876 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 
[Dec. 16, 
house department in the Garden of the Horticultural 
ii has ascertained that the moment the line ed 
is made to slope, as in the next cut, the difficulty is 
overcome. By laying bare, or nearly so, the gutter a, 
which is the flow-guttcr, and raising the covering 
materials gradually to d, a motion of the colder air 
takes place from d to c, while at c, the hotter air rises 
up to the sashes, follows them, and when cooled falls 
again to d, and this kind of circulation going on in- 
cessantly, all damping off is effectually prevented. 
We have no doubt that this piece of information 
will prove useful to many persons, even although 
they may not have pits heated with hot-water gutters ; 
for the principle has a far more general application. 
“‘ONE-SHIFT SYSTEM” versus CENTRADENIA 
OSEA. 
In a recent Number Centradenia rosea is erroneously 
cited, as an instance of cultivation upon the ‘one shift” 
system, As the plant in question was under the writer’s 
care during its early growth, he is well aware that the in- 
dividual who quoted it could have had no interest in 
mentioning it as evidence in favour of the system ; at 
the same time it is not to be considered at variance with 
the principles of that mode of cultivation. What that 
system produces is not necessarily a larger plant, but a 
more perfect and uniform growth within a shorter period. 
The mere size of a plant is no more to be cited in proof 
of its superior growth, than is any single element of the 
soils to which it has been subjected as the principal cause 
of its vigour. 
Centradenia rosea is a most remarkable instance of 
structure being so fully subservient to the purpose of the 
cultivator as almost to dispense with the ordinary rules 
which are followed in securing superior growth. In proof 
of the distinction between this plant and others of compa- 
ratively easy culture, let us advert to Hovea Celsi and 
Oxylobium retusum, amongst many others, in the green- 
house—plants which, when planted in such materials as 
Nature has adapted them for, are not of difficult manage- 
ment; yet who has produced fine specimens of them 
without recourse to the rules of accumulated growth?’ In 
the stove we have Ardisia hymenandra, Justicia coccinea, 
and Cerbera fruticosa, in the style of which none are of 
greater interest ; but where are they found grown in due 
and uniform proportions? They defy all ordinary modes 
of cultivation, and yet are proverbial for easy manage- 
ment, and for being capable of assimilating nutritive 
matter in a gross form. Among the commoner forms of 
vegetation, we have the genera Lobelia and Verbena—the 
former never seen in the state to which it is possible to 
bring it without recourse being had to artificial rules in 
its early stages of growth; the latter, on account of its 
pliant and naturally slender growth, capable of being 
brought into almost every form that nature or art can 
devise. 
The foregoing instances are given in illustration of a 
structure which is unfavourable to that medium develop- 
ment of parts which is considered essential to fertility, 
and the attainment of which involves an application of 
the following principle : 
Nature bas given plants the power (under favourable 
circumstances) of producing from the bosom of each 
leaf, a branch which is capable of being rendered subser- 
vient to the formation of bloom ; therefore it follows, that 
the proportion of bloom will, as a general rule, be in pro- 
portion to the multiplication of such branches, subject to 
the condition of their being produced within a given pe- 
riod prior to the season of bloom, and being duly exposed 
to the agencies which are essential to maturity of growth. 
Amongst the occasional instances where a naturally- 
uniform growth forms an exception to the foregoing 
principle, Centradenia rosea is almost unequalled. Sin- 
gularly elegant in its habit, it appears adapted to all the 
modifications of a medium temperature, thriving in a 
comparatively close frame or greenhouse in summer, and 
in the coolest part of the stove in winter,—preserving its 
beauty throughout the year ; maintaining its compact and 
gracefully-expanding growth and deep purplish foliage in 
red with i bl ink blossoms in 
winter and spring; requiring no artificial support, no 
proce: ij uniform growth, no peculiar 
managem I bh f exposure to light, no special 
adaptation of ‘soil; and never subject to the fiuctuating 
condition of those plants avian: a slow or rapid circu- 
} rof sap requires immediate attention if immediate 
ldge'is to be avoided “this: plant is, in fact, a striking 
adaptation of one, of the mast interesting forms of vegeta- 
Ao-the limited conveniehcts of art, The perfection 
of hattre is-seew inal Ats proportions, and, amongst 
plants, \itjis (ast suited to give evidence in 
fron Seas gua eee = 
Those posed that practice founded upon 
correct principles can be affected by the distortion of 
facts may be reminded that truth—though ‘ hewn like 
the mangled body of Osiris into a thousand pieces, and 
scattered to the four winds—shall be gathered limb to 
limb, and moulded, with every joint and member, into an 
immortal feature of loveliness and perfection.” — WW, 
Wood, Pine-apple-place. 
EXPERIMENTS WITH MANURES. 
Tue following details of experiments with various 
manures, although on a small scale, may assist the readers 
of the Chronicle in forming an opinion of their relative 
strength, They were conducted under equal circum- 
stances—or, in other words, ‘it was a fair race.’’ Th 
ground on which the experiments were tried is a deep and 
light sandy loam, of no adhesiveness, and has carried two 
or three crops a year for probably half a century. 
= 
° 
8 
os. ONIONS. Ze 
1 Guano, loz. toa yard, 60z. charcoal . (PRS 
ee I0tt ynct LOE et ee oes 68 
Bay PM BOC ios hyy 9 LOT ay GNSS ate aeS, 
4 ~ 4072, ” 120z. sawdust. . . 8 0 
5 Nitrate, loz. mixed with soil . . - 8 8 
20%. ” ” em tiie eo UR oe) 
7 Good rotten horsedung, 1 inch - 9 0 
5 owdung, 1 i cane feet eamliscg 
9 Humus from decayed Strawberry trimmings, linch 9 0 
TOS BO inicows" Oring. =. eyo a OES: 
1} Cloacine, 1 inch, two parts sand . . . - 98 
12 Fine bone sawings, 20z. to a yard . . » 10 0 
13 5% w blended with clay soil . -10 0 
14 Guano, 60z. to a yar . . . . . > 1012 
0 
15 Nitrate, 60z, to a yard . . . 
1 inch . . . . . : 9 12 
17 Guano, in indefinite quantity, probably 80z.toa yard 11 8 
N.B.—The last experiments overpowered the Onions 
as they came up, and the ground was transplanted over 
from other parts of the bed; nevertheless, they advanced 
beyond all competitors, although the transplanting would 
of necessity throw them behind the rest three weeks. 
The next experiment was with Parsnips, and on ground 
as before, in precisely equal condition. It was as follows:— 
‘08. PARSNIPS, Ibs, 02, 
1 Bone-sawings ~ . * 6 27-8 
Rtitidte ee, 
3 Charcoal-dust 
~ 
oN 
C) 
. . . . 24 0 
4 Pig’s blood with sawdust . . 28 8 
5 Cow-dung (old), . . . + 25 12 
6 Horse-dung (old) . . . . 41 0 
Guano . . . . + 27 4 
8 Cloacine and sawdust 34 0 
N.B.—With regard to the proportions employed, they 
were not, as in the preceding experiments, weighed, but 
sprinkled in the drills according to their presumed power, 
This experiment took place under a pressure of business, 
or it would have received the same attention as the other. 
It is, of course, by no means conclusive; but may serve, 
in conjunction with other trials, to assist in forming an 
estimate of the relative strength of these manures, A 
kitchen-garden, however, which has carried two or three 
crops a year for the last half century, and received. annual 
manurings, is by no means the fittest situation to try the 
effects of these things—full of humus, and effete in point 
of mechanical texture, the result must, of course, be very 
different from that on ‘‘ maiden’’ or rest soils. There 
are, however, some crops which are termed ‘ gross 
feeders,” which, it would seem, are entirely independent 
of rest land or leys: such is the Mangel Wurzel, and such 
also the Drumhead Cabbage, with many others, of which 
the Mangel may be reckoned the chief. This root, as I 
have proved, providing it has a deep and free soil, may be 
produced on the same spot of ground for many years by 
annual manuring. 
Now for growers of green crops it appears to me that 
composts might be made which would enable them to draw 
much less on the muck-yard, which in Agricultural 
matters is frequently wanted for the mowing, &e. T' 
form such a compost, the bottom of old wood-piles, the 
dubbings or chippings of hedges burnt or smothered into 
ashes, saw-dust, cloacine which has some time been 
blended with saw-dust or other matter, and an old heap 
of manure in the state of humus, if well turned and inixed, 
and in the last turning some guano or other good and 
highly-concentrated manure added, would form an econo- 
mical and highly efficient compost to put in the drills, for 
green crops in general ; it could scarcely be applied wrong. 
The grand desideratum would be to have it all highly de- 
composed and well blended. 
To return to guano and other concentrated manures: 
the best way to obtain a conclusive proof of their powers, 
would, in my opinion, be to try them on soils of three 
distinct kinds: viz., clays, sandy-loams, and peats ; the 
two first would require four distinct experiments at least, 
viz., hand-tilled clays destitute of organic matter, and old 
rest clays, with a good thick sward, and the same with 
regard to sandy loams. In these it would be seen whether 
those powerful agents could in any way dispense with the 
necessity of fallows and rest, 
T have been using guano in water rather extensively, 
after the rate of about half an ounce to a gallon, blended 
with dung-water, for some months, and I have an idea that 
it will be a most useful adjunct in gardening, more espe- 
cially with the new and improved system of potting, so 
ably and cleverly explained by Mr. Wood in your columns, 
which are, in my opinion, (without pledging myself to all 
they contain,) some of the best things that ever appeared 
in any gardening periodical. Guano, I find by experience, 
(as might have been expected,) clogs up the interstices of 
the soil; therefore, if used regularly, the plants should 
have their soil prepared accordingly. have a house of 
Camellias and Chrysanthemums, now in full bloom, with 
which J might challenge many establisl 8. These 
° 
ee 
attention than the beautiful varieties of Chrysanthemum. 
They adorn our greenhouses and conservatories at this 
time of the year,when everything else indicates their season 
of rest. Yet it seems strange that such plants should be 
neglected. In many gentlemen’s gardens they are 
crowded all the summer in a corner, no matter whether 
shaded or exposed, if out of sight, and are left without 
any sort of care; so that in autumn, when they should dis- 
play their beauty, they must be placed in a thicket of other 
plants, where their heads only can be seen, and they 
sometimes even serve for nothing more than a few oe 
flowers. Still people who treat them thus expect 00! 
plants, and wonder by what means others have succeeded 
so much better. If we do not sow we cannot reap—if we 
cultivate ill we cannot expect fine flowers. Were gardeners 
to adopt the following method they would meet with suc 
cess, and be recompensed for their trouble :— 
After the plants have flowered, cut them down to about 
three inches above the soil, and place them in a cold pit 
where they can be protected from frost till spring: 
During this dormant state no water is required, but, as 
much air in fine weather as possible. In the beginning 
of April select cuttings, not from the strong shoots at 
spring from the ground, but those produced on what re- 
mains of the old stem; the latter are always preferable, 
because they are short-jointed and not liable to damp 0% 
When they are prepared pot them in light sandy soil, each 
cutting in a 60-sized pot, and plunge them in a slight 
bottom-heat. In the course of a month they will be 
rooted and ready to repot into 32s, At first give them 
light rich soil for the roots to run in, and place them 1 4 
sheltered situation, where they will be exposed to the sulle 
When they are established cut them down to within tw? 
or three inches of the soil; this will cause them to pro- 
duce numerous lateral shoots and to become low bushy 
plants, which will save a great deal of labour in stoppi08 
them during summer. When they have recovered this 
check, repot them into 8-sized pots, where they are 1 
remain fully exposed to the sun for the remainder of the 
season. ‘The soil best adapted for the last shift is a com” 
post consisting of loam, sandy peat, and rotten dung; u 
equal proportions and quite rough, and if a few pieces ° 
potsherds are mixed through the whole mass so much the 
better. During the whole season of growth, wateriN8 
should be attended to with great care ; in fact, where the 
plants are thus fully exposed to the sun, too much water 
in dry weather can scarcely be given them. d 
There are some people, who, for the sake of a few ata 
blooms, only allow one or two flowers to remain on eae 
stem; but where a profusion of flowers is wanted, this 
system, which sacrifices two-thirds of all the bloom, ¥ 
inadmissible.—J. D. 
AMATEUR’S GARDEN.—Npo. L. 
From the number of letters which I have received ill 
from gentlemen and gardeners relative to the digging © 
Shrubbery-borders, and from the diversity of opinio® 
which seems to exist regarding this, I feel disposed Es 
resume the subject again this week. Twill now show thal 
as a matter of taste, skrubbery-borders ought not to M2 
dug ; neither ovght shrubs to be intermixed with Herba- 
ceous plants. 
In planting a shrubbery, the object is either to form 
shady walks among fine trees, to hide unsightly views, 0° ‘0 
form screens or shelter against strong winds. Suppose 
the principal object to be a love of trees, and a desire '0 
possess large and perfect specimens : then it must be wro"8 
to permit them to become so crowded as to destroy €2¢ 
other’s form; and it is contrary to nature to dig the 
ground among them—because in Nature we never fin 
them £o situated—and though every pleasure-garden is, te 
ought to be, avowedly a work of art, we are not so a 
ficial in our ideas as to wish to give every tree in it th 
appearance of having been placed there by art, as they 
must have if surrounded by dug ground; but, on the Be, 
trary, we wish to make them specimens of Nature i” 
refined and highly-cultivated state. These, in additio’ 
to smooth walks, we surround by smooth velvetty Bs 
which forms a kind of connecting link between tree 4? 
tree, and collects them into groups, which, though it,mey 
not be exactly the kind of scenery a landscape-paint® 
would make choice of fur his pencil, is nevertheless ; 
scene that would not be objected to. Now, although the 
remarks are offered on the supposition that a love of Ue 5 
is the great exciting cause of their being planted, they ar 
also equally applicable to the g of screep® 
shelters, or belts, because by attention at the proper yes) 
it is quite as easy to form a shrub into a fine specime! ® 
it is to allow it to become an unsightly object. 
The greatest objection that can be urged against a 
ground, apart from its injurious tendency upon plantsy 
the disturbing of that repose or quiet, so necessary for va 
proper enjoyment of sylvan scenery. Herbaceous plant 
are objectionable, because they do not group or form ip 
harmonious whole with trees or shrubs. Examine ie 
paintings of all the great masters from Claude Loraine 
the present time, and you will scarcely find a flower um 
any instance—and why ? because flowers will not groUP 
with trees and shrubs; and therefore their introductio® 
would destroy the harmony of the composition. 
Ty beau idéal of fine pleasure-ground scenery is trees 
perfectly formed, and as large as the maintaining of fs 
proper collection will allow them to become, without being 
injurious to each other. A Persian Lilac, a Ribes, © 
Aodend 
have had many scores of gallons of guano-water.— Robert 
Errington, Oulton Park. 
CHINESE CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
THERE are few plants in cultivation more worthy of 
ron, if properly planted and managed, wil 
form a bush of from eight to ten feet high, and the ae 
in diameter, in a period of from six to ten years Bee. 
where do we meet with'such plants ?—not in crowded any 
dug shrubberies, but where the great elements of veget® 
ble existence—light, heat, air, and water, can play theif 
