January 23.] 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
261 
species of Ulex from the other. We offer this remark in 
the hope that the error may be corrected in the next edition 
of the excellent little treatise. 
The green flower of the ivy ( Bedera helix) may have been 
observed by our readers appearing above the deep green 
foliage of the plant; and the holly will still look gay with 
its rich array of red berries in places where they have not 
been devoured by the birds. As for the mistletoe ( Viscutn 
album), it has been so frequently the subject of attention at 
recent Christmas and other convivial parties, that there 
seems no necessity for us entering upon any description of 
it here. G. Lawson, F.R.P.S., F.B.S. 
GREENHOUSE FERNS. 
Adiantum assimile. m. 2s. 6d. 
* -- pedatum. m. 3s. 6d. 
- cuneatum. m. 3s. 6d. 
- pubescens. m. 2s. 6d. 
* - formosum. 1. 3s. 6d. 
Allosurus sagittcefolius. 1. 5s. 
Asplenium ohtusatum. 1. 3s. 6d. 
- ebeneum. s. 2s. 6d. 
-- palmatum. s. 3s. 6d. 
*Aspidium proliferum. in. 5s. 
*Cheilanthes viscosus. s. 3s. 6d. 
Cibotium Barometx. 1. 3s. 6d. 
*Cyrtomium falcatum. 1. 3s. 6d. 
* Daren odontites, m. 2s. 6d. 
*Dnvalliu cunariense. m. 2s. 6d. 
*Dicksonia antarctica. Tree fern, 
very large and fine. 21s. 
*Doodia aspera. s, 3s. fid. 
Lomaria nuda. m. 3s. 6d. 
Nothoclcenu distans. Very small. 
5s. 
*Onoelcea scnsibitis. m. 3s. 6d. 
*Onychium lucidum. m. 2s. 6d. 
Polypodium Billardieri. 1. 3s.fid. 
Polystichum fnlcionellum. m. 5s. 
*Pteris atropurpurea. m. 5s. 
- umbrosu. m. 3s. 6d. 
- hastata. 1 . 2s. 6d. 
- vespertilionis. 1. 3s. fid. 
* - tremula . 1. 3s. 6d. 
- chinensis. 1. 3s. 6d. 
*Trichomancs brevisetum. m. 
10s. 6d. 
Woodwardia radicans. 1. 3s. fid. 
round. For spring use, I find the two best varieties, both 
i in reference to quality, size, and hardiness, are Elletson’s 
Improved Wilcove, which comes into use from the latter end 
of February and through March ; to succeed this, Elletson’s 
Mammoth I find the best, which comes in through April; 
and then to fill up the vacant space which occurs between 
this and the time when the hand-glass cauliflower comes in, 
I find Sumner's particularly late White very useful. This 
generally supplies me through May, and from this till 
November I grow the Walcheren. For November use I 
grow the Purple Cape, and Snow's Imperial Hardy White 
Cape, —a splendid sort, as white and as firm as any summer 
cauliflower. This, if sown in the beginning of May, will 
also come in well up till January. From this time till 
March, Adam’s Early White is the best with which I am 
acquainted. There are many other varieties in cultivation 
which at times prove useful, but I think that these seven 
kinds are sufficient for most purposes.—J. H. Knight, 
Market Gardener, Battle. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
*** We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of 
The Cottage Gardener. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. All communications should be addressed “ To the Editor of 
The Cottage Gardener, 2, Amen Corner, Paternoster Row, London .” 
Garden Plans. —It is requested that no more Garden Plans may be 
sent until next September. Sir. Beaton will comment upon those already 
sent, but lie cannot attend to uny more until the month above-named 
Culture.— The above are all elegant species, hardy 
enough for the greenhouse. Those marked with an asterisk 
(*) are the most beautiful. Trichomanes brevisetum is a 
native of Ireland, found near the waterfalls about the lakes 
of Killarney. It requires to be kept constantly under a 
hand or bell-glass, in a situation moderately shaded. 
Soil .—Peat, loam, and vegetable mould in equal parts 
will be a suitable compost, with a portion of sand and pieces 
of saud-stone mixed amongst it. Any part of the green¬ 
house will suit them, as most of them grow in shady places. 
Nothoclana distans, Doodia aspera, Pteris atropurpurea, Adi- 
anlum pedatum, and cuneatum, should have an open situation. 
They require repotting twice a-year; first, in early spring, 
and secondly, about July or August. They are increased 
principally by division, hut sometimes by seed, although this 
is an uncertain mode. If you like to try it, procure some 
rough sand-stone, or small pieces of brick, scatter the spores 
or seeds upon them, and cover them with a liaud-glass ; 
keep them moist by syringing with the finest rosed syringe 
possible, and place shallow pansful of water amongst them. 
The seedlings will soon come up if rightly managed, and as 
soon as they put out their first frond (or leaf-branch) pot 
them in very small pots; keep them under a hand-glass till 
they begin to grow again, and then give air, and gradually 
inure them to hear full exposure; repot and grow on as 
directed above. Some of the smaller kinds will grow very 
well in the cocoa-nut husks you speak of; and hung up iu 
the house, they hang down and are very ornamental; or they 
will thrive well in wooden or wire baskets in the same way 
as orchids are grown. T. Appleby. 
[This is an answer to a correspondent ( Dickey Sam). In 
the list of ferns, 1, stands for large, m, for medium size, and 
s, for small.] 
BROCOLI. 
Seeing in the columns of The Cottage Gardener for 
December 10th, some important queries by H. T., relative to , 
the best lands of brocoli for succession, I have been in¬ 
duced to forward to you my experience in reference to this | 
subject; having been engaged for several years, extensively, 
in their culture for market purposes. H. T. asks for a list 
of six of the best varieties—two for spring; two for autumn; 
and two for winter; but as I am in the habit of growing 
more varieties than these, for the purpose of succession, it 
may perhaps be advisable to state my plan of proceeding, by 
which I secure succession nearly the whole of the year 
arrives. 
Flower-beds (H. B.). —You are all right, except 5, and that would 
took well as you propose, but recollect you could not depend on it after 
the first week in September one season out of five, and that is the very 
worst time of the whole season to lose a bed, as you could not then 
supply its place. Repeat the colour of 3 with u different plant; an edging 
of what you propose for 5 would be effective round 2, and four and six 
inches from the edge. Thanks for your brevity. 
Flower-garden (W. D. H.). —A good plan completely spoiled by the 
arrangement of planting, The very same plants differently disposed 
would make a fine show; 2, 3, 12, and 13, outside, and largest beds in 
neutral colours could not be better planted for destroying the effect of the 
rest; 2 and 12 should change places with 7 and 10 ; 3 and 13 discard alto¬ 
gether, and repeat the colours in their opposites with different plants, 
having the same heights, for the sake of variety; unless you are a florist, 
11 must be unsatisfactory—also the edging of 4 ; the rest as they are. 
Your P. S. has been under consideration for a long time. The great 
secret of making a right plan for a flower-garden, is to fix first on the 
arrangement of colours intended, then to know the habits of the different 
plants best suited for that particular arrangement, and then to layout the 
beds accordingly; the usual mode is the reverse of this; a collection of 
beds, or groups of beds is first made, and we puzzle ourselves for years 
afterwards to find out the most effectual way of planting the figure. 
Flower-garden ( Naval Officer). —We have now studied your plan 
and numbers. Every group would make a complete garden of itself; we 
never saw anything more completely finished. What you want now is a 
richer variety of half-hardy plants, if you have room to keep them in 
winter. How can you say “you know very little about gardening.” 
Why you put us to the blush already. Who made the plan, and who 
planted it—Capt. Spike, Mrs. Bud, and Rosa of Key West ? Celebrity 
| could could not have done so much in double the time. Read what we 
have said about flower-garden plants last year ; make your own selection ; 
j send us the list, and as we shall file your plan, we can tell you a penny¬ 
worth of gossip about them. We were not aware that the summer plant 
i in 6 would have answered so well. 
Flower-borders (Amateur). —To match your border of heartsease, 
anemones, and ranunculus, Nemophila insignis sown early in Sep¬ 
tember, and transplanted to the border in February, is the best. This 
: spring try the Tree-violet, or some of the beautiful spotted liardy 
Mimulus. 
Flower-garden ( Subscriber, Bury St. Edmunds). -^-Now you have 
! the best design about Bury. That is the right style for a flower-garden 
in such a place. We have plans enough now to occupy our spare minutes 
for the next six weeks at least, and all that we can do, is to say that if we 
like a given plan, and the proposed way of planting it; it is utterly out 
of our power to think for others how to plant a whole garden, even of the 
smallest size; 8 and 10 very good; make 9 scarlet, and put no red in 
4, 5, or 13, 14. 
Flower-garden (P. V.). —Thanks for the shortness of your letter, 
and the systematic way of references. Your plan, No. 1, is most beau¬ 
tifully arranged, and if all the plants do well on your soil, we would not 
alter one of them, unless it were for the sake of a change; when 4, 6, 8, 
12, 10, 14, and 17, might be planted in their opposites ; 7 in this figure 
we never heard of before. You said crimson—is that right? Plan 
