160 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 20. 
in the rain between the laps ; and all that can be done this winter is 
to take advantage of a dry day, and run a little putty along the upper 
edge of the laps from the inside, pressing it so that nearly half the 
lap is filled ; a good glazier would soon run over it, laying in the 
putty with his thumb and finger ; and the work is not formidable for 
any one; but it will not answer to fill the laps from the outside, 
unless the whole space is filled, and yours are too wide for that, 
being one-quarter inch—one-eighth is the proper size. 
Fernery (P. S .).—The trapezium-shaped, and overshadowed, 
piece of ground behind your house, and enclosed by high walls, is 
one of the best situations in Cornwall for a fernery; and we think 
Mr. Appleby’s papers on the subject of ferns most fortunate for 
meeting such cases as this, where nothing else in the way of gardening 
could be effected. Make an oval figure along the centre, and form 
it into rockwork, by raising a mound of earth, to which you may 
give an outline to represent a hill, or ridge of mountains, covering it 
with stones of different sizes, and forming beds for ferns, saxifrages, 
mosses, and, indeed, any Alpine low plants you can get for trial; 
then form a walk all round it, leaving a border 18 inches wide next 
the walls, and about a yard wide at the corners ; edge the walks with 
London pride, or any of the low dense-growing saxifrages. The 
angles would do for low rhododendrons, aiul the rest of the borders 
as an experimental garden, to see what things will thrive. All the 
walls may easily be covered with climbers ; those strong, almost 
evergreen, roses we recommend so often would soon cover the whole, 
if the borders are made of good soil. Pray let us know how you 
succeed. 
Banksian Roses not Blooming (Rev. S. G. F.).—-These, on 
an east aspect, and very much shaded, will hardly flower under such 
disadvantages. However, we have often seen them flower abundantly 
on an east aspect after they were five or six years old ; but these were 
not shaded, and we are not aware that any roses will flower freely 
when much shaded. As yours are very vigorous, we would still give 
them two more years’ trial, and root-prune them this winter, cutting 
through three or four of the largest roots a yard from the stem, 
giving a little pruning and training about next midsummer, and very 
likely that will cause them to flower the following year. Nothing 
that we can do this winter to any climber will much influence the 
bloom of next May and June. 
Strawberries Unfruitful (T. C .).—Yours appears to us to 
be a case common to hundreds. You say you had coal-ashes forked 
in to lighten the soil,” which is a “stiff red clay,” yet you have 
only leaves and blossoms. Is it not a fair inference that your soil is 
water-logged ? If so, all the coal-ashcs you can dig in will not effect 
a radical cure. First, carry away stagnant waters by thorough drain- 
age, and then you will need little coal-ashes ; not that we have any 
very particular objection to them. We may, however, be mistaken : 
if a case merely of inveterate grossness, why then plant on elevated 
beds, one foot above the ground level, and after a puuishing crop, 
such as cabbages, then plant strawberries. This will tame them. 
h RUIT-TREES FOR BACK-WALL OF VlNERIES (LuCtlbYtttOVy ). — 
The warmer house may have the Eugenia jumbos, Passi.flora edulis , 
or Passiflora Quadrangular is, and the Psidium cattleyanum. For the 
cooler house, the Loquat grafted on a quince stock ; the citron, lemon, 
orange and pomegranate also may suit. Figs are rather doubtful mixed 
up with these things. Now, be it observed, this is not a mere question 
of wintering ; the question of whether they will be profitable depends 
mostly on the amount of solar light the vines will permit them to 
receive. Pray confine your vines to the rafter. Your Commelina 
longicauUs may be allowed to go nearly dry in the winter, and then be 
stowed away with your cool and dry section of plants, or roots, taking 
care that the ice king does not reach them. 
Nut-tree Suckers (F. C.F.). —Cut away all the young shoots 
trom the old nuts. They are what are termed suckers, or tantamount 
to them. Let all the powers of your root be diverted to the original 
head. These suckers may be viewed in the light of colonists, who 
are becoming saucy and inimical to the welfare of the parent state. 
Grapes for a A inf.ry ( Vitis ).— There is, besides those you 
have, the Charlesworth Tokay and the Cannon-hall Muscat. Have 
you these? Wests’ St. Peter’s, if true, is one of the finest late grapes 
in the kingdom. We have no late grape half so valuable, if done 
justice to. This, as well as the Muscats, succeeds best on the black 
Hambro stock ; and were we in yourjposition, with too many Ham- 
burghs, we would graft on these, provided we could rely on the 
border being all right. Royal Muscadine is about our best early 
grape. White Frontignan is a capital grape, and Black Prince a 
great bearer. 
Hautbois Strawberry (G. S .).—We merely meant, at p. 92 , 
that Hautbois strawberries very often produced a capital crop from 
unmolested runners. We may, however, remark, that the finest 
prolific Hautbois we ever saw were grown two feet apart in the row, 
by a yard between the rows. The most certain plan, perhaps, would 
be to gather the runners in the middle of August annually, and plant 
them six inches square in elevated beds. Obtained in July, and 
planted m rich soil, they would flower the same autumn. 
Spur System (Ibid). — Read our fruit articles; every principle 
which you advert to has been handled repeatedly. Our space will 
not allow us to go into detail. We do not know the Malta pepper 
tree by that name. Sulphate of ammonia would not cure the hard¬ 
ness of water proceeding from sulphate of lime dissolved in it, but it 
would if arising from carbonate of lime. 
Pine Apples (Verasc). —You have quite misapprehended the pur¬ 
port of our remarks, which of themselves point to the necessity for a 
special structure. We said, “ those who can indulge in the luxury 
of a greenhouse can add that of a pine pit without any fear of adding 
to the labour of the establishment in any sensible degree.” Pines 
and geraniums must not be grown together, at least not in the same 
temperature through the season. Grapes may be grown with gera- 
mums ; the vines, of course, confined to the rafters. In our past 
columns you will find plenty of advice, and much more is in con¬ 
templation. 
Tillandsia Stricta (W. Rayner ).—You wish to know how to 
strike a sucker of it; that is, to cause it to put forth roots. The best 
way to accomplish this is, first, trim off the short, rough leaves, and 
cut off the bottom straight across; then well drain a five-inch pot 
with broken potsherds ; place a little fibrous peat over the drainage, 
and fill the pot to within one inch of the top with very sandy, fine 
peat; the remaining inch fill with pure white silver sand ; give a 
gentle watering with a fine-rosed watering pot, let it stand a few 
minutes, and then insert the sucker, giving more water to close the 
sand about it. It should now stand an hour or two in the stove to 
become dry; then cover it with a clear bell-glass, fitting it inside 
the pot, rather pressing it into the sand. Set it where it will have a 
little bottom heat, and with moderate care it will soon strike root. 
Remove the glass an hour or two every day for a week, after which it 
may be left off entirely. You may then take it up, and wrap some 
moss round the roots and part of the stem, and hang it up in the 
stove, where it will soon produce its beautiful blue and scarlet flowers. 
This is the gem of this genus of plants, and is very rare. 
Young IIendrobiums (Ibid). —Young shoots of Dendrobiums, 
when first planted in a pot, should have a watering to settle the earth 
or peat, but none afterwards till they have put forth roots and shoots 
considerably. If put on blocks, they will require syringing once a 
week during winter, and almost every day in spring and summer. 
Haruy Orchids (F. Lawson). —You ask for a list of 12 or 20 
orchids, comparatively hardy, free flowerers, and moderately cheap. 
Mr, Appleby will comply with your request in his contribution next 
week, if possible. 
Mr. Grieves’ Pansies (G. J. Bell). —Mr. Appleby informs us that 
he took down the names and descriptions of Mr. Grieves’ pansies from 
his own mouth. If there is any mistake, he does not consider he is 
to blame. Mr. A. was not informed what the price would be. Per¬ 
haps Mr. Grieves will think it worth his while to advertise, or send a 
corrected description of them, which we shall have great pleasure in 
inserting. 
Saving Seed of Cabbage and Kohl Rabbi (P.) — You may 
plant these out in some open corner of your garden, without cutting 
them or stripping off their leaves ; but if you grow them in the same 
garden, or within half a mile of each other, the bees will be liable to 
hybridize them, and spoil the stock of both. 
Asparagus Sowing (Ibid). —You may make the bed according 
to former directions as if to plant its roots ; and then early in March 
sow the seeds by means of the dibble, about an inch deep, two in 
each hole, and a foot between every two' holes. Every'second one 
may then be removed, and the seedlings” left allowed to grow on 
where first raised. 
Grass for Open Lawns (Verasc).— The best seeds for sowing 
these are the following. The quantities are for an acre, and to be 
all mixed togetherCrested Dogs-tail, 6 lbs.; Hard fescue, 20 ; 
Fine-leaved fescue, 2 ; Wood meadow grass, 2 ; Common meadow 
grass ( Poa trivialis), -2 ; Creeping white clover, 8 ; Smaller yellow 
trefoil, 3. Your other question next week. 
Raspberries (J. M. U.) —Your raspberries should have been 
planted in November, and not in March, to give you a chance for a 
crop this year. Shorten your canes, and give them a good manuring 
with well decomposed dung. You will probably have a crop from 
your autumn-bearing next year. If your soil is dry ,put mulch upon 
the surface, over the roots, next Mareh, keeping it there, and giving 
water in dry weather during the summer. 
Grape Vine Planting (IF. S. II.)— Now is a good time ; you 
will have seen what Mr. Errington says upon the subject. 
Decayed Tanner’s Bark (Stanley).— We never heard of this 
causing canker if used as a manure, and do not believe it will. We 
should use it without hesitation as a manure for a heavy soil. 
Horticultural Exhibitions (A Clerical Subscriber.) — We 
propose noticing those you allude to next year. To notice both is a 
needless occupying of space, the flowers at each are so nearly the 
same. Your suggestion about My Flowers has been long under 
consideration. 
Taylor’s Improved Amateur’s Hive (C/ericus Devoniensis).— 
This can be had of Messrs. Neighbour, in Holborn. Do not wipe 
your apples before storing, or whilst in store. The glutinous exu¬ 
dation dries upon them, and helps to preserve them. 
Skeleton Leaves (Spaldinensis). —This does not come within 
our purpose. A work will shortly appear in which we shall give such 
information. See the advertisement of The Domestic Economist 
in our paper to-day. 
Sour Krout (A Subscriber).—IS ever mind the mouldiness out¬ 
side your lid ; it will not injure the cabbage within, which you say is 
quite clean and free. Sprinkle salt thickly over the top of the cab¬ 
bage, and put on the lid, and disturb it afterwards as little as pos¬ 
sible. There is no reason why the mouldiness should not be scrub¬ 
bed off at the same time. 
List of Plants (Constant Reader).— Pray refer to our indexes, 
which may be had of both volumes, and you will find all that you 
require. To do all that you ask for would occupy half of an entire 
number. 
Heating Greenhouse (Captain F.).— You mav heat your green¬ 
house opening from your drawing-room, according to the plan 
described at pages 119 and 120 of our first volume. The flue need 
not go all round the house. You must ventilate by opening the top 
sashes, or by having a small window to open like a casement at each 
end, close to the roof. 
Names of Plants (H. Smith). —lour No. 1 is probablv Cerevs 
albispinus, but from your drawing, or from the fragments of the 
other succulents, it is quit e impossible to arrive at a certain opinion. 
London : Printed by Harry Wooldridge, 147, Strand, in the 
Parish of Saint Mary-le-Strand; and Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of St. Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Orr, at the Office, 147, Strand, in the Parish of 
Saint Mary-le-Strand, London.—December 20th, 1849. 
