THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Mabch 5, 1861. 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
Day 
Day 
of 
Week. 
MARCH 5-12, 1861. 
Weather near London in 1860. 
Moon 
Clock 
before 
Sun. 
01 
M’ntb 
Barometer. 
Thermom 
Wind. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Rises 
and Sets 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Day of 
Year. 
5 
Tu 
Hyacinth. 
30.341—30.121 
deg. deg. 
52—23 
N.W. 
m. h. 
38 af 6 
m. h. 
45 af 5 
m. 
42 
h. 
3 
24 
m. 
11 
8 . 
40 
64 
6 
w 
Wallflower. 
30.490-30.128 
51—32 
N.W. 
•14 
36 
6 
47 5 
22 
4 
25 
n 
26 
65 
7 
Th 
Ribes sanguineum. 
30.255—30.024 
38—30 
N.E. 
■02 
34 
6 
48 5 
51 
4 
26 
ii 
12 
66 
8 
F 
Lonicera tartarica. 
30.239-30.156 
39-27 
N. 
•02 
32 
6 
50 5 
13 
5 
27 
10 
57 
67 
9 
S 
Double-blossomed Furze. 
30.182—30.043 
40—18 
N.W. 
_ 
30 
6 
52 5 
30 
5 
28 
10 
42 
68 
10 
Sun 
4th or Midlent Sunday. 
29-950—29.700 
41—27 
W. 
_. 
27 
6 
54 5 
46 
5 
29 
10 
26 
69 
11 
M 
Almond. 
29.631—29.453 
45—29 
s.w. 
•08 
25 
6 
55 5 
sets 
• 
10 
10 
70 
Meteorology of the Week.—A t Chiswick, from observations during the last thirty-four years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 49.2° and 31.7° respectively. The grea est heat, 63°, occurred on the 10th, in 1841; and the lowest cold, 7°, 
on the 10th in 1847. During the period 163 days were fine, and on 75 rain fell. 
WORK FOR THE WEEK. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
We have now arrived at the most favourable month of 
the year for seed-sowing, and upon the right use of it 
will depend in a great measure the success of keeping up 
a plentiful supply for summer, autumn, and winter use. 
If the weather be fine, and the ground in proper condition, 
which is indicated by its crumbling beneath the tread, 
the following sowings may be made :— Beans, if the 
weather will permit plant out those in pots or boxes; 
earth up after planting. Get in another crop of Windsor 
or Longpod. Cauliflowers, where there are more than 
three plants under each hand-glass they may be thinned 
out to that number, and planted on a rich piece of ground ; 
or if the Celery trenches are opened and manured, they 
may be planted in them, as they will be ready to come 
off before the trenches are required for the Celery. 
Cucumbers, add fresh soil as the roots of the plants ap¬ 
pear on the outside of the hill, lay it close to the side of 
the frame for a few days that it may get warm. Brussels 
Sprouts, sow a small bed on a warm border ; as also Green 
Kale, Savoys, Chou de Milan, Caulifloiver, and Broccoli. 
Carrots (Horn), sow. Lettuce, make frequent sowings 
of these, as also Radishes; it is a good rule to sow a 
succession of them when the last sowing is fairly above 
ground. Cover them with litter in frosty weather. Pot 
Herbs, sow seed, or increase by division of the roots. 
Peas, plant out those in pots or boxes on a south border, 
plant them thinly in the rows, even if it should be neces¬ 
sary to shake the whole of the soil from their roots. Sow 
for a successional crop. Stake the early sowings. Fir 
or yew branches put on the outside of the stakes will 
shelter the Peas from cutting winds, which are now to be 
more guarded against than frost. Potatoes, when plant¬ 
ing the early crop it is of advantage to draw deep drills, 
partially fill them with leaf mould, then plant the Pota¬ 
toes, and cover with the same. 
flower garden. 
Plant out Pansies, Carnations, &c. Sow Wind Ane¬ 
mones for autumn blooming. Attend to the covering 
of showy annuals, placing inverted pots over them where 
they are liable to be injured by frosts or grubs. Where 
turf is scarce, or considered too expensive, a good lawn 
may be made by sowing a selection of Grasses called a 
“ Lawn mixture,” choosing those that are of a short and 
close growth. This is a good season for preparing ground 
for the purpose. Dig it carefully over, pick out all roots 
of perennial weeds, rake the surface, and bring it to the 
level required ; give it a good treading, and then roll 
with a heavy roller to bring the ground to a regular and 
uniform consistency. Having done this, give the ground 
a slight stir with the rake, sow the seed, and finally 
roll it. 
FRUIT GARDEN. 
See that all newly-planted fruit trees are securely 
staked and mulched, and that the blossoms of the early 
kinds are protected in due time. Take advantage of a 
dry day to draw away the soil from the stems of Goose- 
No. 649.— Yol. XXY. No. 23. 
berries, 2 inches in depth and about 2 feet or 3 feet in 
diameter, with a hoe ; for about this time the Gooseberry 
caterpillar will begin to be on the alert. Sprinkle over 
the space cleared some soot and wood ashes, returning 
the soil with the back of the hoe or rake : this has not 
only a material effect upon the vitality of the grub, but 
also acts as a stimulating manure. 
STOVE. 
Cuttings of all the free-growing, softwooded plants 
—such as the different showy varieties of Aphelandra, 
Begonia, Justicia, &c., will now strike root freely in a 
brisk bottom heat; they will make, if properly managed, 
useful and handsome plants for autumn and winter bloom¬ 
ing. Seeds of the most ornamental sorts of stove plants 
may now be sown. 
GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 
Examine the balls of the plants in the greenhouse that 
have not been shifted, and see that they are in a proper 
state of moisture; for as the sun’s power increases a 
corresponding increase of water is necessary for the 
roots. The potting of all specimens to be finished as 
soon as they begin to make growth, and to be then kept 
rather close for a week or two until they begin to indicate 
new growth, when air may be admitted freely in favour¬ 
able weather. Repot or top dress Heaths ; use abun¬ 
dance of drainage and sandy heath soil full of fibres. 
See that the ball is thoroughly moist before shifting ; for 
if dry, no after watering will penetrate the ball. Give 
attention to the training of Tropteolums, Pelargoniums, 
and Calceolarias; to be shifted into larger pots as they 
require them. Excite in a gentle heat Dahlias, Fuchsias, 
Cupheas, Bouvardias, and other such plants, to afford 
cuttings. Pot Cape or other bulbs as soon as the foliage 
gets strong ; use a compost of loam, leaf mould, and sand. 
PITS AND FRAMES. 
Maintain a kindly heat in the cutting-frame. Top the 
cuttings that have taken root, and are beginning to grow. 
Continue to put in cuttings as previously recommended. 
W. Keane. 
DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 
This has chiefly been confined to the routine of last week 
Digging, trenching, making cuttings, potting stove and bedding 
plants, taking off Dahlia slips, bringing the general crop of 
tubers of Dahlias into a mild heat averaging 50°, sowing 
Radishes, Cauliflowers, &c., between the rows of Potatoes 
planted in the earth-pit, watering with warm water the Radishes 
coming in for use, slightly watering bed with early Carrots and 
Radishes, the last soon to be ready, moving Sti’awberry pots 
showing bloom to Peach-house, because, being at an angle of 45°, 
they sot better there than in flatter and damper bouses. Straw¬ 
berry fruit swell slowly on account of the dull weather, and 
giving them much artificial heat tinder such circumstances makes 
the fruit little better than a piece of Turnip. Used weak manure 
water for advancing crops, and common water until the flower- 
truss shows. There has been no great need of thinning the 
fruit as yet. When Keens’, &c., come to set freely, the thinning 
