SB 
192 
a te ES 
THE 
GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
[Mar. 25, 
but loss and disappointment from its use. Guano has. 
been analysed both in this country and abroad by skilful 
chemists, who have shown that it consists of certain am- 
moniacal and earthy salts, together with a small quantity 
of animal matter; but the proportions of the different 
substances of which it consists, appear to vary very con- 
siderably in the different samples which have been exa- 
mined. It is evident that if the nature of this substance 
is variable, the effects which it produces on vegetation 
must likewise be variable and uncertain. 
Amongst the most recent publications respecting the 
use of this curious natural manure are the three at the 
head of this article; and each, in its way, is valuable, as 
collecting or recording experiments which have been 
beta with i 
C. Johnson commences his account of guano by 
ae ‘general observations on the nature of those vege- 
table, animal, and saline substances which commonly 
exist, though in small quantity, in the water of rivers, and 
to the presence of which much of the fertilizing powers 
of such water is due. He points out the early use of the 
excrement of birds as manure, and then proceeds to 
sketch out the nature, extent, and situation of the guano- 
eds, which exist on the shores of certain islands off the 
coast of Peru. The chemical composition of guano, and 
the probable mode in which it acts as a manure, are next 
discussed ; and lastly, numerous experiments which have 
been made with it are described. ‘he experiments 
pear to be well selected, and present a mass of useful 
information. Mr. Trimmer has taken up the subject in a 
more general point of view. He draws attention to the 
present state of Agriculture, the general want of manure, 
and the prejudices which exist in favour of the use of 
farmyard dung. The value of the most important natural 
and artificial manures is then discussed, together with the 
principles on which the action of manures is supposed to 
depend ; the superiority of compound over simple manures 
is pointed out, and numerous experiments are quoted to 
illustrate the comparative effects produced by the use of 
these substances'generally, and guano in particular. 
The general conclusion to be drawn from the experi- 
ments which are described in these three pamphlets is that 
guano is a most yaluable fertilizer, possessing the goo 
qualities of farmyard manure, but far less bulky and more 
easily applied to the surface of the land. It is to be 
weetien that the composition of guano is so uncertain, 
and that it is easily adulterated without much fear of detec- 
tion, which renders its use far less convenient and certain 
than it would otherwise be. On this point, however, all 
that can be said is that farmers must only go to respectable 
dealers, whose interest it jis to supply them with the 
genuine article. The natural variations in its composition 
cannot be guarded against, but artificial adulterations may 
thus, to a certain extent, be avoided. 
Guano is a strong manure, and therefore, in many cases, 
when applied by the drill, or when used in too large a 
quantity, it is found to burn up the plants a destroy 
vegetation. The best effects seem to have heen produced 
when it was sown broad-cast in moderate quantities, or 
well mixed with about four times as much earth and drilled 
in. The uncertainty which exists respecting the strength 
of the manure is, as has already been stated, the chief 
objection to its use. It was with the view of getting over 
this objection that Potter’s artificial guano was first pre- 
pared. This is certainly an excellent material, but it 
remains to be seen whether it is the best mixture which 
could be proposed as a manure. That an artificial fer- 
tilizer of this kind, uniform in nature and strength, will 
eventually be found more economical and useful than 
foreign guano appears to us beyond the reach of question. 
The Emigrant’s Hand-book* of Facts (McPhun, 
Glasgow, 1843,) is a well-arranged little pocket companion, 
containing good maps and very useful information, relating 
to all those British colonies to which the stream of emi- 
gration is flowing. Mr. Butler seems to have selected his 
evidence with judgment, as he certainly has condensed it 
with skill, “Everybody who is thinking of emigrating 
should provide himself with this little volume. 
Popular Cyclopedia of Natural Science ; Mechanical 
Philosophy (Orr and Co. This volume, which forms the 
third of its series, is, in our opinion, the best. It is well 
written, clearly arranged, itd skilfully adapted to the com- 
prehension of those who are seldom capable of understand. 
ing such subjects as the properties of matter, and the 
laws of force and motion. The work is the best we 
know for schools or mechanics’ libraries, or for young 
gardeners, who wish to know something more than their 
neighbours about the mighty, though unseen, physical 
powers which surround them and control their operations. 
Of Jesse’s well-known Gleanings in Natural History 
Mr. Murray has lately brought out a small edition, arranged 
and adapted for schools, It forms a pretty pocket-volume, 
and will, we doubt not, be acceptable to the young folks 
for whom it is intended. 
CALENDAR OF ga OIE Sor the ensuing week. 
premature dropping of the Fig under natural conditions 
Was as familiar to the aoe of Israel (Isaiah xxxiv. 4), as it 
is in our o ay under artificial treatment, is on 
ich long one tne proved to be constant bearers, 
ee less liable to dro: e three best sorts for forcing, and 
name—La Pempetuclle—having 
by which the Brown Turkey Fig is better Inown we eee 
—(See page 121), On account of fresh Figs not Seine generally 
‘esteemed in this country, the varieties have not been duly 
studied, and we know less of the different Figs than of any other 
fruit which we cultivate; the consequence is, that many spurious 
varieties find their way into our forcing-houses, Gite hence the 
many complaints we hear of Figs falling before 
ripe. The English traveller, after ears *€such delicious Figs’? 
in the South of Europe, forth’ iets sends home cuttings to his 
friends ; and if these should fall into the hands of an old prac- 
titioner, who knows how ill- enitad our climate is to the best 
y get into the hands of the 
novice; in that case they are roared ” distributed, and prized as 
highly as the famed Melon-seeds from Malta, Beyrout, or Cabul; 
and before the last of them are reorient bo) be quite worthless for 
our climate, batch of cuttings finds 
its way here, by a similar route, 2 jas a same round, and to 
produce similar disappointments. —(See vol. i., p. 579). All this I 
ave often witnessed, and more than once have I acted the part 
of the old gardener, by ge tein rid of seeds and cuttings that 
have cost considerable expense and trouble to procure. Half- 
grown Figs, dropping, in remain- 
ing stationary or turning yellow near the stalk, 
hang and ripen by the process of caj apHiaCECiOn (described in 
Vol. ii., p. 317), Ww which I saw successfully practised last season by 
a gentleman in this neighbourhood. The best cure, however, is 
to provide cnttings from old trees which have been known to 
bear regularly, and there are many such trees cultivated all over 
the country. 
maa a a ee eae 
door Departmi 
Pivery.—If all ties goHe on well ieee these were shifted, 
shading the young stock may be dispensed with, and the usual 
routine of heat, air, and moisture continued. 
INERIES.—All the Vineries are now in a moving state, not ex- 
cepting even the Vines in the greenhouse and in the latest house ; ; 
the two latter require the most attention from this time, to see 
that the top eyes are not over-excited. It is more essential 
oO late sities than to citer in the earlier houses that they 
should be laid horizontally as low along the front of the house as 
they can be bent down. This keeps the whole plant in an equal 
Liens and equalises the fore of the ascending sap in all 
3 tie 
P. H-HoUsE.—The swelling fruit and young wood will now 
draw liberally on the roots; that these are well supplied 
with moisture, and imitate 18 far as possible fine mild sammer 
days, wit: genial showers i ae the afternoon, The ease with which 
this can be done, with our improved machinery, is the grand 
secret c of our success in eects 
e.—The of this ones may, like the 
last, be rendered similar to those moist, mild days, so congenial 
to ee out-of-doors in the beginning of su 
s.—Although the Fig requires an abundance eof water when 
pyelie its fruit, yet, unless the pots are well drained, this only 
aggravates the evil of dropping fruit, of which I have lately heard 
Many complaints. 
MELONS AND CucuMBERS.—The earliest Melons should be kept 
much thinner in the shoots, and nearer to the glass, than later 
ones; they should also extend farther over the bed before yey 
are allowed to set their first fruit. If weeds appear in the fre: 
thus encourage a brood of 
MATOES, CLiaeuite; and Togpacco may yet be sown, and 
for tHe next three weeks, if circumstances require it; let them 
have a corner of the hottest frame till they vegetate, then remove 
them to a cooler place, to come on more slowly. 
Musurooms.—As soon as a sufficient crannies of droppings 
are eons, a new bed may be made to succeed the one now in 
bearin 
Lerruce and Co ESAE GEL plants not yet freneplented! from 
their winter quarters will s if left much longer. The early 
spring-sown of these vei other seedlings ot this date must be 
thinned as soon as you can get hold of them, otherwise they 
become drawn up, and me caren that you Sian do little good with 
them afterwards, 
door Departmen 
Acelebrated NBS eta late of Edinburgh, ea said to Hake given 
the following trite advice mers when he sent 
them ont to their “first plac * Sow thickly, thin in time, and 
keep on good terms with the Ree ”? Allkitchen- garden seeds are 
said by the growers to be in excellent condition this season, with 
the excepti ca of Carrot-seed, those plants having been blighted 
last season, when ripening seed. Carrot-seeds must therefore be 
sown thicker than usual this season; indeed, I agree with the 
above advice, to sow all seeds rather thickly, and to thin in time. 
Asparacus.—About the end of March is the best time to make 
new Asparagus beds. There are many useful papers on this sub- 
Jechs is ponies yolniige of the Chronicle. 
of these should be 
fitenea before’ the end of the month, selbst of Rhubarb, 
which Het to fs walla: than Sea-k: 
— As there are some doubts avout the soundness of 
Carrot- seer this season, see that the ground for it is ina tho 
roughly pulverised state. Where the land is stiff, or otherwise 
uncongenial, it would be a good plan to get twoor ‘three barrow- 
loads of ee cites compost, to cover the seeds with. A careful 
man should he sower with a basketful of the covering, 
bie he contd rspridkle along the drills as fastas the seeds were 
now 
omen ‘he early sown must be pricked out as soon as they 
‘m two rough leaves: the last of the Lettuce and Cauliflower 
sO’ 
SvcexssrowAt, Crops,—The last March sowing of these must 
put it 
plant them out, and fill up any blanks in the youngest rows. 
‘Where young Cabbages are in demand throughout the season, 
a few seeds ade be sown every TOR ENE or rates weeks until 
the end ot 
REDS. anaes of pointing out the great advantage of 
ae early sleet to keep down weeds, I would refer the reader 
to page 555, vol. ii 
OncHarp.—If the weather continues dry, and free from gales 
and sudden changes, which generally occur about this time, the 
blossom of Peach and Apricot trees will stand a good deal of 
cold, a ie freely ; nevertheless, coverings eae be at hand 
to put 0 ‘or bushes 
iaueptatitea this winter should not remain much Teheer without 
some mulching, if not already secured in this way. 
rer asthe gg as aS AND ee OS 
-door Department 
Sroves.—The Neti arncire here sett how range from 60° to 
65° in the morning, and air should be admitted as soon as the 
sun-heat raises it to 70° or 75°. More frequent syringing and a 
moister cae should now be kept up. Potting and bate 
pagating must now be added to the routine of this department 
for the cart two Ronen As all our gardening periodicals teem 
pl notices of new plants, I imposed on myself to notice only 
of the best old plants, many of which are fully as fine and 
ee useful as the greatest novelties, and more suited to the 
means of the eederality, of growers. Allamanda cathdrtica is 
one of these, and when trained on some kind of trellis and well 
covered with bloom, it is as fine a plant as can be brought into 
the conservatory ; where it will flower freely for two or three 
months. It is of a succulent nature, and recutees less acon 
than any other =. one ‘with which I am acquai 
GREENHOUSE. me routine of potting and BrOMeRGnee 
must also be reeenedk with here for some time to come, and 
the house must be kept damper and warmer. 
mornings, @ erly AL ag the paths only in the evenin, 
—From the middle of March to ue middle of 
May is BerkEpS: the gayest time in the year for the conservatory. 
othing seems to be wanted but the flowers of the climbers. 
Violets, bee Lilacs, Roses, Wall-flowers, Sweetbriar, 
Musk, and a great many other sweet-smelling flowers are nowin 
their prime, and fill the air with their capa: The finest of all 
em usk-scented plants at this time is Mimulus Denhamii, which 
is among the seeds sven out by the Horticultural Society. The 
Glycine sinensis forces beautifully at this ‘ken as a whole 
the Papilionaceous tribe furnishes many se for early forcing, 
and ge in the 
and pCR Ra eer should 
now be propagated, to have stout early plants. Every y young 
shoot of the Gardens should be propagated s there is scarcely 
of them in i estal hment. Any ale 
that will do for Pachsias will sui em in Eyvinter! and they w: 
force all the better by being Lane cool in winter. To have ike 
standards of them, by way of curiosit G. radicans on the 
tallest plants of G. aérida; they will unite in two or three weeks, 
and may be trained with fine bushy heads. 
-door Department. 
It is not safe to delay pruning: Sato Roses any longer. All 
ropagation, or for better 
every sort of planting should now be go! 
as possible, Sow Mignonette, where the soil is light, for pe 
rst crop; it will cover the ground, before dry weather sets ii 
where it could not otherwise be easily established, 
Every gentle shower will encourage worms, and unless the gras: 
can be regularly swept cu rolled they must be kept under. et 
every place in and about the flower-garden be kept as clean and 
tidy as possible, to make up for the dearth of flowers, and as an 
earnest of what you would like to do at a later period if you had 
ie means.—D, Beaton, Shrubland Park Gardens. 
State of the Weather near Londot ing Mar, 23, 1843, as ob- 
served at the Ho mrauldtieal Gardaa,;  Chigwic vk. 
Baxomerer. | PARRMOMETER. 
Max. Min. | Max. Mean. 
17 | 29,891 | 39.836 64 47.5 
Saturday 18| 29.861 | 29.844 36 51.5 
19 | 29.867 | 29.71 al 48.0 
ely 20) 29.667 | 29.473 46 54.0 
21) 29.467 .379 ar 53.0 
Wednesday22 29.409 | 29.341 46 53.5 
Thursday 2} 29.555 | 29.416 42 51.0 
Average =39.074 29.580 | 61.3 All 51.2 | 27 
1. Booey) uniform wdahe faze ; overcast. 
z 3 very fine; cloudy ; rain at night, 
3 Maa 
5 i haze at night. 
23. Cloudy and mild; exceedingly fine; clear at night 
Mean temperature of the week 7.7° above tke average. 
State of the Weather at ee during the last 17 years, for the ensuing 
feek ending April 1, 1843. 
Prevailing W js 
Aver. | Aver |nrean| yuo ,of | Greatest | a ERLE. 
Mar. |Highest| Lowest |Tigan| which it AUR ES 
‘emp. | ‘Temp. Nained.| of Raii is 
a1 | 32.7 7 12 in. |=} 2) 2) 2} 4} a} } 4 
638 | 24.6 7 0.87 i) 5 4} 2) a} 2] 6|— 
53.6 36.1 G 0.68 8) 5} 2) 1) 2) a) a) 1 
62.8 | 35.1 4 0.12 a} 3 2 al ala! alo 
53.1 85.1 5 0.60 3| 3 2—| 2) 2) 3] 2 
63.4 86.1 8 0.26 2) 6 1 2) 2) 4p 
62.0 | 35.3 9 0.76 ali 2 2) gi 2 4 
Boe hiner ie vemperattie during the nbove perfod occurred on the 27th in 
1930—ther 776; and the lowest on the Ist of April, 183—ther 
meter 16 
REPORT ON COVENT-GARDEN MARKET, 
the Week ending March 24, i 
The late genial weather has considerably increased the supply 
of Vegetables, Foreign fruits are abundant, but those of home 
growth, with the ee of Apples, are rather scantily sup- 
plied. Fruit: The supply of Pines is limited; their price has 
mavestcedl to 6s. and 10s. per Ib. Strawberries appear in small 
quantities, ai at 2s, per oz. ; Easter Beurré Pears, of which a few 
lant; the supply has been augmented by great numbers which 
have’ evel been imported fi ii 
trade in this department rather dull. Meda natsdtls fetch from 4s, 
5s. per bushel; Cockle Pippins, from 4: to 7s.; Stone 
Pippins, from 4s. iS. 5 ere area few subton Pippins, in 
good So On from 5s. 6d. to 7s.per bushel. The best culinary 
kinds are the pe say Pippin, from 4s. to 6s. 6d.; French 
crake rote 3s, to 4s. 6d.; and the Hanwell Souring, from 3s. to 
&s. per bushel. Good Cucumbers have made a slight Gases, 
and fetch from 4s. to 10s. per brace. Vegetables: The quality of 
Asparagus continues good, and it is now becoming more eeeneruly 
the best bunches sell fr oe 6s. to 9s. each. Seakale is more abun- 
dant, from 9d. to 2s. 6d. per punnet. The late warm weather has 
ipeh case ete: supply of Broccoli, which is excellent; the white 
bunch, 
bunches. French Beans are the same as q rote 
reduced in price to 6s. and 8s. per bushel, lery is becoming 
inferior, Endive is small but good, and _sells -evoKr Is. to 2s. 6d. 
er score. Rhubarb is plentiful from 6d. to 1s, per bundle. 
cheaper, being from 6d. to 1s, per 
Roses, Azaleas, and Camell 
Gardénias, Kalmias, Pinks, Dogs’-tooth Violets, Double Wall- 
flowers, Lilies. of-the- Valley, Peeonies, &c. 
PRICES, Saronvax, March 25, 1843.—FRUITS :— 
tchen, 24 to Ge Sweet nds, Revers ound, 
Pears er hf. iad 4s to lds Filbere,Rnatishy net ao 1s. in to 65s 
Sieur eaten orced, Gob Nuts, per 100 Tbs. 708. 
Pomegranates, per aon, Ort 12s Nuts; per bus 
Oranges, per do: 24 6 ravi, 168 
et ake 
Vitter, per 001 12s to 24e = 
Lemons, per ‘doz. Od to 2 = Cob, 12s to las 
+100, 4sto 148 | 
VEGETABLES. 
Savoys, per doz. 6d fol Parmeps, per Geese ed tole 
Cabbage, Red, per doz. 2s t pinach, per sie 
“Ry anis, per doz. 1s od to Bs Ua pe nn 
Broccoli, White, per bun ch, Gd vortsiea) Onions ee bushel, eoreNie 
rple, 6d to ing, per ie -8V.5 4 6d to 58 
Beans, Bree aes P. to, Mstosscd | — n; p. doz. bun. 3s to 48 
Potatoes, per ton, 45% = Spanish per doz. 24 to Gs 
er ewe. Br Gd ae Garlic, per Ib, 6d to 8 
= perbushely Ir ad t 
= Kidney, p.bush.,1e6d to2e | Aspai 
= shel, 2 
pase Gd 
ragllsy Varig Per 100, 6s t 
7 of Sinall, ae tose: 
New, per lb, Is 6d to 82 6d | Sea-kale, penne Od 10 2s 6d 
Terusalem Artichokes, per half-sieve, Lettuce, p-tcore, dato od 
0 1 ERO score, 
wee per doz. bun., “ toa Gd Celer + (1 Sto tH to 28 
Red Beet, per dozen, Od t Thubard Stalke, per bdle, Gd to 1s ad 
Scorzoneray per bundle, 1s Mu tp aide ewan seedy por parma Bd to 8 
Salsaty, per bundle; lesa tote Corn 
ardoons, ea ‘atercress, 
Horse Radish, Berbundle, 2% to4s6d_| Parsley, pet half-sieve, 1s to le 
Radish,spring, per punnet, ls 3d to 1s6d| Tarragon, per doz. bunches, 2 to 38, 
= Nurnis, pe or; beh. 16 to 14 Gd) Fe 0 Ae 
Carrots, per dos. bunch. 4 Mii 
orn, per Waa dd toed 
