33G 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[February 27. 
heat from fermented dung, when moderate and well 
sweetened, is more grateful and stimulating to all exotic 
plants, when in a young state, than the heat obtained 
from either tanners’ bark, tree leaves, or hot-water tanks, 
though we are quite willing to grant it is not so sightly 
or agreeable to human senses. 
In such a pit, so heated, stove shrubs (that in conse¬ 
quence of having become straggling and unsightly, it is 
necessary to cut down, and to reduce their roots and 
pot room) will break out fresh shoots, and more quickly 
make handsome, bushy, freely-flowering plants than they 
would do subject to the ordinary treatment in the plant 
stove. 
Cuttings .—All the soft-wooded stove plants will strike 
in such a situation without the aid of bell-glasses—a con¬ 
sideration in many cases of some weight. We mean 
such plants as Achimenes, REsclny nan thus, Agalmyla, 
Balsaminn, Begonias, Cyrtoceras, Oesncras, Gloxinias, 
Hoyas, Siphocampylus, and such like. Now, if cuttings 
of these kind of plants be put in pots filled with the 
proper compost, having an inch of silver sand upon it, 
and are placed in a frame thus heated, and due attention 
be paid to shading, giving air to let off the steam, with 
a very moderate application of water, almost every 
cutting will grow, and that more quickly than if placed 
even under glasses in a bark-bed, in an ordinary stove, 
and also with a great saving of time and labour. Hard- 
wooded stove plants, such as Ixoras, for instance, will 
also strike root more quickly in a pit heated as above 
described, though they will require a bell-glass and 
shade, &c. 
Such a frame, so heated, will be found useful in the 
greatest degree for striking cuttings of Calceolarias, 
Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, Fuchsias, Hollyhocks, Petu¬ 
nias, Verbenas, and a host of other bedding-out soft- 
wooded plants. All these would strike roots in an 
almost incredibly short space of time, and without bell- 
glasses. The only precautions necessary, being to 
remove them out of the moist heat as soon as they show 
symptoms of growing too fast, and weakly; and effec 
tuallv shading them from sunshine, or even light, for 
two or three days. Caution should also be taken that 
the steam should escape (if too powerful), both by night 
and by day. Let the lights be tilted two or three inches 
high during the day, in mild weather, and with a piece 
of wood or slate the thickness of a penny piece during 
the night. The opening, however, should be covered 
with a thin mat, to prevent the cold wind from blowing 
upon the tender, growing cuttings. 
For grafted plants, these frames are an admirable 
nursery. As for Combretum purpureum, and Ipomea 
HorsJallice; also, with a less degree of heat, numbers of 
greenhouse plants usually increased by grafting, would 
find this frame a comfortable nursery, which would soon 
cause the strange scion to unite in such close bonds, or, 
like matrimony, would never be dissolved till death. The 
following plants we allude to — Chinese Azaleas, Ca¬ 
mellias, Eriostcmons, and Pimeleas, several varieties and 
species of which require grafting upon free-growing ! 
stocks, to cause them to grow stronger, and live longer 1 
than they would if on their own roots. 
In one of these pits, some two or three years ago, we 
grew a considerable number of seedlings of that beautiful , 
tribe, the Gloxinias, and excellently well they flourished, ] 
so much so, that, with very few exceptions, they all 
flowered the same year; and amongst them we raised 
that splendid variety, Gloxinia grandis, which for perfect 
form, and brilliant colouring, stands far above any other. 
This points out another great service rendered by a 
frame so heated. 
We are aware that this is no new invention; but we 
are also aware that the invention is little known and 
rarely used, circumstances that have had no little weight 
with us in bringing it forwards now to make its merits 
known, and perhaps inducing some of our readers to 
give it a trial. 
And now the question may bo asked, “ Will such a 
pit or frame, so heated, be useful and manageable to an 
amateur who cultivates his little stove, small greenhouse, 
and small flower-garden liimself?” We answer, de¬ 
cidedly, and advisedly—Yes! With due attention, and 
using the proper precaution, he would find such a struc¬ 
ture an invaluable assistant to all his plant habitations. 
To have different conveniences to suit his circumscribed 
I wants, it would be easy enough to partition the frames 
into divisions, by placing one of boards or slates, or even 
I bricks, under each rafter, and then by warmer covering 
for one division, and less for another, and none at all for 
a third, giving air accordingly, he might have with 
perfect certainty three separate temperatures, which 
would suit plants requiring each. Thus—one might be 
for stove plants and their cuttings; another for green¬ 
house grafts and cuttings; and the third for bedding-out 
plants for the flower-garden. And as this is the very 
period when such a structure will be most useful, we 
trust our communication is w r ell timed. T. Appleby. 
THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 
Jerusalem Artichokes should at once bo trenched 
out, and the next season crop planted, if not already 
done. Globe Artichokes should have their protecting 
material loosened, and put away a little from the suckers, 
in order to prevent their stems being weakened and 
blanched. 
Routine Work. —Spring crops of Cabbage should be 
planted in succession, and a liberal sowing made; also 
a sowing of Borecole, Brussels Sprouts, Heel Dutch Cab¬ 
bage and Savoys. Cauliflowers should be planted in the 
quarters and borders in full crop, and a sowing made; 
the plants of former sowings being also pricked and 
nursed on. The main and full crops of Beans and Peas, 
if not already sown, should be done forthwith; and 
those peas and beans growing on strips of turf in 
wooden shoots, boxes, pans, or pots, should also be 
planted out neatly, and at once be dredged with dry 
dust. A littlo Celery may be sown on heat for early 
purposes, also Chervil and Corn Salad. The planting of 
Horseradish, Sea-kale, and Rhubarb, should be finished. 
The crowns of the early Rhubarb, if slightly protected 
with a little loose straw, fern, or other material, may 
bo considerably forwarded. The crowns of the early- 
forced Sea-kale should be looked over betimes, in order 
to rub off all spurious, small side-shoots, leaving only 
one or two of the strongest crowns. Onions may be 
sown on auy light, early soils that are in good condi¬ 
tion, but not unless both soil and weather are entirely 
favourable for the purpose. The Autumn-sown and Po- 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Pansies. —This almost ever blooming favourite should 
now have its due share of attention. The weather, 
hitherto, has been so mild, that the plants in beds are 
beginning to grow, and in some instances show flower. 
If any shoots stand high from the ground, it will be ad¬ 
visable to pin them down to the ground with hooked 
pegs, this will preveut the cutting March winds blowing 
about, and perhaps twisting them off. Any that the 
frost may have loosened from the soil, must, on somo 
dry day, have the soil pressed pretty firmly down to them, 
so as to fasten them in their places. 
Dahlias. —As the shoots become three inches long, 
continue to take them off, and put them in heat in 
sand to strike. Keep border varieties yet in their winter 
quarters, it is too early to plant them in the open frame. 
T. ArrLEBY. 
