Augnat 25, 1863. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICTJLTITRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



155 



Seedling Carnations and Picotebs (J/r5. Leveft).— They are very 

 bright-coloured and pretty, and will render a border gay, but they do not 

 possess the characteristics required by florists. We have had several 

 similar boxes of specimens raised from seed bought of Messrs. Carter. 



Calceolaria {C. D., M'eatineath).— As f&r as we can judge your plant 

 is Calceolaria Aurea florihunda, but if you act wisely you will not depend on 

 the mildness of the last winter as any security for the plant living out in 

 the winter that U to come. You, had better take cuttings in the end of 

 September. 



Scarlet Gfm Melon Cracking (JT'". A. Blake). — Your Slelons crack 

 because you give them too much water when they ought to be ripening. 

 After a Melon begins to net it needs no water beyond that necessary to 

 keep the leaves from flagging. After so much bright wenther as we have 

 had lately a great many Melons have cracked, for the simple reason that 

 bright sun tends to early maturity ; under it the rind of the Melon becomes 

 hard, and when cloudy weather sets in the Vines grow more freely, impelling 

 more matter into the fruit, which being rendered hide or rind-bound by the 

 influence of hot sun refuses to expand, and literally cracks to make way 

 for the increased amount of nourishment driven into them. It is hopeless 

 to expect such Melons to swell any more after a month of bright sunshine : 

 therefore, the atmosphere should be kept dry, and less water by half given 

 in dull than in sunny weather. The Melon requires as much water as a 

 Cucumber from the time of setting until it begins to net, and after that it 

 can hardly have too little. Our scarlet Gems this year are smaller than 

 common, but exquisite in flavour. Keep the atmosphere of your frame dry 

 by leaving a touch of air on all night, und give no more water at the root. 



IpoM.EA Leari {J. Knottley). — Both plants may be correct, for the leaves 

 vary in form. There is a coloured portrait of the plant in Paxton's " Maga- 

 zine of Botany," vl., 267 ; and in the description there given, it is eaid— 

 "Leaves variable, most frequently cordate (like your small leaves), but 

 often unequally, and sometimes distinctly three-lobed" (like jour large 

 leaf). 



No. 51 I'iV. i).).—Thi^ Number is out of print. Our correspondent wishes 

 to know the direction of Mr. Henderson, lately gardener at Dunkeld, aa in 

 our correspondent's neighbourhood directions how to fill Jlr. Henderson's 

 *' Patent Broom-head " are much desired. 



Walnut Tree Unhealthy (E. C. T.).— Had it been the blossom only of 

 yotir Walnut tree that dropped at the end of May, we should have said that 

 it was occasioned by the frosts we generally have in that month, und to 

 which last May was not an exception. But when you tell us the leaves also 

 fall and the shoots are decaying, there is no doubt but thut the roots have 

 got into had soil. It is not the horizontal roots you must examine, but 

 hose that go down vertically into the ground, and for this purpose you 

 muat search right in under the trunk. 



Insects Attacking Lettuce and Beet {H. Benecle). — The insects at 

 the root of the Lettuce are a species of aphides (E. Lactucas). Their ex- 

 tirpation is attended with great difficulty from their underground habits. 

 If the earth be carefully moved round the crown of the plants and then 

 lime water introduced, it would, probably, be successful. The Beet leaves 

 are infected with the raining larvse of the Anthomyia Betce, a two-winged 

 fly very hke the common house fly. We can only recommend pinching the 

 leaves in the infected parts when the grubs are at work, or if the leaves 

 are badly infected they should be pulled off and burnt. This will prevent 

 the subsequent brooda which succeed each other very rapidly. 



Indian Corn {Lex). — Y'ou would most likely obtain the kind you name 

 by applying to any of our agricultural seedsmen. If they cannot supply 

 you we do not know who can. It is not our practice to recommend one 

 trader in preference to another. 



Bouquet {MiiiS Landoji). — We regret that we cannot deviate even in your 

 case from our rule ot not replymg privately to questions that may be put 

 to U3, uor do we suggest arrangements for adoption, though willing to give 

 our opinion on those which are submitted to our inspection. 



Geranium Cloth op Gold.— wl North Briton having read in Mr. Adey's 

 remarks on bedding-out at the Crystal Palace, that this variety is easily pro- 

 pagated by leaves, will be obliged by Mr. Adey'e informing him how and 

 when the leaves are put in. 



Names of Fruit {F. E. A.). — Your Apple is the Belledge. {R. J.j J/a«- 

 fftei(er).— Tour Grape is Muscat of Alexandria. (IF. jr.). — Weregrecwe 

 cannot name fruit in, such an immature state as those are that you have 

 sent. 



Names op Plants.— Some of our correspondents are in the habit of 

 sending small fragments of plnnts for us to name. This requires from us 

 such a great expenditure of time that we are compelled tc say that we 

 cannot attempt to name any plant unless the specimen is perfect in leaves 

 and flowers. {A. B.). — Your Ferns are— 1, Cheilanthes Dick-ioniana; 

 2, Nothochlfpna distans ; 3 and 4 appear to be small bits from Lastrea 

 cristata, the Crested Fern ; 5, Lastrea oilatata, broad priekly-toothed Fern ; 

 6, Polystichum angulare, the angular or soft Prickly-shleld Fern. [J. C). 

 — Rhus continus, a deciduous hardy shrub about 6 feet high. {J. A.) — 



1, Doodia media; 2, Doodia caudata ; 3, Pilca muscosa; 4, Nothochla^na 

 lanuginosa ; 5, Centradenia rosea ; 6, Coleus Verschaffelti. ( C. P.).— Fteris 

 heterophylla, or Various-leaved Fern. [F. C.).— Rulreuteria paniculata. 

 {3. B.). — Asclepias curassavica. [W. H. M.). — 1, Cystopteris fragilis; 



2, Asplenium fontanum ; 3, a luxuiiant specimen of the Ceterach otfici- 

 nanim, xar. crenatura. {U. M., Sandy ifoujit). — It is not the Pansy you 

 name. The other plants were smashed by the post-oflace punches. {3.}. — 

 Tour plant is F.pipactis latifolia. Can you send us a living plant carefully 

 dug up with a ball of the soil round it 1 If so, you will oblige. [Alctheai. 

 —Not a Lichen, but a Hepatica — Marchantia polymorpha. [Mrs, Atkhi). 

 — Narthecium osaifragum. Probably found wild near Dublin. 



and we thought that was enough. It seems not. "We have 

 a very melancholy letter from " A Kecent Subscriber," who 

 complains we deal only with her young poultry. She would 

 like to know what she is to do with the old. We have told her 

 hens do not lay in the vidnter. She has sent some to market 

 twice, but either from the time of year or because they are 

 in such bad plumage no one would buy them. Her letter 

 ends with the question, " What am I to do with them ? How 

 can they be made eatable ?" 



It is only in England a hen is considered almost useless 

 (except in regrdar kitchens). In any other coimtry she is 

 known to be the most valuable adjunct to that useful re- 

 ceptacle, the stock-pot. Go into the meanest peasant's 

 kitchen in France. On the hearth, in the braize, there 

 stands the '* mai-mite," not boiling, but simmer, simmer, 

 always. The coarse piece of beef, thanks to this long and 

 gentle treatment, comes out the tender and relishing bouilli, 

 and the good woman woidd be too happy to have the despised 

 hen. She knows the flavour, strength, and brightness it 

 gives to the " potage " of the aristocratic table, or the 

 humble ** soupe " of the farm or cottage. 



That is not the only way of dressing yom- old hen or cock. 

 When you have one, two, or three of these that must be 

 made away with, stai-t for a razzia in youi* larder and pantry. 

 The lean of that ham, the odd pieces that remain on the 

 bones of beef and mutton, comers of fat bacon, any scraps 

 or pieces, nothing comes amiss : therefore, if you have none, 

 buy some scrag or flap of mutton, coarse pieces of beef, 

 three-cornered remnants of any food. Cut your fowl or fowls 

 into joints. Cut also your meat into moderate -sized pieces. 

 Season to your mind. Get an earthen pot, or teiTine, with a 

 lid to it, cut some thin slices of bread and cover the bottom 

 and sides of the pan with them, then cut your bacon into 

 as good slices as you can, and lay them on the bread. Then 

 begin the artistic work. Take your pieces of meat and 

 poultry and lay them as you will — make a mosaic. No skill 

 is reqmred, all that ia necessary is to fill the vessel with 

 meat. You are Hke Sydney Smith's cook and her pufi" paste, 

 it cannot enter your head you are doing ^vi-ong. When the 

 vessel is filled with meat, pour in water (gravy is better), 

 until all the crevices are fiUed up with it. Put on the lid, 

 tie it down, put it in a slack oven for eight or ten hours, 

 and when it is cold eat it. You will like it, the water wiU 

 be tiirned to jeUy, and the odd pieces of meat wUl look as if 

 they were set in transparent gold. This is a better winter 

 than siunmer dish, but it is always excellent on the break- 

 fast-table. It will do good service on the sideboard when 

 unexpected company drops in. It is good for a fishing 

 party, a pic-nic, or a shooting luncheon. In fact, the old 

 hens will be found good food. 



POULTRY. BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHEONICLE, 



COOKING OLD FOWLS. 



We have told you wMcli fowls to kill ; we have told you 

 how to kill them ; we have endeavoui'ed so to advise that you 

 shall have them tender, yet sweet, in the hottest weather. 



EXPEEIMENT ON CHILLING EGGS. 



I NOW give the result of the sitting of eggs named in a 

 former communication to your Journal. Two chUlings of 

 eggs extra have occurred, which I think further proves that 

 eggs are not very easily spoilt by a hen leaving her nest, at 

 least in wanu weather. 



The course pursued was as follows: — Hen sat on nine 

 Cochin eggs at ten o'clock at night Tuesday, 28th July. 

 Time of hatching, 18th August. 



29, Wednesday..,.! taken away at 10 o'clock at niglit, replaced at 10 o'clock 



on following morning. ^ j i i^ 



30, Thursday Hen on nest at 4 o'clock in the aftertioon, at 10 o clock 



on another nest. 



31, Friday 2 taken aivay at 10 o'clock at night, replaced at 10 o clock 



on following morning. 

 Aug. 



I.Saturday 3 „ 10 o'clock ,, 



.5, Wednesday. ...4 „ 10 ,, ,• 



7, Friday 5 „ 10 „ 



10, Jlonday 6 „ 10 „ .. 



12, Wednesday.,,. 7 „ 10 „ .. 



14, Friday 8 „ 10 „ .. 



1(!, Sunday 9 „ 10 „ .. 



Wednesday morning, the 19th. Nog. 3, 4, 8 hatched. 



Wednesday night, at 10 o'clock, Nos. 1, 2, 6, 9 hatched. ^ 

 Thursday morning broke the two remaining eggs, ^05. ■> and t 

 liad full-grown chicks in them, dead. 



After the hen had been sitting twenty-four hours I took 

 No. 1 away, and it was chiUed for twelve hours. I saw the 



10 o'clock 



10 „ 



10 „ 



10 ,, 



10 „ 



10 „ 



10 „ 



Both 



