THE FIELD. 
iii5 
in the hands of our country friends weekly, conceiving last Week of November, and a kcon frost just commencing.! crossed with tho Britkh Qm Ita ™ . 11 
such to be one of the requisites of a country life; especially We trim off all the leaves, then take two long wisps of new what hairy. but much less thou those of P “ e Brit Si OueT 
qualified not only to assist, but to teach where requisite; 
and, above all, to be in general, specially adapted to the 
period at which it appears in print. On the soundness of 
the advice which will be contained therein, we beg to re- 
commend much reliance ; as far as experience goes, we 
may observe, that an equally close practice and observa- 
tion of at least thirty years will be brought to bear on this 
interesting subject. 
PRESENT POSITION OF HARDENING. 
To affirm that the present position of Horticulture in 
Great Britain is such as to excite the admiration, if not 
envy, of all civilised nations, is almost needless; it is 
well-known to every one in the least conversant with such 
affairs. Of course our mild climate has much to do with 
our position in this respect ; but more still is due to what 
is more familiarly called pluck, which is ever manifest in 
every thing British : in the court, the senate, tile camp, 
the garden, and last, but not least, the field. 
Whatever we attempt to do we do well ; and, scarcely 
content with that, we are ever on the alert to advance. In 
casting a retrospective glance over the last score years in 
the gardening world, what has not been effected t About 
that period the subject of gardening structures began to 
attract a most extensive investigation ; and we all know 
the throes the question endured until brought to a some- 
what satisfactory basis. The efficient erection and econo- 
mical heating of such structures were alike investigated, 
and the result has been much greater simplicity of 
structure and increased economy in the use of fuel. But 
more rapid advances still were in store, and speedily 
to be realised. The removal of the duty from glass gave 
a new impulse to tbe question, and people soon began 
to talk of covering acres, an idea which has since been 
realised, and to the extension of which we can scarcely 
assign limits. 
Of course, coincident with the advance in gardening 
structures, was the advance in plant culture, and, by con- 
sequence, an impulsive movement to our Exhibitions, which 
Boon began to feel that a new era in their history was about 
to commence. 
But, to examine out-door gardening ; here what shall we 
say — great advances still. Whether we turn to land- 
scape gardening, ornamental gardening, or vegetable 
and fruit culture, we shall, on a proper examination, 
find ample cause for exultation. In the tribe called 
Conifers ; or, in other words, the Fir family, what advances, 
not in kinds alone, but the vast extension of those already 
introduced ! Their effect in the landscape is already begin- 
ning to be felt in various parts of the kingdom ; and before 
many years have passed, we shall find in our grounds 
winter scenery, at least, of a very different character 
from that of former days, which as far as trees 
were concerned, but too often consisted of haggard stems 
and branches, mobn and common place individually, and 
tame as to their general outline. Shrubs, evergreen and 
deciduous, have received great accessions, and our new 
jDeutjjias, Weigelias, Forsythias, and such like, bid fair 
not only to enrich our grounds, but to increase the spring 
beauty of our plant-houses, being, many of them, well 
adapted for forcing purposes. 
Vegetable culture has also progressed very considerably, 
and here we may fairly own our obligations to our country 
Horticultural Societies, which have given a very con- 
siderable impulse to kitchen gardening. 
We may scarcely speak in so sanguine a way of fruits, 
which assuredly have not kept pace with other gardening 
matters ; for we still have the same peaches, nectarines, and 
apricots us wore in culture fifty years since, and we are not 
wave that they are either finer or higher flavoured than in 
those days. To be sure, we have a great influx of French 
pears, jwitli high sounding names, but many of them are un- 
known, and as to relying on the authority of individuals 
whose recommendation of them is based principally on in- 
terest, that will not do for the majority of our country gen- 
tlemen, with whom in the main, one fact is worth a dozen 
speculations. 
But of these things we shall in due time speak more 
fully, and more in detail; in the meantime, let us observe 
that there is every reason, in gardening affairs, to take 
heart, or rather to renew and to quicken our courage. We 
may feel assured that a far richer harvest lies ahead than 
any we have reaped; and as “none but the brave deserve 
the fair," so none hilt men of determination deserve suc- 
cess ; such alone, aided by skill, can possibly command it 
in this kingdom, and receive that meed of praise, from an 
anxious and discriminating public, which every ingenious 
and emulous character strives to attain. 
BUSINESS PECULIAR TO TIIE SEASON. 
First, Protection. Remember the ice-king at hand, or 
may be expected. Those who possess half-hardy plants 
should see to providing covers for them forthwith. 
Whatever mode of protection our friends may adopt, 
we may remind them that the covering should not, if pos- 
sible, touch the plant or shrub. The interior should be 
a hollow chamber, which is well known to be a better non- 
conductor than when bodies are in contact. Roses, too, of 
the Tea, China, and tender Bourbon kinds, must be looked 
to; those on their own roots and in a dwarf state, should 
first ha\ - e something to preserve the root, happen what 
may. We have found sawdust a capital thing, hut 
cinder ashes are also good, using cinders and all, or half 
decayed tan, with the finer portion riddled out; and, to 
come to littery materials, fern, old thatch, or moss, may do 
very well. These things should be at hand, but not intro- 
duced until the necessity arises, for under ordinavy circum- 
stances the plants will have to be covered rather longer 
than is entirely congenial to their habits. 
As to Standard or Tree Roses of tender kinds, we gene 
rally use fresh straw to protect them. Our practice is this: 
— Suppose a tree of Souvenir de Walmaison— the period, 
...v.. ..tu, iu i.im uni position, mm this none, the ends | , . . , 111,110 parent, out more ncia. Tho truss 
are turned upwards, and being divided slightly, they cm- I 'T' 0 0 ,, ml ! lt ,,f K rowth of the Alpine varieties of 
brace the whole head and heart in an apex tied over the I .i I? ! ol1 ^ British Queou. M. Mukoy states 
head of the rose ? Fern fronds of the common brake arc used | ° f Novo “ bor » old plants of the above, 
by some, and capital covering too; but, of whatever kin, I, it fruit « ifTt lS’ mU ° U Wlth ?°,"' erS , ftuJ 
should be Slightly porous, hi order that winds may dispel 1 wSher had boon r- = * Ju - ne ‘~ ftlk ^ h tho 
ose not a day ; every fire should be proved directly, to see u< ? doabt that wo have in this case an entirely new variety 
whether it is in a position to work up to the full powers w , uow ' m 'ut < and of Bterllng merit. The fruit which 
accorded it in its original construction. Every flue should l', ' 0 > cobmr ' and was scarcely ripe ; nevertho- 
be thoroughly cleaned before bard frosts occur. Of course 1 » umlaut evidence that it possesses quality 
?rdor * •tould have been acid was 
inevitably m tho case of fruit npoued ip tho open air in tho 
month of November. A very fine dish of Pnnce of ]Vaht 
houses will have been com- 
every re-arrangement 
pleted long since. 
Flower Forcino. — Those who desire a constant succes- 
sion of flowers through the winter, must at once provide 
some situation for those classes of plants which are really 
eligible. Roses of various kinds,— the Chinese Azalias, 
Deutzias, the Persian Lilac, many of our American shrubs, 
not forgetting Rhododendrons — both species and varieties; 
American Azalias, the Lily of the Valley Violets, and our 
Dutch bulbs, as Hyacinths, Narcissi, Early Tulips, Cro- 
cuses, &c. These we have adverted to as qualified to 
form a nucleus around which numerous other nice things 
may rally. 
These will not, of course, all class so well together 
as could be wished in regard of forcing practice ; we may, 
therefore, observe that n structure of any kind which 
can equally command a moist and a dry heat, with a gua- 
ranteed temperature of GO degrees by day, in any weather, 
and at night 55 degrees, together with a light roof, is the 
best qualified to carry out miscellaneous forcing. We 
strongly recommend what is called a bottom heat; gardeners 
frequently use tan, but it matters not what, so long as 
the roots of the plant can he situated in a medium alwavB 
five degrees in advance of the average of day and night 
temperatures. 
Pruning. — Those who ’can spare time, should proceed 
with pruning immediately, commencing with the bush 
fruit, and proceeding with plums, cherries, and apples. 
Apricots should not be pruned until the bud begins to 
swell, in February ; and pears similar. Peaches and 
nectarines may be pruned at any time through the winter, 
but they should not be drained until the bud begins to 
swell, unless protection can be afforded them from the 
moment they are pruned, or, indeed, the process will be 
one of retardation, fur it is good policy to cover iu the 
end of January, to ward oft’ sunshine, in order that they be 
made to blossom as late ns possible. 
Planting. — In our opinion, there is no period equal to 
October for planting, whether evergreens or deciduous 
trees. However, when there is much to do, the planter 
may continue until frosts impede his progress. Orna- 
mental planting may be deferred until the end of Mnrch, 
especially if well situated as to water, and a timely appli- 
cation of it. Spring-planted things are sure to need this 
attention. 
THE FLOWER-GARDEN. 
Preservation of Dahlia Roots. — The following is 
good advice concerning the Dahlia, from the Agricultural 
Gazette, of November 18th : — 
Being fond of good Dahlias, aud grieved at tho frequent 
losses that come under my notice, I beg to commend to the 
attention of those who too often have to lament tho loss of 
their favourites, the following effective method of preserving 
their roots. The tops being killed by the autumn frosts, and 
thus become uusightly, must be cut away, leaving the roots 
undisturbed for several weeks iu order to feed tho nascent 
buds destined to break tbe following spring. For, if ut tho 
time of removiug the plants from the ground these buds are 
immature, there is great probability that the tubers will 
perish before the spring ; or should their vitality remain, 
there will be found a difficulty, if not an impossibility of 
getting them to “ break." Tbe next business is to lift tho 
plants from tho ground ; and in doing this the greatest care 
should be taken to preserve their fibrous roots, for the plants 
require constant nourishment. A number of these rootlets 
will, however, under the most careful handling he broken off, 
and the supply of sap interrupted until new roots are mudo ; 
but with those plants that have well-swollen buds their 
reproduction is soon effected. When the tubers are raised 
from thy ground they should immediately be transferred to 
their winter quarters, where their fibrous roots must be 
carefully spread upon a thin layer of sand or earth, and at 
once covered with about an inch of the same, leaving tho 
greater portion of the tuber bare. During winter they should 
be kept slightly moistened. For wintering these tubers 
there Is perhaps (unless an especial place is provided for 
them), no better place thuu under the stage of a cool green- 
house ; but, whatever place may be assigned them it is 
indispensable that it admits a moderate amount of light ; is 
kept cool, but above the freezing point, aud that tho atmos- 
phere is such as suits growing plants generally; alike free 
from both saturation aud dryness, which will with equal 
certainty engender putrefaction. TV. 
THE FRUIT-GARDEN. 
Strawberries. — The Strawberry is everybody’s fa- 
vourite, and as new kinds perpetually crowd themselves 
on our attention, and some discrimination is necessary, 
we shall feci it a duty to give a prominent place to notices 
concerning them, when really deserving it. We might, 
however, have said the same as to all our fruits. The fol- 
lowing is extracted from the Gardeners Chronicle of 
November 18th, and appears to deserve notice 
We have just received, through Messrs. Low and Co., 
from M. Jacob Mukoy, of Ltfgo, some trusses of a New 
Strawberry called the f).h es d Automne, produced iu the 
open ground, aud wo think so highly ofthe variety as tojudgo 
it worthy very special notice. It is said tohave been raised 
from a kind of Alpine without runners, known among tho 
French by the name of the PcrpetufWf rouge m w CVW 
strawberries was exhibited to tho Horticultural Society a 
fortnight ago, beautifully coloured ; but. we apprehend they 
would have had no chalice with tho new Belgian variety, had 
Mr. Ingram had it under his care. Wo believe thoro w no 
record ofthe Alpine having boon previously employed as a 
breeder. Now that. Mr. Mnkoy has shown the way, wo dare 
say many other growers will endeavour to imitate his 
example: and it would not at all surprise us to sob that 
fruit like tho British Queen and Koiui's Soedliug were tu 
common iu Octobor as in July. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Amurican im an OF Cultivating Ahi-araoub.— A bout tho 
1st of November— or as soon aa tho frost lias well blackened 
tho asparagus tops — lake the scythe and mow all down close 
to tho surface of the bed ; lot it lie a day or two, thou sot 
fire to tho heap of stalks, burn it to ashes, and spread tho 
ashes over tho bed. Toko a load of clean, fresh, slablo 
manure, aud add thereto half a bushel of hen-dung ; turning 
over aud mixing the vvholo together throughout. This makes 
a pretty powerful compost. Apply one such load to every 
twenty foot iu lougth of asparagus boda, which should bo six 
feet wide. With n strong throe-pronged spud, or fork, dig 
this dressing uudor. The whole u now left, for tho winter. 
Iu the spring, as early as possible, turn the top of the bed 
over lightly ouco more. Cover the surface of the bed about 
a quarter of au inch thick with fine packing salt ; it is not 
too much. As the spring rains come down, it gradually dis- 
solves. Everything olse, pigweed, pvnuliu, will refuso to 
grow on the top of such asparagus bods, 
TIIE GARDENER. 
Liquid M anure.— We consider the question of liquid 
manure so important, although iu its infancy, tlmt we snail 
seize every occasion of exhibiting its powers, having our- 
selves handled it in various ways for more than twenty 
years. The following is from the Agricultural Gazette of 
November 1 8th 
Although I am no farmer, I have watched with consider- 
able interest the discussion which has been carried on in tho 
pages of the Agricultural Gazette, rolntlvo to tho morits of 
liquid manure as a fertiliser, and am somewhat surprised at 
the amount of ignorance and obstinacy ovincod by those who 
refuse to believe that liquid manure possesses such wonderful 
powers ns their more scientific friends have proved it to 
possess. Now I have soon several experiments tried with 
liquid manure, and, although l cannot, furnish you with any 
minute particulars, I can sufoly say that every experiment 
has proved more or less its value and importance. I have 
seen it used to asparagus, colory, goosobevries, currants, and 
tho whole of the cabbage tribe, with astonishing success; 
and, in one instance, whoro a portion of a meadow was 
measured out and watered with tho drainings from a cow- 
shed, the piece of ground so manured showed it not only in 
the five or six cuttings obtained that season, but also iu tho 
hay crop of the succeeding year, tho grass being of a darker 
colour, and standing much thicker on the ground. If those 
gentlemen who have no belief in sixty-live tons of grass to 
the acre will just pay a visit to any nursery whoro florist 
flowers are grown, the)' will thoro see that the liquid immure 
pot is considered quite indispensable, and they will need to 
keep their eyes open lest they should fall into one of tho 
numerous tankB for the manufacture of that useful article. — 
A Gardener. 
I Tub Water-weed “ Anacimris Alsinastuum." It has 
at various times been stated that this plant first appeared in 
the loch of Danse Castle, Berwickshire, and was detected by 
Dr. Johnston, of Berwick, in 1842. It has now entirely dis- 
appeared. The progress of its growth was not watched pur- 
I ticulnrly at tho time, but in 1847 tho loch was so completely 
filled with this plant that it became impossible to pull a 
boat through the water without the greatest exertion. At 
this time there were u few swans upou tho loch. Indeed, 
these birds were accused of having first introduced it. The 
swans lived entirely upon this plant, aud began to increase 
in tho most. unusually rapid manner. In 1848 one pair of 
birds raised a brood of seven young. Three pair raised 
broods of five each, besides several pairs which reared respec- 
tively three and two young. By tho year 1851 the hike was 
entirely, or, ut least, nearly so, cleared of every appearuuce of 
anacharis ulsi nostrum, and then tho swans began to die. Mr. 
Hay had them fed with corn aud vegetables, but nothing 
seemed to save them ; they gradually began to pine, and are 
now reduced to tbe original number of a few pairs. But lor 
tho last three years there lias not been a single leaf ot tho 
weed seen in the loch, so completely have the swans eradicated 
it from tho water. They follow tho small bums down to the 
Wbituddor in search of it, aud appear to he its most roleut- 
ess persecutors. — Berwick Want r. 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Some of tho branches of an araucaria imbrieala have turned 
yellow, and appear to bo dying. It is planted on a mound, 
so that its roots are not wet. Can any reader favour me with 
instructions what to do to save it f-ItEADKR. 
I am pestered with mice that cat my crocus roots i* fast av 
they are planted. Can any person inform me of a remedy 
A Worcestershire Gentl eman. 
Mr. Samuel Brooks, banker, of Manchester, has offered to 
place at tho disposal of tho corporation of that city the suui 
of £1,000, to be expended in preliminary inquiries, premiums 
for plans, and experiments M to tho value Of the night soil 
for agricultural purposes. 
