742 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
[Ocr. 21, 
never been annoyed in any way. He was preparing for a 
visit to the northern provinces, Hong Kong being 
*“* awfully hot ”’ at the date of his letters. 
New Public Park at Birkenhead.—The populous town 
of Birkenhead, which has sprung into importance, and 
almost into being, witLin the last ten years, may be re- 
garded as a kind of suburb to Liverpool, being on the 
opposite or Cheshire side of the Mersey, by a cheap 
ferry across which it is readily connected with that great 
emporium of commerce. It presents more of the aspect 
of an Australian colony than an English district ; as an 
immense tract of ground has been laid out in streets and 
roads, while buildings of all descriptions are rising in every 
quarter. he inhabitants are, for the most part, persons 
carrying on business in Liverpool, and they seem to pre- 
fer this to any of the Lancashire suburbs, on account of 
its greater salubrity. The Commissioners of the town- 
ship have recently determined, in the same spirited man- 
ner with which they conduct all their operations, to devote 
a large portion of ground to the formation of a public 
park ; and Mr. Paxton, of Chatsworth, having been ap- 
plied to, has undertaken to design and superintend the 
execution of the entire affair. The plot of ground com- 
prises about 180 statute acres, and is nearly a mile long 
and half a mile wide, in its longest and broadest parts. 
It is of an irregular oblong figure, with an undulated 
variety of slope towards Liverpool. The plan we have 
seen provides eight entrances ; and immediately within 
the inclosure there will be a belt, of varied width, for 
terraces and villas. The central and principal portion 
will be laid out as a park, with a Serpentine drive all 
round it and across ‘the middle; and there will be two 
spacious lakes in this, surrounded by a sort of ornamental 
park-garden. We learn that it is intended to admit the 
public to all this part during the day, closing it only at 
night. The operations have already commenced; and, 
when the lines of road, &c. are all marked out, the whole 
of the works are to be conducted with the greatest possi- 
ble celerity. At present the ground is mostly of a sterile 
and nearly useless character, destitute of drainage, with 
scarcely a tree upon it, but by the aid of science and 
skill we have no doubt it will be rendered a really de- 
lightful place of recreation. Too much commendation 
can hardly be bestowed on the public body which have so 
nobly originated the scheme, since the day is now past 
when it is necessary to prove by argumentation that such 
things have a highly beneficial effect on the physical and 
moral health of a country. With this, and the park at 
Toxteth, also from the plans of Mr. Paxton, and rapidly 
approaching completion, Liverpool will, in proportion to 
its population, be quite as well supplied with agreeable 
places of free resort as the Metropolis. 
A Plea for Birds.—* Many amongst us are well satis- 
fied of the usefulness of these little fellow-labourers, 
whilst some are not aware of their value, and permit them 
to be disturbed or destroyed. For the benefit of such the 
following facts are stated, and every one is urged, as he 
values his fruit-trees and looks for a plentiful harvest, to 
extend to the birds the protection which they so richly 
merit. Let those who may still doubt, compare the 
orchards in Medford, Cambridge, &c. in June, with those 
in West Cambridge, and Lexington, where shooting and 
birds’-nesting are permitted. Our most intelligent 
orchardists are satisfied that the absence in these last- 
named towns of the Canker-worm, the pest which has 
cost so much labour and expense, and has ruined so many 
trees, is owing mainly to the great number of birds, which 
breed undisturbed in our fields and orchards. Let the 
mischievous loafers, of whatever age, size, condition, or 
colour, who roam about our fields with a musket in their 
hands, be dealt with according to law, or driven out like 
vermin, and we shall hear no more complaints that 
orchards are laid waste by insects, and trees destroyed by 
mice, &c.’’ Facts—* The common Cuckoo is almost the 
only bird that feeds on the Caterpillar ; he destroys them 
in great numbers, eating them voraciously when they are 
full-srown. The numbers of these destructive insects 
that a few Cuckoos, with their young, will destroy, is 
incredible.”_Connecticut Herald. ‘* Every Crow re- 
quires at least one pound of food a week, and nine-tenths 
of their food consists of worms and insects; 100 Crows 
then in one Season destroy 4780 lbs. of worms, insects, 
and larvee ; from this fact, some slight idea may be formed 
of the benefit of this much-persecuted bird to the farmer.” 
“The Blackbird destroysa great number of grubs, &c. 
Last August I observed 8,or 10 blackbirds busily engaged 
on the grass-platiin front of my house, and the grass 
where they were seemed dying, as was hinted, by their 
mischievous operations, and the gun was suggested as the 
remedy. Suspecting the object of the bird’s search, 
Iturned up a piece of turf with a spade, and found it 
literally swarming with grubs of various sizes. I need 
not say that they were allowed to pursue their game 
undisturbed, and that the grass-plat soon regained its 
verdure. This is another instance of the utility of pre- 
Serving birds on farms and in orchards and gardens.” 
Magazine of Natural History. ‘To those who seem 
inclined to extirpate the Blackbird, Wilson justly remarks 
as a balance against the damage they commit, the service 
they perform in the spring season, by the immense number 
of insects and their larvee, which they destroy as their 
principal food, and which are of kinds most injurious to 
the husbandman, Indeed, Kalm remarked, that after a 
great destruction made amongst these and other birds for 
the legal reward of 3d. per dozen, the northern states in 
1749, experienced a complete loss of the grass and grain 
crops, which were now devoured by insects.” ‘* Up to 
the time of harvest, ] have uniformly on dissection found 
their food to consist of these larvsc, caterpillars, moths, 
and beetles, of which they devour such numbers, that but 
for this providential economy the whole crop of grain, in 
many places, would probably be destroyed before it began 
to germinate, At this season to repay the gardener for 
the tithe of his crop, their natural due, they fail not to 
assist in ridding his trees, &c. of more deadly enemies, 
which infest them ; for hours at a time they may be seen 
feeding on the all-despoiling Canker-worms which infest 
our Apple-trees and Blms.’’"— Nwttall’s Ornithology. ‘It 
may be safely said, that in a country so thickly settled as 
this, there are no birds, not even excepting the Hawks and 
Owls, but are vastly more useful than injurious to Man. 
None of them should, under any pretence, be destroyed. 
It is not generally known that a few only of the Hawks 
and Owls destroy poultry. The rough-legged Falcon may 
be observed the whole winter long seated on a tree watch- 
ing for mice, of which it destroys great numbers. Those 
who shoot him, or suffer him to be shot, deserve to have 
their trees girdled by these vermin. The Marsh Hawk, 
the common Harrier, and indeed all of this family of birds 
that come so fearlessly to our fields and meadows, are 
equally harmless and useful.”’—From the New England 
Farmer. ~f 
Veyetable Nature of certain supposed Animals.<> 
M. Decaisne, an eminent French Botanist, has lately come 
to the conclusion that certain marine productions, sup- 
posed to be animals, and called by naturalists “ chalk~ 
bearing Polypes (Polypiers calciféres), are in reality sea~ 
weeds. This view has been microscopically and chemi- 
cally confirmed by M. Payen. ‘In comparing Corallina 
officinalis and Halymeda officinalis with Chara hispida, 
vulgaris, and translucens, Payen observed, that the mineral 
secretions agreed in their situation, and in proportion de- 
pendant on the powers of these living beings ; and endea- 
voured to trace in the tissue of the coralline, when freed 
from mineral matter, a composition similar to cellulose, 
the principal constituent of vegetable membrane. After 
having dissolved from the coralline the mineral matter, by 
dilute hydrochloric acid, and then got rid of the excess 
of acid by ammonia, the whole, after being well washed in 
water, was placed} between glasses and submitted to the 
microscope. On the addition of tincture of iodine and sul- 
phuric acid, the usual results were afiorded which are 
characteristic of vegetable tissues, and even amylaceous 
granules were shown to exist by the former re-agent ; 
proving, without doubt, that the corallines above named 
are not polypes, but Algee, and that they belong there- 
fore to the vegetable instead of the ganimal kingdom. 
—Comptes Rendus, July 3d, 1843 "Kvondon Physio~ 
logical Journal. 
GARDEN MEMORANDA. 
Henderson's Nursery, Pine-Apple Place.—Upon entering the 
stove the first object that attracted our attention was a fine 
plant of Aschynanthus grandiflorus, growing on a block of wood 
suspended from the roof, and producing a multitude of its pretty 
scarlet and orange-coloured blossoms. Another most beautiful spe- 
cimen of this plant was growing ina pot, in soil consisting of peat- 
sand and a little leaf-mould, and had no fewer than 24 stems richly 
covered with flowers, both larger in size and darker in colour 
than those of the former, thus showing that although it may be 
desirable for the sake of variety to grow this plant upon a block, 
it will nevertheless succeed better, grow more luxuriantly, and 
produce finer blossoms, if it is planted in soil. retty plant of 
Centradenia rosea, with its gracefully.drooping dark purple 
foliage, was growing very luxuniantly, treated on the one-sbift 
system; as was Ixora rosea, which, although not so showy 
I. coccinea, is well worthy of a place in the stove, from the cir- 
cumstance of its continuing to bloom for a len 
season of the year, when flowers arean acquisition. An excellent 
plant of the beautiful Alamanda cathartica was justabout to unfold 
its golden treasures, and the fine dark purple foliage of the Dra- 
cana purpurea contrasted well with the green of the surrounding 
plants. There was also in flower Acacia kermesina, having fine 
long stamens, with purple filaments and white anthers, and a 
graceful, rather drooping foliage; also a beautiful little plant of 
Lobelia longitolia, with its long tabe and white spreading petals, 
while the dark red foliage of Begonia sanguinea, the green and 
yellow of Croton variegatum, and the pretty scarlet. wax-like 
berries of Rivina humilis had a fine effect in producing a variety 
of pleasing tints, which accord well with this season of the year. 
Stephanotus floribundus, which is decidedly one of our best stove 
climbers, was trained along the rafters, and just coming into 
bloom ; Thunbergia Hawtayneana was flowering beautifully, and 
Convolvulus pentanthus, which is an abundant bloomer, was 
just about to disclose its light biue corolla. Inthe forcing-house 
was Franciscea latifolia, very pretty and fragrant ; afew beautiful 
plants of Achimenes coccinea, densely covered with brilliant 
scarlet flowers; also, a good plant of the new A, hirsuta, said to 
be an excellent bloomer; Lettsomia splendens, although natu- 
rally a very shy flowerer, was producing its beautiful light purple 
blossoms in abundance; it had been kept for some time in a 
small pot, which has no doubt had the effect of throwing it into 
bloom, by checking luxuriance, and thereby favouring the pro- 
duction of flower-buds; as’soon as these were formed it was 
i a'good large*shift. In this house was also a good plant of 
Thunbergia grandiflora. 
In the Orchidaceous house were in flower Zygopetalum maxil- 
lare and rostratum, the latter having three beautiful spikes of 
flowers, with large white labellum s' with purple, and 
having the additional advantage of being a free bloomer; a fine 
plant of Epidendrum cochleatum majus and ciliare, producing 
five spikes covered ‘vith flowers; the beautiful Cattleya Har- 
onize and Maxillaria macrantha, which has kept blooming for 
four months past. We also remarked Oncidium Lanceanum and 
Harrisonii; a good specimen of Gongora maculata, having five 
long pendant spikes, richly covered with pretty spotted flowers ; 
also a good plantof G. atropurpurea, blooming freely; Myanthus 
deltoides, with curious green flowers marked with dark-brown 
ore singular than handsome. Plants of Cyecnoches 
‘sii and ventricosum were also in bloom, likewise Tricho- 
Pp lis and Celogyne fimbriata. The Heath-house was 
adorned with many species of that beautiful tribe; it has also 
lately undergone some alterations, which have the effect of 
showing the plants to more advantage. ere were in bloom 
Erica verticillata, with whorls of brilliant scarlet ; mutabilis, with 
; Bowieana, mammosa pallida, grandinosa, 
small white blossoms; vestita purpurea, curvi 
flora lutea, a beautiful yellow species; tenuiflora with fine deli- 
cate light-pink blossoms; formosa, very beautiful; Lambertiana 
rosea, richly covered with bloom ; purialis, light pink, with dark 
brown stamens, which protrude beyond the corolla; and refulgens, 
very beautiful and conspicuous. The stock of Heaths in the pits 
Was in excellent condition, and many of them were covered with 
bloom. In the north house were some admirable specimens of 
Fuchsias, particularly F. conspicua arborea and Thomps 
mosa elegans; the latter was five feet high, trained up with a 
p house was chiefly filled with scarlet Pelargoniums ; amot 
single stem, which threw out laterals radiating in every direction, 
and richly covered with bloom. ‘The spreading sepals of this 
variety finely showed the beautiful dark blue corolla. 
however, was a good plant of Angelonia grandiflora, emitting the 
fragrance of a ripe Pine-appie. In what is termed the old Heath- 
house were good plants of Russellia juncea, Siphocampylus 
betulzefolius, rather new, with red and yellow flowers, Amaryllis 
Fothergilli, beautiful dark red, and a good plant of Sollya linearis, 
which was trained circuitously on an oval-shaped trellis, and 
covered with pretty bright blue blossoms. 
Mebietos. 
The London Physiological Journal is a new periodical, 
apparently intended as a sequel to the Microscopical 
Journal, now discontinued. The authors, Dr. Goodfellow 
and Mr. Edwin Quekett, are well qualified to conduct 
such a periodical; and we trust they will meet with 
support in their undertaking ; for microscopical inqui- 
ries, when directed to the solution of difficult problems in 
the structure of animals and plants, are not second even 
to Chemistry in their importance. The one is indispensa- 
ble to the other, and neither can be neglected with safety. 
The present Number contains evidence enough of the truth 
of this statement in the extracts from foreign writers on 
the microscopical plants which cause the phenomena of 
fermentation and the horrible disease called Plica Polonica. 
While we thus willingly offer our testimony to the skill 
with which this Number of the Physiological Jowrnal has 
been prepared, we must except a lithographic plate, the 
execution of which is ——— we will not say what. 
The October Number of the Journal of Agriculture 
and Transactions of the Highland Society is, as usual, 
full of good matter. Among other things, it contai 
some experiments disproving the existence of excrementi- 
tious secretions by the roots of plants, and a translation of 
Count Gasparin’s paper on the Value of Manures, an im- 
portant document, to which we may return hereafter. 
There is also an account of Miller’s Safety Reins, which 
we recommend our horse: driving friends to peruse. 
Messrs. Paul and Son’s Descriptive Catalogue of Roses 
is before us, and deserves to be made known. It contains 
not merely the prices at which the sorts are sold, but a 
classification and description of all the varieties, with. 
some general and useful remarks upon each section. The 
lovers of Roses cannot dispense with adding this to Mr. 
Rivers’s Catalogue, noticed at p. 648. 
The Artisan is a new monthly periodical, intended for 
the information of those who are interested in mechanical 
operations. It is abundantly illustrated with good plans. 
and sections, appears to be carefully compiled, is very 
cheap, and we hope will succeed, provided it confines’ 
itself to its proper sphere, and avoids interfering between. 
men and their masters. We mention this because we 
fancy we see symptoms of a disposition to take the oppo~ 
site course, which must of necessity lead to recrimination, 
and can scarcely fail of converting the journal into a party 
organ, which will ruin it. 
Suggestions for a more General Extension of Land- 
draining, By John Henry Charnock. Longman. 1843. 
19 pages. 
Turs little pamphlet suggests a practical and extensive 
mode of increasing the system of thorough draining wet 
heavy lands. The great obstacle to this very useful and 
necessary operation in most cases is its expense when 
undertaken on a large scale; and although this expense is 
daily diminishing, from the application of machinery to 
the making of draining-tiles, and from the greater dexterity 
of workmen, neither landlords nor tenants are fully pre- 
pared to meet it. The former have incumbrances to pro- 
vide for, or their income is regularly appropriated ; or they 
are tenants for life, and care little for the increase of their 
successors’ income. As Lord Stanley most judiciously 
observed at the late Agricultural Meeting at Liverpools 
“ It is well worth while to borrow money to lay out in 
draining.” But the difficulty is to find capitalists inclined 
to lend; and if deeds and mortgages are required, it adds 
much to the expense, and the security to the lender is not 
always evident. Some simple law is much wanted to 
facilitate such loans. The object of the pamphlet before 
us is to prove, first, the great importance of thorovgh- 
draining in a national point of view : and not a word nee! 
be said to confirm this proposition, which none will attempt 
to refute. The next object is to facilitate the means of 
doing so more generally, for which a Land-draining 
Association is proposed. Without entering into the 
details, we will not hesitate to wish the plan may succeed 5 
and we have no doubt but under proper management it 
may become equally profitable to the capitalist as @ safe 
investment, and to the company asa profitable speculation- 
We would only recommend the shareholders to see that the 
machinery be not too expensive—M. 
Theorie der Giirtnerei, von John Lindley. (Lindley’s 
Theory of Horticulture.) 8vo. Vienna. 1842. 
(Continued from page 487.) F 
Page 129.—* Jn order to render this important subject 
yet more clear we subjoin a report on the labours 0 
Edwards and Colin, derived from the pages of Froriep § 
Zeitschrift. Messrs. Edwards (a member of the RECN, 
of Moral and Political Science) and Colin (Ghee ose 
Chemistry) read an article upon this subject Peete 
Academy of Sciences on the 18th of April, 1837, whicl 
constitutes the third part of their Researches upon Agri- 
cultural Physiology. As the influence of vapour upon 
germination was not yet known, they considered them- 
selves compelled to take up this Subject. Their experi- 
ments haye led them to the following results. 
i 
