1843.] 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
231 
Block, Esq., a collection of plants, amongst which were well- 
grown specimens of Polygala oppositifolia, Leschenaultia for- 
cosa, Bossizea ensata, and the double purple Azdlea : acertificate 
awarded for the three latter. From Mr. Low, of Clapton, small 
plants of a species of Pultenzea, with dense heads of dark yellow 
and reddish-brown flowers, anda pretty species of Bossiwa, both 
raised from Swan River seed; a seedling Epacris, raised from 
seed of E. grandiflora, which it resembles in habit, but not in 
the form or colour ot wers; and a beautiful seedling Ca- 
mellia of adark carmine colour, with finely-formed back petals, 
a Banksian medal awarded for 
the two former plants. From C. B. Wi 
‘white and purple flowers ; and 
medal awarded for the Dendrébium. Mr. C 
ral seedling Azaleas, of a dark salmon colour, with well-bloomed 
plants of Pelargénium Lanei. From Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridge- 
worth, were a beautiful coilection of cut Rose-blooms, particu- 
larly of Pactolus, a yellow tea-scented variety ; Madame Bureau, 
@ white China, with salmon-coloured centre ; and Duc d’Aumale, 
crimson Bourbon, finely cupped: a certificate awarded. From 
Messrs. Lane, of Berkhampstead, a well-grown collection of 
Roses in pots, comprising Eugéne Beauharnois, an exquisitely- 
formed China Rose, of a deep crimson colour; Armosa, & flesh- 
coloured Bourbon ; Duchess of Sutherland, Comte de Paris, and 
Madame Laffay, hybrid perpetuals ; Messrs. Lane also exhibited 
very handsome collection of cut Roses, for which a certificate 
with a singular and rather handsome i 
Cineraria, showing a disposition to quill, by the purple rays of 
the flower being drawn together at some distance from their 
bases, and thus forming a tube having a silvery appearance: for 
this a certificate was also awarded. Mr. J. Thomson, of Ham- 
mersmith, sent several pretty seedling Cinerarias, From Lady 
Rendlesham were some handsome and well-flayoured Oranges, 
wn in a greenhouse. r, C. Ewing, gr. to O. F. Meyrick, 
Esq., of Anglesea, some fine forced Cherries, but not quite ripe ; 
for which a certificate was awarded. From Mr. 8. Hooker, spe- 
were a collection of Orchidaceous and other plants, comprising & 
imen of Dendrébium Heynean 
very lately received from the West coast of India, with delicate 
white flowers, having a lemon centre; the beautiful Oncidium 
Mridum guttatum, several species of Epidendrum, a fine speci- 
men of Cyrtopédium punctatum ; a new species of Spirea, called 
lanceolata, from Japan, with corymbs of pretty white flowers, 
bearing considerable resemblance to those of S, chameedrifélia ; 
Acacia alata, blooming profusely ; Saxifraga ciliosa, and a blue 
Cineraria, called Unique. 
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 
March 29.—T. R. Barker, Esq., in the chair, The Hon. Col. 
mnant was elected a Governor, and 25 gentlemen 
tages attending the use of the Concrete Furrow Draining of Lord 
ay, Mr. Baker transmitted a collection of facts, illustrated by 
coloured plans, relative to the capabilities and cultivation of the 
soil upon the Small Allotment System in Rutlandshire. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Tests for Doctored Clover Seed.—For Coloured Red 
Clover Seed.—Fill an ounce phial one-third full with the 
suspected seed, and fill it up with muriatic acid diluted 
with two parts of rain-water. If, after standing three or 
four hours (being frequently well shaken), the liquor be 
coloured green, or greenish yellow, the seed is doctored 5 
or, provided the seed be clean and free from dust, and the 
acid is made cloudy or opaque, it is doctored. The acid, 
when applied to genuine seed in the same manner, will 
remain perfectly transparent 5 therefore, if the acid is not 
clear the seed is doctored, although no colour may appear, 
as described. For Coloured Trefoil and White Clover 
Seed.—Fill an ounce phial one-third with the suspected 
seed, and add spirit of sal ammoniac until it be two 
thirds full; cork and shake the phial, and let it stand a 
few seconds, not exceeding half a minute, for if it stands 
longer the genuine seed will colour the liquid. If the 
liquid be coloured either yellow or yellowish green, the 
seed has either been dyed, or its natural colour has been 
brought to the surface by some artifice. Jor Bleached 
Red Clover, White Clover, and Trefoil.—Take a four 
ounce bottle one-third full of the suspected seed, fill it up 
with boiling water, frequently shake it, and when it is 
cold, if the liquid change the blue colour either of litmus 
Paper, or of the leaf of a cabbage red, the seed is 
doctored. N.B.—You may obtain the spirit of sal ammo- 
niac, the muriatic acid, and the litmus paper, at a trifling 
cost of any chemist or druggist, and the cabbage-leaf used 
must be that of the red cabbage.—Mark Lane Express. 
Directions for Planting Melons.—(Extracted from a 
Letter written by Robert Godschall to the Hon. Alex. 
Stanhope, then British Minister at Madrid, dated Sevila, 
Feb, 13, 1691.)—‘‘ Put the seeds 6 or 8 hours into luke- 
Warm water, and after into a blanket, and let them lie 
about 24 hours in the sun wrapped in the blanket ; in 
which time they open, and seem to sprout at one end. 
They plant 3 or 5 together in one hole ; and when they 
grow up, with an instrument of iron they rake towards 
the root every day, so as that the earth lies loose about 
them like the earth of a molehill.’’? 
Prof.’ Henslow’s Letters.—We are glad to find that 
these useful Letters, addressed to the farmers of Suffolk, 
are now to be published in a separate form, as we learn 
from the following paragraph in the Bury Post :— 
More than one person has expressed to mea desire 
that I would myself republish and edit my Letters to you, 
Under the form of a pamphlet. The following considera- 
mone have determined me to do so. Although I believe I 
‘ave not allowed the interest I have felt in this corres- 
fee very materially to trespass upon my attention, 
at the exclusion of any of the more important duties 
tached to my position as a parish priest, yet it is evident 
Ses of thought, time, or money, I have allotted 
b is subject during the past three months, might have 
d to m 
accrue from the republication of these letters. I have, 
therefore, no very delicate scruples about requesting any 
of you to promote their circulation, if you think them cal- 
culated to excite the farmers of other counties to co- 
operate, after the example of the farmers of Suffolk. 
see no reason why we should not have aé least 100 dis- 
tinct experiments performed every year ; and each carried 
on by between 30 and 50 practical men, whilst each man 
need not be called upon for more than a single experiment 
annually. I propose inserting in this pamphlet my Ad- 
dregs to the Hadleigh Club, and to add a few explanatory 
notes, or some sort of commentary and glossary, which 
may give them a more general character, and enable them 
to serve as a precursor for inducing the farmers of other 
counties to listen to any future suggestions which may 
possibly (and will probably) be made to them, for organ- 
ising a complete system of experimental co-operation 
throughout England. 
Weight of Manures.—We have been favoured by Mr. 
Fothergill, the extensive dealer in artificial manures, with 
the following statement of the weight per bushel of those 
inds most in use :— 
per bushel—lbs. Ibs. per bushel—lbs. lbs. 
Agricultural salt. . 75 to 80| Nitrate of soda. ee 80. 
Alexander’s compost 65 Petre salt . 
_ 
Bone-dust . e . 42 ,, 44] Rape-dust. 7 + 56 
Clarke’s dessicated com- Saltpetre . + + 80 
post a . * » 65 : * + 60 
Daniell’s Bristol ma- Sulphate of ammonia 70 
nure. . + 50 a soda . 60 to 65 
Guano, foreign . 65 Trimmer’s composts 
— Potter's « 65 for Clover, Wheat, 
Gypsum . Ge + 80 ,, 84 and Turnips, each 
Hunt’s new fertilizer 65 
respectively . +60 55 65 
Muriateof ammonia 65 ,, 70 rate . 50 
— lime . Sane aniba ion 
Dahlias.—At the request of several correspondents we 
publish a list of Dablias which have been the most suc- 
cessful during the past season. From the imperfect man- 
ner in which many of the Country Shows are reported, it 
is impossible to give a correct return, but the present will 
be found sufficient to answer the purpose. 
Times shown. 
Times shown. 
Pickwick .  .  . ~~. +108|Conservative . . . 4 
President of the West . 104 | Ansell’s Unique 4 43 
Phenomenon : . 98 | Eclipse (Catleugh’s) . 46 
i . . 4 . 76} Queen (Widnall’s) . . 34 
Lewisham Rival * . 68 | Dowager Lady Cooper . 30 
Beauty of the Plain « . 68 | Pamplin’s Bloomsbury, . 30 
id of Bath . . . 66| Suffolk Hero. 5 so 
Grace Darling « . . 62] Nicholas Nickleby . +. 98 
Bridesmaid : . 60|Egyptian Prince . . 27 
Rouge et Noire . . 60| Fanny Keynes . . Sipe) 
Duchess of Richmond . 60 | Eclipse (Widnall’s) . phe tid 
Lee’s Bloomsbury . . 60 i fled crit 
Le Grand Bedouin . . 58] Rival Sussex . . char 
Argo - can as - 56/Tournament - eae eS. 
Cox’s Defiance. . —._—*5 | Rienzi coy yatta aaer ea e 
Dodd's Prince of Wales (1842) 54 | Conductor . ‘ ate 
Burnham - 48 i : . ce 
Hope . “ : " . 50 | Scarlet Defiance . <rep-ape :) 
Indispensable . SL AS | Tournament (Catleugh’s) 15 
Hudson’s Princess Royal | Conqueror of the World. 17 
(1842) 5 we. 44 | Constancy Cee Pagane! 8 
Springfield Rival 5 . 46) Amato . . . ita 
Andrew Hofer . ~ . 48 {Countess of Pembroke . 15 
i eee 
1 + 4 4 44 | Bedford Surprise 
Admirable : . - 36 
North-West America.—We are glad to announce that 
Sir William Hooker has arranged for a Collector to go 
to North-West America and, California. He starts in 
June, vid Hudson’s Bay, and on reaching the Rocky 
Mountains, next spring, will strike due south into Cali- 
fornia, and reach the coast at San Francisco. ; 
Evergreen Beech.—This beautiful tree, the gloria et 
decus of the most southern regions of South America, has- 
reached England alive, and now exists in the Royal Bo- 
tanic Garden, Kew, whither it has been sent by Dr. Jo- 
seph Hooker from Tierra del Fuego. it should prove 
hardy, it will be an invaluable acquisition. 
GARDEN MEMORANDA. 
S. Rucker, Esg., West Hill, Wand: h, —It is questi 
whether, even in their native climates, Orchidaceous plants pre- 
sent @ more luxuriant or gorgeous appearance than at this place. 
Many of the specimens are of gigantic size; Acanthopbippium 
bicolor, Perisiéria elata, and Phaius grandifdlius, being grown 
each side, about 4 ft. from the ground, is a stone shelf for the re 
ception of pots containing Strawberries, Roses, &c. Beneath the 
shelves are beds for Mushrooms, Seakale, Rhubarb, Salading, 
Rebieos. 
Trials and Effects of Chemical Fertilizers, with various 
Experiments in Agriculture, &c. By Sir J. Murray, 
M.D. Part I. Curry. 8vo. 
Wr are told on the title-page of this pamphlet, that it 
contains an account of experiments in Agriculture for 
rerating soils and composts, increasing the food of plants, 
improving irrigation, and abating the ravages of insects. 
What erating soils may be, we have been unable to dis- 
cover, unless it is Irish for aérating; and as to experi- 
ments, we are equally unable to find any that deserve the 
name. It is true that there is a certain number of state- 
ments, to the effect, that where Sir James Murray’s fer- 
tilizers, which it is the object of the pamphlet to recom- 
mend, have been tried, they have produced stronger crops, 
and better crops, and more luxuriant crops ; but they are 
all too vague and destitute of distinct results to be worthy 
the name of experiments. If we turn to another place to 
ascertain what the fertilizers are, about which the pam- 
phlet is written, we are equally perplexed. We only learn 
that they consist of ‘ soluble superphosphate of lime, with 
ammonia and silex, combined with several chemicals ;”” 
but what these chemicals are, the book does not tell. This 
however, is plainly announced, that Sir James Maurray’s 
patent fertilizers are to_be sold in barrels, one red and 
acid, the other dark and alkaline. What their value may 
be remains to be ascertained. They may be good mate- 
rials, in spite of the bad shape in which they are an- 
nounced, just as the pamphlet itself contains some state- 
ments worth attention, notwithstanding that it has far too 
much the appearance of the puffs circulated by vendors of 
quack medicines. We shall be glad to have the oppor- 
tunity of announcing the results of some authentic trials 
with these substances, which have at all events the merit 
of cheapness, so that no great cost will be incurred in 
trying them. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS for the ensuing week. 
I.—KITCHEN-GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 
In-door Department. 
Prnery.—Increase the quantity of water to the fruiting plants, 
and let it be good liquid manure every other watering while the 
fruit is swelling. A brisk heat of not less than 65° in the morn- 
ing, a humid atmosphere, and a steady bottom-heat, will also 
greatly assist the swelling of the fruit. If the bottom-heat for 
the succession-plants is steady, the commonroutine of watering, 
shading, and giving air is all that will be necessary for some 
which they now promise to do quic! ly. 
ing will suit the Vines, and also the generality of G 
plants while they are making their young grov t 
PEACH-HOUSE AND CHERRIES.— Every thing here is now so far 
forward, that they may both be classed togethi r. Air, moisture, 
and attention to the temperature are all that is necessary, unless 
insects have made their appearance. 
Figs.—A moist atmosphere, plenty of light, a good supply of 
liquid manure, and atemperature of about 6( Cin the morning, 
diti ‘which well suit forced Figs till the fruit begins to 
in 2-sized pots, together with Maxilldria H whose 
beautiful and fragrant wax-like flowers, freely produced, are 
partially concealed by its shining, deep green leaves. Dendré- 
bium fimbriatum, grown amidst broken pieces of peat and pot- 
sherds, forms quite a mass of brilliant orange, the labellum of 
each blossom being surrounded with the most delicate fringe ; 
vated in a small basket of 
atum, with light yellow flowers, 
singular Mormodes atropurptireum, the small variety of Oncidium 
ampliatum, Dendrobium macrophyllum, with racemes of violet 
purple ; the pretty Oncidium pubes ; Epidendrum pictum, with 
eight spikes, each 8 or 9 ft. long, and covered almost from the 
pase to the summit with yellow and olive-green flowers; the 
t-scente pi i and many others. 
Several species of Aérides and Saccolabium, cultivated in baskets 
ein a most vigorous state, throwing out roots 
‘We noticed here a thriving plant of Nepenthes 
ampullacea, with broader and shorter pitchers, and of a lighter 
when it was removed to a col 
turned to the stove, and is now a handsome bushy plant, produc- 
ing its beautifully-vari flowers in abundance n th 
hi area fine plant of Caméllia reticulata, and several 
een otherwise devoted in some wa! 
pari 2 oO y 
tish. It seems to me, then, that I may possibly be able 
eae some amende for such deficiencies by appropri. 
ng to some parochial utility or other, whatever may 
Brey varieties, with numerous Heaths and Epacrises in bloom. 
Aconvenient, low, span-roofed house, divided by a partition into 
two compartments, has lately heen erected, principally for the 
purpose of early forcing. A walk runs along the centre, and on 
ood season for ea 
Gardeners who are fortunate enough to have hot water instead 
of fermenting manure for early forcing. These plants will grow 
more luxuriant with hot water, and require less sun than if grow 
with dung or tan. Melons will also set their fruit more easily in 
dull weather by the hot-water treatment. can answer 
better than Mr. Weeks’s system of bottom-heat for these plants. 
Any one can grow Cucumbers from this time with little trouble 
who can command bottom-heat; but Melons require strict at- 
tention for some time yet. Do not Jet them set fruit until the 
plants have fia Fe Bes ew rege 
oo vGs.—Forwart _ r by * 
pene ae pialesy and all others in slight hotbeds, as they seve- 
Eee be sown SE 
c y now be ¢ 
een aepaane of long Cucumbers for early forciug, but real 
good sorts for pickling are very scarce and difficult ob. 
The frames in which early Carrots, Radishes, &c, 
were sown may now be rem fe 
hoops placed over the beds ready to have mats thrown over them 
main off while the nights are mild. April has come in with pro- 
mising smiles, and if we get a cold day now and then, things are 
in a fit state to bear it. 
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and moreover, if there is an appearance of 
borders shonld now have a top-dressing of rich, but n 
liquid manure. It is too early yet to apply liquids to any mas: 
of rich earth like a Vine-border. If yo! Ve ac to pigeon 
dung it will pay best on the Vine-borders and Asparagus-beds at 
