THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 15, 1859. 91 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
Day 
of 
M’nth 
Day 
of 
Week. 
NOVEMBER 15-21, 1859. 
Weather near Lone 
1 
Barometer. Thermom. 
on in 1858. 
,, r . A Rain in 
Wlnd - , Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
Rises 
and Sets 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
afterSun 
Day of 
Year. 
15 
Tu 
Mesembryanthemum bifidum. 
29.653—29.531 
45—35 
N.E. 
— 
20 af 7 
10 af 4 
43 8 
20 
15 
18 
319 
16 
W 
Mesembryanthemum curvifolium. 
29.429—29.393 
38—30 
N.E. 
— 
21 
7 
8 
4 
9 10 
21 
15 
8 
320 
17 
Th 
Mesembryanthemum oetophyllum 
29.450—29.538 
39-27 
N.E. 
— 
23 
7 
7 
4 
35 11 
€ 
14 
56 
321 
18 
F 
Mesembryanthemum roseum. 
29.718—29.601 
40—18 
E. 
— 
25 
7 
6 
4 
morn. 
23 
14 
44 
322 
19 
S 
Mrysine coriacea. 
29.821—29.807 
36—17 
S.W. 
-- 
27 
7 
5 
4 
0 1 
24 
14 
31 
323 
20 
Sun 
22 Sunday after Trinity. 
30.025—29.942 
43—24 
N.W. 
— 
28 
7 
3 
4 
22 2 
25 
14 
17 
324 
21 
M 
Princess Royal born, 1840. 
30.095—30.009 
34—18 
E. 
30 
7 
2 
4 
45 3 
26 
14 
2 
325 
Meteorology op the Week.— At Chiswick, from observations during the last thirty-two years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 48.8° and 35.3°, respectively. The greatest heat, 62 J , occurred on the 16th, in 1840 ; and the lowest cold, 15°, 
on the 16th, in 1841. During the period 112 days were fine, and on 112 rain fell. 
IN-DOOR GARDENING OPERATIONS EOR 
THE WEEK. 
GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 
Careful attention should now be given to the picking 
off mouldy and dead leaves, decaying flower-stems, &c., 
as they spread contagion wherever they touch. Drip to 
be prevented, and atmospheric humidity to be disposed 
of by a gentle day fire occasionally, and the free ad¬ 
mission of air. 
Azaleas (Chinese).— Introduce a few into heat for 
early bloom. The A. Indica alba and Phcenicea are best 
to begin with; to be succeeded by Smith’s coccinea, and 
after it any of the other varieties. As decorations for the 
conservatory or drawing-room they are invaluable where 
they continue for six weeks or two months in perfect 
beauty. 
Camellias. —Water, when necessary, to be given in a 
slightly tepid state, and plenty of air, that the buds may 
be allowed to swell full and prominent by a slow but sure 
process. If bloom is required early, to be forwarded by 
introducing them into a situation where heat is applied. 
STOVE AND ORCHID-HOUSE. 
Withhold moisture entirely from the roots of deciduous 
Orchids, and such as are sinking into a state of repose. 
Any late specimens, or importations, making late growths 
to be favoured with the best light situations in the 
house and a little water, to keep up the vitality sufli- 
cient to produce the secretions necessary to carry them 
safely through the dull days of winter. Look over all 
growing plants, and see that they do not suffer for want 
of water. Look to every Orchid, even the smallest grow¬ 
ing on blocks or in baskets, they all require attention. 
Repot or surface dress any that require it. A favourable 
day to be chosen to wash the lights for the more free 
admission of that agent most indispensable for their 
health. The whole to be kept neat, and free from insects ; 
and the plants on stages, tables, or suspended from blocks, 
baskets, &c., to be arranged in a manner the most suit¬ 
able for a picturesque and pleasing effect. 
FORCING-HOUSES. 
Where early forcing is intended it is advisable to give 
a thorough cleansing to the houses by limewashing and 
dressing the wood of Cherries, Eigs, Peaches, Vines, &c., 
as frequently directed. 
Beans (Dwarf Kidney).—Sow in six-inch pots ; when 
crocked to be filled within three inches of the rim with a 
compost consisting of old Cucumber or Melon mould, 
rotten dung and leaf mould in about equal proportions. 
To be placed in any convenient part of the forcing-house 
for a few days until the soil is warm. The Beans are then 
sown about ten or twelve in each pot, and pressed by the 
finger about an inch below the soil. In a week they 
will be up ; to be then thinned out, according to the 
strength of the plants, to six or eight in each, and to 
receive a gentle watering. When the two first leaves 
are fully developed the plants to be earthed up as high 
as the cotyledons. To be regularly syringed and watered 
No. 581.—Vol. XXIII. No. 7. 
at the roots, taking especial care that they do not become 
too wet, or they will damp off. When they have made 
two joints to be stopped, to cause them to produce laterals 
and bearing branches. The plants to be placed as close 
to the glass as possible. The Chinese Dwarf and Fulmer 
are good sorts for forcing. 
Figs. —A temperature of about 40° will suit them at 
present; if allowed to get lower they are very apt to 
suffer. Trees in pots to be removed to any house where 
that degree of temperature is kept up. 
Peaches. —Where the roots are inside, and have been 
kept dry, an application of weak, clear liquid manure, 
at the temperature of summer heat (70°), will act as a 
stimulant to the roots, whose services are required before 
much excitement takes place at top. 
Pines. —Now, at the dullest season of the year, it is 
necessary to be very cautious in regulating the bottom 
and surface temperatures, more especially in the succes¬ 
sion-houses or pits: a bottom heat of about 70°, with a 
steady top temperature of about 60° during the day, and 
about 55 J during the night, will keep the plants in a 
comparatively comfortable state of rest, neither allowing 
the temperature to decline so low as to reduce their 
vitality to such a degree as to endanger their restoration 
to vigour in proper season, nor to rise so high as to excite 
them into a growth that would be immature for want of 
solar light and heat. A moderate application of water 
will also be necessary. 
Vines. —When the Grapes are all cut, prune the Vines 
without loss of time, that the wounds may have sufficient 
time to get perfectly healed before they are excited into 
growth. If delayed until early spring, bleeding will be 
sure to follow. Vines in pots intended for forcing should 
either be placed within the protection of the house appro¬ 
priated to them, or secured from the effects of severe 
weather. William Keane. 
HEATING, AIRING, AND WATERING A SMALL 
GREENHOUSE. 
Notwithstanding all that lias been said on these matters, 
I am not surprised that “ M. L. E.” should still look upon them 
as somewhat mysterious; and I have no hope that such very 
definite directions could be given as in the case of making cut¬ 
tings, &c.—nay, I should be afraid that such directions would only 
mislead if they were to be substituted for the ever-watchful care 
of the superintendent. There is no royal road to success in these 
matters. Circumstances must be our guide, and without that 
guide mere routine directions will be “will-o’-tlie wisps” to lead 
us to the bogs of disappointment and failure. 
The difficulty is further increased when, as in the case of our 
fair correspondent, plants so different as Acacia armata and 
Slephanolisflor'ibunda are grown in the same house; and we are 
left somewhat in doubt by the mode of expression whether 
the necessary treatment to keep plants alive and healthy, or to 
have them in a flowering state in winter, is required. Such plants 
as Camellias, Acacias, and the great bulk of our bedding-plants 
will keep very well for a time if not below 35°, with plenty of 
air in sunshine, and these will bloom as the heat increases by 
the lengthening of the days; but to have a house full of bloom 
