180 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER 
December 18. 
men of floricultural experience and talent, instead of 
societies of dealers, whose interest is diametrically op¬ 
posed to that of the public. 
New French Chrysanthemums (A. B .).—We have 
already noticed the only two worth attention of the 
number now received. Rainbow, which will be sent 
out with three different names, French, English, and 
' Italian, is the best. 
N.—We cannot help wishing that all persons who 
want opinions on perishable things would send their 
packets to 2, Amen Corner, and write outside “ Flowers 
for opinion.” They will be sent to us immediately, 
wherever we are. Then, X’s Chrysanthemum blooms 
would not have perished befox'e we could see them. 
W. 0. S —Pansey blooms now are no index of the 
real flower. The odd character of all three now sent is 
not permanent. W. 0. S. will not know them again in 
the spring of the year. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS CULTURE. 
The Pink. General Management, (concluded from 
page liSl.) 
The Blooming .—This most interesting period, looked 
for by the cultivator with no small anxiety, and provided 
for in the hope of a successful issue, by numberless cares 
and incessant superintendence, will be fast approaching 
about the middle and latter end of May and the begin¬ 
ning of June. As the flower-stems advance in altitude, 
sticks will be required to support the blooms. It is very 
needful to place them to the plants for that purpose 
before the flowers open, because, if delayed till that 
takes place, a heavy fall of rain might break them off, 
or bend them down so much that there would be equal 
danger of breakage in trying to bring them to an 
upright position. The best kind of sticks are those 
made from double laths, split into the required thick¬ 
ness, made round and smooth with a sharp knife. From 
15 to 18 inches will be a proper length. After they are 
made, give them a coat of lead-coloured paint, and when 
that is dry, a second coating.of light green, approaching 
as nearly as possible to the colour of the stems of the 
plants. This making of the sticks and painting them 
will, of necessity, take up some time, and they should, 
therefore, be prepared some time beforehand. The mak¬ 
ing of them would be a pleasant employment for the 
winter evenings. When the flower-stems have advanced 
to six or nine inches in length, proceed without delay to 
place the sticks and tie the stems to them. Be careful 
in thrusting in the sticks not to injure the roots. If any 
of the stems are uncommonly vigorous, let them have 
the longest sticks. The best article to tie them down 
with is some soft new Russia mats, obtained from the 
bark of the lime tree in that country. There has been 
of late years a kind of matting introduced from Cuba, 
which is very excellent for this purpose, but it is much 
more expensive. Amateurs, who do not mind the ex¬ 
pense, will find this an excellent article—it may be pro¬ 
cured of any respectable London tradesman or nursery¬ 
man. The Russia mats are, however, very good, and 
may be more easily obtained. In tying the stems great 
care must be exercised; if tied tight it prevents the stem 
from elongating, and it then bends outwards and forms 
what is called knees, which, if not immediately relieved 
by loosening the string, will snap off' at the joint, and of 
course destroy the bloom on such stems; To prevent 
the occurrence of this misfortune it is prudent to tie 
loosely at first. The string should be tied tightly round 
the stick and then brought round the flower-stem, and 
tied so as to leave room for it to expand, without any 
danger of forming knees or crooked joints. This tying 
will require to be often repeated to keep the stems per¬ 
fectly straight and upright. When they have attained 
their full growth, which happens when the flower buds 
have become large and full, the ties may be tightened, 
and there is then no danger of breaking. 
Thinning the buds .—In order to have large, full 
flowers, it is necessary to reduce their number. If the 
stem is weak, one flower will be as many as it will bring 
to perfection, but if strong, two, or sometimes three, may 
be allowed to bloom. In taking off the extra buds, be 
careful not to crack or injure the stem, a little practice 
will soon enable the new beginner to do this dexterously 
and safely. The next point to attend to is to place 
something round each bud, to prevent them from burst¬ 
ing on one side, or irregularly. Very small Indian rub¬ 
ber rings are the very best articles for this purpose, for 
a reason easily understood, they readily expand as the 
bud swells, and yet are tight enough to answer the pur¬ 
pose of preventing the buds from bursting. If, notwith¬ 
standing these rings, whether of Indian rubber or any 
other material, the buds should still shew inclination to 
open on one side, then take a pair of sharp-pointed 
scissors, and cut open the calyx or flower-cup on the 
opposite side to where the bursting is likely to take 
qdace. This tying the buds is an important point, if 
good, well-shaped flowers are desirable. It should be 
done, like most other operations, in an early stage of the 
bloom, and the ring or tye should be fixed nearly in the 
middle of the bud. If it be lower, it will not prevent the 
bursting, and if above, the bud will swell out below it, 
and then form a monstrous mis-shapen flower. Suppos¬ 
ing that every point of culture has been duly and 
properly attended to, and rightly performed, the flowers 
will begin to expand, shewing the beauties of the open¬ 
ing bloom. Then a fear will be felt by the anxious 
florist, that the consummation of his hopes may yet be 
frustrated by glaring sunshine, stormy winds, or beating 
rain. Shelters from these flower despoilers will then be 
in requisition. The most effectual protection is oiled 
canvass covers stretched over the whole bed, upon a 
frame of hoops and rods. If this mode should be con¬ 
sidered too expensive, caps of the same material, nine 
inches diameter, kept expanded by a frame of wire, will 
answer almost equally as well. Thrust in near to the 
flowers a strong stick, just low enough to be above the 
flower. These shelters may be fastened to the stake by 
a socket on one side of the cap, wedged firmly to keep it 
fast in its place. These being placed in due time over 
the flowers, everything has been done by the careful, 
attentive florist to ensure success. T. Appleby. 
THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 
Brussels Sprouts. —As The Cottage Gardener is 
read by those having many natural difficulties to con- [ 
tend with, as well as by those enjoying a more favoured 
clime, we will make this useful vegetable the sub¬ 
ject of our especial notice; and though it may not, 
in all cases, form so suitable an accompaniment to the I 
other good things sent to table as fine White Brocoli, | 
which, under favourable circumstances, may be ob¬ 
tained in tolerable good succession, yet the fact of its 
being at all times in a state fit for use, has established 
for it a character for universal utility. In those districts 
where the severity of the winter and other things tend 
to check the growth, if not entirely to kill, the more ' 
tender kinds of Brocoli and other things, it is necessary 
to plant a much larger proportion of this and other 
hardy vegetables than is done in more southern lati- I 
tudes; and as we have in our younger days had con- 1 
siderable experience in situations not much favoured by 
nature, we remember it to be customary there to plant 
as large a breadth of Brussels Sprouts as we did of the 
whole class of Brocoli together; and though some of 
our London and southern counties’ friends may think 
