84 
THE GARDENERS’ CHRONICLE. 
[FEB. 7, 
of which no other examples can be found except 
in the molluscous part of the animal world. A very | 
remarkable instance of the kind occurred some 30) 
ears ago, in the parish of St. Margaret’s Ilkets- | 
hall, in Suffolk. In the year 1812, or thereabouts, | 
an ancient Beefin Apple tree was blown up 
by the roots in the orchard of Mr. James Han- 
vEY, a respectable farmer. The accident oc- 
curred in the middle of summer, while the tree 
was loaded with fruit, which ripened. The 
tree did not die; on the contrary it continued to 
survive, although all communication between the 
torn roots, which were in the air, and the ground 
was destroyed. The trunk of this Apple tree was 
kneed, and when it fell over it rested upon the angle | 
of the knee, whence there presently appeared a | 
single root, which forced itself into the earth, and | 
gradually fixed the tree anew to the ground. We | 
examined this tree about the year 1820, when it pre- 
sented the following appearance. 
Much had died away ; the remainder was sickly 
and overgrown with Moss; the root at A was as 
thick as a man's arm ; the branches which had sur- 
vived were. forming healthy new wood, and four 
bushels of fine Beefins were gathered frofn it. This, 
be it observed, happened eight years after the old 
tree had been severed from the soil while in full 
leaf. What has since happened to it we do not 
know, but it has always appeared to us a most sin- 
gular example of vitality in a kind of tree by no 
means remarkable for bearing transplantation well 
when old, and should serve, like the other instances 
above given, to caution gardeners against despair- 
ing of success in removing ancient trees, when there 
is any object to be gained in performing the opera- 
tion. 
Tue extent to which the Poraro Disease has 
extended its ravages in Holland may be gathered 
from the following official return published by M. 
2 
t 
Belgium for the years 1843 and 1844. In 1845 the 
return is unkuown. 
1844. 
Hectolitres. Hectolitres, 
North Brabant 2,333,793 1,993,197 
Gueldres ay 2,897,701 2,504,527 
South Holland 1,681,196 1,586,967 
North Holland 275,975 533,250 
Zelan -— 805,464 764,888 
Utrecht 453,841 344,792 
Friseland $ 2,126,157 1,830,006 
Overyssel 1,116,390 3,348,830 
Groningen 1,395,247 1,349,533 
Drentheim 622,957 650,777 
Limbourg 4 753,850 695,263 
The general diminution of the crop in 1844 is 
stated to have arisen in part from the enormous 
cultivation in Java of Rice, which the Belgians take 
from the Dutch ; and in part from the increase of 
the Madder-fields of the former. 
THE AMATEUR GARDENER. 
Prantine THE RANUNCULUS.—The ex- 
traordinary mildness of the present win- 
ter has been unfavourable to that prepa- 
ration of the soil for planting which is 
the result of hard frosts. The Ranunculus 
bed will want that fine pulverised charac- 
ter which is so favourable to the opera- 
tions of the gardener, and a few days of dry 
weather will be indispensably necessary 
before this root can safely be committed 
to the soil. As it is desirable that the 
collection should be planted by the 
middle of the month, a right state of the 
earth should be diligently watched for, 
and embraced as soon as secured. 
few days earlier or later will not be of 
much importance, provided the soil is 
sufficiently dry to allow of its filling up the 
interstices of the tubers, and securing that 
firm, yet porous state so necessary for a 
healthy vegetation. 
The day being dry and fine, you may at 
once commence your operations by nicely 
"zu levelling the bed, which should be per- 
feetly flat and not raised in the centre, a practice of 
whieh inexperienced gardenersare so fond, and which 
is so often injurious. As the Ranunculus naturally re- 
quires a low marshy soil it will demand, in its culti- 
vated state, a great deal of moisture, and therefore the 
bed should be below the level of the garden rather than 
above it, that drought may be repelled as long as pos- 
sible, and that artificial watering, when necessary, may 
be most effective. In levelling, let the surface only be 
stirred, as some degree of firmness in the subsoil is ad- 
vantageous to the plant. Have ready the roots in the 
papers with the names, some neat wooden labels, and a 
quantity of clean white.sand ; then, determining to 
brave the cold wind which may be blowing, and not to 
be di the back-ache, proceed to commit to 
the earth the humble looking tubers, which in four 
months are to develop so many beauties. 
About four inches apart every way is probably the 
best distance at which the Ranunculus should be 
planted, and the amateur should therefore regulate the 
size of his bed by the number of roots in his collection, 
and dispose them equally all over it. With a cord and 
a small trowel draw a straight furrow across the bed, 
beginning in the centre and advancing to the edge with 
ive furrows, that the planted roots may not be 
DzcarswE in a valuable pamphlet* which has just 
reached us, in which we have the satisfaction to find 
that the learned author takes exactly the same view 
of the probable cause of this disaster as we have 
done from the first. 
Attacked 
Hectares. by the Disease. 
North Brabant 10,676 10,661 
North Holland 2,287 1,121 
South Holland 12,310 10,943 
Zeland 4 4,686 3,748 
Friseland 10,816 7,998 
Overyssel 7,326 5,461 
Limbourg 7,113 2,254 
From these data M. DzcarswE concludes that 
two-thirds or perhaps three-fourths of the, crop have 
been affected. France, it appears, has sustained less 
loss, as might have been anticipated from its more 
southern latitude ; it is calculated that around Paris 
the loss has not exceeded five or six per cent. of 
the crop, if some low situations are excluded from 
the estimate, In Belgium, however, the mischief 
has been enormous, as in Holland. No such return 
as that obtained by the Dutch Government has 
been published ; but M. Drcarswz's investigations 
lead him to rate the loss at two-thirds of the crop 
in some provinces; and he adds that in a great 
number of cases (une foule des localités), the late 
sorts have been totally lost. 
Our statistical friends, who occupy themselves 
with this sort of inquiry, may like to see the follow- 
ing returns of the amount of the Potato crop in 
* Histoire de la Maladie des Pommes de terre, en 1845, 
interfered with, Place the roots so that the crowns 
|shall be one inch and a ha!f beneath the surface when 
the bed is completed, and having thus filled the furrow 
| with tubers four inches apart, drop alittle sand on each, 
sufficient to cover it, and draw the excavated soil over 
the whole. Make another furrow four inches distant 
from the first, and proceed as before until that side of the 
bed is finished. ‘Then operate in the same way with the 
other side, and the work is done. A slight pressure 
with the hand should be given to every row as 
|the work proceeds. With regard to the labelling, I 
have found the following plan the best:—As each root 
is taken out of the paper, write its name on the painted 
stick with a strong lead pencil, and place root and label 
ie the furrow together. The stick should be about one 
inch distant from the root, and must be fixed in rather 
| firmly, as I have found the sinister perambulations or 
| gambols of a cat (oh !.name abhorred by the votaries 
of Flora) sufficient to throw them into confusion. If 
the writing is always turned the same way, either to- 
wards or from the root, all ambiguity or mistake will 
be avoided. 
Although the genial days we sometimes have in 
February allow the operations of sowing and planting 
to be carried on with advantage, it often happens that 
severe and continued frosts set in after the Ranunculus 
bed is completed, and the hopes of the florist are com- 
mitted to it. This probable evil must be guarded against; 
for although the root will sustain a hard frost when it is 
really rooted, it is very sensitive when that is not the 
case. If a frost should come, a mat laid upon the bed 
will avert injurious consequences, or two may be used 
if the weather is severe. If, in the day time, the sun 
has power to unbind the soil, the mats may be taken 
off, and the warm rays admitted ; but be sure the mats 
are replaced at night. If the weather is auspicious, 
about three weeks will be sufficient for bringing the 
young shoots to the surface, when further care as to 
cold wili be unnecessary. An operation must then be 
attended to of the utmost importance both to the future 
bloom and the increase of the tuber. When the leaves 
are about half an inch above the ground, the soil must 
be firmly pressed round them, so as to fix the tuber 
firm in the ground. This may be done twice with ad- 
vantage as the growth proceeds, Lightness of the soil 
has been very often fatal to the Ranunculus, and must 
therefore be guarded against in the manner just ` 
described. 
The manipulations which have been mentioned in this 
paper are rather laborious, from the long continuance 
of the stooping posture, and they will probably discou- 
rage those who are not thoroughly imbued with a love 
of flowers. But the resolute amateur will remember 
that no good results are ever secured without toil, and 
he will be cheered in his labours by the brilliant pros- 
pect before him, Although it is only a luxury, the pro- 
duction of which he contemplates, he may without 
presumption exclaim— 
“ Be gracious Heaven! for now laborious man 
Has done his part. Ye fostering breezes blow! 
Ye softening dews, ye tender showers descend! 
And temper all, thou world-reviving sun ! ” 
VINES AND VINERIES. 
Various methods of pruning Vines have been given 
in your columns, some of which appear to be more 
theoretical than practical. Mr. Fleming’s plan of leav- 
ing a portion of disbudded shoot at the extremity, as a 
storehouse, may be worthy of farther trial; but after 
having put it to the test of experiment last season, I 
could not perceive the least utility in it, to say nothing of 
the unsightliness of the plan. There is no fruit-tree or 
bush, grown under glass, with which I am acquainted, 
that will bear experimenting upon with the same 
amount of severity as the Vine ; for if the wood is well 
ripened, and the roots in a good condition, the liberal 
use of the knife can scarcely divert it from fruitfulness. 
Now that we have got cheap glass, where there were 
five houses erected for Vine culture, we may reasonably 
expect (from the rapid advances in horticulture, and 
the recreation and pleasure derived from it) that there 
will be 50. To amateurs about to erect small Vineries 
for their own pleasure, and in parts of the country 
where fuel is a iderati should good 
late kinds, whose fruit will hang long after being ripe. 
The Vines in that case might be allowed to break of 
their own accord, which would perhaps be in the end of 
April; and they will then require little artificial heat, 
except at the time of blooming, and in their last stage 
of swelling and ripening off, which would be in the end 
of September or October. . After- that time fire-heat 
might be dispensed with gradually, except after very 
wet weather, or to exclude frost, | Should wet weather 
continue for two or three days together after the Grapes 
are thoroughly ripe, light no fires during that time; 
but on the first fine day that occurs afterwards, light 
your fires in the early part'of the day, so as to produce 
a good brisk heat in your pipes or flues, giving all the 
air possible, and letting your fires go down at noon. 
By this means you will be enabled to dispel damp, and 
to create a dry, yet cool atmosphere, wherein consists 
the great secret of keeping Grapes late in fine condition. 
I would recommend ‘the following kinds, viz., West’s 
Black St. Peter (the best of all late Grapes, from whieh 
am cutting at present for table bunches as plump as 
when they were just ripe); Black Prince ; Black Ham- 
burgh ; White Muscadine, and Royal Muscadine ;. the 
two last are often confounded as being one variety, 
but I have proved them to be distinct, the latter being 
superior both in bunch and berry to the former, and 
the wood and foliage being darker than those in the White 
Museadine, and approaching nearer those of the West's 
St. Peter. All the above are exceedingly prolific 
bearers, and when planted in shallow, well-drained bor- 
ders, and under a uniform system of pruning (with 
ordinary treatment), they will be found to be freer from 
shanking, and to require less attention, than many other 
kinds in cultivation. As to heating small houses, the 
system in use at Polmaise might answer, allowing the 
Vines to break naturally of themselves; I certainly, 
however, agree with Mr, Ayres’ remarks (p. 53), that 
where Grapes are required early, that method will be 
found defective, more especially where forcing has to be 
carried on in severe winter weather. A Vine should 
never be allowed to receive a cheek after vegetation has 
commenced, until the fruit and wood are perfectly ripe, 
and I fear the Polmaise plan would failto do this, for 
want of power, in a long winter's forcing. 
When I entered my present situation last spring, I 
found six houses planted with Vines, some of them very 
old, and the roots I cannot tell where ; yet, with atten- 
tion, I have had a good crop of moderate (some say of 
good) Grapes. When I had had time to look more 
carefully around me, I suggested some little alterations, 
and I am now about to commence making a small ad- 
ditional kitchen garden, against the north wall of which 
(Grapes being in: great request here) I am going to 
erect a range of Vineries 160 feet in length, 18 feet in 
width, and 12 ft. 3 in. in height to the upper side of the 
rafter, glazed with the best British sheet glass, of No. 2 
quality, in squares not less than two fect in length, the 
whole to be divided into four houses of 40 feet each, 
and to be heated by hot water from two boilers. , Air 
is to be admitted by making every alternate top sash to 
slide, and at front by upright front sashes two feet six 
inches in height,which will open outwards, The boilers 
will be placed in the shed at the back wall, the pipe 
m 
