Maucii 25. 
COUNTHY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
409 
close at hand, and every flower or shrub T learn the name of, 
down with it, or sometliing near it, on a stick, and then peg 
it down, look over my numbers at niglit, and if I see the 
name, rectify it at once, if not, enter it in a little book to 
keej) in my pocket till I do see it. 
Now, tbe Doctor’s lady lias been very kind to me in tliis 
way, but I do not like to be too troublesome ; besides, I must 
turn my attention to arranging the beds and veget.ablcs in 
I the kitchen-garden, for it apjtears to me as tliough they had 
1 been tltrown in tlieir respective places from the other side of 
I the garden-wall. During these short days and long evenings 
I I made the most of my reading, and making notes of work 
to be done, and a list of seeds for the spring, i.e., Annuals to 
fill up the spaces between Perennials, as nearly all the 
borders are of the mixed character; and now I had made up 
my mind to take the shine out of my neighbours in flowers, 
for I must beg to inform you that they are just the same 
now as they were ten years ago. They do not want any 
i new-fangled notions, “ there’s nothing beats the old ones.” 
On some points I agree with them, and stick close to 
Abercrombie ; still, I will not despise a plan because it is new, 
or because a man tells me he has tried it, and it has failed, 
unless I knew that man gave it a fair chance. Neither will 
I cast aside the plans and practices of ages gone by, until I 
can see better; but unless we search, and try, and prove, how 
are we to know ? But my neighbours arc not reading men, 
and, no doubt, from my doing so, with my inexperience, my 
juvenile appearance, and diminutive stature, I am known in 
the village as— The Doctor’s Boy. 
P.S.—To be continued, if you think it is not a waste of 
time and paper. 
{To he continued^ then ; for we think it a beneficial use of 
both.— Ed. C. G.) 
QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
GARDENING. 
MTOSOTIS AZOPJCUS POE BEDDING. 
I “ Can you give me any information about the Mi/osolls 
Azoricus, •whether it is lit for a mass ; and how far aiiart 
strong plants of last year ought to be planted ?—E. II. C.” 
[The Azorean Forget-me-not is a most treacherous plant. 
Do not risk it in “ a mass ” unless you liave proved it will 
succeed on that very soil. It is a most beautiful plant, for 
all that, with purplish-blue flowers, and will mass, in some 
rare instances, most beautifully; but in nine places out of 
ten it will not bear even exposure to the open air. Why go 
to the Azores for “keepsakes” of this kind, when our own 
“ Forget-me-not”—the biennial called Mjjosulix sijlvnlicKn—ifi 
the best of them all, and the best spring flower we have? 
It is not, however, the one which grows in the ditches. If 
Myosotls sylvtiticim was from the Falkland Islands everybody 
would have it as a pet plant.] 
LIST OF PELARGONIUMS.—RAISING VERBENAS 
FROM SEED. 
“ Which arc the best of the following list of Pelargoniums, 
quality of more consideration than quantity, and only those 
of a strong growth and gooil hfibit wanted ? As I have a 
duplicate list, if you mention tbe numbers it will bo enough. 
I They are the remnant of a list from which I have selected 
most of the best. 
1. Alllira (Hoyle) 
15. Mary (II) 
2. Alboni (Ayres) 
1(1. National (F) 
•‘i. Amazon (11) 
17. Neatness (B) 
4. Astrea (H) 
18. Novelty (T) 
3. Attraction (F) 
] 9. Oscar (II) 
(!. Glamliana (B) 
20. I’icta (11) 
7. Dneliess of Welling¬ 
21. Pretty (H) 
ton (T) 
22. Rachel (F) 
8. Eleanor (F) 
22. Rebecca (B) 
!). Empress (T) 
24. Itegalis (11) 
10. Euryflice (F) 
25. Remus (11) 
1J. Gertrinle (B) 
20. Rosa (F) 
12. Lagonia (H) 
27. Sanspariel (H) 
12. Leah (B) 
28. Spot (B) 
14. Leonora (II) 
29. Virginia (II) 
“ Is there any particular care required to raise J'erhenct 
seedlings ? I sowed a large packet of my own saving last 
yeai', but failed to raise a single plant; and I expect the same 
luck this year, both with iny show kinds and with U. venoso 
(of which I have some seed), unless you give me a few of 
your valuable hints on the subject.—J. E.” 
[In your list of Pelargoniums, Nos. 2,4, 5, 8, 0, 12, 14, Ifl, ■ 
IS), 22, 20, 27, and 2!), are good varieties; but 1, 5, 0, 7, 10, i 
11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, and 28, are not so i 
good ; 24 k a fine colour, but not a free bloomer. Willi ! 
extra good management, such as the exhibitors at Regent’s 
Park practise, this variety has been very fine; so you may 
try your skill upon it. 
There is no difficulty in raishiy Verlcitas from seed. In 
your case, it is doubtful whether your seed has been ripe ; j 
or, perhaps, you have placed your seed-pans in too great a i 
heat. We have had them come up very freely in the open j 
air self-sown, that is, on tlie bed where they had grown the j 
previous year. One successful raiser of new varieties always 
allows his seedlings to come up self-sown. If you have 
saved any seed this last year, sow it in wide pans, a month 
hence, and place them in a cold frame, giving air and shade 
when the sun shines on the glass. Do not cover the seed 
more than a quarter-of-an-inch, and keep it just moist. You 
might also try a part of your seed in the open air, using the 
same precaution of not covering it too deep, and keeping 
tliG surface moist. We should be glad to hear of your suc¬ 
cess.] , 
EXCRESCENCES ON CRAT.EGUSES. 
“ I should be glad to know what insect causes this blight 
on the Thorns, and if any means can be used to destroy it. 
,V double I'ink Thorn in my garden is almost killed by it, as 
the end of the branch generally witheis. I have observed 
it the last tw'o years, hut only on Thorns.— Goddess.” 
[The gall-like excrescences upon these twigs are new to 
me. They do not appear to be true galls, as I find no cells 
or other traces of insects within them. They may be the 
result of punctures of Aphides, or some other species ; or ! 
they may be an abnormal growth, owing to some disease of 
the vegetable tissue. If I could see specimens in a fresher 
state I might be able to give a more decided opiviion as to 
the origin and mode of checking the evil.—I. 0. W.] 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
*♦* Wc request that no one will write to the departmental writers of 
The Cottage G-irdenek. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and j 
expen.se. All communieations should be addressed, “ To the Editor of 
Cottage Gardener, 20, Paternoster Row, London.” 
Herbaceous Plants (An Old Suhscriber). —We know of no good 
work giving their description and culture. You will find much about 
them in our back volumes. 
Butter-making. — B. wishes for instruction in the art of making 
good butter, and inquires if there is anything peculiar in the manner of 
making it in Buckinghamshire ? We shall be much obliged by answers 
to these queries. 
Covers eor our Volumes (W. H. Warner). —They are one shilling 
each ; but wilt not travel under the book regulations by post. Send 
your full direction, and the number of the volume you require, to the | 
oflice. [ 
N.vme of Orchid (S. J. Seedly ).— Your pretty Orchid is Onaidium \ 
pubes, a native of Brazil, and grows best on a block placed in a pot i 
amongst broken crocks. Your figure of the plant is good, but the ! 
specimen was sadly crushed. You ought to have packed it in wool, or j 
moss, in a small, flat tin-box, in order that it might travel through the [ 
post-office without being pressed flat in stamping the letter. j 
Arronia umbellata Sowing (.Amicus). —Your No. 4. Cineraria ! 
seedling, white, with broad purple edge and purple centre, is the only j 
flower that is even moderately good, and in that the petals are too wide 
apart. The specimen is defective, and the flower may be better next , 
year. Sow the seed of Abronia umbellata in the husk. j 
Book on Hockwork, &c. (W. Thomas). —There is no such work as | 
you ask for. It is too much dependant upon taste and circumstances to 
admit of minute directions. 
Names of Ferns (M. H. Lacy). —Your Fern is Asplenium tricho- 
manes. (Ignoramus). —1. Scolopendrium oflieinarqm. 2. Polypodiuqi 
vulgare. 3. Asplenium trichoniancs, 
