558 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



Sees.— In reply to a u Would-be Lover of Bets, 

 respecting the attack made on him by these insects. I 

 beg to iuggest as a preventive, that he should provide 

 himself when near his hives with a veil composed of stiff 

 muslin, fastened tight round the band of his hat, and 

 beneath his chin, and tight round the collar of his coat ; 



sting, gone to his Onion-bed, and applied the interior 

 part of that vegetable to the wound, he would have 

 found instantaneous relief, might have appeared both at 

 church and market, and have had no occasion to com- 

 plain of the want of an antidote for the unpleasant attack. 

 1 have a great quantity of bees under my care, on the 

 Canadian system, which are intolerably vicious ; and I 

 have adopted the foregoing plans with complete success. 

 — Eureka. [Another correspondent, signing himself 

 ".Apis," confirms the above statement. A still better 

 guard, however, is a fencing-mask.] 



Bees.— I wish I could afford "A would-be Lover of 

 Bees" the means of rendering himself more agreeable to 

 those insects. Washing the face and hands, and rincing 

 the mouth with ale, prior to approaching them, are 

 generally considered most effectual. As respects the 

 application of volatile alkali, by which I mean what is 

 usually called spirit of hartshorn, I wish it had been 

 Itated how long after the wound was inflicted the alkali 

 wa9 applied. The venom of the bee is so quick and so 

 diffusive in its effect, that the utility of the remedy 

 (which I have always succeeded with) depends upon the 

 promptitude with which it is applied. — Edward Bevan, 

 Eigair Evan, near Nectown, Montgomeryshire. 



Heaping Earth over Roots. — A correspondent having 

 obligingly informed us that he knew of a Mulberry tree 

 over whose roots earth had been heaped without injury 

 to it, a wall being built round the stem, we requested 

 further particulars, in consequence of which we have 

 heen favoured with the following : — The Mulberry trees 

 were planted in the autumn of 1810, and then measured 

 between four and five inches in girth ; the lowest branches 

 shot forth six feet from the ground. The soil is a rich 

 mould, to which was added at each spot a large cart-load 

 of mortar rubbish well mixed in, and forming a circle of 

 10 feet diameter ; and great care was taken to plant them 

 at exactly the same depth as when taken from the nursery, 

 and to arrange and secure the roots so that they might 

 extend on all sides. In the sixth year they produced a 

 Tery handsome dish of remaikably fine fruit, and in 

 every succeeding year there has been an increased pro- 

 duce. In the year 1832, when the garden was enlarged, 

 the soil required to be considerably raised ; and to 

 prevent the accumulation of fresh earth injuring the 

 roots, a four-inch wall was built round each tree, six feet 

 in diameter and three feet in height ; a tiled drain was 

 made from one well to the other, and carried on to take 

 off the surface water, which it does effectually. Many 

 persons predicted the death of the trees from the great 

 weight accumulated over the roots, and the exclusion of 

 the sun's warmth, but they have continued to flourish 

 even more than before, bearing fruit abundantly and 

 making shoots yearly which average about 10 inches. 

 It must be remarked that the wall was built on the 

 original surface, without in any way disturbing the roots. 

 The measurement of the trees at three feet from the 

 ground is at present three feet in circumference. Several 

 of the branches at three feet from the body are 18 to 20 

 inches in circumference. The top covers a diameter of 

 20 feet. The earth, which was applied to the roots in 

 1832 was gradually sloped down, therefore no exact 

 diameter can be given. This is the substance of the 

 account received from my friend. He says the idea was 

 entirely his own, and I must say it does him great credit. 

 I cannot see why it may not answer as well with trees 

 of a larger size and of course greater age. — M. [In 

 this case — 1, each well was connected with other wells 

 by cross drains ; 2, the soil was very loose, in consequence 

 of old mortar having been freely intermixed. Hence 

 air had peculiarly ready access to the roots. It appears 

 moreover, that the earth which was heaped up, teas 

 sloped away towards the circumference, and our in- 

 formant does not know to what extent that took place. 

 But this is a most important point ; because it is only 

 the roots at the circumference that are much affected by 

 the superincumbent earth ; and if it were pared away 

 much they would not be conscious of its presence.] 

 ^ Glycine sinensis. — Although it is now nearly 30 years 

 since this elegant twining plant was introduced from 

 China, it does not appear to me to be so generally culti- 

 vated as it deserves. What this is owing to I cannot 

 pretend to say, as few plants are more easily propagated, 



? f J r A SeQt a finer a PP earan ce in early spring, when 

 loaded with its long drooping clusters of Lilac-coloured 

 nowers. The usual mode of increasing it is either by 

 cuttings of the roots, or by layering, in small pots 

 plunged in the earth, the young%hoots whilst making 



£ TJr^Zl Sr °n tl !' a , Qd Which are found ^ emit root! 



UMrl Cr w^V^"!? ° Ver SOme M memoranda 



lately, I met with the following particulars respecting 



the striking of the Glycine from cuttings. Perha £ s the * 



may be interesting to the readers of the Chronicle, and 



be the means of increasing the culture of my favourite 



plant Cuttings taken off at this season strike more 



freely than when made in the spring. The shoots best 



adapted for the purpose are those which have become 



firm and hard, but not too woody. In preparing the 



cutting, two eyes are all that are necessary to be left on 



each. Out of two pots containing 100 cuttings prepared 



in this manner, and inserted in pure silver sand, such as 



is generally used in the neighbourhood of London for 



striking with — only 5 died. They were placed in a | 

 moderate hotbed on the 20th of August, 1829, and in 

 the course of three weeks were found to have made roots 

 from 3 to 4 inches long, although scarcely any difference 

 was observable in the appearance of the buds, excepting 

 that they had swelled a little more than when put into 

 the pots. Six weeks afterwards they were potted oft 

 into small pots, and preserved during winter in a 

 common frame. The following spring the greater 

 number of them sent out shoots, some from the upper 

 eye, and others from the one at the base of the cutting : 

 a few remained dormant until June. From the above 

 it appears there is little difficulty attending the striking 

 of Glycine sinensis, and this circumstance, I hope, will 

 induce many to make the experiment. I readily admit 

 that as a garden plant the Glycine is common, but it is 

 as a twiner for decorating the porches and walls of cot- 

 tages and lodges that I should wish to see it more exten- 

 sively employed. Every one who has seen the fine 

 specimen in the Horticultural Society's Garden at 

 Chiswick, when in blossom, must have been struck with 

 its beauty. In 1834 it covered a space of 800 super- 

 ficial feet. Being against a south wall, the flowers 

 remain a shorter time in perfection than when trained 

 against a wall with a south-east, or eastern exposure. 

 The latter shows it to great advantage, as it is later in 

 coming into blossom, and the colour of the flowers is not 

 so liable to be injured by the sun. — M. E. II. 



Sports. — I have now in bloom a plant of Menziesia 

 poiifolia stricta rubra with red and white spikes upon the 

 same branch ; it has flowered so for the third summer. — 

 F. X. O., Cliff Vale. 



1* reservation of Seed. — We have just received some 

 seeds of the Nutmeg-tree (Myrislica moschata), sent 

 to us by Mr. Lockhart, of Trinidad. They were 

 removed from the pulp and mace, packed in moist Moss, 

 and closed in a tin box almost hermetically. They have 

 germinated during the voyage and thrown out a radicle 

 and a plumule to the length of an inch or more each, 

 and apparently could not have come in a fitter state for 

 planting with a prospect of their success. Surely the 

 seeds of Victoria might thus be sent by some of our 

 South American friends. — W.J. II., Kew. 



Tropceolum canariense, §c. — The flattering notice in 

 your columns last year (p. 573), respecting the culti- 

 vation of this, by Mr. George Davidson, has induced 

 him this year to redouble his exertions ; and notwith- 

 standing the drought and prolonged easterly winds he has 

 had to contend with, he has produced about six of the most 

 splendidly-grown specimens of this plant which I have 

 ever beheld, and which are alike creditable both to his 

 zeal and ability. This year he has planted two plants for 

 each mass, and he has thus procured such a dense pro- 

 fusion of foliage, that the whole framework round which 

 the plants are trained is in some instances entirely con- 

 cealed ; and moreover the leaves at the bottom of the 

 stem are so profuse, as thoroughly to prevent all naked- 

 ness of appearance near the roots. The plants 

 have been sown in a rich compost of decayed leaf- 

 mould and other matter, and this has not only acted as 

 a powerful stimulant in their growth, but has greatly im- 

 proved the size, vigour, and freshness of colour of the 

 leaves and flowers, as any of your London readers will 

 perceive if they will visit the western end of the long 

 garden walk, now well deserving the name of a garden 

 — may it ever continue so ! The public are not aware 

 of the interest taken in these grounds by those employed 

 in them. Mr. Edwards, the chief superintendent, most 

 liberally supplies (from his own garden), pipings from 

 his beautiful Carnations, and the best seedlings from his 

 Heartsease, while Mr. Baxter, the able superintendent 

 of the greenhouse department, is indefatigable in raising 

 cuttings and seedlings in frames of his own construction; 

 such zeal and activity, such hearty good-will, are surely 

 deserving of all praise. To such of your readers as have 

 ponds in their grounds, or any pools of ornamental 

 water stocked with fancy water-fowl, it may not be un- 

 interesting to know that Mr. Baxter greatly improves 

 the growth of his flowers and plants by using the home- 

 made guano he collects himself from the margin of the 

 round pond, where the geese and other birds yield him a 

 very good supply, till lately never turned to any account, 

 or thought to be of the slightest use, either to the gar- 

 dener or any one else. To the poor, who live on com- 

 mons where geese are plentiful, this hint may suggest a 

 profitable employment of their children occasionally, for 

 during an entire winter they might collect a considerable 

 quantity/either to sell or to add vigour to their spring 

 operations in their homely gardens.— Jam es Mangles. 



Hallett's Fertiliser.— Having heard .of Dr. Haliett's 

 Fertiliser, I this spring sent for one ton of it, and from 

 what experience I have had with it, it has given me 

 general satisfaction. I have been experimenting with 

 various kinds of manures, but the Fertiliser proves itself 

 to be superior to all of them in causing plants to grow 

 rapidly. I sowed some early stone Turnips on the same 

 day, and on the same piece of ground, side by side. 

 Those manured with the Fertiliser are now fit fcr taking 

 up, while the others, dressed with bones and farm-yard 

 manure, are just commencing to form roots. The ground 

 dressed with the Fertiliser has always been remarkably 

 moist during the whole of this dry season. We had no 

 rain here from the 2d of March until St. Swithin's Day. 

 I have tried the Fertiliser with advantage on Fuchsias, 

 Pelargoniums, Cape bulbs, Heaths, Dahlias, &c, as well 

 as on vegetables of all kinds. For plants in pots I use it 

 in a liquid state j I have also tried it with equally good 

 effect on Vines and on Melons, which promise well. 

 About two years ago I planted Acorns of evergreen Oak, 

 in pots, and during last year they made shoots 3 or 4 1 



I 



have 



an 



[£^G. 17, 



inches long ; this year I shifted them into larger p i s . 

 watered some of them with the Fertiliser, and they ha 

 made shoots 2 feet in length ; whilst others, watereA 

 with pure water only, have not made shoots more thaa 

 6 or 8 inches long ; they have both received preciseU 

 the same management in every other respect. To a 

 one who may be disposed to call, 1 shall be happy to show 

 the results of my experiments.— John Willis, Guernsey 



Manures.— I observe in the Chronicle remarks on 

 the great value of nitrous or azotic compounds in manure 

 Now we know that the French, when driven to it bv 

 necessity, in the beginning of the late war, contrived to 

 form nitre-beds, and to furnish themselves with sufficient 

 for making gunpowder. The peasants in Sweden (vide- 

 Dr. Ure's Dictionary of Arts, p. 886), have ail of them 

 nitre-beds. Might not every farmer in this country hate 

 his nitre-bed, in the same way as gardeners have their 

 mushroom-beds? — with this difference only, that when 

 earth has once acquired the chemical tendency to pro- 

 duce nitre, it does not seem to lose it again when washed 

 but still retains sufficient of the leaven (if I may so call 

 it), to attract the proper ingredients from the air. May 

 not the true theory of composts be, that they are in fact 

 very weak nitre-beds ? J^This appears to me a iubjeck 

 worthy of your attention, and an article now and 

 then on the best mode of making the beds, might do 

 good, and above all lead to the general preservation of 

 that most invaluable article household urine, which I 

 apprehend, would be found (together with soap-suds), 

 one of the best ingredients of the nitre-bed. — Horticole. 



Local Horticultural Societies. — At p. 525, there is 

 appeal from a " Gardener, Dartmouth,'' severely 

 reflecting on the Torbay Horticultural Society. Had 

 your correspondent made more particular inquiries 

 before writing such unfounded aspersions, his veracity 

 might have escaped the severe shock it must now 

 encounter. No jobbing gardener of Dartmouth gained 

 an extra prize at our last Exhibition for Martynia fra- 

 grans. The plants in question, the property of the Hon. 

 Mrs. Hare, Gunfield Lodge, were la'sed by the Exhibitor, 

 and had attained their high state of perfection under his 

 care and attention. They were exhibited through the 

 kind permission of Mrs. Hare as decorative plants ; and 

 were awarded an extra prize by the special permission of 

 the committee, because the Judges considered them the 

 best-grown plants in the room. — The Secretary of the 

 Torbay Horticultural Society. 



Labourers 9 Shows. — Will you permit me to suggest 

 that Shows may be very beneficially made for the poor, 

 where neither funds nor supplies can furnish one for the- 

 rich ? I came into this parish about 12 years since. My 

 labouring classes were very inefficient gardeners. I con- 

 sidered that a Show of common fruits and vegetables, 

 with small prizes, would excite their attention. For this 

 purpose I published a list of rewards for such exertions ; 

 and as I had obtained two pieces of land to let out in 

 allotments, I gave prizes to those who cultivated these- 

 with the greatest care. The effect has been prodigious. 

 The articles brought to the first Show would have excited 

 your smiles ; those now brought, your commendation. 

 My cottagers may compete with most of their class— all 

 the result of this simple measure. Several of my 

 wealthier neighbours have kindly sent specimens ot 

 fruits, &c, to lay on a side or honorary table. 1 rom 

 these my poor people learned to know what skill ana 

 industry could effect ; they have attempted similar 

 things, and with success. I inclose a list of the prizes I 

 annually offer. We can only make one Show in the year 

 July is considered the most suitable month, and the day 

 is fixed earlier or later, as the season is forward or 



backward. ' _. . . 



To the occupiers of the best cultivated allotments in 



Dennis's Fiat and Sadler's (each) . • ' t " 

 To the occupiers of the next best cultivated allotments 



(in each of the above) . • • .•„„!,„/ 

 For the best plate of early Potatoes (six in number; . 



For the next best * ' " * • 



For the best summer Cabbage • • • • ' 

 For the next best . . ••••'* 



For the best Lettuce . • ••*"'. 

 For the six best Turnips . . • • " 

 For the 12 best Gooseberries, all from one tree . 

 For the 12 next best, all from one tree . • * 

 For the 12 best bunches of red Currants, all from uc 



8, 



5 



2 

 2 



I 

 2 

 1 

 2 



2 

 2 



1 



O 



6 

 6 

 9 



6 







6 



6 



& 







2 & 

 2 6 



2 



1 

 2 



2 

 2 

 1 

 2 



2 

 2 



1 







6 



& 



a 

 & 



6 

 6 

 



same tree . . . •'«"*«,' „u "from 

 For the 12 best bunches of white Currants, all irom 



the same tree . • • .• • ', «r Q Vimis 

 For the best Nosegay or Bunch of Flowers, of various 



sorts, all from the same garden ■ • | 



For the next best ditto . . . • • , ' ' 

 For the best bunch of Roses, all from °»« S*™* 1 ^ 

 For the best bunch of Stocks, raised from seed, anu 



by one gardener • •••:•*. 

 For the 6 best Onions raised from seed • 



For the 6 next best ditto •••••" 



For the 6 best Carrots • 



For the 6 best Parsnips ..:••• 

 For the best brace of Cucumbers . • 



l°ol Z ^h'esf sSeWraised by the'sa^ cu.- 



The clndfdktes Wo* be i^/crt^^XL*""* 

 and vegetables grown in the parish of Lane-enu. 



-J. Peers, Lane-end, High Wycombe. 



Cabul Melons.-O* reading the Leading Article 

 p. 571 of the Gardeners' Chronicle for 184o, 1 «™ 

 oer being greatly surprised at your ™™ffiU 

 everybody who values his dessert to expel the 

 Iceof Cantaloupes and Rock Melons as unwo rf J» f 

 modern garden. Surely, laid I, some of ">«; 8 e> 

 have behaved very badly to deserve ao severe a ■■•■"' 



a 6 













cannot consent to banish them altogemer, u... 

 further evidence to prove that they are ^ real 7 * * 

 inferior to the Melons of the East. I was ver ' 

 to obtain some seed, and this season I had the &> 



