September 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
301 
the winter use. Leeks may still bo planted, and 
may also be placed much nearer together. 
Winter Spinach. —Attend to this vegetable by 
now hoeing and thinning it out, not forgetting, also, 
to assist its growth by keeping the soil well stirred 
about it. James Barnes. 
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 
MY FLOWERS. 
(No. 42.) 
My garden now begins to talk very loudly of ap¬ 
proaching winter. The decaying stalks of the depart¬ 
ing flowers, the leaves that insensibly collect together 
under the shrubs and in the corners of the flower-beds, 
and a certain bright colouringon the tips of the boughs, 
particularly those of the beech and oak, tell of the re¬ 
tiring sap and tho rapid withering of the rich summer 
foliage. If it were not for tho knowledge that we are 
so soon to lose the beautiful clothing of the trees, 
autumn would be by far the loveliest season of tho 
year. The bright greens of spring do not rival the 
rich crimson, and brown, and yellow tints of the fad¬ 
ing leaf, which seem to grow richer and brighter as 
they take their last leave of us ; but there is not the 
same feeling of hopefulness in us at this particular 
season, which, perhaps, increases the beauty and plea¬ 
santness of the earlier days, and checks our perfect 
enjoyment of tile picturesque when we are about to 
lose it all. It is a very wholesome warning to our 
hearts that nothing belonging to earth can last for 
ever; and that, short-lived as aro the beautiful deco¬ 
rations of the soil, even they are not more quickly 
doomed to destruction than is tho hand that cherishes 
and the eye that delights in them. The word of God 
declares that “ we all fade as a leaf.” What a sermon, 
then—what a library of sermons—is even one single 
tree! and, yet. though they are multiplied around us, 
though the whirling leaves are often driven against 
the window, and we start at the sudden tap, we heed 
not the message they bring, and lay not these warn¬ 
ings to our heart. 
Bulbous roots that have done flowering may now 
be taken up, and the offsets separated from the parent 
plant. They should be planted again immediately, 
but the old roots may be kept out of the ground for 
a month if requisite. I have sometimes thought it 
might be useful to plant any old roots of the common 
white lily, that are not wanted for the borders, in pots 
by themselves, for the sake of their healing virtues; 
as these roots, boiled in milk, were formerly con¬ 
sidered valuable as applications for wounds. In 
country villages, where medical advice is often distant 
and difficult to obtain, a knowledge of “simples” 
would be extremely useful, and with, very little ex¬ 
pense might be employed in many cases. I have 
no doubt the poultice of lily roots would be quite as 
efficacious, at least, as the “ brown soap and sugar,” 
which is the invariable salve of the poor when suffer¬ 
ing from wounds or sores. 
In rainy weather, polyanthuses may be parted. 
They should not bo allowed to remain in;large 
bunches, but kept in small, neat roots, as the flow¬ 
ers will then be stronger and handsomer. I have 
always remarked that the large plants become weak 
and disfigured in the bloom. Seeds both of poly¬ 
anthus and auriculas may be sown now. It is best 
to sow them in huge flower-pots,, as they may then 
be sheltered in winter more easily, and arc less 
liable to be eaten by slugs. It is very interest¬ 
ing to watch for new varieties, as the young seedlings 
come into flower the following year; and, by raising 
them thus, we are sure of a succession of healthy 
young plants. I confess I have never adopted this 
plan myself, but I have been pleased with it when 
somo of my friends have done so; and if my garden 
was less cold, and exposed to winds, and the drip of 
trees, I should have done so too. It is almost essen¬ 
tial that a lady’s garden should possess one sheltered 
spot, at least; the warmth and protection of a wall 
or a high screening hedge, under which the tenderer 
objects of her interest may be safely placed, where 
they may receive light, and air, and rain, without 
being splashed or blown about by the rougher winds. 
I feel the full value of what the poor call a “ succoury” 
situation, because I do not possess it; and I recom¬ 
mend every lady to endeavour to form a shelter if she 
can against the north and east. I am trying to per¬ 
suade a belt of laurels to thicken and form a hedge, 
that I may have one warm strip of ground; but al¬ 
though my soil is highly suitable to evergreens, and 
they grow fast and fine, yet it takes time to become 
so thick and close as to prevent the searching, blight¬ 
ing cast wind from passing through them. 
The tall, bright sunflower is now giving a rich glow 
to the shrubbery border. It is too largo and glaring 
for the flower-bed, but in the background or among 
shrubs it is gay and glowing. It is useful also to 
those who keep poultry, as its seeds are much liked 
by fowls. The settlers in Canada store them for this 
purposo; and the wife of tho cottage gardener in 
England might thus effect a great saving in her 
domestic management if sho raised these plants in 
sufficient quantity to enable her to keep a small stock 
of fowls. Food, when purchased, is far too expensive 
for the generality of cottagers, but some, whose gar¬ 
dens are tolerably large, might set apart one bed for 
the growth of sunflowers for their poultry: they would 
assist considerably, if not entirely maintain them. 
Tho sunflower is a native of America. It flourishes 
richly in Canada, Mexico, and Peru, and it is occa¬ 
sionally found in some parts of Asia and Africa, but 
America is its favourite homo. Its rich golden flow¬ 
ers seem to receive their colour from the golden soil 
in which they grow. The inhabitants of Peru, when 
first visited by the Spaniards, worshipped the sun; 
and those who performed the ceremonies of their idol- 
service in his temple wore these flowers formed of pure 
gold on the head and breast, as emblems of their deity. 
No doubt its name arose from this circumstance, as 
well as from its being supposed always to turn towards 
the sun. It brings before us a striking view of the 
darkness of heathen minds; and yet oven these poor 
ignorant Peruvians reprove many professing Chris¬ 
tians ! They adored the source of light, and warmth, 
and beauty, as he soared over their rich and beautiful 
land, cheering and gladdening every hill aud valley, 
wondering at his splendour, and trusting in his power. 
We have a yet more glorious sun, the “ Sun of Right¬ 
eousness,” arisen “ with healing in his wings.” Do 
we look up to Him, with the simple faith of the un¬ 
enlightened Peruvians? Is His mark on our fore¬ 
heads and on our hearts? The sunflower, as it stands 
calmly in the border, asks us a deep and searching 
question. Let us answer it truly ; let us look care¬ 
fully into this matter, for, perchance, we also worship 
an idol, and our sun may set never to rise again. 
RAISING SEEDLING GOOSEBERRIES. 
The raising of seedling gooseberry trees has, until 
the last few years, been left in the hands of the work¬ 
ing classes of this country. Notwithstanding, great 
improvement has been made, both in the mode of cul- 
