THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 1. 
7G 
interesting tribe. The class of readers to which I address 
myself are those who are possessed neither of large means, 
nor a large extent of ground. Such may have seen, in 
nursery catalogues and advertisements, long lists of new 
Conifers freely offered, (for a mere cash consideration) to 
the public; and though desirous of selecting some for orna¬ 
menting their garden or shrubbery, may have been not a 
little perplexed by the multitude of choice. 
In some catalogues which I have seen, several different 
species are each described as being the “ most splendid,” 
“most desirable," or “most magnificent” of the whole tribe: 
reminding one strongly of the brewer who inscribes his ale- 
casks of various qualities; the inferior quality as “ best,” 
the next as “ better than the best,” the next “best of all,” 
and the next “ better than that.” As to which are really 
the finest and grandest of the whole tribe (confining our¬ 
selves to the hardy kinds) I will leave to others to settle, 
confessing, however, to a private prejudice in favour of the 
Californian species:—these, with Wellingtonia at their head, 
undoubtedly lead the van, quickly followed by the Chilian 
and other species. But most of the finest of these are yet 
too newly-introduced and too rare to be within the reach of 
the many ( seedlings merely being charged from half-a-guinea 
to a guinea and upwards). I say, “yet,” for why may we 
not hope that in course of time we may see those splendid 
Silver Firs, Nobilis, Amubilis and Grandis, with their brothers 
and cousins, adorning not only the mansion of the parson 
and the squire, but the homestead of the farmer and the 
pleasure-ground of the retired tradesman ? 
My chief object at present is to assist anyone who wishes 
to cultivate a few select species in forming liis choice. One 
of the first things which the prudent planter will consider, 
is whether any particular species which may have been 
brought under his notice is really hardy in this climate. In 
some nursery catalogues many of the newly-introduced 
species are broadly asserted (without any qualification) to 
be “ hardy,” which are indeed far from being so, some being 
actually tender (i.e, liable to be killed or seriously injured 
by spring frosts), and others requiring the care and manage¬ 
ment of a practised hand to rear them. Where the soil, 
situation and climate are suitable, many kinds are hardy, 
and will resist the effects of frost, which would not otherwise 
do so; but an amateur cannot be expected to hit off these 
matters exactly. The proper situations for all the different 
species few have had sufficient experience to determine; 
but without venturing on any hazardous experiments, there 
are a great many of the lately-introduced Firs which are 
not only ornamental and curious, but perfectly hardy, and at 
the same time within reach of persons of only moderate 
means. Some of the most prominent of these I now pro¬ 
pose cursorily to describe, being such as can be recom¬ 
mended with perfect safety. 
To begin with the Pines belonging to the group of which 
the Scotch Fir is the type:—among these we have the 
Corsican Pine ( Pimis Laricio ) with its varieties, the 
Austrian and Taurian Pines ( Austriaca and Pallasiana). 
These are all vigorous and handsome trees, which will 
thrive in the bleakest situations. The Taurian Pine being 
especially adapted for chalky soils and barren sea-downs. 
Of the same section, hut of much lower growth (averaging 
from ten to twenty feet) are Pumilio (sometimes called the 
Mountain Pine) and Muglio ; these are, if possible, hardier 
than the last, and valuable as affording shelter on bleak 
hillsides. The Cluster Pine ( P. Pinaster) is well known; 
from its coarse character and scrambling mode of growth it 
would hardly be placed on any select list; but the cones so 
abundantly produced are very handsome. Its Latin name 
means “ little Pine,” so called from its lowness of growth; 
though in deep sandy soils it will attain as much as fifty or 
sixty feet in height. Of somewhat different aspect, but, 
probably, referable to the same group, is the Stone Pine of 
Italy, whose seeds are the Pinocchi of Italian deserts. In 
its young state this tree is sometimes found to be tender in 
our climate. 
The Stone Pine of Switzerland and of Siberia (P. Cembra) 
belongs to a different section of the genus Pinus, and of 
which the Weymouth Pine (P. Slrobus ) may be taken as 
the best known type. It has been long introduced into this 
country, but it does not appear to have met with sufficient 
encouragement from planters. 
Of this same section, (the Strobus-grou])) is another tree 
of beautiful character, and very hardy; the Boyal Fir (or 
Weeping Fir) of the mountains of Nepal (P. excelsa );— 
this is now plentiful in the nurseries, (quoted by one firm at 
4s. the dozen for nine to tw T elve-inch plants). Another of the 
same group is P. Lamberliana , from the Rocky Mountains 
in California: this is the loftiest of its genus, attaining to 
upwards of 200 feet high. There is a Pinus of another 
section (intermediate between that of the Scotch Fir and 
the Weymouth Pine) which nearly equals in height P. Lnm- 
bertiana, called P. Benthamiana, and to the same section 
belong several other interesting but somewhat rare species: 
—P. Sabiniana, P. macrocarpa, and P. insignis from Cali¬ 
fornia; P. Llaveana (called the Mexican Cembra) and the 
Neoza Pine (P. Gerardiana) from the Himalayas. 
The long-leaved Pines of Mexico, forming another natural 
group, of which there are many varieties, are either decidedly 
tender, or of a constitution too uncertain for the manage¬ 
ment of amateurs in this climate ; the hardiest of them is 
P. Montezuma;. It would be easy to increase the list of 
trees belonging to this genus, which would form ornamental 
additions to the shrubbery; but to do so would most likely 
only weary and perplex the uninitiated reader. The genus 
Abies next claims our attention.—Mus. 
[To be continued.) 
THE BLACKS IN POULTRY. 
In this neighbourhood (Cheshire) the disease called 
“Blacks” has the following symptoms:—Black comb, &c., 
white tongue and throat, the skin unpleasantly hot to touch, 
while the fowl will, if possible, creep close to a fire, the 
birds becoming so light that they feel only like a bundle of 
feathers. 
To effect a cure, mix strong flower of mustard and vinegar 
together, and with a small piece of sponge well wash the 
mouth, throat, and nostrils. Take four or five pieces of 
lump sugar, each about the size of a large pea, dip the 
sugar in sweet spirits of nitre, and put it down the throat of 
the diseased fowl. Sometimes this effects a cure, if not, 
the same dose is repeated on the third morning. We do 
not confine the birds, and are not well assured what occa¬ 
sions the disease.—F. E. 
NOTES SUITABLE FOR A DRY SEASON. 
Taking care to have everything in its place at the proper 
time is one of the most important duties of the cultivator 
of the soil, and, in some respects, this duty should stand 
before that of making a good appearance ; for though neat¬ 
ness and order will at all times set things off to the best 
advantage, these may be made subordinate to the getting in 
of the crops of the season when the proper time arrives; 
and as the present is one in which much progress takes 
place in all vegetation, it is important that everything should 
be in the ground at the proper time in order to commence 
its growth at the season most suitable for its doing well. 
For instance, no one can expect a good crop of Onions by 
sowing them in May, unless in some very remote late 
district, where the crop of this and many others is at all 
times hazardous; neither are Potatoes planted late to be 
depended on, although in some isolated cases they may 
succeed so. I have, for instance, had a good crop from a 
plantation made in July ; but that was an exception to the 
general rule, and they were only planted to serve a certain 
purpose of having young Potatoes at a late period ; but the 
general purposes of systematic cropping seldom require 
such a late plantation; but if they do, the forethought ne¬ 
cessary to every cultivator ought to provide a place for them, 
as well as all others, at the proper time. But ground 
wanted for cropping in July ought not to lie idle so long, 
for many things might be planted and removed ere then ; 
so that the skilful manager is at all times able to provide 
for the time to come, as well as to repair such mishaps as 
in the best arrangements, now and then, mar the onward 
working of the garden. 
