March 31. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
500 
latter end of March they had shot above ground. Empty 
flower pots where placed over them when frost was expected; 
hut, notwithstanding all the care bestowed upon them, the 
frost, at the end of April and beginning of May, injured the 
leaves, causing them to “spot” and decay. The plants 
grew pretty well throughout the summer, aud “ showed ” 
flower early in September. A frost occurred (which killed 
back Dahlias), and prevented the blossoms coming to ma¬ 
turity. The stems were suffered to die down, and the bed 
was covered with dry “ tan,” to protect the bulbs from frost. 
The succeeding year a repetition took place of early growth, 
injury from frost, aud spot on tlie leaf. Their period of 
flowering was as late as the preceding year, and the result 
being so unsatisfatory, they were fresh potted, and have 
since made good specimens by the management described 
in your last number. 
To advance, or hasten, their period of blooming, appeared 
to me to be absolutely necessary, to secure a display of these 
Lilies in the open air. This is effected by removing them 
from their winter quarters early in .lannary; starting them 
in any structure where there is a gentle warmth—green¬ 
house, pit, or vinery; encouraging tlieir growth, without 
check, until all danger from frost is passed; and pluiiyiii^ 
them in suitable situations in the garden. Thus, a small 
circle cut in the turl', aud sunk sufliciently deep to conceal 
the pot, has a very good effect, or a vacancy may be filled in 
an herbaceous bed. The plants will continue in flower for a 
mouth, and have a fine effect. I may mention, that in 
addition to the bed prepared above, two or three other 
plants were turned out in other places, and suffered to 
remain for the third year, but with the same ill-success. 
And now, having stated the facts of the case, allow me to 
say, that I hope the present communication may have the 
effect of eliciting from your coiTespondeuts an account of 
their experience in the matter. The fact of the hurdi/ 
nature of these Lilies is of importance, not alone, as your 
talented writer, Mr. Fish, suggests, to the exhibitors of this 
very useful aud beautiful autumnal flower, but also to the 
many who are induced to begin acquaintance with it, by 
placing it in a situation unfavourable to its progress. When 
the evidence is s;uumed-up, “ treatment,” “ locality,” “ suc¬ 
cess,” “ or the want of it,” let the honorary duty devolve 
upon yourself, aud your “ coadjutors,” to pronounce judg¬ 
ment, and there can be no appeal from your decision,— 
George Mackie, Delapre Abbey, Kurihamplon. 
AUTUMN PELARGONIUM SOWING. 
In reference to a notice to “W. H. 0.” (page 171), on 
the subject of sowing seed of relargoniums, an amateur 
correspondent writes us that he has for several years adopted 
the plan of sowing the seed as soon as ripe, and has never 
found auy difficulty in wintering the plants. 
As proof that this may be done, he says that last year he 
did not sow his seed till the latter end of September, an 
accident having delayed him a month longer than necessary 
—that he potted-off 120 seedling plants, the middle of No¬ 
vember, into small OO’s, in very sandy soil, with abundant 
chai’coal drainage, and placed them near the glass, in a 
small greenhouse, having light on the south-west aud 
north-west only, where no fire was lighted till the frosts of 
February; and that out of the 120 plants, only five have 
damped-off', though upwards of fifty are from “Fancies,” 
and the past winter must be acknowledged to have been a 
trying one for the experiment. 
[AVe have no doubt of the correctness of this statement; 
and with those who have the requisite skill and conveniences 
autumn-sowing may be adopted with the certainty of ob¬ 
taining forwarder plants than if the sowing is deferred until 
the spring ; but the plants from spring-sowings require the 
least attention, and incur the least danger.—En. C. G.] 
At page 4t8, col. 1, line 30 from the bottom, read “ frosts cease to be 
apprehended.” 
EGG-EATING HENS AND PULLETS. 
From several recent instances of fowls that have mani¬ 
fested the above unnatural propensity, I am led to believe, 
that in most cases it will be found to occur where the birds 
have been kept in close confinement, and, consequently, 
deprived of their natural supply of animal food—such ns 
worms and insects. Under such circumstances, a euro has 
been effected by allowing them, twice or thrice a-wcek, a 
portion of dressed meat; and this, too, after all the usual 
remedies of mustard and cayenne have not only failed, but 
even appeared to induce a greater relisli for the highly- 
seasoned mixture. 
The necessity, moreover, of animal food, is probably ns 
great at the present as at any season of the year; for not 
only is it chilly and cold, but heavy demands arc being 
made on the bird’s system for the production of the very 
eggs which come to so untimely an end. 
It may happen that the habit has been at times en¬ 
gendered by a desire for the calcareous matter of the shell, 
without further intentions on its contents, but temptation 
then became too strong, and both were devoured alike. The 
cause, however, would still be the same, viz., inability to 
obtain what was necessary, either for food, or the formation 
of the shell. 
Put, wherever fowls enjoying a good run manifested this 
inclination, we should, indeed, despair of a cure.—AV. AA'. 
AATnofield. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
*** We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of 
Tnn Cottage Gardenee. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. All communications should be addressed “ To the Editor of 
the Cottage Gardener, 2, Amen Corner, Paternoster Row, London," 
Flowers for North Wall (Fanny).—Very few, if any, annuals 
will do much good on the shady side of a high north wall; but what are 
suitable to plant there depends on what the place is used for—whether 
a long narrow border, or a wide short border, or if the place is open to 
the north, or if the place is indeed a flower-garden, or a framing-ground, 
or what ? 
Rhododendrons ( A , B.). —It is the next thing to hopelessness to 
patch up any contrivance for growing Rhododendrons where the soil and 
situation are “ evidently too dry for them with natural drainage.” Rut a 
good depth, say a foot, of clay, packed close, under them, is one of the 
best contrivances. In dry weather the clay cracks sufficiently to carry off 
the wet when it rains, so that there is no occasion for having the clay in 
lumps. We h.ave used clay ourselves this way extensively, but not for 
Rhododendrons, and we often put in a foot of it in a state of puddle, and 
that is the best w ay under a Rhododendron bed. 
Roses from Eyes (E. F.). —We are in the same predicament as 
yourself, for we cannot understand the story that was quoted for you by 
a friend from some periodical. Are they not quizzing you ? The faculty 
may possibly know the process, as you say, but the faculty have a way of 
keeping their ways and doings from the ken of others, and it would be 
useless to ask explanations from any of them. For the rest, we are of 
the same opinion as yourself. 
Blighted Vine (Mrs. T, H.). —Your Vine-shoot was in such with¬ 
ered state, that it was utterly impossible to ascertain what the ailment 
was. It may be the sad Vine-mildew; but, from the remark in your ] 
note, “ which came over two nights ago,” it is not unlikely that some 1 
pernicious gas from flues may have corrupted the air of the house. To 
advise you safely is difficult, unlesson the spot; cannot you refer to some ; 
really good gardener near ? At all events, we would apply sulphur ; 
liberally all over them ; not in patches, but thoroughly suffused by a > 
powder-puff, or the hand, using a sudden jerk. W’e say this, supposing I 
that your fruit is destroyed for this season ; and, indeed, judging from 
the character of the wood, and the “ make ” of the bunch, a rest from 
bearing may do them good. 
Rough Platf, Glass (A Backwoodsman). — We have heard of 
Melons succeeding under this; but they need all the light of our climate. 
Two feet of tan should produce heat enough at this season, if confined ; 
as to soil, they love depth; do not give less than a foot. 11 is the general 
practice to take up the Ranunculus, when the stems are decayed. 
Poultry house (G. P.). —Fourteen feet by eight feet would give ' 
ample accommodation for your proposed flock of sixteen fowls; and, 
with poultry, it is wise to be over, rather than under-housed. Warming 
poultry-houses is a subject that requires more attention tlian has been as 
yet given to it. The most successful breeders of early chickens have 
had the back of their houses against a kitchen, or other large flue ; and 
we have seen open grates, fenced off w ith wire, employed for this pur¬ 
pose. The latter, as aiding ventilation, we should prefer to any arrange¬ 
ment of hot-water pipes ; and it must be remembered that our object is 
merely to guard against excessive cold—for a hot poultry-house would be 
far worse than a cold one. “ The Poultry-book ” will give you every 
information as to size and details of poultry-houses and yards.—W. 
Egyptian Fow'ls. —“ In referring to your 231st Number, as to Egyptian 
Fowls, I have had a lot lately from Alexandria. They are perfectly' white; 
round and plump ; are of a middle size; good layers, of a large egg for 
their size; have a large comb, very pendulous to one side; and have all 
the appearance of a distinct variety. I exhibited them at the Birming¬ 
ham Show, when they attracted attention.— James Joseph Nolan, 
Bachelor’s Walk, Dublin.” [Mr. Nolan’s description confirms our 
opinion, that in fowls imported from Egypt, the Spanish type would 
probably be prominent, and “ the large comb, very pendulous on one 
side,” points to the principal characteristic of that family.—AV.] i 
