feet high. In the hot, dry season we mulch them, and supply them with abundance of water and liquidmanure; the production we thus obtain, of the finest quality, is most astonishing, and continues for many weeks.*

RADISHES, of all kinds, should now be sown on open borders, in full crop. A slight covering of mulch, fern, evergreen boughs, or any easily-procurable sheltering material, should be used to protect the crops from frost, driving rains, birds, &c.

CABBAGE, CAULIFLOWER, and LETTUCE, should be sown on warm borders, with the same rules of protection as given for radishes; small plants reared in heat, or in pans, &c., should be early pricked out and protected.

CUCUMBERS AND MELONS.-Those already ridged out should come in for a good share of attention, if a healthy luxuriance is to be kept up, and an abundance of handsome fruit is expected; as the days lengthen, and the light increases, so should the application of heat increase; if applied by fermented materials, it should be well wrought and sweetened, that is to say, it should be turned over and over several times, and not be allowed to remain above five or six days without turning, which will sweeten it, and keep it from caking together, and burning white and husky. The linings to the beds should be of pretty good substance at this season, as much as 18 or 20 inches wide, and topped up with mulch, hay, or some other sweet, dry material; and the outsides should be protected with thatched hurdles, furzefaggots, or protectors made from refuse prunings, evergreen boughs, &c., &c. The linings should, of course, be kept well, and regularly topped up, in order to maintain one uniform heat; say, for this month, for young plants, and those just turned out, from 68° to 70°; and for those now shewing fruit, and those now producing fruit, from 72° to 75°; keeping the inside of the pits or frames, near the outer edges of the interior, at all times well moistened, at shuttingup time, with tepid water; and, occasionally, an application of liquid manure, to charge the atmosphere with ammonia-a very essential matter, to keep the plants in health and luxuriance. Air freely, daily; shut up early, and cover snugly, but lightly; sow in succession; prick the young plants early, and place them at all times close to the glass.

Place mint, turrragon, and rhubarb, into heat; and sow Kidney beans, and cover up sea-kale in succession. JAMES BARNES.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.

OUR VILLAGE WALKS.

No. 18.

DURING the intensity of the present weather, and the piercing severity of an east wind that blows with peculiar rigour, I am glad to shelter myself among the trees and woods, where I find some quiet spots, some richly-green, summer-like branches, and here and there a pale straggling blossom on the winter furze. Not a living creature is seen or heard in the snowy fields; the sounds of husbandry-those interesting, English sounds are hushed; the huntsman's horn-that death-note to the poor panting Fox-has not been heard for weeks; and scarcely one solitary

I beg to name another variety of pea, which I consider one of the very best of early peas, namely, Clarke's Ringwood Marrow. It grows from four to five high in good ground, and is a first-rate bearer; the pods are large, and the peas too. No other early pea has any chance with it in the competition room. W.

gun

has broken the silence that seems to pervade the land. This is a sudden and wondrous change in so short a time! Just before Christmas, all was green and comparatively mild, and now we are plunged into a season that has not had a parallel for years. "Is there not a cause?" Shall we not soon adore the Hand that has withdrawn from us the cheering sun, and locked up the earth as if within frozen doors? Beneath the dry sterile surface wonderful things are taking place the hand of God is moulding a thousand beauties, that shall, in a few short weeks, replenish the earth," and deck it again with summer gladness." May we not confidently hope that this unusual winter will give rest and strength to all vegetation, restore the healthiness of plants and roots that have suffered from disease, and increase the blessings showered upon the heads of men? Let us receive a word of instruction during this sunless, inclement season; it has a voice, and a loud one, for the children of men. Do we not sometimes, in the providence of God, pass into dark and dreary days when blessings are withheld, or snatched from us, that made our paths to be both pleasantness and peace? Do we not sometimes look round upon the world, as if it were a howling wilderness, and feel that the piercing gusts of sorrow, and the rugged path we have before us, are more than we can bear? Let us trust in Him who leads us by the right hand, who sits by us as a refiner, who tempers the fire to the clay. Let us believe that our hearts need the stern pressure of adversity: that it is good for us to feel the rod, that we may, in a brighter and happier day, give glory to God in the highest." Before these pages appear in print, the depth of this winter may have passed away, and spring may be bursting forth; as soon may our trials be lightened, and our hearts once more rejoice in the sure mercies of God.

46

In a larch plantation, through which I sometimes pass, it is very interesting to observe the busy labours of some poor men, who are permitted, during the time when work is not to be obtained, to grub up the roots of the trees that have been cut down. The comfort and blessing this permission has been to them is very great; and I sincerely wish all gentlemen who possess plantations would adopt the plan during this period of the year. It is quite essential that men of steady character should be preferred, because mischief often arises when lawless characters are permitted to enter the woods. Game is disturbed, poaching is brought on, hedges broken down, and injury done to the roots of the standing trees, which, of course, is less likely to occur when men who can best be depended upon are allowed to work. It is, also, very proper to encourage the respectable, in preference to others, for the sake of example; although they often are as much, and even more, in distress than their steady neighbours. The roots of larch, and other firs, burn very tolerably as soon as they are taken up. The poor men pack the best wood in cords for sale, and the smaller pieces enable them to keep up a little fire at this inclement season, when wages are so difficult to obtain, and nature needs additional warmth. The removal of roots in a plantation does no harm, in fact it rather benefits; for when the holes are properly filled in-which must always be insisted upon-the ground which the stump occupied is gained, and the herbage will soon spring up for the sheep or cattle that graze among the trees. It is delightful to see the poor men labouring away with their pickaxes, wedges, and levers; forcing up the roots. and rejoicing over every piece they break away. Those who can thus benefit the poor, should

not hesitate to do it; for it is giving them work as well as money, and neither loss nor expense attends the boon. Roots of trees frequently remain for years in the ground-in fields, and hedge-rows-unthought of, and of no account. If these were carefully removed in the same manner, and at the same comfortless season, how many hearts would sing, how many cold hands would glow, both in the hours of labour, and when the cottage hearth sent up its cheerful blaze. In pleasure grounds too, even in gardens, men who can be fully trusted might dig up stumps with great advantage to the ground. In our own case, this is admirably done by one of the best, most thankful-hearted creatures in the parish. His work is so neatly finished off, that you can scarcely notice the spot from which the stump is taken; and the soft soil is well adapted for planting, in due season, a shrub or tree.

Having seen, with my own eyes, the good effected among the poor in this way, by those who have little else to give, I strongly urge upon my readers— those who may possibly have it in their powerto adopt this plan; even if but one poor man in a parish can be helped by it, to do so without demur. Who can feel comfort in their own bright fire, if they know that one as bright lies hidden and useless in their field, and if they know that one poor shivering family might gather round a hearth? It is of no use to content ourselves with saying, "Be ye warmed and filled," if we neglect to do what may be done, by taking a little thought. I believe much is left undone simply from want of thought; but if we studied more than we do the wauts of those around us, we should find many little ways of doing them good, that seem trifling to those who have plenty of this world's goods, but are of deep importance to those who possess nothing. When we see a labourer wending his way homewards over the frost-bound earth, with his wheel-barrow of roots for the evening fire, is it not cheering to the heart? But for that longforgotten root, that has lain uselessly in the earth for so many winters, that poor man's home would to-night be cold and dark.

Even the little birds are fed by these means. The ground is so hard that their tender beaks cannot penetrate it in search of worms; they frequent the windows and doorways where crumbs are thrown out, and follow the labourer closely in the very scanty work he can now perform. And great must be their sufferings, no doubt; yet even they are had in remembrance by Him who formed them: "not one of them is forgotten before God."

I was standing yesterday, watching the men as they grubbed and broke up the frozen earth, while the east wind blew through the bare trees with sharp asperity; numbers of little robins hovered round, and watched, with keen bright eyes, every stroke that fell. They darted to the very feet of the workmen, braved the noisy blow of the pickaxe, and hopped boldly among the fresh soil, as it was thrown about. The men entered with kindly feelings into their little anxieties, and threw every worm they could find towards them. They told us that the dish-washer (the provincial name for the Wagtail) came in search of worms-a most unusual food for them; and that the robins "pitched into them" with fury, when they thus ventured to intrude upon their rights.

Let us as we scatter crumbs from the window, or watch the little birds thus profiting by the labours of men-remember that we "are of more value" in the sight of God" than many sparrows;" and if He so tenderly takes thought for them, shall He not

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of THE COTTAGE GARDENER. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and expense; and we also request our coadjutors under no circumstances to reply to such private communications.

WALNUT-TREE PLANTING (H. L. B.).-No particular directions differing from those lately given for planting" on stations," generally, are required. Follow out these directions strictly, and take special care to stake the trees very firmly with three stakes to each. If you neglect this, your trees, being ten feet high, will wind-wave, so as to disturb and prevent their re-rooting. The same observations apply to your apple and pear-trees. All of them ought to have been in their places two months ago. The burnt wood from a fire in your neighbourhood will be excellent for mixing with the soil about the roots of your trees, and for any of your kitchen-garden crops.

MEASURING DISTANCES (A Subscriber).—Can any correspondent inform this inquirer "of an instrument for measuring distances, instead of having recourse to the old-fashioned and tedious process of the tape?" He is told the pedometer is not to be depended on.

MUSHROOM BEDS (C. J.).-These will succeed in a cellar. You will find full directions for making them at page 189 of the present volume. This volume began with No. 53, and there are 26 numbers in each of the preceding two volumes.

DUCKS (A Subscriber).—Your ducklings having swollen crops, drooping wings, and then dying, arises probably from want of water, and unwholesome food; but how could any one tell without more information, unless he were a wizard.

IVY ON TIMBER (A. Thurtell).—If you mean on dead timber, ivy will preserve it instead of injuring it; but if you mean live timber trees, ivy injures them by stopping up the pores in their bark, and shading them from the healthful influence of light and air. You will have seen the information you require about the mistletoe.

STRIKING CUTTINGS (L. C.).—You will do this in phials of water better in the spring. Sow verbena and chrysanthemum seed in a gentle hot-bed in March. You may raise the Egg-plant (Solanum melongena) in a hot-bed, and plant it out in a warm border at the end of May. The Tree mignonette is only the common variety trained in a peculiar manner, as is fully detailed by Mr. Beaton at page 37 of our last volume. If you render the staple of your soil mere friable, by mixing with it abundance of coal-ashes and lime rubbish, you will be able to grow on it mignonette.

WINTER-PRUNING ROSES (W. F.).-Mr. Beaton has entered so fully and so correctly into this subject, that nothing remains at present to be said. You, of course, can follow either his advice, or that of your friends. You certainly have nothing to fear from frost penetrating the wounds, if you attend to what Mr. Beaton said.

EARLY PEAS (S. W. Wade).-The Prince Albert, or May, is rather under three feet in height. It is that which we grow for our first crop. It comes in before the Early Frame, if sown at the same time; and is in every way its superior. The Hang-down Long-pod Bean may now be sown. Three inches is quite deep enough to sow it, even on your light soil. The Windsor bean does not succeed well for early sowing. Beans sown now if the month proves mild, will be a fortnight earlier for gathering than the same variety sown in March. HEATING HOTHOUSE BOILERS (S. N. V.).-Your papers shall appear. Have you any objection to give us your direction?

GUANO (J. R. Price).-Two ounces per square yard sprinkled over the surface, whilst onions are growing, will improve them; out do not give it to potatoes. Guano is far preferable to lime as an application to poor, cold land for turnips. But we should put lime for potatoes. Of course the crop will be small, but, probably, it will be healthy if autumn-planted.

OXALISES (A Young Beginner).-You planted these last November in old turf soil. All would grow better in pots with three-parts peat, and the other part like your present "turf soil," with about one-sixth sand. Or they would do in sandy peat altogether, and the same with your Hypoxis stellata, which is a very pretty flower on a very dwarf plant. Oxalis thirta and O. tubiflora are hardly worth growing; they are shy flowers. 0. spectabile, if true, is very fine, and we believe hardy. We have grown it for years in a light rich border. It flowers for a month or six weeks, from the end of May. 0. Gilord is not a true name, and we cannot make out what it is. O. Bowiei is a beautiful oxalis, and you are fortunate in having it now" coming up." Turn it out into a border, when the frosts are over, next May, and it will blossom all the sunimer. Keep all of them free from frost, and no more; and let us hear your other questions soon.

HYACINTH OFFSETS (C. W. L.)-Do not remove these from those in pots: you might do more harm than good by displacing them; and they cannot affect the present flowering of the parent bulbs.

CYTISUS (Ibid).-Yours is the small-leaved variety of Cytisus racemosus, alias rhodaphne. It is a fine showy, hardy, greenhouse shrub; requiring good leam—or loam and a little peat-to grow it in, and must be kept watered all the winter. Your plant is evidently too dry; let the pot stand in a saucer of water for a day or two, or till you perceive the surface turning moist; then let the plant drain for the next few days; and, when the soil is between "wet and dry,"

260

shift the plant into another pot; and by the middle of May, it will probably require another shift, if the pot is full of roots.

PANSIES (Ibid).-These may be planted under standard roses, with advantage to the former; but it is not high gardening to plant anything over the roots of roses. Pansies will not answer under tuchsias, unless the fuchsias were trimmed as standards; for the side or bottom branches would kill the pansies.

PASSION FLOWER (Ibid) -There are two or three seedling varieties in the nurseries which would grow against the south wall, on which the Maurandya Barclayana flourishes; and they are as hardy-or very nearly so as the old one. Of these, one called Passiflora Herbertii is the best.

ROSE-BUDS GRUB-EATEN (Faversham).—Every spring, the buds of your roses are eaten by a caterpillar (see note, vol. ii. p 86). Wash the rows with a mixture of f esh lime and soot, made into thick paint; and look out for the grubs, or rather caterpillars, early in May, which, after all, is the best cure.

PILLAR ROSES (T. S.).-Sempervirens odorata, about which you ask, is a fine, strong, light coloured climbing rose, which will grow ten feet, or more, against a pillar, and much more against a wall; but it does not require a wall. Your Triomphe de Bolwylla is an old rose, and will do for a pillar; but will not grow so strong as the odorata.

MUMMY WHEAT (Lady G. F.). We are extremely obliged by the offer, and useful in ormation, contained in your note, from which we venture to make this extract: "Lady G. F. writes to tell the Editor that she has some mummy wheat, which she can give to any one who likes to try it. She had it, four years ago, from Mitchell, at Brighton, to whom Lord Bristol had given one ear, grown from the seed found The farmer, who grew some acres last in the hand of a mummy. year, pronounces that it deteriorates, and he does not mean to grow any more; but the failure this year may be accidental, as it had not deteriorated till then."

WALL-NETTING (Rev. T. H. M.).-You ask us, "What is the best material for wall-neiting, and what sized mesh?" We think woollen, and half-inch mesh; but this is not the most economical. Canvas, as recommended by Mr. Errington, is the best covering, all things considered.

PEAR-TREE SHOOTS (W. H. G.)-You say, "At page 30, vol. 2, you gave me some directions respecting some young pear-trees, which were followed. The only new shoots made, were from the points of the previous year's growth. Will it not be well, in February, to shorten the shoots, (without reference to the new or old parts), according to the principles laid down in THE COTTAGE GARDENER, with regard to maiden trees?-see pages 164, and 209, vol. 1." reply-if you want to produce more shoots, in order to fill up the body of the tree at its commencement, you must shorten, as you propose; without such an object, you must be ruled by the character of the young wood alluded to; if ripe-looking, reserve them, if immature, it may be well to prune back to ripe-looking portions.

In

page 288.

GOAT KEEPING (Rev. R. P. T.).-Can any of our readers give genuine information as to the best kind of milch goat, and as to the best mode of keeping it? Such information will be useful to many. ALLOTMENT GARDENING (V. G. H.).—This, together with poultry, cow, and pig keeping, are treated of in our double number, at the end of every month.

NUMBER OF CABBAGES PER ACRE (Dr. Lang).—It is in p. 22, of the FARMERS' ALMANAC, by Cuthbert W. Johnson, and not in the GARDENERS' ALMANAC, by George W Johnson, that it is stated that 7400 cabbage plants are required for an acre, if planted at three feet apart. You say that "each plant will occupy a square of nine feet, and that there are only 4840 such squares in an acre."

ANNUALS FOR SMALL TOWN GARDENS (Tom Tough).-There is no really good new annual, or biennial, that would suit your situ tion. You must put up with the old sorts, and we shall soon name such as will answer best for confined situations, like yours.

TYING PLANTS TO SUPPORTERS (T. W.).-We will consider this subject, but we fear that the art of training plants to sticks can no more be taught by books, than the art of making boots and shoes; indeed, not so easily, and many plants are much disfigured by the best trainers.

PINE-APPLES (Ibid) -Your pines, shewing roots two inches above the soil, in the axils of the leaves, have been kept too comfortably since last September, otherwise they would not root from the axils of the leaves at this season. If the bottom leaves are good, that is, strong, with a healthy green hue, do not strip them off for the sake As soon as they throw up for fruit, it would be a of these roots. good plan to earth them up with small lumps of turfy soil, if provision is made for watering. Young plants might be potted deeper at the usual time, otherwise we would not disturb established plants for the sake of such roots.

BEGNONIA VENUSTA (Ibid).—This is one of the most splendid stove climbers we have; but at first, say, for the first three or four years, it requires a great deal of room. After that, it flowers, and may be kept in less compass. If it is cut in much, for want of room, while it is young, it will not flower for many years.

HYACINTHS (Vale).-It is difficult to say what is the cause of your hyacinths, in glasses, withering away and rotting; most probably the foliage was too much excited before sufficient roots were formed to supply the bulbs.

TROPOOLUM LOBBIANUM (Ibid).—This, or, indeed, all the summer tropœo.uns, would grow with you, backed, as your garden is, by the Malvern Hills. The finest Eccremocarpus we ever saw, was growing over an out-house, just beyond the " Herefordshire Beacon," not far from you locality, and is a good climber to stand a burning sun; and s is the Lophospermum, but it would not live over the winter. The Solanum jasminoides would flower against a house anywhere about Malvern, and live out the winter with little or no protection.

BRITISH QUEEN STRAWBERRIES UNFRUITFUL (G. Jones). Hav. ing so constantly failed in getting fruit, we recommend, root out all your British Queen strawberries-it is evident your soil does not suit that variety. We, too, are in the same predicament; half an acre of our ground would not furnish three uishes of the British Queen strawIt is one of the best, nevertheless, where berries in the whole season.

it succeeds. Keep one row and experiment on it. Strawberry plants to fruit, or rather force, next winter and spring, are prepared from the early runners of this next summer, as stated at page Nothing will improve your clayey soil so much as draining, and then burning the first six or nine inches. The white appearance on the plants in your frame, is the worst symptom of the damp fungus, and all the paris covered with it you will find quite dead. Your frame has been kept far too damp.

LONDON: Printed by HARRY WOOLDRIDGE, Winchester High Street, in the Parish of St. Mary Kalendar; and Published by WILLIAM SOMERVILLE ORR, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of Christ Church, City of London.-February 7th, 1850.

VALENTINE. Last year we gave the biography of the ecclesiastic commemorated on this day, and endeavoured to explain the origin of choosing valentines. This amatory selection was a costly fashion in the time of Charles II., for every gentleman had to make his chosen fair one a present of value; and those who wished for advancement at court took care to bestow their offerings upon the favourite and most influential lady of "the merry monarch." Thus, when Mrs. Stuart was in the ascendant with that king, the Duke of York and Lord Mandeville each chose her for his valentine; the latter giving her jewels valued at £300, and those presented by the Duke being worth £800. The offering brought by Montgomery was far more classical; for he combined, for the adornment of his chosen one, all the early flowers of the season.

Saxon name for Spring, in allusion to the lengthening days, is now adopted for the fast which occurs at the commencement of this season. Quadragesima, or fortieth, is said to have received its name because it is about the fortieth day before Easter; but also to be commemorative of the forty hours during which our Saviour was under the power of death; and of the forty days Roman Catholics are expected to abstain from flesh meat.

METEOROLOGY OF THE WEEK.-During the last twenty-three years, the average highest and lowest temperatures of these seven days has been respectively 45.5° and 32.0°; and, during the same period, there were 66 days on which rain fell, and 95 days were fine. The highest point reached by the thermometer was 57°, on the 17th in 1847; and the lowest 16°, on the 19th in 1845.

NATURAL PHENOMENA INDICATIVE OF WEATHER.-When the jonquils bloom early in March, they are said to announce that the following season will be very fine. Paper kites-says Dr. Forstermay be converted into useful prognostics of the wind. When several of them are let up together-the higher ones being successively tied to the back-sticks of those below them-they will ascend to a height of more than 1000 feet. When the upper kite moves in a direction different from the lower, the wind usually changes to that from which the upper kite indicates that it is blowing. When-adds Dr. Forster-by the motion of kites we perceive that the wind vibrates, or shifts its direction, we may be sure the weather will be squally. There is, also, a kind of bobbing motion sometimes imparted to kites by the wind, in variable weather. The kite seems to nod backwards and forwards-jerking the arm of the person holding the string.

MANY things are upon our table deserving notice; but we have only a brief space to devote to their consideration. First, because most meritorious, we will ask for attention to the monthly part of The Gardeners' Magazine of Botany. It is, decidedly, the best of all the highly-illustrated magazines devoted to gardening that has ever been published in this country. We have no room for descanting upon the merits of the practical and scientific essays which fill its fifty-six pages; and will, therefore, confine

ourselves to an enumeration of its embellishments. There are most superiorly coloured plates of Passiflora Belottii (Belott's passion-flower), with petals alternately white and pink; of a rose-coloured variety of Maurandya Barclayana (Barclay's Maurandya); of a hybrid Anemone japonica, of which the parents are the common Japanese anemone, and the Vineleaved Indian anemone; of a new pelargonium, called Flower of the Day, which certainly will be a fine bedding-out plant, if its trusses of scarlet flowers

No. LXXII, VOL III.

are large and globular, and not too much above its white-bordered leaves; of Calceolaria flexuosa, (Twisted calceolaria), a species more curious than handsome; and of Philodendron Simsii (Sims' philodendron)-a striking stove perennial, reminding us of the plants commonly known as arums. Besides these five coloured plates, there are eleven woodcut portraits of other flowers, executed in the highest style of the art; besides some six or eight other woodcuts of various subjects interesting to gardeners. As a whole, we see, in this monthly part, no reason to modify the high opinion we expressed of the first weekly number.

Next we have to notice some metallized gutta percha flower labels, of this size and form. The tongue, or

CONVOLVULUS MAJOR.

projection below, fits into a zinc stem, made of various lengths, and sharpened so as easily to be thrust into the soil. They are made of a brown and of a black colour (the first we like best); but in both, the letters are very boldly raised, and coloured so as to be very legible. A third sort is crescent-formed, with a hole through each corner of the crescent to admit thin wire, or string, for suspending them to shrubs and trees. They are of an imperishable nature; and if they can be sold at a moderate price, will meet with a ready sale.

Lastly, let us mention Mr. Denyer's Catalogue of Flower Seeds, which is well classed, and gives much useful information; but why not give the English names, and thus increase the interest amongst the most numerous class of purchasers? We have supplied (between brackets) this deficiency, in the following list, given by Mr. Denyer, of his annual "Evening Primroses :"

varieties, than which no one need require more;" but he knows little of human nature, or of gardener nature, who is not aware, that every knight of the spade has his own pet selection; and woe be to the seedsman who could not supply the chosen ones. Nor is this a mere matter of whim. Different varieties are often most excellent in different soils.

THE FRUIT-GARDEN.

KIDNEY-BEANS.—We must beg, whilst the season is young, to remark on this useful esculent, which, although not strictly within the precincts of fruitforcing, very frequently occupies shelves in the vinery or pinery. We will merely detail our practice, which is thoroughly successful. We plant, at first, in fiveinch pots, putting five sound and picked beans in a pot. These are placed on any warm shelf or kerbstone, where constant fires are used; and sometimes even beneath the piping, or in any dark out-the-way place, until the seeds are up-light not being necessary during this stage. It is of the greatest importance that the soil in which they are planted be thoroughly and equally moist; for what is termed mellow soil is too dry, and may cause them to require water before they come up-a process to be avoided, and which generally proves fatal to a portion of the crop. As soon as up, they are, of course, removed to a very light situation, and receive water-rather sparingly at first, but increased as the cotyledons and true leaves expand. We now suffer them to remain until the pots are thoroughly filled with roots; and, in the course of this period, we sometimes suffer them to receive a trifling check, through an hour or two's drought; only, not suffering them to flag. This is done in order to stiffen the plant; for, in the com parative absence of light which occurs at an early period, the plants are very apt to "draw," or grow weak; and this shows, indeed, how necessary it is to choose a light situation for them, and, if possible, near the glass. Just before we re-pot them, a central shoot becomes developed above the first pair of true leaves; this we pinch off, for it often becomes rambling and unmanageable: the consequence then is, that every plant pushes forth two in its stead. The plants are now shifted into their fruiting-pots, and, at an early season, we use seven-inch pots; but later, and when they have to endure a somewhat dry situ ation, a small size larger. Nothing, henceforth, is necessary, but to keep them in a light situation, to water them regularly-not suffering them at any time to be quite dry-and to gather the pods as soon as fit for use; for it is surprising how much a few overgrown pods exhaust the plants.

Compost for the Beans.-Mr. Paxton, in his calendars, some years since, recommended the use of the material from exhausted mushroom-beds. We have tried this material, and find it very excellent—as, indeed, might be expected-being, in general, good turfy loam and manure. As, however, the quantity of dung is, in general, disproportionate, we may advise equal parts of fibrous and slightly adhesive loam, leaf-mould, and rotten manure from old hot-beds-the whole in a mellow state, and well blended; if some charcoal dust can be added, so much the better. The pots must be well drained. We put a couple of inches of a mixture of course lumpy manure, rubbly charcoal, and old tan, with the dirt clean riddled out.

Liquid Manure.-This is of immense advantage to the kidney-bean, but must not be used until the plants commence blossoming, or it will cause them to grow