648 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 
[Serr. 16, 
unsupported by experiment, or by exact reasoning on 
the nutritive processes of plants. 
Liebig has himself felt that arguments founded on 
fact are required for the support of his theory, and he has 
pitched upon Mount Vesuvius to supply it. He dwells, 
therefore (page 131), on the luxuriant crops in the environs 
of this mountain, in a “ soil, which, according to its origin, 
does not contain the least trace of organic matter, and 
still is considered as the very type of fertility.” We 
ee however, no chemical analysis of this soil, 
derived as it is from volcanic cinders, neither does 
LL. say anything on the subject, but merely appeals to its 
eneral volcanic origin. But it would be a surprising 
thing (says Dr. Mohl), if a soil, on which, for many cen- 
turies past, most extensive farming operations (Dreisch- 
wirthschaft ?) have been carried on, should be destitute 
ofhumus. This could be only the case, if, after every 
few years, it was again covered so deeply with the ashes of 
constantly new eruptions, that the ancient soil and all 
its organic matter should be placed beyond the reach of 
new crops. ‘his, however, we know is not the case, and 
even such eruptions as do take place at intervals could 
not effect this. The heaviest fall of ashes (since the 
destruction of Pompeii) was that of 1822, which amounted 
on the slope of the mountain to 3 feet, ‘and in the plain 
from 15 to 18 feet; but this was (according to Humboldt) 
the treble of any previous fall of ashes. We know, more- 
over, that even the slightest fall of volcanic cinders kills 
vegetation over an extensive area, so much so that one 
crop amongst eight near Mount Vesuvius is always lost 
through such calamities. It is, therefore, these very 
falls of ashes which cause the formation of a vegetable 
stratum on a large scale, and such must contain humus. 
This corresponds entirely with what Mr. Lyell states 
(“ Princ. of Geol.” ii., 148), that he found, near Pom- 
peii, under the volcanic cinders of 1822, a layer of vege- 
table mould of the Eaoner of three feet. 
‘0 be continued.) 
The Guide to Service. The Farm Bailiff. 
Charles Knight and Co. 
AmonestT the tracts published by Mr. Chas. Knight 
under the title of ‘‘ Guides to Service” there are few in 
which so much practical matter has been condensed in a 
very small space. When we say that we have reason to 
believe* that this little work is from the pen of our old 
friend Martin Doyle, we prepare our readers for finding it 
full of useful practical information. We have perused it 
with attention and much pleasure ; and we can safely 
recommend it to be placed in the hands of every young 
farmer, as well as into those of young bailiffs, for whomfit 
is intended. Asa specimen of the style in which it is 
bt we give the following extract on the subject of 
Fallows : 
Ya Now, | though a [worn-out and tired animal requires 
rest, as well as nourishing food, to recruit his exhausted 
owers, this cannot be correctly ‘said of the earth, which 
is perpetually reproducing, and only fails in yielding her 
productions from the exhaustion of those properties which 
constitute the food of plants, and which are only supplied, 
in an effective degree and quickly, by manures that contain 
the required principles. The earth, so far from taking 
advantage of any kind of rest which a farmer may be dis- 
osed to give it, wil? produce something—it will not rest 
—it will throw up a crop of weeds if left to its own 
energies; and, therefore, on the same principle that a 
parent will give his children some useful sources of occu- 
pation, to prevent them from doing mischief, which he 
knows they will commit rather than be idle ; or as he will 
cultivate their minds, and sow the seeds of useful know- 
ledge, lest noxious weeds should spring up in their room, 
so will the prudent farmer sow something that will pro 
duce a profitable return; he will imitate the practice of 
the gardener, who never dreams of letting his garden rest, 
because he knows that it will perpetually produce useful 
plants of one sort or other, and that if he does not culti- 
vate some of them, a rank and luxuriant crop of weeds 
would be the spontaneous growth of the teeming earth,”” 
We need hardly add, that the most experienced farmer 
will find something to learn by the perusal of the 125 
pages of which this little work consists.—/. 
* Rivers’s Descriptive Catalogue of Roses for 1843-44, 
has just appeared. Its excellence as a guide to purchasers 
is so well known that we scarcely need do more than 
announce it. We must, however, state that, in this 
edition, Mr. Rivers has done additional service to Rose- 
fanciers by pointing out the best sorts, by paragraphs, 
calculated for small or large purchasers, ‘and by marking 
those that are remarkably sweet-scented. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS for the ensuing week. 
In all lofty Rode racers where mixed climbers are intended to 
be brought eatest perfection, the roof-sashes should be 
fixed down, and no iven at the top of the house. All the front 
lants we find it to ans\ 
The igande y climbers is, vie they thould 
be free ae heeets that a bloom in succession for a long time, and 
that they are of those kinds that are not yery liable to insects; but 
if they be esratees by this standard their Ebola will hecome 
scarce ind Here and there on 
s ‘* Devonian ”? tela ere much better would it be if 
his example, say what best succeeds rae 
them, eee what ee or what hey did not ae 3 we might thus, 
a few ‘s, be in possession of all tl is wn on the aauleatt 
Asa Greer of the fallacy of trusting to any one? Fe opinion implicitly, 
owever extensive his practice may have been, I may state that I aid 
not previously know that Bignonia cherere flowered from the Ist of 
June until the end of October, ane I believe ah I was the first 
who tried and flowered it in a cool house. The one from which the 
figure in the “ Botanical Register ’’ oe taken, siwereals in a stove at 
Dropmore i in me and from this plant mine originated in 1830, and 
ely in 1833, and for two or three years flowered only from the 
iddle of June totta middle of August. Canavalia Bonariensis, like 
au Thonberga coccinea, is too much like the isGalea! panne Bean to be 
of much i interest. Durant n as a climber; 
Be 
dronittie muddle of July y 
has been one Sate of Hears hayiy Te 400 to 500 blossoms ex- 
pot plant, 
for winter flowering, cut asia in May, and grown out tof Pidsoee until 
of it against our Geena, wall has scarcely 
been_out of tay “tor the last two years and a half 
I. ee AND ORCHARD; 
or Department. 
Pinery.—The late Fae rains, though iyesittt have reduced the 
temperature be far that fires may soon be neces: 
houses; at a1 sudden depression aeoul be allowed yet, 
in winter. See, therefore, that all is comfortable about them for a 
long time hence. 
—All song Vines, and those srown. on the long-rod 
system, should have the top sashes now kept up day and night, till 
the wood is perteti ripe, and the air nieceantty {08 the fruit admitted 
by the front sashes only. "It is an excellent old plan that of growing 
the Vines Horizontally. the Muscats, St. Pet er’s, Black Damascus, 
‘c., towards the top, and the hardier pies at the bottom, of the 
house; with proper ventilators, we can p any house up to stove. 
heat at top, while ae bottom may be as a as out-of-doors; few, 
pe think of 
ELONS, Cae ploomec ous att Kipney-Brans, 
to c ened in next November, and some other # ‘ings which are never 
attempted but | by good eee on require no Calendars, I shall 
be excused if I pass ever atl 
Depart ment. 
of damage has been done to The pi a 
than 10 minutes all the level portions of the kitchen-gardens were 
covered ankle-deep with water, thus putting a stop to all operations 
on ae soil for ea ue 
nacuH,—The et er Spinach, Onions, ‘rots, sown in 
roe should have the ground ath stirred between the rows, as soon 
as the surface is dry, al ery rain. ecollect, stirrings in this 
way, at regular Seana, *Belone to other 
ATER-CRESSES.—These will porte as well on a damp, shaded 
border in the kitchen-garden as along the brook side, and will he ten 
times safer for use from such a place than in the nat tural way, where 
they are always more or less sown over with the eggs of insects and 
other creatures frequenting pools or running streams. Now is the 
best time to plant slips of them. 
AULIFLOWERS.— See that the plants for next year are all right; 
those still on the seed-bed as those pricked out, and more espe- 
cially the plants from the las' 
.—Except detictine | in the early fruit and keeping down 
insects, whTe is not difficult this season, there is little to do now in 
the orchard. Mr. Rivers tells me that his dwarf root-pruned trees 
are better this year than ever they have 
II.—FLOWER-GARDEN AND SHRUBBERY. 
In-door Department. 
e their seen 
no ripening of youd es late growths 
is needed, and the aH nts are gradually put to rest by the natural 
lecline of our seasons. s thus managed should never receive 
more than 55° of artificial ne in the dead of winter ; yet there is 
no danger if a warm day rises the temperature up to 80° or 85°, with 
alittle air. Orchidaceze growers will be Gad to hear that the queen 
of these gems, Lelia superbens, is throwing up a strong flower- 
spike, treated on the cool system, but not with me. 
GrrEznnovsz.—This house should now be in thorough repair, 
and‘in a clean, sweet aN aIe as many of the more tender plants 
must soon be removed in-doors. If the Saito holds tolerably dry, 
all the mee greenhouse plants should be left out as long as pos- 
sible. This s the time n the advantages of cold pits are most 
apparent, de: e lights vail he left. off, eer in any, or frosty 
weather, “pneteas the greenhouse has no such advanta 
— What a luxury a nice fen Peay is, let 
it be ever so small, when attached to part. ‘f ‘the sitting-rooms! and 
what a contrast, too, with the heavy, ill-arranged, old- Sepa 
reenhouses, only fit’ to winter half- hardy shrubs for planting out 
in summer! ere are score: such greenhouses ful ee the 
country, which arould be pulled down and converted into modern 
conservatories. With a little judgment tl 
much, and the enjoyment an luxury which thus may be obtained 
will pay all the trouble ee! expense in a oy short time. Now that 
little variation is neede of all plants, I hope I 
shall be excused for Tosa the Calendar with these digressions, and 
I shall always keep within practical points, speculative matters being 
foreign to this part of the Chronicle. 
wES.—These are the ses to winter the Heaths 
in when the frost overtakes them in the flower-garden 
be afraid that I shall lose sight of this subject ; put without goin 
that I want more inf< 
expected if T can keep the frost from fue I shall leave them 
‘until they get too big for the ee x flower-gardening 
they must be taken up every year, a w inl never answer to 
N.—Having a little spare room, under this head I 
shall say something about Heaths for the flower-garden next season. 
The nurserymen put four young Heaths struck this season into a 
small pot, for the winter, and next May these are separated, with a 
portion of the soil to each, and planted in single pots; these small 
pots are now full of roots, ‘aid this is the beatateed plant to order 
for turning out next May, as they cannot be too young to begin with : 
you often see advertisements offering 100 of these for 52. From this 
time tg the end of October is the best time to order them. As soon 
glass off every fine 
trowel, and th i 
You will find this 
sets in next autumn you may take them up with a trowel, aa they 
f the soil with them, like a young Rhodo- 
dendron plant ; some of this soil you can trim away from them, and 
remove itt back to the ees to be planted as before, only a little 
wider Say and recollect, by this system they are never to be ay 
at all, what ayer ‘their age or size 
eek ending Se bu oe 1848, a8 AS 
jarden, Chiswick.” ‘ 
State of the Weather near 
observed at the H 
Wind, | Rain, 
30.200 7 
Wednesday i 30.133 29.1 oat 7a 47 
Thursday 20.847 | 99,894 v9 6 
80,016 | 
Average 
Sept 9, Light floating haze, ver in 
9. East az y fine enouphouce 
10, Boggy, with h showery, with’ sunny intervals in forenoon 5 
2pm. t 
ay 
clonds; yery fine; overcast. 
Uniformly ovnreast, and fine; very cl 
Tov Glaus eneeaainteh vavosclere os 
vy dew; overcast and fine; night. 
Hiren Wainpesacuve or tie Weak Meme CH ebore the average. 
Chis ing the Jast 17 years, for the ensuing 
Week ending September 23, 1040 
aavy dew 
de: os Commenced > with heavy rain; cloudy at night. 
1 
ar at night, 
pa. 
i, Provailing Winds. 
er. | Aver. | atean Sar Greatest s aie 
Lowest | 7. icheie i a 
ot Tomap, | Pemp] which i rey to | 
Rained. iz. z 
47.0 57.5 % ef 1p. 2 
46.8 | 56.4 8 | 4 rT 
47.0 56.7 9 3 2 
45.1 55.7 7 —| 2 gs 
44.4 55.8 8 2\—| 2 
45.2 55.9 9 || + 
46.0 56.0 9 j—| 2 1 
‘The Ripe fomperatiire during the above period occurred on the 17th, 
19th, and 2 1834—thermometer 78°; and the lowest on the 21st, 1936— 
shexiuuntotel 32, 
Leeoeande's ON COVENT-GARDE) Bs epee 
iv the Week ending Sept. 15, 1843. 
thandhtee “Of fruit of every kind has heen supplied during 
the past week; but trade still continues very dull, Pines are 
very plentiful, particularly the Queen, Black Jamaica, and ce 
dence, and bring nearly the same “last week. 
Grapes we noticed some excellent bunches of Black Hamburg 
and Muscat of Alexandria, which are selling at from 2s, to 4s. 
per lb. Apricots are now almost over for this eiseaie oraene 
gage Plums are ming very scarce, and bi 
to 8s. per hf..sv. Damsons are Pe but notin general of very 
good quality ; chips bring from 1s 6d. to 2s. per hf.-sv. Peaches and 
tarines are very fine and abundant, particularly the former, 
and are considerably reduced in p still plentiful, 
and are offered at from 2s, to 4s. nee dozen. Filberts are also very 
abundant, and have fallen considerably in price aie last week. 
Good English Melons are selling at from each, and are 
quite sufficient to meet the demand, Gueden neem bring "from 6d. 
hs . Cauliflowers are Peco, omnes: and are 
rather of inferior quality. Cabbages and ‘e quite plen- 
tiful, and continue to bring ans the sae ries as last week. 
Peas are selling at from 3s. to 4s. per Beaercas French and 
Scarlet Runner Beans bring from 1s. to 1s. 6d r half-sieve. 
Tomatoes of excellent quality are very abundant, ranalaes very 
much reduced in price. Endive may be had at from 1s. to 1s. 6d. 
per score, hallots bring Lees the same price as last week. 
pee bring vse 1s. 6d. to 5s. per dozen bunches. Cut flowers 
msist of Erica Boweana, bret emreste major, and perspicua 
ane Gardéniaradicans, Gladiolus psittacin of "wuchsins Pelar- 
goniums, i, China Asters, and Sweet Pea: 
Pi 
Picea crienieriui th 
Grapes; hothouse, Ber Ib», a toas 
Forti 
Peaches, per di orth er 3 “a 
Nectarines, per dozen, 28 to 4s 
Figs, per doz., 28 to 48 
Melons, each, 10 oa 
ach, 1s to 28 6d 
Plums, p per punnet, Leto 
Yolet per hf-sieves 28 Gl 08d Rea 
es ue, Alm 
= Cie Getony| (Baling) per hf.- ae petit 
8V.5 per 
Currants, Date atten oa, ees 4s 6d ae asilnite 
Cherries, Mo orello ,svandards, per hf = Barcelona, 228 to 24¢ 
128 
Filberts, English, PI00Lbs., ne to BBE 
Tomatoes, per hf-sy., 31.10 4s. 
c 
Gherins, ‘er 1000, 5s ti 
Green Capsicum, ee 200, as we e ae 
aspberties, por gallon, 7d to 1s 
Peon 8, per hf-sy., ls 6d to 2s 6d 
Apples, dessert, per bush. 6s tz8s © 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, enis, pd to 1s 6d Leeks, bun, Ls 
Caulitiowers, to 6s Onions, Sead doz. Sons Thad to 38 
a ieee , od to le Large, per doz. beh., 2s to 5¢ 
7 
eatlet, per hf-svw 1é to 18 Gd 
‘a8, per sy., 3s to 4s 
Poracs, New, per ton, 70sto 80s} 
er cwt., 1s 6d to 4s 
ane 1s to 28 Gd 
Fig, Spiitshs, per doz.» 1s6d to 3s 4 
ic, perlb. 64 to B 
hh per 100, wo 2s 
7 Cabb., p- score, 
= crac Or Ga to 196d 
per, ‘puns 6d.t0 
lade, per punnet, 24 to 3d 
6d jasil, per doz. beter 25 to te 
Turnips, per doz. bianches, ris ‘to de Riaverreioarcon sm. ‘4d to 
e 
Red Beet, per dozen, 9d Parsley, per half sieve, 1s 
Horse Ra pperbnnales ee 10 fis Tarragon, per bun. 2d to 8d 
ae) Be oes hands, 6d tols |Fennel, Ber . bun 25 10 28 
doz. bunch, $id to le Endive, per , 1s to 1s 6d 
Carrots, Horn,'p. doz, bun. ry 14 6d t0-2664)/ Mint, per doz. Biches, 3 co Seeatee 
Long, per doz. bun., 2s 6d to 6s |Marjoram, green, per bunch, 2d to 3 
Shallots, per bs, 6d to § od Witshcoutees per pottle, 1s 6 i wae oF 
green, per bunch, 4d Wallnuts, Green, per bushels bs 6d to 
Spinach, per sieve, ls to ls 6d unnet, 2d to 3d 
Notices to Correspondents. 
—The remark on Potter’s Guano which you 
Manure.—T. B. 
hausted garden is no treatise on its application, 
that originally published eas ee Potter. For garden pu zy 
cwt. an acre in the course of the season is a aihicient quan- 
tity 5 3 it uy) be applied broadeast, and washed or raked ine a 
+ H.—Animal manure is wishes) to Yews, Cas en 
avers that it is so to Hollies. -—Govyn next wee 1, in 
So1n.—An Original es had better marl his Mand well, bs 
order to render it more cohesive. Peruvian Guano will pte of 
good manure; but bones will perhaps answer best. 
