76 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN 



has been saved, since I understood this, by a timely 

 mulching or a good can of water. When things are 

 coming into flower, especially early Alpines, Gentians, 

 etc., it is quite safe to water, even in cold weather, early 

 in the year. Do they not flourish where the ice-water 

 drips upon them from the first melting of the snows 

 under the spring sun ? Early spring plants do badly in 

 our soil ; but were I there, to watch and to water just 

 at the right time, I feel sure they would look more 

 flourishing. 



A most beautiful light sprayer for watering small 

 plants is easily made in the following way : Take a 

 piece of sheet zinc five or six inches long and four or 

 five inches wide. Cut a piece half an inch wide on each 

 side of the zinc to within an inch of the middle, so 

 making a little band attached to the main piece, and fold 

 this tightly round the spout of the watering-pot ; bend the 

 zinc sprayer upwards in the middle in a way to enable 

 the water from the pot to flow over it in a continuous 

 sheet. 



Sorrel is a vegetable seldom grown in English 

 gardens, and still seldomer properly dressed by English 

 cooks, and yet it is excellent, either cut up in the white 

 soup called 'Bonne femme,' dressed like Spinach, or 

 puree'd as thin as a thick sauce. With veal, cooked in 

 all ways, it is especially good. When the summer gets 

 on and it is old, it is desirable to add a little Lettuce 

 with it to soften it, as it gets too sour. It is one of those 

 vegetables never quite so good in towns, as it is best 

 freshly picked, and if faded should be revived in water 

 before cooking. The receipts for cooking it in ' Dainty 

 Dishes ' are quite right. 



For those who keep cows, or who can have plenty of 

 good fresh cream, the following, I think, will be found a 

 really excellent pudding : 



