I 
38 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[October 17. 
buy ? We reply, whichever you can get best; that is, the 
largest plant, for in beauty they are quite equal. 
T. Appleby. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
We have been riding our hobby horse on orchid 
growing so hard, that we have not much space left for 
this almost equally loved part of our labours. Indeed, 
just now there is hut little to do amongst florists’ 
flowers. Frosts are beginning to make havoc with our 
favourite autumn flower, the Dahlia. As soon as its 
blighting influence has passed over them, cut off the 
tops and take up the roots instantly, to prevent a too 
great effusion of sap. Take the precaution to dry them 
gradually, and store them away where neither wet, frost, 
nor heat can reach them. Such as are in store pots 
should have their tops shortened, and be laid on one 
side to induce rest. Let every plant that requires 
shelter he removed from the open air into winter quarters 
in good time. It is better to he a week too soon than 
one night too late. See the numbers for two or three 
weeks hack, on other parts of this subject. 
T. Appleby. 
THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 
Cauliflowers. —We must now begin to store these 
for winter use, and this must be done by pulling up by 
the roots on a fine afternoon, and whilst they are diy, 
such as are just turned in ; tying them into hunches of 
four or five together, and then hanging them up in a shed 
or cellar with the whole of their leaves to them. Con¬ 
tinue to prick off young plants until a sufficiency is 
secured for the next spring cropping. 
Chives.— Let these be taken up and potted, placing a 
few pots in a frame, pit, or house, or any sheltered 
situation, or the cottager may put them in his window. 
Several cuttings may be thus obtained from this useful 
herb during the short days of winter. 
Endive should also he placed in frames, pits, or 
temporary made places, and on sloping banks. 
Tarragon and Green Mint. —Those who require 
these throughout the winter should place a pan of each 
immediately inside the cucumber pit or frame, or any 
other situation where heat is to he commanded. 
Rhubarb and Sea-kale. —Take up a few strong roots 
of these occasionally, and place them in a cellar or other 
convenient place, as previously recommended, for pro¬ 
ducing a supply in succession. 
Tomatoes. —The best fruit should now he selected and 
hung up singly where they may ripen gradually. Those 
against walls or fences may be prolonged by covering 
with mats at night. 
Framing Cucumbers should now he sown. Those 
already growing on will also require some attention, with 
regard to the application of heat and moisture, which 
now, that the days are becoming shorter, should be well 
regulated, so that the plants may not be too much excited, 
hut have a uniform and kindly heat maintained by the 
judicious application of air. Water should also he applied, 
but, of course, in a tepid state; taking the opportunity of 
a fine day to apply a liberal soaking all over the soil with¬ 
out wetting the foliage, and taking care on all fine after¬ 
noons at shutting-up time also to sprinkle round the 
frame or inside of the structures close to the edge where 
the soil is liable to become dry by contact with the 
linings or hot water pipes. This will secure at all times 
a healthy humidity, so much needed for securing the 
health of the jflants. 
Frame Radishes, Carrots, Late-sown Coss Let¬ 
tuce, &c., should have the lights placed over them at 
night, and when rain prevails; at the same time abun¬ 
dance of air should be applied, by tilting the lights, 
both at hack and front, so long as the weather continues 
mild. To prevent the lights from being removed hy 
wind, a strong staple should he driven in at each end of 
the pit, frame, or other structure, to which a cord should 
he fastened ready to be passed over the lights when on. 
The earth should he stirred carefully amongst all the 
above named crops, and if too much moisture prevails in 
the soil about them, or the least inclination is shown of 
the plants becoming too much drawn up, apply dry 
dust, hy carefully sifting it amongst them. 
Routine Work. —Root storing should at this season 
he performed in a methodical manner—not placing the 
roots together when wet, or in too large quantities, so as to 
cause fermentation, which will not only destroy their best 
qualities hut their keeping properties also. Take every 
opportunity in the freshness of the morning, or the 
moonlight of the evening, to wheel manure on any spare 
ground, in readiness for having it thoroughly trenched 
and ridged up, which should he done as roughly as pos¬ 
sible, well intermixing the manure with the top spit of 
the soil. Where draining is necessary, it should be done 
at once upon a good substantial principle. All water 
tubs, also, and surface drains, should be well trimmed and 
cleared out; and the outlets of all underground or land 
drains examined and cleared, so as to maintain a free 
course for the water to pass away, the neglect of which, at 
the fall of the leaf, often causes complete stoppages to 
extensive main drains by the accumulation of sediment, 
where it is not all times easy to discover it. Herb 'plan¬ 
tations should he cleared of decaying stalks, and he 
top-dressed with well decayed manure, leaf-mould, or 
vegetable soil. Look to all kinds of dried herbs and 
flowers; securely placing them in paper hags, on which 
their names should he written, and hanging them up in 
a dry situation. \ James Barnes. 
MISCELLANEOUS INEORMATION. 
OUR. VILLAGERS. 
By the Authoress of 
The English cottager is an object of the greatest possible i 
interest in the eyes of all who warmly love their country, and I 
desire its happiness and welfare. In an agricultural country, I 
such as is our own, the labourer is of extreme—intense— 
importance; and his hands are as necessary to the state, as 
the heads of its rulers, and the arms of its glittering hosts. 
hatever measures tend to oppress the British labourer, | 
directly or indirectly, will in the end prove injurious to our j 
country, because all classes must suffer with him. Tliis ought [ 
peculiarly to endear him to our hearts, and create an interest j 
“ My Flowers," iic. 
in all that concerns him; and the cottages peeping from the 
trees, or grouped together by the side of the cool stream, or 
dotted over the face of the open com districts, should cause 
a yet deeper feeling than that of admiration in our minds. 
The poor are also especial objects of interest to all who 
seek to love and fear the Lord “with a perfect heart," because 
His statutes do so strongly set forth our duty to our “ poor 
brother,” and threaten with such heavy judgments all who do 
him wrong. Specific charges were given in the Law of God 
on tliis particular point; a blessing was annexed to it; and 
