240 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
January 1. 
thau either? I only draw attention to this, as it does 
not seem to have attracted much notice that way, 
although it has been in use tor some years in other ways. 
I have often thouglit, that as tying material is always 
a substance much wanted, that it quantities ot the bast 
mat was brought into this country in a simply dressed 
state, it would be really more available for the purpose 
than when wove into mats; besides which, the cleanest 
and best material only need be sent in that way, and 
the expense ot weaving avoided; this, however, is not 
likely to be effected under present circumstances, unless 
a new and belter source be found out; for our supply, 
certainly, bundles of dressed matting fibre, tied up like 
hemp, or in some other way, could easily he forwarded | 
here from the countries where it grows to perfection, j 
and it would do away with that difficulty there often is, | 
in finding a really good mat for tying purposes, such ! 
being, certainly, less plentiful now than twenty years I 
... ! 
While on this subject, I must call the attention of 
the rural cultivator to the use of some of the most 
common things in his garden for certain purposes of 
covering. In cold situations, the wood of Fig-trees does 
not always ripen sufficienly well to stand a severe winter, 
.and some protection is occasionally given them; these 
I have sometimes afforded in the sliape of the long, 
upright stems of Jerusalem Artichokes, placed diagonally 
against the wall, and liave found them answer very well, 
a very thin covering being sufficient, the stems scarcely 
touching; they also serve to form a thatch over some 
uncertain Pinas or other shrub, ; a few boughs being 
mixed witli them to prevent heavy snows breaking them 
down. In like manner, the rough, sturdy stems of 
Indian corn might, I think, be turned to like account, I 
as I have seen them eight feet high, and very strong; i 
and as there are often many things about a garden that j 
want protection, but .are denied house room, such things I 
may be occasionally turned to account. Fuchsias, Hy¬ 
drangeas, and Weigelias, are not always hardy enough 
to stand sharp frosts without injury to their tips, while 
a little protecting substance placed against them enables 
them to do it well. In a general way, the pots may be 
placed close together, and if against tree or wall, so 
much the better, where they may be slightly covered, 
as above, adding more if severe weather sets in. Aspa¬ 
ragus stems, tied in small bundles, answer well for such ' 
purposes. i 
In advising tender or delicate plants to be protected j 
from severe weather, it is right to observe, that too ' 
much covering is attended with bad consequences; i 
plants too long immured become tender and partially | 
blanched, and are not in a condition to resist either cold i 
or light, until gradually inured to these elements again ; | 
when, therefore, a frame of Caulifloner plants lias been i 
covered up, perhaps for a month or so, by snow or other i 
causes, be careful not to admit too strong currents of ! 
fresh air at first when mild weather sets in ; for the i 
plant is in that artificial condition that disables it from | 
enduring a sudden change. The leaves are partially j 
blanched, though still green. They are crisp, and, in ’ 
other respects, it is an altered plant from what it was 
when first shut up. Other plants suffer in like manner; 
even the deciduous things above-mentioned, if confined 
long, begin to put forth buds of a delicate and artificial 
character; if the weather in any way will allow it, this 
ought not to be so, but the plant should be allowed more 
air and light as it sliows signs of progress. 
In conclusion, I again beg our gardening friends 
residing in the neighbourhood of manufactories, where 
Cocoa-fibre matting and other things are made, to try 
and suggest to enterprising parties in that way to make 
us something more suitable than asphaltc, Russian 
mats, and other articles we have been accustomed to 
use; and, possibly, a useful tying material will also 
present itself in some way or other; for, assuredly, at 
the present time, both are wanted. J. Robson. 
OLD ERUIT-TREES. 
Our friend, Mr. Rivers, is an admirer of old Oaks. Here 
I agree with liiin ; but when lie states aged fruit-trees liave 
no beauty, and ought not to be tolerated in a house, I differ 
with him. Though phrenologists tell me, that with the ex¬ 
ception of a nameless hump, the organ of destruction is the 
most prominent in my upper story, still I have a gre.at re¬ 
spect and regard for a fine old fruit-tree; and it is only a 
short time since that I was annoyed by finding the stem of 
an old favourite cherry-tree burned that I had laid aside as 
a remembrancer of an old friend. Rive hundred and ninetj'- 
seven dozen of cherries were gathered and sent to London, 
in April and May, in 1841, from this tree alone. Besides, 
when ripe, they formed a very tempting arch in a house 
similar to the sketch No. 1. (p. 18.‘{), Its fine old arms pro¬ 
duced not only single, but bunches, aye, masses, of flowers 
and fruit; and I shall never sec its like again. This is no 
imaginary description or fancy of the brain, but facts ; and 
will our friend assert that the above was not beautiful, and 
highly deserving of a place in the best house in the kingdom ? 
I believe I am an older gardener than our friend, and 
have not to learn that where large suiiplies are demanded, 
the motto in a garden, “ Ifas/c mil, icont not," is the only 
one to keep peace. Can such .a supply be kept up by young 
trees? As a sample and caution to young gardeners not to 
be too fast in clearing awn.y on taking the charge of a new 
situation, remember you have not all got sitch as the good 
late Archbishop ot York was to sustain you, and cannot, 
therefore, with propriety make a clearance like a Bailey. 
In the course of my profession, I was sojourning within a 
hundred miles ot tlie Isle of I\’ight, and was recpiested to 
call upon one of the largest proprietors of land in the county, 
who was totally blind. He told me to give his place a gene¬ 
ral look over, as, for some years, he had not had his fine green¬ 
gages, apricots, Ac., that he had in former times. I was to 
emptire into this—a task which I certainly did not like. On 
inspection, 1 found the walls coveied with as fine trees as 
one could wish; their leading shoots as straight as rifle- 
barrels ; but no fruit. I returned, and told him that I could 
not improve them ; that, in the course of a year or two, he 
would have plenty. But alas, poor man ! long before they 
had come to maturity he had passed away to his grave. 
Now, had his young gardener, before he used the axe, ascer¬ 
tained what his noble employer really wanted, he would not 
have done as he did.— I). Rkkousson, Hloicv, Bnckinyhnm. 
DIOSCOREA BATATAS. 
In yottr number of the 4lh of December, you have a 
notice about the Chinese lam. As one having been in 
China, and partaken ot this tuber, as well as the Indian 
Yam, permit me to say a word or two on the subject. 
I have been greatly surprised at the disappointment ex¬ 
pressed by niany persons who have attempted to cultivate 
the tuber. Tliey plant tubers about the size of a pea, and 
look lor a lull sized 4 am a foot long, and four to six inches 
diameter! Now, is there anything wonderfully strange, that 
with such a weak beginning they have a result of a few 
tubers weighing an ounce, more or less ? They an^ all dis¬ 
appointed ; yet the truth is, they-ought to be delighted with 
such a liberal production. Why have they not iiatience, and 
proceed, year by year, as they would do, have, and will yet do, 
with any other novelty ? I will answer for it that their crop 
will be larger, liner in (pmlity, and vwre abundant in tubers, 
as they proceed, and, in time, instead of Reas, they will plant 
good-sized sets of theY'am, such as they plant of Potatoes. 
W hen they have obtained a full-sized Yam as big as their 
head, they surely will then think their labour not unrewarded. 
1 could write a great deal on this subject, hut time will not 
permit. 
Mr. Errington must not be disappointed either, because 
he boiled a Yam of three ounces weight, and found it like 
“ soap, Ac.” 
