41—1846.] 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 677 
DIRECTIONS 
FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CERTAIN CROPS, 
WITH A VIEW TO LESSEN THE CONSUMPTION OF GRAIN IN THE 
ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. 
Cabbage Sprouts.—Take up the Cabbage stumps, 
both of early and late kinds, that have sprouted ; strip 
off all the sprouts but one of the strongest, by inserting 
a small knife just above the sprouts about one-fourth of 
an inch deep, and tear down with them thin slips of the 
stump about an inch in length ; plant them out as com- 
mon Cabbage plants; they will strike root, and grow 
as readily, and will eabbage sooner. Like a Cabbage 
plant, it will receive less check if watered in dry wea- 
ther, but watering is not absolutely necessary ; I have 
tried them without, in continued drought, and none have 
failed with me ; the ground should be fresh dug. The 
old stump should be planted slantingly in the ground, 
so as'to cover up all but the sprout, which will cabbage 
something earlier than the other sprouts. The earlier 
this is done, the better chance will there be for their 
coming into use in the winter ; they will, at all events, 
be the first for use in spring. ` 
Rape.—The Rape that has been sown as a seed-erop 
for next harvest may be profitably planted out for 
"Greens, in rows from 14 to 2 feet asunder, the plants 
Standing 1} foot from each other. If this is done soon, 
they will give a good eutting of Greens in the winter, 
with a second smaller one in the spring. Rape seed 
sown in September, and possibly in October, thinly, 
‘on ground manured as for Potatoes (short manure and 
ashes are best), will give a crop of plants in the spring 
which will make excellent and very tender Greens. 
A rood, statute measure, will require 10lbs. of seed; 
a rood, Irish, 16 lbs., and more if not evenly sown. It 
will cost 4d. a pound. 
Crests of Turnips.—When the Turnips (Swedes and 
others) are in course of being consumed, take the crests 
(that is, the upper part of the Turnip between the bulb 
and the top, from which both have been cut off), and 
plant them ; they will soon send out fibrous roots all 
round between the skin and the flesh, and will throw 
up tops in the spring as good as the original ones. 
Lettuce.—The seed sown in September, and early in 
October, will stand in the seed-beds through the winter, 
and, transplanted in February and March, will come 
in very early in summer ; they are very valuable in a 
raw state for feeding swine, and are good for man with 
salt alone. They may be planted out in rows 1 foot 
asunder, and stand about 8 or 9 inches from each other. 
The brown or Bath Cos and Hammersmith, the black- 
seeded Cos, the brown Duteh Cabbage, and many others, 
will answer, The seed-bed should get a good sprinkling 
of seed. 
-Beans.—1n sheltered grounds the Mazagan, or (per- 
haps more to be recommended) the Russian Bean may 
be sown in October, and will produce green Beans for 
use towards the end of June ; sown in February (the 
usual time), they will come in a little later ; give them 
plenty of room, and they will produce thirty or forty- 
-fold. I have had a hundredfold. They may be fol- 
lowed by the broad Bean, or by later sowings of them- 
selves. Ihave always found the Mazagan surer and 
more productive ; they may be sown all over a ridge 
from 6 to 9 inches apart, and gathered from the furrow. 
But I should recommend their being sown in a single 
row along the centre of the ridge, and about 6 or 8 
inches from each other, filling the ridge with Cabbages, 
Turnips, Parsnips, or other low-growing crop. In this 
way a much larger quantity of Beans than might be 
"supposed would be obtained without any loss in, or 
injury to the other crop. 
Maige or Indian Corn.—The green stalks of Maize 
are very large, soft, and juicy, and the juice is so sweet, 
that a syrup as sweet as sugar is made of it. The 
usual time of sowing it is April; it may be sown in 
rows 2 feet asunder, and the seed dropped from 6 inches 
to afoot. This would also answer well, like the Beans, 
sown in a single row along the centre of theridgein which 
low-growing crops pl d. The green stalks, bruised 
and boiled and the juice squeezed out, would in the 
latter part of the summer, thickened with a little meal, 
make nutritive and palatable food, and from its sweet- 
ness would be well liked by children. Though a slow 
ripener, it is a quick grower ; and although it has not 
yet ripened in Ireland, it has, I believe, produced its 
seed. These in a green state are boiled and eaten as 
Peas by the Americans, and are much esteemed. In 
this state they might come into use at the end of August. 
is crop cannot be advantageously grown, in England, 
‘under the circumstances assumed, unless in places very 
mild and much screened from easterly winds, ] 
Broccoli and Cabbages.—The Walcheren Broccoli, 
sown early in September and planted out under glasses 
(as Cauliflowers are) in England, gives a succession in 
spring. It is probable, but we have no experience of 
it, that many of the Broccoli sown in September or early 
in October, and left in the seed-beds, would stand our 
winters without protection ; and with a view of obtain- 
ing supplies of a most excellent vegetable early in 
summer, the experiment is well worth trying, the only 
risk a few shillings’ worth of seed, If it succeeded, the 
return at only one halfpenny a head would be 4 guineas 
for every shilling. I would recommend the Walcheren 
and the Wileove Broccoli; the latter is named from a 
village near Plymouth. I consider the only danger is 
in the possibility of their starting in the spring, and in 
which case they would still make delicious Greens. 
The sowing of Cabbage-seeds, both of early and late 
kinds, may also be ventured on. The seed-beds should 
he well manured, ashes entering into the composition of 
the manure ; and, need I say, should be weeded early 
and constantly. The beds should, if possible, run in a 
direction from south-east by east to north-west by 
west, with a side-slope towards the sun of 1 foot in 4 of 
the breadth of the beds. In severe weather, and at 
night, and in frosts, it would be well done to afford 
them the shelter of some description of covering to 
check the radiation of heat from the surface, such as 
prepared calico at 6d. a square yard, the common thin 
calico’ at 23d. or 3d. a yard, the common garden 
matting, or even a little straw. But all covering should 
be removed in open weather, or the plants will be too 
tender. An ounce of good seed, affording 2000 or 3000 
plants, may be sown on not more than 10 square yards 
of a seed-bed, if the seed is evenly and carefully sown. 
The expense, therefore, ofa covering, would not be much, 
and it would be well repaid. A sod, 6 inches thick, laid on 
each side of the bed, and a few sticks thrown across, 
would support the covering, which should be pegged 
down to the sods. A line, with little loops, might be 
run along the edges of it. The slope given to the beds 
will not only give them a more direct face to the sun, 
but a fall for the rain from the covering.—J. M. 
Goodi ff. 
BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCE- 
MENT OF SCIENCE. 
Tue SixrerwrH Muetine of this body was held this 
year at Southampton. Thesection of natural history— 
zoology and botany—was unusually well attended, espe- 
cially by the cultivators of the latter science, The 
botanists present were as follow :— 
R. Brown D.O.L., F.R.S., &c. British Museu; 
Pnorzsson E. FORBES . 
C 
m. 
» London. 
W. BURCHELL, Esq. 
PROFESSOR FORBES ROYLE 
m. 
College, London. 
te 
+ London. 
+ Secretary, Bot. Society, London. 
ondon, 
PROFESSOR DAUBENY. 
Dr. BELL SALTER.... 
ARTHUR HENFREY, EsQ.... 
readers, and bear upon the objects of the Gardeners’ 
Chronicle, and publish them as opportunity occurs. 
Tuurspay, Sept. 10.—A paper was read at the che- 
mical section, entitled, “ Notices of the Progress of Ez- 
periments on the Influence. of Light on the Growth of 
Plants,” by R. Hunt. The experiments described in 
former ications to the Association had all been 
confirmed by the results obtained during the past year. 
It had been found that seeds would not germinate if all 
the chemical rays were prevented from acting on them 
—and that the influence of the actinic or chemical rays 
was such that seeds germinated at a depth below the 
soil, under the influence of concentrated actinie force, 
acting on the surface, at which they would not have 
germinated under the natural conditions., The leaves 
being developed, the action of the luminous rays then 
became necessary to effect the decomposition of carbonic 
acid and the deposition of woody fibre within the plant, 
nder the joint influence of light and actinism the 
plant arrived at maturity, and then the calorific, or 
heat-producing, rays were brought more fully into 
action to produce the ripening of fruit and the develop- 
ment of seed. The paper gave rise to along discussion, 
in whieh Dr. Daubeny, Prof. Grove, Mr. Prideaux, of 
Plymouth, and several other gentlemen joined. It was 
shown that the inquiry was of the utmost importance— 
and that many of the results obtained were of con- 
siderable practical value. The conditions of the solar 
rays at different seasons of the year, and also in different 
parts of the globe, were discussed—the provisions regu- 
lating the distribution of plants under these influences 
shown. 
(To be continued.) 
Home Correspondence. 
Exotic Ferns (see p. 660).—As a pendant to Mr. 
Cameron’s list, I may add, for the benefit of those who 
are very fond of Ferns, but have little room to grow 
them in, that many of them will flourish admirably in 
small wire baskets suspended from the roof. The 
seem to care very little about earth, provided plenty of 
Moss is stuffed in the basket. The following succeed 
to perfection, and grow very fast :— 
Adiantum cuneatum Niphobolus rupestris — 
» 'ubescens Olfersia scolopendrifolia 
Blechnum orientale ? Platycerium alcicorne 
Craspedaria chinensis (On a piece of wood only). 
Davallia canariensis Pleopeltis aurea 
Drynaria irioides Polystichum cæspitosum 
rri 
Lycopodium cordifolium Selaginella stellata 
Nephrolepis exaltata 
They have lived well during all this hot summer, 
though suspended close to the glass roof of a hothouse, 
and when the sunlight made many of those grown in 
pots droop sadly. The following four did not succeed, 
and I soon had to remove them : — 
Athyrium umbrosum Nephrodium molle 
Cheilanthes farinosa Polystichum drepanum 
(This last, by the way,must have a very minute in- 
dusium. I never could detect it yet with a strong lens, 
and it fruits most freely). They require no watering 
beyond other plants, viz., syringing morning and even- 
ing.—S. W. W., October 5. 
Gigantic Fuchsia.—In the garden attached to the 
Royal Engineer Office at Exeter, there are four or five 
Fuchsias, nearly all of the same size, and concerning 
which I obtained the following particulars. The 
largest plant is 7 feet 6 inches high, and 30 feet 6 inches 
in circumference ; it would have been higher, but the 
main branch was broken off some months ago. It was 
planted eight years back, in a situation in which large 
quantities of brick-bats, mortar rubbish, &c., had been 
thrown, and which never holds the wet Jong, the 
drainage being so good, as in the other example men- 
tioned in your Paper at p. 579. No dressing of any 
kind has ever been applied, and no particular care has 
ever been taken of it. The garden is to the north, and 
the Fuchsias remain out all the winter, and have been 
all the summer, and still are, in most luxuriant blossom, 
as I myself witnessed to-day.— Xta, Exeter, Oct. 5. 
Hepatica.—In the present day whilst so much has 
been done to obtain varieties of most of our hardy as 
well as exotic plants, I have been surprised that our 
old favourite with every cultivator has remained un- 
altered, and as far as varieties extend, unchanged—I 
mean the beautiful and neat little Hepatica (Hepatica 
triloba) which has been an inhabitant of our gardens 
ever since 1573, and of which there appears to be but 
five varieties only, except, perhaps an almost imper- 
ceptible distinction in the anthers of the white variety, 
can be called one, namely, blue, double blue, red, 
double red, white. Perhaps some of your readers may 
be found ready and willing to endeavour to rescue this 
seemingly forgotten beauty from its obseurity, and by 
presenting it with a new colour, and perhaps, habit, 
may induce others to try it. I need not mention how 
much has been done by crosses and hybridising, and as 
the white and single red varieties are abundantly pro- 
ductive of seed, they offer a good chance of success if 
properly fertilised with the pollen of other coloured 
flowers.— George Wood. 
The Polish manner of using Tomatoes.—Boil water 
with as much salt in it as to give it an agreeable saltish 
taste, and let it stand till it is cold, then pour it over 
the Tomatoes, which should previously be freed from 
the green and all impurities without breaking the skin, 
in a wide-mouthed glass bottle or jar, when they should 
be closely papered up and set in a tolerably cool place, 
such as a store-room or pantry, but a cellar.is not ne- 
cessary. The Tomatoes should not be closely packed, 
but if possible allowed to swim about in the jar ; and in 
this way they are preserved in Poland till they come 
again, always taking out a few when wanted, and cover- 
ing the jar again. We also have a delicious soup made 
of Tomatoes, by pulping them when boiled through a 
tammy, and adding beef liquor and new milk thickened 
with a little flour—M. L., Wilga, near Warsaw. 
Sound Potatoes from Diseased Sets.—The only part 
of my last week's communication which is of im- 
portance to the Potato grower, I mean that part of it 
relating to the planting of diseased tubers, you appear 
to be not only surprised at, but to question its truth. 
The circumstance of diseased Potatoes producing a good 
and clean crop may appear somewhat marvellous, but 
I assure you it is not less true, and I think I may con- 
fidently say my fondness for the marvellous would not 
be sufficient to induce me to overstep the truth. They 
were planted purposely for experiment, and the result 
I think is quite satisfactory. Of two things I am cer- 
tain, worse Potatoes could not be planted, and better 
Potatoes than those produced need not be wished for.— 
Wm. Holmes, Hackney. [We are perfectly aware 
that diseased Potatoes have produced a sound erop $ 
but how Potatoes that are “a complete mass of rotten- 
ness” should do so is inconceivable. To be a complete 
mass of rottenness the Potatoes must have been dead.] 
ape Amaryllids.—No doubt the Brunsvigia will 
succeed in * H. D.’s” beautiful climate ; it is but one 
shade tenderer than the Guernsey Lily. Let “H. D." 
raise his border, add a very considerable portion of 
charcoal in pieces, as well as ground smaller, and put 
in a few pipe-tiles to assist drainage. Then divide the 
border into two portions, and cover all with a rough 
frame. In portion No. 1, plant by his Brunsvigia the 
Nerines, Habranthus, Heemanthus, Boophane, Lycoris, 
and the true Brunsvigias. This must be used as a 
protection from frost in winter ; air being given in fine 
weather freely ; when May, and yellow leaves appear, to 
be covered, kept dry and sunburnt. In No. 2, plant 
Ammocharis ( Brunsvigia) falcata and coranica, Vallota, 
Cyrtanthus (obliquus stood in a cold frame with me), 
Coburgia, Clivia, Chlidanthus, Hippeastrum vittatum 
and its hybrids, with the whole tribe of Zephyranthes 
and Phycella, and, perhaps, Ismene and some Pan- 
cratium. Keep this entirely covered and dry during 
winter, throwing off the lights as soon as spring frosts 
disappear. I forgot to add, the Dean of Manchester’s 
Hybrid Cape Crinums here. Cape Amaryllids should, 
if possible, be bought in pots, as imported bulbs are so 
long making root enough to flower. Mr. A. Hender- 
son, of the Pine-apple-place firm, has many ; he has 
taken up this tribe, and is determined to make a fine 
colleetion, Carter, of Holborn, gets the hardy Chilian 
and Peruvian sorts; and Cullis, of Leamington, has a 
collection. Many of our bulbous and tuberous things 
which plague us in our heated strongholds, would 
flourish thus in your fine climate, Try Thalia, Hedy- 
chium, and all Alstroemerias. I am doing all this in 
r 5 
N 
No; p 
