THE COTTAGE GAllDENER. 
Januauy 29. 
311 
following; for stove-lieat is not at all inimical to these | 
seedlings during the first stages of their progress, and 
thus twelve months are gained over the safer plan of 
growing them the first year from October sowings, and 
proving them the next. 
Another side of the question may be more useful still. 
This is the first instance, during my practice, in which 
a seed, whose nature it is to lie dormant in the ground 
from the time of ripening till next spring, departed from | 
that rule, with very little, I may say, with comparatively ' 
no artificial help, and such departure may be reasonably ■ 
depended on, from the uniformity of the two years’ result 
in my own case. Then, are we sure that all kinds of seeds, j 
for whicli we claim this long period of dormancy, between 
sowing and sprouting, really require so much time to 
come up ? Is it not more probable, that if we w'cre to , 
vary routine and red tape, we might get many such 
seeds to depart from the more natural course, and gain 
time and patience by the experiment? At all events, the 
thing is well worth a fair trial, and to none is the issue j 
more likely to bring grist to the mill than to the fair i 
and honest-dealing florist. D. Beaton. I 
O I 
Russian Gardener in the Crimea. —“ M. von Illib- 
ner had an orchard, which he had planned six years 
before my visit, and which evidently now was in a most 
flourishing condition. His labourers consisted of one 
Russian and of several Tartars. The first led such a 
peculiar life that it deserves to be related. While we in 
Germany hire our servants, or make similar engage¬ 
ments, for the term of a quarter of a year, in Russia the 
term is a V’tret, that is to say, four months, or the third 
part of a year. M. von Hiibners Russian gardener was 
usually extremely industrious during these four months, 
living with the utmost economy, scarcely drinking as 
much as a “ vodka ” (dram) in the day. His whole 
subsistence was bread, and a poor “ shtshi” (hodge-podge) 
or “ borshtsh ” (cabbage-broth). But as soon as the 
third part of the year had expired, the work no longer 
prospered. He begged for his wages, which in the 
summer season amounted to more than seven guineas, 
and quitted with that sum. The smartest carriage, 
drawn by a couple of horses (the peasant is not per¬ 
mitted to drive with more), was immediately engaged 
for several days, along wdth a servant, and he then 
started on a drive with his mistress, or some good friend, 
who, under such circumstances, was never wanting. At 
first, all passed off in the best manner imaginable ; the 
labourer, playing “ le grand seigneur,” treated his 
mistress and friend to the most costly dishes, in which 
onions never failed to form an ingredient, and to the 
most delicate wines, champagne taking the lead. As 
night drew on, and the number of his friends increased, 
matters became more uproarious, about midnight he 
usually became intoxicated, and the festivities of that 
evening were terminated. The following morning, when 
he had slept it off, the same life recommenced, and con¬ 
tinued till the hour arrived when he again became 
unconscious. Thus he proceeded as long as he had a 
copek in his pocket; but at length, having spent all his 
money, he once more appeared at the appointed hour at 
the orchard, went as usual to liis work, aud was as 
diligent as before.”— {Koch's Odessa and the Crimea.) 
PLANTS THAT MAY BE IN BLOOM IN 
JANUARY. 
{Contiinied from jxt^e 2f);i.) 
Goedfdssta ANisorHYi.T.A.— A conqiact plant, covered 
with grey flowers, used to be a liuellia. Prune freely 
when done flowering, encourage a profusion of young 
shoots, harden these in autumn, aud when extra heat | 
is applied it will bloom. It will be safe at 45°; requires j 
about 00° to bloom; and seldom gets above eighteen I 
inches in height. Ripen the young shoots, and there 
can be no lack of flowers. It keeps in flower long in a 
W'arm greenhouse. 
JusTiciA coccinea aud Formosa; the first scarlet, and 
the second a greyish-blue, produced on long tlow’er- 
stalks, the flow'crs nestled on it all the way up. When 
done flowering cut all of these clean back, and grow on 
for next year. 
Jasminum undulatum _This will be very sweet if 
kept in stove heat at present. 
Oi.denlandia. —This is a neat little plant, seldom 
above nine inches in height, and always smothered with 
small, white flowers. To have it extra full of flowers 
at this season, it should be well pruned back in July, 
aud that would prevent it flowering much before winter. 
Spermadictyon azureum. —Might almost bo called 
the wduter Ceanothus, producing its grey-blue, small 
flow'ers in great abundance, along and at the points of 
the shoots of the previous summer. When done 
flowering, and rested a little, prune back to the lowest 
buds, and from these will come the shoots for the 
succeeding year. After June, a cold pit will be the 
place for it, housing in October. 
Zygopetaeum CRiNiTUM, Mackayi, &c. —Tlicse are 
ground Orchids, just as easily grown as any other stove 
I herbaceous plant; flourisliing in peat and loam, aud 
propagated by division, when fresh growth is pro¬ 
ceeding after flowering. The routine of the stove 
will just suit them. Keep them rather dry in autumn, 
j and give all the light possible ; they will bloom freely 
in a temperature from 55° to ()()°. 
j Carnations Perpetual. —These require no forcing, 
! the greenhouse is quite sufficient. The best plan to 
! manage them is as follows:—Propagate them about 
I August; keep the plants under glass all winter; plant 
j them out in April; nip out their centres in June ; water 
I well in dry weather; secure from winds; raise and pot 
in the beginning of September, and house before the 
i end of October. 
I Erica. —Those mentioned treat as Epacris ; but they 
I must not be kept either so close or so warm when 
■ pruned back after flowering, but yet sufficiently so to 
promote young growth; the maturing of that growth in 
August and September, by sun aud exposure, is the 
essential for a profusion of flowers. 
Cinerarias. —Of these we have often given the treat- 
j ment. Plants, from seed sown in May; divisions and 
I suckers, in August and September, from plants finished 
I flowering in June, and planted out. When potted, they 
j should be kept cool and moist, and removed to a place 
I where fire-heat can be given before frost. For later 
i flowering, frost must be excluded and damp, and the 
^ plants ivill do well. 
Cyclamen fersicum, and others, for early flowering. 
I Give plenty of water as long as the flowers last and 
! the foliage is healthy. About May curtail watering; as 
I the foliage dies refrain altogether, and let the tuber be 
j dry. About September repot, keeping the tuber mostly 
above the soil. Give a little w'ater close to it, but do 
not saturate the soil until the roots are freely progressing. 
The leaves and flowers will soon show, and the plant 
must not be dry afterwards, until the blooming is over, 
aud the foliage decayed. 
Geraniums. —In addition to those mentioned, such 
small-flowering kinds as Windsor Scarlet and Shruh- 
Jand Pet bloom well at this season, when kept in little 
I pot-room. 
^ JAs:snNUJi NUDiFLORUM. —Tliis does well against a 
wall; but a good-sized plant presents a fine yellow mass 
I in a greenhouse. It has no scent. When done flower- 
