. 89—1846.] 
THE GARDENERS' 
CHRONICLE. 
645 — 
put them in small pots with a light soil, and 
be placed not in the frame or pit, but in 
cellar or room in thedwelling-house, where they will have 
au and light, but no moisture. With this precaution 
nothing is more easily kept through the hardest 
Winters, While some young plants should be struck 
every year, those of two or three years’ growth have a 
ne effect, and constitute a gorgeous ornament in any 
garden, They may be trained to almost any size, and 
B be cultivated extensively by every amateur.— 
D 
Home Correspondence. 
Polmaise Heating.—Being about to erect a small 
Plant house, and feeling sufficiently satisfied by the dis- 
cussion on Polmaise to wish to adopt the warm air 
Principle, I have waited with considerable interest the 
Publication of Mr. Meek’s plan of arrangement, know- 
lng that experiment or rather experience is the onl 
Safe thing to trust to in the very difficult and hitherto 
imperfectly understood subject of thermo-ventilation. 
here is one point in particular in Mr. M.’s arrangement 
which, as I at present understand it, I could only adopt 
Simply as an act of faith in that gentleman’s experience, 
Why admit the external atmosphere by so many of 
those perforations in the wall, seeing that the cold air 
So admitted, is almost immediately poured into nume- 
Tous holes in the fioor? [Air is only admitted occa- 
Stonally at these openings, which are fitted with a 
.] It appears to me that the side branches of 
the cold air drain might almost as well have been 
Continued to the outside of the wall at once, or 
that even a single communication through the wall 
at the end of the cold air drain would have been just 
as efficient, and more simple. This idea implies, of 
Course, that the cold air drains, their side-branches, 
and the openings in the walls, may be altogether super- 
fluous, And is there, in fact, any good reason against 
à well contrived and easily regulated apparatus by 
Means of which all the air designedly admitted to the 
house shall be passed through the air chamber of the 
Stove? I believe that many of the objections to which 
Such a suggestion would give rise haye already passed 
through my mind. It might probably be said that the 
atmosphere of the house would be unwholesome and 
Oppressive, as is well known to be the ease in apartments 
heated by the Arnott stove; but the Arnott stove does 
Not, as is commonly supposed, deteriorate the atmo- 
Sphere of rooms in consequence of its contaet with heated 
iron, but simply because of the slow combustion and 
consequent feeble draught, allowing the carbonic acid 
and sulphurous acid gases arising from the coal to gra- 
vitate and flow through the doors of the fireplace and 
ash pit into the apartment. My idea of a warm air 
System may be expressed in very few words, When- 
ever the external atmosphere is so cold that it cannot 
be safely admitted through windows and sashes, pass it 
all through a warm chamber into.the lowest part 
of the house, and suffer it to eseape by a ventilator in 
the highest part of the roof. You will deem this a very 
off-hand style of talking ; but if you will permit me I 
Will endeavour to deseribe the means by which I pro- 
‘Pose to carry out my views, and I should feel obliged if 
You, or any of your Polmaise friends would set me 
Night if I be in error. In the first place I purpose 
Using a sky-light span-roof which I have by me (it is 
about 24 feet long), and I would particularly observe 
that the piece of wood forming the ridge is broader and 
than is usual in the construction of plant- 
. In this ridge-piece I purpose cutting longi- 
tudinal slits of about 9 inches long, leaving solid in- 
“vals of corresponding length. Upon this perforated 
Yidgo-piece I shall mounta liglit board of similar width, 
and perforated exactly in the same way, and thus I form 
3 ridge ventilator, which by sliding the upper board to 
e extent of 9 inches or less, is capable of the nicest 
Adjustment. One end of the proposed building will 
abut against the piers of an archway leading into a 
Cave cut out of the sandstone rock ; the other end will 
Stand on the edge of a bank, which suddenly falls to a 
depth of about 4 ft., in which bank I shall build my 
Stove, and with a view to economising the heat of the 
Chamber, as weil as from considerations of convenience, 
T think of placing the air-chamber inside the house, its 
‘op being on a level with the floor of the house of which 
its stout oaken cover would form a part. From the 
Upper part of the chamber, and just under the floor, I 
TAS to carry 2 warm-air drain under the entire 
ength of a brick pit similar to that represented in Mr. 
t eek’s plan. By these means I think I should ob- 
ain that kind current of which a fluid like air is 
2 dd Susceptible, insuring by an ascending 
i of the entire height of the house a good 
‘aught of air from the exterior through the warm 
Chamber. Here I would make an observation which 
“cours to me in consequence of my experience in the 
qonstruetion of a warm-air lamp intended for a very 
parent purpose. Ab in passing through a hot cham- 
Ug is heated not nearly so much in proportion to the 
Sat of the surface over which it passes as in propor? 
ta to the time it is detained in contact with that sur- 
ti 9$, and it will be found that if the exit passage in the 
pper part of the chamber be entirely closed for a time, 
dc Confined air will have obtained a temperature 
te”, equal to that of the plate itself. 
of Other hand, if the entrance and exit passages 
he chamber be very large, the air will 
pass through so rapidly that were the plate even red 
hot it would be insufficiently warmed. It is, therefore, 
essential that the exit if not the entrance for air be pro- 
vided with a sliding register similar to that I have de- 
scribed with reference to the ridge timber. With 
regard to the supply of atmospheric moisture in that 
necessary degree of excess over what is usually con- 
tained in the external i 
over-dryness, over-moisture, Xc., cannot be doubted. 
A question arises whether the disease can be produced 
by such causes, or whether by infection ; and whether 
it is found in the well-managed houses of the large 
market-gardeners. Perhaps some of your correspond- 
ents may be able to throw light upon the subject.—C., 
Lincoln. 
I have suggested, if the warm air drain were laid per- 
fectly level and cemented, its bottom might always be 
kept covered with water to the depth of 2 or 3 inches, 
and in passing over such an extent of water the warm 
air would certainly take up a sufficient quantity to pro- 
duce a due degree of moisture in the house. I would, 
however, also make a provision similar to that of the 
iron tank within the air chamber, but with a difference 
which would, I think, render it more effective. Instead 
of an iron tank, I purpose having made at a neigh- 
bouring tile kiln three oblong troughs of porous earthen- 
ware, to be placed in the chamber so that the whole of 
their surface may be opposed to the evaporating action 
of the warm air. These troughs will be conveniently 
accessible by taking up the wooden cover of the chamber 
within the house, and one or the whole may have water 
as may be found desirable. In conclusion I would re- 
mark that I have purposely avoided supplying the air- 
chamber in auy degree from the interior of the house. 
—J. H. Maw, Hastings. 
The Hamiltonian Systemof Pine-growing (see p. 613). 
—I think it quite reasonable to consider the branches 
of all plants, and the suckers of Pines, when brought in 
contact with the soil, and allowed to root in it so many 
perfect plants, even though they remain attached to the 
parent stem, but I should not think it consistent with 
reason if Mr. Hamilton had planted a Pine in the 
middle of the bed in which, he says, are 60 Pine stools, 
and allowed it to multiply by suckers until the bed was 
filled, and then call it one plant; however, I have no 
wish to undervalue the advantages of the Hamiltoni 
system, on the contrary, I consider it preferable to the 
common method where the plants can be grown out of 
pots, but I had no idea that by the Hamiltonian (or any 
other) method both the sucker and fruit could be per- 
fected in seven months. In my experience I have 
always found the Black Jamaica to take a longer time 
to perfect its fruit than other varieties ; none ripens 
sooner than the Queen, which generally takes four 
months in summer ; the Black Jamaica five, and in 
the winter and spring often six months. I consider it 
an error to hurry the ripening ; when such is the case 
the fruit is never so solid, sugary, or so high flavoured. 
Suppose, then, a Pine-apple to take four months from 
its first appearance to the time of ripening, it surely 
cannot take less than two months from the time it 
begins to form until it makes its appearance ; here, 
then, will be six months out of the seven taken up to 
mature the fruit alone, andas the trunk of a Pine never 
elongates after the fruit begins to form, ean it be sup- 
posed that the sucker will be sufficiently developed in 
four weeks to produce a fruit 4 or 5 lbs, weight.— Wm. 
Stothard, Durdham Down Nursery, Bristol, Sept. 15. 
Grape Preserve.—A very delicious preserve or jelly 
may be made from Grapes. It is done as follows :— 
Pick off the Grapes; put them in a stewpan or sauce- 
pan; bruise them very slightly; set the pan over a 
slow fire ; and as the seeds rise to the top while sim- 
mering, skim them off. When dressed enough, pass 
the whole through a coarse muslin or cloth ; sweeten 
it to your taste ; return it again to the pan, and let it 
simmer very gently till quite thick ; put it in a mould 
or preserving pot; and, if properly made, the pot may 
be turned upside down without disturbing its contents. 
Put thin paper, moistened with a small quantity of 
salad-oil, over the jelly, and cover with paper or blad- 
der. Keep it in an airy, light, and dry place. It is 
impossible to state the proportion of sugar required, for 
situation, season, &c., make so great a difference in the 
saccharine juice of the Grape, that it is better to leave it 
to the taste of the maker. Skim off as many of the 
seeds as possible before pressing, as too many of them 
will give a bitter taste to the jelly.—4..B. 
Fig Garden at West Taniig.—MHaving seen this 
garden, to which your correspondent of 5th inst. alludes, 
my father was induced to try standard Fig-trees of the 
usual purple kind (I do not know the name) in his 
kitchen garden, which is warm, and walled on three 
sides ; they have answered perfectly, and bear good 
crops, ripening their fruit well in any season. In the 
very severe season of 1837-38, they were cut to the 
ground, and again in 1844-45, after which vexatious 
occurrence it takes more than a season to furnish bear- 
ing wood again.— E. M., Twickenham, Sept. 15. 
The Spot on Pelargoniums.—The cause of the “spot” 
isf il 
Another rema le Instance of Attachment in the 
Hobin.—As an old contributor, I feel pleasure in bring- 
ing uuder notice one or two more interesting facts con- 
nected with the natural history of the robin ; and before 
I have done, I hope suecessfully to prove that, though 
possessed of many and very grievous faults, his good 
qualities far outweigh them all, and fairly entitle him to 
bea general favourite. On the 26th of March last I 
perceived at the bottom of one of my robins’ cages an 
egg. I had been, for some time previous, doubtful as 
to the sex of this bird, for it was neither very lively nor 
did it sing ; indeed, it was the only robin out of 13 that 
was decidedly non-musical. On making the discovery, 
and perceiving that the season of spring rendered the 
bird desirous of mating and going to nest, I at once 
opened the window and restored it to liberty. Its gra- 
titude for this favour was excessive, and forcibly ex- 
pressed by every movement of the head and bend of the 
body, all diverting exceedingly. So far, however, was 
the bird from evidencing any anxiety to escape, that it lew 
quite leisurely into the garden, coming repeatedly to the 
window for a meal worm, and returning to its usual 
lace of roost in the evening. Observing this striet 
mark of confidence and affection, I resolved on provid- 
ing her ladyship with a husband of my own choosing 5 
and I aecordingly gave liberty to one of my very 
best and handsomest songsters. In three days I 
had the pleasure of seeing the pair fondiy and happily 
united; and as they gradually disappeared from the 
house some days afterwards, I concluded they had en- 
tered upon the cares and duties inseparable from a do- 
mestic life, and that they had a family in perspective. 
About six weeks after this I thought I caught a glimpse 
of one, if not of both the happy pair, but they were so 
busily occupied with flying to and fro, apparently with 
food for their young, that I conceived it possible 
I might be mistaken. N had 
seen my pet; there was 
complished ; Iwas not yet in his secret. 
seem that, at the time I allude to, my two little friends 
were the happy parents of a happy family ; and that 
the male, at all events, had determined on revealing 
this “great fact" to mein confidence. 1 observed him 
one morning running aiong the wall, side by side with 
me as I walked down the garden. His fine large eye 
shone magnificently bright ; his crest was raised, and 
his personnel looked noble. I knew him instantly, and 
greeted him most cordially. My recognition delighted 
him, and hé returned my salutation with repeated 
* salaams,” sweeping the bricks with his tail, after the 
fashion of a pigeon. These, and divers other manceuvres, 
he praetised day after day, till at last I imagined 
he musthave some partieular motive for his strange 
conduct, particularly at a season when all birds are shy 
and wary. accordingly watched him narrowly ; and 
one morning, when he flew across the garden, I fol- 
lowed him. ‘This seemed to give him extravagant 
pleasure. Leading me from tree to tree, he halted 
when he saw I was evidently interested in his move- 
ments ; and then, alighting on a large Ivy-bush that 
overshadows one end of my aviary, he burst out ina 
melodious ‘volume of song; after which he dropped 
swiftly down into the centre of the Ivy, and disappeared. 
I could now readily divine the whole matter. Placing 
a pair of steps under the Ivy, I mounted, and, looking 
in where I had seen the robin enter, there I espied a 
very elegantly-formed nest; and seated, or rather 
squatted therein, six nearly-fledged young robins! The 
joy of the old bird as he observed my surprise cannot 
be expressed in words, but it made a great impression 
on me at the time. A few days subsequently the entire 
brood were brought out to see the world ; four of them 
are now inmates of my family, and are remarkably tame, 
handsome birds; giving promise, moreover, of being 
very fine songsters. Their papa, also, has again given 
himself up, voluntarily, to my tender care, and he will 
lodge with me (should we both live) till next spring, 
when he will once more be set free. His mate, as is 
always the case when the breeding season is over, still 
roams about at her pleasure, caring no more for one 
bird than she does for another, pecking at each, indis- 
criminately, that comes in her way.— William Kidd, 
New-road, Hammersmith, Aug è 
Rare Moths and Butterfii I have taken four fine 
specimens of the Sphinx convolvuli or Unicorn Hawk 
Moth, which until this year, was exceedingly rare in 
ichb 
"S 
does not appear as yet to have been y ex- 
plained. In ill ged } it is ime 
not met with at all; while in well-managed houses it 
will sometimes appear. It may be inferred, therefore, 
that there is a cause independent of management inthe 
affected houses ; and this cause may be infection. That 
the progress of the evil will be in the ratio of the mis- 
management, can searcely be doubted ; and experience 
has led to a belief that a hot sunshine striking upon the 
exposed sides of small pots, filled with numerous roots, 
may form a considerable item in this presumed mis- 
management. At all events it is much to be desired 
that the question should be settled as far as may regard 
the fact of infection. Should this be clean out of the 
way, a wider field will be opened for experimental tests 
of the different modes of treatment practised. That the 
evil is greatly agg d by mi 
g as regards 
this neig I have also taken two specimens 
of the Humming Bird Hawk Moth (Maeroglossa stella- 
tarum), which is more than usually plentiful this year. 
Of all the moths or sphinxes this is perhaps the most 
curious and graceful. Poised over a flower, like a 
humming bird, it extracts its juices by means of its 
long proboscis; darting away with the rapidity of 
lightning upon the least disturbance, so as to render its 
capture extremely difficult. The Death’s Head Hawk 
Moth (Acherontia atropos), has also been taken in fine 
condition in this neighbourhood this year. In aidition 
also to the specimens captured of Vanessa Antipe, as 
recorded in your Journal, another was seen at Batin- 
ford, near this town, by Mr. Baker, an indefatigable 
collector. The warm, almost tropical summer, is 
clearly the cause of the appearance of these rare» 
insects.—C. R. Bree, Stowmarket. I beg to say that 
