THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, October 4, 1859. 
5 
on the quantity wanted is the subject now under con¬ 
sideration. 
We will assume that the family consists of six persons, 
and that either a pony or a cow is kept, but more likely 
the latter, as well as a pig or two. Poultry we would not 
advise, on the score of economy, but for novelty they 
might, perhaps, be allowed ; but as they are very trouble¬ 
some gardeners, it would be better to consider well before 
they are admitted into the home circle. It is, therefore, 
amongst the wants of the others, including the cow and 
pigs, that we purpose dividing the ground into such 
sections as will best conduce to the well-being of the 
whole community. J. Robson. 
(To he continued .) 
EVERGREENS EOR AN ORCHARD-HOUSE. 
Please give the names of the six best evergreens to be grown 
in twelve-inch pots in a small orchard-house, without fire heat in 
the winter, and to be set out of doors when the fruit bushes are { 
placed in their stations in spring. The house affords but slight 
protection against frost, as it is entirely wood and glass. Plants 
which bloom, such as Laurustinus, would be preferred.—E. 
[If the pots were protected, and the house kept close and dry 
in severe weather, we think that the single and double red 
Camellias, and the double white, would live and bloom. Eor 
hardy evergreens, and similar in size, that would bloom in 
winter, with the protection merely of glass, we would choose 
the following : — Viburnum Hints variegatus , white. Daphne 
thymelma, yellow. Dajphne cneorum collina, purple. Rhodo¬ 
dendron Dauricum, purple. R. Farrerce, lilac. To which add, 
Erica carnea, and E. herbacea, low-growing plants, with flesh- 
coloured flowers. Berbcris aquifiolium , would, under such cir¬ 
cumstances, be likely to produce its bunches of yellow flowers 
all the winter.] 
SEASONABLE HINTS. 
CINERARIAS. 
Except in the case of those plants that it is desirable to bloom 
early, care should be taken that the roots are not allowed to get 
pot bound in small pots, as thus a disposition to throw up flower- 
stalks will be averted. It is true, that the flower-stalks when 
appearing may be nipped off, and others will come later, but they 
seldom come so regular and fine as when they have known 
nothing of stopping. No plant is more obedient to the routine 
of the potting-bench. It matters not whether the plant be a 
tiny thing in a three-inch pot, or a large plant in a twelve-inch 
pot, as soon as the soil is permeated thoroughly by roots, and 
these roots get close to the sides of the pot, there will imme¬ 
diately be a disposition to throw up flower-stalks. Eor winter 
blooming, six-inch pots may be deemed a good average size. In 
the next mouth, October, the plants should be sheltered from 
heavy, cold rains, and from frosts at night; but these things 
guarded against, the plants cannot be kept too airy and cool. A 
cool bottom to stand on is then’ delight at all times. They are 
very impatient of heat, and especially of a dry atmosphere. We 
have seen fine plants taken from a cold pit in winter and spring, 
everything denoting the highest health, and not an insect to be 
seen, that had not stood on a wooden shelf in a moderately dry 
house a fortnight before the leaves were crumpled at the edges, 
aud pretty well covered with green fly. Others placed on damp 
sand and moss, and the leaves frequently dewed until the plants 
were inured to the change, maintained their health, and freedom 
from insects. 
PRIMULA SINENSIS. 
Those intended to bloom early should x’eceive their last shift at 
the end of September. Younger ones may be grown on. A 
shady place would do well for them all the autumn; but now 
cold drenching rains should be avoided. A rich loamy soil is 
best for producing abundance of bloom, and when kept long 
wet it is apt to be soured, the lower leaves turn yellow, and the 
collar of the plant becomes diseased and rots. They will need all 
the air possible, and coolness, just to be free from frost; but, 
unlike the Cineraria, they generally do best when the pots after 
this season stand upon a board, and during winter and spring, 
in order to obtain masses of fine, coloured blooms. The pots 
cannot stand too near the glass. When the flower-trusses show, 
weak manure water may be given frequently; but whatever 
water be given, it should not be poured on the collar of the 
plant, nor yet over the leaves. The man who cannot water a 
plant without forming a hole in the centre of the pot close to the 
stem of the plant, will most likely have a fair lot of his Primulas 
to take to his rubbish-heap. Wherever these curved-out basins 
are seen in the middle of a pot, it needs no proof to show that 
the gardener waters merely as a work of routine, and without 
giving himself the least trouble or care as to results. 
CALCEOLAEIAS. 
Those for spring blooming should now be potted separately, 
and repotted as they require it during the winter. Exclude frost 
and very drying winds, and the plants otherwise cannot be kept 
too cool, moist, and airy. A dry atmosphere in winter will do 
them more injury than cold, if the latter is not below the freezing 
point. They will do better standing on sand, ashes, or moss, 
than upon boards, or even stones, or slates, unless the latter can 
be kepi; moist. A cold frame or pit, secured from frost, is a 
better place for them than a house where much fire heat is used. 
I If a green fly appears, smoke with tobacco directly, and do not 
wait until the plants arc injured, or several generations of insects 
' established. 
SCARLET GERANIUMS FOE WINTER BLOOMING. 
The best for this purpose are those struck last autumn, or early 
this spring. The first being the best, and grown on by successive 
shifts from small to larger pots during the summer. During 
the summer and early autumn, these plants would require merely 
water when necessary, picking off the flowers, training out, and 
full exposure to the atmosphere. This would keep them strong 
and compact. Eor a month to come all the air possible should 
be given, but a glass sash should be over them to protect the 
| plants from heavy cold rains. Watering should be given merely 
j to prevent the plants suffering, as the riper the shoots are, the 
better will they bloom. In winter they should have a rather dry 
j atmosphere, an average temperature at night, not below 45°, and 
I a good rise from sunshine, and not be over-watered, using manure 
: water at times, or a top dressing of rich compost. Watering 
should be done in the forenoon when necessary, and the water 
should be fully 60° at least. There is such a variety of colour, 
j and foliage too, especially among the variegated ones, that a 
! group of these Geraniums so managed would be very telling in 
winter. I have not so grown them for some years, but I mean 
to revert to the plan mentioned above. By early stopping fine 
specimens may be procured, filling densely with their roots a 
twelve-inch pot; but good flowering plants with nice foliage 
may be grown in a six or eight-inch pot. Sandy loam three parts, 
and one part leaf mould, or very rotten dried cowdung, are the 
best ingredients for this purpose. 
FLORIST AND FANCY PELARGONIUMS. 
Those cut down early and breaking freely should be repotted 
without delay, if not done a month ago, shaking away carefully 
most of the old soil, and even curtailing the roots, if unhealthy or 
very bare, long, and straggling, and then repotting in a similar, 
or rather smaller, sized pot, so as to permit of one shift again. 
When the pot is full of roots, and no sign of blooming, such 
plants should be kept rather close, and sprinkled overhead, in¬ 
stead of watering much at the roots, before the roots begin to 
work in the fresh soil, when air must be given more freely. The 
more air and the less water these plants have in winter, so that 
they are kept slowly growing, the better will they bloom next 
spring and summer. They will thrive better, therefore, standing 
on shelves, with air and light all round and beneath them, than 
when standing on a platform of soil and ashes, &c. Watering 
should be done in the early part of the day, and every care taken 
to prevent excess of moisture, either in the soil or the atmosphere. 
Plants lately cut down should be placed at once under pro¬ 
tection, so that the roots are not deluged with rains, or the young 
shoots that break will be apt to be gouty and unhealthy. These, 
when nicely broken, should be treated as the early ones, but will 
require less room during winter. In both cases cold w'ater at 
the end of autumn and in winter should be avoided, and the soil 
in general should be dryish rather than soaked. The less mois¬ 
ture there is on the foliage the healthier it will be; even that 
deposited by condensation should be dried up by early air-giving 
before the siui’s rays beat upon the plant. 
