340 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



Vtneries.— Tne house* in which Grapes are ripening should 

 be kept at 95° or 100°, with sun, and if allowed to cool down to 

 70°, or even to 60° by ni^ht, 90 much the better, as it will be 

 more in accordance with what takes place where Grapes ripen 

 well in the natural atmosphere. On nights following: clear 

 sunny days no fire will be necessary in any of the vineries. 1 

 trust it will not be considered presumption to again caution my 

 brother-gardeners to avoid over-cropping their Vines. I have 

 lately seen sad instances of the bad effects resulting from this 

 worst of all mistakes in the management of the Vine. Continue 

 to keep the roots of the Vines now ripening their crops warm by 

 turning and sprinkling, or, if necessary, renewing the litter on 

 the borders. 



Peach house— The standard trees in pots that have ripened 

 their fruit should be kept in the house till the beginning of June 

 at least, to finish their growth. Give them plenty of water, and 

 •yringe once a-day. Should cold cloudy days occur, it would 

 bean advantage to fruit now ripening if a little fire was made 

 in the day-time, and some air given at the back ventilators. 



Fig-house.— Let Figs have plenty of air during the day in fine 

 weather, with abundance of water, and, except where fruit is 

 ripening, use the syringe freely. 



Cherries.— Spare lights placed now over any Mayduke Cherry, 

 trees against walls in favourable aspects would forward the 

 crop very much, without further trouble than drawing the lights 

 a little apart during sunshine, and pushing them close and 

 closing the ends with canvass during the night. 



Melons.— This season has been remarkably favourable for 

 early Melons, and with many these will he ripened and the 

 crop gathered in time to admit of a second set of plants being 

 turned out in the same pit. This is much preferable to obtain- 

 ing a second crop from the same plants ; besides these may 

 be better flavoured kinds than those generally planted for an 

 early crop : they will succeed if planted at any time before the 

 middle of June.— (?. F. 



V.— HARDY FRUIT AND KITCHEN-GARDEN. 

 Peach trees.— Examine those that suffered from frost last 

 season, and carefully remove every piece of gum and canker 

 with a sharp knife. Prevent all colonising attempts of the 

 green-fly, and see that the roots are not suffering from want of 

 moisture, or much Miischief will be produced by a wet autumn. 

 Cherry-trees.— Destroy caterpillars and black-fly by squeezing 

 them, anil afterwards give a forcible washing to the trees with 

 clear lime-water, or a decoction of the superabundant shoots of 

 those stone fruit trees which contain Prussic acid, taking care, 

 however, that the decoction is not too strong. Raspberries.— 

 Alter trying many methods of training, I find no system so pro- 

 fitable as keeping the bearing. shoots at a regular distance from 

 each other in a straight row, and tying them to two slight rails. 

 Whatever system of training is adopted, no time should now be 

 lost in removing all those young shoots that will not be re- 

 quired for bearing wood next season. 



Celery.— Plant out the first crop, if not already done. If the 

 plants have been pricked out, as recommended, they will re- 

 quire little shading, and no mutilation of their leaves. If, 

 however, you have made your beds or trenches some time 

 since, and have sown the ridges with Peas, the Celery will 

 thrive all the better in consequence. This will be more observ- 

 able if we have a dry summir. A little guano or superphos- 

 phate of lime will cause it to grow more rampant; but to obtain 

 at an early period large and, at the same time, sweet-flavoured 

 beads of Celery, nothing is preferable to a good coating of old 

 hotbed-dung, or rotted tree-leaves. Plant out Cauliflower, Let- 

 tuce, and Onions, Tomatoes and Capsicums, in favourable situa- 

 tions; and French Beans that have been forwarded in pots. 

 Sow Turnips, Radishes, Spinach, Peas, Beans, Cauliflower*, 

 Carrots for pulling young, and Onions for salads. Be guided 

 bjr no kind of directions which advise having two or three 

 crops in a season ; but sow and plant often, and but little at a 

 time, if you wish to have a constant supply, no waste, and to 

 hear of no murmurings loud and long from the inmates of the 

 kitchen. Routine.— Stake Peas, earth up Potatoes, thin Car- 

 rots, and other spring-sown crops; finish the nailing of Figs, 

 regulate the summer shoots of Vines; and, if favourably 

 situated for ripening fruit, train them on the one rod, or rather 

 the long rod system.— R. F. 



VI.— ARBORICULTURE. 



Old Woods.— If it is desirable to manage these well, they 

 should frequently be gone over by a skilful person. Attend to 

 the well-doing and growth of young plants and trees, and see 

 that they are not injured by the overgrowth of other stuff. The 

 commencement of the growing season is the most important 

 time for such work j for to prevent injury is better than cure. 



Coppice.— The above observations are as applicable to cop- 

 pice as to old woods ; for spring and summer management is 

 attended with better results, than any winter treatment. 



Young Plant ntions.— Do not neglect to mark the Larch-trees 

 that bear red-flowered cones, which should be left as perma- 

 nent trees. Attend to the summer training of young trees and 

 plants, keep down luxuriant weeds, fern, and overgrowth of 

 briers, &c. ; cutting off Thistles and Fern when young weakens 

 them greatly, and not unfrequently kills them altogether. The 

 present time is. therefore, the most suitable season for such 

 work. Do not allow any injury to be done through neglect. 



Hedge-row Trees should be frequently examined, to see if all 

 is. right. 



Nursery Work.— Attention to watering, shading, &c, is still 

 necessary. It has been an easy matter to keep down weeds this 

 season. The spring and summer-training of young growing 

 trees and plants must be regularly attended to, where quick 

 and handsome growth is wanted.— W. B. 



State of the Weather near London for the week ending May 13, 1844, ai 



observed at the Horticultural Garden, Chiiwick. 



May 



Frid. 17 



Sat. 1 a 



San. 10 



Mon. 10 



Tuet. Si 



"Wed. 22 



Thurs. 23 



_Averaiee 



Moon': 

 Ajre. 



1 

 2 

 3 

 4 

 5 

 I 



Baronktbr 





Max* 

 89.964 

 29 989 



29.997 

 S9.968 

 29.926 

 30.164 



30.130' 



Min. 

 29. 8m 

 99.927 



Wind- Rain. 



30 051 



99M6 



60 



29.98* 



63 



29.858 



6f 



30.146 



67 



30.066 



70 



»»77 



621 



M — \l wWl. 1 r loud " ; wiad 7- with slight ihowera ; clemr and cold. 



is Slight frat, with cold N.E. wind; boisterous, with .light showers ; 

 clear and cold. 



— » SSSr'nMTk eold wlBd ' da9k T cloud «» with clear int.ryali. 



— «? n 3 , cold lhr °aK h "ut ; overcast. 



— £ SShZL f^Tl aad fine: unif ,rm] y »*•««« at night. 



— « X : T ", rT ? ne ' ov «cast with .light hue. 



— S3 Cold hare ; cloudy and cold ; clear at night. 



Mean temperature ofth. week, 3.7 deg. below the arerage. 





3ray 



Arer. J Arer. 

 Highest Lowest 



Temp. | Temp. 



San. 26 

 Won. 27 

 Tuea. 28 

 Wed. 29 



Thur.ao 

 Fri. 31 

 Sat. 1 



I No. of 

 Mean Years in 

 TeinpJ which it 

 Rained. 



1 I reatest 

 quantity 

 of Rain. 



8 

 9 

 6 



7 



6 



7 



10 





The highest temperature during the aboreJ v peri»d occurred on the 27th. 

 mi— therm. 82°; and the lowest on the 86th, 2836— therm, 33^. 



Notices to Correspondents. 



Mr. PAXTON'S COTTAGER'S CALENDAR.— At the earnest 

 solicitation of many of our Subscribers, we have determined 

 on again reprintiog Mr. Paxton's "Cottager's Calendar/' in 

 the form of a small volume, for general distribution, price 3d. 

 each copy. It may be ordered of all booksellers. Gentlemen 

 wishing to distribute copies amongtheir cottage tenantry, may 

 have them delivered in any part of London, by remitting a post- 

 office order to this office, at the rate of 5s. for every 25 copies. 



Angelica.— Q. — This is a well-known old-fashioned kitchen- 

 garden plant, and what you have appears to be it. It has 

 gone out of general cultivation because other plants are more 

 agreeable to the taste. Besides, it occupies too much space 

 in proportion to its produce. It is, however, still found occa- 

 sionally in gardens. 



Books. — A Reader.— Sweet's M Hothouse and Greenhouse Cul- 

 tivator." Ag.— Knight's "Physiological Papers," a most 



valuable work, may be had of all booksellers. R. S.— 



Hooker's "British Flora," Babington's "Manual of British 



Botany," or Lindley's " Synopsis;" any of these will do.* 



A Constant Reader.— The Dean of Manchester has for some 

 time been engaged in examining Iridaceous Plants ; but we 

 do not know what his intentions are. The best enumera- 

 tion of them is in Romer's and Schultes's " Systema Vege- 

 tabilium," and a very bad one it is. 



Covifkrjk.— A Lady.— Your Stocks are quite old enough for 

 grafting: for the mode of performing the operation see p. 339, 



of to-day f 8 Paper, t 



Conskrvatory Plants.— W. P.— Good plants for turning out 

 into the beds of a Conservatory are Templetonia glauca, 

 Luculia gratissimn, Eutaxia myrtifoiia, Pimelea spectabilis, 

 Chorozema varium, Brugmansia sanguinca, Crowea saligna, 

 Cytisu* racemosus, Hovea Celsi, together with Camellias, and 

 the different kinds of Acacia, &c. t 



Dahlias.— *IAEA.— Keyne's Standard of Perfection, Lady St. 

 Maur, Lady Antrobus, Proctor's Nonpareil, E*sex Bride, 

 Bourne's Model, Sparey's Aurantia, Brown's Raphael and 

 Rembrandt, and Bushell's Emma.* 



Doublk Tulip.— G. L— This will make a very pretty border 

 variety ; it is cleanly broken, but there is a variety in culti- 

 vation similar to it* 



Fuchsias.— B— g— Venus Victrix, and Smith's Queen Victoria, 

 are the only two Fuchsias we remember, that agree with 

 your description.* 



Graphs.— Mediensis.— By Muscats, accordingto general accep- 

 tation in this country, are understood the White Muscat of 

 Alexandria, and the Red Muscat of Alexandria; the latter 

 is, however, rarely seen. The Royal Muscadine is considered 

 the type of those Grapes to which the term Muscadine is 

 applied. Muscadelles or Muscatelles are names applied to 

 Grapes with obovate berries, imported from Malaga, &c, in 

 the state of Raisins. The Frontignan varieties are sometimes 

 included among the Muscats ; but they are better known as 

 Frontignans in this country. Q 



Hbativg.— Beginner.— A very small boiler and pipes will be 

 better than flues for your diminutive greenhouse, but more 

 expensive. Always use four-inch pipes if you can afford 

 them ; but it would be quite sufficient to set such a thing as 

 Stephenson's stove inside the house, without any pipes at all. 

 * — A Subscriber.— In a very small greenhouse the most eco- 

 nomical heating apparatus is a small Stephenson's copper 



boiler. H. T.-We do not conceive that an Orchidaceous 



house could be advantageously constructed with Whitneyed 

 calico. It would admit light enough, but it would, we fear, 

 be too cold in winter. For heating, use both a tank for bot- 

 tom heat and piping for air heat. The smallest boilers that 



are sold will do. J. W. S.— There is no way of destroying 



Bindweed except that which you have pursued. If you wage 

 incessant war with the leaves, the roots must die. 



Insbcts.— W. W.— The weevil infesting your Pine-trees is the 

 Curculio Pini of Linnaeus. It is not uncommon in Fir plan- 

 tations, especially in Scotland. We should feel obliged by the 

 transmission of a small twig with the buds eaten out as you 

 represent, which would enable us to give the history of this 

 insect. Arc not the maggots in the buds? Hand-picking is 

 the only means of reducing its numbers, for it clings so fast 

 that shaking the branches will not dislodge the beetles, it is 

 feared ; the bestperiud, probably, to search for them would be 



by night. R. B. Chitons insect is the caterpillar of the 



Lackey Moth (Clisiocampa neustria), whose history was 

 given in last year's Gardeners' Chronicle, p. 244, and the larva 

 of a lady- bird. We shall be happy to receive any specimens, 

 and to return the names. You are quite correct regarding 

 the rarities which your neighbourhood produces in Natural 



History. R. Aliquis.— Your caterpillar appears to be the 



larva of Bombyx Caja, the garden tiger-moth. H Eilea- 



nach. — The contents of your letter being unprotected, and 

 squeezed perfectly flat, it is impossible to tell you the name 



or give you any information. R. F. H. Sankey.— Your 



beautiful Oak-galls are the production of a Cynips, whose 

 specific name I am unable to ascertain with certainty. If it 

 be not the C. Quercus pedunculi, I will inform you on my 

 return to town. R. J. L. Hendon.— You are right regard- 

 ing the root-galls of the Elm $ they are the work of an insect 

 called Cynips aptera, figured and described in the 1st vol. of 



this Journal, p. 732. W. Martin.— From your description, 



it appears to be the caterpillar of the goat-moth (Cossus ligni- 

 perda). In vol. 2, fol. and pi. 60, of Curtis's Brit. Ent., you 



will find its history and coloured figures. R. A Beginner 



must persevere in hand-picking, if he wishes to save his 

 Gooseberries, and he may try the effect of dusting the bushes 

 with Hellebore powder early in the morning. Other effectual 

 means of preventing the ravages occasioned by Nematus tri- 

 maculatus were published in vol. 1, p. 548, of this Journal, 

 where its history was illustrated. R. 



Mavcre.— Beginner.— Apply liquid manure to plants in pots by 

 pouring it on the soil when it is damp. Soapsuds require no 

 dilution ; but it is better to mix them with urine, letting 



the whole ferment before being employed. A. B.— Water 



your Vines in pots with any sort of liquid manure, made 

 by bruising sheep's-dung or guano, or any such sub- 

 stances in water, and allowing the fluid to become clear. 

 The stronger it is the less you need use. Weak and often 

 is the best way of using it. Nothing is better for Celery than 

 good rotten dung. You will find directions for killing wood- 

 lice in many previous papers. E. R.— If your manure con- 



tamed ammonia, as it ought, lime should on no account have 

 been added to it; for the latter expels the former. Lime 

 your garden in the autumn, and apply manure in the spring. 



A Regular Subscriber.— We should take a good handful of 



Potter's guano and strew it over the ground where the roots 

 of the Rose are, and then turn it in with a fork. 



Names of Plants.— A Reader.— We cannot undertake to 

 name Cryptogamic plants, except when they relate to points 



of cultivation.; M. J. B.— Bravoa geminiflora.— Aliuuis.— 



Irises cannot be named from the roots and leaves alone. 



Zeta.—All the Lupines are little varieties of L. polyphyllus, 



of no importance. A Devonian.— The Acacia is determined 



to be a broad-leaved variety of A. verticillata.— W.Gardner. 

 —It is really quite out of the question that we should sit down 

 to name heaps of wild plants. We must beg you to excuse 

 as. A. IT.— We can very ill spare the time required in de- 

 termining dried specimens ; but will endeavour to give you 



an answer next week. J. W.— Cineraria campestris. Your 



White Veronica Chamsedrys must be very pretty. W. Mc L. 



Ruscus androgynus. A. G. — Acacia juniperina (?) - 



B.T. S.— l.MelittisMeiissophyllum; 2, the purple variety of 

 it, Myosotis versicolor; Euphorbia Paralias.— J. B.— Cris- 



[May 25, 



taria muitifida. Dorsetshire.— Ulmu7mn,.»«« -= 



pinifolia. Thanks. E. T. 0.-EpiSen"u£ tri-T V '°*- 



{Treat rarity. You must apply to the bookXn P £ 0Bl * 



undertake such commissions. Z — La'hvr ■„! i '. e Ctao< * 



some Echium. V.scaria oculata is from il f P ,* !, 8 ? 5 ' ** 

 We do not know whether it will bSr pJtS'n? 2 ^ h1 *- 

 C. P. T.-The Sea Anemone is not a flower TuAn ° WD ~ 

 a Polype of the genus Actinia.-S a ™ m .-V er J r£LX Mln "^ 

 it is hard to say: it looks like a double red^hnW^ 1 J 



J./r.-A male flower of some gourd We h.JT °'5** 



experience of Humphreys's Compound farther ■ thill thet°u? 

 an extremely powerful agent, and requires to be : uS \ *H 

 great caution, or it kills plants. U3ed *»** 



Passionplowkrs.-Z. Q. Q.-We presume that the reason «*. 

 your fine healthy free-flowering specimens do not ftSufaXj 

 their flowers require setting. There seems to be no oS2 

 cause. Potter's liquid guano is highly spoken of, but w e hJS 

 not as yet, ourselves, any positive experience about it • ' 



Pelargoniums.— J. L. Hendon.-lt is impossible to acennn* 

 for such sports as you have sent a specimen of- wh.J •« 

 call the defective flower is most probably one of the nivTZ 

 of the variety from which the flowers were cut * * 



Rhododendrons. -L. B. R.— The seeds of these ghonld h. 

 sown thinly upon the surface, the soil being previointr 

 watered. After sowing, press the seeds down eentlr /n 

 imbed them in the surface, and sprinkle a very little whit. 

 sand over them, not with the view of covering the seeds hit 

 to make a firmer surface, which future watering will not »o 

 easily disturb, and which will, in a great measure pre?ent 

 dampness. As a further precaution against damp, keep a not 

 ful of sand over a hot flue or pipe, and as soon as the yoonr 

 plants make their appearance sprinkle a little warm sand 

 in among them occasionally whenever they show any indi 

 cations of dampness. If you will follow this plan you will 

 very likely meet with success. The cause of your seeds not 

 germinating is probably owing to their being covered too 

 deep. t 



Whitnev's Co ai position.—^ Beginner.— The material yon 

 sent will do to grow Melons and Cucumbers under i bat it 

 will be cheaper to employ calico of a closer texture, as'in that 

 case less of the composition will be required to render it 

 waterproof.t 



Miscellaneous.— A subscriber had better change his book- 

 binder; there is plenty of margin for a good binder 



W. Mc L.— The story in Darwin about the Upas tree is a ro- 

 mance. The tree is very poisonous certainly, bat like the 



Artocarpeous plants, to which it is related. J. H.— Keep 



your young Date plant in a hothouse, with a bottom heat of 

 80°, and it will grow fast. It never fruited in this country. 



A Subscriber.— We do not know where the Pelargonium 



seed is to be had. Tyro.— The Dates sold in shops are the 



fruit of Phoenix dactylifera.t R. P. L.—A Pansy-flower 



like the one you have sent, to ascertain its name, is not worth 



growing.* Erica.— We are not aware that any Society in 



London awards a prize for a collection of wild flowers, painted 

 from nature. 



SEEDLING FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 

 Calceolarias.— A. Z. — Your seedling is a very pretty spotted 

 variety, but we have already several in the same way.*— 

 JB.— Nos. 1, 2, and 4 are good Selfs — large and well formed; 

 3, white ground with maroon blotch, leaving off abruptly, i» 

 a good and showy variety ; 5, very large, but deficient in 

 form ; 6, a very good mottled flower, in the way of Lady Con- 

 stable.* L. and M.—Ho. 1 is a large, brilliant, and very 



handsome flower, the best of its kind we have seen. No. 2 is 

 singularly marked, but the irregularity at the bottom of the 



flower is too great.* C. L. and S.— There are two flowers 



with No. 5 attached, one with brown blotches upon a yellow 

 ground, the other dots and blotches upon a light buff ground; 

 the former is the better flower of the two ; 3, buff ground, 

 with dark maroon blotches, decidedly worth keeping; sand 

 6 are too small ; 4 and 7 are varieties similar to sorts raised 

 some years since.* R. C— Your three seedlings are ex- 

 tremely good varieties— good in form and fine in texture, and 

 having the large blotch in front of the flower very decided ; 

 they will be very attractive when grown as specimen P ltn "- 



R. 6.— Spotted varieties are now very common, so tnax 



unless the spots are large or peculiar in form or colour, tney 

 are not objects of attraction ; your kinds are very common. 



An Old Subscriber. -Your seedling, the Wonder of tM 



World, too much resembles Lady Constable, nor is it so large 

 as many specimens we have seen of that favourite van y. 



Hector.-No. 3 is a very common flower ; I. 2, ana 4 bjo 



varieties better worth preserving; 2 is a fine form, m""J B 

 spot softens off too much; the spotted kinds are bo W£*«» 



but not uncommon.* Anon.— Your spotted seedling is w 



small.* J. M. H.— The best seedlings in your collection 



are Nos. 3, 5, 10, 12, 14; the colours are clearer, : an a ™ 

 form of the flowers superior to the others. t?2. Nos 

 mentioned are very pleasing varieties.*——*/ J- .' 

 1, 2, and 3 are your best seedlings with the dark »«« »J" 

 other varieties are common. They are very s m * u jT:" is 



to those we are in the habit of seeing.* D. B. i • 



too great a similarity in your seedlings, and g ene ™" 3 ' 

 are not of a good form. No. 7 is the best, but we nave ^ 



form; 48, very pretty, but not uncommon.* _, n ctnoTel 



Cinebarias.— J. M.H.-Uo. l is the prettiest and mosw^ 

 of your seedlings, and the best-formed flower; 3 we ferr 

 possess, with much larger blossoms; 2 and 4 w 



common.* . _ mir Seed- 



FucHSiAs.—Tttto.— There is nothing uncommon in yo^^ 



ling No. 30, and the corolla wants colour and 9Ubsll ^ h 'rtod 

 J. M. if—Your seedling is a very stout fl° we 5 ill „ na Sity, 

 foliage ; the sepals are rather coarse. It is of mea '" iu f0 jntny 

 being inferior to our best varieties, and ^^Zm D- t - 

 now cultivated ; much depends upon its habit. ' ' will 



—Cuttings taken from a branch bearing double now , ^ 

 most probably make your variety permanent. " cor0 U» 

 bear comparison with a single flower; the sepais »" 

 are very feeble.* . ^^ state 



Pansies.-.R. P. L.-Your seedlings were in a^ very or ^ ^ t 

 when they arrived ; the lighter variety is ™e Dene 

 two ; they are rather small and deficient in substan cc - sseSl ei 



Pelargoniums.-/. S.-Your seedling is large, b J l ££„,•«».- 



none of the properties of a fine flower.* * „ en ts upon 



None of your seedlings can be considered im proven. » ^ ^ 

 the varieties already in cultivation; *5 ey ¥ vv? 1 1 the three 

 their proper form when fully expanded. In *vo. > . ^ 

 lower petals are good, but the upper ones are «wnF ^ ^ 

 too high. In No. 2, which is very showy, the *°P '[position 

 too high, and the lower ones narrow, and w " n * " . Jf for* 

 to curl back ; 3 is very common ; 4 is pretty, out « broa der 

 when fully open , 5 is very pretty, but ^"'S^-The 



under petals; 6 wants form* A \oung»e w ™ jJg0 ^ 



petals of your flower are all too long, and tney » form 



deficient in substance that the flower cannot rew . ^ 

 when fully expanded; the spot is bad, being c°"^ nt ap0 a 



much of lines.* J. S.-« Helen" is an jmproveinen^^ 



the flower previously sent ; the under petals a J c in the 

 colour, and well formed; there are too many " uCi . 

 upper petals,and the flower altogethens deficient ins 



Petcnias.-B. B.-Your lilac variety with gr ■een centre ^ 

 pretty, and decidedly the better flower of the cw ^^ 

 formed, and the surface smooth, and even 

 variety is not uncommon.* Ved too late* 



* # * As usual, many communications have been recei 





