December 5.J 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
153 
of some not larger than marrowfat peas; cover this 
drainage either with a thin layer of peat siftings or moss, 
to prevent the compost from stopping up the free passage 
of the water; then fill the pot with compost to within an 
| inch and a half of the top ; this overspace must he filled 
, up to the rim with silver sand; give a gentle watering 
with a fine rose pot or syringe to settle the sand; and 
place the hell-glass upon it to malm an impression, which 
will show a circle to keep the cuttings within. When 
all this is done, take off the young shoots with a pair of 
leaves to each ; cut off the bottom quite smooth with a 
very sharp knife, and insert them in a circle just within 
the marked line; turn the leaves inwards, and keep 
them therewith short deal sticks; fill up the holes made 
by the dibble with some dry sand, and give them another 
very gentle watering to settle the sand firmly round each 
cutting; then place the pots, covered with the bell- 
glasses, up to the rim in a tan bed, and shade them 
from the sun with sheets of white paper or an old news¬ 
paper. Should they become dry, take off the glasses 
early in the morning, water gently, and allow the glasses 
to remain off for an hour to dry the leaves, then replace 
and shade. Continue this care and attention till signs 
of growth are visible, and as soon as it is judged roots 
are produced, examine them by very carefully turning 
the ball out of the pots ; if rooted, pot immediately into 
I small pots, and place them nider hand-glasses till they 
are fully established; then harden them off gradually, 
and give them the usual culture. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Our space is full, but we need only say that the care 
and attention mentioned in late numbers must be dili¬ 
gently continued. Next week we will enlarge upon this 
part of our pleasant labours more fully. 
T. Appleby. 
THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 
All spare ground that has not already been drained 
should, if needful, be attended to at once, previous to 
taking on the manure and trenching. Various depths 
are recommended for draining the soil, but in our opi¬ 
nion this should be regulated by local circumstances, as 
it cannot be laid down for a decided rule that one stated 
depth would answer equally in every locality or on every 
kind of soil; but we recommend for gardening in gene¬ 
ral, if a suitable staple of earth is chosen, and a sufficient 
fall at command for taking away the superfluous water, 
that the drains should be laid at least four feet in depth. 
Various materials have been made use of for draining 
the soil, but there can be no doubt, that pipes are the 
best when properly laid in; and if a foot of rubbly 
stones can be placed on the top of the pipes without 
much additional expense, so much the more perfect, sub¬ 
stantial, and lasting, the draining will be. Wherever 
drains have to pass near hedge-rows, or within even a 
considerable distance of trees, the joints of the pipes 
should be very securely cemented together; for if there 
is the least cavity for the roots to creep into, they are 
sure in a short time entirely to prevent the circulation 
of the water by their fibres, which will increase until 
they become one solid mass or wig of roots, entirely fill¬ 
ing up the cavity as tightly as if with a cork. No mat¬ 
ter bow large the drain may be, a small root at first 
creeping through a small aperture is sure lo cause 
a stoppage in a very short time. We have seen a 
drain, a foot in diameter, entirely choked and blocked 
up within the space of one year, where an extensive and 
powerful stream was running the whole time, in conse¬ 
quence of the roots of the elm and other trees finding 
their way through an aperture no larger at first than a 
thread. 
Walk Making. —Where this requires to be done, and 
where old walks require to be put in order by turning 
and casing, the present is a good time of the year to get 
it done; as, if put off till the spring, when plenty of 
other operations need attention, it is more difficult to 
find the time to perform it. If it is intended to case 
walks, either old or new, with a finer and brighter mate¬ 
rial than the foundation, they may be left till the season 
is further advanced. The edgings of all walks should 
be made up evenly, of whatever material they may have 
been previously formed, with slate one inch thick and 
three inches deep. Slate, where it can be obtained 
cheaply, is a most durable and neat edging for kitchen- 
gardens, affords no harbour for slugs, and is always neat 
and clean. 
Routine Work. —Persevere in laying baits of brewers’ 
grains, or fresh, or scalded bran where grains cannot 
be commanded, for catching slugs whilst the weather 
continues mild ; by which means a garden may be cleared 
of such pests previous to their hiding away in the cracks 
of walls and fences, and fissures, or worm-holes in the 
earth, whence they will emerge with their broods in early 
spring, in time to assist in the clearing away of all small 
plants and young seedlings, as well as every kind of vege¬ 
table, &c. 
Attend to all previous directions with respect to 
wheeling out manure, trenching, surface-stirring, keep¬ 
ing the growing crops clear from decayed leaves, and 
dredging the frame crops of carrots, radishes, lettuces, 
&c., occasionally, while the foliage is dry, with charred 
dust, or dry dust of some kind; such attention will 
ensure vigour to the crops, and keep them free from 
mildew, canker, &e. Keep the growing cucumber vine 
pretty thin and carefully trained ; allow but few fruit to 
swell at a time:—Keep up a kindly atmosphere about 
them, neither over heated nor charged with too much 
humidity, but regulate such matters with moderation 
whilst the days are short and dark. Sow a few seeds of 
a good early melon, and place in heat pans of mint,, tar¬ 
ragon, &c. Attend also to the succession of sea-kale, 
rhubarb, &c., as previously directed. James Barnes. 
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 
SCALES OF EXPENDITURE. 
By the Authoress of “ My Flowers," c tc. 
Estimate 7th. 
Income—O s. Cd. per day; 30s. per week; about .Cl01 8s. 
per annum.—Provisions, weekly. 
T s. D. 
Bread and flour for five persons, 24 lb . 0 3 0 
Butter, lib. 0 1 0 
Cheese Od. and milk Is. .. 0 1 0 
£. s. D. 
Tea i ft. @ 3s. Cd. 0 0 10^ 
Sugar, 2 lb, (a) 4d. 0 0 8 
Grocery, including oatmeal, rice, ifcc. 0 0 XOf 
Butcher’s meat, bacon, fish, &c. 0 4 0 
Vegetables, fruit, &c. 0 1 0 
Beer (0 gallons per month, @ 0s.), and porter 
occasionally. 0 2 9 
