THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 4. 
352 
Potato murrain is no otherwise connected with such appear¬ 
ances than that it is exasperated by the same weather.— 
Ed. C. G.] 
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,” 
Blue Verbena (H . C.). —Can you refer us to where the Verbena, 
Le Camargo, “was so highly recommended,” as we do not happen to 
know it. We see it in some catalogues marked as “ a good blue, light 
eye,” that means, as we take it, good blue for a Verbena ; but the truth 
is, there is no blue Verbena at all; and you will see, to-day, in the report on 
Chiswick House, that Imperatrice Josephine is still preferred there as the 
best approach to the colour. 
Tarts from Unripe Apples. —At page 2/7 of the current volume, 
H., in describing things in Covent Garden Market, said “ the Apples are 
small, half-grown, and unripe Carlisle Codlins, more for curiosity than 
use, and which will, in all probability, be purchased by some ladies who 
like to say, they have eaten an apple-pie. * * * Of course, if such 
people will buy a whistle, they have a perfect right to blow it.” To this, 
A. R. answers,—“ I think ‘ H.’ is quite mistaken about the apple-tarts. 
The people who ‘blow that whistle’ know what they are up to, I can 
assure you. I got the wrinkle myself about a month ago. Take the 
apples when the trees are thinned, cut off the stalk and eye, but do not 
peel them ; stew them ivell, till soft, then put them into a dish and bake, 
as for an ordinary tart. They are getting rather old now, and may re¬ 
quire peeling. Perhaps you will tell ‘H.’ to try that whistle, and I do 
not think lie will pay too dear for it.” 
Bulbs (A. R.). —The bulb list is only interrupted by more urgent and 
more generally useful matter. Mr. Beaton will continue it, at every 
favourable opportunity, down to Zepliyranthes, and lower still, if we meet 
with suitable bulbs. 
Dielytra spectabilis {Ibid). —Our correspondent has a plant of 
this “nearly, or quite, four feet high, and three feet across, with some 
seed pods on,” and he is, probably, quite right in considering that “ this 
may be all the culture it requires to seed it.” Many of our new plants 
are kept from seeding by over excitement in propagating them for the 
first few years. Others do not seed, because something is wanted that is 
natural to them in a wild state ; the want of that something, however, is 
sometimes overcome, as when the species happens to seed, and is repro¬ 
duced under cultivation. Whether your surmise be right, or otherwise, 
take care of all this seed, and the plants reared from them, as in all pro¬ 
bability some of them may seed freely under all circumstances, and some 
may be easily crossed, although no outward sign of difference from the 
old parent may be seen in any of them. 
Aylesbury Ducks {F. I. B., Exeter). —The bill of the Aylesbury 
Duck should be of a pale flesh colour; and on this point, as a charac¬ 
teristic of the breed, judges have universally and wisely laid great stress. 
In conjunction with this, weight and figure,—the latter, including a wide 
breast and back, with orange-red legs and feet, would carry the day.—W. 
Pure Breeding of Fowls {Ibid). —We do not believe that “a 
separation of five or six weeks, after fowls of different breeds have been 
peimitted to run together,” would “ secure ” the purity of their progeny. 
In the case of a pullet, it has been argued, that the first impression may 
be permanent; and, although unconvinced by any facts as to this being 
really the case, we are yet strongly of opinion, that eight or ten weeks, at 
least, should intervene between the periods of promiscuous intercourse 
and the selection of eggs for hatching. Whenever practicable, we should 
always wish to keep the separate races apart from each other.—W. 
Spanish Fowls {Ibid). —“ First-rate Spanish chickens, at £b 5s. 
each,” is very cheap, according to the present market value of such 
birds as would answer your description of excellence. Birds of inferior 
grades of merit are procurable at a much lower figure; but when speaking 
of “ first-rate birds,” hundreds, and probably thousands, would find a 
ready sale at the price you mention.—W. 
Early - and Bate Grapes {I. N. Campbell). —For an early house, 
take four Hambros, two Muscadines, and one [Sweet-water. For a late 
house—three West's St. Peters, two Muscats of Alexandria, and one 
Hambro, and one Barbarossa. It is not material whether you plant 
under the rafter; the latter is the ordinary plan. As the season is so 
far advanced, we advise you to plant next March. 
Work on Poultry {W. W. II.).— Richardson’s Domestic Fowl, if 
cheapness is your chief consideration ; otherwise, “The Poultry Book.” 
Calceolarias, See. {A Young Gardener). —All those you mention 
require no more than the usual culture of Calceolarias. This is given in 
our seventh volume. You may make cuttings of Tom Thumb Geranium 
now. The best time for sitting Shanghue hens is March. 
Worms in Flower Box {M. Y. C.).— Water the soil with lime-water, 
and remove the worms as it drives them out. 
Silver-pencilled Hamburgiis (Z. Y,).— The tail of the cock should 
be black. 
Raspberry Seedling {J. Keighley). —The berries were so mashed 
that we could form no judgment upon them. They arc not above the 
average size. 
Tenant and his Plants {Twig).—If your Landlord claims all that 
the law gives him, you cannot remove your Roses, nor any other shrubs, 
plants, or trees, unless there was either a covenant in your lease per- 
mittting you to do so, or unless you are a dealer in plants. 
Taking up Potatoes {J. R. — Everton). —Fork them up as soon as 
the haulm is dead, or nearly so. Select dry weather for the operation, 
and store them in a dry shed, in layers, alternating with coal ashes, sand, 
or earth. 
Fruit of Cydonia Japonica {J. C.) —This sometimes weighs five 
ounces and more. It is said to make a preserve more spirited and 
superior in flavour to that made from Quinces. It may be preserved 
precisely as they are, only requiring a little longer stewing. This shrub 
is better known as the Pyrus japonica. 
Yolkless Eggs (G. H. W.). —The occurrence of eggs without yolks, 
in your Bantam Hen, proves that the ovary is not in action, and that the 
eggs are the formation of the egg-passage only. As the hen is not de¬ 
scribed as being ill, I should recommend trying the effect of a total 
change of diet; scalded rice would, most probably, put a stop to the 
laying, if given for three or four days; and when the hen resumes laying 
the eggs will most likely be natural; if they should not, give half-a-grain 
of calomel and onc-twcntieth-of-a-grain of tartar emetic.—W. B. Teget- 
MEIER. 
Loudon’s Hortus Brittanicus (A Constant Reader).— There have 
been four supplements, but the last, in 1850, embodies all of them. 
Gold Fisii. — G. W. would be obliged by information relative to the 
proper management of Gold Fish. 
Cod-liver Oil for Fowls {L. A.), — A large teaspoonful twice a 
day is not too much for a fowl showing consumptive symptoms. Dryness 
and warmth, with generous, but not stimulating, diet, are essential to give 
a chance of the bird’s recovery. Pour the oil down the bird’s throat, 
and this is facilitated by passing the tube of a small funnel into the bird’s 
throat. Do not be uneasy about the noise in the hen’s windpipe. 
Kitchen-garden Seeds for Australia (T. F. 7.).— All good 
kinds will be acceptable there. When correspondents enquire abou*- 
Australia they should name some part of it. There is nearly as much 
difference between the climates of the north and south as in the north and 
south of Europe. 
Names of Plants (C. S. A.).— No. 1. Loasa luteritia. No. 2. Se- 
dum Sieboldii. No. 3. Sempervivum tortuosum. No. 4. Linaria cym- 
balaria, or Ivy-leaved Toad-flax; an English Plant. {Lancastriensis).— 
The yellow flower is Lysimachia verticillata : the other, Reseda alba, or 
Upright White Mignonette. {Rev. R. M. E.).—Ixodia achilloeoides. 
London: Printed by Harry Wooldridge, Winchester High-street, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Oru, of Church Hill, Walthamstow, in the County of 
Essex, at the Office, No, 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of Christ 
Church, City of London.—August 4th, 1853. 
