THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
! September 18 . 
I 390 
it again, and now knows the value of the first boiling of water for beer 
or tea.” 
Driving Bees (C. It. ft.).—Yes; Mr. Payne says, that if you drive a 
swarm into an empty hive, and at night (an hour at least after sunset) 
dasli them out, and then place a hive over them full of comb and bees, 
that the two colonics will join, and not fight. 
Gloire de Rosamene Cuttings (Ta).—If they are rooted in the 
pots, plant them out at once, by all means, in a very light, rich compost. 
To prepare them for planting out finally, next March or April, shake the 
balls, and let the cuttings be planted separately. You have the start of 
i us, for our Rosamenes for next year are only now just beginning to form 
roots; but we shall not have to disturb them till the middle or end of 
April, our usual time for bedding them; but we plant them very thick. 
Blue Veronica (T. M. W.). —You will see that you have been anti¬ 
cipated, and we quite agree with you about the merits of many of our 
wild native plants. Perhaps bringing forward one of them occasionally, 
as we intend to do, is as good a way as any to influence the public in 
their favour. Botanical reformation is out of our province, but you will 
see something about it to-day. 
Pentstemons (Goody). — Pentstemon spcciosum and Pentstemon 
cyananthus are both blue, but different from each other. They are also 
quite different from the one Mr. Beaton recommends so highly, which, 
for the flower-garden, is the only blue one that is very easily grown. We 
cannot say where any of them, or of others we bring forward, can be 
bought. Pick off the flowers from the Rampion, and the seedlings may 
remain as they are till the spring. 
Seeds ( A Subscriber). —You did not say what seeds you wished to 
know about; and we are at a loss how to answer your question about 
“ seeds that may be sown now, with advantage, in a small garden in 
Oxfordshire.” Do you mean vegetable-seeds, or flower-seeds? or what ? 
and for what purpose ? Pray let us know ; or look to our back volumes. 
Cuttings (C. D. M .).—Cuttings without pots means that the cuttings 
are planted in rows, or any other way, in a light compost all over the 
bottom of shallow cold pits, just the same as if they were planted in the 
open border; for such cuttings of Geraniums the glasses are not put on 
at first. When the glasses or lights are put on these pits, they are close 
cold pits, or hand-glasses on a large scale. Mr. Beaton has often told of 
the many thousands of Geraniums he preserves through the winter with¬ 
out artificial heat. 
Four Queries (P. L.).—Scillu esculenta is a hardy bulb from North¬ 
west America, where it is called Quamash, and eaten by the Indians. It is 
hardy, and will grow very well in light, or sandy loam, or in a peat 
border as well. Clematis ligustrifolia is a climber that will grow in rich, 
light soil anywhere, or against your house. Philadelphus will grow' in 
any common soil, whatever Philadelphus it is. Conoallaria is the Solo- 
mon-seal, and will do in a border anywhere, and in any kind of earth, 
from clay to sand or peat. The bruised leaves of this plant is a good 
thing to put on bruises, or a black eye. 
Mitraria coccinea (Novice). —As far as we can make out, your plant 
of this is all right. You may lessen the quantity of water from this 
month, but it must not be kept dry like a Fuchsia. It is from the beau¬ 
tiful climate of the Island of Chiloe. 
Habrotiiamnus fasciculatus (G. M .).—Thanks for the good news 
that “the Habrotiiamnus fasciculatus lived out with you last winter 
without any protection;” what we always expected, and when it gets 
old, and hard in the wood, we have no doubt it will be treated on the 
walls like the fig ; meantime, prepare to cover it well this winter, in case 
it may be a severe one, and about the end of next April it will repay you 
with flowers— certain. A full grown plant on a south wall, in a good 
condition, produces from 70 to 170 flowers for every leaf that was ripe the 
previous autumn ; but, by-the-by, a south wall does not do for it at all, 
as the flowers do not stand the sun any length of time ; a west wall is 
best, but an east will do, and so will a north. You say that your Beeswing 
Dahlia is orange; it was red once, we know, but perhaps florists have 
changed it by this time—Can any one tell us ? 
Small Bulbs (Sarah). — Oxalis, I reins, and all such small bulbs, where 
there is no greenhouse, should stand in a good cold pit, with power to 
keep the frost away, in pots or out of pots ; if by the latter mode, give 
them a foot deep of rough sandy peat, and plant the tallest at the back. 
Sow part of your Delphinium at once, on a warm border, and the rest 
next March, and remove the plants to the flower-bed when they are three 
or four inches high. Ranunculuses and Anemones, to flower early, that 
is, the common border sorts, may be planted now, or from the middle of 
September. Can any one give our correspondent a good recipe for 
making Swiss Cream ? 
Planting. —A correspondent (Rev. R. B.) says, “ I will, now that the 
planting season is approaching, suggest a plan which has occurred to me 
for ensuring drainage, and, at the same time, arresting the downward 
tendency of the roots of fruit-trees. Its principles have nothing of 
novelty, but I have not seen their combined operation recommended by 
any one. After considering the subject for the last two years, and making 
practical experiments, I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible 
effectually to prevent the roots striking down too deep, without employing 
some absolutely impervious material, the injurious effects of which, as 
causing stagnant moisture, would far exceed any benefits to be derived 
from it in the other respect. The system I have marked out for myself is 
to discard all substrata whatever, with the object of arresting the roots 
(which if pervious to water are so also to the roots, and, therefore, use¬ 
less), and to trust to occasional root-pruning and complete undermining 
of the tree. To ensure a permanent and efficient drainage (and this is 
what I chiefly have to suggest), I would place, at the depth of from three 
to four feet, a layer of large stones, brickbats, &c., carefully levelled at 
top, and over these lay a coating of turves, accurately fitted together, nnd 
with the grassy side downwards. This will prevent the soil being washed 
down into the drain below; this application of turf was suggested by its 
employment, with a similar object, over drain-tiles. The depth at which 
the drain is placed would leave ample space for the operation of the 
spade, when necessary, upon the roots.” The passage you allude to is 
most objectionable, and escaped notice at the time. 
Himalayaii Pumpkin (De Cestria). —There are two causes, either of 
which cause it, and any other Pumpkin, to shed its fruit;—too little 
warmth and light, as when grown in the shade, and too little water at the 
root. You must decide for yourself which is the probable cause. 
Black Beetles and Crickets (G. J .).—Can any state for the 
benefit of our correspondent, an effectual mode of destroying these, 
which infest his “ kitchen and stables in tens of thousands ? ” 
Self-sown Potatoe (Ibid). —Our correspondent adds as a postscript: 
—“ In my garden, which has been suffered to get over-run with weeds 
and potatoes (slovenly dug), we last week dug up a stem with thirty-two 
attached to it. These must have been self-planted last August or Sep¬ 
tember, 1850. Six of them were small (size of a hen’s egg), and the re¬ 
mainder a good size, four being very large; they were also in excellent 
condition. Hundreds of roots, also self-sown, have yielded well; a proof i 
that the time of planting is not a matter of such great importance.” We 
humbly submit that it is another evidence of the advantage of autumn- \ 
planting. 
Biennial Seedlings (Rosa.).—- Hollyhocks, Canterbury Bells, &c., 
are best planted now in a bed to be covered with a frame in severe 
weather during the winter ; but to be planted out where they are to re¬ 
main, in early spring. Twelve hens and two codes ought to yield you a 
supply of more than sixty chickens annually. 
Spanish Fowls. —We have a communication for Z. if he will send us 
his address. 
Boiler Heated by Gas (Troublesome). —For a small one, use a cop¬ 
per, flat-bottomed boiler, and an Argand burner, with an iron chimney 
instead of one of glass. Ten cubic feet per hour might be the consumption, \ 
but we cannot say, nor can we give the calculation you require. You must ! 
try the experiment. 
Sale of Cuttings (An Old Subscriber). —We do not know of any one ■ 
who has adopted our suggestion, and has offered to sell cuttings. You , 
will see that another correspondent is troubled with black beetles. 
Garden Ground (A Subscriber, Woolwich). —We cannot give plans 
for any particular garden, and if, as you say, you are “ a complete I 
novice,” you had better ask some nurseryman to plant your borders for 
you, and we will give you any advice you need afterwards, as to improve¬ 
ments or culture. 
Suggestions (V. P. T .).—We fear that we cannot adopt them. 
Flowers for a Grave (T.).— We regret that our reply has given 
you pain, nor should we have been so unreserved in the expression of our 
opinion if the question had been to serve your own wishes. You say that 
your friend is undeserving of such censure; but be assured that his or 
her case is an exception to the rule, that they do not grieve sincerely who 
are sedulous to find out appropriate demonstrations of their grief. We 
like best the plain-turfed grave of our forefathers ; but if an addition 
must be made, we would have no more than a plain border of Rosemary 
around it. 
Fuchsia Carolina. — A Devonian says—“ Mr. Pince, of the Exeter 
Nursery, having obligingly corrected an error I have made regarding the 
parentage of this truly fine variety, I am enabled to give you its pedigree 
with confidence. It was raised from seed of E.vonensis, fertilised by ] 
F. montana, not Radicans, which Mr. Pince considers would have pro¬ 
duced a coarse race ; Exoniensis being a hybrid from F. cordifolia, fer¬ 
tilised by Globosa, the progeny, of which we write, is a descendant of 
many noble ancestors in which all their merits are united.” You are 
quite right as to the passage inadvertantly inserted. 
Names of Plants (A Constant Reader, Derbyshire) —Your perennial 
flower is Epilobium angustissimum, a hardy herbaceous perennial plant; 
the other dwarf bunchy succulent plant, is Sedum virens; the rockery is 
its proper place. The best plant that we are acquainted with, for gar¬ 
nishing the dessert dishes, &c., is the Malva crispu, a hardy annual. If 
attention to the spring and August-sowing be attended to, and it is grown 
in good ground, it will furnish an abundance of leaves. The beautiful 
curly leaves of some of the Borecoles may be used in the winter months 
for many purposes in garnishing ; especially the good curly Scotch Kail; \ 
but there is a variegated variety grown by some, solely for the purpose, ; 
during the winter months. (Amateur). —So small and badly packed were 
your specimens, that we cannot be certain what are your plants. We 
think that 1. is Swainsonia galegifolia ; 3. Rudbeckia hirta; and 4. 
may be a species of Arenaria, but from such very small bits, rio one can 
be certain as to what they are. Three good specimens might have been 
sent, placed carefully between the folds of a common full-sized letter, for 
one penny, or two pence at the farthest, which would enable us to name 
them properly. 
Wasps (An Old Subscriber, Norwood). —We know of no other mode 
of keeping wasps from your small Mulberry-tree than substituting a net, 
with very small meshes, for that you now employ. 
Dahlia Roots (Floridus). —The best mode of preserving these is in a 
cask, filled with sand, and kept in a cool place, from which frost and 
damp are excluded. March is the best time for sowing Dahlia seed. 
Sandy soil is good for bedded-out Geraniums, as it keejis them dwarf 
and promotes their flowering. It is easy to keep the soil sufficiently rich 
with leaf-mould, and moist enough by mulching. 
Capsicums and Chilies (It. O.).— The plants are best raised annu¬ 
ally. The pods for pickling ought to be ready for pickling now. They 
are always fit for the purpose when they are of a full size and colour; 
and as these vary almost in every species, we cannot give you a more 
definite answer. 
London: Printed by Harry Wooldridge, Winchester High-street, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Orr, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of 
Christ Church, City of London.—September 18th, 1851. 
