THK COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Jaxvap.y 
1 
foliago, or jDGrforming her evolutions Jiigli up in the air; 
at these times, when called to, she will suddenly make a 
turn, and with ex^janded and motionless wings glide down 
and alight upon the hand which is lield out to her. She 
is very fond of attending upon her mistress when engaged 
in gardening; and if I happen to he at a distant part, will 
sail l)ackwards and forward:?, from one to the other, alight¬ 
ing upon our shoulders. Leing light, her aerial movements 
are very graceful, far surpassing those of the common 
pigeon. She is also pleased at being noticed, and fond of 
sti’angers. That destructive propensity so often observed 
in the species results much from confinement, and is 
scarcely perceptible when they enjoy perfect freedom.— 
S. Jh, Rushmeiw 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Fruit Trees (A Novice^ Lutterworth). —The quality of fruits depends 
entirely on the localities where they are grown ; and so, in some, lieiirre 
Diet is only a second-rate pear, while in others it is of the very finest 
quality, as is the case with you. Generally speaking, in all situations 
south of Derby it is a first-rate fruit, rarely to be surpassed; but we 
know that in the northern counties it is only second-rate. We should 
not suppose the climate of Lutterworth unfavourable to the cultivation 
of Flemish pears ; but from what you say of the “bottom” being dry, 
may in some measure account for your want of success. Although it is 
absolutely necessary for the cultivation of pears that the soil should not 
be wet, still, at the same time, it should be moist. There are some of 
these loamy soils you speak of, which have a dry gravelly bottom, that 
acts like a cullender in draining off every particle of moisture as it falls ; 
and we suspect that is the disadvantage you are labouring under. It is 
not the climate, therefore, but the soil. You do not say whether you 
want dessert or kitchen Apples, we, therefore, send you four of each, as 
follows : —Kerry Pij)pin, Court of Wick, Wyken Pippin, Stunner Pippin, 
Wormsley Pippin, Gulden Winter Pearmain, or King of the Pippins, 
Dumelovv’s Seedling, Gooseberry Apple. The Pears we would recom¬ 
mend you. are Dunmore, Jersey Gratioli, Hacon’s Incomparable, and 
Nelis d’Hiver. 
SiiANGHAE.— T. A . says, “ I am still of opinion that there arc no 
black or pure white thoroughbred Shanghae fowls in England, and 
should be glad, therefore, to know what may be Mr. W. Lort’s, or his 
friends*, ‘ powers to convince me of my error,* and prove that there are 
nnij of either. The word ‘ imported * is so commonly used in these days 
with reference to China fowls, that it ‘ goes for nothing.* **—Why does 
not our correspondent write to Mr. Lort ? 
Gesnera, SuTTONii ALEA (L.).—This, after doing well, came to at 
stand still, and did not grow. On examining the roots they were found 
covered with mealy bug ; what is the cause of this? We might write 
pages, and not be able to satisfy you or ourselves either. Most likely 
the hug came with the plant. You are fortunate that the vermin are con¬ 
fined to the roots, as such a nest was sufficient to give you trouble for 
years to come. If you are sure that none are on the top of the plant, 
and only there, take off a few cuttings to save the sort if you admire it; 
but that done, pitch pot and plant and all into the nearest tire you can 
reach, and that without a moment’s parley. Even though you see no¬ 
thing on the cuttings, wash them well with soap and water. The safest 
plan would be to sacrifice the whole. You could not have a worse 
intruder. 
Lantana MUTABiLis (T. *4. E.). —You treated it as a greenhouse 
plant, and it is growing freely but not blooming. This we arc rather 
1 surprised at. To grow freely at this season requires a warm greenhouse, 
I such as that mentioned to-day by Mr. Fish. In such circumstances, and 
] in a light position, it blooms as it grows. Treated as a greenhouse plant, 
it is most useful for summer blooming; and allowing it to become, in a 
I temperature of about 45°, deciduous in winter. In Blarch or April it 
1 should be cut back, as soon as you see the buds breaking, as freely as you 
I would do a rose, shifted and kept close for a few weeks in a temperature 
I not less than 50°. When removed to the greenhouse about June, it will 
j bloom freely until the end of October. Full details as to greenhouse 
management have already been given. Loam, peat, and a little charcoal, 
will grow it in fine style. During the summer it may cither be top- 
dressed with rotten dung, or watered alternately with manure and Clear¬ 
water. 
Oraxge-Tree (X. y. Z.).—This is blooming, but lost all its leaves, 
and the twigs are getting mouldy, and fruit always falling off when the 
size of peas. This has been planted against the back wail of a green¬ 
house, in a border well drained; in soil, good loam, leaf mould, and 
sand ; and watered occasionally with manure water. Now we must 
require to know more as to access to light and heat before advising; 
meantime, we would give no more manure waterings; ne.xt, we would 
examine the soil, and see first if it is not sodden, notwithstanding the 
drainage ; and next, if it is not very dry after going a few inches from 
the surface. In either case we would replace with fresh soil, and peat 
for such a plant, might be substituted for leaf-mould. Then the position 
should be examined. We should almost conclude your plant was shaded 
in summer, and in a low temperature in winter. A plant can only endure 
the latter, and carry its foliage nicely, when it has full light and a rather 
high temperature in summer. To get an orange plant not only to flower, 
but to fruit, and be healthy against the back wall of a greenhouse, you 
must not only give it full light in summer, but a higher temperature 
than would suit most greenhouse plants, most of which would he better, 
however, in pits or out-of-doors. Then Mr. Fish gave full directions on 
I this subject in an early volume ; but the above will, we think, meet your 
case; if not, tell us, and be more e.xplicit. 
1 Eyed NAILS for training Wall-tref.s (T. Hill). —We did not 
, say that your nails, of which wc gave a drawing, would be more liable to 
cause friction to the branches than others. One thing is quite certain; 
no gardener can fasten a branch .so close to a wall by tying, as he can by 
the common mode of nailing with a shred. The branches, therefore, are 
liable to a freer and greater motion, and if the chaffing is not prevented, 
which would consequently arise if a wire is used, be not obviated in some 
way, no gardener will use them. We believe it would be obviated by 
using a strip of lead as broad as the eye would admit, and twisting the I 
ends, thus screwing, as it w’ere, the branch as tight as can be, by such a j 
mode of training. In answer to your query, apply to a glass-dealer \\\e j 
forget his name) within three doors of the Angel, Islington. 
Ducks (J. S. K.). —For a small garden buy a pair of Teal. You may 
obtain them of the dealers in fancy fowls. ^ 
Nutt’s Celery (J. T.).—Why not write to Mr. Nutt for one of his ' 
shilling packets ? He advertised in our pages a few weeks ago, and you 
will there see his address. ; 
Shanghae Fowls (A. B. C.). —We cannot answ'er for the goodness 
of specimens we have never seen. Price varies capriciously with l 
amateurs. We saw specimens marked at one guinea per pair, at the j 
Great AletropoUtan Show, which w’e would have selected in preference to ! 
others priced by their owners at ten times the amount. 
Potting Sand (J. P. B.). —Our correspondent says that what we 
called “ Killwing sand,” at page 2/4, ought to be “ Killiney sand,** and 
he wishes it to be corrected, because “ to numbers here (Dublin) the in¬ 
formation will be equally valuable.’* 
Dorkings (/. B. F.). —Capt. W. W. Hornby, Knowsley Cottage, 
Prescot, Lancashire. 
Paralysed Limbs (.4 Lover of all that is Haiidsome). —When a fowl 
loses the use of its legs, as in the case of your hen, we have never known 
any remedy that even mitigated the symptoms. We will recur to 
this case. 
Spanish Fowls (,A Subscriber, Leek). —The pure variety is single- 
combed. 
Challenge {J. C. D.). —If we inserted it we should have to pay the 
advertisement duty. 
Work on Poultry (H. //.).—See an advertisement to-day. The 
disease of which your poultry have died since their return from Bir¬ 
mingham must he some violent inflammation. We will mention the case 
again. 
Uemoval of Hothouse (L. Y.).—If attached to the wall, or to the 
foundation, it cannot be removed without the landlord’s consent, but 
you might take away the door, and the moveable windows probably. 
Heating Cucumber-bed (Old Subscriber). —What is the heat in the 
pipe ; and what the aspect ? 
Disease in Pigeons. —We are very much obliged by the following :— 
“ 'rhough I cannot inform J. T. of the cause of the disease with which 
his pigeons are affected, yet it may be acceptable to point out a means of 
removing it. As a boy, I kept pigeons in large numbers, and the disease 
J. T. alludes to was common among them; indeed, so much so, that I 
have removed the lumps from the neck of as many as seven birds in one 
morning. The plan I puriJued, was to make a cut longitudinally over 
the lump, to scoop out the contents, and then to rub the interior of the 
wound with either tincture of iodine, or riga balsam, then at once 
securing the edges together. There was generally considerable bleeding at 
the time, atid for that reason I preferred that my pigeons should be of some 
size and strength before I operated upon them. If the whole of the kernel 
was not removed, I found it grow again, and need a second operation. 
The doing this was not unattended with danger, the proportions of deaths 
being about two iu five. I remember shooting some Wood-pigeons 
which appeared to suffer from the same disease, the flesh having the same 
peculiar rank smell, and being quite uneatable. I am now speaking of 
liovv I treated pigeons some years ago, and there may be now an easier or 
safer method, and if so, it must be known to our most celebrated pigeon- 
fanciers, whose addresses could be obtained without difficulty, and whose 
courtesy would, doubtless, reply to a polite enquiry.”—A. Lort, Ward 
End, near Birmingham. 
Fkrn Shoots .as a Kitchen Vegetable.—A correspondent (Hector) 
savs, “ I enclose you the following extract from Hue’s Travels in Tartary. 
M’ill you be kind enough to say whether you have ever known the young 
stem of the fern cooked as a vegetable.” (vol. 2, p. 86). “ Another dish, 
not less distinguished in our esteem than the preceding, was furnished 
by a plant very common in France, and the merit of which has never 
yet been adequately appreciated : we refer to the young stems of fern; 
when these are gathered quite tender, before they are covered with down, 
and while the first leaves are bent and rolled up in themselves, you have 
only to boil them in pure w’ater to realise a dish of delicious asparagus.” 
Have any of our readers any experience as to the palatableness or 
wholcsomeness of such a dish? 
Rural CvcLOP.EDiA (W. W. W .).—We have never seen this work. 
We know where Shanghae eggs from the best buff strains may be had at 
eighteen shillings the dozen, package included. 
Illustrations of Domestic Poultry (Practical). —It is published 
at Birmingham; when ready for general distribution we have no doubt 
that it will be advertised. 
Names of Plants (G. A .).—Your plant is liochea fnlcatn, being 
named after La Roche, a botanical author. The spots or blotches upon 
the points of some of its leaves may be caused by changes the plant may 
have suffered, from too much watering at the root, or thouglitlcssly over ! 
bend with other plants. It should not be over potted. Soil, sandy loam, 
with pounded bricks, old mortar, or charcoal dust mixed with it, and the 
pots well drained, and kept upon a dry shelf near the glass ; giving a very 
little waiter during the winter, and never over the leaves of the plant at 
any season. (N. T.). — We think No. 1 Erica rnridesceyis. No. 2 Erica 
acuminata, but the specimens are small and damaged. (Devoniensis), — 
Your plant is the CUanthus puniceus, au account of which you will see , 
in the Dictionary, We have it out-of-doors under a south-wall very full ! 
of flower-buds iu a forward state at this time. i 
London: Printed by Harry Wooldridge, Winchester High-street, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Orr, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of 
Christ Church, City of London.—January 20th, 1853. 
