FebraaiT 29, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AXD COTTAGE GAKDEXEE. 



189 



the caTem-dwelling genus Hyphophthalmns. Mr. F. Smith [ 

 stated that a specimen of the Dog Tick had been sent him 

 from Canterbury Cathedral as a fat Spider peculiar to that 

 building. | 



Mr. Lewis made some observations on the nomenclature of 

 X.epidopterous insects, occasioned by Mr. Crotch's paper in the 

 last part of the *' Cistula Entomologica." 



EFFECTS OF BOTTOM HEAT ON PLANTS 

 GROWING OUT OF DOORS. 



The following facts are of sufficient practical Importance, I 

 think, to merit attention, and some of your readers may pro- 

 bably have something further to say on this subject. 



Late in the spring of 1870, we had occasion to move a num- 

 ber of somewhat stunted common Laurels that formed part of 

 a bank. Some of them were planted about the pleasure grounds 

 in ordinarily favourable situations, but as the season was very 

 dry they may be said to have survived only without making 

 any growth. Last year (1871) they recovered themselves, and 

 made about 6 inches of young wood generally. I state these 

 facts for the purpose of comparison. Another lot of the same 

 plants were planted behind a lean-to Melon pit, ou a north aspect 

 to hide the brick wall, and, so far as soil and situation are con- 

 cerned, under less favourable circumstances than the others. 

 Listead of remaining dormant the first year, however, they 

 started into growth immediately, and by midsummer had made 

 a luxuriant growth, when they rested a bit and then made a 

 fresh start again, finishing a stQl more luxuriant growth about 

 the end of October, and producing two distiuct growths on every 

 shoot, each about 1 foot in length, and which anyone unac- 

 quainted with the circumstances would have pronounced de- 

 cidedly to be two years' growth ; the first growth having all 

 the hardness and maturity of a last year's shoot. As the later 

 growths were soft, and as last winter was severe, I fully expected 

 they would be killed by the frost ; but they suffered no injury 

 whatever, while the Laurels in other places were browned con- 

 siderably. 



Last summer (1871) they again made two distinct growths, 

 adding to their stature from 3 to 5 feet in two years. Now for 

 the secret. The pit against which the Laurels are growing is 

 kept at a high temperature all the year round, and the ground 

 ■where the roots of the shrubs are is about a foot or more above 

 the level of the path inside the Melon house, hence the warmth 

 to the ground outside for nearly 4 feet from the wall. 



I tested the temperature of the soil among the roots of the 

 Laurels, about 2 feet from the wall, and found it to be 46' ; 

 while in an open bed, a few paces off, the thermometer stood 

 at 39" ; this was about the end of December last. 



I think it is Dr. Lindley who somewhere discusses the 

 probability of plants having the power to resist a considerable 

 degree of cold when their roots are in a comparatively warm 

 medium, the theory being that the heat is communicated to 

 the stems and leaves through the roots. The facts I have 

 stated would seem to bear out such a theory ; and, no doubt, 

 similar instances might be recorded. Some of your readers 

 will perhaps remember a paragraph which appeared' in a con- 

 temporary some time ago, recording ripe Strawberries in the 

 open air early in May, if I recollect aright, in Yorkshire. This 

 was true enough, but their earUness was due to a strong 

 bottom heat, originating from nothing less than a coal pit on 

 fire. We saw the Strawberry patch in question last summer, 

 and found the plants blooming and bearing then, in a bottom 

 heat of 8-3' or 90°. 



With such facts as these before us, we may reasonably sup- 

 pose that such things as Apples and Pears, Ac, might be safely 

 and advantageously treated to a higher root temperature, when 

 growing out of doors, than is naturally communicated to the 

 soil under ordinary conditions. There can be little doubt that, 

 with their roots in a comparatively warm temperature, the 

 trees would be able to resist a greater degree of cold when in 

 bliom, and we maybe sure the fruit would be earlier and better 

 ripened. Here, on the extreme limits of Pear-growing, we have 

 been cogitating on the practicability of heated borders for the 

 better kinds of dessert Apples and Pears. We would propose 

 to plant in quantity dwarf pyramids in rows about 6 feet apart 

 aid would furnish bottom heat by means of 2-inch hot-water 

 pipes ; a single row of pipes being laid under each row of trees, 

 burying them in the subsoil, say 4 feet from the surface. This 

 would be ample heating power, and the depth at which the 

 pipes lay would prevent aU danger from aecideiits to the roots. 



Mulching the surface would, of course, be advantageous in 

 various ways, and be a means of economising the heat. I am 

 not aware that anything of this kind has been tried yet ; and 

 these are only suggestions, which I leave yom- readers to 

 discuss. — J. S., Worthy. 



'Aloag with this we have received a shoot of Laurel from 

 Mr. Simpson, showing the two distinct growths, each about 

 1 foot in length.] — (The Gardener.) 



Rose rs Flowee. — To show the mildness of the present 

 season, let me mention that I have a Lamarque (Noisette) Rose 

 tree in bloom in the open air (Feb. 26th). WUl any of your 

 subscribers say if they have ever known a Noisette Rose tree 

 bloom in February ? The tree is against a south wall, and was 

 only planted last spring. — Johs E. M. Camii, Monhton Wyld, 

 Charmouth. 



INFLrENCE OF MANURES— PREPARING 

 GROUND FOR ROSES. 



Is my former communication I was induced to make a few 

 remarks as to the possibility of iron and other agents having 

 a marked effect ou the growth of plants ; and, I may mention 

 that I was much interested by the account contained in your 

 columns of some experiments with regard to the influence of 

 this and other manures on the colours of plants. By these, it 

 appeals that iron does not produce so marked an effect on the 

 giowth as might have been expected. I myself think that iron, 

 being a constituent in the blood of animals, must be a neces- 

 sary one in the ash of plants. 



Two or three other manures occur to my mind, the effect of 

 which can only be mechanical. Of these cocoa-nut fibre and 

 charcoal are notable instances. The former may be very 

 valuable in its way for Orchids, or any plant requiring a 

 fibrous soil ; and I have no doubt that youi' correspondent's 

 suggestion that Hyacinths may be very successfully grown in 

 it is a good one ; but the actual mammal value of either may 

 be considered almost nil. 



I should now like to give my ideas as to the best method of 

 forming a rosarium ; and although the subject is one that has 

 been often pretty well handled, I may, perhaps, notwithstand- 

 ing, be able to throw a little fresh light upon it. 



The first thing to be seen to is that the soil is brought into 

 a proper state by mechanical means, and the second that it 

 is emiched to such a degree as to insure success. If your 

 sou is light, and you intend to grow the Briar to some extent, 

 or even Roses on their own roots, you must stiffen it more or 

 less. Where money is no object, you may get a contractor to 

 provide you at, perhaps, a cost of 10>. to 15s. per load, with 

 some rich clay loam and grass sods to a depth of two spits ; 

 but if you cannot afford this, take the opportunity of laying-in 

 a stock of good clay, which you may often obtain for little 

 more than the cost of cartage. This should be put on to the 

 extent of 4 inches in depth, or about a barrowload to a square 

 yard, and left exposed to the action of the winter's £rosts 

 until the spring, when the process of amalgamation wiU he 

 found to be much accelerated. Tour plants, if already pur- 

 chased, should in the meanwhile be carefully laid-in in a 

 sheltered spot. If you happen to have one of those wretched 

 gravelly soils mentioned by the Rev. S. R. Hole, add a quantity 

 i equal to its own bulk of the best ordinary soil that can be pro- 

 cured ; and where burning it is practicable, I strongly recom- 

 mend clay. If your soil is rather stiff it must be somewhat 

 lightened for the Manetti and China Roses, and this can be 

 effected by addition of sand or light loam. 



I now come to the important question of manure. I strongly 

 inculcate laying a good foundation of what is best called mine- 

 ral manure. For obtaining a supply of phosphoric acid I 

 recommend bones ; and I do not think it is of great moment 

 in a proper close soil whether they are half- inch or crushed, 

 though perhaps the latter may be rather slower and more 

 lasting. Apply them at the rate of two tons per acre, or 1 lb. 

 per square yard, and even double this amount may be given 

 with safety, as this only allows about 3 ounces for the 

 12 inches deep of soil, the'least we can calculate to enrich. 

 One per cent, would be a grand basis. Potash must next be 

 supplied, if it is even at the risk of some trouble or of disgust- 

 ing vour gardener. It should be sulphate of potash, and should 

 be applied to the extent of half the quantity of bone dust. Be 

 careful, however, not to buy any substance cont ainin g only a 



