1843.] 
THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. 
877 
proper parts, which is a clear proof that both crowding 
and digging are injurious.—W. P. Ayres, Brooklands. 
HOME CORRESPONDENCE. 
pee We trust to be able next week to clear off all arrears of 
nthe ile we must continue to trespass 
“pon the patience of some of our friends. 
Pine-Apples.—The large specimens of Pines lately 
raised by Messrs. Barnes, Murray, and Spencer, and the 
remarks made in a recent Number of the Chronicle, have 
Oceasioned a sensation amongst Pine-growers, which is 
far from being agreeable to those who seldom or never 
Tipen off fruit above two-thirds of the size of those spoken 
of. In what I am about to say, I beg to state that I have 
not the slightest intention to detract at all from the 
Merits of the respectable individuals alluded to, who I 
dare say are deserving the praise bestowed on them. But 
when we hear of some employers after reading the re- 
marks in the Gardeners’ Chronicle, expressing them- 
Selves dissatisfied with their gardeners who were previ- 
ously thought to be completely masters of their profession, 
it behoves some one to say a word or two in defence of the 
old, and‘by far the most general, system of growing Pines 
to a moderate size ; and having for a number of years had 
the management of Pines on a pretty extensive scale, I 
may, perhaps, be allowed to doso. In the first place, I con- 
tend that the production of a large Pine is, without other 
More direct evidence, no proof of a gardener’s skill. A 
friend of mine in the north of England, who had grown Pines 
for many years with varied success, at length, some nine or 
€n years ago, produced a Providence Pine of the 
great weight of 11 lbs. and upwards (avoirdupois). 
Such aftuit,as might be expected, caused no small inquiry 
in the locality, and probably might be inferred as a proof 
Of superior skill; while he, with a magnanimity which did 
im credit, acknowledged himself an inferior Pine- 
Tower to three-fourths of those who never cut a fruit 
much above one-half of the weight. Such an assertion 
May appear singular, but is not the less true, and to 
those not acquainted with Pine-growing I may observe, 
that, whenever the plants are induced to continue their 
8rowth beyond a given period, and thus attain a large size 
before they show fruit, a large one may be expected. Such 
Was the case just alluded to: several of his Pines did not 
fruit the season he expected, or rather wanted them, and 
the result was, that large fruit was produced— more in spite 
of his management than asa proof of his skill. From the 
above example it is obvious that much time and space were 
Sacrificed, which, if more economically applied, might have 
Rey produced double the weight of good useful fruit on 
ves a dozen plants that might have stood in the place of the 
arge one. There were several more large old plants, 
Many of which did not mature fruit above three or four 
pounds Weight, and which had remained twice as long in 
the fruiting-house as they ought to have done, to the 
exclusion of a more profitable set of plants. 1 do not 
insinuate that the case of Mr. Barnes’s Pines is similar, 
yet if his heavy Pines are produced at « sacrifice of time 
and space—the two criterions by which I judge of a gar- 
ener’s merit in Pine-growing—I must object to: his 
System. Few will deny that three fruits of three pounds 
each are much better than one of five or six ; and if his 
Plants are very large, and not of quick growth, they may 
Probably occupy double the time and also double the } 
Space of others which may arrive at half this 
weight. If such be the case, it is obvious, where particular 
reasons do not call for large fruit, that the smaller are 
more profitable by a hundred per cent., and perhaps more. 
Jut, on the other hand, if Mr. Barnes can produce on a 
given extent of beds and in the same space of time as 
Many fruit averaging five and six pounds each as another 
Sood gardener of the old school can produce under the old 
Way of management, or even if he be eble to produce the 
Same weight of fruit collectively, then, and only then, will 
T admit that his system is an improvement, and will be 
ee first Such are my opinions of skilful 
ne. 
ill his system receive from a discerning public 
= Pport which its merits deserve, and be adopted in 
cry place except the few (and I maintain there is but 
that su 
few) in which 
to all 
place 
Withi 
bigotry and prejudice put an effectual stop 
Improvement. But there are many, very many 
Sin which the limited assistance and scanty means 
i N the reach of the gardener put it entirely out of 
SRO compete with his more fortunate neighbour ; 
a aoe it is required to make the most of the little he 
Of tw mand, end if his Pines only reach the weight 
Reray or three lbs. they may perhaps have the recom- 
ian aun of not costing his employer so much per Ib. by 
ae r A per cent. as those of his neighbours weighing 
ae ve Ibs, and he ought to be exempted from the 
Sat Eps of being bigoted in a system when it is 
MS power to alter it. I hope it will not be under- 
stood that I mean to uphold an old against a new system ; 
on the contrary, I wish to set both on an equal footing, 
and would like to hear the opinions of other practical 
men on the subject. I think there can be no fairer test 
of their respective merits than to proportion their respect- 
ive weights collectively of good and useful fruit to the 
relative area of glass or beds that each occupy, and also 
the time necessary to bring it to maturity—A Practical 
Gardener, S. N. V. 
Pine-apples—Mr. R. H. Pope cannot possibly have 
read the leading article in the Chronicle, p. 837, on my 
system of Pine-growing. If he had, it would at least have 
saved him all his calculations and erroneous deductions, 
very gardener knows that the Pine grows much more 
rapidly in the autumn months than during the scorching 
heatyof summer ; and Dr. Lindley observes, ‘‘ The Pine 
grows in the cool season.’’ This fact is so well and uni- 
versally understood amongst cultivators, that it scarcely 
requires to be noticed. It nevertheless at once refutes all 
Jr. R. H. Pope has advanced on this subject. I appre- 
hend, however, that the Montserrat will prove to be the 
Black Jamaica, as I found in the North of England the 
ormer name generally substituted for the latter. This, if 
it is the case, does not in the least detract from the merits 
of Mr. Hamilton’s producti BR. Glendinni 
Tortoise, to keep in Winter.—Seeing in your last 
Number a question by ‘¢ A Clergyman”’ as to the best 
way of disposing of a tortoise during winter, I beg to 
inform him that in every instance within my knowledge 
of tortoises being allowed to bury themselves either in the 
open ground or a heap of sand in a greenhouse, the poor 
animals have fallen a prey to parasitical animals ; whereas 
they have lived many years in perfect health when en- 
veloped in a mass of dry hay, and then sewed up in 
matting or an old piece of carpetting, or, what is better 
still, put in a hamper of dry hay ina dry place. If laid 
on its side, this admits of their crawling out at their 
pleasure.—K. W. W. 
Kennedya splendens.—In your Paper of last week you 
state there is no such plant as * Kennedya splendens.”’ 
had a remarkably fine specimen a short time back under 
that name, received from one of the first London nursery- 
men. Itis unfortunately dead. I inclose some of the 
dried leaves.—E. R., Dec. 8. [We can only repeat 
that this name is unknown to Botanists. The leaves appear 
to belong to Zichya inophylla.] 
Van Mons Leon Le Clere Pear.—This is the most 
choice of any 1 have ever tasted. It is superior to most 
Peaches, but will only last about one month—unless giving 
the trees different aspects will prolong its duration with- 
out destroying its flavour.—J. Lecouteur, Jersey. 
Guano versus Bones.—In reference to a leading arti- 
cle in a late Number [we do not know what is alluded to 
by ‘our correspondent] as regards Guano, it should be 
borne in. mind that every ounce which comes to this 
country is paid: for in manufactured goods, and not in 
gold; in Peru gold and silver are indigenous, (if I may 
be allowed the expression,) and consequently are not 
required in payment ; but I suspect this is not the case 
with Bones from the Continent, which are, I fear, paid for 
in gold. I consider the above facts are of great import- 
ance, when our population is so badly employed.—G. 2., 
Halifax, December 8. 
Prof. Brande’s Lectures.—In common with many other 
Members of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, I 
have recently had the pleasure of listening to Professor 
Brande’s Lectures on Limes and Clays, and I bear my 
testimony to the ability with which the lecturer accom- 
plished the task he so kindly undertook. I was especially 
pleased to observe the profound attention with which the 
chen.ical truths announced were received by the audience, 
and the deep interest they seemed to take in the various 
scientific statements made by the learned Professor. There 
was, however, one point in the lecture on clays which I 
think may perhaps mislead, if not explained—I allude to 
that very beautiful and striking experiment with the 
voltaic battery which had for its object the proving 
whether or no a clay contains alkali, i. e., potassa or soda. 
This mode, though singularly elegant, and furnishing to 
those who possess command of yoltaic power a speedy 
and facile mode of arriving at a result, yet is it not so 
satisfactory, as regards correctness, as could be desired. 
We all witnessed the reddening effect of potassa and lime 
upon yellow turmeric paper; we also saw the same effect 
produced by subjecting a specimen of clay to the voltaic 
influence. In the latter case it was ascribed to the pre- 
sence of potassa or soda in the clay—a sort of experimen- 
tum crucis. Certain precautions were, indeed, taken to 
prevent delusive inferences; for instance, the clay was 
thoroughly exhausted by the action of water, which, by 
dissolving the soluble saline substances, such as common 
salt, if any were present, would remove one source of 
fallacy. But supposing—which is very often the case— 
that the clay contained traces of lime, as carbonate or 
silicate, then the water would not remove them; and 
though the clay under examination might not contain an 
atom of potassa or soda, yet would the reddening effect 
upon the test-paper be produced. I do uot suppose that 
the Agriculturist, in experimenting upon his soil, will often 
employ an extensive galvanic battery as a test for alkali; 
yet is it desirable that Chemists should be very accurate in 
their ‘assertions and experimental deductions, for many 
eyes, intelligent and watchful, are upon their movements ; 
and though they may be forgiven many agricultural mis- 
takes, yet an error committed in their own particular de- 
partment will not so soon be forgotten. This observation 
comes with more peculiar force just at the present time, 
when Agriculturists are beginning to feel some degree of 
confidence in Chemistry and Chemists.— V7. H, Potier. 
Dahlias.—The Dahlias d by “A Subscriber” 
are some of the most uncertain bloomers in cultivation ; 
and if he succeeded with them in the year 1842, the 
chances were that he failed in the following season. 
Sussex Rival I should not advise him to retain in alimited 
collection: it is seldom good, and is too small. Fanny 
Keynes never was, even at the best, more than a second- 
rate flower; it is of a common colour, and totally desti- 
tute of style or character. Ruby was a good flower in its 
time, but is quite gone by ; it is too much quilled for the 
present day; besides, it is thin and wanting in colour. 
Egyptian King is a good flower when in perfection, but is 
very uncertain. Scarlet Defiance never was good, although 
it sometimes promises well early in the season ; later, it 
becomes quilled, flat, and deeply-serrated on the edge of 
the petal. I noticed, during the year 1842, that every 
Dahlia, of which the colour had any tendency to scarlet, 
was ceeply notched—indeed to so great an extent, as to 
give the petal the appearance of a saw ; the indentures 
were, in some instances, more than a quarter of an inch 
deep. This did not happen to Dahlias of any other colour 
than red or scarlet; nor did it again occur during the 
season just past, even in the flowers in which it was most 
conspicuous during that preceding. LIapprehend that any 
solution of this unusual, and to me inexplicable circum- 
stance, is impossible ; but it is clear that the colour of the 
flower, or whatever gives rise to it, made it susceptible of 
some influence from which flowers possessing other 
colours were exempt. Essex Rival is a very uncertain 
bloomer: it is never really full, and often single or 
semi-double. Hylas is a flower of good colour, and is 
firm and clean in petal; I have often regretted that it 
should be no better than it is, for, notwithstanding its 
defects, it possesses style. Metella was a good Dahlia, 
and is even now sometimes seen in good character ; but I 
have seldom known it to be so bad as during the present 
this is very seldom: jt is usually fiat, much quilled to- 
wards the centre, and too uncertain a bloomer for a small 
collection. I have not grown the Bishop of Salisbury. 
The Jast Dahlia season was altogether the best in my 
recollection ; but no doubt, in consequence of the very 
dry weather that occurred during the blooming time, in a 
sandy soil many would fail that might have done well 
enough in the same soil in a wet season. This would be 
especially the case with thin flowers, which would, under 
such circumstances, be thinner in petals than usual, and 
soon show the disc ; whilst very double flowers would, from 
the same cause, more rapidly expand, and lose their scaly 
centres. Having now made free with the characters of ** A 
Subscriber’s” flowers, I would venture to recommend to him 
a dozen of which I think he will report favourably—some 
of them he no doubt possesses, viz., Turvill’s Essex 
Triumph, Trenfield’s Admiral Stopford, Smith’s Sir R. 
Sale, Edwards’s Mrs. J. Richardson, Thompson’s Vivid, 
Widnall’s Queen, Jackson’s Lady Cooper, Hudson’s 
Princess Royal, Bragg’s Antagonist, Dodd’s Prince of 
Wales, Mitchell’s Mrs. Kelly, Keynes’ Standard of Per- 
fection, Essex Triumph is the flower that was so success- 
fully exhibited at the meetings of the Floricultural Society 
of London. It is far from being faultless, but is constant, 
and one of the most desirable Dablias grown ; it is very 
globular, and always perfect in the centre ; its defects are 
too great a length of petal, and want of substance in the 
back ones, which generally become flimsy or die before 
the bloom is in perfection ; another fault is, that notwith- 
standing its fine dark colour, there is a silvery white hue 
over the face of the petal, that gives the flower a dull 
appearance. Adm. Stopford this year was the only rival that 
could successfully compete with Essex Triumph, and the 
best blooms I have seen were of the former ; but this will 
not, I imagine, generally be the case, for itis not constant, 
and in less favourable seasons is not good in the centre; 
the petal is broad and bold, and the colour, though vari- 
able, is very good and glossy. Sir R. Sale is another 
ower approved by the Floricultural Society, 
proved to.be one of the best of the season. 
Richardson, a white and parple, was also submitted to the 
same test, and justified the opinion given of it ; itis a very 
usefal flower and one of the best of its class. Vivid, 
though not, by any means a first-rate flower, is an acqui- 
sition, and the best scarlet we yet possess. Widnall’s 
Queen is too well known to require comment, it is gener- 
ally classed as a lilac, but is certainly nearer rose-colour 
than any other Dahlia at present in cultivation. Lad 
Cooper and Princess Royal are very beautiful when well 
grown, but are generally too hard and scaly in the centre. 
Antagonist, though uncertain, is quite an acquisition ; the 
white is very pure and the petal good ; the centre is the 
point in which it fails. Dodd’s Prince of Wales is decid- 
edly one of the best yellows, although the colour is not 
very pure, and the centre apt to be sunk ; but the latter 
fault does not interfere with the globular form and general 
outline, and. therefore does not detract much from its 
value. Mrs. Shelley was much exhibited last season, and 
was, with me, the finest flower in the garden ; every bloom 
came perfect, save a little disposition to quill in the centre, 
which, increasing towards the end of the season, made the 
back of the petals too visible. Standard of Perfection is 
a new Dahlia; it is hazardous, therefore, to offer a very 
decided opinion upon it; it may, however, safely be stated 
that it possesses style and character of first-rate order, 
and although not a large flower was the most successful 
seedling exhibited in the present. year, and was the only 
Dahlia of 1842 that was placed in the first class by the 
Floricultural Society,— WwW. 
Picolees —1n some Picotees the stigma appears before 
the fiower expands. Morris’s Mary, red Picotee, and 
Martin’s Victoria, yellow Pico‘ee, are examples. The 
