THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
359 
March 28.] 
man. This question was overlooked, or it should have been answered 
before. 
Labels (W . A. V .). —We prefer zinc labels, written upon with 
the ink for which a recipe is given at pp. 206 and 271 of our first 
volume. We can state, from long experience, that no exposure to 
weather will remove the writing. 
Pullet Slipping her Eggs (H. L. J .).—This is not at all 
uncommon. See what is said at page 283; it probably arises from 
similar causes, or some of them, and we advise the same treatment. 
The fowls you bought, white speckled with black, with an unusual 
quantity of feathers about the throat, and a tuft of feathers spring¬ 
ing, like a beard, beneath each side of the lower mandible, or chin, 
are a variety of the Siberian fowl. 
Monthly Calendar (A Cot).— The letters e and 6, in the 
calendars at trie end of each month, mean that the operation is to be 
done at the end or beginning of the month, as the case may be. The 
index can be had through any bookseller, or by sending three penny 
postage stamps direct to our Office, 2, Amen-corner, Paternoster-row. 
Soot Mildew (M. D. P.).— We cannot suggest a remedy unless 
we know where it occurs. 
Name of Caterpillar (Sabrina).— The greenish-brown cater¬ 
pillar, found by you near the roots of your carnations, in the open 
border, is the larva of the Agrotis segetum, or common Dart Moth. 
This caterpillar is very destructive to anemones, dahlia-roots, and 
even to young cabbage-plants, and turnips. _ 
Piping (Reader and Subscriber , and T. D. P.).— The best piping 
you can each of you use for your liquid-manure is that made ot gutta 
perclia. One-inch in diameter may be had for 9d per foot. 
Datura Fastuosa (G. E. V .) .—This requires to be raised from 
seeds in the spring, and treated as a tender annual up to the end of 
May ; and then to be planted out in rich soil on a sunny border, and 
well supplied with water. In a good season this species and D. 
Ceratocaulon flower handsomely in the autumn, but none of them 
are much cultivated. . 
Canna Indica (Ibid) .—You will find no difficulty m flowering 
this in the open borders so near Malvern; and, with a slight protection, 
it will live out the winter for many years. It likes a rich loamy soil. 
Thanks for writing on one side of the paper only. 
Blue Pentstemon ( T . W.).—There are several bluish pent- 
stemons, and speciosum is the worst of them to grow, and should lie 
renewed often from seeds, as the old plants are very often apt to die 
with us. A light, deep, sandy loam, on a dry bottom, and in a 
sheltered situation is the best for it. . . 
Franciscea Hydrangeieformis (Ibid ).—This is a beautiful 
stove-plant, with large heads of bluish lilac flowers. 
Tacsonia Pinnatistipula (Ibid ).—This old plant is one ot the 
finest of greenhouse climbers ; but, unfortunately, it does not succeed 
in one place out of ten. 
Leschenaultia (Ibid ).— L. formosa is the best of them. 
Jasminum Sambae (Ibid ).—The double variety of the jasmine, 
called Sambae is a stove-plant of the very easiest culture; and, al¬ 
though a climber, is best treated as a pot-busli. 
Village Horticultural Society (Ibid ).—Buy the “History 
of the Pytchley Horticultural Society.” By the Rev. A. Brown. 
Vase'Plant ( W . H .).— We know of no plant that could “be 
grown in a composition vase raised so high that it could not be 
watered.” You might have the model of an aloe or yucca formed of 
sheet lead and painted, but we do not like such deceptions. 
Stagnant Pond Water (A Flower Lover from Childhood).— 
You ask how our condemnation, at p. 59, of this, though “ loaded 
with vegetable extract,” is reconcileable with the value of liquid 
manure ? The compounds are quite dissimilar ; stagnant pond water 
is thick, and impregnated with carburetted hydrogen ; liquid manure 
ought to be quite clear, and its most active constituent is ammonia. 
Rose Budding (Ibid).— Even Indian rubber rings, such as arc 
used to enclose papers, are good for bandages in this operation ; 
therefore we can readily believe you are quite correct when you say :— 
“ I was told by a most successful amateur budder of roses that no 
bandage for the purpose answered so well as narrow slips of diacholon 
plaister. I have tried it myself with great success ; it keeps out air 
and wet, and is expeditiously fastened by the warmth of the finger, 
and as easily loosened and refastened again, till all the diacholon is 
worn off, by which time it may be removed altogether.” 
Double Yellow Berberry (Y. Z.).—Unless we see a sprig of it 
when blossoming we cannot tell its name. 
Magnolia (R. B. R -).—We never heard of a Magnolia gloriosa; 
you mean, probably, M. grandiflora. At any rate your species may 
be propagated by layering its shoots of last year’s growth before the 
end of May; tongue the layers as you do those of carnations, and 
they will succeed better if allowed to remain for two years before 
being cut away from the parent tree. When it is so separated do it 
in mild, moist weather in April. Take care that you do not increase 
any but a sort that flowers freely, for some bloom very sliily. What¬ 
ever you require you may safely order from any of those who advertize 
in our columns. 
Yellowly’s Fork ( I . It.).—You had better have one made, and 
if you will consult the drawing and directions given at p, 289 of our 
first volume, you will be able to give any blacksmith the necessary 
directions. ... 
Tobacco Water (A Cheshire Rector).— In making this you need 
only steep the tobacco in boiling water, and then soap-suds are 
added. (See vol. i., p. 272.) 
Charred Sods (Ibid).— You need not fear these being burnt too 
much, if the heap only goes smouldering on. Do not attempt to 
extinguish the fire but let it burn itself out. In using charred refuse 
as a manure, the most economical mode of using it is by stirring a little 
into the bottom of each drill. 
Sea-Kale Cutting (Ibid ).—You may cut all the shoots without 
injuring the stools. Keep the pots on, but-not the forcing material; 
fresh shoots will soon appear, and these must be gradually hardened 
by exposuro to the light and air, and left to prepare the plant for 
forcing next year. , , 
Deposit from Well Water (W. L.).— This deposit is full of a 
carbonate, probably carbonate of lime (chalk), as you may prove by 
the effervescence or bubbling caused by pouring upon it any acid, 
even vinegar. We cannot have it analysed for leas than a guinea. 
Cork (A Subscriber).— You may bu’v this in large flakes, such as 
would do for making hives, of the London cork merchants. 
Taylor’s Amateurs’ Box Hive (Gijra),— This is a fery good 
one for a beginner. We advise your commencing with it, for it will 
afford you both profit and amusement. A first May swarm is the 
only way of stocking it properly, but you must put in guide combs. 
Very small pieces will answer; surely you can procure them. If you 
do not use Taylor’s hive, get Payne’s improved cottage hive, figured 
in page 239, vol. 1, of The Cottage Gardener. 
Cuttings in Windows (J. \V. Blackett).— Doubtless you can 
strike calceolarias and many other things for the flower garden in the 
room with the French doors. We, too, admire a spirit of indepen¬ 
dence, if not carried too far. 
India Rubber Plant (Ibid).— This, after being “ a companion 
of eleven years,” we can fully enter into your feelings in hesitating to 
part with it; we should prize it more than ever for its associations. 
You can cut it to any height you please, and as often as you please, 
without in the least hurting it, and the top, if a yard or two long, will 
strike roots as freely as a willow, if you strike it in a pot of earth or 
sand in the same room. It is the easiest plant to deal with in the 
whole vegetable kingdom if you keep the frost from it. But having 
been a companion for eleven years, you must be more able than we 
are to say how best to manage it in a “ drawing-room.” Pray tell us 
all about it, or rather ask Mrs. B. to do so. 
Seeking Advice (Ibid). —As long as our readers choose rather to 
pay letters to ask questions that have been answered repeatedly, than 
to take the trouble of referring to the indexes, we choose to go to the 
trouble and expense of providing the proper answers, rather than that 
any of our subscribers should think us indifferent to their calls. But, 
after all, we cannot expect that the great number of new readers we 
have brought on the stage should learn to act their parts properly all 
at once. It will take a year or two to go through their rehearsals. 
Double Polyanthuses (A Young Amateur).— There is no way 
known, either for making double flowers or for raising permanently 
dwarf plants. Cultivation can alone effect these objects. 
Fleur de Luce (Hester S.).—' The botanical name for this is Iris. 
Sow the seeds in the reserve garden. Put round your hot-bed defi¬ 
cient in heat a good lining of hot fermenting dung; and renew this, 
removing the old lining, as often as needed. 
Bees (Ibid).—Your bees have died for want of feeding. This is 
the time when they especially require food, if at all. ffheir store is 
exhausted, and the flowers as yet do not yield more, i our first floor 
is not too high for you to have a hive in its window, but they would 
do better on the ground floor. 
Calampelis (Eccrkmocarpus) scabra (Un Lecteur). You 
may sow the seeds of this fine climber any time between this and the 
end of April; they do not require bottom-heat, but if you can spare 
the room they will vegetate sooner in bottom-heat. The seedlings 
will not stand much heat or confinement after they are up. 
Vegetable Marrow (Ibid).— Sow the seeds before the end of 
this month in peat, and plant out on a rich piece of ground when the 
May frosts are over. Ample directions have boen given already about 
them. 
Scarlet Geraniums (One who values The Cottage Gardener), 
Your sickly looking plants, potted last autumn, and kept till lately in 
a wine-cellar, should now be cut down rather close, and the cuttings 
will soon root, and be available for second planting next summer ; 
the old plants need not be potted, but planted from the present pots. 
Those struck last autumn, should now be potted off singly, lo know 
when cuttings are rooted, turn out the ball; unless they arc in too 
great heat, you may also know by seeing them beginning to grow. 
You will have seen that Mr. Beaton has declined the responsibility of 
saying how to plant beds ; he only gives the colour and height of the 
proper flowers. , 
Passion Flower (Lex, Jun.).—Wc cannot make out whether 
your passion flower is outside or inside the vinery.. W e would not 
stop this season at all, but would train it back again until the top 
reached the pot; this will be equivalent to 1 stopping, anstill 
enable you to get more flowers. Keep training backwards and for¬ 
wards, or up and down, or in any fancy way, and you will find young 
shoots will issue from the neighbourhood of every bend, and will 
flower all the season ; the half-peck pot is large enough, it you halt 
plunge it in the earth, the roots will run through the bottom, and 
help themselves ; and at the end of September, you can cut them 
below the pot without danger ; but why not plant it out at once . 
Anemones (Ibid).— You may transplant the anemones from your 
friend’s bed now, and water them well; but this is only allowable in 
a case of necessity, like yours. If the plants are seedlings coming up 
for the first time, you will not injure them at alb 
Avenue a Quarter of a Mile Long (T. W.). The Deodar 
cedar is by far the fiucst of the Himalayan comifera tor an avenue. 
The Khutrow Spruce Fir (Abies Khutrow ), alias Smithiana , and alias 
Moriuda, is also well adapted for an avenue; and for an avenue of 
lower trees from India, take Cupressus torulosa. In planting an 
avenue, one kind only should be employed. . , . 
Cuttings for New Zealand (J. Swarm). —Cuttings ot truit- 
trees or bushes packed in April or May, would perish before they get 
half way to the equator. October is the proper time to send such 
things to New Zealand, and we shall let you know, however, long 
before that time. , , . ,, , - 
Tomatos (A Subscriber, Oxton). —Plant them out at the end ot 
May, five feet apart, and train against the wall or paling of your 
south border; if this cannot be done train them to sticks, but on no 
account allow them to trail on the ground. ... 
Bees (S. a.),—If you cannot get some May swarms hived into 
