323 
THE COTTAGE GAEDENEE AND COUNTEY GENTLEMAN, February 23, 1858. 
early Turnips , a little green Kale, Borecole, Savoys , Brussels 
Sprouts, Lettuces, Asparagus for planting out next spring; 
Peas, and Broad Beans, for full crops, twice this month ; Red 
Beet, for a main crop ; early sorts of Cabbages, for summer 
and autumn use; Celery in a warm border, and a little in a 
hotbed, to forward for early transplanting and use ; Cucum¬ 
bers and Melons , in heat for main crops ; also Tomatoes, Cap¬ 
sicum, , Vegetable Marrow , and Gourds, to plant out the end 
of May, or the beginning of June; Parsley, in drills, if not 
done last month; and Salsafy, Scorzonera, and Skirret , 
j more to make a variety of dishes than to produce heavy and 
abundant crops ; Radishes, Cress, and Mustard, and round 
Spinach, once a fortnight; Rhubarb, and Sea-hale ; a pinch 
of each sort of potherb seeds, such as Thyme, Sage, &c. 
Nasturtium major seed is to be sown now. It is both useful 
as a salad, and the fruit to pickle, and ornamental as a climber 
or creeper to cover walls, fences, rubbish heaps, or unsightly 
places, with a rich carpet of bright green foliage, or a brilliant 
display of scarlet flowers, by denuding it of a large portion of 
its foliage. 
Plant out full crops of the strongest young Cabbage plants 
that have stood over the winter, for summer and autumn use; 
Asparagus of last year’s sowing, on well dunged and deeply 
trenched ground, in four feet beds, with three rows in each bed. 
Lettuces that have been wintered in frames, one foot apart, 
j and any that have lived through the winter at the foot of a 
wall, to be thinned out and planted the same distance apart. 
Potatoes, the main crop, with sufficient space between the rows 
to allow free play of sun and air amongst the haulm. Artichoke 
suckers, from the old stock, to be planted four feet apart from 
row to row, and three feet apart in the rows : the suckers to 
be reduced to three of the strongest on each old stock. 
Cauliflower plants, that have been wintered in frames, move 
into a piece of rich sheltered ground, two feet apart every way; 
and any under hand-glasses to be thinned out to two or three 
of the strongest under each, to be propped up with bricks for 
the admission of air. Forking up the groimd, between the rows 
of Cabbages and other crops, will not only promote the growth 
of such crops, but will improve it for the reception of other 
crops in succession. 
The priming and nailing of fruit trees should be finished 
witli all dispatch, and the protection of wall trees provided for. 
The grafting of Apple, Pear, and other trees may now be 
proceeded with, as speedily as circumstances w r ill permit, and 
where it is intended to head down old trees for grafting, it 
should be done as soon as possible. 
Keep up a good heat in Cucumber and Melon frames, and 
continue preparing fermenting materials for making up fresh 
linings. Attention to be paid to stopping and regulating the 
runners, that they do not get too much crowded, and those 
lately planted out should be encouraged with a close moist 
heat, to get them into free growth as soon as possible. 
The flower garden should now receive early attention, to 
carry into operation any alterations or improvements that are 
I intended. Whatever herbaceous plants, such as Phloxes, &c., 
can be divided, or where Pinks, Carnations, Picotees, Sweet- 
williams, Wallflowers, Foxgloves, Canterbury Bells, Pansies, 
Daisies, Columbines, and such other useful plants as are con¬ 
sidered worthy of attention, should now, without further delay, 
be planted out, to give them a fair chance of producing a fine 
display of bloom in proper season. Some people purchase 
such plants only when they are in bloom, and transfer them to 
their own gardens, when they soon complain of their speedy 
* decay. Seeds of the same sorts to be sown for flowering next 
year. The general stock of Roses to be pruned, and the beds, 
borders, or plants, mulched with rotten manure. The old 
stakes and strings of all standard trees to be looked over, and 
removed, or adjusted, before the March winds commit damage 
amongst them. The old adage of “a stitch in time,” &c., is 
applicable to many operations in gardening to save us from vain 
regrets. 
To give a fresh and healthy appearance to old walls or 
fences of Ivy, which often look ragged and unsightly, we 
would advise to clip it close with a shears, when a fresh and 
vigorous curtain of green foliage will appear in a short time. 
The planting of Hollyhocks should not now be forgotten; 
they produce a splendid effect when arranged in rows, with the 
tallest at the back, and with an eye to the contrast of colours ; 
or singly, to break up the sameness of form in monotonous 
scenery. They may be increased by slipping off cuttings 
with a heel from the old plants, and placed in sandy soil, in 
bottom heat, with plenty of top air. Sow Sweet Peas, Mig¬ 
nonette, and all such sorts of hardy annuals, as may be re* 
quired. The general routine of flower garden operations 
should now comprise the frequent sweeping and rolling of 
lawns and grass plots, preparatory to mowing them, and the 
turning of gravel walks where necessary. 
The propagation of young stock, for bedding out, should 
now be carried on briskly. Heliotropes, Fuchsias, Agera- 
ratums. Lobelias, Cupheas, &c., will now strike freely. It is 
unnecessary to extend the list, as the deficiency of any pair* ! 
ticular sorts will suggest the necessity of alertness for the# . 
increase at this season. In the selection of Verbenas, the 
habit of the variety should be preferred; for, however fine 
the trusses of some flowers may be, they are not all suitable 
for bedding-out purposes. Ten-week Stocks, German Asters, 
Cock's-comb. Balsams, &c., to be sown in heat. Put in cut¬ 
tings of any choice varieties of Dahlias, of which it is de¬ 
sirable to have a good stock. A few of the new and dwarf 
sorts are excellent for bedding-out purposes. Auriculas will 
require plenty of air, to prevent the trusses of flowers that 
are now appearing, from being drawn up weakly, to be pro¬ 
tected from frosts, and the flowers as they expand, from sud- j 
den sun burst. Tulip beds to be gone over, breaking the 
surface crust with the fingers. To prevent the damaging 
effects of frost after rain, which sometimes occurs at this 
season, when the water which lodges in the hearts of the 
plants become frozen, a small piece of sponge, tied on the top 
of a small stick, will absorb it; and it will require but very 
little time for such an operation over a large bed, more par¬ 
ticularly where protection by covering is not convenient. 
Greenhouse plants will now be making some growth, which 
is the most favourable time for all that require to be shifted 
into larger pots, with the addition of some fresh mould, to be 
then gently watered, merely to moisten the soil, without 
saturating it; to be kept rather close for ten days or a fort¬ 
night, until they have made fresh roots, when the general 
treatment should combine plenty of air in favourable weather, 
or at favourable opportunities, with a good syringing over 
the foliage every fine, sunshiny morning, to refresh the foliage, 
and to banish any insects that may lurk amongst them, with 
careful attention that the roots of plants, in a growing state, 
do not suffer for want of water. A little weak liquid manure 
to be given occasionally, to invigorate their growth. The ap¬ 
plication of fire heat, which should be generally given in the 
day, to be regulated by the state of the weather, which is 
sometimes showery, cold with piercing winds, succeeded by 
intervals of mild days and bright sun. Acacias, of various 
sorts, make a fine display at this season, and require a liberal 
supply of water. Pelargoniums will require increased pot- 
room, and to be neatly staked and tied, to form handsome 
specimens. Cinerarias to be carefully watered at the roots, 
without wetting the leaves, and to avoid, as much as possible, 
damaging all plants in bloom with the syringe. Camellias 
done blooming would be benefited by an increase of tem¬ 
perature, and a damp atmosphere; as also Fpacrises, of 
sorts which are useful plants for winter flowering, and by 
starting them into growth now, they will ripen their wood in 
good time, and flower early in December. Wistaria Sinensis 
to be pruned, cutting the leading shoots half-way back, and 
the others to be spurred-in rather short. Cacti to be grown 
in a mixture of lime rubbish and loam, with a little cow 
dung, and in well-drained pots, having been kept dormant 
from October; they should now be excited into growth, to be 
fully exposed to the sun, and well watered during the sum¬ 
mer. The beautiful Japan Lilies ( Lilium lancifolium rubrum, 
and other sorts) to be potted either in good peat soil with a 
little silver sand, or in a light, sandy loam, with some silver 
sand. The bulbs to be planted two or three inches deep from 
the top of the pot, to allow room for the stem fibres to penetrate 
the soil.— William Keane. 
INTEKMEDIATE STOCKS. 
The last time I wrote about the London Intermediate Stock, ! 
in your paper of June 2, 1857, I gave a few hints as to my 
system of culture, and advocated the supremacy of that j 
