840 
inlet to their private chamber was by a small chink of 
| a window, which was open and shut daily by a friend 
THE GARDENERS' CH RONICLE. 
[Dzc. 19, 
State of the Weather at Chiswick during the last 20 years, for the — 
ensuing Week ending Dec 96, 1846. 
potted, to turn out with balls, in the first week of January, 
t Prevailing Winds. J; 
into a pit or frame, Mushroom-house.—This house, 
from the outside. when sufficiently roomy, is one of the most useful struc- | Aver. | Aver. | Mean Pot Grentont E 
| - Alkali Works and Vegetation .—We some time since | tures about a garden establishment. Seakale may be, Pe EUM emp. [e whieh l E Tun ba z 
| brought under the notice of our readers the necessity forced here in constant succession with as little trouble A SR £ 
q T ‘ i K raisi 7 i a rais- | Sun. Sí 449 85.0 0,76 in. 
| which Sit John Gerard found of proceeding against cer- | 85 raising a crop of small salad. The old plat of rais qe aa 5 d. 2, 
| tain alkali manufacturers for the enormous injury done | Dg a bed of fermenting materials, over the crown out Tues | 464. 252 0.38 E 
R " z i i [ 5 4 X E E 
1 to his woods. Two of the cases were decided in court Bus dum Bead GR A eel ie psal Thar, | 40 ms 05 3 
in his favour, one was compromised, and one was re- |>18ypaus, w. ompared -wii is. ngvyetgNoweuii feudo dato etp on ; 
ferred. We now learn that the arbitrator has awarded 
3007. for the damages committed, and directed the de- 
fendants to pay all the costs of the reference, so that 
e total damages have been as follows :—Muspratt, 
10007. ; Crosfield, 4007. ; Gamble, 3007. ; Kurtz, 3007. 
It is to be hoped that these verdicts will have the effect 
of putting down such intólerable nuisances. 
The Chameleon.—Chameleons spend their lives in 
trees, for clinging to the branches of which their 
organisation is admirably adapted. On trees they lie 
in wait for insects which constitute their food ; in catch. 
ing-which, they are probably aided by their extraor- 
dinary faculty of changing their colour, so as to be able 
to conceal themselves, They possess extraordinary 
power of abstaining from food. Hence arose the notion 
that they lived on air. Their power of changing 
colour depends on there existing in the skin two layers 
of pigment or colouring matier, placed one above 
another, which the animal can influence by means of a 
mechanism given for the purpose, so as to produce 
various hues. Its lung is so large, that the animal has 
the power of filling every part of the body with air, so 
as to double its size. This is done by gentle irregular 
efforts. Chameleons aré inoffensive, but irascible one 
with another. Ina state of excitement, they change 
colour rapidly, dark, yellow, or grey: when quiescent, 
they then pass into green, purple, or black.— The 
People's Dictionary of the Bible. 
Calendar of Operations. 
(For the ensuing Week.) 
Preparations for Spring.—It may appear somewhat 
early to offer admonitions on this head, but such is the 
pressure of business soon after Christmas has passed, that 
no amount of precaution can be considered too great 
where general gardening has to be carried out through 
the ensuing year according to the high practice of the 
present day. The first point of advice I would offer is 
to let no alterations, planting, &e, trench on the 
routine business of the garden affairs. It is un- 
doubtedly right to plant all that can be planted 
in the autumn, but it is equally urgent to carry 
5 
2 
2 
E 
E: 
a 
= 
E 
2 
o 
the plan for 10 or 12 years, and can bear ample tes- 
timony to its certainty, simplicity, and economy. 
It is equally adapted for Rhubarb forcing. Nothing is. 
needed but a long, narrow pit along the bottom of the 
house, on the one or both sides, the top of the pit level 
with the floor. It should be 4 feet deep, and filled in 
portions as wanted, with any hot, fermenting material, 
to within half a yard of the top, which would be very 
perfect if covered with a lid. The Kale and Rhubarb 
must be placed on the surface of the fermenting mat- 
ters, as thick as it can stand, and then filled in lightly 
with fine old tan. If it get too hot, say exceeding 85°, 
reduce it frequently with water, putting a handful of 
salt in about 6 gallons. Chicory roots may be placed 
in a circle round roomy pots, and get on the flues 
Li 
| 
‘The highest temperature during the above period occkrred on the Sothy 
1827—tharm. 58? : and the lowest on the 94th, 1920~therm. 10°, Theavereg? 
temperature of the night of the 25'h is lower than tha} of any other night 
throughout the year, 
Wotices to Correspondents. 
The Fourth Reprint of Mr. PAXTON’S COT l'AGERS' CALEN- 
DAR is now ready, price 3d, each copy: An Index has been 
added. Parties wishing to have copies for distribution among. 
their tenantry can have them at the rate of 25 for 5s. | 
Post-orrice OxpERs—In order to obviate the inconveniences 
which are now constantly being experienced by parties who 
wish to remit small sums to the office of the GARDENERS 
Curonicre for Advertising, we have to request that all Post- 
office orders may in future be addressed to Mr. JAMES MAT- 
TREWS, 5, Upper Wellington-street, Covent-garden, and made 
pnyable at the Post-office, 180, Strand, London. Post-office 
orders, remitted by subscribers for the Paper, should be sent 
to the respective Agents who supply them. 
Trevesti 
of this house, The Lily of the Valley, too, 
may be plunged oyer-head in a f. ing body 
of 70° here, until the blossom-spikes appear, when it 
must be inured to the light, but in the most gradual and 
cautious way imaginable. The early-potted Hyacinths 
and Narcissi may be served precisely the same as the 
Lilies, taking care not to withdraw them until the pots 
are nearly full of roots. Many other uses may be 
found for this house, of which I shallsay more hereafter. 
FLOWER-GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES, 
Have an eye to the protection of tender things here; 
and in moderate weather, especially if dry, open the 
canopies or coverings a little for a few hours, once a 
week or so, in order to dispel damp. Do not, however, 
suffer the sun to shine on things of this kind by any 
means. If the frost continues, a scheme of the masses 
or beds might be decided on, and the soil renewed ac- 
cording to character of the flower. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Little ean be done now except in the way of pre- 
paration and should the present frosty weather continue, 
it will afford every opportunity of having all the com- 
post heaps tl ghly frozen ; by repeatedly removing 
the encrusted surface, and piling it up every morning, 
many of the insects and their eggs will be destroyed, a 
point of no small importance to the cultivator. 1t will 
also be a good time to cart turf sods, peat, &c., Rei, 
and to lay in a good stock of soil most suitable for the 
various plants and flowers, without which it is next to 
impossible to grow them successfully. If leaden pegs 
are used for layering Carnations (and these we should 
always recommend in preference to Bracken or Fern) 
a fresh stock may be cast and the old ones cleaned and 
straightened, If the florist can mend his own hand- 
glasses and shades, these ought now to be done, and the 
metallic wire which has been used for attaching the 
stems of Carnations or Tulips to their support, should 
be made ready for use, and stored away in its place till 
the returning season renders it available. Rabbits 
during the severe weather will be apt to attack Carna- 
All matting or bast re- 
quired for the ensuing year should be cut, sorted, and 
hung up ready for use. Besoms and baskets also pre- 
pared. The tool-house should be examined, and put in 
an efficient state ; and, in fact, every thing of this kind 
done that is possible. 
CONSERVATORIES, STOVE, &c, 
The introduction of the Chinese Chrysanthemums 
having in one house or other caused a disarrangement 
of part of the stock, it becomes a matter of importance 
at this time to get such back in their places, or so 
to re-arrange matters, that groups, or tribes, may oc- 
eupy situations according to their habits. Placing things 
for effect, should, if possible, be subordinate to this 
point in some degree ; for what is the use of placing 
plants where they will not thrive? The Chrysanthe- 
mums, decaying, should be eut down, suffered to be- 
come somewhat dry, and removed to cold frames. 
Those who cannot afford frame room, may secure them 
in some shed or out-house for a few weeks, covering 
them over head with clean straw whilst the frost lasts, 
Tf they are slightly frozen here it will not signify ; only 
take care that they do not thaw too suddenly. Slove 
and Orchids.—Little can be said here at present, 
Use moderation in heat, ventilation, and atmospheric 
moisture. Beware of exciting the buds of Orchids be- 
fore their time. Do this and keep a somewhat drier 
atmosphere until the middle of January. 
tions and Pinks. It would be worth while to try Mr. 
Rivers’s plan of dipping small square pieces of cloth 
into brimstone, and tying them to sticks, and inserting 
the sticks in the ground round the beds. 
KITCHEN GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 
‘The process of analyzing organic mat- 
ter is long and tedious, besides which it requires much prac- 
tice and experience in the use of apparatus and re-agents. 
It is in fact beyond the skill of amateurs. Those who wish to 
make the attempt must procure the books written on the 
subject, among which are Parnell’s ** Elements" and Frese- 
nius’ “ Chemical Analysis. Š ri » 
ANDROMEDAS—X Y— Floribunda, Speciosa, Axillaris, Poli- 
olia. T 
Booxs— Queesitum—‘ School Botany.” 
DanrrAS—E V—Pooh! let that pass. 
EVERGREEN ÜREEPERS— X Yi brutis pyracantha, Cotone- 
aster rotundifolia, Caprifolium sempervirens and Magnolia 
grandiflora, ? 
EVERGREEN Roses— X Y—Adelaide d'Orleans, Donna Maria, , 
Princesse Marie, Felicité perpetuelle. 
Fences—W E W—We do not know to what fences you allude. 
e so good as give us the page. 
Heatinc—D M—We must once more state distinctly that we 
do not furnish plans of heating. is quite out of the 
question. You should apply to those who construct Polmaise 
apparatus. There can be no doubt of the applicability of the 
an. 
Sinucne MacnixEs— We really must close this subject. “A 
lowner” assures us that Mr. Legg's “ invention” is old, 
and has been tried and found wanting ; another party as- 
serts that itis new, We believe that we have ascertained 
the fact to be, that itis a water wheel working pumps, with 
à peculiar arrangement of air vessels, either the very same 
as one used by Braithwaite and others, or not materially 
different. As we said before, all further discussion must go 
into the advertisement columns, Siud 
INSECTS —, B—Your box was crushed and everything init, we 
cannot therefore tell you more than that it is the caterpillar 
ofa moth, Ifyou will send some enclosed in a quiil we will 
the roots out carefully, and not to leave them in a ball. 
AW— 7- 
201, to settle them. 
take the risk of your plan n agree- 
man or another ; j A 
quainted with law will stamp what is unintelligible, or sus- 
ceptible of more interpretations than one. 1 
NAMES or Froirs—< lack Pear of Worcester (stewing); 
2, Glout Morceau.|——J @ E—Beurré d’Aremberg. || — 
P F, Reigate—Minchall Crab. || nx 
Names or PnANTs— When plants are sent to be named, it is 
most particularly requested that they may be in flower, and 
as perfect as circumstances permit. Most especially is it 
requested that the country whence they have been received, 
and whether they are annuals, perennials, or shrubs, har T 
stove plants may be stated; because s] 
The prime Celery beds should be i diately co- 
vered, when frozen, with clean straw 6 inches thick, 
Let all other vegetables have due attention. Let all 
manure be wheeled out, and proceed with pruning, 
nailing, &c., as advised in the commencement of this 
day's Calendar. 
COTTAGERS' GARDENS. 
The cottager must keep an eye on the Ice King, 
more especially as to his Potato pit. If a good breadth 
of the Green Kale was planted in due time, as recom- 
mended, he will perceive the great value of this hardy 
green. The heads may be cut now successively, If 
he has Savoys in heart, they had better be used first, 
as frost may destroy them; the same ‘may be said of 
White-hearted Cabbage or Coleworts. 
FORESTING. 
This settled frosty weather will afford excellent op- 
portunities for thinning plantations, and felling timber 
trees, excepting the Oak. It will be well to lose no 
time, especially where much planting has to be done. 
State of the Weather near London, for the week ending Dec. 17, 1946, as 
ol en, Chiswick | 
servedat the 
KITCHEN GARDEN FORCING, 
Early Vines, Peaches, &c.—Where forcing has com- | § 
menced, and the roots are outside, every attention 
should be given to the borders. I must presume, in 
the first place, that frost has never been allowed to | 
enter. The next thing is to get a fermentation in the | 
covering material of the border— 80? or 909, if possible. 
Frid. 
g 
Dec. Rain 
at. 
Any kind of covering, such as tarpaulin, to throw off the | Dec. 11—Frosty: slight snow; clear and 
rains and snows, would be invaluable, and would confine 
the powers of the fermenting matter. If room to spare in 
these structures, now is a good time to pot some Kidney 
Beans. The Fulmar's Dwarf is a very good early kind. 
Some early Ash-leaved Kidney Potatoes should be| 
14—Severe frost; clear; 
15—Severe frost; densely and uniformly overcast; frosty, with brisk 
Ind in the night 
16—Frosty ; clear and cı ld; fro-ty 
17—Densely overcast; fine, wish bright sun; frosty 
ean temperature of the week 15 deg. bolow the average, 
mens by post are generall, and incomplete, and much 
yaluable time, which such information would save, is need- 
lessly wasted.—— S Warnford—Thorea will be found at p. 22, 
and Hormospora at p. f the “ Vegetable Kingdom. 
The book was Koch’s ** Synopsis Flora Germanic.” 1 
PrAwTING— Constant R—Your inquiry was answered in a 
Leading Article last week. - » 
RaATs—Su^—We can say no more than we have said. With us 
it answered perfectly. You should consult the vendor. — 
RHODODENDRONS —X Y— Azaleoides, Catawbiense, Ferrugi- 
neum, Ponticum (dark var.), Maximum album, Nobleanum, 
Smithianum, Pictum. 
Misc—A Constant R—Labradour? We never before heard of 
such a vegetable. Your description reads like that of the 
Arracacha, the nature of which was explained some months 
Since,-——4 B—Plant Fig trees now, or as soon as frost has 
gone, or any time in winter, matting them up well to secure 
them from frost. If they are in pots plant them in 
ay. — 
——N 8 H—Cedars 
Mount Lebanon unless som 
mission; and then it is doubtful whether he would succeed. 
November is themonth totry the experiment in. 
at done, the chances 
0 to 1 against your receiving anything more satisfactory 
than a case full of dead wood, and a bill of freightto pay.—— 
LM N—YFor the price of superphosphate of lime see Mr. 
Lawes’ advertisement in another column,t—— Clericus —Y our 
ce by cuttings 
e 
other column, will possibly süit your purpose. The Nos. 
»* Asusual,many communications have been received too late, 
andothers i ly detained till ssary inquiries 
can be made, We must also beg for the indulgence of those 
correspondents, the insertion ef whose contributions is still 
a; 
