82 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 1. 
when properly managed; but if allowed to run wild, as they 
generally are, except in the Kentish orchards, they are not 
profitable. 
12. To ascertain the most profitable kinds of fruit to grow 
for the markets you intend to supply, you had better apply 
to some fruiterer in either of those places, and when you 
have ascertained what kinds are most in demand, we can tell 
you the best varieties to grow of each kind. 
10. We have seen 3000 imperial pints of Strawberries 
gathered from an imperial acre, consisting of Keene’s Seed¬ 
ling, Goliath, and Elton. 
14. The pit you speak of fox forcing the St rawberry would 
answer well. 
15. Vines, Peaches, and Cherries, and even Lemons and 
Oranges, can be ripened in houses without fire-heat. 
1C. We should say the back wall to a lean-to greenhouse 
could be more cheaply built of wood than of brick.] 
DISTANCES BETWEEN BEDDING-OUT PLANTS. 
“ You mil oblige me by telling me fin The Cottage 
Gardener) the distances apart to plant my bedding-out 
plants, so as to make the best show. 
“They are Geraniums, as Punch and Tom Thumb; 
Calceolaria Kayii; Verbenas, Emma, Triumph, Defiance, 
Mont Blanc, &o. ; Lobelia Erinus; Petunias, as Crimson 
King, &c. —Terbla.” 
[The distances between bedding-plants, at the time of 
“ planting out,” are regulated entirely by the size of the 
plants; but sometimes the rule of “ cutting according to 
your cloth ” is applied. When one is “ full handed,” the 
plants are set closer, and the contrary when the stock is 
short. As a general rule, take the following :—Plant young 
Tom Thumbs not more than four inches from the outside 
of the bed, nor more than four or five inches apart from one 
another ; not from centre to centre, however, but from the 
outside of one plant to the outside of the one next to it. 
Six inches of open space between the leaves of two plants 
of any kind of Geranium would be thin planting; hut eight 
inches would not be too much, in the long run, provided a 
supply of temporary plants was furnished for the open 
intervals. Annuals are thus used by some of our planters. 
Petunias are trained down on the ground as soon as they 
are planted; they and the Verbenas are planted “heads 
and tails,” or trained so ; but some planters choose rather to 
place the heads of all trailing plants towards the north, to 
compensate for the attraction of the sun, so to speak, to 
draw the plants to the south ; four inches is the space left 
between the stems of Petunias and Verbenas ; Calceolarias 
much about the same, but not wider apart; but the best way 
is to leave as little space as possible between any of the 
bedding-plants, so that the beds may look well-furnished at 
once. Either way, the size of the individual plants must 
determine the exact distances. All the upright Lobelias, 
such as Erinus, ought to be planted close; but the “ running ” 
ones, as Gracilis, may stand six inches apart.] 
CALIFORNIAN WOOL AND BUTTER. 
Wool-growing. —We have repeatedly asserted that Cali¬ 
fornia will become one of the wool-growing States. Every¬ 
thing favours it; climate, pasturage, season, rapid increase, 
and little care or cost, all give the assurance of good success. 
Already the efforts have been particularly successful. The 
San Joaquin valley has already 150,000 sheep, and the 
number will soon be doubled by those on the way. Heavy 
lots of wool have been received in this city for shipment to 
the States; more than 200,000 lbs. have gone, and more 
will soon follow. There is no doubt but that in a little time 
California will take a prominent part in wool-growing, add¬ 
ing largely to the wealth of the State. 
Domestic Industry of California. —We learn, that at 
the famous ranch of C. J. Hutchinson, Esq., on the Putah 
Creek, one thousand pounds of butter are made monthly. 
' D. W. C. Thompson, Esq., at Sonoma, sends down five hun- 
1 dred pounds monthly. There are many valuable dairies at 
Petaluma, Napa, Sonora, Santa Clara, San Jose, and other 
places. The aggregate manufacture of butter and cheese 
would surprise any one : it is, however, of sufficient quantity 
to give assurance that we shall soon be independent of 
foreign importation.— Cal. Farmer. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Many Questions must remain unanswered until next 
week, the information required not having reached us. 
Conifers (Shis ).—By all means do as you wish. 
Guano (Stoke Newington).—See what the London Manure Company, 
40, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, can do for you. 
Bees (J. King). —They are robbing each other. The only chance of 
putting an end to the pillage is for one party to move his bees at night 
to some distant place for a few weeks. 
Wardian Case (Amateur). —You will find a list of plants for its 
roof in our No. 265, and for the bottom, there is a list in No. 234. ^fo 
plants but Ferns and Lycopods do well in such cases. 
Cochin Hen (T. Williams). —Your moping hen, with the “ twitching 
of the head,” and laying an egg “streaked with blood,” has partial 
paralysis, brought on, probably, by unwholesome feeding in a confined 
space. Give her soft food, plenty of green food, and no animal food. 
Give her also a five grain pill of jalap. 
Drying Plants (A Subscriber). —We recently gave directions for 
doing this. We never heard of the “ Cyclopcedia” you mention. 
Hens eating Eggs (W. S. E.). —There is no mode of preventing 
this, except watching the laying hen, and taking the egg as soon as laid. 
Index Filicum (S. H. J.).—This synopsis of the genera of Ferns, 
with their characters, species, synonymes, &c., is preparing by Mr. 
Moore, and will be published by Mr. Pauiplin probably in the course of 
the summer. 
Dorking Fowls (T. V. W.). —They will not thrive “in a confined 
space,” and no feeding or management will keep them healthy there. 
The “ Gresford Yews ” are noticed in our No. 325. 
Breeding Pigeons (J. B. Burt). —Pigeons ultimately suffer from 
degeneracy consequent on continuous breeding in and in, but not so 
rapidly as fowls under similar circumstances. 
Names of Pears (R. H. Oill). —The green, oval, russety Pear is a 
small specimen of the Easter Beurre. The other was too much 
decayed to be recognised. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
Agricultural Society’s (Royal) at Carlisle. July 23rd, and fol¬ 
lowing days. See., J. Hudson, Esq., Hanover Square, London. 
Airedale, at Shipley, 14th of August. Secs., J. Wilkinson, Esq., and 
J. G. Hyslop, Esq. 
Bath and West of England, at Tiverton, 6th, 7th, and 8th of June. 
Sec., J. Kingsbury, Esq., Hammet Street, Taunton. 
Bedford. November. Secs., J. T. R. Allen, Esq., and F. A. 
Lavender, Esq. 
Birmingham, nth to 14th of December. Sec., J. Morgan, jun., Esq. 
Dewsbury. 24th August. Secs., R. R. Nelson, Esq., and J. New- 
come, Esq. 
Dorchester. 24th and 25th of October. Sec., J. G. Andrews, Esq. 
Durham and North Yorkshire, at Darlington, 6th and 7th of De¬ 
cember. Sec., J. Hodgson, Esq. 
Hexham. 14th and 15th of May. Secs., Mr. W. Turner, Hexham, 
and Mr. J. Bell, High Shield. 
Nottinghamshire, at Southwell, 19th and 20th of December. Sec., 
R. Hawksley, jun., F.sq., Southwell. 
Paris. June 1st to 9th. Application to be made to the Minister of 
Agriculture. 
Windsor. 27th, 28th, and 29th of June. Secs., T. Chamberlain, Esq., 
and H. Thompson, Esq., Thames Street, Windsor. 
N.B.— Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
London : Printed by Hugh Barclay, Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Our, 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.—May, 1, 1855. 
