186 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. June 12. 
example in point, and as it is, or ought to be, a pattern 
of the highest character in flower-gardening, I think Sir 
Joseph Paxton would add to the interest of the grounds 
in winter if such a furnishing of the flower-beds in 
winter was adopted. 
I have some notes on the kitchen and fruit gardening 
department at Moor Park, which I must defer, for want 
of space, to a future opportunity. 
T. Appleby. 
MISTAKES. 
All are liable to these. One advantage in a periodical 
work is, that the error of one week may be notified in 
the next, or one not far off. I should feel pleased if 1 
escaped committing errors altogether; my next degree of 
happiness would be found in having mistakes pointed 
out and corrected. Sometimes, the altering of one word, 
or one letter, completely destroys the sense; and when 
that happens, it is less the fault of the printer than the 
hasty scribbling which they are under the necessity 
of deciphering. I take this opportunity of referring to 
two or three general mistakes. 
Tree Mignonette at Northampton Show. —“ Allow 
me to correct a mistake, &e. The Tree Mignonette is 
not a different species from the common variety, &c.— 
L. S. C.,” page 150. Turn to page 108,—and though 
there are errors in that article previously referred to,— 
there is no mention made of the sort of Mignonette 
sent out by Mr. Henderson as a different species. I 
have no doubt that “L. S. C.” thought this to be the case, 
and I feel obliged even for the desire to correct an error, 
though in this case it did not exist. The context would 
show the plants were not grown in the tree style, but in 
the usual one of bushes; and though the mode of growth 
would do much, the appearance of the best plants would 
almost indicate that though not a different species, they 
belonged to a different variety of Mignonette from the 
others. I see nothing opposed to theory, or practice, in 
obtaining and retaining a superior variety of Mignonette, 
auy more than I should be incredulous as to a superior 
sort or variety of Cabbage. A distinct species is quite a 
different affair. R. Fish. 
Lying and Laying. —Will you allow me to make a 
suggestion, which I think will be useful to the conductors 
of the press in general, and especially to their reporters 
and not a few of their correspondents, who ought to feel 
a common obligation to preserve their mother tongue in 
all its purity and precision? It is this:—“liens lay, 
but they do not lie. Hens sit, but they do not set. You 
can set a hen, if she is inclined to sit; but you cannot 
make her set." Again:—“Ships may lie at anchor or at 
a wharf, but they do not lay in either of those situations. 
Those on board may set sail, but they cannot sit sail.” 
Attention to these suggestions seems to be demanded 
by the fact, that scarcely a day passes without instances 
of the great misuse of the above-mentioned verbs, in 
some of the papers, and occasionally in books. Let it be 
remarked, that Lay and Set are active or transitive verbs> 
and must always have an object, expressed or understood. 
Lie and Sit are neuter or intransitive, and therefore do not 
admit of an object. The only real difficulty arises from the 
fact, that the Past Tense of “ Lie,” when used without an 
auxiliary, is the same as the Present of “ Lay.” But a little 
attention will obviate this. Query — Does the ship, when 
“ close hauled,” lay or lie near the wind ? And when 
“ brought to ” in a gale, does she “ lay or lie to ? ” Ayain ,— 
When she sets sail, does she get under “ way ” or weigh 1 
and what is the true origin of this technical phrase? 
Though every writer is not required to be an expert in 
nautical phraseology, he is bound to use correct English.— 
New York Observer. 
GARDENING FOR THE MANY. 
FLOWER GARDENING. 
The limited space here allotted to flower-beds renders 
it advisable not to extend the collection too far; never¬ 
theless, it is wonderful how many plants a really good 
contriver will manage to grow in a small place—due 
regard being had to the useful maxim of “ having every¬ 
thing in its right place.” 
A Dahlia, Hollyhock, or other tall plant, should never 
stand near the edge, unless it be in a bed or border 
devoted entirely to that kind of plant, which is hardly 
expected in the small front garden of a villa, while some 
of the low spreading ones ought to be but sparingly 
cultivated at all, unless there be special reasons for 
doing so; for, be it remembered, the flower-beds of the 
amateur are expected to look neat and orderly at all 
times; therefore, all plants which look untidy for a long 
time ought to be avoided as far as possible. For in¬ 
stance, bulbs which flower early in spring, and are on 
that account valuable, look sadly until their leaves die 
down in summer; and it is not prudent to cut them off, 
for so long as they remain on, they have a function to 
perform necessary to the plant’s welfare. Tying up the 
decaying foliage is better than cutting them off, while 
carefully taking them up and replanting them in some 
other suitable place to ripen is best of all; not that the 
bulbs gain anything by the change, but that the ground 
we expect is made tidy by their absence. But some 
plants are averse to change, as the Winter Aconite and 
Christmas Rose, both of which are indispensable, as 
being the very earliest flowers we have; in fact, there 
are few flowering plants that like to be moved every year, 
although some like a change occasionally; but as the 
whole of the beds in an amateur’s front garden are under 
the eye of the occupant of the house, it would be 
better if nothing was introduced there but what 
would look well at all seasons. Some plants always 
look well, whether in flower or not— Auricida, for in¬ 
stance; while the stocky habit of Catchjiy, Double 
Rochet, Scarlet Lychnis, Phlox, Yellow Alyssum, and 
some others, are never untidy-looking, or at least need 
not be so. A look over the beds will at once tell the 
most useful that way; and these had better be increased 
to the required extent. The season is now favourable for 
increase by cuttings. Now, in the list of plants having 
disorderly habits, many of the most showy annuals may 
be classed— Eschscholtzia Californica for one, and even 
Convolvuluses, and many others; while some are compact 
and beautiful, as the German Stock, China Asters, Sapo- 
naria Caldbrica, Rochets, Larkspurs, &c. Patches of 
these may, therefore, be introduced with perfect pro¬ 
priety amongst the mixed flowering plants which it is 
supposed the amateur’s beds are filled with; and as 
many annuals plant pretty well, it is easy to place them 
where they are wanted. Some certainly do not plant 
very well, as Larkspur and Mignonette —these had 
better be sown when wanted, and thinned out in proper 
time. 
All tying up must be done that is absolutely neces¬ 
sary, but not more; for if a plant will support itself it 
is much better in that condition than when assisted by 
any artificial means. Pegging down is hardly requited 
in beds of a mixed kind, as the planting ought to deter- 
