General Notices. 343 



it to fall more than a very few degrees even during the late cold and se- 

 vere iVosty nights, althoiigli very little fire has been kept up. In addition 

 to all this, economy speaks loudly, the cost of the prepared muslin not 

 liaving exceeded one fifteenth that of glass for an erection of similar di- 

 mensions. T trust to hear that so successful an example has been fol- 

 lowed throughout the kingdom, and that the time is near at hand when 

 every one devoted to gardening in any department, however humble hia 

 means, will be found gratifying his taste in the possession of greenhouses, 

 &c, similarly constructed, with this useful composition, for the ingenious 

 invention of which the cordial thanks of hioh and low are abundantly 

 due to Mr. Whitney. [Gard. Chron. 1844, p. 196.) 



Grafting Pelargoniums. — In a late number is an account of M. de Me- 

 line, of the Botanic Garden at Dijon, having grafted numerous varieties 

 of the Pelargonium on the same plant. Tliere are very few plants that 

 can be grafted with greater success than Pelargoniums, if the stock and 

 scion be selected about the same diameter, and if the wood is neither too 

 old nor too young and succulent. For the last ten years I have occasion- 

 ally grafted some in August or September, using pretty well ripened wood 

 of the same year's growth, I shall only detail one instance : — In August 

 of 1842, I selected a plant of the Beauty of Ware, Avhich had a single 

 stem about a foot high, where it divided into several branches ; these 

 were cut back to about three inches long, and in ten days afterwards they 

 were grafted with eight different sorts. They were done after the man- 

 ner of whip-grafting, and tied with bast and clayed, over which was put 

 a little moss, to keep the clay from cracking, and to preserve the whole in 

 a moist state, being occasionally sprinkled with Avater. I'he plant was 

 placed in a shadowy part of a vinery, and in a month every one of the 

 grafts had begun to grow. The plant was then put into a cold frame for 

 a few days; it was then taken out of the pot, and all the earth being 

 shaken from the roots, it was repotted in fresh soil, and received the same 

 treatment as the other pelargoniums. Two of tlie grafts were broken off 

 by an accident, the other six flowered well in June and July. In August 

 the branches were again cut back, and ten more varieties Mere grafted on 

 it, including Smith's Superb Scarlet, Carnation Scarlet, Frogmore Scar- 

 let, and the old variegated-leaved Scarlet; the last two failed along with 

 two of the other sorts. This, perhaps, was owing to the plant having 

 been placed in a shady place out of doors, immedintely after it was 

 grafted, where it remained until October, when it was placed in the con- 

 servatory. In December there were thirteen varieties growing on tlie 

 same plant, which will be a novelty when in flower, having so many dis- 

 tinct colors. Smith's Superb Scarlet forming the centre. I have observed 

 that weak growing sorts grow stronger when grafted on lobust kinds than 

 on their own roots. [Gard. Chron. 1844,;?. 213.) 



Potler^s Liquid Guano. — I cannot speak of this in any adequate terms 

 of praise. I tried its powers on Hyacinths, Narcissus, Crocusses, Snow- 

 drops, &c., both in pots and in glasses, and I may with truth say that the 

 efl'ect Avas magical. Not only were my flowers the finest, the healtiiiest, 

 and the most luxuriant that I ever beheld, but they preserved their beauty 

 nearly double their usual time, and gave forth a fragrance of surpassing 

 sweetness. {Gard. Chron. 1844,;?. 2f)].) 



Syrian Fruits. — Our readers will learn with pleasure that John Barker, 

 Esq., lately H. M.'s Consul at Aleppo, after a residence of more than 40 



