THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 5, 1861, 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
Day 
Day 
FEBRUARY 5—11, 1861. 
Weather near London in 1860. 
Moon 
Clock 
\ 
of 
M’nth 
of 
Week. 
Barometer. 
Thermorn. 
Wind. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Rises 
and Sets 
Moon’s 
Age. 
before 
Sun. 
Day of j 
Year. 1 
5 
Tu 
Arabis alpina. 
30.017-29.747 
deg. deg. 
50- 2 
W. 
•26 
m. h. 
34 af 7 
m. h. 
54 af 4 
m. h. 
55 m 4 
25 
in. 
14 
s. 
19 
36 | 
6 
W 
Potentilla opaca. 
30.012 —29 778 
48— 6 
N.W. 
— 
33 
7 
56 4 
44 
5 
26 
14 
23 
37 
6 
Th 
Anemone apennina. 
30.180 -29.874 
48— 0 
W. 
•02 
31 
7 
58 4 
20 
6 
27 
14 
27 
38 
7 
F 
Saxifraga oppositifolia. 
29.712-29.523 
52—1 
s.w. 
•06 
29 
7 
V. 
46 
6 
23 
14 
29 
39 
9 
S 
Thlaspi alpestre. 
29.844—29.642 
40—18 
N. 
— 
27 
7 
2 5 
sets 
• 
14 
31 
40 
10 
Sun 
Shrove Sunday. Queen Vict. 
30.045—29.980 
37—15 
N. 
— 
26 
7 
4 5 
9 a 6 
1 
14 
32 
41 
11 
M 
Daphne collina. [married 1840. 
29.916—29.728 
38—14 
S. 
— 
24 
7 
6 5 
19 
7 
2 
14 
32 
42 
Meteorology of the Week.— At Chiswick, from observations during the last thirty-four years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 45.4’ and 32.2’ respectively. The gre itest heat, 60°, occurred on the 9th, in 1856 ; and the lowest cold, — 3°, 
on the 11th, in 1845. During the period 127 days were fine, and on 111 rain fell. 
WORK FOR THE WEEK. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Artichokes (Globe), sow in heat, and transplant when 
fit into boxes ; to be finally planted out in April on pre¬ 
viously trenched and well-manured ground. By this 
means a supply of this vegetable can be had two months 
later than can be had from the old plants. Basil, sow in 
heat, as also Marjoram where such are required green. 
Beans, a sowing of Marshall’s Prolific or Early Mazagan 
to be made in the open ground when the soil is sufficiently 
dry to work well. Cauliflowers, the plants in frames or 
under hand-lights to be divested of decayed leaves. Give 
them abundance of air in mild weather. Celery, sow for 
the main early crop in boxes; Seymour’s is a good sort, 
and not so liable to run to seed as other kinds. Lettuce, 
remove dead leaves from those in frames. Give plenty 
of air. As soon as the young plants in boxes are an inch 
or two high prick them out in a moderate hotbed, to 
strengthen them for planting on a warm border next 
month. Radishes, sow the Early Frame on a warm shel¬ 
tered border. Sea-icale, remove the covering from the 
portion that was forced early. Cut the stems short so as 
to keep them within the compass of a pot or box. Shallots, 
plant them, as also Garlic, if not done in the autumn. 
ERT7IT GARDEN. 
Continue pruning and nailing wall trees until finished. 
Fork up the soil between the rows of Strawberry-beds, 
but not more than two inches deep, and mulch with 
rotten mauure. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Prune, nail, and tie all kinds of hardy climbers, Roses, 
&o., before the more busy season arrives. In the absence 
of frost prune hardy Roses. If the removal of evergreens 
has been neglected, the opportunities of mild, moist 
days should be embraced to effect that purpose. Attend 
to the relayiug of Pinks in the soil after having been 
thrown out by the frost. Biennials may be planted in 
beds or borders. See to the bulbous roots, and stir the 
surface around them. 
STOVE. 
AH Orchids that are indicating a new growth to be re¬ 
shifted, making use of fibrous heath soil and some char¬ 
coal, both for drainage and for mixing amongst the soil, 
as it is used about them in the process of shifting them 
into new baskets or pots. A gentle increase of heat 
and humidity to be applied as the days lengthen and 
light strengthens. When water is necessary the best 
way to apply it is round the sides of the baskets or 
pots, as saturation of the soil around the collar would 
be most injurious. That poor persecuted, but most in¬ 
offensive, creature the toad is most useful here. 
GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATOR'S". 
The mould intended for greenhouse plants to be pre¬ 
pared and sweetened by frequent turnings, and a suffi¬ 
cient supply for immediate use to be stored in an open 
Ho. 645.— Vol. XXV. Ho. 19. 
shed. See that Camellias are not allowed to get dry 
at the roots, or you will lose your buds ; and do not 
expose them at any time to cutting currents of air. 
Young, vigorous Hew Holland plants to have all their 
strong shoots stopped in good time; attention to this is 
necessary for laying a foundation for future good speci¬ 
mens. Examine the Heaths, as they will soon begin to 
move. Remove all dead branches and rusty leaves, and 
stir the soil a little on the surface. Tropseolums will 
demand frequent attention in directing their young shoots. 
forcing-pit. . 
Keep up the supply of American shrubs, Roses, Lily 
of the Valley, Dutch bulbs, &c., as the beauty of your 
greenhouse and conservatory will depend in a great 
measure upon them for some time to come. Keep up a 
bottom heat of 75°, and a top heat of 60° at night and 
70° by day, with air occasionally. 
pits and frames. 
Examine the stock for bedding out, and if there are 
heat and a proper place to put them into, pot off all kinds 
that are in store-pots. As the rays of the sun are now 
becoming more powerful, and plants starting into more 
( active growth, watering must be carefully attended to: 
see that nothing is suffering for want of it. 
W. Keane, 
DOIHGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 
As expected, the weather has continued mild and warm, 
feeling quite hot at 40° and 45°, after being used to a range 
between 7° and 20°. The cold-pits partly uncovered were 
wholly uncovered, and the plants examined. Cauliflowers, &c., 
found quite safe. Earth-pits with glass laid over them had 
suffered considerably in places, as some small openings had been 
inadvertently left between the rail at the back of the pit and 
the glass sash that was merely laid on it. Oh! these little 
matters. Some plants of Gazania taken up in .the autumn and 
potted perished ; little was left of the Calceolaria amplexieaulis ; 
other Calceolarias had suffered more from damp than anything 
else, and, therefore, were cleaned of all the fading leaves, and 
will suffer but little for their live weeks’ night. Cuttings put in 
in the beginning of November and only beginning to root, look 
! as well as the day they were put in. Had they been established 
and growing freely, they, too, might have lost a few leaves. 
Some Scarlet Geraniums that had been lifted from the beds 
after they were a little frosted, looked all the worse for the long 
night; but as nearly all were sound at bottom, they were cut 
down within a couple of inches of their roots, and packed closely 
in a bed made with tree leaves in front of a Vine-border, tem¬ 
perature about 55°, being laid on sandy soil covered with a little 
more. A sprinkling of lime put over them to dry up the 
cuts, a little warm water to settle all nicely, and then an inch of 
dry sandy soil over all. Stools thus treated previously have 
supplied us with a forest of shoots, and many cuttings if we 
wanted them. A few Verbenas were injured a little from the 
damp, but, on the whole, we have suffered in this department 
but httle, having little to regret except the Calceolaria ainplexi- 
eaulis, which is a great favourite here, as it blooms early and 
continuously. For that we must either beg, borrow, or go 
without. With so little covering at command, we attribute its 
