112 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
November 29. 
would go home determined, as far as circumstances 
would allow, to imitate such bright examples. They 
would then aim more at having a few well-grown 
handsome plants rather than a house, or houses, full 
of drawn up, long-legged thin ones, that at this age 
are not at all creditable to any cottager or amateur, 
and much less to a gardener. All tliis, perhaps 
rather long story, is intended to stimulate the young 
grower of orchids to strive with all his power and 
means to produce well-grown and finely-flowered 
plants, which he cannot do without strict attention 
to the instructions given from week to week in these 
pages, adapting them to circumstances as much as 
possible. Next week we shall describe the third 
mode of cultivating these fascinating plants, namely, 
on blocks of wood. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
This month, so far, has been a favourable one for 
our favourites, the number of fine clear days having 
been above the average. In consequence, the florist 
has been enabled to give abundance of air : health- 
invigorating sunshine has also prevailed more than 
usual, so that the glasses have been removed from 
the frames, and damp, and mouldiness, and all the 
ills that plants in frames are heirs to, have been con¬ 
siderably diminished: hence the average number 
of deaths among plants, like the mortality of the 
human race, has been considerably reduced. Frost, 
however, has appeared again On the night of No¬ 
vember 16th, in the neighbourhood of London, there 
were six degrees of frost. Protection from this degree 
of cold is necessary. We advise our readers to bo 
wide awake now to the least appoarance of frost, and 
to shelter accordingly. Keep a good look out also for 
insects. On Carnations, Verbenas, Pansies, Chry¬ 
santhemums, and others, the greenfly (aphis) will be 
making its appearance. To destroy it, frequent mo¬ 
derate smoking with tobacco is necessary. Water 
also will be required in dry weather, but it must be 
given in very moderate quantities, and on mornings 
when the sun is likely to shine, in order to dry the 
surface again before the evening. 
Dahlias. —The roots of this fine autumnal flower 
should now be stored in some dry place where the 
frost cannot reach them. Late struck cuttings are 
best kept in their pots. Under a greenhouse stage 
is a good place for them. The tops should be cut 
off, and the pots laid on one side to prevent any 
water falling upon them to wet the earth in the pots. 
This is the best way to preserve dahlias; we hardly 
ever knew it fail. Our friend, Mr. Beaton, has given 
lately a very good list of the best kinds, that have 
proved their good qualities by being jfiaced j u the 
winning ranks at the different exhibitions. We are 
inclined to add to his list a few kinds of the fancy 
class, which we noticed as being excellent, both in 
form and colour. We noted them at Mr. Handy- 
side’s nursery, at Musselburgh, near Edinbrngh. 
This gentleman keeps an excellent collection of all 
kinds; and when we saw them they were in excel¬ 
lent condition, as well-grown and well-flowered, nay, 
better than any we saw during our journey. The 
fancy sorts, we allude to, were named—Ratisbon, 
Dr. Plorner, Miss Blackmore, Comte de Flandre, 
Stern von Missouri, Triomphe de Magdeburgli, Post 
Secretaire, Privateer, Miss Stephens, Paragon, Belted 
knight, Belle bouquet, Myrobalon de neuf. These 
are all very double, well up in the centre, petals of 
good shape, and considerable depth. Colour distinct, 
and mostly well defined. The above few kinds we 
selected out of at least a hundred varieties, all very 
distinct from each other in colour, and their other 
qualities equal, or nearly so. The most striking 
amongst the selected lot was the variety named Miss 
Blackmore. T. Appleby. 
THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 
Carrots. —Those already stored should be well 
looked over. If put in any damp close situation, 
they will more particularly require early attention, 
as all bruised spots, broken ends, and any of the 
crowns that may have been closely cut, are liable 
in such situations to suffer from the accumulation 
of mildew, which, if not checked in time, by rubbing 
and removing the affected parts, will soon extend to 
gangrene and decomposition, •whereby the winter's 
store may be destroyed to a serious extent. Dry 
charred earth, or charred dust of any kind, is a good 
preservative shaken amongst the carrots, when they 
are removed and packed, and the addition of a very 
small portion of slaked lime mixed with the dry dust 
will be found still more effectual as a preventive of 
mildew. 
Cardoons should be bandaged and earthed up in 
succession, taking care to perform this operation 
wbdn the plants are dry. 
Horse-radish. —As the leaves are now decayed, 
horse-radish may be trenched out, and the best roots 
stored, by laying them in thickly together in some 
spare corner. Re-plant the strongest crowns of the 
refuse, provided their roots are entirely left to them, 
as the trenching proceeds. Trenches two feet wide 
and two spits deep, with the crumbs thrown up, will 
be found a good depth for trenching out the crop and 
re-planting. Break up the subsoil with a good strong 
fork or spade, and lay the plants in a slanting posi¬ 
tion against the base of each trench, taking care at 
the same time to apply a good portion of manure or 
compost of some kind. A quantity of cinder-ashes 
are very suitable for keeping a stiff soil open, so that 
the young shoots may meet with no obstructions in 
their growth—a very essential point in its cultiva¬ 
tion. To produce horse-radish tender, and of a deli¬ 
cate white colour, requires a good and well-drained 
soil, as well as a liberal supply of manure. 
Draining and Trenching should at this time of 
the year be well attended to. Where the subsoil 
is of a poor and hungry nature, do not cast too much 
of it to the surface at first, but begin by intermixing 
a moderate portion with the surface soil, w r ell break¬ 
ing it up at the bottom of each trench, and allowing 
it to remain loose and open for some time, so that it 
may improve and become in better condition for in¬ 
termixing in larger quantities the next time the 
ground is trenched. 
Turnips. —Those who have not already provided 
themselves with a few good bulbs of the Suede tur¬ 
nips would do well to procure some at once, and plant 
them in some corner for producing greens in the 
early spring. The greens of the common turnip are 
also esteemed by many, and a few bulbs of these 
also for the same purpose should now be procured. 
Good turnips from the best varieties should also now 
be selected and planted for seed. 
Celery and Endive. —We have already said much 
about taking up brocolis, borecoles, &c., but it is 
probable that many may yet have a dozen or two 
sticks of full-grown and very fine celery standing 
just in the middle of some favourite quarter, which is 
now wanted for planting potatoes, beans, or peas; 
