246 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



[Apr. 20, 



perfected seed. As I took the precaution to cut off every they were cut off from the original, and became fresh 

 other b!oom that was in the Nursery at the time, the fact plants, which produced the second crop. This was again 



repeated twice during the season, and made op the four 

 crops. This plan of laying Potatoe-tops is a better way 

 to increase scarce varieties than by cuttings. The last 



is fully established that pollen will keep good for at least 

 twelve months. — T. Jackson, Cross Lanes Nursery, near 

 Be dale. 



Luculia gratissima. — In propagating this I take a piece crop may be left in the ground as a substitute for early 



of light peat and break it quite fine. I then add about one- 

 third of fine silver-sand ; 1 mix this well together, and 

 taking some small thumb-pots I place one crock at the 

 bottom of each pot, and fill them with the above compost 

 about three parts full ; I press this down firm, and take 

 some little sticks and put down in the centre of the 

 pots. I then select cuttings of the half-ripened wood, and 

 placing one in each pot I tie them up to the sticks in the 

 centre of the pot, and fill the remainder of the pot with 

 lilver-sand. When this is done I give them a good water- 

 ing, to settle the cuttings. I then take a large pot and fill 

 it half-full of draining and the remainder with sand or 

 gravel, and then plunge four of the little pots in this large 

 one, and place a bell-glass over them. The whole is then 

 plunged in bottom-heat, and in about a month the cuttings 

 are rooted and fit for potting off into small 60-pots. I 

 then keep them close for about a week or so. There is a 

 secoud species that has lately been raised from seed, sent 

 to this country by Dr. Royle, which strikes much readier 

 than gratissima. The habit of the plant is strong, and the 

 foliage is dark-green ; but judging from a native specimeu 

 of the dower, 1 should say it was very inferior to L. gra- 

 tissima. It has also been raised from seeds sent to Chats- 

 worth by Mr. Gibson, and although they have had the 

 plant four or five years, it does not show any symptoms 

 of blooming. — Amicus. 



Witeworms, «Jc — Having occasion to set a common 

 brick-trap for birds, I have accidentally discovered a 

 readier method of trapping the wireworm, and other de- 

 stroyers of a similar nature, than by the M skewer-trap " 

 recommended some time ago. Either the shelter of the 

 bricks, or the proximity of the bread-crumbs intended for 

 the birds, have attracted the reptiles amazingly ; for I find 

 both wireworms and snake-millipedes under the bricks 

 day after day in great numbers. I could not have con- 

 ceived the ground sheltered so many, and I am no longer 

 surprised at the great destruction of plants (particularly 

 Brussels Sprouts) that I have sustained by their means. 

 — Senex. 



Vines, their habitudes. — There is a Vinery at 

 Enfield which was planted 10 years ago. The 

 Vines grew very strong during the first two years ; they 

 were allowed to bear half way up the rafters the first year 

 after they were planted. In the second year they carried 

 a full and heavy crop, and every year since they 

 have continued to produce good crops. This year 

 he commenced to force en the 1st of February, which 

 is about six weeks later than usual. The Vines broke 

 Tery Strongly, and apparently showed well for fruit, but all 

 Uic expected bunches became flat Cockscomb, and barren 

 shoots. Enfield lies very wet. Two or three times every 

 ■eason the water comes up to the roots of the Vines, and 

 even over the surface of the border, and this cannot be 

 remedied except the house is raised. The border is only 2 ft. 

 deep at the back, and 1ft. 6 in. in front. — A. Parsons, En- 

 field. [We presume that the cause of failure is perhaps 

 partly owing to the Vines not having heat at their accus- 

 tomed period of breaking ; but most probably the wood 

 of last season, though apparently good, has been imper- 

 fect from excessive moisture, the quantity of rain having 

 been nearly one-third more than usual.] 



Vines. — In a late Number there is a curious statement 

 respecting the unfruitfulness of a branch which is trained 

 horizontally to the next rafter of " R. P. Wine, while the 

 mam stem, which is trained upright is prolific. I conceive 

 the unfruitfulness must be owing to some other cause than 

 merely a difference in the temperature, which cannot be 

 great on an adjoining rafter. I have seen shoots from 

 Vines that were trained on a wall introduced into a house 

 without injuring the fruitfulness of the outside branches, 

 even although weeks intervened between the bursting of 

 their buds. I have also had Vines in a Pine-stove from 

 which I have trained a young shoot (proceeding from a 

 hole in the wall where the Vine entered), to the top of the 

 house before a bud broke ; yet when the buds did break 

 they showed no disposition to become tendrils. 1 suspect 

 "R. P.'s" rod, which is unfruitful, must have borne too 

 heavy a crop last season ; possibly it was a young rod 

 then, and exhausted itself in bringing its burden to matu- 

 rity. I have a Vine trained in the same manner, which is 

 this season unfruitful, because it was allowed to bear all 

 it would last year, as it was to be cut out. I agree with 

 Mr. Roberts in the points he recommends " R. P." to 

 observe ; but I think he attaches more importance to dis- 

 budding than it has any claim to. I tried it on some 

 Vines in pots, and likewise on the shoots on one side of 

 several old rods that were trained up the rafters and 

 pruned on the spur system ; but I did not find that it 

 caused the lower ejes to swell more on that side than they 

 did on the other, nor have they burst with more "giant 

 Strength." I imagine that the whole mystery of Grape- 

 growing consists iu having a warm rich soil, houses that 

 will admit plenty of light, no more nor longer shoots 

 than can be exposed to it, and a sufficiency of air to 

 harden and mature the wood. — J. Murdoch. 



Potatoes. — In the Chronicle, some time ago, there is a 

 notice respecting a cottager who raised four crops of 

 Potatoes on the same piece of ground during the past 

 aeason. Part of these were exhibited at the Norwich 

 Horticultural Show. I saw the Potatoes, and could find 

 no fault with them. They were an early kind, and were 

 planted about the usual time, in rich soil. A few days 

 before the tubers were fit for use, the tops of the stems 





Potatoes during winter and the following spring. Respect- 

 ing Potatoes raised in this way, " G. M." says, at p. 

 102 t — M I sent three-quarters of a peck to Norwich 

 Market, expecting that a high price would be given for 

 such rarities ; but to my disappointment I was in- 

 formed that ' sprout Potatoes would not sell.' It was 

 said they were of too dark a colour to be new Potatoes. 

 How is this to be remedied ? They are fair as May roots 

 when properly boiled." Possibly they might be a little 

 injured by the carriage; but those erroneously called new 

 Potatoes are not equal in quality to those produced in the 

 regular manner. — J. IVighton. 



Miscellaneous P. Lawson remarks, that he had two 



seedling Fuchsias growing in the south window of a room. 

 The pot in which they were was accidentally knocked 

 over, and both plants were broken off by the roots. He 

 states that he put them in again as cuttings, and placed 

 them in the same situation, where they are now both in a 

 healthy growing state. The leading shoot of one of them 

 was also broken off, and the plant, in consequence, is 

 sending out shoots all round, which he imagines is pre- 

 ferable to a single stem. 



Functional Disease.— " Der Greif's " assignment to so sma'l a 

 type is sufficiently significant of the Editor's resolve to bring the 

 discussion to a conclusion, in which, as Rasselas says, *' nothing 

 is concluded." " M. D.," with thanks for many courtesies, will 

 take heed to this gentle notice of •'diminuendo." " M. D.'s'' 

 respect for the argumentative ability of his opponent, suffers no 

 abatement because that argument does not bring conviction. 

 The love of truth above all other things he believes to be reci- 

 procal : but what is truth? Certainly not that which any man 

 troweth. unless supported by evidence which no other can gain- 

 say. «« M. D." admits the full force of the objection to a purely 

 or rather solely mechanical exposition of the action of living 

 organism ; and in his last article he endeavours to reply to that 

 objection; still maintaining, that for functional purposes, such 

 organism is ruled by the ordinary laws of mechanics, having 

 superadded a provision for supply and waste, independent of, 

 and having no relation to the offices in which it is engaged,— 

 machinery, Uke Milton's chariot-wheels, 



"Self moving, 

 Itself instinct with spirit," 

 ever wearing away, and ever renewed, but always the same. 

 All the organs of the body are officially automatic, — so many 

 furnaces, alembics, churns, spinning-jennies, with a life, that 

 is, a motion, superadded, with which their functions have no, 

 or only a secondary concern ; the materials may change, but 

 fixity of form ensures continued function. How healthy organs 

 may do unsound work, and how change of condition may differ 

 from change of structure, respect for " Der Greif's" forbearance, 

 and the Editor's recommendation, forbids farther discussion. 



Storiettes. 



HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

 April 16. — R. W. Barchard, Esq., in the chiir. A. 

 Bayley, W. R. Browne, T. Coventry, and E. N. Buxton, 

 Esqrs., were elected Fellows. — Mr. H. Hunt sent speci- 

 mens of his patent flower-pot ; the advantages of which 

 consist in affording an excellent drainage and allowing air 

 to circulate freely about the roots. This is effected by 

 means of a deep rim, which is notched out, leaving only 

 as much as the pot will stand on attached to the bottom, 

 which has also holes in it. Bv this contrivance worms 

 are also effectually kept out. — From Messrs. Henderson, 

 of Pine- apple-place, was a collection of plants containing 

 Camellia Biuceana, a pretty dark rose-coloured variety ; 

 Cestrum roseum, which in habit something resembles 

 Habrothamnus fasciculatus ; Daviesia Frazeri ; Dillwynia 

 glycinifolia, Indigofera australis, an old plant, which is 

 very suitable for early forcing ; and Erica lactiflora, hav- 

 ing beautiful small pure white blossoms. From the same 

 collection was a specimen composed of Azalea lateritia, 

 and A. Gladstanesii, which were inarched upon the old A. 

 indica. By means of this a very pretty dwarf plant was 

 obtained, which was covered with showy red and white 

 blossoms. There were also from the same place a plant 

 of the double white Azalea, fifty varieties of Hyacinths 

 in pots, Melia Azedarach, and Jacaranda mimosifolia, 

 not being more than 18 inches high, which is very seldom 

 seen in flower in such a young state. It was stated that 

 during winter this plant had been kept in a cool house, 

 and received no water for about three months. It was 

 then placed in a brisk heat, and soon afterwards the 

 flowers began to appear. A Knightian Medal was 



awarded for the Camellia, the Azalea, and Hyacinths 



Mr. Kennington, gardener to F. G. Cox, Esq., sent Epi- 

 dendrum machrochilum, the showy Dendrobium nobile, 

 Cymbidium lancifolium, the well-known Cattleya Skin- 

 neri, a good specimen of Phaius grandifolius, the rare 

 Peristeria Humboldti, with curious chocolate spotted 

 flowers, and a pretty plant of Oncidium altissimum. 

 From the same collection were also a small but well-grown 

 plant of the old Eutaxia myrtifolia, likewise plants of 

 Chorozema Henchmanni, Broughtonia sanguinea, Platylo- 

 bium formosum, and a Cineraria, named Haywardii. A 

 Certificate was awarded for the Cattleya Skinneri.— From 

 Mr. Hally, of Blackheath, was a seedling Epacris, which 

 was raised from seed that had been received from Van 

 Diemen's Land, where this tribe abounds in a wild 

 stute. It was imported under the name of E. grandiflora 

 alba ; but was slightly different from E. nivalis. Along 

 with this were two boxes of Camellia blooms and a 



seedling Cineraria, called Princess Royal. Mr. Daw- 



of Brixton-hill, sent a large beautiful speci- 



so n 



men of Erica Hartnelli, for which a certificate was 

 awarded. — From Mr. Robertson, gardener to Mrs. Law- 

 rence, were Pultenaea subumbellata, in good condition ; a 

 pretty plant of Boronia pinnata ; Epacris attenuata alba ; 



. ., . . , JU *u uj. i a v «ry large showy specimen of the purple Azalea indica ; 



were laid in the ground, and when they had struck root J Gastrolobium speciosum, a pretty greenhouse plant, quite j 



newly introduced from Swan River ; a large specimen of 

 Coleonema tenuifolium, and a 6mall plant of Elaocarn 

 denticulatus, having small white drooping blossoms. Fro 

 the same collection were also Oncidium ahissimam ^ 

 enormous specimen, having six tall flower-stems covered 

 with yellow and brown blossoms ; Coryanthes speciosi 

 having curiously-shaped flowers, which are smaller but 

 very like those of C. macrantha ; likewise plants of 

 Cattleya Skinneri, Satyrium cucullatum, Crinum on- 

 dulatum, Aerides virens, and Epidendrum bicornutum. k 

 Knightian Medal was awarded for the Oncidium a'ltU- 

 simum, Coryanthes speciosa, &c. — Messrs. Youell and 

 Co. sent two seedling Cinerarias, named Perfection.— 

 From Mr. Standisb, of Bagshot,. were four pretty spotted 

 Calceolarias, named Speculum, Phenomenon, Virtuoso 

 and Preceptor. — The Very Rev. the Dean of Manchester 

 sent seven specimens of Camellia blooms, named Picta 

 Candor, Pumila or Circe, lactescens, Ulantha, Victrix' 

 and Proteus. Of these, Candor was the best, having the 

 petals well arranged ; the colour was pure white • 

 a Certificate was awarded for it. — From Mr. Hutchi- 

 son, gardener to E. J. Shirley, Esq., was a dish of 

 excellent Peaches, which were forced on small trees 

 growing in pots. They were apparently the Noblesse 

 and were very remarkable specimens, at this season, con- 

 sidering the late and unfavourable spring ; a Knightian 

 Medal was awarded for them. O. F. Meyrick, Esq., sent a 

 dish of fine looking ripe Cherries ; a Banksian Medal wis 

 awarded for them. — From Mr. J. Davey, gr. to G. Smith, 

 Esq., were four fine large specimens of Citrus raedica.— 

 From the garden of the Society were, Oncidium luridutn 

 guttatum, O. Carthaginense, Epidendrum selligerum, the 

 old Illicium floridanum, Acacia hispidissiraa, Azalea indica 

 phoenicea, and Berberis pallida, which is a rare species 

 that was sent from Mexico by Mr. Hartweg. It is not 

 hardy, and requires to be kept in a greenhouse. From the 

 same place were, Cypripedium pubescens, a hardy North 

 American Orchis, which grows abundantly in the woods 

 of Canada and about Montreal ; Clerodendrum hastatum, 

 having large halbert-shaped leaves, the undersides of which 

 are of a fine purplish brown, and Spiraea Reevesiana, a 

 handsome hardy shrub, introduced from China, having 

 pretty white blossoms. It grows freely in the open air, 

 and will form a good addition to arboretums. 



COUNTRY SHOW. 



Hampshire Horticultural Society, March 14.— This was the first 

 meeting fur this year. There was an excellent supply of planti, 

 consisting of Camellias, forced American plants, Roses, Cat 

 Flowers, Hyacinths, &c. From Sir T. Baring, Bart., a fine col- 

 lection of Camellias (small plants, but well grown), and other 

 flowers from C. Deane, Esq.; Stove Plants, Hyacinths, and a 

 Miscellaneous Collection from J. T. Waddington, Esq.; Tree 

 Violets from the Hon. Mrs. A. Legge; a fine Collection of Store 

 and Green-house Plants, Amaryllis, &c, from the Rev. G. C. 

 Rashleigh; Cinerarias, Tree Violets, &c. from Mr. Wickham; *■ 

 fine Specimen of Chinese Azalea, from J. B. Wall, Esq.; a Spe- 

 cimen of Dendrobium, from J. Fleming, Esq. ; Hyacinths, from 

 W.Barnes, Esq.; a Miscellaneous Collection, from C. Seagrim, 

 Esq.; Fuchsias, Anemones, Cinerarias, Violets, Seakale, «c, 

 from the Rev. the Warden ; RhUbarb, from W. J. Campion, fcsq. ; 

 Stove and Green-house Plants, a Miscellaneous Collection, ana * 

 brace of Cucumbers, from the Rev. F. Beadon; Pine Appie, 

 Cucumbers, and Seakale, from W. Stride, Esq. ; Green - n °!jV* 

 Plants, Cinerarias, and Apples, from the Rev. C. Bonnett ; m»- 

 cellaneons Collection of Fruits, in which were some w * u '"J l 

 Pears, Potatoes, Seakale, and three varieties of very fine cucum- 

 bers, H. F.H. Holloway, E*q. Plants.— Single Specimens-- 

 Camellia reticulata, D.S. medal, Sir T. Baring ; Chorozemavarium* 

 B.S. medal, Tropasolum brachycerus, G.S. medal, Rev.G.t. a** .- 

 leigh; Azalea Smithn coccinea, ditto, J. B. Wall, Esq.; /"««J? 

 splendens, B. medal, Rev. the Warden; 6 Stove Plants, U ■*•**£? 

 Rev. G. C. Rashleigh; 6 Green- housePlunts, G R.B. meaai, rc . 



F. Beadon; 4 Ericas, B. medal, Rev. G. C. R^'^j.*^ 

 mellias, G.S. medal, Sir T. Baring; 4 Epacns, B. meaai, « . . 



G. C. Rashleigh; 6 Hyacinths, G.R.B. medal, Sir 1. * ailu *' 

 6 Ditto, B. medal, Mrf W. Barnes; 12 Ditto, B. me dai, J.T- 

 Waddington, Esq.; Cut Flowers, B.S. medal; 4. im. r 

 Plants, G.R.B. medal. Sir T. Baring; sUimb*', o. 

 medal. Rev. G. C. Rashleigh; Anemones, in collections,* .™ * 

 Rev. the Warden; 2 var. bulbous Plants G^\^^ ' 



C. Rashleigh; 4 var. Cinerarias, B. medal. Mr. V* <*"*"'. ^T. 

 in pots, G.R.B. medal ; Azaleas, B. medal; Ditto, u. n ic . 

 Baring; Violets, G.R.B. medal, Mr. Wickham ; «'*£" dal 

 Collections, G.S. medal, Rev. F. Beadon ; Ditto, J- 1 *-"- _ pd| * 

 Mr. Ralfe; Ditto, B. medal, C. Seagrim, Ejq. * " t l. re n ane oui. 

 Apples. G.R.B. medal, J. T. Waddington, Esq. ; 3/**" «JJ£ 

 ditto, H. Holloway, Esq.; Ditto, ditto, Rev. the warac . 

 t ables. -Cucumbers, G.S. medal, H. F. Hollo jay, £ 5q -' egdoD; 

 G.R.B. medal, Mr. Stride; Ditto, B. medal, Rev r. .^ 



French Bettns, ditto, J. T. Waddington, Esq.; f '™ ' w j. 

 Seakale, ditto, H. F. Holloway, Esq.; Rhubarb, Q '« ^ didttfi 

 Campion, Esq.— The medals awarded to thesuccessiu tf 



are denoted by initials in the foregoing list, ana . j ^ 

 follows :-S.G„ silver gilt, 15*. ; D.S., dead ^ ver ' U ' G r'b.,!^ 

 bright silver, 10s. 6rf.; G.S., German silver, ,*. o*-» »• 

 rimmed bronze, 5a. 6d . ; B , bronze, 3». 6d. 



IRebiefos. E 



Scenes and Tales of Country Life, &c. By E. Jesse, 



8vo. Murray. f 



What a store of pleasant anecdotes, from we 1 

 so agreeable a writer as Mr. Jesse, does this m p^ 

 raise ! What golden legends of trees, and Dir , ^ 

 beasts ! What curious anecdotes of all that m ^ 

 lives upon the earth I The very vagueness or i g 



provokes a curiosity which our experience oi we ^ ^ 

 ways assures us will be amply satisfied. we 



attempt to analyse that which defies analysis i, ^ 

 shall occasionally borrow Mr. Jesse s » neca ° l " deS j re a 

 own pages, and if they do not lead the reader to ^ ^ ^ 



better acquaintance with him, why, notnin6 allhiect8 ever 

 say will do so. He is a capital g°* si P "P°" ° w >i % 



fresh and ever new. His architectural jackdaw 

 in itself, a theme for the comment of a volume. 



t? 2d Edition* 



On Fertilizers. By C. W. Johnson, &s<j. 



8vo. Ridgway. .g^g grjd 



The 1st edition of this work was P« bIi ! b i ^ | , , ° nce in & 

 it proved one of the most useful books of refer ^j 

 Agricultural library. Five years, however— 



