THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



35 



I^ptFTY OF LONDON.— 



nDTIfl'LTL'RAL °Vrt,P FKbibitions of Flowers and 

 ORTIt u*^ viveD t hat theExniom^ aMsnn will take 



tetbe 



STlM-S-.S the J-Vi.S.^S't^ hunts to be 



" "^Tttke iota consideration. season. Full 



hire oefn rt™**£$$$£FcJ "e obtained upon 



€i)t 



<5&rtmtt$' QtmnitU 



~^TIRDAY, JANUARY 20, 1844. 



M 



r, Feb. 2 



Society 

 Botanical 



8 p.m- 



When it 



■ 



The vegetable kingdom, as well as the animal 

 uLTsubiect to Disease. We need not here 

 S3fK aSely what disease is 

 JS in ourselves, we are quite aware that the fane- 

 STo our frame are not carried on m the usual way. 

 Ke same with plants. When any of the func- 

 L» bv which their structure and reproduction are 

 Stained become deranged, disease is said to be pre- 

 sent \lthou*h the diseases of men and animals have 

 been investigated with great care, and animal patho- 

 logy and morbid anatomy have assumed an import- 

 ance equal to animal physiology and anatomy, yet the 

 same attention has not been given to the pathology of 

 plants. This cannot arise from the want of facts 

 to investigate, or the small importance of the subject, 

 is every one with a garden is perfectly aware of the 

 frequent occurrence of diseases amongst plants, and 

 destructive consequences. Of some of these 

 and their depredations we have many scat- 

 tered notices ; but, as yet, no work has appeared on 

 the diseases of plants in the English language. This 

 subject has not, however, been so much neglected on 

 the Continent, especially in Germany, where Wieg- 

 xnann, Bischoff, Meyen, and others, have produced 

 treatises, more or less perfect, on the pathology of 

 plants. We purpose from time to time to draw 

 attention to this subject in the Gardeners 1 Chronicle, 

 and shall endeavour to furnish our readers, in a form 

 at systematic as we can adopt consistently with the 

 most important facts that have been observed on the 

 diseases of plants, and endeavour to lay down some 



principles for their cure and prevention. In this 

 work, we hope not only to have the approbation, but 

 the assistance of our readers. Just as in the study of 



Ew^VlF? . well r corded ^se is of importance 

 toward establishing the principles of human patho- 



Z'tfJir ry - a ' CUra . tely ; 0bserved case of di sease in 

 fc wellT US i n n the WOrk we have before us. 

 n^r mZ ; WC Sha11 ende ~ to point out the 

 « Y«,t circumstances that should be attended 



nUc^d^ aU0 ^ d rdation of Particular 

 Sway S !L t ,^ h T er h h P ract ^ble, we 

 Plants shSS I * ferthat al accounts of diseases of 



nVfet f*t™T V ^\ by *«**»», which 

 W;^^ Ch fles ; st., Covent Garden. 



«*ofpC Z\ n™ 3 ! detaiIs on Particular dis- 



*■*" n ICs f lT ke " feW remarks on their 

 classificat on' Wp ' treatment ; and 1st, of their 



m *«ral Rroun? Z*J a / range the diseases of P lants 



**> CW ng J? their situation and 

 ** «* cal ed Z^f t C T (lin S t0 **** situation, 



A better 

 •PParent 



di 



» on of them is founded 



upon the 



f * *em in &?*' Iq this ma ™«> we can 



"* froa > mechanicaHn^ ° UPS =~ ' st > Diseases «is- 



Sf"* oonditfons ' of d ' I; f r ° m a , chan g« « the 

 E? uenc « of p„i S o no ° f hh > ^d 4th, from the 



T* "wmdin gof ^ tc !k U ?" se from the acei " 

 * tirioui „££ $""!> the njuring of them by 



fc^ed, bi S? an f t , *™* alia > "h«her wild or 



Sl U - To some of the ,« PUl6S ' , aml the atta <** of 



S> latel ybeen pJd in\r aS ^ thuS P roduced atten - 

 ***f- ^oun<K? Mr - 9 urtis ' s ani ^es on En- 

 ' of which Z& evet > frequently induce dis- 



♦l ; - "men. we shall k^~* "^H^utly induce dis 



by C; d class Alt? ° d L casion to r ak - T ° 



J %enn " - ' .„ JLI e peases produced both 



. , . The former 



these the growth of the 



erit >g and 

 srou 



djj?^ those ,!..»:., 5 ge S rou P. and to T 



Slti P'oba% a ' ld ° f th ™ ^ 



them must 



*c 



u mose destmnf- 8IUU P» an 



^ «. by t U ^l nd i re ^ e ".% epidemic 



eat .•- oul;n as the i n T*V t0 the exist " 



■^ ;^ r ' moi ^we &c T edlents of the s «il. 



eenW of di^t \ ^ mon 8 the ^ is found 



^^y consbH? a b °A general and local, 



n a deacient or excessive 



*L T 5 0US externa 1 ' redunda ncy or 



a ifc^ -> in 

 whi | e nu m i, 



development of the secretions of plants, or a change 

 in their chemical character. It is to this class of 

 diseases that we shall first more particularly devote 

 our attention. To the last class belong all those 

 diseases produced in plants by the action of injurious 

 gases in the atmosphere, or of substances in the soil, 

 which being taken up into the plant interfere with its 

 healthy functions. 



From the diseases of plants must be distinguished 

 what are called monstrosities; the one may fre- 

 quently run into the other, and it is not uncommon to 

 find diseased plants exhibiting monstrous parts; but at 

 the same time we do not intend to enter upon the 

 subject of monstrous growths, which belong rather to 

 physiological than to pathological Botany. In our 

 next article we shall make some general remarks -on 

 the causes and on the treatment of the diseases of 

 plants. 



The extraordinary mildness of the latter part of the 

 past year has had the effect of throwing most collec- 

 tions of Polyanthuses into premature bloom ; con- 

 sequently, the Amateur will experience some disap- 

 pointment, at the usual time of flowering, from his 

 plants being weakened, unless he has taken the pre- 

 caution to remove the trusses as they appeared. 



Taking into consideration the quantity of seed sown 

 in various parts of the country during the last 20 

 years, the number of fine varieties at all approaching 

 the standard of perfect roundness, combined with per- 

 fect lacing and bright colours, are very few indeed. 

 Still we trust that the impetus given to raising seed- 

 lings, from the best flowers only,wili extend to " this," 

 one of spring's gayest attendants. 



We well recollect the time when Tantarara was 

 most extensively cultivated; and though a coarse 

 flower, it had properties which we should wish to see 

 more strongly apparent in many varieties which have 

 been originated since that period. It was a strong 

 and luxuriant grower, though, from the unfrequency 

 of its appearance, we should imagine it lost to most 

 collections. 



Alexander, which we understand was raised 

 from seed by the late James Lee, of Lenton, near 

 Nottingham, and the stock purchased by the late Jno. 

 Pearson, of Chilwell, some 30 years ago, still retains 

 its prominent position, and has taken during that 

 time more first prizes than any other variety in culti- 

 vation. Its body-colour is intensely dark, combining 

 with a beautiful lemon eye a corresponding margin of 

 the same lively hue. 



In our time we have seen thousands of seedlings 

 bloom from this favourite sort, but none that have 

 yet come under our observation have been so good as 

 the parent, being generally coarse and undecided in 

 character. Had they, however, been crossed with 

 Buck's George the Fourth, we should probably have 

 had a different result ; for were we to select a variety 

 to save seed from, the above flower would most cer- 

 tainly have the preference. It may be said the body- 

 colour is of a coarse reddish-brown, and that at times 

 the edge or lace is imperfect ; still its habit is good, 

 being a magnificent trusser, joined to one of the most 

 perfect shapes we have ; and did it possess the jetty 

 body-colour of Alexander, with the correct lacing 

 and brilliant yellow of Huf ton's Lord Rancliff, it 

 would most assuredly come nearly up to our ideas of 

 a perfect flower. 



Amongst the few seedlings which have come pro- 

 minently into notice, and found their way to the 

 south, during the last ten years, are those which have 

 been raised by the late John Hufton,of Shipley, Der- 

 byshire. ^ Taking them altogether, they are certainly 

 of a superior cast. His Lord Ranclitf is one of the 

 most robust habit, and increases prodigiously. Its 

 trusses are large, but its flowers individually are below 

 the medium size ; still its ground or body-colour is 

 extremely dark, contrasting beautifully with its bright 

 centre and perfect lacing. 



Earl Grey (olios Clegg's Lord John Russell) is also 

 of the same paternity, and a great favourite. This 

 flower is remarkably neat, and a good and decided va- 

 riety. Its defect is a slight foxiness or indistinctness 

 where the body- colour breaks'off at the centre. That is, 

 however, almost imperceptible, except to the critical 

 gaze of the experienced florist. The lacing is dis- 

 tinct and regular, the flower above the middle size, a 

 fine trusser, and very robust and luxuriant. 



Squire Ray (Huf ton's) is quite of first-rate charac- 

 ter, joining to all the good qualities of the preceding 

 varieties a beautiful trumpet eye, or tube, well filled 

 with thrums ; but perhaps the gem of the collection 

 is Huf ton's Lord Lincoln, which unfortunately, like 

 too many other good things in the same way, is deli- 

 cate in its habit. It is of beautiful and perfect shape, 

 with its other properties finely developed. Much 

 confusion has arisen in Derbyshire and the neighbour- 

 ing counties from the circumstance of a spurious sort 

 having been put into circulation by unprincipled par- 

 ties. The true one, however, may be readily distin- 



and at the same time having a curled diseased appear- 

 ance. As we intend to resume our observations on 

 the Polyanthus very shortly, we shall close the present 

 remarks by observing, that in the numerous catalogues 

 of this flower which come under our notice, we miss 

 several that some years ago gave us much pleasure in 

 the collection of the late Mr. Thomas Hogs, of Pad- 

 dington. If our memory does not fail us, They were 

 Pearson's Wooden Walls, remarkable for its fine deep 

 plum-coloured ground ; Pearson's Harlequin, with a 

 body-colour of shaded crimson, often coming, like 

 Collier's Princess Royal, with six petals ; Pearson's 

 Commander-in-Chief, and Pearson's Competitor. 



Should these varieties be lost, and we much fear it 

 to be the case, as from inquiry we find that they are 

 not now grown in the neighbourhood where they were 

 raised, it will be much to be deplored, as they were all 

 of fine habit and of good size, and were certainly de- 

 cided acquisitions. — W, 



To the honour of our country it may be said that all 

 Charitable Institutions are sure of support if they 

 deserve it, and it is no disgrace to British feeling if 

 in some cases charity is misdirected. Such an array 

 of Hospitals, Almshouses, Asylums, Schools, and 

 Benevolent Societies as are maintained by private 

 assistance in this kingdom is without a parallel else- 

 where. We trust that every year their number will 

 be augmented : for as wealth increases, so, alas I does 

 destitution ; indeed, the one is, we fear, the inevitable 

 result of the other. 



j If there is any one class of persons more peculiarly 

 an object of compassion than another, it is surely that 

 of aged Gardeners, whose lives have been spent in. 

 contributing to the gratification of the wealthy, while 

 their wages have been far too small to enable them to 

 make suitable provision for old age ; for it is to be 

 recollected that a gardener is not a mere machine, like 

 some classes of servants, but a man, who, if he is to ■ 

 maintain his station in his profession, must of neces- 

 sity incur expenses from which the menials of a house- 

 hold are exempt. He must have his books — he must 

 buy the current knowledge of the day — he must visit 

 his neighbours' gardens — he must spend his little 

 earnings in fifty things of which the eye of the public 

 knows nothing, but all which draw heavily upon his 

 very scanty resources ; so that when the hour of 

 adversity arrives, as it may to any one, he can have no 

 resource to fall back upon. We therefore conceive 

 that the Gardeners' Benevolent Institution, of whose 

 recent meeting a report is given in another column, 

 most peculiarly claims the sympathy and support of 

 the wealthy classes : we wish we could say that it 

 received it. Up to the present time, however, it has 

 been mainly carried forward by Nurserymen, or by Gar- 

 deners themselves; for the contributions of other persons 

 are too inconsiderable to deserve mention. Let us hope 

 that those to whose comforts gardeners so largely 

 minister, will now step forward and assist its 

 funds as they already contribute to more fashionable 

 charitable endowments. The little stock of about a 

 thousand pounds, which a few poor persons have up 

 to the present time amassed for the best of all pur- 

 poses, the assistance of respectable old age, is less than 

 is gathered at a single meeting of a fashionable hos- 

 pital. The least possible move in favour of this 

 charity among the wealthy would at once decuple its 

 resources. Let us then entreat the great and wealthy 

 not to wait to be canvassed, but at once to stretch forth 

 their bountiful hands to the Gardeners' Benevolent In- 

 stitution, of which none can be more deserving of sub- 

 stantial assistance. We shall be most happy to receive 

 subscriptions and announce them in our columns. 



White we say thus much for the English association 

 for the relief of poor and aged gardeners, we must by 

 no means omit to notice the existence of a similar 

 institution in Ireland, which we are glad to find from 

 a report before us is moving on satisfactorily, although 

 very slowly. The committee of the Gardeners and 

 Stewards' Provident Society of Ireland state that it is 

 in " a most prosperous state," and upon reference to 

 the published accounts, it appears that the receipts for 

 the year amount to the sum of ninety pounds for all 

 Ireland. If this constitutes prosperity, let the rich Irish 

 landlords only consider how valuable to such an insti- 

 tution the smallest donation must be, and how easily 

 they may win the gratitude of their fellow-creatures, 

 at an expense, of the occurrence of which, even 

 annually, they cannot by any possibility be conscious. 



a little closer, and try to bind it, if possible, to the 

 guished by the heart leaves being invariably small, services of Horticulture by threads drawn from other 



SEEDS OF GARDENING.— No. III. 



(Continued from page 20.) 



From oft-repeated examinations, I can assure you it is 

 difficult to find perfect seeds, and still more so to find pure 

 ones, that is to say, free of filth of every sort. And the 

 more you examine your seeds, the more necessity you 

 will see for ripening them off quick and clean, and can- 

 istering them in such form as neither moth nor mouse can 



come at them. 



But as these remarks will, perhaps, have little weight 

 with an extensive class of your readers, I must reason 



