391 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 28. 
I 
I 
be made to fill the pots, and, therefore, would be better 
prepared to withstand the vicissitudes of winter; to be kept 
rather dry and protected from frost. 
Fuower Seeds of various kinds should be collected and 
dried, keeping each in a separate paper, with its name, 
height, and colour, or any other observations worthy of 
nolice written upon it. 
Hyacinths, good strong bulbs should now he selected 
for forcing in pots; the compost may consist of any good, 
light soil, such as sandy loam, well-decomposed cow-dung, 
and a small portion of sand. As the organizable matter is 
already dried up in the bulb, it only requires to he placed in 
favourable circumstances to forward its development; the 
pots to be placed in some dry situation and covered with six 
inches of coal-ashes until wanted for forcing. 
Cuttings of Shrubby Calceolarias will now strike 
freely in sandy soil. 
The beds intended for bulbs should now he got 
ready, and also those for young Pinks and Carnations ; 
plant out biennials and perennials that were sown in the 
spring; keep Dahlias and Chrysanthemums neatly tied up, 
and protect tender plants from excessive wet. 
The following beautiful and hardy annuals, Clarkias , J 
Collinsias, Leptosiphons, Gilias, and Nemophilas, if sown j 
now, will withstand the severity of ordinary winters. 
In the allotment the cottager must decide at once what 
plots of ground he will leave to he thrown up into ridges 
during the winter, that the soil may he exposed to the 
pulverising influence of frost, and be ready for early spring 
crops ; and what portions he will plant or sow at once. 
A plantation of Cabbages may now he made, plant them 
one foot apart, as for Coleworts, and in spring every inter¬ 
mediate row may he drawn out for use, and the remainder 
left to form hearts for Cabbages. 
Onions should now he got off the ground, and well dried J 
on any hard bottom in the open air, if the weather is dry, or i 
removed to a shed, or any other place where they may be I 
protected, if the weather is wet. The ground well-dug, j 
with the addition of a little dung, will be a suitable place 
for the main plantation of spring Cabbayes, which had ' 
better he got in without further delay. 
The protection of Grapes, by covering the .hunches ! 
with gauze hags, from the attacks of insects, and the gather- i 
ing of Apples, Pears, and other fruits, will require the ! 
particular attention of the cottager. He cannot he too 
careful in gathering the fruit, as the least bruise from 
falling to the ground, or from rough handling, will produce 
premature and speedy decomposition. When the fruit is 
ripe, which is indicated by its beginning to drop of its own 
accord from the trees, or by separating from the stem when 
slightly touched, or when cut the seeds are of a dark brown 
colour, it should he stored away in some dry, airy situation ; 
not heaped together, hut laid side by side, and after a few 
days wiped dry, when it will keep fresh and plump, accord¬ 
ing to the natural period allotted to each sort. 
Celery, the first earthing of a crop should not take place 
until it has made considerable progress ; by commencing too 
early it is drawn up weakly; the side-shoots, if any, should 
be removed, and the soil pressed closely round the stalks 
with the hand. 
Cauliflower Plants should he planted out where they 
may be protected, or prepared for planting, under hand¬ 
glasses or frames. 
Water Cresses, slips of them will now strike root and 
grow in any damp situation. 
The Hoe should he kept constantly employed amongst 
the growing crops. 
Potatoes take up as soon as the haulm is withered. 
Any intended for seed should he exposed to the sun for a 
few days, until they become’green, and then stored away. 
Savoys, Winter Greens, Brocoli, and Cabbages, should 
be earthed-up as a means of promoting growth and guarding 
against early frosts. 
Tea and Potato Haulm and all weeds should he removed 
to the compost heap, not only to give a tidy appearance to 
the allotment, but also to prevent the rapid production of 
damp and mouldiness which are quickly generated among 
masses of decaying vegetation. Now is the time for the 
cottager to collect all weeds and masses of decaying vegeta¬ 
tion that are so abundant at this season, to he mixed with a 
little lime, and occasionally turned over daring the winter. 
This will make a rich compost for use in spring. 
Thin Winter Spinach to four or five inches apart in the 
rows, and vacancies can he filled up by transplanting. 
New Varieties.— In the whole range of the science of 
horticulture, there is no subject so productive of advantage 
to the gardening world, and at present so confined to the 
operations of a few enterprising horticulturists, as that of 
raising new and improved sorts of fruits, flowers, and vege¬ 
tables ; that such is the case, must be accounted for on the 
supposition that gardeners cannot devote that attention and 
perseverance so necessary to follow up experiments to their 
final results, or that the tenure of office appears to be sur¬ 
rounded by so many uncertainties, that the results of the 
experiments that may be commenced w ould be transferred 
to other hands, or that the facilities for performing such 
useful investigations, on account of the limited means al¬ 
lowed, or some other considerations that are too frequently 
applied as “ flattering unction to our souls,” for all and every 
neglect or omission. But each and every one of these im¬ 
pediments should not act as a permanent obstruction, hut 
should incite us to surmount such obstacles for the laudable 
purpose of adding to our store of comforts in the shape of 
more delicious fruits and vegetables valuable for quality and 
quantity. 
To an amateur who had time to attend to such investiga¬ 
tions, the pleasure would amply repay the attentions devoted 
to such subjects. 
With the raising of new sorts of fruits, flow r ers, and vege¬ 
tables, as with all oilier experiments, if a beginning is once 
made, the interest taken in the subject excites a desire for 
investigation which increases as w'e approach the period of 
ascertaining the results. If the results are satisfactory, 
and we have obtained an improved variety, w r e are encou¬ 
raged to proceed in such an interesting and useful employ¬ 
ment ; but if the results are fruits, flowers, and vegetables of 
inferior quality, the disappointment lias given a gain of 
knowledge whereby we are the better enabled to enter upon 
another series of experiments with greater probability of 
success. There is something so fascinating in such experi¬ 
ments, that if once we have commenced them we are sure 
to he led by the pleasure, interest, and mystery with which 
they are accompanied, until the results are produced. 
For raising seedlings of Gooseberries, Raspberries, Straw¬ 
berries, Currants, and of all vegetables and many flowers, 
does not require a great stock of patience, for seeds of them 
sown in autumn will produce the second season. If seed¬ 
lings show any features indicative of an improved breed, it 
would be well to give them a further trial to the third year, 
when their natural qualities will be sufficiently matured to 
he retained or rejected according to their merits or demerits. 
Seeds of the above-named fruits produce varieties of the 
parent plant most frequently inferior to the original stock, 
hut by selecting one sort, valuable for its habit of growth, 
productiveness, or size, to he impregnated by another sort, 
valuable for its flavour, the offspring would be most likely to 
inherit the good qualities of the parents in a superior 
degree. 
It is probable by the cross-impregnation of two sorts, one 
of them deficient of some good quality that the other pos¬ 
sesses, an improved variety may be raised, inheriting some 
share of the good qualities of both parents. What is found 
to be true in cross-breeding for an improved race of 
animals, is equally true when applied to the improvement of 
fruit, flowers, and vegetables. 
This will he a busy month, as the crops are unusually 
late this season, for cutting and stacking oats, wheat, beans, 
&c. The land lately cleared of Peas or Beans should he 
now prepared, by ploughing or digging, for sowing Wheat 
next month. Beans, cultivated on the farm, usually follow a 
corn crop, and generally precede Wheat, for which, as they 
are manured, they are considered a good preparation ; they 
succeed best on a clayey loam that is deep and dry. The 
ground should he now prepared by manuring and deep 
digging for sowing the Russian or Winter Bean in October. 
We trust, that the anxiety respecting the results of the 
harvest, on account of the heavy rains that had fallen during 
the early part of August, will be removed by a series of fine 
harvest weather, and that we may he thankful to the Giver 
of all Good for the abundance of all crops, fruits, cereals, 
