THE 
COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY 
GENTLEMAN, February 14, I860. 
ZQ3 
though in a less degree, while—as tho top edge of the frame is 
protected by the ridge-board, and the glass projects about an inch 
over the bottom edge of tho frame—no rain whatever can enter 
the house. 
The amount of ventilation is regulated in this way : A quarter- 
inch wire a is suspended on pullies b from the rafters. A light 
chain c, about eighteen inches long, is fastened to the bottom 
edge of each frame, passes under pullies cl, fixed to a crosspiece e, 
and is fastened by its other end to the wire (Jig. 2). One end 
f\ 
Fig. 2. 
the wire terminates in a piece of rather stronger chain f, which 
can be secured at any point by placing one of the links over a 
nail driven into the door-post. On account of the glazed frames 
being nearly balanced, the slightest effort moves the whole simul¬ 
taneously. My house is 120 feet long. Half the frames are 
moved from one end and half from the other, and a pull by one 
hand is all that is needed to close either set. As far as opening 
goes, that requires no effort at all; the chain_/ is released, and the 
top edge of each frame descends by its own gravity. If the frames 
were made to overbalance the other way, as may seem more 
natural—that is, with the bottom edge to hang downwards, no 
top air could be given in wet weather without rain coming in; 
nor would tho roof be watertight even when the frames were 
closed. The frames, also, when open, as in fig. 1, are better 
defended, by the tension of their chains, from the action of all 
wind but the north, than they would be if inclined in the opposite 
direction. 
The front of tho house, glazed to within twelve inches of the 
ground, abounds in ventilating openings, and I have shutters at 
the base of the brick wall at the back also ; but I cannot think I 
should have had the necessary circulation of air without some 
provision for top ventilation. At any rate I had no red spider 
last summer, and my trees are now as full of blossom-bud as they 
were when Mr. Rivers sent them to me in December, 1858; and 
I think that- is the highest praise I can give them. Pivots, wire, 
light chain, and common iron pullies, are not expensive materials ; 
so that the cost of this plan of ventilation is no great matter. I 
think it must be cheaper, besides being more efficacious than any 
arrangement for the simultaneous elevation of lights hinged to 
the ridge; and it puts less pressure upon the rafters than the 
mechanism exerts which is sometimes applied to the opening of 
hinged lights.—A Cheshire Subscriber. 
HARDY FRUITS IN FEBRUARY. 
It is said that “coming events cast their shadows before,” 
and the gardener knows this fact as well as the moralist. When 
we see the Snowdrops, totally regardless of the storms over their 
heads, hanging out their pensile bells in bold defiance; Cowslips, 
Crocuses, the Coltsfoot, with some other carlies, bursting their 
icy chains, thereby giving full evidence that they have had their 
sleep out, and anticipate, as it were, the advent of spring; 
then may the gardener fully awake too. IIo will begin to think 
of his dormant enemies awaking, and through summer evading 
all vigilance, unless timely applied ; and the old maxim of “ take 
time by the forelock’’ becomes a predominant feeling. 
One of the first considerations is, What is the present position 
of business in its relation to the past winter ? On retrospection 
we shall find that it has been one to impede the nick-nackeries 
of trained fruit trees; for who likes to stand pruning, training, 
and dressing fruit trees with a thermometer telling of 12° to 22° 
of frost ? So that by Yalentine’s-day many will begin to perceive 
much business a-head to threaten them. 
I may speak of the character of the past summer as to its 
influence on hardy fruits. It has had a most beneficial influence 
on the wood of trees; much beat, much solar light: these arc 
the two great agents in promoting fructification. But there is 
another matter which must be taken into account—as great a 
promoter of fruitfulness in the ensuing year as any as to mature 
trees which have done some work, and that is the scanty crops 
produced the last season. Under the above circumstances the 
pruner will have less labour, and the wood will be short-jointed, 
and, of course, well ripened. But one great point of garden 
economics is to have the deck ready for action, as seamen say; 
which is, to take care that no genuine winter business is in 
arrears at the end of the month, or let us say by the middle of 
March. Pruning, training, nailing, cleansing, and a consideration 
as to garden-walls, must be held; for dressing them is not enough 
observed, although as old as the time of Speechly. I think we 
have been told that he had a practice of obtaining all the soap¬ 
suds from an extensive laundry, and syringing with an engine 
all his walls. And why not such, in combination with some 
kind of grouting, adding sulphur, &c. ? But, be this as it may, 
our kitchen gardens are such a nursery for all insect rascals, 
which love warmth and a variety of good keep, that nothing but 
a clean system, an aiming at extirpation, can possibly keep 
those gardens respectable and profitable. During this month, 
therefore, the brush should be at work on tho stems of infested 
or suspicious trees, and the remedies at present known and 
proved—which latter is the main thing—applied with an un¬ 
sparing hand. 
Gishurst Compound has carried a name; but according to the 
old saying, “ Good wine needs no bush.” I do not say this to 
prejudice the Compound; but we know retrospectively what a host 
of remedies have sprung up even in fruit-tree nostrums, and how 
they have, in the main, given place to the well known sulphur, 
soft soap, tobacco water, &c. But from such high names as 
Mr. Rivers and others attached to its recommendation every 
amateur, at least, should give it a trial. I think Mr. Wilson 
said that nearly £ lb. to a gallon might bo applied to the wood of 
trees in a rest condition—that is, devoid of foliage. But for the 
scale, soft soap, 4 ozs. or 5 ozs. to the gallon, I have found effica¬ 
cious, applied twice at a week’s interval. Sulphur is the best 
thing I know of for red spider, and tobacco water for the 
aphides. These are the great enemies of gardeners. 
But there is yet another matter which must be attended to, 
and that is the planting of fruit trees, if not performed in autumn. 
But, for my part, if the work is properly carried out, and tho 
soils put together in a dry state, I should prefer spring. I used 
to think autumn preferable; but, although plausible arguments 
may be used in its favour, I do think the preponderance lies on 
the other side. The advantage said to be of autumn planting 
lies chiefly in the bottom warmth of the soil; but it must be 
remembered that although this applies eminently to evergreens, 
not equally so to deciduous kinds. Evergreens with healthy 
acting foliage root almost continuously through the early winter ; 
but deciduous trees are far more stationary. Be this as it may, 
■when February arrives, planting, where necessary, should bo 
Carried out before the end of the month. 
And here I would ask if any one has experience of the endless 
new seedling Pears which have been raised by our ingenious 
friends on the other side of the water. They have affixed such 
euphonious names to them that I doubt we get dazzled with 
such fine titles. And again, the market-gardeners about London 
and other places seem to continue to grow old and well-known 
kinds, for look when we will in the market reports we find the 
same recurring annually :—Glou Morceau , Winter Nells, Ne 
Plus Meuris, Beurre Ranee, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Beurre 
d’Amanlis, Marie Louise, &c., and lately, I think, Josephine de 
Malines. But I do not consider the marketing affair as the 
whole test of the matter: these men must have bearers, albeit of 
second-rate quality; for what is a shy-setting Pear to them? 
What is the use of gathering a score of Pears off some of the 
best? Such will never pay high rentals. But it is to certain 
sagacious amateurs we must look a little, and above all to first- 
rate experienced gardeners, who equally dislike humbug and 
prejudice. 
There is one particular reason for early pruning which I think 
I have not named, and that is, it makes way for the trainer, tier, 
or nailer to follow. Now training is rather slow and tedious 
work, and depends so much on the weather in early spring that 
every chance should be seized to get it a-head. It i3 in general 
colder work than pruning; but those who perform this work 
should remember that a broad board under the feet makes all 
the difference. But the facility with which this work is carried 
out greatly depends on the condition of the materials. Nails 
