THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
January 17."] 
fastened, horizontally ; the two then had the appear¬ 
ance of the letter J. The steam then rushed out of 
the two ends of tins horizontal pipe, and spread 
over the floor in the first instance, and afterwards 
rose up into the air of the house, softened so much 
as not to injure the tenderest leaf, or most delicate 
flower. This steam was kept up till the house was 
completely filled—so much so, that the plants were 
so enveloped in it, as to he invisible at a few feet dis¬ 
tance from them, The plants, when the steam was 
stopped and dissipated, were bathed in dew in every 
part, under the leaves as well as on the surface. The 
effect of this application was soon visible. The 
plants grew with surprising rapidity, sending out 
roots in every direction. They also put on that dark 
green, healthy appearance, that showed they had got 
into an atmosphere they loved. The sickly ones re¬ 
covered their health, and the healthy ones flourished 
with renewed vigour. This steam was applied 
morning and evening, during the spring and summer 
months, until the plants had finished their growth. 
After that it was only applied occasionally, according 
to the state of the weather. If sunshine prevailed 
during the day, drying the air of the houses, the 
steaui was got up and let on the next morning, not 
for too long a time, hut only just sufficient to damp 
the air. In dull weather, the steam was dispensed 
with altogether. 
The only difficulty in the use of steam was, that in 
summer it made the houses very hot whilst it was ap¬ 
plied. That objection, however, was of comparatively 
little value, as at that time the plants were growing 
freely, and required a larger amount of heat than at 
any other time of the year. In spring, when the 
mornings were cooler than ordinary, the steam was 
applied, and heated the house sufficiently, without the 
hot-water pipes being heated at all. This was a con¬ 
siderable saving of fuel, besides the advantage of so 
effectually moistening the air. 
Now, the question naturally arises—“ Is it worth 
while to adopt the steam method of giving atmo¬ 
spheric moisture?” In places where large collec¬ 
tions are grown, we are inclined to say, “Yes;” but 
in places where one house only, and that a small one, 
is devoted to the culture of orchids, we say, “No;” 
unless the two methods could be combined: that is, 
the hot-water boiler could be so contrived as to be 
a generator of steam, to be got up to that point when 
required. We have no doubt some ingenious maker 
of boilers could accomplish this, if he was required 
to do so. 
We have now, we judge, said all that need be said 
on the subject of moistening the internal air of the 
orchid-house. We request our readers to study the 
subject carefully, and to make use of such means as 
are in their power to accomplish this important point 
of culture. They will soon find the advantage of 
doing so. _ 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
There is yet but little to do in actual operations 
amongst florists’ flowers. The principal thing to at¬ 
tend to is, to preserve them from frost and damp ; 
also, to keep a good look-out for enemies, in the shape 
of slugs and green fly. Against the former, there is 
no remedy like picking them up and destroying them. 
The latter may easily be destroyed by tobacco smoke, 
applied moderately and often. 
Hollyhocks. —These splendid autumnal flowers 
may yet be planted, and will grow freely. We prefer 
planting now, to driving off that operation till spring. 
The planting can be done when the weather is mild. 
21fi 
During our visit to Scotland, we observed these fine 
flowers used to cover naked walls, and very beautiful 
they looked. We particularly noticed those in the 
grounds of Mr. R. Macintosh and Mr. R. Grieves, 
both in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. Several 
cottages also wore agreeably ornamented with holly¬ 
hocks against the walls. Mr. Grieves, of Sibberton, 
near Edinburgh, kindly furnished us with the follow¬ 
ing descriptive list. When we saw them, they were 
just opening their first blooms; and certainly they 
appeared to be first-rate kinds:— 
Mrs. Dundns: creamy white; centre, full; guard petals, round 
and flat. 
Mr. Dundas: lilac rose ; centre, full; guard petals, round and flat. 
William: lilac crimson ; centre, intensely full—unique. 
Susanna : deep cream—a perfect model. 
Gustavas: deep purple ; centre, full; guard petal, round and flat. 
Acme : purple; centre, firm and compact. 
Model of Perfection: scarlet—a model every way. 
Rosamond : rose ; centre, large and full. 
Duchess of Gordon : a large expansive flower. 
ife plus Ultra: French white ; centre, good. 
Clima.r: peach blossom ; centre, well up. 
Defiance: blackish crimson; centre, intensely full. 
Paragon: peach blossom; ditto ditto. 
Sabrina : French white ; large and full. 
Standard of Perfection: dark red. 
Negro Boy : very deep red—very full. 
Elisa : pure white ; large and compact. 
Delight: light flesh colour. 
General Bern . dark rose ; one of the first out. 
Kossuth : light red; ditto. 
Sir William Rue: fine pink ; centre, full and compact. 
Snow Drop : pure white. 
Diana : cream white. 
Golden Prince : the best yellow out—large and full. 
T. Appleby. 
THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 
Cauliflower Plants. —Care must be taken with 
those in pots that they do not get pot-bound, or 
stunted for the want of water, or of being shifted. 
When it is necessary to apply water, give a good 
soaking, in a methodical manner, with tepid water, 
to which we add a small portion of liquid manure, 
and increase its strength as the plants become 
stronger. A good, healthy preparation should be 
provided for turning them out of the pots, if the 
weather is open and favourable, about the first week 
in February. Our system is to choose a good piece 
of ground in the valley, between two sloping banks, 
generally where ridge cucumbers, vegetable marrow, 
and the tetregonian spinach, &c., have been culti¬ 
vated; because, a good provision, in the way of ma¬ 
nure and pulverised soil, having been provided for 
such crops, and their season being over early in tho 
autumn, it affords a good opportunity to provide, in 
due time, an excellent preparation for turning out 
the potted cauliflowers under hand-glasses. 
Our sloptng banks for this purpose are cast up 
tolerably high, so as to afford sheltering-protection 
from the searching winds of the early spring; they 
are about 12 feet wide at the base, and about 4 feet 
higher at the centre than the valley between them, 
which is left about 5 or (1 feet wide, in order to have 
sufficient room for a row of handliglits, a row of 
lettuce plants on each side, and an alley, about one 
foot wide, covered with cinder-ashes, or shingle, to 
walk on, for giving air, watering, &c, The banks 
which are cast, or trenched up into ridges, are often 
forked over, particularly on frosty mornings, and are 
planted in succession on both sides with cauliflowers; 
and when the cauliflower-crop is taken off, the same 
ground is planted with celery, besides which, a good 
preparation is, to a considerable extent, ready pro¬ 
vided for the celery in the valleys between, as well as 
the banks of earth on each side, for blanching it on 
the six feet bedding-system, as previously directed. 
It is also laying an excellent foundation for the 
