820 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. [Nov. 25, 
here lost sight of the principle which he in part carried 
out, and that if he had then perceived the application of 
dispensing with all shifts—by the possibility of obtaining 
a uniform circulation of moisture from a larger amount 
of material, whether applied in larger pots, tubs, or pro- 
portionately-sized pits—he would still have attempted it 
ona larger scale. It appears that his attempts oh a small 
scale—yet then proportionately larger than others believed 
possible—were crowned with success. And here I would 
inquire whether his application of vegetable matter in a 
fresh or undecomposed state was at all favourable to the 
highest possible effects—whether its nutritive properties 
were not to a certain extent pernicious, not as an element 
capable of being assimilated by the roots, &c., but per- 
nicious or unfavourable as a medium by whichjthe remain- 
ing chemical agencies were to derive and impart their 
force? Is not the efficiency of every cause to a certain 
extent modified or regulated in proportion to the ¥ITNESS 
of the mupium through which it operates? 1f not, Lam 
perfectly unable to establish a method in support of those 
principles of Horticulture upon which all that is true in 
cultivation depends. 
Referring again to the materials used in the cultivation 
of the Balsams, I am convinced that the application of 
materials subservient to the highest possible effects of 
cultivation must answer a twofold purpose, mechanical 
and nutritive (or assimilative), and that the amount of 
materiai subservient to the latter purpose should only be 
in ion to the progressively absorbent and digestive 
functions of each plant. I would even apply these views 
to the cultivation of such plants as are exposed to the most 
intense agencies; for this reason, that the amount of 
material equal to a given effect would be in proportion to 
the former—the more powerful the agent, the greater 
the amount of material a plant could operate upon; and 
the greater the amount of material, the more essential that 
its qualities, proportions, arrangement, &c., should be 
rendered subservient to the progressive stages of growth. 
I think it is by what I venture to call a mechanical 
medium that the law of gravitation operates, and it is the 
uniform operation of this law which constitutes the capa- 
bility and power of uniform agency in all material bodies. 
*« Tt will also be necessary when fruit of the largest size 
is requirel, to place the plants at all periods of their 
growth at considerable distances from each other, because 
the leaves of the Pine-Apple plant act less efficiently in 
the generation of sap in proportion as they are made 
to take a perpendicular direction, and the direction they 
are compelled to take when they are laterally much shaded 
—for the leaves of this plant, like the stems of Potato- 
plants, are subjected to the conflicting influence of gravi- 
tation and of light—the one labouring to give a perpen- 
dicular, and the other a horizontal direction to the leaves ; 
and the comparative power of one agent increasing as that 
of the other decreases.”” 
Remarks.—The above very instructive observations 
appear to inculcate the great importance of equalising the 
great opposing powers in Nature, and serve to afford the 
last confirmatory evidence in support of an opinion I 
have given in a previous paper on the essential importance 
of ‘‘a uniform circulation of moisture,’’ as a principal 
medium by which*the highest possible effects in cultivation 
are to be attained. As this condition wiil, ere this, have 
excited some little attention, and in some instances con- 
jecture, as to the causes which operate to produce it, I 
beg to submit the following proposition to the considera- 
tion of cultivators :— 
A uniform circulation of the fluids necessary for the 
highest objects in Horticulture is the result of adapt- 
ing the arrangement, proportions, textures, and qualities 
of the materials employed in cultivation, to the organic 
structure of plants, and the external agencies which 
operate upon them.—William Wood. 
MR. BECK’S TANK-HOUSE. 
Perwars a description of my Tank-house may be 
acceptable to the general reader, and may serve to answer 
the numerous inquiries I have received upon the subject. 
What I aimed at was, to employ every portion of the space 
inclosed to the best advantage. Under one roof are the 
means of obtaining, at pleasure, stove, bottom, moist and 
dry heat, and likewise ilation ; the ar for 
these are at once simple and effective. The house (if I 
may be allowed to call a humble wooden erection by the 
name) is a ‘‘lean-to’”’ against a south wall; it is 35 feet 
long by 7 wide, and is divided in the centre bya glass 
partition, The tank, which is heated by one of Stephen- 
son’s conical boilers, is an iron one, and made by the 
same company ; it is 30 feet long and 3 feet wide, and is 
9 inches deep ; it is covered with 14 inch slate, and the 
depth of the water in it is about 4 inches. 
The tank is divided as shown in the Chronicle, p. 804. 
The half of the house nearest the boiler I use as a stove, 
and the other as a greenhouse. From the edge of the 
tank, which is 4 feet from the wall, in both divisions rise 
a series of shelves removable at pleasure. At either end 
of both places stands a slate cistern for receiving rain- 
water from the roof, and under the front sashes is placed 
a shelf, which is easily let down whenever wide path-room 
is required for bringing in a large plant, &c. The ventila- 
tion is effected by small doors near the ground; the top- 
lights run in the usual manner, and the front sashes are 
sliding. The two divisions are furnished thus:—In the 
stove suspended from the roof, and placed upon shelves, 
are about 70 choice Orchidacez, a few stove plants, and 
some Roses, just coming into full bloom. There are also 
some Hvacinths and other plants to bloom in succession. 
The sheii under the window is filled with various cuttings 
that have been struck, and are to remain there until they 
become established. Beneath the tank, which is sup 
moisture, and if this is considered to be too heavy, a 
small plug in the several divisions is pulled up, the water 
sinks into the tank, and the evaporation ceases. If the 
tank be too full to allow its escape from the surface, a 
cock may be turned leading from the bottom of the farther 
end, and this allows sufficient to run out to accomplish the 
ported upon small iron columns 2 feet 6 inches from the 
ground, are planted Rhubarb, Asparagus, and Seakale— 
the two former promise to be excellent crops, the latter 
has only been lately planted, and therefore little can be 
said about it; here are also stowed away Fuchsias and | 
other plants that remain in a dry state through the winter; 
as are likewise Hyacinths, and other bulbs, for forcing in | object. Should the water boil, the safety of the whole is 
succession. This space was at first intended for a Mush- | provided for by a small steam-pipe. The first admission 
room bed, but could not be spared for that purpose. In | of airis through the small doors near the bottom, and this 
the second or greenhouse division, some of the shelves | mingles with the warm air before reaching the plants. If we 
are filled with seedling Pelargoniums, and the front one is | wish to propagate, we take off a lower shelf in the stove, 
occupied with seedling Calceolarias. plunge the pots of cuttings in the tan, and cover with a 
I should add that, in the stove, one-half of the tank is | hand-glass. 
covered with dry tan, and the other is divided into two Now, I dare say many gardeners in large establish- 
water-tight compartments. There is also a similar one of | ments will smile at this elaborate description of a place 
small size near the sluices C and B. In the greenhouse | that would scarcely hold their tools. But I thought it 
division the slate cover is entirely bare. With respect to | would be acceptable to humble horticulturists like myself. 
the management : suppose it to be eight o’clock, p.m., the | I could not desire for my purpose a better house than 
glass falling and the night promising, what we have had | one of several divisions. The readers of the Chronicle 
this season, 12° of frost ; suppose, farther, that the stove | may remember a notice which appeared in its columns, of 
is at 70°, the water in that division of the tank 120° or | the first little structure I worked on the tank-system, and 
130°; the sluice-board at A is put down, and those at | which first directed attention to Rendle’s plan in this 
B and € are pulled up, and in ten minutes the greenhouse | part of the country. I have had no occasion to vary m 
division of the tank, previously cold, is radiating heat ; | original arrangements ; all I have done is only to enlarge 
in this way it remains for an hour or so, and then the | it, and I believe for simplicity, certainty, economy, 
circulation is shut off and confined to the stove. The fire | variety of temperature under one roof, useful occupation 
is made up, and the water-divisions in the stove are re- | of all space, my wooden boxes may serve as 
plenished, in order to supply the necessary moisture. In | For the health and luxuriance of all they contain, abund- 
the morning the foliage will be covered with a dew-like | ance of practical men can vouch, ; 
PLAN OF A POTTING-SHED. at 1; this boiler heats a small greenhouse at the back» 
Tur accompanying plan is an inside view ofa most con- | and likewise gives out sufficient heat for the shed; Fis a 
yenient potting-shed belonging to Mr. Beck, of Isleworth. | fruit-loft, 16 feet long and 4 feet 4 inches wide; G are 
This shed is 25 feet long and 12 feet wide (part of the | bins for peat, sand, crocks, &c.; H is a cupboard for 
timbers have been left out for the purpose of better showing | paint-pots and other tools which the amateur may re- 
the other parts). Although it is not a very substantial build- | quire; I is a shelf for plants on the outside. As this 
ing, it is remarkable for its neatness and general arrange- | building faces the north, and has a roof partly glazed at 
ment, and contains within itself every convenience which | K, it is found useful as a place in which plants can be 
the Amateur can desire. The following is a description ; | temporarily preserved while in flower, in cases where it is 
A is the potting bench, B abench for standing plants on ; | desirable that they should not be exposed to too much 
over this bench are roof-lights, K, which make it a conve- | light. The water-tub, C,is very useful for washing pots 
nient north house, as well as a potting-shed ; C is a large | in, The row of bins at G enables the gardener to keep all 
water-tub, running on castors, which may be pushed under | his composts and potting materials distinct, and always 
the bench, out of the way; at D, though not seen, is a | ready, so that there is no time lost in hunting after this or 
pt ’s conical boiler iron chimney is shown | that, and the place never needs to be unneat. 
pte 
L 
exhibit a fruitful appearance. When the tree is in a bees 
ing condition the shoots are generally furnished | 
wood-buds at the base; then fruit-buds begin to be forme 
in the axils of the leaves, and continue to be so formed, a 
The frnit-buds earlie®) 
t—ar' 
put 
THE FIG. 
Trene is, perhaps, no fruit-tree more easily grown than 
the Fig. It will thrive under a greater variety of circum- 
stance, as regards soil and situation, drought and moisture, ° 
than will even the common orchard trees 5 and it will also | the very extremity of the shoot. 
| 
bear a wide range of temperature, provided this does not formed—-those lowest on the current year’s shoo ; 
descend much below the freezing point. The tree is not | generally developed into fruit of considerable sizes ae 
adapted for withstanding any great degree of frost. Al- they rarely attain maturity in the open air in this one ao 
though it will ripen its fruit under a summer-heat scarcely ee those pupees later one ee Pe exneciee tie a to 
ufficient for the Vine, yet the shoots of the latter, when | and-none will stand over winter, If advanced 60 71° 
t is : have the appearance of minute Figs. They will wither 
‘i eT ee nN 
with the leaves; and although they may hang oie 
owing 
their growth is perfected, will bear in winter a degree of 
cold that would kill the Fig to the ground. Notwith- 
standing the amplitude of its foliage, and proportionably 
rapid growth under fayourable circumstances, the Fig 
may be fruited in very small compass, although limited 
in its supply of nourishment—a consequence of its tenacity 
life. 
shoots after the leaves have dropped, yet their vege! 
is checked, and cannot be resumed in the foll 
spring. 
ate some fruit-buds at and near the extremity of ue 
shoots will be observed not larger than small Peas 3? 
fact, still enveloped by their protecting scales at th “ll 
when the vegetation of the season ceases. These w 
continue alive, if protected from frost, and remain 
tionary, like wood-buds on other parts of the trey, 
e 
= 
The mode of bearing is somewhat peculiar, and requires 
particular attention. On the lower part of the current 
shoots of the season wood-buds are generally formed in the 
axils of every leaf. If the shoots are upright and very , a) parts b 
vigorous, such only are to be found along the shoot—the | vegetation becomes active in the foll One ee Tee burst 
natural tendency being to form stems and branches, more that period arrives, these autumn-forme' eee Suring 
especially where a considerable extent of these does not | from the scales which inclosed and ron hes a 
already exist; but the ramifications from such usually | winter ; and they acquire perfect maturity in 
