THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 21, 1860. 311 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
Day 
of 
Day 
of 
Weather 
near London in 1859. 
Moon 
FEBRUARY 21—27, 1860. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Sun 
Rises 
Moon’s 
Clock 
Day of 
M’nth Week. 
Barometer. 
Thermom. 
Wind. 
Rises. 
Sets 
• 
and Sets 
Age. 
bef. 
Sun 
Year. 
21 
/ To 
Shrove Tuesday. 
30.303—30.271 
58—40 
S.W. 
— 
Gaf 7 
22 af 5 
sets 
© 
13 
56 
52 
22 
W 
Lent begins. Ash Wednesday. 
30.384—30.282 
53—27 
s.w. 
.02 
4 7 
24 
5 
27 a 6 
1 
13 
49 
53 
23 
Th 
Sambucus nigra. 
30.581—30.483 
49—26 
w. 
— 
2 7 
2G 
5 
35 
7 
2 
13 
41 
54 
24 
F 
St. Matthias. 
30.414—30.318 
52—25 
w. 
— 
VI 
23 
5 
44 
8 
3 
13 
33 
55 
25 
S 
Seilla bifolia. 
30.314—30.182 
52—25 
w. 
— 
57 G 
30 
5 
54 
9 
4 
13 
24 
56 
2G 
Sun 
1 Sunday in Lent. 
29.923—29.GIG 
50—40 
s.w. 
.00 
55 G 
31 
5 
8 11 
5 
13 
14 
57 
27 
M 
Vaccinium vitis-idteus. 
30.173—29.944 
51—23 
N. W . 
53 G 
33 
5 
morn. 
6 
13 
4 
58 
Meteorology of the Week.— At Chiswick, from observations during the last thirty-three years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 47° and 32.8° respectively. The greatest heat, GO 0 , occurred on the 2Gth, in 184G; and the lowest cold, 10°, 
on the 21st, in 1855. During the period 130 days were fine, and on 101 rain fell. 
IN-DOOR GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR 
THE WEEK. 
GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 
The continued frosty weather has, of necessity, re¬ 
quired fires to be kept up in these houses ; therefore, 
particular attention must be given to the New Holland 
plants, Heaths, and such-like, which are impatient of 
heat, that they do not suffer from want of water. Be 
sure that the hall is thoroughly moistened at least once 
a-week. 
PITS AND FRAMES. 
Amongst climbers, Oalampelises, Coboeas, Lophosper- 
mums, Maurandyas, Rodochitons, and Tropseolums, de¬ 
serve attention at this time, increasing them by cuttings 
or by seeds. Some annuals are also worthy of attention, 
such asBrachycomas,Phloxes, Portulaccas, Schizanthuses, 
with others which may all be forwarded in heat. Who¬ 
ever has not yet attended to the propagation of plants 
for bedding out, should now begin, without further delay, 
to put in cuttings of Fuchsias, Verbenas, Heliotropes, 
Petunias, Salvias, Scarlet Geraniums, &c., to have good 
plants in May and June. All straggling and weak shoots 
to be topped back to form robust, bushy plants. 
STOVE AND ORCHID-HOUSE. 
Some of the stove plants that have done blooming 
should be cut back, such as the Eranthemumpulchellum, 
Euphorbia jacquinicejlora, Geissomeria longijlora, Gesnera 
lateritia, Justicias, Linum trigynum, Poinsettia pul- 
clierrima, and others. A bottom heat will be necessary 
when they are repotted, which may be done in about 
three weeks or a month. Such of the most forward plants, 
as they require shifting, to be attended to. The condition 
or fitness for this must, in a great measure, be determined 
by the progress the shoots and roots have made. 
FORCING-PIT. 
Continue to introduce plants of Azaleas, Hyacinths, 
Heliotropes, Hydrangeas, Kalmias, Sedums, Lilacs, Nar¬ 
cissus, Pelargoniums, Pinks, Rhododendrons, and Roses 
in varieties. A batch of last year’s young Fuchsias, 
Erythrinas, and Salvia patens, to be shaken out, repotted, 
and placed in bottom heat. Sow Balsams, Cockscombs, 
Globe Amaranths, &c. 
FORCING-HOUSES. 
Cucumbers. —Attend as previously advised to thinning 
and stopping, set the fruit blossom when open, keep the 
inside of the frames watered with warm water, and apply 
some occasionally to the roots. Water overhead on fine 
days, shutting up with 75° or 80° of heat. 
Cherries. —They will be benefited by frequent syring- 
ings at all times except when in bloom. Air to be given 
on all favourable occasions, shutting up with as much 
solar heat as possible. Keep down the green fly and look 
well after caterpillars. 
Figs. —Maintain a kindly humidity, but do not syringe 
overhead, except on very fine days, as too much moisture 
is apt to cause the fruit to drop off or to turn yellow. 
No. 595.—Voi. XXIII. No. 21. 
Peaches. —Tie in the forwardest shoots in the early- 
house as they advance; gradually disbud and thin out 
all the shoots that are not wanted ; thin the fruit but not 
too much at once, and, with water of the temperature of 
the house, syringe the trees that have set their fruit. 
Remove large shoots cautiously, and reserve, in tying 
and disbudding, merely sufficient wood for next spring.. 
Pines. —The atmospheric heat to be gradually increased 
in the fruiting-house, and the plants to be frequently 
syringed, taking care that no water is allowed to lodge 
in the hearts of the plants. The plants swelling their 
fruit to be watered occasionally with clean soot water, 
air to be admitted on every favourable opportunity, but 
cold draughts to be avoided. A good heat to be kept up 
in succession-pits worked with linings. 
Strawberries. —To be placed near the glass with 
plenty of air, and in favourable weather to be liberally 
supplied with warm manure water, and the surface of 
the pots to be frequently stirred. 
Vines. —As soon as the first swelling is completed, and 
the stoning process commences, allow a little more liberty 
to the laterals to induce a corresponding increase of root 
action. All shoots to be properly trained up ; but none 
to be allowed to touch the glass. All small bunches to 
be removed when in flower. When the fruit is set, the 
heat by day may be allowed to rise from 70° to 80°. See 
to the border coverings, if out-doors, as also border 
waterings, if in-doors. Be careful when admitting air to 
the early Vines, to avoid cold currents and changes, for 
in the space of an hour we have sometimes strong sun¬ 
shine, sleet or snow, and cutting winds. Vines in pots 
to be supplied with plenty of manure water in all stages of 
growth, but especially when swelling off their fruit. 
William Keane. 
ROOT ACTION—POTTING. 
“Who shall decide when doctors differ P” or, who can 
wonder at the strange questions which some of our “ Sub¬ 
scribers ” and “ Constant Readers ” send up for our 
decision from time to time, “ when such practical men as 
Mr. Rivers and D. Beaton hold opinions contrary as the 
poles, and as far asunder, on the first principle of actual 
practice in gardening P ”—namely, on the natural law 
under which the roots of plants live, move, prosper, or 
decay. 
Some might expect, or rather think, that Mr. Rivers 
was not altogether pleased at my saying that what he 
found the matter with the young roots of his potted 
orchard-house trees was a re-opening of an old theory of 
the annual perishing of the young roots, or tops of the 
young roots, of all plants whatsoever. All that he or I 
can say to such as might think so, is, that none of them 
are fit and proper subjects to defend our coast, or be 
volunteers in the rifle corps of our common country. No : 
—such men of true metal as “ we,” may differ to the 
end of the chapter, but never disagree, or be disagreeably 
affected with anything that all the world may say or think 
of us, or that we may say or think of each other; both 
