104 THE 
GARDENERS' 
CHRONICLE. 
(Fes. 14, 
climes occupy the hottest end, with little air ; and the 
Ericas, &c., the other, with a much freer circulation ; 
the Pelargoniums may stand midway. 
KITCHEN GARDEN FORCING. 
Pineries,—As a somewhat general shift will take 
place during this month, I may, perhaps, be permitted 
to offer a little advice about soils, &c. It is quite cer- 
tain that first-rate Pines have been Brown in various 
soils, as well as by various systems so called. No 
system, however, can dis 
on the one hand, a 
the other. i 
e turf so fresh asthey may and ought to do. 
al texture, therefore, it would appear is the 
As 
drainage to those in pots, I would recommend in addi- 
tion to, and covering a dr inage of very open erocks, 
rough bone and charcoal, mixed ; on this, a layer of 
fresh turf in lumps, and then the bali of the shifted 
ine. Early Vinery.—Kinds that are difficult setters 
should be impregnated arti lly, choosing the middle 
of the day for t! p ose swelling should be 
thinned in the berry the moment the latter can be well 
distinguished. Many waste the substance of their trees 
by deferring Y eration. Follow up close 
Stopping of all rfluous wood, leaving some well- 
plaeed shoots, y to be permanent ones, to ramble 
occasionally ; if they should be below the proper 
strength, provide plenty of atmospherie moisture, and 
do not be afraid to ulge in a considerable inerease of 
temperature on the afternoons of bright days. In 
houses, bieaking for a succession crop, take care to 
observe the same principles as laid down for the early 
house, vi: ing, and abundance of moisture 
in thé air. Peac ceed with steadi 5 
quares, or small masses, when dry. 
fresh bran under tiles in Auricula frames, the tiles being 
raised from the ground atthe corners by small pebbles; 
on these the pots may be placed, so that no room may 
be lost by these most effective slug traps. As preven- 
tion is better than eure, we would advise amateurs to 
clear their frames of these vermin by this simple plan. 
At this season mice are apt to be very mischievous 
amongst Polyanthuses, when kept in frames, by eating 
the hearts of the plants ; when detected, a small 
quantity of phosphorie poison will prove their 
quietus. When the weather is sufficiently fine, lose 
no time in planting Ranuneuluses. These beautiful 
flowers delight in a cool subsoil ; we have grown them 
in splendid style on a layer of fresh cow manure, placed 
about 18 inches below the roots, the bed being filled up 
with turfy maiden loam and sand. Seed may now be 
sown in pans or boxes, the compost of decayed leaves 
and sand having been previously well watered the night 
before, on this the seed may be scattered rather thiekly, 
ressing gently on the surface; cover very slightly : 
we seldom cover with anything but fresh Moss, which 
is gradually removed as the seeds strike root. It will 
soon be time to put Carnations and Pieotees in their 
blooming pots. Ifa proper quantity of compost is not 
prepared, lose no time in mixing it, at the same time 
keeping a vigilant look out for all injurious insects, &e. 
Do not let a frosty day pass without giving it a turn 
over; the trouble will be amply repaid by the excel- 
lent state of the soil. Dahlia roots may continue to be 
put into gentle heat. 
KITCHEN GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 
See to the due preparation of ground for crops in 
general, but beware of carrying on these operations 
when the soil is in a wet state—better be a fortnight 
too late with any given crop. Iam of opinion that, 
where kitchen gardens are composed of light sandy 
soil, that it is better dug or trenched some weeks before 
it is wanted for some crops; I would instance mor 
especially Broad Beans—these like a firm holdof the soil. 
COTTAGERS' GARDENS. 
A most important crop for the Cottager is the 
Parsnip ; yet it is difficult to persuade them to 
adopt its cultivation, It is excellent food combined 
with Potatoes ; all sorts of stock will eat it, and it will 
even make the cottager a little wholesome wine, It will 
grow on any soil, and is perhaps less liable to blight or 
if tho fruit is swelling off, syringing must be again 
resumed, and should be performed twice a day, viz., in 
the morning about 7 o'clock, and in the afternoon about 
3o'elock. Shut up early in the afternoon, ang do not 
be afraid to allow the thermometer to range,to 75? on 
such occasions, if by solar heat; sinking through the 
night to 509 or Ch $, Figs, &c.—Advance 
steadily. Ventilate » if without draft. Moisture, 
&e., as before. Cucumbers and Melons.—Take care 
to stop and peg down “re ly those Cucumbers suffi- 
ciently forward in dung beds. . Water frequently be- 
tween the hills, an sof the frame ; as also 
g onally, in order to prevent them from 
“burning,” as it is technically termed. The soiling- 
over is better done in a progressive way, as too great a 
pplied at once seriously impedes the 
body of cold soil ay 
heat fora while. Ensure a temperature of 70? night 
and day, allowing a rise of 5° in the day if possible, 
and rising to 85° or even 909 during sunshine. Keep 
air without draft, day and night, if possible, although £ 
hold it to be a good practice to close them thoroughly, from 
two in the afternoon until six on sunny days, sprinkling 
the frame a little at closing ; during this short period 
they will be found to have made most substantial 
growth, as well as rapid advances towards fructification. 
Melons.—Keep up su ional sowings—indeed, in my 
opinion, a great portion of the summer's stock might 
be sown and got ferv ithout delay, provided the 
proper means are taken to keep them free from severe 
checks, both at top and bottom. To tliis end, only one 
plant should occupy a pot, say a 6-inch pot, and the 
soil should be entirely stiff turfy loam, for if any vege- 
g 
table matter be blended, king the soil too light, 
it, by 1 
stantly into a much larger pot. Let the soil be two parts 
sound turfy loam, one part half rotten mantre, and one 
part coarse leaf soil, adding plenty of charcoal with a tho- 
rough drainage, and using liquid manure, 
FLOWER-GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES, 
As before observed, see that ail planting is completed 
forthwith. Improve as much as possible all outlines 
Plau: fresh masses or groups where necessary, and in- 
troduce specimen plants where fitting opportunities 
offer. Much mischief is done by planting single 
specimens in recesses; these should be earefully pre- 
served as a general rule, to give deep shadows and to 
throw the prominent features into bold relief, 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
If severe weather continues, every available means 
must be adopted to protect Tulips, Auriculas, &e. We 
would, however, be perfectly understood that we do not 
advise smothering them; air must be given to all| 
ing 
the sun shine brightly after a severe frost, keep the 
mats and coverings on, at ihe same time tilting the 
lights. It will be requisite to put small quantities of 
ave. | No. of | Gye : 
will soon cause the plant to suffer through drought, | Feb. in hout Lowest Mean Ma T2 ey B 
Melon plants of some age wiil be found to both show Temp. | Temp. |" NF ained Iso z 
fruit and to “set” better than young and gross plants. | zun. 15| 455 | 29 | 90.9 8 0.18 in ^2 
Strawberries, —Keep those in bloom near the glass, with Sir E per 1 
abundance of air; use liquid manure, and thin the} wealis| 455 | 9 0.30 1 
fruit by the scissors where too thick. Kidney Beans. T a | “4 1 o5 i 
—Stop the first shoot, and if started as they ought to | ŝan 21| 412 | 307 u 0.20 a 
be, four in a 5-inch pot, let them remain in such until —————— 
the second buds begin to push, then remove them in- d 2st IB eer rature during the above period occurred on the 20th 
EDGIN 
; : 3 
plants in frames whenever opportunity occurs. Should | HzATING—Revertens—Gas is a bad agent for heating a green- | « 
w 
other mischanees than. any other vegetable. "The best 
way to keep it in winter is to spread over the crowns 
in November, the manure that is intended for the next 
crop, and io trench them out as wanted, leaving the 
soil in ridges. The ground for these should be trenched, 
the manure in the bottom, and the seed sown directly 
in drills about 15 inches apart. 
FORESTING. 
See that the soil is in due order for seed-sowing, 
which may be deferred.a little while longer. Bring all 
thinning and pruning matters to a close, and look over 
young plantations betimes, to prevent competing leaders; 
this will save much axe and saw work in future years. 
Cut over all young Oaks that are stunted, and thin out 
the contending suckers from those cut over in former 
years, . 
r 
u, for the week ending Feb, 12, 1848, as 
cultural Garden, Chiswick. 
Rain. 
08 
04 
3183 245 | NW. 
30.188 | 30.134 45 86 40.5 W; 
| 80.114 | 30.052 | 46.1] 288| 
e; overi 
harp iros:; fine; frosty 
Foogy; cloudy and fine; overcast. 
Mean temperacure of the week 14 deg. below the average. 
State of the Weather at Chiswick during che Jast 20 years, for the 
ensuing Week ending Feb, 21, 1846. 
readers would have taken it fora puff oblique, as we did. 
Secondly, you did not state in wh it i 
or different from, 
nin 
-inch pipes in the bottom of your range of 
ver them a flooring of slate for the support of 
i h 
the slates, 6 inches if depth will permit; and 
the flow-pipe should be within 3 inches of the front wall. 
Leave a few openings at the back, communieating with the 
b, ing a circulation, and thus 
r not, as may be foun 
You can thus have moisture at command ; as also 
gradations of temperature in the respective divisions b; 
means of stop-cocks,||——Alpha and J A F—We should wish 
to think upon your letters a little before they are answered, 
and therefore defer a reply till next week. 
InsEcrs—Sir R Schomburgk—The i 
ing the Cocoa-nut 
trees appears to be an Aleyrodes, which shall be made the 
subject of an essay very shortly. Zt. 
NAMES or PLANTS—H P 
J— Capsieum cerasiforme.—— Filia. 
vitæ, and Davallia canariensis or Have's-foot Fern. Speci. 
mens of plants are dried by being placed in brown-paper 
and pressed between two boards. S 
Mr. Lyons's book is the best, There is also a 
paper on the subject in the “ Horticultural Transactions,” and 
many scattered notices are to be found in the “Botanical 
Register," and elsewhere. In this newspaper you will find. 
many communications from Mr. Bateman and others. The 
cultivator mást read these things and remember them, You 
must not wonder'at plants from the same country requiring 
very different treatment. Orchids grow in the tropies at all 
elevations, between the level of the sea and 14,000 feet of al- 
titude ; and therefore they will require a great diversity of 
climate.——Henry—The cause of your Oncidium damping off 
was this—it was an old bulb which had previously produced 
another; then, by having its rhizome cut so short, all com- 
ication was at once stopped between it and those from 
whence it derived its support. The bulb had in a manner 
become exhausted, and in all probability would have never 
produced another bud, even had it been allowed to remain 
n the parent plant. S are also very liable to 
damp off if they receive a twist or bruize in packing. This 
will probably account for some of your plants dying soon 
after you had received them, 
es; the laps should be close. The lights 
ble; for although all the usual objects of 
al 
ventilation are effected without them, yet it will be di 
to have the power of moving them for the sake of cooling 
the house and for other reasons. We advise you to read all 
that will be said of radio-thermal heating before you actually 
apply it to practice. Many excellent suggestions are making 
weekly, 
nres—J W—You may plant the following on a steep slope for 
the purpose of fixing the loose soil, viz. :—Betula alba, Car- 
pinus betulus, us sylvatica, Sea Buckthorn, Pinus syl- 
vestris and austriaca, Pyrus aria and aucuparia, Larix euro- 
pea, and Acer Pseudo-Platanus.q 
1sc—W M—The distribution of seeds is now about to com- 
mence. Banks of Doveron— Nothing preserves wooden 
fences from decay better than coal tar. But they will last a 
long time if left without any paint whatever. ve now 
before us pales which must have been up for 30 years at least, 
and they will last some years longer, with a little repair, If 
they are either tarred or painted, they should have been first 
dried by exposure to all the sun of a warm summer.—— 
Pauvre—l and 4, Sow your seeds in March ; 2, In peat and 
loam ; 3, Place the pots in a warm Cucumber frame ; 5, Ca- 
mellias are propagated by cuttings, grafts, inarching, and 
even leaves; 6, They must be bought unless some friend will 
give them to you; 7, A Black Hamburgh or White Muscadine 
Vine; 8, We do not recommend tradesmen; 9, A plant one 
year from the eye, or a one year old layer will do; 10, 12, As 
soon as the wood gets firm ; 11, July or August ; 13, Mack- 
intosh's “Greenhouse and Hothouse Cnltivator," — T S.P 
— We have not the Number, but you may possibly procure it 
g an advanced price for it——Sub—Graft varie- 
Mi 
"i 
for standards, graft six feet from 
ushes, two fect will be sufficient. Sow the seeds of Alstros- 
merias now in pots, filled with rich, light, sandy loam and 
leaf mould, and place them in a Cucumber or Melon frame, 
or in any other structure where there is a modérately moist 
heat.{|— Gloucestershire—As you have no greenhouse, of the 
Tropeolums you mention, pentaphyllum and canariense are 
only suitable for you. The former is quite hardy, and will 
bloom till late in the season ; a i Both. 
pretty. Tricolorum and Jar e too delicate to suc- 
ox edgings may 
s may be dressed in the same 
month.]——/e Q—Your old Vines which have been carefully 
taken up and replanted with good roots, may be 
bear a few bunches this year. For the cultivation of Chicory 
see our volume for 1844, pp. 203 
arch. We refer you to the nearest. painter for information 
about varr will tell you 
rm, £6°; and the lowest on the 10th, 1845—therm, 15°, 
Notices to Correspondents. 
Booxs--O P—There is no such book as you mention, 
vs “ Materia Medica,” is the nearest approach to it, 
G—R O S—The best edging for your walks is North's 
made at Wordsley, near Stourbridge; they 
ar better than alive edging. The annexed 
cut shows the section of one. 
Perei- 
tile 
GnEENHOUSEPLANTS—PaulPrj—Grcenhouseplants 
requiring to be grown in peat mould are nume- 
rous. 19 out of every 20 of the magnificent spe- 
cimens annually shown’ at Chiswick, are grown 
exclusively in sandy peat mould. | The following 
do best in peat, viz. :—The different kinds of Azalea, Heaths, 
Epacrises, Chorozema varium, Corraa spec 
platyptera, Eriostemon buxifolium, Helichrys 
and humilis, Hovea Celsi and pungens, Eutaxia myrtifolia, 
Pimelea spectabilis and decussata, Leschenaultia formosa, 
Boronia lia, Harden iylla and macro- 
phylla, Kennedya Marryattæ, Polygala speciosa, Hibbertia 
perfoliata, Gardoquia Hookeri, Bossiæa linophylla, and 
Witsenia corymbosa. 
house 
that is if it is allowed to 
self.——L—Your letter was 
not printed for the following reasons :—In the first place, it 
was a mere eulogium, and of so remarkable a kind that our 
ÜiNERARIA— 
Pansies—W M- 
D 
sh; if he gives you good advice, he 
that the best i ne at all.——4J P—Your question is not 
susceptible of an answer. We could point out a place admi- 
rably kept, where 30 acres of garden and pleasure-ground, 
some miles of walks, and endless mowing, are kept in order 
by 8 labourers ; and we could also name another where 25 do 
the same work much worse ; everything depends upon the 
chief gardener, his master, and the quality of the men.. 
Cepa sub sepe—We cannot waste time upon bubble schemes. 
If the natural good sense of the publie will not guard it 
against such palpable absurdities, the publié is not to be 
guarded by good advice. 
SEEDLING FLOWERS. 
CAMELLIA—W B—Y our seedling is nothing more than a variety: 
of the single white.” 
—Your specimen is a good ed and well 
ormed flower, of a bright crimson colour.*—J K—Your 
Cineraria was directed to Turnham-green and not to the 
office of this newspaper, and therefore it was spoiled before it 
was found. 
—Flowers require to be packed in something 
damp, to preserve their freshness, It was impossiblé to form. 
any opinion of your specimen, as it arrived in a dried and 
shrivelled state.* 
* Asusual, many communications have been received too late, 
and others are unavoidably detained till the necessary inquiries 
can be made, e must also beg for the indulgence ef those 
numerous correspondents, the insertion of whose interesting 
contributions is still delayed, 
ey 
