July 28. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
The floor should be, at the least, two feet from the ground, and arches 
left to introduce a hoe to remove the dung. The arches to be closed by 
i doors in cold weather. 
Potato Murrain (S. Yellot). —This is no more caused by the em¬ 
ployment of guano than it is by the employment of the electric telegraph. 
The disease occurs in countries and places where guano never was used. 
Conifer.® (A Subscriber). —The prices we have named are those at 
which they can be obtained of any large gTower of them; but we cannot 
recommend tradesmen. 
Captain Hornby ( Cochin-China ).—The direction is, Capt. W, W. 
Hornby, Knowsley Cottage, near Prescot. We are quite sure he will 
answer the question if you write to him. 
Ants in Fruit-trees (E. L.). —The trees being much infested with 
aphides, the ants go to eat the sweet excrementitious matter emitted by 
these insects. 
Cuttings (W. H. 0 .).—Our offer was so ill-appreciated that we have 
declined entirely to take upon ourselves the thankless trouble. 
Baker Street Poultry Show (A Country Cousin).— It will be open 
from 8 a. m. to 9 p. m. 
Quartern (K. H., Dublin). —By this term in England, a quarter of a 
peck is intended. The weight of grain it will hold, varies, of course, 
with the nature and quality of that grain. 
William Adams (C.). — Your truly liberal and most acceptable 
donation, and the announcement of your purpose to continue it weekly, 
has been received. We wish that you would send us your address in a 
sealed envelope, that we might send it to “The Authoress of My 
Flowers.” 
Names of Plants {Rev. R. M. E.).—' The good old Calendula 
officinalis var. plena , or Double Marigold. It is really one of the most 
beautiful of our double-flowered Annuals, and is neglected only because 
it is not rare. Your supposed Alonsoa, is, we think, a Silene; let us see 
a flower, ( Drentingby Cottage ).—No. 1. Platystemon Californicus. 
2. Erodium cicutarium, and 3, probably, a white variety of it. 4. 
Tcucrium scorodonium, or Wood Sage. 6. Cotyledon umbilicus, Navel, 
or Penny-wort. (An Old Subscriber ).—We think it is Ostrya vulgaris, 
or Hop Hornbean. (A .).—A small Nigella, probably N. coarctata. 
( G. F. W.). —We cannot attempt to tell from specimens Nurserymen’s 
varieties of Florists’ Flowers. Of your species of Geraniums, ^ is G. 
lateripes; 8. Calceolaria rugosa, and 9. Calceolaria refulgens. 
Bramah Poutra Fowls. —Mr. Nolan says, “ Had you applied to 
any of the royal household, you could have been informed that the royal 
table has been furnished with Bramah Poutra Eggs since December last, 
and that their size, and that of their eggs, is as near as possible that of 
an ordinary turkey. I know it by experience. In this particular they 
are a decided improvement on the Cochins.” It may be so; but we 
again say, let us have the experience of another season or two. 
Gladioli (W. J. F’f). —The Colvilii is now only a third-rate sort. 
Insignis is very good, but, as you have only got the two, you had better 
buy Gandavensis ( floribundus of the shops), Psittacinus, Victoria, and 
Rex rubrorum, finer ones being still scarce and dear. Their treatment 
now we cannot tell you, as we do not know how they have been treated 
hitherto. If you have them in pots, plunge the pots in the open ground, 
and keep them moist till the leaves turn yellow ; then take them up, dry 
them, and house them just as you would so many potatoes, and, like 
potatoes, you can plant them again in November or February, whichever 
suits you best. The Cortusa Mattliioli is a dwarf, hardy, late-spring- 
flowering herbaceous plant, as old as Ireland itself, and as good, with 
a little protection in hard times, and a little coaxing at all times. 
Laurel Hedge (A Half-pay Officer). —No matter how high your 
Laurel hedge is, you may cut it down to the height of six feet, or three 
feet, or to the surface of the ground, with little or no harm to the roots ; 
and you can keep it in future to any height you choose by summer 
cutting only. To make a heavy onslaught on Laurels, however, the end 
of April is the best time ; the end of July the next best time, provided 
that all the very soft growth of the autumn is cut well back before the 
frost sets in. We would not ourselves, for one moment, hesitate to cut 
down a twenty feet high hedge of the kind any day from the end of March 
i to the end of July, and we would cut one foot lower than the desired 
! height of the future hedge, and allow that foot to be made up of stumpies, 
\ the remains of close prunings, three or four times each summer for a 
long time. 
Fancy and Tom Thumb Geraniums (An Amateur). —When the 
Fancies cease blooming let them get a little dry, then cut them down, 
and proceed as with greenhouse Geraniums. Tom Thumb, unless under 
very bad management indeed, would not cease blooming till the end of 
October; but if he does, you must still suppose that he is in full bloom, 
and treat him accordingly, till the frost comes, then reduce him to suit 
your winter room. We can say nothing about the other part of your 
letter. The man is in the hands of the lawyers ; hundreds of that class 
are always on the verge of bankruptcy; and it is a great temptation to 
them when they receive money before the goods are delivered. 
Chickens Dead in the Shell ( W .).—This has been frequently 
complained of this season ; and the disappointment is not confined to 
any one particular breed. In general we have found it arise from the 
nest not being warmly constructed. 
Moles (G. T. S.).— We are quite certain that Moles are of more benefit 
to the cultivator by destroying Wireworms and other underground 
vermin than they are injurious by disturbing the roots of the crops. 
The chief objection to them is the litter and ill-appearance made by their 
mounds. 
Cherries in Brandy (R. H. J .).—The best preparation of these we 
ever met with was made by putting Morello Cherries into a jar, and 
filling it with boiling water ; when cold, draining and drying them ; and 
putting them into brandy, in each pint of which had been dissolved 
three-quarters of a pound of sugar. A little Cinnamon, and a few 
Cloves, had been put in before bunging down the glass jar, and they were 
kept in a cool dry place. 
Rice and Date-stones (A Warm Subject ).—Rice having been de¬ 
prived of its outer skin will not grow; Date-stones might be induced to 
do so ; but both Rice and Dates would require a very warm stove, and 
the plants would not be worth the trouble bestowed upon them. 
Mosses (Enquirer ).—We find that Mr. Frederick Y. Brocas, 4, Cum¬ 
berland Place, Kew, is now prepared to send out his second set of British 
Mosses, and to receive fresh orders for collections of Flowering Plants, 
Ferns, and Mosses. Early applications, with full particulars as to what 
is required, and the mode of sending the same, is desirable. 
CALENDAR FOR AUGUST. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Anemones (common) sow. Annuals, stick; water; clear from de¬ 
cayed leaves, &c. Auriculas, shift into fresh earth; water; seedlings 
prick out; sow. Beds, in which bulbous flowers have grown, fill with 
annuals from pots, to flower through autumn. Biennial seedlings, 
transplant. BuLBOus-rooted flower-seeds, as bulbous Iris, See., to obtain 
varieties, sow. Bulbous roots remove or transplant; remove and plant 
offsets; plant. Carnation layers cut from old root and plant; water 
frequently; layering may still be done, b.; card the flowers, and shade 
from sun, e. Dahlias, stake; thin the flowers. Daisies propagate. 
Put in Cuttings of all flower-garden Geraniums early. Double- 
blossomed perennials with fibrous roots, as fine double Larkspurs, &c., 
propagate by division, e. Dress borders as required. Edgings of box, 
&c., clip in wet weather. Evergreens may be moved, e. if wet wea¬ 
ther ; plant cuttings. Grass, mow and roll weekly. Grass Seeds 
may be sown, e. Gravel, weed and roll weekly. Hedges, clip in 
moist weather, except laurel and holly hedges. Heliotropes, put in 
cuttings under glass in a gentle heat b. Mignonette sow in frame, b. 
Pelargoniums propagate by cuttings, b. Perennials, in pots and 
elsewhere, will require water almost daily ; cut down flower-stalks as they 
finish blooming ; seedlings transplant. Pipings of Pinks may be planted 
out. Polyanthuses, sow. Ponds keep clear of green scum. Potted 
Annuals will require water daily in dry weather. Ranunculuses, 
sow; plant in pots to bloom in November. Roses, bud; prune in strong 
straggling shoots; cuttings of China and Tea-scented varieties plant 
under hand-glasses. Roses may be budded to the end of September on 
the Manetti and some Bourbon stocks. September is the best time to 
bud, unless done at the end of May. Seeds, gather as they ripen. Even 
those of Heliotropes and Verbenas will frequently be found to be fertile. 
Shrubbery, cut off the bunches of seeds of Laburnums and Lilacs, &c., 
to strengthen in the bloom next year; also cut off the seeds of Rhododen¬ 
drons. Sowings, to obtain varieties, had better be done in boxes. Ten- 
week Stock, sow, b. Tulips, and other bulbous-rooted flower-seeds, 
sow. Turf may be laid, e. Verbenas, put in cuttings of new kinds, e. 
Watering will be required generally in dry weather. Weeding, gene¬ 
rally attend to. Cuttings of Penstemons, Snapdragons, double Lychnis, 
and other herbaceous plants, will yet succeed, if planted and shaded 
under hand-glasses. Of the China Asters, mark the finest, and save for 
seed. D. Beaton. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Auriculas and Polyanthuses, finish potting, b. Cinerarias, 
take off slips, transplant seedlings, sow, b., for the last time this year. 
Carnations and Picotees, finish layering, m.; seedlings transplant. 
Chrysanthemums, layer those planted out for that purpose ; pot off 
cuttings; give the last potting to all intended for blooming; water most 
abundantly, and syringe daily. Dahlias, stake, tie, mulch and water 
in dry weather; cuttings of new ones may yet be struck. Fuchsias 
done blooming place out-of-doors; save seed. Hollyhocks, keep well 
tied to the stakes; cuttings of, put in heat under a frame, shade from 
sun till rooted. Pansies, save seed of, put in cuttings, b., for the last 
time this year; transplant seedlings. Pinks, cut down old flower- 
stems; save seed of; transplant pipings already rooted, and also seed¬ 
lings. Pelargoniums, cut down; give no water till they break again ; 
put in cuttings ; transplant seedlings; pot off cuttings already rooted. 
Petunias, save seed from; transplant seedlings of; put in cuttings. 
Ranunculuses, take up and store without fail, b., or they will 
begin to grow again. Roses bud b.; put in cuttings of; save seed. 
Tulips, if not all taken up, should be at once. Verbenas, peg 
down ; water freely in dry weather ; put in cuttings of good kinds only; 
save seed. See that all plants in pots are duly supplied with water, and 
keep a constant look out for all kinds of vermin. T. Appleby. 
GREENHOUSE. 
Air, give plenty night and day, especially during the former. In very 
hot weather, it is often advisable to keep rather close with a moist atmos¬ 
phere during the day, even though the sashes should be entirely removed 
in the evening, to be replaced in the morning. This treatment will apply 
to Heaths, Azaleas, Camellias, &c., that are now making their growth. 
Those which have set their buds may be removed to a sheltered place, 
end have no glass protection for a time. Budding, of all things, finish 
