See 
THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. 743 
1. ‘In free moist air, yet considerably removed from the 
Point of saturation, seeds did not germinate. i 
2. “Germination took place among the Cerealia, 
Summer Wheat, Winter Wheat, Barley, Oats, Rye, when 
placed in an atmosphere fully saturated with moisture. 
_3. When placed under water they required eight 
times as long a period before they germinated. 
“Tf the number of seeds or grains be increased, and 
25 be employed instead of 5, and brought into an atmo- 
sphere saturated with moisture, without placing the expe- 
riment under a larger bell than in the last instances, 
germination does not take place. 
9. “ The same is also the case if the original number, 
for instance, five grains are employed, and covered with a 
bell much larger, in which case germination is very much 
retarded if not prevented. 
6. “The circumstances which produce this retardation 
or hinderance of germination, depend on the influence of 
temperature upon the moisture of the air. : 
- “If the temperature is low and undergoes little or 
no change, germination will take place as soon under a 
small bell as under a large one. 
8. “If the temperature is higher, moderate, and change- 
able, the germination will be retarded under a large bell. 
9. “This occurs when during the daily change the 
temperature increases, and the air has a tendency to 
depart from a state of perfect saturation, and if the space 
is great, the diffused vapour is in part absorbed by the 
seed, and the air never reaches the point of saturation. 
10. “ These effects probably do not proceed from the 
fact that the seed had not absorbed enough vapour; ina 
low constant temperature seeds absorb less water than in 
a higher, and in the first case germination takes place, 
and in the last it is retarded or entirely prevented. 
11. “These remarkable facts are produced by the air 
Not being sufficiently saturated with vapour to allow of the 
necessary application of moisture to the external mem- 
rane of the seed. 
12. ‘In germination, two principal conditions with 
regard to the vapour are required to take place ; first, that 
the seed absorb enough vapour for the function of nutri- 
tion ; and second, that the external air be saturated with 
sufficient vapour to soften sufficiently the testa of the seed. 
13. “Through the simultaneous action of water and 
vapour, germination constantly takes place, and earlier 
where the air is saturated with moisture. 
14, © With regard to the application of these principles 
to seeds sown in different kinds of soil, the authors found 
that germination took place by the agency of vapour when 
Seeds were placed in sand and clay, but in both cases the 
process was longer, especially in the clay, which absorbed 
the vapour slowly and imparted it slowly to the seeds. 
15. ‘‘ The same principles apply to the remaining periods 
of vegetation, as MM. Colin and Edwards grew large 
plants in air fully saturated with moisture, as well as in air 
imperfectly saturated. 
_16. “‘ Observations made in the West Indies, where the 
air is constantly moist, completely confirm these results. 
The fruits there are not only very fine, but the woody 
fibre of plants is very hard. 
17. “ The practical result of the whole is that vapour 
should be employed in hothouses to a much greater extent 
than it has been. In England this proceeding has already 
done wonders. The Vines bear tremendous great Grapes ; 
~Pine-apples weigh as much as eight pounds, and other 
plants flourish extraordinarily.” 
Page 129.—We here present a figure of Mr. Daniell’s 
hygrometer ; a and 6 are two glass globes, which are 
attached to each end of 
a glass tube bent in the 
manner represented in 
the figure. This tube 
rests upon a stand. The 
globe 6 is filled two- 
thirds with ether, 
which is made to boil 
the tube and of the 
globe, a, is expelled 
through a little hole in 
the latter, which must 
be hermetically sealed 
whilst the wether is boil- 
ing. Previons to this 
process a small thermo- 
meter is introduced 
into the tube c, so that 
its bulb may be partly 
immersed in the ether 
of the globe, 6. Another 
thermometer is attached to the stem, *, and a piece o 
Muslin is wound around the globe @. 
Tf the hand is now applied to the globe 3, its heat will 
Cause the «ther in the globe to boil, and a part of it will 
Yise in the form of vapour and fill the tube and the 
globe, @. The instrument should now be brought 
Into the open air, and the eye of the observer placed 
Upon a level with the ether in the globe 0, whilst a 
few drops of xther are dashed upon the muslin covering 
theglobea. The evaporation which takes place on the 
Surface of @ produces a condensation of the vapour within 
it and the whole tube. The consequence of this is the 
Production of cold in the tube and globes, and the con- 
densation of the vapour in the atmosphere upon them, 
Which is first observed upon the globe & in the form of a 
cloudy ring. This must be accurately observed, and 
attention immediately paid to the height at which the 
mercury of the thermometer at dstands. This is the dew- 
Point, and indicates the proportion of jmoisture contained 
in the atmo- 
sphere the less sinking of the temperature is required to 
reduce the vapour to water. The thermometer on the 
stand k exhibits the temperature of the atmosphere at the 
time of making the observation. If the internal thermo- 
meter has fallen only a few degrees below that of the 
external one, it indicates a great amount of moisture in 
the atmosphere, and it is probable there will be rain soon. 
But as the above apparatus requires great accuracy and 
care both in the using and observation, we recommend a 
plan out of * Loudon’s Suburban Horticulturist,” Part II., 
p- 76, wherein the employment of two thermometers 18 
made to serve the purpose of an hygrometer. The ther- 
mometers are hung close together, and the ball of one is 
wetted in order to observe the cold produced; and the 
other remains dry, to indicate the temperature of the 
atmosphere. The balls of both thermometers must be 
enveloped ina piece of silk or muslin, in order to prevent 
the communication of heat from the atmosphere ; one of 
them is then supplied with pure water, which may be 
constantly conducted from a bottle, or other vessel, by 
means of askein of silk acting as a conducting tube. 
The silk or muslin on the ballof the wetted thermometer 
and the skein require to be occasionally renewed. 
greater the difference between the degrees of temperature 
of the wetted and dry thermometers, the greater is the 
need of moisture in the atmosphere. 
* (To be continued.) 
a 
o 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS for the ensuing week. 
Now ‘hat October has given the first notes of preparation for the 
protection of half-hardy plants of known merit, and for the trial of 
others which are yet of a doubtful character, we ought to discard 
from our minds at once any reports tending to the prejudice of this 
fatter class while under trial, and judge of them only by positive 
facts brought before us. The first witness, indeed the principal one, 
on the side of the prosecution, is Mr. Frost, of Winterhaugh, who 
seems to have entertained views on this subject rather at variance 
with those of good judges. Now, although the Calendar for next 
winter term shows a heavy list of names for trial, there would be no 
great difficulty for those experienced in such matters to decide in their 
nm minds the general issue. beforehand, were it not that there is a 
disparity of opinion as to the best manner of conducting the trials, and 
° 
d 
arty act even with less judgment (at least in our opinion), by expos- 
The their plants to the north at once, when they are in a half-ri 
Short seasons, and exposing them to dangers which they are not in a 
itil It is true, however, that after the turn of the 
season, plants thus shaded on the south side are not tempted to 
I.—KITCHEN-GARDEN AND ORCHARD, 
In-door Department. 
Pprnery.—After this time there is more danger from drips and 
over- watering than from the plants getting too dry, especially when 
bottom-heat is on the decline, and the pots not weil filled with roots ; 
these two causes soon tell on the black Pines. A uniform bottom- 
heat, if you can get it, with the atmosphere rather dry, and not 
much on either side of 60° in the morning, ought to be about the 
general run during this month, 
nERY.—For the next six weeks a practised eye can see clearly 
if the plants in the late Vineries have been over-cropped, even should 
the half of the crops be already gathered. With the best-constructed 
houses, and other things well managed, over-croppe ines, or 
Out-door Department. 
When we get a cold day late in the spring we endure it with 
patience, expecting to have a fine day to-morrow ; but now we can 
hardly enjoy a fine day in the anticipation of rough weather. ‘This 
state of excitement impels us to have all our crops and plants 
secured and well provided for against the winter long before real 
danger is at hand. As soon as you hear of three or four degrees of 
frost you must have your mats at hand, ready to cover up with. 
se 
sending many miles for them at this critical time, while a third party 
is unwilling to expose their best mats yet, for fear of getting them 
soddened with wet, and thus rendering them of less service when 
there is real need for them. beet 
CAULIFLowER.—In a short ume this will be the best flower in the 
ani 
a 
CABBAGES ; 
about Cabbages, and that only to say if any failures have happened 
the strongest plants you have 
UCE AND ENDIVE 
frames, but the sooner the better. 
OrcuArp.—Pruning may now be commenced in earnest, begin- 
ning first with the Currents, then the Gooseberries and Raspberries ; 
trees; indeed, any shoot you think will not be wanted in spring had 
better be cut out at once, to make more room for the others, and let 
in the sun and air to ripen the bearing-wood for next year; the 
leaves of Peach-trees are of very little use after this time, and they 
do much harm by shading the wood: you may therefore take your 
knife and cut them off by handsfull, but do not strip them off, for 
fear of injuring the buds. No author has recommended this, but 
many of the best gardeners practise it regularly. 
1I.—FLOWER-GARDEN AND SHRUBBERY. 
In-door Department. 
Srove.—There are no plants more easy to manage in winter than 
ti plants, and yet an i i d person may injure them at 
this time sooner than any other tribe. Some years since I had a 
large house full of tropical fruit-plants, such as the Mango, Man- 
ostan, several sorts of Eugenias, the Mammee-tree, with the Lee 
Chee and Long-yen, &c., and plenty of Granadillas overhead ; for six 
long weeks we had very hard weather, and we could not get up the 
heat higher than 50° during that time, except in the middle of the 
day, and in the mornings it was often as low as 40°; but not a plant 
was hurt, and some of them were really improved by this treatment $ 
however, 60° is about the lowest they ought to have this month, with 
rather a dry atmosphere and air on all fine days, if only to sweeten 
the houses now that they are so full. 
GREENHOUSE.—Those who have not the advantage of cold turf 
pits must have crowded their greenhouses to suffocation on the 
approach of the late frosts. Let a place be ever so small there ought 
to be some contrivance for sheltering half-hardy greenhouse plants 
late in the autumn, without crowding them into houses thus early. 
The ©) is an ‘goni' ought now to occupy the 
best places here, and more hardy plants would be much better in 
pits, where rain and frost could be kept from them till the Chrysan- 
themums are nearly over, to make room for them in-doors. 
ConseRVATORY.—“ After your sweeping charge against green- 
houses how do you define a conservat ”? asks a di I 
would rather dig an acre of ground than try to answer this question. 
as I should like; suffice it to say, therefore, that any house, whatever 
jts shape or size may be, where all or nearly the whole of the plants 
that flower on the establishment are kept during the time they are 
in bloom, is, in the language o} rs, a conservatory. You 
ear as you would a 
conservatory must be kept close, more or less, to suit forced plants, 
&c., while a greenhouse cannot have too much air wheneyer the 
weather is fine. 
S AND Framrs.—Now is the time to pot all the Cape Iri- 
aces, with others from Mexico, Chili, &c. &c.; the whole order 
delights in light, open soil. ‘The stronger Gladioli, and the like, are 
excel in the cultivation of these charming plants. ‘Tropzeolums, 
Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, to. flower late in the spring, may now 
be potted, and those first potted of these will now have the pots 
pretty well filled with roots, and may therefore be brought to a glass 
frame, to get up the foliage and flower-stems slowly, when a smart 
forcing will not much injure the bulbs. 
RAFTING Houss-PLanTs.—If you commit yourself in a hurry 
Frowenrine New Pua : 
flowered by Mrs. Wray, and the Baringtonia speciosa, last summer, 
by Mr. Dodds, gardener to Col. Baker, of Salisbury, the next plant 
to flower will be a Bignoniaceous plant, from West Africa, in the 
country of the Ashantees, which may be seen in all the good collec« 
tions under the name of Spathodea campanulata. fi 
LOWER-GARDEN.—People are now too busy taking up such of 
and neatness ev 
Gardens, Ipswich 
State of the Weather near London for the week ending O 
served at Horticultural Gard. i 
Wind. | Rain, 
13 
14 
Sunday 15 
Monday 16 
lay 17 | 994 
Wednesday i8 | 30.157 
Thursday 19 | 80.343 
Ma clondy and cool at night; frosty. 
15. rosty and foggy at night- 
16. le: clear and frosty. . ‘ 
17. Very heavy fall of rain eat! 3 clondy and fine; boisterous with 
Tain at night. 
18, Clear with brisk cold wind; cloudless, dry and cold ; sharp frost at 
sharp frost at night. 
night. 
19, Severe frost; frosty haze; fine; 
114° below the average. 
‘Mean temperature of the we: 
t 17 years, for the ensuing 
| 
State of the Weather at Chiswick during the 
Week ending October 2 
Aver. | Aver. | nro ee Greatest | 1. 
Oct. |Highest| Lowest | 7 é quantity 
ete emp. | ‘Tem ee lor of Rain. 2 
‘The highest temperature during the above pe 
1833—thermom. 68°; and the lowest on the 24th, 1 
T-GARDEN MARKET, 
Black Hamburgh Grapes still continue good and plentiful; there 
are also a few uscats—tl 
selling at from 3s. to 8s. per half sieve. elons ar 
rather scarce ; afew Spanish ones are still brought to the market. 
Cucumbers have been rather scarce during the past week, and 
SSeS ESE a boeteaneeneomeenenaneeweeinesiumenneseeseetanensehoremeetaea ernie teeieesran 
