298 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 5. 
lay on eight inches, and over the whole space between the trunk and eight 
feet from it. 
Brussels Stocks (SO. —These appear to be a very coarse-wooded 
Plum—a wilding. We believe our nurserymen bud Nectarines and 
Peaches on the Muscle stock, another wilding Plum, and Apricots on the 
same, or what is called a “ commoner ” stock. 
C. P.—We will see what can be done for you shortly as to Orchard- 
houses. 
Paddock and Kitchen-Garden (A Constant Subscriber). — You 
should have stated the depth and character of both soil and subsoil of 
your paddock land. It is really a pity that all querists will not give the 
data necessary; half a dozen lines distinctly given would generally com¬ 
prise the largest case. If your paddock land is a free loam and deep, a 
good working will suflice for getting a nice tilth for the seeds. If stubborn 
and shallow soil, it would be advisable to apply old manure, harrowing it 
in the surface before rolling the seeds. A dressing of Peruvian guano, 
mixed with plenty of ashes and some soot, would answer well. In the 
former case, you will have to dress the grass roots when established. 
Farmers here would have a crop of oats or barley with the seeds. As to 
your kitchen-garden, be sure you form platforms for your trees, marking 
out stations ; being “a constant subscriber,” just turnover our index, 
and look for “ platforms,” “stations,” &c. Age of trees for kitchen- 
garden, about three or four years from the bud or graft. Pears on 
Quince stocks. Pears for your purpose : Jargonelle, Dunmore, Williams’ 
Boncliretien, Beiirre d’ Arnaults, Louis bonne of Jersey, Beurre Diet, 
Glout Morceuu, Ne plus Meuris. Apples: Early Margaret, Kerry 
Pippin, Golden Drop, Bibston Pippin, Pearson’s Plate, Lamb Abbey 
Pearmain, Old Nonpareil. Gooseberries: Early Green Hairy, Green 
Gage, Champagne, Warrington, Rockwood, Scorpion, Coe’s Late Red, 
Rumbullion, and Old Rough Red. Currants : Black Naples, Hough¬ 
ton Castle Red, Red Dutch, Knight’s Sweet Red, and White Dutch. 
Raspberries : Fastolff, Yellow Antwerp, Large Fruited Monthly, In 
ornamental shrubs you will do well to' apply to a first-rate nurseryman 
for a catalogue. 
Pampas Grass (A New Subscriber). —In reply to your queries, Mr. 
Moore, of the Glasnevin Gardens, says, “ The Pampas Grass has been 
tried in England, and found to succeed admirably. Mr. Hutton, of 
Putney Park, near London, got a plant from the Glasnevin Gardens a 
few years ago, which now rivals any specimen which has yet been pro¬ 
duced in Ireland. The foliage is very rigid, and much serrated at the 
edges, consequently useless for cattle in the British Isles, where so many 
of the most valuable species of grasses are easily grown. On the great 
South American pampas, it is eaten by the herds of wild cattle which 
roam over these extensive plains. The foliage grows six feet long in 
favourable localities, and the flowering culms from nine to eleven feet 
where the plants are strong ; from six to eight on weak plants. It has 
never yet ripened seed in Europe. The only way it can be obtained is by 
plants, which have been sent to the principal public gardens and nur¬ 
series in England and Scotland from the Glasnevin Gardens.” 
Cineraria maritima (A Subscriber, East Retford). —Send us your 
address on a stamped envelope, and a post-stamp with it, and we will 
forward it to a friend who will perhaps supply you. We cannot promise 
any alteration as to the last page. 
Many Queries.— X. Y. Z. wishes to learn a good mode of drying 
Cherries and Currants ; how to Crystallize Fruits with sugar ; whether 
a cheap Cider Mill worked by one man is procurable; and how to make 
Black Puddings ? 
Guano (Ibid). —Lime is one of the worst of possible mixtures with 
guano : it helps to set free the ammonia in it. 
Dissolving Bones (Hid).—The bones should be ground fine, sprinkled 
with half the weight of the strongest sulphuric acid (oil of vitrol) that is 
to be used ; and of this acid half-a-pound is required for each pound of 
bones. The mixture to be made in a cask much larger than is required 
for the quantity to be made, as the materials swell when mixed. Stir 
with a wooden pole, and be careful, as the mixture is corrosive. 
Red-spangled Dorking Fowls.— If H. H. will send us his direction 
on a stamped envelope we have a communication for him. 
Root-pruning (Omega)— Never mind the gravel; begin to grub 
through it sideways under the tree, and cut through any tap-roots that 
have entered it. 
Beer-shops (G. Dawson). —We quite agree with you that “ one-half 
of what is yearly spent, in worse than useless drinking, in almost any 
neighbourhood, would more than amply supply the same with useful 
books and periodical literature.” This is a fact that cannot be too much 
enforced upon cottagers. 
Bees—Gas Tar (W. F. G.).-We have seen bee-houses painted with 
gas tar that had been previously boiled, without injuring them by its 
smell; but it is a bad paint for the purpose, the bees alighting on it, and 
being entrapped as if by bird-lime. 
Heating a Pit (W. Salcombe). —Can any one of our readers state his 
experience of obtaining hottom-lieat, as well as top-heat, by means of 
one flow and one return pipe ? 
Cornwall Poultry' Show (G. E.). —The money stated after each 
prize winner, is the price asked for the birds exhibited. The large sums 
are usually intended by the owners to prevent a sale. 
Arrangement of Colours (Rhiwargor).— Mr. Beaton has no time 
just now. We will see about the other queries. 
Grafts on upper side of Branch (Verax), —We are sorry you can- 
branch prepared for receiving the scion. 
BRANCn WITH SCION INSERTED. 
not comprehend how grafts can be put in a branch without beheading it. 
For the sake of our readers, as well as yourself, we insert a sketch Mr. 
Fleming has sent us, of his mode of grafting on the upper side of the 
branches of pears, or as he says, “of any other of the hardy fruits that 
require to be grafted.” We trust you will profit by it. Your inquiries 
about vines in pots shall be answered shortly. 
Gooseberry Caterpillars (T. M. W.).—We should pity the man 
who relied upon destroying these by putting a piece of furze in full 
bloom in the middle of the bush. 
Title-page of Cottage Gardeners’ Dictionary (G. H. J .).<— 
This is published, and the work concluded. Your seeds are of the Moun¬ 
tain Spinach or Orach (Atriplex hortensis). It is much used in France. 
Root-boiling House and Greenhouse (J. M.). —See what Mr. 
Fish has said to-day. 
Soil for American Plants (A Constant Subscriber). —The “moist 
black peat ” you mention will not do under any circumstances. That is 
bog peat, useful only for burning. You must not use lime either. If 
you cannot obtain any real peat soil from a sandy heath, you must com¬ 
pound a soil, as best you can, of two parts light gravelly soil, two parts 
sand, one part lcaf-inould, and one part old sawdust. 
get in, if the wood-work and glazing are near the mark. Such damp 
now would be ruinous to many plants. If the flue passing the end of 
the house will not give sufficient heat, you must either obtain more heat, 
or husband it by covering the glass in cold weather. Even in mild 
weather, get what heat you can, and ventilate freely, as this is not the 
time to give a close humid atmosphere to any flowering plants, unless 
those just beginning to grow. 
Currants against a Wall (Mesembryanthemum). —You may allow 
these to grow up in a single stem without stopping, and by pruning close 
have no wide-extending branches at all. The fruit is then borne in 
clusters close to the stem. If so trained on what may be called the long- 
rod system, the plants need not be more than three feet apart. Your 
other queries next week. 
Cuttings (An Amateur). —Covering the soil in the pots with sand 
will be more effectual in preventing the cuttings damping-off than so 
covering the surface of the hotbed. Plunge the pots, and admit air day 
and night, if possible. Excess of stagnant moisture is the chief cause 
of damping-off. Sowing peas, or any other crop, year- after year on the 
same plot, is very bad practice. See what Mr. Robson says to-day on 
“ Rotation of Crops.” 
Correa Leaves Falling (W. B.). —The roughness iu the leaf is 
natural to it; after flowering, and as new growth proceeds, many of the 
old leaves will get rusted and drop. This, however, is not the reason of 
both your young and old leaves dropping. We suspect it is solely owing 
to moving it from a temperature of 50°, into a house very damp, and as 
low at times as the freezing point. We cannot see how the water should 
London: Printed by Harry Wooldridge, Winchester High-street, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Oer, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of 
Christ Church, City of London.—February 5th, 1852. 
