June 5. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
having been Winter Brocoli, and let the Celery 
trenches he at once made, and prepared for the plants, 
and on the top of the ridge plant Lettuces, which 
will come off in time to allow the earthing up of 
the Celery. Keep all in good order. 
Borders. —Disbud the Peach and Nectarine trees, 
and thin the fruit where they want it. Sow Lettuce 
twice, at least, during the month, and a pinch of Cauli- 
Jlower and Gape Brocoli about the middle of it, for the 
last time, for this year’s use. Sow also Endive in the 
middle and towards the end of the mouth, and see to 
the beds of things already sown that they do not crowd 
each otl'er. Prick out Celery to strengthen ; and ridge 
Cucumbers, which were planted out last month, will 
still require some little assistance in the protection way. 
Sow a small bed of Radishes on a moist border, if you 
have one ; if not, they will not be of any use. Examine 
all fruit-trees that Insects do not prevail, and let the 
whole have that order and neatness, without which 
nothing looks well. 
Frame. —If you have obtained a few plants of Melon, 
and a fresh dung bed, you will have another beginning 
in the hotbed way, and will have a medium in which to 
propagate many useful window-plants by cuttings; but 
be sure do not let anything be admitted that is at all 
infested with disease or insect. Green fly may easily be 
killed by immersing in tobacco-water ; but the other is 
not so easily eradicated, and if Melons become once 
affected they are no longer useful. A rather stiff soil is 
best for them ; but as these directions are given else¬ 
where, it is ueedless here to say more; but if an odd corner 
could be spared here, where a slightly elevated bed 
could be made, it will be an excellent place to strike 
many hardy plauts, as Heartsease, Phloxes, Double I 
Roclcets, Wallflowers, Sweet Williams, and a host of | 
others, which strike very well without glass, or heat ! 
either, if they be put in at the right season, and in dull, 
moist weather. Pinks and Carnations require a little 
more care, and will hardly do without glass, yet they 
will sometimes do so. See the notices of such things in 
former numbers. 
FLOWER-GARDEN AND ROCKERY. 
If all was done last month that ought to have been 
done but little will be wanted this month in the shape of 
planting, except it be such annuals as have been raised 
elsewhere, which may now be planted here; but avoid 
crowding too much in a mixed border. Those who 
plant in what is called massing, may plant as thickly as 
they please, but it is not appropriate for a mixed border. 
Keep all plants neatly tied up that require it, but tie up 
none that will do without. Keep down all unruly 
growths and uncalled for suckers, and endeavour to 
keep Roses free from vermin, if possible. Propagate 
any favourite plant, cutting, or slip, and seeds of some 
Perennials may yet be sown, but it must be done early 
in the month; and keep all things in good order, the 
grass well mown, and the walks clean and smooth, and 
weeds eradicated everywhere, while all flowering plants 
past their beauty must be cleared away; for though there 
may be a wish to save seed of some plant or other, yet 
it is always unsightly when in that condition; and when 
there is a means of obtaining seed elsewhere, it seems a 
pity to allow anything unsightly to remain in a plot 
otherwise flourishing and orderly. More particulars 
bearing on this subject will be given during the month, 
which the state of things may call for as being more 
suitable. J. Robson. 
IG3 
NOTES OF THE WEEK. 
The Cuckoo was heard in Sussex on the 23rd of 
April, and at Stowmarket, in Suffolk, on the 29tli of 
that month. This is very little later than usual; for in 
Sussex, April the 14th is known as “ First Cuckoo 
Day,” but its note is rarely heard so soon in the year. 
In Suffolk, the Rev. Mr. Jenyns states April the 27th 
to be the average day of this bird’s beiug heard. The 
earliest day of its appearance noticed by him was 
April the 21st, and the latest, May the 7th. 
White, at Selborne, in Hampshire, places April 7th 
and 26th as the boundary days between which the 
. Cuckoo’s note is first heard; and M r. Markwick, near 
\ Battle, in Sussex, gives these boundary days, April the 
15th and May the 3rd. 
“ May-Day ” and the blossom of the Hawthorn were 
usually concurrent in the times of our forefathers. Thus 
we are told, that in Suffolk it was a custom in most of 
the farmhouses, that any servant who could bring in a 
branch of the Hawthorn in full blossom on the First of 
May was entitled to a dish of cream for breakfast. To 
this custom the following jingle alludes— 
“ This is the day 
And here is our May, 
The finest ever seen ; 
It is fit for a queen. 
So pray, mistress, give me the cream.” 
The custom, it has been justly observed, is now 
disused, not because the master is unwilling to give 
the reward, but because the servants are unable to 
find the flowers. This is an unmistakeable evidence 
that the season of spring is postponed to a later 
date. The Rev. Mr. Jenyns, however, states that 
between the years 1820 and 1831, he knew the Haw¬ 
thorn in flower as early as April 19th, and the latest 
date of its blooming during that period was May 20th. 
We do not know the date of its blooming there 
this year, but at Winchester the first Hawthorn 
flower was opened on the 31st of May. In the time 
of White, the extreme dates of this event noticed by 
him at Selborne were April 20th and June lltli. In 
Sussex, Mr. Markwick places them as April 19th and 
May 26th. 
The Anniversary Meeting of the Geographical Society, 
on the 28th of May, was, as usual, highly interesting. 
Sir Rodrick Murchison presided, and many were the 
tributes of praise justly paid to those around the table, 
who, by their geographical discoveries and researches, 
had aided in the promotion of commerce and increasing 
the pleasures and progress of civilization. Among these 
travellers were those who had traversed almost every 
zone of the earth. Mr. Anderson, the African traveller; 
Captain Ivellett, Captain M’Clure, and Dr. Rae, so 
recently returned from the Arctic Circle; Colonel 
Rawlinson, the explorer and decipherer of the records 
of Nineveh; and Lieutenant Barton, the intrepid 
explorer of Medina, Mecca, and Hurrur, were among 
the assembled guests. Admiral Beechy is elected 
President for the current year. 
Mr. Vivian, the Honorary Secretary of the Torbay 
