January 22. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
251 
wind. Towards the end of August, if the plants continue to 
grow strongly, go along each row on one side, and with a 
spade cut the roots to within three or four inches of the stem, 
then in about a fortnight go along the other side, and cut 
the roots in the same way, and, if necessary, a third and 
fourth time. This will check the growth of the plants, and 
by ripening the wood induce and promote the blooming 
principle. Chrysanthemums, to bloom them properly, should 
not be planted on a cold soil, as the buds are found to come 
blind, hard-eyed, and otherwise deformed: therefore, in 
cold situations, it will be found advisable to grow the plants 
upon a south border, or to remove them to other situations 
at the end of September. They will not receive much check 
if they are shaded afterwards, and receive a good drenching 
or two of water.” 
GARDENING GOSSIP. 
No greater responsibility can devolve upon a nation, 
than that of imparting to its colonies, and to the foreign 
people beneath its rule, all the knowledge with which 
Christianity and Civilization have blessed its own pro¬ 
gress. A nation which takes upon itself the govern¬ 
ment of another people, conquered by its arms, stands 
pledged to use its power for the benefit of the conquered. 
“ The situation of man is the preceptor of his duty,” 
said Mr. Burke, when hurling his eloquence at the 
East India Company; and though this Company have 
come far short of fulfilling that duty to the people of 
India, yet, in later days, they have made great advances 
in the right direction, and w r e believe that it may now 
be said of them, that where they conquer they benefit. 
One evidence of this, is their having established an 
Experimental Horticultural Garden at Lahore, and we 
have the pleasure to announce that the eldest son of 
our able contributor, Mr. Appleby, is appointed its 
curator, and the following is a very interesting extract 
from one of his letters, which Mr. A. has kindly per¬ 
mitted us to publish— 
It is dated, Lahore, 21st Nov., 1851:—“ Since I wrote you 
last I have succeeded in obtaining the situation of Super- 
intendant of the Punjaub Horticultural Society’s Garden. 
The Garden is about 10 acres, and I live in a house that 
was inhabited by the celebrated Runjeet Sing during the 
summer season ; this house is entirely shaded by immense 
Mango trees. The Garden, generally, is well wooded, both 
with fruit-trees and trees for use and ornament. There are 
some tine coniferte, especially Cupressinre; Gupressus torulosa 
rises here to a truly magnificent tree. Our principal fruits 
are as follows (the native names are printed in italics) :— 
Amygdalus Persica, the peach, Aroo. A. vulgaris, common 
almond, Badainee. A naiive plum, name unknown, Baur. 
Zizyphus jujuba, Eugenia jambos. Mangifera indica, the 
mango, Arab. Pyrus communis, the pear, Arnrood, only one 
variety. The quince, Bek. Eriobotrya japonica, the Loquat. 
Nephelium Litchi, Leechee; this is, deservedly, a much- 
esteemed fruit, and has a splendid appearance as an ever¬ 
green tree. Cookia punctata, Wampee. Guavas, several 
varieties, some of which would be acceptable even in Eng¬ 
land; the red-fruited, Psidium pomiierum, is the most 
esteemed, and called by the natives Lai amroot. Of pome¬ 
granates, Anar, we have several varieties, but not so fine as 
the Cabool ones. Oranges, Kanuujee; Limes, Nimboo; of 
these two we have thousands, which are very acceptable in 
this warm climate; oranges are now in fine fruit, and will 
be ripe next month. Eig, Unjeer, of this fruit we have only 
one variety. Plantain, Kiela, of this, also, we have only 
one species, it is now in flower, and looks like Musa sa- 
pientuui. One sour grape, Limjoor, which has nearly over¬ 
grown a quarter-of-an-acre, it having been attempted to 
grow it on pollards of the mulberry. Grewia Asiatica, 
Bihalsa , is a very nice and pleasant fruit; it being a small 
tree I have no doubt it would fruit in the stoves in Europe. 
We have three varieties of the mulberry, Foot, one a small 
black one, and the other two green-fruited; these are long, 
almost like a caterpillar, and are very sweet. We are 
greatly desirous of having the fine black variety of Europe ; 
the secretary has written, I believe, to the London Horti¬ 
cultural Society for grafts, &c., but we have not received any 
answer as yet. We are much in want of better kinds of 
European fruits. The garden was formerly divided in two; 
I have joined them together, and am forming a drive round 
the outskirts, with an edging of grass and a broad border 
for flowers on each side. The soil is good, but dreadfully 
overrun with weeds, as it has been neglected for years. I 
have cleared one garden and sown it with peas, beans, and 
other European vegetables, which look remarkably well, and 
astonish the natives not a little. I will send you a plan of 
the gardens when I have a little time. The carnage drive 
will be over two miles long, so that the border will take an 
immense quantity of flowers, of which I possess but a small 
lot; any contribution from your friends would be thankfully 
received. 1 am now increasing dahlias as much as possible ; 
the slight frosts here do not hurt them. I have sown about 
1000 pots of annuals to plant in Eebruary. The native 
gardeners are called Malices, and of these I have 14, and 
about 100 labourers, not the most industrious men, but 1 
hope to train them to habits of industry by-and-by. I have 
a tool (only one) of which they have great horror— a spade ! 
The tool used for stirring up the soil is something like 
what you call a spud, to dig up docks with. English gar¬ 
deners would be surprized at the mode of gardening here; 
the native gardeners here will do anything if they can sit to 
it! I intend, if I can possibly manage it, to trench the 
greater part of the garden, crop it with vegetables during 
the cool season, and with tobacco and poppy, to make 
opium with, during the hot season ; I am induced to do it 
in order to raise the means to purchase seeds and plants. 
Our donations and subscriptions come in very handsomely; 
the Governor General has, I hear, been very liberal; 
Government has granted the ground, and finds us in 
bullocks to drag the water with, a very necessary and, in¬ 
deed, indispensable element for us in this, for five months, 
dry climate, besides sending us 40 convicts as labourers. 
“ I am to have another large garden shortly, to cultivate 
European fruits and flowers in, to distribute through the 
upper provinces amongst the natives, and I intend, in a few 
months, to start a gardening periodical for the same dis¬ 
tricts. It is much wanted; garden information is at the 
lowest ebb. There is one for the hot or lower provinces, 
called Speed's Indian Gardener, but very short, and not 
fitted for these parts.” 
The plan of giving prizes for the best blooms of a 
flower that a dealer lias to sell, is getting well under¬ 
stood. It pays well to give a few pounds in prizes, if it 
tempts people to buy ten times the value in the hope of 
showing for them. The only honest way of doing this ; 
is, if a man has a yellow, to give prizes for the best 
yellow; if he has a white, to give prizes for the best 
white, and so on, challenging all that are out; tor it a 
flower will not beat all in its class, or, at least, equal the 
best, it is a fraud to let it out as a full-priced novelty. 
It is, perhaps, too late with some of the societies to 
suggest, that they ought to give respectable prizes to 
those flowers which not only make a good appearance, 
but which especially show the skill of the gardener; we 
allude to Balsams and Cockscombs, which everybody 
may begin in Eebruary or March, or even April, accord¬ 
ing to the month of show. These prizes, therefore j 1 
cannot be swamped, as many are, by people well stored 
with the plants to be exhibited. 
There are few things more effective, or that better deserve 
encouragement; we do not mean one or two prizes, but, as 
many can exhibit, five or six prizes, and let the Societies 
decide what sized pots they shall be shown in, say 24s, or 
