106 
THE COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 
November 18. 
high, as discnssecl in a paper a few weeks since. Too 
mucli cannot be said in favour of that practice on all 
retentive bottoms. As contributory to a dwarfing system, 
too, I consider it indispensable, especially in our more 
nortliern counties, or those which possess an excess of 
air-moisture iu general. 
Again, let me allude to the immense benefit that 
would accrue from a more general adoption of the 
]jlatjhrm mode of planting, as oue of the essentials of 
success, where choice fruit-trees are planted in good 
aspects in kitchen-gardens, and where a dwarf and 
easily-manageable liabit, combined with early fruit¬ 
bearing, are required. 
In all cases of autumn-planting of fruit-trees, T advise 
that they be removed with all the roots ))ossible ; that 
care be taken, as much as possible, that the roots are 
not galled, or rubbed, in any way; and that they are 
never suffered to become dry for a moment, from the 
period of removal to their being placed iu their final 
position. I shall bo here reminded, that all this is 
difficult with regard to ordinary labourers; and, iu truth, 
it is; hut, at least, such is the course to he aimed at, 
and he who approaches the nearest will the sooner 
achieve success. I never tread the soil about newl}"- 
planted fruit-trees, neither will I advocate it. It seems 
ridiculous to hear people talk of treading the soil firm 
about the roots, who, at the same time, will tell you 
of how some of their established trees throve whilst the 
soil was free and open, and yet fell off when the soil 
became close. If there were no other means of closing 
the interstices amongst the roots, why T should, perhaps, 
thus practice; but there is a much better one. My 
practice is, to scatter the fresh, or prepared, compost 
amongst the fibres equally, until the roots are just out 
of sight; then to take a heavy-rosed water-pot and wash 
them in heavily with it. As soon as fairly settled, we 
fill up, covering the whole with six inches more soil 
than we intend finally to remain. In the month ol 
March, we draw off the superfluous soil, and as soon as 
the ground is warmed, about the middle of April, apply 
a coat of mould four inches in thickness. 
Now, this watering-in is not puddling, neither in¬ 
tended for it. but simply using water with subdued 
force to carrying the soil into every crevice. 
In planting ordinary Orchard-trees there is no need 
to be so particular. But although composts, and, iu 
some cases, impervious bottoms, may be unnecessary, 
from the excellent native character of the soil and 
subsoil, yet here, too, I beg to recommend, that the 
trees, in all cases, be kept well up, just in proportion 
as the soil below is damp, or adhesive, and the air 
above, owing to peculiar local circumstances, is, on the 
average, charged with moisture. 
In many cases, however, it will be found good 
practice to use stone, or other material, beneath these, 
also, whatever people may do in great Orchard districts, 
which have become so, simply on account of the great 
natural advantages they possess. 
One point I may here again refer to, being strongly 
impressed with its importance. It is this:—When 
introducing stone, or other impervious material, to form 
a bottom, to observe carefully the ordinary level, or, 
rather, depth, of the true surface-soil; and to take care 
that the surface of the stone be not an inch lower than 
the bottom of the true siu’face-soil. Of what use is it 
putting stone, if the roots are still to be decoyed into an 
improper medium ? 
In all cases of ordinary Orchard planting, it would 
be well to have the holes excavated, and the soil 
separated a month or two before the final jilauting. An 
opportunity thus occurs of correcting the soil, and of 
ascertaining the character of the bottom, as to wet, tSre. 
E. Errington. 
The Progress oe Gardening. —It is a doubtful 
question with some, whether gardening is ])rogressiijg 
or not; that it is progressing, we have vei’y little doubt; 
but to elucidate the subject, let us look around us, and 
see wbat has been done within the last few j'ears. To 
judge of the taste for gardening that is diffusing itself 
rapidly in the neighbourhood of London, it is only 
necessary to have visited Covent Garden jMarket, and to 
compare the quantity and quality of the supply of 
flowers and of fruits, &c., during the past season, with 
what it had been twenty years ago. If his curiosity 
should lead him on an excursion to the country, either 
to Wimbledon Park, or Kingston, on one line, or to 
West Drayton, by another; to Hornsey, by a third; or to 
Norwood; in short, in any direction in which he may 
go, he will find the villas, and even w’hole streets, 
adorned with their little conservatories, or greenhouses, 
attached to each dwelling. This, we contend, is the 
real progress of civilization and of gardening. But we 
cannot pass over this subject without directing the 
attention of those whom it may concern, that although 
we have made some progress in heating by hot-water, 
the tank system, or Polmaise, nevertheless, there is a 
field open for some ingenious, practical man to obtain 
celebrity in devising some simple, economical, and 
efficacious system (and every system that is efficacious 
is simple) of heating the small greenhouses, or con¬ 
servatories, attached to dwellings. But what places the 
progress of gardening beyond a doubt, in our own day, 
is the fact that a Crystal Palace was raised before our 
own eyes, the admiration of the world. We also believe, 
that the successor that now adorns the heights of 
Sydenham will give such an impetus to gardening as 
this country never experienced before. AVe must brace 
ourselves up for the race; if we falter, we fall. AVhat 
man has done, man can do. We see in this land of 
freedom, of progress, and of civilization, that the 
highest offices are open to the man of persevering 
energy and industry. We have an example in our own 
profession, and in our own times, of a man rising fiom 
comparatively humble beginnings to become a Sir 
Joseph Paxton, and a legislator of his country. It is 
cheering to us all to know that there is a possibility, 
if there is no great probability, if favoured by circum¬ 
stances, and a stern resolution of surmounting all 
difficulties, by untiring perseverance, of becoming dis¬ 
tinguished, and an ornament to our profession. IIow- 
ever humble the sphere in which any man moves, or 
whatever little we strive to do, or however slow our 
progress may appear, we may be sure that there is jio 
blank in creation that we, each of us, may not contri¬ 
bute to fill up by an idea, or a fact, that will never 
be lost. 
LOOKING ABOUND US. 
Such quantities of inquiries come at this season, that 
it is impossible to overtake them all at once. I shall 
try and meet some of the most pressing by the following 
remarks:— 
KEEPING PELAEGONIUMS AND OTHER I'KVNTS 
IN ROOMS IN AVINTER. 
It matters not what that room may be called, sitting- 
room, store-room, garret, or attic, the indispensables for 
security and health to the plants are, freedom from frost, 
and a temperature seldom below 40°, as much unob¬ 
structed light as possible, change of air, and the proper 
means taken that the plants are not unnecessarily robbed 
of their juices by that air being too dry from the quantity 
of fire used. These conditions secured, all soft-wooded 
plants will grow as well iu a living-room as they will do 
in a greenhouse, provided they receive an equal amount 
