` 12.—1846.] THE 
GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 185 
Polmaise; why, I saw myself in the vicinity of that 
place as fine a crop of Peaches in the open air, in 1823, 
as I ever observed in the warmest parts of England. 
Ample time has been allowed since this subject was 
first mooted, for its advocates to show what it is 
really capable of effecting ; for, after all, that is what is 
wanted. Let us see Grapes at our next May exhibition 
of the London Horticultural Society, ripened by a Pol- 
maise stove, running away with the gold medal. I shall 
then admit that to be a very great fact. In an article 
on this subject by Mr. Ayres, he questioned whether 
the house at Polmaise was heated at all. The scorching 
of the leaves was then adduced as an evidence of this, 
but a hand lantern would have a similar effect, Mr. 
Meeke complains that I have only stated two objec- 
tions, and not denied the facts. What are the facts? 
are they so marvellous? Are ripe Grapes in September 
of good quality so extraordinary and unusual? There 
has been exhibited this season already, before the Hor- 
ticultural Society of London, from Mr. Fleming, of 
rentham, not the warmest part of England certainly, 
a beautiful sample of ripe Grapes, and there is within 
an hours walk of where I am writing, 1000 lbs. of 
Grapes in one establishment finely swelled and colour- 
ing beautifully. One of my objections was the admis- 
Sion of cold air from without, and Mr. Meeke asks, * Is 
it possible Mr. Glendinning used these words ‘That if 
the house had been heated by hot water it would be 
unnecessary to admit fresh air from without.’ ” 
t is quite possible I did say so; for in every 
Grapery which I build I putty the laps,as well as use 
every other precaution to obviate this as much as pos- 
sible. Mr. Meeke may perhaps tell us to what extent 
the air of a Grapery is rendered impure by a hot-water 
apparatus, or to what extent it differs from the external 
air, other than being warmer. A great philosopher 
told me it did not differ except in temperature, at least 
as far as regards its purity; but he may have been 
wrong, and hence I have been misled. If he was not 
wrong, then the admission of cold air is so much heat 
wasted. That the air of such a house heated by a 
Polmaise stove would readily become polluted and re- 
quire a constant stream of cold air from without to keep 
up a healthy atmosphere is apparent enough. ‘The next 
objection is that of introducing the heated air in the 
first place at the back, and of course the warmest part 
of the house ; had I mentioned no other objection I 
should look upon this as fatal to the system, and it would 
not have been the first system that such an arrangement 
of the heating power has destroyed. I had something to 
do with the first fair trials of Fowler’s Thermosiphon in 
1829. Iat once p d that for i l pu 
Poses such an appropriation of the heating power could 
Not be effective, and must necessarily explode. I ad- 
duced my reasons; all 1 got in return was a sneer at 
r- 
‘my philosophy ; but after drawing largely upon the 
exchequer of the ingenious gentleman, the thing proved 
a failure and was no more heard of. Therefore to 
introduce the heat at that part where it is least of all 
required, and where also before it can reach, if it ever 
reaches at all, that part of the building where the diffi- 
culty of warming in severe weather has always been 
felt, and causing the current at the same time to descend 
in opposition to a well-known natural law, is too absurd 
for discussion. An objection may with great propriety be 
urged against the mere arrangement of the Polmaise 
house; for as far as the economical appropriation of 
Such structures are concerned, the whole of the back 
border is destroyed for any useful purpose ; but sup- 
Posing that none of these objections existed, and that a 
Bardener was caught in the middle of January with the 
external air at zero, and his house of Grapes in full 
bloom, need I ask any practical man what would be the 
ane of his crop? Why, if he got his stove up toa 
pig heat, he could not possibly keep. the frost out and 
Be e his Grapes ; and besides what kind of heat would 
it ipsus dun under such conditions? But to render 
ieee to vegetable organisation, a current of air 
ate we admitted at the zero point. In a well-con- 
Es ed hot-water apparatus, during intense frost, the 
Satisfied. Tetires in the evening to rest, feeling perfeetly 
cea in_his mind that he will find all safe next 
usua], ven supposing the fire to burn out—a not 
je Tenco there remains in the water itself 
gencies, S magazine of heat, sufficient for all contin- 
goes out, es so in the Polmaise ; the moment the fire 
what is worse ay source of supply is dried up, and, 
the stove ee e current of cold air provided to supply 
ata rapid rate Grate to rush in—thus driving out 
seems to think xg ittle heat that remains. Mr. Meeke 
urged likely reasonable objection has yet been 
ged kely to affect th d $ 
Polmaise system, and dud general introduction of the 
all others. How M at it must ultimately supersede 
I cannot comprehend. ja ERI imagine such a result 
without one redeeming n rises upon objection, 
men on whose axioms the Po d 
which is avowedly based on 
Finally, if the great 
olmaise system is founded, 
know—are forgotten, it will Lt eg AEE ES 
tical gardening.— R. lendinning M 
Potato Disease. —l am sorry t 
of ay crops of early Potatoes ed [un eae 
on Saturday last are now a complete wr, a 
planted in rather a dry soil, the Movet Sob t cui 
Melon bed, and grew as well as could be desired. I 
made sure of gathering a fine crop in about a fortnight, 
ch were looking well 
Potatoes here are now rotting very rapidly.—W. |P. 
Ayres, Brooklands, March 18, 1846. 
Potatoes in Cornwall.—It will be interesting to 
know that in my own parish, whence some of che earliest 
Potatoes from the open ground have always appeared at 
Covent-garden, we have as yet no signs of anything 
being wrong. A sharp frost in the beginning of Feb- 
ruary had cut down the stems, which had reached the 
height of 8 or 9 inches ; but notwithstanding this check, 
they are again of the same height, without disease 
showing itself, even on the most careful examination. 
The branches are strong, the stems perfectly sound, the 
sets as fresh as when put into the ground, and the young 
tubers already formed vigorous and heaithy, at least, so 
far as the eye can judge. Our sorts are Cornish and 
Axbridge Kidneys ; but the same may be said of our 
later crops : the seed planted about two months since 
is perfectly sound, and making strong shoots, though, 
of course, it is too early to speak with any confidence 
as yet. A large extent planted in this parish presents 
this favourable appearance ; nor can I learn of any 
reappearance of the disease in the early crops in this 
neighbourhood. This escape as yet from the disease, 
which has shown itself in so many places, is the more 
surprising, as our own neighbourhood suffered as much, 
if not more, from its ravages last year, than any district 
that I am acquainted with.— W. W. Wingfield, Gulval 
Vicarage, Penzance, Cornwall, March 16th. 
The Season.—Vegetation has already made consider- 
able progress in Dorsetshire. The trees and shrubs 
included in the following list have each produced young 
shoots from 2 to 4 inches in length, viz.—the common 
Laurel, which is in some places jn full flower ; the Por- 
tugal Laurel, the Privet, the Alder, the Dog Rose, the 
common Bramble, and the common and Irish Yew. 
Common Larch (particularly some upwards of 20 ft. 
high, planted in Nov.) ; Cedar of Lebanon, Scotch Pine, 
Weymouth Pine, and Tree Box, which is in full flower, 
The common Laburnum is in leaf. Arbutus Unedo, L., 
is still in flower, with fruit the size of a common 
marble. Laurestinus is still covered with flower. The 
Horse Chestnut is bursting its waxy buds, and in more 
sheltered places the leaves are visible. Phillyrea angus- 
tifolia, in sheltered places, has shoots 1 inch long. 
P. media buxifolia has done flowering. Daphne Lau- 
reola has been in flower all winter. The different 
varieties of Salix are in full flower. Peaches, Apricots, 
Plums, and Cherries are also in full blossom, and in 
some parts of the garden in leaf. Pears on the walls 
are in full flower with leaves. Apples in some parts of 
the garden are showing flower ; and our woods present 
a gay and lively appearance, with Primulas, Myosotis, 
Narcissus, Anemone, Vincas, &e. &c.—J. M‘Intosh, 
March 9.——Near Inverness vegetation is as forward 
now as it was on the 20th of May last year. Potatoes 
in the open ground, on a south aspect, are very strong, 
and 3 inches in height. We never saw the Potato 
disease here. Cauliflower aud Lettuces are vigorous. 
Jargonle Pear-trees are in flower. Peaches, Apricots, 
and all fruit trees also promise a rich bloom soon. 
Ribes sanguineum, Violets, &e. are in flower. Poplar 
trees and Hawthorn hedges are green,and the Grass 
lawns require mowing. — J. Ross, March 9. 
As the result of the unusually mild season may affect 
the next harvest, the annexed memorandum may be 
interesting :—The following plants and weeds were 
flowering in the garden of the rectory, at Ripton, 
Hunts, or adjacent fields, on the 24th Jan., 1822, viz., 
Laurestinus, Periwinkle, Stocks, Primroses in abund- 
ance, Chinese Roses, Polyanthuses, Anemones, Phea- 
sauts Eye, Snapdragon, Aconite, Chrysanthemum, 
Alyssum, Marigold, Gentianella, Carnation, Cowslip, 
Bearsfoot, Violet, Wallflower, Kerria and Pyrus 
japonica, Antirrhinum, Sweet Pea, Dandelion, Vene- 
tian Vetch, Passionflower, in bud. I need hardly 
observe that the autumnal flowers named in the list, 
and mixed up with those of spring without order, 
have stood the winter. My notes go on to state the 
hay harvest began on June 22d of that season; the 
Wheat ditto on July 24th. Both were very good, and 
about 14 days before the usual time.— T. B —— On the 
10th ult., Rhododend i , Ribes gui 
and Saxifraga oppositifolia, were in flower. The Ivy- 
leaved Toad-flax, Linaria Cymbalaria, and Eseallonia 
rubra, unprotected, flowered all through January. At 
present I have in flower a bloom of the London Glory 
Pink, and one of the crimson Ranunculus, which were 
quite unprotected during the winter. The Ranunculus 
roots were kept out of the ground a season.— W. J.. 
Ballykilbeg-house, Downshire, March 10. The 
middle of last month my gardener found a robin’s nest 
in a water-pot in the garden tool-house. She has duly 
hatched, and the family are “ going on well.”—C. C. 
And now, while we are writing, the ground is covered 
with snow, the wind N. E., and reports from the north 
speak of snow knee-deep at Newcastle. 
Potato Disease began in 1844.—1 think it would 
be impossible for any one having heard the evidence 
which I have, not to come to the conclusion that the 
disease existed in this neighbourhood (East Sussex), in 
1844. I suspect, that in no part of the kingdom has it 
been so severe. So early as September, tons of Pota- 
toes were brought from London to supply the Irish, 
who, as usual, had here congregated, for the purpose of 
— 
| gathering the hops. I know of two plantations of Pota- 
toes which were annihilated in June, the ground culti- 
Pee now they are quite worthless. The lights have not | vated, and Swede Turnips sown. In the last week in 
AEn off since the Potatoes were frst planted, | July, the gardener of Mrs. Monypenny, ok den, 
began to think that protection from cold rains |in Kent, planted in a double Cucumber frame, some 
| seed of 1844, and at the same time he put some of the 
had saved them, but now my hopes are blighted. Old 
same in pots, and placed them in the hothouse. I had 
several opportunities of witnessing those in the frame 
being smitten similarly to those in the gardens; those 
in the hothouse continuing to flourish and arrive at 
maturity. I asked the gardener how he accounted for 
the Potatoes on the eastern ‘side of the frame being 
more affected than those on the northern? I had b; 
my observation anticipated his answer. He replied, 
* because there are many more panes of glass broken,” 
meaning that the atmosphere had thereby a free access. 
Inthe month of July, and early in August, I observed 
the disease gradually extending from parish to parish, 
in a direction from south to north, after which you are 
aware that it made rapid strides. In vain have I at- 
tempted to impress on my neighbours the vast import- 
ance of the impending danger. Some benevolentfarmers 
are sending tota distance for sound Potatoes to distribute 
to their labourers for seed; I tell those whom I have met 
with, that their benevolence would have a tenfold effect 
if, instead of distributing the Potatoes they would 
plant a field, well adapted, promising their labourers 
that they should have a due proportion of the produce 
at a moderate charge, conditionally that they would not 
plant a single Potato in their gardens, but lime and well 
cultivate them till the time of sowing of Turnips. I 
grieve to say, that my Parsnips, which have been deli- 
cious, are many of them become totally unserviceable, 
their appearance being similar to that of diseased Pota- 
toes.—W. P. L. 
Daisies on Lawns.—I have a cottage in the country, 
situate in a prettily dressed garden, with a little lawn of 
close shaven turf in front of the windows of the prin- 
cipal rooms. On this lawn I last year perceived that a 
great number of Daisies (Bellis perennis) had located 
themselves, and to dislodge them I employed an army 
to fork them out. I afterwards gave the turf a top- 
dressing of soot and sandy loam, and the consequence 
was, my domain looked green and grateful throughout 
the summer ; and I fancied that I had effectually 
removed the enemy. To my surprise, however, when 
I visited the spot about a month since, I saw such a 
camp as I never saw before; these pests, more nume- 
rous than the Sikhs, seemed literally to spring up under 
one's feet, and bid me defiance. "They won't yield, I 
am afraid, to treating, and to make war with the scari- 
fier, would bea sad pity. What can Ido? Just now 
they disturb my equanimity more than the Americans 
in their possession of Oregon. I really want your ad- 
vice. Your distressed ally — Belligerent. [You must 
keep the war with the Daisies alive. It is of no use to 
cut their heads off once a year; they require decapita- 
tion as fast as a new head forms. With a sharp spud, 
and perseverance, they will take to flight. 
ees.—1l was persuaded from the favourable report 
I received from a friend who buried some bees last 
winter in dry leaves, to try the same plan with a hive 
this year. I placed it on the pebbled floor of asummer 
house on the 4th of November, well covered. over, 
about 1 foot deep in dry leaves, it then weighed 18$ Ibs., 
on December 25, it weighed 181bs. on January 26, 
174lbs., and in February 23, 163 lbs., when I liberated 
them from their confinement, and they appeared lively 
and healthy. Have any of your readers tried this plan, 
and with what result —J. W. 
Polmaise Heaing.—1n the 10th edition (1706) of 
the “ Kalendarium Hortense,” written by John Evelyn, 
is an engraving and description of a method of heating 
hothouses, said to have answered remarkably well, 
which resembles the Polmaise as much as the separate 
inventions of two ingenious men can be expected to do. 
The principle of both is the same, and the air is drawn 
out in the same manner, viz., by an underground drain, 
and a close furnace outside the house ; but in Evelyn's 
the external air is admitted and warmed by means of 
short pipes made of crucible earth, open at both ends, 
which pass through the brickwork and furnace, and 
project both within and without the house. Perhaps 
pipes, either of flannel, as one of your correspondents 
suggests, or of porous earthenware, might be socketed 
into the firepipes, and serve, when wet, the purpose of 
a wet blanket, The stove is also engraved and described 
in the “Transactions of the Rl. Society," Vol. 18, No.212, 
p. 191.—Suffolciensis — 1I have read with interest and 
without prejudice the articles which have appeared on 
this subject ; but I must say, hitherto, without being at 
all convinced of either the efficiency or economy of the 
plan. I have no desire to maintain the present system 5 
if a more efficient system, or one equally so, and less 
expensive, can be devised, the sooner the whole appara- 
tus of hot-water pipes, boiler, &e., are swept away the 
better. But I do not think the cause of truth likely to 
be served by the course pursued by the advocates of 
Polmaise heating, who (perhaps inadvertently) allow 
their zeal to lead them to exaggerate the defects of the 
old system, and to claim merits for the new one, which 
nothing short of actual experiments on a sufficiently 
large scale can prove it to be entitled to, and to which, 
in the absence of such proof, its claim appears to many 
to be very questionable ; and till such actual proof, 
or at least some stronger arguments than have yet 
appeared, ean be adduced, it is too soon to cal 
upon us to renounce the hot water system as “ com- 
paratively unnatural, unphilosophical, inefficient, 
and expensive.” ere is at least a possibility 
that if any should be induced by such representations 
to throw aside their hot-water pipes, they may be glad 
to resume them; and after making a rotary move- 
ment, hing like what Mr. Murray has succeeded 
in imparting to the atmosphere of his house, may find 
themselves once more at the point from which they 
