1843,] 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 
609 
‘under water for days or weeks, during a very wet winter. 
This occurs in Mr. Sheppard’s market-grounds at Dept- 
ford, where they grow in the wildest luxuriance, and pro- 
duce most prolific crops ; the plants are renewed annually, 
and judging from these results I have hitherto deemed a 
moist bottom to be essential for this variety of my favourite 
fruit.—M. . 
Hydraulic Cement.—I have a water-work that costs me 
yearly a large sum. The course is made of ridge tile and 
brick,—the sides are worked with Roman cement; the 
Roman cement will not standf the frost ;—what I wish is 
that some of your correspondents would inform me if I 
could use any other cement for the purpose ;—whether 
the asphalte would answer?—J. B. H. 
Rust on Grapes.—Having the thinning of Grapes in a 
Jate Vinery, and having frequently seen it mentioned in 
the Chronicle that allowing the hair of the head to come 
in contact with the berries, and unskilful handling in 
thinning, would cause rust, I beg to say I purposely 
caused several bunches to come in contact with my hair, 
and likewise carelessly handled them during the operation 
of thinning, on all of which there is nota single berry 
showing symptoms of rust; while on the surrounding 
bunches, some of the berries are almost totally covered 
with it; and I should mention that they are now about to 
change their colour.—C. 2. 
Rendle’s Tank System.—I am sorry that my letter on 
this subject should have been considered by Mr, Rendle 
as nothing more than an attempt to throw cold water on 
his plan of heating; if such were the tendency of my 
remarks, I most earnestly wish those of your readers who 
have not read Mr. R.’s treatise to understand that those 
remarks were made on the instruction given in that 
treatise, and not on what the author now offers, which is 
entirely supplementary to it. The suggestion, however, 
at p. 572 of the Chronicle, I consider excellent. And if 
by diverting the current of water in its course from the 
flow-pipe into other pipes the circulation in the tank is 
not arrested, I am convinced that a great deal is done 
towards rendering the plan useful in Pine culture. But 
there is one thing which should not be overlooked, 
namely, it does not admit of the pipes being fixed one 
inch higher in the house than the tank, be that where it 
‘may. Whether that is a disadvantage as compared with 
other tank systems which do, I leave other persons to 
determine. Respecting the saving of expense that would 
be effected by the adoption of this plan, I am willing to 
defer to Mr. R.’s opinion, but I cannot see so clearly as he 
seems to do, that the saving of fire is attributable to the use 
of a large body of water ; because whether the quantity of 
water is great or small, it merely transmits the heat given 
off inthe combustion of the fuel to the air in the house. 
As this air is constantly being cooled, a continual demand of 
heat is made on the radiating surface to maintain the 
desied degree of temperature. Now, through whatever 
medum this heat may be imparted to the house, the 
quaitity of fuel necessary to produce it will always be 
prety much the same. If a large body of water yields 
twie as much heat as a smaller quantity, it is because it 
hasfirst received twice as much as the other. My opinion 
is, hat the most economical qualities of a heating appa- 
rats consist in its having as much surface of boiler 
prsented to the fire as possible, and the most effectual 
prvention of loss of heat through flues, &c.; and in its 
haing an equal distribution of heat throughout the house, 
byneans of a quick circulation of water, whether through 
Pies, gutters, or tanks + these advantages once secured, 
th cuestion as to quantity of water Iregard as one of cd 
yeince rather than one of expense. Mr. Rendle tells us 
thstit is his ‘‘ opinion that as soon as it (his plan of 
heatig) gets properly understood, it will be universall 
adoied,’”” which implies that it is not properly fan. 
stoc ;—in that I quite agree with him, and would 
go step farther by giving my opinion, that no other 
plaiof heating is properly understood ; and the reason 
is, 2 don’t properly understand what it is that we want ; 
in ct, we are only just beginning to learn. Some 
welvritten letters which have recently appeared in the 
Gdeners’ Chronicle on out-door watering, tell us in 
lanage not to be misunderstood that we are very far 
froknowing in what state the elements are most con- 
geil to the growth of plants in our own climate, and it 
wed be strange indeed if our knowledge of every other 
clite from which we bring plants was more accurate. 
N, although the subtilty of the working of nature may 
foiver elude the sagacity of human research, yet it ismy 
huble opinion that the only unerring rule by which we 
catdapt places to plants, is to be deduced from a greater 
Knyledge than we already possess of the laws which adapt 
pls to places. When we can duly appreciate the neces- 
sitof subjecting a plant, at certain periods of its exist- 
en, to a series of changes in the surrounding élements, 
sillar to what the Almighty Creator had determined its 
tal vicissitudes to effect, in order to its perfect deve- 
Iment; I say, when we can do this, it will be with more 
ce than we have ever yet evinced that we shall make 
Clee of a heating apparatus. And, considering the faci 
lis which practical men now enjoy for making known to 
€& other their ideas, and receiving every species of 
Stntific information relative to Horticulture, I regard no 
Iger the idea as Utopian that the opinions of gardeners, 
wich have too long been treated with derision, will not 
oly ke heard, but that they will become the inventors of 
evrything necessary for carrying on theit own operations, 
—W. Sherwood. 
Tak System of Heating.—I have put up a small 
bojer (Rogers’) with a wooden tank, under a Melon pit, 
asan xperiment. The result is so entirely satisfactory 
th, “intend to apply it to all the houses. I never saw 
say that I added an open gutter, fixed.along the front of 
the pit, which I think an improvement.—7’, P. 
* dAromatics.—Under this word, in the'Gardeners’ Chro- 
nicle of 12th Aug., 1843, p. 559, middle column, is this 
passage :—‘ The approach to Ceylon can be determined 
by the fragrance of the air, at the distance of many miles.” 
If this has been given by one who has actually perceived 
the fragrance of Ceylon at the distance of many miles, the 
writer of this note has nothing farther to say. But if it 
be little else than what may have been heard or read; I 
must take the liberty of doubting the statement. I have 
several times approached Ceylon, and anchored near the 
island ;'and having read and heard similar statements, was 
on the alert to sniff the said fragrance,—but none could 
be perceived:, Many of my shipmates had also heard the 
like ; but néither then nor on earlier occasions, found any 
poetry— 
“ Many a league, 
Cheered with the grateful smell, old Ocean smiles—” 
the same. And again, as to the ‘“ spicy shores of Araby 
the Blest,”’ or unblest, it may be set down to the like 
account—mere poetry. Arabia produces no spice. ‘‘ The 
perfumes of Arabia ’’ is a common housebold phrase, and 
as erroneous as common. Scores of quotations, poetica 
and prosaic, might be given in addition to Pope’s— 
“ And all Arabia breathes from yonder box.’’ 
But this may suffice — Oriental. 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT CORK. 
We are indebted to the columns of the “ Atheneum” for the 
following reports of such part of the proceedings of the Associa- 
tion as relate to Botany or Vegetable Physiology. The most re- 
markable circumstance is the re-discovery of the very rare Spiran- 
thus gemmipara, concerning whose supposed identity with S. 
Romanzoviana we hope now to have some means of deciding. 
On the Influence of Light on the Growth of Plants, by Mr. R. 
Hunt.—The peculiar influence exerted upon the germination of 
seeds and the growth of the young plants by coloured light, has 
een for some years the subject of the author’s investigations, 
The results show the surprising powers exerted by the more 
us rays in preventing germination, and in destroying the 
healthful vigour of theyoung plant. Plants, when made to grow 
under the infiuence of the red rays, bend from the light as some- 
thing to be avoided ; while the blue or chemical rays are effica- 
cious in quickening the growth of plants. Since the publication 
of the last Report, the author has tried plants of a great variety 
of kinds, and the same effects have been produced. It has, how- 
ever, been found, that although blue light accelerates germina- 
tion, and gives a healthful vigour to the young plant, its stimu- 
lating influences are too great to ensure a perfect growth. e 
strength of the plant appears to be expended in the production of 
beautiful deep gree: 
= 
J plants possessed of sending out shoots of a 
great length in search of that light which is essential to their 
€ first flowers.—Prof. E. 
stated that the absence of petals was a permanent tute orachie 
of the species of the Violet. 
On the Decomposition of Carbonie Acid Gas, and the Alkaline 
Carbonates, by the light of the Sun. By Prof. Draper, New York. 
—The decomposition of carbonic acid gas, by the leaves of plants 
under the influence of the light of the sun, is one of the most 
remarkable facts in chemistry, Dr, Daubeny, in a very able paper 
in the Transactions of the Royal Society for 1836, came to the 
conclusion that the decomposition in question was due to the 
rays of LIGHT, a result obtained by the agency of coloured glasses, 
but which does not appear to have been accepted by later authors, 
who have attributed it to the chemical rays. There is but one 
way by which the question can be finally settled, and that is by 
conducting the experiment in the prismatic spectrum itself. 
When we consider the feebleness of effect which takes place, by 
reason of the dispersion of the incident beam through the action 
of the prism, and the great loss of light through reflection from 
its surface, it would appear a difficult operation to effect th 
determination in this way. Encouraged, however, by the purity 
oe the skies in America, I made the trial, and met with complete 
uccess. 
them. 
extra-spectral red space, would, at the close of the experiment, 
contain most gas. If it were the ‘chemical rays,” in the common 
acceptation of the term, we might look for the effect in the blue, 
violet, or indigo spaces; but if it were the :1aH7, the gas should 
make its appearance in the yellow, with some in the green, and 
some in the orange. Imade the trial several times, and found it 
much more easy to accomplish than I had expected. The results 
were briefly as follows :—In the tube that was in the red space @ 
minute bubble was sometimes found, but sometimes none at all. 
That in the orange contained a more considerable quantity ; in 
the yellow ray a very large amount, comparatively speaking; in 
e green a much smaller quantity ; in the blue, the indigo, the 
violet, and the extra-spectral space at that end, not a solitary 
bubble. From these fi i 
posing and yielding oxygen gas. In like manner the sesqui-car- 
f ammonia ma: i 
which announced results so different from our received ideas on 
this subject, it being generally agreed that the chemical rays 
active in producing the decomposition of the 
crop of Melons, or plants so healthy. I should 
listened with great surprise to Dr. Draper’s paper, as, from his 
own experiments with coloured glasses and transparent media, 
carefully analyzed so as to determine what rays were absorbed 
liarities which had been observed in the light of southern climes, 
to which he was at present inclined to attribute this difference in 
the result of experiments. 
Sawifrages.—Mr, Mackay exhibited specimens of the Irish 
He called attention to the species resembling the 
London Pride (Saxifraga umbrosa), and with the specimens of 
the species he also exhibited several varieties of S. geum, S. 
hirsuta, S. h. polita, &c,—Mr. Babington remarked, that Saxi- 
fraga was a difficult genustostudy. There were many specimens 
on the table, which, if they came from different countries, would 
be naturally described as species, but which, as they were all 
gathered in Ireland, he had no hesitation in calling varieties. It 
was no proofthat a plant was a species because it remained the 
same in cultivation for a great length of time, for many varieties 
did that. He had paid great attention to the Saxifrages, and of 
those belonging to the London Pride tribe, he believed that only 
umbrosa elegans, geum, and hirsuta, were species. The 
variety S. u. of Mr. Mackay, was not the London Pride of the 
English Gardens, which was identical with the London Pride of 
the Pyrenees. Prof. Forbes said, that the difference between 
botanists with regard to species end varieties, could only be 
reconciled by ascertaining from each writer an estimate of the 
value he attached to particular characters. For the want of this 
there was much confusion even in Botany, but the evil was much 
greater in Zoology. The vague manner in which the characters 
of animals were drawn up by British zoologists, was a constant 
cause of complaint among continental naturalists. 
Spiranthes gemmipara.—The Rev. W. Hincks called attention to 
two living specimens of the Neottia gemmipara o} i is 
very rare plant had been discovered by Mr. J. Drummond in @ 
salt marsh near Castleton Bearhaven, in the county of Cork, in 
1810, From an imperfect specimen, Sir J. S. Smith had de- 
scribed and figured it, and it had not been seen again till1841, when 
it was re-found by S Only one specimen was again 
obtained, and it was with difficulty identified with the original 
specimen in the Linnean Herbarium in London. Vood and 
Dr. Harvey had, during the past week, both gathered living 
specimens, which were now on the table. The original plant was 
not a Neottia, as had been supposed by Smith, but was now 
referred to Spiranthes. Mr, Babington stated, that he had care- 
fully examined the plant on the table, and believed that it was a 
genuine Spiranthes. It was a matter of great interest, as pro- 
Saxifrage: 
no record of its having been found any where but in the locality 
trom whence these specimens were brought. i 
that among some Californian plants received in London had been 
found what appeared to be a Spiranthes gemmipara [not Cali- 
fornian, but Unalaschkan]. 
Linaria Italica.— Dr. Allman exhibited specimens of a Linaria 
which he had gathered in Ireland. He believed it be a new 
species, and had described it at a meeting of the Royal Irish 
Academy. It had been supposed to be the Linaria Italica of 
Ti eviranus, which had also been found in England, but this plant 
differed in many respects from L. Italica, Mr. Babington thought 
the plant of Dr. Allman differed from the English L. Italica, 
Should this Linaria be a new species, it will probably be new to 
the European Flora. Dr. Allman stated, that Botanists in Lendon 
had pronounced his plant a hybrid, and Mr. Mackay concurred 
with this opinion. 
Trichomanes. speciosum.—Dr. Allman exhibited specimens of 
the very rare Trich omanes speciosum, and also of one discovered 
by Mr. Andrews of Dublin, which differed from it in many points, 
and which might probably turn out a new species. The principal 
features of difference that this Fern presented were, the posses- 
sion of bipinnate fronds, long bristles, and the triangular form of 
its fronds: in all these points it differed from T, speciosum. Mr. 
Mackay had cultivated the plant in question since Mr. Andrews 
discovered it, and it was his conviction that it was a new species. 
COUNTRY SHOWS. 
Bath Royal United Horticultural Society, August 19.—The fifth 
show for the season took place in the Horticultural Gardens, 
Victoria Park, It was distinguished as a Hollyhock Show; and 
was strikingly characterised as such by the introduction of @ 
marquee expressly contrived for the purpose, and erected at the 
expense of A. Lawrence, Esq., W ave a richly-chased silver 
goblet as a prize for the best cut Hollyhocks. The front entrance 
of the tent was rendered attractive by an external orbicular embel- 
lishment, surmounted by a gold eagle, alternated with Hollyhocks 
and wreathed Laurel, and bearing an inscription iD theinner circle 
indicative of the purpose of the tent. On the cur 
ae behind the stand, was fix Hol 
the principal competitors for the prize were 
Emerson, and Kitley. It was awanded to the first nam 
Among the exhibitors were H. Davis, E80 6m 
ct T OF PRizEs.—Florists’ Flowers, $¢- 
serymen :—Duhlias, 24 varieties, 1, Mr- Maule; 2 and 3, Mr. 
Walters, German Stocks, twenty-four, 1, Mr. Carpenter. 
hocks, twenty-four, 1, Mr. Kitley; 2 Mr. Salter. Roses, best collec- 
tion, 1, Mr. i. Tiley; 2, Mr. Wheeler. German Asters, thirty. 
six, in 12 varieties, 1, Mr. Waiters; 2, Mr. Wheeler 
or Biennials, best collection, 1, Mr. Cole: 2, 
tion of Cut Flowers, 1 t 
Collection of Cut Flowers, 1, Mr. Carpenter; 2, Mr. 
¢ [1.—Amateurs.— Dahlias, 18 varieties, 1, J. M. 
ias. Do., best twelve, 1, J. M. Yeeles, 
a 1. G. D, Fisher. German Asters, twenty-four blooms, 
Esq, ; 2, Mr. Grarieties, 1, Mr, Reed; 2, Mr. G. D, Fisher. Ger. 
K 
Yeeles, Esq.; 2, Mr. Nias. 
were the mos' 
carbonic acid absorbed by the plant,—Mr. Hunt said, that he had 
man Stocks, eighteen blooms, in 12 or more varieties, 1, J. M. 
Yeeles, Esq. Hollyhocks, twenty-four, 1, A 
2, T. Emerson, 
M. Yeeles, Esq 
2 Flowering Plunts in Po th ving 
state Class I.-Nurserymen.—Stove Plants, five, 1, Ma’ Deon. 
Greenhouse Piunts, nine, Mr. Salter.’ Do., six, 1 
Mr. Drummond, Baisams, eight, 1, Mr, Salter. | Cockscombay 1, 
Mr. Salter. Fuchsias, twelve, 1, Mr. Drummond; 2, Mr, Salter. 
Collection of Plants, 1, Mr. Salter er, Orna 
Basket of Plants, 1, Mr. Salter 
Amateurs.—Orchidee, three, 1,3. 
Stove Plants, tive, 1, J. Jarrett, Esq: 
Jarrett, Esq. Single Specimen, 
Do, 
namental basket of Plants, 1, Mr. Shaw. A. 
€ (a Silver Soited ‘for the best Eighteen 
Salter, Wax Flowers, Mrs. 
» Yeeles, Esq.’s Prize for the best Collection of Hardy 
Annuals and Biennials . ©) Paul. 
Lawrence, Esq. 
Hollyhocks, M 
Pri M 
e. J, 
black, three bunches, 1, Mr. Kitley; 25 
} »M.P. Do., white, 1, W+ Miles, Esq., M.P,; 2, Mr. 
Kitley; 3, Mr. Targett, Do., any sort, 1, Mx. Kitley, Melons, 
