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758 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 
[Nov. 14, 
occasionally returns, under culture, to the more ordi- 
nary conditions of the ear; neither is it, when most 
rolific, considered to be a variety of any great value. 
ow it is the mere name of this variety which has 
misled many to suppose it identical with the kind of 
Wheat that was raised in the celebrated experiment 
you have recorded in the Gardeners’ Chronicle for 
1843, but which is there stated to have been the 
* Belle Vue Talavera’? of Colonel Le Couteur. I 
can fully confirm this, because I had six grains 
from the specimens raised by Mr. Tupper, and grew 
them in company with several varieties of Wheat 
in my garden. Among these were plants of the “Belle 
Vue Talavera," and I had ample opportunity of com- 
aring them with the descendants of the “Mummy 
heat." This variety was specially remarkable for 
exceeding in length of straw, and for flowering much 
earlier than env of the other varieties in my garden. In 
is, and in all other particulars, I could not observe 
the slightest difference between ine Relle Vue Talavera 
and the Mummy Wheat. Both, also, wer? attacked 
more vigorously than the rest by rust and mildew. If 
then, the single seed reared by Mr. Tupper was really 
deposited in the catacombs during the time of the 
Pharaohs, the Wheat of Egypt was not (our) Egyptian 
Wheat, so far as this experi may be idered 
decisive. But I have long suspeeted the possibility of 
a flaw in the testimony upon which this one grain is 
supposed to have been so old as Mr. Tupper and Sir G. 
Wilkinson believed it to be. Application was once 
made to Sir G. Wilkinson for specimens of Mummy 
‘Wheat, in order that it might be tried among a series 
of experiments “on the vitality of seeds,” which have 
been in progress for a few years, under the superin- 
tendence of a committee of the British Association. 
The gentleman who had been requested to apply to Sir 
G. W. was furnished with a sample by himself. Upon 
his proceeding to share the grains among the parties 
experimenting, he was surprised to find them intermixed 
with grains of Maize (a plant of the new world !). 
This, of course, led to further inquiry, and the con- 
clusion arrived at was, that the sample had most 
certainly been tampered with before it came into Sir G, 
Ws p i Without p ing to deny the pos- 
sibility of Mummy Wheat retaining its vital powers 
for 3000 years, I must consider the above fact, coupled 
with the strange misapprehension that has arisen re- 
specting the mummy origin of our “ Egyptian Wheat,” 
to throw an amount of suspicion upon the accuracy of 
the results which Mr. Tupper considered he had ob- 
tained, which makes it necessary the experiment should 
be repeated before we can feel satisfied that a grain of 
ummy Wheat has really germinated in our own times, 
—J. S. Henslow, Hitcham, October 3. 
Home Correspondence. 
Snowdrops.—An amateur gardener myself, I read 
the articles of “ H. B." with much interest. He com- 
plains (p. 739) of the difficulty of keeping a stock of 
Snowdrops, and speaks of the broad patches of them 
that may be now and then seen in old orchards, where 
no care is taken of them. I was long ago aware that 
they would not stand in flower-beds, where they are 
subject to frequent disturbance ; I therefore took the 
hint of the aforesaid plenary supply of old orchard 
growth, and placed patches on my lawn so near to the 
stems of Arbor-vitee, Judas-tree, and other lawn stang- 
ards, as to secure them from the sweep of the scythe, 
so long at least as the foliage was necessary for the 
annual recruit of the bulbs. When the leaves wither, 
the tufts are cleared away with the long Grass, and the 
flowers spring, and are fully enjoyed in the spring, 
before the mowing season begins. Old orchards are 
depastured, and seldom mown, and the other biding 
places of the Snowdrop are seldom disturbed. It is 
thence to be inferred that its bulb will not bear frequent 
removal; or, if so, that we have yet to learn how it is 
to be timed.—** 
Bulbs.—Your correspondent H. B.," (p. 739,) com- 
plains of difficulty in cultivating the Snowdrop. I 
never experienced such diffieulty ; but having formerly 
collected the roots from places iu which they apparently 
grew wild, I can tell him that they,delight in a deep 
moist, tenacious soil—especially a black marly loam 
resembling pond mud. In this they increase abun- 
dantly; but the roots are seldom found within six 
inches of the surface, and I suspect do not like to be 
often disturbed. As far as I have observed Amaryl- 
lids, bulbs — including Narcissus — prefer strong 
alluvial soils. Itis somewhat remarkable that Fritil- 
laria meleagris is rarely found wild except in meadows 
subject to floods ; and 1 have noticed that it abounds 
most in those parts which are most frequently flooded. 
I have also found that Gladiolus natalensis (psittacinus) 
does not flourish except in strong loam. My whole 
Stock dwindled and died on being removed to a sandy 
soil. Two years ago I planted some weak bulbs in a 
Strong soi, and this year they have flowered in great 
luxuriance, I mention this because gandavensis and 
other hybrids will probably possess the same habits, and 
if treated like the more delicate African Gladioli, will 
probably perish. Iris Xiphium also is never seen in 
perfection except in a strong alluvial loam. I wish 
lovers of gardening could be persuaded to take some 
trouble with the Chaleedonian Iris. Many roots are 
annually imported ; but how rarely is it seen in flower | 
I suspect the tubers are so weakened 'by removal that 
they will hardly flower till the second year.—J. Rogers. 
Roses in Pots.—Mr. Rivers will find it much easier 
to bloom Roses in paragraphs than in pots, and I 
recommend him and every one else not to put up an 
erection covered top and sides with canvas for bloom- 
ing this favourite flower under, in the way we do 
Tulips, &c., for it will not answer. It is very well to 
have such an erection to place them in when the flowers 
are just expanding, and then they must not be there 
many days, for they do not like it. Mind I am speak- 
ing of canvas for a covering—not glass; the latter 
answers well. I wish Mr. Rivers would favour us at 
the exhibitions. When I go up, and I do to all the 
metropolitan shows, I see no contributions of his in 
this way, and until I witness what he can do in pots, I 
do not eare to read what he can do on paper. Mr. 
Rivers is a thorough Englishman, and will take this in 
good part.—Cultivator, North Wales, Nov. 9. 
Brugmansia Knightii.—If I am correct in believing 
that the new double Datura is the plant figured under 
this name in the “ Botanical Magazine,” it will prove a 
valuable ornament to the conservative wall. It was 
planted against mine last spring, and has succeeded 
admirably, having grown vigorously, and produced an 
immense number of its large, fragrant blossoms during 
thé summer, and is still covered with flowers and buds, 
which, unless we have unusually severe weather, are 
likely to open in succession till Christmas, when it will 
be slightly protected. — A Devonian, Kingsbridge, 
Nov. 7. E 
Hazard's Heating. — We have received from 
Messrs. Garraway and Co. the following plan of tue 
house ioned in their ication of Saturday, 
Oct, 31 (see p. 725) :— 
p 
. Chamber for Apparatus. 
Pit. 
. Entrance to Cold Air Drain. 
D. Termination of Cold Air Drain. 
E. Space under Slate for Warm Air, 
F. Stoke-hole, 
Polmaise Heating.—To my communication on this 
subject (p. 741), you append the enquiry : “ How do you 
propose to provide against back draughts ?’—I think 
that a very light valve or door, hung by its upper edge, 
in the air passage to the ash pit, with a slight tendency 
to close, by being hung a little out of the perpendicular, 
would not obstruct the draught to the fire, and would 
effectually prevent any back draught from it. Or if 
an increased height to the chimney would be not objec- 
tionable, an effectual draught would be secured by that 
means. But, as there are very great objections to 
stove-roasted air, I think where a little addition to the 
first expense is not an object, that the method of warm- 
ing and ventilating the Reform Club-house, (as described 
by Dr. Ure in the * Supplement to bis Dictionary of 
Arts, Manufactures, and Mines,” where 11,000 feet of 
air heated from 75° to 85° is thrown in per minute, 
using two ewt. of coals in 12 hours) would be prefer- 
able to almost any other.— Lusor. 
How to decoy and destroy Ants in Dwelling-houses.— 
When practicable place as near the end or passage on 
a level, a basin or bowl filled with dry mould ; then put 
a bone or bones of fresh meat in the bottom (such as 
are discarded from the dining-room), You will soon 
find your gregate tl ds strong; for 
Iassure you they are first-rate bone-polishers. Forty 
years ago, when a boy, whenever I wanted a partieular 
bone of a duck or goose polished, I always found the: 
ant-hill the best manufactory. Have in readiness a 
strong solution of boiling salt and water, and when you: 
perceive your enemies beginning to retreat cover them 
with it. Salt and water cold will destroy them poured 
into their haunts ; but the better way is to decoy them 
out of their strongholds, Tt will be good policy to wash 
out the basin or bowl, and fill it with fresh mould pre- 
vious to a second decoy, as it will be perceived salt is 
not a favourite. It appears that previous to the ants 
making their appearance in the houses at the west end 
of London (see Newspaper department of the Chronicle, 
p. 340) they were infested with beetles, and doubtless 
they were tempted by damp, but the houses, now be- 
come drained and dry,and means used for their de- 
struction, the ants, fond of a dry place, took posses- 
sion, and like all other beings, live by feeding on the 
dead, and as long as the remains of the beetles lasted 
they did not intrude further. Gardeners may take the 
hint of the bowl or basin among their pots or plants.— 
K. 
E 
Clement Hoare’s Vine Pillar.—l have three Vines 
growing upon two of Clement Hoare's Vine Pillars, 
now looking, as they have done all the summer and 
autumn, very healthy. I hope the plan will not be dig- 
carded, as it only wants care to make it answer.— 
€. 4. A. Lloyd, Whittington, Oswestry, Nov. 3. 
Seiwct Pelargoniums.— The following, from their 
beauty ana colour, are well adapted either for green- 
house cultivation or for the purpose of showing ; being 
arranged according ic colour, a selection may be made 
to suit various tastes. Vine flowers in the class of 
whites, rosy erimson, and purples are still much wanted, , 
and certain flowers are retained which are deficient in 
form, till improved varieties equal in colour shall drive 
them from the field :— 
Whites. Flowers with dark top petals; 
and light bottom ones. 
Foster’s Pulehellum., 
Catleugh’s Emma, 
Sarah. 
Lyne’s White Perfection, 
Pink, or Light Rose. 
Foster’s Matilda, 
Sylph 
Lyne’s Imogene. 
Cyrus Superb, 
2» 
k" la. Orange, 
cen pres Foster's Erectum. 
e: l, » 5 ul tana. 
$5 rion. 4 
Gaines's Duchess of Leinster. 
ASAI Thurtell’s Trafalgar. 
Beck’s peu e iyne's Duke of Cornwall. 
» Fosters Conflagration, an 
Cock’s Hector. approach to Scarlet. 
„ Eliza Sauvage. 
Foster’s Nymph. 
Garth's Queen Phillippa. 
Magog. 
» 
Rosy Crimson. 
Foster's Ardens. 
OSEE AL 
P Hodge's Commodore. 
Rose with White Centre. Catleugh’s Agripina, 
Beck’s Arabella, 
Foster’s Luna. Purple. 
Foster’s Sir R. Peel, 
Beck’s Purple. 
Silverlock’s Emperor Nicholas. 
Referring to the reports of the Horticultural and 
Botanic Societies’ exhibitions, it will be found that the 
following varieties have received prizes, and have been 
tested as two-years old flowers :— 
Hoyle’s Mount Etna, 
» abob. 
Garth's Constellation, 
» Bacchus. Beck’s Patrician. 
» Competitor, » esplendent, 
>>. Hebe's Lip. Cock's Melpomene. 
—* 
Rabbits.—I was once informed that rabbits have a dis- 
like to treading upon newly turned-up soil ; I thought I 
would give the thing a trial. Five rows of young Cauli- 
flower plants were put in where rabbits were known to 
be; the plants were allowed to remain undisturbed 
for the first two nights after they were planted ; on the 
third morning a few plants were destroyed, on the 
evening of that day the ground was disturbed with a 
Dutch hoe; the next morning when they were ex- 
amined, all the plants were safe; the hoein, 
continued for some time, until the plants were well 
taken with the ground, and when that is the case, they 
are seldom eaten by rabbits, unless they are very 
numerous and provision short, The hoeing may be 
done in a few minutes in the evening, and, besides 
keeping off the rabbits, is a benefit to the plants.— Peter 
Mackenzie. x 
Conifers at Bury Hill.—Pinus insignis, plantedin June 
1840, out of a 6-inch pot, and then 15 in. high, measures 
now, Nov. 1846, in height. 20ft.; diam. of branches, 13 ft. 5. 
girth of stem at 3 ft. from the ground, 1 ft, 10 in. Last 
year at this time it measured 14 ft. in height, having 
grown exactly 6 ft. during last summer. Near it is a 
plant of Abies Douglasii, planted in 1833. It measures 
in height, 40 ft. ; diameter of branches, 30 ft. ; girth of 
stem at 3 ft. from the ground, 2 ft. 11 in, A Deodara 
planted about the same time, measures in height, 21 ft. ; 
diameter of branches, 17 ft. ; girth of stem 3 ft. from 
the ground, 1ft. 9 in.—W. Scott, Bury Hill, near 
Dorking, Surrey, Nov. 9. 
Clianthus puniceus as a Creeper.—Those who have 
not seen this trained as a creeper can form no E 
idea of the splendour of this truly beautiful plant. The 
Clianthus in the conservatory here extends about 
35 feet ; on the next rafter is Glycine (or Wistaria) 
sinensis, and at the top of the house both creepers are 
turned to meet and intermingle their flowers in festoons, 
the effect of which is very good. Both plants flower 
twice in the season, By being forced, or rather for- 
