a 
1843.] 
THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. 
143 
feet in circumference. Some of them are nearly two 
hundred feet high. The timber is not of good quality, 
but it is used in building ; it soon perishes when exposed 
to the weather. ‘This is said to be the case with all the 
other kinds of wood on the island.”” 
But we have already exceeded our prescribed limits ; 
and for the rest we must refer our readers to the work 
itself, which is filled with details such as these. 
A Treatise on the Cultivated Grasses, and other Herbage 
and Forage Plants, By Peter Lawson & Son. 8yo. 
Blackwood. 
Tuts little work commences by informing us that the 
culture of plants for the food of domestic herbivorous 
animals has always been confined to nations distinguished 
in the practice of agriculture and other arts attendant on 
civilisation; and that although the cultivation of the 
cereal grains, pulse, Flax, &c., was carefully attended to 
by the Egyptians, Jews, and Greeks, yet the growth of 
plants for the exclusive purpose of feeding cattle did not 
appear to have been practised prior to the period when 
the power of Rome had reached its climax. Then—in 
addition to the cereal Grasses—Lucerne, red Clover, and 
other leguminous plants, were cultivated. 
of the Roman empire, however, this branch of husbandry 
was the first to decline, and, if practised at all, was only 
carried on to a limited extent for many centuries. 
The culture of herbage-plants appears to have been 
introduced into England from the Low Countries towards 
the middle of the 17th century ; which period is further 
distinguished by the cultivation of the true Grasses for 
hay and pasture, for which purpose Rye-grass was first 
employed. The culture of this, however, as well as of 
all true Grasses, did not extend for several years, because 
it ‘* produced many small hair-like roots, which filled the 
soil, and therefore could not but be very impoverishing 
and hurtful thereto.’ It was only towards the middle 
of the 18th century that the attention of practical agri- 
culturists was directed towards the growth of the most 
useful Grasses; and it was at’ this period that different 
terms were adopted to distinguish between Clovers and 
true Grasses, the former being called artificial, and the 
latter natural Grasses. his interest in the cultivation 
of natural Grasses was increased by prizes, offered by the 
“London Society for the encouragement of Arts and 
Manufactures,’ for seeds of the Meadow Fox-tail, Meadow 
Fescue, and Sweet Vernal Grasses, gathered by hand ; and 
for the greatest quantity of land sown with Vernal Grass 
in drills; a gold medal being likewise offered ‘‘to the 
person who should give the most satisfactory account of 
the different properties and comparative merit of any two 
or more of the several natural Grasses.”’ Both in Scot- 
land and Ireland the introduction of artificial and natural 
Grasses appears to have been of much later date than in 
England ; but from the inereased facilities of communi- 
cation which have of late years been effected, improve- 
ments may now be said to go on simultaneously in both 
countries. 
Several of the succeeding pages are devoted to an enu- 
meration of the most deserving additions which have been 
made to herbage and forage plants within the last forty 
years ; during which period 29 valuable species or varieties 
ave been introduced or brought into more general notice. 
Many exotics, as well as native Grasses were, in 1820, 
experimented upon under the direction of the late Duke 
of Bedford, at Woburn Abbey ; the results of which are 
contained in the Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis,” a 
work which first directed attention to this valuable tribe. 
The remaining portion of the Pamphlet is one of no 
ordinary interest to agriculturists, since it includes Tables 
of the most approved Grasses—showing the quantity of 
seed required of each, upon various soils, for sowing an 
imperial acre. These Tables, thirteen jn number, are 
each adapted for a different purpose ; for instance, the 
first enumerates those kinds best suited for alternate hus- 
bandry ; the second, those for permanent pastures + they 
are rendered still more valuable by the addition of a brief 
description of all the Grasses and plants recommended in 
em. In a horticultural point of view they are also 
useful, as they comprise a good list of Grasses for fine 
lawns, bowling-greens, &c. 
With regard to obtaining a Corn crop during the first 
season in which the seed is sown, the Authors make the 
following remarks :—‘‘ It is not our purpose here to dis- 
cuss the question, as to whether it is better to sow Grass 
seeds for permanent pasture with or without a Corn crop. 
Both systems have their advocates, as wellas their advan- 
tages and defects, and depend, in a great measure, on the 
varied circumstances which present themselves in prac- 
tice ; and therefore, in the following tables, separate 
columns are given for each of these methods ; it being 
always expedient to sow a somewhat larger portion of 
seeds without than with a Corn crop 3 and, in that case, 
itis farther advisable, for affording shelter to the young 
plants, to add a bushel of Rye to the mixture, when sown 
in autumn, and a bushel of Barley, when sown in spring ; 
to be depastured or cut green along with the young Grass 
crop. 
We may state, in conclusion, that the Tables and de- 
scriptions appear to have been carefully compiled; and 
that to persons interested in laying down land in Grass— 
whether for pasturage, lawns, or covers for game—this 
work will be @ useful guide. 
On the Food of Plants and Drill Husbandry of Turnips. 
idgway. 1842. 
Turs little book may be useful to those who desire to 
have some notion of the manner in which different 
Manures are supposed to act, and who have not leisure 
p' 
or inclination to enter deeply into such matters, One 
¥ 
object, no doubt, of the put lieatt is to 
Lance's Manure, which, if properly prepared, is of use 
on light sandy soils.—/. 
1.—Remarks on thorough Drainage and deep Ploughing. 
By James Smith, fEsq., of Deanston Works, near 
Stirling. Oliver and Boyd, 8vo. 6th Edition. 
2,—Observations on Thorough Drainage as the Basis“ of 
Agricultural Prosperity. By O. O. Roberts. Simpkin 
and Marshall, 12mo. 
3.—Drainage ; an Article in the last Number of the 
“ Westminster Review.” 
Tue rapid and extensive sale of Mr. Smith’s excellent 
pamphlet, the appearance of others in quick succession, 
speeches at public dinners, and reiterated articles in 
| newspapers and reviews, all show the great interest that 
is taken by the public in one at least of the means which 
science and common sense point out as conducive to the 
augmented productiveness of land. People have at last 
found out that swampy fields and roads fetlock deep in 
mud are not merely a personal annoyance, but a serious 
injury to their pockets, if not to their constitutions, and 
all the world is turning its attention to draining. May 
the good work prosper ! 
We fear, however, unless the works in progress are 
conducted on’ sound principles, and executed in a sub- 
stantial manner, cases of disappointment will be frequent, 
and the expense incurred will be heavier than was either 
necessary or anticipated. 
‘We therefore strongly recommend all those who are 
occupied in the work of drainage to read the two pam- 
phlets at the head of this article. Mr. Smith, of Deanston, 
may be called the father of good drainage, and his advice, 
the result of long and successful practice, deserves the 
most implicit confidence. Mr. Roberts’s work may be 
regarded as a sort of commentary on it, and contains 
much sound advice, with many useful directions. The 
subject has so often been treated of lately in our columns, 
that we need not dwell upon it further. 
With regard to the article in the Westminster Review, 
ascribed, we believe, to Mr. Bailey Denton, we have only 
to state that it is ably written, and full of important gen- 
eralization. He insists more particularly upon the import- 
ance of saving the refuse matters of towns, of combining 
sewerage with land-drainage, and of converting the latter 
into a means of conveying the former into the country. All 
these considerations are of the first degree of interest, 
and cannot be too frequently or forcibly impressed upon 
the minds, not of the landed interest alone, but of the 
rate-payers and inhabitants of towns. If the refuse 
matters now wasted in every town in Great Britain were 
taken care of, they alone would furnish no inconsiderable 
sum in diminution of the poor-rates 5 and if a diminution 
took place from such a cause, it would be immediately 
attended with other ad ges, the most i di of 
which would be a reduction of fever cases, and a further 
saving in doctor’s bills. ‘The newspapers tell us that the 
contents of the cesspools in Paris have just been sold for 
22,0007. a year. Why cannot we do the same? Are we 
too rich—or too proud—or too ignorant ? 
— 
The Year Book of Facts, for 1843 (Tilt and Bogue), 
has appeared. We expressed a favourable opinion of the 
volume for 1842, and we find ourselves justified in speaking 
in the same manner of the present. Such works are of 
great use as depositories of little facts which are too 
recent to be incorporated in formal works on science ; 
and which, till that happens, are forgotten by the mass of 
mankind. The matter is clearly arranged, well condensed, 
and rendered available by a good index. Among the 
various kinds of information which it contains are par- 
ticulars of the completion of the Artesian well of Grenelle, 
after eight years’ labour; of Liebig’s views of Animal 
Physiology ; and of Bischof’s investigations of the Cause 
of Tropical Miasmata. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS for the ensuing week. 
Reanine ornamental plants from seeds is one of the most 
interesting and, in some cases, the most difficult occupation in 
which the amateur or ardener can be engaged at 
Every precaution may have been taken in sowing the 
seeds in suitable composts and in well-drained:pots or boxes, yet 
they either donot yegetate at all, or, if they ‘do, a'great portion-of 
them often damp off without any apparent causes ‘guard against 
this damping off itis a good plan to prepare ‘the*composts for 
seed-sowing and propagation in the previous: summer, b 
exposing them in thin layers to the sun, and by turning them. over 
frequently, till all their natural dampness is evaporated, and then 
to put them by in an open airy shed for future use. In large 
establishments you will always see a portion of loam, sand, and 
peat thus prepared in open sheds. Florists often dry their 
seed-compost over the fire in an iron vessel; this is a ready 
way of procuring: it free from all extraneous matters, but for 
general purposes 18 not so effective as the former mode. 
Efter all these precautions, if you water the seed-pots with pond- 
water, alias liquid mud, or with that which has stood a long 
gq 
surface Of @ 
either the soil or water, perhaps both, are at fault. Ifthe seeds 
soil over them may easily be removed, or the seeds may be sown 
ina fresh pot. In the case of very small seeds, let the soil get 
and with a small stick make a row of small holes round 
2 
4 
2. 
@ 
3 
8 
2 
2 
the condition 
they may be filled up, after a few days, with 
jmbibe another portion of the superfluous moist! 
act as so Many drains. As soon as the young a aa 
Sprinkle  Jittle dry sand occasionally over the surface: if 
fe hot from the top of the fiue, all the better, provided it is nottoo 
hot for the young plants. After a few days you may transplant 
them in little colonies of half-a-dozen oF ten seedlings each, 
removing little patches of the soilalong with them, to keep them 
together and to establish them on the surface of a fresh pot; you 
can fill in between these little patches with equal quantities of 
sand and peat in a dry powdery condition; and as soon as the 
plants he strong enough you can transplant them singly in the 
usual way. 
I,—KITCHEN-GARDEN AND ORCHARD, 
shading them till their new roots were established. At the spring 
potting the whole stock is to be regulated, some of the fruiters 
fresh surfaced, new beds made, and the whole re-arranged 
according to theirsizes. From this time liquid manure must be 
given occasionally, say at every other watering. 
Vinery.—Another useful treatise on the cultivation of this 
fruit has lately been added by Mr. Roberts. I never recollect 
such an unfavourable February for early forcing and for gar- 
dening in general. A large clas will now begin to force Vines 
by shutting up their houses and keeping them about 50° during 
the day, and by letting out the fires at night for the first fortnight 
or three weeks, according to the state of the weather. The other 
stages require the usual routine already described. 
Pracu-House.—These, as their leaves are now fully expanded, 
require large portions of air, and the atmosphere kept steady 
and moist. 
Cunrry-mouse.—Same as the Peach-house. When we do get 
a sunny day, see if the trees want a little shade; their leaves 
t. 
F1es.—These require to be constantly kept moist at the roots, 
ir froi f any of the shoots have 
not shown fruit, or if the fruit has dropped off, pinch back the 
shoots to two eyes, and they will show fruit with their next 
growth. i 
SrrRAWBERRIES.—The earliest crop of these will have no 
unless we get a sudden change to sunny weather. 
Kidney Beans and Cucumbers suffer less from dull weather than 
SEEDLINGS.—All young seedlings of hardy plants, such as 
Beans, &c., raised in 
e them to 
plants after they come up. It will not be requisite that I 
should occupy much space Wi 
known as these, especially as the subject is so fully treated of in 
former volumes. 
Out-door Department. 
This and the following month are proverbially the 
i the gardener. To save 
space, I shall divide the sowings into two classes: those for per- 
m i Seakale, Rhubarb, 
Onions, Carrots, and Parsneps, &c., and those required for suc- 
i As soon as the soil is 
in a fit state, the permanent crops above may all be sown 
except the two last, Carrots and Parsneps; these will answer 
better a month hence. *e 
TurNirs.—The Stone and Early Dutch Turnips may now be 
ut sow a few every ten days for the 
sin preference to a large breadth at once, as the 
AGES.—A few seeds of the early varieties may now be 
o Cauliflowers, White 
ts. 
Orcuarp.—Little is to be done here now except finishing the 
nailing of Peaches and Apricots, and providing for them against 
II.—FLOWER-GARDEN- AND SHRUBBERY. 
t. 
Sroves.—Orchidaceous and other stove plants which have 
been kept in a temperature of 60° during winter, will require a 
gradual increase to 65°. Young or w' st ) a 
had better be kept in the coolest part of the house, till all their 
buds or eyes are fairly r 
puds may take the lead, and the rest may not start at all. It is 
too soon yet to increase the temperature for the hardier Orchi- 
dace in the intermediate stove. Cuttings made now of the 
to pot as the plants begin to grow. 
Gye waousas= Ero nis time to the end of May, some of the 
tribes here will want potting, beginning with seedlings and stove 
pots. The 
form a goodly caiendar of jtself for the next two months. 
Conservatory.—An unknown friend has sent me a long. list 
of blue-flowering plants for the conservatory, which wiil be 
Hardly any air could of late be given to 
this house, owing to the dampness of the atmosphere, and con- 
Pirs AND Frames.—It is now too late to graft Bele 
drons or Camellias. By the time they would be fairly united, 
nh 
of their next growth is fully ripe, that will be the, ee any in thi 
year for this work, for which I shall give ample dire E 
cleaning; grass, gravel, borders, beds, 9% - : 
where alterations are going forward. Hee aad Heat 
ai oaeible;” if otm ee NDR eee terra ene 
stand still for a time. When digging 
arcades of Rosesy: recollect what has been Sa lately about 
Rose-stocks in the Chronicle. 1 shall probably have a paragraph 
se. Kk. ae 
on Rose. stocks NEE) svarishere: suoul now be snislied for tiie 
present.—D. Beaton, Shrubland Park Gardens, Ipswich. 
ner near London for the Week ending Mar, 2, 1843, as ob- 
State of the Weather fe Garden, Chiswick. = 
the Horticultural 
_| Wind. | Rain 
29,326 
28.818 
29,004 
ar. 
Wednesday 1 | 29.851 
‘Thursday 30,029 
Average’! 2 
. Foggy ; cold easterly ha 
25. Overcast; some par 
es 
; stormy with snow. 
rai 
ys 
dark hazy clouds ; 
barometer very lo 
26. Sleet; overcast; 
27. Stormy and wet; 
in. 
hazy with rain. 
ionally ; frosty at night. 
gne with sun ; cloudy; clear and frosty 
‘ean temperature of the week 64° below the average: 
traffic between this house and the cold pits would - 
