478 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE, 
[Jury 18, 
then put away in a dry shed, with Crocuses, &c. 
Having oceasion to look at them a few days back, 
I found them a mass of mildew, and in some cases of 
rottenness. On having the good separated from the 
bad, I find I have sustained a loss of about one-third 
of my whole stock, which is the more vexing as I 
had neglected to distinguish the more valuable from 
the eommon flowers when they were in bloom. There 
can belittle doubt that the very great moisture of the 
spring is the cause of this unwonted decay, and ama- 
teurs should watch their collections this season with 
more than ordinary care. 
As far as my experience extends, bulbs generally 
keep well in the ground, especially Hyacinths, which 
when taken up manifest a strong tendency to decay, 
although they rarely fail of appearing again when let 
alone from season to season. Tulips and Croeuses are 
less subject to disease when dried and put away during 
the summer, but in the ground they never suffer at all. 
Why, then, is it considered indispensable to remove 
bulbs every year? Not for their safety, as every 
irdener knows, but for the maintenance of their good 
qualities. Tulips left in the ground for only one season, 
will deteriorate in their bloom the second year. But it 
is worthy inquiry why the flowers of bulbous plants 
lose their size and beauty, unless the roots are taken 
up every year. I cannot pretend to answer the 
question, which requires a physiological acquaintance 
with the strueture and funetions of bulbs, and an exten- 
sive colleetion of faets, but will merely throw ont a 
suggestion, to which others may give a practical bear- 
ing. Is it not the division of the bulbs, the separation 
of the offsets, and the replanting into new soil which 
keeps up the quality of the flower? If-so, and if being 
kept out of the ground some months has nothing to 
do with this effect, then the safest mode of treating 
bulbs will be to dig them up, divide, and replant them 
at once, his theory which has led to practical results 
in the case of the Potato may be equally applicable to 
Tulips and Hyacinths. 
But supposing the system of harvesting is adopted, 
care must be taken that the foliage is fully decayed 
before the roots are raised, as this is the ouly certain 
proof that the bulb is at rest. Before this time the 
elaboration of juices is not complete, and the want of 
consolidation will expose its subject to premature decay, 
I know how much impatience is felt by persons who 
value neatness in their gardens, to remove the humble 
foliage which can no longer produce a flower, but the 
eeling must be checked if future success is an object. 
When the ground is wanted for other things, bulbs may 
be carefully removed with a spade to another spot, 
without disturbing the soil about them, and they may 
then mature themselves without being grudged time and 
pp ity for that i t£ work. But at all 
events, they must be ripe. When this state is 
ascertained, let them be taken up and dried, first 
in the shade, and afterwards in the sun. The 
loose skins and roots should then be removed, and 
the coliection may be stored away till the planting 
season. But remember the old proverb, ** Out of sight, 
out of mind," and do not suffer it to be true of your 
bulbs. You may faney the roots are fully dried, and 
think no further care is necessary ; but some wet week 
in July or August you may find them exhaling moisture, 
aud requiring diligent attention. To prevent this, let 
them be spread thinly in their depositories, and have 
plenty of air. 
The Ranunculus cannot be left in the ground with- 
out injury to the root and the future bloom, and its dry- 
ing is an important part of the florist’s duty. The ob- 
ject should be to secure a plumpness of the fangs of the 
root, and at the same time sufficient dryness to resist 
mildew. If Ranunculuses are exposed to the air too 
much when first taken up, they shrivel and perish 
during the summer from atrophy. They must be dried 
very gradually, and then put away in drawers, each kind 
being enclosed in a little paper bag. Some recommend 
their being kept in sand, but there is danger in this ; if 
the sand acquires moisture, the roots will soon be in- 
jured. - Having tried both plans, I have found the 
former decidedly the best.—H. B. 
ON THE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS WHICH CON- 
STITUTE THE NUTRITIVE PORTIONS OF 
THE POTATO. 
By the Rev, Prof. HENSLOw. 
" (Continued, from, p. 461.) 
Having shown you the conditions under which starch 
occurs in plants, I next pass to a review of its chemical 
position and other characters. In position it 
bears a close relation, as I have already stated, to cer- 
tain other substances, from which, however, it differs 
very materially in sensible qualities. To prepare you for 
what I have to explain on this subject, I shall say a few 
words yon the chemical constituents which enter most 
largely into vegetable compounds, The three elements 
which enter most largely into the structure of vegetables 
are carbon, oxygea, and hydrogen. The delicate mem- 
brane which forms the basis of all vegetable tissues, 
when thoroughly cleansed of adhering matters, is a 
combination of these three elements. I must presume 
that you have a general knowledge ot what chemical com- 
bination means, when I state to you that Soro of the most 
trustworthy among recent analyses of vegetable mem. 
brane show it to be composed of six equivalents of carbou, 
five equivalents of oxygen, and five of hydrogen. If we 
were to double these numbers, it would be equally 
correct to say that twelve equivalents of carbon 
were united with ten of oxygen and ten of hydrogen. 
Orif we trebled them, we might say that 18 equivalents 
of carbon were united with 15 of oxygen and 15 of hy- 
drogen, and:so on. Now, for reasons upon which I have 
no intention to enlarge, but which have reference to the 
results that may be obtained from the decomposition of 
organic bodies, and the recomposition of their elements 
into a variety of distinct substances, chemists prepare 
“symbols” or “formula” by which they often express 
these organic substances in higher numbers than the 
lowest which might be taken to express the proportions 
in which their elements are'united. They are not accus- 
tomed to do this when they wish to express in a symbol 
the composition of am inorganic substance. Thus, for 
instance, they would say of water that it was composed 
of one equivalent of oxygen and one of hydrogen, and 
not of two equivalents of those elements, though the 
proportions between them would still be the same ; but 
they do not scruple saying of an organic product, as 
Grape sugar, that it may be composed of 12 equivalents 
of earbon, oxygen, and hydrogen respectively, though it 
nust be evident that one equivalent of each would re- 
present the proportion in which their combina- 
"ion is effected. Pray do not fancy that I am at all 
themically mysterious in asking your attention to this 
bbolical mode of ing chemical binati 
far more numerous analyses than at present exist. 
But whether it beso or not, we see (after all) that there 
is very little difference in their composition, and as the 
point we have to consider relates to the manner in 
which starch may be supposed to contribute to the in- 
crease and development of the tissues of plants, so slight 
a difference will not affect our conclusions. Starch we 
find to be composed of the same three elements as 
vegetable membrane, and apparently in the very same 
proportion as they exist in it, viz, Cie Oio Hxo. 
Hence we may suppose that starch is a substance or- 
ganized expressly to supply matterfor the further de- 
velopment of the plants which have prepared it. Itis 
indeed a question whether it is anything else than a 
peculiar form of membrane, or rather of cellular tissue 5 
but without stopping to review this notion, we will con- 
sider starch in that light in which it most prominently 
presents itself, viz., as a material prepared by plants to 
be subsequently appropriated to their own development 
(To be continued). 
PINE-APPLES 
IN THE GARDEN OF THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
July 11th, 1846. 
"here is, in reality, no more difficulty about our under- 
standing the composition of bodies when this is re- 
jresented to us after the manner in which I have now 
tamed to you the composition of vegetable membrane, 
and of water, than when their composition is presented. 
in the form of symbols, such as Ce Os Hs, or C12 O10 
E:6, for the "membrane, and O H for the water. All 
we have to recollect is, that the letters in these symbols 
represent the elements, and the figures placed to the 
right hand of each letter represent the number of their 
equivalents which enter into combination, Where there 
is no figure, as in the case of the water, the equivalent 
is supposed to be a unit. Some chemists write these 
figires above, as thus, C?? O*9 H10, and others below, 
as thus, Cie O10 Hio. Since this method of repre- 
senting the composition of all substances is universally 
adopted, it is absolutely necessary for those who are 
desirous of obtaining definite views upon these subjects, 
to master the use of these symbols, which any one may 
do by 2 few minutes’ consideration. I shall take another 
exanple or two of substances connected with our present 
subject, by way of further illustration. 
Carbonic acid is composed, by weight, of eight parts 
oxygen and three parts carbon. As the equivalents of 
oxygen and carbon are as eight to six, the composition 
of carbonic acid will be really two equivalents of oxygen 
and one of carbon; and this may be represented by 
O2 C, which is quentl e equival for car- 
bonic acid. Again, alcohol consists, by weight, of 
twelve parts carbon, eight parts oxygen, and three 
parts hydrogen. But as the equivalents for those three 
elements are respectively as 6, 8, and 1, the composition 
of alcohol will really be two equivalents of carbon, one 
of oxygen, and three of hydrogen, d 
Weight when 
Name of Exhibitor, Variety of Pine. |placed on the 
Table. 
lbs. oz. 
Mr. FLEMING .. m Queen — .. E 4 15 
— Wiwor .. e. -.|Moscow Queen ... 4 Ml 
— BREWIN . .. [Queen we m 4 14 
— ELPHINSTONE .. — ..|Ripley Queen 4 12 
Ai ZER . pls 
Y 4 5 
^. 4 3j 
E 3 15 
+ I 3 14 
— BaD .,. .. 8 12 
— SPENCER se so 3 10 
— BENNET 3 2 
— Dops sanies 3 0 
— DAVIES «e 2 15 
— AYRES m 2:11 
— BROWNE .. —.. 8 18 
— OOLLINSON Me 8 lor 
= BELTON (2. 70. 8 8 
= . E 8 5 
ÜHEISMIÉ S. ore 7 10 
— SPENCER .. 4. Ta 
— THOMPSON gu 6 2} 
ee MEW EN wer gt 5 lii Ditto Lee 6 l 
— Bagas v .Envile .. ^. LE: 
The total number of Pine-apples exhibited was 60, 
of whieh 35 were weighed ; judging from the appear- 
ance of those not weighed, as they stood side by side 
with those that were, the total weight may be estimated 
at 272lbs; and when they were first cut the weight 
must have been considerably greater.—R. T. 
Home Correspondence. 
Fruit-tree Borders.—Not having noticed the query 
ded for di ion, whether it is necessary to 
Cs O Ha.. Now, carbonic acid might ‘be stated a 
four times the number of equivalents, viz., at C4 Os, and 
aleohol at four times the number of equivalents, or at 
Cs 04 Hie. If we added these last forms together 
the result would be C12 O12H:i2, which is the symbol 
for Grape sugar. 
The accurate determination of these symbols re- 
quires the greatest refinements in chemical analyses, 
and as yet different chemists vary in the numbers they 
assign as equivalents to the elements in chemical union 
in many organie compounds, Still, they are sufficiently 
agreed to enable us to feel confident that they are some- 
where near the truth ; and as I am now only selecting 
examples by way of illastrating their meaning, and not 
for the sake of deciding their differences, I shall not 
pretend to inquire into their respective merits. I will 
merely mention that since Liebig, in his * Organic Che- 
mistry,” differs from Johnston, in his “Agricultural 
Chemistry,” respecting the composition of the different 
kinds of sugar to which we shall presently have to refer, 
I shall not hesitate about making use of such symbols 
as May seem to me best suited for the purpose I have 
in view, without pretending to inquire which ma; 
most likely to be nearest the truth. After this little 
digression concerning the method of representing the 
chemical compositions of bodies, I trust there will be'no 
difficulty in your understanding the manner in which cer- 
tain changes may be supposed to take place in the two 
organic substances contained in the Potato, to which I 
am chiefly desirous of directing your attention, I have 
said that vegetable membrane is eomposed of C12 O10 
H:o. Some analyses seem to show us that the mem- 
brane whieh enters into the formation of the vascular 
tissue of plants differs from that whieh composes their 
cellular tissue. But really, the extreme difficulty there 
must be in suecessfully freeing such membrane from all 
extraneous matter, may wellincline us to doubt whether 
chemists are sufficiently authorised, as yet, in supposing 
that thereis more than one kind of vegetable membrane. 
The composition of the other kind (as it has been con- 
sidered to be), has been stated at C12 Os Hs, or of two 
equivalents less of oxygen and hydrogen (which wehave 
seen to be the same thing as two equivalents of water), 
than in the other case. Now, botanists have observed 
that one kind of vegetable tissue passes into the other 
kind, by suecessive modifications in the forms assumed 
by the little bladders; and therefore I think that they 
WD not hastily be inclined to believe that there is any 
real difference between the chemical compositions of the 
membranes which form various cells and tubes respec- 
z 
o 
tively, until such an opinion shall have been, verified by 
rob a pasture of its surface in order to make a goo 
fruit-tree border, I should most likely, had it attracted 
my notice, answered decidedly in the negative. I will 
first relate what I have done, and then let your readers 
come to what conclusion they please ; but robbing pas- 
tures is certainly a non-essential. Having a lot of 
worn-out trees, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Cherries, 
&c., occupying a considerable length of wall, I some 
years since had the old soil removed from 20 inches to 
2 ft. deep, retaining about 6 or 7 inches of the surface- 
soil. The bottom being stiff clay, I gave it a gentle slope 
toward a tile-drain along the front edge of 12 feet from 
the wall. I then procured a sufficiency of what I may 
call virgin-loam (having never been cultivated), from a 
heathy waste, and mixed the retained surface-moul 
with it in sufficient quantity to fill up my borders. I 
may add, the new materials were rough sods hacked up) 
a little in mixing. Theresult is, my trees are now luxu- 
riant, clean, and full of fruit, I should have said they 
were planted young when the borders were renewed— 
some 7, 6, and 5 years since, for it was too much to do 
at once. Though I consider robbing a pasture quite 
unnecessary, yet fresh soil is next to essential, Itnee 
not be so very rich, if only of a kindly nature. But 
after all there are other causes for trees contracting 
disease and death beside worn-out or ungenial borders. 
One is the usage they undergo in these borders, dug 
and eropped continually, and no root suffered Nd 
spade-reach of the surface; and then the unnatur? 
training (however artificially neat) ; main branches any 
stems roasted against a wall, deprived of the natu: 
shade a natural head would afford, &c., &c. ; and after 
be! our 
fter all 
circumstances? But this is not all: 
ders, I fear, are not always justly blamed. 
instance of a garden, otherwise a good one, whe! 
years a Peach or Nectarine tree would not live; p 
walls are old. Some few years since (I think not A 
than four or five), the gardener had a notion thai ai 
the borders, but the walls were to blame. MEN 
quently he took measures to have one wall piae e 
thickly ; the result is, that these fruits grow on? s 
with the greatest luxuriance; and what was Tes 
remarkable, a young tree happened to Diod 
planted where the plaster terminated. One side 
on the new plaster grew luxuriantly, 
while that on the 
old bricks made no progress whatever—in fact it wow 
