THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
165 
December 12.] 
and in severe weather the plants may.be thus boxed up 
for weeks without sustaining injury. The light, how¬ 
ever, should reach them gradually. The roots will not 
bear the cold that the tops will, and, therefore, they 
should be well covered with litter, and that covered with 
a material that would exclude wet. Boarded shutters will 
be the neatest for putting over the trees, and best from 
their non-conducting qualities. When expense is not 
minded, glass sashes may also be used, with these covers 
over them when needed. In this manner the first 
oranges in this country were cultivated 250 years ago, 
at Beddiugton, in Surrey, and bore splendid crops until 
they were killed by neglect in 1739, 1740. At Salcomlie, 
in Devonshire, all the varieties are thus succesfully culti¬ 
vated with the protection of reed hurdles, which some¬ 
times remain on for months. At Luscombe (C. Hoares, 
Esq.), splendid fruit of all the varieties used to be grown 
every year. At Coombe Royal (John Luscombes, Esq.), 
fruit equalling those from foreign countries used to be 
grown every year; and I suppose still are so grown. 
Wood covers were found to be the best. I have had 
oranges in sheds, and in the open, air, in very low tem- 
; peratures, and judging from this, as well as the above 
facts, I should come to the conclusion, that about Lon¬ 
don, and north of London, provided the roots are kept 
comfortable and dry, they would only require against a 
wall a little more attention than is requisite for the 
myrtle in similar circumstances. Many, therefore, who 
may have no greenhonse, if they cannot reach the length 
of obtaining very fine fruit, may, with a little, trouble 
and attention, procure what is often deemed a greater 
luxury still—abundance of orange flowers, either for 
bouquets or distillation, &e. 
2nd. In pots and boxes. To produce the best effects 
in such circumstances, the plants should be large, with 
clean upright stems. To attempt to raise them to such 
a size, in our climate, from seed or cuttings, would be 
nearly as preposterous as cultivating the vine for wine 
making. Plants must, therefore, be brought from the 
nurseries imported in their tubs from Italy, &o.; or, if 
we would save expense, and not mind trouble and 
labour, we must be satisfied with obtaining in a rougher 
way plants with small heads, no great command of 
roots, but with nice clean stems, as they are often seen 
standing in bundles at the shop-doors in London. 
Their appearance is anything but captivating; but if 
perfectly sound, they will repay your patience and 
attention. The vital powers are not extinguished, they 
only want arousing. If you had stoves and bark beds, 
&c., there would be little difficulty. I will suppose, 
however, that you have none of these things; that a 
structure, a go-between the shed and greenhouse, is all 
you possess for wintering these. A moist heat is the 
first thing to be thought about. Dung from the stable, 
sweetened, will secure you that; if mingled with tree 
leaves, it will ensure the heat being milder, and more 
continuous and equal. Build your bed about two feet 
in height, as frequently detailed, and a little larger than 
will afford standing room for your plants. If you had a 
cucumber box, that would be of no use, for your plants 
had better stand upright. A little foraging would gene¬ 
rally bring to light some old doors, boards, and opaque 
substances, with which you could form two or, better, 
three sides of a sentry-box for holding your plants. Fail¬ 
ing old sashes, the top and south sides, at least, should 
consist of glazed or varnished waterproofed calico. To do 
it neatly, the south side or part of it should be in the 
shape of a door, that you may examine the plants at 
pleasure. Four slips of wood, with a bracing in the 
middle, having the calico tacked to it, hinged on one 
side with stout leather, and fastened on the other side 
with a nut turning on a nail, would make it all com¬ 
plete. When once finished and put up securely in no 
conspicuous place, it will form a standing hospital for 
invalids, and where many of the not pleasing, but neces¬ 
sary operations, such as fumigating, may at times be 
performed. 
While all this is going on, the poor plants must not 
be lost sight of. The distention of their vessels by the 
absorption of moisture is the first thing to be thought 
about. Turning them head and heels into a long bathing 
machine filled with water, kept about 70°, for at least a 
dozen of hours, would just be the thing. The second 
best would be to plunge roots in water in a tub so 
heated for six hours, pouring on the stems frequently, 
and then to pack both roots and stems in moss or litter, 
kept moist for a day longer. Then prune the roots, and 
cut in the head as far as you can to secure good remain¬ 
ing buds; transfer them to as small pots as possible, 
using light loamy soil, with the least sprinkling of leaf- 
mould ; and set them at first on the surface of the bed in 
the hospital, but plunging them as soon as the bottom- 
heat at the depth of the pots would not much exceed 
90°. In hot days sponge the stems, and let them have 
a vapoury misting from the syringe, and let the sur¬ 
rounding boards, &c., be moist, hut give no water to the 
soil in the pot until fresh roots are being freely pro¬ 
duced. When growth is freely proceeding, air should 
be gradually given, and then the plants be removed to 
the house, where they should remain for that season. 
Before all that is accomplished, the dung-bed may re¬ 
quire forking-up occasionally, and the addition of a little 
fresh material. The same means may be successfully em¬ 
ployed for restoring sickly orange plants, as well as many 
other hard-wooded genera in similar circumstances. 
The same treatment in such cases must be adopted 
for obtaining large standards for the conservatory, 
whether grown in tubs or boxes, or planted out. I have 
been disappointed, more generally than otherwise, with 
the result of keeping such large plants in houses in 
winter, and then transferring them with great labour to 
the sides of walks, &c., in summer. Various reasons 
may be assigned for this. One is, that the plants fre¬ 
quently are deficient in a healthy green appearance. 
This arises: 1st. From allowing the plants to get too cool, 
especially the roots in winter; the medium temperature 
should be from 45° to 48° in winter. The house may 
be much lower, provided the boxes, &c., are packed in 
dry litter. If boxes are to be used, wood is better in 
these circumstances than slate. 2nd. From over dry¬ 
ness ; and yet in winter it is better to prevent the too 
free escape of moisture than to give it with a lavish 
hand. 3rd. Bringing the plants from dark-roofed houses 
without previously giving them abundance of air, or 
placing them at first in a shady place. 4th. From 
allowing them to remain out too long in the season. 
Another source of disappointment arises from the fact, 
that, whether studded in fiower-gardens or close to the 
dwelling, the sight of the tubs alike tells you the plants 
are not at home, and breaks in upon the unity of ex¬ 
pression and feeling. I lately saw a beautifully grouped 
flower-garden, the effect of which was greatly marred by 
sticking over every available spot of an artistic structure 
in the centre with common red pots, of all sizes and di¬ 
mensions; and almost equally out of character are large 
slate boxes, or green painted tubs, close to a stone 
coloured mansion; though with the orange-trees them¬ 
selves these would be pleasant associations. Flow ob¬ 
tain the pleasure without the drawbacks? 1st. By 
having baskets made in separate pieces, and with one or 
two tiers, the orange occupying the upper one. 2nd. 
By taking a leaf from Mr. Beaton, and having artistic 
and beautiful coverings for the square boxes. 3rd. By 
sinking the tub or box into mother earth, and cover¬ 
ing with moss or turf, with precautions, however, for 
securing ventilation round the box, and thorough drain¬ 
age from its bottom. R- Fish. 
(To he continued.) 
