2G2 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
January 8. 
1850 combines, in some respects, an Almanacb with lists | 
anil piices of seeds, together with characteristics and j 
estimates of sorts, with several essays on garden subjects 
from tlie pens of tirst-rate gardeners. 
The following will serve as a specimen of this very useful 
annual:— 
LEEK. 
Allium porrum—is of the Linurean Class G—He.xandria; 
Order 1—Monogynia; and of the Natural Order, 
Aspbodelere. 
A perennial, a native of Switzerland, and introduced in 
1502. 1111011 well grown and blanched it is of much im¬ 
portance for stews, soups, etc., and is excellent as a dish 
cooked like Sea-kale. There are but two distinct kinds 
which are in our list, but the London Flag is the most 
generally cultivated. A very rich soil is indispensable, for 
although they will grow in any ordinary soil, yet to attain a 
I higli degree of succulence, on which their quality depends, 
they must have plenty of manure. The best mode of culture 
is to plant them in trenches made uii as for Celery, cither 
single rows, or in what is termed the Scotcli bed system ; 
the latter mode we have practiced for years, and we soil 
I them up like Celery. Sow in the first week of March, 
thinly in rows in a seed-bed, and on rich soil ; in the end 
I of May they will be ready to plant finally. In use most 
j of the year. per oz. 
s. d. 
Large Musselburg Scotch. A very large and noted 
I variety in Scotland, and held in higii estima- 
j tion there.14 
London Flag. Fine broad-leaved . . . .09 
I Sutton’s Spring Catalogue and Amateur's Guide for 
j 1856. This, also, is a very useful pamphlet, for it contains 
much information useful to the gardener and amateur. 
' The following is a specimen of its contents :— 
I beet. 2)ei’ oz. 
j s. d. 
Sutton’s Dark Red. This is the darkest, both in 
the root and leaves, of all the Beet in culti¬ 
vation, and boils very tender . . .08 
Atkins’ Crimson, deeit scarlet . . . .06 
Whyte’s Black Beet, the largest sort, very dark . 0 6 
Silver or Sea-kale Beet, the heart and leaf-stems 
used.0 0 
Red Castlenaudery, Sugar Beet, Spinach Beet, 
and others.4d. to 0 0 
Beet Seed should not be sown before the last week in 
April, or the first week in klay, as it will not germinate 
■ while the earth is cold, and if the weather happens to be 
mild enougb to bring it up, it is in danger of being destroyed 
by returning frosts; or, if it escapes this danger, the roots 
. become too large, and are not so tender as those sown later; 
; it is also important to avoid covering the seed too deep in 
j the earth as it will not then vegetate Avell. 
QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
GARDENING. 
TREATMENT OF CLIMBERS NEWLY-BLANTED 
IN A CONSERVATORY. 
“ I have planted in the corners of my conservatory, Pas- 
siflora. ca;ralen, having two stems four feet long, but no side- 
branches. 'The stems are about as thick as a crow-quill. 
“ Clematis Sieboldiiy the same as above, and two-and-a half 
feet high. 
“ Sotaniini jasminoides, also the same, but the stems rather 
stouter. 
^ “ And Ithgitcospermiun jasminoides, with one stem, only 
eighteen inches high. 
“Ihey were all hirned out of small pots, full of their 
matted roots. Should I jirune them at all ? and if so, to 
what extent?— Pilot.” 
[The liolanum jasminoides should be left as it is; but 
begin to thin off some of the young growth next July, and 
continue to do so until groAvth ceases. After that to jirune 
and thin it close every spring, in February or March, and 
always to thin from July to October. 
Leave the Brisst/Zorri just as it is, but stop the first and 
second, shoots Avhich will come from either of the stems, 
when these shoots are four to six indies long, and make 
the principals,or leading stems, from the next lower growth. | 
'The reason for this is that at such an age the first growths 
of Passijioras are like green Asiiaragus, too Aveak for per¬ 
manents, but useful in getting up the sap quickly. 
Bhyncospcrmimi is to be left as it is ; but next May, if it 
persi.sts in growing one leader, stop it tivice or three times, 
to procure as many leaders, as it is not a bulky grower. | 
Clematis Sieboldii, also, is to be left till the top bud has 
started into leaf, and one or two joints have started also, i 
This Avill be some time in April. 'Then to cut it back to near 
the last eye at the bottom, and for the next two years you 
must also cut it down to the very bottom in April, otherw'ise 
the floAvers, from the thread like stems, would give no idea ’ 
of the beauty of this plant. 'This Clematis Avas mixed, by j 
iMr. Beaton, Avith the Passijlora on tbe conservatory Avail at ■ 
Shrubland, and people mistook the flowers for a new Passi- \ 
flora. The secret for getting such large flowers Avas the | 
annual cutting down to tbe ground till the Clematis roots j 
Avere strong enough to make equal groAvth Avilh the Passion- ' 
flower. It flowers on the current year's growth, just like the 
Passion-floAver, and the close cutting rather helps to make 
it bloom more from the first. A'our roof Avill soon be filled, 
then recollect to bring out some of the tfolanum nnA. Pas¬ 
sijlora, and leave them outside during the Avinter.] 
PINES FAULTY INSIDE. 
“ PlaA’ing had several of my Pines spotted AA’ith dark spots 
Avben cut through, though they appeared perfect and sound 
from the outside, I shall be obliged by a hint as to the 
cause. It cannot be from being over ripe, for I ahvays cut 
them rather under ripe.—A Four Years’ Subscriber.” 
[Some sorts of Pines will ripen as you describe in De¬ 
cember. Such sorts are not adapted for Avinter culture. 
'The Jamaica Pine, Avith live roots, Avill not do so. Any kind 
of Pine ripening noAv Avill “play false,” hoAA'ever, if the 
roots are injured. It matters not Avhether the injury be by 
heat or Avet, or any other cause. If there must be any ex¬ 
treme in the dormant period, let it be extreme dryness at 
root, and a loAver temjierature both for root and leaf.] 
COMPOST FOR VINE BORDER. 
“ I am about to make a neAv Vine border, and should feel 
obliged if Mr. Errington could tell me any compost better 
than that I am about to use. It is as folloAvs:—'J’he top 
spit of pasture-land, sheep-droppings, leaf-mould, and stuff 
from an old corner Avherc it has been accumulating for up- 
Avards of tAAmnty years. This stuff consists of lime rubbish 
and regular cleanings out from the mansion, time after time. 
I purpose having a concreted bottom to the border. 'The 
A'ine-housc is thirty-scA'cn feet by eighteen ; Avhat Avidlh 
should the border be ? 
“ I have got ttvo thousand bedding jilants in the house, and 
they Avill be there till next April. What sorts of Vines Avould 
you recommend ? I sliould like the Muscat of Alexandria 
and the Barbarossa. 'There Avill be not much more fire than 
Avill keep the frost out till the bedding jilants are put out. 
The Vines Avill be planted out of-doors.— X. Y., Hereford¬ 
shire.” 
[R. Errington begs to say that the compost Avill be capital, 
provided Avell handled and in due proporrions. l-ict us say i 
tAVO-thirds of the top .spit of pasture-soil, and the other , 
third the old rubbish. Chop the turf coarsely; blend the j 
AAhole regularly; but do not handle anything unless it be ; 
tolerably dry. Above all, Avhether concreted or not, take 
care that av ate r can neA'er stand heloAA for an hour; and ]iray 
let half your border be above the level of the tiniit Avalk. 
The kind of Ahnes dejiends on your object. Hamhro's are 
ahvays right, but ]\luscnts have no business in the same 
house. 'The Barbarossa is good for the latest croi'. A^ by 
not have a good M uscadine to class Avith Hambro's !\ 
