38 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
[JAN. 21, 
heated chambér is thus left for warming the pit ; but being 
obliged to use it for a seed-bed, I was compelled to keep 
the plants near the glass. It is, I think, of great import- 
ance to have some boards on the lining at this season of 
the year, as they afford protection against heavy rains. 1] 
have also a gutter for the front water to pass away without 
dropping on the lining. —G. Bond, Gardener to the Earl 
of Powis, Walcot. 
Fork for Leaves.—I send you a sketch of a simple and 
useful leaf-fork which has been used here for some years ; 
Ihave neither seen it in use anywhere else nor yet men- 
tioned in any publication; but I am certain that it only 
requires to be known to be generally adopted wherever 
there is any great quantity of leaves to be collected. One 
person with this implement will take up with greater 
facility more leaves than two persons could do with any 
other tool which I have seen used for that purpose. It 
is simply a large four-tined fork, made of wood, s od 
with iron; the tines are 18 inches long, and are morticed 
into a head about 17 inches long and 14 inch by 23 inches 
thick. The tines are 1 inch in width and 14 inch in depth 
at the head, gradually tapering to a point with a curve or 
bend upwards (fig. 2). The wood of which they are 
formed ought to be hard and tough; either Oak or Ash 
will do, but the Robinia Pseud-Acacia is preferable to 
either. The head should be made of Ash, with a T handle 
of the same, and should be two feet four inches long 
(fig. 1). Its recommendations are its size and lightness ; 
the leaves also do not hang upon it as on a common fork, 
the large size of the tines tearing them asunder.—Andw. 
Toward, Bagshot Park, 
sot 
Light Frame for Protecting Annuals, Sc.—I could 
not help being much struck the other day at what I at 
first attributed to the ingennity of a little boy, who, in de- 
vision of a clumsy brick trap which had been set for 
catching sparrows, collected a number of pieces of wood, 
of which he constructed a kind of frame-work, having the 
appearance of a square roof; with the sticks so disposed 
as to admit sufficient light, and yet so near together as to 
answer the purpose of a trap.» This little fabric being 
raised on one end, similar to the sieve when applied to 
the same purpose, falls down upon displacing a small 
piece of wood, and entraps its unfortunate victim, which is 
easily taken out by inserting the hand through an opening 
atthe top. This lattice-work, at once so light and easily 
constructed that a dozen of them might be procured for a 
few pence, I find so admirably adapted for protecting 
annuals, the forcing of Seakale, Rhubarb, &c., that I hope 
a few words as to its construction will be acceptable. To 
lay the foundation, procure four pieces of Hazel, or any 
other kind of wood, of the same length, say about 14 inches, 
and half an inch thick ; tie them together, at right angles, 
so as to form a square, two pieces only touching the 
ground, the other two being laid upon them, Upon this 
base place four other pieces about an inch shorter than 
the first layer, shortening and laying the bars in succes- 
sion, until you have reached the apex of the miniature 
roof within about five or six inches, according to the size 
intended ; cover the aperture that remains with a piece of 
deal or tile, and you have the figure in the form of a 
pyramidal frustrum. I cannot better explain the manner 
in which the pieces are secured together than by stating 
that my little friend, cutting the string of his bow, bend- 
ing the bow itself across the frame-work, and then tying 
the ends of the same to the middle of the two parallel 
pieces that were first laid down, as described above, gave 
to the whole the desired tension and firmness, The 
obvious utility of such a contrivance as a screen from 
excessive rain, and the protection it would afford, with the 
advantage of light and air, to the smaller kinds of flower 
seeds, united with its neat appearance and simplicity of 
contrivance, will, trust, recommend its adoption.— 
Adam Keys, Plumb’s House, Whiston. 
Salvia patens.—In Holme Gardens, near Inverness, 
a specimen of the above plant survived last winter in the 
open ground. It flowered from the Ist of June until 
November, and was only 3 ft. high, and 4 ft. in diameter, 
being densely covered with flowers. The crowns of the 
tubers were 3in. beneath the surface of the ground. 1 
think it will prove quite hardy in any dry situation ; I 
have left one plant out this winter by way of experiment 
—the result I will communicate hereafter.—J. Ross. 
Growth of Bulbs. — Having more Cape bulbs last 
autumn than I wanted, I cut open several, to observe 
their mode of growth, and I found that the buds are 
formed at the first shooting of the leaves. Ina plant of 
Brunsvigia Josephingz, which had just flowered, and 
whose leaves were about three or four inches long, there 
was a well-formed bud at the base, and in the centre of 
the new leaves, about three quarters of an inch high. 1 
discovered buds likewise in bulbs of B. multiflora and 
in Nerine. I am induced to mention this, as Mr. 
Herbert suggests in his work on bulbous plants, page 
276, that the bud is probably formed at the drying 
off of the leaves, and it will account for growers. being 
so often disappointed by the PP of any 
flower-bud, after a vigorous growth of leaves in the 
preceding year. To obtain flowers from these difficult Cape 
bulbs, the plants must not only be well grown during the 
preceding season, but also in the year before that, to 
induce the formation of a flower-bud. Amongst your 
Notices to Correspondents in a late Chronicle, ‘* Bulbo- 
sus’? asks for information respecting his bulb of B. 
Josephine. If he examines his plant he will probably 
find the roots decayed ; such effects as he describes often 
arise from this cause. 
plant must have been kept in too moist a house, without a 
due circulation of air, Where a proper circulation of air 
is kept up, I feel satisfied that bulbs may be grown with- 
out either rotting or being buried. ‘“ Bulbosus ’” may 
pull off the decayed outer coats, but with caution, or he 
will cause the bulb to bleed. Cyrtanthus obliquus I find 
to flower more freely in the conservatory than in the 
stove, which is probably too close forit.—J. H. 
Indian Corn.—In} March last I sowed some seeds of 
the tall, Indian Corn separately in small 60-pots, and kept 
them in a cold frame until May, when I planted them out 
2ft. apart, plant from plant, and 3ft. between the rows. 
Each plant produced on an average 3 fine ears, and the 
average weight of each ear when divested of leaves, was | Ib. 
I gathered the crop in October ; thus, from 12 plants I got 
36lbs. of fine Corn—a far greater increase than I believe 
could have been obtained upon the same space of ground 
from any other Corn crop.—Charltoniensis. 
Problem in Cookery.—Sir, 1 think I am philosopher 
enough to answer the question proposed by “K.,’’ in 
reference to the diminished sweetness of hot fruits and 
other things. The true statement I believe to be, not 
that the sweetness is diminished, but that most other fla- 
yours are increased by heating, and thus the sweetness is 
overpowered. Asa general rule all odours and savours 
are developed by warming the matters from which they 
proceed, and this increased development by temperature 
is great in proportion to the volatility of the substance. 
Thus, most dilute acids being more volatile than syrup, are 
by heating rendered disproportionately prominent to the 
palate, and hence the apparently inferior sweetness of hot 
plum tart. The effect in question is most strikingly 
shewn in the case of sweetened grog, if your readers know 
what that is. A glass of sweetish rum-and-water taken 
hot, will appear to have a full flavour of the spirit ; let it 
cool, and the taste of the sugar will so completely prevail 
over that of the rum, that it would not be thought to be 
the same mixture. J need scarcely point out that alcohol 
and syrup being at opposite ends of the scale in regard to 
yolatility, this instance is more decisive than that of the 
plum-tart. I have thus endeavoured, according to my 
humble abilities, to acknowledge the kindness with which 
you received the inquiries in a somewhat similar matter 
of An Old Lady, 
To Preserve Fruit with Water only.—Fill your bottles 
with fruit; place them in a convenient vessel up to their 
necks in cold water ; put them on a brisk fire, and heat 
the water to 160°; keep it at that temperature for half an 
hour, and have some boiling water ready with which to fill 
your bottles to the neck; afterwards cork them down 
tight. Peas will neither keep good when done in this 
manner, nor as stated by “ No Mystery” at p. 821 of last 
year’s Chronicle.—W. P. K. [The samples of cherries, 
currants, and gooseberries which accompanied this were 
most excellent. ]—Last autumn I preserved Gooseberries, 
Currants, Cherries, &c., in the sae manner as that 
recommended by “Geo, M. J.” at p. 5; as well as some 
Peas, which continue green, and are at this season an 
acceptable dish— W. S., Moss Grove, Manchester, 
To Expel Rats.—-Rub some tar about all the holes and 
places where the Rats resort. To this they have a great 
aversion, because it sticks to their fur, from which they 
are not able to remove it. This is a sure and cheap way 
of driving them from buildings in which they are trouble- 
some.—J’acile.——A Rat-trap is described at p. 853, of 
last year’s Chronicle.’ If, instead of a wooden top, your 
correspondent were to cover the cask with a sheep-skin, 
or some old parchment well wetted, and drawn tight; and 
after it had become dry, and the Rats had been induced 
to feed upon it, if a few triangular cuts were made in it, 
sufficiently large to allow the Rats to fall through, I think 
it would be an improvement. A friend of mine has cap- 
tured them in that way.—f. G. 
Pheasants. — Being much troubled with pheasants, 
which destroy my early crops of Peas and Beans, 
usually place Pea-sticks on the rows directly after the 
seeds are sown; these baffle the birds until the plants are 
up, when the sticks require to be removed. I have after- 
wards placed bowed sticks down the rows, with a net run- 
ning along the top ; but this is too much trouble. I have 
therefore ordered at the basket-maker’s some twig cradles, 
to be made in the shape of a half-moon, 17 inches in width, 
and 9 inches in height. These I intend to have tarred 
over, and I have no doubt that they will last six or seven 
years. They should be made of different lengths, so as 
to fit close together when stowed away in a dry shed.— 
W. Brown, Merevale. 
Poultry.—I should feel obliged if “A. E, S.” 
would inform me whether the Malay Hens are white 
or coloured, and in what part of the country they 
are common, as they are not known under the above 
name here. I should be glad to procure a pair of them. 
“A, E.S.’’ does not mention whether the Dorking 
Hens recommended are the white or the grey variety. 
The latter are generally found to grow more plump an 
large, whilst the former are preferable from their uniform 
white colour at table. Perhaps, some correspondent can 
also give me some further information regarding the best 
breed of Ducks, and where they can be obtained. 
\ 4 Subscriber, Renfrewshire. jean 
Should this not be the case, his | 
NOTICES or NEW PLANTS WHICH ARE EITHER 
USEFUL OR ORNAMENTAL. 
Lycasre phANA. (Stove Epiphyte). Orchiddcese. Gynandria 
Mondndria. This plant is nearly allied to the Maxillaria, or 
Lycaste, macrophylla, of which it has quite the habit. i 
in the petals being qnite even, not undulated, and in the lateral 
sepals being much more exactly oblong; the tubercle on the lip 
is also much more obtuse. In colour too they are different, L. 
iaacrophylla has olive green sepals, and petals almost colourless; 
L. plana has the sepals of a deep rich madder red inside, and the 
petals are richly tipped with crimson.—Botanical Register. 
ESNERA LATER{TIA. Brick-red-flowered Gesnera, (Stove Her- 
baceous Plant). Gesneraceze. Didynamia Angiospérmia.— With the 
most ample and noble foliage, and particularly brilliant flowers, 
this plant combines unusual dwarfness and compactness. It was 
introduced from Brazil eight or nine years ago. Cuttings should 
be taken from the young shoots as soon as they are two or three 
inches long, in the same way as Dablias; only not removing the 
base, but leaving it attached to the old tuber, that fresh stems 
may be generated. If struck rapidly in a brisk heat, they wil 
form excellent blooming plants in the following season, and will 
probably flower the same year. The plant demands a rather 
generous treatment in regard to soil and atmospheric moisture. 
The compost in which it is potted should be enriched with leaf- 
nd it must not be stinted for pot- 
plunged in fermenting bark, or some such material, so that the 
supply of moisture may not depend on variable sources. Thetubers 
should be well preserved from damp during the resting period.— 
Paaton’s Magazine of Botany. 
TaLiNuM TERETIv6LIUM. Slender-leaved Talinum, (Green~ 
house Herbaceous Plant.) Portulacése. Polydndria Monogynia. 
—A pretty little herbaceous plant, seldom seen in cultivation, 
It inhabits various parts of North America, from Texas as far 
north as Pennsylvania, trailing over naked rocks, its favourite 
place of resort. In our gardens it is treated as a greenhouse 
plant, and then it forms pretty patches of lively purple flowers, 
tis, however, seldom seen.—Butanical Register. 
1) ONTOGLOSSUM CITROSMUM. Lemon-scented Odontoglossum, 
(Stove Epiphyte.) Orchidacez § Vander, Gynandria Monandria,— 
This plant was imported by Geo. Barker, Esq., of Birmingham, from 
exico, and given to T. Brocklehurst, Esq., of the Fence, near 
Macclesfield, by whose gardener it was exhibited at one of 
great meetings of the Horticultural Society at Chiswick, in 1842, 
1 i i 
thas larg white ani .d flowers, 0 
exhaling a delicate smell of Lemons.—Botunical Register. 
—__—_—— 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
Jan. 17.—R. H. Solly, Esq., in the chair, Miss Horrocks, 
J. French, Esq., and Mr, Robt. Cooper were elected fellows., A 
'o prevent abstraction of heat, 
steam-pipe is to be isolated on wooden sleepers, and to be inclosed 
i rs, Law- 
rence, exhibited a large collection of Orchidaceous and other 
i speci drébiuin ndbile, 
covered with its beautiful white and violet purple flowers ; Lee‘lia 
Albida, white, having the centre of the labellum marked with yel- 
low, surrounded with a slight stain of purple; Cyrtochilum mi 
culatum, bearing 3 fine panicles of its prettily-spotted flowers ; 
Peristéria guttata, producing its singular cup-like blossoms. in 
clusters upon the surface of the pot; a fine plant of the recently- 
introduced Manéttia bicolor, whose red and yellow tubular 
ers, although rather scantily produced, had a pretty effect ; Clero~ 
dendrum splendens, a handsome species lately brought from 
Kuightian medal was awarded for the Dendrébium. | From Mr. 
ing branches terminated by a ra 
plants of the showy Epiphyllum truncatum, and the scarcely less 
beautiful Epacris impressa; Gesnera zebrina, which, although 
past its best, still exhibited a multitude of its bright yellow and 
vermilion blossoms, with Gesnera longifélia, Correa longifiora, 
and Erica Westcéttia: a Banksian medal was awarded tor the 
Euphorbia. Messrs. Lucombe and Pince exhibited a pretty little 
Melastomaceous plant, of recent introduction from Mexico ; it is. 
somewhat similar in habit to Sapondria ocymoides, and thrives 
where! its ros: 
some resemblance. From Mr. C) 
very large flower of Caméllia Donckelaeri ; its great size appeared 
to have arisen from its having been grafted upon a stock of some 
strong-growing variety. Mr. Goodbrand, gr. to Geo, Crawshay, 
Esq., exhibited 25 bunches of excellent Black Hamburgh Grapes, 
cut from the same Vines as those brought forward at the two pre~ 
vious meetings : it is unnecessary to say more in their praise than 
that they were equally good upon this as upon former occasions, 
and that to bring them to this perfection, not quite 2 sacks of 
house-cinders had been consumed ; the firenot having been lighted 
more than 20 or 25 times during the season, and then only for 
the purpose of excluding frost or excessive damp. From Mr. J. 
a Certificate was awarded for them. From the Garden of the 
Society were two fine specimens of Amaryllis atlica; a plant of 
the true Olympian Hellebore, which will probably prove hardy in 
this country, the petals of which are of a beautiful, clear, green- 
ish white; Acacia verniciflua, a handsome, compact-growing, 
