December :20. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
used to hop about close to his spade, instead of 
keeping, as they usually do, at some prudent dis¬ 
tance. A friend, whose pretty cottage is sheltered 
by a thickly-covered veranda, found a robin’s nest 
close to her door, among the leaves and twigs, 
yet so ingeniously contrived that one large ivy 
leaf totally screened it, although every person 
brushed against it as they passed. Here the hen 
redbreast took her seat; and when the protecting 
leaf was gently raised, the dark bright eye was seen 
glancing upwards; but no sign of fear was given, 
and the little confiding creature sat undisturbed. 
Our friend, whose love for her garden made her 
rather a foe to little birds, could not resist this proof 
of confidence, and its life was spared. If man’s hard 
heart is softened by such touching marks of trust, 
hew fearlessly may we cast ourselves on the care of 
Him “who knowetli them that trust in him,” and 
will in no wise cast us out! 
The bright berries of the beautiful holly are now 
glittering among the polished leaves, and make some 
of our woodland walks still gay. The bright green 
mosses under our feet, and the shining hollies beside 
us, almost cheat us into the idea that summer is re¬ 
turned, especially when a stream of sunshine crosses 
the glades, and tinges the boughs with golden light. 
How beautiful, how very beautiful, is an English 
country walk even in the deepest winter! The holly 
is such a capital fence,—it is so bright and beautiful 
at every season, and is such a chip of old England 
too,—that I wish it more frequently adorned our gar¬ 
dens. Never mind the formality of a holly hedge— 
it reminds us of bygone days and persons, of our 
great-great-grandfathers, and of times we love to look 
back to in history’s brightest page. A holly-bush 
should be in every garden, (twined with honeysuckle 
for summer beauty), because it reminds us, above all, 
of the season we are now just on the point of cele¬ 
brating. We are again on the threshhold of Christ¬ 
mas : how many hearts have ceased to beat since we 
last heard its thrilling anthem ! Let us enter upon 
this blessed season with deep but holy joy ; not as a 
time of feasting and amusement, but as a time of 
spiritual and eternal interest. England has just 
witnessed a scene never to be forgotten. She has 
seen her children dying in her streets, not by tens 
but by thousands; and she has seen the national 
prostration of the heart replied to by instant de¬ 
liverance. “ While thou art yet speaking 1 will 
answer thee,” has been fulfilled to our hearts, and 
openly performed before our eyes. Oh, let England 
remember that the Saviour whose birth we are now 
about to commemorate is “ the way,” the only way, 
by which our prayers have gone up to God/ Had 
He not come in the flesh, our prayers could never 
have been heard,—our full and unanimous thanks¬ 
giving could never have been poured “ into the ears 
of the Lord of Sabaotli.” 
Let each cottage gardener, as his children deck his 
peaceful home with holly, remember this, and strive 
to keep this day and season holy. There are plenty 
of days on which to eat, drink, and be merry—there 
is but one on which we specially remember the birth 
of Him “ who came to save his people from their 
sins.” The cottager has much in his power; he can 
set an example, and stand forth as a firm and faithful 
servant of the living God. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
*** We request that no one will write to the departmental writers 
of The Cottage Gardener. It gives them unjustifiable trouble 
and expense ; and we also request our coadjutors under no circum¬ 
stances to reply to such private communications. 
150 
Error. —At page 130, first column, line 19 from bottom, for rainy 
read sunny. 
Seeds (G. A. Clark). —We cannot tell you where you can pur¬ 
chase Grimstone’s Egyptian Pea, and we have no Himalayah Pump¬ 
kin seed at present. 
Mummy Wheat (IF. B. H.) —The party you name has been sup¬ 
plied. Many thanks nevertheless. 
Protecting Gooseberry Hushes (J. C. K. N.). —You may 
throw some long straws over them, and then draw them together 
with withes, as you propose, to protect their buds from bullfinches 
and other birds. Try also white worsted laced among the branches. 
You may buy Pansy and Calceolaria seeds of any florist. They 
may be sown at the close of February. 
Index and Cover {Rev. E. B. E .)—These can be had for bind¬ 
ing The Cottage Gardener into one or two volumes. You may 
obtain them at No. 2, Amen Corner, through any bookseller. 
Rhubarb Plants {Ibid). — The two which were subdued by 
mildew, or other source of failure, had better be examined. Remove 
the earth from over them, and if you find the roots alive and healthy, 
put on some rich manure, and leave them after again covering them. 
Late-sown Italian Ray' Grass {H. B.) —November is very 
late for the sowing of this grass; the consequence to be apprehended 
wherefrom is, that frost will come and expand the soil, and heave the 
young grass plants out of the ground, and then, collapsing, leave 
their tender roots on the surface, exposed to the withering effects of 
the March winds. The best preventive that occurs to us (and it 
depends on the earlier or later coming of frost w hether this would be 
available or not), would be to give the grass a dressing of liquid 
manure immediately, with intent to accelerate and invigorate the 
vegetation, and enable the roots to anchor more deeply in the ground 
before the frost arrives to pull them out. Should three weeks or a 
month of mild weather follow, this process might considerably in¬ 
crease the length of the roots, and the number of fibres that would 
get involved in the earth before the attack of the enemy. A further 
precaution, if accessible, would be to spread immediately a coat of 
dung or litter over the piece; but it should be very finely divided 
and shaken about, not left in large lumps and clods, which would 
suffocate the tender plants which should be caught under them. 
This covering would not only impede the frost from penetrating so 
deeply as it otherwise would, but also would shelter such young 
plants as might be drawn out of ground w'hile they were again taking 
root in the soil, finely pulverised, as it would then be, by the effect 
of the frost. The liquid manure, too, would, in some degree, pre¬ 
vent the frost from taking its full effect on the soil. The Italian 
ray grass seems to be a plant to which every quantity of liquid 
manure is welcome in all stages of its growth, and which, in truth, 
does not produce its marvellous returns without a quantity of food 
stimulents, and abundant moisture, which w'ould be excessive for 
any other plant. A dressing of liquid manure, when the grass 
begins to shoot vigorously in spring, and another dressing immedi¬ 
ately after every cutting, would be beneficial. The dose will not 
produce its due effect unless in the growing season, and it is only 
from the necessity of the case that we recommend it to be more ap¬ 
plied in mid-winter. As to the application of the crop, it may be cut 
green, and used for soiling, or it maybe cut and dried for hay, and 
that more than once in the year, if the manure be supplied in suf¬ 
ficient abundance. If cut for soiling, the manure should be applied 
to each patch that is cut so soon after it is cleared as convenience 
will permit, which will insure a regular succession of green fodder 
from spring till late in the autumn. By taking care to cut the grass 
before it forms seeds, its duration (for it is not a perennial), may be 
much extended.—W. P. T. 
Bed of Mixed Fuchsias {J. S. L .)—For your circular bed no 
varieties are known to us as being better than Globosa, Gracilis, and 
Ricartuni, of the older sorts, and Carolina among the newer ones. 
Perhaps some of our readers will be able to supply a more varied 
list. Mixed fuchsias in beds are far from fashionable. 
Yellow Banksian Rose not Flowering {Verax.) —Shorten 
or prune the side shoots in June, after the plant’s usual time of 
flowering, and all strong shoots that appear from that time until 
August stop when a few inches long ; and if any are produced after 
the middle of August, cut them off altogether. In order to reduce 
the strength of your plant to a flowering state, root prune it soon ; 
try the effect of cutting off one-third of thestron^st roots. 
Grass Garden (IF. H. S .)—The grasses form the most perfect 
natural order of plants, and you have been very fortunate in your 
choice to begin “ dabbling in botany,” with your daughters, among 
the grasses, for these will afford them the best illustration of the 
beauty and truth of the natural classification of plants ; therefore, by 
all means arrange them according to their natural affinities, as afford¬ 
ing the greatest assistance to the memory. The most complete grass 
garden that we heard of was at Woburn Abbey. It numbered 242 
spaces or beds, of two square feet each, enclosed by cast-iron frames, 
and gravel paths, two feet nine inches wide, separating the beds on 
every side. You will find an essay and plan In the Gard. Mag., 
vol. i. 26—115. We would make choice of a narrow border along 
side of a walk; trench it this winter, and if the soil is stiff, add cor¬ 
rectives ; the majority of grasses prefer a deep, light, sandy loam ; 
divide it in March into narrow beds, in which sow or plant the kinds 
according to the Jussieuean system. There is a collection of grasses 
at Kew, and at some other botanic gardens. It would be very de¬ 
sirable to grow the marsh und water grasses in pots; and, also, those 
that creep very much below the surface, as well as rare sorts. What 
Mr. Beaton alluded to for lawns has no connexion with your case, 
and the subject is not in our programme. The best book to consult 
is the Hortus Gratnineus Woburnensis, by Sinclair. 
Leaky Greenhouse (D. J., Birmingham). —Mr. Beaton says that 
he would prefer your new greenhouse, for growing plants, before the 
large iion conservatory in the botanical garden at Edgebaston. Your 
roof is rather flat, but if you had followed his directions at page 120 of 
vol. i., and puttied the laps, there could be no drip. The wind beats 
