302 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 
[Max 9, 
almost to any distance, by an ingenious hydraulie ma- 
chine, manufaetured by a working plumber. This 
hydraulic engine I have had erected about 100 yards 
m a small brook, from which, hitherto, the water has 
een carried by hand up an incline, a most laborious 
occupation. The machine cost about 207. and by it I 
save the labour of two men when I require to give my 
len a thorough watering, which is often the case 
during the summer, and what is of as much conse- 
quence, I can at any time thoroughly cleanse all my 
drains. The engine works so easily—it can be left 
going all night without fear of damage ! and is, more- 
over, a pretty thing to look at—Hydrangea. [Pray 
tell us more about this. 
Vine Forcing.—I perceive that some doubts are enter- 
tained as to what degree of humidity should be kept up 
while Vines are in bloom ; and it is asserted that I re- 
commend in my “ Treatise on the Vine,” a high tempera- 
ture and humid atmosphere. True, I do recommend 
these at stated periods, and I consider a high tempera- 
ture and a very humid atmosphere at those periods of 
‘the greatest importance to Vines in good health. I 
have not got Simmons’s hygrometer, but the moment I 
enter any of my forcing houses I can tell whether the 
air is too dry or too moist ; the latter it scarcely can be, 
unless in cloudy and wet weather. If your correspond- 
ent will refer to pp. 47, 48, and 49, and again to pp. 63 
and 65, he will find that when the Vines are in bloom I 
d the pt to be kept rather dry. I 
have, however, had Vines set their fruit equally well in 
a humid as ina rather dry atmosphere, keeping a low 
temperature at night and allowing the house to become 
dry before nightfall. The amount of humidity at other 
times, as mentioned in my Treatise, is obtained by sa- 
turating the flues, pipes, or pathways, or by keeping up 
on bright clear days a ceaseless vapour (keeping the 
house dry and cool through the night), from the time 
vegetation commences up to the time the Grapes change 
eolour, withholding vapour partially when in bloom ; 
and in wet dull weather as before stated, raising the 
temperature when in bloom to 75°, 80°, or 85° during 
day, admitting air cautiously at that time, so as to keep 
the temperature steady, and letting the temperature of 
the house fall to 60° or 65° in the night ; by strict at- 
tention to these things success will assuredly follow.— 
James Roberts, Raby Castle. 
Slugs and Snails.—l have used for snaring these 
(and with good suecess too), deals, slates, &c., but, 
above all,a good large Turnip, with a cavity scooped 
out, and a few notches made in the edges to admit the 
visitors. Ithen melt a quantity of butter and hogs'- 
lard, and brush it on the inside of the scooped Turnip 
while molten; then lay them down near any herba- 
eeous plants in the borders, &e. I then send a boy 
round once, in the heat of the day, to collect the spoil, 
which often amounts to 30 or 40 in each Turnip.— 
Banks of Doveron. 
Green Wood for Furnaces.—Perhaps the evil com- 
plained of at p. 270 arose from over-heating the flue, 
which is not improbable, or by hot or foul air escaping, 
and not from its being impregnated with “ deleterious 
materials,” used as firing. It would be strange, indeed, 
if such fuel affected the flue in such a manner as to re- 
quire the whole fabric to be built anew. I have myself 
often burned all sorts of green wood in furnaces, and 
can therefore speak from experience, and never per- 
ceived any ill effect. from it, provided the flues were in 
goodorder. While on this subject I may mention that 
flues must be badly constructed when, as Mr. 
Crawshay justly observes, the heat is such at the top of 
the chimney as to be capable of roasting a beef-steak ; 
in every such case the heat that was intended to be 
expended on the plants considerably escapes. The like 
often happens with fiues in small houses or pits 
when they are built of strong and thick materials, and 
pass in a direct line to the chimney at the upper 
corner, which then acts simply as a vent for the hot air, 
without allowing time for its influence in the house 
itself, Such was the case with a flue in one of my | 
Cucumber pits, until I had it rebuilt with very thin | 
bricks and covered with common tiles used for roofing | 
houses, called pantiles, with a few stronger tiles ad- 
joining the furnace, having a damper in the chimney, 
I found that this flue with half as much fuel gave out 
more heat than the former one: and, in addition to 
this, another great advantage is that the pantiles eover- 
ing the flue formed a trough capable of holding water, 
and, of course, answered the same purpose of generat- 
ing a steamy vapour as the open gutters in hot water 
pipes do. 1 have no wish to enter into details concern- 
ing the various modes of heating hothouses now-a-days, 
Still I should prefer the flue in question to some of the 
novel aud eostly plans which in some cases, in my own 
neighbourhood, have proved a failure.—J. Wighton. 
yroligneous Acid.—Your correspondent’s chimney, 
which has its bricks impregnated with li acid, 
hich it emits in vapour, would be amended, if not 
entirely cured, by having such bricks well white- 
washed with quicklime, which would unite with the 
acid and decompose it when subjected to heat.—In 
reference to Dr. Kircher’s weather rules, may I ask 
here they are to be obtained, and at what price ?—P. 
[We do not know.] 
Hedge Budding.—Your correspondent, Mr. Cassiles 
p. 286), objects to my plan of budding Roses in the 
edge, and considers that his practice, the old one, is 
preferable. I cannot help thinking, however, that his 
dous, and his experi very unusual, 
Indeed, I think him quite singular in finding shoots, 
transplanted in October of one year, capable of bearing 
perfect flowers of a budded Rose in vigour during the 
course of next year. My plan is invariable; and I 
have near my window at this moment a Madame 
Laffay Rose, budded last September, with a shoot of 9 
inches in length, and with every likelihood of bearing a 
flower as early as any of my old standards in the gar- 
den. With respect to the danger of losing the plant in 
removal, I can say that none of mine have suffered by 
transplanting, but one, which was destroyed by acci- 
dent. To prevent any such mistake in future, the me- 
thod recommended by 
seems quite effectual. He advises the rambiing tap 
roots of both fruit and flower-trees to be stopped by 
cutting them off with a sharp spade about a foot or two 
from the stem, and a trench to be formed at that dis- 
tance and filled with good manure. This forces the 
plant, still growing, to make up for the want of its ram- 
bling tap root by forming during the winter and spring 
a bundle of fibrous roots that are quite sufficient for its 
nourishment, and tend more to the formation of flower- 
ing shoots during the succeeding year. Mr. Rivers re- 
marks in his Essay, which was read before the Horti- 
cultural Society, that many of the Roses, as well as 
Apples, Pears, and Plums, may be checked in their 
over-luxuriance and tendency to form wood instead of 
flowers, and forced to produce blossoms in incredible 
abundance. In thus docking the main roots, Mr. 
Rivers recommends us not to meddle with the branches, 
which would give the plant too much to do in recover- 
ing itself, and seem to be like burning a candle at both 
ends. Mr. Cassiles has found his Roses quite esta- 
blished within a year of their being budded. I have 
not been fortunate enough to see any Roses so treated 
that have become fine-flowering and luxuriant plants 
under several years’ growth. By my plan they must, 
under ordinary cireumstances, become fine plants in 
less than 18 months, and thus time must be saved. 
In short, the system of hedge-budding gains two im- 
portant points, which the usual plan eannot secure—a 
luxuriant start, and a steady vigorous growth, while the 
Rose is establishing itself in its new colony, without ex- 
posing it to any more casualties than are necessarily in- 
cident to the common system. My opinion is still in 
favour of budding in the early part of the day, or in 
the evening, as I have found out of 103 attempts, that 
those succeeded best which were made before break- 
fast, and after tea in the evening. The author of the 
“Tree Rose" advises his readers to choose those times, 
as evaporation is less, and growth less speedy then. 
The same writer recommends August and S I 
Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, s 
anticipate the most happy results from societies such as 
these.— M. Scotson. 
Rules tobe observed by the Cottagers and Subscribers of the Cottage 
‘arden Society of Haughton-le-Skerne. 
1, That the term cottage garden shall be understood to be à 
arden of not more than 1 rood of cultivated land, and 
managed by the cottager and his own family ; having no glass 
frames, excepting his small hand-glass, for striking pipings or 
cuttings, or to spring his Dahlias, Wc. ; although he may be 
allowed to occupy as much as 4 acres of Grass land for keeping. 
a cow, &c. ; and whose rent shall not altogether exceed 15l. 
per annum. 
., 2. Any cottager may subscribe a small sum to the fund, as 
it will increase his interest in the concern; and any visitor 
may throw in his mite to increase the fund for the cottagers” 
rizes. 
All specimens to be placed in their proper classes, as set 
down in the list of the 4 shows, by the ex r or assistant, 
with some private mark or device, whereby it may be proved or 
recognized, after the decision of the judges has been made, 
and of which the Secretary must have private or sealed notice. 
l specimens shown for prizes shall have n in the 
possession ofthe exhibitor for at least 2 months prior to the 
time of exhibition, and if a half-hardy plant in a bouquet of 
border flowers, it must have been planted in the open border 2 
months before it is shown, 
No cottager residing out of the township of Haughton-le- 
Skerne shall have the privilege of exhibiting any specimens 
for prizes, excepting that township in which he resides shall 
contribute such sum into the fund as the judges allow to be & 
fair proportion. 
6. No exhibitor to have more than 1 prize for the same variety 
in the same class, that is, he cannot be first and second with 
tl ame variety of fruit, flower, or vegetable, 
7. The judges and committee shall be all the subscribers of 
25. 6d, and upwards, and a majority of those present at the 
time udging shall be final, the chairman to give the casting 
vote if wanted. 
8. To encourage the industry of the young, any boy of 10 
years old or upwards may exhibit from his little garden, any 
specimen of flowers, cultivated by himself only, and obtain 2 
prize in the class, if judged deservin; 
9. The judges to commence precisely at the hour that all 
are to be in the room, and to place the specimens first, second, 
third, and fourth from left to right on the benches, the clerk or 
secretary then writing down the specimens, with the names of 
he exhibitors, as proved by the private mark attached when 
placed in the class. 
10. The chairman or secretary will then announce to the com- 
pany the successful exhibitors, with any notice necessary for 
the succeeding meetings, &c. 
11. All subscriptions to be paid before the first show, except 
new subscribers or visitors, who may pay at the time of 
entering. * 
12. The whole of the subscription fund to be paid as prizes 
one week after the last show, when the books will be made up 
and open for the inspection of any subscriber, in the school 
room, where the prize money will be paid. 
13. The garden in the best order will be confined as hereto- 
fore, to the 10 lots of cottage garden behind the school. 
14. All questions or disputes to be referred to the judges or 
committee, and be decided by a majority of them. 
15. That Mr. Scotson be the tr rer and secretary for the 
time present, and Mr. Stainsby assistant secretary and manager 
in the show room. * 
Bees.—The season for the swarming of bees being 
zu 
as the best months, as the stock is not so impatient of. 
being meddled with at that time, and the shoots are not 
so weak and pulpy as they are in June. I shall try to 
bud th at this early period, however, accord- 
ing to Mr. Cassiles’ practice, and with the encourage- 
ment of his experience, shall look for a fresh Rose 
garden of the finest quality among my hitherto un- 
touched wild Briars, in the short space of 35 or 40 days. 
Mr. Cassiles, even at the shortest, cannot show the same 
effect in less than 10 months. Whoever possesses a 
field free from the intrusion of bird’s-nesting or mis- 
chievous school boys, may pursue the same rapid pro- 
cess of hortieulture.— W. Thomson, Ockham Rectory, 
Surrey. 
ist. icrophylla.—The i under 
this head (p. 269), has induced me again to take up the 
subject. J will adduce a simple fact in favour of my 
assertions, which is probably not generally known in this 
country ; namely, it being grown in greenhouses on the 
Continent, from the south of Germany northwards, and 
always with the same peculiarity of growth. My own 
opinion upon the subject, although perhaps a wrong 
one, is that it is the influence of the solar rays upon 
the young wood, but in what way I will leave physiolo- 
gists to discover.— Curiosilas. V 
Wasp Traps.—Y our correspondent (p. 270) will find 
a large mouthed bottle, such as is use 
for preserves, with an inverted hollow 
tin cone inserted, to answer his purpose 
better than the trap figured at p. 270, 
for, by removing the cone, the bottle can 
mueh easier than the one 
to.—E. B. 
an Nightingale.—The answer 
quiry (page 152), as to whether 
Virginian Nightingales ever sing in this 
country—has already been given, but 
I can answer not only for their singing, 
but that they begin to sing so vehemently with the first 
dawn of light as to rouse every one within hearing of 
them ; and a singular circumstance relating to one that 
I possessed three or four years ago was, that taking it 
frequently baekwards and forwards on the Birmingham 
railway, it never failed to begin singing, and to continue 
its song (although covered up) from the moment it en- 
tered the Watford tunnel, till it emerged from it again. 
— Genista. 
Cottage Garden Societies.—The following is a copy 
of the Rules of our Cottage Garden Society, and I can 
say from the experience of many years, that the results 
are gratifying ; so much so, that we have thrown the 
exhibition open to the cottagers of the whole township, 
with inereased funds ibuted by the k 1 of 
the neighbouring gentry, who all act as judges, and 
take as much interest in dividing the prizes amongst 
the cottagers as they would have in obtaining them for 
themselves or for their own gardeners. We cannot but 
fast app g, hives intended for their reception 
should now be exposed to the rays of the sun for a few 
days, that they may be thoroughly aired, then to be 
well brushed out, whether of straw or other material, 
after which to be thoroughly washed inside with honey 
or sugared ale previous to the reception of swarms. 
Should rainy or cold weather for three or four days 
take place, let the bees be bountifully fed either with 
honey or sugared ale, warmed over a slow fire to the con- 
sistency of syrup, pour it into a flat plate, covering 
the same with a piece of stout paper, perforated with 
holes by a stout needle; place it under the hive in the 
evening, and take it away every morning. Destroy 
spiders, shelter from the rain, and shade from the sun. 
—Wm. Savage, Swaffham. 
Sibthorpia europea.—The introduction of this plantas 
a covering for the Peat, Moss, &c., necessarily employed 
in the cultivation of many species of Orchids, would be 
a valuable acquisition. Its small green leaves and com- 
pact creeping habit, admirably adapting it to such a 
purpose. Instead, therefore, of the disagreeable appear- 
ance of dead Sphagnum,which meets the eye in all direc- 
tions, the spectator would look with pleasure on this 
little native of our favourite isle, rambling with modest 
and delicate luxurianee amongst, and giving additional 
loveliness to, its nobler tropical acquaintance.— 
Curiositas. 
Polato Crop—As all information respecting the 
Potato crop of the forthcoming season is acceptable, 
beg to mention that a large three-light frame planted 
with the sorts of Potato known in this part of the coun- 
try by the names of Early Frame, Early Malta, and 
Cornish Kidney have as yet manifested no symptom. 
of disease, I dug the first for Easter Sunday, and have 
twice since tried them ; and sounder or better Potatoes 
I never ate, being more floury than frame Potatoes 
usually are. I have, moreover, in the open ground in 
my garden (the greater part of them fit to round hoe); 
well up, remarkablyjstrong Early Malta, Early Frame; 
and White and Red Kidneys ; they all were planted 
whole, and the generality of them have five or six stems 
to each tuber. My gardener was very particular in 
selecting the seed tubers, and I myself with him, looked 
oyer them all before they were planted ; I then ob- 
served that many Potatoes that were themselves quite 
sound, and whose shoots were very strong, had at the 
rise of the shoot from the tuber a species of wet rot ; 
and having tried two or three of them, found that they 
never came up, If other persons have not been thus 
articular, I fear that many a Potato has been put 1D. 
that will never come up again.—4Z/aliano, Gurrington 
House, April 20. 
Sootíttítg. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
May 5.—Mr. E. Buck in the chair. H. Petre and 
J. C. Weir, Esqrs., were elected Fellows, A curious 
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