1843 before their turn came, and when we did begin we had no idea how deep they were buried, but we soon came to brickbats, and at last reached down to the roots, and now one could almost see what passed between the mind of the person, or persons, who conducted the operation nearly 20 years since. He was evidently an Eolian planter, and, like all planters who are disciples of Æolus, he believed if he could so arrange as to prepare means for a current of wind to reach the roots all should go on prosperously enough; therefore, his first preparation was to place a large cone of brickbats and the like all over the roots, and to carry a continuation of this up to very near the surface, resting the larger pieces against the body of the tree, and then covering the whole with such common soil as happened to be at hand. Now, there can be little

doubt but a large portion of the rains which fell on these trees passed down to the roots, and the porous materials were sufficient to drain the surrounding soil for a considerable distance all round, and by that means collected a large supply of water for the roots also; but there was no danger about any of this water getting stagnant about the roots, owing to the subsoil and situation. Therefore, we may reasonably conclude that these trees did not want for air or water in abundance, and yet they stood still for nearly 20 years; but, if they had been reared on the spot, and were in health at the time of alter ing the ground, and all these pains had been taken to ensure their safety, there is little doubt but the fact would afterwards be pointed to as of immense service; in fact, that this saved the lives of those beautiful trees; and, if you or I had a similar case in hand this winter, some such plan would probably be recommended to us as a safe experiment; but, in truth, it is very much worse than useless. I once knew a fine tree of the common hawthorn that had to be buried nine feet, and a walnut tree close by it, but a little higher up on a bank, that was covered up the stem seven feet, owing to alterations made in the slope of the ground; both these trees look as well as if nothing had been done to them, but then they were established when the ground was altered. I also recollect having had a stone quarry opened in a plantation of mixed trees, and there was a depth of four feet of loose gravel soil to be removed before we got down to the stone. This was wheeled out, and made into a high circular bank among the trees, and after six years the stone quarry was filled up with this bank of earth. During those six years, every one of the trees thus buried made roots into the fresh earth from their naked boles-not all the way up from the original surface, but in a ring just a little below the surface of the new earth; and some of the trees were sensibly thicker above this tier of roots than lower down; and there were more than a dozen of larch trees in this way-the very last tree in the country one could believe would root at all from its naked trunk.

The lesson which these facts teach us is obvious. If trees are, or must be, covered up to a certain depth, owing to buildings, or alterations to be done in their neighbourhood, it is much the safest way to pile up the soil against the trees at once; for, if the depth will ultimately kill them, no mode of trying to prevent it by brickwork will succeed. The two holly trees which we relieved in 1843 have since made a very promising growth. We opened a hole all round each of them down to the very roots, and about a yard from the trunk, so that the tree stood in the centre of a six feet opening; a large quantity of leaf mould and sand, in equal proportions, was worked

in among the roots, and up to a foot above them, and the rest was filled in with good mould and then turfed over. This winter we shall open a trench two feet wide just outside this ring of good earth, and probably the roots will meet us half way down, at any rate we shall dig deeply enough to reach them, but no deeper, unless they meet us very near the surface: this outer trench will be filled up with good soil, both to feed the tree and to encourage the roots to spread laterally and near to the surface.

Now, I can hardly think it possible for any of our readers to have a tree or bush in their gardens in a more hopeless case than those holly trees were in for many years; but they are now cured more surely than Mr. Holloway ever cured a bad leg; and I believe nine-tenths of the stunted plants one sees in garden grounds may be brought round in the same way. The worst cases I ever met with were trees which were originally turned out, or planted, from small pots without spreading out the roots. When that is not done, the large roots near the surface still keep the coiled position they necessarily assumed in the pot, and act on the balance of the tree like a corkscrew, upheaving it out of the ground as they increase in size, till, by-and by, it must either be propped up, or laid heels upwards some windy night. The only way to get over a case of this sort is to bare down to the coiled parts of the roots, and with a mallet and a pruning chisel cut through one or more of the coils near the collar of the root, and then filling in a sandy compost to facilitate the formation of new roots from the cut parts, and afterwards to lay in more good soil not far from the surface, to enable the new roots to extend rapidly, and take a firm hold of the ground; of course, all the coiled roots must not be cut at one time, for fear of killing the tree. The best way is to do the work one-third at a time, so that in three or four years the whole are released. There are few gardens of any extent in the country, that have been planted from 20 to 30 years back, which cannot furnish sad specimens of the effects of turning little plants out of small pots without shaking the soil away, and training out the roots in straight lines, as they ought to be. Another bad symptom is, when you see a fine, full-grown evergreen beginning to lose the leaves at the top. The cause of this is very easy to find out; the extreme roots are in the same predicament under the soil as the top branches are above; they thus sympathise with each other, just as a headache proceeds from a disordered stomach in our own experience: and the best cure is to work down to the roots, and if some are found to pass into a bad subsoil work them out, or, if that is difficult, cut them and place some good compost against them, working it out sideways to entice them, or new roots from them, nearer the surface. The next division is that were you see plants -that is, ornamental trees, shrubs, climbers, &c.looking tolerably well as a whole, but still not quite up to your mind. It will not do, now-a-days, to have these things passable; better grow only half the quantity, and attend to them properly. In large gardens a heap of compost is generally formed, from various refuse, purposely for assisting plants the moment they show any signs of getting languid, and this work is entrusted to the most intelligent of the garden men, who is allowed some more hands to assist him, and next summer, when beds and pot plants are being watered, he sees that his patients are not neglected. Where such operations are carried on systematically-and without a system we may

almost as well lie in bed-plants or trees that are placed out separately to form handsome specimens need not-indeed, should not-be placed in large pits in the first instance. It answers better to open the ground, every third or fourth year, outside the roots, and place a ring of good soil for them. When that is being done it is an easy matter to adjust the roots so that they make the best of the new soil; such as are naked, or getting too woody, ought to be cut back considerably, so as to produce a lot of young active mouths, and some rare species may be thus increased by making cuttings of such roots, or, what is preferable, when a long root is cut to keep it within proper bounds, the cut-off end may be drawn up so as to have a few inches of it exposed above the surface; and any root that will grow at all will have a better chance of doing so in that position than in any other way, as the whole length of its extreme end is still fixed in its original position. In all cases were additional good soil is given to plants growing surrounded by grass it will be right to place a couple of inches of the poorest soil on the surface for a bed to the turf, because without this the grass on the new relaid turf over the good earth would grow rank and greener than the surrounding surface, forming a "fairy ring;" and all this work should be got over before the sap begins to move in the spring. Old honeysuckles, clematis, climbing roses out of health, tree poonies, magnolias in dry places, new pinuses, and indeed all new and old trees, ought to be seen to and helped whenever a symptom of stand-still is manifest. D. BEATON.

GREENHOUSE AND WINDOW
GARDENING.

PROTECTING PLANTS, WATERING, &c.-Last week, among other matters, we directed attention to the importance of keeping green-house and window plants in cold pits comparatively cool and dry during the winter. This dryness, or withholding of water, will depend considerably as to whether the plants in pots are set upon a stage, on wood-shelves, or upon the ground, or floor of the pit. If upon the shelves, more water will be necessary, as the plants will be unable to absorb much moisture from the medium upon which the pots are placed. But even then nothing like an indiscriminate use of the watering-pot should be resorted to. The plants, or pots, of cuttings that seem unable to supply the means of evaporation from their foliage should be carefully singled out, and just receive as much water as would thoroughly reach all the roots, but not so much as would run over or through the pots, and thus deluge the floor of the pits, as the drier it can be kept the better. Where only a few plants want watering, and the collection is not large, it is advisable to lift the plants out, and return them again after being wellwatered, and the extra moisture drained away. All the instructions so frequently given in calendars, &c., about watering so many times in a week, just go for nothing. The watering must be regulated entirely by the state of the weather, the condition of the plants, and the position as respects the temperature and moisture in which they are placed. We have several times endeavoured to show the evils of the dribbling system, and the necessity of watering only where it was wanted; then doing it effectually, and waiting quietly until the services of the water-can were again required. This must be more particularly attended to in the circumstances to which we are

now referring-when obliged to water some plants in a growing state, and in a genial temperature, two or three times a week.

I have frequently had plants in these cold pits that did not require a drop for two or three months. There, moisture is always more ruinous than dryness. When the plants are set upon the floor much less watering will be necessary than when they are placed on shelves, as from the floor and atmosphere combined they will obtain nearly as much moisture as will meet the demands of the evaporating processes. True, if a sunny day cheers us in a course of dull foggy weather, the plants may appear a little distressed, as they have become unused to perspire so freely. Well, and shall we not give them a good drenching now, says some score of young ardent gardeners at once, to whom the sight of a leaf a little flaccid, or drooping, is wofully distressing. Perhaps it may be necessary, but, at all events, do not do it recklessly, and in a hurry; for though we like to see things done expeditiously, we have little faith in any thing that is set about in a hurry. Have you never experienced a strange glimmering sensation in your organs of vision when, after being shut up in a comparatively dark place, you at once emerged into the full blaze of a noonday sun? There was nothing wrong with the eye, but it required a little time to get used to the sudden transition from darkness to light; just so, in a majority of cases, will it be with plants in such circumstances. It is not so much the want of moisture as the sudden transition that affects them-a transition from a state of absorption in dull foggy weather, to one of perspiration in a bright day. When emerging suddenly from darkness into light, we instinctively shade the eye with the hand; and a worse policy might be resorted to in the case of plants so circumstanced, by first blunting, for a time, the force of the sun's rays. It will, generally, then be found that the plants will regain their usual appearance before the evening. However, as the presence of the sun in winter is too valuable, for hardening and condensing the tissues of the plant, to be long dispensed with, the tendency to flag in these sudden changes may be prevented by lessening the powers of the foliage, by dusting the plants several times with a fine misty vapour from the syringe, and giving but little air, as the keeping the plants comparatively close in sun heat will have none of the weakening and drawing tendencies that keeeping them thus shut up in a dull sultry atmosphere would unquestionably have. If the sun should thus appear for days, then watering will very likely be wanted, but should never be given without examining the plants individually, and performing the operation in the morning, that the surface of the pots may become comparatively dry before night. In fact, when only a few require it, and time is no object, the pots might be set in water, within an inch of the surface, allowed to drain, and then replaced-as, if dull or frosty weather should succeed, the drier the soil is the better will the plants be preserved, as the cold will have less influence, and evaporation from the soil will be diminished. Too much moisture in winter is the great thing to be avoided in cold pits.

IN CONSTRUCTING ANY PITs, therefore, either of brick or of turf, for such purposes, and that are to receive no assistance whatever from artificial heat, guard especially against sinking the bottom below the ground level-rather let it be elevated above it, well drained, and concreted.

Many of us professionals have our troubles with these sunk pits, but that is no reason why you should

follow our example. It is also of importance that air bricks, or openings provided with wood slides, should be let in, or left in, the front or back wall, on a level with the internal surface, as thus a circulation of air among the pots will be promoted more effectually than by any tilting or moving of the sashes merely that can be resorted to. Hence we have always found that a wooden frame set upon bricks, so as to admit a free circulation of air beneath, preserves greenhouse and half-hardy plants much better from damp and mildew than when the frame is set close to the ground, or the plants were placed in a common brick pit furnished with no such openings below. Of course such a frame would require much trouble in winter in regulating its covering and the protecting of its sides.

My principal stock of bedding-out plants stood until the other day upon a dry south border, protected above by some old sashes, resting at the back upon a rail and posts, and in the front upon some boles of trees laid down lengthwise. The air thus was enabled to circulate freely amongst the pots, and every fine day every alternate sash was lifted off and placed upon its next neighbour, as there was no convenience for sliding them. The plants, though treated in every other respect similarly, are yet more robust and hardy-looking than those coddled in frames and pits, and that received plenty of air by moving and sliding the sashes in the usual way. I, however, had provided myself with straw hurdles to shut in the back, litter to them along the front, and dry grass to place over the sashes in severe weather. I have frequently had to keep such things with less convenience all the winter, and I only removed them to a late vinery, where they could have abundance of air, not so much because, on the whole, the plants would do better, but because the trouble of watching the weather, and covering and uncovering, would be so far prevented during some of the worst months of the year, and also because any little attention they might require— such as stopping, picking, and cleaning-could be given in bad weather; while, if out of-doors, fine weather must have been devoted to such employment. Even on this account alone a small housesuch as that described by Mr. Beaton as "Fortune's pit"-will always convey more pleasure to an amateur than a structure of humbler dimensions, though of course the expense of the latter will be considerably less.

It may suit some of our friends to know that turf pits will answer every purpose of brick ones. In making them, do not sink the interior; place some drain tiles through the base of the front and back walls, furnished with wire netting on the inside, and with wooden plugs on the outside, so that air may thence be admitted without vermin; drive in posts at the back and front of the height you intend the pit to be: these posts are to receive the rails on which the rafters are to be fastened. If the back wall is to be three or four feet in height, then the width of the base should be at least eighteen inches, and the width at the top from nine inches to a foot. The greatest width might consist partly of earth, having long pieces of turf to act in the manner of ties or bonds; use the turf, if possible, rather dry, and put it firmly together; when well set, and you wish it to look neat, plaster the inside with a mortar made of water, clay well beaten, and chopped straw, or stable litter; aud, when this plaster is dry, brush over it with a wash made of lime and sand, adding a little soot, if too white for the summer. Plaster the outsides with gravel and clay, or concrete, made by mixing up,

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with a sufficiency of water, six barrowloads of grave and one of lime, put down quickly, and made smooth by the back of the spade, and an outer case when nearly dry; brush over, in a dry warm day, with coal-tar, and immediately throw over it road drift or rough sand. By these means, wet will be effectually excluded, and more frost kept out than by a thick brick wall, unless, indeed, it is built hollow.

R. FISH.

HOTHOUSE DEPARTMENT.

EXOTIC ORCHIDACEÆ. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, DEC. 4. On this day there was a meeting of the London Horticultural Society at their rooms in Regent-street. We happened to be present, and were so much gratified with the orchids exhibited that we are tempted to give some account of the best specimens, as an illustration of what good cultivation can effect. The finest specimens were three of Barkeria Skinneri, shown by Mr. Plant, gardener to J. H. Schroeder, Esq., of Stratford. These were all well grown and finely flowered, though in different degrees. The best had 18 flowerstems, many of them two and a half feet long, with spikes of flowers densely bloomed, each full nine inches long; the colour a most exquisite rosy purple. They were grown upon blocks of wood without any moss. Mr. Plant informed us that they had come to that state of perfection in a house very little warmer than a common greenhouse, and had been hung opposite the door, which was frequently opened. By such treatment they had thriven and come to the perfection as exhibited on this day. They were, indeed, by far the finest specimens we ever saw of this most lovely species. Three points of good culture were exemplified by them: first, they were grown on blocks without moss; secondly, they were grown in a comparatively low temperature; and, thirdly, with plenty of air during the day. We were glad to observe this, because it exactly coincided with our own views and practice, and because the lower the temperature they can be grown in the more persons will be enabled to cultivate them. In the same collection was a stately plant of the noble Vanda tricolor, with one spike of its large variegated flowers. Also, Mr. Plant had a good specimen of Angraecum bilobum, with four long spikes of its pretty white curiously tailed flowers, and several others of less note. Knightian Medal was deservedly adjudged to the above three plants. There were also some good orchids from the gardens of Mrs. Lawrence, of Ealing Park; Mr. Walker, gardener. He had good specimeus of Vanda insignis, with two spikes of flower, and Vanda tricolor with one spike. These were both healthy fine plants. He had also a nice plant of Vanda violacea, with two spikes of white violetspotted flowers. This is a lovely species, which usually flowers in winter. In the same collection there was also a large plant of Saccolabium denticulatum, with numerous spikes of its pretty toothed labellum and brown and white flowers; and a good plant of the lovely Lalia autumnalis, with one spike of highly coloured blooms. A Banksian Medal was awarded to the Saccolabium and the three Vandas. A small collection of orchids came from the nursery of T. Jackson and Son, of Kingston. In it was the lovely Odontoglossum membranaceum, and the equally pretty Lycaste Skinneri, with three of its large fine flowers; a certificate of merit was awarded to these. A good plant of Cypripedium insigne, well flowered with up

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wards of 20 blooms upon it, was exhibited by Mr. Munnock, gardener to C. Druce, Esq., of Denmarkhill. This is another good winter-flowering plant of great beauty. It possesses also the good quality of lasting a long time in flower, and is easily cultivated, requiring very moderate heat, in a mixture of rough loam and peat well drained.

STOVE PLANTS.-Mr. May, gardener to Mrs. Lawrence, sent three plants of the fine Aphelandra aurantiaca, with several spikes of fine deep orangecoloured blossoms. This is a good winter plant, but rather difficult to cultivate, requiring a bark stove and a high temperature. A specimen of Vriesia speciosa came from Messrs. Jackson and Son. This beautiful plant is better known as Tillandsia splendens. It was shown in good condition. The leaves are in form something like those of the pine-apple, but have no spines. They are beautifully barred on the under side with broad brownish purple stripes. The flower-stem rises from the centre clothed with scarlet bractes, arranged in two rows and flattened in form, looking something like, as the Secretary, Dr. Lindley, remarked, a scarlet feather. The flowers are yellow, but inconspicuous. The colour of the bractes was not quite up to the mark, no doubt on account of the dark season of the year.

GREENHOUSE PLANTS. - A dwarf Chrysanthemum, two feet high and two feet through, was exhibited by Mr. Moore, of the Chelsea Botanical Gardens, to show the mode by which it had been managed to procure dwarf plants. It had been struck from a cutting very early in spring, and stopped and potted repeatedly. The result was, the dwarf plant full of flowers as exhibited. A new hybrid heath, Erica elegantissima, with short crimson, tipped with white, bunches of flowers, was sent by Mr. E. G. Henderson, of St. John's Wood Nursery. This promises to be a valuable addition to our winter-blooming heaths.

FRUIT.-A large basket of Muscat of Alexandria grapes was sent from the gardens of Nash, Esq., of Bishop Stortford. These were finely swelled berries of the most beautiful amber colour; they were, indeed, perfection itself. A new pine was exhibited by Mr. Wilmot, market gardener, Isleworth. It was named the Prince Albert pine, weight 5lbs. 6oz. Its shape was in the way of the old Enville; flavour good, and the cone not faulty, as the generality of black pines are at this season. He had also a fair specimen of the Blood pine, weight 3lbs. 12oz., more remarkable for its singular dark colour than any other quality. There was a large dish of the fruit of Benthamia fragifera (a plant from Nepaul); the fruit is not eatable, but very ornamental. These were grown against a wall in Devonshire. The fruit is something like overgrown raspberries, of a dull red colour, and must be very handsome on the tree. The Chairman stated that he had seen them growing in Devonshire and the West of England. They are hardy enough to stand the open air in that part of the country, but not more northwards.

In miscellaneous matters relating to gardening, there was exhibited a good kind of label for naming hardy shrubs or trees, used, as we understood, in the Arboretum at Derby. It is made of a peculiar kind of pottery ware. The names are painted on a sloping face, and burnt into the material. It appeared to be excellent for the purpose, having the two good qualities of durability and legibility; but the expense was against it, each costing Is. 3d.

From the garden of the society there was, as usual, a table covered with plants, consisting of some large plants of Chrysanthemums, well flowered; a good

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Manettia bicolor, a plant useful as a winter flower; and a plant in flower of Abronia umbellata. promises to be a good bedding plant. It has pink flowers, arranged in umbels in the way of verbenas, and has an agreeable perfume.

The rooms were ornamented by a collection of wax flowers from Mrs. Dorville, 199, Öxford-street, artiste, as was stated, to her Majesty the Queen, and patronised by the Duchess of Sutherland. These were exhibited in glass cases, and were exceedingly creditable to the artist, both for their exquisite modelling and beautiful colouring. Mrs. Dorville appears to have brought the art of thus imitating flowers to the highest perfection. We particularly noticed the following, as being so like the real flowers as almost to deceive a connoiseur:-Hoya carnosa, with a long branch of leaves and branches of flowers. Sophronitis grandiflorus, an orchid fastened to a natural log; the leaves and pseudo-bulbs, as well as two flowers, well imitated. The art of imitating, and, as it were, immortalising, flowers in wax, is a most elegant and pleasing amusement for ladies. We have the pleasure of Mrs. Dorville's acquaintance, and have often seen with great delight her large collection of wax flowers. Wo consider them well worth inspecting, and are sure she will have great pleasure in showing them, in her usual pleasing manner, to any respectable party who may think fit to honour her with a call.

The exhibition of so many orchidaceous plants in flower in the month of December proves the great value of these plants as abundant producers of beautiful flowers at this season of the year. This tribe of plants, indeed, flower all the year round, more or less. In that respect they are far superior to any other, except, perhaps, Cape heaths; and they have the advantage even of that fine tribe of plants in the size and splendour, as well as exquisite fragrance, of various species. It was with a view to show this superiority of orchidaceous plants that we were induced to fill the space this week allotted to us with the foregoing notice of the meeting in Regent-street; and, as a further proof, we subjoin a list of orchids now in flower under our care at Pine-Apple-place. We hope this will induce numbers of our readers, who may have the means and opportunity, to commence growing them. By our own feelings and experience we can assure them that they will never regret cultivating, as far as may be prudent, this most interesting tribe of plants.

ORCHIDACEOUS PLANTS NOW IN FLOWER AT MESSRS. HENDERSON'S, PINE-APPLE-PLACE.

Among Moss ROSES, Etna is, perhaps, the most striking of the new varieties; its flowers are brilliant crimson, overspread with a soft shade of purple, large and double; the growth is moderate, and it belongs to that class of roses called "showy." Another in this class, Princesse Royale of Portemen, is well worthy of a place in the choicest collection. It resembles Perpetual Bernard in the size, form, and colour, of the flowers. Laneii is also deserving of a passing word of commendation; the flowers are rosy crimson, tinted with purple, globular in shape, large, and full; this is a bold rose, of vigorous growth, but not so mossy as some. The greatest novelty among FRENCH ROSES is Ohl, the ground colour of which is dark crimson, occasionally relieved with bands of scarlet, giving the flower that rich fiery appearance which cannot fail to attract the attention; moreover, the flower being large and very double, it is an excellent show rose. There are also some very pretty STRIPED FRENCH ROSES, of recent introduction, which, from the pleasing variety they form, are desiderata. these, Oillet flamande and Perle des panachees are the best. The former is white, striped with rose and rosy lilac; the latter is also white, but it is striped with one colour onlyrose. Both are of moderate growth, and bloom freely.

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Among AUTUMNAL ROSES there are two perpetual moss -Mauget and General Druot--both of recent introduction. Mauget is figured faithfully in "The Rose Garden," and is undeniably the finer variety of the two, but it is one of the most delicate of roses, and few succeed in developing its beauties; the form of the flower is unique, the colour soft rosy crimson. General Druot, with less double and less perfect flowers, of a purplish crimson, is of free growth, and, consequently, more generally met with.

But the HYBRID PERPETUALS present us with the richest stores of novelty, and, rare combination, quality too. Belle Americaine is a finely formed blush rose, of close habit of growth and very sweet. Chateaubrilliant is of the most bewitching tint-pure pink-found among the tribe. The flowers are large, but only semi-double; as if Nature, in the distribution of her gifts, avoided the concentration of perfection in all points in the same flower. Here also belong Duchesse de Praslin, with flowers of a delicate blush, the centre pink; General Negrier, one of the lightest in colour, a large and full-cupped flower, apparently not over luxuriant; and Standard of Marengo, with flowers of the most brilliant crimson, large and double, and of elegant form; these are new and excellent. But we must not forget Docteur Arnol, whose flowers, though not over large, are perfect in form; they are bright red when newly expanded, dying off light red. Cymedor, too, though much talked of, is not yet universally known. It is one of those brilliant tints, the sight of which on a chilly day in November is peculiarly agreeable. Madame Pepin is a very pretty rose, large and full; the flowers are of a roseate hue, the back of the petals being nearly white. Pius-the-Ninth is a flower of regular form, large and full, colour brilliant crimson. Polybe, a rose-coloured flower, with lilac edges, is large, full, and of good form. Reine des Fleurs is larger than the last, more globular, and lighter in colour; indeed, it is nearly pink. Soleil d'Austerlitz is a flower of great promise; it is crimson, large, and full; the tree is of vigorous growth. Lastly, the Geant des Batailles calls for a brief description, as one of the most striking among new roses;

it is crimson-blood colour, often shaded with purple; the growth is scarcely above the average. T. APPLEBY.

THE KITCHEN-GARDEN.

ROUTINE WORK.-The dark short days of December have pretty well ended all the sowing and planting operations in this department, but there is plenty to do even at this season in methodically planning our operations, and making arrangements for the future. Old walks should be turned and cased anew, and if the edgings are uneven, or in any way out of order, they should be renovated, for whether these consist of box, thrift, slate, tile, boarding, flints, pebbles, or any other material, it is only a neglectful gardener who allows them to remain broken and uneven. Let all old drains, gratingtraps, and cess-pools be cleansed and put in order, and new ones made, if requisite. The outside fences of banks, hedges, and ditches, should also be trimmed and plashed, and all ditches and water-tubs should be examined, and thoroughly cleaned out. All the ditch scourings, with all other kinds of refuse and rubbish, should be collected together, and be placed as a foundation for putting other manure upon, for the purpose of absorbing its juices. Our system is, to spread, in the first place, on all such accumulations, a considerable portion of salt, which not only destroys the slug and its larvæ, as well as many other obnoxious insects, kills the weeds, &c., but converts the whole heap into manure of the most valuable kind. Every body knows the beneficial effect of seaweed as a manure; and those who are living too far inland to procure this advantage may prepare something similar to sea-weed by thus adding salt (which is now so cheap) to all the ditch scourings, refuse earth, and rakings of every description, weeds included, if such things exist after our repeated admonitions with regard to hoeing, forking, and surfacestirring the earth; for if our directions have been fully carried out neither weeds nor slugs will be found to any extent, and not only will the soil have become doubly productive in consequence, but the crops will be more clean, healthy, and of a very superior quality. Advantage, too, should at this season be taken on frosty mornings, and on other favourable opportunities, not only to collect together all materials fit for converting into manure, but to wheel on to all spare ground that which is already fit for use. Deep trenching, ridging, and the forming of sloping banks when any space is unoccupied, should be attended to; and after all this work has been done, frosty mornings may still be profitably occupied in routing over ground that may have been some time ridged, &c., with a strong fork or pick-axe, thereby destroying the vermin, and permanently improving the soil by pulverizing and exposing it to the beneficial influence of the atmosphere. A moderate portion of salt, too, strewn over spare ground, and left to be washed in by the winter rains, is also very beneficial; and when salt is added, as before recommended, to the manure heap, it greatly enhances its value, particularly when applied to the brassica, turnip, or mangold-wurtzel family of plants, as well as corn. How often do we see valuable materials allowed to waste away, and in some instances even to become a nuisance to the neighbouring dwellings, in the stagnant open gutters, aud ill-drained pools of sewerage, which, if collected, and added to the manure accumulations, would afford a lasting benefit to the ground, which, at this season,