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1843. ] 
THE GARDENERS 
eet, 
ARAUCARIA IMBRICATA, or SIR JOSEPH BANKS'S PINE. 
The Gardeners’ Chronicle, 
SATURDAY, JULY 15, 1848. 
MEETINGS FOR THE TWO FOLLOWING WEEKES. 
Tuesday, July18 . . . 
Wednesday, July 19 
Floricultural ». . + 3 poate 
Royal Botanic, Regent’s Park. 
Tuesday, July 25... . 
South London . . . . Urme 
\,_ ACouxrar-Suows.— Thursday, July 20, Hoddesdon Cottagers’. 
Fri Ne 
\ day, July 21. Northallerton. 
Rive day seems now to produce evidence that 
MMoNrIA — that long-neglected but almost omnipre- 
Sent substance—is one of the most important of all 
the elementary matters provided for the use of man. 
ormed instantaneously, wherever hydrogen and 
Nitrogen can come in contact in a nascent state,— 
floating in the atmosphere,—hiding in the impercep- 
tible cavities of all porous bodies, or dissolving in 
Water, it necessarily mingles with the food and breath 
of animalsandplants,—entering into their composition, 
or furnishing them with some of the indispensable 
elements of nutrition. Reiterated experiments show 
that the strength of manure is in proportion to its 
abundance ; that the vigour of plants is intimately 
Connected with its presence, as their debility is with 
its absence ; and that, if employed in a proper form 
and fitting condition, it promises, almost alone, to 
Slve a new arm to the arts of cultivation. 
But it is not in all or any state that it is found to 
be thus beneficial ; when caustic, it seems to carry 
death instead of vigour in its train. Even when in 
Such combination with other forms of matter as to 
Ose a part of its natural causticity, it requires to be 
administered with great caution, for it still approaches 
the pure state in its tendency to do mischief. No 
doubt it is the neglect of attention to these circum- 
stances which has led some observers to believe that 
ammonia is deleterious instead of beneficial to plants. 
ut it is more especially the animal kingdom which 
suffers under the influence of ammonia in the caustic 
State. Pure ammoniacal gas, water of ammonia, and 
the carbonates of this substance, including even the 
Common sal volatile of the shops, are al irritating 
Poisons, more or less energetic. Although used medi- 
Cinally, it is only in small doses, and under particular 
circumstances. 
‘tom some experiments that have lately been 
Made, ammonia, in the caustic State, appears likely to 
be of considerable importance to Gardeners, on account 
of its fatal action upon animal life. It has lately been 
*certained by Mr. George Gordon, the Superinten- 
vat of the Hardy Department in the Garden of the 
Srticultural Society, that the ammoniacal liquor of 
for Sas-works, diluted with water, is a certain remedy 
; a the green-fly, which has been so unusually abund- 
al during the present year. He has found that 
foeotgh gas-water in its undiluted state burns 
auf’ whenever it touches it, yet that plants do not 
Witen from it when considerably weakened with 
is aie It appears that when the London gas-liquor 
ap ce with ten times its measure of water, and 
Se With a syringe to the parts of plants infected 
tho, the green-fly, it causes so speedy a destruction of 
fi a Insects that the greater part disappear after the 
dose, and a second application is sufficient to 
ear away all the inder. Upon ioning thi: 
tee cy to a person whose garden was four days 
Breer, In the most deplorable state from, swarms of 
rim n-fly, he ordered his gardener to repeat the expe- 
fee COt With gas-liquor weakened with twelve times 
It * : 
S Measure of water; this morning, upon lookin, 
Over ¢ 3 8: Ig 
a 
indi the bushes, it is scarcely possible to detect a living 
the “dual 3 the leavesare green, and muchrefreshed by 
peration: the syringing was only used twice, 
Proved ammoniacal liquor of the gas-works being thus 
ing to be fatal to aphides, it becomes an interest- 
emplevcstion whether or not ammonia cannot be 
it is hee with equal success in other cases, either as 
Nate eae in gas-water, or in the state of the carbo- 
e ow Subcarbonate ; and this is an inquiry that 
at pres mend to experimental gardeners. All we can 
Other > ut State upon the subject is, that if flies and 
er ing ‘ : ; 
tite: insects, including beetles, are put into a dry 
Containing Il ity of smelling-salts 
(sub ng a small quantity o MINS -Salt 
ei fou Donate of ammonia), they fall to the bottom in 
Minutes after having bec osed to the 
Vay 7 alter havin een exp! 
Bees \and then perish; that green-fly thus treated 
as if ae Yellowish in a short time, and then dies, just 
thad been washed with gas-water; and that 
€ven ; 
rests We Ooseberry caterpillar, which for a long time 
the een. Ages of gas-water strong enough o kill 
.-en-fly, cannot exist j rant : 
’mel ing-salt. t exist in a tube containing a little 
N these instances we apprehend that the effect is 
CHRONICLE... 
477 
If a saucer is 
only moistened with weak gas-liquor, and the Goose- 
berry caterpillar is thrown on it, the creature 
As we foresee that many inquiries will be made as 
to the proper proportions of gas-liquor and water that 
ought to be employed, it is as well to anticipate them 
by saying that it is impossible for us to answer such 
inquiries except in general terms. Everybody must 
ascertain the fact for himself, by mixing gas-liquor and 
Water in various proportions, and trying their effect in 
asmall way in the first instance. The fact is, that 
the quantity of ammonia contained in gas-liquor is 
extremely variable, the gas-works making it of no 
uniform strength. That used by Mr. Gordon, and by 
the gentleman above alluded to, was very strong ; effer- 
vescence not ceasing in an ounce of it until 50 drops 
of the sulphuric acid of the apothecaries had been 
added. Those who wish to determine the relative 
strength of that which they employ can do so by a 
very simple process: take one fluid ounce of the gas- 
liquor to be employed, and add to it, drop by drop, 
such sulphuric acid as may be bought in the apothe- 
caries’ shops, until effervescence ceases ; then, suppos- 
ing they find this to occur after 25 drops have been 
added, they will know that their gas-liquor is only 
half as strong as that used by the Horticultural 
Society ; and consequently, instead of adding ten 
parts of water to one part of gas-liquor, they must 
only add five parts to obtain the ‘same strength, and 
Soon. It is true that this is not a very exact pro- 
ceeding, because the sulphuric acid of ‘the apothe- 
caries itself varies in strength ; but we conceive it to 
be quite sufficiently exact for gardening purposes. 
‘There is one important advantage that is obtained 
y this proc namely, that, independently of killing 
the green-fly, the plants are well manured bythe 
same operation ; so that nothing is lost. 
hen gas-liquor cannot be had, or where its offen- 
sive odour is inconyenient, we should try the effect of 
carbonate of ammonia dissolved in water, in the pro- 
portion of one ounce of the carbonate to a pint of 
water. This would form a solution of about the 
strength of London gas-liquor, and might then be 
lowered with ten proportions, or, as none of the 
ammonia is uncombined, with 7 proportions, of water, 
Axruoves this has been a season unprecedented of 
late years for its coldness and wetness, and therefore 
as unfavourable as can well be imagined to meetings 
in the open air, yet the exhibitions in the Garden of 
the Horticultural Society have been always crowded, 
and have afforded undiminished enjoyment to the 
lovers of Horticulture ; for, in the midst of almost 
incessant rain and cold, three fine and thoroughly 
English days have enabled twenty-three thousand 
three hundred and thirty-five persons to visit the 
Society’s establishment. On W. ednesday the beautiul 
gardens of the Duke of Devonshire, so kindly opened 
to the throng, were, as they always must be in 
fine weather, a great object of attraction. Nothing 
could well be more picturesque than the groups of 
well-dressed people seated on the soft turf, or wander- 
ing among the fine old trees, while the charm of the 
scene was greatly increased by the admirable music of 
the band of the Royal Horse Guards. We have said 
so much elsewhere, and on former occasions, con- 
cerning the exhibitors and their productions, that 
nothing remains to be mentioned, except that thirty- 
three gold, fifty-three silver-gilt,and two hundred and 
fifty-eightisilver medals, have rewarded the successful 
competitors during the present season. 
Ture is 2 very common idea that arable land is 
troublesome to manage, and leads to expense and loss, 
when it is not in the hands of a very experienced 
farmer ; and so it is, when there is such an extent of 
it as may be called a farm. Very few gentlemen who 
occupy arable land find that they havea profit atthe end 
of the year, allowing for rent, taxes, labour, &c. Buta 
very few acres of a moderately good soil, occupied 
with a greater extent of grass land, may be very valu- 
able "to a man who keeps horses for his pleasure, and 
cows, sheep, and pigs, for the use of his family. Ih 
the country @ horse and cart is extremely convenient, 
if not an essential part of an establishment. This 
horse may be used in a four-wheeled carriage, alone 
or with a companion, and it will be no detriment to 
him, whether it be a degradation or not, to draw 
green food for the cows and to transport manure into 
a field. He may now and then draw a light plough 
or harrow, or a horse-hoe ; and if he is not wanted 
every day for transporting his master or some of the 
family from place to place, he is better occupied in 
light farm-work than in standing idle in a stable. In 
a larger éstablishment, where a regular carriage is kept, 
an odd horse is very useful, such a horse as may be 
substituted for one of the carriage horses, in case of his 
being lame or wanting a dose of physic ; at all other 
times he is a cart-horse. 
The quantity of arable land we would suggest as 
useful and profitable, in addition to twenty or thirty 
acres of grass, should not“exceed ten or twelve acres, 
and be chiefly cultivated for green crops—that is, roots, 
Cabbages, and artificial grasses for green fodder. If 
Corn is ever sown it must be under peculiar cireum- 
stances, for the Wheat raised by gentlemen is often 
dearer than that which is bought in the market ; but 
crops of roots to feed cattle are a great saving of Hay 
and Corn in winter, and greatly increase the manure: 
whereas they cannot be readily purchased, and are 
heavy to carry to a distance ; they require more fre- 
quent manuring, but they thus gradually improve the 
fertility of the soil. Suppose, then, ten acres of a 
good mellow loam, worth 2/. an acre to let to a 
farmer, at a distance from a great town, and the 
other burdens amounting to 10s. more per acre: 
here is a rent of 2/ 10s. per acre. It may be 
judicious, at first, to get some neighbouring farmer to 
plough the whole as deep as possible, and to pulverize 
it with harrows and sczrifiers, after which the whole 
of the work should be finished with forks, spades, and 
hoes. It is presumed to lie on a porous subsoil ; if not 
it must be thoroughly underdrained with stones or 
tiles before any other operation. This necessity will 
make its original value less than we supposed above ; 
but the result will be the same, if we add the interest 
on the expense of draining to the original rent. The 
field should be divided and cropped as follows :—1 acre 
planted with Potatocs, 1 acre sown with Beet or 
Mangel Wurzel, ] with Swedish Turnips, 3 with Rye 
and ares, sown at different times; if the ground is 
not too heavy, 1 acre may be in Carrots, 1 planted 
with Cabbages, and 2 acres with Lucerne. This last 
will continue for many years if the soil is deep and 
mellow, and if the crop is weeded every time it is cut. 
As fast as the Tares are cut green for cattle, the ground 
is hoed by hand, and White Turnips are sown in rows. 
The winter Tares and Rye will be ready to cut in 
May, and the ground may be hoed over and raked, 
and liquid manure may be poured over it, before the 
Turnips are sown, which will be by the end of the 
month or early in June. Swedish Turnips may yet 
be sown to advantage, or the Globe, or Red Round 
Turnips, Later in the season a smaller and quicker- 
growing sort may be sown as late as the end of August. 
By a little attention to the succession of the different 
crops the ground may be kept continually in a pro- 
ductive state ; and as all the producecan be consumed 
at home, the land will always have returned to it, in 
the shape of manure, ail that is drawn from it: no 
plants ripening their seeds in it, there will be very 
little exhaustion, and the fertility will be continually 
increasing, 
If it be asked what is to be done with all this 
produce for cattle—for, except Potatoes, no food is 
raised for man,—we will readily answer, there is no 
fear of any difficulty: if the stock is not sufficient 
to consume the produce, it Is (easy to increase it. 
We suppose a considerable quantity of pasture land ; 
this will keep sheep and young cattle in summer, and 
the roots, Cabbages, &c. will keep and fatten them in 
winter. To have a fat sheep or a lamb now and then 
to kill for the family is ek ene as you have the 
tcher’s profit as well as the grazier’s; a cow or 
cee tay also be fatted off; and will find its 
value in the market, The Lucerne must be kept for 
the horses and milch cows; the Carrots stored for the 
horses and pigs in winter. It is difficult to calculate 
the value of this produce when consumed at home, 
and not sold ; but the crops may be valued as they 
are carried off; and by putting only two-thirds of the 
market value it will be found, that where these crops 
are well managed they are far more profitable, on an 
average of years, than crops of Corn, even if these 
could be raised every year without intermission, 
350 bushels of Potatoes per acre is a very common 
crop—but say 800, at 1s. per bushel, which they are 
well worth to feed pigs—here is 15. The Carrots, if 
the white Belgian Carrot is sown, will produce from 
15 to 25 tons; we will take the lowest average, 15 
tons, at 1/, per ton: they would sell for twice that in 
a town, for horses—here is 15/. more. ‘ares for 
horses are readily sold at 1s. the square perch, the 
buyer cutting and carrying them; this is 8/. per 
acre—say only 5/., or 15/. for three acres. Lucerne 
is worth fully as much, or rather more, as it may be 
cut three or four times; to the consumer they are 
Worth double ; set the two acres at 10/. The Cak- 
