THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
25!) 
February 7.] 
not hesitate to do it; for it is giving them work as | 
well as money, and neither loss nor expense attends 
the boon. Roots of trees frequently remain for 
years in the ground—in fields, and hedge-rows—un- 
thought of, and of no account. If these were care¬ 
fully removed in the same manner, and at the same 
comfortless season, how many hearts would sing, 
how many cold hands would glow, both in the hours 
of labour, and when the cottage hearth sent up its 
cheerful blaze. Jn pleasure grounds too, even in 
gardens, men who can be fully trusted might dig up 
stumps with great advantage to the ground. In 
our own case, this is admirably done by one of the 
best, most thankful-hearted creatures in the parish. 
His work is so neatly finished off, that you can scarcely 
notice the spot from which the stump is taken; and 
the soft soil is well adapted for planting, in due sea¬ 
son, a shrub or tree. 
Having seen, with my own eyes, the good effected 
among the poor in this way, by those who have 
little else to give, I strongly urge upon my readers— 
those who may possibly have it in their power— 
to adopt this plan; even if but one poor man in a 
parish can be helped by it, to do so without demur. 
Who can feel comfort in their own bright fire, if 
they know that one as bright lies hidden and 
useless in their field, and if they know that one poor 
shivering family might gather round a hearth? It is 
of no use to content ourselves with saying, “ Be ye 
warmed and filled,” if we neglect to do what may be 
done, by taking a little thought. I believe much is 
left undone simply from want of thought; but if we 
studied more than we do the wants of those around us, 
we should fiud many little ways of doing them good, 
that seem trifling to those who have plenty of this 
world’s goods, but are of deep importance to those 
who possess nothing. When we see a labourer wend¬ 
ing his way homewards over the frost-bound earth, 
with his wheel-barrow of roots for the evening fire, 
is it not cheering to the heart? But for that long 
forgotten root, that has lain uselessly in the earth for 
so many winters, that poor man’s home would to-night 
be cold and dark. 
Even the little birds are fed by these means. The 
ground is so hard that their tender beaks cannot pe¬ 
netrate it in search of worms; they frequent the win¬ 
dows and doorways where crumbs are thrown out, 
and follow the labourer closely in the very scanty 
work he can now perform. And great must be their 
sufferings, no doubt; yet even they are had in remem¬ 
brance by Him who formed them: “ not one of them 
is forgotten before God.” 
I was 'standing yesterday, watching the men as 
they grubbed and broke up the frozen earth, while 
the east wind blew through the bare trees with sharp 
asperity; numbers of little robins hovered round, and 
watched, with keen bright eyes, every stroke that 
fell. They darted to the very feet of the workmen, 
braved the noisy blow of the pickaxe, and hopped 
boldly among the fresh soil, as it was thrown about. 
The men entered with kindly feelings into their little 
anxieties, and threw every worm they could find to¬ 
wards them. They told us, that the dish-washer (the 
provincial name for the Wagtail) came in search ol 
worms—a most unusual food for them; and that the 
robins “pitched into them” with fury, when they 
thus ventured to intrude upon their rights. 
Let us—as we scatter crumbs from the window, or 
watch the little birds thus profiting by the labours 
of men—remember that we “ are of more value ” in 
the sight of God “ than many sparrows;” and if He 
so tenderly takes thought for them, shall He not 
much more take thought for us —the souls for whom 
Christ died? 
Lot us rest, in simple faith, on His eternal word: 
“ Fear not! ” 
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. 
Walnut-tree Planting (H. L. B.) .—No particular directions 
differing from those lately given for planting “on stations,” generally, 
are required. Follow out these directions strictly, and take special 
care to stake the trees very firmly with three stakes to each. If you 
neglect this, your trees, being ten feet high, will wind-wave, so as to 
disturb and prevent their re-rooting. The same observations apply 
to your apple and pear-trees. All of them ought to have been in 
their places two months ago. The burnt wood from a fire in your 
neighbourhood will be excellent for mixing with the soil about the 
roots of your trees, and for any of your kitchen-garden crops. 
Measuring Distances (A Subscriber). —Can any correspondent 
inform this inquirer “ of an instrument for measuring distances, in¬ 
stead of having recourse to the old-fashioned and tedious process of 
the tape ?” He is told, the pedometer is not to be depended on. 
Mushroom Beds (C . J.).—These will succeed in a cellar. You 
will find full directions for making them at page 189 of the present 
volume. This volume began with No. 53, and there are 26 numbers 
in each of the proceeding two volumes. 
Ducks (A Subscriber ).—Your ducklings having swollen crops, 
drooping wings, and then dying, arises probably from want of water, 
and unwholesome food ; but how could any one tell without more in¬ 
formation, unless he were a wizard. 
Ivy on Timber (A Thurtell ).— If you mean on dead timber, ivy 
will preserve it instead of injuring it; but if you mean live timber 
trees, ivy injures them by stopping up the pores in their bark, and 
shading them from the healthful influence of light and air. You 
will have seen the information you require about the mistletoe. 
Striking Cuttings (L. C.). —You will do this in phials of water 
better in the spring. Sow verbena and chrysanthemum seed in a 
gentle hot-bed in March. You may raise the Egg-plant (Solanum 
melongena) in a hot-bed, and plant it out in a warm border at the 
end of May. The Tree mignonette is only the common variety trained 
in a peculiar manner, as is fully detailed by Mr. Beaton at page 37 of 
our last volume. If you render the staple of your soil more friable, 
by mixing with it abundance of coal-ashes and lime rubbish, you will 
be able to grow on it mignonette. 
Winter-pruning Roses (W . F.). —Mr. Beaton has entered so 
fully and so correctly into this subject, that nothing remains at pre¬ 
sent to be said. You, of course, can follow either his advice, or that 
of your friends. You certainly have nothing to fear from frost pene¬ 
trating the wounds, if you attend to what Mr. Beaton said. 
Early Peas (S. W. Wade). —The Prince Albert, or May, is ra¬ 
ther under three feet in height. It is that which we grow for our 
first crop. It comes in before the Early Frame, if sown at the same 
time; and is in every way its superior. The Hang-down Long-pod 
Bean may now be sown. Three inches is quite deep enough to sow 
it, even on your light soil. The Windsor bean does not succeed well 
for early sowing. Beans sown now, if the month proves mild, will be 
a fortnight earlier for gathering than the same variety sown in hiarch. 
Heating Hothouse Boilers (S. N. V.).— Your papers shall 
appear. Have you any objection to give us your direction '! 
Guano (J. R. Price). —Two ounces per square yard sprinkled over 
the surface, whilst onions are growing, will improve them; but do 
not give it to potatoes. Guano is far preferable to lime as an appli¬ 
cation to poor, cold land for turnips. But we should put lime for 
potatoes. Of course the crop will be small, but, probably, it will be 
healthy if autumn-planted. 
Oxalises (A Young Beginner).—Yon planted these last Novem¬ 
ber in old turf soil. All would grow better in pots with three-parts 
peat, and the other part like your present “turf soil,” with about 
one-sixth sand. Or they would do in sandy peat altogether, and the 
same with your Hypoxis stellata, which is a very pretty flower on a 
very dwarf plant. Oxalis hirta and 0. tubiflora are hardly worth 
growing; they are shy flowerers. 0. spectabile, if true, is very fine, 
and we believe hardy. We have grown it for years in a light rich 
border. It flowers for a month or six weeks, from the end of May. 0. 
Gilord is not a true name, and we cannot make out what it is. 0. Bound 
is a beautiful oxalis, and you are fortunate in having it now “ coming 
up.” Turn it out into a'border, when the frosts are over, next May, 
and it will blossom all the summer. Keep all of them free from 
frost, and no more; and let us hear your other questions soon. 
Hyacinth Offsets (C. W. I..)■—Do not remove these from those 
in pots : you might do more harm than good by displacing them; and 
they cannot alfcct the present flowering of the parent bulbs. 
Cytisus (Ibid). —Yours is the small-leaved variety of Cytisus 
rucemosus, alias rhoduphne. It is a fine showy, hardy, greenhouse 
shrub; requiring good loam—or loam and a little peat—to grow 7 it 
in and must be kept watered all the winter. Your plant is evidently 
too dry ; let the pot stand in a saucer of water for a day or two, or 
till you perceive the surface turning moist; then let the plant drain 
for the next few days.; and, when the soil is between “wet and dry,” 
