560 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
[Avue. 12, 
or herbage, the same quantity, or even more than it has 
absorbed, for the growth of subsequent generations. 
The next argument of Liebig discussed by Dr. Mohl 
(relating always to the origin of carbon in plants) is, 
that in antediluvian times, plants must have existed before 
umus ; and so they do now—witness the Lecanoras and 
Parmelias growing on the perpendicular cliffs of granitic 
mountains. This reminds him of the question, whether 
the egg or the hen existed first; and being aware of the 
abuse which has of late been made of scientific axioms 
being derived from mere algebraic calculations, he says 
that all sorts of results may be ex-calculated (heraus- 
rechnen) in that wa 
To settle the question about the existence of primeval 
humus, Dr. Moh] makes the following remark on ante- 
diluvian vegetation. ‘* What do we know of the incipient 
vegetation of the primeval world—and why, before the 
appearance of the highest developed plants, such for 
instance as Ferns, should not others which can live with- 
out humus, such as Mosses and Lichens, have prepared 
the humus necessary for the higher plants?’ This, of 
course, is the eternal progress of vegetation in all times 
and in every place of the globe. 
(To be continued.) 
British Pheenogamous Botany ; or, Figures and Descrip- 
tions of the German and British Flowering Plants. By 
W. Baxter, F.H.S. 6 Vols., 8vo. Oxford, Parker. 
Ir is not every year that brings a work like this to its 
conclusion ;—begun long since, and continued steadily 
and uniuterruptedly to the end, with perfect good faith 
towards its subscribers, and so absolutely the same in 
execution at the beginning and at last, that one would 
have thought that the whole must have appeared simul- 
taneously. Mr, Baxter deserves gredt credit for having 
thus completed his design, with the production of one of 
the most useful, if not the most useful, help the young stu- 
dent possesses to a knowledge of British Flowering plants. 
‘We must all of us have felt in the beginning that the 
great difficulty which is offered to gaining an acquaintance 
with plants consists in appreciating correctly the minute 
characters by which the genera of plants are distinguished. 
It is very puzzling to an unassisted student to ascertain 
whether his plant is a Polygonum or a Chenopodium, for 
instance ; but it is less difficult, and we will add less impor- 
tant, to determine what species of Polygonum or Cheno- 
a he has before him. The former difficulty Mr. 
jaxter has removed by his well-conducted work, in which 
a figure of each genus of British plants is given, ‘with such 
representations of the parts of the flower as it is really 
necessary to understand; and a full explanation of the 
differences by which it is known from those to which it is 
most like. 
For those whose means will not permit them to purchase 
the more expensive books of Natural History, this is par- 
ticularly well suited, and we can hardly name a more 
acceptable present to a young person. We only regret 
that the inevitable cost of a work containing upwards of 
500 copper plates should necessarily place it beyond the 
reach of the multitude. 
Chemistry made Easy, for the Use of the Agriculturists 
of Great Britain and Ireland. By the Rev. J. Top- 
ham, M.A. 24mo. Whitaker. 
Into 44 tiny pages, containing about five of our columns 
of ordinary type, is here compressed all that Mr. Topham 
considers ‘‘ necessary for the clear comprehension of the 
terms (viz., the things they represent) which chemistry 
uses ; to show the manner in which chemical action is per- 
formed ; the multifarious objects over which its influence 
extends ; and the method by which it explains the qualities 
and exposes the constituents of the respective objects on 
which a farmer’s attention and capital are usually exercised.’ 
We wish that experience would justify our admitting that 
these important objects are to be accomplished by such 
means. Nevertheless the little work is worth reading, as 
an introduction to a serious inquiry into chemical phe- 
nomena. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS for the ensuing week. 
Any time after the middle of this month those eet annuals 
that stand our ordinary winters, and that flower from the 
April to the middle or end of June, may be sown in ae light 
sandy ae on an east border in the kitchen or eat -garden— 
where there is such a conyenience—or indeed in any open places in 
the Rbcauberich: This is about a month earlier thats is species 
shosen or hea a for eee Milan’: am of opinion, and 
this opinion is experience, that this is ae hest 
time, especially in n this cold ea asthe earth has not been warmed 
to the usual degree ; and if we should have a cold autumn, a month 
If, otherwise, this should not be the case, 
and the Se ae found to be too forward by the beginning of 
Getober, they could then be easily transplanted, and the check 
would be so far i = piles favour in enabling them i = the winter. 
en the flower-beds are dug over in February, these annuals 
could be transplanted in groups, according to fide colours, or the 
pe: of the owner, for I would never impose rules against people’s 
fancies in such matters. At the same time the seeds of other 
peregcts could be sown, so as to have no blanks in the beds; even 
hose beds filled with spring bulbs, such as the dwarf early Tulips, 
Hyacin ths, Narcissi, &c., should be planted or sown with these 
aes between the rows of | othe, and by ihe time the patter would 
e, the annuals would be getting Bay, and teem so till 
eae of th pens were ripe. is, the blooi na esa to 
e dug over, the Bata faite away to be dried, 
rect ta ately with strong healthy Aah of the 
Ww mer and autumn display. 
Bufliciently hardened in tur 
with impunity, and Me ready 
erwise nursed 
dispute that something of this kind is 
sal and compacta, with Neméphila 
the first a flower in spring; and 
pink, epee let, with t blue and white ; 3S. 
season, being a deep reddish pink, and pén. 
dula being also deeper in colour at that season, rising not higher 
than the Nemdphilas, while penne is rather pene ey from 12 
to 15 inches. Moreover, Silene p¢ndula, when April, will 
flower from June till overtaken iy the frost, and saat hardly 
see it anywhere; it forms ye Deak le edging, g, as vit ears clipping 
like the sweet Alyssum, the Vi in Stock, and Sanvitalia procum- 
bens, all excellent plants fokedwinige.” Indeed, with the exception of 
the on hernia when you catch it in its prime, there is 
not a eel whic! Leg le neater bed than Sealy which blooms 
from the of net e end of poems 
themoides, all three d 
ril, and shia their folitge is 
is well hidden with the profusion of their rich- 
, Which last six weeks. ‘Then for a taller Hea of 
yellow, there is Erfsimum Peroffskianum, which contrasts beauti- 
Tally 1 in size and colour with the blue branchin ur, I have 
not yet tried if Sphendgyne speciosa will stand the winter; I wish 
some one who has would let me know. Whilst it lasts in bloom it is 
the finest thing we have, to say nothing of the Clarkias, Collinsias, 
Godétias, &c., which make such a rich 2 appearance in the latter end 
of April, through May and the greater part of me, or in other 
words during the dreary season of the English flower-gardens. 
1 RURCHEN: GARDEN se (geen 
mn. Some BetBle 
einer till they hee them at a stand- 
aie He course of forcing commences, 
deranging the economy srs nature aul leaving traces of bad manage- 
ment for years to come. 
ACH= -HOUSE,—By this time our Peach-houses ought to he so 
a through for this season as to be able to relieve those readers who 
Melons, ae in great families, where Melons are in request 
late in autumn; and as, in these places, first- tate gardeners are 
always kept, I may perhaps be excuse s over this head 
occasionally Ce ae autumn to make room for ornare else, 
t.door Department. 
It appears that a ew bak aid season is unfavourable to the el, 
which attacks Peas in this country by the end of summer, for I 
have nee seen any of it this season, and from a good circle of corre- 
sponden hear no complaints about it. Peas of all sorts have 
borne remarkably well this season, and the individual crops kept 
longer in succession than mah Cael ie to have seen before, 
had a singular instance of the force of. pegs ston the other day, ina 
small way: two beds of the Silvacs ‘skinned O: , Which were sown 
about the middle of May, for pickling, gains ee eet enough, 
the foreman and myself walked atep by step all over them, and laid 
their tops down quite flat. caer pi than myself, and 1 
thought he had Sed his ae bulbs and all. Soon after this a 
heavy pomacerateent passed over "the mace and next day a or 
nions were upright again, Once more they acted the pei 
but the third a eae them, and I have no doubt but they" will 
come in good-sized for pi 
SABBAGES.—After, we plats out from the first-sown beds, which 
Guam “Thtstandithe Cardoous qi. wane torbe ehrthee up 
soon as tay feel fit; but I think the latter had better remain till 
they are fall grown, and then be earthed up at once; either way will 
do alt enough. 
ARpD,—All that I can think of under this head to-day is, that 
the ay summer Apples and Pears ought to be gathered 
before they are uy ripe, and if they do not ripen fast enough in the 
fruit-room, to adi them every day in some of the houses, 
bicatn t bring are up to their right t flavour, As to pruning 
or regu ulating 
aid about it that m 
ever, you had bet: ou see anything that wants 
doing, let no time be lost fil all is put in good order again. 
—F. seals oa GARDEN AND SHRUBBERY, 
‘oor Department. 
Srove.—Have you ick the Passiflora ieee or Middletonia 
yet oy ae climbers in this house: refer an intermediate 
stove forit? Although its general aspect differs little from the old 
ceertilea, it deserves a place in every collection, on account of its 
fragrance, and if you were to graft it on ceertilea it would flower in a 
warm conservatory. Passiflora racemosa and pour so grafted 
flower beautifully in our conservatory, and look a 
as those in the stove; but I have not yet acedectiet in establishing 
ina i most all woody stove-plants 
require to be mn, after finishing their summer 
growth, and to have ivge portions of air given the: 
—If t fel uave passed over 
se puree have realy metlal the weather at last, we may chee ee 
autumn, an n greenhouse plants out- of: doors Ww ill gro 
anes than will he useful for them next winter. Itis the iivfortule 
of greenhouse plants out-of-doors that they too Ban are in vigorous 
growth at the t time they are housed for winter ; and this is another 
reason oat o! y for growing the finer kinds in frames or pits, as 
their growth heist retere be regulated according to their own habits oF 
ee wishes of the grower. All that can be done in autumn for thos 
t-of-doors is to get them now, or soon, into more exposed sities 
aaeets allow them more room, less water, and to be well secured 
with stakes. 
ConservaAtory.—The early spring cuttings of Pelargoniums are 
now nice sizeable plants, ready to turn into the conservatory for the 
last successions. the ones is large, four or five of these bushy 
plants may be put into a large pot, and great bushes thus formed at 
once, to fill up recesses or Ss eos The leaves and flowers 
will a tum to the light, and by turning the pots round tice 
a week, will have fine spectinentt "without a forest of sticks, 
which, mle very necessary to show off plants at exhibitions, are 
most intolerable in a weil- regulated conservatory. As the autumn 
advances, the conservatory is again kept more or less close, and much 
less water is given to the plants; those 
ower require but very little water, and as they get past their prime 
they should be removed back to the stoves. 
ITS AND Uns hi not the observations I cae ae on 
y at this, time. We can always ap the growth 
’ fit, hy keeping the plants and frames drier, by having 
the lights off through the day and on at night, or revi 
prerent system. Is it not ¢urious that plants should grow better 
i i an in n those made with ct 
E 
a 
i 
g 
& 
Fiower-Garpen.—Since the last Calendar I have received a 
letter 1 from one of my late pupils, in which the following observations 
ar flower-garden remarkably gay just now- 
dadtabmut: thie quarter—but the incessant rains injure its 
beauty very much, We haye some excellently-furnished beds of 
re 
3 
scarlet, variegated, and miscellaneous Pelargoniums, such as, for 
instance, Alexandrina, Conservative, Sylph, Coronation, Jewess, 
Joan of Arc, ”” The italies are mine, to show how much I relish 
this kind of emulation in youn, uld like very much to 
have many more of such letters from different eae of the country, 
naming ail the Dedain es plants that are not commonly used, for the 
use of this Calendar.—D. Beaton, Shi cL Park Gardens. 
State of the Niet aiey pee orden We aS vans Lae gy AL 
10, 1848, as 
rden, C 
com 
Rain. 
+18 
02 
6 5a 665 | S.W. 
80 58 69.0 S.W. 
nes 2 57 | 69.5 8. 
Thursday 10 30.177 20.097 | 68 44 560 N.E. 
___ Average (3a [Pa 3) 
August 4. Rain; cloudy w 
squally at noon; heavy showers; 
ppg chard clear at night, 
5. Tight elon an fines 
t clouds; very fin 
fi s 
ery Ane; hots sultry, with mo 
10, Hazy and 
That aiaiie aCORIFG 
ceedingly clear and fine at 
ight. 
Mean temperature of the week 13 below the average: 
State of the Weather at Chiswick during the last 17 years, for the ensuing 
Week ending August 19, 1843. 
; Prevailing Winds. 
Ave fl pecan | eoeen | Greatest | aii 
Aug. Highevt Lower panna whichis cen ile 2 s Ea 
weiss Rained. | Of Rai Calg 
Sun. 500 6 al 2 
Mon. 14 49.7 6 3)— 
‘ues. 15 1 50.8 5 2) 3 
Wed. 16 47 522 a 5) 2 
Thurs.17 2 | 524 9 6| 2 
18 2 53.3 8 4\— 
3 50.7 6 5) 3 
on the 17th, 1834, 
‘The highest temperature during the above neviod occurred 
thermometer 94°; and the lowest on the 13th, 1839—thermometer 82°. 
Lede) ts on COVENT-GARDEN pee et 
ir the Week ending August 11, 18 
Tue late hot wei caused an AURORE supply of 
Orchard Fruit to te brought into the market. The quantity of 
Vegetables is also amply sufiicient to meet the demand, Pines 
are plentiful, and comprise several varieties. Both Black and 
White Grapes of good quality are abundant, at last weck’s prices. 
Foreign Melons Sie eae ‘0 be well su; pplied, but those of home 
growth are becoming less numerous. The supply of Peaches 
and Nectarines will De rather limited until those are ripe upon 
the open walls. Apri icots, | a ‘engages, and several kinds of 
Plum are eet generally offered: the best of the former fetching 
from 2s. to 4s. per doz few good Bigarreau Cherries may still 
be met with; very tolerable Strawberries may also be obtained 
mewhat advanced price. Gooseberries and Currants con- 
tinue plentifal. Apples are brought in abundance, the Red Quar- 
renden being added to the dessert ne Jargonelle Pears are 
becoming general, from 48. to half-sieve; inferior sorts 
are offered in great Pope accs Tilber fe have made He appear- 
anee) from 1s, to 1s. 6d. per Although the supply of Peas is 
what limited, yet it is Pies that they are supplied in such 
quantities at this season. Broad and Frer ach areabundant. 
ii ery inferior. A few Tomatoes Maes been offered 
during the week. Field RAS RADA ore selling at 6s, per bushel. 
Flowers in pots consist of Balsams, Fuchsias, Pelargoniums, 
Hydrangeas, &c.; amongst cut rte _ Combretum purpu- 
m, Sollya th mbeliatus, Jasmine, 
beautiful BEatHG, Pinks, Dioveeee! canes) he. 
nee apie August 12, 1843.— 
Pine Apple, per Ib. Cherries, Eng 
Grapes, hotibte, ser ‘by % toGe 
Reacher, jozen, 128 to 2 
Ne ey per dozen, 12 tools 
8, per doz. 1s to 4a 
Figs, per doz, 68 
Melons, exch 2: 
Dateh, Auk Wed to Be 
UITS:— 
hyp 
‘all, per Ib., 1s to4s 
Morel per i9Tbs., 94 t0 188 
Apples, new, per hf-ev., 1s 00 to 26 6d 
Pears, per half. 
vere 
1s 6d to 3s 6d 
5 
Plus, per Purinet, 1410, per rodcas eagle 
Bet ha Alfateve, Geto 7s | Cucumbers ee! » Gd to 2s 
= ea r punnet, 2s Almonds, per 6s 
berries; perpottle, Gd Sweet Almonds, pet pound, as 
\Goosslieetion hay aiaiad tg road Nuts, per bushes 
rants, per altos 0 Bs Gd 
ev 
f hfe» 20 0d t0 Be 
aE) = Rea, pes Diet per sieve, 4s to ds = Cob. 128 
lessert, p- hf-sv.,is to 4sGd | Filberts, English, p 1001bs., 100s to 110s 
ae ee per gallon, d to 1s 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, per doz, 9d to 1s Bd Leeks, 2. buns, BF 
Gaulitle Onions, Sorin . doz. be 
anges per doz, bebe, 
bs a ton 
10 4s 
iho In 6d to BE, 
2s 1058 
Windsor, ae 1 Chats ges +100, 2a t0 24 
Potatoes, Nawi per won? Cont 1007. | Peasy peniimalilgla cogs 
owt. 84 to 81 6d’ | — per aaclt, $4 t0 Bs 
“= perbushel; Isto a8 Lettuce, Cabb., p. score, 9d 
Kidney, p. bush., 26 to 4s 6d — Cos, per sc ore, Gd to 18 6d 
Artichokes, green, per doz., 1s to 4s 
Vegetable Marrows, per doz , 6d to 1s 
Turnips, per doz. bunches, 3s to 68 
Red Beet, per dozen, 9d tole 
Ho ish, wenincles Is to Ge 
Rai ma soning 
spel dy (19 to 1a} od 0 1s 6 
Sm ail Sa'ade, rar 7 
Pe 
andi Gd to le 
p. doz. 
carrots, Hor P do: 
er 
Shallots, per Ibe, ta 
green, per bunch, 4d 
Spinach, per sieve, 2s to 2s Od 
et 
wee 
) per Sane ‘hy at toad 
Muchrouns pe. ‘pottle, Ist 
Wallnuts, Green, per bushel, 78 to9# 
. bunches, 4s to 75 
pes’ to Corresponden ts. 
AGnrogr ATER — ‘he neatest supports for rick-stands 
are those of ant: iron, placed on a stone or brick aoe anIEl 
They should have caps 15 ins. in diameter. The shaft shoul 
be 18ins, This will see the stack from rats, Where ate 
stone is cheap, that may be more We HAVE 
rick-stand all of iron, made by Me! ; eae Of 
The pillars are ae but the frame, which is circular, 1s tes 
‘ht-iron ; e have found these cheaper, and less NS 
decay than aes ae of timber, and supported by se stacked 
pillars. M.—A Leicestershire Parmer.—When Oats Qe 
ina wet state they will come out musty and much dete Pad 
When stacked too green they will Vieat and oh ae 
coloured. In this state they purge and even gripe 3 
we never heard this questioned, M. of 
Iurnovement oF LaNp.—A Subscriber ab initio im piu 
rovement of a shal soil much depends oD jay. and 
the first r retains water like clay, 
soil, with a foot or 18 inches of good soil over it ote ae 
of trenching and exposing to the air for & winter 1 ai earth is 
best thing for converting, your peaty 80H int Eo ously 
horse-dung, well incorporated. Lime may have been) 
added, or chalk, but should not be mixed with 
and then dig it in, Unie ess we know the exact quality of your 
subsoil and overlaying ‘peut we 
give general directions ; oS it 
jen 
Pai LEC you eave employ a better substance than 
