152 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 3* 
potted at the right season, standard height, and they 
would have a fine effect as a hack ground on a stage, or 
to be set on the ground. The roses are then brought 
close to the eye, and can be examined and viewed with 
more facility. We lately saw at a greenhouse belonging 
to Mr. Warner, of Hoddesden, a tine example of a stand¬ 
ard rose in a pot, or rather in a slate box, about a foot 
across. The stem was about four feet high, and the head 
perhaps a foot more, and as much through. Upon it 
we counted forty perfect roses. It was a hybrid per¬ 
petual, named Aubernon, and was certainly a beautiful 
object standing amongst other plants, with its head of 
beautiful blossoms above them. T. Appleby. 
PEAS FOR A LATE CROP. 
It does not necessarily follow that the situation which 
produces the earliest peas is the one that continues to 
J supply the same to a late period; on the contrary, a 
warm dry soil, which is so useful as a preservative in 
winter, when the early crop is progressing, is not at all 
likely to maintain a similar crop in good health during 
the hot weather of the dog-days. Mildew in its most 
inveterate form is almost sure to attack them there, and 
though some little benefit may attend the application of 
sulphur, that would-be-annihilator of this pernicious 
parasite, and some good may also be bad by copious 
applications of water, either pure, or an infusion of 
some enriching matter, still mildew is difficult to contend 
against at a period when so many circumstances com¬ 
bine to its easy production; that, on the whole, those 
of our readers who reside in our northern counties, and 
at times envy their more southern brethren the few days 
which they beat them in gathering peas, may in many 
cases console themselves, nay, even exult in the much 
longer season they are enabled to bring this useful 
vegetable to maturity. Certain seasons have, certainly, 
wonderful influences on particular crops, and that of last 
year was more favourable to peas (in the neighbourhood 
I write from—Kent) than several preceding ones. 
Now, though we cannot recommend any better remedy 
for this direful disease than sulphur or soot, or both 
mixed, applied freely and in time to the top, and liberal 
allowances of liquid-manure to the root, yet we think 
much may be done in the way of preventing this pest 
extending its ravages so far, or rather supplying the 
plant with the means of resisting those attacks, and our 
readers will easily see, that we point to that healthy 
vigorous growth, which is neither stunted by an absence 
of food, nor yet glutted with an overplus of it, as both 
cases tend to invite disease. For that purpose we prefer 
a deep mellow garden soil, not too rich, nor yet poor; we 
would rather have it refreshed by a few weeks’ cessation 
from cropping, than have ground luxuriously enriched 
by dung immediately after some heavy crop, and, as in 
this case, to undergo the same routine again. When, 
therefore, the last crop of peas are considered of import¬ 
ance to deserve especial care, let the best piece of ground 
the garden possesses be devoted to that crop, not shaded 
by trees or other objects, but fully exposed, and if even 
subject to high winds so much the better, for it rarely 
happens the winds at that period are at all hurtful to 
vegetation, while they are often beneficial; and the 
ground should be tilled at least two spits deep, return¬ 
ing, however, the former top soil to the top again. 
Some stirring ought also to take place at the time of 
sowing, and more frequently afterwards. This stirring 
of ground amongst growing roots is not only beneficial 
by affording the atmosphere access to the soil in contact 
with the roots, but we also believe that in the process 
of moving, the ground emits some of those vapours or 
gases which are so grateful and beneficial to vegeta¬ 
tion—as witness the progress made when the hard- 
caked surface between lettuces or cabbage-worts is 
broken up, the improvement may almost be perceptible 
the next day. Now, in a crop so important, and, at the 
same time, so liable to disease, every known means 
must be adopted to secure a healthy growth—frequent 
stirring of the ground, without any encumbering inter¬ 
mediate crop, and the first symptom of disease met by 
a good dredging of soot or sulphur. Careful watering 
must also be bad recourse to; not deluges with cold 
spring water, but just a sufficiency of soft water that 
has been exposed some days to the action of the atmo¬ 
sphere ; and when the crop shows symptoms of running 
away into useless haulm, nipping off the extreme shoots 
will be of service in checking undue grossness. 
All these particulars being attended to, it is likely (we 
will not say certain) that the crop will be good and 
useful. So much influence has the season on it, that 
we are far from sanguine that the most judicious treat¬ 
ment will at all times secure success; however, the 
above is the most likely way to obtain good peas in 
October. We advise our gardening friends to try it. 
With regard to the kinds most suitable for an autumn 
crop, it is common to sow one of the best early ones; 
and we certainly think they are less liable to the evils 
denoted above than the more tender, yet more choice 
blue or green varieties. We often sow the old Charlton, 
which is, after all, the parent of most of the vaunted 
new kinds, if not identically the same. If a blue one be 
be preferred, try the Scymitar. The late Marrowfats 
rarely do well at the very last; besides, their unwieldy 
bulk is a disqualification when haulm is sure enough to 
be in abundance. 
The first week in July is as late as peas may be sown 
with any prospect of success, and much earlier in the 
north of England will be better ; usually about the 20th 
of June is thought there sufficiently late to be useful. 
We remember, upwards of twenty years ago, seeing a 
useful crop of peas in November, that were the produce 
of seed saved and sown that same season. This was in a 
situation anything but favoured by nature. But, some¬ 
how, peas and certain other things fail or succeed from 
causes over which we have really less control than many 
of us are willing to admit, and the case above may have 
been one of the favoured instances in which Nature, in 
her caprice, thought fit to exercise her kindness in be¬ 
half of an unusual crop. 
Sundries. — Peas, in their various stages of progress, 
must be properly attended to, and more sown. If the 
weather and the ground be very dry, it is better to soak 
the seed a few hours in water before sowing, and also to 
water the drill at the time, and for a few days afterwards. 
The same treatment may be observed towards French 
beans and Scarlet runners. Apply sticks to the latter 
proportionate to their wants, and the same to Peas. 
Keep a watchful eye on crops of Melons in their various 
stages; if they be unable to endure the full blaze of 
sunshine, some slight shading must be adopted, the best 
of which is slightly colouring the glass with lime and 
water, or it may be flour and water; the latter, washing 
off much easier, must be applied inside, the former, 
adhering more firmly, may be applied outwardly. It is 
usually removed so gradually as to make its loss but ] 
little felt by the plants, but the first rain does not wash 
it off Look sedulously for any appearance of disease 
or insect, try to keep both away by judicious manage¬ 
ment, rather than trust to the thousand-and-one remedies 
to cure them. Sow more Turnips on some cool piece of 
ground, and let all other crops be judiciously thinned. 
Lettuces had better be sown on a north border, if the 
weather be very dry, and likely to remain so. Continue 
to tie up all that require it, and keep a watchful eye on 
all other crops now advancing apace, and endeavour to 
sow, thin, or plant out everything in its proper time; 
and, if time presses, do not neglect them, even if the 
