782 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



tender-leave! plants, often did as much injury as the in- 

 sects themselves, to say nothing of the time occupied in 

 performing these operations. With my dilution, it is 

 only requisite, with a camel-hair pencil, to touch the in- 

 fested parts ; the liquid at once penetrates their bodies, 

 and immediately destroys both parents and embryo 

 young. I have no doubt, if the matter was taken up in 

 good earnest, that in one season these pests to our plants 

 could be extirpated from every collection in the land. — 

 Samuel Her eman. Florist, <J-c, Elthnm, Kent. 



Morphology. — With this communication I have sent 

 two curious Fuchsia-flowers, which were cut from a fine 

 collection of those plants belonging to Mr. Kendall, 

 florist, Stoke Newington. One is Vesta, and the other 

 Gigantea. The first, as will bz seen, is a flower growing 

 out of a leaf ; the second a leaf growing out of a flower. 

 There is also in Mr. K.'s houses, amongst several pro- 

 ductions of this kind, an unexpanded bloom, having small 

 leaves in the place of sepals. This, in a Fuchsia, may be 

 considered extraordinary ; but when it is observed that 

 Air. K. is enabled to continue the propagation of them 

 throughout the winter by perpetuating a supply of the 

 agents essential to the production of organisable matter. 

 and consequently vigorous growth, with his inability of 

 supplying the one agent upon which the development of 

 the highest organs of plants mainly depends, namely, 

 solar light ; and as the power of this gradually becomes 

 less at this time of the year, it is not very surprising that 

 the plant, instead of ceasing at once to form the higher, 

 and producing nothing but the lower organs, should ex- 

 hibit some of an intermediate character; of course where 

 the decline of heat and light are coincident, as in the 

 open air this is not so likely to happen. — W. Sherwood. 



Tank-heating. — My tank is made of wood, and covered 

 with flat tiles, similar to those used for roofing, and only 

 morared at the joints ; over the tiles is placed about 

 8 inches of sand, in which pots are plunged. I find that 

 the tiles give out too much moisture and cause small 

 phnts to damp off. I would not recommend the plan 

 which I have tried, of using a bent pipe to heat a tank, 

 as proposed by one of your correspondents. The disad- 

 vantage is, that it obliges a fire constantly to be kept up 

 to keep the water (100 gallons) even at the temperature 

 of 90°. Some advertisers of boilers state that attention 

 to the furnace in 10 or 12 hours is sufficient ; but with 

 mine a moderate firing will not do. In the part of the 

 pit intended for forcing, I have tried a few things ; but 

 I consider that a few inches of rubbish should be put on 

 the tiles to form a good drainage, and then about a foot 

 more of mould. The furnace-door is within the pit, and 

 although the flue draws well, still, supplying fuel and 

 clearing out ashes, &c, cause much dust, which I ima- 

 gine injured my first crop of Cucumbers. The pit is 

 covered with varnished linen, and retains much moisture 

 from the moist heat from the tank. The well-established 

 and old plants still look well ; but cuttings, for which the 

 propagating pit was intended, evidently are not doing 

 well — G. C. 6 



Jealous^, and Frrocihj of the Redbreast.—! had 

 lately an opportunity, unsought, of testing, in the most 

 satisfactory manner, the jealousy and ferocity of the 

 robin It is not generally known to how dire an ex- 

 tent the jealousy of this bird will go. Frequent as is the 

 sight in the human species, hardly less so is it in the 

 feathered tribe, some of whose members, although not 

 exceeding a quarter of an ounce in weight, are scarcely 

 less ferocious while under the influence of the " green- 

 eyed monster" than the fair sex. I was in the garden, 

 going through a variety of performances with my favourite 

 robin, who, although (as I have before recorded in your 

 columns) in a wild state, and at perfect liberty to roam 

 wherever his fancy bids him, is with me and my family a 

 constant guest, sleeping in Ravenscourt Park by night, 

 and dropping in to breakfast in the morning. I was 

 standing upright on the lawn, holding a mealworm 

 closely pressed m the middle between my finger and 

 forehead, with a view to my pet coming for it as usual, 

 taking for his locus standi the apex of my nose. Ho^ 

 Bonring my invitation, he quickly took his accustomed 



lll'u ™! e ' h( Wver f ^ was flirting with the worm, 

 another robin-who, no doubt, from a neighbouring tree 

 had been watching us narrowly-suddenly darted across 

 my face, and with the rapidity of lightning hurled my 

 *r^e to the ground, to my astonishment, and to his 

 infinite discomfiture. The jealous rage depicted in 

 the countenance of the conqueror (whose feathers were 

 distended to their utmost limit as he stood erect over his 

 prostrate foe) I shall never forget. It was what Dante 

 would have called' infernal." It is worthy of remark, that 

 before this occurrence, no strange robin had ventured, 

 bodily into the precincts of my domain, the whole tribe 

 « rnfk «f 1 h % h l the 0ne wh0 instituted himself 



month ofW Wa i kj 2 is alwa ? 8 the case af ^r the 

 month of September. From that period until spring, 



which though his song is everywhere heard, he is seldom 

 allowed to venture ; or, if he does, he retires precipitate^ 

 well knowing he will be speedily driven Li vX£ 

 mage. In his own territory he is, like Selkirk 



M Monarch of alt he surveys '» ' 



and there he boldly asserts his rights'; hut when on 

 strange ground, he almost invariably shows the white 

 feather, and sculks home abashed. It is grievous to have 

 to record such unamiable traits in the character of this 

 otherwise noble bird, but truth demands it. The red- 

 breast has been since caught and caged ; the consequence 

 of which is, that my old favourite, finding his adversary 

 gone, has at once appropriated to himself the double 

 domain, and taken permanent possession of two entire 

 gardens, with sole right of entree to my dwelling and its 



domestic circle of inmates. This, I lament to say, is 

 fhe last year of his life. Next season he will have at- 



dned his full age (4 years), and fall a victim, as these 

 birds invariably do when old, to the desperate assaults 

 that will be committed upon him by the young of his 

 own tribe. He will die without a wish or effort to sur- 

 vive his allotted time! — William Kidd, New-road, 

 Hammersmith. 



Scotch Leadinyton Apple. — I beg to state that I have 

 in my garden an Apple-tree called, in this part of the 

 country, the Scotch Leadington, which has borne, the 

 year before last and this year, so large a quantity of 

 fruit that I think it worthy of attention. In the 

 year 1842 it had upon it, carefully measured, twenty- 

 five bushels, each bushel averaging 420 Apples, making 

 the enormous quantity of 10,500 Apples. Last year it 

 had a very deficient crop, but this year it has produced 

 88GI Apples. The Apples have been measured and 

 counted twice over, so that there can be no mistake. 

 This singularly fruitful tree was planted 56 years ago, 

 by my faithful old (now-pensioned) gardener, Mr. Porter, 

 who, 83 years of age, assisted this year in relieving the 

 tree of its heavy burthen. It is a good keeper and a 

 good baker. Its height is 19 feet, and the circumfer- 

 ence of the branches 05 feet. It stands in a strong 

 tenacious soil, 550 feet above the level of the sea. — 

 77. Le Maire William, Larlington Hall, Yorkshire. 



Pears — The following is an account of the weight of 

 Pears grown here this season, viz. 



[Nov. 23, 



Mr. Thorn. Curled Parti fit ■ i Mr Ta^ 

 • Oniont: 1, Mr. Goodale; 2, Mr Dou^i" 



1, Mr. Downlp j 2, 

 son ; 2, Mr. Stirling- 



Nottingham Potato Show, Nov. 13.— This was the fint cw 

 of this Society, which has lately been formedhere th « ? W 

 of the Exhibition induced mttrtotatSES^'p^Sr/ar' 

 sons to visit it, and the general opinion was that *uch SotiSSL 

 were likely to become numerous, and to be of the R reS2 

 benefit in improving the growth of this most valuable ver? 

 table. Many expressed themselves in terms of the warm? 

 admiration, and almost unsolicited, enrolled themselves \i I 

 berstor next year. The following prizes were awarded!!.* 

 1, Early Albany, or Ash-leaved Kidney, Mr. Brim- 2 A\n7 

 Mr. J.Spencer; 3, Arlesford Seedling, Mr. Spencer." St 

 Early : Newark Seedling, Mr. Briggs ; 2, Leicester Red K? 

 Spencer ; 3, Brouton Dwarf, Mr. Spencer. Late ■ 1 Bread 

 fruit, Mr. Green; 2, Cheltenham, Mr. Briggs ; 3 Farmer-* 

 Piofit, Mr. Spencer. 8 ' ' **"»«* 



10 



« 



8 

 6 



11 



oz 



Gansell's Bergamot 

 Jargonelle . 

 Summer Bergamot 

 Rousselet . . 

 Brown Beurre . 

 Colmar 



10 



7 



4i 

 5 



6 



6 



oz. 



Easter Beurre 



Swan's Egg 



I. a Bonne Milanoise . 



Gloat Morceau . 



Napoleon . 

 Marie Louise 



— G. J., Woolwich. 



Brewing. — I beg to inform " Ignoramus," that it is not 

 necessary to boil the wort in order to make good beer, if 

 he boils the Hops in the water, and strains them into the 

 mash-tub ; allow the liquid to remain the usual time on 

 the malt, and then lets it run off. Put the Hops back 

 again into the copper with more wa^er, boil and strain 

 them as before, and do the same again, if required. In 

 this way, both a saving of fuel and labour is effected. A 

 friend of mine, a farmer in Gloucestershire, makes all his 

 beer in this way, but it is not kept for any very great 

 length of time. — Sand for dens tone. 



Miscellaneous.-— Memet remarks, in regard to the 

 shanking of "An Amateur's" Grapes, that air given 

 early in the morning would possibly prevent the evil, 

 which he imagines is caused by moisture collecting and 

 hanging on the stalks of the berries in a warm and con- 

 fined atmosphere. He further observes that the Vines 

 should not be allowed to produce an over abundance of 



fruit. J. G. states that he quite agrees with the 



opinion of " Dodman" (p. 766), respecting the culture 

 and management of Pears ; he has generally found that 

 Pears keep better and are better flavoured if gathered 

 when sufficiently matured, and not allowed to remain 

 too long on the tree ; he refers principally to winter fruit. 



Mr. Petty, gardener to Lord Bexley, corroborates 



the statement of " W. D. S." (p. 766), regarding the 

 excellence of Cormack's British Queen Pea. He states 

 that for a general crop it is superior to all others. Cor- 

 mack's Prince Albert Pea, he says, was the earliest with 

 him ; he gathered a dish from it on the 8th of May. 

 Finally, he adds that both sorts were had direct from the 

 party who introduced them, and that he can vouch for 



their being the true varieties. Querist inquires of 



Mr. M'Donald (p. 765), what sort ot Melon Pitt's Im- 

 proved Egyptian Green-fleshed is, and whether that is 

 not a hybrid ? 



COUNTRY SHOWS. 



Chislehurst Cottager* Vegetable and Fruit Show, Nov. 13.— 

 Tins Show, established by Mr. Barnes, of Bicton, and patron- 

 ised by the nobil ty and gentry of the parish, held its sixth 

 annual meeting, under the management of Messrs. Wilson, 

 Salter, Fmery, and Peckham. The productions exceeded the 

 most sanguine expectations. The Prizes were awarded as 

 follows :— Collections of 6 sort* of Vegetables, including 3 heads 

 of Celery, 3 of Cabbages, 12 Onions, 6 Carrots, 6 Parsnips, and 

 12 Potatoes: 1st, Mr. King; 2d, Mr. Wain; 3d, Mr. Asher: 

 and 4th, Mr. Black raam 12 Onions: 1st, Mr. Kin? ; 2d, Mr. 

 Weeks; 3d, Mr. Peters; and 4th, Mr. Willis. IS Potatoes: 

 1st, Mr. Palmer; 2d, Mr. King; 3d, Mr. James, and 4th, Mr. 

 Blackman. 6 Turnips : 1st. Mr. Willis; 2d, Mr. King; and 3d, 

 Mr. Elliott. 6 Carrels: 1st, Mr. Peters; 2d, Mr. Callow; and 

 3d, Mr. Willis. 6 Parsnips : 1st, Mr. King; 2d, Mr. Weeks ; 

 and 3d, Mr. Peter*. 3 Cabbages: 1st, Mr. Dean; 2d, Mr. Wells; 

 and 3d. Mr. King. 3 Savoys: 1st, Mr. As'^er; 2d, Mr. Dean ; 

 3d, Mr. King; and 4th, Mr. Callows. 3 Heads of Celery : i<t, 

 Mr. King; 2d, Mr. Asher; 3d, Mr. Dean ; ami 4th, Mr. James. 

 3 hate: 1st, Mr. Wells; 2d, Mr. Girason ; 3d, Mr. Asher ; and 

 4th, Mr.Callow. 6 Leeks: 1st, Mr. Asher; 2d, Mr. Gimson; 

 and 3d, Mr. Well--. Collection of Herb* : 1st, Mr. Wain ; 2d, Mr. 

 As.ier ; and 3d, Mrs. Dean. 12 Apples: 1st, Mr. Fuller: 2d, 

 Mr. Asher ; 3d, Mr. Willis, and 4th, Mrs. Stowe. 6 Pears-. Mrs. 

 Dean. Several extra Prizes were also awarded. The Inn- 

 keeper, Mr. J. Prtgh, by his exertions contributed greatly to 

 the comfort, c mvenience, and general satisfaction of both 

 visitors and exhibitors, and served a comfortable dinner, to 

 which most of the respectable inhabitants sat down. 



North British Profensinnal Gardeners' Society, Isov. 6.— At this, 

 the hist meeting lor the season, priz?s were awarded as follows : 

 —Chrysanthemums : Mr. J. Addison for Lucidum, Princess 

 Maria, Gem, Queen, Marchioness, and Triumphant. Camellias. 

 Mr. R. Watson, for Press's Eclipse, Gloria Mundi, and Tricolor. 

 Orchidacea: Mr. G. Stirling, lor Epiriendrum ciliare, E. cochle- 

 atum, and Li par is foli Exotics: Mr. .Stirling, for Passi- 



flora raccmosa, Tacsonia pinnatintipula, Eranthemum pul- 

 chellnm, Phcenocoma prolifera, Strelitzia regin.x, and Erjthro- 

 Jcenaconspirua. Ericas: Mr. D. Poolis, for II;irtnelli,ret>rta, and 

 Sbannoniana. Desert Applets Mr. Young, for Ribston Pip- 

 pin, Hollow-eyed Pippin, and Borsdorffer. Desert Pears: 

 Mr. Young, for Gansel's Bergamot, Marie Louise, and Louis 

 Bonne (of Jersey). Celery: Mr. J. Goodale, for Goodale's 

 Broad White and Manchester Red. Brussels Sprouts: 1, Mr. 

 Thorn ; 2, xMr. Downie. Leeks: 1, Mr. Thorn, for Scutch Flag; 

 2, Mr. J. Doogl Endive: 1, Mr. Stirling; 2, Mr. Addison. 



Cautijlouer : I, Mr. Addison j 2,;Mr. Douglas. German Greens: 



SUbfttos. 



Dialogues on Instinoii icith an Analytical Bevietc of 

 Researches on Fossil Osteology. By Henry Lord 

 Brougham. 

 This is the 19th of the series of Mr. Knight's "Weekly 

 Volume for all Readers," and here we have the con- 

 tents of a portly octavo for a shilling. We cannot com- 

 mend too highly this attempt of Mr. Knight to place 

 in the hands of all who can read, a series of volumes 

 which, from the character of those already published 

 cinnot fail to elevate the taste and expand the mind. 



The volume now before us was published some years 

 ago by Lord Brougham, as one of the supplements to 

 an edition of " Paley's Natural Theology," i n five 

 volumes, by himself and the late Sir Charles Bell. No 

 subject is, perhaps, so fertile of illustrations which cannot 

 fail to arrest the attention and excite the interest of the 

 most apathetic, as that of animal instinct. Every one is 

 familiar, whether shut up in cities, or living in the free 

 air of the country, with instances of instinct ; and all 

 our books on animals make us acquainted with its 

 operation] in every class. Still the question must occur 

 to those who begin to inquire upon the subject of instinct , 

 and to compare i f s results with other phenomena— -What 

 is its real nature ? And this is frequently a much less 

 inviting subject than the observation of the facts to which 

 the word instinct is given. It is this question that Lord 

 Brougham attempts to answer in this volume, which is 

 rather a metaphysical discussion on the nature of instinct 

 than a detail of its more interesting developments. The 

 discussion of the question is carried on in the form of a dia- 

 logue, in which Lord Brougham and Lord Althorp are sup- 

 posed to be the interlocutors. The first dialogue consists 

 of a statement of facts and a definition of instinct. In 

 order to give a clear idea of the subject to be discupsed, his 

 lordship divides instinct into physical and mental, and in 

 the former term includes all those motions which are in- 

 voluntary, such as the motion of the heart, the performance 

 of secretion, and other functions of the animal body. 

 These functions have sometimes been confounded with 

 instinct, but would, perhaps, be more properly referred to 

 vital power generally, and thus comprehend similar 

 actions in plants. This point being settled, the debaters 

 proceed to the subject of mental instinct, or instinct 

 proper, and endeavour to find a definition for it inde- 

 pendent of reason. The result is, that instinct is that 

 faculty which "ac's without teaching either from others— 

 that is instruction, or from the animal itself— that is ex- 

 perience.*** It acts without a knowledge of conse- 

 quences, — it acts blindly, and accomplishes a purpose of 

 which the animal is ignorant." 



In the second chapter the theories of instinct are dis- 

 cussed; and here the difficulty of distinguishing between 

 the reason of man, and many of the acts resulting 

 from the action of the mind of animals is made 

 apparent. If a knowledge of the ends to bs obtained 

 by certain actions, be the character of intelligence, 

 of reason, then it is possessed by animals as well 

 as man. The bee collects wax and constructs its 

 cell fills' it with honey, but it knows not why or where- 

 fore and this is instinct. But let us take the instance 

 of Huber's humble bees referred to in Green's "Vital 

 Dynamics :"— 4< A dozen of these were put under a bell- 

 glass along with a comb of about ten silken cocoons, so 

 unequal in height as not to be capable of standing stea- 

 dily to remedy this, two or three of the humble-bees got 

 upon the comb, stretched themselves over its edge, and 

 with their head downwards fixed their fore-feet on the 

 table on which the comb stood, and so with their hind- 

 feet kept the comb from falling ; when these were weary 

 others took their places." In this way these insects 

 supported the comb for three days, till they had formed 

 pillars of wax capable of supporting it. Now this is 

 something more than instinct-it is animal intelligence, 

 and of the same nature as the understanding in man. 

 Then on what do instinctive operations depend . 

 Descartes supposed they were the result of the ma- 

 chinery of the organisation; but this theory is rejected, 

 and the dialogue thus proceeds :— 



"B We may therefore, I conceive, pass over tnis 

 theorv altogether. But another and a greater man has 

 been so pressed with the difficulties of the subject, that 

 he has recourse to a very different supposition, and in- 

 stead of holding the Deity to have created brutes as ma- 

 chines without any mind at all, he considers their whom 

 actions as the constant, direct, and immediate °P er ? °° 

 of the Deity himself. Such is the doctrine of Sir Isaac 

 Newton, which is saying enough to prevent any oae 

 from hastily rejecting it, or rashly forming his opinion 



against it. *- rt n* 



"A. Does he not mean merely to derive the actions 

 of brutes from a perpetually superintending and sustain- 

 ing power of the Deity, as we ascribe the motions ot tue 

 heavenly bodies to the same constantly existing influence. 



