348 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ May 12, 1863. 



that had the premises been larger, my opinion ia it would have 

 been scarcely noticeable. They moulted into adult feather at 

 autumn, and then became as brilliant in plumage as the lapwing 

 when enjoying its perfect liberty. Of course they had been long 

 previously carefully pinioned, and the outer gates of the garden 

 had been so arranged as to close instantly after all comers. 



It will be seen the difficulty of rearing was trivial, and thus some 

 of the most beautiful and interesting objects connected with the 

 garden were obtained with little forethought or trouble, and at 

 an expense not worth even the mention. As winter approached 

 we found, however, that we were compelled to find additional 

 nutriment, particularly during frosty weather ; and, to compen- 

 sate for this deficiency of natural food, bread-crumbs, chopped 

 cheese, with eggs boiled bard, served every purpose. At spring 

 the two males were no longer sociable, and at length carried 

 their animosity to such a point as compelled us to give the one 

 to a friend. Strange to eay, at once it proved equally tame with 

 him as with ourselveB who reared it. This particular bird fell 

 a prey to a large torn cat, to the great annoyance of its owner, 

 who saw the bird killed. He told me a week afterwards, some- 

 what gloating, the death of his bird caused Mrs. 's cat to 



evaporate." From what cause evaporation ensued others must 

 determine. With ourselves the pair of remaining green plovers 

 became wondrously familiar, bo much so that in the depth of 

 winter they would come and stretch themselves on the kitchen 

 hearth, first obstinately driving both dogs and cats from thence, 

 as we always checked resistence on their part. In general the 

 lapwings passed us without any recognition whatever, and it 

 was only when warmth was desirable and the cats seemed dis- 

 inclined to be aroused whilst enjoying their customary nap that 

 any interference of our servants was required. 



But to revert to summer time. None but a close observer of 

 the habits of these birds could imagine the amount of insectile 

 food they consume, nor would accredit the careful manner in 

 which they quarter every nook and cranny within their range. On 

 grass plotB they are at once most beautiful and advantageous ; 

 it is there, perhaps, they appear to greatest advantage, though, 

 I believe, their utility is even still greater on the ground sub- 

 jected to spade culture. Plovers will, particularly at eventide, 

 stand perfectly motionless, awaiting the first glimpse of any 

 lobworm, as it appears partially exposed on the surface. They 

 then, with a few hurried and stealthy paces, approach within 

 reach, seize it greedily, and rarely fail to drag it out at the first 

 effort ; but occasionally I have seen them first pull very care- 

 fully to prevent the worm breaking in pieoes by the unusual strain, 

 and then put the foot on the part extracted to permit the oppor- 

 tunity of taking a Becond and firmer hold with the bill, so that 

 eventually the worm has been withdrawn entire. To any of 

 your readers conversant with the tenacity of hold exercised by 

 the dew-worm, if an attempt is made to withdraw it with the 

 fingers, the force requisite on the part of a bird so small as a 

 plover to remove it thus forcibly may be easily imagined. But 

 I have seen the bodily strength of our favourites so severely 

 tested that after pulling for a minute or more only a half of their 

 prey was secured. The "peewit," as the plover is frequently 

 called, is not only one of the most graceful and brilliant-plumaged, 

 but also one of the most extraordinary birds in its gait of any of 

 our British birds. Their quick motions and the elegant appendage 

 of crest render them novel to the eye, and every motion of the 

 bird is strongly pourtrayed. They must be supplied with Bhallow 

 water to wash themselves— a habit they daily indulge in. We 

 reared others with equal kindnesB, and they became equally 

 familiar, though they were mostly impatient of strangers ; but 

 even this peculiarity was an advantage when understood, as, by 

 their repeated cries, they never failed to draw attention when 

 encroached upon, however protracted the interference, during 

 night or daytime, though becoming at once ailent and satisfied 

 when either myself or sister spoke to them. 



Although one particular pair remained with us more than half 

 a dozen years, these birds never evinced any propensity to nest- 

 ing ; for it is certain they never laid at all, or their eggs would 

 have been met with. 



From the lightness of the plovers themselves, and the slight 

 construction of their feet, they never did damage by overrunning 

 the growing crops ; and I confidently believe that any one taking 

 the trouble to raise a pair for his own purposes will agree with 

 me it is not a trouble thrown away ; nor would I have extended 

 my remarks to the particulars I have done had I not wished 

 that every attempt to rear them that may ensue from reading 

 our method of management may insure success to the less 



experienced. I will merely repeat the present is about the time 

 of year when young plovers are procurable. — Edwakd Hewitt, 

 SparTcbroolc, Birmingham. 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN QABDEN. 



The weather is now favourable for carrying on the various 

 operations of planting and sowing. Where any main crops 

 in the kitchen garden have failed more seed should be imme- 

 diately sown ; where they have partially failed, procure plants, 

 if possible, to fill up. Now is the time to destroy slugs late at 

 night and early in the morning ; they have their hiding-places, 

 and may be destroyed by thousands with quicklime, which 

 should be strewn over every part of the garden several nights or 

 mornings running. It should be done in the morning by three 

 or four o'clock, and at night not before nine. By persevering a 

 short time a garden may be entirely cleared of this pest. Beet, 

 thin the plants to a foot apart while they are small ; fill up 

 vacancies with those drawn out, they will produce plants equally 

 good with the others. If the first crop has altogether failed it 

 is not yet too late to sow another. Broccoli, make another sow- 

 ing of both early and late sorts, the former to come in in October 

 and November, and the latter late in the spring. Cabbage, earth- 

 up those that were planted early in the spring ; tie-up the leaves 

 of a few of the most forward of the autumn-planted, to cause 

 them to form hearts for early use. Celery, continue to prick- 

 out seedling plants. In planting-out a second time, before finally 

 transplanting into trenches, make a bed of equal parts of rotten 

 dung and loam, about 4 inches thick, on a piece of hard ground, 

 so that at the time of planting the whole of the earth and dung may 

 adhere to the roots after the trowel is passed between each of the 

 plants. A few trenches should now be got ready for the earliest 

 Celery. On soils with a wet bottom the trenches should not be 

 made too deep, so that the plants may be nearly on a level with 

 the surface of the ground ; a dry bottom with deeper soil may have 

 deeper trenches : in either ease, give the rows a good width because 

 the Celery should never be earthed-up until it has nearly attained 

 a size fit for use, and, therefore, the intervening spaces may be 

 cropped with Lettuces, Early Dwarf Cabbages, and Cauliflowers, 

 all of which would come off before the final earthing. Cucumbers, 

 the ridge recommended last week will now be in a proper state 

 to receive the plants, let them be got in without delay, and shade 

 the glasses for a few days. At the same time a few glasses may 

 be sown with Beeds of Vegetable Marrows and Cucumbers for 

 succession and for Gherkins ; for the latter purpose on warm 

 soils seeds sown in the open border will Buffice ; but on colder 

 soils it is better to forward them in pots, and have a sloping 

 bank thrown up facing the south ; plant them near the top, and 

 train the bines downwards, stopping them occasionally. Dwarf 

 Kidney Beans, plant-out those that were sown in pots or boxes 

 in rows 2 feet apart on a warm border. Another sowing should 

 also be made. LeeTcs, make a sowing, to plant-out for winter 

 use. Peas, stop the early crops as soon as th, first blossoms are 

 well set. Parsnips, they require to be thinned to 9 inches or 

 more apart if the ground is rich. Tomatoes, plant them out in 

 light compost under a south wall, also Chilies, Capsicums, and 

 Basils, in doing which, if they are at all pot-bound, let the roots 

 be gently loosened and spread out. 



elowee g-abden. 

 Bush forward late propagated stock, and endeavour to keep 

 the whole healthy and growing slowly in the pots. It is a 

 common but erroneous practice to allow bedding stock to remain 

 in very small pots, exposed to the sun and wind and very 

 soantily supplied with water until it is almost dried up, and 

 such plants are considered to be hardened-off. They Bhould be 

 exposed to the weather as freely as circumstances will admit, 

 but never to such an extent as to brown the foliage and dry-up 

 the tissues. Now is the time to establish a firm and even sward 

 or lawn. The roller and scythe will be in frequent request, and 

 much labour is involved in- these operations properly carried 

 out. See that the edgings hitherto neglected are put in order 

 for the summer ; do not edge beyond the Original boundary, and 

 keep the walks filled with gravel. Let the roller be passed 

 frequently along the edges in order to level them down to the 

 walk, this takes away the harshness of the outline. 



FBUTT GAEDElf. 



During the process of nailing-in the shoots of Peaches, Necta- 

 rines, and Apricots examine if there are any nails so placed as to 



