1844.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



833 





Pruning Forest Trees. — I observe that Mr. Billing- 

 ton and some of your other correspondents are at issue, 

 as to whether the growth of timber proceeds from the 

 ascending or the descending sap ; and as this appears to 

 me to be easily proved, I wonder that some one has not 

 pointed out the method of doing this. Let the diameter 

 of a young tree or branch in a state of vigorous 

 growth be carefully noted the first week in May ; then 

 cut out a ring of bark, a quarter to half an inch broad, 

 just above the measured part. On measuring this again 

 in a month or two, it will be found, that whilst the dia- 

 meter above the ring has increased very considerably, 

 the increase is scarcely perceptible below : thus, in my 

 opinion, provingMr.Billington'sassertion, that the increase 

 is from the descending sap : for if, as physiologists tell 

 us, the sap rises through the young wood, and descends 

 between the bark and the wood, the circumcision of this 

 ring would not prevent the ascent of the sap, although it 

 would prevent its descent ; and therefore, it appears to 

 me that this ringing proves the truth of the physiological 

 theory also. But here I must demur to going further 

 with Mr. Billington. It may be true that timber grows 

 best if all the branches are left on the tree— I am disposed 

 to grant this, for the sake of the argument— but every one 

 who uses timber knows that it is comparatively worthless 

 when branched from top to bottom; the grain is twisted 

 and distorted in all directions, and the timber is full of 

 knots, which unfit it for any but the roughest and mean- 

 est purposes. "A. Thompson" (p. 795), as well as 

 others, have shown very satisfactorily, that the value of a 

 tree does not entirely depend upon the number of cubical 

 feet contained in it, but in its suitableness for all useful 

 purposes. — Clitheroe, Dec. 3. 



Shanking of Grapes. — The theory which "An Ama- 

 teur M has advanced as an explanation of one of the 

 causes of the shanking of Grapes, is the same as was 

 promulgated some 10 years back by Mr. J. D. Parks, of 

 the Dartford Nursery, I think either in the Horticul- 

 tural Society's " Transactions " or in the " Gardeners' 

 Magazine ; " and is sufficiently answered by the fact that 

 many good growers of the Grape syringe their Vines 

 early in a morning, and give no air until the moisture is 

 dissipated, without being troubled with shanked bunches, 

 or berries — to say nothing of a majority of the bunches, 

 in most vineries, being under the shade of the leaves, and 

 therefore beyond the influence of the sun's rays. It is 

 premature to find fault with the tank-system of heating, 

 unless we have better evidence than that advanced by 

 your correspondent. In a majority of cases, when the 

 cause of shanking does not originate in the border, I 

 believe it may be attributed to the admission of cold 

 currents of air on the young and tender bunch, careless 

 handling when thinning, and other external injuries. 

 Over-cropping is probably the most prolific source of 

 bad fruit ; and it is surprising that gardeners should per- 

 sist in imposing upon the good-nature of their plants in 

 forcing them to produce 20 lbs. of worthless fruit, when 

 they might perhaps take 15 lbs. of first-rate quality. 

 Clement Hoare's rule for cropping Vines is a good one, 

 though perhaps under the mark; yet, if it was more 

 acted upon, we should certainly both see and hear less of 

 bad Grapes. — W. P. Ayres, Brooklands. 



Ice. — Having no ice-house here, we last year made 

 a large heap of ice above ground, and thatched it 18 

 inches thick. It has kept well until this time. This 

 year we are adopting the same plan, with the difference 

 of thoroughly watering the heap as we proceed. Is not 

 the plan a bad one ? and instead of causing the heap to 

 become a solid body, will it not have the very contrary 

 effect ? — J. Greenshields. [No. But we see no advan- 

 tage in watering it. It should be pounded fine.] 



Advantage to Gardeners of a Knowledge of Vegetable 

 Physiology, — Every gardener in this age of science, who 

 aspires to anything like eminence in his profession, 

 Bhould know something of Vegetable Physiology. He 

 ought, at least, to be so far acquainted with its true 

 principles, as to be able to conduct his operations 

 with some degree of certainty. Many will say " I am 

 generally successful in my undertakings, without know- 

 ing anything of physiology, and I am acquainted with 

 many good gardeners who scarcely know the meaning of 

 the word." This may be the case ; but is it not far more 

 business-like, more systematic, and more advantageous 

 in every way, to be able to calculate pretty correctly the 

 result of an operation, than to be working in the dark ? 

 But admitting that the gardener can conduct his opera- 

 tions without a knowledge of the various organs of 

 plants and their functions, it is surely preferable to un- 

 derstand the beautiful economy of the vegetable fabric, 

 to comprehend how the crude fluid is absorbed by the 

 roots, and conveyed through the intricate ramifications 

 of tubes spread out to the action of the atmosphere, in 

 the leaves, and to watch it returning a nutritious fluid 

 for the nourishment of the several parts of the plant. 

 Surely it must induce us to take a greater interest in 

 plants, to watch the many beautiful contrivances of 

 nature which insure the reproduction of each species, to 

 behold the exquisite adaptation of each individual to its 

 assigned place on the turface of the globe, whether 

 beneath the sun of the tropics, the regions of perpetual 

 snow, or the more genial climate of the temperate zone, 

 or the many varieties of situation which each climate 

 affords. In each and all, we behold subjects peculiarly 

 adapted to their several situations, and each offering 

 abundance of matter for our study and contemplation, 

 and from which we may derive much that is useful and 

 instructive. Linmeus, when instructing his pupils, is re- 

 corded to have merely placed his hand upon the turf on 

 w hich they were standing, and to have pointed out to 

 them the many specimens growing in that little space 



worthy of their attention. In fact, almost every spot 

 offers something capable of arresting our attention. 



" Not a plant, a leaf, a flower, but contains 

 A folio volume. We may read, and read. 

 And read ag-ain, and still find something- new- 

 Something to please, something to instruct 

 E'en in the noisome weed." 



In no branch of gardening, perhaps, is a knowledge of 

 physiology more requisite, or more certain of directing 

 our operations with success than in propagation. It is 

 to the operator what a knowledge of navigation is to the 

 mariner in steering his vessel through a dangerous sea. 

 A person unacquainted with either may perform their 

 work in both instances correctly ; but there is a want of 

 confidence, and the results, be they what they may, ire 

 but the offspring of mere chance. In looking over the 

 rising generation of plants, intended by their possessors 

 for the next year's decoration of their flower-gardens, 

 while in the cutting-pots, how many are the instances 

 in which failure is certain ! or, at best, a poor sickly 

 plant will be the result, arising solely from a want of 

 determination in the selection of the cutting. And this dis- 

 crimination can best be exercised by a knowledge of the 

 structure of the part selected for the cutting; whether it 

 contains those tissues from which roots are to be formed 

 in sufficient abundance, or which part is most calculated 

 to repay us by the production of a vigorous and healthy 

 plant. That this can, in a great measure, be calculated 

 upon from the appearance of the branch selected, admits 

 of no question. The gardener, surrounded as he is by 

 the many beautiful processes in the great laboratory of 

 nature, must, before he can enter fully into the spirit of 

 the thing, be a scientific man ; and I trust to see the 

 day (although much must co-operate to bring about such 

 a state of things) when a knowledge of the sciences 

 which most directly bear upon his profession, will be 

 looked upon as an indispensable qualification in hira. 

 But I would not be misunderstood : the mere scientific 

 man can never be a good gardener. Science can only be 

 looked upon as an assistant. A man may be a good 

 gardener (and undoubtedly there are many), who knows 

 nothing of the scientific portion of his business. A long 

 and careful practice, with a keen and perceptive observa- 

 tion may, in a great measure, dispense with science ; but 

 it is bad policy to occupy a long series of years in obtain- 

 ing a knowledge which might be gained in a far shorter 

 period ; and by the aid of science this can be effected. 

 It is by practice alone that many of the operations of the 

 garden can be thoroughly carried out with success ; 

 but by science we understand the general principles of 

 everything pertaining to gardening, and by it we can 

 direct our operations with a confidence which, in the 

 absence of such a knowledge, is mere hazard. Let the 

 young gardener, however, always bear in mind that 

 nothing will compensate for want of practice and obser- 

 vation ; blend these with science, and success is certain. 

 — Walter Wakefield. 



Liquid Manure applied to Carnations. — I mixed 

 Peruvian Guano with rain-water at the rate of half an 

 ounce to a gallon, with which the pots were watered 

 once a week. Another quantity of pots was watered 

 with Potter's liquid guano, mixed, if anything, a little 

 weaker than he directs. All did well. I never had such 

 healthy plants, nor so fine a bloom; nor had I ever so 

 few run flowers. I think manure can hardly be the cause 

 of running, for I potted some Rose-flakes, which were 

 always apt to run, in a mixture chiefly composed of rotten 

 dung and soot which had been exposed to the weather 

 for a year; they grew well, and bloomed clean and fine, 

 as also did some purple flakes in the same mixture. 

 Pinks in pots, in an eastern aspect, watered always once, 

 and often twice a day with a mixture of old manure and 

 soot with rain-water, laced remarkably well ; whilst 

 others, planted in a bed of extra rich compost, under a 

 south wall, the autumn previous, did not lace so well, 

 although they grew luxuriantly. Perhaps the regular 

 moisture affected the lacing as much as the manure. — G. 

 Humphreys' s Compound. — This agreed very well with 

 Polyanthuses and Pinks in pots, and next to that super- 

 phosphate of lime, made by burning bones, and steeping 

 them in sulphuric acid and water, seemed to produce the 

 most visible effect in a short time, the plants being top- 

 dre«sed with it. — G. 



Passifiora quadrangularis. — This plant is generally 

 cultivated for the sake of its beautiful flowers and climb- 

 ing habit, but it may also be made to produce large and 

 excellent fruit. The treatment required to fruit the 

 plant is, however, somewhat different from that usually 

 employed to make it flower only. It may be grown in 

 the stove, or better, perhaps, in an intermediate house 

 between the stove and greenhouse. It is necessary to 

 the perfect cultivation of the plant, that it should grow 

 in a border in the inside of the house, rather than in 

 pots, however large. If no other situation presents 

 itself, a border may be made beneath the path, taking 

 care to leave a space of 3 or 4 inches between the surface 

 of the soil and the stones, so that there may be a free 

 access of air, and that water may spread equally over the 

 surface of the soil and moisten it thoroughly. Whatever 

 may be the situation of the plant, particular atten- 

 tion mus\ be directed to the drainage, which must be as 

 efficient as possible. As the plant may have to remain 

 some years in one situation, five or six barrowfuls, or 

 even more, of good soil, composed of three-fourths good 

 loam and the rest leaf-mould, should be prepared in a 

 very rough state. A spare rafter, or any such place near 

 the glass, will do exceedingly well for the plants to be at- 

 tached to. If young when turned out, the plants should 

 not be allowed to bear flowers or fruit the first year. 

 One, or at most two branches should be allowed to grow, 

 and after they have extended 10 or 15 feet, they should 



be stopped and should notj bej allowed to put forth any 

 laterals. During winter no water should be given unless 

 the plants droop. Some time in February the branches 

 must be well cut back ; and if it is necessary to leave 

 any length of stem between the ground and the gla£S, all 

 the buds, excepting three or four at the top of each 

 branch, must be rubbed off. The number of branches 

 allowed to grow in the second year must be determined 

 by the strength of the plant ; from two to six being the 

 usual number. Advantage should be taken of the first 

 flowers that open to fertilise the stigma, for fructification 

 will not always take place naturally. From one to three 

 fruit are sufficient on each branch; if a greater number are 

 allowed to remain they will be small and of little value. 

 The fruit-bearing branches may be stopped at the dis- 

 tance of 5 or G feet above the fruit. Some cultivators, 

 however, do not stop the branches at all, but I consider 

 it better to stop them, but in either case no laterals must 

 be allowed to grow on any part of the plant; for no fine 

 fruit can possibly be obtained if the plants are allowed in 

 any way to run wild. Treated in this way, P. quadrangu- 

 laris will frequently produce fruit 4 lbs. in weight ; and 

 though not ranking as a first-class fruit, it makes a rather 

 novel as well as a useful addition to the dessert, at which 

 its pulp is eaten with sugar and wine. None of the other 

 species of Passifiora bear so large fruit as quadrangularis ; 

 of others, edulis and laurifolia are amongst the best. Un- 

 like quadrangularis the branches of these smaller-fruited 

 species must not be stopped, and they will continue to 

 flower and fruit for several months in a stove. The fruit 

 is eaten with the same ingredients as the larger kind, and 

 has a flavour agreeable to most palates. It is necessary 

 to be particularly careful in selecting good vurieties, for 

 there are several spurious kinds in cultivation. The best 

 way is to get plants from old ones which are known to 

 bear good fruit.— J. W. Jones, Royal Botanical ( , :rden, 

 Kew. 



Honeycomb Labyrinth. — A honeycomb labyrinth was 

 t iicovt red a few weeks ago in the upper part of an antique 

 side-wall of Nateby Hall, near Garstang, the residence of 

 J. Stuart, Esq. At what period this insect labyrinth 

 had been established, is unknown. The longest winding 

 passage in it was about 6 feet in length, the widest part 

 was about 18 inches across, and the highest part was about 

 20 inches in height. The entrance was from the centre 

 to the outside of the roof, which is high, and concealed 

 from view by branches of lofty trees. The discovery was 

 made by a person in an upper room, who from time to 

 time hearing a noise, communicated the circumstance, 

 and an aperture was made in the wall of the room. In 

 a short time the hive was discovered, and the whole 

 of the bees destroyed ; their labyrinth was minutely 

 examined, cut down, and removed by making a number 

 of apertures in the wall. The weight of the honey and 

 the comb was 140 lbs. It appears that they had first 

 commenced to build in the centre, as about two feet of 

 the honey and the comb in that part was black ; in other 

 parts it was excellent. It is stated by some writers that 

 there are bees which produce black honey, but from 

 this it would appear that it is age that turns it black. — 

 M. Saul, Fort Green Cottage. 



Contrast between English and Irish Weather. — I have 

 just learned from Mr. Boylan, gardener to the Earl of 

 Kenmare, Killarney, that many of the Rhododendrons 

 are now in full flower, and he has also a Yucca gloriosa 

 with seven flower-stems, also in full blossom. In this 

 neighbourhood we have still in bloom Dahlias, Leonotis 

 Leonurus, and many varieties of annual flowers, as well 

 as Apple-trees and Narcissus. This contrasts strangely 

 with the account of the weather on your side of the 

 Channel, as recorded in the Chronicle of the 7th inst.— 

 John Haycroft,jun., Victoria Nursery, Cork, Dec. 9. 

 Birch Coppice. — If u Romseyoniensis " had stated at 

 what time of the year he cuts over his Birch stools, per- 

 haps the cause of their dying might have been explained 

 to his satisfaction. In the mean time, however, I would 

 advise him, if it has not hitherto been his practice, to 

 defer cutting the produce from the Birch stools, or the 

 cutting off young plants or trees, to form stools, till the 

 buds are fully expanded, or rather broken into leaf. This, 

 I have no doubt, will prove a cure for his failures. Will 

 " Romseyoniensis," after he has tried this plan, favour 

 the readers of the Chronicle with the result I — W. Bil- 

 lington. 



Bees. — When I recommended bee-keepers to use 

 large hives, 1 did not wish them to believe that, by put- 

 ting a small swarm into a large hive, a greater quantity 

 of honey would be obtained at the end of the first season, 

 but simply that the bees would, during the second and 

 following seasons, gather more honey, hatch more brood, 

 and send out larger colonies, &c. Surely, England is 

 more able than Wales to send out large colonies to other 

 countries. My brother informs me that, in 184 J, he 

 realised from his apiary, consisting of 7 stocks, 19/. 10*. ; 

 in 1843, from 8 stocks, 20/. ; and in 1844, from 11 stocks, 

 20/. If any apiarian has made more of his bees during 

 the last three years than the above sums, I shall be 

 obliged by his informing me how he manages them. 

 Mr. Wighton's possessing a bit of worker's comb, con- 

 taining young drones, does not disprove the assertion 

 that bees' eg^s are transmutable. I have long ago seen 

 drones bred in workers' cells. When there are no drone- 

 cells in a hive the bees generally hatch a few drones in 

 workers' cells, about the time in which the first swarm 



ives the hive. These drones are bred for the purpose 

 of impregnating the young queens. Bees will not breed 

 drones when the bees have a timely impregnated queen, 

 n>» drone's cells, and plenty of room. The transmuta- 

 bility of bees' eggs has already been so well proved in the 



