= 
1843.] 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. : 
161 
Notices to Correspondents. 
To our CorresponpEnTs.—In a publication of this nature, in 
which a large proportion of the signatures is in initials, it isnot 
wonderful that the same letters should be taken by very 
different writers, and that this should lead to some confusion. 
There is probably half-a-dozen contributors rejoicing in the 
nami S., in that of A., while all the other 
letters of the alphabet furnish their quota. Of the inconveni- 
ence of this system a rather unfortunate instance occurred las’ 
We have at least three R.s; one writing on Indian 
affairs, another on Roses, and a thirdon Planting. The public, 
knowing nothing of this, may possibly believe them to be all 
We therefore beg, in the 
public if those who wish to preserve an incognito would employ 
i ther than initials. 
‘When Grass land is broken up to plant 
Potatoes, it should always be trenched, and the sodburied deep. 
Ifit isploughed up, the best plan is to sow Oats for the first 
crop, as is invariably done in Scotland. The next year the sod 
will be rotten, and then a root crop may be taken and horse- 
hoed, which the clods would not admit of the first year.—M. | 
Saut.—J. D.—Where land is not thoroughly drained, it will 
perhaps be better to dress with salt such land only as is destined 
for Celery, Seakale, Asparagus, and similar crops.t 
Sririr oF! Tar.—A Subscriber will find an account of the man- 
ner in which spirit of tar i 
is applied to land at p. 821, of 1842. 
The proportions in which it is used are one gallon to every 60 
or 70 square yards 
Ciarcoar.—J. D.—Your plan of sowing charcoal-dust, which 
has long been exposed to the atmosphere, in drills with Onion- 
seed, isa good one.t 
Manurrs.—W. C, A.—Two hundred weight of guano will be 
enough for a dressing of an acre of Grass-land ; but if you can 
afford 3 cwt., so much the better. Try Potter’s guano against 
the foreign, half an acre of each. Pray r 
your soil; and as it is very heavy, eight barrowfuls would not 
be too much. i 
by Mixing it with water, and adding a little powdered nut-galls 
to it; when, if iron is present, a black colour will appear.t 
PLANTING.—Patience.—In planting the precipitous sides of cliffs 
the following rules should be observed :—1. 
loosen the soil in that 
hole as much as you can, and after planting leave the opening 
to catch and retain the rain. 3, Ashes, Yews, Oaks, or almost 
any hardy trees, will grow if such precautions are taken. If 
your soil is hot and dry, you must place Sphagnum, or some 
SMoKe.—Hmma.—It is impossible to advise your good neighbour 
how to consume his smoke without inspecting his means. If 
he can construct a descending flue, like those used in the stoves 
placed in the middle of the London shops, that wili do it effect. 
ually and cheaply.t 
RATING.—H. C.—Much obliged for your note; but we see no 
Vinzs.—M. C.—The best mode of training your young Portugal 
Vines, which are planted in pots, and have stems 3 ft. high and 
Nearly an inch in diameter, will be to allow all the buds to 
break, and, as soon as you can distinguish which are likely to 
Not more than six 
but the stove must have a good draught, otherwise the gas 
from the coke will escape and destroy the foliage of the Vines, 
upon the house.t——J. D.— 
Stems of Vines from cold, and at the same time not to give 
them an unsightly appearance, you may have square wooden 
; y moss. In 
Summer, these boxes may be removed without injury to the 
avi 
Mr. C. isa 
his believing his seeds to be genuine. 
myeared Contains about 40,000 seeds. + i ss 
CURA.—A, J.—This plant has not produced its fruit in Europe, 
8nd therefore some uncertainty exists as to its natural affinity, 
rit however probably belongs to the Cornaceous order. + 
Lantanas, 
meee cx Grass.—KAnpuos has sent us the dimensions of some 
nits of Carex (paniculata) growing in his neighbourhood, 
leaves, which, when gathered, was 7 ft. Gin. 
tone and was only of the average length. The height of the 
they Of balls from which the leaves spring exceeds 4 ft. and 
bee. circumference is fully 8 ft. The magnificent head of 
or ree falling to the ground on all Sides, with a diameter of 10 
2 it, must make these plants nearly equal in appearance, 
if not in usefulness, to the “Festuca flabellata.” It is a pity 
that so fine a Sedge should be of so little agricultural value. 
Jrom@a Learu.—W. X.Y. 4Z.—Instead of allowing your plant of 
Ipomeea Learii to remain unpruned, you should cut it back to 
a bud, which is likely to break strongly, within a foot or two o: 
the root, You had better excite it into growth in gentle heat. + 
THuNBERGIA ALATA.—A. K.— ieti i 
CyrILLa puLcuELLA.—F. L. C.—We are in possession of a paper 
relative to this plant, which will be published shortly.t 
TRopmoLuM TUBEROSUM.—A. K.—We have already stated the 
conditions under which this plant is most likely to flower at 
t 
GLoxintAs.—Francesca.—By starting your Gloxinias at this 
Season, and growing them in a hotbed until they show signs 
of flowering, you might perhaps be able to bloom them in a 
Warm corner of the greenhouse during the summer months. 
You had better try G. speciosa, Speciosa alba, candida, and 
caulescens, 
Camuiias.—M. W. K.—By all means repot your Camellias as 
oon as the blooms have fallen, if the roots are appearing 
through the bottoms of the pots.t 
Orance-rree: — Trochilus.—If you can plant your Orange-trees 
in the border of a conservatory, they will grow more luxuriantly 
than if they are kept in tubs.¢ 
Listanruus Russsuitanus.—Trochilus. —The seeds of this 
plant, if not sown as soonas ripe, will lie for a long time in the 
ground before they vegetate. ij O sow them at once 
in a close, damp atmosphere, where the temperature is not 
very high. The soil should be rather strong and shaded.t 
PELarconiums.— W. X, Y. Z.—A mixture of two parts turfy loam 
to one of well-decomposed cow-manure, not less than three 
years’ old, with a small portion of silver sand, will be found a 
Suitable compost for blooming Pelargoniums in,t——Trochilus, 
—We are unacquainted with the effect of nitrate of soda upon 
Pelargoniums. If applied to them, you had better first try it in 
the proportion of halfan ounce dissolved in six galls. of water. 
atience.—Having so many as 600 seedling Pelargoniums, 
We should advise you to economise space, not to e 
into larger pots unless they really require it. 
ers may not be so large, their 
800d or bad properties will still be apparent. The soilin which 
they are potted should not be so rich as that generally used 
for blooming Pelargoniums in.t 
Roses.— E. H.—Bourbon and Perpetual Roses, with their 
hybrids, may all be classed amongst the varieties of the Chinese 
Re They have been so repeatedly crossed that it is im- 
Possible to refer them to any particular species.t——A, K,— 
-+-—-—-Franeesea.—We recommend you to pro- 
est wall: Aimée 
Lisle, Marie Leonida, Garland, Well’s Noisette, Blai i, and 
common China. Donna Maria, Banksizeflora, and Rampant 
are good evergreen kinds.t 
SNowprors.—A Dabbler in Gardening.—KAnptcos says that if 
you will give your address, he will, at the season, supply you 
with any quantity of the single Snowdrop, as it grows in the 
Meadows near him in the greatest abundance. 
MELons.—Trochilus.—The Beechwood is an excellent Melon 
‘ and agood bearer.t 
Prorectine Frurt-rreks.—A. B.—A coping of deal affixed to 
the wall above fruit-trees will not materially protect the blos- 
soms from frost, unless it is very broad. Its ¢flicacy will en- 
tirely depend upon the direction of the wind or stillness of the 
night. 
Cappace.—K.—The Caesarean Cabbage is another name for the 
Cow Cabbage, In Jersey, favoured by the mildness of the 
winters there, this variety has been stated to attain 12 ft. in 
height, and many absurd exaggerations have been propa- 
gated. The produce in this climate is not equal in weight to 
that of the Dramhead Cabbage. Like others of the same tribe, 
it coe eae to be sown in August, and to be planted out 2} ft. 
art. || 
Toso1sk Ruvsaru.—We cannot spare more room for the dis- 
cussion of the merits of this variety, further than to say that 
Messrs. Youell and Co. state, in a letter before us, that they 
invariably find it full three weeks earlier than any other 
variety cultivatedby them. H."J. had better apply to them upon 
the subject. 
Booxs.—A Shropshire Subseriber.—M‘Intosh’s Practical Gar- 
dener will answer your purpose.t 
PLANTS IN Rooms.—J, K.—You will find our opinion of the 
effects produced by plants in sitting-rooms at p. 571, of 1842. 
L. Cy ‘one-dust is of little value as a top-dressing 
for lawns; unadulterated soot is a better material 
CANVAS FoR PRAMES.—A Young Gardener.—Our correspondent 
alluded to the article at p. 55. Canvas May be rendered durable 
and transparent, if prepared in the manner stated at p. 36; or 
by being painted over with heated linseed oil, as recommended 
at p. 139.¢ 
Beasee A S. R.—We are making inquiries, and will answer 
your question shortly. ¢ 
SnapEp Grounn.—Q. in the Corner.—In a plot of ground which 
dishes, and Spinach. | 
‘Your plants are Jas- 
Those of your seeds most worthy of | 
cultivation are—Nos. 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 1 20.4——P. Q.— 
—-—J. 
parcels sent out 
is the Grosse Romaine, only fit for stewing and drying, It is 
also called Carmélite Musquée. | —— W., Birmingham.—Beau- 
tiful and varied in colour as your seedling Cinerarias are, they 
are all deficient in the breadth of their petals, and they differ 
but slightly from those raised by other growers ; the two best 
are 1 and 8, the latter i 
Truvo.—Some of the Pelargoniums mentioned in your list 
have not (we believe) been flowered in the neighbourhood of 
Ernara.—In Mr, John Holland’s advertisement, inserted Mar. 4, 
for  Some’s Marchioness of Westminster,” read ‘¢ Lowe’s. 
trived too late for answers this week. 
Mr. PAXTON’S COTTAGER’S CALENDAR is now reprinted 
in the form of a small volume, for general distribution, price 3d. 
each copy; it may be ordered of all Booksellers. Gentlemen 
ishing to distribute copies among their cottage tenantry may 
have them delivered in any part of London, by remitting a Post 
office order to this Office, at the rate of 5s. for every 25 copies, 
NEWS OF THE WEEK. 
Tue trial of M‘Naughten for the murder of Mr. Drum- 
mond terminated on Saturday. The defence turned, not 
on any denial of the act, but on the state of the prisoner’s 
mind when he committed it. The medical witnesses exa- 
mined on this point unanimously deposed that the pri- 
soner was labouring under a delusion which impelled him 
to the act, and deprived him of all moral control, and 
consequently that he was not a responsible agent at the 
time. The Lord Chief Justice considered this testimony 
so strong as to compel him to stop the case, and the jury 
under his direction acquitted the prisoner on the ground 
of insanity. This result has been received with much as 
tonishment ; and a general impression is abroad— 
strengthened by subseq threats of assassination ad- 
dressed to Sir R. Peel and Mr. Goulburn—that some 
legislative measure is necessary to protect the public 
from that form of partial lunacy which is now recognised 
as an exemption from punishment. The subject has been 
submitted to both Houses of Parliament, by Lord 
Brougham in the Lords, and by Mr. Mackinnon 
in the Commons ; and the Lord Chancellor has given 
notice that he will bring the question before the House 
on Monday, with a view to some immediate provision.— 
The debates in Parliament this week have been unusually 
long and important. On Tuesday, Mr. Fox Maule brought 
forward his motion on the Church of Scotland, support- 
ing the claim of the church toa jurisdiction independent 
of the Civil courts, and to the abolition of patronage, or 
at least to such a recognition of the principle of non-intru- 
sion, as will satisfy the people of Scotland and prevent 
the threatened secession of a large body of ministers 
from the establishment. The motion was opposed by 
Government on the ground that the claims of the church 
are inconsistent with the constitution; and that if they 
were conceded the House would overrule the supremacy of 
the Law, by which the church itself was established. Sir 
R. Peel declared that a settlement might certainly be 
effected consistently with the privileges and rights of the 
Church of Scotland, but that it could hardly be done if the 
present demands were persisted in. After two nights’ 
debate the House negatived the motion by a majority of 
135. On Thursday a series of resolutions was submitted 
to both Houses condemnatory of Lord Ellenborough’s 
preclamation, and particularly denouncing his letter to 
the Princes of India in regard to the gates of Somnauth 
as encouraging idolatry and Paganism. After a long 
debate the resolutions were negatived in the Lords by a 
majority of 58, and in the Commons by a majority of 85, 
From France we learn that the important debate in the 
Chamber of Deputies on the Secret Service Bill has been 
carried by Ministers, after a struggle of four days, by a 
decisive majority. On the amendment, which was first 
disposed of, the division gave a majority-of 45 to 
Ministers ; while the Bill itself was carried by a majority 
of 89, This result was altogether unexpected, and 
according to the Government Papers it was due 
in a great measure to the speech of M. Guizot, 
which appealed so powerfully to the reason of the 
Deputies, that many who had previously been unsettled, 
were induced to become supporters of Government.—Our 
Spanish news relates chiefly to the progress of the elec- 
tions, and to the prospects of parties at the ensuing crisis. 
The preparatory movements in Madrid have been fayour- 
able to the Government, but many of the provincial towns 
have returned Opposition candidates, and the final result 
is considered to be extremely doubtful. From Portugal we 
learn that the Government, on learning the intention of 
the British Ministry to suspend the negotiations on 
the tariff, have at length resolved to propose further 
reductions on articles of British produce, and there is 
now some chance that the long-pending question will be 
brought to a settlement.—From the United States we 
learn that the Bill for the occupation of the Oregon terrj- 
tory has passed the Senate by a majority of 2, and hag 
been submitted to the House of Representatives.—We 
have accounts from the West Indies of a disastrous earth- 
quake, which has laid waste the islands of St. Thomas, 
Antigua, and Montserrat, and has been felt, it is feared, in 
others, from which, at present, we have no advices. —The 
India mail has been expected for two or three days past, 
but we have not yet received any tidings of its ay al at 
Marseilles. 
Wome Netws, 
Counr.—Her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied 
by the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, returned 
to Buckingham Palace, from Claremont, on ursday. 
During their stay at C Temont, the Queen and Prince 
Albert took daily exercise on foot in the Park, and her 
Majesty continues in excellent health.—The Hon. Miss 
Stanley has succeeded the Hon. Miss Devereux as one of 
the Maids of Honour in Waiting on the Queen.—The 
contemplated marriage between his Serene Highness the 
Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and the 
Princess Augusta of Cambridge is not expected to be g0- 
lemnised until the middle of May. The bridegroom-elect 
