1855.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



in 



xture, one being soft and fleshy, whiJst 



Tip cotum 



Jj^grtf bard as *ood itself. 



g- ^ pfoducing a great numuer vi uiscmci species or 



the Uaves, the catkins, the stem, the twigs, and 



the root being infested with these excrescences, 



r the punctures of Cynips Quercus folii, C. 



^^m btccarum, C. Quercus inferus, C. Quercus 



^^ioli, C. Quercus corticis, C. Quercus Ramuli, C. 



Aureus Gemma?, C. Quercus terminalis, C. Quercus 



ti, all described by Linnaeus and Fabricius, besides 



iderable number of new species, lately mono- 



— «hed by H&rtig, wno appears to have described 

 5T§pect«a which produces the gall figured in the 



Chnmick (ante p. 116, under the name of the 

 fruited Oak gall) as the Cynips caput Medusae. 

 These various galls and their inhabitants form an 

 interning subject of investigation, possessing, as they 

 do, many curious points of inquiry, unattended however 

 bja§y otber practical results than may be produced 

 frum the injury, slight indeed as it appears to be, which 



the Cherry-like galls of C. Quercus terminals, which 

 may possibly be a variety of the same kind of gall deve- 

 loped singly at the end of a twig. In this view I gave 

 the latter name to the gall now before us some time 

 since in reply to one of my correspondents. 



.* Stain ton's correspondent informs us, moreover 

 that it is chiefly upon the lower twigs of Oaks, in hedges' 

 which have been cut down three or four years previously, 

 that the galls are most numerous, being rarely found 

 higher than 10 feet above the surface of the ground, so 

 that it would not be difficult to collect them, and that 

 the appearance of the trees now denuded of leaves is 

 rendered quite remarkable by their great number. 

 Rendered thus conspicuous, they become the objects of 

 attack to the titmice, which, notwithstanding the smooth 

 hard surface of the galls, contrive to make a hole in 

 them to pick out the larvae which remain in them 

 unchanged during the winter. 



As the species is very closely allied to that which 

 forms the Oak galls of commerce, we shall defer the 

 specific description of the present species for our next 



1S9 



trees may receive irom me abstraction irom their _. 



my course of the nutritive fluids, although in the them by a comparatfve^ia^nosrr / O^W 

 am of the Pear tree infested by aphis galls described ° ' * 



by me in the Qard. Chron. for 1849, p. 755, a positive 

 iejury was produced. There is, however, one species of 

 Oak-gall fly of great importance in a practical and even 

 commercial point of view, which will form the subject 

 of our next Entomological paper, namely, the Ink gall 

 fly, Cynips Quercus tinctoria (C. scriptorum, of Kirby and 

 Spiocejlhegallsof which,under the name of Nut galls, are 

 imported in great numbers for the manufacture of ink. 



It might be a question worthy of some examination 

 whether some of the kinds of Oak sails which nocur in 



dung. If the soil be good to the depth of 3 feet, it 

 will not be necessary under the ordinary culture to 

 prepare the ground deeper, but in doing this a large 

 portion of manure is necessary, and it will be requisite 

 that it should be regularly mixed with the soil from the 

 bottom of the trench to the top. If one of the quarters 

 of the garden should be required for Asparagus alone 

 the whole ought to be trenched and manured as if it 

 were for only one single bed, as the roots spread them- 

 selves in all directions, and by penetrating the alleys 

 between the beds the outer rows of heads will always be 

 finer than those in the middle. The ground being pre- 

 pared the beds should be set out the width of 5 feet 

 with 3 feet alleys, fixing a strong stake at the corners 

 of each bed, driven down to the depth of 3 feet. About 

 the present season proceed thus to plant the beds : strain 

 a line round the four corners of the first bed, cut it 

 down perpendicularly on the inside of the line to tha 

 depth of 3 inches, and take out the soil, which must be 

 laid^ on the alleys on each side, levelling the surface 



stand 



on the contrary keep the soil as light as possible ; 

 mark out four lines at a foot from each side of 



rrTYTATT?c n™ r^rx^r^rWZr ; — the bed and a foot from each other; measure a foot 



CLIMATES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES.-No. V. from the end of the bed, and mark each a line at a foot 



peat numbers in this country might not be beneficially 

 Elected with the view of making use of the great 

 Mintity of tannin which they unquestionably contain. 

 this might be done with the marble-like globular gall 

 «f Oak leaves, C. Q. folii, and especially with the Oak 



%le8 so well known to every country schoolboy who 



5X5 5 and get one t0 stick in his hat on King 



Be this as it may, the species of gall, represented in the 

 ««TOny,D g h>re, possesses properties entirely similar 



«2 • gal1 of commerc *> and having been 



bJ/T m <r onsidera *>le numbers in Devonshire, has 

 ^n auccesafuily applied in the manufacture of ink. 



Societv vi c? De . cember meeting of the Entomological 

 fetter L S 1 ta,nton re *<l the following extract from a 

 jr reeved from R. C. R. Gordon, Esq, of Queen's 



'ffiad ^ lng ' relative t0 this Bpecies of gall, 

 Rich «tu exh,b,ted a * a previous meeting by Mr. 



koownth. , ga L ls are old friends of mine ; r nave 

 common t i ? years ; of late the y have been m °re 

 1 ** known Zr reS ° m / "P***"* of the Cynips 



j*»*o* i r ympa for three y ears - About five 



*ed tht m \, cal man at Lympstone, near Exmouth, 

 »«* always to make his ink and tried to impress 



Nice, March 9, 1855.— Though the winter here has 

 been unusually cold, Violets, both single and double, are 

 now in abundance. Wallflowers are in blossom, the 

 single bright yellow (Cheiranthus Cheiri) growing wild 

 on the rocks. The Almond trees have gone off bloom, 

 and are succeeded by standard Peaches, which are very 

 showy, and also Apricots. Scarlet Geraniums in the 

 ground, which were cut by the frost, are making fresh 

 shoots. Stocks of various colours, single and double 

 are large and handsome : the Jardin des Plantes, near 

 the sea, is quite gay with them and Wallflowers, mixed 

 with Venus's Looking Glass, now also in full bloom, 

 withhedge-rows of yellow Coronilla. The corn fields 

 are in many places literally covered with the single 

 blue and scarlet Anemones. 



It should be observed that each of the principal wild 

 flowers has its own locality ; for instance, Primroses 

 are only met with in quantity by the " Vallon obscur," 

 Crocuses on "Mont Vinaigrier," Blue Hepaticas in the 

 valley of that name, Snowdrops on " Mont Gros," &c. 

 The pretty Grape Hyacinth (Muscari racemosum) is 

 almost everywhere to be met with, and a species of 

 Rhus, with scarlet berries, is found in many places 

 on the rocks, as is also the little blue Harebell (Cam- 

 panula rotundifolia) and the pretty delicate lilac 

 Lavatera maritima in some districts ; likewise various 

 sorts of Orchis. 



The markets are now well supplied with vegetables, 

 Broccoli being in full season, and Cauliflowers plentiful. 

 New Potatoes are about 2d. per lb. English. There is 

 also a small yellow sort sold here called Pommes de 

 Terre Chataigne. Salmon and Turnip Radishes have 

 continued throughout the winter in the open ground, 

 and are now quite common ; also young Carrots and 

 Onions, Lettuces, Spinach, and Endive. 



As to the temperature, fires indoors are nearly done 

 with, and the power of the sun is almost too much for 

 walking out in the middle of the day unless by the sea, 

 from which there is a refreshing breeze. A comparison 

 of the average temperature of Nice and London for the 

 half months as under 



apart, thus forming squares of 12 inches each way. 

 Bein^ now provided with some good one or two-year 

 old plants (not more), open the roots flat, place one 

 plant on each of those places marked on the lines, and 

 fasten it down with a handful of mould to keep it in its 

 place. When this is done the bed must be filled up 

 level with the spade. This being finished, proceed wirh 

 the other beds in like manner till the whole is completed. 

 Artichokes are propagated by the off-set suckers, which 

 are produced abundantly from the roots of old plants : 

 these should be planted in rows 4 feet apart, placing 

 them in clumps of three or four in each, 2 feet asunder 

 in the rows. Artichokes require a deep soil; and 

 before they are planted the ground Bhould be well 

 manured, and trenched 2 feet deep : this operation 

 should be performed in April as soon as the young 

 leaves begin to show themselves above the surface of the 

 ground. After this, the plants will require only to bo 

 kept clear from weeds during the summer ; and in the 

 autumn to be protected by litter from the stable, to 

 secure them against frosts in winter. 



SPRING PROTECTIONS. 



Having accidentally in my possession six large 

 canvas blinds mounted on strong rollers, I 

 them in front of my Peach trees, as a protection 

 against the frost, by a movable contrivance, of which 

 the annexed is a sketch. They seem likely to work 



am fixing 



1854 to November 15 



. „ 30 

 December 15 



31 

 15 



31 

 15 



28 



• • • 



• • • 



• « 9 



■ ■ 



• ft ft 



■ fl * 



1855.— January 



February 



9f 



• • ■ 



• • » 



• • • 



• •» 





• •• 



- • • 



• • . 



Nice. 



London. 



52 



41 



48 



37 



49 



42 



45 



39 



48 



40 



42 



28 



49 



27 



48 



29 



Excess, 

 Is ice. 



11 



11 



7 



6 



8 



14 



22 



19 



The ground temperature 1 foot below the surface is still 50?. 



Daily Temperature. 



ttpon 



^ethpT 1117 P f°P le the use that m '8 ht s P rin g from 

 SUem an article, so to speak, of exportation. 



t 



•ouraft 



But 



r otU 



1855. 



February 16 



17 



18 

 19 



20 

 21 



22 



• • • 



iney would be a good substitute for 



99 



11 



rt 

 it 

 If 



99 



• » • 



ft ft • 



• t • 



• • • 



• I • 



• a . 



• t • 



• • ■ 



■ - • 



tt* 



• • t 



• « ■ 



* • • 



f ■ i 



• ■ . 



* ■ ■ 



• • • 



ere. 



J* Nut Ball* ««J j" T " 5*™* ouvomu 



ty%J^^ d « de8erve *<> be used instead. 





Mean 



• •# 



• • i 



The 





8r 



bro 





in spri ^ n , ; , the larvie mav be occasionally found 



aSTJS^ had 'obtained these 



**d* 



* x * ii tfoaof7h llie Uak8 were covered wit « them to the 



•* *• farme 6 aCOrn8, the l0SS of which for feedin 8 thei r 



and part 



91 

 99 

 99 

 M 



March 



23 

 24 

 25 

 26 



27 



28 



1 



• « » 



• • • 



• • 9 



• - * 



• t • 



• « • 



t f • 



• • . 



• ■ - 



••• 



• • • 



• • • 



• • • 



Mean 



• • • 



• • • 



^ ;„T S,0,0 ?y «f the plant. 8 in C « th« 





wise, as it does, 



fe the axif 7 T° P lant > since * ne galls are deve- 

 st of th« the leave8 > and prevent the dev 



*ae acorn a ^f «.u* i_ .1 



91 

 J» 

 91 



91 

 91 

 99 



2 



3 

 4 



5 

 6 

 7 



8 



* •• 



• * • 



■•• 



* • » 



• • • 



« • • 



• • • 



• 1 1 



• •>» 



9 I ft 



• • • 



• 9 • 



• > 9 



•19 





7 a.m. 



12. 



10J P.M. 



• ft 9 ••• 



33 



45 



39 







41 



50 



46 



■ ■ • ft ■ • 



46 



55 



50 



ft ft ft ft ft - 



46 



58 



52 



4 ft ft • ft . 



50 



47 



46 



• • • ■ • . 



41 



52 



43 



• •• ••• 



42 

 42.7 



60 



41 



« •* •* 



52.4 



45.3 



ft ft • • • ■ 



40 



58 



46 



• a « ■ ■ ■ 



43 



60 



42 



ft 9 ft • • . 



41 



58 



45 



■ • « • • • 



44 



52 



45 



• ft ft ft • • 



41 



56 



-46 



• • ft • ft • 



44 



56 



r 44 ■ 



• •• fl • fl 



42 



60 



\ 46 



»• • •>•« 



42.1 



57.1 



41.8 



» •• •». 



44 



61 



49 



• ft ft • • ■ 



49 



54 



48 



ft ft ■ ••• 



45 



58 



43 



ft ft 9 ft 9 



41 



52 



48 



ft ft • 9 - 



48 



58 



45 



ft ftft ••>• 



42 



58 



46 



• ft ft •••> 



44 



57 



47 



so well that I am induced to send you this commu- 

 nication. I think the representation will tell its own 

 tale. The bar across the top is driven down till it is 

 quite tight ; and as a precaution a nail may be lightly 

 tacked in at each end, to prevent its getting loose. By 

 putting another small staple for the gudgeon to run it 

 under that shown in the drawing, another blind can be 

 fixed on the other side, so that six blinds can be 

 slung by seven of the fastenings. (7. W. M. 



Mean 



• »» 



• • ■ 



. .^ (Ins. Bel ,,.. c » wim cons'derable details, by 

 22% Ae? SN ^ PP ' J 68 ?" GaU Wn.,tab. 35 



KC. 



bft* 



5fft* 



*^noiret| 



thTi r scribed °y Linmeus, Geoffroy, 



Ui nl 8 t?* med auihop representing it in 



• P*. 41, on which also are represented 



COMMON THINGS. 



Asparagus. — There are various methods pursued in 

 forming new plantations of Asparagus. The most 

 common one is to trench the ground from 2 to 3 feet 

 deep, mixing with the soil a good quantity of rotten 



Home Correspondence. 



Tlie Crimea, its Climate and Vegetation. — I am much 

 interested by the account of Koch's work on the Crimea, 

 noticed by you at p. 171. I have one or two observa- 

 tion to make on it. Not having yet seen his work I do 

 not know whether he explains the present desolation of 

 the Crimea, which is naturally a fertile country, with a 

 fair middle European climate more like that of the 

 Pyrenees or Lombardy than anything else I could com- 

 pare it with. Remember that what there is of really 

 Mediterranean vegetation, whether native or cultivated, 

 is confined to the valleys of the southern coast — the 

 plains or undulating country to the north being rather 

 in the same condition, as to climate and Flora, as south- 

 ern Hungary and Wallachia and Moldavia, which have 

 a soil and physical status very like the great steppe of 

 the Crimea. The Russians, as Clarke tells us, depopu- 

 lated and destroyed the previous cultivation of the 

 Crimea, and their system of government has continued 

 or increased the state of desolation, to which it was 

 reduced after their conquest of it The steppe north of 

 Perekop to the Dnieper, and a small part of that 

 south of Perekop, are a dreadful saline desert. They 

 are, as well as much of the coast of the penin- 

 sula and other parts of the shore of the Euxine, 

 the ancient bed of a shallow sea (which once, in all 

 probability, extended through the trough of the Manvtch 

 into the Caspian basin, and perhaps far beyond it), the 

 sudden drying up or running off of which is alluded to 

 in one or two passages of Pliny, apparently as a tra- 



