248 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 30. 
last, taking care to keep the walks full in the middle. This 
is business which may be at once proceeded with, and any 
boundary fences or divisions of any kind, which require 
reimiring, let it be done as soon as qiossible; lot not any¬ 
thing of the kind, by any means, or under any pretence, 
stand over and interfere with spring or summer culture. 
M.vnurks. —Let those plots which require manuring for 
cropping in February or March bo manured as soon as 
weather permits; it may be spread at once at this period, 
as little loss by evaporation can take place at this season ; 
but by all means let the ground be dug before a “ March 
dust” prevails. Any manure remaining should be dressed 
carefully up in a conical heap, patting the outside smootli, 
or casing it over with soil. Wo beg again to recom¬ 
mend the preservation of all soot, and if you can beg your 
neighbours sweepings, so much the better; add them to 
your manure-heap, only reserving enough in the dry for 
drill-cropping, or what we term practically “ priming.” As 
before observed, got some guano, the real Peruvian, and mix 
three-parts soot to one-part guano; let these be thoroughly 
mixed, and to facilitate their mixing, let plenty of really dry 
dust of any kind be added—we have added wood-ashes. 
This, when well blended, may receive an addition of ordi¬ 
nary soil to increase its bulk three times, if old leaf soil or 
very old manure, all the better. Such will bo found a 
capital fertiliser, sown in the drills with the seed of such 
things as mangold, swedes, carrots, jiarsuips, Ac., and will 
soon speed the young plant out of the way of mischief. 
PoT.VTOES. —As the season has been so mild, folks may 
expect to have long sprouts on their potatoes at planting¬ 
time, unless they have them examined and turned over 
; immediately. If they are advancing too fast, let tlicm be 
placed thinner; and, if in pits for seed, by all means let 
them be taken out before the end of the month, and spread 
on some floor. 
Parsnips may bo taken entirely up at the end of the 
month, or they will soon sprout, and lose quality. The 
ground, too, will bo placed at the service of the succeeding 
crops. 
Cabbages. —Wo advise those who have young plants for 
spring-planting to protect them slightly if severe frost 
occurs. Vegetables are so very succulent, that wo are per¬ 
fectly justified in anticipating much destruction in this way, 
in consequence of their tissue being distended in an un¬ 
usual way. A large bundle of new straw, or a little fern, 
strewed over the seed bed, or those pricked out, will, perhaps, 
ensure the cultivator a crop. The very best plan is to let 
them become frozen, about an inch deep, on to the soil, and 
then to cover in order to prevent them thawing; and by no 
means dream of uncovering to admit sunshine : keep tliem 
asleep if you can until the end of the frost. Those cab- 
bage plants planted in autumn for early work may have a 
little soil drawn to their stems when tolerably dry, in order 
to keeji their shallow fibres from severe changes. 
Lettuces. —Protect precisely on the same princifde as the 
cabbages, only do not let them endure quite so much frost 
as the calibage. 
Rhubarb. —Tliose who have a reason for obtaining this 
early should throw a covering of the strawy portion of the 
manure over it when in a perfectly thawed state. This, 
indeed, should have been done in the beginning of Novem¬ 
ber; Imt bolter late than never. Tliere arc those amongst 
cottagers who, keeping a cow and a pig or two, have a little 
reeking manure; and such wo have knowm to produce 
niiubaii) of a somewhat qirofitable character in the market 
at the end of January. All they want is powerful crowns 
cultivated specially in a nook sheltered from the winds, 
and a few old tall chimney-pots, a yard in height. These, 
the croivn liaving been protected in the aforesaid manner 
to kceji frost out in November, should have their chimney¬ 
pots on as soon as Old Christmas has turned his back ; 
and, of course, the warm manure piled around; a whisp of 
j litter tiglitly crammed in serving for a cover. Of course, 
sea-kale may be served the same; but we do not advise 
any but slirewd men of this class to attempt it. 
: Shanking. — Most of our readers know that caldjage- 
plants, lettuces, Ac., are liable to wither up in the stem 
I during the winter months: this may arise from various 
I (;auses. Every one interested in good culture should always 
' keep some really dry dust by him : this furnishes the bulk 
of a useful compost. Let him add to a gallon of this dust 
a half-gallon of quick lime, and as much charcoal dust, and 
stir them well: this will bo found a mixture at once arrest¬ 
ing cankery processes, and an enemy of slugs, snails, Ac. 
R. Ekrington. 
THE APIARIAN’S CALENDAR.— January. 
By J. H. Payne, Esy., Author of “ The Bee-Keeper's \ 
Guide," d'C. 
The sun has again entered his upward course in the j 
ecliptic, and our little pets will be amongst the first to be j 
att'ected by his influence, therefore it behoves their owners i 
to look well to their store of food, now that they will be - 
arousing themselves to life and activity. | 
Feeding. —It will be well, on the first mild and dry day, fo j 
have a thorougli examination of all the stock-s, and to clean I 
the floor-boards. Where it can be ascertained that the 
stock has eight or ten- pounds of honey in store, feeding 
had bettor be put off till next month; but where only four or 
five pounds, it will bo safe to commence at once. If lioney 
or syrup is used, choose a mild, dry evening for supplying it; 
but if barley-sugar, it matters not so much when it is given. 
1 liVEs. —It will now shortly be time to look over the stock 
of hives and boxes for the forthcoming season, and I would 
take this oiiportunity of saying to the readers of The 
Cottage Gardener, who may wish to be supplied through 
me, that if they will malic their applications early, it will 
save much delay and inconvenience; for the poor man who 
makes them suffers under a painful infirmity, which inca¬ 
pacitates him for any other work, and luu-ry, even in this, 
distresses liim much.* 
Snow. —Be careful to close the entrance of every hive 
whilst snow lies upon the ground; for when the sun shines 
upon it the bees are induced to come out, and scarcely one 
in a dozen that alights upon it ever rises again. 
Enemies. —The chief, and, indeed, the only enemies at 
this season, are birds and mice, both of which should be 
carefully guarded against. 
Moons.—The reqiorts generally of bees sent to the moors 
this year are very good, some having obtained a prodigious 
quantity of honey, in an unusually short time, and of first- 
rate quality. To this I can bear testimony ; for through the 
kindness of a friend 1 have been indulged with a bountiful 
supply of it. 
VISITS TO SOME OF THE CHIEF POULTRY 
YARDS OF ENGLAND.-No. 4. 
(Penzance.) 
(Oonliuucd from paye 211.) 
Mr. Fox, the owner of the nursery grounds, is him¬ 
self both a fowl and a qngeon fancier. Of the former he 
possesses several varieties, but they are mostly young birds, 
and have not attained the size and beauty which they will 
doubtless exhibit when the time comes for their appear¬ 
ance in the show-pen. These remarks apply especially to 
some Spanish fowls, as also to a very promising lot of white- 
crested black I’olands—recent importations from celebrated 
breeders. The colour of its plumage is a great recom¬ 
mendation to the Spanish fowl, when kept in close confine¬ 
ment in a yard of limited space, but at the same time no 
bird does greater credit to the owner who indulges it with a 
good run, free from the smoke of towns. The brilliant 
metallic lusti-e which is lavished on well-bred specimens— 
the coral comb, and white ear-lobe extending over the whole 
cheek, have deservedly rendered it a favourite with many. 
In former days Mr. Fox, whom we long remember as a 
poultry-keeper, possessed what were then reckoned first- 
class birds— Miuorcas, or, as they wei e sometimes called, i 
Ancones —fowls somewhat more bulky, Imt destitute of the 
elegance of the pure-bred Spanish, although attaining great 
size, and being capital layers. The various appellations 
assigned to them are geographically con-ect, for throughout 
the whole extent of the IMediterranean coasts a race of fowls 
are found allied to the Spanish, though sadly degenerated 
when compared to the firet class birds of the present day. 
* Mr. P.vyiie’s direction is “ J. H. Payne, Esq., Rory St. Edmunds.” 
