18-U.J 



^ r^ii-r^Tuiptcrous insects in the late Mr. Barnes : 



fiST*-* wire indigent to Great Britain. A 

 collection ^^ Pro fessor Erichsen, of Berlin, de- 



SnHw«I species of the genus Paradiseus, belonging 

 o u Lsmeliicorn group of Beetles. A letter was read 

 \ llr Savaze, giving an account of some Goliath 



Wee which he had collected : amongst these were two 

 Sk of the G. quadrimaculata, and a specimen which Dr. 

 E2iJ had pronounced a new species, closely resembling 

 r nn!vnhema«. A description of some species of Leu- 

 G ;EiwaTa!so read from M. Guerin Meneville. The 

 Creurv read a letter from Mr. Melley, in which that 

 gentleman had made some inquiries with respect to the 

 f n ° ts t hat attacked the excrement of domestic animals 

 that was used as a manure. He wished to know what 

 •necies of insects attacked the excrement. Whether their 

 •tucks were prevented by spreading it immediately, and 

 whether anv advantage was gained by placing the excre- 

 ment in water and then spreading it, and with regard 

 to insects that attacked the roots of plants, whether 

 the? could be destroyed by irrigating the crops which 

 they attacked. Mr. Westwood said that, in reply to 

 this letter, he had stated that the species of insects 

 which attacked the excrement of animals belonged 

 to the families Geotrupidse, S'anhvlinidse, and Sphaeriidas ; 

 that it was probable they consumed but little of the 

 manuring principles of the excrement, and that irrigation 

 would probably fail to affect insects that attacked the 

 roots of plants. Along discussion followed, in which 

 Messrs. J. E. Gray, Walton, Marshall, Westwood, Water- 

 house, and the President, took part, from which it appeared 

 that insects might consume those principles of excremen- 

 titious matter," which were of importance to plants, as 

 food ; that, as long as insects were destroyed in the larva 

 state this was of little importance, but that if allowed to 

 attain their perfect state, the manuring power of the excre- 

 ment would be reduced ; and that the best way of prevent- 

 ing the attacks of insects was as quickly as possible to 

 collect the excrement of animals into heaps, as insects 

 only attacked the surface. Mr. Waterhouse remarked, 

 with regard to applying water for the purpose of destroy- 

 ing insects, that this would be more effectual in the perfect 

 and larva state of the insect than in the pupa state, and 

 thus the season at which water was employed would be of 

 great importance. The President announced that the 

 Rev. Mr. Hope had offered two prizes of five pounds each 

 for the t«o best papers — the one on vesicatory insects, 

 and the other on a subject not yet named. 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



103 



Seblete*. 



An Inquiry into the Nature of the Simple Bodies of 

 Chcmiitrtj. By David Low, Professor of Agriculture 

 in the University of Edinburgh. 8vo. 1844. 

 The science of Chemistry is generally considered to be 

 purely experimental, because though every new fact adds 

 to our store of knowledge, and brings us nearer to the 

 comprehension of those forces which regulate the trans- 

 formation of matter, yet it is wholly impossible to argue 

 from the known to the unknown ; a priori reasoning has 

 no weight with the Chemist, and though theory may be 

 useful to guide him in experiments, it must never be per- 

 mitted to bias him in the conclusions he draws from 

 facts. The work of Professor Low is an attempt to 

 establish a new chemical theory, •« that all so-called 

 simple bodies are compounds of oxvgen and hydrogen ; " 

 but it is unsupported by experimental evidence of any 

 kind. Chemista are m the habit of terming those forms 

 of matter winch they are unable to resolve into simpler 

 substances, elements; and the terra is correct, inasmuch 

 as they are the elements of other substances. But it cer- 

 tainly does not follow that they are not compounds them- 

 selves. .Nevertheless, so long as we do not know of what 

 taey are compoved, or how to prove that thev are com- 

 pounds—in s l )0rt ' unt »l we have experimental evidence of 

 j«cii being the case, we are not justified in regarding 



°? f? ^Pounds, even though we may think it very 



Probable that tfaey are. Professor Low's arguments are 



6 enious, hut they are those of a metaphysician, and not 



Dr «« ,las Stowed »»« i» part the views of 



th '\ , 0v - n ' w,tl1 r *8M to the possible existence of 



e same kind of matter in different forms, and possessed 



Chem- ^ / ro l ,ertits - Much more must be done in 



It wm mT 6 SU<h gene ' "actions can be usefully made. 



t*-e n • f 6RSy even now t0 m * k e ™<™y theories as to 



Quit; composition of the so-called simple bodies 



wheth * atl8,acf ory as that of Mr. Low, but we doubt 



theori ° Uld at atl ad *ance the science. Facts, not 



must h' r Fe Wanted ' and if we do form theories, they 



P-of ei 7 unaeu on facts; whereas the speculations of 



"or Low are founded wholly on theoretical views. 



The p Miscellaneous. 



Value anconia Raspberry— Us Hardiness, and its 



cultivated" I ' 0rC ' nff Variet V' By A This shrub has been 



first wi at ^ H ' * n America, for several years : the 

 °f the 1 1 F tllCy WCW covered J the second year one half 

 l -'e win, w ° D,y Were Protected. Those left exposed to 

 ones a T HS Well « if not better, than the protected 



S? IJr a H )ear ed in perfect health the summer follow- 

 Inis year the bed contains about one thousand 



O" 



3 



J ng. 



»tem 



a odwh \f* P run ' n S ont » every one in sound condition, 

 tr *injrr? eX[>osetl to the winter, which has been a very 

 Un Voter% i 3lher beds ' in dintirent locations, were left 

 hardy U th< ' PMt winter . anil have proved perfectly 



fining t | f 1S mmeCeSS:lry to l MOtect them, there is a 

 *hen ° e °, bour , " spring and autumn, seasons of the year 



cuititati / n , ers are very busy * Any oiie in the countr y 



a Part i° S by thousands, can the next winter leave 



• ta an exposed situation, unprotected, and prove 



the thing. It may be that the protection afforded by 

 houses in the city may be sufficient, and the plant be 

 killed in the open field. They also force well. I tried a 

 few pors of them in the greenhouse, last winter, with dif- 

 ferent treatment. The result was in favour of those 

 grown in the greatest heat, with a dry atmosphere, and 

 watered with carbonate of ammonia, in the proportion of 

 three hundred parte water to one of ammonia; next, those 

 watered with liquid manure; and last, those watered, 

 simply, which were nearly a total failure, the fruit not 

 swelling off. They were taken up with a ball of earth, 

 before severe frost, and all put in same sized pots, with 

 as much rich soil as could be added. — Hovey's Magazine 

 of Horticulture, 



China. — Advices have been received from Mr. Fortune, 

 engaged in collecting seeds for the Horticultural Society 

 in China, dated Chusan,Nov. 12. He describes the whole 

 coast of China to the northward as consisting of bare 

 rugged rock, barren sand, and burnt gravelly clay, but wiih 

 beautiful plants here and there. He had met with very 

 bad weather in his passage to Amoy, but had had an 

 opportunity of exploring the islands of Koo-long-soo and 

 Amoy. On the voyage thence to Chusan, the vessel en- 

 countered heavy gales in the Formosa Channel, and was 

 twice driven back, once to Chinchen, and once to Chamoo ; 

 this, however, gave him the opportunity of landing at those 

 places, and exploring the country for several miles inland. 

 On no occasion had he met with serious obstacles to pene- 

 trating the country, but, on the contrary, found the natives 

 particularly civil, much more so than on the coast further 

 south and at Canton. Mr. Fortune had fallen in with 

 hills covered with Az-ileas, and with several other good 

 things, seeds of which, in very small quantities, were in- 

 closed in his letters. In particular, he had met with a 

 very beautiful Buddlea, with rich purple flowers, arranged 

 in clusters like a Lilac ; and a very fine Campanulaceous 

 plant, with flowers as large as those of Lisianthus Rus- 

 sellianus. What he had seen of China gave him great 

 hopes of fully realising the anticipations of the Society. 

 He was about to proceed to Shang-Hai and Ning-po. 



New Z> aland Resin. — Dr. R. D. Thomson has pub- 

 lished an account of the resinous exudation of the Cowdie 

 Pine, from which it may be inferred that it deserves at- 

 tention as an article of import. It is a very hard trans- 

 parent substance, in the state in which it arrives in 

 England, and has long ago appeared to us likely to prove 

 valuable as an ingredient in varnishes; but it was found 

 difficult to dissolve it. Dr. Thomson has, however, 

 ascertained that it may be dissolved in hot absolute 

 alcohol and in oil of turpentine. 



Mexican Poison, Guaco. — Dr. Us'ar, of Oajaca, in 

 Mexico, states in a letter that he has investigated the 

 nature of the celebrated Mexican poison, Guaco. He 

 speaks of its medicinal properties as powerful, and hopes 

 European physicians will investigate its powers. He is 

 of opinion that the plant which produces the poison is a 

 species of Convolvulus, and not the Mikania Gua?o, as is 

 usually supposed. He doubts altogether the active pro- 

 perties of the Mikania, which also accords with Hancock's 



opinion. — Bot. Zeit. 



Lemons— Himalayan method of Keeping.— ■"Five dozen 



Lemons were bought in the bazaar (Srinagur) for about 



fourpence; six of them, taken indiscriminately from the 



basket, weighed about five pounds. It is customary to 



pluck the fruit when it has attained its full growth but is 



not quite ripe. It is then buried in deep holes in the 



ground, lining the pits and covering the fruit with dry 



leaves. In this situation it attains maturity, and if not 



bruised in packing, retains its form and freshness for a 



considerable period. I saw some disinterred, after they 



had been buried for three months, and they were in the 



most perfect preservation. "- Moor croft" s Travels, \o\.\.^Syo. 



^^^ - - - — 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS 



For the rnsnin? Week. 



T.— HOTHOUSES, CONSERVATORIES, &c. 



Many plants will sonu be fit for repotting. When plants are 

 removed In a higher temperature, examine their roots, and see 

 if they are healthy, and it not, shake the old soil from them, and 

 repot them in fresh soil into smaller pots; this is a good mode 

 for preparing plants for the one-shift system, which may be 

 adopted »» soon as the roots begin to spread mi the outside of the 

 new soil. The one shift should never be adopted Until you are 

 Bati&fied that the roots are in a healthy state and beginning to 

 grow. There is no time when a low night temperature is more 

 necessary than during the next six weeks, as plants are now more 

 easily excited than at any other period. 



Conservatory.— Orar.ge-trtes. it now removed to an early 

 Vinery or stove, and kept in ctoors all summer, will come into 

 flower next Christmas with very little forcing. Camellias that 

 have not formed flower-buds mav also be introduced into heat 

 in succession from this time ; some of them may be expected to 

 flower about the middle of next September. 1 had some treated 

 thus last year, and they began to flower at that time. Piants ol 

 the Fuchsia corymbifl «rn which were cut back last autumn to tlie 

 ripened wood, and preserved in any outhouse through the win- 

 ter, will flower in May if thev are n<>w removed to a Vinery or 

 forcing-house. The night "temperature of the Conservatory 

 should now he lower than through the winter, say about 4U 3 , m 

 order that the plants may be started away slowly at first; this 

 should he attended to now by ail who regard the proper cultiva- 

 tion of their plants. . 



Greenhouse.— U you guard against frost, there is no danger of 

 this house getting too low in temperature, and air should be 

 freely admitted every fine day, in order to keep the plants from 

 growing too rapidly at this season. Owing to a drier atmo- 

 sphere being thus produced, the plants in this house will re- 

 quire constant attention with regard to watering. 



Forcing pits —That variety of the common Lilac called Charles 



the Tenth ia the best of them for forcing, as it retains its high 

 colour better than the Old Purpleonei and if It was grafted on 

 the Persian Lilac it would check its vigorous habit, and reiu.er it 

 more manageable as a pot plant. Has the Double Sloe been sub- 

 mitted to forcing by anv one ? It would make a pood c naa>twith 

 such plants as the Doable Dwarf Almond and the Double Chi- 

 nese Almond, the Rhodora, &c., all of them flowering before 

 their leaves a ear. About the same treatment »s that lor torch- 

 ing Peach-trees will suit them ; and, being naturally early 

 bloomers, they are good nts tor forcing. A steady bottom, 

 heat, a moist atmosphere, and attention to c nlineaa, are the 

 Chief requisites in early forcing fljwers. — D. B. 



II. -FLOWER-GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES. 



Outdoor Department. 



As soon as the ground is a little dried it will be a good plan to 

 have all the vacant beds in the flower-garden forked over, so as 

 to get the soil properly pulverised prior to planting out the 

 autumn. sown annuals. Preparation must also be made for a 

 general sowing of the more hardy kinds, such as Larkspurs, 

 Godetias, Clarkias, Ncmophilas, &c, which should be got in 

 the first day the ground is sufficiently dry to admit of sowing 

 them. Proceed with the pruning of Shrubs and common Roses, 

 but leave the more tender kinds until you are sure they will not 

 be injured by frost. The most tender of the Chinese varieties, 

 that were covered in autumn with leaves are in excellent con- 

 dition, and I expect to carry them through the winter without 

 losing a twig. 



Reserve Garden. — See that the plants In this department are not 

 thrown out of the ground by the late frost. If they are loose 

 fasten them. Proceed with planting out biennials as soon as the 

 ground is in a fit state, and prepare a little ground in a warm 

 corner for sowing Stocks and some ol the best of the annuals for 



transplanting. 



Pita and Frames. — Here there will be no want of work for the 

 next ihree months. Some of the Stocks and other annuals sown 

 some weeks back will require potting off, putting 3 or 4 plants in 

 a pot. Pot off Verbenas, See, put in cuttings of all kinds which 

 you are deficient in. Divide and make root-cuttings of Bouvardia 

 triphyllaand angustifolia. and get the plants forward and strong 

 for planting ont. Put Saivia patens into heat to produce cut- 

 tmgs, and see that everything is in order fur the spring, which 

 will soon be upon us. — *f\ P. A. 



III.— FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 

 As a matter of course all Floriculcural Calendars must to a 

 certain extent he acted on only as the weather is favourable for 

 tie operations there detailed as necessary. Dining spring and 

 summer, the experienced Ptoftst finds it comparatveiy easy to 

 point out the previous week what is requisite to be done the 

 ensuing one. But at this mice: tain season we must be guided 

 by circumstances. Whilst wiring, the frost appears to be 

 rapidly disappearing, it will therefore cause the Florist to be on 

 the alert, and if the weather continues mild, draw the lights 

 completely off the Auricula frames during the day, examine the 

 plants minutely, and see that all is going on well. Should any 

 mild rain fnll during the week, they will be benefited by a good 

 sprinkling " in the middle of the day;" when the lights are drawn 

 on tilt them, so that the grass may get as dry as p >ssiole before 



night. 



Carnations.— The same observations will apply to these flowers 



and carefully remove all spotted or diseased leaves. 



Tulips.— Still cover with sand as they appear. 



Ranunculuses.— Should the beds get sufficiently dry, they 

 should immediately be planted ; we usually plant two very large 

 beds, one in about len days or a fortnight after 'he other; this 

 gives a comnetiusr Florist a better chance, besides prolonging 

 the season of bloom in his garden. 



Dnhlias.- Still -^rike cuttings ia moist heat as they get long; 



enough.—/. F. W. 



IV.— PINERIES, VINERIES, &c. 



Pinery.— Where Pines are extensively grown, it would be in- 

 convenient to examine and repot them a few nt a time, as they 

 want it; and as the plunging material will now rcqmre some 

 addition to keep the bottom- heat to between fid and 85 3 , it will 

 be better to have a general arrangement of the wuole stock of 

 successions in pots whenever the weather is favouranle. Those 

 Plants intended tor fruiting in the autumn should be carefully 

 examined, and if the roots are not healthy, or the soil has be- 

 come close, a partial or entire removal of both, as may appear 

 requisite, should take place. In repotting, the size of pot must 

 be determined by the sort of Pine and condition of the plant. 

 The Montserrat, Jamaica, and some others, make fewer roots 

 than the strong-growing Providence, Enville, and Queen, and 

 consequently lequire less pot-room. If it is intended to plant 

 them out as soon as it is ascertained that the fruit is formed, 

 smaller pots may be used than if the plants had to mature their 

 fruit in them. I-« potting, use some Moss over the drainage, 

 and sprinkle a handful of soot over the Moss, to keep out worms. 

 Those of the younger successions that are in good condition at 

 the root should have a good shift, as they will rill a large pot by 

 Midsummer, and the less thry have to be shifted, the fewer 

 checks they receive. If the heat in the bed at a foot romthe 

 surface is about b0°, d > not use much fresh material, as _the heat 

 from the sun will soon begin to act upon the bed, and it will be 

 better to have to add a little more round the outside pots ma 

 month hence if necessary than to run any risk of injuring the 

 roots by an over- degree of bottom-heat. 



Vinery- Vrom the time the fruit-bearing shoots arefar enough 

 advanced to be stopped, the temperature should be fully 75 by 

 fire- bent during the day. letting it fall towards evening, and 

 keeping it as low as 60° during the greater part of the night. 

 This treatment of the Vines should be strictly observed, as they 

 will be more healthvfrom it, and the csop about a* early as if 

 a higher night temperature were kept, and it will be found more 

 economical. The Vines grown in Pine-stoves, and indeed in 

 Vineries also, will be beneficed by tying Moss round the old 

 wood, a« it will keep them moist and cool, and the sap-vessels 

 expand better than when exposed to dry heat. 



Peaek tense.— Where the fruit is swelling, the night tempera- 

 ture should be about Gi»°. and 70° to '5° during the day, by fire- 

 heat Give air when the sun raises the thermometer to 80 . 

 Caiefnl attention to temperature and syringing will, inmost 

 cases, keep down insects; but wheie this fails, tumigatmg 

 should be had recourse to. The most effectual way of destroying 

 green-fly by fumigating is to fill the hou a es moderately on two 



successive evenings. . ■ 



Chem;-h:use.-lt the Cherries have set numerously, and are 

 far 'advanced as to show which are the most promising 

 fruit, thin out the smallest. Weak liquid manure may now be 

 giveii with advantage to the plants in pots. 



Melons- For a moderate- sized frame, one plant under the 

 centre ..f each light is sufficient; but it two are preferred, plant 

 them 15 inches apart lengthways of the frame. In preparing for 

 planting out Melons in pits ol a good widtn, it is better to put 

 the plants within is inches of the front- wall, and train them on a 

 trellis towards trie back, 2 feet from the glass. Fill the pit to 

 within 3 feet of where you intend the surface of the mould to be 

 with tan or leaves in a fresh state, then lay 6 inches of decayed 

 leaves and dung upon it: then form a ridge along the front of 

 turfvloam, with a portion of burnt marl and charcoal for turning 

 out the plants upon, leaving the remaining space to be filled up 

 at intervals. The plants, when turned out, should be 2 feet 

 from the glass.— G. F. 



bo 





V.— HARDY FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Grafting.— Where there are inferior sorts of Apples and Pears, 

 or too many of one sort, procure scions of superior varieties, and 

 keep them till wanted in a co«»l situation. 



Cucumbers.— Sow seeds, or procure a few plants from those 

 who force early. A Cucumber that grows quickly, fruits plenti- 

 fully, and eats crisp, is to be preferred, where exhibition is not 

 an object. The temperature should range from u-r'to /3°, allow- 

 j imj 5° more for sun-heat. If the condensed water on the sash- 

 1 bars is of a pure colmir there will be no danger from rank steam. 



Celery and Cauliflowers. -Sow in a slight hotbed; the latter to 

 succeed those sown in the autumn. A pot of Celery may be put 

 into the Cueu: r frame, as a I tie will require to be sown thus 

 earlv iffineheetia are expected la September. 



Potatoes.— Plant in frames, ami forward tubers by putting them 

 in any warm place, for planting under straw covers and hurdles. 



Pe« and lie uis.— A sowing of these will require to be made as 

 soon as the wtather will admit. 





