May 12. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
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expose them to more sun and air, until they may eventually 
be placed out in the open ground, making choice of a 
partially shaded situation for them, free from all drip of 
trees, and where they may remain until housing time 
arrives, when they should be replaced in the greenhouse as 
before recommended, paying great attention not to give 
them an over supply of water during the winter. As spring 
advances attend to potting them as they may require it; and 
should the plants not be wanted to bloom in a small state, 
they may again be regularly topped as before directed. By 
following the practice I have just described, and attending 
to shifting them as they increase in growth, in two years 
you will be in possession of some nice bushy plants. Should 
this, however, be too long to wait, young plants may always 
be purchased at the principal nurseries, taking care to 
choose nice dwarf bushy ones in preference to those having 
long weak wood, and by following up the principle of potting 
and topping, you will ensure a specimen in much less time 
than you could from cuttings. 
“ My object in giving the full particulars of the most 
successful mode of propagating them, is to show that there 
is not that difficulty in the operation that many suppose there 
is. It may here be observed that as the plant advances in 
growth, the soil should be used in a coarser or rougher 
state, always employing sharp sand rather liberally with it, 
and increasing the size of the pieces of charcoal or potsherd, 
mixed with the compost, and when they receive tlieir final 
shift, say into 15-inch pots, pieces as large as hens’ eggs 
may be introduced, pressing them firmly into the soil as you 
pot. This will be found of the greatest possible advantage ; 
it will promote in many ways the well-doing of the plant, as, 
for instance, in keeping the soil open and porous, kind and ! 
healthy, and in giving the roots full scope for extending 
themselves through the ball of earth, without coming in 
contact with soil that has become, by constant watering, ! 
soddened and unhealthy. 
“ As the above mode of treatment may be applied to all 
the varieties of this genus, I will here add the names of i 
those that are the best and most beautiful, viz. Macrontha 
purpurea , Maerantlia rosea, Humilis, and Scsamoides.” 
Effects of Frost on several new Trees and Shrubs, 
from The Midland Florist for May.—“It must be premised, 
that the soil near Nottingham is a strong and retentive I 
loam. First, then, the Gryptomeria Japonica. Ours is a ( 
beautiful plant, ten feet high. Some years ago, it lost its 
leader by the frost, since which, it has formed a fresh one, 
and though the points of the laterals are slightly : scorched,’ 
the leader has escaped. Many people complain of the 
yellow tinge of the foliage of this fine tree, but ours is an 
exception, being a lively green. We may consider this tree 
hardy. The Cerasus il lid folia, with its holly-like leaves, has 
suffered in the foliage, and is considerably disfigured, though 
the wood appears unhurt. Ligustrimi ovalcefolia (Siebold) 
appears as hardy as the common privet; and the beautiful 
Japan privet equally so. This last is a splendid evergreen. 
But Thuja Chiliensis has given us the greatest satisfaction. 
Our small plant has stood on an exposed border, without 
any covering or protection, no hedge being near it, and its 
delicate golden-looking foliage has withstood wind and frost, 
in fact, all the inclemencies of winter with a hardihood I 
scai’cely to be expected from its appearance. We anticipate 
that this plant will be highly appreciated. We wish we 
could say as much for Cupressus macrocarpa, a large plant, 
fifteen feet high, which has its foliage lamentably disfigured; j 
still the interior of plant is green, and as it has previously 
recovered its good looks, we yet anticipate a renovation. A j 
plant of Ceanothm thyrsiflorus, twelve feet high, which forms 
a perfect pyramid of blue flowers, in the summer season, has 
suffered a good deal, the points of the branches being killed ; 
but from the exposed situation in which it stands, we are 
surprised it has not been more injured. The beautiful 
Quercus lanata has its foliage slightly injured. This is a 
splendid oak indeed. We had our misgiving as to its being 
sufficiently hardy to bear our winters, and are therefore 
much pleased to find it so robust. Finns radiata has the 
points of the shoots browned; but P. macrocarpa, Sabiniana, 
DouglassU, and Bentkamiana, appear as hardy as so many 
Scotch firs. Quercus ilex variegafa has got slightly injured, 
while the common variety, as a matter of course, has escaped, 
proving that the constitution of theplant has been weakened 
by its'variegation. Escallonia maerantlia has lost its leaves, 
but is putting out strong again. This, we anticipate, will 
make a very desirable shrub. Garreya macrophylla has 
stood better this season than some previous ones, the points 
of the shoots only suffering, from not getting sufficiently 
ripened in the autumn. As for Moutuns, or Tree D iconics, 
their flowers are taken. "What a pity it is that some late- 
blooming varieties of this noble plant are not originated 
from seed. We have Daphne mezereon autumn ale with other 
plants of a similar character, and there is no reason that we 
know of why such a plant might not be obtained by perse¬ 
verance. It would be a little fortune for the fortunate raiser. 
A northern aspect, and protection, are now the only means 
of obtaining blooms,in a springlike the one past. Viburnum 
macrocephalum, a small plant, in a low situation, is killed to 
the ground. The pretty Ceanothus rigidus has also suffered 
on a light border, whilst on stronger soil it has escaped. 
Our readers will observe, that amongst trees and shrubs, 
the situation has considerable effect on their respective 
hardihood. The lawn plant which has passed the summer 
in a dry exposed situation, will have ripened its wood better, 
and consequently be better able to withstand severe frost, 
than if it had grown in a low sheltered locality.” 
Cultivation of Phlox Drumjiondii, from The Midland 
Florist for May.—“ I am not going to fill several pages with 
what may be compressed into half of one ; but I really love 
this beautiful Phlox, and it is so brilliant, so easy of cultiva¬ 
tion, and such a first-rate bedding plant, that I might even 
be induced to do such a thing. The way in which I have 
been most successful is to raise the seedlings in spring, in 
pots, filled with loam, vegetable soil, and a good dose of 
white or Calais sand, the pots being placed in a warm part 
of my greenhouse. As soon as the plants can be handled, 
they are pricked out, four in a pot, and again placed in the 
frame. When large enough, say by the beginning of May, 
I turn them out on well prepared beds. After a time, I 
pinch out the leading shoots, to induce a bushy habit, and 
am rewarded by an abundant bloom. If I have any among 
the seedlings particularly attractive, I strike cuttings, pot 
them off, get them well established before winter, and keep 
them secure from frost till next spring. Now, were I to 
write for an hour longer, I could not give you better direc¬ 
tions, and I trust your readers will appreciate my motives.” 
Henry James. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
*** We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of 
The Cottage Gardener. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. All communications should be addressed “ To the Editor of 
the. Cottage Gardener, 2, Amen Corner, Paternoster Row, London.” 
The Poultry Book. —The wood-cut at page 71 was a mistake of the 
engravers; the two absurdly placed birds’ heads were in the original 
drawing merely the filaments that retain the yolk in its proper position. 
However, in the next number of the “ The Poultry Book,” the means of 
correcting the blunder will be furnished to each subscriber. 
Marriott’s Bee-iiives (Ellen 31 .).—We have not a word to say 
against your not employing these. Indeed, his “ New Cottage Bee Hive ” 
embraces all the best improvements whereby honey may be taken with¬ 
out destroying the bees ; with windows on opposite sides, so that the 
progress of their work may be examined. It is of straw, with a wooden 
flat-top, bell-glasses to obtain early supplies of honey, &c. 
Cloches.— We have been desirous, for some time past, to meet the 
wishes of the public in regard to the supplying of “cloches;” and 
Messrs. Hartley are equally anxious to afford every facility. Two diffi¬ 
culties, however, present themselves ; first, the cost of package, next the 
expense of carriage. The “cloches” being of one large size only (say 
sixteen or eighteen inches in diameter), it becomes necessary to have a 
very large package, which, in addition to the carriage, makes it more 
costly than the contents. We would suggest, that various sizes be nested 
within each other. If this would answer the requirements of the public, 
we could pack a greater number in a case, and the expense of trans¬ 
mission would be considerably reduced. We shall be happy to receive 
