January 22. 
COUNTllY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
2!)5 
' luirm tliaii good. In the instance alluded to above, the 
I issue showed that a proper course had been adopted, 
j and by adding a little more room each year, I have no 
I doubt but the system might be continued I'or an in- 
, detinile length of time. As the space became increased, 
the plant would become proportionately less the creature 
' of circumstances, and would attain a degree of stability 
I which would not sillier so much from any careless 
hand forgetting tlio watering-pot at the proper time; for 
; the Vino, after all, requires a considerable space to 
! support itself in a healthy, vigorous state for a series of 
j years. J. Hobson. 
WHAT SHALL WE HAVE FOli PItUTEGTTUN 
AGAINST FHOST ? 
As a practical man, in common with all gardeners who 
have to carry on vegetable forcing, £ have felt the want of a 
gootl protecting covering for pits, &c.; and having given 
considerable attention to the subject, with an endeavour to 
llud one, the remarks of Mi'. Hobson, in last week’s Cottage 
! Cardener, were road by mo witli interest. Looking back 
to what has been written on this subject, it is surprising to 
find that no advance has been made. Some two or three 
I years ago there was a very sensible article inserted in your 
j .lournal, upon the articles used for protecting purposes; their 
j merits and demerits were commented upon ; and the con¬ 
clusion to wliich tlie writer came was, that wooden shutters 
were the best, and, though dear at first, were the cheapest 
in the end. iMr. llobsou now comes to the s-ame conclusion ; 
but they cost too much. 
1 remember, a gentleman wrote, a few weeks after, staling 
that he could not get a good shutter made under ten shillings, 
which is too much to be generally used; but could not 
shutters be made of some cheaper material ? 1 feel con¬ 
vinced, that to be available in all weathers, no protecting 
article can be so effective, and so easily applied, as a shutter. 
.\11 articles that are not waterproof are lieavy when wet, and, 
when frozen, or half frozen, so as to bo not flexible, as is the 
case with all mats, whether of bast, straw, or reeds, they are 
very awkward to put on, and you can scarcely destroy a mat 
sooner than by bending or doubling it when frozen, 
'I'lieu, those materials that are waterproof, unless fixed to 
a frame so as to prevent their being bent in frosty weather, 
will crack, even India-rubber (unless vulcanised, which is 
too expensive) will crack when bent during a frost. Cocoa- 
nut fibre material 1 have thought of a long time ago, but it 
has some serious defects. I doubt whether it can be made 
closely woven for the same price as hempen or woollen 
fabrics. Then, it has a very rough face, which would take 
much stuff to waterproof it, and this, if put on thick, 
would crack, and perhaps be rather heavy. However, we 
do not know what can be done with this stuff yet. 
Looking at these things, I am driven to the conclusion, 
that waterproof shutters of some kind are the only efiective 
way to protect all kinds of forcing structure in the changeable i 
weather of a British winter. I imagine this jiresent mild j 
weather will be a trap for many that are napping over the 
idea that the winter is over. What has Mr. Beaton to predict 
this season? oris he going to follow Mr, Murphy, who, being 
right once, thought it wise not to try again ?— Anti Fhigi. 
NOTES FROM BARIS. 
WiiKN noticing, in a former communication, the new style 
of ornamenting lamp shades, I forgot, if now I recollect 
aright, to add, that the lamp generally used here in sitting- 
rooms, drawing-rooms, Am., is that which is advertised in 
Hnglish papers as the Moderator lamp —cpiite a fradesman's 
way, by-tlie-by, of rendering the original. 
A history of lamps for the last half century would show 
us many crude coutrivances, inlroduced from time to time, 
and all recommended for their convenience and their capa¬ 
bility of throwing a little light upon the subject. Houblless, 
those at present in use will, some day or other, share the 
fate of all their predecessors; but there is every reason to 
think that that day is far ofl', for the principle on which the 
French Lamps, are constructed is tolerably sound, and likely 
to meet all resjuirements for a long time. Besides the 
“ iModerator ” lamp, used for sitting-rooms, there is another, 
which is extensively used by mechanics and artificers gene¬ 
rally. Ijike the other, it gives a beautiful light, and it can 
be raised or lowered at pleasure; excellent for close working, 
and it also throws out the light as well as the othej'. For 
gardeners, and other persons in the country, who study and 
learn in the long winter evenings, this is certainly the best 
contiivancc I have yet seen, whether as to efliciency or 
economy. And let me observe, that studies do not go on 
well with a dismal light. I therefore trust that this note 
may not be considered out of place. This lamp burns about 
one sou of oil per hour. 
The difficulty of obtaining such works as The Cottage 
Gakdener, through the post-office, at anything like a reason¬ 
able cost, has debarred me, hitherto, from receiving it by that 
channel. Other modes of conveyance are not regular, and 
but little to be depended on. I have not seen any number 
for this past year since last January; and the volume for 
IHbi only reached me in June last. Improved postal ar¬ 
rangements, however, are about to come into operation, and 
one of the first benefits which the new law will efl'ect for 
myself will be that of enabling me to see your weekly con¬ 
tributions with some degree of regularity. Our correspond 
ence will then be more direct and more animated. From 
these remarks, it will be understood, when 1 say, that but 
for a iirivate note from a friend in London, I should not 
have known, for a long time after, that any of your readers 
wished me to give additional information respecting the 
construction of boiKpiets. And as it is just possible, that 
since that time other correspondents may have desired me 
to furnish a few notes on other subjects—to explain what 
may have been obscure, or to correct what may have been 
wrong—I hope they will now understand, and pardon wliat 
must have appeared to them either as a want of politeness, 
or a want of attention. Ijct me just add, \\hile on this 
topic, my humble meed of praise for the excellent manner 
in which The Cottage Gardener continues to be con¬ 
ducted, and my satisfaction in perusing the able articles of 
its more professional contributors. The portraits and 
biographies,•with which it is now embellisheil, constitute 
a new feature in horticultural literature, and till up a blank 
I which had been too long overlooked. 
I We are now in the middle of winter, and I have thought 
. it might be the most suitable lime for ofiering a few notes 
I on the construction of ornamental rustic baskets, tlower- 
! stands, &c., as, no doubt, there arc many young persons 
‘ among your readers Avho might like to try their hand at 
1 something of this kind in the long evenings. But since the 
' idea lirst occurred to me, I have felt that it would be difficult 
to make ray directions sufficiently clear without drawings, 
and drawings require to be engraved. If, therail'ore, this 
J subject should be considered interesting enough to warrant 
something like careful detail, I shall look for an intimation 
to that effect, and send you an article forthwith. (Pray 
do so.) 
The art of making ornamental rustic baskets, like many 
others here, is carried to great perfection. Some of the 
designs are very beautiful; others very plain and neat; but 
all, apparently, worked out with such ease as makes imita¬ 
tion a very simple alfair. This is, also, an art which those 
wdio have a little time to spare could turn to advantage; and 
though I have no wish to add to the long list of things 
which young gardeners are expected to learn, I do think 
I that every young gardener should learn some one thing or 
other which may mitigate the misery of being out of a 
situation, and out of work, in the event of such a calamity 
ever overtaking him. A German nobleman, as we are told, 
once asked the hand of a young lady in marriage. The 
father of the young lady was a sluewd old man, who had 
seen a good deal of the world; and who, to use an expressive, 
though somew hat vulgar, phrase, knew “ a thing or two.” 
“ No," said the ohl genthanau, after hearing one of the 
most tender appeals, “ your title and rank would avail 
nothing in the event of war or revolution. Learn a trade 
that will enable you to earn a living in any country, or in 
any circumstances. Then you shall have my daughter.” 
In less than twelve months the trade was learned, and the 
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