20 THE 
GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 
[JAN. 10, 
with the guano, and that, when the roots were strong 
enoügh to bear it, they would find the guano in that 
state of decomposition best suited for them. The 
quantity used was about three pints of Ichaboe 
guano to a quart of seed, sown, however, muc 
thicker than is customary here. .It will be observed 
that, in this case, the natural moisture of the soil, 
at the depth at which the guano was placed, was 
sufficient to bring it to a proper state of solution, 
and rendered the necessity of immediate rain not 
of so much consequence. When rain did come, it 
was beautiful to see the luxuriance resulting, and I 
felt persuaded that none of the virtue of the guano 
had escaped at the surface. The produce of the 
first three kinds of Pea was five full pecks to the 
quart of seed, besides a full quart of sced gathered 
for next year. From the Marrowfats I obtained 
only four.pecks anda half, and no seed. The 
growth of all was extremely luxuriant, The Mar- 
'rowfats were six and a half feet high, the stems 
from one to one and a quarter inch in cireumference. 
On the Blue Imperials, almost every flower bore 
fruit. On a stem 13 inches high there were 22 
pods. This was not at all uncommon, and such 
was the specimen I exhibited this year at the room 
of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Many 
pods of the crop contained nine or ten Peas ; these 
would be valuable for seed. I also exhibited very 
luxuriant specimens of Shilling's Early Grotto in the 
same hall. The joints, or distance from leafto leaf, 
was very much shortened—an effect of guano which 
has been remarked on in its application to fruit-trees. 
I have previously observed that rain was not so 
absolutely necessary as is supposed. It will be seen 
that, in this experiment with the Pea, the guano was 
laced at such a depth that the natural moisture of 
the earth decomposed it, and rendered it fit for the 
plant. It is seldom that drought penetrates so deep 
as this into the soil; therefore, if the application be 
made judiciously, dependent on the nature of the 
soil, and-if its capacity for retaining moisture be 
considered, the want of rain is not so fatal an objec- 
tion to the use of guano asmight be thought. Thus, 
for instance, in the lightest soils, plough and bury 
guano a little deeper than in others more heavy ; 
the’ guano itself retains moisture, and absorbs it 
naturally.” 
Strawberries—* A bed of Hovey’s Seedling was 
planted in November, 1844, just previous to the 
ground being closed by frost. As early in the 
spring.as the state of the soil would permit, I drew 
a trench, with a hoe, between the rows of plants, 
about two inches deep, put in guano, stirred up, 
and covered it over, thinking that the roots would 
naturally find the guano. From this bed I gathered 
a plentiful erop of fine fruit, which I believe would 
not have occurred without the guano, as the soil was 
in a miserable, meagre state.” 
Forcing—* This manure, owing chiefly to its 
ammonia, is of so stimulating a nature, that it will 
start vegetation at any period when the temperature 
of the surrounding atmosphere will permit it to pro- 
ceed, and will, tharefore, become of great importance 
in foreing-houses. On Roses, the beneficial effect is 
already well known. If Tea Roses are cut down 
when the bloom is over, repotted in, fresh earth, and | į 
well watered, twice or thrice a week, with guano 
water, they will immediately throw out luxuriant 
shoots, and be covered with their fragrant blossoms. 
I have two Tea Roses in pots, which are now, for the 
fourth time, in bloom since February. I exhibited 
this year, at the room of the Massachusetts Horti- 
al Society, Echinocactus ottonis, three years 
m the offset, with three flowers expanded, 
ight buds, not one of which failed to produce 
well-formed flowers ; also Echinocactus eyri- 
in blossom, being an offset three years old. 
pearance of these plants was of the most 
kind. But, with all succulent plants, in 
or to induce blossom, the luxuriant shoots must 
ye well ripened by exposure to sun and air. 
Epiphyllum in the annual exhibition of the 
setts Horticultural Society this year, which 
June 17, 1844; grown chiefly in moss, 
y little soil, and watered profusely wit 
It had thirteen shoots, many of ex- 
inary size and vigor. The Cactus tribe will 
larger quantity and stronger solution of guano, 
injury, than most plants; but then the enor- 
mous shoots must be well ripened, or they will not 
produce much blossom. This, of course, is the case 
with all fruit-trees. A large, soft, spongy growth 
of unripened wood, such as I have seen exhibited, 
is of no value whatever.” 
This sort of practical evidence is worth a ship- 
load of speculation, and will suffice to show our 
gardening friends that, among their preparations 
for the ensuing season of growth, the very first thing 
is asupply of guano, of which good Peruvian is, 
beyond all doubt, the best. 
It is said that guano improves flavour. 
H 
X 
This is 
a point upon which we shall not venture to touch 
at present. 
WzrkLY Prices or Porarors per ton, in Covent 
Garden Market, in 1844, 1845, and 1846. 
1844-5. 1845-6. 
November. 9| 50s. to 70s.| November.. 8| 70s. to 130s. 
16| 50 50 | : 15,70 — 130 
23| 50 50 22| 70 130 
30 50 Tal 29| 80 — 140 
December... 7| 50 — 75 || December... 6 80 100 
14, 50 70 || 13| 80 160 
21) 50 70 20| 80 160 
28, 50 70 27| 80 160 
Jie ox 4460 80 Jan. ...... . 9| 80 160 
1150  80|| 10| 80 160 
Also at the waterside, Southwark. 
November. 18 |245s. to 70s.| November..17| 45. 
25, 45 70 | 90 
December.. 2|, 50 70 |December.. 1| 50 120 
50 70 | , 8| 50 120 
50 , 70 | 15| 50 120 
50 70 | 22| 50 120 
55 75 | 29| 50 120 
Jan. .. 62 80 | Jan. . 5| 50 120 
* Nearly all bad, and many sold at nominal prices, 
COMTE DE LAMY PEAR, 
Synonyms.—Beurré Curté, Dingler, Marie Louise Nova, Marie 
ouise the Second, 
Tus delicious autumn Pear was first obtained from 
M. Rutteau, of Tournay, by the Horticultural Society 
of London, under the name of Comte de Lamy ; and 
subsequently, from other authorities, it was received as 
Beurré Curté, and Dingler. It was sent from [Van 
Mons’ collection as the Marie Louise Nova, à name 
which it will be better to dispense with, as its retention 
would tend to occasion confusion with the Marie Louise, 
or even lead to serious disappointment and loss in con- 
sequence of an inferior variety being planted instead of 
the exeellent one just named. It may be as well to 
mention that a long tapering Pear, very different from 
this, was sent by Van Mons to America as the Marie 
Louise Nova ; but Mr. Downing, in his excellent work 
on the Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, states that 
it will by no means bear a comparison with the Marie 
Louise. This being the case, the sooner its name and 
cultivation are dropped the better. 
Yellowish-green,' 
tinged und speckled with red. 
The accompanying outline represents a fruit of 
medium size, froma standard. The flesh is whitish, 
melting, exceedingly sugary and rich. In perfection in 
October. The tree is vigorous, and bears well as a 
standard. Many of the shoots have a strong tendency 
to grow quite upright ; they are of a clear deep chestnut 
colour. Leaves middle sized, oval, finely serrated. 
Flowers middle sized, obtuse-oval. In pruning, the 
head of the tree should be allowed to take the pyra- 
midal form, for if made hollow the vigour of the tree is 
wasted by a number of upright shoots springing up in 
the centre. It deserves general cultivation.—h. T. 
MODE OF GROWING MELONS WITHOUT 
BOTTOM-HEAT. 
AGREEABLY to my promise (p. 626, 1845) I send tho 
details of my experience in Melon growing without the 
aid of bottom-heat. The seeds were sown on the 12th 
of February, in a one-light frame, and were treated in 
the usual way, except that the plants were not stopped 
up to the 18th of March, when they were transplanted 
into a Vinery border, inside the house ; the pots (6-inch 
ones) were then completely filled with roots ; and upon 
this depends much of the success of the plan, Any pot 
not completely filled with roots had better be rejected 
at once. 
The Vines, ‘in the Vinery in question, have been 
planted two years, and are 7 feet apart ; a Melon was 
planted between each Vine, and trained to the trellis 
in precisely the same way as the Vines, without being 
stopped until it reached the“top of the house, It may 
e as well to state that the house is an iron one, 70 feet: 
in length, 12 feet in width, and 12 feet in height at the 
back, and in every way rendered as nearly air-tight as. 
possible ; it is heated by hot-water pipes ; but for the 
growth of Melons there can be no question that the 
tank or gutter system is to be preferred. ` The tempera- 
ture was kept as nearly as possible ‘at 75°, allowing it to- 
inerease to 95° in sunshine before giving air. 
Now, suppose that the plants have been two weeks in 
their new quarters, and at this period the cultivator’s 
hopes low—at least, mine were so ; indeed, I had all 
but abandoned the thing as utterly hopeless. It occurred 
to me, however, that although} they looked ill above, 
perhaps they were working well underground, and upon 
examination I found that the border was nearly filled 
with fine roots, which ged me to p > 
At this stage they were watered twice a week with well 
the plants, for in the first week in May they had reached 
finest fruit swelling rapidly. I cut a Beechwood on the 
4th of June weighing 10 lbs. 10 oz., and having more 
the flavour of a Pine-apple than a Melon. From this 
house in. one season I cut 150 first-rate Melons, aver- 
aging from 8 to 16 lbs. each. A strong recommenda- 
tion in favour of this plan is‘that fruit can be had very 
late in the season ; excellent Melons were cut here in 
the present month, and I have no doubt that in another- 
season I shallbe able to send;to;table good Melons on 
Christmas day, or even later. 
In the language of “ R. G.” (p. 624), a “new era has. 
sprung up,in the cultivation of this esteemed fruit.” 
beg, however, to dissent from “R. G.” in regard to 
bottom-heat, as I believe that this is not only unneces- 
sary but absolutelyjhurtful. * E.,G.'s" pit (p. 624), 
with a curvilinear roof, would grow Melons admirably, 
without tanks. I give a preference to iron roofs, light 
being of great importance to the successful cultivation 
of tropical fruits. I would, therefore, suggest to those: 
about to erect structures for the raising of Melons, 
&c., by this. system, to use iron, and glaze with long 
squares of glass, so that as much light as possible may 
be admitted, bearing in mind that when the roots are 
not excited, more light is required for the perfect ela- 
boration of the juices of the plant. 
I may mention that the Grapes seemed to enjoy this 
treatment quite as much as the [Melons, but I found 
some difficulty in ripening the wood to that degree of 
firmness whieh is desirable, owing no doubt to the 
humidity of the atmosphere which had to be kept up 
for the Melons. I would, therefore, *prefer having 
small low houses, or large pits, constructed in such a 
way as to force Roses, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Kale. 
mias, &c. in winter, and also for the growth of Cucum. 
bers at that season. Such houses ean now be put up. 
for a mere trifle; and I am sure that-no part of the 
garden would better reward attention. 
I trust that I have said. enough to convince every 
unprejudiced person that Melons can be grown to 
greater perfection, and at a tithe of the trouble and 
expense by this plan than by the old method of dung-- 
beds, or by any other contrivance to produce bottom- 
heat, which as I have shown is not only not wanted, but 
is absolutely inimical to the: productionof Melons in 
perfection. I hope then that the days of dung-beds are 
numbered, as it must be admitted on all hands that they 
were not only very inefficient for the purpose, but. 
wasteful, and by consequence expensive. It is not, 
therefore, too much to expect that noblemen and. 
g 
priety of adopting the’ above economical method of 
raising Melons, &c. for their table, and of sending the 
dung (that hitherto has been little better than a nuisance 
in the garden) to the farm, to be the means of in- 
creasing the amount of human food, trusting to the 
skill of his gardener to supply his table with abundance- 
of this desirable fruit without interfering with the supply 
of manure which the farm should have.—J. Walker, 
Vice-regal Gardens, Dublin ; Dec. 26, 1845. 
THE AMATEUR GARDENER. 
Tur season most trying to those who are interested. 
in the operations of gardening is rapidly passing away, 
and the amateur may begin to take heart, and expect 
that his labours will soon be crowned with success, It 
is true, we are not yet in the middle of January, and 
that the proverb may prove correct, “As the day 
lengthens the cold strengthens,” still a large portion of 
the dullest and worst weather is gone, and the develop- 
ments of early spring will soon be visible. Since the 
beginning of October, the gardener has stood on the 
defensive, awaiting, and dreading the combined attacks. 
of damp and frost, and comparative darkness ; but now 
three months of this state of anxiety have passed away, 
and even if there were no other circumstances of a 
cheerful character than the departure of this long period 
of watching, this would be something. 
The increase of solar light, and the clearness of the 
atmosphere, during the early weeks of the year, exert 
a very salutary influence over plants in pots, whether 
in houses ‘or in frames. The most trying periods for 
the collections of the amateur are doubtless the months 
of November and December. How rapidly mildew then 
plants of a quick growing character, which then are 
put forth ! 3i But the increased dryness and clearness of 
January, and especially the greater portion of light then 
enjoyed, soon alter this state of things, and induce a 
more healthy action, A long, hard frost is in many 
fermented liquid manure, which had a good effect upon , 
the top of the house, with a most abundant crop of the- 
in these improving times, will see the pro- . 
shows itself, and how long and sickly are the shoots of . 
