THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January •!, I >50. 
rr 7 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
I 
I 
[ 
Ray J Day 
of of 
M’ntli Week 
JANUARY 4-10, 1859. 
Weather 
Barometer. 
nkar London in 
Thermom. Wind 
1858. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
It. and S. 
Moon’s 
A.ge. 
Clock 
after Sun 
Hay ol 
Year. 
4 
T 
Oxalis marginata. 
30.453—30.351 
38—24 
E. 
| — 
8 af 8 
2 af 4 
sets 
. 
@ 
5 
8 
4 
5 
w 
Oxalis sanguine a. 
30.335—30.17G 
31—22 
N.E. 
— 
8 
8 
3 4 
8 af 5 
1 
! 5 
35 
5 
6 
Tn 
ErirriANY. Twelfth Ilay. 
30.170—30.14*1 
30—16 
S.E. 
— 
8 
8 
5 4 
21 
G 
2 
G 
o 
(i 
7 
F 
Oxalis variubilis. 
30.217—30.096 
89—25 
s. 
.02 
7 
8 
6 4 
34 
7 
• 3 
I 13 
28 
7 
8 
s 
Pittosporum tobira. 
30.106—30.086 
52—46 
s.w 
.02 
7 
8 
7 • 4 
46 
8 
4 
c 
54 
8 
9 
Sun 
1 Sunday after Epiphany. 
30.199—30.074 
52—26 
s.w 
, .04 
6 
8 
8 4 
58 
9 
5 
7 
19 
9 
10 
M 
Rhododendron arboreum. 
30.224—30.104 
52-40 
s.w 
' .08 
6 
8 
10 4 
12 
ii 
6 
7 
44 
. 10 
Meteorology of the Week. —At Chiswick, from observations during the last thirty-one years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 41.3° and 30.9’, respectively. The greatest heat, 54°, occurred on the 7th, in 1843 ; and the lowest cold, 7°, 
on the 6th, in 1841. During the period 109 days were fine, and on 87 rain fell. 
GARDENING OPERATIONS FOE THE WEEK. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
It ia hoped that, in accordance with our previous in- j 
structions to that effect, the operations of wheeling on 
manure, and trenching up vacant quarters, in this depart¬ 
ment, have been regularly followed up in favourable 
weather. Advantage should be taken of dry, frosty morn¬ 
ings, to fork over heavy ground that has been previously 
trenched, as the more it is stirred about and exposed to 
the pulverising influence of frosts and. thaws, the more 
mellow and workable it will become. 
Asparagus. —If the soil in the forced productive bed 
should become dry, give it a liberal supply of water, so 
that it may reach the roots ; as slight waterings give an 
appearance of moisture at the top, while the roots are 
excessively dry, aud unproductiveness is the conse¬ 
quence. 
Cabbages. —In favourable weather, fillup blanks, clear 
them of dead leaves, aud hoe between them. 
Carrots.— Sow Early llorn, in heat, if young ones 
arc wanted early ; or in drills, on a warm border, slightly 
covered with sandy soil, and protected in severe weather. 
Cauliflowers.— Keep the surface stirred amongst the 
plants, in pits, frames, or under handliglits. Dust them 
occasionally with lime, and trap slugs, by placing some 
pieces of Carrot, split lengthways, amongst them. The 
plants should be looked over ou fine mornings, and the 
slugs destroyed. 
Peas and Plains.- —Sow, if the weather is favourable, 
on a warm border ; and if a few are sown in boxes, pans, 
or pots, and placed in a greenhouse, pit, or frame, and 
transplanted to the open ground when they are an inch 
high, they may be useful as an early crop when the out¬ 
door sowings have been either damaged or destroyed 
by the severity of the winter, or by vermin. Narrow 
sods of turf, laid in rows, and the seed sown in drills 
along the centre of each row, is recommended, where turf 
is easily procured, as the whole can be transferred, when 
fit, to the open ground, without disturbing or damaging 
the roots. The old-fashioned figure 4 traps, when kept 
constantly set, are most useful for the destruction of 
mice. 
Radishes. —Sow Early Short-top, in small drills, on 
a warm border. The seed should be covered with very 
light sandy soil, and be protected with mats, straw, fern, 
or any other such material that is conveniently at hand, 
until they begin to vegetate, when the covering should 1 
be taken off in the day and returned at night. A lien 
they have vegetated, net ting, or strands of worsted thread, 
or small twine, stretched along and across the rows, will 
protect them from small birds. Small shreds of cloth, 
or linen of various colours, tied on twine, and stretched 
over seed-beds to flutter in the wind, will scare, for a 
time, even the London sparrows—the boldest of birds. 
Sea-kale. —As that which was covered first is cut, re¬ 
move the pots, or boxes, to that portion which has hitherto 
had no covering, so as to keep up a succession. The 
dung and leaves which have been previously used will 
serve the purpose again, if a little fresh bo added. 
No. 530. Vol. XXI. 
FRUIT GARDEN. 
Apples and Pears (on Espaliers).—Prune, and fork 
up the grouud near the stems, in frosty weather, to de¬ 
stroy the eggs, or larva;, of grubs. In the orchard, open 
out the centre of each tree, and thin-out cross and crowded 
branches ; scrape off moss and lichen from the stems and 
branches ; and dress both the espalier and orchard, or 
standard, trees with a mixture of quicklime, soot, and 
clay, to the consistency of thick paint. If done well, it is 
a most effectual method for the destruction of moss and 
lichen. 
Fruit Trees may be removed and planted; but take 
care, by mulching, to keep the frost from the roots of 
newly-planted trees. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Although the present mild weather may appear to 
cheat us into a forgetfulness of winter, it is advisable 
to he prepared for the occurrence of severe weather. 
Borders, not cleaned and dressed, or beds not deeply 
dug, should at once be finished. 
Auriculas. — Give them plenty of air at all favour¬ 
able opportunities, and only as much water as will keep 
the leaves from flagging. 
Carnations and Picotees. —Abundance of air to he 
given to these plants in frames, as a confined atmosphere 
will engender mildew. When they require water, it 
should he given in the morning of a fine day, when there 
is no danger from frost. 
Dahlias.— Examine the roots, in order to counteract 
the effects of damp ; and where a quantity of young plants 
are required for beds, or borders, it will be necessary to 
put the roots to work, by exciting them into growth in a 
gentle heat. 
Pansies, which, during the late mild weather, have 
begun to grow, and, therefore, will be more susceptible 
of injury, will require protection from severe weather. 
Pinks. —A top-dressing of rotten dung between the 
plants, in beds, will be of service, both to enrich the soil 
and to protect them from frost. 
Pits and Frames. —Look over the plants frequently, 
and remove dead leaves ; destroy insects by fumigations 
of tobacco, and keep the plants as dry as possible, with¬ 
out flagging, with a free circulation of air in favourable 
weather. 
Roses. —Plant as long as the weather keeps mild, and 
protect the roots from frost by a mulching, or thick 
covering, of rotten dung, which also assists their growth 
with its nutriment, that is gradually carried down to their 
roots by frequent rains. William Keane.^ 
PORTABLE HOTHOUSES.—COSTUME FLOWERS. 
The young gardener and the thrifty amateur should read 
every word that has been written in these pages, on the 
subject of portable hothouses, three times over, and make 
themselves masters of every new move aud measurement, 
from the first broaching of the subject till we hear 
the last of it. There is nothing in the gardening world 
