THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 30, 1858. 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
127 
Day 
of 
M’nth 
Day 
of 
Week. 
NOV. 30—DEC. G, 1858. 
Weather 
Barometer. 
near London in 1857. 
Thermom.J Wind. 
I 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
lt.andS. 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
afterSun 
Day of 
Year. 
30 
Tu 
St. Andrew. 
29.894—29.762 
47—28 
N.E. 
_ 
1 44 af 7 
53 af 3 
14 af 2 
25 
ii 
10 
334 
1 
W 
Andersonia sprengelloides. 
29.904—29.793 
48—32 
N.E, 
.02 
40 7 
52 3 
30 
3 
26 
335 
Th 
Acacia armata. 
30.012—29.941 
47—34 
E. 
1 - 
47 7 
52 3 
47 
4 
27 
10 
24 
336 
3 
F 
Acacia juniperina. 
29.751—29.712 
43—33 
E. 
— 
49 7 
51 3 
4 
G 
28 
10 
1 
337 
4 
S 
Acacia taxifolia. 
30.023—29.904 
55—25 . 
S.W. 
I* - 
! 50 7 
51 3 
19 
7 
29 
9 
36 
338 
5 
Sun 
2 Sunday in Advent. 
30.242—30.116 
53—27 
W. 
— 
' 51 7 
50 3 
sets 
& 
9 
12 
339 
G 
M 
Camellias. 
30.296—30.119 
56—49 
s. 
52 7 
_ 
50 3 
58 
3 
1 
8 
46 
340 
Meteorology op the Week.— At Chiswick, from observations during the last thirty-one years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 47.3° and 33.4°, respectively. The greatest heat, 59 J , occurred on the 2nd, in 1828 ; and the lowest cold, 14°, 
on the 5th, in 1844. During the period 109 days were fine, and on 108 rain fell. 
GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
The unusually dry weather, which, we have experienced 
for some time past, has been very favourable for getting 
on with the work of manuring and trenching; and where 
such works are backward they should be pushed forward 
on every favourable opportunity, until every vacant piece 
of ground is supplied with dung where most wanted, and 
for principal crops, and deeply dug or trenched, laying it 
in ridges, the more fully to expose it to the beneficial 
action of the weather. 
Artichokes. —Finish winter dressing, by cutting down 
the large leaves, and digging the ground in a gradually 
sloping ridge over each row close up to the plants, leaving 
the hearts clear. Cut the late heads, if any, with long 
stalks ; and if there are more than can be used at once, if 
the stalks are placed in sand, under cover, they will keep 
good for some time. 
Beans. —Sow a succcession of Early Mazagans and 
Long Pods on a south border, or on some dry, sheltered 
quarter, in rows, about two feet and a half apart, and two 
or three inches deep. Some planted thickly together in a 
small bed, on a warm border, and protected with long 
litter, or any such like covering, in very severe weather, 
will be useful for transplanting in February or March. 
Cauliflowers. —Watch narrowly for slugs amongst 
the young plants, and keep them free from weeds and 
dead leaves. If any were planted, as advised, in pots, for 
the purpose of protecting them in severe weather, they 
must be carefully attended to and watered. 
Celert. — Continue to fully earth-up the advanced 
crops, and the others when they have made some growth. 
To be done only in dry, open weather. 
Compost Heap. —During frosty weather, it is advisable 
to turn over the frozen crust every morning, until the 
whole is exposed to the pulverising and grub-destroying 
influence of the frost. 
Endive and Lettuce. —Take up on dry days, and store 
them in a dry, airy shed. They will keep better there 
than protected out of doors. 
Herbs. —If any are wanted in a green state, they will 
require to be taken up with balls of earth, and imme¬ 
diately potted, and placed in a gentle heat. 
Onions. —Keep the August sowing very clean from 
weeds. Examine the housed ones, and pick out any that 
decay. It is an old-fashioned, but good plan, to sere the 
tops of all that begin to grow with a red-hot iron. 
Parsley. —As it is so frequently required, and liable to 
injury from severe frosts, or heavy falls of snow, it is 
worthy of being hooped over, and covered with mats ; or 
some roots should be taken up, potted, and protected. 
Peas. —Sow some early sorts, for the chance of a crop. 
Winter Crops. —When the weather is dry and mild, 
stir the soil amongst them. 
FRUIT GARDEN. 
Proceed with the planting of fruit trees, in mild, open 
weather ; and, if the soil is old, give each tree a good 
portion of fresh loamy soil, or turfy loam, about its roots. 
No. 531. Vol. XNI. 
Standard Pear and Apple Trees. —Root-pruning is 
recommended for all such trees as have made an over- 
luxuriant, and, therefore, an unproductive growth. Dig 
a trench two feet from the stem, all round, and cut some of 
the strongest roots,—particularly all tap roots,—which 
will induce a more fruitful condition. We give two feet 
as a general guide, hut a great deal must be left to the 
discretion of the operator; as, of course, he will under¬ 
stand, that the distance from the stem must be more or 
less, according to the age and size of the tree, and that the 
larger the tree, the farther it will be necessary to keep 
from the stem in making the trench. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Except alterations and planting are in hand, there will 
be but little to be done here, beyond clearing up leaves, 
and putting the beds and borders into a clean, tidy state 
for the winter. This may be done, now that the leaves 
have all fallen, with the least possible delay. The leaves 
and sweepings of the walks being laid about the shrubs, 
and slightly covered with soil, to prevent them from being 
blown about by the wind, will be much better for the 
shrubs than digging amongst them. The walks should be 
frequently swept and rolled, so as to keep them clean and 
smooth. Turf will also require to be rolled frequently, to 
keep it smooth and firm, and to prevent its disfigurement 
by worm casts. 
Alpines to be protected from too much wet. 
Carnations and Picotees to be watered very sparingly, 
and to have all the dry air the season will allow. 
Pits and Frames to be closed at nights, as they are now 
generally cold, and to be well covered with mats and litter 
when required. Look carefully over the plants, to give 
water when necessary, every fine day, and avoid watering 
them, if possible, in dull weather. 
Polyanthuses and Pinks. —If young plants have been 
put out late, it is probable that they may be raised by the 
action of the late frosts ; if so, as soon as the soil is 
moderately dry, fasten them in their proper places. 
Roses. —As the present mild weather is most favourable 
for planting, we would suggest to the amateur, who has 
room for them, to purchase a few first-rate sorts. The 
prices stated by several of the most celebrated growers 
must preclude having occasion to grow a second-rate sort. 
"William Keane. 
CLAPTON NURSERY. 
MESSRS. LOW AND CO, 
I was told in St. James’s Hall, that if I wanted to see 
the newest style of building and heating hothouses, I ought 
to go to Mr. Low’s; that he had been putting up “a world 
of new glass, and heating withMuckle Meg.” " Heating 
with what?” said I. “Oh! you have been writing about 
Inkerman, and surely you must know about your grand¬ 
father’s Muckle Meg.” Well, I was nearly up in a corner, 
but, all at once, I recollected seeing Muckle Meg in Edin¬ 
burgh Castle. I recollected, too, that George IV., when 
looking at the crowds in Edinburgh, asked Sir Walter 
