THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. % 
[JAN. 14, 
stract was given at p. 422 of the Chronicle of last year. 
The main point in which it differs from other methods is, 
that the hot water, instead of circulating round the house 
jn pipes or open gutters, is contained in the centre of the 
building in a wooden tank, upon the lid of which is a 
layer of bark or saw-dust, raised 3 or 4 feet above 
the floor, for the reception of pots of cuttings, plants, 
&c. This tank is divided lengthways by a partition in 
the centre, with the exception of about two inches, which 
are left open at one end to allow the water to circulate; 
its opposite extremity is connected with a small boiler by 
means of a pipe. The water upon becoming heated in 
the boiler flows through the pipe into the tank, and after 
passing round the latter returns to the boiler by another 
pipe; in this manner the circulation of the water is 
The tank in Mr. Beck’s house is about 11 inches deep; 
but he is satisfied that 6 or 8 inches in depth would be 
amply sufficient. Its lower part is formed of wood and 
the upper of slate, one portion of which is covered with 
tan for plunging in cuttings, &c; the remaining part is 
left bare, so that on sprinkling it with water a copious 
vapour is obtainable. The waste of water in the tank is 
trifling ; when, however, it requires to be replenished, it 
is easily effected by means of a small orifice left for that 
purpose in the slate covering. ¥ 
The boiler, by which this comparatively large body of 
water is heated, is of diminutive size, and, perhaps, we 
cannot give a better idea of it than by supposing one of 
Rogers’s to be divided crossways into two; the lower 
portion, hermetically closed, will then represent the boiler 
in question. As in Rogers’s, the fire is contained in 
the centre, and is supplied with fuel from the top. It 
stands upon a grating raised a few inches from the floor, 
and is surrounded at the distance of two or three inches 
by an iron case, from one side of which the smoke makes 
its escape through a small chimney. This outer case or 
covering is almost double the height of the boiler ; and 
the more effectually to prevent the radiation of heat from 
its sides, an iron cylinder slides down through the opening 
by which the fire is féd, and fits exactly within the top 
of the boiler. This answers the double purpose of con- 
taining a body of fuel, which settles down and supplies 
the fire during the night; and, when the lid is placed 
upon the outer case, of checking the draught of the 
fire, which is only continued through some small pas- 
sages cut in the sides of the cylinder. A small open- 
ing also communicates with the fire from the outside, 
through which the former can be stirred when necessary. 
In a boiler of this kind, many improvements could, 
doubtless, be suggested. Mr. Beck is of opinion that a 
great advantage would be derived by having the boiler, 
as in Rogers’s improved, in the form of a dome above the 
fire, and by having the latter fed on one side by means 
of a shelving hopper, covered in, and placed as nearly as 
convenient to the top of the apparatus. 
During the time in which this system has been in work- 
ing, the water has never been within many degrees of 
the boiling temperature, yet the thermometer within the 
house has seldom, on the coldest nights, fallen below 600 
or 65°. Its great advantages are, that the tank in which 
the water circulates, will, with such modifications as cir- 
cumstances may require, serve as a stage for plants, either 
in the centre or round the sides of a house, by which the 
expense of hot water-pipes will be dispensed with; and 
its extreme simplicity, which is such that any person 
situated at a distance from engineers might, with a little 
ingenuity and the assistance of a carpenter and black- 
smith, erect an apparatus of his own; since any boiler 
which would create a circulation of water would answer 
as well as the one above described, although it might 
not be equally economical. We may also state that the 
atmosphere of the house, in which this system is adopted, 
is remarkably pure. * 
———— 
VICAR OF WINKFIELD PEAR. 
Synonyms. Le Curé, Monsieur le Curé, Clion, Dumas. 
Tue following account will, it is presumed, clear up the 
confusion which has existed respecting this Pear, of which 
the accompanying is an outline from a specimen forwarded 
by the Rev. W. L. Rham. It was found growing wild in 
a wood by M. Clion, a French curate, and hence obtained 
the name of Monsieur le Curé, Subsequently, by French 
authors, it was erroneously made synonymous with the 
Saint Lezin, which it resembles only in external appear. 
ance ; the Saint Lezin being a firm-fieshed stewing pear, 
Trees under both names were obtained from France by the 
Horticultural Society ; the Saint Lezin was correct ; but 
that under the name of Monsieur le Curé proved false, 
being a small round pear. The difference between the 
two was in consequence not ascertained till 1832, when 
M. Vilmorin se With these, 
fruit from a tre 
i For this, the familiar appellation of Vicar of 
Wakefield has been sometimes substituted, Fruit very 
and-melting in all seasons, and rich in such as are 
Surable,- In\point of flavour it cannot compete with 
many autumn varieties ; but as it keeps till January, when 
there are few good sorts, it deserves cultivation on that 
“account. 
blong, or of a somewhat truncatea pyramidal form : 
BER ERE Soe in length, obliquely inserted ; flesh 
‘ t 
~ 
3] 
Sos} 
The trée grows very vigorously, and re- 
‘ely quires to be kept. thin of branches; it is hardy, and 
bears as a standard. The leaves are large, roundish, 
shortly acuminate. Flowers large with roundish petals, 
Robert Thompson. 
Skin smooth, pale citron-yellow, 
with small brown dots throughout, 
and occasionally a blush of brown- 
ish-red next the sun, 
Eye in an evenly-formed depression, 
open, with the segments of the calyx 
reflexed, almost reclining against the sides 
of the cavity, 
ae ee 
ON MANURING WITH GREEN CROPS.—No. V. 
(By Prorussor Cuartzes Sprencen. ‘Translated from 
the German.) 
(Continued from page 4.) 
5. Rape.—Rape may be used as a green manure on all 
soils which are strong enough; but on a poor soil it yields 
so little herbage as scarcely to be worth ploughing in. 
It is valuable because the seed is cheap, and it grows both 
late and early, and consequently feeds on the atmosphere, 
which costs nothing: its roots, moreover, penetrate to 
some depth, and bring substances out of the subsoil; its 
woody roots and stems will loosen heavy land. In the 
Elsass it is planted for green manure after early Peas and 
early Potatoes, even on very sandy soils, and is followed 
by Rye or Wheat, which then succeed exceedingly well. 
If, when sown after these two crops, it does not yield any 
great amount of herbage, it still, nevertheless, is better 
than nothing; to which must be added, that the soil, if 
left unsown, will uselessly lose its huamus—a circumstance 
of great importance in green manuring 3 because, even if 
grown immediately after other crops, it cannot be made 
use of either as fodder or dry : it still, if ploughed in, will 
give the soil a considerable quantity of carbon and 
nitrogen. If Rape is sown in autumn, it is left till the 
spring ; after which the field is planted with Peas, Pota- 
toes, &c. The amount of herbage and roots which an acre 
will yield, may be stated at 7,000 or 8,000|bs. ; but if left 
till it is in flower, it will yield twice as much. 
ras of green Rape consist of 
70-0 ,, water in a fluid form. [stances.) 
35 ,, nitrogen (contained in the organic sub- 
4°05, potassa. 
10 4, soda. 
£0" “5 lives 
0.4 5, magnesia, 
1°65, sulphuric acid. 
10 5, phosphoric acid. 
15 ,, chlorine, 
1400 carbon. [of iron, and manganese. 
73'0 hydrogen, oxygen, silica, alumina, oxide 
1000.0 Ibs. 
Tf, therefore, the acre yields 8,000lbs. of green leaves and 
roots, the furrow-slice will receive 281b, nitrogen, 32Ib. 
potassa, 131b. sulphuric acid, 8lb. phosphoric acid, 11201b. 
earlon, f&c., from which (especially from nitrogen and 
carbon) a good effect may be anticipated, In localities 
where wireworms occur, Rape is best sown with Oats, 
when 8 inches high, and between the rows, because the 
Rape will then grow in the shade of the Oats, and be 
better protected. If not too high it is rolled down before 
being ploughed in, otherwise it is mown and drawn into 
the furrow ; 10 to 15lb. seed are used per acre. 
6. Rye.—Professor Giabert, at Turin, some years 
since, recommended Rye for green manure. New things 
are mostly overrated—and so it was with Rye, some even 
believing that it would supersede manure altogether. But 
although Rye will not effect all which has been expected 
from it, still it possesses many good qualities as a green 
manure; it will succeed on very indifferent land, and is 
one of the earliest plants in spring. On the other hand, 
its roots do not reach deep, and consequently do not much 
enrich the furrow-slice, except with a little nitrogen and 
carbon; the seed, moreover, is expensive. The amount 
of manuring substances contained in green Rye will be 
equal to the ripe Rye, straw, and ripe grain taken together. 
It is, therefore, easy to calculate how much it will better 
the soil. A small quantity of potash, soda, sulphuric acid, 
and common salt must, however, be added, because Rye 
in ripening loses a portion of these substances. When 
Rye is used for green manure, choice should be made of 
fields which are quite clean, and where a good deal of Rye 
has been lost at the harvest; for in this case, if the Rye- 
stubble is lightly ploughed in immediately after harvest, 
less seed will berequired. After the Rye has been ploughed 
in, late Barley is planted, or the field may be manured 
and planted with Potatoes ; otherwise, the practice is the 
same as with other green plants ploughed in. 
7. Turnip-tops and tails,—These are used in some of 
the light soils of England (Norfolk) for green manure, 
after the parts above ground have been eaten during 
autumn and winter by sheep. Barley is sown afterwards; 
which, of course, will succeed the better if dung has also 
been used. But Turnips may as well be‘sown amongst 
the stubble of manured Rye, and then it may be succeeded 
by Barley or Oats. 1000 Ibs. of Turnips consist of 
900-0 lbs. of water in a fluid state. 
24, nitrogen. 
0°84, potash, 
10 = ,, soda. 
1S gy SINGS 
0°34, magnesia. 
0-4 4, sulphuric acid. 
0°8 ,, _ phosphoric acid. 
03 4, chlorine. 
50:0 ,, carbon. 
42:9 ,, hydrogen, oxygen, alumina, silica, oxide 
[of manganese and iron, 
1000-0 lbs, 
If, therefore, 10,000 Ibs. of the tops and tails of Turnips 
are left on one Magdeburg acre of land, the soil will receive 
22 lbs. of nitrogen, 500 lbs. of carbon, &c. To this are to 
be added the excrements of the sheep, which are at least 
worth a quarter as much as the Turnips, 
In the Palatinate and the Elsass the leaves of White 
Turnips are used as manure, being a very indifferent food. 
After the harvest they are’ scattered over the field and 
ploughed in, like the leaves of Mangel Wurzel. 
(To be continued.) 
CULTURE OF CELERY IN BEDS, AND THE 
ROTATION OF CROPS. 
(Continued from page 4.) 
1 do not approve ofnursing early Celery plants in pots, 
as I have invariably found them more apt to run prema- 
turely to seed than those pricked out in the usual manner ; 
and this I attribute to the alternations of drought and 
moisture to which they are necessarily exposed, and to the 
spiral direction given to the roots by their confinement in 
the pots, which induces a stunted habit of growth, ill suited 
to luxuriant vegetation. For the main crop, I sow ina 
warm sheltered situation in the open air, in the beginning 
of February; and for late crops, about the end of March; 
pricking out the plants, when about inch-high, six 
inches apart, ona well-prepared border of leaf soil and good 
garden mould: they are removed to the trenches with a 
good ball to each when six inches high. My early crop I 
plant in the beds early in June, my main crop in July, and 
successional crops at intervals of three weeks, until the 
middle of September. For the early and main crops I 
plant three rows in each bed, placing the rows at one foot 
apart, and nine inches between the plants in the rows ; for 
I find that I can grow a greater weight of Celery with 
plants at that distance, than if a greater number of plants 
were planted in the same space ; but for late crops four or 
even five rows will not be too thick. To the early crops I 
apply water very copiously, at least once a week in dry 
weather, making use of pond water, if I can procure it, 
and, if not, of spring water mixed with soapsuds or liquid 
manure. I give sufficient to soak the beds thoroughly, 
and then on the following day, as soon as the leaves are 
clear of moisture, I place an inch of dry mould over the 
beds, to prevent as far as possible the water from being 
carried off by evaporation. 
I am no advocate for earthing Celery a little at a time ; 
I never earth up until the plants are at least a foot in 
height, and I then tie each plant loosely with matting, 
removing the suckers and small leaves at the same time, 
and applying four or six inches of mould at once. I find 
this the safest plan ; as in earthing a ‘little and often ”” 
the soil is very likely to get into the heart of the Celery 
plants, and they are then useless, Where a great quantity 
of Celery is required, and it is not necessary to occupy all 
the beds with Potatoes, they may be planted with early 
Lettuce, Cauliflowers, or French Beans, or sown with 
Turnips, Carrots, or any other crop that is required so 
soon as it can be produced, 
The advantages of this system are—first, there is no 
space lost, as the ridges are useful for Salad plants, and 
— 
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