THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 25, 1859. 257 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
Dav 
of 
M’ntk 
Day 
of 
Week 
Weather near London in 1858. 
JANUARY 25-31, 1859. 
Barometer. 
Thermom. 
Wind. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
R.andS. 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
after Sun 
Day of 
Year. 
25 
T 
Cony. St. Paul. Pus. Royal m. 
30.416—30.010 
44—20 
S. 
— 
51 af 7 
34 af 4 
22 
0 
£ 
12 
34 
25 
26 W 
Narcissus floribundus. [1858. 
30.190—30.089 
35—24 
S.E. 
— 
50 7 
36 
4 
41 
1 
22 
12 
47 
26 
27 <Tii 
Scilla amoena. 
30.105—30.0G4 
46—19 
S.E. 
— 
49 7 
87 
4 
58 
2 
23 
13 
0 
27 
28 
F 
Scilla bifolia. 
30.215—30.164 
49—23 
s. 
— 
47 7 
39 
4 
11 
4 
24 
13 
12 
28 
29 iS 
Begonia manicata. 
30.251—30.071 
54—44 
S.W. 
.02 
46 7 
41 
4 
17 
5 
25 
13 
23 
29 
30 [Sun 
4 Sun. af. Epipii. King Chas. I. 
30.001—29.800 
56—38 
s.w. 
.20 
45 7 
43 ’ 
4 
11 
6 
26 
13 
33 
30 
31 
M 
Erica eoccinea [mast. 1649. 
29.921—29.754 
46—26 
w. 
43 7 
44 
4 
51 
6 
27 
13 
42 
31 
Meteorology of the Week.— At Chiswick, from observations during the 
temperatures of these days are 44.0° and 31.4°, respectively. The greatest heat, 56° 
on the 29th, in 1857. During the period 194 days were fine, and on 102 rain fell. 
last thirty-one 
years 
the arerage highest and lowest 
occurred on the 28th, 
in 1846 
and the lowest 
30ld, 
14°, 
GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
The long continuance of such fine weather as we have 
had, would almost beguile us into the idea of advising 
work to be done that is generally recommended in March 
and April, if we had not some lurking fears that there 
are breakers ahead, and, therefore, that it would be im¬ 
prudent to unfurl our sails, and to launch at once into 
spring work. We would advise a thorough drainage of 
the ground where it is naturally heavy, low, or wet, to 
prevent the lodgment of heavy falls of rain, or snow. 
Good drainage is indispensable for the successful treat¬ 
ment of fruit trees and vegetables. Make the drains at 
least three feet deep : the distance apart is regulated by 
local circumstances ; but twenty feet apart is about the 
general average. Use tiles and soles, with six inches of 
brickbats, stones, &c., over them, and a little long straw, 
or litter, over the stones, &c., to prevent the soil from mix¬ 
ing with them, and also to make the drainage more perfect. 
Asparagus. — If a plantation is intended to give a 
supply for forcing every year, the ground should now be 
well manured, and deeply trenched, in preparation for 
planting in March. 
Capsicum seed, of the large sort, should be sown in 
pans, or pots, and placed in heat; as soon as the seedling 
plants are an inch or two high, to be shifted, singly, into 
small pots, replaced in heat, and afterwards shifted into 
larger pots, as they may require, until the end of May, 
when they may be planted out on a south border. 
Celery. —Sow a little in a box, for soups, in the early 
part of the summer. Eor a crop this early sowing is not 
to be depended upon, as the plants soon run to seed. 
Cucumbers. —Continue to stir the dung, in the fruiting- 
bed, every second or third day, until the plants are ready 
to be turned out. Place some strips of turf on the centre 
of each light, with the grass side downwards. After 
which, put a barrow-load of soil, composed of three-parts 
sandy leaf mould and one part loam, under each light, on 
the turf. Let it remain for a few days, until the heat is 
moderate, about 70° or 75°, when the plants may be turned 
out. The lights should be well washed on the inside, to 
admit as much light as possible. 
Lettuce.— Sow some Paris Cos, in boxes, in a gentle 
heat. Give all the air possible, in favourable weather, to 
those in frames. 
Parsnips. —Trench the ground, to be in Readiness for 
sowing next month. 
Peas and Beans. —Sow a succession of each where the 
soil is in a favourable state. 
Rhubarb, Sea-Kale, &c. —Forward fresh supplies as 
wanted. 
Spinach. —Sow the round sort between the rows of 
Peas, for the chance of an early crop. 
Tomatoes.— Sow some seed immediately, to have strong 
plants ready to turn out when all danger of frost will be 
over. 
FRUIT GARDEN. 
Filberts. —The practice in Kent, to form handsome 
No. 539. Vol. XXI. 
dwarf trees, is, to cut down the young tree within one 
foot of the ground, which will make them break strong. 
About six or seven shoots, at regular distances, are re¬ 
tained, and the others are removed. A small hoop is 
placed inside the shoots of each tree, and one tie given, 
to keep them in their proper places. The next season 
they are stopped at the height of six feet, and all the 
shoots cut away that are above six inches in length: the 
rest are left for spurs. 
Vines (Out-door).—Prune, as there are many old trees 
covering a large space with weak shoots. It is advisable 
to thin out the weakest portion of the branches, or shoots, 
leaving only the strongest, and those at least eighteen 
inches apart, and not more than three eyes in length. 
The wall should be brushed clean, the loose bark removed 
from the old stems, and the branches and shoots firmly 
nailed, without being too tightly girded by shreds. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Dahlias. — Look over the roots, and clean them of 
diseased and decaying parts ; and if a stock is required, 
they may be started in a gentle heat, to produce offsets, 
or cuttings. 
Roses. —Prune the hardy sorts, with the exception of 
the lately planted, which should receive that attention 
later in the season. 
Shrubs (Mixed).—When they are getting over¬ 
crowded, it is better to take them up and replant them, 
and to prune the luxuriantly-growing ones. Layering 
may now be successfully performed, when the plants have 
become bare and unsightly at the bottom. Ivy, or Peri¬ 
winkle, plants are useful for covering bare and exposed 
places, under large trees, or shrubs, with a bright green 
carpet of foliage. 
Pits and Frames. —Give plenty of air to them in fine 
weather. Look over the plants frequently, and pick off 
all dead and decaying leaves. Dung and leaves should 
be prepared, for making a small hotbed for cuttings and 
seeds. It will frequently require to be turned over and 
watered, if dry, until it becomes well sweetened. All 
dirty flower-pots, seed, and cutting-pans, should be washed 
clean, in readiness for use. William Keane. 
WINTER NOSEGAYS AND BULBS IN ROOMS. 
There is no proof like the proof of the pudding, whether 
of a plan, a drawing, or a model of something that is in the 
world of matter. However odd, or clumsy, such proof 
may be, it has more real value in it than the best sug¬ 
gestion of the same from the mere world of thought— 
that is, in a practical sense. A proof to the point is just 
now under my own eye. I have a model for a Christmas 
nosegay in my “ keeping room,” and I have been waiting 
all this time, to see how the new idea would work in the 
world of matter among my crockery. Nothing in this 
world ever did better, or was more cheap, or easier to do, 
or better in its way when done; and having proved it to 
be all that, and that it is a source of great satisfaction to 
others who enjoy it with me, I am tempted to write one 
