THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 24, 1860. 249 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
1 
Day Day 
of of 
M’nth Week. 
JANUARY 24—30, I860. 
Weather 
Barometer. 
NEAR LONl 
Thermom. 
>ON IN 
Wind 
1859. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets 
Moon 
Rises 
and Sets 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
bef. Sun 
Day of 
Year. 
24 
Tu 
Ruseus aculeatus. 
29.781—29.646 
48-41 
s.w. 
— 
53 af 7 
32 af 4 
17 a 6 
1 
12 
16 
24 
25 
W 
Conv. St. Paul. Prs. Royal 
29.967—29.661 
49—35 
s.w. 
.08 
52 7 
33 
4 
29 7 
2 
12 
31 
25 
26 
Th 
Betula alnus. [married, 1858. 
29.772—29.741 
49-37 
s.w. 
— 
50 7 
35 
4 
37 S 
3 
12 
45 
26 
27 
F 
Viola odorata. 
29.722—29.688 
51—37 
w. 
— 
49 7 
37 
4 
45 9 
4 
12 
57 
27 
28 
S 
Narcissus pseudo-narcissus. 
29.791—29.768 
50—28 
w. 
— 
48 7 
39 
4 
55 10 
5 
13 
9 
28 
29 
Sum 
4 Sunday after Epipiiany. 
29.842—29.504 
50—43 
s.w. 
.08 
46 7 
41 
4 
morn. 
6 
13 
21 
29 
30 
M 
King Charles I. martyr, 1649. 
29.510—29.405 
45—30 
w. 
.06 
45 7 
42 
4 
7 0 
7 
13 
31 
30 
Meteorology of the Week.— At Chiswick, from observations during the last thirty-three years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 44° and 31.5° respectively. The greatest heat, 57°, occurred on the 25th, ,in 1834 ; and the lowest cold, 15° 
on the 27th, in 1855. During the period 160 days were fine, and on 105 rain fell. 
IN-DOOR GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR 
THE WEEK. 
GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 
The compost intended for the plants in these houses 
should be prepared and sweetened by several turnings ; 
and a sufficient supply for immediate use should be stored 
in an open shed. 
Calceolarias (Herbaceous).—To be potted into larger 
pots as they require them; compost equal parts of turfy 
loam, peat, and leaf mould, with a sprinkling of silver 
sand. To be kept in a moderately-moist atmospheric 
temperature of from 45° at night to 55° in the day. To 
be slightly syringed with tepid water on sunny days, and 
to be kept free from insects. 
Fuchsias. —After the old plants are shaken out of their 
pots, and their roots reduced and fresh potted in a com¬ 
post of turfy loam and peat, with a little leaf mould and 
some sand added, to be introduced to a temperature 
of 60°. When some of the young shoots are an inch 
long they may be taken off, and inserted in pans of sand ' 
kept damp, where they will soon take root, and will 
require to be pushed on in heat to make fine large speci¬ 
mens for the conservatory or flower garden. 
New Holland Plants. —Water them with care and 
moderation. Air to be given freely night and day in 
mild weather. Fire heat to be applied only, and then 
merely sufficiently, to exclude frost. The strong shoots of 
the vigorous young stock to be stopped in due time as 
the best foundation for future good specimens. 
Sow seeds of Thunbergias, Phlox Drummondi, Migno¬ 
nette, Ten-iceelc and other Stocks, in pots, to be placed 
upon a slight hotbed. 
STOVE AND OECHID-HOUSE. 
Achimenes. —Place the tubers thickly in pans, to be 
potted singly as they appear, in equal portions of leaf 
mould and sandy loam; to be started into growth in a 
moderate bottom heat. 
Gloxinias. — Select a few varieties. To be shaken 
out, and fresh potted in equal parts of turfy loam and 
heath soil and a little sand. To be excited in bottom 
heat. 
Gesnera zkbrina. —Those which were first in flower 
should be dried oil' for early work next season. This is 
to be done by withholding water gradually, and by keep¬ 
ing their foliage still exposed to the light. 
Sow seeds of Egg Plants, Cockscombs, Amaranths, and 
other such tender annuals in heat, to grow them in good 
time into fine specimens for the adornment of the con¬ 
servatory in summer. 
FORCING-HOUSES. 
Cucumbers. —The plants preparing for ridging out early 
in February will require attention in airing, and watering 
with tepid water occasionally when dry, and to be kept 
close to the glass to produce sturdy growth. The plants 
on dung-beds require great attention at this season. To 
be kept within eight or nine inches of the glass; to be 
stopped regularly ; and to maintain a heat of not less 
No. 591.— Yol. XXIII. No. 17. 
than 70° by day; to be able to give air to dry the plants. 
The fermenting materials to be always prepared ready 
to receive the linings when the heat declines. For those 
who are fortunate enough to be provided with pits heated 
by hot-water pipes, such constant labour and attention 
will not be necessary. 
Melons.— To be treated as advised for Cucumbers. 
Peaches. —When the blossoms are beginning to ex¬ 
pand, discontinue syringing, but sprinkle the pathways, 
to produce a moist, but not too damp, and consequently 
a healthy, state of the atmosphere. Fresh air is in¬ 
dispensable and should be admitted at every favourable 
opportunity; and if the cold external air could be made 
to pass over the flues, or hot-water pipes, so as to get 
warmed before coming in contact with the blossoms, a 
gentle circulation would be constantly kept up until the 
fruit is fairly set. 
Pines. —Great care is necessary when syringing, more 
especially those that arc about throwing up their flower- 
stems, that no more water may lodge in the hearts of the 
plants than will evaporate during the day. But if, from 
any cause, a portion remain until evening, it should be 
drawn away by means of a syringe having a long and 
narrow tube at the end of it, or by a piece of sponge tied 
to the point of a small stick. 
Strawberries.— When these are throwing up their 
blossom-spikes a little liquid manure may be given, but 
it should be very weak, and perfectly clear. A succession 
of plants to be introduced where there is a gentle heat. 
The decayed leaves to be trimmed off, the surface of the 
soil to be stirred, and the pots to be placed on shelves 
near the glass. 
Vines. —Continue the treatment as advised last week. 
Keep up a succession of Kidney Beans, Asparagus, 
Sea-kale, and Rhubarb. 
PITS AND FRAMES. 
Cuttings of Anagallis,Heliotropes, G eraniums, Lobelias, 
Salvias, and Verbenas may now be struck in a gentle 
bottom heat, and pushed forward to make good sized 
plants for bedding out when all danger from frost is 
over. William Keane. 
HOW TO PROCEED IN THE ARRANGEMENT 
OF PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 
Every year, and every month of the year, bring fresh 
evidence to The Cottage Gardener office of the rapid 
strides which are making, all over the country, in the 
new style of flower-gardening, the planting in masses, 
and arranging the colours so as to make, as it were, a 
natural picture ; not too much colour here to drown a 
less quantity there, or yonder, nor too bright anywhere in 
a given composition, where the over-brightness would 
attract the eye to the prejudice of weaker colours. This 
we see abundant^ from plans of flower gardens which 
constantly reach us from amateurs and young gardeners 
for our judgment. From these plans we learn that the 
greatest difficulty in teaching the elements of proper 
