120 



HE GAUD! \ l.RS' 



CIIRON ICLE. 



thtgre* ^h»J ° l rtun : 8 



will >penr ; it * I ttatt co; red ito true pi ce in 



the wor! ft *• '*• T e in ' he naire . ° f 



iitftppffAr the | retencc of the wot and en- 



liglit :«#o who entertain no I Ktreme ilea*, and are 



far from A : cinignrti'.n (immigration t) an evil. 



: atire we lia?e earthquakes ; but y< u need not 



be afraid -earth lake hurt nobody. More people comparative rest 



Uh on board the *t«?arr * an the tin-n of the 



tatea in a month than in I in a century. 



fn fact, I give yon my bODOOf that in the somewhat 



noo* life oi the country, these ahouka ar.- per- 



lesa y a I rather entertaining. In fact, the 

 Strrc stead <>f i ho Optra, and when they happen the 

 ve us something to gossip and Iaui;h about in the 



etening 



■V 





A new edition (the fifth) has appeared of Fenn*$ 

 Cbmpend ah and P flf>* funds, by Mr. 



Ayr**, the editor of the M Banker's Circular" (Effing- 

 ha , W ii, 7* I ) 1 he work m ■ ubtless of great 

 value t mey <l«?aler» and share dealers of all classes ; 

 aad we Mippoee that good reasons cm he given for the 

 missises which we remark, as, for instance, that of the 

 Crystal Palace Company. 



Plants swelling their fruit 



p at 





IMerury Papm by the late Edward Forbes 



(Reeve, 6.), form a neat t2flSO of » page*, and consist 

 niol'y of communications by the late 1 unented author 

 to the "I rai saette.*'" They are vrry character- 

 tstie of his lively unaffected manner and r h stores of 

 accurate knov 



- . 



Otrimtie* of L<md<m y by John limb*, I ^ A. (I2mo, 



Bogus), a a raassm? volume of *s in very small 



rp«% K lV, 3g an account whatever the author klftOVi I 

 of the rurioaities Of London, anions which by the was 



•1 - iuskl M many Ih ngu, the curiosity of which ws fail 



to In the opinion of antiquaries this is a 



t mine of ■formation, and they are the proper 

 jttdg> « of its merit. It undoubtedly forms a g 

 appendix to Conningham's " Handbook of London." 



• :»;• 



Calendar of Operations. 



(For the ensuing week.) 



PLANT P I'ARTMENT. 



CowutuvATORV, Ac- Ortoge tree* iii tubs and pots 

 should be examined in order to ascertain the state of 

 heir roots, shifting such as are found to have their halls 

 moderately matted with healthy r >ta, and in the case of 

 Stteh as may be too large to be conveniently shifted, 

 remove as much of the surface soil as can be done 

 without seriously injuring the roots, and top dress with 

 some i mpoet. as turfy loan), thoroughly decayed 



S#wd arid a little sand. Bs par. ular t<» have the 



bails < lar-e specimens in a n it state at the time of 



shifting, and use a rather strong rich compost. Plants 

 of the Mndarin, blood, and egg varieties, grown >r the 

 sake of the fruit, si ild no 9 encouraged with a 

 temperature of about ° at night, nllowin » rise to 



W° with sun heat faring the day, for our m mssers 

 too short to propel f mature the fruit, unless the 

 pfonte are started earl; in the spring. See that the 

 foliage is perfectly clean before placing the plants in 

 growing circumstances, and afford rhem a moUt atmo- 

 sphere to prevent the attacks of red spider, with which 

 and brown scale they are great favourites. Young 

 plants of Fuchsias intended to form fine specimens for 

 summer decoration, must be encouraged with plenty of 

 pot r m, and as high a temperature as they will 

 bear without making weakly • >wth, keeping them 

 near the lass, and aft. ling them a moist atmo- 

 sphere. Old plants for flowering later in the season 

 may also be placed at the warmest end of the 

 greenhouse, givb a little water to the soil to 

 induce them to start into grow h. We generally 

 disroot and pot these in smaller pots before winter, but 

 where^thishas not been done it should be attended to 

 before* starting the plants into growth, trimming the 

 roots freely and repotting in light rich compost in as 

 sm»H pots as will hold* the roots, and giving very little 

 water until the plants get into free growth. Take every 

 possible opportunity of admitting a little fresh air to 

 soft wooded plants, as Cinerarias, Ca'ceolarias, Pelar- 

 gonuims, Ac, for these, save in very favour ibis situa- 

 tions, are feehng the effects of fire-heat snd confinement 

 Do not allow them to suffer for the want of pot room, 

 and fumigate occasionally to prevent green-fly ; also 

 w»ove decaying leaves from Calceolarias, Ac, imme- 

 «mtely they are perceived. Look over Heaths and 

 outer hard-wooded plants very carefully, to see that 

 they are not too dry towards the bottom of the bail, which 

 •omenmes happens with plants standing near the pipes 

 when much tire heat has to be applied, and if this is 

 wma to be the case to any serious extent, place the 

 T«2Z Z * fcw r h ?"» in * »ueer * water, letting 



tlftl 4 * hUle "+** than the **»'n*g- ; also 

 keep a sharp eye upon specimens liable to the attacks of 



Proceed 

 the 



SLirS lerature for plants which it in y t,e desirable 

 to etto show fruit at once, for it gen. rally happens 

 nat a brisk temperature is 1 ec* jary to move the plants 

 at this season. Where such is the case, fires ehould be 

 kept going briskly daring the d y, keeping close and 

 securing a moist atmosphere by sprinkling the floors, 

 &c. It is nearly hopeless, however, to attempt to get 

 plants to 3h/>w fruit that have not previously well 

 matured their growth, and been afforded a period of 



Therefore see to preparing plants 



for maintaining the succession, by keeping them rather 

 dry at the root, and effectually checking their growth 

 as soon as they are considered sufficiently large for 

 fruiting. Do not allow young stock in pots to become too 

 much pot-bound before shifting, and see that the I alls 

 are in a moist state at tl e time of potting. Aim at 

 keeping thrse growing slowly, afford them a thoroughly 

 moist atmosphere, and keep them near the glass in order 

 to secure compact strong plants. Let the temperature 

 range from 60° to 70° with fire-heat, allowing it to 

 rise some 10" with the assistance of sunshine, and a 

 gentle circulation of air. 



must be afforded a moist warm temperature of 70 

 night, taking advantage of bright days to raise it to 80° 

 or 85°, but see that the atmosphere is kept thoroughly 

 moist, and if this cannot be done a lower t< mperature 

 will be safer until the weather becomes more favourable. 

 ViNKitiES.— The last fortnight will doubtless be long 

 remembered by those who have had the care of much 

 early forcing, and t will be well if the remembrance be 

 ■Ot In some cases accompanied with recollections of 

 mishaps ami failures which might have been guarded 

 against. Certainly such a trial as that through which 

 we have just passed has be« D new to many of us, and it 

 may also have served to prove the inefficiency of heating 

 arrangements, whichdiitherto had answered the purpose 

 perfectly; and where failure s*occur it will be but fair 

 that all things be taken into consideration. Give every 

 possible attention to the border where the Vines are 

 fairly started, and see that it is protected from the 

 frost by a substantial coat of dry litter. Where 

 fermenting materials are u ed for warming the border 

 this must also be well covered from the frost, and a 



?;entle fermentation secured by turning it on a sunny 

 oreuoon, and adding a rather liberal quantity of" fresh 

 I materials in a warm state ; for unless a steady heat can 

 be maintained the use of fermenting materials is much 

 more likely to be injurious than otherwise, 

 with thinning the bunches and berries as soon as 

 crop is sufficiently advanced. Stop laterals, regulate 

 and tie in the shoots, taking care not to leave too many 

 for the space, and keep everything neat and orderly. 

 Take every opportunity which the weather may offer of 

 admitting a little fre^h air, and maintain a moist atmo- 

 sphere by frequently sprinkling the paths, &c. Injury is 

 sometimes donoJko the young tender foliage of Vines by 

 the vapour arising from the evaporating pans when the 

 state of the weather necessitates overheating the pipes, 

 and if there is any danger to be apprehended from this, 

 a board should be suspended over the pans so as to 

 diffuse the heated vapour, and prevent its striking the 

 oliage too much in one place. Examine the leaves in 

 the early house narrowly for red spider, particularly 

 those near the pipes, and if the least vestige of this pest 

 is perceived, wash every affected leaf can fully and at 

 once, using a soft sponge and soapy water. This may 

 appear a tedious plan to those who have not been accus- 

 tomed to spend much time upon plant washing, &c. ; 

 but an active handy man will soon go over a good part 

 of a house, and if the enemy is taken in time it will be 

 easily eradicated by these means. Pkaches.— Where the 

 trees are not so far advanced as blooming, proceed very 

 quietly under the present state of the weather; for it is 

 not desirable to have them in this state until air can be 

 admitted more freely than would be possible under the 

 most favourable arrangements at present. In houses 

 where the trees are in bloom, a little extra fire-heat 

 should be used, so as to allow cf the admission of 

 fresh air whenever the external temperature is not very 

 severe ; but this should be effected by small openings 

 near the pipes, so tha*, the air may get warmed before 

 coming into contact with the trees. Maintain a soft 

 humid atmosphere where the fruit is fairly set, syringe 

 the trees lightly after shutting up early on bright after- 

 noons, and proceed gradually with disbudding the trees 

 and where the fruit i ck a portion should be removed 

 as soon as it is safely set, but then so as to allow for a few 

 falling, to which the Peach is liable until after stoning, 

 i^ee that the trees are properly moist at the root, givin* 

 tepid water where it is wanted. Strawberries.— These 

 are somewhat liable to the attacks of green-fly when 

 the weather necessitates keeping them rather close, and 

 they should be very carefully looked over, and lightly 

 fum,gated once or twice if they are found to be at all 

 infested with this pest. Do not exceed 50° at night 

 until the fruit is set, and keep the plants near the gbss 

 giving as much fresh air as can be safely done, and 

 maintain a moist atmosphere except while the plants are 

 m blossom, when every care should be taken to keep it 



it 



nn 





^Z^toW^r •? m ° raent ifc b P^ceived. 



^.PyT* ^S demanding attention here at the 



KS^^U 08 &Wh H,r ' b,U *> t! - carefully, 



nod guard against eoltl currents or frnety winds. 



I R<.tN DFl'ARTMFNT. 



PiNF.Rtra _ The long continuance of cold frostv 

 wea her mil, where there is not »m,.le heatin* »£2 



render U somewhat difficult to maintain a JESJ 



plants «g»ii.st bedding-out time. The stock of ..lants in 

 cold ,,,«s and fran.es will doubtless, in many i, £„ ceg 

 have been considerably lessened during the Ust fort- 

 ntght , and as the season is far ad,«nced°,,o time ,houl 1 

 be lost in getting those wanted for propagation placed „ 

 a mo,sc warn, ntnaosphere to induce then^to makelree 



growth, wtth. the new of obtaining plei>t> of cuTttog, 



bxcept under favourable circumstances, 

 difficult to induce the general order of bedd'mg piantTS 

 make anything like free stocky growth by means of jJt 

 ficial heat. Jt a pit heated by pipes is at commit 

 where a little bottom heat can be obtained from abejrf 

 leaves, mixed with a small proportion of welKworUi 

 stable manure, this, with proper management, will a gw 

 the best possible combination of circumstances for j. 

 ducing such things to make free and strong growA* 

 and strong short -jointed cuttings form established pW' 

 so much sooner, and at an expense of attention 

 so small compared with long-jointed weakly cutdin 

 that they are worth any enre which may be neceanS 

 to obtain them. The command of a proper place Uf 

 rooting cuttings is also a matter of great importu^, 

 where a large number has to be got up. What i| 

 wanted is a brisk bottom-heat where the cuttings canfe 

 kept near the glass, and cool. It is very true that youu| 

 wood of most bedding-out plants will root almost aiv. 

 where, but it is desirable to keep the cuttings strong 

 and vigorous, which is a difficult matter when they hue 

 to be rooted in a warm close atmosphere. See to ha?i«r 

 plenty of light, rich, sandy compost ready for potting-of 

 with, and, of course, cuttings must not be inserted ia 

 cold wet soil. Look over the stock of Dahlia roots,and 

 place those wanted to afford many cuttings in heat at 

 once, as also any that may not appear to be keeping 

 well. Any Holl) hock cuttings which can be obtained 

 should be put in at once, for unless these are got 

 moderately strong before planting-out time, there 

 very little chance of their flowering at all strongly thU 

 season. 



STATE OF THE WEATHER AT CHISWICK, NEAR LONDO.f, 

 For the week ending Feb. '22, 1855, aa observed at the Horticultural Garden 



Feb. 



Kriilny l< 



Satur. 17 

 Sunday Ih 



iion.. 19 



lues, -i 



Wed. 21 



Thurs. 22 



a * 



Avpraare . 



1 



3 

 4 



5 



6 



Barometer. 





Tkmperati'rk. 



Max. 



29.95 I 



30.01O 



JJM6 



29.7 s: 



29>55 

 29.934 



Min. 



29.* 1 1 



.-69 



29.980 



29.883 

 29.691 



39.837 



29.*77 



29.9**5 29 849 



Of the Air. Of the Ear th Wini) • 



a 



Max.! Min. 



32 



27 

 29 



33 



35 



30 



31 



19 

 2 

 3 



20 

 8 



iO 



23 



31.4 12.1 



Mean 



25.5 

 14.3 



16.0 

 26.5 

 il.5 



2o.O 

 28.5 



n 



1.7 



1 toot 

 deep. 



35 



35 



35 



35 



34* 



34 



34 



2le« 

 deep. 



S3 

 33 

 33 



37 



37 



36j 





N.E. 



N 



>E. 



E. 



K. 

 NX 



1 



M 



a 



a 



(4 



n 

 a 



Feb. 16— Siiowinp; slight snow-shower occasionally ; overcast. 



— 17— (old and windy; slight snow ; clear; severe frost. 



— 18— Intense frost ; hazy ; clear, with severe frost. 



— 19— Hazy; clear and frosty at night. 



— 20— Clear and frosty, with brisk east wind; overcast; clear. 



— 21 Severe frost; partially overcast; hazv clouds; overcast. 



— 22— Hazy ; dry air and uniform haze; slight snow in the nijrh 



Mean temperature of the week I7i deg. below the average. 



BECORD OF THE WEATHER AT CHISWICK. 

 During the last 29 years, for the ensuing week, ending March 3, 1^55. 



Feb. and 

 March. 



° 5- 



J* 



40.6 

 4".3 

 41.0 

 41.4 

 40.9 

 42.5 

 41.3 



No. of 

 Years in 

 which it 

 Rained. 



4 



5 

 3 



6 o 



5 •' 

 5 



8 



I 



21 

 1 3 



Sunday 25 

 Mon. 26 

 I ues. 27 

 Wed. 28 

 Thurs. 1 

 Friday 2 

 Satur. 3 



The highest temperature during the above period occurred on the SRl» 

 IHjfi-theroi. 61deg. ; and tne lowest on the 1st, :d, and 3d, 1S54 — ttera. 

 IS deg. 



Prevailing Winds. 



Greatest 



Quantity 

 of Rain. 



0.92 in 



0.48 



0.40 



0.84 



0.62 



0.45 



0.2S 



&*&* 



1 



«J 



5! 1 



a: z 



4 6 

 31 3| 4! I 8 i l 

 51 Si 3 *j I 



I'll 

 4 7 



n 



J 



Notices to Correspondents. 



Books : J D. Glendinning on the Pine, and Hamilton on fti 

 same subject, will give you all the information to be obtained 

 from books.— A Ytnmg Forester. No single volume will giw 

 you the information you seek. That of Brown is the best 

 practical work in this country, but if you wish to understw 

 the subject, you must read "many books, and especially w 

 greatest of all, that of Nature. 1 hihamel's " Physique <» 

 Arbres" contains a vast quantity of valuable information. 



Glazing: PQ. If you glaze your roof with great squares place* 

 lengthways across from rafter to rafter, you must submit to 

 the drip that must attend the plan, unless your squares overlip 

 as usual. That fault cured, the next is that if your sa 

 are moveable, great breakage will follow, and if fixed; iM» 

 still to be feared where glass has a 3 feet bearing. P5" r ^"J 

 planted a year ought not to require stakes, for their roots saw* 

 bo in that time sufficient to keep them securely upright. 



Heating : M W K. Unfortunately your sketch is made byswj 

 one who cannot draw, and we do not understand it. P er ?*L 

 he narrow junctions are choked up by incrustations; J* r !5 

 the flow-pipe comes from the bottom of the boiler instead otwj 

 top (such indeed would seem to be the case according t 

 sketch). Junctions should be of greater, not less diaraei*, 

 than the pipes themselves if there is any difference. 



Manures: L S W. We know nothing of it, and we advise 1* 

 to take care how you become acquainted with it. ^ 



Names of Plants : We have been so often obliged to re» lcl *I 

 decline naming heaps of dried or oth^r plants, that we ve 



barf, 



kiwi- 



should bear in mind that, before applying to us for ""J^, 

 they should exhaust their other means of gaining > n ; ^ w 



to request our correspondents to recollect that w e r ne ^4 vjad. 

 or could have undertaken an unlimited duty of this 



Young gardeners, to whom these remarks moreesv — % m 



for assise 



ot t»» a - *7, 

 specially^ 



We cannot save them the trouble of examining and tm 

 for themselves; nor would it be desirable if we could. * ^ 

 can do is to help them- and that most willingly- J^.H 

 requested that, in future, not more than four P Ian V* fyt 

 sent us at one time.— 1, Pteris serrnlata; 2, Cyrtonuu 

 turn; Lycopodium sulcatum, usually called L ^J nta -.% 

 caesium in gardens. S.—Beader. 1, Oncidium macm* _ 

 O.graminifoliura; 3, Dendrobium Pierardi; 4, Ju ' t lift^ 



Rhododendron alta-clerense : Old Sub. Have you 1 ■ ^ 

 the wrong plant ? We never heard of this Khododena* ^ 

 ing so much in colour as to be " a good scarlet one ? 

 * pale pink " the next J L 1llYnr itttt * 



Rosa odorata: H. Your plant is probably too i«* 



flower. Try what effect a slight root pruning has on • . f T 

 Pomegranate : //. Give it a little protection in h P r h ^get 

 can, so as to enable it to make its wood early, * n titto t0& 

 better ripened before winter. You need not expe cl 



well, however, except after a roasting slin)mer, /. 1l a Vr&& ! * 

 The Red Moon: E B. This, the Lane rousse ot J^ ^ »t & 

 an expression indicating the presence of gr° una Lf eC tof <* 

 tain times when the moon shines brightly, rne e * wiD gtot» 

 which scorches tender herbage, is imagined to ve 

 influence of the moon. „, B „rvevor3 «J 



Woods and Forests: J E. The report of V l ? u JL" 11?h 'the *£ 



have inspected 



sellers from the jraruamentary *r»y*" v "*""£•"*. « w*t 



Eyre and Spottiswoode, and is dated 1864. The co» 



ests: J E. The report of i^°^ a 'th«*t 

 the forests may be obtained throng [n rfW 

 e Parliamentary Paper Oince. It w V ^ 





