148 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Novembeb 27. 
roots of a lino thready texture, like the Diosina, Heliotrope, 
Salvia, and Epacris, will rc(iuire peat earth and vci'y similar 
i treatment to Cape Iloaths. Others, whoso roots are of a 
I stronger nature, as Geraniums, Coronillas, Hydrangeas, 
: Myrtles, Roses, &c., will require rich sandy loam with a 
j little leaf-mould or rotten dung, and Cape and other bulbs 
! generally succeed best in a mixture of light, rich, sandy 
i loam, leaf-mould, and a little peat. Succulent plants, such 
i as Cacti, Aloes, Ac., require but very little water during the 
I winter, and succeed best in lime rubbish mixed with any 
I light soil. A good drainage with broken potsherd is indis- 
j pensably necessary at the bottom of each jiot, and always 
j to empty the water out of the pan or feeder in which the 
j pot stands as soon as the soil is properly drained. The 
! plants to be kept free from dead leaves*, and the surface soil 
j in the pots to be loosened, if it is hard or green. 
Florists’ Flowers. —Attend to the routine management, 
as recommended last month, and if newly-formed Pansy- 
beds are infested with worms, an application of lime-water, 
in a clear state, Avill either destroy or banish them. 
Cabbage and Provence Roses may now be j)runed, if the 
weather continues mild; but the China and other kinds 
should be left till the winter is over. 
In anticipation of frosty weather, it is advisable, if not 
already done, to apply dung where most wanted, for prin¬ 
cipal crops, and to trench it in ridges, to enrich it for spring 
sowing and planting. 
If the weather is mUd, a sowing of early Peas and Broad 
Beans may be made on a south border, or on the warmest, 
dry quarter of ground. The Peas about two-and-a-half-feet 
in the rows, and two inches deep, and the Broad Beans 
three feet apart in the rows. Such tender plants, in frames, 
as Cuulijiowers and Lettuces, should get full air daily, in 
mild, dry weather, should be watched narrowly for slugs, 
and kept free from dead leaves. 
Fruit-trees may still be planted, as recommended last 
month, if the ground is not frozen, and is in tolerably good 
workmg order. If young Potatoes are wanted early, some 
Ash-leaved Kidneys or Early Frame, or any of its varieties, 
may be planted on a slight hotbed. If it is not convenient 
to plant them immediately, they may be laid in any warm 
place till they begin to shoot. 
Strong, young plants of early sorts of Cabbages may be 
planted in open weather, they will come in for thinning by 
degrees, for use in spring and summer. 
Standard Fruit-trees should receive occasional pruning 
when required, cutting out the cross and irregular branches, 
and thinning-out others where too crowded, opening the 
centre of the tree for the admission of light and air, re¬ 
ducing any over-extended branches, and low, straggling 
boughs, cutting away all dead wood, and grubbing up 
suckers from the roots. 
In conclusion, wo wish our readers a merry Christmas, 
and happy New Year, and may they enjoy all the comforts 
of the present season amidst Holly and Misletoe. We would 
not have the cottager forget how all that submits to his 
hand, and appeals to his eye, is intended to do more, 
and to enlighten his understanding, and puidfy his heart. 
The bright Holly, the green Ivy, and the white - berried 
Misletoe, are the symbols of mirth and enjojunent, not 
merely in connection with tho things of time. May none 
of our readers justify these lines of Churchill’s— 
“ December, last of months, but best, who gave 
; A Christ to man, a Saviour to the slave. 
I While falsely grateful, man at the full feast. 
To do God honour, makes himself a beast.” 
W. ICeane. 
NOTES FROM PARIS. 
The weather continues dull, hazy, and cold. We have 
j had a good deal of rain lately, and very little sun. 
I ^ Border flowers are getting more and more rare every day. 
Cold and rain have destroyed all the Dahlias, Salvias, and 
Asters, but Chrysanthemums, Roses, Marig-olds, and Vero¬ 
nicas, are still in good condition, in places whei’o there is 
a little shelter. I lowering-plants in pots and bouquets are 
not at all scarce in the markets, though there is not a great 
variety. Heaths, Chrysanthemums, Violets, and the like, 
predominate. 
i 
Large supplies 6f fruit are still brought from the pro¬ 
vinces, but, compared with those of former years, the prices 
are high, even for common varieties of Apples. Of Grapes, 
the best sort is the Chasselas de Fonlainblcau, and good 
eating fruit may be liad at from fourpence to fivepence a 
pound. One of the writers in the Revue complains that 
this variety only is to be seen everyAvhere near Paris, while 
it is well known that scores of other excellent sorts are 
cultivated in the southern and western provinces of France. 
In reference to tho fruit exhibition, he states, that though 
the collections of Apples, Pears, and vegetables were not to 
be equalled, still the great Vine-growers failed to respond I 
to the invitation of the Imperial Commission. It might 
have been supposed, that tlie want of railways, or other 
means of conveyance, was the cause of such indifference; 
but it Avould appear that such a plea ivould not be good, for, 
as it is stated, all the railways which run from the capital 
liass through districts which have long been famed for the 
culture of this esteemed fruit, and Avhere new varieties are 
raised every year. The same writer justly remarks, that 
though the Horticultural Exhibition was inferior to similar 
displays in England, so far as regards plants and floA\'ers, 
yet, in point of fruit and vegetables, nothing so complete 
has ever been seen elsewhere. But noAv all is over for this 
year; Avhether there Avill be anything like it next year is not 
yet very certain. During the last ten days, the whole, 
or nearly the Avhole of the numerous collections have 
been in the hands of the auctioneers, and at the present 
moment but very little remains for disposal, and, probably, 
in a few days more the ground Avill have been restored to 
its former condition. It is said, hoAvever, that an effort 
will be made to keep it up for another fortnight, OAving 
to the expected visit of the King of Sardinia, but it is 
certain, that before there Avas any mention of this kind 
almost everything had been cleared away, and the ground 
torn up. 
No account of the prizes has yet been published, but I 
shall, probably, be able to forward you some particulars of 
it in my next. 
At the risk of noticing what may be already knoAA'n to 
you, I shall just mention, on the authority of the Revue, 
that Dr. Regel, late Director of the Botanic Garden at 
Zurich, and editor of tho Garten Flora, has lately been 
appointed by the Emperor of Russia as Director of the 
Botanic Garden at St. Petersburgh. The amount of salary 
is not stated, but the principal assistant of Dr. Regel is to 
have four thousand francs (.£160). It appears that the 
annual expenses of the establishment are as folloAvs :— 
Heating, 3.0,000 francs. 
Labour (forty to forty-five men), 32,000 francs. 
Plants, 7,300 francs. 
Library, 6,800 francs. 
A sum nearly equal to the last is allotted for the keeping 
of the museum. 
Professor Decaisne has figured and noticed a fine, large, 
white Clematis, under the name of Cleinalis Helena, which 
he states Avas long ago intioduced to Frmich gardens, 
though it had been almost lost sight of for some time. 
The Professor appears to think that some persons pretend 
this variety has lately been received from Cliina or Japan, 
but he does not state under Avhat name. But Avhether it 
has been raised in gardens here, or sent from China, is a 
point AA'hich may not admit of easy solution, and, perhaps, 
the principal fact AA orth kuoAA'ing is, that it is a shrubby 
variety, which flowers freely in May and June. 
In reference to the Gizaumont soup, Avhich I noticed in 
my last, I omitted to mention hoAV it is made here in small 
families. A largo slice of Pumpkin, weighing from one to 
tAA’o pounds, is cut doAvn small, and put into a common jAot, 
Avith about a gallon of water, a quarter-of-a-pound of pearl 
barley is added at the same time, and, subsequently, other 
vegetables, as Leek-s, Onions, and Turnips, with one or two 
stalks of Celery, and a few twigs of Thyme, to give a season¬ 
ing. A piece of mutton, or beef, may also be put in tho pot, if 
preferred. Of course, these several ingredients are not all put 
in at once, as some of them require less boiling than others. 
But this is a point on which I shall not venture further. 
Ilere^the common Pumpkin is extensively used in the same 
way during six or eight mouths in the year. Poor people 
may have a large shce for two sous, and they make Avhat is 
