Much 38, 1865. ] 



JOUKNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



253 



the following diagram, which will also be a guide iu making 

 the helve : — About 2 feet 8 inches in length from a to 6 will 

 suit most men. It is well, if it can be done, to 

 take a good helve aa a model, but if this cannot 

 be 'done, a pattern can be made iu a few 

 minutes out of a thin piece of boai-d, as shown 

 by the dotted lines. At a it should be about 

 3 inches wide, and at h about 24 inches wide. 

 At c about 6 inches from the end near a, make 

 a mark for the most prominent point. At D 

 make another mark about two-thirds of the 

 distance from a to h. At E make another 

 mark 6 or 7 inches from h. The shape should 

 be marked out with a pencil, as nearly like the 

 figure as possible, and then it should be cut 

 out very carefully and exactly. Tough hickory 

 is the best wood for a helve. Rive out a piece 

 and dress it four square, as thick at the large 

 end as the hilt, and wide enough to mark 

 the shape with a pencil by the pattern. Then 

 with such tools as may be at command, reduce 

 it to proper shape and dimensions. Drawing- 

 knife, smoothiag'-plane, spoke-shave, rasp, and 

 sand-paper, are most convenient, but some- 

 times all these are not within reach. In laying 

 the pattern on the stick let the part at c iS be 

 towards the 6ai-fc, and the part at D towards the 

 heart of the tree. Then if the helve springs 

 no mischief will be done, but rather good, 

 while if it springs sideways it will be worthless for chopping 

 purposes. In hanging the axe, as it is termed — i.e., putting 

 the handle in, it is necessary to have the edge range 

 exactly with the centre of the hilt, and also to have the 

 hilt, the centre of the eye, and the centre of the blade, at 

 right angles. — {Canada Farmer. ) 



OXALIS CORNICULATA EUBEA. 



I AM indebted to my friend, Mr. Thomson, of Archerfield 

 Gardens, N.B., for a stock of this beautiful miniature Oxalis, 

 and fi-om what I have seen of the plant in question, I am 

 bound to corroborate his statements in its favour ; it will 

 become a general favourite with the ladies, if not I shall be 

 greatly deceived. For edging purposes iu narrow borders 

 or small beds, there is no plant of its colour so admirably 

 adapted. It is compact in habit, rarely exceeding from 4 to 

 6 inches high, with foliage resembling the finest tinted Beet, 

 and surpassing the PeriUa in my estimation. In its younger 

 growths it resembles the Amarauthus melanoholicus ruber, 

 but as it advances the foliage assuming a darker tint. It 

 strikes freely at any season, as freely as a Verbena, and will 

 bear the same winter treatment, or it may be raised from 

 seed, but it is rather a difficult matter to secure seed, owing 

 to the extreme irritability of the seed-vessels characteristic 

 of this class of plants. If it is desirable to save seed place 

 the plant on a large sheet of clean paper, and allow the 

 seed-vessels to burst unaided, when the seed can be collected 

 and sown at once. I have raised some hundreds of seedlings 

 this winter-, which will make good plants by May. I do not 

 advocate this mode of propagation where there is a good 

 stock on hand ; but with a scarce plant we are all anxious 

 enough to make the most of it. This will prove a most 

 useful plant iu the north of Ireland, rain not affecting it in- 

 juriously in the least, but rather the contrary, and after a 

 good watering it looks all the more brilliant. To those who 

 do not possess it, I say. Secure it as soon as possible. — John 

 Edlington, Wrotham Pari, Sarnet. 



GLASS EXCESSIVELY BEITTLE. 

 I CANNOT bui; think much of the sheet glass now used is 

 imperfectly annealed, or otherwise badly manufactured. It 

 is to be expected that a certain amount of breakage wiU 

 occur during frost, particularly if the laps of the panes are 

 too large, because a drop of water when frozen must occupy 

 more space than when in a liquid form. But I have ob- 

 served panes of glass crack gradually from edge to edge of 

 a large square when the temperature varied considerably, 

 even though no ice was formed. Many persons with whom 



I have conversed on the subject seem at a loss to account 

 for much of the breakage which occurs iu their glass-houses, 

 and I think it well to call attention to the subject. Perhaps 

 some of your numerous readers who are competent to give 

 an opinion, may be induced to give us information. 



I know one large buUder who has lately changed his 

 market for glass, from an idea that what he has purchased 

 breaks more than he expected. The glass in question is 

 made at one of the largest manufactories in the country, 

 and the first feeling of dissatisfaction was produced by its 

 excessive hardness, rendering it difficult to cut, and spoil- 

 ing so many of the men's diamonds. It appears to mo a 

 very important question, because if the reason of glass 

 breaking is because it is not well annealed after being 

 manufactured, it is clear that extra strength will give no 

 guarantee against loss by breakage. — J. R. Peakson, Chilviell. 



MESSES. CUTBUSH & SON'S HYACINTH 

 SHOW. 



This commenced on Tuesday last, and will continue open 

 till the 1st of next month, affording a rare treat to the lovers 

 of flowers. With Messrs. Cutbush the Hyacinth is an object 

 of special attention, and the reputation which they have 

 acquired in connection with its culture, is sufficient guarantee 

 that the display which they annually and freely offer to the 

 public, is of no ordinary degree of merit ; and this season the 

 show is fuUy equal, if not superior, to those of former years. 



In the red class of Hyacinths, there were some noble 

 spikes of Von Schiller, Macaulay, and Florence Nightingale, 

 whilst Queen of Hyacinths, and Solfaterre, were very bril- 

 liant in colour ; La Prophete, Princess Clothilde, and Mrs. 

 Beecher Stowe, were also fine. In double varieties of the 

 same colour, Duke of Wellington, very pale rose, was the 

 most attractive, while for a deeper shade there were Susannah 

 Maria, and Koh-i-Noor. In blues. Lord Palmerston was, of 

 course, one of the most beautiful, whilst Thorwaldsen is 

 another variety of first-class merit, having very large marbled 

 blue bells. Grand Lilas, Couronne de Celle, Bleu Aimable, 

 Marie, and Van Speyk and Garrick, double, may be added 

 as sorts of weil-established merit. Argus, too, is pleasing 

 as a white-eyed kind. In mauve, with the exception of 

 Robert Fortune, which made its appeai-anoe last year, Haydn 

 is the best. In whites. Queen of the Netherlands, and 

 Madame Van der Hoop, were very fine, also Sir Bulwer 

 Lytton, a novel double variety, with large bells of great 

 substance, and in colour white, with a tinge of pale rose. 

 Alba Maxima, Mont Blanc, Grandeur ;i MerveUle, and 

 Gigantea, white ; Ida, and Due de Malakoff, yellow ; General 

 Havelock, and many other varieties, were also worthily re- 

 presented. The only novelty not before seen was Hogarth 

 a soft pink, which promises to be a desirable kind. As 

 usual the back of the house was filled with Fairy Roses' 

 Cytisus, Azaleas, Heaths, Pelargoniums, Camellias, and 

 other fiowering plants, whilst the early Tulips added not a 

 little to the general effect. 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAKDEN. 



Artichokes, the spring dressing to be given to them by 

 digging and levelling the ground between the plants. All 

 suckers to be reduced to three on each stock, and if a new 

 plantation is made, the suckers to be planted three in a 

 patch, 3 feet from patch to patch, and 4j feet from row to 

 row. Asparagus, the general spring dressing, if not yet done, 

 should no longer be delayed, as the roots will now begin to 

 grow. Broccoli, a little early Purple and early White may be 

 sown for autumn use ; but Cape and Grange's almost super- 

 sede the use of any other sorts for that season. Brussels 

 Sprouts, make a sowing if not already done. Cauliflowers, 

 earth-up the early-planted as soon as it can be done, so as 

 to prevent the wind blowing them about and loosening them. 

 Cucumbers, take advantage of a fine day to di-aw the earth 

 round the hills after it has lain a day or two by the side of 

 the frame to become warm. Do not press it down round the 

 plant. As soon as the heat begins to fail, fork-up and add 

 to the lining, or if the heat is entirely gone, renew the 



