86. THE 
GARDENERS' 
CHRONICLE. 
[FEB. 7, 
these th 
mon thick woollen material, which formed an excellent 
medium for circulating heated air throughout the 
frames ; the necessary moisture was kept up by sus- 
pending bottles of water from which threads of worsted 
soaked the heated woollen flue. Pinks, Carnations, 
Hyacinths, and a great variety of choice flowers, were 
grown to great perfection by this i I} 
large pit for forcing flowers, which was heated by a 
smoke flue, but so badiy contrived that the utmost 
vigilance was required to prevent the tan near the fur- 
nace from catching fire. To this I erected a hot air 
chamber, and introduced iron rods, 12-inch in the angle, 
covering them with woollen material, and the advan- 
tages were everything I could expect or desire. The 
second season my exertions were applauded, and I had 
permission to build a more commodious house ; had I 
continued the above contrivance, I intended to econo- 
mise fuel by having the chimney of the ironing stove 
made in a corkscrew fashion. If the spot is exposed, 
earth may be thrown round the brickwork, and the 
stove may be covered with Moss, and a few stones to 
render it ornamental. I should have mentioned that, 
by the use of a plug, I could admit fresh air at plea- 
sure through my woollen conductors —77. B. 
Large Holly.— The following are the dimensions of a 
common Holly whieh is growing in the plantations 
here, and is the largest that ever came under my 
notice :— The girth, at 2 feet from the ground, is 
7 feet 6 inches. This tree was much damaged by the 
hurricane in January, 1839, and again by a storm of 
wind in 1842 ; it branched off with two leaders at about 
4 feet from the ground ; both of these were blown off, 
and left a mere stump about 5 feet high, whieh is now 
growing again vigorously.—J. L. Snow, Swinton-park. 
Autumn Broccoli.—l beg to add my testimony to 
that of Mr. Whiting, p. 37, as to the great excellence 
of “Snow’s superb Broccoli ;” with a close compact 
head it combines a beautiful white colour, and through 
November and December is almost equal to a Cauli- 
flower in June, and must supersede all the older 
varieties of autumn Broccoli.—J. Spencer. 
The Season.—This has indeed been a most extraor- 
dinary season, and one in which an observing cultivator 
has had much opportunity of discovering useful prin- 
ciples, and of increasing his store of knowledge. 
Although the Potato crop was last year greatly injured, 
no autumn or winter during my remembrance has been 
so prod in o tables, and in 
articles, too, that are not usual at this season. Here we 
have never been without good Cauliflowers, White 
Broccoli, in variety ; Globe Artichokes have been in 
season, and have been growing all winter, and I have 
observed to-day that all the strongest suckers of these 
have started into fruit, many heads being now fit for 
table. The winter Savoys, Coleworts, Brussels Sprouts, 
and Kales, in variety, are all run, and many are in full 
bloom. I have had already a quantity cut down with 
the reaping-hook. ^ Early Peas, Beans, and other 
articles have the appearance of having been forced in a 
structure, deficient of light and air. As to Peaches, 
Nectarines, and Apricots, they are already in bloom ; 
ears, Cherries, and some varieties of Plums are 
nearly opening their blossom-buds ; but what is more 
extraordinary, a long south border of early Ash-leaf 
Kidney Potatoes, planted on the 31st of October last, 
are up in full row, and are from 2 to 6 inches in height ; 
they have never received any protection ; we have 
given them a good deep hoeing to-day, and they look as 
even and as strong, both in stem and foliage, as if it 
were the first week in May ; not a blemish, or the least 
sign of the late prevailing disease is apparent in them, 
although the tubers were all more or less affected in 
July last. Some people may say of what utility can 
a piece of Potatoes be, or what chance can they have to 
produce a crop which are in full row in the open garden 
n the last week in January? but I have made up my 
mind to turn them to a useful account. I shall in the 
first place take up a quantity with balls of earth 
attached to their froots, and transplant them on slight 
hotbeds, hooped over and covered with mats, Fern, 
Furze, evergreen boughs, or any other materials I can 
lay my hands on, and to plant the border again. I 
shall allow a portion, however, to remain where they 
are, and will mulch the surface with dry Fern, refuse 
straw, leaves, Heath, or other materials, earthing up 
the stems with dry dusty earth, old dry mushroom-bed 
refuse, &c., that I always keep in hoard for purposes of 
this kind. As I above observed something is to be 
learned from such weather, for I'have other pieces of 
autumn-planted Potatoes, though on a different system, 
from the very same seed tubers, not one of whieh has 
yet appeared above-ground, and whieh on exami- 
nation, were found to be only just pushing their 
shoots from a quarter of an ineh to 1 inch in length ; 
this is easy to be aecounted for. "These then are the 
results of the unusual mildness of the last three months 
of autumn and winter, In the first months of the year 
with us there was not the slightest frost, not even a 
white morning frost, and this is more than we could 
say of any months during the whole of 1845, not even 
excepting June, July, and August. As to flowers in 
bloom there is here, in the open ground, an unusual 
quantity for this season of year; many varieties of 
hybrid scarlet Rhododendrons are in full bloom in 
masses, and are truly beautiful; we must, however, 
it is true, be on the alert, with preparations in readi- 
ness for any sudden change or such we 
a 
p 
on rods so placed were encased in com- | after the injury done to the Potato crop, by an abun- 
dant supply of other vegetables! less fuel is also wanted, 
and through the favourableness of the season less food is 
requisite than when piercing cold prevails ; and in this 
locality more people are in employment than has been 
known for many years—indeed there seems scarcel 
anybody out of work that is able and willing to labour. 
—James Barnes, Bicton, near Sidmouth, Devon. 
Fuchsia Challenge.—'l'here are two nurserymen ad- 
vertising to show their Seedling Fuchsia against each 
other for ten guineas. It will give me pleasure to hear 
that the stakes are deposited at the Gardeners’ Chro- 
nicle office. Until I find that they are deposited some- 
where, I for one shall consider it merely a novel mode 
of puffing their productions. Deposit the money. 
Judges, place, time, &c., can all be arranged at leisure. 
Say at once the July Show of the Horticultural Society ; 
each party to appoint a judge, and they a third: their 
judgment final.— Veritas. {The match could not come 
off in the Society’s Garden, as a part of the official 
business of the day.] 
Salvia fulgens.—I beg to send you a specimen of 
Salvia fulgens, from a plant which has been flowering 
for the last two months in the open air, two miles from 
Arbroath. It was removed from the garden in Novem- 
ber, to the wall of a cottage, which sheltered it from 
the north and east.—Z. L., Jan. 27. 
Autumn Planting Polatoes.—l cannot imagine that 
deep planting can be made to answer under any cir- 
cumstances, or for any description of plants ; and hence 
T am persuaded, so far as my experience goes, that the 
plan of planting Potatoes in autumn, will never be gene- 
rally successful : in certain localities, where the climate 
is mild and the soil dry and light, they may survive the 
winter ; but in cold heavy lands it will never answer. 
I have tried the experiment here, and although the sets 
were limed when planted, they were nearly all destroyed 
by insects during the winter. Ihave ever found by 
experience, that Potatoes, like fruit, trees, &e., do 
not answer so well when planted deep; eight or 
ten inches is a great depth for a Potato to 
shoot through; I have invariably found that I ob- 
tained the best crop by planting about 3 or 4 inches 
deep, and then earthing up as they grow ; which is 
easily done by leaving the ground in ridges higher than 
where they are planted. I have also another great 
objection to autumn planting Potatoes, which is, in 
regard to the manure ; this, I think, must be weakened 
and deprived of much of its value, by laying in the 
ground all the winter ; I have never found any benefit 
to be derived from applying a stimulant to any plant 
while in a dormant state, and indeed, I doubt not, the 
experience of many will bear me out in asserting that 
such a course is a great waste of manure ; for a proof, 
let any one observe the difference between a piece of 
Grass land manured in the autumn, and another piece 
just as growth commences in spring ; the latter will grow 
much faster, and the herbage of the latter plot be of 
a much darker colour than that of the former, which, 
to my mind, is a conclusive fact that the nutriment in 
the latter case is administered at the time most required 
by Nature, and that in the other ease, it is little better 
than waste. While speaking of manures, I may add 
that I find no stimulant so beneficial as guano when 
applied in a liquid form. I find it of greater service, 
and more lasting in its effects, when given in a diluted 
state than when applied genuine, or mixed with dry 
soil. I would advise all gardeners never to apply it 
except in a liquid state; and they will certainly derive 
much greater advantages from its use.—J. L. Snow, 
Swinton Park. "i 
Storing Diseased Potatoes.—On the 27th of Novem- 
ber last I received some Potatoes (Short-tops) all more 
or less diseased, 12 of which I put into a basket, and 
covered over to the depth of an inch with Daniell and 
Co.’s white manure, the remainder I put into another 
basket without anything ; the latter, in from 14 to 25 
days, became so rotten, that I threw them away ; those 
I placed in the white manure I examined for the first 
time this morning (19th Jan.), and to my great satisfac- 
tion 1 found every Potato apparently in the same state 
as when first stored ; I have cut through several of 
them, and find that each distinetly shows the diseased 
parts, which appear to have been arrested by coming 
in contact with the white manure; the other part of 
the Potato is perfectly sound, and fit for the use of 
cattle—Jas. F. Cannell, Castle-street, Liverpool. 
Sootíetíes. 
SOCIETY OF ARTS.” 
Ar a late meeting, a paper was read by Mr, H. PAGE, 
on the new patent oil integument or skin of paint, by 
which great facility is afforded for interior or exterior 
decoration, The author, after pointing out the various 
inconveniences which the publie experience in having 
the painting, graining, and oil decorations done on the 
premises, proceeded to show some of the advantages 
which he obtains by substituting a prepared skin of 
paint for the ordinary common painting, ‘These advan- 
tages are very apparent in the decoration of ceilings, 
or in the execution of any kind of flat ornamental work, 
whether it be imitations of woods, marbles, lettering in 
gold or colours, on walls or wood-work, as it is only 
necessary that the dimensions of the parts to be orna- 
mented should be previously taken, and the work can 
be completed at the artist's shop or study. He next 
3 
may be in daily expectation ; but how favourable has 
Providence been to the peasant in alleviating his wants 
p 1 to describe the process of manufacture, re- 
marking that the skins at present made are 12 feet by 
3 feet, that being found the most convenient size ; but 
they can be made of any dimensions, A sheet of 
fine elephant, or any stout paper, rather larger 
than the skin required is taken, and the sur- 
face on one side only is prepared with a mixture of 
gum arabic, treacle, and water, upon which, when dry, 
a coat of paint, made with boiled oil and white-lead in 
the ordinary way, is applied ; when that is dry the 
operation is repeated till the skin is of the required 
thickness, but two coats are found to be sufficient for 
general use. To separate the skin from the paper it is 
laid on a clean board with the painted side downwards ; 
the paper is then wetted atthe back with clean water, 
and after it has stood a few minutes the paint may be 
removed without any difficulty or the least fear of its 
tearing away. The same paper may be painted 30 or 
40 times, but must always be prepared as described 
above. The paint, when removed, is carefully wiped 
with à sponge, and then dried with a wash-leather to 
remove any portion of the preparation which adheres 
toit. The skin is then folded and put away till such 
time as it may be required for use. ‘The mode of fixing 
the skin is to rub down the surface to which it is to be 
attached, and when thoroughly clean it is gone over 
with boiled oil and gold size—a smear is sufficient ; the 
skin is then laid on with a soft cloth, as in the ordinary 
paper hanging. Several beautiful specimens were 
exhibited. 
LINNZEAN SOCIETY. 
February 3.—The Brsuor of Norwrcn in the chair. 
A paper was read from the late William Griffith, Esq., 
on a new genus of plants belonging to the natural order 
Anaecardiacese, The author proposed to call it Swin- 
tonia, after George Swinton, Esq., late secretary to the 
Bengal Government. The species described was Swin- 
tonia floribunda. This plant was found on the Tenas- 
serim coast, and the following species of Anacardiacese 
were observed in the same district: Mangifera indica, 
M. sylvatica, M. oppositifolia, Anacardium occidentale; 
Syndesmis elegans, Melanorrhea glabra, M. hastata, 
Holigarna longifolia. A second paper was read from 
the same author, being a description of a new genus be- 
longing to the natural order Ternstromiacese, called 
Erythrochiton, the species deseribed E. Wallichianum. 
A description also was read of a new species of Hen- 
slovia, H. pubescens. The. papers were illustrated by 
drawings of the plants described. 
A Treatise on the True Nature and Cause of the 
present destructive Disease of Potatoes, withthe Means 
of Cure. By George Weightman. 24mo. Simpkin. 
Tue author has Ciscovered that the Potato murrain is 
caused by “the dampness of the excrements, and con- 
sumption of the Potato by a small insect of the spider 
tribe.’ Therefore to destroy the insect is to destroy 
the disease. Hot water will kill the insect; therefore 
hot water is the cure for the disease. Nothing can be 
clearer—that is, to the author and his friends. Poor 
people ! 
Fruits and Farinacea the Proper Food of Man. 
By John Smith. 
Iris only a short time since that our attention was 
called to a work advocating an exclusively animal diet 
for man, as alone adapted to develop all the powers of his 
body and mind, We have now before us a volume as- 
serting the exclusive right of the vegetable kingdom to 
feed mankind. Between such conflicting statements it 
might seem at first sight difficult to decide, but on a 
close examination of the books alluded to they will be 
found to be written by persons, although evidently in 
godd faith, not adapted by their profession or education 
to give an opinion on these subjects at all. The work, 
however, of Mr. Smith exhibits great labour and indus- 
try, and is written in an earnest spirit and with a desire 
to do good. His attention was first drawn to this sub- 
ject by the question, “ Is man justified in slaughtering 
animals for his food; seeing that by means of a beauti- 
fully-organised structure, they are rendered exquisitely 
sensible both of pleasure and pain ?” . This question, we 
imagine, can only arise out of a morbid feeling which 
mistakes the design of the whole animal ereation, On 
glaneing at the teeming ocean, and the earth * instinct 
with life," we find the whole a scene of “ slaughter? 
one animal life being sacrificed for the sake of another; 
and this through every stage of the animated series till 
we arrive at man, who forms no exception to the general 
law, but slaughters the lower animals in order that his 
own higher existence may be continued. If, then, Pro- 
vidence has seen fit, not only to justify, but to create ani- 
mals to * slaughter ” one another for their benefit, surely 
there can be no abstract ground on which the practice 
can be denied to man. mith, however, mentally 
returned the answer to this question, that if man could 
* be preserved, his health and strength maintained, his 
pleasure and happiness continued or rendered more 
pure and satisfaetory, and the period of his existence 
unabbreviated or prolonged by a diet of which the flesh 
of animals forms no part, then would neither wisdom. 
nor benevolence sanction the horrid cruelties that are 
perpetrated in order to pamper the perverted appetites 
f man.” Having given this answer previous to any 
investigation of the subject, it is not to be wondered at 
that his labours terminated in confirming him in his 
preconceived notions. The work is divided into four 
parts, in each of which he discusses one of the following 
questions :— 
“1. What was the original food of man? 2. Is he 
so wonderfully construeted, that climate and locality 
alone determi t sul heshallfeed? Or 
e 
