GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



103 



■* u* 



pplicat 



money, 1 must 



ittwe 



towltoVtoai mind." On this we 

 ly hope Sir William Hooker is the 





, , «-. ., interpreted anv pASMp In our aavt-rtise- 

 *^ - ourselves to put that construction upon 



nut iam ^ { X"^ No doubt it was intended to be as 



01** V ^rfbte in heating the great Palra-house; and, no 



' ** ^JlStotl more than necessary is or has ever been 



^!lb.of h^iniore possible that, with 



2^ th? ; e: * h 1 t an those in use in the Kew Palm- 

 ST2 i^S m Vrf fuel might be obtained than Sir 

 ^ V ^*\ r . . anv idea of. This is all we ever said or 



• t 1 " and we fully trust this explanation may be 

 iV William Hooker as respects the true cleaning 

 W» J Lnnf statement, although we must confess that our 

 g tmW^°r d over from the firemen at the Palm-house, 

 __* *Artf io ^ ^ led iQt(> error by what they tol d us in 



! 



have no difficulty in discovering him to be a science- 

 hater ; but we like him none the less for that, 



should like him better were he other- 

 wise. The charm of his book is its freedom from 



the author wears neither white kid 

 boots — at least in California — but 



though we 



all convention * ity ; 

 gloves nor glazed 



*"*^ItTb*<n unavailing; and how to explain the great 



JSTLn the statement of Sir William Hooker that the 



i the Palm-house "can in no way be calculated to 



_tfatn 300?. a year," and the statement of the fire- 



fhe W boilers consume 72 sacks of mixed fuel each 



b— n |j f duly more than we can pretend to do. John 





■m tbtt 



r#3**b > Kiri,J ' s Eoad ' Chelsea 



otittits 



Lj*h*ak Feb. 6.— The President in the chair. W. 

 V Dwiiell,' M.D., and W. Gourlie, Esq., jun., were 

 leted Fellows. Mr. J. 0. Westwood made some 

 ■wntfrt" ou the Eria silkworm, and on the attempts 

 j&h have been recently made to introduce it into 

 jhlU Algeria, and the South of Europe. Head : —The 

 __jencement of an elaborate memoir "on the structure 

 pi affinities of the natural order Balanophoreae," by Dr. 

 I D. Hooker. This memoir was illustrated by an ex- 

 tesire series of admirable drawings. The author stated 

 b hid examined about 30 species of the order from 

 mMS sources, and of 26 of these, both sexes. The 

 ■attest and n st frequent form assumed by the 

 rijmne or axis of these curious plants was stated to 

 be that of a simple or brauched tuber, sessile on the 

 wot from which it derives its nourishment, and giving 

 rf ooe or more flower-bearing peduncles. " In the 

 earliest stage," the author observes, " at which I have 

 examined any of the Helosidae or Balanophorese, the 

 rang plants appear as a cellular mass, nidulatingin the 

 nrk of the root (but partially exposed) with whose 

 cellular tissue its own is in organic adhesion, though 

 email/ distinguishable. It offers at first no trace of a 

 nscular qrstem, nor any distinction of parts ; but before 

 it has reached the cambium layer of the bark, and 

 before its upper extremity has attained any considerable 

 ate, an opaque line of white cellular tissue, different 

 from the red, may be found beneath each lobe, or in the 

 centre of the mass, in which vascular tissue makes its 

 appearance. Shortly afterwards, the wood of the root 



r which the parasite grows appears to become 

 led; its annual layers are displaced, and, at a still 

 iter period, vascular bundles enclosed in a cellular 

 toatn appear to have ascended into the axis of the 

 rhizome, and to have become continuous with those 

 already found in it. Some genera do not present the 

 appearance of receiving any vascular bundles directly 

 from the root-stock, but their own vascular bundles may 

 le traced descending to the line of union between the 

 rtotand the parasite, where they become closely applied 

 Jjtjie vascular sjstam of the former without, however, 

 jming any interlacement or organic union." — " The 

 raizomes in many species attain a considerable age. 

 jktoaia seems to be capable of indefinite increase, the 

 ■imdual patches of the plant flowering at all or most 



^iDflB OI tllA VPAT* ntirl +1ia a1/1 kuAnAlma fifth© 1*1'! 1701X11* 



appears in the rough dress of a trapper or squ ttter, or 

 wild hunter, of which his book is but the reflection. 

 Can we say more in his favour ? The following extracts 

 will show the reader what he has to expect in Mr. 

 Frank Marryat's burnt journal. 



" There are few after all to whom either roughness or 

 adventurous life comes aptly, although the proud man 

 scorns to own he feels the privation he has sought as it 

 were ; but few of those who have sacrified position, 

 comforts, and friends elsewhere, for the pursuit of 

 freedom and adventure, with wealth of course appear- 

 ing in the distance, have realised their dreams, or have 

 done otherwise in the long run than own their folly, 

 and mourn it secretly. Some men are born for a wild 

 and careless life — a happy liveliness of disposition, 

 knowledge of the world, physical health, recklessness 

 of personal safety, indifference to social position and 

 home comfort, all fit them for it ; their creed is to do 

 ; as no one else does (and they do none the worse for 

 this) ; these men are few in number, and they can 

 live when others starve. Observe the man in a hunting- 

 field, who strikes out his own line of country, and that 

 a new one to him ; each fence may conceal a marl-pit, 

 but he faces bravely all obsti !es, and comes in right at 

 last. Rash fool ! says Jones as he opens a gate. Stupid 

 ass ! echoes Brown as he creeps through a gap. But 

 no ! Brown and Jones would be both fools and asses if 

 they tried to do it, but to this man such work comes 

 naturally. 



" As a rule the fate of the minnows who will pursue 

 an unbeaten track is certain enough. It is generally 

 a great mistake when men throw up on their own 

 account a certain means of livelihood, to seek adven- 

 ture and fortune in new gold countries, 

 generally a great mistake when fathers with 

 thrift sons, stupid sons, or lazy sons, say, 



It is 

 spend- 

 1 John, 



you are 



500Z. 



doing 



and 



« away as new ones are formed." 



■*>) »s well as Rhopalocnemis, several species 

 •Ptora, Lepidophyton, Langsdorffia, and Sa 



Phyllocoryne 

 of Bala- 



Sarcophyte, 



tiedly 

 nazonie 



vegetation of the 

 . -, -~ r .~ «, wuijwibwii with that of many 



¥**> especially of fungi, with which some persons 

 J* eompared the Balanophorese. On the contrary, Dr. 

 jw believes that the growth of all the parts is very 

 T*; wd, with regard to Rhopalocnemis and Balano- 

 £*» especially, many opportunities had been afforded 

 ^observing that the peduncle did not flower for 

 y£™ *eeka after its protusion from the rhizome. 



fcdeuT ^ Whidl 8Carcel y aa mits of abstract, goes on 



minutely the peculiarities which were observed 



no good for yourself" ; here are 

 , go ana try your luck in the diggings.' 

 It was a great mistake when a party of gentlemen 

 left England in 1849 for California i i a yacht 

 of their own, and having arrived at the diggings 

 got disgusted, and returned very much out at elbows, 

 with most melancholy reports respecting the gold-fields. 

 And these are great mistakes, for this reason, that 

 patience under disappointment, and a disposition that 

 can ever look sanguinely into the future, are as re- 

 quisite for « rough life,' as strong hands, willing hearts, 

 and sound health. 



* Our entertainers occupied themselves in market- 

 gardening, which is a peaceful and unexciting profes- 

 sion ; and as the whole party were animated with a 

 strong love of adventure, and were anxious for some- 

 thing more soul-stirring than weeding and watering 

 beds of Cabbages, soon after I last saw them they dis- 

 banded and dispersed, nor have I heard of them since. 

 Vegetables attain an unusual size in California, owing 

 to the rich qualities of the maiden soil ; but I have 

 observed an insipidity in everything that has thus 

 rapidly matured, and size is attained at the expense of 

 loss of flavour. Onions and Tomatas as large as cheese 

 plates are common. Melons have attained the weight 

 of 50 pounds. Wheat and Oats grow to the height of 

 8 and 10 feet, and are very prolific in the ear ; Potatoes 

 reach dimensions unheard of elsewhere, and the diameter 

 of a Cabbage is sometimes so large that the Cabbage 

 has to be seen to be believed in." 



miles ire asc id the Brtt range of hills ; tne Pine-tree 

 appears, and here and there we catch glimpses of the 

 American Fork river. As we leave the plain and 

 ascend the wooded hills, trails may be observed indicated 

 by blazed trees, leading to mountain gorges, where 

 diggers are at work. Flowers clothe the hills in the 

 richest profusion, and most conspicuous is the yellow 

 Poppy, which lightens up these desolate red hills for a 

 few weeks each spring ; growing in rich masses that, in 

 contrast to the bleak and stunted herbage, are like sun- 

 beams, and like sunbeams leave every spot they cheer 

 more gloomy, when, under the influence of the first hot 

 summer wind, they droop in a night aud pass away." 



Miss Corner's Familiar Fables (Dean & Son) is a 

 haudsome volume, beautifully printed and profusely 

 illustrated by clever woodcuts. It is a charming present 

 for little folks. 



" We stopped to breakfast at a house of entertain- 

 ment kept by one Crockett, who had a very pretty wife ; 

 but the possession of this luxury, so far from humanising 

 Crockett, appeared to keep him in a continual fever of 

 irritation ; for he was jealous, poor fellow, and used to 

 worry himself because there was ever a dozen or two of 

 hairy miners gazing in a bewildered manner at Mrs. C. ; 

 but, if report speaks truly, the bonnet and boots of a 

 1 female' had been successfully exhibited in this region 

 at a dollar a head (a glimpse of them being thought 

 cheap even at that price) : surely therefore Crockett 



■w exam" a" ~# r i — ' "-« *- --*- "^,vu | might have excused the poor miners for regarding 



*thor 2 * tlon of the tissues of the plants ; and the attentively the original article when presented gratis in 



men tramps iha ilaimiA nmAn » ~c 4.u«:_ /«i:— i , , J - °. _. 



the shape of a pretty woman. 



* Crockett carried a revolver of disproportionate size, 

 he not being a large man, and this instrument he 

 occasionally used upon provocation. A great number 

 of miners had looked at Mrs. Crockett on the morning 

 of our arrival, and her husband had not quite finished 

 foaming at the mouth in consequence, when we entered 

 the house. It was some time before he condescended 



V other V arl ° US °P inions which have been published 



observers, as to the nature of the parts com- 

 ~ toese several orams. 



organs. 



Notices 



$oofcs 



forW^tt ^ Io ^ litls f or Mecouections oj a Jtswtnt 

 Mr M • Frank Marryat. 8vo, Longmans. 



^•- arryatisa great, draughtsman— not with the 

 •Wbrnian ° Wn ^ but with the pen. His sketches of 



*• l( iventu S0Ciety and scenerv > nis own adventures and 



? » Saon'SJli hi ? fr ' ends >. are told in a J°y° us s P irit 

 ^tftentin * \ captivates the idle and arrests 



!*« to Cm ear «est reader. Those v. ho think of 



fl mmt T la raa y here learn the truth of what 



t^tfcwa eCt; th0Se !*° have friends there wil1 

 y*an it cn f ln ' whlcn their lives are spent ; those who 



!S*g bv ?? 8 P eci *!ation there may judge of their 



C *°miJ ^ author ' s option as to the value of 



*** Th^ e !? Ce , manufactured f or the European 



np ough the dashing style of the writer 



we 



to be civil ; but having at length ibformed us that he 

 was 'so riled that his skin cracked, 5 he added that 

 he was a 'devilish good fellow when he was right 

 side up/ and commanded us to drink with him. 

 After this he procured us a most excellent breakfast, 

 and, on the strength of our respectable appearance, 

 allowed Mrs. Crockett to preside at this repast, which 

 she did in a nervou* manner, as if momentarily under 

 the expectation of being shot. 



* We left our host ' right side up, 5 and proceeding on 

 our way, we soon lost sight of the cultivated country, 

 and began to traverse undulating plains studded wirh 

 the dwarf Oak. The road now gradually becomes 

 worse, and has long ceased to be level ; we pass road- 

 side houses, whose names indicate the localities in which 

 they are placed: 'Rolling Hills, 5 ' Willow Springs, 5 

 'Red Mountain, 5 and so forth. After travelling 20 



Garden Memoranda. 



Messrs. Fraser's, Lea. Bridge Road, Essex. 

 Since we last visited this nursery several new glass- 

 houses have been erected, and among them a span- 

 roofed show-house, about 65 feet in length, and 21 feet 

 in width. This, even thus early in the season, is as gay 

 as it well could be with forced flowers, more especially 

 with Azaleas, which, when well bloomed, as these were, 

 could not possibly be surpassed in brilliancy. Among 

 them were Old White and Fielder's White, the latter 

 doubtless a variety of the former, but an improvement 

 ou it, especially in regard to foliage, which it keeps 

 better in winter than the Old White. Associated with 

 these were also Smith's coccinea, which is one of the 

 best red Azaleas for early work, exquisita and one or 

 two semi-double sorts. It has been fouud that the 

 latter keep much longer in blossom thau the single 

 kinds, a fact worth remembering by all who are desirous 

 of having a long continuance of gay flowers. Some 

 Camellias and a rose-coloured Rhododendron, called 

 Cunningham^, also helped to decorate this house. This 

 variety of Rhododendron comes regularly into flower 

 at this season without any forcing. On the side shelves 

 were Crocuses, Hyacinths, early Tulips, Narcissi, and 

 Chinese Primulas, arranged in rows, and so placed in 

 regard to colour as to render them very effective. It 

 may not be out of place here to remark that bulbs 

 generally are blooming unusually well this year — 

 scarcely a single failure occurring among them. The 

 Primulas mentioned above were single kinds, and were 

 all raised from seeds sown in June last. 



In another house was a collection of all the finer 

 varieties of tree Carnations, which, if assisted with a 

 little heat, keep on blooming all through the winter and 

 spring. We need not say that they are invaluable for 

 cutting from, which does them more good than harm, 

 for whenever they are cut they throw out new shoots, 

 and thus keep up a continuous supply of flowers. 



In the Heath house some of the early kinds, as Gran- 

 dinosa, Vernix coccinea, which produces pretty little 

 rouud orange globular flowers, ardens, and others were 

 in blossom. The two latter do not strike readily from 

 cuttings ; but this is little to be regretted as they come 

 plentifully from seeds, which they ripen in abundance. 

 Among Leschenaultias in another division of the same 

 house,°were Baxter i and its large variety, which is 

 perhaps the best of all of them for making a good 

 display in winter ; also a kind called intermedia, which 

 has the good quality of keeping well in winter, which 

 formosa, which is one of its parents (the other being 

 Baxteri), does not. 



It may interest some to know that the Messrs. Fraser 

 have commenced to grow Pelargoniums on an extensive 

 scale. They have already several houses full of young 

 plants, both fancies and others, and a large span-roofed 

 show-house has been erected for specimen plants. We 

 may, therefore, look forward to seeing our metropolitan 

 exhibitions enriched next season by collections of well- 

 grown Pelargoniums from Lea Bridge. 



In stoves some of the best specimens of Ixoras, Alla- 

 mandas, and Dipladenias were being trained, and put in 

 good condition for summer ; and, in order to assist 

 them to make fine growth, their pots were bein~ 

 plunged in tan. In one of these houses we notice 

 some tops of Poinsettia pulcherrima in 3-inch pots 

 with noble heads of scarlet leaves, though the plants 

 themselves were not more than 6 inches in height. 

 These were struck last autumn, and it has been found 

 here, as elsewhere, that plants got up annually in that 

 way are greatly to be preferred to older ones, the floral 

 leaves on the latter not being nearly so large as those 

 on young plants. 



In the specimen houses there was a great number of 

 the best kinds of Azaleas, Ericas, and other hard- 

 wooded plants, varying in size from 1 to 6 feet in height, 

 and all beautifully furnished with flower-buds. Among 

 them was a Franciscea, not a very common plant in a 

 cool-house in winter ; but Messrs. Fraser have found 

 that Francisceas wintered in greenhouse temperature 

 flower better than those kept in a Btove, provided the 

 wood has been w r ell ripened early the previous autumn. 



In an intermediate house some of Mr. Fortune's 

 Azaleas were in flower, among which were the pretty 

 little purple-blossomed amoena, the striped variety called 

 Fortuni, vittata punctata, and one or two others. Here 

 were also several pots of fringed double white Primulas 

 and some Hollyhocks, which, when potted and encouraged 

 with a little heat as these were, throw up young shoots, 

 whieh make good cuttings. This, therefore, is a quick 



