1843.} 
THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE 
631 
itches aboye the soil, compact, and during the blooming period 
very showy with its fine yellowish flowers. It was raised from 
New Holland seeds several years ago, and is a plant that com- 
Mences blossoming about the month of April, and continues 
nearly all the summer. This is one of those fine-rooted plants 
which are easily injured, want frequentattention in their culture, 
and require to be managed well, or they are never worth growing. 
It should be potted high in the centre of the pot, in a compost of 
very fibrous and open heath-mould and loam, with the base of 
the stem, whence the roots proceed, left a little exposed. Tl 
shoots of the young plants must be kept duly shortened, while 
they are advancing ; for it is a species which, if not thus pruned, 
will straggle, become very weak and slender, and have a di: 
pleasing appearance. When the specimens are two years old, 
however, the pruning may be almost wholly left off, as it is near 
the extremities of the shoots that the flowers are borne. After 
this time the plant may be pruned in the winter. It will flourish 
in any light airy greenhouse. The species is multiplied, some- 
what slowly, by cuttings, which should be taken from the 
branches that do not seem inclined to flower much, If they 
show auy disposition to 
Errpunprum ScnomBu . 
rum. (Stove Epiphyte.) Orchidacee. Gynandria Monandri id 
—This plant is quite the gem of its class; and, with E. cinnaba- 
‘inum, a very nearly related kind, stands among the more inte- 
resting and beautiful of the order. It has far more ample clusters 
of bloom than the majority of caulescent Epidendra, and the 
individual flowers are much larger than those of the best species, 
such as E. ellipticum, &c. while their colour is a deep rich red, 
with a tinge of yellow in the centre. They remain perfect, too, 
for a considerable time after expansion, being generally open 
from one to two months. was introduced by Mr. Schomburgk 
from British Guiana a few years back, and sent to Messrs. Lod- 
diges, with whom it has been frequently in bloomgs It is now, 
likewise, in most other large nursery establishments. essrs. 
Loddiges cultivate it like E, ellipticum and other caulescent 
Species, by planting it in a pot filled with rough heath-mould and 
Potsherds. It seems to flourish in a warm, moist house, and 
Succeeds well where it can besuspended over acistern, or alarge 
body of water from which exhalations are constantly going 
forward. In the winter it should have a somewhat drier spot, 
any water, if keptin acool house. In 
Mr. Schomburgk’s Epiden- 
a. 
and above the general level of the soil. 
i i ii t is put, before the soil is intro- 
uced. To propagate it, it is only necessary to take away care- 
fully one of the stems, and pot it separately. Or, sometimes the 
older stems will throw out lateral branches, which form roots at 
their base ; and when the tendency to do this is perceived, a little 
Moss should be wrapped round such parts, which, by being kept 
Moist, will encourage the development of roots, and young plants 
will speedily be formed, fit for detaching, andtreating as separate 
specimens.—Paaton’s Magazine of Botany. 
LycasTe PLANA, Even-flowered Lycaste. (Stove Kpiphyte.) 
Orchidacex. Gynandria Monandria.—A Bolivian plant, imported 
by Messrs. Loddiges, with whom it flowered in October last. It 
48 conspicuous for the large size of its leaves, and is in fact very 
macrophylla, from which it differs in the petals being 
quite even, not undulated, and in the lateral sepals being much 
More exactly oblong. Added to which is a greater degree of 
bluntness on the tubercle of the lip. The beauty of the flowers 
of L, plana is far greater than in L. macrophylla, which wants 
the rich red-wine colour of the plant before us. Like other 
Species of Lycaste, this requires to rown in turfy peat; the 
Pot to be half filled with potsherds, and the soil considerably 
elevated above its brim. Care must be taken not to have its 
Pseudo-bulbs imbedded in the soil, or they will damp off. In 
summer, after the plant has commenced growing, plenty of water 
should be given to its roots, and a slight syringing over head once 
or twice a day as the weather permits. The house should be 
shaded in sunny days, and the temperature kept about 80° by 
day, and 70° by ni: In winter, for a few weeks, very little 
water is required, especially in cloudy weather; if the house is 
kept moist i i e quite sufficient, and the temperature may 
be allowed to fall as low as 58° by day, and 50° by night,— 
> but if so it is one of singular beauty, Its origin is however 
v Seeds of it were purchased of Mr. Charlwood, 
in Covent Garden, for the Horticultural Society, and in the Chis- 
Wick Garden it flowered in the autumn of 1842, Ss a charming 
tender annual, about a foot high, which flowers most abundantly 
from July to September, if treated in the following manner, The 
Seed should be sown about the middle of March in pots filled 
With a mixture of sandy loam, oid lime-rubbish, and well-decom- 
Posed cow-dung in equal portions. The plants should be raise: 
On a hot-bed, and when large enough should be potted off singly 
into small sixty-pots, filled with the same kind of compost as that 
4n which the seeds were sown 
this the pots should be placed on the front shelf ofa greenhouse, 
where they are freely exposed to the sun, but guarded from wind 
4nd rain, the first of which destroys the flowers, and the latter 
theplants. Care must also be taken in watering the plants ; for 
n this much depends of the success in their management, for 
they are very subject to damp off close to the soil. It is ‘also 
Possible to grow this Purslane in the open ground ina fine dry 
Season, if it is plan‘ed in a hot situation, whereit canbe protected 
from heavy rain and wind, but it will not, under such circum. 
Stances, display allits beautiful effects.—Botanical Register 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Chalk in Brazil.—lt is a general opinion among geo- 
logists that no chalk occurs in South America; this was 
umboldt’s conjecture, and all succeeding geologists have 
adopted his view. Mr. Gardner has, however, in a paper 
Yead before the Philosophical Society of Glasgow, proved 
that in Brazil there is a very extensive chalk formation, 
Probably extending over the whole of the immense 
Shoulder which forms the most eastern point of the Ame- 
Mean continent. The country from the coast to the chalk 
district is very level, and large tracts of it all the way up 
Consist of what are called Vargems by the Brazilians. 
These are large open spaces destitute of trees or shrubs 
for the most part, and only covered with herbaceous vege- 
tation, and that sparingly, during the season of the rains. 
¢ place where Mr. Gardner found his evidence of chalk 
is situated in about 80° of south latitude, and 40° of west 
longitude, or about 300 miles in a straight line from the 
fast coast. The locality forms part of an elevated table- 
land, which stretches continuously from the sea-coast south- 
War , and forms a natural boundary between the two great 
Provinces of Cearé and Piauhy. Itis generally elevated 
‘om 500 to 1000 feet above the level of the country to the 
Saat of it, but not so much above that to the west ; and at 
the place from whence specimens were taken is about 
2000 feet above the level of the sea. To this range the 
name of Serra Vermelha is given by the Portuguese, and 
Ibiapaba by the Indians. Between the 10th and 11th 
degrees of latitude it takes a westerly direction, and in 
about 47° of longitude takes a northerly sweep, finally 
terminating at the mouth of the Amazon, under the 
Equator, the country which it surrounds forming a vast 
valley, including the provinces of PiauhY and Maranham. 
Italian Rye-grass.—The following communication from 
Dr. Blundell respecting the early and abundant produce 
of Italian Rye-grass, we extract from the Mark Lane 
Lepress t is how more than three weeks since I drew 
your attention to the fact of my having cut a specimen of 
Italian Rye-grass on the 12th of June, the seed of which 
was only sown on the 27th of the previous April, which 
measured the astonishing length of 18 inches, cut clear 
from the surface soil! This, from the sowing to the 
cutting, is little more than six weeks! I make little doubt 
that many of your readers considered, as I did at the 
time, this rapidity of growth as surpassing that of any other 
known kind of grass; but what will they say when I in- 
form them that on the same spot of ground, and from the 
selfsame plants, I have obtained a second growth of grass, 
cut on the Ist of July, the average specimen of which 
measured from 15 to 16inches! This is only a growth of 
eighteen days, or very nearly equal to one inch per day. 
gain, another sample of this Italian grass, sown on a 
ground which was last year sown with Wheat, and which 
was also cut on the Ist of this July, measured 5 feet 44 
inches, and was only just then fullin seed. Surely these 
facts are of themselves sufficient to establish the high 
claims of this grass to the notice of the agricultural public. 
Since my former letter appeared, a gentleman has written 
to ask me the question, “Whether italian Rye-grass 
will succeed sown after harvest, upon a Barley stubble 
which is sown with Clover, for sheep feed,’ and as this 
may be a question which may arise in the minds of others, 
I wish to inform them also that it will so succeed—and 
in a manner, too, that wiil surprise and exceed their most 
Sanguine expectations. Again, I may further remark that 
such is the avidity with which stock of all kinds will eat 
this grass, that having once tasted it, they will forsake 
every other part of the field for that on which this grass 
may, for the sake of trial, chance to be sown and growing. 
Great Produce.—We find in a late Number of the 
American Agriculturist the following statement :—‘ In 
answer to some inquiries as to the manner of obtaining 
the large crops, for which premiums were awarded at a 
meeting of the New York State Agricultural Society.” 
Where the land was not naturally rich, it was made so by 
a plentiful use of barnyard manure, and some ashes and 
plaster. The corn was planted in hills two feet apart each 
way, kept clear of all weeds, and a product of 122 bushels 
to the acre was obtained. Of oats, five bushels were 
sown to the acre, on well-manured land, and 102 bushels 
obtained. In the same field, side by side, without ma- 
nure, less than 86 bushels on an acre and a half were 
obtained ; thus demonstrating, even on naturally rich 
land, the benefit of adding fertilising substances to it. The 
same care was used in the cultivation of all other grain, 
and also of the root crops; and the products were un. 
commonly large. 
GARDEN MEMORANDA. 
[Second Notice.] 
Mrs. Sherbourne, Hur: se. Prescot, Lanecashire,— 
The cultivation of Tropical fruits ed on here with a spirit 
too seldom to be met with. The principal collection is contained 
in two stoves, and perhaps a better or a more varied private 
collection, considering the short time that has elapsed since the 
talented proprietress first devoted separate houses for the cultiv- 
ation of Tropical fruits, cannot be met with in the country, The 
greater part of the plants are as yet young, and several years 
with the best of culture, must elapse before many cf them can 
near 
The centre of each of the two houses is 
occupied by a bark-bed, such as is usually appropriated to Pines, 
them to bear fruit. 
but at a greater distance from the glass. Many of the plants are 
plunged inthe tan, but the greater part merely stand upon it. 
ro enumerate all the plants worthy of notice in the collection 
would take up too much space for the columns of a newspaper ; 
a few of the principal ones will, however, give some idea of the 
nature and extent of the collection. There are some remarkably 
fine plants of the Rose Apple (Jambosa vulgaris); the Rose- 
Water Jamba (J. aquea); the Malay Apple (J. Malaccensis), and 
Jj. macrophylla. Also some very fine plants of the common 
Papaw-tree (Carica Papaya), the Moneecious (C. monoica), and 
two other varicties,—all flowering and fruiting abundantly. A fine 
plant of Soursop (Anona muricata), with several other species of 
the Custard Apple; Terminalia angustifolia; the Star Apple 
(Chrysophyllum Cainito) ; the Alligator Pear (Persea grat: 
e plants, especially the 
iuava (Psidium Cattleyanum). There are 
large plant of the Lee-chee (Euphoria Litchi); also a large plant 
of Jambosa aquea, and another of the Cherimoyer (Anona cheri- 
molia); these last three are planted in a border, and cover about 
30 square yards of wall; it is hoped from their size that they will 
soon begin to bear fruit. The Cherimoyer has produced flowers, 
but did not carry its fruit well; Mr. Durden supposed that this 
may result from the plant not obtaining a sufficient rest during 
the winter, as the Pine-stove may be too wai 
of the roots lie. With such plants as Ipomcea Learii, it m: 
scarcely be worth the trouble to preserve the old plants over 
winter, seeing that a young plant will grow quite large enough 
in one season. There are some good Pines in the pits, and som 
excellent grapes on the Vines, especially one plant of Mill Hill, 
which has some excellent bunches on it. In one vinery are 
some fine bunches of the Cannon Hall Muscat Grape, and some 
fine Figs in another house. The greenhouse, a neat structure, 
having a dome in the centre and two span-roofed ends, contains, 
at present, nothing remarkable, the greater part of the plants 
being out of doors, A clean well-cropped Kitchen Garden and a 
neat little Flower Garden are both in keeping with the rest of 
the establishment.—J, W. Jones. 
At Roseneath, in Dumbartonshire, there are two plants of 
Fuchsia discolor, nearly equal in size, and so rapidly increasing, 
that two Gooseberry bushes had last year to be moved to give 
them room, as the Fuchsias re smothering the Gooseberries ; 
and now, to prevent a similar result, a limb of a Standard Apple- 
tree must be taken off. The largest is in circumference 40 feet, 
and in height 7 feet 3 inches. I brought a very small plant of it 
home in April last, from a cutting in a pot, and planted it out, 
eing a few inches in size. It is now in circumference 6 feet 
Ryall Hill, Worcestershire. 
2 inches, and 2 feet high. 
iiebiels. 
Dr. Justus Liebig, in his Relation to Vegetable Physi- 
ology. By Dr, Hugo Mohl. (Dr. Justus Liebig’s 
Verhiltniss zur Pflanzen-Piysiologie.) | Tubingem 
Frues. 1 
(Continued from page 614.) c 
In that chapter which is devoted to the Culture Ps 
Plants, Professor Liebig puts forth a regular theory of 
vegetable nutrition—as far, namely, (observes Dr. Mohl,) 
as L.’s unconnected way of writing admits of any sy:~ 
tematic arrangement. He again starts from the assump- 
tion, that humus cannot be absorbed and used as food by 
plants; for two reasons—one chemical, and the other 
physiological. He, in the first instance, denies that the 
humus of vegetable mould possesses the properties 
ascribed to it by chemists, it being absolutely insoluble in 
water, and not combining with earth into soluble salts. 
The latter, he says, may be seen in calcareous caves, 
whose stalactites, instead of consisting of humate of lime, 
do not contain a trace of vegetable matter. Dr. M. says 
that he does not intend to settle these opinions, for he 
has no doubt that chemists will take them up in due 
time. He merely throws out the following remarks :— 
‘ It cannot be positively asserted that the humates con. 
tained in vegetable mould are insoluble in water, because 
water will dissolve out of the soil a certain amount of an 
organic, brownish substance—an experiment which can be 
made with any garden soil; still coal of humus seems to 
possess the property of subtracting these substances from 
a solution passing or filtering through soil, otherwise (as 
L. has stated) all our springs would contain brown water. 
It appears, moreover, that besides coal of humus, the 
inorganic substances of the soil themselves possess 
(although in a lesser degree) the property of withdrawing 
from water the substances dissolved in it—a circumstance 
to which the greater purity of springs coming from a 
great depth may be ascribed. Still this withdrawal of 
organic substances is obviously only a partial one, for our 
spring-water is never free from organic substances—a fact 
borne out by analysis, as well as by the putrescence to 
which spring-water is subject. This perfectly agrees with 
the new experiments of Saussure, who found in all waters an 
azotised substance soluble in water.” All these facts, there- 
fore, give quite another result from that which L. has arrived 
at, viz., that the water which filters through vegetable mould 
will always supply plants with some portion of organic 
matter. How far this substance influences the nutritive 
process of plants, was the proper question for Liebig to. 
examine, but which he has neglected to enter into. Saus- 
sure has, however, made some experiments on the absorp~ 
tion of humate of potash, and the extract of vegetable mould 
by the roots of plants (Bibl. Univ., vol. xxxvi. p. 340), 
Although these experiments do not strictly prove that this 
is really the case, under all circumstances 5 still they go so 
far as to prove, that it will be the case as long as the roots 
are healthy, and do not, by their putrescence, yield humous 
substances to the water. L., in a subsequent refutation 
of these experiments, ascribes their telling against him to 
an error of calculation! In another part of this chapter 
. 109), L. says, that humus, if not properly exposed to 
the influence of atmospheric air, will form with water a 
solution of a brown colour; but that no plants can grow 
in such soil, for the humus will consume all the ox gen 
contained in the air. It is (says Dr. Mohl), quite incon- 
ceivable how a man can write such things, when the in- 
spection of any peat moss will show the fallacy’of such 
assertions. 
The second argument which L. brings forth to support 
his favourite assertion of plants not feeding on humus, 
is based on physiological grounds. He first announces as 
a general principle, that, under the appellation of food, 
such substances only can be included, as being derived 
from external sources, can maintain all the vital functions, 
and which the organs of a plant can use for the formation 
of the substances peculiar to them. This ambiguous 
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