

THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



299 



,H,n the pUnt in the free, natural, normal ,tate, 



"■ J2L can derive from the atmosphere, or receive 

 j^jtrttix, « grtificial atmosphere must be created; 



hich are deficient must be added to the 



j^p toil. « n 



!fal£. i" a given time, in order to allow of free and 

 JrWed development, is very unequal On and 

 ^nn anure calcareous soil, and on naked rocks, out 

 STktodf 5 vegetables grow ; these are only vivacious 

 fc V k ki« • only very small quantities of mineral sub- 

 *** lie ' reouired for their slow growth, winch the soil, 

 Sffte other kinds of plants, may still furnish to them 

 ■"^ISent quantity : annual plants, especially those of 

 TSTfroir and attain their complete development in a 

 S^rdonally short time; they do not thrive on a soil 

 *3k is poor in the mineral substances necessary to their 



j ZA jo wt -' I q order to arrive at a maximum of size ' 

 fcSTfnort period assigned to their life, the nourishment 

 ZZntd in the atmosphere is not sufficient. In order to 

 • the objects of culture, it is necessary to create for 

 in the very soil, an artificial atmosphere of carbonic 

 -ad and ammonia. This excess of nourishment, which is 

 to the leaves, must be furnished to the organs 

 the soil, which correspond to them. But 



in 



wanting 



contained in . 



ammonia and carbonic acid are not sufficient for producing 



a principle of the plant, an alimentary substance for the 

 animal. The formation of albumen is not possible with- 

 out the alknlies, nor can vegetable fibrin and casein be 

 ■roduced without phosphoric acid and earthy salts. We 

 fcnow that the phosphoric acid of the phosphate of lime, 

 which is separated in great quantity under the excre- 

 ■entitial form in the barks of ligneous plants, is indis- 

 pensable to our cereal and leguminous plants for the for- 

 mation of their seeds. What a difference between summer 

 plants and evergreens, fatty plants, Mosses, trees with 

 acicular leaves, and the Ferns ! Summer and winter these 

 Utter plants assimilate every moment of the day carbon, 

 by means of their leaves, by the absorption of carbonic 

 tcid, which the sterile soil cannot furnish to them. Their 

 coriaceous or fleshy leaves retain the water absorbed with 

 great force, and lose by evaporation very little of it com- 

 pared with other plants. How small, indeed, is the 

 quantity of mineral substances which they remove from 

 the ground in the whole course of the year, during the 

 almost uninterrupted duration of their growth, if we com- 

 pare it with the quantity which a crop «>f Wheat, of equal 

 weight, for example, takes from the soil in three months ! 

 From the foregoing it results that the advantages of ap- 

 propriations are based on the fact that cultivated plants 

 remove from the soil unequal quantities of certain ali- 

 ment*. In a fertile soil the plants should find all the 

 inorganic principles indispensable to their development, 

 in sufficient quantity, and in a state which allows of their 

 being absorbed by the plant. A field prepared by art 

 contains a certain amount of these principles, as well as 

 Of the vegetable substances in putrefaction and ammo- 

 macal salts. We make succeed to a plant containing 

 potasaa (Turnips and Potatoes), a plant containing silica, 

 and to the latter a plant containing lime. All these plants 

 require alkalies and phosphates : a plant containing potassa 

 requires the greatest quantity of the former, and the 

 ■maUestquantity of the latter. The plant containing silica 

 requires, w,th the soluble silicic acid which the plant con- 

 wining potassa leaves, a considerable quantity of phos- 



ri« jt \ P lantcontai »ing lime, which follows, (Peas, 

 plover &c. ) ma y s0 exhaust the soil of this important 



Lffi C,P , 9 \ there does not remain more of Jt than is 

 rmwo ;° r P ermi "»ng the formation of the seed of a 



SSS. « Vu ° r Rje * The nuraber of th « «rop» obtained de- 

 Sr oftl i qUantit y of alkaline silicates and phosphates, 

 «- - C ca | c h ir eous and magnesian salts which are found 



Ine provision of these salts may suffice for 

 'of a plant containing potassa, or lime, for three 

 crops of a plant containing silica, and even for 



■rttUn»r n k Cr u PS ; but ' after this time » a11 the «»»»eral 



form of f ru W t t * C haVG taken frora the soil > under the 

 fwaoved ■ t! ! StemS ' Ieaves » and straw, must have been 

 that the Ld equ,hbrium must be re-established, in order 

 effected bv ^ recover it8 primitive fertility. This is 

 ***«and the «TJ' } l w ** be «"*™"ed that-in the 

 °f %neous nla r 1° C ? reul P lan,|l » in the fallen leaves 

 received at th tne 8oil recovers as much carbon as it 



form of carb ecornm . er| cement of vegetation, under the 



n«ttus. The ?^ 80111, P roduce(1 °y the destruction of 

 °* Clover rem * aDd leaves of Potatoes, and the roots 

 and are desh-n" T* t 1 he £ round - The ^' remains putrefy, 

 P^nt and the j <lUnn? lhe ***** and the young 

 Cwbooi!, »,;a * e i. find in them a natural source of 



separated. We observed then, on the contrary, the sepa- ,,l ««t round the aides, and then having filled this basin with 

 ration of substances rich in carbon which, produced in the 

 vital act of the plant, have undergone no alteration. If we 

 compare,for example, thebark of Fir, of Pines, of the Beech, 

 of Oak, of Hazel-tree, and wood, we find essential differ- 

 ences in their properties and composition. Whilst wood, 

 properly so called, leaves only $ to 2 per cent, of ash, the 

 bark of the Oak, the Fir, the Willow, and the Beech, gives 

 6* 10, and even 15 per cent. ; the ash of the wood and that 

 of the bark have a very different composition. The in- 

 organic principles of the bark are evidently substances 

 which the living organism has rejected. A similar origin 

 should be admitted for the organic principles of the bark. 

 That of cork contains nearly half its weight of fatty sub- 

 stances or analogous matters, which we find, but in smalJer 

 proportion, in the barks of the Fir and Pine. The solid 

 principle of these barks, insoluble in alcohol or ether, is 

 perfectly different from the substance of wood. The barks 

 of Fir and Oak almost completely dissolve in a solution 

 of potassa, forming a liquor of a deep brown colour, from 

 which the acids precipitate a matter which has the 

 greatest resemblance to the substance called ulraic acid. 

 Wood is not attacked by a solution of potassa. These 

 barks are true excrementitial substances, since they arise 

 from the living plant, and no longer take any part in its vital 

 functions. They may be removed from the plant without put- 

 ting its existence in danger. It is known that most of the 

 plantains are annually deprived of their bark. Taking, 

 therefore, this fact in its true signification, it is evident 

 that there are formed in this ligneous plant, by aid of cer- 

 tain combinations produced in its vital act, substances 

 which, not having to undergo any further change, are 

 eliminated. We have every reason to believe that this 

 elimination takes place all over the surface : we observe it 

 not only on the trunk, but also ou the smaller branches : 

 and we should conclude that this act of excretion is ope- 

 rated also in the roots. We see that rain-water, in which 

 a branch of willow vegetates, is gradually coloured of a 

 deep brown. We observe the same phenomenon with 

 bulbous plants (Hyacinths), which are grown in pure 

 water. It cannot, therefore, be denied that there is an 

 elimination of excrementitial substances in plants, although 

 it may not take place to the same extent in all. The en- 

 riching of the soil with organic substances by the culture 

 of perennial plants, such as Sainfoin and Clover, which 

 are distinguished by the abundant ramifications of their 

 roots, as well as by the great development of their leaves, 

 is considered as a positive fact by most agricultural 

 writers, and which is perhaps explained in the preceding. 

 We cannot operate the formation of ammonia on cultivated 

 lands, but indeed an artificial production of humus. It is 

 the latter which should be considered as one of the objects 

 of appropriations, and as a second cause of their advan- 

 tages. It is by sowing a field with Clover, Rye, Lupins, 

 Buckwheat, &c, and by incorporating in the ground planrs 

 ready to flower, by tillage, which we create in consequence 

 of an act of destruction of the new-sown seed and of the 

 young plant which is developed, a maximum of nourish- 

 ment, an atmosphere of carbonic acid : all the nitrogen 

 which the first plant took from the air — ail the alkies and 

 phosphates which it received from the soil, serve to render 

 more beautiful and more luxuriant the vegetation of the 

 plant which follows. — From the Chemist. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS 



For the ensuing Week. 



in tnem. 



two crop 



°r more 

 five or *c 



ic acid. Th 



iisr "-. 



soil is not exhausted of humus 

 Jcal rea< * inail 7» it may be concluded from 

 dn *iag their r^f nS> . ' tne 8oiI receives from plants, 

 Matters rich in e, . <iu,te as much, or even more, of 



ict of excretion k°V ban * furnishes to them ! that an 

 fi brea of the rort ,S °P erared at the surface of the 



Refaction, during' t . enn< : hes [t with substances which pu- 

 *V existence of ? Wlnt er, again converts into humus. 

 *«ntainj.H L __ an act . of ^cretion and excretion has been 



iH^? D , tthe anions on thi 



V th * ** Pre'senTn ^y? 1 ? 10 ** 8 ^ and denied hy others, 

 f° one doubts h °H ,m °ns on this point are divided. 



fr *» the leaves anT^' that theo *^en whirh w paratea 

 *? «i*it of ?h g 7" P ""' is aD excren,enr. 



BO!* 



L— HOTHOUSE, CONSERVATORIES, &c. 



The usual routine of watering and keeping 1 the plants clean 

 and. properly trained, is all that is necessary here for some 

 time. Some few ptanti may want shifting now and then, and 

 all the young stock must be shifted by degrees, as they ad- 

 vance; but no precise time can be pointed out for this work ; 



the whole depends on the state of the plants, and means of the 

 cultivator. 



Conservatory.— Keep down the temperature here by all pos- 

 sible means, in order to prolong the flowering of the plants; 

 and as the syringe would soon l jure the appearance of plants 

 in flower, the rose watering-pot must takp the place of it ; flood 

 all spare parts in the house morning and evening. Conserva- 

 tories with fixed roofs for growing Stoveand Halr-stoveClimbors, 

 in addition to the usual collection, are beginning to come into 

 fashion rapidly, and I am proraUed some account of how far 

 they shall be approved of before the end of the season. 

 9 Greenhouse.— Continue to encourage these plants to make 

 rapid growth during all this month, and keep the atmosphere 

 always notst at night during this ^age. As frw plants are 

 allowed t'jflowerin this Houte* where there is aconservatory, the 

 syringe may be used freely th the afternoon of fine days. lYain- 

 mg and regulating the growth of all pot-plants, as well as 

 watering and killing insects, must be attended to while the 

 plants are growing. 



Forcing- Pits.— This is just the critical time when a little 

 orerright may cause a good* deal of murmuring next winter. 

 Look over the lists of forcing-plants in the previous volumes, 

 the very first opportunity you have, rod consider how many 

 you may want of those most esteemed hv the tamilv, alway- 

 making allowance of 20 per cent, tor failure among ttlOM forced 

 in December. All the Roses you intend to force before Christ- 

 mas, should be Worked on the Eoursault, or some variety «f 

 Noisette ; but a number of Bourbon. Tea, and China Roses are 

 better forced on their own roots. This is about the r:ght time 

 to get them from Nurseries. The great growers can always 

 tell tne best sorts* for particii ar pur; oscs.— D B. 



II.— FLOWER (wARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES. 



(iut-<toi,r Department. 



A correspondent wri'es, "Supposing the present parching 



weather should continue for a montn or six week* longer (hs 



some prognosticate it wi 1), how do ycu intend to act in relation 



to heading out your Verbenas, &c. ? Do you not think it would 



The better, us the (LHJdRd is a little warm, and ail danger of froftt 



. i past, to plant out at once ? as, though the plants will make bur 



m i from the lin" \ ' resins, balsams, a tiee open state; second it, keep tne plants moist ar b 



uc,, *pnousm A fh ^ av ^s,and from th^ir bair sugar and t,mes ; a! < thirdly, «ftord them a ltrtl« tbarfe doting bri 



^^l Dart. «# . ' 0, itlie surface of tk*h*rfc7 r , k ntc 8»nshm* f un-il we aresurromn <d by a more grid d atinospln re. 



PWU of pl tnts whic , ™» oi the bdikb, roots, M> . ()WU method vt ^ roce(lure wlI1 „ e as toi\ow*:~l shnl draw 



c aoc green, oxygen is not the earth from the middle of the beds, so as to iorm an embank- 



water, sha 1 proceed to turn the plan ut as soon as the ground 

 is in a fit stale. After they are planted, I shall mulch the beds 

 w.th short Cirass, and shade the plants with branches of ever- 

 creeaa until they become established, and when we get rain f 

 sha 1 cover the Grass with the *oil from the sides. In this 

 manner I hope to counteract the parching effect of east winds, 

 and to get the beds covered in pretty pood time. This method 

 of planting will be rather untidy for a time, but this we must 

 put up with. 



Rustic Baskets and 1 B may n*>w be filled with soil, which 

 should be of a rather retentive nature, and the plants turned 

 out,— placing a few branches round them, as adverted to above. 

 Flowers of a dropping habit are the best suited for baskets, as 

 Fuchsias and the like : and Calceolaria viscossima, with Ana- 

 galhs caerulea grandiflora, depending round the sides of the 

 basket will not be an unsightly object. 



Reserve Garden. — Watch closely for insects on your young 

 plants, which are making sad havoc at the present time; 

 destroy them by either lime or soot, or drive thern away by 

 means of spirits of tar. Prepare a piece of rich light ground 

 for Violets, and part and plant them out as soon as we gat a 

 shower. 



Pits and Frames.— These structures will almost be done with 

 for this spring's planting, but they must not be idle, as it is time 

 to commence propagating for next year. Cutting* of dwarf 

 Phloxes, Alys6um saxatiie, Arabis, &c, must now be got in, 

 and those who arc very enthu stic in flower gardening may 

 try their hands at preparing such plants as LeschenaulUa for- 

 mosa, biloba nana, and BucterU ; Genista rfaodopnoea, Cytisus 



racemosus, canarii nsis, &c. for bedding out next season. They 

 will root freely now, and will make strong plants by the 

 autumn. I yet hope CD sec ma- I of our finest Chinese Azaleas, 

 such as lateritia, variegata, and Gladstones i, turned out for 

 the spring decoration of the 11 iwer-garden. 



Shrubbei ies.—AUet\t\ closely to the watering of ncwly-plantcd 

 trees, and keep all neat and clean ; but the mowing of Grass- 

 lawns tad better he dispensed with until we get rain. The Grass 

 is burning very much in t neighbourhood. — W. P. A. 



III.-FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 



Tulips are now in full splendour ; the hot weather is bringing 

 them oo with amazing rapidity. WMcre cultivators have not 

 the convenience of an awniug, the flowers ought to be covered 

 with square hoards, having a hole in one of the sides for the 

 admission of the stick; atter the flower has fully expanded, it 

 will he advisable to tie it round with some worsted to prevent 

 its full expansion again under a canvass cover this precaution 

 is not so necessary. The amateur will now make memo- 

 randa as he looks over his bed, marking their heights, state of 

 bloom, their defects or good properties, bearing in mind that no 

 other good qualities will compensate for foul or dirty cups. We 

 are glad to find that the standard of perferti n, or the properties 

 which constitute a tirst-rate flower, are now much better under- 

 stood, and we look forward to a proportionate improvement in 

 collections. It is now a good time to cr< >reed — mind to 

 choose flowers with welfonned cups, and clear bottoms on 

 both sides ; just as the flower opens the anthers must be taken 

 out ; and when the flower expands, apply faiina with a camel- 

 hair brush to the stigma; never crosfl a Rose or By b with a 

 Bizarre, as the progeny would m *t probably be the greater 

 part 44 tricolours/' winch are not s > much esteemed as those of 

 pure breed." 



Auriculas— Are fading fast, the majority of collections being 

 out of flower-, where seed is not requin d, the heads may be cut 

 off, not too low: put the plants in a shady situation* giving 

 tnem the requisite attention of water and clean linos* they are 

 too often neglected after blooming-time. We once knew a 

 very valuable collection ruined, by being placed under the drip 

 of some trees for about six weeks. Rununrt<luses. — The late 

 dry weather has been very trying tor these towers: mind that 

 the soil is close round the stems. If the beds have plenty ot 

 decayed cow-manure in their composition, and on a cool sub- 

 soil, they will do without watering. On the contrary, if the 

 situation and otner circumstances ren ler watering imperative* 

 let it be done in the evening, and avoid wetting the foliage as 

 much as po — i'i!e. Carnations.— Tie them up as fast as they 

 require it, and as green-fly makes its appearance, dust Scotch 

 snuff slrghtly over them, or brush them off with a large camel- 

 hair brush ; keep the pots free from weeds, which now spring 



fas r . Pinks.— Tie up to sticks, and observe last week's dixec 

 turns.- J. F. W. 



IV.-PIXERIES, VIXERIES, &c. 



Pineries. — If the hot suushine, accompanied by cold drying 

 wind, wNich we have experienced f r the last few days, con* 

 tinue, shade slightly all tne Pines, excepting where Vines *re 

 grown in the house?. Sprinkle the paths frequently ; this will 

 keep thefolUge in a green htaitny state, and is better than that 

 they should acquire a brown hue at this early period of the 

 season. Many of the successions will now require re- potting; 

 and to prevent the plants receiving any check, let this be done 

 immediately that it is nee<ud. Cease watering the plants in 

 fruit as soon as there is the lea*t indication of tne fruit ripening, 

 as from that time the soil or tan and the atmosphere wiU supply 

 all the moisture needed. 



Vinery. — lr the outside borders have been kept covered with 

 warm litter, as recommended from time to time in tbte Calendar, 

 they will Qui require water, except iu very dry situations. It 

 will be proper, however, to examine them, and if water is found 

 necessary, use liquid manure from the farmyard, or guano- 

 water, in the proportion of '2 oz. of glial to to a gallon of water. 

 If the heat is declining, let the Utter be turned, and fresh added 

 if neces-arv. Continue to syringe in the after r u,and shut up 

 early at -Q(j° or o;>\ in Vineries v litre the ttttlt is swelling ; bat 

 avoid wetting the Grapes after they begin to ripen. Give air 

 early in the morning during bright sunshine, beginning with a 

 little, and Increasing it gradually as the ami approaches the 

 meridian. 



Peach house. — \f the Peaches now ripening have the leaves 

 that shade them removed, and H plenty of back and front air is 

 given during tne day this fine weather, it will greatly improve 

 both the Savour and the cooiir of the fruit. In the succession- 

 houses but little fire will be required at night, it the sun-heat is 

 properly economised by shutting up early. Tie iu the advancing 



shoots frequently, and keep the foliage free from Insect*. Trees 



drat are not vnr* rou old only be allowed to bear alight crop, 



while those which are growing too luxuriantly may be checked 

 by Jeivingon a larger number ot fruit, according to the strength 

 of the tree. 



Cherry- ht'7/se.— Give more air, ami keep a drier atmosphere, 

 when th exit is ripening. Give plenty of water to those trees 

 now swelling their fruit, syringe wei!, and keep the foliage 

 ami frnr free from i( sects. 



Fi&tonse. — s»> much a*r may now be given to Figs, that the 

 ripening frail will acquire a good Duvoar with »ut keeping a very 

 rtTy atmosphere during the night. Avoid, however, wettingthe 

 fruit aner i begins to soften. Watering, as the plants may 



rtquue it, and checking the Increase ot insects, must be duly 

 attended to. 



Strmwbe* > i s.— U these are not kept well supplied with water 

 this warm weather they will ripen prematurely, wirhout attain- 

 mg their full size. Look tnem over twice a uay, watering only 

 th se that lequire it. 



Metams.—Du not let the heat in the beds decline, but add 

 fresh llningsas required. If the plams requin water, give it in 

 the morning, that the vapottr arising from the soil may pas f 

 dunng the day. Avoid wetting the leaves, keep tfir * n 



and regular, and it more than three Me * are swelling on a 

 plant, rrduce them to*th* number, taking care that tnose 

 m Ice en to remain are a* near or a size ; e.— 0- F- 



V.— HARDY FKU11 i\SD HITCBJKN-GARDKN. 



Ifa/f-freer.-tnocced with disbwrtr md removing young 

 shoot* ironi Feacbes and Apncuts. Wnere the fruit ot the 





