528 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



stand more heat ; and with a little forcing they may be brought 

 into flower a month sooner. Look well to your late autumn- 

 flowering- plants for this house; Heliotropes, Sweet Briar, 

 Mignonette, Lemon-scented Verbena (Aloysia), and Fairy 

 Roses, with the " Rose-scented Pelargonium/* are always in re- 

 quisition for bouquets after the middle of October, or as 

 soon as the early frosts nip them out of doors. Look to every 

 plant one by one, and then order such and such treatment as 

 the different cases may suggest. This has been a trying season 

 for the best gardenefs. Besides thus exercising our patience, a 

 large addition is made to the stock of our experience, upon 

 nrhich we can fall back more readily in future.— D. B. 



IL— FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERIES. 



Out~door Department. 

 In answer to the question propounded last week — What is to 

 be done to counteract the evil consequences attendant upon 

 our flower garden decoration by cold, wet, or dry seasons? it 

 may be remarked, that an improvement will be effected In the 

 flrst place by a thorough drainage and pulverisation of the soil 

 to the depth of at least two feet. This will allow of a free per- 

 colation and distribution of moisture throughout the whole 

 mass of the soil, and that not only of the moisture which falls 

 in the form of rain, or is applied by the hand of man, but also 

 ©f the moisture which is ever finding its way through the crust 

 of the earth by capillary attraction. Nor is it moisture only 

 which escapes more freely by a deep stirring of the soil and 

 thorough drainage, but also terrestrial heat. All practical men 

 know the advantage of deep trenching for kitchen-garden 

 crops, especially in dry seasons, and what is good of one crop 

 must also be good of another. Now where flower-gardens are 

 situated on a subsoil of strong retentive clay, as is the case 

 here, it will be the best to remove it to the depth of two feet, 

 placing six or eight inches of brick rubbish or rough stones over 

 the bottom of each bed, and making the remainder good with 

 fresh top and pit loam. To do this in large gardens will be 

 attended with considerable expense and labour, and therefore 

 as a makeshift it will do considerable good to remove only a 

 part of the bad subsoil, and then mix the remainder with brick 

 rubbish and half-decomposed vegetable refuse. However, to 

 follow this matter out satisfactorily will require more room 

 than I can spare this week, and I therefore must leave the rest 

 for another time. 



Rosery. — Proceed with budding where the bark rises freely, 

 but if it is dry defer the operation until we get more rain. We 

 have lately been over our best Roses, and instead of cutting out 

 the dead flower-buds have trimmed out all the weak shoots, 

 only leaving such as will be required at the waiter's pruning. 

 The buds on those left will get much stronger in consequence, 

 and we calculate upon a finer bloom than usual next seaooti- 

 The half-ripened wood of Chinese Tea, Bourbon, and Noisrtftte 

 Roses strike freely at the present time, and until the end of 

 September, if placed on a little gentle bottom heat ; and these 

 are things which every garden ought to be covered with. 

 -*-TF. P. J. [Errata last week.— In line 19* for M under ones," 

 xead M tender one?."] 



III.— FLORISTS' FLOWERS. 

 Tulips. — These bulbs may now be divested of their super- 

 luous skins, and thoroughly cleaned, whenever the florist can 

 spare time. Dahlias — Should be constantly watched and regu- 

 larly tied as they advance, as the side shoots are extremely apt 

 to be wrenched off by the wind. Pansies.— Seed may continue 

 to be sown, and beds made of rooted cuttings. Pinks. — Whilst 

 the weather continues showery plant out the pipings. They 

 may also still be struck with success. Carnations.— Through 

 every stage of their growth these beautiful flowers have their 

 enemies, from the time of potting out till the period of planting 

 again arrives. We have in successive Calendars noticed these 

 depredators, and endeavoured to point out, as tar as our expe- 

 rience went, the best way of destroying or guarding against 

 them. No season that we recollect has been more prolific in 

 those M insidious gentry" styled earwigs, or what the north- 

 country folks provincially call M battle- twigs ; M nor did we 

 ever know them to have been more troublesome, getting iito 

 the calyx of the flower, and eating off the petals, to the florist's 

 utwr dismay and mortification. Many plans are adopted to 

 entrap them ; amongst the most simple and efficacious are dry 

 Bean-stalks laid across the pot, in which they retreat during 

 the day, or small pots filled with moss placed on the top of the 

 sticks ; these must be examined every morning. Still we are 

 not sure that these are effectual preventives, as most certain 

 it is th; t these insects can fly. Get on with layering as quick 

 as possible, and when pods are swelling extract the decaying 

 petals.-/. F. ir. 



IV.— PINERIES, VINERIES, &c. 



Pineries.— Attend well to keeping the bottom heat regular, 

 and to tie re-potting of such plants as require it, in order that 

 the plan's may receive no interruption in their growth. Should 

 the weather prove stormy 'as it now is with us; the linings of 

 pits heated by means of dung alone, will require strict atten- 

 tion. Let all suckers worth saving be stuck into the tan, or 

 potted i immediately after they are taken from the parent plants, 

 as they suffer much at this season by being allowed to lay ex- 

 posed to the air. Planted in the tan in front of any of the pits, 

 having a bottom heat of about 90° f they soon become well- 

 rooted plants, fit for 6 or 8-inch pots. 



Vineries.— In the houses bearing crops of Grapes for winter 

 use, the surface of the border should not be made wet after the 

 middle of August, and if water at the root is at all required, it 

 should now be given; and after this let the surface become 

 quite dry, so that no vapour may arise from it to injure the 

 Grapes during the dull weather that we may expect before the 

 fruit is all cut. The Hamburgh, Chasselas, and Sweet-water 

 Grapes will ripen without any heat but that of the sun. Mus- 

 cats in dull weather will be benefited by slightly heating the 

 y ipes or flues. 



Peach Houses.— If the lights have not been taken off the 

 •ally forced Peach-boose, it should be done as soon as possible, 

 that the trees may have the benefit of the free air, rain, and 

 dews ; all of which will not only assist to feed and perfect the 

 buds for the following season, but also to keep them from the 

 attacks of red spider, which at this time is difficult to keep 

 down under glass. For the management of the late houses, 

 tee last week's Calendar. 



Figs.— Figs are much better flavoured when ripened in an 

 atmosphere not too moist and warm, and with a free circulation 

 of air. Keep the red spider in check, or you will have no good 

 wuit in the autumn. 



affloiu.—Continue to stop and thin the shoots of the Melon 

 plants, supply them with water when necessary, and use every 

 means to keep down red spider and thrips.— O. F. 



V.-HARDY FRUIT AND KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



. , . d "r?^ t0 the rcm °ving the breast. wood of 



Apples, Pears, Cherries, and Plums i shortening the leading 



•hoots and cutting back to a couple of inches the side.shoots of 



Currants and Gooseberries unless when the latter are made to 



tear almost exclusirely on young wood), and thinning and 



shortening the shooU of Apncots and Peaches, as previously 



recommended. Cover with mats, or thin cloth waterproofed, 



those Chernes, Gooseberries, and Currants that you wish to 



preserve as late as possible, and defend the remainder from 



birds by netting. This is a much more pleasant method than 



making the vain attempt to exterminate the feathered tribe 



wbich, to say the least of it, is very questionable for its pro! 



prtety, so far as utility is concerned. It is only during the 



fruit-season that blackbirds, thrashes &c. interfere with oar 



comforts, and for a little peculation now they amply repay us 



by the quantity of slug's, &c. which they devour in spring, to 



tay nothing of their cheerful notes at •• early morn and dewy 



ere.** Complete toleration has been proclaimed here toa group 



of starlings that build their nests for successive years in the 



place. I am not aware that the starling ever inter- 



[Aug. 3, 



feres with our comforts, while the mass of enemies to gardeners 

 which he destroys, for the feeding of his young, is truly 

 astonishing. 



Green Manure.— For several seasons I have dug down early 

 in summer the plot of winter Spinach when it had attained the 

 height of two or three feet, and planted the space with Brussels 

 Sprouts, Scotch Kale, and Savoys, for an early supply, and the 

 vigour with which they have grown convince! me that such a 

 method might be adopted with great advantage, where manure 

 was scarce and ground plentiful. Onions.— Preparations should 

 now be made for sowing thickly the Strasburgh, or any other 

 hardy sort, to stand over the winter and furnish large Onions 

 early next summer. Part of them may be drawn for Salads 

 during winter, and the other thinnings planted out in March. 

 Sow again in a fortnight. Ground previously occupied with 

 early Cauliflower, or Strawberries that require digging down, 

 will furnish good situations.— Peas.— Make the last sowing, 

 choosing the earlier varieties. Prince Albert is the earliest 

 I have met with by eight or ten days, but otherwise it is a 

 small Pea, and produces sparingly. The early May is highly 

 spoken of as being as early as the Albert, of a good sire, and 

 producing plentifully. French Beans.— Sow in a situation 

 where it will be suitable to defend mem from early autumn 

 frosts with mats, choosing the dwarfest sorts, such as the Early 

 Dew, and the Robin-egg China. Routine. — See former 

 Calendars.— R. F. 



VII.-COTTAGERS' GARDENS. 

 Proceed with the thinning of Grapes, as recommended last 

 week, and be careful in handling the bunches to twist the 

 stems as little as possible, for fear of injuring them, and 

 thereby preventing the fruit from swelling. Pelargoniums, 

 which were directed to be placed out of doors, should now be 

 cut down, and cuttings of the best sorts prepared and inserted 

 in small 60-sized pots, in a mixture of loam, leaf-mould, and 

 *and. They should be placed in a shady situation until they 

 have struck root, when they may be more exposed to the sun. 

 After the old plants have made young shoots about an inch 

 long, proceed to re-pot them into pots one or two sizes smaller 

 than those in which they are ; shake the old soil ;from their 

 roots, which should be pruned in to within 3 inches of the stem; 

 and give them a good drainage, which is very essential to their 

 future welfare. The plants should afterwards be placed where 

 they will be partially shaded, receiving a little of the morning 

 sun only. In a short time they will have formed new roots, 

 and may be removed to a more open situation, where they may 

 remain until the weather becomes cold, when they should be 

 removed under cover. Calceolarias and Cinerarias, if not 

 already done, should now have their roots divided . they may 

 be planted in shady places in the flower-borders, to be taken up 

 and repotted about six weeks hence ; or they may be put into 

 small pots, to be shifted as they require it, which will not be 

 for some time. A small bed of Endive, if not already done, 

 may be sown. Go over Cucumbers occasionally, to stop and 

 regulate the shoots. Attend to getting up Onions, Shallots, 

 Garlic, Ac, that have arrived at maturity, for if left too long in 

 the ground they often make a second growth, which spoils 

 them for keeping.— J. M'H. 



State of the Weather near London for the week ending Aug. 1, 18*4, ai 

 observed at the Horticultural Garden, Chiiwu-k. 



July 



Prid. 88 

 Sat. 27 



Sun. I 

 Mon. 



Tuei. M 

 Wed. 31 



Aug. 

 Thnr». 1 



A reran e 



89 971 



Min. 



•9.908 



30.1 



30.005 



99.947 

 ».474 



89.529 

 89732 



M 



89-829 



74 



n 



88 



7« 



88 

 79 



71 



76.0 



Min. Mean. 



88 



60 



67 



44 



M 



49 



45 



50.7 



84.5 

 65.5 



78.5 

 80.0 

 61.5 

 60.6 



580 



633 



Wind- 



N.W. 

 N.W.. 



N.W. 



s.w. 

 w. 



w. 



Rain. 



.14 

 .02 



.02 



18 



July 86 Overcast; cloudy; clear and fine at night. 



— 27 Very fine; hot and dry; clear. 



— 88 Clear; very fine throughout; cloudy at night. 



— 29 Very fine; hot, with excessively dry air; cool' and very clear at 



night. 



— 30 Clear; overcast; heavy showers in afternoon; rainbow, unusually 



splendid, i past 6; rain. 



— 31 Cloudy, with brisk wind; cloudy and fine; shower, 3 p.m.; very 

 I • fine; clear. 



Aug. 1 Cloudy; rather boisterous with showers; clear and fine at night.* 

 Mean temperat ure of the week 9.10 deg. above the average. 



Stale of the Weather at Chiswick during the last 18 yean, for the ensuing 



Week ending Aug. 10, 1844. ' 



Aug 



Sun. 4 



\fon. 5 



Tues. 8 



H'ed. 7 



Thur. 8 



Fri. 9 



Sat. 10 



Aver. ! Aver. 

 Highest Lowest 

 Temp, i Temp. 



I 



Mean 

 Teinp 



75.1 

 73.3 

 78 I 



74.1 



7V6 

 77.8 

 7«. C 





53.4 



63.9 

 53.0 

 51.1 

 49.9 



68.9 

 fit.O 



61.9 

 63.3 

 69.6 

 086 

 69.4 

 64.9 

 86.3 



No. of 

 Vears in 

 which it 

 Rai ned. 







7 

 8 

 5 



4 



6 



7 



Greatest 



quantity 

 of Rain. 



0.84 in- 



0.88 



0.58 



0.57 



038 



1.06 



Prevailing Winds. 



^ 



8 



1 



1 

 9 

 8 

 9 



3 



a 



i 



ri 





9 

 1 



1 



1 

 9 

 1 

 9- 



9 

 1 



I. 



/. 



I 



1 



.1 

 4 

 3 

 6 

 8 



t 



8 



6 

 4 

 9 

 5 



4 



7 



S 



6 



I 

 8 



4 

 5 



r. 



l 



8 



1 



1 



The highest temperature during the above period occurred on the 10th, 

 1849— therm. W 9 ; and the lowett on the 6th. 1K33— therm. 36 \ 



a. 1 



Notices to Correspondents. 



Asphalts:.— /. IF.— This material is light, and will last a long 

 time if kept painted. It makes good garden screens, when 

 nailed to wooden frames. But it is not a strong fabric, and 

 therefore cannot be employed where strength is wanted. 



Books.— G. Walker.—" Hooker's British Flora," last edition. 

 A Subscriber.^ ■•• Bevan on the Honey-Bee." 



Brigmavsia floribunoa.— P. P.— You keep your plant too 

 cool and too dry. It wants a damp stove, where Orchldaces 

 are grown, and there it should be tied toa block of wcod,and 

 treated like an epiphyte. 



CucuMBKas.—^non.— Where bees and other insects have free 

 access to your Cucumber plants, there is no need to impreg- 

 nate them artificially ; but it is better to make success certain 

 by doing so. 



Flowes-oaedivi.-/. Af.-If you can furnish any practical 

 information upon the management of flower-beds in dry, hot 

 weather, we shall be happy to receive it. We cannot perceive 

 anything beyond "talk " in the note before us. 

 Ick-houses.— We have to thank several correspondents for 

 the r kindness in pointing out a description of an American 

 Icehouse in Cobbett's "Cottage Economy." We propose 

 shortly to extract it for the benefit of ice-loving people. 

 Insects.— IT. W. IF.— Your larva had eaten a hole in the paper 

 and escaped : it ought to have been inclosed in a quill. R. 

 — ■£■ p .\7 Yoa J Cucumber (?) plants are infested by Aphides, 

 which will be best eradicated by fumigation with tobacco. 



R. H.W. B.— The caterpillars eating your Potato haulm. 



&c, are the offspring of Noctua (Agrotis) exclamationis, and 

 R. W:s caterpillars destroying the Mangold Wurzel will 

 change to a moth called Agrotis segetura. The history and 

 figures of the above were published in the 4th vol. of the 

 Royal Agricultural Journal, where the best means of freeing 

 land of these destructive animals was discussed ; but turning 

 in ducks and hand-picking are the surest remedies. No. I is 



Tortrix fulvana; 2, Noctua orbona. R. jv. o. P.— Mr. 



Curtis will feel obliged by the Caterpillar being sent to 11, 

 Robert-street, Hampstead-road. 

 Local Socibtibs.— A Cheshire correspondent asks if we con- 

 sider it fair to appoint as judges the same two individuals at 

 every Exhibition, from the formation of a society ■. and those 

 individuals nursery foremen in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood, who, at the last Exhibition, were walking to and fro 

 in the tent while the gardeners were staging the plants, 9cc. 

 There can be only one opinion on the subject. It is most 

 improper for the judges to hold any communication with the 



exhibitors, and it is very unwise to appoint nurserymen or 



M 



their foremen as judges. Not that they are unqualified buT 

 because experience shows that people are apt to suspect them 

 of favouring their customers j and although such an imputation 

 may be, and often doubtless is, unfounded, yet no well 

 managed society will run counter to the feelings of exhi 

 bitorsonso tender a point. Indeed, we wonder that anr 

 nurseryman should like to be placed in the position of a judge 

 elons.— Anon.— The bursting of fruits is generally owing to 

 irregularities in the flow of sap ; when the latter is suddenly 

 and excessively urged by much heat and moisture, beyond 

 the rate at which it had been previously moving, such fruits 

 as have thin skins, and little fibre comparatively with their 

 weight, as is the case with Persian Melons, are apt to be 

 affected by the vicissitude. In order to prevent the bursting 

 of Persian Melons, Mr. Knight elevated the farther extremity 

 of the fruit as much as 30 degrees above the footstalk, and 

 the same plan has been successfully adopted by others. |j 

 Namks ok Fruits. — J. L.— Your Plum is the Myrobalan or 

 Cherry Plum.| ' 



Namks ok Plants.— A. R. C— Astrantia caucasica; Sedum 



oppositifolium. A. X. — Carex hirsuta.§ 



Pblarooniums.-J. M <ilt hews. — Procure trie following sorts — 

 Matilda, Garth's Witch, Foster's Sir R. Peel, Duke of Corn- 

 wall, Krectum, Oberon, Pulchellum, Queen Phillippa, Wizard, 

 Cyrus superb, Garth's Constellation, and Symmetry.* 

 Picotbes.— C. H. //.— Wilmer's Princess Royal, Wilson's Plu- 

 perfect, Wildman's Isabella, Sharp's Wellington, Jessop's Sir 

 W. Middlcton, John's Prince Albert, Dickson's Trip to Cam- 

 bridge, Ely's Grace Darling, Brinklow's Purple Perfection, 

 Barnard's Mrs. Barnard, Gun's Queen Victoria, and Rut- 

 land's Princess Royal.* 

 Pinb-applbs. — Prurient. — We are making inquiries. Wo 

 believe that the fruit in question was never intended by the 

 grower for exhibition, and if so it 19 hardly a fit subject for 

 comment. We will, however, keep your letter by us. 

 Rhubarb Wivb. — Rhubarb.— We really cannot advise you to 

 make anything so unwholesome as Rhubarb wine. If you 

 will not be wise, then you should proceed with the stalks 

 exactly as if you were making green Gooseberry wine. 

 Some makers of British wines prepare Champagne from 

 Rhubarb stalks, and abominable stuff it is. 

 RosB9.— R. IF.— There is no danger in removing Roses having 

 a dormant bud inserted about this time. If the Rose shoots 

 freely the dormant bud will do the same, provided it is safely 

 united to the stock. Where buds fail other buds may be 

 inserted on the same branch, and near the same place, but 

 below the old wound. 

 Seeosmkv.— J. B.—\\c really cannot interfere in little disputes 

 between seedsmen and their customers. If we did, our 

 columns would be filled with letters on such subjects. Your 

 remedy is not to deal again with the persons you mention. 

 Strawberribs.— «T{i^«». — We have not an idea what has cut 

 off your Elton Pine Strawberries, while green, close to the 

 calyx. 

 Trbbs.— A Subscriber. — Wood certainly lengthens after being 

 formed ; and therefore it is to be supposed that the stem of 

 a forest-tree may increase in length so as to cause any given 

 side-branch to be at a greater distance from the ground each 

 year. We are, however, not aware of any exact observations 

 on the subject. 

 Wasps.— IF. IF. P.— We know of no means of banishing Wasps, 

 but their nests are easily killed by pouring into them a little 

 oil of turpentine, in the evening, when they have gone to 

 rest, closing over the entrance to the nest with a clod of 

 earth, pressed firm with the heel. 

 Whitney's Composition-. — Various correspondents allege that 

 this renders Calico rotten. The following, from J. G. H. t 

 may be taken as a sample of the remainder. " About four 

 months ago I applied the prescribed quantity of Whitney's 

 Composition to glazed calico — 4rf. per yard— stretched on two 

 lights of a Cucumber-frame ; for a time it appeared to answer 

 very well, notwithstanding several showers. However, about 

 a month ago I accidentally tore one of the lights, and on 

 examining the rent found that the whole of the calico was 

 quite rotten — in fact become mere tinder. If you, or any of 

 your correspondents can tell me whether the calico or the 

 composition is in fault I shall be grateful, as I am about to 

 erect a greenhouse with a stouter material." Perhaps Mr. 

 Whitney or some one else can throw some light on the sub- 

 ject. E. J. IF.— It is out of our province to interfere with 



respect to short quantities. The deficient bottles should have 

 been returned to the seller. Your letter lies at our office. 

 Miscellaneous.— A. — Treat your Pelargoniums all alike. 

 Rose-pruning will appear in the articles on the Rose-garden. 

 North Earle. — lf you will study the articles on Mor- 

 phology, now almost brought to a close, you will have no dif- 

 ficulty in understanding why your Rose produces a branch 



in the middle. Wc cannot name the variety. IF. I).— A 



plant of Cattleya crispa, which is throwing up a spike of 

 flowers, consisting of six buds, is a flne specimen, but we 



have seen as fine. It is a free bloomer. Crassvta coccinea 



had better be placed out in a warm border against a south 

 wall, until the cold weather comes, and it will probably bloom 

 next season.; 



SEEDLING FLOWERS. 



Anaoallis— G. F.— When flowers are crushed to pieces In 

 letters their qualities cannot be determined. We see nothing 

 in what remains of your seedling to make it worth distin- 

 guishing from its parent. 



Carnations.— E. Derby. — Your seedling Rose flake is a 

 flower of good form and substance, the petals are of a good 

 shape, but several of them, and especially the guard petals, 

 want smoothness, being too serrated on the edge ; the colour 

 is high and flne, and the flake bold and full, and the white is 

 tolerably good ; this flower had been too much pulled about, 

 and some of the guard petals taken out. The colour, form, 

 and substance of the flower are fine.* . 



Fuchsias.— C. D. M.— The tube and sepals of your seedling 

 No. 2 are carmine, and the corolla a blood-colour j hence 

 arises that want of contrast pointed out in our late notice; 

 and the greater proportion of the seedlings lately raised have 

 this fault, and too much resemble each other. Your seed- 

 ling is a large flower, of good form, but it resembles too mucn 

 varieties in cultivation, and many others that hava come 

 under our observation. Self Fuchsias are not now worm 

 keeping, unless of very extraordinary merit.* 



Pavmm.- A. N. JW. — It is impossible to judge satisfactorily oi 

 your seedling, in the dried state in which it reached us j tne 

 colour and marking is similar to many that we have, and it 

 appears to be very small. These flowers require to be pacaea 



in something damp.* ... .. 



Pblarookiums— A Berkshire Subscriber. — Your seedling is 



common in colour, and the form is not very good, the under 



petals being too long.* »-»-*• 



Petunias.— IF. P. — Your seedling is similar to a ▼*"«* 

 noticed last week, excepting that your flower is more de- 

 cidedly striped, while the one sent by J. S. S. was slignuy 

 striped and much spotted. Your seedling will be very orna- 

 mental as a border variety, if its marking is constant, waicn 



we doubt.* - _... 



Picotbes.— R. H. Jf.-The opinion expressed in a fonne I 

 Number is but little altered from seeing your flowers a secona 

 time. The bloom of Enchantress was much larger and nner 

 than the first sent, and our favourable opinion of that ▼• n *JJ 

 is increased ; but as regards the other flowers our opinion 



remains the same.* j-. A f hnk 



Pivbb.-J. B. H.— Your Pink was too far gone to judge of, dm 



the petals appear to be too small, and the edge too serrate* 



for a good flower; the lacing is pretty.* ». rt «i.re. 



* # * Aa usual, many communications hare been received too itx«» 



