100 THE 
GARDENERS' CHRONIO 
[Fzn. 14, 
LE. 
shallow boxes, or ioto the soil, in a pit heated under- 
neath on the chamber system. 
In potting or planting out the young plants, the soil 
employed should be a mixture of fresh sandy loam and 
well-rotted dung, to which may be added a little leaf- 
mould and fine sand, if the loam is in any way tena- 
cious, If planted in a pit they will require not less 
than 3 feet between the surface of the soil and the glass, 
for the tops to grow in. 
The roots do not require a. deep soil, but plenty of 
surface room, and sueceed best in large shallow boxes, 
from 6 to 9 inches in depth, or if planted in a pit 9 
inches of soil will be quite sufficiently deep for them. 
In planting out, they should have plenty of room, and 
require to be placed 1 foot apart each way if the plants 
are strong when planted. Anabundance of moisture is 
required, and agood bottom-heat, with very little fresh air 
all the summer; but in very bright sunshine they should 
be shaded. By the middle of September the roots will be 
fit for use, and if properly attended to during the sum- 
mer, will weigh from 4 to 5 oz. each. If they are left 
in the ground until October they get fibry and tough, 
and are unfit for use as a preserve. When sufficient 
roots are taken out of the ground for preserving, and 
other culinary purposes, the remainder should be left 
undisturbed and gradually dried by withholding moisture 
from them, still, however, continuing the bottom-heat 
until the plaats have become dormant ; afterwards they 
must be kept quite free from frost and damp, and may 
be preserved through the winter by either allowing 
them to remain in the dry soil, or by placing the roots 
in dry sand until the following March, when they must 
again be potted according to the directions already 
lven. 
In this way a constant supply of fresh Ginger for 
preserving may be obtained every year, without much 
trouble or expence.— G. G. 
PINE CULTURE AT BICTON.- 
always beer the state of matter 
reason for apprehending, they will continue to the end 
of time. 
The following are the weights of the dozen Queen 
Pines above alluded to, which were eut here not long 
since. They were respectively—6 lbs. 4 oz., 6 lbs. 10 OZ. 
6 lbs. 8 oz., 7 lbs. 2 oz., 6 Ibs. 8 oz., 6 lbs. 4 OZ., 
7 lbs. 4 oz., 6 lbs. 2 oz., 6 lbs. 10 OZ., 6 lbs. 4 oZ., 
61bs. 8 oz., 6 lbs. 5 oz. The crowns of these fruit were 
very small, averaging not more than 2 inches in height, 
and did not weigh, united, more than 8 oz., if so much. 
The fruit averaged in circumference from 17 to 20 
inches, and in height from 10 to 142 inches ; the num- 
ber of pips was from 8 to 17. I produced one 
Queen this season, only 8 pips in depth, which weighed 
6 lbs. 5 oz, ; am I not then justified in supposing that we 
may ere long see a Queen of 10 Ibs. weight from some 
of those long shows of 14 or 16 pips in depth, swelled 
out in proportion to one of only 6 lbs. 50z. What is to 
prevent it? Resting quite contented, however, because 
my father, brother, or neighbour, has never produced 
this, will not effect the object in view. No, we must 
look onward, and I may repeat that there is ample 
space for improvement. I have produced mauy things 
that have been admired, aud. I, too, have been pleased 
with them ; but never yet have I produced an article 
in which I could not observe ample room for further 
improvement. If any body should happen to produce 
in this country a dozen Queen Pine-apples this year, 
surpassing those above-mentioned, I sball be happy to 
go and see them, which would truly bea treat to me, 
and very gratifying. Although some may think that 
enough has been said on this subject, I am of opinion 
Pine growing never required a greater stimulus than 
at the present time.—James Barnes, Bicton Gardens. 
THE COURT-PENDU PLAT APPLE. 
Symonymes.—Court-pendu, Court-pendu Extra, Court-pendu 
Plat Rougeatre, Court-pendu Rond Gros, Court-pendu Rond 
and so, there is good 
~~ Also at the waterside, Southwark. 
December ..23 22] 50s. to 120s 
50 120 
505. to 705. || December.. 
7 
30 29 
Jan 5. . 6| 60 80 |Jan. ........ 5| 50 120 
13] 60 80 12/50 120 
20| 60 80 19/50 120 
27|55 — 80 26| 50° 120 
Pee argen g PEDS y, 2|50 120 
10/55 . 80 || 9|50 . 120 
Correspondence. 
Heating.—1 think a little consideration will 
convince you that your correspondent (Mr. Meeke) is 
in an error in supposing that radiant heat is employed 
in the Polmaise system. The current of warm air 
which enters the house cannot be warmed by the heat 
which radiates from the stove, for air is so very trans- 
parent that any heat which radiated from the sides of 
the stove would pass through it without imparting any 
sensible warmth, as we see that sunshine passes through 
glass without heating it anything like to the degree to 
which it heats an opaque body. The fact is, that the 
current of air which enters the house is heated by con- 
tact with the sides of the stove, and does not differ in 
its nature from air heated by an ordinary flue. I am 
afraid so many pretensions are put forth in favour of 
this system that great disappointment will ensue. To 
have a fair chance of obtaining the benefits which it is 
really capable of affording, those who try it should bear 
in mind that the moment the warm air enters the house 
it rises to the top, begins to be cooled by the cold glass, 
and escapes at every open lap and cranny of the wood- 
work, while the cold external air constantly tries to 
enter the lower part of the house to supply the air- 
drains. If the circulation is not quick or the house too 
open, or the space from the hot air entrance to the cold 
air drain too great; the air will be will be quite cooled 
before it reaches this drain, and all that part of the 
I OBSERVE at page 721, 1845, that Mr. Hamilton 
Seems to imagine that we were retrograding in Pine 
culture, because an account was given of a score of 
Queen Pines eut in June last which averaged little 
more than 5 lbs. each, though by all accounts there 
was not another score at that time to be obtained in 
the country equal to them. Perhaps it was forgetten 
what kind of a season we had to contend with previous 
to the production of those fruit ; to be sure there was 
a few exhibited in London in autumn of similar weight, 
but then we were producing Queen Pines full one-third 
heavier. Subjoined is a faithful account of a dozen 
tolerable Queens that were cut here since that time, in 
each of which, although much admired, I could discover 
faults, howeyer, and see abundant room for further im- 
provement, which, ere long, I imagine I shall accom- 
plish, but even then it will only be the stepping-stone 
to still further improvement. I shall not rest satisfied 
with Mr, H. should I live to obtain a 101b. Queen from 
a single plant, much less from a stool of suckers, and 
although it may be imagined by some that we belong to 
the old school, perhaps on some future day we may 
have an opportunity of divulging principles, regaraing 
which the publie will be at liberty to judge for them- 
selves, 
Some say that if ever Queen Pines have been pro- 
duced of the weights mentioned, it was by mere chance, 
with old plants of immense size, abundance of material, 
and with convenient structures for growing them in; 
and that one plant will occupy the room and time that 
half a dozen 3 lb. Queens could be produced in. Now, 
with such persons, Í should be most happy to balance 
accounts, because they have attempted to cultivate 
Pines for a great number of years, and have never 
once produced anything near equal to mine, and be- 
cause their neighbours and friends have never done so 
either, they speak against my system ; and, through 
cherishing ill feeling, the march of improvement is 
mueh retarded. What I have written and done re- 
speeting these matters has been done with a view to 
stimulate the young gardener to commence his career 
where we of the old school leave off, and not to let him 
imagine that further improvement is not to be made, for 
there will be ample room for that to the end of time, 
It is astonishing what may be accomplished by perse- 
veriug energy and self-denial. I do not find half the 
difficulty in producing, in half the time, a Queen Pine 
of 6 lbs, weight now, that I did 20 years ago in raising 
one of 3 lbs., and at less expence and trouble in every 
respect ; but, although this matter is so much simplified 
duriug that short time, I can still observe ample en- 
couragement for increased perseverance, and imagine 
that, sooner or later, all other matters relating to horti- 
culture must be improved and simplified in the same 
ratio. I do not profess to produce Pines, or pay more 
attention to thém, than I do to other matters. 
am fond of all the productions of nature, and I cultivate 
everything, from the Mushroom to the Musa, upon one 
principle and with equal interest. 
our correspondent, * S, N. V.," seems to cherish 
the opinion that a superfluity of labour, or hands, and 
proper utensils, &e., will secure success, but a long 
practice, and partiality to the cultivation of the soil, with 
close observation, has pointed out to me that such is 
not the case. For, in my time, I have observed men 
with apparently [every necessary whereby they could 
have excelled, through being a little deficient of some- 
thing not so readily cultivated as criticism, they have 
never been able to excel, or even strike a balance with 
i 2 humble neighb who has not apparently 
half the ities; and iences, Such has 
PP 
= 
trés Gros, Court-pendu Rond Rougeatre, Court-pendu Rose, 
Court-pendu Musqué, Court-pendu Rouge Musqué, Corianda 
einette Court-pendu Rouge, Court-pendu Rosaar, Der 
Rothe Kurzstiel, Rode Korpendu, Pomme de Berlin, Wollaton 
Pippin, Princesse Noble Zoete, Garnons. 
Tus is very different from the Court-pendu described 
by Duhamel, and formerly cultivated in this country, 
which was comparatively a worthless sort. This, on the 
contrary, is one of the very best late keeping varieties. 
It is particularly well adapted for dwarf training, and 
it has, moreover, the property of blossoming late, and 
hence it frequently escapes late spring frosts, which 
cut off the blossoms of other varieties. It appears to 
be much cultivated in Holland and Belgium, it having 
been obtained from various localities in these countries 
under many of the above synonymes, 
"s 
Yellowish green, streaked with 
— 
deep brownish red. 
N 
A^ 
T panying outline represents a fruit of only 
medium size. The flesh is yellowish, firm, very rich, 
and sugary. The period of its perfection for use ranges 
from December till April. The tree is of dwarf habit, 
and an excellent bearer. It has frequently been ob- 
served to exhibit scarcely any symptoms of vegetation 
when others have been in flower. From this peeuli- 
arity and consequent escape from late spring frosts, it 
has been termed in some places where these are of fre- 
quent occurrence, the Wise Apple. Shoots, reddish 
brown, but towards the extremities almost entirely 
covered with gray pubescence; buds, flat, and com- 
pletely covered with down. Leaves, middle-sized, ovate, 
concave. Flowers, before unfolding, of a bright crim- 
son, rather small ; petals, ovate. 
In many places, only very dwarf Apple-trees can be 
admitted. This can be kept as dwarf as a Gooseberry 
or Currant tree—especially if grafted on the Paradise 
stock, and if proper attention be paid to summer prun- 
ing, of which, however, comparatively little will be re- 
quired—but care must be taken to expose the fruit in 
good time, by preventing the growth of shoots that 
would otherwise shade it—R. T. 
WeegLY Prices or PoraTOES per ton, in Covent 
Garden Market, in 1844, 1845, and 1846. 
1044-5. || 1845.6. - 
December. 14 | 50s. to 70s. sa Rave 80s. to 160s. 
21| 50 70 || 20| 80 160 
28| 50 | 160 
dm 4 4| 50 | 160 
11| 50 160 
18| 50 160 
25| 50 160 
Fen eee 1| 50 140 
8, 50 160 
15, 50 160 
house will be too cold. For these reasons the stove 
r | should never.be placed at the end of a long pit, nor 
should Arnott's stove be used, nor any stove in which 
only a slow combustion is maintained, as the draft must 
then be small and the circulation of the air in the house 
slow. It was from neglect of these considerations that 
Mr. Penn’s system frequently failed —a system which E 
have found answer most excellently in narrow houses, 
and whieh I think would have kept a longer hold of 
public favour, at least in places where expense was no 
object, had not too much been claimed for it at first, — 
AO 
Melon Growing without Bottom-heat (see p. 20. )J— 
Ibeg to inform “Theta,” (p. 70), that I used every 
means in my power to induce a moist atmosphere up to 
the moment the fruit began to change colour, taking 
care however to give but very little water to the roots. 
In my opinion great humidity of atmosphere is indis- 
pensable to insure success; according to the plan I have 
detailed. It is one thing to have a Melon-plant trained 
over a bed of moist fermenting material, and it is quite 
another thing for that plant to be trained to trellis like 
Vines (its really natural way), meeting every vay of 
light at nearly right angles. As to liquid manure I 
used the drainage of the dunghill, with a very little 
nitrate of soda added—say one pound to 12 gallons of 
water, which appeared to greatly promote the growth 
of the plant, and gave zest to the fruit. Now, as to the 
į lants having bottom-heat, I cannot see how it was pos- 
sible for the soil of the border to be very sensibly 
affected by the pipes, seeing that the latter were nearly 
five feet distant from where the Melons were planted, 
and raised more than a foot above the soil, We all 
know that heated air ascends, and with the pipes thus 
elevated I cannot see how they could be said to give 
hottom-heat to the plants in the border. However, be 
that as it may, what I contend for is, that Melons can 
be produced as good in quality, in greater abundance, 
and at a tithe of the trouble and expense by the system 
detailed in my former communication than they can by 
the use of fermenting material, tanks, &e., or any other 
contrivance for producing bottom-heat in the common 
acceptation of the term. In reply to “P.S.’ I-may 
mention that it was “ dung-beds" that I considered to be 
little better than a nuisance, and not the use of dung in 
any other department of gardening. I wish, however, 
both “ Theta” and * P. S." to understand that I will not 
again reply to any question arising out of this subject 
unless they give their proper names and addresses,— 
J. Walker, Viceregal Gardens, Dublin. 
Fruits and Farinacea the Proper Food of Man (see 
p. 86).—Allow me to suggest with reference to your 
review of Mr. Smith's book, that possibly both Mr. S. 
and yourself have at the moment of writing overlooked 
a passage of the Bible,'to which book you both appeal— 
Genesis, chap. ix. 2, 3. To my mind this passage settles 
the question at once between your review and his book, 
as far as the evidence of the Bible is concerned ; and 
so far also leaves you both in the right. As far as the 
question of * original food” is concerned, contrast this 
passage with Genesis, chap. i. 29, 30, and it will, I think, 
appear that the permission to use animal food was first 
given to Noah ; the giving it at all to him would lead 
one to infer that it was a new thing. If Adam had 
had it, why renew it in the peculiar terms of Genesis ix. 
3, the words «f which read like a studied contrast to 
Genesis i. 29. The keeping of sheep by Abel, the 
clothing of Adam and Eve in the skins, are generally 
looked upon not as evidence that the animals were used 
for fond, but that the doctrine of sacrifice for sin had 
been revealed : were it not revealed, how came Abel's 
