August 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
of our strata more requires tire aid of evergreens than 
the chalk does, to make a cottage habitation snug and 
comfortable, you will, perhaps, not think that it is 
time ill bestowed if we pause a moment to inquire 
whether the antipathy of evergreens to chalk is uni¬ 
versal, or whether there may not be some which do 
not refuse to assume a vigorous and healthy aspect 
upon this, which is, for many intents and purposes, so 
healthy, so comfortable, and so desirable a site for a 
residence. Unless we can find such I would not at¬ 
tempt to plant there, for nothing looks so meagre, 
desolate, and poverty-stricken, as to see a plantation 
of yellow, sickly, unhealthy evergreens, pining and 
dying away around a dwelling. A naked down is 
cheering and princely in comparison of such an abor¬ 
tion. Our native yew, the weed of our hills, which, if 
suffered to grow without being mutilated, becomes a 
most beautifully-formed tree and an admirable shel¬ 
ter, deserves the first place. The black A ustrian pine 
(Pinus Austriaca or nigricans), a rapid and sturdy 
grower, succeeds admirably on the chalk. The Arbor 
vita) (Thuja), Cupressus viridis, C. torulosa, and, 
indeed, all the cypresses, also thrive well here. Our 
native juniper, which spontaneously clothes the sides 
of many of our hills, must not be forgotten : all the 
junipers succeed well here. The graceful arbutus 
and lovely laurustinus afford a decoration to the 
shrubbery which leaves scarcely anything more to be 
wished for. The beautiful evergreen barberries, as 
well as our native variety ornamented with its bril¬ 
liant scarlet fruit, thrive well on the chalk. The 
various cotoneasters, some of which are absolutely 
evergreens, and others nearly approach to that state, 
lend their willing help ; and the box finds this of all 
soils the most congenial to it. I had almost forgotten 
to mention that the holly (Ilex), though not a rapid 
grower on the chalk, is healthy and sturdy, and in 
process of time becomes a large tree. Here, then, 
are materials with which the chalk cottager may ex¬ 
clude both the summer’s sun and winter’s cold, and 
may create a snuggery of variously-diversified beauty. 
Doubtless, planters of more experience may be able 
to add largely to this catalogue, but ne sntor ultra 
crepidam. W. P. T., Hampshire. 
BLACK BARLEY. 
Some weeks ago I observed an inquiry in The 
Cottage Gardener about Mack barley, and, as I have 
tested it this season, I think the result of my experi¬ 
ment may prove interesting to some of your nume¬ 
rous subscribers. 
On the 7tli of October lastl dibbled some of the seed, 
at the rate of only two pecks per acre, on some of the 
poorest land in Middlesex—this was after potatoes— 
and on the 27th of J anuary last I sowed a further por¬ 
tion after turnips. The vegetation was very rapid 
and luxuriant, and the barley tillered surprisingly, as 
many as 00 stalks arising from one seed. It stood the 
winter, such as it was, remarkably well, and on the 
0th of June the whole was in full ear, and measured 
5 feet 0 inches high. 
I commenced cutting the winter barley on the 11th 
of July, and the spring sowing on the 28th of the same 
month. Part of the former is already thrashed, and, 
considering the destruction by slugs and the enor¬ 
mous quantity consumed by sparrows, the produce is 
most satisfactory. At least one-third of the whole 
was destroyed by birds, owing entirely to its early 
ripening, and about one-eighth by slugs, so that, as 
nearly as I can calculate, the produce may be taken 
at nearly 00 bushels per acre, but no more. The 
straw is excellent, and had the seed been sown sorne- 
287 
what more liberally it would probably return about 
2-|- tons per acre. The crop from which I procured 
my seed was grown on excellent land in Worcester- 
sliire, and there the produce was said to be upwards 
of 70 bushels per acre. Indeed, of this I have little 
doubt, as I saw the crop just before harvest. The 
straw in that case was fully seven feet high., and alto¬ 
gether formed the most magnificent cereal crop I 
have ever seen. I have not yet thrashed any of the 
spring barley, but I am disposed to think the average 
will rather exceed the autumn-sowed in point of grain, 
while in straw it will be deficient. I will now only 
add that each ear has six distinct rows of grain on it, 
and that they contain from 65 to 84 grains together. 
The ground on which it was grown was cleared in 
time for me to sow Aberdeen turnips, although, had 
the weather been wetter, I should have transplanted 
Swedes, and probably had a good crop. Thus, by the 
introduction of this valuable crop, two crops per an¬ 
num may be certainly relied upon on all well culti¬ 
vated farms. A sample of the grain, with the straw, 
may be seen at Messrs. R. Bartroji & Co.’s, 176, High 
Holborn, who will, I am sure, be happy to exhibit it 
to any of your friends. 
T. Price, Eastcott Cottage, near Tinner. 
DIGEST OF GERANIUM CULTURE. 
Your worthy and intelligent coadjutor, Mr. Beaton, 
in his very clever and interesting paper on the gera¬ 
nium, in the fourteenth number of your valuable 
work (vol. i., p. 150), says he intended to draw up in 
one small paragraph the chief points in the “ account 
of Aunt Harriet’s management” there given, but on 
consideration he thinks it would be much better if his 
reader were to do that for himself—it would help him 
to recollect it. Now, as I have followed his recom¬ 
mendation, and drawn up the paragraph in my own 
way (though not a “small paragraph”), to assist my 
recollection, I think, perhaps, if you have room for 
it, it may (just at this time, when the principal direc¬ 
tions it contains are coming into operation) be useful 
to others, and not only give Mr. Beaton an oppor¬ 
tunity to add something new and pleasing to it, which 
he is so very capable of doing, but draw some useful 
observations or queries from other correspondents on 
the subject. 
Directions. —When the plants have done flower¬ 
ing in the summer, turn them out of doors, to rest 
and recover themselves ; give them no strong water 
then, but just enough rain-water to keep them from 
drooping. After a little while they will recover, and 
begin to grow away freely at the top. Then cut them 
down, letting them first get dry enough to droop, to 
prevent bleeding. Withhold water from them for two 
or three days, that the wounds may dry and heal 
readily. Cut all the branches down just above the 
three best placed buds next to where they began 
growing from the older wood, and if there are any 
weak or very small branches cut them down to the 
last bud, so that it may only produce one shoot next 
season. After cutting down the plants, slightly water 
them for ten days or a fortnight, or till the young- 
shoots are about an inch long, and have three or four 
leaves each; then shake away all the soil from the 
roots, and cut off all the largest roots to four, five, or 
six inches from where they first issued; trim the small 
roots a little ; then immediately repot them in very 
small pots, just large enough to hold the roots with¬ 
out being cramped. It should be rich mould, and 
about one-eighth part sand mixed with it; put plenty 
of crocks at the bottom, and a layer of moss over 
them, before putting on the earth; then water the 
