September 15, 1863. ] JOUENAL OF HOBTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 



21S 



attached below the apex. The ovary is seated on a broad 

 hypopfynous disk twice its own width, and is dotted, four- 

 celled, terminated by a simple style, with an obscurely foui-- 

 lobed stigma. The cells of the ovary are two-ovulate, but 

 only one seed seems to be perfected. The plant, both fresh 

 and dry, has a strong odour of Kue. — {Garden Companion.) 



MAEKI^'G TREES. 



EvEKY one has felt the want of some effective plan of 

 marking fi-uit trees in the orchard. All sorts of labels have 

 been tned ; and most persons depend for strict accuracy on 

 having a manuscript list made of the trees as they are 

 numerically aiTanged on the ground. This is very weU; 

 but as one must have the list always about, or sometimes 

 likes to gi-aft several kinds on one tree, the plan is so far 

 objectionable. 



Now it is a well-known fact that the scratch of a pin on 

 the bai'k leaves a scar that endures almost with the life of 

 the tree. We were shown a Beech tree recently in Dela- 

 ware county by a middle-aged man with the initials of his 

 father stiU plainly traceable, which were scratched on the 

 bark when his father was a boy. The same can be done 

 with fi-uit trees, as we believe we saw suggested some years 

 ago in an agricultural jom-nal, but which, like a good many 

 good ideas that yeai-ly float over the great sea of the agricul- 

 tural press, has nearly been forgotten. 



We saw some trees a few 

 days ago that had been 

 marked in this way, and it 

 reminded us that the idea 

 was worth resuscitating. 



The annexed cut will ex- 

 plain the idea clearly : 



The letters of the name 

 are scratched on the under 

 side of the branch, and the 

 letters one above the other. 

 In the case we saw there 

 were two kinds on the two 

 arms of the tree — Baldwin 



and Northern Spy; the main or central stem being of 

 another kind, the name of which we do not now remember. 

 — {American Gardened s Monthly.) 



,,-3^ttii^|:fe%,,^ 



RAPID DECAY OF ZINC TANKS. 



About two years since I built a small gi-eenhouse and 

 propagating-house, which I heated by a tank of zinc covered 

 with galvanised sheet iron, as being stronger to support the 

 plunging material for propagating in than zinc. I ibund on 

 opening the tank a few days since that a white deposit had 

 formed on the under side of the sheets of galvanised ii-on, 

 some of which I have scraped off and sent with this, and 

 shall be much obUged if you could ascertain for me the 

 nature of it. This deposit has fallen in places into the zinc 

 tank and coiToded it nearly through. The zinc is, in fact, 

 worn into small holes, which are so nearly through that a 

 pin penetrates them as easily as it would through brown 

 paper. 



My object in writing is twofold : first to be of use to any 

 persons who may be about to make tanks of zinc in caution- 

 ing them not on any account to cover the tank with " gal- 

 vanised u'on ; " and next, to ascertain what will be the most 

 efl'ectual and economical means to remedy this disaster. 

 Would you recommend a wood tank or another zinc tank 

 covered with slate ? The tank worked so satisfactorily 

 untU it began to leak fi'om the cause above stated, that I 

 much prefer this plan of heating to that by pipes. If I put 

 a zinc tank the present framework of wood would do ; but if 

 a wood one, it must be new altogether. I conclude that in 

 the course of the circulation of the water some of this 

 deposit must have gone into the boiler, and I suppose that if 

 I have a new zinc tank it wiU probably be again discharged 

 to some extent by the same means out of the boiler into 

 the tank, and wiU, probably, again coiTode the new zinc 

 unless its effect has become neutralised by remaining some 

 weeks in the boder. Of course, I could have the boiler 

 cleaned out, but I do net want to have to do this if possible. 



as it will involve considerable trouble and some e-jrpemseiQ 

 removing the boiler and replacing it. — A Countst CusaTB- 

 [We cannot spare the time nor incur the expense of 

 chemical analyses. The v^liite deposit is such as will be 

 generated in zinc tanks wherever the water is not very 

 pure, and even then, in time, the metal wiU be corroded by 

 the carbonic acid in the water and the oxygen in the air. In 

 your case the coiTOsion would be accelerated by the galvanic 

 action induced by the ii-on and zinc being in contact. _ A 

 wooden tank covered with slate would be far more lasting 

 and useful. We have seen galvanised iron used ; but when- 

 ever an opening in the galvanic covering is made, the iron 

 inside coiTodes very quickly. We have had zinc tanks in 

 addition to pipes to give more heat, and, strange to say, the 

 Uds corroded much sooner than the sides or the bottom. 

 For cheapness and lastingness combined, we would recom- 

 mend a wooden tank. If you still resort to zinc, you had 

 better have a zinc covering likewise. In your case there. 

 would be several chemical combinations.], 



EOYAL HORTICULTUEAL SOCIErr'S 

 COMMITTEES.-Sept. 9, 18G3, 



Floral Committee. — The autumnal Exhibition of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society was held on this day, and, as far as flowers 

 and fruit were concerned, nothing more could be desired. 

 The Floral Committee had much to occupy their attention. 

 The entries for seedling Dahlias alone were very numerous, 

 besides a Ions table well covered with other speciiEens for 

 inspection. Not more than one-fifth of the seedling Dahlias 

 exhibited received any notice beyond general approval ; and out 

 of the twenty certificates awarded this day, four only were first- 

 class. The Committee have not awarded more than sis first-- 

 class certificates to Dahlias of 18G3. This most contlnsively 

 proves that this favourite florists' flower h;ra iirrivcd at its 

 climax, and the innumerable good sorts now in cidtivatio» 

 cannot easily be smpassed by new ones, (-)ur report must 

 necessarily be a lengthy one; we shall therefore omit the 

 description of the seedlings which received awards. They will 

 doubtless be criticised by other writers in the Journal. 



Dahlias — Sir. Wheeler, Warminster: Coronet, first-class j 

 Watty, second-class ; Symmetry, eemmcndod at the previous 

 meeting. Mr. Kimberley : >Iessengcr, second-class. Mr. Kaw- 

 Ungs: Tom Thumb dwarf bedding variety, cnmmended. Mr. 

 Bragg, Slough : Useful, second-class ; Garibaldi, second-class. 

 Mr. Keynes, Salisbury : Anna Keynes, first-class ; Samuet 

 Bartlett, second-class; Magpie, second-class; Kegularitj-, second- 

 class. Jlr. Burgess, Chelsea : Chelsea Hero; second-class. Mr. 

 Turner: Prince of Wales, second-class. Mr. Legge, Edmonton: 

 Roundhead, second-class ; Enchantress, second-class ; White' 

 Perfection, first-class ; The Bride, first-class. Mr. Collier : 

 Annie, second-class. 3Ir. Hopkins ; Brunette, second-class- 

 Mr. Perry, Birmingham : Sjdph, second-class. 



Messrs. E. G. Henderson," AVellington Koad, exhibited a lai^ 

 and bcautifid collection of the Pompone Dahlias, some of them.. 

 but a little larger than a P.anunculus, and as perfect in form. 

 Beautiful and delicate in theu- colour and markings, they were 

 much and deservedly admired. A special certificate -was awarded' 

 them. 



Messrs. Henderson exhibited also a very extonsive and in- 

 teresting coDection of their far-famed variegatcd-folLiged Pelar- 

 goniums. Of this collection it is impossible to speak too highly. 

 It was a great privilege for those who are now giring their 

 attention to this interesting section of Pelargoniums (which we 

 hope to see duly represented inourexhibitinn schedules for 1864), 

 to have an ojjportimity of seeing so many and such good and 

 distinct varieties brought together. We shall give their names 

 for the benefit of those who did not see them, hut who may feel' 

 anxious to lose no time in adding some of tlis best kinds to their 

 collection:— Silver Chain, Lucy Grieve, Goldfinch, Miss Emily 

 Dunelle, Rosette, Golden Harkaway, Snowflake, Mrs. Benyon, 

 Golden Chain, Oriana Improved, Mrs. Pollock, Italia llnita, and 

 a group of seedlings not yet named. A special cerJificate was 

 awarded this most beautiful collection. 



Some blossoms of Fuchsias from the collection of E. Bantsy 

 Esq., were sent by the same firm ; they were extremely beautiful, 

 and decidedly in advance of the Fuchsias of the present d-ay. 

 It would have been more satisfactory to have seen the plants; 

 but the flowers, numbered 21, 46, 17, were all first-eJassj andii' 

 of good habit double-firsts— 20, -10, 24 not being far fcebiEd thenu 



