241 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
January 1. 
I 
height ill the dram glass. The air prevents its doing so; 
just as the air in the top of yonr hoiler and flow pipe pre¬ 
vents the water gelling up. Make an opening, in either 
case, for tlie air to escape, and the water, with tl.e pressure 
from your reservoir, will immediately take its place. Your 
simplest remedy, perhaps, would be to jilace the feeding-pipe 
in direct contact with the highest point of the flow-pipe. 
The reservoir, or cistern, if large enough to allow the water 
to expand, might even he fixed on to the highest point of 
the flow-pipe. As time, liowever, is precious just now, the 
quickest remedy would be to drill a hole in the highest 
point of the flow-pipe, near the hoiler, and there insert or 
screw in a pipe, such as is used for gas, say half-an-inch 
inside measure, and let it rise a little liigher than the 
reser voir. 
There seems to have been carelessness in the scheme 
adopted; and it is so far fortunate, that from com¬ 
pressed air, and compi’essed steam, and something of the 
hydrostatic press combined, there has been no serious 
accident. 
We do not know of any house in London where gas- 
boilers, &c., could be obtained; but we can see no ob¬ 
jections to your jheating your present boiler with gas, if 
it suits you, as being easier managed, but not cheaper than 
coal. 
If these hints do not meet your case, let us know, and we 
will think the matter over again.] 
EFEECT OF LIQUID-MANQRE ON TOTS.— 
WINTERING FANCY GERANIUMS. 
“ I observed an article lately, by Mr. Beaton, on irotting 
alleging, that in using liquid-manure it is absorbed by the 
pots, and concentrated in the interior of the pots, by long 
accumulation, till it becomes highly deleterious to the plants. 
1 cannot say a word on this point, either for or against, but 
I have always felt much annoyance from that green matter 
which collects on the outer surface of the pots, and have 
often wondered that something was not contrived to remedy 
the evil. I have thought, that if the pots were glazed inside 
and out, the same as common earthenware, it would 
certainly prevent it; and it struck me, rvlien reading 
Mr. Beaton’s article, that it would also cure what he 
complains of. 
“I have talked with some persons, however, who argue 
that glazed pots would be prejudicial to the health of the 
plants. What is your opinion, or Jlr. Beaton’s, on this 
point? About three months ago I tried an expeiiment with 
a part of my pots. I gave them a coat of Grate varnish in 
and outside, and have plants in a number of them. It will, 
however, require some time to jirove whether it will be a 
complete and permanent preventive of the green matter. 
‘‘In all the articles that I liave seen in your valuable work 
upon the wiiilcriiifi uf O'eraidums, I think I have seen no¬ 
thing reterring to tin' Fancy sort. Will you be so good as to 
give a few ivords on that subject. I tind them much more 
diltlcult to bring through than the other sorts, by any method 
that I have tried. Should they be kept as dry as the other 
sorts? and what temperature is most suitable for them in 
winter ? Do they agree with a moist or a dry atmosphere ? 
Should they be cut down in autumn the same ns the other 
sorts, or not till spring ? I may also slate, that I was rather 
caught on the morning of the ioth of December by its very 
severe frost, and not anticipating this 1 had no fire, and 
the earth ot the pots was all hard before I got the heat up. 
However, the Fancy Geraniums and two of the Cinerarias 
are the only plants that appear to have suffered. The 
leaves ot the Geraniums are ail ■withered since, and also 
some of the young succulent stems. How should 1 treat 
them now ?—J. M.” 
[^Ir. Beaton never “alleged ” that liquid-manure, or any 
other liquid, “concentrated” in the “interior” of a pot, and 
you may have done mischief to your pots far greater than 
that you intended to avoid, by varnishing the inside, of these 
pots; for wdio know's but Grate varnish is rank poison to 
plants; or who knows, in these days of alterings and adul¬ 
terations, of what any compound is compounded? AVe 
should not keep the essence of strong water from tlie body 
of the pot, for the pot “Axes” it, and the roots draw it 
gradually out of the pot; but if used too abundantly and 
too strong, it oozes out on the sides of the pot, where it 
does the' mischief by keeping up bad smells under the 
leaves and among the branches. Keep the outside clean, 
and the roots will not fail to keep the inside “ all right.” 
Glazed pots are not better or worse than common pots 
which are kept clean and tidy; but they are a great deal 
dearer, and pot bilh of all soits are sufficiently dear 
already. 
As to icinteriiu) Geraniums, you have misunderstood the 
writings about the process altogether. It is only the great 
! and good of the Cape Scarlet breed that are kept dry over 
the winter. Greenhouse plants, and Fancy Geraniums, and 
all the slender growing of the Scarlet breeds are not treated 
that way, and not a word about them, so treated, that we 
j know of, is found in our books. Still, we have not the 
! slightest doubt about the practicabily of keeping all kinds 
of Geraniums half dry in winter, and at rest for four months 
or more, anywhere that is jterfccthj free from frost, and is 
never hotter thair 40’'*. Any degree from 130'^’ to 40'’ is per¬ 
fectly safe for Geraniums at rest, if the place is entirely 
free from damp. If you had acted on Mr. Fish’s repeated 
I advice, you would not have lost a leaf that frosty morning. 
The earth in some of our pots for seedlings was as hard as 
; cannon-balls that same morning ; but the seedlings are 
I safe enough yet. Look in our indexes for greenhouse 
treatment in frosty weather. 
I In answer to “ J. .1.,” who should never write to a private 
I soldier for news of the next campaign, “ Large Chrysanthe¬ 
mums ’’ have not been “ overlooked.” AN’hen Mr. Beaton 
inspected the collection of which he wrote he made marks 
and notes on them for publication.—B.] 
IMPROYING A LAAVN ON A CLAY SOIL.— 
' CLIMBERS FOR A AVEST AVALL. 
“Our situation is very exposed and open, si.x miles from 
Loudon; soil, heavy clay, but well drained ; the lawn not at 
j ail overshadowed; consequently, open to the full power of 
the sun in summer, which burns up the grass, and by that 
j means causes the lawn to look bad at that season. In damp 
weather the clay sticks to the roller and draws the roots 
I out. Last spring we sowed Dutch clover, which greatly 
; improved and thickened the bottom; and this winter we 
; think of leaving it without sweeping or rolling, as recom- 
I mended in a recent number of The Cottage Gaedexee. 
j Last winter, quite a thick growth of moss came, and I see 
i it is coming up again, it having iierished in the hot weather. 
I Now, I wish to know whether a top-dressing would he of 
I any service ; and if so, when; and how thickly should it be 
i put on; and should there be any horse-munure (of which 
we have plenty, well rotted), be used? AVe are much 
. troubled with worms, but»destroy a great quantity by apply¬ 
ing w’eak lime-water occasionally. 
I “ Can you recommend a (jond clhnher, or any plant that will 
bear training, to contrast with Solanimijasmiiwides? I have 
I a trellis against a wall open to the west, but well sheltered 
I from the north and east, and close to the di-awing-room 
windows. I wish to establish something very showy, and 
I that would bloom during a long period.— Fi.oea.” 
[Every lawn in the three kingdoms is “burnt,” more or 
, less, by a hot summer, and no plan or device will ever be 
' ellectual against such burning ; but if you consider, you will 
! see the grass is not burnt, but scorched; and the difference 
I between scorching evei’y blade of grass, and cutting them off 
I witli a scythe, or mowing machine is, really, very little in¬ 
deed; the difference is only this, that after the machine the 
grass springs up in a w eek, while, after scorching, it does not 
come till after the next rain, but it will come at last. But 
the great use of burnt lawns, like the comforlahiUty of mossy 
lawns, has been overlooked till very recently. AVithout moss, 
lawuis would be the inost unconil'ortable places to wallc on in 
the country; and, without it was burnt brow'n occasionally, 
the moss would get the head of us, instead of being a car¬ 
peting under foot. A'our lawn is not half mossy enough 
yet, else the worms would not be so troublesome. Moss and 
1 
