169 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 15, 1857. 
which has been quite a gem; but I am afraid it will propa¬ 
gate but slowly. 
“ I have ten varieties of Foxglove; some of them beauti¬ 
fully spotted in the throat, not mottled, but good large spots. 
Will you try a few plants ? ”—W. E. 
[The variegated Draba is an extremely pretty spring 
flower; and, as you say, a most beautiful edging. A good 
deal, however, depends on the soil. We fear we never saw it 
so fine as yours is ; and the Golden Stonecrop is yet as green 
as acre with us. 
We cannot judge, from the leaves you sent, the merits of 
the variegated Lychnis; but if you will send it for the Expe¬ 
rimental Garden, its value will soon be tested ; as also that of 
the spotted Foxgloves. They had some very pretty kinds of 
them in the inside borders at the Crystal Palace. Take 
special care of the Flantago; for it is very apt to slip through 
one’s fingers.] 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Uses op two Greenhouses [M. L.). —A full answer to such inquiries 
was given some time ago; though, at the time, we were obliged to think 
of the many varied purposes to which such means might be applied. 
To give a repeated lengthened dissertation frequently, would not be fair 
to our general readers. If there be any specific information you require, 
we shall be glad to give it according'to our ability. Within these few 
weeks you would also find full information as to keeping plants in a 
greenhouse, growing Vines in a greenhouse, and keeping plants in an 
unheated house, by means of a portable stove; and we can add nothing 
more. There can' be no question that you may grow Asparagus, Sea- 
kale, Rhubarb, Radishes, early Potatoes, Lettuces, &c., in your frames, 
and then afterwards bring them in for Melons and Cucumbers. You 
may have a Vine stem every four feet on the roof of your greenhouse, 
and the Vines will not interfere with your cuttings or your flowering 
plants; but you must not expect your flowers to be so good after May 
and June, owiAg to the shade. Any of the portable stoves, such as 
those advertised in this work, with a flue, will do to preserve all your 
hardier cuttings and plants, but the success will be owing to the care. 
Woodlice {Reidas). —Woodlice are very uncommon in anew wall, 
unless the place was very much infested before the new wall being 
placed in the position of a very old one. However, traps and boiling 
water are your best remedies. In this mild weather, put pieces of 
boiled and raw Carrots and Potatoes down by the side of the wall, 
cover them with line hay, and go in the morning with a pail of boiling- 
water and a small-rosed watering-pot, lift the hay quickly, and pour 
the water on the back of every one you see. Persevere as long as you 
can meet with any; and do the same thing repeatedly in summer, before 
your fruit approaches maturity. If the water be confined to the very 
side of the Musliroom-bed, it will do little harm. We have adopted 
the following plan often :—When a bed is made some time,\ a crack 
from an eighth of an inch to a little wider, will be fonned on each side 
of the bed, if it have a boundary on each side. Cover the bed slightly 
with hay, have a boy to move off 1 the hay quickly; and, as he does so, the 
woodlice will instinctively run into the cracks; and there you follow 
them with a small-spouted pot and the boiling’ water. If done well, 
the water being poured close to, or even on the wall, you need not wet 
half an inch of the bed, and yet destroy the delinquents in myriads. 
We have also sunk bellg-lasses to the level of the bed, and put baits of 
Carrots, &c., inside of them, and have taken a pint out of one in a 
morning. When once in, they cannot hold on by the smooth glass, so 
as to get out again. 
Green Scum on a Pond {A Constant Subscriber). —This is a very 
difficult matter in stagnant water. If there be a constant inlet, that 
might be made to turn a wheel, that would give motion to the water. 
A friend of ours had motion given once by a windmill, but he began to 
like the windmill as little as the scum ; and, of course, in quiet weather 
there was no wind. 
Vine Pruning {If. Coventry). —The small piece of Vine shoot sent, 
consisted of the base bud, and the heel by which it was joined to the 
main stem. Above, were two more joints, with their respective buds. 
The mode of cutting before the bud was all right enough. The wood 
seemed to be pretty well ripened, and, therefore, there may be a chance 
of fruit; but if the wood sent be a sample of what generally exists, not 
quite three-tenths of an inch in diameter, and the largest buds on it no 
bigger than pins’ heads, then we are sorry to say, that so far as the in¬ 
dividual buds are concerned, it matters but little where you cut to, as 
i the one seems no more likely to be fruitful than the other. Perhaps it 
j would be safer to leave two, and give yourself more chance until the 
i Vine broke; and then you could take away or rub off those not wanted. 
] Our only hope, however, of your having a crop, is the apparently ripe 
condition of the wood; and, therefore, as we have hinted, you might 
cut to the lowest bud, if you felt so disposed. We think you erred in 
leaving so much wood the first year, and taking so many as four 
bunches. We hope your wood is better than the specimen sent. If 
not, we would refer you to some articles of late, on pruning and 
summer management. 
Portrait (T. IT. II.).— One of Mr. Beaton, was published in a 
former volume. We can give you no information about the other. 
Brussels’ Sprouts ( W. Melville). —We never before saw any so fine. 
The stalks eighteen inches high, were literally studded with Sprouts 
throughout their length, and many of the Sprouts were as large as 
moderately-sized Apples. 
Potato Planting ( W. A.). — Asli-leaved Kidneys (not Walnut- 
leaved), called in Cornwall Lemon Kidneys, are the most generally 
known as an early-ripening variety; but every neighbourhood has some 
variety peculiarly early. Inquire for such a kind, and plant that. 
Walnut {F. A. S.). —This name has no reference to the “wall-like 
hardness of the shell.” It is a native of the mountain districts of 
Persia, and of the Himalaya; and in various countries of Europe its 
fruit has been called by a name allusive to its foreign origin. The 
Greeks called them Persicon, or Persian Nuts; the Romans Gians 
Jovis, or Mast of Jupiter; in Holland and Germany they are known 
as Walsch noten or Foreign Nuts, and from hence is derived our 
name for them. Gerarde in his “Herbal” says they are called “in 
English, Walnut; and of some Walsh-nut.” 
Mouldiness in Greenhouse {Lachenalia). —The fungus, or “hairy 
mould,” will be banished by keeping the house drier, better ventilated, 
and sprinkled with flower of sulphur. 
Cotoneaster Insect {II. T.). —The shrub is dying from the attacks 
of a species of Scale, apparently Aspidiotus ostreceformis, or Oyster 
Scale. Brushing over the bark with spirit of turpentine would destroy 
the vermin. 
Pascall’s Cutting Pots {J. J. B.). —We do not know where they 
are sold. If worth attention they would be advertised. 
Names of Fruit ( J. S., Surrey). — Apples. —1. Golden Winter Pear- 
main. 9. Dumclow’s Seedling. 10. Cobham. 11. Bedfordshire Found- j 
ling. 12. Nelson Codling. 13. Early Nonpariel. 14. Court of Wick. 
15. Court of Wick. 1G. Hollandbury, 17. Scarlet Nonpareil. 20. 
Court Pendu Plat. 21. Ribston Pippin. 22. Franklin’s Golden Pippin. , 
Pears. —2. Ne Plus Meuris. 3. Forelle. 4. Napoleon. G. Glout 
Morceau. 7. Easter Beurr6. 8. Easter Beurrd. 10. Passe Colmar. 
i R. F. II.). —1. Winter Nelis. 5. Duchesse d’Angouleme. 6. Brown 
5eurr6. Beurre hose is not a shy bearer. We do not recognise the 
others. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
December 16th and 17tli. Nottinghamshire. Entries close Novem- j 
ber 18th. lion. Sec., Mr. R. Haw-ksley, jun., Southv r ell. 
December 30th and 31st. Burnley and East Lancashire. Entries 
close December 1st. Secs., Mr. Angus Sutherland and Mr. Ralph 
Landless. 
January 1st, 1858. Paisley. Poultry, Pigeons, and Fancy Birds. 
Sec., Mr. W. Houston, 14, Barr Street, Paisley. 
January 4th, 1858. Kirkcaldy. Poultry and Fancy Bird Show. 
Sec., Mr. Bonthron, jun., Thistle Street. 
January 9th, 11th, 12th and 13th, 1858. Crystal Palace. Sec., Mr. 
W. Houghton. Entries close December 12tli. 
January' 13th and 14th, 1858. Dublin. Secs., T. M. Hutton and R. T. 
Williams, Esqrs., Council Rooms, 212, Great Brunswick Street. 
Entries close November 21st. 
January' 20th, 21st and 22nd, 1858. Nottingham Central. Sec., Mr. ! 
Etherington, jun., Notintone Place, Sneinton, near Nottingham. 
January 20th, 21st, and 22nd. Liverpool. Secs., G. W. Moss and 
W. C. Worrall, Esqrs. Entries close Dec. 19th. 
February 3rd and 4th, 1858. Preston and North Lancashire. 
Secs., Mr. R. Teebay and Mr. H. Oakey, 25, Fishergate, Preston. 
Entries close January 10th. 
N.B.— Secretaries will oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
CREWE POULTRY" SHOW. 
What is the duty of the reporter of a Poultry Show ? Is 
it to confine himself to the real business of the thing, and to 
say there were so many pens in this class, and so many in 
that; and this lady was successful, and that gentleman took 
the honours ? or, if he feel lively, shall he attempt to make 
his readers the same ? We know nothing so melancholy as 
the laugh of some men. It is as indescribable as that of a 
child, when the mother looks sapient and says, “ I hardly 
know how this will end.” But, lest our readers may be dis¬ 
posed' to think the same of our report, we will begin by saying, 
when we get to Crewe we always think of Aladdin and his 
wonderful lamp. When that fortunate young man, whom 
we once saw on the stage decently habited in a snuff-brown 
surtout and black continuations, because his trunk had fallen 
off the coach—there were no railways then-a-days—when lie 
wanted a town or a palace built, the genii of the lamp pro¬ 
duced them directly. Now, the only difference between the 
questionable creatures before mentioned, and the London and 
North-Western Railway Company is this, that the latter have 
been longer about it; but they have produced a town of from 
7000 to 8000 inhabitants. These good inhabitants have got 
up a Poultry Show; and the second was held on Tuesday 
and Wednesday, the 8th and 9tli. Last year the elements 
were unpropitious, a deep snow having fallen: tills year they 
had beautiful weather ; and the Cheese Hall was not only full 
of good birds, but profitable visitors. 
The building is large, lofty, and well-lighted. That last 
sentence is so business-like, and contains such a mass of in¬ 
formation, that we shall again mount our Pegasus, and inform 
