THE COTTAGE GAKDENER. 
33 
j October 14. 
' own opinion. These lots, having no grass in their yards, 
: will be furnished with green meat, fjratis. 
I am also tiding the same experiment with our Cochin- 
: China cockorells at a distance (the results of which you 
shall liear), and I intend to try the same also with some 
Spanish poultry. 
I I will take every care that the trial shall he conducted 
with the most perfect fairness, and I feel great interest in 
l the resiilt. 
I have no leaning one way or the other. I have no object 
to gain, or prejudice to gratify, I really wish to ascertain, 
which is the cheapest and most profitable fowl to the 
I cottager. And whilst gladly aclaiowledging the many merits 
, of my fiiends, the Cochins, I honestly believe, that as being 
I somewhat of a novelty, they have taken a higher perch in 
I the poultiy stage, than they are entitled to, or than they 
I vv’ill retain. In the words of the old farce—‘‘ I may he 
I wrong, but that’s my opinion.” But should further ex- 
I perience prove the error, no one will more cheerfully pro¬ 
claim it, or more humbly aclmowledge it than Gallus. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
*** We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of 
The Cottage Gardener. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. All communications should be addressed “To the Editor of 
the Cottage Gardenerj 2, Amen Corneri Paternoster Rowt London.** 
i Hollyhocks. —Avery trustworthy correspondent at Durham writes 
i as follows:—“I received the following from Mr. Chater, of Saffron 
Walden, and they have undoubtedly thrown all the other varieties into the 
shade:— Comet (Chater), ruby-red, large ; Joan of Arc (Parsons), large, 
blush; Lady Braybrooke {Vo.vsons,)y crimson; Magnum Bonum, maroon; 
Meteor (Bircham), crimson ; Pulchella (Chater), pink; Safrano (Par¬ 
sons), pinkish salmon, a splendid flower; Triumphant (Parsons), pale 
primrose, flower very full; Spcctabilis (Chater), shaded salmon ; Walden 
Gem (Chater), ruby-crimson ; White Perfection (Chater), splendid white; 
]\[r. C. Barron (Chater), pinkish salmon. As the Hollyhock has only 
lately been introduced into the north as a show flower, I think your 
numerous readers here might be benefited by such lists from amateurs 
who have grown such flowers, besides being aware that the information is 
sent by individuals that have no pecuniary interest to promote by making 
false representations.” We shall most readily insert such lists, and any 
amateur sending us such a list of flowers which he has cultivated and 
approves, will greatly oblige us. We are obtaining similar lists from 
professional gardeners, and begin to-day with the Dahlia, 
Rooks. —In reply to P. P., who wdshes for information as to the most 
practical way of establishing a rookery, I beg to state, that the first 
settlement of rooks upon our property was effected by conveying a nest 
of these birds, when the young were hatched, and fixing it securely in a 
tree. My sister gave a daring boy a trifle to take the nest, and place it in its 
new position, from which small beginning a rookery has sprung. I 
believe the rookery from which the parent nest came was that upon a 
neighbouring estate, a very few fields from what is now our own ; so that 
the old birds could easily foV.ow the cries of their young. This took 
place so many years ago, that I do not remember exactly from whence 
the nest was brought; but if it did not come from the nearest rookery, 
it must have been from one seven or eight miles off, which I think 
scarcely possiblcf Beech and elm are the trees preferred by rooks ; our 
own never fix upon the oaks and limes that stand close to their settle¬ 
ment, but remain exclusively attached to the tall beeches.—R. F. I. 
Double and Single Flower-buds. — Senilis says, “At page 424 of 
the last volume, I read, ‘ We know of no test whereby to know a double 
from a single Hollyhock before the blossom opens, except that the 
flower-buds of the double are more globular, and larger.* This leads me 
back fourteen years, next January, when two of the best and most cele¬ 
brated Camellia growers in England (nurserymen) came to see my 
Camellias. Among other plants, I had a beautiful specimen of a seed¬ 
ling Camellia, then in full bud for the first time, but none of them were 
e.xpected to open before April. The plant had all the appearance of 
turning out one of the best seedlings of that period ; the leaves were as 
thick and round as those of the old double-striped, or variegated; tlie 
young wood was stout and short-jointed, and the buds were as large and 
round as any in the house at that stage of development. My visitors 
made an offer of ten guineas for this plant, and would “take all chances ; ** 
but no ! the offer rather turned me the other way. Still I regretted that 
I ‘ did not know of a test whereby to know a double from a single * 
Camellia thus early. A young German, who overheard our conversation, 
the offer, and my regret, grinned from ear to ear, but said nought until 
the visitors departed, when, after a little fishing, I got out of him the 
secret how any flower-bud could be proved as being that of a double or 
single flower. Cut the bud through the middle, and the secret is out to 
view—a single folding round the stamens ; the double all folds and no 
stamens. How very simple I but well worth knowing.” 
Tea-scented Roses {Q.). —In very severe weather it is a good plan 
to cover them with a mat, as you propose; and if you could get moss 
enough to cover the whole surface of the bed an inch or two, and then 
stick a lot of small, dry branches, such as the tops of pea sticks, in 
; among them, the frost will not harm them, even in so young a state, 
I Dry sticks, if they are placed thick enough, are much better for pro¬ 
tection than boughs of evergreens. 
i Fuchsia spectabilis (TK S.). —We are not aware that it has been 
j exhibited at any of the shows, and the less that is said about it the 
I better, Perhaps some of our correspondents could give directions for its 
culture. We have one blooming well in a warm border, the pot being 
plunged there all the summer. 
Gloxinias {Ibid ).— As your plants have made no bulbs, you must not 
let them get quite dry this winter, else they will slip through your 
fingers. 
Cantua dependens (IK. S .).— A warm house was sure to play ven- 
gence with it. The very coldest part in the front of a cold pit, where the 
sun and frost could not reach it, is what it likes. 
Hickory Nuts {H. R. L. AT.).—You have brought some Hickory 
Nuts {Carya) with you from Canada, and wdsh to know the best mode of 
culture, and in what soil they should be grown. Preserve them in sand, 
in a cool cellar, and sow them in rows thinly, in the spring, about the 
end of March. The soil they like is a strong loam, deep and rich, and 
well drained. Allow them to remain in the seed-rows for two years, then 
transplant them in October, into nursery-rows, and after the second year 
transplant them finally where they are to grow to be trees. 
Planting Conifers {M. S -, Wigan ),— You will see Mr. Appleby 
has answered your queries in several back numbers. If you noticed 
rightly, the season for planting is mentioned by him to he,Jirst, August 
and September, and then March. The grand object to aim at, should be 
to plant them at such season as will allow them time to force new roots 
before the early frosts of winter and the dry weather of spring. The 
state of the season, whether autumn or spring, will have influence upon 
the planting. If wet and cold, wait till it is moderately dry and warm. 
The small bit of a plant you sent we cannot make out. Send it again 
when in bloom. 
Bees.— B. B. says:—“ Since I sent you my statement (see pp. 15-16), 
I have observed in hive No. 2, that the drones are not all destroyed, three 
or four made their appearance on the 26 th of Sept., and about the same 
time from eight to ten bees arrived with bee bread. I have always been 
led to consider the appearance of drones at this time is a bad sign. If it 
be really so, how w'ould you have me act? I have been feeding the bees 
in this hive for the last fourteen days.” 
Wintering Scarlet Geraniums {B. B,). —Your frame filled with 
coal-ashes wdll do excellently to plunge the pots in; and as you have them 
already cut back, you will have nothing to do but to admit air to them 
freely whenever the temperature permits, and to exclude frost by cover¬ 
ing the glass with hay and mats. The same treatment will exactly suit 
your Verbenas, 
Thousand-headed Cabbage (Doncasfer).—For late spring-feed for 
sheep, sow early in March, prick the seedlings out when three inches high, 
and plant out finally early in July. You may continue planting out 
throughout August and early September, as more ground becomes vacant. 
Plant in rows, three feet apart each way. 
Plants for Flower-beds (7gno/ws).—We hope to begin the pub¬ 
lication of plans next week. 
Pine-culture fS/Mpirf).—Y ou will have all your queries answered in 
Mr. Errington’s papers. 
Apples (B). —Six Desert Apples for Espaliers, good bearers and 
good flavoured, are Lamb Abbey Pearmain, Kerry Pippin, Old Nonpareil, 
Scarlet Nonpareil, and Sturmer Pippin. Six Kitchen Apples for Espa^ 
tiers are Hawthornden, Alfriston, Wareham Russet, Blenheim Orange, 
Keswick Codling, and Waltham Abbey Seedling. 
Laburnum now Blooming (4 Subscriber).—It is not at all uncom¬ 
mon for untimely blossoms to appear on this tree. 
White Cochin-China Fowls.— wishes to know where, and 
at what price per pair, he can purchase these. You will see two adver¬ 
tisements of them in our last number. 
Spanish Ciiesnut Seedlings (T, M, W,), —These are quite hardy, 
and will require no protection. 
Tobacco Culture {A Friar).See a very full and excellent paper on 
the subject in our present number# 
Autumn Planting Potatoes (J, R., Everton ).—Dig all your light 
soil over, in November, and plant as it is dug; that is, as soon as space 
enough is dug for a row plant the sets with a dibble, six or seven inches 
deep, and do not let the ground be trod upon afterwards. Do not add 
manure of any kind, but in March sow over the surface Epsom Salt, at 
the rate of three pounds to every hundred square yards. Do not plant 
any but the earliest ripening kinds; the Kemps are too late. 
Back Numbers (Omega ),— If you send as you propose, you can have 
the numbers and the volume bound. Send a note with them, stating 
what you wish, and your address. Other questions next week. 
Advertisements (A Watcher).—It is quite impossible for us to 
answer for the truth of statements in advertisements. We should have a 
nice time of it if we had to test the worth of everything advertised. If 
we are especially asked for an opinion upon any one article, wc can do no 
more than obtain relative information, if possible. 
Diseases of Poultry {Ibid).-'You will confer a great favour by 
communicating your observations upon this subject. 
Forget-me-not Seed (Ellen ),—Perhaps Mr. Carter, Seedsman, High 
Holborn, London, can supply you. Have any of our readers some seed 
of this flower sacred to remembrance ? 
Purple-flowered Climber (A Subscriber ).—This which you saw 
against the wall of a villa at Torquay, we have little doubt is Ceanothus 
azureus. It is highly ornamental, and the more to be prized because 
blooming in autumn. 
London: Printed by Harry Wooldridge, Winchester High-etrect, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Orb, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of 
Christ Church, City of London.—October 14th, 1852, 
