January 23. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
319 
be placed, and its interior being rendered sweet and 
clean by a good washing, pots of Geraniums , Verbenas, 
Calceolarias, and other plants which have struck, and 
likely to grow, are at once removed there, and likewise, 
sucli plants as the cultivator may have been rearing for 
the decoration of his rooms during winter; for it is quite 
possible to have a better display, even at this season, 
with no more assistance than what a single frame 
affords; for a batch of Chinese Primroses might be 
brought on during the summer in the Cucumber-frame, 
and a few Cineraria plants might be grown out-of-doors 
at the same time, to which might be added a few bulbs, 
as well as other spring-flowering plants, of which 
Mr. Fish has given several selections. Well, in this 
frame, this motley assemblage of plants being arranged, 
and the glass all right, the giving of air and water, and 
covering up at nights, will be easily attended to, and 
the autumn weeks will be spent in that way ; but the 
return of longer days will call for the frame for other 
purposes, and toward the middle or end of January some 
other place must be found for the plants then occupy¬ 
ing it. 
The Chinese Primrosos, Bulbs, and Cinerarias, being 
then in an advanced state, might be at once placed in 
the sitting-rooms, or such other light places as can be 
spared for them, while the others ought, also, to have 
a light, dry, airy place allotted them; but free from 
frost, though it need not be warm. The precise time 
at which this change takes place may vary according to , 
the wish of the cultivator; but if he be not very 
particular about having Cucumbers very early, he might i 
allow the plants to remain here until February, when j 
shelter for them will be more easily obtained; but this 
will"be determined by the circumstances of the case, 
and we will pass on to the next crop or purpose to which 
the frame may be applied. 
Presuming that Cucumbers, or, it may be, Melons, are 
wanted by the amateur, much time may be saved if 
young plants fit for turning out could be had from a 
neighbour. This, in the suburbs of a large town, is 
not so difficult a matter as in remote country districts; 
because, it must be known that delicate seedling 
plants, like Melons and Cucumbers, cannot endure the 
hardships of conveying long distances; while, with 
care, they may be moved from a short distance without 
deriving any serious harm. But in the mean time, it 
will be prudent to see after the fermenting material for 
the bed, if such be wanted, and if it be an old-fashioned 
three-light frame, or box, a hotbed must be prepared 
for it ere the plants are brought home; and though 
some parties may give the preference to tan for making 
a hotbed, it is so uncertain, that I will not recommend 
it unless under very peculiar circumstances. But good 
stable-dung that has been frequently turned and tem¬ 
pered so as to produce a nice steady heat, may be 
adopted with more certainty of commanding sufficient 
heat; and the bed being built and frame placed on it, 
a day or two might elapse before the soil be put in and 
the plants inserted; but as J have, in a former article, 
detailed this duty, it is needless repeating it here. 
Suffice it to say, that the amateur who has a wish to 
make his single frame as profitable as possible might i 
sow many kinds of seeds in pots, which he would rear 
in his frame, and as the season advances, he might 
venture to put in a few pots of cuttings, as Verbenas, 
Petunias, &c., taking especial care to kill every particle 
of insect or disease on them before placing them there : 
a very good way being to place the cuttings (for a short 
time before potting) in a strong decoction of tobacco, 
and if there be mildew'on them, to dust them well with 
sulphur on taking them out. Seedling plants will be 
more easily managed; these may consist of Balsam,, 
Coxcomb, sundry annuals for out-door flowering, and 
many other things,—taking care, however, not to over¬ 
crowd the frame with anything likely to injure the 
proper inmates there. 
The culture and management of the Cucumber being 
supposed to go on all favourably, a few seeds of a good, 
useful Melon might be put in early in May, and by the 
end of the month, plants large enough to turn out 
might bo had in readiness for another hotbed, which we 
will suppose to be preparing to receive them. This 
second hotbed to be made precisely the same as the 
first, only the plants on the first one need not be sacri¬ 
ficed, for, by gradually inuring them to the open air, 
and giving them some temporary shelter after the frame 
is removed, it is likely they will keep in a bearing con¬ 
dition for some time ; while the Melon crop will also be 
advancing. 
The mode in which these different productions ought 
to be treated will be dwelt on hereafter. Suffice it to 
say, that with good management, a crop of Melons may 
be so obtained, the last of which will be quite ready to 
cut by the time first mentioned in this chapter, that is, 
the beginning or middle of October; after which time, 
Melons are seldom good, unless materially assisted by 
fire-heat in some way or other. 
There are other ways of using a single frame; and at 
an early opportunity I will return to this subject. But 
the above will, perhaps, be of service to the party 
making the inquiry. More will be given another time. 
J. Robson. 
THE LAST OF HIS LINE. 
By the Authoress of “My Flowers.” 
( Continued from page 283.) 
The married life of Lady B- - was not a happy one. 
How could it be? Sir Charles was personally kind, because 
lie was a good-natured man, and not violent in temper; 
but he made her wretched in another way. He was cold- 
hearted, and incapable of real affection for any one but 
his only daughter—if that could be called affection which 
led to such melancholy results;—but he was vain and 
frivolous, loved admiration, and was full of empty flattery 
and folly. In every family he distinguished one female 
member, and made her the object of his attentions, which 
were always marked and exclusive; and then he had another 
base disposition, that of making quiet, but effectual, mis¬ 
chief among all his particular acquaintances, which pre¬ 
vented their detecting his conduct, each fancying herself 
and themselves the favourites, while the plotter secured his 
own advantage by stratagem and falsehood. From family 
to family he roved about, smiling and satisfied—nothing 
could exceed his kindness to each, or his treachery to all; 
and for many years this system worked well. His poor 
wife, in bad health, sat at home, chewing the cud of bitter 
and not sweet fancy. She well knew his turn, and what 
was enacting in each friend’s house; but she could do no 
good, and therefore she had to endure his attentions and 
visits to others as best she might. What can poor wives 
expect, when they marry without asking the man “ the 
reason of the hope that is in him ?" or whether he has any 
‘‘ hope ” at all ? 
Such a parentage as this could work nothing but ruin to 
the child. Matilda B- was a clever, energetic, fearless 
little thing, when she first came with her parents to G-, 
and was idolized by both. But she was brought up wretch¬ 
edly. Her mother ill, and unable to look after her, making 
her a spy upon her father’s actions, and suffering her by 
degrees to go about wherever she liked, associating with the 
servants, and forming acquaintances unknown to her mother; 
Sir Charles, applauding all she said and did, and too much t 
occupied with his own crooked path to notice or care about 
those of Matilda. What a terrible, destructive bringing up 
was this! How could it end, but in wickedness and woe ? 
The neglect of her education at last struck her parents, 
and they determined upon sending her to a school in 
France. This was so dangerous a situation in all cases, 
but especially for a girl of Matilda’s character, that re- 
