Maiich 18. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
451 
greatest activity, throw off more oxygen than they take up 
at other times. Herein is the lirst element in the manage¬ 
ment of an Aquarium, wliich, to he successful, must contain 
a sufficient number of plants to supply the animals witli 
atmospheric air for respiration.” 
PLANTS FOR MARINE AQUARI UM. — TREES 
IN ST. PAULS CHURCH YARD. 
In reply to the question of an “ Old Siibucriher ” respecting 
marine plants, I beg to say that I have kept specimens of 
Ulva, Enleromorpha, Pimctaria, Conferva, Chondrns crispns, 
and CoralUna officinalis, during the last five months with 
Sea-anemones, without having occasion to change the water. 
All these kinds of Sea-weed are common on most shores 
between tide-marks and in rock-pools. As a general rule, 
any of the green weeds, and all the more delicate sorts of 
red weed, will grow well in an aquarium. I have not tried 
keeping fish, but I believe Gobies and small Wrasses are 
easy to keep. A"our subscriber will find further information 
in Mr. Gosse’s Handbook to the Aquarium. 
Perhaps you will allow me to ask a question in return. 
What is it that kills the Plane trees in St. Paul’s Church 
yard ? In the summer of 1854, one of the trees, then in 
leaf, had a disease, or fungus, in the bark, between two feet 
and four feet from the ground. The hark cracked vertically, 
and the edges of the cracks became like locks of dirty wool, 
or the cobwebs in a cellar. This went on till tlie bark all 
round the tree was destroyed, and the tree died. In the 
following winter four or five adjoining trees died in the 
same way, and have been removed, and now I see that most 
of the few remaining trees are similarly affected.— Guorge 
Bowles, JuN., Brandon Collage, Camden New Town. 
VEGETABLE CULTURE AND COOKERY. 
NO. VIII. 
BRUSSELS SPROUTS. 
This delicious vegetable is of easy cultivation, and it en¬ 
dures the severest winters we have; it is, therefore, a valuable 
winter gi’een. The seed is sown in April, and the whole 
cultivation of the plant is the same as is given for Borecole. 
The principal crops should be planted out in the beginning 
of July, and again in the beginning of August; the first of 
which will produce a supply of buds from September till 
February, and the second will continue it till May. The 
buds ai’e ready to gather when they are the size of a walnut, 
and the larger should be gathered first, the smaller being 
left till they have acquired full growth. The crowns will be 
found a very nice green, and should be cut off' after tlie 
plant has attained its perfect height, which will throw more 
strength and vigour into the buds, and thereby assist their 
development. Care should be taken, when procuring seed 
of Brussels Sprouts, to see that it is imported, as the plant 
has a tendency to degenerate in this country. 
To Boil Brussels Sprouts. —Trim and wash them per¬ 
fectly clean, and let them lie an hour in cold water. Put 
them on in boiling water, with a little salt, and boil them 
till tender. Drain off' the water and serve them hot. 
Another Way. —Having cooked them as above, put a 
piece of butter in a saucepan, add the Siirouts, with pepper 
and a little salt, and some gravy, if you have any, and serve 
them with sauce blonde, which is made thus:—Brown a piece 
of butter very cai'efnlly in a sauceiian, and thin it with 
broth, and nothing else; let it boil for half-an-hour, in order 
that the llavour of the browning may be lost. At the 
moment of serving, luit into it a piece of butler rolled in 
Hour to enrich it; thin it with broth, but omit vinegar or 
lemon juice. This is very delicate and easily made. 
BURNET. 
This is called also Piniprenelle, and is used both as a 
salad and a pot herb. By the French it is extensively em¬ 
ployed as an ingredient in soups, and the flavour it com¬ 
municates is exactly that of the Cucumber. 
To have a supply of Burnet throughout the year the 
seed should be sown in March or April, and also in August, 
either broad-cast or in drills ; and when the plants are two 
or three inches high, they should be thinned or planted out 
at a distance of a foot from each other. As fast as the 
leaves are produced, cut them off when young, for use, and 
the plants will continue to produce a succession. In sum¬ 
mer, when they thi’ow up flower-stalks, these should be cut 
down to encourage the production of young stems and leaves 
from beneath. All that is necessary in the cultivation is to 
keep the plants free from weeds. 
Burnet Vinegar. —Fill a wide-mouthed bottle with the 
fresh green leaves of Burnet, and cover them with vinegar; 
let them steep for ten days, and, if you wish it strongly 
flavoured, strain the liquor, put it on some fresh leaves, and 
let them steep fourteen days more. This is an excellent 
relish with cold meats, salads, Ac. 
In salads, Burnet is a great addition to their flavour, and 
is by many considered an essential ingredient.— Roger 
Ashpoi.e. 
NEW SELF-REGISTERING GARDEN 
a’HERMOMETER. 
Every gardener knows, or ought to know, the value of a 
good self-registering thermometer. To be able to ascertain 
what the temperature of the atmosphere is wdien he is 
asleep, and how near his favourite plants, or crops, have 
been threatened with destruction, without having suff'ei’ed, 
is a satisfaction which only those who have experienced it 
can appreciate. We have tried a good many thermometers 
in our time; some on box-w'ood scales, some on ivory, and 
some metal, but w'e have always found that by exposure to 
the atmosphere, whether out-of doors, or in the moisture of 
the greenhouse, that the figures of the scale would soon 
become obliterated, and the scale itself becomes covered 
with green vegetation, or an oxidized crust. We have just 
been shown a thermometer in which all these objections are 
obviated, made by Messrs. Nigretti and Zambra, of Hatton 
Gai’den, London. The scale is made of cast zinc, and the 
figures and degrees are raised, so that there is no chance of 
their being obliterated, or even being rendered indistinct by 
exposure to any atmosphere; and as the ground colour of 
the scale is dark, and the figures bright, observations can 
be made without a close insxiection of the instrument. 
Another great recommendation of the instrument is its 
extraordinary cheapness, the piece being only ds. (id. After 
this, who is there who w'ould be wdtliout this valuable 
instrument ? 
QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
GARDENING. 
SPRING TREATMENT OF ROSE-CUTTINGS. 
“ The hand and bell-glasses have remained over the 
autumn-made Rose-cuttings ever since they were planted. 
They are now budding, and throwing out leaves; but what 
is going on under-ground I know not. Should I give air, in 
order to check the growth above ground, or let them alone? 
—R. B.” 
[Tilt the glasses, and let them have a little air, day and 
night; on very hot days give more air; and when warm 
showers come, let them have an hour’s rain once in ten 
days. They are all right below; but you tried them too 
severely: they ought to have had air occasionally all through 
the w’inter.] 
FLOWERING-PLANTS IN BEDS SURROUNDED 
BY GRASS. 
“ A Constant Subscriber would be much obliged for a list 
of summer plants which would look w'ell, as to licight and 
colour, in four beds in a grass garden; one bed is I’car- 
shaped, one a star, one a triangle, and the fourth a large, 
fancy-shaped bed.” 
[The large, fancy-shaped bed would look well if planted 
thus :—Slandnrd Boses, about three feet high in the stems, 
