

1844. J 



being confined in the first place rather to the statement 



liLE^GARDENERS^ CHRONICLE. 





of the facts of geology, as at present known, than to the 

 development of the causes which may have acted in pro- 

 ducing the present relations of the facts stated ; and in 

 the second place, by the practical application of the prin- 

 ciples of the science. Of the style and manner in which 

 the subject is treated we give the following extract from 

 the short introduction descriptive of the causes now in 

 action affecting geological phenomena. 



" Of the many constantly recurring phenomena, which 

 owing to their perfect and undeviating regularity attract 

 but little notice from the casual observer, there is none 

 perhaps more remarkable than the quantity of solid 

 matter held for a time in mechanical suspension in the 

 water of rivers, and brought down to be deposited at the 

 mouth of the stream, or spread over the bed of the ocean 

 The vast amount of mud thus conveyed by running water 

 is occasionally seen in the extensive deltas, or trac s of 

 swampy and at the mouths of great rivers, such as the 

 Rhine, the Po the Nile, the Ganges, &c. ; in each of 

 which cases the river divides into so many channels 

 before reaching the sea, that its actual character and ap- 

 parent magnitude is completely lost. 



" The origin of these vast deposits of rich alluvial soil 

 must be sought for entirely in mud brought from the 

 high lands or the plains through which the river passes, 

 and held m suspension so long as the water is in rapid 

 motion but which sinks to the bottom when the current 

 is checked To obtain some notion of the actual quan- 



l£ 7 £ u°t lld I raatt 1 er thu * continually brought do*n from 

 the highland to the sea, an experiment was made some 

 years ago by Mr. Leonard Horner,* on the water of the 

 Rhine the calculations founded on which possess consi- 

 derable interest. Mr. Horner found that in the month 

 of August, when the river was unusually low, one cubic 

 foot of wa-er taken fairly from near the middle of the 

 river, near Bonn, supplied rather more than 21 gmins of 

 solid matter, and that in the month of November, when 

 the water was turbid, about 35 grains of residuum were 

 obtained Now taking the average of these two observa- 

 tions, and constderingthe Rhine at Bonn to be 1200 feet 

 wide, to have a mean depth of 15 feet, and to run with a 

 mean velocity of 2* miles per hour, it appears that 

 nearly 400 tons of solid matter would pass down the, 

 stream per hour ; and that in the course of one year 

 between seven and eight thousand millions of tons would 



formed himself of the actual structure of the distri, 



sr i 



be carried along, the greater part of which must be 

 deposited in Holland before reaching the sea, in con- 

 sequence of the slow and meandering course of the river 

 thrcugh that flat alluvial country. In the course of 2000 

 years, the Rhine may thus have brought down enough 

 material to f« rm a stratum one vard thick, extending 

 over an area more than 36 miles sq'uare. 



'« But the delta of the Ganges far surpasses in magni- 

 tude that of any European river ; and is, on the whole, 

 perhaps, the most extensive and remarkable of all those 

 at present forming of which we have any accurate data. 



Joon ,° fth,Sg ^ anticdeItacommences at a distance 



f I on f S S * ? lr6Ct Hne from the 8ea ' aDd the base 

 of it is 200 miles in length ; the whole triangular space 



occupied, comprising upwards of 20,000 square miles 

 every part of which has been formed by deposition from 

 the river and its tributaries. 



" The quantity of mud and sand carried by the 

 Ganges into the Bay of Bengal is, however, notwith- 

 standing the vast deposit which previou.-ly takes place, 

 still so great, that during the rainy season, when the 

 stream is turbid, the sea does not recover its transpa- 

 rency even at a distance of 60 miles from the coast ; and 

 the quantity of mud held in mechanical suspension is so 

 great, that a# glass of water taken out of the river when 

 at its height, is said to yield one part in four of mud. 

 Calculating from the dimensions of the river and the 

 rate of the current, Major Rennel has shown, that during 

 the flood season the weight of the mud thus brought 

 down daily and deposited either within the limits of the 

 present delta, or at the mouths of the different branches, 

 must be as much as 450 millions of tons— a quantity 

 which is, perhaps, more readily understood by express- 

 ing U as equal to about 74 times the weight of the Great 

 Fyramid of Egypt, supposing that to be a solid mass of 

 granite." 



The introductory remarks on the nature of fossils and 

 their value in geology are very important. We would 

 also point out the chapter on the fossils of the Palaeozoic 



period t.) those geologists and botanists, who are so fond 

 of the theory of a gradually more complicated develop- 

 ment of animal and vegetable forms. From this chapter 

 it will be seen that the theory which supposes the 

 simplest animals and plants to have been first created 

 rests on a mere assumption. The second volume is 

 mostly taken up by the practical application of the prin- 

 cip es of geology to civil engineering, architecture, and 

 agriculture. We deem this not only the most novel 

 feature of the work, but also the most important. If 

 rofessor Ansted does not possess that intimate know- 

 ledge of these branches of art, which is looked for in their 

 professors, and which would render his opinions con- 

 clusive, he has at least opened up an important subject 

 tor inquiry, upon scientific principles. As an example, 

 we give the following extract from the chapters on Agri- 

 cultural Geology :— 



' With regard to the relative value of different geolo- 

 gical formations in agriculture, it will be evident, from 

 what has just been stated, that no general rules can be 

 laid down ; and that, as it is rather the mineral and phy- 

 sical character than the geological age, the determination 

 of which is important, the geologist can only bring his 

 knowledge to bear in any given instance when he .has in- 



» — — * •'""•"»ic ui me district. 



in our own country, the older rocks are frequently bar- 

 ren, ,n consequence of the absence of limestone ; but 

 where that is present, and there is a due admixture of 

 ■ihca argil, and limestone, as in some of the Silurian 

 d.tricts, and some parts of the old red sandstone a 



Sandfnnt K e H CeHe u ^ " ° bUined - ThC <>ld itd 



it D ^ t u n ;^ b0t ^^ He ^dshire. and elsewhere, where 

 ,tS 4 : e T tUreiS , g ™\ ,s °ften exceedingly productive. 



or J~,'p " * C0 * er * * hc itraU of the carboniferous 

 I" 6 !" P»l*°*°ic period is rarely of great value for 

 agr cultural purposes, owing to the preponderance of 

 cry talhne limestone in a condition which resists decom- 

 position, and the almost uniform absence of argillaceous 

 beds, except in the upper part, and associated with the 

 coal measures In these Utter beds, however, the pre- 

 sence of argil does not tend to render the land pro- 

 ducave, so that the whole serie, of these rocks is ,Lr 

 and yaluleless so far as the surface is concerned. For- 

 tunately their mineral treasures beneath the surface far 



ZZ f a n * ," P f °/ thJS d ficienc y- The cul ' n in- 

 sures of Devonshire do not form an exception to the 



general agricultural con Irion of the oppercarbonifrraua 

 be«te in other parts of the British Wanda. 



"The magnefchn limestone, overlying the coal mea- 

 sures, and covered up by the beda of the new red sand- 

 stone, is not uniformly valuable for cultivation; but 

 some of the districts where it pr mderates are re- 

 markable for bem,' the best and richest grazing dintricta 

 m the north. The magnesian limestone, if burnt, and 

 used on the soil, is, however, extremely injurious, re- 

 maining for a long time in the s,me state, and seriously 

 checking all kinds of vegetation. 



" The new red sandstone, although n * «o thick as 

 many of the older beds, covers a very large tract of 

 England, and is remarkable almost everywhere for in 

 great fertility. It consists of sandstones and sand,, for 

 the most part of loose texture, and alternating with in- 

 numerable beds of marl ; and these are most abundant 

 in the i upper portion, which is not unfn-quently chare 

 tensed by a strong marly loam. Hence it arises tint the 

 latter, being the stiffVst and most clayey bed, is usually 

 employed as arable land ; while the remaining portion's 

 are admirably adapted for pasture, and are cel-br fed in 

 some parts of the country for the excellence of the hav 

 grown upon them. ^ 



" The lia§, with its associated rrnrlstone, varies from 

 a cold, wet, and extremely tenacious blue clav to a 

 strong and valuible clayey loam, and its value in an agri- 

 cultural sense depends on the proportion of limestone 

 and mar associated with it. In the upper part, where 

 the sands of the inferior oolite rest upon it, they are 

 sometimes turned in, and mixed with advantage; but 

 there is always in such case a want of drainage, and the 

 ■Oil remains cold. The principal part of this formation 

 is in old pasture, and forms the dairy districts of Somer- 

 set, W arwick, Leicester, &c. 



"The oolites (including the wealden) consist of so 

 m-iny alternations of calcareous beds with sand and clay 

 that they offer almost every varietv of soil, and are' 

 throughout capable of the highest cultivation. Where 

 the limestone is too prominent (which is sometimes the 

 case), the days are generally at hand to correct the evil : 

 and the clays, if sometimes too stiff and tenacious, re- 

 quire only a thorough systr-m of drana-e to furnish the 

 best and richest crops of Wheat that can be grown in 

 our island. The great oolite is, perhaps, the bed least 

 readily turned into cultivation, and this arises from the 

 •mall quantity of carbon it retains upon its surface. The 

 wea den beds, also, are apt to form into hard pasty 

 masses, into which the roots of vegetables pen-trate with 

 difficulty. 



"The beds of the cretaceous group vary much in 

 agricultural value : the lower beds, those of the lower 

 greensand, are often exceedingly rich and capable of the 

 highest cultivation, end the upper chalk forms extensive 

 downs, which are well known for their short sweet 

 herbage, supposing large flocks of sheep. The lower 

 beds of chalk are without flint, and are often mhed with 

 alumiua, which converts them into a rich and valuable 

 marl ; while the soil at the junction of this marl with the 

 upper greensand is a very productive knm, making an 

 excellent corn land.'' 



We think this work a valuable contribution, not only 

 to the science of geology, but also to the practical arts to 

 which its principles may be applied. It is written in a 

 clear and pleasing style, and cannot fail to interest wh 1st 

 it instructs. It is abundantly illustrated wi<h woodcuts, 

 and is a worthy companion, in point of getting up, to the 

 many excellent volumes published by the house of Van 

 Voorst. 



hw T .u re the ^ Coti(i SCMO °- Jun * ■"»* J«'y *re the" 



^fthi S t, ! ? °£ m the H *«HMb!a Court of Diiecton 



of the East India Company. -Botanical Register. 



Salvia sTaicr.ri.ORA. Brad flowering- Sajre. (Ha'f hard* 

 Greenhouse Shru6 ) Labia:* Diandnl Munoffynia- The 



d Su 1 n!h "* aS ' fkable for ,heir **»»> ™« 



! v«M „?h M e " arC un ' l,tert i! > 'heir general fi K u?e, and 



characters are more p cularh the uulu of the sthctlv her- 



L55S!i p ' V 1 ' ,e ,a: iuml * r o' *• •k'Sbby «d 



suffruticos. .,'e under thef er class. Thesut ooef 



naa to which this handsome plant belong (Long flora jU 



no.^ ly composed of shrubby species. daMlaJpS V th* 



lute ol the coiolla b, two or three times lour erthan thecal*? 



»an me i owei . and , t ,„ ln , iec tion that the majority of the 

 ] l - »" esareemoiled aJJ £ 



5 mthe-Bota.. *w 



'I 1 ' :'Hawercflower^»>Be*tlwidto 



ck « 1831. ne authority ^: 



in M ere<: Mr " ( s bc,w « n Y "° »»d Obraiillo, 



Mr 5? ,S ' ey ° f '**• i " ru ; and *«b^,ueufly collected tj 

 Mr Ma «, „ .fHuama ,oanc 7 



uativesd |, it by I u • 



i P J i£ J. , rap if». grw *J ! its soft wood. ranchS 



SS2LJ ' .">' ,,fT ' i,,,d * in « fcho ° 1 ' ««»«« 



J 1 ««a Moo». U And 



C ?!!?!If as0n U ,ho ' n, * v,r 1>C » ,,inleU »»■ " »trong 

 e faa adhesive Mature, as this would auaaseat 



the ralproj ity l beran.e. Equal auau 



•andy loam and pe „ c , tr- i>cn ^ 



»» n.lant moisture, will be sonant with th. t of 



tries, es. It uh I be placed in an airy part of a bt< 



™ ; ,0 i oa> 



ng outtmgi of th oung w< in the usual way, and nlae- 



• "Kt.em i gt • bottom heat. ward <: ■ f the 



««'arj has suggested the sp, „ mc .> .lon'tMugm- 



«" ' Hut my. 



Garden Memoranda. 



Royal Bofanie Garden, I <.— In the Heath- 



bouse at thia place are some splendid speci-nens of this 



beautiful tribe, and among ihm was one of Hyemalis, 

 which measured 8J feet in height, from the top to the 

 surfsce of the earth to the tub, and fully 9 feet in dia- 

 meter. From a careful calculator!, by enumerating the 

 More s on several individual spikes, and multiplying the 

 whole. I am satisfied thit there cou'd not he fewer than 

 120,00m blossoms on the plant ! The tub in which it 

 whs growing measure 1 I f * « t in width, and 3J feet in 

 ili. When we consider the short time that this 

 hybrid has been in the country (about six years), those 

 who know anything about the culture of the Heath will 

 have no hesitation in pronouncing it to be one of the 

 finest specimens of horticultural skill that has ever been 

 (•rodu I, and which will still reUin for Mr. M'Nab the 

 Im in Heath-growing.— A. S. Yc.strr, Dec. 21. 



NOTICES of NJSW PLANTS WHICH are EITHER 



USEFUL OR ORNAMENTAL. 



Miscellaneous. 



Scotch Chemici! Attooia l.— Our letters inform ni 

 tint this Association is prospering, as it ought to be. 

 Professor Johnston has been invited tolectute in several 

 parts of the country, and the knowledge and taste for 

 Agricultural Chemistry are evidently spreading among 

 the sharp-wit'ed Scotch farmers. 



Ctniral A mrrica.— The fo'lowing are some of the 

 productions of the State of CVt.rica, in Central Ame- 

 rica, u'z. :— The Sugar, *ild and white cane, and that of 

 the class called B rota, which spread out, forms strong 

 planks more than hVf a yard in width, and 5 or 6 yards 

 in length; Coffee (which, being properly plucked and 

 dried, is exactly similar to that of Mocha); three sorts 

 of Cacao or Chocolate, Indigo, Vanilla; three aorta of 

 M m>, seven kinds of French Beans, Peas, Beans, Rice, 

 W heat, Musk, an 1 Water-Melooi. In a word, innume- 

 rable medicinal plants, and all the Cereal, so that Botany 

 would find amonjst us a vast field in which to range with 

 unspeakab'e advantage to humanity and society in ge- 

 neral ; three sorts of Plantains, three of Cotton, To- 

 bacco of many kinds ; Timber, for mills and other 

 works, which require hard woods, such as Quapinol, the 

 Lignum-uta?, the Wild Medlar tree, and the Oak ; for 

 housea and joiners' work, mahogany of the most excel- 

 lent quality ; the Clique, the Cocoa-nut tree, t' e 

 Rouron, and the Cristobal ; the Beech-tree, three sorta 

 of Cedar, the Caragaa (which, from \ery recent observa- 

 iion, is considered the best substitute for Cedar), the 

 C nur, the 1 avey (also called the Espavel, or 

 Aguegue), and the Laurel. For house-props, not liable 

 ■ rot in the earth, the Chirraca, the Tubus, the Bay- 

 nilla, the Guachapelin (a very strong wood), the Quie- 

 brahacha, the Black Wood, the Comenegro, which is 

 exactly the same as the Iron-tree, so celebrated in the 

 •st Indie*, and other countries ; finally, dye-woods, 

 such as are called Brazil and Nicaragua, found on the 

 coasts of the Pacific and Caribbean ; the San Juan, of a 

 beautiful yellow; Poro, from which is extracted a very 

 bright yellow cane-colour ; and, above all, the wild An- 

 nona reticulata, which has the particular property of its 

 wood being perfectly white, but when cut or «plit, in 



Avbmovk obtl'sh.oba. Dr. Govan's Anemone. (Hardy \ BUUU ".""* *""' Ici;u J r w »"e, out wnen cut or «plit, in a 

 Perennial.) Raiiuiiculacese. Polyandria Polygynia. — This (ew minutes turns to a clear and. brilliant red colour 



n nlrr>adv nntipod wrhir*h Pin Y\f t-ttrinto,! ■>,..! n UiA :_ :*.- i 1 i 



Edin. Phil. Journ. for 1831-5, p. ioj. 



- w . ^.-^.. , .— _-™. . Ui/ ....... ,,» * <>** *, j nisi, — Aina 



pretty Indian Alpine herbaceous plant has been already noticed, 

 Oflder the name of A. Govaniana, which i< what Dr. Wallich 

 called it. It escaped my observation that Professor Royle had 

 determined that species to be the same as A. obtuailoba of 

 Don, whicli name must uke precedence. It is nearly a! . t to 

 A. narcissi flora, which is, however, readily distinguished by its 

 short flower stalks and deeply divided leaves. The native 

 situation of the specits is stated by Dr. Royle to be the Choor 

 mountain of the Himalayas, at elevations of from 10,000 t 

 12,000 feet, fl wering in May. In cultivation it proves to be a 

 hardy littl* Alpine plant, -rowing- about six inches high, and 

 well suited fojc po s, or a rockwork where the situation i 

 rather shaded and damp. It is easily increased from seeds, 

 which should be sown early In spring, in a soil composed of 

 sandy peat and leaf-mould, and a small portion of loam ; ater- 

 wards, when the young plants are large enough, they should 

 be potted singly in very small pots, and kept hi a cold frame, 

 with the back turned to the sun during the summer. After- 

 wards they nay be treated in the ordinary way, buc tLey will 



which can be extracted, ami which is quite durable;' 

 Balsam c*vuna, or canune, Copaiba, and Toiu, and Ca- 

 tuo ; the gums Copey. R >, Copal, Arabic, Quitirri, 

 Guapinol (ao excellent perfume), incense, Chirraca, and 

 that of the Chesnut-tree, the fruit of which contains 

 much oil, and has the property of becoming hard, and of 

 which candles are matlr, very like yellow wax, burning 

 with a good clear and steady light, without giving out 

 much carbon ; this seed and substance being worked and 

 purified, makes candles as fine as those of white wax. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS 



For the en*u>w Werk. 



I.— HOTHOUsc, COXabKVjU'ORIES, &c 

 Orchidaetv.—In reference to the shy blooming kinds, the 

 most essential part ol their management is to compel them to 



