694 
THE GARDENERY’ 
CHRONICLE. 
(Oct. 7, 
while the colour of the flower approximates to that of the 
other ; but far different, indeed, will it be when seeds are 
gathered from hybrids—for then the fixed colours are 
broken up, and nothing stable can be depended upon.—C, 
Potato Crop.—In several Numbers in the early part of 
this season T observed remarks respecting the failure of 
the Potato-crop. I beg to make a few observations on 
the subject, if you think them worthy of a place in your 
Chronicle. Waving had some experience in growing this 
plant, I consider that the growing of the old varieties in 
one locality for a length of time is the principal cause of 
failure ; for instance, I have several old varieties which 
were free growers, and of first-rate quality some eight or 
ten years ago, which I have been unwilling to part with, 
and have grown them from year to year; two of the sorts 
are Kidney, one white and the other red. The white one 
was sent out by the Horticultural Society about 12 or 14 
years ago ; the red I bought in Covent Garden Market. 
At about the same period, for several years, a number of 
them have not come up, and the defect has been pro- 
gressing, and in this season not more than one third of 
the sets came up, although they were principally planted 
entire, which proves that these two varieties have nearly 
lost their vegetative powers. Ina tour through Scotland, I 
observed large breadths of Potatoes yielding not more than 
one-fourth of a crop, and the vacancies were filled up with 
Turnips. I made several inquiries respecting such a 
failure, and all agreed that the old varieties successively 
grown in one place were most subject to the disease. In 
Fifeshire I observed a fine field of Potatoes that had been 
planted with tubers imported from America two years ago, 
and a friend of mine in Kincardineshire informed me 
varieties are visible in every field in that neighbourhood. 
I trust these observations will be a means of calling the 
attention of the great growers of so valuable a root to the 
more careful procuring and selecting of their stock for 
seed, as by so doing many failures will be obviated 3 and I 
beg in conclusion to state that to plant from a field that 
has shown symptoms of disease or failure should be 
avoided if possible.-—D. S. 
Rhododendron.—There is a variety of the Rhododen- 
dron ponticum growing here, which appears to be different 
from any of the others. It comes into flower about the 
same time as the others, but instead of unfolding its 
blossoms at the same rate as its neighbours, it only opens 
a few at a time, and continues long in flower. It did not 
cease flowering this season the whole month of August, 
consequently was nearly a month longer in bloom than 
the others. It has a southern exposure, and is sheltered 
from the north and east.— Peter Mackenzie. 
Propagation.—Perhaps there may be no harm in stating 
the fact, although it may be known to some of your 
readers already, that young plants may be propagated by 
means of birds’-nests. Roses and other kinds of bushes 
will sometimes put forth roots into the old moist nests of 
the wren and hedge-sparrow.—Peter Mackenzie. 
Enormous Mushroom.—A Mushroom of the species 
Cow Boletus (Boletus Bovinus) has this week heen got 
on the farm of Mr. Thomas Beesley, Higher Bartle Wood, 
Plumpton, which measured 43 inches in circumference, 
and weighed the extraordinary weight of 5 lbs.—F'acile, 
Prolific Hive of Bees.—Mr. Anthony Balderston, of 
Barnfield, Mervith, has a hive of Bees that swarmed twice 
in May, the plumb swarm from which swarmed twice in 
July. From one swarm {including the old one) he hag at 
the present time five flourishing hives.—Facile. 
Blight on Corn from the Barberry.—In the Chronicie 
of August 19, under the head of « Vulgar Errors,” we read 
as follows :—‘* People still maintain that the Barberry 
blights their Corn.’ This is nevertheless a matter 
deserving attention; for in this, as in many other in- 
stances, a popular prejudice has been founded on truth, 
although the real cause has been often overlooked. Some 
writers have treated this subject with respect, and among 
them is Dr. Thornton. The latter says, that the ‘ leaves 
are very subject to the Rubigo, which will infect the Corn 
in the neighbourhood.’’ Here the secret is at once 
explained, and the aversion of farmers to the Barberry- 
bush at once justified. The vulgar notion is, that the 
Barberry exercises some evil agency upon Corn within a 
certain distance, and accordingly farmers will never suffer 
it to grow near their fields. They are right as to the 
effect, but they attribute it to a wrong cause. I have seen 
some remarkable instances of Corn perishing in a semi- 
circle, in front of a Barberry-bush, and extending a good 
way into a field. Any one who has but superficially 
noticed the Barberry, must have observed that the leaves 
and young shoots of the shrub were covered with a peculiar 
Kind of blight or mildew. Now it is by no means extra- 
ordinary that this should be carried by the wind into 
Corn-fields, and infect the Corn, so as to cause its des- 
truction. This is the true explanation of the mischief 
caused by the Barberry to Corn in its neighbourhood,— 
J. Wighton. [This is the common explanation, but if 
any one will take the trouble to examine the parasitical 
plant which attacks the Barberry, and that of Corn, he 
will find that they are totally different things. One is the 
Aicidium Berberidis and the other some species of 
redo or Puccinia, for it is sometimes one and sometimes 
the other. We should as soon believe tha‘ a hen’s eggs 
would be seed of an 
cidium would produce an Uredo or Puccinia. We 
ee Aware of the facts mentioned by Mr. Wighton, for we 
ve seen them ourselves, and they form a curious problem 
yet to solve, 
®. Loudon.—In the last Chronicle (p. 679) it is said 
that I am now lying dang ill at Southamy It 
is true that I have been very unwell, and jwent to the 
Isle of Wight, and afterwards to Southampton, for change 
of air, and that I remained at the latter place a month; 
but I am now recovered. Asa proof of this, I may just 
state that I have since been to the neighbourhood of 
Bath, making a plan for laying out agentleman’s grounds 
there, and also a cemetery; and subsequently to Kid- 
dington, in Oxfordshire, for the same purpose. I re- 
turned to town late on Saturday night, and was not a 
little surprised at various statements and doings to which 
I have referred in the advertisement sent with this note, 
—J.C. Loudon, Bayswater, Oct. 3, 1843. [Itis a great 
pity that busybodies are so numerous; and we much 
regret that Mr. Loudon should have been annoyed by 
their foolish proceedings, They, however, give us an 
a es of congratulating him on his restoration to 
health. 
Clover Dodder.—Ag it may be interesting to keep a 
record of the circumstances under which the Clover 
Dodder has made its appearance among us this year, I can 
add to your informant at p. 677, that I have seen one in- 
stance of its introduction with Lucerne-seed from Affghan- 
istan, and heard of another—the former near Colchester, 
: A. correspondent has 
also just furnished me with specimens from Reigate, which 
he believes to have been introduced with foreign Clover- 
5 can see no very 
marked difference between the plants from both localities, 
Mr. Darwin also writes that he has seen a field of Clover 
bonfires in it, 
each from 6 to 12 feet in diameter.—.J. §. Henslow. 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES, 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Oct. 3.—R, W. Barchard, Esq., in the chair. W. Al 
M.P., W. Ainslie, Esq., and the Right Hon. William, Earl pf 
nsfield, were elected Fellows. From 
s oO a particularly 
well-grown plant of Oncidium Harrisonii, haying seven flower- 
highly beautiful when well grown; also Hippeastrum awicum, 
i thina, and a very pretty plant of Oncidium Sutto- 
l was awarded for the Rodriguezia and 
Griffinia. F Messrs. Rollisson, of Tooting, was a 
pallidus, a particularly well-grown plant of Sobralia Sessilis, by 
means showy, but rather pretty when the flowers are fully 
expanded; and a beautiful plant of Renanthera coccinea, having 
a, fine spike of its brilliant scarlet blossoms. This plant is a native 
A Knightian Medal 
was awarded for the Cypripedium, Sobralia, and Renanthera, 
were cut specimen: 
Miltonia Clowe: 
s of Epidendrum; a supposed variety of Onci- 
dium trulliferum, which had been imported from Brazil, having 
crophylla, which, though not handsome, has the good quality of 
time. Mr. Appleby stated 
that the plant. from which this specimen was cut has been in 
m Was a very re- 
markable cut specimen of Elate sylvestris, one of those noble 
Grapes weighing 1lb. 7 oz. and lb. oz., that had been grown 
wall in the open air, where, notwithstanding the 
unpropitious weather in spring and in the early part of sum- 
although beautifully coloured, were not large, but those unpro- 
is manner are miserable little things. Mr, Markham, 
gr at Hewell, sent two excellent bunches of Black Hamburgh 
ing 1 Ib. 4 oz, and 1 Ib. 2. e 
Pines, weighing 3 Ibs. 5 0z., and 3 Ibs. 6 oz. and measuring 
7 inches in Jength by 5 inches in diameter, number of pips in 
length 8, exceedingly handsome fruit, crowns very small; like- 
wise an Antigua Pine, weighing 5 Ibs. 12 oz., and measuring 6} 
inches long by 6 inches in diameter ; number of pips in length, 
3 
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3 
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From Mr. A. 
Scott, of Leigh Park, was a bunchof Bananas, weighing upwards 
The plant on which it grew was imported a few 
years ago from St. Helena, to the Edinburgh Royal Botanic 
Garden; for this a Banksian medal was awarded. Mrs. Mason 
sent a curious specimen of a Trumpet Gourd, measuring 4 feet 
2 inches . From G. T. Lay, Esq. y to her 
Majesty’s mission, China, was fruit of the Wung Kwo or Shan 
quality once had been. x 
is made into red translucent cakes, which are very pleasantly 
NERICISENG Gey Heteatenl Gada 
tasted, and may be eaten freely without fear of indigestive 
né 
flatulency or fulness. The fruit is reputed medicinal by the 
Chinese in bowel complaints among children, 
good condition, 
Oncidium recurvum and sanguineum; the beautiful Miltonia 
candida, Brasavola venosa, Gloriosa superba, Gesnera longifolia, 
and Sedum Sieboldii plant o i 
tivation, and can be grown by every one possessing a common 
d the Wormsley Pippin—which is an excellent kitchen Apple, 
and although rather large, is likewise a good table Apple, 
CERCLE GENERALE D’HORTICULTURE DE PARIS. 
TE second exhibition of this Society was given from the 19th 
to 25th September, at the Orangerie of the Louvre. i 
the only autumnal show in or within 30 miles of Paris, a goo 
sprinkling of Fruit, Plants, and Cut Flowers was anticipated. 
Country florists and amateurs who make but one annual 
visit to the capital, look forward with anxiety to the spring and 
autumn shows, which are considered as botanical réunions from 
the most distant parts of France, Alas f i i 
that awaited them! for a 
of keeping open the show for six days 
necessity of replenishing cut flowers, such as Roses and Dahlias, 
every other day, was qui i 
eaches, which were all that could be 
lane, 
and Epineux, were ver jfine, and 
were also two seedling 
Pines of great beauty, and very large fruit; one of them o! 
remarkably waxy sea-green colour, egetables there 
were literally none, except Patates and Aubergines; one of the 
former, however, weighed 5lbs, Cut flowers (Dahlias and Roses), 
were numerous; but the late dry 
but favourable, and the blooms were generally small. Mr, Laffay 
be as soon as he gets 200 subscribers at one guinea each, 
Society offered silver and bronze medals, which were awarded for 
comparable, Capiaumont de Fiand: 
’Hiver, Louis, Colmar 
Sanspareil, Belle de Berri, Bon © 
ar, Van M 
rie Louise, Louise bonr 
de Ligne, Van Mons Léon Leclere, 
ain, Belle Josephine, 
Plums: Mirabelle d’Octobre, Coe’s Golden Drop, Waterloo, Im- 
perial, Koétche d’Italie and a’. emagne. Peaches : 
Bourdine, Téton de Venus, Violet Nectarine. Grapes ; 
perdrix, Black Hamburg, &c.; 2d Prize, 
Varieties of Pears and Apples. 
of each kind, all equally large and in excellent condition, and cer- 
ae was a splendid collection ; the varieties were, Pears: BeutTé 
é, ‘ i ‘ 
Belle Angevine, Bon Chrétien De Curé, Doyenné d’Hiyer, Cras- 
Sane, Duchesse d’Angleterre, Grosse de Bruxelles, Catillac. Apples: 
Api, de Canada and Calville blanc. Peaches: Bon Ouvrier and 
Bourdelais, Gros Maroc Hatif, Gros Ribier de Maro c, Gros Damas 
lane, Poulsart du Jura, Madeleine blanc, Noir, Ciota, and Cor- 
rize, M. Bergmann, for Cayenne 
Seedling Pine-Apples: 1st prize, M. Gouticrs 
Hot and Greenhouse 
;_lst prize, Messrs. Cels, for a large collection, containing 
iis Of 200 specimens of Palms, Orchidaceze, Ferns, &c. &C- 
bothin and out of bloom 3 among them were Areca sapida, Cary- 
ota urens, Chamzrops excelsa and humilis, Chamzedorea elatior, 
elegans, lindeniana, and oblongata, Cocos australis and nova 
species, Desmoncus polyanthos, Euterpe globosa, Fulchironia 
senegalensis, Gulielma speciosa, Latania rubra, Oreodoxa regias 
Thrinax a 
Oncidium 
digesii, Catasetum cristatum, Epidendrum cochleatum, and Zy- 
color and rubra, Gesnera zebrina, Inga Harrisonii, Justicia carnea 
and cristata, Nepenthes distillatoria, Strelitzia augusta and 
Tegine, Stephanotis Thouarsii, Zamia muricata and pungens, 
