THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



319 



ar e raised 

 merits on 



" —i ihv E<q Secretary of the Zoological 

 «f W* » °* ,Ib Y'; elate of Altinachree, in Tyrone, 

 £** •■?/;;, n ud^^ f the trees for which 

 M thb ir r,n * Viim'livan seeds in the same manner as 

 *•** fr0m :^ ma H > a : any one heard the like of this ? 



: , Af CM**** 0/ *•/««* m Char- 

 wh«macher).-The first view I took 



arose from the 



well-rotted and of 



_ constant practice, 



"XTin uJnoFtoe former. And one of my 

 *** ~ reasons for this prejudice (for proof was not 



SKEW"™ 8 that the cai bon of veg 

 Jrt 



eomple 



finest po» '«- r^ it "J e by the m0 st laborious mechanical 

 im F*ri£ "n this finest of all states, carbon, if 

 EdVl rfl by the living vegetable, could be most easily 

 l^Llrtated My experiments were, therefore, all made 

 W S the finest pulverised wood charcoal I could procure 

 Zh as is used in making gunpowder :-l>t. I planted 

 L^oonf, thrifty plant of Daphne odora in this charcoal 

 •Iteretber • in' 12 months it was alive, the leaves quite 

 tdtoir On examining the roots they had not in the 

 Last increased or altered. I then repotted it in loam 

 whi one quarter charcoal, and watered with* very weak 

 •Won of nitrate of soda ; in four weeks the leaves had 

 woffle of a dark blackish green, and the plant was be- 

 ginning to push vigorously. 2d* I planted a fine root of 

 Fuchsia fulgens, with a stem, in charcoal alone. It im- 

 mediately began to vegetate ; the leaves were, however, 

 estremely diminutive, and soon dropped off; the flowers 

 appeared also diminutive, and finally dropped off like- 

 wise just after opening. It then, with the others, went 

 to rest ; but to my surprise, in August it again began to 

 tegetate, and went precisely through the same process 

 as in spring— others which were by its side remaining 

 dormant ; after this it went again to rest. 3d. I potted 

 iereral seedling Camellias in one quarter charcoal, one 

 quarter old manure, one half loam ; these grew with 

 great luxuriance, and the colour of the foliage was dark, 

 Wealthy green. 4th. I potted several young Pelar- 

 goniums with various quantities of charcoal, never ex- 

 ceeding one quarter, often very much less. In these 

 the effect was the same, both coming very near to the 

 luxuriance and size of foliage of those treated with 

 giano. In August last, I made up my mind to repot 

 and top-dress a large number of exotic plants, of various 

 kinds, many of which were in a bad state from neglect ; 

 of these the chief number were Camellias. I made up 

 a compost, consisting of about two-thirds Roxbury fresh 

 loam, and one-third a compost, chiefly consisting of old 

 manure; to this I added about one-fortieth part of char- 

 coal, and had the whole very carefully and intimately 

 mired ; with this I operated. In September, 

 when I thought the earth had got well settled 

 round the roots, I began to water, 

 day, with water in which guano had 

 k the quantity of about one ounce to ten gallons. 

 I was perfectly astonished at the alteration which 

 appeared in about four weeks, in the general health of all 

 the plants — it seemed to me like magic ; mid many who 

 tinted the Public Conservatory, previous to the late 

 calamitous fire, can Ik ar testimony to their beauty and 

 luxuriance. The earth of one large Camellia, (double 

 white,) with about 250 blooms, was nearly altogether 

 changed, the tub having fallen off with much of the earth. 

 I hardly expected to save the blossoms, but they opened 

 in as great splendour as the others. It seems to me that 

 the period of the opening of the flowers was also generally 

 accelerated. We had 20 or 30 out the first week in 

 -November, and the first week in December, just previous 

 to the fire, I counted above 500 in full beauty ; this was 

 certainly earlier than we had them in previous years, 

 fassinora Loudoni, which, under the best of common 

 estivation, 1ms always yellow and unhealthy-looking 

 leave?, was placed in this mixture with the addition of 

 ~wcoal ^nage. The rapid change in its ar.pearance 

 J* surprising, and although, from unavoidable circum- 

 »ances,nwas removed into this soil just previous to 

 noweri yet instead of bcbff checktd> fre5n fl ovre r 



£""7i ™ ot forth, and, with the others, opened their 



Zll ■ blossom s in the greatest splendour ; the foliage 



coming of a fine healthy green and spread open, not 



in « m at edges ' I had sc-^ral other experiments 



a progress on the use of charcoal, some of which I had 



pea would have thrown light on its immediate action 



among the Arab tribes, and likewise in the interior ot 

 the Mazabite country, south-east of Algeria. This very 

 fine umbelliferous plant, it appears, has been loug in the 

 collection of the Museum of Natural History. Its roots 

 are white, large, and tapering, often extending to a depth 

 of more than three feet in light soil. Its leaves are 

 divided, erect, and shining ; but it suffers from the cold 

 of severe winters, consequently against such it requires 

 protection. The young plants should be kept in an 

 Orangery or greenhouse. — Revue Horticole, 1843, 

 p. 327. II [This is supposed to be the silphion of the 

 ancient?]. * 



Hydrangea Japonica. — It has been stated that the 

 Hydrangea japonica has produced seed, an advantage 

 not afforded by the Hydrangea hortensis, which it was 

 also hoped this new shrub would surpass in beauty. 

 This hope has not, however, been realised. The finest 

 plants of Hydrangea japonica which have been seen in 

 flower, are very inferior to the one which has embellished 

 our gardens for more than 40 years. It now remains a 

 question whether finer flowering plants may be obtained 

 from seed. It appears to form a bush of considerable 

 size. — Revue Horticolc, 1843, p. 32". II 



Abstract of Tables kept by W. Wvatt, Esq., showing the 

 Highest, Lowest, and Mean Temperature, &c. &c, in Ade- 

 laide, South Australia, for the year ending 3 1st October, 184'_». 



Months. 



Highest 

 Temp. 



Lowest 

 Temp. 



Mean 

 Temp 

 Noon. 



Wind* 



5. 



Hot 



• • 



Warn. 



Cool. 



November . . 



85 99 82 



58 



65 



59 



7S 



15 



25 



December . . 



90 102 89 6i 



68 



6:. 



85 



3 



15 



i>.{ 



January . . . 



80 97 7867 



75 



09 



81 



■ • 



8 



27 



February . . 



' 100 87 75 



72 



55 



87 



2 



8 



?7 



March . . . 



64 99 82b"! 



61 



62 



81 



• • 



12 



29 



April . . . . 



70 80 66 62 



6i 



56 



70 



• • 



12 



15 



May . . . . 



67 81 68 54 



60 



53 



66 



• • 



14 



17 



June . . • . 



59 73 58 54 



54 



54 



63 



t • 



24 



8 



July . . . . 



59 76 62 54 



58 



50 



61 



• 1 



23 



13 



August . . . 



68 77 67 



15 



51 



43 



61 



• t 



18 



21 



September . . 



69 84 71 



59 



52 



51 



65 



• » 



>.l 



16 



October . . . 



85 90 82 



5 



61 



57 



73 



V * 



14 



22 



every Satur- 

 been mixed, 



— From the Tasmanian Journal. 



The Franconia Raspberry.— (Seep. 103, 1844.)— This 

 shrub has been cultivated in this place for several years ; 

 the first winter they were covered ; the second year one 

 half of the plants only were protected. Those left ex- 

 posed to the winter bore as well, if not better, than the 

 protected ones, and appeared in perfect health the sum- 

 mer following. This year the bed contains about 1000 

 stems, after pruning out; every one in sound condition, 

 and wholly exposed to the winter, which has been a very 

 trying one. Other beds, in different locations, were left 

 unprotected the past winter, and have proved perfectly 

 hardy. If it is unnecessary to protect them, there is a 

 saving of labour spring and autumn, seasons of the year 

 when gardeners are very bu3y. Any one in the country 

 cultivating them by thousands, can the next winter leave 

 a part, in an exposed situation, unprotected, and prow 

 the thing, sending you the result for publication. 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 pots of them 

 in the greenhouse last winter, with different 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 300 parts 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 ci 



could be added. 



Ilovey's Magazine. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS 



For the ensuing Week. 



I.— HOTHOUSE, CONSERVATORIES, &c. 

 Many stove plants would do better in an intermediate house 

 from this time until the end of August, where they would get 

 less confinement than in a regular store. Jrorjwan^or Mcna 

 house, 



renient to nee short Grass because of its untidy appearance, the 

 beds should be surfaced an inch thick with leaf-mould, or fre<h 

 light soil, or where neither can be used hoe the beds over so as 

 to form a loose surface. The soil ia the American bods here, 

 which was mulched with short Grass two months hack, is in 

 the finest condition imaginable, though we have not had any 

 rain for the last 4; days— a proof that mulching is calculate! 

 to effect considerable good, for had these beds not been mulched 

 they must have been watered repea'edly to have kept the plants 

 alive. Mulching is advantageous not only lrom saving labour, 

 but also, where cold spring- water has to be used, from prevent- 

 ing the soil from being unnaturally cooled, by the irequent 

 application of water frOin a cold medium. The indispensability 

 of using water, as warm or even warmer than the soil, is well 

 known to practical men; and a few experiments will soon, 

 satisfy the amateur of its advantage. Alter planting out your 

 beds make a reserve of a few plants of each kind to fill up gaps, 

 and also, if you fill any beds with Annuals, reserve some plants 

 in pots to replace them as soon as they get shabby. Last year, 

 alto; planting the beds, I had some small scarlet Pelargoniums 

 leitonhanci; these stood about in a half-starved condition ia 

 small pots il the end of July, when they were potted into 

 24S and the bloom buds taken off. They began blooming in. 

 November, and were in bloom in the temperature of thb 

 greenhouse throughout the winter. 



lioscry. — The " worm i* the bud " is making considerable 

 havoc in some gardens. Look careful y over the plants, and 

 destroy them bctwi finger and thumb; at the same time, 



you may ; regulate the growth of the plants where neces- 

 sary. The Cloth of Gold Rose is a very vigorous grower, and, 

 like some of the other Noisette varieties, will probably grow to 

 the length of 10 or 15 feci b< fore it blooms.— IK. P. A. 



III.— FLORISTS' FLO\ RS. 



Auriculas. — Seedlings nay now be pricked out into pans or 

 boxes, cf leaf- soil aii' ind, at .regular distances, keeping them 

 in a closed frame for a few days, till they have got n 1 root, 

 whin they may be placed in the shade, and protected from 

 drenching n Ins. Tulips— Still continue to be the centre of 

 attraction. The reports from various quarter iescribe the 

 bloom as generally good, but those which miss flowering are 

 very nun us. 11; are apt to get inside 1 he flowers disturb- 

 ing the f.tiii. a. The careful florist, with a Camel hair brush, 

 will remove it-, so that the purity of the cup may be apparent. 

 Ku.iunculuses — Are growing f;< but are in much want of 

 ram. If they have been top CU with very rotten manure, 



as previously recommended, they will in some measure have 

 escaped (lie effects of the drought, which has been detrimental 

 to many. Cm nations.— As tl continue to grow, keep them 

 regularly tied up to their flowering strikes j the pots mu-t also 

 be well atten i to ; all weeds must be removed, and the plants 

 top-dressed. I s.— Continue to remove exuberant shoots, 

 and ti.iu the bud-, removing those which are sma'l or mal- 

 formed. Both Ihiiks and Carnations are now much infe I 

 with insects; these must be carefully brushed off; avoid 

 braising them on the bud or m of the plant, as it appears to 



;tve a prejudicial effect. D ins— May now be plauted out 



with safety.— T. F. \V. 



IV.-riNERIF.S, VINERIES, Sec. 

 Pinery.— Do not let the bottom-heat of the plants intended 

 for fiuitmg in the autumn fall betow 80'. Let the watering be 

 attended to with the utmost regularity, or the present hot 

 weather will be likely to thro- irne 0! the plants into fruit 

 prematurely. On the other hand, if you wish to induce any of 

 the plants to fruit sooner than they aypcar likely to do with 

 regular treatment, it may be done by withholding water ; but 

 it will be at the expense of size and quality. It is an excellent 

 plan, where practicable, to let the stools from winch fruit has 

 been cut remain in the house for sometime, and to supply them 

 liberally with liquid manure, in order to encourage the growth, 



of tU(* ^ tic leers 



Vineries.— As soon as the Grapes arc cleared from any of the 

 rafters in the early house, let the foliage be well washed with 

 the Syringe, and repeat this twice a week, till the leaves begin 

 to change colour. Vines planted inside the house must be kept 

 well supplied with water. In the succession -houses, thin the 

 bunches, stop laterals, and use the syringe freely in the after- 

 noons. To those who are about to plant Vines for early forcing, 

 I would confidently recommend the Muscat Muscadine, as one 

 of the best kinds, combining the flavour of the Muscat with the 

 good forcing properties of the -Muscadine. It also succeeds well 



Peach Houses.- Although a dry atmosphere is required for 

 living flavour to Peaches and Nectarines, it is not well to with- 

 hold water from the roots while the trees are In the midst of 

 their growth. Water the Irfsiee b rtiers freely with liquid 

 manuie. I find guano-water to suit them remarkably wed. Let 

 the waterin c done in the morning, and "J clear weather, as 

 vapour is prejudicial to the ripening fruit. The outside borders 

 also should be watered as far as the roots extend; and if they 

 are afterwards mulched, it will be a great saving of labour 

 during hot, dry weather. 



Fig house.— See former Calendars. 



Chen-y.house.-AUii carefully to the trees from which the 

 crop has been gathered, till the wood is perfectly matured 

 Wa ering at the roots, syringing frequently and giving .plenty 

 of air both front and back of the house, w.ll be the principal 



things to attend to for several weeks. ,„vw.. ~»t«H 



Struwb rrfeS.-Encourage, by watering and mulchmg round 



the old plants with decayed manure or leaf mould, the growtn 



of the Strawberry runners intended for forcing next year; •« 





00 the roots of plants 



twese * r "~ '"" — a SUu J ect on which we are at 



J) ln tie d&rks unfortunately, these with many 

 others were dr sti "" ' 



r0DS lhese trials is, that although charcoal alone is nearly 



p. 



and riMnlngTheirgTowthV'wIthont being crowded this is a 

 good plan. Air, moisture, and cleanliness are now such mutters 

 of course, that I need not insist on them. 



Conserniturv.—Itm&y be useful to know that the Echites 

 suberccta, and Alan, da cathaitica graft fr.ely on the Beau- 

 mont!* grandiflora; and these two beautiful stove-climbers 

 may therefore be got to flower in a conservatory with a fixed 



gpa 



cced those in the houses or pits. 



of the early Melons 

 second crop. Plant 



0t CrS *!^ B , tr °y e<1 b y accidental tire. My impression 



earth! 8 ' J ! 6t T hen mixed iD Sue proportion with the 



Uwsen • u' USUaliy found in soils and « iaaures » its 

 Win 18 r Shly benefi cml, and greatly promotes the 

 leaves Of vcgetation > as far as regards stems and 

 leed/'l ltS ? itl tbe production of flowers and 

 live an \f™ - n0t ' ! ° r tbe reasoils before stated, able to 

 Probahlv ]miU,n ° f an y worth * Xt may be thought, and 

 A* last! ln P art true > that much of the luxuriance of 

 *»ter- h!Vf ex P erim ents arose from the use of guano 

 toted for H ° ther ex P eriment s with charcoal, insti- 



■** in whM P " rpose of making comparisons with guano, 

 >b «UeTeii V C ° UrSe r " 0ne was used ' l cannot hesitate 

 da «tot hP 1 SOme l )0, " lion of this luxuriance was also 

 n Q1 Z„ ~~ IIove . ! '' s Magazine of Horticulture. 



fr °m Al« L 9a * 9 °V ca% — M ' Gu y°' tl brought some roots 

 N ««ral Hi.V m the *P rin S of 184S, for the Museum of 

 ,n * Dunr r' He 8t ates that the root possesses 

 t native properties, and that it is much used 



conservatory here has ju^t begun to flower, and will probably 

 continue to do so until August. It has a greater multitude of 

 blo-som-buds on it than many would imagine. In the hurry ot 

 watering it often happens that the centre of the balls of large 

 specimen plants. Orange-trees, &c, get very dry, the water 

 rinding its way down near the outside, where the soil is 

 looser. Gardeners on the Continent make a provision ; inst 

 this which we seldom see done in this country. 'lhe> > 

 out a little of the soil round the stem, and raise it towards th 

 edge of the pot, or tub, thus forming a shallow ' 

 a large portion of the water passes down ^ 

 summer, this is a good plan for many plants 

 the surface could be levelled over in the usual way. 



Pea\ 

 much -_ . 



S^JSehS hedge-!"? appearance, whichiri a shorttime they 

 w^HlJenf rally Presents or tor the different theories respecting 

 ffiumtncfr! cement, put forthby me no fjeat^occtt. 



■trotig 



have all the room, air, and light to themselves. OTj»ng*nw. 

 those in the greenhouse are most apt to get tooury in* 

 and therefore, besides the regular watering, they may Ot ^eu 

 syringed every afternoon, in such fine wither as we MWHOT 

 this season. — D. B. „„ n nrDiv5 



H.-floWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES. 

 Outdoor Depart tf.-Since I last wrote,) muln t id le s of 

 tender plants have doubtless been planted I oat, »* ** j™ 

 weather is as ungenial as it can be for such ^"^^^hem 

 but assiduous attention to watering and sha dinpr can g cthem 

 a chance of success. The importance of m&JSvtS^X 



beds cannot be too 



much insfsted upon, and where it is incon- maturation , 



desirable small spurs the precursors of ^ u ^ bud ^Srt»t- 

 again with more reason and science adv te the P» V\ t osi _ 

 ing of the sh 18, so that they maybe placed m a jien ^ not 

 tion, conteni. ; that thus the bu '"tended to ^ fiQt 



unnecessarily shaded, and at 1 udden cnc-.* of » thc shoot 

 even in this case, the buds left at *'f "other summer's 

 will seldom become fruit-buds """J.*"!. sna de from tho 



while the pendent shoots 



