} 
24 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
[Jan. 14, 
pencil, making no bad substitute for paper.—IZead’s 
Forest Scenes. 
27. Dr. Cheyne remarks, in his Philosophical Conjec- 
tures on the preference of Vegetable food, that he believes 
a good natural philosopher might show, with great reason 
and probability, that there is scarcely a beast, bird, reptile, 
or insect, that does not, in each particular climate, in- 
struct and admonish mankind of some necessary truth for 
their happiness, either in body or mind. 
In Civil History records are consulted, medals ex- 
amined, and antique inscriptions decyphered, in order to 
determine the epochs of human revolutions, and verify 
modern events; so in Natural History we must search the 
archives of the world ; draw from the bowels of the earth 
the monuments of former times; collect the fragments, 
and gather into one body of proofs all the indices of phy- 
sical changes, which may enable us to retrace the different 
ages of nature. It is thus only that we can fix some 
points in the immensity of space, and mark the progress- 
ive stages in the eternal march of time.—Jameson’s Geo- 
logical Lilustrations. 
————S 
Mebielos. 
Verhandlungen des Vereins sur Beforderung des Gar- 
tenbaues in den Kéniglich Preussischen Staaten. 
Transactions of the Royal Prussian Horticultural Soci- 
ety at Berlin. Vol. XVI., Part II. 
Tur greater portion of this Part is taken up by a very 
detailed article on the culture of Heaths, by Mr. E. Regel, 
Inspector of the Botanic Garden at Zurich, followed by a 
description of the species and most remarkable hybrids in 
cultivation. The first portion, occupying 54 quarto pages, 
is devoted to the cultivation of this beautiful tribe of 
plants, and appears to be the result of long practical ex- 
erience and careful comparison of the directions given 
is revious writers, especially of those contained in Mr. 
ab’s treatise, with the practice of the principal 
Heath-growers in Germany, as well as of those of this coun- 
try, as far as Mr. Regel has been able to ascertain them. 
After devoting the first chapter to the soil, a long one 
follows on propagation ; this is closed by an enumeration 
of species classed according to the length of time and dif- 
ficulty of striking cuttings under various modifications of 
soil and temperature. In the third chapter, on transplant- 
ing, the English practice, recommended by M‘Nab and 
others, of filling the bottom of the pots for large speci- 
mens with stones, brickbats, cinders, or bits of wood, is 
contrasted with the opinion of Jannack and most German 
growers, that this practice is not only unnecessary, but 
prejudicial. Mr. Regel advocates the German practice, 
but admits that the greater humidity of the British cli- 
mate may require a different treatment. The fourth 
chapter contains directions for pruning ; the fifth for wa- 
tering ; and the sixth, long details as to Heath-houses or 
stages for summer, with reference to aspect, temperature, 
light, and ventilation. The directions in this chapter are 
drawn up chiefly for the climate of Germany, where the 
long drought of summer has more to be guarded against 
than the continued damp of our climate, which it is 
M‘Nab’s chief object to counteract. With regard to the 
Heath-houses for winter, detailed plans for which accom- 
pany the paper, Mr. Regel warmly advocates heating by 
hot water. He also strongly protests against iron sashes, 
or any iron work in contact at once with the outer and 
inner air. For, as the internal temperature should not be 
kept in winter above 3 deg. Reaum. (39 Fahren.), 
if the external cold descends only to 5 Reaum. (21 
Fahren.) the internal vapour condenses and cools so ra- 
pidly on the iron sashes as to fallin the form of snow, 
Mr. Regel cautions also very particularly against any 
cold draught being allowed to pass over the Heath-plants, 
He recommends that all light should come from above, 
and not from the sides; that the plants be as near as pos- 
sible to the light ; and that the inclination of the roof be 
very small. At the close of the chapter, the Heaths in 
cultivation are again enumerated, and classed according to 
their relative hardiness to bear cold in winter. The se- 
venth and last chapter is devotedto the diseases which 
attach to cultivated Heaths, and which are chiefly attri- 
buted to defects in cultivation, with the 
mining cultivated species. The n F 
but Mr. Regel includes as species 
ids, which are now multiplied al- 
tempt at describing them on paper. Of two hybrid seed- 
lings raised from the same parents, one will often have 
of the parents than the other ; 
The Naturalist’s Pocket Almanack is an attempt to 
render this sort of book useful to those who are more in- 
terested in Natural than in Political History ; the plan is 
good, and we wish the work success. 
The Ombrological Almanack is, Mr. Legh, its author, 
informs us, founded partly on admitted principles, and 
partly upon observations and discoveries recently made on 
the influence of the planet Jupiter and his satellites on 
our atmosphere. We cannot congratulate the author upon 
the success of his weather predictions, as far as the present 
year has gone. We are now writing with the country 
covered with snow ; but the Almanack, which says nothing 
of that, tell us the weather will be fair and cloudy ; while 
the 3d of the month, which was one of theloveliest of bright 
sunny days, was announced to be frosty, sleety, and cloudy, 
The Polytechnic Review. No. I.—If we notice this 
new periodical, it is certainly not for any merit that we 
discover in it, It professes to treat, among other things, 
of Agriculture ; and the editor assures his readers that he 
has, in that department, ‘facilities at his disposal which 
have not yet been possessed by any similar periodical ;” 
and then, as if he could not say enough upon this point, 
he repeats that “in this department unusual facilities and 
assistance are at his command.” Upon looking to the 
nature of these unusual facilities, we find they are derived 
from plunder of the ‘ Gardeners’ Chronicle,” and from 
nothing else. All the Agriculture that is produced consists 
of Dr. Playfair’s first lecture on the Animal Chemistry 
of Farming, misprints included, purloined without ac- 
knowledgment, from our columns. It is fortunate that the 
worthy gentleman who rejoices in the name of editor of this 
abortion has hoisted the black flag thus early ; for other- 
wise, we might, in our simplicity, have fancied that his 
trumpet-tongued f prodigi facilities and 
peculiar advantages really possessed some meaning. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS for the ensuing week, 
Tue sudden disappearance of the first hard frost of the new 
year, and the changeable nature of the weather since the first 
new moon of the season, coupled with the fact that the wind 
blew from the south-west on the last shortest day, are held by 
our weather prophets here as sure indications of a mild open 
winter. Good news this, if true. We must not, however, on this 
account, relax our vigilance; foralthough the last two months of 
the year may be said to be the most trying for all kinds of house- 
plants, yet the next six weeks are means free from trials of 
a different cast. The large fires necessary to meet sudden depres- 
sions of temperature, and the heat of the sun on frosty days, are 
sure to bring on vegetation too quickly, and, if not guarded 
against, will as surely bring disappointment at a future period, 
Thick coverings at night, as little firing as is consistent with the 
safety of the plants, and judicious ventilation, are the proper 
remedies. Besides the routine business of the season, such as 
wheeling dung, digging, pruning, sweeping and rolling grass, 
gathering leaves and materials for composts, I had lately some 
of the best hands on the pleasure-grounds doing work which is 
often neglected in many places, and sometimes never thought of 
at all. They were examining the roots of all our finer trees and 
years. forking over the original po! in whi ese were 
planted, tracing out ai ringing nearer urface such 
roots as We! p; others that rambled too wide were cut 
back to different lengths, and after removing a portion of the old 
compost, and adding fresh in its place, a zone of good soil, about 
a foot or eighteen inches wide, was placed round the outside, 
care being taken to have an inch or two of poor soilon the top to 
prevent the roots of the grass from penetrating into the new 
compost. This sort of work wants much looking after, from the 
palace to the smallest garden. * 
‘The early forcing of flowers is become more and more general 
every year, and is now a regular and profitable branch of busi- 
ness at many of the nurseries roun There is an ex- 
cellent paper on this subject, by Mr. Green, in Vol.i., p. 148, with 
a good list of plants suitable for the purpose. The early Tulips 
and Narcissuses have never been stronger with me than they have 
been this season ; the earliest Hyacinths, on the other hand, are 
not so strong as usual; perhaps the general drought overtook 
them last season before their leaves finished their office. 
wise encouraged to bloom early, in order to enjoy their delicate 
for forcing purposes, 
1,—KITCHEN-GARDEN AND ORCHARD, 
In-door Department. . 
Prvery.—Continue the to bottom heat, especially by 
fire, as steady as possible for some time to come. a 
Orchiddcez suffer less from confined air than other stove plants ; 
but the air in Pine-stoves, being always more or less charged 
with exhalations from the fermenting materials, must be changed 
as often as the state of the weather will permit. When the quantity 
of hot-water pipes in any of the houses is barely sufficient to keep 
up the requisite temperature, they must always be kept very hot; 
and thus, besides drying up the moisture, they deteriorate the 
air in amanner not yet sufficiently explained. ‘ ¥ 
Vinery.—If the stems of the Vines have been painted with any 
composition for destroying the eggs of insects, &c., the longer it 
remains on, the more effectual it will prove. When I use this 
ff by the syringe. Vineries that are to be 
i si ereNe up, and the outside 
keep it rather below the mark than otherwise ; abundance of air 
and moisture are the main points to be attended to until the 
blossoms open, when moisture must be withheld. 
Fie-novusE.—l1 never plant a house with figs; they 
answer so much better in pots, which can readily be brought into 
any house at work and in succession. Before they come intoleaf 
they can stand in any out-of-the-way corner: they delight ina 
mild moist atmosphere, 
als heat, and plenty of air, especially if they are surrounded by 
made; but few people think of beginning so early with this 
troublesome system. 
ELONS.—For a very early crop, seeds should now be sown in 
any of the pits or houses at work. 
SuROOMS.—Keep the bearing beds free from woodlice, and 
continue to collect droppings for succession be: 
ASPARAGUS.—Where 
and I advert to it thus early that room may be left in disposing 
of the ground for future crops. 
Kiwney Beans.—For winter use, these should always be sown 
in the pots in which they are to fruit, as transplanting them will 
materially check their growth. Later in the season they may be 
sown in boxes and transplanted with safety. Pots of 32’s are 
large enough for the early crops; the soil, if well drained, can 
hardly be too rich for them. 
MIscELLANEOUS.—Early Radishes, Potatoes, Onions, Lettuces, 
in turf pits, covered with reeds and with a little hot dung 
under them, 
Out-door Department. 
All the early crops of Peas, Beans, Radishes, and Lettuces, may 
now be safely sown on dry, warm borders, and well guarded 
from mice, birds, slugs, &c. An excellent list of the best sorts 
all crops that require it; neither has there ever been a finer time 
II.—FLOWER-GARDEN AND SHRUBBERY. 
nt. 
have just returned from Vv" 
been showing off their beauties, will, in all probability, be 
i a refreshing draught ; 
care that the water is not too cold for them; a little atten- 
ion will soon bring them to their regular habits. Look 
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= 
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wers for any length of time. Out of 16 species 
of this genus which I have flowered, these three are all that I 
can recommend for general purposes, If the plants are clean, 
there is very little work in the stoves at present. All sorts of 
foreign stove-seeds, or of any other description from abroad, may 
ow be sown with safety. This is the best time to sow seeds of 
fine Rhododendrons, Azéleas, Kdlmias, &c. 
—Keep the 
hour or two every fine day. 
Pits Anp Frames.—There is a little breathing room here now; 
many of the plants having been removed for forcing and propo- 
gation, such as Pinks, Roses, Hydrangeas, Gardénias, Fachsias, 
&c., and a host of Dutch bulbs, which have been here for a few 
weeks to improve their foliage, after coming from under the leaf 
mould where they have been since they were potted. This puts 
me in mind of a resolution which I meant some time since to put 
to all Gardeners and Amateurs, namely, that we must in fature 
get oyer these Dutch bulbs one month sooner than the usual 
me. To do justice to a Hyacinth, it ought to be potted on the 
Ist of September, if it is desirable to have it in flower on 
Christmas day. 
Out-door Department. 
Forest AND Coppice Woop.—The weather this month is 
always too uncertain for planting. Pit, trench, and drain the 
land first, and plant it afterwards ; thin by all means, especially 
in middle of the plantation, and do not use above one 
half ofthe number of: F your ed to do, 
0 make amends for the poles you would expect some dozen years 
hence, crop the ground with potatoes, carrots, or any other crop 
that suits the land best, until the trees begin to mect.—D. Beaton, 
Shrubland Park Gardens, Ipswich. 
Jan, 
Friday 6 
Saturday 7 
Sunday 
Monday 9 
Tuesday 10 
Wednesdayl1| 29, 
Thursday 12| 299, 
10g 
120 
Average 
Jan. 6. Frosty ; overcast ; slight rain; cloudy. 
7. Overcast; cloudy ; rain at night. 
lowery ; cloudy and fine; overcast. 
9. Clear and frosty; in the evening alternately overcast and 
clear; stormy with rain. 
10. Stormy and wet ; boisterous ; cloudy and fin: 
11, Clear and frost: i 
State of the Weather at Chiswick during the 
_the ensuing Week ending Jan. 21 
1 ¥ 
No. of | 
Gowene |Mean| Years in | Greatest, 
Temp. | Teme) nich it) of Rain, 
29. 7 5 
80. 10 ee 
29. 5 
80. 9 
28.5 8 
20. 4 
83. 7 
Beg be Se ital he foael 
The highest temperature during the above period 
4 period occurred on 
ie ales in 1834—thermometer 56°; and the lowest on the night 
ee te LES and morning of the 20th, in 1838~—thermometer 44° 
