THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 18, 1S60, 
155 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
Day 
Day 
DEC. 18—24, 1860. 
Weather 
near London in 1859. 
3 
Moon 
of 
M’nth 
of 
Week. 
Barometer. 
Thermom. 
Wind. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
t Snn 
, Sets. 
Rises 
and Sets 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
afterSun 
Day of 
Year. 
18 
Tu 
Black duck comes. 
29.*95-29.649 
deg. deg. 
30- 8 
N. 
m. h. 
5 af 8 
m. h. 
50 af 3 
m. 
43 
h. 
10 
6 
m. s. 
2 55 
353 
19 
W 
Ember Week. 
29.734-29.712 
31—07 
S. 
— 
5 
8 
50 
3 
51 
11 
7 
2 25 
354 
20 
Th 
White nun comes. 
29.793-29.453 
36—32 
S. 
— 
6 
8 
50 
3 
morn. 
■ 3) 
1 65 
355 
21 
F 
St. Thomas. 
29.316 -29.229 
47 —26 
s w. 
•02 
6 
8 
51 
3 
59 
0 
9 
1 25 
356 
22 
S 
Sun’s declin. 23° 27's: 
29.532-29.494 
45- 7 
s.w. 
•01 
: 7 
8- 
51 
3 
8 
2 
10 
0 55 
357 
23 
Sun 
4 Sunday in Advent. 
29.487 -29.326 
44-:9 
w. 
•25 
T, 
8 
52 
3 
18 
3 
11 
9 25 
358 
24 
M 
Orange-breasted goosander comes 
29.105-28.988 
48-29 
s.w. 
•08 
' 8 
8 
52 
3 
29 
4 
12 
0 b 5 
359 
Mbtborology op the Week.— At Chiswick, from observations during’ the last thirty-four years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 44.6° and 33. 6° respectively. The greatest heat, 57’’, occurred on the 23rd, in 1837 ; and the lowest cold, 9°, 
on the 22nd, in 1855. During the period 121 days were fine, and on 110 rain fell. I 
WORK FOR THE WEEK. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
As most of the operations here at this season are 
dependant on the state of the weather, but little can be 
added to previous instructions under this head. The 
great object should be to get the soil in as favourable a 
state as possible for the reception of the various crops 
that will be committed to it ere long. As the basis of 
success is in a great measure dependant upon a thorough 
system of drainage, no time should be lost in attending 
to this important point. As this kind of work can be best : 
done when it is dry overhead, it would be well to attend j 
to it in time. Asparagus, if the heat of the bed declines J 
very much a slight lining may be added, but be careful 
that a brisk or strong heat is not produced, as a very 
gentle heat is sufficient for the purpose Endive, take 
the advantage of a dry day to lay tiles over some in 
the open ground ; take up a portion of the best, and lay 
it in a frame or shed as a reserve in case of a severe frost. 
Radishes, when sown in frames, to have air, if the weather 
will permit, as soon as they appear above ground, and on 
all favourable occasions. Look over the root store occa¬ 
sionally to see that nothing is going wrong. 
EETJIT GARDEN. 
The renewal of fruit-tree borders where the soil is worn | 
out and impoverished is a very necessary operation at 
this season. Remove as much of the old soil as can be 
done without disturbing the roots, and supply its place 
with maiden loam. Manures, as they act as stimulants, 
to be avoided, more especially as they induce an over- 
luxuriant growth without a corresponding degree of fruit¬ 
fulness. The heads of large orchard trees to be freely 
thinned, cutting out all branches that cross each other, 
and the shoots to be left sufficiently apart that light and 
air may have free access to them when the leaves are on. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Examine Dahlia roots ; any that are rotting, to be 
removed. The operations here will now be merely 
confined to the routine of digging or trenching all va¬ 
cant ground, leaving the surface as rough as possible; 
sweeping and rolling grass lawns and gravel walks, and 
affording protection to tender plants. Prepare soils, com¬ 
posts, and manures by frequent turnings. Advantage 
to be taken of unfavourable weather for out-door work to 
prepare a good stock of stakes and labels ready for use j 
'when wanted. / 
STOVE. 
If there is any fear of a scarcity of bloom next May, j 
a portion of the Achimenes and Gloxinias should be 
repotted at once, and placed in a warm part of the stove, ' 
choosing such as have been the longest at rest; also a j 
few Allamandas, Clerodendrons, Echites, and Dipladenias ■ 
for the same purpose, 
GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 
If softwooded plants are to be wintered in good con- i 
dition it is necessary to banish damp and insects by I 
Ho. 638.— Yol. XXV. Ho. 12. 
the most available means. Pelargoniums to be kept 
rather cool and dry, giving whatever water may be 
necessary on the mornings of fine days; avoiding the 
use of fire heat, except when necessary to prevent the 
temperature falling below 40°, or to dispel damp when 
tins cannot be safely done by giving air. Calceolarias 
and Cinerarias for late blooming to be also kept cool and 
airy, and to be accommodated with pot room when neces¬ 
sary. The Calceolarias to be narrowly watched for 
thrips, which, if seen, to be slightly smoked on two or 
three evenings successively to destroy them. 
FORCING-PIT. 
As soon as the plants are sufficiently forward in bloom 
they may be removed to the conservatory or drawing¬ 
room, and a succession of such plants as the following 
to be introduced, viz. :—Azaleas, Persian Lilacs, Roses, 
Sweet Briars, Honeysuckles, Rhododendrons, Kalmias, 
Daphnes, the more advanced Hyacinths, Narcissuses, 
Tulips, &c. Everything introduced here must have had 
previous attention to prepare it for forcing purposes, and 
to be well set with bloom-buds. Fire heat to be applied 
in moderation, especially at night, and on dark, foggy 
days ; a pretty brisk fire heat may be applied on clear 
forenoons, when air may be admitted with advantage. 
A sweet bottom heat of 75° is necessary. W. Keane. 
HEW STYLE OE BEDDING. 
LUCY TAIT VERBENA — GAZAN IAS—CALYSTEGIA PUBESCENS. 
Last summer the Floral Committee had a good idea 
given them for a new style of flower-bed, in a contri¬ 
bution from Mr. Cunningham, gardener to the Bishop of 
London, at Fulham Palace. 
Mr. Cunningham took up the idea himself from the 
style of growth exhibited by a seedling Verbeua which 
he raised, and which he named Lucy Tait. This is a very 
dwarf, close-growing Yerbena, with an upright style of 
growth, and less given to spread sideways than any other 
Verbena yet seen in the bedding sections of the race. 
There is nothing particular in the colour of this seedling 
—a light pink or rosy pink, and the trusses are small but 
come in great abundance, and very close together, and 
the chances are, that if the Committee had only seen cut 
flowers of Lucy Tait they would have taken no notice of 
them ; but having seen a batch of the plant in its natural 
state they gave it a commendation prize, and endorsed 
Mr. Cunningham’s estimate of its quality as an edging 
plant, and thus, in their united opinion, “ we have nothing 
better in its class.” 
It is not so much on its merits as an edging plant, 
however, that I refer to Lucy Tait, but on account of the 
new style of bed which its flowers and habit offer to the 
notice of the planter. It is the first edging plant, that I 
recollect, the flowers of which may be of the same tint of 
colour as that of the plants which make up the bed round 
which it is edged, and yet retain the use and influence 
of an edging by the strong contrast of growth. Take the 
last rose or pink Verbena for a bed, and here is a pink or 
