1843.] 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
661 
I do not consider it necessary to give the names of the 
various kinds of Bulbs, as, if the amateur purchases at a 
respectable house, he may depend upon getting proper 
kinds—that is, if he applies in time.—IW. P. Ayres, 
Brooklands. s 
HOME CORRESPONDENCE. 
Botiom Heat.—I am sure that the Editor of the 
Gardeners’ Chronicle will give me credit for maintaining an 
opinion formed from my own practice until I am satisfied 
that it is untenable. At first, I intended to hear all that 
could be said on both sides of the question before I made 
a reply; but now I see that the Gardeners’ Chronicle 
and myself are in a position like unto the travellers 
with the cameleon, and that some explanation is necessary. 
The Chronicle defends a totally different arrangement 
from that which I wished toalter. Without a section,or 
amore detailed account, I cannot say how I should like 
the plan it defends ; but here iti “As far as we (Gard. 
Chron.) are at present aware, it will be found that if the 
spaces between the gutters are filled with rough materials, 
such as fragments of bricks and pottery, any quantity of 
water may be communicated to the beds by the ordinary 
modes of watering where excessive moisture is desirable.” 
Now these observations cannot refer to Mr, Rendle’s 
system, for he occupies the whole bottom of his bed with 
the two gutters, or the flow and return channels, with a 
division down the middle, for the purpose of separating 
the two currents, and for resting the edges of the covers 
on. These covers are ‘‘ slate-stone, 14 inch thick, cut 
square at the edges, and fastened to each other by Roman 
cement.” A bed thus finished is as close as an iron chest, 
and, of course, cannot have ‘‘ spaces between the gutters’” 
to allow of drainage, so that we are arguing two very 
different things under one name. Then, with regard to 
Melon growing, I was not writing an article on their cul- 
ture; nor do I advocate mud beds for them ; I merely 
alluded to such mud as is supposed to be produced by the 
admission of vapour (not steam) from below, and T 
endeavoured to show that such mud is not produced at all ; 
and now, to simplify the question, I say distinctly thatneither 
mud nor anything like it is in reality produced in twelve 
months, which is enough for a course of Melon culture. The 
effect produced is simply this—for 1 have proved it before | 
the subject even originated in the mind of Mr. Rendle :— 
open spaces, say one-eighth of an inch, were left at certain 
intervals between the edges of the slate coverings, with 
a contrivance to shut them up when you want dry 
bottom-heat, then a layer of an inch or two in thick- 
ness, of rough coal ashes, cliokers, or what is 
better, of charcoal, in pieces not larger than a school- 
boy’s marble; then cover this layer closely with thin 
turf, with the grassy side downwards—then the soil: 
the vapour never passes through this layer of turf; it 
merely fills the turf like a sponge, and whatever moisture 
or ‘‘wet’’ that passes further up, is carried by capillary 
attraction, and when the roots of Melons get within the 
influence of this moisture, they will grow with extraordi- 
nary vigour, and no red spider will ever come near a 
vigorous-growing Melon plant. When plants have grown 
large enough to bear, and seem shy to “set,’” just stop 
the vapour openings, and their roots will suck the sponge 
dry ; by degrees, the ‘' circulating medium ” thus cut off, 
will soon tell on the branches above, anda great deal 
more fruit will be set in consequence than the plants can 
bear. You may then thin them, leaving about double the 
quantity for a crop, and let in the vapour again to swell 
them off, &c. &c. Touching Mr. Knight’s Melon grow- 
ing, I deny in folo that he was either a first or a second 
rate grower; he only knew them physiologically better 
than his neighbours. I lived ten years with one of his 
most intimate friends, and not far from Downton Castle, 
and what was going on there at that time I was nota 
stranger to; but I owe it to the memory of that great 
and good man to say, that, whatever attainments J have 
made in the true principles of gardening, I learned them 
from his lips. His Melons were always a source of 
annoyance to him; he never could grow them without 
red spider, through a defective apparatus,—and that defect, 
too, which I wish in these papers to obviate. I must 
modify my assertion, however, so far as to say, that if Mr. 
Knight had had a properly-constructed apparatus, I saw 
no reason why his plants should not look as well, and 
bear as good crops, 2s those of a first-rate gardener, In 
conclusion, let it be clearly proved that I am wrong, and 
that dry bottom-heat, such as is now in use in Mr. 
Rendle’s propagating-house, is sufficient for all. the pur- 
poses to which bottom-heat is applied, and I shall imme- 
diately explain another apparatus, which will supersede 
the tank-system altogether, and only cost one half the 
expense.—D. Beaton. nce it appears that we have 
been speaking of one thing, and Mr. B. of another, there 
is no use in pursuing this argument. We must, however, 
persist in stating that Mr. Knight’s Persian Melons have 
never been excelled, and very rarely equalled 3 and that as 
& Melon-grower he was unrivalled. That in the course of 
his experiments he often failed is very hkely ; indeed, how 
could it be otherwise? The final result is what should be 
looked at, and that was perfect. ] 
Rendle's System of Tank-heating.—As I think that 
when an individual introduces to the notice of the public 
any subject that may have claims for novelty, it is his 
duty to assist in carrying it out to ils full extent, I again 
come before your readers with @ few remarks on the 
observations that have recently appeared in the Chronicle 
relative to the ‘Tank system of heating,” and, in the 
first place, on Mr. Sherwood’s letter that appeared a few 
weeks since. This writer, for whom I entertain great 
respect, does not seem to have considered the matter well, 
or he would not have asserted ‘that there is one thing 
ratio as influenced by the heat below. 
which should not be overlooked, namely, it doesnot admit 
of the pipes being fixed one inch higher in the house than 
the tank, be that where it may.” Let Mr. Sherwood 
refer to Loudon’s Magazine as far back as the year 1829, 
and he will find an article therein published relative to the 
syphon principle of heating ; by the same means nothing 
can be easier than to conduct water six inches, or even 
six feet above the level of the tank, care of* course being 
taken that the flow-pipe be’situated at least two inches 
higher in the water than the return, and that provision be 
made at the highest point with an air-cock or pump, to 
draw off the air which will be replaced with water. Thus 
easily, and I trust satisfactorily, have I explained to Mr. 
Sherwood how this presumed impossibility is possible, and 
if there are any other queries which the readers of the 
Chronicle axe disposed to put, I am willing to answer 
them through that medium ; for I should besorry to hear 
of an apparatus being put up in an imperfect or incom- 
plete manner. This offer will, I trust, be acceptable. 
Mr. Beaton, lately, in the ‘¢ Calendar of Operations,” 
has a long article on the ‘‘Tank system,” in which 
he states that he agrees (or rather agrees with me) 
that “surface of tank is of much importance,” and upon 
this rests what is considered My great improvement over 
the pipe or gutter system, and what I have ever studiously 
recommended and have always advised. The most econo- 
mical plan will be ‘‘to make the tank as wide as the 
bottom of the bed, or nearly so.” This is just the plan 
that must be universally adopted. But with regard to 
the depth of the tanks, I think that Mr, Beaton is 
running into an opposite extreme to a rev. gentleman 
whose name appeared in your columns a few weeks since, 
who recommended that the tank should be two feet deep. 
The difference is certainly very great between these two 
ardent advocates of the system, but in order to avoid 
extremes, I advise that the tanks should be between six 
and nine inches deep. do not state this without 
reason. my original house which I erected for 
experiment, the tanks were only four inches in depth, 
whereas in the new one, (which is but 50 feet by 13, and 
considered one of the most complete houses of the kind 
in the kingdom,) the tanks are eight inches in depth; my 
motive for making this alteration has been already stated 
in this Paper, and in my treatise, namely, ‘‘ that so large 
a body of water, when once heated, retains its heat for a 
considerable time.” This I have fully experienced, 
and my experience, I trust, will not be thought 
little of ; 1. would always advise the tank to be 
of a moderate depth, as being the most economical, 
for the saving of fuel will be found very great. When 
the tanks are only an inch in depth, a very little fire 
will raise the water to a great heat, but the fire will 
require constant attention. The water in a tank of eight 
inches in depth must certainly have a strong fire to get it 
up to ahigh temperature, but the firing afterwarcs re- 
quired is trifling. I have tried the difference, let others 
do the same and be satisfied. Mr. Beaton then goes on 
to state that ‘* Mr. Rendle’s system falls short of pre- 
vious arrangements, he makes no provision for moistening 
the bottom of such a bed.’’ In answer to this, I would 
observe that in my treatise a plan is suggested for form- 
ing a bed for growing Pines without pots. The first stra- 
tum over the slates, or tiles, should be of rough mate- 
rials, the cultivator applying, as the case requires, accord~ 
ing to his judgment, liquid, which would filter to the 
bottom of the bed, and again act on the soilin the same 
This plan is 
equally applicable to the cultivation of Melons or Cucum- 
1 am gratified to think that it is the intention of 
Mr. Beaton to write an article or two bearing on the 
subject of hot-water for bottom heat. He cannot enter 
upon a more laudable pursuit.— W. E. fendle, F.H.S. 
Disease in Larch.—Can any of your Correspondents 
inform me through your columns the cause of Larch turn- 
ing brown, as if it had been scorched? The bottom 
extremities of the young shoots with the leaves are the 
most infected; the Larch will be three years old next 
spring ; the side branches, especially the lower ones, make 
no growth; the leaves turn brown and fall off; the upper 
shoots are a little infected, and also the leader for a few 
inches, while half the plants die, or nearly so; here and 
there one makes a moderate growth, (about one in ten,) 
but it is weak and sickly. I have three lots of Culltians (?) 
that were planted out into nursery lines in the sume year, 
(1842,) and are growing within 50 yards of the other; yet 
they are quite healthy, and have made very fine growth, 
I may state that the diseased were all one year’s seedlings, 
The healthy three years’ Culls were what remained after 
the best had been selected, and there was no difference 
in the treatment either with respect to the soil or winter 
digging. The seedlings planted this spring are not in- 
fected. Ihave had Larch diseased in the same way before, 
but never to the same extent. One square of Larch may 
be infected, and another, only a few yards off, may not be 
injured, or but very slightly. It generally comes on in 
the spring, but I can remember their being once slightly 
infected in the same way about the latter end of summer. 
T ought to state the climate is late and wet, being in the 
south of Ireland, within 20 or 30 miles of the west coast. 
Ishall be glad to know if there be any remedy.—d Paddy. 
Wasps.—Last year there was a great number of nests 
in this neighbourhood (south of Ireland) ; this year I have 
only heard of two, and seen one, and that one on the top 
of a Red Currant bush. Is such a thing uncommon, or 
are they a peculiar kind? The nest is about 6 inches in 
diameter and 7 to 8 inches deep; the Wasps enter at the 
bottom, through a small hole. The nest increases in size, 
and appears to be enlarged from the inside.—A Paddy, 
Wasps.—We have a great quantity of Wasps in this 
neighbourhood, near Shiffuall, (South Shropshire,) but 
not quite so many as last year. There has been upwards 
of 130 nests destroyed, and it has not weakened them 
much ; the Bees, too, eat the fruit nearly as much as the 
Wasps. There was a great quantity of Queen Wasps this 
spring. We destroyed a great many, and the wet weather 
in the beginning of June put an end to nearly all the 
remainder.—. B. 
Transmutation of Corn.—I lately preached a sermon, 
at Northtawton, upon the parable of the ‘‘ Tares ”’ (Géana, 
most probably Darnel), in which I introduced, for the 
purpose of illustration, a remark from the Gardeners? 
Chronicle respecting the Lolium arvense, or temulentum, 
which is generally known among the farmers of Kent as 
Droke, and was understood to be—but which it really was 
not—degenerated Wheat. In the part of Devon to which 
I refer, it is known by the name of ‘‘ Ever” and “ the 
Drunken Plant.”” A strong-minded and observant farmer 
of that parish, Mr. William Durant, afterwards observed, 
“ Your remark respecting the Droke was sufficiently cor- 
rect as an illustration of your subject, but, depend upon 
it, you erred as regarded the fact. It is degenerated 
Wheat! It is not often seen in good land ; but it almost 
uniformly appears where a rough moorJand has been broken 
up and sown with Wheat. I lately met with a stalk of it, and 
upon pulling it up, brought up the entire root, with two 
ears of Wheat—(a fine illustration of “Lest ye root up 
the Wheat also’), ‘‘ Upon the most accurate examina- 
tion, by disengaging the earth from the fibrous roots,— 
first by the finger, and then with my knife,—I found all 
three stalks growing inseparably upon one root. I laid 
it aside,—but lost it,—intending to have end: J, by 
cultivation, to restore it to Wheat again!!” I assured 
him it was a distinct plant, and not degenerated Wheat. 
“ Well,” said he, “ you may use my name as publicly as you 
please for the fact, that, Wheat orno Wheat, all the plants 
spring from one root.’’ You will perceive that the misap- 
prehension is not, by any means, confined to Kent.—T7. D. 
Morphology.— At p. 630, Mr. Paxton has described as 
a monstrous state of the cone of the Spruce Fir, a not 
uncommon production on that tree, occasioned by injury 
done to the leaf-bud, by Aphides. It is this which assumes 
the character of a pseudo-cone, and which afterwards 
develops, as he describes, into the usual condition of a 
branch. He will find that this appearance generally 
extends about two thirds of the way round the axis. The 
cell-like cavities at the base of the abortive leaves are 
filled with Aphides, in an early state of their development ; 
and I have also seen them containing a species of Cocci- 
nella, which I presume had entered them to attack the 
Aphides. If I remember rightly, this appearance has 
been noticed and figured in * Richard’s Conifers,” and 
also somewhere in the ‘‘ Magazine of Natural History,’’ 
—J. S. Henslow.——In reply to your correspondent from 
Chatsworth, I beg to state that the branch of Spruce Fir 
Pp ing some app which he supposes” to 
proceed from cones never properly developed, is the 
roduction-of an insect. These occurrences are perfectly 
‘amiliar to my eye, although they are less prevalent this 
year than usual. They begin to appear in the spring, 
and soon contain in cells numerous larvze which finally 
emerge in the shape of small flies. These nests then 
become brown and hard, and are certainly not unlike 
imperfect cones. P.S.—Since writing the above I have 
referred to Selby’s “ British Forest Trees ;’’ at p. 465 your 
correspondent will find this matter fully explained. The 
insect is there called an Aphis—it has, I think, rather the 
appearance of a Cynips, but it is no doubt well known 
to naturalists, and perhaps some one may oblige us by 
giving its scientific name and history.— Aslerope. 
Conservatory Climbers.—Allow me to correct a typo- 
graphical error in my remarks on Conservatory Climbers 
in a late Number. After recommending Bignonia Che- 
rere, and stating that it bloomed most freely, in con- 
junction with B. jasminoides, I mentioned a few plants 
that refused to flower at all; among them Bignonia jas- 
minifolia, not jasminoides, as it has been printed, and 
which contradicts the former part of my statement. [ 
bought the latter plant from the strong recommendation 
of a nurseryman, but it has never blossomed. Tt jg 
named in Loudon’s ‘‘ Hortus Britannicus,” as an orng- 
mental stove-climber, ten feet high, of an orange colour, 
and a native of Orinoco, introduced in 1826 ;—does Mp. 
Beaton know it ?—A Devonian. : ‘ 
Myatt's Pine Srawberry.—The information which you, 
have collected on the culture of this valuable fruit will be 
very useful. I have before me, however, directions, which 
ought in addition to be known to every one; they are 
given in the “ Auctuarium ”” of the “ Botanic Garden,” 
published on the Ist of the present month, and as Mr, 
Maund, the writer of them, isa careful experimenter, [ 
will copy them for your use He has lately tried the 
effects of Guano on several garden crops, and says, “TE 
is quite evident that the luxuriant growth given by Guano 
to this shy-bearing Strawberry is highly advantageous to 
its fertility. Most persons agree In acknowledging Myatt’s 
Pine Strawberry to be the finest flavoured, and most diffi- 
cult to cultivate successfully, of any in our gardens, We 
believe, however, that complaint against its fertility need 
no longer exist. If runners be planted as early as they 
can be obtained, certainly not later than July, and the 
beds he supplied with Guano-water, 4 oz. to ihe gallon, 
once a week, for four weeks, Commencing as soon as the 
blossom-buds are visible in the hearts of the plants, we 
believe they will not fail to bear abundantly ; and by ma- 
turing the latest flowers, will continue longer in hearing 
than many other sorts. Probably it would be advanta~ 
geous to apply a little Guano to the plants in September ; 
but if greatly stimulated at this season, the plants may 
possibly be driven into flower to the prejudice of the 
spring blossom.”—Aciva. 
