410 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
March 25. 
the year. All the fuchsias will bear any amount of moist heat, from 45° 
or 55° at night, up to 75° or 85° by day. We have had the most perfect 
specimens of F. splendens, which is much allied to the cordifolia, by 
the 10th of March in full bloom, grown in the common cucumber-pit 
with that fruit. It was placed there about the middle of January. The 
j roots were examined to see that these were all right, and if a larger pot 
had been required it would have been given, minding good drainage, and 
I not a very large shift. We never found old plants of fuchsias like their 
i roots cut away much at shifting times. It is best to give them larger 
j pots. Some favourite kinds of fuchsias that we keep year after year, are 
cut in to a single stem, or cut right down ; at any rate, they are finally 
1 pruned at the time we want to store them away in October, November, or 
December, as the case may be. lly doing this they take up but little 
room, and may be often placed alternately upon some of the back shelves 
between the leafy plants, such as the pelargoniums. 
Budding Knives (X. X .).—We have received all ours from Mr. 
Turner, Parkwood Springs, Neepsend, Sheffield. He is not too “ mighty ” 
to refuse answering letters. Write again. 
Calceolarias (E. L.).— Mr. Fish gives all the information you 
require, we think, in our Number 102, published last November. 
Various Queries (A Well-wisher ).—“ Enlicher’s Synopsis ” has not 
been translated into English, but it is the basis of Lindley’s “ Vegetable 
Kingdom.” Goethe’s “ Metamorphoses ” has not appeared in an English 
dress. Cantua dependens and C. buxifolia are the same plant. Mr. 
Weaver has promised to go on with “ the good old-fashioned hardy border 
plants.” We do not know of a stud book, or pedigree, of geraniums; 
Mr. Beaton could give as much information on the point as any one. 
The Principles of Gardening would suit you. Mr. Bohn has the remnant 
of the edition. 
Strutiiiopteris [E. Copland ).—The derivation in The Cottage 
Gardeners' Dictionary is correct. The name alludes to the fronds of the 
fern resembling in form the plumes of the ostrich. If you refer to Park- 
hurst’s Greek Lexicon ( Struthinn ), you will find that the same Greek 
word is used for the ostrich and the sparrow. 
Size of Boiler (W. R . W.). — The size of a boiler has nothing to do 
with its heating power, hut the amount of its surface exposed to the fire. 
If you have two square feet exposed to the fire, it will be enough to warm 
your room. 
Peat Soil [W. T. P .).—When we said at page 376 , that ‘‘every ten 
parts of the soil contained three parts of vegetable matter,” we spoke of 
it disparagingly as a soil to be employed as peat ; for general purposes, as 
an enricher of the kitchen-garden, &c., the more vegetable matter the 
better. The best peat soil is composed of about three parts siliceous 
sand, and one part vegetable fibres. A few drops of water in which gall- 
nuts have been boiled, if put into the drainage water, will strike it black 
if it contains iron in solution. Do not send us any samples, we never 
undertake the analysis of a soil for less than two guineas. Sow your 
Mignonette now in pots, to turn out into the open air, without disturb¬ 
ance, at the end of April. Sow Lupinus nanus for your edging imme¬ 
diately. By a north wall is meant that side of it that faces the north. 
Polish Fowls (A Subscriber from the very first ).—The golden- 
spangled and black varieties are equally prolific and equally hardy, so 
you may suit your own taste. Your other letter we suppose was not 
received. 
Cochin-China Fowls [Evesham ).—If the eggs are fresh they do not 
require a longer time for hatching than those'of other fowls, but instances 
in all occur of a day or two longer being required for incubation. The 
first number of the work you mention is now published, but we have not 
seen it. 
Fruit Border (IE’., Cork). —If we had one that could be only three 
feet wide, and on a steep declivity, we should make it three feet deep, and 
this, with extra space allowed between the two trees, would give sufficient 
pasturage for their roots. 
Nutt’s Celery ( Ignoramus ).—If we required any of the seed we 
should have enclosed twelve postage stamps to “Mr. John Nutt, St. 
John’s Church, Park, Sheffield,” and ask him to return the value in seed. 
Do not remove the dressing from your Asparagus beds, but fork it in 
j lightly immediately. The Double Dwarf Sunflower does not produce 
| seed. For next year’s flowering do not sow the plants you mention 
until next September. The Hsld's should be sown in pots in a gentle hot¬ 
bed without any delay. 
Geraniums and Dahlias ( Whittington ).—You will find what you 
ask for at pp. 312 and 150.of the present volume. 
Early Prolific Rhubarb.— We were in error at p. 347. The raiser 
of it is Sir. E. Randall, Slarket Gardener, Brixton. 
Books on Bees [J. B.).— They are all excellent, and we have them 
all, but really are unable to say which is best. They vary in price from 
4s. to 5s. each. Melons can be grown in large pots, and trained along 
the sides of a cucumber frame. Plunge the pots in the soil of the bed. 
Orchard Houses (G . S. B.). —We can state positively that the fruit 
grown in these, though not quite equal to the same grown on the open 
walls, is far superior to any that is forced. Orchard houses are more for 
shelter than for forcing, and permit more free admission of air, even 
remoiing the sashes, which secures more colour and flavour in the fruit. 
Newly-planted Fruit-trees (A Subscriber ).—We know of no 
method whereby these “ can be made to bear fruit soon.” All that you 
' can do is to mulch over their roots, and by other careful cultivation, to 
take care that they are not checked, so as to come into bearing later than 
! is absolutely needed. Abuti/on striatum thrives against a south wall in 
Hampshire, but we do not think it would survive the winter on a lawn. 
You cannot get rid of the worm-casts. The only way to check their 
production is to have your lawn soaked occasionally with lime-water. 
Names of Plants (J . //.),— 1. Hydrangea quercifolia. 2. Scilla 
prsecox. 3. Scilla bifolia. [An Original Subscriber). The plant which 
has sprung up among your orchids we believe to be Petiveria atliucea. 
It is common in the savannahs and woods of the West Indies. 
CALENDAR FOR APRIL. 
ORCHID HOUSE. 
Air. —The days are now considerably longer, and the sun lias more 
power, consequently more air will be required to keep the heat moderate. 
Baskets, continue to renew, if not finished last month ; dip them in 
tepid water once a week ; put in baskets plants to ornament the house, 
such as JEschynanthus, Achimenes, Iloya bella, Agalmyla staminea, and 
any other drooping freely-flowering plants. Blocks, syringe daily. Den- 
drobiums, and other plants in flower, remove into a cooler house ; they 
will then last much longer in flower, but as soon as the bloom is over, re¬ 
turn them into the warm house to finish heir annual growth. Heat. — 
As the plants will now be growing freely, they require the maximum of 
heat; in the Indian house, 7 50 fo 90° by day, 65° to 70° by night; the 
Mexican house should be 10° lower. Insects will now multiply Tapidlv ; 
use every means to extirpate them, and prevent their increase. Potting, 
continue to all such as require it: the grand rule is to pot orchids as 
soon as new growths are apparent. Syringe freely in dull weather in 
the mornings only, but during sunny weather, syringe in the evenings 
also, shutting up the houses close previously to syringing ; a moist growing 
atmosphere will be the consequence. Water. —As the growths advance, 
increase the quantity of water at the root; dash it freely upon the plat¬ 
forms, walks, and walls daily, to keep up a large amount ot atmospheric 
moisture. I, T. Appleby. 
PLANT STOVE. 
Achimenes, re-pot and divide, if required, the first potted batch: 
specimens may now be made, by placing several plants in a large shallow 
pot in leaf mould, chopped sphagnum, and turfy loam. TEsciiynan- 
tiius, pot and train to a globular trellis ; these make fine showy plants. 
Air, give freely on all favourable occasions. Amaryllises, pot and 
plunge in a bark-bed in a pit, to start them into flower and grow th. 
Bark, renew, by sifting the old bark, removing the fine particles that pass 
through the sieve, keeping the rough in the pit, and adding sufficient 
fresh bark to raise it a little higher than the level; do not plunge the 
plants till the heat is moderated. Climbers, dress, tie, and train neatly. 
Heat. —Keep up a brisk heat by day, but more moderate during the 
night. Ixoras, attend to specimens of, and tie them out so as to form 
dense handsome bushes. Moisture, give to the air of the house by 
dashing water about upon the floors, walls, and liot-watcr pipes. Pot¬ 
ting, general; finish the first early in the month. Red Spider, and all 
other insects, diligently destroy ; wash the flues or pipes with water and 
sulphur mixed together; lay it on with a whitewash brush. Water, give 
abundance of to growing- plants ; keep every part clean and sweet, all 
decaying leaves remove, and syringe the leaves of the plants daily, especi¬ 
ally as a days bright sunshine. T. Appleby. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Auriculas and Polyanthuses will now be advancing fast into 
bloom; shade from bright sun, and shelter from heavy rains. Carna¬ 
tions and Picotees finish potting; shelter from severe weather. 
Chrysanthemums, pot off cuttings put in last month ; put in more cut¬ 
tings, b., keep them in close frames till fresh rooted. Cinerarias coming 
into flower remove into the greenhouse ; young plants re-pot; smoke fre¬ 
quently to destroy green-fly. Calceolarias advance a stage by re-pot¬ 
ting ; smoke these also ; frequently the green-fly is their grand enemy- 
Dahlias, pot off cuttings; some that are scarce may yet have cuttings of 
put in; give plenty of air to growing plants; old roots plant in borders to¬ 
wards the end of the month. Fuchsias, continue to increase by cuttings, 
if required; specimens ot forms by re-potting twice during the month ; re¬ 
pot old plants ; shake off a large portion of the old soil, and pot them in 
the same sized pots. Hollyhocks, finish planting, b.; mulch with 
short litter; sow seed in shallow pans in a gentle heat, or sow in open 
borders, or nursery beds. Mimuluses, divide, and re-pot in light rich 
compost. Pansies may yet be planted in beds ; stir the surface of the 
soil of the beds planted last month. Pinks, cover bed with a thin 
mulching of very rotten dung, stirring the soil previously ; sow seed of 
either in the open border, or in shallow pans. Ranunculuses; if the 
soil on the surface has become hard, stir it gently, breaking the clods 
with the fingers; keep a good look out for slugs, if they abound give a 
good watering with lime water. Tulips; be very particular, and keep 
them well sheltered from late spring frosts, but expose them to all the 
favourable influences of mild rain, and the warm beams of the spring 
sun. Weeds, never allow to advance beyond the seed-leaf. 
T. Atpleby. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Annuals (Tender), prick out those sown in February and March into 
a hotbed ; water gently but often ; sow in hotbed ; (Hardy) may be sown 
in borders, &c., to remain ; thin those advancing. Auriculas in bloom, 
shelter. (See Hyacinths.) Supply with water often ; those for seed, 
plunge pots in a sheltered border, where they can have sun until 11 
o’clock; plant offsets; propagate by slips; seedlings shade during mid¬ 
day. Auriculas done flowering, place out of doors, ant^ separate off¬ 
sets. Rox edgings may be made, and old taken up, slipped, and re¬ 
planted; clip box edgings. Biennials, finish sowing, b. ; plant out 
those sown last spring. Bulbs, in water-glasses, done flowering, plant 
in ground after cutting down stalks, but not leaves. Carnations, in 
pots, give liquid manure every third time, very weak, and water often ; 
stir the earth ; sow, e. ; plant into borders, b. Climbing plants, train 
and regulate. Layer Rhododendrons and hardy Azaleas. Dahlias, 
plant to remain, b.; or in pots, to forward in a frame until May. Dress 
the borders, &c., indcfatigably. Frames, raise, by supporters at the 
bottom, as the plants within grow tall. Grass, mow once a week, and 
roll oftener; trim edges; dress with earth if poor; and sow seeds, 
especially white and small yellow Clover. Gravel, turn and lay 
afresh in dry weather; roll after rainy weather often. Hoeing and 
Raking walks give up, and lay them down in concrete. Hyacinths, 
shelter from sun by an awning or matting over the beds, from nine to 
four ; give tlie same shelter in bad weather day and night; cut flower- 
