MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 69 



served in our open borders during our severest winters, without injury. Fuchsias, 

 hardy greenhouse plants, halt-hardy evergreens, and many other desirable 

 plants, may also be preserved in our open borders. We may thus be able to 

 have them established, and of many years' growth, in our gardens, instead of 

 transplanting them annually, as at present in May ; for by the time their roots 

 are well established, frost comes and obliges us to remove them into winter 

 quarters. By protecting them with moss, the lower parts of Pelargoniums and 

 Fuchsias will alone be preserved ; but these, as is well known, are full of buds, 

 and their roots being perfect, the plants, after being headed down, will shoot 

 most vigorously, far beyond plants only recently transplanted. It is not, perhaps, 

 generally known that many tender evergreens will suffer but little in their 

 branches from severe frost, 'if their roots are well protected. To such moss 

 may be applied unsparingly, with the certainty of pleasing results.— Thus, 

 llivrrs, (Gardeners' Chronicle.') 



Remarks on Charcoal used in Compost for Pot Plants, by Mr. James 

 Barnes. — It has been said that the fertilising properties of charcoal, as a 

 manure, have been long known, although it was merely by accidental observa- 

 tion I first discovered its value in horticulture: in my opiuion it has not yet 

 met with that attention which its merits deserve. Since my application and use 

 of charcoal have been made known, I have received many interesting communi- 

 cations from practical gardeners and amateurs, expressing their conviction of its 

 valuable properties ; in other 'cases there seems to have been some mystery or 

 uncertainty attending its application, for the result has not been so successful: 

 such always has been the case in '.similar matters, aud, doubtless, will continue 

 to be. 



I will heie attempt to explain, or rather state, the principal object that must 

 be kept in view, by all those who would wish to avail themselves fully of the 

 fertilising qualities of charcoal, when applied as a manure; one of its most 

 useful qualities, then, consists in its affording thorough drainage, and thereby 

 maintaining a kindly communication between the atmosphere and the earth, 

 without which but a trifling degree of benefit will be derived from its fertilising 

 properties. Other good qualities consist in its absorbing and condensing powers*, 

 and in its giving off' slowly and permanently, so long as in communication with 

 the atmosphere, those natural gasses which are most fitted for promoting the 

 growth of vegetation. To these qualities I attribute its excellence. I have 

 invariably found that plants to which charcoal have been applied, and which 

 have thus had thorough drainage of the soil secured, have continued in the most 

 luxuriant condition, the roots not only numerous, but also in high vigour, and 

 clinging around it, and penetrating the cracks and fissures ; whereas in cases of 

 slovenly or imperfect drainage, quite another effect has been produced, and but 

 trifling benefit realised from its application. 



Thorough drainage should certainly, for all purposes of cultivation, be the 

 first consideration— lhe standing rule and foundation stone with all cultivators 

 of the soil. Its'effect is to admit the natural gasses of the atmosphere to act in 

 combination with the salts and bases of the earth; thus securing the most 

 natural and perfect results. 



Destruction oi- Red Si-ider, Thrip, &c— " Delta," at p. 749, mentions the 

 circumstance of a paper having been read before the Horticultural Society of 

 London, August 2, 1837, respecting Laurel leaves 1 eing used, when bruised, for 

 destroying these pests. As a practical man I can speak from experience on this 

 subject. Being in the habit of growing Melons and Cucumbers rather exten- 

 sively lor some years, of course I have been troubled with these insects as well as 

 my brother gardeners, and this year rather more than usual. The method that 

 I have adopted for many years tor killing; the red spider, thrip, and green-fly, is 

 H follows:— When the plants appear attacked with these insects, I get a quan- 

 tity of laurel bruised, and put it into the frame or frames, as it may be, about 

 .5 o clock p.m. It should be dispersed all over the frame, but by no means 

 allowed to touch the leaves of the plants— for, if you do, it is sure to affect them 

 very materially ; then shut down the lights as closely as you possibly can ; and 



