1 
1843,] 
THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. 
137 
their functions ; when the trees have to be cut down for 
use, then it is that the branches are useless, except for 
“‘ spray, firewood, and faggot;” and all on account of 
not having been trained in a proper way when young, so 
as to have increased the timber in the stem, instead of 
running all to branches—as most trees naturally will in 
open places. To be sure, by leaving trees to nature, you 
may have one good tree in fifty, or perhaps a hundred; 
but train them in a proper way while they are young, and 
you will have every tree valuable, and in much less time. 
‘We may, however, write and inculcate the true system all 
our life: it will produce little good effect until an Arbori- 
cultural Society is established, and peri 1 planta- 
tions are formed for training forest-trees, to exemplify by 
example and practice, and to show the certainty of the 
system accomplishing what it professes. It is become a 
cuckoo’s song at the present day with most landed pro- 
prietors, as few will listen and fewer heed the strain. I 
am surprised that “Quercus”? should still persist in 
saying that he “fears I have some latent clinging in my 
mind to the old notion—that what is taken from the head 
of a tree by pruning is necessarily laid on the stem ;” 
whereas, I distinctly said in my last reply, and again 
repeat, that the increase of timber or wood is from the 
descending filaments from the annual leaves and leaf-buds ; 
whereas, were those parts diminished, it is evident that 
the increase of the timber would be also; and that my 
system, intended to increase and regulate them is so as to 
form profitable timber instead of useless branches. As to 
my not furnishing a more expressive term for “ reciprocity 
between the roots and branches,’ by which I presume 
“Quercus” means an equality, I confess I cannot see 
my way clearly on that point; for I cannot conceive an 
equality of roots with the branches, on trees with immense 
heads, growing in fissures of bare rocks and similar 
places. As to a mutual connexion between roots and 
branches, there can be no doubt of that.— I’. Billington, 
Underhill, Oswestry, Salop.” 
Thawing Plants.—During four years that I had charge 
of an extensive collection of Ericas, I frequently went to bed 
fully conscious that on getting up on the following morn- 
ing, 2° or 3° of frost would be in the Heathery, on account 
of its elevated and exposed situation. In such instances 
I invariably resorted to the plan recommended by Mr. 
yres, at-p. 84; by which means I soon thawed the 
plants, while at the same time I kept down the tempera- 
ture during the day, compared with what it would have 
een, had fire-heat been applied. I hope I shall not be 
misunderstood, when censuring elevated and exposed 
situations fora Heathery. It is an extreme case which 
Ihave in view, and therefore it is the abuse of the prin- 
ciple, and not the use of it, which I censure. I would not 
have 1°, 20, or 3° of frost in the Heathery, if I could 
avoid it, I have had Ericas subject to many degrees ot 
frost, which they have survived, with a loss of their foliage ; 
L It is to this last- 
mentioned fact that the gardener must look for his success 
in enabling plants not indigenous to this country to 
survive our winters: and what is true of Ericas is equally 
true of other plants, if we make allowance for the different 
circumstances that have made them what they are.—J, 
Hardenbergia monophyllia.—This pretty greenhouse 
climber, like all others, if not submitted toa regular mode 
of training, will become one confused 
which, if allowed for a short time only to become entan- 
gled, are difficult to restore to order without injury to the 
plant. Scarcely anything connected with gardening is a 
greater eyesore than to see climbing plants neglected from 
want of proper training, or having the shoots tied toge- 
ther like a broom ; for whatever may be the natural habit 
of a plant, in regulating its branches we should imitate 
nature as nearly as possible, unless it is desirable to train 
them into any artificial form, similar to the wire trellis 
lately figured in the Chronicle, My method is to train 
the H. monophylla with five leading shoots, one from the 
centre of the pot, to which a long, small, neat stick is 
Placed ; the other four being fastened to four similar sticks, 
at regular distances round the edge of the pot. From each 
of these leading shoots proceed numerous side branches, 
which are densely covered with flowers. When the plant 
has done blooming, which is by the end of May or begin- 
ning of June, I still allow it to remain in the greenhouse, 
until the shoots are well ripened. During this time, the 
Plant is watered sparingly; for it is only by moderating 
the supply of water that we can imitate those periodical 
Seasons of rest, to which this, as well as all other exotic 
plants, 418 exposed in its native climate. By the first 
week in August it is taken from the greenhouse and well 
AOS With water, then placed in the open air in a shel- 
pote ituation, but fully exposed to the sun, being double 
me to Prevent the sun’s rays from destroying the small 
ofthe us ich are the principal feeding organs. The whole 
eyes Sat shoots are pruned to one or not more than two 
ateneth the leading shoots cut back according to their 
aainin 3 a 48 to call into action the whole of the re- 
Bie ann 8. As soon as the new shoots are from one 
aid wean i. in length, the lant is taken from the pot, 
the atvonver Seas of the soil is shaken from ‘its roots ; 
fibres. fg oe S are at the same time cut back to smaller 
i€n repotted in a new or clean-washed pot, 
a : there is no plant with which I 
at {cquainted that suffers more than this from imperfect 
which it thrives well is chopped 
After forc- 
being taken into the 
&reenhouse by the end of September, Hardetierein mono- 
phylla, when treated annually in this way, will amply 
compensate for the trouble it occasions. As the leading 
shoots only are secured, the side branches become pen- 
dant, and the plant has a graceful and pleasing appear- 
ance.—G. G. Waiswn, Vicarage, Norton, Stockton- 
on- Tees. 
Cultivation of Roses in Pots—I commend you for the 
encouragement which you give for growing Roses in pots. 
It will not only add a fresh and lovely feature to exhibi- 
tions, but it will create a much greater interest in the 
Queen of Flowers, from the fact of amateurs, like myself, 
being able to purchase them when in bloom. I have 
grown Roses for several. seasons to what I consider great 
perfection ; and I think the Bourbon family particularly 
adapted for growing and exhibiting in pots, from their 
hardier growth and strength of petal enabling them to 
stand more rough usage than a delicate China. There 
are many who say that the Rose can never be cultivated 
so as to form a leading feature like the Pelargonium in 
our exhibitions, on account of the frailty of its bloom, and 
of its not producing a sufficient succession of them to 
enable a moderate cultivator to exhibit at any given time. 
I say, give them a fair trial, allow it the cultivation which 
the Pelargonium receives—it will not be done in one or 
two seasons, but cultivators will soon find out and grow 
those varieties which’are best adapted for exhibiting in pots, 
and the best method of bringing them to perfection. ‘hen 
what will be the effect in the course of a few seasons? 
Doubtless, we shall see “ potted Roses forming the most 
attractive part of our exhibitions,” and, from their improved 
culture in pots, many fine varieties bloom which before 
would not ; while many of the best kinds will bear seeds in 
this country, which could not be induced to do so in the 
open air.—4 Rose Fancier. 
On the Decortication of the Eucalypti in Australia.— 
One of the most curious phenomena which strikes the 
traveller in Australia is the appearance of so many of its 
orest-trees undergoing the above process. It appears and 
manifests itself in many different shapes and forms. The 
ark of several species of Eucalypti, being brittle, drops 
down and lies about, either around the foot of the trunk, 
or is scattered ‘by the wind to some distance around the 
tree. As the fibre of the Eucalypti is brittle and dry, it is 
obvious that the fact above mentioned contributes greatly 
to the sterility of the soil of Australia. Portions of the 
loosened bark, not sufficiently dried to drop from the 
trees, sometimes surround the branches like the skin of a 
Serpent about to be stripped off. This is the case with 
those species of Eucalypti whose bark is rather brittle ; 
but there are many others whose rind consists of a long 
and more flexible fibre, and such trees present appearances 
Somewhat different when in a state of decortication. The 
bark hangs down in strips of different lengths, which 
when sufficiently loose also fall to the ground. These 
strips at times exhibit such varied colours that they im- 
part to the forests a strange and extraordinary appearance. 
The part of the trunks or branches thus denuded present 
an original aspect, as their colour, soon. after the period 
of decortication, varies from pure white, through all pos- 
sible shades, to a deep red. The trunk of Eucalyptus 
resinifera, piperita, and some other species, have then a 
perfectly white appearance, just the same as if they had 
been whitewashed; whilé others, whose bark is brown 
or grey, present a glossy appearance, far more remarkable 
than that of our Pldtanus, to which, however, they bear 
some slight resemblance. I have observed, that most of 
the Eucalypti are in a state of decortication at the be- 
ginning of spring (August and September); it should 
therefore be the aim of subsequent travellers to de- 
termine,—1l. Whether the decortication of the different 
species of Eucalypti takes place at any certain season of 
the year, or is depend on other ci 2. 
Whether all species lose their bark at the same period, or 
whether this is done by various species at different 
periods, or is dependent on the soil, temperature of the 
season, &c.—The cause of a phenomenon apparent in so 
many species of a tree most widely Scattered over the 
Australian Continent, is an especial matter of importance 
to physical geography and botany. A clue towards its 
explanation may, in the first instance, be attained by that 
botanical axiom, that the concentric layers of the wood and 
bark are the reverse of each other; the former increasing 
externally, the latter internally. As Exogenous plants 
(like the Eucalypti) increase by annual additions of new 
matter on their outside, it is natural to suppose that, as 
the growth of the Eucalypti is very quick, and as the 
alburnum swellsso rapidly, the stratum of the liber becomes 
first so distended that it cracks and finally separates from 
the trunk. I frequently had an opportunity of observing 
the rapid growth of these trees in the swollen appearance 
which their branches at certain periods exhibited. Such 
as are creoked (and they bend most fantastically) bear 
the aspect of a wrinkled human limb, and have the same 
fulness and rotundity which characterise it, The crack~ 
ing of the bark is still more assisted in Eucalypti by 
the delicacy of the fibre previously Mentioned. The 
liber, also, of most of these trees is brittle, very dry, and 
spongy 3 and it is from these species that portions of the 
bark fall, and are scattered about the ground. If the 
liber is more fibrous (as is the case in those Eucalypti, 
which in the colony are called stringy-bark gum trees), 
the same disproportionate extension of the alburnum takes 
place; the bark cracks and becomes loosened, but on 
account of its fibrous and tenacious nature, adheres 
longer to the mother trunk. Itis also obvious, that in 
all trees where cambium abounds, decortication will not 
take place, as this substance is capable of softening the 
liber, and consequently of making it more capable of 
distension. It is evident that Eucalypti, with their scanty 
astringent and resinous sap, possess but little cambium, 
which accelerates their loss of bark. As in this process 
the outermost part of the alburnum has to become the epi- 
dermis of the future bark, a series of changes takes place 
in this respect, and it is obvious that those parts of the 
Eucalypti which after d icati ave the of 
being whitewashed, are the places where the alburnum has 
been changed into cortical epidermis. As the Eucalypti 
are evergreens, and the period of their rest is less dis- 
tinctly marked than in our northern trees, and, moreover, 
as this decortication shows their growth to differ from that 
of most others, it is difficult to determine the age of such 
trees by the number of concentric layers of wood ; Some 
of them must, however, be very old, being 22 feet in cir- 
cumference. It is customary now to connect the pheno- 
mena of the vegetable world with the economy of man ; 
it may therefore be stated that the natives of New 
Holland have availed themselves largely of the pheno- 
menon which is the subject of this memoir, Like the 
pendent faded leaves of tropical Palms, which form, as it 
were, a natural hut, and are the prototypes of the dwellings 
of the aborigines—the large sheets of bark which hang 
down from the Eucalypti of New Holland must have re- 
minded these savages that they may be of use to them. 
The huts, or rather sheds, which they occupy temporarily, 
are made of such sheets of bark, which, if not already se- 
parated by nature, they cut off with instruments made of 
Serpentine, Trap, or other hard rocks. It is on such 
sheets that the New Hollanders repose, and protect them- 
selves from the humidity of the soil. They also make 
most rude canoes of them, only fit for navigating inland 
lakes. They bend and tie them in the required form, an 
fill the crevices with soil and some melted gum of the 
Xanthorrheas2 But, as it is difficult for them to strike a 
light, they carry on their hunts (either aquatic or inland) 
ignited branches of the Eucalypti, which, from their resin- 
ous natnre, burn like tinder. Taking this, and other facts 
not suited to our present purpose, into consideration, the 
New Hollanders may, with some propriety, be called the 
Eucalypti men.—John Lhotsky. 
Amaryllis Belladonna.—The Amaryllis belladonna has 
always been a great favourite of mine, and I think I may 
call myself a successful bloomer, having seldom less than 
60 or 70 blooming stems every season; still I do not 
know that I can give any information to the inquiries of 
your numerous correspondents, for I have distributed 
scores of bulbs at various times amongst my neighbours, 
which have never, I believe, shown a bloom since they 
were in their possession. Mine are planted in various 
situations, in some of which they do not bloom; nor do 
they in any case where they are not. planted at the foot of 
a warm south wall, and are there left undisturbed. They 
flourish most in the front of the outside wall of a small 
Pinery ; and, from my own experience, they never bloom 
well except they have some warmth at the roots, either 
from sun or fire. They are planted about six inches deep, 
in a stiffish loam, are occasionally covered with a mat in 
very severe weather; but I have frequently seen the 
leaves destroyed by the frost, without the bloom being 
injured in the following season. Having a large number 
of bulbs, many, of course, do not bloom every year ; and 
Ihave frequently seen the blooms of such as haye not 
bloomed in the autumn thrown up very strong in the 
spring ; but these never expand. I cannot bloom them 
in pots (unléss taken up in the early part of the summer, 
when the fiower-bud has been formed for the season) nor 
can I bloom them in the border of a conservatory, though 
with the best situation possible for light and air. ave 
tried them under a common glass hotbed frame (planted 
in the ground), but the bulbs have had every care there for 
the last four or five years, and every sort of winter protec- 
tion, yet without success—except that last year I had two 
blooms close to the uppermost edge of the frame, and they 
were the largest stems that I have ever seen. It is sin- 
gular that in those situations where they do not bloom, 
they always increase the most rapidly by root, and form 
by far the healthiest bulbs. Notwithstanding my own 
success with this delightful plant, I fear I have added 
nothing to the general information, and can only eer 
mend the bulbs to be planted about six inches deep. c O5e 
to the foot of the warmest south wall there may be (or in 
case there are any fire-flues in the garden, they are sure 
to bloom near them) and to be left quite undisturbed, 
giving them some trifling shelter in severe frost. They 
require little or no care; but as far as my experience goes, 
if any one expects bloom before they have been established 
for three or four years, even ina suitable situation, he 
will be disappointed. They may bloom the first year 
after removal, as the blooms may be previously formed. 
Tn contradiction, however, to this, i recollect a few years 
ago going over Mr. Biddulph’s beautiful grounds at Led- 
bury, and the gardener told me he always took the bulbs 
up every year, and had never any difficulty in blooming 
them. ‘They were then planted in a small bed in the open 
part of the garden. The temperature of that part of the 
country is much higher than with me, J saw no bloom 
there, but it was then too early in the season.— Beta, 
If a “ Country Vicar” will give his bulbs of Amaryllis 
belladonna a fair trial as they are treated here, I have no 
greenhouse, lay a brick in g bed of mortar, and one on 
edge in cement; the uppe brick to be 
level with the border, Enis ati niee dia alee 
Mr. Beck’s slate edging would 
answer the purpose ag well, or perhaps better, as it would 
take up less room and look neater. With a broad board, 
or any other contrivance (we cover with decayed leaves) 
to keep off the rain in winter, the bulbs will neither be 
rotted nor excited to grow till all danger of frost is over. 
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