A ftGMftG . 
[Wo shall he glad lorooeive any angling information from secretaries of 
angling clubs, if they will be kind enough to forward it us early as 
possible to the Editor J 
Artificial Propagation of Salmon on tiie Tat. — It is 
now nearly twelve months since tlio last of the ova from 
which the young fry in the ponds was hatched at Perth was 
deposited in the boxes. These eggs were hatched prin- 
cipally in the month of April last, and at this date the 
boxes are again filled (with the exception of a few boxes) for 
hatching next spring. The fishermen who have been em- 
ployed to re-stock the boxes at present state that the sj»awii- 
ing in the Tay (and wo suppose this to be the case in all the 
Scottish rivers) is a month earlier this year than last, as more 
thau half of the fish taken in their net had spawned, which 
was not the case at this time last year. Most of the fish 
have been taken on one ford, at the junction of the Almond 
with the Tay, and th i ■ was the place that furnished the 
ova last season ; and it is a fact that on this ford the same 
fish has seldom been taken a second time (the fish which are 
taken are marked), proving, as wo have frequently witnessed 
from the Bridge of Perth, that more than one pair of fish 
spawn on the identical spot, and on doing so disturb the 
preceding bed ; so that for all the spawn that is taken off this 
place by the stocking of the boxes, enough is left for stocking 
the ford. For a month past the young fry iu the experimental 
pond have been taking less food— at present they are hardly 
taking auy, but although this is the case they are plump 
and fat, and in fine condition, and no deaths occurring ; the 
silvery smoult appearance is increasing, and it is to be hoped 
that they will go seawards this spring. It has been ascer- 
tained that a very large proportion of the ova deposited in 
the natural way in the river are devoured by an enemy that 
was not, thought of before, yiz., the kvie of the Mayfly. 
As the eggs of this insect are deposited in streams in sum- 
mer, by the cleansing of the gravel before depositing 
the ova in the artificial method of rearing the fish, this 
enemy is avoided. It has been ascertained that all fry 
hatched from Bulmon ova are the same little fish that are 
found in all salmon livers, which are allied pare, but at 
what age the par scales are entirely covered by those of tlio 
Binoult, this experiment has not had time to determine. It 
has also been ascertained that boiled liver, dried and well 
pulverised, is suitable food for the fry, notwithstanding 
what has been said to the contrary, as the fish thrive well 
on it, and devour it greedily ; but since the temperature of 
the water has fallen, they have not shown the same desire 
for food. It lias been proved that the temperature of the 
water iu which the ova are hatched shortens or lengthens the 
time of hatching. A severe winter is a bad hatchiug season. 
We have learned, also, by this experiment, that the artificial 
method does not retard the growth of the young fish, for 
the pare in the river at the present time are not larger than 
those iu the pond. On the whole, the experiment up 
to the time has been completely successful. The experiment 
lias cost the salmon proprietors of tlio Tay up to this time 
£020, which sum, we understand, will can y it on for another 
ear. The annual salmon rental of the Tay at present we 
elievo to he about £10,000. The salmon fishings belonging 
to the city of Perth usually bring from £800 to £1,000 
annually, and the sum paid as yet by the corporation for this 
experiment amounts to £70. The sum is small where so 
much is at stake ; for it is well known that, from bad legisla- 
tion, over-fishing, and other causes, the quantity of salmon 
caught iu the Tay has fallen off much of late yeai*s. 
The Town Council of Perth have voted £20, as their 
share, iu order to continue the experiment at present going 
on so successfully at Storemoutfield, for the propagation of 
salmon from the ova. 
TENDER FLOWER-GARDEN PLANTS: HOWTO 
WINTER THEM ECONOMICALLY. 
One of the greatest puzzles of our times with those who 
love a garden, and yet possess but moderate means, 
is how to winter such useful plants as shrubby cal- 
ceolarias, fuchsias, geraniums, and indeed several other 
things which the above may tolerably well typify. The 
problem of course is, how to secure the services, during a 
future summer, of plants which have attained almost the 
character of shrubs ; and that, too, without compromising 
the atmospheric conditions of the houses or pits where they 
are of necessity crammed or packed away through the 
winter. 
We may read, in ent-and-dry calendars, of pushing 
such a thing into the peach-house ; but not every one 
has a peach-house. What a majority of the public really 
wish to know is, how to secure the greatest quantity of 
the tender pets ot the bygone summer with as little trouble 
und expense as possible ; and it will be a pleasure on the 
part of The Field to endeavour to “put them on the right 
scent." 
As one of our most popular families, and one of the 
greatest service in decorating ornamental grounds, we may 
commence with the geranium. The older geranium- 
bushes get, the better their aptitude for flowering, and the 
more exotic-looking the grounds become where they are 
situated. This refers especially to the scarlets in all their 
grades, from such as Cerise unique, up to Punch, and deeper 
shades still. At this time we have two or three hundred 
huge bushes standing on the floor of an upstairs room, over 
the back sheds ; not placed there because it is the best 
place for them, but because we hud no other to spare. 
These were taken up ns soon as their young points 
were discoloured by frost, and immediately placed in pots : 
in doing so, we of course secured all the soil we could. 
They were not pruned at that moment, but had a slight 
watering, and were directly placed under a snug shed, 
facing the sun, the latter, however, not shining on them. 
Here they had mats nailed along the front and ends, to 
keep the wind from them. We gave them a slight water- 
ing, and here they remained three weeks untouched, when 
of course they had many decayed leaves through the check ; 
and now we pruned them, simply removing all the im- 
mature and blemished twigs, and picking every decayed or 
decaying leaf from them. 
They received another watering in about a fortnight 
after the potting period ; since that they have not received 
any, neither will they until next February. The soil in their 
THE FIELD. 
pots is now nearly desiccated. It will be seen here that 
two main points ruled this practice : the one a niggardly 
application of water, the other a total absence of all cod- 
dling ; in fact, as low a temperature ns they could endure. 
To these may be added the pruning away of all unripened 
portions of the shoots. The last we consider very impor- 
tant, as the gangrene to which geraniums thus handled are 
necessarily liable is principally engendered by the immature 
wood. When they are in this state of repose, and the soil 
in their pots very dry, they will endure half-a-dozen degrees 
of frost in the structure where they may be situated. 
At the period in which this is written, December 1-lth, 
our geranium bushes are in the loft before -described, and 
as soon ns a very hard frost occurs — say above ten degrees 
—we shall throw them all on their sides, and cover them 
at least a foot thick with dry straw; on the dryness of the 
latter material we lay much stress. They will then re- 
main as they did last winter until the end of February, 
when they will he uncovered and examined ; by this time 
they will again have engendered the gangrene before alluded 
to in some portions, and we again submit them to a pruning 
away of such parts. They are now set upright, and watered*, 
and if we happen to have spare room in any vinery, peach- 
house, greenhouse, or pit, they are immediately bettered in 
condition by being removed to such a situation ; indeed, 
those who wish to do justice to them should contrive so 
to do. 
It must be remembered here that we have been describing 
a very hard course of treatment. Treat them, by all means, 
better if you can ; hut such a course they will endure, and, 
under a genial course of spring treatment, will make useful 
ornaments of the flower-garden, although, doubtless, some 
will not endure so severe a test of hardihood. 
Fusciiias. — Everybody knows that these charming shrubs 
may be treated as an ordinary herbaceous perennial — that 
is to say, cut down to the soil in the autumn, and receiving 
a little protection over the crown of the root. But fits chins 
thus treated will not, of course, blossom so early as those 
in which the main stems have been preserved ; and as the 
latter are impatient of very low temperature, the best mode 
of preserving what gardeners term “the old wood'’ deserves 
a consideration. To endeavour to save all the lateral twigs, 
or a specimen, by the economic course of treatment wc 
have to suggest, is certainly not needful. The main stems, 
however, may be easily saved, and from such, well preserved 
by a generous course of spring treatment, a host of fresh 
and vigorous young spray will proceed, which will leave 
little to be lamented ns to the loss of the side twigs of the 
past year. Any outhouse will be adapted to their preserva- 
tion. Let them be taken up with as much soil adhering to 
them as possible, but previous let all the side spray he cut 
clear to the main stem or stems, and the latter drawn 
closely to a stick by matting. They may here be “heeled," 
or planted close together againt the hack wall of the shed, 
or in an angle of the wall, and sloping considerably. 
Here let the heads lie uncovered until the thermometer 
sinks to twenty-four degrees out doors ; then throw 
a mat over them, and cover the mat half a yard thick 
with very dry litter, straw or hay. When the frost 
is gone they must be uncovered, in order to dispel con- 
fined damps, which is more prejudicial than a moderate 
amount of dry frost; and thus proceed with them until the 
middle of February, when they should lie potted and placed 
in some house or pit in which a little warmth is sustained, 
providing their blossoming is desired tolerably early ; if 
only for an autumn display they may remain in the shed 
until the second week of March, and the coarser specimens 
may be planted at once as ordinary pleasure-ground orna- 
ments. We ought to have observed, however, that every 
leaf should be plucked oif them when put in the shed, and 
care should be taken to place them (here before the hark of 
their stems is injured ; if this becomes soft and loose the 
stems will be lost. We think that on an average the 
fuschia will not bear, uninjured, above six degrees of frost. 
Verbenas. — This most popular flower has become of 
so much importance in our day, that no flower-garden 
would be considered complete without it. Being a 
sort of herbaceous perennial, of an evergreen character, 
means must of course be taken to preserve a certain amount 
of foliage in health through the winter. Continued dark- 
ness, therefore, is fatal to it. We may here refer to what 
may be termed the key-stone of the arch in this affair, viz., 
early propagation. Those who not only propagate early, 
but take care that the young plants are early established in 
their store-pots— other things being equal — will have the 
best chance of wintering them. We speak here of the 
stock intended for spring propagation ; for, after all the 
apparent strength of well-saved plants of the previous 
autumn, we should prefer early spring cuttings, pro- 
pagated betimes, potted-off betimes, and, we may ndd, 
having been well-established and properly cooled down — 
to use a technical phrase. Verbenas will succeed well in 
any cold frame or pit, if means bo taken to avoid stagnated 
damps. Such means consist in selecting a dry site, and in 
elevating the base of the frame above the ground level ; 
after this, in plunging the pots iu cinder ashes, than which 
nothing can he better; ns the ordeal these have passed 
through renders them incapable of producing corruption 
in the atmosphere of the frame or pit. The utmost atten- 
tion must be paid to ventilation on every fitting occasion, 
and in covering the roof of the structure in severe frosts 
with plenty of dry litter. In addition, they should be fre- 
quently picked of all decaying foliage, mouldiness, &e. &c. 
The verbena will endure six or eight degrees of frost 
tolerably well. 
Calceolarias. — It is not our intention here to deal 
with those herbaceous calceolarias which are so gaudily 
attractive at our exhibitions : wc by no means disparage 
these, or the lovers of them — they deserve high considera- 
tion. There is a class known as the shrubby kind, pecu- 
liarly adapted for flower-garden purposes, and, doubtless, 
most of the readers of The Field are familiar with them. 
The heading of this article will prove an apology for passing 
by the pot calceolarias for the present. These, although by 
no means so gaudy ns the herbaceous kinds, are ot im- 
mense importance in the bedding system, as conferring 
that exotic impress on the decorative portion of grounds 
1233 
which the richness of the stores now in possession of the 
gardening public of Britain are qualified to carryout. If 
we have not nil the fine spottings of the herbaceous kinds 
in these shrubby varieties, we have the more solid quality 
of being better able to withstand the blast, before which the 
other fragile class sometimes quail, not to rise again. 
W ho, indeed, can despise such peaces as Sultan, such good 
yellows as Kayii, or such canaries as amplexicaulis t Now, 
although herbaceous calceolarias may, for ordinary garden 
purposes, be wintered very well under a common hand- 
glass, having occasionally a little covering, we can scarcely 
say the same of the shrubby kinds, unless it he cuttings of 
the young shoots in a growing condition. To preserve the 
old stems, however, for three or four years, is a very dif- 
ferent affair. It so happens that the baik of the old wood 
is very susceptible of injury from frost and damp air con- 
joined, and, of course, any scheme for averting mischief of 
the kind must provide against these. They keep best in 
any ordinary vinery, or, indeed, any house where the 
thermometer never sinks below 24 degrees, and where the 
air is generally dry. In such structures they may he kept 
going for years, the chief danger being wet at the collar, 
and, doubtless, as they get older the plan of potting heaths, 
known as M ‘Nob's plan, would answer, and for similar 
reasons. This our gardening readers doubtless know, con- 
sists in raising the old hall above the level of the rim of 
the pot. With these observations we for the present 
conclude. 
THE YOUNG GARDENERS MONTHLY 
REMEMBRANCER. 
We have heard so many complaints against those dry 
calendars which are so highly sententious in their cha- 
racter, or so abstracted ns merely to create desires without 
offering a single suggestion as to how to satisfy them, that 
we purpose taking, monthly, a sort of middle course, 
pointing not only to the chief features in the succeeding 
month's policy, hut also ottering hints as to economical 
and certain modes of carrying out the objects recommended. 
Our renders will doubtless readily appreciate the im- 
portance of what is termed grouping subjects, so as to 
save the reader time, and that bewilderment which is apt 
to occur through a multitude of trifles completely dis- 
joined through mere alphabetical arrangement. Thus, to 
give an instance, old calendars will, in the months of 
March and April, talk of sowing basil, halm, savory, mar- 
joram, &c., and of planting slips of or dividing other herbs ; 
correct enough in its own nature to be sure, hut (from each 
taking its alphabetical position) scattered so widely, that all 
the value arising from a classification ns to affinities or 
identity in habit is lost. 
Whatever calendared matter, therefore, we may give 
weekly, or whatever comments on popular subjects ; 
we shall offer at the close of each month a condensed 
paper under such title as we have prefaced these remarks 
with. The new year is at hand, and with it doubtless will 
come thut elasticity of purpose which the desire to advance, 
in common with other classes of society, naturally raises in 
the feelings of the lovers of horticulture. As one of the 
chief matters connected with future cultural proceedings, 
we would refer to the deep digging or trenching of all 
vacant ground, not even forgetting the vacant flower-beds. 
The benefits derivable from deep digging are universally 
recognised iu these times. Ridging, of course, exposes the 
greatest degree of surface to the ameliorating influences of 
frost, at once humbling stubborn soils, destroying insects, 
and enabling the spring sower or planter to proceed in his 
operations with ease. Draining — without which water- 
logged soils are inert, or worse, he their inherent quality 
what it may — must he attended to at some period 
between November and February. Rotations of crops, or 
a scheme for the ensuing year, should have curly attention ; 
without this we are, as it were, groping in the dark. The 
manure or compost heaps must not be forgotten ; the 
management and appropriation of these will of course 
depend on the course marked out in the rotation scheme in 
conjunction with the requirements of the pleasure-ground, 
the flower-garden, and the potting-shed. 
But, whilst chatting over the more usefuls, let us not 
pass by the ornamentals. We must keep a future flower- 
garden in our eye, not forget the plant-house or conserva- 
tory, and see that the ladies of the household lmvc some- 
thing for the drawing-room and the spring bouquet. What 
are termed forced flowers must have attention of a peculiar 
kind. 
Establishments differ, both as to wants and resources ; 
but, as we cannot find space to particularise, we must skip 
lightly over such matters as are most generally useful. 
Every resource at command must be enlisted in this object, 
and we need scarcely observe that light is one primary allair, 
with a pretty good command of bent. It is absolutely 
essential that the cultivator be at all times able to command 
a thermometer of fifty degrees under adverse circumstances. 
About other details connected with this interesting branch 
of the gardener's art the readers of Tiie Field may consult 
our weekly advice. 
During the early part of January the forcer of cucum- 
bers, melons, potatoes, kidney-beans, asparagus, scakale, 
&c . — any or all of these in dung-beds— takes care to 
provide a good body of fermenting material in due time ; 
and, for this purpose, dung and tree-leaves, nearly equal 
parts, and well fermented, is not excelled by any heating 
material. 
The preservation of ice, too, must not be forgotten, nud 
it is well for those who cannot command an ice-house to 
know, that ice may be kept for many months in a conical 
heap ; the only conditions being a high and dry spot, 
having the screen of u tree or two on the south side ; arid 
that the ice, well broken, be thatched over quite two feet in 
thickness. 
In the course of the month, and during hard weather, 
the fur-seeing gardener provides materials tor the ensuing 
summer for training, staking, and other gardening opera- 
tions. As matters under this head we may point to tl >wcr- 
slicks, slireids, bast, nails, trellises, &c. &c. Basket- 
making and besoms, or brooms, must be thought of, and 
the potting-shed will require a thorough examination ; all 
