THE COTTAGE GARDENEll.. 
January 20. 
oI(5 
once does begin to bear it continues longer than 
Sea-k'ale, but it is more tardy to start. Aspanvius 
beds being done up in the autumn require nothing 
further yet. Next month the soil may be broken on 
the hods, so us to allow tlie heads to get through 
witliont dilliculty. 
il. -Tiiis being for Oniontt and Itadishcs, tlie ground 
must he got into good order by being dug slightly 
over some frOsty morning early in the month; after 
which it will need no inorc until sowing time, which 
must be done in dry weather, if possible, any time 
before the 20th of IMarcIi; but the end of this 
month will do if the ground will work well. 
Drills, a foot a))art, are best on all ground but 
the very stitlbst loam or clay, which had better be 
in beds three-feet-and-a-half wide, with eighteen- 
inch alleys, and the seed sown broadcast. A 
sprinkling of iSfihnon Uadishes with the Onions will 
do no harm, and they will come in useful. 
e. - 'riiis being for Peas, a crop of Surprise or Cham- 
ption might be put in some time this mouth, to suc¬ 
ceed the Euipjeror, sown before. If there be any 
Brocoli or other crops wanting to be removed, let 
that now be done—I mean Brocoli that has been 
all cut, or nearly so—and let the ground be dug as 
long before the time it is wanted as possible. 
/.-This being destined {ox Dwarf Kidney and Scarlet 
Runner Beans, but little can be done now, unless 
the ground be vacant, when digging, as above, will 
be serviceable to dispel slugs and other garden 
enemies, who do not like their homesteads so rudely 
torn up in cold, frosty weather. 
y. -If this is intended for Carrots, and other root 
croj)s, care must ho taken to expose as much of the 
surface as possible to frost to kill the larva of insects, 
which abound most alter the Cabbage tribe. Dig¬ 
ging, as above,will assist much, taking care that the 
last digging is at least three weeks or a month be¬ 
fore sowing-time, which need not be before April. 
Broad Beans may be sown here, if wanted; rows 
at least two-fcet-and-a-half apart will do, and the 
seed about four or five inches apart. 
/(.-If there should be a batch oi Early Cabbage plants 
here, it would he well to look over them on a dry 
afternoon, and close in the holes around their necks 
caused by the winds and frost. Winter Turnips 
ought to bo taken up before they grow much, and 
their roots partially cut—they might bo placed 
singly on tlie ground in some cool place—and the 
ground, being w'cll manured, must be dug ready for 
otlier cro[is, which, at this season, succeed each 
other fast on the same ground. 
Kitchen-garuen Borders. —Towards the end of the 
month, if the weather bo mild, seeds of different things 
may be sown, as Savoys, Brussels Spjrouts, all the kinds of 
Greens, a little Caulijloiver andand, at the same 
time. Radishes; while the Peach and Nectarine trees 
may be pruned and nailed, and the ground digged ready 
for any crop that is w'anted. A few early Potatoes may 
be planted along the side of the wall, which wdll come 
in earlier than those outside. TjCtiuee and Endive wdiich 
have stood tlie winter.will speedily be cleared away, and 
that space, too, must be*jirepared for future use. It is, 
however, too early yet to dispense with the coverings of 
Caulifioivers entirely; but they must be as much exposed 
as possible prior to that being done; yet a sudden ex¬ 
posure after, perhaps, some weeks of conlinement is 
hurtful, and must be guarded against. See that mice 
do not disturb the Peas Just coming up; and if it be 
very mild, slugs arc equally destructive in another way. 
Lime, soot, and coal-ashes are preventives, and tread¬ 
ing the earth well in around them, on dry days, is also 
beneficial, as closing up the harbour they retire into 
after doing the mischief, to be ready for another attack. 
Plant out a few Onions if you wish to save your own 
seed. Good, sound bulbs that have shown little symp¬ 
toms of growing are best, as there is the grealcr proba¬ 
bility of the ])rogeuy keeping well. 
Erame.- —Some fermenting material being preparing 
at the end of last month, the amateur must make iriends 
with some neighbouring gardener, about the middle or 
third week of this, in order to have a pot or two of 
Cucumber plants to turn into his bed when it is made up 
and ready, which is very soon after it is made, if the dung 
be good, and well sweetened by frequent turnings during 
the last three weeks. An open, turfy loam, to which 
some leaf-mould has been added, will be found as good as 
any, and hills being made in the centre of each light, 
so that the earth is heaped up to be about ten inches 
or a foot high (the surface of the bed being covered over 
about two inches deep as well), the plants ujay be put 
in, and carefully watched for some days to see that no 
undue steam arises. Cover well up at night with mats, 
and try to maintain an internal heat of about 70°. The 
bed, at the same time, may be made useful in many 
ways. Seed-pots, or pans, of sundry annuals may be put 
in, and cuttings of varioits things as well, taking care 
that each cutting, before potting, is well immersed in 
tobacco-water to kill Green Ely or other insect. In 
this tvay. Verbenas, Petunias, Fuchsias, and many other 
things, may be multiplied to any extent, and seeing 
those things thrive is, to the enthusiast, a source of 
jtleasute as well. A little air will be necessary on 
lino days, by tilting the back of the frame slightly ; and 
if the heat should exceed 7.3°, and feel, when inhaled, to 
be rank, leave a tiller on at all times—about a quarter- 
of-an-inch will allow a great deal of air to pass. Be 
careful of the Ocraniunis, Calceolarias, Ac., removed 
from this framo before placing it on the hotbed, and 
if they are compelled to occupy inferior quarters in 
the house, let the Cinerarias havm most light; uc.xt to that, 
the Ueraniums. Calceolarias may be kept as cool, and 
even as moist, as j)0S8ible, and tlie other things will be 
all improved by ]ucsentiug them to the light in turn; a 
day or two at a time will assist much. Take care that 
frost does not icach them ; but give them air i'rcely, and 
gradually inure them to bear it when fully exposed. 
Elower-Garden.— The remarks of last mouth will, in 
a great measure, apply to this; but whensoever fine 
weather sets in, look round and replace anything which 
the frost or winds may have disturbed. It is yet too 
early to sovv seeds, except under glass; but bulbs may 
be taken up and re-planted, and the like may be said of 
many herbaceous plants. Heartsease, if not planted in 
autumn, ought to be done now; while sometimes an 
interesting spring display is made by taking up quan¬ 
tities of the common Primrose out of the woods, and 
planting them in the llowcr-beds, there to remain till 
they ha,vo done fiowering. Einish pruning Roses, leav¬ 
ing the tender Tea, and China till last, and even the)j 
cut little from them. 
SuRuiuiERY.—Einish all work intended here as early 
as possible, except the cutting down of common Laurels 
expected to grow again, which may be deferred for 
another month ; not but that the present is as good a 
time, but their tops may do service during that period. 
Sec that the fastenings of the different things hold gDod, 
and give a good face to the ground by slightly digging 
it, except where Rhododendrons, &c., are. planted, in 
which case a litter-dressing of peat-earth will have the 
same effect. 
Ekuit-trees. —Einish the pruning and nailing of all 
wall-trees as speedily as possible, if not done before, 
except that Peach and Nectarine may be delayed for a 
week or so into March. Let, also, all Gooseberry and 
Currants be pruned forthwith, if not done before, and 
some soot cast around their roots, which will prevent, in 
a measure, caterpillars attacking them. If there be any 
