108 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER, 
May 
shears. I have likewise seen some plants producing 
fine, though not numerous, flowers, that were grown 
during the winter and spring in a bed of gravel, and 
lifted, when out of bloom, to make way for summer 
bedding plants: their living excited my astonishment, 
not on account of the soil, but the moving, as the 
approach of spade or fork to their roots usually acts 
like poison to these most lovely plants. 
Till lately I had nothing but a damp pit to winter 
my half-hardy plants, so of course I could not keep 
verbenas. I do not remember where I learnt the fol¬ 
lowing plan, which answered so well with hand¬ 
glasses, that I have ever since continued it with a 
GARDEN PLANS.—No. II. 
frame and lights :—Dig a pit, two spades depth, 
about six inches larger every way than the hand¬ 
glass or frame you mean to employ ; till this with 
large stones, potsherds, &c., and, at the top, cinders 
till within an inch or two of the level of the soil; 
then put from four to six inches of very sandy soil 
on the top: in this plant the verbenas, one in the 
centre, if for a hand-light, and one dozen at equal 
distances, if for an ordinary two-light frame: they 
should be planted at the same thru; the stock is 
bedded out (i.e., when the mulberry leaf is the size 
of a shilling), and, by attention to layering through 
the summer, the surface of the prepared bed will be 
covered with young plants, which, 
with the help of a mat or two in 
severe-weather, will stand all the 
winter, and be ready for bedding 
in the spring; the same pits will 
do for four years at least. Most 
excellent pegs for laying verbe¬ 
nas, &c., may be made by judici¬ 
ously cutting up the worn down 
stump of an old birch broom. 
I see the system of Pohnaise 
heating spoken of slightingly in 
your columns, and reference, as 
usual, made to St.Thomas Church, 
Winchester, as a proof of its in¬ 
sufficiency. I have not know¬ 
ledge or experience enough to 
make me wish to stand its cham¬ 
pion, but it might assist impar¬ 
tial investigation if its complete 
success in the contemporary 
church of St. James, Weybridge, 
Surrey, were as generally known. 
A Flower-Lover from 
Childhood.* 
DAHLIAS. 
Some of our correspondents 
having desired a list of good 
dahlias, we have great pleasure 
in complying with their request, 
especially as now is the time to 
purchase plants. We would just 
observe, previously, that the dah¬ 
lia is a gross feeder; and persons 
intending to cultivate them ought 
to prepare the ground for them 
by manuring it highly: on light 
soil, with some good rotten cow- 
dung; and on heavy wet soils, 
with stable - dung and rotten 
leaves, mixed with coal ashes or 
sharp river sand. Let the ground 
be frequently turned over, and 
the dung thoroughly mixed with 
it previously to planting. Lastly, 
never be in too great a hurry to 
plant, but rather delay till all 
danger of frosts are past. Then, 
if you do not mind the appear¬ 
ance of tall stakes, let these be 
driven firmly into the ground, in 
the very spot where each dahlia 
is to be planted. By doing this, 
you will not injure the dahlia 
roots with the stakes, which you 
* Youv questions, which we regret had 
been overlooked, shall be answered next 
week.—E d. C. G. 
JO 
LARGE SUBURBAN GARDEN. 
South 
JO 
D 
D 
A. Entrance. 
B. Coach walk. 
C. House. 
I). Various shrubs and trees. 
E. Rock, under which an ice-eellar. 
F. Platform. 
g. Grass. 
11. Straight walk (allee). 
I. Climbing roses, which cover the wall, 
with azaleas, rhododendrons, &c., low 
shrubs in front of the roses. 
le. Various flower-beds. 
L. Coniferoe, as cedrus, pinus, thuja, juni- 
perus, &c. &c. 
m. An elevated seat, the elevation already 
beginning by n. 
O. Evergreens. 
P. A horse-chesnut-tree or lime-tree. 
q. Steps and walk up to the platform : the 
latter not exceeding 10 or 12 feet in 
height. 
1 
