296 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



[May 11, 





Practical Florist," (?) for the present month, is an article, 

 by a Mr. J. Heriot, On the Management of Seedling 

 Pelargoniums, wherein he says that he had inquired of 

 one of the leading nurserymen in London how long he 

 took to flower his seedlings, and the answer was two 

 years. This period Mr. H. imagines to be a little too 

 long ; and he has taken some pains to describe a method 

 which, he says, "originated from his own ideas," and by 

 which he is able to flower his seedlings in the short 

 space of fourteen or fifteen months. Perhaps Mr. H. 

 and his friend, the nurseryman, will be not a little sur- 

 prised when they hear that Seedling Pelargoniums can be 

 flowered in eight months. I was lately in the garden of 

 C. Gyde, Esq.. of Painswick, who showed me some seed- 

 lings in flower, and a great many were showing strong 

 flower-buds ; they were all raised from seed sown on the 

 22nd of August last; their dwarf stocky habit appeared 

 particularly beautiful ; several of their stems, from the 

 surface of the soil to the base of the flower-stalk, measured 

 only from 1 J inch to 4 inches high. Mr. H. recommends 

 Pelargonium seed, saved after the 1st of August, to be 

 kept unsown until the following spring, when, by adopt- 

 ing his mode of treatment, he says they will generally be 

 brought into flower in the course of the second summer, 

 or about fifteen or sixteen months after the seed has been 

 sown ; whereas, by Mr. Gyde's method, plants, from 

 seed sown after the middle of August, will be producing 

 their flowers at the time Mr. H. is sowing his seed.— 



A. N., Painswick. 



Potting. — There is perhaps no condition to which the 

 roots of plants that are cultivated in pots are liable to 

 be exposed, which is more injurious to them than that in 

 which the interior part of the mass of soil in which they 

 are growing is suffered to become thoroughly dried ; and, 

 being a condition which is entirely precluded from direct 

 observation, it is far more frequent than at first might 

 be thought to be the case. Saturation of the soil soon 

 becomes evident, and on that account it is far less likely 

 to exist to any extent, in cases where even the most 

 ordinary attention is bestowed ; and, therefore, although 

 in itself equally injurious, it is far less to be dreaded than 

 the state of desiccation : indeed, in almost all cases, the 

 drainage, and the mechanical texture of the soil, are so 

 specially attended to, in the case of plants which are at 

 all esteemed, that the saturation of the sojI in which they 

 are grown is of very rare occurrence. It is not, however, 

 so with the condition of drought in the interior of the 

 soil ; it is on soil which lies buried and unseen, until its 

 effects render it apparent ; and this may be, perhaps, when 

 too late to prevent its injurious consequences. Now, it is 

 the insidious nature of this peculiar state of the soil 

 which renders it so highly dangerous : evaporation, the 

 mechanical action of the drainage, and the vital action of 

 the plant, exerting a united and powerful influence, may, 

 and do, silently deprive the soil of its moisture ; and the 

 application of water, repeated and renewed though it be, 

 may appear to restore this element to the soil, but in 

 reality may fall very short of doing so. Peat earth enters 

 very largely into the compost in which most valuable 

 plants are grown, and every gardener knows that peat 

 earth is peculiarly subject to dryness, on account of its 

 being favourable to the process of evaporation, and that 

 when in this state, it is with difficulty wetted. The con- 

 tinual evaporation going on from the soil, the continual 

 abstraction of moisture by the roots, and its free down- 

 ward passage among the drainage, all acting at the same 

 time, and acting most powerfully when the natural con- 

 dition of the atmosphere by no means retards or prevents 

 evaporation from the plants themselves, very soon re- 

 duces the soil to a dry and parched state. The elevation 

 of the ball of earth too, in re-potting plants, (a process in 

 itself to a certain extent desirable, and perhaps even 

 necessary,) and the lowering of the soil close by the rim 

 of the pots, both tend to conduct the water which is 

 applied, most liberally to the sides, or exterior portions of 

 the soil ; and, under ordinary circumstances, the interior is 

 but slightly moistened, if not, in many instances, left in 

 its dry and parched condition. It must be evident that 

 if these causes render the soil dry in the first instance, 

 and continue afterwards in operation, the same result may 

 be expected ; and thus the centre of the mass of soil is 

 rendered perpetually dry — that is, if not positively, at 

 least comparatively, void of moisture. The injury which 

 is done to the majority of plants, by this desiccated con- 

 dition of the soil, is by no means inconsiderable ; it is, in 

 fact, a clog and impediment in the exercise of their vital 

 functions. . The most rational method of cultivating plants 

 is to supply them uninterruptedly with all the elements 

 of their nutrition and development : no one part should 

 be unduly predominant — no one part should be altogether 

 absent, but all should be present in their due proportions. 

 These proportions, however, vary: the conditions of in- 

 fancy are not the conditions of maturity, but each are a 

 modified state of the same elements, peculiarly adapted 

 for that particular period of development. Thus it is, 

 that whilst moisture may be regarded as the element which 

 especially influences the growth and extension of plants, 

 so heat may be taken to have a similar influence on their 

 fructification"; but, nevertheless, heat as well as moisture 

 is necessary to produce a perfect state of growth, and 

 moisture as well as heat is required to produce a perfect 

 stateof fructification : itis not the elements orconditions of 

 growth that vary, but their proportion each to the other. 

 It has been said that the desiccation of the soil acts as an 

 impediment to the vital functions, and this it does by serv- 

 ing to contract those portions of the roots which are sur- 

 rounded by unvarying drought. It is true that plants are 

 supposed to take up their fluid food only by the extremi- 

 ties of the roots, and therefore in this point of view they 

 are not the less bountifully supplied, than would be the 



case if the whole bulk of the soil surrounding them was of a 

 medium degree of moisture ; but from a substance such as 

 the roots of plants, formed principally of cellular matter, 

 and surrounded only by a covering which is the same cel- 

 lular substance in a somewhat more compressed state, we 

 cannot but believe that a dry surrounding medium will 

 abstract moisture which would otherwise be conveyed 

 through the channel of the roots and serve to nourish the 

 plant. It cannot be that in the transmission of fluids 

 the vegetable root is like a metal pipe, totally uninflu- 

 enced by the circumstances which may surround it. 

 What, then, is the condition of a plant thus circumstanced! 

 Its main roots, the channels of its nourishment, are 

 enveloped by a medium which is never, or but rarely 

 moistened ; its spongioles, the parts by which it takes up 

 its food, are frequently submitted to alternations of aridity 

 and saturation ; for these spongioles exist most abundantly 

 in the exterior part of the soil, and this it is which be- 

 comes so often dried, and alone is moistened when water 

 is applied ; what is taken up by the spongioles cannot 

 readily and uninterruptedly pass onwards in the structure 

 of the plant, because the dry soil causes the contraction 

 of the principal roots, and lessens their capacity for trans- 

 mitting fluids. By-and-bye an increased degree of evapo- 

 ration, both from the soil and the plant itself,is inducedby 

 exterior circumstances; the supply is exhausted, the plant 

 suffers, its leaves curl or change colour, no refreshing 

 draught is administered, the vegetable being dies. But 

 dangerous as this condition is in its consequences and 

 effects, and frequent as it is in its occurrence, it does not 

 appear to be one which admits of no palliation, nor one 

 for which a remedy may not be applied. With respect to 

 the spongioles, a perfect system of cultivation must be one 

 which never submits them either to saturation or desicca- 

 tion — which presents them with a gradual and progressive 

 increase or decrease of moisture whenever these are requi- 

 site—which never submits them to sudden or constantly 

 recurring changes — which, in short, presents them with, 

 food in a fluid state, so regulated that they cannot either 

 become surfeited or lack a continual supply. But still the 

 internal moisture of the soil is unprovided for. I have 

 elsewhere stated* that " a few pieces of charcoal placed 

 perpendicularly in the soil, and kept continually moist by 

 some little capillary contrivance, would perhaps be the 

 very best method of transmitting moisture, and distribut- 

 ing it throughout the soil ;" and by the application of this 

 to the pot culture of plants, I have no doubt the evil 

 spoken of might be altogether avoided. I should propose 

 it to be effected thus : — Whenever a plant (most parti- 

 cularly a valuable specimen-plant) is repotted, either in its 

 infancy or maturity, I would introduce a few sticks of 

 charcoal perpendicularly into the pot ; these should be 

 long enough to extend from the bottom of the pot to the 

 top of the soil ; about three might be placed at regular 

 intervals, and they should be as close to the roots, and as 

 near to the centre of the pots as possible. Thus, if a 

 plant is shifted but once, it will be provided with some 

 channels for moisture, extending throughout the soil ; and 

 if it be frequently repotted the number of these channels 

 may be increased. When these are once introduced into 

 the soil they are permanent ; for, being of a material 

 which is not subject to rapid decay, they will serve at 

 least the lifetime of a plant, and by occasionally making 

 use of a simple siphon — a mere worsted thread — in con- 

 tact with moisture, a slow, moderate, and constant supply 

 of moisture may be conveyed at pleasure to and through 

 the centre of the soil, and the whole mass may thus be 

 kept regularly and equably moistened. — T. Moore. 



Toad versus Swan. — u There is no accounting for 

 tastes," probably Mr. Forsythe will say ; but as one fond 

 of animals as well as a garden, I must say a few words 

 in favour of the poor toads. Mr. F. will find that the 

 nuisance he complains of, of /' the garden and walks 

 being croaked and crawled over with thousand of toads 

 and frogs," would only last two or three days at most, 

 and I doubt not that at this time his beautiful walks are 

 occupied by much fairer forms this fine weather. The 

 poor toads have each betaken themselves to some 

 favourite and sheltered spot, or to the water to deposit 

 their spawn. Now I will undertake to say, that this 

 numerous family of toads are the best friends Mr. F. has 

 in the garden. Let him kill one toad about midnight, 

 and count over the worms, woodlice, ants, and beetles in 

 his stomach ; multiply their amount by the number of days 

 between April and October ; and that again by the sup- 

 posed number of the toads ; and I imagine Mr. F. will be 

 satisfied that his garden will look all the greener, and flou- 

 rish all the better, for the absence oj what the toads have 

 devoured. The spawn in ponds certainly is unsightly^if 

 neglected ; but a boy with a rake on a hot day, will clear 

 out a large extent of water in a few hours. The toad is 

 really a most unobtrusive fellow, except upon the very 

 day Mr. F. met with them, when once a year they do 

 sally forth. If the spawn is left, the young ones again do 

 so for about three days, or possibly a week. But except- 

 ing these times, the toad never seeks man, but lies under 

 some stone or leafy plant, waiting till the dewy eve comes, 

 when out he sallies, and destroys an immense number of 

 the gardener's greatest enemies. I knew a lady who had 

 all the toads and frogs upon her premises destroyed be- 

 cause she once trod upon one. It is certainly disagree- 

 able to do so, but still more so for the toad to be trodden 

 upon. And how many worms does he destroy, which 

 otherwise we might tread upon also ! The toad is also 

 really a very pretty creature in his way, and we lose much 

 gratification from being so prejudiced against them and 

 their neighbours the snakes, when we turn away with dis- 

 gust, as most do from them. I always encourage in every 



* Theory and Practice, applied to the Cultivation of the 

 Cucumber. 1844. London. Groombridge. 



way the toad, frog, snake, and slow-worm, in my garde 

 and know few things more beautiful in nature than th' 

 bright golden eye of the first, the agile leap of the second 

 as you disturb him in the garden, or the graceful glide of 

 •" snake ; and even the slow-worm, coiled at the root of 

 herbaceous plant, enjoying the sun, is to me a Pn» n * 



the 

 an 



great 



a frame of plants, and inclose a toad, and put an- 

 without, he will, I hope, like my friends better.— 



addition to a flower garden. My children handle all 

 and admire them equally with myself. If Mr. F. will 

 place 

 other 

 W. D. F. 

 Exhibitions in the Garden of the Horticultural 



Society As I intend showing Grapes at the May Show 



at Chiswick on Saturday, the 18th inst., probably you. 

 will say as much. I intend it as a challenge to all Eng- 

 land. My basket will be 8 or 10 lbs. of Black Hamburgh 

 Grapes, which will not be beaten.— John Wilmot, Isle- 

 worth, May 9. 



Miscellaneous.— J . W., a known correspondent, states 

 that he agrees with the opinion of " * " regarding the 

 Polyanthus as a bee-flower. He says that bees seldom or 

 never work upon it. " J. W." further observes, that as 

 bee-hives are now in full bustle, Apiarians will do well to 

 follow the advice given by Mr. Savage, at p. 261 of the 

 present year. 



Sborfetfes. 



HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



Sir C. Lemon, Bart., M.P., in the chair. The Earl 

 of Leicester, P. Greenall, Esq., M.P., and J. Shepherd, 

 Esq., were elected Fellows. — From Messrs. Loddiges, of 

 Hackney, were Dendrobium Heyneanum, in good con- 

 dition ; Masdevallia infracta ; a fine plant of Camarotis 

 purpurea, in excellent health ; together with the beauti- 

 ful Cattleya Skinneri and a remarkable specimen of Den- 

 drobium densiflorum, having many bunches of beautiful 

 Orange-blossoms. A Knightian medal was awarded for 

 these. — Mr. Plant, gr. to J. H. Schroder, Esq., sent a 

 fine Aerides crispum, producing a fine spike of purple- 

 and-white flowers. A Banksian medal was awarded for 

 it. — From Mr. Robertson, gr. to Mrs. Lawrence, was a 

 collection of plants, containing a dwarf bushy specimen 

 of Chorozema Dicksonii ; a beautiful large Hovea Celsi, 

 with very bright-coloured blossoms ; Dendrobium aggre- 

 gatum,in good condition; TetranemaMexicanum, a pretty 

 greenhouse herbaceous plant ; and a good Russelia multi- 

 flora, which is one of the gayer of tender greenhouse 

 plants. In the same collection were also a large Pimelea 

 hypericifolia ; Lalage hovesefolia ; Epacris lavigata, co- 

 vered with white blossoms ; Adenandra amosna ; Da- 

 viesia saligna ; and a variety of Hardenbergia mono- 

 phylla. A Knightian medal was awarded for the four first- 

 named plants.— From S. Rucker, Esq., was a variety (?) 

 of Anguloa Clowesii, having large yellow flowers richly 

 spotted in the interior with brown. This is a rare species 

 of that hitherto almost unknown genus. A Banksian 

 medal was awarded for it.— Mr. Carson, gr. to W. Far- 

 mer, Esq., sent a variety of Epidendrum macrochilum 

 roseum, having a fine raceme of pale violet blossoms. 

 A certificate was awarded for it.— From Mr. Glendmning, 

 of Turnham Green, was a small plant of Pentas carnea, 

 which is a scarce greenhouse plant, from South Brazil, 

 having pale green leaves and delicate lilac blossoms ; 

 also an Indigofera, apparently incana, a plant with trail- 

 ing stems, covered with gray foliage, which contrasts well 

 with the deep purple flowers. — Mr. ^. P. Ayres, 

 gr. to J. Cook, Esq., also sent Pentas carnea, for wnic&a 

 certificate was awarded.— From J. Allnutt, Esq., was a 

 good plant of Chorozema varium.— Mr. lawley, oi 

 Bromley, sent a Seedling Azalea, named canninato, 

 having large rather dull red blossoms.-From Messrs 

 Veitch & Son, of Exeter, was an Oxahs that was sent 

 from Chili by their collector, Mr. Lobb. Jt is ne* i 

 gardens, and will, no doubt, be an acquisition, as it 

 Stated to be hardy, having survived all last winter planted 

 out on rockwork. A certificate was awarded or ^ 

 Mr.Mountjoy, of Ealing, sent a Seedling Calceolan^ 

 considered to be an improvement on Lady ™ u "™' 

 two Seedling Pansies (named Princess Alice and rri _ 



of Wales), and a collection of Pansy blooms "-*! p ° r ; e s of 

 Errington, gr. to Sir P. Egerton, Bart., was a series 



flowers of Seedling Cacti, in which one, *****£ l 

 resembling Conway's Giant, was a very large > ™ e ° q( 

 another named longissima, on account ot tn » «» . 

 the tube, was a flower of considerable size ana ificate 

 and several others gave great promise; a Cl8p h am , 

 was awarded for these.— Mr. Chapman, or r 

 sent a basket of Dutch Sweetwater ^P"' n d; 

 bunches of which weighed three-quarters i m f w> 

 a certificate was awarded for them.— * i^ting » 

 Barchard, Esq., was a Strawberry-plant, e. hcB 



curious instance of monstrosity in the fruit, mo f ^ 

 being fingered ; some had three fingers, others ^ 

 and in one case as many as five fingers we r p ^ 

 By this singular malformation the fruity was ^ 



unusual shape-Mr. Fish, gr. to H. H. Oddie,, a q ^ 

 a Cantaloupe Melon, stated to be a seedling ^ ^ 

 together with a green-flesh variety. 1De5 V. gai d to 

 early fruit, particularly the former: the y, W f forroe dof 

 have been grown in a three-light box, on a Dea ^ 



billet and rubbish wood, about two feet deep, ^^ 

 inches of long litter spread regularly over t^"'^ s0 U 

 this were placed 18 inches of leaves and dun «* loa m. 

 was the top spit from a common, and was firnQ# 



It was put in as rough as possible, and » * q{ ^ 

 The plants were watered twice with h * f/* 1 "* at the 

 dunghill, and once with guano mixed with * a ; what . 

 rate of one ounce to a gallon of water. JNo ^ d for 



ever was used in the soil; a certificate was » * fine 



these.-From Mr. Cuthill 5 of Camber well *ere 







