v 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



263 



Wtw» 



of wcll-gro 



wn 



fly remarkable J 

 of Heaths it contained, among 



plants 



kk* 



the fine ^Sartnelli in good condition, a large 



**L a small plant of the free-flowering E. 



together with E. campanulata, a 



minor 



entered d° wn 



also Epacris grandiflora, the larger 



-«iwtion were aisu i^»^- & 



*" coI 7f nulchella, Kennedya coccmea, and several 

 ^cty ot r~ F The Royal Ade i a ide Cup was awarded to 

 ^er plant-. . p rom Mr. Bruce was a collection 



^ .ntainin* some well-grown plants. Among 

 £l ° ^Acacia diffusa, a pretty plant of Aphelexis 

 *■■ VuDhorbia splendens, Clivia nobilis, several 

 • of \zalea, plants of Tropseolum tricolorum, and 

 ? n< Wfras Leschenaultia formosa, covered with bloom ; 

 ^".ith Chorozema Henchmannii, and several Heaths. 

 *7Jld Medal was awarded for these.-Mr. Plant, gr. to 

 1 H Schroder, Esq., exhibited Thunbergia aurantiaca, a 

 U plant of Cytisus racemosus, two Gloxinias, Diosma 

 lSLu Oxylobium retusum, and other plants.— A 

 5uje Silver Medal was awarded to Mr. Hamp, gr. 

 to J Thorn, Esq., for a collection containing, among 

 fltfai Euphorbia splendens, Epacris grandiflora, a pretty 

 •lint of Erica hybrida, covered with long flesh-coloured 

 bloisoms, a purple Rhododendron, Boronia serrnlata, 

 Cuisus racemosus, and the handsome Erica vestita alba, 

 together with Gloxinia rubra, Eutaxia myrtifolia, two 

 Cborozemas, and a good plant of Aphelexis hurailis. 

 —From J. H. Schroder, Esq., was a collection of Orchi- 

 dacese containing among others the beautiful Cattleya 

 intermedia, the fragrant Maxillaria aromatica; alsoVanda 

 cruUta, which has the good property of keeping long in 

 bloom ; a Middle Silver Medal was awarded for them. — 

 Mr. Kennington, gr.to J. Cox, Esq., was awarded a Large 

 Slver Medal, for Peristeria Humboldti, Dendrobium 

 nobile, in good condition, Oncidium altissimura, and O. 

 microchilam. He also exhibited some other Orchida- 

 ceous plants, two Chorozemas, a Pimelea spectabilis, and 

 other plants, among which was a specimen of Erica 

 Hartnelli. — Mr. Wood sent a collection of named Alpines. 

 — The Nurserymen's collections were from Mr. Fairbairn, 

 of Clapham, and Mr. Hally, of Blackheath. That of the 

 former contained among other plants Boronia serrulata, 

 Aphelexis humilis, a double variety of Azalea indica rubra, 

 Erica Hartnelli in good condition, and a pretty small plant 

 of E. delecta ; a Middle Silver Medal was awarded for 

 them. — In Mr. Hally's collection, which gained the first 

 prize, were Acacia armata, a showy Azalea Smithii 

 coccinea, a well-grown plant of Aphelexis humilis, a 

 Cineraria, named Piper's Princess Royal, and a small 

 dwarf plant of Genista Rhodopncea. — Mr. Townly, 

 of Camberwell, exhibited among several others, good 

 specimens of iEschynanthus parasiticus, Columnea Schie- 

 deana. Hardenbergia monophylla, Franciscea Hopeana, 

 and Euphorbia splendens. Among single specimens was 

 • handsome Manettia bicolor, which gained the first 

 prize, from Mr. Hamp ; a beautiful Tropseolum trico- 

 lorum, to which the second prize was awarded, from Mr. 

 Ijery of Peckham ; and a Cattleya Skinneri from Mr. 

 Kennington. On the same table were beautiful small 

 Plants of Erica ariatata major from Mr. Dickson, of 

 Acre-lane, Brixton. There was a good display of Cine- 

 rarias; the collection from Mr. Ivery contained many 

 flowers of great novelty and beauty of colour. Red Rover 

 and W ashington, bright crimson ; Fanny Elsler, a white 

 *uh crimson tip, a most prolific bloomer; and Black 

 *"ignt, a deep purple; with Captation, having maza- 

 "ne purple tips, upon a white ground ; and Criterion, 

 tn mazaime blue terminations, appeared to be the most 

 twn a ™ attractiv e— Mr. Paul, of Cheshunt, exhibited 



the th gS \ one a P ure white with da r k purple disk ; 

 . ' °™ er > » bright rosy crimson having quilled petals with 



Wp tlpS ' is Vef y S° od of it8 kiLd 5 the flowers are 



altho h ,0rmedwith g^at regularity. The Auriculas, 



interest ™v 8 ° g °° d 8S they Were last year ' eX( - ited much 

 Brixto w ^ airs amon S amateurs, Mr. Schroder of 



Ann, andP " Cd the fi 7* pr ' Ze ' with 0liver ' s Lovelv 

 with SmifcvV ^ nam P ion - — Mr. Lidgard was second, 

 Amone n Waterloo > and Conqueror of Europe.— 



Dickson f 8e » yraen the first P rize ™ won b y Mr - 

 nia a J P . Iane » Brixton > wlA Hedge's Britan- 



•econd nr? flower ' and Pa « e ' 8 Champion. The 



»ea, for s , r as awarded to Mr. Gaines, of Batter- 

 er Dirk. Britannia, and Grimes's Privateer.— 



Dickson'. P • gamed the first P rize for the best 12 ' with 

 Emo^rn. ;, nnce Albe,t > Oliver's Lovely Ann, Stretche's 



--• - » ""^son s Uomet, JLee's Cole 



P r, 'ze for tl P lon ' and Dickson's Matilda The first 



D »ckson f seed li"g Auricula was awarded to Mr. 



S<*>d PronerH° ne named Bril,iant > a gray-edged flower of 

 P u rple ami Ik* 1 - 1 ' trusses wel1 5 the colour is a brilliant 

 8h ow°d annM. nngS are uniform in width. Mr. Dickson 

 ed ged flowe seedlin ? named Richard Headley, a gray- 



liajr Wajl f ' you "S' and very promising. The other seed- 



kJS. **. fro ™ Mr. Franklin - *«JL .l*~_*l_ ._ 



,ant m appearance 



brill 



Franklin, a flower altogether very 



S°°d trussed r r""""^ e: the pips remarkably flat, and a 



\ .y l the colour breaking a little into the 

 lidgard got the prize for the best 6, with 



H *g*> BritanniatGri Pa - ge - 8 ***""* ° f ° ldenbur ^ 



Jjge— Mr. 



Oliver', 



ra »e a Cham.,;*, ml'. on D y M r * LiiHgarQ, Witt 



^Nelson^F ' T ? y * l0r ' 8 Glt>r y' Conqueror of Europe 



Warded to AT.^c 1 " • , Car -— ^izes for Polyanthuses were 



^e best Jjjx\. m,th and Mr. Bushell.— The prize for 



was no competition. The three seedlings from Mr. | lanarius, Calathus. These hard parts, more or less 



est seedl 



Barnard arrived too late for the censors ; they were very 

 superior flowers, and were recommended for a prize.— 

 Mr. Plant received a small Silver Medal for 12 Hyacinths 

 in pots. — The collections of Heartsease were numerous 

 and fine, and in strength of colour we never saw them supe- 

 rior ; there were many seedlings from Messrs. Thompson, 

 Brown, Buxton, King, &c. Three were noticed by the 

 Judges, and recommended for prizes. One from Mr. 

 Thompson, named Virgil, a large flower of great sub- 

 stance, having a yellow ground, fine eye, with dark- 

 purple maroon upper petals, and a broad margin 

 of the same colour round the lower petals. Brown's 

 Arethusa, has a pure white ground, splendid eye, 

 with rich purple top petals, and a deep margin 

 of the same surrounding the lower ; this flower 

 resembles Miss Stainforth, but the purity of the ground 

 colour is a decided improvement. The other seedling was 

 from Mr. Buxton, named Ne plus Ultra; this flower, 

 with a splendid eye, has a bright yellow ground, and the 

 side petals meeting above the eye, the shield is rendered 

 unbroken ; the colour of the upper petals and a broad 

 margin round the lower, is of the deepest and richest 

 purple. There were many more deserving of prizes. Mr. 

 Thompson's stand was composed entirely of seedlings, and 

 in Mr. Brown's we observed several new flowers of great 

 merit. We give the names of Mr. Brown's flowers, his 

 being the only stand with the names attached, viz., Brown's 

 Arethusa, Curion, Morpheus, Elect, Prospero, Prior and 

 Cinderella ; Thompson's Jehu, Rufus, Warrior, Captain 

 Boldero, Regulator, Cyclops, Eclipse, and Coronation ; 

 Hooper's Duchess of Bedford; Silverlock's Prince Albert ; 

 Cook's Black Bess and Mulberry Superb ; Carpenter's 

 Princess Roval ; Earl's William Tell ; King's Exquisite, 



Queen of England, and Sulphurea elegans From Mr. 



Chapman was a dish of Strawberries ; and Mr. Ken- 

 nington sent a plant of Keen's Seedling Strawberry, 

 bearing large, well-coloured fruit. A small Silver Medal 

 was awarded to Mr. Martin, for four sorts of Vegetables. 



COUNTRY SHOW. 



Ealing Annual Cucumber Shou , April 1 1 .—Open to all England. 

 Four brace of Cucumbers were put up for competition ; they were 

 all remarkably fine specimens of good culture, particularly those 

 sent by E. Leatlies, Esq., which won the first prize; they were 

 grown in Mills's improved pit. The 2d prize was awarded to 

 Mr. Humber; the 3d to Mr. Brown, and the 4th to Mr. Devon ; 

 they were judged according to their value, viz.:— the brace that 

 would have brought the most money, if it had been sold in 

 Covent Garden Market, was entitled to the first prize. As usual, 

 the affair ended with a good dinner, and the evening was spent 

 most agreeably. 



Miscellaneous. 



Botanical Neivs. — Ad. de Jussieu has finished his " Mal- 

 pighiacese," and his little " Traite de Botanique," which 

 is very highly spoken of. He is now at a " Flora of Chili," 

 founded chiefly on Claude Gay ? s collection. — A. Richard 

 has just read a long memoir on the Vegetation of Mexico, 

 and on Galeotti's Orchidacese. — Mirbelw preparing some 

 fine plates on the Anatomy of the Date-Palru. — The 5th 

 volume of Delessert's " Icones selectse," is being engraved, 

 and the printing of the 9th vol. of De Candolle's M Pro- 

 dromus," is going on steadily. — Mr. Gardiner, of Dundee, 

 has published a useful list of British Mosses, on a single 

 sheet. — M. Adolphe Brongniart has read to the Institute 

 a paper on the Placentation of Plants, in which he sus- 

 tains Lindley's opinion,' that ovules have both a central 

 and a marginal origin. He, however, appeared to sup- 

 pose his own views new, which they are by no means. 



Guano from the Inland of Ichaboe. — The following is 

 an analysis of a sample of guano from the Island of Icha- 

 boe, received from Mr. James C. Kemp, of Liverpool, and 

 which is superior to most samples from other parts of 

 Africa, which we have analysed :— 



Ammonia, partly in the state of carbonate . . .10.0 



Bone phosphate of lime, including a portion of oxalate of 



lime 24.0 



Uric or Lithic acid • . .4.0 



Alkaline salt-*, consisting principally of chloride of sodium 3.5 



Phosphoric acid 4.0 



Moisture, including a small portion of organic matter, vo- 

 latile at 2128. F 24.0 



Traces of silica, iron, &c 0.5 



Other organic matter, &c. . . . * . . . .30.0 



100.0 



The chief portion of the ammonia is in combination 

 with the phosphoric and uric acids, and the remainder 

 with carbonic acid. — Watt, in the Chemist. 



Syrian Fruits. — Our readers will learn with pleasure 

 that John Barker, Esq., lately H.M.'s Consul at Aleppo, 

 after a residence of more than 40 years in the East, has 

 returned to this country with trees of many new and 

 valuable fruits. Among them are several Peaches, Nec- 

 tarines, and Apricots with sweet kernels. These, when 

 grown in Syria side by side with the finest of the varieties 

 known in Europe, are said to have proved as superior to 

 the latter as they are to the worst sorts of which we have 

 any knowledge. Mr. Barker also possesses a White 

 Mulberry from Armenia, so sweet that its fruit is dried 

 like raisins, and so juicy that when pressed it produces 

 the syrup in which the delicious butter of Armenia is 

 brought to Aleppo. We shall watch with great interest 

 the period when these fruit-trees yield their first crop in 



this country. . 



The Toad.— That the food of the toad, consists 0. in- 

 sects as well as worms, is a fact with which every natu- 

 ralist is familiar, though all are perhaps not aware of the 

 extent to which in certain instances it preys upon the 

 larger Coleoptera, chietlv of the Carabideous kind. I 

 once found, during the summer, concealed beneath a very 

 large stone, one of these reptiles, the stomach of which 

 was filled wi.h the detached heads, thoraces, abdominal 



broken, and with the flesh dissolved out and digested, 

 had undergone no further change, so that the species they 

 belonged to could be perfectly well determined. I have 

 since met with toads in chalky districts where these 

 beetles abound, which were literally crammed with them, 

 and among others have found in the egesta the remains 

 of Carabus violaceus, and of some also of the large Cur- 

 culionidse, such as Otiorhynchus niger. I have myself 

 forced an ordinary-sized toad to swallow alive successively 

 two of the first-named insect, which it effected without 

 much difficulty, and have known it in confinement to de- 

 vour two C. moniles inclosed along with it. These ob- 

 servations tend to throw some light upon the explanation, 

 of toads being found in holes of rocks and hollows of 

 trees, whither they had probably resorted in search of the 

 abundant store of insect food which these situations 

 afford, and where they might remain until the cavity be- 

 came closed up. It would be curious to witness in what 

 manner the toad manages to seize and secure such a power- 

 ful prey as the Carabus, as something more than the 

 viscid and adhesive secretion of the tongue must be re- 

 quired for this purpose. — Alfred Talk, Annals of i\To- 

 tural His tort/. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS 



For the ensuing Week. 



I.— HOTHOUSE, CONSERVATORIES, kc. 



Housk plants in general promise to make a healthy and early 

 growth this seas- n, owing to the summer like weather we have 

 been favoured with lately ; stimulants may, therefore, be applied 

 earlier than vi-nal to such strong growing plants as are known to 

 be benefited in that way. Stove plant!*, at this stage and under 

 strong sun, can hardly be kept too hot to the day time, providing 

 a slight shade is thrown over the glass, the atmosphere kept 

 moist, and a free supply of air admitted ; and under such treat- 

 ment they can hardly be too cool at night. 



Conservatory.— The flowers have faded so quickly of late that 

 blinds have been reluctantly made use of at last, but they are 

 drawn up early in the afternoon ; the paths and other parts of 

 the house freely sprinkled over, and the house cooled down as 

 much as possible at night. If we had cold east winds and broken 

 April weather, the treatment of the conservatory must have been 

 very different from this. Camelli.- now making their growth, 

 require large portions of water daily, if the pots are thoroughly- 

 drained. Orange-trees also require more water for the next 

 month than at any other time. Watch carefully the progress of 

 climbers; see that they are properly trained, they soon get 



out of order now. 



Greenhouse. — \ never recollect of such fine weather for green- 

 house plants at this season; besides the moist heat for encou- 

 raging rapid growth, they may have as much air as at any other 

 period. Let them be syringed every afternoon, arid the house 

 shut up at night, till the growth of the principal tribes is nearly 

 finished, when they may be kept more cool and dry to ripen 



them off slowly. 



Pits and Frames.— In the first week of April, I sowed a large 

 collection of the more tender and scarce annuals, together with 

 some perennials, which required some careful nursing at first. 

 They were sown in light soil, la a frame without any bottom- 

 heat ; the lights wcie kept quite close till the seeds began to 

 vegetate, then the lights were entirely taken off at night and 

 I put on again about 7 o'clock in the morning; no air -was ad- 

 mitted all day. The sun heat rose the temperature inside some 

 days to 130°, and early next morning they were in a temperature 

 under 4U°. I never saw more healthy seedlings.— D. B. 



II.— FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES. 



Out-dour Department. 



Some of the early-sown annuals will now require thinning oat, 

 in doing which remove all but five or six of the strongest plants, 

 and these, if not very .strong, may have the terminal leaf-bud re- 

 moved to make them bushy. Stir the ground around the plants 

 deeply with the hoe, and if the plants are weakly, apply a slight 

 dressing of superphosphate of lime or Potter's guano, and then 

 give a good soaking of water. I rather suspect the former 

 manure possesses the property of giving colour to flowers, as 

 some plants treated with k here are more brilliant than I have 

 ever noticed them elsewhere. Many of the Herbaceous plants 

 will now require a little training ; and in regulating them, do 

 not bundle them up like so many Pea-sticks, but tie the branches 

 out separately, as you would a prize Pelargonium. Attend to 



ung growths on climbers before they get crowded, and re- 

 move any strong branches which are not likely to produce 

 flowers. The covering from half-hardy plants may now be 

 removed entirely in the day-time, but It will be well for a fort- 

 night longer to stretch a mat over the heads of the plants for 

 fear of Irost, which would play havoc after this sunny weather. 

 We had six degrees of frost here on the morning 01 the 25th. 

 Keep all newly-planted trees well watered; and recently laid 

 turf should be watered, aud afterwards covered with old tan to 



prevent its burning. 



Rosery.— Examine the plants, to see that " the worm in the 

 bud" is not at work, aud dress them, if necessary, with 

 Tobacco-water aud soap-suds, to clear them ot the Aphis or 

 green-fly. Many of the strong-growing hybrid China and 

 French varieties will be the better of having >« me of the strong 

 growths thinned out;-indeed, no more branches should be left 

 upon a Rose than can be properly exposed to the sun and air. 

 Remove the strongest branches, which frequently run into 

 water-shoots; the middle-sized ones generally produce the 



finest flowers. __» , 



Cemcroator* Wails.— Although these structures are becoming 



very fashionable in large gardens, they do not accord with my 

 ideas of good taste, as the existence of the plants in the winter 

 is a very precarious matter, and even if they no survive, except in 

 the case of climbers, it is too frequently as miserable and dis- 

 torted specimens. Fine Roses. Wistarias, and Bignonias, are the 

 plants to cover a wall with, and not miserable greenhouse plants. 

 However, where they have been protected, the covering may be 

 removed in the day time, but replaced at night ; and plants for 

 filling up blanks, of 'which there are generally plenty every 

 spring, may now be planted out. 



Pits and Frames. — The plants arc of course being removed 

 from these structures to temporary protection as fast as possible. 

 If they are not quite clean give them a good fumigating before 

 they are taken out. Pot off all recently propagated plants, and 

 see that you have a sufheient stock of everything to plant your 

 beds properly ; if not, get in some more cuttings without delay, 

 which will do admirably to fill up gaps in the summer. — W.P. A. 



III.— FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 



Atir'u 'ill as are in most situations fully expanded, with the ex- 

 ception of the Northern Counties, where they are somewhat 

 later. In order to preserve the bloom, the pots must be removed 

 to a cool place having a north aspect, and should be placed on a 

 neat stage, M tier above tier." Covered with an awning of calico, 

 and regularly watered, they will retain their beauty for at lease 

 a fortnight or three weeks. The direct lays ot the sun "JJ^* 

 prejudicial effect on the colours, causing the dark or 00 ' T 



to start or diffuse itself over the margin. F e * s ^ rln& ;r?*!„ 8 iire 

 so beant.ful. or more worthy of the trouble r f^ e ( ^^ b \t 



their perfection. *4»«»^T**%^ 



mg was given to Mr. Henbrey. There segments, elytra, &c. of Steropus madidus, Omascus rxe- j to the attacks 01 red spider. These pests 



