336 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY 
That kind of hotbed called the “Waltonian case’ 
requires some slight alterations in its management from 
that for a hotbed; and after I notice them the rest 
of my instructions go to both bed and case alike. 
There is only one coat of pure white sand, about one 
inch deep, between the hot-water bottom heat in the 
oase and the bottom of the cutting or seed pots, and that 
inch of sand must be kept constantly moist, in order 
to make the best of the heat. If the layer of sand is 
allowed to get dry, or partially dry, the heat will not rise 
freely through it, and a greater bottom heat than is 
necessary must be maintained to make up the difference, 
and the pots must be watered more often than would be 
necessary in a moist bed. Even with a well-regulated 
Waltonian case, the pots being not plunged, they will get 
dry much sooner than they would in a dung bed. Then, 
to prevent damping, the heat for a Waltonian case ought 
to be higher than for a dung bed, and 70° should be 
held as the lowest point in the morning, with a rise to 
80° and 85° on a fine day; but when the sun does not 
shine from 70° to 75° are quite enough for the cuttings. 
As a Waltonian case is worked in-doors, a little air on it 
day and night will not affect the heat much; that is, the 
expense of keeping up to a certain degree of heat will 
not affect the bill of costs much, and the cuttings and 
seedlings will be all the better for it, as, with the small¬ 
ness of the space inclosed, the air would soon get too 
much confined, and would be apt to cause damp; for we 
must never lose sight of the great fact that damp is the 
greatest enemy which cuttings and young seedlings 
have to contend against. Tho tops of Waltonian cases 
are as moveable as the lights of a pit, and they are 
sure to be as wet in the morning as the lights on a dung 
bed; but that is just the beauty of the contrivance, 
only that w r e must balance between “ sweet, moist, 
wholesome air,” and air so loaded with moisture and 
confined as to create damp among the leaves. Instead 
of wiping the glass dry, however, I would simply turn 
the lights or tops of a Waltonian case inside out for a 
few hours in the morning. I would also keep the sand 
under the pots more damp than would probably be safe 
for many amateurs to do, and would get rid of the extra 
moisture by more ventilation. Some of the pots in the 
centre over where the lamp plays in very cold weather 
soon get dry, and so will the sand; therefore that part 
needs looking after more closely; and in dull weather 
it is best to take out such pots to water them, and to 
allow them to drain before they are returned into the 
case. By that means no more water gets to the sand 
than one sees necessary ; but in hot, dry, sunny weather 
all the pots might drain into the sand without any hurt. 
When seedlings come up in a hotbed or in a Wal- 
toniau case, if the place is too hot for them, or too much 
confined, they show it in the same way in both ; that is, 
by having the tiny stems below the seed leaves whitish 
or pale, and much longer than the rest, for which the 
place is only warm enough. As soon as that is perceived 
the pots must be removed to a cooler place ; and here j 
is where the greatest clanger lies—“ to a cooler place.” - 
But what kind of place will they be safe in till they are ; 
so hardened as to take care of themselves as it were? i 
In a greenhouse is the best place to work a Waltonian 
case, but they have them now in the drawing-rooms; 
and, where no greenhouse is at hand, nothing is more 
handy to remove such seedlings into, as they cannot 
bear the heat of the case, than some clean common 
garden pots, of such sizes as will hold the seed pots and 
seedlings, with a pane of glass over the mouth of the 
pots for a few days. Mr. Walton himself uses a cold 
case close by the side of his working case, with glass 
lids or large panes of glass; but then he has a capital 
greenhouse for them, and Mrs. Walton is always at 
hand, and what a lady takes in hand is sure to do well. 
But, really, you cannot expect to see silk dresses and 
GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, February 17,1857. 
all that sort of thing in the framing-ground among hot¬ 
beds and litter, although, where a regular gardener is 
not kept, I would a thousand times rather leave the 
directions about a cutting bed in the hands of a lady. 
You will hardly find a man out of fifty, or outside the 
War Office, who can give explicit directions about any one 
thing with which he is not conversant; whereas nothing 
comes amiss that way, from the cookery book to The 
Cottage Gardener, to most ladies in the present day. 
Besides, the “governor” may say what he likes, but 
what the “missus” says is the law among gardeners, 
high or low. 
I put the following down as among the first things to 
sow in a Waltonian case on a limited scale. Cobcea 
scandens for an out-door summer climber, and not bad 
to manage. Delphinium Sinense to raise early seedlings, 
which will “ blow ” early, and ripen more seeds to make 
the best blue bed we can have; very easy to do, but 
probably they must not be left long in great heat. 
Tpomcea limbata, a most charming climber; but whether 
or not it will bloom out of doors is hard to say, but it 
must be planted out by the end of June. Several best 
mixed kinds of Lpomcea purpurea, or the old Convolvulus 
major, to be sown on tho 1st of April. Lobelia, several 
kinds of; none do better in bed or case. Lupinus 
mutabilis, being a smoother name than L. Cruihshanhii, 
without much difference in the looks; very easy indeed 
to manage, and to have ready to plant out in May. 
Hibiscus Africanus, not bad to do, and will bloom in 
mixed borders till the frost comes; has nearly white 
flowers, black-eyed Susan fashion, with large dark centres 
or eyes. Mesembryanthemum tricolor, not bad to do, 
but must be most tenderly handled, as they are so 
delicate; they flower best in shallow pans in doors, and 
are most beautiful flowers. Petunia, mixed seeds. It is 
a good plan to raise a packet of them every spring; they 
never come amiss along the borders, besides the chance 
of something good for the pots. Phlox Drummondii 
ditto. Portulacca, mixed, another charming race to 
keep up the gaiety of one’s place for a mere song. 
Salpiylossis, mixed seeds for mixed borders, and few 
better deserve them. Tigridia pavonia, and why not, 
if it is the grandest flower of September? We are all 
grand in the flower way. This will come up like Oats 
or young Crocuses ; and Viscaria oculata, to get it very 
early in-doors, to help after the Pelargoniums are getting 
seedy. 
Tho rule for sowing seeds in pots is as straight as 
Paile Britannia. Give good drainage. All flower-garden 
seeds, without a single exception, if you keep from 
“American plants,” will grow in one kind of compost, 
and the half of it should be sand, and the rest of peat or 
leaf mould, either will do, and any light loam which is 
nearest at hand. All the talk about this and that par¬ 
ticular soil for seedlings is just as much fine talk, and 
nothing more. Lupin is one of the largest seeds for a 
flower garden, and should be covered just one quarter 
of an inch, and, of course, none should be deeper. The 
Lobelia is the smallest, or one of the smallest, and all 
that class are never sown by people with brains till the 
pot is first well watered and drained; then sow as thinly 
as you can, and with the finger and thumb sprinkle 
fine soil ora little sand over them, just as you would salt 
a sandwich. All other seeds cover according to their 
size and this beginning. D. Beaton. 
THINGS TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT. 
“ Well, now, did you ever know of such a winter?” is 
a question that meets me at every turn. We are but 
too apt to imagine that the present period is strangely 
distinguished from all others. There is little harm in 
