130 
TUE COTTAGE GARDENEIE 
November ;20. 
once, that there must be a sort of preparation for every 
snil, and the more so wliero materials liave to be used 
that have been cotiiplctely shut out from the genial 
innuenee of tlie atmos])hcre. 
This teaches us the necessity of hastening on with 
any now work of that kind early in tlic autumn, in 
order that as long a period as possible may elapse 
before tlie ground is wanted for cropping. Winter, 
I though not tiie best time for mellowing ground, is still 
j useful that way, and an ordinary winter is better than a 
wet summer ; but a long ])eriod of dry weather is the 
best for tliat purpose, the dry, east winds, so prevalent 
in spring, being almost as beneficial as the scorching 
sun of Midsummer; but then, these are seasons when 
every portion of the ground ouglit to bo under crop, or 
nearly so; whereas, in winter, there is very little pro¬ 
gress in vegetation, and the mellowing iulluence of Irost 
is very benelicial as a fertiliser. 11 is, therefore, 
advisable for all parties intending alterations, either in 
making new gardens, or renovating old ones, to do so as 
early in the winter as possible, and all trenching, or 
other work which disturbs tlie ground lo a greater depth 
than usual, ought also to be done at tlic same cavlv 
I period, in order that the renovating influence of frost 
i may give that fertility to the ground which it is in vain 
to look for in artificial means ; and as “ time ” is the all- 
important agent for working such things, wo may as 
well look for a crop of ripened corn the day after it is 
sown, as expect that “ one day ” will convert the “long- 
concealed ” soil, or under stratum, into good, fertile 
mould. “ Time,” which not all our go-a-head engineering 
can conquer, still reigns supremely master iir both cases. 
Our duty is, therefore, to arrange our worlc so as to give 
full effect to the services of that ncver ceasing agent. 
J. ItOBSON. 
DIOSCOREA JAPONICA, OR CHINESE SWEET 
POTATO. 
Carlos. —Those plants do not sec-m to grow at all, although 
they were planted in very good stuff. 1 think w'e iiad better 
put a frame over tlieni. 
Amicus. —So do 1, ifyou mean lo do any good with them. 
They arc very miserable-looking, ahlunigh so strongly re¬ 
commended to the attention of cultivators, for tlie purpose 
of supplanting that truly useful vegetable the Potato. Mrs. 
Glasse’s recommendation ivas to catch tlic hare first, and to 
cook it afterwards. I think it may be applied to tills case, 
j as the growers must needs get the produce before tliey can 
: cook it. 
j Pater. —I see it is rnn down in one of our leading 
! iieriodicals, by a gardener wlio has been trying to grow it, 
■ imt has been unsuccessful, lie complains tliat his plants 
I make no growth, and seems to think they are too tender for 
' the climate. AVe may come to the same conclusion, for as 
J soon as a shoot i.s formed it is cut olf by the wind. 
I Such were the opinions expressed by three diffei'cnt in- 
j dividuals, who had spent the greater portions of their lives 
i in the study and cultivation of vegetable productions, when 
, looking at some plants of Dioscorca, wliich had been nursed 
I and taken much cave of until the commencement of last 
' May, w’hen they were turned out in a bed of light, rich soil, 
; carefully prepared, and w'ell sheltered; in fact, sunuuuded 
; by hedges, and well exposed to the sun. 
! Under such favourable circumstances, it was but rcason- 
j able to suppose that a good result would have hcen pro¬ 
duced, after the pow'crful recommendations which were 
I oflcrcd with it to the public, the more iiai’ticulnrly as tiie 
locality was well cliosen, and the compost in which the 
' plants were put was composed of the best and most proper 
' ingredients for plant nutrition, and a full and fair develop¬ 
ment of foliage. Its application, in lids jiarticular case, 
. has, how'cver, proved a complete failure, as well as au in- 
j evitable waste. 
I The Vegetable Marrow aud Cucumber plants growing in the 
I same row, and iilantcd in the same materials, had each 
one of them covered yards of surface with most vigorous 
foliage, aud a corresponding amount of produce ; whilst this 
new Chinese I’otato looked as miserable as it was possible 
for starving vegetation to look, and had scarcely formed a i 
perfect leaf since tlioy were turned out, and the little weedy | 
shoots proceeding frum thorn were not much larger than ' 
straws, ft is truly disheartening to see such a poor reward ; 
fur so great an amount of skill and labour as has been 
expended in endeavouring to carry out tlie theories pro¬ 
pounded ill extolling this plant. 1 might say, prematurely 
so, as a season’s experience would have proved to ns there 
was no prohability of their ever being realized, am] justice 
demands that .Tolm Bull’s liberality should be better pro¬ 
tected for the future. 
It seems a pity that this good-natured gentleman should 
display such a predisposition to be deceived, aud become 
the ready dupe of new-fangled theories. AVho does not ' 
recollect the “Waterloo Ca?.sarean Cow Cabbage” bubble? 
One head of wli’idi was to be sufiicient to feed ten oxen, or 
lot) slieep, for a whole day ; to produce the largest quantity 
of milk', the finest beef, the best of mutton, and the most ' 
silk-like wool ? AVell, our good-natured friend took that in, 
and was done for hy it. Then there was the “ Minimised : 
plant scheme,” which was considered a “capital lake,” aud | 
to which his wife and children were victimised ; and, although ! 
an endless variety of other schemes aud artful dodges have 
been practised and played off’ at his expense, tliis came in 
as tlie wonder of the, season, and lias proved, to the mortifi¬ 
cation of many, to bo nothing more than a “ bubble.” It 
behoves our friend to make up his mind that he will not be 
such au easy dupe for the future, aud that he will be more of 
au i'higlislimau. 
klaiiy years’ experience has accustomed some of our more 
]nTulcnt fiiericls to the means which are resorted to for the 
introduction of new vegetables to public attention, and the 
more the ostensible merits of such objects are magnified, the 
more are tlicy inclined to wonder tliat their apiilicability to 
the, purposes for which they are recommended was never 
known before, aud should have thrust themselves so fully 
on any particular person's attention so simultaneously. 
These worthies have been the more astonished this season, 
as so many well-known and res 2 iected individuals have 
deceived themselves aud others in putting this article for¬ 
ward as the sUic qua non for general cultivation. The coii- 
iiiiontal recommendations have been copied, wliicb, tliougli 
replete with have not rendered the jdant 
susceptible of cultivation in a general way here. There is 
110 jirobability of its ever resisting the windincss of the 
climate, however liardy it may ultimately prove; but if ever 
we do succeed with it, I am jircdisposed to think it will not 
he without tlio assistance of a frame, or some similar con¬ 
trivance. The growth of all the plants which come under | 
my notice has been so weak, that no apiiearauco of tubers 
lias been visible at the axils of the leaves, nor do the shoots 
give any evidence of there ever being any. I think we had 
better conlinue to cultivate some of the better varieties of 
our well-tried, though much afflicted friend, Solanuvi tubero- 
snin, until we can get a better substitute than this new 
Chinese introductiou.—C. B. S., Jurseij. 
GERANIUM HENDERSONII x\S A BEDDING 
PLANT. 
In Sir. Beaton’s late critical review of the ilower-gardens 
at Kew and the Crj'stal Balace, he states, we liave not yet a 
ii'liilc Geranium of the Scarlet section, of suflicieiit merit to 
share a campaign willi their red jacket brethren against the 
numerous invasions to which the modern flower-garden is 
constantly exposed. AVith your jiermission, I solicit a little 
space in your valuable, journal, trusting the following brief 
observations may not bo unacceptable to your numerous 
readers. 
During the last three years, I have enlisted four of this 
pah: faced section, all of which had superior rccommenda- , 
lions as tit subjects to defend the position they should be ' 
called upon to hold. Now, I would not willingly infringe 
upon the celestial law of charity so far as to injnro the 
reputation of these worthies; but, as we all have a imhlic ' 
duty to perform, I am bound to speak the truth; therefore, 
