harvey, Sheffield. Com- mended, K. H. Nichobis, Newport. Bantams (Game).- First, T. Eastham, Preston. Second, D. Parsons, Cuerdtn, near Preston. Highly Commended, it. IVI. Stark, Hull; C. W. Wilson, O.^enholme; J. Munn, Slanchester; J. Garlick, Liverpool. Bantams (Any other variety;.— First. MissK, Charlton, Bradford. Second, W. J. Cope, Barnsley. Highly Commended, R. M. Stark, Hull; G. Maples, JUD., Wavertree, near Livei-pool ; R, Chase, Birmingham. Decks (White Aylesbury).— First, Second, and Highly Commended, Mrs. M. Seamons, Aylesbury. Docks (Rouen).— First, T. Robinson, Ulverston. Second, H. Worrall, West Derby. Highly Commended, M. Redhead, Kendal, Commended, T. Robinson, Ulverston. Ducks (Any other variety).— First, D. Parsons, Cuerdon. Second, J. R. Jessop, Hull. Highly. Commended, E. JI. Starke, Hull; T. H. D. Bayley, lekwell, near Biggleswade. EXTRA PRIZES. Gami: Cocks (Any colour). — First, J. Fletcher, Stoneclough, near Man- chester, second, M. Billing, jun , Birmingham. Third, J. Fjetcher, Stone- clough. Fourth, J. Hodgson, Whittington, near Burton, Westmorland. Highly Commended, T. Robinson, Ulverston ; M. Billing, jun., Birmingham. Commended, J. S. Butler, f oulton-le-Fylde. Game Chickens (Any variety).- First, M. Billing, Jan., Birmingham. Second, W. J. Cojic, Barnsley. Third, J. Fletcher, Stonecloush. Highly Commended, A. B. Dyas, Madeley. U. Thompson, Milntborpe ; Capt. Hornby, Knowsley ; .Miss J. A. Aykroyd, Bradford; G. C. Whitwell, Kendal, commended, T, West, Eccleston ; J. Fletcher, Manchester. Game Ba.ntam Cocks (Any colour).— First, J. Munn, Newchurch, near Manchester. Second, G. Maples, jun, Liverpool. Highly Commended, R.J. Kubinson, Ulverston ; J. W. Morris, Rochdale; J. Crossland, jun., Wakebeld- C B. Kennedy, Ulverston; R. Moon, Wavertree, Liverpool. Commended, R. M. Stark, Hull ; T. Eastham, Preston; Miss M. Aukland, Chesterfield. ME. HINDSON AND THE GAME FOWLS AT BIEMINGHAM. In reply to your con-espondent " F.," I have to state that the man Pugh has been my paid servant for several years, as receipts in my possession will prove ; and I have no hesi- tation in again asserting that the birds alleged to have been purchased by Mr. Williams were my property; and the Black Eed bird which he says I "borrowed to show in 1863," was exhibited by me, when a chicken, in 1862, and at that time I refused to sell him for the sum of £6. Beyond this explanation I do not at present purpose entering, as it is scarcely likely any person really desirous of sifting the truth of the matter would prefer writing under an assumed, when his real, address ought to redound to his credit.— Joseph Hindson, Barton House, JBveHon. EOUL BEOOD. (Concluded from page lOS.) On the second outbreak of the malady I sought the opinion of "A Devonshire Bee-keeper," and a most experienced apiarian friend on whose opinion I can always place much confidence. The former recommended me to destroy every stock in which foul brood existed; the latter told me in addition, that although " a prophet hath no honour in his own country," still when once I had fairly been a sufferer from foul brood I would never be entirely quit of it. In his own case (I may mention he is no experimentalist, but thoroughly practical, his combs all fixtures), he would have been out of a stock long ago but for buying in swarms annually. Now as to the first advice, it would certainly have been much better to have destroyed my stock as recom- mended by "A Devonshike Bee-keepek," and saved my feeding. Still it has not altogether been thrown away, I having in one sense had value for my money in being thoroughly convinced of the malignity of the disease.^ This possibly may save me from further losses in the time to come. As to the second, I sincerely hope my friend may prove a "false prophet" so far as regards the apiary of Mr. Woodbury ; and sooner than be a continuous sufferer as my adviser has been, and possess what of aU things I would most dislike, " a dwindling apiary," I am quite prepared to make a grand conflagration of my entire stock and whole appliances in use during the late season (for the plague infection, as it undoubtedly is, cannot surely be atmo- spherical), and so shake off the disease, buy in a new stock, and commence bee-keeping de novo. Before proceeding to take a glance at the controversy generally, I must confess to have been more nonplussed by this foul-brood business than by anything I have met with in my apiarian experience. Could it be that these interest- ing insects which I always deemed, if properly looked to and tended, proof against disease, were to become the victims of a vii-ulent malady— bad enough, certainly, in every individual case to the owner of a row of common straw skeps, but fearful to contemplate in its results to the proprietor proud of his scientific apiary ? I all along wished for the sake of bee-keeping generally that Mr. Lowe's able arguments were sound ; that our brother of Devon had somehow been too experimental ; but then there were the undoubted detaUs of that brother's painful experience, not lightly to be explained away by any amount of plausible theory. Mr. Lowe was borne out in his opinion by Mr. Taylor, that foul brood is simply another term for chiUed brood, is not at all an infectious epidemic, and, like chiUed brood, easily extirpated by excision. No doubt any opinion ema- nating from so trustworthy a source as the respected author of the " Bee-keepers' Manual' ' cai-ries with it its due weight 142 JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. [ Febrnary 10, 1664. SO, too, must that of Mi\ Lowe, one whose enlarged views on many points of apiarian science and graceful contributions tend so much to adorn The Journal op Horticulture. But as to foul brood, the former, with that frank upright- ness to be expected from such a quarter, admits that "it never came within my own observation." As to the latter, is it not possible he may have mistaken dulled for foul brood? If we except such allies as "An Old-fashioned Bee-master " and Jonas Jackson, Sir. Lowe stands alone — at least, the mass of evidence is all aijainst his peculiar I theory. The keystone on which he rests his argumenta- tive superstructure is, that bees do not remove chUled brood, on which point he invites the opinion of practical apiarians, and on which I must beg most respectfully to differ fi-om him. My experience taken negatively, if I may use the exjjression, is that in all hives put down at the end of the season after the cessation of breeding, or twenty- four days after swarming — saving an odd sealed cell here and there over the combs — I do not recollect of having met with, in a single instance, masses of chilled brood at all similar in extent or appearance to my diseased stocks of this season ; and positively I have seen bees over and over again di-awiug out chilled brood after frost, and fi-om different causes, in various stages of development. Then, again, we have the most marked contrast with foul-brooded stocks. The bees make no effort towards removal beyond piercing the cell-covers, as it were to satisfy themselves of its real presence, and display considerable anxiety to free them- selves of the sticky offensive fluid at once if brought in contact with then- bodies. That foul brood is a contagious disoase I have experienced to my cost, as detailed in the foregoing nar-rative ; and what is of the next importance to the bee-keeper, contrary to my own hope and expectation, I have proved that it is incurable hy excision of the infected parts. I cannot draw these remarks to a conclusion without joining in the protest of more than one correspondent as to the peculiar "tone" of some of Mr. Lowe's communications affecting the experiences of "A Devonshire Beb-keepee," although it is pleasant to observe in his last communication he has condescended to come down from his theoretic emi- nence to examine — not ignore — the experience of his brethi'cn, where, I have no doubt, Mr. Woodbury will meet him, as heretofore, with fair argument. In particular, whUo deprecating, as much as Mr. Lowe possibly could do, keeping combs-brood one instant longer than is absolutely necessary fi'om their natural guardians, stiU I do think he was a little too hard on our Devon friend. Surely some little allowance ought to be made for the peculiar position in which the latter was placed. He certainly did not advocate such a procedure as a rule ; on the contrary, I have formed the opinion that he is far too enthusiastic a lover of the bee to adopt the course alluded to but fi-om sheer neecssity — indeed, ho had no occasion to tell us of it ; but he is fully aware that details of apiarian operations are at all times more interest- ing and useful to the reader than mere generalities. But what would Mr. Lowe say, did I tell him of a case that once came under the observation of one of the most practical and successful apiarians in the West of Scotland ? Finding the beauty of a valuable octagon-super mai-red by the presence of brood, and fearing were he to cut it out some irregularitj' might occur in the fiUing-up, he resolved, as the best plan, to take it off till the brood perished, then replace it, trusting to the known practice of the bees to carry out chilled brood ; the cells subsequently to be filled with honey, the value of the box being in no way deteriorated. Y\^hat was the result? After the super had lain not "in a warm corner of the kitchen for the night," but in a cool room for seven days, did it transform agreeably to Mr. Lowe's theory, that many-storied octagon tower into a mass of foulness ? No, verily, but to the sui-prise and mortification of the bee-keeper, the brood was hatched out in due course, leaving behind them theu- dark impress, to the no smaU lessening of its value. — A Kenfrewshire Bee-keeper. most overwhelming mass of evidence in disproof of it. My opinion upon the subject has been clearly put forward in the pages of this Jom-nal ; and in aU the multitude of words which Mr. Lowe has cleverly put together, I see nothing in the shape of fact or evidence to alter it. As to foul brood itself, I am hapj)}' to say that I have as yet had no experience of it (very famuiai- as I have been with corrupted chilled brood like Mr. Lowe), and I feel assured, begging his pardon, that Mr. Lowe is as entirely ignorant of this disease as I am. May he long continue to be so. My opinion has been de- liberately formed on the abundant evidence detailed in these pages. If that evidence is insufEcient to satisfy a reasonable mind, then I am free to confess there is no evidence in all the world, short of ocular demonstration, which ought to satisfy a reasonable mind, and we may gravely read and allow the "historic doubts of the existence of Napoleon Buonaparte." I wonder what Mr. Lowe will say to the story given by " A Eenfrewshiee Bee-keeper," in your Journal of Feb- ruary 2nd ? Here is fact on the evidence of a most credible witness, and fact most particular, and to the point. But there has not been wanting fact on evidence quite as credible before, yet Mr. Lowe maintains his theory. He refers to a remark of mine at page 3(j4, No. 136, where I say that " in strong hives bees are fully up to the require- ments of the case, and remove all impiu'ities as they occur." Surely this is no overstatement of the case. I must have been understood to mean in all ordinary eases it is so. If a sharp frost suddenly occiu's after mUd weather of some duration, in early spring or late autumn, it kiUs in many hives, both strong and weak, a quantity of larvje in every stage of growth. On the return of mild weather all these are dragged out of their cells and carried out of the hive, till the balance of purity is restored. Who has not seen this done scores of times ? Bees invariably do this if strong enough, except of course when some epidemic visits them, such as dysentery for instance, or this fatal new disease, foul brood, which overmasters them. These are exceptional cases, and prove the rule. But I feel it is time to stop ; Mr. Lowe in the very paragraph which contains the above quotation from my former communication argues entirely from supposition. We may go on supijosing eases for ever and ever, and " out of nothing comes nothing." So I lay aside the pen in this controversy, content to abide the sure progress of truth, which must ultimately prevaU. — B. & W. It was not till my return home the other day, after an absence of some duration, that I read over Mr. Lowe's recent communications on " Foul Brood," in which he labours to maintain his theory upon the subject in the face of the ACCLIMATISATIOiS' OF BEES. Much has been done and more is doing for the introduc- tion of different species of honey bees both in this country and in America. In the latter country, Dr. A. Gertsacker, in concluding a very extensive memoii- on the distribution of the honey bee, observes that the most valuable form for Eui'ope would be the Egy^jtian, partly on account of their beauty, and partly because of theii' unwillingness to use theu' stings, which appears to be common to all Airican bees, and is also one of the recommendations of the Italian bee. The Syrian bee agrees so closely with tlie Egyptian that it may prove equally valuable ; and next to these in value are the bees of the coast of Asia Minor. In England measures have been taken to import swarms of one of the East India species. We wrote for some relative information, and the following is an extract fi'om a letter we have received from the ^-icinity of Myh^re. " The natives call them ' makyan-flies,' and positively assert that they move their homes every month at the full moon, alter eating up all the honey which they have stored during then- stny in that place. They alight in the centi-e of a thick bush, a tree, inside the roof of a Jioxise — in fact, anywhere, except on the ground. After clustering for a short time they commence working, and soon got a comb filled with honey and larva;. I took a nest yesterday in my dhobie's hou;-c, but it was only a small one, and the bees seemed to have laid themselves out for breeding rather than storing honey ; for thougii the comb was about 8 inches broad and G deep, there was only honey in the upper combs to the depth of aljout 'J. inches, and the remaining cells were mostly filled with the grubs. I kdled some of the bees as specimens for you; but as I am out in the jungle I forgot to bring them with me, so I vnR send some next time I rebraary 16, ISGi. ] JOTJEJSTAL OF HOKTICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 143 write. They are about lialf an inch long, rather slender, and striped black and white across then- bodies. " The curious thing is, that though they have stings they never use them when you take their honey ; and if yoii like to rob the comb at night during tliis cold weather, you can take the bees up by handsful without danger, for they are completely numbed. I have not tried to hive them, for a fellow engineer has told me that from experience he is almost sure that the story about their eating their own honey at the tuR moon is really true. " I remember myself, that along time ago, a swarm settled in a thick bush iu the garden, but we took no notice of it at the time ; and afterwards, when you made inquiries, I went to look at them, but they were gone, though the comb was left perfectly empty. Two swarms have come within the last fortnight, so that when the full moon comes again I will watch and see whether they are really such improvident gluttons as they are supposed to be. This kind, as I have said, are harmless, but there is a larger and more savage kind, which I have not seen. A fellow dare not go near theii" nests, for they would instantly attack him most savagely. Don't you remember the narrative of the two young fellows near Jubbulpoor, which you inserted in the Journal when I was at home ? They were hunted by these . bees, and one poor fellow was drowned and the other nearly stung to death. They are ten-ibly savage ; and I hear from fellows I can rely on, that they have seen their combs hanging nearly 6 feet from the timbers to which they were attached." DO MICE EAT BEES? Asks "T. E.," at page 106. Most assuredly they do, combs and honey too, and are depredators much more to be dreaded dm-ing severe weather than spiders. They often form a snug nest in the apex of the hackle, or even iu a corner of a weak- hive, gradually appropriating the contents. The careful bee-keeper is at once apprised of their presence by their excrements lying about on the hive or board. They are easOy expelled from the hackle, and may be caught in the hive by throwing a piece of cap net or leno over it so soon as inverted ; a few taps dislodge the mouse, which shows itself by darting against the net in its en- deavours to escape. Earwigs too are fond of nibbling at dead bees, but dui-ing severe frost the worst enemies of the living ones are the mouse, and that sly little marauder the tit-mouse. — A Een- FBEWSHIEE BeE-KEEPEK. BEES TEA YELLING BY RAILWAY. Pebhaps the enclosed account of the removal of five stocks of bees may not prove uninteresting at this slack time among bees. On the morning of January 6th, 1864, four stocks were packed with their floor-boards in a crate, two being placed on some straw at the bottom, and two above them ^vith straw between ; straw was packed all round and at the top. The fifth was packed with its floor-board and straw in an American flom--barrel. They were then forwarded to a rail- way station one mile on a goods van, thence a distance of sixty mUes by goods train at night, and on the morning of the 9th taken by goods van a distance of twelve miles. The whole reached their destination without damage. They were all ." had visited me last July with Dr. Hogg, he would have seen the most glorious crop of Apricots ever seen or tasted, and Peach and Nectarine trees in the most perfect health and fruitfulness ; liut, oddly enough, he, like your contribut.or Mr. Kobson, whom I invited, and who' publicly accepted my invitation, did not come. I am not anxious about a visit fi-om " D.," because he is a florist "pur et simple," but I should have liked to have seen Mr. Kobson, and to have convinced him against -his will that my trees were not fi-om the " spirit-rappers," but real trees full of fruit and leaves. I found that he visited Liverpool instead of performing his promise to me. Doubtless he found the jovu-ney shorter and more agreeable ; but I repeat, it is odd that these people will not look at head quarters. If a new machine is invented and sometimes fails fi-om the incapability of the users, they generally go for advice and satisfaction to the inventor. Verily some gardeners and florists are a little eccentric occasionally. Pai-agraph 8. I presume this was written by the amanu- ensis of " D." and was not corrected, for surely no gentleman would ever think of repeating verhatim the gossip of a trades- man. This friend it seems, "has had no less than three collec- tions to dispose of because the thing- is a complete failure," and he knows of two other cases in which the "notion" has been abandoned. This makes a total of five failures, bearing but a very small proportion to those that have succeeded ; for, taking the number of trees at two huadi-ed, what will " D.'s" friend say to the startling fact, that from this place alone upwards of a hundi-ed thovisand orchard-house trees have been sent out within these few years, theii- after-culture having been attended with almost unvarying success, the exceptions, very few in number, having arisen fi-om incom- petent gardeners and houses improperly ventilated ? In the former instance it has, perhaps, not been so much owing to incompetency as to the spirit of routine giving way with difSculty to anything in the shape of innovation. It seems, according to the informant quoted above, that " Mr. Blank, at Chiswick, was right when he said at the beginning of the attempt," and before he had seen and tried the experunent, " it won't, it won't do ; " a powerful logician that Mr. Blank, most likely a prizeman from one of our universities. I may here mention that they have no orchard-house at Chiswick, and never have had one. It is true there is a dark house in a hole, in which Mr. Barron, the clever manager of the louses, has done wonders, for finer Plums, and I think Pears, I never wish to see than I have there seen, but Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots cannot succeed in such a confined place. It seems that " D.'s " friend is very glad that he " did not go into the growth " of orchard-house trees. This is of com-se a very interesting fact to be recorded, as is that most remarkable one that "it is so much colder under glass" than in the open au-. Your readers wiU, I trust, try the ex- periment, and give us the temperatm-e of their houses in contrast with that of the open air. Paragraph 9. This seems to breathe pure charity : the writer is anxious to save the pocket of his "vei-y dear brother," and prevent his friends being disappointed. He •has had no personal experience, but he has gossiped with gardeners in great places, where, as I have stated in a former Number, orchard-houses are out of place. He has not been to those who delight and succeed in their culture. He has not been here, where for years past the trees, when covered with their i-ipe fruit, have charmed all who have ■seen them. I repeat he has had no personal experience, without which no experiment in horticulture can be fah-ly understood. He has gathered the information from persons, like himself, without it. He has not gone to places where orchard-house culture is a source of great enjoyment ; and, above all, I repeat he has not been here to go over the trees ■critically, to count their fruit, to taste their flavour, or even to share in the enjoyment of the blossoming season, when, to quote the words of one of our greatest philosophers, whom I am proud to number among my friends, " A well-arranged • 978 „ 1859 ... ... 985 „ 1860 ... ... ... 1416 „ 1861 ... ... 1752 Jan., 1862 ... 10 722 25 1130 33 i 555 2776 „ 1863 ... 10 918 25 1387 386 587 3313 „ 1864 ... 7 945 23 1372 406 5S3 3336 21. In conclusion, the Council repeat that they look for- ward with confldenoe to the increased usefulness of the Society. The progress of Horticulture on the Continent, and the more frequent intercourse resulting from the exten- sion of railways, are silently changing the position of this Society. Numerous Horticultural Societies are now estab- lished all over the Continent, and if the Society wishes to maintain its position as the leading exponent of Horticulture in the world, and not to sink into the status of a mere pro- vincial Society, it must not ignore the steps taken and the progress made by Continental Societies. The Council have, therefore, paid considerable attention to enlarging the circle of the Societies with which they are in friendly relation, and drawing closer the bonds of sympathy and friendship by which they are united. They are already in communication with twenty-seven foreign and colonial Societies, with which they exchange publications and mutual good offices ; and the CouucU look upon the strengthening of these bonds of union as no unimportant part of their duty, and no small means towards the advancement of Horticulture. FAILUEE OF SOME OLD FEIENDS. Mb. Kobson's paper at page 75 seems to me suggestive- of deep research and comparison amongst each other by gardeners. He says that latterly the Calceolaria has ceased to be depended upon as a good and certain bedding plant, on account of its dying off at various times ; and adds — " Some years before the Petunia retired fi'om active service the AnagaUis had done so in a like manner," and " neither is regarded as the good useful bedder it was held to be some twenty years ago." I think we may add to these instances the Lobelia speciosa,. which has run out latterly in this country, and become very difficult to manage. I have taken the greatest pains with 154 JOUKNAL OP HOETICtTLTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. [ February !3, 1864, it. Many years ago it used to come true from seed, and nothing could be more beautiful. Seed in a few years gave a very mixed result. I then obtained the truest specimens I could procure both in England and Ireland ; but found it impossible to get a border that did not run to grass like L. gracilis. The new varieties of Paxtoniana, and I might say, or Gordoniana, had all the bushy dwarf character last year that the speciosa had formerly. Some trees, such as rare Pines, when propagated from cuttings seem never (juite to lose the habit of a branch. Can it be that the constant propagation from cuttings has produced a branch- ing habit in the Lobelia? We cannot aiford to lose our best blue bedder ; and I mean to try the effect this year of cramping the roots either in pots or in a shallow border. Mixing with Golden Chain or other ornamental-foliaged plants which require rich food seems inadmissible, which is a pity, with respect to our best yellow bedder the Calceolaria. I suspect that the deep trenching and under-manuring which saves late Peas from mildew, might keep the Calceo- laria longer in blossom ; and planting thickly enough to be able to prune, so as to keep up a succession of shoots, ought to enable one to avoid the failure of blossom in September. As to the Petunia, of which I deplore the loss as much as Mr. Eobson, and have long abandoned the use, is there no remedy ? If the new rose-coloui-ed Geraniums enable us to find a substitute for the lovely beds of Shrubland Eose Petunia that we used to have (which I much doubt), what dark pm-ple have we at all like some of the old Petunias ? I think that although comments on the most effective combinations in the bedding-out gardens have been made through the last year^'s Numbers of this Jom-nal, it would be a great boon to those who are now laying their plans for the coming season if you were to pviblish a resiimi', not of the plans, but of the combinations of colours and plants which were reported upon by your best judges as having proved most effective last season.— Chakles W. Hamilton, Ham- wood. FLOWEE-GAEDEN PLANTING. The chief difficulty to contend within planting my garden is to avoid the centre set of beds interfering with and over- powering the two end sets. I have generally made the two end sets of beds to correspond pretty closely one with the other, although not actually using the same flowers. For instance : Where I have used Lobelia in one set of beds I have put Pvu-ple King Verbena in the other ; Gazania taking the place of Calceolaria, Flower of the Day Geranium that of Mangles' or Alma, &c. One point concerning which I want to invite the opinion of your coiTespondents is, whether the beds ought to be planted in sets of four, thus : 2, 3, 4, 5 ; 8, 9, 10, 11; 14, 16, 18, 20; 15, 17, 19, 21; or in pairs of beds, as 2 and 4, 3 and 5, 14 and 18, 15 and 19, &.C. The beds last year were planted — 1, Outside row, CerasMura. 2nd row. Purple King Verbena. Points of the quatrefoil, Yellow Calceolaria. Centre, Fuchsia standard. 1 row Calceolaria Sparkler. 2 rows Flower of the Day Gcra- 1 ditto scarlet Zinnia. [nium. 3, 4, Tropasolum Ciystal Palace ; edge. Variegated Arabia. 3, 5, Phlox Druniniondi ; edge, Ge- ranium Man<;les' Variegated. 6, 7, Geranium Trenthara Kose ; cd;;e Lobelia speciosa. 8, 11, Verbena Mrs. Holford ; edge, Lady V. Scott and Miss Trotter. 9, 10, 'Mixed Verbenas. 12, 13, Saponaria. 14, 18— 14,:Alraa and Bijou; 18, Mountain of Light. 15, 19, Calceolaria angustifolia. IG, 20, Lobelia speciojia. 17, 21—17, Verbena Lady V. Scott; 21. Firefly. 22, 26, Geranium Flower of the Day. 23, 27, Yellow Calceolaiia. 24, 28, Verbena Purple Kin(t ; edge, .^] angles' Variegated Geranium. 25, 29, Gay.ania. 30, 34, 35, 39— PctuniiiK. 30, Lady Ellesmerc; 34, P.uUertiy; 35. Eliza IVIatbieu ; 39, Madnnie Jacotot. 31, 36, Geranium Christine; edge, Sedum carncum variegatum. 32, 37. Calceolaria. 33, Crystal Palace ScarletGeranium ; edge, Sedum. 38, Geraniums Punch and Little David ; edge, Seaum, I have made a plan for this year, bvit should like to have an expression of opinion upon the plan of last year, so as to be able to compare notes with my own. The centre bed No. 1 was planted with two rows round the edge, Cerastium tomentosum and Purple King Verbena ; then, beginning from the centre, a tall Fuchsia tied up as a standard, a row of Sparkler Calceolaria, two rows of Flower of the Day, then a row of scarlet Zinnia, and the space left between the row of Zinnia and Puiijle King at the points of the cxuatrefoil filled with Calceolaria canariensis. All the walks are grass, of a uniform width, and easily mown by a twelve-inch hand lawn-mowing machine. Immediately round the set of beds is a broad grass walk about 9 feet wide. Then on the north side is a broad gravel walk next to the house, with a border of flowers between the walk and the house, generally planted as a ribbon-border with three rows of flowers. Last year it was Lobelia speciosa. Golden Chain, and the back row, mixed plants of Calceolarias and Geraniums. The centre of the garden faces the drawing-room window, and is due south from the house. On the other side of the grass walk is a raised border sloping towards the house, the garden having been originally levelled out of a sloping field. This border is of a uniform width of about 11 feet, with a low treUiswork of larch covered with Eoses : this border and '.reUiswork go round the cast end of the garden as well. The other, the west end, is bounded by a gravel walk leading to a rocktry and shrubbery. The broad border of flowers sloping towards the house is generally planted as aribbon-bordtr, but chiefly with annuals, such as Saponaria, Carter's Tern Thumb Nas- turtium, Ageratum, and Petunias (traated as annuals). Asters, Stocks, ic. I may state that the soil is a rich light loam, very suitable for Verbenas and Calceolarias, but Ge- raniums generally go too much to leaf; and conscqxtently the Variegated class of Geraniums do better than Tom Thumb, Trentham Eose, Ac, though the last is, as a rulo, the best flowering Geranium of any in this soil. — X. Y. Z. [We can easily fancy that the garden will look very well from the gi'avel walk, and better still from the drawing- room windows, as the colours will be reflected back firm the slopin g border and the fence of Eoses. So far as making February i3, 1864. 3 JOUBNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 157 and whatever nailing is left undone must be finished im- mediately. See that newly-planted trees are properly staked and mulched, and after high winds it is necessary to look round them and press the earth gently round the base of the stems. STOVE. Some of the plants which have been blooming for some weeks and which are exhausted, should be cut back and removed to a moderate heat for slow breaking, such as the Euphorbia jacquinifeflora, Gesnera lateritia, Geissomeria longiflora, Eranthemum pulcheUum, Justicias, Poinsettia pulcherrima, and others ; when breaking, which wiU be in about three weeks, they should be shaken out and repotted in flbry turfy loam, coarse sand, and a good portion of char- coal, in which last all these plants delight. GKEENHOXJSE AND CONSEEVATOET. Stop any rank -growing shoots that are taking the lead on the Camellias that are done blooming. A general dressing of the climbers should take place immediately. "Where it is desirable that they should bloom late in the autumn, it will be advisable to prune late, even after the buds have commenced growing, on the same pi-inciple that the Moss amd other Roses ai'e successfully retarded by such a course. Some of the forward Cinerarias and Pelargoniums may be shifted as requisite, as soon as the blooming habit is suifi- ciently brought on. EOECING-PIT. Continue to introduce plants of Hydrangeas, Roses in variety. Pinks, Carnations, Rhododendrons, Kalmias, Le- dums, Pelargoniums, Heliotropes, Azaleas, &c. Shake out another batch of your best last year's young Fuchsias, Ery- thrinums, and Salvia patens, and place them in bottom heat. Sow Balsams, Cockscombs, Amaranths, &c. PITS AND FEAMES. Those who have not yet attended to the propagation of plants for bedding-out, must now begin with aU possible speed to put in cuttings of Salvias, Petunias, Fuchsias, Verbenas, Scarlet Geraniums, Lobelias, &c., so as to have good plants for bedding-out in May. W. Keane. DOINGS OF THE LAST "WEEK. KITCHEN GAEDEN. As soon as the frost gave way, and the ground was dry, sowed Dickson's Favoui-ite Pea, and Mazagan and other Broad Beans out of doors. Sowed also Beans and Peas, chiefly Mazagan and Sangster's No. 1, on turves, to be transplanted when well forwarded. The turves were cut in strips 4 inches wide and 2^ inches thick, and a groove 1 inch deep cut out in the centre. The turves were placed on a bed of leaves just a little warm, with 2 or 3 inches of rotten leaves be- tween the leaves and the turves, into which the roots might run. We have employed leaves because we could not well use anything else at the time ; but we would have prefeiTcd half-circular drain-tiles, with a piece of rotten dung stuck in the ends to keep in the soil, or even wooden boxes if we had them at liberty, as, when planted out, there wordd be nothing to interfere with the free growth of the plants. We have succeeded very well with turves, but in peculiar seasons the haulm of the Peas near the turf, if the latter is at all stiff in consistence, is apt to become hidebound ; and though there will be a good show of Peas at first, the gather- ing is not likely to be so continuous as when the plants have nothing to check their luxuriant development. How- ever managed, these transplanted Peas are likely to come sooner into bloom and pod, merely from the check given in transplanting. Such plants follow a natural law, by which the excess of luxuriance is ever opposed to the excess of fruitfulness. If the check given to mere growth is too great, then healthy continued fruitfulness is also lessened. Such Peas and Beans, therefore, require to be well hardened off before planting out, and to receive a little protection after- wards from evergreen boughs, &c. When that can be given them. Peas planted out in March from seeds sown from the middle of February wUl generally beat those sown in autumn, and the protection of them from slugs, birds, mice, and rats during the winter is avoided. "Wlien, with autumn- SOW5 rows, we have had them very luxuriant about the middle of March, we hastened their fruitfulness by inserting the spade obliquely as deep as it would go, so as to cut the roots on one side, and prevented flagging by running a little water along the rows. Transplanted Kidney Beans and sowed more. The New- ington is a good one for cooking whole, when the pods are some 3 inches in length. By transplanting at this season room is saved, and extra fruitfulness secured. After this it win be best to sow in beds or pots, and nip out the stem when it makes its first running leaf, which wiU make the plants more dwarf and continuously fruitful. In early winter we used to sow and plant rather thickly, and not stop; and thus we obtained an earlier produce, but not so much of it. Gave abundance of air on mild days to Potatoes, Radishes, Asparagus, Lettuces, &c., and planted more Pota- toes under cover, and have a good many moving nicely now in pots, and which will require planting ere long. Those grow- ing in large pots are doing very well. Some that were shut up in the cold weather became rather lanky, and had the terminal buds of the shoots nipped out, to prevent th'em grow- ing too tall for the glass. Kept up successions of Radihes, Sea-kale, Rhubarb, and Mushrooms. For constant supply, we are stUl more convinced that the smaU-bed system for Mushrooms is the best. There are two matters about Mushrooms we would here allude to. The first is that some artistes of the kitchen prefer having button Mushrooms under their own care — that is, prefer receiving a lot at a time and preserving them in their own way, and going to their store when they like. We suppose this would not do for everything ; but if more generally adopted it might save many an annoyance ; for, when they are required it is un- pleasant not to be able to send in a good handful of buttons, when you could easily send a bushel of large Mushrooms. The other matter is very thick fleshy Mushrooms. We some time ago stated how, by a surfacing of oowdung, the Mush- rooms came too thickfleshed to be easily cooked, and we rather think we are approaching the same condition again by another process, at least the man who has charge of the Mushroom-beds thinks that is the reason for the thick- ness as well as the extra fr-uit fulness. When putting on the soil, not too damp, he watered with a strong decoction of sheepdung that had been kept^in a barrel, before squeezing and beating down the soil. PuUed a little earth to Cabbage plants. Dug and trenched as convenient. It is time to sow a little Celery and Cauliflower seed, either on a sUght hotbed, or in pans and boxes, where there is a little heat. Temperature for Cucumbers from 60° to 68° at night, fully 70° during the day ; and if air is given early, the heat may rise to 80° or 85° by sun heat. A few Chilis and Tomatoes should also be sown, and sweet herbs, as Basil and Maqoram, if wanted early. FETJIT GAEDEN. We have some trees stiU to plant and transplant, but the weather has not been suitable for doing much in that way. Proceeded with pruning small fruit, and dredging them with the mixture described lately to keep the bu-ds from the buds. Has any one tried nux vomica in moderation ? but that would kill the birds if used strong. Beginners, in using;- mixtures, should beware how they are made up. Lime and soot, and sometimes nux vomica, are fi-equently parts of a composition, and if mixed cool and used sparingly they wiU do no harm ; but if boiled together, though used cool, we have known serious consequences ensue. For instance : a very good paint for many fruit trees may be formed by boUing a quarter of a pound of tobacco in a gallon of water, straining it, and when that water is nearly cool mixing it with 1 lb. of lime, 1 lb. of sulphui-, 1 lb. of soot, and enough of clay and more water to make a nice paint of 2^ gallons. Boil aU these together, and use when cool, and unless soon washed off we would be afraid that any plant would not be of much use afterwards. When 1 lb. of lime, fresh, and llb.of sulphur are boiled in a gallon of water, and the clear liquid poured off and put away for use, we should not think of using it for syringing a gi-owing plant with unless diluted with at least a hundred times its bulk of water. Of course plants in a state of rest, as deciduous fruit trees in wmter, are less easily injxu-ed ; but even then such an acrid combi' nation would be dangerous. We just throw out the hint because many of the different effects of paints, &c., for de- stroying insects maybe somewhat owing to the modes in 158 JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTUKE Am) COTTAGE GABDENEE. [ February 23, 1864. ■whic}i they are appKed. The hotter such mixtures aie used t'je more certain -will they he, if not to enclose more thoroughly, at least to kill, the eggs of insects which the eye cannot see ; but the more likely also will they be to iniure the bark and youngest layer of wood : hence, as a general rule, we dislike to use such applications much hotter than new milk. As an example we might refer to tobacco smoke. Used in moderation, and the smoke presented cool, it will kiU aU sorts of green fly. Let the smoke be at all hot, and you wUl thoroughly and quickly kOl the insects ; but if the leaves are at all tender, you will blotch and kill them likewise. Tobacco paper, fi-om the variety of materials of which it is generally composed, requires even more care in this respect. Pruned most of the trees in orchard-house. Discovered no insects ; but, to make as sure as possible, washed the trees in pots and against the walls with soap water and a brush. Washed also the wall down, and then whitewashed it with quicklime, toned down sufficiently dark with a mixture of blueblack to lessen the reflection of heat and light from the wall. This sticks so well that hardly any of the last year's appMoation would come off when scrubbed with soap and water. We might have left it alone, as it looked clean, but we wanted to dislodge or smother up every insect egg, if there should be any. When all is done we will take away at least an inch of the surface soU, and sprinkle that with hot water, before covering with fresh soU. We are now painting the trees as the buds are swelling. We have no gi-eat faith in any paa'ticular paint, provided it will smother up and thus kiU all insects' eggs. For many purposes clay and sulphur are as good as anything. This season we are using for Peaches, &c., the following : — Half a pound of shag tobacco, boiled in a gallon of water for twenty minutes and then strained ; 2-i lbs. of flowers of sulphur ; about the same of lime and soot, each made into a paste before mixing cool; nearly 2 lbs. of soft soap, melted with the tobacco water. To these were added enough of thin clay paint to make eight gallons altogether. We would have added a pound of glue, melted, only we did not have it by us. The soap and the clay make it stick very well. The Ume was used chiefly to lighten the mrxtui-e a little, which wm keep the buds more backward than if the colour had been darker; and, as said the other week, we would rather have them as backward in opening as possible with- out the trouble of shading. Gave a little water to trees in pots that were dry, as letting the roots become too di-y, and then giving them a good soaking at once, is apt to throw the buds off. Eemoved StrawbeiTy-pots from the floor of the orchard-house, where they were in the way. A few of them had also become rather dry, and this is as injurious to the fruit-buds as keeping the plants too wet. Moved Strawberry-pots from frames to shelves in houses; some on moss, others on turf, and others in pans, where a little drip would be in- jurious. Eemoved plants done fr-uiting ; and as it is rather early to keep them, turned them to the rubbish heap, that the pots might be employed for other purposes, as just now we could use many thousands if we had them. Gave a little manure water to the pots where the fruit was swelling, and in sunny hours drew a dry feather among the flowers of plants in blossom, and gave all the aii- possible, according to the weather. For Strawben-ies alone, and Peach trees alone, in bloom, fire heat is most wanted in dull days, in order to give air without reducing the temperature. In such weather fresh afr is more necessary than even in bright sunshine. If the sunshine is attended by a frosty wind, we give afr early but sparingly, and the sun heat wOl enable us to dispense with fire heat dm-ing the day. Night tem- perature for Peaches and Strawberries in bloom fi'om 50° to 55°, with a gradual rise in sunshine to 70°, 75°, or 80°. Strawberries, when swelling, will bear a higher tempera- ture ; but the higher the temperature, and the closer the atmosphere, the less wUl they be distinguished for flavour. To heighten flavoirr, no manure water should be given after the berries colom-, and the soil should be rather dry before gathering ; and if the aun shines on them in a di-y afr all the better. Melons in pots should have a medium temperatru'e of 68° to 70°. Those in beds or pits will enjoy a bottom heat of 75° to 80°, and a night temperature averaging 65°; day tem- perature from 70° to 75°, and in bright sunshine from 75° to 85°. Vines breaking may be syringed two or three times a-day. Those coming into bloom with roots out of doors should have the roots carefully protected, a few hot leaves near the soil will keep all right. About a foot of leaves, or fern, or litter, put on early in the autumn, will keep the ground hot enough in general cfrcumstauces ; but a little more at flowering and setting time wiU be useftd. Vines in bloom should have fi-om 65* to 70° at night, with a rise from sun heat dui'ing the day. Vines breaking and growing should average fi-om 55° to 60' at night; 65° at night is high enough for Vines at all times, imless when setting, with the exception of Muscats. Black Damascus, &c., which wUl bear 70°, or even more. We have, however, had splendid Muscats that, except when in bloom, were never kept higher than 65° at night, but afr being given early in the morning, the houses would rise to 85°, or more, during the day. Figs in pots rarely do well as respects the first crop, unless the pots are plunged La the ground, or supplied with some vessel to stand in, so that the soU shall never be very, di-y. Once let such soil be thoroughly dry, and t'ne young fruit will drop off to a certainty. The same result will follow if the pots stand long in stagnant moisture. Much water, therefore, should never be in the pan, but it would be well to have an eighth of an inch or so to prevent casualties. When planted out. Figs should have little soU, and be well drained, and then however liberally watered the water will never remain long about the roots. When at rest the soU should be rather dry. If very di-y the young fi-uit will be apt to drop. When the tops begin to move it is best to make holes in the bed or border, and fill these with water first, so that aU the soU shall be weU moistened in a fortnight or three weeks, instead of doing it aU at once. Where the stumping system has not been adhered to in summer, and the bare shoots are now from 6 to 12 inches long, it is a good plan to cut through crosswise the green terminal bud about half way fi-om its apex to its base. The check to mere growth thus given has a helping influence on the young fruits that come from the nodes or joints be- hind. Thus the cut or pricked terminal bud wUl, instead of one shoot, throw out several, and the most desfrable of these can be retained, and pinched-in, as deemed necessary, for the second crop. We generaUy prefer doing this after at least half a dozen joints are made, for if done sooner in many cases the joints wUl show shoots instead of fruit. For out-door trees against walls where only one crop can be ob- tained, it is best to secure stubby, short-jointed shoots, and merely pinch or cut through the terminal bud in the spring, and select the shoots that come fi-om it for the next season. OKNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. Much the same as last week. — E. F. TEADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. F. BosheU, 86, High Street, Boroiagh, London. Catalogue of Vegetable, Garden, and Agncultural Seeds, Jj'c. Timothy Brigden, 52, King WiUiam Street, City. Select List of Flower, Vegetable, Agricultural, Tree, Shrub, OmOr- mental Fruit and Foliage Plant Seeds. S. Stafford, Hyde, near Manchester. — Catalogue of Hard- wooded Greenhouse Plants, Stove Plants, Palms, Orchids, and Ferns. Catalogue of Forest and Fruit Trees, Shrubs, S^c. COVENT GAEDEN MAEKET.— Feb. 20. Noiwithstanding the frost which has again set in, the supply of all kinds of vegetables in season continues unusually good, and iinportationB from abroad of Lettucn, Endive, Ac, have been steadily kept up. Of Potatoea there have been heavy arrivals, but prices havo a ivunced. Old Grapes are now scarce, ami the new Blacli Hamhurghs are bringing from 20s. to 306\ per lb. Flowers are less plentiful and consisb of the same kinds as reported last week. PKUIT. s. 2 0 0 0 10 1 0 ■1 d. B, 0 to 4 0 0 * 0 0 0 0 IS 0 2 0 20 0 10 0 5 d 0 0 0 0 • 0 0 u 0 Mulberries ...quart B. 0 0 •1 0 8 C C 0 u d. e. OtoO 0 0 0 1« 0 0 0 12 0 10 0 10 0 0 G 20 d 0 Apricots doz. KiKS dua. FUbertsJi NutalOOlbs. Grapea, Hottiouse. ...lb. Foreign Muacats Lemons 100 Meloas each «' Oranges 100 0 n Pears bush. 0 dessert Pine Apples.,.. Pomei^rantUes. Walnuts .,\ sieve lb. ....each ...busb. 0 0 0 0 February 23, 1864. ] JOUHNAL OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 159 s. VEGETABLES, d. t). d Asparagus bundle 10 0 to 15 0 Beans, Broad bush. • Kidney 100 2 Beet, Red doz. 1 Broccoli bundle 0 Bruesels Sprouts^ sieve I Cabbage doz. 0 Capsicunas 100 0 Carrots bunch 0 Cauliflower doz. 3 Celery bundle 1 Cucumbers each 2 Endive score I Fennel bunch 0 Garlic and Shallots, lb. 0 Herbs bunch 0 Horseradish ... bundle 1 Leeks bunch Lettuce doz. Mushrooms puttie Muatd. & Cress, punnet Onions bushol pickling quart Parsley bunch Parsnips doa. Peas ; bush. Potatoes sack Radishes doz. bunches Rhubarb bundle Savoys per doz. Seu-kale basket Spinach sieve Tomatoes ^ sieve Turnips bunch H- d. B, 0 0 4 too 8 1 0 2 0 1 0 2 U 0 2 0 4 3 B 6 0 0 6 0 » 0 4 0 0 n i) 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 (i 2 0 3 0 1 6 2 6 3 6 4 0 0 0 U 0 0 4 0 6 TO CORRESPONDENTS. *** ^^ request that no one will write privately to the de- pai'tmental writers of the " Joiirnal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. AH communications should therefore be ad- dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of HorticuU iwre, ifc, 162, Meet Street, London, E.G. N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next week. Stovb for Small Greekhouse {M. S.).—li is quite true that irith the great care you bestowed upon it, the stove you name might be used to exclude frost without apparently injuring the plants ; but it is, like all flue- less stoves, too liable to hurt plants for u.s to venture to promote its use. Lucerne Seed (ff, B. S,).—kxiy of the principal seedsmen in London could supply you. Pear-tree Pruning [J.R. fl^.).— You will find Mr. Errington's direc- tionsin No. 17 of our First Series, paj^e 178. He says— ** At the winter pruning we examine those shoots which had been tied down to the leaders in July, and reserving a choice sprinkling, we tie them down, pruning all the rest away." PoiNSBTTiA puLCHERRiMA ALBA.— We are informed by Mr. R. Parker, of the Exotic Nursery, Tooting, Surrey, that he can supply any reasonable number of this plant, which some of our correspondents state they cannot procure. Ihon Fountain Corroding {E. E.). — We have found genuine red lead paint a good substance for coating iron exposed to wet. We find it stand "wet the longest, and the iron corrodes less than when coated with other light paints that have nothing in them, except oil, likely to prevent corro- sion. We haTe also used black varnish with advantage ; but a good preventive to the corroding of iron exposed to wet is much wanted. We know of no lasting remedy ; but some of our correspondents may be in a position to point out a good substance for coating iron to prevent corrosion, and such would be a boon to horticulturists. CrAS Heating a Small Greenhouse (-4.). — No wonder that one jet of gas does not heat it suflaciently. Have a circle of jets, twenty at the least, for you can easily regulate the heat by keeping the flame low by means of the tap on the service-pipe. Have the chimney at the top of your " drum," and its bottom quite open to admit air to support the combustion. Epacris Culture [T. IF". Johnson). — There is no separate publication on the subject ; but there is a very full essay on the cultivation of the genus by Mr. Fish, in No. 93 of the present Series of this Journal. Indian Ferns {E. L. A.). the Ferns of British India. -We are not aware of any separate work upon Blind for Greenhousk {M. S. J2.).— We have found no 'better material for this purpose than tiffany and bunting. Thin calico and " harden " we have used, but we prefer the former, as it is light, and does not make the bouse too dark, but dark enough for shading purposes. Tiffany can be had of various strengths— that termed No. 1 being the best tor greenhouses, whilst Ferns and Orchids need a thicker shading. We therefore use No. 3. We prefer the blind on the outside, and, except for Ferns, it sbould be 80 fixed that it can be drawn up in dull weather, and only let down in bright sunny weather. For Ferns it may be fixed on the 1st of April, and remain permanently on until October, when it should be removed for the winter. They are made by sewing several widths together to the required length, and then nailing one end to a lath, and nailing that fast to the ridge tree at the top of the house. The lower end ia then fastened with tacks to a roller. A pulley is placed at one end at the top of the house, and through it a aord is drawn and fastened to the roller at the end, where a runner is placed, and the cord is then lapped several times round the runner so that in unrolling the blind will be at the top of the house when the cord on the runner is run off. In "Greenhouses for the Many," page 11, a full description of a greenhouse blind will be found; and some illustrations at page 495, of No. 143, Vol. V., New Series, will assist in enabling you to understand what is meant, and which is more difficult to describe than work. We never heard of "The Persian flower that has been so much used last Christmas in the decoration of the London churches." We shall be obliged by any one sending us the name. Geraniums and Fuchstas in a Cellar {Young Gardener).— 1{ you have room in your greenhouse, it would be better to place in it those Golden Yew, Propaoatino and Grafting (TT. B.).— Tews of all kinds are most readily increased by sowing the seeds as soon as ripe. The Golden Yew, and, In fact, all the species, may be raised from cuttings. The best tlmea are April and August. They strike if made from one or two years growth. They should be inserted in a shady border, and if covered with a hand or bell-glasp, or a frame, they root with greater facility. Yews and most Coniferce may also be increased by grafting. This is best performed when the stocks are beginning to grow. The grafts should be put on near the ground, and if the union be covered with earth in the shape of a mound the operation is more certain. Tongue or whip grafting is the preferable method. We have not tried grafting Golden Yew on the common Yew at any distance from the ground. We ehould certainly try to graft some this summer, performing the operation just when the stock commences growth, and putting on the scion by side-grafting, with a part of the shoot or scion left long enough below the graft to reach a bottle containing water. The water in the bottle would be likely to keep the scion fresh until the graft united with the stock, when the part left might be cut off closely. The diflSculty in grafting evergreens is to keep the scion fresh until it unite with the stock. Some moss placed on the clay and kept moist assists in securing a speedy union. Japanese Conifer Sekds {Sciadopitys). — Your plan of sowing them in sandy loarn in pots, and placing them in a cold frame, will answer perfectly. The pronunciation of Sciadopttys is Si-a-ddp-i-tis. It is said to be per- fectly hardy, but we have no experience in the matter. We think it would be preferable to plunge the pot in a nursery- border for another season, and get ir, stronger before finally planting out. Pelargoniums Frosted {Idem). — If you find the pots full of roots, shift at once into a larger size, but let it be one only a trifie larger. i*lace them in a little heat, so as to induce the production of new roots ; but do not keep them in heat so that the shoots become weak and drawn. Remove them back to the greenhouse, and give thera the lightest and airiest situa- tion it aflfords. We think your plants will flower, though late, and be finer than you anticipate. Cyanophtllum mag.vificum Propagating {An Old iJcarfer).— This plant increases readily by taking the young shoots when about 6 inches long, or with three joints, cutting the lower end immediately below the last joint, and taking off the lowest pair of leaves. The cutting is then inserted in a compost of peat and turfy loam in equal paits, wiih an e^ual mass of silver sand. Use pots sufficiently large to admit of the cuttings being inserted up to within half an inch of the second pair of leaves or joints, and plunge ia a hotbed of from 75*^ to 85°, and cover with a bell-glass. The soil about the cuttings should be kept constantly moist, but not wet. They will be well rooted in about a month, or from that to six weeks after putting In. You may cut your old plant down, striking the top, and this will induce side shoots, and these when of sufficient strength will each make a cutting. Cucumber and Melon-house Constructing (C. P.}.— Your mode of making the bed is right, and will answer well for securing a good bottom heat ; but you will need extra pipes for top heat— two four-inch pipes if the house ia to be used in summer only, and four if Cucumbers are to be grown In winter, and the pipes should be placed as near the front of the house as practicable. The soil over the rubble should be 1 foot in depth. A wire trelhs should be provided for the Vines to run upon, and be fixed 1 loot from the glass. Back ventilation will be sufficient; but should the atmo- sphere become too warm, front ventilation may be given. We fear a bed at the back will not answer, for the plants there would be too far from the light, and would consequently become drd.wn and w'eak. ViNERT ON AN East AsPECT ( C/iar/cs ^ranrfon).— Providiug your hottse be heated and glazed with large panes of glass, we see no reason why you should not grow Grapes profitably in it. If unhealed, we fear the sun would not raise the temperature sufficiently to be suitable for the growth and per- fection of Grapes. Grapes can be grown in eastern aspects in perfection ia heated houses ; but we do not know of any person having succeeded in obtaining fine ripe Grapes in such an aspect with unhealed houses. Our conviction is that you can grow Grapes profitably in a heated house, though the aspect be east, only you must provide abundant light and ample ventilation. Flower-garden Plan {S, B. H.\— You might match, and yet have as much variety, by having colours of the same shade opoosite to each other, though different things. In the system you have adopted we can suggest no improvement except the above ; but for such a scroll it would be an improve- ment to have a narrow edging inside the Yew, all round, of Cerastium tomentosum. It would give a finished setting to the whole. Liming before Sowing Grass {A Lady Reader).— ThQ plot intended to be sown with Grass seeds would be much improved by a dressing Df lime. The lime should be applied in March, and harrowed or raked in, prior to sowing the Grasses. Two tons will be sufficient. Three bushels of pre- pared lawn seeds is the proper quantity for an acre. Various [J. J, 7F.).— You ask too many questions. In pruning Fig trees the main pomt is to cut out the old, and supply its place with young wood. They should not be spuiTcd like espalier trees. Frost will not break glass unless the squares are put in too tightly or the laps unputtied. The laps of the glass should be puttied, and it is better to let the squares fit loosely. The best time to cut a Holly hedge is after the growth is made. Your hedge should have the sides trimmed a little in May. Box trees do not need manure of any kind, especially those that are unhealthy. The Box will thrive In any soil, but does badly in smoky towns. We do not know what Checkens are. Apply Gishurat compound at the rate of S ozs. to the gallon ot water, by means of a brush to the branches of the Beurr^ Ranee Pear trees, and it will destroy the scale. One man to an acre of pleasure or kitchen garden is the average allowance, but it depends on circumstances. We should say six men would not be too many for your garden. Twenty- four bushels of seed Potatoes are considered sufficient to plant an acre of ^ ground; but of the ear lies thirty-six bushels. Worms in Hotbed {E. S. C.).— You may safely place a layer of salt between the manure and the coal ashes ; but you must not expect roots to have room m your greenhouse, it would be better to place in it those live when they come in contact with the salt. We have found that nothing now growing for a few weeks until the weather becomes warmer, when I is so disliked by worms as quicklime, either placed an inch thick, or occa- they might be placed in a cold frame. You must not inib the blanched shoote off or the plants may become blind. They should be potted when brought to the light, watered sparingly until growth takes place, when they should be well supplied with water. The Fuchsias require the same treatment. sionally sprinkled on the surface. A stone of lime put in a hogshead con- taining fifty gallons of water, well stirred, and allowed to stand forty-eight hours, makes a liquid that worms do not like. If it be poured with a rose watering-pot on ground where worms are troublesome, it will bring themj to the surface. 160 JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTURE XND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. [ February 23, 18G4. Meait Bno (A Sutacrther).—\Ve have found nothing so effectual againtt this pest as placiDK the plants in a pit where the atmosphere is surcharged with ammonia from fermenting stable-manure. When this was not at hand w have syringed the plants with water at 160° if the leaves were firm in texture, or 140° if lliin. This, repeated whenever ihe insects show them- selves, IS a cheap and effectual remedy. Next to it we have found the linger and tliumb to be very serviceable, especially when suT)ulemented with a syringing with soot water heated to 140°. Heatiso a CucoMBEa-Bousc {J. W. Price).— For a Cucumber-house, 16 feet by 10, the best plan ol heating would be to have a pit on euch side, a walk m the middle, and two pipes below each pit for bottom heat, and two for top heat. The cheapest plan would be tuke a flue all round such pite in a chamber, bed nbove, and slides from chamber to let heat out and means for mastering such heat. If so done the first two vards of flue should be brick on bed. Perh:.ps a still cheaper plan would be merely to have the flue, and grow the Cucumbers in pots or boxes put on the top of It. It IS very rarely we can combine the cheapest and the best. Painting a GKEE.MnoesE (A Market Gardener).— \^' ben vour wood is pretty dry, the best thing you can use is anti-coriosion paint, one good coat, ^^hen moist, as you put it on, you might throw on as much dry aand as It would take outside, and your wood would then look like ^tone. It would not be desirable to do the same inside. We have no faith in your several coats of whitewash outside, even though you put glue ia the last coat; and inside it would always be coming off. We question very much il the inside would not be better without anything for a It^V^. ' "" " '" '"'''' f'""" '*>•= ™"'' "1'' painting such woods i« often the best way to rot them. If the anti-corrosion paint is too expensive for the inside, and you dislike the appearance of the wood, we would use -", !l . V "'" fl'^'b-slaked lime in preferenoe to anything else : and If that be too white for the ba k wall, tone it down with blue or lampblack (see "Doings of the Last Week"). To keep out the Iro^t a small iron stove, with a smoke-pipe ihiough the roof, costing altogether about oOj., ought to suit you. It will be best to have the sraoke-pipe from one side, a flat head lor the stove, and then you can have an evaporating- pan on it. ^ Phlox rao.NnoSA (^ Subscrilcr).-^lr. Earlev says that he obtained It of -Messrs Hendtrson & Co, Pine Apple Place, Edgware Road ; but as our correspondent resides in the vicinity of Dublin, we mar add that it is procurable at the Mes,ns. Garaway & Co. Durdbam Down, Bristol. Mr Earley says that rough stones 4 or 0 inches in diameter must be placed ?ll? '"v .°"" "P°" ""' ""face of the freshly-prepared soil, after that a little better prepared soil between and over the stones, the object i-i view bemg to keep them raodeiately dry during the damper winter months, and to admit of the roots running down freely into the small crevices formed by 1 7™"- „"!''"'= '^P^'is planted with it, as before described, should be planted pretty thickly. Flowek Garden Planting (S. B.).-Much of the beauty of such a group will consist in the heights of the bed-, the centre being a dial, with a borderrimnd It, then 4,J leet of grass, and then eight beds, in four crossed Jpair5,thtts-Scarlet Geraniums, blue Lobelia, vellow Calceolaria, Purple ir- ?,. ^f'^S""' 'y''"'^ "'" ^0°^ '■"■>• ^'■'^l'. ™ly the Lobelia-bed must be the height of the others. Then follow 4,} leet of grass, and other eight outer bedsm the circle, being as it were the continuation of the eight Bp.kes of a wheel. These are also planted in pairs; but the singularity of the planting is that these outer beds of the snokes are the same as the inner Beds, only mixed with white. For instance, opposite Scarlet Geraniums we have flower of the Day ; opposite blue Lobelia, bine Lobelia and Alv>sum ; opposite Calceolaria, the same and Cineraria maritima, mixed ; and oi.p..- site Purple King, Purple King again, mixed with Alvssum. No doubt such an arrangement will lo'.k well ; but we hardly see the reason for mawing two rings of beds instead of one for such a style of .hadin" light. Most people would prefer contrasting the colours in the different rings of beds thus-S, blue Lobelia, &c. ; 6, Flower of the Day; 7, Purple King, ic. o, Calceolaria, Ac. j i » i ot , Boiler EranmiHG so Setting.- At page 139 you mention a boiler as aoove in Kent. If your correspondent will communicate with Mr. Weeks n^^l!'"'^'''-'' j"? '""'i!'- Dartford, he will hear of the boilers he wishes for! ™f„=i„", '* ."^ efhcient work in heating cods of pipe in house and the conservatory, whicb stands in an exposed situation. The boiler is not ex- pensive, and was supplied two years since by him.-KmospiELD. ^Zti"'^ .1" P^'^, '■^; Tr;(ter).-It is a subvaiiety of the Lucombe Oak, apparently that called hctcrophylla, which, like most of the others, is nearly Glass-case Heating (J;. M. lr.).-An oil lamp, as vou have found, is not only a troublesome and dirty, but an ineflicient souVce of healing the hot-water tank We employ jets of gas f„r heating a plant case. This is enective ; but if you cannot use gas, employ three or four night lighis, and pst a woollen cover over the case at night. CiNERAniA Skeulixos ( TF. ie/c/mrrf,!on).— They have no merit as exhibi- tion flowers. They are pretty, but we see little difference in them as common pot flowers. Ked-fleshed Pear (Bortm).-ThB only Pear which we remember having red flesh when ripe is the Sanguinole. Names op Plants {A I'oung ffarrfener).— Clematis balearica. IT B ) — 1, Pultensea subumhellata ; 2, Pultecxa stricta apparently ; 3. Convolvulus cneorum ; 4, Hardenbcreia monophylla. (jlf, 7).).-Ornithogalura scilloides. (fr.i/.).— 1, Niphobolus lingua; 2, Gjmnogramma ochracea ; 3, Adiantum pubeecens; 4, Adiantum assimile. U. W. Wills). -So. 1 is Murraya exotica, L., an East Indian plant; but introduced into and common in some 01 the West Indn.n Islands; and No. 2 is Pallurus aculeatus, Lam., one of toe plants to whuh the name •' Christ's Thorn " i- given, from the supnosl- tion that it afforded the "Crown of Thorns." It is a common Mediterranean plant, and in Asia extendi to as far east a> the Punjaub. No doubt its prickly flexlole branches might be easily plaited into a crown ; and us it 16 a common hedge plant in Syria, it was very probably the plant used. The trench call the shrub Porte.iihapeau, from the fruit being hemispherical at iDe base, and expanded at the top Into a broad thin horizontal rim, like a Head with a broad-brimmed hat on (/>. H. 0.).-Thc three leguminous .>.f ""recognisable, and are quite likely to be common Pulses, not TPortb house room. No. 3 is a Cucurbltacea, possibly a .Momordica. Very Ilicly It bears a pretty Gourd like the M. balsamina grown in liolhouacs. POULTRY. BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. MANAGEMENT OF WATER FOWLS. " A Wiltshire Eectoe " has caused me to take pen in liand — words seem to flow so kindly from him that I am disposed to follow liis example, and put some of my expe- riences on paper. I cannot say so much for poultry as he can, his experience therein is far greater than my own, but I can detail that which has been the source of great enjoy- ment to me, and which stiU retains its charm after years of experience. I also feel how much of pleasure there may be if we all communicate through your paper, one to the other, our enjoyments and our experiences in these interesting and simple amusements. My hobby for a long time .has been Water Fowl ; and as I believe many persons who have the same taste are prevented ii-om indulging in it by the idea that it must involve a great expense, I have determined to note down my proceedings. Neither a lake nor a river is required, nor a very largo nor deep pond. I have in my garden a piece of water about 14 yards long by -1 broad. When I first took to WUd Fowl, it had sloping grass banks on evex'y side. The consequence was, my Ducks were often drowned. It may sound strange to drown a Duck, and still more so to drown one in such a small pond, but a Duck will drown as readdy as a fowl under certain circumstances ; and as I wish to put my ideas in a friendly and chatty way before my readers, I may as well give my theory as I go. Ducks swim so long as the outer feathers are firm, close, and weU oiled. The do-svn between the feather and the skin remains dry, warm, and light ; but when from any cause this down becomes wet, cold, and heavy, the bird does not sink, but is like a water-logged vessel — it floats about on the water, getting gradually deeper and deeper in it, till at last its head droops under the surface, and the body floats about with just the back above the water. I am quite unable to give any guess at the age of Ducks, or the period in their lives when it may be said of them " It cannot be expected they should last much longer." They are gifted with tolerable longevity. I know an instance of a pair of Dun buds breeding after being fifteen years on a piece of water. Of course they die sometimes of disease or of old age, but with painstaking death wDl seldom occur. They sometimes quarrel, and then the beaten bii-d gets drowned unless it can escape. It cannot if the banks ai-e steep or beetling: every time the beaten bird tries to escape to land, which it always seeks to do, the victor pursues it and puUs it down. An oirtlet must be provided, and the proper way is to cut ttt each side of the pond, through the bank, a slant that comes rather below the level of the water at its end. This will form a shallow 2 or 3 feet in length, and any bird by its means can readily leave the water. If, further, it is well gravelled it forms a scour, very useful as a feeding- place. If Ducks are fed in deep water much of the food is lost by sinking to the bottom. — B. (To he continued.) A LAST WORD ON THE BIRMINGHAM DIFFICULTY. As I was the first, at all events without a nom de guerre, to write to you about the Bu'mingham difficulty, I am en- titled to a last word. Mr. J. H. Smith, one of the Judges at Bii-mingham, has with a certain amount of self-complacency oft'ered to assist at the " funeral obsequies " of this protracted discussion, and he alfixes this epitaph, •' Parturiunt jiiontes, nasdtur ridicuhis mus." If Mr. Smith had left the matter here, I might have been content to bury the discussion, although I disagree with him ou many points; but in the following Number he disintered the poor mouse and gave it another tossing. The result of the inquu'y has been far from satis- factory I confess, but the question which is involved in it, and which by a consequence is assaOed in the sneer implied by this quotation, is neither ridiculous nor small. If Mr. Smith thinks the quotation is applicable to the result, he is taking advantage of honesty foiled by knavery ; if he thinks rebruavy23. 1864.] JOUENAIi OP HOETICTJLTTJKE A3SD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 161 it is applicable to the question at issue, I have nothiug more to say to him either as a judge or in any other capacity. As I understand the matter, the question is between Mr. Hindson, Mr. Williams, and the public, and except by a generous but not successful interference Mr. Smith has nothing to do with it. Whatever may be allowed in some shows with regard to hiring and boiTowing fowls for exhibition, I, for one, protest against it, and will never enter a bird that is not bonAJide my own property. Poultry exhibitions, 1 presume, should be of birds and not of purses, of stiU and not of pay. l fear that the groans now nearly forgotten of your corre- spondent " Small Fry," with regard to the almost hopeless chance of small exhibitors, have more of truth than he got credit for. Mr. Smith's last letter contains another sneer and as many anomalies as his other communications. He is not an able counsel, and would if possible damage his cause. I must apply to him the " short and homely " words used by Lord Derby the other day on our foreign policy, for the whole of Mr. Smith's correspondence may be summed up in the words "meddle and muddle." Let the matter now be buried as Mr. Smith wished, but without his epitaph, for no amount of writing will clear up this questionable transaction ; and nothing will satisfy the public but that the facts of Williams v. Hindson be made clear to them by the Birmingham Committee, and that a direct answer be given to the question put some time since, "Whether collectively or individually they broke faith in the matter of the Birmingham ten-shilling day." — Geobge Manning. Many besides myself, I daresay, have made the discovery that it is much easier to enter into a controversy than to get out of it again. The first step is clearly the "facilis descensus Averni," and the difficulty of extrication is hardly too forcibly expressed by " vestigia nulla retrorsum." I thought nothing would have induced me to trouble you with another word; but the letter of Mr. Hewitt, in your Journal last week, seems to charge me with an unjustifiable misconstruction of some remai-ks of his, to which I referred in my last commiiuication. Now, nothmg could possibly be more remote from my wishes than any such intention as this. Even if Mr. Hewitt can give me credit for no better motives than those which spring ii-om ordinary prudence, he must see from the part I took in the recent controversy, that I could have no desire, needlessly, to attach the weight of his name and position to the insinuations which I thought his words convej'ed. The remarks which are the origin of this misunderstand- ing occur in the concluding paragraphs of a recent communi- cation of Mr. Hewitt's on the marking of Game fowls. I read them with pain and regi-et, believing they were cal- culated to suggest the inference of which I complained. But I admit Mr. Hewitt's right to be the interpreter of his own language and intentions ; and as I understand him to repudiate all intention to suggest the inference I referred to, I gladly accept his disavowal as perfectly conclusive, and, had I known of it before, the remarks which seem to have annoyed him would not have been written. Under other circumstances I might myself have had some eomplaints to make against Mr. Hewitt's letter; but as it was evidently written under feelings of resentment, I will console myself by the reflection that the words of an angry man aie generally worse than his thoughts. — J. H. Smith. New Varieties of Pigeons. — In a recent Number of The JouBNAL OP HoBTicuLTUEE I noticed the names Satinettes, Brunswicks, and Icelanders. May I again ask the breeders or exhibitors of these Pigeons for a description of them ? as I do not know- any varieties by those titles, and am in ignorance if they are really new varieties or only old friends with fresh names. May I again repeat my request for an account of those Pigeons called Neapolitans ? Aid if any of your numerous readers can help me to any information respecting the Indian Lowtan or Ground Tumbler, or what sort it is that the natives of India use for high-flying, it will much oblige. — B. P. Bkent. BIEMINGHAM DISQUALIFICATIONS. TEIMMING GAME FOWLS. I HAVE been expecting some of your contributors to notice Mr. Smith's defence of his colleague, Mr. Hindson, as to his having at some shows exhibited borrowed birds as his own. What°are we to expect now when a Judge positively iipholds such a practice ? How is the honest exhibitor to act ? _ To me it appears simply an act of extreme dishonesty— acting, in fact, a lie — giving the prizes as a premium for the sharpest practice. If such dishonesty is sanctioned by the promoters of shows, there is an end to one of the great pleasures of winning — viz., knowing that they are your own birds. Somewhat bordering on dishonesty, " Our Letter Box '' of February 9th contained a reply to "C. C." on trimming Game cocks that perfectly staggered me. I can understand that it may be quite fair to pull out a single stray feather, but that " the removal of every feather and hair from the crown and face is very desirable," and, according to your reply, quite " legitimate," distances me. To this I would siniply say. If this is allowable in Game, why disqualify, as has been done for the same amount of trimmino-, nay, a less amount, in Spanish, where such a clean look is equaUy desirable ? Allow it in Game, and the equity of refusing it to other breeds is certainly questionable. I apprehend the process to the poor fowls is none the plea- santer because sanctioned by authority ; and if some strains are finer in the feather, and, therefore, better, it is depriving them of an advantage in the competition which they enjoy- naturally, and for which they ought to receive a certain amount of favour in the eyes of the Judge.— Y. B. A. Z. [Game cocks are an exception to the rule forbidding trim- ming. They are to be exhibited in the condition they would be if intended to contend in the cock-pit : hence the comb is dubbed, and all superfluous hau-s, &c., removed from the head.] IMPEOVEMEjSTTS IN POULTEY SHOWS. Several letters have lately appeared in your pages sug- gesting improvements and reforms in the poultry world, and some with special reference to exhibitions. Amongst others " Egomet," "Y. B. A. Z.," and "A Compilek of THE Daklinoton SCHEDULE " will havB done somethmg to- wards rousing exhibitors from the state of apathy in which they have lately been sunk respecting the management, or, rather, mismanagement, of these pleasant reunions, and in- ducing them to adont some decided measures in order that they may be placed upon a proper footing. My object is to offer a few suggestions in this direction, and to pomt out what my own experience has taught me are great obstacles to the extension and success of exhibitions, which are even at present a source of recreation and pleasure to many thou- sands of people, both exhibitors and visitors. In the first place, I quite agree with your Darlington cor- respondent as to the necessity of fixing the amount of en- trance fees with some reference to the amount of prizes offered. A case in point may be taken from the schedule of the last Birmingham Show. I might have made four entries in classes 1, 2, 7, and 8, the expense being ^1 for the subscription and 10s. entrance fees ; I might also have made entries in classes 33, 34, 39, and 40 at the same outlay; but in the first case prizes to the amount of £20 might have been won by my fowls, while in the latter the four first prizes only amount to £8. In one case the total amount of prizes offered in the four classes was dS52, and in the other .£12. I would also suggest that either higher prizes should be offered for Pigeons in proportion to those for fowls.or lower entrance fees demanded. This is always an attractive branch of an exhibition, and I am certain entries would be astonishingly multiplied if fees were reduced, even although the prizes were smaller. Offering three prizes at least in each class, and more whenever possible, would be a step in the right direction. On looking over some recent prize lists I find that two prizes in each class are a general rule, and in many classes only one is offered. I think it would be much better policy instead of £1 and 10s. to say 15s., 10s., and 5s., though I would prefer adding 5s. to the entire amount, and making the first prize never less than £1. liB2 JOtJKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE Am) COTTAGE QAHDENEE. [ Febniaty 23, 1SC4. The system of excluding all but annual Bubsoiibers from the Birmingham Show, and I believe others, is a bad one. Eveiy effort should be made to extend and not to limit com- petition. Many hundreds of working men are possessed of a few fine and well-bred fowls , and Pigeons, their names may frequently be found amongst the prizetakers at the local shows, and they are often desirous of entering for higher honours in the feathered kingdom. Suppose the case of a poor man who has a pair of Baldpates or Jacobins, which he believes to be the most perfect birds of the kind in the kingdom. His fi-iends are of the same opinion, but " to make assurance doubly sure," he is advised to send his household pets to Birmingham. Not being able to raise " the needful," his friends offer to pay the entrance fee, which they suppose wOl be about double the Is. 6cl. paid for the same birds at their own Show, or, as Birmingham is such a great Show, possibly it may be 5s. This and carriage they will struggle hard to raise ; but on inquiry their hopes are dashed to the ground by the receipt of the following inti- mation:— "14, None but donors, or subscribers of notless than ^1 per anumn will be entitled to compete for prizes. Exhi- bitors, in addition to their donation or subscription, will be charged 2s. 6d. for each pen of poultry, and 2s. 6cZ. for each pen of Pigeons. Exhibitors may enter as many pens of fowls or Pigeons as they wish, paying a subscription of £1 for each four pens of fowls, and ^1 for each six pens of Pigeons in addition to the entrance fees." His birds are thus at once excluded from the competition, and his disappoint- ment is none the less because he is told subscribers are sup- plied with free tickets of admission ; for he is quite as Ukely to take a trip in Mr. CoxweU's balloon as to travel from Lancashire to the Birmingham Poultry Show, however much he might long for such a treat. One case in point will illustrate, perhaps, stOl better how this rule works as far as Pigeons are concerned. A friend of mine, who has been tolerably successful at various pro- vincial exhibitions, was desirous that his stock should have the opportunity of trying conclusions with the best bii-ds at the last Birmingham Show. He thought of sending eight pens of Pigeons, and, of ooui-se, was quite wUling, in addi- tion to extra cost of carriage, &c., to pay a higher entrance fee than usual. Fancy his surprise on being informed that he must pay .£3 for the privilege of sending his bii-ds ! or at the rate of 7s. 6d. per pair. If the object is to exclude all small exhibitors, and confine the entries at the great Show of the year to great people and owners of long purses, it answers its purpose admh-ably, and nothing more can be said; but if entries of good birds, whether the property of rich or poor, is the object in view, some other plan must be adopted than that of compeUing the latter to pay 22s. for a single entry. Why not simply fix a certain amount to be paid for each entry without any subscription ? Many owners of poulti^ and Pigeons never enter their birds for exhibition, because they have not confidence in the Judges and judging, and this feeling largely prevails amongst those who do exhibit. It is seen that men of no note or standing in poultry matters beyond their own limited circle are appointed Judges. Decisions as opposite as light and darkness are given within a week respecting the same birds. Thei-e are plenty of well-known men thoroughly qualified to act as Judges, who are known and respected from one end of the kingdom to the other, and on whose upright and impartial discharge of their duties exhibitors and owners could place perfect reliance. The engagement of first-class Judges, even at an increased cost, and the announcement of their names along with the schedule of prizes, would soon effect a large increase in the number of entries, and bring many new competitors into the field. Owners would then see who were to decide on the merits of then' birds, and would not hesitate about entering them, knowing that these men are free from any influence but one — an earnest deter- mination that the best b.'rds shall win. There is one drawback to the success and increase of poultry shows in the high rate of railway carriage. If some united effort were made, I think the leading railway com- panies might be induced to undertake to carry all fowls, &c., sent for exhibition, for a single fare, to and from the nearest station, as is occasionally done on some lines at present. If a general adoption of this rule cannot be secm-ed, an active, energetic, and working Committee may often arrange with the railway company to grant it in their individual case, and so greatly increase the success of their show. The mention of such a Committee reminds me that more care in the selection of committeemen would be an advantage to all pai-ties concerned. The best men for the work, and who are ^villing to do the work, whether fanciers or not, should be appointed on committees, and their names laid before the public, as a guarantee of their responsibility and bona fides. — Cheshibe. CAUTION TO POULTEY-FAJSrCIEES. Last "Wednesday a person called upon me, representing himself to be Mr. Samuel Shaw, of Staindand, and endea- voured to obtain poultry on credit, and wanted to exchange some birds, which he promised to send; but would have taken mine along with him if I would have allowed him. When he was going away he wanted to borrow money, say- ing that he had no change, and nothing but a note and a cheque. I have since seen Mr. Shaw, who informs me that his name is Henry Carter, of Holmfirth, nephew to the exhibitor of the same name. In appearance he is rather stout, with sandy hair and whiskers ; he wears a plaid cap and trousers and brown coat, and takes snuff. Height about 5 feet 9 inches. — Chas. LiSTEE, Braclien Rill, Mirfield. CEYSTAL PALACE BIED SHOW. It is again our pleasing duty to record the success of one of the most interesting of Exhibitions — viz., the Crystal Palace Show of British and Foreign Birds, which was thrown open to the public on Tuesday, the 16th inst. When the inclemency of the season is taken into con- sideration we think that the Directors cannot be otherwise than gratified at having had a fine collection. That this Show probably is second to none in the kingdom there can be no doubt, and we are glad to find that the untu-- ing exertions of those on whom the arrangements and carry- ing out of the undertaking depended have been crowned with success. The number and excellence of the specimens ex- hibited proved that the interest taken in this annual Exhi- bition had not abated since the last display. The goodly con- dition of the representatives of our delightful little songsters could not but have beeu pleasing to those who admire them. The British birds were more numerous and in finer feather and condition than on any previous occasion. The Black- birds, Thrushes, Robins, Bullfinches, and Goldfinches fai- sui-passed those exhibited at any former Show, and were also very superior classes. Among the British birds we noticed very imusual varieties of the Lark, the Linnet, and the StarUnsc, the latter having a white throat. The Pore'ign birds were not so strongly represented this time, but were nevertheless vei-y fine in feather. A most exquisite specimen of the Blue Mountain Parrot was shown, and which deservedly obtained a first prize. Among the birds which were not for competition we noticed two most superb specimens, called the Minor or Indian Crackle, which has the extraordinaiy power of imitating the human voice, excelling all other birds in that respect. They belonged to Colonel Abbott. The Canaries were very beautifal and of excellent quality. The Lizard variety was very fine, as also that of the Varie- gated Norwich. The Goldfinch Mules, too, were all that one could wish. Among the latter was an extraordinai-y specimen — black, with dark green wings. The arrantremeut of the classes was admirably performed, and the parties on whom this duty devolved well deserve the thanks of the Judges. The following is the list of awards : — NiiRWicn (Clear Vellow).— First and Third W., Walter, Hide Street, Winchester. Second and Extra, K. WlUis, St. JMarlin's-ot-OaU, Norwich. Very Highly Coraraeniied, W. Waller; J. W. Price, Wilmot Btiect, Derby j J. Judd, NeninKton Kond, Surrey. Highly Commended, J. Ilanisoii, St. George's Street, Canterbury; W. Barnes, Cannon Street, London ; .1. Judd^ J. Pullen, Club How, Shorcilltch; U. Macklcy, Inllrninry Road, Korwlch. Commended, G.J. Ayie, Olive Street, Sunderland; R. Maekley, Norwich, Ol'he whole class commendable.) February 23, 1664. ] JOUBNAi OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 163 Norwich (Clear Yellow).— First and Extra, F. Willis, Norwick. SecoDd, *fi.. Maokley, Morwich. Veiy Highly Commended, W. Walter, Wincheeter; J. PuUen, Shoreditch, Higlily Commended, W. Walter; G. Harrison; J. Judd. Commended, J. W. Price, Derby. (A good cluas ) Norwich (Variegated or Marked).— First, W. Walter, Winchester. Second, J. Webster, Magdalen Street, Norwich. Very Highly Commended, C. J. Ayre, Sunderland; K. Maokley, Norwich. Highly Commended, W. Walter, Winchester; J. Judd, Newiiigton Road. Commended, J. W, Price, Derby ; F. Willis, Norwich ; J. Judd, Newingion Road. Norwich (Crested or any other Variety).— First, T. Banfather, St. Martin's-at-Oak. Second, J. Reeks, Crosby Kow, Walworth Uoad. Very Highly Commended, J. Keeka; T. Eanlather; R. Mackley. Highly Com- mended, J. Keeks; J. Judd. Commended, K. Mackley. Belgian (Clear Yellow).— First, W. Williams, Nottingham. Second, G. J, Barnesby, Abbey Street, Derby. Third, H. Marshall, Sand's House, near Durham. Very Highly Coraoaended, J. Lingard, Oid Street, Ashtou- uuder-Lyne; G. Harding, Oldham Koad, Ashton-under-Lyne. Highly Commended, T. Roper, Vine Terrace, York Road, Lambeth ; C. Pinchen, Munor PJace, Bucklund, Poitsmouth. Commended, G. Nicholson, Fareham. Belgian (Clear Buff). —First, T. Roper, Lambeth. (An extraordinary bird.) Second, W. Phillips, Old Basford, near Nottingham. Very Highly ComiKended, J. T. Wilson, Bristol. Highly Commended, G. Harding. Belgian (Varitgated or Marked).— First, W. Phillips, Old Basford. Second, W. Williams, Nottingliam. Third, H. Miirshall, Sand's House, near Durham. Commended, O. Nicholson, Fareham. Belgian (Buff, Variegated, or Marked).— First, W. Phillips, Old Basford. Second, W. Wiliiame, Nottingham. Very Highly Commended, 0. Nichol- son, Fareham. Commended, J. Bundey, Upper Whurf, Fareham. Belgian (Crested or any other vaiieLyj.— First, J. Lingard, Ashton- under-Lyne. aecoud, W. Phillips, Nottingham. (Class inferior.) London Fancy (Junque).— First and Second, J. Waller, Taburnacle Walk, Finsbury. Very Highly Commended, W. Arthur, York Road, King's Cross. London Fancy (Mealyj.— First, W, Arthur, York Road, King's Cross. Second, J. Waher, Tabernacle Walk, Finsbury. Very Highly Commended, W. Arthur; J. Waller. Highly Commended, J. Waller. German (or any other variety except Norwich or Belgian).— Fiist and Second, T, Newmarch, Old Street Koad, London. Highly Commended, J. PuUen, Shoreditch; T. Newmavcli. Commended, T. Newmarch. Lizard (Golden-spangled).— First, J. Tarr, ThoiuhiU Place, Caledonian Koad, Islington. Second, W. Phillips, Old B.tshlord, Nottingham. Third, J. W. Price, Derby. Very Highly Commended, J. W. Price; J. WalK-r, Finsbury. Pligbly Commended, W. Williams, Nottingham; C. R. Baker, Spring Street, Landport ; W. De Blaquire, Lansdowne Place West, Bath ; J.Waller; L. Buxton, Sadler Gate, Derby; F. W. Fairbrass, Canterbury ; C- J. Ayre, Sunderlar-d. Commended, H. Marshall, Sand's House, near Durham; J. Tarr; J. Waller; F. W. Fairbrass. (Very superior class.) Li2AUD (.Silver-spangled). — First, T. G. Hall, Bashlord, Nottingham. Second, W. De Blaquire, Lansdowne Pl-ice West, B.-:th. Very Highly Com- mended, J. Lingard, Ashton-uuder-Lyne ; J. Waller, Finsbury ; T. G.Hall. Highly Commended, J. W. Price, Derby; W. Williams, Nottingham; VV. Smith, Star Street, Paddiugton ; J. PuUen, Shoreditch ; F. W. Fail-brass, Ganterbuiy. Goldfinch MnLE(Jonque). — First, G. J. Barnesby, Abbey Street. Derby. Second, G. Crocker, Queeu Street, Plymouth. Extra, W, H. Morgan, Lockyer Terrace, Plymouth. Very Higlily Commended, W. Walter, Win- chester ; C. J. Ayre, Sunderland ; T. G. Hall, Basford, Nottingham. Highly Commended, J. Doel, Union Arcade, Plymouth. CommtnJed, T. New- march, Old Street Road, London. Goldfinch Mules (Mealy). — First and Second, W. L. Chapman, Abingdon Terrace, Northampton. Extra, J. Doel, Uniou Arcade, Plymouth. Very Highly Commended, F. Hook, Amelia Street, Walworth Itoad; G. J. Barnesby, Abbey Street, Derby ; H. Marshall, Sand's House, near Durham ; W. Waller. Highly Commended, F. Hook. Canary Mules tAny other variety).— First, H. Marshall, Sand's House, near Durham. Second, R. Newmarch, Old Street Koad, London. Very Highly Commended, J. Lingard, Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne ; H. Mar- shall. Comoiended, J. Judd, Newington Road ; J. Lingard. BRITISH BIRDS. Bullfimcbes. — Prize, J. Judd, iSewington Road. Extra, Miss C. Nichol- flOH, West Street, Fareham. Very Highly Commended, A. P. Nicholson, West Street, Fareham; T. Nfewmarch, Old Siieet Road, London. Highly Commended, J. Judd ; W. Walter, Winchester; J. Palmer, Penge. (Avery fine class.) Chaffinches.— Prize, Miss A. Nicholson, Portland Street, Fareham. Highly Commended, A. Herbert; Miss M. Simmonds, Chilcouib Rectory, Winchester; J. Crew, Plumstead. Goldfinches.— Prize, T. G. Hall, Basford, Nottingham. Extra, G. Harding, Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne. Very Highly Commended, J. Judd, Newington Road ; F. T. Smith, jun., Dulwich; J. Crew, Plumstead. Highly Commended, J. Judd; H. Marshall, Sand's House, nea- Dui'ham; J. fage, Upper Norwood; J. Palmer, Penge. (A. very hne class.) Linnets.— Prixe, J. Judd, Newington Road. Extra, J. Waller, Finsbury. Very Highly Commended, H. V. Reid, Ewell; H. Jerrom, Upper Norwood. Highly Commended, J. Judd ; Mrs. J. Chinery, Wooton, Hants. Skylae.e,s.— Prize, J. Judd, Newington Koad. Highly Commended, W. Walter, Hide Street. Winchester. Wo ODLAEKs.— Prize, J. Judd, Newington Road. Highly Commended, AV. Walter, Winchester. Robins.— Prize and Highly Commended, J. Crew, Plumstead. Highly Commended, A. P. Nicholson, West Street, Fareham. BLACKBiEDS.—Prize, W. Newman, Crystal Palace Hotel, Upper Norwood. Extra, C. W. Wass, Upper Norwood. Highly Commended, W. Walter, Winchester ; E. P. Cuddon, Cadogan Terrace, Chelsea. SoNuTHE,osuEe.— Prize, R. Simpson, Lungham Place Soutk, Camberwell New Road. Extra, E. Body, High Street, Portsmouth. Very Highly Com- mended, J. Gordon, Anerley ; W. Smiih ; Master C. E. Hutt. Highly Commended, T. Simmonds, West Street, Fareliara. Thrushes (Any other variety).— Prize, W. Walter, Winchester. Starlings. — Prize, J. Judd, Newington Koad. Highly Commended, W. Eicknell, Ebury Street, Belgravia ; Miss L. Fisher, Ravencrolt Lodge, PepsQ; J- Judd. Magpies. — Prize, A.Herbert, Hamlet Road, Norwood. Jackdaws.— Prize, J. Mitchell, Gipsy Hill. Any other vasiexy of Biutish Cirds.— Prize, H. Marshall, Sand's House, near Durham(Piea Lark). Extra, J. Palmer, Heath Tei race, Peuge (Bramblefinch). Very Highly Commended, W. Waiter. Highly Com- mended, Mias A. Nicholson, Portland Street, Fareham (Redpole) ; F. P. Cuddon, Chelsea (Mountain or Bramblefinch}; S. P. & H. Wilkinson, ham Park (Ring Doves) ; J. Palmer, Penge (Kestrel Hawk). H\BiiiDs on Mules, kxcepx CANAiUKy.— Prize, J. CoUings, Union Street, Borough. (Aviary of twenty birds.) BIRDS OF PASSAGE AND MIGRATORY BIRDS. NiGnTiNQALES,- Prize, R. Wing, Price's Buildings, Borough. Siskin or Abekdevine.— Prize and Very Highly Commended, J. Judd, Newington Road. Very Highly Commended, W. Walter, Winchester. Highly Commended, R. Simpson, Camberwell ; W, L. Chapman, Abingdon Terrace, Northampton. Titlark or Trre Pipit.— Prize, J. Judd, Newington Road. Any other Variety.— Prizeand Highly Commended, C. L. Sutherland. Coombe Croydon (Cross between Migratory Turtle Dove and Collared Turtle Dove, Migratory Stock Dove). FOREIGN BIRDS. Cockatoos. — Prize, Mra. Emm, Queen's Arms, Watford Station. Second, J. Judd, Newington Road : (Leadbeater). Very Highly Commended, Mts. A. Massey, Church Roud, Upper Norwood (Australian Koae). Grey Parrots.— First, Mrs. Stathani, X'enge. Second, J. Lingard. Any other Vakiett except Greys.— First, W. H. Westbrook, Upper Norwood. St'cond, H. H. Wilkinson, Sydenham Park. Third,.J. Judd, Newington Road, Surrey. Love Birds.— Prize, J. Judd, Newington Road, Surrey. Australian.- Piize, J. Waller, Finsbury. Very Highly Commended, J. Judd ; W. Turquand, Upper Brook Street. Highly Commended, T. New- march, Old Street Road. Bengal.— Prize, Hon. F. G. Dutton, St. James's Place. Very Highly Commended, F. T. Smith, jun., Dulwich. Highly Co-nmended, J.Rose, King Pakrots.— Prize, Mrs. H. Cooper, New Wandsworth. Pennant's Parakeets.— Prize, Captain Payne, R.N., Upper Norwood. Very Highly Commended, J. Judd. Newington Road. Rosehill Parakeets.— Prize, J. Potter, Bermondsey. CoctCATEALs.— Prize, J. Judd. Highly Commended, T. Newmarch. Coral-nkcked Sparrows.— Prize, J. Judd. Very Highly Commended, T. Newmarch. Java Sparrows.— Prize, R. Mackley, Norwich. Very Highly Com- mended, J. Potter, Bermondsey. Indigo Blde Birds.— Prize, J. Judd, Newington Road. Any Variety of Waxbills except Zebras.— Prize, W. Walter, Hyde Street, Winchester. Highly Commended, J. Rose, Norwich. Any Variety of Foreign Birds.— First, J. Turquand, Upper Brook Street. Second, W. Walter, Winchester. Third, J. Judd, Newington Road. Very Highly Commended, W. Turquand; W. Walter; T. Newmarch. Group of Foreign Birds in One Cage or Aviary.— Prize, T. New- march, Old Street Road. Judges.— Canaries— Mr. T. Moore, and Mr. A. "WiUinore. British and Foreign Birds — Mr. W. Groodwin. FOUL BEOOD. My experience of this disease was detailed at length, in The Journal or Horticulttjke of the 21st July last, and following Numbers. I have, however, much pleasure in communicating the following additional particulars in reply- to queries which have since been submitted to me by dif- ferent correspondents. Its appeai-ance in my apiary dates only from the com- mencement of the breeding season in 1863, from which time the disease continued in some of my hives until breeding ceased in the autumn. I use only Woodbm-y frame-hives, and small bar-boxes for queen-rearing in the season. The latter are made entirely of unpainted wood ; of the former some are wood (unpainted) and some straw, both kinds being protected by painted wooden roofs and outside cases. All have sufTered equally, whether old stocks or swarms, whilst some of the diseased combs which infected my apiary were taken out of a common straw skep. I am as unable to suggest a cause for the origin of foul brood among bees as I should be to tell how smallpox first originated in the human subject. So fai- as I can at present judge, its outbreak and diffusion appear to depend upon some specific contagion by which the bees, combs, propolis, or honey from a diseased stock, or the hive which it has occupied, may infect any number of others. Using only moveable-comb-hives I never resort to driving in my apiary, and I am quite satisfied that artificialising had nothing to do with the fii-st outbreak of the disease, although it had the most pernicious effect afterwards in spreading it with preternatm-al celerity to every stock I possessed (about twenty) before I discovered what was really the matter with them. The disease was propagated as rapidly among my Ligurians as among common bees — in strong stocks as in weak ones. My opinion that one foul cell would infect a whole hive and ultimately cause its entire ruin, is founded on observa- tion of what takes place when infected bees are transferred from their old hive, and compeUed to form new combs in a m, JOTJEITAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Febraary 23, isei. pure habitation without the requisite intervention of several days of what has heen termed " penal discipline and in- anity" in an intermediate-hive. As brood is reared in the new combs, nearly all hatch out at first, with the ex- ception of perhaps a few isolated cells; but this is quite sufficient — every foul cell remains foul, the infection spreads, and in course of time the new combs become as bad as the old ones. The insidious manner in which this fatal disease reappears is well calculated to baffle and deceive any but the most practised observer. In fact, I have myself been more than once deluded m this way, and I regret to say that my friend, " A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper," paid the penalty of one of my mistakes by receiving a second liigurian stock which I beUeved at the time to have been perfectly cured ; but in which, as it turned out, the fatal virus had not been entirely eratlicated. These bees had been transferred from their own to a hive of perfectly healthy oombs and brood, but without what I afterwards found to be the essentially necessary intervention of several daj's probation in an intermediate-hive. It really requires an education of the eye to detect the fii'st faint symptoms of the plague, which is thus merelj' delayed, not stayed alto- gether, whilst the activity and apparent prosperity of the doomed stock under these circumstances are often such as to render it apparently incredible that " The fell disease which must 8Ubdue at length, Grows with its growth, and strengthens with its strength." On these facts and on these observations is founded my conviction that a single foul cell is sufficient in the long run to destroy the strongest stock of bees. The stock which our Renfrewshire friend handed over to his neighbour on its return from Exeter, was so reduced in numbers from the want of a queen, combined with the fatal effect of the disease upon the brood, that I doubt if it would have ralUed after, even if it had survived, the severe treat- ment which alone offered any chance of a permanent cvire, since I have proved beyond question that, at any rate in con- firmed cases (and these are all which I have had to deal with since I knew what was really the matter), simple excision of the whole of the combs and removing the bees into a clean hive is but a temporary palliative, and is powerless to do more than delay the iinal catastrophe. In two instances which have come to my knowledge — one, that of "G. F. B.," related in page 181 of the last volume of The Journal of HoBTicuLTtTRE, and the other, that of " A Renfrewshire Bee-keeper," recently detailed in its pages — the distemper spread to neighbouring hives, from a single infected colony sent in ignorance from my apiai'y. The queen and bees of an infected stock do not appear in any way diseased. The fii'st pursues her duty of oviposition to the very utmost of her power, often trespassing in her extremity on those parts of the combs which in a healthy colony are solely appropriated to storing honey ; the latter work in all respects as diligently as others, and when strong in numbers carry in as much jiollen as a healthy colony. My opinion, therefore, is that/ottl brood is not a disease of the tees hut of the irood. Adult bees merely act as vehicles for the contagion. If they can be thoroughly treed from it and compelled to make new combs in a pure hive, the malady is at an end, unless the infection be again imported from some diseased stock. — A Devonshire Bee-keeper. SUPEEING STOCKS— AUTUMN-VL FEEDIIS^G. Last spring I bought two swarms, and on September 1st they weighed 30 lbs. and 28 lbs. respectively, and now they are strong and healthy. As they are common straw hives can I allow each to swarm once, then cut a hole in the top, and put a glass on ? or shoidd I cut a hole at once, and put a glass on ? Supposing I did the latter, would it prevent my having a swarm ? Is it always necessary to feed a stock in one of Neighbour's improved cottage-hives during the autumn ? — Dumpling. [If you allow your stocks to swarm there is little chance of their filling supers afterwards. A glass capable of con- taining only from 5 to 8 lbs. if put on in April will not pre- vent, and probably not even delay, the issue of a swarm. The necessity for autumnal feeding depends upon the stock of food within the hive, not upon its construction. Other things being equal therefore, bees domiciled in one of Neigh- bour's improved cottage-hives are not more likely than others to require feeding during autumn.] OUE LETTEE BOX. BRBr.DiNG Cochin Chinas (Cochin). — Breed your ch'.ckens in April or Hay, if you want large birds, and do not spare the load when they are young. We believe Mr. Daily thinks rain water produces gapes in chbkenu. Mating Gauk Fowls. — Spdrs of Dorkings {Amateur j. dilute a brown hen, with lij^hter breast, and yellow striped hackle, with your dark red, blaek-breasted Game cock. It is not necessary that a Darkins pullet should have spurs; but thev ofien have them, even when rery young, and it is nj disqualitieation. It need not even be a disadvautagc. Newly-laid Eggs MusTY-FLAvouurD (G. C). — Eggs are not naturally mu.sly, nor is it possible they can be ; but they will take before they are laid t'he flavour of any particular food. Thus, if a hen be ted en onions or malt, in both cases the egRswiU have an obnoxious taste. If, when they are first laid, and while the shell is eoft, they are laid in anything atrong- smelling, they will acquire that smell or taste. As such ire not natural, you must seek the cause, and remove it if it is a local one. Whitk Powder ok Cochin-Chinas' Legs [Q.aero). — The appe:vrance you mention is not uncommon in old birds, but it is seldom met with in young ones. We have never teen it in a bird less than eighteen months old. We have washed with soap and warm water, and rubbed with sulphur ointment succeBsfully. As the cuticle of the legs is similarly affected in all old birds, and the di-ease seems to increase according to age, we attribute it to deficient circulation. Keaking Early Dorking Chickens [H. F. Tr.).— We arc not friendly to stoves or hot-water pipes for chickens. We will endeavour to tell jou what you should do to rear chickens at ihis time of the year. You should let the hen and chickens be under the rip or coop, iu a sheltered place on the ground, but the ground should be covered with dry dust. There should also be plenty of dust outside far the chickens. No du-t is so good as that which is found under a hayrick, as it is mixed with sec-s. The hen should never be at liberty at this time of year. The rip should be carefully covered up at night. The chickens should be fed the very last thing at night, and if by candlelight afterwards so much the betttr ; and. above all, at day- break. They must be fed as soon as it is light enough for them to see to eat. Their food should be ground oats, mixed with milk, bread and milk, bread and beer, chopped egg, and cooked muat, especially fat, chopped very fine. The rip should be day and night so placed as to be protected from. draughts. They must have dust to keep themselves free trom parasites, of which many chickens die. The hen sliould be fed as well as the chickens, and allowed to eat as much as she will, because, during these long winter nights, everything depends on the warmth of her body, and that depends on her food. The chickens should have beer to drink instead of water, and be constantly fed a Utile at a time. This system will rear chickens. Dorkings [A. N. /f.).— Yon may safely let the hens from which the feathers were taken run together. There is only a shade of difference between them, and both are Grey Dorkings. You will llnd it difficult to breed them niuch more alike; and if both run with the same c.ick you will not, if you have only colour for a guide, know one brood from the other. Quantity of Food ( Waste A'oO.— Two-thirds of a gallon of com should last a fowl seven days in confinement, but if at liberty lees would do. It is difficult to lay down any rule. A fowl fresh from a hungry walk would eat more, and one from a pel run would eat less. The above should be the maxi- mum average, and if other things are given the corn should bo decreased. WooDBURY-HivEs ( Bi/icf/). — The queen bee is visible at all times on looking over the combs of a Woodbury Irame-hive. Messrs, Neighboui- and Sor-s, 149, Regtnt Street, and 127, Holborn, manufacture these, and all other kinds of hives, and will give all particulars as to price, Ac, o» application. Payne's improved cottage-hive is one of the cheapest and best for ordinary purposes. Oat-cri;suing Machine (F—d).— Apply to Messrs. Dray & Co., London Bridge. Death of Game Pullet {Cecil).— V^'e ghould think it was not death from paralysis or apoplexy ; but as you did not open the head we cannot be certain, the clots of blood outside the breast were enough to cause death, and we do not think anv tieatment could have eaved the bird's llTe. ANbALU'^iAN Rabbits ( /'. Fad*).— We do not know who has any for sale. You had better advertise, stating how many you require. West Cdmukrland Poultry Show {U. A. if.).— We do not know any- thing about this show. Poultry Book with Coi.oored Platks {O. BroHvie).— You can have a copy at our oftice for 25*., of Johnson & Wingfields' Poultry Uook. Ic is out of print and scarce. There is no periodical such as you name. Extra Prize foii Partrihgk Cocuin-Chinas {Fluffy). — You will see by an adverli.-eroent in our columns to-day that the subscription closes on the 1st of March. Artificial Hatching [R K.). — We know of no establishment for hatch- ing, nor of any makt-r of the incubator. It was given up by every one who tried it, being found to be both troublesome and expensive. It hatched chickens with pprlect success, but no care ever succeeded in rearing them. Rabbits (^. Jf.).— The ears aie measured from tip lo tip. Ureadth of ear is considered as well as length. We cannot reply to your query about weight, :ifl you do not mention the variety; nor can we guess whether an advertisement wouM effect an exchange, but it is the best mode of tryiog. Parrot wiin Dise^skd Tail {H. J. Fi>\'!soti).— Vim son.po the edtie of the horny substance which has formed at the bottom of the P.irrot'a back with a penknife, then lilt it slightly up by putting a piece of silver wire or thread round the end, and with causiic touch the place underneath the sub- stance, po as to burn it off. So long as the horny 6Ub^taucc remains the bird will not be able to raihc its tail. Di:ath of a HivK {N.F. Fr.l.— There is little doubt that the death of the queen was the cause of the loss of your sto. k of bees. AccLiuATiBATioN OF Bkkk.— Mr. Woodb\iry informs us that Dr. A. Ger- tacker is a German, imd th;it he merely wrote about acchmatiaing bees more than twelve month* after Mr. Woodbury had addressed himself to the subject The American Journal to which we were indebted for the notice of Dr. Gertacker, alluded, but. not spcclrtcally. to attempt-* at acclimaticing bees in the formerly United Statei*, but, we believe, Mr. Woodbury is the only one making u similar attempt in Europe. Maroh 1, 1864. ] JOUENAIi OF HOETICULTIJEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. 165 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day i Day of ! of M'nth Week. To W Th F s Sun M MARCH 1—7, 1864. Lungwort flowers. Wild Goose departs. . Pilewort tioweiB. Mistletoe flowers. Ash flowers. 4th or MidlENT StJ.NDAT, Spring commeuces. Average Temperature near London. Day. 47.5 48.8 49.4 49.1 48.4 48.7 49.4 Night. 34.0 36.5 32,3 31.3 31.7 32.5 32.8 Mean. 40.7 42.2 40.9 40.2 40.0 40.6 41.1 Rain in last 37 years. Days. 14 14 15 U 10 14 13 Sun Rises. m. h. 4Caf 6 Sun Sets. h. 39 af 5 Moon Rises. m. h. Moon Sets. m. h. 0 10 55 10 after. 16 1 34 2 59 3 23 5 ,,„„„.„ I Clock M°»° s I before Age. c„„^ < 24 25 21) 27 28 29 12 29 12 17 12 4 11 60 11 37 11 22 11 8 Day of Year. 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 From observatiuns talien near London during the last thirty-seven years, the average day temperature of the -week is 48.7°, and its night temperature 32.9°. The greatest heat was 63% on the 7th, 1859; and the lowest cold, 15", on the 4th, 1852. The greatest fall of ram wns 0.62 inch. THE KOYAL HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY'S ADJOUENED MEETING AT SOUTH KENSINGTON. E VEE before, in our day, liare tlie horticultural = body united so closely, or made so firm and decided a stand as tbey hare recently done at tlie annual meeting of tlie Eoyal Horticul- tural Society. They conceived, rightly or wrongly, that the Coun- cil of the Society were about to enact mea- sures inimical to the interests of horticulture, and the close serried ranks which presented themselves to protest against those measures might have induced a more suc- cessful administration to pause and reconsider their plan of future operations. This was not, as we heard whis- pered, a mere party movement, although, in the heat of argument, party spirit might have found utterance. The leaders of the movement were not the instigators of it, but merely the e.vponents of the horticulturists' views; and to them the horticultural world has contracted a deep debt of gratitude. It is a foi'tunate circumstance when, even in a blood- less fray like that which recently took place at South Eensington, the contending parties retire from the field, each satisfied with the result of the contest. In the present case we sincerely believe that each has achieved a victory ; and we gladly indulge the reasonable thought that neither is anxious to renew the combat. The Council have listened, weighed, and conceded what they doubtless considered just concessions, with a frankness and good- wOl which should go far to disarm opposition ; and hor- ticulturists have retired with a praiseworthy generosity and moderation, satisfied with the results, so far as matters have at present gone. But we warn the Council that if they wish for the support of the horticultural body. Horticulture must be the chief end and aim of their labours ; and we caution horticulturists, that if they wish their cause to prosper, they must here, as in other matters of business, look closely to it themselves. Without attributing to the CouncU any ulterior views likely to prove disadvantageous to Horticulture (which if we_ had believed in we could hardly entertain after the distinct disclaimer put forth by a prominent member of that body), we yet think that Horticulture has not been so prominent an object with them as it should have been. This we attribute to no sinister designs, but rather to the weakness of the horticultural element in the Council, and which, consequently, found a difficulty in making itself heard and felt. When the late lamented Prince Consort conceived the Eoble plan of uniting Horticulture with Architecture, No. 153.— Vol. VI., New Series. Sculpture, and Painting as sister arts, the idea^ was hailed with delight by tlie foremost and most intelligent of our horticulturists. The antecedents of the Prince were taken as a sufficient guarantee that the idea would be faithfully carried out. "The wisest could not foresee that by his untimely death the fundamental idea would not only be rendered abortive but positively reversed — that Horticulture, invited as a sister, would be treated as a slave. The gardens at South Kensington were to be the means of obtaining money whereby these arts should be united in a genial sisterhood, and find there and at Chiswick a comfortable home. But what are the facts ? The gardens at Kensington have been an incubus rather than an aid ; and whatever Architecture and Sculpture may have gained, Horticulture has gained absolutely nothing. Taking the most favourable view of the matter, we feel constrained to say that out-of-door gardening can never be fairly represented at Kensington ; and this view, if we mistake not, will be endorsed by every prac- tical horticulturist. When viewing the miserable-look- ing, soot-begrimed trees and plants growing (?) there the other day, we could not bring ourselves to believe that the Council ever seriously entertained the idea of tearing the flesh off the bones of grand old Chiswick to gratify the expensive habits of this audacious youngster. No : gardening as a whole can never be fairly repre- sented at South Kensington. Not less Utopian was the idea of whitening the skin of the blackamoor by the use of flannel and soap, entertained, imaginary or otherwise, by a set of ioJ-feare< philanthropists, and so humourously described by the immortal Hood :^ " In spite of all the tubbing, rubbing, scrubbing, Tlie routing and the grubbing. The blacks, confound them, -were as black as ever." And again, as a dernier ressort to avoid the conse- quences of failure — *' We've scrubbed the negroes till we've nearly killed 'em, And finding that we cannot wash them "white. But still their nigritude otfends the sight, ire mean to gild 'em.'' It has been said, and doubtless with truth, that the gardens at Chiswick do not pay ; but we ask, Were they ever expected to pay ? For what purpose are the con- tributions of Fellows ? Does the museum of the Geo- logical Society pay .f Is it not intended that both and other similar institutions should be schools for the nur- ture and development of their respective arts, aided by the contributions of those who take an interest in them ? Let theoretical Horticulture and ornamental Gardening (so far as circumstances are suitable), have full sway at South Kensington ; but the home of practical Gardening must be away from smoke and brick walls, whether at Chiswick or elsewhere. It was remarked by a Fellow at the adjourned meeting that the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851 actually control the Society. This may be fortunate or unfor- tunate according to the nature of that control. We believe that their control is part and parcel of the charter, and we must take it as it is — we cannot alter it. The N«. 805.— Vol. XXXI., Old Sekies. ■iss JOUENAL or HORTICULTUKE AWD COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ MiTch 1, 1364. ©Ely escape from this position would be to establish a new Society of Horcicultui-e — a very grave step, which under firesent circumstances does not seem to us advisable. A fine .garden, full of horticuUm-al rarities, and with other masiifest advantages, like that at Chiswick, should not be lecklessly abandoned. It would take a lifetime to construct another, and we ai-e not for forestalling the enterprise and industry of the rising generation. Another remark reached us in the council-room (although we should hardly think it would be endorsed by the Council), iighiy derogatory to the profession. The utterer seemed to have gathered his ideas of gai-dens and horticultmists in general fi-om the pages of Shakspere or of Scott. Now Andrew Fail-service might represent the gardener of Scott's day — a quiet, harmless, industrious, undemonstrative man, with little in his head beyond gardening, and not enough in Ms pocket to take much interest in questions of business life. But times have changed. The gaa-deners and horti- «5ilturists of om- day represent a large amount of intellect and capital, and these will always make themselves felt in a commercial country like England. Living amongst us is one horticulturist who has been knighted by our most gracious Sovereign, and another who is Lord Provost of Ediubui-gh (what would Andrew Fau-service have said to this ?) ; and thousands or millions of money are now invested in garden- ing, in the place of former hundreds ! It cannot be expected that the representatives of these wUl be content to act a subsidiary part in their own immediate walk of life. A Horticultui'al Society, to be weil governed, should be governed by a CouncU composed largely of horticulturists, amateur or professional. A Horticultural Society may exist in name without horticulturists, but practical horticultiu-e, or first-class horticultural exhibitions, are impossible without them. With their aid are secm-ed the support and active co- operation of that large class of Fellows residing in the country, who take a pride and pleasure in theii- parks and gardens, and who, in addition to their other and, perhaps, more important spheres of usefulness, contribute to the prosperity and happiness of the country as amateur horti- culturists. Unless these classes are fairly represented, the Society is a mockery and a sham, and will deserve and meet with the neglect and contempt of those whom it professes to serve. — Justus. AJSTjNUAL gaeden flowees. By the term, "annual " we mean a plant of one season's du- Tation, and on the arrangement and cultivation of the many annuals employed in flower-garden decoration I propose to offer a few observations. It is a pretty general oi3inion that the plants termed annuals are all very well in their places, but are not ad- missible in flower gardens for producing a brilliant displaj' of Moom, and then' precarious continuance in flower prevents their being employed in ribbon-borders, or in masses of one colour. Now, I hold this to le an erroneous opinion, and I hope to show that a most striking effect can be produced by the substitution of some annuals requiring no attention during one-half the year for some bedding plants re- quiring attendance all the year round; and if I might be allowed to call to my aid some of those neglected but good old herbaceous plants, needing no care but that which any- body would be qualified to render, I think a very fine display of flowers might be had, not only for three or fom- months, but at all seasons by the employment of annuals and hardy plants alone. I do not wish to convey an impression that the present system of massing jjlants requii'iug protection in winter, or the planting of them in ribbon-borders or otherwise to pro- duce an artistic effect, is a lavish expenditure that could well be dispensed with as unnecessaiy ; Ijut I do say that many places are made to look ridiculous by a total disregard of the architectural style and proportions of the mansion, in the an-angement and proportions of the flower garden. How often do we see a garden with its geometrical outlines, its terraces, slopes, statuary, and formal shi-ubs, and the whole arranged so as to produce a most satisfactory effect, the removal of any one part of which would destroy the harmony and arrangement 'i What is more unsuitably placed ■ than an artistic flower garden in front ol', or in close proximity to, a mean, patched, or piece-built residence 'i The gai-den, as a garden, when viewed individually, may be all that is desu'ed, the design maj' be novel but symmetrical, the ijlauts well arranged for producing an effective jjicture, but when viewed in connec- tion with the mansion the contrast is too great to be pleasing to the eye, and an impression is left on the mind that the one or the other is out of place. A garden in close proximity to the mansion should be in accordance with the arcliitectural appearance of the latter. If it be plain, the garden near it ought to be plain also, for nothing is a greater outrage on good taste than to make a gai-den superior to the mansion in its embeUishmeuts. The mansion shoiild be surrounded by gardens that would lead any one to conclude they were api^endages to the mansion, and not the mansion an inferior appendage to them. But is no one to have an artistic garden because he has a residence of no architectural beauty ? Quite the contrary ; but let that garden be so situated that the eye can view it without anything near detracting fi'om the pleasurable enjoyment of its artistic beauty and an'angement. Although Loudon wrote much on this and other subjects connected with the ai-rangemeut of gardens, with a view, as he said, of enabling gai-deners to see things mth the eye of an artist, yet I cannot discern that his writings on this subject have borne good ti-uit, but rather that they have produced ill resiilts ; for, in almost every place do we see flower gardens, beautiild in themselves, in front of residences which, as fex as then- architectui-e goes, might not inaptly be termed barns when compared with the extreme fceautj' of the flower garden. In many places do we see every inch of available sui'face converted into receptacles for bedding plants, affording a mere blaze of flower for four months out of the twelve, and being for the i-emainder of the year a barren wilderness ; wliilst those bulbs, herbaceous, alpine, and annual plants, with a goodly assortment of flowering shrubs, which combined make a gai-deu interesting at all seasons (as it should be), ai-e not considered worthy of a place within its precincts. There are, however, some lovers of gardening who are not so enamoured of King Croquet and his subjects as to despise the services of then- old favoiuites and theu- numerous offspring ; and to these, but with a view also of gaining converts, I wUl addi-ess myself. To pass in review all the annuals worthy of a place in flower gardens would take up more space than could well be spiai-ed for the piu'pose ; but having grown most of them, if not all, I win only name those most worthy of a place in gardens. Annuals for bedding purposes ai-e few, yet a very fine displaj' can be made with them. HALF-HAKDV. Ageratuni ine.\icanum, laveuder or light blue, 13 luche?. Cineriiria luariLium, silver foliage. Lot)eliii speciosu. tjlue, 9 incliua ; lui' small beus or eilyin>;s. Ta^eles patulu nana (Dwai'f French Mali^jolti;, striped and yellutv, 1 foot. Tu;^ete3 6ig:nata pumila, yellow, 1 tOOL. TeriLla nanUinen>is, metallic dark brown loliaj^e, la iuclics. Phlox Druiuinoadi alba; Leopoldiana, rose, white eye ; tiueen Victoria, rose, wlnte-slriped. Cathopsis carnaTniuifolia, crimson and yellow, 2 leet; C. ooronata, orauge, 1 loot. Stocic (Mathiol-i annua densiflora), crimson, blue, violel, scarlet, rose, 1 foot. Veutdium calendulaceum, a hardy annual, but re:iuires sowing in heat ; yellow, i) inches. Calceolaria scabiosmfolia, yellow, 1 foot. These, with those to foUow, require sowing in March, except the Stocks, which are best not sown until April, and then they do not require one-half the " coddling " of the others. The soil most suitable for them I find to be com- posed of light turfy loam three-fom-ths, leaf mould one- fom'th, v/ith a liberal admixture of sand if the loam be deficient in that substance ; the whole to be well mixed and choi^ped, or made fine with a spade. It should be in a moderately diy condition when used, and is best kept under cover a few days to tU-y and warm it jnior to using it for sowing the seetls in. Having the seed-pots or pans clean inside as weU as outside, pass the compost through a half- inch riddle, laying the lumps on one side. This compost is suitable for the largest seeds ; but for the smaller, half of it should pass through a quarter-inch riddle or sieve. It is a good plan to sort the seeds, placing the largest in one lot, and the smallest in another by themselves ; and in sowing to commence and go thi'ough with the largest seeds before March 1, 186i. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICTrLTUHE AliTD COTTAGE GAKDENBE. »E!i' beginning to put in the others ; for it very often happens when the seeds are sown as the packets come to hand that an oversight occurs, and the seeds are covered too deeply with soil, and the seedsman drops in for an undue scolding. More seeds perish through being covered too deeply with soil than from any other cause. The pots must each be well drained, say one lai'ge crock over the hole or holes, and a few smaller upon it or them ; then place an inch of the riddlings of the compost over the di'ainage, and fill the pot with compost to within an inch of the rim for largo seeds, three-quarters for the smallex-, and half an inch for the very small, as Lobelia. Level the compost, and sow the s.eed thinly on the surfoce, and cover with the finest compost to a thickness or depth equal to the diameter of the seed. Such seeds as those of Lobelia, Clintonia, &o., which are scarcely discernible, should not be covered with soQ, but have a little silver sand sprinlded over them, just sufficient to prevent the first waterings carrying the seeds away. A neat label should bear the name of each ; and the pots being slightly watered through a fine rose, are to be placed on or plunged in a mild hotbed of 70° to 75°, and within a few inches of the glass. A dung-fi'ame or a frame on a dung hotbed, or in a pit heated by hotwater pipes, is best for this purpose. The surface of the bed should be covered with sifted coal ashes or tanners' bark, and in this the pots should be plunged to the rim. Water of the temperature of the frame should be applied with a fine syringe or fine-rosed watering-pot whenever the surface of the seed-pots indicates any symptoms of dryness ; and, as a rule, the water should be applied in the morning. The temperature of the frame ought to range fi-om 65° to 70° by night, and it may rise 10° to 15° with air and sun. Air should be admitted early in the morning, even a little is better than none in duU weather, and the frame should be closed early in the afternoon. If the heat be mild the frame may be kept close until the plants appear ; but after that an abundance of light and air, with close proximity to the glass, must be aiforded, so as to keep the plants from becoming leggy or di'awn whDst in the seed-leaf, or they will be of little value afterwai-ds. The soil should at sll times be kept moist, biit no water ought to be given until the Burfaoe of the soil indicates dryness. When the heat of the bed begins to decline, so that the night temperature faUs below 60°, the frame should be covered with mats to keep in the heat ; and on frosty nights, at any time, mats or a covering of some kind are necessary, so as to preserve the proper degree of heat within the frame. By the time that the heat of the dung is spent the plants win have made a pair of rough leaves ; but, whether or not, when the plants are sufficiently large to handle they should be pricked-off into shallow boxes or pans about 3 inches deep ; these are best about 1 foot wide, and 1 foot 6 inches long, as they are handy, and take up less room than roimd pans. If boxes are used a number of holes must be bored at the bottom to allow of superfluous water draining away. The compost most suitable is tvirfy loam and leaf mould in equal parts, with a liberal admixture of sharp sand. This should be kept under cover a few daj's to warm, and after being chopped and broken with the spade, it may be passed through a half-inch sieve. About an inch of the- riddlings is placed at the bottom of the boxes or pans, and the pans are filled with the sifted compost. The plants are then taken out of the seed-pots carefully, and pricked-out with a dibber in rows an inch apart, and the same distance from plant to plant in the rows. A square foot wDl, there- fore, contain 144 plants. They should be inserted in the soil quite up to the seed-leaves, as most annuals emit roots &om below that pai-t. The soil should be in a mode- rately moist condition when used, so as to cause no necessity for a heavy watering after the plants are pricked-out. Give a gentle watering, and place in the frame again, or in a house of any kind, with a gentle heat (60° to 65°) at night ; but a frame is best, for the plants can be kept nearer the glass, and that, with air on at all favourable opportunities, is the immediate cause of stiff, strong, hardy plants. The frame should be kept rather close and shaded for a few days,_ until the plants recover the check consequent on pricking-out; and nothing is so conducive to their well- being as bedewing them overhead with aired water at the time of shutting-up the frame or house. In about a fortnight after pricking-out, or six weeks from. sowing, the plants will be nice bushy stuff, and will need copious supplies of water, and air on all favourable ocaa- sions. Those having the convenience of a vinery will have no trouble in raising annuals — only place them in heat to forward them, or get them ready for pricking-out, when they may be potted singly or three or foui- into a 60-sized pot, or into boxes, and be placed in a position where they may have abundant air when necessary to harden them off, and light at all times. The middle of March I have found the best time for sow- ing half-hardy annuals in the northern counties, for if sown earlier they are apt to become stunted, and I am certain that annuals cannot be kept growing too freely from the time of sowing until the flowers appear. Ten-week Stocks I never could succeed vrith by sowimg- the seed in pots as for other half-hardy annuals. They invariably damped-ofi' at the sui'face, and in this way whole potsful would go in a day or two, and that without any apparent cause. My practice now is to make a bed of dung (fi-equently turned and sweetened) about 1 foot 6 inches high, and about 3 inches wider than the frame every way. The frame is then put on, and 4 inches of loam, with a little leaf soil intermixed placed equally over the bed. The lights being put on, the heat is up in a few days, and a drill being drawn with the finger sufficiently deep t© allow of the seed being covered lightly, the seed is sowm thinly in the drills, which ai'e 2 inches apart. A run with the hand over the drills is sufficient to cover the seeds. A slight watering follows the operation, but if the soil be wet the watering is omitted. If the heat in the bed is not more than 75°, the lights are d;-awn on close, and kept closed until the seeds appear, which usually takes place in a week from the time of sowing. Immediately the cotyledons show themselves, air is given by tilting the lights at the back. The atmosphere about the plants is thus kept cold and fresh, and the seed-leaves lie flat on the soil, or only a trifle above it. Air is freely given on aU favourable opportunities, but no water until the soil presents unmistakeable evidence of being dry, when a moderate watering is given, and then they are allowed to want more before they get any. Alter the true leaves appear the lights are drawn off in mild weather, but put on at night, and if frosts occur, a covering of mats is placed on the frame. After May-day the lights are let down in mild or fine weather, but drawn up at night when frosty, and kept on by day in frosty weather, aad when heavy rains occur. Towards the end of May the plants are strong, with thick stems and large leaves, and not weak with wire-like stems and narrow leaves, as those invariably are which are sown in pots,- and forwarded in a greenhouse or vinery. G. Abbosi:. (To be conimibed.) EOYAL HOETICULTUHAL SOCIETY. On Tuesday, the 23rd ult., the adjourned meeting of tlic Fellows of this Society was held at South Kensington. Mk. J. J. Blandy, one of the Vice-Presidents, was in the chair; and there was a very numerous attendance of members. The Chairman opened the meeting, and said he had beem called upon to preside, but he should have w-ished that some one more acquainted with the proceedings of public meetings had been requested to take the chair. He would endeavour to do his duty properly, and he must ask their indulgence if he should make any error in conducting the proceedings. He was desii-ous of allowing the greatest possible latitude to those who would take part in the discussion; but he hoped they would not drift into anything contrary to the bye-laws of the Society. He could not be present at the last meeting, as he was detained in Paiis. He had seen, however, Irom the journals, that the meeting was adjourned for the further consideration of a resolution for the approval, and adoption of the report of the Council. The amendment to that motion upon which the meeting was adjourned, was, that the meeting be adjourned in order that the Council may have an opportunity of obtaining from Her Majesty's Com- missioners of 1851 the terms upon which the proposed advance of .£13,000 was to be made — whether, in all or part, as a gift or loan. A letter had been received from the CommissioneiK, 168 JOHRKAL OF HORTICtTLTtTEE AXD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ March 1, 1864. and would be read to the meeting ; and lie trusted that it would be considered satisfactory to the members upon that point. He might mention to the meeting that interest would only be charged upon a portion of the amount, and that the interest would not exceed dE38 5s. [hear, hear]. That was a circumstance which must be deemed highly satisfactory to the Fellows [hear, hearl. A gi-eat deal appeared to have been said about there being no intention of carrying on the Society as originally intended, and that the Society was not promoting the science of Horticulture as they ought to do. He believed that they would hear, from various speakers on the present occasion, sufficient to satisfy the meeting on that point. With regard to the allegations that had been made as to the non-intention of the Council of carrying out the original objects of the Society, he might tell the meeting that the members of the Council had of themselves, at one time, subscribed de2000 to save the Society from absolute collapse [applause]. He thought, therefore, that they were entitled to some credit forendeavouring to prevent a sacrifice of those objects for which the Society was originally formed [hear, hear]. The Council had fuUy considered the subject, and they stated that they were fully prepared to carry out the suggestions shadowed forth at the previous meeting [hear, hear]. He would not detain them any longer, bvit would assure them that he would give every gentleman who wished to address them a fan- chance of making any observations which he might be anxious to do, and of being heard and understood [hear, hear]. Mr. MuRKAY, the Assistant Secretary, then read the fol- lowing letter from the Eoyal Commissioners : — "Palace of Westminster, February 13tli, 18G4. "SiK, — In order to explain the terms upon which Her Majesty's Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851 are iviUing to make the advance of a sum not exceeding ^£13,000 for the purposes of the Horticultural Gardens, as announced in my letter of the 6th inst., the Commisioners feel it neces- sary to revert shortly to the pecuniary relations now existing between themselves and the Eoyal Horticultural Society. " Under the agreement of July 2-lth, 1860, Her Majesty's Commissioners advanced a sum of .£50,000. By the 14th clause of that agreement, a rental of .£2145 per annum is ressrved to the Commissioners, this sum being the exact amount of interest paid by the Commissioners for the loan of the money laid out under the agreement by them on the gardens. " In pursua,nee of a further agreement, dated March 1st, 1861, Her Majesty's Commissioners advanced a further sum of £5100, exclusive of a much larger sum expended by them on the Southern Arcades. By clause 4 of this agreement, the Commissioners are entitled by way of a rent to a sum of d£216 15s. per annum, being after the rate of 4^ per cent., making the total rent or interest now payable to the Com- missioners under both agreements amount to ^62361 15s. " The above rent is independent of the share of surplus profits secui'ed to the Commissioners. " With respect to the proposed expenditure of a sum not exceeding £13,000, I am directed to acquaint you, for the information of the Council of the Society, that it is the in- tention of Her Majesty's Commissioners to charge interest by way of rent on the sum of £4900 only. '• The Council wiU observe that this sum of £4900, added to the two sums of £50,000 and £5100 ah-eady alluded to, completes the amount of £60,000, the expenditiu-e of which was contetuplated by the above-mentioned agreement. "Her Majesty's Commissioners have now much pleasm-e in proceeding to inform the Council of the Society that, having been recently enabled to pay off that portion of their mortgage debt which bore 4J- per cent interest, they are wiUing to reduce the rent or interest payable to them by the Society to 4 per cent., calculated upon the outlay of £60,000, being £2400 a year. " The Council wiU therefore observe that Her Majesty's Commissioners make the advance of ^£13,000, >vith only a nominal addition to the rent at present payable by the Society. — I have the honom- to be, Sir, your very obedient servant, Edoae A. Bowking. "The Secretary to the Eoyal Horticultural Society." Mr. Harry Chester then said, that, having been the mover of the resolution upon which the meeting had been adjourned for a fortnight, he might be expected now to take a certain course, and express an opinion as to the result of the adjournment. He rejoiced to find that what had been said by the Commissioners was so very satisfactoiy [hear, hear], and he congratulated the meeting upon the very clear and conciliatory address which they had heard from their Chau-man [hear, hear]. If anything unpleasant oc- curred on the last occasion he hoped it would now be avoided. Nothing was further from his mind than to say anything hurtful to the feelings of any gentleman, or to act dis- courteously towards the Council. It was better to employ their time in providing for a satisfactory futirre than in com- menting upon an unsatisfactory past [applause]. He in- tended to move certain resolutions, and he hoped they would remove from the minds of the Fellows any wrong impressions they might have, so that they might be in that satisfactory condition of amity without which the Eoyal Horticidtural Society could not be carried on [hear, hear]. Since the last meeting he had received many letters from Fellows containing certain opinions which appeared to prevail in their minds. He did not desire to take so prominent a part in the discussions but for those letters. By some it was con- sidered that the report was not satisfactory with regard to the advance of the il3,000, and also that the Commissioners wished to take the gardens away fi-om the Society. If such anopinion did exist it was the residt of some ambiguous state- ments which had been made, and which could be cleared up. At the last meeting a question was raised as to whether the members of the Council were properly elected. Some of the members of the Society had taken counsel's opinion upon the point, and that opinion was to the effect that the pro- ceedings were not valid. What might be the opinion of one lawyer was not the opinion of another ; and if they were to wait imtil aU lawyers agreed they would have no Council, and the Society would come to grief [ hear, hear]. He agreed that there might have been a slight irregularity on the last occasion in the mode of election, but he thought there might be much confusion arising from the bye-laws of the Society. There appeared to be a doubt as to the proper mode of election — the Council said they were right, and the Fellows thought the elections were invalid — therefore, the best course to adopt would be to have the bye-laws revised. It wotUd be a clear course to adopt that in future they should be revised [hear, hear], and he should submit a re- solution to that effect. The question was raised by Mr. A. P. Godson at the last meeting, and he knows best where he had his information from as to the five gentlemen who were retiring. Mr. A. F. Godson : I had the information from a gentle- man who had it from each of the five gentlemen. Mr. Veitoh : I never gave any information to any gentle- man whatever. Mr. Chester proceeded to contend that the question ought not now to be discussed. It was imagined on the last occasion that the matter was settled, and they left the room with the idea that they had done that which was valid and correct. If it was to be disputed, it should have been contested on that occasion, and not now. A revision of the bye-laws would remove all difficulties in future [hear, hear]. There wore two other questions which had occu- pied his attention in consequence of what took place at the last meeting. They were — first, the state of the gardens at Chiswick ; and, secondly, the gardens at South Ken- sington. He could not but feel sm-e that the Council must have satisfied themselves that a very large j^roportion of the Fellows of the Society were very much dissatisfied with the state of the gardens at Chiswick [loud cries of hear, hear]. He thought that upon the last occasion they did those gardens an injustice. They were then taken by smprise, and those who spoke of the gardens at Chiswick ought to have distinguished between the two parts of those gai-dens. They would all agree with him, that that part of the gardens where the experiments were tried and the kitchen garden was situated, could not be kept in a better condition [hear, hear]. That had nothing to do with the other part of the gardens. The poet had said — " Where deaolation saddens all the green.*' It was in that part of their beautiful gardens, where thoy used to hold their great fStes, that the Council had allowed March 1, 1864. ] JOUKNAL OF HOETICtJLTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 169 that condition of desolation to arise. They were told at the last meeting that the Council had not the funds to keep those parts in better condition. One gentleman said they had not .£10 a-year to spend on them. He repudiated that, as they ought to keep the whole of the gardens in good order [heai-, hear]. The amount of money to be spent upon them is to be regulated by the CouncQ. The resolution which he had to propose on that subject was as follows : — " That the whole, and not merely, as at present, a portion of the garden at Chiswick be kept up in good order; that increased facilities be aiforded there for instruction in scien- tific and practical horticulture ; and that the Council be re- quested to prepare a suitable scheme for effecting this object, and to submit their scheme to a general meeting of the FeUows as soon as may be." He felt that it was desirable that the gardens should be made available for the purposes of the education of the gardeners, as was oi-iginally intended. They must agree with him that it was desirable they should have a school of soientifio and practical horticulture. But it had been suggested that the term " school " should not be used, as it mig'ht imply that a large oiitlay would be re- quired to caiTy out anything like a collegiate institution. He had, therefore, framed his resolution in the words in which he had just read it to the meeting, and he hoped it would be unanimously passed [hear, hear] ; for it was most desirable that the whole, and not merely, as at present, a portion of the gardens should be kept in good order, and that there should be increased facilities afforded for in- struction in scientific and practical horticulture [hear, hear]. He felt so strongly on that point that he hoped the Council would deal with it as soon as possible, and bring before the Fellows a suitable scheme for effecting this object. It was with that view that he must say he felt bound to press his resolution to a decision [hear, hear]. The Chairman : It may save the time of the meeting to state that the Council have ah-eady passed a resolution upon that subject. The resolution was only passed to-day. It is as follows : — " That a Committee be appointed to consider how the present working of the gardens of Chiswick may be made to conduce to the improved education of gardeners, with instructions to frame a scheme, and the estimated cost for carrying it into effect, having reference especially to the experience of the past efforts of the Society in this direction. The names suggested to carry out the scheme were Mr. Chester, Sir W. Dilke, Mr. Fortune, Mr. J. Lee, Mr. Moore, Mr. W. Paul, Mr. Rivers, Mr. Veitch, Sir Joseph Paxton, with the^President, Secretary, and Treasurer as ex officio mem- bers " [loud applause]. Mr. Chester said he was vei-y much obliged to the Chair- man for the interruption upon that point, and he would not say anything more upon the resolvition he had intended to propose to the meeting [hear, hear]. Passing on to the next point he came to the gardens at South Kensington, and certainly a large amount of dissatisfaction was ex- pressed at the last meetiug as to the condition of those gardens. That had created dissatisfaction everywhere. He did not wish to blame the Council, but he wanted to impress upon those gentlemen the necessity of improving their con- dition, and he thought it woxdd do good if the matter were still further pressed upon them [hear, hear]. It was neces- sary that the full and comprehensive scheme which had been laid down by their late lamented President should be carried out, and in that case there would be brought to the Society a large number of Life Fellows, and a large num- ber of debenture creditors [hear, hear]. He thought they were obliged to caiTy out that scheme. Every large scheme with which the much-lamented Prince Consort was con- nected had suffered a great loss by his death, and the Royal Horticultural Society especially so [applause]. They must make the best of their position. He did not wish to impute sinister motives to the Council; he gave them great credit, especially as they had lost their " great head," and, in a lower degree, their " heads" also. "With regard to the com- munication from Her Majesty's Commissioners, he thought it was not right that they should require ^2000 to be ex- pended upon the annexes ; and he also objected to the plans for the opening of the arcades. It was a great mistake, but some thought it desirable. He should not oppose the report af the Council upon that point. Whatever the difference of opinion might be upon the advance offered by the Koyal Commissioners, he thought that it would be very un- seemly to refuse it, and cause the Commissioners to be very chary as to how they offered the Society any assistance in future. He was sorry for the proposed expenditure of .£2000 upon the annexes ; but they now had .£11,000 to expend in the improvement of the gardens at South Kensington, and he hoped that the Council would see that it was well laid out [hear, hear]. He thought that they should get rid of aU unnecessary stonework, and what were termed works of art [hear, hear]. There was a great deal in the gardens that had no connection with them, and had no business theret If they had busts of great horticulturists and botanists it would be a different thing. They might have the busts of such men as Dr. Lindley, of the Presidents, of the late Prince Consort, and the Duke of Buccleuch ; but they should not have busts of men who had no connection with horti- culture [hear, hear]. If they were to have works of art, let them have works of art ; but some of the things in the gardens were perfectly hideous [laughter, and hear, hear]. The grounds, which were already ugly, were made uglier stiU. by those things [hear, hear] ; and in connection with that he objected to the payment of J3500 a-year for the so-called works of art. He felt quite sure that if they followed out the original prospectus of the late Prince Consort, or if His Eoyal Highness had lived, the .£300 would never have been allowed for works of art. It was said that they had not ^610 to spend in improving the gardens at Chiswick. Would it not be better to spend the £W for that purpose, and only devote £A-90 to the works of art ? [laughter, and hear, hear.] Sir Wentwoeth Dilke said he thought that some mis- apprehension existed as to the agreement between Her Majesty's Commissioners and the Council. It was not the fact that the Council had to pay the sum of ^500 per annum for works of art. The object was to get together as large , a quantity of sculpture as they possibly could, and as cheaply; and it was thought that the best plan was to get the sculptors to make exhibitions of their works of art at certain periods of the year. It was pm-ely a pounds, shillings, and pence consideration, and the Commissioners had nothing to do with it. He was of opinion that there was also great misapprehension as to the motives of the Council in promoting the science of Horticulture. That was their great object [hear, hear]. There was another question upon which he wished to speak, and that was with regard to the lectures as proposed on the last occasion. The Council had passed resolutions upon that subject. It was intended to obtain the services of most eminent men to deliver lectures, and this arrangement would be found to give great satisfaction [hear, hear]. His friend Mr. Bate- man, had promised to give them his experience with regard to cool Orchids [hear, hear]. There was one other point — he wished people would not mutter and murmur but speak out [hear, hear], and tell the Council what it was they wanted. All their suggestions would be duly considered, but if they were not made the Council could not guess what was wanted. The other day a letter containing some suggestions appeared in one of the journals, signed "An Old F.E.H.S.," a most valuable member. At the next meeting after tha,t appeared, notice was given that the subject would be discussed at the next meeting. That was quick enough, surely! He wished Mr. Rivers had spoken to the Council himself. The Council were witlLng to adopt a dozen suggestions if they were made to them [hear, hear]. Mr. Chbsxee was very glad to hear that the ^500 per annum for works of art was a mistake. He objected to that part of the report of the Council in which they doubted the permanency of the occupancy of the gardens at South Kensington by the Society. He did not like them inviting the Commissioners of 1851 to abandon and modify their existing arrangements at the end of thi-ee years. The question was, whether the Council intended to go on with the Society, or whether they had any secret scheme at present unknown to the members of the Society. He hoped that, in adopting the report, the Council would carry out the scheme as origin- ally laid down by their late President, both as regards Chiswick and South Kensington [hear, hear]. At the Ken- sington Road the approaches to the gardens were nothing more than miserable dog-holes, and resembled nothing so much as those old woodcuts of Bewick's of the places where the decoy ducks were put to lead the others ia to have their no JOtTRNAI, OF HOETICULTirRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ March 1, 1864. necks ■wrung [laughter]. Those who had read Pope would remember that he described the gardens quite happOy. In one of his essays Pope says— " 'Tia all a labouied quarry ahove ^ound, Trees cat to statues, statues cut to trees." But they might slightly alter those lines and say — " Bust plares at bust, each fish-pond has its brother, Each flight uf steps leads only to another." [great laughter]. He would conclude by moving the follow- ing resolution, and then if the Council did not object to it, he would submit one relative to the revision of the bye- laws : — " That the report of the Council be adopted, and that they be asstired, and requested to asstu'e Her Majesty's Commissioners, of the cordial support of the Fellows in realising as far as possible, both at Chiswick and at South Kensington, the comprehensive scheme for the Royal Korti- oultural Society, which scheme having been proposed by ovu' lamented President the Prince Consort, accepted by the Commissioners, by our Society, and embodied in Her Majesty* s charter and the agreements founded thereon, has already led to a large eipendittire, and has induced gi-eat numbers of persons to become Fellows of the Society, Life Fellows, and debenture creditors." He could not say that all in that resolution was necessary, biit it would, perhaps, be as well to submit it, as there was an opinion abroad that the Council liad an intention of not cai-rying out the original scheme of the Society. He hoped in the course of his remarks that he had not said anything which had given offence to the Council. Jifothing could be further from his intention, as he believed the Council deserved a gTeat deal at the hands of the Fellows for what they had done [loud cheers]. He begged to move the resolution which he had read to the meeting. Mr. Harwood Haewood : I beg to second that resolution ; but as to the revision of the bye-laws, I do not wish to interfere with that. The Hon. Judge Des Baeres said, before they passed that resolution they ought to consider the manner in which the Council had endeavoured to carry on this most important Society. The Council had more to perform than was gene- rally believed. He thought they were under the greatest obligation to the Council, especially in this respect, for they had done their best, and turned everything to the greatest advantage. Everything tending to the prosperity of the Society had been adopted by them. He thought that they were very much indebted to the Cortncil for bringing forward the correspondence between themselves and the Royal Com- missioners, and espeoiaUy the letter of the 13th of February, which they had heard that day, tending, as it did, to further the carrying-out of the original scheme of the Society [hear, hear]. Of coiu'se there was a class of Fellows who were anxious to make suggestions to the Council ; but he thought they should be carefnl in what they brought forward, as the Council would adopt any valuable suggestion, and, there- fore, it would only be creating confusion and a waste of time by bringing forward unnecessary matters. As had been stated by the Council, any Fellow could make a sug- gestion, and. If practicable, it would be carried out. As to the suggestion of the school at the Chiswick Garden, he asked them where they were going to get the money fi-om ? [hear, hear]. They talked of carrying out a school of Art, when they were not able to keep the gardens in ordinarily proper order [hear, hear]. The Royal Commissioners had placed every assistance in their power in the hands of the Council, and it was a most important thing that they shotild now see that the gardens were properly improved. The whole tendency of the acts of the Royal Commissioners ap- peared to be, that they were doing their best for the success of their property ; and he should wish the Fellows to bear in mind that the Commissioners were only trustees of that property, and must act accordingly [hear, hear]. They had offered the Society an advance of the money — the i;i.3,000 — only a poi-tion of which would bear interest, and that at a low rate. He thought it would be to the interests of the Society that these matters should be left in the hands of the Council [hear, hear]. He must say that it would have been better if the resolution had been somewhat shorter instead of a dissertation. He felt very well satisfied with the CouncU, and thanked them for what they had done [hear. hear, and signs of impatience, upon which the speaker re- sumed his seat]. Mr. A. F. Godson said, that with regard to the observation of Sir. Vcitoh at an earlier period of the meeting, that he had not given any information to any gentleman as to his retire- ment from the CouncU, he would give Mi-. Veitch the name of his informant in private. With regard to the gardens at Chiswick he thought that they had behaved most un- fah-ly to them throughout. They had had 150,000 plants from Chiswick. Those plants were worth j£lljOO. In the .accounts he found that there was no statement of assets and liabilities given. It had been given in some previous years' reports, and he should recommend that it be given in future. AU mention of it seemed to him to be care- fully avoided. Another thing to which he would direct their attention vras the state of the " Journal."' Nothing could be more disgraceful to a society than the " Journal " which he held in his hands. It could not be bound up, and the postage for sending it about was double what it need be. He did not want to send it to his brother in India or China to let him know that " good white Turnips were to be got at such and such a place." When he compared the present style of the " Journal " to the " Transactions " which were published in 1843, he thought they ought to be ashamed of themselves to have such paltry trashy stuff. In addition to that there was a great loss upon the " Journal," which should be obviated, and a profit made by the sale of the copies alone [hear, hear]. He tntsted that the Council would take the qiaestion of the state of the " Jounial " into their serious consideration, for he was sia-e that the only use of the present "Journal" was to be put behind the fii-e [hear, hear, and laughter]. The Chaiesian then put the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Chestep. proposed the next resolution, which was as follows : — " That the Council be requested to revise the bye-laws and to s\ibmit a draft of amended bye-laws to a general meeting of the Fellows as soon as possible." It must, he said, be evident to aU that such a revision as that he proposed would be productive of a deal of good, and prevent much confusion, and, probably, unfriendly feeling in future. The report could not be carried out unless the bye-laws were revised. While he had this opportunity, he would refer to another matter, and that was in relation to the future election of the Council, whether the next va- cancy should be filled under the present bye-laws or the revised ones, if tiiey were to be revised according to his reso- lution. There was a strong feeling that in future elections they should select some of those men who might be called professional horticultvu-ists. He sympathised with that feeling, for he thought there was not a sufficient representor tiou in the Council of that valuable class. He took it for granted that there woiild be a vacancy in the Council before long, for he did not expect that Mr. Godson could sit there any longer, when he had stated that he stood alone in the Council. When that vacancy, therefore, occurred, he hoped they would select a gentleman belonging to the class of professional horticidturists to which he had refeiTcd [hear, hear]. They ought to have such men as Mr. Fortune, or Mr. William Paid, in the Council [hear, hear]. He hoped that the Council would not forget to look at the advantage of having such colleagues [hear, hear]. In conclusion he moved his resolution. Su- Andrew Waugh having seconded the motion, Mr, John Sidney Sjiith said, with regard to the proposition that the bye-laws should be revised, he thought that such a step would be fraught with much trouble to the Council to make a general re\'ision. Was there any necessity for a thorough revision of the bye-laws ? If there was anything wrong it could 1)0 pointed out, and thus a large amount of unnecessaiy trouble would be saved the Council. As he agreed with nearly all that Mr. Chester had said, he regretted that he should have to oppose him on this motion. He would ask Mr. Chester to withdraw that resolution. Sir Wentworth DQke had said that he objected to people miu-muring and muttering, and said that thoy shovJd speak out at once. He was sm-o that those suggestions so made would be adopted if they were pertinent. As a young member of the Society he made a suggestion on the last occasion that thoy should have a scries of lectures in con- Mareli 1, 1864. ] JOTJENAIi OF HOETICULtURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 171 nection with the objects of the Society, and he was very- happy to hear from Sir "W. Dilke that it was the intention of the Council to carry out the suggestion [hear, hear]. He thanked the Council for the very ready manner in which they had acted in that and other matters. His only objec- tion was .to the carrying of the resolution, and he, there- fore hoped that Mr. Chester would excuse him and accede to his request to withdraw the motion. Ml. Chester said that nothing was farther from his wishes than to do anything disagreeable to the Council. His aim was rather to meet their views and prevent con- fusion. If the Council wished it, he would withdraw the motion, but otherwise he must press it. Several members of the Council said there was no objection to the resolution. The Chairman said he would read the first of the bye- laws which related to their revision. It stated as follows : — "The new Charter provides that the Council, or any five or more of them, may make bye-laws, and from time to time vary, alter, or revoke bye-laws, and make .siich other bye- laws as they may think viseful and expedient ; but in order to be valid, such bye-laws must have been adopted, with or without amendments, at some general meeting of the Society ; the votes on such bye-laws to be by open voting, or, upon the requisition of five Fallows, by baUot. In case of open voting, the majority binds the minority ; the Chair- man may vote, and in case of equality may give a easting vote ; and in case of ballot (but not in case of open voting) two-thirds of the Fellows voting are necessary to pass a bye-law, or alteration or repeal of a bye-law." The resolution was put and carried unanimously. Mr. Stkickland, at some length, proceeded to address the meeting, but was very inaudible at the table. He said that it appeared to him that the chief conduct of the aifairs of the Society was in the hands of the Expenses Committee. They had the absolute control of the expenditure of the Society in their hands, and yet that Committee was so constituted that one-half of its members were not connected with, or interested in, horticulture in any way whatever. If that was allowed to continue, sooner or later the fate of the Society must be apparent. He thought that the primary object of the Society was to carry out the practical portion of the science of Horticulture, and that could never be effected so long as persons who were not at all connected with, or interested in, the promotion of that science had the expenditure in their hands. No doubt that was at the bottom of all the dissatisfaction which existed in the Society. He did not doubt but that it was for the benefit of the Royal Commissioners — — The Chaibmah" said that unless Mr. Strickland intended to conclude with a motion he was not in order [hear, hear]. Mr. Stkickland said that it was the very constitution of the Expenses Committee that regulated the operations of the Society ; and he would move a resolution to the effect that such an arrangement would swamp the objects for which the Society was formed. The Chaikman said that the arrangement was according to the agreement upon which they had obtained their charter. The 15th clause of that agreement ran as follows: — "For the purpose of regulating the amount to be retained by the Society in each year for expenses, a Committee shall be appointed annually; which. Committee shaU consist of six persons, three of whom shall be appointed by the Commis- sioners, and three by the Society, and any three of such ■Committee shall form a quorum, so as one at least shall be a person appointed by the Commissioners, and one a person appointed by the Society. Seven days' notice of every meeting of the Committee shall be given in writing to each member of the Committee by a letter to be sent by the post. As vacancies may occur in each year by death, incapacity, or resignation, such vacancies may be filled up respectively by the Commissioners or the Society according as the original appointments were made by them respectively." It was pla,in that the arrangement was an integral portion of the charter, and, therefore, they must abide by it. Sir Wentwoeth Dilke said there had never been any difficulty experienced in working the arrangement. When the Committee was formed it looked into what would be the probable demands for carrying on the gardens. In some years the expenditure might be iE20,000, and it was for the Council to estimate what the expenses would be, and if there was anything omitted the Society would have to pay it. With regard to the ^£200 which had been disallowed, that had not been included by themselves in going to the Expenses Committee. A meeting wiU be held next week for the estimates of the ensuing year to be submitted. AU. the members of the Committee are members of the Society, and he thought that many of them were debenture-holders. He might state that the expenditure during the year of the International Exhibition was .£17,000, which was asked for in anticipation of the monies they would receive in conse- quence of the Exhibition; but the average expenditure asked for was only ^£10,000. If there was anything which was not put down in the estimate, the Society were re- sponsible for it. The composition of the Expenses Com- mittee was a matter of necessity. With regard to the state of the gardens, he might be permitted to state that they were not in so discreditable condition as had been pointed out. The practical part of the gardens at Chiswick was in as fine a state — indeed in a much finer condition, than it was under the old regime; in fact all the garden, except the 14 acres of grass, &c., was kept in very good order. It was stated that the portrait of Dr. Lindley in the room had been subscribed for by the past and present members of the Council. Mr. Bateman said that the guinea subscription for a tes- timonial to Dr. Lindley had reached d£200, although so little publicity had been given to it. They had a splendid epergne now ready for presentation, and some additional subscrip- tions were needed. He hoped, therefore, that gentlemen who had not subscribed would do so before leaving the room. Upon the motion of Major-General Sir Andrew Waitgh, a cordial vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, and the proceedings were brought to a close. WINTEEING BEDDESTG CAICEOLAEIAS. Allow me to give my testimony to the fact, that the keeping of bedding Calceolarias in cold pits and frames during severe winters is quite practicable in a less genial climate than that of Kent. Having done so for several years with entire success (but I need not detail the process, as it corresponds almost entirely with that often referred to by " R. F." in "Doings of the Last Week"), I venture to say that, had your correspondent in Ireland attended to the said directions, he would not now have to deplore the loss of his plants. Of course no practical man teaches that Calceolarias will bear fr-ost to an unliiuited extent in any stage of their existence, but particularly when in a growing state, as those of " Q. Q." must have been if put into a Cucumber-frame during August. Had he delayed this ope- ration until October he would have found less difficidty in preserving them through the winter; although, had he Covered them properly, I do not think that the dampness of the climate would have aflected them, having known them to be covered up for ten or more days together, and none the worse of it. — L, G., Benwell, Northumierland. At page 132 of The Journal op Horticulture, I notice an article fr'om " Q. Q., Ireland," expressing a fear that Mr. Robson's advice on the protection of plants in cold frames may mislead the readers of this Journal in Ireland. I have now been in Ireland four years, and can state from experience that Calceolarias have given greater satisfaction than ever I could obtain from them in England. For ex- ample, in 1859, when at Shrubland Pai-k, nearly the whole of the Calceolarias went off in the manner Mr. Robson de- scribes. The way I manage them is this. In the first week of October I have the frames ready, selecting a dry position. I then place the frames on some bricks to afford a suffi- cient depth of soil and head-room for the plants as they grow. Round the bottom I place a little litter to keep the soil in, and then fill in to ■within 6 inches of the glass with old Cucumber and Melon-bed soU, with plenty of sand inter- mixed. On the top of this, I lay half an inch of river sand and put in the cuttings, keeping them close and dark tUl 172 JOTTENAL OF HOKTICTJLTTJKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. [ March 1, 1864. they liegin to root. I do not keep the mats on in dull periods, but only in bright weather, as I find that the cut- tings never ought to flag, that being very much against their well-doing. As soon as they begin to root I give them a little air, and increase it till, eventually, the lights are taken off on aU occasions, except when frost and much rain occur. With this treatment I never lose one cutting in a thousand ; and aU the covering they have is one mat next the glass, or shutters, with plenty of stable-litter on the top, not thrown on loosely, but laid on well and closely by the hands, as double the quantity laid on carelessly would be no more effectual. I have this morning, February 22nd, been examining my cuttings after a severe night of 21° of frost, with only a mat and 9 inches of litter on the top of the frame, and all in a turf pit — (kinds, Amplexicaulis, Prince of Orange, Aurea floribunda, Trentham Yellow, Prince Albert, Golden Cap, Sultan, and Gem), and I find th^m perfectly safe, and looking as though 8° or 10° more of frost would not have reached them.' — E. Welch, Palate Gardens, Armagh. P.S.— I think the cause of the Calceolaria doing better in Ireland than in England is the dampness of the climate. THE AENOTT'S STOVE. From time to time I have read in this Journal complaints of the ineffioiancy of the Arnott's stove in keeping out the frost ; and having myself constructed one and proved its efficiency dui-ing repeated severe frosts in this part of the country (Manchester), I will describe its construction. It is placed inside the greenhouse, and is formed of fire- bricks, brick on flat or half brick thick, fire-clay being used instead of mortar. It is 1 foot 6 inches wide each way, out- side measure ; and 3 feet 6 inches high. The inside diam eter of the fire is, consequently, 9 inches across each way. l.FOOT G INT.HES ■^ A Is the supply-door made air-tight. It must be so to prevent any of the sulphurous gas from the burning fuel escaping into the house. It is placed 9 inches from the top of the stove, so that when you are supplying the stove the gas may ascend above the feed-door and pass up the chimney. B Is the ash-door for taking away the ashes. This door has a hole drilled through it with a small slide across the hole to enable me to regulate the draught so as to prevent the fire burning too quickly. The furnace-bars are, as in d, the two projecting ends being built into the sides of the brickwork, so as to form a pivot or hinge for them to turn upon ; and by placing a piece of iron, as in e, to support them in front, by removing this the bars fall down in front, and any clinkers, &c., can be removed. The furnace-bars are placed above the level of the door b. L ll -p >^ .^L \ 1 -1 E 1 My chimney is formed of three-inch cast-iron rain-pipe, and is carried thi-ough the centre of the large tile which is placed on the top of the stove. The advantage of the feed or supply-door being near the top of the stove is, that after the fire has burnt up you can fill the stove up to the top, and by a cai-eful regulation of the draught at door E, the fire wiU biu-n eighteen hours without attention. If such a stove is placed halfway along the fi-ont of such a house— say 20 feet long by 12 or 15 feet wide, it wUl be quite adequate to keep frost out and the plants slowly grow- ing during the autumn and winter ; and by passing some two- inch gas or steam-tubing down and up one side of the inside of the stove the temperature can be raised to that of a hothouse, and it forms one of the cheapest kinds of hot- water apparatus that can be constructed. There is no boiler required, simply the bend of the pipe c passing through the fire, which in the Ai-nott's stove is always of a bright red heat. The bend shoidd have been represented inside the stove in the en- graving. The two ends of the pipe join to an open tank. I have had a stove of this description in use for some time, and have found it everything that can be desired. The fire burns from twelve to eighteen hours without attention, and the water is always at boiling heat in the pipes. I use the gashouse coke which must be broken small — the size of a walnut. The coke is only 5s. per ton in Liverpool, and a ton and a half wiU last me the winter and keep the fire constantly going from November to April. — M., Liverpool. THE FLOWEE GAEDEN. GEKANIUMS. The Geranium section of flower-garden plants is now by far the most beautiful and important that we possess ; and notwithstanding opinions which have been expressed to the contrary, I am one of those who think that within the last few years it has made wonderful advances in the way of improvement. The neiv shades of colour, and bold character of trusses in some varieties, have added fresh material of very great importance to the artists of the parten-e ; while for pot and vase cultui-e for autumn decoration, some of the vai'ieties of recent introduction stand unrivalled among soft- wood plants, whether it be under glass or in the balcony ; and, not less important, many of them when well managed rank among the most beautiful things for late autumn, as well as for winter and early spring decoration. For richly- marked foliage there are now some so highly coloured and picturesque that they rival even the prettiest products of tropical climes, and this latter class cannot fail to add an important featm-e in the future make-up of parten-es. True, those who only see a good stare in a group of beds may fail to appreciate the tints that those Geraniums furnish, but, as a friend remarked not long ago, " there is more than a stare in a weU-pIanted group of beds." There is in it one of the most delicate studies connected with a gaidener's occupation ; and if moix> attention had been paid to the soft and more delicate combinations, our parterres would not have been laid open to the many remarks which their scarlet and yellow fevers have perhaps justly deserved. It is not to be wondered at that the many jumbles of harsh colours too often met with, should have induced the opponents of our summer and autumn pai'terres to decry the whole system. Gardeners have now, more largely than ever before, the March 1, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 173 material for a superior order of things, and more particu- larly in the beautiful varieties of Geraniums that are now within every one's reach. From pure white, up through va- rious shades of salmon, pink ^rose, cerise, orange scai'let, and scai'let of various depths and shades, this one section alone furnishes colour and style of bloom sufficient to make it worth while to have gardens specially set apart for it. Many important additions to it are soon to be made, among the most prominent of which are Lucy Grieve, White Tom Thumb, and a variegated Stella. It is to be hoped that the White Tom Thumb has a bold, dark, horseshoe leaf, for such would help greatly to make a white truss most effective. A great many of the more recently introduced varieties have passed through my hands ; many have been discarded as not suitable to the soil and climate, and some of these, I observe from other reports, have done honoui- to then- recommendations when jplaced under different circum- stances. Tlie following is my experience of some of the varieties on a deep rather light loamy soil, resting upon a gravelly subsoil, and in one of the driest districts of the kingdom. Admiration. — A dwarf compact grower with horseshoe leaf; the flowers are of the richest scarlet, produced on strong stalks, in large bold trusses. Somewhat deficient in bloom in the early part of the season, but makes up by a profusion in autumn. Like many others it ought to be gone over about the beginning of August, and have all the points pinched out of the shoots. This has the effect of causing it to develope its blooms more boldly, and checks the growth of foliage. In pots this is one of the very best that I have seen of its class. In beds scarcely equal to Vivid, but being much more dwarf and compact, it can be used when Vivid cannot. Amy. — Soft pink, marked with white in the upper petal ; well-formed large truss, throwing its blooms well up above the foliage ; abundant bloomer. This is a peculiarly soft shade of flower, and I think will take a high position. In pots it is splendid. Aiujustiiw, Nivelet. — ^Pale salmon, mai'gined with white ; large compact truss, lasting a very long time in perfection. Particularly valuable for pot culture. Aurora. — Salmon, with white eye, and very dark horse- shoe foliage. Has been discarded, other salmon varieties being preferred. Baron H^igel. — Well-known variety. Has given place to Little David, as being much superior as a dwarf scarlet, and in all respects very fine. British Flag. — Though a large bold globe variety, orange scarlet, and a strong grower, this did not prove enual to Glendinning's Scarlet and Prince of Wales of the same class. Christine. — This esteemed rosy-pink variety has kept its position well, and in Scotland it seems more at home than in the south, where it has a great tendency to the produc- tion of seed. It is likely to be superseded by Helen Lindsay in aU respects. Camte de Morny. — Eosy scarlet, ijretty ; but loose and deficient in the truss. It has been discontinued as not being sufficiently effective. fVanjois Desbois. — ^Wliite, with pink centre. A very distinct delicate-looking flower ; splendid for pot-culture, and though not extensively planted out here, yet it proved very fine in the borders last yeai-. For soft combinations this will be a fine variety. Lady of Lorretto. — Bright cherry colour, with white eye ; centre of leaves yellowish green, belted with a copper-coloured zone ; flowers and trusses large. Very fine for vases and pots. When planted out must have a poor dry soil, or it win grow too strong. LadAj Rokehy. — ^This variety has not come up to my expec- tations of it. Very good in a pot. Out-doors in the open border it does not flower sufficiently freely to make it valu- able as a bedder. It is a pretty rosy scarlet. Madame Cliardine. — Salmon pink ; immense trusses in great abundance. The finest of its class that I have seen either in pots or beds. The soil should not be rich, and, as recom- mended for Admiration, its tops should be pinched off. In autumn it is most splendid. I have had rows of it lite a row of Hydrangeas. Madame Faitc/iej-.—White, with red stamens; fine truss; dwai-f compact habit. In pots it is unique. Last year it was very fine in beds here. It is peculiarly lively when edged with Purple King Verbena. If White Tom Thumb is better than this it will add a fine feature to our flower gardens, for fine white-flowering plants for beds are scarce. Monsieur Paul I'Albd. — Very superior, with salmon scailct globular trusses in great abundance, and thrown up wtil above the foliage. I prefer this to Mons. Martin, wliicu it much resembles. Carmine Nosegay. — Did not prove worth growing here. Imperial Crimson. — Very pretty. Carmine shaded with purple. Abundant bloomer. Compact and dv.-arf, but on account of the want of substance in the flowers it is so easily spoilt with moistui'c in autumn that it has been discon- tinued. Stella. — What shall we say of this ? It cannot be too highly recommended. No other of the Nosegay section that I have ever seen can equal or approach it. At one time I thought Triomphe de Paris was going to run the race in favour with this, but last year Stella proved far superior. A bed of this, last year particularly, was here per- fectly wonderful from the abundance of immense trusses of bloom. It is a fine hardy variety, easUy wintei-ed and managed. Colour crimson, with dark horseshoe foliage. Perfection. — Most brilliant scarlet; flowers and trusses large and well elevated above a fine, rich, dark green foliage. This I consider the best of its class, far surpassing Tom Thumb and Frogmore, or any other of that style that I have seen. Prince of Wales. — Orange scarlet truss, very large and globular; most profuse bloomer. Well adapted for back lines and large beds. Princess of Prussia. — Does no good out-doors here ; but very fine as a pot variety. Out-doors the flowers, owing to their dark colom-, turn vei-y much, and it does not bloojn profusely enough except in pots. Eosy Queen. — Much like Christine, birt rather lighter ia colour and grows stronger. In dry seasons it is not so prone to seed as Christine, and in this respect it is more desiraMe and not inferior in any other point. In pots Christine has no chance whatever with it. Rubens. — Dark rosy pink; flowers and trusses large; foliage beautifully and softly tinted. Suitable for large beds and back lines. Rubens Imjproved. — -liecently introduced, and not so much lilced as the old Eubens. Trentham Rose. — Salmon scarlet. Most wonderful bloorjer. Perhaps no other Geranium of any other class has kept its place so well as this. I do not know of any of the saiiie colour to surpass it. Vivid. — Deep scarlet with small white eye ; flowers very large and finely formed. Most abundant bloomer. This is altogether a magnificent bedding Geranium — quite a com- panion to Stella in a different class. It is grand in this locality. Fine for pots also. Glendinning's Scarlet. — A most extraordinary Geranium I'or size of truss ; orange scarlet with horseshoe leaf. In a diy season this is just like a bed of scarlet Hydrangeas, so large and bold ai-e the trusses. Fine for back lines and very large beds. Barnton Beauty. — Scarlet with large white eye. Eesembles Vivid, but inferior to that fine variety. Frogmore Impi-oved. — Does no good here, though a fine variety in some localities. Little David. — Cannot be too highly spoken of. Pine scarlet, very free bloomer, very dwarf, which makes it most suitable for small beds, front lines, and edgings. Leoni. — Cherry colour. Eesembles Lady of Lorretto, b'.'^t is a little darker. A very fine pot variety, fev^' better. Has not been sufficiently proved out-doors to form an opinion ci its bedding qualities. Herald of Spring. — A soft rosy scarlet ; large well-formed flowers and truss. Most excellent pot variety, but does not bloom very freely planted out. Emperor of the French. — Orange scarlet ; very neat, com- pact grower ; leaves beautifully zoned. Fine pot variety. Victor Emmamfel. — The largest truss of any of the recently sent-out ones. Bright scarlet, and splendid in pots. Not yet proved it planted out. 174 JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. [ March 1, 1861. Ti-iomphe cle Paris. — In ths way of Stella, but not so good as that variety. Lord Palmersto}i. — A dwarf, compact-growing Nosegay variety, with immense trusses of purplish blooms. I have not proved this in beds yet, but will do so this season, and have great hope of its proving a first-class kind. Helen Lindsay. — This is a deep pink variety like Christine, but much superior both in colour, truss, habit, and foliage, and will, I have no doubt, jirove the best of its class yet out. In pots I have seen nothing in its way to approach it. Spread Eagle and Merrimac are two varieties that I have not had so much experience of as to be able to give an opinion of them. They are very pretty in pots. I will now turn to the variegated section, among which are some varieties of great excellence ; and some of t). e more recently introduced sorts are really so pretty in pots, that should they fail to prove all that is expected of them in beds, they must stiU be looked upon as very desirable ac- quisitions. Argus. — Flowers bright scarlet, large trusses ; leaves green centre, with dark zone margined with pinky white. This, though a free-flowering variety and a good grower, is too dtdl in the leaf to be effective. Bijoit. — This is a beautiful and most useful variety, having large margins of silvery white to the leaves. Is a vigorous grower, and blooms with great profusion, which in con- junction with a robust constitution renders it a most useful sort. We plant two thousand of this. Countess of Worwicl:. — This is a good old sort, and still a favourite. There is, however, a dullness about the foliage which makes it only a second-rate variety. Cloth of Gold. — This is Golden Chain magnified, with much larger and smoother leaves, with flowers precisely like ' Tom Thumb, more vigorous than Golden Chain, and having a more robust constitution. In places where Golden Chain does not thrive I would recommend a trial of this. It is in all respects fii'st-rate. Flower of /S'yrimjr. — This is a great favourite. It is the best variety I know for growing as edgings to the dark- zoned varieties, as it has a peculiarly soft lovely appearance from the flatness of the leaves, and their extra broad margin of white. The flowers are a bright cerise. This is a very fine bedder. Golden Vase. — Leaves green, with a dark zone surrounded with a broad margin of yellow ; flowers cherry red. This, though lovely, is now completely eclipsed by the gorgeous Mi-s. Pollock. Homlei-soni.— J-iea.ves bi'oadly margined with silvery white ; flowers bright scarlet ; trusses large, and produced in great abundance. The habit is stiff and compact. I consider this a great improvement on Alma and Annie, and one of the very best. Meteor. — A very dwarf and compact grower. Flowers vivid scarlet. For edgings and small beds it is good, and is very fine in pots, but not so generally useful a variety as Hendersoni. Mrs. Pollock. — This is the most striking and picturesque Geranium yet out. If it never flowered its foliage is so lovely that it could not fail to please ; but it has, in con- ji«iotion with fine foliage, a fine truss of scarlet bloom. In the leaf there are zones of beautiful bronzy red, bright crimson, green, and gold. It is a fine, free grower, and cannot fail to be a plant that wdl be generally and largely grown both in pots and beds. Queen of Queens. — This is one of the few gems recently sent out, and is well named, for it is a queen among dwarf variegated Geraniums. The leaves are margined with a broad belt of clear white. The habit is dwarf and dense, and the amount of bloom, of the deepest scai-let, it produces is perfectly wonderful. V/e had it planted out last year, and look for great results from it. Hilver Chain. — This is the same as another variety grown here as Mary Ann. The habit is sturdy and compact ; foliage beautiful; blooms cerise. Golden Fleece. — Discarded as being so mirch inferior to Cloth cf Gold. Tlic Bouquet. — Worthless here. Variegoied Stella. — This is a sport from Beaton's Crimson Stella. The foliage is splendidly variegated, whiter than Bijou. Blooms, of course, the same colour as Stella, in im- mense trusses. Both in pots and jjlanted out this is a glorious variety, and wUl add a featui-e to flower gardens. Siiitsei. — Very much like Mi-s. PoUock. The bloom is in- ferior, but the fohage is about the same ; but it is a more tender sort. JJ. Thomson. SHEUBBT CALCEOLAHLi. (^Concludcd from page 97.) In the latter pai-t of May or beginning of June move the plants to their final quarters. It will only be necessary to take the soil out at one end of the bad to the depth of about U inches, and then thrusting the spade under them 6 inches below the surface, the plants will be raised with square balls 6 inches on the side. The beds in vehich they are to be planted should have been dug deeply during the previous autumn, and laid up rather roughly for the winter. In the spring following they should be dug or forked, and a few inches of vegetable or fresh moidd worked in. If, however, the beds have been occupied with early-flowering plants or bulbs, some fresh soil should be added, and they should then be forked over and the sod broken. In these beds plant at 1 foot from the outside, and allow the same distance li'om plant to plant, arranging them in quincunx fashion. Water copiously and shade for a few days if the weather be dry and hot, and gently sprinkle the plants overhead towards night, which will restore the loss their leaves expe- rience in the day time, when they have not roots sufficient to collect nutriment to supply the wants oi the leaves. However, plants raised in this way rarely experience any check from transplantation, for having a multiplicity of fibres they soon leave the baU and pass into the new soO, and do in a week what it takes plants fi-om pots a month to accomplish. When the plants are established in their new quarters, if you are desirous to attain several objects at once, give a thorough soaking with water, and then cover the surface of the beds with cocoa-nut dust, which will prevent evapora- tion from the soil, improve the appearance of the beds — for red always contrasts well with green foliage — and by autumn becoiue a manure, which, if neatly forked in, will be very suitable for growing anything in. Two inches of this covering will save an immense amouirt of labour; and about an inch of old Mushroom-bed manure spread on the beds answers the same purpose. They both decompose, emit ammonia, form humus, absorb moisture because porous like a sponge, and keep the jjlants cool, from being non- conductors of heat. Alter this the plants wUl need regu- lating occasionally, trimming off ii-reguhu- and gross growths and spent blooms, and watering in di-y weather. All this trouble to raise one of King Croquet's subjects ! Well, it really is fatiguing, but not half so much so to carry out as narrate. There are many other ways of raising Calceolarias for the flower garden. Of these I wiU describe two. Prepare some cutting or seed-pans 3 or 4 inches deep, allowing an inch of drainage, and then liU with a compost of loam and leaf mould in equal pai-ts, with an admixtm-e of one-sixth of sUver sand. Insert the cuttings as near each other as iiossible without cramming them in so closely that the leaves lie one upon the other. In that ease they would damp. Give a slight sprinkling of water to settle the soil about the cuttings, and jjlace in a corner of the greenhouse which must have the air rather moist but not wet, and ventilation must not be given in that psu't, nor should the sun be allowed to shine so powerfully upon them as to cause them to flag. They will strike in about six weeks, when they may be removed to a diy cool part of the gi-eenhouse and kept near the glass, giving them water suffi- cient to preserve them in a healthy state. The cuttings may be put in from the middle of September until the latter part of October. Some pot the cuttings immediately after they have struck, but that is only so much lalxiur and room thi-own away. The plants will keep just as well in their cutting-pots untU the February or Mai-cli of next yeai', when they arc to be potted into 48-sized pots in a compost of loam and leaf mould in equal piu-ts, with a sprinkling of sand. The plants lu-e to be watered sp;u'ing)y until growth commences, keeping the ah- closer and moister for a few days to encourage the formation of roots, afterwards they March 1, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 175 are to be well supplied with water at the root, giving all tlie air possible, placing them near the glass, and syringing them occasionally in dull periods, and morning and evening in fine weather. The less fii'e heat applied the less subject arc these plants to the attacks of green fly, all the heat required beino' to dry up damp, to cause a circulation of air, and to keep the temperature between 35° and 45°. In April the plants should be potted into 32-sized pots in the same compost as before, and if they have been duly attended to they should be shifted into 2-i's or six-inoh pots by the beginning of May. People complain of Calceolarias dying off and going back after being planted out ; and well they may, when we consider that for two months, and oftener for six, tUe roots have been cramped in small pots, demand- ing nothing short of an inch of rainfall daily to supply their wants. In addition to this we have the water poured on the stem, which is not the proper treatment for softwooded plants. When such plants are turned out they take to the situation very badly, they feel the cold of the soil, the loss of the daily watering, and the spongioles receive so sudden a check that they remain inactive for weeks if they do not altogether perish; the leaves for the greater part turn yellow, and some plants die off altogether, canker having attacked them. More deaths result i'rom cramping plants in small pots than from all the diseases to v.'hich Calceolarias are Kable. Cramping is injurious to free growth, and plants subjected to it rarely grow freely afterwards. Another way is ts plunge some plants in six or nine-inch pots quite up to the rim in tlie open border in summer, and to take them up in the autumn, remove all roots that j)ush outside the pots, and after washing the latter to place them in the greenhouse. The plants wiU grow fi-eely in a tempera- ture of 45° as a minimum, and 55° as a maximum, and by February they wiU afford a number of cuttings. These are to be taken off about the middle of that month, inserted in pans or pots as described before, and the pots placed in the warmest part of the house, covering them with a bell-glass. Shade ii-om bright suu by a paper or some such covering. The cuttings will strike freely without bottom heat — in fact, better without than with it. Those who can command the moist atmosphere of a propagatiug-liouse wOl not hesitate to put the cuttings in there, and so obtain a plant in a few days. Any leaves affected with damp are to be removed, as they would, if allowed to remain, destroy the cutting. When the cuttings are rooted they are to be potted into 60-siaed pots, and kept close for a few days until fresh roots are formed, when they should be gradually hardened-off and removed to a liglit airy place in a pit, fiame, or greenhouse. If there be such a convenience as a frame, by all means plant them in it, the trouble of watering will be diminished, and the certainty of then- doing well after planting out will be increased fom-fold. If on the other hand it is impossible to do this, shift them into 32-sized pots in April and plant out in May, in cloudy weather if possible. 2nd, For tlie Conservatory or Greenhouse. — Select in March some of the most forward and best plants from the autumn- struck cuttings, and pot them into 24's, assuming them to have been in 32-sized pots. Place on a shelf near the glass, and as the shoots grow nip out the leaders of the upper shoots, pegging the lowest down so as to feather the plant down to the pot. A month after this pot into IS's, using a compost of loam from turves one half, and leaf mould and cowdung two years old, in equal proportions, the other half, chopping the whole somewhat small with the spade, but not sifting it, and add a liberal sprinkling of silver sand. Provide good drainage. After potting give a moderate watering ; place the plants in a pit, near the glass, syringing them lightly morning and evening ; and keep eool, and admit abundance of light and air, without exposing them to currents of air or to frost. Fumigate on the first appearance of green fly, and keep duly supplied with water at the root. In May transfer them to 12's, and plant them out, or rather plunge the pots in the open border. Some of the plants, however, are to be placed in the frame, and a,ttended to as before, air being freely given them, and the irregular and gross growths stopped or removed; these will flower in July and August, and wiU make quite a rich display in tlie conservatory. If the plants have been kept cool and well ventilated no sticks ^vill be necessary ; but if they are reciuircd, put them in so that from a casual observer they may be hidden by the foUage. The plants in the borders are to be duly supplied with water, and the flower-stems removed as fast as they appeal'. In the latter p)art of September take the plants up, and place them in a close frame, and shade from bright sun for a few days. When they have recovered the check consequent on taking up, pot into No. G-sized pots, in the compost mentioned before, securing perfect drainage, and place them near the glass in a cool airy part of the greenhouse. Wa)ter sparingly dm-ing the winter, and pick off all decayed leaves. Peg down the lowest shoots, and regulate the others with sticks if it cannot be done without, so as to admit air and light equally to all parts of the plant. Weak or otherwise useless parts ai-e to be removed. In February shift into No. 4-pots, and after this sprinkle with water from a fine-rosed syringe. Continue to peg down, and tie out the shoots as the plants advance in growth. By the middle of AprU we may expect the appearance of the fiower-stems, and even before that time some will be seen, but all straggling blooms are to be nipped off prior to the middle of April. After this, water twice a-week with guano water, 1 oz. of guano dis- solved in a gallon of soft water. By May v.'e shall have plants little less than 3 feet through, 2 feet high, and when well flowered, producing from fifty to a hundred flower-heads, each of these having nearly fifty blooms. Talk about " nothing like Geraniums for making a show," why one of • these Calceolarias would not be eclipsed if placed beside one of the very finest show Geraniums. Shrubby Calceolarias are raised from seed to obtain new varieties, they being treated in the same way as lately described for herbaceous Calceolarias, only the seed is sown in the spring. There is also a new race of Calceolarias which have sprung from a cross bet\Veen the herbaceous and shrubby species. They have a half-shrubby habit, and are neither one thing nor the other, and for my part I think little of them, for they are of bad habit, and the flowers are far from being of a good form. They require the same treatment as the herbaceous section. The following is a list of some of the best sorts ; those marked with an asterisk being the best for bedding purposes. The others make handsome pot plants : — **.^ngustifolia Rlol>0'a or A. superba, bright primrose, dwarf liabit, and excellent bedder. Acbbar, vellow ground with brown blotch. *Amplexicanlis, Ifnion or straw colour ; only suitable for large bed.s. Aurea tioribuada, dwarf and compact lllbit, trusses large, of a bright orange yellow colour. Slakes a fine bed. "Canariensis, bright canary yellow, flowers large, produced in large com- pact heads ; habit dwarf and compact. Very tine. 'Cloth of Gold, bright golden yellow, very dwarf, compact trusses, and very free blooming. Etna, crimson tinted with scarlet. Extra fine for pots, making also a good bed. Gem, orange brown, yellow belt. Fine for pots. Comet, bright bronzy crimson. Best for pota. Firefly, intense oranpe se;irlet, hauit dwarf, flowers large hat net of the largest size, free-bloouiing. Sl.ignificent, large deep orange flowers, borne on short flower-stalks. JJwarf and aense habit. Magniiieent (old varietyi, rich crimson, yellow cap. Large and fine flower. Magnificent (Henderson's), crimson. Large and fine. What trouble such a similarity of names causes! Masterpiece, large, crimson, extra fine; habit good, anr-1 free-blooming. •Integrifolia, sinall flowers in large trnsses ; habit dwarf, free-blooming, foliage small. Prince Loui^ of Hesse, rich crimson, very dwarf, and profuse-blooming,. Flowers rather small but very showy. ' Princess Alesa'idra rich orange buff', dwarf and free-blooming. Quite a novelty in the way of colour. ^Kentish Hero, orange buff. Fiee and effective. Novelty, the first bedding variety that can boast of being a good-shaped flower, straw colour, habit dwarf mid compact, ^'Kayi, a good old dwiirf earlv vellow. •Prince of Otange, bright orange brown, fading to light orange; habit very dwarf. An immense bloumer, theretore line bedder. Sparkler, crimson brown, bright yellow cap. A very handsome variety. *Vietor Emmanuel, flne scj'rlet, faintly spotted with crimson, h.abit good^ E.xtra good for pots or beds. "^ Yellow Gem, fine yellow. Dwarf and free. *rellow Prnice of Orange, very bright yellow, and dwarf. Fine bedder. ^.Sulpliurea splendenp, fine form, bright yellow, good habit. *Beauty of Montreal, bright crimson, small flower, but effective for bedding,. Leopard, straw yellow, densely spotted with maroon. Sultan, a tall but fine crimson. L^r.i Clyde, cl iret, quite a novel colo'.ir. Dwarf and compact. Sunset, yellow, blotched and spotted -with hrown. Very shoivy. G. Abbey. Mhssett's AppAEATtrs. — A.' L. C. would be obliged if any one could give her, from his own experience, some informa- 176 JOrrRNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Slurch 1, 186J. tioa respecting Mussett's portable hot-water apparatus. Is it effectual not only for merely keeping out irost, but for forcing purposes ? TEAPS FOE MICE. I AM rather surprised that Mr. Kobson recommends the figure-4 trap as the best trap for mice. It is very good no doubt, but the labour of resetting it after each capture is considerable, whereas the old Devonshire plan, which we adopt and which is by far the best I have ever seen, requires but little attention. After we have sown our Peas, two or three 10 or 12-inch flower pots with the bottoms well stopped with clay, or better stUl made without holes, are plunged between the rows, filled half fall of water, and well greased inside about 2 inches below the rim. In this way I often catch a dozen in one pot without the least trouble, except adding fresh grease when the old is eaten away. — James Haebis, Gardener, Machen Rectory, Newport, Man. PUTTEEIDGE BUEY. {Continued from page 115.) The position of the avenue of beds '.will be seen from the outline plan, page 114, only the avenue is straight for more thau half its length at the][east end, instead of being bent so soon as shown. The walk opposite the beds is flanked with vases. The grass between the beds is more than 20 feet wide. 3 [ JO 3 ,mi If 1. <(©;. '/®1 1 ,f:„ 2? 21 ~SI \^-iV 12 :ii| l(©)) SA\^J 2^ 21 fo 10 18 27 J^ «^' J3 11 "iQ T\^e now give this bed-avenue more in detail. There are twenty-four beds on each side, twelve large and twelve small. The large are fully 10 feet in diameter of circle, the less ones are from 5 to 6 feet in diameter. These were all planted in the pyramidal style. The beds were considerably raised, but the height in the centre was mostly owing to taller and larger plants being used for the centre. The height of the pyramids from the grass ranged from 5 to 10 or more feet, the lowest pyramids being at each end, and the tallest in the centre of the avenue. The opposite beds were planted alike. Most of them had several rings of colour quite distinct, and yet close to each other. In some cases different kinds of "Verbenas, Lobelias, Alyssum, &c., had been used as ground colour, so that if an inch or two of a break should occur, it would be covered by a sprig or two of these things. These fine pyramids made a good contrast to the more level planting in other places. Beginning at the west end next the beds with chains of Eoses over them, the following is the arrangement of plant- ing, the plants first named being the centre of the pair of beds, and the last named the edging. The first named is a small ch-cle, and the second and the last are large cu-cles :— 1, Large mass of Belle de Florence Rose, pdged and festooned with , Pearl Nasturtium. i 2, White Fuchsia, Boule do Feu ' Geranium, Golden Chain ditto, Lady Plyraonth ditto, with a few sprifis of Variegated Alyeaum. ' Very rich. ' 3, LatRe Pink Geranium Perfec- ; tion, white-leared Geranlnm and j Pcrilla mixed, ForROt-rae-not, I and (Enothera proatrata. : 4, Fuchsia Biinks'g Glory, Caleeo- 1 laria Mrs. Booth (rich blotched), I Calceolaria Robert Burns (like Prince of Oranpe), Calceolaria, Yellow Prince of Orange, edged with Forget-me-not and Lobelia. 5, Acacia, Red Rover Geranium, and dark Indian Pink. 6, Fink Nosegay Geranium, Salmon Nosegay ditt», Mrs. Colville ditto (purple), Old Scarlet VarieKated, Huckuess dlttOf and Golden Chain ditto. 1, Kicinus Obennanni, Dark Helio- trope, and Verbena venosa mixed, and Gazania splendens. 8, Cas?id eorymbosa, Rubens Gera- nium, Cineraria maritima dotted with Aly«sum. 9, Rose Belle de Florence, and Eclipse Nasturtium. 10, Brugmansia suaveolens. Salvia fulpens, Ageratum mexicanum (tain, Calceolaria amplexicaulis, dotted with Amavanihus melan- cholicus, Calceolaria Prince of Orange (yellow), Lobelia spe- ciosa and Variegated Alyssum. 11, White-coloured Fuchsia, Calceo- laria Crimson King, Verbena venosa, and (Enotheraproslrata. 12, Geranium Excellence, Golden Chain ditto with flowers off. Forget-me-not, and Verbena pulchella. 13, Ricinus Obermanni, with Ver- bena Surprise growing through it, Amaranthus melancholicus and Manglesii Geranium mixed, skirted with \ erbena Manetti. 14, Large Fuchsia (dark), Mrs. Col- ville Geranium, Jackson's Va- riegated, Scarlet Nosegay Ge- ranium, Old Scarlet Variegated, Hackness ditto, and Golden Chain. 15, Cassia corymbosa. Geranium Red Rover, and Gnaphulum laaa- tum. 16, Brugmansia Knightii, Salvia ful- gens, Agpratum, Calceolaria amplexicaulis, Calceolaria Aurea floribunda, and blue Lobeba. 17, Rose Belle de Florence, old stronc variegated Verbena, and Ceras- tum tomcntosum. 18, Cassia corymbosa. Calceolaria amplexicaulis entwined, Scarlet Geranium, Cineraria maritima, dotted with Variegated Alyssum. 19, Ricinus, Cannas, Heliotrope, and Troprcolum elegans. 20, Large Pink Geranium, Cedso Unique ditto, Flower of the Day ditto, and VerbfUaManettii. 21, Ciimson Unique Geranium, and Gazania pplondens. 22, Fuchsia Banks's Glory, purple Pent^lemons, pui-ple Calceo- laria, Prmce of Orange Calceo- laria. Aurea floribunda ditto, and Verbena pulchella. 23, Acacia (fine ioliage), Maurandya entwined with it, Geranium Sidonia. and Verbena pulchella for edging iind covering ground below Geraniums and peeping between them. 24, Light Fuchsias, lipht Pentatc- mons. Scarlet Globe Geranium, Bijou ditto. Cloth of Gold ditto, and Nycterinia selagmoides. The opposite twenty-four were exactly the same. The planting of the circle at the end of the avenue was as follows : — 1, Pyrethmm grandiftoram, edged with red Nasturtium. . 2, 2, Mrs. Holford Verbena, edged with Mrs, MUdmoy Verbena. j 3, 8, Purple King Verbena, edged with Aurea fioribundaCalceolaria 4, 4, Lobelia Linton, edged with Manellii Verbena. March 1, 1364. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 177 ta- ts 1-1 o ft. 178 JOinKNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. [ March 1, 1864. A BOEDEE BAID. I SHOULD like now to say a few words upon the subject of plantings flower-beds and borders, noticing the dilferent opinions that have been expressed in this Jom-nal, and giving my own views upon this very interesting subject. I would approach this discussion in the best possible spii'it, and if the knight (Chiu-ch militant, for once and once only) must tnt, I would wish him to enter the lists mounted on that worthy steed, " good nature," and having at his side a sword of good temper. As our worthy commander-in-chief has it, "Touch the shield with the blunt end of the lance merely," for it would give me, as it woidd give him, pain, if it were touched with the sharp end, indicative of mortal combat. Mj' aim is far other than sharp waiting or fault- finding. I wOl not thrust sore at my adversaries, or rather and far better, friends who take other views. None shall stand over the corpse of one, and moralising say — " AlaB ! the pitv, Here lies F. Chitty." Nor will it be necessary for me to telegrapli to the relations of another — " Ha«tc and see, ThoinBoa dee CD-)-" In spite of our little differences, there is a gi'eat oneness among us as writers in this Journal : who can doubt it ? Thus we all love flowers, and we all wisli to uphold the character of this periodical for gentlemanlifless. "VVe chiefly differ as to the way of making the best of oui- favourites — whether in this way or that way they look to the greatest advantage ; or at most we differ as to our love of one class of plants, or whether our hearts talce in all kinds. I was reading the other evening. Mi-. D. Thomson's plea- sant paper entitled " The Flower Garden " (.January 26th, page 70), and having done so, I next turned to my own little jottings on the bedding and border subject. Upon re- reading " King Croquet," and "Give us Back our Flower Borders," I see that amid a good deal of harmless banter (I love a timely joke), I took this position, that in small gardens it would be better not to fi-itter away a whole lawn in beds ;. still less was it desirable that the borders should, as is often the case, be wholly filled with bedding plants, all others having been given up — actually, as I have known them to be, barrowed off to the rubbish-heap. I then in- stanced a loroperly (so I thought, and still in a great degree think) planted border, and svu'e I am that a well-arranged mixed border is very interesting. I owned my great ad- miration of bedding plants in their proper places. I noticed the charming regularity and delightful order, extending over the whole year, of the blooming of border plants, some at one time, some at another, quoting a portion of Thom- son's "Spring," in proof; other feelings also coming into play, association with friends absent or departed, and per- manency, hence love, of each plant. To talk of the trouble of keeping, and room required for bedders, I know gar- deners who are " bothered " for want of room. I still agi-ee with what I wrote last autumn, but perhaps would add. Give us back the lest of our old border plants. But my scientific gardening friends, workers of hand and head, I presume not to your professional knowledge or skUl, but I stand before you as a representative of that large class who love a garden, understanding, to a degree at least, flowers, and mixing a good deal ivith the employers of gar- deners. As the representative of this class, I would also be the interpreter of their feelings. Now, I have seen during the last few years what I have been very soiTy to be forced to see — a falling-off' in the love of then' gardens in many ladies and gentlemen. The bedding system, at first a charming sui-prise — novelties always charm — and being very beautiful for some four or five months in the year, is now known, and its repetition year after year is possibly wearisome. A wet or bad season has, I do believe, made people grow almost indifferent. The love of Hoses, in which there is novelty if not progress, has increased, while the love of bedding plants has diminished. The yawning observation, " The Geraniums are not so good this year," answered by, "Ah! indeed, well very much the same I fancied." Indifference, indifference, for long ago all rapture has come to an end. The reviewer of Mr. Fleming's book (page 39, Januai-y 12th, 1SG4). has thus put the case very fah-ly. "There ai-e two gi-owing feelings as respects flower gardening of the present day: — Fh-st, that the throwing the wjiole strength of ornament into the summer and autumn months has been robbing the other months of their due attention ; and, secondly, a yearning desire to see more made of the old herb- aceous jilants that were huddled out of sight to make way for then-, perhaps, gayer but not more beautiful rivals." I think, too, the bedding system, pm-e and simple, would never have held on its way, unchallenged, for so long a time, but for the fact that bedding plants are in perfection when our Peers and M.P.'s return to theii' country residences ; and Enghsh people are such imitators, that what Lords and M.P.'s do must be the thing for Squire Stayathome, Parson Fixture, Dr. Gallipot, and even for Mr. Hoggins the retired grocer, not considering that all these worthy people are brought face to face with their gardens from January 1st to December Slst. Again : I would say intensely beautiful as beds are — many a time have I gazed upon them, even a quarter of a mUe distant, and even there thought them very gems of the earth, rising from the close-shaven lawn, catching and gladdening the eye with their beauty — still, guy colour is not the only object in gardens. The uncivilised negro girl delights in a red cotton handkerchief; the English lady asks for something less gaudy and more refined for her head- covering. Nature even in South America does not, as we might imagine, dazzle the eye ; but then we ask for more than colour, we ask for perfume. Great as is the gain to the gardener, by having pertbrmed for many years work of hand and head, yet there is always a danger in a mere professional view, and all have then- prejudices ; some have trade considerations as well. If a sudden decrease in demand of bedding plants come on this year, what would the nurserymen say ? With aU resiject for the professional man, I like also an opinion fi'om another stand-i5oint. I cannot for one moment allow that it is a gain to gaze upon mould for some, months ; no sense of di'cariuess may be caused, indeed, by the approach of night, but a gai'den should be a perpetual day, a day to gladden at all times. It is the gardener's highest triumjih, by a perpetuity of bloom, to have a perpetual summer. He must cruise against the seasons, must fight a stout battle, against Nature, and en- deavour to banish all seasons, save spring and summer, and never rest until he can present flowers to the eye every day of every year. I hold that it would be a noble feat if the writers of this Journal, the hand-and-head men, and we, extra-professionals, who merely pursue gardening as a source of gratification and pleasure, could inaugurate a new style of planting for jjarts of the garden. Progress is always needed, sameness palls the taste. I grieve to find that neither mistress nor young ladies show any compunction at sweeping away whole lawnsful of beds to make room for King Croquet, as they would have done seven years ago ; but they have found the bedding plants give them less and less pleasure, so they l^art from them without pain. In Scotland the servants used to bargain that they should not have even salmon more than four days a-week. Sameness must tii-e. What I would say in regard to beds is this — on most lawns there will be fewer, let them be all the better, greater cai-e, if possible, taken with them. They will be a cluster of glowing gems, a brilliant picture toned down by the greater space of lawn: hence they will be more beautiful than ever. As to the borders, I grasp heai-tily at the idea convoyed in the expression, " It would be better to modify the old style, and adapt it to the times in which we live." Gar- deners do your best, you know the habits of all plants ; gentlemen can point out the want, it is for gardeners to supply it. Something new in the way of planting would make a reputation. If the be.=;t plants were culled from the old border va- rieties, and new ones added, the sight of old friends would be greeted warmly ; and new friends, of some people, ai'C always welcomed, and both together would be solid "plea- sant company." Lastly, I would hope that no kind of plants will be per- mitted to become extinct, or so r.are as to have to be im- IJorted. It is surely a monstrous thing to cease to cultivate March 1, 1S64. ] JOUKNAL OP HOKTICULTtTEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 179 any flower. The advance made in spring gardening- ia a wholesome sign, and brings prominently before us some old favourites. I now take leave of this subject, and beg to shake hands, in type, with my friends who have taken a different view to my own, and some future day I hope to say a few words upon the legitimate connection between sentiment and flowers. — Wiltshire Eectoe. FLOWEES OF THE PAST SEASON. BEDDINa GEEANIUMS. The taste for "bedding-out" plants has led to a great deal of attention being paid to the culture and increase of Scarlet Geraniums, as they are called, although white and pink flowers come under that head now-a-days. Many hybridisers have engaged in supplying the demand ; and so easily are they seeded that the number of sorts is legion ; while the difficulty has been made greater of growing a good selection, from the fact of the same soi-t having been sent out under different names, or, what is just as likely, it has been obtained in different places at the same time. In o-iving, then, a few notes as to those v/hich more especially came under my own notice last season, I shall state my own opinion as to the most desirable sorts for general growth. I have seen a pai-terre formed entirely of Geraniums of various kinds and colours ; and although this may be perhaps a questionable matter, yet where so many tastes have to be considered, the greater the vai'iety to choose from the greater the utility, though this vfill be considerably hin- dered by a too great similarity. It may be said that in these notes X am a little too late, that we want reliable in- formation as to the kinds coming out and not as to those that are past. I do not think so, for it is impossible to give reliable infoi-mation on untried flowers. Look at the great Snowball- White Tom Thumb controversy, for a proof of this. When the plants come before the general public they wiU be able to judge as to their merits. I may, perhaps, here add that I saw in Paris last yeai- what seemed to me a very superior white — Madame BarUlet, to be let out, I believe, this spring by Kougiere-Chauviere ; and I think, too, that the multitude buy not the very newest but those which have come down a little in price, so as to be more within theii- reach. I received last year a goodly supply from Messrs. Hen- derson, of the Wellington Nursery, and Mr. Bull, of Chelsea ; and my own opinion of them was seconded and thirded by my friend and neighbour Mr. Banks and his gardener. Thus did we endeavour to arrive at some tolerably fair de- cision concerning them. Of the others which came out last year I cannot pronounce, having only seen them in other places. MESSES. E. G. HENDERSON & SON. VABIEGATED-LEAVED VARIETIES. Mrs. PoUoclc. — Oh, this is two years old! Yes, but its price has been so high as to virtually exclude it from growth ; while last season it came out at a lower price and many grew it. Having now tried it for two years I have no hesi- tation iu advising all who have a garden to grow it. It has done well with me both in wet and cold summers, and is a very attractive-foliaged plant. Goldfinch. — Something- in the same way, but not so good or vigorous in habit. It seems to me to have too much of the Mrs. Milford. blood in it, and the fohage has not the brightness which characterises some of this section. Kenilworth. — A very dwarf silver tricoloured variety. The flowers are scarlet, and the habit distinct. Rosette. — This has pretty pink flowers. The pink marking iji the leaves only shows in a young state. It is dwarf in habit, and suitable for vases. T?ie Emiiress. — Another dwarf variety. One can hardly say it has tricoloured foliage, as it is only in its young state that it has that character ; and aU these silver triooloured- foliaged varieties are more suitable for in-door cultivation than for beds. PLAIN-FOLIAGED VARIETIES. Ossian. — This is one of the last, and to my mind the best of poor Donald Beaton's seedlings. He seems to have suc- ceeded in throwing the tint of some of the Nosegays into Punch, and thus to have obtained this plant. Its habit is similar to that variety, but not so tall. The colour is orange scarlet with a decided shade of purple in it, very similar to the old Pelai-gonium known years and years ago as Dennis's Perfection. I do not think any one wiU be disappointed iu growing this flower on my poor recommendation. It is the most distinct of its class that I have seen of late. Sir William Wallace. — Rosy cerise colour. Habit good, but no very great advance on kinds of the same shade of colour. Madame Eudersclorff. —This is one of those new French va- rieties in the style of Francois Desbois and Henri de Beaudot, in which the flowers are a bright salmon margined with white. Habit of growth good and not too vigorous; nor are the flowers, as might have been feared, easily affected by rain. It stood well in my little garden, and was much admu-ed. Diadem. — Another somewhat similar variety. Dark zone leaf; the colour somewhat lighter than the previous one, but very good. MR. Vf. BULL. ' Mr. BuU is so well known as a caterer of novelties, that we expect to find him entering the lists for all sorts of things, from the newest Orchids down to the latest Antu-rhinums ; and so in this department of scarlet Geraniums we must expect that he would be a competitor. He had selected from many thousand seedlings (so he told me) the varieties sent out last year, some of them being very meritoriovis ; and I am therefore not unprepared to find him stating that he has nov.r a set far in advance of any that he has before sent out, and some of them novel in colour. I have, how- ever, only to do with those which I have seen ; and must again repeat that the opinions are not merely what I have thought of them, but of other good judges also who have seen thenr growing in my garden. Visitor. — Bright salmon rose ; pip large ; truss well foi-med. A good variety, of free-flowering and tolerably dwarf habit. Caroline. — Like Herald of Spring, and no improvement on it. Alfred — A very bright scarlet. Free-flowering in habit. Foliage good. Commissioner. — A good bright scai-let flower, of good form and substance. Dwarf in habit and free in flowering-. Likely to be a desfrable sort. Nora. — Not free enough in flowering to be of any use. Persian. — ^The same may be said of this. Editor. — ^Very free ; bright scai-let flower ; foliage quite plain. A good variety. Coral. — Plain foliage; truss very large and full, bright scai-let ; pips round and of good substance. Altogether an excellent variety. Fairy.- — Too light. Softness. — Washy. Climax. — Very ii-ee-flowering, light scarlet, and in other respects desirable. Rosamond. — Salmon-coloured flowers. Dwarf in habit, and free-flowering. Enchantress. — Salmon ; large, weU-foi-med pip ; truss large also ; foliage with a very beautiful dark horseshoe. A desir- able variety, in fact better than any I have seen in the same style. Bomiie Dundee. — Very dark salmon ; foliage good, and truss large. Viceroy. — Too gross in habit and too scanty in flowering to be of any use. There may have been others sent out by other growers as good as these ; but as I have not seen them I cannot venture to give an opinion. And now let me add the names of those which I consider amply sufficient for all purposes. I have marked with an asterisk those best suited for bedding purposes. *Herald of Spring. *Ossiy.n. ».\I. Mania. 'Perfection (called also Attraction, Bou;e de Feu, aLd Crystal Pa- lace Scarlet). •P':nc!i. *Christine. -D., Deal. '■Diadem. "'.Vladame Rudersdorff. Paul I'Abblj. Prince of Hesse. *AIadanie Vaucher. IXosette. "Cloth of Gold, ♦flower ot Spring. **-B)jou. *Golden Chain. *Jane. "Mrs. Pollock. •Hotel de Cluny. Pectinata. Countess. * Diadem. ♦Commissicner. "Enchanti ess. 180 JOTJENAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ March 1, 18M. WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN GAKDEN. Should the weather prove fine, and the ground be found in a condition suitable for sowing (when it crumbles beneath the tread it may be said to be so), the following principal sowings may be made : Beans (Broad), when sowing these and Peas, if there is any fear of their being attacked by the ■wireworm, it is an excellent plan, after they are sown in drills, and previous to covering them in, to water them well with spirits of tar diluted with water, in the proportion of one pint to six gallons of water. It is also found that mice do not take to them so readily when they are thus treated. Advancing crops of the same to have more earth drav^'n to them, and some branches of spruce fir- or other such sheltering material stuck in on the windward side. Borecole, make small sowings of this, and also of Brussels Sprouts. Carrots, sow ; the most profitable for small families are the Scarlet Short Horn, and the Short Orange or Intermediate. A few of the Long Red may be added, as they keep some- what better. Cauliflowers, prepare a sheltered border for sowing a small crop. Leeks, sow for a main crop in the open gi'ound, but to have them fine they should be sown under glass in a little heat, and afterwards pricked out. Onionis, sow the main crops ; the most useful kinds for general use are the White Spanish or Portugal, Strasbui'gh, or White Globe, with a few of James's Keeping for late use. Under- ground Onions, as recommended to be planted some time ago, are useful for atfording bulbs till the general crop is ready, and the true SUver-skin for pickling. Ti:e autumn- sown plants to be transferred to a warm, rich border to fur- nish an early supply, and at the same time a few of the smallest bulbs of last year for the same purpose. Parsnips, sow in drills a foot apart for a main crop. Rhubarb, protect the crowns by placing straw over them. Sijinach, sow a few more rows. Winter Spinach and Parsley wiU be much im- proved by a di'essing of soot on the first wet day. Sea-kale, the crowns in the open ground should be earthed up to blanch. When the soil is sandy and light, it may serve, but should be broken fine before placing over the crowns, that the heads may not grow crooked. On heavy soils old tan, decayed leaves, or coal ashes may be used for blanching. FLOWER GAKDEN. Allowing and dressing lawns will soon require attention. Lawns or portions of them having a hungry, sandy soil, and liable in the summer to burn, should have a slight dressing of some kind every spring ; even common soU will benefit them, as it induces another tiex% if we may be allowed the term, of svirface roots, of course increasing their number. However, a dressing of marly or clayey soil in a highly piUverised state would obviate the tendency to burn. Su- perfluous suckers of Roses, Lilacs, &c., may be removed and planted out for suocessional stock, and the old stools of Roses well top-di-essed. All trained trees and plants should receive attention. March winds are often destructive when the precaution of renewing old stakes and strings i-otted by the damps of winter is neglected. A pretty floral effect may be obtained at an early season with Narcissus, Hyacinths, and Heartsease, which may be planted for the purpose now. Anemones, and the single Wallflowers, last summer's seed- lings, will shortly bloom ; and in large masses, as in the Green and other parks around London, the perfume is agi-eeable, and the effect delightful. Plant Lily of the Valley where requisite. Get out Carnations, Pinks, Picotees, Sweet Williams, Canterbury Bells, Lychnis, AquUegias, &c. Sow Wind Anemones for autumn-flowering, and attend carefully to the sowing of hardy annuals, placing inverted pots over them where Uable to be injured. Do not forget Mignonette and Sweet Peas. FRUIT GARDEN. AVe must now begin to look for the opening blossom, and be ready on the fu-st emergency to afford isrotection ; Haythorn's hexagon netting, stout straw ropes stretched upon poles, or branches of spruce fir 8 or 10 feet long, the largest end being fastened to the coping of the wall, are amongst the available materials for the purpose. For the destruction of the larva of the caterpillar which was so in- jurious to the Cim-ant and Gooseberry trees last season, now is a good time to rake away the earth from their stems, and to dress them with quicklime, soot, and wood ashes, rctui'n- ing the earth as soon as it is performed. Prevention is better than cure, and this will save much hand-picking by- and-by. GItEBNHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. The weather having become milder, fire heat may be dis- pensed with for haidwooded greenhouse plants, unless the night t<2mperature fall below 30°. At this time, however, and for a few weeks to come, let the necessary waterings and cleaning be done sufficiently early in the day for the air of the house to become sufficiently dry before evening, when less danger will arise to the plants by a low night temperature than when they are exposed to it suiTounded with a damp atmosphere. Pelargoniums, herbaceous Cal- ceolarias, and similar plants of soft growth, to be kept in a night temperature of 45", which may be increased a few degrees if the plants are wanted to bloom early. Keep them near the glass and at a sufficient distance apart to admit the light fi'eely to theii' lower leaves, which otherwise will turn sickly and fall off. The Camellias intended for bl'X)ming late in the autumn should now be forced into wood, under a temperature of 60° to 65". Shade is necessary while making then- young wood. Those exhausted with flowering to be cut back and removed to a cool greenhouse for about thi'ee weeks. The same practice will do for the Indian Azaleas. If forced into wood now they will bloom in the course of November and December. Heaths may now be shifted, use abundance of drainage and sandy heath soil full of fibres. The ball must be thoroughly moist before shifting, for if perfectly dry no after-watering can bring it right. Pot Cape or other bulbs as soon as the foliage is getting strong, chiefly in loam, leaf mould, and sand. Take a portion of the Epacrises into a gentle heat as soon as they have done blooming. By starting them into gi'owth about this time and Iiaring their wood ripened early, they yviR be in full lilossom in November, at which season their flowers retain their beauty much longer than after the sun becomes power- ful in the spring. Proceed as diligently as possible with the repotting of such of the hardwooded greenhouse plants as requh'e it, so as to afford them time to make a vigorous growth. Be cai-eful, however, before jjotting to have the ball in a nice moist state, and avoid giving lai-ge shifts to weakly growers. STOVE AND FORCING-PIT. See that the plants in these structures sustain no check. Increase the temperature gradually, a degree or two every week, and take care to shut-up with 10" or 15° of sun heat on clear days. Keep a moist growing atmosphere, and look well to the watering and potting of such plants as require it. PITS AND FRAMES. One of these structures may be prepared with ashes for the reception of the thinnings of the greenhouse. Many of the hardwooded plants may be removed here and matted-up at night. This will make way for the increasing size and number of Pelargoniums, Cinerarias, Fuchsias, &c. Con- tinue sowing tender annuals in heat. Pc^t struck cuttings, and exclude cold winds. W. Keane. DOINGS OP THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. AVoRK much the same as last week. Finished raking tree leaves, tm-ned up and reversed the ridges of ground pre- viously ridged up, and took \ip several beds of Celery, lilt- ing the plants with a ball, and placing them closely together in ;m open shed, with old Mushroom-dung and earth between the plants, as high up as they were previously blanched, after giving a Httle water at the roots. By this means the Celery will occupy little space, and we have trenched and ridged up the ground crosswise, so that what little dung was left below the' Celery could be equally spread along the surface of the ridges. We gave a pretty fail- dressing for the Celery plants, but we find they have left little of it behind them. After such frosts, this lifting and storing does much to prevent damping. Our Celery this season has not been distinguished for size, but it luij; Ijeen very sweet, and not a head was lost fi'om bolting, rotting, or otherwise. Sowed Celery seed, Chilis, and a few Love Apples, &c. The weather has Ijeen troublesome as rcgaa'ds March 1, 1864. ] JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUBB AND COXTAGE OAUDBNEE. 181 aU vegetables under glass, the great -want being light, and sufficient heat, and pure air. We have refrained from making a fresh bit of a Mushroom-bed in the Mushroom- house, as the weather was too cold for the door being opened so long as would have been necessary to have removed the worn-out bed, though the old materials are wanted for other purposes, as potting Fuchsias, &o. A cold stream of air over a bed exposed in fuU bearing, is apt to make the Mush- rooms tough and leathery. PRUIT GAKDEN. Moved a few Peach trees, and made preparations for planting a few more, as wheeling could be well done in the frosty mornings. The frost will do good by keeping crops and fruit-tree buds back. Finished painting all the trees in orchard-house, with the mixture mentioned last week ; and here we find we made a mistake in omitting to mention that a pound of white hellebore went along with the other materials, to make rather more than eight gallons of this mixture. That and the tobacco water would be rather distasteful to insects ; but for merely shutting up any eggs of insects it might be left out, the clay and the sulphur are about as good as anything. In pruning, though looking very carefully, we did not see a trace of an insect. The buds thus painted over are just beginning to move, and when about half open we will be inclined to smoke again, whether we see any traces of insects or not. We used pretty well to laugh at the bugbear of insects in-doors, until this brown beetle troubled us for the two years past. If one fat one escapes to produce a string of young ones, there will be endless trouble. We ought never to wait to see a second. The supposed ruin caused by smoking, washing, &o., is often owing rather to the plants being injured by the hosts of insects before the means of cleansing them are resorted to. Just fancy one of the gardeners of the olden time passing his Cucumbers day after day, and seeing nothing much the matter until every leaf on the lower side was encrusted with insects. Then, smoking and drenching are little better than labour and money thrown away. The most satisfactory plan would be to burn the whole of the plants, burn sulphur in the frame, remove the soil, whitewash all the brick and woodwork, make a fr-esh commencement, and look sharply for the first insect. Not long ago we were told of a wash which had thoroughly cleared the plants in a stove, and by one washing, too, though previously they had taken such firm possession that one could not walk along the house without having his clothes soiled by them. We presume we looked a little incredulous, as we were repeatedly assured of the reality of the fact. We have no doubt that our in- formant believed thoroughly what he said. But we also know that, long before plants could be so much infested, every chink and cranny in the pots, in the soil, in the walls, the woodwork, &c., would be well stored with young bugs, and myriads of theu- eggs, and that no mere single washing to the plants would remove the evil. Not only here do we realise the truth of the proverb, " A stitch in time saves nine," but when plants are so much affected as to need the nine applications, it wiU often be most economical to give none at all, but consign plants and insects to one common destruction. The weather with us has been so dull and sunless, that Peaches and Strawbenies in bloom do not set so well and quickly as usual ; but most likely this will save some trouble in thinning, as generally they set too thickly. For general particulars see last week. Went for the last time over the old Grapes, now rather shrivelled. ORNAMENTAL DEPARTMENT. We could do little out of doors except turn over beds and borders that had been previously dug and ridged, in order that the frost might shatter and sweSten the soil. The snow has been too slight to prevent such work, as we think it injurious to turn down to any depth either frosted earth or snow. We wish we had a good fall of snow or rain, as water is rather soaroe with us, and this is uncommon at the present season. Fresh planting shrubs should now be finished as early as possible, and if large they may require some extra watering and syringing in warm weather in summer. The ground with us has not been in a suitable state for doing anything among herbaceous plants. Pinks turned out should have the soil firmed against the stems, and a little fresh soil and lime laid against them, which will protect them, and help to keep slugs at a distance. Pansies, Picotees, and Carnations intended to bloom in pots, should now be potted in good fresh soil ; and if the roots in the small pots are much interlaced they should be gently disen- tangled, as strong bloomingdepends much on vigorous gi'owth before the flower-stem shows. Perpetual, tree, or winter- blooming Carnations, if now in small pots, should have the central bud nipped out, and be either repotted, or, what is better, planted out in the middle of next month in fresh turfy soU in a border, and be taken up and repotted in August or September. Auriculas should have all the air and light possible, and if mUd weather be anticipated, give water carefully, and in a fortnight or so remove the surface soil carefully down to the upper roots, and dress with rich compost, in which old sweet cowdung should form the chief part. Stuck some green branches among HoUyhocks that were turned out in a border fr-om a striking last summer and autumn. The old plants seem aU right in the front of shrubberies, with each its little mound of burned earth and charred rubbish. Gave aU the air possible to the Calceolaria-bed, as the plants are now a perfect thicket, hardly a cutting ptit in in the autumn having missed, and we are as yet afraid to trust them in earth pits without any glass over them. Partly to this hardiness, and no starting in pots, we attri- bute the fact that nothing with us beats Calceolarias for blooming. We are sorry that Mr. Hamilton, of Hamwood, and Mr. Eobson, find them so uncertain as to blooming in autumn. At Linton they grow with great luxuriance at that time, but do not bloom enough, and we know the plants receive little coddling there in winter or spring. ^ We have just put in a good number of cuttings of Calceolaria amplexi- caulis, using semicircular drain-tiles for the purpose, and setting them in a imld hotbed. We could put in a multi- tude of others had we room. We allude to the AmplexicauUs just now for the purpose of saying that we never like topping that kind after the middle of March. There is no other Calceolaria that has the same rich creamy yellow. Most people complain of its lateness, but this arises chiefly from late topping. If the shoots are little topped after this they wOl bloom early. We had intended saying something on propagating bedding plants, but beg instead to refer to the article by Mr. Thomson last week. What he says about hardening- off is of great importance. With some people hardening and kUling-off are very nearly the same thing. All such changes should be effected gradually, as it is much better to prevent rather than to retrieve a mishap. The young man who becomes careful in this respect will also know so much of the evUs of sudden changes, that it is hoped he may escape the pains and penalties to which so many old gardeners are subjected. We also adopt the wooden-box system to a considerable extent ; but being near the plea- sui-e grounds we also turn-out plants as soon as possible into temporary bods, and raise and pack them in such boxes to be taken to the beds. By this planting we save a vast deal of watering. When Verbenas and such plants are struck in drain-tiles, old spouting, &c., we do not transplant the struck cuttings into temporary beds separately, but in lumps or whole tUesfiil, and this keeps the roots near at home. It is always a good sign when a man does the best according to cfrcumstances ; and this is one of the advan- tages derived from a fr-ee interchange of opinion and practice. Moved most of the cuttings that were struck in a deep pit into a cooler place, and put some hot tree leaves in the bed to raise it highei-, as we noticed a few of them inclined to draw. The cuttings will now be 2 feet fr-om the glass at back, and 16 inches in fr-ont, and at that distance at present win rarely want any shading. Filled the space with Verbena cuttings that were previously smoked, as on close inspection a few green fly were seen. Turned a lot of Golden Chain, Cloth of Gold, Bijou, and other Geraniums established in smaU pots, into wooden boxes with roughish loam and leaf mould round them, and had the pots thoroughly washed in warm water, to be filled again with Stella, &c., which will be turned out in a similar manner. Watered Gloxinias beginning to push. Put in cuttings of Euphorbia jacquiniaeflora, and Poinsettia pulcherrima. The first has a very fine effect when 182 JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ March 1, 1864. planted out against the back wall of a stove. The Poinsettia we preter to be dried before the cuttings are made. Young plants generally flower best. We have no doubt that there are many modes of treating it successfully. For fine large flowers, or rather floral leaves, on comparatively stubby plants, we used to stop none after June, or even May, and gave all the sun possible, with diminished water, but not so as to distress the plants, in September and October, which arrested extension and caused the flower-buds to form earlier. — E. F. COYENT GAEDEIN" MAHKET.— Feb. 27. The supply of all kinds of out-door produce iu season continues good. Fruit, howKver, is becoming scarce, except Pine Apples, whicli aresufficieut for the demand, and Oranges and Lemons, which are plentiful, the latter especially so. Old Grapes are now very scarce ; they now chieay consist of Barbarossa, of which good samples are still to be had. New Black Hamburglis are also to be obtained at from 20s. to 30s. per lb. Spanish Melons are now over. Apples and Pears consist of the same kinds as those mentioned in previous reports. Of French salads, consisting of Cabbage and Cos Lettuces, Endive, Kadishes, and Barhe de capttcin, there is a good supply. Cut flowers principally consist of TuUps, Hyacinths, Narcissus, Cyclamens, Cinerarias, Pelargoniums, Camellias, Roses, and Snowdrops. FRUIT. Apples Apricots I sieve doz. .... dos. 100 lbs. se....lb. ioo s. 2 0 0 0 15 1 0 4 0 d. s. d 0to4 0 0 0 0 • 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 YBGET Mulberries ...quart B. 0 0 4 0 8 S 6 0 14 d. s. 0 to 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 12 0 10 0 10 0 0 ti 20 d 0 0 Figs Filberts* Nut Oranges Peaches 100 0 0 Grapes, Kothoi Foreign ... Pears ...bush. 0 n Muscats., , Pine Apples..., Pomegranates Walnuts lb. eacli bush. 0 Melons ... each n AELES. Asparagus Beans, Broad., Kidney Beet, Red bundle ... bush. 100 s. 10 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 4 1 2 i 0 0 0 1 d. 8. 0 to 15 0 0 0 3 0 1 a 2 6 2 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 8 6 2 0 5 3 2 3 0 8 0 3 0 6 4 d 0 0 0 G 0 6 0 0 8 0 0 0 (1 0 0 0 0 Leeks Lettuce Mushrooms ... Musld. & Cress Onions pickling .. Parsley Parsnips Peas .. bunch .... doz. ... pottle , punnet .. Dush'll ... quart ...bunch doz. 8- 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 6 0 1 2 1 2 0 0 d. 8. 4 too 0 2 0 2 2 0 6 6 e 0 4 0 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 6 2 6 4 0 0 4 0 d n 0 0 Broccoli Brussels Sprou Cabbage Capsicums Carrots bundle si sieve .... doz. 100 . bunch .... doz. , bundle each 0 8 0 0 0 Cauliflower .... Celery Cucumbers .... Endive Potatoes Radishes doz. Rhubarb Savoys Sea-kale Spinach Tomatoes Turnips .... sack bunches , bundle ... doz. . basket sieve .,2 sieve ...bunch 0 0 6 Fennel bunch Garlic and Shallots, lb. Herbs bunch Horseradish ... buudle 6 0 0 e TO CORRESPONDENTS. *#* "We request that no one will write privately to the de- partmental writers of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country G-entleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All communications should therefore be ad- dressed soZeZy to The Editors of the Journal of Horticid- lure, 4*c., 162, Fleet Street, London, E.C. We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the same sheet questions relating to Grardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once. N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next week. Potting Camellias {A Constant Subscriber). — Of the compost you name tlie ingrydients are— three parts of turfy loam, good; one ii:irt manure from Melon-frame, poison ; one part leaf mould, well ; with a little sea sand, bad. The most suitable soil for the Camellia is, eandy peat three- fourths, and one-fourth turfy loam, with a liberal admixture of failver sand. In the absc-uce o( thia you may safely employ turfy loam three-fourths, one-fourth well-rotted leaf mould, adding a liberal supply of liver sand. Your compost will, thereiore, do, if you omit the manure and sea sand; hut the plants will not do so well as in a proper compost. You will find some notes on aunualH suitable for your purpose in anoihur column, and more will appear shortly. Twelve Veilbenas fou Pot Cdlture (Idem).— White Lady, Foxhunter, Lord Ltjifjh, Admiral Mitford, Firefly, Mrs. Ilolford, Sultana, Queen, Lord Craven, Striata perfecta, Corunet, and L'Avenir de Ballent. Twelve Veuuknas fou Cut Blooms {Idem). — Etiie Deans, Nora, Peep o'Day, Hosalie, Stella, The Bride, Favourite, Foxhunter, Lord Craven, AriosLo Improved, Marie Antoinette, and The Warrior. EvEROREENs [A Subscviher, LinieHck), — All the evergreens you name will endure ordinary winters in your garden-borders iu Scotland. Easter BEcnEt Pear (A StihscrU'er). — It Is very capricious in ripeningr. Gather in the middle of October thoae produced on your west "wall. Alpine Strawberry [Fruit-eater), — Triomphe de Holhnde Alpine Strawberry most probably would not come tru.- from seed. It must be propagated by runners line the common varieties of Strawberry. Preserving Peas from Mice [A Sufferer).— The most effective pre- ventive is an inch in depth, and G inches in width, of coal ashes, very finely sifted, placed over the rows. Red lead is a poi:-on, and if the rats eat it they will probably not revisit you. Flowering Plants foe Baskets {De J'o/x). — Hanging-baskets for plants are best made to hold a lair amount of earth, and they are to be covered with moss (sphagnum is best) inside, so as to retain the soil. The basket should be lined with sphagnum to a depth of half an inch at the bottom and up the sides, and when this is done the soil required for the kind is put in, and the plant planted. Convolvulus raauntanicus, a fine porcelain blue, requiring a composi of tnrly loam half, sandy peat or leaf mould the remainder, with a liberal admixture of silver sand; 0. canta- brieus, rosy purple ; and its variety C. cantabricus stellatu,-i novus, pink, with a white star in the centre, are handsome plants for baskets, requiring the same soil as the first; Nierenbergia gracilis, white, veined with lilac; N. intermedia, crimson, requiring the same soil as the Convolvulus; Tropeeolum minus coccineum, orange scarlet, growing well in loam and leaf mould in eaual parts. Most of the Tropoeolums are fine in baskets. Thunbergia alata, orange, brown eye; T. alata alba, brown eye. Both require rich loamy soil. Achimenes, Petunias, Torauia asialica, and the double orange and scarlet Nasturtiums, are very fine in baskets. Three Trailing Plants foe Hangisg-evsksts ( JF. E. S.). — Convol- vulus cantabricus, Nierembergia gracilis, and Tropseolum Comet. McsHRooiis [J. C.).— The specimen sent is of the common Mushroom, and consequently edible. Keeping CAaROTs [ I^^. JT.).— We have kept Carrots for months in good condition by cutting a slice off the crown, so that they could not sprout. The price per ton for taking up depends upon too many local circumstances for us to give a reply. Woodlall's ** Landlord acd Tenant" is a book that may suit. you. Ferns foe Baskets {J. J. J.).— You will find full information in our next Number we hope. Begonias [A Novice). — In No. 55 of our present Series you will find all the information you ask lor. You cm have it free by post from our office for four postage stamps. Trees to Form a High Screen {A Subscriber). — As the trees you purpose planting are to have a frontage of t-hrubs, we would not by any means plant; a Weeping Ash behind them. If we were limited to the space you mention, 32 feet, we would simply plant one kind of tree only, or say two, which might be Birch and Purple Beech alternately. It would, how- ever, be advisable to ascertain what trees thrive best in the neighbourhood ; and if quick growth, &c., be important, be guided by existing examples. Poplars of the Biack Italian and Lomburdy species quickly rise up in places where they thrive and do not spread like Lime and Horse Chestnut, so as to overhang adjoining shrubs; both of t^em are also fast-growing trees. As a general rule single rows of evergreen Fits do not succeed well, but most deciduous trees will answer. The Thorn, Laburnum, and Irish Yew, are more proper adjuncts to the shrubbery than suitable trees for a high terrace. In a situation like yours, with mixed shrubs as a foresround, the sky line ought to be nest studied; and if diversity be advisable, let those you plant differ from those in adjoining positions, and this in ail likelihood may be done as well with one or two kuids as \iiih. twenty. Double Violets {G. D.). — Double Violets usually do better on a stiff than on a light soil, the best beds we have seen being on such a soil. Their culture is simple enough. Dig or rather trduch the ground at least 13 inches deep, but it would be better 2 feet, working in some uung about the middle, and in damp weather in May take oU' the rooted runners or side-layers, which may have been previously encouraged to root by having fine-sifted sandy soil spread amongst and partly ovei them, and place in rows IS inches apart or even more, and souicwhat less in the row. Remove side-runners as they appear, the same as you would tiiose of Strawberries, and if red spider appear dust well with sulphur and soot mixed. U the season he a dry one, a good watering will be .beneficial. We have no doubt that you will be rewarded with a tine crop of beautiful bloom in due time. Names of Plants (X. J".)-— 1 is probably Cupressus sempervirens ; 2 is 7iot Astrap:Ea Wallichii, nor do we recognise it from the single leaf sent ; 3, Selaginella Martensii ; 4, Selagiuella denticulata ; 5, appears to be a young Irond of Asplenium Fabianum. (An Old Subscriber, G. />.)— Gom- phocarpus fruiicosus, a greenhouse plant, requiring a soil compose l of two parts sandy loam and one part fibry peat. [0. iJ.)— Sphairouema fragrans. POTJLTEY, BEE. and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. MANAGEMENT OF WATER FOWL. (ConUmied from page 160.) With wild fowl as with other pets, overfeeding ia a great evil. Heavy, fat bii-ds dose listlessly on the water, or squat on the grassy bank and will hardly move, while the suffi- ciently but moderately fed flutter along the sui-faco to the accustomed feeding-place the moment I am seen basket in hand. Then comes one of my plcasm'es. They scramble after the i^ieccs of bread thrown upon the sui'face tUl it is alive with them ; and when the water is cleai- the Eed-headed Pochard may be seen swimming under water after the pieces that sink. Many a happy houi- I spend in a small summer- house that overlooks my pond and my favoui-itea. The water is enclosed by a wattle fence, as I have long found out Ducks will not only not remain tame if they have the semblance of liberty, but they will become wild if they March 1, 1861. ] JOITRNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAR,DE]SrER. 183 have scope or the means of hiding. There is very little covert on my pond ; but I have encouraged some flags and rushes at one spot. These are duly appreciated. Being thoroughly pinioned they cannot fly, and I am, therefore, secure ; accidents or the acts of Ducks' foes excepted. I am very particular in seeing that they are sufficiently pinioned. The pinion, according to the generally received opinion, is that which is also termed the flight, and is composed of five feathers. When these are removed the bird can fly almost as -well without it as with it. This flight, or these five feathers, gTOW from the last joint of the wing; below this and nearer to the body is another joint, this is not enough. Below this will be found the spur of the wing, an exceed- ingly hard and pointed bone projecting from the third joint. If a sharp knife be put under this spur, with the edge resting on the wing, and the back of it be struck a good tap with a stout stick, the operation is complete. The amputated part flies off, the woxind is protected by the spm-, and the bird being thrown into the water the cold application stays the bleeding. It feeds immediately, and except that its flying is spoiled, it is not in any way affected by the operation. I forgot to say the pinion must rest on a post or the corner of a stool or table when the operation takes place. Two persons are necessary. The real operator holds the bird by the ■wing flimly close to the body with the left hand, and also keeps the wing fuBy spread out by placing the thumb behind the principal joint in the middle of the wing. The right hand holds the knife so lightly on the wing that it does not hurt the bird nor cause it to struggle, and the blow being given the operation is complete. By way of warning, I advise a judicious choice of the person who strikes the blow. The knuckles of the right hand of the operator are in dan- gerous proximity to the back of the knife, and if the stick used as a mallet be a long one, and the blow awkwardly struck, it often descends on the knuckles instead of the weapon. My eyes even now flash fire at the recollection of it. I have the beautiful Carolina Duck, with its variegated crest, its white-spotted ruddy breast, its dehoately-barred sides, rich with metallic lustre, its red eye and bill ; the jolly- looking Red-headed Pochard, with its red head and neck, black breast, grey body, and red eye; the Black-headed with its graceful crest and sharp-cut division of black and white plumage, with uniqvie colour and gloss of head, set off by the bright golden eye ; the many-coloured Shoveller, with his curious biU ; the pretty little Teal, only thought little of because he is common ; the Garganey Teal, substituting a white for the azui-e stripe on the head of the common, and having its beautiful bine and white streamers ; the graceful Pintail, with its taper neck striped with white, and its long taU; the cheerful Widgeon, with his white-patched wing, and men-y-looking head ; the grave tortoiseshell-coloured Sheldrake, with his red bUl. All these I have, and save the CaroUnas, they are the cheap sorts within the reach of every one. I covet the Mandarins, but I cannot afford them. They aU know me,' and I never tire of watching them ; but if there be a time when I take more than ordinary interest in them, it is on a summer's evening after a very hot day. Even in a small place like that I have, and although they are comparatively tame, they are yet true to instinct. They hide as much as possible during the day, and they feed at night. So, in a state of nature, flocks of Ducks are seen asleep on the water in the midst of a large lake. They can see the approach of danger on any side ; but at night they come inland to feed. Half an hour before twilight all my birds are on the qui vive. They rouse up from their sleepy state, they seai-ch every corner, they chase every insect, they thrust their bOls into every hole. I sit in the arbour with my pets, a retriever, a terrier, very often a sandy cat, and last, not least, two little girls. One is fond of everything that has life ; the other does not know a Sheldrake from a Blackbird. The little girl who is an amateur carries the basket, and it contains odd scraps of bread. The Ducks are holding their conversation. None but those who have noticed it aie aware of the continual cackle or calling of wild fowl, and it is not addressed at random, but to each other. While they are scattered about on the water, one at one end will start across to the other, and commence an animated con- versation, accompanied by strange " bobbings around," and curious antics ; others will join at once. The Carolina Drake sets out his feathers and drives on the water like a Swan. The Widgeon throws up his head and whistles as he goes. When all are fully occupied, we throw in a few pieces of bread, then comes the scramble. The pieces are purposely large, and thrown one by one. As soon as one is secured, the fortunate possessor is chased by every other bird, and what with losses by the way, and open robbery by nibbling, seldom secures more than the morsel held in the bill. This is kept up bo long as the bread lasts, and then a few grains of com are thrown in, and the dun birds and tufted Ducks dive for them, and at last the birds leave the water and come up to our feet to pick up the crumbs that have fallen. These Ducks know every member of my famDy. They are never iU or out of condition. They cost little to keep, and are an endless amusement. There is one drawback — they do not breed, at least not with me. Some years since a friend of mine had some Teal and some Sheldrakes given to him. He had no pond in his gai-den, and, therefore, put them in his rickyard where there was a piece of water. The Sheldrakes bred at once, and being unable to burrow (the Burrow Duck) in the clayey soil, they did so into a hayrick, where they laid and hatched. The Teal did the same in a small patch of rushes. This was singular, as many try for years and never succeed ia breeding a bird. — B. EXHIBITING FOWLS NOT BELONGING TO THE E5HIBIT0E. SoKELT against my will I have come to the conclusion that it is desirable to address myself to you once more. I saw in your Journal a day or two ago certain misconstruc- tions of some remarks of mine on the exhibition rule as to ownershiji, which if not corrected may swell, perhaps, to the dimensions of the recent controversy. I write with the disadvantage of not having your Journal at hand to refer to, and I am unable to recall to my recollection any passage which would justify the interpretation which has been pxit upon it. I wiU, therefore, make a statement which I hope will put the matter in a clear and satisfactory light. Origin- ally, I believe, the rule as to ownership was adopted at all the exhibitions, but practically it was found the rule could not be enforced, in consequence of the difficulty of detection. The Birmingham Committee, and I believe many others, decided, I think some years ago, to withdraw the riile ; and, if I am not misinformed, they did so for the purpose of ex- tending to all exhibitors the privileges which they could not prevent an unscrupulous minority assuming for them- selves. It may stiQ be more magnanimous for exhibitors to rely on their own resources, and disdain all assistance from others ; but whether they are bound to do so in cases where the rule is cancelled, is a question of cauistry I am not called upon to decide. At those exhibitions where the rule is still retained, it is manifestly an unscrupulous and dis- honourable act to exhibit birds of which the exhibitor is not the real and honS.fide owner. — J. H. Smith. [The former remark made by Mr. Smith wiU be found at page lOi of our present volume, and is as follows : — •" If I am not greatly mistaken, the rule as to ownership has been rescinded long ago, on the ground that practically it was found to handicap the scmpulous for the benefit of the un- scrupulous exhibitor. At any rate the practice of hiring or borrowing birds for exhibition is, I believe, quite notorious ; and if ' Egomet ' stigmatises as unscrupulous all exhibitors who are not the absolute owners of the birds which are shown in their names, he is casting his net very wide, and would, I imagine, be astonished at the magnitude of some of the fishes included in his haul" We have omitted the conclusion of Mr. Smith's letter relative to Mr. Hindson, Mr. Williams, and the Game prize birds, because we have had many letters sent to us which evince beyond all denial such gross contradictions, that we find it less and less likely to arrive at the truth, and we think enough has been said to warn even the most dishonest from similar practices. We demur to the logic that because the unscrupulous will evade a rule, that, therefore, it should be rescinded. If such logic were sound then the rule against trimming should be abolished. The better course we con- 184 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTIIRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ March 1, 1861. sider is to render the rule more stringent, and to require a certificate from some trustworthy party, that the fowls ex- hibited have been in the possession of the exhibitor for at least three months ; and any one detected in evading the rule should have his name in connection with the attempted firaud published.] EXHIBITING BOEEOWED FOWLS. It was not my intention to have entered into the Bir- mingham Show Game-fowl controversy, but I think that Mr. J. H. Smith's letter in your Journal of the 2nd of February is calculated to do so much injury that I must trouble you -with a few remarks. Mr. Smith assumes that it is not necessary that the fowls exhibited at a show should be the absolute property of the exhibitor. He says, also, if he is not greatly mistaken, that the rule as to ownership has been rescinded long ago. Upon reference to the regulations of the last Birmingham Show I find, " The discoveiy of any false statement as to the ages of fowls, &c., will be followed by the exclusion of the exhibitors of such specimens thus improperly described fi-om all future Exhibitions." Svu-ely this must include exhibitors entering fowls not their own. "What can be a gi-osser false statement ? In the regulations of the last Crystal Palace Show I find, " AU the specimens must be the boml fide pro- perty of the exhibitor." _Mr. Smith also states that he believes the practice of hiring or borrowing fowls for exhibition is quite notorious. If it be so, I trust the Committee of the Bh-mingham Show win at once take proceedings to prevent a repetition of such dishonest practices, and that in future they will have a definite rule upon the subject. Let us for one moment consider the practical effect of allowing hiring or borrowing for exhibition. A has a pen of poultry which he has entered for a show ; one of the hens is not quite so good as he could wish, but he is honest, and sends it. B has a pen of fowls not so good as A's, but he rejects his defective bu-d, hires, and thus beats A ; wins the prize, and obtains a greater sale for his stock. C has a number of fowls all rubbish, but he hires all his bfa-ds for exhibition, gains prizes, advertises his birds and eggs, and defrauds the public. I trust stringent measures will be taken to prevent such frauds.— W. H. [We entirely agee with our correspondent. He who exhibits fowls as his own which belong, in truth, to another person deliberately acts a falsehood. ISTor is that the only bad phase of the wrong. That exhibitor cheats any person who buys fowls from him, under the persuasion that those fowls are the relatives of the birds exhibited; and that exhibitor who wins prizes with birds not his own robs the owner of the pens next in merit. We write thus explicitly because we have seen those defend the practice from whom ■we expected sounder judgment ; and because we would save poultry exhibitions from the consequences arising from such suspected dishonesty.] PEACTICAL BEE-KEEPING. "With no desire to depreciate the claims of real improve- ment, I lean to the opinion that a large portion of the know- ledge _ promulgated by modem theorists on the subject of bee-hives and bee-management is comparatively useless, im- less to the few who have long purses and time at command to devote to the superintendence of any but the simplest kind of hives. During some years' experience I tried many of the modern devices ; but, apart from all considerations of mere amuse- ment, I retm-ned to the conviction that nothing would super- sede for popular use the economical straw hives of our fore- fethers, properly made as to form and size, under protection from_ weather, &c. Every experimental apiarian has his particular crotchet; but setting aside mere fancy, lagi-eein opinion with such instructors of the masses as Payne and Golding, who, judging from their writings, preferred straw to any other material. Of course I leave to the theorists all the merely artificial uses to which complicated hives are put ; but these do not concern more than one out of some hundreds who have no interest beyond mere utility, with neither time nor inclina- tion to devote to troublesome operations, too often counter- acting the natural impulses of these interesting mechanics, if not fostering the diseases which have led to much recent acrimonious controversy. So far as I can perceive this has ended as it began ; for, in the din of words, no one has as yet defined what the particular disorder, loosely called " foul brood," if it be not dead putrid lai-vse, really is. But I have no desire to engross more of your valuable space beyond adding, that I am aware I am exposing myself to a harmless shot or two, as one progressing backwards, but that sort of thing is of little moment to — A Utilitakian. EEMOVING BEES. I SHALL be moving at the end of May fr-om my present house to one about 100 yards oil', and I have, en a wooden bee-stand in my garden, thi-ee bee-hives, which I must re- move at the same time. Will you tell me whether to move the stand during the morning or evening to prevent the bees flying back to the old garden ? The new garden is on the same side of the road as the present one. — L. E. [Bees should be removed in the evening when all have returned fr'om their labours. If in common hives, they should be secured by being tied up in cloths of open textiu-e (cheese- cloth is the best), and carried carefrdly by hand. When the distance is short stocks will be much weakened by the retiu-n of bees to the old spot. This may be obviated by an intermediate transportation to a friend's garden not less than a mile and a half off. At the expiration of three or four- weeks they may be safely introduced to their new location, and, if the ailair has been properly managed, will rather benefit than otherwise by the excursion.] PEEMONITOEY SYMPTOMS OF DYSENTEEY. YouE correspondent " F. W." in page 143, says that for several days he had observed large drops of an orange- coloured substance on the alighting-board of his hives. Bees in a healthy hive void no excrement in the hive ; and if they are prevented leaving it by a severe fr-ost for any length of time, they will do so on the first opportunity that oifers, and the excrement they void is of a fetid smell, and is that observed by " F. W."— T. S. [Our correspondent's explanation is unquestionably correct. The appearance referred to may be deemed the first symptom of incipient dysentery arising from long confinement.] EAST INDIAN BEES. We have received another letter from our coiTespondent near Myhere relative to the black and white bees of India. The following is an extract from the letter :— " I hope you have not said anything in the Joui'nal about these bees, for certainly I think the statements made to me are not to be relied upon. " In the first place, we took a comb about four days ago, when the moon was about its first quarter, and there was not a particle of honey in it, but all the cells were full of larvae in all stages of progress — some just coming out of the cells, others just formed, and many evidently hatching. According to the natives' ideas the combs ought to have been full of honey. We were somewhat disappointed, for we had watched the swarm for some time, and fuUy expected a harvest of honey. "A second idea I have found to be very incorrect, to my cost ! It's aU very well to say that they don't sting, but I hiow that they do. One morning I went very boldly to look how large the comb of one swarm was, and, in order to see ' how they were getting on,' I poked them aside with a stick, thinking them harmless ! but, bless me, how I had to run ! The little brutes came at mo most ferociously, and one settling on my hand stung me. My topee (hat) and clothes were covered with them ; but that on my hand fortunately was the only one which penetrated the skin, for my hand soon swelled considerably, and was very irritating. So, like little Paul, ' I don't beHeve that story,' about these bees not stinging." Uaroh 1, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICTJLTTJRE AND OOIXAaB GARDENER. 185 DAIEY PEODLTCE AND MANAGEMENT. At a meeting of the Eye Farmers' Club, Mr. Horn read the following- paper : — It wiU he within our province this evening to review only those breeds most especially that belong to the class of daii-y cows, which we may classify as follows : — the Yorkshire, Ayi'shire, Aiderney, and Suffolk. The Yorkshire being the largest and most numerous, we shall, therefore, take her first. The Yorkshire cow, as we term her, is descended from the Holderness crossed with the Durham bull, but a different animal to the Teeswater or high-bred Shorthorn. They are held in high estimation in and around London for the quan- tity of nulk they yield ; and if well kept, at the same time making flesh for the butcher. An average cow of this breed for several months after calving yields 20 quarts a-day; while some have been known to yield 30 to 40 for months together. Some cows are supposed to yield from 4000 to 5000 during the year. It must be borne in mind that the food is of the most forcing description for the production of milk without regard to quality, brewers' grains being a sine quA non. These cows form all the dairies of the midland counties ; their milk is not rich in cream, yet on rich pastures or high feeding this is more than counterbalanced in qxian- tity, and making beef at the same time, as we have the tes- timony ef Ml-. HorsfaU, Braley Hall, Yorkshire, who so ex- plicitly described his mode of management in his papers to the Royal Agricultural Society's Joiirnal — papers which I would strongly recommend every one interested in dairy management to peruse carefully. I must next advert to the Ayrshire ; and I believe, taken as a breed, they are the most select as to mUking properties. Ayrshire being a dairy county, the breed has been culti- vated with the greatest care, and selected by distinguishing points known only to the initiated ; and I hesitate not to state that we have no other class of cows, taken as a breed, that will produce the quantity of milk for food consumed : hence the high estimation they are held in in cheese-making districts. I shall give you one illustration. We have one small cow in our dairy (of said breed), which is called Victoria, now well up in her teens ; for one season (pasture in the meadows only), for three months she averaged twenty- six quarts a-day. We have records of much greater quan- tities than this ; but she was a small cow, then only about 56 stones imperial live weight ; so that every twenty-seven or twenty-eight days she produced her entire weight in milk— in short, she may be termed a milk-giving maciiine. I now come to the Aldemey or Channel Island cows, which in their own island are most valuable, both for the quantity and quality of butter they produce. They are not much in favour in the eastern counties in consequence of the high prices which have to be paid for them when in profit, and their comparatively small value to the butcher ; and, moreover, our sharp east winds rather tell on their delicate constitution. When kept, it is mostly by private gentlemen for family use. They yield a fair quantity of milk, which is very rich in cream and produces excellent butter. In their own island they are reported to yield from 10 to 12 lbs. of butter a-week during the summer ; that re- sult is very seldom obtained in this district, unless under very favourable circumstances. In the west of England they are greater favourites than with us. However, W. Fisher Hobbs, Esq., of Boxted Lodge, has favom-ed me with the following account of two cows kept by him of the same breed. He writes as follows : — " At your request I send you a correct account of the produce of two cows (Alderneys), which I kept at my otra residence, Boxted Lodge, in 1861. I had no other cows there during that time. You will observe that the produce from these two cows was kept separate from the period of their calving until the 12th of July. After that time the cream was mixed. The total produce of these cows in thirty-four weeks was 860 lbs., besides what cream was used in my house ;" this being an average of 25i lbs. for the two cows during the thirty- four weeks. You wUl observe Mr. Hobbs states that the milk was kept separate from the period of calving until the 12th of July. For fourteen weeks previous to this date, one cow averaged 174 lbs., and one week 20 lbs. loz., a quantity (for the length of time be it remarked), I am not aware has ever been obtained from a cow of any other breed. So much for the Alderneys. We shall now briefly refer to the Suffolk. There are many gentlemen in this room who are better qualified to o-ive an account of the Suffolk cow than I am, from the short period that I have been amongst them, and I shall be glad to hear them this evening. However, we have records of a polled breed of cattle in Suffolk for about two hundred years, but of what shape or form we are left to sm-mise. In my opinion, at no distant period they have been crossed with the old Aberdeen, to which the best animals of the present day bear a striking resemblance. Blood red is now the favourite colour, with little or no white, unless the tips of the tails ; but they have been so indiscriminately crossed latterly -with all sorts of brutes which could be caUed buUs, that in consequence we have nearly lost the original stock. In short, since the dispersion of the late Sir E. Kerrison's stock, it has been difficult in this district to find pure animals to breed from ; and I wish to impress upon my dairying friends that it is just as essential, in order to obtain good milkers, that the male should be descended from a good milking stock as the female. Most people are careful as to the milkiug properties of the cow they breed from for the dau-y, but the buU is seldom taken into consideration ; and it somewhat surprises me, considering the haphazard manner in which they have been bred, how the Suffolk cows have stai kept the milking properties for which they are justly celebrated. We have obtained 24 quarts a-day from a Suffolk cow when in full profit, and I presume^my dairy- ino- friends wUl not term them useful unless they yield from IS^to 20 quarts a-day when in fuU profit. They are better adapted for the arid climate, rough and badly-farmed pas- tures of the eastern counties than any other breed. They yield a good quantity of milk, and when properly fed their milk is pretty rich in butter. Taken as a breed, therr skins are coarser than either the Shorthorn or Ayrshii-e; in con- sequence, they are not so sensitive of flies ; and, moreover, being without horns, they are more suitable when in yards. Likewise, they are favourites ^nth the Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty to Animals, as they cannot inflict severe torture on each other; and when crossed with a proper Shorthorn buU, produce a good animal for fatting purposes. And, further, we have the testimony of Mrs. Eainer, Thorpe, confii-med by other eye-witnesses, of her poUed cow produc- ing in one week 19 lbs. 15 ozs. of butter, and for weeks in succession 18 lbs. 12 ozs., and for nine months 11 lbs. 4 ozs. was the average. Mrs. Eainer had only this one cow; but, to use her own words, she "treated her like a child." Again, we have the late Mr. Lingwood's cow, at Brome, which produced 16 lbs. 4 ozs. in one week, and for weeks averaged 15 lbs. She was also a single cow, kept by a private gentleman. The late Mr. Pusey truly said, "Books wUl not teach farming, but if they describe the practices of the best farmers they wiU make men think, and show when to learn it." We must next proceed to analyse the systems of con- verting the produce into money. The most profltable is when the milk can be sold sweet from the cow, which in most localities will sell for about 8d. per gallon : and if we take the general average of the Yorkshire cow, when well kept, as being about 800 gallons, then we flnd the produce wOl amount to something like .£26 annually. In turning to our own country cows, they, on an average, may be sup- posed to yield 500 gallons, being about 2 gaUons a-day for nine months. Supposing these 500 gallons to be sold at lid. per quart, we would then realise about ^616 10s., which, with calf 10s., would make the result ^817 per cow. When the milk cannot be sold, we must then convert the 500 gallons into cheese: then we should realise something over 500 lbs. of cheese, which at 6d. per lb. gives ^612 IDs., calf, and whey for pigs 30s., which would make ^14 per cow. By converting the cream into butter and the partly skimmed milk into cheese, we would then realise 160 lbs. of good butter at Is., and 300 lbs. of part skim nulk cheese at 4,d. per lb., which, with calf and whey at 30s., stands at ^£14 10s., and wi^ proper management, producing a good article, the price of the produce may be raised, and these terms may be ex- C66d6d> We shall now find how this tallies -with other districts. In Dorset and some parts of Somerset it is customary for 186 JOUKNAL OF HOETICXJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ MavcU 1, ISM. dairymen to rent the cows from the farmer, the dairymen doing all labour, and the farmer providing cows and keep, for which the former pays lor produce of cows, .£9 10s. to .£10 10s. The produce is mostly converted into butter and skim mill.- cheese in Dorset ; while in Somerset some of the best Cheddar cheese is made, now worth 9c!. per lb. A simi- lar system prevails in the west of Scotland ; but the produce is entirely converted into cheese, the cows ai'e better kept, and the rents are hig-her, both to the farmer and dairy- maji. A late employer of mine rented a farm in the said dis- trict of 600 acres, his rent being .£1200. Ho kept a dairy of 100 cows ; and I have known his dairymen pay £,li lor each cow, which covered the farmer's rent. The agi-eemeut was the dairyman to do all labour attending the cows, unless some milking the farmer had to provide. Keep of cows was If acre for each cow of good grass for summer ; six tons of swedes and two bushels of beanmeal for each cow, with straw ad libitum. The dau-yman would realise about 41 cwt. of cheese from each cow, and when properly manufactured it would sell at about 70s. per cwt. The prodixce would run from 14 lbs. to 15 lbs. per cow. I have, thus, gentlemen, endeavoured to bring under your notice the difl'erent systems that are practised in other districts. I have stated results which have been and may be reaUsed with proper management ; and one natui-ally beolns to wonder why Suftblk. once so prominent in dairy management, is now getting into the shade ; the complaints are loud and long that no daii-y maids are to be found. Again, some maids maintain that there are no places for them to leam, as no one will take the trouble to teach them. But they are not easily taught who do not want to learn; and as crinolines and feathered caps ai'e more in unison with nursery-maids, table-maids, and house-maids, the washing, scrubbing, working, rosy-cheeked daii'y-maid of old is no- where to be found; so if the dairy is left to the maid, the maid must have the boy to do it ; and if left to the boy, to use a popular phrase, it soon must go to the dogs. "We are told that cleanliness is next to godliness ; and in no case is it more applicable than in daii-y management. Morning and evening, Sunday and Saturday, twice a-day the dairy must be attended to; for, be it remembered, it is only a first-class article which commands attention in the market. We now come to the last branch of our subject, and one with Tvhieh, I doubt not, aU of you are familiar — converting the cream into butter — ^a very simple, but at certain seasons, with certain feeding, a very ticklish operation to make a fii'st-class article. As we make a middling article, I shall give you an outline of the system we pm-sue. During the winter our cows are fed on roots and ehaii' in conjunction, the first part of the season on Scotch yellow tm-nips or swedes; after Christmas on mangolds. Those in full profit receive about 4 to 5 lbs. of cake or corn in addition. It is when fed on roots that the care and experience of the daii-ymaid are put to the test to produce a good article. Our dau-y people maintain that if we send the milk into the dairy free from taint they will produce butter agreeable to the palate: therefore, when the cows are on roots we invariably use a small quantity of saltpetre put into the milk warm from the cow, in order to dispel any efluvium the roots may produce. Care must be taken not to use too much ; if so the butter wUl taste rancid — say an ounce to every 30 gallons. We shall now go into the daii-y, and, to use an Irishism, we do not allow the biitter to spoil before it is made — that is, stale vessels taint the nulk, or stale nulk taints the cream, and tainted cream will not produce first-class butter ; and as our object is quality before quantity, our customers being rather fastidious in taste, we must endeavour to produce a sweet article. The miUc is first creamed at twenty-four hours, and again at thirty-sbc; in so doing, both milk and cream keep sweeter than if only once creamed at thirty-six. We churn thrice a-week. We use no arti- ficial colouring. Our spare butter goes to a " west-end miss," at prices varying from lid. to 17d. per lb. There ai-e many ifs and ands in order to make good butter where cows are fed on roots ; but the dairymaid claims them as her knowledge of the art, and which would be tedious to describe. Gentlemen's dairies are in unison with " home farms," neither are proverbial for large profits. However, while same time have an eye to profit. Our dah-y of nulk cows consists of 24, and they cost us for dairying and attendance 24s., or Is. a-head per week ; and on examining our dairy- book for 1802, after deducting the said labom-, I find a credit of jSlO standing for each cow. Bo it remembered, we wean a calf for each cow in addition. In the foregoing observations I have endeavoured to bring under youi' notice the breeds of cows best adapted for daii'y purjjoses. Thus we find the Yorkshu'e the favourite, where pastures are rich and quantity required ; and again, in the western part of our island, where cheese-making pre- vails, we find the Ayrshii-e the universal favourite ; and when only cream and butter ai-e required, we find the Alderney in esteem. It is said " Ireland for the Irish," and we must say, " The Suffolk cow for Suffollv ;" for after a trial of all the breeds I have named, it is found Ijy experiment in our establishment that they are the cows best adapted for the district. There is no doubt many of you have exceeded our small profits ; but it may be equally true that on some farms, from want of cai'e and attention in the management of pro- duce and stock, they have not been obtained. And now in conclusion, I woidd advise my dairying friends to endeavour to improve our stock of Suffolk cows, and to be a little more careful in the choice and selection of bulls, en- deavoiuing to obtain them from good milking stock. Even now they are, and with care and attention tliey might be made, a very valuable animal for the district. I have generallj' treated the subject with rt-ierence to the soil and climate of this country. With more rain, less easterly winds, pastm-es natui-aUy richer and better farmed, other breeds might be found better suited than the Eed PoUs. — {North Britisli Agriculturist.) EHODODENDEON POINTICUM POISOKOTTS. Having observed in your Journal No. 150, page 116, that information was requested as to the poisonous qualities of any of oui' ornamental shrubs, I expected that before your last issue Ehododendron ponticum would have been pointed out to you as poisonous. As its efiects do not appear to have been noticed by your ordinary correspondents, I now beg to oft'er you my experience of this shrub. Six 3'ears ago some of my sheep broke into a wood where B. ponticum had been planted for cover, and on that occa- sion three ewes died. This year the same thing again occuiTed, and ten sheep showed symptoms of poisoning. Immediately it was observed, mdk, in doses of a gUl, was poured down their throat, and this produced vomiting, in the course of which the rhododendi-on leaves were brought up. The dose of miLk was repeated several times, and mne out of the ten recovered. The other one died because the miUc had not acted as a sufficiently strong emetic, a number of the le.aves being found in the stomach. I do not know whetlier other rhododendrons than ponticum are poisonous or not; but I should judge that the poison if it exists must be much less virulent in them, since rabbits, which, as is well known, never touch ponticum, eat the finer kinds with impunity.— A Nokthekx rirBSCKiBER. OUE LETTER BOX. Autificiai, Hatceing ( Odts). —Cmtello and Miua."! piiWished pnmphlets on the .--ubjecl, and Iteaumur a work m French, but llley i.ie all out of print. If you buy No. 321 of the lirsi series of this Journal you will find directions on the subject. Chkve Cosiiii Fowls (D. ^.).— Apply to Mr. Uuily, 113, Mount Street, Gl■^^venor Square. ^VHITE DoiiKisos {B. M. J.).— Itcfcr to our reports of shows, .ind write to those who took |.rize» or are comniendeil. Wo fear that a coffee-mill would not bruise oats, but if you try it you will have the proof at unoe. CocniN-CaiN* Eocs not IlATcitiND (An Old Subscriber].— A» there were embryo chicks in lliem they evidently were chilled duvins the recently severe -weatlier. Probably you put too many eggs under the hen for her to keep the whole sufficiently wurm. Nine is the largest number to be placed under a hen in winter, and -uiany ipoultry-kecperu use a Btill loss number at that season. Foul Bkood ( T. S,).— This has been defined to be, as its name implies, a dise.ise which attacks the young larvaj in their various stages ol devclop- At Hrst only a few die, but as these putrefy in their cells the nient. ^ ...--. — . . _ - infection spreads, until very few bacs alTive at maturity, aud the slool4 our injunctions are to produce a first-class article, we at the J dwindles and ultimately perishes. March S, 18G4. ] JOTJENAL or HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. IS? WEEKLY CALENDAR. Day 1 Diiy of of M'nth ■Week. MAECH 8-14, IS64. Average Temperature near Loudon. Rain In last 37 years. Snn F.ises. Sets. Moon Kiscs. Moon Sets. Moon's Age. Clock before Sun. Day ef Year. Day. Night. Mean. Days. m. h. m. h. m. h. m. h. m. s. 8 1 Tit "Violet flo-wer.T. 49.7 31.9 40.3 14 31af 0 51 af5 13 6 46 6 • 10 53 6S 9 1 W Apricot flowers. Prince of Waies M* 49.9 ^1.4 40.0 10 29 6 52 5 40 6 7 8 1 10 as 60 10 i Th REIED. 1863. 50.2 31.7 40.9 13 27 6 54 5 7 7 27 9 2 10 22 70 11 F Gooseberry foliates. 49.5 32.3 40.9 15 25 6 56 « 36 7 42 10 3 10 6 71 12 S Daffodil flowers. iO.7 S2.5 41.6 18 22 6 58 5 10 8 50 11 4 9 60 75 13 Sun 5 Sunday in Lent. SO. 7 34 5 42.6 14 20 6 69 5 50 8 morn. 5 9 33 73 14 M Coltsfoot flowers. 61.2 35.2 43.2 10 IS C 0 0 35 9 63 0 6 9 16 74 From c hserrafi.ns taken near London dnrlnp: tlie last thirtv-peven years, the average day temperature of the Tveek i.s 50.2 °, and its r.icbt temperatur 3 32.6°. The greatest Qeat was 67 % on the lOth, 1S26 ; and 12th, ISll ; and the lowest cold, 7°, on the loth, 1447 The greatest Ml of rail ■was 0.7iO inch. :| m FEENS FOE BASEETS. KEEE it possible to add more popularity to tliese gems of the vegetable kingdom, I would willingly devote mucli of my leisure to an advocacy of tlieir merits ; but their beauty and grace- ful form have already won for them a large share of public patronage, and ex- tended the area of the hor- ticulturist's pleasures. Some of them, however, are grown in positions which hide fully one-half of their beauties. For instance ; the beauty of some consists in their roots being seen as well as their fronds. Sitolo- bium davallioides in a pot has no charms beyond its graceful fronds ; but planted out near an overhanging rock so that its rhizomes can run over the rock, which it will do, it has the appearance of a beautiful Ehipsalis seeking the ground from a height of several feet ; and all along these rhizomes the fronds rise elegantly and oTershadow the sources from which they spring. Then that curious plant the Staghorn Fern (Platycerium alci- corne), is lost in a pot, its beauties being unseen. But I must not waste space ; though the inquiries of a cor- respondent, " J. J. J.," have led me to descant at some length on my favourites. ITie Ferns most suitable for baskets are those with creeping stems (rhizomes), of dwarf habit, and with pendant fronds. The most suitable soil I have found to be cocoa-nut dust when a year or two old. Prior to the introduction of this I employed turfy brown peat one- half, turfy yellow loam one-fourth, and pieces of sand- stone one-fourth, the latter the size o£ a walnut, the whole chopped up with a spade but not sifted, and well mixed. When the cocoa dust was used •» liberal admix- ture of silver sand was added, but silica of any kind will do. Silica in some shape or other I believe to be essen- tial for Ferns, and I therefore recommend a liberal use of sand or stone in the ingredients of the compost for Ferns of any kind, except for such as require chalk. I have found no baskets so suitable as those from 6 to 9 inches deep, and from 6 inches to 2 feet in dia- meter, made in the shape of a half-circle. It is imma- terial, however, what shape the baskets are if not too deep, .and they shoidd be made to hold a fair amount of compost. For small baskets or for suspending in Wardian cases nothing is so suitable as the half of a cocoa-nut ■shell. Wood baskets I do not like : they rot so soon, and generate such a quantity of fungus, that the roots of the Ferns do not grow in them, and it is not pleasant to see an otherwise-beautiful basket disfigured by a crop of fungi. Copper baskets are the most expensive and durable, but not the best ; for copper soon becomes of a foul blue colour, and no Fern root can live near it. ■ No. 154.— ToL. VI., New Sebies, Wire baskets painted answer well for a time ; but the paint perishes, the iron is soon corroded through, and they are then useless. The best baskets that I have used were made of wire, and were galvanised after being made. Any wire-worker can make these baskets ; but they should not be made of galvanised wire, or, if they are, the chains and everj'tliing should be galvanised afterwards. I do not know whether these baskets are more durable than those made of copper wire, but we have some that are no worse at the end of five years. The baskets in mj' opinion look the best when made as simple as possible, for no art can outstrip nature, and a fine basket with a sorry plant in it is a most unpleasant object. Baskets are sometimes made of such fantastic shapes that the cultivator is puzzled to know how t© get a plant to grow in them. As specimens of the wire- worker's art they are undoubtedly fine ; but like some very artistic conservatories, they kill plants which grow well under more suitable circumstances. The basket or baskets to be filled being in readiness, a quantity of fresh sphagnum should be provided, bat that which is dried wiU do, only, the dust must be sifted from it. Fresh, however, is best, as it is very nice to have the baskets covered with live moss for a time iiaiM. the plants have grown considerably. Place a layer of sphagnum about half an inch thick at the bottom of the basket and up the sides, pressing it firmly, so that it may have the appearance of a well-made fowl's nest. Put ijQ some of the compost in the basket, and introdac© the plant, so that the crown may be a trifle higher than, the edges of the basket, and put the soil rather firmly round it. A layer of sphagnum on the soil, made fast with copper wire, will materially add to the appearance, and prevent the soil being washed out in watering. Whea planted, my practice is to dip them overhead in a cistein of water of the temperature of the house required for the species, and then hang them up in their final situ- ations, not nearer to the glass than 18 inches, reckoning from the fronds. In case a cistern should not be at hand the basket should be watered until the water run freely from the bottom. The plants will only need due attention as to water, to give which the cultivator must examine the upper sur- face of the basket ; for it very commonly happens that the under side is moist, whilst the upper surface, where the majority of the roots are, is di-y. The soU should at all times be kept moist, but double the quantity ought to be given when the plants are growing as compared with what they receive when at rest. The best way to water plants in baskets is to take them down and dip the basket in a cistern of water of the same temperature as the house. Cocoa-nut baskets only need holes to be drilled ias. them for the wires to hang them up by, and the Ferns may be planted ia them like any other plant. If th© Ferns have creeping rhizomes these shoidd not be buried in the soil, but be pegged down and distributed over the surface, so that they may the sooner reach the cutside of the nut, to which the roots will cling, and over which ihe No. 806.— YoL. XXXI., Old SEiOiS.' 188 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTTTEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENER. [ Uarch 8, ISGl. rhizomes will creep, having a beautiful appearance. I may mention that the shell of the cocoa-nut makes capital baskets for small Orchids and Ferns. Suppose we have two nuts in the shell. If we cut one down lengthwise on two opposite sides we have two baskets, representing thehalf of an ellipse, or boat-like baskets ; and if the other be cut in the middle we have two halves of an ellipse, but egg-shaped. Now these make good and tolerably durable baskets for small-growing Orchids and Ferns, and both grow well in them, which is a point of some importance. The finest object that I have yet seen was a pot of Platy- cerium alcicorne suspended from the roof of a conservatory. The plant was in a perforated pot, such as is used for grow- ing Hyacinths to produce a pyramid. The plant had been potted in the usual way, but some visitor told the gardener that it wanted to be on a block of wood with the back to the glass to be seen to advantage. The gardener had not the wood or not the inclination, but determined to profit by the advice. A piece of strong wire was run through the lowest perforations in the pot, and hung to the roof with the plant downwards — in reality upside down. Well, it grew amaz- ingly; and when I saw it the pot was entirely hidden by the sterile fronds, and the fertile extended aU round to a length of 2 feet. I have tried Platycerium stemmaria in this way, and have succeeded admu-ably ; but P. grande did very indifferently, and that, I think, because it does not form young plants along the roots like P. alcicorne and P. stemmaria. P. biforme I have not tried, because I could Hot obtain it in sufficient quantity to warrant my doing so. For suspending in small baskets in Wardian cases it is advisable to have such plants as quickly fill them, and aU baskets should have plants in them proportionate to their size. I win therefore name a few suitable for baskets of various sizes, according to the diameter. SIX-INCH OK LESS BASKETS. Lomaria alpina, G. \V. 4 in. AdiaDtuDi capiUus-Yeneiis, G. W. 6 in. ABplenium flabellifolinm, G.W. 6 in. A. pinnatifidum, G. W. 6 in. Camptoeorua rhizophyllus, G. AY. 6 in. Cheilanthes Sieljeri, G. 9 in. Davallia pentaphylla, G. W. 9 in. Of Mosses— Selaginella densa, S. W. S. obtnsa, G. W. I Gonioplilebium rhagadiolepis (Pleo- peltis pinnatifida), G. W. 3 in. I NiphoboUis liiRua, G. W. 9 in. t N. pertuaus, G. W. 6 in. ] N. rupestris, G. W. 3 in. 1 Polypodium rupulosum, G. "W. 9 in, Pleopeltis stigmatica, G. W. 6 in. I P. sqamulosa, G. \V. 3 in. ; P. (UrynariaJ pustulata, G. W. 9 in. Selaginella flabellata, G. W. S. uliginosa, G. \V. ONE-FOOT BASKETS, OP. LAEGEK. Adiantum tEthiopicuin, G. W. 9 in. A. caudatum, S. 9 in. A. aetulosum, G. "VV. 6 in. Gheilanlhes chloropliylla, G. 2-3 ft. Drynaria quercifolia, S. 2-3 ft B. diversifolia, G. 1^-2 ft. Davallia canariensis (Hare's-foot Fern), G. W. 1 ft. (" J. J. J.," at ■whose request we write ou this subject, will prepare the basket, and plant a etronff plant of this kind in it as directed for the others.) Davallia pentaphylla, G. W. 9 in. D. dipsecta, G. 1 ft. D, buUata (deciduous), G. G in. Goniophlebium subpetiolatum, S. 2-3 ft. G. subauriculatum, S. 6 (t. (This is the finest drooping Fern known. I have had it with lionds 8 ft. long.) Goniophlebium fraxinifoliura, S. 1 it. {Does moderately well in a green- house.} G. loriceum, S. W. 1 ft. Nephrolepis davallioides, S. 3-4 ft. N. e-ialtata, G. 3-5 ft. Pleopeltis phymatodes, S. 1^ ft. Pteris scaberula, G. 1 ft. Platycerium alcicorne, G. 2 ft. Selaginella cassia, G. W. G, greenhouse ; S. stove; W, kinds that do well in Wardian cases. The Sgui-es relate to the height in feet which each kind attains. Geokoe Abbey. LAEGE VINEEIES teesfs SMAXL T'INEEIES. Almost everything connected with fruit-cultui-e has of late come in for considerable discussion. Warm contro- versy has been freely entered into about some of the points and theories advanced. At the present moment the orchard-house controversy rages the most loud and furious, and the veteran champion of pot-fruit-cultiu-e stands ever ready with his sledge hammer to pound any who dare oppose his pet system. Doctors or divines may mingle in the fi-ay, but it is all the same to iim; he is ever ready to defend and crush with the skUl and energy of a Fabius all who dare be arrayed against him. Of late years, too, every conceivable point of arrangement eonnected with the cultivation of Grapes has been elaborately discussed; and it cannot fail to have occiUTed to those most ignorant of the state of English horticulture that the culti- vation of Peaches and Grapes has attained an importance which points them out as pre-eminent among those fhiits which require the aids of glass and ai-tificial heat to bring them to perfection. This is, perhaps, more applicable to the Grape than any other fruit. If the Pine Apple can legitimately claim to be the king of fruits, who will object to let the Grape sit beside it upon Pomona's throne? Hence it is that everything connected with vineries from their foundations upwards through bottom heat, drainage, soO, aspect, and shape, the description of glass and other materials of which vineries are constructed, the best modes of heating and ventilating them— in short, everything that* can be named, except their size, has been the subject of dis- cussion. Size alone seems to have been considered a matter of very little or no importance, judging from the sOence of the horticultural press on the matter ; at all events, I have no recollection of seeing the matter either brought forward as one of importance, or of any discussion having ever taken place concerning it. This is not the first time that I have ventured to call attention to this matter, and after long observation and a considerable amount of experience with different sized vineries, I am more than ever convinced that the size or the volume of air enclosed is a matter of paramount importance, and that generally speaking vineries from the "curate's vinery" upwards would answer their purpose vastly better if they were more roomy and lofty. The size of glass houses erected for the cultivation of the Vine is (perhaps to some extent necessarily), decided by taste and circumstances apart altogether from the consideration of what mere size or room has to do with the requirements and well-being of the Vine. It has been my lot within the last fifteen years to have had to manage Vines and produce Grapes under as great a variety of cii'cumstances as has fallen to the lot of many gardeners in that period. I have had Vines in plant-stoves, over a general collection of stove plants, in greenhouses of various dimensions, in mere glass screens not more than 9 feet high, and not more than 5 feet wide at their widest part, and in vineries of much larger and more desirable dimensions. Like most others I have also had the oppor- tunity of watching the planting and growth of Vines in houses greatly above the common or average run of vineries, and I have come to the conclusion that in by far the ma- jority of cases Vines would thrive much better, and bear heavier and better crops of fruit with impunity in large houses, that is, houses that are more lofty and enclosing a greater volume of air, than in those which are of small dimensions. It is an established fact in gardening that, in a general way, the more nearly the rules of nature ai'e approached the more likely is success to be the restilt. Probably this applies with greater force to the matters of air and its tem- perature, in conjunction with light, than to any other con- ditions which the cultivator has it in his power to apply and control. If harmony with the nature and requirements of a plant should be ovir guide in its successful cultivation, surely, apart fi-om any observation and experience, it must be very incongruous to envelope the Vine in glass cases of such small dimensions as are yet the majority of vineries, which are much more in keeping with the requii'ements of plants that are most at home in the dank stagnant air of the jungle. To confine the Vine — a plant which is most at home and thrives best on the breezy slopes and in the clear skies of continental and eastern countries — ia a sort of black hole of Calcutta, with its leaves very often in actual contact with the glass and timber of the roof, where it is at one time subject to a damp stagnant atmosphere, together with all the sudden fluctuations of temperature which, ia spite of the utmost watchfulness, is consequent on there being only a very small volume of confined and artificially heated air, must be termed anything but the nearest pos- sible approach to natural circumstances. It may be argued that such a state of things in small houses can bo overcome and properly regulated by the com- bined appliances of an effectual heating apparatus and an ingenious mode of ventilation. Doubtless the evils now in question may be overcome or modified by great and assidu- ous attention ; but it ia not in the nature of things that the atmosphere of a low and naiTOw structiu'e can be regulated with such precision as that of a larger — at least, such is my own experience ; and I think that any attempt to explain March S, 1861. ] JOURNAL Off HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 189 tlie reasons why small enclosures of an artificial atmosphere aie far more at the mercy of every external influence would, to all experienced in the management of hothouses, be a work of supererrogation. It is as easy to understand how a small volume of confined air is more suddenly cooled down and heated up by diii'erent changes in sun and wind from without, as it is to understand how a thin sheet of hot iron cools more rapidly than a thick one. It is simply because the radiating surface is larger in proportion to the amount or body of heat to be given off in the one case than in the other. To expect a fu-eman to range the temperatui-e of a house only 5 feet wide with the same steadiness that could be attainable in one twice or thrice the width would be most unreasonable ; hence in early forcing, particularly, this point alone becomes one of great moment, and greatly deijendant on the size of the forcing-house, yet it is not to my mind by any means the most important of the considerations that would lead me to prefer a larger and more roomy vinery. When it comes to be considered that Vines are shut up for a great length of time in a small house, it is not difficult to suppose that, robbing as they do the atmosphere of gases which support vegetable life, or food, and charging it with others detrimental to its well-being, it would fare far better with Vines were they treated to a larger volume of air and a greater diffusion of light. Then there is the neai-ness to the glass at which, as a matter of necessity in many cases. Vines must be trained in low and narrow houses, and which increases the evils arising from the other objections already named. No pro- per current of air can pass along between the surface of the foliage and the glass, while frosting and scorching are far more likely to occur. I could give many instances where the size of the vinery has wonderfully influenced the condition and progress of Vines, but will only refer to one or two which, I think, must have very forcibly struck others who have observed them as well as myself. I wiU first refer to a very large lofty vinery in the centre of the forcing range at Wrotham Park, in Middlesex, one of the finest old ranges of houses any- where to be met with. The vinary in question, to the best of my recollection, is about 24 feet wide, 18 feet or more in height at the back, and 7 or 8 feet high at the front. Let any one go there and examine a set of Vines that were planted some thirteen years ago, and say if there are any in the same range in lower houses and of the same age, or even older, that can approach them for size and vigour — at least, there were none when I saw them last in 1861. Then there is a similar lean-to vinery in the nursery of Mr. Kay, at Finchley, five mUes nearer London ; there are to be seen the most wonderful Vines of their age for strength and heavy, crops of fine Grapes that can well be conceived. Then north of the Tweed I may instance some vineries of more than usual loftiness and width in one of the most magnifi- cent blocks of glass in the kingdom in the gardens of Floors Castle. "In these are Vines that are wonderfully strong of their age. The houses are 20 wide and 8 feet high at their lowest point in the roof. Without multiplying ex- amples it woiild, perhaps, not be fair towards the poor old lady at Chiswick, the Royal Horticultural Society, not to name the large iron conservatory, now a vinery. The Vines in this house, though I have not seen them since a few years after they were planted, are, from all accounts, a houseful of Vines that do the Chiswick Gardens credit. It would be interesting to know if ever Vines at Chiswick in smaller houses have attained such vigour and borne such crops. I was impressed with the superiority of large houses long before this conservatory was turned into a vinery, and when at Chiswick one day, shortly after it was decided to turn it to a different purpose from its original one, I re- plied to a question carelessly put to me by my late friend Mr. McEwen, that I would turn it into a vinery, and plant a collection of Vines. Whether this had anything to do with its present use I know nor care not. These are some of the practical examples that I would urge in favour of a larger rafter and a loftier house for Vines than are generally in use. The worst of it is, that some are not content with having their forcing-houses low and squat, but must burrow into the earth besides, as the next greatest evil to be inflicted on plants that like a high and dry eleva- 1(iPB, J have often thought that I should like to see a summer vinery with front lights something like perforated zinc, with a similar mode of ventilation at the top of the house. This, in the dog days, would give aU the advantages of an open air atmosphere, without the disadvantage conse- quent on an opening here and there causing cross and violent currents of air. Perhaps some may be ready to object to larger houses on the score of expense and extra heating power, but the building of a vinery some 3 or 4 feet higher at back and front, in these days of cheap glass and wood, would not in- volve much extra expense, nor render necessary much more heating power, while in other respects that might be named economy would result from the arrangement I am advocating. I should very much Uke to hear the opinion of others on the subject. — D. Thomson. THE EOYAL HOETICTJLTUEAL SOCIETY. Poop, old Chiswick ! It is to be hoped that another flash in the pan is not being let off' to deceive horticulturists by forming a new Committee to report what can be done with it. After four or five years' blundering with the concern at South Kensington, and spending all the Society's money in making a gigantic tea garden, the Council now fall back upon the very thing which they ought to have done at the lai-st — that is, if the advancement of horticulture had been their aim. From the late proceedings of the Council there is stJl reason for fearing that the South Kensington Garden wiU ultimately merge into an adjunct of the Royal Commis- sioners, by forming a grand architectural feature on their estate, and be partly under their control. There is reason also to fear that, although things are bad enough now, worse are yet to come. The sooner, therefore, that the HorticiJ- tural portion of the members combine to save Chiswick, and give the dear old place another fair stai-t, the better. The forming of the new Committee is a step in the right direction, and, from the names recorded as on it, some of the men are of the right stamp, and will do their duty if not unduly interfered with by the powers that be. Who knows but that another Paxton may again be tutored at Chis- wick in the new " school of horticulture " about to be revived under then- auspices. In the schedule of the Society's exhibition this year there is a lamentable amount of omissions and commissions ia the prizes to be awarded, showing the want of practical men in the Council. What can be more foreign to the objects of a horticultural society than giving prizes to military bands, unless it be to bring a. tew more pounds into the exchequer ? The changing every year the size of pots of exhibition plants, and of plants likemse, ai-e sources of great annoyance to exhibitors. So is the giving of prizes to particular varieties of fruits, thus stamping them as the best in their several classes, whilst a gardener may have some very fine White or Black Grapes, Peaches, and Necta- rines, of other varieties, ripe at the time, and not be able to exhibit them. The Strawberry feast is one of the most original ideas yet entertained by the Council; and I, for one, must pity the partakers, for the state of the fruit on the second day wHl be something to look at, unless fi-esh supplies are furnished from the growers. If the Strawberry feast is to be an accepted fact, and held annually, I would humbly suggest to the Council to get a sunny sloping bank at Chiswick prepared for growing Strawberries, and to keep a few milk cows to furnish cream. They would then have the fruit in perfection, and show what Chiswick could do to minister to the wants of the cockney fruit-gourmands of the Society. The medals for the best collections of British plants, and for new species, are great mistakes, for there ia quite enough of reckless destruction of our rarest wild plants already, without being encouraged by horticultural We do not see the Royal Botanic Society in the Park resorting to any expedients unconnected with horticulture and its advancement. Under judicious management that Society keeps the even tenor of its way, and its exhibitions are worth looking at, for exhibitors can depend upon the schedules it issues each year being suitable for the season, and for the plants and fruits then exhibited. 190 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ Marci. 8, 18C4. It is impossible to say to what objects the funds of the Royal Horticultural Society may be now applied after the specimens we have seen in their schedules this year. Perhaps they may give a medal for the discovery of a •' Moa " in New Zealand, or one for a sample of the fossil bones of the " Dodo " from the Mauritius. There is one subject that would be well worthy of the attention of the Council — viz;, to award prizes for the best essays on the antiquity of gardening, as seen by the broken remains of tools and flower-pots now to be found in the Chiswick drift. The graphic report which was given in The Journal of HoETicuLTTjEE of the late anniversary meeting of the Society, furnished us country Fellows with some amuse- ment, as well as matter for serious consideration respecting the position the Society now occupies. The mustering of the forces of the Horticultui'ists, and the hot haste with which the Museum party sent ortt for fresh recruits to strengthen their position, must have been as good as a play or mimic battle, and suggests a parody on the Unes in "Marmion " — " Charge, Chester, charce ! On, Godson, on ! Slop ILie sctiemeB of Dilke and Clutlun ! " ^A CouNTEY Member of the Royal Horticultural Society. THE ORCHAED-HOUSE CONTEOVEEST. I AM sorry that Mr. Rivers is annoyed, and that he should have written in the manner in which he has done ; for it is surely unseemly in one who has never hesitated to express his opinions very freely and strongly to be angry with those who, like myself, desire to give an independent testimony on the merits of anything in which many persons are inter- ested. Had I i^ersonally attacked Mr. Rivers, or imputed mercenai'y motives to his advocacy of orchard-houses, it might have been different; but such a tiring was farthest from my thoughts. I, of course, thoroughly believe that he is convinced of the entire and complete success of his orchard-houses. I know how much horticulture owes to him, and I have too great a value for enthusiasm to be angry with those who possess it. Nay, more ,- I do remem- ber that not many years ago I was a visitor to Sawbridge- worth, and received from its owner's hands a hospitality which (notwithstanding that he says he does not want to see me there again), I believe that I should again receive were I to go even to spy out the orchard-houses, for I am perfectly aware that Mr. Rivers's "growl is worse than his bite ;" and although when he wrote that article he would probably have liked to have got me into one of his houses and fumigated me with sulphur and tobacco, yet I am sure that when I meet him, as I hope to do next week, he will have forgotten all about it, and be ready to regard the " Cjuiet-minded clergyman " as a labourer in the same field, even though " only a florist." What, then, is the " head and front of my offending ?" ' 1. That I have given a d«&iits of flowers, may, in conjunction with other reasons given below, account for the losses occa- sionally met with in beds of this plant. As the varieties of dwarf Lobelia originating in the species erinus, ramosa, and others, seem to run into each other when reproduced from seed, so as to render the parent- age difficult to ascertain, have we not a right to suppose that in Hke manner the admixture of the annual one has imported much of its character into that of the hybrids ? L. ramosa is mostly treated as an annual ; and though, like some others, it may be kept through the winter, it is by no means to be inferred that it will ever become the enduring perennial plant which we might wish it to be; but when allowed to flower continually, and, perhaps, ripen seed, the purpose Nature intended it to perform being comi^leted, it is likely enough to die and be succeeded by its progeny. Now, in the cultivated condition the plant has undergone con- siderable change ; and I believe I am right in saying that L. speciosa is merely a variety of some of the species that may have gone through various transformations. Assuming speciosa to be a variety having the property of reproducing itself with a greater or less degi-ee of certainty, or of coming the same as its parent, stiU the greater the advance in im- provement to which a successful cultivation is carried, the greater is the likelihood of the seedlings being inferior or more nearly approaching the condition of the parent ; and it would certainly appear that a succession of plants from seed would in the end return to the normal condition of the original. As there are hopes of now and then obtaining a good variety possessing the requisite colour, habit, and perennial condition likely to prolong itself and afford an inexhaustible source of multiplying the kind by cuttings, it becomes a matter of consequence to make the most of such a plant when it turns up. It would be well, if those who rear a large stock of seedlings every year would preserve such as possess the required qualifications, and retain them in cultivation only one or two years, by which time it is to be supposed another seedling may have taken the place of that previously cultivated, and the result will most likely be that we shall hear of fewer failures than before, and possibly a further improvement in the colour, habit, and general cha- racter of the plant ; for assuming the plant to be something of a hybrid., partaking more or less of a biennial nature, we may justly infer that it will requne moving oftener than one having a more decidedly perennial parentage. I am inclined to attribute the losses fi-equently met with in the Lobeha more to the causes above stated than to any- thing else, and am the rather inclined to believe so from the fact of so many plants that have been gro^vn in pots during the summer dying off in autumn. So prevalent is this, that I am far from certain that the best mode of culture has as yet been found out. In my own case I admit that each year induces a change. Some seasons I have been tolerably successful in keeping plants over the winter by cutting off all then- flower-stems in September or before, and especially fr'om plants that were in pots ; but, somehow, most of the plants so treated died in the jjast January, so that I should have been short of stock had not a good batch of slips or cuttings been put in boxes early in December, and these, kept in a cold pit, have all grown and promise weU. I think the Lobelia requires to be kept cool and certainly not too dry ; and even pans or boxes of seed vegetate almost if not quite as well in a cool moist place as in a warm one, for in the autumn it happened that two beds of Lobelias in a garden that was intended to be altered were allowed to remain undisturbed until Chi-istmas, when it was dis- covered that the whole of the ground was thickly covered with young plants that had been sown and germinated there. Several of them had half a dozen or more leaves, but the bulk were merely in the seed-leaf. By paring the svu-face we secured a pan or two for a trial, but as we have depended more on cuttings than on seedlings, we did not save many. No plant that I am acquainted with grows more freely fr'om cuttings than does the Lobelia, and with the exception of variegated Geraniums none is more popiilar at the present time. I hope it wiU not fpUow the Petunia and AnagaUis 192 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ March 8, 18G4. Tintil a substitute equal if not better than itself is furnished in its place. I have long thought that the Nierembergia might be altered and improved ; and if we could but give it the rich blue of the Nemophila, to which its flowers have a re- semblance in shape, we might then congratulate ourselves on having secured a desideratum. Flowers of a bright blue like the Salvia patens and some others are far from plentiful in the flower gai-den, and we cannot afford to lose any : therefore, I willino-ly throw in my mite of information on the subject of the LobeHa, and hope others will accept Mr. Hamilton's invitation to compare notes on it, and I trust your pages will contain other cases suggestive either of improvement or, at least, pointing out the way to arrest the failures we are threatened with in this lovely plant. J. Robson. HOLLIES DECAYmG. In a large wood, forming part of the pleasure grounds here, the Holly is almost the weed of the soil. It is of all sizes — large, small, and seedlings. Lately, I have observed that a gi-eat number of the Hollies are dying — none of the large ones, and, I think, few of the very small, but those which may be, perhaps, from 3 to 5 feet high, I should feel much obliged to any of your correspondents who coidd offer me a suggestion as to the cause of the decay of these Hollies. In some merely a branch or two is affected, the rest of the plant being healthy. The soU of the wood is a rich alluvial one, gravel being underneath. We are rather too much infested by rabbits, but the un- healthy state of the Hollies does not appear to arise from their having been injured by them, — "W". 3ferioncthsliire. [Not having seen a similar instance, and having no know- ledge whether any alteration has been wrought in the state of the soil, so as to render it more wet, we cannot surmise the cause of this partial decay. If the decay is confined to the vicinity of the rabbits' bm-rows, we should consider them the cause of the mischief. We shall be obliged by any cor- respondent informing us if he has observed a similar decay, and, if so, whether its cause could be traced.] ANKUAL GARDEN FLOWERS. {Continued from page 167.) Half-hardt Annuals. — ^To successfully cultivate these they are best sown on beds, as advised for Stocks, the last week in March being the proper time to prepare the bed, which will be ready for the seeds to be sown in the beginning of April. Asters, Zinnias, and aU half-hardy annuals do better sown on beds than in pots ; and nothing is gained by sowing them early, the plants being in that case delicate and dwindling, blooming soon, and never showing the plant in its true character. Of the annuals for bedding purposes, Lobelia speciosa, Ageratum mexicanum, and Cineraria mari- tima should be sown in the beginning of March, and be placed in a Cucumber-frame, and grown on until they are sufficiently large to handle, when they must be potted singly into small pots, or pricked-off into boxes, and grown on in a vinery, greenhouse, frame, or pit, until they become strong bushy plants, when they are to be hardened-off", so that they will bear transplanting to their final quarters by the last week in May. In addition to the half-hardy annuals suitable for bedding purposes, there are some of those termed hardy that are far more tender than many of the half-hardy, especially the various Indian Cresses (Nasturtium), as Tropceolum nanum, var. Tom Thumb Scarlet, Tom Thumb Beauty (blotched), and Tom Thumb Yellow. These, with all of the Tropreolums, are more tender than any Geranium, a very slight frost indeed completely destroying them. I am aware that plants come from seed left in the ground from the previous year ; but they rarely show themselves before May, and if the summer be cold they do not bloom until late — in fact they only commence flowering before the autumn rains and frosts completely spoil them. To obviate this it is advisable to sow them in pots, three or four seeds in a 48-sized pot, and bring thein on in a cold frame, so as to have them well forward by the last week in May. There are many half-hardy annuals that make effective beds, but which, li-om their erect habit or shore continuance in bloom, are not to be recommended for bedding pui-posee, especially for foi-ming masses of one colour. Some of them, however, are very effective in beds on lawns, though not suitable for an arrangement of beds ; and these wiU be dis- tinguished by an asterisk. Others make handsome pot plants, for the decoration of cool greenhouses and conser- vatories in autumn, and to supply blanks in beds or borders. These "will be treated of at a futm-e time, and for the present will be distinguished by the sign f. SELECT HALF-HARDY ANNUALS. '^Abronia umbellata, rosy pink, G in. +Acrocliuium rossum, bright rose, 1 It. A. roseum album, white, 1 ft. tJBoth Everliisting-Flowers of great beauty,} +Alou6oa Warscewiczii, scarlet, l|ft. +Amaranthus melaucholicas ruoer, bronzy ciimson foha;;e, 2 ft. (This does very indifferently out-dooio Iq tlie north, but for greenhouse decoration it is very desirable.) Antirrliiimin, vara., 2 it. (There, when Eown early, flower tinely the first year.) * tAsters, numerous varieties, all handsome. C.ilandrinia umbellata, crimson, 6in. 'Caliiopsis atropurpurea, dark red, Oft. *C. bicolor grundiflora, yellow, 3 ft. *C. bicolor niijra specio$Li, dark red, 3 ft. •C. Diumraondi, yellow, 2 ft. *C. Burridg-i, crimson and yellow, 3 fc. (These hardy annuals require sowing in heat to have them flower flnely in the cold hihy districts of the north. They mate very flne beds.J +Clintonia elegane, white and blue, G in, C. pulchellu, blue, white, and yellow, 6 in. Cuphea purpurea, purple, 1 ft. *= fO. emineoa, bcarlet & yellow, 1^ ft * fC. platyceutra, ecai-Iet, white, and purple. *tC. ocymoides, purple, 2 ft. * tC. strigillosa, red ana yellow, l^i ft (The last lour are half-hardy peren- nials, flowering the tirsi ^ ear if sown early.) yDatura clilorantba flore pleno, yel- low, 2 It. +D. Wrightii, white, 2 ft. •Delphiuiuui formosum, blue and white, 3 ft. *D. Hendersoni, blue and white, 3 ft. (Hardy perennials, flowering the flrst year if sown surticieutly early. J Ditinthus chinensis var., 1 ft. iD. Heodewitii, various, 1 ft. +D. hybridus flore pleno, Ij^ ft. +D. laciniatus flore pleno, 1^ ft. + 0. atropurpureus flore pleno, l^ft. [Hulf.hurdy perennials in the north, but hardy in sumu loealities. Charming plants for early flower- ing m the Rreenhouse. They flower the flrst year.) '■Gaillardia granditiora, crimson and yellow. *^G.*picta, crimson and yellow, 1 fc. (These are, respectively, very flne hardy and half-hardy perennials, flowering the flrst year.) TIelichrysum bracteatum, yellow, ift. II. compositum nanum, red. H. compositum maximum, various, 2 ft. H. macranthum, white, 2 ft. (Everlasting - Flowera, of great beauty.) + •Heliotropium, vars. (Half-hardy perennials, flowering the flrst year if bown early.) Liiiaria biparliia and vars., 1 ft Liiium grandiflorum rubrum, 1 ft. {Thia waa always poor with mc. but it is one of the tiuest annuals in cultivation.) + *Lobelia erioui alba, marmorata, and Paxtoniana, have white, and white and blue flowers respec- tively, 9 inches. L. gracilis, and its variety alba, 1 ft. L. ramosa, dark blue, 2 tt. tLotus jacobcous, ivory black, IJ ft. Lupinus Hartwegi, blue, 3 ft. ; and. varieties. L. mutabilis, blue and yellow, 4 ft. L. Cruicbshanki, vars., 4 ft. L. various, 4 ft. Lychnis chalccdonica, scarlet, 2 ft. L. fulgcns, scarlet, IJ ft. L. Haaijetina, bright red, 2 ft (.The first of the last three is a hardy perennial ; the last are half-hardy peicnniats, all flowering the first yenr if sown early.) tMartjnia fragraus, purple, striped, 2 It. +Mesembryanthemnm capitatum, yellow. M.pomeridianum and tricolor. (These should be plauted on rockwork in a sunny border.) * TMimulus cupreus, scarlet and orange, 9 in. *tAI. bybridus maculosus, various, 1ft. •tM. bybridus tigridioides, various, 1ft. tM. moschatua (Musk), 9 in. (The last is a hardy perennial ; the others are half-hardy perennials, flowering the flrst year.) Nemeaia compacta, vars., 9 in, N. conipacta alba, while. N. compacta insignis, blue. '■■JMycterinia capensi^, white, 9 In. •Oinothera bistorta Veitchii, yellow and onmson. ( The hsst two are suitable for edging.) *tEnollieraDrumiuondi, yellow, 2 ft- *Ui. Lamarckiana, yellow, 3 ft. *LE. missourensis, yellow, 3 ft. (The last rhree are hardy perennials, flowering the flrst year if sown early.) *tPetunia, vara., 2 ft. * + Phlox Druminondi, vars., 1 ft, Portuljca Thellusoni, vars. (Require sandy peat and potsherds, and a dry situation, to do any good.) fRhiidanthe raaculata, crimson and yellow, 1 ft. + R. alba, white. tR. atrosauguiuea, crimson, +R. Manglesii, ro^o and yellow. (Eveiiasiliig- Flowers, of great beauty.) tSalpiglossis Barclayana, red, 2 ft. 8. Barclayana, vars., 2 ft. Salvia coccinea, scarlet, 2 ft. +Schizanlhu3 gracilis Grahami, red and orange. +S. rotusus, scarlet and orange, 2 ft. is. retusus albuB, white, 2 ft. Senccio elcgaus, vars., la IL * tTagetes putula (Frcncu Marigold), vais., 1-2 It. T. erccta (African Marigold), lemon and orange, 2 ft. *T. siguata, yellow, 2 ft. *T. tenuifolla, yellow, 3 ft. Tropa'olum minus coccineumi or- ange, (i in, (Tholastis very suitable for edgings.) Zauschneria californica, scarlet, 1 ft., (A half-liardy perennial, flower- ing the first year.) +Zinnia elegans, vara,, 2 ft, tZ. clegans (double;, 3 ft. The above list contains all the half-hardy annuals that I have found worth gi-owing. There may be others of merit, of which I shall be glad to hear tlirough the medium of thia Journal. I have included some of tho most showy hardy March 8, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTXJEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEE. 193 and half-liardy perennials because flowering the first year. These, if hardy, may be left where planted, and they flower much finer the second year. The half-hardy may be taken up on the approach of frost, and wintered in a greenhouse or frame from which frost is excluded. For covering- -wire trellises, globes, &o., and to cover or train up pillai'S, or to plant in rustic baskets, some of the half-hardy annuals are serviceable, and of such the following is a list : — Convolvulus aureus supevbus, yellow, 6 ft. IponoEoa bona nox, white, iO ft. I. Ferrandiana, blue, 10 ft. 1. purpurea, Burridgi, &c., divers, 6 ft. Require aowing in a strong heat (80'; to 85°). Loasa aurantiaca, orange, 15 ft. L. Herberti, scarlet, 6 fl. liOphospermum scLindens, purple, 10 ft. L. Cliftoni, rose. L. Henderson!, rose. (All for warm situations only.) Maurandya Barclayana, vars., 6 it. (Must have a sunny situation.) Momordica elaterium, yellow, 6 It. Thunbergia alata, vars. (Charming plants for training up pillars in the preenhouse, round sticks, or on a globe trellis in pots, and for covering trellises in warm situations in the flower garden.) Tropasolum Lobbianum, numerous varieties, growing about 6 ft. hijh. (Handsome either trained on a wire trellis in pots, or trained up the rafters, pillars, &c., of the greenhouse ; and no plants are finer in beds on lawns and in the borders. They should have a stake driven into the ground near them, to which they should be tied, or have a wire trellis in the shape of an upright cone placed over them at the time of planting.) Tropoaolum majus (Tall Nasturtium), crimson and orange. (Very tine plants, and the seeds, when lull sized, but quite green, malce excellent picales. A row of these planted 2 feet apait, and trained to stakes 6 feet high, have so fine an appearance that it is very questionable whether as fine a show could be produced by any of the vaunted ribbon-tiordei- plants.) Tropsolum peregrinum (Canary Creeper), the cottagers' favourite, is one of the handsomest of plants. It must have light, and will not do crowded with other phmts, and does best in sunny situations. Now, annuals do not deserve any hard usage, they re- quire to have as much care bestowed on them as any other plants. Water, air, and light, with a due regard not to keep them crowded nor standing too long in the seed-pot before they are pricked-off into pots or boxes, are points that must be attended to with discrimination. I shall have more to say about annuals after awhile. — ■ G. Abbey. BOILER WEONGLY FIXED— CUSTAED APPLE. I HAVE the management of a conical boiler set solid on the furnace. The bottom of the boiler is 4 inches from the furnace-bars, and the flue passes out at the front, then a brick feather to cut the draught in half each way round the boUer. The flue round the boUer is about 4 inches wide, then brickwork about a foot thick. The boiler is 20 inches deep, and about the same across the bottom. It does not work satisfactorily. There are about 400 feet of three-inch pipes and 200 of four-inch pipes. There is a vinery with a flow and return pipe; also a forcing-pit with top and bottom heat. The pipes in the vinery are level with the top pipes in the pit. When they are all in operation neither the bottom pipes are warm nor the top pipes very hot, even with a good fire. The boiler is below any of the pipes. Sometimes I think it heated better before the feeding system ■was altered. It formerly warmed the water in the cistern, but not now. The feeding-pipes formerly entered the return- pipe near the boiler, but now they enter at the bottom of the boiler, with a bend in the pipe below the boder, then up again. Can you give me any information about the Custard Apple, of which I have some seeds ? — H. H. W. [We presume your boiler is fed from below, but we are left in doubt whether the top is open for such feeding, or if the top is close and also filled with water. If the top were open, and the fuel put in from above, the setting might do, as the draught on the outside would be of less consequence. If fed from below, like an ordinary furnace, the boiler is too near the furnace-bars, as that 4 inches is the only opening left for the heat to get out and go round the outsides of the boiler, and as that opening would be apt to be choked and stop the draught, which it would not be so likely to do if the boUer were raised 8 or 10 inches from the bars. The boiler itself, 20 inches in height, and about the same width across the bottom and so much less at the top, would have about 14 inches for fire-bars beneath it. This size of boiler is scarcely large enough to heat to a high tempera- ture, 400 feet of three-inch piping and 200 feet of four-inch piping ; but we believe your boiler woiald do much more if set as above, or if set as you propose, not on fii-e-bricks, but on fii'e-lumps, some 6 to 8 inches above the bars, and the heat allowed to act on the inside and outside of the boiler, with a good damper on the flue or chimney, so as merely to have an inch or so of draught after the tire was burning freely. There must be, to heiit freely, fu-st, a good draught, which you cannot have if your fuel is 4 inches in height, and fiUs the space to the back of the boiler ; and then, to secure the heat round the boiler, there mitst be a damper used to prevent the heat going up the chimney, instead of being mostly confined round the boiler. When pipes are on dilferent levels the_valves or taps, or whatever is used, must be regulated so as to obtain the desired object. Have your air-pipes on the highest points of the low pipes for bottom heat. If you cannot raise the boiler, as indicated above, you must sink the furnace-bars. The Custard Apple, of which you have received seeds from the West Indies, is no doubt an Anona, and, as you remark, the fruit is lozenged somewhat like a Pine Apple. The fruit is generally the size of two fists, green outside, and full of mucilaginous sweet flesh. There are a great number of species and varieties, however, and in many the fr-uit is not larger than an Orange or a Plum. Thus, Anona murioata, the Soursop, is a low tree, bearing large lobed fruit ; squa- mosa and reticulata are tall trees, with smaller fr-uit, and lobed; glabra, also a taUish tree, has large fruit, but smooth, more like a pointed Apple ; palustris is a shrubby plant, with fruit about the size of a Plum. The wood is so soft as to be used as cork by the natives. We think most likely you have muricata or tripetala ; the Cherimoy er ; squa- mosa, the Sweetsop ; or reticulata, the netted. AE these are strong-growing, and unless you can give them a good deal of room in a hot stove it will hardly be worth your while troubling yourself with raising the seeds. With limited room this is how we would proceed : Sow the seeds in a hotbed, pot off when up ; select as many plants as wanted ; keep potting-off until the plants are in large pots or boxes, and then grow in a stove, where the roots can have a little bottom heat, confining the roots in a brick pit or wooden box to prevent too vigorous growth, and giving the branches and shoots all the light possible. If you cannot do the most of this, the rearing of the plants wiU be labour lost.] EOSE TEEES ON THEIE OWN EOOTS. Will some of your correspondents well versed in Eose- culture furnish a list of such as do well on their own roots ? Having a great aversion to worked plants, I have for some years been trying to have them on thefr own roots, and find some — as Jules Margottin, Caroline de Sansal, Souvenfr de Eeine d'Angleterre, Baronne Prevost, Alexandrine Bach- meteif, and others of that stamp — do remarkably well ; while some, which in a worked condition resemble those named in then- growth and other features, will not do so well, mating scarcely any growth, and, after lingering on a year or two, dying. The soil I have them planted in is dry, but does not lack depth. I believe most of the Eose-growers of the present day prefer them growing on the Manetti stock ; but I am more anxious to have them on their own bottom, and perhaps those who have succeeded with them in this way win report the kinds that do flower and thrive well when so grown. I am not sori-y to find pirblio opinion set in against standard Eoses ; and hope, if the kinds most admired can be grown on their own roots, to see an end of the diEB.culty in discriminating between portions of the stock and the worked plant, which, with inexperienced growers, not unfrequently ends in the total destruction of the latter. Some further remarks on the culture of the Eoee on its own roots wiU be of great service to growers li1-fl me, whose admiration of this beautiful flower is the more increased by knowing that it does not owe any part of its merit to extraneous help. — F. N. P. ExTBAOEDiNAKT NARCISSUS. — I have a pot containing three bulbs of Queen of TeUows Narcissus ; each bulb has sent up four stems, each of which sports nine to thirteen 194 JOUEIS^AL OF HOETICULTTIEE AND COTTAGE GAEDEA-ER. [ Marcli 8, 1864. flowers. The number of blooms at present is one bnndi'ed and eleven, and, you may believe me, tke appearance is very handsome. — Welkuow, Liverpool. Wrs'TEEING- BEDDING CAIiCEOLAHIAS. The following successful mode of treating Calceolarias may, perhaps, be of service to " Q. Q., Ireland," and others. On the 1.3th of October I put in about eight hundred cuttings of Calceolarias, consisting of the foUowiug sorts. The greater part were of Aurea floribvinda and Prince of Orange ; but there vrere some of Sparlrler, liorma. Conqueror, Eubens, Giant Gold Cap, Victor Emmanuel, Etna, and King of Sardinia, the last eight sorts being included as an experi- ment to ascertain if they would stand the same treatment as the others. They have done so perfectly. Having two fi-ames of tvv'o lights each that Primulas in pots aniL Cinerarias had stood in, the bottom being hard, I put in from 2 to 3 inches of soil which had been used for potting, and old Mushroom-bed soil sifted not very fine, miTi'rig in a oonsideraljle quantity of soot and linie. This compost was beaten smooth with a spade, and the cuttings were dibbled-in, not dropped in, as I find that plan does not answer, the worms pulling them up in the course of a day or two, and replanting them upside down. To prevent this I use the soot and lime, which, together witli the hai'd bottom, have stopped that effectually. The frames face north-east, haring a high wall at the bach, and are about G inches li-om it. They are made of one-uich deal, and are 22 inches deep at the back, and II inches deep in front, and have no protection whatever. The cuttings were watered as soon as planted, and do not reciuire any iurther watering whilst they remain in the frames. The lights are raised at the front, the wall pre- venting me doing so at the bact, and they were never closed from that time till tlie iirst weet in January. They then had a covering of mats, but not till the thermometer had indicated as low as 13\ The mats remained on till the 11th, the frost varying fi'om 14° to 24° during that time. During the present month the frames were l;ept close for some time, and they had no covering except about an inch of snow. The soil inside was fi-ozen quite hai'd. When the thaw set in the lights were opened as usual, the snow being left on till it slid oif, and the plants were none the worse. The lights are taken ofr' on all favoui-able oppor- tunities, and never closed night or day, nor will they be tUl frost sets in. Again : Most of the plants have been stopped once, and some 01 them twice, and are nice and bushy. The losses will not be 5 per cent. Prom the position of the fi-ames it will be perceived that it is not the svinny situation usually chosen for the purpose but the reverse. Kot a gleam of sun has shone on the cuttings since they were put in, the j'ard in which the frames stand being siu'rounded by walls and buildings that are somewhat sheltering. At the same time the experiment proves that the Calceolaria is capable of withstanding a great amount of frost if dry, the temperature being low before closing the frames; covering up more with the object of keepiiug it so than to exclude fi'ost, and never uncovering again till some time after the thav,' commences. Such is the mode I find to answer, not in the genial climate of Kent, but in the more ungenial one of North Derbyshire. — 3. T. Ckeed, Gardener to i'. Swanwiclc, Esq. PEOPAGATING BEDDING CALCEOLARIAS. The Jouknal or Hokticulture roaches me rather late, so that the letter of your correspondent, "Q. Q.," from Ire- land, uiny have lieen already noticed. At the risk, however, of being behindhand, I will say a few words, with your per- mission, respecting the subject of it — viz., Calceolaria cvdturo. As an amateur -writing lor amatem'S, I will confine myself to facts which I have proved by my own experience. The plan for propagating bedding Calceolarias which I have found perfectly successful for the last three years, is a modi- fication of that repeatedly recommended in The Journal OP Horticulture.!' To particularise this plan as pursued by me in the autumn of 1S63, and its results as observable at the present time : — towai'ds the end of October I took cuttings fi'om Aurea floribunda and Kayi, I believe princi- pally the former, and planted them in a cold fi'ame on a bed thus prepared — a moderately light compost, with an admix- ture of bm-nt rubbish and a sprinkling of silver sand, was put into the frame to the depth of about G inches. This compost being neither wet nor dry, was pressed down pretty closely and covered thinly with silver sand. Into it the cuttings, short, shi'ubby shoots, with then- lower leaves removed, were dibbled in rows as close together as they coiJd st.and TNdthout being crowded. Above ten dozen cuttings occupied but a small space, less than 3 feet square, in one compartment of a divided two- light frame. On previous occasions I have used a smal frame for Calceolarias exclusively, and I think it the better plan ; but it is quite immaterial on theii' account. The cuttings when planted were well watered, the water being applied between the rows ; but they have had none since, though they may have caught a few drops ii'om a sudden shower. Eor a few days after the cuttings were put in the light was kept over them ; but air was not whoDy excluded dm-ing that period, and was freely admitted thi-oughout the vrinter when not actually fi-osty. In severe weather the frame was covered up not very carefully — not sufficiently so for its other occupants, many of v.-hich have perished. To-day (March 1st), the pilants of Calceolaria ai-e, without an exception, alive and vigorous. The greater part of them have been tojiped, and they will soon be wanting more room, T/hich they will get in trenches under sHght tem- poi-Eu-y shelter. By bedding-out time they will be bushes . We ai-e within a few mUcs of the Mendip Hills, on a some- what lower range. I hope your correspondent vdll find this note usefirl another sen.son. And, now, that I am writing to you once more, you will, perhaps, let me add a general hint as to the preser- vation of bedding plants by those whose "appliances and means" are limited. There are some species which, with a little knowledge and management on the pp.rt of their cultivator, may be relied on for standing the trials of winter. I recommend the appropriation of one Jrame or pit to these rather than to those which are of doubtful endurance. Calceolarias, Gazania splendens, and Alyssum vaiiegatuni, I find ;wiU siu'vive the cold, damp, and darkness that ai'e fatal to so many others. Of course, such things as Geraniums, Ver- benas, and Lobelias may be tried, and success will be in proportion to the skill and care bestowed on them ; but, at the same time, it is well to know what we can depend on and need not buy in May ; while from a good stock of such plants exchanges may be made, and expense materially diminished. — Geo. K. Taylor, HijTi 2iittleaceous Calceolarias do best when treated in the same way. If the pots stood on damp moss, and the temperature averaged from 40" to 45° at night, there would be little chance of green fly paying them a Tisit : hence, when in bloom in May, they will do better in a shady house, or better stUI in a house with a north aspect, because there they will have light, and yet bo comparatively cool. Not but the pretty colours wiU be as fine, or finer, in bright sunshine under glass, even if the temperature should be higher, if the roots are cool and moist. Let these become di'y and hot, and we will guarantee that ere long the fly and the thrips will attack the plants in shoals. FIEING. We are just reminded of a promise to say something of the simplicities as respects the management of stoves, fui-- naces, boilers, &c. The first essential to success is suitability in materials. Not so long ago a poor fellow was nearly smothered in trying to light an iron stove. On examination it was found that the wood and the fuel were dripping wet, which made the damp chimney stiU damper, and this caused the smote to come back instead of mounting the chimney. For all sucli stoves where the least back draught would be undesirable, the materials used for lighting the fire cannot be too dry— such as dry paper, dry shavings, and dry straw — to send a volume of heated air through the smoke-shaft. The v/ood for stoves should also be thoi'oughly dry, and the coke or coal used also dry and in rather small pieces, not much larger than walnuts. When forethought is used it is just as easy to have wood, &c., dry as otherwise. The same rule applies to furnaces of all kinds, but in a less degree. SmaU handsful of wood tied together are useful for this purpose, and most gardens supply enough from prunings and other sources, and the chopping and preparing them is a good job in a wet day. Where willows and string are uncomatable, a small band of straw is a good thing to tie these small bundles with; and a little bit of straw tied with each gives you all the materials for ligliting at once, and if stood in an airy shed they will always be in good trim for use. Even with this care when flues are very long and have several turnings in a house, or through a back wall, and the flue is damp from disuse, the fire may refuse to draw nicely at fii-st : hence, it is useful to have a moveable soot-door between the furnace and the chimney, and by opening that and having some dry material in the flue all will go on well and comfortably, as the heat there not only sends out the heavier air and warms the shaft, but acts like a pump-sircker in pulling up the heavier aii- near the furnace. When we had no such openings in the flue and were troubled by the want of draught, we have gone to the top of the chimney and lighted a wisp of straw and jjut it down there. Unless where flues are very long, such ex- pedients need scarcely ever be resorted to if dry material is used for lighting. Fuel. — For all iron or brick stoves that stand in plant- houses, the best fuel is clean cinders, or coke pretty well broken. Neither of these wfil clog the soot-pipe like coals. No fuel will be safe where there is no escape by a smoke- pipe. For furnaces in general anything may be burned. For making up fu'es a few ashes are often useful for banking- up furnaces the last thing at night. For setting the fire again, at first small coals are very useful — such as those called riddle-nuts. After that it matters not much what is burned, only the better the fuel the more the heat fr'om it. When such things as ashes from the mansion are used and not much screened, they should be put on 'in a damp state. Of course, that will be after the fii-e is fairly lighted. When thus used nothing will be left of such ashes but a thin vitrified clinker. There is seldom any advantage in too small a fm-nace, if the heat from it goes freely into a flue, acts on a boiler, &c. If very large some heat would be lost, and the fuel bm-ns better and gives out more heat when compactly placed instead of being sprawled over a large surface. Regv.latiiig the Draught and the Amount of Heat. — In stoves and flues this is best and most safely done by means of the air admitted by the ashpit-door through the grate-bars. The doors of u-on stoves, and even furnace-doors, cannot be made to fit too tightly, and it always denotes imperfect management when they are seen much open. Thus, when lighting an iron or brick stove inside of the house, the ash- pit door should be open to secure a good draught through the bars. As soon as the fire is established, and ftiel is added which you wish to burn slowly, the ashpit-door should then be shut as well as the feeding-door. If the smoke-shaft is J short and straight the fuel wiU get enough of air by that 200 JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTTTRE AND COTTAGE GAEDEIfEK. [ March 8, 186t. means ; if long or bent it will be necessary to have a small opening in tlie ashpit-door, though not often more than a quarter of an inch. The doors for common furnaces cannot often be kept so air-tight, and therefore an opening in the door is less necessary. A very small opening in the feeding- door above the fuel will greatly diminish the volume ot smoke. When it is neoessai'y to concentrate the heat about a stove a furnace, or a boiler, a damper in the smoke-vent should also be provided. This damper must be used care- fully when the stove or furnace stands in a house among plants. To avoid injury by the inexperienced in such cases, it would be well to have a common damper with a few small holes in it for draught ; and then the damper should always be in, unless when tue fire is being lighted. If the ashpit-door, however, is properly attended to, dampers will be of compara- tively little use, unless when a furnace is used chiefly for heating a boiler. Then it is necessary to concentrate the heat from the fuel about the boder. Instead of the unpleasant task of attempting to settle differences of view, let us tell how such a furnace should be managed. On lighting a fire pull out the damper, so as to give ti'ee vent. Clear the furnace- bars, and as soon as lightedshutthe feeding-door, and open the ashpit-door. See that the ashpit is aU clear. Place clinkers in one place, ashes and cinders in another to be wetted, and sweep the place round the furnace. If there is an old broom there it wiU all be done in a very short time. Never let the feeding-door be open unless when necessary for fuel, &c. We have known such doors stand open night and day, and as much fuel burnt in a day as would have served a week — a good idea for those who are generous enough to heat the atmosphere of then- neighbourhood instead of the atmo- sphere of their houses. When the fire has fau-ly taken hold, put the damper in half way, and shut the ashpit-door. If it shuts very close, leave a quarter of an inch open. When the pipes and water are pretty hot, shut the damper farther in, so as to leave from a quarter to half an inch. As a general rule, then, after a good fii'eman has his fire esta- blished, he will have his fui'nace feeding-door, and his ashpit- door shut, and the damper pretty weU in. Even if the fii'e goes out, and he wants no more heat, he will let well alone, because the opening of either of these would let cold au' round his boQer ; whilst economy says. Keep that cold air from it. True it may be necessary to open the feeding-door, and even take out the fire, or damp it with ashes when the heat is too strong^when, in fact, fuel is to be wasted ; and this waste wUl take place viith. aU haphazard stokers, who just make a fii-e as a matter of course, without any reference to present or anticipated circumstances. Such a thing wUl rarely occur with a thoughtful manager of furnaces. ShaU we tell how he manages ? Before he puts a fu-e on he examines the thermometer out of doors, looks to the heavens, and tries to prognosticate what the weather wiU be, goes into the house, notes the thermometer there, whether rising or falling, feels the pijies or flues with his hand, and forms an idea whether such heat will be sufficient, or if more is wanted, and then, and not tUl then, he goes to his furnace and does what is requisite. Such a man would never pitch on a barrowload of coals when a peek would be sufficient. We' have known first-rate gardeners decline to take a young man merely because they saw how he mismanaged his foi-- naoes. — E. F. COVENT GAEDEN MAEEET.— Maech 5. The supply of Greens, such as Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, and the various Kales, continues j,'©od j but in Cornish Broccoli there is a f.illing off. A few Green Peas have come in from the continent, and importations of French salads, Carrots, und Kadishes are well kept up. Old Hotliouse Grapes are now nearly over, and the new are improving in quality, but are short in quantity. Pines are still sufficient for tbe demand. In Pears some good sumples of Easter BeurrC, BeurrC Kance, and Ne Pias Meuria are still to be had. Apples mainly consist of Blenheim and American Newtown Pippins, Keinette Grise, and some nice Winter and Golden Pearmains. Cut flowers are the same as last week. FEUIT. Apples J sieve Apricots do/,. B. 0 0 0 20 1 0 4 0 d. 8. 0to4 0 0 • U 0 0 0 30 G 2 0 0 0 10 0 0 d 0 0 0 0 « 0 0 0 0 6. 0 0 4 0 8 6 6 0 14 a. s. otoo 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 12 0 10 0 10 « 0 6 20 d 0 0 100 Filberts Jc Nuts 100 Iba. 0 Grapee, Hothouse. ...lb. Foreign PearB dessert Pine Apples.... Pomegranates . Waluuts .. bush. ..^sieTo lb. ...,eacU ...bush. 0 n Muscats 0 Meious eaoii 0 Asparagus bundle beans. Broad bush. Kidney 10(J Beet, Ued doz. Brocculi bundle Brussels Sprouts^ sieve Cabbage doz. Capsicums lUO Carrots buncb Caulitlower do/.. Celery uunaie Cucumtieis eJich lindive score Fennel bunch Liiii lie and Shallots, lb. Herbs bunch Huiseradioh ... ouudle VEGETABLES, d. 6. d 0 to 14 U Leeks bunch 0 0 u Lettuce doz. 0 3 0 Muelirojms putcle 0 16 Mudtd. dc Cress, punnet 9 2 0 Unions u»b«l ti 2 0 pickling quart 0 0 0 Parsley bunch 0 0 0 0 Parsnips doz, 0 ti u b Feas bush. 4 0 S u focuioes sack 1 a 2 U Kadishes doz. bunches 2 0 5 0 Khubaru Dandle 13 :i fj cjavoys doz. u a 0 0 8ea-kale basket 0 8 DO 8pmach sieve u 3 0 u Tomaioes j sieve 1 ti 4 0 I iurnips .'ounch 8- d. B. d 0 4 too 0 2 U 0 0 0 4 TEADE CATALOGUE EECEIVED. H. Brown, 4, Commutation Row, Liverpool. — Descriptive Catalogue of Select Vegetable and Flower Seeds, Select Cata- logue of Roses. TO CORRESPONDENTS, *f. "\ye request that no one will wi-ite privately to the de- partmental writers of the '' Journal of Horticulture^ Cottage Gai'dener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustihable trouble and expense. AU communications should therefore be ad- di'essed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul^ lure, <^'c., 162, Fleet Street, London, B.C. We also request that correspondents wiU not mix up on the same sheet questions relating to G-ardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once, N".B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next week. Orange Trees, Repotting {J. L. C).— The best time co pot or retub Orange trees is in the spring, and the best compost, loam Ironi rotted turves two-thirds, and well decomposed hotbed manure one-third. If the loam is stiff, a free admixture of river tand will be advantageous. Keep the Vines cool, but not exposed to frost, and no harm can possioly happen to them if not started until March. Corresponding {Z, jr.). —No ; we are always willing to answer inquiries, CuRisTiNE Geranium SroTXEU {C. H. J2.).— This is the second case that h:t3 come under our notice. Tn^ire is no traee of fungus on the leaves, and we can only attribute it to a deficiency of lij;ht and ventilation, and too kumid an atmosphere. Dust the leaTes with sulphur, and give more iigh: ana air. Drip from the roof would not cause the leaves to oe dotted and blotcued with silver ; it would make them decay more quickly. Christine Geranium requires the same treatment as bedding Geraniums m general. Pixe-Apple Culture {F. Chitty). — Our correspondent will find his queries fully answered in No. 27 ol our new Series, page 9, and in the loUowing Numbers. Daphne odora Diseased {S. C. 0.],— The leaf you enclosed looks as if atfe:;ted by some parasitical fungUB. Dust the leaves with fresh-slacked lime, taking care to have the leaves dry. riee that the drainage is perfect, and that tlie soil about the roots is sweet. The plants are probabiy at some distance from the glass, and overshadowed by other plants. The roots are most likely unhealthy or destroyed by some cause, audi as manure water, a rich suii, imperfect drainage, or au improper compost. Make the plants all right at the roots, and give abundant light and ventilation. GisHDRST Compound, Applying {A Constant Subscriber). — Four ounces to the gallon ot rain water for destroying tbrips and aphis — that is, if the leaves are ot a firm texture; but if the leaves are tliin and soft a solution at the rate of 2 ozs. to the gallon of water is strong enough. It ^houM be applied with the syringe, taking care to wet every part, and this suould be allowed to dry on the plant, but ic sliould be waslied oif the plants twenty- tour hours after it is applied. For bug and scale a solution made by dis- solving 8ozs. of Gishuist compound in a gallon ot ram water should be applied with a brush to the slems of plants inlested with scale, or into the joints and crevices of those infested witn mealy bu*;. Tue leaves are to be washed with a sponge dipped in the soUitiou, taking care to di»-lodi,'e the insects, and bting careful in washing not to bruise or break the Itavea and stems. The Gishuvst solution should be wiished off, twelve hours alter it is applied, by syringing the plant with water at 120". Full directions are, or should be, sent with the compound. CuRYSANTSEMUMS STOPPING {Idem). — Thc shoots are to be stopped when from 4 to « inches high. Stop tlie laterals wiicn sutliciently grown, and to ou until July, so as to produce even-shaped pUnts. The plaius shoula not be stopped after July for early bloomiug, but those for later bloom may safely be stopped until the latter part of August. AziLBAS IN Heat after Flowering iJiifm).— Decidedly. Pot thorn, and place in a moist and rather shtidy atmosphere until the groirth is made, wheti they should have abundant light, ho tuat the buds may be perfectly formed. No placo is better than a vinery where forcing hua haen juat commenced. Carnations and Picotbkb {D. C.).— Apply to any of the principal florlota who ddvertiso in our columns. March 8, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEB AIND COTTAGK GAEDENEK. 201 Grapes in Camkllta-house, &c. {J. B'.),—B\eLCk. Hamburghs will be the "beet lor such a house as you name. Camellias will stand, and be beEter ■when making their wood and forming their tlower-hads, that degree of heat suitable tor Black Hamburgh Grnpea— namely, a maximum tempera- ture of 70° to 75° at nlgbt, with 10** or 13*^ more when shut up with sun heat. You will require four rows of four-inch pipes along the front and both ends of the house you describe. Olkander Treatbient (Rebecca Hey).— A. temperature of from GS*" to 70° is too warm for the Oleander, and must be very much too high for a conser- vatory, even if it be filled with stove plants in winter or at this season. Nerium Oleander being frum the south of Europe, where it is found on the borders of rivulets, requires only a greenhouse temperature in winter. We advise you to have cuttin<;s taken at once of the halt-ripened shoots or such as are not old. Take them off with three joints, cutting them immediately helow the lowesr, and removing the lowest pair of leaves. The cuttings are then to be iniieited singly in small pots and placed in a gentle heat of 70° to SO'"", where they scon root. They will strike if placed in a bottle of ■water, but we prefer puttmg them in small pots at once in tuity loam one- half, and leaf mould ouc-Iuurth, wiih a liberal admixture of sand. The cuttings are potted as soon as the pot gets full of roots, and a fortnight afterwards the shoot is cut to three joints. This encourages side-shoots. When the shoots are a few inches la length the plants are shifted Into larger pots (.IS's), and the soil kept wet. The plants are grown on in a vinery, and tue pots placed in a saucer of water kept full. In July, or when the growth is made, the saucer is removed, but the plant is kept well supplied with water, anil placed near the glass and in the full sun. This tends to ripen the wood, and The buds lormmg uc the ends of the shoots. After August the soil is just kept moist, so that the leaves may not Hag, and in October the plants are removed to a greenhouse, wh;;re they only receive water when the soil is dry. In April tbey are placed in a vinery at "Work, or in any light house wito a gentle heat. Wheu the buds begin to swell the pots are placed in saucers of water, and these are kept full until such time as the blooming is past and the gruwtli made. Afttir blooming the plants are pruned-in, and potted when td.e shoots have grown a couple of inches. This is our treatment of this plant. By compariog it with your own you will be best able to tell whether your plant is properly treated or not. WooDLiCE IN Cucumber and Melon-frame {S. A, C).— Your plan of placing some hay in a hower-pot to catch woodlice is a paralltl case to the sportsman that took his gun and went out, leaving the puwder and shot at home. Had you wrappeu the hay loosely round a boiled potato, and placed it in a flower-pot, and then laid it on its side ut night within the frame, you "would have done terrible execution by going in the morning and shaking the hay over a pan of boiling water. As it was, you ottered no inducement to the insects to enter the hay. Our plan is to wrap a boiled potato loosely in a little hay, place it in a dower-pot, and lay the pot on its side within the frame in the evening. In the morning we take a pan of boiliug water and shake the hay over it, and the woodlice fall into the boiling water. The potato is then again wrapped Ut) in the hay and placed within the frame jt night. This plan persevered in will soon rid frames of woodhce. Two baited pots are enough for a one-light frame, one at back and another in front. A toad or two in frames will also be found very serviceable. We alw.jys have one in each frame, and sometimes two, and we have no trouble witli wood- lice. A lean toad weighing I2 oz. we put in a frame last season on the 2lst of March, and it grew so fast, und fattened so rapidly, that it couiU scarcely crawl about on Mia&ummer-aay, when it weighed 6 ozs. 12 dwts. We make a practice of employing these auimals largely lor the destruction of wood- lice, and have had tliem so tame that th.y would feed from the hand. We had in a fernery a frog which had lost the use of a leg lor five jears, and this gentle animal was always ready for its meal of worms, but woodlice it refused to take. We advise you to put a toad or two in your frame this season, and you will have no further trouble. The Bean straw could not have anything to do with the woodlice. KusTON Grai'ES {A Three-years Subscriber).— T\\Qi rust on your Grapes may be caused in various ways while the tierries are young and the sKiu very tender. It is generally considered that it is caused by the berries coming in contact with the skin of the hands while thinning them, as well as by contact with the hair of the head, the oil from the skin and hair tilling up the pores of the skin, and preventing the pare of the berry so affected from swelling or expanding naturally. Cold currents of air, while in this young state, are said to, and may no doubt, be productive of the same effect ; but by far the must common cause is rubbing the pine with sulphur any time after the Grapes are coming into bloom tiU after they are atoned. This will produce it with a certainty, if the pipes are heated to make the fumes strong enough, with the object of keeping red spider in check. We know of no remedy alter the berries are affected. Use op a Greenhouse without Heat (^An Inquirer).— Yom can have nothing in your greeuhouso that will not htand a pretty severe frost. The uses to which it may be applied under such circumstances must be limittd to things that are perfectly hardy. We know of nothing that will make your house mure interesting than some of the many hardy shrubs that fancy or taste might select. It will take much more money to make your green- house look respectable by furnishing it with haruy things, if you have ihem to buy, than would sultice to ti,t up a common stuve in ic, and so keep the frost out, and save many of the plants with which you furnish it in autumn ; and a few shillings would suffice to put up a stove to keep the frost out of a small house. Geranidms for Bedding (J?eyo^^le;iJ^i).— Helen Lindsay and Lord Pal- merston are two very line Genaniums, of recent introduction, and have proved fine sorts under ordinary circumstances; but whether ibey will do well on your wet soil, in a cold late district, remaius to be proved. They are, however, plants of a good hardy constitution, and unless your soil is very wet, we should say they will succeed. Lady Eokeby, we fear, will grow too strong to bloom well with you, unless you plunge it in pots instead of planting if out in the bed. Treniham Rose flowers well almost everywhere. Herald of Spring is not a very free-bloomer when planted out, but is fine in pots. Admiration is a very hue free*flowering sort. Crystal Palace Scarlet is so much like JSew Frogmore in all respects that it matters little which of the two is grown. Doubtless it will do well in your heavy soil. _ Heating a Gheenhobse (P.).— We think the heating will be quite suffi- cient, but you will need e vapor ating-pans on the top pipe (3). The im- provements we would suggest would be to widen the path 3 or 4 inches, and to keep the glaas at top a loot from the wall. Cyanophyllum magnificuu {E. p.).— Do not cut it down. At any rate, I'epot the plant into a large pot, giving it some nice sweet soil, and good drainage, and place in a moist, growing, warm stove temperature. Shade from very bright sun, and avoid syringing the leaves, and prevent drip falling upon them. Your plant is either cramped at the root, or the leaves cannot unfold through too low a temperature or a dry atmosphere. Rhododendron javanicum {E. S.^ Sants).—TiiiB Rhododendron does well out of doors, or in cool greenhouses in suraiuex', and needs only a cool house in winter. There is a coloured drawing and description of it in the fifteenth volume of *' Paxton's fllagazine." Shelf or Propagating Purposes [U. P.). — We have no recollection of the circumstances in which the advice was given to reserve the top shelf of a greenhouse for prop:igating purposes. A good gardener will make any place suitable for such purposes; and such a place as a top shelf may be very suitable for Scarlet Geraniums in the autumn, and for succulents at any time. For general purposes, however, we should never think of com- paring such a shelf with the advantages ot a bark-bed, You should give more definite references. Deficiekt Bottom Heat (J. ^. Wallace).— So far as we can mate out, you ought to have heat enough to scorch and burn the roots of anything ; and so we think we could secure tor you were we present. We see no necessity for the way you have placed your slates ; they might have been level on the burs, and close or open, as it pleased jou. We do not quite understand the broad openings at each end of your chamber; but we tliink that it is something owing to them, and the upright pipes from the chamber, that the heat gets iuto the house without passing through your plunging material. Stop these boards securely; plug up these pipes also securely; put 4 or 5 inches ot sand or ashes on the slate, and then let us know if they do not get hot. You must remember that even then the surface of your plunging medium will be much the same temperature as the atmosphere of the house, unless you prevent radiation of heat by covering the plunging medium with glasses, &e. When once the plunging medium is hot enough, it is easy keeping it so by regulating the plugs and openings. Unless Kome- thing of this is the cause, we confess ourselves nonplussed. Moss ON Grass Land (5. W. (?.).— We fear It is almost too late in the season to do much to your grass land, as you mention having well harrowed it ; but a dressing of lime— say three or four chaldrons per acre— would do good. But a more effectual way is to give the land a good dressing of com- pust, in which mould in large quantities is used — say twenty or tw6nty-fi.ve loads to the acre. Lay this on as early in the autumn as you can ; of course taking care not to spoil any great quautity of grass feed. A good harrowing previously so as to tear up much ol the moss will be of service. The dressing being put on in autumn gives It time to be well mellowed down in winter, during which it may be gone over with the brush or ring-harrow. We have found this the best remedy for mossy laud ; but after a lapse of years it is necessary to repeat it. Lime is good for a time, but it is quantity that kills, or leather uvei'comee, the moss. Seasand for Cuttings (./. C). — We do not know the composition of the seasand on the Somersetshire coast ; but if ic is siliceous, and thoroughly washed to remove the saline impregnations, it would probably answer. Yellow Everlasting-Flowers [Inquisitive).— The most common are Helichrysum (Gnaphalium) arenarium and Stoechas. Ornamental Grasses {A. B.). — No. 1 we do not recognise ; 2, Lagurus ovatus; 3, Briza maxima; 4, Airopeis pulchella, or the top of some slender Agrostis. In addition are recommendaole— Avena stcrilis, Bromus jubatus, Briza minor, Brizopyrum siculum, Eragrostis abyssinica, Agrostis nebulosa, Lamarckia aurea, Setaria m-icrochceta, Setaria auricoma, Panicum capiilare, and many more. Flower-garden Plan {A. E. X.).— We think your centre, and the eight beds round it formed of four pairs, will look very nice. We do not think having the next ring of eight beds all planted alike would look so well, and more especially as the beds will be all one-sided. As you have commenced pairing we wuuld continue it, either by crossing or having the figures opposite, even if you used the same materials. Tlie four opposite ti, or crossed, of Perilla centre, row on each side of Calceolaria, and the edging all round of Lobelia. Then four, Trentham Rose for centre, Perilla or Amaranthus round, and the edging of Alyssum round. The rest as proposed. Pear Trees at Trentham {A Subscriber frojii the Beginning). — As far as we recollect, the Pear trees with many sorts at Trentham were grafted, the scions being slipped in at the sides of tlie branches at the usual time, and often with frhit-buds. Budding is best done in summer. Grass Seeds fok Lawn (P. P.).— You do not tell us whether your soil is heavy or light, nor whether the grass now growing on the lawn is coarse or unobjectionable, how then can we advise you with decision! We must; suppose the soil ot medium quality, and the grass not coarse ; and if these data are correct, then we advise you to rake the lawn now, and sow it at the rate per acre of 8 lbs. Crested Dog's Tail (Cynosurus cristatus), and 4 lbs. Small Yellow Clover {Trifolium minus). You may prune your Roses now; but remember that different kinds require different pruning. You. will And full directions in the "Garden Manual," which you can have free by post from our office for twenty postage stamps. Camellia {Ignoramus). — The emphasis is on the e. Tea Plant, &c. (P. Daly).~YQu will require a stove to cultivate some of the plants you name. Write to any of the chief nurserymen who advertise in our columns. If you send a post-offico order for 175. 4rf., with your address, you can have this Journal frea oy post for twelve months. Names op Plants {Orchidophilus). — 1, Grugru nuts. These are not "nuts" in the true botanical sense, but the stones ot certain Palm fruits. More than one species affords them, though generally they are obtained from Acrucomia sclerocarpa (Marc), a very common West Indian Palm usually known as the "Macaw Palm," or in Guiana and brazil, where it is equally common, by the names " Macoya," " Macahuba," &c. The perfect ft'uits are about the sise of Orlean Plums, quite globular, smooth, and when fresh of an olive green colour. They have a ttiia woody rmd, underneath, which is a layer of fibrous gelatinous pulp or fiesh i^urroundiug the hard stone or '• Grugru nut," and this again contains a single seed. The fruits of several species ot the alhed genus Astrocaryum also contain hard black or dark brown stones, which the natives of many p .rta of South America polish and carve into various rude forms, or use for the knobs of their knit- ting or weaving pins. 2, Letterwood, is the heartwood of an Artocarpaceous tree, Brosimum Aubletii (Poepp. ec £ndl.;, formerly called FiratintrA 202 JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTtTRE Am) COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ March 8, 1464. guianensia by Aublet. It is a very beautifuUy-murked and estremely hard wood, but unfortunately ia obvuinable only in pieces of small size ; for although the tiunk attuiiia a dijmeter of 2 or 3 feet, it does not afford a greater thickness of heaitwooi than 4 or 5 inches. Moreover iL is very liable to flaws, which bpoil its utility as a turnery wood. 3, Supple Jacks, are the thin flexible stems ot climbing; plants belonging to tbe genus Paullinia, and perhaps to Seijaiiia also. Probably several species produce iheoi in the diflferent West Indian Islands. We have seen capital ones from Paullinia curassavica (Jacq.), one of the commonest Jamaica species. 4, The red seed brought from the West Indies is the seed of Adenanthera pavonina (Linn.), a small East Indian tree affording a heartwood, which is one of tiie red sandal woods of iBClia. It is nut a native of any pai t of the western hemisphere, but was long ago introduced into Jamaica and other of the West Indian Islands, in some of which it has become so thoroughly naturalised, that persons noL acquainted with its history \vould suppose it to be really indigenous. In Jaiuaica the seeds are known by the uumes ** Ciicassian Beans," ■' Lady Coote Beans," and '* St, Ymcent Beans." Their chief ufce in the west seems to be for stringing together and making various small ornamental articles, such as work-bags, horses' necklaces, bracelets, &c. ; but in the east, in addition to this use, they ate used by the native jewellers as weights, each, ic is said (we will not vouch for the tact), ■weighing almost mnformly tour grains.— A. S. (. jr. £., Amateur).— ^o one from a single flower can teli the name of a Cineraria or a common Pelargonium, the vaiieties being myriads, scarcely differing from each other. (Tho7nas].~l, Abies (or Picea) Dou^lasii taxifolia ; 2, Lamium maculatum. Your Grapes aro attacked by " the spot.'* Probably tbe roots of the Vines are too cold. [A. IK C'.).— Scilla tibirica. Prop^igated by offsets of the bulbs, and succeeds ia a light dry soiL The offsets may be planted in autumn. Ic is a hardy plant. {G-. i).}.— 1, Pteris cienata; 2, Pteris serrulata; 3, Lastrea acuminata; 4, Aspidium tiifoliatuin. {J. 7r., JLff/riV/i?).— Specimens very insufficient. 1, not identified; 2, Adiantum afiine; 3, Pteris serrulata apparently; 4, Pteris hastata macropfiylla. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHEOEICLE. KOTES BT A CEOSS-GEAIiS'ED CaJS-TEIBUTOE. It is, as said by La Socliefoucauld, or La Bruyere, or La Somebody else, that "no man ever lieard of the misfortune of a friend without a secret feeling of satisfaction." People deny this, and say as they used to say of clever, straight- forward Thackeray, " It is painting us too black, and human nature is not so bad as it is made by these writers." Look within, good fiiend, and if the " accusing Byers " has oc- casion "to fly up to Heaven's chancery" every time we are guilty of the above, he will be backwards and forwards aU day. How many console themselves under a misfortune by the reflection, they have only neighbotu-'s fare ? Are we quite sure when we profess to have only "justice and the good of the pursuit in view," in writing about malpractices at shows, that it is strictly true ? Is there nothing personal in it — disappointment of self, jealousy of, or hatred to another? And, again, the desii-e to see all marks done away with, moonshine aU, my merrie masters. Do you recoUect Kob Boy's leather purse? It was contrived so that if any one tried to open the lock a pistol erijloded to the great danger if not injiu-y of the thief; but the goodly freebooter forgot, when he prided himself on the security it afforded, that any sorry knife would divide the leather without risk or trouble. Just so. Marks on the eyelids, the beaks, the nostrils, et hoc genus omne, are guides for dishonest judges, or they are nothing. A German proverb says, " If you want to throw a stone at a dog, you can always find one ;" £,nd if an ex- hibitor and a judge are dishonest enough to play into each other's hands, what prevents one from giving the other the numbers of his pens ? If they keep their counsel, detection is impossible and marks are unnecessary. The success and pleasure of a poultry show depend entirely •on the conviction entertained by exhibitors that the judges are men of integrity. Having them, let them be satistied and support them, not damn them with sUence, and seek to injure them with a shrug or a shake, but treat them as those who deserve well of theii' friends. There are some who have once or twice officiated as judges at small shows, and who, therefore, think they can speak with avithority. Compai-ed with experienced judges they are tyros ; and when tliey put themselves in opposition to such as officiate at Bfrmingham, they always remind me of the guard of a coach many years ago. I had occasion to go into Norfolk by coach, the horses ran away and the coach was upset. I needed a conveyance and a guide to go some distance into the country on the morrow. The guard of the coach offered to provide the former, and act as the latter. He was a burly man, and he brought a very small pony. His manner was very civil and somewhat amusing in the morning; but he knew every one and stopped often. In the afternoon I could say as it is •often said in police courts, "Couldn't say he were drunk. your Worship, but he smelt strongly of beer." His speech was fast, his utterance thick, while he explained he had been sixteen years guard, and spilled three times, counting the night before. " He only wished he drove. He'd like to see the horses nin away with him. Look'ye, sir, this is the way I'd serve 'em!" and with that he woidd pull the poor little tii-ed pony fr-om one side of the road to the other. " I have 'em imder command. Look now ! " The whip was apphed tiU it caused a rieketty spasmodic gallop. " Whoa! " shouted my Jehu, and piuUed the poor little animal on its haunches. "There, I should keep 'em in hand." I mildly said I was satisfied, but ventured to remark there was a difference between four- first-rate horses and a pony. A smile went across his face, when he said, " Ho, ho, err I the dif- ference is in the men." The Game classes at Birmingham, compared with other shows, are the four horses to the jjony. The coachman represents the practised judges, the three " spills " in sir- teen years the mistakes that must occtu- in the "best re- gulated" shows, and the guard driving the pony is the section of the public looking on at the decisions, and ex- plaining how thexj would have judged. Many, I do not say all, have Uttle idea how different it is to judge judgments rather than large classes ; and of the remainder, few know the difference between judging a local show (where the most partial reporter can only say, " The Game were not nume- rous, and it is evident exhibitors have something to learn in dubbing and matching. Nevertheless, if the legs had been alike, if the hens had matched the cocks, and the birds had been better, the Judge would have had more trouble"), and the array at Birmingham. Hundi-eds of pens without a glaring fault, and twenty alike almost to a point or a feather. Twenty thousand spectators would pass a pen of marked birds •ndthout seeing it, and nineteen of them would not find it unless it was shown to them. Do you shake your head ? Did you ever search for Peewits' eggs ? Guided by a practised hand, you soon spring a screaming bird, flying in curious figures. He says she has three eggs. He ad- vances a few steps. " I can see them." "Where?" "There." " I can't see them." "Look." You walk about, and strain your eyes tiQ a crunch under yom- foot tells you you have stepped into the nest. If you doxibt, try. The two are very much alike. I would much rather criticise the judgments of the judges than do their work for them. SCHEDULES OF POULTEY SHOWS. "A Compiler of the Darlington' Schedule," in your Journal of February 9th, vei-y naturally defends his off- spring. In my analysis of the Darlington Show entries I said that the schedule was very good, requiring simply in- creased prizes in some classes. About this jjoint I can now speak practically, having received for a prize obtained there a few stamps, the carriage which the Darlington Committee had paid having swallowed up the remainder ; consequently, the retm-n journey left me wofully out of pocket, save in honour-. "A Compiler" must not imagine that in giving my opinion that at Darlington the diminutive Bantam did not receive justice, therefore I am mterestod in these pigmies of the poultiy line : far from it. I have endeavom-ed in my various analyses, in which he kindly says he has been in- terested, to point out certain breeds which are not, even at GUI' leading shows, treated as they deserve. I have striven to do this impartially, though many of your readers could see the drift of my arguments. Indeed, I have advocated the diminishing of prizes offered to some breeds in which I am particularly interested. But, " i. Compiler" asks, "Why should the jirizes be increased if we can get a good show for prizes of .£1 ? ' Well, I reply, simply on the gi'ound of justice ; and I aak the winners of the second prizes, 10s., how much the prize was worth, deducting expenses. I presume that exhibitors in a small way (and I certainly speak for myself), like to believe that they wOl win, and they like to calculate that after this pleasure there will be a tangible something on the right . side. I am certain that for distant exhibitors this was im- ( possible, as regards the second prizes in many of the classes March S, 1864. ] JOUENAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 303 at Dai-lington ; neither do I think that the Bantam classes ■would have filled so well but for the silver cup. He rightly argues that the larger breeds, as more useful, should receive greater encouragement ; biit Bantam-breeders wiU tell him that they are not only ornamental but useful — that they are, though small, very nice on the table — and that for their size they, eating less, retm-n as great a weight in eggs as some of their large brethren. Nor can I agree with " A Compilek," that the Darliagton Committee received their very good entries of Bantams fi'om aU parts of the country. I should say that a very small proportion came from a long distance. Have I, or have I not, discovered the reason ? As to Malays, every true lover of poultry woiild conside^ any show of the proportions of Darlington incomplete with- out them. I hope " A Compilee " will mark my words. All compilers of schedules ought to recollect that one of the great points in a good show is to have every breed repre- sented ; and that to the general public as well as to fanciers, a great charm is the variety of breeds. Now, at Darlington, a Malay was absolutely unknown, actually unrepresented. A very old breed, a peculiarly dis- tinct species of fowl, having characteristics common to no other breed was entirely absent. Do compilers retort that there is the Any other variety class in which exhibitors can enter ? Toxi may call, but win they answer ? The Darlington entries answer. No ! Possibly Malay-breeders reason as I do with regard to Brahmas. When I receive a prize schedule I look for the Brahma class, and if it is absent, as a rule I should not give the show a second thought. If fair prizes are offered, then I reflect on the propriety of entering. Perhaps we are both agreed that we will not consign our pets to such Variety classes. From this rule I might exempt small and local shows which personally I might desire to help. Moreover, all compilers of schedules ought to recollect, that as they gain largely on the entries of some breeds — to wit. Bantams at Darlington, they must be content to lose on others if they would make their show comprehensive of the different varieties of poultry. I do not consider that Creve Coeurs and Black Hambxirghs are more deserving of separate classes than the Malay. The Malay is a true breed. My own experience of the Creve Coeur would class it as a dege- nerate Pole ; whilst of Black Hamburghs, what shall I say ? Well, I will say this, that one of the earliest and best pens of the sort I ever saw in a locality, now famous for prize specimens, had very resjDectable Minorca parents ! The owner entered them in the Spanish class as Eose- combed Spanish, and received, of course, nothing, while an inferior pen of the so-oaUed Black Hamburghs were prize birds in the Any other variety. On the ground of purity, then, a class for the Malays ! and then, perhaps, the Darlington public may see with pleasure birds that I lately saw in their several runs — birds that for plumage and condition would have added to the ^clat of any show. I gave all credit, and, indeed, it is justly due, to the Dar- lington Committee for making the entries proportionate to the prizes offered. May some of the leading shows, the Crystal Palace for instance, be disposed to acknowledge their wrong doings and act in accordance with justice for the future !— Y. B. A, Z. I DOMESTIC FOWLS IN AMEEICA. The variety of fowls which has been of late years most extensively disseminated throughout America is the large Asiatic, the original type of which is supposed to be the great Malay or Kulm fowl of India. In an article by D. S. Heffron, published in the " Eeport of the Department of Agriculture^' it is said : — "The stock of our large fowls called Shanghai, Coohin- China, Chittegong, Brahma, &c., came from the south- eastern part of Asia, in the vicinity of Shanghai, and hence the propriety of calling them all by the general name ' Shanghai ' or ' Asiatic' The first were brought to this country about forty years ago, 'and their descendants gave size and character to the fowls of a part of Eastern Penneylvania, which have long been known in the New York market and elsewhere by the name o/ the ' Bucks- County fowl.' But numerous importations that were made about twelve years ago awakened a new interest for large fowls, and they have since spread all over the country. Of these Asiatics, some have feathered shanks, some smooth; some have dark-coloured legs, some yellow, and others greenish ; some have long legs, others short ; most have single combs, while a few have combs more or less double. Theiplumage is of various colours." The date which MJr. Heffron assigns to the first introduc- tion of the large Asiatic fowls into Pennsylvania is too late. In 1S51 the writer of this article learned from Mr. Adrian Cornell, of Bucks County, Pa., who was then upwards of seventy years of age, that the so-called " Bucks County" fowls had then been on his farm fifty years. We saw the stock, and having seen many other specimens of the kind in various places, of course readily identified them. Mr. Cornell's fowls were well known, and his son Adrian Cornell, jun., an enterprising farmer and poultry-breeder, kept up the old stock. It is upwards of forty years since the large Asiatic fowls were known in Massachusetts. Before 1820 they were in the hands of various persons here, some of whom boasted that their " roosters " could, standing beside a fiour barrel, eat corn fi-om its upper head. Among this stock were specimens of all the varieties of plumage, and feathered and smooth legs, which have been seen in the later importa- tions. Some exactly resembled the so-called "Brahmas," or "Brahma Pootras" of the present day — a name originated by a somewhat notorious individual ten or twelve years ago. The peculiar markings which chaa-acterise fowls thus called frequently appear in the common Shanghai, to which breed, of course, they really belong. It is true, however, that by careful selection from generation to generation, a tolerable uniformity of colom- may be attained, and so it may be with any other colour. Mr. Heffron says some of the Shanghai fowls have long legs and others short ones. This is true, although imported fowls are generally long-legged and rather gaunt-bodied. But their form seems generally to improve in this country, and where proper judgment is exercised in the selection of breeding-stock, the faults of shape may to a considerable extent be got rid of. Mr. Heffron says the large Asiatics " are large feeders ; have coarse-grained flesh, which becomes quite oily and rather rank-flavoured in old fowls." All who are familiar with these fowls know that these are prominent faults, and that they also produce but a small proportion of white meat compared with the dark. It is true, as we have intimated, that these defects may to a considerable degree be " bred out," but we have rarely seen this object properly accom- plished without more or less departure from the original blood. The principal advantage of the breed has been in crossing the common stock of the country, sometimes im- properly called "native." The cross-bred stock, if not carried beyond three-fourths Asiatic, is generally free to a good degree from the leading defects of that breed, wiile the size and laying tendencies are increased. It is not advisable to produce the largest fowls, as they are not so saleable in market. Dealers in dressed poultiy tell us that they do not want fowls weighing over 5 lbs. each, as above this weight Turkeys are preferred. A gentleman remarked to us that he regarded a chicken weighing 6 or 7 lbs. or upwards as only a "poor Turkey." — {Boston CnlU- vator, TEIMMING GAME FOWLS. In yom- note to my communication on this subject you say, "They- are to be exhibited in the condition they would be if intended to contend in the cock-pit." Have you not said more than you intended ? Would any Game cock, how- ever good in shape, condition, &c., be successful if presented to the Judge's eyes in " the condition" you have spoken of? I never yet saw the Game-breeder who dared to try it on. If your note holds good at all, why is not the beautifal tail docked, the flowing brilliant hackle shortened, the natural spur shortened, and then, as a compensation for all this, barbarism, a steel spur attached ? You have certainly failed to convince me that it is legiti- 204 JOUENAL OF HOETICTJLTTIEB AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Alarch 8, 1864. mate to " trim " Game ; and I repeat, " If some strains are finer in the featlier (and this is undoubtedly true), and therefore better, it is depriving them of an advantage in the competition which they enjoy naturally." I should much like to know the opinion of Game-exhibitors on this point. — Y. B. A. Z. [We certainly did not intend to include all the trimming adopted by cockfighters, but to confine it to the bird's head. Our columns are open for the expression of^sv-.^.^^sv..\>.^^^NS A Boiler house, B Cold house. c Cactus house, formed -when re- quired with a moveable partition at dotted line. D Greenhouse. E Stove. F Propagating-tank. G Open-air bottom-beat tank. H Wall of terrace 12 feet high. The return-pipes are slightly shaded. The lower house b is a lean-to 28 by 10 feet, with ven- tilating sashes in the back wall, and intended to keep plants from frost. It contains, in addition to a quantity of beddiQg-out stuff, about four hundred plants, many of them specimens in large tubs and boxes more than 2 feet square. The upper house is 36 by 10 feet, with a two-foot shelf all round, thus giving the largest possible accommodation to ladies' dresses in the free centre. At the end marked c the return-pipe from the stove makes an extra turn, and by fixing up a moveable partition along the dotted Une I obtain a most genial temperatm-e for large specimen Cacti whilst making then- annual growth. The middle portion is now one mass of bloom, and there are ia the whole length, including the stove, 510 plants, many of them in No. 1 and No. 2 pots. Should any of your readers vnsh for more definite information I shall be most happy to afford it, or they are freely welcome to call and inspect my arrangements by sending theh cards to — C. M. Majoe, Crmnwell House, Ihippas Hill Terrace, Croydon. INFLAMMABLE GAS IN A HOTBED. TnouaH the circumstances recorded by "J. K.," No. 154, are rare, yet- they are not without precedent. In 1840 I saw a similar thing happen in a garden hotbed belonging to Dr. Holmes, of Linton, in Cambridgeshire. As I was at that time studying chemistry, I there and then made some T)ractical inquiry into the cause of the phenomenon. I collected several beU-jars of the gas, and after washing, &c., found the inflammable portion to be car- bonic oxide, which bums with a lambent blue flame. After all, there is nothing more strange in the event than that it is not more frequently observed. The fact is, a portion of the bed had become almost hot enough to fire, and, like a heated haystack before it actually burst into flame, evolved carbonic oxide, a compound very generally generated when vegetable bodies are subjected to a destructive heat. — Septimus Piesse, F.C.S., Chiswick. [We are much obUged by this communication, for it is an answer based on experiment. The blue flame seen on the top of a clear coke fire arises from the burning of the car- bonic oxide formed during the combustion of the coke.] 218 JOTJKITAL OF HOETICTJLTTIBE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. [ March 15, 1864. WEED VOLTTNTEEES. One heaa-s of Eifle Volunteers in all paxts of the country, but I do not suppose any of your readers ever hear of Weed Volunteers. Well, I beg to tell them that we have had such a corps here for eight years, and, if you will give me space in your practical Jom-nal, I will tell you aU about them. In this neighbom-hood there are many orchards, which invariably produce abundance of fruit, which is a sore temp- tation to many of the school-boys on their Saturday holidays ; so it occuiTed to one of the ladies, that if some light employ- ment could be found for them iu the garden it would keep some of them out of harm's way — " For Satan finds some mischief still For idle hands to do." The thing was proposed to me ; I was quite agreeable, and when it was intimated in school I shall not soon forget the forest ot hands held up to be enrolled ; foui- of the oldest and best-behaved were chosen to commence with, and next Saturday, when, the garden bell rang after breakfast, in mai'ched our new stafi', each ai-med with an old knife, deter- mined to deal death amongst the weeds. They were set to work on the walks, and by night it was surprising what a deal of execution had been done. As the season advanced some were set to work on the terraces of the flower garden, others m the kitchen garden to thin crops, but it was prin- cipally weeds anywhere and everywhere which they were to do battle against. If a wet Saturday set in, and a lot of bedding plants are to be potted-off, it is siu'prising how many a good man at the bench can pot with such little feUows to crock pots, write or number labels, &c. Again : if a shortness of jjegs is found towards the middle of summer, give them a lot of old brooms and a penny a-hundi'ed, and the deficiency will soon be made up. In the midsummer holidays they work every day tQl dinner time, generally washing pots which are then empty by thousands. After dinner our little band is provided by their kind patroness with all the appliances for cricket, and are joined by the major part of the school, when they repair to some open green for the afternoon's game. When autumn comes, and weeds are becoming scarce, they are turned on to the lawn, armed with an old table-fork, to root out daisies, plantain, or whatever weeds are in the grass : the best way in this case is to pay so much per bushel according to the scarcity or plenty of weeds. At the age of fourteen they always leave us. Many go to the great nursery firms of Messrs. Veitch, Chelsea, and Osborne, of Fulhani, where they find that their early training is beneficial. I have only mentioned a few of the things which our boys do, but what I have said will, I hope, induce others to try what we have found to answer here ; and I am quite sure most gardeners wiU be only too glad of the extra assistance rendered by their services. Our wages are 4cl., 5d., and 6cJ. per day, depending on the industry each displays. Perhaps I may just mention that the girls are in like manner em- ployed in the house to assist in the Satm'day's cleaning, and this fits them for becoming useful domestic servants. — J. EusT, Gardener to the Sight Hon. L. Suliixm, Broom House, Fulhmn. To Prevent the Eavages or the Goosebeekt Catee- piLLAK. — It is a well-known fact that the Gooseberry cater- pillar, larva of the Nematus or Gooseberry Saw Ply, is most destructive in light di-y soils, where it reposes in comfort during the winter months. It is my misfortune to have to do with a soil of this kind, where caterpillars were notorious for their depredations. Nearly twenty years ago I adopted the by no means new, but very reasonable i^lan, of removing the soil round each plant for 3 or 4 inches in depth, and about 2 feet in diameter, and with the soil the chrysalis, the agents which supply the guests for the feast Nature pro- vides in due season. The whole should be buried at least 18 inches or 2 feet in depth — the bottom of a deep trench will be found a convenient place — and fresh soil added in place of that which has been removed, which will assist in renovating the plants. If carefully done, this process need not be repeated oftener than every third or fom-th year. Having long adopted this plan, I can confidently recommend it as being both economical and successful ; and if any of the numerous readers of yom' valuable Magazine are suffering from the ravages of the Gooseberry caterpillar, I would just say. Try it. — Akchibald Powxee, Castle Kennedy, Stranraer. {West of Scotland Horticultural Magazine.) WOEK FOE THE WEEK. kitchen gaeden. The late heavy falls of rain and snow have brought aU out-door gardening operations to a complete standstill. As soon as fine, open, and sunny days arrive, there wUl be an accumulation of work to be attended to without delay. Asparagus, in favourable and early situations the beds may be slightly forked over ; a little Lettuce seed may be sown upon them at the same time; also, sow Aspai-agus seed. Broccoli, make a sowing of the Eai'ly White for autumn use. Cabbage, transplant from the autumn-sown beds. Eaith-up the early crops when the weather is favourable. Cardoons, a sowing may now be made if they are required early. Cauli- floviers, as soon as they are thinned out to three plants under each hand-glass, loosen the soU about them, and draw it around the stems of the plants. Chervil and American Cress may now be sown. Leeks, sow in a box or in a border for planting out, or sow where they are to remain. Parsley, a good sowing should now be made. Clean and loosen the soil between the rows sown last season. Peas, two or more crops of different kinds should be got in. Knight's Marrow is a fine-flavoured Pea, and also Hairs' Dwarf Mammoth; Pota- toes, the main early crops to be planted as soon as the weather will permit. Sea-kale, beds may now be made. Turnips, make a sowing of Early Dutch, or Stone, or Covent Garden Snowball. The last is a very early and juicy sort, of excellent quality, small, and compact, and a fine vaiiety for successive sowings. FLOWER garden. When the weather has taken a favourable change any re- arrangement necessary amongst the herbaceous plants to be made. Overgrown specimens of Phloxes, Asters, Aconites, Eudbeckias, Pentstemons, and Monardas to be gone over and reduced, and as many of them throw up too many flowering-shoots, it is advisable to thin them out, so as not only to obtain fine heads of bloom but increased strength in the remaining shoots, and to enable them to need less assist- ance from stakes. Sweep and thoroughly clean lawns, and give them a double roUing with a heavy roller to render the turf smooth and solid. This is sometimes put off until dry weather sets in, after which the roller makes comparatively little impression ; whereas if done at once while the turf is in a wet spongy state, it will be greatly consolidated and improved for the season. If Briai-s are wanted for budding Eoses on they should now be collected, trimmed, and planted in a reserve garden, or where they are wanted to stand for summer budding. All turfing, &c., should now be finished as soon as possible. Continue the pruning of shi-ubs, Eoses, &c. Where bulbs are making then- appearance the surface should be carefully loosened if the weather is dry and fi'ee from frost. Tulips considering the severe weather are look- ing well, stiU every precaution ought to be taken in order to insure a good bloom. Cover at night as usual. Eanunouluses, those who did not take advantage of a fine day or two about the 25th of Februaa-y, have, of coui-se, their collections still out of the ground. No time, however, ought to be lost if they are to be grown in proper season. FEUIT GARDEN. As regards fruit trees, operations recommended a month ago may be performed without being deemed out of season. Proceed with the grafting of Plums, Cherries, Pear, and Apple trees. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. The continuance of winter and an almost totally obscured sun have had very injurious effects upon many valuable plants. When shifting plants it is generally recommended to use the soil in a rough state — that is, not sifted, but made fine by rubbing it thi'ough the hands, picking out the small stones, &c., and also to use plenty of drainage at the bottom. If plants were treated on the one-shift system — that is, removing them at once fi-om a smaU to a very large pot, such drainage would be neoessaiy to keej) the mass of soil in a dry and healthy state, as it would othermso Mill-cll 15, 1864. ] JOUENAIi OP HOETICTJLTUEB AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 219 become sodden after waterings, before the roots had made much progress in acting upon it by absorption. But accord- ing to the general practice of shifting them from the size of pot in which they had been growing to the next larger size, so much drainage with a porous soil is unnecessary ; and at this season in sliifting plants at the approach of warm weather it is adisadvantage and an injury, because with such free drainage and rough porous soil the watering-pot must be in frequent use, and almost at the same time that the water is applied to the top of the pot it is seen or heard to fall out at the bottom. When plants are shifted in the autumn a porous soil is then more necessary to keep the roots in a dry healthy condition during the many dull and dreary weeks of winter ; but now so much porosity is not necessary, and, therefore, this should be considered and acted upon during the spring and summer potting of plants. Fuchsias should now be making free growth in the warmest part of the house ; to be syringed overhead every fine afternoon, stopped, if long-jointed, to form compact bushy plants; but if intended to be planted along the sides of walks, or as single specimen plants on grass, they should be grown with one main stem, from which the branches will spring all round, and thus they will form fine pyramidal specimens for pleasure-ground scenery. After the Camellias have done blooming examine the roots, and, if necessary, shift the plants, using equal parts of good tui'fy loam and peat, with the addition of a little sharp sand ; to be placed in the warmest end of the greenhouse, and kept close and moist, both roots and tops, vmtil they have set their flower- buds, when they may gradually be exposed and hardened- off by giving air more freely. STOVE. Proceed with the repotting of such plants as require it, and give all necessary attention to those in active growth. To secure strong short-jointed wood keep up a vigorous root-action, and let the plants occupy a place as close to the glass as possible. Specimens started early may require rearrangement. Ixoras, Clerodendi-ons, Allamandas, &c., that have become well rooted may be supplied occasionally with liquid manure, but to be given in a tepid state and not over- strong. Look sharply after mealy bugs and thrips. FORCING-PIT. This will now be found a useful structure for encouraging the growth for the young stock of various stove plants, such as Ardisias, Brunsfelsias, Clerodendrons, Echites, Euphorbias, Gardenias, Gesneras, Gloxinias, Gloriosas, Poin- settias, Thunbergias, &c., the whole of which delight in a humid atmosphere with a nice bottom heat. PITS AND FEASIES. The cuttings of Verbenas, Fuchsias, Petunias, AnagaUis, Lobelias, Ageratums, and other such half-hardy things to be put in now. They will strike in little more than a week if plunged in a sweet bottom heat of 75". W. Keane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. The seeds sown last week were scarcely in before we had a soaking rain, which, followed by fog and drizzle, has pre- vented operations in the open ground. On Wednesday we had a heavy fall of snow, which lay on ground previously soaked; and on Thursday morning a very sharp frost, which would have injured many things but for the covering of snow. We think it just as well that the weather has prevented us sowing the main crops of Onions, &c. There is little injury from frost to such seeds, or even young seed- lings, when well up — the time of danger is just when the seeds are sprouting in the ground, and the seed-leaf has not appeared above ground : hence many seeds of half-hardy and tender annuals wiU remain uninjured in the ground all the winter, and will often come better in summer naturally than those we sow with care, because the frost has little power on them so long as they are in a dormant state, and the germination of the seed is not likely to take pla^e until the ground is suiEciently heated as well as moistened. If the wet cold weather continue, it would be advisable for those with heavy cold soU to contend with, to sow Onions, Leeks, Lettuces, Cauliflowers, &o., under protection, and transplant for early crops. This wiU be better than tramp- ling about on clogged wet soU. Such ground will have a tendency to keep stiff and cloggy all the season, and seeds covered by it are often so coated over with matter impene- trable to air, that germination is next to impossible ; and thus seeds are often blamed for not growing when the real fault lies with the sower. Waiting a week or ten days, to get the ground in a nice dry friable condition, is often in reality time gained. Through such grounds future rains will pass freely, and leave their virtues behind them, which potohed and clogged land never will allow. All work con- nected with vegetables has consisted in keeping up a regular succession of forced or protected things, as mentioned in the previous week, the only novelty being Swedish Turnip-tops for the table, blanched yellow by placing some good tubers in a shady place in the Mushroom-house. If not more than one or two cuttings are taken from these, the tubers are but little injured, if the tops are not more than 6 to 7 inches in length. These make a very palateable and healthy dish, and may be had all the winter where Turnips are comatable. The Swede is the best for this purpose ; the blanching in the dark removes the extra acridity of tlie Tiu-uip-top, and leaves enough to tempt the appetite. We have re- ceived thanks from some farmers who have thus supplied themselves with these tops in winter, when other vegetables were scarce, by making a slight hotbed in a shed, covering it with earth, placing the Turnips in the earth, and a close wooden box over it. If they preferred the tops green, they opened the lid of the box diu'ing the day. One gentleman farmer has also managed to have a good supply of Mush- rooms from a bed in an unused stall in a stable. FEUIT GARDEN. Very much the same as last week. A little sun on Thurs- day will keep the Strawberries in flavour and setting, and give a start to Melons, Cucumbers, &c. The snow on Wed- nesday having covered the orchard-house roof, we took the oi^portunity, merely as a matter of precaution, to smoke the house with bruised laurel leaves. Removed also some of the surface soU as the weather would permit, to be replaced with fresh after the dry places were watered ; but dislike wheeling or moving soil in wet weather. Finished clearing out the late vinery. At the back of the house some Vines were planted, to relieve a little those planted in a border in front outside, which have long borne rather heavily. Scraped off the surface soil; watered, as the ground was very dry for keeping the Grapes, and top-dressed with cowdung and a surfacing of fresh soil, and then filled the fioor, stages, shelves, &c., with bedding plants. Tied and regulated Vines in fii'st house, disbudded Peaches, &c. In our orchard-house there is a gravel path at the back, or within 15 inches of the back wall, which we have wished altered, and now will have it to our mind. Last season we were very scarce of water, and that path required a great deal, and even then the soil beneath it was kept moist with difficulty, so great was the radiation of heat and evaporation of moisture from it. Then we had frequently to prick the surface to give it a good soaking ; and thus, however tan- talising the crops, no one could walk through it comfortably for several days. As the most economical plan for a pathway which would afford a passage at all times, and permit of the soU beneath being open and moist, we are preparing narrow wooden trellises ta seven-feet lengths, width 16 inches, formed of oak cross-pieces of that length, and 2J inches square, for supporting five longitudinal pieces of deal 7 feet long, 2^ inches wide, and 1 inch thick. This wOl leave rather less than an inch between the pieces, so that the tiniest lady's slipper wiUrun little chance of getting between them. These are very old-fashioned paths, but they are very useful, can be easily moved, the ground stirred, &c., and then placed in a line ; they are also economical, if care is taken that arrangements are so made as not to have an inch of waste in the cutting of the timber. In preparing for this, we have also altered the position of our u'on stove, previously alluded to, by sinking it all the deeper tu the ground, so that the smoke-pipe shall pass through to the back wall, beneath this wooden gangway, as previously it was some 18 inches above the gravel path, and it was necessary to step over it when at work, which was not pleasant at aU times. To keep the earth from faUiug in round the stove, we have placed a brick on bed and on edge 220 JOUKNAI/ OF HORTICULTTJRE AND COTTAGE GARDEIfEE. [ llarch 15, ISM. SO as to have a cleai- space all round the stove. If the iron stove should burn out, for it is now an old one, the cleared space will do nicely for placing a brict stove in. Not wish- ing to lose the length of this horizontal pipe that crosses the house to the chimney outside the back wall, and yet to secure a good draught, we raised the back of tlie stove so as to be 2 inches above the level, and the pipe sloping all the way, the draught is now very good, and can easily be regulated. HEATING. For all large affaii-s, and heating many places from one ftu'nace, there is nothing like hot water. To heat smaU separate places, and yet show no means of heating, the simplest plan is to have a narrow flue, the cover of the flue to form part of the floor of the house. Where economy in heating such small separate places comes in as the first consideration, or when, even in a rather large lean-to house, it is wished merely to exclude frost in spring, then as to economy there is nothing equal to an iron or a brick stove iaside the house, each having its appropriate smoke-funnel. Ko other plan wiU yield the same amount of heat from the same amount of fuel, so as to tell upon the temperature of the enclosed space. We cannot help it, if our go-a-head friends caU out about retrogression, vandalism, and all the rest of it. We only speak as we practically know. A gentleman told us lately, that acting on our advice he had a small sis-inch flue taken round and beneath the paved floor of his little greenhouse, and the expense of the flue, fiu-nace, and fuel for eight years has just been half the sum of the lowest tender he received for heating it with hot water. Another teUs us he can do anything in his little lean-to house with an Ai-nott brick stove against the back wall, concealed by the sloping stage, and that he needs no regulator, except a moveable opening in the ashpit-door, and that fi'om a large metal pan on the stove top, and some vessels of water near the side of the stove, he can have as moist an atmosphere as he pleases. To obtain moist as well as di-y heat from siich stoves, in other words, to get hotbeds as well as an increased atmo- spheric temperature, we have seen nothing, so far as the economical and useful are concerned, equal to the stove and small boiler of Mr. Elvers, eicept the plan represented at page 172, by "M.," ot Liverpool. The distinguishing features of the stove of "M.," are the coiled pipes instead of a boiler, and the moveable grating, or sash-bars, first described, so far as we know, by Mr. Allen, in Vol. XXV., page 134. Were we building a brick stove to morrow, we would have such a grating, and follow the plan of " M.," in having the feeding-door well raised. This will fui-nish the best answer we can give to some half dozen of inquii-ers, as to whether we think such a stove as "M.'s" would do for a lean-to of from 15 to 25 feet in length, and from 9 to 11 feet in width. jSTo doubt it would in any ordinary cii'- cumstances, and under ordinaiy careftil management. We use the last three words advisedly, because we believe that many systems " cannot answer," because they cannot get a fan- trial. We are not now alluding to the appliances in large establishments where the saving of labour may be the chief consideration, and where the turning of a tap or a valve may be nearly all that is requii-ed to give what is wanted in any one department, farther than to remark, that the vei-y use of the thing may so blunt the faculty of at- tention, that for the want of moving the valves there may be dji'e havoc, either from extra heat or extra cold. We allude chiefly to those numbers of our readers who aim at domg much in little space, and who can better give theii- attention and a little labour than spend much money, even on the most improved system. We fiud many of these friends have a hankering after heating by hot water, as if that could do everything for them, and sad are their complaints that they can do nothing with the hot-water establishments, the charges being so enormous. Now, we have not a word to say against our hothouse-building or hothouse-heating esta- bHshments, quite the reverse, and in most large jobs that we have seen the workmanship and the expense were every- thing that was straightforward and honourable. But we do think that our heating men have until lately acted as if they thought it beneath them to do a little job for the en- thusiastic amateur-, for in many cases the price asked for a little job bore no proportion to that charged for a large one. Now, however, even from our advertising pages amateurs may know for what they can have small houses heated; and if even that were too much, knowing the price of pipes, they might buy the pipes and form the joints with Portland cement, which wiU do admii-ably if not in direct contact with the fire. AVhat we wish to do however, is to state the simple fact, that hot water wUl not do everything. Here we have a lamentation, "That for years I kept my plants nicely with an old flue ; I had hot water last year and now all my plants are gone, the frost has got in." The truth is, the worthy man who helped at the fui-nace required ex- perience to find out that when the fire went out, the pipes were not such a lasting reservoir of heat as the old flue. Then as to the brick stove in a small house : its efficacy on such a morning as Thursday is not to be tested so much by the fi'ost getting in as by the management given to it. But for the snoTT the frost that morning would have been likely to have produced havoc under glass, as well as in the open air. Though it snowed the whole of Wednesday, and, therefore, the atmosjihere was cold, it was late at night before the thermometer fell to near the freezing-point. In such circum- stances prudence would say. Put at least one sharp fire ia your stove. But supposing that on looking out between 10 and 11 P.M., after we had put our slippers on, a combi- n.ation of laziness and security from frost, omng to the hazy atmosphere, and the snow still faUing, determined us not to trouble oiu-selves with the stove for that night, would we have any right to blame the inefficiency of the stove, because the plants on the front shelves had the earth about them. pretty well as hai-d as cannon-balls, or if even the plants on the back stage had been in the same state but for the friendly covering of snow on the glass ? We have already heard of instances of damage done where the friendly snow had been blown oif the glass. We have heard of instances where the plants were frosted, where nothing was done until six or seven in the morning, and other instances where no fire was made at night, but where, there being some anxiety, there was a look out between four and five in the morning, and a fire put on immediately prevented aU harm. Where such extreme watchfulness is too u-ksome, it is prudent to use a shovelful of coke or cinders, if not abso- lutely required at the time. A little &i-e will cause a cir- culation of au- in the house, and make all comfortable, and wOl generally keep out all such sudden fi-osts as occurred on Thm-sday morning. Now, the simple principle we wish to convey is, that no system however good will make up for want of w.itchfulness and cai-e, and these given, it need be said of no simple system, it cannot answer, unless a great deal too much is expected from it. The seasonableness of these remai-ks must be the excuse for thus hurriedly making them here. Wo are just reminded of one great advantage we have not alluded to, as respects heating small greenhouses by means of a flue beneath the floor, the top of the flue forming part of the floor. A gentleman told us last -nnnter that his flue is 5.V inches wide inside measure, covered fii-st with thin tUes, and the joints crossed with brick on bed, and the floor thus formed of such bricks. He thought but little of no means of heating being observable ; but he looked upon it as a luxivry to walk round his house in cold muggy weather in vrinter and smoke his cigar, with the nice di-y warm bricks beneath his feet, and the bricks were nice and comfortable some 15 inches from the cover of the flue. OKNAMENTAl GARDENING. Here, except in-door work, potting Fuchsias, Gloxinias, &c.; we have done little. Care must be taken to have the soil in good order, .nnd to let the plants have no check after potting. The weather being uncomfortable for out-door work, tender annuals have been sown, and lots of temporary clay pots for bedding stufl' have been made, and numbers of Geraniums taken from boxes and planted separately in pieces of fibry tiu-f 31 inches square, with a large hole scooped out of the centre. — K. F. TEADE CATALOGUES EECEIVED. Bruce & Co., 52, King Street, Hamilton, Canada West. — Descriptive Catalogue of Seeds for the Fann, Kitchen Garden, and Floicer Garden, <5'c. March 15, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE aAEDENEE. 221 Charles Turner, Eoyal Nurseries, Slougli, and Salt Hill. — General Spring Catalogue. John Salter, Versailles Nursery, William Street, Hammer- smith.— Descriptive Catalogue of Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Paionies, Phloxes, i^'c. John Morse, Nurseries, Dursley, Gloucestershire. — Cata- logue of Cuttings of Dahlias, Chrysanthemums, Pelargoni%i,m,s, Greenhmtse and Stove Plants, cfc. COYENT GAEDEJSr MAHKET.— Mahch 12. Tlie supply of vegetables in season continues good ; but Cornish Broccoli comes in less freely than in pasl weeks. Hothouse Grapes are sufficient for the demand, H-hich has been brisk in the course of the week. Some very good Pines are now to be bad. Apples and Pears consist of the same kinds as reported last week. Cut flowers are more plentiful, and chiefly consist of Orchids, Camellias, Koses, Pelargoniums, Cinerarias, Azaleas, Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissus, and Violets. FBirlT. s. d. s. d s. d. s. d Apples Apricots Figs . I sieve ....doz. n 0 0 oO II n n n 0 Nectarines 0 0 0 (1 .... doz. 0 • 0 0 Oranges 100 4 0 10 0 Filberts & Nuts 100 lbs. Grapes, Hothouse. ...lb. II II II II II II 0 20 0 so 0 Pears ... bush. S 0 12 0 Foreign ... Muscats ... 1 fi '' II l\ 1) 10 II 0 0 0 0 Pine Apples.... lb. 6 0 10 0 100 4 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 VEGET Pomegranates eacll 0 14 1) 0 0 20 0 Melons ... each n ABLES. R, a. s. A 8t a. s. d Asparagus Beans, Broad... R 0 to 14 0 Leeks .. bunch 0 4 too II ... busb. 0 0 0 0 Lettuce .... doz. 1 u 2 0 Kidney 100 2 0 3 0 Mushrooms ... .. pottle 1 0 2 0 Beet, Red .... doz. 1 0 1 a Mustd.a Cress puunet 0 2 0 4 Broccoli bundle 0 9 2 0 Onions .. Lushel a 0 6 0 Brussels Sprou s i sieve 2 0 3 6 pickling ,. ... quart 0 (S 0 8 Cabbage ... doz. U 0 0 0 Parsley .. bunch 0 4 0 U Capsicums 100 0 0 0 0 Parsnips .... doz. u Endive ... score 1 3 2 6 Savoys ... doz. 2 0 3 0 Fennel . bunch 0 •i u 0 Sea-kale . basket 1 a 2 B Garlic and Shallots, lb. 0 8 0 U Spinach ....sieve 2 B 4 0 .. bunch bundle 0 1 •i 6 0 4 0 0 0 U 0 4 0 0 (1 Horseradish .. Turnips ...ounch 6 TO CORRESPONDENTS. *^* We request that no one -will write private^ to the de- partmental writers of the " Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All commvinications should therefore be ad- dressed solehj to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul- mre, S(c., 162, Fleet Street, London, E.C. We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once. N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next week. Fngeavings (TT. 1/". B.), — If you require the portrait of any particular fruit, flower, or vegetable, you must employ an artist to draw it, and an engraver to engrave it afterwards. If you send us a list of any you require we can tell you whether they can be purchased. Fountains. — C. S. wishes to know where the table-fountains mentioned in Vol. XV., page 372 can be obtained. MtJGSETT's Hot-water Apparatds {A Constant Subscriber). — We have no information upon the subject except the following : — '• I have * Mus- aetVs Portable Hot-water Apparatus' at work in a span-roofed house 10 by 20 feet, and for efficiency and economy nothing can be better. The house is at present filled with early-fiowering plants; but I intend shortly to start Cucumbers, for the production of which I shall have no other artifi- cial heat but that which dung and ilussett's Apparatus will give.''— J. "Waters, Gardener, 2, Somerset Terrace^ Wandsworth. Beoonia Leaves Cracking {MaUQvia).—'ThQ plants are kept very much too warm at this season : 50° to 55° is quite hot enough in winter even to liave the foliage in fair condition. We think your plants are suffering from •want of rest. They should be rested for at least three months at some season of the year, according as they are wanted to bloom, or their foliage to be in fine condition. This is effected by withholding water, and keeping them in a lower temperature and drier atmosphere. The cause of the leaves cracking is, we believe, an atmosphere too dry at one time and too moist at another. They are too dry at one time to properly form their leaves, and then gorged with nutriment, which causes the leaves to burst because the ^Bnes [are too small to contain the matter. The atmosphere shonld be constantl; moist, and water kept off the foliage. KiviNA BtJJiiLls Culture (.4 Constant Reader].— It ia an evergreen unrier-f-hrub from the West Indies, and not spelt Rascinne. The flowers are white, appearing at almost all periods of the year, and are succeeded by long racemes ot bright red berrie.<, and this renders it very useful for dinner-table decoration, especially as it can be grown in small pots. It ifl most readily increased by sowing the seed in spring in a stove on a gentle bottom heat. The seedlings are potted-off into small pots when large enough, and grown on in the stove, keeping them near the glass, so as to be sturdy. As the pots fill with roots they are potted into larger, an 18 or seven-inch pot being a convenient size to flower and fruit a specimen in. They require a warm greenhouse to winter safely, and should then he kept rather dry at the root. In spring they will require potting, shaking- off the old soil and reducing the ball considerably. Of course they must be potted into pots a size smaller. By iMay the pots will be full of roots, and the plants grown considerably, when they are pdtled in their fruiting- pots. After disrooting, it would materially assist root-action if the pots were plunged in a mild hotbed. The plants need abundant light and air, and the heat of a stove to have them fine. They do well, however, in summer m a vinery. A compost of turfy light loam three.fourths, leaf mould one- fourth, with a free admixture of sharp sand, suits them well. If standards are desired, they are easily obtained by rubbing-off the side shoots to the required height, and then stopping the leader to induce side shoots at the point desired, and stopping again until the head is formed, but not later than June it the plant is intended to become covered with its ornamental fruit in the autumn. We have them on eigliteen-inch stems, with heads more than a foot through, in six-inch pots, and when clustered with their pretty drooping racemes of red berries they form nice ornaments for the dinner- table or decoration generally. Garoen Plans (A. X. jl.).— We have repeatedly stated that we never either furnish plans or plant them. It is impossible to do so without know- ing the place. All that we undertake is to criticise the plans and planting submitted to us. Onions Failing (,T. IP!).— Dress the ground heavily with well decomposed manure and charred vegetable refuse. A dressing of rich heavy loam would materially improve your sandy soil for Onions. Sprinkle soot on the beds before sowing the seed, and rake it in with the seed. A dressing of lime would also be of service. When the Onions are ready tor thinning, sprinkle dry soot over them, taking advantage of a dewy morning when they will be damp, and the scot will adhere to them. If you water the beds, apply guano water at the rate of 2 ozs. to a gallon of water. We think yon will then succeed with Onions on your soil— one of the worst for them. Neapolitan Violets (C jff.).— They require air at all times, in fact, can never have too much. They require air when flowering the same as at, any other time. Your soil is probably too rich, and that would give fine flowers, but not so profusely as if it had been less rich. We think your plants will have more blooms yet. Poinsettia pl-lcherrima Stopping [B. B.).—li you have a good heat you may stop the plants twice, but for blooming finely they should not be stopped after August. Sheep-dung (IF. B. Fei-ers) .'— That taken from the intestines by butchers will answer quite well for in.ikiug liquid manure and other gardening purposes. Tou can have the book you name free by post from our office if you enclose 3s. Md. in postage stamps. Covekt Garde.i Maeket (H. P. R. K.).—We cannot furnish the name you ask for. Removing Largk Hollies (^. S.).— The early part of June is the best time for removing them, and if moved with a good ball of earth about the roots they will scarcely show any symptoms of having been disturbed. Long Cucuheees {A Brotherton Subscriber).— Tell any seedsman who advertises in our columns what you require, and he will supply you. Hyacinths Bloomed in Glasses (B. B.) .—No treatment you can adopt will enable the bulbs to produce bloom next year. The most successful treatment is to cut down the flower-stem, and to plant the bulbs in pots, washing the soil in among the roots without injaring them, and keeping the soil well watei-cd until the leaves begin to turn yellow. Next spring the bulbs may be planted in a sheltered border, and after another year they wiU probably produce bloom. Names or Insects.— (S. Croydon).— The grubs which attack your Ferns in pots immediately below the surface of tne soil, are the larvas of one ot the weevils, most probably Otiorhyuchus vastator. The "fly" is a click- beetle, Elater striatus, the parent ot the wireworm. Wo would recommend the plants to be repotted in soil carefully riddled through a sieve, and the old soil burnt. — W. Water-ceess Culture (Yorkshire).— 'We know nothing about "Real Erfurt Water-cress," and never saw any superior to the English species of our brooks. No advantage arises from growmg it from seed. The follow- in" is the mode of cultivating it :— The treuckes in which they are grown are so prepared, that, as nearly as possible, a regular depth of 3 or 4 inches can be kept up. These trenches are 3 yards broad, and 87 yards long, and whenever one is to be planted the bottom is made quite firm and slightly sloping, so that the water which flows in at one end may run out at the other. If the bottom of the trench is not sutHciently moist, a small body of water is allowed to enter to soften it. The cresses are then divided into small sets or cuttings, with roots attached to them ; and these are placed at the distance of 3 or 4 inches from each other. At the end of five or six days a slight dressing of well-decomposed cowduug is spread over all the plants, and this is pressed down by means of a heavy board, to which a long handle is obliquely fixed. The water is then raised to the depth of 2 or 3 inches, and never higher. Each trench is thus replanted annually, and furnishes twelve crops during the season. In the summer the cresses are gathered every fifteen or twenty days, but less frequently during winter ; care is taken that at each gathering at least a third part of the bed is left untouched, so that neither the roots may be exhausted, nor the sue needing gathering delayed. After every cutting, a little decayed cowdung, in the proportion of two large barrowsful to each trench, is spread over the naked plants, and this is beaten down by means of the rammer above men- tioned. After the Water-cresses have been thus treated for a twelvemonth, the manure forms a tolerably thick layer at the bottom of the trench, and tends to raise its level. To restore it to its original level, all the refuse shonld he thrown out upon the borders which separate the trenches from each other. These borders may be planted with Artichokes, Cabbages, or Canlifiowers, 222 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAUDENER. t March 16, 1&64. BoiLEE AND Flue ( Tr. Brooke). — You may do as you propose with the boiler, but it will be us troubleeome as continuing the flue in the way we indicated, or it might ro a part of the way and return to the same chimney as now ; but we think you must have a deal of heat as it is. Do away -With the damper in your flue enthely under the circumstances, or use it Tery carefully. Get a door for your ashpit by all means, and from an (^ening in that regulate your draught. See '* Doings of the Last ^Veek,'* pp. 199, 200. Cow-HODSE AND ViNERT COMBINED (F. C.).— We never advocated this combination, for the dust and other inconveniences we felt sure would frustrate the plan. Mr. Law!=on, of Tiryriail, near Llandillo, tried the plan, but he came to grief and emigrrated. We leconimend you, as glass is now so cheap, to have a viuery separate from your cow-house. We shall be glad to see the photographs you mention. " Are not the fowls White Cochins? We can show you a coloured drawing of these. Heating by a Cylinder Boiler [B. J).)— Such cylinder hollers are best ^rhen fed from the top ; if not, the heat should go round the outside as well as inside. In either case the boiler should he from 3 to G feet below tlie pipes to be heated. We presume your pipes run at once on the level from the boiler to a cistern :ts large aa the boiler at the other end. We can easily conceive the waste ot fuel from the heat at once going up the chimney. Before making the proposed alterations, just lessen the opening at ths top of the boiler by two-thirds, and put a clo!=e-fitling damper in the chimney, a couple of feet or so from the boiler, and, as soon as the fire is fairly burninK, shut-m the damper, so as to leave about half an inch finally for draught. You will find this will cool the chimney and send the heat back on the boiler. Mend the ashpit-door also. See "Doings of the Last Week" a fortnight ago. Heating a Flant-house {Lone P(?rtA).— Amiddle-sized conical or saddle- back boiler will suit you. If otherwise suitable, it will be best to fix it at the end of the house, next the proposed vinery. We would have eight small ventilators at ihe apex of the roof. For eight sashes on each tide you might have strong sash-bars. Use 21 oz. sheet, and in squares 13 inches long, by 9 or 11 in width, according as you had five or four ruwa of glass in a saah. For economy we would prefer a fixed roof, with a moveable sash 18 mches wide along the top, and ventilators also at the sides. A good arrangement for such a house would be 3^ feet beds all round, a path 2h feet, and a bed or stage in centre 8 feet. To keep such a house secure would require two four-inch pipes all round. To force much, would require, in addition, two or three more down the middle. To give hotbed treatment you could either have the front or centre stages heated bv nipes in a chamber beneath, and if confined in a chamber, with slides to "let out the top heat Deficient Bottom Heat (71^. Wanace).~As Lord Dundreary would say, your case is just one of tliose that no fellow can understand. A few small openings next the paihway, near the bottom of the chamber, might be tried. If you cnn make the chamber so hot, and neither the bed nor the enclosed atmosphere can be made hot, there must be a means for the heat getting off somewhere. In such circumstances as you mention, and the pipes hot enough, with or without a chamber we have never found any difficulty. Try a clorfe hand-light over your bed. We use a good de;il for propagating, small boxes of wood, G inches deep in front, 9 inches deep at back, 18 inches square, and the sides sloped like those of a common frame. A slight frame holds a single square of glass for covering it, and when moisture condenses agaijist its lower side we just reverse the glass top. Some of these little bottomless boxes over your bed would be useful, if you wished for more than 75* to 80° of bottom heat. We think there must be some little thing that has escaped notice. We would as soon have the slates solid and close as not, just as another correspondent finds the advantage of making slate close and firm over a lack, with the water some inches from it. Epackis not Flowering ( TT'i^an). — We think that the buds of the Epacris do not open owing to the plant's rude health of which you speak, and the wood not being ripened enough in the autumn. You can have the Number you mention by send ng lour postage-st;imp3; also covers for Vols, at Is. each. We have no covers to suit two volumes bound together. BiBUON-BOKDEii {Idem).— You do not tell us whether your border is to be ndged, slopes one way, or is bordered by grass or graTel. We will suppose that it slopes one way. We would plant it with the flowers you name, as follows, beginnmg at the back :— Trentham Rose Geranium, Ageratum, Pentstemons, Feverfew and white Verbena, Tom Thumb Geranium, purple \erbena. Flower ot the Bay Geranium, Lobelia, Gazania. To have your scarlet Verbenas as a row you could mix them with Flower of the Day. or make a tenth row of it. Were the outside front Box and gravel, then after Tom ihumb we would place Flower of the Day, with the flowers oil', then purple Verbena, Gazania, and Lobelia. Seedling Clerolendronb {A. J/.).— Take cuttings from the half-ripened shoots, and make plants of them, grow these on as you have done iho seedlings, and they will most likely flower next year. Grow in rather light poor soil, give alt the light possible, and keep them, under rather than erer- potted The old plants should be kept cramped in small pots, and be re- peatedly disrooted so as to take away most ot their vigour. They cannot have too much light and sun in order that the wood may be well ripened. Azaleas done Blooming {Idem).— Ahonl a fortnight after blooming they should be repotted, giving but a very small shift-that is, just suflicient to let some fiesh compost be put between the ball and the pot. The ball .-hould not be disturbed, only the drainage being reniuved. Perfect drainage must be provided for in the new pot. Employ a compost formed of sandy brown peat three-fourths, and turfy yellow loam one-fourth, with a free admixture of silver sand. In potting the crown of tlte plant should be kept rather high. After potting place in a moist and rather shaded pit or house with a minimum temperature of CO", and a rise by day of from \y to 2o^. They should be well syringed morning and evening until the growth is made, when the plants should hnve abundant light and air, with leas moisture, until the buds are set, when they should be removed to a light, well-venti- lated, cold house. In thi.s Hituation thev will need watering when neceesary, and a little fire now and then to dry up damp and exclude frost. If you nave a vinery just now starting that will be an admirable place for the Azaleas ; for when the Grapes are ripening the Azaleas will have bot their buds, and that is the time to remove them to a cool, light, well-ventilated greenhouse, where they should be wintered. Small Deep-red KHUUAun (C. J. 7/.).— Either the Tobolsk or the Elford (aometimeB called Buck's) answers the description. Any nurseryman can supply them. Trop-eolum (Tdberocs) not J'loweeing {G, p. S.). — We think your plants have been too highly excited by too much heat during the dull winter months, and thkt with, perhaps, little root-action. We have had plants tliat grew vigorously in winter, but when the days became longer and the light stronger, the slender shoots began dying off at the points, and the flower-buds withered without expanding. We hivc invariably found such plants had but little root, and in some cases none atall. This we thinfc Is occasioned by potting the tubers late and growing them in a warm situa- tion afterwards, and without sufficient light and air. The tubers should be potted before the wiry shoots rise from the crowns and be placed near the glas« in a rather warm greenhouse, so that they may have all the light practicable, and air on all favourable opportunities. A temperature of from 45*^ to b\P is quite warm enough for them iu winter. Very perfect drainage should be provided, for, should the soil at any time become too moist the roots perish aud the flower-buds die. as in your cise, especially when watered with cold w;iter instead of that of the same temperature as the house. The soil should be kept dry rather than wet, but it should not be so dry as to cause the plants to turn yellow, nor so moist as to have the appearance of being very wet. In t-hort, let it be healthfully moist. Training Cucdmbers and Melons (C. i*.}.— You will need a trellis in your house to train them to. It should be flxed 1 foot from the glass and should cover the whole of the roof. One pla.nt in the centre of each light, not under the rafter like a Vine, is sufficient to cover a tolerably large roof. The leading shoots should be trained up the cenire of each light, and be allowed to grow a considerable length before they are stopped— say Z fees on the sloping part of the roof. This will cause side shoots, and these are to be trained at an angle of 45° from the main stem, and stopped at a joint above the fruit. The shoots should not be left nearer than 1 foot. All which are superfluous are to be removed, aud the shoota stopped at a joint beyond each fruit. A wire trellis is the btst and modt durable ; but a wooden trellis will do if it is not made too strong to obstruct light. The fruit will require support, and this is best done by tying a piece of bast round it loosely and fastening the other end to the trellis. We are not acquainted with any small treatise on Uie subject. Figs in Pots {J. H.^ Bow). — If the trees have some young shoots with embryo fruit near the bottom, we should certaialy cut those shoots 4 feet ia length down to 1 ft. G iu. You must, however, bear in mind that all the shoots cut back will not aff'ord a first crop of fruit. We advise you to shorten some of them considerably, but to leave a number of young shoots to provide for a crop. If you could obt.iiu permission to have them cut down to within a foot or so of the ground, it would be the best plan in the end, for 4 feet of nuked stem is worse than useless. In future stop them at the fifth leat or joint, and be careful not to overcrowd the trees with wood. Keep the trees well syringed on the under aide of the leaves, to keep down red spider, except when the fruit is ripening, and give good supplies of water to the roots. They require the hghteat, warmest, aad most airy situation. For further particulars consult "Hints on Orchard-Houses," by Mr. Pearson. Triteleia uniflora (Idem).— This is an elegant little blue-flowering' bulb from Buenos Ayres. It is almost, if not quite, hardy, but does well under greenhouse treatment. Keep it well supplied with water whilst fiowcring, and when the weather becomes warm, in the latter part of May, turn it out, plunging the pot in a dry sunny border. Take the pot up ia September, ; and repot the plant, disturomg the ball as little as possible, taking care to secure good drainage. It does well wintered in a greenhouse near the glass. It usually flowers in June, aud we should therefore fancy your plant has been kept rather warmer thau is requisite. It will flower next year if not made weak by too much heat. We should like to know it any others of ij^e Triteleias are in cultivation at present, especially the North American species. Black Hamduroh Vine Leaves Rusted {An Amateur).— The leaf enclosed appeared injureil by some gas as that from fermenting materials. A current of cold air will also produce the same eifect, and so will syringing the Vine with water holding lime in solution. There aie, in fact, so many causes that will produce the condition apparent iu the leaf you enclosed, that we are unable to assign a remedy without further particulars. State your case more fully, and we will gladly assist you. DisAs iOrchidoj}hiliis).—The seven species you are promised from the Cape of Good Hope, unnamed and uncertain, we cannot ai i you about. We applied to one well versed in bulb-culture, and he replies:— "I never came across the Disas but once, many years ago, and have almost forgotten the particulars. One, 1 know, was prasinata, coruuta another : I had only two or three. They were little tubers, like those of an English Orcliis, and grew rather kindly with slender thread-like loaves. They perished, as far as I recollect, during a long absence from home on my part— the common fate of delicate bnlhi and tubers when the cjt is away. I doubt if they resemble cither in habit or beauty the splendid granditiora, which shines— * Velut inter ignes, Luna minores.' Careful cold frame treatment will probably give the b?st chance. Drawings of some of the species raav be found as follows:- D. bracteata, Bot. Keg. vol. iv., 324 ; D. coruuta, Bot. Mag., vol. Ixx., 4091 ; D. fevruglnea, Hooker Icones, plate 3, 214; D. graraimlolio, vol. i,, Journal Science and Arts; D. longicornu, De la Marck Eucyclop. ; D. porrecta. Journal of Science and Arts; D. priismata, Bot. Iteg. 3, 210; U, pu-chella and ^cutellifera, spatbulata tBaucrj, llichard Teutamen, Flora) Abyssinicro.- B. T. C." Names of Plants (T. i2. Dra/i-e).— 1, Dicranum scoparium; 2, llypnum purum; 3, H. proliferum ; 4 and s, H. prajlongum ; b, H. oupressiforme; C, H. triquctrum; 7, H. loreum ; ;>, H. rutabulum. POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. MAJTAGEMENT OP EAKLY CHICKENS. EvDN in North America, where the belligerents seam dis- posed to realise the tale of the Killccnny cats (more the pity), there is a pause during the winter. Drilling recruits, casting cannons, making gunpowder, and supplying depots, fill up the period of inactivity, and enable the contending March 15, 1864. ] JOTIENAL OF HOETICULTTTKE AND COTTAaB GARDENEE. 223 \ iosts to he strong and well-appointed when the spring cam- I paign opens. This is said to be a weary time for the men, ' the " winter of their discontent," and they long for the risks and excitement of active service. The master mind of the E Duke of Wellington was aware of this, and knew that even B the security and .the comparative ease of the "lines " would ' pall on the minds of men accustomed to be on the stretch, and a pack of hounds was shipped to Portugal, and the meets advertised as regularly as those of the Quorn. Shows are now over, the winter has been a dreary one ; snow, the poultry-breeder's b^te noire, has covered the ground for days ; hens have laid badly ; sitters there have been none, and all seemed dark and dreary among the feathered tribes. Biit there is comfort : Kooks are building ; birds are paired ; they do not doubt there is a good time coming. Snow is a bitter nuisance whUe it lasts, but it feeds the springs, and we have been told, and we believe, that it is a powerful agent in renovating tainted ground. Well, then, while we write, the earth has put oif her vii-gin's mantle, and everything is springing up. The surface is fresh, insect life begins to appear, herbage is putting iip small blades, days are getting longer, nights shorter, the sun gains strength, and the fowls, crouching no longer in sheltered corners or filling every out- house where the door stood open, spread themselves abroad. The egg-basket will be daily better filled, and some that have persevered in laying, in spite of weather, will give un- mistakeable signs that they intend to rest, and to take on themselves the pleasures and responsibilities of maternity. Progress is the order of the day. It is indisputable that new ground is an advantage to chickens : we do not mean by that moving from one farm to another ; but it is an advantage to ptit hens and chickens, if possible, on a spot where none were reared last year. There wiU be bad weather yet ; the wretched east winds and black-thorn winter have to come, and it is well now to settle what is to be done then. An empty barn is invalu- able ; we have one now full of chickens, and have not lost one. The flooring is hard and di-y, covered with dust, dry road sand, and scrapings. Large sods of grass are cut and thrown in daily. If there is sun the chickens are allowed to run out and enjoy it ; if there is not, the doors are open, but bars prevent their egx'ess. At night not only is all closed, but the rips in which the hens are with the chickens are closed up. We feed on bread steeped in milk, sometimes on beer, on ground oats slaked with mUk, and on boiled suet chopped very fine. They have beer and milk to drink. We have marked out the place where we intend to put them as soon as the weather permits. We always choose a slope, it is always dry, not only superficially but tinder the surface ; the rain runs off, and if the hen scratches down several inches deep it is still dusty. If this can be found under a hedge so much the better ; a shelter behind is a good thing. Chickens thrive wonderfully if the rips are put iinder hayricks, thrust as far back into them as possible ; the dust and seeds that cover the ground some inches deep are capital for them. With these helps we look complacently even on easterly winds and morning frosts, on March winds and April showers. It is our drilling time; we look on our growing chickens, and " hail in our hearts the triumphs yet to come " when we gaze at one particiilar brood that came into being January 14th. There are few as early, and in most yards all the hens wOl be broody at once ; and for that cause the season of dulness, so far as shows are concerned, will not be one of inactivity. CONDITION, &c., m GAME FOWLS. As we have heard so much lately about Game, I think it not out of place to seek for information relative to the con- dition and tightness of feather that these birds are generally shown in. Now, I am led to believe, that condition is of the utmost importance, for if a bird be ever so good in points, yet faulty in this one feature, he is at once passed over by the judge. First, then, I would ask. What is meant by the term " condition," &c. ? and, secondly. If any special manner of feeding, and kind of food is requisite for accomplishing this ? This makes the Game classes most difficult to win in, as there are many exhibitors, who have been at it aU their days and perfectly well understand the mystery, always competing with amateurs, and who carry olf prizes solely from this cause. Perhaps some old hand will be kind enough to put us amateurs up to the mystery, C)r at any rate start the subject, as I am sure it ought to re eive as much discussion and attention as the Birmingham matters. — Amateue. TEIMMING GAME FOWLS. This question having been raised, I take the opportunity of saying a few words. That it is pei-feotly right and legitimate to trim the head of a Game cock for exhibition piurposes — that is, to pull or shave all the feathers or hairs ofT the top of the head, under the jaws, throat, &c. — no one can attempt to deny ; but anything beyond this, such^ as cUpping or pulling the hackle, a very common practice, cannot but be denounced by every right-feeUng or honest exhibitor. With regard to head-trimming, " Y. B. A. Z." wiU, I have no doubt, grant that it is in eveiy way an immense improvement to the appearance of the bird; it shows his long snake-like head and his eyes to advantage, and gives a general appearance of "pluck." The long-flow- ing hackle has now quite given place to one of a moderate length, in fact, the thinner and shorter the better, as it shows the shoulder-poiuts and the width across the back much more to advantage ; and this being the fashion we see cause for the pulling system, as before mentioned, by the dishonest exhibitors, who are, I am sorry to see, much on the increase. I was glad to find an instance of this dishonesty detected at the last Ulverston Show. It was in a pen of Black Game from Bh-mingham. The cock's hackle had been a little over- done, and, as my informant described, had been literally cut off by the handful ; the pen was, as a matter of course, disqualified. — Westmorland. EELATIVE ENTEIES. Sevebal communications on the subject of the comparative entries of the vai-ious breeds of poultry have appeared in this Journal of late, and as that subject seems to be creating some attention I will offer a few remarks. I would suggest that fashion has, undoubtedly, a great influence on the relative entries, much more, I think, than the value either of the breed or the prize offered. Each variety has its time ; and if a sort, as for instance, Malays, or White-crested Blacks, is for the present out of fashion, I do not think that it should be excluded on that account. Spanish and Dorkings are at this time, perhaps, the most fashionable, and I agree with " T. B. A. Z." " that Dork- ings, although receiving large prizes in competition, do not obtain their fair share." Why, I ask, should Dorkings be confined to one variety, while Game have four or more acknowledged in most shows ? Surely it woidd only be fair to set apart separate classes for White, SUver-Grey, and Cuckoo Dorkings. The class for Colom-ed might stOl be retained for those competitors who think size aU-important. Pour varieties of Dorkings are no less than they deserve, and are no more than are awarded to Game, Shanghai, &o. As to those aristocrats, the Spanish, why should they be restricted to one sable hue ? Why should not Blue and White Spanish each have a class ? I consider them quite as eligible as the four varieties of the rosy-combed breeds commonly called Hamburghs, not that I would curtail them, as I think them quite entitled to their classes. Shanghais, I think, should always keep their four classes — namely. Partridge Brown, Buffs, Grey or Brahmas, and Whites. I consider that the so-called Brahmas have now become entitled to a separate class ; but it woid.d be too much to give them more, for they are only a variety of Shanghai, and however fashionable they may become, it would be unfair to other breeds to divide them again on such a score. The Pai-tridge and Grouse, or Buff and Silver Cinnamon Shanghais would demand to be separated. In- deed, it would be far more just to give separate classes to the York and Lancaster Boses, alias Pheasants and Moomes, than to divide light and grey Shanghais. Black Hamburghs are making for themselves a place, but ought not they to take rank as a fom-th variety of Spanish ? They certainly look like Eose-combed Spanish. The La Fleche might join them as Cupped-combed Spanish. 234 JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AXD COTTAGE GAEDE^TEE. [ March 15, 1SG4. As to Creve Cceurs, tliey are the same breed as oui'Wliite- rcested Black fowls commonly called Black Polands, only with this difference — oui' crested breeds ai'e in few hands, and their owners have bred them of marvellous beauty ; still they have suffered rather in constitution and fertility, while the French breeders have looked to hai-dihood and fecundity, without taking notice of the fancy points. I have no doubt if the good qualities of these two extremes of the same breed could be combined the result would soon be a very fashion- able and poijular breed, and there would no longer be any complaint of empty classes. But to return to the Dorking. May I ask. Why is the Dorking class to be made the repository of a medley of shape and colour ? If justice is to be done to a good breed give them their due, and sej^arate classes for "Whice, Grey, Cuckoo, and other coloured Dorkings ; not until then will the Dorkings obtain theu- right. The same holds good of Spanish ; let there be separate classes for Black, Blue, and AYhite. Fashion is ever fickle, and, doubtless, some day the good C|ualities of the Malay and crested breeds will again find favour with that change- able goddess. Do not, tlierefore, blot out their places, but meet even justice to all. Our poulti-y shows should not descend to petty partialities. — B. P. Beent. OBTAIIS-INCt H0]N'ET FEOil THE COMB. "Will you inform me of an easier method of abstracting honey &om the combs than that laid down by Huish ? In his dii-ections there are so many vessels used that I conceive there must also be a great waste of the honey, and having a friend who took a glass off last August, he finds a difficulty in taking the honey from the combs. _ I would also ask, if it is too early for me to remove my hives from their winter quarters, as I am anxious to cleanse the floor-boards. — T. S. ^ [The mode of draining honey described by Huiah is prac- ticable only in the case of combs newly taken from the hive, and in which the honey retains its fluidity. A small quantity may be manipxilated in this manner by the aid of a single sieve and an earthen pan. In the case of a super taken off last August every cell containing either pollen or brood (if any), should first be carefully removed, and the combs then put into a covered jar wliich must be stood in a saucepan or boiler of water and placed on the fu-e. This should boU just long enough to liquify both honey and wax, and when this has been accomplished the jar and its contents should be placed on one side to cool. When perfectly cold the wax may be removed in the form of a thin cake from the top of the honey, which will be found exceedingly pure and per- fectly liquid underneath. It is quite time to remove your bees from their winter quarters and give them their liberty if confined.] PEOPOSED EXPEEIMENT WITH CHILLED BEOOD. I Permit me to remind our Hampshire friend that Mr. J. P. Edwai'ds related, in page 3S2 of the last VoUmie, an occurrence almost identical with his suggested experiment on chilled brood. Most experimental apiarians could, doubt- less, narrate similar accidents and their results, and thus supply the requu-ed information. In particular I remember my esteemed friend, " B. & AV.," relating to me an instance in which all the brood of a hive perished fi-om putting the first swai-m in the old stock's place, but I do not know what became of the combs. One thing is at any rate certain, that this misfortune did not produce foul brood in his apiary. — A Devonshike Bbe-keepee. THE LAST BEE-SEASON IN SHEOPSHIEE. The following observations on the season of 1863 may, perhaps, interest some of your apiarian readers. The early part of the year from the commencement of February was remarkably mild and dry, and bees where they did not iim short of provisions were in a forward con- dition. During the month of May a moderate quantity of honey was collected from the blossoms of vai-ious kinds of trees; but in the beginning of June the prospects of the honey harvest appeared very gloomy, as the pastures and clover were almost burnt up by the long-continued drought. Fortunately, about the middle of the month heavy rain set in and the gi-ound was thoroughly saturated. The Dutch clover immediately sprang uj) and blossomed most profusely, affording fh'st-rate pasturage vmtil near the end of July, and rendering 1SG3 one of the best honey seasons on record. The weather subsequently was, on the whole, unfavour- able, and I found my hives lost at least fr-om 5 to G lbs. each between the end of July and the middle of September. Those sent to the moors pretty well held their ground, some gaining 1 lb. A few words on honeydew may, perhaps, not be out of place. Your esteemed correspondent, " B. & W.," seems to doubt if bees ai-e much benefited by this secretion. I have frequently, indeed generally, found my bees busy aboi^t the common laurel at the end of spring, and have seen them col- lecting honeydew from little spots on the under side of the leaves. I have also on several occasions observed them busy upon beech trees when affected with honeydew. Again : last summer, tow,ards the middle of July, I ob- served that the bees were unusually active, but on examin- ing the clover I could only see very few engaged upon it, and wondered what made the bees so busy. In the evening, walking out, on passing an oak tree I heard a loud humming, and looking up saw that the tree was covered with honey- dew; and although I cannot say that I actually saw the bees at work upon the oak leaves, I consider that their absence from the clover, taken in coujunction with the hum- ming in the oaks and the great activity of the bees, is strong negative evidence upon the subject. In August, 1856, my bees were very busy until after the middle of the month, the oak ti'ees at the same time abounding with honeydew, and tliis is fully a month later than the usual honey season in this district. Once more : Golding affh-ms that he has seen a field of beans covered with bees before a single blossom had ex- panded, collecting honey from sm.all spots on the leaves, and I have noticed them in like manner gathering honey from spots on the stems and leaves of vetclies, leaving the blossoms untouched. — J. E. B. BABBITS EATING- EHODOPENDEONS. Can you or any of yoiu' readers inform me how far, in their experience, the statement of "A Northekn SrmscKiEER," in your Journal of the 1st inst. holds good — viz., that while rabbits will not, in the greatest scarcity of food, touch the Ehododendi'on ponticum, they will eat fr'eely the hybrid and finer sorts ? I am about to plant a qirantity of hybrids, and an answer to my query is of some importance to me. — Clekicus. OUE, LETTEE BOX. Disappointments from Bouuut Eggs (7/^/t'?.kT. Good Fbidat. 60.0 32,9 41.8 13 53 5 19 6 5 9 16 C 17 5 58 85 26 S Periwinkle flowers. 61.9 32,5 42.2 14 50 5 21 6 13 10 45 6 18 6 39 86 27 SVN Eabteh Sunday. 54.0 34,6 44.3 13 48 5 23 6 18 H 19 7 19 5 21 87 28 M Easter Monday, S3.2 34.1 43.0 15 46 6 25 6 morn. 0 8 20 5 2 88 From observations taken near London during tlio last thlrty-seTen years, the average day temperature of the week i,s 51.6 °, and its night temperatur a 33.5*. The greatest heat was 75' oa the 27 th, 1S30 ; and the lowest cold, 14°, on the 25th, 1850. The greatest fall of ram was | 0.68 inch. 1 HAUDY ANNUALS. kS a general rule tliese require to be sownwliere they are in- tended to bloom. Very early sowing should be avoided, for nothing is gained by doing so, but, on the contrary, a very indifferent display will be the result. Early in spring the ground is cold and often wet, and these conditions combined sometimes destroy vitality, and under such circumstances the germination of the seeds committed to the sod is always slow. It may happen that mild fine weather pre- vails in sprint^ ; and when the gardener takes advantage of this to sow the various kinds of hardy annuals early, the seeds of some come up in a few days, but others remain in the ground a long time, and in many cases do not germinate at aU. All seeds require a certain degree of heat to germinate ; below that point they wiU not do so, but when placed in contact with moisture the same chemical process takes place within the seed, from the absorption of water, as if the seed were being transformed into a plant. When the chemical elements of a seed are thus changed, without growth or germination taking place, its vitality is gone : hence the importance of keep- ing seeds dry whilst in a temperature unsuited to their germination. There is, probaljly, no subject on which we have so little information as the temperature neces- sary for the healthy development of different kinds of seeds. I think it is well worthy of the attention of hor- ticulturists, especially those having time to devote to such matters, and the results of experiments would be highly interesting and useful. The middle of April I have found to be the best time for sowing hardy annuals. The temperature of the ground is then raised considerably by the sun's ra3rs, and there is less probability of the soil being saturated with mois- ture, or the seeds receiving a check through snow, frosty weather, or cold drenching rains. From the middle of April to the first week in May I consider the most ad- visable time of sowing, and if possible a moist period just succeeding dry weather should be chosen. "When the air is dry seeds of all kinds do not germinate so well as in moist cloudy weather. If it were possible to know exactly when rain would fall after dry weather it would be well to sow the day before ; for it is all the better to put in seeds when the ground can be worked without making it into mud. It is a well-known fact that seeds of all kinds germinate most rapidly in the autumn. The soil is then firm and close, holding water near the surface ; the earth is also .warmer, the air moister, and dews heavier, conditions every way suitable for germination; then, though the seeds may not be buried in the earth, the decaying leaves of the parents afford the darkness necessary for germination. New seeds of all kinds are preferable to old for cer- No. 156.— ToL. VI.i New Sebies. tainty of growth, for producing a stronger plant, and a larger amount of flower. New seeds are inferior to old for an early produce, and the certainty of obtaining seed and fruit from some exotics for which our climate is not sufficiently hot nor the summer long enough. New seed of all hardy annuals is decidedly preferable to old. It germinates sooner and with greater certainty ; the plants are stronger, wiU bear more hardships, and produce finer flowers and in greater profusion. The situation for all flowering plants should be open, but sheltered if possible from the north, west, and east winds. Borders if open to the north are cold, if to the west they are liable to strong currents of air or wind, and if to the east they expose the plants to the cold breezes that come from that quarter, in consequence of which the plants are very often stunted in growth, and flower prematurely. Gardeas should be sheltered from all points except the south, and this can be done without blocking up views if a due regard is paid to the distribu- tion of the trees and shrubs intended as shelter. The nest point to be attended to in the cultivation of annuals is to have the soil in a condition suitable for the germination of seeds, and the healthy development of the plants. How often do we see the borders only dug a few days before the seeds are sown, without any atten- tion being paid to having the soil well pulverised, so that it wdl in the spring fall like so much flour after a shower of rain? The soil where annuals are intended to be grown should be dug deeply in the autunin, and left rather rough, so that air and frost may readily act upon it. A dressing of leaf mould dug in in the autumn is very beneficial. If the ground is at all heavy, it wUl be much improved by forking it over on dry frosty morn- ings. This may be considered troublesome, but it is only what all plants require in order to grow well, and annuals are either worth growing well or not at all. Just forking over borders in front of shrubs, and sowing annuals there without any further attention, is one of the best means of making thorn poor. They may grow and do well whilst young, and their wants small ; but when these increase the soil is too firm for the roots to pene- trate to any depth, or if they do the ground is already occupied by the roots of the shrubs, and very little food indeed remains for the annuals. I have heard them termed weeds, which they undoubtedly are as now for the most part cultivated ; but bestow upon them the care necessary for their proper development, and they will in their season be found inferior to no bedding plant receiving double the amount of attention and expenditure. In sowing, the surface should bo well pulverised with the rake, and a little of the soil drawn to two points, so as to leave a space of the size required for the patch, which should not be more than 1 foot nor less than 6 inches across, and the patches should not be closer together than 1 foot in any direction. The seeds are best sown thinly in the centre of the patch, and more thickly round the edges. It is decidedly of advantage to sow the seed rather thickly, for birds are fond of No. 808.— Vol. XXXI., Oij) Series. 226 JOUENAi OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ March 22, 1861, some, snails prey on the young leaves of others, and mis- haps of various kinds may thin them considerably. Whilst providing for a good patch it is advisable not to sow too thiclcly, though it is better to have to thin than resow or transplant. When sown very thickly it is hardly possible to thin tho patches without injuring the remaining plants. When the seeds are sown draw the earth over them, covering them no deeper than their own diameter. It is better to cover thinly than deeply, for annuals do not re- quire to be Ivejat or placed in so much darkness as fari- naceous seeds. It is sufEcient if the seeds are just covered with soil, or kej)t in the dark, so that the chemical changes which take jjlace in germination may go on. If the ground is dry, it is a good plan to water the patches, and cover them with inverted flower-pots, so as to secure uniibrm moisture in the soil, and obviate the necessity of repeated waterings. The sun's rays, consequently, wiU not bake or dry up the surface, and the pot will absorb heat by day, and radiate it at night, so that the seeds will not be roasted at one time, and frozen at the other. When the plants appear the pots should be removed, but they may be re- placed with advantage on froaty nights, taking care to remove them by the time the soil is thawed. Where the soil is of a tenacious nature, and at all rough at the time of sowing, it is a good practice to cover the seeds lightly with some light soil, which shovdd be fine, or made so by sifting. Care should be taken in open soils to well pulverise them before sowing the seeds, for it not un&'e- quently happens that the seeds run down the openings, and ai'e lost for that year at least, by being buried too deeply in the soU. Where any danger of this is apprehended, a small portion of sifted mould should be placed on the soil for the seed to be sown on. The seeds of some annuals are so small that it is scarcely possible to cover them too thinly, but none will take harm if covered to no greater depth than its own diameter. When the seedlings are fairly up a ring of dry soot should be placed round each patch to ijrevent the nocturnal visits of slugs, which will in a single night devour a whole patch. If these pests are at all troublesome some fresh Cabbage leaves, laid at night near then' haunts, and examined in the morning, will collect a great many; and if they be brushed off the leaf into a fiower-pot, and a little salt sprinkled over them, they will not trouble the cultivator any more. This, repeated for several nights, will soon rid a garden of slugs. Where ducks are kept the slugs unsalted form one of theii' best-relished meals. Should the weather be di'y the annuals should be watered, and the ground between the patches fre- quently stirred with a hoe ; but a rake cannot be too little used, for the surface shovild never be made fine, so as to thr-ow off rain into the hoUows. On the contrary, it should give free access to air and moisture. The aim of the cul- tivator should be the well-being of his plants, and not that neatness which is secured at the expense of their healthy growth. The longer the soil is kept open tho more satis- factory will be the results. When the plants are a few inches high they should be thinned, if too thick. Those which attain less than a foot in height should be thinned to at least an inch apart, and those growing to a greater height ought to be at least 2 or 3 inches clear of then- neigh- bours. The thinnings may bo planted to fill up vacant spaces, or to supply the place of failures. Showery weather is the best time for thinning annuals. As the plants advance in gnjwtli care should be taken to stake such as i-equii-e support, and to place wire trellises for climbers, or sticks for them to cling to, before the one be broken by the winds, or the other spoiled and leggy from creeping on the sirrfaoe. In dry weather the borders should be well watered, and the surface between the patches ft-e- quently stirred to keep down weeds and keep the surface open; and this stming is best done before tho plants feel the effects of drought, or tho surface becomes baked or smothered with weeds. It is too late to water annuals when they have become stunted in gTOwth, and vain are turfaoe-stirrings after this has taken place. They may, in- deed, improve, but the best plan is to act so that there is little to wish for. When they are in flower they should, if the weather is dry, be well supplied with water. It will much prolong their period of bloom, the flowers will be larger, and the pleasure derived from them wiU bo ten times greater than when they are grown in places altogether un- suited to their proper development. In sowing annuals due regai-d must be paid to the habit of each kind and the height which it attains. Those of trailing and dwarf-growing habit should be sown in &ont, and the others distributed at such distances from them as their heights may determine. Half the height which any variety grows to is the proper distance to leave between the patches or rows. The tallest should, of course, be sown at the back, and the height gradually diminished towards the front. Although an early bloom is very desirable, this cannot be obtained by sowing early; at least if it is, the flowei-s aie not worth the labour bestowed on them. An early bloom is best obtained from autumn sowing ; but I have been in the habit of sowing some of the most showy annuals in 48-sized pots early in March, and plunging them in ashes on a slight hotbed to forward them, and when well up and established they are planted out. The contents of a few hundreds of such pots planted in April add materially to the gaiety of the herbaceous borders in June and July. The following is a list of the best annuals, those marked with an asterisk making good beds, though not suitable for massing with others. SELECT HARDY ANNUALS. Alyssum maritimum, white, 6 in. *Aster (anacetifoUus, blue purple, babit dwarf and branching, fLoiver- inj; all the summer, 1 ft. .\triplcx horttnsis rubra, crimson purple leaves. Bartonia aurea, golden yellow, li^ ft. Beta brasiliensis, ornamental- foliaped plant, well adapted for shrubberies and uilxod holders, 3 ft. tiome have broad pilvery central ribs, mar- gined with green ; others criuisnii, resy, and violet ribs, with coit- traating' colouied margins. Blituin capitatuin, scarlet-fruited Strawberry-blight, 2 ft. Catmdrinia apeeioaa, deep crimson, 1 It. Calendula, vars., well adapted for town cardens, 1 ft. *Car;iopsi3 atiosansulnea, dark red. *C. Dnmimoudi, yellow and red, 2 it. *C specioaa, ricli maroon ciirason, 3 ft. -C. nana Intca, very dwarf, yellow. Callirlioe pedata, rich rosy crimson, with white eye, 2.^ ft. C. pedata nana, rich purple crimson, 1 ft. Campanula Lorei. blue, 1 ft. C. pentaglum majus (TallNasturtium), various, 6 ft. T. majus purpureum, plum, with purple tint. T. nanuin, Tom Thumb. Vars.^ Beauty, orange spotted ; Crimson ; Crystal Palace Gem, sulphur, with red spots; Scarlet; Pearl, cream colour J Yellow; Yellow Spotted. (Charming plants for beds or bor- ders.) T. peregrinum (Canary Creeper), yellow, 10 ft. Venus's Looking-gla'is (Campanula speculum), blue, 6 in. Venus'a Navelwert (OmphrilodfS linifoli.i), white. {A nice plant for margins of beds.) Veronica syriaca, blue and white. (Makes a good edging early in the season.) Virginian Stock (Malcomia maritima), red, 6 m.; white, b in. Viecaria oculata, rose, with dark eye, 1 fc. *V. oculata nana coccinea, deep rose, 6 in. ; .■iplendens, rosy-red, C in. In No. 154. Mr. G. Abbey gave a list of annuals which he has found worthy of cultivation, and he also expressed a wish that any one knowing of other kinds would name them. I therefore submit the following to his notice ; and I believe that, if he give them all a fair trial, he will find not a few of them up to his standard of merit. I jotted down the names enth-ely from memory, and no doubt I have omitted several good things; but, as the worth of a plant is to a great extent a matter of indivi- dual taste or opinion, I leave the list in the hands of the public, merely marking with an asterisk such as I consider really good. Adonis autamnalis. Erachycome iberidifolia. Cenia turbinata. *Centaoridium Drummondi *ChryB inthemum coronarium. •Commelina cosicstis. Cryptostemma calendulaceum. Cuphea silenoides. •Datura ceraiocanlon. ^Dimorphotheca pluvialis. •Erysimum PerofTskianum. EBchscholtzia calilOrnica. *Eucharidium concinnuni. •Fenzlia dianthiflora. Gilia capitata. G. tricolor. *Helipterura Sandfordii. •Iberis unibellata. •lonopsidion acaule. *Leptosiphon lutcus. L. densiflorus. •Limnauthes Douglasii. Lopezit coronata. — G. L. Madaria elegans. Ulalcomia maritima. *Malope ttiBda. M. triKda alba. Moricandiu arvenais, Morna elei^ans. Nigella damascena. Nolana tenella. Polygonum orientale, *S;uivitjlia procuinbens. *Saponaria calabrica. S. caUbrica alba. SchiKopetalon Walkeri. Scyphanthus elegans. Silyne intefc^'ipetala. *3. pendula. Specularia speculum. Sphenogyne versicolor, S. aionidifolia. "Veronica pyriaca. Viscarii oculata. *\Vahlenbergia agrestis. THE DINNEE-TABLE DECOEATION PEIZES. Amonost the many subjects of discontent wMcli tiie pro- mulgation of the prizes offered by the Eoyal Horticultural Society has caused, it is satisfactoiy to be able to turn to one in which they have certainly given satisfaction, and that is by again offering prizes for dinner-table designs. Let the credit due be paid to the gentleman who has in- stituted and still supports these prizes, and who, in the present season, has laid down some useful limits to the flights which Fancy in her caprices is wont to take. I believe it is not too much to affirm, that at the Show of last June when the prizes so offered were competed for, nothing attracted so much attention. Ladies of rank ae well as gardeners and others crowded to the tables con- taining the various designs, and all freely criticised the re- spective stands in accordance with the view each individual took of what constituted " the beautiful." "Without, how- ever, reviving the now long-since withered specimens of iioral beauties or incongruities, it is almost needless to say that one or two examples were so generally disapproved of by the criti- cising public that tliey wiU not again appear. But amongst those respecting whose claims to attention various opinions were expressed, there were one or two examples which I trust hereafter may receive more notice than has been hitherto bestowed upon them ; and as the judgment of last year seemed open to grave objections, and by the conditions laid down cannot be acted upon this season, I am not with- out hopes that one plain rule, strictly bordering on utility, which I have ou more than one occasion urged in these pages, will eventually obtain a chief place. On former occasions when I have given an opinion on this subject, I have urged that everything of an ornamental character put upon a dinner-table should be so low as to be under the line of vision between one person's countenance and that of another when seated at table ; or, if in a very few instances such things as candlesticks, lamps, and the like be of necessity higher tlian the point given, let them present as little obstruction as possible between the guests at table. This, however, is the department of another class of decoration; but once establish the rule that the present policy of making a tower up the centre of a dinner-table is bad, and a general cut down or rise up wUl be the result ; for, notwithstanding all the advances the decorative arts liave made in the last twenty years, those only promise to be of a permanent kind which embrace something of the character of utility. Even in the vagaries of the costume at the present day, utility has been more considered than of yore, especially by the rougher sex, and possibly the gentler one will say they also derive more comfort from the more space they now occupy ; and I need hardly add, that the ardent purveyor of ornament in whatever Torm he may pre- sent it, is most anxious to add the term " useful " whenever he can do so, and even give it the prominent place. As before stated, I therefore do not despair to see those beautiful designs of fruit and flowers which grace the dinner- table so much reduced as to come within the dimensions given above. To be mox-e plain, let nothing be higher than 14 inches, measuring from the tablecloth ; or if suspended do not let anything bulky approach nearer than 24 niches from the table, thereby leaving a clear space of 10 inches, and as much more as can be given, free of all obstruction. In advocating this I am by no means insensible to the claims of flowers and other ornaments ; but assuredly these can be seen as well and even better when below the eye than when on a level with it or above it. Most people, if not every one, reads with most comfort when the book or paper is below the eye, and in examining any object when more than ordinary observation is required, this is invariably the case if it can be managed so ; besides which there are a greater nitmber of flowers opening upwards than in a pen- dant direction, and fruits of all kinds present their most showy sides to the sun. More might be said to urge the validity of the position which I have taken, but it is needless to follow it up farther. I hope in the present year, however, to hear of more examples embodying my views than last; and as the schedule very wisely prohibits birds and fishes, it is evident that the turn taken in the direction of utility has only to be pushed a little further, and all the top-heavy objects will topple over; and this is the less to be regretted in consequence of their fragile character giving in many cases a feeling of iusecurity. Before closmg my notes on^this siibjeot I would remind the admiring public, or tliosewlio act as censors on such occasions as at the Show alluded to, that merely walking along and looking at the various designs is hardly a fair way of discerning their merits. The designs are or ought to be prepared to give the best possible effect to company seated at table, and not standing ; and supposing a bulky 228 JOtJUNAL OP HOETICULTUEE AifD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ March 23, 18S1. plant or bouquet in the centre of a long table, that screen alone hides several persons at the right hand of one end of the table from those who sit at the left of the other end; this assuredly is never meant to be the case at a social meal, besides which, however beautiful the design may be, it is questionable if any but those in immediate contact with it regard it otherwise than with indifference; whereas a well- selected stand of flowers of glowing colours that contrast well with the tablecloth is admired by all, and the nearer it approaches the tablecloth the better the contrast. As an accompaniment to dinner-table decorations in the way alluded to, I wdl add that the cultivation of plants for the purpose has received much attention, and many are the claimants for distinction. Unfortunately, however, the neces- sity of showing them in small pots prevents a large number of flowering plants from competing ; but in the class where foliage is the predominating feature the list of those avail- able for the purpose is by no means a meagre one ; but as I may return to this subject, I will only conclude by caUing attention to the view I have given of the matter, and if any have objections to the laws I woiJd lay down, let them state them at once, giving the reasons for their objections. J. EOBSON. STATICE PEOFUSA CULTUEE. The Statice family is one well worthy of more general attention than has hitherto been bestowed on it. Many of the varieties are most useful for conservatory and cool green- house decoration for several months in autumn, when bloom- ing plants become rather scarce. They are also exceedingly useful for sitting-room stands and vases, more especially the one which my present object is to bring more prominently before youi' readers. There are many plants which are brought into notice and general cultivation with a bound, and which with an almost equal rapidity fall into the shade and are forgotten, except whore collections of plants are the object instead of useful selections. They never deserved the characters with which they were brought under pubhc notice. Other plants, again, raised by comparatively obscure indivi- duals are at first treated with carelessness, and, perhaps, disregard, though of sterling merit, but they slowly and surely work their way into general cultivation and favour, and ultimately become permanent tenants of almost every greenhouse or stove. I have no fear of being contradicted by any one who is acquainted with the exceeding usefulness of Statice profusa, when I assert that it is one of the most useful pot plants that have been produced by hybridisation for the last ten or fifteen years. Its utility as a decorative i)lant cannot well be overestimated, nor is it likely to be fuUy appreciated for some years to come. As far as my taste and judgment goes it is unrivalled by any of the other members of the Statice family. It was raised by Mr. Rattray, late gardener at Saltoun Hall, and is a cross between S. Holfordi and S. pu- berula. It partakes of all the compactness of the latter, with a good s;iare of the vigour of the former variety, is highsr in colour than either, and yields an immense crop of l/loor.i. An individual plant wOl continue in bloom from the beginning of -Vv.gust till the end of November in a green- iicuse tempeij.t;ire. By keeping a few sets of plants in dif- lorent stages there is no difSoulty in having it in bloom every II onth in the year. It partakes of the hardiness of S. pu- l.rula, and consequently keeps in health in a greenhouse t<:.iiperature all the winter, although to grow it h-eely and r^_;ckly into large plants it likes an intermediate tempera- ture during the spring months. It has the additional recommendation of striking more freely fi-om cuttings than many of the Statice. Cuttings made in the usual way, and placed in a gentle bottom heat about the end of July or beginning of August, root with certainty in from four to five weeks. I have sometimes cut a notch at the base of the small side shoots, and split them up a little, fixing a small wedge in the opening, and allowed the cuttings to remain on the parent plant till the wound healed or callused over, and then removed them to the propagatin"- pit, where they very soon emitted roots. When well rooted they are_ potted, if strong cuttings, into four-inch pots. They delight in a compost of two parts loam, one part peat, one part leaf mould, and one part silver sand. To obtain - large plants quickly they should be grown in the coolest part of the stove all the winter, where they will have a heat of from 55" to 00°, and they should be kept close to the glass. They are ready for a shift early in February, and will require an eight-inch pot, and the same soil as that already named, with a slight addition of old cowdung and pounded charcoal. In these pots they make fine flowering plants, forming a compact and dense head of bloom 20 inches to 2 feet across. If required for late-autumn blooming, the fu'st flowers must be pinched off as they appear. The first that appear are, however, the finest heads of bloom. During the spring months after they have been shifted, they should be grown in a temperature of 60°, and be syringed over- head once or twice a-day. In a moderate degree of bottom heat their progress is still more rapid and \'igorous; but bottom heat is by no means indispensable. As they throw up for bloom they should be hardened-ofi', and ultimately placed in a light, airy house, where they form beautiful objects among autumn-fiowering plants. After the flowering season is past the flower-spikes should be removed, and the plants must be wintered in the green- house. In spring they requu-e to be turned out of their pots, the b.alls reduced, and potted into larger-sized pots. If a little bottom heat can be afforded them it will greatly assist them in making a fresh start. The size of plants desu'ed must regulate the size of pot into which they are shifted for flowering. In twelve and thii-teen-inch pots they make large plants with an enormous profusion of bloom, fuUy justifying the name the plant bears. Few plants are more subject to green fly at all seasons ; and fumigation with tobacco must be often resorted to in order to keep them free from this pest. So highly appreciated is this plant for decorative purposes, that it is grown by the dozen by those gardeners who have known it the longest. In some instances it has been planted out in summer, and has succeeded admirably. I would strongly recommend it to those who have much to do in the way of decoration with pot plants. D. Thomson. EOSES ON THEIE. OWN BOOTS. A distinguished rosarian writing to the "Florist" some time ago, stated that if any amateur horticulturist took up a gardening periodical and found nothing in it about Roses, he or she would certainly lay it down with a feeling of dis- appointment or something akin to it. Now, if this is not exactly a truism, it expresses a very general sentiment — for an obvious reason: the Rose is everybody's flower, evei^ybody admires it, and it is found in nearly every garden, public or private, from that of the peer to the peasant's. Tender and choice varieties may be seen in almost every conservatoiy of the wealthy. The old vigorous Sempervu'ens, Pelicite, White China, and others cover the walls of the cottage ; whUe the Damask, Cabbage, and Moss, are conspicuous in the tiny flower patches wherever one is permitted to exist. Very many, too, have theii- standards and " collection," and where the flower garden is an object of care and culture, the Rose forms an important item in its decoration. But the rosarian, however kindly he may look upon a Rose plant when he sees one, is far from satisfied with planting a number of varieties, more or less, and then leaving them to the cai-e of Providence, excelling, perhaps, an occasional pruning. He soon discovers that they require attention to bring them to the perfection they ai-e capable of attaining — in other words, they must be cultivated. Something about them, whether it be information on their ciilture, what new varieties are likely to turn out well, or, indeed, any Rose intelligence, is siu-e to be acceptable to a large number of the readers of any gai-deniiig journal. The readers of The JouKNAL OF HoKTicuLTURE have not, for some weeks past, seen any articles on this favourite flower, but an inquiry by a correspondent in No. 154 has suggested the remarks which I am about to make, and wliich I hope may induce other rosarians to give their experience likewise. I know of no flower more susceptible to differences of soil than the Rose, more especially the class of Hybrid Perpctuals. A very casual observer of the gi'eat Rose shows that have of late years been held at the Crystal Palace, and at the Royal Horticultural Society's Gai'den at Kensington, could not fail to notice how different the same kind appeared ia Uarcli 22, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUEE XSHD COTTAGE GAEDBNEE. 229 different boxes from different parts of the country. I have seen Eoses in the greatest beauty with little aid from man, after they have been planted in soils so well adapted to them that they may be said to be almost indigenous there. I have also been so fortunate as to see them in the garden of the distinguished rosarian alluded to at the beginning- of this article, where the soil is indeed anything but favour- able, and where many contingencies adverse to Eoses happen, but where every difficulty has been contended against with a perseverance and intelligence which have not failed to call forth the warmest admiration of all who have been there. I have seen them again, dragging out a brief and miserable existence most piteous to behold, where from neglect or other causes they have been suffered to pass a wretched time of it, without being able to produce a single flower fine enough to attract notice. I am sanguine that Eoses can be grown, even on poor soUs, not good enough, it is true, for exhibition purposes, yet beautiful and attractive for the spot. I have here great difficulties to contend with ; the soil is very light and sandy, the situation much exposed to winds, particularly from the north, north-east, and east ; and my disappointments have been great and ft'equent. Many good varieties which flourish in soUs favourable to Eoses cannot exist here. There are many, probably, who, like myself, have had grievous mishaps, their soil being like mine very light ; but let not such des- pair. A great deal depends upon the form which they adopt for their Eoses — ^that is to say, whether on their own roots, on the Manetti, or on the briar; these ai-e three most distinct .modes of cultivation in use. Now it is evident that where one mode may succeed another may fail, and in some places all may succeed, or some better than another; but I know of no ordinary place where they all fail, unless by very perverse planting and selection of kinds. I have for some years past tried all three of these forms on many varieties, including Hybrid Perpetuals, Bourbons, Noisettes, Teas, Gallicas, and Hybrid Chinas. Eoses on their own roots take time to become strong plants, but miioh may be done to help them on. If the plants are obtained in jDots from the nursery in the autumn, it is advisable to keep them so through the winter in a cold pit or frame till April, when they may be turned out and planted in the spot designed for them. In planting, I have found it useful to take out a few spits of earth, and fill the vacancy with about one half of turfy loam, and one half of heavy manure, chiefly night-soU that has been buried for some months, or pig manure when it can be obtained, mixing the two well together, and placing the plant in the middle, not too deep, and being careful that it is left firmly in the ground (I am speaking of light soils only). As the summer advances it will soon be apparent whether the plant win thrive. If it is a vigorous, healthy-growing kind it will send out strong shoots from the bottom. In dry weather water must be afforded and the surface mulched. Eain water is to be preferred ; and manure water, not too strong, may be occasionally given while the plant is young. If in November the plants have made but little progress, it will be best to take them up, pot them, and keep in a pit or frame for the winter. Should they fail to grow in the suc- ceeding summer after being again planted out as before, it may be concluded that the kind wOl not do. It is also to be noted, that good shoots of the first year's growth should be tied, to prevent injury by the wind. None of the Hybrid Perpetuals naturally dwarf, or of only moderate habit, will flourish on their own roots in a light soU. They will live on for a year or two and then die. I have had many such, so that I no longer attempt to grow any in this way, but such as are of vigorous and robust constitution. The following Hybrid Perpetuals may be depended on, when grown on their own roots, for light soils, and although I have not myself proved all of them, I can speak of them with confidence. lAgU. — Caroline de Sansal, Duchesse d'Orleans, Mademoi- selle Bonnaire. Madame Vidot is a failure here ; and Louise Daxzins and Soeur des Anges I have not yet proved. Pink and Rose. — ^Baronue Prevost, Comtesse de ChabrH- lant, Anna Alexieff, Anna de Diesbach, BeUe de Bourg-la- Eeine, Glcire de Vitry (one of the best), Corate de Nanteuil, La ViUe de St. Denis, Madame Boll Madame de Cambaceres, WiUiam Griffiths, Souvenir de la Eeine d'Angleterre, Victor Verdier. Carmine and Crimson. — Baronne Hallez, John Hopper, Jules Margottin, Madame C. Crapelet, Madame Louise Carique, Triomphe de Paris, Triomphe de TExposition. Scarlet and Purple Crimson. — Duchess of Norfolk, Eugene Appert, Geant des Batailles, General Jacqueminot, Senateur Vaisse, Lord Eaglan, Lion des Combats, Triomphe des Beaux Arts. I have not yet proved Due de Eohan, Maurice Ber- nardin, and others of recent introduction. Dark. — Cardinal Patrizzi, Empereur de Maroe, and pro- bably Prince Camille de Eohan. Bo^irbons. — Acidalie, Souvenir de Malmaison, Madame Despres, Louise Odier, Sir Joseph Paxton, Docteur Berthet. — Adolphus H. Kent, Bletchingley, Surrey. EOYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY'S FIEST SPEING SHOW.— Maech 19th. Moke fortunate than its predecessor at Kensington, this Show was favoured by one of the brightest of spring days. The display though small was good, and principally con- sisted of Hyacinths contributed by Messrs. Cutbush and W. Paul. The latter took the first prize in the Nurserymen's Class for twelve, with Argus, Marie, the beautiful new Lord Palmerston, King of Blues, Bloksberg, Von SchQler, Macau- lay, Koh-i-Noor, Duo de MalakofT, Ida, Mont Blanc, and Snowball. Messrs. Cutbush, who were second, had Bleu Aimable, Argus, Baron Von TuyU, Nimrod, Macaulay, Von SchiUer, Florence Nightingale, Grandeur a MerveiUe, Mont Blanc, Seraphine, Ida, and the almost black General Have- lock. The spikes in both these collections were, almost without exception, remarkably fine, and the merits of the two stands very nearly equal. Both the above-named ex- hibitors showed, in addition, in the Miscellaneous Class, coUeotions of one hundi-ed, comprising nearly all the best kinds in cultivation. Here Mr. W. Paul again took the precedence; but Messrs. Cutbush ran him very closely. In their collection we noticed two new kinds, Josephine and Eobert Fortune, described last week. Messrs. Barr & Sugden were the only other exhibitors in the Nurserymen's Class, and received the third prize. Among Amateurs the best collection came fr'om Mr. Young, gardener to E. Barclay, Esq., Highgate, in which were fine examples of Leonidas, Charles Dickens, Baron Von TuyU, and other kinds ah'eady named. Mr. CaiT, gardener to B. Noakes, Esq., Highgate, was second. Special prizes were also offered by Messrs. Cutbush for Amateurs' collections of twelve, for which Mr. Young and Mr. Carr were also the competitors. In Camellias, the only collection in pots came fi-om Mr. Yoimg, who consequently took the prize. Among them were Alba plena and Baron de Proney (white), Imbricata rubra, and Woodsii. In Cut Blooms Mr. W. Paul was first, Mr. Treen, of Eugby, second; and in the Amateurs' Class Mr. Todman, gardener to E. Hudson, Esq., Clapham Common, had a first prize. Among the varieties shown were beautiful examples of Alba plena, Eximia, Princess Bacchiochi, Countess of Orkney (a charming sort), Eubens, and Ochroleuca. Of Cyclamens, excellent pots were shown by Mr. Holland, gardener to E. Peake, Esq., Isleworth, and Mr. Wiggins, gardener to W. Beck, Esq., of the same place, and who stood in the prize list in the order in which they are named. Mr. Holland had also a remarkably fine single specimen — such, indeed, as is rarely seen. Messrs. E. G. Henderson likewise exhibited a numerous collection of Atkinsi and Persicum seedlings, for which a prize was awarded. Chinese Primroses were shown by Mr. Todman and Messrs. Dobsou and Sons, and the Fern-leaved kinds by Messrs. Henderson. They were well grown, and of good colours, and their exhi- bitors all had a place in the prize list. Of early Tulips, collections came fi-om Messrs. Cutbush and W. Paul, consisting, for the most part, of the kmds shown at Kensington. Eoi Pepin, Proserpine, Vermilion BrUliant, Yellow Prince, Fabiola, Tournesol, and New TeUow Tournesol (very large), were some of the most showy. Mr. W. Paul also exhibited Crocuses, of which David Eizzio, Sir "W". Scott, Ida Pfeiffer, Albion, Marie d'Ecosse, and Mammoth, were a few of the best. 230 JOUENAL OF HORTICULTXJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ MarcU 22, 1864. Amaryllids came from Mr. Parker, of Tooting, the most sliowy being Ackermanni pulchen-ima ; well grown Lilies of the VaUey from Mr. Howai-d, of Balham. In Eoses Messrs. Paul & Son had a good stand of out blooms, among which were Amiral Gravina, Franijois Lacharme, Catherine Guillot, Professeur Koch ; and Teas, Vicomtesse de Cazes and Devoniensis ; and the same firm had also some fine specimens in pots. Victor Verdier and Jules Margottin were in fine bloom ; Mesdames C. Wood and Julie Daran, Lord Canning, Souvenir de Comte Cavour. Teas, Louise de Savoie, President, and Madame de St. Joseph, were also very good. From Mr. Bull camo a collection of flowering and fine- foliaged plants, among which were Hebeclinium atrorubens, a very good Azalea Triumphans, and the showy Imanto- phyUum miniatum ; and collections of a similar nature were contributed by Mr. Treen and Mr. Cross. Pourettia pungens, with a spite of scarlet flowers, bright in colour, but not sufiiciently developed, came fi-om Messrs. P. & A. Smith ; and from Mi'. Hill, Keele Hall, some excellent old and new Grapes, consisting of Lady Downes' and Black Barbarossa of 1863, and West's St. Peter's and Black Hamburgh of the present year. Certificates of merit were awarded to Mr.' Bull for Chameranthemum verbenaceum, also for Ca- mellia Comte de Gomer, a deep rose and white-striped kind, very full and fine — a fii'st-class ; to Messrs. Veitch for Azalea Stella, orange scarlet, spotted on a violet crimson ground on the vipper petal ; also for a white Ehododendron from Moul- mein, ali-eady noticed at p. 212 ; to Messrs. F. & A. Smith for Cinerarias Eliza, bright crimson margin, with white ring round the disk, and Flower of the Day, deep mulberry, with narrow but distinct white ring ; and to Mr. Wiggins for Nonpariel, broad bright crimson edge, and white ring. Several other seedlings were also shown by Messrs. Smith and Wiggins, but were not considered worthy of special notice. EOYAL HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. If the observations and assertions of great men and philosophers ai'e worthy of being received, we must look upon the science and art of horticulture as among the most important occupations that have engaged the attention of the human race. If a country's greatness and welfare be so largely dependant on the intelligent pursuit and develop- ment of agrictiltixre, then we cannot do otherwise than place gardening in the front rank of all that is important to and connected with the productiveness of the soil; for most assuredly it has been the cradle of agricultm'e. The two are often called twin sisters. The one should be looked upon as the parent of the other ; for it has been in the lap of gardening that agriculture. Hie a young Hercules, first tried its powers, and jirepared like him to overrun the world, speedily clearing it of monsters, and bestowing on man the lolessings of its civilising effects. The recent efforts of modern mechanism to bend the powerful application of steam to the tOlage of the soil must look for their reward chiefly from a deepened staple in the farm field, in imitation of what has long been practised in cm' garden quarters. If the productiveness of our fields is to be greatly increased, it must arise from leai-ning and practising the lesson which shares so great a part in the success of the gardener. In fact, gardening may be justly regarded as another name for the perfection of rural or field culture. Looking at horticulture in such a light as this, it becomes invested with an importance it would be difficult to over- estimate : hence a National Society, established with the express view of teaching how better to develope the resources of oiu' gardens, is greatly to be desh'ed. It is, however, a notorious and lamentable fact that the gai'dens which have been attempted by these societies with this end in view have, after a career of the most lavish expenditure, done little else besides get into debt, and ultimately, in some cases, die a natiu'al death. We need soai-cely call attention to the enormous sums of money which have recently been raised and spent by the Eoyal Horticultural Society of London, with the commend- able object of placing itself in a position worthy of so great and wealthy a country with its unrivalled private garden establishments. It has had poured into its lap a very river of gold ; it has shared tiie patronage of our gracious Queen, and every conceivable kind or form of encouragement has it received. What would be unreasonable to expect from a Society so highly favoured ? It has had tributaries almost equal to that of Solomon when he made orchards, "de- lighted to dwell in gai-dens," and " planted the vineyard of Baalhaman." The supporters of this Society have been dazzled now and again with a flourish of trumpets and the most flattering accounts of what has just been going to be done, while all are agreed that its most successful performance has been the spending of a revenue enough for a respectable prince- dom or kingdom. Some of our contemporaries have shown with great force the vast extravagance with which it has been attended, and shown at the same time that it has not been able to provide even a proper place for a flower show, in which plants and fruits could be either comfortably or effectively arranged. They have shown how a tent was attempted, but that the merciless element of wind blew it over, and that — ridiculous to teU — it has managed to get through .£2000 or ^£3000 sterling for music alone ia one season ! After such unprecedented extravagance the country which has supplied the funds has a right to look to the Council for something substantial in retm-n. It certainly is nothing more than reasonable and right that in some one particular branch of gardening, at least, examples of culture or arrange- ment should be looked for. The mere holding of shows for flowers and fruit is all very well, but there are other societies which know how to do this part of the business of the Eoyal Horticultural Society much more effectively than it has yet deserved credit for. The gardens at Kensington have been the o'ojects of the severest criticism, and we have no inten- tion of dealing with that question. We would submit, how- ever, that, as compared with the Eoyal Botanic Society's grounds in the Eegent's Park, those at Kensington are a mere toy, while the other is allowed by all to be a master- piece of beautiful and chaste design. In the Eegent's Park you may fancy yourself a hundred miles from town ; in the Kensington grounds brick and mortar hang an incubus on the mind, while the merest schoolboy might improve upon the whole concern with a compass and scale. As far as taking the lead in gardening is concerned, it would appear, from a recent advertisement, that the Council are not ambitious of exerting themselves. They are more wQUng to make others pay into then- treasury for the privi- lege of teaching the nation how to garden. They have advertised a portion of the grounds at Kensington to be let out in the allotment system to what they call responsible nui-serymen (we thought all nm-serymeu were responsible), to be filled with bedding plants during the yeai' 1864. Nurserymen are surely to be highly honoured that they are to be made to pay for doing what the Society has failed to do itself. This is qirite a brUliant idea ! The next step should be to let the privileges of cutting the grass to Messrs. Shanks, Green, & Co., in order that those mechanists might themselves be shaved for shaving the lawns of the fancy gardens at South Kensington ! This would get the Council into a fair way of increasing their revenue, and at the some time decrease the work they have undertaken to do. It is quite new to us that nm-serymen are the most likely parties to be able to show the highest styles of flower-garden arrangements, or that this is a department that they have made their pecidiar study. Judging from the attempts generally made in their own grounds, we should say that the very reverse is the case. However, we have great faith in the energy and skill of nurserymen in the accomplish- ment of any task that they propose to themselves. It i» very questionable whether many of them will be siUy enough to jump to such a ludicrous bait. If they do, it is to bo hoped they wiU manage to treat the members to a little bloom and well-covered beds before they leave town in August. This Society is altogether curious in its workings, and it would not be at all surprising if the scheme which the London papers have reported them to have in contemplation should be brought to maturity, and also advertised in due time. We refer to the offering of prizes for the most skilful performances of volunteer bands. The morning journals Mtwch 22, 1S64. ] JOTTRNAL OF HORTICTJLTITEB AND COTTAGE GAEDENBE. 231 surely took it upon themselves to prognosticate tMs as the next most likely thing which might be expected from this Society, on the principle that it is most difficult to divine what some parties may be expected to do next ! ^£40 for a single prize to a volunteer band for the best performance of a quadrille or waltz ! It is fortunate for the feelings of those to whom the munificent sum of 30s. has been awarded for a dish of Grapes ripened in January, that they find no mention of this burlesque in the Eeport just issued. It seems, however, that croquet and bowling clubs are to be encouraged for the " attraction and enjoyment " of Fellows. How would it do to engage a troop of Blondins and colum- bines, and so merge at once into the Cremorne style of doing things ? Eeference has already been made to the thirty-shilling prize awarded to a dish of Grapes ripened in January. It would be instructive to our dull minds in the north to know why so paltry a sum is offered for Grapes ripened at such a season, when it is problematical whether there are more than half a dozen gardeners in the kingdom in a position to compete for it ; wlule double the amount is offered for a dish of the same sort in July, when growers can count then- Grapes by the hundredweight — still more instructive to know why flavour should be made the only test of merit in January, while at midsummer flavour is not taken the least account of, and the award guided entu-ely by appearance. Altogether the workings of this Society are most novel. The Council tell the Fellows that ^£13,000 more are requu-ed to complete and beautify the toy gardens at Kensington, and the Fellows tell the Council that the real horticultural de- partment at Chiswick is kept in a most " wretched " manner ; another describes the state of afi'airs at Chiswick as "most disgraceful, and calculated to call forth the opprobrium of foreigners," and in this statement he is warmly supported by a large number of the Fellows. And yet, in the midst of the filth and weeds of Chiswick, the Council talk largely of being the exponents of horticulture in the world. It may be all very well and i:)roper to " enlarge the circle of foreign societies with which they are in friendly relation," but better stiU would it be first to at least keep their garden tidy if they do fail to practically expound the important science in which they ought to take the lead. Unless there be a rapid turn in the tide of affairs, it is much to be feared, that if foreigners are to see high and advanced examples of horti- culture, they must look somewhere else than amid what one of the Fellows describes as the " wretchedly kept " wilder- ness of Chiswick. If such be the state of affairs at Chiswick, it would appear to be nothing better at Kensington, for in the discussion which followed the Report, the gardens there are described -as resembling an " ill-planned and Ul-kept cemetery." When is aU this muddle, and mismanagement, and misspending of funds to come to an end ? Would it not be much better to deliver up the whole concern at Kensington to the Commis- sioners of the Exhibition ? And would the cause of horti- culture not be much more benefited were Fellows to give more encouragement to local societies and leave such a water-logged concern to its fate ? — [Scottish Gardener.) LOBELIA SPECIOSA CULTTJEE. In a communication from Mr. Eobsou on the Lobelia speciosa he stated that he thought the best mode of culti- vating it had not been found out. I do not know whether my mode is the " best," but I have for a long time managed sticcessfully according to the following plan. With loam, peat, leaf mould, and sand, well mixed toge- ther, I fill boxes nearly full, add some fine-sifted peat and sand, and press evenly aU over the boxes. I then sow the seeds, and with fine-sifted peat soil cover them lightly, settling all down with water from a brush. This is done at the beginning of June. I plunge the boxes in coal ashes, and put a little whitening on the glass, inside of the frame, to keep the rays of the sun off. When strong enough to handle I prick out the seedlings, three together, in thumb-pots, and when done plunge the "whole in coal ashes up to the rim. They remain there till October. All light-coloured and wh'y-leaved seedlings are rooted out, and those only of the erect and true blue Lobelia speciosa are retained. These, also, are trimmed off, and all flower-stems are out closely in. They are then placed near the glass where air can be freely given. I keep them in a cold place all the winter, free from frost and damp. At the end of March I shake them out, pot them singly into thumb-pots ; cut back and place them in a mild hotbed till the pots are full of roots ; I then harden them off, and plunge the pots in coal ashes under a frame. By planting-out time they make nice close plants, and I can always depend on having them in great perfection by this plan. Spring-sown plants are not fitted for regular lines, and cuttings grow weak and straggling. I have grown the Lobelia speciosa each way, and find the plants repay all the trouble which has been taken with them when kept in the way I have stated. It will be the opinion of many that this method gives a great deal of unnecessary trouble ; but if they try the plan they wOl find all that is required in Lobelia speciosa from year to year. — G. Hollackey, Gardener, Crofion Sail, Salop. FUCHSIA CFLTmiE. Thotjgh not so showy as many of our greenhouse plants, and though possessed of no sweetness, yet from the very time of its introduction few plants have become such favourites as the Fuchsia. It is ever welcome in the conservatory, and is generally to be met with in some form in the window of the humblest tenement. Its adaptability to very varied systems of treatment, its gracefulness, and the beauty of its flowers, have secured to it this general patronage. There are two or three distinct modes of culture prac- tised with this genus, each proving satisfactory in the end. For example : some grow their plants each season from very early or autumn-struck cuttings, whilst others prefer storing away the old plants of one season for the use of the next; but in advocating the latter of these modes, I will state some of the principal details of each. In the first place, then, I will refer shortly to the manner in which plants are successfully grown from cuttings, though only advising those to follow this mode who have abundance of spare room, except when in possession of a new variety, and occasionally when it is necessary to recruit the old stock by additions of younger growth. The cuttings should be struck in October, or early in No- vember. Choose tolerably strong, well-matured wood, or shoots of the current season's growth, and such as have been well exposed to light and heat. As they will require whOst striking to be placed in a sKghtly-shaded and close atmosphere, it will be necessary to strike them as quickly as possible, otherwise their vigour will be greatly impaired by a too long deprivation of light and air. As soon as rooted pot them oft" singly into 60-sized pots, taking care not to injure the tender young roots found at their base. This can be performed the easier by placing not more than four cuttings in finely-sifted soil round the edges of a 48-pot. Having been properly hardened off, place them in a light, airy situation in the greenhouse, to be properly watered and kept in a like position until about the second week in March, or a little earlier if the plants are vigorous and appear to require a shift, especially if large specimens are required. Then they should each have the leading bud pinched out to induce them to form side shoots, and when these are properly formed the plants should be encouraged, first by a Uttle manure water, and afterwards by a shift into 32-sized pots. When shifted ftiey should be removed into a higher temperature, with more moisture, &c. It wiU be advantageous at the time of potting to tie the upper shoot to a stick, and as it advances it wUl then take the place of the leader previously pinched out. A temperature commencing at 55°, and gradually advanc- ing until the maximum of 70° or 75° is attained, slight shading being given in the middle of the day as the sun gains power, will suit them well. Pinch the side shoots back to about four distinct eyes each, but permit the shoots to become tolerably strong in each instance before this is done. Use the syringe fi'equently when the growths appear after each pinching-back, but sparingly immediately after pinch- ing back. When it is supposed that the roots have pretty freely 232 JOTJENAL OF HOBTICULTTIEB AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. [ Msreh a, 1SC4. reached the sides of the pots, by which time the plant will have become a tolerably compact specimen, give another ehift. The size of the pot must depend upon the time at which it is requisite to have the plant in flower, and the size of the plant ; at any rate endeavour to so pot the plant as to have the last shift well filled with roots before flower- ing commences, when it will be necessary, as the first blooms expand, to gradually harden the plant oif imtil able to endure the draughts of the greenhouse or conservatory. The soil I think they do best in is a compost of one part of rather decayed turfy loam, one of sand, one of leaf mould, with a little sifted peat. I was once very successful with the Fuchsia, when potted in one part loam, and one of decayed heather, and with Cucumbers in boxes especially, laying the least decayed portion at the bottom in place of crocks, around which the roots clung amazingly. AVas it attribut- able to any distinct properties which the heather possessed ? During the whole period of flowering a little weak manure water applied often will be beneficial to them. I omit purposely the practice followed in the growth of those huge specimens which have almost invariably been exhibited at our leading metropolitan shows. The ground- work in their case is furnished by cutting away at the base the entire growth of a strong plant of one year old, and afterwards encouraging but one shoot, which, aided by the mass of ready-formed roots at the bottom, makes a prodi- gious plant. I consider well-grown well-flowered specimens of smaller dimensions far more suitable to the generality of gardens, and, indeed, of greater merit generally than those monstrous half-standards formed as above. I will now confine my remarks to a more general mode of practice in the growth of the Fuchsia — namely, keeping plants of last season's flowering for use the next season. When these have done flowering place them in a cool, dry situation, and if partly dark it does not matter ; then by withholding all moisture from them they wfll soon shed aU their leaves, which should be carefully removed. Leave the plants thus until about the middle of February, but in this be guided by the season at which they may be requii-ed to be in flower; then they should be properly potted and pi-uued, first cutting away all superfluous, misplaced, and decayed wood. In pruning it wiU not be necessary to leave more than two joints if well placed upon the wood formed last summer, excepting it be the best-placed shoot chosen for the leader, when a little judgment wUl be necessary in cutting it back to secure a proportionate top to the whole. The pruning having been performed take the ball carefuUy out of the pot, remove the soil from around the roots, and pot the plants again, placing them in as small a sized pot as they can easily be put into without undue pressure. The soil, half leaf mould, half sand, with a little sifted loam, must be properly placed around and between the roots so that no emnty space may remain. To prevent this take hold of the plant firmly with one hand and continue to jerk it slightly up and down whilst you continue to supply loose soil with the other hand, after which stamp the pot gently down wpon the bench. The plants should then be placed for a time in any cool dry situation where they will receive light. The fresh soil in which they aa-e potted should be moderately moist : con- sequently no water should be given until the soil is becoming dry, when it should receive a good soaking. The main object should now be to induce the plants to root as freely as possible, using at the same time every means to retard any corresponding activity in the stem, and thus prevent the pushing forth of the buds. By this means, if the rule is properly observed, the plant is enabled to coUect strength for a vigorous growth. The moment signs of activity ai-e discernible in the buds expose the plants fiilly to the light. AVhen well started give them successive shifts as they may reqnu-e into a soil similar to that advised ; previously adding, however, in this instance, as the plants increase in vigour, more loam and less leaf mould and sand. Give the necessary attention to pinching-back and to syringing, as these old plants wiU be especially benefited by having their matured wood kept soft with moisture. As a climber, at least so trained to rafters in a conser- vatory or greenhouse, the Fuchsia forms a very pleasing artistic object ; indeed in this position it would seem to be quite at home. The good and usefiil old Souvenir de Chis- wick does admirably when so grown. If planted out, plants are readily induced to grow tolerably early by giving them water in February and an occasional fresh supply until about midsummer, when, if water be altogether withheld, they will shed their leaves naturally, and, lake Vines, remain dormant during winter. As a bedding plant the Fuchsia has also figured in our gardens, the variety Tom Thumb having been used for that purpose, but I think the plant is not very applicable to our present system. The Fuchsia is readily grown from seed, which should be sown in a pot or pan of finely sifted soU, covering it but very slightly, and making the surface even and firm by pressure with the bottom of another pot. Place the seed- pot in the full sun, and then take care to shade it by a piece of painted glass, brown paper, or other handy material whenever the sun shines too brightly, and carefully keep the soil moistened. A moderate temperature will be best. The seed does not at aU times gei-minate very readily, taking sometimes from six to ten weeks to show signs of growth. The after-treatment varies little from that required by most tender greenhouse seedlings. Care should be taken, how- ever, not to give them, under any circumstance, too large a sliift during the first season. I add a few of the varieties which I think have the^ merit of good habit, and average good blossoms combined. Comet Minnie Banks Count Cavour Fair Oriana Lord Elcho Senator LordMacaulay Mudaine Cornelissen La Crinoline Princess Alice Dr. Livingstone Lord Clyde Fairest of the Fair Schiller Little Bo-I'eep Floorer of France White Lady Annie ■ — "W. Eabley, IH^)sweU. . PEEVENTING THE GOOSEBEEEY CATEEPILLAE. Some eight or ten years ago I obtained a complete victory over the Gooseberry caterpillar in my garden, by adopting a hint given in the then Cottage Gaedenek, and covering the surface of the soil with spent tanner's bark or "tan," as it is usually called, to a depth of 2 or 3 inches. By adopt- ing this precaution about this time for two or three seasons I entu-ely got rid of this pest, but, having neglected it during the jiast few years, the nuisance has returned. I have, therefore, just laid a thick coating of tan under my Gooseberry and Currant bushes, and doubt not that it wiU again prove a " perfect cure."— A Devonshire Bbe-keeper. PITS FOEMED OF COISTCEETE. In a recent Number Mr. Fish gave instructions respecting turf-pits, and I write not to find fault with him, or with anything that he has written, for I regard him as an au- thority, but to mention an idea that a much better pit might be made, at a trifling cost, of concrete, especially in some districts where the materials are cheap. It may be doubted by some that such cannot be done, but I know of some cottages where the party-walls are of concrete. AU that is necessary is that some boai-ds should be placed on each side of the intended walls. My first reason for thinking concrete pits would be better is that they would be more lasting. Secondly, there would not be the trouble of the grass and other weeds growing on the walls, and, if not constantly kept in check, dai-kening the pit and harbom'ing myriads of slugs, snails, &c. Thu-dly, you might whitewash the inside, which would be preferable to the dark damp walls of turf. It may be objected by some that they have not room for pits of this sort, as, of course, they must be permanent to pay ; but I see no difliculty in the matter, as they might be built so that a common box might be put on, and fiUed up with hot dung, previously prepared, for a hotbed, and the pit itself be entirely out of sight. I would recommend di-ain-pipes to be placed in the walls, as they would help to keep the pit dry when used as a cold pit; and, on the other hand, when in use as a hotbed they • March 22, 1864. ] JOURNAL OF HORXIOULTURE AND COXXAGE GAKDBNEE. 233 would oommnnicate the lieat from the outside lining to the inside bed, only in the last case I should say that a greater number of pipes would be required. Where boxes are plentiful the pits might be made large enough to take a bos inside with about 8 inches clear space all round, to be filled in winter with sawdust or dry tan, which would be much better than the trouble and the litter of putting a lining of cold dung. — James Glasscock, Bed- dington Parle. [Of what materials and in what proportions is the con- crete made ? — Eds. J. of H.] FETJIT TEEES EST POTS. As to the flavom- of fruits grown in pots and in the open aor, I tried the other day some Apples — CalviUe Blanche, St. Sauveui', Northern Spy, and Melon Apple — and esta- blished a juiy of my children, who are the best judges in these matters ; but they preferred unanimously those grown in pots. It was quite the same with Peaches and Necta- rines last summer. But I confess that I turn out my pots into the open air for a month or two in summer in a sheltered place, and consider this to have a favourable in- fluence on the colour and flavour of the fruits. I am very much satisfied with the result of grafting Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots on the Sloe for pot cul- ture. The trees are of a healthy growth, and fine roots, and are more easily managed. — H. B. PETJNING OE PYEAMIDAL PEACH TEEES. Some few years since, being much charmed with the idea of cultivating the Peaoh tree as a pyramid (suggested, I think, by the gentleman who figuratively thrusts his horn into the little heaps of gossip collected by your friend " D.," and tosses them about to amuse himself), I commenced that description of culture by having some trees potted — i. e., planted in pots — ^for that is the correct way to describe it — and others planted in the borders of my orchard-house. I am delighted with my perfect success in both modes of culture; and, as a matter of course, I have gained some experience which I am happy to communicate to those who, like myself, thoroughly enjoy the culture of fruit trees under glass. I found pinching-in the young shoots of my pyramids in the first year of culture to answer perfectly. The second year it was equally so with the trees in pots — in^ short it continues so with them to this day. This is the fifth year of their culture, and I can see no reason why it should not go on for many years, for no method can be more beautiful and satisfactory. With my pyramids planted in the borders of my orchard-house I have had some little trouble, owing to their vigorous growth (in spite of occasional root-pruning), and constant " inclination of sap to the head." When pruning them to-day I found their stems pretty well furnished with branches full of blossom-buds ; but they aie weakly and vei7 unlike the crowns of the trees, which, from being pinched-in all the summer, are masses of well- ripened, robust, blossom-bearing shoots, by far too much crowded. I have, therefore, felt called upon to perform some desperate amputations with my strong, sharp, pruning- knife, done in this way : I have cut out the central or crown branches of every tree, so as to leave it with almost a flat head. This wiU tend to give the lower branches more strength, and the sun will have more access to the fruit. I have indeed reason to believe that with trees planted out in orchard-houses, either half-standards or standards, this open flat-headed style of pruning wiU be found the most eligible. I have tried another way, besides summer-pinch- ing, to restrain the too vigorous growth of Peach trees planted out. This is described iu the " Orchard-House," 11th edition, p. 82 : — " In 1862, and again the past season, 1863, buds of some kinds of Peaches and Nectarines were much wanted for propagation. I therefore allowed some of the trees to make thefr first growth without being pinched. The shoots they made were most vigorous, many of them from 4 to 5 feet in length. About the middle of July these were aU cut off to within 4 inches of their base. The trees were loaded with fruit, and I thought that this sudden decapitation would put the crop in perO, and cause it either to cease to grow or drop off in its then immature state. To my sm-prise the fruit has grown to its full size and ripened well. The decapitated shoots have put forth numerous young shoots, which this day (August 30), have been pinched to within three and four leaves of theu' base, and the trees look as they did last autumn — healthy, promising, and capable of bearing a good crop next year. I observe that their gi-owth seems much more under control than those planted in the same border that have been under pinching. aU the summer." I have slightly deviated fr'om this method, and have pinched aU but six or seven strong shoots, leaving them to grow without control. Their vigour is most re- markable, and they exhaust the tree of much superabundant' sap. About the third week in July they are cut down to 5 or 6 inches; the buds at the base of each shoot break immediately, and form short spurs which ripen well during the autumn. By this method my planted-out pyramidal Peaches and Nectarines have formed themselves into fiat-headed half- standards, slightly feathered down thefr stems with branches rather weakly, stiU ft-uitful. These will in the end die ofT, and leave the trees half-standards with open heads inclined to horizontal growth. As far as I can see this is a most excellent mode of cultivating Peaches and Nectarines under glass. Among these trees, i£ there be sufficient room, trees in pots may be placed r and these, if pyramids, may be formed into perfect fruitful " cordons " by summer pinching. I have to add something rather curious, and which I con- fess is at present a mystery. In 1860 and 61 the fruit fr'om the trees in pots in the same house was much superior in fiavour to that from the trees planted oiit. This I ac- counted for from the roots of the trees in pots being in a warmer medium surrounded by the heated air of the house. In 1862 the fruit from the trees planted out was decidedly superior to that from the potted trees ; but to my surprise, in 1863, although we had a bright warm summer, it was just the reverse, for the fruit from the potted trees was infinitely richer than any gathered from the trees growing in the borders, and I felt at a loss to account for it. — D., Devon. TOTJ&H sea-e:ale. It is not my intention to speak of the culture of that useful vegetable. Sea-kale, but only to offer a few remarks on the cause of its being sometimes tough, though dressed by an experienced cook. When this is the case the gardener is blamed, and he on his part very naturally thinks that the Sea-kale was not projDerly boiled. Both parties may main- tain that they are right, though they may be equally igno- rant of the real cause of the fault. UntU lately I was so myself, but having paid some attention to the fibre of several plants, I was somewhat surprised to find so much of that useful material in Sea-kale. This may be easily per- ceived by the quantity of fibre in the stem of a Sea-kale leaf, which I have sent with this paper. I now consider- that tough fibre is the sole cause of the oomjilanit, and that the only remedy is to try as much as possible to have the fibre in Sea-kale brittle, by forcing less of the crop at one time, otherwise it wiU strengthen with age, although well secured both from light and au\ Supposing the pulpy sub- stance to be separated from a dish of such Kale, what re- mained would somewhat resemble a handful of wet tow; certainly not an agreeable mouthful. — J. Wighton. [The bundle of fibres sent by Mr. Wighton are certainly most strikingly hard and tough.] STJLPHUE TEEsus EED SPIDEE. I HAVE tried the effect of sulphur on many occasions with a view to the destruction of red spider and have never found it effectual. Even if placed upon heated flues or mixed with hot lime, so as to injure the foliage of plants, the most that it has' done is to stupify the insects for a time, but they soon recover their vitality, as wasps do when exposed to the atmosphere after suffocation by gunpowder and sulphur. I have also tried impure or unrectified naptha, whick 234 JOURNAL OF HOETICULTITEE AND COTTAGE GAEDEKEE. [ March 22, 18C4. tiviiokly destroys the insects brought into close contact with it ; but it is injurious to vegetation, very disagreeable, and not effective in a large house or where the Vines ai-e at a distance from the vessel which contains the spii-it. Tobacco smoke is useless. The only remedy known to myself is gas tar, and applied in the following way it will annihilate the pest. Cover about 18 inches square of the hottest part of the flue with the gas tar at night, and if the weather is cloudy keep the house closed the following day, if not, cover the roof with mats, and most of the insects wQl be destroyed, and if the flue is well heated the second night and the house kept shut up the next day they will be all killed, and the foliage of the Vine win not suffer. Another and, perhaps, a preferable plan is to put a small quantity of the gas tar on a slate or piece of iron, or in a vessel, as it can then be removed fi'om the house when done with, and no smell wiU remain. This remedy must not be used when the Grapes are nearly ripe, or their flavour will be affected. — Nemo. ECONOMIC HEATING. The winter, now over I hope, has been, perhaps, one of the most trying that we have had for several years past ; for, although it has not at any time been very severe, the absence of any sun for such a length of time, with a thick heavy atmosphere, made firing both night and day a neces- sity, and, no doubt, has caused many besides myself to study the economy of heating, pai-ticularly where fuel is expensive. I was led into considering and also trying to make a prac- tical use of the system I am about to explain fi-om the ap- plication of a friend whom I was particularly anxious to oblige. He was desirous of heating a greenhouse, and also to derive from the same fii'e by some contrivance sufficient heated air to supply a Turkish bath adjoining. This could only be accomplished by some modification of the Polmaise system, and knowing its successful working at Dropmore, I made application to Mr. Frost to allow me to take plans, which was not only readily granted, but Mr. Frost himself gave eveiy explanation I could desu'e. These explanations, with the plans, I have much pleasure in placing at your disposal, if you consider them sufficiently interesting to the readers of youi' Journal. It may be as well at once to state] that I feel convinced that it is utterly impossible to find any other system of heating more economical, and at the same time affording such a complete command of almost any amount of heat in the houses with a very small consumption of fuel. One of the houses heated in this way is a large early vinery; the other a span-roofed plant-stove ; they are both exactly on the same construction of flue, &o., and I have therefore sent a di'awing of the stove as likely to be the most usefid. again at e, and dropping under the path, go outside into the chimney. We will now com- mence again at a ; and in the woodcut No. 2, on each side of the fur- nace-door, is shown on a level line with the grate a ventilator with either a sUde or some other contrivance to shut or reduce the air to be admitted at pleasure. This flreplace is outside, and, therefore, the ah- passing in is always pure ; but although there is an advantage in this instance, there is no reason why it should prevent others fi-om adopting other methods of securing the an- pure where it does not, as in this case, exist. For example, the au' may be brought from the outside of a shed, the top of a house — in fact, from anywhere most convenient ; the fire vnU soon di'aw it in very forcibly. No. 3 is the flue going right across the house, underneath the bed, from which it will be seen that the flue e, except at the bottom, is wholly siu'rounded by the air ad- mitted by the ventilator shown in No. 2. This ail- as it passes along becomes tho- rouglily heated, and in this consists! the economy. First, it will be readily admitted by any one who has put up flues that to carry this across the house as sho\vn, would, in any case, be the best way to make the flue di'aw, because when hampered with a rise near- the fii'e all draught is stopped. If this is admitted, we must also admit that aU, or nearly so, of this heat is lost in the gi'ound. Or suppose, for the sake of comparison, the flue to be raised to the level above the path h in plan No. 4, stDl the greatest amount of heat N°3 A -1 ffl- B ^ O E '1 O -J o 6 o n HOUSE 0 ^ GROUND PLAN 0 c L o S o o /I \ 0 o E O O ^ :y/V<5 It will be seen by a reference to the ground plan No. 1 that A is the fire-hole, the flue passing under the path b, .and under the pit c, in the middle of which a division is introduced at D; one half of the flue then goes one way, the other half taking the opposite way round, and both meeting is buried underneath the path. All this heat is gathered up, so to speak, by the air that passes in round the path. Its effects I will explain by-and-by. In the section of the house. No. 4, it will be seen that between the flue and the four-inch wall of the plunging-pit is a cavity — this is still the air-flue — and that E in plan No. 1 and this plan. No. 4, are the same. They consist of one-and-a-half- inch zinc pipes, and are each fitted at the top with plugs, which can be taken out or put in as requu'ed. There is no doubt that m.any will say that to admit this dry hot air into the house wUl kill everything. But no such effect is occasioned, although the air from the pipes nearest the hot part of the flue is, in very cold weather when the fire is driven on a little extra, sufficiently hot to scorch a tender leaf; but the latter must be directly orer the pipes to suffer. The air is soon dispersed without any injury to the general plants in the house, which have all the healthy green appearance which the most fastidious could desire. Thoy also consist of a sufficient variety to be a proof — Cucumbers, Pines, general stove plants. Dwarf Kidney Beans, Strawberries, small seedlings, &c. JlilrcU 22, 1864. ] JOUENAL OP HOETICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 233 Again : if the weather causes a brisk fire, the plugs nearest the fire may be left in, only taking those out where the air has further travelled ; but this can scarcely occur, for the small amount of fire required makes the greatest caution necessary at all times to prevent the house becoming over- heated. For example : if I do not mistake the date, on the 22nd of February, I found the thermometer outside at 12", whilst, with a very small fire, the house was at 50°. Mr. Frost removed a few of the plugs, and in twenty minutes the house stood at 90°. The dry heat is also soon reduced by pouring water down one or two of the pipes. Of coiu'se, this is Polmaise simplified; but I have no hesitation in saying that amateurs applying this system to their small houses would find that with a small fire and a shortened damper, the bricks once warm would only require attention once in twenty-four hoitrs whatever severe weather might occur. Again, for large orchard-houses, suppose we even say they enclose Tualf an acre, if the tubes were carried up to the bottom of the rafters, the air rushing into this house would keep up a circulatory ventilation, and the amount of heat required in that air would be vei-y small indeed to keep out any amount of frost. Great care is necessary in making the fire part of the flue to prevent any smoke escaping into the air; also, ai before mentioned, to make the dampers 2 or 3 inches shorter than the frame, so that the vent cannot at any time be entirely stopped. — F. BULBS m POTS. Ant of your readers happy enough to possess an orchard- house, may make it " beautiful exceedingly " by doing as I have done. In November I had some large pots (11-inch), filled with loam and rotten maniu-e, equal parts, to which I have added a little sand. In filling the pots the compost was made fii'm by ramming it with a blunt stout stick, and previotis to filling some crocks or pieces of broken pots were placed at the bottom for drainage. When filled to two-thirds of their depth five Hyacinths were placed in each pot something after this manner — The edge of each bulb was about 1 inch from the inner edge of the pot. In the centre I placed a score or so of Crocuses (their position is shown by the smaU dots), and then the pots were filled nearly to the i-im with the compost which was pressed down with the hand. The central gi'oup of Crocuses has been in bloom the last month or so, and now that the Hyacinths are showing their grand spikes of flowers, the effect is quite charming. With some of the pots I have made a little variation, having planted the centres with some dwarf double and single Tulips. These will bloom about the same time as the Hyacinths, and I can see the effect of the whole will be very gay. It is, of course, too late to do aU this now, but your readers must " make a note," and do it nest autumn. Owing to the mild and most agreeable climate of an orchard-house, the bulbous flowers referred to continue in full beauty for weeks. — Htacinthxts. ALOCASIA METALLICA "WITH MOEE FLOWEES THAN LEAVES. Allow me space in the columns of yoxu: Journal to offer a few remarks as to the management of the well-knoT,rn and liighly-esteemed Alocasia metaUica. Some ten days ago I had occasion to visit a few of the leading gardens in this neighbourhood, and at two places I observed a plant of the above, and was very much surprised to find the two plants running to flower and not producing foliage. One glance was sufficient to indicate that they were not properly potted, but if the following materials and mode of proceeding had been adopted the result would have been satisfactory. Select a good clean pot according to the size of the plant, allowing a liberal shift, crock fully one- third, but take great care not to throw the crocks in wholesale, as some gardeners do. Having that done break good fibry peat as large as eggs — say one-third, the same quantity of good, fresh, fibry loam, and one-third sphagnum cut as short as you possibly can with a wool-shears. Add a lot of broken potsherds, mix well together, and if a little silver sand can be given so much the better. The compost must be rough and open. Place the plant about 2 inches lower than it was before ; pot firmly ; and the last inch of compost should be nearly all sphagnum, a little silver sand, and small potsherds mixed, this will encourage svackers to start. Place the plant, or plants, in a warm moist stove, syringing occasionally. Shade for a few days after potting if the sun is bright. — J. B. M., Co. Duhlin. PORTRAITS OF PLANTS, FLOWEES, AND FEUITS. Hblichbtsum Mannii (Mr. Mann's HeUchrysum). — Nat. ord,, Compositee. Linn., Syngenesia superflua. Who does not even in his nursery days remember the " Yellow Ever- lasting " on the mantle-shelf? and Sir W. Hooker says that " the present noble species, if it can be retained iu our gardens and increased, may revive the taste for the genus." It is a native of Fernando Po, and the Cameroon Mountains, at heights from 4000 to 13,000 feet above the sea's level. The numerous globose flowers, each an inch in diameter, are in a large corymb, the involucre or " everlasting " part is white tinged with green. — {Bot. Mag., t 5431.) QuAMOCLiT Nationis (Mr. Nation's Quamoclit). — Nat. ord., Convolvulacess. Linn., Pentandria Monogynia. A tuberous-rooted perennial. A native of the Peruvian Cor- dillera. Flowers scarlet, stems run the whole length of the rafters of a greenhouse. " It may possibly bear our sum- mers in the open air." — (Ibid., t. 5432.) ^, Saccolabium: Habeisonianum (Mr. Harrison's Saccolar. bium). — Nat. ord., Orchidacete. Linn., Gynandria Monandria. Native of Pulo Penang, in the Chinese seas ; imported by Messrs. Stuart & Low, of the Clapton Nursery. Flowers white.— (Ifcid., t. 5433.) Begonia Mannii (Mr. Mann's Begonia). — Nat. ord., Bego- niaceae. Linn., Monaecia Polyandi'ia. One of the Begonias with wingless flowers. Native of Fernando Po, at an ele- vation of about 1300 feet. Flowers rose-coloured. — (lUd., t. 5434.) Ada aueantiaoa (Deep-orange-flowered Ada). — Nat. ord,, OrchidaceiE. Linn., Gynandria Monogynia. Native of New Grenada, at an elevation of 8500 feet. Flowered in January. —(Ibid., t. 5435.) Babkeeia Skinneki supeeba, a cool-house Orchid. — (Floral Mag., pi. 185.) Pompon Chktsanthemums — Firefly, Anemone-flowered, bright orange scarlet ; Viola, very double, violet lilac ; Lizzie Holmes, very double, canary-coloured. AU raised by Mr. Salter.— (ZMci, pi. 186.) CoccosTPSiLON DiscOLOB. — Nat. ord., Eubiaceae. Linn., Tetrandria Monogynia. Introduced as long since as 1793, but now re-introduced to notice as a very effective plant for hanging-baskets. It is so employed at Farnham Castle and Dangstein. It is a native of the temperate mountains of St. Domingo and Jamaica. Its blue, berry-like flowers are in clusters on its creeping stems. We recommend it as a basket plant, and quote the following from the "Floral Magazine : " — "We have been supplied, through the kind- ness of the Bishop of Winchester, with the following direc- tions as to its cultivation, by Mr. Lawrence, his Lordship's intelligent gardener : — ' It is,' writes Mr. Lawrence, ' as most of our most beautiful things are, very easily cultivated. I find from experience that diu-ing the summer months it win do better in a close greenhouse, near the glass, and fully exposed to the light and sun's rays than in a stove, as might be supposed from its being a native of the West Indies ; but on the approach of autumn it requires more heat, both to bring its flowers and its beautiftd ultramarine berries to perfection, — the latter lasting in their brilliancy dvuring the whole winter. It wUl thrive during the winter in any house where heat is used, such as a Cucumber or Pine-pit, or intermediate-house. The propagation, also, is very easy, as it grows equally fr'eely by seeds or cuttings. When planting it in the basket, I first line it with moss, then fill it up with an ordinary compost of loam, leaf mould, and sand ; when the plant begins to grow freely, I peg the 236 JOURNAL OP HOETICTTLTTIRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. t Miirch 22, 1861. shoots over the surface until it is thoroughly covered, then it win throw enough shoots over the edges to xaake a fine mass, otheiTvise it will look straggling and poor. ' " — {Hid., pi. 187.) Hybrid Pinks. — Striatiflorus, crimson flakes on rosy crimson ground ; Marie ParS, white ; Rosette, salmon pink. — {lUd., pi. 188.) CHRTSANTHEMinas. — Prince Alfred, pearly white tinged at the base with peach blossom ; Princess of Wales, rosy purple — both first-class flowers, brought out by Mr. Salter. — (Florist and Pomologist, ii., p. 49.) PEACH TEEE CULTURE. In open-air Peach-culture many things have to be con- tended against, and, like many other things even in general practice amongst professional men, opinions differ very greatly upon this subject; and the more it is kept before the public, the more likelihood is there of this important subject being thoroughly ventilated. Ever since I made my flrst acquaintance with Peach-culture, which was in the north of Scotland, I have had a deep impression on my mind that atmospheric influences are to a very large degree at the bottom of aU the failures to obtain good wood, without which, as the foundation of health and vigour, and consequently productiveness, no good results can be obtained. Where I obtained my fu'st lessons upon Peach-culture there was a Peach-house in the old style. A flue went round the house as the means of heating. Some trees were planted about a foot from the flue, in the front of the house ; these were trained backwards upon a low trellis, which almost formed a quarter of a circle. A few riders were planted against the back wall; and overhead, under each rafter, was a single Vine-rod. I never knew this Peach- house come short of a very fair crop of Peaches, and it like- wise yielded a very fair croj) of Grapes. These trees never attempted to throw up suckers from their roots, and no doubt this arose from the healthy atmosphere in which the trees were kept. In the same garden there were a few Peach trees close by this house, without any glass protec- tion. They were fastened to a trellis against the wall, and always presented a miserable look. Mildew seemed to be their constant companion, even with all the washings and syringings which were bestowed upon them, and yet their roots were active and healthy enough. We have on record much about the attempts which have been made in this country in order to cultivate the Vine in the open air, sometimes as a profitable speculation, at other times as a private experiment. Well, the question is. Do results justify a continuance of this practice as regards the Vine ? True, we have a few sorts of Vines which will, in favourable positions and in good seasons, yield some very creditable fruit; but because of this, who is there bold enough to advocate its general adoption as a means to supply the general demand for Grapes in private establish- ments, besides the ever-increasing demand which there is in London and elsewhere for hothouse Grapes ? Now, whether is the Peach tree or the Grape Vine a native of the warmest counti-y ? We are told the Peach is a native of Persia and its ac^joining covintries ; and is not the pre- sent race of our most delicious and useful Grape Vines natives of countries much colder than the subtropic, hot, and often arid Persia p And yet it has been conceded long ago, if we are to have a regular supply of good Grapes, and worthy of the name, we must build houses on puipose for them — even admitting the greater encouragement which there is to do this, arising principally from the accommo- dating qualities to position and circumstances which the Vine, it may be, has over evei-y other fruit-bearing tree. It may be said. Even with glass you cannot extend the season of Peaches to one-half the length of time which the very good Grapes are to be had. There can be no serious objection upon this point, as of course there would not be a corresponding amo\mt of expense. And, again, it is a vei-y short-sighted policy and argument (if argument it may be called), to set a Peach-house down as not convertible to any other use than Peach-culture alone. Why, in the majority of gardens, especially where flower-gardening has been en- tered upon with zest, where can plants for flower-garden decoration in summer be more conveniently sheltered and hardened-off, as it is termed, pi'eparatoiy for theii' summer situation ? While you are regulating your peachery as to air and moistm-e you are attending to the very things most conducive to the health and proper development of yom- flower garden, both agreeing well with the same treat- ment. I have no hesitation in saying it would soon repay any nobleman or gentleman in the course of a few years for the bringing forward and protection afforded to the flower-garden plants diu-ing the spring months, and this would more especially be the case where early effect is desir- able. From a Peach-house eight or ten thousand good plants in thi'ee or four-inch pots, such as will start right away at once might be kept. I have said eight or ten thousand plants, but many establishments throughout the country wiU turn out from three to six times as many in number ; and for want of proper convenience to bring these plants forward and to harden them off are obliged to resort to aU manner of conceivable makeshifts. To do this in a well- arranged Peach-house would not be the least injurious to the Peach trees, as by the time the Peach trees were in full leaf these plants would have made their growth, and, again, many of them would be able to be placed out of doors in favourable positions. I have spoken of Peach trees ; although often presenting a very unpromising look, yet, when their roots have been examined, they generally are found pretty good. In a garden where I was some years ago, they had a row of very high Elm trees at about 6 yards off behind the wall. Before I went there they coiUd not get the Peach trees to do well. I found those Elms had intruded their roots under the garden wall, and then rising up almost close by the wall to just imder where the Peach tree roots were, and at other places in this border these Elm roots were in quite a net- like mass |along just below where the spade dug down to ; of coxu'se, no Peach tree could do well while situated so. I had all the roots of the Elms cut, and got some of the trees down at one end, but the other portion were not permitted to be thus dealt with. I had some young Peach trees planted, and I kept lifting them every year during some time in winter for seven years. They had quite a web-like appearance of roots, nothing could be healthier. They had a very good border weU drained. . I covered or mulched their roots during the heat of summer, kept syringing them well, sometimes with weak tobacco water, and sometimes with weak manure water, whenever it was thought any of the small pest were Kkely to appeal, but with all my cai'e I was doomed to disappointment. I could obtain excellent roots, and by my Ufting them I secured their being near to the surface, so they might derive as much atmospheric influence as possible, and thus assist, as far as could well be done, the early and well ripen- ing of the young wood; but I am sorry to say I was often sadly grieved to witness all my care and anxiety of no avail, mildew and blister would sometimes in a few days lay fast hold upon several branches, then good-bye to fruitfolness. So long as I could manage to get any of the young trees to grow away pretty well, just so long would the stocks keep from throwing up suckers, and no longer. I tried some Peach trees in the same garden upon trellises at about 18 inches on the south side of the walk running in front of the Peach wall, and much the same results were obtained. One season, perhaps, they came off pi'etty well, but in general the next season following would make sad havoc upon them. Such disappointments and annoying results I have not yet witnessed take place under glass. — G. Dawson. "THE ILLUSTEATED BOUQUET." Pabts 16 and 17 of this very beautiftil sei-ial are fully equal to their predecessors, and ai'e creditable alike to the artist, Mrs. Withers, and the proprietors of the publication, Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son, Wellington Koad Nursery, St. John's Wood. We can but glance over the contents. Double dark-rosy Chinese Primrose, beautiful, and its flowers available from November to the end of Febinxary. Fuclisias. — Princess of Wales, sepals coralline red, coroUa violet blue ; Emblematic, sepals crimson, corolla lavender blue; Mademoiselle Tietjens, Uuroh 32, 18(4. ] JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEK. 237 sepals white, corolla bright rose — all specially adapted for conservatory decoration. NewBeddingPelargonivms. — Madame Kudersdorff, salmon margined with white ; Beauty, white with salmon centre ; Alexandra, magenta-tinted rose. New Pompon Dahlias. — Fireball, orange scarlet; Meteor, golden yellow; German Daisy, shaded rose; Fairy Child, crimson with white tips ; Crimson Dwarf, red crimson. These vary from li to 2i feet high. New Ixoras. — Acuminata, white and fragrant; Crocata Superba, salmon red. Alocasia Lowii, now so well known by its glossy bronzy-green leaves, and large white nerves. JEarly-floioenng Bedding Tulips. — A group accompanied by a very full list of them, olassiiied according to their colom-s, with directions for their culture. Methonica grandiflora and Plantii, the first yellow and the second orange red. Agapanthus wmbellatus albiflorus, white-flowered. Dip- ladenia Houtteana, flowers rose-coloured, and the whole plant slender and graceful, of twining habit, and suitable for pot culture in the stove. WOEK FOE THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. Have the edges of walks made good throughout ; and the walks themselves, if the gravel is of a loose texture, should be turned and raked about in dry weather, for the destruc- tion of weeds and moss. The operation of surface-stirring amongst advancing crops must be persevered in while the present dry weather continues. Asparagus, see that the ground is in readiness for this, as also for Sea-kale and Khubarb, which should be planted soon. These require a deep rich soil, which should be trenched 2 feet deep, with plenty of rotten manure well incorporated with the bottom spit. Indeed, the ground can hardly be made too rich, par- ticularly for Asparagus. This, when planted in well pre- pared SOU is very productive, yielding a vast quantity of fine, strong shoots every season; whereas if planted in poor, shallow soils, no after-attention in the way of surface-manur- ing and watering with manure water, will serve to secure first-rate heads, and it is so much esteemed in most families that the trouble or expense necessary to properly prepare the ground should not be complained of, particularly as beds well made last for many years. Beans, earth-up grow- ing crops, and continue sowing for succession. Broccoli, as the time for sowing the principal crops of winter and spring sorts, and also Greens, is now at hand, select, if possible, an open piece of ground, rather poor than rich ; let the seed be sown thinly, and when large enough to handle prick out on a similar soil. As the future growth of the Cabbage tribe depends much on not being drawn when young, some at- tention should be paid to this point when they are in a seed- ling state, for the best after-culture barely compensates for the first neglect. Celery, that sown early in boxes will soon want pricking-out. The old plan is very good — viz., some very rotten and mellow dung on a hard bottom. On this the plants, prioked-out 3 inches apart, wOl produce many fibres, and will remove with the trowel in balls with the most trifling amount of check. The chief reason why Celery " runs," is when sudden luxuriance is succeeded by sudden checks. The buttoning of the Cauliflower is also most pro- bably traceable to the same cause. Capsicums, pot oft' as soon as they are fit. Herbs, sow seeds of them and other vegetables that may have been omitted during former weeks. Eemove all litter and weeds. Earth-up early crops, strewing a little soot about them to prevent the attacks of slugs. Protect recently-sown seed from the ravages of birds by a covering of nets or twine. FLOWER GARDEN. Now that the ground is sufficiently dry, hardy annuals may be sown, and if judiciously distributed about the pleasure ground they will materially aid in its embellishment. IJightly fork and rake the surface soU of herbaceous borders to prevent the growth of weeds, and to give them a fresh, neat appearance. Make new plantations of Russian double blue and double white Violets ; for this purpose select the young runners, but give the preference to seedlings of the Eussian Violets,, they make stronger plants, and flower more abundantly than offsets. Eemove aU litter and covering that have been used for affording protection during the vrinter. Neatness should now be the order of the day. Bring speedily to a close the laying-down of turf, and the planting of deciduous and evergreen shrubs. FRUIT GARDEN. The season for disbudding fruit trees is fast approaching. The importance of this operation is generally acknowledged, and upon its proper performance mainly depends the pro- duction of clean healthy wood of proper quality. Ta,ke, for instance, a single branch of the Peach tree : when it first starts in the spring, if in a healthy fruit-bearing condition, it will throw out probably fifty wood-buds ; if the whole of these were left on, it is probable that some two or three of the leading shoots would take the lead, and, drawing all the nourishment to themselves, would become rank and over- luxuriant, whUst the remainder would be weak and the fruit small or abortive, hence the necessity and importance of disbudding. Supposing the trees to be operated upon to possess from eight to ten branches of young wood springing from the centre, the object proposed to be obtained is that the branches may not only elongate themselves to a greater circumference, but also produce healthy branches from the centre, and this is attained by removing at four different thinnings every shoot but the terminal one, and the one nearest the base on the upper side of the shoot ; if this were done all at once, the trees would be injured, but from being done at intervals, the shoots to be left acquire suffi- cient strength to absorb all the nourishment the trees can give, and the sap being thus equally distributed, no shoot wUl be able to take to itself an undue amount. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORT. During the continuance of cold easterly winds which we are now experiencing, air must be admitted with caution, opening the ventilators on the sheltered side of the house, and avoiding as much as possible the passage of cold drying currents over either plants in bloom or those commencing growth. Climbers beginning to push should after this time be frequently examined to prevent a confused growth; Ken- nedyas, if crowded, to have their shoots thinned. Ipomoeas and Thunbergias being subject to red spider should be well syringed to prevent that pest gaining ground. Continue a steady supply of heat and moisture to Azaleas out of flower. Sliift and stake out Cinerarias and herbaceous Calceolarias as they advance. Shift Camellias out of flower, and keep them warm. Shift Fuchsias and thin the branches ; put in cuttings of choice sorts. Heaths and New Holland plants to be regularly shifted as they advance, tie out and regulate the shoots. Propagate Pelargoniums for autumn flowering, shift them; stop and tie out the large plants. STOVE. Both heat and moisture may now be increased, and have shading in readiness to ward off sun-bursts which sometimes occur at this season. Shift Achimenes, Gesneras, Begonias, &c., and keep them in a moist warm situation ; fumigate regularly, and use all means to check the increase of insects. PITS AND FRAMES. The cold store-pits will now be in readiness to receive those plants which have been wintered in other structures, such as late vineries, &c. ; the only protection they wiU require now will be a slight covering with mats or straw covers. Those who do not possess pits of this description should form some with other materials, such as turf, which makes a durable and excellent substitute, or a few boards may be nailed together, or some stakes driven firmly into the ground, and others nailed to them in a horizontal position, against which dry fern or straw should be placed. W. Keane. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. The weather having dried the ground a little, took _ the opportunity to sow part of the main crop of Onions, chiefly White Spanish. The ground which had been used for Celery- beds was well cross-trenched, so as to divide the dung in the bottom of the trench, was then ridged, north and south some weeks afterwards, and when frosted was turned over again. A few days before sowing the ground was levelled, slightly dug over, and when well mellowed on the sm-face was- trodden and then raked ; diUls were di'awn 1 inch deep, and 10 inches apart, and when sown the seeds were covered with 238 JOUKNAL OF HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ March 22, 1864. rather dry soil riddled. This came from beneath the polting- bench, and some soot and rather mild lime were mixed with it. This covering would not have been necessary if the gBOund had been di'y enough for covering nicely ; but it was rather wet and cloggy for the pui'pose, and in such a case the dry covering prevents the seeds being smothered up from air, whilst the moist ground beneath will give the seeds moisture enough to swell them, and bring on the ger- minating process. The sealing-up seeds, as it were, in wet, stiff soil, is one reason why many good seeds never ger- minate. Where such slight diy covering cannot be given, it is sound policy to wait until the ground is in first-rate order. There need be no pai-ticular hurry. Some of our best Onion crops were sown in the end of March. The back of a rake drawn over the ground left all in good order. A great point in good culture would be gained, especially in heavy land, if we would ever remember that in such land, when potched by working when wet, neither air nor water win pass fi-eely through it for that season, whilst if worked di-y the water fi-om rains, however heavy, will pass fi-eely through it, and leave its nourishing properties behind. Took the same opportunity to sow the main crop of Parsnips, and a piece of Early Horn Carrots. The Parsnip seeds were set in patches 7 inches apart, in rows 13 inches apart, and the Carrots a little thicker in the rows. We think the placing ii-om three to five seeds in a patch permits of moving the soil about the young plants, and thinning them to one plant in a patch more easily than when they are sown regu- larly along the row. The Hollow-crowned and the Student Parsnip produce, perhaps, the largest roots, and these will come straight in old, rich garden soil, where CaiTots, except the Early Short Horn, would be apt to come crooked and forked.^ This ground was trenched three spits deep, the poor soil at the bottom being brought to the top, ridged to make it mellow, and a lot of burnt'clay and charred refuse thrown over it. This was in better order for sowing than the Onion ground, and, therefore, needed little extra dry stuff for covering. Planted out some Potatoes that were previously sprung ; also, a piece of antumn-sown Onions, besides the piece of Onions sown, planting them about 5 or 6 inches apart in the row. These are taken up carefully with all the roots possible, and are dibbled in so as to catch the roots, but scai-cely a bit of the neck of the Onion. Thus treated they bulb much better than those left where they were sown. We have obtained large bulbs earlier by leaving the Onions where sown ; but scraping the earth away from the necks. The transplanting, however, we consider the best plan. Those sown early in September, owing to the mildness of the first part of the winter, are too large to do much good in the way of bulbing, but they will come in well for some time for some sorts of soup, for which bulbed Onions are seldom used, if young ones can be had, even if long necks. Sometimes when young Onions were scarce in winter, we have put large bulbs in a little heat, and as they grew stripped the scaUions to the necessary size. We recollect a gentle- man saying that he never tasted such beautiful Onions for salad, they were so sweet and mUd. In such a case we do not think a little deception at all vfrong. Started also the remainder of the Slmllots not likely to be wanted for use. In such a case we take a well stm-ed piece of ground, fii-m it on the surface, draw shallow di'ills 10 inches apart — say half an inch deep, break the bulbs into their separate parts, fix them in the drills 4 inches apart with the thumb and fingers, and then cover the lower part of the bulb, and sprinkle over all with a little soot and Ume to prevent worms, &o., pulling them out. So treated they wUl thrive on the stiffest gi'ound. Put more Sea-hale in the Mushroom-house, and placed some pots and boxes on some rows out of doors with a little litter over them, just to keep the frost from the pots. It may also be obtained very early vrithout forcing, by placing mounds, 8to 12inehe3 deep, of ashes, &c., over the crowns, and cutting the shoots when from 6 to 8 inches in length. Wlien the ashes are thrown up a little they may want firming around the plant to prevent the light entering and greening the produce. Not but that the green heads, or green and white arc not good, or even the green flowers a delicacy worthy of an epicure, but so long as the produce is prefen-ed white, it must not be sent to table gi-een. Put, also, some Ehubarb-roots on the floor of a vinery, and wUl also put a hand-light over some to forward them out of doors, as other- wise the markets in the little towns round here would be inundated with Ehubarb fi-om London and farther south- wai-ds before we should have it naturally many inches above the ground. Gave abundance of air to early Potatoes, Peas, and Beans, some on turves for transplanting ; run three cotton threads fastened to sticks 2 inches above the rows of Peas just coming through the ground, which seem as yet to frighten the bu'ds from pulling them up. Saw some trace of mice, and sunk some pots half filled with water, and a little grease rubbed inside the pot an inch from the rim, as recommended by a correspondent the other week, but as yet have had no mice drowned. Perhaps the eight of the water has scared them. We have caught them the same way in houses, by sinking bell-glasses mth a little water at the bottom, and slightly covered v/ith scorched chaff. FKUIT GAKDEN. Finished most of the pruning out of doors, and dug between the bushes in most of the small fruit-quarters. Those near a tanyard will find no plan better for keeping the caterpillars from Gooseberries, than placing a layer of fresh tan round the bushes ; this seems to settle all the hordes in their incii^ieut state of growth. In default of this, we have found it to be a good plan to scrape the soil all round the bushes 2 or 3 inches deep, into a ridge between the rows, fork over the ground thus scraped, and add a little more from the trench in the centre ; if this scraped-off ridge is well buried, from 15 to 18 inches deep, it wUl pretty well settle aU that may have life. Applied some thin paint made of clay, cowdung, soot, and lime, and laurel water, to help to keep the birds from the buds, and we shall be tempted to try threading the bushes over. Some Pear trees have pretty well had every bud picked off. A lean-to orchard house did so well that we can hardly let well alone, but want to see how we could manage a few late Grapes planted out in it. We have therefore taken out a trench in front, nearly 4 feet wide, extra drained it, and filled with fresh sod, and v/ill plant so thinly as not to in- terfere much with the standards, &c., on the floor of the house. With large squares of glass, and a common amoxmt of sunshine, there need be no want of heat in summer and autumn, and provided air is given early, the strong heat will do little in the way of scorching or burning. In cold northern districts, we should decidedly prefer lean-to to span- roofed houses ; but, in respect to both, we believe that much is yet to be learned by us as to making the sun do most of the heating work, whether we have a simple means of heating or not. We should certainly object to the name of orchard- house being retained, if supplied with any regular system of heating. Such a house is then a forcing-house, however constructed. We are in hopes that we shall conquer the brown aphis or beetle this season, though it is yet too soon to say much about it. Eelative to insects, a correspondent wishes to know why we put sulphur among clay paint for washing Vines, Peaches, &c., if we merely wish to clog up the eggs of insects; and he says that he has seen red spider as hearty and active among sulphur, &c., as if there was nothing on the shoots whatever. Well, we must say that so have we ; and so far as the killing of insects is con- cerned, we do not believe that powdered stilphur has any effect whatever when at a temperatur'e not higher than oxu^ common atmosphere. One use, however, of sulphm- is that it is one of the best antidotes against all kinds of mildew, and even on this account it is worthy of a place in such mixtures. To act injuriously or unpleasantly on animal or insect life the fumes must be raised from sulphur by heat, and that heat must not approach the burning point of sulphur, or all vegetable life will likewise suffer : we shoidd never like to have a higher heat given to it than 160° to 170° when it was at all fresh. Have hot-water pipes below rather than above that heat, and sulphur mixed ■with water at that tem- perature wUl send off fumes distasteful to all insect life. Thus it is that for warding off red spider the painting of the top of the back wall of a lean-to house and other parts directly exposed to the sun will do far more, in unison with a moist atmosphere, to keep off rod spider than any pointing of stems and leaves with the sulphur. Painting the back of March 22, 1861. JOURNAL OF EOETIOULTTTKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 239 frames -mth a mixture of sulphur and a little soot and size will also be useful in keeping Jlelons and Cucumbers clean. When once the rod spider gets hold it is very difficult to eradicate without injuring the crops. You may kill no end, but there will be fresh generations produced to mock you. We have sometimes thought that even burnt sulphur that settled the plants did not kill the insects ; but in many cases closer inspection confirmed us in the opinion that most, if not aU, of those we noticed alive had come into the world after the fumes of the sulphur had become weak. The vast numbers of the generations of these insects, thrips, aphides, &c., are frequently overlooked when we find fault with some general recipe not being effectual. First let green fly get a-head, and you may smoke at;d kill every one then alive, and yet in a few days you may have plenty more. Washed a few shoots in Peaoh-house with quassia water, made by boiling a quarter of a pound of chips in a gallon of water, for killing- a little green fly that had made its appear- ance. The same chips may be boiled several times. Tliis liquor when used is as clear as pm-e water, and very bitter. At an eighth part of that strength it might be nsed mode- rately as a stomachic, and is supposed to form an ingredient in bitter beer, instead of an extra quantity of hops. We should think it as effectual for green fly as tobacco water weals:, and not so unpleasant to handle. Disbudded Peaches, regulated Vines, shifted Strawberries in pots, &c. OKNAMENTAL GAKDEN. Planted out a number of Gladioli that had begun to move, placing them in trenches about 6 inches deep, firming them in a layer of sand and leaf mould, and covering up carefully. Others will be planted as they shoot. In looking over the bulbs toot off any smaU bits : if these are not larger than peas, and are set in shallow drills in the reserve ground, they wiU. make tidy bulbs before the end of the season. Some changes and alterations in the pleasure ground must be delayed until the grass is fij-mer and drier. The same must also be the case as respects what remains to be done with herbaceous plants. As soon as time and weather permit will have all the edgings of beds, borders, and walks cut straight. This renders them easy to clip and cut for the season. No raw edging, however, should be long seen. Commence hardening-off all plants under protection as soon as possible. We are having a lot of prunings, &c., burning, so as to biu-n a lot of earth, clay, and char a lot of small rubbish. As soon as that is done and the ground is a little drier, we shall commenae turning out our Calceolarias from the striking-pit into earth pits. We generally make up a heap of this burnt rubbish, leaf mould, and light loam, and it is thus made comfortably warm. When planting in rows we place a little of this along the rows and the roots, give a little warm water, and then finish with the common soil on the top. The little warmth sets the roots a-running directly. Many are now in trouble how to thin their small houses of bedding plants, and perhaps have some scores of pots fuU of little cuttings all struck, for which they have no room were they to plant or pot singly, and yet they will occasion no end of bother if kept in pots as they are. The best plan under the circumstances is to water the pots well the day before, and then turn them out into a temporary bed with the balls pretty well entire, but surrounded with an inch or two of rough leaf mould and sandy loam. The roots wOl run nicely into this; and at planting-out time you may divide your plants, each well supplied with fresh roots, and demanding from this time to the middle of May a minimum of the attention they would have required when in pots. In mere cold temporary pits they will also do better than if planted out separately, as that might give too great a check just now. Of course all bedding plants thus turned out must be protected from frost. As often stated, but for the price, next to glass, the best thing is calico. Prigi domo is aU very well, but it soon rots, and then it does not let so much light through as unbleached caJico, as the brownest of it soon gets bleached, and in its natural state we believe it lasts longer than whan dipped or steeped in some composition for preserving it But for the appeaiauce we believe we often paiut wood to cause it to decay all the sooner. _ We must get on with Verbena cuttings, thinning Gera- niums, &c., as fast as we can, when other work will let us get at them. Now, we could use more than double our con- veniences and strength, and must cram a little, such as putting little pots on the surface sou of lai'ge ones. It was by such means and no end of attention and labour that our late lamented coadjutor, Mr. Beaton, filled the large flower garden at Shrubland, when the glass houses there were small in extent compared to what they are now. Will get Dahlias on the floor of a Peach-house or a vinery at work, to bring them a little earlier. A correspondent wishes to know how he can get a lot of dwarfs, crimson, yellow, and purple, as Zeliuda, with the least trouble, and with no help but his greenhouse. Well, as fine rows as we ever saw were thus managed. The tubers were placed near the flue in the green- house, and covered slightly with leaf mould in the middle of March, and being damped with water at about 70°, soon began to push their buds and shoots. By the beginning of April the tubers were all out up into pieces, each having a shoot an inch in length, or so, attached. A hard piece of ground was procured, an inch or two of leaf mould thrown on it, and the roots of the Dahlias, with one or more shoots each, were placed regularly over it from 3 to 5 inches apart, 6 or 7 inches of rough leaf mould and loam were then thrown over them, and by the middle of May the points of the Dahlias were appearing above the surface, and each lifted up with a ball of roots attached ready to go anywhere. Pro- ceeded with shifting Fuchsias, greenhouse, and stove plants as we could get at them. Some of the Fuchsias just budding will go into the second vinery, some into the cold vinery, and others into the cold shed which can be shut up. From all the old soil will be mostly shaken away. If the soil had been dry the roots wiU be soaked before potting. This is better than watering much the new soil before the roots are running freely into it. In flne days extra evaporation fr-om the young shoots is best prevented by a syringing, instead of much watering. A window gardener told us the other day his Fuchsias were moving, but all the young leaves dropped as soon as formed. The soil was waterlogged like a marsh. The plants ought to be turned out of their pots, the ball worked in a tub of water with the hands until all the earth is gone, the roots pulled through and stood five minutes in clear water, and then potted in much smaller pots, weU drained, using sandy loam. In a week the new rootlets will be working and the new leaves stand up, with the help of a sprinkle of water from a clean hair brush in a sunny day, and, in three weeks or a month the plants may get a lai-ger pot and richer compost to bloom in. When plants have stood rather dry all the winter, but not so dry as to injure the plants, the soil wfll come away freely and not injtire the roots. Even in their case dipping in water is better than saturating the new soil at first. The following as respects potting are essential to success: — See that the roots are moist, and if a ball is retained that the ball is moist before repotting. Give such plants a closer and a warmer atmo- sphere until growth is progressing freely, and neither over- water nor shade, if a skiff from, the syringe will prevent flagging.— E. F. TEADE CATALOGUE EECEIVED. Ambroise Verschaffelt, Eue du Chaume, 50, Ghent, Bel- guim. — Catalogue of New Plants, Stove and Ch'eenhxnise Plants^ COVENT G-AEDEN MAREJ3T.— Maech 19. In consequence of the fine weather the supply of vegetables i3 excellent, and the demand is also good. Greens are good and plentiful; Radishes have come in from Cornwnll, and consignments of Broccoli ft'om the same quarter are kept up. White Paris Cos Lettuce of excellent quality are araong the importations from France, and are bringing from 6d. to Srf. each. Endive, Radishes, &c., are also sent in sufficient quantity for the demand. Some good dessert Pears are still to be had, though both these and Apples are scarce. Forced Strawberries have begun to make their appearance.. Cut flowers are the same as last week; some fine Roses, however, are now to bo had. FETJIT. 8. d. s. d 0 te4 0 Apples ^ sieve 2 Apricots doz. 0 0 0 0 Figs doz. 0 • 0 0 Filberts &NutslOO lbs. 0 0 0 0 Grapes, Hothouse. ...lb. 15 0 25 » Foreign 16 2 0 Muscats 0 0 0 0 Lemons 100 4 0 10 0 Melons each 0 0 0 0 Nectarines «,. 0 Oranges 100 4 Peaches 0 d. s. 0 too 0 10 Pears bush. dessert ^ sieve Pine Apples lb. Pomegranates each Strawberries oz. Walnuts .bush. 14 240 JOTJRNAIi OF HOETICUXTUEB AJTD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ March 22, 1861. VEQETABLES. AsparagTis handle £^□8, Broad bush. Kidney 100 Beet, Red doz. Broccoli bundle Brussels Sprouts J sieve Cabbage doz C&4)sicums . d. 0 to 0 0 0 0 0 Carrots bunch Caidiflower doz. Celery bundle Cucumbers each Endive score Fennel bunch Garlic and Shallotj^, lb. Herbs bunch Horseradish ... bundle ,100 0 0 14 0 0 0 3 0 1 6 •2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 8 0 2 0 5 0 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 Leeks buooh. Letaace doe. Mushrooms pottle Mu.^td. & Cress, punnet Onions iiushal pickling quart Parsley bunch Pursnips doz. Peas.« bush. Potatoes sack Kadiehes doz. bunches Khubarb bundle Sa,voy8 doz. Sea-kale basket Spinach sieTQ Tomatoes ^ sieve Turnips bunch 8, d. s. d 0 4 to 0 0 1 TO CORRESPONDENTS, %* We request that no one wiU m-ite privately to the de- partmental writers of the " Journal of Horticultui-e, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All commimications should therefore be ad- dressed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticul- ture, L^'-c, 162, Fleet Street, London, E.O. We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them answered promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once. N.B. — Many questions must remain unanswered until next week. National Auricula Shot [H. C. Kingston), -"Y^ixb is to be held at the Itoyal liotamc Society's Exhibition, on April 30th. Schedules and all par- ticulars can be had on applicntiun to Mr. John Douglat, Duvygate, Yurk. DiLLisTONE's EiRLT Pea (5. Libbey).-li is a full week earlier than i^amei u Kourke. We have no pods of it, but any London ieedsman can supply you. * ■' VEaBTABLE KiifQuoM {J. C.).— Without any information relative to the auaience, nor any as to your own acquirements, itis useless for us to advise you concerning a theme so vast. *v^**/^",^^ KAMnuRQH Vine for a Stock ( TT. £■.).— We have no faith in the Golden Hamburgh for a stock for any Grape. Consequently, if you nave a Hamburgh growinff on either side of it, we would recommend you to remove the Golden Hamburgh, and bring away a shoot from the Ham- Durgn, and inoreh the AUcanteon to it, putting green wood to Kreen. If you aave not a Uamburch near the gap you want to fill up with AliCAute, any is the best°^ ** Preferable to Golden Hamburgh, but Black Hamburgh Geometric Flower Gardens {A Itecmt SubBcnher).- In the back volumes of tbis Journal, and iti "Flower Gardening for the Many" pub- nsnea at our oflioe, there are more plans than can be found elsewhere. There is no especial work on such plans. J^IZ^'J'r'^ ^^°,'^''^'^'°'' (^- -^■» AmaUur).-U is not propagated by ^nlr^H f 'l " K ^^^^- '^'^'^ '« innerted under a flap of the bark on the ?nfl fhl . ?. ?'' ''i^"*'^ ""^ "'^ ^PP'« ^'■«. The flap is cut in this shape A. ^««f nt\ ? P^^^'^ ''"^^•" '^- ^"^ ^^^^^^ attention is needed. Probably ou most other trees, except those with rcBinous sap, the Mistletoe would thrive. au"onra^R;''*^A'*^'' ^%*" ^\^- -^■* -Dor.-.r).-We presume your beds are lr:^J\.l: ^f ^^^" ^^^"^ ^^^ ^ouse there seems to be a want of balancing, ^^MhpTf/" '■°°'"'.^':^*^ ''^'■^ ^'^'^^ connection between your centre of wfu w?en^I«n;r.^ ' V ^^°f I'*^''^^ ^'^^^'^ ^^^'°- ^^^ doubt they will look paaa ^fantJ iw^^^^^ J"'^^ f?'^'" ^^'^^ '^^"^^^ ^^ '^^ ^^nf? ^"11 look well, two twnwF/h In n\ ^T- ^''"™'' Geranium, and Lobelia as edfiing, and srDarata th.Tr^^^'f '"'''"' .'"i* ^'^^^'"^ ^' "-^^ins. Of the four circlf; tbat Planting win ni ' '^"'^'^r t,eds from each other, we do not think the Cesebfdsw ii^fr^^T^ because, beinff mainly tilled with dwarf Roses, these beds will look shabby from Au-ust. when the other beds are at their FlowPr nf f-h!, ^^''^°^^ edgiufrs you propose, we would do two of them with samrthrnnVh Ph^^'p''''^ ^T "^'f^ ^'J^" Geranium, and place some of the dir^?.l tF *^° ^?'*'': ^""^ ^"^ *^' you will the Roses will mar the late if tw;=^r^^'''''i^ ^^ much better placed in two of the out.ide clumps Tito twnLV"°°'" ^o'",''^em elsewhere, such as at 15, which you could make Tn Vom Z ''^V'''^^^' ^'''^'- '^'^'^ ^e^t Of the plantins will do very well. Ti^Tfthl^ 'f^ arrancement of 15 yellow Calceolaria .would be better ?h?n von SSV'^i' ^^""'.^ ^ ''';■'' Calceolaria. If you adopted our sugpo^tion r^r^J might also alter the narrow ribbon-border thus :~Delphiuium if Zr P' [^1' Scarlet Lobelia, P.rilla, Flower of the Day nest the g^s^ advise vonl°L'*i"'''.K^''*' '''"''^ ^"^ ^'•^»^' ^^-^"Sli not rooted, we would hlndliJh^n fL-^'''"r"P ""'^ P^''^*"^ '^^"^ '^ light sandy soil under a likP fi M • ^^"yt^!"^ of tl"»t kind, and then you could give all the air you mkht Ji^ P r^liH:**^.^''^ "^''^'=^' «'■ ^f yo^ ^^"^ no gla.s to spare you D .ilS^ .f slight hotbed, take the box and light from the Calceolarias. iHpn ,7 r 1" "^^^ "n***^' *='*"co, or any other means on cold nights, and A HKil k"^ [^l^^ ^'^'^ ^0"'*^ '^old a lot more plants than your Caloeolarias. ^ iitue neat below is as useful now as it ia worse than useless in autumn. ffrownV "^'^ORr.y, ff.). -This, commonly known as Duckweed, may bo wlfrh « J ' . y sowing it on a piece of sphagnum merely made dirty haH frr.^ 1^° ot loam and peat, and kept near the surface. Plants can bo 30fid r^Vhi""^*^ ""'^ Btagnant pools in aummer, but we do not know where Boea can oe procured. Vauiovs, &c. {£. S.). — You are right as to Perkins* heating; and, there- fore, before the open-air pipe was thoui^ht ^bout the small pipes in i*erkin6* ejstem were made very strong for their size, so as to permit of a great amount of hoat and pressure. All the best gardeners now, however, would rather hare jplency of piping and the pipes not too hot. The vary luxuriance of the Myrtles is the most likely raason why they do not bloom. If they have abundanse ot light and air, and heat in summer and autumn, they will be sure to bloom either on short, stumpy wood, or on shoots the growth of the present suasoa. Perhaps the Mnest Myrtles ever seen covered the iront of ihe mansioii of Mount Edgecumbe. They were spurred closo in every spring, leaving only a bud or two of last year's wood, and ihe young shoots produced dunog summer were a in iss of bloom. The want of flowering in pots is cluctly owiug to want of sua and light. Me. Cranston's Syst^-h {An Amd/eur SubscrHter ab Initio). — We have not seen tha system of the architect you mention in operation, but have no doubt it will answer if properly utcecded to. Your arrangement would be right enough. Camellia;?, .■Vcacias, .Ec., would do against the walls in the cool house, and Oranges, Leiiious, Psidium.-;, Ac, in ihat of the warmer house. Wo shall be glad to bi more explicit when we better know your wants. UKLiOTiNo BfiDniNo Plants froit a House [A SHhscrihn-).—l{ the plants are stroug they may be planiud separately 3 inches apart in a bed composed, for 3 or -i inches, oi ligut lurly loam und leal mould. If rather small we prefer turning ihem out iu lUiii^js, and then dividing aa we plane out. These would be better if under glass covering'* uatil the end of March. After that anything comatubie would do, as calico. Irigi-domo, mats, wooden or asphalt shutters at night, itead "Doings of the Last Week," and you will fliid much to suit you. Failure of Vines {A Constant Keader).~-\VQ tbink from your de- scription that tha failure is attributable to the inefficient heating of the houbc, and ihu cold condition of the border. In aduiiion to placing some leaves and duug on the border, it should have been renewed before the heat decliued. Tlie llaggiug of the Vines with sun is attributatile to the cold state of the border, an i the low temperature kept in the house. Your heating apparatus must be woefully wrong, and the glazing of your house a specimen oi bad workmanship. You must have these delects rectifled before you can dj uuy good with forcing Vines. We sliould train a young ehoot iro:n the bottom, and cut away the old cane, aud so obtain a strong well- ripeaed cane before autumn. Tobacco Smoke {E. 5., i!ile; nt-ilher sbuuld liens, A little straw, in a Kiipht hollow on the prouitd. v: all t!int if. necessary, and rt sod at the b'Jtrom is uii impiovemetit. A ceop or box turned over Uio heu protects her Ironi interference nr aiino^an -e. Iloth hen and chickens require dust — indeed thciy e;uUiOt do without it. Co^U-ashes are not so pood as wood- ashe>:. The l:itter are as tine as flour, but the former are made up of lans'ible mid sharp p;irciclcs. J'Mnc road dust is good. If ihe chickena have ariiticial floorin;? to run upon ihcy shnuld be muved. They should be on the ground in a <;i y place ; and it Uiis bo done, and the dust suppliedi there will he no more vermin. East Indian Drake's r.iu. (/?. X.).— The bill of u black drake must not be bright yell'sw, und should ho us uurk a» prssible. It is prenerally like a yellow washed with soot. The duck't; bill should bs black. You m^iy, if you will, bind parchment round ihn llrst Bis feaihers of each wing tightly and sew it. or ytm may pas- h th'e >i{ thrnURh eacii of the feathers and tie them tightly. This is no injury lo bird or leather, and prevents flight in a great meusure. Pnicic OF Fowls (A. K. C).— If the birds were very young, they should have broujiht jou a h'.r^e price. From their weight we Phould fear they weic too old for the London market. November and December birds wcigliing, being fattened, from 2 lu 3 lb;i. each, readily make 4s. each in Leiidcnh,ill market. The imperative m.'ces?;ty for the London market is absoluie youth ; it covlis uumy cetceis. To mate gooa prices the age muftbel.om twelve to eii.'lueeu weeks. AusTR.^MAN' GitAss Parociuet [7*. Z.). — TTe cmnot recommend any bcttL-r irtaiment lor the bir