26 OBSERVATIONS ON WHITNEY'S PREPARED CALICO, &C. 



ARTICLE IT. 



OBSERVATIONS ON WHITNEY'S PREPARED CALICO, &c. 



BY MR. JONES, GARDENER TO W. ROBINS, ESQ.. OF HAGI.EY HOUSE, NEAR STOUR- 

 BRIDGE, IN WORCESTERSHIRE. 



Seeing an account, in the last December number of the Cabinet, of 

 a failure in trying to preserve a crop of Figs, by erecting a frame, 

 covered with Whitney's prepared Calico, over a tree growing against 

 a wall, I feel induced to state a few observations, as the paper above 

 alluded to is written for the information of an Inquirer, but is calcu- 

 lated rather to depreciate its value, than convey a fair and just idea 

 of what it may be successfully used for. I reside many miles from 

 Shrewsbury, but I was there in August last, and hearing of Mr. 

 Whitney's house, which he had erected, and covered with Calico pre- 

 pared with his composition, I called to see it, and was exceedingly 

 astonished to see the things in it growing so luxuriant, and looking 

 so healthy. The house is divided into two parts, the one part is kept 

 as a greenhouse, the other as a stove ; but the greenhouse plants 

 being chiefly out of doors, the stove was the greatest attraction, and 

 contributed most to prove the utility of the material for horticultural 

 purposes. It admitted a very good light into the house, and the 

 atmosphere appeared very suitable for the growth of plants; and, 

 according to Mr. Whitney, the temperature was more uniform than 

 it generally is under glass structures, which may be easily accounted 

 for, from there being fewer openings for the escape of the heated air. 

 There were young vines, only planted in April, which had made a 

 long and strong growth, and were then ripening their wood, and 

 appeared all that could be desired ; one of them, a black Hamburgh 

 bore one bunch of fruit, of a good size, and remarkably well swelled 

 berries, — it was then in the state of colouring. Cucumber plants 

 were growing in a pit in the house, and were bearing and looking as 

 well as I ever saw any under glass. The pit also contained a few 

 Pine plants, which were in the midst of a vigorous growth ; as well 

 as many other kinds of plants, which seemed quite content with their 

 situation. A plant of Passiflora hybridse was traversing the back 

 part of the house, and flowering as profusely as it generally does in 

 other suitable situations. But in respect to its durability, when put 

 on Calico, I can say nothing, as Mr. Whitney remarked, that it 



