1843.) 
119 
THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE, 
expense does not exceed Is. 6d. per week; the temperature 
being never above 60° at daybreak. Fruit has been cut from 
the same plants since November. ey will continue 
in bearing till next autumn. 
used in the i f 8 OZ. 
t the mildew, and agood manure for the plants.” 
Young’s Champion was stated to be the best kind for winter forcing. 
A certificate was awarded to Mr. Judd for his Cucumbers. From 
Sir H. Fleetwood, Bart., was an Olive-branch with fruit upon it, 
having been grown in a conservatory upon a plant, which with 
several others was imported from Italy about 15 years since, and 
which, under ordinary treatment, annually produce an abundance 
of fruit. From Mr, J. Rowell, gr. to C.G. Thornton, Esq., adish 
of Filbertsin ion ; this was effected by gathering 
i: dry day towards the end of September, when they are 
laid thinly upon mats or shelves in the fruit-room, and allowed 
plenty of air. They remain there for a fortnight, when they are 
put into small open-worked hampers, *k in each, and not 
pressed down. They are kept thus till the end of November, after 
which they are placed in tubs or boxes upon cut straw, a thin 
ayer of each until the boxes are full, and they are afterwards 
changed every three or four weeks. “The specimens exhibited 
were as plump and free from mouldiness as when fresh gathered: 
a certificate was awarded for them. From J. Moorman, Esq., 
were some particularly fine specimens of Pears, consisting of 
Beurré d’Aremberg, Passe Colmar, Jean de Witte, Ne Plus Meuris, 
Merveille d’Hiver, Beurré Rance, and Easter Beurré, all in excel- 
lent preservation ; having been kept in a dark hay-loft (occasion- 
ally ventilated), and laid upon i a certificate was 
awarded for them m the Garden of the Society were the 
singular Hiintleya violacea, the sweet-scented Lycaste cruenta, 
Brassavola glauca, a rare plant with pretty greenish white flowers; 
Begonia coccinea, an exceedingly showy species of Jate introduc. 
tion, with brilliant scarlet blossoms ; 
ro 
ryandra armata, with curious thistle-like 
blossoms, and several other plants 
ROYAL, AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND, 
Feb. 15.—W. Miles, Esq., M.P., in the chair. 21 gentlemen 
were elected Members, Communications were received from 
His Grace the Duke of Portland, on the application of bones as 
a manure; from Sir J. jock, Bart., on the agricultural 
instruction of cottage tenantry ; and from Mr, J. H, Charnock, 
on drainage, 
FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Feb, 21.—Messrs. T, Warner and Cheney were 
bers, A proposi 
it 
elected Mem- 
M ion for conducting the exhibitions during the 
present season was made by Mr. Wildman; this was left for re- 
msi ion at the ing (March 7), when a special com- 
mittee will be convened for that purpose, 
BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH, 
Feb. 9.—Prof. Graham in the chair. C. Babington and G. G. 
Gibson, Esq 
at Dingwall; thence they walked by Garve, Auchbnalt, &e., for 
On the low hills near Garve they found a sprinkling 
had scarcely a dry 
few such as admitted of the vegetation being carefully examined, 
procumbens, &c., were among the rarest plants observed; and, 
the six Lycopédia were gathered nearly in 
one spot. Tofiéldia palustris, Thalictrum alpinum, and Malaxis 
paludosa, occurred at the bottom of the cliffs, and Salix herbacea 
was found sparingly on the red sandstone below the summit cliffs 
Ben Tarshan, Opposite Applecross, ina bog which the tide 
were picked specimens of Blysmus rufus, two 
Here there is an extent 
nigricans, Gentiana amarella, Listera ovata, and Epipactis lati- 
f6lia, with pale fi but in vain for Dryas octopét: 
which occurs profusely in similar soils in Sutherland. 
abundance of seed—and the Elder seemed to th 
well, 
party the finest they had seen, m: 
at the head h 
than the much extolled, and certainly very superb, groups border- 
i hough in spring, before vegetation gets rank, it is not 
unlikely that these cliffs might be found more productive. 
patch of snow observed on the south side of Maamsool, a moun. 
ae about 20 miles north of Clunie, made the party desirous of 
siting it; a 
The party took Ben Nevis in their route, but th 
see them unable to examine as they wished its magnificent 
cliffs, ‘ 
among the rest Carex saxatilis, but only in one spot. 
1 n con- 
cluding: his remarks, Dr. 
Graham observes—“The scenery we 
e was magnificent ; and in fine 
Weather, if ever such shall occur in that district, it may occasion 
inge of climate, for in many districts the 
themselves by their own seedlings ; 
nd even where they have not, solitary seedlings of Scotch Tir, 
Birch, and Poplar, Occasionally spring up and thrive. It conid 
ees were cut for the purposes of the 
trees have no appearance of having 
and I doubt whether any of my companions, after 
i parched up all of Scot- 
believe they ever could 
Eternal rain is the only 
thing which never’ varies in that country} everything ex- 
pects it, and gets habituated to it. No indigenous man or 
jvoman walks a bit faster, because the rain is falling in torrents. 
The children lie on their breasts at the cottage-doors, enjoying 
themselves in rain which would drown an eas frog. 
The corn stands erect, utterly disregarding the efforts of the 
clouds to lay it flat; and we even remarked, at Sheil House, that 
the river, which passes the inn, had become smaller after a night 
of incessant rain.”’—A letter from Mr. N. rd, F.L,S., on the 
introduction of the Musa Cavendishii into the Navigator Islands 
en Mr, Williams was about to leave England in 
1839, for the Navigators, he was anxious to take with him some 
useful ints, and particularly the Musa. He inquired of me 
whether I thought that it would travel safely in one of the glazed 
cases; and having received an answer in th 
appliec 
him a healthy young plant. 
hundred weight, The parent plant then died, leaving behind 
e were distributed to various 
parts of the island, and in the following May (1841), when Mrs. 
To estimate 
the importance of the introduction of this plant, we must bear in 
i quantity of nutritious food furnished by the 
Humboldt has told us that he was never wearied with 
astonishment at the smallness of the portion of soil which, in 
Mexico and the adjoining provinces, would yield sustenance to a 
family fora year, and that the same extent of ground which in 
Wheat would maintain only two persons would yield sustenance 
under the Banana to 50, although in that favoured region, the 
return of Wheat is never under seventy, and sometimes as much 
as ahundred-fold. The return, on an average, in Great Britain, 
is not more than nine for one.”*—Mr. Ralf’s paper on the Diato- 
mace, No. IIl., was then read, containing descriptions of the 
genera Striatella, Tessella, and Tetracyclas.—Dr. Dickie con- 
cluded his remarks upon the development of leaves, by stating 
“that it cannot be said that i i 
young leaves are lobed, &c., previous to the appearance of the 
veins. that the quantity of cellular 
tissue in a leaf determines the development and positions of the 
yeins, and not the opposite.” 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Antiquities of Gardening : Lemons.—In an old MS, 
‘ook of receipts, prescriptions, and other matters of the 
same sort in the library of the Earl of Ilchester, is the fol- 
lowing curious notice respecting Lemons ; which, judging 
from the style of writing and spelling, as well as from the 
other contents of the book, may be probably as old as the 
15th century. ‘ Now thou shalte undyrstonde that lem- 
monce ys a manr (manner) apple be yende the see of the 
whiche applys lumbardys make in tyme of the yere 
verzeiowse ryght as we do here in Englonde verzeouse of 
Crabbys. And therefore he that wolle have hem, moste 
speke to libardys other to galymen whan they come from 
Venyse and as some men sey the Orenges that Galymen 
bryngethe have the same vtue (virtue) in effecte and the 
same thynge wolle doo that lemmonce doothe but there 
of ame I nott certayne as I am of the] nother 
well from the prickles. Then ra th into boiling- 
water, and parboil them ; allowing ‘tithe fo LHe Lede 
ig less time to the heart 
than to the outer stalks. As soon as the slime will come 
off by dipping a piece into cold water and rubbing it with 
the finger, it is done enough. On removing the Cardoons 
from the fire, throw them into cold water, and cleanse 
them immediately from the slime ; using nothing, in 
doing this, but friction with the fingers. Stew them after- 
wards in a little rich gravy, and, just before they are taken 
off the fire, add a lump of butter rolled in flour. The 
above is a cheap way of dressing Cardoons; they may, 
however, be served up with cream, or sent to table with 
plain melted butter. The whiter the heads are, the more 
delicate they will be when cooked.—Muscipuia.— [This 
is a good recipe for cooking Cardoons, but it must be 
remembered that the greatest care is necessary in remoy- 
ing every particle of slime from the stalks ; otherwise, 
when served up, they will be found exceedingly bitter.] 
—— 
GARDEN MEMORANDA. 
Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.—We have had an oppor- 
tunity of visiting and inspecting this garden lately, and from the 
high character which it bears, we e no doubt that a short 
count of it will be acceptable to the readers of this journa). 
The entrance, which was left unfinished for a number of years, 
is now completed; the stonework is plain and substantial, and 
looks extremely well. Near the entrance there is a fine large 
class-room, in which Dr. Graham delivers his summer course of 
medicinal plants, arranged according to the same plan. In 
another part of the ground, there is a large collection of herba- 
ccous plants, Classified according to the Natural system; the 
clumps t out in the Grass, and the whole is interspersed 
with shrubs and trees. Between these two arrangements there 
is another, composed exclusively of British plants, which, when 
in flower, in summer, we used to think even more beautiful ang 
interesting than either of the others. Persons who do not cul- 
tivate in their gardens the more ornamental native plants 
5 
wall, and the north aspect of the south one, are particularly 
worthy of notice; and it may be interesting to mention the 
names of some of them, to enable the readers in the south ta 
form some idea of the climate of Edinburgh. 
aspect we observed, Magndélia grandiflora, Thompsoniana, p! 
ptirea, and various other species growing luxuriantly; fine plants 
of Acacia affinis, i lowers in great profusion, Solanum 
crispum, Fuchsia discolor, Callistemon lanceolatum, Photinia 
glabra, Pimelea paucifiora, Indigéfera Nepalensis, and Caméllia 
peonifiora. The Indigofera is a most charming: plant, and 
deserves a place in all collections; the Camellia just named 
seems much more hardy than any other species which they have 
out of doors in this garden. On the north side of the south walk 
Mr, M’Nabhas planteda great number of hybrid Rhododendrons, 
Chinese Azaleas, Caméllias, and various other plants, Here 
again the Camellia pseoniflor 
the other varieties. In diffe arts of 
some fine clumps of hardy and half-hardy Heaths, protected at 
present with stakes and mats. The mats are only on the top of 
the plants, and are placed there to prevent the snow from break 
ing the stems by its weight. Scarcely any flowers can be more 
beautiful than these are in early spring, when they are loaded 
with blossoms, and appear as if they had just been removed 
from the greenhouse. inds are Erica australis, arborea, 
soo welle beleve hitt as I doo the lemmonce. Nottwythe- 
standynge some seythe wt (with) bothe hitt may be doone.” 
« Lemmonce” is the spelling for Lemons, in the receipts 
as well as in the passage extracted. The MS. con- 
tains further a Treatise on Astrology, a Latin and an Eng- 
lish Paper on “‘ Aqua Melissze anglice Bame,”’ and some 
Verses in praise of Rosemary. 
Spain.—We learn that Dr. Daubeny and Captain 
Widdrington are about to proceed to Spain in a few 
weeks for the purpose of examining the curious formation 
of phosphate of lime in Estremadura, with a view to 
ascertaining whether itis worth importing as a manure. 
RURAL SONNETS, 
ARY. 
«the pale Primrose,’’—and, in long array. 
Mining their flags of truce to Winter rude,— vA 
Like marshall’d vestals of the older day, 
1 white-rob’d nuns amid their solitude, 
Lo, where the modest Snowdrops deck the ground, 
With dove-like promise of more genial hours ; 
In young, and old, the Jate-chill’d pulses bound 
To greet these herald-chastities of flowers 
But flakes descend—or frosts, with spangling sheen, 
Feather the boughs, or spread along the land !— 
Soon the south winds breathe change upon the scene, 
‘All creatures, now, th 
To drink new draug: 
‘ardoons.—There is a vegetable much. eaten 
in cSt is of delightful flavour, and is as digest- 
ible as it is pleasant, namely, the Cardoon or Thistle- 
head. In England it is seldom used except by French 
cooks. It is, however, worthy of being introduced at our 
tables, ag it is cheap and nutritive, and may be prepared 
without much trouble. Remove and throw away all the 
stalks that are tough, fibrous, or hollow ; cut the others 
into strips about five or six inches long, cleansing them 
carnea, the Irish Heath, and many 
500 feet in 
length. This range, from its length and particular situation, has. 
a grand and imposing appearance. The Heaths still continue 
to maintain their high character; many of them are really splen- 
did plants. To give some idea of their size, we may state that 
Erica sptria i feet high and 18 feet in circumference; E, So- 
Jandra, 12 feet in circumference ; E. depress 
ference, and all these plants are bushy to the ground. There are 
also large, handsome specimens of E. tricolor, speciosa, elegans, 
odorata rosea, retorta, aristata, &c. E. hyemalis, Linneoides, 
and-colorans, were in full flower when we visited the garden; 
the first of these is a very fine plant, about six feet in height, aad 
well furnished with stems and leaves at the bottom. In a smi 
house, behind the principal range, there are so: seedling: 
varieties, and many others of the hard-wooded and more val 
ble kinds, in high health. In the Qrchidaceous npuee ACen pee 
amongst other things, the following in flower: cise rat aaa: 
erardi, czerulescens, and ndébile; Z Se een ase laa ACES 
Polystachya luteola. The wi sree oe in the same houses 
noble specimens of the Bread-fruit tree (Artocarpus incisa) ; 
Laurus Missin’ 20 feet high; the Pitcher Bass Grete tathe ty ‘a 
things of great BESS, ‘The larg’ e, 
since, deserves a separate notice. 
building, and standiae near the west end and bel 
palrange. When it was first built, 
‘hat the house is now too small for 
d to 
re, : preserve 
Sethe, jn which plants are growing, from decay, [yn three 
ears those which had been subjected to the process were com- 
letely rotten. ‘ab finds old Oil-casks, cut in ty to 
tnewer the purpose better than anything which he has ever tried, 
besides being much cheaper.—R. F, 
Rebiewos, 
A Comprehensive View ef the Culture of the Vine under 
Glass. By Jas. Roberts. 8yo, Longman & Co, 1642. 
(Continued from ‘py 104.) x 
Next follow some observations on the different 
modes of propagating the Vine, among which that 
by single eyes is preferred. His treatment of the 
young plants while growing does not differ materially 
from that of many gardeners who raise plants in one year 
strong enough to bear fruit in the next; but after the 
wood “‘is perfectly ripened to the length of five or six 
