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"742 
THE GARDENERS' 
CHRONICLZE. 
[Nov. 7, 
population, to the wretched collections of hovels inha- 
bited by the half-starved looking New Russians, a little 
too much strictness in the means cannot be complained 
of. We passed through 15 or 20 of them, including 
the town of Vosnesensk (their head quarters in this 
part of the country), and were much struck, especially 
with the difference between the women and children in 
these colonies and those of the other villages. In their 
agriculture, though the stubbles looked rich and the 
corn in the stacks fine, yet there is certainly much to be 
done ; fartoo many weeds—no appearance of rotation of 
crops, and with the enormous extent of grain and fallow, 
there must be a deficiency of food for cattle and horses. 
These hilly steppes extend from the Dniester to be- 
yond the Dnieper; after that, towards the Don, they say 
that the steppes are really a dead flat, before you come 
to the salt steppes of the mouths of the Volga ; but of 
these I know nothing personally, The erops on all of 
them are this year reckoned to be very fair—much 
better than was expected, and the rains that have now 
fallen, though not much, have still been of great benefit 
to the lands now sowing, so that with the expectation of 
high prices, the prospects of the growers, and still more 
of the dealers, who are so much more ready to take ad- 
vantage of circumstances, are good. 
As we approach Odessa, the vicinity of this great 
corn-mart is strongly indicated by the increasing num- 
bers of the long lines of corn waggons on the various 
roads. Small, rudely-constructed, light waggons upon 
low wheels, the wooden rim of one piece, generally 
without tire, carrying, each of them, but half a dozen 
sacks of corn, and drawn by a pair of oxen; each 
follow one another in strings of 20 to 40 or more, one 
man to every four, or sometimes to every three, carry 
the corn at a slow pace, often 200 or 300 miles; and 
although the oxen are turned out when they stop, to 
pick up what they can in the parched steppes or stubble 
by the roadside, yet as they often return empty, these 
long journeys alone must add much to the expense of the 
corn. Arrived in Odessa, the grain is lodged in warehouses 
situated in all parts of the town, even amidst the best 
streets, and from these warehouses to the port, light 
waggons with one horse and driver to each, are trotting 
up and down all day long, enveloping the town with 
clouds of dust, but giving an appearance of extracrdi- 
nary activity. The port itself (that is to say, the 
jetty where the corn is transferred from these 
waggons to the lighters which take it to the ships in the 
harbour), is all day long like a bee-hive. The loaded 
waggons, (if half-a-dozen sacks and a driver may be 
called a load) trotting down, and the empty ones trot- 
ting up, form each almost a continuous line, and the 
numbers of fine houses springing up in every direction, 
show that this activity is not unproductive. It is long 
indeed since I have seen a town of its size (about 60,000 
inhabitants) show so many outward signs of prosperity 
as Odessa, and that without the dull, dirty look of most 
business towns ; the stone used for building is whitish, 
but too soft, and in architecture most of the warehouses 
look more like private houses, or even palaces, than 
anything else. Cranes and pullies are much too great 
an innovation to be generally used ; the corn is carried 
up and down stairs by manual labour, so that not only 
is there nothing peculiar in the construetion of the 
warehouses ; but many houses are used fora year or two 
for corn till they are thoroughly dry, and then converted 
into private residences. The kind of wheat shipped is, 
I am told, chiefly the Arnaouth or Tagonrog Wheat, 
which is precisely the same small-eared, bearded sort, 
which I have seen almost universally grown in Russia, 
and never met with in the west of Europe. A great 
quantity (as I am assured here) is sent to Italy to make 
the finest maccaroni, and everywhere used to mix with 
other sorts,and give a fine, white appearance to bread. 
As it succeeds so wellin all parts of temperate Russia, 
from Nijni Novgorod to Odessa, why should not we 
grow it also? 
Hocteties. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Nov. 3.—AvyExaANDER Henperson, M.D., in the chair. 
The Earl of Stamford ; Sir W. C. Trevelyan, Bart. ; 
H. Stuart; D. S. Merewether; S. Bennet; J. M. 
Yeels ; J. G. G. Seager, Esqs. ; and Mr. James Veitch, 
of Exeter, were elected Fellows. It will be remem- 
bered that at the last meeting various remarkable 
Pine-apples were exhibited. Again a very good 
display of this fine fruit was produced, and although 
none were so heavy as the best on that occasion, yet they 
bore satisfactory evidence of the improvement that is 
steadily going on in the cultivation of the Pine-apple, 
which, no doubt, will yet be brought to far greater 
perfection than has ever yet been obtained. On this 
occasion, among the most remarkable were four Queens, 
from Mr. Goid, gr. to Sir W. W. Dixie, Bart., the 
heaviest of which weighed 5 lbs. 6 oz., and the lightest 
41bs.2 oz. The other two weighed respectively 4 lbs. 
6 oz. and 5 Ibs. 2 oz. "These were well formed, finely 
swelled, and in every way specimens of first-rate excel- 
lence. A Banksian Medal was awarded them.— Mr. 
Reid, of Noblethorpe, also sent four Queens, scarcely 
distinguishable from the above; the heaviest being 
precisely the same weight, viz. 5 lbs. 6 oz,; the 
smallest weighed 3 Ibs. 12 oz., which was somewhat less 
than the lightest of Mr, Gold's fruit; but then the 
others made up for the deficiency ; they weighed re- 
spectively 5 lbs. 5 oz. and 4lbs. 7 oz. All of them 
were handsome fruit, with moderate-sized crowns, and 
well deserving the Banksian Medal which was awarded 
again sent three Queens, which, although much inferior to 
the noble fruit produced at last meeting by the same 
grower, were well deserving of attention, being beauti- 
fully formed and well ripened. They weighed respect- 
ively 5 Ibs., 4 lbs. 12 oz., and 4 lbs. 10 oz. A certifi- 
eate was awarded them. Inferior to these were others 
from different growers.—Mr. Henderson, gr. to Sir G. 
Beaumont, Bart., sent a Queen weighing 5 lbs. 5 oz., 
and an Enville, 6 lbs. 50z. ; Mr. McEwen, gr. to Col. 
Wyncham, an Enville, 61bs. ; Mr. Hamp, gr. to J. 
Thorne, Esq., a Buck’s Seedling, 4 Ibs. 4 0z.; and, 
finally, Mr. Povey, gr. to the Rev. J. Thornyeroft, sent 
two Black Jamaicas, weighing respectively 5 lbs. 4 oz. 
and 4lbs. 4 oz.— Various Grapes were exhibited, A 
Banksian Medal was awarded to Mr. Mitchell, of Kemp- 
town, Brighton, for very excellent bunches of Black 
Hamburghs, being part of a second crop of Grapes from 
Vines which bad ripened off a fair crop about the end 
of February. The bunches were not large, but the 
berries were finely swelled, sweet, and good, and the 
crop was said to be large. After the first crop was 
gathered, and the Vines allowed about two months’ rest, 
they were pruned, and, although they bled profusely, 
they pushed well, and have ripened a capital crop. 
It was also mentioned that the young wood for the 
next year's crop was well ripened, with plump buds, 
showing every prospect of an excellent future. It is not, 
however, contemplated to take two crops from the Vines 
next year.—Mr. Smith, gr. to the Hon. J. Norton, 
showed famous Cannon-Hall Museats—a Grape not 
nearly so well known as it ought to be; and good 
bunches of Muscadine ripened on a wall in bell-gl 
variety of Oncidium ornithorhynchum, showing thatpur- 
chasers should be careful in obtaining the large dark- 
flowered sort.—From Mr. Webster, Kartham gardens, 
were a beautiful Cattleya labiata and a cut spike of the 
Chinese Renanthera coccinea, for which a Banksian 
Medal was awarded.—C. B. Warner, Esq., sent Onci- 
dium crispum, the larger variety of Oncidium papilio, 
Cattleya labiata, Lælia Perrinii, Phalenopsis ama- 
bilis, and a dark variety of Odontoglossum grande: , 
a Certificate was awarded. A famous Cattleya la- 
biata, for which a Banksian Medal was given, 
was produced by Mr. Moore, gr. to R. Hanbury, 
Esq., together with a specimen of Mormodes aromati- 
cum, remarkable for its agreeable spicy odour. 
From Mr. Plant, gr. to J. H. Schréder, Esq., were- 
Lelia Perrinii, the showy Lycaste Skinneri, the rare- 
Angraecum bilobum, the bright orange-flowered Epi- 
dendrum vitellinum, a colour so rare among Orchids, 
and a very handsome Oncidium, with a large pale yel- 
low lip, and brown-barred petals: a Certificate was- 
awarded for the latter.— Finally Messrs. Rollis- 
son, of Tooting, sent a collection of Plants in 
which was a fine specimen of Miltonia candida, also- 
Oncidium barbatum, two Odontoglossums, Cattleya la- 
biata and bicolor, Octomeria graminifolia, Epidendrum 
patens, and a new transparent blush.flowered Dendro- 
bium from Java.—From Mr. Glendinning, of the Chis- 
wick Nursery, was a new white-flowered Hoya, for 
which a Certificate was awarded. It had clean looking, 
shining, dark green leaves, and white flowers, which 
were, however, only half expanded, and therefore seen. 
"A EIER 
made for the purpose, were exhibited by Mr. McEwen, 
gr. to Col. Wyndham, at Petworth. Black Hamburghs 
ripened on a south-east wall from an old Vine said to 
ripen abundant crops in most seasons, also came from 
Mr. Deas, Arundel, Sussex. Other fruit in the shape 
of Beurré Diel and Uvedale’s St. Germain Pears were 
produced from the garden of J. Gadesden, Esq. ; and a 
large ill-shaped specimen of the latter variety, weighing 
2 lbs. 3 oz., was shown from the nursery of Messrs. Rol- 
lisson, of Tooting.—Several Cucumbers were exhibited. 
Mr. Meek, of Holmesdale House, Nutfield, sent a speci- 
men measuring 19 ins. in length, that had been grown 
in a Pine-stove heated on the Polmaise plan, and along 
with it a leaf measuring 15 ins. in diameter, discoloured 
however from an indraft of smoke from the chimney, 
one of the lights having been accidentally left open during 
the late heavy fogs. The Cucumber had been cut 
from a plant propagated by a cutting from an old sum- 
mer plant ; the cutting was taken off about 7 weeks 
back, and after rooting, was shifted into a pot ; it re- 
mained in this till the last fortnight, when the pot was 
broken and more soil put to the roots, At that time 
there was a leaf on the plant 17 ins, across and 5 ft. 
round. The fruit was not sent as a specimen of culti- 
vation, but to show that a house can be heated on the 
Polmaise principle both for bottom and atmospheric 
heat, proving that an air-boiler and a hot-air tank can 
accomplish all that can be desired in the way of heating 
at one-half the cost of hot water. The plant, without 
any attention in the way of giving manure, &c., was 
stated to be producing abundantly, trailing along an 
iron rafter over the Pines.—Mr. Mills, of Gunners- 
bury Park, long famed for Cucumber growing, sent the 
finest specimen exhibited, a Brewston's Hybrid; and 
from Mr. Dunsford, Essex, were three seedlings, crosses 
between Hamilton’s Black Spine and Latter’s Victory 
of England. 
Or Prawrzs there was a fine display, more especially 
of Orchids, among which were several magnificent 
specimens of Cattleya labiata. The best of these came 
from the nursery of Messrs. Veitch and Son, and, 
although it had travelled all the way from Exeter, 
arrived in the finest possible condition. It had seven 
spikes, each with four or five large, handeome, purple 
owers, It had been grown in the coolest part of the 
Orchid house, and had been allowed plenty of air during 
summer. Along with it were Begonia fuchsoides, a 
handsome, bright. red flowered Fuchsia-like species ; a 
beautiful Phalænopsi: ilis, kable for the 
length of time it had continued in bloom; and a new 
Clerodendron from Java, a noble-looking plant, with 
remarkably fine, large leaves, from whose axils’ spring 
panieles about a foot long, covered with multitudes of 
white, or rather blush-coloured blossoms, A Knight- 
ian medal was awarded for the Begonia, Cattleya, and 
Clerodendron. Various Orchids came from the nursery 
of Messrs. Loddiges, of Hackney, and among them the 
buff-flowered Calanthe curculigoides, Catasetum sacca- 
tum, one of the most extraordinary forms of the genus ; 
Coelia the br fl Oneidium 
crispum, the beautiful little Cattleya pumila, Lelia 
Perrinii, the handsome Odontoglossum Insleayi, 
together with O. grande and candidum ; a tall Oncidium 
bl ious-looking Liparis pendula, a 
dark variety of Cypripedium barbatum and Epidendrum 
auritum. A Knightian medal was awarded for the 
three first-mentioned plants, together with Oncidium 
blong —Mr. Robertson, gardener to Mrs. Law- 
rence of Ealing Park, sent the beautiful Lælia Perrinii, 
Oncidium Cavendishii, the scarce Barkeria Lindleyana, 
a variety of Erica Banksi and Saccolabi enti- 
culatum, for which last a Banksian medal was awarded. 
— Other. Orchids were sent by Mr. Rae, gr. to J. 
Blandy, Esq., among which were Cattleya labiata, in 
lovely condition; Miltonia candida and Clowesiana ; 
Cirrhopetalum Medusee rather past its best; Lelia 
Perrinii, the beautiful Odontoglossum {Insleayi, Cyrto- 
lat 
them,—Mr. Hewitt, gr. to J, Purday, Esq., of Bay 
chilum an ugly small pale-flowered 
ge.—J. Allnutt, Esq., sent a basket of 
Camellia blooms; and collections of Chrysanthemum 
blooms came from the garden of E. Johnstone, Esq., of 
Stamford-hill; and from the nurseries of Messrs. 
Chandler and Sons, of Vauxhall, and Mr. Harrison, of 
Richmond, 
Of MisckrLLANEOUS Supsects was a barometer from 
T. N. Parker, Esq., of Sweeney Hall, near Oswestry, 
which was stated to be an improvement on the 
common barometer, which from the nature of its con- 
struction is liable to some inaccuracy ; and from Mr. 
Hogg’s Pottery, Holloway,were what were called Toilet 
Stands, for small flower pots, and holed saucer shaped 
plates for placing in the bottoms of flower pots for 
drainage.—From the Garden of the Society was the 
noble mass of Phaleenopsis amabilis obtained in 
Manilla, by Mr. Fortune, just coming profusely into. 
blossom a second time, and promising to continue so all, 
the winter; also two Cattleyas, Lycaste Skinneri, 
the I potted Miltonia Russelli; large, noble- 
looking bushes, just coming into bloom, of Veronica 
speciosa and salicifolia ; and a small-flowered Chrysan- 
themum, sent from China by Mr. Fortune. 1t is called. 
the Chusan Daisy, and is held in great repute by the 
Chinese. Among Pears from the Garden were Figue 
de Naples, an excellent bearer as a standard, and one of 
those kinds that must not hang long on the tree ; other- 
wiseit will not become melting ; Napoleon, from a wall, 
Doyenné Gris, from a standard, as was also Bezi de la. 
Motte and Bergamotte Cadette, the latter possessing the 
property of ripening in succession all the winter ; some 
Írom the same tree have been ripe early in October, 
whilst others only became fit for use in March. The 
Apples were Pearson's Plate, one of the best dessert 
varieties ; Rymer and Waltham Abbey Seedling, both. 
kitchen Apples, the former a great bearer and a goo! 
keeping variety ; the latter requiring scarcely any sugar 
in cooking. 
LINNEAN SOCIETY. 
Nov. 3.—Rozert Brown, Esq. in the chair.—The 
first meeting of this Society was held this evening at 
the Society’s rooms, Soho-square. Arthur Grote, Esq., 
was elected a fellow. Dr. Lankester exhibited a spe- 
cimen of wood which had been bored by an insect, and 
the cavities afterwards surrounded by leaves, on which 
was placed the cocoon of some insect, probably the leaf- 
cutter bee. Mr. R. H. Solly exhibited a series of 
drawings of South American Palms, by Mr. Edward 
Goodall. The following presents to the museum were 
announced :—A collection of South American insects, 
by Captain King; a collection of plants, found within. 
120 miles of Sydney (New South Wales), by. Mr. Ste- 
phenson ; a collection of Australian fruits, by Alexan- 
der Macleay, Esq. ; and a collection of plants and fruits, 
from the neighbourhocd of Philadelphia, by Drs. Wat- 
son and Morton. Dr, Hugh Falconer read a paper 
on the Asafostida plant of Central Asia. The plant 
was discovered by Dr. Falconer in the valley of 
Astore, one of the subordinate valleys of the Indus. 
behind Cashmere, but does not extend to. Cash- 
mere. The plant, when found by him, was in 
a dried state ; but on showing it to an intelligent 
native prince he pronounced it to bethe true Asa- 
foetida plant. Dr. Falconer was not present at the 
season of the year when the gum-resin is collected; he 
however, brought back to Serampore a root of the 
plant and some of the fruits. The former produced a 
stem and leaves, but no flowers; and from a comparison 
with the plant of Kempfer, Dr, Falconer believes his 
to be identical with it. The stem of this plant is 
perennial, from 5 to 8 feet high, square, and about 
2 inches diameter at the base. The root is fusiform, 
single or divided. The leaves are collected into a 
fascicle above the root, and are numerous, large; and 
spreading about 18 inches in length; in the adult plant 
the petiol , amplexicauland channelled at the base, 
trifurcated a little above it ; the divisions limited at am 
angle with each other, like the legs of a triangle, and 
