



1844.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



747 



*.. 



THE TRUE FASTOLFF RASPBERRY. 



\ 



^""OX- 1* LL and CO. take the present opportunity to 



**^v. jL state that the above unequalled Raspberry is to be obtained 

 ( . at their Nnrsery or of Iheir Agents, a list of whom appear 

 *%k*4>n the Advertising Sheet of this day's Gardener*? Chronicle \ ami 

 *^ • thev recommend their friends to be cautious of whom the 

 *PV' uurchase, as another Raspberry, under the above title is being 

 substituted by certain parties as the "true variety." 

 Great Yarmouth Nursery, Nov. 7, 1844. 



provement to which attention has been so much just t] reflect on the advancement which has 















TULIPS. HYACINTHS, RANUNCULUSES, ANEMONES, 

 GERANIUMS, AURICULAS, CARNATIONS, and LILIUM 

 LASCIFOL1UM. 



H GROOM, Clapham Rise, near London (removed 

 • from Walworth), by Appointment Florist to Her 

 Mukstythk QUEEN, and to His Majbstv the KING OI 

 >SY, be^s to recommend to the attention of the Nobility, 

 entry, and Public his extensive assortment of the above 

 Flower?, which, from the success he has had in their cultiva- 

 tion, he can offer at very moderate prices. He particularly 

 ties to call attention to the highly- flattering: remarks on his 

 aibitions of Tulips and Lilium lancifolium this season, in the 

 various papers. He is also desirous of reminding the Nobility, 

 Gcntrr, and Amateurs, who may wish to add to their collections 

 r ornament their parterres with these beautiful flowers, that 

 this is the best season to make a selection. The varieties of the 

 splendid Lilinm lancifolium are particularly adapted for par- 

 terres, as besides being quite hardy, they flower at a time when 

 the Nobility and Gr ntry are at their country seats, and when 

 flowers are so much wanted. They only require to be known 

 to be universally cultivated. Catalogues can be forwarded by 

 post on application. Foreign orders executed. 



^1 



Cf)e <&&vt}mm' Cfjronfcfo 



SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1844. 



MEETINGS FOR THE TWO FOLLOWING WEEKS. 

 Wednksdav, Nov- 13 Microscopical . 8 p.m. 



fa 



Saturday, Nov. 23 Royal Botanic 



4 P.M. 







If*,! 



* 









4 







We have been surprised of late to perceive 

 that an influential part of the daily press has thought 

 fit to urge objections against the systematic con- 

 tinuance of Agricultural .and Horticultural 

 Societies, on the plea that they do not effect 

 any substantial advantages among the practical 

 classes of farmers and gardeners; that compe- 

 titions between mere amateurs produce no bene- 

 ficial results to those who live by husbandry, or 

 cultivate market-gardens. If an enormous prize ox 

 be fattened by the nobleman's bailiff, it is said that 

 the cost of bringing him to the high condition in 

 which he is exhibited to public admiration is more 

 than the value of the meat in the market; that 

 wealthy proprietors only can afford to amuse them- 

 selves thus, because they have means and facilities 

 beyond the reach of those humbler individuals for 

 whose benefit the Societies to which we are referring 

 are professedly embodied. Nothing can show a more 

 entire ignorance of the true bearing of such asso- 

 ciations than such crotchets as these. 



Every intelligent farmer and gardener knows 

 that the range of experimental investigation in his 

 department is almost boundless ; and he finds that 

 each revolving year adds to his practical, if not to 

 bis theoretical knowledge. He knows, too, that the 

 prize ox has not been brought to his high condition 

 without great attention to the most improved routine 

 of husbandry in all its bearings. The culture of 

 green crops in a corresponding degree of excellence 

 with that of large cattle reared and fattened for the 

 shambles is to be assumed ; and in order to have 

 abundant and superior green crops, white crops must 

 oe proportion ably raised. Manure cannot be abun- 

 dantly accumulated without cattle, nor cattle littered 

 without Straw: one branch of farming thus neces- 

 sarily involves the necessity of another, and within a 

 »ery extended and comprehensive range of perfect or 

 jery superior husbandry, as pursued on the de- 

 mesne of the wealthy proprietor, or the great farm of 



a rich and intelligent tenant, who follows the profes- 

 sion by ™»v»;-i, u„ i-- -.i . ' . 



avast 



w rich the common farmers and peasantry may 

 SHirediyfind something worthy and easy of adoption. 



rrni i *" S reat importance to have experiments 

 ^nuueted by those who can afford to make them 



n.w Ut r f gard of the Ioss in case of faiIure ^ an < 1 un- 

 skiU , y the desire of obtaining distinction for 

 kno f 1 1 P ersever a»ce in the promotion of useful 

 norai • slimuIates t0 competition, while the bo- 

 th* V ? nZe ' wnich is tlie testimonial of merit, costs 

 ie society which awards it little or nothing. 



to m l>resentation of a single medal has often led 

 advan JT entS ^ husbandl 7 which have afterwards 

 insta?, i t0 points of S reat importance. If recent 

 ma L eS of a "y value in illustration of this re- 

 comn a ! Ve W ° U . lc J adduce the S reat extent— great in 

 inn ?£ T ; v J th Previous efforts- of thorough-drain- 



pronript \ a st >' ear ' in Ir eland, by (bur spirited 



thev i tors \ who » however patriotic and enterprising 

 would , II • ^somatically, as improvers of land, 

 an exrpnV 1 ^ ^Probability, have completed so great 

 Hovai \ • i dra ; ni »ff without the agency of the 

 feted tn ;r CUltU ! ,al , Societ y of Ireland, which sli.nu- 



«**ful comnpHP eS by i I" ? *** a P lize t0 the suc- 

 l » competitor m that important branch of iro- 



—.« iiucuigeiu tenant, wno follows tne protes- 

 f which he lives with energy and enthusiasm, 

 variety of improved details is involved, among 



turned of late years, and in the advancement of 

 which Mr. Smith has acted so conspicuous a part. 



It surprises us to hear any persons attempting to 

 throw discredit upon Societies which are formed on 

 sound principles, and for utilitarian objects ; and 

 illiberally sneering at operations which are not always 

 perfectly understood, either in object or detail, by 

 those who think fit to denounce them. 



It is a very desirable matter that the aristocracy 

 of any locality should take a deep and practical 

 interest in agricultural and horticultural occupations. 

 The sports of the field, though possibly necessary for 

 the health and recreation of idle country gentlemen, 

 and certainly great inducements to their residence 

 on their rural estates, are often interrupted by unpro- 

 pitious weather; and the extravagant amusements of 

 the turf, or of the silly and cruel steeple-chase, are at 

 best but brief periodical excitements, which are often 

 seriously depressing in their consequences to the 

 over- worked mind, and exhausting to the purse, 

 while they tend to render the human heart as cal- 

 lous as the whip or spurs in which the jockey 

 glories. The individual whose horse is to run for 

 the high stakes of a celebrated race, has nervous 

 sensations unfelt by him whose cattle quietly contend 

 in the ploughing-match ; and surely, in point of 

 utility, there is no room for disputation as to the 

 comparative advantages of the different pursuits. 



Then as to gardening— Where can there be found 

 more innocent or interesting employment of the 

 active kind, or which tends more, when scientifically 

 conducted, to elevate and expand the mind? What 

 relaxation for the saddened or fatigued spirit can be 

 named, that is more calculated to soothe and relieve it 

 than occupation in the greenhouse or theopengarden? 

 And if idleness oppress— if the miserable sensation 

 of a want of something to do renders the fine lady or 

 fine gentleman listless, where can a more pleasing 

 excitement to thought and gentle exercise be found, 

 than in the garden and shrubbery? Nor is this 

 pleasure occasional and evanescent — it may be 

 enjoyed at all times; and the most delicate female 

 can never be without inducement to inhale the free 

 air of heaven — so essential to the preservation of 

 her health and beauty— while she has her flower 

 garden and conservatory to visit and arrange. In 

 short, the possession and management of a well- 

 ordered farm and garden is a point of attraction to 

 our gentry ; and if they can support the expense of 

 maintaining first-rate bailiffs and gardeners, who can 

 win prizes in their respective departments, they not 

 only encourage a class of men whose occupations are 

 pre-eminently useful and pleasing, but they become 

 the means of imparting to the inferior grades of 

 rural occupiers, that desire for acquiring good skill 

 and taste in the management of their humble allot- 

 ments, which so decidedly tends to advance their 

 condition. Although there may be occasional 

 ground for dissatisfaction at the supposed ignorance 

 or partiality of Judges in the distribution of prizes 

 (we are now alluding more particularly to the Horti- 

 cultural Shows), and that feeling of jealous rivalry 

 which mean minds so frequently entertain, with or 

 without reason, still the principle of competition is 

 useful. People of sense not only bear disappointments 

 with a good grace, but feel a generous pleasure in 

 seeing displays of finer plants than they themselves 

 possess, and instead of grumbling at everything 

 which has not been exactly in accordance with their 

 own views and caprices, determine to persevere 

 steadily in their efforts, being quite content to wit- 

 ness the progress of the art which they admire, 

 without experiencing any mortification at their own 

 failures, and very happy to see rich and poor 

 assembled together for the enjoyment of a pure and 

 rational pleasure. Then, when an ardent florist ex- 

 poses to the scrutinising examination of expe- 

 rienced judges some splendid flower which he has 

 raised himself, how happy is he! How he contem- 

 plates his admired specimen ! with what satisfaction 

 he criticises its form and colours ! He pets it as if it 

 were his child ; guards it M lest the winds of heaven 

 should visit it too roughly ;" gives it air, and warmth, 

 and nourishment suited" to its condition and nece 

 sities ; watches over its growth, with the certainty of 

 receiving no ungrateful return for his care. All this 

 is at least harmless erjoyment, gentle and soothing, 

 and such as never costs a tear of mortification or 

 regret. 



And who that has a heart will not experience more 

 genuine delight in looking at a fine collection of 

 choice flowers than in viewing an extrav mt dis- 

 play of expensive dishes and of labelled decanters 

 upon his table, for the entertainment of people 

 who do not care one farthing for their entertainer c 



And who that sees the beautiful specimens of new 

 varieties winch the tasteful gardener perpetually 

 raises — as much from the influence of professional 

 emulation as from the love of his art — will say 

 that the Horticultural Show is useless, or that 



been effected in the culture of the Pelargonium, 

 for no plant has been more varied within '20 years ; 

 persevering cultivation has wrought the most sur- 

 prising changes, and produced a most wonderful 

 number of varieties in this beautiful flower. The 

 corolla has been enlarged, the colours, infinitely 

 diversified, have passed through successive gradations 

 from the purest white to the deepest shade of black. 

 Thatbeautiful plant which, during half the year, orna- 

 ments the drawing-room or the conservatory, owes 

 its pre-eminence to honourable emulation. Again, 

 in the tribe of Roses — of which more than 2000 

 varieties exist— there were but five kinds known 

 160 years ago in France a I England ; and when 

 a sixth was imported into the former country from 

 Italy, for the first time, all the world of florists went 



tad to obtain it. When Linnaeus published his 

 ''Species Plantarum," in 1702, there were only 

 14 kinds of Hoses known, and now there are more 

 than 2000. What but the spirit of competition has 

 effected this enormous increase ? What but emula- 

 tion produces, every season, some new sorts by 

 budding and grafting, which bring forth the innu- 

 merable hybrids of the Hose tribe ? And though 

 some old-fashioned florists may complain that caprice 

 and fickleness, which operate more or less in all 

 human affairs, have caused results not altogether 

 legitimate in the royal family of Roses, both red and 

 white, by substituting the younger scions for the elder 

 branches, bringing into popular favour the hybrids 

 of yesterday, we cannot but think it is no small 

 advantage to have obtained plants that, unlike the 

 old parent stock- -which, no doubt, was very respect- 

 able in its day — will exhibit animation throughout 

 the year, though their flowers be deficient in the 

 odour and excellence of the ancient family. 



We know that some humbug is occasionally the 

 result of a successful hit at a Prize Show of Flowers, 

 hut it is not of any serious consequence, nor can it in 

 these days, when there are so many professional 

 rivals in the floral department, affect "the pocket of 

 the amateur, to any sensible degree, as might have 

 been the case in the days of the Tulip mania, when 

 Hollanders made fortunes by a few of the idol plants 

 of their country. For example, a specimen of the 

 Pansy is honoured with a prize at Chiswick, or some 

 other great National Exhibition, and the happy owner 

 advertises his spare plants of the favourite kind at a 

 very high price compared with their real value, but 

 low in itself, and a mere trifle for % fancy article, and 

 such as no amateur will consider a drain from his 

 purse, while the payment of it tends to encourage the 

 gardener who lives by his occupation. In fine, 

 whether the vegetable productions encouraged at our 

 Horticultural Shows be Pines or Potatoes, Cauli- 

 flowers or Carnations, Parsnips or Pansies, we wish 

 success to those who deserve it in their respective 

 classes, whether the claimants be Peers or Peasants, 

 or of the more really interested grades — those in 

 middle life. — Martin Doyle. 



REMARKS ON FORCING PEACHES. 



[See page 243], 



In answer to M A Subscriber," regarding the tempe- 

 rature, &c. at which I force my Peaches, I may mention 

 that, hs I am obliged to force them in the Pine-stove, 

 having no intermediate house for that purpose, I am, 

 therefore, under the necessity of keeping a higher tem- 

 perature at the commencement than I otherwise would 

 do if I had a Peach-house to begin with. 



The house in which I force my Peaches in pots is a 

 large one, constructed of iron. I grow Grapes up the 

 rafters, and Pines in the pit. The house is heated by 

 common flues, with two -i-inch ho:- water pipes going 

 round one end, and along the side of the front due. The 

 tire, after passing round the boiler, enters the bottom of 

 the hack flu?, which is a double one, and returns by the 

 top fine, escaping in a chimney over the boiler. On the 

 top of the back flue I place as many trees as I can con- 

 veniently, r.nd on the back curb and end curbs of the 

 Pine-pit I « r ut the remainder. By this means it will be 

 seen that the Peaches are not in the way of the Pines, as 

 you can walk along the back passage between them. 

 The Vines are confined to the rafters, and no useless 

 wood is allowed to remain on them that would tend to 

 shade tbe Peaches. 



When I commence forcing, I endeavour, if possible, 

 to bring the trees into the house in mild weather, there 

 being much less difference then between the temperature 

 of the jrnal and external air ; I generally put them in 

 during November, a little earlier or later according to 

 the state of the weather ; I do not start them all, how- 

 ever, at once ; the last lot are not put in until the 1st of 

 January. Any later than this would not answer, as the 

 weather, if clear, is then hot through the day. I com- 

 mence forcing them at 55° at night, allowing the ther- 

 mometer to fall to 50° in the morning, if cold, but, if 

 the v. either is mild, it is never allowed to/.<il below 

 55°. and no that to C0° is the usual temperature kept 

 throughout the period of forcing during the night, 

 it is during the day that I make up for low night tem- 

 perature, that i$, when I have the chance by sun heat. 

 On the Becond day after I had brought my trees in-doors 



the art of gardening can go no farther? Let us i last year, tl temperature of the house was 89° for two 



