THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



191 



as g 



It would seem that 



^^^^^^^ — ^ — 



k rniffbt be advisable to dry vegetables as far 

 " it! i their natural form, as ereen Peas and 

 tmDa are dried iu Russia. 



of the most delicate kinds might be so pre- 

 fer winter use, Cauliflowers for example ; but 

 — ^^d require division into small portions, so that 

 2mt cooW only be served at table in a sauce, either 

 ]uL or brown, and in cooking them the first process 



soaking in tepid water till they had absorbed 

 iC «icv to bring them to their pristine state. Such 

 ^btai Spinach and Sorrel might be pressed, since it 

 " iMinm'"'* t0 mash them up in preparing them for 

 ZkU • so ic.is with Turnips. Sweet herbs of most kinds 

 ■L w \ v to be dried and bottled, but Parsley loses 

 %!|VecaIiar flavour when most carefully dried ; possibly 

 jtalitcntopa of Celery might in a manner supply its 

 ** jg Dot uncommon in France. It might be 

 worthy of experiment whether roots, Carrots for example, 

 mfrht pot be easily pressed in their natural form, 

 iStbr they might be served whole. It is needless to 

 add a word on the great luxury as well as the economy 

 (/adopting M. Masson's process on an extensive scale, 

 ssce it has been so ably advocated in the Gardeners' 

 Qk$*kk ; but its pages have not adverted to the 

 eopbfxneDt it would afford to women and children in 

 ricking and cleansing the vegetables. A friend has 



I 



ingof many hundred lights To keep the inmates of [ _ __ w lIIWC W11W wwm w „ 1Qm 



the latter in » healthy condition during the late seven- not mere beauty of colouring to make themselves 



agoted 



panpere. it was staiea in me nmes last weeK tnat a 

 Union in Devonshire had realised a considerable profit 

 by employing its paupers in the cultivation of vegetables; 

 bat, doubtless, much more would be gained by drying 

 than also, since a market would thus be ensured. The 



nand robust pauper might be the cultivator, whilst 

 I, the infirm, and the little child, would have suf- 

 ficient strength to shell Peas, to divest Cabbages of 

 caterpillar*, or to wash roots, &c, preparatory to drying 

 B. 



a 



octettes 



Entomological, March 5. — The President in the 

 chair. Mr. Stevens exhibited several cases of insects, 

 forming a series of the species of all orders collected by 

 Madame Pieiffer in Amboyna and Ceram. The speci- 

 meos had been brought home folded separately in bits 

 of paper or between layers of cotton wool, and were in 

 perfect preservation, many being of very great rarity. Mr. 

 Edwin Shepherd exhibited a remarkable specimen of 

 Arena caja, the common garden tiger moth, the upper 

 wing of the left side of which was marked throughout 

 its whole length with a narrow dash of red ; also a 

 Tripbieoa orbona, the upper wings of which presented 

 almost the appearance of those of a Glsea. Mr. Edward 

 Sheppard exhibited a bag of silken tissue without seam, 

 *ed by the Chinese for lapping up the ends of rolls of spuu 

 lilt Dr. J. E. Gray stated that it was formed by beating 

 ont a single cocoon, and that Mr. Reeves had brought 

 aany specimens of it to this country. It was aunounced 

 w a prize of five guineas had been offered by the 

 society for the best essay on the Coccus which produces 

 toe kc dye of India, to be forwarded on or before the 

 31it December, 1855 ; and it was stated that the East 

 India Company had agreed to afford all the information 



its power relative to the subject. The Secretary also 

 Mnouoeed that it was the wish of the Society to obtain 

 toe co-operation of members who had studied British 

 Uleoptera in the formation and publication of a list of 

 tfnash beetles for distribution and labelling of cabinets. 

 «J. Newman read a notice of the honey bee of South 

 ™, a .species stated to be only half the size of the 

 *ngu* h.ve bee, and to be so prolific as to allow the 

 JJ D *™ cut away eight times in the course of the 

 jw. Also on the ravages committed by the common 



Zhiif aS hy the wood P ecker , upon beehives, 



iatter not only having been observed tapping at 



^l;n ?e i° mduce the bees t0 come forth > but actually 



Efo* I i mortar off the foot-board so as to make 

 Jjooal places of exit for the bees. Mr. West- 



^aiso stated that at a particular period of the 



weather has been no easy task ; this, however, has been 

 accomplished perfectly by means of good protections 

 made of reeds woven together with tar twine in the way 

 iu which straw coverings are made. In addition to 

 these, mats and Fern have also been used, and it is sur- 

 prising to see how safely and well Heaths and other 

 plants of similar hardihood have wintered under them. 

 In these pits we noticed Sarracenias of various kinds, 

 Venus's Fly-traps (Dionaea. Muscipula), and one or 

 two hardy Canadian Lady Slippers (Cypripediums). 

 Trilliums have als > been wintered here, together with 

 several plants of a violet called Viola pedata from New 

 Jersey. In the Heath-house some of the winter flower- 

 ing kinds were in blossom, such as hyemalis and gracilis, 

 and even triumphing was beginning to open a few 

 flowers. Under the stage were many fine plants of the 

 Funereal Cypress, which it had been thought would 

 winter better there than out of doors. Among other 

 Conifers we remarked plants of the rare Thuja gigautea, 

 which is said to be the same as the Libocedrus decurrens 

 of Torrey, together with examples of Libocedius chi- 

 lensis, and Torreya Myristica, a fine coniferous tree, 

 with foliage resembling that of a Cephalotaxus. Of 

 Araucarias there were several, and among them some 

 handsome plants of excelsa from cutting*, which, when 

 made of the top or leading shoots, Mr. Low thinks form 

 as good trees as those raised from seeds. Where the 

 leader has been removed new shoots push cut, which 

 also strike readily, and make handsome plants. 



In a long lean-to house were numbers of Camellias 

 and Orange trees, the latter with clean straight stems 

 from 4 to 5 feet in height, and with heads measuring 

 from 2 to 3 feet in diameter. These, as may be 

 imagined, will make very useful trees. Lapageria rosea 

 has been raised here in abundance from imported seeds. 

 They were sown in peat and loam, and nearly every 

 one of them in many potfuls has germinated freely. 

 Of Pitcher plants Mr. Low has a few of the best kinds, 

 and of Orchids a great many, though most of them are 

 plants recently imported. For these and other things 

 a long span- roofed house is being built with a raised 

 stage in the middle and slate shelves. It is heated by 

 hot-water in 4- inch pipes, and glazed with 16 oz sheet 

 glass in small panes, long ones having been found here 

 liable to split down the middle. 



the Bourbon Palm Latania borbonica we noticed 

 several plants. The latter have been raised from seeds 

 sown in peat, in which they often lie five months before 

 the young plants make their appearance. A very long 

 span-roofed house is filled with Camellias and Aztleas. 

 Of Ferns there is a good collection here, as indeed there 

 is of most tribes of plants, the repotting of which and 

 otherwise putting them in order for the summer are 

 now works in active progress. 



possessors of this attractive volume. 



The 



Vicir of W Md, with 32 illustrations by 

 Mulready (square 8vo., pp. 306, Van ^ orst, 1/. Is.) 

 is a beautiful book, admirably printed, and adorned 

 with exquisite wood-cuts, engraved afrer delightful 

 designs by Mulready. For pn nts, or for the shelves 

 of a library of illustration, the present season lias pro- 

 duced nothing more interesting or more worth v of 

 patronage. It even adds to the high reputation of Mr. 

 Mulready as an artist, which is saving a great deal. 



Of Mangosteens and 



fcsda K- i a * t0 be ver y injurious to bees, the 



*ktem *l i ying UP t0 the m0UtU ° f the hive and 



j^g tfae bees as they take wing. Mr. Newman also 

 t»o A?° « y Mr ' Wallace ol1 the peculiar habits of 



as the 



**r ig 



JiHfc 



*»dedH r ,".""'* cu iatMe cat > ine t, w '"c'» led to an ex- 



» note hv vfT, 1 ° n the 8u,, J ect Mr Waterhouae read 

 UleifrJ.. * . . ' 0n ^e scarce Britisli Weevil Omias 



same insects. Mr. Douglas read a note 

 e means of avoiding and curing greasiness in 



Notices of Souks. 



Century of Ferns, being Figure with brief Descriptions 

 of One Hundred New, or Rare, or Imperfectly -known 

 Species of Ferns from various Parts of the World, a 

 Selection from the Author's Icones Plantarum. By 

 Sir W. J. Hooker. Pamplin. 1854. 8vo. 



It is much to be regretted that the admirable series of 

 drawings and descriptions of new or rare plants con- 

 tained in Sir W. J. Hooker's " Icones," remarkable 

 alike for fidelity of execution and intrinsic interest, did 

 not meet with that support from botanists which might 

 have insured its continuance. Such works, unhappily, 

 in this country, so far from proving any source of 

 remuneration, are, for the most part, a certain loss, as 

 everyone who, from a love of science, wishes that the 

 public should be partakers of the riches of his collection, 

 is sure, sooner or later, to know to his cost. The series 

 of drawings is now very voluminous, aud though pub- 

 lished at an extremely low rate, requires an outlay 

 which is not within the means of many more humble culti- 

 vators. As, however, one of its most interesting features 

 is the excellent and copious illustration of that most 

 difficult but lovely tribe the Ferns, and as the cultivation 

 of these is increasing every day in favour with the 

 public, it has been thought advisable to select a number 

 of the most instructive figures, publishing them in a 

 separate volume, of the appearance of which we now 



apprise our readers. The drawings themselves are from 



the pencil of Mr. Fitch, a circumstance which not only application of liquid manure 

 insures correctness of detail and outline, but a degree of - 1 — *~ — *-"- * : ~ J - 



Miscellaneous. 



Climate of the Crimea.— The weather has been of the 

 most extraordinary character for the last few days. 

 Three days ago the very sight of a great coat or warm 

 pair of gloves made oue perspire ; next day it was so 

 cold that even our immense stores of warm clothing 

 were not superfluous : out of the midst of summer you 

 are here suddenly precipitated, at half an hour's notice, 

 into the midst of winter. At the end of this month we 

 may expect rainy and wan days, and the sun becomes 

 exceedingly powerful at times so early as the month of 

 May. Three days ago the thermoim r stood at 56* Q , 

 next day it fell to 40°, in the afternoon it was at 32°, at 

 night 28°. Yesterday morning early it was at 22°. 

 This morning it was at 24° ; it is i * at 36°. Twice 

 or thrice during this time the country hat been obscured 

 by drifting fogs, winch have nothing of the charac- 

 teristics of our "old London particular" except density. 

 The influence of a few hours' sunslnue here is remark- 

 able. We have had a few warm days only, and yet the 

 soil, wherever a flower has a chance of springing, pours 

 forth multitudes of Snowdrop?, Crocuses, and Hyacinths. 

 The Chersonese is covered with bulbous plants, some of 

 great beauty, and the shrubs contain several rare 

 species. The finches and larks here have a Valentine's- 

 day of their own, and still congregate in flocks. Very 

 brilliant goldfinches, large \ innings, gold- crested wrens, 

 larks, linnets, titlarks, and three sorts of tomtits, the 

 hedge sparrow, and a pretty species of wagtail, are verv 

 common all over the Chersonese; and it is strange to 

 hear them piping their throats and twittering about the 

 bushes in the intervals of the booming of cannon just as 

 it is to see the young spring flowers forcing their way 

 through the crevices of piles of shot and peering out 

 from under shells and heavy ordnance. Tl>e in sides of 

 our huts are also turned into gardens, and Grapes 

 sprout out of the earth in the window sills, the floor, 



and the mud walls. Correspondence of the " Times," 

 dated March 2. 



Gas Tar in Horticulture. — A discovery, which is likely 

 to be of advantage to agriculture, has lately been reported 

 to the Agricultural Society at Clermont (Oise). A 

 gardener, whose frames and hot-houses required paint- 

 ing, decided on making them black, as likely to attract 

 the heat better, and from a principle of economy he 

 made use of gas- tar instead of black paint, The work 

 was performed during winter, and on the approach of 

 spring the gardener was surprised to find that all the 

 spiders aud insects which usually infested his hot-house 

 had disappeared, and also that a Vine which for the 

 last two years had so fallen off that he had intended to 

 replace it by another had acquired fresh vigour, and 

 gave every sign of producing a large crop of Grapes. 

 He afterwards used the same substance to the posts 

 and trellis works which supported the trees in the 

 open air, and met with the same result, all the cater- 

 pillars and other insects disappearing. It is said that 

 similar experiments have been made in some of the 

 vineyards of the Gironde, with similar results. Oalig- 

 nani's Messenger. [We have always understood that 

 gas-tar will kill plants by its effluvium.] 



FLORICULTURE. 



Seasonable Hints. — Auriculas at this season require 

 much attention ; their pips will be rapidly advancing. 



taste 



9 



^ ww ^, MOi . „ maps with which the botanist is so often afflicted. Their 



£^\k tM, v also ta^ interest is not confined to the species themselves, but 



'^oiad* Schaum was read on a species of 



Wo °d * tK*u y incorreetl y figured by Mr. West- 

 ■W* f v\ Het J erorhi »a bicostata ; likewise on the 

 <**hi*k u ter,d£e recently described bv Mr. Curtis. 



^read 



7"»M the supped 



anson on the latter subject, proving 



raised 

 MUttgural 



rs. A discussion having 

 the President withdrew 



address. 



M 



Memoranda 



*n< 



. 14un3 * "*f«RT, Clapton.— Few nurseries con- 

 fc doe * Udw 8l J e Collection of Pknta in pots than 

 ^^mmodatwl„°L U , h,,U8es are appropriated to 



most important observations on the value of nervation 

 as regards generic character, a point when justly esti- 

 mated of great weight, though easily carried beyond all 

 reasonable bounds, accompanied by just criticisms of 

 other labourers in the same field, will repay attentive 

 perusal. Those lovers of Ferns who wish to obtain 

 some general views of the riches of the tribe will be 

 enabled to gather from it a large mass of information, 

 while their attention will not be called to mere herbarium 

 species confined to the author's own collection or founded 

 upon individual specimens ; but they will find just views 

 as to the value of forms, and will be able to recognise 



occasionally, if their collection is at all extensive, some 

 of the species which they cultivate, which perhaps the 

 would not be able to do from any other source. To suit 

 the views of purchasers, there are both plain and 

 coloured copies ; and we think that we cannot give 



See that they experience no check from cold winds or 

 other causes ; but by no means keep them closely shut 

 up, or weakened flowers will be the result. Early sorts 

 intended for exhibition next month should at once be 

 selected, and care taken to promote their flowering. 

 Cinerarias. — These will be benefited by an occasional 



See that their flower- 

 : this will strengthen 



out 



shoots are carefully tied 



them materially, and be productive of better defined 

 colours. Dahlias. — The propagation of these must 

 be proceeded with ; those already struck should 

 be potted off and kept in a hotbed for a few days to 

 re-escablish themselves after the shift. Fuchsias will 

 require re-potting : cuttings taken off now will root 

 freely and make nice blooming specimens to succeed the 

 autumn struck plants. Hollyhocks must be shifted on 

 as the pots get filled with roots ; otherwise they will be 

 pushing up their flower stems, much to the injury of 

 their after welfare. Pansies hi the open ground should 

 be top-dressed and made secure from injury which heavy 

 winds are sure to inflict on loose or straggling plants. 

 Those in pots under glass must never be shut up closely. 

 Pelargoniums intended for July flowering should now 

 be stopped ; let them become dry for a day or two, 

 which will induce the formation of "back breaks,'' and 

 these will be materially assisted In keeping the house 

 rather close for a few days after the* operation, avoiding 



I also too much moisture 



boldly 



