THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, September 28, 1858. 403 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
Day 
of 
Mth 
Day 
of 
Week. 
| 
SEP. 28 to OCT. 4, 1858. 
Weather near London in 1857. 
Snn 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
R.andS. 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
afterSun 
Day of 
Year. 
Barometer. 
Thermo. 
Wind. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
28 
Tu 
Cacalia Kleinia. 
29.934—29.794 
70—36 
S.W. 
.04 
57 af 5 
44 af 5 
56 af 7 
21 
9 
20 
271 
29 
W 
Michaelmas Day. 
30.073—29.940 
72—36 
s. 
—• 
59 
5 
42 
5 
58 8 
22 
9 
40 
272 
30 
Tn 
Chironia linoides. 
30.028—29.957 
69—43 
S.E. 
• - 
0 
6 
40 
5~ 
16 10 
€ 
9 
59 
273 
1 
F 
Adesmia viscosa. 
30.0G3—29.999 
60—41 
S.W. 
.01 
2 
6 
38 
5 
44 11 
24 
10 
19 
274 
2 
s 
Arctotis decumbens. 
30.174—30.013 
65—53 
S.W. 
— 
4 
6 
85 
5 
morn. 
25 
10 
37 
275 
3 
Sun 
18 Sunday after Trinity. 
29.983—29.696 
66—48 
S.W. 
— 
5 
6 
33 
5 
12 1 
26 
10 
56 
276 
4 
M 
Balsamina latifolia. 
29.704—29.639 
64—43 
N.E. 
.02 
7 
6 
31 
5 
38 2 
27 
11 
14 
277 
Meteorology op the Week. —At Chiswick, from observations during the last thirty-one years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 63.7° and 44.4°, respectively. The greatest heat, 79°, occurred on the 29th, in 1832 ; and the lowest cold, 
24®, on the 28th, in 1828. During the period 97 days were fine, and on 120 rain fell. 
GARDENING OPERATIONS EOR THE WEEK. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
If any plants lately planted out are seen to droop, 
without any visible cause, an examination at the roots 
should take place ; when, most probably, a grub will 
be found, which, if not destroyed, will extend its 
ravages. 
Borecole. —Plant, to fill up vacant places. 
Cauliflower.— Continue to prick out the young 
plants under handglasses and in frames. Some potted 
singly in small pots, and placed in any convenient 
situation where they can be supplied with abundance 
of light and air, and protected from heavy rains and 
severe frosts, will make fine plants for transplanting 
with bulbs of roots in the spring. 
Celery. —Such as may be required for early use 
should be earthed-up to the full extent of the leaves ; 
but for successional crops, freedom to the foliage 
should be allowed, to produce luxuriant growth. 
Lettuces.— Plant without delay, in sheltered places, 
or in frames, as advised last week. 
Potatoes. —Continue to take up the crops as they 
arrive at maturity. 
Radishes. —Sow in a frame, if a succession is re¬ 
quired; and thin out the late sowings. 
Spinach. —Thin out the winter crop, from six to 
nine inches apart, and keep it free from weeds. 
Tomatoes. —Any unripe fruit should now be cut, 
and placed on the shelf of a greenhouse, or pit, fully 
exposed to the sun, to ripen it. 
ERUIT GARDEN. 
Apple Trees. —Destroy moss on the trees by scrap¬ 
ing,- and afterwards washing them with soot and lime- 
water, mixed to the consistency of thick paint. 
Apricot and Cherry Trees. —Remove the leaves 
by slightly whisking a broom over them, to expose 
the wood to the ripening influence of the sun. This 
brushing should be performed, if necessary, two or 
three times, and always very carefully, not to injure 
the buds. 
Currant Trees. —All that have been matted up to 
be opened, the dead leaves, &c., cleared away, and the 
bushes allowed to dry, when the covering should be 
carefully replaced. 
Peaches, Nectarines, and Vines. —Clear them of 
leaves, so as to expose the wood. 
Strawberry Beds. —Remove runners, and slightly 
j fork up the ground between the rows. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
The weather has latterly been most auspicious for 
the flower garden; the masses of colours are now 
most brilliant, and, but for the fitful falling of the 
leaves, we might fancy summer is with us in all its 
glory. But a change may soon come over the scene, 
when a sharp frost will destroy the beauties of our 
gardens; therefore, it is advisable to have at hand 
some slight coverings, to protect half-hardy plants 
from the first attack of frost, which is generally of 
short duration, and succeeded by fine weather. 
Auriculas. —Put in frames for the winter, if not 
already done. Shade from hot sun, and protect from 
heavy rains. To be watered sparingly, but they must 
not be allowed to flag. 
Choice Plants (in beds).—If it is intended to pre¬ 
serve any of them through the winter, they should be 
taken up without further delay, potted in clean pots, 
and placed in a close pit until they have made fresh 
roots, when air should be freely admitted in favourable 
weather. 
Chrysanthemums. —Such as have been grown in 
the open ground, to be taken up in showery or dull 
weather, and potted, well watered, and shaded. If 
there is any apprehension of frost, to be removed to 
the greenhouse. Plants against walls to have their 
shoots neatly tacked in. 
Crocuses, Irises, Jonquils, and Snowdrops.— 
Plant without delay all such early spring-flowering 
bulbs. 
Dahlias. —Go over them, to see that they are true 
to name, and, if without names, that the colour of each 
may be noted, as a guide to their arrangement next 
season. 
Picotees and Carnations. — Finish potting the 
layers. When potted, to be placed in a close frame 
for a few days, until they have made fresh roots. 
Po lyanthuses . — Seedlings may still be pricked 
out, to get established before winter. 
Tree Leaves to be collected at every favourable 
opportunity, and pitted in some convenient place, to 
decompose. Leaf mould is most useful; it is an ex¬ 
cellent substitute for peat soil, and of great service 
when mixed with the mould in the flower-beds, and 
for the culture of plants in pots. 
William Keane. 
COMPARING NOTES. 
DWARF DAHLIAS. 
“ In the beginning of September, I have scarcely a 
bloom on the purple Zelinda, white Zelincla, and Crystal 
Palace Scarlet, and yet the plants are strong, luxuriant 
bushes, with leaves almost fit for parasols. My plants 
are anything but dwarf. I calculated on having them 
eighteen inches in height, and now they are double 
that height. Wouldyou advise me to lay them, and how 
to set about it ? ” “I gave my plants careful manage¬ 
ment, kept them in hotbeds, and other warm places, 
until the middle of May ; but, though having plenty 
of growth, I have had little bloom, and that small and 
smothered with foliage.” These are samples of the 
many inquiries and complaints that reach me, merely, 
I suppose, because I happened to speak strongly of 
these plants for flower-garden purposes. They come, 
also, somewhat opportunely, as I think I have gained a 
No. 522. Yol. XX. 
