— 
rn 
576 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 
[Ave. 19, 
be hoped that these will come to perfection, in order that this 
handsome species may be increased from native seed. 
IRebiewos. 
Dr, Justus Liebig, in his Relation to Vegetable Physi- 
ology. By Dr. Hugo Mohl. (Dr. Justus Liebig’s 
Verhaltniss zur Pflanzen-Physiologie.) Tubingen. 
“Frues. 1843. 
(Continued from page 560.) 
It is, therefore, clear (continues Dr. M.) that L. has 
tompletely failed to prove that plants do not use humus 
for their food. Besides, the question whether plants feed 
on organic or inorganic substances, was mooted long be- 
fore the publication of L.’s work. Although it is certain 
that the chief portion of plants is formed by the assimila- 
tion of inorganic substances, yet, the collateral questions, 
whether they receive organic as well as inorganic matter ; 
whether all or only some plants require organic substances 
for their existence,—these questions are far from an ulti- 
mate and scientifically-corroborated solution. Conclu- 
sions, moreover, merely based on uncertain observations, 
or made merely at random, cannot be of value, and ought 
to have been replaced by minute and well-devised expe- 
riments. In this manner, L. might have become emi- 
nently useful to science. He professes (it is true,) to 
despise minute experiments ; nevertheless, the Appendix 
to his Work contains the reprint of some made by Hartig, 
which he adduced in corroboration of his doctrine. But 
it is unworthy of a great chemist (concludes Dr. M.) to 
mix up experiments of men like Davy or Saussure, with 
those of a gentleman like Hartig, who, we are sure, does 
not aim at the distinction to be considered a chemisty—a 
science foreign to his pursuits. 
‘The experiments which haye been hitherto made relat- 
ing to the question of the organic or inorganic nourish- 
ment of plants, may be divided into three classes. 1st, 
Plants were reared in soil destitute of humus, either with 
distilled water or such as contained carbonic acid. Under 
both these circumstances they do not prosper ; still, this 
does not prove the necessity of organic food, because they 
are here equally deprived of other inorganic substances, 
which they are in contact with, under common circum- 
stances. 2d, Or, plants have been reared in powdered 
ebarcoal. L. says, (p.58,) that they will attain in this ma- 
terial the most luxuriant growth, flower, and bear fruit ; 
but he merely quotes in evidence the experiments of 
Lucas, reprinted in his Appendix. But the reasoning of 
L., under this head, is illusory. Lucas speaks of vigorous 
vegetation of plants reared in a mixture of charcoal 
powder and decayed leaves ; of such as are grown in char- 
coal powder alone, he merely says that they speedily become 
rooted. Of their further vegetation he says nothing ; and 
it has been proved by the experiments of Zuccarini that 
plants will not grow at all, or very badly, in this substratum. 
The same is stated by Saussure (Bibl. univ. xxxvi., p. 352), 
who relates, that Peas reared in charcoal did not grow 
much better than those planted in mere sand. The third 
class of experiments relates to the question, whether plants 
will absorb organic substances dissolved in water, aud 
especially humates ; and whether they will prosper under 
these circumstances. The experiments of Saussure, Davy, 
and Sprengel are affirmative; but L. has reprinted (as 
stated before) those of Hartig, which are negative. The 
whole question, therefore, is, to say the most of it, one yet 
undecided. At any rate, it cannot be solved by experi- 
ments upon a single species of plants; and it is begging 
the question to state (p. 122) that, ‘ All plants are the 
same in the chemical nature of their nutritive process,’’ 
Dr. Mohl then proceeds, at some length, to refute this 
unqualified assertion of Liebig. There is a considerable 
number, he says, of true parasites, which require for their 
food the juices of living plants. It cannot be doubted 
that such plants require substances of a peculiar chemical 
combination and quality for their food. Many such para. 
sites are not green, and therefore cannot decompose car- 
bonic acid, so that their food must necessarily consist of 
ub already assimilated by other plants, and stand 
in the same relation to the mother plant as the flower and 
fruit of other vegetables to their respective branches. Now 
this sort of nutrition from substances derived from living 
plants is also proper to a very large number of parasites 
(Loranthacze) which are quite green, and therefore 
provided with organs for decomposing carbonic acid. Such 
plants are entirely similar in structure to those which grow 
in soil ; but they must, of necessity, possess the capacity of 
feeding on sub alread imilated by other plants. 
To these ¢rue parasites are to be added the spurious para- 
sites, which feed on decaying organic matter, amongst 
which some have green leaves, and others are destitute of 
that colour. The latter can have no capacity for decom- 
posing carbonic acid, forming organic matter from it and 
water. The same is also the case with many other plants 
of a green colour, which, although they decompose 
carbonic acid, still are proved by their place of abode to be 
dependent for their food on organic matter in a state of 
decomposition, From this series of plants ‘there is but a 
step toward those growing in peat and heath-soil, &c. I 
do not mean, concludes Dr. Mohl, to prove by these state- 
ments that all plants feed on organic substances ; my 
object is rather to explain that the introduction of organic 
matter into the system of vegetation is not, as Liebig 
asserts, necessarily detrimental to the economy of plants ; 
and to show that itis by far preferable to have recourse to 
Positive and precise experiments, than to indulge in 
groundless and general remarks and theories, 
(To.be continued.) 
A 
The Injury and Waste of Corn, from the present Prac- 
tice of too thick Sowing. By Hewitt Davis, Farmer and 
Land-agent. London. Waller. et < 
Tuts little Tract treats of a yery important point in Agri. 
culture, which has been long a subject of discussion among 
practical farmers, each appealing to experience in support 
of his own opinion. It is well known that the late Lord 
Leicester, a very high authority, strongly reeommended 
sowing plenty of seed, and maintained that Wheat should 
not be allowed to tiller, but that a single strong stem from 
each seed would produce a more abundant crop and a much 
more regular sample. 
Notwithstanding this, we are inclined to side with Mr. 
Hewitt Davis. With some exceptions, which may be very 
good subjects of experiments, where the tillage is perfect, 
the land clean, and the soil mellow, even less seed than 
Mr. Davis recommends will produce a plentiful crop ; but 
careful hoeing is essential, just when the Wheat tillers, 
that the stems may all be equally vigorous. With respect to 
spring crops, there may still be some doubt, but careful 
experiments on various soils would soon settle that point. 
Agriculturists are much indebted to Mr. Davis for draw- 
ing their attention to this subject ; and we recommend his 
Tract to their notice, hoping that he will more fully com- 
municate to the public any further information he may 
obtain, especially the result of experiments made on 
different soils. — AZ. 
Erratum.—In our review of Baxter’s British Pheenogamous 
Botany, at p. 560, the continuation of the title should have 
been—“ or Figures and Descriptions o' enera of British 
Flowering Plants,’ d not ‘fof the German and British 
Flowering Plants. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS for the ensuing week. 
M reminded by the advertisement of ‘‘ Dutch Hyacinths,”’ in 
the last Chronicle, that to do proper justice to forced Hyacinths, 
expected to bloom by Christmas, they ought to he potted not later 
than the middle of August. It is true we manage to flower them as 
early as Christmas, after potting them as late as the end of Septem- 
ber and beginning of October ; but this is too much for the bulbs— 
the flowers are not as fine 2s from early potting, and it takes two 
seasons’ good nursing to bring them round again, so that they will 
make their appearance among the early spring bulbs in the beds and 
borders of the flower-garden. They manage differently in Holland, 
where they know the nature of the plant so much better than we 
do, especially as exemplified in our practice. There, from time out 
mind, the first erop of forcing Hyacinths is potted about the 
first week in August. They provide against exciting the foliage till 
the pots are full of roots, by a thick covering of tan, leaf-mould, or 
something of the kind. In about six weeks the pots are full of 
roots; they are then taken to cold frames and kept close to the glass, 
be no want of circulars through Post-office six weeks 
regular planting season in the open ground i: 
etter, however, for all parties if they could be issued six weeks in 
advance of the planting season. Spéaking of bulbs, it is high time 
at the Narcissuses which were taken u ne, to make room 
for other plants, were now planted where they are to flower next 
April and May; and as they do not push up till after the present 
crops are oyer or killed by frost, they will be no eyesore in that 
respect. Meantime their roots will push deep into the soil, and he 
better able to supply the requisite nourishment at the proper time 
than if left out of the ground till October. Narcissi that are left in 
the ground from year to year are now making fresh roots actively, 
though no signs of vegetation are apparent in the bulbs. This 
tells us plainly enough that we should not put off planting them till 
the time of planting Tulips. 
I,—KITCHEN-GARDEN AND ORCHARD, 
In-door Department. 
Pinery.—After the August shifting, young Pines generally make 
more growth in the next three months than during the rest of the 
year; 2s soon, therefore, as the pots get full of roots, if the weather 
is at all fine, give the plants a good dose of liquid manure about 
once a week, till near the end of September, and let the pits have 
plenty of air in the morning, shutting them’ up early in the after- 
noon, in a moist atmosphere. 
Vinery.—If a man had no more to do now than to attend to the 
Vineries he might make a tour on the Continent, to see their vine- 
yards, Give the ripe and ripening fruit plenty of air as long as the 
ther is fine; shut up close in dull weather, use a little fire when 
dampness threatens, and guard against insects, birds, and other 
animals, ° 
Out-door Department. 
I do not recollect anything in particular that requires to be done 
now in the kitchen-garden, except the usual routine of keeping the 
ground clean, and trenching vacant pieces as their crops are cleare 
off. I fear I have done injustice to the Prince Albert Pea, in saying 
it was not so good as the Warwick, as I see they have found it the 
best early kind at the Horticultural Society’s garden, where they 
pay more attention to these things than we do in the country. The 
British Queen Pea, on our light soils, is the best of all kinds, and 
will drive Knight’s Tall Marrow (is it not the same?) out of the 
garden ; it is fully as tall, is in flower when part of the crop is quite 
ripe for seed, and the Pea is larger and heavier than the Knightian ; 
but who ean find stakes for these, or props to keep up the rows after 
the stakes are covered? The most profitable for a private family is 
Knight’s Dwarf Green Marrow, if the soil suits it, but all Peas are 
fastidious in this respect. 
CauLirLowers.—Before the end of the week sow a bed of these ; 
and at the same time a pinch of Red Cabbage seeds, for planting 
out a row or two next . 
Sprinacu.—Winter Spinach is always sown at the same time as 
Cauliflowers for spring planting. Onions, Savoys, Red, and two or 
three sorts of Cabbage, are, or used to be, sown also at the same time. 
RCHARD.—We now wait patiently for the crops, and very little 
work is now required in the Orchard but watching and preserving 
the crops. Grafts may still be prepared for exportation to distant 
arts. Ihave just prepared some for Bengal, to go in sawdust, vid 
the Cape of Good Hope. Intending emigrants to New Zealand, or 
the Directors of the New Zealand Company, should try this mode also, 
1l.—FLOWER-GARDEN AND SHRUBBERY. 
Tn-di t. 
flowering, between this and Christmas; such, for instance, as 
Clerodendrons, Justicias, Roellias, Vineas, &c. 
the fresh soil, they will is 
any other system. This would give more room for woody plants in 
winter, and the younger the plants of soft-wooded kinds are the 
better they always flower. If any of these are too small for your 
ideas of a fine specimen, propagate more of them, and plant half-a- 
dozen of them in a pot at the final shifting for bloom. 
.—No two are managed alike anywhere 
ConsErvArory.—One of the best autumn-plants for the con- 
servatory is Lisianthus Russellianus. Last year’s seedlings of it 
are now in their prime, and will continue in bloom till November. 
T have known an individual flower of it keep open for 23 days. 
does best when treated as a 
would now he better along with them in the open sun 
plants of Coronilla glauca are planted out in a border, to make them 
fine specimens, the sooner you take them up and pot them the better, 
as they go on making young wood till overtaken by frost, without 
ripening wood for producing bloom. If they are full-grown speci- 
mens, cramped in pots, give them plenty of water and expose them 
to the sun in the open air. See, also, to all plants intended for forcing 
next winter and spring, and attend to them according to their habits. 
Aciicia armata always succeeds best when planted out in a borde 
from May to October, while the plants are young. ‘Chere is nomore 
room to name individual plants to-day. 
‘LOWER-GARDEN,—One wo 
eather near London for the week ending Ang. 17, 1843, a8 
erved at the Horticultural Garden, Chiswick, 
fess Wind. | Rain, 
SA Max. | Min, ) Mean, | ———|-—— 
day 11 73 46° | 59.0 N. 
Saturday 12 7 47 | 6x0 2 
junday 13 78 60 69.0 
Monday 14 79 59 
‘Tuesday 15 29.923, 82 60 GL 
Wednesday 16 | 30.040 era 55 16 
Thursday 80 55 
| 
Average 17 E 714 51.6 66.0 a7 
qAugust 11, Very fine throughout, 
12, Very fine; cloudless and exceedingly fine 
3. Very fine throughout; overcast and warm, 
Hazy; light clouds and fine; cloudy and mild. 
‘azy; sultry at noon; light clouds, becoming dusky: 44p.m-, 
in; at 5 thunder and lightning, continuing at 
clear at night. 
nights 
16. Densely overcast; 7—8 a.m. thunder and lightning with very 
heavy rain; 2—3 p.m., heavy showers; clear at night. 
clear at night. 
Foggy; very fine; sultry 
33 above the average. 
17. 
‘Mean temperature of the we 
State of the Weather at Chiswick during the last 17 years, for the ensuing 
Week ending August 26, 1843. 
; Prevaill ind: 
No. of | Prevailing Win 
Aver. in | Greatest és 
Mean| Years in ‘ Tce lag wl ts esl 
Lowest | ‘1 hia quantity alla lElEIF 
Temp. | TemP) which it | oF Rain, lel alae 
oaada. | all alc) al al 88 
52.7 | 63.1 A j—| 1)—] 4] 1 
60.2 | 61.5 5 J—l a] 4} 4) 4 “i 
53.7 | 62.6 8 2] 1}—| 3) 6] 81 8 
49.0 | 60.7 9 1}—|-| 2) 3) 9) 3 
48.9 60.1 10 3) | 4} 3} 3) i 
B17 61.2 8 —} 1] 1} 4} 4] 4 2 
48.9 | 60.7 1} s|_| 6] 4) 3 
Dist, 1885, 
‘The highest temperature during the above periodjoccurred on the 21st, 189? 
0, 
—thermometer 88°; and the lowest on the 26th, 1837—thermometer 
REPORT ON COVENT-GARDEN MARKET, 
For the Week ending August 18, 1843. af 
In consequence of the continued hot weather, late out-do 
fruit is now becoming more plentiful, and many kinds 0! 
ables inferior. Pines are excellent and abundant. Amongs'! ck 
Grapes are very fine bunches of the White Muscat and Bla 
Hamburgh. Peaches and Nectarines from the open wall ‘ 
from 3s, to 8s. per doz. Apricots are plentiful, and sell from eb 
oO 4s. per doz. Greengage, More 
fast, and fetch from 4s. to 8s. 6d. per half-sieve. Morello Chi 1e88 
8 Gooseberries and Currants are 1¢ 
plentiful, Filberts are brought in great quantities, 
0s. to 55s. per 100 lbs. Cucumbers are inferior. 
Cauliflowers is sufficient for the dem ther. 
and Turnips, they begin to show the effects of the hot a ‘lin 
French Beans are excellent, and Windsor Beans are supp A vat 
abundance. Celery is improving; the solid Red selling at oatale 
s. per dozen bundles. nions 
pelegrinum, Eccremocarpus scaber, Bignonia Venue ricer 
and perpetual Roses, Sweet Peas, 
Picotecs, and Carnations. ¥ 
PRICES, Saronvay, August 19, 1843,—FRUITS -— 
Pine Apple, per Ib 36 to6s | Raspberries, per gallon,,7d to 14, 
hothouse, per Ib., 9 to 6s Cherries, Morello, standards, 
sieve, 
.y 1s to 25 
Wall, per Toy 18 10,28 4. gy 
to 9s 
8 
er hfe 
» per dozen, 12s to 21s 
ines, per dozen, 125 to 2la — ‘ avy Bi 
ots, per doz., 1s to 4s Apples, new, per hE Sys 1 
zen, 1s 
pric 
Figs, per doz., 6s 
Melons, each 2s to Gs 
— Pp 5 
Cucumbers, per bi 
Gherkins, per 1,000, 58 to 7 
er peck, 6s 
er punnet, 2 
Green, per bk-sv-» 108 
3 Agta Lmonds, per pe 
Gooseberries, p hf-sy,28to 33 Ee 
Currants, per half-sieve, 39 to enone, ae 
= aR Beene aro tos 
4s 6d 
98a Gd to BS — Ba 
Red, for per #¥, if 
for dessert, p- f-sy+, 48 to Os 
— Cob, 12 
Filberts, English, p 100Ibs., 6081070 
