109 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 20, 1860. 
send their roots very far down into the ground, or the leaves are 
arranged in a circle or rosette which rests closely on the surface 
of the soil. In the former case the roots descend in search of 
moisture to a depth at which such may be procured; whereas, 
in the latter instance, the evaporation or escape of watery vapour 
from tlie soil is retarded by the umbrella-like rosette of leaves, 
and by this agency moisture is retained in the vicinity of the 
foot for a period sufficiently long to be absorbed by it. 
ot only is a rosette of leaves a provision for the prevention of 
evaporation from the soil, but all plants which creep along the 
surface of the ground are destined to protect the soil from the 
rays of the sun, and thus to prevent the escape of watery fluid. 
The fact, that by standing under the branches of the tree man 
procures shelter from the shower is worthy of consideration; for 
the very circumstance that shelter is afforded, teaches us the 
lesson that the leafy clothing of the branches is so arranged as to 
conduct water outward from the centre of the tree, or to shelter 
that portion of the ground situated beneath the arms of the 
plant. The object, however, is not that of sheltering the ground 
from water, but in the conducting moisture to the situations at 
which it is most needed. 
It must be remembered that the feeding-roots—that is, the 
roots which alone enjoy the power of sucking in the nourishment, 
are not situated near the main trunk of the tree, but are found 
in the form of a fine and extremely complicated network imme¬ 
diately under the extremities of the branches. 
We now see the object of the water being carried from leaf to 
leaf, and of its being cast upon the soil from the periphery of 
the branches, for beneath the extremities of the outermost twigs 
the feeding-roots are alone situated. 
Other points of equally deep interest were dwelt upon, the 
reason why most leaves are thin and membranous was explained, 
and the special object of the greater thickness of others. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Boarded Sides to a Greenhouse (II. Chapman ).—We should have 
liked the boards better to be one inch and a quarter, but if close to¬ 
gether, grooved or otherwise, they will do well. We have seen such houses 
do well with feather-edged boards laid over each other, the thickest side 
being one inch, and the thin side half an inch. Neither use tar nor any 
thing in the way of paint until the wood is thoroughly seasoned. We object 
to tar for inside in toto. We do not much like coal tar outside ; being so 
black, the wood gets so hot in summer as almost to char it. If used at all, 
we would prefer Stockholm to coal tar, chiefly on account of its brown 
colour, and that might be improved by throwing fresh sawdust on it when 
wet. For such a neat house, however, we should prefer paint or anti¬ 
corrosive, but are nofsure but the boards but for the appearance would be 
as well without anything. No plants will thrive in a house so long as the 
smell of the tar remains. We would avoid all trouble with the landlord 
by fixing nothing in the ground. Form your house on six moveable blocks 
laid on the ground, or on two cross-pieces at the ends, and two blocks in 
the middle. Then a piece of the same size at the sides—say four inches 
square, will give you the foundation all round on which to fix your upright 
studs for the boarding, glass, and upper wall-plate for glass sashes. A 
small moveable stove would be best for such a house. 
Excrescences on under Side of Pear Leaves! -).—We have not 
previously met with any examples of these excrescences, which appear to 
be rather the effect of disease on the leaves than fully produced by the 
attacks of an insect.—W. 
Planting Asparagus (J . 7F.).—We have answered this question at p. 94 
of our last number. 
Striking Cuttings in a Waltonian Case (Tyro).— No man, except 
he be a first-class propagator, can strike cuttings in any ordinary, or in any 
extraordinary way, from the end of October to the end of January, anil 
some not before the end of February. Tour means for striking cuttings, 
a Waltonian Case, is fit only for spring propagation; then you seem to have 
qll the requisites in it except practical experience to attend to it, and that, 
of course, takes some time to learn. The Waltonian Case is the easiest way 
we have ever seen to manage cuttings ; and as long as there is sufficient 
heat as you have, nothing more is wanted but experience. Try again and 
again till you learn the art of managing cuttings, If you keep cuttings 
too hot, or too cold, or too dry, or too moist, with too much air or too 
little, they will not do, and the farthest you are from too much either way 
the nearest you are to the mark. 
Greenhouse Stages, &e. (L. E. Lucas ).—Your queries were answered 
in No. 629, page 38. 
Claret Grape (F. TT .).—The Claret Grape is to be had in any good 
nursery where the cultivation of fruit trees is attended to. Any of the re¬ 
spectable nurserymen who advertise in our columns can get it for you. 
Pears Decaying (J. Franchine). —The specimens you sent are similar 
in their decaying to many others which we have seen. They become brown 
throughout, have a mouldy, oily smell, and a pungent flavour. The remote 
cause was the excessively wet and sunless season ; and the immediate 
cause one of the minute parasitic fungi, which similarly destroy our 
Apples and tubers of our Potatoes. Try if a warmer and drier place will 
prevent the decaying of your Pears by hastening their ripening. 
Removing Old Asparagus (A. Loftus).— Your query was answered in 
our No. 624. 
Farm Accounts (A /Subscriber). —Buy “ Peat’s Farmer’s Account- 
Book,” noticed in our last number. It costs only 2s. If we devoted 
two pages to answer your query we could not give you such a clear reply as 
will the use of that book for twelve months. 
Aspidium spinulosum. —“ In The Cottage Gardener of August 27th, I 
offered some specimens of this Fern, and received so many applications 
that I could not supply them all. I have now procured plenty, and can 
supply all applicants. I hope this will be accepted as a reply by those 
who were unanswered.—W. Winter , Alderley National School, Beccles. ,, 
We hope all applicants will insert two postage stamps with their letters to 
Mr. Winter. He ought to suffer no loss by his kindness. 
Cocoa-nut Fibre (F. C. II. G.). —It can only be had by sending to the 
manufactory, Kingston-on-Thames. 
Grafting Camellias (S. Sail).—If you can, place hand-glasses over 
your Camellias and stand them on a surface of coal ashes, keep them in 
this position till they have united, and then gradually remove the hand¬ 
glasses. 
Planting Lily op the Valley ( E. C. C.).— This is a very good time to 
make beds of Lily of the Valley. Our rule is this : five bushels of sand, 
five bushels of rough leaf mould or rotten stuff from the scrapings of the 
woodyard, and ten bushels of any good, light, garden soil—all well mixed, 
and to be put in ten inches deep : and in all new situations to us we make 
three beds—one in the full sun, one behind a wall, and one on a west 
aspect. Whichever of the three beds does the best, that aspect is the best 
for that soil and place ; but it might be just the reverse two miles off, and 
for one to say that any of the cardinal points was the right or best aspect 
for Lily of the Valley' would be to tell of his want of practical knowledge 
all round the rest of the circle. Lily of the Valley is the most tiresome of 
plants. You must cutup some old bed or part of it, shake the felt-like 
roots to free them from the soil, cut the old roots into six-inch lengths, and 
let theie be a plump bud at the end of each. Place all the bud ends one 
way, and plant them six inches apart in rows, and three inches apart in the 
row, or a little wider, or as close all over the surface as they will stand. 
We have set them closer even than that; and we got it to run over a bed 
of Ghent Azaleas by placing their roots one foot apart every way, but it 
took some years to cover it well. 
Ether Kesiduum.— A correspondent of The Cottage Gardener recom¬ 
mended ether residuum as good for gravel walks He has only done us 
half a service unless he can tell us where we can get it at a cheap rate.— 
B. F. S. 
Books (II. M. II.). —Errington on the Peach, or MsEwen on the Peach. 
(F. J 1 .).—The “ Garden Manual” is the most comprehensive and cheap 
book of the kind. (A Fruit Grower ).—Dr. Hogg’s “ Fruit Manual ” is the 
work you refer to; it contains numerous selections for all parts of the 
country. 
Names of Plants ( W, Dale). —1. Adiantum pubescens. 2. Selaginella 
Galeottii. 3. Selaginella Martensii. 4. Imperfect. 5. Adiantum capillus- 
Veneris (small). 6. Urtica or Pilea herniariaefolia. 
POULTRY AND BEE-KEEPER’S CHRONICLE. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
November 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. West of Scotland Ornitholo¬ 
gical Association, Glasgow. (Pigeons and Canary Birds.) Sec-., 
Thos. Buchanan, 74, Argyle Street, Glasgow. 
December 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th. Birmingham. Sec., Mr. John B. Lythall, 
Offices, Unity Buildings, Temple Street, Birmingham. Entries close 
November 1. 
December 6th. Hull and East Biding. Sec., G-, Bobson, 25, Waterwork 
Street. Entries close November 22nd. 
December 12th, 13'b, and 14th. Northern Counties (Darlington). 
Sec., J. Hodgson, Darlington. Entries close Nov. 19th. 
December 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th. Crystal Palace. (Poultry, Pigeons, 
Babbits, Ornamental Water Fowl, and Pheasants). Sec., Mr. W. 
Floughton. Entries close November 10. 
December 18th and 19th. Lord Tredegar’s, at Newport, Monmouth¬ 
shire. Sec., Mr. C. H. Oliver, Commercial Street, Newport. Entries 
close Nov. 21st. 
December 21st and 22nd. Halifax Pigeon Show. Sec., D. B. Edgar. 
Entries close December 8th. 
Decbmeer 27th, 28th and 29th. KiINdal. Son. Secs,, G. C. Whitwell 
and T. Wilson. Eotries close December 12th. 
January 30th and 31st. Ulverston. Secs., Mr. T. Bobinson and Mr. J. 
Kitchen. Entries close January 10th. 
N.B.— Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
ON THE MANAGEMENT OF POULTRY SHOWS. 
(Continued from page 95.) 
Dablington. —A very good Show, the classes well filled, and 
a liberal prize list, which is very much improved this year. 
Nothing can be more judicious, I think, than the way in which 
the prize list of this Show is drawn up. It speaks well for the 
poultry taste of the north of England. 
Ulyeeston. —I know nothing of this Show, although my 
friends tell me it is good and well managed. I have heard com¬ 
plaints of the high rate of carriage for the birds sent to it. It is 
much to be regretted that all Managing Committees do not 
enter into some arrangements with the Kailway Companies with 
respect to the carriage of poultry to the various Shows.^ Ulver¬ 
ston is rather an out-of-the-way place, and I think the Secretary 
of the Show is rather too positive in requiring the “through 1 ’ 
carriage of birds sent to the Show to be paid. This is, in many 
instances, an impossibility, and I know some persons who have 
been obliged to keep their birds away from this Show on that 
account. 
Yoke. —A Show that does credit to the county. The prize 
list is liberal, and the Show is well patronised by exhibitors at a 
distance. 
