March 20. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
479 
the whole winter, not one Pelargonium, although I have 150. 
But still farther, although it may scarcely be believed, I, 
nevertheless, conscientiously tell you, that the whole expense 
of coal, &c., for fires, has not cost for the winter above half- i 
a-crown. Excepting a small bit of wood, now and then, 
along with a few small bits of coal, I always used small j 
dross coal, taken out very wet. If not used wet they null 
put out the fire. 
I could write a good many small^hints as to these small 
hothouses, but, I doubt not, you will think) I have already 
exceeded my bounds. I hope the foregoing may spur up 
somo flower-loving amateur to get the advantage of a small 
house to protect his pets in.—A. G., Edinburgh. 
I\S.—As some parties may be surprised at my statement 
of burning a fire for six weeks for about 2s. 6d., I may 
explain, that before winter I got a cart-load of dross coal at 
7s. (id., and I am sure I have not used the fourth part of 
them, the difference being made up of the small bits of 
wood, and the few larger pieces of coal, to set the fire agoing. 
These pipes are very easily heated. I generally had the 
heat about 40°, and I never found my house below 30°. 
[Although you have acted contrary to the orders given in 
the correspondent’s column repeatedly, we suppose we must 
forgive you, and express our thanks for your interesting 
communication. We have recommended two or three friends 
to try these strong glazed pipes in their small houses, but 
we are not aware that it has ever been done before you have 
so applied them. The great fear was, that the heat would 
be too strong where the fire first proceeded from the fire¬ 
bars or brander, and so crack them ; but there seems to have 
been nothing of the kind in your case. For a greenhouse, 
where sudden, rather than continuous, heats are required, 
these pipes seem to be useful, and more especially, as in 
the case of a tenant, they are so moveable. We do not, 
however, pronounce on this case, but advise all persons 
so circumstanced, before building, to have a friendly under¬ 
standing, and in writing, with their landlord. With the 
exception of the moveability, we do not think there 
would be much in favour of the pipes over the narrow flues, 
sunk below the floor, recommended some time ago. But 
then, they would not heat quite so soon as these hard pipes ; 
but they were altogether out of the way. We quite believe 
all you say about the fuel, though a little doubtful as to the 
cost. We should like to know if you put on the little bits 
of wood, and the little bits of coal, ahrays yourself; because 
if not, and we speak feelingly, others might not be so par¬ 
ticular with the little bits of coal, and the dross might in some 
cases be used as a blind. The weather has been so severe, 
that a quarter of a load of dross would scarcely be sufficient. 
Much, however, would be gained by keeping it constantly 
wet before using it, after the fire was lighted. I have much 
trouble with this very matter, and frequently go to a furnace 
and find the rubbish used for fuel dust dried, and in that 
state there is no possibility of igniting it. 
Some time ago, there was an account in these pages of a 
five pounds greenhouse; but made, as in your case, by the 
owner. You seem to have managed the whole affair in such 
a business-like manner, that we would be obliged for a fuller 
account, for the benefit of our readers : such as the mode of 
glazing the sides, if glazed ; the height of the apex of the 
roof; the size of the timber, wall plates, sash bars, Ac., 
employed ; the price it stood, when cut, per foot; the weight 
and size of squares of glass ; the mode of glazing ; the mode 
of giving air ; tho convenience for displaying plants inside ; 
stages, or what; the expense of the whole of the materials; 
the rough estimate of the hours’ labour the house cost you ; 
though the latter is of less consequence to many Amateurs ; 
because many might find a little time, and yet might not 
find money so easily in these tax-time days. 
We feel sure that a few remarks on these subjects, as 
well as any other hints, would be serviceable; and so 
thoroughly are we convinced of the benefit which amateurs 
may do, not only to each other, but to more professional 
practitioners, that if ever we have an hour to spend in 
Auld Reekie—and especially in a keen, frosty morning—wo 
shall do ourselves the pleasure of having a Paul Try peep 
at this neat little house that has been indebted neither to 
carpenter nor glazier.] 
AN ALLOTMENT, WITH ITS SPRING AND 
SUMMER CROPS. 
Breadth 27^ yards, length 44 yards (viz., one rood, or 
quarter-of-an-acre of ground). 
FIRST DIVISION. 
Feet. 
March 1st. 22 rows of Potatoes, two feet between 
rows. 
Plant directly.... Sets, one foot apart in planting .. 44 
York Regents, Martyn’s Seed¬ 
lings, or Otway’s Kidney, and the 
Fortyfold, if on good ground. 
Alley . 1 
SECOND DIVISION. 
Middle of May .. Two rows of Swedes. 3 
Alley. l 
Sow directly .... Four rows of hollow-crowned Parsnips 7 
Alley. 1 
Middle of April.. Four rows of long red Altringham 
Carrots . 6 
Alley. 1 
1st week in May . Row of Scarlet Runners . 3 
Alley. 1 
Sow directly .... Six rows of Onions, Globe, or James’s 
Keeping. 5 
Alley. 1 
Beginning of May Four rows of late hardy Turnips .. 8 
Alley . 1 
End of March .. Row of late Windsor Beans... 3 
Alley . 2 
THIRD DIVISION. 
Plant directly .. Two rows of Ash-leaved Kidney Po¬ 
tatoes . 3 
Alley . 1 
Plant directly .. Three rows of Matchless Cabbage .. 5 
Alley . 1 
End of March .. Row of Marrowfat Peas (Thurston’s 
Reliance) . 3 
Alley. 1 
Plant directly .. Three rows of Ash-leaved Kidneys 
(Cape Brocoli after) . 4 
Alley . 1 
Sow directly .... Row of early Long-pod Beans .... 3 
Alley . 1 
Plant directly .. Six rows of Ash-leaved Kidneys 
(Celery after) . 9 
Alley . 1 
Sow directly .... Row of early Warwick Peas (Celery 
after) . 3 
Alley . 1 
End of March .. Row of Cauliflower (Stone Turnips 
after). 3 
Alley . 1 
Plant directly.... Two rows of Lettuce (autumn Cab¬ 
bage after) . 2 
Alley . 1 
First Division.—Potatoes. —N.B. The winter and spring 
Brocoli, and the winter Cabbage and Spinach, take this 
division directly the Potatoes are off, and to become occu- , 
pied with the mixed crop next spring. 
Second Division.—Root Crops. —N.B. This division to be 
trenched for the main crop of Potatoes next year, directly 
the roots are off. 
Third Division.—Mixed or Early Crop. —N.B. This 
division to be occupied with flying crops, such as Lettuce, 
&c., in the autumn, and to be sown with the root crops 
next spring. 
