hie eee peerstesiaiees, 2 
1843.] 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 
301 
cutting, and a moderate degree of bottom-heat after the 
callus is formed. 
After these remarks it is scarcely necessary to offer any 
on the propagation of the Rose; but I may observe, that, 
in the Rose nurseries, the plants are kept in a constant 
state of excitation, in a strong moist atmosphere, to which 
little or no air is admitted ; and the cuttings, when of the 
proper length and sufficientiy firm, are taken off and 
planted immediately in very small pots, and plunged in a 
congenial bottom-heat, in which they generally root in 
about three weeks. They are then transferred to 60-sized 
pots, and in a few weeks are ready for the market. This 
is the process of Rcse-manufacture in the trade; and by it, 
it is no uncommon thing to raise from 500 to 1,000 young 
plants from a single old one in the course of twelve months, 
—W. P. Ayres. 
HOME CORRESPONDENCE. 
Gold Fish.—In your last Number is an interesting 
cial Ponds and 
quished a hopeless search. 
men have it. It isnot at Kew—it is not now at High Clere, 
where it was; and though willing to pay a handsome sum 
fora plant, I cannot obtain one. 2dly.—Does not the 
stagnant water that for 4 or 5 years has been in the 
basin get putrid or discoloured? mine is quite brown at 
the end of the autumn with the fallen leaves, and I renew 
it every spring. Will the Gold Fish live in this water 
after it is saturated with vegetable substances that have 
been carried into it? 3dly.—Does the common white 
Nymphea, when put in a pot, get dwarfed in its growth ? 
otherwise, it being plunged only one foot in the water 
would not give room for the due expansion of its strong 
and elastic stems.—J. MM. ; 
Wasps.—I see in your last Paper, Mr. Beaton mentions 
that his men have brought him 45 female Wasps, the death 
of which will, of course, prevent 45 nests being made, 
But it strikes me that it is very doubtful whether any 
sensible diminution in the number of male Wasps in the 
autumn will be observed. The Wasp is a very strong, 
active, and powerful insect. Now, the hive-bee has been 
traced from 4 to 6 or 7 miles from his home, in quest of 
food; the London bees are seen at Hampstead and 
Hendon: if so, to argue from analogy, the Wasp would 
take as long or longer daily flight, and I can see no 
reason why Shrubland Gardens should not be visited by 
the Wasps from the grocers’ shops at Ipswich. How. 
ever, Mr. Beaton has a near neighbour, the Rev. Mr. 
Kirby, of Barbam, who could give him full and clear 
information on this head.—J. AZ. 
English and Seotch Farmers.—Your Stirling corre- 
spondent honours my letter with three objections only, 
from which I conclude he admits the correctness of the 
other portions. J find, however, that these objections are 
not directed to abything that I have said, but to little 
additions of his own, which he has neatly interwoven with 
He makes a giant and kills him. He says— 
respondent writes that, with the exception of 
the Lothians and the Carse of Gowrie, Wheat is not 
cuitivaled in any part of Scotland.’ These words in 
italies are not in my communication—they are the inter- 
polation of my Stirling friend. Hfe proceeds to say, I 
state, when noticing Turnip crops, ‘* That even in Scot- 
land last year there were many failures in consequence 
of heat and drought.” These italics are another interpo- 
lation; they are not in my letter. His third ‘and last 
objection is to the following remark, where again it will 
be found that the words in italics are not in my communi- 
cation, “ Your correspondent says the Scotch ploughs 
exhibited at Liverpool and Bristol were found wanting 
because of their weight, in consequence of which they 
required double the amount of horse-power to work them, 
and that the light English plough was preferred.” ‘Thus 
your Stirling correspondent professes to take the general 
tone of my argument, yet quietly introduces the obnoxious 
passages, that he may have the pleasure to refute them ; 
and these, his own passages alone, are what he has 
refuted. Is it not fair to say his logic is like the subject 
of our correspondence, founded on false premises, that 
lead to erroneous conclusions? In noticing the Wheat- 
growing districts, I ought certainly to have included the 
banks of the Forth; but I thought it unnecessary—the 
district is, as it were, but over the hedge from West 
Lothian. 1, however, adhere to my original statement— 
that farmers generally throughout Scotland, save in these 
favourite districts, have very much discontinued to cal- 
tivate Wheat. ‘he reason for doing so is stated in the 
following extract from the Dum, ies Courier of this 
week, which gives the particulars of the great agricultural 
meeting for the counties of Dumfries and Kirendbright, 
which was held on the previous week, where a farmer, 
addressing his brethren, makes these remarks ; and that 
they may have their weight on those unacquainted with 
ted that Dumfriesshire is, next 
to the Lothian, the C of Gowrie, and the not-to-be- 
forgotten banks of the Forth, one of the best-tilled and 
productive counties in Scotland. This farmer remarks— 
“During a series of years, the crops of Wheat and Barley 
have been so miserably bad as, in many instances, scarcely 
to be marketable :””— during some of these seasons, nearly 
as much Oatmeal was imported into Dumfriesshire a8 
the value of all the grain exported from the two counties fh 
—‘‘it may be asked, how were the rents paid under these 
Why, chiefly from the profits arising 
circumstances ? 
from breeding cattle, grazing, and turnip-feeding.”” So 
much for the great grain-growing counties of the South. 
But to my friend’s letter. Asit regards Turnips, I never 
said there were many failures of crop. My remarks were, 
that Turnips were ‘‘last summer as much injured by 
blight as usually they are in the south of England.” My 
observations of the crops of last year extended to Rox- 
| burghshire, Dumfries, Lanark, and Galloway, where 
the farmers anticipated a total waste of their bulbs, which 
were abundant, from the injury done by blight, until the 
rains came in October, when a new foliage sprung from 
the crowns, and the bulbs were saved. On the subject of 
ploughs, your correspondent insinuates that my state- 
ment may be an untruth. This is not gentlemanly, nor 
handsome from one who has interpolated my remarks and 
censured me on the ground of these additions. Butas I 
wish to stand fair with him I shall subjoin the particulars 
of the trials at Liverpool and Bristol*, only premising 
that in those trials, the weight of the Scotch plough was 
less than that of the English, but in draught required 
nearly twice the horse-power. The cause of this increased 
power your correspondent says I attribute to their extra 
weight, a remark notin my communication. The moment 
I saw that my letter was noticed, I had a vision of three 
or four horses drawing a plough. I knew they would be 
found somewhere in the reply, as it is a favourite subject 
of ridicule with Scotchmen ; yet this English practice is 
a good practice, and one that Scotchmen might farther 
err than in imitating. Your friend should know that in 
the fens of Cambridge and Lincoln, a great many heavy 
horses are bred ; these when young are sold to farmers in 
the midland and southern counties, where instead of eating 
the bread of idleness, as is the case with their brethren in 
Scotland, they are made to keep themselves by their 
labour during their minority. As this labour—were two 
only put to a plough—might injure these young creatures, 
three or four are attached, and thus they work until of 
proper age to be sold into the large towns for the cart 
and dray; the farmer having his work done whilst his 
(eam is improving in value, and ultimately sold at a con- 
siderable profit. The Scotch farmer, on the contrary, 
with his two matured horses, has his ploughing also done ; 
the team, however, annually depreciate in value, and 
whether by death or sale, end in a loss to him. This 
English practice, however, is often abused in a few coun- 
ties, where three or four mature horses are used ; but the 
farmers say their heavy clay soil needs them. In con- 
clusion I would remark, that I have not the most distant 
wish to detract from the character of Scotch farmers. I 
know them to be good ones. I would allow them to 
hold that station as agriculturists, where their merits place 
them, but not to have them carried over the heads of their 
English brethren by reason of extra merits that are not 
theirdue. Your correspondent’s mis afford an 
excellent elucidation of how this is usually done." 
he Pansy.—With other admirers of the Pansy, I have 
been a good deal puzzled as to which of the properties of 
this favourite flower are most important. All writers on 
the subject require, as the first property, that the Pansy 
should form a circle. This is simple enough ; but no one 
has at present insisted, in so many words, that each petal 
shall contribute its proper share to make up this perfect 
whole; and the consequence has been, that flowers having 
large upper and middle petals, and (comparatively) a very 
diminutive lower petal, have been adjudged worthy of 
prizes, merely because the general result was a tolerable 
circle. I contend, with many others, that this is im- 
proper, and that, in addition to roundness, it should be 
jaid down as an absolute rule that the eye should form 
the centre of the flower, which would prove that the 
petals were proportionate. Let any of your readers 
examine flowers having the eye in the centre, against the 
many top-heavy flowers which have been sent out at high 
prices, and I think they will allow the former to be 
jafinitely superior in beauty and effect. Passing from 
form to colour, another difficulty arises. All seem to be 
agreed that the ground-colour of the three lower petals 
should be the same, and that the marks, if any, on the 
two side petals should be uniform, But supposing the 
ground-colour of the three lower petals to be white or 
yellow, would a blotch on the eye of the lowest be a dis- 
Tam sure that, the Pansy season being 
now commenced, many of your readers would be glad to 
you, therefore, allow me to inquire, Ist. Whether the 
judges of Seedling Pansies are or are not justified in 
refusing prizes to all flowers which do not form perfect 
circles, and in which the eye does not form the centre of 
be? 2d. Whether a blotch on the lower petal alone, the 
two side petals having the same ground-colour as the 
Jower one, is or is not a disqualification ?—A Learner, 
Birmingham. 
Double Yellow Rose.—1 saw a very fine double yel- 
Jow Rose at the Forres Flower-show, last summer 
it was exhibited by Mr. Gregor, Nurseryman. In 1841, 
a plant first flowered at Holme, but very few buds ex- 
panded perfectly. A plant of it produced two fine blooms 
in Novar Gardens, Rosshire, in 1832; andat Invergordon 
Castle, in 1833, it produced about 69 blooms, of which 
*% 1 cannot lay my hand on the report of the Liverpool meeting, 
put find the trials at Bristol thus reported :—Howard’s plough 
(English), weighed 220 Ibs., and reqnired the power of 22 stone 
araw it, Wilkie’s plongh (Scotch), weighed but 125}bs., and 
the power of 44 stone to draw it. ‘ 
spondent’s information it may be stated, that the light lands of 
Scotland are much more easily ploughed than the heavy clay 
jands of England. For instance, it has been proved that a 
plough in sandy loam, which is the prevailing soil in Scotland, 
requires but a power of 17 stone for draught, whereas strong 
clay requires 47 stone, and clay loam 30, 
A Black Hare.—-Mr. Atkinson, of Lancaster, has in 
his possession a hare completely black. White and spot- 
ted hares are occasionally found, but this is the first black 
one which Ihave heard of. It has several peculiarities 
besides its colour: the head and general figure bear some 
resemblance to those of the feline race, and its ears are 
singularly situated. Its hair is short and shining, not un- 
like the fur of the cat. It was found lying dead on Lan 
caster Moor.—Facile. 
Bees.—\ think that ‘ W.”’ is mistaken in alleging that 
his Bees died by frequenting Dahlia flowers, for such are 
no favourites of the Honey-bee. Bees may at times enter 
single blooms, but seldom or never double ones; indeed, the 
latter, of all kinds of flowers having large petals, afford 
little nourishment for Bees. In autumn they shelter wild 
ones, but not enough to prevent their being benumbed with 
cold,—not ‘ intoxicated by feeding from the flowers of 
Dahlias,” as “ W.’? says his hive-bees were. This curious 
story brings to mind an assertion of Dr. Barton’s, that 
“« Some species of plants yield a poisonous syrup, of which 
Bees partake without injury, but which has been fatal to 
man.’ He enumerates some of those plants, namely, 
Laurel, Kalmia, wild Honeysuckle, &c. This seems very 
doubtful ; indeed it must be wrong, for Bees collect much 
honey from Laurel, if the common sort is meant; and 
boys know well that large Bummer Bees collect very good. 
honey from Honeysuckle.—J. Wighton.— {The story 
relates to the poisonous honey of Trebizond, which has 
been notorious since the days of Xenophon. The Laurel 
in question is the Rhododendron, and the Honeysuckle 
the Pontic Azalea. i‘ 
Roses.—In your report of the exhibition at the Horti- 
cultural Society’s Rooms, Regent-street, on the 18th inst, 
you mention a Perpetual Albert Rose as being exhibited 
by us; and as such name might mislead purchasers of 
Roses, we trust you will not think it too much trouble to 
give the Rose you speak so highly of its proper designa- 
tion, i.e. Hybrid China Prince Albert; in colour a 
delicate pink, and of a very fine and perfect shape.—H. 
cover more than 50 square yards of ground.—K. L. 
Wireworms.—I send you an account of destroying 
the Wireworm, which I have adopted for some years— 
my ground being full of them, so that I could neither 
grow Sweet Williams, Picotees, Bulbs, Lettuces, nor 
indeed any succulent plant, without their boring, running 
up, and eating the hearts out. Near these plants I now 
place half a Potato with the eyes cut out, to prevent its 
growing, and run a pointed stick through the middle of it 
and peg it into the ground, covering it over with about an 
inch of mould ; and in a day or two I have pulled out by 
the tails from 15 to 30 of them from one piece of Potato. 
—Adan. 
‘Ammocharis faleata.—Your correspondent, “ J. W. 
Rogers,’’ in the Chronicle of last week, states that all his 
efforts to flower Ammocharis falcata have failed; and as 
it flowers freely with me, I now give the treatment under 
which it expands its lovely blossoms. e bulb, while 
dormant, which is during winter, is kept in a cool green- 
house, in as dry and airy a place as possible, until it 
begins to show its leaves ; it is then potted in three parts 
good turfy loam, one part Jeaf-mould, and a little silver 
sand, and placed so as it may have the full benefit of the 
light. When the leaves have grown to about 12 inches 
in length, it is plunged in a strong bottom-heat, and 
allowed to remain till the flower-stem pushes clear of the 
leaves, which will be in about four or five weeks. It must 
then be gradually hardened off, and returned to the green- 
house, there to expand its blossoms, which consist of an 
umbel of from 20 to 30 flowers. After flowering, every 
care must be taken of the foliage, by exposing it to the 
full influence of the sun, and giving plenty of water. 
When it shows an inclination to rest, water must be 
altogether withheld.—John Brewster, 
Birds.—It may not be generally known that the nests 
of one of our smallest birds are sometimes occupied as 
winter habitations by perhaps one of the smallest of 
European quadrupeds, namely, the shrew-mouse (Sorex 
araneus) : they commonly take up their quarters in holes 
under banks and among mos but one during the past 
winter was determined to be a little more elevated than 
ordinary, and having found a wren’s nest in a thorn- 
hedge, took possession of it. It was curious enough to 
see the little animal sporting about its mossy habitation 
from time to time, and no doubt it would be com- 
fortable enough at night in its feather-bed.— Peter 
Mackenzie. 
Cotton Coverings for Frames.—1 have found the fol- 
lowing a g00 composition for rendering waterproof the 
calico or linen used to cover frames, shades, &c.; viz. 
ats 5 b s 1 80.3 Vizey 
three pints of old pale linseed oil, one ounce of sugar of 
lead, and four ounces of white resin, The sugar of lead 
must be ground with a small quantity of the oil, and added 
to the remainder, incorporated with the resin, by means 
of gentle heat. The composition is to be laid on by a 
brush after the calico is nailed to the frames; one coat 
annually is sufficient. It dries in a short time when ex. 
posed to the air, and excludes as little light and heat as 
anything except glass, and does not become mildewed.— 
Devoniensis. 
_ Gas-Lime,—The grass upon which I sowed the gas- 
lime has not recovered, nor is it likely to do so, although 
we have had fine rains for it. I have tried the lime as a 
