15.—1846.] 
GARDENERS' 
OHRONICLE. 
I —-—————— ee 
235 
ORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.— 
Notice 
FLOWERS and FRUIT, in the Society's Garden, in the pre- 
sent season, will take place on AYS, 
viz., May 9, June 13, and July 11; and that Tuesday, April 21, 
48 the last day on which the usual Privileged Tickets areissued 
ATILLIAM MASTERS, Exoric Nursery, Can- 
terbury, will be happy to forward, free of expense to any 
of the South-Eastern Railway Stations, the under-mentioned 
choice Hothouse and Greenhouse Plants, at the prices affixed, 
an 
2 Calceolarias, of sorts — .. oo . 
2 Cape Heaths, of 12 different kinds .. 
12 superior kinds of Cape Heaths oe m 
2 Plants of 12 species of New Holland Plants 
do. 
lo. of New Holland Greenhouse 
Plants, of Jarger size m e JG 
12 Plants of 12 species, of newer kinds, do. do. .. 
12 small Plants of 12 varieties of Camellia Japonica. . 
12 larger Plants, do. do, . 
2 Indian Azaleas, of 12 sorts — .. . . 
2 larger Plants of Indian Azaleas E m 
2 newer kinds of Indian Azaleas m E 
2 distinct species of Succulent Plants .. a 
2 choicer kinds of Succulents, one ofeach .. 
12 Orchidaceous Plants of 12 species .. "o 
do. of rarer kinds, 1 each I .. . 
12 choice Stove or Hothouse Plants, 1 of each 
12 Indian and Hybrid Rhododendrons, 12 varieties 
12 China and Thé Roses, 12 varieties .. $ 
12 superior Thé and Cbina Roses, of 12 sorts .. . 0 
A large collection of the different varieties of Verbena, Cal- 
ceolaria, Petunia, Anagallis, Mesembryanthemum, &c., for 
‘bedding, at from 4s, to 6s., in dozens. 
ERICAS, OR CAPE HEATHS. 
OUELL anp CO. having a fine and beautiful 
healthy Stock of the following ERICAS, beg to offer them 
at9s. per dozen. The usual discount to the trade. 
Wilimorei, cruenta, hybrida, gracilis, concinna, ignes- 
tens, abetina, hiemalis, flammea, verticillata, Bonplandia, 
Boweana, ventricosa breviflora, dichromata, and assurgens. 
Great Yarmouth Nursery, April 11, 1846, 
2 
swaBenownonbuum SHoHHS 
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‘The Gardeners’ Chrontele. 
SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1846. 
MEETINGS FOR THE TWO FOLLOWING WEEKS. 
‘Wepnuspay, A pr. 15—Mieroscopical . H . . [2259 
Tum», — aif Horionttural 5l 1 lo arae 
Now that all Europe is speculating upon the pos- 
sibility of procuring new kinds of vegetable food, it 
is not surprising that the hope of introducing Anna- 
acna should be revived, especially since it is 
known to thrive in regions favourable to the Potato. 
For the sake of a few correspondents who have 
addressed us on the subject, of many who seem likely 
to waste money in the attempt to procure it, and in 
order that gardeners who will have to manage it if 
it arrives, as is probable, may know what it is that 
they have to deal with, a short account of the plant 
seems desirable. 
The Arracacha is an umbelliferous plant, found 
wild in the elevated regions of Equatorial America, 
where it is extensively cultivated for the sake of its 
root. In the Andes of Popayan, Pasto and New 
‘Grenada, it is as extensively grown as the Potato, 
It is indeed far more productive than that plant ; 
for, according to BovssrxcAurT, 16 tons an acre are 
obtained from it; while the Potato does not yield 
more than 9 or 10 tons, It is, however, said to be 
somewhat less nutritious, because it contains a 
larger proportion of water. 
TheArracacha root resembles a great Parsnip with 
many fangs, and in flavour is something between 
it and a sweet Chesnut when roasted; at least, that 
was the opinion formed of it by the writer of this 
notice, when it was grown in England about 20 
years ago. Each root is said to weigh from 4 to 
6 lbs. in good land, and it is certainly an excellent 
article of food. But can we grow it in the open 
air in Great Britain ? 
It is the opinion of some persons that we might. 
Arracacha is grown, they say, in places where the 
Potato is also a field crop ; the mountainous regions 
of New Grenada have a climate quite different 
from that of the plains in the same latitude ; and 
are really temperate like the British Islands. We 
Cannot say that we agree at all in this opinion. The 
Mean temperature of the Andes, where the finest 
Arracacha fields occur, according to M. Goupor, 
Who lived in New Grenada for 90 years, is from 
64° to 82°. . There is no frost, no cold weather, 
no dry summer heats in those regions; and in 
truth we have not in our gardens one single 
hardy plant from thence, except the Potato 
Which is a stranger there. How then can we 
Ope to cultivate the Arracacha in the open air 
of this country? It will not bear frost, and dry 
Weather is equally fatal to it. Besides, it must have 
Six months of favourable weather to complete its 
Toots; and where are such months to be found 
within the limits of these islands? Supposing, 
Moreover, that a summer congenial to its growth 
Could be found in Devonshire, or Cornwall, or the 
South-west of Ireland, further difficulties would have 
9 be encountered. It is a difficult plant to pre- 
serve through winter, owing to its great proneness 
to decay. We remember that when the Horti- 
cultural Society possessed the plant, many years | 
ago, the whole of the roots perished in the first 
winter, although they were packed in dry sand, and 
kept in a dry frost-proof shed. 
That the peculiar climate of the regions where 
Arracacha gtows has no parallel in Great Britain 
has been sufficiently shown by the difficulty ex- 
perienced in keeping it alive when it was brought 
here many years ago. It was evidently unable to 
endure our open air, which was too cold, and too 
dry, and both. It was only in garden frames that 
it could be preserved, It is true that Mr. Murray, 
of Glasgow, is stated in the “ Botanical Magazine” 
to have succeeded in keeping the offsets through 
the winter as the roots of Dahlias are kept, to have 
made them sprout readily in spring, and “to suc- 
ceed in a warm situation even in the open air.” But 
we believe that they were very soon found to dis- 
appoint his expectations, 
n these opinions Messrs. SYLVESTRE, PAYEN, 
and Boussincaurr, who have lately reported on 
the subject to the French Government, appear to 
agree with us; for they think that although, per- 
haps, the summer temperature of Paris may be 
high enough to suit the Arracacha, yet that the 
summer heats there would be injuious to it. And 
in this view of the case we are fortified by the ex- 
perience gained in Jamaica, where Dr. Bancrorr 
found it impossible to manage it at Kingston, 
although it throve in St. David's Mountains, 
as well as by the failure experienced by Messrs. 
SovuraNcr-Bopis, and Virmorin, who have in vain 
endeavoured to cultivate it successfully in the 
neighbourhood of Paris. Some roots have now 
been sent to the French nurseries in Algiers, as a 
last resource; but nothing has yet been ascertained 
of their success, 
If notwithstanding these facts any of our readers 
should desire further information, or to try experi- 
ments for themselves, we must refer them to the 
recent reports to the French Academy as published 
in the Comptes rendus of Nov. 1845, and to an 
excellent article on the subject by Sir Wm. Hooker, 
in the “ Botanical Magazine,” for 1831, No. 3092, 
where the plant is figured. 
Mn. Meese having announced in our last Number 
that his valuable observations on the principles of 
what is called Potmaise Hearne are brought to a 
close for the present, we may now offer a word or 
two on the subject ourselves. 
We will, in the first place, beg of our readers to 
refer to p. 3 of this year’s volume, where our own 
views of the matter are given, and to see how far 
the controversy, which is now dying away, affects 
them. It will be found that, while all that we sug- 
gested or asserted is borne out by facets, we are 
called upon to retract nothing that is worth the ink 
that would be consumed in naming it. And we 
trust that those who are of opinion that what has 
answered perfectly in one place will not succeed in 
another, who measure the chances of suecess by 
degrees of latitude, and who cavil at petty details 
which in no way seriously affect. the question, will 
endeavour to ascertain experimentally whether they 
are wrong or right. We profess our entire belief 
that they will report the result of their inquiry 
faithfully and without prejudice. 
We can state that several houses will be thus 
constructed; that Mr. Merre is applying his own 
apparatus to a stove, and that we shall therefore be 
in a few months in a position to resume the question 
more advantageously than is at present possible. 
One of the strongest symptoms of the probable 
success of the plan is the asperity with which it has 
been assailed by some of our correspondents, a tone 
which we must be allowed to say is never well 
suited to discussion, and is very much misapplied 
here, even supposing that the whole thing were the 
delusion which it issaid to be, considering the in- 
tentions of those who have brought it into public 
notice. Surely it is more especially discreditable 
to persons to go so far as to assert that Mr. Murray, 
of Polmaise, had been obliged to pull down the very 
apparatus on.whose successful action the discussion 
has been rais A letter from Mr. Prrer Mac- 
KENZIE, in another part of to-day's Paper, effectually 
J 2 : 
which will be far more like a termination of the in- 
quiry than hot water. 
But let no one say that we disparage hot water. 
On the contrary, we admit all its excellence and 
advantages; and we should think him a very 
unwise person, who, having a good hot-water appa- 
ratus, pulled it down for the sake of substituting 
Polmaise. “Let well alone" is an excellent maxim, if 
it does not prevent our always striving to do better. 
As to those who decry the Polmuise system, 
because in their opinion it will not, as they think, 
do all that may be done with hot water, will they 
allow us to ask whether a dray-horse is the less 
useful because he is not fit to run for * the Derby ?" 
ON THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF FUNGI 
AND PARASITES. 
Ar the present moment the malady which has affected 
Potatoes engages much of the attention of the scientific 
world, and various theories have been advanced in 
order to account for so widespread a disease. Mam 
writers ascribe it to the attacks of a fungus. 
my intention to enter into this controvers 
as a preliminary undertaking, to offer a few remarks on 
the growth of fungi and parasites. In what I am 
about to state, I am aware I am entering on new 
ground, and have therefore to contend with a host of 
great names arranged on the other side. This might 
almost be sufficient to deter one from entering on the 
task, were it not that your columns are open to the in- 
vestigation of truth, rather than the support of any pre- 
conceived theory. " 
Under this impression I now proceed, leaving the 
arguments to be adduced to speak for themselves. In 
ihe mineral kingdom we find that metals in erystall- 
ising assume frequently an arborescent form. The 
ame thing may be observed in water crystallising into 
hoar frost on the panes of windows. This arises from 
a law, resembling, as Mr. Aikin informs us, that which 
produces the lower forms of vegetable organisation. 
When a small quantity of paste is allowed to stand for 
a few days till it begins to undergo decomposition, it 
beeomes eovered with a multitude of white fibres or 
threads shooting upwards into the air, having all tlie ap- 
pearance ofa vegetable production. Nowin what manner 
is this white mouldy substance formed? If we look 
into Liebig we find it reported that he placed some 
Potatoes in a box, wrapping them up in several folds of 
paper; that some time after they were found enveloped 
in a kind of net, and that the sprouts and cells of the 
young Potatoes abounded in starch, which they had 
drawn from the cells of the Potatoes he had thus 
wrapped up. He then goes on to state that the forma- 
tion and growth of fungi is analogous to this, and that 
as the constituents of the old Potato were found un- 
changed in the young ones, so in like manner, animal 
and vegetable substances, when they begin to decay, 
pass over into fungi, exactly as the substance of the 
arent Potato entered into the young sprouts and tubers. 
{tis in this manner, too, that the substances in the 
paste above mentioned passed over into the white fibres 
or threads which appeared on the surface of the paste. 
So far, all is plain ; but when we come to inquire in 
what manner do fungi, and parasitic plants resembling 
them, spring up on i ble vegetable sul 
when these vegetable substanees are partly changed in 
their nature, we are told by naturalists that these para- 
sitie plants have seeds called sporules, which vegetate 
and produce parasites on the plants on which they 
alight, or to which they have in some way or other be- 
come attached. Now, this, I think, is a point which has 
been too generally received without sufiicient evidence. 
It is certainly a matter which requires more proof 
than has ever yet been adduced to support it in all cases. 
We are aware, however, that a substance resembling 
the lower forms of vegetables grows up in paste, even 
when exeluded from the direct action of the atmosphere; 
while the previous process of boiling and preparing the 
paste was sufficient to destroy any ordinary power of 
germination which a seed or sporule in it might possess, 
How, then, does this vegetable growth arise? Why, 
just in the way in which Liebig states that the vegetable 
substanees on which a fungus grows, passes up into the 
growing fungus. At first, we may have some difficulty 
in understanding how a fungus could thus grow up 
without a seed as its cause; but when we reflect that 
in the mineral kingdom a metal may assume an ar- 
boreseent form, and that even water in hoar frost does 
the same, in consequence of a law somewhat similar to 
that which produces the lower forms of vegetable or- 
ganisation, we ean have as little diffieulty in arriving at 
the eonclusion that a vegetable when beginning to 
decay may still preserve a little of that peculiar vitality 
which might impel the decaying vegetable to send 
up its products of starch, &e. in a new vegetable 
form. It is thus, if I am not greatly mistaken, 
that in fungi and parasites 
g 
4 
E 
D 
- 
disposes of such unworthy methods of i 
opinion. 
It is very unwise to assume that the art of heating 
has reached its final condition, that it cannot be im- 
proved, that no conceivable means exist of doing 
what is now done better and cheaper. We at least 
cannot hold out any prospect of acquiescence in 
such hopeless doctrines. On the contrary, we are 
perfectly convinced that men have only just begun 
to operate in the right direction, and we shall never 
rest till means of heating shall have been devised, 
without the intaevedilon od any seed whatever, and that 
many of the fungi and parasites which we discover on 
vegetable substances, and whose growth we attribute to 
seeds or sporules, are nothing more than the extension 
of the products of diseased plants assuming new forms, 
under the influence of the law now indicated. 
Under this view of the case it would appear, that 
whenever a plant became diseased, or its juices unna- 
turally paled by atmospheric or other causes, the law 
now indicated might seud up part of these exudations 
in a shape resembling fungi, and that the new vegetable 
