May 23.] 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
1L3 
those called short-fours; they are not too tall for comfort, 
and their size gives a better light than that of long thin 
ones. For kitchen use “dips” of ten to the pound, or 
even twelve, are the best size. Eights have been tried, 
, as being a thicker candle, but they do not burn an hour 
! longer in the kitchen, and therefore do not go so far. 
Many persons use oil in preference to candles, as being 
cheaper; but from experience and close calculation no 
thing is cheaper than candles, if carefully used and 
looked after; and so much dirt and grease is engendered 
where oil is used, that the most scrupulous cleanliness 
is needful in managing it. This can rarely be reckoned 
upon in the household department, and therefore candles 
are, on every account, decidedly best. Where only 
one servant is kept it is requisite to avoid every un¬ 
necessary work, and nothing is so troublesome and so 
dirty as the care of lamps. 
A careful mistress will look well to the management 
of candles, for a great deal of waste is sometimes unin¬ 
tentionally suffered, and they are an expensive item in 
the monthly book. Servants will often leave candle ends 
in the sockets, and throw them thoughtlessly away when 
cleaning the candlesticks. There should be a save-all to 
every candlestick in the house, and not an inch of 
candle should be thrown away. It is surprising how 
many candles will be saved in the course of the year by 
looking after the oclcls and ends. Even the black con¬ 
tents of the snuffers has its use; it is excellent for 
cleaning looking-glasses, well rubbed on with a piece 
of rag, and then polished off with, a linen cloth. It 
brightens and cleanses the surface of the glass with 
very little trouble. 
Sugar is a very expensive item in the week’s account. 
It must be kept in a very dry, cool place, or it will turn 
into treacle. A great saving may be achieved by giving 
up its use in tea, and the right principle will be rewarded 
in time by the superior flavour of the tea, as well as by 
the decreased expenditure. This I know by my own 
1 experience: I gave up sugar in my tea, but not in the 
least degree on principle; I was exactly a month in 
becoming reconciled to the loss, and now I cannot take 
it even in coffee; the taste of sweetened tea is insipid 
in the extreme. Children should be brought up as 
much as possible without sugar, when means are small. 
It is not unwholesome, as some are led to think, but it 
j is expensive and unnecessary; and a great deal more is 
used with puddings and pies than is at all required. 
Some sugars are very much sweeter than others, and go 
farther in consequence ; this can only be ascertained by 
tasting them. The best moist sugar should look gra¬ 
velly and sparkling—not dull and dead, like sand. East 
India sugars are not so sweet as those from the West 
Indies ; and Brazillian sugar has scarcely any sweetness 
in it. The white sugars should be close, and very spark¬ 
ling ; if dull and powdery to the eye it is made from beet¬ 
root, and very inferior when used, although cheaper to 
buy. White sugar is often said to he as cheap or 
cheaper in the end than brown; it is more elegant and 
more agreeable to the taste, hut on strict trial it will not 
be found cheaper, or so cheap. Gentlemen will often 
decide this point very comfortably to themselves; but if 
they will wisely give up the Commissariat department 
to their wives, I think brown sugar will he selected when 
the second stock of groceries is laid in. Eor preserves 
I think common cheap white sugar is decidedly the 
cheapest. It requires less boiling, less skimming, con- 
| sequently less waste takes place, and the preserves keep 
| better, and for a longer time; those made with brown 
i sugar, unless boiled a long time, are very apt to mould, 
or ferment, and never taste so well. Three quarters of a 
pound of sugar to a pound of fruit is quite sufficient, 
for jam ; jelly requires equal proportions; but on this 
point I sliali touch in a future paper. 
Let me recommend to the anxious economist the most 
rigid forbearance in sugar, as indeed in every thing that 
may be called a superfluity, and non-essential to the 
support of life. We use so many things from habit that 
are really not required, that it needs some little thought 
to determine what is a necessary and lawful article of 
food. If we gave our attention to this from an honest 
and holy principle, we should save immensely in many 
ways, and be able to “ deal our bread to the hungry” 
too, and make many a “ widow’s heart sing for joy.” 
Let us not save for ourselves only, but also for our 
“ poor brother,” that we may “ open our hand wide unto 
him, and surely lend him sufficient for his need in that 
which he wanteth.” This is God’s own commandment. 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION AT 
THE REGENT’S RARE.— May 8. 
f Continued from , page 101.) 
COLLECTIONS OF TEN STOVE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 
Generally these were well grown. The First Prize was 
awarded to Mr. Croxford, gardener to H. H. Barnes, Esq., 
Stamford Hill. He had the best 
Epacris grandiflora in the exhibition ; 5 ft. by 5 ft. Adenandra spe- 
ciosa, 2 ft. by 2 ft. Leschenaultia biloba major; 2£ ft. by 2$ ft. Erica 
Hartiiella; 2 ft. by ft. 
2nd Prize to Mr. Laybank, gardener to T. Maudesley, 
Esq., Knight's Hill, Norwood. The great attraction in this 
excellent collection was a plant of 
Tropceolum tricolorum, trained to a trellis in the form of a pillar with a 
a rounded top. Every part, from the bottom to the top, was profusely 
bloomed. The pillar was 6 ft. high and 2 ft. diameter. Zichya coccinea, 
also trained to a round trellis and well bloomed ; 24 ft. by 2 ft. Gompho- 
lobium polymorphum; 24 ft. by 2 ft. Boronia anemoncefolia; 3 ft. by 
24 ft. 
2nd Prize to Mr. Stowe, gardener to — Baker, Esq., 
Bayfordbury, Herts. The judges awarded a prize equal with 
the last to this collection. The plants were all well grown, 
especially 
Erica intermedia, a fine extra-well bloomed plant ; 3 ft. by 4 ft. Clio- 
rozema macrophylla ; 4 ft. by 3 ft. Dillwynia floribunda ; 3 ft. by 2 ft. 
Poly gala oppositifolia; 24 ft. by 2 ft. 
3rd Prize to Mr. Dennet, gardener to H. W. Gilliot, Esq., 
Clapham Common. The following were very good :— 
Pimelea spectabilis; 2) ft. by 24 ft. Chorozema Chandlerii) 2 ft. by 
2 ft. Boronia anemoncefolia; 3 ft. by 24 ft. Erica Sindryana, a rather 
new, beautiful variety ; 2 ft. by 14 ft. Epacris grandiflora; 3 ft. by 3 ft. 
A 3rd Prize also was given to Mr. Bruce, gardener to 
Boyd Millar, Esq., Clapham. Quite equal with the last; in 
it was a beautiful specimen of 
Epacris miniata; 2 ft. by 2 ft. Azalea speciosa; 24 ft. by 24 ft. 
Chorozema varia car. Chandlerii; 2 ft. by 2 ft. Leschenaultia formosa; 
2 ft. by 24 ft. Erica pcrspicua uana, a pretty species ; 2 ft. by 2 ft. 
4th Prize to Mr. Williams, gardener to Miss Traill, 
Bromley. We noticed, more especially, an immense 
Erica vestita alba y well bloomed ; 5 ft. by 5 ft. Azalea indica 
(Apollo) ; 3 ft. by 2 ft. Daviesia latifolia; 3 ft. by 2£ ft. Dillwynia 
ericoides; 3 ft. by 2$ ft. 
A 4th Prize, equal with the last, to Mr. Malyon, gardener 
to J. Brandruni, Esq., Blackheath. 
Erica vestita alba , a pretty plant; 2£ ft. by 2 ft. E. Beaumontiand . 2 
ft. by l£ ft. Ventricosa coccinea minor , high coloured. Chorozema 
Lawrenciana j 3 ft. by 2 ft. O.rylobium Pultenece, small but good. 
5tii Prize to Mr. Stanley, gardener to H. Bevens, Esq., 
Sidcup, Kent. A moderately well grown collection, but some 
in excellent condition, especially 
Tropoeolum Jarrettii; 3 ft. by 24 ft. Erica Cavendishii; 2 ft. by 2 ft. 
6th Prize to Mr. Young, gardener to J. Barron, Esq., 
Denmark Hill, who had 
Pimelea spectabilis, Chorozema ilicifolia, and Cytisus Rhodopnctus, well 
flowered. 
AZALEAS. 
The next class of plants that drew forth admiration were 
the collections of Azalea Indica. They were superior to any 
ever exhibited in these gardens before. 
COLLECTIONS OF TWELVE GREENHOUSE AZALEAS. 
The First Prize was very justly awarded to Mr. May, 
gardener to Mrs. Lawrence. These were noble, beautifully 
dowered plants. The following were particularly fine :— 
