])ECJOn5KU i') . 
i THE COTTAG 
At jirosent, ‘Spanish Clu’snnls iiro in season, and selling at 
; liinr sons a litre, or about a pennj'a pint. 'J'nijjles, so rc- 
, chnrclw for the tables of the. rich, are fetching from four 
to five francs a pound. Qninces are extensively used here 
for marmalade ; they are also sold place in sugar by the con- 
I fectioners. There has been a heavy crop of them this year. 
Flowers, at present, are somewhat scarce, the principal 
sorts being Camellias and wintor-liowering Heaths. Modc- 
I l atc-sized bouquets, with one, or, at most, two Camellias, 
j are not to be had in the shops for less than six or seven 
' francs. 
■ One of the latest novelties is an ornamental pot, which 
sometimes also takes the form of a vase. On an average, it 
I is only about the size of an ale glass or tumbler, and it pre¬ 
sents, at the exterior, a series of green and pink coloims in 
circles alternating. This sort of pot, resembling coloured 
;■ lass,is used for very dwarf Heaths in llower,both plant and 
pot being only about six or eight inches high. This is cer¬ 
tainly the prettiest drawing-room llower-pot which has been 
introduced yet. Since writing thus far, I have had an oppor¬ 
tunity of seeing a more e.xtensive collection in the depot of 
M. Ihiron, I’assage de I’Opera, on the Eoulvart des Italiens, 
where there is a groat variety as to form, size, and finish, 
•and at all prices, from one to fifty francs. I may first state 
that these very beautiful pots and vases are made of metal 
hut little heavier than zinc; but it may be questionable 
if they are so well suited for the roots of plants as the com¬ 
mon pots. 
With this may be mentioned a pretty and rather singular 
object for the window of a room, and which may be classed 
with the trailing Saxifrage, or the young Oak, suspended in 
a closed glass, such as may be seen in the Kew Museum. 
The novelty in question consists of a large pine cone,placed 
in the mouth of a glass, having a small quantity of water 
at the bottom. The scales of the cone are first slightly 
opened, and lentil seeds are dropped into the openings. 
^Vater is sprinkled over the cone as may be necessary, say 
twice a day, and in a short time the lentils send up their 
small green shoots and cover the cone. The scales are 
opened by placing the cone in any moderately warm place 
for a short time. 
As I mentioned the death of M. Mole in my last, it may 
be useful just to note the distinction between the name and 
that of M. Moll, the agricultural writer, and present lecturer 
at the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers.— V. F. K. 
ALLOTMENT FARMING.- January. 
As the vital powers of vegetation begin to be active very 
early in the new year, our interest in the operations of gar¬ 
dening increases. We have never heard the plaintive song 
of the Robin, in October, without experiencing a depressing 
feeling that the dull days of a long winter w'ere approaching, 
■when the sunless and dreary weather of November and 
December fogs the plants in greenhouses and pits. How 
rajudly the least speck of decay then spreads aird corrodes 
every leaf it touches. How long and sickly appear the 
shoots of plants, how bare of foliage they are apt to get! 
It is a time of watching with the gardener and amateur, 
! dreading the effects of damp and frost, until the new year 
I brings in a lengthening of daylight. But altliough the old 
! adage, that “ as the day lengthens the cold strengthens,” is 
j generally verified, we find our spirits more buoyant, the 
I fruition of our constant watching is close at hand, the sun 
, ajipears more frequently to cheer vegetation, and although 
frosts may be more severe, the increasing clearness and 
livightness of the atmosphere give vigour to the plants. 
Soon nowq after the hardest and longest frosts, the bulbs 
begin to appear above the ground. The ‘Snowdrops, and 
tlven the Crocuses; and the powerful fragrance, rich colours, 
and stately forms of the Hyacinths, contribute, with other 
plants, to the enjoyment of the conservatory or drawing¬ 
room. 
To those who may be disposed to venture upon the culti¬ 
vation of a bed of Ranunculusks, than which there is 
nothing more showy, we would commend them to select a 
situation where the rays of the sun would oidy fall for a few 
K GARDENER. 
hours in the early part of the day. If tlie soil in the bed 
is rather poor, a little leaf-mould, or rotten dung, should be 
added, the wdiole to be tlirown out of flic bed in a ridge 
around it, and the top surface, wdien frozen, to be chopped 
oif into the bed; wdien tlie surface is again frozen, to be 
chopped off again, and so continued until tlie whole is re¬ 
turned to the bed. By such means it will be in a good state, 
free from grubs, and tit for planting by the middle of next 
month. 
If a sharp frest sets in, Turars should bo protected with 
a good coat of straw or dry litter, Pansiks looked over, and 
any loosened by worms pressed firmly in the soil. 
Tlic compost heap intended for blooming Carnations, 
PicoTEES, and Pansies in pots, should be frequently turned 
over, that the w hole may be exposed to the ameliorating and 
grub-destroying influence of the frost, to be protected from 
heavy falls of rain or snow. If the cottager is disposed to 
raise a few Auriculas from seed, and Auriculas in many 
parts of the country are great favourites with the cottager, 
the seed should be sown during the early part of this month, 
the soil to be three parts fine leaf-mould, and one jiavt silver 
sand. The pot, or pan, to be filled one-third of its depth 
with broken potsherds, then filled up to within an inch of 
tlie top wdth any light rich soil, and then filled to the top 
w'ith leaf-mould and sand. The surface to be levelled, and 
the seed gently pressed into the soil and very slightly 
covered, to be protected under a hancllight or cold frame 
from heavy falls of rain or snow, with the soil kept moist 
until they vegetate. Anemones should now be planted fol¬ 
iate flow'ering. 
Planting and Pruning of fruit-trees, bushes, and shrubs 
may be done in open w-eather. A row' or two of early Peas 
and Beans may be sown to succeed other crops, or for the 
first, if none had been sown before. The Cauliflower and 
Lettuce plants in frames should be kept dry, and all de¬ 
cayed leaves picked oft’. The ground hoed between the rows 
of Cabbages and other such crops, and earth raised to the 
Celery, in mild, dry weather. Rhubarb is easily forced by 
various means, by covering the crowns with an old firkin, chim¬ 
ney-pot, or anj'thing else at hand, and covered with some warm 
dung, or the roots taken up and removed to an outhouse or 
cellar, where they will produce some stalks for use before 
they are to be had in the open ground, covering the crowns 
with a cone of litter will protect them from frost, and acce¬ 
lerate their growth. 
Although it’has been frequently recommended, it may be 
of advantage to some to restate, that during a sharp frost, if 
the walls are infested with Insects, to syringe the entire 
wall, and fruit. Rose, and other trees, with clear water througli 
a fine rose, will destroy every snail, slug, egg, Ac.; no insect 
pest will survive the freezing up in solid ice, and all that are 
washed down from their hiding-places, and from behind the 
branches of the trees, share the same fate, under a sheet of 
ice, at the bottom of the wall. 
The farming operations of the allotment, during January, 
may consist of Drainage where necessary; and there are 
very few soils that are not improved by drainage. When 
the subsoil is retentive of water, drains should be made to 
carry the superabundance off, as every soil retentive of water 
is less productive on account of its coldness, and the exclu¬ 
sion of the atmosphere, than the soil through which the 
rain can percolate, and carry down its fertilizing properties. 
The main drain to be from three or four feet deep, brought 
up from the lowest part of the ground with an outfall into 
an old ditch, or any lower level. As the object is to carry 
aw-ay the rain water whicli falls uniformly over the surface 
after it shall have soaked througli the soil and subsoil, the 
nature of the subsoil will determine the depth and the in¬ 
tervals to bo adopted. The parallel drains are from seven 
to eight yards apart. The main to be about three or four 
inches deeper than the parallel drains, to be made directly 
down the ascent, unless the ground is very steep. A little 
straw', or litter, may be placed above the tiles or stones, after 
they have been carefully placed, and the earth filled in and 
rammed firmly dow’n. 
The increase of the Manure Hear should also receive the 
cottager’s best attention. It is advisable, when the cow-shed 
or pigsties are cleaned out, to cover the heap w'ith earth to 
preserve its nitrogenous and ammoniacal compounds. The 
dung of the horse, the ox, the pig, or cow, although they 
