January 22. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
259 
induce a forked growth. It ought also to he at least 
eight inches deep. The Early Horn is the best variety 
for this purpose, and, in fact, for most others in the 
garden, it being much sweeter than the larger kinds. 
A slight sprinkling of Radishes might be sown with the 
carrots; but care must be taken to remove them beiore 
they do any harm to the carrots: and we only advise 
their being sown in consequence of their quicker vege¬ 
tation and after-growth. 
We do not presume the above details are the best to 
suit all cases; so much depends on the available re- 
sources, that much must be lett to the ingenuity ot the 
operator. A low blank wall is a very good place to 
build a bed against, in which the structure will be more 
of a “lean-to” than a “ span root. Mats may also be 
substituted for thatched hurdles, or asphalte may be 
better still; yet we question whether these things will 
keep out the amount of frost that straw does. At all 
events some covering must be used, and that ol a cleanly 
and portable kind, and we are in hopes ot hearing ot 
some friend to horticulture introducing a something 
more suitable for that purpose than anything yet 
known ; but, in the meantime, we must make the most 
we can of what we now possess. 
It will easily suggest itselt to the reader, that the 
above contrivance, or something similar to it, may be 
made to suit other vegetables as well as early carrots, 
such as Potatoes, Radishes, Turnips, as well as to rear 
such plants as Lettuces, Cauliflowers, Celery, &c. The 
two first-named it will most likely be necessary to 
sow in such a position, in order to succeed the last 
autumn-sown crop, when the latter happens (as is olten 
the case) to suffer much during the winter. And, by- 
and-by, a bed of this kind might be made up for French 
Beans, but it is too early for them yet; besides, when 
they are planted in such a position, we advise their 
being raised in some warmer place, hardened oft and 
planted out; but more of this anon. Only we must not 
omit to say that preparations must be made for planting 
Potatoes in such a way; the first crop we presume to 
be progressing under glass, but all after crops may be 
denied that assistance, unless it be made so as to be 
removed soon after without injury to the growing crop. 
Ejtchen-garden Sundries. — Mushroom beds that 
have been some time in bearing, and show symptoms ot 
ceasing to do so, will olten be revived by a sound 
watering with tepid manure-water, and if heat can be 
applied in any shape they will usually rally again. 
Another bed may now be made where there exist modes 
of heating the place they are in, but we must not be 
understood as advising much heat to be applied to a 
mushroom-house in a general way, as that useful agent 
hurries them on too fast, which shortens the season ol 
their duration, so that where there is not abundance ot 
such accommodation, it is better to allow the beds in 
bearing to continue doing so, if they seem so disposed, 
without fire-heat, except in severe weather. Fresh beds 
made now must have double the allowance ol spawn 
that those made in autumn required. After this time 
mushroom beds are rarely made up ; the difficulty there 
is in overcoming the numerous pests they have to con¬ 
tend with about April, in the shape ot maggots, &c., is 
such as to render them less cared for at that period. 
Attend to other things in the course of forcing, and 
subject fresh lots to that ordeal as they seem likely to 
be wanted, taking notice that the same amount ol heat 
applied to Sea-hale will bring it to perfection “ now” in 
two-thirds of the time it required in November and 
December; this, therefore, must regulate the young 
practitioner in any arrangements he may wish to make 
for especial occasions. A pan or two of Celery may 
now be sown, if not done before. Capsicums, also, 
might be put in now; but it is too early yet for 
Tomatoes. We need hardly advise the young cultivator 
to look carefully over his Cucumber plants, and Melons 
too, that may be corning up ; but we last week entered 
rather fully into the first processes necessary to these 
important crops, that we need not repeat it here. Take 
advantage of frosty mornings and dig over the ground 
intended for Onions, &c., so that it may get mellow 
before it be wanted. Look to the first-sown Peas 
which will now be showing themselves, as this is the 
most likely time for mice and other vermin finding 
them. A dredging of soot or wood-ashes will partly 
prevent their ravages, but trapping and other modes of 
extermination must be made use of now, which, how¬ 
ever, ought to have been done before. Examine and 
house Endive that may be wanted; the mildness of the 
winter has enabled these crops to stand unscathed out¬ 
doors, but it is always better to have a supply on hand, 
as before this reaches the reader, the season may be 
as severe as it is now mild, and gardeners ought at all 
times to be prepared for emergencies. J. Robson. 
CAN AURICULA CULTURE BE REVIVED? 
As we began to grow Auriculas more than forty years ago 
under the instruction of poor old Gable, of the City Gardens, 
who managed to beat many country growers at the shows 
round the Metropolis, and, although we were no further from 
the smoke of London than Hackney, were pretty nearly as 
successful as the cunning old florist himself, we never could 
see the sense, nor the object, of those mysterious writers 
who made the Auricula one of the most disagreeable and 
difficult of all flowers to manage to everybody who followed 
their directions. Our compost, like old Gable’s, was simple ; 
our only contrivances, a common garden frame and light, and 
a few hand glasses. 
In 1832, we published a simple, but certain practice, dif¬ 
fering from all previous writers, and not a new idea has 
turned up among all the pretenders, who, without being able 
to grow the flower themselves with any degree of success, 
have, nevertheless, published, in then- own names, or, at 
least, in works under their controul, directions founded on 
old and bold writings, of which we very fully exposed the 
fallacy. Some, indeed, republished our ideas in their own 
words, and, like the growers of Dahlias, Pansies, Tulips, and 
other florists’ flowers, having tried and proved the safety 
and efficacy of our lessons, did not hesitate to publish trea¬ 
tises and instructions founded on their practice, which prac¬ 
tice was adopted from our early instructions. But facts are 
stubborn things; they could not remove our early writings 
from the horticultural works in which they appeared, and 
the only credit they gained was among those who had not 
seen the original. However, for the present race of ama¬ 
teurs, which includes thousands who never look back for , 
teachers, and who will read what is offered from day to day, 
we will, in as few words as possible, give the leading points 
in our successful practice. 
As first and most important, we will give a few remarks 
on compost, which, instead of being formed of bullock’s 
blood, night soil, sugar bakers’ scum, and other filthy nos¬ 
trums,* should be cow-dung, gathered up from pastures and 
rotted into mould, and loam from rotted turf, cut from a pas¬ 
ture as if for laying down on lawns; of the former one part, 
and of the latter two parts. In most cases this will be 
found light, porous, and proper; but if the loam should be 
too adhesive, and, when well mixed, binds too much, use 
only so much clean sand as will moderate the stifl’ness. Use 
in your pots one-fourth from the bottom of crocks (broken 
pots) for drainage, spread the roots out well, which is easily 
done by nearly filling the pot with compost before you 
* We give specimens quoted by Loudon, page 848, “ Encyclopaedia 
of Gardening.” “Three barrowfuls of goose-dung steeped in blood from 
butchers, three barrowfuls of sugar-bakers’ scum, two barrowfuls of fine 
yellow loam.” 
Another: “Two barrowfuls of goose-dung steeped in blood, two bar¬ 
rowfuls of scum, two barrowfuls of night-soil, and two barrowfuls of fine 
yellow loam.” 
One more will be enough: “ Four barrowfuls of loam steeped in night- 
soil and urine, two barrowfuls of goose-dung mixed with blood, two bar- 
rowfuls of scum, and two pecks of sea-sand.” 
flow many ladies and gentlemen may be thus tempted to cultivate the 
Auricula, we leave others to judge. 
