766 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



[Nov. 16, 



Brewing. — If the brewing of beer conies within your 

 limits, I should be glad to be informed whether or not 

 boiling the wort is necessary, either for making the 

 liquor more palatable, more wholesome, or less liable to 

 become stale or flat, or vapid in keeping. I am told that 

 boiling is not necessary for any one of these, and that 

 some persons make the very finest quality of ale without 

 ever boiling it. — Ignoramus* [It is the general prac- 

 tice to boil the wort with the Hops, and opinion 9ays 

 that the more it is boiled the better the beer will keep. 

 But some correspondents may, perhaps, be able to furnish 

 a better answer to this inquiry. How is Preston Pans 

 ale made? — the very best that can be bought.] 



To preserve Tettenhall Pears. — Take half-a-peck of 

 Pears, pare them, and, leaving the eyes and stalks on, 

 put them into a pan with as much boiling water as will 

 cover them ; add a pint of Damson syrup ; let them boil 

 until they are tender, then put them into jars. Take the 

 liquor in which they were boiled, and add to it one-third 

 of sugar, and boil and pour it over them. Repeat this 

 on the second day, and on the third do the same, putting 

 injthe other two-thirds of sugar. Let it boil until it is 

 perfectly clear, and pour it hot upon the fruit ; when 

 cold, put brandied paper over them, and tie closely. 

 Two pounds and a half of sugar is the quantity for half- 

 a-peck of fruit. The above is a copy of a receipt I had 

 given to me some years ago. I found the Pears liable 

 to ferment in consequence of (as I supposed) the fruit 

 not having been boiled in the syrup. I consequently 

 stewed them in a third part of the sugar, reboiled the 

 syrup, adding a little more sugar, and finished them as 

 above directed on the third day. In this way they keep 

 well. A little bruised ginger boiled or stewed with them 

 is an improvement, and gives them the flavour of Indian 

 preserves. — A. W. 



fftas. — In consequence of an advertisement or recom- 

 mendation in the Chronicle, I purchased a quart of Cor- 

 maok's British Queen Peas. I imagined before that I 

 had very good kinds, but find this very superior in every 

 respect to any Pea I have yet grown. It is a great 

 bearer, excellent in flavour, of a large size, and the straw 

 is not of an inconvenient height. It is decidedly the 

 best Pea I know, and I think that others who try it will 

 agree with me. — IV. D. F. 



Bees. — The following is an account of a common 

 straw-hive, taken by nje on the 5th October, 1844. The 

 weight of the hive with the comb, immediately after the 

 bees were destroyed, was 881bs. avoirdupois. I reckon 

 the hive and combs to weigh 28 lbs., thus leaving the 

 great weight of 60 lbs. for honey. This, I imagine, is an 

 extraordinary quantity to be gathered by a swarm of the 

 present year. It was swarmed in the latter end of June. 

 — A Subscriber , Devon. 



Morphology. — The numerous supporters of the some- 

 what astonishing doctrine of Morphology, which ffom 

 time to time appear in the Gardeners' Chronicle, have 

 caused the matter to be noticed by novices like myself ; 

 and whether the originators of this — to me — wild 

 doctrine are correct or not, is of little consequence to 

 persons of my humble pretensions. But if Morphology 

 is to be received by jour readers on the grounds set 

 forth byT. Moore, at pages GS5 and 686 of the Chronicle, 

 I for one cannot subscribe to it. Our author says, " It 

 may be remarked too, that several of the Achimenes, 

 and A. pedunculata especially, should be regarded as 

 plants of a very suspicious character by the opponents 

 of this doctrine; for in several cases during the past 

 season, it has been observed that this A. pedunculata has 

 produced scarcely any flowers, but in their usual position 

 abundance of little scaly bulbs have been protruded ; 

 here, what should have been flowers have been developed 

 as bulbs." In a specimen of the old Cyrilla pulchella 

 now before me, which is a near relative to Achimenes, 

 there are whorls of flowers, and between the bases of the 

 underside of the flower-stalk and the leaves, there are 

 whorls of scaly bulbs, which is evidence sufficient that 

 the said bulbs do not protrude themselves where the 

 flowers should be situated, but the proper place for 

 them is so near, that the flowers, scaly bulbs, and 

 leaves, absolutely touch each other; therefore the sup- 

 porters of the doctrine of Morphology should be careful 

 not to do so by imperfect observation, as in this case ; 

 for in those very plants which our author states "should 

 be regarded as plants of a suspicious character by the 

 opponents of this doctrine," are seen distinct situations 

 for both leaf, scaly bulb, and flower. — A Gardeners' 

 Wife. [You are right. The scaly bulbs formed on the 

 branches of inflorescence of the Achimenes are suc- 

 culent buds, assuming the form of bulbs ; and though 

 it may be argued that since leaf-buds and flower-buds 

 are formed on the same plan, therefore the scaly bodies 

 of an Achimenes being altered leaf-buds, are equivalent 

 to flowers, yet such a line of argument is not a good one 

 for the purpose of convincing persons unable to compre- 

 hend the principles of Morphology; which principles 

 are true and irrefragable.] 



Dogs' Scent for Game.— -There is a notion that dogs ! 

 lose their scent, or smell for game birds, during the time 

 of incubation ; that, however, I consider to be wrong. 

 I think it is more likely that the birds lose, or rather do 

 not emit scent or smell during the time in question, and 

 hence the notion. I mentioned this to a gentleman well 

 acquainted with dogs and game, and he told me the fol- 

 lowing in favour of what I have advanced. He was 

 once aware of a partridge's nest that was " hard set 

 upon " near where a party of Gipsies had fixed their 

 abode ; although they had three dogs with them, yet the 

 wary bird led off her brood three days afterwards. There 

 must be some truth in what I have stated, otherwise the 

 smell from the bird on the nest would have led the prowl- 



7 mg dogs upon her. If my views on this subject are cor- 

 rect, it shows a wise provision of Nature to protect bir 

 from harm during incubation ; for, if it was not so, they 

 must often fall a prey to canine enemies. It may be 

 asked, How does it happen that birds do not emit smell 

 while sitting on eggs ? That may be owing to the habits 

 or condition of birds being changed ; for during the time 

 of incubation they lose in a great measure all thought 

 of self-preservation. — J. Wighlon. 



Vines on Open Walls. — After reading Mr. Hoare's 

 book upon the Cultivation of Vines on Open Walls, I 

 adopted the plan which he recommends, and I have now 

 a considerable quantity of Grapes which are as large and 

 as well flavoured as if grown under glass, to the surprise 

 of every one who sees them or tastes them. I am living 

 in latitude 52° 54 r . The wall is, a little east of south ; it 

 faces the sun at 11 J a.m. The Grapes have been quite 

 ripe about a fortnight : some of the bunches sooner.-— 

 C. A. A. Lloyd. 



Small Birds. — Being an imitator and admirer of Mr. 

 Waterton, my garden has for the last six years been a 

 rendezvous for all the birds in ray neighbourhood ; and 

 although often remonstrated with by my gardener, I 

 stood firm for some time. I was first shaken by seeing 

 four bulfinches strip, in early spring, nearly every bud 

 from a Greengage tree : I could not be mistaken. I 

 tried to persuade myself that they were only hunting for 

 eggs of insects, aphis, &c. ; but the stripped trees and 

 the strewn buds would, I think, have satisfied Mr. 

 Waterton himself. My soil being cold, my Apples and 

 Pears have remained on (the late soils) till now ; having 

 many small trees of new sorts with three or four fruits 

 on, I was sorry to find that nearly every one of them 

 had been attacked by birds. I believe the blackbirds 

 have some of the blame to bear ; but the principal per- 

 former is the little blue tomtit, already outlawed by 

 reason of his attacks on the Peas. I did not find Mr. 

 Knight's traps very successful. Can any one advise 

 me as to the most successful mode of extirpating this 

 garden enemy ? — Dodman. 



The Kingfisher's Nest. — Of the various materials and 

 modes adopted by birds in the construction of their 

 nests, those of the kingfisher are perhaps the least under- 

 stood. The bird is found everywhere throughout Europe, 

 and its brilliant plumage strongly contrasts with the little 

 show made by most of the feathered tribe in this country. 

 What early writers tell us of the kingfisher is so 

 mixed up with the fabulous and ridiculous, that little re- 

 liance can be placed upon their accounts. Pliny says — 

 " Their nests are wonderful — it is not discovered of what 

 they are formed ; some think of prickly back-bones, 

 since they live upon fish." Bewick mentions that he 

 had a kingfisher's nest with six eggs, " which resembled 

 that of a chaffinch ; it was made entirely of fish-bones, 

 cemented together with a brown glutinous substance." 

 He also relates Dr. Heysham's account of a boy finding 

 a kingfisher's eggs in a hole "half a yard in length ; at 

 the end of it the eggs, which were six in number, were 

 placed upon the bare mould, there being not the slightest 

 appearance of a nest." My own knowledge of the king- 

 fisher's nest is somewhat different from the above. I have 

 found them in holes ; but the eggs were not on the bare 

 earth, but placed on a bed of very fine particles of fish- 

 bones, not cemented together, but loose, and just hollowed 

 out a little in order to receive the eggs. Part of one of 

 those nests is now before me, which is very friable. It 

 contained six eggs— the usual number of this interesting 

 bird. The eggs are of a very delicate white, and are 

 much like polished marble. It may be interesting to 

 know how the bird procures these small fragments of 

 fish-bones, to form its nest. They are evidently the 

 pellets which these birds disgorge after eating fish, in the 

 same way that owls and other birds bring up the fur and 

 feathers of their prey in small balls ; those of the King- 

 fisher have often been found in places which they fre- 

 quent, of an oval shape about the size of a small Acorn. 

 It is probable, however, that the small fragments are 

 only those disgorged daring the time of incubation. This 

 corresponds with the boy's story already noticed, as well 

 as with the statement of a writer in the " Museum of 

 Animated Nature/' who observes that the " kingfisher 

 recasts the indigestible parts of its food, a circle of these 

 rejectaria surrounds the eggs, and after the young are 

 hatched is greatly increased ; and hence has arisen the 

 supposition that of pellets of fish-bones the nest is com- 

 posed. This might induce the idea that after all that had 

 been said of the kingfisher's « wonderful nest, ■ it con- 

 sisted merely of a few ejected pellets surrounding the 

 eggs, which were placed on the bare ground. This, how- 

 ever, as already mentioned, is not the case; for the 

 cavity or nest is as nicely lined with fine particles of 

 bones, as the nests of other birds are with softer mate- 

 rials. The ordure of the brood may cause the bony frag- 

 ments to adhere together ; and so may have given rise to 

 the old notion that the nest of the kingfisher was composed 

 of bones cemented together. Although this bird prefers 

 for its nest some place seldom disturbed, except by the 

 patient angler, I have found the kingfisher in a sand- 

 bank a quarter of a mile from a brook, in the act of dig- 

 ging or boring a hole for its nest, which is usually about 

 an arm's length. Eewick seems to credit the idea that 

 frequently the hole which leads to the neet is under 

 water; but those who are acquainted with the habits of 

 the kingfisher know, that though it darts into the water 

 after its prey, it never enters the water like other water- 

 birds. Perhaps the best way to ascertain if it lines its 

 nest with bones before incubation, is to examine a nest 

 when the bird begins to lay.-— J". Wighlon. 



Moving Peach-trees.— Mr. Van Houtte, of Ghent, in 

 his Catalogue, just published, observes that as regards 



Peaches, it is particularly to be recommended that theV 

 should not be moved till after the sap is completely out 

 of the leaves and at rest ; otherwise, much injury ma? 

 arise. This does not appear to be consistent with the 

 directions given in this country to plant wall-fruit as 

 soon in the autumn as the leaves begin to turn yellow 

 He also, like others, recommends the gathering Pears as 

 soon as the stalk easily separates from tha branch ; and 

 adds, that if the fruit is left on till the leaves change 

 colour, the quality of the fruit is much impaired. What 

 is the experience of your correspondents as to this ?— 

 Dodman. 



Beurre Diet Pear.— In "Notices to Correspondents " 

 p. 704, it is stated that a specimen of Beurre' Diel Pear 



mPQCIirorl I A A ?Y*/*Vioe in nrit*fVi oy-w! r^rr»2~U« 1 101 



g *3 incnes in circumference, and 

 weighing 16 ounces ; they were from a young tree 6" feet 

 in height, and which measured, at the height of 1 foot 

 from the ground, 4£ inches in girth. — D. Murray, gr. 

 to W. M. Reeves, Esq., Cork Vosterberg. 



Pear-trees Improved by being Dressed with Sand.— 



1 find sand from the north coast of Cornwall to be the 

 best dressing for Quince Stocks, on which I graft all the 

 best kinds of Pears ; the sand is composed of from 90 to 

 95 per cent, of lime, from the shells of fish. I have 

 150 sorts of Pears grafted on Quinces — most of them 

 are twice grafted, in order to insure their growing strong 

 — they are in full bearing. Some years ago I accidentally 

 got a cargo of Dutch sand, which was disposed of in the 

 Pear garden, and from that I found sand to improve the 

 trees much. I followed up the idea, and got a cargo 

 from Hugh, in Cornwall, which is nearly all shell, and 

 from that time my Pears are very fine, and more juicy 

 than formerly. — Alex. Pontey, 



Strawberries. — I should object to "M.A. S.'s" tiles, 

 (see p. 701) as well as the Editor's plan of paving, as they 

 obstruct the escape of effluvia from the ground, which I 

 consider necessary for the growth of the plant and per- 

 fection of the fruit. Detached pieces of stone, tile, or 

 slate, placed under the fruit, are not subject to this ob- 

 jection. If " M. A. S." chooses to tile so compactly, 

 let him spread over the tiles some guano, which will not 

 only feed the leaves of the plants, but give a peculia'r 

 perfume, if not flavour, to the fruit. — J. M. Goodiffe. 



Bokhara Clover. — " B. D. Greys" (see p. 702) seems 

 disappointed in this only partially blossoming : it is a 

 biennial, and of course does not flower until the second 

 year ; it grows 3 or 4 feet high during the first year, and 

 considerably higher the second. In favourable situations 

 it is said to attain the height of 11 or 12 feet ; it should 

 be cut for fodder when about I J feet in height ; it is of 

 very rapid growth, and may the second year be cut 

 monthly ; it is very branchy. I sowed some in July, 

 and it grew the same year by Michaelmas, nearly to 



2 feet in height. I then left the neighbourhood ; but 

 have heard that it grew up like trees in the next year. 

 I should sow it in drills.—./. M. Goodiffe, Granard. 



Bee-fiowers.—\i " B. D. Greys" wishes to provide for 

 his bees, I would recommend French (Buck or Brank) 

 Wheat ; they are so very fond of the blossom that he 

 will not only feed his own bees, but those of his neigh- 

 bours for miles round. I had 2 acres of it once (not sown 

 till the first week of July, to ascertain how late it might 

 be sown with a chance of a crop), and every blossom 

 was scarcely ever without its attendant bee, though I had 

 none of mv own. Successions of it might be sown for 

 the bees from April till the end of July ; mine blossomed 

 within a month after it was sown ; but it cannot stand 

 frost ; it is its only enemy, but an invincible one. For 

 a seed-crop it should not therefore be ventured on later 

 than the end of June. Some crops I hazarded later 

 were destroyed by night frosts.-*/. M. Goodiffe. [It is 



not fond of clay land.] . _ # • 



The Pensile Grossbeak.— The description of this bird s 

 nest, p. 670, is very entertaining, as accounts from 

 Natural History must ever be to those who are not eye- 

 witnesses of the facts stated. I have before me as I 

 write two wasps' nests, one of the size of a hen s egg, 

 built on a comb in a hive which the bees deserted ; the 

 other is a pensile nest, as large nearly as a human head, 

 being 18 inches in circumference either way. It was built 

 at the extremity of a branch of a Larch, the builders 

 ingeniously taking into the work the smaller twigs, as a 

 support to the structure. Both nests are formed of 

 numerous lamina of the same material— a very thm 



papyrus, as it may be most justly called, of a grayish 

 colour, and rather striped. The cells m the combs of 

 both are open at top, others are carefully capped In 

 the former are seen young wasps perfectly formed, out 

 motionless. Should these not resuscitate m spring, and ny 

 out upon us from the chimney. piece of our sitting-room, 

 where their habitations are now a handsome ornament 

 as well as a great curiosity, all will be well.--*/. B. 



Flower-beds.— I have a geometric garden, which i 

 purpose to fill next year with beds of half-hardy plants , 

 but I am anxious to have it gay before such i plants can 

 bloom in the open air, and shall be much obliged to any 

 of your correspondents who will give me hints on tae 

 subject I am provided with Anemones, Crocuses, &c, 

 to remove when the beds are prepared for Pelargoniums, 

 & c R JV. IV., Chertsey. 



'Weather in the North.— It is a singular circumstance, 

 that whilst we have been hearing of heavy falls of ram in 

 the southern and midland counties of England, no ram 

 at all has fallen here since the commencement of this 

 month ; dry easterly winds, resembling the weather ot 

 March, have prevailed, with a temperature ranging frorn 

 38° the minimum generally 40° Fahrenheit, by night, to 

 48° the maximum by day. The Dahlias continue stm 





