28— 18490. ) 
THE GARDENERS' 
CHRONICLE. 
459 
GROOM, Crarnam Rise, near London (removed 
from Walworth), by Appointment FLORIST TO HER 
MAJESTY THE QUEEN, and to HIS MAJESTY THE 
KING OF SAXONY, begs to call the attention of the Nobility, 
Gentry, and Amateurs, to thefollowing new and rare Plants :— 
each—s. d. each—s, d. 
Calystegia pubescens .. 10 6 | Hydrolea spinosa eund 6 
eigela rosea .. .. 21. 0| Indigofera decora. 10 6 
Abelia rupestris .. 21 0| Phlox Drummondiialba 3 6 
Anemone japonica 21 0| Siphocamphylus coccinea 3 6 
Stylidium androsacea.. 3 6| Lianthus nigrescens .. 2 6 
‘Chirita sinensis e+ 5 0| Dichorisandra ovalifolia 15 0 
» Zeylanica ». 7 6| Platycordon grandiflora 3 6 
< Clematis Geblerii ++» 2 6| Achimenes argyrostigma 3 6 
Spiræa Douglasii «e. 1 6| Columnea crassifolia . 6 
ata se -. 1 6| Corokia buddlioides .. 15 0 
Epacris miniata .. 5 0| Mussenda frondosa .. 7 6 
» lævigata ». 5 0| Tetratheca hirsuta 7 6 
» elegans .. ^. 5 0| Cryptomeria japonica.. 10 6 
GERANIUM DUKE OF HAMILTON. 
Foreign Orders executed and thetrade supplied. 
remittance will be expected with orders from unknown 
‘correspondents. 
MOUNT ETNA, i 
ILLIAM MILLER takes this method of inform- 
ing those persons who are anxiously inquiring about 
this very splendid Geranium, that a full Advertisement, 
‘with all particulars, will appear in a week or two; also an 
Advertisement of Mr. Hoyle’s, Beck’s, Catleugh’s, and Foster’s 
Geraniums, sent out in 1845 at 21. to 3l. per dozen. 
Providence Nursery, Ramsgate. 
RIED PLANTS FROM CHINA.—A few sets of 
the VALUABLE DRIED PLANTS collected in China 
by Mr. Forrunz, may still be procured by applying to R. 
EWARD, Esq., Young-street, Kensington, London. 
oo are many new and rare species scarcely known to Euro- 
‘Deans, 
ECK’S PELARGONIUMS OF 1844.— 
5s. 
Arabella ++ 155. 0d. | Must e+ ee 15s. 0d. 
Othello oe oe 10 Rosy Circle .. .. 15 0 
Desdemona ..  .. 15 0 |Favourite .. .. 7 6 
Mare Antony +» 15 0 |Margaret s. .. 7 6 
Isabella, .. .. i t P r 
For prepayment only, delivered free in London in October 
‘ext, well established in 4-in. pots,— Worton Cottage, Isleworth. 
The Gardeners’ Chronicle. 
SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1846. 
MEETINGS FOR THE TWO Fi 
Wispwaspax, July 22—South London. O OWING ale eR 
Trounspay, July Md EA d Mon 
Famay, '  — 24—Stamford Hill Hortioninea c dne 
CERE UHR 
Waar is a Pararerticoat! Weare astonished 
at the numerous inquiries that have reached us about 
this article, Its name reveals its nature. It is a 
brid between a parasol and a petticoat. This is 
Bot Panter but fact. And why should there not be 
sns a thin; ? What is there in rerum natura to 
3 Vent an ingenious person from applying those 
‘Wo needful articles of shelter and dress to garden- 
"ng purposes? They will fade, and wear thin, in 
the custody of the most economical gentlewoman, 
and to find a use for them afterwards is an adapta- 
lion of means to end which cannot be too highly 
‘commended, E 
„Let us give a receipt for making a Parapetticoat. 
First find a good sized parasol, or small umbrella, 
Covered with cotton, and not rubbed into holes. 
Then select a. cast-off petticoat, not a crinoline, 
which Mrs. Mararnor calls a Kremlin, nor yet 
a [flanne], but some other form of the vestment sit 
need not be very full; indeed, it will be the better 
for being scanty ; sow up the opening, and it is 
teady for attachment to the parasol. For this pur- 
Pose the latter instrument must be opened, and kept 
80; then the upper end of the petticoat is to be 
Sowed to the edge of the parasol, and a staff six 
feet or more long is to be secured to its handle. 
Thus the parapetticoat is constructed. 
ut what a word! cries Sir Erasmus VERBAL. 
at a barbarous compound of Greek and Saxon! 
The thing may be well enough, but its name is un- 
€ndurable. Pray call it a parachiton, or a para- 
Chitonisk. We can have no objection to the change, 
if the world prefers it; and we agree with Sir 
Erasmus, that it will be as well to adopt it when 
Parasol is called parahelion, and parapluie a para- 
9mbrion—but not till then. 
i And what is the parapetticoat for? For, Madam! 
ra most important purpose. It is an instrument 
9t execution; it is the shirt of Nessus; it is the 
Tobe of Atropos. It is to enable the gardener to 
Ispatch his mortal enemies. It is to relieve his 
ose bushes from that foe which he assails in vain 
path snuff, gas water, and smelling salts. It is to 
ill green-fly. i 
th he instrument is used thus. In the first place 
i petticoat is drawn up till it rests upon the out- 
ae of the parasol. The staff of the latter is then 
Racduced perpendicularly into the centre of a 
ONE QS and secured in its place by being pushed 
E e ground. The petticoat being then drawn 
EE Me bush is completely covered in by the 
em m riget horrida. pals 
na. en ten blows his tobacco smoke be- 
: m a few minutes the Rose bush is enve- | 
loped in a cloud which has no outlet; the green-fly 
seeks in vain to escape from the fatal atmosphere 
which enters every fold and lurking-place ; he clings 
in vain to his beloved Rose-buds ; his grasp relaxes ; 
he falls ; he dies, and with him 
Unnumbered corses strew the fatal plain, 
Five minutes suffice for the execution. The veil 
may then be raised ; the instrument removed, and 
the operation repeated upon a new horde of delin- 
quents. 
Beware however of leaving the poison which 
killed Aphis, upon the leaves of the Rose tree. Let 
them beimmediately syringed abundantly with luke- 
warm watér, so as to remove the odour, or it may 
be found that in destroying our enemies we have 
also ruined our friends. 
Ir is now some weeks since we ventured to pro- 
pose to our practical and scientific friends the dis- 
cussion ofthe question, * Whether, in order to form 
a good Frurr-rree Bonpzm,it is really necessary 
to rob a pasture of its surface soil and turf, as so 
many aver?" (See p. 268, April 25.) The pro- 
position has not only not been accepted, but has 
been received with absolute silence : a circumstance 
which must be regarded as most remarkable when 
we consider how ready are the champions of opinion 
8 | respecting the most trifling questions to rush into 
thefield of controversy. Here we have an inquiry 
country gentleman's gardener, and yet there is not 
one ofthe intelligent men who have to deal with it 
in practice who ventures either to condemn or vin- 
dicate the dogma that a good fruit-tree border, 
especially one for Peaches, must be made from the 
top spit of a rich old pasture. 
To what is this silence to be attributed? Is it 
that intelligent men feel that the opinion is inde- 
fensible, and that the unintelligent are incapable of 
dealing with it? or is it that men’s minds are so 
made up upon the point that they see no room for 
argument? Or, finally, is it not that no one likes 
to begin a discussion which may end in the aban- 
donment of another point of popular belief? We 
believe the latter to be the true cause. We suspect 
that the most sensible part of gardeners feel that 
this theory of fruit-tree borders is very likely to be 
consigned to the tomb in which repose the remains 
of florists’ composts, Dutch prescriptions, pot- 
crotchets, and tan-beds, and they do not like to be 
concerned in another funeral ceremony. 
We however have no such scruples ; we have so 
often assisted at the interment of prejudices that 
one more or less can make no difference; and we 
therefore declare that we hold the custom of skin- 
ning fine old pastures in order to grow Peaches, as 
vae that should be killed and buried without loss of 
ime. 
Not that we object to the sods of an old pasture ; 
on the contrary we recognize their excellence; and 
admit that they will never be surpassed. Our aver- 
sion is to the cost of them. 
There is a story of a noble epicure, who being 
discontented with vulgar cookery, ordered a dish 
of peacocks’ hearts to be provided. We entertain 
no doubt of the virtues of his savoury mess; but 
we suspect that as many ounces from a calf would 
have done as well. To strip a field for the purpose 
of making a fruit border, is very like ordering a dish 
of peacocks’ hearts. There are Heliogabali in 
gardens as well as kitchens, 
The goodness of pasture sods depends upon the 
quality of the soil, upon its richness in soluble matters, 
and upon the texture mechanically resulting from the 
presence of roots and straws which aerate the mass. 
Put together proper soil, enrich it artificially, and 
bring it to a due mechanical condition by means 
that are obvious to everybody, and where is the 
difference? Will any one inform us ? 
THE AMATEUR GARDENER. 
„On Frowrn Suows.—In connection with the prin- 
ciple that Art should be made subservient to Nature in 
oral eulture, it should be remembered that in refer- 
ence to fruits and vegetables, utility should always be 
the test of excellence. This rule is often forgotten at 
country shows, and a monstrous size is preferred to 
is offered for a Cow Cabbage, its dimensions must be 
considered of primary importance ; but when Cabbages 
are mentioned in the list of a Horticultural Society, 
their fitness for the table should regulate the decision 
of the judges. In the same way, with regard to fruit, 
flavour must be taken into account, unless rational views 
are to be sup ded re ‘husi: Of what 
use is a gooseberry as large as a hen’s egg, if it is almost 
tasteless? Yet it must be confessed that insipidity dis- 
tinguishes many of these unusual growths, and if so, 
art loses its right aim, and expends its energies in 
trifles. The amateur should not pander to such folly, 
y competing for prizes for things he considers of no 
b; 
value, but should use his influence to bring about a 
more ble mode of estimating the productions of 
that concerns every country gentleman, and every | 9 
flavour and adaptation to culinary purposes. If a prize | # 
horticultural skill. I know the case of a nobleman who, 
on being asked to il to a horticul Society, 
said he would willingly do so, but he hoped it would not 
aim at producing great things, as he had never found 
large Gooseberries, large Celery, or large Rhubarb 
were worth eating. A large size without the diminu- 
tion of fine flavour is the end to be contemplated. 
If the decision of a judge appears at first to be con- 
trary to your own judgment, it is unwise to be irritated 
or to admit the idea that carelessness or ignorance have 
taken the place of discrimination. It is not always that 
which exhibits the most showy front which is really 
most worthy of approbati ome productions may 
evidently be the result of more science and attention 
thai others which have greater attractions, and as the 
object of a society is to encourage skill in growing, this 
i st be idered. To return, for in- 
stance, to Picotees and Carnations; it is well known 
that some kinds grow freely and flower well without 
much care, while others are exceedingly tender and 
will only yield a good bloom to the patient and skilful 
cultivator. Now, suppose two stands of 12 sorts in 
each presented to the attention of a judge. One stand 
may have decidedly finer flowers in themselves consi- 
dered than the other, but on examination it is found 
that this more attractive collection is composed of 
flowers which are well known to be of easy growth, 
while the other is made up of those which demand 
The amateur should feel himself bound by eve: 
principle of taste and propriety to exhibit his flowers in 
the best way he possibly can, so that as neatness and 
elegance adorn the most beautiful person, his favourites 
may have every external advantage. hat an insult to 
Flora to exhibit Carnations in blacking-hottles, or a 
bouquet in a pie-dish! yet both these violations of 
taste have I recently seen. Apart from the good sense 
and taste which will prevent such anomalous practices, 
self-interest should dictate a different conduct, for the 
vehicle will often regulate our opinion of the thing con- 
tained, and the mode of tying up may be all the dif- 
ference between a rejected and an approved bouquet. 
I have known parties who have gained many prizes at 
hibiti who yet p iously refuse to spend any- 
thing in tasteful boxes or stands. Hence, cut flowers 
appear in old baskets, Roses in kitchen crockery, 
and Pansies on the lid of an old hat-box, pierced with 
holes for their reception. Much depends upon the 
officers of societies for the p: ion of this dalism, 
and committee-men should habitually discourage every- 
thing that will render an exhibition unfit to be an abode 
of the Graces. 
Great care should be taken that your plants and eut 
flowers for exhibition are well provided with moisture, 
as on that will depend much of their success, and some- 
times much of their safety. A stand of Pansies will 
often present shrivelled flowers at the time the judges 
o round, because the stalks do not reach the water, 
and the whole are thus rendered unfit for competition. 
P j 
town and neighbourhood, who, forgetting among the 
gentle scenes of Nature the differences of public life, 
have found a pleasure not soon to be forgotten—a plea- 
sure procured without the sacrifice of principle and fol- 
lowed by no regret. The committee therefore feel they 
are justified in asking for this institution the continued 
support of its patrons, and they conclude by enforcing 
their appeal by the following elegant tribute to the value 
of the pursuits they are anxious to encourage :—* The 
cultivation of flowers is, of all the amusements of man- 
kind, the one to be selected and approved as the most 
innocent in itself, and most perfectly devoid of injury or 
annoyance to others ; the employment is not only con- 
dueive to health and peace of mind, but probably more 
good-will has arisen, and friendships been founded by 
he i an ication connected with this 
pursuit, than from any other whatsoever. The plea- 
sures of the horticulturist are harmless and pure; a 
streak, a tint, a shade, becomes his triumph, which, 
though often obtained by chance, are secured alone by 
morning care, by evening caution, and by the vigilance 
of days; an employ which, in its various grades, ex- 
cludes neither the opulent nor the indigent, and, teem- 
ing with boundless variety, affords an unceasing excite- 
ment to emulation, without. contention or ill-will.*' ? 
GREENHOUSE SUCCULENTS. 
z: o isa sub- 
ject on which little appears to have been written. 
* Journal of a Naturalist, 
