1833.] THE SIN of ridiculing afflicted persONS. 337 unfortunate objects of God's just displeasure against the wanton and foolish wickedness of their parent. We may be sure sin will find us out: if not always in this world, it will in the next; but even here we are not always exempted from punishment.

We should learn, by such examples, not to make a mock or jest of the unfortunate, but to compassionate and aid them, remembering that we are also in the body, and that their affliction may be soon ours; and if in mercy it be not, we have nothing that we have not received, and are every day pensioners on the Divine bounty for all we have and all we enjoy ;-which may God ever give us grace to remember with thankfulness and gratitude to the giver. VERITAS.

Sept. 1833.

Such examples as the above should lead us to the reflections suggested by "Veritas:" but we shall be drawn into great error, if we always look for God's judgments in this world, or if we are led to believe, that our conduct is always approved by the Almighty, when it is not punished here. It is in the world to come that God's righteous judgment will fully be seen; but as men are too ready to forget the "judgment to come," God does seem in mercy frequently to remind us here, that sin is abomination in his sight: he punishes the sinner often, in himself and in his family. In the above narrative, the parent suffered in seeing the affliction of her children: and the children suffered, though innocent of their parent's crime. The sins of parents are often visited upon their children in this world; as careless, and profligate, and drunken parents, have a race of children who are a torment to their parents and themselves. But this world is soon over. In the world to come, a man's true condition is fixed, according to what he himself is, and not according to what his parents have been. In judging others, too, we are not to believe that those who are afflicted in this world are necessarily the objects of God's displeasure. Their afflictions are often found to be the greatest proofs of His mercy, as having been made the means of drawing them effectually to Him.. V..

MR. EDITOR,

GARDENING, &c.

PERHAPS Some of the enclosed extracts may afford amusement or profit to your Cottage Horticulturists and Florists. If near a market town pet flowers in pots may

find a

sale.

A. Z.

THE following articles sent by our correspondent A. Z., will be useful to those who are aiming at prizes for the best show flowers. There seems to be great spirit in many parts of the country for the cultivation of good flowers.

THE POLYANTHUS requires a shady situation, like the wild primrose. In planting, it should be set deep enough to have the leaves close upon the soil. The following suits best: strong fresh loam, a small portion of sand or gravel, one forth of leaf mould, and one sixth of well rotted cow-dung. Pot, or replant, when the plants have done flowering, and the seed is nearly perfect (generally about the end of May); pots should be well drained; beds higher than the surrounding ground. The carrot-like part of old roots should be cut off, keeping only the part which has plenty of young fibres; and in dividing plants, keep only the strong offsets; after potting, water freely; set the pots in an airy, shady place, and water no more till the plants seem to have struck. At the end of October dress the plants in pots and put them in a pit or frame. If of wood, the outside must be protected by coal ashes, or earth, &c. The pots must be set on bricks, so that air can circulate freely round the plants, and be raised to about a foot from the glass. Plunging the pots up to the rims in coal ashes at the bottom of the frame or pits, keeps slugs from creeping up, and preserves the roots. Give as much air as

possible, so that the plants are not injured by wet: frost rarely damages them. Keep them moderately dry from November to February. When they begin to push, give more water. Plants in the open ground may have a fence of bricks placed round them, and covered by a wooden shutter during the winter, coal ashes or lime shreds being sprinkled on the outside of the bed. About

1833.]

GARDENING, &c.

339

the first week in March, top-dress the plants, taking off about an inch of the soil, and replacing it with rich compost. Thin out the flower pips as soon as possible, leaving about six outside ones. When in full flower, shade them from the sun, to preserve the colours. If the green fly infests the plants, sprinkle with diluted tobacco water. Gather the seed when ripe; sow in spring. If raised in a hot-bed frame, gradually harden the plants, till strong enough to transplant into single pots, or into beds. When they bloom, cast away all pin eyes; keep only such as have fine yellow or golden edge, and strong ground colours. Finest sorts Watherhouse's George the Fourth, Buck's ditto; Haworth's William the Fourth, Stead's Telegraph, Cox's Regent, Nicholson's Bang Europe, Hufton's Lord Grey, Lord Brougham, Lord J. Russel, Billing's Queen, Parke's Nelson, Turner's Emperor, Crownshaw's Invincible, Billington's Beauty of Over, and Fletcher's Defiance.-Abridged from an Article by William Jackson, Florist, in Harrison's Floricultural Cabinet for August, 1833.

THE HEART'S EASE, should be planted in clumps or beds. It likes a cool moist situation, and ought not to be placed on raised beds, but on such as are level with the alleys. The seed may be sown early in spring, in cold frames to bring it forward, and where the plants are sheltered from cold winds and hail storms, till the weather gets warm and settled, when they may be planted in the open garden. They are propagated by dividing the roots, or by cuttings, placed under small hand glasses in June.

These

flowers are now in great request.-Abridged from an Extract from "Hogg's Supplement to the Practical Cultivation of Florist Flowers," in the same Number of the Floricultural Cabinet.

To continue the same sorts, both of the polyanthus and heart's ease, take cuttings or parts of the roots.Sowing seeds gives varieties, and a chance of good new sorts.

To prevent Pinks or Carnations from bursting.-The best and neatest way is to use calf or sheep's bladder, blown up, and a little dried; cut it into shreds, about an

eighth of an inch broad, and long enough to wrap two or three times round the middle of the pods, to which the shreds will adhere as if glued, when applied after being a little moistened. When the flower is open the shred may be taken off by wetting it, and this is necessary if the flower is to be exhibited, no such accommodation being allowed by florists. Extreme richness of soil, and the moisture with which the plants may have been supplied, encourage the defect of bursting.—Abridged from the same Number of the Cabinet.

N.B. As the sun injures carnations, a shade or awning of Scotch gauze, supported by sticks, may be placed over them when in bloom. TRANSCRIBER.

Planting Forest Trees.-I trench and drain the ground, then plant the trees pretty close, attend carefully to thinning out the nurseries when they become too rank. I never prune my trees, but leave them to nature.-An Old Planter. Horticultural Register.

Holly for Hedges.-These should never be transplanted in winter: if removed at midsummer they scarcely sustain a check. W. W.

We should think spring time better, after the frosts are gone, and before the ground has become hot and dry. ED.

Uses of the Horse Chestnut.-The wood sells well, and is used by turners and coopers. It thrives near water and on wet soils. It is supposed by some persons that deer only will eat the fruit. Pigs will eat it, and are fed with it in Cashmere, where it is wild in the woods.

The husks when nearly ripe, broken (not cut) into small pieces, and steeped in cold soft water, with as much soap as will tinge it, produce in a few hours a buff colour, which, when the liquor is poured from the refuse, will dye linen, cotton, &c. permanently. TRANSCRIBER.

Reaping unripe wheat-This has been successfully tried in North Wiltshire. Cut a week or eight days be fore it is ripe; it is a great deal better than when allowed to be fully ripe. Let the wheat lie in grit about one day after cutting, and then tie it up in very small sheaves, otherwise it will grow fusty in the middle. The corn will

1833.]

MORIES LYGARDENING, &C. (02/10)

341

be plumper at thrashing, of a better colour, and less subject to the attacks of the weevil. Horticultural Register.

A

Another Account-The cutting of wheat, eight days before it is ripe, secures it from accidental loss by shaking, the grain is of a finer quality, but the quantity per acre, by weight, is less; still the quantity of flour is greater, for the deficiency is in the bran, Wheat so cut appears to be equally liable to attacks from the weevil, as that which is cut ripe. (Signed) T. K. Short.

Horticultural Register.

Planting large branches of trees-If the branch of an apple tree be taken off whilst it is in blossom, and immediately planted in swampy ground, it will take root, and bear fruit that season. This method has been tried with success; therefore, it is probable that the branch of a pear, peach, plum, mulberry, or any other fruit tree, if taken off in spring or summer, whilst the tree is in full sap, will also take root, and become a new tree. Thus, choice sorts, such as the old nonpareils, golden pippins, &c. may be for ever sustained.

(Signed) Henry Brooke. Sent by A. Z.

As knowledge comes by experience, it is well for those who have the opportunity to try such experiments as the above. We will venture, however, to prepare them to expect disappointments. Branches of trees, when the sap is in them, planted in wet places, will continue alive for a long time, and may probably go through the process of bearing fruit, though they may die afterwards. There is a tendency in all live wood to make a root, some sorts more slowly than others. If the situation be very moist and shady, a root may be formed before the sap is dried up: large branches of mulberry trees will take root, but we have generally observed that these and other trees, under similar circumstances, have been poor and stunted, and seemed rather to drag out an existence than to thrive and flourish. Editor.

Jerusalem Artichokes-Jerusalem Artichokes will make a screen in hot and dry seasons, for strawberries, and other seed or nursery beds, particularly in sandy or gravelly soils.