1843.] 
THE GARDENERS’ CHRONICLE. 
103 
“the gatherings were to be replaced by pointing or forking 
over the ground between crops or flowers, labour would 
ultimately be saved, the crop would be benefited, and 
weeds would be eradicated.—D. R. 
Worms.—I think that much has been said to no pur- 
pose respecting worms on lawns. Have any of your readers 
informed themselves what has been the state of a lawn 
which has, for two or three years, been totally divested of 
worms? These active little fellows are Nature’s agricul- 
turists ; they drain and irrigate the soil by a method 
superior to any that we clumsy cultivators are competent 
to perform. When the surface has an overflow of water, 
their works come into operation to relieve it—not to carry 
the superabundance of moisture away, to be useless, but to 
loose it into the subsoil, which they perforate in all 
directions, so that it may be readily distributed ; and by 
the same ducts brought forth again when the thirsty 
surface demands it. More than this, they labour nightly ; 
and who will say their labour is useless, when they bring 
up to the surface virgin earth, impregnated with animal 
matter, as manure for the Grasses? What would be the 
state of turf without a perforation—solid as a brick, as it 
is in dry weather—incapable of the transmission of 
moisture, either by ascent or descent? Should there be 
only a few showers in summer, all must quickly evaporate 
into a heated atmosphere but for the industrious worm, 
who, aware of the fact, for he often anticipates the shower, 
opens his little aqueducts ready to receive the welcome 
fluid into his subterranean reservoirs, where it is preserved 
for subsequent distribution when the thirsty Grasses 
demand it.—M. A. Dun. 
Catile.—I beg to call attention to the fact, that ‘the 
depasturing of sheep on cow pastures communicates a 
nauseous and unsavoury taste to the butter and cheese 
produced therefrom.” Can you or readers account for 
this ?—Cestus. 
Couch-Grass.—I do not think it is generally known that 
this pest (Triticum repens), may be easily got rid of by 
trenching. If care be taken to bury all the roots at least 
six inches deep, they will never again reach the surface. 
I have repeatedly tried it with success, and I consider it 
a much cheaper and effectual method, even in field-cul- 
ture, than the tedious and imperfect one of ploughing, 
scarifying, harrowing, &c., not to mention the very great 
advantage to the succeeding crops, by moving the soil to 
the depth of 16 or 18 inches.—Lusor. 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
LINNEAN SOCIETY, 
' Feb, 7,—E. Forster, Esq., in the Chair. E. Forbes, Esq., pro- 
fessor of Botany at King’s College, was elected a fellow. The 
ev. Mr. Hinckes exhibited a specimen of Nedttia gemmipara pro- 
cured by Dr. Wood, of Cork, from Castletown, near Bantry Bay, 
where this plant was originally fonnd by Mr. Jas. Drummond, and 
on whose authority it was admitted into the Irish Flora. The 
Original specimen from Sir J. E. Smith's herbarium was also ex- 
hibited, The plant of Mr. Hinckes was much longer in the stem, 
Drummond. <A . Hinckes accompanied the speci- 
en, i ich he stated his conviction that this rare plant was 
Still an inhabitant of Ireland. Mr. A, F ssall finished the read. 
ture of the last family of Vancher,’ the Prolffera, was considered, 
also that of the branched Confervee. Their mode of reproduction, 
and many of the phenomena exhibited by the reproductive gra- 
nules, or zoospores, of this class of plants were described. 
tions in behalf of the society. They view with regret the little 
Support which they have received from the citizens of Norwich ; 
and they hope that this simple appeal will induce many of them 
to place their names on the subscription list. The desire of the 
committee is to increase their means, that they may extend the 
usefulness of the society, and thereby be enabled to reward merit 
in every case that comes within the meaning of its objects. 
They draw the attention of subscribers to the fact, that during 
the past season the society has distributed, in cash, 2092, 17s., ex- 
clusive of prizes in plate, in 1238 portions, varying from 6d. to 
5 i oO members 422 prizes, to cottagers 816; and it is their 
opinion that the late shows have been a great improvement on 
= 
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= 
8 
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a 
3 
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S 
a 
compete with 
amateurs for the same prizes in flowers of every other descrip- 
tion. The report having been read, Sir J. P. Boileau, Bart., was 
elected President, and Lord Bayning Vice-President for the en- 
suing year. The Hon. and Rev. R. Wilson, the Rev. W. Howard, 
m. Burroughes, Esq., the » A. Herring, C. E. Tuck, Esq., 
the Rey. J. Arthy, W. Matchett, Esq., E. St. Quintin, Esq., R.N. 
Bacon, Esq., R. Hansell, Esq., and Mr. J. Cann, were a 
the committe J. Kitson, Esq., was re-elected Treasurer. 
C. 8. Gilman was re-elected Honorary Secretary. The following 
addition was made to the 9th Rule:—‘‘ And that any person 
detected in stealing or injuring any article exhibited, be prose. 
cuted; and that no person so expelled shall be readmitted as a 
member of the society without the recommendation of a special 
committee.’” An addition was also made to the 7th Rule, 
“That all flowers must be named and. staged by half-past ten 
o’clock on the morning of exhibition, or be precluded from being 
shown for prizes. 
NOTICES or NEW PLANTS WHICH ARE EITHER 
USEFUL OR ORNAMENTAL. 
Papiliondceze, 
easy cultivation and small size, which are well adapted for deco- 
rating the shelves of the conservatory. is a native of the 
Swan River Colony, whence the seeds were obtained by Capt. J. 
Mangles, R.N. It first flowered in the garden of R. Mangles, 
sq., of Sunning Hill.—Botanical Register. 
PHArus ALBUS. ‘ius. (Stove Epiphyte.) Orchida- 
cee. Gynandria Monindria. — This truly beautiful plant is 
stated by Dr. Wallich (to whom our stoves are indebted for its 
introduction) to be a native of trees on Mount Chandaghiry, in 
epaul, and in the neighbourhood of Silhet. It flowered in the 
sheathing bases, which clothe the entire stem. The raceme 
ings, as it were, from the sheathing base of the upper leaf, 
and consists of from six to eight large, delicate, drooping flowers. 
—Curtis’s Botanical Magazine. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Bulbous-rooted Barley.—According to M. Fleurot, 
Curator of the Botanic Garden at Dijon, this plant pos- 
sesses the following advantages for composing artificial 
meadows :—1. It will grow in the most barren soil. 2. 
It tillers like wheat, and produces an abundant herbage. 
3. It sows itself, so that it will form a permanent artificial 
pasture. 4. It commences’ growing when other fodder 
plants are dormant. 5. It is perfectly hardy. We have 
found that when sown in April, this plant produces 
throughout the summer a dense herbage. The ear at its 
first development: resembles that of Rye, to which the 
whole plant may be compared, except that it is not 
glaucous and much more leafy. It has the merit of yield- 
ing an abundant herbage, which will no doubt prove 
excellent fodder ; but the small quantity of perfect seeds 
which the ears contain, together with their ripening in 
ion and the facility with which they fall from the 
Vested capital 6,700/. stock. The committee two 
additional clerks for the despatch of increasing business, and the 
mission of subscrip- 
Mr, Pym reported 
that the arrears of subscriptions in Bedfordshire, received by him, 
Great Seal confided 
Of the house in Hanover-square, for 99 years, at an annual rent, 
+ ed to it, and the contract 
» Earl Spencer, the Chair. 
Committee, the Chairman of the Finance 
Committee, and Mr. Gibbs, be appointed a committee to inquire 
ti } 
ag Toller, invented by Mr. C, Cherry, for pressing and equal. 
3 the surface of land. = 
ware: 8.—P, Pusey,"Esq., in the chair. T.J.M. Bartlett, Esq. 
‘8S elected @ governor, and 151 gentlemen Fellows of the Society, 
NoRwicn AND NORFOLK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
Noregethe Thirteenth Annual Meeting was held at the 
Rep oe Hotel. The Rev. O. Matthias in the chair, From the 
forthe »° °Xttact the following :—That the receipts of the society 
taken past year have amounted to 286/. 128. 6d., of which 1277. was 
83 we at the doors. The number of subscribers was 408, of whom 
Mempe new ones; being an increase, in two years, of 208 new 
‘aS: ‘This large increase of subscribers during the last 
avera, to cottagers, 62/. 4s. Gd.—a sum above the usual 
from 8 tigi rge sums, together with having paid judges 
Of the oa stance, have occasioned a slight deficiency in the balance 
cash account; b i i 
an = coun: ut the committee feel that this will only be 
Additional inducement to the subscribers to renew their exer- 
husks, render it difficult to propagate extensively. Wier 
however, think it a plant worthy of exciting general inter- 
est. The practicability of increasing it by division of the 
roots will, for the present, render it useful for cultivation 
ona small scale. It is possible that the small bulbs which 
the old stools produce in great numbers, may prove an 
easy and cheap method of increasing it extensively. In 
poor soils, the Bulbous-rooted Barley does not grow very 
vigorously, and in this point, our observations differ from 
those of M. Fleurot.—Bon Jardinier. 
New Botanical Work.—The Aligemeine Zeitung an- 
nounces a new Botanical Magazine, to appear weekly. 
under the auspices of Professor Mohl, of Tubingen, ait 
Professor Schlechtendal, of Halle. It is to contain all th 
newest information on Botanical subjects, and to be illus. 
trated with many plates. 
Agri-Horticultural Society of India.—The President 
in Council having issued an order disqualifying Govern- 
ment Servants, civil, military, or medical, from holding 
office as Secretary of any permanent public Society, it 
is understood that Mr. Griffith is no longer an eligible 
candidate for the Secretaryship of this Society. (See Gar- 
deners’ Chronicle, p. 39.) 
Fou-hunters.—‘ It has often been said that growing 
Wheat is not injured by a field of fox-hunters riding over | 
it; and even produces more grain in consequence. On 
light soils it does not do the injury that might be expected 
from appearance ; but on strong land it does great harm, 
for in all the holes formed by the horses’ feet, and parti- 
cularly if going down hill, water will stand, and the plants 
in those holes will die.”’—Jowrnal of the Royal Agricul- 
tural Society of England ; Vol. IIL. p. 305. 
Testimonial to Dr. Neill.—It gives 
forward in a liberal manner to testify their respect for 
Dr. Neill, on account of his long and valuable services in 
their behalf. We understand thata handsome silver vase, 
with a pedestal emblematical of the varied productions of 
Flora and Pomona is about to be presented to him. The 
will be a panied by the names of above 
500 of the Scottish Practical Gardeners, resident in vari- 
ous parts of the three kingdoms. The subscriptions for 
it have nothing to do with those for Dr. Neill’s bust, 
now executing, which is subscribed for by the members 
of the Caledonian Horticultural Society and his private 
friends. 
ae 
GARDEN MEMORANDA. 
Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society’s Garden, Edinburgh.— 
This garden is pleasantly situated within a short distance of 
one side of the garden, and contains the greater portion of the 
Pines in cultivation. In one part of the grounds we were much 
struck with a Hornbeam hedge, the main stems of which have 
been planted and trained like diamond-shaped network, and now 
forming a beautiful and very strong fence. In the houses there 
are some good specimens of the more ornamental plants generally 
cultivated. Mr. M‘Nal 
ms, and consequently become compact 
bushes; many other things are by this means i 
ing state. The piant: 
plants are still rare in Scotland; but as all the publie gardens in 
had the management of this garden, has built a greenhouse for 
small plants which is particularly deserving of notice, and would 
be very suitable for amateurs, or those who have small gardens. 
It is. span-roofed, the roofs facing east and west, $ feet high, 
9 feet wide, and having a passage in the middle, with stone 
shelves at each side. A person can thus easily walk down 
middle, and attend to the plants on either side; and the position 
in which the house is placed prevents the plants from being 
injured by bright sunshine in the middle of the day in summer. 
‘he new Exhibition Hall lately erected isa pretty and appropriate 
building, and will doubtless be most useful for the purposes for 
which it is intended. The scenery round this garden adds greatly 
to its beauty and interest. On the north and west sides are seen 
the Botanic Garden and the pleasant green fields and woods 
which surround Inverleith House; and on the south the New 
Town of Edinburgh, with the Pentland Hills and Arthur’s Seat 
in the background.—R. F. 
Rebels, 
A Comprehensive View of the Culture of the Vine under 
Glass. By James Roberts. 8vo. Longman & Co. 1842. 
Tux author of ,this little treatise is evidently a practical 
man, who has had considerable experience in the cultiva- 
tion of the Vine. In the Preface it is remarked that « we 
have not progressed in the culture of this noble exotic 
for the last 20 years in the same ratio as in that of the 
minor fruits.’’ This is unquestionably true; but it is 
also equally undeniable that this slow rate of improve~ 
ment is less the fault of gardeners than of their employers. 
Among the hundreds who have the management of Vines, 
how many are there with the means at their disposal to 
treat those Vines in the manner recommended in this 
work? We may safely answer, Not one in a hundred. 
We do not, however, mean to infer that the high-pressure 
system is the only one by which good Grapes can be 
obtained ; on the contrary, many Grape-growers produce. 
excellent fruit who have not the advantage of the appa- 
rently unlimited resources possessed by Mr. Robert: 
still it will in all cases be found that the principles fo) 7 
lowed are similar to those which govern his practice, 
These are—lst, an abundant supply of food, with nume- 
rous healthy roots to appropriate it ; 2d, a yearly supply 
/ef perfectly-formed bearing-wood ; 3d, restricting all the 
vigour of the Vines to the formation of fruit for the 
present, and wood for the next, year; and 4th, duly pro- 
portioning the weight of fruit to the strength of the 
Vines. Upon the judicious application of these simple 
principles rests the art of growing good Grapes; we 
will therefore proceed to examine the author’s method of 
reducing them to practice. 
With regard to the formation of the border,’so as to 
ensure ‘an abundant supply {of food, and numerous 
healthy roots,’’ upon which the production of good crops 
main drain, 1 foot 6 inches de, 
extremity of the border, with 
direction leading into it, so. as to have-a perfect command 
in draining off superfluous water; which I consider an 
essential point to attend to, so.as to lay them dry (more 
particularly where the climate is humid). 
upon the bottom thus 
rubbish, to the depth, of 1 foot, having a depth for 
. These directions are 
the situation. is low and wet, or 
the natural soil retentive of moisture; in many cases, 
€p, ought to run along the 
cross-drains in an oblique 
ey 
