rm \m'f% il^.* m ^ . ^ 7 ) 3 ^'.■' '\\A '-. ■•■ift. ■my -J S^^m - ^ V ' ^^>^\ ^^ X \ fQ/u !^^^^^^^^' J r ^'^,' V rc^ ^ ^■jiAMjSjS' ^t j&^. '^/^y r ■'A •/"■■ \t&\^i v.,^. \0OAn. '^^ 'm^^^m. ^^% \ C AN :/^f^'^^l ■'^.o "^nri;^' «l>«1^iE«E%Ki ^nnnnn^^ ^-;.^fn^y ^-^^ THE JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE. COTTAGE GARDENEE, Asn COUNTRY aENTLEM^lSr. A MAGAZINE OF GAEDENING, RURAL AND DOMESTIC ECONOMY, BOTANY AND NATURAL HISTORY. CONDUCTED BY GEORGE W. JOHNSON, E.R.H.S., and ROBERT HOGG, LL.D. THE FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDENS, by Mr. J. Robson, Gardener to Viscount Holmcsdfile, M. P.. Linton Park; and Mr. T. Weaver, Gardener to the Warden of Winchester College. THE FLOWER GARDEN, by Mr. G. Abbey. Stansty HaU ; and Mr. J. Wills, Gardener at Huntroyde Park, Burnley. STOVE, GREENHOUSE, and WINDOW GARDEN, by Mr. R. Fish, Gardener, Putteridge Bury, near Luton. FLORISTS' FLOWERS AND FLORICULTURE, by the Rev. H. H. Dombrain. GARDENING CALENDAR, by Mr. William Keene. POULTRY-KEEPING, by Mr. J. Baily, Rev. W. W. Wingfield, E. Hewitt, EBq., and other well-known contributors. BEE-KEEPING, bv H. Taylor, Esq.; T. W. Woodbury, Esq.; " B. & W. ; " and Mr. S. Bevan Fox. HOUSEHOLD ARTS, by the Authoress of "My Flowers," and others. LIBRARY NEW YORK BOTANICAL CiAkDEN. VOLUME X., NEW SEHIES. VOL. XXXV., OLD SEBIES. LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE PROPRIETORS, 171, FLEET STREET. 1866. 9ou>. , Y^Ks- mc LONDON : PEIKTED AT THE JOnENAL OF HORTICULTURE OFFICE, 171, FLEET STREET. TO OUR READERS. We have seen a ballad, whetlier a plagiary of "Chevy Ohaco," or "Chevy Chace" a plagiary of it, we leave to your determination — for you will recollect how often the ancients have robhed and forestalled us — saying things we should have said, and doing things we should have done, had they not thrust themselves in before us. The ballad begins thus — " CtocI prosper long our noblo Queen, Our flowers, and fruits, and all, A Show of which was lately seen, Called ' International.' Sir Wentworth, sturdy knight, was there ; Sir Daniel, brisk was he ; And Moore, and Hogg, and Masters too. Each busy as a bee." The ballad then in detail, fuller than this brief page will admit, proceeds to enumerate the floral forces marshalled under various leaders — " Proud Orchids led by Veitch, were there, And Eoses, led by Paul ; Azaleas by Turner — but We cannot name them all." The hard then changes the scene to the Guildhall, describes the feast, and goes on to observe — " The banquet o'er — the guests all gone — The servitors away — And aching heads bemoaned next morn What stomachs did that day." The ballad does not, as might be expected, there close, but goes on to record a conversation that took place when all was quiet between Gog and Magog. The latter was unable to make out who the guests were. " Lean men they were, and men of sense, With appetites so small ; Some German talk'd, and some talk'd French — Aldermanic not at all." Gog, however — evidently a better informed Giant, and certainly a good judge— enlightens his brother, and explains who everybody was. Amongst others " The Cottage GAnDENsn was here — Or Gardenees I should say : Its staff 's a legion world-wide spread. And its Editors are tway." Gog then pays us campliments which would turn our ink rud to print, concluding, as we will, with this mingling of the true and the prophetic — ' " Our masters read it — almost all : 'Tis Copeland's ' Tuesday's treat ;' Ani Mechi has it yearly down In his fam'd ' balance-sheet.' He says, ' It 's better ev'ry year, Its volumes thirty-four ; And, Gumming being once more wrong. They 'U be as many more.' " INDEX. .\berdeen PoiTLTay Show, 36,58 Acacias— for pot-culture, 229 ; pubea- cena not flowerinft, 316; dealbata unhealthy, 353 Achillea Clavennrp, 389 Achiinenes— seedlmKs, 12; culture, 41 Ai-'rides odoratuni ttpotted, 316 jEschynanthus splendens, culture of, 353 Air-givinff, 149, 407 Alocasia metallica culture, 333 Allotment pardeninK. prizes for, 286 Amaryllis seedlincB, 12 Amarantbus tricolor, 289 American plants exhibited, 432, 484 Amheratianobili8,219, 240; flowering, 161 Ammonia water in vinery, 424 AnaectocbiluB Dominii, 133 Andalueian fowls, 176 Annuals— for border, 72; a few good, 177: sowing, 207; to bloom in Au- gust, 263 ; half-hardy, sowing, 315 Anteunaria margaritacea and tomen- to33, 389 Antipodes, horticultural exhibition at. 105 Ant3 — banishing, 133 ; in orchard- bouse, 249; black, to drive away, 353 ; in flower-pots, 446 Apbelexia culture, 199 Aphis, brown, destroying, 331 Apples— trees insected, 73 ; cntting for grafting. 132 ; in orchards, 357 ; fruit gathered in January, H5 ; pips sow- ing. 94; stocks for, 124; list of, 132: Caivillo Blanche, 140; Newtown and Paradise Pippins, 228; Pommier de Paradis as a stocky 124, 255 ; on Pear stocks, 264; merits of stocks for, 369 ; on French Paradise, 270 Apricots— pruning, 316 ; not fruiting, 370 Aquatic plants for out of doors, 386 Arctotis argentea, 389 Artemisia argentea, 389 ArticbokeSj 462 Ash— training a weeping, 207 ; Black, 366 Asparagus— beia, 51; salt for, 296; for London market, 133; culture, 204 Asters in pots, 445 Aucuba — ^^laponica fruited as a dinner- table plant, 27 ; berries, sowing, 113; japonica variegata. 125 Auriculas, 123; Gem and King of the Crimsons, 440 Aylesbury drakes, distinguishing, 120 Azaleas— watering foliage. 12 ; list of, 95 ; growing prLinaturely, 133 ; now hybrid, 160; repotting. 264; tbrips on, 264 ; management of, in a room, 409; after blooming, 444; at the International Horticultural Exhi- bition, 454 ; cuttings, 462 Bala-phool, 247 Balsam, hints on culture of, 239 Bank, Roses and Laurels on. 32 Banquet at the Guildhall, 401 Bantams— overfed, 40; breeding Se- bright. 20; Game. 95, 134, 153, 172, 191, 209, 230; with Cochins, 266" Russian, with Creve Coeurs, 800. rearing Black, 374; lalling back- wards, 388 Barleymeal as food for fowls, 412 ^ Barometer, a natural, 454 i^ Baskets on a lawn, 27d JS Basswood, 366 M. Batemannia graudifiora, 2S7 Bath and 'West of England Society's Poultry Show, 446, 484 Banhinia tomentosa clabra, 125 Beds— planting circular, 8; plants for, 353 Bedding out, 207 ; plants, wintering, 85 ; notes on, 257 Bedding plants, white, 370 Bees— ''B. & W.'b" apiary, honey harvest, 19 ; dysentery, pollen-ga- thering on Chri8tmas-B Carnations, transplanting, 54 Ceanothus pruning, 446 Cedar, white, 866 ; ofGoa, 370 Cedronella cauariensis. 317 Celery— on damp soil, 132: liquid ma- nure for, 370 ; planting, 460 Centaureaa, 389 Cerastium tomentosum ani Bieber- steini, 339 Ceropegia sororia, 365 Chamber under glass structure, 112 Chamcranthemum Beyiichii var. va- riegata. 125 Cherries, 490 ; grub-eaten, 278 ; netting for, 317 ; at Canterbury, New Zea- land, 344 Chcilantlies odora culture, 346 Chickens— marking, 234, 448; hatch- ing, 234; dj-ing, 282; during cold weather, 374 Chimney, one for two houses, 248 Chimonauthua fragrana in pots, 153 Chrysanthemums— lona, John Salter, 125; Pompone, 257; new, 359 Church, heating a, 247 Chum, zinc in, 282 Cinerarias— without petals, 72 ; seed- lings, 170 ; attacked by aphides, 279 ; culture, 337 ; maritima culture, 206, Cirencester Poultry Show, 387, 410 Citron trees unhealthy, 32 Clay soil, improving, 32 Clerodendron ThomsouEe culture, 132 ClianthuB Dampieri, var. marginata, 67 Cochin-Chinas — cock's comb, 20; vul- ture hocks in, deficient in size, 39; vulture-hocked, 59, 80, 119; excres- cence in comb, 82 ; scaly legged ,212 : black, 212 ; Butf, 234 ; not laying, 300 ; pullet nesting, 374; eggs unfertile, 412 Cockatoo picking its feathers, 448 Cocks, deficiency of. 300 Cocoa-nut fibre, 248 ; exhaustion of supply, 345 ; refuse, 462 ; as a mulch, 833 371 Coleua Verschaffelti for bedding, 278 Coltsfoot, destroying, 870 Columbarian Society's Exhibition, 79 Combs, trimming, 39, 80 Compasses, beam, 259 Compost for flower garden, 455 CouRTess, Botanical, 397 ; M. De Can- dolle'B addiess, 398 Conservatories— at Kew and Chats- worth, 53; management, 54 ; plants for back wall of, 95, 353 ; plants for piers and walla of, 229 ; climbers lor, 481 Corktree, transplanting, 11 Cork and South of Ireland Poultry Show, 38 Covent Garden Market, 11, 32, 52, 71, 111, 131, 150, 169, 187, 205, 227, 247, 262, 277, 295, 316, 332, 853, 370, 886, 408, 424, 445, 461,481 ; measures at, 72 Cramp iu fowls, 20 Cream Cheese. 336 Creve Cceur— fowls, 334 ; chickens, 448 Crocuses sparrow-eaten, 72 Cropping, out-door and double, 225 Crops of fowls swollen, 388 Croquet ground, top-dressing. 132 Crossing fowls, when taint ceases, 192 Crj-stal Palace- Bird Show, 155. 174; Spring Flower Show, 220 ; Show, 361 ; Rose Show, 474 Cuba, 440, 456 . r , Cucumbers- constmcting pit for, 13 : in hot-water pit, 73 ; plants decay- ing, 73 ; soil for, 94 ; in a framCj 151 : leaves injured, 152 ; for exhibition, 206 ; culture, 220, 251, 293, 385, 42S ; culture and house, 257, 263, 346; leaves injured, 370; thick-ended, 278 ; house for winter, 291 ; diseased, 425; roots diseased, 462; dying at ends, 462 Cucumia dudaim, 143 Cupressua Lawsoniana, 440 Currants, Black, wild. 367 Custard Apple, 94 Cutbush'a show of spring flowers, 239 Cuttings— hotbed for, 112 ; removing leaves from, 229; propagating by, 262 ; frame for, 316 CjtiaMltn*. 2S, 179; jwrnicum tilonm- inc Ul. ^: DotvK oo. HI ; i>lantin.', SS8 : not KTowiuir. '•SW : potting, 46i Cymiidluin lIookeriaiiuiD.MS OTK-ruH ;vlUriiifoIiu» varlir(ratai*,2.8; colturv. :iia CjrproaM, dccidaoav, 371 DAJTonn. IN iBFlaVD, 405 DahliaH—A tew i:>'oJ Pompon, 1£S; for fxJiibiliun, 2W Duphnc inJuM mlt!ir.% ^'. ilG Durlinirt*»" 1' ^ ' Datura Di.: tap. 3il DeCanJoU.' ■' . ut. Dentin. l.i'.iin — --•- - - ■' : noMIo oult.ir.\ ■*'.-' Derbv Hir.l Show. US i», -^^fuii' I' !■; t.i.M^.icmtnretla 1^,,, „ ^^ , , ' ; cup combs In, wini; biowu, 4ti . combH black, GO; iliBlinffuinhiiiic colium,-'!. **; cock whecziuu. '>*: i^uiubK fallmjs', l"ii: surer, :SI: dlscaHctl head, SIC; u-ol dliewed, 83G; cUickoua dyint;, 371. 888 Dracama— forroa in drawmff-room, ^ , tcrminalin oulliin-, ilb Droaxht. iV-TikMl.s of.'iDO Dncklini::^ lam.-. .i3<; ; hatched ondor a hcn,33t:: ri-elcoulracU'1,374 Dncks. 13G: Manlarin. ^-4 : brccJinff. protitablo, •^■iiO; Call with Roatn, ^i: lavink' soft cpK*.i. S-W: Ayb?8- bury with Carolina**, SOU; not lav- ing, 320 ; for exhibition, 413; profit frum. 461, 491 _ DomfrlcB Ponltry Show, 37 Pang as a source u( heat, 16S Edoino roi: iiorj)EB, 12; piuxts, silvery, and their onllarc, 839 EgK-pItmt cnllurc. 152 EghiB— fowls for prodncme, 21; pre- venting suft, (»: f.-CJiii iatiou of, 3S: Bhell-ltSB, 'JJ*. 2-*i : fucunaaUnc. with- in eggs. ISO; t*.nlinK, 153; hatching after bein;^ chilled, IM; missmg, 158: deflcit'ucy of, 170; harvest, de- ficiency. 20J : Bhella, mfttcrials for, SS4; Kuatrink' hatching, 212 ; testing:, 250; voikU-8S, 2S2; not hatching, 300, 8^; butteriujr for eipirt, SOO; brokcD. hatehinc. :>:0 : U-mpcratiire for hatching, h'-nnuatin-:, tii-<;onimg piUcr.iri: uiifrrtil.- tipaiiisii. ^i-i Entoinolodcal Society's Meetings, 7, 67. 'i >l. 28:i. asi Epiden iruiu lujTiantham, C7 Epipbylluin tnincatom d-^caying. 22-^ ; irancatam liicgaus, iS21) ; root- ink'. 3r.3 Epworth PouUrv Show, 873 Ericint;llaMannii.S29 Escallunia mfii'-'-.i^iottSis. 41* Eucalyptus, hardy, 408 Each.-ifi« ;iTii-.i/,onica. 40D Eulophia riuclohtfa, 125; virena, 410 Evernrceufl, S7J; not uauoUy grown, 312 EverlastingB, Si7 Fuuntxe ui«expi^ixed,13 Ferdinanda cmincna sowing, 170 Fern case, arrancin?, 151 Fernery — foriiiini: of stumps, 12; won: Feni^. 12: fi;,'un in liardy, 446 iiardyfrom spores, :.tr. 12: scorched, ii'iio. 7S: wea!c.73: . uoG: raid after in iridisation of, 4SH; in \^.u^... winter, ■-'">: foHsU. 4'C ^, ^. FieuB elas'-ica, prcTcnt^ag bleeding 219 Fig treo^ at St. .TohnV. Ryde. SO: roughly treated. 12G: pruning and 8toTtD-ng. 5152 ; cnUort'on walls, 113 ; in pits :uid pots. 424 Vil»K-riH. Mtorius, 425 Fincfnii.iged pl.iats. bedding onteub- tropical and other. 375 Firs, plant-i under. 370 . Flora of the cirbonifcrous period. Flower bids — manure for, 11 : and ImnlTH. armncenicnt of. 301.401: planting. 462 ; border planting, 229, Flower-garden plan, 8; a winter and spring, 2S Flowers, cryatallismg. 53 Floe— chimney distant, 217 ; heating, 296 Fowls— for table, the best. IRS : feedinc: for exhibition. ISS ; stealing at ex- hibitions. 211 : \viih wwnlbn fret, 266: ulcerated eye and h"';ul. 266: pecking other's feathers, 2«'«G ; com- parativi- bcaltliiness. 317 : dying anddcnlv. 320 ; breathing with difn- cnlty, 320: food for. 820; for clay soil. 336: for confined Rpac", 336; sending Vi Antipodes. suJ-lenly Dl. 856; losii-g fcatben*. 3^^ ; fjuantity of food fi^r, 412 ; borleyiocal for, 412 Frameii, Joints of, IM _ . Fraxlnus sambuciloha and amoncana 867 French fowls. 234 Fritillaria mrlcaffns. 829 J-roRts eielu'ling, S-JO: dcstmctlTC. and protecting materials, 817 ; the late.SOa Fniit trees (rrowing under Bla". 18; met*:orolog>' of hooves for, 2. ; rf-moviuk' and planting. 2; in potH. 74; in bbiom und-r jrUitH. Ill : ni»l bearin:;. X« ; iiiiprovcin.iu of wild. 161 ; culture. 3'^: pr^ttcllng blo»- iiomson w.iUB,Rl2:8torinj,'|'r*>duce. 425 : protecing. 423 : pr.-sorvbig pru- fi : and the Inttma- lional llortioultural Exhibition, 353 Gardcnerri' Royal lit-nevolcnt Institu- tion, legacy to, 47 ; Protection iio- cictv, 1C5 Gardenia not flowering, 370 Gardening — pil',Tim*s progress, 67 ; birth ofin En'jland. 468 Garlic, deBtro>-in'^' wild. 370 Gas— confie(jnene-s of lighting con- servatory with, 42 ; conecrvitory lighted by, 85 : tar r. red spider, W: lighting a cons.TT.itory by,202: heating br, 207, 246. ?S2 Gasterias. culture of, 276 Geese eating their eggs, 336 Gclscmioin Bomperviren8f228 Geraniums— Gold L-n vanegated, 26 ; damping, 3;: ])ropagatin2 Mrs. Pol- lock, 53; Mrs. Pollock, altering, 73; calture of golden variegated, 64 ; golden and tricobired leaved ; propa- gating and potting, 94: bcddin;^, of last sfc.^aon. 221: Zonalc, (or bedding. 212: cutUncs dying. i!fi( : pLinting in Eosc circles, 353: Mrs. Pollock becoming green, 3S6 : ediring. plant- ing, 371 : window management of, 408; bedding. 436: leia'gy,4C2 Gesneras, potting, 170 Giddiness in fowls, 390 Gladiolus— cuUuro and vatieties, 101 ; seed sowing, 229; p,ipilio.257 : gan- davensis piantinc 'iiil ; Our Little Lucy, 329; mildew on. 336 Glass- edging, 53 ; plants close to, 148 Gloncestershirc, proposed Poaltry, Show in, 354 Gloxinia— seedlings. 12; after bloom- ing, 72; culture, 123; leaf-propagat- ing. 370 Gnaplialinm lanatnm, 890 Goats, time of breeding, 321 Goldfinches — food for, 20: males, breeding pied, 336 ; mules breeding, 44S Gooseberry caterpillars, destroying, 359 Goose, prolific. 500 Goslings, food for, 250 Grapes— Shan kin'--. 13. 74; prcsfrving out of doors. 2J: price of, S3; re- maining on thy Vine, 53: notes on some, 87; for market, 1'4; Esperione, 123; liempsey and Black Alicante, 125 ; seedlings sportive. 127 : in .Inly. 132; bunches becoming tendrils. 291. r33; Black Aliciintc v. Lady Downe'8,22S; colouring. 481 Grass- seeds, sowing, 132; steps, forming, 151 Gravel walks, mossy, 94 ; destroying weeds on, 151 Greenhoo«e-8lage. 12; front border uses, 51: healing a small, 132: im- perfect. 1*?7: floor, 207; adjoining, vcntilatin?. 229; flue in parlour chimney. 279: arrangement, 3T1 ; plants for cold, 461 Guano— water for Tulips, fic.. M: litjiiid matn-e, 205; 'or Uoses, 297 ; w.itor for laNvn, Slfi ; water, applying in drv weather, 409 GuUlhall Banquet, 401 Guinea fowls —time of silting. 874; incubation of, 496 Gutta pereha. oriirin. l.'l Gymuogramma chrj'SophyUa cmtnre, 27« Hants and Perl;* Poollry Show, 4G4 HuuMtn fruit. 12':. 143 Hardiu* H» of plants, 151 Hatrhink', artificial, 136 II.athH-watcring foliage, 12; repot- ting. '.'61 Heating-from back of a kitchen jlrc, : lj«mr.„- 13; by ho: water. 2tV.: a glaied | LUyofth- house, 207; virioas bonnes by ono i Lime an l Le-af mould, 54 _ . Leavts-fckelotonising. IM; ipotted 425 Leeds Horticnltural Show. 451 Lei cest*. rehire gardenn, tkuiuc. 515 Lewisfa rt-diviva. 53, 72 Light nguIafiTi'.' i.-inp-ritnre.8i '.*1W boiler! 248 ; by hut air. 2y6 Hcd.iroma tulipifenun culture, 170 H«lhl.; abdomens H-.V..I 11. S20; viiluig their vggs, 336, 8;^;; !-:iVing origs, S5t', 418; prcvcnt- 111'^. 4'v> HIS Imrdrr plants, 72 ■>in'. 191 in:: Herb Hiv. H li , Linton I'lu '•-"*.. Liouid iiiM. ! "°*L^ « Lobelias - miuw.Ia . . ]" : So- cieties in union with, Hot-water apparatus faulty, 207 Houdan fowls, S34 Hours of employment, 296 House decoration with plants, 205 Hova belia calture, 163 Huntrovde Park. 196 Hvacinihs- blooming ill. 133 ; in beds, supports for, 112: not rooting, 833; Sir U. Havelock, 866 ; in beds, 371 Ice — HAcnwE, 104; houses, 109: keeping, 13S ; preserving, 167 IC'.-pUuit culture, 112, IPS Incubator — Oooks, 74: Brindley's, 212,2if9; temperature of, 374 412 Incubation -prolonged. 158; artitlciaJ. in China, I'JO; artificial, tailing, -36 Indian Com for fowls 212 Indian rubber— origin, 161 ; tree, cnt- ting-in. 170 ; preventing bleeding, 21S; tubing, holes in, SoS Insects on plants, 170 International Uorticullural Exhi- bition and Potanical Congress, 63, 72. 165, 199. 21 S 211. 271. 3^9. 348, 3S0, 390, 3y7. 420: fruit at, 395; vege- tables, 326; implements. 396; con- versazione, 3J8; Banqutft at Guild- hall, 4*11; dinner at St. Martin's Hall. 4 2; EHtays, 436 Ipoma;a Learii pmning. !70 Ircsine HerhMii, 43,112; its uses, . ; for the dinner-table, 64 Iris rc;icuia:j, iJ6B Ivies, varictiaied, S3 : berries, sowing, 228,290; caiting,278 Japan — a\RDBNiMa ut, 44 ; kotbs FROM, J 57 .Tasmi;»e n.if bloommg. 295 Jedbiir-:! Poultry Show, 77 Jcnis-.ileni Artichokes, 248 Jonesia .isoca, 434 . „ ,, . .„ Judges and ludging In Scotuma, 154 HAmuNTiirs ftloevs, 257 Halifix Ponltrv Show, 117 Ham^urghs — Silver - Rpanglcd, 98 : lacing on winrs of Spangled, 300; eggs unfertile, 300; cniciicns. my 426 KaI-MIA UTIFOUA tK TOT9, 229 Kels.i I'.'ullrv and Bird Show, 117 Kendal I'.iultry Show, 7ft Kidr.ev Beans— Itavcs spotted, 113; bloom falling, 171; sowing, 386; Dwarf. 448 King Dick, death of. 448 Kirkealdv Poultry Show, 39 Kitchen vegetables, early supply of, 95 Kerria japonica variegaia, 4 W LAnorn power, hebdlts of defi- cient, 443 Lwlia— crandis, 67; pnrparata cul- ture. 132 La Fb cbc fowls, 334 Langton.iea LaiJivuriu rosea starting. 151 Larks. re:iring \oung, 466 Laurels, rlanting. 54 Laumsiinnses, pruning recently- planted. 73 La-.vn -la vine down. 13'- te n-driSsuiT With sand, 54; grass Bc-fos fjr. 54 : manuring, 112 : renovaung. 151 ; DaiRies on. 264, 446; management i of, 331 ; making, 419 Mevenia crecta - nlture, 817 I Mice eating Cabba,'e planu, IW MicrocachrvB tetrad ma, 865 Middlesex, botany of, 148 Middleton Bird hiiow. 135 Mi.Tionette eow.ng in a greennouae, iA ; growing' in puts, 445 Mildew— conveyed by clothes, IBS, on Tasmanian Apple trees, 451; Moles, banisliing. 44 Monoch.ximn enhiiemm cnuure, ff(» Morello Cherrj- 1 runmg. 223 Moss on a lawn. dcsinijiJag. 247 Moths, killing lor sp cimens. 44» Mowing macliine, -.vhcn to use, 371 Mulherry propasa ion. 425 Musa C-.'.vendlsliii culiore. C5; vittata fruiting, 66, S4 . . ^i __ Mashrooms-l^ds. 50: ont of doOTB, andiorcinginpois, C3: mpot9,iw, beus fiiumg. 2.9 ;hatiuK house, 229, beds unproiiuo.iv.-, 317 Mnaeenda luieola, 3iJ MyraipbyUiun aapura^oides, VO ! N'ahbs op FOWI.8,153 Nanl^vieh Poultry Show, U* , NaUl, trees for. 133 Neciurine blossoms falling, aii ' Nerine Folhergillii. 2^7 , ^ .. „ Ncr^'ous svstcm, a nbcck to tne,&8 Nesuoh diJaponi culture. U New Zealand — horlicuUural exni- biiion in. 4JS ; v.-getation, 419 ; gar- dening progress in, i21 ; gardening. Newport Poultry Show, 19; dottings Komenclature of garden plants, 195 , „^ North aspect, plani a for. 95 North British Culumbanan Show, Notes on the wav to the Holy Sepul- chre. MS, 438 Novelty and excellence not twins, 163 Oak— iu>oii, iNBF.CT is, 32 ; m coai. FOR«*TioN, 143; Evergreen, newly moved, 870 Oats and Barley, cniRhed,230 Odonloglossum Ccrvautesu. 4W Olea fragrans not Howering, 316 Oleander, brown sc;Je on, 263 Onion cnl'.ure. i~ ' »i_« Orange-trots unhealthy, 32 ; framngi 151: cnttinz in, -lui : synnging, 315 . T;ingierine. unfmitlnl. 333 ^^ Orcbarti-huus^ - my. 23; new, 222; in Devon,256 ; fruits in, 82&; aspect Orchids-cool culture, 25; culture in cool I. inp.:rAtures, 63 ; growing in London. S9: lor north house. 130; foraCiJCumber-hoa9C,188; for cool preenhouse, 247 ; the story of my first, 415 ^ _. ,«, Oiborn, death ofilr. Robert, 113 IHDEX. Painting wood, 47 PaJBley Poultry Show, 36 Palms— in room, ^3 ; the Oil, 117 Pampas Grass— soil lor, 318; catting down. 263 Pansifs deteriorating, 425 Pansv cattinKS, striking, 462 Paradise stocks. 162, 11% 193; and quince stocks, 143 Paris— public trardens of, 42; Exhibi- tion of 1S07, 309, 848 Parrot, tamiuc and teachintr, 212 Parroquets— Australian Grass, pant- ing, 40; Ringed Bengal, food for, 192; food for Zebra, 250 Partridge sitting, 233 Paulowniu imperialis, 443; pi-opa- gatinp, 481 , . „ _„^ Paul's show of spnne flowers, 2i>3 Pea Fowls, incubation of, 48fi Peaches— pruner, the modem, 17, 102; tree buds falling, 1)4 ; Early Albert, 125 ; trees under glass, 185 ; falling, 329; in pots, thinnint,'. 278; stop- ping shoots, 278; blossoms falling, 317 ; growing in New Jersey, 328 ; trees shedding their blossom, 353; insect on shoot, 370; leaves blis- tered, 370. 4^:4 ; not fruiting, ?.70 ; profit from forcing, SS4 ; in New Zealand, 381; wall, height uf, 409; forcing, 423 ; leaves falling, 425 Pears— trees (bush) on quince stocks in Yorkshire, 21; Chaumontel in Jersey, G3 ; notes on. (if. : Reurre d'.Ynjou, 67 ; Mathews's Eliza, 74 : pips sowing, ii4 : list of late, 132 ; on quince stocks routing, 193; scions, emitting roots, 17U ; rooting, 216 ; merits of stocks for, 269 : trees in orchards, 357 : Van Tilon;* Leon Leclerc, 366 ; in New Zealand, 381; profuse shoots of, 446 ; hlooni on young wood, 463 Peas— KssexRival. 66,162,263: of good quality, 112; May to Ocluber. 124; green 'now selling, 171; presen-ing green, 206; succession oi, 228; wire netting for, 278 ; protecting irom pheasants, 293; under glass, ^51 Peat soil for deodorising, 138 Pelargoniums — temperature fur, 12: from seed, 72 ; leaves mildewed, 73 ; seedlings culture, 84 ; stopping and potting, 227 ; peltatum elegans, 329 ; i-unning to leaf, 353 ; stopping. 353 ; Lord Lyon, 416 Pens, size of, ti8 Peperomia maimorata, 329 Peristrophe lanceolaria, 257 Petuni a, G iant ^^^lite , 207 PhaljenopsJs grandifl.ora,leaves soften- ing, 21S Pheasants— dving, 20; SUver, laying, 233; Golden, 300 Philoperisteron Society's Show, 35 Picea Nordmanniana, seed sowing, 207 Pick-boxes, beware of, S34 Pigeons— Siberian Ice, 8(. ; Dragoons, 119; Dragons white-rumped, 134; keeping, 136 ; sick. 158 : Dragon. 173, 232, 298 ; lormer writers on, SlU, 355 ; Powter cock ill, 212 ; wliite-rumped, 231,265; distinguishing sex, 250 ; the various Carriers, 281; diseased, ic, 466, 486 Pigs, feeding with buttermilk, 120 " Hnacea," 440 "Pine-Apple, Practical Treatise on," 241 Pine Apple— and Mr. Thomson's treatise on it, S40, 363; Queen v. Cayenne, 378 Pinks, 113 Pipes— paint for hot water. 3?. ; care required in laying, iSC ; painting hot- water, 206 Pip on chicken's tongue, 176 Pits— cold, for winter shelter, 51; altering, 114 ; the iimateur's and cot- tager b, 222; vertiU9 frames. 226; amatetu^s, 296 " Plantes a feuillage omemental," Andre's, 68 "Plantes a fcuilles omementiiles,''107 Plants —poisonous to domestic ani- mals, 98; new, 339 Plant-houses, small, 408 Pleroma elegans culture, 290 Plum, Black Damask as a stock. ;'.2 Plunging-materi;U, 279 Polychilos comu-cervi, 329 Podophyllum Emodi, 453 Poinsfctiia pulcherrima cultm-e. 100, 20O Pollen-gathering in January, !)8 Polygonum Sieholdi. 34 Pommier de Paradis. 124: stock, Apples on, 255 Pond, plants for, 462 Poppy seed for birds, 20 Potatoes, 123 ; choice and culture, 3: more about. 62 ; vagaries, 126 ; grow- ing mealy, 12S; on damp soil, 132; iorwarding early. 131; manure for, 161; varieties, 165; growing mealy, 170; estimate uf sorts, 178; for planting an acre, 206: Lapstone, 218; forwaramg, 351 : origin of Hague and Lapstone, 379 : forcing in pots, S85 Potting, 131 *' Poultry-keeper's Manual," 96, Pouluy — keeping, commencing, 20 ; profits, 76 ; its expenses and re- turns, lis, 155; Club's bhow, 84, 134; past and future. 33; shifting, 40 house floor. 82, 234 ; yard, how ma- naged, 183; diseased, 136; in small space, 176: yard arrangements, 176; crossing, 232; keeping, food for, in small enclosure, 234; journal, notes from, 249; protiuible, 280 ; shows, southern, 173, 231, 265, 297, 372 : fail- ures, 300 ; proposed show in Glou- cestershire, diseases, homceopathic treatment of, 354 ; as a source of in- come, 371 ; at Reading. 482 Preston Hall, 286_ . _^ Prices in Henry VIII's reign, SSG Pi-imulas— cortusoides, rar. alba, 67; damping-off, 73 ; fiJicifolia tlowerless, 152 ; kermesina plena and Quteu of England, 329 Prizes, plants likely to take, 462 Propagating— case, 151; house, 263; heating a small, 244 Protecting mateiials, 347 Pteris tricolor culture, 151 Pullet dying suddenly, 212 Puttying laps, 124 QrEEN SLANT). n,-, 267 Quince barren, 333 GABDEKING PEOSPECTS Rabbits— >-ETTixc. to exclche, 170; protecting from, 377 Radishes— in Potato frame, 229; Madras, 353 Railway charges for poultry, 56, 75, 113, 135, 171, 231, 24VS 2S0. 297, 334, Rjiinf all— British, 7; at Arddarroch, 64; atThwaits, 181 Raphanus candntns, 161 Raspberry — la^ciiils, 229; supports, 263 Rats, drifing a^^ ay. 170 Redbreasts in cages, 212 Red spider, 369,490; on Peaches, &c., 72 : destroying, 279, 407 Rhizophora mangle, 348 Rhododendrons— Hodgsoni, 67 .'leaves spotted, 74 : for forcing, 94, 207 : For- tunei, 207 ; raising from seed, 263, 446; Denisonii, 366 Rhubarb— on Christmas-day, 3 ; forc- ing, 30, 1S8, 229; i-unimig to seed, 73; forcing, 73 Ribbon border, aS6; border of Gera- 150 ; mL\ed, 150 RicinuB— communis for planting, 94; sowing, 170 Rochdale Poultry Show, 115, 154 Rockwork- plants for, 53 ; for shaded, 206 Rock plants for north aspect, 188 Rome, gleanings from rock and field towards, 44, 88, 146 Roses, 102, 139: something more about, 4; mulching, 11; for the northern districts, 22 ; on their own roots and on Manetti, 24 ; pruning climbing Devoniensis, 32: in pots, 53; on their own roots, 01; vary with locaUtv, 85 ; to bloom in Janu- arj-, 93 ; Baiiksiau bedded out, 112 ; cuttings of Hvbnd Perpetuals, 124; striking cuttings, 145; Roman love of, 146 : list,151 ; tree sterns^ burying, 183 : disbudding, 206 ; raising from seed, 228; for north wall, 229; for tonservatorv. 229; growing, gossip about, 253: removing standard. 263 ; guano for, 264 ; Moss, pegged down, 264: removing mulch, 264: on Ma- netti stocks, 283, 303: for pots in greenhouse, 296 ; pegging do\vn Moss, 297; Manetti stock for, 324: mildew on, 327 ; treatment of forced after blooming, C53 : mildew on, 338 ; Black Pi-ince. 365 ; Charles Lefebvre weak, 371 ; Celine as a stock, 380 ; exhibit in g-3tand for, 408 : Devoni- ensis flowers not opening, 408 : leaves curled, 446 ; liquid manure for, 446; grubs in buds. 461; green fly on. 462 : liquid manure for in pots, 462; Mrs. Ward, 469 ; Bii-ming- ham Show, 470 Rouen drake, points of, 374 Roup, 152, 212, 279 Salisbuky, pi%-e hours at, 46S Salvia argentea, 300 Sand for plant shelves, 4S1 Saponaria calabrica round Roses, 228 Sashes, fixed r. sliding, 243 Sawdust for plunging pots, 133 Scale on Peaches, &c., 113 Scilla Cooperi, 440 Scratching, preventing fowls, 387 Screens of canvas. 227 Sea-kale culture, 2i>4, 47D Season, mildness of, 45, 127, 1C3_ Seedlings— management of choice, 84: for bedding-out, 317 Seeds— required for a garden, 94 : sow- ing, &c., of choice, 285 ; and what to do with them, 821; proprietorship of home-grown, 417 ; preserving so^ti, 451 ; sown, preserved by red lead, 471 Selaginella c^esia culture, 445 Selkirkshire Poultry Show, 38 Sewage— use of house, 7 ; when to use, 72 ; Fennian system, 66 Shady place, plants lor, 333 Sheffield Poultry Show, 387, 410 Shrubs, forcing hardy, 30 Shutters for shelter, 188 Silkworms, 155 Slugs, 482; in gai'den, 73; destroying, 228 Smoke, consuining, 188 Snowstorm, efiects, 69, 138 Soapsuds, 133 Soils— changing plants on, 121; im- proving heavy marly, 425 Soot-water for evaporu ting-pans, ^9 South aspect, plants for, 95 Spanish— cock's comb falling over, 40 : fowls, 60, 300 ; cock unwell, 82 ; cock's lace lilcerated, 136 : hen nesting but not laving, 176 ; white feathers in, 266; cock's face, 282; chickens, ma- nagement of, 412; fowls plucking each others feathers. 483 Sparaxis pulcherrima, 67 Sphacele cEerulea, 257 Spinach, Purple, 371 Squirrels destroying Gooseberries ana Walnuts, 317 Stachys lanata, 390 Stink, cost of a, 350 Stocks— for grafting and the results, 214 : of fruit trees, 237 ; for Apple and Pear trees, 269 Stove — -without fine, 32; newly painted, plants in, 112 Stokeholes, 186 strawberries— forcing, 70, 93 468, 386 ; time for, 73 ; choice and culture, 144 ; plants, detecting baiTen, 105 ; cul- ture, 213, 423, 461 ; in pots, 352; Go- liath, 353 ; for east bank, 371 ; cul- ture under glass, 407 ; Keens' Seed- ling barren, 425 ; for heavy soil, 4G2 Sugar, making from Potatoes, 60 Sulphur— and lime mixture for mil- dew, &.C.. 103; and snuff for red spider, ic. 264; bellows for apply- ing. 477 Sussex flora, 162 Swainaonia magnifica, 67 Syringing, 1S6; with hot sewage, 217; plants in town gardens, 354 Table decorations, plants foe, 143* 181 Tacaonia Van Volxemii, 329, 36o Tafa-jan fruit, 126 t^ Tan as a source of heatJ'tSS Temperature-recording apparatus, 242, 289 Thibaudia cordifolia, 125: coronana, 305 Thomson's styptic, 180, 433 Thoi-ne Poultry Show. 483 Thrips destroying, 481 Thrushes, rearing by hand, SCO Ticts on chickens, 300 Tilia americana, 368 Tillandsia xiphioides, 125 Tobacco— tissue, Collyer & Co.'s, 47 : growth and manufacture, 137 : for lumigating, 187 : seed. 248 ; culture of, 270. 287, 353, 364, 416. 432, 457. 481 ; warning to growers, 323 ; a little more about, 327 Tudmorden Botanical Society, 7. 07 Town garden, plants for, 18S Transplanting trees and shrubs, 31, 233, 255 '* TreasuiT of Botany," 106 Trees — and shmbs from seeds, 13 ; owner of fallen, 33 Trimming fowls, 119 Tropffiolums — canariense, planting out, 386 ; Beauty and Attraction, 440 Tropical fruits, reminiscences of, 65; plants in open borders, 161 Trout, 2S2 Truffles andMushrooms, 305 Tuberoses after blooming, 72 Tulips— protecting beds, 34; colour- less, 3^ Tumour on Turkey's head. 192 Turf-lajing, II Turkevs, 80, '^-82: pens, 19; length of breeding, 20; the seasonable, 233; hatched under a hen, 374 Twining stems, 3S6 Veitch'3. Messrs., dejeunei^, 402 Verbenas— new striped, 67; manage- ment of seedlings, 84; cuttings, 112; Reallv Blue, 125 ; disease, 165 : cut- tings" failing, 183 ; wintering under bell-glasses, 216; culture lor bed- ding cut, 216 ; bedding, 242 ; selec- tion of, 254 ; failure of cuttings, 256 ; for plantingin a circle, 278 ; sowing, 286, 405, 415; planting, 371 Veronica speciosa training, 151 VieuBseuxia pavonina culture, SSG Vinery — roof angle, 170; pit, 188; greenhouse, 207 ; and peachery com- bined, 228; forming out ol a pit, 229 ; manure water in the troughs, 278; a lean-to, 317; management, 423 Vines— large, 8; border, renovating, 95; from eves, 13,72; culture of, 24, 162, 198. 223'. 236. 244, 252, 274, 302, 404, 481 ; fruiting in pots,33, 73 ; mildewed, 53 ; coiling in planting, 83, 141, 160, 195, 284, 304 ; breaking of, 104 ; in- cision in root, 105. 141: planting, 74, 140, 257 ; syringing, 1^ : attacked by weevils, 163; rooting branches, 165 ; borders, 168 : in gi-eenhouse and chicken house, 170 ; renovating old- 171; blood lor border, 112; hotbed on, 151; bleeding and grafting, 180; ■wintering in pots, 183 ; sjTinging, 186; for wine making, 188; re- moving from pots, 206: sap lost by bleeding. 224; training horizontally, 228; leaves spotted, 228; in pots, slopping, 236: declining, 248; dis- tance ot planting, 255; coil train- in"-, 278: in pois, coiling, 284; fruited in alternate years, 287; bleeding, 291.295; in vineries, 294; from last autumn's cuttings, 296; washing and pruning, 296; grafting, 817; preventing bleeding, 322: to stop bleeding, 343; culture of in pots. 3i4; setting. 352; inarching, 371: leaves disflgured, 387; red spider on, 462; leaves discoloured, 462 Viohi comuta, 112: culture, 122 Violets— Neaoolitan, failing, 2&1; double becoming single, 296 Vulture hocks. 119, 154, 231. 232 "Walks- WEEDS on, to desteot, 170 clipping the sides, 444 Wall— colouring for old fruit tree, 12 ; and wall trees, washes for, 32; cracks in cemented, 32 ; painting, 54; evergreen for north, 132; fruit, &c., 362 ; glazed and fined, 866 ; flued &c., 429 Walsall Poultry Show, 76 Warscewizella velata, 440 "Wash for walls and trees, 74 "Water— from greenhouse roof, 113 ; consequences of impurity, 284 ; hard for plants, 296; pipes and tanks, materials lor, 466 Watering, 459, 481: with dramago water, 333 "Weather wisdom, 26, 108. 200, 347, 469; instruments to acquire, 75 "Weathercasts.'M?? Week, work for, 9, 29, 49, 68, 92, 108,128, 147, 166, 184, 202, 224, 245, 259, 275, 292, 314, 330, 350, 368. 384, 406, 421, 442, 458, 478; doings of last, 10, 30,50, 69,93, 109, 129, 148, 167, 185, 203, 226, 243, 260, 276, 293, 815, 331, 851, 369, 385, 407 422,443,459,479 Weevil, destroying the brown, Ulceeation, internal, 82 IS FOWLS, Vaeiegation and disease, 66 Varnish, brown, for woodwork, 229 Vase plants, 180 Vegetable Marrow, 112 "Wellingtonia gigantea, 228 ; notes on, 467 Wentworth-WoodhousePoultry Show, 16 "V\'et soil, shrubs. &c., for, 152 Whitehaven Poultry Show, 57 "White plumage, why pre'er? 281 "Wigandia caiacasana sowing, 170 "Wigton Poultry Show, 2S0 ; disquali- fied pen at, 297, 311 Wiltshire Rector's grievance, 154 Window gardeners, hints to, 71 Wine— grape, 123 ; from nnnpe Grapes, 428 Wings of fowls, 234 Winter lingering in lap of May. 347 Wireworms, destrojing, 370 Woodbrdge Poultry Show, 407 ; fowls too late, 447 ; evil events at, •183 , ,,„ Woodlark management, 448 Woodlice— in diing, 54; in Fern-case, 170 ; in Melon-pitj 333 Woods, a peep at in odd places, 348, 366, 417. 440, 456, 470 Worms, destroying, 12 "Wonndj of trees, 113 Yeak, a happy new, 1 Yucca gloriosa sowing. 170 Zinc trocohs, steam raoai, 482 WOODCUTS. PACE. Apiary, my 465 Beo-hives, making straw 156 „ improved frame 265 Compasses, beam 259 Cucnmber-hooses 291, S46 EdRing-knife 451 Fig Trees at St. Johns 90, 91 „ training 413, 414 Flower*gardcn plans 8, 28, 259 Frames, joints of 184 Fnmigating-cap 217 Gas, lighting a conservatory by 202 „ heating, various modes of 382, 383 Grapes, preserving out-door , 29 Hoe, thrust and draw 329 Incubator, Crook's improved 75 „ Brindley's 299 lutemational Horticultural Exhibition, ground plan of 310 PAUE. International Horticoltaral ExhibitioD, view of 419 „ „ „ table decorations at 419 Orchid-growing in London 99 Peach Tree, pruning 48 „ cordon training 49 Pit, forcing and general 222 Poultry -rearing apparatus 75 Sulpburator 477 Temperature-recording apparatus 243 Turf beaters 450 Ttirfing spade 461 Vines in pots, span-roofed houses for 274, 275 „ lean-to house for 274, 275 II propagating from eyes 223 Walls, glazed and fined 866 „ flued 430. 481 „ solid 481 Winter and Spring Flower Garden 28 Jannary 2, 18«6. ] JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. WEEKLY CALENDAR. of Month Week. JAKUART 2-8, 1866. Arerafre Temperature near London. Rain in last 59 years. Sun PiiscE. I Sun Moon Sets. Rises. Moon Sets. Moon's Age. Clock before Son. Day of Year. Day. Kifiht. Mean. Davfl. m. h. m. h. 1 m. h. m. h. Days. m. s. 2 To Laurustinu^ flowers. 42.5 29.S S6.1 15 8af8 Oaf 4 4at6 2S 8 15 8 4 S W Kosemarv flowers. 42.8 30.8 36.8 19 8 8 1 4 1 14 7 59 8 16 4 Th Black Hellebore flowers. 42.3 81.3 36.8 17 8 8 2 4 ; 22 8 29 9 17 5 F Polyanthus flowers. 41.6 30.8 S6.2 14 8 8 4 4 ' 31 9 55 9 18 6 e s Epiph.vnt. 12th Di\v, 41.0 28.9 34.9 14 7 8 6 4 35 10 21 10 19 6 9 Sira 1 SCNDAY AFTER EPIPHANT. 41.4 28.6 S.i.O 15 7 8 6 4 38 11 44 10 20 6 85 8 M Stinking Hellebore flowers. 40.7 29.7 85.2 11 7 8 I ' ' mom. 7 11 ( 7 1 From observations taken near London during the last thirtv-uine vears. the averatje dav temperature nf the week is 41.7'' ; md its m ght temperature 29.9-. The greatest heat was 57", on the 3rd, 1860 ; and the lowest cold 4r, on the 2nd, 1854. The greatest lau ol ram | was 0.86 inch. • u W YC oOTANJi OAKDE NEW YEAR! d T is with many persons a cus- tom to watch out the year, ! to relinquish in a friendly way the departing guest, and to greet cheerily and trustfully the new comer. Although I had experienced a rather fatiguing day, I was determined thus to act. Undeterred by the reiterated argu- ments and warnmgs of my better half, who remarked. •' What folly ! Why, you know you 11 be asleep in a few minutes ! You areas' tired now as you can be !" I waved her away, my determination was unalterable. I would hear the old year rung out. or at least sit up till the tune when that ceremony takes place, and so I only replied — *' Eing out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light ; The year is (lying in the night, Eing out, wild hells, and let him die." And yet, to tell the strict truth, it was useless waiting for oiu- village bells to ling out, as we have but three, and one of those is cracked ; so wisely we do not ring in the new year, fearing that if we commenced the operation we might fiighten liim away altogether. Left to myself, the house was soon quiet. Silence and night are the times for visions. How many persons in company together have ever seen a gho.st? The fact is that these supematiu-al beings agree with the proverb, " Two are company ; three, none," and they prefer making their visits to single gentlemen and ladies — not necessarily bachelors and spinsters, but a state of single blessedness, whether of long or short dm-ation, appears necessary to enable us mortals to make then' personal acquaintance. Determined to resist any attacks of " Nature's sweet restorer." I had ordered cotiee, and indulged in a strong cup of the refreslung beverage ; I soon was hard at work, pen in hand, indulging in some stave to be inflicted first on ■■ our Editors," and, b.y their sanction, on the readers of " oiu- Journal." My pen ran fast and fiu'iously. I could hardly believe my eyes, but the hands of the clock marked 11.4'/ P.M. 1 Was it possible'.' WeU, the pile of manu- script showed I had not been idle, and my watch agreeing as to time, I rested my head on my hand, intenduig to meditate away the remaining moments of the year. I was soon lost in a reverie. New fiiends, alas ! too frequently usm-p the place of the old : the rishig deity is worshipped. I woidd not. however, be so ungrateful to my exph-ing friend ; he had been the bearer to me of many mercies, and as these rapidly flitted tlu-ongh ray brain, I trast I felt grateful to the Giver of all good : a.d. ISG.5 would be in my diary a year of mercies and pleasant memory. And now, whether the weird influence of the near approach No, 249.— VcL. Xn New Sekies. of the first small hours of the new year, or the expirmg moments of the old, or whether these were stn\-mg for the mastery I cannot determine, but visions appeared and vanished before my mental sight with gi-eat rapidity. Remember. I was not asleep! Sirs. "Y. B. A. Z." might have been certain I was ; nay, she would have brought forward the closed eye and the heavy regular breatliing as conclusive evidence of her %iew of the case ; hut every one Imows how conducive to sound meditation is that closui-e of the lids, which separates us fi-om the material world, and allows oiu- thoughts free scope. It is, perhaps, often mistaken for sleep ; but who. I ask, is the best judge— the person looking on the closed eye, or the unconscious per- son so absorbed in thought '.' Let common sense detennine. As I have abeadv remarked, I did not, although I might have felt disposed, intend to go to sleep— of coiu'se not ! therefore Mrs. " Y. B. A. Z.'s" theorj- must go for what it is worth 1 As I had been \vriting for '• our Journal," it v,as natui-al that my meditations shoidd be on the same subject. I reflected on the eagerness \nth wlucli I haOed the weekly issue, not ueulh/. mmd you, for none of us are disposed to tliink lightlv of' anytliing in wliich we ourselves sometimes bear a part," however iosignilicant. Besides, was it not our Journal'? I seized the last Number, and scanned its con- tents, and I became identified ^ith the various contributors, and was faiilv, I presume, under some mesmeric influence. I was in a part of the country new to me. suiToimded by busv workers, and I fancied inyself metamorphosed into "Devonshire BEE-KEErEi;.' and I was dismal and de- sponding under a -i-isitation of foul brood, but persever- ance rendered mv apiary again floiuishing and contented ; yet as I looked at this longed-for result, I saw on the table before me a small bell-glass, hermetically sealed, contain- ing a cm-ious substance ; it was labeUod, "The last trace of , foul brood. Lo( we), there it is." Tlieu I was no longer the " Devonshire Bee-Iv-eeper," hut " FiLix-rffiMiNA," scram- I bling after some rare specimen of Fern high aloft, a trea- sm-e"^! had long coveted, to v.ii— WeU, I do not doubt but I that I could find some suitable Fern name that would do I duty, but botanical names are a somewhat tender point witii me, and I forbear. I have a pahiful recollection of I losing caste in my voimger days. Veronica beccabunga is one o'f the few botanical names that fastened itself on my I memon-. The name, alas I was only tliere, and m me it had no connection irith any plant, yet being, as the old woman said of Mesopotamia, such a comforting word, it often sen-ed me for replv when appealed to for the name of anv plant. Failing tliis reply, I generally coined some word." making it a sine qud mm that it should contain four syllables. On one occasion, when out ^ith several friends, who were aware of my pciich'iiit for Veronica, the question ! arose. What was the name of that little plant hi the brook? I was refen-ed to. It was a moment pregnant with my botanical fate 1 it was the tide m my history, wluch I tailed ■ to avail myself of. Had I but coutkiued constant to \ e- ronica I might ever after, maintaining a discreet and con- ' venient silence, have passed for a botanical authority, perhaps even for a genius. Miserahilf dktu, I corned a word, No. 901.— Vol- XXXV. Old Skktes- JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDESEB. I Janniuy 3, WBC. instead of replying my stock nnme. Ah ! the eveniug'a re- lercnce to a botauical work came like a " JVithcriiij " blast ou iny botanicn! knowledge : it proved that even my stock plnut was unknown to mo ! Excuse me, then, if I forbear to hazard any Fere name, it was present, and I knew it ; for was I not '■ FiLix-Fpcared certain, tho scene shifted, the rocks Eccmod diviikd into comiiiirtmints, most of them tenanted by some living; specimen. I was in a poultry show alone, " tho monarch of all I surveyed ;" in fact, I was Judge — a book of olasbcs and numbers in my hand, instead of the much-coveted Fcm, whidi was "gone from my gaze." I paced up and down, settled the merits of tho various rivals, gave in my decisions, and the public were admitted. Soon I found myrelf surrounded on all sides by malcontents, vainly endeavouring to answer a dozen at once. I begged to be allowtd reference to my num- bers, tho list appeared diilerent. I became confused, and was only recovered by a voice exclaiming, " That is not the Judge, but the pudeman who judges the Judge, and criticises birds and committee, that's ' Wii.TsniiiK Bectoii.' " I felt ho was quite correct, I smiled, and passed through the crowd; and my hst of numbers was the printed catalogue, with my remarks in pencil, for " cur Journal." Eeferringagain to my catalogue, a metamorphosis had occurred ; it looked more like a petition, very numerously and, as the county paper would say, influen- tially signed : my identity with " our Chaplain " became very doubtful. Manifestly 1 was now a railway diiector, and the petition was that of poultrj- exhibitors, praying to be relieved in some degree from tho expenses attendant on their joumies. Cogitating what reply to make, I was on tho point of speaking, when, glancing at the petition, I found it to be the last Number of the 1865 series of " our Journal, ' and I seemed to be the pro- prietor ! Ah ! this was vastly too good to be true ! I wonder it had not roused me. I feel certain that if Mrs. " Y. B. A. Z.'s " theory of sleep was correct, it must have done so ! I turned over tho pages, glanced at the long rows of advertisements, which seemed bent on crowding out the other portions of the work, and, hesitatingly, I asked myself, " Must we increase its size ? " This is a step rtciuiring great consideration. To alter the form of an old friend is sometimes to lose him altogether. The diffi- culty was great, but I felt that something must be done if they maintained the same rate of increase. In the height of my dilemma as to the settlement of this knotty point the strangest sensation overpowered me. Every one has heard of the Siamese twins, well, I fi-lt in a measure like them ; I was imited to somebody, but. imlike the twins, we were intent on different portions of the same subject. Gradually I became sensible that my twin brother and I were " om- Editors." Other editor i nsurp the editoriiU plural ; we, from our duality, were entitled to it. Seated on our high official thrones in the dark, dingy, smoky 171, Fleet Street, we mused over the new-year Niunber, determined that out of our metropolit.an darkness we would throw light and sunshine over the world. We reflected grate- fully on the new friends of the pnft year, and then on our success. Suddenly we became aware of the presence of a large nxmiber of contributors outside our editorial sanctum, anxious to testify to us their kindly feeling and their unabated interest in our^jeriodical. To me individually it seemed very pleasant to be introduced to the various ch.aracters. I noticed plainly "D., Deal," with new Kose catalogues of 1865 in his hand. Strangely enough, as his eye fell on some of the names, his hand moved, as if writing, and the names of various Koses were blotted out, and the stock seemed withered already. " Kush- TON Badclytfk," again, with a present of Peaches and Straw- berries ; how produced now was the mystery, but then he makes adverse circimistnnces bend to his will ; the last bunch of Roses, too, was in his hand. Tho thought presented itself, How will they flourish under this new rigimi- .' " Filix- FCEuiNA," too, came back from Home on purpose, " Ai.iCK " and " FEitN-Hir:TnE.s8 " also ; and the loaded cases showed that they would have something to say in 18GG. Many others, too, in the tloricultural department all seemed to say" to us, " Ur- ■WABDS AND Onwards." As representatives of the other portions, there was '• Ocn Chaplain," with his warm-hearted greeting, and catalogues innumerable of l.'iGG under his arm, and I won- dered at the imiiropriety of such ante-printing; but then he is privileged ; then Mu. Hewitt with a lot of notes supplcmentaiy of the " Standard of Excellence," and B. P. Bpjint with reme- dies for all kinds of diseases, and "Egomf.t," "Old" and "Young Cochins," "Bbahmas," and positively an " Impeisoned Tdrkkv," but with plumage quite uninjured, and looking quite contented and happy. On one side there was '• Dbvonsbire Bek-keepeb " looking as though he had never had to do battle with foul brood, and the Scotch bee-keepers revelling in theix heather, and then the alphabet seemed all sixes and sevens, A refused any longer to concert with B, but had singled ont some distant member, and they were so closely united, they might always have been so. A similar tit had seized the other letters. Overpowered by this tmexpected demonstration, we rose simultaneously, and expressed our gratitude at meeting so many of our friendly contributors, and assured them of our earnest endeavour to render " our Journal ' worthy their sup- port, adding that their warm-hearted kindly greeting would go far towards making the new year happy and prosperous. We closed with reciprocating their good wishes, we tmsted that tho new year would prove to each and all a Happy New Year. Scarcely had the words passed ourUps, when we were conscious that some other person vrished to enter, and our eye caught that of a stranger of unprepossessing appearance, who pushed forward and politely presented us with a parcel. Eemoving the envelope it contained an Apple, labelled "Apple of Discord." We replied he must have mistaken his destination, that onr endeavours were exerted to increase and extend harmony and good feeling, our lives spent in sowing broadcast over the world the love of all God's creatures, and that we desired, that through the works of creation the love of human beings might be directed up to Nature's God, who was Himself the God of harmony, peace, and love ; and lastly, that our hearts were set on making the new year a truly happy year to all, but especi- ally to all our kind friends and contributors. We have just expressed these sentiments, we intend to stand or fall by them ; we, therefore, assure you that in tho pages of " our Journal," no such fruit will ever be discussed. Seeing his error, he was retiring, leaving, however, tho objectionable offering on onr desk ; we, therefore, as gently as our excited feelings wotdd permit tossed the Apple after him. As it fell to the ground, a loud explosion, which dispersed all our fi-iends, proved how base were the intentions. The report recalled me to my own little world, and I found it was " Wdnifiht, And tbo clocks wore striking the hour." The Old Year had passed away, the New Year with all its hopes and anxieties was entering the threshold. My coffee- cup was no longer on the table, but in fragments at tho foot of the opposite wall, and the marvel was. How did it get there? Moreover, on my foolscap, where I had commenced my medi- tations, there was now a most curious hieroglyphic, which might have passed for the signature of some Chinese or Persian contributor; whilst the previous WTiting was shaky and un- certain, and I, who had figured in those few moments as the representative of so many distinguished persons, found that although thoroughly endorsing all " our Editors' k-indly wishes for the New Year, " yet I was neither our respected Editors, nor the lucky proprietors, but simply that unknown quantity — Y. B. A. Z. RE:MO\'INCr AND PLANTING FRUIT TREES. To describe the system which I adopt, and the cause of my adopting it, it will be necessary for me to revert to the scenes of my early childhood, and to touch upon the Apple-tree nurseries in" the neighbourhood of Chard, in Soniersetshirc. Two miles to the south-west of Ch;ird, ou the main road to Axminster and Honiton, is situated the pleasant little village called South Chard. In this village there lived a family named Dean, famed for the cultivation of young Apple trees. Here many acres of the Apples suitable for tider-making were grown, and the quan- tity of trees sold by this family evci7 year to persons far and near, proved how well their trees were appreciated. The clean straight stem, tho well-regulated head, and the mass of beau- tiful, clean, fibrous roots, added to the confidence reposed in the raisers, that the kinds were what they were represented to be, gained at once for them a ready sale. Samples of the trees were exhibited in tiio market towns in the first week in Oc- tober, and through the planting season. It is now many years since I saw these neat and well-kept nurseries ; but well do I remember when a boy, lingering near them to admire tho luxuriant growth and symmetry of the trees, and the exact dis- tance apart at which they were planted, for stand which way you would the trees appeared in rows as straight as an arrow. In describing the mode of cultivating the Apple tree adopted by Messrs. Dean, I must be guided entirely by memory, for I have not seen the nurseries nor their kind-hearted proprietors since I was a bov, but the lesson I then learnt by watching the January 2, 1860. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEK. operations in progress, wben chance took me that way, have never been forgotten. They have been a never-failing guide to me ever since I have been capable of thinking for myself ; and whenever anything in the varied practice of the garden in con- nection with fruit trees engaged my attention, what I saw when a boy comes fresh before my mind. The sort of land which the Messrs. Dean selected for their new plantations was a piece of old pasture, which, I may remark, in that neighbourhood is deep, rich, and very favourable for the cultivation of the Apple. The laud, after being weU manured, was dug a good spit deep, turning the grass all to the bottom. The young stocks were then planted about 15 or 18 inches apartin the rows, and 3 feet between the rows. This operation was generally performed early in October, and the stocks would be well estabhshed by the following March, when they were grafted close to the ground. Diu-ing the foUowing season they would throw up strong shoots, and strong posts were then driven in at intervals up the row, stout strings fastened to them, and to these the young shoots were tied, so as to pre- vent the*r being injured by wind, &c. In the autumn after being pruned, a large quantity of furze was spread all over the ground, covering the young trees to a depth of 2 feet or more up their stems. They were then cut back to fi feet C inches in height. At this height from the ground the heads were formed, the stem being kept clear of all shoots ; and in two years from this time the trees were perfect models, and tit for the orchards. By this time, too, the fm-ze had become completely decayed, and most of it was appropriated by the thousands of small fibrous roots which the tree had been induced by the furze to emit from its collar. The tem'.ency of the tree to send its roots deep down into the soil was thus prevented ; and the genial moisture kept on the surface by the furze, and the warmth of the atmospiiere above, all had a tendency to attract the roots upwards. When the trees were taken up they presented a per- fect mass of beautiful roots, not one strong tap root was there to be seen. This will illustrate the advantages to be gained by mulching fruit trees with furze. In the removal and planting of trees of any kind, care must be taken — 1st, To keep at a proper distance from the tree when digging around it. If it is a large tree that has to bo removed, it is necessary to dig a trench about 2 feet wide, and 2 feet deep, more or less, according to the depth of the roots, and about 4 feet from the bole ot the tree all round. The soil should then be regularly but carefully worked out from amongst the roots with a fork, and the roots tied up as the operation is carried on. As the roots are placed out of the way the soil must be thrown out of the trench. This must be continued till the roots have all been secui'ed, and enough soil taken away to allow of the tree being removed, but on no account should it be twisted about before the roots have all been pro- perly loosened. If these have been carefully preserved from injury there is no necessity for removing a large quantity of soil with the tree; the attempt to do this often causes very serious injury, for the weight becomes unmanageable, and the tree is often put down after scuffling along with it a few j'ards, sometimes not verj- easily. By the time the tree reaches its destination most of the soil will have been shaken from the roots, and these will have been very much damaged, which is a loss, and a great drawback. 2nd, The proper time for removing fruit trees, such as Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Nectarines, itc, when it can be done without injury to the crop of fruit which the trees may have on them at the time, is before the sap beg ns to recede. This will be the first week in October, or they may be removed in the third week of September, if the weather is not too dry at the time; and even if this should be case, if some green branches of any kind are stuck in and around the trees, and the syringe freely used about them two or three tunes daily, they will suffer no injury. 3rd, I now come to one of the most important points in connection with the planting of the tree. Never dig a deep hole to plant it in, but rather plant it on the surface after breaking this up with a spade. After the tree has been placed in the position it is to occupy, the roots should be carefully straightened out all round, and any that may have been in- jured should be shortened back with a sharp knife ; some fine soil should be at hand, this should be sprinkled evenly amongst the roots bo that all the small apertures may be well filled up, using plenty of water at the same time, and the tree should be frequently moved to and fro until the roots have become firmly imbedded in the soil. A bank should then be thrown up just at the extremity of the roots, to keep the water from running away from the tree ; this should be on a level with the collar, or if it is a Uttle higher it will be no worse. Several potsfnl of water may then be thrown about the tree, and holes made from the surface down amongst the roots. The water will by these means settle the soil nicely about the roots ; more fine boU and water should then be put round, and the water standing on the smface will soon show when all the vacant spaces about the roots are filled xip. The tree should then be left, and after the next to be removed has undergone a similar process the water will have gradually soaked away through the soil, leaving the latter well settled about the roots. More soil should then be banked up around the tree, which must also be well secured to prevent its being blown about by high winds. For securing large trees I generally drive four strong stakes into the ground, east, w-est, north, and south, and after they have been firmly driven in I fasten the trees to them ; round the stem, however, must be put a good stout collar made of some soft material, such as an old guano bag, in order to prevent the ropes from injuring the bark. Some of the branches should also be cut out if the tree is large, so that the roots may not have too much work to do. It all go on well these will soon be at work, and the tree will draw sufficient nourishment from them to enable it to stand the winter with- out suffering any iU effects from its removal. If it is well mulched so that the frost cannot penetrate so deep as its roots, they will be active aU through the winter. One of the gi-eat advantages to be gained by removing fruit trees in this way is, that there is no fear of sacrificing the crop of fruit. In the following year, if they are carefully managed, they will produce fruit nearly if not quite as fine as they would have done had they not been moved. One of the great advantages gained by planting on the surface is this : The sun has more power on the roots ; these con- sequently become well ripened, and the tree, instead of drawing up more sap than it can make use of at once, draws it gradu- ally, and equally distributes it to its numerous branches, so that it performs its functions with greater regularity. The tree also grows less luxuriantly, and consequently matures both root and branch as it grows ; all the small branches and spurs are covered with fruit-buds ; and instead of the roots going down they will be spreading near the surface. When the tree is planted in a hole made for it to a depth of perhaps 2 feet or more (and in many cases the hole is made even deeper than that), a foot or more of good soil is probably put into the bottom of the hole ; but this is the worst plan that could be adopted, because it encourages the roots downwards. The first roots that take hold of the good soil in the bottom of the hole soon become tap roots, then away they strike still further down into the clay, or whatever the bottom is composed of. These roots throw up sap faster than the tree can dispose of it : hence the long unripeued shoots which must yearly be cut away, gi-adualiy hastening the tree to its decay. We see it year after year maldng rapid growth, but no fruit is produced. After a time the tree decays, and is replaced by another, which in the course of time follows in its wake. — J. Wills. FORCED RHUBARB ON CHRISTMAS-DAY. Havixg observed some remarks made by Mr. Fish in yonr Journal, at page 508, respecting Ehubarb-forciiig, I wish to state my experience in forcing this vegetable. In the first place, then, I may say that I sent in two good dishes on the 22nd inst., and had some ready four or five days previous to that, about which time, I presume, Mr. Fish wrote his article, so that, I think, mine must have been ready a week before his. I have had plenty of it since. The roots, which are three or four years old, were transplanted into rich soil last March fthey had been previously grown in poor soil), and were taken into the Mushroom-house on the 25th of November, the temperature being from 60° to 65°. Some light rich soil was put round them, and they were syringed daily, which caused them to commence gi-owing at once. I have formerly endeavoured to have Ehnbarb at Christmas by introducing it into a temperature of 65°, afterwards gra- dually increasing the heat to 75" and 80°, but with somewhat indifferent success. I therefore conclude that Rhubarb can be accelerated with a greater degree of certainty with a uniform temperature of from 60° to 65° than by subjecting it to one 10° or 15° higher ; indeed, I think that the temperature above recom- mended and darkness are two most essential points in Ehubarb JOUBNAL OF HORTICDLTURB AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. [ Jannirr S, 18e& forcinR. I beg to add that this communication is by no means intended as a dispamRcnient o( Mr. Fish, as his is by far too wise a head to learn anything from me ; but I thought it might bo useful to those who may experience a little difficulty in ob- taining a dishlon Christmas-day.— B. F., Liverpool. HERBACEOUS CiVLCEOL.VlUA CULTURE. In order to have fine plants to flower in May and June, the seed should be sown in July in the following manner: — Take a common seed-pan with plenty of holes in the bottom, fill the pan rather more than half full of drainage, and upon this place a thin layer of fre.^h moss, then (ill up the remaining space with a compost of loam, leaf soil, a very little peat and sand, well mixed, but not sifted. Some of the roughest parts of the compost should be placed at the bottom over the drain- age ; IJ inch of soil is quite depth enough for the seed. Cover the soil with a very thin layer of pand, give a good watering through a line rose, and let" the pan stand for two or three hours to drain ; then sow the seed, taking great care to distri- bute it equally over the surface. Sometimes the seed is sown all in patches, and the youug plants come up so thickly that they cannot succeed as they otherwise would. After sowing the seed-i press them iu gently with a piece of slate or other smooth surface ; then give the slightest possible covering of dry sand, set the pan aside, and give a very gentle bedewing either with a very fine rose or syringe. Select the coldest and most shady part of the garden ; cover the pan with a piece of glass, and the whole with a large hand-glass. Keep the atmosphere of the hand-glass damp and cold by daily sprinklings all round the pan in dry hot weather ; the soil in the pan rarely needs any water from the time the seed is sown till the seedlings begin to come up, providing all about the pan is kept damp and the sun totally excluded. It is usually about nine days before the young jilants begin to show themselves, longer if the seed is more than one year old. and as soon as they are fairly up the piece of glass laid over the pan may be removed, but the hand-glass should remain as it is for a fortnight, after which time it should be tilted so as to admit plenty of air, and in a little time it may be taken off altogether, but, in case of heavy rain, it will be necessary to replace it to prevent the plants being washed out. As soon as the seedlings can well be handled they should be pricked out, about IJ inch apart, in pans prepared as for sowing the seed, only not using quite so much drainage. After this replace them in their old quarters, and sprinide them every evening through a fine rose to encourage growth. ■Wben they have become nice little sturdy plants they should be potted off singly in well-drained pots, again placed out of doors, and kept there as long as the weather will permit. They should, however, be so placed that they can be covered from the heavy rains which someliiiics occur in September and early in October ; they will also be benefited by more light as the season declines. When housed the plants should be placed as near the glass as possible in a cold airy situation, either in the greenhouse or cold pit. They can hardly be kei>t too cold, providing damp air can be dispelled and frost excluded. Keep down green fly by frequent fumigation, which, however, should be very cau- tiously done ; fumigate slightly and often rather than strongly and seldom. I have been disgusted before now, after fumiga- tion, at finding half the leaves looking as though thev had been scalded by hot water. They will not bear the smoke so strong as the leaves of the generality of plants. Shift the plants as they require it, never allowing them to become too much pot-bound. I always shift just when the roots will keep the drainage from falling about when the plant.s are turned out of the pot. ^\^len glowing fast, and in a healthy condition, they like a liberal supply of water, which should be clear rain water. In the spring, from March till the end of April, the plants are best kept in a frame set upon cinder ashes ; thus placed, kept free from green fly, and screened from easterly winds, they usually make rapid progress. In these months slightly shade from the mid-day sun, and give them a gentle sprinkling with the syringe at shutting-up time ; in sunny weather they seem to glory in a little moisture, and in the "morning they will be covered with little dew-drops, which always indicate health. When about to throw up their flower-stems they should be removed to the place where they are intended to bloom, taking great care to keep down green fly, and pajinR attention to shading. If the plants are strong, which I presume them to be, it will be no slight task to tie them out properly — a task that always gives me great pleasure. The sticks should all be painted green, althongh I have been, and am now, obliged to use them unpainted. Wlieii the flower-stalks are rising a little very weak manure may bo given twice a-week, but withhold it while the plants are in bloom, at which time they should be kept well shaded, otherwise the flowers will soon drop, bat if, on the contrary, due attention be paid to shading, these will last a long time. Allow all the air possible on all occasions when the thermometer rises to 40°; they dislike fire heat. — Ch.vrles Edwards. SOJIEXnrN'G MORE ABOUT ROSES. The late Mr. Ueaton was right in the main in preferring 1 Roses on their own roots, and in supposing, for I do not re- collect his having proved it, that the Manetti stock was a medium for getting them iu that form. By comparing the facts furnished by contributors, and by actual observation in different parts of the countrj- on the growth of Boses in dif- ferent soils, I believe the truth, as far as yet ascertained, amounts to this — That Roses flourish on their own roots in a greater variety of soils than in any other form ; that they do i best on the Manetti stock in light soils, where sands of later formations predominate ; and that they do well on the Briar (Rosa canina), where the Briar is found to grow most luxuriantly in its wild state, as on stiff chalky land, and some clays. Assuming these data as approximating reality, we can readily accoimt for the preference given by so many cultivators to Roses on their own roots, for the Manetti being selected by others, and for the disappointment frequently expressed by purchasers of Roses on the Briar, because these have been transplanted into soUs less adapted to the stock than that from which it was taken before the Rose was budded on it. II " CorxTKY CuiuTE " is growing Boses in all these forms, he will, before long, certainly lind out which will bo the best suited to his situation, and had he stated what kind of soil he is growing them in it would have rendered his inquiry a little easier to discuss. The readers of this Journal are already aware of my ad- vocacy of the Manetti stock, a lengthy defence of it would, therefore, be a needless repetition. The soil here is very light and of good depth, and being on a shght eminence is naturally well drained, the subsoil is the green ferruginous sand found in connection with the chalk system. I have at present in the garden about one thousand Roses in all forms, budded, grafted, on Briars high and low, and on their own roots. As I have ' stated above, the soil is of the kind iu which I have always found tlie Manetti stock preferred ; hence, I soon discovered the evident superiority of that stock for propagation to any other method, and that, too, as a medium for getting Roses on their own roots. Roses planted out iu a soil like mine on their own roots, are ven' long in becoming strong, and vigorous i enough to withstand all the vicissitudes of the climate — not j so with well-budded Manetti plants, in nine cases out of ten they make strong shoots the first year, and in the second the flowers are satisfactory. The theorj- of " CorsTBV CriuxE" appears feasible enongh, and may be worth a trial. As the Manetti will bear moving at almost any time in the year, I should recommend an earlier month than November for removing the jiatch of bark which be believes would be instrumental in hastening the form.'ition of roots at the junction of stock and bud. If the trial be made at the end of September, or the beginning of October, the chance of causing a development of roots in the same autumn would be as probable as iu the succeeding spring and summer. I There is a greater distinction between grafted Manettis and budded ones than many people would at first be inclined to believe. My experience thus far shows that Manetti stocks grafted under glass with artificial heat, useful as the plan is for securing a rapid propagation of new varieties, have draw- backs when planted out of doors. In the first season they are j verj- liable to mildew, make little growth, and produce few flowers, and it is not till the second or third year that they become useful i>lants. I have also found that they do not readily throw out rootlets at the point of union. With budded Manetti stocks the case is different, provided they are budded as low as possible and with the stock in the open ground. If January 2, 1868. ] JOUBNAL OP HOBTICULTUEB AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. budded early in the season, a plant is formed at once ■which should be removed in the autumn ; and planted in such a, soil as mine, the bud should not be less than 4 inches below the surface. I think " Countuy Curate " will lind, that if he plant deeply enough roots will be formed much more rapiilly than when the junction is too near the surface ; care must, of course, be taken that the root of the stock is not buried in wet cold soil, which will be very likely to cause the death of the plant. If Manetti stocks are budded late in the season, it is better to leave the bud dormant all the winter. This is done by deferring till the following February or March the cutting off any of the stock into which the bud is inserted. In severe winters some casualties may occur in late budding. In October last I examined the roots of aliout fifty of my oldest plants, now gi'own strong. In most of the budded plants of more than three years old, roots had been formed upon the stems, springing from the point of union and that part of the first shoot below the surface. In the grafted plants which were bought, plants of the then new Muds, and propagated under glass, no such roots had been formed, although it is quite probable that they will be produced. Not wishing to remove the plants, I cannot say whether the stocks of those plants which have roots formed from the Kose are dead or not. I cut off several stems with roots on them and transplanted them to another place. As " Country Cur.\te " would probably like to know what kinds have formed roots of their own, in the way above described, I subjoin the list : — Genital Jacqueminot, Jules Margottin, Caroline de Sansal, Ceoile de Cbabrillant, Senateur Vaisse, Due De Gazes, Princesse llathilde, Triomphe d' Amiens, La Ville de St. Denis, Triomphe de Paris, Cardinal Patrizzi, Louise Odier, Eugene Appert, Francois Arago, Empereur de Maroc, and Louise Carique. — Adolphds H. Kent, llleckinr/ley, Ridlull, Surrey. POTATOES. I AM obliged to " Upwards and Onwards " for his article at page 485. Apples and Potatoes are the most valuable of fruits and vegetables, because they can be cooked in more ways than any other. As regards Potatoes, with me a dinner cannot be excellent without a good mealy Potato. The Potato lists will soon be as burdened with sorts as the Rose catalogues. Of course each new sort is said to be the best early, mid-season, or late Potato known. The difficulty is selection. Moreover, much depends on the taste of a person, the soil, culture, and seasons. As regards resistance of, or escape from the Potato disease, I do not beheve that any sort can be said to be thoroughly delnant. The earliest ripeners are as a class the most defiant. I beUeve that the disease has outwitted everybody ; it certsiinly has up- set all my calculations. I have known sorts much stricken one year give the soundest Potatoes the next year, and i-ice versa. Till we find out the nature of the disease we shall never per- haps find the cure or prevention. Digging Potatoes before they are ripe is a great folly ; you wiU lose just as many by it, and you will spoil what otherwise would have been good. They will be watery or waxy, the latter is to my taste the more offensive. I must here observe there is but one way to cook and serve up Potatoes — namely, to steam them, and send them up in their jackets. ^Vhen they are " done " the steam must not be stopped down upon them, or they will be soddened. Out of the number of professed cooks how few can cook a Potato well ! how few can roast a chicken or boil a leg of mutton as it ought to be done ! Give me a duck or chicken roasted by a farmhouse cook ; the maid Imows nothing of " made " dishes, and hence she attends to and properly bastes these great luxuries. Let me, however, turn to selection. Mr. Eivers's ideas of selection are that the Royal Ashleaf is the best to begin with, the Lapstones to go on with, and the Flukes to finish with. If I were to select a few only I would select the Koyal Ashleaf to begin with, Fortyfolds, and an admirable Kidney Potato sent here by a Yorkshire friend, said to be raised from the Ashleaf and Lapstone, to go on with, and Salmon Kidneys to end with. The last are the best latest Potatoes that I have ever eaten ; they require high cultivation, and prefer strong land. I fear that people estimate Potatoes by size and crop rather than quahty and crop. What is the use of the crop if the quaUty IS bad ? The qrtalitas vocis means a fine name, the qualitas rei means a good thing. In how many instances have we been beguiled by the qualitas vocU I Be guided rather by the nature of things than by their names. If a commodity is good I care not whether it be called Noblesse or Stump the World. The former is aristocratic, the latter democratic, or rather mundane. The following are also first quality Potatoes: — Brt-: iifririts. Early Mans, or Mauns, Dalmahoys, Flukes, Prizetakt- ;, Red Kidneys, and Silver Skins; the last are the nicest lo.. ring of all the Kidneys. These are good Potatoes, and good crojipera : — Mona's Pride, Early Handsworth, Scotch Rocks, called here also Scotch Downs. Taking this season up to the present time I have not had anything, for crop and quality, equal to the seedling Kidney raised from the Ashleaf and Lapstone. Its formation is strictlj " renal." As regards planting, I think Kidney Potatoes, especially those that have mole's eyes, should be planted shallow, and should not be planted till the eyes have started. They should not be cut, or cut very much. I think that in dry seasons if Potatoes were watered they would ripen earlier, and be safer from the disease. I some years ago watered my Royal Ashleafs just as I water my Roses, and they had not one diseased tuber. Potatoes keep better, and are better flavoiired, when dug after rain. — W. F. Radcltffe, Tarrant Eushton. GARDENERS' WAGES. The education of gardeners is a question that has been freely discussed, and its importance I must admit. Education is very necessary in order that the employed may give satisfaction to the employer ; for what a great pleasure it must be for a lady or gentleman to walk through the plant-houses accompanied by an intelligent gardener who can give a descriptive account of each plant that may be noticed. Yet this is expected from a class of men worse paid than many labourers. Take for in- stance one of hundreds of cases. A lad wishes to become a gardener ; the first consideration, as a matter of course, is to find him a place in a first-class estabhshment, which can generally be managed by paying a premium, say £10, more or less at times, to the head gardener, the lad receiving .8s. or 10s. per week for three, four, or five years. His duties for the first twelve months will be to attend to the fires, wash pots, and occa- sionally clean plants in the houses. From that he gradually ascends the ladder step by step, by being called to the potting- beuch, tying plants, and assisting the foreman in the venti- lation of the several houses. I will suppose his age now to be twenty. After serving five years he seeks and obtains a. situation as under-foreman, at the advanced rate of 15s. per week. This situation he holds for a like time, taking notes fo everything of importance carried on, taxing his memory with the names of thousands of plants, their distinct treatment, &c. From this he obtains a foreman's place as a finish off, at 18s. per week. He holds this until he is nearly thirty years of age, and often till later in lite, before he can succeed in obtaining a head gardener's place. Many gentlemen object to engage a gardener who has uot had the responsible charge of a place prei'iously. I need not mention, that during the whole of the sixteen years passed, he has been studying the practical and theoretical branches of gardening, and out of his scanty pittance he must deny himself almost the necessaries of life to purchase books to gain the requisite knowledge of his profession. Should ho after all these years succeed in obtaining a situation as head gardener, it will depend on his being free from incum- brance. At the rate of 30s. per week he may think himself at; the top of the tree as regards wages. Now. I ask your opinion. Are gardeners sufficiently remu- nerated ? They are expected to know a portion of many branches of science, and they work hard all through the sunny part of their lifetime, both in mind and body, making old men of themselves almost before they are young ones. There are very few that have had much to do under glass, who do not know something about rheumatism, brought on by working sometimes in a temperature of from 70° to SO" for hours, and then turning out to cover up the frames, or something of thai; sort, with the thermometer registering 30°. Gardeners have a great many years of uphill work before they can acquire any- thing like a general knowledge of their profession. Then there is the responsibility and consequent anxiety day and even night, that is, should they have the superintendence of much glass. Many a gardener, I am sure, could bear testimony that during the forcing season, what with over-anxiety aud fear lest anything should go wrong, a sleepless night often falls to his lot. The best of us are liable to failures sometimes, with JODBNAL OF HORTICULTUKE AXD COTTAGE GAEDE^JEE. [ Jiunatr a, ItK. no allowBiice made (or Uicni. There in, also, a tendency on the part cf B.iue gentlemen to dictate to tlie gardener, and require liim to il ' tilings in direct opposition to his views, and they will lilt listen to any objection wbich he may raise, or take tay of ilio responsibility from him. I trust tliftt I may live to bco the day when gardeners as a olses will be bettor remunerated, their acquirements nppre- oiAted, ond iheir oottagee more comfortably built. — \V. E. J. [The most of the matter.t to which you iiUudo have already icceiveil .'» Rood deal of atlontion in our columns. Jluch of the hanlHhips of which you oomplaiu would lio oiiietly of use, if they cuiUil bo brought under the uotiee oi those young lads and jontbs iutcnding to bo gardeners. Then, if influenced by these ^l«rd^hips, there should be fewer aspirants after gardening, the Tory soin-city woivld insure better remuneration for those who are «c^ qualiiiod, from having passed tlixough a series of regular instructii'ii. Now, any one who can dig and mow may call himt-. If a gardener, and such mou offer their services at such a low tigiu n as to keep down the general run of wages, and gentle- men and ladies are slow to bud out tiie difference between a good ready workman and a man of science and education. We hare frciiuently stated, that gardening, even now, chiefly offers an inducement to the sons of labourers and liumble mecha- nics, who by perseverance, self-denial, and self-culture, may thus raise themselves in the social scale. It holds out no in- duceme:it to the intelligent well-to-do middle classes, imless they depend on the poetry and romance of the emplovment as a good part of their remimeration for hard work with head and hands. Wo think it is well this should be clearly understood. Employeii: of gardeners will ever do as they like. They will give better wages when they cannot obtain cheaper gardeners. They will ;;ive higher wages, and req\iii'e higher qualifications, when they find, as many are now doing, that one man well paid will be more economical for them than another man under- paid. Vi'e will now glance at a few complaints, and but glance. First, There is no necessity for a tivo years' apprenticeship, and ever l-o many years afterwards, before taking any kind of a place. A man %vill learn more, even in a small place, super- intending everything, tliau he is likely to do as an under gar- dener with the charge of one department. Second, We showed lately that the wages of under gardeners are not so much in- ferior to those of mechanics, when constant employment, and the hope of bettering their position are taken into account. Third, The custom of gentlemen wishing to have a man who has been in a situation before, is not confined to gardening, it holds good as to all positions of trust and responsibility ; but it should show the importance of getting into a situation early, though a small one, and thus obtaining a family character. Fourth, We know all about the self-deuial, and it is often hard, and we .sympathise with it all, and from what we see and hear, things are looking better than they did ; but we must expect this self-denial in one shape or other. Make everything com- fortable and you mil have still a greater number attracted to enjoy the comfort, and thus, again, the supply wiU exceed the demand. Where all the young men even now go to, that are sent out from some places, as if they were struck like batches of bedding stuff, passes our comprehension. We do know that a great many leave gardening to look after itself, and try some- thing else. Hold out greater inducements, and there will be still more applicants. Hero is where the great dilemma and difficulty arc to be found, and which stand in the way of the better remuneration which gardeners so much desire, and which will be obtained, as already hinted, when good gardeners are more appreciated. Fifth, There can be no doubt that working much in houses is unhealthy ; but tliis could be much obviated if young men would clothe themselves sufficiently before rushing fi-om a high temperature into a low one. Sixth, As to employers dictating to their gardeners, and having things done their own way, with that we cannot intermeddle. An old nurseryman told a gardener when a young man, " If an em- ployer tells you to plant the branches of a tree in the ground and the roots in the air, do it. Calmly tell him you think it wo'n't answer ; but if he insists carry out his plans." Every employer has a right to decide how he will be served. There is a foolish soreness on this point amongst gardeners. They feel annoyed when they cannot do just as they like. When a" plan is proposed which you feel sure will not answer, state jour ob- jections respectfully, but give the ph»n every justice ; then, however, the employer must take the responsibility of failure or success. This is a dehcate point, but a httle firmness and integrity in carrying oat the proposed plan, will generally be sufficient to absolve the gardener if the plan shonld fall. Be- sponsibility can only be associated with the power to regulate. Lastly, The difficulty that a gardener with a large family has in obtaining a good place, ia both true and sad ; but the difB- oiUty is not so great as it was. Gentlemen are beginning to see that there is as much necessity fur a gardener having a house suited to a family, as any, nay more liian any other ont- door servant. They are also finding out that men with families are less given to change. We hope the word incumbrance will cease to be associated with "the olive ])lants " that gather round the gardener's table. Every addition is generally a fresh pledge to renewed exertion and industrj-. Gardeners, in fact, ought always to bo out. door servants. As well give a man the pimisbment of Tantalus at once, as place a spmce young fellow in a housekeeper's room with a number of well-dressed ladies' maids and other female servants, and give him clearly to understand that no married gardener will ever be kept there. The above answer to " W. E. J." was in print when we re- ceived a long letter from "An UsDF.n Gabhener " on low wages, miserable lodgings, &c., very well written, but to tho most of which, we are sorry to say, the above is all the answer we can give. We will note the following in addition : — First, The alleged disfavour with which such matters are received. The best answer to such an allegation is what wo and others have been permitted to write in these pages for years, and we might even refer to what is said of bothies in the Christmas Number, and, above all, to what is so well said by that gardener's friend, and, we believe, every man's well-wisher, our worthy coadjutor the " Wilishike Kectou." At the same time nothing would be gained by a more frequent repetition of the same complaints. Secondly, we are quite as glad as " Ax UxPEit Gardenef." can be of the rise of wages for the gardeners employed in the London nurseries, as, unfortunately, the low wages there acted as a sort of guide for the wages given to under gardeners in the country, a trifle more per week, and lodging, being too often deemed amply sutficient. Tliis is particularly pleasing just now when everything, except bread, is so high-priced. It would be out of place to enter into the consideration of the whole system of young gardeners being temporarily em- ployed in a nursei^y. Wo may, however, let out tho secret that, but for patronage and pleasing patrons, the system of emploving young men in nurseries lor short jjcriods, even at low wages, is too often a loss to the nursen-man — so much so, that in some of our large nurseries a yoimg gardener cannot obtain admission except as a groat favour to some large cus- tomer, and some of the greatest of the London nurserymen have told us that it would suit them better to have regular good workmen, acquainted with their work, at good wages, as, by the time the yoimg gardener was becoming useful, he was off to a place, and tho constant changing, even with good fore- men, was always a soiurce of trouble. Looked at in this light, the nurserymen were less to be blamed for low wages when the nursery was merely considered a sort of house of refuge. Thirdly, .\.s to head gardeners being chiefly to blame for low wages and miserable lodging-places, we fear that " .^s Usdeb Gakdekei!" will not be convinced to the contrai-y until he finds, when a master gardener, that his representations will he less effectual than he now imagines they would be. No doubt there are head gardeners who, if pretty comfortable themselves, are vei^y careless about the comforts of those beneath them ; but there are many others who leave no stone unturned in order to forward the interests of all with whom they are connected, and many often do mucli with wealthy kind-hearteil employers. But there are many others, to our knowledge, who are equally anxious to promote the comfort of their men, and have missed no opportimity of doing so by their timely representations, and yet have done all in vain. Is it to be wondered at that a lady or gentleman who will part with a gardener who pleaseB and suits in every way for the sake of five or ten pounds a-year, will refuse to give an imder gardener a shiUing or two extra per week ? We can recollect of many instances in which gardeners, by representing they could not find an imder gar- dener for a less sum, have been allowed to give that sum to one or two, but then they had to take labourers for lower wages instead of young gardeners, so that the labour account should not be raised. On the whole, a head gardener may often do much ; but, on the other hand, however much he may (eel, and however much he may try, he will find himself cribbed and confined wherever a greater espenditure is Jannan- 2, 1866 ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. involved. Kind-hearted employers there will always be, and who must have people comfortable about them ; but there are plenty of others who, provided they can obtain what they want, will obtain that in the most economical manner, and ▼ery regardless of the circumstances of those who contribute to their comforts. We hare hopes in the ever-increasing numbers of the truly beneficent as well as benevolent, but our chief hopes are in the lessening of the number of those who take to gardening as a trade or profession, and the more thorojigh grounding of these in the practice and science of their art. Meanwhile, we would wish to impress on intending pupils, and the parents of these pupils, that future success mnst be looked for in general through processes of self-denial. — B. F.] MR. SYMONS' EECORD OF BRITISH RMNFALL. It IB well known to all who take an interest in meteorological matters, that Mr. S;\-mon3, of Camden Town, London, has for some years pubUshed in a tabular form a statement of the rain- faU, as furnished him by correspondents from all parts of the kingdom ; nevertheless, there may be some who have not hoard of such a record, and have yet kept a register of the amount of rain which has fallen in their district. Should there be any such, they wUl do a service to the pubUc by furnishing Mr. Symous with the rainfall of the past year as soon as con- venient. Mr. Symons has invited such contributions through the London newspapers, and also thi-ough many provincial ones, giving the names of those observers who have hitherto fur- nished him with the desired information, and their respective districts. Although the number of stations in the United Kingdom at which the rainfall is observed is now upwards of one thousand, yet there is still room for more, and Mr. Sjinons solicits an in- crease. The mode of keeping such registers is much simplified, as compared with what it was many years ago, and the e.\'pense of the apparatus has been reduced, so that I believe a very good rain-gauge can now be had for 10s. (id., and in some cases for less than that. Mr. Symous' pamphlet gives some useful information on important meteorological events, and tables comparing the rainfall of one season with that of others are made out in an intelligible form. One thing, however, he has wisely retained from, and that is, making predictions as to the weather. Some may, perhaps, ask, What then is the use of meteorological observations, if they are not to enable us to form some idea of coming events ? To such I may say, What is the use of historical or chronological records of any kind, but to transmit to posterity what the past has been ? Besides, records of rainfall in di£ferent districts afford an interesting study on the causes which contribute to such a result. Some districts amongst the Cumberland hills are found to receive more than six times as much rain as the general average of the kingdom, and it is quite possible, and, in fact, very likely, that the wettest point has not yet been favoured with a rain-gauge, or its rainfall recorded. Now, however, that men of science are turning their attention to the matter, I trust that these " out- of-the-way places," will be duly represented. Mr. Symous also invites those Uving near to others who already contribute re- ports, to send their registry hkewise. Mr. Symons' address is 136, Camden Eoad, London, N., and printed forms for entry will be supplied by him when necessai^. I imagine that when the returns of rainfall for the kingdom are made out for this year, greater differences than usual will be found between the returns of certain districts when compared with others. On the whole, however, 1 think it will be admitted that the season has been a fine one, and the miklness of the autumn remarkable. Not many yards from where I now write, Nasturtiums are in flower, and quite improtected ; certainly they suffered a little from some frosts in the middle of November, and the continued dull weather has deprived them of that luxuriance which they exhibited in September and October ; still they are green and fresh, and nothing in the garden is more susceptible of frost. Geraniums which have not been taken up arc fresh also ; but so they were up to the 17th of December, ISGO ; and although we are now a few days past the time when frost commenced in that memorable year, I can hazard no opinion as to the likehhood in the present winter of another such frost as that which occurred in 1860. Leaving that to the weather prophets we must content our- selves with recording the past, and although other phenomena than the amount of rainfall may be registered by those who carry their researches further into meteorological matters, Mr. Symons only requires the monthly ramfall and number of days on which rain fell, and those who have the means of supplying such information will be doubly rewarded by the knowledge that they have contributed to a subject which is fast becom- ing one of national importance, and one from which they as well as others will reap the benefit. — J. Eoeson. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S MEETING. The December Meeting of this Society was held on the 4tli ult.— the President, F. Pascoe, Ksq., F.L.S., &rc., in the chair. A very interesting collectiou of insects made in British Bnxmah, by Lieut. fieavan, was exhibited ; amongst which were many fine species of Euphea, and some new Hesperiidae, also some rare and new Coleop- tera, including a remarkable Tortoise Beetle of the genus Prioptera. Another collection, chiefly of Butterfiics and Moths, in a very jjerfect state of preservation, made in the ncifjhbourhood of Santa Martha, in Venezuela, by the Inte Mr. Bouchard, was also exhibited by Mr. S. Stevens. The excellent manner in which these specimens had been captured and presei-ved caused additional regret at the untimely decease of Mr. Bouchard. A mutilated specimen of the rare Goliathus Drurii, Westwood, being the only insect saved by M. Du Chailln, in his hasty retreat from the interior of Western Tropical Africa, and brought home iu his waistcoat pocket, was also exhibited by Mr. Stevens. Mr. Stainton exhibited some remarkably dark brown varieties of the common Moth, Tinea cloacella, reared from larvre found feeding under the bark of dead Birch trees" at Llangollen, by Mr. Gregson. Mr. F. Smith exhibited specimens of the Sawfly, Crnesus septen- trionolis, which he had found in the larva state on the *JOth of August last. They had spun up in theii- cocoons in four or five days, and the perfect insects appeared a mouth later, thus vanning from the ordinar}- habit of the family of lying unchanged within the cocoon, during the whole of the winter. Mr. McLachlan, however, suggested that it was possible that there were two broods in the year, as he had taken the perfect insect at Loch Kannoch, in June. Mr. Smith also exhibited some specimens of the "Bugong," a large greasy-bodied species of Moth belonging to the genus Agrotis, which is eaten by the aborigines of New Holland in considerable numbers, and which had been forwarded by Mr. George Bennett, author of " Wanderings in New South Wales," to Dr. Gray, of the British Museum. Some conversation took place as to the noises asserted to be made by the Death Watch, Atropos pulsatorius, the general opinion being that the common impression as to their origin was erroneous. Mr. McLachlan read a memoir on the varieties of Sten-ha saeraria, recently reared in this countiy, with observations on the causes and eiteut of the different variations to which the species of Lepidop- terous insects in this country are subject. Professor Westwood read descriptions of some new species of Lon- gicorn Beetles belonging to the genus Cantharocuemis, but forming different sub-geuei"a, and for which he jiroposed a series of uniform sub-generic names, in order to avoid the inconvenience resulting from the modem system of division, in which almost every species was raised to a distinct generic rank. The Rev. J. Greene exhibited specimens of the newly- descri.bed British Moth, Acidalia maucuniata. Some further notes on the Buprestidie of New Holland, by Mr. C. A- Wilson, of Adelaide, were also read ; likewise the description of a new species of Papilio, from one of the small islands of the Pacific Ocean, by Mr. G. Semper, of Altona. A fine series of drawings of the insects of North America, destructive to the Cotton, Orange, Lime, Potato, (fee, intended for publication, was exhibited by Mr. Moore, ToDMORDEX Botanical Societt, December 4th. — On the table were the new and beautiful Pteris sen'ulata cristnta ; also Scolopen- drium vulgare polycuspis angustum, and S. vulgare Malcomsoni, the latter a splendid form, something like a gigantic cristatum, only that the fronds are of normal length and width from base to apes. A com- munication was read from Mr. T. Pritchard, of Erynyffynnon. North Wales, announcing his discovery near that place of the rare Asplenium trichomanes incisum triangulare (M), as well as several other rare Ferns, small specimens of some of which were laid before the meeting. Amongst them we observed a very beautiful form of the Lady Fern, belonging to the plumosum group. HOUSE SEWAGE. An answer to correspondents on the above subject in your Journal of the 5th ult. rather surprised me. I have a cemented cesspool into which the waterclosets and sinks of three houses are drained ; within a couple of yards I have a simple filter thus : — Two tar-barrels are sunk vertically in the ground, the upper one having both ends removed, and the lower one having a bottom pierced with holes ; a layer of cinders weighted with a perforated elate, a draiu underneath to connect with the cess- JOUPNAL OF HORTICULTTJBE AND COTTAQE GARDENER. r JUIIUU7 3, 1866. jjool, and a BUiall pnmp complete the filter. The liqnid has been libcrftllv used to tlio fniit trees, CurrRnts, yonng hedges, 4c., by mvse'U ftnd neighbours during the past two summers, and wc think with good effect, particularly to the IVars and Apples. The soil is light, rather sandy, resting on red sand- stone, and during the late droughts I consider that the fruit was not only saved, but increased in size by the frequent appli- cation of the filtered sewage. The gardens have only been formed three years. The trees in mine are trained as espaliers, and have borne much better crops than the staudards in my neighbours' gardens, although the trees were all planted at the same time. I pinch-in the espaliers very closely. I think it would be a great boon to many of your readers if yon or some of your contributors would discuss this subject. In how many cases in the country the house sewage runs to waste in an open ditch, or poisons the ground around the cess- pools, whilst every particle of manure lins to bo brought from a distance ! Is there not any filtering medium that would take up the valuable products ? Peat charcoal I would try, but where is it to be had ? Soil will not allow the liquid to perco- late quickly enough. Quicklime clears the liquid, but has no effect on the smell, and I am told that the deposit is spoiled as a manure. Sulphuric acid destroys the smell, and I believe the product is valuable, but would not the expense be great ? — N. I. H. [We not only have gone into the consideration of house sewage as a fertiliser very fully, but have collected what we wrote on that and other fertilisers into a book, " Manures, or Muck for the Many," which you can liave free by post from our office for four postage stamps. WHiat we said at page 4C9 had reference to the inquirer's particular case. The flowers were too faded to be recognised ; but under the best of circumstances, unless a Chrysanthemum is very remark- able, it would be very difficult to recognise it from a single flower, the TOiieties are so very numerous.] A LARGE ^^NE. On the aeacoast, midway between Tyre and Sidon, is a very ancient Mulberry garden, surrounded by some enormous Olive trees, whose hollow trunks attest their great antiquity. By the garden side stands a cool fountain, fed by one of the moun- tain streams, so welcome to the traveller for his noontide rest when travelling through that thirsty land. After resting awhile at this pleasant spot, we rambled through the garden of Mul- berry trees, partly for the sake of taking the fruit, but more with the intent of learning something about the rearing of silk- worms, which was there in full operation. Whilst admiring the great size of the fine old MuJberrv- trees, I happened to notice the bark of a tree which appeared so Vine-like in its character that I stopped to examine it, and, to my anrprise, found that it was really a Vine of most enormous dimensions ; it rose by two main stems, and fairly rested upon six or eight of thu largo Mulberry trees around. I measured the two stems a few inthes above the ground ; the larger one was 50} inches in circumference, the smaller 40 inches. I endeavoured to trace out the area covered by its branches, but could not obtain an exact measurement, for the branches had rambled most irregularly. It had a splendid crop of very large bunches of Grapes then, but in an early stage of growth, and I was told that it is a black variety. My impression is that it is one of the largest Vines in the world, and it would well repay a visit to " Ein-el-Kanterali," for that is the name of the spot, if it bo sought for by any of your readers, whose rambling propensities may carry them along that seashore. — W. WAhKi,YS. TLANTINO A CIRCULAR BED. I HAVE a circular bed 11 feet in diameter, which I meditate planting next year as follows ; but should like your opinion as to its worth, and also to guide me in the planting of the same as to the proper distance apart in the rows, as well as plant from plant in the rows: — 1. — Variegated .^jabis. 2. — Variegated Sage. 3. — Variegated Euphorbia. 4. — Iresine Herbstii. 6. — Centaurea candidissima, with three plants of Perilla^in the centre. As you will at once see it is meant for a bed of foliage. Would Dactyhs glomerata variegata be better in No. 3 ? — Scnset. [We do not think your arrangement would look well. Having the three variegated plants together is bad taste. Had we a similar bed to plant, and if the position is a sheltered one, we should arrange the planting as follows, beginning from the centre : — 1. — Three good plants of Canna discolor ; these would oc- cupy about 2 feet. 2. — 2 feet of Cineraria maritima. 3. — Ditto Amaranthus melancholicns ruber. 4. — Ditto Centaurea candidissima. 5. — Ditto Iresine Herbstii. 6. — 1 foot of Corastium Biebersteinii. The plants may be about 9 inches apart each way, taking care to plant them alternately, and putting the tallest plants towards the centre, and at the same time keep each circle to its proper width. The Cerastium should be planted rather closer than the others ; from 4 to 6 inches apart would be a good distance for it. If the bed is on grass the above arrangement would look well. We have to apologise for accidentally overlooking this query and answer.] The enclosed set of beds occupy the top of a terrace about 40 feet wide, and are principally seen from another terrace about 5 feet aliove it. Two-thirds of the beds I laid out last FLO"WER GARDEN PLAN. winter ; the remainder, or from figures 7 and to the right,! have just completed, and intend planting them as mnrlvcd, but should feel much obliged for your opinion before that time 5 6 ^ 1 1. Centre of bed, Ilcliotrope^ ; next ii row of rerillA ; then anollier of Prince of f )riink'e Cslceolario, the whole edged with liijou Oerauitun. comes. I may mention that our soil is light, and that we are exposed to most, or all the storms and sun that there may be, BO that the bedding plants generally do not grow tall but bloom most profusely. — B. D. T. [According to the system of planting we could not improve : 2 2. Christine Geraninm. 3 s. Blue Lobelia (iipcoioim), edged with I.ady rlymouth Geranium. 4 4 8 8. Puri'le King Yerbena. 5 5 9 9. .\tirea florilmnda Calceolar 6 6. Tom Thumb Geranium 7 7. Mangletii Geranium. what you propose, and we have no doubt that it will look well. In another season we should bo tempted to make your centre panelhng row the centre, and then make the two sides the exact counter)mrt of each other. Your planting will look yery well. We presume the plan is on gravel.] January 2, 1866. ] JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. WORK FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN OAKDEH. As the weather continues much the same, the operations recommended to be performed in the past month should be proceeded with. Caulijiou'crs, if the autumn Bowmg failed, it wiU be advisable to sow in a box, which may be placed m a forcing-house, and when the plants are of sufficient size prick them out in a frame on a slight hotbed. Cefcry, trenches should now be dug out, so that they may receive the beneht of frost ■ in spring Cauliflowers may be planted m them, and dwarf Peas or Lettuce between, and these crops will be off by the time the trenches are wanted. Cucumbers, a seed-bed should now be made to raise yoimg plants for the hotbeds, a one-hght box is generally of sufficient size for this purpose ; after the bed is made, and the heat is up, the dung should be forked up every other morning to the depth of a foot, until the burning heat has subsided. Dwarf Kidney Beans, earth-up as they advance in growth, never allow them to grow to too great a height before this is done ; water them before earthmg-up if they are at all drv. Potatoes, if young ones are wanted very early, some Early Frame, or any of its varieties, may be planted in a slight hotbed ; if it is not convenient to plant them im- mediately, they may be laid in a forcing-house tiU they begin to shoot. Radishes, a second crop may now be sown m a similar situation to the last— that is, on a slight hotbed. Dung should now be prepared for forcing the various culinary vege- tables which are required early; a considerable quantity of leaves may be used with it. FRUIT GIKDEN. The work of trenching, draining, preparing borders for fruit trees, pruning, nailing, and dressing the ground may be proceeded with. Fruit trees may be removed and planted, but take care to keep the frost from the roots of newly-planted trees. FLOWER GARDEN. The absence of frost from the ground has permitted of a variety of work in this department being carried on. Borders not cleaned and dressed should at once be finished. Recently- removed plants should be protected. In the pinetum a little protection may be afforded to Pinuses of doubtful hardiness. We repeat these instructions, assuming that the weather has cheated some of us into forgetfulness of winter, whose approach is unusually delayed. We have still Verbenas in flo\yer, and Pelargoniums uninjured in the open ground. Dahlia roots should be occasionally examined in order to counteract the effects of damp, &c. Where a quantity of young plants is required it will be requisite to put the roots to work by forcing them in a gentle hotbed or pit. Abundance of air is necessary to Carnations and Picotees in frames ; for when kept in a con- fined atmosphere mildew is certain to be engendered. Pan- sies, which during the past fine weather have begun to move, should be caref uUy protected in the event of severe weather, as they wiU be much more susceptible of injury. Carefully ex- clude frost from the beds of Tulips. Those who have not obtained the necessary number of Ranunculuses to make up their beds ought to do so without delay, as the period of plant- ing, the middle of February, will soon be here. If the beds have not been already formed, perhaps the simplest and best way is to excavate the soil 2 feet deep, put in 6 inches of de- cayed cowdung, covering this with maiden turfy loam to the depth of 12 inches or more, the remaining 6 inches to be equal parts loam, leaf soil, and sand thoroughly incorporated. GREENHOUSE AND CONSERTATOKY. About 40° is a good temperature for the conservatory, when not attached to sitting-rooms, and used only for the purpose of wintering large specimens without plants in blossom ; but where a supply of stove plants in bloom is constantly kept up from a forcing-pit, which is essentially necessary to every good con- servatory in winter, the heat most suitable is 45° by night, raising it to 55° in the day. Cinerarias, which are great orna- ments in this house in winter, are thirsty plants, and should be well attended to with water. They are also liable to the attacis of insects, and unless they arc looked after they wiU soon estabUsh these amoug other plants. Chinese Primroses are also very ornamental here ; although they grow well near the glass, they do best in shaded places. With regard to soil, two parts rough leaf mould, and one of well-decayed cowdung, with a little sand, suits them best, and in this they like plenty of moisture. CameUias wiU now be swelling their buds. Neglect in supplying water must be avoided, and attention should be given so that it is appUed in proportion to the activity of the growth of the plants. This remark apphes equally to other plants. Remove flowers as soon as they be- come shabby. Stove plants will take no injury for a few days in this temperature, but hardwooded greenhouse plants, such as Heaths, should not remain more than a few days at a time in such a temperature. Prune, train, and clean the creepers on the rafters. The Pelargoniums intended for blooming m May, if not shifted already, must be removed into their bloom- ing-pots immediately, using a free open soil. Late-blooming specimens must now be stopped, preparatory to being potted in the end of Februaij, and young stock must be encom-aged, so as to make the plants strong and healthy. Herbaceous Cal- ceolarias will grow very rapidly for the next three months, and, therefore, must be encouraged and kept clean. Fumigate slightly once a-week or ten days, but be very cautious, or you will injure the foUage. Water when necessary, but not over the foUage. STOVE. Here the night temperature must not exceed 60°, and if it fall to 50° in severe weather, no harm will be done. Keep the atmosphere rather moist, especially if the weather is bright, and remove such plants as are inclined to start to the warmest part of the house. Some plants, such as Stephanotis, AUa- mandas, Manettias, Dipladenias, &c., may be pruned, trained, and started, if by a gentle bottom heat all the better, but those plants wanted for late blooming must be kept back for the present. Some persons keep their stove plants now and for the next six weeks quite at rest, and in that state a tempera- ture of 55° is quite enough for them in cold weather. No more water is given at the roots than will keep the leaves from flagging. A high temperature and dry atmosphere are much more injurious to stove plants than any cold they can suffer in a temperature above 45°. Orchids should now be kept as cool and dry as they can bear for about six weeks, and in spring increase the heat as the season advances, but still withhold water till early in summer, and then give it only when the buds are ready to start. Young Stanhopeas are more diffi- cult to flower than established plants, because they are more susceptible of changes of temperature and moistui-e. From this time to the beginning of May give as Uttle water at tha roots as is consistent with the health of the plants, and up to the middle of February 55° is the proper temperature. The atmosphere should not be drier than that for a coUection of stove plants ; therefore, where two houses do not exist, the coldest end of a stove is a good place to winter them in. FORCING-PIT. Remove the plants from here to the conservatory as fast as the flowers expand, and introduce others from the reserve for succession, placing them first at the cool end of the pit, so as to excite them graduallv. A few Pinks and Sweet WiUiams may be started, and plenty of Lily of the Valley, Sweet Bnar, and other sweet-scented plants. Gardenias must also be started, and as Stephanotis is a great favourite, a plant or two should be placed at the warmest end of the pit. Maintain a fresh, growing, moist temperatm-e of from 60° to 65°, or 70° with sun heat, and give air, warmed before it reaches the plants, at every favourable opportunity. Syringe early on sunny days, and keep a moist atmosphere, unless the weather is very duU. PITS AND FRAMES. These must be protected in severe weather, and abundance of air should be given to Mignonette and Violets when the weather is favourable. The early-potted Tulips and Hyacinths under tan will begin to draw, therefore, remove them to a cold pit. A batch of Mignonette for succession may be sown to- wards the end of the mouth. Keep the plants in these struc- tures as hardy as possible, by fully exposing them m mUd weather, but do not give them any more water than is abso- lutely necessary. Remove all decayed and decaying leaves, and keep the atmosphere in as healthy a state as possible,— W. Keane. ^__ DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN. SoT\T!D succession of Kidney Deans ; potted young Cucum- bers ■ spawned and earthed fresh piece of Mushroom-bed ; put some droppings, with a portion of long litter made short by cutting it, in a shed to dry; took up more Rhubarb and Sea- kale to place in the JIushroom-house ; and, as the heat was declining too much, put a lot of fermenting material m tha house to prevent the necessity of putting a fire on.^ Ihe first beds are producing plentifuUy, and the old beds in the open lO JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTtTRE AHD COTTAGE GAKDENEB. r Jaontry 3, 18GS. shed are still prodncing ijfcfolly. There are unmistakcable sigue that in many famihcs Mushrooms are becoming as much au everyday a£fair as Parsley, and it is a sad thing to be short of the latter. Wlienevcr scarcity is threatened it is a good plan to fill some pots and boxes, and place in the houses, or liU a frame or part of a frame with it, with a little gentle heat under it. It is advisable to have one of these modes to fall back upon, as respects Sorrel, Fennel, Tarragon, Burnet, Cher- vil, and especially Mint, as, after Asparagus comes in. Mint is often wanted, and Iamb, however great the delicacy, is nothing without it in the estimationof a connoisseur. Mint is a particular thing in some places, with us it lives only a short time, unless fresh plantations are frequently made. It is well to notice, that in taking fermenting materials into a Mushroom-house, for first producing heat and then getting prepared for forming a bed, besides the annoyance of extra steam, to which reference was made lately, there is the possi- bility of taking in slugs and snails, and mice with the litter, which is not so likely to be the case if the material has been prepared, well heated, and thus dried in a shed. The heating makes these insects start, and therefore, though we thus lose a a portion of the enriching power of tlie dun;;, we gain in more freedom from vermin. We have not yet noticed the nibbUng of mice, but several bonnet-headed Muslirooms have been holed by snails. These may be trapped with greased cabbage leaves, and, better still, by a little brewer's grains laid in a heap ; but the most eflfectual mode is to take a candle and lanthom, and look over the beds and walls any time from ten o'clock at night to three o'clock in the morning. The snail seems to know instinctively the darkest and quietest hours. We have never seen them so large as in a Mushroom-house. We have taken some that looked like small adders, and almost as beautifully spotted. Such soon render useless a lot of Mush- rooms if allowed to have their way. As occasion offered, went on stirring the ground amongst yonng crops. Gave plenty of air to young Radishes, but they scarcely move in the dull foggy weather. We would have pro- ceeded with shght hotbeds, but the huaricane took away most of ourtree leaves, and until the shooting is over we must not go near the covers. A good stock of tree leaves is a great acquisition for a garden, as their mild heat enables us to bring many things forward ; but for them we should have been at a standstill in all departments, as, without their aid. the dung from three or four horses would scarcely have sufficed for Mushrooms, let alone the wants of the kitchen and flower gardens. We have as yet done little digging or trenching. In general we like the surface to be frosted lirst ; but in such a mUd season as this we would not have waited for this, if a press of other work and alterations had not caused the delay. All stiff clay soils, whether merely turned up one spit deep, or two or three spits in depth, would be the better of being ridged up in furrows, and the clearer these furrows show the mark of the spade the more will the frost act upon them in (^battering them to pieces. In light soils it is better to leave the surface rough but iiat. as, if ridged up, the soil would get too fine, and there would be a want of firm holding power for the plants. For gardening-purposes the soil cannot be too deep ; and the shal- lowest soil will soon be deepened if, in trenching, the subsoil is broken either with spade or pick, left where it was at first, and at the next trenching a little of it is brought up and in- corporated with the staple. It is wonderful how a thin hungry soil may thus be deepened and improved, especially if there is a good rubbish-heap of decaying vegetable matter to go to. Such rubbish-heaps of all refuse vegetable matter will be greatly im- proved if short grass from lawns and a little htter be placed below them in summer and mixed with them, and a Uttle earth be thrown over aU. The grass, A-c, will cause the whole to fer- ment kindly, and the earth wUl keep in all the fertihsing gases. Wherever dimg is scarce much must depend on the goodness of the rabbish heap, and evervthing that will rot and decay should be carefully husbanded there, except seed weeds, or what will be best disposed of in the charring and burning heap. Many of the remains of vegetables would come in useful at the farm for pigs, A-c, to nibble at, and at least amuse themselves ; and when dung can be had in return, a fair exchange is all right ; but when it is supposed that it is waste to let manure from the farm find its way into the garden, then every hit of vegetable should be kept in the rot-heap to help to produce other vege- tables. When spent quarters are to be cleared, it is not a bad plan to dig them, or rather trench them down, and then they rot and give off their manuring properties slowly; but in this case they often prove a feeding place for gardeners' enemies in the gromid, and in general it will be found preferable to rot them in the rubbish heap, kept covered with earth whenever there is an escape of gases, in other words, whenever there is tlie heat from active decomposition, and the heap will be all the more valuable from this heating and earth -covering. A part of the heap already decayed may bo used for throwing on the surface ; a little salt and lime will also be useful if added to the heap ; and so for all soils not aboondiug in calcareous matter would be all kinds of lime mbbiab. On chalky soils the application of calcareous matter in any shape is generally of little avail ; but there are many places where strong loam is resting on clay, and a great depth of chalk below the chiy, and in such cases the bringing up the chalk and surface-dressing with it is often of great advantage. If spread on the groimd before frost it will generally be shattered and broken enough. FECTT OAUDKN. Merely a repetition of previous weeks ; have shut up the Peach-house, and put a little tire on just to move the plants gently. For temperature in various houses, see memoranda of a fortnight ago. ORNAUENTAt, DEPABTSrEKT. The chief trouble has been to keep damp from late-struck Geraniums, and other bedding plants in cold frames and pits. For several reasons, the chief an anxiety not to disfigure fine beds and borders, our cuttings were unusually late this season, and the damping of the foUage has been rather troublesome in cold pits and frames. It is better every way to place them in a house where a little fire heat can be used. No greater mis- take can exist than the supposition that gardeners can have their own way in this respect, even in " very tidy places." Such a mode has suited us hitherto, and "We want no change " is often the re]>ly to plans that have cost consideration and trouble. That is no reason why every one should not try to obtain what would be the most suitable, as exemphfied in the letter and plan of a Cucumber-house, given by Mr. O'Donnell at page o"24. Such a house is far hefore a lean-to pit. If mostly above the ground level, and fully half of the sides of glass, it would bo better still. One advantage of the plan given is that the beds are the width of the path.s from the sides, and therefore receive more hght from the roof in winter. The lobby and double door are a great advantage, especially in winter. But, notwithstanding all these advantages being made apparent, many, very many, must do what they can with flat lean-to pits, or, perhaps, still flatter frames. Unless greatly elevated at the back, no common frame or pit with the same inclination receives any direct hght, or rays from the sun, for nearly half the width in front. More hght, and the chance of giving a little help from fire heat, are of great advantage for most ornamental plants that are gromi in pots. In such places, and in all houses kept cool, no watering shoidd be given unless absolutely required. The moisture in the air has generally been sufficient where no great amount of artificial heat was given. Bulbs that have now filled their pots w-ith roots may be gradually forced, but the heat should be raised by degrees — say Hyacinths beginning at 45 , and rising in ten days to 55° and 60° ; Tulips not quite so much ; and Crocuses should seldom be above 50' with artificial heat if it is desired to have the coloturs bright. Narcissus will stand as much heat as Hyacinths, but when coming into bloom the tempcratiu-e should be gradually lowered before they are taken to the greenhouse or window. Hyacinths when showing their bloom-stalks will often be better of a pot or a paper funnel placed over them, to draw up the stems, to give the florets room ; but in all cases as the bloom opens the plants should have all the hght possible. Placing them in the middle of the room, on the top of the mantelshelf, or on sideboards, is an act of cruelty which, if the poor bulbs could speak, they would soon tell us all about. Hardy shrubs brought forward in heat should have the temperature gradually reduced before they are taken into a much colder place ; and all shrubs that are to be forced should also be bronght on by degrees, as subjecting them to a high temperature at ouce is apt to start the flower-buds pre- maturely and cau?e them to drop, whilst it gives an extra stimulus to wood-buds to start into shoots. The weather has been everything that is desirable for green- house plants ; even the most sensitive of the hardwooded ones could take all the mild air that could be given them if there was enough of fire heat in foggy days to keep the air in motion. Extra heat otherwise is to be avoided, as the mild temperature has encouraged growth, whilst there has been httle sun to con- sohdate the growth. Jannary 2, 18«€. ] JOUBNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENBB. 11 Now is a good time to cut in many stove climbers, as Alla- mandas, Stephanotis, Paseifloras, &c., and to shake out and re- pot those previously pruned, and now showing their fresh shoots. Cuttings may now be made of Euphorbias, Poiusettias, &c., to be grown on for next autumn and winter. Most stove plants that have been at rest in winter, as Clerodendrons, may also be pruned back to a few buds of last year's shoots, and as soon as the buds burst the plants should be shifted into smaller pots, be benefited with a little bottom -heat, and receive another shift as soon as the pots are full of roots. Care should be taken that Ixoraa are now free of scale and gi-een fly, and they wiU be much benefited if the pots are plunged in a mild sweet heat of from 75° to 80°, the top heat averaging from C0° to 65°. As time permitted went on with potting Mosses, Ferns, &c., get- ting a lot in small pots, so as to form parts of vases of flowers in-doors, &c. Most of our work for the week has been moving Ehododen- drons and other evergreens, and fresh turfing some borders, which it is considered we should be better without. Where much heavy work with evergreens is required to be done, it would be economy to have a stout low-wheeled little truck for the purpose. In layinif turf, and moving tiu-f to be relayed, much time and labour are wasted if the turf is not taken up in pieces pretty uniform in width and thickness. Inattention to these little matters makes a great difference in the amount of work that can be done in a day, and even careful men, and good at taking up turf, need to be reminded of it. At this sea- son of the year many men will attempt to lay turf by standing and stooping — a rare stoop for a tall young man ; but where a regular job has to be gone about, turfing cannot be satisfactoiily done by a man working in such a stoopiug position. The im- portance of a dry day, and the ground moderately dry, will be seen from the circumstance that the workman ought to be on the imtnrfed groimd, and on his knees when at work. A knee- pad should protect his knees, and a moveable pad be used for his legs. Every piece of turf should be put down properly in its place — a matter easily done if the turves are uniform in thickness, but which requires a good deal of packing if the turves are not equal in thickness. If the turves are not left level and well packed, no beating or rolling afterwards will ever make a smooth level lawn. Of course all old ground that used to be dug must be thoroughly beaten before turfing, and even then most likely it will fall in the course of years. Where much turfing is done, and the ground requires much levelling and regulating previously, the simplest plan is to use a number of lines of cord, stretched at the proper sweep and level, and then the workmen have only to turf up totheUnes. In making banks of a regular uniform slope, a good plan is to have one line stretched firmly for the edge of the top, and another for the edge at the bottom, and a heavy rod of the requisite length moving between the two lines will secui-e a uniform slope all throughout. As to evergreens, we may mention that Ehododendi'ons will not flourish in a soil abounding in calcareous matter. In almost every other soil they will grow if enriched with rotten leaf mould. In our soil our only chance is to turn down the loam and turn up the clay, and plant in clay, and a Uttle leaf mould and sand. They will not look at our stiff loam, which has a good portion of calcareous matter in it. After all they generally do best in such soils as the native Heaths de- hght in ; but they do well in heavyish loam, in rich sandy loam, and, in fact, in any loam we have met with free of calca- reous matter. A falling barometer is giving us warning that ere long we shall be able to bring up our leeway in house-work of all kinds. Hitherto the weather has been too favourable for out- door work to do more in-doors than what was absolutely essential. — B. F. TRADE CATALOGUE RECEIVED. William Pontey, Huddersfield. — List of Forest and Orna- mental Trees, Shrubs, d'c. COVENT GARDEN JIAEKET.— December 30. Supplies are well kept up and prices maiutained, Pines and Grapes both being slightly in advance of last week- Pears are becoming com- paratively scarce, and are confined to Winter Nelis. Ne Pins Meuris, Col- mare, and Glon Morceaa. Large quantities of Potatoes are on hand. Apples i sieve Apricots doz. Cherries lb. Chestnuts bush. Currants, Red i sieve Black do. Pigs doz. Filberts lb. Cobs .... 100 lbs. Gooseberries. . ^ sieve Grapes, Hambro.. . lb. Muscats lb. Lemons 100 Artichokes each AsparasTUS. ... bundle Beans Broad., bushel Kidney 100 Beet, Ked doz. Broccoli bundle Brus. Sprouts.. i sieve Cabbage doz. Capsicums 100 Carrots bunch Cauliflower doz. Celery bundle Cucumbers each pickling .... doz. Endive score Fennel bunch GarUc and Shallots, lb. Herbs bunch Horseradish . . bundlo B. d. s. d 2 0to3 g 4 6 G 16 1 160 7 10 10 B. d. 0. d Melons each 3 0to5 Mulberries, . . . punnet Nectarines doz. Oranges 100 4 10 Peaches doz. Pears (kitchen). . doz. 2 4 dessert doz. 16 6 Pine Apples lb. 5 8 Plums ;i sieve Quinces | sieve Raspberries lb. Strawberries lb. Wakiuts bush 14 20 VEGETABLES. 8. a. B. d n OtoO u H n l:i u ()■ 3 u 2 (1 3 (1 1 n 2 2 3 n 9 1 B n n U n 4 8 3 tl U 1 n 2 2 3 n U 1 () 2 n » n K () n S n () 2 6 4 U Leeks bnnch Lettuce .... per score Mushrooms pottle Mnstd. & Cress.punnet Onions per bushel pickling . . . .quart Parsley i sieve Parsnips doz. Peas quart Potatoes bushel Kidney do. Radishes doz. bunches Rhubarb bundle Savoys doz. Sea-kale basket Spinach bushel Tomatoes ^sievo Turnips bunch Vegetable Marrows dz. St on 1 n 2 () 1 6 2 6 2 » 6 fl fi 1 n 1 6 1 2 () (> 2 6 4 3 4 fl 6 1 n 1 (1 9 1 6 2 3 U 2 S n n 4 « U u u U TO CORRESPONDENTS. •»* We request that no one will write privately to the depart- mental writers of the "Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing tbey are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All communications sbould therefore be addi*essed solely to The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, d'C, 171, 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 an- swered promptly and conveniently, but write them on separate communications. Also never to send more than two or three questions at once. NJB. — Many questions must remain unanswered imtil nest week. Book {T. T., Isleicorth). — You can have "In-door Gardening" and " Out-door Gardening " for Is. 6d. e^ch at our office. The early Pea you refer to was Dickson's Early Favourite. MuxcniNG Roses (M.H.). — Half-rotten dung will be better for mulch- ing Roses than that in a state of fermentation. NESPonr di Japoni CtrLTCRE {An Irish Subscriber). — We belie%-e it to be the Loquftt. Mespilus (Eriobotryal japonica. and it is not so flue either in Italy or Malta as it is in In( the Larch trees will prevent any danger of their being scorched. Wo should begin by throwing up a bank of loose rubbihh againut the w^ll, and if more utoues than soil all the better. This mound, ' or bank, we would have eiiual in height to the wall, all but 3 feet, and as wide at bottom as it is high, forming it, however, in an Irregidar serpen- ] tine fashion. At the base of the bank lay a row of tree wtumps, and fill i op the interstififi with soil, which may consist of peat and loam in equal i pa^t'^. *ir failing the poit, the top soil from n wood from which the leaves are never removed but allowed to rot. I>ay another tier of stumps and I ilion fill up witli soil, and so on. Work the soil into the vacant Hpaces as I you proceed, instead of flrflt making the rootory and then filling in the ; interstices, leaving the paHs beneath the stuinp-i hollow. Huild up firmlv, I with a Ktriiight face in some parts as if it were a wiUl, in others sloping, and in nome parts much wider than in others, and as tree stumps are more easily placed than rock stones, we hIiouUI certainly have the door- way formed of the stamps placed one upon the other, and the other end, or exit, open. On the other side (for next the rootery against the wall should be a path 4 feet wide), the stumps should bo placed so as to corre- spond with the side next the wall, and tliii^ piirt may be of any width, height, or form desired. The main points to bo attended to are to build up the rooterj- firmly, to fill the openings with auil, and to make its appearance as bold and rugged as po-sible. The stumps for the most part should be about half buried in the soil, some almost entirely hidden, others entirely bare, and all firmly placed. In addition to filling- np the hollows as the stumps are laid, the whole should be gone over afterwards, and any openings where Ferns are to bo planted should have soil placed in them. Ail the commoner kinds of British and hardy exotic Ferns would do fairly. Of these we can only name a few— \iz. :— Lastrea Filix-mas and varieties, Osmunda regaHs, Lastrea oroopteris, L. recun-a, L. dilatata, ami I,. ei>iuosn ; Polj-podium vulgar* and varieties, P. dryoptoria, and P. phrtropUris; Polystiehuni lobatum and varioticB, and P.angulare; Scolupendrium vulgare and varieties; Asplenium adian- tom nigrum. A. trichomanes and varieties. A. viride; Allosorns crispus ; Blechiiuni spicant and varieties; Oystopteris fragilis, dentata, and Dickicnna ; and Athj-rium Filix-fcemina in great variety. Of exotic Feme may be mentioned Lastrea intermedia and L. marginalis; Polystichum proliferum, P. pungens, and P. acrostichoides; Struthiopteris germanica and S. pennpylvanica ; Onoclea sen^ibiUs; Usmimda iuterrupta (Clay- tonianat, O. spoctabilis. O.cinnamomea, and O. gracilis; and Cystopteris bulbifera. All require a plentiful supply of water in summer. WATEnrxG Overhead Azaleas and He.\ths (^hcaftf^Jt).— Watering the plants overhead through the rose of a large watering-pot would not do any great harm to Azaleas placed out of doors in summer, if the water was not given to excess, and only on the evenings of hot davs. The night dew and rain are quite suflicieut for Azaleas after the buds'have set. and for Heaths watering overhead ia more or less injm-ious. We conclude that the plants were watered overhead onlv, and had no water or an in- sufficient amount of it at the root, which, with the pots exposed to the snn, would account for the plants dying. Or it may be that the soil in the pots has been so soddened as to cauBe the fibres to perish, as those of Azaleas, Heaths, and all hardwooded plants will do if the plants are potted so that the water drains to not from the collar, and if is regularly given without regard to their requirements. The soil in which they are grown should never be allowed to become so dry as to affect the foliage, and, on the other hand, it should not be so regularly watered as to be very wet. The right condition is hetweeji the two extremes. There ia no work published on the culture of Azaleas. Any information which you specially wish wo shall be glad to furnish. Pbopaoating Haudy Ferns from Spores (W. W. w.).— Chooae a pot which a bell-L'lass will just fit within the rim, place a large crock over the hole, half fill the pot with smaller pieces, and on them place half an inch of mosp ; then fill the pot to the rim with the following mixture— via. :— aandstone' broken in all sizes from that of a grain to a hazel nut. sandy flbrouB peat, and yellow fibrous loam, of each equal parts, adding to the whole one-sixth of silver sand. Put over the surface a ven" small quantity of sifted soil, and make it firm bv pressing it with the hand. Put on the ^U-Rlaas. and if it fit closely on the soil it is all right. Remove it. and stand the pot in a pan in a rather shadv bnt not dark part of the green- honsc, for what is wanted is a diffused, though not a strong hght. Give a g'xid watering all over the surface through a fine-rosed watering-pot, flllmg the pan with water. N'ow,take the frond ivith the spore-cases open, and, holding It over the pot, rub it with the hand on the under side and a kind of brown or vellow dust will faU on the soil. Yon may scrape the spore-cases fruni the back of the fronds, but if the dust faU so as to make the soil brown or yellow, it is enough. Press the surface gently with the hondandput on the bell-glass, taking care that it touch the soil all round. Keep the pan, or saucer, full of water, and give n.me on the surface ^J'^S^V '**"^'""'* **'■>'• which it never ought to do. nor will it if aufliciently Shaded and the saucer be kept full of water. When the surface becomes green lilt the bell-glass a little on one side at night, and as the soil becomes greener tilt it higher, giWng a gentle watering now and then to keep tlie surface from becoming drj-. When the plants have made two or three fronds gradually remove the bell-gbiss. and pot off the Ferns when they can be handled safely. The pots may be plactd outside eiiwaed to Irost, hut then the vegetation of the spores wilt not be so speedy and certain as when the pots are placed in the greenhouse. RoREs-GERANrrMsi/-. J.).— lioses with mulch over the roots should not have any hquid manure until they commence growth in the spring, wedo not thmk that Scarlet Geraniums cut down and covered witl ashes would survive the winter. If they did they would bo weak and flower late. Dr-SKONTANiA spiKosA CcLTCRE (.S'. jyorfwr).— Tho greatest drawback to blooming lhi« plant ivo tho roots. Temperatcrk for Ferns and Fancy Pelargoniums (Henry HifioinM), —Maiden-hair, Gold, Silver, and other Ferns is not definite enough (or u3 to tell you the temperature required ; but vou say they are greenhouse Ferns. Xow, there is no Gold Fern that we are acquainted with except Gyinnogramma oehracea, and only one Silver — viz., Gymnogramma tartarea, that will do in a greenhouse, and then the house must seldom bo allowed to have a temperature of less than 45 . The others require a temperature of 65 from fire heat in winter, bnt the thermometer may oecasionaUy read as low as 50- without injury to the plants. The Maiden- hair will winter safely in a temperature of from 4U to 45^ from fire heat, which IS also suitable for alt the greenhouse kinds. By day the ther- mometer should road 5 higher on dull davs. 10 when they arc cloudy with clear intervals, and 15", with air, on' bright days. Fancy Pelar- goniums retjuire a temperature of from 40 to 45' from fire heat, with an increase by day as before mentioned, affording them abundance of aiit light, and a rather dry atmosphere. Stage for Greenhouse {A Country Clrrgym(in).—yi'e should have a shelf along the front 18 inches wide, and also at the end from the door- way ; it may cither bo of stone or of laths. This will, of course, be over the pipes or Uue, and should be on a level with the bottom of the front wall-plate. Allow 3 feet for a pathway from the front shelf, and have a stage of wood at the back, the first shelf 9 inches from floor, and the others receding towards the back, and inches above each other ; the last shelf should be 4 feet from the glass. Your stage will thus have seven shelves, tho first 7 inches broad, and tho others an inch wider pro- gressively upwards until the fifth is reached, when those above it need bo no wider. The shelves should bo inch red deal, or they may bo formed of laths 1^ inch by 1 inch. It would improve the appearance if the end of the stage fac:iug the door\fay were made to rise from the pathway iu the same way as along the back. Books {ff.}.— The little book yon havo from our office, if you mnUipIy tho quantities by ten. will guide you sufficiently to aid your own good Sense. There is no work of tho kind you mention. Coil-planting Vines. — Mr. Rivers informs us, that tho surface of the soil over the coil (see page 5'i5|, should be covered with '* 2 inches," not " 10 inches " of rotten manure, as there stated, in order to encourage tho buried part of the stem to emit roots rapidly. EsPERioNE Vine.— rj/f^io asks—" Is it pospiblo to obtain cntlings, or eyes, of the genuine Esporionu Vine mentioned by ' Upwabds a»d Onwards?' " Heating by Gas.— Tyr^o also asks—" Can any one give mo any in- formation of an apparatus for heating greenhouses or rooms by gas, made by K. & W. Watson, or K. A W. Wilson, London ;*" Colouring for Old Fri-it-thee Wall [E. ./.>.— A bushel ol limo flowered down, passed through a fine sieve, and with about two or more ounces of lampblack, or blueblack (the latter is the betterl, made into a paste and mixed with it with a sufficiency of water, passing all through a bievc, will make a nice colour, the white of the lime being tuned dowo. If the walls are old and unsightly, it would be advisable to add a peck of flue gritty sand and as much lUn'uan cement. If much moss, Ac, be on the wall, it would bo as well to give a coat of the lime first. Tho drier and cleaner the wall when the wash is applied tho better, and the longer will the colouring stand. Kdging for Border (.S'urpron, Hal/-;in(/).— We have found Thrift form a good edging where Box would noi grow at all. Another very good edging plant is the small-leaved Ivy, common enough in hedgerows and wouds. If you particularly wish for a plant-edging, we should advise yoix to try Thrift or Sea Pink, which makes a very close and tractable edging, and is, besides, very pretty when in bloom, green and grass-like at all seasons. Glass edging-tiles would bo tho most permanent and reqalM no after-care, but they are rather expensive at first. Lychnis Senno. — W. S. wishes to know where this can be obtained. Communication {A Oardtner Lad). — Write on one side only. Any sized paper, the thinner the less postage you have to pay. Do not fasten tha loavcb together, but uumbor each page. January 2, 1866.] JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 13 PiiLURES lA.B. r.).-There are many things '" /'''<'^^^™,° f ? ''4'* gardeners are totaUy unable to render a reason, and wo *<=«' I"^' ° "f/ lame nredic-ament as your gardener, and can Rive no reason from any de. StFon ToHn^e us There has been no frost to injure such plants,H the SeratiSTSd become reduced. The Luculia would 1>"V° ^^u', oth nearer 51T than B5< bat in from m= to 65 the BeKonias and Cactus ought tohave done weU We have known some such effects from the soil bemg s^oake'drepcatldly with cold water in such dull -ef,^"- ^uUeW S'^Have Ukely to be the case. Have yon been pamting the ^»f ^^f '.'''''X;^".?™ von been lime-washing the walls with very hot lime, fresh ? or have you had thH. uos frelh fainted, xvithout allowing them to become well dried before nich beat wawUed ? Even when lampblack and O'l "« used, a high emperature will throw off fumes that will .'°J"« '"°f,' 8°"^^^'; onlels there is a gi-eat deal of air on. A rusty P/P.^^ °"«° J''="" *''*Tjie fresh-painted one, if a high temperature mus be used «' ™'f • ™ matter is of so much importance that we shall be Bll^d '* 8°™°. <>' ?"J readers will give it their attention. There is no .f =r'«"^^,°* P"'!"?'?? the water ? Or has anvthin" deleterious foimd its way into the water / We have known an instance Sf a small stove from which the plants were removed in the morniug, and all the wa Is and f ''f/ ^'lif Se leaves magnesiau Umestone and snlphm-, and m a.week the most of the leaves and flowers dropped. Vines from Eras (E/,«fs).-Vincs may be raised from eyes m a cool vinery or Aeenhouse! If you obtain the shoots now 5;°" .f^.-jy '^ t"!™, with the lower ends stuck in moist but not w^et soil, ?ii" ?^p"' h„n„/ February, then make the eyes, pot theiu, and place in tl-^ 8"™''°™/=' and keeii the soil just moist until the shoots appear, }> 1>™, '^"^y "^ '» °° well supplied with water. You wiU see what was said on this subject at page 529 of our last Number. Trees and Shbues from Seeds (r,iem).-Yoa can grow aU the follow- ing from s™ed:-Thuj a occidentalis and orientaUs^ .^^r ^Red S" caJpa, Lawsoniana, Goveniana ; Larch ;, Laburnum ^ J"'»'l'" .^ R«^,?'*!' ■ HoUv ; Cedi-us deodara; Pinus sylve.tris, pmaster, >^»l»I^°^V^;,i*'!i?!™ angustifnlia ; Evergreen Oak; Euonynius europ.eus ; Straw beiTy tree Spanish Broom; Berberis Darwinii and others; Mountain Ash , Lao Laurel, common and Portugal; Laurustiuus; P'^;^';^ Sweet Bnar. Judas Tree- Chiste Tree- Bend Tree; Mahonia aqmfohum; Leycesteria loi- mos^ ; OvUsus spfuosus and triilorus ; Cryptomeria W™><^" ' ^™;-;,^^^'^ imbricati; Calvcanthus; Khododendron ; A/.alea; Amianthus glandulosa and Rhamnus ilaternus. These are some that stnke us at the moment and there are many more which we do not now thmk of, and even if we did it would be of no use, for seeds of such plants are "»* "'^jsto^f had, nor is it certain that they will grow when you have obtained them. Seeds of any tree or shrub which you can obtain fresh y™ may p-ow, and when you hare prociured them we shaU be glad to assist you, if in- formed what they are. LAi-iKG Down a Lawn (A Constant Iteader).-Ii yon can obtain tiirt from a piece of ground where the grass is naturally short close, and even in surface, and, above aU, free from Daisies, Plantains, Dandelions and other perennial weeds, then we should prefer employing turf to sowung a mixtm-e of lawn grass seeds, for you would ohtam a la™ at once , but if sods are only to be had where you can get them, and °°t;^l^"«>o" would lilie to have them from, then we would advise you to sow a nnxtm e of la^-ii-gi-ass seeds on your levelled piece ."J S^ojind taking care to have It free from perennial weeds, and in good tilth Sow the seeds durmg the first showery weather in April. The seeds ai-e best sown just befoie ram after sowing, the ground should he gently raked over with a wooden rake and immediately well rolled, and for this the surface must be so dry as not to cUng to the roUer. By no means sow when the ground is wet but on the contrarv, when it is in good working order. By July the pass WiU gi-ow sufficiently to be fit to mow, afterwards cut it throughout the summer and autumn every three weeks, except m dry weather. The mole it is rolled the more the grasses will tiller and the firmer the lawn wUl be. If vou were to give it a dressing of well-rotted manure m tlie follow- ing February or March, and brushed this in during showery weather in April it would vastly assist in forming a bottom, help to keep off moss and insure a rapid .growth, without which you ™"°o"l'",'^'* °^f^,'^ close lawn. If you object to the manure, a dressing of soot will be loss objectionable. Dnrini the second summer the lawn ™ay be mown every tei days, and you wiU have a lawn of very t^ne Kyasst^s without the weeds naually found on those laid with sods, and it will not be liable to become mossy so soon as if turf were laid, but you must also bear m mind that it will not be so soft to walk upon. In a year you can have a good lawm by sowing a mixture of lawn grass seeds, and you oan have one at once by laying tm'f. If vou do not mind the appearance, and have an eye to ultimate effect, then we advise you to sow the Syound and if you can obtain good turf and do not mind the expense, then lay sods at once. Procuring and laving turf is much more expensive than sowing. What- ever vou do, do not lay bad turf, nor sow a mixtm-e of grass seeds unless suitable for the soil and situation. Gripes SHANKrec, U M.ickcnzic).-We should say the fault is partly owing to the roots of the Vines going so deep, and partly owing to over- c™ping. With the Black Frontignan ripening so "mdly without signs of shanking, we do not think that the fault is ownng ^ th? ^? ^ °f Grape. The Golden Hamburgh is tender m many places, and will not stand the same amount of direct sun as most "t^er Grapes The leave are apt lo be scorched, and that affects the fruit, "'''fj^""^ '.^X'^^^ from the glass, say from 18 to 24 inches, it will most ikely answer better, and more especially when it has all the stock to itsel instead of a part. The part of the pit might be examined as to the roots where the shank- ing is most prevalent; but we would he mchned to try what a thinner crop and watering whilst swelUng would do. It would be well every way if the roots went no deeper than the 3 feet. Insects (N.).-The white powdery covering on the Beech bark is the secretion, in vast quantities, of a waxy nature, from the bodies of count- less individuals of a very small species of Coccus, whose history has not been thoroughly investigated. Scoring the bark may be of service, but scouring it would be much better. — W^ Weather Wisdom.— A correspondent, John Bryan, says, "WiU 'X.' state how a .hart should be dra«-n nut for keeping the necessary notes re- commended bv him at page 525 V Then, as to the mstruments roqmrcd ; this is the greatest difficulty, for they are very expensive There are some b.aromet,rs cheap enough, but I should like to know ,f they are to be depended on. Will 'X' teU me which is the best kmd, .and what would be the lowest price for one that could bo depended upon . Hbatibo from Boiler bt the Back of Kitchen Fire (IT. M^.).-W6 are not quite sure that we understand the description of the boiler, but if it is 12 or U inches long, and 9 inches deep, and we presume much tha same in width, and set behind a kitchen lire, with hre applied chiefly to one side, then we do not think it would be sufflcicnt to keep the frost out of an open glazed orchard-house 74 feet long by 12 feet wide, 11 feet high at back and 6 feet in front, if the pipes from the boiler must pass through the wall and be placed in the house 2i feet from the floor. If the boUer could be heated below as weU as on the side, and the fire cou d be con- flnod against it at night, it ought to heat about 150 feet of fonr-mch i^ipe. and that would keep out aU ordinary frost ; but considering the height at which pipes must be placed, and also the size of «"'.,1"'?"«; ;7'' *'''°^ '' would he more economical to have a stokehole and boiler for the pnrpose so that you could have the pipes just above the Aoor-level and also near the front of the house. More piping will bo required if J^oy "^ P^^^^ near the back wall. We would advise trying the half of the house first, if you resolve on the kitchen boiler. It is much against the success ol the plan that the boiler is so far above the greenhouse floor. Removing a Larbe Hodlt (C. P.>.-Were we sure of this mUd weather eontmuing, we would move the twenty-foet-highHoUy tree from the hedgerow directly, beginning with a trench 6 or 7 feet from the stem, working the soU from among the roots with a m.attock and spade care- fully saving the roots, undermining and securing as large a ball as we could. The place should be weU trenched where you propose planting, and the roots should be nicely laid out, pac^ked Jfurely, the ground mulched to keep out frost, and if severe frost should take place in springy a little old hay or Utter may be thrown Ughtly '"«' 'l"' ?"P' J^,'^ '"J.^^S check evaporation and lessen the intensity of the frost, whicli w™'"^™ up and scald the trees from the ^a-^t ^ «5^ of March. The safest plan of aU. if you could defer the OP^™'"^'' ^^^^ be to dig down a trench about 20 or 24 mches from the stem aU round, cutting all the roots, and going deep enough to cut the ""st of the tap roots, make some holes in the ball, water these two o'' tl'^^f ''™'"', '° spring and summer, fill up round the haU with fresh »"«/„ ,^?' ?P*j \te mould, and in the end of September Uft and plant. The outside of the ball will have new fibres formed. Growing Fruit Under Glass (J- B-)--We can give you no great en- couragement as to growing Vines, Oranges, and other Pla»t« , '■*'?''. ™f Tou propose in your contemplated corridor, which is to be 40 'eet long^ h feet w-ide, and 8 feet high of opaque materials on ™cj,«'i,''' ^ 8*™"^ span-roof of glass, ends facing Isouth and north. As Po'-tland «ment is what you are conversant with in your trade we ^'/l ''' ™'^' b"* ^."-^Xde with small joints. Besides, the bricks ^^8" ''<'.™'''^^™*''S ' sant o? with tar, aid when thoroughly dried would P'^, °ff f ° °°P ^ very deleterious smell. We believe that the concrete w.aUsni.ght h^ made very pretty as vou suggest, by making devices and figures ;"tf 8j«"s on tne concrete ; but wrhaveno faith in yoartreesdo.ngweU trained against the standards inside, and with no Ught except what may ™™'' '™" 'XS roof, 8 feet from the bottom of the trees. ^'nesSc would flonrisn chiefly after they grew up underneath the roof, but then il tney grew thickly there, there would be no Ught for the Pla^Js below them AJl than two pipes for top o^at. "e nave laieiy ^ ^'j^ j ^'!k^:^ ItL^ri^^A'iTon^l' rt^riaf for plunging "~s OF plants (■^.-^-i.,««,t-ssy= 'i/^ri:?^ 3, Sempei-vivum? .'^^shed and disco oed( ^s^^^^^^^^^^.f . ^_ ^^^_ i;ri^Sf^P^aJiSr3..^^M,.a^l,C^^ ^;^:^^l^ZtL^m'aP^ U|rl fA"diaTitrc"a^ii?is^Venr;Tc|^^^^^^^^^^^ liv W )F) — 1, Lastrea, appears to be a narrow form ol i.. Qiiaiai.», the specimen is imperfect; 2, Lastrea Filix-mas. uUpha, Acton).--!, kcro ptr^ hl?pTdus ; 2^no .fruit, P-'^tvum t?ula fiS "^rHy^nn^m Sa- Lllir^'f Syi^l^^^mf ; S^SSsST t^: r'nSul^!\2;S!^^.^^^£~' ^^-^^ 12, Brymn turbinatum, or nutans; 13, Bartiamia arcuaia. 14 JODBNAL OF HORTICULTURB AND COTTAGE GABDEKEB. C Jannmrr 3, U06. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS in the Suburbs of London for the teu days ending December 30th. DXTZ. TIlKajfOKErSS. Viad. lUinln inchM. Gehbeu. Hrmmn. BABomrrEB. Air. Etrtb. Mu. HIn. Mai. MIn. 1 ft. dr. 2 ft. dp. Thorfl. 31 Pri. .. 22 Snt. .. 23 Snn. . . 34 Mon... 35 TuoH. . S« Wed. . 27 Thnrs. 2S Fri. .. 29 Sat. .. 'M MeaB.. SO.iSG m.no 80.340 80.368 30.288 80.101 so.aos 29.92.') 29.564 29.067 80.244 80.98« 80.283 80.841 80.888 80.141 80.176 29.692 29.1(12 29.521 54 44 43 87 48 60 46 60 61 49 41 86 28 80 83 96 28 42 89 86 45 46 444 44| 44 45 46 46J 46 46 46 46 45 ^ 46 45 45 46J 8.W. S.W. S. S.W. S.W. S.W. w. S.W. S.W. S.W. .00 .00 .no .00 .00 .01 .00 .16 .11 .06 Fine ; overMSt : mild night and day for the ecaeon. Densely clonded : oTen ast ; densely overcast at night. Cloudy ; denselv clouded : overcant : fUght fro^t. Densely clouded ; orerenst ; foggy at night ; slight frost. Overcast ; fine throughout. Denwelv overcast : slight fro^l at night. Denie fog ; hn/y ; foggy at night, «-ith slight frost. Fine ; densely clouded : rain and boisterons. f)vercaht ; bo'iPternUH with rain ; rain at night. Fine ; quite clear nnd very One ; overcast ; boiaterons with T«ln. 80.125 80.002 47.30 8SJ0 46.10 45.00 .... 0.3« POULTRY, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. THE BIRMINGHAM AWARDS. When persons attempt to stifle inquiry and repress inves- tigation, it generally arises from a secret conviction that there are matters which will not bear the light, and from which it is the interest of parties connected with tliem to divert pubhc attention. I was very forcibly impressed with this fact in reading the communication of " Bbauma ; " and your readers who have pemsed bis letter with care must have been struck with the circumstance (bat, whilst he displays his familiarity with subjects and events -iidall Street. Balsall Heath. Birmingham. Second, Rev. F. Taylor, Keastwick, Kirby Lonsdale. HiRhly Commended, Capt. H. Heaton. Brahua PooxnA,— First, H. Lacv, Heliden Bridge. Second. J. K. Fowler, Prebendnl Farm, Ayleshury. Third, T. Statter. Stand. Man- chester. Hiphly Commended. W. Har^reaves.'Bncnp, near Mimchester. Polish.— First, E. Smith. Second, H. Beldon, Goitetock. Biuglcv. Gasee (Black-breasted Reds). — First, M. W. Stobart. Second, E. C. Gilbert, Penkridge. Stafford. Third. C. W. Brierley. Middletou. near Manchester. Highlv Commended, J. Hardie ; Sir St. G. Gore, Bart. Commended. Sir St. G. Gore. Bart. Gamk (Bro^vn and other Rods, except Black-breasted). — First. C. W. Erieriey. Second. Sir St. G. Gore. Bnrt. Third, T. Statter. Stand, near Mnuchehter. Highly Commended, J. Fletcher, Stoneclough. Commended, T. BurfjcsB, Burfeydam. Whitchurch. Gasiz K'Scept B]ack-bre:iKted and other Reds).— First. J. Halsnll, Ince, Wigitn. Second, J. Fletcher. Tliird, Sir St. G. Gore, Bart. Highly Com- mended. P. Nnrbury. HAsrBunrjH iBlackj.— Prize, C. Sidgwick.Keighley. Highly Commended, R. Battersl.y. HAMHrRGH (Golden-pencilled). — First. T. Bums, Abram, near Wigan. Second. S. & R. Ashton, Mottram. Third, T. Wrigley, jun. Hamburgh (Silver-pencilled).— First, Sir St. G.Gore, Bart, Second, J. Robinson. HAsrBURtin fGolden-spapRled). — First. N. Marlor. Denton. Second, J. Wright. Lvsonhv, Melton Mowbrav. Third. W. Kershaw. Hichly Com- mended. J. Melior; Sir St. G. Gore*. Bart. Commended. J. Melh.r. Hambirgh (Silver-spangled).— First. Rev. W. Serjeantson. Acton Biir- nell Itcct.>rv, Shrcwsburv. Second, J. Fielding. Highlv Commended, Sir St. G. Gore. Game Bantam.— First, R. Hawksley, jun. Second, J. Crosl.ind, jnn., Wakefield. Third, A. Fenton. DoRKixos (Coloured'!. — First, Viscountess Holmesdale. Second. T. Statter, Stand, near Manehester. Third, H. Lingwood, Barking. Needham Market. Fourth, Sir St. G. Gore, Bart., Hopton Hall, Derbyshire. Hrnx. — First, Viscountess Holmesdale. Second, Mis F. S. .^rkwright. Etwall Hall, Derby. Third, W. Copple. Highly Commended, J. Holme. Knowsloy, near Prescot; W. Harvey. Bacup, near Manchester. Commended. A. Fenton, Crimble Hall, Rochdale; Mrs. F. S. Arkwripht: J. K. Fowler, Prebendal Farm. Aylesbury. Cliickens.— First. Sir St. G. Gore, Bnrt. Sceond and Fourth. Viscountess Holmestlnle. Third. J. Hardie. Hiphly Commended. C. Cork. Shoreham. Commended. A. Fentn. Tliird, Capt. H. Heaton. Commended, H. Tomlinson, Balsall Heath tRond. Birmingham; H. Bates. Hent. — First, J. Elliott, Leigh near Manchester. Second, H. Tomlinson. Third. Capt. H. Heaton. Hiphly Commended. Capt. H. Heaton ; W. A. Taylor. Turner Street, Manchester; C. AV. Brierioy. Commended. G. Fell. Springfield, Warrington. Ciiickeng, — First, H. Mappleheck, Birmingham, Second, G. Fell. Third, J. Nelson, Heaton Mersey, near Mauchetot«r. r«//^/*.— First and Second Cart. H. H<»aton. Third, Rev. C. Spencer, Collepo Honse. Attleborough. Iltdhly Commended, A. Fenton, Rochdale ; G. Fell; Itov. C. Spencer. Commended, Rev. C. S|>oneer. CofHiN-CniNA (Bruwn and Partridpe Fentheredl.— First. Cnpt. Hcaton. Second. E. Tudman. Whitchurch. Snlop. J/^-n^.- Finl, Capt. H. Heaton. Second. J. Horrock. Ti'Upe, nearMiddetou. Hiphly Commended. E. Tnd- man. Chiekmn. —Vixui, " Caxtus. ' Secnud. Cnpt. H. Heaton. Third. J. Horrock*. HJ^'hly Commendr d, E. Tudmau. PuUfl».~Vit%\. E. Tudnion. Second. Capt. H. Hentcn. Highly Commended, J. Horrocks; E. Smith, Middletou. near Manchester. CorniN-CHiNA.— First, Rov. F. Taylor, Keastwick, Kirby Lonsdale. Second, F. W. Zorhortt, Belville, Donnybrook, Ireland. Commended, G. Lamb. BUAHMA PooTRA /LiRbt).— ChiV**-nit.— First, E. Piffcon. Lympstone, Exeter. Second. J. Clarko, Chiswick Hall. Commended, J. Pares, Chil- dou-n Hall, Chertsey. Bhahha PoiTRA (Dark).— CAirfc-n^.— First, R. W. Bovle. mfret. Hogbton Lane, Preston" Third. H. lAcy, Laey Houne. near Hebden Bridpe. Hiphly Commended, H. Lacy: J.K. Fowlor. Preliondal Farm, Aylesbury. Commended, C. Cork, Shoreham ; F. Powell ;T. Statter. PoM^H (any variety!.— First, H. Beldon, Goitstock. Bingley. Yorkshire. Second. E. Smith. Tonge. near Middletou. Highly Commended, H. Car- tec l.pperthone. Holmlritb. Game (Black-breasted Iteds).— Fir^t. M. W. Stobart, Mi.Mlcton-One- Row. Dnrlinpton. Second, J. Fletcher. Stonecloiigh. near Manchester. Third. S. Matthew. Chilton House. Stowmarket. Fonrtb. F. J. Astbnry. ('/M>H,vnj«.— First. J. H. William-, Welshpool. Second, J. Halsall. Ince, near Wigan. Third, J. Holme, Ivnowsley, near Prescot. Fourth, H. Ber- tram. Gauk fBro^vn and other Reds, except Black-breasted). — First. J. Flet- cher. Stoneclongh. near Manchester. Second, J. Smith, Grantham. Third. T. West, St. Ann's. Eccleston. St. Helcn'B. CftiVA^t;^.— First. W, Gamon. Thomton-le-Moors. Second. J. Linnell, Anstev, Coventry. Third, T. Statter. Fourth. R. Swift. Sonthwell, Notts. Game Hen (Black-breasted nnd other Reds).— First. E. Aykroyd. Gir- linpton Road, near Bradtord. Second. Mrs. Hav, The Cottn;:c. Sudbury, Derbv. Third, J. Smith. Hiphlv Commended. T. West. Commended, C. W. Brierlev. Chtcfrcrw.— First. Messrs. Parkinson A Field. Poolton-lo- Fylde. Second. G. Clements, Birminpliam. Third, T. Bt:r;;e!->^. Burley- dam, Whitchurch. Highly Commended, W. Gamon ; J. B. Lucas. Com- mended, Mrs. Hay ; J. Fletcher ; J. Wood, Moat House, Wigan ; H. Ber- tram. Gajie (DnckwinpP and other Greys and Bluesi.— First, Sir St. G. Gore, Bart. Second. J. Halsnll. Third. E. Avkrovd. r/nVArn-^. —First. J. Flet- cher. Second, T. Wakefield, Gelbome, Warrington. Third. R. Tate, Green Road, Leeds. Game (White and Piles).— First, J. Fletcher. Second. Sir St. G. Gore, Bart. C/it>^fru.— First, J. Sunderland. Halifax. Second, T. West. GAsre Hens (except Biack-brcaciod and other Reds). — First, J. Firth, Halifax. Second. Mrs. C. W. Briericy. Hamburgh Chickens (Blackt.— First. R. F. Goodwin. Middlcton. Se- cond. J. Jackson. Bury. Hiphly Commended, R. Battersby ; C. Sidgwick ; J. Melior. Kitchenfold. Slaithwaitc, Yorkshire. HAMBrRGH (Golden-poneilled).— First. J. Smith. Second. F. Pittis, jun., Ne^^■port. Isle of Wight. CftiVA.vn«.— First nnd Second. T. Wrigley, jun. Third. Sir St. G. Gore, Bart. Commended, F. Pittis, juu. ; W. Parr, Patricroft, near Manchester. Hamburgh Chickens (Silver-rcncilledl.— First. J. Robinson. Second, Sir St. G. Gore, Bart. Third. J. Fielding. Newchurcb. neiir Manchester. Highly Commended, J. Lancashire. Commendttd, A. K. Wood. Bmruesidc, Kendal. Hamburgh Chickens (Pencillcd'.-First, T. Wrigley, jun. Second, F. Pittis, jun. Commended, W. Pierce. Hamburgh (Golden-spangledl.— First. Sir St. G. Gore, Bait. Second, J. Buckley. Taunton. Ashton-under-Lyne. Third, J. Roe. Highly Com- mended. N. Marlor; W. Ker>haw. Hevwnod. near Manchester: W. Parr. Hamburgh Chickens (Silver-sp^nt^ied). -First and Third, J. Fieldinif. Second, Sir St. G. Gore. Bart. Highly Commended. J.Jackson; A. K. Wood. Commended. J. Lancashire. Hamburgh Hens (Spanpled).— First. W. A. Hyde, Ashton-under-Lyne. Secnnd. J. Fieldinp. Hiphlv Commended, J. Roe : N. Marlor: J.Wright; A. 'K. Wood. Piil/cf*.— First, J. Andrews, Ashton-mider-Lync. Second, N. Marlor. Gasie Bantams (Black-breasted and other Rods).— C;iicA:-*rw.— First, Rev. G. Raynor. Brentwood. Epecx. Second, J. Hilton. Third, J. W. Kellawav. Fonrtb. D. Parsons. Game'Bantams (anv other Varielv).—C/uVAv?M.— First, R. T.ate. Se- cond. W. S. Forest. Greenhithc. Kent. Third. Mrs. C. W. Brieriey. Bantams (anv Variety except Game).— First, T. Boucher Birmingham (BuffCocbinsh' Second, C. W. Brieriev. Third. Messrs. J. I'c A. Brigga, Rawden. near Leeds. Commended, P. W. Story (White-feathered Legged Bantams). Ducks (^\^lite Aylesbnry).- First. J. K. Fowler. Prebendal Farm, Ayle«- buTT. Second, E.'Leecb. Rochdale. Third, H. Jones. Ducks iRouen).— First. Sir St. G. Gore, Bart. Second, A. Fenton. Third. T. Statter. Fourth. J. Holme, Ducks (Black East Indian*.— First, Rev. W. Serjcantson, Shrewsbory. Second, T.Walmslev: Chester. DccKS (Anv other Varietv).— First. T. H. D. Br yley. Biggleswade, Beds, (Brown Call Ducks). Secoiid. T. Statter (Wild Duekst. ORNA»tRNTAL Watek Fowl.— First, Second, and Third, J. Jcnnieon, Bellevue, Manchester. • Geese (White).— First, Messrs. J. A W. Rostron. Levcnshulme. Seoono* A. Feutou. Third, E. Shaw. Pins Wilmot. Oswestrj-. TuiiKEVs.— First, E. Leech. Rochdale. Second. Mrs. A. Guy, Eaton, Grantham. Third. C. P. Ackers. PohI/j*.— First, J. Smith, Grantham. Second, E Leech. Third, Miss Davies. Chester. Extra Stock.— First. E. Pipcon. Lvmpstone. near Exeter iLa Fleche). Second. W. Uarpreavos (Dark Brahmab). Third. F. W. Zurhor^-l Sultans). Highly Commended, Mrs. E. Haig. (Magpie Tarifausi ; W. Chadwic* (Blue Andalusian). PIGEONS. PowTERs.- First and Second, A. P. Leite. Oxford Road, Manchester. PowTERs (White).— First and Second. .4. P. Leilc. PowTERs (Black).— l-'irst, A. P. Leite. Second, C. Cole. January 2, 1866. JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 17 Carriers (Black).— CbcA.— First, T. Colley, Sheffield. Second, A. P. Leite. Third. M. Hedley, Redhill, Surrey. Highly Commended, V. Else. Bavswater. Hen.— First, M. Hedley. Second and Highly Commended. A. P. Leite. Carp-iebs jonv other Colourl.—Cocfc.— First, T. Colley. Second, A. P. Leite. Third, F.'Else. H^n.— First, A. P. Leite. Second, T. Colley. fiom- mended, A. P. Leite. Carriers (any other Colour). — First and Second, T. Barnes, Birming- ham. Third, G. W. M. Duwsoii. Binningham. Commended, F. Else. Draooons.— First, J. Percivall. Perkham Rye. Second, W.J. Corbridge. Third, F. Smith. Commended. G. Wood; T.H.Ridpeth, Rusholmo, Man- chester. Jacobins (any Colonr).— First and Second, J. T. Lawrence, Mnflfat. Third, J. B. Finder. Very Highly Commended, F. Esquilant. Highly Commended. J. T. Lai\Tence; T. H. Ridpeth. Nuns.— First, C. Bulpiu, Bridgewater. Second, F. Else. Third, H. Yardlev, Market Hall. Birminghitni. RcxTS.— First and Second, T. D. Green, Saffron Walden. Third, E. Pigeon. Commended, A. P. Leite. Barbs.— First and Second. A. P. Leite. Third, M. Hedley, Redhill. Barbs lauy Colour). — First, E. M. Eggar, Manchester. Commended, W. llassey. Tl'Rbits.— Firs'. H. Mapplebeck, Birmingham. Second, E. E. M. Royds, Greenhill, Rochdale. Owls.— First and Second, J. Fielding, jnn. Third, A. P. Leite. Highly Commended. A. P. Leite. Trumpeters.— Fir&t, A.V. Leite. Second, S. A. Taylor, Wheeler Street, Lozells. Birmingham. Third, F. Else. Fantails.— First, F. Else. Second, H. Yardlev. Highly Commended, F. Else. Almond T rirn lers.— First and Second, A. P. Leite. Third, E. M. Edgar. Highly Commended. J. Fielding, jun. Almond Tcsiblers (bred in 1865).- First, J. Fielding, jun. TuMBLBits (any other Variety). — First, L. Glassey, Rochdale. Second, A. P. Leite. Highly Commended, A. P. Leite. Commended. J. Percival. Beards. — First and Second, W. H. C. Gates, Beathorjie, Newark. Balds.— First, F. Esquilant, Brixton. Second, F. B. Walker. Any other Variety. — First, F. Broemel, Ludgwell. Kent (Siberian Toed Pigeons). Second, A. P. Leite (Laced Fautails). Third, A. P. Leite (Swiss Pigeons). Highly Commeded, J. Dyson (White Crowned Pigeons, and Passenger Pigeons). Commended, Countess of Derby (Isabels) ; H, Yardley. RABBITS. Black and White.— First,'E, V. Ridpeth, Rushohno. Second, H. Hand- ford. Wilford. Notts. Yellow and White. — First, W. Stelfox, Greenheys. Second, P. Eden. Tortoi.^eshell. — First, H. Handford. Second, E. V. Ridpeth. Grey akd White.— First, A. Firth, Hyde, near Manchester. Second, G. F. Jones. Selv-Colour.— First, W. Stelfox. Second, P. Eden. Heaviest Weight.— Prize, H. Handford. FoREiciN Rab its.— First, J. Buchanan, Port Vale, Hertford (Angora). Second, B. Robinson (Angora). Judges. — Foiiltnf: E. Hewitt, Esq., Eden Cottage, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, and R. Teebay, Esq., Fulwood, near Preston, judged the Dorkings, Spanish. Cochin -Chin a, Brahma Pootra, Polish, and Hamburg classes ; and W. B. Tegotmeier, Esq.. MusweU Hill, London, and Mr. John Douglas, Clumber Park, Worksop, judged the Game Fowls. Ducks. Geese, Turkeys. Extra Stock, and Bantams. Pifjeoiis: Harrison Weir, Esq., Peckham, London ; Dr. Cottle, Cheltenham. Rahhifs : Mr. Edward Owen, London. NORTH BRITISH COLUMBARIAN SOCIETY'S SHOW. This Society's seventh grand annual exhibition and competition of fancy Pigeons, open to all competitors, was held in the Trades' Hal], Glasgow, on the "i^nd and li.Srd of December. The entry numbered 450 pens from all parts of the United Kingdom, being an increase of upwards of 120 pens over the number exhibited last year. The Powter classes were the great feature of the Show ; young birds being shown in pairs in six classes, for which a silver medal, or £2 2s., was offered, and mustering thirty-eight pens, while old birds, shown singly, Humbered no less than 192 pens, and had fourteen classes allotted to them. The whole were exliibited in the capital circular pens belong- ing to the Society ; each bird not only having the advantage of a small block of wood on which to perch, but the food and water being placed on the outside in the space between each pen, the comfort of the specimens was secured in every respect. Another remarkable feature was that scarcely an inferior bird appeared, and there were not half a dozen bare-shinned or thinly- covered-limbed Powters in the wliole collection. It will be seen by the prize list that the greater portion of the prizes in Powters were gained by fanciers across the Border, for, with the exception of Mr. Montgomery, of Belfast, a most formidable opponent, and who nobly held his own in such a severe competition, veiy few of the hououra fell to English fanciers, and, to compete successfully with Scotchmen, English fanciers will have to bestir themselves. We may mention that Mr. Leite's birds were not sent. The entire arrangements of the Show were admirably carried out by the Committee and by Mr. Ruthven. the Hon. Secretary, who left nothing wanting for the com- fort of the various specimens. In the first class for the best pair of Black Pied Pov^ters, a silver medal, or £2 2x., was offered by Mr. James Muir ; the medal was awarded to au ovt-n pair belonging to Mr. I' re. Mr. Montgomei-y ex- hibited the best biid in the class, a very handsome cock, receiving ! very high commendation, but tho bird was very indifferently accom- panied. For a pair of Whites, bred in 18^5, Mr. Sanderson won the medal, presented by himself, with a stout pair, in a rather weak class. Young Blues were a better lot, Mr. lire gaining the medal, presented by Mr. Geddes, with a capital pair, after a most severe contest with Mr. Ruthven, whose birds were very highly commended. In the similar class for young Reds the competition was keen, the cock in Mr. Montgomery's pen being remarkably fine. Mr. M'Farlane, how- ever, secured Mr. Hawlrins's medal with a capital, weU-matched pair. Young Yellows were not numerous, but Mr. Frame's medal was won by au unusually good pail-, which specilily changed ownership at £21. Young Mealys were an average lot, good in style and symmetery, feather alone being the di-awback ; Mr. Moon securing Mr. Maclean's medal with good birds. Single Black cocks numbered eleven, and formed, perhaps, the best collection ever brought together ; Mr. Montgomery's first-prize bird being exquisite in colour, very lengthy, and finely shaped, well deserving his position ; the competition, how^ ever, was exceedingly close — indeed, at least half of the bii'ds were worthy of prizes. White cocks were both numerous and of very great excellence, the champion cock at Glasgow last year again standing first, and although he was unquestionably clear of his competitors, being shown in marvellous condition, no less than seven other birds received notice, which they well merited. Blue cocks mustered twenty-seven, and were a show of themselves, such as was never seen before, there being scarcely an inferior bird in tho lot. Mr. Ure's first-prize bird was remarkable for fine symmetery, colour, and length, Mr. Lightbody's second-prize one having a slight advantage in length, but not being quite equal in shape. Mr. Stuart ran n veiy close third with a capital representative, and many of the others were well worthy of a position. Red cocks were a large entry, the prize birds being especially noticeable, but an improvement in colour would be a great desideratum. Mr. Wallace held his position of last year in a splendid class. Yellow cocks were very fine, and the first-prize Mealy cock was scarcely interior to any other exhibited, except in colour. In Powter cocks, any other marking, a very good Checker and White Splash took the prizes. This class also contained a veritable 20-inch- feathered bird, a Blue and White Splash, but disproportionate in limb. Black hens were capital, and especially good in colour, as well as shape and length, most of the competitors deserving notice. White hens were also well represented, Mr. Sanderson winning first with a first-class hen, which was immediately claimed at £10 lO.'?. ; the com- petition was vei-y good. Blue hens were very fine, Mr. Lightbody re- peating his last year's ^nctoi-y with the same hen, a bird of immense length and fine style. Several hens deservedly received notice, but we thought the Judges rather sparing of their favours. Red hens were a nice lot, more particularly the placed birds. Y'eUow hens we thought decidedly the greatest improvement in the Show, the class being large, and fast approaching the standard of the other colours. Mr. Ure's wonderful hen again had the first position, and also gained Mr. Moon's silver medal for the best Powter in the Show. The classes for Mealy hens, aud hens any other marking, each brought really first- class competitors, Mr. Ruthven'e prize Mealy being speedily claimed. For the best pair of Black Camrrs, bred in 1865, Mr. Wallace offered a sUver medal, and several good birds were sent, but some of the best were passed over as not answering the requirements of the class. Single Black Canier cocks were very good ; Mr. Colley, how- ever, had an easy victory with an extraordinarily fine stout biid, while in the class for Black hens the same remarks are applicable to Mr. Else's splendid hen. Mr. Colley, however, won the oil portrait of the [most perfect ; Carrier in tho Exhibition with the Black cock. Young Dun Carriers were not very stiildng, and we fancied the relative sexes were not present in the best pen, which was passed over. In Short-faced TiimhkrSy Mr. Fulton's first-prize Almonds and Black Mottles were particularly good, while Mr. Stuart's ICites aud Agates, in the class allotted to them, were very fine. -Barbs were, as usual, only a weak class, Mr. Robinson's fir-st-prize pair of Blacks completely outdistanced competition, and also gained the silver cup, value £r> 5*-., presented by a few English fanciers for the best pen in classes 23 to 31. Fantoils were a capital class, the prizes being given to plain-headed birds ; the first-prize pair were excellent in tail, and the second pair were remarkably small, and graceful in carriage. Jacobins were an average lot, all colours being well shown. In TntJfipeters good Black Mottles were first, aud Whites second ; and in Turbits Mr. Thackray's medal pair were small, peaked- crowned Reds. In Oi'-hy Mr. Pickering's medal pair were particularly good foreign Whites, the best we have seen for some time, and good Blues (foreign) were second. The prizes for Any other variety were awarded first to Swiss, secord Blue Swallows, and third Blue Brunsmcks. EXTRA PRIZES. Silver Cup. or €8.— G. Ure. Dundee. Silver Cup. value £5 5s., for the best pen in cLisses 23 to 31 inclusive.— J. H. Robinson, Sunderland (B;irbsl. Oil-painted Portrait of the most perfect Carrier in the Exhibition.— T. Colley, Sheffield. Prize of Two Guineas, presented by James Huie, Esq., Glasgow, for the best pair of OwIp. — R. Pickering, Carlisle. Silver Medal, or £2 2^., presented by J. R. Rennards, Esq., for the best pair of Turbits.— J. Thackray, York. 18 JOUBNAL or HORTICOLTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. ( JannuT i, VM6. Silver Ui-JiU, prcBcntcJ by Willinm Monn, jnn., Esti., Edinburgh, for the best Powter nrn, any colour.— G. Urt-, DumlL-t- (YcUow). Silver Mednl. nr £2 i».. present*^ hv James Mnir. Esq., for the be«Jt pair ol Blaelt lied Powtem, bred in iwa.— Mecbil. O. Vre, I>iindec. HiiihiT Commended, J. Gmnt, Cor«tori>hine. Coiumended. W. Oodden, QUsuow. Silver Mednl, or i*2 2*., presented by Miittlien Sanderson, Ertq.. Ediu- bnrgh, tor lie best pair it White Powters. bred in ItifiS.— Medul, M. San- derson, Kdinbur^;b. Hiiihly Commended, H. Simpson, Newark. Com- mended, \V. Moon. Edinhnru'li. Silver Meda], or i"'i li«., pre-ented by John Geddes, Esq., for the best pair - Highly Commended, W. Nelson. .Tohnstoue. Highly Commended, J. R, Robinson, Sunderland; C. J. Samtiel-., Maiiche-ter. Extra Pbize. — Two (inineas, presented by William Power. Esq., Belfast, for the best pairol Trumpeters, bred in 1865.— Medal, J, Prentioe, Glasgow. Trcxtetebs.- First, J. R. Robinson. Sunderland. Second, W. H. C. Gates, Notts. Highly Commended, F. Else, Loudon. Tcbuits.- First, Silver Medal or £2 in., J. Thackray, York (Red), Second, J. R. Robinson. Suudi-rbind. Highly Commended, H. Yardley, Birmingham ; J. R. Itennards, Helensburgh. Owxs.- First, Silver Jledal or ia i«., R. Piekcring, Carlisle. Second, J. Fielding, jim., Roclnlalu iHlue). Highly Commended, P. Else, London; J. Fielding, jun., Itocbdalo (White). Nujis.— First, F. Else, London. Second, W. Nelson, Johnstone. Highly Commended, H, Pickering. Carlisle. Comios TrsmLEBs. — First, J. Perciral, London (Yellow Mottled). Second and Highly Commended. J. Sephtou, Prescot. Aky uTiiEb Breed.— First, E. Pigeon, near Exeter (Swiss). Second, J. Percival, London (Swallows). Third, H. Yardley, Birmingham. JrnoES. — T. J. Charlton, Esq., Bradford ; E. L. Corker, Esq., Croydon ; J. Miller, Es^., Glasgov. WENTWORTH-WOODHOUSE POULTRY SHOW. This took place on the '21st and '2'2nd nit., when the following prizes were awarded : — Dorkinos.— First, Hon. F. C. H. Hawke, Wonncrslev Park, near Ponte- fract. Second, J. Hatfield, Cottingham, Hull. Highly Commended, — Hurt ; W. Harvey, ShclBuld. <)ii<-*riu— First, W. Harvey. Second, J. Wliite, Warlabv, Northallerton. Highlv Commended. H. Saville, Rufford Abbey, Ollerton. Notts : Hon. W. H. W. Fitzwilliam, Wentworth-Wood- house, Rotherhmn. Commended, Hon. F. C. H. Hawke. Cochi.n-ChixaJs (except WTiito). —First, E. Ye.irdley. Wiaowood, near Sheffield. Second, W. Dawson, Hopton Mirfleld. Highly Commended, R.Wh'tc, Broomhall Park, Sheffield. Commended, E. Bemrose, Derby ; W. Harvey. Cochin-Chixas (^Miite).- Prize, W. Dawson, Hopton Mirfleld. CocHra-CHlXAS (Any yariety).—C)iicAenj>.— First, W. Wood, Sheffield. (Buffi. Second, R. W. Boyle, Bray, Co. Wicklow (Buffi. Highly Com- mended, W. Dawson (Buff); Lady M. Thompson, Sheriff Hutton Park, near York (Partridgel. Game (Redsj. — First, C. Challoner, Stectly, Worksop. Second, G. Wostenholme. Sheffield. Highly Commended, Lady Milton, 0.sberton, Worksop; F. Sales, Crowle, Lincolnshire; W. Bentley, Scholes-in-Cleck- heaton. Game (Any other variety). — First, F. Sales. Crowle, Lincolnshire (Duck- wing Greys). Second. G. Wostenholme, Sheffield (Game Itedl. Chickens, — First, C. Travice, Thurgoland, near Sheflield. Second, C. Challoner, Steetly, Worksop. Highly Coiomondeangled). Second, S. Noble, Strickland Gate. Kendal (Silver-spangledi. Highly Commended, W. W. Nicholls, Sale. Cheshire (Golden-si>angledi; W. Harvey. Sheffield; J. P. Liversidge. Newark, Notts (Silver-spangledl. Game Bantams.— First, Hon. T. W. Fitzwilliam. Second, R. Dodge, Sharrow View. Sheffield. Highly Commended, R. B. Postans.lBrentwood; Hon. T. W. FitzwilUam. Commended, Hon. T. W. Fitzwilliam. Bantams (Any other variety).- First, W. J. Cc^-p^. Bamsley (Pekin Bantams). Second, H.Woods. ClipstonePai-k, Mansfield il:Iaekliantam8) Highly Commended, W, Taylor, Hunslct, Leeds (Black Bantams); H Saville, Rullord Abbey, Ollerton, Notts (Japaness Silkies) ; J. Walker Halifax I Gold-laced) ; '£. Hutton, Pudscv, near Leeds (Black Bantams) Commended, W. Taylor (White Bautamsi. BRAmiAS.— First, R. W. Boyle, Bray. Co. Wicklow. Second. Hon. W. C. W. FitzwiUiam. Highly Commended, W. Harvey. Commended, Hon. T. W. FitzwiUiam. SINGLE COCKS.' OiBE.— First, O. Wostenholme. ShefBeld. Second. C. Travie*, Thor- goland, near Sheffield. Highlv Commended. T. Hemingway. Shelf, near Halifax; C. Challoner, Worksop; F. Sales: Hon. W. U. W. Fitzwilliam. DoRKlNii.- lirst, \T. Hrirvcy, Sheffield. Second, (). E. Crcswcll, Han- worth Rectoi V, Houuslow. Middlesex. Highlv Commended, E. T. Kell, Wetherbv; H. Saville; Hon. W. H. W. Fitzwilliam. Game Baxt am.— First. It- B. Postans, Brentwood. Essex. Second, Hon. W. C. W. Fitzwilliam. Highly Commended, T. C. Harrison, Hnll; R. Cooke, Stavcley, Chesterfield. .\NT OTHER Vaeiett NOT Peeviocsi.v Mextioxed.— First, W. Wood, Sheffield (ilalaysi. Second, H. Savile, Ollerton, Notts 'Black Hainlurgh). Highlv Commended, .T. Davics, Huddcrsfield (Silkies; : C. Sedgwick, Keigh'ley iBUck Hamburgh) ; Mrs. Hurt, .\ldenvaslcy, Derby. Com- mended, Hon. W. Eden, Cantiev, Doncaster (Cn-ve Cceurs). DrcKS (.\ylesbur\- and Ronen).— First, Hon. W. H. W. FitzwiUiam (Avlesburyl. Second. Hon. F. C. H. Hawke, Womorsloy Park, near Ponte- fnict (Rouenl. Highly Commended, R. Massey, Hoober, near Rotherham (Aylesbury) ; W, Taylor, Uunsict, Leeds, Jannary 2,1886.] JOUENAIi OP HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 19 Seilcig Class —Ki^t. Hon. W. H. W. Fitzwilliom (Black Eed Game). Seoond, T. C. Harrison, Hull (Brown Call). SIVEKPSTAKBS FOR SINGLE COCKS. Game.— First, C. Clialloner, Steetly, Works.ni. Second, W. H. W. Fitz, wUliam Highly Commended, G. Wostenholme ; E. Dodge, Sharrow View- Sheffield. Dorking.— Prize, Hon. tV. H. Vf. Fitzwilliam. Highly Commended, Hon. W. C. W. Fitzwilliam. Judge. — Mr. Douglas. HECKMONDWIKE POULTRY SOCIETYS SHOW. The fonrth annual meeting of the above Society was held on the 26th of December. The moraing gave promise of a fine day, but to- wards noon a few drops of rain fell, and when the Show was opened a smart shower came on, which for a time put a stop to the attendance of visitors. In consequence of the Manchester Show being so close at hand, the pens exMbited were not so numerous as last year ; but the quality of the birds compensated for any lack of numbers, and most of them were in fine feather. The Game classes were the most numerous, and in the Black-breasted and Brown Kcd classes some ex- cellent birds were shown. The Duct\vings were good, so were the Blacks. Tbe classes for Bantum-i contained some very good birds. In the Red and Duckwing classes several birds changed owners. The Block cock in the first-prize pen was sold for .£5. In the Uamhunjh classes there was not a single entry, a most singular case, as in this neighbourhood it formerly was rare to see a cottager keep anything bnt a *' Pheasant or a Chitteprat." The other classes contained some good birils, but the competition was confined to a few pens in each class. Game (Black-breasted Red).— First, J. Beetham, Girllnton. Seoond. J. Vickerman, Chickenloy. Game (Brown Red!. — First, H. C. Mason, Drighliugton. Second, J, Hodgson, Bowling Old Lane. Highly Commended, J. Ineson, Staincliffe. Commended, P. Greenwood, Liversedge. Game (Dnckwingsiand other Grey and Blue). — First, J, Fell, Adwalton. Second J. Spedding, Chickonley. Game (White and Pile).— First, H. C. Mason. Second, W, Whiteley, Liversedge. Gabie (Btack and Brassy-winged).— First, G. Noble, Staincliffe. Second, J. Walshaw, Heckmondwike. Highly Commended, J. Ineson. Game East.'.3i (Red). — First, G. Noble. Second, J. Elam, Heckmond- wike. GiaiE B-iSTAM (Duckwing). — First,!. Goodall, Heckmondwike. Second J. Elam. BANTA3I (Black). — First, J. Parker, Heckmondwike. Second, J. Brook, Heckmondwike. SPAXlsuI(Black). — First, T. Greenwood, Dewsbury. Second, W. Whiteley. Cochin-China (Any colour). — First, T. Suddick, Tong Street. Second, J. A. Briggs, Rawden. Brahma Pootra. — First, J. Walshaw. Second, S. Halliday, Heckmond- wike. Ant other Distinct Breed.- First, S. Halliday. Second, J. Holt, Heckmondwike. Game Hen (Any colour). — First, J. Vickerman, Chickenley. Second, .J. A. Briggs. Highly Commended, H. C. Mason. Judges. — >Ir. J. W. Thompson, Southowram, and 3Ir. J. Crossland, Wakefield. NEWPORT POULTRY SHOW. I WAS sorry to see the poultry exhibited in baskets, many of which were not adairted to the inmates. Moreover, it is well known that baskets injure the tails of cocks very often. Can it be any injui-y of tliis kind that has made former exhibitors, as Vicouutess Hohnesdale and Mr. J. K. Fowler, um-epresented at the late show ? Some wooden pens would be much better. Many of the baskets which I saw had nothing to prevent the cocks seeing each other, and I noticed two Pohsh exchanging civilities not calculated to improve their future chances of success in exliibitiun-rooms. — Y. B. A. Z. THE D.VRLLNfGTON EXHIBITION. My attention has been called to an error in the report of our lateshow which I shall be obliged to you if you will correct — — viz., you state by a foot note that Mr. Wilson's cup Game cock was disquaUfled on accoimt of having a tail feather spUced. This was not so. It was the Game cockerel exhibited by Mr. Charlton that was disqualified. You also state that Mr. Fletcher, of Manchester, won the silver cup for the most prizes. This is also an error. The cup was won by Mr. Beldon, of Bingley, who scored one more point than Mr. Fletcher. I shall be obliged by your correctmg this also.— J. Hodgson, Hon. Sec. [We ai-e very sorry that any mis-statement occurred, but our information came originally, we believe, from the Committee. We did not state that Mr. Fletcher had won, but that the award to him was disputed by Mr. Beldon, and was not decided — tljat is, when our report was written. We have heard from Mr. Charlton also, who says, "At the Darlington Show I re- ceived the first prize for Game cockerel ; and in the report in the Journal you have it that the first-prize cock belonging to Mr. Wilson was disqualified for having a sickle feather spliced in his tail. Now I am, as you may imagine, excessively an- noyed to say that it is a mistake, and that it was my cockerel that was disqualified. I have been for some time suffering from a severe attack of bronchitis, and was utterly unable to attend to my fowls, and consequently they had to be seen to by the parties who breed and walk my birds. A mouth before, I saw the cockerel, and he was then all right, and I had not the slightest knowledge of the fraud — in fact, I was as ignorant of it as you could be. You can understand, then, my great annoyance at this unfortunate business." — Ens.] A GOOD RESOLUTION FOR THE NEW YE.iR. Eesolved by an Awakened Committee.— That after the first day of Jannary, 18(50, those magnificent specimens of the poultry yard denominated Turkeys, which at certain of our shows have, from some error on our part, not from any offence on theirs, been subjected to the pains and penalties of impri- sonment, shall henceforth be provided with such accommoda- tion as shall not only insure them Uberty of person, but shall enable them to display those charms which have so long been hidden from public view. ■' B. & W.s " .\JIARY— HONEY HARVEST OF 1865. As your correspondents are beginning to send you in the resiUts of the year in respect to their honey harvest, &c., I am induced to forward to you my usual winter report. I may observe in general that it has not been more than an average year with me, perhaps somewhat below the average, but this is in part owing to the strong tendency to swarm which prevailed more or less diuring the whole season. However, I take it that this tendency to swarm is in itself indicative of the average character of the honey season, for when honey abounds and the bees are busy coUectiug it swarming is usually at a dis- count. AU perceptible increase to the store of honey ceased in the first week in July, which is the earUest period I ever remember my bees to have ceased their labours. Ordinarily they add to their stores in more or less considerable quantities till about the second week in August. However, they resumed work at the end of September, and filled up their empty cells, even seaUng up a good many. The honey collected thus late was very dark, and had a peouhar flavour which I never re- member to have tasted before as collected trom flowers. A good deal was collected from the ivy, and this may have helped to produce the flavour I speak of, but it certainly did not pre- ponderate. Altogether I have obtained 196^ lbs. of honey, of which I have sold £8 worth. This was the produce of twelve hives, fouj- of them being swarms, and six of the remainder having given swarms, several even twice. The largest quantity ob- tained from any one hive was 32 lbs. At the beginning of the year my hives stood thus, as com- pared with the status of my apiary June 14, 1864 (see Joubnai, OF HoEucuLTURE of that date) : — BEE-HOUSE. A. B. C. Hybrid Italian t2neen. English stock. Pore Italian queen. Bom 1861. Rich and Queen of 1864. Very Bom 1862. Very strong, strong. strong and rich. and rich in honey. D. E. P. Pure Italian queen. Pure Italian queen. English queen. Dege- Bred out of C in 186J. Bred out of C in 1864. nerated stock. In 1864 Strong and rich. Strong and rich. had a pure Italian queen ; now has all black. UNDEE COVEE. G. Pure Italian queen. Bred out of C in 1863. Strong and pretty rich. GABDEN. H. I. English queen, 1868, Strong Pare Italian queen. Bred and rich. out of C in 1864. Tasmaniau hive. Rich and strong. The condition of p pnzzled me, because at the close of 1864 there were many beautifully-marked Italians, whereas I could not see a single one in the hive this spring. This led me to fear (otherwise there is no truth in the doctrine of partheno- 20 JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTURB AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. [ Itnutry i, 1866. genesis as pertaining to bees), that my so-called " pore Italian " queen of c was really a hybrid. Other circumstances have oonnnced me of this, and Mr. Woodbury was of the same opinion when he paid me a visit in August lost ; but of this more presently, and yet I am not aware that I ever saw any black English bees in c since it became liguriauised three years ago ; whilst the various young queens which I have raised during the last two seasons have produced a mixed race, in which the golden zones have largely displayed themselves. It is certain, however, that in no single instance has the doctrine of parthenogenesis demonstrated its truth in my apiary, al- though there were clouds of drones all this summer, bred by at least five (supposed) pure Italian queens, some of them, too, very distinctly marked, making the welkin ring with their noisy trumpetings. I confess to haWng been very much dis- appointed at the result of my painstaking labours in weeding out my English blood, which bids fair to prove the stoutest in the contest, and to remain master of the field. In justice to Mr. Woodbury I am bound to say that be has kindly supplied me with another queen,' which I sincerely hope may turn out all that he and I could wish.— B. & W. (To be continued.) FEEDING RESCUED BEES. I HAVE bought, in order to save them from the brimstone-pit, a small lot of bees, which only weighs 10 lbs. Last week I gave them a quart of syrup (2 lbs. of sugar in a pint and half of water) in a bottle through the top of the hive, and they have not taken it half down yet. — A. B. B. K. [Your syrup appears to have scarcely a sufHcient proportion of sugar. We use 3 lbs. of sugar to 2 lbs. water by weight. We do not know how you can accelerate matters so late in the season. If the contents of the bottle remain, as they should do, perfectly suspended, and do not drip into the hive, it need not be removed during the winter.] BEE DYSENTERY. As your correspondent "A. W." desires the opinions of apiarians regarding dysentery in bees, I beg to submit the following as the result of my own experience. Bees in fine weather have little or no disease, foul brood excepted ; it must, therefore, be in cold damp weather that we expect such. It is well known that they can raise or lower the temperature of their hives according to circumstances — in fact, that they are a kind of Uving fire which requires fuel in the shape of honey to keep it up. We will imagine the case of a hive not very strong in numbers : the bees are then obliged to feed more frequently than in one which is strong, for the purpose of keeping up that degree of heat which is essential to their health, and, conse- quently, when they have fiUed themselves with honey there is more perspiration, and there not being sufficient heat in them to send the etoam off, it falls back and is condensed on and absorbed by them, disease and death being the result. We only look for this disease in cold weather, and in hives which are damp, as dry cold does not injure bees. How, then, can their safety bo cared for? as even if there were a medicine for their cui-e, it could not be administered in such cases since it would only hasten the catastrophe. We must, then, keep as near to nature as possible by applying heat to restore them ; and this requires time, because they must be let alone \mtU the weather be such as to admit of their flying abroad. In such cases I choose the first fine day that I can, have some thick boards ready to place below the hives, baring had them preriously well heated, in fact as warm they can be without burning. When these are put under the liivos they raise the temperature, setting the bees in motion, and when these come to the warm hoard it strengthens them greatly. They are then able to fly out and empty themselves. It is well to do this with all the hives, as the heat tends to dry up any moisture that may be in them. I add the following for the benefit of " M. S." in regiu-d to queens mating with drones. So late as the 2nd of September, (when I considered that all the black drones were slaughtered, at least they were so in our neighbourhood, and two weeks before that they had made a wholesale slauglitcr at the moors, and therefore thought there would be none but Lignrian ones bring, which two hives had preserved), whilst watching a hive * I also last year presented my esteomcd friond with an Italian quoen ot oniincstionable purity, but she, unfortunately, came to grief oa her amvftL — A D£vo>'saxa£ B££-K££P£r. I saw the queen come ont and fly for fifteen minutes before the hive: she then went in, but immediately came out again and joined a drone. I watched them till they come down to the roof of the house, but in a minute she returned again, when she again took flight, and this time she must have gone a long way off to choose for herself a husband, as she is now the breeder of hybrids, proring she had been wedded to a black. — A Las- ARESBIIIB BeE-KSEFEB. PoLLEN-OATHERiNo OM Christmas-dat. — PoUeu was colleotcd by my bees on the shortest day ; but what is even more remark- able, on Christmas-day, which was both mild and sunny, quite a stream of busy and successful little foragers poured in and out of the stock referred to in page 536, filling the air with a delightful melody which, however nnnsoal at this advanced season, discoursed most excellent music to the ear of A Devonsbire Bee-keeper. OUR LETTER BOX. DABLncGTOH Snow.— We arc informed that Iho flrst prize for Pewter cocks was awarded to Mr. H. Bcldon. and not to Mr. J. R. Itobiason. Eoo-PRoDCcnio Fowls (A Farmer). — For your farm, and for the pnr- poHc of producing eggs, we recommend you to keep Golden-spangled Hamburghs. Phea.sants Dyino (A. L. H.).— There does not seem any cause for the death of your Phcat^auts, beyond roup. Instead of a cabbage give them every day several turfs of growing graSH, cut with plenty of oarih to them. Feed on bread steeped in strong ale, and put plenty of camphor in their water. They will eat the fresh earth, and wo hclieVo the coar«e that we have advised will prove a care. Pheasants at live years old are old birds, and we should adriso you next year to save some young ones. Commencing Pocltev KEEriNr. ifi. liX — You have flrst to consider your locality and its poultry requirements, next whether you intend to breed for a local or for the London market, whether there will bo the reatliersale foreggs or fowls for table. With the appliances you possess yoa may fairly look for a good profit. For hardy fowls, good layers. Bitters, and mothers, wo should advise Cochins or Brahmas ; for choice table poultry, Dorkings. It there is a good demand for choice egga, especially in winter, at large prices. Spanish pullets will be required. Such pre- mises as you describe will afford facilities for keeping several breeds; Spanish should be one of them. Wo believe you should give the Dor- kings the chief run ; Cochins, Brahmas, and Spanish will do in confine- ment in any of the out-houses you mention : a run could be aflforded for them by enclosing an outer space with wire netting, because, although certain breeds will do well in confinement, they do better with a larger amount of liberty. Common Pii^eons will suit best as general breeders, they are hardier and more prolific than fancy ones. There is no occasion for more than a very small outlay to turn any out-house into a perfect poultry place, having perches within 2 feet of the ground, and a dry gravel floor. There are now plenty of good books giving full instructions, and for your stock apply to Baily, of Mount Street. Fowls Suffering FlioM Champ (Subgcriber).—'Tho sudden change of weather from extreme drought to constant damp and heavy rains may account for much of the cramp you complain of. It is, however, more often caused by improper flooring for their roosting-places. such as stone, brick, or boarding. If you have either of these remove it : if you cannot do that, cover it some inches deep with dry gravel. If you have no gravel, get that which is most like it. Road grit is an excellent substi- tute. Onions are very good for Turkeys. Stimulants, such as strong beer, a mixture of bean, pea, and barley meal slaked with beer is gooil food. The chickens will rally by having bread steeped in it. The pre- sent weather will necessitate generous feeding. BREEiUNtf Sebbight Bantams (Stbrifj/i/i. — Many, indeed most, breeders mix their Gold aud Silver Bantams. Still, if you wish for Silver birds, you are more likely to have them from Silver thau Golden birds. Un- fortunately all the Silver now have a golden tinge. Tlukevs' Bheedino (H.A. p.).— Turkeys will breed for many years, but as they get old they are less prolific. We should not keep them after five or six years. Both sexes should not be old alike, but where one is old care should be taken to mate with younger. DoKKINGS' Combs {Scotchman). — If every other point were equal, and the large comb was in every way perfect, we should certainly prefer it to the small one. Small combs are not characteristics of the Dorking breed. If the large comb lopped or fell over, it would be a disadvantage, and we should prefer the smaller one. CocHlN-CulNA Cock's Comb tit'. J/. if.,jita.).— Uneven serraturea in the comb do not disqualify, though they wonld be considered if the com- petition were close. We take for granted that you do not mean " sprigs '* on the side of the comb, which would be a JataJ objection, probably. Food for Goldfinches {X, N. S, S.). — Yon had best feed your Gold- finch on good, soimd, and bright canary seed, give clean water, and keep the cage sanded. It may have duckweed, groundsel, and the beads of thistles, dandelion, and plantain when in season. A little maw seed is good, but hemp and rape seed ore to be avoided, — B. P. B. Pol'pv Seed for Bibds [S. A.). — The seeds of Papaver somniferum are very small bluish seeds, sold for birds under the name of *' maw seed." They are not injurious to small birds. The seeds do not contain opium, but they contain a very fine oil, and are much better for cage birds thiUl cither rape or hemp seed. — B. P. B, POULTRY M.VRKET.-J,«iARY 1. Sendees seem to have exhanstod their stocks niul their enerrfee, und the supply of most artioles depends on p)irt:i.*ls that have been buried for daya uinUr hecatombs of Geeso and Turkeys, and now como to light. iHoht Christmiis markets are alike, and while there is almost always a good demand for the best of all sorts, much that is inferior is difflcolt to sell at any price. January 9, 1866. ] JOUKNAL OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDEN'EE. 21 WEEKLY CALENDAR. 1"^ Month Day of Week. JANUARY 9-15, 1866. Average Temperature near London. Rain in Ust 39 years. Snn Risea. Sun Moon Moon Sets. Rises. Sets. Moon's Age. Clock before Sun. Day of Tear. Day. NiRht. Mean. Days. m. h. m. h. TO. h. m. h. Days. m. s. 9 To Caphea platyeentra. 41.1 30.7 35.9 14 6af8 9af4 42af0 S2 11 22 7 26 9 10 W Cinerarias. 41.8 80.4 36.1 17 6 8 10 4 44 1 57 11 23 7 50 10 11 Th Cytisus. 41.7 30.6 36.1 19 5 8 12 4 ; 46 2 after. 24 8 14 11 12 F Genista. 42.4 30.8 36.6 16 4 8 13 4 45 3 11 25 8 S7 12 13 S Cyclamens. 42.9 32.1 37.."; 19 4 8 15 4 43 4 42 1 26 9 13 14 Sus 2 SCNDAY ATTER ErirHANY. 42.0 29.8 35.9 16 8 8 1 16 4 as 5 30 2 27 9 22 14 15 M Daphnes. 41.5 28.9 35.2 12 2 8 j IS 4 ilS 6 2B 3 28 9 44 15 From observations taken near London durinpthe last thirtv-nine vears, the average day temperature of the week is 41.9 " ; and its night tempsra- tare 80.5-. The frreatest heat was 5(r,on the 14th, 1S49 ; and the lowest cidd 4' below zero, on the 14th, 1338. The gi-eatest fall of ram was 0.80 inch. | N.B. — The Calendar contains the names of plants flowering in the {^-eeuhouse. 1 13USH PEAR TREES ON QUINCE STOCKS IN YORKSHIRE. HE foUon-iiig are a few notes on bush Pears on the quince stock as grown amongst the liills of Yorkshire, wlierc the cUmate is not warm cnougli to admit of the successful cultivation of \\'heat : — Doyenne d'Ete makes a very short hut rohust gi'owth on the quince stock, and bears an abundance of fi'uit, wliich ripens about the 1st of August. The fi'uit should be gathered before it begins to turn yellow. It will then be melting. juicy, and sweet. It soon becomes mealy if kept more than a day or two. Beurre Gitfard forms a small but compact busli on the qnmce. The gi-owth is quite satisfactory. The shoots require to be shortened to 4 or 5 inches in length about the beginning of July, as the tree forms fruit-spurs sparingly. The fruit ripens well, and is melting and juicy, -with a tiavoiu- resembling the Jargonelle. The Jargonelle fonus a dwarf spreading liush on the quince. It I'equires the same treatment as BcuiTe Gitiard, and bears freely and regularly. Tliis tree bore fort}--four good-sized Pears last autumn. Beurre Goubault makes a most beautifid busli, like a forest tree in miniature. Bears abundantly and regularly. The fiiiit ripens well, is juicy, melting, with a pleasing aroma. It is ready for use about the first weolv in October. This variety bore seventy fruit in lN(i4, and ninety iulNn clistinpuis)icd from tliem in leaf or any other particular. To Mr. lieatou I was able to re|>ly that I had succeeded simply by noticing the plant's natural rc'iuirements, which were that it preferred shade to sunshine, and would only grow to perfection where it had plenty of sliade from the sun, when it rewarded mo by tlowerinu and fruiting n'oundantly, besides making a most beautiful edging in a position where few other i>]auts would grow at all. Instead of longer availing myself of my itoiii dc phtme I venture to subscribe my name. — W. Waxklvx. VINE CULTlTRi:. SiNTf; your correspondent Mr. Wills invites discussion through your pages on the above subject, and as wo do not )iRppen to think alike on some points, I venture to solicit a portion of your space for the following remarks. Not having in my possession at present those Numbers which I infer contain the first part of Mr. AVills's article on the cultivation of tlie Vine, mv remarks refer oulv to what he has stated in No. 242, page 398. Vine culture is a subject that has been so often and so thoroughly sifted of late years, that it would be ditticult indeed to broach any new or profitable idea upon it — a fact which your correspondent seems to have been uimblo to overcome ; nor is it with any pretensions to being able to do so myself tliat I intrude upon your pages, but simply with a desire to modify to some extent the impression which I think Mr. Wills's remarks are likely to make. 'With regard to what he says about pruning, covering the borders, and such like, I have nothing to s.iy. His remarks upon these matters are unob- jectionable ; only I think that he entertains unnecessary fears about using the scissors. In inexperienced hands they are, perhaps, not to be recommended, but we know that they have been, and I have seen them, used with perfect safety .ind success by those who have claims to be considered authorities on the subject of Grape-growing ; but this is a point of comparatively little importance. Concerning the necessity of painting Vines, however, as a preventive of red spider, I do not entirely concur with 'Sir. Wills. I know by experience tliat in some places, and >ipon some soils, red spider is one of the greatest scourges that the Grape-grower has to contend witli, and he who Buds it necessary only to scrajjc off a little of the loose bark in order to rid himself of this pest has good reason to be thankful ; but it does not follow that his experience applies in every case. I certainly never heard of cowdung being recommended for the above purpose, nor am I aware of its possessing any particular virtue as an antidote in this respect. I have seen soot and sulplmr, and also clay em- ployed in the form of jiaiiit, and I used to think the necessity of apidying tliese, or anything else that was likely to arrest the ravages of the destroyer, jiretty evident ; latterly, however, I have preferred using soft soap and water, scrubliing the rods ■well with a hard spoke-brush. I think this is the cleanest, cheapest, and most effectual plan I have seen tried, and if carried out before the buds begin to swell there is no danger of injuring them. Your correspondent's speaking of lowering the points of the Vines before starting, in order to induce these to break regu- larly, suggests something to my mind which ajipears to me to account as well as anything else for the irregular breaking of Vines in many cases. I am aware that the rush of sap to the top of tlie shoot is generally considered to be the cause of this, and 1 am not prepared to deny that to some extent it may be so ; but I am convinced that breaking irregularly is more owing to the different parts of the Vine being exposed to different temperatures, and in this opinion I am sure that the experience of others will bear me out. I have invariably noticed that the best bunches of Grapes and the strongest shoots are always at the bottom of the house, where the Vines arc in proximity to tlie pipes, or at the toji, to whicli tlie heat ascends and there remains, while the weak shoots and small bunches are in the miildle. This I have always noticed, more particularly in early vineries, where, from necessity, little air could be admitted, and where the temperature was almost entirely dependant on fire heat. In late vineries irregular breaking is less common, simply because less fire heat being required, and more air being admitted, the temperature of the house is more equal. The in- clination of heated air to ascend straight upwards is well Icnown and understood. In a vinery where the pipes run along the front of the house, the cold air coming in contact with them , and becoming heated, rises straight up to the glass roof, which it follows until it reaches the top of the house, and there it remains, unless the ventilation is sufficient at the time to let it escape, otherwise the heat can only do so by radiation ; but the ascend- ing current from the jjijies supplies more than what is lost in this respect. The fumigating-pan affords a familiar and practical illustration of what I mean. Under these circumstances a few feet of the Vine rods directly above the pipes, and that portion of them at the top of the house, are subjected to a higher tem- perature than the middle i>art : hence the result. A far pre- ferable plan to lowering the points of the rods at the back of the house is to lay these horizontally along the front ; but were it not inconvenient for other reasons, it would be a better plan to distribute the heating apparatus more equally over the lloor of the house. In conclusion, allow mo to notice one or two other points in Mr. Wills's article. On the subject of temperature, I think he advises undue caution. When starting Vines the temperature has often to bo regulated by circumstances, and must be left a good deal to the judgment of the gardener. Much will depend upon the backward or forward state of the Vines, and upon the state of the weather out of doors at the time. When it is necessary to use some amount of fire heat to raise the tem- perature to the desired point, then a low degree of heat is advisable; but if the weather is mild at the time, and has been so for some time previously, then a temperature of from 50° to ,5.5° is quite safe to start with. I think it an unnecessary degree of caution to advise such a long-continued low tempera- ture as that recommended by Mr. Wills. When once the bunches fairly show themselves, I consider a temperature of oO" too low. A rise from about .5.5° to fiO' at night, according to the weather, and a proportionate rise in the daytime, are necessarv, and materially assist the projier development of the bunches."— T. S. y\'. KOSES. I HAVE read what " CorNXRv Cuihtk " has said, at page 520, with regard to Roses on their own roots succeeding better than on alien stocks. I cannot definitively speak, having had so few Roses on their own roots as compared with those on the Manetti and briar stocks. Some that did not do well on either of the above stocks succeeded well on their own roots, and %-ki' vma. When Roses are raised on their own roots they require to be taken great care of for some time. So far as my experience goes, they do not generally bloom so early, abun- dantly, quickly, or late, as Roses on the Manetti, in my soil. The same remarks also apply to Roses on the briar. However, much depends on the sorts, and also on the soil. There is nothing that I have seen that will touch the Manetti Roses in poor, dry, and shallow land, highly manmed, and kept well watered. I do not agree with the saying of the late Mr. Beaton that Manetti is only of use to strike Roses on their owni roots ; but, I do say, that it is the best and surest way to raise Roses on their own roots. .\s I am about to leave Rushton in April, to reside at Child Okeford in this county, I removed several hundreds of my Manetti Roses to a spare garden here, where they will remain till I am able to remove them to my new residence, rented of Lord Rivers, one of my oldest friends. I found that some of them, although planted eleven years, were still only on their Manetti roots, but the most of them were ibiuble-rooted. From such as had been budded too high I cut off the Manetti roots, othei-wise I merely shortened the JIanetti and other roots. Some sorts, in the same family, will root much more freely than others. Tlie two great rooting times are in the spring, and again in September, after rain. If " Coi'NTiiv CrrATK " wishes to get Roses on their own roots from the Manetti, he must )ilant them 2 or 3 inches over the collar of the bud, and keep them mulelied and watered in hot weather. He must also protect the roots during the first winter. There is no doubt that originally Manetti Roses were budded too high, and the radius of the roots was necessarily planted too deep. All trees struggle to make surface roots, and I do not think they will flourish long without them. If my readers have a Manetti Rose budded 'J inches high, the best chance of success will be to bury it sufficiently deep to strike on its own roots. There is no occasion to cut the bark. The Rose will strike in suitable weather (hot, dripping weather) without it. Still it will do no harm to cut a nick over an eye, Jmaory 9, 1866. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. and close the earth over it. Probably this may be o£ great assistance to some sorts that do not root freely. I have found that by earthint; up spriggy plants every branch rooted. For staking cuttings September is the best time, because the earth is hot, and the day and night atmosphere is colder, and the sap is not so soon exhausted as in summer. The best place to strike Roses from cuttings is under a wall facmg the north. There they have sufficient heat without being ex- hausted by the direct rays of the sun. When " Country Curate " pots his cuttings he should place them in a shady spot. His faUm-es arose from one of two causes, either from carelessness, or the drying up of the new tender rootlets. With regard to Roses on the Manetti. whether they are double-rooted or not, I can say that I never saw anything equal to them as a class. They began blooming out of doors in 18(j4 on the 7th of May, and in 1865 on the 14th of May, and never stopped but one week till they gave up in the winter. As soon as the main wood had bloomed its amazing crop, the new shoots from the base began in a week to bloom ; and, by the time these blooms were over, the next series began again on the worked wood, and that wood never ceased flowering ; to which might be added the next series of flowers from the base shoots. A briar Rose never can be more than one Rose, but a Rose on the Manetti (by striking, or being on its own roots) may become many. The most favourable place for striking Roses on the Manetti stock is the point of union ; but, if the stems are earthed up high enough, and kept sufficiently moist, some sorts more than others, they will strike abun- dantlv, and give compound interest on their own roots besides the Manetti plant. I have reserved about l'20(t plants to go with me. Thev are now all together, and will be a tine sight. I do not think of moving them till next fall.— W. F. Radclitfe, Tarrant Jtuslitoii. COOL ORCHID CULTURE. I oeseuve the following remarks by Mr. Keane respecting the cultivation of Orchids — "A high temperature was supposed necessary for their growth ; to prove how erroneous that idea is we would suggest a friendly visit to some of our most success- ful neighbours." Would your correspondent be kind enough to name a few places where Orchids are cultivated successfully under cool treatment ? as I happen to he among the num- ber of those who think a high temperatm-e absolutely essential to the successful management of Orchidaceous plants. I know there are a few exceptions, as some of the Odontoglossums, Lyeastes, and a very few others, that thrive better in an inter- mediate house, but not a greenhouse. I have visited several places where it has been attempted to grow Saccolabiums, .\ijrides, Vandas, i-c, in a cool house, and in every case it has proved a failure. A few months ago I expected to hear of Vanda tricolor and Cattleya labiata being strongly recom- mended as bedding-out plants, so enthusiastic were the advo- cates of the eool system. — B. F., Mancliester. [I beg to refer " B. F." to Messrs. Lee, Hammersmith, Mr. Veitch, Chelsea, Messrs. Rollisson, Tooting, Mr. Kucker, Wandsworth, and, in short, to every grower of Orchids to prove, by occular demonstration, that some kinds delight in a low temperature. For example, the treatment required for Oncidium carthagenense would kiU O. bifolium ; Cattleya For- besii will thrive where Cattleya Skinneri will die ; and in like manner Dendi'obium pulchellum demands an amount of heat and moisture which are unnecessary and indeed injurious to D. aureum. To study the climate of the countries and locali- ties from which the species come is the only sure guide. It is no wonder that plants from the same country require very iliSerent treatment, as Orchids grow in the tropics at all eleva- tions between the level of the sea and 14,000 feet of altitude, and, therefore, they will require a great diversity of climate. When the many rare and beautiful species were sent home from the high lands of Mexico and Guatemala, Mr. Hartwig informed us, in his letters, that the thermometer was some- times near- the freezing point where many of them grew, and this was confirmed by the quantity of small mosses which were found growing upon some of the branches to which the plants had attached themselves. Many of them were removed into a house which was kept cooler than the Orcbideous stove, and they succeeded much better than others of the same kinds which were allowed to remain in a high temperature, where they were over-excited, and grew sickly and languid, forming small pseudo-bulbs every year, untU they finally perished. Many growers have experienced the same results. The house in the Horticultural Society's Garden at Chiswick, where they wei-e grown, had no artificial heat during the greater part of the summer, and in winter it was kept at about 55°. The air, however, was kept more moist than in a common greenhouse. — W. iiEANE.] VISITS TO GARDENS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. Messrs. Low k Son's, Clapton. .\mongst the old-established nurseries in and about London, none is better known or more deservedly celebrated than that which for so many years has been known as that of Hugh Low & Son, Clapton ; aiid although the head of the firm not long ago died full of years and honours, yet it is still carried on with the same vigour and energy which have chai-acterised it for so long a period. It was on a miserably wretched day in the month of October, when the rain came down in " buckets- ful," that I found myself at the nursery, and was fortunate to have an hour or two's tour of the houses accompanied by Mr. Stuart Low, from whom I learned much that was new to me, and saw much that was novel also. In some vei7 important respects the Clapton Nm-sery has spik-ialites of its own. One will not find in it the magnificent specimens of stove and greenhouse pl.ants, and Orchids, that are to be seen at Mr. Veitch's or Mr. Williams's, nor the curious and multitudinous novelties that Mr. Bull grows ; but you will see houses full of Orchids in every stage, from the plants just imported to those which are growing finely and fiowering; whole ranges full of Heaths, especially those for winter and spring decoration ; thousands and tens of thou- sands of young Conifers gi-own from seed ; house after house filled with Camellias of all sizes and kinds ; not a great deal of order and neatness, but an air of business that showed that matters were thriving ; and that as this house has contributed in no small degree to the taste for horticulture by the extensive importations it has made from all ([uarters of the globe, so it is in its turn deriving no small degree of benefit from that increased taste. And now as to the Orchids. It is well known how many beautiful plants of this remarkable tribe have been added to our collections by the enterprise of this firm ; and it shows the manner in which it is ready to seize upon any fair opening, that immediately on the cool treatment of Orchids coming into vogue, a collector was dispatched to South America to obtain from the high altitudes of New Grenada and Guatemala the Odontoglossums and other Orchids with which those districts abound ; and it may give an idea of the extent of the importa- tions to say that in three months were received about 150 cases of Orchids. Were these all to arrive in good condition they would indeed afford a rich harvest ; but they have to go through an ordeal by which hundreds of them perish. They are col- lected on the heights of New Grenada at an altitude of 24,000 feet, where the average temperature is about i'2' ; but before they reach the steamer they have to come down eight hundred miles to the coast by the Maddalena River, oue of the hottest steaming countries in the world. The consequence of this is that they actually melt, all the tissue turning into water, so that when the skin of the pseudo-bulbs is not buist you can squirt the water out of them as out of a syringe ; but in some species when even this is the case, and the rhizome is sound, the plant will recover and make fresh bulbs, as, in fact, I saw many of them doing. Amongst the Odontoglots were gloriosum, Bluiitii, radiatum, and many others, which are niost probably entirely new, and thus promise the incentive of novelty and expectancy to those who purchase ; for hither hie that nurne- rous and increasing class of horticulturists to whom Orchids are precious— some thinking they can detect something strange and novel, others pretty sure that they have found a gem, and many contented with anything they can pick up. Of Cattleyas from New Grenada there was also a great variety, in every degree of colouring, from that of Mossiie to pure white. Then there were Dendrobiiims of all kinds— albo-sanguineum, very rare, from Moulmein, growing well. Look, too, at this lot of Lrelia anceps, imported only in .June, and now flowering ; and Liplia majaUs, assumed by most to be a difficult plant to grow, but here doing well, and that in a low temperature. On the subject of low temperatures for Orchids I had a long and interesting chat with Mr. Low, he being decidedly of opmion tliat a great deal more has been said of it than it warrants ; and that manv persons, misled by what has been written on the subject, will bum their fingers, or rather, should we not '26 JOUBKAL 01" HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ Jannai7 9, 1886. say, get Uicm frost-bitton ? Orcbids, it is true, will do at a low temperature ; but to suppose that tbcy can be grown as ordinary grecnbouse plants can be, is only misleading. Tbcy require exclusion from air, and not so dry a tumperatme as a grecnbouse must bave. In a bouse witb a nortbcru aspect, and carefully regulated as to temperature and ventilation, grown ly tbemselves, they will do wlU ; and even, as Mr. Low bus proved, many sorts that have luugiiisbed under other treatment have thriven under this. Various points in the cultivation of Orchids, as in other plants, are only arrived at by constant attention and knowledge of the different kinds, each, it may be, requiring its own special method. Thus with Cuhmthe and Li- matodes, it has been a customary plan, when the leaves drop, to lay them on one side ; but, this according to Mr. Low's ideas, is all wrong. He keeps them growing, as it is then that the flower- buds are produced. What a charm, too, iu these line winter- blooming Orcbids of which, as they bloom, the spike lengthens until it reaches 3 or 4 feet in length ! How dehciously sweet- scented, too, are some of these flowers ! Dendrobium bedyos- mum (well deserving its name), for example, one bloom of which would scent a whole house. But we must pass away from the Orchids and look at these ranges of pits. Himdretls and tens of huudred.s of young plants of Erica ; pots full of young Conifers of the rarest kinds in myriads ; and in the houses range after range filled with the winter and spring-blooming Heaths in flower. A curious fact Mr. Low mentioned with regard to these — viz., that the hot September bad so hurried on the blooming season that hiemalis was nearly over ; and vernalis, which should not have been in bloom till i'ebraary, was now all coming into bloom. These plants are dispersed all over the coimtrj-. They are killed by tens of thousands every year in London drawing-rooms, are hawked about by itinerant vendors in the suburbs, and hence there is a never-failing demand for them, and a never-failing supply. Camellias are here by the thousand, Mr. Low importing evci-y year a very large number from Ghent, that city of Ca- meUias, and also growing a large quantity of his own working. Witb regard to these latter, he bad been adopting a plan of his own. Instead of allowing the top bud to giow out and make the young wood for the new year, he cuts oil that bud, and by that means iuduces the third and fourth eyes to push their buds forth, and thus to make a more bushy and stubbj- plant. This system seemed to be answering well, as the i)lanta were looking well and vigorous under the treatment. The splendid tree Ferns belonging to this establishment were so much admired at the Guildhall that it would be needless to say anything about them, save that Mr. Low was adopting a curious plan with some of the stems which bad come home dead — nanielj% hollowing out the top, and placing a young plant in the crown of the stem. We can see liere what changes railway's, especially in their improved system of commimication, are making in evei'ything. Mr. Low was sending a large quantity of greenhouse plants away to the north of Scotland. Instead of mats, baskets, &c., and all the expense and trouble connected with it, they were being conveyed in waggons to the Great Northern Railway, where a truck or more is placed at his disposal ; the plants are packed in this, and they reach Aberdcensliiro without even a change of carriage. Where the consignee lives near the station this can be easily managed, and the plants sustain no damage, while the saving of expense is very great. Thus in one way or another I was picking up during these two hom-s much inter- esting information, learning something fresh, and also to admire the zeal and energy displayed by our great plant-merchants. The depth of winter is not usually a good time for visiting gardens, but I have found out that at aU times something is to be learned. — D., Deal. I unless there be reciprocity between root and branch little pro- gress will be made. Here the Golden-variegated Geraniums I have done very well, although the season has been unusually I warm and diy ; they bave afforded a good supjily of cuttings, , and will give many more in spring if wanted. I would advise the inexperienced to have their pbints well established in pots before planting, as this is vei-y conducive to success in the growth of this class of Geraniums ; also, not to plant out too soon. If good plants are in store they will at once give effect, while small plants turned out too early, will tliroughont the season disappoint the cx))ectalion8 which have been formed of them. I offer these remarks to the inexperienced, not to those who can judge for themselves. Many bedding plants may be turned out from store pots and boxes, but the Golden-variegated Geraniums will not succeed under that mode of treatment. — Jamks Keix). GOLDEN VARIEGATED GERANIUMS. I FISD that these varieties have disappointed expectation in several places, owing, I doubt not, to Uie unusually dry hot summer, along with sudden transitions of temperature, nights being chilling, and days scorching. However, there is one peculiarity in these Geraniums which has arrested my at- tention — namely, a deficiency of fibrous roots compared with other bedding Geianiums. This deficiency, I think, in a great measure prevents them making equal growth with others of much stronger constitution, and of which the roots are in pro- portion to the growth of the branches, for it is evident that ROY.U. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. MoKEY Phizes scbsiiicied for Cebtificaies at S-vtubda* Shows. At the Meeting on Satiu-day last Mr. George Ward, gardener to T. X. Miller, Esq., of liishop Stortford, exhibited two very handsome Smooth-leaved Cayenne I'incs, which weighed 7^ lbs. and 7i lbs. respectively. They were awarded a first prize of £1. We take this opportuuity to state that the system of award- ing certificates, as was done last year, has been abandoned, and money prizes instituted instead for meritorious subjects ex- hibited at these Saturday meetings. These meetings will be continued throughout the year, and schedules containing the details of subjects invited may be obtained on application to the Assistant Secretary at South Kensington. "WTilATHER WISDOM. {Continued from page 526. i My former remarks on this subject were written with the view of directing the attention of your readers to a more careful and regular study of the barometer, in order to enable them, by noting down at fixed periods its various changes, to anticipate to a certain extent probable weather. Many persons are fully alive to the various causes which produce the rising and falling of the mercurial column, and they, I am sure, do place reliance upon the weather-glass. That dependance is verj' often severely tried by the apparent waywardness of the mercury. The column will remain high when the weather seems to say, •' You ought to be low ;" and the barometer will show a great diminution of atmospheric pressure when the sky is calm luid serene. But persons more advanced in the pursuit of the knowledge of the science of weather go deeper into the subject. They know, and experience teaches them, that though bad weather was not actually present at the particular spot where the barometer was observed to be low, yet a gale has been raging not many miles distant. The barometer, be it remarked, is a very delicate in- strument, and is affected not only by the atmosphere immedi- ately above the locality of observation, but by the great atmo- spheric waves which are sweeping at a distance over the saiSace of the sxvrrounding country. To those of your readers who ai"e but imperfectly acquainted with the real cause of the rise and fall of the luercurial column I would now particularly address the following remarks : — Whenever there is an invisible agent at work persons are apt to be sceptical. Every one knows how the mechanism of a clock or the hands of a watch are set in motion ; there is the weight, the spring, or it may be other causes. It is reasonable to suppose that some result will follow the adaptation of the dilTerent parts. No one wonders at the movement of the hands ; but look at the barometer ! It is not wound up, and there is nothing visible to cause any motion. Watch the glass carefully duing a gale or heavy fall of rain ; the mercury falls fast, almost whilst the eye is upon it; and because there is apparently nothing to account for the change they have seen, persons go away disappointed from such a contemplation, and as tbcy do not "recognise the hidden power which acts on the column, the instrument is despised. Men will, however, put faith in the correctness of a watch or clock because they know how it is set in motion ; but as to the barometer, they say, '■ It is of no use ; its movements are mysterious, and therefore it must be disre- January 9, 1866. ] JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 27 garded aa of no value." Now, the agent which balances and supports the mercurial column is the atmosphere. The earth is surronnded by this atmosphere, weather is constantly chang- ing, and with such changes atmospheric pressures increase and diminish daily and hoiu'ly. That pressures do vary, and that the barometer is affected by such variations, can bo demon- strated in the followiug way : — Let any one take a portable barometer to the summit of a hill, ha-ving, previously to start- ing upwards, noted down the height at which the column stands. Suppose the ascent to be 500 feet, it will be found that on ar- riving at the summit the mercury has fallen considerably. Why is this ? 'tt'hy should there be any change ? The reason is as follows : In ascending the height a diminution in the density of the atmosphere is experienced. The atmosphere which at a lower heiglit supported the column of mercury will not sup- port it at the top of the MU. The mercury falls. But let the glass be brought down directly to the original starting point, and the barometer will read once more at the same height as it did at first. To those who are able to perform another experiment, the atmospheric pressure on the column of mercnry is more clearly and quickly illustrated. Place a skeleton syplion baro- meter (simply the glass tube filled with mercury) under the re- ceiver of an air-pump ; directly the pump is set in motion the column will fall, and will continue so to do in proportion to the rarefaction of the air. Now turn the stop-cock ; admit fresh air in the place of that which has been pumped out ; what is the result? The mercury returns to its original height. I am perfectly persuaded of this, that if any one can firmly fix upon his mind that atmospheric pressure is the cause which regulates the osciUations of the barometer, and that during the variations of the weather atmospheric pressures do vary, there would then be more attention paid to the instrument, and per- sons would try to fathom its movements and to investigate its constant and sometimes apparently mysterious changes. In all scientific researches, however, it must be remembered that man is the being created. Let no one strive to dive into hid- den mysteries simply and solely for the purpose of curiosity and self-glorification, or for the piurpose of finding out what has been wisely hid from man. On the contrary, let every one so use his Imowledge as to enlarge and develope those gifts and resources which have been placed at his command by an allwise and bounteous Creator for his own enlightenment and that of his fellow-creatures. — X., Surreij. THE FRUIT-BE.^RING AUCUBA J.VPONICA AS A DINNER-TABLE PLANT. Allow me to add this plant to the tastefully selected list made by Mr. Hobson, for dinner-table decoration. In passing through the Messrs. Osborns' nursery the other day, I noticed some beautiful standard plants of the Aueuba loaded with its bright red fruit, the berries being about the size of medium- sized acorns, in bunches of from eight to sixteen. The plants had nice symmetrical heads about 16 inches in diameter, and clean stems from 18 to 24 inches in length, and half an inch in diameter. Once seen, the fruiting Ancuba cannot fad to be a favourite, and it is a valuable acquisition for decorative pur- poses. I noticed, also, a number of standard Laurustinus of the same dimensions as the Aucubas described, covered with bloom and beautifully feathered down the stems, and which cannot fail to be gems on the dinner-table. Now, if circular pans made of zinc or of any other material were constructed to fit over the mouths of the pots of such plants as described, and these pans were planted with some of the Lycopods — such as apodum, densum, or umbrosum, edged with cfesium or other trailing Mosses to form a drapery over the edge, with a few Crocuses or Snowdrops peeping through the green moss, the whole would make a lovely ornament both above and below the " line of vision " — quite a natural epergne. The pans should be made in halves, with a circidar groove in the centre of each for the stem of the plant, and have two clasps to secure the entire pan.— P. M., Putney Heath. METEOROLOGY OF FRUIT-TEEE HOUSES. I HOPE Mr. Rivers will excuse the festivities of this season having prevented me from replying sooner to his letter ; and I may also add that now, when ever one is trying to feel so happy and saying .so many kind things to all the friends he meets, I have no desire in this letter to appear personal. I have often withstood the temptation to put in a smart thing, and also crossed out what I was afraid might be taken for an asperity ; but having strong opinions as to the advantages to be gained by sun heat, gathered principally from my own experiments, I thought I would try how they stood the test of public opinion in your paper. Mr. Rivers answered me, and I have been in this manner obliged to make the best defence I could. A discussion on the merits of houses can hardly be kept from wandering into questions of cultivation. Thus, Mr. Rivers seems to think forced Peach trees should be treated in a diiferent way from those gi'owu during the summer in an orchard-house. I think it is time we had another name for this anti-season culti- vation ; for with all the modem appliances it is no longer strictly correct to speak of it as forcing a tree, thereby implying that the tree is unfitted to carry a similar crop in the following year. I have often heard gardeners say, " There is no use in this," " I woiUd not go to the expense of that," and " You can grow perfectly good crops without something else," — how much they can dispense with, depending on the natural advantages of their situation. The first step in aiding nature is the begin- ning of forcing. When I first began growing fruit trees I was not aware of the important difference between orchard-houses, and thought an orchard-house was an orchard-house ; but now I find it is, and it is not. Mr. Rivers tells me mine should have answered, for they never fail with him. I reply I am further north ; but he tells me this is no vahd reason, as his climatic world reaches to Stornoway. He has not yet told me what sort of a house this is. If it is a lean-to it is not surprising, for a contemporary teUs us, " At Culloden House, near Inverness, the middle-season Peaches, such as the Noblesse, ripen perfectly almost every year in the open air." Not a word about protection, and yet some must be used ; but sheeting-up a wall at night is not counted. That a low night temperatirre helps to ripen the fruit and wood, and consequently the buds for the following year, I think I have tried what I could to prove. It is the low night temperatures in spring and simimer I want information upon, and if there is a suc- cessful span-roofed orchard-house north of the midland counties in which there is only a single row of four-inch pipes round the house, and where ventilation is given as Mr. Rivers directs. In the " Orchard-House," Mr. Rivers says he cannot ripen November Peaches, but he can October. Should I, then, be told in a poUte way that I mismanage mine if, by reason of my climate being worse than his, I am obliged to resort to the treatment he advises for these late Peaches ? At page 93, rmder the head of " Clingstones," I find, " We shall by this mode of culture imitate the warm autumnal nights of the southern United States, and keep the fruit in a growing state tUl the ripening period arrives. In a common orchard-house without fire heat the cool nights in September seem to put the trees at rest, and the very late Peaches, as I have experienced, do not ripen well." After again reading this, the only con- clusion I can come to is what I said in my second letter, which provoked Mr. Rivers — that in the case of trees treated as mine were, that is, exposed to a night temperature in July of 55°, and in August of 45°, they will go to rest, notwithstanding a high day temperature. Vines require a higher temperature than Peach trees to enable them to perfect their fruit, and I think my letter in the Journal of December 12th will not bear the construction Mr. Rivers puts upon it. I certainly never intended to convey that it was my opinion that Black Hambm-gh Grapes would ripen better on an open wall than imder glass, much less was I speaking of their relative chances against spring frosts. I will repeat what I said : " Can any one tell me what advantage a south wall has over a narrow span-roofed house, from having taken its maxima and minima for a summer in a meteorologi- cally favoured place ? I would rather have my Grapes or Peaches, if I wished them to come in soon (early), resting against such a wall, and enjoying its radiation all night long, than be starved in an orchard-house with a temperature of from 40° to 45°." Upon this Mr. Rivers proceeds to argue, but I am not able to say if the figures he gives are the temperatures of a south wall or of the open air ; however, as he takes up the subject o seriously I am not imwilling to consider it also. He gives .rom 100° to 120° as the maximum of a south wall in May, and we are then to suppose that the air goes down to 26°. How near will night radiation bring the temperature of the wall to the atmospheric point ? I cannot answer the question. JOUBNAL OF HOKTICULTOKE AND COTTAGE OABDENER. C Januarr 9, WK. I will now compare a narrow npan-roof with this. The average maximum (or Chiswick last May was 09° ; to this I will add lo , makinR 8r. The niiuimum will be u' above the atmo- sphere, or sr. I ciinnot tcive the temperatures of a south wall for the months of .lune ami July, and so will pass on to those of August and September, which are given as the same as May — from 100' to 120'. The average maxima for these months at Chiswick were 74' and IS' ; if I add 15' it will make 89' and 93', which should represent the day temperiitures of these months in a small span-roofed house. I will now try to com- pare the nights. Mr. Bivers says, '• But radiation during the long nights" (not during these months) " tells forcibly, so that in the morning the ' tender mercies ' of the wall have not pre- vented the thermometer from going down to 45 or 40 ." Does this mean that radiation has carried off all this extra heat? At Chiswick the average minima for last August and September were 46° and 45° respectively ; the night temperature in a narrow span-roof I do not know. A thermometer with a black bulb exposed to the sun rise.s 50° above the atmosphere in the fhade, and often goes down to 15 below it in the night. I should very much Uke to know if it was owing to this latter cause — extra night radiation, that prevented the experiment mentioned in the " Theorj- of Horticulture," blackening garden walls, from being of any advantage. But this has no reference to our present subject — we are not discussing the relative radi- ating powers of colours ; and a black bulb to a thermometer, having no substance to retain heat, is soon cooled. How is it with a thick wall that has been heated to 120° ? I notice the explanation that the trees in the liedge hnuse are retarded b; the cool night air rushiug in, which in this case counteracts the advantage of radiation from the soil. Will not a narrow span-roofed house, with the ventilators open at each side, be retarded in the same way ? Mr. Bivers is surprised that I should have given the heat of his large house as 9U°, for at 5 feet from the ground it was only K8' ; but this, he said, " wos under a dense shade ;" in his letter of October the 10th he said it usually ruled 10° to 15' above the open air, which he gave as 80° ; again, in this last letter he says a span-roofed house 18 feet wide, the sides of which are formed of hedges 2) feet high, at 5 feet from the ground averages from 15' to 20' above the open air. I did not intend to misquote. I hope Mr. Bivers will be able to obtain some information upon the climate of New .Jersey. I do not know how he ac- quired his impression that Mentonc has a moist climate. Dr. Bennet says that, according to his experience, the average number of days or nights during which it rained little or much at Mentoiie was SO, at Torquay 155, Greenwich 155. I wish Dr. Bennet could be induced to give us a little more informa- tion on these subjects, including the heat of _ the soil as the Vines start. — G. H. A WELL-KEPT garden is the best ornament the outside of a house can have ; it promotes health, and in it one can con- template the goodness of the Maker of all things in administer- ing to the various requirements of man. There are no asso- ciations stronger than those connected with a garden. Let a A WINTER AND SPRING FL0\M3R GARDEN. man be a thousand miles from home, still his mind will at times revert to and haimt, as it were, his old favourite spots. To strengthen, then, those fond links of home, let us try and make home more interesting, cheerfxJ, and gay, especially in the dreary months of winter and spring. To lay down a definite rule respecting the extent and arrange- ment of a flower garden would be a most dillicult matter, as no two places are alike. It is necessary, therefore, to exercise great judgment in the formation of a garden, and the designer should not be wholly guided by his own fancy ; the size of the mansion should be taken into consideration, for a small aoiise and a large garden never correspond well, and everything about a place should be as nearly as possible in proportion. Another matter to be taken into consideration is the means at command to supply plants enough to furnish the] garden, because it is much better to have a small garden well kept than a large one ill-kept. In a garden, as in any other place, there should be " a place for everything, and everything in its place," and in endeavouring to carrj- out fully this old sa\-ing. I have designed a plan well adapted for a small place, and especially for the front of a suburban villa, where there would be room enough for the design and a good wide border at each side for herbaceous plants, or, otherwise, a grass verge. By January 9, 1866. ] JOUENAIi OF HOKTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 29 looking carefully over the plan, it will be seen tliat all within the outside line of Box can be made one mass of beds, at the discretion of the owner, and each bed complete in itself. They can be filled with different plants and bulbs all the year, so that the plants in one bed will not interfere with the arrangement of the bulbs in the other. I I, m, n n n n, and rj g, on the plan, also the naiTow alleys all round, marked x .v, are intended for colouring-materials ; they are equally eligible for bulbs, Pansies, or the like. In order to give an idea of how it might look, I win suppose it to be planted with the following plants, which are all easy to procure : — a a, white Arabis. edged with bine ; b b, Alyssum saxatUe, edged with Stachys lanata ; d e, d c, Ai'abis, edged with Cerastium tomentosum ; e e, SMm- mia japonica ; / /, Vinca elegantissima ; / I and m, blue Pansy ; h, Arabis lucida variegata ; p p, double Daisy ; o o, common gravel ; in the alleys round the two centre figures broken bricks ; in the alley round the outside I would put burnt flint (pure white), and in the circles coals. There are many who wiU not coincide with me on this subject ; they are prejudiced against the use of such materials, because, perhaps, they have seen it carried to excess in some places, but anything in excess is distasteful to the eye. I would hke to see the objections more fully explained in the columns of The Jourxal of Hor- ticulture, and I should be glad if those who agree with me as to the use of coloured materials, would suggest any improve- ment that could be made, so that we might be able to learn various opinions on the subject. — M. O'Donnell. PRESERVING OUT-OF-DOORS GRAPES. I HAVE sent you a specimen of our out-of-doors Grapes, also the glass cylinder. 7 J inches high by 5 inches in diameter, in which they were grown. I believe it is a very old plan, but out of fashion I suppose, as I have never seen any notice of it in The Journal of Hor- ticulture. It is a capital mode of keeping out-of-doors Grapes for late use. The oiled calico protects them from rain, and the perforated zinc keeps out birds and msects, but admits sufficient air. The Grapes were thinned when about the size of Peas; the glasses were put on immediately, and, except pruning, no attention has been given since. The glasses have been in use here for many years with oiled calico bottoms, and shaded with limewash, but the Grapes became mouldy soon after they were ripe, and if holes were left for ventilation the wasps and flies soon finished them. I adopted the zinc bottoms two years ago, and the glasses have done very well since aud require no shading. — John Jones, Gardener to Col. GUiddi'lt. [The bunch of Grapes, Royal Muscadine, were in very ex- cellent condition (January 2), but slightly shrivelled, and not at all mouldy or deficient in flavour. — Eds.] WORK FOR THE WEEK. kitchen garden. As the weather has been particularly open and mild up to this time, all trenching, rough digging, gravelling walks, &c., ought to be pushed on as fast as possible. Where drainage is necessary, now is a good time to execute aU work of that de- scription. When we see the agricultural world so alive to its benefits, it is strange to hear gardeners, like fatalists, lament- ing over their pining Peach and Nectarine trees and bad crops, and making no effort to strike at the root of the evil. The very worst soil and situation may be improved by drainage. Asparagus, the beds should be soiled or manured as soon as the frost makes the ground hard enough to bear wheeling. Beans, sow another crop of the Mazagan, and plant out any which have been hardened off after being germinated in heat. Carrots, sow a moderate breadth of Early Horn, also Short Top Radish ; there is no better plan than sowing them in drills alternately, covering in ^\-ith sandy matter, and protecting with any available material. An excellent method of fastening down such material is to place long willow rods at convenient distances, pegging them down at each end with a strongisb hook. Cucumbers, the plants in houses must be strictly attended to, to keep them in health ; refrain from removing or injuring any of the leaves, if possible ; guard against over watering, which is particularly injurious in dull weather. Prepare dung lor the main early beds, and make a small seed- bed for raising the plants. Cauliflotcers, those under hand- lights require constant attention, keep the surface stirred, dust with lime and charcoal dust ; an excellent plan to catch slugs among these is to spUt large Carrots and lay about the plants, by picking them on mild mornings an immense number may be taken. See that the hardy varieties of Lettuce and Endive on banks or borders are properly protected, and look over the plants in favourable weather, removing decayed matter, and covering up for blanching when dry. Peas, make a second sowing on a warm border. Waite's Daniel O'Eourke and Early Warwick answer well for this sowing. Be careful to keep a good number of figure-4 traps constantly set, there are none better for keeping down those destructive pests, the mice. Peas coming up must have the surface soil constantly stirred, and opportunities should be watched for the destruc- tion of slugs by dusting with quicklime. Endeavour to keep well up with all work in tliis department, the time is fast approaching when we shall find the advantage of having done so. FRUIT GARDEN. Proceed with planting, and the necessary arrangements for planting where it is not already brought to a conclusion. Prime and nail wall trees ; dress those fruit trees that are in- fested with moss, lichen, or scale, in suitable weather; prune, train, and tie in neatly, all espalier trees, and caiTy away all refuse that will not readOy decompose to the char heap, there to be converted into valuable manure. Fork among all fruit plantations, applying some manure, if possible, about the roots of the trees. Peach, Nectarine, and Apricot trees should be protected in due time with spruce boughs, or some other material. If frost prevails stir up 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. It is not a bad plan to shake a Uttle quicklime over the earth thus disturbed. FLO\(-ER GARDEN. During fine weather, like the present, continue to dig the borders where this has not been ah-eady done ; edge and clean walks, lay turf, and make edgings good where that is necessary. In favourable weather keep aU hands busy out of doors, leaving- in-door jobs for bad days. Plant shrubs, and regulate herba- ceous plants ; reduce Phloxes, &c., when they require it, and replant them after well digging the ground ; take care not to plant too thickly, and leave room for planting tender plants in spring and summer. See that all half-hardy plants are secured against severe weather. GREE-NHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. As the conservatory is the chief place of resort for the family in winter, it is requisite that the flowers, &c., be at all times kept particulariy clean and dry, dryness of atmosphere through tire heat will not, however, keep the plants in that luxuriant health, which not only creates a present interest in them, but also furnishes a guarantee for success in future. Great mode- ration, therefore, in the use of fire heat is necessary in this de- partment, more especially in the dead of winter. A tempo- 30 JOUilNAIi OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGB GARDENEB. r Juinary 9, 1860. raturo of from 40' to 15° by night, ami from 50' to ri'," by day is at this period amply suffioieut. A temperature of 50° by day and of U" by night is suHicient for tho greenhouse at present. Keep the PcUirgouiums in a qaieecent state, give as little water as possible, iu fact, none, unless the plants show a disposition to fla;,' iu tho leaf. Abundance of air is requisite, avoiding, how- ever, cold currents, which are very Uablo to spot the leaf when in a tender state, through close confinement. ICeej) all Cine- rarias, Heliotropei, Calceolarias, and other softwooiled plants, Ac, in the lightest part of the house, and as near the glass as possible. Correas, Ijpacrises, Heaths, &c., should be placed on a bench by themselves in the most airy part. Examine daily every flowering plant, remove every decaying flower as it appears, aud see th.it the foliage of Camellias, Khododendrons, Oranges, aud simihir plants is perfectly clean. Tho contrast produced by the line, clean, large leaves with the numerous blossoms, at tliis season especially, gives a relish for such houses, and renders them doubly capable of yielding enjoyment. FOItCISG-riT. This pit should have a permanent bottom heat of SO", with atmospheric moisture. Such being the case preparations must be made for securing a due succession of early spring flowers ; if not already done let a s))rinkling be introduced of the most popular tribes adapted for forcing-purposes, such ,is Persian and common Lilies, Azalea.s, both hardy and Chinese kinds, LUy of the Valley, Hyacinths, and other bulbs, Acacia amiata, Epaeris, aud tho various kinds of Pelargoniums suitable for forcing, hai-dy and Nepal Khododendrons, Daphnes, Dentzias, &c. The new Hybrid Eoses wUl do better in a more moderate temjicrature, witli the exception of the Teas, which will endure a Uvely heat. As these plants in general require a moderate top heat in proportion to the bottom heat in the earlier stages of their forcing, they may be kept together at one end, and receive more air in niildperiods. The other end of this pit, kept closer, will be eligible for such plants as Thnnbergias, Gar- denias, Francisceas, and numerous other plants that require more atmospheric moisture. STOVE. The season is not yet sufficiently advanced to allow of an in- crease of temperature. A steady heat ranging between 60° and 65° may bo sustained, if the weather continue open. The occurrence of frost will demand a reduction of temperature. Allow the thermometer to sink at night. Artificial heat without light, as has often been explained, is injurious to vegetation. iSecoUect always that stove plants, as well as others, require fresh air. The stove may still be gay with the beautiful Gesnera zebrina, Euphorbia, and Begonias, which outvie the gayest plants of siunmer in brilliancy and beauty. PITS AND FBAJIES. If the tenants of these have been housed somewhat dry, and kept so, and hoi-dened with abundance of air, nothing is neces- sary but to follow up these principles, and to take care to exclude frost ; if, however, severe weather should occur-, and they become frozen, see that they are not uncovered directly a thaw comes. Let them remain in comparative darkness until they ore quite thawed, which in ordinary cases will be about two days, merely turning up the mats or straw a httle at both back and fi-ont, so as gradually to inure them to the light. Examine yonr stock, and sncli plants as you are short of should now be placed in a gentle heat for the purpose of ex- citing their growth for cuttings. Auagallis, Verbenas, Petunias, Salvias, Ac, should now be brought forward for filUng beds and borders in summer. Be sure that yon have enough of these. Give abundance of air in mild weather to cold pits both night and day, and withhold water from the plants at this season. Prepare soil for potting-off stove plants. This might soon be commenced. — W. Kease. DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. KITCnEN GARDEN*. Vert much the same as in pre\ious weeks, with the exception of potting a lot of Potatoes that had pushed several inches long, and filled foiir and five-inch pots with roots, placing two of these pots iu 12 and 13-inch pots. From these we generally ^ther rather earlier than from those planted in beds, with a little heat below them, and as they approach iicrfection they can be placed anywhere under protection, and the room they now occupy in pots can be devoted to other purposes. A quicker way still is to place a single plant in a five or six-inch pot, plunge it in a mild heat, and as the top grows earth-up with rotten leaf mould. Tho curbing of the little pot causes tho tubers to form and grow sooner than when they have more room. Rhubarb put a few more roots into the Mushroom-house, with a little bottom heat from leaves, itc. and the top temper- ature is from 50° to CO' , as tliat brings on our Mushrooms as fast as we want them for use, at present every day ; but wo will send iu the latter more seldom, if more at a time, as it is rather out of om- way to make anything too common. Give even Rhubarb and Sea-kale every day, and either will be less valued than if given, say, three times per week. The same as to Asparagus at this season. Send it to the house every day, and it will soon be no more thought of than it is in May. Of course when there are particular parties the matter should bo dift'erent, and if the gardener knows tho number of days the party is to last, he will try aud send the best and tlie greatest variety. A great many employers are never the best served when they have visitors, because they never condescend to let their gardener know anything of their intentions, and therefore nothing is sent in but what they would have had in the usual routine. For want of the gardener knowing anything of such matters, we have known m.auy instances where rarities and delica- cies for the season were sent in every day to the usual family dinner, and then when there was a particular party there was nothing rare to send. Those employers only will bo the best seiwed who give due notice of such matters ; without that notice they must be satisfied with what the day will produce, llhubarb has been plentiful enough since Christmas. We feel obliged to " li. F., Liverpool," page 3, for what he says on the subject. We agree with him thoroughly as to what he says about a high temperature for this or any other vegetable that comes to matiu-ity in a comparatively low temperature. We coro- borate also what he advances about darkness being an advan- tage for the carhest crop ; but after the middle of this month Ehubarb will come on anywhere in Hght, where there is the requisite heat to excite it into growth. For the earliest we find placing a box or pot over it, as well as a mild heat beneath it, useful either iu the Mushroom-house or any other suitable place. We are well aware that to have it early in winter it wiU come better if grown rapidly in the early part of summer, and encouraged to stop growing by dryness in autumn, so as to lose its leaves and go to rest sooner, for the sooner it goes to rest the sooner will it be easily excited into growth ; but what we chiefly referred to, and to which our correspondent alludes, is the difliculty of bringing it in as quickly as Sea-kale or Aspara- gus at an early period. Before Christmas, in similar circum- stances, it often requires double the time that either of these do, whilst after the new year it requires but little more time than they do. Either of the latter can be had very good in three weeks, before Christmas, though a month and milder heat will often give stronger and stubbier gatherings. In the case of Asparagus we shall fill another light, the roots for which we have kept in reserve ; but as the lights of the fi-ame were not of good glass, and tho weather has been so dark, we have gathered the Asparagus and set it on damp moss in a house commanding more light, to make the heads greener before going to tabic. FRUIT GARDEX. Looked over the fruit-room, removing any specked fruit. Placed Strawberry-pots on shelves in pits where there was any room to spare. Looked over Grapes for any damping berries ; damped the wood of Vines breaking in a small pit ; top-dressed trees in pots in the orchard-house ; prepared some litter for covering outside Vine-borders, formerly merely protected with a little stubble ; covered-up the border outside of the Peach- house, where fires have now been lighted, and damped the wood several times in the day. The pipes have been fresh painted with oil and black, but the smell will be all gone before the heat will be at all strong. We notice that some recommend painting the pipes when they are cold : but if there is not mnch tender in the place wo prefer painting the pipes when hot — say when at a temperature of about 120°, as then the paint goes on much thinner, and dries more quickly. It is best to do all this painting when the house is empty, as the effluvia from the oil are dangerous to many tender plants. ORNAMKN'TAL DEPARTMEXT. Were we to enter into detail we should merely repeat about plants, &c., what has been said in the last and some previous weeks. From our own practice it may be more useful just to refer to a few matters. 1st, All Bulbsand Hardy SlirubfwUi be forced more easilynow than thev could be before Christmas. Hardy bulbs, or such as Jannttr; 9, 1866 ] JOUENAL OP HOBTICtJLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. 31 are called bulbs, as Winter Aconites, Snowdrops, Crocits, &c., are the better of Imving onlj' a little extra heat given ; Hyacinths and Narcissus, after the pots are full of roots, will stand more ; Tulips will go between tho two. From 45° to 50" is quite enough for the first, from 55' to 70° for the second, and from 50° to 55° and 60° for Tulips. Hyacinths will rise more freely if a funnel or a pot is placed over tho flower-stalli just after it has shown, and a mild bottom heat will assist them, and a little manm'e-watering as the stem rises. "When wanted to bloom in glasses, and not to be gi'own in glasses, we know no better plan than, just when the first flowers of the spike are opening, to take the plant out of the pot, and wash away all the soil carefully with the hand in a pail of water at 70°, turn the roots carefully into the glass, and if the glass is coloured so that the water cannot be seen, put in a few nodules of sweet dried cowdung, and as many more of little bits of charcoal, fill with water at between 60° and 70°, and change every three days or so. When we used thus to manage with coloured glasses, a pinch of superphosphate of lime, as much as could comfortably be taken between the thumb and linger, placed in the water each time it was changed, would add to the size and strength of the svjeet bells. A similar dressing twice a-week would also be useful, spread on the surface of the pot before watering. Sheep or deer dung collected and kept dry to sweeten for two or three months, and then hot water, when near the boihng jDoint, pom-ed over it, say twelve gallons to a peck, allowed to stand for forty-eight hours, and then the clear liquid used in watering, alternately with clean water, will do much to strengthen the flower-stalks ; but this li(iiud must not be used oftener nor stronger, if regard must be had to fine distinct colours iu the flowers. All hardy shrubs, as Rhododendrons, Kalmias, Eoses, and Lilacs, will do better if they have been well grown so as to fill the pots in summer, and obtain a mild bottom heat now, and from 50° to (30° top heat, with a rise in sunshine, the syringe being freely used in fine bright weather to soften the buds. When the bloom begins to open the plants must be hardened off by degi-ees, so as to stand iu cooler places, as greenhouses. Hardy Azaleas and Chinese Azaleas require similar cai-e, both before and after they are iu bloom, bringing them on gradually and hardening them oft' gradually. Many a Chinese Azalea well supplied with buds will throw these buds when taken at once from a temperature of 35° and placed in one of 65° ; whilst if it had obtained a few days at 45', a week at 50°, another at 55°, and so on, all tho buds would have opened kindly. _ 2nd, Tlie importance of rcgidat'mg tanperatnrc in propor- tion to lUjht. If in such dull weather as we have lately had we give a high temperature to lots of comparatively hardy plants, WE encourage weak sickly growth, which is almost sure to be attacked with insects. Hence the constant advice, Smoke with tobacco at least ouce a-week, in order to keep all right. We sometimes wonder what sort of an amount a year's consump- tion of tobacco will thus come to. A lower temperature, when there was little sun to consoUdate growth, would have pre- vented this being weakly, and saved many pounds of tobacco. Besides, that is not all : tobacco is dangerous when growth is tender, and the foliage or flower-stems are at all damp. We have looked at half a dozen sad complaints of herbaceous Calceo- larias and Cinerarias being next to destroyed by smoking them for gi-een fly ; whilst with the mild weather we have had this winter, provided these plants had been cool enough and moist enough, and therefore allowed to grow more slowly, there would Jiave been no green fly to destroy ; at least it seldom appears in such circumstances. 3rd, Traiisplantbig Trecx and Shrubs. — We have pretty well finished the most of what is to be done in this way at present. From a passing remark made on transplanting shrubs, &c., two inquiries have come to us soheiting an answer here. First, " What sort of a thing is the low-wheeled truck you speak about ? " We have some waggonettes here, chiefly for moving plants, and which average 5 feet long, 2j feet wide, with sides and ends 6 inches deep, furnished with a handle on a swivel, and two axles and four wheels, each 9 to 12 inches in diameter. Thus mounted we call them " go- ashores." The sides and ends are fastened to the stout floor with bolts. AVhen we use these for transplanting rather heavy shrubs with a ball, we take off the sides and ends, an inclined plane is made after the shrub has been imdermined, and one end of the platfoi-m truck is brought under the shrub, and with the help of levers the truck and the shrub are got out of the hole, and if the ground is not very soft, and there is enough of strength, the shrub can be taken anywhere. The second inquiry has reference to "the transplanting a lot Of young Oaks growing in an unsuitable place, in good loamy soil, trees from 20 to 35 feet iu height. The place they would be taken to is rather more exposed, but the ground equally good. Must be moved this year if moved at all, otherwise be gruljbed up. Would be anxious to move them, but do not know how to go about it. Can give ahorse, but will not be at the trouble or expense of obtaining a transplanting machine, with strange people to manage it. I\Iust have it done, if done at all, with my own people, with such machinery as they can improvise for the purpose." Well, we have helped to move many such trees without auy machinery at all, and thus we proceeded : We dug down a circular trench from 6 to 8 feet from the bole of the tree, according to its height, traced out the roots, and picked away the soil pretty well up to the bole, and then had the eartliless roots and the tops carried to the place where an equally large hole had been prepared, and after having the tree set ujn'ight, after neatly shortening-in the branches, packed the roots firmly and nicely with the new soil, and if rather damp gave no watering until March, but if the soil was dryish watered when all the roots were packed. After allowing time to settle — that is, whilst another tree was being planted, then the rest of the soil was placed on, and beaten firmly, except a little loose soil left on the sui'face. A basin was also left in case the summer should be very diy. Such trees would rccjuire securing from wind, either by three poles, or better still, by three ropes, or three chains fastened to a collar put round the stem of the tree, and attached to three stout stakes or iJoles, put at equal distances 8 or 9 feet from the bole. Under such circumstances as those alluded to, however, we would proceed a little diffe- rently. We would dig the trench as above, and proceed with disentangling the roots until we came to within 20 or 24 inches of the bole, we would then undermine the ball pretty well all round. We would then procure a stout timber gig, consisting of a stout axle-tree with a wheel at each end, and a stout pole to work at pleasure in the centre of the axletrce. We would wrap a mat or two round the ball, make an inclined plane for the wheels, one of these to go down on each side of the ball ; wraji a mat with some straw, &c., round the bottom of the bole of the tree to prevent grazing the bark ; set the pole of the gig up- right, against the bole of the tree ; bring a stout iron chain from the axle-tree to go underneath each side of the ball, and fasten that tightly and securely ; brace the pole of the gig and the bole of the tree firmly together, placing some litter between them to prevent grazing the bark ; then attach a chain to the top of the pole, and long enough that when tho other end was attached to the horse-tackle the horse would be far enough from the top of the tree when it came down. A steady pull, with the help of some leverage, will bring the pole and the top of the tree down, and raise the ball, hanging from and behind the axletree ; another pull and a little leverage will take the wheels out of the hole, and a little on to solid ground. Then unhook the horse, have some men to keep the top of the tree right, and connect the horse with the axletree behind, when the root end will be brought to its destination, men looking after the top all the time. It is easy to bring the root end just over the centre of the hole, and when the top is set upright the pole maybe re- moved from the bole, all chains unfastened, and the packing proceeded with. Though this mode requires more moving- power, yet, if well done, and the trees are not larger than stated, the ball thus secured will keep the tree secure in its place without the assistance of ropes, stakes, or chains. Two other points had better be attended to : First, never let the tree be deeper planted than it was at first ; and, secondly, when re- moving from a wami to a colder place, some small hay-bands, or straw-bands, should be twined round the bole and principal branches, not close together, but with openings between ; and this, if the bands are made loose and rough, will help to keep the trees warmer, and will also keep the bark moister. The same remark as to watering will apply as in the first mode noticed. We have known transplanted trees perish from nothing but keeping the roots in a morass. To prevent this, in all stiff soils the subsoil, if not taken out, should be weU picked to allow excess of moisture to escape freely. '\ATien the soil is kept wet about stagnant roots it just ensures extra cold, whilst we should wish the soil, if possible, to be warmer than usual. The roots will push sooner when the soil is neither wet nor dry, and a little water when the buds push will be more important than much deluging now. A little lightening of the heads, so as to lessen the surface of evaporation, will also be useful ; but it will be wise to do it neatly, and to cut back to :j2 JOCENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. ( J11DI1S17 9, 1SC6. strong prominent buds. Of coarse MctJlashan'B machine would make short work of sucli planting ; but even with the above materials, if men do the first tree very carefully and nicely under your superintendence, you must not think much of the time, as every fresh tree they go to they will move more rapidly and better. The chief advantage of such transplant- ing is that the trees make a show at once. They generally re- quire a couple of years or so to get into full growth. — K. F. COVENT GARDEN MARKET— jANUAnY li. Wc hnve aenin to report abondant hnpplics with little or no MteratioD in prices, uur first con^ignnientH of Suladi; from France havo com* to hand, but at present are not much bt-tter than borne grown. FRUIT. Apples A sieve Apricots doz. Cherries lb. Cbestnats bnsh. Currants, Red \ sieve Black do. FifTS doz. Filberts lb. Cobs .... 100 lbs. Gooseberries. . 4 sieve Grapes, Hambro... lb. Muscats lb. Lemons 100 Artichokes each Asparaf^ms. .. . bundle Bcan< Broad. . bushel Kidney 100 Beet, lied doz. Broccoli bundle Bms. Sprouts..^ sieve Cabbage doz. Capsicoms 100 Carrots bunch Cftoliflower doz. Celery bundle Cacumbers each pickling doz. Endive score Fennel bunch Garlic and Shallots, lb. Herbs bunch Horseradish . . buudlo 8. d. R. d •2 Oto;) 8 16 U 9 1 160 u 4 7 t! 10 6 u 10 8. d.' 8. d OtoO 8 12 (1 S 4 2 ,"! 1 2 a 1! 9 1 R u 4 1) B » 6 1 2 a e » 1 'i 3 n s n II » n 2 6 4 Melons each Mulberries. . . . punnet Nectarines doz. Oranges 100 Peaches doz. Pears (kitchen)., doz. dessert doz. Pine Apples lb. Plnms A sieve Quinces J sieve Raspberries lb. Strawberries lb. s. d. :i 10 Walnuts bash 14 20 Leeks bunch Lettuce .... per score Mushrooms, , . , pottle Mustd. & Cress, punnet Onions . . . .per bushel pickling* quart Parsley 4 sieve Parsnips '. doz. Peas quart Potatoes bushel Kidney do. Radishes doz. bunches Rhubarb bundle Savoys doz. Sea-kale basket Spinach bushel Tomatoes ^ ^^ievo Turnips bunch Vegetable Marrows dz. 3. d. 8. 8 too 2 8 TRADE CATALOGUE PJECERTSD. Lamoureux, Clark, & Co., 4, Cornwall Street. Plymoutli.— General Price Current and Garden Directory for 1866. TO CORRESPONDENTS, ORAFTrxG Mastic IR^v. C. C. f;.).— We do not know where it can be ubtamed, except of M. L'homme Lefort, Belleville, near Paris. Repaihing Parish Road (Indrr).— Yon must consult a Folicitor. There axe usually local as well as the general statutes to be considered. Stove Without Flue (P.).— The stove vou mention would give suffi- cient heat for your small greenhouse, but the fumes from the fuel would mjure the plants. We recommend you to have a small gas stove, with a tube from us top passing into the op'en air. We used one for years. Washes FOR Walls and Wall Trees (Mr. N. F. C.).— For the walls lake fresh lime and soot m equal proportions, mi.x to the consistencv of whitewash \vith boihng urine or liquid manure, and apply the wash hot, the hotter the better, to the walls, brushing it well into the hok--^ and crevices. For the trees, take of soft soap, 8 ozs.; sulphur vivuni, 1 lb. ■ and fresh lime 1 lb. Dissolve the soft soap ii^ a callon of strong liquid manure, add the sulphur and lime, and mix thoroughly . then bring to the desired consistency by adding clay. Apply this mixture with a brush, rubbing it well into every crack, hole, and crevice, and being careful to cnat but not to brush so heavily as to rub off the buds. The earlier it is none the better. Black Damask Plum as a Stock (Alhh).— This Plum, recommended by Mr. Kivers as a stock on which to graft Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, and other Plums, is the Damas noir of the French catalogues. Chixefo: Primulas f.^ />adrr).- White-flowered Chinese Primroses with red-leaf stalks are not unnsnal. Lxsects IK Oak Floor (VorAv.;. ,>*-).— The insect in question is the common Anobium te8.sellatnm. If the oaken floor were soaked with a i^aturated solution of corrosive sublimate, the larvio would bo kiUcd.— W. Discharging a Gardener without Notice (A Constant Itradrr).~l( you received your wages weekly a week's notice will be sufficient, and your house, if rent free, being really part of your wages, must be quitted alter the same short notice. You can recover those wages and some compensation for the house if turned out and away without a week's notice. Viu say certain charges are broURht apainst von ; of these we know nothing. If you bare not been faithful you are not entitled to any notice. ' Orangk and Citron Trees Unhealthy {.4tnatfur).~YouT troea will be difficult of recovery. Your haWng thnn lately taken out of the pota is right, if you drained the pots well, u.Hed 11 compost of light turfy loam, with a frue admixture of sand, removed all tlio old soil from the ball, and cut out the deail roots with u sharp knife. If you did not art thus do so towards the end of Fi-bruary. .Vbout the middle of March plunge the pots in a hotbed of about 7u \ with a top heat of 59 by night, and nprinklo the trees o\"erlieHd twice daily. If you cannot nive them b-ttoin heat, then place tbein in a viuer>-, or. failing that, keep thi-m in the greenhouse with the soil ju?t moist, but upon nu conaidenition xery wet, nor, on the other band, dry. and sprinkle overhead moniiii;* and L-vening with water 5^ wanner than the tem|KT.iture of the housf. If the trees Moom. or show for bloom, as they may do, without producing shoots, rub the blooms off immediately they are seen, and if the head bo very full of small twiggy shoots, thin these out cousidenibly, leaving only the stn^ugest shoots so as to form a we]l->hapen thin head. .\ny old partially dead wood to be removed. Keep the soil moifit, but do not water copiously until the young shoots appear, and not then until the soil ttocms to re- bright weather, luid for a few hours in the middle of the day. After danger from frost is ovtT draw down the lights on calm nights, and on those when there is no danger of more than a gentle shower of rain, but put them on by day, tilting them high, and shade as before for a few hours during the hottest part of the day, using them at night only to protect the plants from rain and high winds. If the plants are likely to bloom too soon you moy. after the trusses appear, remove the pots to a north aspect, where there is no sun from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., protecting from wind and rain by a frame and lights. It will take sLx weeks from the time the trusses show till the plants come fully into bloom. Stopping the young shoots lute will injure the bloom, but the freshness of the lolio^a will amply compensate for that. You can hardly have plants in bloom in August by piclving off the flower-bud«, and doing so will tend to make tho plants leggy. Autumn-struck cuttings will make nice plants, but the best are those u year and not more than two years older. Sowing Cypress Seed (Idem). — You may sow it in shallow pans as you propose, in sandy loam, and pLace them in a cold frame. Plant or prick off the seedlings in tho spnng of tho following year. March is as good a time as .any to sow the seed. Cracks in Cemented Wall (/d^'m). — Neither paint nor any other comp»i.^ition will prevent tho water oo;ting through the wall after frost. Your only remedy is to prevent tho frost acting upon it, and unless you can do tliis you must be content to fill up the cnicks with cement. If tho wall is dr>- and the craeks are filled with cement, but damp comes through after a sttirm, then you may coat the wall with boiling coal tar, adding 1 lb. of pitch to a gallon of tar. Alter filling up the cracks, apply the tar when the wall is dr>', or you may give three coats of Carson's anti-corro- sion paint, allowing each coat to dr>' before the other is pnt on. Improving Clatey Soil (£. S., A'oTTrooJ).— Throw the top spit of the whole ground on one side ; pare and bum the next 9 inches ; spread the ashes over the whole surface, return the top spit, and fork the whole together. Bricklayers' lime rubbish w ill be a good manure for such a soiL January 9, 1866. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. a3 Paixt for Hot-water Pipes vhich will last much longer, and so will white lead. Two coats of paint nill be sufficient, but one good coat well brushed in is wurth a dozen imperfect ones. Geranicus DAiiPiSG (T. A. So uthwood).— The leaves show that your house is very damp. We fear that you give the pliints too much water at the root, and ore not careful to keep the house dry. Give no more water at the root now than is sufficient to keep the leaves from flagging. Light a fire occasii-nally during dami) \^eatb(.T to promote a circulation of air and to dry up the damp, and give ;ibmidance of air on all favourable oc- casions. The house being culd and damp is, we think, the cause of the leaves being in the condition of those sent. Keep the atmosphere drier, and they will improve as the days lengthen. ForNTAiN IN Fern Case i J. J., iJonticj/).— It will not make the air of the case too damp. Ventilation can always regulate the dampness. EsPERioNE Vine (Penally). — "Upwards and Onwards" informs us, that a parcel directed to "A. B., Penally Station, Ac. To be called for," will be sent from Woodstock, on the 9th inst. Fehss Scorched (E. M. H.).— Your only plan will be to keep the Ferns moderately watered, and to cut away the brown fronds as they show themselves, otherwise treating the plants as if nothing had happened. Do not give them any additional heat, as that would induce a temporaiy increase of growth ; and as for applying manure to the roots, neither now nor at any other time will it do them any good, but, on the contraiy, it will kill many. Do not overwater, but keep rather dry at the roots, sprinkle the paths in the morning of bright day^, and "give air during mild weather, cutting away the browned fronds before they become mouldy, and all the plants vdW recover if they have sufficient vitality left, but they will look bare for a long time. Ownership in Fallen Tree.— TT. H. TF.asks— " In the event of a tree falling in an orchard through wind or any other cause, is the tree the dproperty of the landlord or the tenant ? " It belongs to the landlord. The gate of the orchard would not belong to the tenant because blown down, why should the tree ? PaiMCLA sinensis [E. C).— Do not pick off the trusses. Give the plants a Uttle weak liquid manure. Lychnis Senno. — W. S., we are informed, can obtain a supply from Mr. W. Dillistone, Xurserj-man. Sible Hedingham, Essex. Price of Grapes {F. H. P.).— Last year the average price of Black Hamburgh Grapes in Covent Garden llarket was from 7^. to los. per lb., in February and March ; from 15*. to 27;*. in April ; and from S-i. to 14s. in May. Muscats brought from 8j*. to ll-*. per lb. in February, after which time they were over. In considering what month is the most protitable to bring in a crop, you must not only take into consideration the probable price per lb. which the Grapes will realise at different times, but also the relative cost of the fuel required for early and late forcing, and the com- parative weight of produce. New Black Hamburyhs command a high price in spring, but the demand is limited. PiNE-ArPLE-HOCSE (E. Ji. S.}.—FnT thirtv-two postage stamps you can have free by post from our office, " The Pine-Apple Manual.'' It contains drawings, &c., showing what you require. Fruiting Vines in Pots (W. C. TT.).— Your Vines being in 13 and 13-inch pots you may fruit them in these, or you may pot them into 18-inch pots, providing good drainage, and not disturbing the roots. If you keep them in the 12-inch pots be content with putting tho drainage right, relying on top-dressings of manure and applications of liquid manure at the same time The Vines would carry a heavier crop were the pots placed on shallow tubs contjiining soil into which the roots could run after passing through the holes in the bottoms of the pots, which they would do freely. The canes should be cut-in, 6 feet is long enough, and always leave sufficient good plump eyes for a crop, and you will have them in that length or not at all. Gardener Ill-tbeated {One In Trouble).— li your account is a correct one, then we have no hesitation in saying that you have been a very valuable and faithful servant, and that you have been anything but hand- somely treated iu return. A man who entered into a place in April, all like a wilderness, and who managed to get the kitchen garden dug and cropped ; the shrubberj' and lawn put to rights ; increased by propagating and begging cuttings, &c., the jdants for bedding from three dozen to 1500; attended to horse and trap; was out every day from 8.30 a.m. to 8.30 P.M. ; looked after milk ; fed the cow, pigs, rabbits, and fowls ; cleaned knives, boots, windows, went on errands, Ac. and had only the assistance of a boy to help with the mowing-machine, and has now, besides making alterations, got the kitchen garden and shrubberies dug, Sea-kale and Rhubarb covered, fruit trees and bushes pruned and dressed ; — must either have had a small place to look after, or it must be quite true that you have worked hard pretty well all the time from early in the morning until late at night. After all this you have been anything but well treated in receiving notice to leave from your master, because you gave a few sprigs of a Spindle Tree that stood near the stables to a neighbouring gardener for Christmns decoration, that gardener having been very kind in giving you cuttings, &c. The conduct of yoiur employer would be still more indefensible if he knew that you received cuttings from others and said nothing against it, as that was something like a silent understanding that you were to do the same. Nevertheless, wo must o\m, that your employer was quite correct in stating that yon had no right, in the abstract, to give away the smallest thing without his leave. If you read our prerious volumes carefully, you would see that we have fre- quently urged in such matters the importance of gardeners never de- pending on use and wont, or general custom, but to have a clear under- standing with their employers ; and then, of course, if they are not allowed to give away a sprig, or a cutting, whatever may be the feelings of the employer, we trust there will be honest pride and self-respect enough in the gardener never to receive a cutting from others. In such cases it is the best plan to allow an employer to purchase every fresh thing he has. The neighbouring gardeners will not respect a man any the less when they know that he cannot give, and therefore will not take. The copies of your previous testimonials are quite satisfactory, and we feel certain that you will soon be in place again, and where, we trust, your services will be better appreciated; but to secure yourself from all such unpleasantness as the present, we advise you to make sure of the give-and-take principle. Naiies of Fruit (.7. F.).— 1, Blenheim Pippin; 3, Forge; 4, London Pippin; 5. Golden Reinette ; 6, Scarlet Nonpareil. [J. H. C'.).—h Jose- phine de Malines ; 3, Beurn- de Rince ; 4. Vicar of Winkfield ; 5, Triomphe de Jodoigne ; 6, Beurre Diel ; 7, Ne PI as Meuris ; 8, Chaumontel ; 9, Wyken Pippin; 10, Winter Quoining; 11, Franklin's Golden Pippin ; 12, Duck'a Bill. l^IETEOROLOGICiSJi OBSEEVATIONS in the Suburbs of London for the Week ending January 0th. THERMOMETER. BA£03fETEB. Max. Son... 31 Mon... 1 Tees. . 2 Wed. . 3 Thurs. 4 I 29.796 Fri. .. 5 29.942 Sat. .. 6 30.026 29.523 29.853 29.952 29.934 Meaa. 29.860 Min. 29.444 29.r.83 29.614 29.821 29.715 29.632 I 50 48 47 43 50 45 30.001 i 43 29.687 I 46.57 32.71 28 37 38 44 29 23 1 ft. dp. 47 47 44i 46 464 47 46 2 ft. dp. m 45 45 45 45i 46 45 45.28 "Wind. S.W. s.w. s. S.W. s. w. w. Rain in inches. .29 .00 .07 .00 .08 .00 .04 GENEBAIi Remahes. Boisterous and showerv ; overcast at night. [slight frost. Very clear ; quite cloudless ; exceedingly fine ; slightly overcast ; Fine ; densely overcast ; boisterous, with rain at night. Clear and fine ; very fine; overcast. Densely overcast ; rain ; cloudy and rather boisterous ; fine at night, Overcast ; slight frost at night. Hazy ; fine ; very fine ; frosty. POULTRY. BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE- POULTRY, I'AST AND FUTURE. We are a week behind with our good wishes to all, but they are not the less hearty. We have arrived at the period when, thankful that we have been spared iu health and strength, we pass the last year iu review, and scan the hopes, wishes, and prospects of the present. We are grateful to all who assist at the result, when we say the task is neither gloomy nor painful. We have had a successful year. Our circulation goes on in- creasing, and we have to thank the public for support in every way. Poultry not only holds its own, but it gains in public esti- mation. The place that belongs to it naturally is being filled. The desire for competition does not slacken, while its impor- tance, as it bears on the question of food, is being even,- day recognised. This has been the result of exhibitions, and the consequent testing of breeds, with a view to their capability either of producing eggs or providing food. Already produc- tion is greatly stimulated, and the supply increases ; but much remains to leara. We still deal with poultry as with a luxury, and those who have some to spare for the market keep it for a great event like Chi-istmas, often to the detriment of quality, and generally to a loss. Believing we are in a transition state, we point out these things lest beginners should be discouraged. We hope if we have to record the progress of poultry during the new year, we shall have to speak of a regular supply, and not of that spasmodic sending which makes a naked market this week, to be remedied by a glutted one next. The true economy of poiiltiy keeping, and the real profit, will be soon found to be the immediate disposal of a bird as soon as it ceases to make a good return. This will be as soon as one in- tended for the market is sufficiently fat, and one kept for a breeder ceases to lay a number of eggs that wiU be more than the equivalent of the food consumed. A poultry yard should be like a beleaguered town, and the first act of the commander 34 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AKD COTTAGE GARDENER. Jaouary 9, ISfiS. BhotiU be to Ret rid of all unprofitiiblo mouths. We will leave this part of our subjict, and should not have gone so much at length into it, had it not Bcemed to us that -ne were pro- paring a sort of fuvoiurable report for next year. We have a great satisfaction both in retrospect and antici|>ation. We be- lieve we are chatting with friends. For man) years wc have ex- changed our good wishes with "all whom they may concern." Wo have no feud on hand, no latent ill will to gratify ; and we believe if there were any sign or shibboleth by which those connected with " The .louraal ■' could recognise each other, the contact would bo preceded by an open countenance and a hearty shake of the hand. We are speaking only of our be- lief; our deserts must of necessity be rncted by others, but we are so sure of our motives that we would not hesitate to leave judgment in the hands of those who differ from us. Enough of ourselves. Dorkings have advanced during the last twelve months, not BO much in separate pens as in the breed taken collectively. The awards of prizes show it is a wise discretion that mingles colour. Silver-Cireys took prizes, competing against all comers. Competition should seek to raise all to the highest, and not to satisfy hailing ambition by lower reward. \Vliite Dorlcings in- crease very much in size and quality. We cimnot note im- provement in Spanish. We believe the amateurs of this beau- tiful breed will have again to get the foreign birds for the sake of fresh blood, and to breed out afterwards the points in which they are inferior to ours. Cocliin-Chinas are still rising in popularity, and are good, but they require careful breeding. Drooping combs and vnilture hocks have disfigured, and, it may be, disqualitied, miiny nn otherwise goodly pen. We are glad to see our in-otigi-s, the Drahmas, keeping on. We do not hesitate to say that they are destined to form a very large class, and they desciTC all the honours they receive. JIalays are still good, but it seems to be their province to be alwaj'S m the position of the aborigines of an antipodean colony after the advent of the white man — they retain their characteristics, but their numbers decrease. The Creve Cccur class is already a success, and the breed is becoming popular. Black Ham- burghs are increasing ; but sufficient care is not taken to con- ceal their origin or their helpers. The white face shows too often. It reminds us of the helps that forty demands when it would appear twenty. Golden and Silver-pencilled Hamburghs have been beautiful as ever, and, we doubt not, have been as free layers. We can speak in unquaUfied praise of the Spangled ; the Golden being almost perfect, the Silver very beautiful. The next class is one of our difficiUties. What means can be adopted to increase the entries in the Poland classes ? The quality of the birds shown is excellent, but the numbers are small — too small. The Distinct Varieties have flourished, find another French breed has made good its claims — " The La Fli'cLe," facetiously called " The French Dorking; " an excellent fowl, we know, but we must draw a line some- where. Just fancy anj-fhing as good as "ourDorldng" — the fowl of fowls : capital breeder, no wet nurse required, and the best of food. The Game, as usual, are perfect. They cannot improve. We must beUeve the amateurs of this breed are imbued with its propensities, and must ask for a division of classes — one to be judged on its merits as a fighting com- munity ; the other would feed on a milk diet, destroy their "horrible propensities," lud have them judged as capable of fighting, but detesting the vci-y idea of such barbarity. Failing such division, the exhibitors will be in the position of those who, when we were at school, viewed the chameleon, only they will eat each other, and not the birds. Bantams have held their own. Game, Blacks and Whites, have far out-num- bered the Sebrights. The latter have failed nothing in beauty, but the Silvers are getting Golden. The weights of Geese and Ducks have spread all over the land, and told their story. They may be vulgar, but they are right English food ; and called on to plead as to ha\-ing barboiu'ed a wish for Duck and early peas, or Goose, apple sauce, and French beans, we should have no resource but to plead guilty, and to throw our- selves on the mercy of the court. And the Turkeys — twenty pounds of good meat ! \M3en we look at them we fancy the white, succulent, flat side cut off the breast (no one who can carve a Turkey cuts from point of breast to crop), bounded by the green stuffing, and relieved by the shoe of chen-y ham, and we think well of those who increase such meat. May their shadows never be less. We have reached the end of our tether. Every subject is exhausted, except that of our good wishes for all. It is said. That which is disagreeable is put off to the last, but we beUeve that which is pleasant is also deferred. Is it that anticipation is before reality ? We bcUeve not. The man who feels what he is about to say is seldom eloquent. " Abu.se me," said a first-rate s)icaker to an audience, " and I don't care a snap of the finger for you all ; use me kindly, as you have done, and I am dumb." So arc we. Friends, Contributors, Subscribers, we bid you God speed for the new year. We thank you for the past'. Wo hope for the future. We wish you every good ; we v.ish you happiness and prosperity; and that, without distinction " of any kind, ISGG may be — A Hirrv New Yeaij. FIRST NATIONjVL SHOW OF THE POUI-TRY CLUB. This, which is to be held at Rochdale on the '2nd. 3rd, and 5th of Februaiy next, promises to bo very successful. Why Rochdale wa.s selected we do not know ; but even if less acces- sible than might be desired, the prizes are sufiicicntly liberal, and the entrance fees sufficiently moderate to secure a large nimiber of exhibitors, and, we hope, a numerous attendance. There are no less than fom'teen silver cups, and the ])rizes vary in each class from £3 for the first, to 10.s. for the last. Entries close January 20th. FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF BINGLEY H.VLI.. "First impressions arc everything." This is one of the canons of ladies" criticism. The fair sex believe in it tho- roughly, but especially in regard to themselves. Thus, for ex- ample : A lady, a good wife, and a good housekeeper into the bargain — (AVill our modern fast young ladies make the last- named ? I doubt it) — was anxious to receive a guest with all honour, and to make a good first impression upon him, parti- cularly as to the appointments and finish of her house, for her husband had frequently told her that this gentleman's home was perfect in every fitting up, and that the furniture was faultless in its arrangement. Her anxiety, then, what good wife can doubt ? Just before dressing for dinner she had been very busy, and time had flown, she thought, faster than usual. She glanced round her drawing-room. Was it quite in order? Were the anti-macassars all right? — the covers off all the chairs, and that ottoman glorious with worsted work ? Yes, the cover was off that. The whole looked perfect — nothing stiff and formal, but all in a negligent-elegant yet orderly way, just as only an F.nglish gentleman's room can look when he has a good wife, when lo ! looking upwards the lady espied some dust on the cliandelier. Quick as thought she mounts the table, and begins to remove the obnoxious palpable powder ; when oh ! alas ! horrible to relate, that dreaded g^iest was annoimccd — a terrible, over-pimctiial man, fond of quoting Lord Nelson's half-an-hour-before-time story. To be caught standing on a round table dusting a chandelier ! worse, to have to make the humiliating descent duster in hand, and thus welcome the gentleman ! " To make such a first impression," instead of advancing from her chair by the fire, extending an aU-graoefnl jewelled hand, with the daintiest of pocket-handkerchiefs in the other — "t was too bad, it spoilt tlie whole evening ; and when she entered half an hour afterwards all right for the party she felt embarrassed, troubled, awkward. " What a first imprcs'sion to have made ! " " First impressions arc everything." How many of ns married men must with a shrug own the truth of this ladies' canon. " First impressions are everything," reads aloud to her hus- band one of our mai-ried lady admirers. He has been grumpy, but hearing these words he looks up, and she is gazing at lum with that tjrst-impression look of her's. " ' Wiltsiiike Rector ' is right there, my pet," he says as he turns, gnuupy now no longer, a kind smile on the reader. " First impressions are everything." " Tell me not that, I knew it too well before ! " raves some love-sick youth. " I saw her — I see her stiU — standing on the doorstep of her father's house. She was going out to play croquet. Her parasol hung on her right-hand little finger. She was buttoning her left-hand glove, and glancing down with her eyelashes— happy eyelashes I — kissing her fair cheeks. Ah ! slie knew I was looking at her ! Oh, it was maddening!" Poor simpleton! She, knew nothing of the kind ; she was only looking down on her glove and thinking. January 9, 1866. ] JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUEB AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 35 ■' I must really get a new pair, for these are nearly worn ont." " First impressions are everything." Well, we must all o^-n they ai-e a great deal. You may try to reason yom-self out of it, hut you cannot. Now, I was detei-mined to let nothing spoil my first impres- sions of Bingley Hall. I hegged friends not to tell me anytliing about the ])lace. Had I heard it mentioned in the train I intended to have instantly closed my ears with my forefingers, unheeding what a pecuhar first imjiression I should be making upon my fellow passengers. I wished my mind to be a sheet of blank paper on the subject. Should Bingley Hall prove to be a gr.iud feudal structure of the date of llichard the First, built by Alfred de Bingley, well, be it so, but do not tell me beforehand. Should it prove to be a brick budding, time of Victoria, all well and good ; but do please let me get a fair unbiassed first impression of it, that is all I want. The weather i? as fine for the Birmingham Show as can be expected at this time of the year. If in December you have it dry abovehead and not fi'ightfully cold, be thankful ; as to dirt beneath, thick hoots on and you are all right. Bristol station reached, and on by the Midland Railway. Cleai- of Bristol smoke at last. On by Berkeley Road — would that I could see Berkeley Castle, but I cannot, nor yet can I catch one glimpse of the Severn. Gloucester ! well, there is the Cathedral — " pretty church that for the country," as the Cockney said (fact, I assure yon), when he first saw Canterbury Cathedral. I am travelling on right comfortably with a poultry enthusiast by my side, a clergyman of course ; a bright young girl, his sister, just smitten with the love of fowls and Pigeons, opposite to him, while my vis-a-vis is one of the outer world as to poultry. He feigns to scorn " cocks and hens," and only goes to Birmingham to see the cattle and the dogs. I am not hope- less of him ; I think he is but half an opponent, and I have a good hope that the taste shown in his beautiful garden wiU shortly extend to his poultrj- yard, aud " those wretched mon- grels " will be dispatched in a few months. Four friends in a railway carriage, merrily chatting, berugged and great-coated, with a poultry show at the end of the journey — nay, tlie poultry show, and who would not be happy ? Cheltenham station, but I see little of the town ; of Tewkesbury nothing. Worcester, with its gi'eat bishop — a favourite, and no wonder, with the late Prince Consort — is soon passed ; then on to the Black Country, and soon near to Birmingham. Red brick houses, smoky atmosphere, wet, black, narrow streets. On further, creeping on, and things begin to improve. I noticed that at the stations, especially from Gloucester onwards, I began to see eager agricultural faces waiting for the train — faces saying plainly, " We are going to the Cattle Show." I saw others not whoUy agricultural, and yet eager, whom I knew I should meet (I did), in the Poidtry Show, catalogue in hand. Of Biugley Hall I heard nothing, happily. An innocent voice did ask indeed, " Is it a large Show ?" and was answered, "Large! I should think so ! A hundred and fifty pens of Go-me Bantams, besides the Black, White, and Yellow, to say nothing of the larger fowls." Then my friend at my left was an e.'vhibitor at Bingley Hall. His thoughts were evidently there. How he longed to see his pens, and yet the sublime indift'erence he assumed I But in spite of it, how his conversation turned again, aud again, and again — aud no wonder — upon his pro- spects ! Now his spirits sank to zero — " They'll not be noticed !" Anon they rose, turning to me with " Don't you think that Dorking cock will do something?" Then at intervals, "Those stupid Judges I I believe they only guess after all ; they really know nothing about it." I do not think I dare become an exhibitor, it must be so wearing to the nervous system. I wonld advise all Ufe assurance companies to add to their terrific questions this one. " Are you an exhibitor of poultiy ?" with an N.B., " If you are, we cannot insure your life." At Birmingham at last, as that explosion in the proof-house tells us — Birmingham, the land of guns and gunmakers. And what a station this one in New Street is ! surely larger than the one at Paddington. Soon, passing some beautiful sjieci- mens of modem street architecture, I turn to the left, and am one of a stream of people on their way to Bingley Hall. Pre- sently I pass the famed Town Hall ; surely 'tis some beau- tiful temple transplanted from Greece. As I trudge my not weary way I remember that the Birmingham Show is fondly called " Tiie Mother of Shows." Here the experiment of bringing poultry together for exhibition and competition was first tried in 1847, and here a show has been held each year since. Birmingham is imdoubtedly well situated for the pur- pose—in the heart of England, accessible from all sides, far enough north, and yet not too far, with an enterprising popu- lation, many of them devoted from time immemorial to birds. A first-prize at Birmingham is the ambition of many a poultry fancier. " I don't care for little shows, I want to win at Bir- mingham, I shall not be satisfied until I do :" this is the feel- ing. Then other Committees feel, " What do the Birmingham Committee do ? What do they say ?" Thus musing I walk on ; but a placard catches my eye, " To the Dog Show," and. to the left I see a new building called " Ciu'zou Hall," which has become for the time " a howling wilderness." Further, then a turn to the right, and I am brought to a standstill, where carriages, and cabs, and foot-passengers are jostled to- gether, and on the curbstones of the opposite pavement the ticketless stand gazing and longing to enter. Passive in the hands of a black-hehneted policeman (I wonder if Millais could have brought tears to our eyes if instead of a Black Bruns- wicker he had painted a pohceman), I am guided to a green- baize screen, and pass, sorely jammed, through a turnstile, and I am in — Bingley Hall. In front of me is a large hollow square, with a narrow gallery above, and in the said square fat beeves, and cows, and sheep, and pigs, some of the creatures marvellously fat ; there are also agricultural implements to the left. I often wonder when I see a number of people feeling fat cattle how many are the wiser for so doing ; but it looks farmer-like aud learned, so it is done. But a shrill crowing (I had not yet heard the howling and yelpuig of the dogs), guides my feet to the left ; when, descending a few steps, I enter a side hall not gaUeried, and occupied, large as it is, by nothing but — poultry : number of entries, 1C75 ! Think of that ! 1 wander romid perfectly bewildered. I am free to confess that my first impression was — confusion. I was confused, and permitted myself to be. Round and round I went, then thi'ough the cross paths (so to speak). My only hope the first day was to become used to the scene, and on the next, h.aving learned something of localities, to examine the different varieties of poultry at my leisure. I was like a boy in London for the first time, he wonders and is bewildered, then presently he begins to know squares and streets. I ascend (after hours of wandering and wondering, feeling that chaos had come back to earth, and that its inhabitants, to make it more chaotic, were crowing cocks), the nan-ow gallery before mentioned partly around the cattle hall, and find the Pigeons ; a pleasant change this gentle and but occasional cooing for ear-piercing crowing. Opposite to the Pigeons^ in the gallery lay wondrous roots, and I am entreated to examine them ; but in close proximity to beautiful birds I felt a rooted objection to them, and would not notice them. I spend hours in the Show, among the fowls or in front of the Pigeons, gradually becoming used to the scene, and yet my principal feeling was amazement ! Four o'clock comes, and with that hour a tremendous crowd. I had kept myself tolerably per- pendicular till then, occasionally spun round by some prepos- terous crinoline, feeling as a top must feel the moment after the string round it has been dra%\Ti suddenly away. But now the crowd becomes crushing — almost dangerous. Darkness was coming on when, getting more bewildered as the crowd increased, I had the happiness to be recognised by my future host, and carried off clear of Birmingham smoke and crowds to his charming residence and hospitable hearth. Such of Monday, my first day in Bingley Hall. — Wiltshire Rectoe. {To be continued.) PHILOPERISTEEON SOCIETY. This Society, formed in 1847 for the improvement of oveiy variety of Pige*n, held its nineteenth auniversai-y at the Freemasons' Tavern on Thursday last. The attendance of visitors -was not quite so nume- rous as on many former occasions ; nevertheless, a vast number were admitted by tickets to the great hull of the Freemasons' Tavern, in which the Exhibition was held. Those who had not previously wit- nessed this interesting collection must have been highly gi-atified at the sight of such a number of Pigeons of almost every variety known to the fancier. A splendid collection of Caniers was exhibited by Messrs. Square, Date, Hedley, and Everitt. A Blach cock, the ju-operty of the first- named gentleman, elicited much admiration — in fact, a finer specimen is seldom seen, the wattle being perfection. A Dun hen, the property of Mr. Date, was also much admired. Mr, Wieking as usual showed some superb specimens of Magpies, Turbits, Fantails, Jacohius, &c., all in most beautiful condition and feather. Almonds were better represented on this occasion than they hava 36 JODRNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ January 9, I8e6. been for some jcitrs ]'ast, Mr. Lacy uid Mr. Mcrcli bearing the palm, Mr. rt-rctvall exhibited n pen of splendid Drafjons, some of which have Uikeu prizes in all parte of the country ; also some Shortfocod Baldhiiids, Xlottlcs, Ac. Mr. Esquilimt's Yellow Tumblers were macb admired, beint; particularly tine in colour. We regret that this Exhibition, which has always been so largely contributed to by a splendid collection of I'owters, "should on this oc- casion haye been entirely without that much-admired yuriety. On the whole, however, both numbers and yitutors mast have felt much pleased with the day's proceedingfi. PAISLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION SHOW. This annnal Exliibition took place on the 1st inst. in the new Volun- teer Drill Hall. Every year the collection of birds seems better than in the previous one, but on this occasion it greatly excelled in cjnidity and yariety any Show which the Association has" held. Upwards of 1200 birds were exhibited, and an nnnsnally larfje number of sales were effected. The accommodation in the' new hall was also ex- cellently suited for the Show, and though the weather was disagree- oble, the visitors poured into the Exhibition from the opening till the close. We append a list of the prizes : — Spasish. — First, J. Henderson, Carfin llill, Motherwell. Second W. Creelman, Kilmarnock. Third, A. Paterson, Airdrie. Chicketu.— First, .1. Ridpiitb, Edinburgh. Second. A. Hnn'ey, Stcwarton. Third, T. Knowles. .Aberdeen. Silver Cup. A. Yuil, Airdrie. DoRKl.NOs (Coloured).— First, W, Keid. Uavslou, Kirkintilloch. Second, H. Heys. Springfield House. Third. .T. Elsworth, Cnmpsie Junction. Cfticl-rn.i.— First. Third, and Silver Cup, P.. Campbell, Ci'.rdross. Second, R. Logan, Netherton. DoRKl.NGS (White). — First. T. Wallace, Roeeland Cottage, Troon. Second and Third. J. Aitken. Paisley. CiiixEsE.— First, H. Price, Glasgow. Second and Third, J. Stuart, Thistlebank. Helensburgh. BRAHM.t PooTRA.— First, J. Stuart. Second, E. .\bercrombie. Paisley. Third, J, Bell, Ovemewton House, Partick. Old Scotch Brekd.— First and Medal, C. M'Dairmid, Jlarket Street, Glasgow. Second and Third. J. Paul. Govan Street, Glasgow. Hambcbghs (Golden-spangled).— First, H. Currie, Ardrossan. Second, and Cup, R. Cunningham, Stewarton. Third, J. M'.\dam, Kosebank Cottage, Busby. HASiBCRGHs'(Goldcn-pencilled).— First and Cup. J. rrqnhar. Ballat Cottage. Second, R. MuiTay, Paisley. Third, J. Paton, Stewarton. Highly Commended, J. I'rquhar. Hambcrghs (Silver-spangled). —First, J. Stewart. South .^irthurlie, Barrhead. Second. S. C. Noble, Kendal. Third. A. Glen, Erskine. Haxtcrghs (Silver-pencilled).— First and Second, J. Paton. Third. J. Crookston, Bishopbriggs. PoLAXDs (Wliitc-crest).— First and Second, J. Paul. PoLAXDs (Any other colour).— First, W. R. Park, Slelrose. Second. W. Ramsay, Johnstone. Third, A, Jardine. Cardonald. Game (Black-breasted, and others).— First. J. M'Nab, South Arthurlie, Earrhcid. Second and Cup, W. Easton. Abbey Place. Jedburgh. Third, J. Anderson, liuthven House, Meigle, Highly Commended, A.Gibh. .\vt. Game Fowls (.\ny other colour).— First, A. M'Cnllocb, Trees, Barrhead. Second, J. Anderson. Third, W. Easton. Game Bantams (Any colour).- First and Medal, J. Bell. Second, J. Sharp, Johnstone. Third, A. Campbell. BMhswood. Bantams (Black). — First, A. Jamieson. Kilbimie. Second, A. Sym, Kilmarnock. Third, W, Lockhart, Kilmarnock, Bantams (Xny other kind).— First, W. Rueside, Irvine, Second, W. Morris, Paisley. Third, D. Murray, Eglintou Castle. Cross or anv other breed.— First, W. White, Paisley. Second, A. Campbell. Tliird. J. Fulton, Beith. Ducks (.Aylesbury).— First. A. Cunningham, Craigcnds. Second, R. Campbell. Third, J. Crooksli.n. Highly Commended, W. M'Keggie, Bowfield, Hnwwwod. Commended, H. Heys. DfCK (.Any other Idndl.—Fir.st, .A.Campbell. Second, Mrs. A. .Arthur, Cumnock. Third, J. Crookston. PIGEONS. Powters.— First, R. Fulton, Duke Street, London. Second, G. White, Ben., Paisley. Third and Medal, R. FiUton. Carriers,— First, G. White, sen. Second, R. Fulton. Third, G. White, Jan., Paisley. Fantails'— First and Medal, J. Sharp. Second, W. R. Park. Third, J. R. Konnr.rds, Helensburgh. RuFKs. — First, J. Sharp. Second, A. Middleton, Monmouthshire. Third, R. Barclay, Canal Bank. SHoKT-rACED TcMBLERs.— First, R. Fulton. Second, G. White, sen. Third, I). Raeside, Saltcoats. Tumblers (Any other kind). — First, W. R. Menzies, Crossmyloof. Second and Third, J. Sharp. Anv other distinct breed,— First, J. Prentice, Glasgow. Second, J. R. Rennards. Third, J. Shai-]>. Common Pigeons.- First, J. Glasgow, Dairy. Second, W. Menzies, Kilbimie. Third, J. Neilson, Johnstone. CAN.ARIES. Pair for Silver Medal.— \V. Houston, Paisley. Yellow Cock. — First, W. M'Leod, GI.isrow. Second, G. .Ayton, Glasgow. Third, K. Wood, Paisley. Fourth. T. Buchanan, Glasgow^ BcFF Cock. — First, J. Graham, Kilmarnock. Second, .A. Kelly, Paisley. Third, J. Richmond. Kilmarnock. Fourth, G. M'.Mpine, Renfrew. Yellow Hens. — First, R. Paterson. Glasgow. Second, J. Graham, Kilmarnock. Third, A. Kelly. Fourth, J. Wilson, Galston. BuFE Hens.— First and Silver Cup, W. Souden. Paisley. Second, J. Graham. Third, J. Kelly, Johnstone. Fourth, C. M'Williams, Glasgow. Pair Piebald Canaries for Cage. — G. M'.Alpine. Piebald Vkllow Cock. — Flnit. T. Buchanan. Second, A. Kelly. Third and Fourth. G. Haddow, Kil»inuiiig. PlKliALl. Buff Cock.— First, J. Mathews, Glasgow. Second, A. Craw- ford, Johnstone. Third, K. Wylie. Paislev. Fourth, W. M'Lcod, Glasgow. Piebald Yellow HrN.— Find, R. Calderwood, Kilnuimock. Second, J. Wilson, Galston. Third. W. Robertson, Paisley. Fourth, W. Patirson, Glasgow. Piebald Buff Hen. — First. J. Mathews. Second, J. Richmcnd. Third, R. Wood. Fourth. T. Unehanan. Yellow Goldfinch Mull.— First, W. R. Menzies. Second, W. Flem- ing. Glasgow. Buff Goldfinch JIule.— First. J, R. Adam. Avr. Second, J. Graham. Goldfinch. — First, G. Haddow, Kilwinning. Second, A. Adam, Paisley. Bullfinch.— Prize, A. Cunningham. Home or Foreign.— First, J. Agncw, Paisley. Second, G. B. Annoar. Paisley. .TuncEs. — ForI/'(W//7/; Mr. J. Crawford, St. Rollox, Glasgow; •T. Steven. M.D., Ardrossan : Mr. R. E. C. Benton. Damlie House ; Mr. W. Farquhiir, Barrhead : D. Dongald. M.D., Strathvan ; Mr. J. Holbnm. Stcwarton: Mr. H.Todd. Paisley. For I'i'jrom: Mr. Ci. .J. M'Lean,J EdinburL'h ; Jlr. .T, I'aton, Stewarton. For .S'm«Z/ Il'tnh : Mr. U. Grant. Paisley ; Mr. W. White, Renfrew ; Mr. D. Buchanan. Paisliy ; Mr. M. "Wilson, Paisley ; Mr. T. Buchanan, Glasgow ; Mr. .1. Wren. PoUokshaw; Mr. k. Brown, Stewarton; Mr. W. Taylor, (rlasgow. — [Suith British Ihiily Mail.) ABERDEEN POULTRY SHOW. The fifth annnal meeting of the Aberdeenshire Association for the improvement of Poultry, Pigeons, and Canaries, was held in the Artillery (Tymnasinni. (^neen Street. .Aberdeen, on Monday and Tues- day, the 1st and 2nd inst. The following is the list of awards : — Spanish.— First and Cup. Miss R. Ridpath, E.Unburgh. Second. E. Draper. Northampton. Third, G. Wallace. Aberdeen. Highly Commended, A. Cochran. Perth. Commended, Mrs. M, U. 5!. Cross, Monifleth, near Dundee; T, Knowles, jim„ .Aberdeen. C/iicltfn».— First and Cup, S. Mitchell, Aberdeen. Second. W. Meff. Aberdeen. Third. J. H. Wilson, St. Bees, Cumberland. Highly Commended, W. Meff. Commended, T. Knowles, jun. Dorkings (Silver-Grey).— First and Cup, J. Gordon, Man.-ir, Aberdeen. Second, Hon. Jlrs. Arbiithnott, IncbmKrtine. Inchtnre. Third, J. H. Wilson. Highly Commended, T, Knowles. jmi. C/i,'f)t*-n.<.— First, J. Curror, Comieston. near Edinburgh. Second, D. King, .Aberdeen. Third, A. F. Williamson, Blac-kbum. Highly Commended, A. Copland, Kintore ; T. Knowles, jun. Dorkings (Any other variety). — Cup, First, and Second. Hon. Mrs. Arbuthnott (Silver-Groysi. Third, J. Anderson, Meicle (Park Grey). Highly (.'ninmended, T." Knowles, jun. Commended, Miss Black, Ban- chorjTeman; .T. .Anderson (Dark Griyi. c;iic)Lvi«.— First and Second, J. .Anderson iliark Grey). Third, J. K. Fowler. Aylesbury. Highly Com- mended, Mrs. M. U. B. Cross : Hon. Mrs. Arbuthnott (Dark Grey).' Com- mended, Sirs. M. U. B. Cross; T. Knowles. jun. (Dark Grey). Cocrin-China (Buff and Cinnamon).— First and Cup, Wi Heudrv-, .Aber- deen. Second. T. Knowles. jun. Third. Messrs. Bown & Greenwood. Harrogate. Chickens, — First. J. Poole. I'lverston, Lancashire. Second, T. Knowles, jmi. Third, Slessrs. Bown & Greenwood. Highly Com- mended, Mrs, Tocher, -Aberdeen ; G. Murray. .Aberdeen ; C. Pense^ South- end, Darlington, Commended, Sliss E, '.A. Aglionby, Grasmere; W. Hendry, Aberdeen ; Hon. yirs. Arbuthnott : T. Knowles, jun. Cochix-China (Any other variety).— First and Cup. E. Tndman, .Ash Grove, Wliitchureh, Salop (Partridge). Second, H, Y'ardlev. Birmin'-rham. Third, J. K. Fowler (Partridge), Cdic*. n«.— First, E. Tudiiian (Partridge). Second. J. Poole. I'lverston, Lancashire (Grouse or Partridge). Brahma Pootras.— First and Cup. R. W. Boyle. Bray. Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Second, H. Lncv, Hebden Bridge, Y'ork-shirc. "Third, C. Pease. Highly Commeuded. Hon. Mrs. Arbuthnott. C/mVIviis.- First, R. AV. Boyle. Second. J. K. Fowler. Third, Mrs. Carnegie, Redliall, Fourdon. Highly Commended. R. O. Farquharson, Haughton ; T. Knowles. jnn. Commended. J. Clark, Fochabers Station ; Mrs. M. V. B. Cross ; Hon. Mrs. .Arbuthnott. Game (Red). — First. J. .Anderson. Second, W. Hay. Aberdeen. Third, Mrs. M. U. B. Cross. Highly Commended, Mrs. Rennet. Aberdeen. Com- mended, J. Wood, Wigan, Lancaster. Chickens.— ViT'^i and Second, J. Anderson. Third, J. Wood. A'erj- Highly Commended, J. H. Macnab, Sonth Arthurlie, B.arrhead. Highly Commended, J. AVood; .A. Stapleton. Premnay, by Insch. GAME"(.Aiiy other variety). — First, S. Matthew, Stowmarket, Suffolk (Duckwing). Third. F. L. ftoy, Y'ounger of Nenthom, Kelso (Duckwings). Third, J. Anderson (Duckwings). Commended, J. Anderson (Duckwings). Hamburgh iGolden-iiencilled).- First. Mrs. Machray, Midbeltie, Kin- cardine O'Nei!. Second and Tiiird. J. Rinch, Aboyne, Hamburgh (Golden-spangled).- First, A, Copland, Second and Third, Mrs. Slronach, .Aberdeen. Commended, A. Copland. Hamburgh (Silver-spangled). — First, 51. U. B. Cross. Second and Third. Mrs. Stronaeh. PoLANDS (.Any variety).- First. W. Silvester. Hnmpden View. Sheffield (Gold). Second and Third, Countess de Flahault, Tullyallan Castle, Kincardine-on-Forth (Buff and Silveri, Any other Variety,- First and Pecond, Hon, Mrs. Arbuthnott (Creve Cfeur and La Flcchei. Tliird. Countess de Flahault (Creve Cteury. Com- mended, Hon. Sirs. .Arbuthnott iCrrve Caur). Game Bantams. — First, Rev. G. Itapior. Kelvedon Hatch Rectory, near Brentwood, Essex. Second, J. Anders^.n. Third. W. F. Entwisle,"Otley, Y'orkshire, A'erv- Highly Commended, Mrs. M, U. B. Cross. Hicl.ly Com- mended. Mrs. M. U. B. Cross. Commended, G. Spalding, Drumstardie, near Dundee. BANTA.MS (.Any other variety). — First and Second, M. Leno, Markyate Street. Dimstablc (Silver-laced and Gold-laced). Third, J. Ness. Palhhead, Kirkcaldy (Gold-laced). Very Highly Commended, Mrs. M. U. B. Cross January 9, 1666. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 37 t Silver Sebright). Hiffhly Commended, H. E. Emberlin, Leicester (White) ; Mrs. M. V. B. Orok (Golden Sebright). Turkeys (Any variety).— First, Hon. Mr^. Arbuthnott. Second, Mrs. t:ame,?ie. Third, J. Gordon. Highly Commended, Mrs. Stronach. Com- mended, Mrs. Carnetrie ; .T. Gordon. . ,. v .. Geese (Any Tjiriety). — First and Second, Hon. Mrs. Arbnthnott (Toulouse). Third, J. K. Fowler (Toulouse). Commended, Mrs. Carnegie (TouloUSel. , . mi - J Ducks (White Aylesbur>-).— First and Second, J. K. Fowler, jun. Ihird, A. Farquhnr, Elsick, near Stonehaven. Commended, Mrs. F. W. G. Gray, Aberdeen ; J. K. Fowler. Ducks lAny other varietv).~First, .J. K. Fowler (Roaens). Second, T. C. Hiin-isou, Hull (Brown Call). Third, J. Anderson (Rouen). Highly Commended. J. Menzies, Kincardine-on-Forth (Rouen) ; J. Anderson (East Indians). Commended. Mrs. Carnegie (Rouen) ; Mrs. F. W. G. Gray (White French); Hon. Mrs. Arbuthnott (Rouen^). Selling Class (Any vnrietv).— First, J. Anderson (Dorkings). Second Mrs. Bennett (Game). Third, H. Ashton, Manchester (Nankin Bantnms) Highly Commended. W..'\.nderson, Cove, by Aberdeen (Spanish) ; R. Tate, Leeds (Game Bantams). Commended, Mrs. Black (Dorkings). SINGLE COCKS. Spasl'^h.— First, T. Knowles.jun. Second. W.Meff. Third. G. Wallace, Dorking.— First, G. Campbell, Tillinamolt, New Pitsligo. Second, Mrs. Black. Third, Countess de FLihault. Hicibly Commended, A. F. Williamson, Caskieben Mains. Blackburn ; W. Forbes, Whiteford, Pit- caple. Commended. Mrs. W. Pyper. Belhelvie Village. CocHiN'-CiiiNA.- First, T. Knowles, jun. Second, Mrs. Tocher. Aber- deen. Third, W. Masscy, Fulford, York. Highly Commended, W. Hendry ; Cr. Murray. Commended, G. Murray. Brahma Pootba.— First. J. K. Fowler. Second. Hon. Mrs. Arbutunott. Third, J. Masson. Highly Commended, P. Campbell, New Deer ; T. ICnowles, jun. Commended. Mrs. Stronach. Oa^ie.- First and Cup. J. Brough, Carlisle. Second, M. Billing, jun., Birmingham. Third, W. Gamon, Thoraton-le-Moors, Chester. Very Highly Cummended. F. W. G. Gray; T. Burgess, Burloydam. White- church. Salop; A. B. Dvas, Madeley, Shropshire; T. Knowles. jun. Com- mended, W. Boyes, Beverley, Yorkslure ; R. Swift, Southwell, Notts. Ha:iiburgh.— First, G. Campbell. Second, Mrs. Stronach. Third, P. Campbell. Sweepstakes for Game Cockerels.— First and Cup. N. Grimshaw, Buraley. Lancashire. Second, J. H. Macnab. Third, M. Billing, jun., Birmingham. Fourth, A. B. Dyas. Highly Commended, J. H. Macnab; T. Burgess ; J. Anderson ; F. L. Roy, jun., Neuthorn, Kelso. Commended, C. Jamieson, Forfar. Sv^EEPsTAKES FOR Bantam Cocks.— First and Cup, M. Leno. Second, G. Manning. Third. J. W. Morris, Rochdale, Lancashire. Fourth, Rev. G. Raynor. Hiu'hly Commended, W. F. Entwisle; Sir G. M'Pherson Grant." Bart., BaUindalloch ; J. Crossland, jun.. Wakefield; F. L. Roy, jun. Commended, W. T. Hay, Jan., Aberdeen; W. Hodgson, Darlington. PIGEONS. PowTERS (Any colour).— First, M. Simderson, Edinburgh. Second, J. R. P^binsou. Simderland. Very Highly Commended. -T. Hay ; M. Sanderson. Highly Commended. H. E. Emberlin. Commended, F. M'Crae, Aberdeen. CocA-.— First. M. Sanderson. Second, J. R. Robinson. Very Highly Com- mended. M. Sanderson. Highly Commended, F.SI'Crae; M. Sandtison ; J. Thaukray, York. Commende'd, M. Sanderson. Iff h.— First and Medal, J. R. Robinson. Second. M. Sanderson. Highly Commended, H. E. Em- berlin. Commended, E. E. M. Royds, Rochdale. Carriers (.\ny colour).— First, T. Shefiield. Second, H. AUsop, Bir- min'-iham. Highly Commended, W. Massey, York. Commended. W. Tocher, Aberdeen ; H. Martin, Glasgow ; T. Ivnowles, jnn. CocA.- First, W. Massev. Second, T. CoUev. Hpn.— First, H. Martin. Second, W. Massey. Highly Commended, F. M'Crae ; T. Colley. AiMoND TciiBLERs, — First and Third, J. R. Robinson. Second, J. Thacliray. Highly Commended, T. Knowles, jun. Commended, W. Tocher. Tumblers (Any colour). — First. J. M'Donald, Aberdeen. Second, H. YsrJley. Highly Commended, T. Knowles, jun. Commended, M. Sander- son ; J. R. Robinson. Fantails (Any colour).— First, J. R. Robinson. Second, J. Thackray. Very Highly Commended, J. R. Robinson;.!. Rae, Guestrow, Aberdeen. Highly Commended, H. Yardlcy; T. Knowles, jun. Commended, J. M'Donald ; T. Knowles, jim. Jacobins (-^y colour).- Medal, T. Knowles, jun. First and Second, J. T. Lawrence, Liverpool. Very Highly Commended, J. R. Robinson; J. T. Lawrence. Commended, J. T. LawTence; H. Yardley. TuRBiTS and Owls (Any colour). — First, J. Thackray. Second, H. Yardley. Very Highly Commended, H. E. Emberlin ; A. Murray. Highly Commended, Mrs. M. U. B. Cross; W. Massev ; J. Hay. Commended, .:. R. Robinson ; Mrs M. U. B. Cross ; H. Yardley. Barbs (Any colour).— Fii-st, J. Thnckray. Second, W. Massey. Very Highly Commended, J. T.LawTcnce. Highly Commended. J. R. Robinson. Trujipeters (.Vny colour). — First and Second. J. R. Robinson. Very Highly Commended, E. E. M. Royds; H. Yardley. Any other Variety.- Medal, Fir~t, and Second, J, Thackray (Magpies anil Nvms). Vci-y Highly Commended, J. Hay (Dragons). Highly Com- raomU'd, E. E. M. Royds (Nuns) : Countess "de Flahault (Romans!; H. Yardlcy. Commended, J. PercivaU, Pcckham, London {ArchangeiSj. CANARIES. BELniAN (Yellow).— Coct.-First. A. Murray. Second, A. Eamett. Aber- deen. Third, J. Mitchell. Aberdeen. Very Highly Commended. A. Murray. Highly CommendL-d. W. Sirrell. Aberdeen. Hen.— \ery Highly Com- mended. J. Wiiihart, Aberdeen. Highly Commended, A. Murray. llKLGiAN (Buff).— rocJt.—Very Highly Commended, J. Mitchell. Hrji. — Firvt, R. Buist, Aberdeen. Second, R. Smith, Inverurj-. Third, W. Wilson, Ab'iiboen. Verj' Highlv Commended. J. Mitchell. Belgian (Flecked).— Cor^.-First and Third. J. Falconer, Aberdeen. Second, W. Mitchell, Aberdeen. Vei-y Highly Commended, A. Midrileton. HcM.— First. J. Ross. Aberdeen. Second, J. Skiuuer, Aberdeen. Third, U. Ross, Aberdeen. Verj- Highly Commended, R. Buist. Scotch Fancy.— First, R. Ross. Second, J. Ross. Third, W. King, Dundee. Very Highly Commended, J. Ross. Anv other V.\r.iETv.— First, W. Aiken, Aberdeen (Common Flecked Coek). Second. A. Middletou, Aberdeen (Flecked half-Etlgiun Cock). Taird, J. Mitchell (Common Cyck). Goldfinch Mule.— First, Second, Third, and Very Highly Com- mended, J. Hunter, Aberdeen. BIRDS OF 1865. Belgian (Yellow).— CocA-.— First and Third, J. Mitchell. Second, W. Wilson. Very Highly Commended, R. Buist. Hfji. — First. J. I. Garden, Aberdeen. Second, J. Wishart, Aberdeen. Third. A. Sliddleton. Very Highly Commended, J. I. Garden : J. Mitchell. Belgian (Buff).— C'ot'/f.— First, A. Gemlo, Aberdeen. Second, A. Middle- ton. Third, A. Murray. Very Highly Commended, W. King. Hen. — First, J. Law. Aberdeen. Second. J. Mitchell. Third, W. Su-reil. Belgian (Flecked).— CocA-.-First, J. Ross. Second and Third, A. Murray. Ven,- Highly Commended, J. Nicoll, Aberdeen. Highly Com- mended, A. Middleton. ifen.— Very Highly Commended, J. Ross. DUMFMES AND MAXWELLTOWN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION. The seventh annual Exhibition of Canaries, Poultry-. Pigeons, and Parrots, of the above Society was in the Mechanics' Hall. Irish Street, on the 2u(l and Hrd inst. It was one of the finest shows of the kind ever held in the south of Scotland. In the number of entries, superior condition of the birds, their excellent quality, and admirable arrangement of the coops, &c., it exceeded all former competitions. Such a display of fowls has never been witnessed in this district. Every bird was in splendid feather, and seemed a pattern of its kind, and the Judges must have had no light task in comparing the points of excellence in each, and making the awards. Of the different descrip- tions of Game fowls there was a large display, and the White and the Black specimens were beautiful birds. For Spaiti.sh fowls Mrs. Smith, Broomhills, stands unsui-passeJ, her fowls having gained the chief pre- miums in both classes. They were reared, we understand, from eggs furnished by Miss Smith. Braes. Dorl-inf/s were numerous, and the competition good ; but there wore few Coi-hin- Chinas. Hambnrf/h.? — Spangled and Pencilled, Golden and Silver, old and young — were well represented, and added greatly to the attractions of the Exhibition. Though the display of Brahma. Footrns was not large, it included some fine birds. Mr. Miller, Bowes, Terregles, showed a pair of weU- feathered Guiuea-fowls. The competition among the Bonfavis was veiy keen, as the uuaiber shown was large, and the quality of the birds in general excellent. A better show of I'igeot}^ we have never seen anywhere, and the varieties must have greatly surprised the gene- rality of visitors, as there were no fewer than fifteen. Besides the more common breeds were Nuns, Trumpeters, Blue Bmnswicks, Ant- werp Carriers, Archangels, and Turtle Doves, all beautifully clean and in tino feather. There were few Farroti exhibited, and the only foreign birds competing were a Green Pan'oquet, St. Helena Canarj', and pair of Love Birds. The British birds shown were a Crossbill, Siskin, Redpole, Goldfinch, and Cock of the North. Mr. M-Cririe, Southern Counties' Asylum, had a fine aviary, in which was a happy family of Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Grey Linnets, Kedpoles, Chaf- finches, Green Linnets, Siskins, &c. The Judges' awards gave general satisfaction, but some were not satisfied, and we were sorry to see a Dumfries exhibitor so far forget himself as to break through all law and order by removing the coop containing his fowls. It was well for the success of the Exhibition that his example was not followed. The arrangements seemed to be perfect, and were highly creditable to Mr. Maxwell, Secretai-y, and the members of the Committee. Game (Black Reds, Blacks, and other Reds and Blues). — First and Silver Medal and Second, W. D. Dickson, Carron Croft. Commended, T. Max- well, Maxwelltown. Chickens.— FirBi, S. Lord, Lockerbie. Second, J. B. Lockerbie, Wallacetown. Commended, J. Stobo, Jericho. Game {Duckwings, Whites, and other Greys).— First, A. M'liie, Max- welltown. Second, T. Henderson, Dimifries. Commended, S. M'Millan . Chickens. — First, T. Henderson. Second, J. B. Lockerbie. Commended, C. Turner, Dumfries. Spanish (Black).- First. Mrs. Smith, Broomhills. Second, J. Kerr, Brocklcliirst. Commended, T. Maxwell, Allanton Mill. C/j;VAt71^.— First and Silver Medal and Second, Mrs. Smith. Commended. R. M'Kenzie. DoRKiNos.— First and Silver Medal, W. F. H. Arundeil, Earjarg Tower. Second. Miss M'Hnlm. Hillhead. Commended, J. MnxAvell, Dalswinston. ChffitcHs.— First. Miss M'Holm. Second, Miss M. A. Johnstone, Terregles. Commended, J. Maxwell. Cochin-China (anv Colour).— Prize, Miss Biggar, Braes House. Chidtetu;. —First, Mrs. Moffat,'Kirtle Bridge. Second, Mrs. Waugh, CastlehiU, Loch- miben. Hamburgh (Golden-spangled).— First, T.MusgTove,Longtown. Second, W.Currie.iMaxwelltown. Commended, R. Murray, Maxwelltown. Chicken.;. —First and Silver Medal, Miss Biggar. Second, T. Musgrove. Com- mended, R. Kerr, Barjarg. Hamburgh (Golden-pencilled).— First, Mrs. Blacklock, Hntton Park, Lockerbie. Second, T. Johnstone, Waterside, Terregles. Commended, W. Stewart. Rashgill. C'/i/f/.vH.s.- First, W. Wallace, Kirkmahoe. Second. R. Smith, Grecnbrae. Commended, J. Jardine, Maxwelltown. Hambcroh (Silver-spangled).— First, C. Inglis, Lnckerbie. Second, Mrs. Crombie. St. Michael Street, Dumfries. Commended. T. Connel, Loch,ir- briggs. Chickens.— Yivai, R. Jartline, Moffat. Second, W. Currie. Com- mended, S. Boves, Biairshinnoch. Hamburoh (Silver-pencilled).— First, R. Young, Locharbriggs. Second, Miss Johnstone, Broadholm. Chrckeiis.—Fir^t and Silver Med.nI.T. Mus- grove. Second, W. C. Stewart, Kirkcudbright. Commended, R. Young. Brahma Poo tb a.— First, Mrs. Waugh. Second, Mrs. R- K. Howat, Mabie. C/nVAcns.— First. Mrs. Waugh. Second, Mrs. R. K.Howat. Com- mended, Mrs. R. K. Howat ; Mrs. Waugh. Scotch Gf.£Ys. — Prize, C. Robertson, Eaglesham, Glasgow. Bantams (Gold-laced).— First and Silver Medal, W. W. Anderson, Ch.apel, Moffat. Second, G. Smith, Dumfries. Commended, T. Wright. 38 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AKD COTTAGE GARDENER. r JasoArj 9, W&fi, Bantams (Black). — Firwt, Mrs. Cinijilnnd, I)mn(ri((s. Second, J.TLom- BOQ, Miixwelltowu. Commcudcd, J. IrWnR. nurnfrioK. Bantams iWhit<'l.— First, .1. Mrlbonnie, DumfricH. Second, T. Max- well. Coiiiiiicndi-d, R. Teeniiu, DiiinfrieK. Gami: Uantauk (Blttck Ucdi* and othiT Kcdw).— First, J. Douplas, Max- welltown. Socuad, IL Browurigt.', Purtcretown, Kcir. Coiumeudod. J. Douglas. Oaue Bantasik (Duckwing and other Greys). — First, J. Shnrp, Cnnal CottttftP, Johni^tuno. Second, A. MitcticU, Htnvick. Bantamh (liny othur Viiriety). — Prize, J. Paliuer, Maxwolltown. Ducks (Rououi.— First, J. liuyd, Soutbwick. Second, Mies M. J. Uns- eeU, MoOut. Couuneudcd, W. W. Audersou. PIGEONS. SnoRTKACED T0HBLERS. — Finit, W. CuTTic. Sccond, R. Hendersi'D, Maxwnlltnwn. GouuoN Tu MB LEBS.— First, J. Sharji (Blue Beards). Secoud, R. Hen- derson. Cakriers. — First, R. HonflersoD. Second, .1. Pntorson, Dumfries-'. PowTEKB. — l-'irst, J. Sharp. Second, J. Thumsou. jAConrcs. — First and Second, J. Shari'- Fantails.— Fir!*t, J. Sharp. Second, W. Grejjun, Elnibank. CouMoN Pigeons. — Fir^t, W. Curriu. Second, W. Howat, Dumfries. Any other Distinct Breed.— Firat, J. Shmi) (Blue Brunswicks). Se- cond, A. MitcUell (Kuns). CAN.UOES. Scotch FanCT'.— T*c7/otr CocAw.— Firt^t and Silver ^lediil, J. Graham, Kilmarnock. Second, J. Thoriit, Dumfries. Third,.!. Harding, Maxwell- town. Hetut. — First, J. Thorpe. Second, J. Muir, Kilniumock. Tliird, .T. Orohom. Bnff' Cockg. — First, J. Graham. Second, J. Muir. Thii-d, J. Thon>o. Hcjw.— First and Third, J. Thorpe. Second, J. Little, Dumfries. Piebald. — Yelloir Cock*. — First and Silver Medal, J. Low, Beattock, Moffat. Second, J. Thorpe. Tliird, R. M'Cubbin, Annan. H'. DoRiaNds (C ilourrdor White). — First, 3Irs. Drinp. Second, Mrs. 'Wobb, Knocktoran. Knocklon?. Highly Commended, T. O'Grady. Dorkings (Silver-Grcy).— First and Second, T. O'Grady. Highly Com mended. Mrs. H. Brown. CocHiN-CniN-AS (Buff or Lemon).— First. R. W.Boyle. Second, F. W Zurhorst, Donnybrook, Dublin. Conimcndt-d, Mrs. Hay. Cochin-China (Partridge or Grouse).— First, J. C. Coopei*. Sccond, Mrs. Drinff. Cochin-china (TftTiito). -First. Miss L. Pike. Sccond, F. W. Zurhoret. Hi^lhly Commended, F. W. Zurhorst. Commended, J. C. Perr\-. BnAHsiA-PooTRAS. — First and Sccond, R. W. Boyle. Highly Com- mended. J. Brj-ne ; J. C. Perry. Commended, Hon. Mrs. H. B. Bernard, Coolraaine, Bandon. CREVE-CtEUKS.— First, J. C. Cooper, Second, F. W. Zurhorst. Com mended, Countess of Bandon, Castle Bernard ; J. C. Perry. Gajie (Black or Brown Reda).— First. J. C. Perry. Sccond, R. W. Boyle, Chickens. — First, J. .Icffrvs. Second. G. Lanptrj'. Game (Duckw-inga or Piles).— First, U. W. Bovle. Second, J. C. Perry C/iirfccH.*.— First. W. D. .Mlcpi. Seond. .7. C. Pern*. PoLANDS (\\Tiite-crested).— First and Second, J. C. Perry. PoLANDS (Silver).- First. Second, ^ud Oimmendcd, B. P. Williams. PoLANDS (tiolden). —First nnd Second, K. P. Willi.-ims. Hamhurghs (Golden).— First, R. W. Boyle. Sccond, C. H. Cooper. Highly Commended, Mrs. Drinp. HAMBntr.Hs (Silver).— First, Mrs. H. B. Bernard. Highly Commended, J. C. Perry. Bantams (Sebright).— First, J. A. Fitzpatrick, Cork. Second, Hon. Mrs. Bernard. Game Bantams.— First, J. Dowling. jim. Second. J. A. Fitzpatrick. Commended, J. A. Fitzpatrick ; X. W. Roche; F. Hodder, Cork. Japanese Silkies. — First, J. A. Fitzii.atrick. Second, F. Hodder. .\ny other Varietv.— First and Sccond. J. C. Cooper (La Fl»che and Miiliiv). Hiphly Commended, F. W. Zurhorst (Sultans). Commended, Mrs. bring (La Fl^che) ; J. C. Perrv (La FK-chr). Turkeys.— First, J. C. Cooper. Sccond, F. W. Zurhorst. Hiphly Com- mended. T. O'Gmdy. /'oii/fj*.— First, J. C. Cooper. Second, T. O'Gi-ady. Highly Commended. H. Briscoe. Fermov. Geese.— First, R. W. Boyle. Second, J. C. Cooper. Highly Commended, J. C. Cooper ; Countess of Bandon. Go>iHnQ$.—¥ixst, Miss Dceblc. Second, J. C. Penr. DrcKS (Ayleslmry).— First. R. P. William?. Second. .1. C. Cooper. Highly Commended.' B. P. Willi.ims. Ttiickihuis.—Yirs'^ and Second, R. P. Williftms. Highlv Commended. Countess of Bandon. DccKS (Rouen).— Fii-st, N. D. Parker, M.D., Cork. Sccond, P*. P. Willinms. Highly Commended, J. C. Cooper. r/;;(;AI(Hff<.— First, W. H. Massey. Second, R. W. Boyle. Hiphly Commended, R. P. Williamp. Any other Variety. — First and Second, ConntcE;> of Bandon iMexican and Musco\-y). Speciat, I'BiZES (open for compctiti^n to Pubpcnh-ng members only). —Silver Cup (prescDtcd by F. W. Zuihorst, Esq.), K. P. WilUums. The Janaary 9, 1S6G. JOtJENAIi OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 39 PeiTy Medal, J. W. Dy:is (Spanish). Mrs. Lyon's Medal, J. C. Verry (Spangled Haniburgliif. Hrs. Hiirvey's Medal, T. O'Grady (Dorkings). SWEEPSTAKES. Dorking Pullets. — Prize, J. C. Cooper. Highly Commended, J. C, Cooper. Spanish Pullets. — Prize, Mrs. Bring. Highly Commended, J. C. Cooper. PIGEONS. PowTEP.s (Yellow Pied).— First, J. Montgomery. Second. Dr. Harvey. PowTERS (Black Pied). — First, J. H. Pen-ot. Second and Highly Com- mended, J. Montgomery, PowTERS (Blue or Silver Pied). — First, J. Montgomery. Second, J. H. Pen-ott. Highly Commended, J. H. Perrott. Commended, J. Mnir . Dr. Hu-vey ; A. E. Ussher. Pou-TERS (Red Pied, Mealy, or other Colour). — Fh'st and Second, J. Montgoniery. Highly Commended, Rev. T. To^\Tisend; J. H. Perrott. Commpuded, A. W. Sh.aw. PowTERS (White). — Fu'St, J. Montgomei-y. Second and Highly Com- mended, J. H. Pen'ott. Carriers (Black). — First and Second, G. A. Wherland. Highly Com- mended, A. W. Shaw ; Dr. Harvey. Commended, C. .\. Wherland ; H. L. Tivy ; P.. Fulton. Caeriers (Dun^ — First, Dr. Harvey. Second, G. .\. Wherland. Highly CommendoAiE. Lane ; G. .\. Wherland. Commended, T. Clarke ; J. Mnir. Cap.eiers (Blue or other). —Fii-st and Second, G. -\. Wherland. AL3I0ND TuiiBLERS (Shoi-t-faccd). — FiTst, Sccoud, and Commended, A. W. Shaw. TuaiELERS (Short-faced Almond) . — First and Second, Dr. Harvey. Commended, J. B. Blennerhasset ; J. Lloyd. Tumblers (Short-faced Mottles and others). — First, A. W. Shaw, Lim- CTick (Black Mottles). Second, R. Fulton, Deptford, London. Highly Com- mended, R. Lane, Cork (Black Mottles). TU3IELER3 (Short-faced Balds or Beards).— First, Dr. Hai-vey (Blue Balds). Second, A. W. Shaw (Blue Beards). Highly Commended, Dr. Har^•ey (Blue Bald). TU3IBLERS (C^ommoa Balds or Beards). — First and Second A. W. Shaw (Black Balds and Blue Beards). Highly Commended, J. Dowling, Black- rock (Yellow Balds). TujiELERs (Common, any other colour). — First, J. Pike, Besborough, Cork. Second, R. Lane (Black Mottled). B.tRBs (Black or Dun).— First and Second, G. A. Wherland. Highly Commended, J. H. Perrott, Hayfleld, Cork; A. E. Ussher, Camphirc, Coppoquin. Bares (Any other colour i. — First, G. A. Wherland (Red). Second, J. H. Perrott (Red). Highly Commended, G. A. ^Vherland ; J. H. Perrott (YeUow). Jacobins (Red or Yellow}.— First, J. Lloyd. Second, J. Pike. Com- mended, G. A. Wherland. Jacobins (Any other colour). — First, J. Perry (Mottled). Second, T. Clarke, Cork (Blottled). Fant.uls (Whitel.— First. J. H. PeiTott. Second, T. O'Grady, Rough- grove, Eandon. Highly Commended, G. A. Wherland. Commended, T. Clarke ; J. Pike. Fastails (Any other colour).- First and Second, J. Pike (Blue). Owls (Blue or Silver).- First, A. E. Ussher, Second, J. H. Perrott. Highly Commended, A. E. Ussher. Owls (Any other colour). — Prize, J. Pike (Yellow). Tru;ipeters (Mottles).- First and Second, J. H. Perrott. Trujipeters (Any other colour).— Fii-st, J. Perry (White). Second, T. O'Grady (White). TuBEiTs'.— First, T. O'Grady. Second, J. Dowling. Commended, Rev. T. Townsend, Bandon. Nuns. — First, J. Dowling. Second, A. E. Ussher. Maupies.— First, Rev. T. Townsend. Second, E. M. Royds, Rochdale. Any other tahietv.- First, J. Perrott (Branswicks). Second, Dr. Har\-ey (Brunnen Powters, White). Highly Commended, Dr. Harvey (Brunnen Powters, Black), SWEEPSTAKES for Pigeons, hatched in 1865, and bred by Exhibitor. Powter (.Any colour).— Prize, J. Montgomery, Belfast (Black). Highly Commended. J. Moatgomerv ; Dr. Harvey (fled). Commended, R. Fulton. Caebier (Black).— First,' P.. Lane, Cork. Highly Commended, G. A. Wherland, Cork. Commended, J. Muir, Glasgow. Caheieh (Dun).— First, Dr. Harvey. Highly Commended, J. Muir. Special Prizes for Pigeons.— Silver Cup (presented by the Society), G. A. Wherland. Silver Medal (presented by Patrick Goulding, Esq.,) G. A. Wherland (Black Carriers). Commended R. Lane. Silver Medal (presented by G. A. Wherland, Esq.), J. Montgomery (Rod Powters). Commended, J. H. Pen-ott (Black Powters.) Silver Medal (presented by Hcmy Hawkins, Esq., Belfast), Medal and Commended, G. A. Wherland (Black Barbs). SONG BIRDS. Canaries (Y'ellow;.- First, A. Veitch. Equal First and Second, F. M'Loughlin. Canaries (Green). — Prize. H. Keating. Mealy (.\ny other colour]. — Second, A. Veitch (BuffPied). Goldfinch Mules.- Fii-st, J. Fitzgerald. Second, H. Keating. Blackblrds.- First, J. Fitzgerald. Second, J. Perry. Thrusues.- Fh-st and Second, W. Waters. Skvlap.ks.— First, J. Lennie. Second, R. Daly. Bullfinches.— First. J, Dowling. jun. Second, H. Keating. Goldfinches,— First. H. Keating. Second, J. Fitzgerald. Linnets.- First and Second, J. Dowling. TRIMMING COMBS— VULTURE HOCKS IN COCHIN-CHINA. I SHOULD be very glad of iv reliable opinion on the subject of one or two of the points of Cochins, lly birds seldom breed a cockerel •svithout a side sprig to his comb. Is this considered by Judges to be a vei'y serious defect in the case of a bird whose other points are good ? To take a particular example : I haye a Buff cockerel over 11 lbs. in weight. His only defect is that the last serration but one of his comb has the appearance of being spht down the middle, making two sprigs instead of one, and both slightly leaning on opposite sides. I know that it is a custom of dealers to cut oH a side sprig wlule the bird is yoimg, and that, after the comb has been developed, this in most instances cannot be detected ; but is tliis, I am assured general, practice considered fair ami straightfoi-ward ? Another point on which I should be glad of further informa- tion is that of vulture hocks. Many birds have a slight appa- rent tendency to this fault, in which I do not think that it should be considered a serious defect — I mean where the feathers behind the knee, though quite fluffy and soft, are slightly pointed, but without projecting stiffly and beyond the other leg feathers ? Indeed, are not almost all birds with very heavily feathered legs subject to this diawbaek ? This, too, is a case where, I am told, birds are trimmed every day beyond the possibility of detection. Is it not, therefore, a pity that so great a stress is beginning to be laid on a point which, except in the case of the objectionable stiff feathers, is rather an exuberance than a defect, and which may be so very easily removed by trimming? — Cleeicus. [It is a very common practice to trim slightly the combs of Cochins and Spanish. In both breeds any approach to double comb is a disqualification, and the suspicion of it is therefore avoided. The practice is not confined to dealers, but is common, we believe, to all. It is not considered unfair, but in deciding between two birds of equal merit the trimmed comb would turn the scale against its possessor. A razor or very sharp knife is used for the operation, and the "sprig" should be removed by cutting downwards. This leaves Uttle trace, but a practised eye can always detect it. Vulture hocks are only recent introductions into the Cochins, and should be discou- raged. Detection is easy if the feathers are cut off, difficult if they are pulled oirt. Careless breeding has introduced these faults. Birds have been selected for the sake of new blood, and for the introduction of some point in which they excelled, but which also possessed a failing. Both have been inherited, and sufficient pains have not been taken to breed out the fault. A pen with very moderate beauties, but mthout one real fault, must be successful over another of great excellence, but with an admitted fault.] [The foregoing is from the pen of one of our most able poultry Judges, and we will only add a few words on the sub- ject of vulture hocks. We had Buff Cochiu-Ghina fowls with these hocks as long since as 1850. They were from Mr. Sturgeon's stock. The Poultry Club, in its standard, says the vulture hock is objectionable, but not a disqualification. We cannot assent to its being objectionable, for we consider that it adds to the good figure of the bird. This is a matter of taste. If poultry fanciers agree in reprobating vulture hocks, breeders have no alternative — they must aim at producing birds without them. — Eds.] FOUL BEOOD. I HATE delayed writing on this subject until I could give a full account of the results of the summer's experience. I will now describe what has taken place in my own and my neighbottr's apiary. In October, 1864, No. 187, was detailed the means which my neighbour took to free his hives from the disease, by beating out the bees into clean skeps, and the result has been, that not a single diseased cell has since been seen in all his stock of fourteen hives. In order to ascertain if honey from diseased stocks given to a young hive would be the means of causing the disease, after the other hives were sent away to the heather he kept a yotmg hive at home, and found an eke below it con- taining a quantity of foul brood and honey, which was cleaned out in two days, when it was removed. He also gave the same hive five skeps to clean out, one after the other, aU having foul brood and honey. That same hive gave off its first swarm this year on the Ith of June, and as yet all the other swarms it sent off, as well as the old one, are free from foul brood. This case is so different from that of some of your correspondents, that it adds to the mystery of the cause of foul brood, and how it may be cured. While my neighbour has succeeded in entirely freeing his apiary from this disease after ha-^-ing it so Inug, 1 haye now to 40 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDEXER. [ Jan nary 9, 1868. report tliftt I fonnd it in two of my liivcs after tIio_v had come from tlie heather. It was only in one har of each, and about half the size of a man's hand. I allowed it to remain to Fee if it would extend further, or to see if the bees could clean it out of the cells. I examined them on the 14th of December, and found that all the cells were cleaned out with the exception of eight or nine, aiul these were in proRress of being cleaned out also. I found a large quantity of brood in all stages in the hive, and all in good health. I liave never known a liive of mine breeding in December before. The queen is the Ligurian which Mr. Woodbury sent in a small box in 18C3. I cannot accnimt for the disease being in these two hives, while I have other twenty entirely free from it, all being treated ahke. It had occurred to us that it was possible that a liive might be overheated during its removal to the lienther from want of sufficient ventilation, but the hive to which I allude was not sent to the heather, as I was not disposed to risk it on such a rough journey. I had a case during the summer which I thouglit at one time would go far to prove that Mr. Lowe was right in regard to chill being the cause of the disease, and that those, along with myself, who hold a different opinion, would require to acknow- ledge their mistake. For myself I can truly say that none would have been more ready to have done so had such been the ease. In order to observe the whole proceedings in the interior of the hive, I had one made with glass sides, and only one comb in breadth, so that both sides of the comb could be seen at all times. It was made to contain four Woodbury bar-frames, which can be removed, and others substituted in their place, when required. During a hot day in the summer, while trying to put some combs straight which the bees were not building properly, two of them broke down, and the queen was killed, although I was not aware of it. Two-thirds of the bees left at the time, and a quantitj- of honey was taken by the other hives, but one-third of the bees remained with the brood, and were rearing three young queens, when I removed the four bars into my obseiTatory hive. Two of these bars had a large quan- tity of brood in all stages, the other two had only a few in each. There were just as many bees as covered the two bars, and about one hundred bees remained with the young brood on the other two, but they were unable to keep up the heat, so that the grubs died, and all turned black, the bees leaving them entirely. Here, thought I, it is where Mr. Lowe was right, and myself wrong, and I was about to write and admit it, but defeiTcd until I saw the result. When a queen was hatched, and laying eggs, as the young bees filled the hive they began and cleaned out all the dead black gi'ubs, leaving the cells as clean as ever they were ; but although that brood remained in the cells six or seven weeks after death, it never passed into corruption like diseased brood : so that I am more than ever convinced, that whatever foul brood may be. it is something more than a chill to the young brood, and that by removing the combs of foul brood as it appears, and putting the bees into clean hives, it can be mastered. It is only by good sanitary measures, canned out thoroughly with bees, as well as with everything else of the animal kingdom, that we can ever expect them to thi-ive. — Alex. She.iree, Ycatcr Garden, [Your neighbour's experiment proves the truth of Dzierzon's statement, that honey taken from foul-breeding stocks may be given with impunity to healthy colonies in the autumn, because during winter it is in the absence of brood all consumed by adult bees. For the same reason simple excision at that season may, and sometimes does, work a radical cure ; and it api'cars even possible that, favoured by the cessation of breeding, the bees themselves may, imaided, work their own salvation in cases wherein the disease, being recent, has not progressed to the virulent stage. — A Devonshire BEE-KEErEK.] black drones, although they have Ligurian queens. Will there be any risk, by keeping them among the others, of their drones crossing with the true Ligurians again, and making them hybrids ?— A. W. [If the queens themselves arc really pure brod, they will breed pure Italian drones (but mixed workers) in spite of the first cross, j CROAVTs-BOARDS. WorLD a wooden frame Ij inch thick and 2) inches broad> filled inside with straw bands and sewed with cane, be more suitable for the tops of Woodbury hives thou wood tops ?— I. T. [ Straw crown-boards (if the misnomer may he allowed) made in the manner you describe, would, we think, be better than the ordinary wooden ones.] DYSENTERY IN BEES— LIGURIANS. I AM, or I think I may say we are, much obliged to the " DEVoNSHinE BEE-KEErER " for his able article on dysentery, and I think Dzierzon is correct in many of his reasons for it ; but I do not fancy that the hives have anything to do with it, or feeding late, as I had five straw skeps, and all were fed nearly alike, but only one suffered from this disease. I shall be glad to hear from others of your correspondents upon this subject. ,_ Two cf my Ligurian stocks have turned out crossed with OUR LETTER BOX. W'F.ionT OF DoRKiSG CocKS {ConstaHl Ittadcr}.—" Upwnrds " certainly means " above " 10 lbs. Dorking Cock's Comb (Cluitfau Vallon). — The two combs, boUow in the middle, but joininp at the poiuts, form what in eiilled n cup comb. It was very eounnon ol old, and is so now in the poultry districts. It was not fii^bionixblf, and was therefore discounij^ed at exhibitions. It is not only no disqualification, but occurs in birdb as pure bred ab any bavin}^ single or double combs. Pea Fowls (6*. !>.). — Pea fowls are always considered d^ructive in a garden. IsxrBATOR {Tiicho). — The incubator we have spoken of lately is not yet advertised. Shiftint. Fowls {F. B.) — We do not think your fowls would be injurc d o ,2 S S II , :l ti 1 4 , , 1 r, B ■ 10 JanuaiT 16, 1S66. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 41 WEEKLY CALENDAR. Month %yeek. J.iSC.lEY 16—22, 1806. Average Tempprature ucai' Loudon. Rain in last 89 years. Sun Kises. Sun i Moon Moon Sets. 1 Rises. Sets. i ■ Moon's Akc. Clock before Sun. Day of Year. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 To W Th P S SCN M Epacris. Erica hvomalis. Erica WiUuii iroana. Fuchsia Douiiniann. Son's declination 20- 6' S. 3 Sunday after Epiphasv. trustrolobiiim acutum. Day. 41.6 42.6 41.7 43.1 42.6 43.8 44.3 Nisht. 30.7 30,8 81.4 30.7 31.3 32.8 32.8 Mean. 36.2 36.7 38.6 S6.9 86.9 SS.3 SS.Ii Davs. 19 13 16 18 15 18 16 m. h. lafS 8 59 7 58 7 57 7 56 7 55 7 m. h. 19af 4 21 4 22 4 24 4 26 4 27 4 29 4 m. h. m. h. 13 af 7 28 4 51 7 36 5 36 8 1 49 6 65 8 12 8 22 9 ' 17 9 49 9 S2 10 19 10 48 11 Days. • 1 2 3 4 5 6 in. B. 10 5 10 25 10 44 11 3 U ?1 11 88 11 54 16 17 18 19 £0 21 22 From observations taken near London during the Inst thirtv-nine years, the average day temperature of the week is 42.8^ : and its night tempei a- ture 31.5-. The areatest heat was 60", on the 19th. 1828 ; and the lowest cold 4J-" below zero, on the 19th, 1388. The greatest fall of rain was O.Sb inch. X.B. — The Calendar contains the names of plants flowering in the gi-eonhouse. ACHIMENES CULTURE. '■ A Constant Readeu " in- formation is soufjht on this snliject, and the i'dllowing. in answer to his inquiries, may be of service to others as well. The Aeliimene.s is a plant easily cultivated, and, thonsli requirhif; a higher temperature than that of a gi-eenhouse, will, nevertheless, do well there after .June, when, for the most part, tliere is a deliciency of bloominf; plants in such structures. Achimenes also succeed well in a heated vinery. Early in February the bulbs are taken out of the pots in which tlii'V have been grown tlie season before, and are laid pretty thickly on the surface of a pan tilled to witliin an inch of the rhu with a compost of two-thirds light turfy loam. and one-thu-d leaf mould. They ai'e then covered with half ;ui inch of tine sod. If the soil is in a moderately moist state no water is given, but if dry a little is ati'ordod to bring it mto a moist condition. The pans are then placed in a hotbed of about 7.'>°, and a top heat of CO" or (15" by night. Here they remain until the shoots are an inch long, when the plants are i)la<-ed in their blooming pans. Achimenes never look so well as A\hen grown in pans. The sizes \\'hicli I think most eligible are !■> and 1^ inches ill diameter, and n inches deep. The first size allows of nice spei-imens being grown, and the second of \-ery line ones. Tlie pans sliould be clean, and have good-sized crocks placed over the holes, whicli sliould be live in num- ber, and not less than half an inch in diameter. Above these crocks lay an inch of brolceu pots, then an inch of tlie riddUngs of llic compost, and fdl up to within an inch of the rim with a compost of two-tbu'ds loam from rotted tiu'ves a year old, cut -'l inches thick, [daced in alternate layers witli fresh horsedung, turned over tmce, and, pre- \'ions to use, chopped tine with a spade, but not sifted; oiie-thiixl leaf mould, three parts reduced, sifted to free it of sticks, &<•„ and well mixed with the loam : and ime-sixth of silver sand. The plants are then taken up with a stick, and a row of tlie smallest placed around the pan half an inch from the rim, and exactly an inch apart : put in another row 1} inch from tlie first, and an inch apart, and so on to the centre of the pan, which shoidd be a little liigher than the sides, say an incli for an If^-uich pan. The sniiiUcst plants are put at the outside, the next largest in the next row, and so in order to tlio largest hi the centre. .V gentle watering is tlien given, and the pans are placed in a bouse with a moist atmosphere (as that of a vinery at w orki, and with a night temperature of (\(f. bear- ing in mind that the nearer the plants are to the glass and light the stronger they wdl grow, and, milesB they are No. 251.— VcL. X., New Series, stiff and strong, it is vain to expect a good blcom. 'Water sufficiently to keep the soil moist, but do not deluge iheni, nor, on the other hand, allow them to suffer for want of it. Ne\-er give water unless the,v seem in want of it ; the leaves are not to be allowed to Hag, but when the soil appears drv, and is so to the feel, give a good watering. Gently syringing with water of the temperatr.re of the house will be of advantage up to the time of the blooms expiuiding: but avoid syringmg in dull weather, and let the leaves be di-y before the sun" shines po^^•erfully upon them, other^vise they may spot. If drip from the roof fall upon the pan, either stop the leak or remo\e the pan at once. Should green fly make its appearance, fumigate with tobacco when the plants are diw. Tluips -vvill not intei-fere, unless tlic atmosphere is much too dry : if they do, tobacco smoke will destroy them. A\nien the plants are from .'i to (i inches in height they will need tying : the sticks should be small and neat, made of laths, and painted green. They ought to be not less than 18 inches long, wliilst for some kinds -.i feet will he better. A space of an inch or so ■\\-as left belpw the rim at the time of potting ; this should now be tilled up with a mixtm-e of eijual f|uantities of the previous compost, passed Uirough a half-inch sieve, and cowdung one year old beaten and also passed through the sieve, with the addition of one- sixth of silver sand well mixed in. This, placed upon the sm-face between the plants to a depth of three-quarters of an inch or an inch, will, after ;•. time, show its effects in the strength of the plants and the bloom. Commencing Avith tlie centre, one stalce is to be put to each plant, and the plant looselj' fastened to it in an erect position Axith a. thin strip of bast matting. Continue the upright staking until the second row frcjin the rim is reached, then every alternate plant of that row should be staked upright, and the others inclined from the perpendicular towards the rim of the pan. Every second plant in the outer row shoidd be staked with an inclination correspoudi:ig to those staked upright in the second row, and at an angle of 4.')'' from the perpendicular of the pan's rim. Side shoots \rill be produced: do not tie them, but let them gi-ow loosely, but, if the}- become as strong as the main shoots, and are straggling, they should be staked. Con- tinue to keep the shoots tied up as they grow, and, when the buds show, eveiy alternate watering may be of weak liquid manm-e until the plants are fairly in bloom, when they reiiuii-e a plentiful supply of water. The plants will be in bloom in the end of June and in ■July ; those in IH-uich pans will 1)C fine masses of bloom from l',i to 18 inches high, and from i feet to 2i feet through. Their beauty will be prolonged by placing them in a drier and cooler atmosphere, \-\'liere tliey can be slightly slnided, as in a greenhouse or conservatory not highly ventilated. When the bloom is over they sliould still liiive a light .situation, and the supply of water ought to be diminished, and, when the foliage becomes brown, it may be cut away, and the pans placed on a damp floor in a di-y place, as under tlie shelves of a house, having a tem- perature of not less tiian 40° nor exceeding iT)" from iii-e lieat. No. 903.— Vol. SXXY., Old Series, 42 JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. [ JuiaaiT 16, ISK. Another lot may be started in March, kept in a hotbed for a time until tlioy have grown and are potted off, and then re- moved to rinery or other honse until they flower. They will do well in the greeulioiiso whilst in bloom, and oven grow- there after .Inne if the house be closed early, and be converted for the time into a stove by liusbnnding eun heat. Plants Ftartcd in .Alarili will bloom in July aud August ; those started in April will do so in .\ugust and September, ri.ints allowed to start of their own accord iu vineries having a little fire heat in Bpriu;,', will mostly bloom in September ; whilst those in a late vinery will justbe coming into bloom in the end of Sep- tember. Plants started nt the end of May or early in Juno bloom finely in the stove iu Oi:tobcr and Kovcmber. Achimenes are stove plants, and require to be started in a hotbed ill order to do at all well in a greenhouse, to which they need not be removed until they are of a size fit for blooming. Sonic have a practice of taking the bulbs out of the pot in winter and storing them away in paper ; they shrivel, however, and though it i."; not well to keep them wet, they certainly are best kept in the soil in which they grew, aud if the pots are placed on a damp floor the bulbs will turn out in spring plump, though the soil may ho like dust. Another common practice is to thrr,?t the plants after blooming under the stages, which is of all times that at which they require light and a dimin- ished supjily of water to mature the bulbs. A dozeu of the best kinds of which I have experience are : — Carl Wolfarth. — Crimson piu-ple witli carmine spots, close habit. Very free bloomer. Lonsiflora major. — Flowers large, blue. A profuse bloomer; grows rather tall. Meteor. — Crimson scarlet, Bnd yellow-spotted eye. Fine. Sccptrum. — Vermilion, richlymarked; habit good, pyramidal. Sir Treherne Thomas. — Bright crimson, rather tall. Good. Mauve Perfection. — Of a mauve tint. Free-blooming and good. Margaretla. — ^Whito. The best of its colour. Dazzle. — Flowers of medium size, scarlet ; dwarf habit. Ignoa. — Flowers small, of the brightest scarlet, produced iu great profusion ; habit good. Ami.roise Verschaiielt. — Lilac white, violet lines, and car- mine .s)>ots. Good in every respect. Carniiuata elegans. — Eosy carmine, of fine loi-m. A free bloomer. Baur.iauui hii'suta. — Violet purple, cooj hiibit, free bloomer. — G. Aebky. C0XSEQUENCE8 OF COXSERVATORY LIGHTING BY GAS. A I HAVE the care of a newly erected conservatorj-, 60 feet long, 20 wide, aud 18 feet high ; it has a table stage along the front and one end, beds down the centre, aud along the back v.all. It has been filled and planted about two months, and everj-- thiug looked very well till last week, when, as my employer was going to have a large party, he wished to have it lighted with ga~. I told him I had heard that gas was ver>- injurious to plants ; but he thought if it were placed nearly up to the roof, and there was a chimney to carry off the fumes, it could not do them much harm, as it would be nearly 1.5 feet above them. He accoi'dingly had two sun-lights, consisting of fifteen burners each, fixed. They were alight three nights, two while the workmen were there, aud on the night of the party. On entering the conservatory the following moraing I was perfectly astonished — in fact, almost ready to shut the door and run away. The plants looked miserable : everjthing seemed parched, and looked as dry as if it had not been watered for a month, (leranium leaves were yellow; Solannm capsi- castrum. aud Acaci;» dealbata, pubescens, and giandis, with scarcely a leaf on them ; the Camellias had dropped nearly all their flower-buds ; and the foliago of other plants, though still looking green, came off at the slightest touch. Is the gas, do yon think, to blame for all this mischief ? My master does not seem at all satisfied about it. He thinks I neglected to water the plants ; but that is not the case, as I watered them the day before the gas was lighted, and 1 know they were quite as wet as plants should be at this time of year. In the event of gas being used again, do you think it would be advisable for nio to well water and syringe the plants in the afternoon, aud leave the ventilators in the roof wide open ? — J. A. [We have little doubt that the gas did the mischief, owing to some defect in the chimney used to carry ofl the fumes. We know of several houses that are lighted at night on festival occasions ; but the gas-burners are ])luced near the apex of the roof, aud there are small narrow vcutUattirs all the way, which, even if opened a little, allow the fumes of the bnrued gas and the heated air to escape. It would be well to have the ]dants sufficiently watered, not overwatered, before using gas again ; but our experieuce would not enable us to judge as to the i)ropriety of syringing the plants all over before lighting the g.rs. At first sight it would seem that the moisture on the leaves woiUd keep the gas from injuring them ; but then we know that even when tobacco smoke is applied to some plants when the foliage is wet the plants wUl be more injured than the insects, whilst to destroy the insects and not hurt the plants the foliage can scarcely be too dry. We shall be obUged if any of our readers will state their experience as to wet and dry foliage when exposed to gas fumes. The true remedy we sus- pect to be a free escape of heated air- and fumes to the open air. ", THE PUBLIC GARDENS OF TARIS. Hor.TicuLTUUE, as undertaken by the civic authorities of Paris, has become considerably extended since the public department of " Promenades ct Plantations " was established in 18j8 under M. Alphaud, the chief engineer of •• Roads and Bridges." In fact, to this beginning is in a great measure to be ascribed the recent spread of oniamental gardening in all parts of France ; and the good example set by the gardeners of Paris has given a fresh impulse to horticulture generally throughout thn country. The Bois dc Boulogne was the first of the series of public gardens formed by the city, and it was the Emperor who sug- gested the gigantic undertaking of remodelling this flat, dusty tract of ground, which was scantih' covered with a ban-en vege- tation. The task was carried out with unexampled vigour and rapidity, and the result has been the most delightful and ex- tensive park known. Soon other gardens followed on the boulevards, which radiate through the most populous quarters, those suffering most from want of air and space. The crooked streets aud foul gutters have given place to beautiful prome- nades and smiling oases of verdure and flowers^-charming retreats, to which infancy aud old age alike resort — resting- places for the mother of the family, and the workman snatched from the seductions of the tavern. These new gardens have become great favourites with the people. There the workman makes his meal on tlio same seat as that on which the old soldiers of the empire relate their past exploits, while such of them as are the birds' friends call them to snatch a morsel of bread from their hands. All the quarters of Paris have now their public garden? ; their principal localities, however, are La Tour St. Jacques, the Marche du Temple, the Champs Elysees, the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers, the Park of Monecaux, the Marchi- des Inno- cents, Place Montholon, St. Clotilde. Batignolles, Belleville, Grenelle, Montrouge, Malesherbes, and Charonne. To these must be added other heavy works now in course of execution, as those at the Bois de Vincennes, which will soon be a rival to the Bois de Boulogne, and the park of Buttes-Chaumont, which will be one of the most curious transformations of the age. To keep up such an extent of gardens it will readily be con- ceived how great must be the amount of labour and materials required. Under the direction of the chief engineer, M. Alphand, and the two engineei-s w ho divide Paris into two sections, the gardening staff of the city is as follows: — 1 Superintendent, ■1 Head Gardeners, 2 Foremeu, 2 Inspectors of Plantations, 20 Chefs d' Atelier, and an army of gardeners amounting to not less than 300. without counting the office staff and others in- directly connected with horticulture. To ifeed the whole of the pubUc g.ardens there are five esta- blishments, distributed as follows :— Ist, The parent establish- ment of La Muette (Passy), for the propagation of hothouse, greenhouse, and bedding plants. 2nd, That for annuals and hei-baceous plants at Vincennes. 3rd, A nursery for Conifers, American plants, and evergieens at the Bois de Boulogne. 4th, A nurserv- for deciduous trees aud shrubs at the Bois de Boulogne, oth. A nursei-y for large forest aud ornamental trees at Petit Bry, near Xogenl-sur-Marne. I will not speak of the outdoor departments, as they resemble those of large nurseries ; but the establishment of La Muette, from its e.xteut aud the peculiar features which it presents, desencs special notice. Situated near one of the entrances to January 16, 1866. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. •13 the Bois dn Bouloi;rne, the Li Mnette gate, at the extremity of the fashionable quarter of Tassy, this establiEhment covers an area of nearly live acres between the Eue de la Tour, the Avenue de I'Empereur, and the old historical castle of La Mnette. The railway between Auteuil and St. Lazare cuts the ground into two unequal parts, of which the smaller is taken up by frames, the orangery, sheds cellars, &c. The frames are more especially intended for raising plants from seed, and for the extensive propagation of softwooded plants for bedding, such as Pelargoniums, Verbenas, Calceo- larias, Salvias, Fuchsias, Chi-ysanthemum frutescens, Arc. There are altogether 2900 lights set in straight lines, and arranged in sections according to the description of plants grown in each. The fi-ames are shortly to be replaced by a range of fifty low houses communicating with each other, and forming the most complete assemblage of glass houses ever seen. Each section is in charge of an under-foieman under the general direction of the foreroan, and he has two or three assistants, with whose aid he has to manage from 100 to 1-50 lights. He alone is re- sponsible for the pl.ants, also for the breakage of glass, and other casualties arising from carelessness, and as a compen- sation he receives a small monthly allowance. The advantages of this system are, that the workman takes better care of the plants and materials committed to his charge, economy is con- sequently secured, and the men, being confined to one depart- ment, speedily gain great e:sperience of the particular plants with which they are engaged. To give an idea of the immense number of plants raised at the Fleuriste de la I'.Iuette (that is the name of the establishment), I may state that it amounts to nearly .8,000,000 a-year. Pelargoniums alone counting for 290,000, Cannas for 70,000, and other principal genera in proportion. The orangery or conservatory, constructed in a very econo- mical manner, is 226 feet in length, and is used for the pro- tection in winter of hardwooded plants taken no in autumn for planting-out in the following year. A large shed of the best construction serves to shelter soils, peat, and various com- posts, as well as spades, rakes, watering-pots, and light tools. Down the middle for the entire length of the shed runs a table 1-3 feet wide, at which sixty men can pot with freedom the innnmerable plants strnclc itrom cuttings in the frames. Spacious cellars, 9 feet 10 inches high, cut out of the rock at great expense and at a considerable depth below the surface, extend beneath the frames. They are intended for protecting in winter tubers and rhizomes, such as those of Dahlias, Cannas, itc, taken up in autumn. They may also be used as a workshop for the gardeners in severe frosts, and as gas will shortly be laid on, they vrill be still better adapted for the purpose. On the other side of the railway are the trial ground and glass houses. Whenever a new phant is announced it is pur- chased at any price, and here tried, for the city of Paris will not lag behind in the race of gardening progress. If the plant is hardy it is grown on trial out of doors along with kindred plants, and under different modes of culture, and after two or three years' experience it is adopted or rejected ; but it must possess many good qualities to dethrone its rivals, and be extensively propagated. The eftect is here studied, especially in masses of one species or variety, rather than in hetero- geneous assemblages of plants without unity or harmony. The trial is all the more severe, because long experience has taught mistrust of the high-soimding, often specious, descrip- tions given by dealers in novelties. If the plant is adopted it is sent to Vincennes, where it can be propagated in such numbers, and over an extent of groimd, that it could not be at La Mxiette. The houses, which have been successively erected from 1838 to the present time, are not equalled in extent in .any other part of France. They consist of twenty-one ranges, divided into sections according to the mode of culture required by the different classes of the plants, and cover an area of 95,800 square feet. The largest house has an area of 18,222 square feet, is 31 J feet in height i.n the centre, and is in three compartments. The central one is fiUod with a splendid collection of Camellias from 1.5 to 23 feet high, planted out, and several of them once formed part of the celebrated collection of the Empress .Jose- phine at Malmaison. Of the two side divisions one is devoted to the protection of those ornamental- foliaged plants which have risen so much in favour during the last few years. There may be seen trees of Wigandia, Nicotiana wigandioides, which is covered in winter with superb drooping panicles of white flowers, Montagiif^as, Polymnia, Aralia papyrifera, and many other handsome tropical plants. The division o;i the other side contains a number of large specimen Palms, I'andanuses, and Cycads, which are almost unrivalled. Among them are magnificent examples uf Sabal Blackburniana, Seaforthia, Pan- danus, Phceuix, Thrinax, Livistonia, Zamia, Cycas, Cerato- zamia, &c., not to mention a numerous collection of novel- ties, in fine condition, amountiug to upwards of 390 species. Another large house, in three spans, holds the remainder of the collection of large Camellias ; these are in tubs, and whilst those planted out aiford a multitude of cut blooms, these are used to decorate the apartments of the Hotel de Ville at the great balls given by the Prefect of the Seine ; indeed, all the large stove and greenhouse plants are principally gi'own for this purpose. Ordinary gi'eenhouse plants, such as Azaleas, Acacias, Epacrises, Heaths, &c., are grown along with the Camellias, and receive much the same treatment as regards culture. A square pavilion, fiUed with very tall Palms, Dracaenas, Ficns, Aralia. itc, forms a vestibule to a high lean-to contain- ing a collection of no less than 110 species of Ficus. Ficus elastica (Urostigma elasticum), or the Indianrubber tree, takes up the greatest amount of room, although there are some other species of nearly equal merit for beds of peat soil out of doors in summer. Further on, in sections according to the description of plants grown in them, are large and fine houses devoted to Dracasnas, to Aroids, to Ferns,' to large-leaved Solanums. to Begonias, to Musas, to Hibiscus, to Pelargonium giandiflomm, to large Galadiums, i-c. Lastly, other two houses deser\-e special mention ; these are the propagating-house and that which goes by the name of the " sen'e de sevrage." The propagating-house is employed for the rapid propagation of all hothouse and hardy plants that do not strike readily in frames, and the appliances are such as are nowhere else to be seen. It is impossible, however, to convey a clear idea of the arrangements from mere description ; suiBce it, therefore, to say that there are shelves all round, and, besides, two bark beds, in the interior of which shelves rise in giadation Uke the steps of a stair, and under these run the hot-v;ater pipes en- closed by sheets of iron. The pipes, sixteen in number, are 4J inches in diameter, and run all round the house. Being thus confined within the pit ,hey maintain the heat of the tan in which the pots are plunge I, and afford that degi-ee of bottom ; heat which is so favourable ' j the emission of roots. The step- like arrangement of the shelves covered with tan, on which bell-glasses are placed, allows of the young plants being kept very close to the glass. Six young gardeners are employed throughout the year in propagating, and for jilants difficult to 1 strike or raise from seed special means are pro',-ided. This house furnishes about a million of young plants every year. The " serre de sevi'age" is that in which the young plants .are placed as soon as they have recovered from their first trans- plantation or potting, and when they are well established they are removed to their' respective houses or frames to make way for new comers. A portion of this house is occupied with choice specimens of new stove plants on trial, or for propa- gation. I may add that the other branches of this est.ablishment, such as seed-rooms, storehouses, &c., are well organised, and that the regulations are mo,st judicious, and so, too, are those with regard to the superintendence, order, and discipline of the men. Lectures on the theory and practice of hoilieulture are periodically given by the heads of dep.artments to the workmen and apprentices, aud discussions held. The expenditure for this great establishment does not exceed £8800 a-year. Such is the organisation of an establishment the like of which does not exist in the whole world, and which proves what horticulture can do for the ornamentation of the capital of a gi-eat nation. — Ed. Andke, ./art'iHcr PriHCij;fli tic Ja Ville dc Paris. IKESINE HERBSTn. Allow me through your valuable .Journal to say a few words on behalf of the Iresine Herbstii. I planted a large bed of it in this garden last season, and although we had a large num- ber of beds planted in the usual way with bedding plants, not one was so much admired as the above, more especially during the months of Julv, August, and September — in fact, it was beautiful up to the middle of October. I also consider it invaluable for the stove for this season of the year. I have some fine specimens in eight-inch pots 2 feet through, and 44 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDEXER. ( Janauy IC, 1*30. nho.it tlie sume in hei^'l.t. I herewith enclose a rortion of the f..liago lor your in^pccli.m. Tlie plnuta from whicl;^ they were liikoii arc RrowiiiR in a teniiienitiire of about b-, or <0 .—Isaac Hli.i., Gnnh-iier, The Pr./.v. [Tho specimen leaves were verj- decp-colourca, and fine.— Eds.] OLE.VNIXnS FROM KOCK AND lIKI.n TUWAKDS 1;0:MK.— No. 1". F.vcn dnv wo lenininea in Florence sliowcd us more and more of tlie wondrous chanRe that hnd l.ilU-n upon that city ..f liowers. On everj- side life and activity had taken tlie place of dullness and repose. And such strange life too ! I stood and wondered how faculties that had rein.iiiied so long unused omiM all at once have burst forth into such active iday. I was like a vcrv child Razing into the shop-windows. reading the titles of books, pamphlets, and newsp»pers— haUpenny nevys- papers— perhaps a trifle too scurrilous, a trifle too free w'lth the names of king, ministers, and people ; and I must confess to mv hair somelimes standing a little on end at only the titles f.f th".> publications. The great reaction seems to have been too much for the heads of the good people of Florence ; they are like thirstr men. r.naccustomed to strong drink, jilacecl before an overflowing tankard, they think more of fiuenchiuR their thirst than of after-conseipieuces. l comforted myself with thinking that after awhile these mongs would right themselves. , ^ • i Anolher strange feature was the churches. On many sides I heard mui-mirrs of the persecutions to which the cliurch was subjected, long faces were pulled, and the direst proi,heCies uttered as to what would be the future result. The future was J,?vond mv ken ; but the present, as far as the Church of Rome went, seeiiied highly satisfactory. I saw, indeed, fewer monks and priests, but more services ; less show perhaps, but more reality. I fonnd churches filled with praying people that once were comparatively empty, and judging by what I saw mv impression was that the Church had received freedom rather than persecution. Of course there was, what some people would call, the reverse side of the shield. I thought so when I drove to what once had been the Farmaceutica of •St. M. Novella, where the dear old white-robed monks had used to distil the most fragrant essences from delicious flowers, and make " pastiglie di profumi " of wonderful potency : but alas 1 the few mouks that had been left had no time to distil aught but sad forebodings to their ancient house and to do the real work of the convent ; so we had to return without pastils or •scent if I except the flavour of garlic, which seems to pervade everv' monk and monasterj- as inseparably as the smell of peat pervades an Irish beggar through years of mendicancy m England. , , , , „ Again, when I went to see the matchless frescos of 1-ra An.'elico in the convent of S. Marco, and found soldiers ex- pecleil there. I thought it was the reverse of the shield wnth a vengeance I and it brought to my memory that it was not the first time soldiers would invade the convent of Savanarola and Fra Burtolomeo. There are no paintings m Florence that I more love to look upon than those of Fra AngeUco ; it seems as if the reflection of the inner life of the good " frate " shone brightly and purely on every feature of the blessed angels he loved so much to depict. , ,, i ■ One of the favourite drives from Florence is to the Cartlmsian Monastery of La Cei-tosa in Val d' Emo, from whence the monks distribute food and medicine to the poor for many miles round. There are manv beautiful wild flowers growing around the convent, and amongst them a large ragged-looking Pieouy of a pinkish lilac colom-, which was flowering in great profusion. I believe it to have been the Ta-onia peregrina. I have never seen it growing wild in any other locality. In the fields near Bellosquardo, shining brightly amidst the fresh green corn, I gathered (piautities of Gladiolus communis, the crilour being quite as good, though the sjiikes of bloom were not s ) large as when under cultivation in En;laud. The fields ol Italy are so richlv decked with flowers in all the wild luxu- riance of Nature untouched by art, that I grew to love them better than the untidv gardens, suffering from the spasmodic exertions of gardeners who thwart Nature without introducing From the beautifid fields I passed into the garden of the Villa lullosquardo, and there I saw Orange trees, full of fruit and bloom, in large tubs filled with the very richest compost, its ugliness 80 unconcealed that one turned awnv dis-K^^tea from the golden fruit and full rich blossom. Beneath the waUs of this villa there is a magnificent view <.f Florence- we went there to watch the setting sun. All around us were ■'>'lReB of Roses-the common China and the Yellow Banksian. the latter trailing its buiT blossoms over walls and trees, from which it depended in innumerable festoons reaching almost to the ground, where the deep blue Corn-flower (Centa.iren cyanus) was growing in pleasing contrast of colour 1J^'1".^„"| Jf> Florence with lier graceful towers, her gent y-flow,ng Amo, with the silvery gleaming Birch trees by its side, while stretch- in" far away was a dreamlike distance of fair soft gre> hills, with pleas.ant-looking villages dotted about the intervening vallevs. To the right was the tower of Galileo; and as he eve gazed upon it strange thoughts would come to the u nd of the curiouslv one-sided nature of the Topes infallibihty -'•so infaUible," as a Catholic in Rome sn>d to "le one dav, '• in spiritual matters, so verj- fallible in all temporal affairs.-' One could not but remember the strange scene m the convent of Minerva in Rome, when Galileo, then seventy years of age, was forced-some say by tortnre-to abjure on the Gospels his belief in the Copemican doctrines. «>^'n? "0°} his Lees, we read, that the old man turned to a friend, and whispered, " K pur >,■ imm.-.," " It," the earth " moves for aU that!" but as there was no little bird to whisper m the ears of Fope and Inquisitors Butler-s famous epigram— " He who consents neainst bis will Is tit the same opinion still,'' I trust they were satisfied that the imposed oath had settled the question and the earth's motion together. But I have wandered far away from BeUosquardo. and from the low wall on which we sat watching and listening 1 re- sentlv from a neighbouring villa came forth a pretty-looking ladv.'work in hand, and by her side two little children, one holding his father's hand. They, too, came and sat down the pretty mother working and chatting away, whi e the children plaved at bo-peep with their parents and the stranger. Then {here came a party of monks in brown habit, rope girdle, and sandals ; with eyes bent on the ground they passed quickly on, sitting down at i little distance, when forthwith mingled with the scent of Roses, came the abomination of garlic A\ ith the monks came a small party of young lads m the black cassock and felt hat of the seminary. Then arrived a party o Ame- ricans with a Conner, Murray, and cigars. Striding the waU as though it were a miUe's back, they P"ff«'J «'=^»r/" »« «' defiance of the "smoking prohibited" that English laches carry so plainly written on their faces. Happd.v tlie.v soon " did " the view, huiTving on to another, while a trio of Italian Rills took their place.'the sweet music of their tongue blen■«">- gathered, with the morning dew still resting upon them, and. momve . I could have a long chat about them into the bargain Some of the streets are quite converted into gardens, quantities M Xubs and plants being arranged aga nstthe waU, and ra, ed round. How 1 longed to put felonious hands through the barB and gather for mvself ! There were Roses, ye low, white, and p"nk leutzia gracilis, with its featherj- white blossoms ; Coronila and a%undred other dainty flowers. I wondered how they would have looked after a two-days sojourn in Regent ^'oneof the most interesting sights of Florence is the royal manufactory- for the "pietrecommesse," orllorentme mosaics where the 'most finished pictm-es are wrought m precion^ Lnes,and the workmanship is so delicate "f^ t'^^^^^'^j''^, mosaics may be easUv taXen for paintings and the groups of Lvers look so natural, one is half tempted to try i they have any =cent. The marbles and stones of which the mosaics are composed are coUected from every country under heaven, January 16, 18CC. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 45 so that in one sraall space, not larger than your hand, j'ou would see the treasures of the mo=t remote lauds orouslit together ; there would be dark agate trom Derbyshire, petrified wood from Hindostau, opals from Hungarj', turquoise from Persia, etc. The work is very slow and tedious, so that it takes nearly twenty or thirty years to finish any great under- taking ! lu the time of the ex-Grand Duke I went to see the unfinished monument of the first Grand Duchess, when the second had grandchildren I The opals are the most difficult stones to manage, as it is necessary to set them in a hollow space, whereas all other stones rest on some flat surface. The imitation of flowers is exceedingly perfect, and in this I noticed a decided improvement, the study of Nature having given place to a certain amount of mannerism that once prevailed. The Ceterach was the only Fern I noticed about Florence, and that was very small. From Florence we went to Bologna by rail. I wish my pen could give the very slightest idea of what those simple words in- clude ; never could I forget that railway jom-ney ! the awful pre- cipices, tlje frightful chasms, over which we sped on our perilous way; now passing through the very heart of a great mountain, emerging from its side on a narrow pathway that seemed to tremble and quiver at our weight ; again entering the Apen- nines by tunnels so close and long that the compressed air was like a great weight on the brain, and respiration became difficult ; now shooting out on a frail wooden bridge spanning over a torrent rushing down far below ; now gliding along the very face of a rock, so high that one recoiled from measuring the depth below ; the glowing suuset giving the richest colour- ing to the scene, and after sunset came the moon, and then — Bologna. Bologna is the very quaintest of all the quaint old towns (jf Italy. It has the gravest look of learning lurking about its heavy arcades and sober red-brick buikUugs ; the leaning towers bend down towards each other, as if proposing problems in a whisper, and sober-coated ravens describe circles in the air, and everything in the old town has a wis 3 iind winking look, as if it had studied too much for its health. At the Villa Eeale on May 3rd I found the royal gardener putting out his bedding plants, whicli did not seem more for- ward than ours in England. I noticed but few yomig plants, the Geraniums were for the most part those of the last year much cut down ; they had been kept during the winter in earth-pits, with very slight protection. The Orange trees were large for trees growing in tubs, and very healthy, but these, too, had been protected during the cold season. The gardener was, like all the Italians, most polite, he left us to wander about the garden and gather wild flowers as we liked, and on my admiring some brilliant Ixias (Ixia crocata), he immediately gave me a large potfiil, tying them up for me, flowers, leaves, and bulbs, in a tidy bundle, and telling me I need not touch them till I wanted them to plant in An- ust. The peculiarity of the Ixia crocata is the transparency of the base of the corolla, which, when the sun was shining on them, gave the flowers the appearance of fire. In these gardens I gathered handsome specimens of the Orchis pyramidaUs and the Anemone hor- teusis still in bloom. There was also a very fine Petunia nyc- taginiflora [?] . The white Acacias were in their first fresh bloom. The picture-gallery of Bologna contains Raphael's St. Cecilia, some good Fruncias ; but the gems are from Guido's masterly hand, his Crucifixion, Sampson, and Murder of the Innocents arc magnificent compositions. — FiLix-rajMix-i. MILDNESS OF THE SEASON. The day before Christmas-day I picked a very fine bloom of Gloire de Dijon Rose from a north wall, but on the last day of the year from the same tree I cut six or eight beautiful blooms, one or two being as exquisitely shaped as we should get them in May. Still further to show the mild character of the wea- ther here, in Somersetshire, I saw on the 3rd of January two male specimens of the brimstone butterfly (Gonepterixlihamuij, flying about. I saw them in the same parish, but about a mile apart. I was completely astonished at the sight of the first, and he certainly was either astonished at me, or at find- ing there were no flowers and leaves. He did not appear to approve of the temperature, though the morning was sunny and bright, and he alighted on the ground, and I captured him, thinking it worth while to add to my cabinet a brimstone taken on the 3rd of .January ! I injured him rather in the catching, but otherwise he was a good specimen. The other did not settle. but flew about very strongly, to the surprise of a woman to whom I pointed him oui, and who evidently seemed to consider that something serious would happen. I am not aware that the brimstone butterfly hybemates, as the small tortoiseshell vei-y frequently does — of the latter, I have seen five or six at a time in my sadJle-room — if they do not, these must have emerged from their chrysalis st.ite at a verj- early period of the year. I should be very glad to know whether they do hybernate. — Y. B. A. Z. OuT-oF-nooR Ste-Iwdekkt Ripe in J.isr.\BY. — What a season we have had so far ! On Saturd.a.y one of our men brought me a fully grown and nearly ripe Strawberry ; strange for the Otl; of .Tanuary! I fear we shall suii'er for it. — J. R. Peai;sos, BANISHING MOLES. I H.vvE in my charge a large Rose -bed, the Roses are on their own roots, and jiegged down ; lately moles have mined among them, lifting some of them nearly out of the ground. My em- ployer is not willing that the depredators should be caught, as he consider.s they do good by destroying wirewonns. That, of course, I cannot deny, but the question is, Will the good done by them be sufiicient to compensate for the injury they may do to the Pioses ? without taking into account the trouble of having continually to clear away the heaps of soil thrown up by them, and the untidy appearance they give to a place. — C. C. [We have tried to drive moles away with bruised gi'een Elder leaves, which you cannot, however, now obtain, and used biuised Laurel leaves in the runs of moles, with fair efi'ect ; and in the winter time we have opened the runs in different places, and poured iu a little tar. Independently of the scent, they cannot endure anything filthy ou their fur.] GARDENING IN JAPAN. My first visit to Yedo, soon after arriving in the country, being but short, and, owing to other circumstances, offering but limited opportunities tor seeing the suburbs of the city, I was anxious to renew it, more particularly for the purpose of visiting; the commercial gardo.^s in the neighbourhood. By the courtesy of the Hon. Robert II. Pruyn, United States Minister, niy wish has been gratified. Early on the morning of July 13th, iu com- pany with Jlr. Portman, Secretary of Legation, and another visitor, I started for a twenty-mUo ride on the Tokddo, to the great city. The road, for the greater part of the way, presents the appear- ance of a continuous village. After passing the town of Kana- gawa, the Rice fields are cultivated close to the margin of the road, extending like a gn-en carpet to the rising ground, about a niUe distant, and gradually coming nearer to it as you approach Yedo. Until you" anive at the river Logo, the spot of greatest interest is where 31r. lUchardson was murdered iwo years ago. The road here, for the distance of about a mile, is bordered with Pine trees ; and though of rather .-tunted growth, they give relief to the monotony of the dead level. Passing through the town of Kawaski vou arrive at the river, a stream of considerable length, and navig'able f r flat boats for a distance of about thnty nnles. This river is tlie limit, toward Y'cdo. to which foreigners may ride by treaty stipidation ; but, from the nervous state of feeling produced by several attacks on thorn when away from Y'okohama, the privilege is not now often taken advantage of Here you dismount, and arc ferried across to the other side in scows. The road from here, until you approach Sinagawa, a suburb of Y'edo, is less closely built rip than the part of the road just passed over. For two or three miles distance from the river the land is quite flat, vet not low enough for the cultivation of Rice. The soil is a light sandy loam, and well suited to the cultivation of vegetables. Occasionally, as you pass along, you see orchards of trained Pear trees, of the kinds peculiar to the countrj-. The trees are planted, as nearly as I coidd judge, from 12 to 15 feet apart. After .attaining the proper height, the tree is allowed to form branches, and tiiese are trained to a rough framework of the tame height, perfectly level, and extending over the whole area of the orchard. AVhat oliject the cultivator has in training them in so careful a maimer i have not as yet ascertained ; but why may it not have its advantages in enabling him to securu his crops in the highest possible condition ? Every fruit is thus brought into view, and within reach of the gatherer, who, where trees arc left to grow in their natui-al fonn, too often 46 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTXJBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. r JriDuary in, IKC. nins the risV , in older to srciirc some tcmptinp; prize displnying its beauties on some inaccessible branch, of injuring the tree, or worse, possibly himself. After cros-sina; the river, we soon arrive at the famed Tea garden at Omura, celebrated for its Tluni trees, so attractive when in flower. At the sea.son we went up, they presented nothing more than Plum tree.", usually do. The pains taken to bring every available space into cultivation for Rice, proves its value as the chief support of the people. Here and there in the fields spots of land arc seen Avhich, having been orisinally a little higher than the surrounding surface, and unsuited for llice, have been levelled oil', and are cultivated with regetables. Tlieso dry spots arc usually skirted with I'ines, which apparently have heen planted to prevent the soil from being washed away by heavy rains. The country roads around Ycdo are exceedingly pleasant, and generally suilieiently wide for two or three persons to ride abreast, and frequently for long distames coiupletely over.shadowed by trees. Numerous pat=, say 3 feet between the iint. The vines are supported by placing brushwood along each row, forming an arch, over which they may grow. Tlic adv-antages this method presents are, that the fruit is always clean and straight, of a uniform colour on all dies, and can be gathered without incur- ring the danger ol injuiy to the vines by trampling on them. The leaves of Amaranthus melancholicus are eaten as a A-ege- table, being boiled as a Spinach. A species of Sagittaria also appears to be used for the same purpose, as I observed, in one or two instances, small plantations of it in the corners of Rico ' fields. The large fleshy roots of the Nelumbium ai'e a staple article of food in the winter season. One of the most attractive rides in Ycdo, in which you see the chief business part of the city, is to the temple of Asaeksa. In going there, the roads around the Tycoon's and Daimio's resi- dences arc usually chosen, by which means you are enabled to have a good view of the moat and embankment that surround them. The space in which these residences are built, is an eleva- tion of land considerably higher, in most parts, than the land immediately surrounding. The moat, which varies in width from 50 to 150 feet, has been dug at the haseof this elevation, and is level with the strtets on one side, but presents a high and steep bank on the other. In some places it is filled with Nelura- bitmis and other aquatic plants, making, when in flower, a splendid show. The bank on the other side of the moat is covered with gi-ass, nicely kept in order, with occasionally a few trees planted. The top is surmounted witli a row of trees, mostly Pines, some of which have their branches extended do\vn wards, relie\-ing in a great degree the fonnality which such works usually present. SuiTounding the temple at Asaeksa are extensive grounds, in which are included various shows, and places for practising archerj-. The most interesting part to mo was that portion occupied by a florist's establi^'hment. llere j-ou find everything kept in the neatest order. Tlie plants are arranged on elevated stages, shaded with rolls of fine bamboo laced together, forming open mats, which can be rolled up when desired. They are much superior to a framework of lath, sometimes used by tis for sheltering plants from the sim. T"hc principal stock of plants consists of those most suited to .Tapanese ta.-(tes — viz., dwarfed Pines and Eetinosporas, Sago Palms, variegated Podocarpus, Aucubas, SelagincUas, &c., many of wliieh are sold at what we would consider very high prices. I was surprised to find grow- ing here throe distinct varieties of Verbenas, which I was not aw.are had heen introduced ; also Jasminum grandillorum, and a species of Franeiscea. With these exceptions, together with a dwarf variety of Sago Palm, there was nothing of especial interest that I had not seen offered for sale in Yokohama. The grounds contained several species of trees unknown to me, which 1 would have purchased if I could have obtained small specimens. A pond full of scarlet Nelumbiums, the flowers standing on tall footstalks above the foliage, like immense Tuli])S, had a very fine cflLit. The Japanese garilcners cultivate a number of varieties of them having double flowers, and with various markings and shades of colour, some of which I hope to be fortunate enough to send home alive. The scarlet Clurodendrcn seemed to he a favourite, and large plants of it, crown in ornamental porcelain pots, made a tine show. The .Tapmcse do not entertain our objections to growing plants in glazed pots ; all their tine speci- mens are grown in them, and I certainly have not been able to see that they do not thrive equally as well as in any other kind. One day was devoted to a visit to the gariien.s at Dangozaka and Someia, two villages adjoining each other on the outskirts of the city. We took an early start. Two friends and the usual escort of mounted officials constituted our train ; and although wc considered the latter more ornamental than useful, the Govern- ment, under real or assumed regard for our safety, insisted on their attc-idance. One side of the road which unites the two villages is bounded almost entirely with small nursery grounds. Those at Someia nre larger than those at Dangozaka ; but at none of those visited did I see a finer collection of plants than at Asaeksa. After visiting five or six the guard became rather impatient, as I ex- pected they would, at my frequent stoppages, and inquired what I wanted. I explained to them that I h.id a garden at home, and wanted to see, for the purpose of purchasing what new plants I could find. As is often the ease, they, not being interested, could not a])iircciate my motives ; and as it was already past noon, and very warm, with a long ride before us, I agreed to return if they would conduct us home as far as possible by some country road, instead of through the city. To this they assented, and conducted us back through a series of charming wooded roads and lanes lined with hedges on either side, and through the city within the second moat of the castle, whereby we had a more ct- tendcd view of that part of Yedo. None of the gardens visited, or those seen on my ride, were very extensive, the largest containing but an acre or two of land ; yet I am satisfied that there tire Larger establishments somewhere in tho neighbourhood, where trees are the principal objects of culture. I am impressed with this opinion from the quantities brought to Yokohama for ornamenting the gardens of foreign residents, and for sending away. Another ride we took was to a celebrated tea-house on the other side of the river from Asaeksa. This part of the city is intersected by numerous canals of great value /or the easy trans- portation of heavy goods in a country where wheeled vehicles arc of the rudest description. Above the city, almost as far as the eye can see, is one continued Rice field, which in former years was an immense marsh, redeemed from the overflow of the river by a wide dyke. The top, in most places planted with trees, constitutes the road along which you ride. The amoimt of labour employed to bring into cultivation the almost innumer- able Rice fields all over the eountiy is not to be estimated ; but they are monmnents of the toil of tho people, and if neglected but for a few years, would become covered with a rank and noxious vegetation. Near the Tea garden we visited the residence of a retired merchant, who had the reputation of possessing a beauti- ful garden. In this I was disappointcfl, it being only of a larger size than ordinary, but presenting no remarkable features, either in style or its contents. <1ur disappointment in this respect was compensated by the kind ho.-pit.ality of the aged proprietor and his family, who entertained us with tea and fruit, and did every- thing that Japanese eom-tesy demanded to render our visit agree- able; One of the horticultural attractions of Yedo is the large AVis- taria spoken of in Fortune's "Visit to .Japan." I'nfortunately, it was too late to see it in flow< r, but, judging from the still re- maining flower-stems, it must present a rare object of beauty when in blossom. It is trained on a flat trellis overspreading an area of more than 400 square feet. In our rides about the city, we frequently met Tvith horses laden with cut flowers, in which an extensive trade is carried on. The varieties are such as are most abundant at the particular 8ea.son of the year, and just then consisted of ChiTsanthemums, Wablenbergia sinensis ("'), a species of Veronica, and a few others. In the rear of the legation residence in a small wood, in which arc a number of large trees of Torreya nueifera. It is a very handsome species, growing to a height of 50 feet. If it prove hardy, it will be a valuable addition to our list of evergreens. January IC, 1800. ] JOUEXAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 47 The large tvoo of Ginkgo bilnba, preserved from the fire tliut burned down the buildings last year, still retained the attraetions it had when seen on ray first visit. When better known -with us, the Ginkgo, as an ornamental ti-ce, will meet with a more ex- tended cultivation than it now receives. — T. Hogg. — [Amincaii Oardener's Moutkbj.) PAIXTING WOOD. The preservation of wood by paint is a matter of great im- portance to all who have glass houses. The best way of apply- ing paint, as aJso the materials of which it is composed, are generally left to the painter, who is supposed to uuderstaud his own trade ; the price of the work, the number of coats, and the colour to be employed, are generally matters of discussion ; the quality of the ingredients is taken for granted. Are those wise who pay for a given surface to be painted without know- ing what kind of paint is likely to be employed ? From my own experience I think not. The majority of painters know- little of the nature of pigments, and are as little able to j udge of the quality of what they jjurchase as those who employ them. White pamt ought to be carbonate of lead ; what it often is it would be difficult to say. I have seen it rub off like a coat of whitewash. But suppose wo obtain really good paint, and oil of the best quality, we still arc not safe. Something to cause the paint to di"y quiclUy is almost a necessity, particularly for outside work, and the best paint may be spoilt. The protoxide of lead (li- tharge) is an excellent diyer for dark colours ; the acetate of lead (sugar of lead) is equally good for light colours ; but some stuff called patent dryers is generally used. What is this ? Kequiring no grinding, easily mixed, drying readily, it appears just what the painters want, but v.'hat is its effect ? Have you ever seen an old oil painting cracked in all directions like a piece of scored pork ;• If you ask an artist the cause he will perhaps tell you " Oh that man's pictures all crack, he used too much wax in his colours." Just the same effect is seen in almost all tlie common painting now. Ask the painter the reason, and he will tell you it is the sun on the varnish. Show him the paint is cracked down to the wood, and, therefore, it cannot bo the vaniish. Show him a door v.hich faces the north, and, therefore, it cannot be the sun, and he will pro- bably tell yoit he really cannot say what is the reason. My own opinion is these patent dryers are the cause, and the effect is in exact proportion to the amount used. Put a double or treble dose in your paint and see if it is not so. Whether I am light or w^rong it may do good to call attention to the sub- ject. — J. E. Pearsox, Chilicell. Legacy to thk G.vr.PEXEEs' Eoy.>.l Bexevolext Ixstitutiox. — I beg to apprise you of the death of Mr. Henry Scott on the -5th inst. lie was for very many years gardener to Wynn Ellis, Esq., of Ponsbourno Park, Hertford. He was a subscriber to this Society since 1813, and, by his will, has left a legacy to this institution of £'21)0. This is certainly a noble example, and needs no comment from me. — Edward E. Cuilek, Secretary. CoLLVER tfc EoRERTS' ToBAcco TisscE. — This patented pre- paration for fumigating is used the same as tobacco or tobacco paper. Mr. Eyles says that " it is decidedly preferable to the paper in common use," and other head gardeners bear testi- mony to its efficacy as a destroyer of the thrips and green fly. THE MODERN PEACH-PRUNER.— No. 20. OPXHARD-HOUSE PEQXING ASD TEAINIXG. BcsH trees in pots have apparently the advantage of being easy of formation ; but, though readily kept in shape for a season or two after potting, they are apt to be thrown out of a true balance by any strong vertical shoot which may be over- looked. It is. therefore, on the whole, safer to induce the bush tree to assume some more regiUar shape, such as the pyramidal. In this case we may, by extra width at the base, cause the tree to look much like an ordinary bush, whilst we retain the advantage of having a main central stem from which the branches can be more symmetrically developed than if the tree divided into two or three strong branches at the outset. By keejiing the top of this low pyramid very little in advance, and allowing the base to extend freely beyond the pot, this form assumes an aspect different from the lofty pyramid with its comparatively slender base. ^Vhen, however, the bush form is retained, it is imperatively necessarj- to keep the centre open to the influences of sunshine and ail-. In this case, also, regularity of form is not only more pleasing to the eye, but conduces to the duration as well as to the productiveness of the tree. It is necessary, generally, to peg do«-n the leading branches so as to induce the tree to form the U or goblet shape, and also to keep the branches at proper iutei-vals by means of slender rods. One season of neglect is enough to spoil the whole appearance of any bush tree ; indeed, it is rare we sec any very handsome specimens after a certain age. Half-standards are much easier to keep in form. Generally speaking, after a maiden tree has been headed down to six or seven buds (au odd number being preferable), the shoots proceeding from these buds should be trained care- fully from the outset, and regularly stopped to equalise their growth. Should the tree not put forth a sufficient number of shoots, cut off the ends of those formed early in .lune, and from their points second growths will spring from which the requisite number can be selected to shape the tree. This is for ordinary bushes ; possibly for U-shaped trees where the shoots are strong, it wovild be preferable to cut them back in May so as to induce them to fork lower down. The equalising of the whole form is to be continually attended to by stopping any shoot which protrudes. By cutting to a bud which points outwards the centre is kept more open in any ease. Any laterals, later in the season, on the upper jjortions, can be slightly equalised as shown in Ko. \i. At the October pruning the tree is formed according to the shape decided on. Goblet-shaped trees, with long vertically inclined shoots — i. c, branches in futiu-e, should have these left longer and not much shortened-in. Perhaps one-foui-th is sufficient, generally speaking, to suppress now. A few laterals may thus be retained within these dimensions, and these should be cut-in to two buds. Low pyramids -will have to be cut back to a convenient group of triple buds, or to some single wood-bud looking outwards. Tall pyramids are treated in much the si-^me |way. The first winter-regulation is im- portant for the beauty of the tree. In pyramids our greatest attention is needed to establish the lower portions from the commencement, and never to allow these to langi-ish, nor to bear too early. During the ensuing sxtmmcr the side-shoots are to be stopped at three leaves, &c., as before directed in No. 18, for potted trees. It the summer-stopping of this, the second, season of the tree being in a pot, has been regularly done at the winter regulation, the tree will begin to assume a certain definite shape, ami the pruner wiU be less jsuzzled than in dealing with more irregular forms. It is always better to avoid cutting do-^-n potted trees, and rather to rest them for a season, by removing the fruit and re- modelling them. 'Whenever, however, a tree resists this care, it will be found that it suffers from some serious cause. The roots should bo carefully examined, and if unhealthy the tree should be at once removed and another young one brought forward from the reserved stock. A few trees thus reserved will save much annoj-auce. Overcrowding is a fertile cause of the trees becoming shapeless and unproductive. In general, also, sufficient attention is not given to selecting handsome and regular shapes for potted trees. The advice of some experienced person is of great use in the disposition of the trees in an orchard-house. The variety of forms and climates precludes any general rule in this matter, and, doubtless, we have all very much to learn in this respect. We have started from a good and tried basis, however, and may experimentalise without serious risk. The mere beginner, however, had better be cautious, and secure the soundest advice ! within his reach ; at least, in such important points as the best shape and situation for his new house, and the selection and disposition of the trees within it. If the summer stopping of the shoots be both easy to describe and to perform, the same cannot be said of the winter pruning. In this case there is no better way than to have recourse to our classification of the Peach shoots, and to state in what respect the winter pruning of each differs. Peach trees in pots are stopped at three leaves, as soon as five are formed ; and second growths at two leaves, as soon as three are formed ; third growths generally to one more leaf, unless autumn gi-owth be desirable to relieve the tree. (See, 48 JOUEKAL OP HORTICULTORE AND COTTAGE GAIUJEXER. [ JaniuiT IS, iaC6. No. 18.) In the open air, however, the first summer ftoppiiiK is made at four good leaves, as soon as six are developed ; iiud second growtlis are stopped at two leaves, as soon as four more are growu. This gives us more freedom and secures junctiou- buds, and also the triple groups below them. This is described in No. 17. This style of stopping to four leaves is also the best for diagonal cordons on the back walls of orchard-houses when single, and, therefore, at about 15 inches' interval. If planted at 12 inches' interval between the leaders (being double or triple), then stopping to A inches may be advisable. Even then, in mimy cases, four leaves may be left with advantage, especially at the base. We have thus one single system of Bnmmer Btoi>pinp adapted to orchard-houses, and to trees on the open wall. It will now be seen, also, that the winter regu- lation of the shoots can bo conducted without any more dis- tinction between house and open wall. Keourring, then, to the classification of the shoots, it may be laid down as a lixed rule, that Classes .'>, (i, and 7, should never be touched at the winter pruning. (See No. '.>. Vol. VIII. p. :!.S(i.| Class 5, or the cluster-spur, is a perfect type, able to bear, and also to extend by means of its central leaf-bud. It is found in abundance on trees in pots, and on all kinds of cordons on ■walls. It is the mainstay of the close-pruning system. Finx. 5, 2(1, and 21, in support of this view, are photographed. On the shoots of dingonal-cordons of a certain iigc, this class is most ' common. In fo/. 22, all marked d, a are cluster -spurs, or " bouquets de Mai ," as the French call them. Class 0, is the same spur after bearing. (Sec yifi. 0, No. i).) A httle practice will enable the pnmer to recognise it, and as it is short and has a terminal leaf- bud, it must be left imtouched now, so as to make a new shoot during the summer. Of course, all below this growth will be bare for ever, but this is not of much con- sequence, as is evi- dent in ji(i. 22, where c shows its relative length and position. Class 7, or fruis-spr.ay, is alfo a valuable type of shoot, very common in close pruning. In,rf.'7. 7, (No. 11), and in Jin. 22, where it is marked a, we have examples of this class, latiji. 20 (Xo. 1«), it is also seen, the engraving being taken from n photograph ; it has a terminal leaf-bud, and can bear, having single Ijlossom-buds. If it had no wood-bud close to its base, it might not be so useful, but it generally has. Whenever, however, it occurs in the centre of bush trees in pots, it will then be found to be too long and liable to become straggling ; in fact, too like Class 8. It may, but only in this case, be cut out, otherwise when it occurs in close priming it should be retained as much as possible. Class 8, fill. 8, page 380, is barren spray, or "chiffon," as Dubreuil calls it, an unsatisfactory class of shoot, which had better be suppressed whenever no great gap is caused thereby. Bush trees in pots are frequently ruined by such shoots, and they indicate neglect of summer stopping, or weakness of the tree from want of air, /cc. This type has single blossom-buds, but no terminal leaf-buds, hence its name. Class 2, fill. 2, page 324, fruit-shoot of the ordinary character. In long pruning it is seen of almost .any length ; but in close pruning the beautiful shoot shown in/i,'?. 21 is what we should prefer to see. In this case, being only about from 4 to (\ inches in length, we may allow it to remain untouched at the winter pruning, and cut it close in to the one or two wood-buds seen at its base, after it has produced fruit. Wlien longer it then becomes useful to form a new branch, and thus C3a--es to have the distinctive character of the shoot seen iu jig. 21. Class 3, or the mixed shoot, is also common in yonng trees, and useful to sha])e them. AVhencvcr, then, either of tbceo types occur as extensions of any fonn of tree, they should not be thortened after the first year or so. In close pruning wo soon cease to think of them as shoots, and rather incline to regard them as useful to bear the shorter ones only. Class 1, jiri. 1, page 324, Pure AVood-shoot. Naturally in- clined to grow long, and haring a few feeble blossom-buds at its extremity. Seen iu yomig trees, and also in the extensions of older forms, and only useful in tliis respect, as laying the foundation of riper wood. Class 4, jij. 4, page 32.'), the Gross Shoot, or " gourmand " of the French. A vigorous development of Class 1. Useful to form young trees quickly, but to be carefully watched in older forms lest the tree be thrown out of balance. As the main stem of a healthy pyramid in the border, or in the case of a fan-shaped tree on the wall, where it is preferred not to divide the tree into two wings, much progress is made by it. It is readily known by its darker colour, the smallne.^s of the leaf-buds, and the premature laterals thrown out at the upper portions. In close pruning, however, all these natur.illy long shoots become, practically, only useful to form the tree, while the naturally shorter shoots are retained to bear the fruit. By allowing the branches to remain at full length after the first or second season, and by Uie close summer stopping of the shoots, we increase this distinctive charac- ter, and thus re- tui-n to first prin- ciples. Although more regular forms are desirable, there is no reason why irre- B gular fan - shaped trees should not bear well when closely pruned. In some cases this form mav be even the best adapted, and, no doubt, much advantage is gained by having a biennial supply of young and healthy wood. Gaps made by unskilful prim- ers luav . thus be filled up. Vi!j. 22, however, clearly shows how it is possible to have regularly disposed branches, and, at the same time, to preserve the spurs on them for many sea- sons without recourse to amputations or fresh wood. In this specimen, drawn from nature from a diagonal cordon about ten years, old it is evident tliat the double spur is as old as tlie parent tree, and this without being more than a few- inches in length or half an inch in diameter. The left spm- bears the marks of numerous suppressions of former shoots. It retains two of these three or four seasons old, and only respectively 1 inch and 2 inches long. On the upper one are the cluster spur b and the fruit spray a ; on the lower one is another cluster u, and tliis same type after bearing, c. Spring- iug from the very base is a pure wood shoot i>, which has been cut back to two wood-buds to form succession shoots. The spur on the right is not so thick as its fellow, but also shows marks of work. It bears throe fruit sprays A and four cluster spurs B. Also at its base we find a shoot having groups of triple buds (class 2|, and cut back above the lowest of these groups. This shoot is cut back for the same pur))oso as that marked d, and is itself marked E. It is, therefore, quite evident that the whole of the two aged spurs might be cut ciT after bearing, leaving some four or five new shoots springuig from D and E. These spurs and their beautiful fruit-bearing shoots thus seen, are really a triumph of close pruning. No one can reasonably doubt that there is a promise of abundant fruit here, lying close to the wall, and produced by a type allowed to be that which bears the very largest Peaches. It would not be at all January 16, 1S66. ] JOURN.tL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEK. 4