51—1846. ] 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE, 
837 
——— 
to fill up with nurses at 6 feet apart ; this would be all 
very well provided every plant was to live for 100 years ; 
but in high situations and poor soils it is scarcely pos- 
sible but that some will die ; I consider 10 feet apart a 
much surer crop. As Oak copse is now so common, 
what kind of return would Oaks planted 28 feet apart 
Take in 25 years? and I can further state from expe- 
rience that Oak thinnings are as profitable as any other 
wood, Every man must be satisfied that each tree has 
à soil on which it will grow better than on any other ; 
but in a, large plantation of 50 or 100 acres, there may 
be great varieties of soil, which makes it difficult to fix 
the exact spot for each kind of tree. In my opinion the 
Climate of the south-west of Scotland is too humid and 
warm for either Spruce or Larch coming to proper per- 
fection, All the old Spruce here die before they come 
to any size, and are much inferior to those I have seen 
in Aberdeenshire. I have given considerable attention 
to the disease on Larch, on which subject I wrote an 
article in the Journal of the Highland Society some 
Years ago. I think it is much owing to diseased seed, 
there being trees here of 80 or 90 years old in great 
vigour, and quite sound, and upon these I never saw 
the insect, although many of the younger ones are going 
to decay. I condemn as much as Mr. Young does 
pruning after & certain age, one of the greatest faults of 
our Oaks being that they are too straight.—James 
Webster, Gardener and Forester for 53 years, Munshet, 
Gallowayshire. 
, Church Warming.—As you have taken up the ques- 
tion of church warming on the Polmaise plan, I am in- 
duced to send the results of our experience of that 
System in our church here, which has been so heated 
for nine winters, and I think I can show that every con- 
dition which Mr. Meek suggests for the heating of the 
new church of St. Thomas, Winchester, has been com- 
qued with in this church except one, and that would 
ave been adopted, but it was found impossible under 
the circumstances. The church is a very difficult one 
^ heat, being unceiled, the roof being open to the in- 
terior, boarded and covered with lead. The windows 
are large, and all old easements, which are very difficult 
to keep air tight. There is also a row of clerestory 
Windows on each side above the side aisles, and the east 
Window is very large; part of it the remains of a painted 
"window of Furness Abbey, so tbat it is as good a speci- 
men of counteracting influence to the warm-air current 
AS ean well be found. The length of the interior is 
.83 feet ; the breadth 58 feet, including the side aisles ; 
the height to the spring of the roof from the walls 28 ft., 
and the height of roof 5 feet. The height of the side 
aisle walls outside are 17 ft. 6 ins. on the north side, 
and 16 ft, 9ins. on the south. The heating apparatus 
consists of a furnace, over which a large iron cockle, is 
inserted, forming the heating surface. This is in a 
Stoke-hole on the north side of the church-tower, and 
‘outside it, sunk below the level of the el h-fl ; 
of it and the others I have named, the thing works as 
I have told you. The temperature at the issue is about 
130°, and the under side of the gallery being immedi- 
ately over the spot prevents the heated air rising to the 
roof, as it would otherwise do instantly, and directs 
the current towards the centre of the church. I should 
mention, perhaps, that the cockle and all our drains 
and apparatus are of a very large size, as the intention 
is to introduce a large quantity of moderately-heated 
air instead of a smaller quantity of very highly heated.. 
I have, however, some doubts whether the object 
might not be gained at a less expense with smaller 
drains by a more rapid current. The cockle has a per- 
forated hood to bring all parts of the cockle into con- 
tact with the air to be heated. Several churches in 
Edinburgh, and other parts of Scotland, were heated 
on this plan before ours was done ; and my own house, 
as well as that of a neighbour of mine, has the same 
kind of apparatus, to which my only objection is the 
expense ; mine burns somewhat under 1 cwt. of coke in 
the day, of }2 to 14 hours.—T. S. P. 
Simmons's Hygrometer.—The following table is con- 
structed from a series of observations made with 
Simmons's hygrometer in connexion with the dew point, 
as obtained by a Mason's hygrometer, or a dry and wet 
thermometer. The two instruments were situated in 
the open air, but sheltered from the rain and the direct 
rays of the sun. The observations were taken simul- 
taneously at 9 a. M. and 3 p, M. The extreme of damp- 
ness or tion of the with moisture, is 
expressed by unity or 1:00; that is, when the dew 
point is the same as the temperature of the air ; and 
unity decreases decimally in proportion as the degree 
of dryness in the atmosphere increases ; or as the differ- 
ence between the dew point and the temperature of the 
air increases. Complete ion of the j 
in our climate is often shown — complete dryness never. 
The range of Simmons’s hygrometer corresponding 
to the mean state of humidity of the air is prepared for 
every 10 degrees of that instrument commeneing with 
the extreme of dampness. 
1 
p 
Mean 
of Simmons’ | Humidity of. 
Hygrometer. i 
20? to 30° 1:00 Extreme saturation; air precipi- 
tates moisture at a fall of tem- 
perature. 
30 — 40 0:96 
40 — 50 0:89 
50 — 60 0:81 
60 — 70 077 
70 — 80 0:72 Jom fine dry weather. 
80 — 90 0°67 
90 — 100 0:59 
100 — 120 0°50 Air contains one half of the mois- 
ture it is capable of holding in 
solution; in England very dry 
weather. 
read 45°, the mean humidity 
the chimney is carried up the side of the tower to the 
top of it. The cockle is surrounded by the hot-air 
chamber, which is supplied with air by two drains, one 
from the open air, and the other from the inside of the 
church at its floor level (these two, of course, are never 
‘used at the same time), The hot air is introduced into 
the church at a height of about 6 feet from the floor, 
the lower edge of the aperture being that height, and 
Immediately under the gallery at the west end of the 
church. In heating the building the outside air drain is 
Opened, and when the church is warmed, and before 
the congregation arrive, this is closed, and the return 
air-drain from the church is opened, thus forming the 
circulation. So far, surely this is all on the Polmaise 
Principle. The one condition not complied with is the 
cold-air drains inside the church. This could not be 
done in consequence of the burials in the aisles, al- 
though the gentleman who put up the apparatus was 
‘quite aware how much the absence of these drains 
Would interfere with the effectual working of the appa- 
ratus; but we should have had them if we could. 
Nevertheless, even without these the thermometer at 
‘the very farthest end of the church where the last win- 
dow and those of the side aisles are, chilling the air and 
ghecking the warm current, stands at from 50° to 52°, 
according to the weather. The expenses attending the 
Tepairs of the apparatus,the coals which cost here 23s.4d. 
A ton,the wages of the man who attends to it, &c,, average 
about 107. a year. We begin warming about the last 
Week in November, and leave off when the money sub- 
Scribed is expended; a great deal too soon, in m, 
Opinion, for the weather i8 often colder when that time 
Somes in the spring than when we begin. However, it 
1$ a poor parish, and money does not abound. The first 
Cost of our apparatus is its greatest fault. It was sup- 
plied by Mr. Retchie, of Edinburgh, who was the person 
that planned and put it up, and the price in Edinburgh 
Was about 607; then the carriage of this enormous 
cockle of cast iron and its perforated hood, with all 
other expenses, such as excavating the stoke-hole, and 
Piercing the church tower (an old wall as hard as rock), 
Superintendent’s travelling expenses, &e. &c., were up- 
Wards of 1607. more ; and when the cockle is worn out 
“it will be a most expensive and troublesome job re- 
moving it, and we shall be much indebted to Mr. Meek 
if he enables us to substitute for it side walls of brick 
and a top of iron. Owing to the position of the stoke- 
hole, the impossibility of getting drains inside the 
church, and the interior arrangements of the building, 
the apertures for introducing the warm air and those 
for abstracting it when cooled, and returning it to the 
heating surface, are obliged to be one under the other, 
and joining. This isa great disadvantage ; but inspite 
ponding is 93. Again, if hygrometer read 90°, the mean 
humidity corresponding is 59°. 
—John Henry Belville (of the Royal Observatory), 9, 
Hyde Vale, Blackheath. Will your readers allow me 
a week or two more before I communicate the results 
of our experi on thi: The subject 
is receiving every attention from Mr. Simmons and 
myself, and it is desirable that we should take more 
time than I anticipated. The weather also has been 
too much of a character this week for our purpose. 
It shall not be delayed longer than necessary.— 
Fdward Beck. 
Raising Roots of Fruit-trees against Walls.—In 
raising fruit-trees it is often found that the roots have 
penetrated to a great depth, and sometimes into a cold 
and wet subsoil, where they receive unwholesome food, 
and where they are removed from the influence of sun 
and air ; but although the subsoil should be good, if the 
roots are deep, over-luxuriance, late growths, and badly 
ripened wood, are frequently tlie consequence, causing 
the blossom buds to drop in spring, and no care on the 
part of the gardener can obviate the evil. But where 
the roots are otherwise situated, I have no doubt, with 
the same care and protection, there would be a suffi- 
cient quantity of fruit. In raising old trees, extra 
care is required to preserve the roots, especially those 
of Pears, as the latter generally strike deep into the 
soil, and have few fibres. The worst soil should be re- 
moved, and replaced with sandy loam from an old pas- 
ture. The border should be afterwards covered with 
long stable litter, and if the most decayed portion of 
it be"allowed to remain during the following summer, 
it will considerably benefit the trees. Where new borders 
are intended to be made, use the same kind of soil, but 
not deeper than 2 feet next the wall, and 18 inches in 
front, in a border of 12 feet wide. The bottom should 
be well drained with brick rubbish, stones, or similar 
materials, not less than 10 inches in depth, and this 
should be covered with gravel, screenings of lime, &e., 
and well pressed with a roller, to prevent the soil from 
choking up the drainage. When completed, the bottom 
should have a fall to the front not less than 10 inches. 
Before the soil is put in, place a layer of turf on the top 
of the drainage, laying the grassy side downwards. 
There should be a drain 4 feet in depth in front, con- 
strueted with tiles on slate soles, and filled up with 
stones to within a foot of the surface. The stones should 
be small towards the top, and a layer of turf with 
the grassy side downwards, placed on the sur- 
face. When the above kind of soil cannot be 
had, and stronger soil is obliged to3be employed, 
I should recommend a sixth part of gravel, free- 
stone, or limestone, to be mixed with the soil. The 
above remarks apply te east, west, and south borders. 
Borders on north aspects should not exceed 18 incheg 
in depth next the wall, and 14 inches in front; ina 
border of 8 feet in width, the drainage, or the bottom, 
to be made in the manner already recommended, but it 
should not be less than 12 inches deep, with a descent 
from the wall to the front of not less than 10 inches. 
The drain in front should be formed as before. De it 
understood, however, that I speak of gardens supposed 
to be already drained, and that the drain mentio. ed in 
front of the borders is entirely for the benefit of the 
borders. The wood of fruit trees, planted as above, 
will become perfectly ripened, and will not be so liable 
to be injured by frosts, especially that of Peaches and 
Nectarines. Canker, and other disease will be avoided 
the roots will receive the advantage of sun and air, and 
thus will not only an abundant crop be obtained, tut the 
fruit will be of the best possible quality. — George 
Hemsworth, Knowsly Gardens, Prescot, Lancashire, 
Dec. 14. 
Flies.—The most simple way to rid a dining or other 
room of these troublesome intruders, is that pursued 
in Spain and Portugal, and other hot countries. The 
cloths which are hung outside the windows in order to 
cool the rooms by excluding the scorching rays of the 
sun at noon-day, also effectually darken them. The 
doors being then left slightly open, the flies soon make 
their exit into the light of the passages or other rooms 
adjacent. Any shutters or blinds will answer the like 
purpose.—2D. S. E. 
* Polmaise.— After all the “ chaffing?' (to use a rather 
expressive vulgarism), about this so-called discovery, 
the interesting communication of Mr. Kendall, in 
p. 821, has, by proving the uselessness of underground 
* air-drains,” established the identity of this method of 
warming apartments, with the very old stove, which is 
nothing more than an iron body containing the fire, - 
surrounded fat an inch distance (more or less), by an 
external casing, open at bottom and at top, where it 
usually ends in a dome with a regulator. By this, the 
colder air at the bottom of the chamber, is drawn 
through the opening between the casing and the fire- 
place, is heated, and ascends by its diminished gravity to 
the upper part of the apartment to be replaced 
as it cools, by a constantly ascending current, and 
diffusing a nearly equal temperature through the 
whole. If securing the greatest quantity of calorie 
from the fuel, for the purpose of heating, be essen- 
tial, the above stove has the advantage over Mr. 
Meek’s, by the whole apparatus being withinside the 
building, and consequently warming it both by the 
current of warm air and by radiation. The only dif- 
ference is that the fire in this is supplied by air for 
combustion from the apartment itself, whilst Mr. 
Meek’s is supplied from the externalair. I cannot but 
still think (as I mentioned before), that this is an ad- 
vantage in favour of the internal stove, as the air neces- 
sary for feeding the fire must be replaced by purer air 
from without, which, percolating in such small quan- 
tity through numerous crevices, will not occasion pre- 
judicial draughts, but by gradually changing the air of 
the house, tend to the benefit of the inmates, whether 
vegetable or animal. If any one should object to the 
fire being within the chamber from fear of dust or back 
draughts, I can only say that I did not discover any- 
thing of the sort in using a stove of the kind 16 or 18 
years ago, which was perfectly satisfactory in warmin; 
a tolerably large apartment ; but if any doubts are felt 
on the subject, it is very easy to feed the fire from 
without, and then it is identical with the Polmaise as 
improved by Mr. Kendall.— Lusor. 
Superphosphate of Lime as Manure.—In the au- 
tumn of 1845, I transplanted about 20 Rose trees; and 
in eonsequence of seeing (I think in your Paper) this 
substance mentioned as one to be used with advantage 
in such a case, I tried the experiment on eight out 
that number, by sprinkling about a handful on and 
about the roots at the time of planting, and kept a 
memorandum of the particular plants so treated, Early 
in March of this year the difference was very percep- 
tible; the eight plants in question were in leaf, and 
quite as forward as those which had not been removed 
while the remainder (with one exception) had not then 
started into growth. -I think this may be taken asa 
proof that superphosphate of lime has a beneficial in- 
fluence in causing the more ready formation of roots ; 
but Iam unable to give any guide as to the ultimate 
result, as in this particular case it proved a great dis- 
advantage. You will doubtless remember that towards 
the middle of March we were visited with a more severe 
frost than had occurred duricg the previous winter, the 
consequence of which was, that these plants being so 
forward had their leaves and new wood quite cut off ; 
while the other transplanted ones, whose buds had only 
just begun to swell, were comparatively uninjured. 
Indeed these latter made the finest plants, and pro- 
duced the best bloom I had in the summer season, 
even more so than plants which had not been removed, 
This doubtless arose from the faet of their being so 
much more backward, and were not so severely acted 
upon by the destructive frost just alluded to.—Richard 
White, Peckham, Dec. 15. 
The Weather in Cornwall.—The winter has already 
made its appearance with us—a most unusual thing for 
itto do in this part of the kingdom so early in the 
season. During the last fortnight we have several times 
had four or five degrees of frost; but on the 11th and 
12th the thermometer fell to 23°. Fortunately the 
ground is covered with snow, varying from 4 to 6 inches 
in depth, which will protect many tender things that 
would otherwise have suffered from the severe frost. 
