224 THE 
GARDENERS' 
CHRONICLE. 
[APRIL 4, 
Grapes, the laterals, at a given period, should be re- 
duced so as to admit the sun to shine on the 
berry. The most powerful sunshine will not colour 
Grapes in perfection, unless the Vines pos- 
sess a fair proportion of leaf, with a safe and 
steadily acting root. Some of the blackest Grapes 
I have ever seen, and possessing the finest bloom, 
were in situations in which 1 might almost say 
the sun’s rays never shone on them. Peach- 
house.—Nothing fresh at present. Carry out the 
maxims of former Calendars. See that the trees are in 
a wholesome state of moisture at the root. Melons, 
Cucumbers, &c.—Give free airings all the early part of 
the day, partly in order to facilitate the “ setting” 
process. As long since asserted by Mr. Paxton (in 
spite of gardening traditions), tropical fruits require a 
dry and lively atmosphere in order to promote 
fecundation. 
FLOWER-GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES. 
Those who force Neapolitan Violets, should, for the 
next three weeks or a month, propagate a stock, either 
by cuttings or runners. Young stock of choice Pansies, 
of last autumn’s striking, should now be got out in the 
Flower-garden beds, or on borders. If the soil is in any 
way exhausted, a little fresh should be put in every 
hole ; viz., such as old rotten loamy turf, mixed with 
old leaf soil, a little soot, and a little coarse sand. Too 
much manure may enlarge the blooms for awhile, but 
soon renders the plant unruly. Sow Sweet Peas and 
Mignonette. If the former are required early, soak 
em in warm water for six hours previous. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
The late severe frosts have much retarded vegetation, 
and where former directions have not been attended 
to, some injury has been the result. The water which 
is apt to lodge in the cavity formed by the advancing 
Tulip leaves, ought to be scrupulously removed, as at 
this season it is of the first importance that every part 
of the plant should be dry when frosts occur. It ap- 
pears that the best means of preventing injury from 
hail-storms, so prevalent at this season, is to keep the 
beds covered with nets of a small mesh, but these should 
be sufficiently high to prevent the plants being drawn. 
Ranunculuses are now beginning to make their 
appearance above ground; as they advance, it will be a 
necessary; precaution to keep the soil well round the 
crown of the plant ; when this is neglected, the bloom 
is sure to suffer ; though if the surface of the bed is 
composed of sand to the depth of half an inch (as be- 
fore advised), there will not be much danger. In con- 
sequence of the severity of the late spring frosts, it will 
be advisable to throw mats over the beds, unless they 
are in very sheltered situations. Auriculas.—Take 
especial care that the frames are well covered during 
ihe night; should the expanding blossoms receive a 
check, they become in florist phraseology “set,” and 
they will have great difficulty in expanding their 
flowers. Seedlings will now be blooming in the more 
southern counties; see that they come up to the 
standard as laid down by Emmerton, whose work, 
though objectionable in some respects, gives a tolerably 
correct idea of what a good Auricula ought tobe. Look 
back through the few past Calendars, and lose no oppor- 
newly-planted stuff with Fir boughs. Fill up all cart 
or other roads ; level ruts, and make a;thorough clear- 
ance. 
State/of the Weather near London, for the week ending April 2, 1846, as 
obser vedat the Horticultural Garden, Chiswick. 
P "e BAROMETER, Rain. 
i £i 
99.505 +07 
29.807 
29.858 2 
39.606 
29.445 03 
106 
RU 
ine, with slight haze 
light dry haze; clear an 
ine; cloudy ; 
loudy and showery ; ; 
Mean temperature of the week 1 deg. below the average. ^ 
State of the Weather at Chiswick during the last 20 years, for the 
ensuing Week ending April 11, 1846. 
Prevailing Win 
No. of 
Meis Yasinta Saves 
of Rain, 
vag (ATS | Aver, 
pril |Highest Lowest : 
Temp. | Temp, emp which it | 
0.58 in. |- 
Sun. 5| 561 | 87.0 |465 9 2 
Mon, 6| 564 | 38.6 | 46.5 7 0.13 4 
Tues. 7 4 | 878 | 47-7 9 0.40 1 
Wed. 8| 56.3 85.8 | 46.9 6 0,80 3) 
Thur. 9| 548 | 36.4 | 456 9 0.26 2| 
Fri, 10| 550 | 340 | 445 7 0.28 2 
Sat. 11| 552 | 354 |453 9 1 
The highest temperature during the above period occurred on the 5th, 
1932—therm, 747 and the lowest on the 11th, 1843, and 6th, 1045—therm. 22°. 
say we have many such cases. To spare time or space for 
answering these demands is impossible ; it is not f: i 
The Third 
being exhausted, a New Edition is preparing, and will be 
ready in a few days. 
CHARCOAL—F L C—This owes its excellence either to its ab- 
sorbing ammonia and then parting with it again to water, or 
toits decomposing and giving rise to carbonic acid, or to both. 
Frrns—E S—We do not believe that there are so many as four 
dozen hardy Ferns. Procure Newman's book on Ferns, which 
will give you ample information. 
FIRE MORTAR, &c.—C M S—* A 
high heat without cracking. F 
cement, fresh made, such a: 
and Co., of Milbank. For garden-walls, fresh burned Dork- 
m 
Place this in their track or run, and you will probably catch 
the whole drove. 
tunity of bringing forward work there d 
TCHEN GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 
Follow up sowings of Peas, Beans, Radishes, Horn 
Carrots, Salading, &c. according to directions in last 
Calendar. Rampion beds may now be sown ; a light, 
sandy soil suits this, in common with most of the 
Campanula family. Sow a little Hamburgh Parsley, some 
early Beet, Purslane, &c., and look well after some 
good and forward seed-beds of Celery. That sown 
early in boxes will soon want pricking out. The old 
plan is very good, viz., some very rotten and mellow 
dung, on a sound bottom. On this, the plants, pricked 
3 inches apart, will produce many fibres, and will remove 
with the trowel, in balls, with the most trifling amount 
of check. The chief reason why Celery * bolts? (if I 
may be allowed a rough technical term), is when sudden 
luxuriance is succeeded by sudden checks. The 
* buttoning” of the Cauliflower is wholly traceable to 
the same cause, as also premature fructification in many 
other plants. Orcharding and Fruit Trees in General. 
—Do not forget to take all the wasps possible : this is 
most important. Now is a good time to use sulphur, 
mixed with soft soap and elay, as a paint, daubing it with 
a brush between the Peach, Nectarine, or Pear shoots 
to prevent the breeding of the red spider. 
OTTAGERS’ GARDENS. 
Let all Potato planting be finished by the middle of 
this month at the latest, at least those of the late kinds 
intended for seed for the next year. If the Potato is 
deg d in itution, it is undoubtedly through 
high manuring and late planting. The very early kinds, 
however, as Ash-leaved Kidneys, &c., should not be set 
too early for seed, or the probability ‘is, that they will 
lose their first sprout ; the end of April is a good time 
for this purpose. Let all Potatoes for seed be planted 
on high, airy, and unshaded ground ; leys, if possible, 
and without a particle of manure. Break away all 
Rhubarb stalks running to seed ; cover Seakale spring- 
ing with a mound of soil, if not done before. Those 
who possess good sticks should sow a row of Cor- 
mack’s British Queen Pea on a rich ground ; they will 
continue bearing all the autumn. 
FORESTING. 
Weeds will soon begin to bestir themselves among 
the young forest-trees, whether in beds or rows; let 
these have early attention ; some watering will, per- 
haps, be necessary here. Seeds when once disposed to 
germinate, must receive no stoppage. Shade tender or 
Fucustas—A Young Gardener — We prefer cutting har 
Fuchsias either quite down, or very close in, because th 
seldom preserve their stems in the open air in a sufficiently 
sound state} to produce vigorous branches. If, however, the 
in stem is quite sound, finer plants may be obtained by 
closely siding in the branches than by cutting the stems to 
dy 
e; 
n ound, 
Funer—J M T—We had always imagined that the notion that |. 
Peziza tuberosa sprung from the roots of Anemones was un- 
founded, but we are staggered at the fact of its growing in a 
garden amongst double Anemones, We have begged Mr. 
Berkeley to draw up something on the subject. He informs 
that the black body from which it springs is to be found 
some months before the Peziza makes it appearance, and it 
is possible that this sclerotioid mass may spring from the 
root of the Anemone. 
succession of bloom thronggou: the year has been given at 
p.4. The following six E 
niflora alba, ampullacea, Irbyana, eximia, and Savileana, 
flower in July, ani 
rupestris, flower in September.t 
Insrcrs—L S—It is the young Thrips which infests your Cu- 
cumbers and French Beans. If you cannot suppress them. 
by fumigating with Tobacco or sulphur, it is to be feared that 
ou will not get rid of them by any other means, Jt.—— 
Entomologicus Junior—The caterpillars that ate your feathers 
tella possibly ; but until they are bred, we cannot be certain 
Am old 
stick-caterpillar to feed, and unless we could breed the moth, 
it is difficult to say what it will change to; possibly Ourap- 
teryx sambucaria.Z ——4 S—We do not understand your 
query, and so many different insects are called wireworms, 
that unless you send us specimens, we cannot give you any 
advice. R. 
Lawns—C B—Use per acre 2 lbs. Avena flavescens, 5 Ibs. 
Crested Dogstail, 5 Ibs. of Festuca duriuscula, 18 lbs, of the 
fine leaved Rye-grass, 3 or 4lbs. of Poa trivialis, 7 lbs. of 
White Clover, and 21bs. of the small Yellow ditto. 
MANURES—Sub—Soap-suds may be applied with much benefit 
to vegetables. It should be applied when they are growing; 
itis useless to apply it to the seeds, Fruit trees will also be 
benefited by the application.$—— Veita—Potter’s liquid guano 
has been frequently advertised in our columns, It may be 
applied with advantage to all plants for which other manures 
have been found to be beneficial.} 
Names or PLANTS—A. Dorsetshire Country Gardener should write 
in ink, not pencil, His plant is an Orobanche, but what 
species it is impossible to tell in its shrivelled state. Mar- 
tha—Rosa Lawrenceana.——O P—Some kind of Yam.—— 
JD L—We do not recollect the Cactus, nor can we deter- 
i —— T L—Thanks. We are 
eds. Neither name is 
ut, 
Pnroxzs—MW E—The following are late flowering kinds (July 
Brownii, crimson ; picta, lilac striped; Van IIouttei, stripe 
purple and white; reflexa, deep purple; omnitlora, white ; 
and Coldreyana, bright red.t 
P: i i Mr. Shepherd d operations 
in the autumn, as we have stated. As he digs up his Pota- 
sume, if there is really any advantage in the steep. Salt and 
water is fatal to Potatoes that are to be stored ; but it does 
not follow that it will hurt them when placed in the soil and 
seta growing, The best plan now to pursue is to adopt Mr. 
Shepherd's plan at once; to take up the seed-beds and re- 
for 1848, and at the same time to leave so much of the seed- 
beds undug as will provide seed for 1847. 
Turvnaxn—hewn-In making wine from this, use the leaf- 
stalks, and proceed ewactly as if you were making Gooseberry 
wine. 
osEs—A B—For planting a sloping bank no Rose is so good 
in regard to effect as the common China, and itis the hardiest 
of al 
tually prevent all seeds from springing up among its branches. 
We never heard of a shrubby Impatiens. 
Wine—Rhombus—Dr. M‘Culloch’s little book on Wine making 
explains the whole subject so well and fully, that we see no 
advantage in our taking up the subject. We ean 
what he has said. The best wine Grapes are the Early Black 
July, Miller’s Burgundy, and Black and White Cluster 
Grapes. The Black Hamburgh is good for nothing. 
Misc.—N A P B—Ist. Camellias repotted in July, or at any 
other period, should be potted with the roots untouched, un- 
less they are in bad condition ; if so, remove the loose soil, 
thoroughly wash the roots, and repot in smaller pots if pos- 
sible ; treating the plants as cuttings for a month afterwards. 
2d. The pots may be plunged in a f peat-earth, if a 
reason exists for doing so; I should prefer them on stone 
slabs however, the slabs kept moist, 3d. ‘ Particular drain- 
age” may be of several kinds ; such, however, as will at all 
times cause the water to issue through the pot-bottom the mo- 
ment after the plant is watered, may be considered for general 
purposes sufficient, **Unctuous loam” may be either yellow 
or brown; is of an adhesive character, possessing a slight 
inclination to clay. The residue from heating ovens would 
i particles 
your Camellias are to remain where they are plun; 
potting will be needed in July or August 
out draught is 
Rose, or other seeds, by keeping, is very problematical in the 
present state of science ; one thing is certain, the young seed- 
ling is scarcely so gross in habit. I would sow directly, and 
ly on well-contrived crosses to improve the old stock, E — 
ng from wet and cold ; 
is no certain remedy for 
mildew. Rapid currents of air are as likely i 
stopits progress, and want of ventilation to promote it, Bones 
are broken by mills made for the purpose ; you are right in 
supposing that they must be crushed before mixing with sul- 
i L- 
peat, in the manner o-day. 
— —A Walker—Archangel tar remains sticky for a long time, 
and is apt to run in a very hot sun unless it has been applied. 
for some years. We hardly expect much advantage from 
steeping timber in lime-water.—C H—Hart’s Everlasting 
Rose is no doubt the Rose of Jericho of the old herbalists, 2 
full account of which was given in our volume for 1842, 
p.363. It is not a Rose at all, but a little grey leaved annual 
named Anastatica hi À i bl toa 
et 
SEEDLING FLOWERS. 
CAMELLIAS—Éton—Y our seedling is of little value, and is not 
i best state of the flower is 
petals are partly hidden. This 
fective ; the petals also are thin and not perfectly formed on 
their edges. 
colour,*——4A B—No. 
the same colourin cultivation ; 3 is too n: i v 
4 is a pleasing variety ; 2 is the most novel, being a crimson 
tip, upon a delicate lemon ground.* 
